The Foothills Focus Anthem 02-15-2023

Veteran families share support, love

Behind each of the 2,400 veterans’ pavers in the Anthem Veterans Memorial Circle of Honor is a story of patriotism, courage and honor. Inherent to each paver is the untold story others who serve this nation and sacrifice in ways not often recognized, veteran family members.

Agirlfriend’s prayers

From Dec. 7, 1941, to May 9, 1945, over 16.5 million American men and women served in the armed forces, 291,557 died in battle and 670,846 were wounded. In March 1943, as his buddies had already see SUPPORT page 4

Troop 531 believes in community service

Boy Scout Troop 531 understands the importance of community service. They signed a two-year agreement with the city of Phoenix Adopt-a-Street Program to handle a 1-mile stretch on Carefree Highway from I-17 to the end of Tramonto.

“We clean both sides of the road,” said Jess Rankin, the scout leader.

“We do that every calendar quarter. We have vests for the guys and grabbers.”

Picking up trash goes toward the young men’s service hours/projects, and lessons in scouting. To accomplish their task, the boys were given high-visibility vests and grabbers.

“We develop a good citizen mentality for the boys,” he said. “We’ve seen interesting things — parts of a couch, a sectional couch, random tiles and wheels. The wildest thing we ever found was an ankle bracelet for a jail in Colorado.

“We’re pretty convinced that the wind brings see BOY SCOUT page 7

An edition of the East Valley Tribune

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SUPPORT from page 1

been called to war, John Ravita lied about his age and enlisted into the Navy. The son of a World War I Army infantry soldier who fought in France, it was “his turn.” His girlfriend, Esther, knew it was only a matter of time before he would go off to war.

“We were 17 years old when we met at a friends and family picnic where we lived outside Pittsburgh,” Esther said. “We connected right away and knew we were meant to be together forever.

“Within a few months, he kissed me goodbye and left for bootcamp. It wasn’t long after that that he got his orders, kissed me again and left for war. He told me that day, ‘When I come home, we will make plans to marry.’ I did a lot of praying over those months, a lot of praying. St. Michael’s Monastery was just around the corner from where I worked as a secretary. Every Thursday evening, after work, I knelt in that cathedral and prayed for John’s safe return.”

Esther’s sister’s boyfriend was a Seabee and at war the same time. They waited together for their loved ones to return.

“She worked in a factory making war masks for our soldiers and I worked at the steel mill,” Esther said.

“We had each other, our routines and our prayers. That’s what happened during World War II. We all leaned on each other.”

the Pacific, being thrown overboard, battling from sea and having an ear infection from the sea salt spray. He required surgery to treat the ear issue.

Esther remembers when John said he returned, was in Valero, California, and would soon travel to Pennsylvania. After the ship got him to Florida, by way of the Panama Canal, the Navy wanted him to stay there a few days for exams.

Esther said with a laugh, “He told them, ‘No, I am going home to Esther.’ That feisty Italian in him brought him right back to me.”

Esther and John dated a couple years and were married. Her sister and she were two of the lucky ones whose soldiers returned home.

“My brother, Al, fought in the Battle of Anzio. Sadly, he came home shellshocked and died of a heart attack not long after he returned,” she said.

Esther and John celebrate their 75th wedding anniversary in June and now, 97 years old, look back on their lives and “thank God for our wonderful son and daughter and the beautiful life we have shared together. We still laugh and tease each other and share the same love for each other as when he left for war. Some things never change.”

A wife’s support

Retired Army Lt. Colonel Ray Norris always wanted to be a pilot. His wife supported him when he started taking flight school classes.

was never shy of verbalizing his feelings. I stopped watching the news as it was just too hard.”

Dale asked Ray’s mother to talk to his dad about the negative comments. She understood that losing a son would be horrible.

“But he was my husband and if I lost him, it would be even more so,” she said. “After a few months, I moved in with a friend until Ray came home.”

The war was difficult for everyone. Dale overheard other hairdressers’ clients make negative comments, too.

“I almost lost it with one of the women and vowed then to keep my mouth shut as I didn’t want to lose my job,” she said.

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Esther’s brother, Al, also was fighting in Italy during World War II. While born in Italy, he lived most of his life in the United States. Yet, her parents received notice from Mussolini that Al was to report to the Italian army. He also was drafted here. The two governments went back and forth but Al fought for the United States.

“My parents, I and seven siblings prayed for him, as well,” she said. “Those were very difficult times for families.

“In those days, none of us had any contact with loved ones while they were away. We had only film news reels in the theaters and radio news. We could only hope and pray for their safe return home.”

He came home 29 months after he left for war, having survived a typhoon in

In 1966, at the age of 26, Norris was drafted. He expressed his desire to be a pilot and after helicopter flight training, in 1968, he deployed for Vietnam, leaving Dale, his bride of four years, at home.

“Ray’s father wasn’t very happy about his decision to enter flight school after he was drafted, but I knew that is what Ray always wanted to do. I also knew that Ray felt that is what he should do,” Dale said.

After Ray was sent to Vietnam, Dale moved in with his parents and continued working as a hairdresser.

“I tried to keep busy by working, but I worried every day,” Dale recalled.

“The war news reports were all over the television right along with the news of the protests. Ray’s father watched every minute of the television reports and

Unlike wives of previous wars’ soldiers, Dale received letters from Ray while he was in Vietnam. He also called her occasionally.

“The letters and hearing his voice reassured me that he would be ok,” Dale said.

“Ray’s decision was the best decision he ever could have made. He loved flying and, even though he decided not to make the Army his permanent career, he did join the National Guard and flew and taught for them. I am thrilled he was able to do what he wanted. Watching him in a career he loved is more important than anything. He’s the most important person in my world — always has been and always will be.

“Sure, some of the lasting effects of Agent Orange have affected our lives,

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but he is with me and that is all that matters to me. I have loved him for 60 years, we support each other, and I am grateful every day we have shared. Being together is what is important; that’s all that matters.”

Proud and loving mother

Connie and Bob Henry are the parents of Guy Henry, first a Naval officer, now a commander in the Navy Active Reserves. Guy splits two full-time jobs in two parts of the country. He trains the HT 8 helicopter pilots in Pensacola, Florida, and serves as a civilian flight instructor and search and rescue and medical evacuation helicopter pilot with the Maryland State Police.

“Guy has always wanted to be a pilot,” Connie said.

“He was in the ROTC program in college and was commissioned immediately after graduation. We expected him to enter the military, so that decision was not shocking. We were honored and proud he decided to serve our country.

As family is important to us all, I knew we would remain close, no matter where the Navy sent him.”

Guy was sent to Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, for three years on a NATO exchange operation to train Canadian helicopter pilots using American night-vi-

sion technology. The family traveled there for his wedding as he didn’t have time to go home.

His fiancée, Cathy, went over for this deployment and lived there for those three years. That was the first time she gave up her job to be with him, but it

wasn’t the last. Their twin girls, Kara and Brynn, were born there.

“During his 11 active-duty years, I did take a breath — a few times,” Connie said.

“His duties have been intense over his career. It was his deployment to Iraq during the war that made me pretty nervous. Soldiers are not always able to share where they are, what they are doing or communicate regularly. His situation was unique as he, alone, was called up, verses a unit’s call. I spent every waking minute and many sleepless nights reading news reports in every news outlet I could find. In all honesty, I was a wreck the entire time.”

What saved Connie was the short “R&R” leave Guy received six months into his deployment.

“He told me he wanted only red, white and blue — red wine, white sandy beaches and blue water. As time did not permit him to fly back to the States, the entire family flew to meet him in Spain.

“To watch your son with his brothers,

see SUPPORT page 8

a lot of those items out to the area. It’s amazing how much trash there can be.”

The boys develop a good citizen mentality, according to Rankin, by doing this every quarter. The troop has other service projects.

Chartered by the nonprofit Trailhead Youth Foundation, the troop meets from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Mondays at Standing

Stones Community Church, 28750 North Valley Parkway, Phoenix.

The 60-member Boy Scout Troop 531, which welcomes young men ages 11 to 17, is partnered with Cub Scout Pack 531 for those in kindergarten to fifth grade.

The troop and pack are open to boys in North Phoenix, Anthem, Glendale, Norterra, Tramonto, Carefree Crossings, Desert Hills, Peoria and Cave Creek. For more information, visit aztroop531.org.

City pipeline insurance program would allow opting out

Phoenix officials last week said an insurance plan that covers $8,500 worth of repairs to water and sewer pipelines that break between the house and the water meter will allow homeowners to opt out if the voluntary program is applied to all single-family homeowners.

City Council will consider making the HomeService pipeline program part of the water bill to all homeowners when it considers later this spring a possible increase in water and sewer rates.

The city’s initial report early this month about the HomeServe program conversion did not mention the possibility of letting homeowners opt out.

However, city officials last week stressed homeowners could opt out.

HomeServe spokesman Myles Meehan said, “All homeowners have the option to opt-out if they care to. In fact, any resident could opt-out after the program began even if they overlooked the various announcements leading up to and after the start of the program. “

For the last decade, homeowners in Phoenix have been able to sign up for the insurance plan. They are billed separately by the company.

HomeServe National Director Brian Davis told the subcommittee two weeks ago that since 2012, when Phoenix joined with the National League of Cities in a partnership for the program, some 27,324 homeowners have saved $7.4 million for 13,461 pipeline repairs while the

city garnered $3 million in revenue.

Davis said about 20% of Phoenix single-family homeowners currently subscribe to the program, which costs $7.95 a month to cover the water line and an additional monthly fee of $9.45 to cover septic and sewer line breaks.

If the program were applied to all single-family households, homeowners likely would pay $2.50 or $3 a month, according to Davis.

Council may consider an additional program with an opt-out option.

That program, called ServeLine, is a “leak adjustment program” that indemnifies the city in instances where a homeowner on any given month has a water bill that significantly spiked from their average monthly rate because of a leak.

Davis said ServeLine would cost 50 centers to $1 a month and would cover the full coverage so that the customer would only pay their normal monthly average and the city would not lose any money. Both programs are expected to be discussed when council considers a proposed new increase in water rates that would take effect later this year.

CORRECTION

The Foothills Focus gave the incorrect dates for the last increase in water rates. Rates last increased in March 2022 by 3.5% after increasing by 3% in October 2021.

The boys create an annual plan that outlines each month’s projects. In January, they focused on automotive maintenance, learning how to change vehicles’ fluids and tires with Kerry’s Car Care, and visiting the Barrett-Jackson Collector Car Auction.

A year ago, they visited San Diego and went on a behind-the-scenes tour of the ship Michael Mansoor.

“We went sailing in San Diego harbor,” he said. “We spent a night on the USS Midway. It was a pretty awesome

weekend. We’ve done rappelling. To see 11-year-old boys rappelling down an 80foot cliff is an experience.

“I’d like to say we are very active. The secret sauce is I have a lot of parental help and support. I’m fortunate in that way. It also makes it fun for the parents too, to be involved.”

Boy Scout Troop 531 aztroop531.org

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Anthem Days returns March 25, March 26

Anthem Days returns to Community Park from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, March 25, and Sunday, March 26. Admission and parking are free; activity and carnival fees apply.

Highlights of the two-day event include local business expo, live musical entertainment, carnival, food court and Rotary beer garden, and kids’ zone with inflatables (fees apply).

The Frazier Shows Carnival opens ahead of the event at 5 p.m. Thursday, March 23. The fun continues Friday through Sunday evening. Information is available on Frazier Shows website. Prices and times subject to change by carnival management. All-you-can-ride wristbands and carnival schedule will

be available for purchase closer to the event.

With visits to 10 booths (receive a stamp at each booth), attendees 18 and older can enter to win a prize. Raffle cards completed with 10 stamps can be returned to the Anthem Community Council booth for entry. The winner will be notified the week following the event.

Sponsors and vendors will be featured in the business expo all day, Saturday and Sunday. Businesses have until Friday, March 3, to apply to be a vendor.

For more information or detailed event schedules, visit onlineatanthem. com/anthem-days. With questions, contact a member of the special events staff at 623-742-6050 or send an email to dpulido@anthemcouncil.com.

his wife and children laughing, sitting around full-family dinners, as we do when we are together, was incredibly special and reminded me of how proud I am of the entire family. It isn’t easy to have a family member in the military, but together we are a force.”

Guy’s wife left her accounting job to care for their twin girls when he was deployed to Iraq, and Connie spent a time with her and the girls.

“His wife is amazing, and to ensure they know daddy is always with them, we made an oversized face of Guy, named ‘Flat Daddy,’” she said.

“We took him everywhere. Those moments helped us all get through his time away from home and brings home to him.

“No matter where a military son may be stationed, he is always son first to his mother. It is only natural to be on edge or concerned. Fortunately, because Guy is so knowledgeable and cautious,

I know he won’t take any unreasonable risks.”

Given his schedule between two cities thousands of miles apart, his wife held down the family fort.

“I’m here for support and to be the proud mother to a wonderful son, dedicated husband, amazing father and military man,” she said.

Six lifestyle habits to shape your heart health

February is recognized as American Heart Month, a health observance that encourages Americans to understand the importance of heart health and adopt healthier behaviors that can decrease the risk of serious health outcomes, such as a heart attack or stroke. According to the CDC, heart disease is the leading cause of death for men, women and people of most racial and ethnic groups in the United States.

By adopting healthier lifestyle habits, individuals can learn to incorporate small, but powerful changes into their day-to-day routines that can help prevent heart disease. The CDC states that living a healthier lifestyle can help keep your blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood sugar levels normal and lower your risk for heart disease and heart attack.

Living a longer, healthier life starts with taking care of your heart. Here are six lifestyle habits that can be implemented today that may improve not only heart, but wholebody health.

1. Choose healthy foods and drinks. By choosing healthy meals and snacks, you can help prevent heart disease and heart complications. Be sure to eat plenty of fruits and vegetables, and less processed foods. Eating foods high in fiber and low in saturated and trans fats can help prevent high cholesterol. Because drinking alcohol can raise your blood pressure, if you choose to drink, limit the amount of alcohol consumed to one drink per day for women, and two drinks per day for men.

2. Keep a healthy weight. Maintaining a healthy weight is important. People who are overweight or suffer from obesity have a higher risk for heart disease. Extra weight

can put extra stress on the blood vessels and the heart.

3. Get regular physical activity. Any physical activity is better than none. It can be helpful to choose an activity that you enjoy, such as biking, yoga, walking, swimming or tennis. Physical activity can help maintain a healthy weight and help lower your blood cholesterol, blood pressure, and blood sugar levels. For adults, the surgeon general recommends two hours and 30 minutes of moderate-intensity activity, such as brisk walking or biking, every week for heart health. For adolescents and children, it is recommended they get one hour of physical activity daily. Talk with your doctor before significantly increasing your activity level. Ask about the amounts and types of activities that may be best for you.

4. Don’t smoke. Cigarette smoking and tobacco use can increase your risk of heart disease. If you are a nonsmoker, do not start. If you do smoke, quitting will lower your risk for heart disease. Talk to your doctor to learn about ways to help you quit.

5. Take charge of your medical conditions. If you have a medical condition such as high cholesterol, high blood pressure or diabetes, you can take steps to help lower your risk of heart disease. Monitor your cholesterol as recommended by your health care provider, check your blood pressure on a regular basis and manage your blood sugar levels if you have pre-diabetes or diabetes. If you take medication to treat any of these diseases, it is important to follow your doctor’s instructions carefully. Never stop taking medication without first talking to your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.

6. Get good sleep. Getting a good night’s sleep isn’t just important for your energy levels, it is also critical for your heart health.

Justin Simons, Agent 3655 W Anthem Way Anthem, AZ 85086

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Business: 623-551-3700

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Balloon fiasco raises questions about Biden

He may not wear a white suit or a string tie — nor sport a silver goatee — but it appears as if Joe Biden wants to emulate the late Colonel Harland Sanders.

Sanders made millions with Kentucky Fried Chicken and franchising that fried fare… Well after his 65th birthday.

The popularity of KFC now extends all the way to the People’s Republic of China.

Biden, for his part, hopes to increase his popularity here at home so that he can stay in the White House for eight years, even though he’s now 80. Certainly, he must have fatherly pride in the popularity that his son, Hunter, now enjoys in China, in addition to his business success there.

That’s why it now appears that Ol’ Joe — with considerable help — has devel-

oped a national security “secret recipe.”

Admittedly, it is a curious concept, the notion of a deliberately delayed takeout service. Call it “Slow Joe’s ‘Biden’ Our Time.” Ask for it Wednesday, and you’ll see the order carried out on Saturday.

So what transpired off the South Carolina coast on the first Saturday in Feb -

ruary could accurately be described as a new type of “Chinese takeout.”

An American fighter jet finally shot down a Chinese surveillance balloon that had unfettered access to some of our most sensitive military sites after a weeklong trek across sovereign U.S. airspace.

Continuing “changes in narrative” emanating from the Potomac swamp began as soon as a video of the balloon taken over Montana was posted to social media sites, and the Billings Gazette published its account on Wednesday, Feb. 1.

The reports from Big Sky gave birth to a rapidly changing Big Lie.

The immediate challenge for the “Biden Bunch” was clear — somehow how our “woke” military leaders had to appear awake, in charge and giving clear advice to the increasingly befuddled “Leader of the Free World.”

Instead of exhibiting the fundamental instinct expected of military leadership — protecting Americans — our

now hyper-politicized Pentagon officials were engaging in what they believe to be a much more urgent priority: shielding a lone American octogenarian from any further collapse in his poll numbers.

That led, in turn, to a seemingly endless stream of “clarifications” that could be more accurately described as contradictions.

We were initially informed that American intelligence had been tracking the balloon since it had taken flight in China. Then for good measure, “unnamed sources” insisted that similar balloons had breached American airspace on four earlier occasions during Donald Trump’s presidency. It was subsequently reported that those incursions had previously been undetected.

To modify the “Orange Man Bad” narrative, the NORAD commander had to

see HAYWORTH page 12

Arizona lawmakers won’t drag you down

When you consider the many threats faced by Arizonans on a daily basis, the usual evils come to mind: Double-digit inflation; chaos along the southern border; the fentanyl crisis; the Valley’s massive shortage of housing; our rising violent crime rate.

Toss in political turmoil and the ongoing insanity surrounding the 2022 election and it’s a long list.

All of which explains why this year’s session of the Arizona Legislature has seen conservative Republicans introduce no less than four bills targeted at that noted scourge … drag shows. Apparently, there are gangs of ma -

committee hearing last week:

“I have enjoyed many drag queen performances in my day, as an adult, around adults, in a roomful of adults. It’s been a great time. I have nothing wrong with the drag queen performances. … What I do have a problem with is when they go into the public libraries or the schools. I have watched them literally stand onstage wearing a G-string with breast implants.

“And leaning over to a 5-year-old girl who has a dollar bill in her hand ready to put the dollar bill in this person’s G-string while this person leans over and says, ‘Are you thirsty for some milk little girl?’ … A 5-year-old does not need to be going up to a drag queen and putting dollar bills in their G-string.”

someone named “Wadsack” to the Legislature.

Sadly, they did.

Wadsack’s bill to combat drag shows is SB1698, a poorly written affair which seeks to make it a felony to expose a minor to “an adult oriented performance or an adult oriented business,” including a “drag show,” defined as a performance involving folks who “engage in singing, dancing or a monologue or skit in order to entertain an audience of two or more people,” while wearing clothing or makeup “opposite of the performers or group of performers gender at birth.”

This heinous offense would carry a minimum five-year prison sentence – surely sobering news for the actors set to appear in the June performances of “Hairspray” at Gammage on the Arizona State University campus.

Also at risk, as I read the bill: Any parent who screens “Tootsie,” “Mrs.

Doubtfire” or “Big Momma’s House” for a kids’ sleepover party.

Wadsack claimed to have evidence at the committee hearing, where a different anti-drag bill – Anthony Kern’s

see LEIBOWITZ page 12

go on the record and appear red-faced. Said General Glen D. VanHerck, “It’s my responsibility to detect threats to North America, (and) I will tell you that we did not detect those threats.”

VanHerck then made himself an early favorite for the “Best Bureaucratic Euphemism “ Award, describing the failure as a “domain awareness gap.”

The ever-helpful “Politico” then took its turn at creative writing, publishing a “timeline” of the events surrounding the balloon’s flight across America and

HEART from Page 9

More than 1 in 3 Americans say they do not get the recommended amount of sleep, which for most healthy adults is at least seven hours each night. Lack of sleep is associated with health problems such as high blood pressure, type-2 diabetes and obesity, all of which can raise your risk of heart disease. Some things you can do to get better sleep include sticking to a regular sleep

insisting that Biden wanted the balloon shot down over Montana, but that VanHerck — in cooperation with Joint Chiefs’ Chairman Gen. Mark Milley — persuaded Mr. Biden to wait until the balloon was off the Atlantic Coast before taking any military action.

It’s not enough to call Milley “silly,” but that must suffice for this family publication.

Any American military commander who would brag to Bob Woodward that he intervened to disrupt the chain of command because of his distrust of Donald Trump — to the point of secret-

schedule, do not eat or drink within a few hours of bedtime, keep your bedroom cool, dark and quiet, and get enough physical activity during the day.

It’s true that some habits are hard to break, but remember that small steps can lead to big victories. Take one habit at a time and with a series of small changes, you are on your way to a healthier lifestyle and healthier heart.

ly calling his Chinese counterpart to pledge that America would not launch an attack — is not courageous, but confused, to put it mildly.

In stark contrast to his oft-observed confusion, Joe Biden had a clear-eyed motive to delay shooting down the balloon — his son’s “business connections” to Beijing.

Hunter Biden hasn’t had the longterm relationship that Kentucky Fried Chicken has enjoyed there, but the younger Biden has been generously compensated by businesses connected to the Chinese Communist Party.

And unlike Colonel Sanders, Joe Biden’s “secret recipe” may result in our collective goose getting cooked.

sponsor Drag Queen Story Hour? I absolutely do not.

SB 1028, which would ban drag shows on public property or anywhere a child might see it – passed out of committee by a vote of 4-3.

Said Wadsack: “If you guys don’t believe that these things happen, I have the documented proof. I just can’t put them up on the screen for you.”

If you ask me, these proposals sound like what our Legislature has specialized in for as long as I can remember: A solution in search of a problem.

Do I support sexualizing children, or a massive expense of tax dollars to

But the screeching here far outweighs the threat, given that such events targeting children appear to be non-existent.

From where I sit, the best defense against children being exposed to drag shows – or other sexual material – is something else that apparently doesn’t exist in our state.

Responsible parenting.

I miss the days when Arizona’s legislative leaders believed in such principles, instead of political make believe. Because silly bills like Wadsack’s? They’re a real drag.

Is Mickey Mouse a dog or a cat?

another thing for war to be in you. When that happens, you adopt a destructive lifestyle where the end justifies the means.

President Theodore (Teddy) Roosevelt owned a little dog that was always getting into fights and consistently getting the worst of them. On one occasion, his dog tackled a mangy cur and took a beating. Someone said to President Roosevelt, “Your dog isn’t much of a fighter.” “Oh, yes, he’s a good fighter,” replied the President, “He’s just a poor judge of dogs.”

Here are some actual police responses to angry people’s statements they pulled over for breaking the law. Their answers remind me of Theodore’s little dog engaging big dogs more potent than him. For example, “Yes, sir, you can talk to the shift supervisor, but I don’t think it will help. Oh, did I mention that I’m the shift supervisor?” Another example of a police response is, “If you run, you’ll go to jail tired.”

Now, here’s an example of someone who chooses their battles wisely. A police recruit was asked during an exam, “What would you do if you had to arrest your mother?” He said, “Call for a backup.” There’s a recruit who knows how to choose his battles.

The Scripture says in Ecclesiastes 7:9, “Do not be eager in your heart to be angry, for anger rests in the hearts of fools.” Someone once said that anger is a wind that blows out the lamp of the mind. Unfortunately, it’s easy to get angry too quickly in today’s ‘short-fused’ world. We see things that need changing or don’t seem fair to us, and we want them changed and changed now. So be wary. Anger is one letter away from danger.

Friends, please don’t fight every battle or issue you see. You aren’t designed for that. If you do, you could become a person of war. It’s one thing to be in war; it’s

You start down a more dangerous road than a productive road in achieving solutions to our cause or issue. You lose perspective. You blame, demonize and even break the law to justify your behavior. Then you lose what you are fighting for, becoming more hurt and angrier at everyone. Anger is an acid that can harm the vessel in which it’s stored more than anything on which it’s poured.

Remember this truth: People who fight dragons for too long become dragons themselves. What’s on the outside of you gets inside of you. Why? What we focus on is what we become. So if you don’t like something, and it’s not essential or significant, take away its only power: your attention. By the way, never get angry at somebody who knows more than you. After all, it isn’t their fault.

In her book, “Teach Your Team to Fish,” Laurie Beth Jones talks about how Jesus chose His battles wisely. “Imagine how Jesus felt when He saw a Roman soldier hit a Jew, watched people spit on prostitutes or walked past crucified people in Jerusalem. This horror was a regular occurrence. Yet there is no record of Jesus leading any protest marches, overthrowing Roman tyranny or halting the execution of others. Why not? Didn’t He care? Of course, He cared. But Jesus was wise enough to choose His battles, to save His energy for the one battle He could win that would change history forever. It was not because He picked up His sword, but because He laid down His life.”

Laurie Beth Jones says that balance, poise and knowing how and where best to apply pressure while maintaining grace, character and dignity will ultimately get you closer, in the long run, to where you want to be.

Here are some questions to ask ourselves. What battles am I fighting currently? Should I be fighting them? What business or calling am I really in? Am I hurting or helping the cause I’m fighting for by fighting? Am I battling because of some unresolved issue in my life? Am I just opposing myself when I battle and distracting attention from the main point?

The reason I’m writing this article right now is that I’m concerned about the problems we are having with a minute number of police who are making all other police look evil. It is maddening what has happened in some of our cities. Like you, I am very, very concerned about this.

But remember that God made the government the avenger of wrong, not anyone who is offended or some angry crowd. In times like these, there are judges and juries in government that will determine the guilty and give a verdict. What we don’t need is someone taking the law in their own hands that ends up just as guilty as the guilty. Believe me, we don’t need more dragons. That’s a lose-lose for everyone.

Jesus chose His battles carefully and wisely, and we can too. Otherwise, we become just another poor judge of dogs.

Remember, anger not transformed is anger transferred. Unfortunately, mangy curs seem to thrive on that.

Here’s the officer’s final question to us: Is Mickey Mouse a dog or a cat?

Ed Delph is a noted author of 10 books, as well as a pastor, teacher, former business owner and speaker. He has traveled extensively, having been to more than 100 countries. He is president of NationStrategy, a nonprofit organization involved in uplifting and transforming communities worldwide. For more information, see nationstrategy.com. He may be contacted at nationstrategy@cs.com.

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Library lists plethora of activities

Maricopa County Library District’s North Valley Regional Library Branch offers free programs for people of all ages. For a complete list of offerings visit mcldaz.org/northvalley.

North Valley Regional Library is located at 40410 N. Gavilan Peak Parkway, Anthem, and is open to the public 2:45 to 8 p.m. Monday to Thursday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, and closed Friday.

Stories & Songs

3 p.m. Tuesdays

Children can listen to books, songs and rhymes in a fun interactive program designed to share the joy of reading. Caregivers, be prepared to participate with the songs and rhymes. The more children see adults interested in books and rhymes, the

more successful readers they become. Space is limited. Age group: Preschoolers

No registration required.

Art Lab

4 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 16

Ages 8 and older. The group explores different art techniques and makes art to take home. Registration required. For ages 8 to 13. Register at mcldaz.org/northvalley or 602-6523000.

Sensory Playtime

9:30 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 18

Drop by for sensory playtime. Explore a variety of sensory activities, plus free play, socialization and activities that will stimulate a child’s mind. Space is limited. This event is co-sponsored by the New Friends of the North Valley Library. Open to all ages with a caregiver.

Anime Lunch Club

Noon Sunday, Feb. 19

Bring a packed lunch and watch anime with other teens at the library! At this meeting, the teens watch anime (title TBD), do a related craft and vote on what to watch next time. Pocky will be provided as a snack. Anime Lunch Club meets once per month on Sundays. Those with food allergies should call 602652-3000. Register at mcldaz.org/ northvalley.

Crochet Corner

3 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 19

All levels welcome. Crocheters can work on their projects in a social setting. There will also be small group instruction for beginners. Supplies will be provided, but participants are invited to bring their own. This program is open to ages 12 and older. All attendees must

register separately. Register at mcldaz.org/northvalley or call 602-6523000.

Grounds for Thought Book Discussion

2:45 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 22

Join the group for an afternoon of coffee, tea and discussion at the monthly book club for adults. This month’s book is “I Must Betray You” by Ruta Sepetys. In a country governed by isolation, fear and a tyrannical dictator, 17-year-old Cristian Florescu is blackmailed by the secret police to become an informer, but he decides to use his position to try to outwit his handler, undermine the regime, give voice to fellow Romanians and expose to the world what is happening in his country. Includes author’s note.

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Abrazo Health offering heart health screenings

Low-cost vascular risk assessments from Abrazo Health will be available at Desert Foothills Family YMCA from 8 a.m. to noon Wednesday, Feb. 22.

The Angioscreen system can help identify potential risks for peripheral artery disease, heart attack or stroke.

Angioscreen exams take only about 10 minutes and assess a person’s circulatory system to provide information about blood flow in the neck and ankle arteries, heart rhythm, blood pressure and fitness. Cost for the screening is $59 and includes:

• Quick carotid ultrasound (checks for artery blockages)

• Ankle-branchial indexes (checks for peripheral vascular disease)

• EKG (checks for Afib)

• Blood pressure check

• Private consultation with clinician

Participants get a confidential, color printout with photos of the carotid arteries and exam results. A clinician provides a brief consultation to explain the results, which partic -

ipants are encouraged to share with their personal physician for follow up.

“February is Heart Month. Every 30 seconds, an American has a heart attack and every 45 seconds, a stroke. About 80% are preventable. Isn’t 10 minutes worth your time to see if you are at risk?” said Cindy Roberts, a nurse and Abrazo Health outreach manager.

“Only a physician is qualified to fully interpret the significance of the measurements and ultrasound images in the context of an individual’s personal medical history. The Angioscreen information can be used by participants to share with their doctor and should not replace regular examinations and consultations with their personal physician,” she said.

Abrazo Angioscreen Event

WHEN: 8 a.m. to noon Wednesday, Feb. 22 WHERE: Desert Foothills Family YMCA, 34250 N. 60th Street, Scottsdale COST: $59

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BC graduate studies music in Vienna

Hannah Wren traveled from Anthem to Luther College in Decorah, Iowa, to study classical music to be with the best.

The school provided just that. The daughter of Rob and Diane Wren, the junior trumpeter recently returned from a month-long residency in Vienna with the Luther College Symphony Orchestra, rehearsing, performing and experiencing music in a city known for its worldclass orchestras.

“It was a really awesome experience,” said Wren, a 2020 Boulder Creek High School graduate.

“The Vienna trip was one of the main reasons I came to a school so far away. It’s not exactly close to Anthem. I heard of the Vienna trip and staying a month in a city that’s so geared around music and classical music, in particular, was amazing.”

While abroad, Wren took part in a four-credit course taught by Luther faculty. This year, Martin Klammer, professor of English, and Kathy Reed, Paideia director and instructor in music, led the students through an in-depth study of Angus Robertson’s “The Crossroads of Civilization: A History of Vienna.” Class lectures were paired with experiential visits to important places in Vienna, including the Kunsthistorisches Museum and the Belvedere Palace, and to memorable performances including Brahms’ “First and Second Symphonies” at the Konzerthaus and “La Boheme” at the Staatsoper.

While music is the heart of the residency, Wren also experienced distinctive Viennese traditions — from enjoying goulash and schnitzel for meals, to attending a formal officers’ ball at the Hofburg Imperial Palace. Some students ventured on side trips to Hungary, Slovenia or Salzburg.

The Luther College Symphony Orchestra performed its free Vienna Residency Homecoming Concert on Feb. 5, in the Center for Faith and Life Main Hall

on the Luther College campus. It was livestreamed, too.

Conducted by Daniel Baldwin, the Vienna Residency Homecoming Concert featured a variety of works including Leonard Bernstein’s “Overture to Candide,” Antonín Dvořák’s “Symphony No. 8” in G major, George Gershwin’s “An American in Paris” and Anatoly Lyadov’s “Kikimora, Op. 63.”

Wren has been involved with music since she was 10 years old, when she picked up the trumpet.

“My dad played the trombone,” she said about her father, who now plays bass at Cross of Christ Church. “I stuck with the trumpet. It’s such a versatile instrument. It works with jazz, classical, Broadway and pop.”

She’s been in the classical music world since her sophomore year of high school, participating in the Phoenix Youth Symphony.

“There, I fell in love with it,” said Wren, who was a member of the Boulder Creek marching band. “My biggest inspiration to really get into it was Matthew Kasper. He kindled that love for classical music and performing.”

Kasper is the resident conductor of The Phoenix Symphony and the artistic director of the Phoenix Youth Symphony.

A fan of singer/trumpeter Bria Skonberg, Wren is planning to attend graduate school, perhaps in London, England.

“I have family in England and London,” she said. “I thought that would be a really great place to start a career in classical music.”

The Luther College Symphony Orchestra is Luther’s largest and oldest

orchestral ensemble. The group is made up of more than 80 student musicians, representing a variety of academic disciplines. Many members also sing in a choir, play in a band or jazz ensemble, and form small chamber groups. Every four years since 1977, the student musicians live, practice and perform in Vienna for three weeks during the month of January.

Music professor Baldwin has served as director of orchestral activities at Luther since 1997. As the head of the music department, Baldwin conducts Luther College Symphony and Chamber Orchestras, and teaches courses in conducting. He received his formal training in string pedagogy as a teacher in the University of Texas String Project. Before teaching at Luther, Baldwin served as director of orchestral activities at Central Washington University.

Sharing the latest DVUSD news

So much of social media’s allure is about “the latest.” The strength of the Deer Valley Unified School District (DVUSD) is calculated progress, processes and systems built on a solid strategic plan— continuous improvement every year. DVUSD just finished the new strategic plan and it can be found at dvsud.org/strategicplan. Hundreds of community members, staff and students helped contribute to the effort. When large educational systems like

ours make continuous improvement over time, recognition follows, people want to work there, and staff feel a sense of purpose; forward progress feels good.

Communication is essential when trying to move any large organization forward. Because DVUSD is one of the larger districts in the state at over 360 square miles, noncommunity members don’t realize DVUSD extends from New River down to Bell Road and has 40 brick-and-mortar schools.

While 92% of these schools are either A or B rated, there are also two award-winning online schools, 14

Natural Gas Safety

Wherever you live, work, or play.

natural gas lines can be buried anywhere, even in areas where homes don’t use natural gas. So it’s important that EVERYONE knows how to recognize and respond to a natural gas leak, wherever they are.

A leak may be present if you:

faint or momentary.

IF YOU SUSPECT A LEAK

HEAR: a hissing or roaring coming from the ground, above-ground pipeline, or natural gas appliance.

A-Plus School of Excellence schools, and multiple awards for educational excellence.

The 33,000 students and 4,000 employees working together make DVUSD a special place. Last year, Forbes ranked DVUSD No. 1 in the nation for being the Best Public School Midsize Employer; we just found we will be receiving the same Forbes excellence national award again for this year. If you want to see the hundreds of awards and accomplishments of our students and staff, go to dvusd.org/extraordinary.

DVUSD works hard to keep our community informed. Our website is a great resource to get to know our opportunities for students, the differences between and the locations of all of our schools. I use Twitter and Instagram (DrFinchDVUSD) to keep telling the positive accomplishments of our students and staff. Our district uses Twitter, Instagram, PeachJar, e-mail, texting and Facebook to keep our communities informed.

I host “Conversations with Curt”

virtually or in different school zones to give community members and staff a chance to ask questions. The recording of the January Conversation can be found at the superintendent’s page on the district website dvusd.org under “departments.”

SEE: dirt or water blowing into the air, unexplained dead or dying grass or plants, or standing water continuously bubbling.

• E xit the area or building immediately. Tell others to evacuate and leave doors open.

• From a safe place, call 911 and Southwest Gas at 877-860-6020, day or night, whether you’re a customer or n ot. A Southwest Gas representative will be there as soon as possible.

• Don’t smoke or use matches or lighters.

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• Don’t start or stop an engine, or use automated (garage) doors.

For more information about natural gas safety visit swgas.com/safety or call 877-860-6020

The superintendent’s page has all kinds of valuable information. The annual state of the district address to remind staff, students and community members of all the amazing things that have been accomplished, the direction we are headed and the pace at which things will happen is very informative.

The “Superintendent Goals,” a paper on suggested charter school reforms, and the collection of monthly articles written by me can also be found on this page.

If you want to work at the Forbes No. 1 Best Public School Midsize employer, come to the DVUSD Job Fair from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, April 1, at the district office, 20402 N. 15th Avenue and learn about “the latest” in education in Arizona.

Dr. Curtis Finch is in his sixth year as the superintendent of DVUSD and can be reached at superintendent@dvusd.org

STUDENT CHRONICLES

Know a student doing something remarkable? Tell us about it! Email christina@timespublications.com.

Audra Glasco of Cave Creek earned a Master of Science from The University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. UA awarded over 1,650 degrees during its fall commencement ceremonies. A recent economic analysis found that a degree from The University of Alabama can pay more over time than investments in United States stock market indexes. The university provides numerous opportunities for service and growth to help prepare future generations through its educational, cultural and social experiences.

Reis Beuerlein of Cave Creek made the president’s list at Mississippi State University in Mississippi. Beuerlein was among 4,174 students named to the fall 2022 president’s list. Students on the president’s list achieved a 3.80 or better grade-point average, based on a 4.0 scale, while completing at least 12 semester hours of course work with no incomplete grades or grades lower than a C.

Megan Zapp of Phoenix has been named to the dean’s list at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln for the fall semester of the 2022-23 academic year. Zapp, a sophomore majoring in psychology, was named to the dean’s list for the College of Arts and Sciences. More than 6,900 students at Nebraska were named to the deans’ list for the fall semester. Qualifications for the dean’s list varies among the eight undergraduate colleges and the Explore Center.

Meghan Flaherty of Phoenix was one of four Shenandoah University students in the Division of Athletic Training who excelled at the Virginia Athletic Trainers’ Association (VATA) annual meeting in January in Harrisonburg, Virginia. Graduate athletic training students Cade Watts, Molly Sobolewski, Chloe Tannenbaum and Meghan Flaherty earned first place in the VATA Quiz Bowl, a “Jeopardy”-style competition featuring athletic training programs from Virginia.

Watts also won the Professional Athletic Training Student Research Award for his presentation, “Relationship Between Sports-Related Concussion and Cervical Muscle Strength.” As the winner of the VATA Quiz Bowl, the Shenandoah team takes temporary ownership of a traveling trophy. As part of tradition, the SU students are allowed to add one item that represents Shenandoah University to the trophy. Watts, Sobolewski, Tannenbaum and Flaherty, as champions of the VATA Quiz Bowl, earned a spot in the MAATA Quiz Bowl in May. Shenandoah University was established in 1875, and is headquartered in Winchester, Virginia, with additional educational sites in Clarke, Fairfax and Loudoun counties.

Jaime Perez of Phoenix was named to the dean’s list at the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, Massachusetts, for the fall 2022 semester. To qualify, students must pass four or more letter-grad-

ed courses with no failing grades during the semester and earn a GPA of 3.5 or higher.

Delaney Luzny was named to the University of Vermont dean’s list for the fall 2022 semester. Luzny of New River is majoring in linguistics at the Burlington, Vermont school. To be named to the dean’s list, students must have a gradepoint average of 3.0 or better and rank in the top 20% of their class in their respective college or school.

Lisa Jurmu of Phoenix was named to the fall 2022 quarter dean’s list at Palmer College of Chiropractic’s Florida Campus in Port Orange, Florida. Palmer College of Chiropractic, the first and largest college in the chiropractic profession, has campuses in Davenport, Iowa; San Jose, California; and Port Orange, Florida.

Faith Chadwick of Phoenix made the 2022 fall dean’s list at DeSales Universi-

ty in Center Valley, Pennsylvania. She is majoring in medical studies and Spanish. To qualify for the dean’s list, a student must have a minimum 3.50 GPA on no fewer than 12 credit hours. DeSales University is a private, coeducational, four-year liberal arts Salesian, Catholic university, under the leadership of the Oblates of Saint Francis de Sales.

Victoria Krayeski of New River was named to Upper Iowa University’s fall 2022 dean’s list. To be honored at the Fayette, Iowa school, the undergraduate must have earned a minimum 3.50 GPA and be enrolled as a full-time student. She is a nursing major.

Dana Krause of Phoenix was initiated into the Arizona State University Circle of Omicron Delta Kappa, the National Leadership Honor Society. The society

see CHRONICLES page 21

FESTIVAL OF FINE ART FESTIVAL OF FINE ART

Caurus Academy focuses on the whole student

Caurus Academy elementary school

Principal Michael Weakley Jr. has watched his students do amazing things in and out of their intimate classroom settings.

poseful and connected to students’ interests.

• Positive Community: Teachers nurture a sense of belonging, significance and emotional safety so that students feel comfortable taking risks and working with a variety of peers.

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They show up early in the morning to exercise during The Daily Mile, doing their best to walk, run or jog a mile to get the juices flowing. They enter their classrooms with the best of intentions: to study hard. The children stick around after class to participate in extracurricular activities.

Caurus fosters learning in children with its Responsive Classroom approach, a research- and evidence-based approach to education that is associated with greater teacher effectiveness, higher student achievement and improved school climate. Responsive Classroom has been recognized by the Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning (CASEL) as one of the most well-designed, evidence-based social and emotional learning programs, according to staff.

Responsive Classroom practices help educators build competencies in four key domains — each of which enables and enriches the others:

• Engaging Academics: Teachers create learning tasks that are active, interactive, appropriately challenging, pur-

• Effective Management: Teachers create a calm, orderly environment that promotes autonomy and allows students to focus on learning.

• Developmental Awareness: Teachers use knowledge of child development, along with observations of students, to create a developmentally appropriate learning environment.

“Our students work hard here,” Weakley said. “We have fun here, but they’re meaningful lessons. We’re not your traditional teachers in front of the classroom talking at the students. It’s very individualized and we provide the kids with opportunities that they might not get at other schools.”

The academy’s days kick off on the right note. At the bell, Weakley and his staff hold the doors open for the students, while music plays, welcoming students to the day.

“We play music, and each day has its own music theme,” Weakley said. “We get them excited to be behind these doors. They greet their teacher, whether it’s a handshake or a hug.”

Then, they head to their morning meeting, where the children shake hands with their peers and learn respect.

“We’re really teaching them those skills that sometimes, we think, get lost in dayto-day living,” Weakley said. “Then we culminate on Fridays with our whole-school meeting where we bring every single kid into the gym.”

It stresses Caurus C.A.R.E.S. — cooperation, assertion, respect and responsibility, empathy and self-control. The mantra helps students learn and practice social and emotional skills.

Recently, the school updated its curric-

CHRONICLES from page 19

welcomed 646 new initiates from 23 universities during December 2022. Students initiated into the society must be

ACADEMY from page 20

ulum to the HMH Curriculum by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt to meet the Arizona state standards.

“We had a curriculum team who went through a wide variety of curriculums to find out what would be best for our kids here,” he said.

“The curriculum team did a great job in finding out. They thought, ‘Hey, this is going to be good for us. It’s going to be challenging. It’s going to drive the kids and it’s going to be fun because they’re going to be engaged.’”

Because it’s a new curriculum, they’re still learning daily. Math was updated to Eureka Math Squared, which focuses on the application of math.

“As a whole it really allows for our amazing group of teachers to really reach

sophomores, juniors, seniors or graduate/professional students in the top 35% of their class, demonstrate leadership experience in at least one of the five pillars, and embrace the ODK ideals. Fewer

than 5% of students on a campus are invited to join each year.

Mikaela Morris of Cave Creek has been named a presidential scholar at Clarkson

ers who have been here 11, 12, 13 years.”

Weakley is so committed that he’s enrolled his daughter into Caurus Academy. The students’ parents feel the same way, he added.

“Any chance they have to volunteer, they take advantage of it,” he said. “We like that. We did a fourth-grade program this year where a parent came in and spoke about the Hopi tribe. It was great to be able to link that.”

University in Potsdam, New York. She is a senior majoring in mechanical engineering. Presidential scholars must achieve a minimum 3.80 grade-point average and carry at least 14 credit hours.

After school, Caurus boasts sports, Pokémon, scrapbooking and arts clubs. Weakley sees it as a way of further supporting the children.

“COVID-19 took a toll on us,” he said. “We want to reintroduce things like music and foreign language. It’s just not core content. We have art. We have PE. We have to be able to meet the needs of all students.”

the students and individualize their education,” Weakley said.

The staff is truly invested in the community, including their students, Weakley said.

“The staff is resilient, too, with what happened over the last couple of years,” he added. “They love the school. I have teach-

The schooling is bolstered by specialized clubs and programs. The Daily Mile, led by teachers Amy Francis and Andrew McKinney, have made a significant difference in the behavior and learning of students.

“What we’ve seen is a tremendous reduction in students who are tardy and an increase in academics and academic scores,” Weakley said.

That includes fieldtrips, which are tailored toward the grade. Mainstays include science camp in Prescott, the i.d.e.a. Museum in Mesa and Legoland in Carlsbad, California.

“We create those memories for the kids,” he said.

Caurus Academy

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