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Anthem activities 14
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Anthem Area Edition
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City �inds little cheer in bigger budget surplus
INSIDE
This Week
BY PAUL MARYNIAK Foothills Focus Staff Writer
T
he city of Phoenix saw a bigger budget surplus from the 2021-22 fiscal year than officials expected. City Manager Jeff Barton told the city council in a memo last week that general fund revenues of $224.4 million exceeded the original estimate by $39 million and that the extra money will become part of the 2023-24 spending plan. Actually, total revenue of nearly $1.5 billion exceeded estimates by $45.8 million, Barton said, but $7.3 million had to be transferred to the city’s self-insurance reserve and workmen’s compensation fund to meet legal obligations, he said. Barton said the primary reason why rev-
NEWS ................. 8
Nominations for Anthem’s Veterans Service Award
FEATURES ........ 17
�ee BUDGET page 4
‘Favorites – Past and Present’ commences ProMusica’s 20th season
Comedian’s new film is a love letter to Arizona
BY TORI GANTZ Cronkite News
OPINION ......................9
FEATURES ................ 17 CLASSIFIEDS ............ 22 Zone I BY CHRISTINA FUOCO-KARASINSKI Editor Foothills Focus Executive
ECRWSS Carrier Route
ECRWSS Carrier Route
PreSorted Standard U.S. POSTAGE PAID Permit No. 371 Cave Creek, AZ
PreSorted Standard U.S. POSTAGE PAID Permit No. 371 Cave Creek, AZ
ADOT’s 2021 project review PAGE
6
Serving the communities
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TheFoothillsFocus.co
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This Week
FEATURES ........ 14 Tickets on sale for ProMusica’s champagne salon
Norterra, Sonoran Foothills,
Stetson Valley, Tramonto,
New River, Desert Ridge
and North Phoenix
Wednesday, January
Anthem Area Edition
Norterra mom
supports adults with autism
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into Disney on Ice skates Phoenix’s Footprint Center
OPINION ......................9 14 FEATURES ................ 22 YOUTH ...................... 25 CLASSIFIEDS ............
INSIDE
concerning.” wait for the “governShe didn’t want to so she formed Aument to do something,” to help provide safe tism Life and Living for adults with and affordable housing disorders. intellectual and developmental
�ee AUTISM page 4
9 OPINION ............ with I have a bone to pick pets owners who wed their
and Brandon, and others her sons, left, Andrew, Murphy) Lisa Masters wants to support and Living. (Photo by Dennis she founded Autism Life
Bill Gates named board
diagnosed with autism
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12
This Week
returns Anthem’s Music in May
Zone I
Serving the communities
of Anthem, Desert Hills,
Norterra, Sonoran Foothills,
Stetson Valley, Tramonto,
New River, Desert Ridge
ECRWSS Carrier Route
PreSorted Standard U.S. POSTAGE PAID Permit No. 371 Cave Creek, AZ
Sunset Cyclery expansion PAGE
and North Phoenix
Wednesday, August
to park
Anthem Area Edition
15
10, 2022
investigation. current Police Chief interim police chief, In May of this year, “In the search for an city leadership of her identify a leader with Jeri Williams informed it was my priority to the department an impressive 33-year qualifications to guide intent to retire after and propel Chief Williams the in law enforcement. through the DOJ investigation said. selected Mi- career after a transition Barton ity Manager Jeff Barton department forward,” will begin her retirement interim Chief the currently serves years of law enforceto assist in onboarding chael Sullivan, who “Sullivan brings 27 of the Com- period and he has led as deputy commissioner experience to the table, De- Sullivan. will lead Phoe- ment the Baltimore Police As interim chief, Sullivan pliance Bureau for Desee CHIEF page 6 the Phoenix Police Dethe currently open partment, to serve as nix police through chief starting Sept. civil pattern or practice partment interim police partment of Justice 12, 2022.
BY ALLISON BROWN Writer Foothills Focus Staff
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on graffiti and vandalism
clean up
BY ALLISON BROWN Writer Foothills Focus Staff
Council visit onabout Music in May, he Anthem Community per- learn more and vandalism sic-in-may be on-site for all amended its graffiti Food trucks will lineatanthem.com/mu meaoffer dining options. 2019, The Very Sepolicy to establish enforcement Formed in June formance nights to residents are vocalist/guitarist ........ 19 sures, including fines, for nonaction on the As parking is limited, cret Service featuresFEATURES walk and bike to Award-winning part after complaints Anthem resident’s Former and Grammy encouraged to carpool, property owner’s Greg can park Evan Berg teaches no excuses of Superbus, residents. Residents who drive formerly book about the issue from commu- drummer with four the park. life band — with months worth of 40incover lower lot and the usic in May returns “This represents several Jacks. This is a top at An- in the park’s and my staff and by weeks of free concerts center’s parking lot. work on both the board a surprise. ........ said 21 Park begin- nity FEATURES appreciate everyone’s cover band,” for this concert sethem Community “We are so excited our legal counsel. We makes “It’s a very unique‘Mmm Mmmnow Mmm’ lives with the cover band together, and residents summer and we look France who thanks to TV efforts bringing this ning Friday, May 6, ries to kick off the Jacks, a native of as a comeback our residents enjoy questions about this have asked many The Very Secret Service. forward to having in Phoenix. (May 13), Young said Debbie Puexecutive director of surprised that two 11 event,” very are outdoor fun, The City Nights Band well,” said Aaron Baker, “People this speOPINION................... Council. It’s pretty cool. and Superhero (May off. Community Council the Anthem Community Country (May 20) guys can pull this us 9 lido, Anthem keeps 15 would be good for to play from 7 to ................. me on track and “We thought that it 27) are also slated cial events manager. That’s what keeps BUSINESS process even betFridays. in the Amphitheto define the enforcement Concerts take place p.m. on their respective ................ ���� 4 18 Park, locatnow. So this is a policy MUSIC FEATURES free, family-friendly ��� right the Community have at we Anthem than at ter Attendees ater to bring blankets, Peak Parkway. To 22 event are encouraged ed at 41703 N. Gavilan 4 CLASSIFIEDS............ and flashlights. see GRAFFITI page lawn chairs, picnics
BY CHRISTINA FUOCO-KARASINSKI Editor Foothills Focus Executive
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Wednesday, May 4, PAGE
and ChickThe permits for McDonald’s with stipulasquare feet. total lot size is 528,000 Fil-A have been approved for other shops and timeframe to apply Lots are available tions regarding the site plan has tenant pay for building permits. restaurants. The Car Wash, and around 44 for a Quick Quack The property, totaling with a Fry’s spaces Development, Chick-Fil-A and Someburneighborhood center is helmed by RED Center and McDonald’s, businesses are subject to acres, real estate Food Store and Fuel but these a Phoenix-based commercial represenis coming to ros, other businesses based on leasing activity. company. A RED Developmentpressed for to the Greater change Community and had no comment when However, the Phoenix North Phoenix, according department tative Council. Phoenix Economic Economic Development have already details on the space. do not currentlocated on the east four The center will be “RED confirmed they confirmed that all The permits allow corner of West Jomax ................. 8 side of I-17 on the NEWS applied for permits. dinParkway. ��� I-17 ���� 6 facilities and/or outdoor Legislation passed could Road and North Norterra Fry’s Food drive-thru residential zoning district. help with Arizona drought A 123,000-square-foot ing near a The the development. Store will anchor
BUSINESS ......... 13 New men’s salon clips typical high prices
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Norterra, Sonoran Foothills,
Anthem Area Edition
second year in a row. FEATURES ........ 17 taxes in 2022 for the so people have county will defend The Bearded Barber serves STAFF do that responsibly, nation’s fastest-growing and combat We can something new to Anthem pockets without a neggrow the economy, more money in their from us.” of Supervisors’ democracy, the service they get ewly elected Board continuing pandemic. get ative impact on wants Maricopa the back from the efbe helping people Chairman Bill Gates “Our focus should As the country battles OPINION ......................9 fewer regubar for how govGates said, “our poten— with low taxes, County to “set the an fects of COVID-19, and things done be ................. 13 truly need it will BUSINESS being “transparent tape — so we create ernments serve” by lations, and less red tial to help those who 17 and fighting “disfamilies and businesses FEATURES ................ timely in what we deliver” environment where �ee GATES page 5 24 trust and disinformation.” can thrive,” Gates said. YOUTH ...................... of the Gavel” ceregoing to cut property At the annual “Passing “That’s why we’re 24 his vision for how the CLASSIFIEDS ............ mony, Gates outlined
BY FOOTHILLS FOCUS
N
of Anthem, Desert Hills,
BY ALLISON BROWN Wrier Foothills Focus Staff
boys with aus the mother of two became contism, Lisa Masters well-being after cerned about their
she passes away. close to adult “As they were getting and planning for age, I started thinking of them when I what would become said Masters, who wasn’t here anymore,” lives in Norterra. and it was just very “I did my research,
YOUTH ............. 22
Serving the communities
om
This Week
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The Duttons understand value of music
8
TheFoothillsFocus.c
BY ALLISON BROWN Wrier Foothills Focus Staff
21 FEATURES ........the
Zone I
of Anthem, Desert Hills,
T
he apparently successful petition drive that blocked a “universal” expansion of Arizona’s Empowerment Scholarship Accounts may not have been so successful after all. Officials with Save Our Schools Arizona, who said Friday, Sept. 23 that they turned
BUSINESS ................. 16
BY CHRISTINA FUOCO-KARASINSKI Editor Foothills Focus Executive
Phoenix City Manager Jeff Barton painted a bleak forecast for the 2023-24 fiscal year. (Foothills Focus file photo)
Signatures ‘fell short’ to block ESAs for all Arizona students
FEATURES ........ 20
Lovin’ Life Expos Critical PAGE 17 incident video 12, 2022
Wednesday, October 5, 2022
T
Graffiti tags and dumped
trash in the commercial
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in thousands more signatures than needed to force a vote on the issue, have now conceded that they “definitely got the numbers wrong.” And while they were not ready to admit defeat, they said they were not optimistic that the secretary of state’s office would find that they collected the 118,823 signatures needed. “We fell short. We are, of course, awaiting
the accurate number from the secretary of state’s office,” said Beth Lewis, executive director of Save Our Schools Arizona. Lewis’ comments came Tuesday, Sept. 27, one day after supporters of the universal ESA program said their own analysis of the petitions showed the number of signatures submitted was closer to 89,000 — well be-
�ee ESA page 4
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