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Water shut-off, lawsuit hit Club West course owner

AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS T BY PAUL MARYNIAK AFN Executive Editor

SEE INSIDE

he city has shut off water to the Club West Golf Course for nonpayment of bills and a partner in its management company has sued the owner and the general manager, alleging mismanagement, misrepresentations and “wrongful and unlawful conduct.” William Day and Club West Golf Management last week filed suit in state Superior Court against the Inter Tribal Golf Association, its founder Richard Breuninger and course general manager Christa Jones. The suit says Day – in return for a 40 percent stake in the management company –

AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS CHILL WITH CHILI

. 23

TURNAROUND

See

School heads, police chief oppose arming teachers BY JIM WALSH & PAUL MARYNIAK AFN Staff

P . 35

HIS WEEKEND

. 39

(Tom Sanfilippo/Inside Out Aerial)

FRAUD on page 12 Club West Golf Course may not remain green for long now that water service has been shut, the suit warns.

resident Donald Trump’s proposal that a select number of trained teachers be armed with concealed guns is drawing largely negative reaction from East Valley school superintendents and a police chief who fears it would create more problems than it would solve. Of the two districts serving Ahwatukee, Tempe Union Superintendent flat out opposes arming teachers while Kyrene Superintendent Jan Vesely said she’s seen no data suggesting it would be an effective deterrent to school shootings. AFN polled superintendents and police chiefs last week on whether they favored arming teachers in light of the Feb. 14 massacre at the South Florida high school that claimed the lives of 14 students and three staffers and wounded 12 others.

Trump proposed that arming a few highly trained teachers could reduce or even eliminate such carnage. Superintendents in Chandler and Gilbert also flatly oppose the idea, while others had district spokespeople issue a statement. Others gave more nuanced responses. Higley School District spokeswoman Michelle Reese only would say Superintendent Mike Thomason was out of town. While most police chiefs declined to comment on the politically charged proposal, Gilbert Police Chief Mike Soelberg said, “It’s not the best choice. They should focus on education.” He said even teachers who are expert marksmen lack the vital training that officers receive on when it’s necessary and legal to fire their weapons. “I don’t think teachers are the best option,” said Soelberg, a former Mesa assistant police chief who once supervised Mesa’s team of

school resource officers – the first line of defense in keeping schools safe. “They want to protect their kids at all times. You see them sacrificing themselves in these shootings to protect a child,” he added. The National Rifle Association espoused arming teachers after the Florida massacre and previous campus shootings. Police and school officials boast how the largely unnoticed SROs build rapport with students on campus. They also take all threats seriously and investigate to determine whether they are real or hoaxes. See

GUNS on page 10

More inside: Parent presses Kyrene board, p. 7 Superintendent on school shootings, p. 32

AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS | MARCH 7, 2018

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AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS | MARCH 7, 2018

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(Special to AFN

Now cancer-free, 7-year-old Jackson Dupps of Ahwatukee can enjoy the beach with his dad Gregg Dupps.

arts and crafts, jump castles and music. Since 2011, the Run to Fight Childhood Cancer has attracted an estimated 17,000 participants and raised more than $500,000 for pediatric cancer research and care. All funds benefit Arizona families through Children’s Cancer Network and Phoenix Children’s Hospital.’ “Phoenix Children’s Hospital saved Jack’s life, and Children’s Cancer Network saved the rest of our family,” said Kelli Dupps, who also credits the Ahwatukee community for getting them through this horrific experience. Through his cancer journey and to this day, her 7-year-old son has lived up to his nickname, “Action Jackson.” He’s the toughest, coolest 7-year-old around. In addition to surgery to remove the tumor and one of his kidneys, Jackson’s treatment included radiation and intensive chemotherapy. He did not tolerate the chemo very well. His counts would plummet, and the providers would have to scale back the amount of chemo Jack was getting. As a result, when treatment ended in December 2013 and he was declared cancer-free, his parents worried that he hadn’t had enough. For the next two

Local boy beat cancer, now his family helps others do the same

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ackson Dupps of Ahwatukee was not yet 2 when his parents made an appointment with their pediatrician for a constant cold, looming fever and a hard lump in his belly. Kelli and Gregg Dupps soon heard the words that every parent dreads: your son has cancer. Jackson was diagnosed with a Stage 2 Wilms tumor in January 2013. Within days, doctors at Phoenix Children’s Hospital removed the tumor along with one of Jackson’s kidneys. He endured a long and arduous course of radiation and chemotherapy before he was declared cancer-free in December that same year. He is a reason why the Dupps family will be at Grand Canyon University on Saturday, March 10, for the Run to Fight Children’s Cancer presented by Children’s Cancer Network. It is the largest race in Arizona dedicated solely to pediatric cancer. The 10K run begins at 7 a.m., followed by the 5K walk/run at 7:45 a.m. and a 9 a.m. cancer survivors walk. A post-race festival will offer a vendor expo,

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AFN News Staff Ahwatukee Foothills News is distributed by AZ Integrated Media, a circulation service company owned by Times Media Group. The public is permitted one copy per reader. For further information regarding the circulation of this publication or others in the Times Media Group family of publications, and for subscription information, please contact AZ Integrated Media at circ@azintegratedmedia. com or 480-898-5641. For circulation services please contact Aaron Kolodny at aaron@azintegatedmedia.com.

years, he returned to the clinic for frequent blood tests, as there are concerns about relapse. In December 2017 – four years after completing treatment – his doctor said he wouldn’t need to be tested again for a full year. This was a significant milestone for their family. Jackson started kindergarten on time, also a significant accomplishment for a boy whose childhood was marked by invasive cancer treatments. Today, Jackson is a fun-loving, boy’s boy with a huge, infectious laugh. His mom says he puts everyone in a good mood, yet he is tough as nails and “is an old soul.” But he’s also just like most boys his age. He loves Star Wars, Cub Scouts and Legos. He had planned to play his first season of Little League, but a broken arm benched him for the season. Still, he loves watching big brother Ethan, who turns 12 this month, play. Last year, the Dupps family was unable to participate in the Run to Fight Children’s Cancer because they had plans to camp at a beach in California that week. Their group in California included

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AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS | MARCH 7, 2018

Incidents at Lagos school prompt alerts AFN News Staff

wo unrelated incidents on the same day last week at Lagos Dual Language Academy in Ahwatukee provoked warnings to Kyrene School District parents about stranger danger. One incident involved a report from two students at the elementary school who reported that “a man they did not know verbally addressed the students from his vehicle in the school parking lot.” The other involved an unidentified child who did not come home from school, but was later found safe. No other details were available. On the incident involving the suspicious man, “there were no threats made and the students were able to safely approach school administration about the incident,” said Principal Aba Gomez del Castillo. “We have reported this information to the Phoenix Police.” She said police had a description of the vehicle – a four-door dark sedan with

custom wheels – and urged parents to watch out for anyone acting suspiciously on campus or in the neighborhood. Both she and Estrella Elementary Principal Michael Lamp also issued separate letters to their students’ parents that stressed “the importance of reviewing safety precautions with our children.” The schools also planned to review with students the safety precautions they should be minding. Those precautions include never telling a stranger their name or personal information, never engaging in

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conversation with someone they don’t know and never approaching or entering a stranger’s car. Both principals also told parents to reinforce with their children the need to go straight home or straight to school, always walk with at least one other student and report any suspicious activity immediately. “As students make their way to and from school, it’s critical that they be aware of their surroundings and report anything that appears unusual,” Lamp wrote. “This is a consistent message that families and schools share, and we appreciate students informing you and staff when this occurs.” Gomez del Castillo told parents the same thing, also stressing the need for parents to have “family agreements for getting to and from home as well as helping children understand the importance of being aware of their surroundings is appreciated.”

from page 4

about 50 of their friends from Ahwatukee, and they staged their own run in honor of Jackson. From the moment the Dupps learned of their son’s diagnosis, their neighbors, friends and family provided much-needed support, casseroles and cookies. In addition to their crash course on pediatric cancer, they learned a gentle and merciful lesson from a community eager to ease their burden: that love runs deep, kindness mends hearts and no one has to go it alone. Information/registration for the run: runtofightcancer.com.

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Parents ask Kyrene to address racism, pupil safety

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ome parents are pressing the Kyrene School District governing board to address racism and ways to prevent a school shooting. In unrelated appearances before the board on Feb. 27, parent Deborah Davis complained that her daughter has been called the N-word and wanted to know what the district will do about it. And parent Scott Weinberg urged the board to hold a community discussion on ways to prevent a shooting in any Kyrene school. Weinberg also asked the board to request a fulltime school resource officer for all 25 district schools, petition Gov. Ducey to create a task force on school violence and to ask the state Legislature to give “properly licensed teachers and staff the option to carry concealed weapons on campus.” There was no reaction at the meeting to either parent’s requests. State law forbids municipal council and school board members from commenting on speakers’ remarks during the portion of a public meeting reserved for time-limited appearances by citizens. However, in a letter from Superintendent Jan Vesely to him that Weinberg posted on his Facebook site, Secure Our Schools AZ, Vesely said that the agenda for the board meeting slated on March 6 – after AFN’s deadline – had already been set. Hence, the forum Weinberg requested has yet to be scheduled. Vesely told Weinberg: “The district is considering conducting a community forum with our safety committee, to allow input into any future plans and

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recommendations. We will share that information as soon as details have been confirmed She also called attention to ongoing plans the district has “for identifying students with acute behavior problems; and a system for providing interventions and therapies for at-risk students.” Vesely had rolled out that plan last month to the board, which will be voting in the spring on whether to adopt it. “Let me assure you that while we do not have a school resource officer (SRO) assigned to each of our schools, we do work with law enforcement to ensure rapid response in the event of an emergency,” Vesely also wrote. She declined to discuss specifics “so as not to increase the vulnerability of our schools.” Kyrene several years ago renovated the front offices at most of its schools, enclosing the people who work in them with glass

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windows. Weinberg told the board, however, that the shooter who took the lives of 20 children and six adults at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Connecticut shot out the front office class at that school and then continued into the building. “We can and should learn from these events and take appropriate action to lower the possibility that the next horrific event will occur in our community,” he said, conceding that no amount of precautions can eliminate the possibility of a school shooting entirely. But, he said, the district should make security “its top priority.” Another parent who appeared said the district should also address the safety of Kyrene’s after-school program venues. Meanwhile, Davis, who did not indicate where her daughter attends school, told the board her daughter has been racially harassed since Feb. 20 but it took a week for someone from the district to get back to her. “Is there anything in place when this happens?” she asked, noting that it was still Black History Month at the time and

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from page 7

“I don’t see anything that pertains to Black History Month in any of the schools.” Weinberg told AFN that the latest school shooting in Parkland was the last straw. “I’ve been thinking about school security since my children started attending school, but what happened in Parkland motivated me to get more involved,” he said. “My children are in grade school this year but next year my daughter will be attending a middle school that does not have a school resource officer,” he added. A CPA, Weinberg said he doesn’t intend to stop pressing officials on the issues he raised. He said he would “like to speak with local law enforcement leadership about assigning at least one school resource officer to every school in the Kyrene School District” and wants “to meet with my state representatives about sponsoring additional legislation to strengthen school security across Arizona.” As to whether he would be making the same plea to the Tempe Union High School Governing Board, he replied: “At the moment, Secure Our Schools AZ is a one-man operation and I’m not able to attend both board meetings. I’d love to work with other parents who have similar concerns about school security.”

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AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS | MARCH 7, 2018

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Police report a spike in such threats, especially on social media, in the wake of the South Florida tragedy. Gilbert alone has investigated eight threats, made one arrest and is confident of making another, Soelberg said. But many schools have no SRO because the districts can’t afford them and municipalities often won’t pay for them. While the vast majority of East Valley high schools have SROs, many junior highs and middle schools do not, and elementary schools rarely do. Typical is Phoenix, where 83 SROs cover 94 schools in 22 districts. Some SROs cover multiple schools. Phoenix Police Sgt. Vince Lewis, a police spokesman, said that while Chief Jeri Williams was out of town, “she favors exploration of using retired law enforcement as a possible means to augment school security.” Arizona Education Association President Joe Thomas, whose organization represents many teachers throughout the state, said, “Arming teachers is a bad idea and distracts from the real needs our students and teachers have in the classroom.

“The actual threats in our schools are our students sitting in school buildings that are falling apart, and without enough school counselors and full-time certified teachers,” Thomas added. Heidi Vega, spokeswoman for the Arizona School Boards Association said her group “will only take a position on bills that are formerly introduced in session.” “We are currently working on a board resolution that school boards can pass indicating more assistance is provided to schools to invest in resources (training, staff, etc.) needed for safe and secure school environments.” In the East Valley, arming teachers drew strong negative responses from Chandler Unified Superintendent Camille Casteel, Tempe Union High School Superintendent Kenneth Baca and Gilbert Public Schools Superintendent Shane McCord. “Safety is a top priority,” Baca said. “However, I do not favor teaches carrying guns in school. Teachers are meant to teach and ensure our students learn. They cannot be expected to do the job intended for our brave law enforcement officers.” Stating “I do not favor arming teachers on campus,” McCord said, adding: See

GUNS on page 11

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MARCH 7, 2018 | AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS

GUNS

from page 10

“What I do favor is more capital money from the state so we can modify our schools to help make them more secure. I believe arming teachers has the potential to cause more harm than good.” Casteel said, “I don’t support arming our teachers with guns. The time required to be adequately trained and maintain their skill level would be excessive in terms of time and money. “To expect our teachers to take on this responsibility – in addition to everything else they are being required to do – would drive many out of the profession, in my opinion.” Kyrene Superintendent Jan Vesely said, “The conversation around improving the response to violence on our school campuses has offered many possible actions, all well-intended with an interest in protecting our students and preventing tragedies.” She stressed, “At this time, there is no discussion of allowing guns to be brought into our classrooms.” And Vesely added, “I have yet to see any data that indicates arming classroom teachers offers a higher level of safety, and

my personal preference is to work with law enforcement rather than become law enforcement.” Mesa Public Schools spokeswoman Heidi Hurst said, “The topic of arming school staff certainly is controversial, with compelling rationale on both sides. “While the concept seems to provide additional security, without appropriate training, it could also increase risk,” she added. “Mesa Public Schools is not considering it at this time.” Some East Valley districts receive Federal Safety Program grants, administered by the state Department of Education. Department data shows that this year, the grants underwrite SROs in two Kyrene middle schools, seven junior highs and six senior high schools in Mesa, two junior highs and one senior high in Chandler and all seven Tempe Union schools. Casteel said ACP Erie and Oakland do not have SROs at this time but that “we plan to address that in 2018-19.” “We did not receive funding from the state grant for four SRO positions that we had previously been granted so there is a strain on an already tight budget,” she added. All five Gilbert comprehensive high schools have full-time SROs, as does its

junior high located within Mesa city limits. But McCord said his district does not have SROs in any junior high within the town nor at its specialized junior high/ high school. Mesa police have 15 full-time SROs and bring in off-duty officers, working on overtime, to staff three more schools, said Det. Steve Berry, a police spokesman. Gilbert has nine SROs, with seven of them assigned to high schools, Soelberg said, with others rotating to the junior high schools. He said Gilbert is in a difficult position because it has more than 80 schools, counting charters. In addition, Gilbert does not have a state grant to pay for the officers’ salaries. “I am working on a plan to cover these gaps,” Soelberg said. “All the chiefs are talking to their superintendents. Safety is number one for them and us.” Chandler Sgt. Dan Mejia, a former SRO, said it is belittling to hear politicians talk about SROs as guards – as if students are prisoners. “It’s a much broader performance of duties by these SROs,” he said.SROs monitor social media, teach classes on citizenship and the law, investigate threats and investigate crimes far beyond shootings, such as

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drug dealing and theft, he said. “We are hoping to establish a rapport,” Mejia said. “If you see something, say something. It’s having these kids feel like they can report something and be contributing to school safety.” He said SROs often mentor students. He knows of an SRO who noticed a student was ditching classes and took the unusual step of providing a ride to school. “There’s no greater satisfaction than, years later, they thank you for being there for them,” Mejia said. Former Mesa Police Chief John Meza, who is now director of security for the Tempe Union High School District, said his district has five Tempe police SROs and two Phoenix police SROs. “They have to be the tough guy/tough girl police officer, but they also have to be very approachable, and laugh and joke,” he said. Police and school administers are sending a message that threats are no joke, however, at a time when everyone is on high alert. “Every school is extremely safe with the SRO on campus. The SRO is an invaluable resource, not just as an armed presence on campus, but to do everyday investigations,” Meza said.

480.893.2474 www.jakohlerdds.net

NEWS

FRAUD

AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS | MARCH 7, 2018

from page 1

loaned Breuninger and the association $250,000 and invested an additional $100,000 that helped them purchase and reseed the course last fall. The suit accuses Breuninger of making misleading statements about the prospects of finding cheaper water for the site and accuses Jones of “financial mismanagement, fraudulent operation and possible embezzlement.” It claims Brueninger and Jones mishandled the management company’s finances and that “the water utility bill has been unpaid for at least three months and there are insufficient funds in the operating account of Club West Golf Management to pay the delinquent water utility bill which exceeds $200,000.” The water was shut off about two weeks ago, “causing an immediate and substantial and irreparable threat and injury to maintenance of the golf course,” the suit states, adding: “The golf course is immediately becoming ‘brown’ and will shortly be completely unplayable, resulting in nearly total loss of use to Club West Golf Management of its most valuable asset.”

Breuninger declined immediate comment, saying is preparing a presentation for the CLUB West homeowners association board and that his lawyer is preparing to answer Day’s lawsuit. Jones did not return a call seeking comment. Day had sought a temporary restraining order that would have forced Jones and Brueninger to show him all financial and other records related to the course’s management that he claims he can’t get. But last Thursday, March 1, Judge Dawn Bergin denied the request, stating that Day not present any support for his allegations – or “any specific evidence of an intent by Jones or Breuninger to divert any funds that may be available” for the water bill. “No affidavit has been provided stating that the golf course will lose its value due to lack of water if the court provides defendants an opportunity to be heard,” Bergin stated. She said the restraining order request was “overly broad, unclear and does not provide sufficient notice to defendants of what they just do and what they may not do.” Only three months ago, Brueninger, a lawyer with degrees in fine arts and American Indian studies from Arizona

State University, appeared to have transformed a course that in 2016 seemed to be on life support. A small group of residents two years ago had launched an effort to buy the course because former owner Wilson Gee was reducing irrigation, saying he could no longer afford costly city water. The city shut off water because at one point he also had not paid his bill. As a result, the fairways began to brown and the lake dried up. Brueninger in 2012 formed the Inter Tribal Golf Association, a network of 63 tribes nationwide that own a total of 110 golf courses. He developed the concept of “seasonal reciprocity,” so that a club member at one of those courses could play at another member course anywhere in the country. The lawsuit says Day loaned the money after Brueninger represented to him “that through certain inter-tribal relationships he and/or the Inter Tribal Golf Association could guarantee that a permanent water source for the golf course would be secured from a local tribal provider at rates that would be substantially lower than available from” the city. The suit also says Jones in January made three withdrawals from the man-

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agement company’s accounts totaling $28,100 “for unidentified purposes” and accuses her of “financial mismanagement, fraudulent operation and possible embezzlement.” He also said Jones “has now failed to show up for work, has abandoned the golf course and its operation and has, after draining the bank account, told Plaintiff Day that she is ‘done.’” “Jones, however, has refused to provide Plaintiff Day with banking account records and has refused to comply with the request to disclose complete company books and records, leaving Day with no ability to protect his and Club West Golf Management’s interests,” the suit states. The suit also accuses Brueninger and the Inter Tribal Golf Association of issuing unregistered securities as collateral for the loan, failing to pay more than $5,300 in state sales taxes and hiring employees “without appropriate accounting.” It also says Jones and Brueninger gave Biscuits a three-year lease on the clubhouse restaurant and bar for a lump sum payment of $100,000 even though they purportedly told Day the lease would generate a $10,000-a-month rental payment over that time period.

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NEWS

AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS | MARCH 7, 2018

Tribal complaints cause delay in flight path changes

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hwatukee residents must wait a little longer for some noise relief with a change in flight paths for incoming and outgoing traffic at Sky Harbor International Airport. The Federal Aviation Administration has delayed the first step of its twophased change in westerly flights from March 29 until May 24. “Implementation of the proposed southwest departure corridor is pending further consultation under Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act so that the FAA can address certain issues that have been raised during this process,” the FAA said. More than 400 people attended three workshops the agency held on flight paths. And more than 1,100 emails and letters were sent to the agency. The change in flight paths was ordered by a federal court that ruled the FAA had violated provisions for community out-

reach when it changed routes in 2014. The City of Phoenix sued the FAA, claiming the new paths severely damaged the quality of life in certain neighborhoods, particularly historic ones. In a letter to the state Historic Preservation Office last week, the FAA said it had to delay part of the flight path changes it was to implement later this month because all Native American tribes in Maricopa County complained of the impact on “traditional cultural properties,” often referred to as TCPs. “These TCPs are potentially sensitive to effects of overflights that introduce a visual, atmospheric, or auditory element,” the letter said, adding it was going to further study flight paths that head west before turning south. “To that end, we will be continuing consultation with the tribes, with your office and with the other consulting parties on the southern departure routes,” See

DELAYS on page 15

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NEWS

MARCH 7, 2018 | AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS

DELAYS

from page 14

the letter stated. City Councilman Michael Nowakowski said the delay involved “ongoing environmental and historical consultation with the tribal Community.” “Critical to reverting back to the 2014 routes is the FAA’s strict adherences to all applicable laws and community outreach and consultation with the Tribal agencies,” he said. “I know it is disappointing to residents of the Laveen community that these route changes will trail the other route changes,” Nowakowski said “However, it is required that the FAA communicate with the Tribal community. The FAA has made good progress with the tribal agencies in the consultation process and we will soon be back to the pre-2014 flight paths.”

GOT NEWS? Contact Paul Maryniak at 480-898-5647 or pmaryniak@hwatukee.com

ADOT brightens up freeway portions with paint AFN News Staff

he Arizona Department of Transportation has added another element to the concrete and steel signalling the steady progress of South Mountain Freeway construction: color. Calling it “a little inspiration from Frank Lloyd Wright,” ADOT said last week that crews recently gave the future 40th Street traffic interchange a coat of desert earthtone base paint. That paint “will be used throughout the 22-mile corridor, along with a reddish accent color resembling an ocotillo flower on the retaining walls, abutments and bridge barriers,” the release said. It’s the first of 40 bridges on the project to be painted by Connect 202 Partners, the builders consortium that is designing and constructing the $1.7 billion thoroughfare between the Chandler interchange on I-10 and 59th Avenue in west Phoenix. “The aesthetics of the South Mountain Freeway include designs celebrating some of Frank Lloyd Wright’s early experiments in desert architecture, as the modern architect had a camp, called ‘Ocotillo,’ in the

late 1920s in the area now known as Ahwatukee,” ADOT said. The agency worked with the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation to design aesthetics for bridges, sound walls and other freeway elements that honor Wright. Approximately 160 gallons of paint, enough to paint the exterior of 13 homes, was needed to spray paint the 40th Street bridge, ADOT said. The base paint complements the color of South Mountain, the desert terrain and the area’s vegetation, according to Joseph Salazar, ADOT’s roadside development, project landscape and architecture coordinator. “ADOT had a unique opportunity with this project to partner with the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation and use freeway aesthetics to tell a story by showing differences in land uses, landforms and history as you progress throughout the 22-mile corridor,” Salazar said. “There are several elements, including the earth tone base paint, that occur throughout the freeway corridor and serve to tie various aesthetic areas together in one project.”

There will be several accent paint colors, along with five distinctive aesthetic character areas. The Ahwatukee Foothills/Cholla Ocotillo segment, for example, will feature desert plants and simple shapes based on the forms of native cholla and ocotillo plants, while aesthetics and landscaping in the Laveen Village/River Bank segment will speak to the area’s agricultural heritage. The next bridges scheduled to be painted are the Roosevelt in west Phoenix and the 17th Avenue overpass in Ahwatukee. These are expected to occur in the spring. Meanwhile, another reminder of the freeway’s impending opening in late 2019 came on the western end of the thoroughfare as ADOT permanently closed the I-10 interchange at 59th Avenue. The westbound off-ramp at 59th Avenue was closed as crews continue to work on an elaborate interchange that includes the intersection of the South Mountain Freeway with I-10. Long-term and permanent closures of existing on-and-off ramps are necessary between 51st and 67th avenues until new access roads are completed by fall 2018.

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NEWS

AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS | MARCH 7, 2018

State House moves to drop taxes on internet purchases BY HOWARD FISCHER Capitol Media Services

he state House voted last week to forego ever collecting sales taxes on digital products and services even as more and more of what Arizonans buy moves online and untaxed. HB 2479 would spell out in statute that the state cannot impose its 5.6 percent sales tax on everything from digital books and videos to cloud-based software, online storage and web hosting services. The 39-19 vote sends the measure to the Senate. The vote was immediately condemned by the AZ Schools Now coalition, which decried the loss of an estimated $120 million from the “already anemic state budget” and $14 million “from Prop 301 revenues, a direct cut to teacher pay. In urging the State Senate to reject the measure, coalition spokeswoman Julie Erfle said: “At a time when schools are struggling to find and keep teachers, the AZ Schools Now coalition believes we should be do-

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ing everything possible to increase revenues available for our schools, not depleting the account that schools rely on for teacher pay. By cutting current and future revenues, it is virtually impossible for Governor Ducey to keep his promise of restoring funding for district and charter school additional assistance. Decreasing revenues means fewer dollars available for schools. It’s that simple.” Left unanswered is how much revenue the state stands to lose if the measure becomes law. Rep. Michelle Ugenti-Rita, R-Scottsdale, the sponsor of the measure, said estimates of foregone revenue are “inconclusive.’’ But she said if the Department of Revenue is now imposing such a levy, this measure will put a stop to it, saying it is the Legislature that should set tax policy, not state bureacrats. “There is no precedent for taxing this,’’ she said. Yet some taxpayers end up being hit up with the levy based on various administrative and court rulings.

“It is hit and miss,’’ said Rep. Vince Leach, R-Tucson of those rulings. Ugenti-Rita said her legislation will “provide clarity to taxpayers, uniformity, and give businesses an idea of what we’re taking,’’ Ugenti-Rita said. But even if there is no immediate loss, several Democrats said this is the wrong step to take, noting the shift in how people buy things. For example, while people may have bought or rented a video, they can now stream it online. And the purchase of external hard drives for computers to store files is being replaced by cloud storage. “Technology is constantly changing,’’ said Rep. Randall Friese, D-Tucson. He said it makes no sense to exempt all digital services from sales taxes even before lawmakers know what else will move online -- and become exempt from the sales taxes that currently provide more than 47 percent of the state’s $9.5 billion budget. “The industry is moving more towards hosting software and other applications for remote access,’’ Friese said. “As more

of that happens and we move more toward that, aren’t we eroding our tax base, our tax revenue?’’ And Friese said while providing clarity “may be a good thing,’’ he told colleagues it would be just as easy to provide that in a way that the presumption is that all these services are taxable, rather than the other way around. Rep. Isela Blanc, D-Tempe, said lawmakers need to understand what they are doing. “Revenues are declining because we continue to give tax credits away,’’ she said. “And now we are proposing to not even collect revenue.’’ But Rep. Mark Cardenas, D-Phoenix, voted to support the legislation. “This catches our tax code up to 2018 and beyond,’’ he said. Cardenas also said that the current state of the law is that states cannot tax services that come from beyond their borders. He said if the U.S. Supreme Court does give states that authority the Legislature is free at that time to revisit the issue.

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NEWS

MARCH 7, 2018 | AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS

Nonpublic schools benefit from legislative stalemate BY HOWARD FISCHER Capitol Media Services

stalemate between Republicans and Democrats means that Arizona corporations will be able to continue diverting an ever-increasing share of their state income tax to help students attend private and parochial schools. On a party-line vote, the Senate gave preliminary approval last week to changes allowing corporations a dollarfor-dollar credit against their state taxes for money they give to “scholarship tuition organizations.’’ These STOs, in turn, provide funds parents can use to pay the tuition and fees of their children at private schools. But what SB 1467 was missing was the promise by Senate President Steve Yarbrough, R-Chandler, to finally eliminate a provision in the law that, if not capped, could eventually mean corporations would pay nothing into the state treasury. Under the original STO law, the diversion of corporate taxes was limited to $10 million. But proponents led by Yarbrough, put in an automatic escalator, allowing that cap to rise by 20 percent a year. This past year the diversions totaled $74 million. And the law will allow corporations to divert more than $89 million this year, $107 million next year and $128 million the year after that. More to the point, there is no limit. And at that rate, corporations could owe the state nothing by 2027. Yarbrough, who until late last year ran one of these STOs, offered to phase down that year-over-year increase so that by 2022 it would be no more than 2.5 percent a year or inflation, whichever is larger. But Yarbrough also put language into SB 1467 to increase the amount

of other tax credits available for these scholarships. And when Democrats refused to go along, Yarbrough reversed course and decided to leave that 20 percent annual increase in law. Yarbrough told Capitol Media Services after the vote that any blame for failing to curb the 20 percent year-over-year increase falls on the Democrats. He says the Arizona Constitution spells out that any tax increase requires a two-thirds vote of the Legislature. That same supermajority requirement applies when a tax credit is eliminated. The Senate president contends that also applies to repealing the 20 percent annual increase. But Republicans hold only 17 of the 30 Senate seats. “I couldn’t get two-thirds vote to change, reduce the escalator as I had proposed,’’ he said. Yarbrough brushed aside claims by Democrats that he essentially created what Sen. Steve Farley, D-Tucson, called a “Trojan horse,’’ pushing the measure as scaling back the credits even as other provisions increased the cost. “The other stuff was, frankly, extraordinarily insignificant, in my opinion, in the whole scheme of things,’’ he said. “It was almost throw-away stuff.’’ But Yarbrough conceded there was a political motive behind that, too: appeasing supporters who like the idea of tax dollars being used, at least indirectly, to underwrite the cost of some students going to private and parochial schools. “It was something to try to appear at least that there was something being given to the pro school choice side for giving up something enormous,’’ he said. But Farley said, “It doesn’t actually cut back on the hole this is blowing in the state budget. And it certainly doesn’t do anything to help us pay our teachers more to solve our teacher crisis.’’

Share Your Thoughts Send your ideas and letters on local issues to pmaryniak@ahwatukee.com

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NEWS

AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS | MARCH 7, 2018

8 years and still no trial in Gilbert officer’s slaying

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ne by one, Gilbert police officers tied blue ribbons around a sign that memorializes their slain colleague, Lt. Eric Shuhandler only a few yards from where he was shot to death eight years ago. They saluted in a demonstration of respect and honor as part of an annual ceremony near a shopping center at Baseline Road and Val Vista Drive, honoring an officer whose service sets a high standard for all Gilbert officers to emulate and sending a poignant message to his family that the man with a magnetic personality who loved his family and baseball will never be forgotten. “He was larger than life in a lot of ways,” said Ken Fixel, a retired Gilbert police lieutenant and a friend of Shuhandler. “He made you feel important. He was a guy who everybody wanted to be around.” Police, friends and family members also are keenly aware that the convicted murderer who is accused of killing Shuhandler in cold blood during a traffic stop in January 2010 is still awaiting trial. Since he and an accomplice were arrested after a dramatic shootout with police just hours after the slaying, the case against the alleged assassin, Christopher Angel Redondo, 43, has been tangled in a legal battle over his competency to stand trial That delay exacerbates the grief still felt today by the slain officer’s children and

Gilbert police. “It’s painful waiting this long,” said Gilbert Police Chief Mike Soelberg, who attended the annual memorial because “events like this celebrate Lt. Shuhandler’s sacrifices for the community.” “It prolongs the agony of what happened,” he said. “Everyone wants closure. We will get it. We are patiently waiting.”

In cold blood

Shuhandler’s slaying is one of the East Valley’s most notorious cases. For many, it has been impossible to forget. On the evening of Jan. 28, 2010, the 42-year-old divorced father of two had stopped a pickup truck driven by Daimen Irizarry because of a partially obscured license plate. Shuhandler had obtained Redondo’s identification as well, went back to his patrol car and discovered Irizarry’s passenger had an outstanding warrant for his arrest. Shuhandler was walking back toward the truck when he was fatally shot in the face. Irizarry and Redondo sped away, prompting a wild 50-mile chase on U.S. 60 to Superior, they ran out of gas. Redondo took out several patrol cars by tossing debris into the roadway as officers from Mesa, Gilbert and the Department of Public Safety officers gave pursuit. A gun battle ensued, ending when police shot the defendants’ legs out from under them, nearly severing Redondo’s ankle. See

SHUHANDLER on page 19

NEWS

MARCH 7, 2018 | AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS

SHUHANDLER

from page 18

Almost miraculously, there were no additional deaths and Redondo and Irizarry survived to have their day in court. Irizarry was sentenced to 107 years in prison for his role in the case. But prosecutors are seeking the death penalty against Redondo, an inherently slower legal process. The case has been stuck in sand for years. No matter what happens with Redondo’s murder charge in Shuhandler’s slaying, he already has been sentenced to life in prison without parole in the unrelated March 2009 slaying of Ernie Singh near Globe.

A fallen hero’s farewell

Thousands of police officers from across the country gathered in the Valley for Shuhandler’s funeral, his fellow officers recalling how he would use his vacation time to visit his parents in New Jersey or his sister in Oregon. His two daughters, Meredith and Nicole, 12 and 10, respectively, when he died, were paramount in his life. “It does not go away, ever,” Fixel said about the wound the department suffered as a result of Shuhandler’s slaying. “You try to drown out the bad feelings from the incident and think about the good times.” Meredith Shuhandler had her father’s initials tattooed on her left hand, noting that he made her promise at age 7 to never get a tattoo. “I really wanted something to honor him. Every time I look down at my hand, I remember him,” she said, recalling his “fun personality” and the inspiration he gave her. She remembers ski trips, outdoor activities and his love for Corvettes. When she was younger, she was bitter over his slaying. “I was angry and I thought it was unfair.” Now, Meredith focuses on living her life in manner that would make him proud. “I’m very grateful for the 12 years I had with him. It shaped my life in so many ways,” said Shuhandler, an Arizona State University student and an equestrian. “I think he would want me doing exactly what I am doing right now.” “When I make a decision, I think about whether it would be something that would make him proud of me.” She said she does not dwell on her father’s death or on Redondo’s endless case, knowing it’s beyond her control. “I would not say it’s a burden, but it’s very frustrating,” she said. “It makes me mad when I think about it. Closure would be nice.” Shuhandler’s sister, Joyce Mendelsohn

(File photo)

Gilbert Police Lt. Eric Shuhandler was slain during a routine traffic stop in January 2010.

of Portland, commemorates the sad anniversary every year by writing about how much she misses her brother. Their mother, Dara Shuhandler, passed away before seeing justice for her son’s slaying. For years before her death, she maintained contact with Gilbert police from her New Jersey home, eager to see her son’s accused killer have his day in court. Shuhandler’s memory also is enshrined in the hearts of many of the officers he worked with. “We remember him every year,” said Sgt. Darrell Krueger, a Gilbert police spokesman. “We have people who were extremely close to Eric who feel the pain every day.” Officers who did not know Shuhandler, need to remember how he died. “We face the same dangers every day,” he said.

Slowing the wheels of justice

Redondo has been found competent three times, with experts generally finding that he understands the charges he faces and the court proceedings. But Redondo’s defense attorney argues that he has not been properly examined to determine whether he is capable of assisting his attorney, the second prong of competency. The issue could potentially decide whether Redondo faces trial or is sent to a state psychiatric hospital until doctors decide he is competent.

In eight years, Redondo has been represented by eight different defense attorneys. He has been examined by at least 10 psychologists and psychiatrists who have reached different conclusions on his competency. Finally, his most recent defense attorneys, Dan Raynak and David Lockhart, commissioned Marisa Menchola, a Tucson psychologist affiliated with the University of Arizona, to examine Redondo and to review the evaluations of all the other mental health experts. He is expected to report his findings soon. Raynak said he was seeking an independent opinion from Menchola on a matter that has hung up the case for years. “I think the problem is that the doctors who did the evaluations did not properly evaluate Mr. Redondo’s ability to communicate with his attorney,” Raynak said. But Redondo treated Menchola with the same level of indifference he had demonstrated to other psychologists and attorneys. “Mr. Redondo refused to come to a private room to complete the evaluation,” Menchola wrote in a report. “I came to his cell door and spoke to him through the trap. He was sitting on the floor with a pink towel on his head. He did not acknowledge my presence and only made minimal, fleeting eye contact. He did not

answer any of my questions.” Menchola noted Redondo’s long history of mental illness, including diagnoses of schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, manic depression and polysubstance abuse. She noted that several psychologists determined he was capable of understanding the legal proceedings, but it is difficult to determine whether he can assist his attorneys. Raynak and Lockhart requested a Daubert hearing, a more exhaustive review using recognized scientific methods to determine if he can assist his attorneys. “In this instance, Mr. Redondo’s mental illness cannot improve, and his situation will continue to deteriorate,” they wrote the judge, saying they “can’t be expected to go to trial with an individual who is unable to assist his attorneys, even in the most basic way, at the time of trial.” But Deputy County Attorney Juli Warzynski argued that Redondo has been found competent for trial three times and is not entitled to yet another competency hearing. “Defendant has not cooperated with anyone concerning his case for four years,” she wrote. “This refusal has been found to be volitional.” She said Menchola provided no new evSee

SHUHANDLER on page 21

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NEWS

MARCH 7, 2018 | AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS

SHUHANDLER

from page 19

idence that hadn’t been considered at the previous hearings. Pending the judge’s ruling, a trial date is now set for Sept. 5. But if Redondo were to be ruled incompetent, “in that situation, he would be sent to the Arizona State Hospital,” Raynak said, where he would be held until doctors determine he is competent. At that point – no one knows when that might be – he would be scheduled for trial.

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Rights and frustration

Although the delays in the case against Redondo are frustrating, Krueger said it’s important for everyone’s constitutional rights to be protected. He said the last thing police want to see is the outcome of trial reversed or an order to retry the case because of a legal error, putting extra strain on everyone. “We certainly would like to see it reach its natural conclusion,” Krueger said. “We want the proper course to lead to an outcome.” Former Gilbert Mayor John Lewis said he knew Shuhandler well and will never forget him. He said a hush fell over Gilbert Town Hall the day after the slaying. His slaying shook the town, especially since he was only the second officer in Gil-

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The accused killer of Lt. Eric Shuhandler has been awaiting trial in his murder for eight years as lawyers wrangle over his competency.

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Turn on your taste buds for annual Ahwatukee chili coof-off AFN News Staff

ome of the best chili chefs in Ahwatukee and around the West have a two-day eating binge in store for you as the Ahwatukee Community Swim & Tennis Center hosts its 14th annual Chili Cook Off Festival. The fun begins on Friday, March 9, from 4-8 p.m. with rides and inflatables as well as beer, food and live entertainment for the whole family at 4700 E. Warner Road, Ahwatukee. The cookoff is 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Saturday, March 10, and continues on Sunday, March 11, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Admission all three days is free, though rides will cost tickets that are $1 each or you can buy a wristband for unlimited rides for $20. During the two-day cook-off, people can get tasting kits for $6 each. Each kit has seven sample cups for tastings between 11:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m-2 p.m. Sunday. But visitors may want to stick around until 4 p.m. to see who gets awards be-

cause the cook-off has big stakes for the chili chefs, who begin cooking at 8 a.m. They will be competing for a spot in the world championship sponsored by the International Chili Association, which sets a rigorous qualification. Cooks who want to make it to the championships must win two regional contests – and Arizona is home to only two of them, the one in Ahwatukee and one in Flagstaff. But cooks can technically punch their ticket to the world tournament by winning both days at the Swim & Tennis Center event, since the Saturday and the Sunday competitions are separate events. See

CHILI on page 24

Chili chefs will be starting to cook early Saturday and Sunday for the Chili Cook Off Festival.

(Special to AFN)

Black Rodeo celebrates less-known Western history BY RALPH ZUBIATE AFN Managing Editor

awhide Western Town in Chandler hosts all sorts of events, but this weekend’s has a connection to history not widely known. The venue is again hosting the Arizona Black Rodeo. Black cowboys go all the way back to the Wild West. Freed slaves in particular were drawn to that life, in part because there was not quite as much discrimination in the West. Nat Love is a well-known name from the past, becoming famous after publishing an autobiography on his journey from slavery to cowboy in Texas and Arizona. Around that time, Bill Pickett was born to former slaves in Texas. He became a ranch hand and invented the technique of

bulldogging, or steer wrestling. He joined a “Ranch Show” and performed around the world. Despite this history, blacks were kept out of mainstream rodeos, so they competed separately in their own events. Eventually, a professional black rodeo circuit was started in the United States in the 1940s, with the Negro Cowboys Rodeo Association. Now, Cloves Campbell has picked up the torch. “My wife, Lanette, and I are fans of cowboys and rodeos,” said Campbell, who is COO of the Arizona Informant black newspaper in Phoenix. He also was a state representative for two terms. His father, Cloves Sr., who was a co-founder of the newspaper, was also a state representative and Arizona’s first black senator. See

RODEO on page 25

(Kimberly Carrillo/AFN Staff Photographer)

Cloves Campbell owns the Arizona Black Rodeo and is COO of the Arizona Informant newspaper. He says he hopes to build a rodeo circuit by partnering with other black newspapers.

AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS | MARCH 7, 2018

CHILI

they made the best chili and he knew more about chili than anyone else. “The ICS continues to uphold the same core values of their founders by bringing people together to enjoy healthy competition and America’s great culinary creation – chili,” Hyden said. The world chili group's mission is to continuously improve chili while raising money for charities. The cookoffs at the Swim & Tennis Center will benefit the 100 Club of Arizona and the Ahwatukee Little League. A new addition this year is the homestyle chili category. “Homestyle chili is any kind of meat or combination of meats and/or vegetables cooked with beans, chili peppers, various spices and other ingredients,” Hyden explained. Hyden said that while “attendance has been steady throughout the years,” “we have a lot to compete with” because of other springtime events and Cactus League games. “We would love to see more of the community enjoy the festivities with us,” she said. Information: 480-893-3431 or shyden@ahwatukeehoa.com.

from page 23

“The Chili Cook Off on Saturday and Sunday is one of our hottest events of the year with diverse recipes from across the region,” said Susan Hyden, the center’s community director. “Cooks from all over the country travel here to compete for the cash prizes and their chance to qualify to compete at the International Chili Society World Championships. But here’s the deal: Anyone can enter. “You, too, can compete and join these foodies that love to cook, share their cooking tips and above all, have a great time,” Hyden said. “If you have a great chili recipe and want to be involved in this friendly competition, the fee is only $10 for the ICS membership and entry fees range from $15-$35,” Hyden said. The competition categories are traditional red chili, chili verde, homestyle and salsa. There is also a youth division for cooks under 18 that will be held for traditional red chili on Saturday only. The first-place youth winner also can qualify for the world championship if they win first place at another cook-off.

For $6, people who attend the cook-off can get a tasting kit with seven sample cups.

“This is a great event for younger folks who love to cook and be a part of friendly competition,” Hyden said. “This is truly an event that the entire family can participate in.” Prizes ranges from $75-$500 depending on the category. The first-place winners in each category on each day gets

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COMMUNITY

MARCH 7, 2018| AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS

RODEO

from page 23

“One year, my wife said ‘Let’s check out the Bill Pickett rodeo,’ which came to Phoenix about 15 years ago. We saw they needed assistance promoting it.” Relying on his own background in journalism and business, they helped the rodeo get the word out. “We helped them out for three or four years,” Campbell said. “Then we said, ‘We can do this ourselves.’ We decided seven years ago to take over the Arizona Black Rodeo. “We started at Rawhide when we took over. It had been in a ranch in Phoenix. Before, it was too small for national recognition. In larger rodeos, cowboys can use their times for national competition. Now that we’ve grown, they can.” Campbell said about 75 to 80 black cowboys participate in national rodeo tours. The Arizona Black Rodeo is affiliated with Black Rodeo USA, one of several black rodeo circuits. He said black cowboys mostly compete in a smaller circuit. “It’s like the G League for the NBA,” he said, comparing it to basketball’s developmental league. “If you get better, you move up into the big leagues.” Despite its successes, the Arizona Black

(Kimberly Carrillo/AFN Staff Photographer)

Ricky Magee gets ready for the Arizona Black Rodeo with his horse, Cajun.

Rodeo has had its rough days. Once, unrelenting rain was the culprit. “We wanted to cancel, but people showed up, and cowboys competed in the mud and rain,” he said. “Even if we only have 10 fans, we want to give them their money’s worth.” The rodeo emphasizes a link to black

history and culture. On its website, this statement sums up the vision: “The Arizona Black Rodeo promotes an appreciation for our cultural heritage by providing an educational experience about the role African Americans played in shaping the history of the West.”

Another part of that vision is helping the next generation. The rodeo gives scholarships to students in agriculture and the equine sciences. “We want to start more scholarships,” Campbell said. “We try to give back. The goal is to help kids along the way.” Campbell has ambitious plans for the rodeo, too. He hopes to build a circuit of his own, with plans afoot for shows in Las Vegas, Albuquerque and even Fort Lauderdale, Florida, which several of the cowboys call home. “We hope to add six or seven this year and continue to grow,” he said. “People always ask us why still do a black rodeo, now that they can compete. It’s the same as the Indian rodeo, Hispanic rodeo, gay rodeo. It’s a way to support the community,” Campbell said. “It’s always great for them to see themselves in print.” The Arizona Black Rodeo is at 1 and 7 p.m. Saturday, March 10, at 5700 W. North Loop Road. Tickets are $10 and $15. The shows will feature bull riding, tie-down roping, steer wrestling, steer undecorating and barrel racing, along with mutton bustin’ and calf scramble for kid cowboys. – Contact Ralph Zubiate at 480-898-6825 or rzubiate@timespublications.com.

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COMMUNITY

AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS | MARCH 7, 2018

They wagged it and bagged it AFN Photographer Josh Susuras visited the Wags and Bags Festival at Ahwaukee Park last Saturday, where hundreds of participants had fun under the sun and helped raise money for Valley Dogs Rescue, which shelters at-risk canines. Among those who attended were Kate and Jake McFarlane, below, who were among the two-member cornhole teams that vied for cash and prizes. In the lower left, Harley Davidson reps Ali and Ashleigh, who declined to give their last names, sported the bike company's signature tops.

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MARCH 7, 2018| AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS

New pastor arrives at Friendship Community Church AFN News Staff

riendship Community Church in Ahwatukee is getting only its second senior pastor since it started in Ahwatukee in 1995. The Rev. David A. Deputy is taking over at the church, 9807 S. 48th St., moving here from Baker City, Oregon, and replacing retiring senior pastor and founder Randy Cook. Deputy, married and the father of three children, brings with him a philosophy “to produce and unleash Christians whose lifestyles express Christ to their communities and beyond” and a goal “to develop Christians to be biblically based, family centered, socially responsible people of integrity who are evangelistically courageous.” “This is achieved through expository preaching. Small-group ministry, community outreach and events, leadership development and discipleship,” he told the congregation in his resume. A graduate of Colorado State University with a degree in speech communi-

cations, Deputy earned his master of divinity degree in 2003 from Denver Seminary with an emphasis on youth and family. He had been pastor of Calvary Baptist Church in Oregon since 2009, and as part of his work served as a volunteer chaplain for the local police department. “In this capacity, I built relationships with the officers and assisted officers in certain tasks, including counseling, death notifications and ride-alongs,” he said. He had been associate pastor of the Oregon church prior to that after joining it in 2004, coming there from a nondenominational church in Palmer Lake, Colorado, where he served as youth pastor from 1998 to 2003. Deputy said his parents and a brother already live in the Queen Creek area, and other relatives live across the Valley. “In a lot of ways, it is coming home for me, but it will be a new adventure for the rest of the family, as they have only visited over the years,” he said, adding: “We decided we wanted to be closer

to family, and so when the opportunity arose, we pressed into it to see where God would lead, and it led to Ahwatukee.” The church is associated with the Conservative Baptist Church of America. Deputy said Friendship “has not been very active in the association, but that is something that I would like to see us move toward.” He said that in Oregon, he found that Calvary Baptist is a close association “and the benefits of doing so are great. I hope to bring that mentality with me.” Deputy married Allison the same year Friendship Community was founded. The couple’s three children range in age from 18 to 23. Friendship Community has about 150 members with an average age in the 50s, according to a church profile. Its Sunday service is at 10 a.m. It sponsors a number of regular activities, including Awana, men’s and women’s ministries and other groups and supports seven missionaries, an evangelism project in Jamaica and an annual service

project in Nogales, Mexico. Information: 480-598-9985 or Friendshipchurchonline.org. Deputy also isn’t losing any time reaching out to the community: He plans to be in the Ahwatukee Kiwanis Club Easter Parade, driving “The Beast” – his 1971 International Travelall. “It may be the greatest car I have ever owned,” he said. “It is old, rusty, it guzzles gas and is so fun to drive. It is a project car for my son and I … we are working to restore it together and we have a long ways to go … but we have the time.”

GOT NEWS? Contact Paul Maryniak at 480-898-5647 or pmaryniak@ ahwatukee.com

COMMUNITY

AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS | MARCH 7, 2018

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(Special to AFN)

Fraser Darroch and his twin brother Ewan celebrate their achievement of Eagle rank during an induction ceremony last week at Esperanza Lutheran Church. The boys are with Troop 78.

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Miranda Schindler, a Horizon Honors High School Senior and Ahwatukee resident, was recently honored for her community service with a President’s Volunteer Service Award. The award, which recognizes Americans of all ages who have volunteered significant amounts of their time to serve their communities and their country, was granted by The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards program. Created in 1995 by Prudential and the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP), the program honors middle level and high school students for outstanding service to others at the local, state and national level. Miranda volunteers at the Ironwood branch of the Phoenix Public Library, shelving books, organizing things and training new volunteers.

Bowie to hold 2 community meetings Saturday

Ahwatukee state Sen. Sean Bowie has scheduled two public meetings Saturday, March 10. “We are in the midst of another legislative session at the state capitol, where my colleagues and I are debating bills on important issues like education, health care, and transportation,” he said, noting the Legislature also is working on a new budget. He said he’s holding the sessions because he wants to hear his constituents’ priorities and concerns. Bowie will hold his first session at 9 a.m. at the Nosh Café, on the southeast corner of 48th Street and Warner Road, Ahwatukee. He will then hold a town hall at 3 p.m. at Changing Hands Bookstore on the southwest corner of Guadalupe Road and McClintock Drive, Tempe. "I will give a brief overview of what I’m working on for my LD18 constituents, and also take questions about the important issues facing our community,” he said.

See

AROUND on page 29

ANSWERS TO PUZZLES AND SUDOKU from Page 44

Real Estate Guide Canyon Reserve home sells for $1.47 million AFN News Staff

he luxury home market in Ahwatukee got another shot in the arm for the second consecutive month as a nearly 6,000-square-foot home in Canyon Reserve closed for $1.47 million. The sale of the two-story home in the 14000 block of S. Rockhill Road was handled by Rachael Richards of Rachael Richards Realty, who credited her success partly to an exclusive program she created called Elite Services, which she described as “tailored to marketing high level homes along with providing the ultimate service experience.”

Geno Ross

Rachael Richards Realty is the listing brokerage for two of the three most recent homes that sold for over $1 million in Ahwatukee, she said. The Rockhill Road house, built in 2002, has five bedrooms and 5.5 baths plus an office. Located on a two-acre hillside lot, it was “was built with meticulous care and planning from the ice-block construction to the open design with amazing views from every window,” according to its description on Multilist. With upgrades such as surround sound, lighted coffered ceilings, Pella windows, See

AWARDS on page RE7

Stunning curb appeal on this remodeled home located on a corner lot with hillside views!

Listed for $489,000

See Page 6

SPOTLIGHT home

Exceptional custom build on prime lot with excellent curb appeal and stunning South Mountain views.

Mike Mendoza

Listed for $849,000

See Page 6

Fabulous single level semi custom home on beautiful hillside lot in the mountainous gated community of Black Rock Canyon at The Foothills.

$689,900

Bonny Holland

See Page 6

Ahwatukee’s #1 Team for Over 28 Years 480-706-7234

Summerhill - Front

Summerhill - Back

Exquisite Tuscan living with stunning mountain views. 6 br, 6 ba with 6,444 sq. ft. Abundant custom features including gourmet kitchen, open floor plan, basement theatre room, elegant library, soaring coffered ceilings, art niches and three fireplaces. Resort-style backyard boasts entertaining areas, pool and spa with dual water features, built-in BBQ, fireplace and lush landscaping.

Listed for $1,095,000

Each Office is Independently Owned & Operated

www.MendozaTeam.com

The Sanctuary - Front

Mike Mendoza

The Sanctuary -Back

Single level custom home with open space lake bordering the back of this spacious gated-community lot. 5 br, 5 ba with 4,114 sq. ft. Designer touches include 12’ coffered ceilings, Roman columns, travertine flooring and Plantation shutters. Spacious gourmet kitchen. Elegant master suite boasts two-way fireplace. Three secondary bedrooms with in-suite baths. Convenient full bath leading into the house from the pool area.

Listed for $875,000

REAL ESTATE

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AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS | MARCH 7, 2018

(Special to AFN)

The Canyon Reserve home that sold for $1.47 million has a dream kitchen with top-of-the-line appliances, a spacious 6,000 square feet of living space with an open floor plan design and plenty of amenities that prompted its description as "an entertainer's dream."

MILLIONS

from page 1

polished travertine floors, and a central vacuum system, the house also boasts a chef ’s kitchen with custom cabinetry,

lighted glass front buffet, granite counters and Viking designer appliances that include a six-burner gas stove. The great room makes entertaining easier since it has its own fridge, sink and prep counter – which contributed to the

home’s description an “an entertainer’s dream,” as did the three-car garage that has a huge storage area that already has been plumbed and wire for a wine cellar. The master suite offers a perfect retreat when entertaining gets tiring. It sports a

custom-corner picture window, propane fireplace, private double-doors leading to the backyard and a huge walk-in closet. Not only does every bedroom have its own bath, but one has a private access to make it a semi-private guest.

With house-buying season starting, price looms as an issue BY STACEY LYKINS AFN Guest Writer

ou might notice a few more sale signs in your neighborhood. Metro Phoenix’s home buying and selling season is in full swing. Limited inventory is a reason to believe that prices are expected to rise in some Valley neighborhoods. February is considered the big kick-off month for the Valley’s housing market for many reasons. This is the time of year where the number of listings under contract increases daily and set up sales volume for March, April, May and June. As a point of refer-

ence, 40 percent of all Valley home sales during 2017 were struck during those four months. A nice win for the Valley is the Waste Management Phoenix Open, which exposes visitors to Phoenix’s great weather when it’s freezing in the Midwest and back East. Then right off the heels of that event, even more people flock to the area for spring training. Another factor is that families that hope to move once school ends also tend to start the process this time of year. With fewer homes for sale today, would-be buyers are having to get creative about making their bid stand out. Metro Phoenix’s median home price

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could climb to $250,000 this month, after hovering at about $245,000 for much of the second part of last year. Phoenix-area home sales were up almost 3 percent in January from last year’s pace for the month. Wise real estate agents will tell you there are plenty of million-dollar homes for sale, but not enough houses priced below $400,000. Fewer homes for sale in metro Phoenix could drive up home prices during the next few months. There are about 17,500 listings not already under contract for Valley houses now – down almost 15 percent from last year, according to the listing service.

But not every Valley neighborhood will see a bump in home prices during this selling season. Home prices will climb the most in popular neighborhoods, many closer in but some farther out in Gilbert and Buckeye, where most Valley buyers can afford a house of their own. The speed at which sold banners are added to sale signs near your home could be a good gauge of where prices are headed in your neighborhood. -If you have any real estate questions, Ahwatukee resident and associate broker Stacey Lykins, West USA, can answer them at 602-616-9971 or at Stacey@LykinsProperties. com or LykinsProperties.com.

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REAL ESTATE

MARCH 7, 2018 | AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS

FEATURED ELITE CLOSING

$1,470,000

14037 S ROCKHILL RD, AHWATUKEE, AZ 85048 5bed+5.5bath • 5,908 sq ft • 102,828 sq ft lot • MLS#5718003

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$509,250 1803 W MOUNTAIN SKY, AHWATUKEE, AZ 85045 4bed+2.5bath • 3,124 sq ft • MLS#5712872

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DA TE

$245,000 4529 E. WILDWOOD DR., AHWATUKEE, AZ 85048 3bed+2bath • 1196 sq ft

$549,500 16219 S. 24TH WAY., AHWATUKEE, AZ 85048 4bed+3bath • 3072 sq ft • 11,347 sq ft Hillside Lot! • MLS#5707985

$318,888 411 E. GLENHAVEN DR., AHWATUKEE, AZ 85048 4bed+3bath •2,303 sq ft • MLS#5727650

$599,900 1246 E DESERT FLOWER, AHWATUKEE, AZ 85048 4bed+4bath • 3,136 sq ft • MLS#5723316

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REAL ESTATE

AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS | MARCH 7, 2018

Ahwatukee homes sold 85044 $210,000 $217,000 $217,000 $230,000 $250,000 $256,000 $264,000 $265,000 $270,000 $272,000 $282,000 $287,000 $288,761 $291,000 $297,000 $309,000 $310,000 $343,000 $355,700 $360,000 $400,000 $400,000 $465,000

12289 S. SHOSHONI DRIVE 11016 S. IROQUOIS DRIVE 5054 E. SIESTA DRIVE 9619 S. 44 ST. 15417 S. 38TH PLACE 4530 E. WALATOWA ST. 4305 E. CHEROKEE ST. 12124 S. KI ROAD 12214 S. 44TH ST. 9005 S. 47TH PLACE 10438 S. 44TH COURT 4508 E. SANDIA ST. 4423 E. PINTO COURT 4149 E. THISTLE LANDING DRIVE 10202 S. 46TH ST. 3509 E. SOUTH FORK DRIVE 4428 E. ZUNI COURT 12611 S. 39TH PLACE 13013 S. 37TH PLACE 14222 S. 44TH ST. 15243 S. 40TH ST. 13622 S. 37TH ST. 3456 E. ROCKY SLOPE DRIVE

85045 $260,000 $265,000 $385,000 $390,000 $460,000 $630,000 $670,000

15550 S. 5TH AVE. 1707 W. HIDDENVIEW DRIVE 1803 W. AMBERWOOD DRIVE 1810 W. COTTONWOOD LANE 16038 S. 1ST AVE. 526 W. DESERT FLOWER LANE 15715 S. 11TH AVE.

85048 $151,440 $165,000 $166,000 $168,900 $206,000 $237,500 $255,000 $270,000 $278,000 $293,500 $312,000 $315,000 $337,000 $350,000

2155 E. LIBERTY LANE 16013 S. DESERT FOOTHILLS PKWY. 16013 S. DESERT FOOTHILLS PKWY. 16013 S. DESERT FOOTHILLS PKWY. 2220 E. CLUBHOUSE DRIVE 1024 E. FRYE ROAD 254 E. REDWOOD LANE 4155 E. SILVERWOOD DRIVE 1413 E. CATHEDRAL ROCK DR 4703 E. BRIARWOOD TER 16410 S. 12TH ST 110 15009 S. 27TH WAY 2711 E. DRY CREEK RD 3408 E. WINDSONG DR

$350,000 $360,000 $397,000 $557,450 $589,900 $835,000

16029 S. 12TH PL 15434 S. 22ND ST 3335 E. BROOKWOOD CT 14415 S. 13TH WAY 15207 S. 19TH WAY 421 E MOUNTAIN SAGE DR

hree Ahwatukee Realtors were among the real estate professionals and brokerages honored last week at the second annual BREA awards dinner. Realtor Kevin Houston was honored as the top seller in Ahwatukee while Bonnie Holland and Rachael Richards received awards for being among the top 10 most productive agents in the East Valley and Ahwatukee overall. The BREA awards – standing for Best Real Estate Agent – were started last year as a new annual form of recognition for Realtors in the region and are given to the most productive agents, based on the number of closed units and sales volume according to data pulled from the Arizona Regional Multiple Listing Service. This year’s awards were based on deals closed in 2017. “You impact the industry and the community,” Gilbert financial advisor Ben Andrus told nearly 250 real estate professionals who attended the dinner. “It’s unique to recognize top business performers strictly by results.” Awards organizer Heidi Zebro said BREA

MOUNTAIN PARK RANCH

BLACK ROCK CANYON

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3,216sqft, 4 bedroom, 3 bathroom Fabulous single level semi custom home on beautiful hillside lot in the mountainous gated community of Black Rock Canyon.

DESERT BLUFFS

SOLD IN 3162 E Desert Broom Way $558,000 ONE 3,266sqft, DAY!! 4 bedroom, 2.5 bathroom

Exquisite remodeled single level semi-custom home nestled in the exclusive TW Lewis neighborhood of Mirada Canyon.

Ahwatukee Resident and Realtor since 1995

awardees were “determined strictly by productivity” and that the recognition is unique to the regional real estate industry. There are three categories in which the agents compete: biggest number of closed deals in each East Valley community, the 10 most closed deals in the region and the 10 with the biggest sales volume regionwide. In addition, four new awards for biggest sales volume were given to brokerages, broken into categories of the number of Realtors associated with them, from 25 and under to more than 250. Houston, an Ahwatukee resident, is with Keller Williams Realty Sonoran Living and has been licensed for 12 years. Richards, of Rachael Richards Realty, was recognized for being sixth in volume and fifth in closed units across the region. She has been licensed for eight years and opened her own brokerage five years ago Holland for having among the 10 most closed deals in Ahwatukee and the East Val-

(Special to AFN)

ley combined. An agent with Keller Williams Sonoran Living, “she has been in the business for over 20 years and continues to be top producer,” Zebro said. Revelation Real Estate of Chandler, owned by Chuck and Angela Fazio, won

NEW LISTING

15805 S 28th Place

$389,900

2,347sqft, 4 bedroom, 3 bathroom Beautiful upgraded home nestled on a premium cul-de-sac lot in the highly sought community of Mountain Park Ranch.

$514,900

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602.369.1085

Bonny@LeadingLuxuryExperts.com

NEW LISTING

SALE PENDING

14403 S Canyon Drive

$849,900

3,439sqft, 4 bedroom, 3 bathroom. Beautiful uniquely designed and recently upgraded custom single level home on over-sized hillside lot in the gated community of Canyon Reserve. AHWATUKEE CUSTOM ESTATES

SHADOW ROCK

2323 E Taxidea Way

WHISTLING ROCK

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1934 E Briarwood Terrace

$698,400

Gorgeous golf course Home recently updated home on large cul-de-sac lot right off hole #1 of The Foothills Golf Course!

11621 S Warpaint Drive NEW $869,900 LISTING 4,060sqft, 5 bedroom, 3.5 bathroom

Meticulously maintained custom home on over-sized corner lot in the luxurious mountainside community of Ahwatukee Custom Estates.

www.LeadingLuxuryExperts.com Each Keller Williams Office is Independently Owned and Operated.

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the Mega Brokerage Award for brokerages with more than 250 agents. It closed $1.4 billion in deals. Keller Williams Realty Phoenix in Tempe won the honors among medium-sized brokerages, Realty Executives won among small brokerages and Keller Williams Integrity First won among boutique brokerages. The big individual winner was Kenny Klaus, whose Kenny Klaus Team operates out of a Keller Williams office on Ellsworth Road and who was named Realtor of the Year. Other individual BREA winners by community were: Katie Walsh, Tempe; Janine Igliane, Gilbert; Kenny Klaus, Mesa; Darwin Wall, Chandler; and Beth Rider, Queen Creek. Other regional winners were Sharon Liuzzo of Coldwell Banker Trails and Paths, John Gluch and Bill Ryan and RE/MAX Infinity; Russell Shaw of Russell Shaw Group/Realty One Group; Beth Rider of Keller Williams Arizona Realty; Brett Tanner of Keller Williams Realty Phoenix; Carol Royse and Janine Igliane of Keller Williams East Valley; and Darwin Hall of Prosmart Realty.

#1 Agent in Ahwatukee Closed Volume 2017

MIRADA CANYON

BONNY HOLLAND

Three Ahwatukee Realtors honored with BREA Awards AFN News Staff

Leading Luxury Home Experts

REAL ESTATE

MARCH 7, 2018 | AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS

407 E Desert Wind Drive SALE $739,900 PENDING 3,417sqft, 4 bedroom, 3.5 bathroom. Stunning single level TW Lewis semi-custom home on corner lot in the secluded gated community of Whistling Rock.

RICHMOND HEIGHTS

FEATURED 1361 E Desert Flower Lane $585,000 LISTING 3,330sqft, 5 bedroom, 3.5 bathroom. Amazing 5 bedroom home on large lot in the mountainside community of Richmond Heights.

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AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS | MARCH 7, 2018

SPOTLIGHT home

Ahwatukee Custom Estates

Exceptional custom build on prime lot with excellent curb appeal and stunning South Mountain views. 6 br, 5 ba with 5,407 sq. ft. Eat-in kitchen features Subzero refrigerator, breakfast bar and two large walk-in pantries. Gorgeous artistic oak staircase, Plantation shutters and Pella wood windows and doors throughout. Inviting floorplan boasts two master suites with sitting areas, large view windows, walk-in closets and full bathrooms. Oversized game room with built-in cabinetry, hardwood flooring, fireplace and wet bar. Extended three-car garage with a separate air conditioned workshop. New exterior paint. Spacious backyard boasts a full length covered wrap-around patio, children’s play area, lush desert landscaping and abundant space to design your own custom pool with additional outdoor amenities.

Listed for $849,000

Mike Mendoza kw® SONORAN LIVING 480.706.7234 KELLER WILLIAMS® REALTY www.MendozaTeam.com

Camelot Canyon Stunning curb appeal on this remodeled home located on a corner lot! This home has soaring vaulted ceilings and a great floorplan! Formal living & dining room huge family room w/slate fireplace kitchen includes: S/S appliances, slab granite counters, rich dark cabinets & island breakfast nook large master suite downstairs overlooking yard dream master bath w/wood look tile, quartz counters, massive glass shower w/mosaics, dual showerheads, & dual vanities upstairs bonus room/game room/media room with walk deck 3 bedrooms up with beatifully remodeled bath all new fixtures stone-look tile flooring neutral paint paradise backyard w/ covered patio,new pebble sheen pool & jacuzzi, grassy play area, pavers, citrus trees, & hillside views garage w/epoxy newer ac’s & water heater this home is a show palace!

15004 S 7th Street in Black Rock Canyon Fabulous single level semi custom home on beautiful hillside lot in the mountainous gated community of Black Rock Canyon at The Foothills. Beautiful front entry leads to formal dining room. Spacious formal living room with built in entertainment niches. Stunning open family room with custom stone fire place & mountain views. Kitchen with breakfast bar, kitchen island, built-in wall oven & breakfast room with private hillside views. Added Arizona room/office combination with wonderful dual picture windows, access to master suite & breathtaking mountain views. Split master bedroom suite with fire place & direct access to office. Elegant master bathroom with dual vanities, spa-like tub with jets, large walk-in shower & walk-in closet. Resort-style backyard includes custom play pool with rock water feature, custom outdoor dining area with built-in BBQ & wrap around bar, large grass area, side yard with citrus trees all surrounded by luscious mature landscape & private views of South Mountain Park. Spacious guest bedrooms & bathrooms. Inside laundry room & 3 car garage with pavered driveway. Excellent Kyrene Schools. Great Ahwatukee location!

Listed for $489,000

Geno Ross (602) 751-2121 www.GenoRoss.com

Listed for $689,900

kw SONORAN LIVING ®

TOP REALTOR

Bonny Holland

KELLER WILLIAMS® REALTY

602.369.1085 • www.LeadingLuxuryExperts.com

REAL ESTATE

MARCH 7, 2018 | AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS

Six potholes on the road to getting a mortgage AFN News Services

etting a mortgage is, by general consensus, the most treacherous part of buying a home. In a recent survey, 42 percent of home buyers said they found the mortgage experience “stressful,” and 32 percent found it “complicated.” Even lenders agree that it’s often a struggle. “A lot can go wrong,” Staci Titsworth, a mortgage manager told marketwatch.com. Both marketwatch and Realtor.com say that if you’re out to buy a home, you have to be vigilant. To clue you into the pitfalls, here are six of the most common ways people mess up getting a mortgage. The down payment. Waiting until you can make a 20 percent down payment could be a mistake that leads to higher interest rates and home prices. A 20-percent down payment is the golden number when applying for a conventional home loan, since it avoids private mortgage insurance (PMI), an extra monthly fee of 0.3-1.15 percent of the total loan amount. All of which means it may be worth discussing your home-buying prospects with lenders right now. To get a ballpark figure of what you can afford and how your down payment affects your finances, punch your salary and other numbers into a home affordability calculator. Meeting only one lender. According to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, about half of U.S. home buyers only meet with one mortgage lender before signing up for a home loan. But lenders’ offers and interest rates vary, and even nabbing a slightly lower interest rate can save you big bucks over the long haul. In fact, a borrower taking out a 30-year fixed rate conventional loan can get rates that vary by more than half a percent, the CFPB has found. So, getting an interest rate of 4.0% instead of 4.5% on a $200,000, 30-year fixed mortgage translates into savings of approximately $60 per month, or $3,500 over the first five years. Meet with at least three mortgage lenders. You’ll want to start your search early – ideally, at least 60 days before you start seriously looking at homes. When you meet with each lender, get what’s called a good-faith estimate, which breaks down the terms of the mortgage, including the interest rate and fees, so that

you can make an apples-to-apples comparison between offers. Pre-qualified instead of pre-approved. Mortgage pre-qualification and mortgage pre-approval are completely different. Pre-qualification entails a basic overview of a borrower’s ability to get a loan without any back-up paperwork. In return, you’ll get a rough estimate of what size loan you can afford, but it’s by no means a guarantee that you’ll actually get approved for the loan when you go to buy a home. Mortgage pre-approval, meanwhile, is an in-depth process that involves a lender running a credit check and verifying your income and assets. Then an underwriter does a preliminary review of your financial portfolio and, if all goes well, issues a written commitment for financing up to a certain loan amount. Moving money around. To get pre-approved, you have to show you have enough cash in reserves to afford the down payment. Nonetheless, your loan still needs to go through underwriting while you’re under contract for your loan to be approved. Because the underwriter will check to see that your finances have remained the same, the last thing you want to do is move money around while you’re in the process of buying a house. New lines of credit. If you apply for a new credit card or request a credit limit increase a few months before closing, watch out: Credit inquiries ding your credit score by up to five points. So, don’t let the credit inquiries add up. Applying for multiple lines of credit while you’re buying a house can make your mortgage lender think that you’re desperate for money – which could change your mortgage terms or even get you denied altogether even if you’ve got a closing date on the books. Changing jobs. Mortgage lenders like to see at least two years of consistent income history when pre-approving a loan. Consequently, changing jobs while you’re under contract on a property can create a big issue in the eyes of an underwriter. If you’re forced to switch before closing, you should alert your loan officer immediately. Depending on the lender, you may simply need to provide a written verification of employment from your new employer. -Realtor.com contributed to this report.

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Ahwatukee’s #1 Team for Over 28 Years Mike Mendoza

480-706-7234

www.MendozaTeam.com

~Front ~

Crown Point

~ Back~

Exceptional Santa Barbara-style estate in exclusive gated community. 5 br, 7 ba with 9,668 sq. ft. Gourmet kitchen boasts granite countertops, Viking appliances, double refrigerators, 6-burner gas range, island with prep sink and spacious pantry. Exquisite custom appointments throughout including rich alder woods, discerning stone accents and beautiful stone flooring. The finest in extended outdoor living with inviting patios, lush landscaping, built-in BBQ, fire pit, negative edge pool and spa on oversized lot with breathtaking lake and golf views.

Listed for $2,690,000

Summerhill

The Sanctuary

Single level custom home with open space lake bordering the back of this spacious gated-community lot. 5 br, 5 ba with 4,114 sq. ft. Designer touches include 12’ coffered ceilings, Roman columns, travertine flooring and Plantation shutters. Spacious gourmet kitchen. Elegant master suite boasts twoway fireplace. Three secondary bedrooms with in-suite baths. Convenient full bath leading into the house from the pool area.

Listed for $875,000

Listed for $1,095,000

Ahwatukee Custom Estates

Club West

Exceptional custom build on prime lot with stunning South Mountain views. 6 br, 5 ba with 5,407 sq. ft. Inviting floorplan boasts two master suites with sitting areas, large view windows, walk-in closets and full bathrooms. Spacious backyard features a full length covered wrap-around patio, children’s play area, lush desert landscaping and abundant space to design your own custom pool with additional outdoor amenities.

Gorgeous updates throughout this UDC home. 5 br, 3 ba with 3,368 sq. ft. Open eat-in kitchen replete with custom cherry raised-panel cabinetry with pull-out shelving, granite countertops, island, and stainless steel appliances. Tumbled stone, hardwood and new hickory laminate flooring. All bathrooms have been remodeled. Paradise backyard features solar heated Pebble Tec pool, fireplace, built-in BBQ, spa and mature landscaping.

Listed for $589,000

Listed for $849,000 ST JU TED S LI

Mountain Park Ranch

Lakewood

Great single level close to abundant MPR amenities on premium lot that backs to greenbelt with superb waterfront views. 3 br plus den, 2 ba with 2,206 sq. ft. Former Diamond Key model well maintained by original owner. Bright and inviting open floor plan with eat-in kitchen, vaulted ceilings and fireplace in family room. Spacious master suite with separate door to covered patio. Desert landscaping plus an orange tree.

Charming home with private courtyard entry. 4 br, 2.5 ba with 2,304 sq. ft. Spacious eat-in kitchen with breakfast bar. Master suite features large walk-in closet, sitting area and walk-out balcony. Resort-style backyard boasts covered patio area with expansive extended pavers, sparkling pool, grassy area and flower garden.

Listed for $335,000

Listed for $359,000

www.MendozaTeam.com Each Office is Independently Owned & Operated

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AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS | MARCH 7, 2018

SOLD

Coming soon! San Tan Valley $195,000

SOLD 1,660 sq feet-4 bedrooms/ 2 baths Freshly painted, clean open floor plan, granite counters. Built in 2005. Close to hospital, restaurants and shopping.

COMMUNITY

MARCH 7, 2018| AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS

AROUND

from page 28

St. Benedict's Church to hold annual rummage sale Saturday

St. Benedict Church’s annual rummage sale will be held 7 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday, March 10, at St. John Bosco School yard, 16035 S. 48th St., Ahwatukee. On sale will be quality tableware, furniture, electronics, clothing and other items. Donations are being accepted until Friday at St. Benedict’s, which is adjacent to the school. Information: 602-579-3675.

Basketball camp slated near Ahwatukee for girls and boys

Kori Stephenson’s basketball camp will be held March 30 and March 31 at Sequoia Choice Precision School, 3908 E. Broadway Road, Phoenix. Times are 9 a.m.-noon for boys and girls ages 8 to 12 and 1-4 p.m. for girls only who are 13 to 18 years old. The two-day camp is $80. Information: 602-518-9009.

Registration opens for Addy Troutman’s next blood drive

Another blood drive has been scheduled to help 2-year-old Adelyn Troutman of Ahwatukee, who suffers from a rare blood disorder that requires her to get a blood transfusion every month. The drive will be 8 a.m.-1 p.m. April 21 at Desert Foothills United Methodist Church, 2156 E. Liberty Lane, Ahwatukee. You can schedule an appointment by calling her mom, Kami Troutman at 480-246-6332, emailing troutman.kami@gmail.com or going to bloodhero.com and clicking sponsor code Adelyn.

Senior Focus program to look at community resources

The next Senior Focus program at Mountain Park Church, 16461S. 48th St., Ahwatukee will be 6:30-8 p.m. Tuesday, March 13. A discussion on community resources for seniors and their families will be led by Gregg Powell of Grace at Home. The program is aimed at helping seniors or people caring for elderly parents as to what’s available, whom to trust, and how to identify resources in the community. The program is free and open to the public.

Ahwatukee woman bringing her macaws to Pueblo Grande

Bird expert Barbara Bingham Deutscher of Ahwatukee will be bringing two macaws to the Pueblo Grand Museum's "Ancient Technology" Day 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday, March 10. Macaws date back to 200 A.D. and Deutscher has been getting the birds accustomed to the museum so they can talk with participants. The museum, 4619 E. Washington St., Phoenix, will have numerous hands-on activities for young and old alike, along with tours of the archeological site Park of Four Waters, food and other activities. Admission is free.

Republican Women seek seniors to apply for scholarship Ahwatukee Republican Women is seeking applications from graduating high school seniors for the Marjorie Miner Scholarship. The $500 scholarship is open to an Ahwatukee resident who is a registered Republican and the deadline to apply is April 1. The ARW executive committee decides the winner in May.

Applicants submit essays addressing their personal involvement volunteer service, extracurricular activities, organizations or clubs, their history of employment and future educational goals. They also fill out a form available at ahwatukeerepublicanwomen.com The award is named after Marjorie Miner, who was a precinct committee member for 22 years, president of the Tempe Republican Women’s Club and a member of Ahwatukee Republican Women. Information: 602-300-4185, arwomen@aol.com.

29 “Ahwatukee’s funnest night out.” But Hazlett believes new people with new ideas can help make that and the kick-off party even better. The committee will meet at 6:30 p.m. at Desert Foothills United Methodist Church, 2156 E. Liberty Lane, Ahwatukee, on the following dates: March 13, March 20, March 27, April 3 and April 10. Information: admin@folaz.org.

Kiwanis Club seeks entries for Easter Parade Republican Women to hear from Ahwatukee The 42nd annual Kiwanis Ahwatukee Easter Parade Corp Commission candidates and Spring Fling is slated for March 31 and entries are The Ahwatukee Republican Women will hold a forum featuring candidates for the state Corporation Commission during their monthly meeting at 6:30 p.m. March 28 at Mountain View Lutheran Church, 11002 S. 48th St., Ahwatukee. Information: 602-300-4185, arwomen@aol.com.

Festival of Lights sets meeting dates for volunteers

The Festival of Lights Committee has set a series of meetings when volunteers can show up to help develop new ideas and take on assignments for its annual Kick-Off Party the Saturday after Thanksgiving and its Wine and Beer Tasting Event at Rawhide Western Town in the spring. The committee is also seeking 2018 grant recipients and applications are due by Feb. 28. Applications are at FOLAZ.org. Final selections will be made March 23. This year the committee awarded three groups grants totaling $8,000. Both the Kick-Off Party and the beer-wine event help pay for the million lights that glow all through the Christmas holiday season on Chandler Boulevard between Desert Foothills Parkway and 24th Street. FOL Committee Chair Janyce Hazlett said the annual wine-beer event – scheduled April 14 – is often called

now being sought. For more parade information, call, 480-759-0007 or e-mail msch0007@aol.com. Spring Fling information can be obtained by calling 602-402-6267 or e-mailing andi@wttaz.com. Forms are available at ahwatukeekiwanis.org.

Dream Dinners food-packing event at GCU seeks sponsors

Dream Dinners of Ahwatukee is seeking sponsors to support the purchase of food and other expenses in advance of a food-packing event at Grand Canyon University on March 25. Sponsors who contribute between $500 and $10,000 will get various levels of recognition at the packing event, which aims to feed thousands of needy families in the United States and abroad. The event is being organized by the Dream Dinners Foundation and another nonprofit called Friends & Family Community Connection, which together have organized similar events across the country that have supplied 16 million meals.Information: Penny Bowers at 602-810-2922 or penny.bowers@dreamdinners.com.

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Thank you for voting us an Ahwatukee’s “Best Of” Pool Service Company 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015 & 2016!

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AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS | MARCH 7, 2018

CALENDAR

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 7

THURSDAY, MARCH 15

Read the book and join each month’s lively discussion the first Wednesday of the month. March’s read: “The Aviator’s Wife” by Melanie Benjamin. April’s read: “Evicted: Poverty and Profit in the American City” by Matthew Desmond. #IronwoodLibrary DETAILS>> 7-7:45 p.m., Ironwood Library, 4333 E. Chandler Blvd. Free. No registration required.

Bring a friend or two to watch a movie, join a Kahoot competition, graze at a pizza and ice cream bar, play video games, and make crafts. #TeenThursdays #IronwoodLibrary DETAILS>> 4-5:30 p.m., Ironwood Library, 4333 E. Chandler Blvd. Ages 12-18. Free. No registration required.

Monthly book discussion

Teen-palooza

SATURDAY, MARCH 17

SATURDAY, MARCH 10

TinkerTime

Library teen council meets

This group meets to plan teen events at the library. Join and earn community service hours, make friends, have fun. #IronwoodLibrary DETAILS>> 2-3:00 p.m., Ironwood Library, 4333 E. Chandler Blvd. Ages 12-18. Free. No registration required.

Explore hands-on creative ways to design, experiment, and invent while learning about Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math (STEAM) through tinkering. #stem #tinkertime #IronwoodLibrary DETAILS>> 2-4 p.m., Ironwood Library, 4333 E. Chandler Blvd. Ages 6-11. Free. No registration required.

TUESDAY, MARCH 13

Medicare explained

Starting Medicare? How the Medicare plan can be a lifechanging decision is the topic of a workshop by Ahwatukee agents and active Medicare members Bill and Carole Phelan, who present options and answer your questions. DETAILS>> 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Ironwood library, 4333 E. Chandler Blvd., Ahwatukee. RSVP to 480-283-9161.

LEGO Lab

Children accompanied by an adult can stop by for fun LEGO building time the second Tuesday of each month. #stem #legolab #IronwoodLibrary DETAILS>> 4-5 p.m., Ironwood Library, 4333 E. Chandler Blvd. Ages 6-11. Free. No registration required.

MONDAY, MARCH 19

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 14

Last day to pay

Spring Break Fun!

Today is the last day to pay for the Monday, March 26, charity luncheon sponsored by Ahwatukee Foothills Friends and Neighbors. At the luncheon, at the Foothills Golf Club in Ahwatukee, members can buy raffle tickets on a variety of baskets with proceeds benefitting Court Appointed Special Advocates. The program will be “Celebrating Our Veterans,”

Growing More Smiles! Growing More Smiles! Growing More Smiles!

hwatukee!

Growing More Smiles!

Stop by Ironwood Library for some crafts and games during spring break. #SpringBreak #IronwoodLibrary DETAILS>> noon-7:30 p.m., Ironwood Library, 4333 E Chandler Blvd. Ages 5-12. Free. No registration required.

recognizing members who have served in the armed forces. DETAILS>> Email affanwomensgroup@gmail.com to find out how to become a member.

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 28

Gain control of workday

The third Tuesday of every month bring five double-spaced pages of writing to get feedback from your fellow writers. #WritingEvent #IronwoodLibrary DETAILS>> 6-7:45 p.m., Ironwood Library, 4333 E. Chandler Blvd. Free. No registration required.

Improve your productivity by gaining control of your workday. Eliminate roadblocks to your success and identify the distractions that hold you back. Learn how to gain peak performance in your work and business. Part of the hive@central Productivity Series presented by Margo Brown, Productivity Coach & Founder of Wave Productivity. #IronwoodLibrary DETAILS>> 6-7:30 p.m., Ironwood Library, 4333 E. Chandler Blvd. Free. Registration required via the online calendar at phxlib.org.

THURSDAY, MARCH 22

SUNDAYS

Ahwatukee, Chandler and Tempe professionals in the ACT Networking Group are holding a visitors night event. DETAILS>> 7:45-8:45 a.m. Tukes Kafe 15815 S. 50th St., Ahwatukee. Information: 602-418-3645.

Learn desert gardening by getting your hands dirty with the Ahwatukee Community Gardening Project. Share in the knowledge, the produce, and the smiles. All ages welcome Bring sun protection and water, tools optional. DETAILS>> 8-9:15 a.m. in the northwest corner of the park at 4700 E. Warner Road, Ahwatukee, behind the guitar player at the Ahwatukee Farmers Market, which is open 9a.m.-1 p.m. Information: acgarden.org or 480-759-5338.

TUESDAY, MARCH 20

Writers critique group

Networking visitors day

TUESDAY, MARCH 27

Creative Planning and Journaling

Do you have a New Year’s resolution to get organized but don’t know where to start? Bring your planner, bullet journal, or notebook and learn some tips on laying out your tasks and goals while exercising your creativity! The fourth Tuesday of each month we’ll get those creative gears turning, get organized together, and help you reach those goals! Introductory bullet journal and all other supplies provided by the Friend of the Phoenix Public Library. #planningjournaling #IronwoodLibrary DETAILS>> 4-6 p.m., Ironwood Library, 4333 E. Chandler Blvd. Free. No registration required.

Learn gardening from pros

Chess players, knitters clubs

Two new clubs meet in Ahwatukee every Sunday the chess club for players at all skill levels and Knitters Anonymous for all levels of knitters and people who crochet. DETAILS>> The Chess Club meets at 11 a.m. at Einstein’s at 48th Street and Ray Road. Knitters Anonymous meets at 2 p.m. at Sun Cup Café, 1241 E Chandler Blvd. For either club, call 480-246-1912 for more information.

See

CALENDAR on page 31

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COMMUNITY

MARCH 7, 2018| AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS

CALENDAR

from page 30

Little Bytes

Kids can learn the foundations of coding and computer commands before they can write or spell! Fun activities, apps and games will teach the fundamentals of simple logic, sequencing and coding language. #stem DETAILS>> 2-3 p.m. March 4 and 25., Ironwood Library, 4333 E. Chandler Blvd. Ages 4-7. Free. No registration required.

Coder Dojo

What do video games, robots and self-driving cars have in common? Code! You can become a coding master by learning Code.org, Kodable, Scratch, Tynker, HTML and more. Beginners welcome. DETAILS>> 3-4 p.m., March 4 and 25.. Ironwood Library, 4333 E. Chandler Blvd. Ages 8-17. Free. No registration required.

MONDAYS

Sign language for crawlers

Accompanied by a favorite adult, babies birth to crawling enjoy songs, music, rhymes, books, interactive stories, simple sign language words, activities to promote movement, and playtime. DETAILS>> 10:30-11 a.m. Ironwood Library, 4333 E. Chandler Blvd. Ages birth to crawling. Free. Tickets are limited and available in the library 30 minutes before program begins.

Chamber offers networking

The Ahwatukee Foothills Chamber of Commerce networking and leads group is open to chamber members. DETAILS>> Noon, Native Grill and Wings, 5030 E. Ray Road, Ahwatukee. Gina Jenkins, 480-990-5444.

LD 18 Dems meet monthly

Legislative District 18 Democrats gather monthly, usually

the second Monday, to share news, opportunities, food and laughter. Meetings include guest speakers, legislative updates, how-to sessions and Q&A. Volunteer or just enjoy an evening with like-minded folks. DETAILS>> For times and places: ld18democrats.org/ calendar.

TUESDAYS

Color to Calm: Coloring for Grown-ups!

Adult coloring promotes mindfulness, reduces stress, and improves cognitive motor skills. We’ll provide the markers, crayons, colored pencils, and coloring sheets; you just bring yourself and your friends! DETAILS>> Tuesdays 1:30-3:00 p.m., Ironwood Library, 4333 E Chandler Blvd. Free. No registration required.

Homework Help

Volunteer Eric will help with homework each Tuesday afternoon. DETAILS>> 5:15-6:15 p.m., Ironwood Library, 4333 E Chandler Blvd. Ages 5-18. Free. No registration required.

Estrangement support

Although rarely discussed, family estrangement is far more common than most people realize. The estranged suffer from loneliness, lack of self-esteem, guilt, anger and depression. Desert Foothills United Methodist Church provides a support group that meets the first Tuesday of every month. The public is invited to the “Living Loss” sessions. No questions asked, and anonymity will be respected. DETAILS>> 7 p.m., first Tuesday of every month; 2156 E. Liberty Lane, Ahwatukee. Free. Information: 480-460-1025 and office@desertfoothills.org

Homework help

Volunteer Eric will help with homework. DETAILS>> 4-5:30 p.m., Ironwood Library, 4333 E. Chandler Blvd. Ages 5-18. Free. No registration required.

Coloring for grown-ups

Celebrate Recovery

Adult coloring promotes mindfulness, reduces stress, and improves cognitive motor skills. We’ll provide the markers, crayons, colored pencils, and coloring sheets; you just bring yourself and your friends! DETAILS>> 1:30-3 p.m., Ironwood Library, 4333 E. Chandler Blvd. Free. No registration required.

Celebrate Recovery is a Biblical 12-step program that helps you find hope and healing from all of life’s hurts, habits, and hang-ups. Whether it’s addiction, loss, anger, or stress, you can find the freedom you’re looking for. DETAILS>> 6:20 PM, Mountain View Lutheran Church, 11002 South 48th Street, Ahwatukee. 480-893-2579, mvlutheran.org.

Chair yoga featured

Sit, Stay, Read!

Inner Vision Yoga Studio offers chair yoga to help seniors and people recovering from injuries to stay fit. DETAILS>> 1:30-2:30 p.m., 4025 E. Chandler Blvd., Ahwatukee. $5 per class. Information:

Toastmasters sharpen skills

Improve your speaking skills and meet interesting people at Ahwatukee Toastmasters meetings DETAILS>> 6:45-8 a.m at the Dignity Health Community Room, 4545 E. Chandler Blvd., Ahwatukee.

Power Partners available

The Ahwatukee Chamber offers Power Partners every Tuesday except the second Tuesday of the month, when attendees are encouraged to attend the Wake Up Ahwatukee Morning Mixer. Unlike our Monday Power Group, this group will be non-category specific, meaning you can have more than one member in each business category. DETAILS>> 7:45-8:45 a.m. Early Baker, 15645 S. 40th St., Ahwatukee. Free Information:. Gina Jenkins, 480-990-5444.

Young readers & listeners can sign up for reading time with a registered therapy animal & human team. Read to Truffles on Wednesdays. DETAILS>> Wednesdays, 3:00-4:00 p.m., Ironwood Library, 4333 E. Chandler Blvd. Ages 4-10. Free. No registration required.

Montessori holds open house

Ahwatukee Foothills Montessori holds an open house weekly. It includes a short talk about Montessori education, followed by a tour of its campus. DETAILS>> 4 p.m. Wednesdays, 3221 E. Chandler Blvd., Ahwatukee. Information: 480-759-3810

Grief support is free

Hospice of the Valley offers a free ongoing grief support group for adults and is open to any adult who has experienced a loss through death. No registration required. DETAILS>> 6-7 p.m. first and third Wednesdays, Pecos Community Center, 17010 S. 48th St. 602-636-5390 or HOV.org.

Foothills Women meet

WEDNESDAYS

Fun with watercolors

People can get step-by-step instruction in water-coloring whether they are beginners and intermediates. DETAILS>> 2:30-5 p.m. Hobby Lobby, 4710 Ray Road, Ahwatukee. Four classes for $80. To register: Judy Lokits 480-471-8505, or judylokits.com.

An informal, relaxed social organization of about 90 women living in the Ahwatukee Foothills/Club West area. A way to escape once a month to have fun and meet with other ladies in the area. Guest speaker or entertainment featured. DETAILS>> 7 p.m. second Wednesday of the month, Foothills Golf Club, 2201 E. Clubhouse Drive. Contact Shelley Miller, president, at 602-527-6789 or essentiallyshelley@ gmail.com

Living Trust Seminar

Get Peace Of Mind For You & Your Family Trust Workshop:

Chandler Sunset Branch Library 4930 W. Ray Rd. Chandler Saturday March @ 17th - 10:30AM

Over 27 years Of Experience

Trust Workshop:

Ironwood Library 4333 E. Chandler Blvd. Phoenix Tuesday March @ 20th - 10:30AM

Your Revocable Living Trust Will Include: • Living Trust Document • Certificate Of Trust •”Pour Over Will(s)” • Power(s) Of Attorney: Health, Financial And Mental • Living Will(s) • Funding • One Arizona Deed • Yearly Trust Review

CALL FOR RESERVATIONS 480-225-3566

Pediatrics “TLC for your kids.”

TLC is pleased to welcome Dr. Jennifer McCall to the team! • State-of-the-art facilities • 24-hour phone triage support

• Same-day appointments • Separate sick/well child lobbies

Now Accepting New Patients TLC Pediatrics - In the heart of Ahwatukee! 16611 South 40th Street, Suite 160 • Phoenix, AZ 85048 (480) 940-8527 • tlcpedsaz.com

OPINION

AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS | MARCH 7, 2018

Opinion

@AhwatukeeFN |

@AhwatukeeFN

www.ahwatukee.com

Our Best of Ahwatukee is a celebration of local businesses BY PAUL MARYNIAK AFN Executive Editor

f you are wondering whatever happened to the votes you cast in our annual Best of Ahwatukee contest, your

wait is over. As you may already have noticed in today’s edition, our 2018 Best of Ahwatukee has arrived. For those of you who took the time to wade through more than 50 categories and voted, we are grateful for your effort. And I am certain I can speak on behalf of all the vote recipients when I say they appreciated your effort and consideration as well. Owning and running a small business is not for the timid heart. It takes courage to invest time and treasure in pursuing the dream of becoming a small-business owner. And, as most people know, it takes a

lot more than that to succeed – business and people skills, a good idea and a good plan to put it in motion, and no small measure of luck on a national, neighborhood and personal level. And it takes customer loyalty – the kind demonstrated by the thousands of AFN readers who voted. There often is a lot of chatter on Ahwatukee social media sites about local businesses. Some announcements of new businesses starting up – particularly restaurants – create a buzz of excitement. Other posts lament the passing of other businesses or the fact that others are finding themselves on the ropes. All these posts share a tremendous affection for the community and the businesses that are such a huge part of it and a passion for keeping them thriving. Our “Best of ” voters demonstrated both, and the fruit of their passion and affection is spread across 40 pages of today’s AFN.

Obviously, any election also produces disappointment, and I am sure that disappointment will be just as heartfelt by the fans of businesses that didn’t make it to the top as it is by the business owners themselves. Nothing I write will do much good to ease that disappointment. We don’t want anyone to be disappointed, and our Best of Ahwatukee is not meant to be a disappointment. Rather, it’s a celebration. First and foremost, it celebrates the fact that there are many businesses in Ahwatukee that can vie for top honors in more than 50 different categories. We would have come up with even more, but we know that going through a list as long as ours already takes a lot of time. But imagine the many communities in the Valley that don’t have any business community, let alone a diverse one like Ahwatukee has. Second, our Best Of list celebrates more than just the first-place winners.

Every category has a second- and thirdplace winner and a couple honorable mentions that can find some solace in the fact they made it that far. Third, it celebrates scores of local businesses whose service, product or a combination of both earned a special acknowledgement from their fans and the community. As with most elections, I am certain that the results will motivate the businesses that didn’t make it to the top spot to do even better for next year’s contest. And for voters who are chagrined that their favorite business or businesses didn’t win, your work is cut out for you too this year: Patronize Ahwatukee businesses, and get your friends and neighbors to do the same. Because it’s not just about what businesses are best in Ahwatukee. It’s about what makes Ahwatukee best for businesses.

How Kyrene School District keeps your children safe BY SUPERINTENDENT JAN VESELY AFN Guest Writer

ast week, I met as I do each month, with the representatives of the Superintendent/Student Council. The topic for our session was an exploration of the characteristics of success. We asked students to identify their thoughts on what they believe to be the most important traits for life success: energy/enthusiasm, self- control, perseverance, or optimism. Remarkably, most of the students selected optimism. They believe that the key to success was having confidence that they could change the future. It was incredibly uplifting; and, at a time when our nation continues to struggle in the aftermath of the tragedy in Parkland, Florida, I was reminded how important it

was that we keep that sense of optimism alive for each and every student in Kyrene. We know it isn’t easy to navigate the negative influences on our kids’ lives. How do we know if a child is headed for a crisis, what are the warning signs, and where do we go for help if we have reason to suspect a child is at risk? In an effort to provide families and the community with more information about important topics, we will be launching the Kyrene Positive Parenting series. We are partnering with experts in the field of youth and adolescent development, behavioral health and law enforcement to provide workshops on key topics such as substance abuse, bullying, and depression. The first in this series is provided through partnership with Gurian Institute, scheduled for March 20, 5:00 pm, at Akimel A-al Middle School. The program’s focus is the impact of social media on the wellness of your child. Frank Griffitts, a forensic computer ex-

pert, and Katy McPherson, an internet safety expert, will talk about staying safe online, how to cultivate a responsible digital footprint, and how to balance the use of technology as a family. The senseless violence we experienced two weeks ago sent shock waves of grief, anger and fear in the hearts of all of us. Once again, I want to assure you and our community that we will continue to do all that we can to make sure that your child is safe while in our care. Research is clear in that the best way to prevent school violence requires a comprehensive, multi-pronged approach that addresses (1) family/school relationships that support the sharing of information and resources between both home and school, (2) the network of support extended through partnerships with law enforcement and mental health professionals, and (3) the physical considerations of safety and security in each of our buildings. With that in mind, I am committed

to strengthening our web of support in Kyrene. In 2015-16, the district was fortunate, thanks to funds from a voter-approved bond a few years ago, to be able to complete security upgrades in each of our 25 front offices. Examples include, but are not limited to the: • Removal of all portable buildings from school campuses; • Modification of buildings so that all classrooms open to an internal corridor, rather than outside as previously constructed; • Modification of fencing at some schools; and • Installation of an integrated security system to include intrusion alarms, access control, and video surveillance cameras. These enhancements reflected recommendations of the Kyrene Safety and SeSee

KYRENE on page 33

OPINION

MARCH 7, 2018 | AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS

Plenty of myths surround neutering; here are the facts BY SUSANA DELLA MADDALENA AFN Guest Writer

pring is coming, producing not only longer and warmer days but also an overproduction both in our homes and on our streets of unwanted puppies and kittens. As a result, more animals will be dumped at local shelters or left to mature and reproduce on their own in our alleys and neighborhoods. The good news is that since 2012, the intake rate of animals at Valley shelters has dropped 40 percent and euthanasia of dogs and cats has plummeted more than 85 percent, thanks to Fix.Adopt.Save. This is a collaboration involving Altered Tails and six other animal welfare organizations, with additional help from PetSmart Charities and the Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust. Despite this success, there is more work to be done, as thousands of dogs and cats still are being euthanized every year. Altered Tails (alteredtails.org) began in 2005 with a mobile sterilization vehicle on a mission to provide accessible, affordable spay and neuter services across the Valley.

KYRENE

from page 32

curity Team who consulted with the U.S. Homeland Defense Bureau and local law enforcement to make offices more secure, but also keep them as welcoming to the community as possible. We are in the process of performing a district-wide assessment of safety and security measures, and we have an established safety and security committee that will once again review what we currently have in place and identify ways we can improve. It is imperative that we be sure that if additional improvements are required, we have a plan in place to update the current safety protocols. According to the U.S. Department of Education report, “Safeguarding Our Children: An Action Guide,” there are three major components of a safe school: a school-wide foundation for the well-being and success of all students; a system for identifying students with acute behavior problems; and a system for providing interventions and therapies for at-risk students. Within our schools, I am dedicated to

In 2007, we opened our first clinic in Phoenix. thanks to generous donations by local philanthropists Bea and Dick Barnhart. And we expanded in 2013 to Mesa, making it more convenient for East Valley residents to bring in their pets. Our W.A.G.S. (Wheels for Animals Getting Spayed/Neutered) program in Mesa followed in 2014. This enabled pet owners and feral-cat trappers without transportation to call on us. All told, the Phoenix and Mesa clinics, along with a third clinic that opened in Tucson in 2016, performed nearly 23,000 low-cost spay and neuter procedures last year. There are several myths about spaying and neutering pets. What most people don’t know is that taking care of them in this way promotes good physical and behavioral health and helps them live longer. Sterilization also can have a positive impact on the animal population by reducing euthanasia as a means of animal population growth. Consider some of these myths and facts: Myth: Spaying/neutering won’t do anything for my pet’s health or behavior. Facts: It will help prevent reproductive

cancers — testicular in males and mammary gland in females. It can help reduce spraying by male cats and marking by male dogs and decrease their inclination to wander. It also may calm male and female animals and cut fighting and aggression. Myth: Spaying/neutering is costly. Facts: It can be, but services performed by Altered Tails staff, who specialize in sterilization, are, on average, 75 percent lower than at private practice and full-service veterinarians. Our furry clients experience less time under anesthesia and in recovery and have smaller incisions. Also, because Altered Tails is a non-profit organization and we want to ensure that cost isn’t a barrier to sterilizing a pet, we frequently have grants available that enable us to provide free surgeries and vaccines or surgeries for a small client copay of $20. Myth: Spaying/neutering will cause our family’s female pet and our children to miss out on the miracle of birth. Facts: Animals neither want nor need to have babies. And sometimes the births of dogs or cats in our homes don’t go as planned, which can traumatize family members. There are plenty of children’s books and videos that teach birth in a responsible

manner. Additionally, letting your pet produce offspring you have no intention of keeping teaches your children irresponsibility. Instead, educate your child about being a responsible pet owner. Myth: Spaying/neutering my pet will make my pet fat and lethargic. Fact: There’s no correlation here. Overfeeding and a lack of exercise, however, will lead to that. Myth: I don’t have pets, so there’s not much I can do to help. Facts: As a non-profit organization, Altered Tails is grateful for donations of money, time and gently-used items such as all sizes of towels, blankets, even cleaning and office supplies. We have an amazon.com wish list. I hope you’ll keep these facts in mind and do what’s right for your pets and the larger pet population in Arizona.

looking at ways we can address these components. We will continue our efforts to strengthen our threat assessment teams at every school, with continued training in crisis response. In addition, we recently shared with the Governing Board the work we are doing in our middle schools to provide counselors and behavior specialists to work with students. We know that we need to extend those supports to our elementary schools, and are looking at ways we can move resources to fund counselor positions to provide that additional layer of support. We are grateful for the partnerships that we have with our families, city leaders, local law enforcement and community members that contribute to the safety and security in our schools. We need the full support of our Kyrene community, to provide support for our children. In this way, I will continue work with our local law enforcement as well as local social and mental health service agencies to enhance referral services for students and families in crisis. I will continue to reiterate our commit-

ment to working to improve state and federal policy as it relates to school safety as well as mental health supports, including the provision of the resources needed to help students and families in crisis. Parents play a critical role in our prevention efforts. We encourage everyone to be open to engaging with your children in conversation about recent events: hear their thoughts, understand their concerns, and allay their fears. We cannot stress enough how important it is to know what their activity is on social media and to talk to them about the importance of maintaining a safe and appropriate presence online. Share with them the seriousness of potential threats against a school, staff member or another student, and help them understand what they can do if they hear or know something about a potential threat. This week and last, several of our middle schools participated in a peaceful observation of a 17-minute period of silence to commemorate the lives lost in Parkland. The district did not organize or promote the student walks on campus, but we were alerted by the police departments, state and national organizations of this move-

ment and we took proactive steps to ensure such an event would be peaceful, reflective, and within school grounds so that students would be safe. Administrators, staff and counselors worked with the students to ensure and monitor student safety. I am proud of our Kyrene kids and staff for working together, respectfully, and in solidarity to honor the victims. I want to thank our staff, especially the teachers, for their professionalism the past two weeks in continuing their work in the classroom, without hesitation. I know how difficult it has been for them to wonder what would they do in similar circumstances, to think of their students in harm’s way. Yet they have continued to do the work they do, day in and day out, accomplishing great things with their students. In closing, together I am confident that we can preserve in our students, the light of optimism to change the future. That they have all the support they need to grow up safely, and in good health, to see that light shine bright with endless possibilities

-Susana Della Maddalena is executive director of Altered Tails, a non-profit organization that provides accessible and affordable, high-quality spay/neuter services for companion animals and free-roaming cats. Altered Tails’ Mesa clinic is located at 7246 E. Main St. It estimates that Fix. Adopt. Save has saved more than 30,000 animals from euthanasia, resulting in more "happy tails." To find out how you can help the organization, see alteredtails.com.

-Dr. Jan Vesely is superintendent of Kyrene School District.

OPINION

AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS | MARCH 7, 2018

100-year-old retired firefighter knows how to live By David Leibowitz AFN Columnist

ome weeks, you cannot stomach another cynical look at our cynical times. Instead, you seek a few hundred words of inspiration. Then you spot Captain Benny Ashley shuffling across Columbus Avenue in midtown Phoenix and you know his is exactly the story to tell. Why? Because Benny Ashley is 100 years old. He is the oldest living retired firefighter in this Valley, this state, and, hell, maybe even this nation. Benny joined the Phoenix Fire Department in July 1942. There was no fire academy in those days, Benny recalls, no training at all except on the job. He was darn lucky, says Benny: The engineer on his fire truck was a World War I veteran who happily taught a 24-year-old newbie the ropes. Benny’s salary? “In 1942, I got paid $123 a month. The thing is, that doesn’t sound like a lot of money, but that was good pay because everything else was comparable. You could buy a brick house, maybe a thousand square feet, for $3,000. … Our money was worth something back then. Our dollar today isn’t worth anything.” Benny’s career responding to blazes around town was interrupted by two stints in the Navy, to serve in World War II and in Korea. All told, he served 31 years as a firefighter, rising to the rank of captain before his retirement in 1974 and also serving as the president of the United Phoenix Firefighters organization. There isn’t a worker on the frontlines of Arizona public safety today who doesn’t owe Benny a debt of gratitude: He helped lead the legislative push to establish the state retirement system for firefighters and cops. In fact, Benny was standing

beside Gov. Jack Williams in March 1968, 50 years ago, when “One-Eyed Jack” signed the bill creating the Public Safety Personnel Retirement System. Not that Benny lives super high on the hog these days. He drives a 2001 Chevy Blazer to the grocery store and church, though rarely to the pharmacy. “At the present time, I take no medication. I don’t take anything,” says Benny. “The only thing I can say is that the good Lord is sure taking care of me.” The thought brings on a long laugh and a broad smile – two things Benny displays often, along with rightful pride in his independence. He replaced the brakes on the Blazer by himself. Last year, he installed new ball joints. Benny cooks for himself – using lard like his mom did – and he has a couple beers most afternoons. As for his health, Benny’s sticks mostly to old-time remedies if he catches a cold, and rarely sees a doctor, except for his annual cardiologist appointment. He doesn’t watch TV except for the morning news, and he doesn’t own a computer or a cell phone. “I stay busy all the time,” says Benny. Cancer took Benny’s first wife in 1974. He lost his second wife to a massive stroke in the 1990s. Benny has two daughters – one who lives in Glendale and one who lives in Prescott. And he has a huge community of firefighters, church members and neighbors who check in on him daily. Not that Benny Ashley needs much of a helping hand, even after a century and a few months on this Earth. “Things don’t bother me,” says the old fire captain. “If I have a problem, I either solve it or I forget about it. … That’s the way I’ve always been all my life. I just never let things get me down or get to me. That’s no way to live.” – David Leibowitz can be reached at david@leibowitzsolo.com.

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BUSINESS

MARCH 7, 2018 | AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS

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Lebanese couple overcame distrust of auto repair shop BY PAUL MARYNIAK AFN Executive Editor

t’s one thing to open a business and build trust among customers. But what do you do when you buy a business that already has blown that trust? That was the challenge that Wassek and Rima el-Rabaa faced a little more than two years ago when they bought Xpress Automotive, a full-service auto repair shop at 15629 S. Desert Foothills Parkway, Ahwatukee. “We were never allowed an in-depth look at the financials at the time we were buying the business,” said Rima. “And we found out later that the business also had some challenges with its reputation.” Added Wassek: “The business had an 'F' rating with the Better Business Bureau when we bought it.” But the Lebanese couple feel they have turned the corner on that initial challenge. They are now rated A by the BBB. “The most important thing we have been able to do is regain the trust of the old, loyal customers,” Wassek said. “I credit the people of Ahwatukee for giving us the opportunity to show them that we

previous owners. It was up to us to prove to them that we were different, and I think we’re doing that every day.” Their road to the business and to Ahwatukee was as varied academically as it was globally. Wassek moved to Tucson from Lebanon in 1984, (Jay Taylor/Summit PR & Marketing) where he graduatThe team at XPress Automotive consists of, from left, Nicholas Farese. ed from the UniRima and Wassek El-Rabaa and Kenneth Mowrer. versity of Arizona were going to do things differently than with a degree in hospitality managethe old owners, and they would get great ment. He had followed his three older service at a great price when they used brothers to America, who had come here Xpress.” five years earlier to escape the civil war Added Rima: "Regaining the trust of that was tearing their homeland apart. the customers was our biggest hurdle. Wassek returned in 2000 to Lebanon, But we were amazed at how willing the where he met Rima. people of Ahwatukee were to give us the It was kismet. chance to prove ourselves and show that “It was amazing, we met and fell in we were not going to be the same as the love immediately and were engaged after

just two weeks.” At the time, Rima was earning a degree in civil engineering and helping out with her parents’ wholesale business. So how did the couple end up servicing motor vehicles after they left Lebanon and came to America in November 2001? “I had been involved with cars my whole life; my dad owned his own business doing automotive upholstery repairs, and we used to watch him work all the time,” recalled Wassek. “My father’s passion for cars rubbed off on me and my six brothers and now all my brothers and I – and even Rima – share my father’s passion and enthusiasm for anything to do with cars.” The couple also zoomed in on Ahwatukee quickly. “Ahwatukee was our first home after our marriage,” said Rima. “We have always loved the community because everyone was so welcoming, caring and supportive, especially for me when I was first here after immigrating from Lebanon. Someone was always offering to help me do something, or learn someSee

REPAIR on page 37

Potato Barn offers eclectic mix of furniture BY COLLEEN SPARKS AFN Staff

hoppers have to travel far to find a diverse mix of colorful and comfy couches easy to sink into and unusual, wood dining room tables large enough for big gatherings. That’s because Potato Barn opened a location on North 54th Street just south of Ray Road in The Shoppes at Casa Paloma. The spacious shop is one of several Potato Barn stores in the Valley. Husband-and-wife team Tim and Lisa Hawkins opened the Chandler store with co-owners Greg and Mike Bongiorno. The couple have been friends with Greg since 2002, the year he opened his first Potato Barn on Williams Field Road between

Recker and Higley roads in Gilbert. “We met Greg first,” Lisa said. “We came in shopping and fell in love with the furniture. It’s all so unique and solid wood, and the price is so amazing. We call it shabby chic. We’ve got a few pieces that are mid-century modern.” Tim said the original Potato Barn was located in a former barn a potato farmer used. That store has since closed, but many customers still say they remember it. The uniqueness and diversity of the furniture appeal to customers, Tim said. Besides wood, other materials are easy to spot in the many living, dining and bedroom items in the 15,000-square-foot Chandler showroom. “We’ve got lots of cotton velvets,” Tim said. “They’re just amazing. We do a lot of

sofas and sectionals, dining room (furniture). We don’t stick with one manufacturer and we go directly to the sources. It’s constantly changing.” The furniture comes from around the world, including Mexico, China, India, Peru and Romania, as well as the United States, and much of it is made out of reclaimed wood, he said. Celisse Jone/AFN Staff Photographers Eileen Stagg of Ahwatu- Husband-and-wife team Tim and Lisa Hawkins own Potato Barn in kee, who owns interior de- Chandler, which opened in November. sign company Visual Eyes, piece. There’s always something different. is a big fan of the Chandler Potato Barn. They’re always very helpful. It’s just fun to “It’s just very eclectic,” Stagg said. “You can fit into any décor if you have the right See STORE on page 37

BUSINESS

AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS | MARCH 7, 2018

Ahwatukee dentist hopes his website drills into community BY PAUL MARYNIAK AFN Executive Editor

r. Howard Farran has spent 30 years drilling Ahwatukee residents’ teeth and now he wants them to drill down into their community with a website he and his sons have started. Tukeetown.com was started by Farran, who has practiced in Ahwatukee at Today’s Dentistry for three decades, “to give residents a place to get news, find local events and talk to each other on its message boards about everything Ahwatukee.” Said marketing manager Chris Bailey: “If we could put what we are trying to do in a nutshell, it is break down the ‘endless newsfeed’ communities that are around right now like Facebook or Nextdoor and instead give Ahwatukee a place to discuss issues like the freeway expansion or schools. “We are about to hit 300 members already and are hoping Ahwatukee residents use our platform to start writing their own blogs or sharing podcasts of

their own,” Bailey added. Farran is no stranger to the internet – or making money from it. “I had the idea for a community website to connect dentists and the dental profession way back in 1999 and it is now the largest website in dentistry,” he said. “This same concept is now being offered to the Ahwatukee community.” Farran moved to Ahwatukee after graduating from dental school in 1987. But as a result in part from his dentistry website, he was catapulted onto a world stage, traveling around the globe to lecture. His lectures aren’t just limited to dentists, who use his site to exchange information about new techniques and other issues in their field. He has written a book on business titled “Uncomplicate Business: All It Takes is People, Time and Money.” “Running a business is a lot like running the Ironman,” he wrote. “It is one of the most rewarding experiences you’ll ever have while simultaneously being one of the hardest, most challenging endeavors you’ll ever face.

“If there’s something in common be- casts are interviews with a variety of tween running a business and running community leaders and business owners the Ironman, it’s this: You have to have a “Now that the site is launched, our strong core.” guerilla marketing out on the streets is “In the Ironman, that means having taking up my time along with continubalance, stability, strength and good pos- ing to podcast,” he added. “We just offiture to prevent injury. In business, hav- cially launched the site on Feb. 12 and ing a strong core means always returning are slowly getting the word out.” to your roots and constantly addressing your mission statement and (Special to AFN) the goal you set Ahwatukee dentist out when you Howard Farron, creator of started your Tukeetown.com lectures business.” around the world. To get tukeetown rolling, Farron said, “I started by podcasting businesses in Ahwatukee to create content and dedicated 5-10 hours per week recording the shows.” Those pod-

Tukeetown.com is the easiest way to stay informed and communicate witti your neighbors. Whether you are looking for a new school for your family, a gym to join, or want to read and comment on local news and breaking stories-Tukeetown connects you with your community in an easy-to-use website and app. Best of all, it's easy and � 00% free to join!

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BUSINESS

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REPAIR

from page 35

thing, or teach me something about my new home town.” Rima had been working at a bank for a while, but when she was laid off, she and Wassek decided they wanted to find a business they could run together. “We had always dreamed about owning our own business and believed that things happen for a reason,” she said, calling her layoff “a sign for us to have the courage to hope and look for a business to either start on our own or buy.” Wassek said the search was somewhat complicated. “At first, it was almost as if too many ideas were coming to us; there were so many businesses we looked at and we had a very hard time deciding which direction we wanted to go,” he explained. “But as we went through the process, some fell off our radar, others were just not quite not what we dreamed of." They used their own experience to guide them in setting up the business. “Having been a customer of so many different repair shops over the years and searching for a trustworthy, reliable shop," Wassek said, "we knew what it would take to make something like this successful.” He said he and Rima were motivated by “our belief in this business’ ability to grow and our own ability to provide the kind of automotive and customer service we knew people were looking for.” They run the business together, with Rima involved in marketing and promotion and her husband meeting with customers or assigning work to their two technicians – who, Rima stressed, aren’t considered employees but family.” “It’s a good mix for us, as it allows both of us to play to our strengths. And as we add new customers, it feels like we’re adding new members of our family all the time," she said. Xpress Automotive provides a full range of services, from routine maintenance to major repairs. The couple focuses on growing their business at the one location rather than opening more garages. “At this point we’re happy with our one location,” Wassek said. “Because of where the business was when we bought it, we’re extremely cautious of expanding too quickly. We don’t want to sacrifice the quality of our work or the trust we’ve built with our customers.” Information: 480-372-5887 or Xpressautorepair.com.

STORE

$1,195 also stands out. In addition to mango from page 35 wood, some of the furniture go in. I love the store. When at the local store is made of you come in here you almahogany. ways feel welcome.” When it comes to colLisa said she and Tim or, “gray’s a hot color right have “always had fun dabnow,” Tim said, pointing bling” in furniture and deout the store’s gray walls. He sign. Tim, who is originally said the store’s simple design from Ontario, Canada, said aims to draw attention to growing up he helped his the furniture. father’s friend refurnish anTim and Lisa follow tiques. Lisa enjoyed decoratGreg’s old-fashioned style of ing a rental property she and tagging every piece of furniTim owned in the Valley. Celisse Jone/AFN Staff Photographers ture with hand-written pricSome of the eye-catching The Potato Barn mixes a variety of styles to give customers new ideas for furnishing es to add a personal touch. pieces include a blue velvet their home. Potato Barn rarely has sofa for $2,295, a dining room sideboard including two in front that are smaller than sales because its prices are already reasonwith a shiny, crusty finish in distressed the back ones, for $2,995. able, the couple said. wood nearly 7 feet long for $1,295 and a Tim and Lisa, who are longtime physical “I have a lot of designers and decorators distressed wood ottoman that has either a therapists, are also proud of a bright yellow say our prices are at their trade price,” Lisa linen or leather top for $795. 100 percent cotton velvet, mid-century said. “It already is like a discounted price.” The ottoman can serve as a coffee table, modern sofa with a low back. A matching She and Tim love having their store in and people can store magazines under- yellow wingback occasional chair would Chandler and say many people have disneath its top. pair well with the sofa or work in a bed- covered their business after eating at Pei Lisa said a favorite of many custom- room, they said. Wei and visiting the Starbucks nearby in ers is a dark gray, shiny velvet sofa with a “The workmanship from these manufac- the shopping center. tall back for $1,495. Leather sofas are also turers is top quality,” Tim said. “Everyone’s so excited we’re here,” Lisa popular at Potato Barn, including a modA mango wood dining room table from said. “It’s been a really good reception.” ern, gray leather one with four cushions, India with a black heavy steel base for Information: potato-barn.com.

FAITH

AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS | MARCH 7, 2018

Faith

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Be in Jesus Christ, and be F.I.N.E. every day BY REV. SUSAN WILMOT AFN Guest Writer

hen someone asks, “How are you?” what do you normally say? The word “fine” often pops out of our mouths like an automatic response. We’re so used to preserving our dignity in public that we don’t easily drop our defenses or our let our masks slip. Those who know us well can sense that there’s more, but we’re likely to make them work a little harder than the initial inquiry before we’re ready to go deeper. In the movie “The Italian Job,” there’s a neat scene about “being fine.” Unexpectedly, the characters start to laugh as they recite what’s clearly an old joke forged from a deeper relationship: F.I.N.E. is “Freaked

Out, Insecure, Neurotic, and Emotional.” We might make our own acronyms to fit our personal circumstances. How about “Fearful, Injured, Neglected, and Embarrassed”? Or maybe we’re feeling “Felicitous, Invincible, Newsworthy, and Empowered.” Sometimes it can be hard to hold onto the peace that passes all understanding, given the turmoil that bubbles and boils beneath our polished exteriors. There are no secrets from God.The best we can do is find a genuinely loving and judgment-free community to help us heal and grow stronger in body, mind and spirit. We often come to worship seeking God’s promise of reconciliation and renewal, healing and well-being, as well as forgiveness. We often come seeking answers to questions like why would anyone set out to deliberately murder school children? But how many of us leave worship unin-

spired, just as anxious and dis-eased as we were when we entered, still burdened by the demons of guilt and shame and filled with questions? Anxious thoughts nibble away at our peace of mind one bite at a time; the words, deeds and decisions of our week weigh us down; and our fears prey on us. As we’re still discovering, there’s too much violence in the world, to many who want to abuse or oppress others. These people diminish our humanity, or block us from experiencing the fullness of our freedom in Christ. And these are just a few of our demons, hidden behind our glib casual responses and our ‘fine’ protective masks. The season of Lent is a gift of time to consider our own role in diminishing worship to rote recitation and empty rituals, rather than eagerly anticipating God’s dynamic, life-giving Word to show up and shake us out of our smug complacency or self-satisfaction. If the demons are not fleeing from us, then maybe – and no doubt, unintentionally – we’re feeding them or refusing to let them go. If our worship is stuck in the superficial and skin deep instead of what’s transformational and heartfelt, then perhaps without even realizing it we’ve become distracted, disengaged, and distanced from God’s healing power, and from God’s desire to bless us with life-giving and life-changing faith in action. Now is the time to remember that God can help us turn our lives around.

Jesus speaks boldly and dynamically. His words transform and heal. When our ears and eyes, hearts and minds are open in faith, the Word has the power to demolish all our demons. In this and many other stories, Jesus heals, saves and restores the possessed and diseased to right relationship with God, and renews community. We can truly be F.I.N.E. when F means free from fear and all that oppresses us, and interferes with the fullness of authentic life and relationship with God. As well as faithful, forgiven and forgiving followers of Jesus, filled to overflowing with God’s love. I is for innervated. Literally, with our life and dignity restored, invigorated once again for action with integrity and intentionality, as inspired by the power of the Holy Spirit. N is for nourished. It’s when we truly “taste and see that the Lord is good” (Psalm 34:8), and when we become nonjudgmental and nonviolent as we grow into our new life in Christ. E is for evangelist, which is nothing more and nothing less than sharing the good news of how Jesus has healed us, empowered us, and changed our lives. We’re engaged with the world, working for justice, equality and peace. We live the reality that all God’s children are equal and equally beloved by God. Be in Christ, and be F.I.N.E. every day. -The Rev. Susan E. Wilmot is vicar at St. James the Apostle Episcopal Church & Preschool, 975 E. Warner Road, Tempe. Reach her at rector@stjamestempe.org, 480-345-2686 or stjamestempe.org.

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Celebrating Chandler

Ostrich Festival melds music, food and flightless birds BY CHERI NEWTON AND CHRISTINA FUOCO-KARASINSKI AFN Staff Writers

obert “Kool” Bell of Kool and the Gang is intrigued. Usually his legendary R&B group doesn’t have the time to stroll festival grounds or explore the towns in which they are playing. But the 30th annual Chandler Ostrich Festival, which attracts more than 100,000 people, will be different. “It usually depends on our schedule,” Bell says. “When we get to town, a lot of times we have to leave for the next show. But ostrich races? If there is any way possible, we are not going to miss that.” The races return along with rides, food, attractions and concerts by The Beach Boys, Kool and the Gang and John Michael Montgomery Friday, March 9, through Sunday, March 11, at Tumbleweed Park in Chandler. “The Ostrich Festival reflects the town’s heritage to its present status as a high-tech corridor,” says Terri

Kimble, the Chandler Chamber of Commerce chief executive officer. The festival recalls early 1900s Chandler, when Dr. Alexander Chandler purchased 80 acres of land south of Mesa in the Salt River Valley and dedicated himself to developing the town and its agricultural irrigation systems. The doctor kept ostriches for their valuable clipped feathers, which he sold to those in the ladies hat industry. The spectacular birds became a part of the scenery of the growing town until about 1920, when the effects of World War I created a nationwide frugality. The ostriches disappeared from Chandler, but the joy they brought remains. “There are no ostrich ranches in sight, and the city has since developed into a thriving technological center,” Kimble says. “With the Ostrich Festival, we have fun and educational activities surrounding the city’s historic connection, with the extraordinary and much-loved creature. This festival includes many el-

ements that embrace the values of an ever-evolving community.” The weekend will also feature the aerial high-wire thrill performers Pirates of the Colombian Caribbean, three ostrich races and STEM tents. Music is an Ostrich Festival mainstay. The headliners are Kool and the Gang on March 9, John Michael Montgomery on March 10, and the legendary Beach Boys on March 11. The festival is a true community undertaking, with more than 45 food concessionaires and 100 vendors, many of which are nonprofits, participating. “Many of Chandler’s local 501(c) (3) nonprofits provide volunteers for the festival and these nonprofits receive a check from the festival in return for the help,” Kimble says. “It’s a way for us to give back to the community. We truly appreciate this valuable help from these communi(Photos by Peter Speyer | Speyer Photography) ty volunteers.” Ostriches will strut their stuff next weekend at the annual Chandler The festivities kick off with the Chamber Ostrich Festival. youth run at 7:30 a.m. Saturday, March 3, followed by the Mayor’s See on page 40

OSTRICH

Queen Creek hosting dog agility tournament BY ERIC NEWMAN AFN Staff Writer

ow that the Winter Olympics have ended, it’s Fido’s turn to demonstrate athleticism. Nearly 100 dogs and their owners from Western states will descend on Horseshoe Park and Equestrian Center in Queen Creek March 9-11 to begin a nine-month quest for their pet to earn the title of the world’s most agile dog. The U.S. Dog Agility Association’s Wild West Regional tournament is the first of 15 qualifying meets in 10 American and four foreign locales in which the dogs earn points to be good enough to compete in the world dog agility championship Oct.

31-Nov. 4 in Scottsdale. Guided only by voice and hand signals from their human partners, the canines will race against the clock, flying over hurdles and through hanging tires, weaving around poles, scuttling through tunnels and bounding off the see-saw. Obstacles are set according to the dogs’ height and experience level, allowing dogs of all breeds and sizes to compete. The dogs must not only respond to commands but must run courses without guidance as well. “It’s hard to describe how in tune you get with them,” said Kim O’Connor of Gilbert, who has competed in dog agility competitions with multiple dogs since 2001. “They are your partner in the sport, out there read-

ing your body language and executing your commands. You just have an amazing bond together.” O’Connor is one of several East Valley dog owners who will be in the competition. She competes with Kruz, a 7-year-old rescued Border Collie that had no human interaction for the first year of its life and had a hard time initially living with people. Some other area owners whose dogs are in next weekend’s competition are Pat Liddy and Jubie Rueschenburg and her daughter Kama, all of Queen Creek. Jubie said she’s been “obsessed with this crazy, fun sport” since 2002, when she began training her two See

AGILITY on page 42

(Kimberly Carrillo/ AFN Photographer)

Dogs in the competition have to run an obstacle course at the voice and sign commands of their owners.

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OSTRICH

from page 39

5K Fun Run, both of which are held at Dr. A.J. Chandler Park. Kimble says the youth run is held in conjunction with local schools’ running clubs and is tied with the city’s ongoing Wellness Initiative. A parade, classic car show and public safety fair are also featured. The parade consists of more than 100 dance, equestrian and musical groups who will travel through-

AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS | MARCH 7, 2018

out downtown Chandler. Kool and the Gang’s Bell is looking forward to taking it all in. After all, he’s played some unusual gigs himself. “Our shows in Arizona have been fantastic,” he says. “One memorable show was in Phoenix with Van Halen. The crowd was not sure what to expect, but by the end of our show, everyone was up on their feet, dancing. “You can expect that in Chandler, too. We play hits one after another for the entire show. In a 90-minute set, we still can’t fit them all in. We rotate our setlist and add

songs we have not done in a while to mix things up. There are songs we can’t leave out, though. The party songs like ‘Celebration,’ ‘Get Down on It’ and ‘Ladies Night’ are musts in a Kool and the Gang show.”

IF YOU GO Chandler Chamber Ostrich Festival When: Friday, March 9, to Sunday, March 11 Where: Tumbleweed Park, 745 E. Germann Road, Chandler Tickets: $8-15 Info: ostrichfestival.com What:

(Photos by Peter Speyer | Speyer Photography)

Amid many diversions for kids, the ostriches still hold center stage with them. The family-friendly festival marks its 30th anniversary this year.

(Photos by Peter Speyer | Speyer Photography)

Amusement rides and food vendors help crerate the festival’s carnival aura.

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David Bowie’s former bandmates pay tribute to the late icon BY CHRISTINA FUOCO-KARASINSKI GetOut Editor

s David Bowie’s keyboardist, Mike Garson admits he didn’t quite understand the popularity of the Thin White Duke. “I was behind him, backing him up, so I saw his back,” Garson said via telephone from Europe. “I’ve seen YouTube videos and DVDs since his passing, and this guy was even better than I thought.” Now, Garson is honoring the musician through Celebrating David Bowie, a concert featuring players who backed him and those who were influenced by him. It comes to the Mesa Arts Center on Wednesday, March 7. One guest vocalist will be singer/producer Mr Hudson. Others in the band include guitarist Earl Slick (who appeared on the Bowie albums “Diamond Dogs,” “Young Americans” and “Reality”); vocalist Bernard Fowler (The Rolling Stones) and bassist Carmine Rojas (Let’s Dance/Serious Moonlight Tour). Having just finished a European tour, Celebrating David Bowie has been a hit. “The concerts are as loud as they were when David was here,” Garson said. “That’s the most amazing thing. He was more loved

(Special to AFN

Mike Garson leads Celebrating David Bowie, a concert featuring players who backed him and those who were influenced by him.

in Europe than the States. When we did the shows last year at the Wiltern (in Los Angeles) and in New York, it was equal in volume and enthusiasm. What was missing was David and his presence, humor and singing.” On the European tour, Fishbone’s Angelo Moore led the band. “Instead of one singer trying to do David Bowie, I have three to six guests popping in,” Garson said. “It gives a panorama of his work.

Lorde sang with ‘Life on Mars’ with us at the Brits (Brit Awards). That didn’t feel like we were compromising. She made it her own.” As for Bowie, Garson was always a fan of his, but heard his voice get “richer” in the 1990s and 2000s. Other things changed as well throughout the years. “I was with him on the Nine Inch Nails tour,” he said. “I love Trent Reznor. We’re good friends. On that tour, they sang each

other’s songs. It was mostly Trent’s fans at that time, though. We had to compete with a much younger audience, and Nine Inch Nails was a much louder band. “We had to add sub bass to our music to watch their volume or it would have sounded like we were really outdated. I don’t know if that was a mistake or not.” The concert’s setlist changes nightly and it’s something that thrills Garson, who serves as bandleader. One thing remains, however – the overwhelming emotions. “It’s been bittersweet,” he said. “I think I cry every night. Sometimes the audience sees it; sometimes they feel it. It’s a group grief because he left us too soon. I was saying to one of the audiences that my biggest regret was taking certain things for granted. I just tell myself, ‘Oh, I screwed up that one.’”

IF YOU GO

What: Celebrating David Bowie When: 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, March 7 Where: Mesa Arts Center’s Ikeda Theater, 1 E. Main St., Mesa Cost: $33-$68 Info: 480-644-6500, mesaartscenter. com

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AGILITY

AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS | MARCH 7, 2018

from page 38

LL RI

• AHWAT

U K

ER N & TAV G

dogs, an Aussie and a Border Collie, and began her own education in animal behavior. She has been competing since 2004, and her dogs won a dozen awards last year alone. Daughter Kama, who also won more than a dozen awards last year, has created CLUB-Doggie, an online program for training dogs. She also is a coach and certified agility judge. “Obstacle focus is really big, and being independent and able to work on their own is important. If there are jumps or other obstacles out away from you, it’s not always easy. It’s a big difference in training,” said Liddy, who has competed in agility competitions for nearly 15 years and now competes with her dog Mic. While the USDAA boasts more than 10,000 active competitors worldwide, regional competitions vary in size, typically involving 300 canines and 200 human exhibitors vying to elevate their position for the year-end Cynosport World Games.

The top dogs have undergone hours, days and years of training with their human partners, who usually begin teaching at a young age. As important as winning and completing courses quickly, O’Connor said, the connection that owners and their canine comrades develop on and off the course may be even more meaningful. Though Kruz was potty-trained and could live in a house, O’Connor said, her dog was still initially scared of people. She said agility training helped her and Kruz establish a bond. “I started training him in agility because I’ve seen dogs gain confidence and become more self-assured because they’re around people, and they can tell they’re accomplishing things. They’re also around people who love dogs, so they start to associate positive things with agility,” she said. Though training, both in classes and at home, can be rigorous and demanding and injuries sometimes occur, instructors know what is best for the dogs’ bodies. Just in case the dog gets a kink or two, most com-

petitions even have dog massage therapists and physical therapists on hand. Barb Karr of Queen Creek, who competes with her dog GinnyDoll, said that despite the competition, the owners tend to look out for each other. “You have some people who might be overly competitive, but the social structure of U.S.D.A.A. is such that you’re always on display with your dog,” she said. “If they’re out there and appear lame, or appear downtrodden at all, the people are going to make you extremely aware that something needs to change.” Looking down the year to Scottsdale, O’Connor said the chance for Kruz to win a world championship in competitors’ home state is a strong motivator for even harder training, noting: “It’s a big draw, because it’s so close. And so many people would love to go to the national championship – especially because it’s essentially in their backyard.” The competition is free for spectators. Gates open at 8 a.m. Friday and Saturday and 9:30 a.m. Sunday.

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Kama Rueschenburg, left, and her mother, Jubie, of Queen Creek, are entering their dogs in the contest.

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AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS | MARCH 7, 2018

King Crossword

Beth McDonald’s spicy chicken thigh recipe yields yummy results BY JAN D’ATRI AFN Contributor

here are very few people in the media who can carve out a lasting niche and then stay current, connected and keep an audience surprised and delighted every single day for 30plus years. I’ve just described longtime radio personality Beth McDonald, the host of “Beth & Friends” on 99.9KEZ. I think she could best be described as the reigning queen of morning radio in Arizona, although knowing Beth, she’s not real comfortable with any

fancy titles. She loves simple, easy and uncomplicated stuff – and that includes food. A serious foodie and wine enthusiast, Beth often gives a radio platform to Valley top restaurants and chefs, but the recipe that’s her “go to” is as easy as it gets – a toss-and-bake spicy chicken thighs dish that’s absolutely yummy. This recipe is so great because you can make it your own with the spices that you love! Hope you can listen in every Monday at 8 a.m. on KEZ for “Beth & Friends & Food” when Beth and I obsess over food trends, kitchen tips and recipes we love. I guarantee it always gets a little crazy.

Beth’s Spicy Chicken Thighs

Directions:

Ingredients:

6 skinless bone-in chicken thighs 1/2 cup bread crumbs (seasoned or unseasoned) 1 teaspoon curry powder 1 teaspoon cumin 1 teaspoon chili powder 1 teaspoon paprika (regular, smoked or sweet) 1 teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon pepper

Pre-heat oven to 400 degrees. Wash chicken and pat dry. In a gallon size zipper plastic bag, place breadcrumbs, curry powder, cumin, chili powder, paprika, salt and pepper. Shake to combine. Drop chicken in the bag a few pieces at a time. Shake the bag to completely coat the chicken thighs. Repeat until all thighs are coated. Place chicken on shallow baking sheet. Cook for 20 minutes on one side. Turn chicken over and cook for another 17-20 minutes or until internal temperate reads 165 degrees.

Watch my how-to video: jandatri.com/recipes/one-minute-kitchen.

ACROSS 1 Chaps 4 Insane 7 Location 8 Skeptical sort 10 Original “Trivial Pursuit” edition 11 Traitor Benedict 13 Monopoly avenue neighboring “Go” 16 Winehouse or Poehler 17 Wooden strips 18 I love (Lat.) 19 Big party 20 Always 21 Fischer’s game 23 Cloys 25 “Hey, sailor!” 26 Legend 27 -- de Janeiro 28 Occurrence 30 Hot tub 33 1970s TV hospital drama 36 Ending that may be grand 37 Point-and-click device 38 Follow 39 Bridge, in Brest 40 That woman 41 Powerful stick

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32 Exist 34 Quaint stopovers 35 Midday

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Pride falls to Pinnacle High in basketball championship moves and drives to the basket. When Mountain Pointe tightened up around the rim, Pinnacle passed out open he memorable 2018 season for shooters in the corners, leading to a barMountain Pointe High School’s rage of eight three-pointers that propelled boys basketball team came to a the Pioneers to a 15-point lead at the half. bitter end Feb. 28 as the Pride fell to Pin“They have a really good guard and he nacle High 76-60. was able to shred our defense,” Mountain Unlike its last game with the Pride in Pointe junior Khalid Price said. “But reNovember when they suffered a crushing ally, they just hit the shots we didn’t, and 81-45 loss, Pinnacle this time around had capitalized on the things we didn’t. That a full bench – including two starters who was the difference.” had been out because of injuries. Mountain Pointe’s full-court-press deOne of those absent players, sopho- fense, which created chaos and turnovers more Nico Mannion, proved too tough for opponents all season, was neutralized for Mountain Pointe to handle, notching by careful and precise passes by Mannion 21 points along with five assists and seven and the other Pinnacle guards. rebounds. Pinnacle got the ball in play quickly afThe Pioneers scored early on post ter Mountain Pointe made baskets, which did not allow the Pride to get set on defense and get close to ball handlers. After beating the Pride’s press, the Pioneers saw limited defense near the hoop, which resulted in a plethora of quick shots. Mannion said coach Charles (Kimberly Carrillo/AFN Photographer) Wilde had preThe Pride’s Terance Hunter tries to evade a Pinnacle defender. pared them all BY ERIC NEWMAN AFN Staff

week in practice for the press. With superior dribbling ability, Mannion said he was excited at the prospect of being guarded full-court. “I love it. I start drooling. I don’t think there’s anybody that can guard me full-court, so that makes it a little easier.” From that point, the Pioneers were able to run the clock while still attacking. The margin narrowed to nine points in the third quarter, but the result was never really in question. “They’re a good team, so when you don’t capitalize and they do, you’re going to get a lead,” Mountain Pointe coach Duane Eason said. Despite the loss, the season will still go down as a success for Eason, who led the Pride to a 26-4 record – arguably the best season ever for the team. Mountain Pointe will have to recover from the loss of guard Amarion Cash and other seniors to graduation, but can expect the return of the team’s top two scorers in Price (Kimberly Carrillo/AFN Photographer) and junior forward Jalen Graham. Jalen Graham stretches for a jump ball during Mountain Eason said the team can parlay Pointe High’s championship game against Pinnacle. success this year into a playoff run in 2019 if everybody puts in the regame regardless of the final score, and quired effort. we’ll be the same next year,” Eason said. “We play harder than anyone in the “We’ll have some no-name guys that will state in my mind. We fought the entire work their tails off and we’ll be back.”

New guidelines stress exercise’s benefits for kids, teens BY CHUCK CORBIN AFN Guest Writer

xercise is good for kids. Most of us are now aware that participation in regular moderate to vigorous physical activity has benefits to health, wellness, and fitness. But physical activity for kids has not always been recommended. As recently as the 1950s child growth and devel-

opment texts cautioned that children should be limited in vigorous activity because of possible harm to the heart. Until the 2000s, many experts cautioned that resistance exercise was inappropriate for children and teens. In 2008, the U. S. Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion published “Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans.” This document included physical activity guidelines for youth as well as for

adults and older adults. Specifically, the 2008 report included the following guidelines for youth: • 60 or more minutes of moderate to vigorous activity each day with at least 3 days of vigorous intensity activity each week, • Muscle fitness exercise as part of the 60 minutes of daily activity (such as climbing trees, using playground equipment, or age-appropriate weight lifting or resistance exercise), and,

• Bone strengthening exercises as part of the 60 minutes of daily activity (such as running or jumping rope). Currently an advisory committee is working on the development of new guidelines to be published this year. The guidelines are revised every 10 years. Although the new guidelines will not be published until later this year, summaries of committee meetings are See

CORBIN on page 46

SPORTS

AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS | MARCH 7, 2018

Plans afoot to upgrade Wells Fargo Arena BY ANDREW MILAN Cronkite News

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ajor renovations are in the works for Wells Fargo Arena, as well as the creation of an adjacent facility to house several sports, including ice hockey. The project is part of Arizona State’s $590 million capital development plan, with a price tag of roughly $160 million. “These large projects are very complex and they take years, not weeks to do,” said Morgan Olsen, executive vice president, treasurer and CFO of ASU. “Specifically, for the project that will renovate the current basketball arena and add a roughly 5,000-seat venue to support men’s ice hockey, women’s gymnastics and wrestling. We’ve been working on this particular plan for over a year.” Wells Fargo Arena is home to several of the university’s sports programs. The arena hasn’t seen any large-scale renovations in the 40 years since it was built. Rob Evans, who coached the ASU men’s basketball program from 19982006, was an advocate for these renovations during his tenure. “I would say it’s about time,” Evans said. “Wells Fargo needed many renovations when I was there, such as lower interior seating, postgame media rooms and modern player locker rooms. I

CORBIN

from page 45

public and published online. The most recent posting provides a summary of evidence accumulated for use in creating new guidelines. Strong evidence demonstrates that increased moderate-to-vigorous physical activity increases cardiorespiratory fitness and increased resistance exercise increases muscular fitness in children and adolescents. Strong evidence demonstrates that higher levels of physical activity are associated with smaller increases in weight and body fat levels during childhood and adolescence. Strong evidence demonstrates that higher amounts of physical activity are associated with more favorable indicators of bone health and with reduced

reached out to influential boosters to modernize the players locker rooms and they donated funds. These are just a few of the much-needed renovations that were needed.” Some key renovations for the arena include reconstruction of the lower bowl to allow more seating toward the center of the arena. Pathways will be redesigned to make them wider, and restrooms will be enhanced. A section for premium season-ticket holders will be added, and the arena will be receiving new cutting-edge technology to be used for games and inside the locker rooms. The adjacent multi-purpose arena, which is also included in the $160 million budget, will be open for the public to use as well. The community will be able to use the ice for youth and adult club hockey practices, as well as other hockey events. The location for these arenas is part of ASU’s Novus Innovation Corridor, where the university wants to establish a work, live and play ambiance for the community. “This venue should be next to a hotel, apartments, restaurants and this should be a fantastic location both for the student-athletes and the people that come to watch them,” Olsen said. Many believe the renovation for Wells Fargo Arena is long overdue as it tries to keep up with other Pac-12 venues. risk for excessive increases in body weight and adiposity in children 3-6 years of age. And acute bouts of moderate-intensity exercise also may improve cognition immediately after exercise, evidence suggests. The benefits of physical activity for children and adolescents described above are just a few of the highlights of the findings of the current physical activity guidelines committee. They show that concerns about appropriate physical activity for youth expressed in the past are unwarranted. The 2018 guidelines, which will be published later this year, will provide a more comprehensive report of the benefits of physical for people of all ages. In the meantime, the evidence preSee

CIORBIN on page 47

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MARCH 7, 2018 | AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS

Karate Korner

Karate’s modern-day father had a major impact BY RICK SAVAGIAN AFN Guest Writer

ichin Funakoshi was known as the “father of modern day karate” whose influence on the art of karate-do knew no bounds. He impact many different styles of the martial art, but none more so than in his founding of Shotokan karate-do. Funakoshi was born in 1868 in Shuri, Okinawa. His martial arts journey began in early childhood with his good friend Anko Azato. Funakoshi dedicated much time to his training. He would often travel in the evenings to the Azato family home to learn and train with him. After training many years, Funakoshi

CORBIN

from page 46

sented above offers compelling reasons for encouraging all youth to meet the

would become one of the main Okinawan karate masters who would introduce karate to the Japanese in 1922. Having trained in Shorin Ryu karate, Gichin Funakoshi developed his own style called Shotokan. The style was originally named after his pen name “shoto” and “kan,” meaning “training hall.” Funakoshi was a dedicated poet and philosopher as well as a martial artist. The name “Shoto” translates to “waving pines.” In 1936, Funakoshi opened his first Shotokan Karate Dojo in Tokyo. His teachings soon gained much popularity and he developed a large student following. It was his goal to spread interest in Okinawan Karate. He developed an organization named Dai-Nippon Karate Do Kenkyu-

kai, which later changed its name to “Dai-Nippon Karate Do Shoto Kai.” This organization continues to this day and is one of his many legacies to the martial arts. One of the changes Funakoshi brought was changing the meaning of “karate” from “China hand” to “empty hand.” He believed that the original meaning could be misleading and confusing for students. He thought that people would think that its origin was rooted in Chinese boxing. Funakoshi also believed that “empty hand” described the art of Karate-do best since it is a weaponless art that relied primarily on a person’s hands. Master Funakoshi also was an accomplished author. He wrote several books, including his autobiography, “Karate-do: My Way of Life.”

existing 60-minute-per-day guidelines. The committee findings cited above can be accessed at: health.gov/paguidelines/second-edition/meetings/5/11-PA-

GAC-Day-4-Presentation.pdf

Kathy’s Alterations

-Chuck Corbin is a longtime Ahwatukee resident and professor emeritus in the School of Nutrition and Health Promotion at ASU.

One of his most influential works is titled “Niju Kun,” meaning “20 principles.” The “Niju Kun” is at the foundation for all Shotokan practitioners. It’s a list of rules to help them be their be there best and do their best both as martial artists and as human beings. Having dedicated his entire life to karate-do, Funakoshi influenced many people. His teachings and legacies live on in his students and their students. Known as an educated and a humble man, one of Funakoshi’s most famous saying was: “The ultimate aim of karate lies not in victory or defeat, but in the perfection of character of its participants.” This quote is an example of what an influential man Master Funakoshi really was. Check us out and like the Ahwatukee Foothills News on Facebook and follow @AhwatukeeFN on Twitter.

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Landscape Maintenance

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Bonded/Insured • ROC #289252

Bonded/Insured • ROC #223709

ItsJustPlumbSmart.com

480-470-7771

480-405-7099

Solid Rock Structures Inc, DBA

SRS Painting Residential & Commercial

• Interior • Exterior • Cabinets • Block Walls & Fences • Accent Walls • Doors & Trim

100% Customer Satisfaction Guaranteed! All bids include warranty & paint.

Call Cole Gibson at 602-785-8605 to schedule a FREE bid! ROC #312897

PLUMBING $35.00 Off Any Service Call Today!

A+ RATED

We Repair or Install ROC # 272721

AHWATUKEE’S #1 PLUMBER Licensed • Bonded • Insured

704.5422

(480)

AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS | MARCH 7, 2018

Plumbing

Affinity Plumbing LLC 480-487-5541 affinityplumber@gmail.com

www.affinityplumbingaz.com

Your Ahwatukee Plumber & East Valley Neighbor Anything Plumbing Same Day Service Water Heaters

24/7

Inside & Out Leaks

Bonded

Toilets

Insured

Faucets

Estimates Availabler

Disposals

Same Day Service Guaranteed 24/7 FREE Service Call with Repairs

10% OFF any total work performed ANYTHING PLUMBING • Water heaters • Leaks • Garbage disposal • Bathrooms

minutemanhomeservices.com ROC 242804, 257474, 290005 APS/SRP Certified Contractor BBB A+ • Licensed, bonded, and fully insured for your protection.

Code T03

480-755-5818

E RV I C E S Pool PService O O L /SRepair

CLR Pool Service LLC Excellent Service... First time, Every time!

Remodeling

Kitchen & Bath

ACCREDITED BUSINESS

Remodeling

Not a licensed contractor

Pool Service / Repair 1st Month of Service FREE For a limited time

Call Now!

Pool Service / Repair

Any Service

PLUMBING

PROFESSIONAL PAINTING Interior, Exterior House Painting. Stucco Patching. Gate/Front Door Refinishing. Quality work/Materials Free Estimate Ignacio 480-961-5093 602-571-9015 ROC #189850 Bond/Ins'd

REMODELING - Kitchens & Bathrooms

$35 off

Minuteman Home Services

Pool Service / Repair

Painting

Ahw Resident • Owner Operated Maintenance & Repair Professional and Superior Service

We maintain, repair and service all types of pools, equipment, filters, cleaning systems, fresh water and salt water systems

Call me, Howard:

480.231.9651

AZPoolExpert.com BBB Member Not a licensed contractor.

JuanPavers Hernandez • Concrete

$25 OFF

Filter Cleaning! Monthly Service & Repairs Available

602-546-POOL 7 6 6 5

www.barefootpoolman.com

I CAN HELP! Call Juan at

602-980-9922

Roofing

HIRING?

For a Quote email: class@times publications.com

25 Years Experience • Dependable & Reliable

ROC#147710 Bond/ins

I will personally manage your project from concept to completion. www.kitchensorbaths.com

Licensed, Bonded & Insured ROC# 272001

P O O L R E PA I R

Pebble cracking, Plaster peeling, Rebar showing, Pool Light out?

Advanced Concepts Remodeling

See our Before’s and After’s on Facebook

If someone Needs a Job, They Look Everyday!

Water Features • Sprinkler Repair

I’m Cindy and I am an Ahwatukee resident with 30 years exp remodeling kitchens & bathrooms. Call me for an appointment. Let me provide you with renderings, ideas and a detailed proposal. We do flooring & granite, as well!

Tiles, shingles, flat, repairs & new work Free Estimates • Ahwatukee Resident

480-898-6465

480-720-3840

Over 30 yrs. Experience

480-706-1453

Licensed/Bonded/Insured • ROC #236099

Remodeling

Not a licensed contractor.

Minuteman Home Services

BATHROOM/KITCHEN REMODEL

in 5 Days or Less!*

Charles Rock - Ahwatukee Resident

Cabinets • Walk-In Tubs • Bathtubs • Showers • Toilets • Vanity • Faucets • Shower Doors • Tile • Lighting

charles@clrpoolservice.com

In-Home Design & Consultation

480.399.ROCK (7625)

FREE

www.clrpoolservice.com SELL YOUR CAR IN THE CLASSIFIEDS! 2 WEEKS STARTING AT $20.80

480.898.6465

CLASS@TIMESPUBLICATIONS.COM

FAUCET

Included w/ Vanity Install

See MORE Ads Online! www.Ahwatukee.com

500 OFF

Complete Bathroom Remodel & Upgrade Install *Some restrictions may apply.

200 OFF Walk In Tub

minutemanhomeservices.com ROC 242804, 257474, 290005 APS/SRP Certified Contractor BBB A+ • Licensed, bonded, and fully insured for your protection.

480-755-5818

CODE T16

CLASSIFIEDS

MARCH 7, 2018 | AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS

Roofing

Window Cleaning

The Most Detailed Roofer in the State

John's Window Cleaning 1-story $135 / 2-story $155 -inside and out up to 30 panes (add'l panes $2) Screens cleaned $2.50 per pane. Power Washing and Re-Screening available Same day Service (480) 201-6471

Tim KLINE Roofing, LLC

Roofs Done Right...The FIRST Time! 15-Year Workmanship

Warranty on All Complete Roof Systems

www.timklineroofing.com

Meetings/Events

FREE Estimate and written proposal

480-357-2463

Crops of Luv

R.O.C. #156979 K-42 Licensed, Bonded and Insured

"My dream is that one day we will be able to give every "wish" child a scrapbook to remind them that dreams do come true."

Roofing

Family Owned/ Operated

Quality Leak Repairs & Re-Roofs

Honest Free Estimates References DENNIS PORTER

480-460-7602 or 602-710-2263 RANDY HALFHILL

602-910-1485

Jody, co-founder, Ahwatukee based non-profit

Come Join us: Help make embellishments, organize or assist with events, scrapbook, donate your time, money or space. Teens who need to fill Community Service hours for High School are welcome! Come be apart of something Awesome!

Lic#ROC 152111 Bonded

Window Cleaning

Place YOUR Business HERE! in the Service Directory

Cropsofluv.com 480.634.7763

cropsofluv@cox.net

Call for our 3 Month Special! Starting at $120/month Classifieds: 480-898-6465 OWNER IS

20yr Ahwatukee Resident

Tile, Flat Roof, and Leak Repair Experts

$1000 OFF when you show this ad

on qualifying complete roof replacements

Let us show you the In-Ex Difference!

inexroofing.com 602-938-7575 CALL FOR YOUR FREE ROOF EVALUATION Serving The Valley Since 1996

Payment Options Available Credit Cards Accepted ROC #: 269218

Licensed - Bonded - Insured

Owned & Operated by Ahwatukee Residents

10 OFF

Roofing

WITH THIS AD

480-519-9327

southmountainwindowcleaning.com

CLASSIFIEDS

AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS | MARCH 7, 2018

Sale! 50" SMART TV

2 GREAT EVENTS... 2 NEW STORES!

25.4 CU FT REFRIGERATOR

• 1080p Resolution • Wide Color Enhancer • Smart Apps

• Spill Proof Glass Shelves • Adjustable Gallon Door Bins • Humidity Controlled Drawer • 5 Wash Cycles • Accu-Chill Temperature System • 1-Hour Wash Cycle • Triple Filtration System WRS325FDAM CLOSEOUT • Stainless Steel Interior

DISHWASHER

379 449

$ $

UN50M5300

WDT720PADM CLOSEOUT

OVER THE RANGE MICROWAVE

LIMITED QUANTITIES

• 1.7 Cu. Ft. • 1000 Watts • 220 CFM Vent System

WMH31017AS CLOSEOUT

30” RANGE

WASHER

359 369

EACH

• 3.6 Cu. Ft. Capacity • 12 Wash Cycles • Quick Wash • Presoak

WTW4915EW WED4915EW CLOSEOUT

DRYER

• 7.0 Cu. Ft. Capacity • Wrinkle Shield™ Option • 12 Dry Cycles • 5 Temperature Settings WED4915EW CLOSEOUT

229

ALL 4

MONTHLY PAYMENT**

ALL 4

WFE320M0AS CLOSEOUT

REFRIGERATOR

• 15 CU. FT. • 2 HUMIDITY CONTROLLED CRISPERS • 2 SHELVES FFTR1513LW CLOSEOUT

399

$ 1999

1.6 CU. FT. OVER-THE RANGE MICROWAVE • 950 Watts of Power • 10 Levels of Power • Sunken Glass Turntable WMH1162XVQ CLOSEOUT

• 4.8 Cu. Ft. • 4 Radiant Elements • Custom Broil • Storage Drawer

299

199 $989

FFSS2614QS

The Spencers TV & Appliance credit card is issued by Wells Fargo Financial National Bank. Special terms apply to qualifying purchases of $499.00 or more charged with approved credit. The special terms APR will continue to apply until all qualifying purchases are paid in full. The monthly payment for this purchase will be the amount that will pay for the purchase in full in equal payments during the promotional (special terms) period. The APR for Purchases will apply to certain fees such as a late payment fee or if you use the card for other transactions. For new accounts, the APR for Purchases is 28.99%. If you are charged interest in any billing cycle, the minimum interest charge will be $1.00. This information is accurate as of 01/06/2016 and is subject to change. For current information, call us at 1-800-431-5921. Offer expires1/31/2018. 3/31/2018. MESA SHOWROOM | 115 W. First Ave. | 480-833-3072 AHWATUKEE | 4601 E. Ray Rd. | Phoenix | 480-777-7103 ARROWHEAD RANCH | 7346 W. Bell Road | 623-487-7700 EAST MESA/GILBERT Gateway Towne Center |4630 E. Ray Rd. | South End by Target | 480-988-1917 GILBERT Santan Village | 2711 S. Santan Village Pkwy | 480-366-3900 GLENDALE | 10220 N. 43rd Ave | (602) 504-2122 GOODYEAR | 13800 W. McDowell Rd. | 623-930-0770 GOODYEAR | 1707 N. Litchfield Rd | 623-930-0770 SCOTTSDALE | 14202 N. Scottsdale Rd. | 480-991-7200 SCOTTSDALE/PHOENIX | 13820 N. Tatum Blvd. | (602) 494-0100 MESA CLEARANCE CENTER | 115 W. First Ave. | 480-833-3072 OPEN DAILY 9AM - 9PM • SATURDAY 9AM - 6PM • SUNDAY 11AM - 5PM