Queen Creek Beat

Queen Creek has posted the following traffic alerts for the week of June 4 through 11:

Ocotillo Road - Power to Hawes roads: The contractor will be working in this area over the next couple of weeks. Ocotillo Road will be closed to thru traffic Monday, June 8 through Thursday, June 11 while the contractor replaces existing asphalt with new. Ocotillo Road will close starting at 4 a.m. each day, and will remain closed until 4 p.m.

Cloud Road east of Ellsworth Road: The contractor will be working on the south shoulder with no impacts to traffic.

The Queen Creek Chamber of Commerce is hosting its first Token Ride, which will benefit Phoenix Children’s Hospital, this Saturday.

Riders will start at Queen Creek Marketplace, then head to River Bottom in Florence, Superstition Springs Harley Davidson and Uncle Bear’s on Rittenhouse and Ocotillo.

Participants have the chance to win tokens at each stop, with the top three token collectors winning between $75 and $200 at the end of the ride.

The MidFirst Bank Coin Van will be on site in the morning to collect donations of loose change.

Registration starts at 8 a.m. and the ride starts at 9 a.m. this Saturday, June 6 at Queen Creek Marketplace, southwest corner of Rittenhouse and Ellsworth Loop roads. Cost is $25 per rider or $35 per couple on the same bike.

For more information, check out the event listing at www.queencreekchamber.org or contact the chamber at(480) 888-1709 or president@queencreekchamber.org.

Queen Creek has a new vice mayor.

The Town Council approved naming councilman Gordon Mortensen vice mayor Wednesday night on a 6-0 vote.

Mortensen replaces current vice mayor Gail Barney, who has held the position for two years. Barney will remain on the council.

Mortensen abstained from the otherwise unanimous vote that named him vice mayor.

A new online survey seeking resident input about the Queen Creek’s water customer service is now available at www.queencreek.org.

The town is seeking input on the process for requesting services, professionalism of staff, problem resolution and overall experience with the water division.

Surveys are located on the Town’s Web site under “Quick Links.” Paper copies of the survey are also available at all town facilities, special events and council meetings.

A sinkhole that has developed on 196th Street has forced the closure of the roadway at the intersection of Ocotillo Road.

It is expected to remain closed until approximately June 4. Residents living in this area south of Ocotillo Road should access their neighborhood from alternate points on Hawes or Sossaman roads.

Reading can earn Queen Creek kids and teens prizes this summer.

The Maricopa County Library District’s summer reading program runs May 26 through July 25, with programs available for babies, kids and teens available.

Participants can track their reading, or parents can track the reading they do with their small children, and then redeem prizes for different amounts read.

Queen Creek’s program will get a special kickoff from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. May 29 at the library’s west entrance plaza. This celebration of summer reading will feature performances by the Queen Creek Performing Arts Center Krew and the Phoenix Mercury Hip-Hop Squad.

Visit the Queen Creek Public Library, 21802 S. Ellsworth Road, or go to www.mcldaz.org to register for the program starting May 26.

Queen Creek has posted the following traffic alerts for the week of May 21 to 28:

Empire Blvd. east of Crismon Road - Crews will be completing electrical service improvements in this area. Drivers may encounter flaggers or other restrictions.

Rittenhouse Road east of Ellsworth Road - Crews will be closing the eastbound right travel lane to complete widening for a right turn lane for the new commercial development on the southeast corner of the intersection.

Rittenhouse Road - Cloud Road to Combs Road: Crews will be working on the east and west shoulders. No traffic restrictions are expected.

The United States Postal Service is adding a new ZIP code to the Queen Creek area. The full press release announcing the change follows:

As the state’s population continues to increase, many Central Arizonans will be asked to make a simple one-digit change to their addresses’ ZIP Codes starting on Wednesday, July 1, 2009, Postal Service officials announced today.

The new “851” ZIP Code area will cover an area totaling just under 5,000 square miles, from Apache Junction at the north, to Red Rock in the south, Maricopa to the west and Winkelman to the east.

“The change is fairly simple to understand. If your current ZIP Code is 85240, the “2” in the ZIP Code will be replaced with a “1.” Everything else stays the same – so your new ZIP Code starting July 1st will be 85140.

The change is needed to provide expanded capacity as population growth is anticipated to continue in this part of the state, and the Postal Service was on the verge of using up all possible five-digit “852” ZIP Code combinations. Each ZIP Code has a limited capacity of deliveries; making this change now will help USPS employees provide efficient, effective delivery of the mail for many years into the future.

A total of 30 existing five-digit “852” ZIP Codes in Pinal County will become “851” ZIPs on July 1st. Every postal customer in the affected area will receive a written notification of their address’ specific new ZIP Code by May 30. Customers are asked to notify regular correspondents about their new ZIP Code as soon as possible.

In order to assist businesses and others make the transition, including depleting current supplies of stationery, there is a one-year grace period during which both ZIP Codes will be valid for mail delivery to these addresses. Even so, the Postal Service strongly encourages customers to begin using their new ZIP Code starting Wednesday, July 1.

A boundary map for the new ZIP codes is available here.

Registration is now open for Queen Creek’s  second annual Mad Mud Volleyball tournament.

The muddy, one-day tournament will be conducted as a six-versus-six, double-elimination battle to determine the best mud volleyball team in Queen Creek. The tournament is just one of the features of this year’s Monsoon Madness event.

Tournament participation is limited to the first 12 teams to register by the June 25 deadline.

Monsoon Madness runs from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. July 11 at  Founders’ Park, 22407 S. Ellsworth Road, Queen Creek. Cost to participate in the volleyball tournament is $100 per team.

Visit www.queencreek.org or call (480) 358-3700 for information on how to register.

The Founders’ Park Skate Park, located at 22407 S. Ellsworth Road, will be closed through May 29 to allow for maintenance and repair.

Other amenities in the park will remain available for use.

For more information, contact the Queen Creek Parks and Recreation Department at (480) 358-3700.