Around the Cracker Barrel

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...

This week on Around the Cracker Barrel, Guy Atchley welcomes Cassie Burruel from the University of Arizona Cooperative Extension for an insightful conversation on gardening in Southern Arizona’s unique desert climate. With nearly three decades of experience, Cassie shares how the Cooperative Extension has been helping communities for over 100 years—offering everything from gardening advice to fami...

This week on Around the Cracker Barrel, Guy Atchley sits down with Jodi Condit, President and CEO of La Posada Communities, to discuss an exciting new addition to the campus—a Cultural Arts and Crafts Building designed to support the growing community of resident artists. With more than 80 active artists already on campus, the new facility will feature dedicated spaces for painting, pottery (inclu...

On this week’s Around the Cracker Barrel, host Guy Atchley welcomes John Martin, President of the Performing Arts Guild at Quail Creek, and Dodie Martin, the organization’s Publicity Chair, to spotlight their upcoming production of Farce of Nature. This lively, fast-paced comedy follows a struggling fishing lodge caught in a whirlwind of outrageous characters, mistaken identities, and hilariously...

This week on Around the Cracker Barrel, host Guy Atchley delivers a truly spontaneous and delightful conversation with Irene Miller—a 93-year-young resident of La Posada at Green Valley whose energy, creativity, and outlook on life are nothing short of inspiring. What began as a last-minute guest change turns into a heartfelt and fascinating look at Irene’s journey—from growing up in the Bronx, to...

This week on Around the Cracker Barrel, host Guy Atchley welcomes Lupita Bishop of the American Red Cross to discuss the ongoing and urgent need for blood donations across the country. Broadcasting from Posada Java in Green Valley, Lupita shares a powerful statistic—every two seconds, someone in the United States needs blood for surgeries, cancer treatments, trauma care, and chronic illnesses. Des...

This week’s Around the Cracker Barrel spotlights the vibrant and creative world of the GVR Artisan Shop, with guest Nan Clark, Director of Publicity. She shares how the shop has been a cornerstone of the Green Valley arts community for more than four decades, designed as an artist cooperative that gives local creators a place to showcase and sell their handmade work. From pottery and paintings to...

This week on Around the Cracker Barrel, Guy Atchley sits down with Mike Day, president of the Southern Arizona Genealogy Society, to explore the fascinating world of family history and the stories waiting to be uncovered. Mike shares how genealogy goes far beyond names and dates—bringing personal connections to major moments in history, from the Revolutionary War to immigration journeys and global...

On this episode of Around the Cracker Barrel, host Guy Atchley welcomes Ed Dunin-Wasowicz, chair of the 15th Annual Amado Chili Cook-Off, to talk about the popular Southern Arizona event and the important cause behind it. The cook-off, taking place in Amado off I-19 at the Arivaca exit, brings together chili cooks, classic cars, vendors, and live music for a full day of community fun—all while rai...

This week on Around The Cracker Barrel, Guy Atchley welcomes Beth Ernst (Chief Operating Officer), Cindy Barbee (Director of Marketing), and Bill Hintala (Director of Dining Services) from La Posada at Green Valley to preview the upcoming Taste of La Posada, happening Friday, March 27th from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. More than just a food event, Taste of La Posada invites the community onto campus to expe...

On this week’s Around the Cracker Barrel, host Guy Atchley welcomed Sandy Wahl, Audra Barney, and Ellen March to talk about the upcoming Green Valley Health Fair, happening Monday, March 2nd from 9 a.m. to noon at the GVR West Center. Presented by the Greater Green Valley Health Education Association (GGVHEA), the Health Fair is celebrating its 33rd year, having first launched in 1993. What began...

This week on Around the Cracker Barrel, Guy Atchley welcomes John Wynn and Nicole Raymond, co-chairs of Jazz in the Desert, the Valle Verde Rotary fundraiser now in its 17th year. The event showcases the incredible talent of local middle school and high school jazz bands from across the I-19 corridor — all while raising vital funds for student music programs and Rotary-supported community projects...

This week on Around the Cracker Barrel, host Guy Atchley welcomes leaders from American Legion Post 66 to highlight the organization’s deep roots, wide-ranging community impact, and upcoming events in Green Valley. Joining the conversation are Commander Marc Davis, First Vice Commander Ginny Prest, and Second Vice Commander Tom Thompson, who explain the American Legion’s mission of serving veteran...

On this episode of Around the Cracker Barrel on KGVY, host Guy Atchley sits down with Polo Ruiz, Special Agent in Charge of the Phoenix Field Division of the Drug Enforcement Administration, for a sobering and eye-opening discussion on the ongoing war on drugs and its direct impact on Arizona communities. Ruiz identifies synthetic drugs—especially fentanyl and methamphetamine—as the greatest threa...

This week on Around the Cracker Barrel, host Guy Atchley broadcasts live from Posada Java at La Posada at Green Valley to spotlight the Tom Wilstead Memorial Bike Roundup, a community-driven event honoring the legacy of a passionate cyclist and advocate. Guests include event director Tim Stewart, co-founder Hank Deutsch, and La Posada Communities Marketing Manager Cindy Barbee, who share the inspi...

This week on Around the Cracker Barrel, host Guy Atchley welcomes members of the Santa Cruz Valley Car Nuts to spotlight one of Southern Arizona’s most anticipated community events — the 31st Annual Santa Cruz Valley Car Nuts Classic Car Show, happening Saturday, January 31st in Sahuarita. Guests John Murray, Barb Cottis, and Mike Thomas share the rich history of the Car Nuts Club, which began in...

This week on Around the Cracker Barrel, Guy Atchley is joined by Kevin McNichols, Volunteer Coordinator for the Santa Rita Fire District and the Santa Rita Fire Corps, for an in-depth conversation about the vital role volunteers play in keeping the Green Valley and Sahuarita communities safe. McNichols explains how Fire Corps volunteers support firefighters and first responders by handling essenti...