WEDNESDAY, JUNE 8, 2016
Today: High 108, Low 80, Sunny
Tomorrow: High 106, Low 81, Sunny
MAIN STREET
AHWATUKEE:
Latest news from the chamber p23
COMMUNITY:
Keeping cool
Horizon Water Day offers relief from the heat. p8
GETOUT:
Multitalented entertainer
Actress Gloria Reuben to perform at MIM. p26
SPORTS:
Athletes of the Year
MP’s Burns and DV’s Hickel honored. p39
p4
p8
p17
Ahwatukee Foothills artist Charlie Bink with his tabletop board game, “Trekking the National Parks,” which is educational as well as fun. (Srianthi Perera/AFN staff)
By Srianthi Perera
AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS STAFF
Ahwatukee Foothills artist Charlie Bink is getting ready to launch the second edition of his tabletop board game, “Trekking the National Parks,” which will be available at the Gilbert Art Walk when it continues in October.
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Unlike the first edition he introduced in 2014, which was manufactured in the United States, this one will be produced in China.
The 32-year-old man assumed
the “Made in America” label would be a selling point for the board game he designed, illustrated and manufactured under his company, Bink Ink Inc. Trekking the National Parks retails for $50 and for $59 online at www.trektheparks.com.
“We thought that would matter to people,” Bink said. “The truth is, it doesn’t matter to people. It’s the price that matters, and it’s not just me saying it, it’s the people saying it.”
“Trekking the National Parks”
involves meeples (board figurines) “traveling” across the country with the help of “trek cards.” Players strategize to beat opponents to different parks, collecting tokens and earning points to win.
They don’t encounter dragon-slayers at the Grand Canyon, and play is fairly traditional. But they do become aware of 59 of the nation’s 410 major national parks that are represented on it.
Which makes the board game
>> See DESIGNER on page 11
By Eric Smith AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS STAFF
In 2002, Ahwatukee resident Mark Lastovica was going through a tough period in his life. He had most of the material possessions that he could want and yet, while going through a divorce, something was still missing.
He wanted to try and fill the void he was feeling by going on a mission trip, but all of the available spots at the church he attended at the time, Mountain Park Community Church, were filled.
A member of the men’s group Lastovica was a part of brought him a newspaper clipping telling of a women’s shelter in Rocky Point, Mexico, and he saw a way he could help.
“All of a sudden we find ourselves down there two weeks later helping to build the bathrooms and the showers (at the shelter),” Lastovica said.
But this wouldn’t be the only trip Lastovica would take. It called him to continue going down and helping the less fortunate in Mexico.
The charitable work made a profound impact on him.
“We just changed,” he said. “We changed from being very mate-
The Ahwatukee Foothills News is published every Wednesday and distributed free of charge to homes and in single-copy locations throughout Ahwatukee Foothills. To find out where you can pick up a free copy, visit www.ahwatukee.com.
Ahwatukee office: 10631 S. 51st St., Suite 1, Phoenix, AZ, 85044
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Ahwatukee brothers Ryan and Garrett Frantz, who attended Kyrene de la Esperanza and Kyrene de la Colina elementary schools, Centennial Middle School, and Mountain Pointe High School in Ahwatukee, reached separate higher education milestones last month.
Ryan Frantz graduated May 11 from Arizona State University, summa cum laude, with a bachelor’s degree in biomedical engineering. He is looking forward to studying medicine in Tucson at the University of Arizona as a member of the Class of 2020.
Garrett Frantz graduated May 9 from the University of Arizona, College of Medicine-Phoenix. He and his bride, Taylor Renee, moved to Temple, Texas, to begin a threeyear residency specializing in emergency medicine at the Scott & White Memorial Hospital.
Ahwatukee Foothills resident Jadriene Ellery was one of 10 recipients of the Centennial Scholarship for Education Majors. She attended Kyrene de la Estrella Elementary, Akimel A-al Middle School, and graduated from Desert Vista High School in Ahwatukee. Ellery graduated from Northern Arizona University last month with a double major in elementary education, special education, and a certificate in early childhood education. She graduated summa cum laude and is a member of Gamma Phi Beta sorority and Order of Omega Honors Society. Ellery just finished her student teaching at Kyrene de las Brisas Elementary School in Chandler, where they have hired her as a second grade teacher for the 2016-17 school year.
— Contact Kelly Mixer, 480-898-7913 or kmixer@ahwatukee.com.
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WEDNESDAY, JUNE 8
Enjoy complimentary appetizers, giveaways and 20 percent savings on all sunscreen and more.
DETAILS>> Wednesday, June 8, 4:30-7 p.m. at Ahwatukee Skin and Laser, 4425 E. Agave Road, Building 9, Suite 148. For questions, call 480-704-7546. www. ahwatukeeskincare.com.
Parents interested in learning more about kindergarten programs at Kyrene are invited to attend this Ahwatukee information meeting. It is for parents with children who will turn 5 years old by Sept. 1, and who are interested in attending kindergarten at one of Kyrene’s 19 elementary schools. Principals and staff will present information and answer any questions parents may have about the program.
DETAILS>> 6-7 p.m. at Kyrene de la Estrella Elementary School, 2620 E. Liberty Lane.
THURSDAY, JUNE 9
Join library staff and patrons for trivia covering ’80s music, movies, and television — we might even throw in some world events, too.
DETAILS>> 6-7 p.m. Ironwood Library, 4333 E. Chandler Blvd., Ahwatukee. No registration required. All ages. Free.
JUNE 13 TO FRIDAY JULY 8
Learn about water safety and get certified in CPR, first aid, and emergency oxygen. This course develops leadership, responsibility, and personal water safety. Focuses on the skills and training participants will need to be successful YMCA lifeguard candidates once they’re old enough to be certified.
DETAILS>> From 2-4 p.m., Monday through Thursday, except week of July 4. Ages 12-15. Members, $125, nonmembers, $150. An annual program membership fee of $35 will be applied at registration. Ahwatukee Foothills Family YMCA, 1030 E. Liberty Lane. Call 602-212-5148 or email mpyykkonen@vosymca.org for more information.
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 15
Representatives Jill Norgaard, Bob Robson and State Sen. Jeff Dial, as well as a representative from Councilman Sal DiCiccio’s office, are hosting a question and answer session for residents regarding the proposed Loop 202 South Mountain Freeway.
DETAILS>> From 6-8 p.m. at the Pecos Community Center, 17010 S. 48th St. The Arizona Department of Transportation will be on hand with personnel at various stations for residents to ask questions. The stations will include information on noise abatement plans, traffic management and scheduling, bike paths, Lakewood well/ water concerns and crossover, scheduling and aesthetics. Please RSVP at jnorgaard@azleg.gov.
JUNE 15–JULY 8
Come learn the sport of water polo and prepare for the high school season. Introduction, rules, shooting drills, passing drills, conditioning, defensive drills, and scrimmages are part of the curriculum.
DETAILS>> 7–8 p.m. Wednesdays and Fridays, ages 12 to 18 years old. Members, $125, non-members, $150. An annual program membership fee of $35 will be applied at registration. Ahwatukee Foothills Family YMCA, 1030 E. Liberty Lane. For more information, call 480-759-6762 or visit www.valleyYMCA.org.
THURSDAY, JUNE 16
A round table forum featuring Jana Jackson, Maricopa County Superintendent of Schools; Sen. Frank Schmuck, LD18 state senator; Scott Ryan, Tempe Union School Board member; and Bob Stump, Arizona Corporation Commissioner.
DETAILS>> General meeting from 6:30-8:30 p.m. at the Quality Inn, 5121 E. LaPuenta Ave. Doors open at 6:30 p.m.; meeting will begin at 7 p.m. Open to the public. For additional information, email info@tukeeparty.com.
See “Where the Wild Things Are,” the 2009 adaptation for Maurice Sendak’s timeless children’s classic — a delight for adults and kids alike. Popcorn provided.
DETAILS>> 5:30-7:30 p.m. Ironwood Public Library, 4333 E. Chandler Blvd., Ahwatukee. No registration. All ages. Free.
Learn how to save money and the planet with all-natural, effective cleaners. A fun-filled workshop where you’ll learn how to save money by assembling simple natural recipes at home. Replace toxic synthetic chemical cleaners with fewer natural cleaners that are safer and more effective. Demonstrations and take-home recipes provided for all attendees. Door prizes, hand massages, essential oils, and more.
DETAILS>> 6-7:30 p.m. at 15815 S. 46th St., Suite 116. For more information, contact Norma McCormick at 480-2835597.
SATURDAY, JUNE 18
Derek of East Valley Krav Maga will discuss and demonstrate the self-defense techniques of Krav Maga. DETAILS>> 2-3 p.m. Ironwood Public Library, 4333 E. Chandler Blvd., Ahwatukee. No registration. Free.
FRIDAY, JUNE 24
A free water safety event that offers children ages 6 and younger and their parents the opportunity to cool off and celebrate summer. The event is part of Cigna HealthCare of Arizona and the city of Phoenix Parks and Recreation Department’s Aquatic Section water safety education program. There will be discounted water aerobics classes for seniors.
DETAILS>> 9:30-11:30 a.m. at Pecos Pool, 17010 S. 48th St. Free. www.phoenix.gov/parks/pools.
JULY 22-23
Volunteers are needed to be a part of the hunger solution through a partnership between the Central Christian Church MobilePack and nonprofit Feed My Starving Children.
DETAILS>> Shift times are from 7 p.m. on Friday, July 22, through 4 p.m. Saturday, July 23, at Central Christian Church in Ahwatukee, 15920 S. 48th St. For more information, visit www.fundraising.fmsc.org/CCC.
THROUGH AUG. 2
DivorceCare is a safe place for people struggling with divorce or separation.
Our meeting location has changed for the summer.
THROUGH AUG. 7
This program is for kids kindergarten through eighth grade. For every five spoons stamped (stamped for 20 minutes of reading with guardian initial), the owner of this game board may collect their prize of one mini Blizzard (any flavor). Once the game board has been completed, it can then be traded in for an opportunity to participate in the end of summer drawing for a family four pack of fun for an Arizona Diamondbacks game on Aug. 27. The drawing will take place Aug. 9, winners will be notified by provided phone number.
DETAILS>> Pick up a game board at the Ahwatukee Dairy Queen, 4751 E. Warner Road, to start. Program goes through Aug. 7.
THROUGH AUG. 31
The Phoenix Rescue Mission is accepting water, white socks, toiletries, cool snack packs, hats, light-colored T-shirts, sunglasses, sunscreen, Chapstick, chilly neck coolers, and monetary donations to help protect all Arizonans from heat related illness or death,
ONGOING
DETAILS>> 7-8:30 p.m. on the second Monday of each month at Shalimar Country Club Restaurant and Bar, 2032 E. Golf Ave., Tempe. For more information, visit www. ld18democrats.org/meetings or email ld18demsinfo@ gmail.com. Free and open to the public. Come early (6:30 p.m.) to socialize.
HandsOn Greater Phoenix is getting ready to kick off a new project in partnership with Save the Family Foundation, an organization that serves homeless families throughout Maricopa County. HandsOn volunteers will be throwing monthly baby shower celebrations for new or expectant mothers, and HandsOn has begun collecting donations for this new project. Donations of wrapped baby gifts, party decorations and homemade or store-bought snacks are needed.
DETAILS>> All donations may be dropped off at the HandsOn Greater Phoenix office, 5151 N. 19th Ave, Suite 200, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Mondays-Fridays. For more information, call 602-973-2212.
Families in Ahwatukee and the surrounding area can help with understanding the world beyond our borders by becoming involved in a global cultural exchange through the Aspect Foundation.
DETAILS>> Potential host families can choose their own student by viewing student profiles on Aspect Foundation’s website at www.AspectFoundation.org. For more information, contact Brynda Blowers at 480-444-6192.
Ahwatukee’s Inspire Kids Montessori has named Veronique Bevali as its school director. Current Director and Founder, Diana Darmawaskita, will continue to supervise school operations and focus on selecting and launching additional locations for the expanding Montessori.
Bevali has a bachelor’s degree from the University of the Mediterranean Aix-Marseille II in Southern France and teacher’s certification from the French Ministry of Education. For the past 12 years Bevali has served as curriculum director for the International School of Arizona in Scottsdale.
“We are so pleased to have someone with
Veronique’s extensive educational background at our school,” Darmawaskita said.
“Her expertise will allow Inspire Kids to continue to provide an exceptional learning experience for our young students while we expand into other locations.”
The school is currently researching new school locations in the East Valley.
Inspire Kids Montessori was founded in 2010 in Ahwatukee. Their programs for children ages 6 weeks through 6 years are based on the principles of Maria Montessori, an Italian educator whose educational philosophy is now used in progressive schools internationally.
The growing school recently added another program for children ages 2-3 and renovated its “Back to Nature” playgrounds at its facility.
For more information on Inspire Kids Montessori, call 480-659-9402 or email info@inspirekidsmontessori.com. Inspire Kids Montessori is located at 4025 E. Chandler Blvd., Suite 11, in the Trader Joe’s/Safeway Shopping Plaza in Ahwatukee.
Summit School of Ahwatukee has partnered with Quality First, First Things First,
and the United Way to offer eight children a $6,000 scholarship to join its NAEYC, nationally accredited preschool for the 201617 school year.
Preschool scholarships are for Summit’s academic school year, August 3, 2016 through May 17, 2017, for a five-day program. Hours are 8 a.m. to 3:15 p.m. The scholarships are based on family income, with limits set by the state. Qualifying families are responsible to pay the tuition not covered by the scholarship, and the cost of beforeand after-school care, or enrichment classes, if needed.
Summit’s NAEYC accredited preschool offers developmental, experiential, play-based curriculum, utilizes Teaching Strategies Gold objectives for teaching and learning. The curriculum is research-based, developmentally appropriate, and taught by experienced teachers, who nurture cognitive, social and emotional growth. Preschool also includes classes in art, Spanish, and music, tumbling and library. Preschoolers can range in age from 30 months to 5 years old, but must be fully independent in the bathroom.
Ahwatukee Foothills News voters have named Summit School of Ahwatukee one of the best preschools for eight years in a row. The private preschool, elementary and middle school is located at 4515 E. Muirwood Drive. Visit SummitSchoolaz.org or call Summit’s admissions office at 480-403-
Mayor Greg Stanton will present the Mayor’s 2016 Export Awards at the Phoenix Sister Cities 17th Annual Global Links Luncheon from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Thursday, June 9, at the Phoenix Convention Center West Building, Rooms 106 A-C. This year’s Global Links topic will feature “The 411 on Cybersecurity.”
The Export Awards recognize individuals and organizations that have made huge contributions to advancing exports, increasing awareness of exports and delivering important export support.
The Mayor’s Export Awards recognize contributions made in advancing the Phoenix export economy and show appreciation to Phoenix companies that have demonstrated export excellence.
— Contact Kelly Mixer at 480-898-7913 or kmixer@ahwatukee.com.
— Check us out and like the Ahwatukee Foothills News on Facebook and AhwatukeeFN on Twitter.
Participants experience Water Day last week
Ahwatukee Foothills News online
By Elizabeth Evans
CONTRIBUTING WRITER
When I turned 50, I knew all the things I was supposed to do: drive slow in the fast lane on the Maricopa, start pestering my kids for grandchildren, and add a colonoscopy to my roster of regular tests, because when you’re 50 years old you catapult into The Era of Doctors Rooting Around Looking for Something Wrong, and a colonoscopy is, appropriately enough, the be-all-endall of rooting around.
Six years ago I was resisting that slow driving thing (and have the traffic school diploma to prove it), was becoming mildly interested in the subject of grandchildren, but was not looking forward to anything associated with an invasive gastrointestinal study. I didn’t know much about it, of course. I only knew that it was probably going to be embarrassing, messy, and painful. I also knew that I was going to feel guilty until I got over myself, grew up, and scheduled an appointment, a task I finally managed to accomplish last month.
In the end, this is everything I learned from finally being an adult.
It takes exactly two hours and 20 minutes for a laxative to kick in.
The dreaded prep is not as bad as say, drinking too many margaritas and accidentally eating two dozen jalapeno poppers. I may or may not be speaking from experience. But when you’re deep in the throes of the dreaded prep, don’t trust anything, not even a hiccup.
Note: when we say “prep,” that’s medical shorthand for setting off a long-fused firecracker in your nether regions and then living in your bathroom for about 12 hours. You can prepare yourself mentally by see-
ing videos of what a test looks like on YouTube. Nerd alert: It’s very interesting, actually. As the scope careens down what could be a shadowy Disney theme park ride (“Indiana Jones and the Temple of Poop?”), a nice doctor points out important landmarks like where your appendix and ileum are.
What? Am I the only one who finds that fascinating?
The worst thing about the actual test turned out to be the little gown that ties in the back. Other than that, it was a refreshing nap.
The results of all this testing? In case you were wondering, at no time did the nice doctor locate my head in the designated area, so you should stop emailing me about that. The nice doctor did find the things he wanted to find before they turn into the things he doesn’t like finding. I am amazed at how easy, painless, and low key it was. And just like that Disney attraction, I got pictures after the ride was over.
Hindsight is always 20/20, but here’s a no-brainer for any 50 year old: in the end, you don’t want to literally die of embarrassment by avoiding embarrassment and then dying from something that could have easily been remedied.
Get this done and in the end, you’ll turn into one of those annoying people who is constantly pestering everyone to make an appointment with their local gastrointestinal specialist.
Get this done and in the end, you can quit feeling guilty and embarrassed and start making “end” jokes.
It’s much more fun.
—
Ahwatukee Foothills resident Elizabeth Evans can be reached at elizabethann40@hotmail.com.
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Bink illustrated and compiled the rule book and park guide with photography help from his father, John Binkele. (Srianthi Perera/AFN staff)
a hot item close to the holidays.
“It’s fun and competitive without hurting the brain,” said Dawn Smith, who had played it earlier and subsequently bought a board at the Gilbert Art Walk. “You don’t have to wrap your brain around something complex to get drawn into it.”
Unlike selling online, art walks, farmers markets and other local events that facilitate social interaction between a vendor and a prospective buyer work better, Bink said.
“It’s a slow way to sell your products and your brand, but it’s also one of the most personal ones, so it’s been very successful for us; we can actually tell the story,” he added.
Cheri Montgomery, who runs the seasonal Gilbert Art Walk, said Bink’s success at the art walk was due in part to the family-oriented, small business-driven community in Gilbert.
“A lot of our artists are very successful because the community is accepting of them and they want to support local, they want to support small business,” she said. “And what he has is fun, it’s something different and nobody else has it.”
Trekking the National Parks was Bink’s brainchild, which he brought to fruition with a Kickstarter campaign that raised 372 percent of its original goal and the help of his parents, John and Terry Binkele.
John wrote and produced the photography for the 32-page park guide that’s included with the game, while Terry helps with shipping and other business logistics, as well as organizes their visits to the parks. They, incidentally, are working through a bucket list of visiting all the parks and have gone to 55 out of 59 so far (Bink has been to 16).
A graduate of Desert Vista High School and the Art Institute of Phoenix, Bink worked as an artist and a game designer for several years, and came off his job to de-
sign and self-publish his own work. He had his talents and experience at his disposal, and he also wanted to take advantage of the resurgence of family board games, during what seems to be an undisputed and lengthy reign of the video variety.
Serendipitously, this year’s centennial of the National Park Service has helped draw increased attention to his work as well.
Last year, “Trekking the National Parks” was selected out of 60 mind games among one of five to earn a Mensa Select nod.
The past two years have been educational for Bink, too, and it’s not just learning the location of Cuyahoga Valley National Park.
“One of the biggest struggles has been the financial side of this, trying to make it work. It costs five times more to make it in America,” he said.
Bink has about 700 boards remaining from the first issue of 3,500 boards, which he plans to sell at the Phoenix Comicon from June 2 to 5.
When the second edition comes out, he plans to retail them through the gift stores at the National Parks, and is working through managing the shipping costs and the “middle man” costs that come between him and the buyer.
“That’s one of the challenges of making products in America,” he said. “It’s why so many make stuff overseas, because trying to be able to pay all the middlemen between you and your customer and have a bloated cost is really very difficult.”
— Contact Srianthi Perera at 480-898-5613 or srianthi@timespublications.com.
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Becca Jolkovski passed away peacefully on May 18 at Banner Desert Medical Center in Mesa. She is survived by her husband of nearly 38 years, Clark; her mother, Dolores Wright of Chandler; her father, Patrick Wright of Fairfield Bay, Arkansas; her brother, John of Omaha, Nebraska; her brother, Jim of Ahwatukee; her son, Patrick, and daughter-in-law, Krista of Chandler; her son, David of Scottsdale; and, the light of her life, granddaughter Ryann of Chandler. Becca, born in Omaha, spent her early days living and working in numerous places across the country. When she was living in McLean, Virginia, she met her future husband, Clark. After the birth of their second child, they packed up and moved to Phoenix, eventually purchasing the most southwestern house in Phoenix, surrounded on two sides by cotton fields in a place called Ahwatukee.
At the young age of 36, Becca was diagnosed with breast cancer. She battled it into submission through surgery and chemo -
therapy and was helped a great deal by a volunteer advisor in the American Cancer Society Reach-to-Recovery program. She chose to pay it forward by becoming a volunteer herself, earning the distinction as the 1991-1992 American Cancer Society volunteer of the year for Ahwatukee/Tempe.
Becca also served as one of the earliest members of the Ahwatukee Foothills Village Planning Committee, helping to shape Ahwatukee into the big town with the smalltown feel that it is today.
Her husband’s work took the family away to Oklahoma for three years, but when they returned to Arizona, they bought a house less than a mile away from their first Ahwatukee home.
Along the way, Becca volunteered her time to help in each of the schools that her sons attended: Kyrene de los Lagos, Mount Carmel Catholic School, Kyrene Akimel A-al, and Desert Vista. She also was an assistant Cub Scout den leader and she helped the Desert Aquatics swim team with fundraising and clerical support.
Becca was also an accomplished entrepreneur, having owned a home-based secretarial service, a property management firm, and an early online retail business.
Bloom needs a loving home to blossom into the great cat she is. Her Cactus Cats of Ahwatukee rescuer and foster has a dozen kittens and is too busy to give Bloom the attention she would love. One of the male foster cats chases her around so she spends her time on top of kitchen cabinets where she feels safe, surveying the room below. From her perch, Bloom begs for treats and jumps down to be petted and fed.
If you can provide a loving home or a foster home for Bloom, email cactuscats@cox. net or call 480-382-9151 for details. She is shown by appointment only.
Cactus Cats Rescue is at the Ahwatukee Petco, 5011 E. Ray Road, every Saturday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. All kittens and cats are tested, spayed/neutered and have all their shots. Cats are in the store cages seven days a week. For more information, visit Petfinder.com/cactuscatsrescue.
Skylar is a 5-year-old gray and white female cat with an extremely sweet disposition. At first glance, she appears to be an old soul who just wants you to pet her and give her tender loving care. She enjoys sitting on your lap and loves to cuddle at night. Skylar does well with other calmer cats and perhaps with cat savvy dogs. She enjoys playing with cat toys when the mood strikes and lounging on a cat condo to watch the world. She will appreciate a quieter home where she can slowly transition to her new family. If interested in Skylar, contact Lost Our Home Pet Foundation at 602-538-9300 to arrange a meet-and-greet at the Ahwatukee PetSmart, 4609 E. Ray Road. See her and other adoptable cats and dogs with Lost Our Home Pet Foundation at www. LostOurHome.org. All cats are litter box trained, spayed/neutered, tested for FELV/ FIV, current on shots, and 24PetWatch microchipped.
Roger is a 1-year-old American Foxhound mix, available for adoption at Arizona Animal Welfare League’s main adoption center, located at 25 N. 40th St. Roger enjoys an active, adventure filled lifestyle and he is looking for a family to give him all the playtime and love he could ask for. He would benefit from training classes to help him deepen his bond with his future family and he would make an excellent hiking or jogging buddy. If interested in meeting Roger, call 602273-6852, ext. 116.
Handsome
is a fluffy cuddler
Saul came to Friends for Life Animal Rescue in late October of 2015 from Apache Junction Animal Control. When he got to Friends for Life he was tested for heartworm, and tested positive. Thankfully, a foster home stepped up and agreed to take Saul while he went through treatment. Fast forward to the last week in April of this year — Saul tested negative for heartworm. This big, handsome guy is 65 to 70 pounds, about 3 1/2 years old, and is ready to find his very own home. He’s a Great Pyrenees blend. Saul is a big, fluffy cuddler and his foster mom reports that he is also housetrained. His adoption fee is $150. If interested in Saul, email FFLDogs@ azfriends.org. For more information on the shelter, visit azfriends.org.
By Eric Smith AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS STAFF
Going to see the doctor can be a pain. Delays in the waiting room combined with the ever-increasing cost of health care can represent a major hurdle.
However, Ahwatukee resident Dr. Duane Wooten is looking to change that. In addition to his current pediatric practice, he’s jumping on board a new trend: concierge medicine.
Wooten’s new concierge medicine business, called Just For Kids (JFK), is allowing him to go back to making house calls and providing a more personal level of care like he used to when he first began in medicine.
“I used to do house calls all the time,” Wooten said. “I was like the only person in town doing them for children and I always thought it was a situation where it was a convenience for my patients.”
Wooten noted that wait times to see a doctor can be upwards of an hour and if the child needs to go to the emergency room, the wait can be many, many times longer.
So, he thought, it would be easier to eliminate the wait altogether, especially for children with special needs. “The concept is to not only take care of those people who want the convenience of having a physician for their children who will come to them,” Woo-
ten said. “But also for those special needs and those niche children, it makes it extremely convenient for those families.”
Ahwatukee parent Todd Heaton thinks the concierge service would be a much easier process than the current routine.
“The biggest challenge as a parent when it comes to doctor visits is waiting,” he said. “If it’s not an emergency, like a broken arm or something dire, you’re waiting sometimes weeks just to get in...I think (concierge medicine) would be great.”
JFK is broken into two tiers, level I and level II. Level I customers receive home visits and after-hours service, among other things. Level II, which is more comprehensive than level I, includes everything in level I as well as a personal Skype account whereby customers can video message Wooten and acquire generic prescriptions covered by the doctor.
The cost for the JFK service begins at less than $4,000 for the year, and considering that children typically see their doctor far more often than adults, the price is particularly cost effective even though it isn’t covered by insurance because, as Wooten said: “”In my humble opinion, insurance companies are the root of all evil.”
“Just For Kids won’t have any insurance plans,” Wooten said. “Just For Kids is a premium-based company that you pay a premi-
um per year and you get significant services.”
Because Wooten can only be available to a certain number of patients to be able to efficiently serve them, he plans to cap his number of clients at 100.
Wooten said he has taken care of all levels of people, from the wealthiest to the most disadvantaged, and that he treats them all the same.
It’s part of the reason he started JFK, to
be able to help those who need it.
“I do it because I have a passion to take care of my people,” Wooten said. “This is just an avenue where I can do it.”
— Contact Eric Smith at 480-898-6549 or esmith@ timespublications.com.
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rialistic and striving for more and more stuff to where that just wasn’t important anymore. So we realized we as people had changed and we started sharing what we were doing.”
Shortly after that first inspirational trip in 2004, Lastovica started the group Weekend Missions, which offers weekend Christian mission trips to Mexico for roughly $150, dramatically less than most mission trips which can cost thousands of dollars.
“Mission trips, in my opinion, shouldn’t just be for a select few,” Lastovica said. “They should be for everybody.”
Margarita Wood, a Weekend Missions volunteer, believes part of what makes the program so successful is its guiding principles.
“I think that’s why we have a lot of volunteers,” she said. “If you have core volunteers that know how to serve without payment or reward then it keeps growing because you’re serving without an agenda.”
Lastovica said most of the trips depart on Friday mornings and return on Sun-
day evenings, but that the short duration can be misleading as they include a lot of activities into the three days.
“We pack a real tight schedule during that time period,” Lastovica said. “By the time (mission goers) get back home, they feel like they’ve been gone for a week because that schedule is just so jam packed with stuff.”
The schedule not only includes the mission work, where Weekend Missions teams with impoverished area churches, but they also manage to find a bit of time to go to the beach and partake in other fun activities.
“We basically pray together, serve together, eat together; and also have fun together,” Lastovica said.
For more information on Weekend Missions, visit their website at www.weekendmissions.com.
— Contact Eric Smith at 480-898-6549 or esmith@timespublications.com.
— Check us out and like the Ahwatukee Foothills News on Facebook and follow AhwatukeeFN on Twitter.
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By Tom Patterson CONTRIBUTING WRITER
Socialism is surging in popularity with younger Americans. In a recent US News poll, 58 percent chose socialism over capitalism (33 percent) as the most compassionate economic system. A plurality named Bernie Sanders, a self-identified socialist, the politician they most like and respect.
In truth, socialism, defined as government control of the means of production, has caused untold human suffering and death. As Alan Charles Kors wrote “no cause, ever, in the history of all mankind, has produce more cold-blooded tyrants, more slaughtered innocents and more orphans than socialism … the bodies are all around us … nobody talks about them.”
It’s alarming to see America’s youth embrace such a failed and murderous philosophy. How could they be so mistaken?
Part of it is the capitalism they see today is often mere cronyism, government favors going to the connected. Moreover, Millennials, as their label suggests, didn’t live through the last century and didn’t experience the horrors of Soviet communism
So the Arizona Department of Transportation is only now exploring the nature of the ground upon which they propose to align the South Mountain Freeway (“ADOT conducts field investigations at proposed freeway site,” AFN, June 1)? And this to “help engineers plan the freeway’s pavement, bridges, walls, and drainage structures?” How can they claim this is the only viable alternative when they don’t even know what’s in or under their way? If the adverse consequences of this project on Ahwatukee weren’t so horrific, this ineptitude would be laughable. And haven’t we been led to believe this project has already lined up the funding? Without this basic information, how can they know what the cost will eventually be?
or any of the other socialism-based tyrannies, including Nazism.
Worse, they weren’t educated in school about these matters, either. In fact, a recent poll showed that among the same young people praising socialism, only 16 percent knew what it was.
The idea of socialism is naturally appealing to many. Free stuff from government is always popular. No matter how many times it fails, we keep giving socialism another chance. Paradoxically, socialism is also popular with authoritarians, who crave the power that comes from controlling the economy, much like monarchs once did.
The great side-by-side competition between capitalism and socialism was that staged by the U.S. and the Soviet Union, the two superpowers who emerged from World War II locked in competition for world domination. The Soviets were immensely rich in natural resources, and they were aggressive, focused and committed to their ideology.
I remember educated Americans in the ’50s and ’60s speaking with envy of the meticulous planning and organization of the Soviet five-year plans, which stood in stark contrast to the apparent chaos of free markets.
Yet in the end, it was the Soviet Union that collapsed. It was the economy, stupid. Long
bread lines, endemic poverty and chronic slow growth proved once again that free markets and the pricing mechanism are the best way to allocate resources and create wealth.
There are countless examples of this simple truth. In the 1960s, the presidents of Ghana and Ivory Coast made a bet on which of their newly independent countries would emerge more prosperous. Ghana was wealthier and had more natural resources. It also had a government-run economy, so you know the rest. By the ’80s, in free-market Ivory Coast, the poorest 20 percent had higher incomes than most of the people of Ghana.
But here’s the rest of the story. Relatively prosperous Ivory Coast succumbed to the lure of more central planning and Ghana, learning its lesson, adopted free-market reforms. Ghana once again became more prosperous than Ivory Coast.
Venezuela is today’s poster child for socialism-derived tragedy. The country is in total economic meltdown, with citizens unable to buy even essentials like bread and toilet paper following the socialistic reforms of Presidents Chavez and Maduro.
Hugo Chavez was a hero to the international Left, including our president, and be-
And who would be willing to commit to be the “private” partner(s) in such an amateurish and unprofessional undertaking? Could it be, oh, major trucking firms, or a trans-continental railroad? Nah, they wouldn’t put profits above the healthy and peaceful existence of an established community of hard-working citizens raising families and paying taxes, and such ... would they?
William M. Diekmann
has
An article in the Ahwatukee Foothills News of April 6 refers to the closing of the Lakes Golf Course and the future of other courses. It mentioned that the Ahwatukee Foothills Village Planning Committee had discovered that the Ahwatukee Country Club (golf club), the Lakes, the Foothills
Golf Club and Club West Golf Club are all zoned as residential areas.
I started playing the Lakes golf course in 1990, and over the years, it has changed management many times. Whenever a discussion arose about the future use of the course, we were told that the west side of the course was a zoned flood plain area and could never be residential. When did this change over and by whom?
Scott Crauch, a member of the Ahwatukee Foothills Village Planning Committee, said they were caught off guard about the possibility of homes being built on all the courses. At one of the meetings held after Mr. Gee bought the Lakes and Country Club, he stated: “I am not in the golf course business.” I knew he proceeded to buy The Foothills, Club West and a golf course in Maricopa. What rock has the Ahwatukee Foothills Village Planning Committee been hiding under? This was in 2013-2014!
There’s much talk about golf courses clos-
lieved he was working on behalf of Venezuela’s poor. It didn’t matter. His policies have created a true humanitarian crisis. Sanders followers point to Scandinavian countries as their example of success. However, these countries aren’t socialist, but “Third Way” — large welfare states grafted onto a basically entrepreneurial economy. The Scandinavian countries have oil revenues, nearly nonexistent military expenses and a culture that favors conformity. Yet their high tax rates and overly generous benefits have produced economies that are joining in the inexorable decline of the Eurozone. Sweden, where market-based reforms are now being considered, has seen no major new businesses form since 1970. Clearly, our younger generation’s infatuation with socialism is an educational failure. Ronald Reagan once said that the loss of liberty is always only a generation away. Have we broken the chain by failing to pass on American values to the Americans of tomorrow? Only time will tell.
— East Valley resident Tom Patterson is a retired physician and former state senator. He can be reached at pattersontomc@cox.net.
ahwatukee.com
ing. This might be true about 18-hole regulation/championship courses, but not so much executive courses, particularly in a senior retirement area. As we get older we would prefer shorter courses. The closest executive courses are 7 to 10 miles from Ahwatukee and are not easy to get tee times on, especially during the December-April months.
Joan McMullen
You might have heard President Obama say, “The Islam religion is a religion of peace.” We all know that there are more Islamic terrorist groups than any religion, so how can Obama say that?
A little history might be in order. From the seventh century until the 19th century, Islam was a traditional religion, where an Islamic man maintained relations with his God. To him, governments only offered taxes, conscription, and corvee labor. In the 20th century, Islamic governments decided to be more powerful within the Islamic religion. Instead of imams, and religious notables interpreting Shariah Law, the government decided to be its sole arbiter. This made Islam the heart of Islamic governments. Each government ended up with different interpretations of Shariah Law. Khamene’i of Iran, and Qadhdafi of Libya led this charge, followed by the other Muslim nations. We no longer have Islam, the religion, but Islam, the ideology. What President Obama has done is made a statement that doesn’t apply to our understanding of Islam.
Revealingly, Islamist compare Islam not to other religions, but to other ideologies. “We are not Socialists, we are not Capitalists, we are Islamic,” says the Malaysian Islamic leader Anwar Ibrahim, and Obama doesn’t want to acknowledge this fact.
I suspect that this change of Islam from religion to an ideology is the reason for continued conflict in that part of the world.
Don Crook
So Arizona State University professor Brooks Simpson thinks Sen. Bernie Sanders is simply just another politician who “can’t quite give up his crowds yet” and who “portrays” himself as a virtuous, principled outsider — you know, in essence, just another actor in what is commonly referred to as “show business for ugly people.”
Don’t think the cameras weren’t rolling when as a young man, the senator was arrested at a civil rights demonstration in Chicago in the early ’60s. Or when he marched against the senseless bloodbath in Vietnam. The cameras were probably rolling when he voted against yet another military misadventure in Iraq — the one Hillary Clinton voted for — but no one seemed to pay any attention then. After “history” — the subject taught by the professor — proved him right, and after he had the temerity to challenge the preordained candidate, then the film footage and the old photographs were unearthed. Some folks discovered that the elderly Jewish Democratic Socialist had been right — as in “factually” correct, not “politically” correct — all along. And so the crowds appeared, after he announced his candidacy.
But some folks just never figure it out. And sometimes their ranks include Presidential historians.
Lee
Poole
This is in response to M. Lisa Scinto’s opinion piece in the AFN, “The folly of Trump?”
I am appalled at how well-meaning (hopefully) left-wing people continue to echo the hysterical bleatings of the liberal mainstream media, whose primary focus seems to be the deliberate and outrageous misinterpretation of every word ever uttered by Donald Trump.
Trump has repeatedly announced that we want people to come to our country legally. People who follow the rules, do not commit crimes, and do not burn the American flag while waving the Mexican flag and encouraging their young children to curse America. Check out how much illegal immigrants are costing this country and our state in particular. Do you understand the concept of legal?
Try going to Mexico or any other country illegally, waving the American flag, burning theirs, and demanding free health care,
free education, and an income supplied by the very government that you are defying. How quickly would you be shoved against a wall and shot?
As to the Muslims, this is a Christian country, but we allow religious freedom. Try erecting a Christian church in Syria. How long would it be before you are separated from your head? Trump never advocated a permanent ban on Muslims entering the country. What he said was that our own government is telling us that Homeland Security and the FBI cannot properly vet these people, plus we know that ISIS will infiltrate them, and until we can figure out what’s going on there should be a moratorium on Muslims entering the country from Syria. This does not equate to xenophobia or racism, and the argument that it does is simply ludicrous. You mentioned national security. Do you really understand that concept? Apparently the evangelical Christians understand it better than you. And, by the way, the message on the Statue of Liberty was written long before North Korea and Iran obtained nuclear weapons. There is nothing frightening about Trump. There is nothing frightening about strengthening our borders, balancing the budget, rebuilding our crumbling infrastructure,
>> See LETTERS on page 19
making better trade deals with countries that are ripping us off, repealing Obama Care with something that actually works and will not implode in 2017, and repairing the many flaws in our school system.
You are alarmed at the “lifting of the veil of political correctness which has given some Americans the freedom to voice beliefs that they always held but were afraid to express.” You should be applauding this, not condemning it. Ever hear of freedom of speech? Why should Americans fear expressing beliefs they’ve always held? This suppressing of the freedom of speech is what you should be comparing to Nazi Germany, not a man who is plainly stating that the emperor is naked.
Trump has never made a racist statement. He has merely addressed problems that arise when certain groups of people refuse to follow our laws. Many of these people are Mexican or come from Central America. This is not racist. It’s a fact. They are a drain on our economy and the country has every right to deport them if this were strategically possible. Unvetted Muslim groups with ISIS infiltrators threaten our national security. This is not a racist statement. It’s a fact.
You have a right to be wrong, but the views you have expressed are deleterious to the survival of this country. What will you go af-
ter next, the Second Amendment?
Try actually listening to Trump for a change, and not simply swallowing what you are fed by the liberal mainstream media. Try listening for yourself rather than hearing a word here and there. The sky is not falling because of Trump. The sky is falling because of the timid, self-aggrandizing, feckless leadership to which we have been subjected over the past eight years, and this includes the Republican Congress.
I am grateful that I have the freedom of speech (so far) that is guaranteed by my Constitution, and that I can express my beliefs, even if you don’t agree with them. This is what political discourse should be about — the debating of differing views, not the suppression of one belief over the other. What was it in particular about your verbal assassination of a presidential candidate that was politically correct?
Jan Johnson
By Eric Smith AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS STAFF
Sometimes great ideas come serendipitously. For Ahwatukee resident Jeff Woods, that idea came while playing basketball with some buddies.
He had been involved in business before in the furniture industry, but left that field and took some time off. The itch to get back in the game though was still strong.
“We were just talking about different business opportunities…and this popped up,” said Woods, co-owner of Maid Right of Greater Phoenix.
As they played they talked about different ideas and, with the help of a business coach, they found the company Maid Right, a home cleaning service.
“We looked at several different business opportunities and franchises,” Woods said. “What really got us interested was the owner/operator model and the history of success (the company had).”
Maid Right of Greater Phoenix works by helping individual Maid Right franchise owners acquire new clients as well as manage financial transactions. The helping of individual, independent business owners is one
of the things that also attracted Woods to Maid Right.
“What we really like about the model is we have the opportunity to help people start their own business, that’s the really rewarding part of it,” Woods said. “Before you know it they’re driving new cars and breaking out of working minimum wage and working for other home cleaning services or hotels… that’s where we come in and help them get to where they want to be.”
But before Woods was able to help others, he first had to find the right business fit. For that he turned to Judy Stoleson of The Entrepreneur’s Source, a company that helps connect potential franchisers with the right business. “First, he shared what they wanted to accomplish and I recommended some businesses that had the potential to accomplish their goals,” Stoleson said. “And then he and his partners did an excellent job of researching and reviewing the possibilities and they decided Maid Right was the right one for them.”
Business started slow, with Woods even helping get his hands dirty and cleaning
himself, but things soon took off and
one of the best regions in the company.
Now the business has flourished, and was recently presented with the North American Sales Award from Maid Right as the company’s highest grossing region at the national gathering of franchise owners in Atlanta in February.
“There are 40 or 50 territories so it was really nice (to win the award),” Woods said.
For more information, visit the company website at greaterphoenix.maidright.com or call 602-595-1771.
— Contact Eric Smith at 480-898-6549 or esmith@ timespublications.com.
— Check us out and like the Ahwatukee Foothills News on Facebook and follow AhwatukeeFN on Twitter.
By Joseph Ortiz CONTRIBUTING WRITER
To be successful at investing, some people think they need to “get in on the ground floor” of the next “big thing.” However, instead of waiting for that one “hot” stock that may never come along, consider creating an asset allocation — a mix of investments — that’s appropriate for your needs, goals and risk tolerance.
But once you have such a mix, should you keep it intact forever, or will you need to make some changes? And if so, when?
To begin with, why is asset allocation important? Different types of investments — growth stocks, income-producing stocks, international stocks, bonds, government securities, real estate investment trusts, and so on — have unique characteristics, so they rarely rise or fall at the same time. Thus, owning a mix of investments can help reduce the forces of market volatility. (Keep in mind, though, that allocation does not ensure a profit or protect against loss). Your particular mix will depend on your invest-
ment time horizon, comfort with risk, and financial goals.
When you are young, and starting out in your career, you may want your asset allocation to be more heavily weighted toward stocks and stock-based investments. Stock investments historically have provided the greatest returns over the long term — although, as you’ve probably heard, past performance can’t guarantee future results — and you will need this growth potential to help achieve your long-term goals, such as a comfortable retirement. Stocks also carry a greater degree of investment risk, including the risk of losing principal, but when you have many years to invest, you have time to potentially overcome the inevitable shortterm declines.
Once you reach the middle-to-later stages of your career, you may have achieved some of your goals that required wealth accumulation, such as sending your children to college. However, what is likely your biggest long-term goal — retirement — still awaits you, so you may not want to scale back too much on your stocks and other growth-oriented investments. Nonetheless, including
an allocation to bonds can help to reduce some of the volatility of the stock portion of your portfolio.
Now, fast forward to just a few years before you retire. At this point, you may want to lower your overall risk level, because, with retirement looming, you don’t have much time to bounce back from downturns — and you don’t want to start withdrawing from your retirement accounts when your portfolio is already going down. So, now may be the time to add bonds and other fixed-income investments. Again, though, you still need some growth opportunities from your investments — after all, you could be retired for two, or even three decades. Finally, you’re retired. At this point, you should adjust your asset allocation to include enough income-producing investments — bonds, certificates of deposit, perhaps dividend-paying stocks — to help you enjoy the retirement lifestyle you’ve envisioned. Yet, you can’t forget that the cost of living will likely rise throughout your retirement. In fact, at a modest 3 percent inflation rate, the price of goods will more than double after 25 years. So even during retirement,
By Joe Ducey ABC15.COM
She’s a smart, caring woman.
Those are the impressions I got when I first met Mary.
That’s not her real name. She wants to keep her identity secret right now.
You’ll soon understand why when you hear about her journey across the Valley. It started with a couple of calls. Her caller ID showed Scottsdale Police and the IRS. The caller said there was a warrant out for her arrest from a long overdue, unpaid debt.
“If I didn’t show up within 30 minutes there would be a cop car to take me down in handcuffs to jail,” Mary said.
But the caller had another plan. A plan that would send Mary across the Valley. She got in her car, with her phone, and the caller gave her driving instructions.
“The phone became a robot, hypnotic, telling you where to drive,” Mary said. She was led to stores like Fry’s, Safeway and Best Buy. Mary would spend $2,000 at one place, $2,500 at another. She cashed a bond, tapped into savings — anything to make this terrible thing go away.
“In the way your mind copes with the
you need your portfolio to provide some growth potential to help you avoid losing purchasing power.
By being aware of your asset allocation, and by making timely adjustments as necessary, you can provide yourself with the opportunities for growth and income that you will need throughout your life.
Note: Accredited Asset Management Specialist and AAMS, Chartered Retirement Plans Specialist and CRPS are registered service marks of the College for Financial Planning.
— This article was written by Edward Jones for use by Ahwatukee Foothills Edward Jones Financial Advisor Joseph B. Ortiz, AAMS, CRPS. Reach him at 480-753-7664 or joseph.ortiz@ edwardjones.com.
worst situations ever and if you are compliant, you can get to the end.” Mary said.
Each time, at each store, she was buying iTunes cards, coming back to the car and reading numbers over the phone. The Federal Trade Commission says iTunes, Amazon and other gift cards are the new way scammers get their money. They get the numbers and it’s like cash in their pocket.
I asked Mary if she ever thought this was a scam.
“You know in your brain that iTunes cards are not required by the IRS to pay off balances. But the threat of being harmed, jailed and have anything you worked for taken away, was too much, “ she told me.
These scammers knew her address, spoofed phone numbers to look real, and got their target at a very vulnerable time in her life.
Mary was between jobs. She tells me she was scared that trouble with the IRS or police would ruin her job chances, her credit, and her reputation.
“It threatened everything that I had worked so hard to keep,” she said.
In the end, Mary drove for nearly five hours and spent more than $15,000.
I asked her how long it would take to get over this.
She replied: “I don’t think I ever will be the person I was before.”
But weeks after I talked with Mary, she seemed much stronger. She’s working with investigators to trace numbers and catch these bad guys.
Mary knows she should have talked to a friend or family member about the call before getting in her car. She warns others who think this could never happen to them. Maybe not, but what about a parent or grandparent, a friend down the street, or someone vulnerable and going through a bad time?
The IRS doesn’t call or threaten to haul you to jail. If you get a similar call, hang up. Make sure to keep an eye on friends and loved ones.
— Joe Ducey is helping people like you everyday on ABC15 News at 6 p.m. If you’ve got a consumer issue you can’t solve, “Let Joe Know.” Contact him at joe@abc15.com or 855-323-1515.
The Living Room, 4905 E. Ray Road, in Ahwatukee Foothills Towne Center, opened this week. It’s a 2,453-square-foot space with an additional 1,200-square-foot, L-shaped patio, with custom built in booth seating. The lounge will include their signature openair loft design style, Alaskan blond brick and yam-colored walls. The concept’s first open-air bistro kitchen will allow guests and chefs to interact. Both the interior and exterior will have comfortable soft seating areas to conduct business, get cozy or grab a bite after a movie.
The Living Room is privately owned by Tom Kaufman, Patrick King, Dave Dabruzzi, Tim Valencia, Tony Eden and a group of Arizona investors.
On opening in Ahwatukee, Kaufman said, “Based on the number of customers that often traveled seven miles to our Chandler location, it was an easy decision to bring our modern day neighborhood hangout to their doorstep.”
The menu will have an array of salads, seafood starters, bruschetta, flatbreads, burgers, desserts, coffees and a full bar. The Fix, Saturday and Sunday brunch will offer both
healthy and hardy options. A vast selection of wines by the glass will be offered daily. Kaufman’s handpicked list of wines by the bottle will be stored in a highly visible cutting edge wine cellar. A DJ will be featured on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights; live entertainment on Sundays. For more information, call 480-454-3599 or visit livingroomwinebar.com.
Institutional Property Advisors (IPA), a division of Marcus & Millichap specializing in serving institutional and major private real estate investors, announced the sale of Arboretum at South Mountain, a 312unit apartment community in Ahwatukee Foothills, an urban village adjacent to South Mountain Park. The $45.5 million sales price equates to just less than $146,000 per unit.
“This luxurious multi-family community combines the comfort of a tranquil retreat with proximity to an exciting urban setting,” said Steve Gebing, IPA senior director. “The location also gives Arboretum at South Mountain a buffer against future multi-family development as the area sur-
rounding the property is one of the highest barrier to entry submarkets in Arizona.”
Gebing and Cliff David, a senior director of Marcus & Millichap’s National Multi Housing Group, represented the seller, and procured the buyer.
The apartment community is located at 15251 S. 50th St. The anticipated expansion of Loop 202 is less than a mile south of the property.
Shea Homes Arizona has announced the grand opening of Vantage in Ahwatukee, 15550 S. 5th Ave., located at the northwest corner of 5th Avenue and Chandler Boulevard. The 64 condos at Vantage range from 1,432 to 2,067 square feet, offering two- and three-bedroom options, with two baths and attached one- or two-car garages. Vantage is one of the last new condominium developments in Ahwatukee and offers such amenities as two swimming pools and spa, a movie theater within the clubhouse, and fitness center. Vantage is walking distance from South Mountain Preserve, a 16,000acre park with more than 58 trails for hiking, biking, and horseback riding. Priced from the $290s.
Sales will open at Vantage in Ahwatukee on Saturday, June 18.
“Those looking for a ‘lock and leave’ lifestyle, plus the thoughtful design and careful workmanship that goes into every Shea home, are invited to come out and visit our new condo community in Ahwatukee,” said Ken Peterson, vice president of marketing for Shea Homes Arizona. “With the demand for condos on the rise in the Valley, this is an exciting time to be entering the market. Plus, we’re looking forward to welcoming new condo buyers into the Shea family.”
Redevelopment of Foothills Park Plaza, 1241 E. Chandler Blvd., at the southwest corner of Chandler Boulevard and Desert Foothills Parkway in Ahwatukee Foothills is underway.
The 4,140-acre Foothills master-planned development has been named “Best Master-Planned Community” four times by the Home Builders Association of Central Arizona. Tenants at the intersection include Safeway, Walgreens, Bank of America, Ace Hardware, Chase, and more.
Foothills Park Plaza, a 20,173-square-foot retail center, closed for $3,125,000. The cen-
ter was 78 percent occupied at close of escrow with a good mix of service and retail tenants. The transaction was negotiated by Ari Spiro and Sean Stutzman of ORION Investment Real Estate. The seller, Pacific West Land Development Company, headquartered in Bainbridge Island, Washington, has been one of the largest buyers of distressed retail assets over the past eight years. The buyer was Branch Investment Group out of Newport Beach, California, who are looking to grow their portfolio in the Phoenix market.
“The sellers originally acquired the property through a note acquisition,” Spiro said. “Being one of the most prolific buyers during this past downturn, Pacific West has developed a strong reputation of stabilizing once struggling assets and turning them around to functional properties that enhance the surrounding neighborhood.”
Stutzman added: “At 78 percent occupancy, the seller left some room in the deal for the buyer to further improve the occupancy, income, and value to the property. With an aggressive leasing platform, the new owner plans to add more great services to the Ahwatukee Foothills community.”
— Contact Kelly Mixer at 480-898-7913 or kmixer@ahwatukee.com.
— Check us out and like the Ahwatukee Foothills News on Facebook and AhwatukeeFN on Twitter.
Natalie Martel
3820 E. Ray Road, Suite 30 480-233-8675 nataliemmartel@gmail.com www.angrycrabshack.com
The Angry Crab has the freshest seafood with a variety of sauces for you to choose from. They proudly support local businesses and serve a variety of Arizona craft beers.
Jim Moran
116 N. Roosevelt Ave., Suite 136, Chandler 480-706-0737 jim@jmrestoration. comwww.jmrestoration.com
A licensed remediation contractor, J&M uses stateof-the-art technology to find hidden problems and get your restoration and repair job done right the first time. They are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week for emergencies.
Mike Dodson 2880 S. Alma School Road, Chandler 480-917-4060 sales@shoppersfarmstore.com www.shopperssupplyaz.com
Their wide selection of merchandise includes feed, clothing and footwear, pet supplies, outdoor sporting goods, firearms, power tools, lawn and garden supplies, and more. They are pet-friendly and offer price matching.
Brought to you by the Ahwatukee Foothills Chamber of Commerce
By Anne Gill CONTRIBUING WRITER
It’s that time of year again and we are excited to bring back the Red, White & Boom Fireworks Festival. Each year this event has grown to include more activities, food, games, and entertainment. This year we will continue to expand our offerings with engaging experiences for the whole family to enjoy.
Save the date for Ahwatukee’s 41st annual Red, White & Boom Fireworks Festival on Friday, July 1, at Pecos Park from 5-10 p.m. Presented by San Tan Ford, Red, White & Boom features live entertainment, food, drinks and patriotic games and a booming fireworks display.
Hosted by the Ahwatukee Foothills Chamber of Commerce, the Red, White & Boom Fireworks Festival is professionally produced by HDE Agency and will be at Pecos Park, 17010 S. 48th St. Patrons are encouraged to enter the event via the 48th Street entrance.
Georgia Chrome will be the entertainment headliner this year and will keep the party hopping. Red White and Boom features interactive games and activities all centered on family
friendly fun. Festival goers can look forward to the bright lights of patriotism in an environment overflowing with family friendly activities, entertainment, food, beer, wine and local vendors showcasing their products. Food purveyors will offer a wide variety of food options including barbecue, burgers, hotdogs, nachos, fry bread, kettle corn, shaved ice, cotton candy, ice cream and other summer treats.
There will be several different entertainment and VIP packages available in limited quantities, while supplies last, for $25 per person. First, patrons can enjoy the Oasis Lounge Pack, which includes all access to the swimming pool and water play area, food and beverages. Also, for $25 enjoy access to the Boom Room offering a misted zone with food, beverages and exclusive access to the live entertainment and fireworks show. General admission is just $5 per person (kids 5 and under are free) and that includes access to the festival, an expanded free kids zone, premium entertainment, and a fabulous fireworks show.
The local community has been instrumental in the fundraising efforts for this special celebration of our country’s Independence. Valley
Formoreinformationontheseand otherupcomingevents,visit www.ahwatukeechamber.com.
Wake Up Ahwatukee! Morning Mixer Sam’s Club
700 N. 54th St., Chandler Tuesday, June 14, 8–9 a.m. $5 members | $15 general admission Sponsored by Elements Massage
Ahwatukee After 5 Evening Mixer
UltraStar Multi-tainment Center 16000 Maricopa Road, Maricopa Wednesday, June 15, 5:30-7 p.m. Free
2201 E. Clubhouse Drive Thursday,
residents can show their support by donating to the Patrons or Friends of the Fireworks fund. A donation of $1-$99 is considered a “Friend of the Fireworks.” Friends receive their name or business name on both the Red, White & Boom website and on the chamber website. A donation of $100-$499 is considered a “Patrons of the Fireworks” and receives the added benefit of being included in the Red, White & Boom program — online and in print.
The deadline for contributions to be included in the program is June 15. Donations for website mentions and post coverage will continue to be accepted until June 26. All of the donation funds are used to help cover the costs of running the annual fireworks festival.
For more information, or to become a sponsor or vendor for this event, visit http://red-white-boom.com. For more information about the Ahwatukee Foothills Chamber of Commerce and to make a donation, visit www. ahwatukeechamber.com or call 480753-7676.
— Anne Gill is president and chief executive officer of the Ahwatukee Foothills Chamber of Commerce. Reach her at 480-753-7676 or anne@ ahwatukeechamber.com.
Rick and Kathy Allen Legal Shield
3145 E. Chandler Blvd., Suite 110-424 480-221-6792 or 480-206-8008 rick.allen@30fold.com and kathy.allen@30fold.com www.30foldbenefits.com Facebook /30foldinc Twitter @30fold Linkedin /in/rwallen
1. What type of business services or products do you provide? Legal and identity theft protection plans, employee benefits and commercial driver plans.
2. What are some exciting things happening in your business? Personal business is growing nationwide, in fact our business has doubled in 2015 over 2014. First quarter of 2016 is up 30 percent over the same quarter last year.
3. What is your background and how did you come to be in this business? Our backgrounds include technology, retail, office management and business ownership.
4. What are your special interests? Bible study, Christian Apologetics.
By Brad Butler CONTRIBUTING WRITER
Back in my glory days (the ‘70s) there was a guy named Rockin Rollin who showed up at just about every major sporting event wearing a rainbow wig and holding a John 3:16 sign. It’s probably the most well-known verse in the Bible and, unfortunately, the most misunderstood.
My mom’s favorite radio personality has always been Paul Harvey. In his latter years he started a series called “The rest of the story.” He would start off telling us some amazing facts about a particular person and then, after the commercial break, tell us the identity of the person.
A good investment banker will tell you not to put all your eggs in one basket. It’s equally important not to base your eternal destiny all on one Bible verse.
Many people have heard and can even recite John 3:16. What I want to emphasize
here is “the rest of the story.”
For a good visual I will list John 3:16 followed by John 3:36, John 4:40, and 1 John 5:11-12. Here they are:
“For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16).
“He who believes in the Son has life; he who does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God rests on him” (John 3:36).
“You refuse to come to me, that you may have life” (John 4:40).
“And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life” (1 John 5:11-12).
Now, grab your pencil and circle “believes” in the first verse, “believes” and “obey” in the second verse, “come to me” in the third verse, and “has the Son” in the fourth verse. If you just look at the first verse you might
fall into what is called “easy believism.” It’s the person who says, “Yeah, I believe in Jesus” but lives their life pretty much any way they want.
The second verse begins “the rest of the story.” In it we see that the word “believe” is virtually interchangeable with the word “obey.” In the third verse we see that to have this “life” we need to “come to Jesus.” And in the fourth verse we are told we need to “have the Son” to have the life.
So you see there is much more to the picture that John 3:16 paints. The basic “head knowledge” of who Jesus is doesn’t get us “the life.” In James 2:19 it says that even the devil “believes” in Jesus…and shudders at the thought of who he is.
Make sure your belief in Jesus involves coming to him, having him “in” you and obeying him. That’s the kind of “belief” that John 3:16 is talking about.
— Brad Butler is a PGA golf pro who attends several churches in the Ahwatukee area. Reach him at bbgolf@cox.net.
CAVE QUEST VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL
St. James Episcopal Church invites children to Cave Quest Vacation Bible School: Following Jesus, the Light of the World! Cave Quest is for kids from 3 years old to those exiting the fifth grade.
DETAILS>> From 6 to 8:45 p.m. each day at St. James Episcopal Church, 975 E. Warner Road, Tempe. Cave Quest is a ministry of St. James and is offered without a fee to the community. For more information, call 480345-2686.
CELEBRATE RECOVERY AT MVLC
Celebrate Recovery is a program that brings your relationship with the Lord closer to your heart as it heals your hurts, habits and hang-ups. Discuss issues from feeling left out to overcoming any type of addictions. Nothing is too small or too large.
DETAILS>> 5:30 p.m. Wednesdays at Mountain View Lutheran Church, 11002 S. 48th St. Visit mvlutheran.org/ celebraterecovery or email cr@alphamvlc.com.
WOMEN’S BIBLE STUDY & FELLOWSHIP
Living Word Ahwatukee women’s bible study and fellowship is a short, low-key time of praise and worship
in music and message. Get to know other Christian women in Ahwatukee.
DETAILS>> 10 to 11:30 a.m. every Wednesday, Living Word Ahwatukee, 14647 W. 50th St., Suite 165. Free childcare.
COFFEE BREAK WOMEN’S MINISTRY
Scripture study, prayer and fellowship.
DETAILS>> 9:15 to 11:30 a.m. Corpus Christi Catholic Church, 3550 E. Knox Road. Loraine 480-893-1160 or CoffeebreakMin@aol.com.
MEDITATION ON TWIN HEARTS, PRANIC HEALING CELEBRATION SERVICE
Receive a 15-minute energetic tune up each week. Practicing Twin Hearts Meditation is like taking a spiritual shower: when your aura is clean, you experience a higher level of awareness…you see through things more clearly and good luck increases.
DETAILS>> Wednesday evenings, 7-9 p.m. at Unity of Tempe, 1222 E. Baseline Road, Suite 103. For more information, call 480-792-1800. Visit www.unityoftempe. com.
DIVORCE CARE
Those suffering through a separation or divorce can find understanding and caring support to help them face these challenges and to move forward.
DETAILS>> 6:30-8:15 p.m. Arizona Community Church, 9325 S. Rural Road, Tempe, Room G5. One-time book fee of $15. Call 480-491-2210 for further information. DivorceCare 4 Kids (DC4K) will also be at the same time at Room G7.
Foothills Church in Ahwatukee is a local body of believers in Jesus who strive to love God and to love others.
Sunday worship at 9:00am & 10:45am NW Corner of 21st St. & Chandler Blvd.
future of each child. - Parent Testimonial
By Christina Fuoco-Karasinski GETOUT/AFN NEWS STAFF
Multitalented entertainer Gloria Reuben feels lucky. She’s acted in award-winning shows like “ER” and “Mr. Robot” while pursuing a music career.
She’s also an activist, committing her time to the global climate change crisis through her participation with The Climate Reality Project, and to human rights issues with the RFK Center for Justice and Human Rights.
“It is nice to keep it fresh,” Reuben said
recently. “I’m really happy to have been able to expand the horizon on my creative expression.” Reuben’s music career includes a 2000 stint as a backup singer for Tina Turner, which led her to record her solo record,
IF YOU GO
What: Gloria Reuben and the Marty Ashby Quartet
When: 7:30 p.m. Friday, June 10
Where: Musical Instrument Museum, 4725 E. Mayo Blvd., Phoenix
Cost: $38.50 to $43.50
Information: 480-478-6000 or mimmusictheater.themim.org
“Just for You.” She released a jazz album, “Perchance to Dream,” in 2015 on MCG Jazz. She is promoting the album with her first musical performance in Phoenix, at the Musical Instrument Museum.
“It’s going to be a celebratory night,” Reuben said. “My birthday is the night before. I’ll be carrying on the celebration. It’ll be a fun night at the MIM for sure.”
Her set will be a combination of standards and a couple of her original tunes. Reuben will also perform a few songs at the piano.
“I like doing a little bit of narration, too,” she said. “In everything I do, I’m
By Christina Fuoco-Karasinski GETOUT/AFN NEWS STAFF
“American Idol” alum Haley Reinhart has just wrapped rehearsals for her forthcoming tour. She speaks slowly and succinctly to ensure that her intentions are understood.
“It’s really fun to be so incredibly passionate about something and slowly wrap your head around it,” said Reinhart, who placed third in the 10th season of “Idol.”
These days she is passionate about her latest album, “Better,” which features her cover of Elvis Presley’s “Can’t Help Falling in Love.” Like The King’s song, the title track has been embraced
>> See HALEY on page 34
By Christina Fuoco-Karasinski
Vanilla Ice has never been known to be modest. But with his “I Love the ’90s” tour, he certainly has reason to be proud. He reports that most of the shows on this tour are sold out. However, tickets remain for his appearance at Talking Stick Resort Arena on Friday, June 10. Vanilla Ice, who introduces himself by his real name, Rob Van Winkle, says the gigs are great for the audience.
“People come dressed up like the Ninja Turtles or with spandex on and neon colors,” he said. “It’s turned into a costume party. Guys are wearing Z Cavaricci pants. Girls are wearing tight spandex and puffing up their hair. It’s great.
“It’s a great excuse for everybody to come out and be teenagers again. That’s
>> See ICEon page 35
By Christina Fuoco-Karasinski
GETOUT/AFN NEWS STAFF
Dylan Kongos and his brothers have been anxiously awaiting the release of their third album, “Egomaniac” on June 10. The band of siblings, otherwise known as the Phoenix alternative rock band Kongos, were all set to finish the record a couple years ago when something remarkable happened.
A single from their sophomore effort, “Lunatic,” took off. After reaching success in the brothers’ home country of South Africa, a little song called “Come with Me Now” became one of the most ubiquitous singles on radio, soundtracks and commercials.
“It did well for us in South Africa and, for a couple years, it sat doing nothing in America,” said Dylan Kongos, who plays bass and lap steel guitar. “That’s why we moved on to ‘Egomaniac.’”
While they were preparing to work on what would become “Egomaniac,” the brothers Kongos told management to send “Come with Me Now” to radio just to see what would happen; maybe they could create a bit of a buzz before “Egomaniac” was released.
“It took off and crossed over to pop,” Kongos said about “Come with Me Now.” “Who would have thought that a song with an accordion, guitar riffs and male vocals would cross over to pop radio?
“It blew us away and we had to put this new material on the back burner so we could support ‘Lunatic’ by touring. It was a good problem to have.”
But, Kongos admits, it was just a little frustrating when he and his brothers— guitarist Daniel, drummer Jesse and accordionist/keyboardist Johnny— had to temporarily put aside the new material.
“There’s an energy and buzz around when you write a new song,” he said. “There’s a couple of weeks of being really excited about the demos and having people hear them.
“We didn’t really have much of a career to speak of until ‘Come with Me Now’ took off. We were grinding away for 10 years trying to make something happen. You take any chance with that and you run with it. We were able to tour the world. ‘Lunatic’ was amazing because it got a real shot. The album was heard.”
The Kongos brothers spent their childhoods in London and in South Africa and are the sons of John Kongos, who is best known for his 1971 hit “He’s Gonna Step on You Again.” The Manchester ‘90s band Happy Mondays based its song “Step On” on the single.
The Kongos family moved to Paradise Valley and the boys attended Chaparral High School and/or ASU.
“We grew up as kids in South Africa, but a lot of the writing and touring is all been in the United States,” said Kongos, whose band is expected to perform in the Valley in the fall.
“Not to put down Arizona, but there hasn’t been much of a music scene or arts scene until recently. We felt a little bit isolated but it was a good thing. We didn’t get caught up in trends, hip new things or hip new styles.”
Instead, the quartet of brothers kept all facets of their art inside. They wrote, recorded, mixed and mastered “Egomaniac” in their home studio. The Kongos’ musicians create their own artwork and shoot and direct most of their videos.
“We wrote our own songs and we did whatever we wanted,” Kongos said. “I hoped that people would be able to
“Avenue
By Kenneth Lafave
Robbie Harper never gets tired of directing “Avenue Q,” the grown-up take on “Sesame Street” that uses puppets to explore themes such as relationship, racism and sexuality.
And Phoenix audiences, it seems, never tire of seeing it.
The musical is back again this summer at Phoenix Theatre after two previous stagings there. It opens Wednesday, June 8, in the company’s new black-box facility.
“The show has universal appeal and I always love coming back to it,” said Harper, who directed Phoenix Theatre’s original staging of the Broadway hit musical in 2008 as well as its successful revival in 2014. He also directed the show in 2013 for Arkansas Repertory Theatre.
“We all grew up watching ‘Sesame Street’ and learning how to be a good young person. But nothing teaches you how to be an adult, how to survive the move to a new city or break up with your first girlfriend. ‘Avenue Q’ addresses that,” Harper said.
Like “Sesame Street,” “Avenue Q” combines humans (three of them) with puppets (11) in dialogue and in song. Unlike the children’s long-running TV favorite, the musical looks at grown-up concerns—so much so that a disclaimer at the Phoenix Theatre website warns that
>> See PUPPETS on page 35
connect to it. It’s been isolated and I think that’s a good thing.
“We don’t intend to make trendy music. We tend to make the music that we like and just hope that it connects on some level with people. If we were in Los Angeles or, say, Portland or New York, we might have been swept up in a new sound or a new trend.”
The song “Come with Me Now” was used in the films “Holy Motors” and “The Expendables 3,” and as the theme song to the WWE pay-per-view event “Extreme Rules.”
That paves the way for “Egomaniac,” which is set for release on June 10. Egomaniac has a good shot at success. The first single, “Take It from Me,” was the No. 1 most added song at alternative radio shortly after its April 15 release.
The brothers have come to rely on each other. They agree that being in the entertainment business is a nonessential job.
“Everybody want to be in a band or an actor,” Kongos said. “The competition out there is insane. It’s not a necessity for people’s lives. It’s not providing a service of do or die
for people. We knew it was hard work and we’d have to put a lot of time into it.”
The band was going to put out maybe one or two more albums, and then, perhaps, call it a day. They would remain in the music business, maybe playing winetasting as a jazz quartet, or “do corporate things.”
“We’d probably still stick with music or film,” Kongos said. “We used to make Bar Mitzvah videos for kids. We were always doing something relative, or maybe open a restaurant—something where we could work together as brothers.”
But don’t compare them to the everbattling Gallagher brothers in Oasis.
“We have our moments. Don’t get me wrong,” he said with a laugh. “We’ve been doing this for so long that we’re quick to move on to the more important things. These last two years we spent close to 10 months straight on a bus with us four and eight other people. Living in close quarters and being brothers, we’ve learned to move on from silly issues and egos.”
– Contact Christina Fuoco-Karasinski at 480-8985612 or christina@timespublications.com.
– Check us out and like GetOutAZ on Facebook and follow GetOutAZ on Twitter
‘Story of Walt Disney’ at Phoenix Theatre
Come and see magic in the making in “When You Wish: The Story of Walt Disney” at Phoenix Theatre through June 12. This musical details Disney’s journey through failures and triumphs, imagination and ingenuity to built timeless characters and a world where anything is possible.
DETAILS>> 2 p.m., through June 12. 7:30 p.m., June 8-11. Phoenix Theatre, 100 E. McDowell Road. 602-254-2151. Phoenixtheatre.com.
Mesa Arts Center presents ‘Spiritrials’
Addiction, religion and law intersect in an exploration of the criminal justice
system in a multi-dimensional play. It takes characters, poetic verse and dialogue over the content of songs from Dahlak’s recent hip-hop albums to create a theatrical piece.
The performance works through the personal shame of criminal stigmatization to examine factors misplaced in an apparent cultural rite of passage.
DETAILS>> 8 p.m., June 10-11. Nesbitt/ Elliot Playhouse, Mesa Arts Center, One E. Main St. Tickets: $10-$15. 480-6446500. Mesaartscenter.com.
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Don’t miss the comedian named “Party Starter,” Darren Carter as he entertains
audiences with impressions, observations and improvisation at House of Comedy in Phoenix June 8-12. His credits include Comedy Central, NBC, BET and “Chelsea Lately” in addition to comedy albums titled “That Ginger’s Crazy” and “Shady Side.”
>> From page 32 world. Join her as she encounters unique places and characters along the way to finding her way back home.
DETAILS>>Times vary. June 10-12. Studio Theatre, Tempe Center for the Arts, 700 W. Rio Salado Pkwy. Price: $12-$15. 480-350-2822. Childsplayaz.org.
DETAILS>>Times vary. June 8-12. Rick Bronson’s House of Comedy, 5350 E. High St., Suite 105, Phoenix. 480-4203553. AZ.HouseofComedy.net
Youth Theatre Ensemble, Inc. (Y.E.T.i) presents “Still Life with Iris” at Tempe Center for the Arts June 10-12. “Iris” tells the story of a girl who needs to find her way home in a strange and whimsical
>> From page 26 a storyteller—but there’s not too much talking. There will be some anecdotes that’ll tie the songs together.”
One of her originals is “Poor Girl,” a Maya Angelou poem set to music. The tune was written by Jay Ashby, the brother of Marty Ashby, who is leading her quartet at the MIM.
The other song is “When I Close My Eyes,” which she calls “more upbeat” and “feisty.”
Reuben, who said she was exhausted, enjoys being busy.
“For me, I’m happiest when I’m busiest creatively,” she said. “That doesn’t necessarily mean I’m working for money. But if I’m busy, that’s a good thing.”
– Contact Christina Fuoco-Karasinski at 480-8985612 or christina@timespublications.com.
– Check us out and like GetOutAZ on Facebook and follow GetOutAZ on Twitter
ahwatukee.com
Ahwatukee Foothills News online
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>> From page 27
by critics and fans alike for its fusion of genres. “Better” debuted at No. 22 on the independent album chart and sold more than 7,500 copies in two weeks.
Reinhart could have signed to a label, but chose to go the indie route so she could have control over her art.
“I like to have everything to do with the whole project—from album artwork to writing the material and to sequencing the songs.
“There is so much to it that people probably don’t even realize. It’s cool to see it all come to fruition, not only on the U.S. tour, but the upcoming European tour.”
When she’s not on tour, she’s working on “F is for Family,” an animated Netflix original series in which she voices Bill Murphy, a shy and skinny boy who is prone to bullying.
“It’s really, really fun,” she said. “We’re doing our second season right now. This was a natural progression for me because I’ve always done weird voices with my girlfriends at my house. It’s always something I wanted to do.”
In the meantime, she will perform at the Crescent Ballroom in Phoenix on Thursday, June 9. She and her band are scheduled to perform “Better” in
its entirety.
“It’s my own band and we’re doing the full album, along with a couple from the last album,” Reinhart said. “It’s just going to be very funky. These guys are wonderful musicians and rehearsals went great. I’m excited to be playing with them. Everybody has great energy and they’re very positive people. It’s going to be a good one.”
– Contact Christina Fuoco-Karasinski at 480-8985612 or christina@timespublications.com.
– Check us out and like GetOutAZ on Facebook and follow GetOutAZ on Twitter
What: Haley Reinhart, Jacob Luttrell and Miller James
When: 8 p.m. Thursday, June 9
Where: Crescent Ballroom, 308 N. Second Ave., Phoenix
Cost: $20-$60
Information: 602-716-2222 or crescentphx. com
“Avenue Q” “deals with adult material” and contains “full puppet nudity.”
Not only are the puppets sometimes naked, but they feel free to, uh, enjoy each other. Harper downplays that aspect of the show.
“The puppet-on-puppet sex is just a bonus,” he said. “The show is really about battling with life and making mistakes— really stupid mistakes. Everybody knows what that feels like.”
What are some of those mistakes?
Some of the song titles (written by Robert Lopez and Jeff Marks) provide hints: “What Do You Do with a B.A. in English?,” “If You Were Gay,” “The Internet is for Porn,” “The Money Song” and “Everyone’s a Bit Racist” are just a few. The ballad, “There’s a Fine, Fine Line” deals with the need to sometimes end a relationship.
Because most of these are sung by or with puppets, they can dare to say things that just plain people might not get away with.
“When a puppet experiences something it creates enough distance, so that even when the song said, ‘Everyone’s a bit racist,’ you go, ‘Yup, that’s true.’ If a bunch of white people sang it, you wouldn’t react the same. The puppets
provide removal, and audiences can hear the bad stuff.”
A lot of what the characters in experience in “Avenue Q” reminds Harper of his own life lessons:
“The characters learn to leave their preconceived judgments behind. As soon as you think things are right, other things show up in your life to show how wrong you are.”
The puppets for Phoenix Theatre’s production were designed by Rick Lyon, who was a puppeteer in the show’s original New York cast. The puppet design allows the audience to see the puppeteers, a convention Harper said he loves, “because both the puppet and the human become the character together.”
Harper, who also staged Phoenix Theatre’s recent production of “Evita” and appeared in its production of “Mary Poppins,” is the company’s associate artistic director.
“That means I do a lot of paperwork when I’m not directing or onstage.”
The theater community often refers to itself as a family, and it is a message of family that Harper believes is the ultimate “Avenue Q” statement.
“Everybody in the show takes care of each other. We all create our own family, and it is family that helps you navigate both your brilliance and your stupidity.”
– Check us out and like GetOutAZ on Facebook and follow GetOutAZ on Twitter.
>> From page 30
what it’s all about—celebrating great music.”
Van Winkle can take all the credit; he put the tour together with the help of DJ Johnny Quest.
“Johnny Quest said he wanted to book some acts because he wanted to get into promotion,” Van Winkle said. “So I said book me, Color Me Badd, Rob Base and all these great acts.
“We did it and we sold out Miami, Tampa and Orlando. From that point, all of these other promoters bought the show. It’s amazing.”
He said the goal of his show is to get people up and moving.
“You just have to think like a DJ. What do they play during weddings for the dance floor? What’s going to get them moving? The show is three to four hours long and nobody sits down. People are having the best time of their lives.”
Van Winkle, who stars in “The Vanilla Ice Project” on HGTV, performs mostly on the weekends because he’s so busy with the home-improvement show, which is in its sixth season.
“I had success way back in the day and it was great,” he said. “But I was so young;
to enjoy myself really because every day something was planned for me. “But I’m enjoying the heck out of life now. It’s great. I’m very honored to be in this position.”
– Contact Christina Fuoco-Karasinski at 480-8985612 or christina@timespublications.com.
– Check us out and like GetOutAZ on Facebook and follow GetOutAZ on Twitter.
What: “I Love the ’90s” tour
When: 7 p.m. Friday, June 10
Where: Talking Stick Resort Arena, 201 E. Jefferson St., Phoenix
Cost: $12 to $35
Information: 800-745-3000 or ticketmaster.com
By Kenneth Lafave
GETOUT/AFN NEWS STAFF
Joe Barreiro and Jack Kelly have one thing in common: They’ve never been to Santa Fe. Other than that, says Barreiro, who plays Kelly in the Disneyproduced musical “Newsies” at Gammage Auditorium this month—zip.
“I’m nothing like Jack as far as being graceful and always knowing what to say,” Barreiro said. “But every night when I put on the hat, I get to be him. It is so satisfying to play the cool character. It’s as fun as it looks.”
And fun is the key word here. “Newsies” is an old-fashioned feel-good musical about newspaper boys who go on strike. The national road tour, which started last year following the show’s successful Broadway run, will stop at ASU Gammage June 14 to June 19.
A “newspaper boy” or “newsboy,” for those too young to recall, was a kid who delivered the morning (or afternoon) newspapers to subscribers’ homes. In 1899, a bunch of them in New York City went on strike when newspaper mogul Joseph Pulitzer increased their cost of product, thus shrinking their pay. “Newsies” is based on that historic incident. The character of Jack Kelly is
the strike’s leader.
But, what was that about Santa Fe?
“Jack is always longing to get out of New York and find open spaces,” said Barreiro.
Santa Fe becomes Jack’s unseen ideal, as well as the title of the song that both opens and closes the first act.
Of course, this being a musical, and a Disney musical at that, Jack—spoiler alert here—finds his true calling during the strike, falls in love with a spunky reporter from the paper, and realizes that New York is his true home.
Barreiro is a multiple-threat musical theater guy who plays the piano and conducts shows as well as singing and acting in them. Last year, he was musicdirecting a production of “Urinetown” in upstate New York when his agent called with a stunning opportunity: Could he audition for the touring production of the latest Disney Broadway hit?
Those words led to a successful audition and fulfilled the work of his life over the past few years.
“I was a singer in choir through high school but knew I didn’t want to sing in choirs the rest of my life,” Barreiro said. “I started watching a lot of Daniel Day Lewis films and his performances were so
transformative that I thought, ‘I’m going to be an actor.’”
Barreiro has appeared in musicals and nonmusicals and developed a sophisticated taste for both. The musical role he would most like to perform is George in Stephen Sondheim’s “Sunday in the Park with George.”
“I’d add ‘Sweeney Todd’ but I’m a tenor and that’s a baritone role, so it’s not in my future,” Barreiro said.
And the nonmusical role?
“I would love to play Stanley Kowalski in ‘A Streetcar Named Desire.’ I want to communicate a deeply superficial character.”
One of the things Barreiro loves about “Newsies,” in addition to being the cool character, is that the songs were composed by a childhood hero.
“I am a ‘90s baby, born the year after ‘Little Mermaid,’ the first of the great Disney animated musicals. The composer was Alan Menken,” who went on to compose “Beauty and the Beast,” “Aladdin,” “Pocahontas” and the original live-action film, “Newsies,” on which the stage musical is based.
“Without Alan Menken’s music for those films, I’m not sure I would have gone in the direction I have,” Barreiro said. “Those scores are deeper in me than any other pieces of music. I am completely in awe of Alan Menken’s work.”
Barreiro also praises the lyrics for the show, which were written by Jack Feldman.
“There’s a move in some shows to push Broadway songs more in the direction of pop. But the Broadway show is a lyrical medium, and the words to the songs need to keep the plot moving.”
After seven months touring in “Newsies,” Barreiro has no immediate plans for the future.
Of course, the next call from his agent might be for a Broadway show, right?
“Exactly,” said Barreiro, who knows precisely what to say.
“Newsies,” ASU Gammage, 1200 S. Forest Ave., Tempe, asugammage. com, various times, Tuesday, June 14, to Sunday, June 19, $20-$150.
Up to 6264 s/f of office or medical space available. Lovely twin buildings with a great Ahwatukee location.
Excellent location with easy access to I-10, Sky Harbor Airport, Tempe, ASU or Downtown Phoenix.
2353 s/f of finished office or medical space at $13.50 NNN, with reception areas, large private offices, large open areas with break room facilities, board/meeting rooms and two washrooms. Owner is creative and may change to suit. These are also owner-managed twin buildings showing pride of ownership, with a low CAM/ NNN fee of approx. $3.75 per sq. ft.
Join these great tenants: Edward Jones, Ahwatukee News, JMW Construction, Wilson Properties, Cottam Chiropractic and Piller Child Development Center. Floor plan is available. Exit I-10 at Elliot, go one block west and turn right on 51st Street. Take the next right off 51st Street and a quick left into the parking area. We are right next to the Wells Fargo Bank.
Easy to show, call anytime: Richard 602-695-5491.
By Jason P. Skoda
AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS STAFF
The Mountain Pointe two-sport athlete was never the top player or competitor on
the Pride’s basketball team or the track events she entered.
All situations — fighting for her spot — Burns has always thrived in, and that was clear throughout her career at Mountain Pointe that finishes with being named the AFN’s Senior Female Athlete of the Year.
“I’ve always had someone in front of me, something to fight for,” Burns said. “I’ve always had the competitive nature to not only get better, but expect to be the best. As soon as you settle for something you stop growing.”
Burns became a leader on the Pride’s basketball team as one of the top guards and finished her career as one of the top sprinters and hurdlers in the state.
She finished third in Division I in the 100-meter dash (12.29), third in the 100 hurdles (14.38), and second in the 300 hurdles (43.72).
Burns, who is still taking college visits to places like Villanova, U.C. Davis and Oregon State, saw herself as much more than an athlete at one of the most diverse schools in the state.
“I love Mountain Pointe and the support at that school that has been there from the start,” she said. “The teachers and faculty, and students made it such a great experience. I tried to do my part. There are different groups and different people, but athletes talked to theater students, theater kids talked with students mainly focused on academics. We were all there for MP. I don’t know how many other schools are like that, but I will always remember it.”
Burns has left her own imprint on the school and here is one last look.
Date of birth: Oct. 3, 1998
Height: 5-foot-3
Weight: 110 pounds
GPA: 3.5
Family members: My loving parents Von and DeWaine Burns, and my seven siblings.
Hobbies: Basketball, track, reading, writing, student council, bsu, counseling for the local middle >> See BURNS on page 41
By Jason P. Skoda
AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS STAFF
At some point, muscle memory took over. Technique and form became second nature. The hours and discipline made it so. Everything from strength to determination and work ethic was in place for Torrey Hickel, the son of a coach, to be a state champion. He just had to perform.
The Desert Vista product seemingly always did as he won two Division I discus state titles and finished in the top three in shot put
his final two years.
Hickel had a similar approach on the football field as a two-way lineman. His persistence and determination gave Desert Vista a leader at the point of attack every Friday night.
While the track led Hickel to a scholarship to Oklahoma State, his time with the football team is what will stick with the AFN’s Senior Male Athlete of the Year.
“That first time in freshmen football was so important,” Hickel said. “Putting on that
uniform for the first time and meeting all of my guys. I don’t know who I’d be hanging out with if it wasn’t for that time in my life.”
Four years flew by, but during that time Hickel and his class saw the football program dip to the point where back-to-back losing seasons became a reality. It’s why their senior season was so vital to them and getting the Thunder back into the postseason.
They just had to perform.
“We had to get it turned around,” Hickel said. “It was something we talked about. We
wanted to make sure DV football was back where it was supposed to be.”
Seven wins, including one in the playoffs, doesn’t put Desert Vista back into championship form by any means.
But the Thunder are back to being winners. At some point muscle memory takes over and it becomes second nature.
Something Hickel knows a little something about.
Here is one last look at Hickel.
The V Football Camp for quarterbacks and wide receivers, run by Norris Vaughan, will be June 22-24.
It is for athletes heading into grades sixth through 11th and from 9 to 10:45 a.m. on Field No. 1 at Mountain Vista Park, 13601 S. 50th St. in Ahwatukee.
The camp, which costs $100 per camper, will focus on three to five step drops, throwing mechanics, and form, while receivers receive instruction on stand and ball skills, and route running.
Each participant should bring/wear football cleats, athletic shoes, T-shirt, athletic shorts and socks, and sunscreen. Water and ice will be provided.
For more information, contact Vaughan at nvaughan@tempeunion.org or 602-320-7831.
Chandler Lacrosse is having a free introductory lacrosse clinic for boys in grades sixth through ninth on June 12 at Thude Park, 2825 E. Galveston St.
The clinic is from 8 to 9 a.m. for sixth- and seventh-graders, and from 9 to 10 a.m. for eighth- and ninth-graders.
For more information, go to www.chandlerlacrosse.com, email Chandlerwolveslacrosse@gmail.com, or contact Paula Ertl at 480-215-1198
The Diamondbacks have added a D-backs Sombrero giveaway and postgame concert, featuring Tucson-based Latin Pop artist Luis Coronel, on Saturday, July 16 vs. the Los Angeles Dodgers at Chase Field.
The first 20,000 fans on July 16 will receive a D-backs sombrero and can enjoy a postgame concert on the field by Luis Coronel. Coronel is a native of Tucson, and was named 2014 Artist of the Year at the Latin Billboard Music Awards. Also in 2014, he received the Feeling Social Award from Premios Tu Mundo for his exceptional social media following that includes more than 5.3 million followers on Facebook and 1.8 million on Instagram.
He was recognized by Premios Lo Nuestro last year as the Regional Mexican Male Artist of the Year, and received honors from Premios Juventud for Voice of the Moment and My Regional Mexican Artist in 2015. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit www.dbacks.com.
— Send submissions to jskoda@ahwatukee.com.
ahwatukee.com
Ahwatukee Foothills News online
>> From page 39
school CMS.
Favorite TV show(s): “Psych,” “Scandal,” “Empire.”
Favorite movie: “For Colored Girls.”
Favorite actor(s): Angela Bassett, Taraji P Henson.
Favorite song: Any Michael Jackson song.
Favorite book: “To Kill a Mockingbird,” by Harper Lee.
Favorite number: 24
Best advice in sports ever received? That the only thing stopping me from being great is me.
The thing I like most about sports? The competitiveness and how each sport teaches you a different life lesson. What I dislike most about sports? It’s not about having fun anymore, it is just about trying to get a scholarship, making money, or becoming famous. There is nothing wrong with trying to get a scholarship, but kids still need to remember that it is important to have fun and to enjoy themselves.
Who would play you in a movie? As a teen: Keke Palmer. As a young adult: Tika Sumpter. And when I reach my 40s, probably Angela Bassett. What is one of your favorite quotes? “I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made
>> From page 40
Torrey Hickel
Date of birth: Dec. 6, 1997
Height: 6-foot-2
Weight: 230 pounds
GPA: 4.5
Family members: Amie (mom) Troy (dad) Mason (younger brother)
Car: Nissan Sentra
Favorite TV show: “The Office”
Favorite movie: “Pirates of the Caribbean”
Favorite actor: Johnny Depp
Favorite book: “The Art of War,” by Sun Tzu
Favorite number: 52
Favorite place to eat: Rudy’s BBQ
Best advice in sports ever received?
“See it (shot put and discus) leave.” — coach Troy Hickel
Worst advice received? “See it leave.”
The thing I like most about sports? The opportunity to compete. The feeling of accomplishment after proving myself to my competitors.
Favorite quote? “To be a great champion you must believe you are the best. If you’re not, pretend you are.” — Muhammad Ali
What chore do you absolutely hate
them feel.” — Maya Angelou
Who do people say you look like? Kobe Bryant.
What chore do you absolutely hate doing? Taking out the garbage and washing dishes.
If there is one thing you could change about your high school years what would you do different? I would focus less on my social life and focus more on being the best student I could be in the classroom.
If you could witness any event, past, present or future, what would it be?
Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream Speech.”
What story does your family always tell about you? The story of how I got my middle name (Miracle).
What is your favorite smell? Anything that’s fruity.
What I will remember most about high school? It sounds weird, but the thing I will remember the most is the impact I feel I made. I spent four years trying to make Mountain Pointe a better place for students and faculty, and it has become the greatest school in this state, and maybe even in the country. And I will also remember winning a state championship.
If you won the lottery what are the first three things you would do?
1. Buying my parents a new house and a new car. 2. Renovating all the sports
doing? Trash duty.
If there is one thing you could change about your high school years what would you do different? Make connections with more people. Without a doubt I have made many life-long friends in high school, but I feel I could have made more.
What is your favorite smell? Fresh cookies.
What I will remember most about high school? The feeling after winning
facilities at Mountain Pointe 3. Donate money to my church. Dinner reservation for six at your favorite restaurant, and you can invite any five people (dead or alive, family or famous). Who would they be?
1. Michael Jackson. 2. Maya Angelou. 3. Malcolm X. 4. Martin Luther King Jr. 5. My grandmother. 6. My father. Describe your perfect day and who (if anyone) would you spend it with (doing what)? My perfect day would honestly just consist of me spending time with my family. We could honestly just sit at home together, enjoying each other’s company, and at that moment in time, I am content with life.
What will your life be like in 10 years? I will most likely still be in school pursuing my Ph.D. in psychology and getting ready to finish law school. I hope to have a set plan regarding opening up my own law firm.
What will your life be like in 20 years?
Successful, married with children, a renowned lawyer, hopefully, have a seat in Congress by then, and beginning to plan out the road to my presidency.
— Contact Jason Skoda at 480-898-7915 or jskoda@ahwatukee.com. Follow him on Twitter @ JasonPSkoda.
— Check us out and like the Ahwatukee Foothills News on Facebook and follow @AhwatukeeFN on
a home football game.
If you won the lottery what are the first three things you would do? I’d probably spend it all on a yacht. What will your life be like in 10 years?
I’m not sure, I’ll let you know.
— Contact Jason Skoda at 480-898-7915 or jskoda@ahwatukee.com. Follow him on Twitter @ JasonPSkoda.
— Check us out and like the Ahwatukee Foothills News on Facebook and follow @AhwatukeeFN on
Dining For Women (DFW) diningforwomen org inspires, educates and engages people to invest in programs that make a meaningful difference for women and girls living in extreme poverty DFW helps women find dignity and strength, develop skills and opportunities value and support their children s education We have a local chapter in Ahwatukee which meets the 3rd Thursday every month from 6:30 p m -8:30p m If you d like to know more on how you can transform lives and reduce poverty contact Mary Hake at marysullivanhake @gmail com
GROWING TOGETHER:
That s the motto of The Ahwatukee Community Garden Project Get your hands dirty while learning about desert gardening Join us every Sunday morning starting at 8 A M in the Garden at 4700 E Warner Rd north of the Farmers' Market
GARDEN CLUB, DESERT POINTE
Garden Club Meets the 1st Monday of every month at 9:30am @ Ahwatukee Recreation Center NEW MEMBERS WELCOME
5001 E Cheyenne
Sept - May Only Call Pat Faust 480-588-6613
Democrats and Donuts
This monthly gathering is held the third Wednesday of each month from 8 - 9:30 a m at Denny's, 7400 West Chandler Boulevard, Chandler Sponsored by the Legislative District 18 Democrats, speakers cover current issues of interest Meetings are free and open to the public, breakfast may be purchased For more info, visit www ld18democrats org/ meetings or email mariec9@q com
munity service hours?
We could use their help! Copsofluv com for more info!
480 634 7763 Ahwatukee based non-profit
AHWATUKEE/CHANDLER Bosom Buddies We meet the 2nd Saturday of the month 10:00 AM-12:00 noon in
AHWATUKEE AL-ANON family group invites you to meetings every Mon 7:15 PM at Corpus Christi Church on 3550 E Knox Wed 8:00 PM at Community Center 4700 Warner Rd Fri Women s only 9:00 AM at Mountian View Luthern Church 11022 S 48th St , Sat "Men s stag" 12PM at Mountian View Luthern Church 11022 S 48th St Rita 480-496-4535
GAMBLERS ANONYMOUS & GAMANON for meeting information 602-266-97846
GROWING TOGETHER:
That s the motto of The Ahwatukee Community Garden Project Get your hands dirty while learning about desert gardening Join us every Sunday morning starting at 8 A M in the Garden at 4700 E Warner Rd north of the Farmers Market acgarden org
events all year long AFFAN holds monthly luncheon meetings with varied speakers We offer over 40 monthly activities including Book Clubs, Canasta Bunco, Euchre, and Bridge Other monthly activities are Dining Out Stitch and Chat Explore Arizona and Garden Club Significant others/ spouses can attend some events For more info contact Teresa Akrish Phone: 480-518-5788 teresaakrish@gmail com Check our website at affanwomensclub com
