City Hall kept it quiet this week. Halloween is about to fix that.
Here is what matters, and what is coming up.
City Hall: impact fees stand pat
The public hearing on the new development impact fees happened Tuesday night, and it was short. Nobody from the public spoke. The council didn’t discuss it, and there was no vote.
So the proposal stands as written. If it is adopted, a new single-family home would pay $9,063 in impact fees, up from $6,736. Multi-family goes from $4,516 to $5,739. Commercial goes from $8.52 to $10.03 a square foot.
The vote that counts is December 1. If it passes, the new fees take effect February 15, 2027.
These fees are the money mechanism behind a lot of the growth debates in town, including the apartment projects readers keep asking about.
This weekend
AJ Halloween Festival — Saturday, October 24, 4–8 PM
Superstition Shadows Park. Free. Trunk-or-treating, costume contests, a pumpkin-carving contest (carve at home, bring it in), a dog costume contest, pumpkin painting, games, and live music from Zero Reasons. Costume judging starts at 5 PM.
Ladies Sunday Shenanigans — Sunday, October 25, 3 PM
Superstition Harley-Davidson, 2910 W Apache Trail. Pumpkin drip painting, snacks and drinks, and a “What’s in the Saddlebag?” game.
The weekend weather cooperates: clear and sunny, highs in the upper 70s.
Halloween week
The full lineup — every party, haunt, and trunk-or-treat we have verified — is in our Halloween roundup. Two at the Harley shop on the day itself:
Monster Mash Bike Bash — Saturday, October 31, 11 AM–3 PM. Costume contest at 2 PM with a $100 gift card on the line, an in-store poker run from noon to 3, and pumpkin painting for the kids.
Department Trick Or Treat — Saturday, October 31, 2–5 PM. Same place. Candy at every department; bring the kids in costume.
Early models show possible showers Halloween weekend — keep an eye on the sky before you load up the truck. That forecast is a week out and it can move; we will check it again midweek.
Bingo Mondays at the MGC
New on our radar, and a good one for winter visitors:
Lunch Bingo — Mondays, 10:30 AM at the Multi-Generational Center, 1035 N Idaho Road.
Social Bingo — Mondays, 12:45 PM, same place (separate fee).
And save this date: Christmas Carol Bingo — Monday, December 14, 5:30 PM at the AJ Public Library, 1177 N Idaho Road.
Coming up at the Harley shop
Chili Cook-Off with New Life CMA — Saturday, November 7, noon–3 PM. The winner takes home a Blackstone grill and bragging rights.
10th Annual Six Shooter Poker Run — Saturday, November 21. Registration at 9 AM at Superstition H-D; end party at the LDMC clubhouse in Queen Creek, last card at 4 PM. Live music, food, door prizes, and a 50/50 drawing. Everyone welcome.
Live music
This week’s acts, venue by venue, live on our live music page. Schedules can change. Check with the venue before you make the drive.
One for the winter visitors
Parks are filling up for the season. Before you sign a lease or buy into a park, run your real monthly number through our 55+ cost calculator. It asks for nothing and it keeps nothing.
New here, or thinking about it?
Start with our Moving to Apache Junction guide. It covers housing, 55+ communities, lot rent, utilities, the MVD, schools, healthcare, and the calculator.
Know someone heading down for the season? Send them the guide. It may save them a dozen phone calls.
Got a tip or a question?
Send news tips, event information, and questions to tips@apachejunction411.com.
See you next week.
— Frank Andrix
