On Thursday morning, September 26, 2013, APL Logistics dispatched the first ever ocean container to the Port of Tucson container yard, to be loaded locally with an export shipment going straight to Japan.  Azmira Pet Food, a Tucson company, is the first to take advantage of the new capability at the Port of Tucson to directly ship ocean freight to outbound ports. The makers of Azmira Pet Food previously had to rent an empty freight truck to pick up their product and drive it to the Port of Los Angeles for export. Last week, they simply drove it a mile down the road to the Port of Tucson and loaded it onto an ocean container where it rolled away by rail to the L.A. port, destined for Osaka, Japan. Please view the two minute video of this historic event Azmira filmed to show how quick and simple the whole process went.

The Port of Tucson has been used for Domestic Service but this year reached International Service status as an International Inland Port. With an aging and overburdened U.S. interstate system, the strategic location of Tucson between Texas and California, and Canada and Mexico, makes it key to both rail and road service. You don’t get cargo to Phoenix from the East Coast, Chicago, Texas (Asia) or Mexico by rail without going through Tucson. The Port of Tucson has already put in place a multi-million dollar infrastructure that includes 2 million-square-feet of warehouse buildings and nine miles of private rail tracks by the owners and is an active transportation and logistics center on the Union Pacific Rail line. To see our earlier story on The Port of Tucson of Sept. 5, 2013 click here.

Dr. Lisa S. Newman, N.D., Ph.D. founded Azmira Holistic Animal Care® in 1982, very little was known about natural health care for pets at that time. Concerned about her own pets’ health problems, she found few answers through traditional avenues, so she drew upon her education in human nutrition, homeopathy, and alternative care, and set out to research and develop safe, effective programs for all pets. The information that she gathered soon became of great interest to others and proved to be effective.

During Dr. Newman’s initial research, she was shocked not only by the lack of quality in existing products, but by the lack of all-natural pet supplement products in the marketplace altogether.  These findings, coupled with the overwhelming sense of betrayal she felt by national products that fell short of their advertising claims, led Dr. Newman to create her own product line in 1988.

Azmira Holistic Animal Care® is one of the very few companies whose products are formulated by an experienced natural products researcher, not just a “marketing”, “ingredient”, or “money” person solely concerned at the end of the day with profits. As a result, the products that Dr. Newman formulated continue to address many health and behavioral issues when other alternative or traditional medical approaches have failed.

In 1991, Dr. Newman was joined by Marcy Merin. As a former client, Marcy had witnessed such a health improvement in her own dogs that she wanted to share in the growth of the company so that many more animal caregivers could benefit as much as she had. Together, with the help of an exceptional staff, an in-depth understanding of how nature works for pets, years of documented professional experience, adhering to high ethical standards and truthful promotions, they have grown from pioneers to leaders in this exciting field.

The Dow Jones industrial average fell 128.57 points to close at 15,129.67 Monday. The Standard & Poor’s 500 index lost 10.20 points to 1,681.55. The NASDAQ fell 10.12 points to 3,771.48.

OBAMACARE GOING LIVE – GLITCHES AND ALL TUESDAY
Contentious from its beginning, President Barack Obama’s health care law has survived the Supreme Court, a battle for the White House and rounds of budget brinkmanship. Now comes the ultimate test: the verdict of the American people when it goes from politics to policy Tuesday. A government shutdown could dampen the rollout, but it won’t stop the main components from going live as scheduled, glitches and all. The biggest expansion of society’s safety net since Medicare will be in the hands of consumers, and most of their concerns don’t revolve around ideology and policy details. People want to know if they can afford the premiums, if the coverage will be solid, where the bureaucratic pitfalls are and if new federal and state websites will really demystify shopping for health insurance. Full answers may take months. Expect the rollout to get off to a slow start, with some bumps.

TUCSON STREETCAR OVERHEAD WIRES ENERGIZED
Warning labels have been placed on the poles that support the exposed copper wire that powers the Sun Link Streetcar. The wire, which is 19 feet off the ground, carries 750 volts of direct current, an amount that could easily be fatal to anyone that touches it. The labels also say a track access permit is required for anyone doing work such as tree trimming along the line. The permits will be free, but applicants will be required to take a safety class.

TRAFFIC SIGNALS AT INA AND ORACLE SHUTDOWN
Pima County, Ariz. (Sept. 30) – SIGNAL SHUTDOWN – OCTOBER 2, 2013
Starting at 9:00 a.m. on Wednesday, October 2, 2013, through the evening hours, the signals at the intersection of Ina Road and Oracle Road, as well as the new indirect left signals on both east and west bound Ina Road, will be powered down in order to complete the connection of the new traffic signals with the existing signals. This work is expected to continue until completion and may last in excess of 10 hours. Sheriff’s deputies will be on hand directing traffic through the intersection until the signals are reactivated. In order to ensure the safety of the public, construction workers, and Sheriff’s deputies, lane closures for both northbound and southbound traffic on Oracle Road will be in place. Reducing the number of lanes will allow crews to safely manage the intersection. Motorists may experience extended delays and are encouraged to use alternate travel routes. All businesses will remain accessible during construction.

EUROZONE INFLATION FALLS TO LOWEST SINCE FEB 2010
LONDON — Inflation across the 17 countries that use the euro fell further below target in September, official figures showed Monday, news that could encourage the European Central Bank to cut interest rates again if the recovery across the eurozone stalls. Eurostat, the EU’s statistics office, said consumer prices were up 1.1% in September for the year, down from the 1.3% rate recorded the previous month. September’s rate was also the lowest since February 2010 and below expectations — the consensus in the markets was for a more modest decline to 1.2%. The statistics agency said energy and food prices drove the fall in September. However, the core rate — which excludes food, alcohol and tobacco — also fell, to 1% from 1.1%, further proof that underlying price pressures are benign.

IKEA STARTS SELLING SOLAR PANELS FOR HOMES
STOCKHOLM — Swedish flat-pack furniture giant IKEA will start selling residential solar panels at its stores in Britain, the first step in its plan to bring renewable energy to the mainstream market worldwide. The company started selling solar panels made by China’s Hanergy in its store in Southampton on Monday. It will sell them in the rest of Britain in coming months, it said. A standard, all-black 3.36 kilowatt system for a semi-detached home will cost 5,700 British pounds ($9,200) and will include an in-store consultation and design service as well as installation, maintenance and energy monitoring service.

AIRLINES PROMISE A RETURN TO CIVILITY, FOR A FEE
NEW YORK  — Airlines are introducing a new bevy of fees, but this time passengers might actually like them. Unlike the first generation of charges which dinged fliers for once-free services like checking a bag, these new fees promise a taste of the good life, or at least a more civil flight. Extra legroom, early boarding and access to quiet lounges were just the beginning. Airlines are now renting Apple iPads preloaded with movies, selling hot first class meals in coach and letting passengers pay to have an empty seat next to them. Once on the ground, they can skip baggage claim, having their luggage delivered directly to their home or office. In the near future, airlines plan to go one step further, using massive amounts of personal data to customize new offers for each flier.

TRP Twin Peaks, LLC of Tucson (Pierce Goodman, managing member) purchased approximately 3.25 net acres at the southeast corner of Tangerine Road and Twin Peaks Blvd. in Marana for $375,000 ($2.65 PSF) The buyer is a local investment group speculating to develop a convenience store and gas station at this corner, but are in pre-approval phase for the project near the Twin Peaks interchange.

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[mepr-show rules=”58038″] The opening of the Twin Peaks interchange marked the completion of an $84 million project more than 20 years in the making. The project was constructed to help relieve traffic congestion in the Town of Marana and the northwestern area of metropolitan Tucson. The new Twin Peaks Interchange is located on Interstate 10 (I-10) at exit 245 between the Avra Valley Road and Cortaro Road interchanges.

The proposed gas station site is at the southeast corner the new Twin Peaks Blvd and Tangerine connecting Dove Mountain and northeastern Marana with the Continental Ranch area. This 3.9 mile roadway was constructed in 2010 and includes 7-foot wide multi-use lanes, a 10-foot wide shared-use path, and 5-foot sidewalks. Natural undisturbed open space and pristine desert is plentiful along this beautiful stretch of roadway. It is easily accessible from both Continental Ranch via the Twin Peaks Interchange as well as from Tangerine Road. The new roadway ties directly into Dove Mountain Boulevard which provides approximately an additional 5 miles of paved shoulder north of Tangerine to the Ritz Carlton, Dove Mountain. West of Interstate 10, North Twin Peaks Road continues as Twin Peaks Road and ties into bike lanes on Silverbell Road, which meanders through the Continental Ranch development. Cyclists can continue on through the City of Tucson for a longer ride.

Brenna Lacy of the Volk Company in Tucson represented the seller, GLP Kansas City, LLC of Scottsdale (Judy Johnson, managing member) and John Buette of Buette De Rousse Commercial Real Estate Properties of Tucson represented the investment group. Buette is currently negotiating with gas stations and convenience stores for the site.

Lacey can be reached at (520) 326-3200 and Buette should be contacted at (520) 797-4406 for more information.

Sale date: 8/30/2013. Sale price: $375,000 all cash deal. 3.44 gross acreage per assessor, 3.25 acre per buyer. [/mepr-show]