32 FEBRUARY 2026 I f you’ve ever felt that head over heels, can’t stop thinking about it kind of love, then you understand the Grand Canyon State. Arizona doesn’t flirt. It sweeps you off your feet. One minute you’re cruising along a sunsplashed highway, and the next you’re staring at Monument Valley, wondering how a landscape can feel both ancient and brand new at the same time. This spectacular beauty isn’t just sitting on our map, it’s posing, catching its light, holding the frame, waiting for you to show up and give it the close up it deserves. That’s the thing about Arizona: it always feels personal. Take Tombstone. You wander its wooden boardwalks expecting a reenactment or two, but somehow you end up feeling like you’ve stepped into a sepia toned memory or, if you’re lucky like me, become a main character at the gunfight at the O.K. Corral. The clink of spurs, the swing of saloon doors, the stories that refuse to stay in the past are all amusingly over the top, and that’s just one dimension of Arizona’s charm. I didn’t expect it to feel like falling in love, the racing heart, that dizzy rush, those familiar butterflies in my stomach. But that’s exactly what happened skydiving over Eloy. As I was in freefall the surrounding mountains appeared as if they were hand painted by someone with a flair for drama, dipped in golden light. Once I hit terra and regained my composure, I realized this is Arizona at its most extra and its most honest. Of course, love isn’t always euphoric. Sometimes it’s soft, quiet, maybe even wrapped in pine. Our highcountry hideaways like Greer and Alpine feel like Arizona is whispering, “I can be cozy, too.” Cool mornings, trout-filled lakes, cabins that smell like woodsmoke… this is the part of the relationship where you can exhale and think, I could stay here forever. But that wouldn’t be fair to the rest of Arizona because this state is deep. How deep? Try 6,093 feet at the highest point along the North Rim of the Grand Canyon. This Arizona beauty can quiet even the chattiest traveler. The North Rim isn’t a showoff, it’s a natural stunner, wilder and more intimate than its southern sibling. The air is cooler, the pines taller, the colors softer yet somehow more dramatic. And in that moment, it stops being just a wonder of the world and becomes a wonder of your heart – something that stays with you long after you’ve driven away. Arizona has a way of keeping you curious. Just when you think you’ve experienced all its moods, it shifts the light, changes the wind, reveals a new color or story. Loving Arizona is an invitation to wander with wonder. And of course, Arizona has a birthday on Valentine’s Day. If any state was destined to make you fall in love again and again…it’s Arizona. Falling in love with the sights and scenes that make up Arizona Robin is the host and executive producer of the Arizona Highways Television , Saturdays and Sundays on CBS. BY ROBIN SEWELL Monument Valley Alpine Forest Grand Canyon

33 FEBRUARY 2026 A new month brings a full slate of programs designed to help residents get involved and make a difference. Here’s what’s happening in your neighborhood: TEEN VOLUNTEERS NEEDED S’edav Va’aki Museum is opening applications for its Spring Teen Volunteer Program, offering young residents a chance to learn, lead, and engage through hands-on museum experiences. Ages 14 to 17 are invited to apply, with opportunities to support educational programming while gaining valuable leadership and teamwork skills. Students who participated in the fall session and plan to continue this spring may qualify to step into newly created Teen Leader roles. Teen Leaders will assist museum staff by training incoming volunteers, facilitating established activities, and helping develop new program materials that enhance the visitor experience. Applications are now open and can be submitted online. COFFEE CHATS This year, the City’s popular coffee chats are getting a new twist. To make them more accessible to residents with daytime commitments, all coffee chats will now be held in the evening. The goal is to ensure more community members can attend, ask questions, and share ideas in a relaxed setting. Dates and locations will be announced soon. SCHOLARSHIPS FOR PHOENIX YOUTH LEADERS Phoenix students who are making a difference may be eligible for the Outstanding Phoenix Youth Leader of the Year award. Open to students in grades 9 through 12, the program recognizes those who have overcome adversity while making positive contributions. Winners from each council district will receive $1,000, with two overall recipients earning an additional $2,000. Applications are due by March 1, and finalists must be available for in- person interviews on April 11. SAVE WATER, SAVE MONEY Phoenix Water Services is offering residents a free, customizable AZ Water-Wise Kit to help reduce indoor and outdoor water use. Kits may include efficient showerheads, hose timers, and other tools designed to make conservation simple. In addition, homeowners can take advantage of the City’s Grass Removal Incentive, which offers $2 per square foot for removing non-functional grass, supporting both sustainability and lower utility bills. TAX TIME The City of Phoenix is also seeking volunteers for its Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program. Each year, trained volunteers help prepare free tax returns for low- to moderate-income individuals and families. Certified training is provided, and opportunities range from tax preparation to interpreting and site coordination. –Councilman Kevin Robinson February’s events ARCADIANEWSARCHIVES.COM Councilman District 6 602-262-7491 District6@phoenix.gov KEVIN ROBINSON  The roots of this Arcadia family remain firmly planted, even as the kids have grown into lives of their own. Chloe and Alex attended Hopi, Ingleside, and Arcadia, surrounded by the same tight-knit community their mom, Susie, served for years as a realtor specializing in the Arcadia area. Chloe, now 32, is studying to become a wildlife ecologist at ASU, while 35-year-old Alex works as an estimator for AZ Painting Company. The Arcadia legacy continues with a grandchild, a fifth-generation Arcadian, who Susie hopes will one day walk the halls of Arcadia High as well. As for that old headline: “Love, Arcadia Style,” it still rings true, reflected in the neighbors and friends whose unwavering support over the years is a testament to what makes the community so special. 30 YEARS AGO Where are they now?