Around the Cracker Barrel

KGVY is celebrating 25 years of bringing neighbors, local businesses and community resources together! On this week’s Around the Cracker Barrel, Andy Taylor welcomes KGVY owners Chet and Deanna Walker for a preview of the 25th Annual Senior Boomer Info Fair, happening Tuesday, November 3, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Desert Hills Lutheran Church in Green Valley. Featuring 57 local exhibitors, the fair...

What does assisted living look like today, and how do you know when it might be time to explore the options? On this week’s Around the Cracker Barrel, host Guy Atchley welcomes Steve Kolnacki, Vice President of Health Services for La Posada Communities, and Cindy Barbee, Director of Marketing, for a conversation about assisted living at La Posada Green Valley. Steve explains how personalized servi...

Wildfires are a growing concern across Southern Arizona, but what makes our region especially vulnerable, and what can homeowners do to reduce the risks? This week on Around the Cracker Barrel, host Guy Atchley welcomes Kyle Trujillo, Wildfire Mitigation Coordinator with the University of Arizona's Pima County Cooperative Extension, for an informative conversation about wildfire prevention, enviro...

This week on Around the Cracker Barrel, host Guy Atchley welcomes Chuck Parsons, President of the Green Valley Gardeners, for a conversation about gardening, community beautification, conservation, and two exciting upcoming events at Desert Meadows Park. Chuck shares details about the popular Art in the Park, happening Saturday, October 17th, from 9 AM to 2 PM. The annual event brings together loc...

This week on Around the Cracker Barrel, Guy Atchley welcomes Pat Edwards, Director of Education for the Southern Arizona Genealogical Society, for a fascinating look at discovering the stories hidden in our family histories. Pat explains why genealogy can feel like both a detective story and a treasure hunt, as researchers use census records, newspapers, church records, immigration documents and e...

This week on Around the Cracker Barrel, host Guy Atchley welcomes Cindy Barbee, Director of Marketing for La Posada at Green Valley, and Holly Doyle, Manager of Posada Java, for a conversation about the people, activities and sense of community that make La Posada a special part of Green Valley. Holly shares how Posada Java has become much more than a coffee shop. Open to residents and the public,...

This week on Around the Cracker Barrel, host Guy Atchley welcomes Betsy Labiner, Program Director, and Sarah Hall, Program Coordinator, from the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at the University of Arizona (OLLI UA). Designed for adults 50 and older, OLLI UA combines lifelong learning with opportunities to meet new people, explore new interests and stay connected with the community. Betsy and Sa...

This week on Around the Cracker Barrel, host Guy Atchley welcomes members of the Optimist Club of Green Valley-Sahuarita and the Sahuarita Educational Enrichment Foundation (SEEF) to talk about the organizations’ shared commitment to supporting local students and strengthening education in the community. Guests Ken and Sue Woodward of the Optimist Club join SEEF Executive Director Shelley Lazardi...

This week on Around the Cracker Barrel, host Guy Atchley welcomes Monica Gonzalez, Director of the Resource Center for the Community Food Bank of Southern Arizona, for an important conversation about fighting hunger and helping neighbors throughout Green Valley and Southern Arizona. Monica shares how the Green Valley Food Bank serves thousands of local residents, with approximately 60% of those se...

This week on Around the Cracker Barrel, host Guy Atchley sits down at Posada Java with Tim Carmichael, Vice President of Sales and Marketing for La Posada Communities, and Cindy Barbee, Director of Marketing, for a look at what’s happening today—and what’s ahead—at La Posada Green Valley. Tim discusses his return to La Posada and some of the new financial incentives designed to make the community...

This week on Around the Cracker Barrel, host Guy Atchley welcomes Mechelle Colby, President, Founder and Trapping Director of Red Collar Rescue and Recovery, a Southern Arizona nonprofit dedicated to helping reunite lost dogs with their families and giving at-risk and abandoned dogs a second chance. Mechelle shares the very personal story that inspired the organization. In late 2023, her own dog,...

This week on Around the Cracker Barrel, host Guy Atchley welcomes Gwen Mikinski, Manager for the Walk to End Alzheimer’s, for an important conversation about Alzheimer’s disease, its impact on Southern Arizona families, and how the community can come together to support those living with the disease and their caregivers. Gwen shares details about the 2026 Walk to End Alzheimer’s – Tucson, taking p...

This week on Around the Cracker Barrel, Guy Atchley welcomes Chris Erickson, Executive Director of Valley Assistance Services, and Peggy McGee, board member and fundraising chair, for a conversation about the many ways VAS is helping individuals and families throughout Southern Arizona. Valley Assistance Services offers 18 different programs designed to help people remain financially stable, healt...

This week on Around the Cracker Barrel, Guy Atchley welcomes Amy Oliver, Head of Education and Outreach at the Whipple Observatory, and Steve Irwin, volunteer council member, for an engaging look at one of Southern Arizona's premier scientific destinations. The conversation explores how Whipple Observatory has become a world-renowned center for astronomical research while also expanding its missio...

This week on Around the Cracker Barrel, Guy Atchley sits down with Holly Doyle, manager of Posada Java at La Posada Green Valley, to explore why the popular café has become one of the community's favorite gathering places. Holly shares details on the return of the September Summer Concert Series, featuring four Friday evening performances benefiting the Community Food Bank of Southern Arizona. Lis...

This week on Around the Cracker Barrel, Guy Atchley welcomes Lydia McBee-Reed, the new manager of Tubac Presidio State Historic Park, for an engaging conversation about one of Arizona's most important historic landmarks. Lydia shares her unique journey from theater, conservation, and education into Arizona State Parks, and explains how her diverse background is helping shape an exciting new chapte...

The engines may not officially start until January, but the excitement is already building for the 32nd Annual Sahuarita Classics Car Show. On this week's Around the Cracker Barrel, Guy Atchley welcomes Jay Thompson, Pat Krigbaum, and Mark Simos of the Santa Cruz Valley Car Nuts to discuss one of Southern Arizona's most anticipated automotive events. Listeners will learn how the volunteer-driven o...

This week on Around the Cracker Barrel, host Guy Atchley welcomes Alexis Martinez, the newly appointed President and CEO of La Posada Communities. In an inspiring conversation, Alexis shares her extraordinary 23-year journey from opening La Perla as a receptionist to leading one of Southern Arizona's premier senior living organizations. Alexis discusses the mentors who shaped her career, the impor...

This week on Around the Cracker Barrel, host Guy Atchley welcomes Larry Westfall and John Goulet from the Parkinson’s Support Group of Green Valley for an informative and inspiring discussion about living with Parkinson’s disease. The conversation explores current treatment options, including traditional medications, deep brain stimulation, focused ultrasound, and new pump-based therapies that hel...

The Salvation Army of Green Valley is preparing for another busy summer of serving local families, with two important back-to-school events designed to help students start the school year with confidence. On this week's Around the Cracker Barrel, host Guy Atchley welcomed Salvation Army Service Coordinator Tamara Riemath and Advisory Council member and President of the Green Valley Sahuarita Chamb...

The Sahuarita Mustang Marching Band is preparing for a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity as they travel to Philadelphia to participate in the Salute to Independence Parade celebrating America's 250th Anniversary. On this week's Around the Cracker Barrel, Guy Atchley speaks with Director of Instrumental Music Ben Garland, Music Booster Lara Ludwick, and Drum Major-elect Durham Curtis about the band's...

This week on Around the Cracker Barrel, host Guy Atchley sits down with The Salvation Army Tucson City Coordinator Andres Espinoza for an inspiring conversation about the organization’s growing impact across Southern Arizona. The discussion begins with the history behind National Donut Day and the legacy of the “Donut Lassies” who served soldiers during World War I, while also highlighting this ye...

This week on Around the Cracker Barrel, host Guy Atchley explores the inspiring English as a Second Language (ESL) program at La Posada at Green Valley, a unique initiative that helps employees build confidence, strengthen communication skills, and create deeper connections within the community. Guests Sylvia Valdez from Human Resources, Resident Tutor Carol Wilking, and maintenance employee Ferna...

This week on Around the Cracker Barrel, host Guy Atchley welcomed Deputy Chief Joe O’Brien from the Santa Rita Fire District for an important discussion on wildfire preparedness, monsoon safety, and the many ways the department serves the Green Valley community. As May marks National Wildfire Awareness Month, O’Brien emphasized the importance of defensible space around homes, especially in areas n...

This week on Around the Cracker Barrel, host Guy Atchley sits down with Monica Gonzalez from the Community Food Bank of Southern Arizona to talk about the upcoming Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive taking place Saturday, May 9. Monica explains how Southern Arizona residents can help simply by leaving non-perishable food donations by their mailbox for local letter carriers to collect. The conversation hi...