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April REALTY EXECUTIVES 3668 W Anthem Way B-158, Anthem, AZ 85086 FRIENDLY • KNOWLEDGEABLE • PROFESSIONAL • AVAILABLE www.DLJonesHomes.com " W e h a d t h e p l e a s u r e o f w o r k i n g w i t h L i s a J o n e s a n d T h e D . L . J o n e s H o m e T e a m w i t h R e a l t y E x e c u t i v e s a c o u p l e o f y e a r s a g o w h e n w e p u r c h a s e d 2 h o m e s i n A n t h e m a n d a g a i n t h i s y e a r w h e n w e p u r c h a s e d o u r 3 r d h o m e i n S c o t t s d a l e . O n a l l a c c o u n t s t h e t r a n s a c t i o n s w e r e f l a w l e s s . L i s a c o n s i s t e n t l y d e l i v e r s c o m p e l l i n g c u s t o m e r s e r v i c e . S h e w e n t a b o v e a n d b e y o n d t h e s c o p e o f h e r r e s p o n s i b i l i t i e s a s o u r R e a l t o r t o e n s u r e w e w e r e w e l l t a k e n c a r e o f . H e r f o l l o w - u p a n d f o l l o w - t h r o u g h a r e s i m p l y a s t o u n d i n g . " 6 0 2 - 6 7 7 - 4 1 3 0 ANTHEM & NORTH VALLEY REAL ESTATE EXPERTS What our clients have to say: Dennis & Lisa Jones Associate Broker, REALTOR® 602-677-4130 Direct Lisa@DLJonesHomes.com Our Listing OSOLD ur Listing SOLD G a b e a n d M i c h e l i n e T a b i b
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At L’Entrata, we’re here to make sure everyone has a great experience and doesn’t feel intimidated by the wine selections. Let us find where your tastes lie, and we’ll steer you in the right direction. We are of the motto drink what you like. There is no wrong answer. We also have wines for the discerning palate and we’re happy to
lentratawine.com 41111 Daisy Mountain Drive, Anthem, Arizona
“It’s what you’re doing and who you’re with that creates the memory.”
explore those with you as well. We even have local brews for when you bring a friend who hasn’t necessarily “found wine yet.
This is a place for everyone to come and enjoy each other’s company, talk learn about wine, have a bite to eat and have fun!
NEW! Don’t miss Executive Chef, Josh Bracher’s rotating small-plate menu! Welcome to the L’Entrata Family! Never a bad day with wine!
@lentratawine”-
,
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602.375.7500 | SANDERSONLINCOLN.COM | PHOENIX - 2121 W Bell Rd | SCOTTSDALE - 15345 N Scottsdale Rd, K140 S ANDERSON LINCOLNS ANDERSON LINCOLN Our journey is written in the stars . Through the history of Lincoln, there have been countless visionaries, designers, engineers, retailers, and owners along for the ride – a constellation of individuals coming together for one mission: to elevate life on the road. 2022 LINCOLN AVIATOR
6 imagesarizona.com April 2022 What's Inside?TABLE OF CONTENTS A LIFE OF ART AND ILLUMINATION 44 WADING THROUGH WORLDLY WATERS 26 SUSPENDED IN SPRING 32 12 COMMUNITY 2050RECIPE A VITICULTURAL CELEBRATION
Joseph J. Airdo Graphic Designer
Submission of news for community section should be in to shelly@imagesaz.com by the 5th of the month prior to publication. Arizona is published by ImagesAZ Inc. © 2022 by ImagesAZ, Inc. All rights reserved. Reproduction, in whole or part, without permission is prohibited. publisher is not responsible for the return of unsolicited material.
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From toilet paper and cereal boxes to wedding invitations and — you guessed it — magazines, it all boils down to the same paper pulp. The mills that produce it are struggling to keep up with demand while worker shortages and shipping bottlenecks further exacerbate the problem. We, like so many other businesses in the community, have been challenged to find ways to overcome these obstacles.
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Images Arizona P.O. Box 1416 Carefree, AZ. imagesarizona.com623-341-822185377
You may notice that this month’s issue of Images Arizona looks and feels a bit different. The truth of the matter is that the world has been a weird place since the spring of 2020 — and we are not immune from that. After all, any true journalism entity is a reflection of the world in which it exists.
You likely remember when, early in the COVID-19 pandemic, toilet paper was in short supply. Who could forget, right? You have also likely noticed that there are just some products that are still missing from store shelves. Depending on the particular product, there is a fairly strong chance that its absence is due not to the scarcity of the item itself but rather an insufficient supply of its packaging — especially if any part of that packaging is made of paper.
If you are feeling as though you could use even more uplifting stories about the people, places and things that make our community sparkle and shine, I encourage you to visit our website — imagesarizona. com — for additional content, including extended versions of some of the stories in this month’s issue, special podcasts and more.
Images Arizona magazine 623-341-8221shelly@imagesaz.com
Publisher,ShellyCheers!Spence
Fortunately, we have an amazing team that is not only incredibly creative but also committed to continue serving the community. It remains our mission to provide both a superior reading experience and tremendous value for our advertising customers. These pages as well as each and every word and graphic that is printed on them reflect that mission.
Y
Meaghan Mitchell
8 imagesarizona.com April 2022Publisher
Images
Yuri LoraleiFrancineBejaranoColesLazurekCarlSchultz
Contributing Writers
Dear Future Kindergartner...(andparent!) “I love DVUSD Kindergarten because the teachers make sure every child feels welcomed everyday! DVUSD has the best learning programs and teaching staff. Make sure you have your kids in this school district!” - Kyle, DVUSD Parent REGISTER TODAY for 2022-23 School Year! Scan the QR Code or visit www.dvusd.org/register to save your child’s seat for next year
11imagesarizona.com April 2022 Gifted Academy Preview Night April 19 from 5:30 - 7PM 5805 W Alameda Rd, Glendale, AZ 85310 W. Alameda Rd and N. 55th Ave. Enrollment Open Now for the 22-23 School Year Sign up for updates: www.dvusd.org/LBinfo | Learn More: www.dvusd.org/LB You’re Invited Extraordinary ARRIVING SOON Come See Las Brisas Elementary School and learn about the new gifted programs coming next school year! Gifted Academy Coming to Las Brisas
“There are many surprises in store for our guests,” Hunseder says.
There is a lot to celebrate in the world of Arizona wines, not the least of which is that the state’s Verde Valley has been officially declared an American Viticultural Area as of the end of 2021. This identifies the region as a distinct, federally recognized grape-growing region characterized by unique climate, soil and elevation. The coveted designation allows wineries to label their bottles as estate wines.
13imagesarizona.com April 2022
Writer Shannon Severson Photography Courtesy of Verde Valley Wine Festival
“What better way to celebrate this achievement than with Northern Arizona’s foremost wine and culinary festival of the year,” Hunseder queries. “Having this designation boosts awareness of our region and the characteristics of wines made here.”
T
Festival director Debbie Hunseder says that the recent designation is a huge accomplishment for the Verde Valley Wine Consortium on behalf of local grape growers and winemakers.
At this year’s Verde Valley Wine Festival — which benefits the Arizona Vignerons Alliance and the Arizona Wine Growers Association — wine enthusiasts can taste the best of what the region has to offer.
The festival kicks off Friday, April 29 with a VIP platinum winemaker dinner at the beautifully restored Old Town Cottonwood Clubhouse. Attendees will enjoy premium wines and a meal prepared by Merkin Vineyards Tasting Room and Osteria’s executive chef Chris “Smithers” Smith, music performed by the What’s The Big Idea jazz trio and an energetic live auction featuring travel packages, local goods and exclusive experiences.
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Then, on Saturday, April 30, more than 3,000 attendees are expected at Cottonwood’s Old Town Activity Park — the site of this fifth year of celebration which features a growing list of 20 Arizona wineries and multiple Arizona brewers and distillers along with culinary offerings to delight the tastebuds, craft vendors to satisfy the shopping bug and live music throughout the day from three local bands.
As an established winery with a rich history of celebrated vintages, Pierce says that the festival helps to raise the overall profile of all Verde Valley wines. Bodega Pierce has made donations to the VIP platinum dinner silent auction and will also have a booth at the Saturday event.
“Bodega Pierce is operated by two generations of award-winning Pierce family winemakers with decades of international experience and accomplishments since 2010,” Pierce says. “We have participated in the Verde Valley Wine festival since 2016 and see it as a venue to expose, showcase and educate the public about our wine, our path into the industry and the excitement we see for the future of Arizona wines.”
15imagesarizona.com April 2022 NanetteNextFry’snanettemiller.com623-742-6866ShoppingCenter:toVerizonandTruBurgerMcClelland-Miller, Agent To a Brighter 2022 Thank you for being a valued client during 2021. Please don’t hesitate to let us know if there is anything we can do to help, we are here for you!
For winemakers like Barbara Pierce, who is co-owner of Bodega Pierce Winery, this year is a return to tradition and the chance to showcase her own acclaimed wines made from 18 different Arizona varietals. Pierce says that her wines are designed to express the high desert terroir of the Willcox Bench, which is another designated American Viticultural Area.
16 imagesarizona.com April “The2022cacophony of love for Arizona wine — with the sum being greater than the parts — is just a palpable energy we have missed. Kris Pothier “
Saturday, April 30 | Noon–5 p.m.
VIP Platinum Winemaker Dinner
“We want to make the public aware that Arizona wine continues to improve,” Pierce says. “It helps raise all ships with the tide.”
Experience
Cottonwood Community Club House
Kelly Bostock, a wine worker at Dos Cabezas WineWorks, says that the festival’s two-year hiatus took a toll on the organization’s ability to work to its potential, but the return of the festival gets the ball rolling again in a big way.
“Because we have such spread-out wine-growing regions, it is great to get three different areas to one location,” Pothier adds. “Consumers can try [many] brands all at once. The cacophony of love for Arizona wine — with the sum being greater than the parts — is just a palpable energy we have missed. This festival
805 N. Main St., Cottonwood $99+ | verdevalleywinefestival.com
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has always been a fun and successful one. Getting in front of a diverse crowd is so important and this is what we all look forward to.”
Kris Pothier, president of the Arizona Wine Growers Association and coowner of the charmingly avant-garde Chateau Tumbleweed Winery in Clarkdale, says the AWGA represents more than 100 vineyard owners, grape growers, winemakers and supporting businesses. The organization works with lobbyists and lawmakers on a grassroots level to establish enduring relationships and further modernize Arizona wine laws.
Instagram:verdevalleywinefestival.com@verdevalleywinefestival
Friday, April 29 | 6–9 p.m.
Old Town Activity Park
187 E. Pima St., Cottonwood $35+ | verdevalleywinefestival.com
That tide has been boosted by the advocacy of the area organizations supporting the festival.
“It’s always fun to see the familiar faces who attend every year,” says Bostock, who also represents the Arizona Vignerons Alliance, which lobbies at the state level for winegrower representation and works with growers throughout the entire state of Arizona to bring a focus on education and information gathering — including outreach to media, wine critics and experts — to help promote the growing regions.
“[It’s] equally exciting to meet new folks and introduce them to our wines and our region.”
Verde Valley Wine Festival
Pothier says that it is a great feeling to be able to share wine with large groups of happy people, such as those at the Verde Valley Wine Festival.
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Is it possible that the vast universe was created? Is it possible that the Creator could care about the tiny details – even daisies in a field? Even us?
Shawn White, our resident teacher who specializes in the Resurrection, will be leading our Easter lessons.
CANYONCHURCH.ORG
SIGNS OF HOPE
EASTER SERVICES Sunday, April 17 at 8:30 and 10:45 AM Shroud of Turin Class at 9:45 AM
Join us this Easter as we hear an incredible message of hope, evidence, and purpose for our lives in this world.
There are signs – of hope. 623.889.3388
Don’t miss a special presentation about the Shroud of Turin between our Easter services. Whether it is a hoax or a relic of history, you will be encouraged by what it reveals.
THE COLOR PURPLE
Through April 10
Writer Joseph J. Airdo
ARTRAGEOUSLUMINESCENCEGALA:
Through April 10
The Phoenix Theatre Company presents its production of “The Color Purple” — a story of hope, a testament to the healing power of love and a celebration of life, based on Alice Walker’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel. See website for price and times. The Phoenix Theatre Company, 1825 N. Central Ave., Phoenix. 602-254-2151; phoenixtheatre.com
Through April 24
April 2
SINGIN’ IN THE RAIN
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Through April 30 CAMELOT
Through May 1
Through April 3
Don Bluth Front Row Theatre presents its production of “Camelot.” $28+; youth, senior, student and military discounts available. Don Bluth Front Row Theatre, 8989 E. Via Linda, Suite 118, Scottsdale. 480-314-0841; donbluthfrontrowtheatre.com
COMMUNITY April 2022
Scottsdale Arts will host its annual fundraiser benefitting dynamic and diverse performances, exhibitions and arts education and outreach programs. The gala will feature a Hollywood-style, livestreamed red carpet event; culinary and beverage stations; a silent auction, performance artists; a specially designed, three-course dinner; a dynamic live auction; and an energizing and enigmatic grand finale performance by Quixotic. See website for prices and time. Scottsdale Stadium, 7408 E. Osborn Road, scottsdalearts.orgScottsdale.
The Phoenix Film Foundation hosts its annual event. See website for prices and schedule. Harkins Scottsdale 101, 7000 E. Mayo Blvd., Scottsdale. phoenixfilmfestival.com
Ain’t BlackMisbehavin’TheatreTroupe presents its production of “Ain’t Misbehavin’,” which aims to delight and energize audiences and give them a glimpse into a vibrant time in American history and music. See website for price and times. Helen K. Mason Performing Arts Center, 1333 E. Washington St., Phoenix. blacktheatretroupe.org
Phoenix Film Festival
Flashdance: The Musical
Arizona Broadway Theatre presents its production of “Flashdance: The Musical,” based on the popular 1983 feature film about a welder who dreams of going to a prestigious dance academy and becoming a professional dancer. See website for price and times. Arizona Broadway Theatre, 7701 W. Paradise Lane, Peoria. 623-776-8400; azbroadway.org
The Phoenix Theatre Company presents its production of “Singin’ in the Rain,” a stage adaptation of one of the most popular movie musicals of all time. See website for price and times. The Phoenix Theatre Company, 1825 N. Central Ave., Phoenix. 602-254-2151; phoenixtheatre.com
CAREFREE CLASSIC WHEELS AND WINGS SHOW
GODSPELL
Celebrate America’s love of automobiles and aircraft. Enthusiasts and owners can mingle and take in some of the finest examples of domestic and foreign automobiles and aircraft from around the Valley. The event will feature a mix of classic automobiles and vintage aircraft manufactured prior to 1980. Free. 10 a.m.– 2 p.m. SkyRanch at Carefree, 8302 E. Cave Creek Road, Carefree. carefreewheels-wings.com
artist Diana Calderon. A Mexican immigrant raised in the borderlands of El Paso, Texas and Ciudad Juarez, Calderon draws inspiration from her ancestral roots. The showcase will also feature works from visual artists as well as live music, food, drinks and more. $50. 6–10 p.m. Hawk Salvage, 1109 Grand Ave., Phoenix. hawksalvage.com
The Texas Tenors will take the stage as part of Arizona Musicfest for a concert of repertoire ranging from country to pop and Broadway to classical. $49+. 7:30 p.m. Highlands Church, 9050 E. Pinnacle Peak Road, Scottsdale. azmusicfest.org
April 2 and 3 MISA AZTECA
ProMusica Arizona Chorale and Orchestra, joined by the Carolyn Eynon Singers, will perform a concert piece for orchestra, choir, soloists and authentic Aztec percussion instruments. $25; youth, student, senior and military discounts available. Saturday 7 p.m. at Barry Goldwater High School Performing Arts Center, 2820 W. Rose Garden Lane, Phoenix. Sunday, 3:30 p.m. at American Lutheran Church, 17200 N. Del Webb Blvd., Sun City. 623-326-5172; pmaz.org
April 9
April 1–10
April 2
HAWK ARTISTSSALVAGESHOWCASE
Arizona Musicfest will present a technically stunning, authentic and explosive concert showcasing two decades of Paul McCartney’s music from The Beatles to Wings. $35+. 7:30 p.m. Highlands Church, 9050 E. Pinnacle Peak Road, Scottsdale. azmusicfest.org
Starlight Community Theater will present its production of “Godspell,” a timeless and joyful tale of friendship, loyalty, betrayal and love based on the Gospel According to St. Matthew. See website for price and times. Starlight Community Theater, 1611 W. Whispering Wind Dr., Suite 9, starlightcommunitytheater.comPhoenix.
April 1
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April 2
April 4 THE YEARSMCCARTNEY
Hawk Salvage will host an artists showcase featuring a variety of offerings, including a moving repetition performance by internationally recognized
FRIED: FRENCH FRY AND MUSIC FESTIVAL
THE TEXAS TENORS
PHX Fest will host its second annual festival in which the world’s favorite side dish takes center stage. $12. 11 a.m.–7 p.m. Margaret T. Hance Park, 1202 N. Third St., Phoenix. friedfestival.com
April 23 and 24
April 23 and 24
COMMUNITY April
April 21
TERESA BAKER: CAPTURING SPACE
April 16–Oct. 9
April 18
April 21–May 7
April 9
CINDERELLA
Musical Instrument Museum will celebrate the music and culture of Arizona. See website for schedule of events. $20; youth discounts available. 9 a.m.–5 p.m. Musical Instrument Museum, 4725 E. Mayo Blvd. Phoenix. 480-478-6000; mim.org
GO GREEN RECYCLING EVENT
22 imagesarizona.com April 2022
Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art will present an exhibition of seven large-scale hanging works by Los Angeles-based Mandan/Hidatsa artist Teresa Baker. Combining Native American craft traditions using buffalo hide, willow and other natural materials with artificial materials like AstroTurf and synthetic yarns, the exhibition will contain new works made in response to the landscape of northeastern Wyoming on the high plains — beneath the Bighorn Mountains — and inspired by the vastness of that area, the unique geological formations of giant rocks, petrified logs and the sky. $10; student, senior and veteran discounts available. Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art, 7374 E. Second St., Scottsdale. 480874-4666; smoca.org
Writer Joseph J. Airdo2022
Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts will welcome iconic music artist Keb’ Mo’ for a concert of songs addressing topics such as immigration, depression, female empowerment and more. See website for prices. 7:30 p.m. Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts, 7380 E. Second St., Scottsdale. 480-499-8587, scottsdaleperformingarts.org
Musical Theatre of Anthem will present its production of “Seussical,” a fantastical, magical, musical extravaganza. $25. See website for times. Musical Theatre of Anthem, 42201 N. 41st Drive, Anthem. 623-336-6001; musicaltheatreofanthem.org
Ballet Etudes will perform a two-act ballet following the kind-hearted Cinderella, her wicked step-mother, her two clumsy step-sisters and her loving fairy godmother. $21+. Saturday 2 p.m. and 7 p.m.; Sunday 3 p.m. Chandler Center for the Arts, 250 N. Arizona Ave., Chandler.
KEB’ MO’
One of the world’s pre-eminent pianists Emanuel Ax will take the stage as part of Arizona Musicfest for a concert of classical music. $41+. 7:30 p.m. La Casa de Cristo Church, 6300 E. Bell Road, Scottsdale. azmusicfest.org
Anthem Community Council will host its semi-annual event during which Anthem residents can recycle electronics, bulk materials, cardboard, personal documents, paint, prescription drugs, non-prescription drugs and more. Participants must provide one form of Anthem residency identification. Free. 8–11 a.m. Anthem Community Park’s lower parking lot, 41703 N. Gavilan Peak Parkway, Anthem. onlineatanthem.com/go-green
EMANUEL AX
Photo by Michele Celentano
SEUSSICAL
CELEBRATE LOCAL
AT THE BALLET
THE OFFICIAL BLUES BROTHERS REVUE
Wayne Catania and Kieron Lafferty will take the stage as part of Arizona Musicfest for a night of laughter, dancing and footstompin' fun as they capture the infectious humor and unbridled spirit of The Blues Brothers. $35+. 7:30 p.m. Highlands Church, 9050 E. Pinnacle Peak Road, Scottsdale. azmusicfest.org
April 29–May 1
April 24
Orpheus Male Chorus of Phoenix will perform a concert of waterthemed choral music — including sea shanties, rivers, weeping and baptism. See website for prices. April 24 3 p.m. at The Church at Litchfield Park, 300 N. Old Litchfield Road, Litchfield Park; April 26 7:30 p.m. at Velda Rose United Methodist Church, 5540 E. Main St., Mesa; May 1 3 p.m. at Camelback Bible Church, 3900 E. Stanford Drive, Paradise Valley. orpheus.org
Talent from the Phoenix musical theater community will perform an evening of Broadway cabaret. All funds raised will go to support Convergence Ballet and its PLIES program, which provides ballet training for Title 1 students — including full tuition, transportation, dancewear and costumes. $50. 6 p.m. Ballet Theatre of Phoenix, 6201 N. Seventh St., Phoenix. ballettheatreofphx.org
WATER IN THE DESERT
Phoenix Chorale will perform Thomas Tallis’ 40-part Renaissance masterpiece “Spem in Alium.” Through bespoke staging concepts in each venue, the audience will experience total immersion in the sound of 40 solo voices, each singing a different line of music and all joining together to create a phenomenal sound. $42+; discounts available for students, seniors and active military. Friday 7:30 p.m. at Camelback Bible Church, 3900 E. Stanford Drive, Paradise Valley; Saturday 7:30 p.m. at Trinity Episcopal Cathedral, 100 W. Roosevelt St., Phoenix; Sunday 3 p.m. at Pinnacle Presbyterian Church, 25150 N. Pima Road, Scottsdale. phoenixchorale.org
SPEM: SONGS OF HOPE AND LOVE
The Verde Valley Wine Festival will host a special event that will include premium wine and culinary options, a live auction and live music. See website for price and time. Old Town Cottonwood Clubhouse, 805 N. Main St., Cottonwood. verdevalleywinefestival.com
April 29
VIP PLATINUM WINEMAKER DINNER
April 29
April 24–May 1
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April 30
CHAMBER ANNOUNCES NEW DIRECTOR
The Verde Valley Wine Festival will return for its fifth year, featuring more than 20 Arizona wineries and a variety of Arizona brewers and distillers as well as dozens of culinary options and local crafters/exhibitors. Attendees will also enjoy live music throughout the day from three local bands. See website for price. Noon–5 p.m. Old Town Activity Park, 187 E. Pima St., Cottonwood. verdevalleywinefestival.com
Writer Joseph J. Airdo
ANTHEM UNVEILS ALL-WHEEL COMPLEX
April 30
In celebration of its upcoming 20th anniversary season, ProMusica Arizona is inviting community members to share their ideas to help award-winning lyricist Marion Adler craft a text for a commissioned piece about Arizona. The work, which will be composed by Craig Bohmler and will focus on some of the many magnificent features of our state, will be performed as a finale to the chorale and orchestra’s anniversary season. pmaz.org
YUM FOOD-FEST
VERDE VALLEY WINE FESTIVAL
PROMUSICA ARIZONA SEEKS IDEAS
COMMUNITY April 2022
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April 29–May 7
DONE TO DEATH
Anthem Community Council last month unveiled its new Sk8 and Ride park. The nearly 40,000-square-foot park incorporates various skill level areas for an all-wheel complex for skateboards, scooters, bikes, in-line skates and more. Anthem Community Park, 41703 N. Gavilan Peak Parkway, Anthem. onlineatanthem.com
Starlight Community Theater will present its production of “Done to Death.” See website for price and times. Starlight Community Theater, 1611 W. Whispering Wind Dr., Suite 9, Phoenix. starlightcommunitytheater.com
Bell Bank Park will host an event that will feature the area’s best food trucks, live music, vendors, games and more. $5+. 3–10 p.m. Bell Bank Park, 1 Legacy Drive, Mesa. bellbankpark.com
The Anthem Area Chamber of Commerce recently announced the selection of Anthem native and Boulder Creek High School alum Tamara Clark as its new executive director. After graduating from Northern Arizona University with a bachelor’s degree in psychology and business, Clark moved to Huntington Beach, California to pursue a master’s degree in sports management from Long Beach State University. While there, she had the opportunity to work for UCLA Athletics, USC Athletics, The Angels, Microsoft and the Huntington Beach Chamber of Commerce — where she served as the director of community and events. Clark and her husband moved back to Anthem in 2017 after welcoming their first of three daughters. anthemareachamber.org
25imagesarizona.com April 2022 ••• • MIKE HIGGIN S 6 2 3 . 6 40.7 5 0 2 | Mi k eS e l l s A nth e m .c o mPROFES SION A L S Each office independently owned and operated
In February, the pair organized a Walk 4 Water fundraising event in which they invited their friends, neighbors and other supporters to walk with them around Anthem Community Park, symbolizing the walk that women and children in Uganda complete each day to collect water for their families. The two-mile walk was roughly only a quarter of the 7.4-mile roundtrip
26 imagesarizona.com April A2022
distance that those in Nainala A. must travel to their primary water source — which, by the way, is a dirty, contaminated swamp.
The program, which the school introduced in 2008, sees students in kindergarten through sixth-grade learn 50% of their school work — typically math, science and foreign language — in Mandarin. Seventh- and
Wading Through Worldly Waters
Maxwell-Todd and Lindsay’s own walk began 13 years ago.
Anthem residents Abby Maxwell-Todd and Norah Lindsay have been global thinkers since the day they started kindergarten. Now, as Boulder Creek High School seniors, the 18-year-olds are formally transforming thoughts into actions, raising funds to drill a deepwater borehole to give children and their families in the Ugandan village of Nainala A. access to clean, life-saving water.
Writer Joseph J. Airdo Photography by Carl Schultz
“We started in the Mandarin Immersion Program while in kindergarten at Gavilan Peak School,” says Lindsay, noting that she and Maxwell-Todd are part of the program’s first graduating class.
“It is obviously a really big project, though,” says Maxwell-Todd, noting that $11,800 in funds were required to drill a deepwater borehole in Nainala A. “I was definitely a little nervous, so I asked Nora to be my partner on the project.”
eighth-grade students can then take Mandarin language classes for high school credit.
Upon entering high school, MaxwellTodd and Lindsay not only took college-level Mandarin language classes, passed advanced placement exams and completed capstone projects, but were also encouraged to continue their culturally enriched educational journey by pursuing the Global Studies Certificate.
Boulder Creek High School’s Global Studies Certificate Program provides students with the essential knowledge, skills and disposition to understand, participate in and contribute to an increasingly globalized society.
Because Maxwell-Todd and Lindsay had, as Mandarin Immersion Program participants, already accumulated a fair number of the 200 points needed to graduate with the Global Studies Certificate, the decision to take advantage of the opportunity was easy. A portion of the points must be earned through the completion of a project that has an impact on a different country.
Inspired by her mother Carrie’s best friend Julie Schoppaul — who, as an ambassador for Hope 4 Kids International, has helped to raise funds to drill three clean-water wells in Uganda — Maxwell-Todd immediately knew how she wanted to tackle the project.
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Lindsay prefer to remain humble, though, and instead share the credit with the entire Anthem community.
“In order to accept culture, you have to understand it,” says Maxwell-Todd, emphasizing the significance of the two programs.
However, Hope 4 Kids International vice president of international development Angie Simon says that the impact of the girls’ efforts reaches far beyond just a senior project.
“The impact that these girls have had on a well that serves thousands of people for 30–50 years with little to no maintenance is tremendous,” Simon explains. “These girls are literally saving lives. The World Health Organization says that there is no better investment than to bring clean water to a developing country. These girls are Maxwell-Toddheroes.”and
“The amount of support from the Anthem community has been outstanding,” says Maxwell-Todd, noting
In order to accept culture, you have to understand it.
Like Schoppaul before them, Maxwell-Todd and Lindsay decided to organize their project through Hope 4 Kids International, a nonprofit organization committed to serving children living in impoverished environments around the world by establishing economic, spiritual, water, educational and feeding programs.
Abby Maxwell-Todd“
A COMMUNITY EFFORT
Of course, none of Hope 4 Kids International’s work would be even remotely possible without funding. Therefore, the entire process begins with caring, globally-minded individuals like Maxwell-Todd and Lindsay, whose values were cultivated and nurtured by Boulder Creek High School’s Global Studies Certificate Program and Gavilan Peak School’s Mandarin Immersion Program before it.
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A GLOBAL PERSPECTIVE
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that local businesses The Tennessee Grill, Sam’s Frozen Yogurt, Legends Bar and Grill and The Carroll Law Firm are among their sponsors. “The Rotary Club of Anthem was our biggest sponsor because they [committed to matching corporate sponsors up to $2,500]. We have had so much help from the community. Everyone was so willing to help. It just shows how amazing Anthem is.”
In addition to making a difference in the lives of thousands of people in Uganda, the girls’ project and all of their efforts that preceded it will make a difference in their own lives, as well, not only gifting them with a global perspective that will last a lifetime but also giving them a leg up on the competition as they continue their respective educational journeys.
In fact, at Images Arizona’s press time, Maxwell-Todd and Lindsay had raised $13,000 — surpassing their initial $11,800 goal. Nonetheless, they will continue to collect donations, with all excess funds benefitting well projects in other villages registered into Hope 4 Kids International’s program.
Lindsay, who has applied to schools like Boston University and Northeastern Boston College as a biochemistry major with aspirations of becoming an anesthesiologist, says that the project has encouraged her to become more
Boulder Creek High School seniors Abby Maxwell-Todd (right) and Norah Lindsay (left) are raising funds to drill a deepwater borehole to give children and their families in the Ugandan village of Nainala A. access to clean, life-saving water.
VISIT IMAGESARIZONA.COM TO READ AN EXTENDED VERSION OF THIS STORY, DETAILING THE WORK THAT HOPE 4 KIDS INTERNATIONAL DOES IN IMPOVERISHED ENVIRONMENTS AROUND THE EXTENDEDWORLD. VERSION
werevalues(right)Lindsay’sNorahand(left)Maxwell-ToddAbbyresidentsAnthemCertificateStudiesGlobalSchool’sHighCreekBoulderbynurturedandcultivatedit.beforeProgramImmersionMandarinSchool’sPeakGavilanandProgram
w4ki.org/w4wanthem
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I ever took water for granted but it was just something that I have always had and was, therefore, something that I never had to think about,” explains Lindsay, who says that she is also considering a minor in Mandarin. “Learning how much other countries are struggling just to get clean water really put into perspective just how blessed we are to live in the United States.”
Maxwell-Todd, who will attend the University of Oklahoma this fall, has yet to pinpoint her exact career aspirations. What she does know, though, is that she wants to do something that will allow her to continue to help others.
“Right now. I am kind of into dentistry but I might major in biology or biological engineering just to see where that takes me because I know that, in one of the medical fields, I will be able to help people,” says Maxwell-Todd, noting that her senior project enhanced her appreciation of community. “Everybody has a place in a community. Everybody has their own part. The aspect of community is so important to understand, to be a part of and to be proud of.”
aware of and grateful for her own “Notblessings.that
32 imagesarizona.com April 2022 Writer Joseph J. Airdo // Photography by Dean Hueber
When other techniques failed to capture the images he wanted, Hueber attended a hummingbird workshop, where he learned how to use multiple high-speed flashes with a much slower camera shutter speed.
Hueber adds that hummingbirds are truly fascinating creatures — ones with unique abilities that humans have yet to tap into.
However, thanks to camera technology, we do have the ability to stop time so that we can fully enjoy the enchantment of these typically quick-moving creatures.
Of all the incredible creatures on this planet, hummingbirds are among the most magical. When you catch a glimpse of one outside of your window, you cannot help but stop whatever it is that you are doing and watch as it levitates while elegantly dancing from flower to flower.
O
Photographer Dean Hueber takes tremendous pride in his collection of hummingbird images, a portion of which is the subject of this month’s photo essay.
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“[These images] were captured in Sedona during the summer hummingbird migration in a location that is renowned as a resting and refueling stop for the birds as they journey from their northern origins to southern destinations,” Hueber says.
“The images were made using a bank of four off-camera strobes, set at a speed of 1/16,000 second, to render the birds exceedingly sharp,” he explains. “The camera itself was set to a much slower speed — 1/150 or so. The camera was on a tripod, I sat still in a chair and the birds seemed to acclimate quickly to both my presence and the flash units, ultimately paying no mind to either in the slightest.”
“Hummingbirds’ flexible shoulder joints allow their wings to rotate 180 degrees, which allows them to fly forward, backward and upside down and to hover,” he says. “I would like to see this structural design integrated into our flight technology.”
April
Hummingbirds are a great reminder that sometimes new techniques and tricks are needed to capture the images we want. Dean Hueber “
“
Each species of hummingbird makes a distinctly different sound when it flies. So you can tell immediately what type of bird it is from the sound their wings make. Dean Hueber
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“
“I had no idea where these places were or what they were called; only that their beauty and majesty touched my soul,” Hueber says. “I knew that I needed to see these magnificent places with my own eyes.”
Dean
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“Beauty is my photographic motivation,” says Hueber, noting that he has more recently discovered a love for wildlife photography. “The animals are in themselves striking, but I try to capture them in ideal lighting with attractive backdrops.
When Hueber became a father, he purchased an SLR camera to take photos of his son. With the technology finally in his hand, he also began taking photos of nature. He took a couple of seminars and a workshop to find his technical footing, studied images relentlessly to find places to explore and different styles and perspectives and has had a passionate love affair with landscape photography ever since.
Having grown up in a suburb of Buffalo, New York, Dean Hueber always possessed a strong love for nature and the outdoors.
At a very young age, Hueber would climb the water tower in his hometown’s local park so that he could obtain an unobstructed view of the stars and the moon rising or setting. Later in life, he decorated his college dorm room walls with pictures of the Grand Tetons, Yosemite and Mount Denali.
Hueber attended graduate school in northern California and journeyed to camping destinations along the state’s coast in the Redwoods and witnessed the spectacular beauty of Lake Tahoe. However, it is his first trip to Yosemite National Park from which his photographic aspirations originate.
“The romantic lure of the open road and the sense of adventure that a photography trip affords are part of the attraction for me as well. The journey is always a big part of the equation, and though the photos do not always make it to print, the experiences are rarely throwaways.”
Beauty is my photographic motivation. The animals are in themselves striking, but I try to capture them in ideal lighting with attractive backdrops. Hueber
“The power of Yosemite was spectacular and overwhelming,” he explains. “I spent the weekend awestruck, never having imagined that such pure beauty could exist. I had always loved nature, but that was the first time I had truly desired to take photos of it.”
pbase.com/deanhueber About the Photographer
37imagesarizona.com April
Hummingbirds’ flexible shoulder joints allow their wings to rotate 180 degrees, which allows them to fly forward, backward and upside down and to hover. Dean Hueber “
Writer Shannon Severson
Photo Courtesy of Mary's Backyard Blooms
“[David Austin roses] take my breath away,” Shirley says. “Some even smell like citrus. They’re bred for their scent and dozens or hundreds of petals and they grow here so easily.”
Shirley says that the gardening community here in Arizona is like nothing she’s ever experienced; she’s found her fellow gardeners to be generous and inspiring. Sharing online has led to camaraderie and some great results in the garden. The benefits don’t stop at what can be arranged in a vase.
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The hardened clay soil of our dry desert might not look like fertile ground, but with a bit of careful tending, timing and persistence, a colorless and barren backyard can teem with colorful blooms — even year-round!
T
MARY’S BACKYARD BLOOMS
The Valley gardening community is full of flower-growing enthusiasts who have found connections on social media — particularly Instagram — where they share photos of seedlings to bouquets as well as trade tips and even seeds.
Mary Shirley grew up in Tennessee, working in her grandparents’ “massive” garden. It shaped her as a gardener and as a person.
“I would spend my summers picking peas, collecting vegetables and watching my grandma can pizza sauce,” Shirley says. “I think it made me who I am. It gave me my strong work ethic.”
When she moved to Arizona nearly seven years ago, she wanted enough land for chickens and a garden of vegetables and flowers. But the flowers brought her so much joy that she soon found herself replacing the vegetable beds in favor of flowers.
Some of her favorite surprises have been daffodils, dahlias and hollyhocks. A pack of hollyhock seeds she threw out on the desert soil has now come back year after year with mostly just rainwater.
“The flowers just bring pure magic to my desert backyard,” Shirley explains.
One of her absolute favorite flowers to grow is roses. Specifically, David Austin roses, of which there are more than 200 varieties. These beauties are bred by an Englishman of the same name and in his nearly 60 years of work he has drawn a dedicated following. Some have so many-layered petals they appear to be peonies.
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MARY’S BACKYARD BLOOMS
Photos Courtesy of Mary's Backyard Blooms
“I feel we all need a little boost,” Walker says. “Growing up in Colorado, my parents always had a garden. I didn’t really like it at the time because it meant pulling weeds on Saturday morning, but I appreciated it. When my husband and I bought our first home 22 years ago, we had this little 8-by-10 garden bed that we started and that was really fun.”
That small garden bed has blossomed into an acre of land in Queen Creek, a master gardener designation from University of Arizona and a full-time business — The Potter’s Bench, a flower farm and garden consultancy that includes a website and blog, newsletter, workshops and a Community Supported Agriculture bouquet subscription service.
Instagram: @marysbackyardblooms
Stephanie Walker also finds gardening and being out in nature to be therapeutic.
“The garden and growing things have given me such peace, hope and passion,” Shirley says. “I hope my flowers and posting will inspire those passions and hope in other people — even in difficult times. For me, personally, it has made such a difference in my life, my mental health, and my outlook on the world. It’s amazing what growing things can do for your soul.”
Sunflowers are planted successively — a tray of seedlings goes in the ground every week so they’re ready to sell throughout the season. The tall, large-headed sunflower
THE POTTER’S BENCH
THE BENCHPOTTER’S
Photos Courtesy of The Potters Bench
“People are just shocked to learn that we can grow these flowers here in Arizona,” Walker says. “It’s been fun to educate people and help them realize we tweak our growing season a little and can grow almost everything anyone else can grow. The bonus is we can really grow year-round. That’s one of the biggest plusses for vegetable gardens, especially. We can harvest from our vegetable gardens year-round if we choose to.”
Walker starts thousands of seedlings indoors and plants everything in full sun. Her summer crop bursts forth full of zinnias, cosmos, celosia, amaranth and lisianthus, planted in blocks of color. She is also a David Austin rose enthusiast and has at least 40 shrubs from the purveyor.
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COTTAGE GARDEN
Photos Courtesy of Cottage Garden
“She eats from my hand,” Moghina says. “She chases away the birds and bees and flies to me when I come into the garden. It’s worth all the work to be able to watch my kids enjoying the garden.”
Moghina is known on social media for her charming cottage garden design. She works to mimic the look of plants that won’t grow well in Arizona by finding flowers similar in texture and color. For instance, most lavender doesn’t like our climate but Egyptian or fern leaf lavender does. David Austin roses figure prominently in her gorgeous garden, as do ranunculus, salvia, wallflowers, society garlic and various winter and spring bulbs.
She and her vegetable-gardening husband have made gardening a priority in every home they’ve owned and have transformed blank slate backyards into magical oases teeming with flowers that attract
EXTENDED VERSION
stalks and blooms are strategically planted on the south and west sides of her vegetable garden, creating a natural shade screen.
COTTAGE GARDEN
“By the time it gets really hot in June, they’ve grown enough to shade my plants and I don’t have to rig up shade cloths,” she reveals.
VISIT IMAGESARIZONA.COM TO READ AN EXTENDED VERSION OF THIS STORY, FEATURING MARY SHIRLEY, STEPHANIE WALKER AND MICHELLE MOGHINA’S TIPS FOR GROWING A GORGEOUS GARDEN IN ARIZONA.
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Instagram:thepottersbench.com@the_potters_bench
pollinators for the vegetables. With five children, they have quite a few helpers in the garden.
to her verdant space include watching her children play, observing the comings and goings of bugs and insects and a little hummingbird who has made the Moghina garden its home since they moved in.
Instagram: @azcottagegarden
Michelle Moghina’s earliest gardening memories were working in her family garden in Romania. The family escaped communism when she was nine years old after her father first swam the Danube into Serbia and settled first in New York City as a religious and political refugee. The family eventually moved to Michigan and her mother’s first requirement was to have a garden.
During the blooming season, she brings bouquets to friends who might need a lift and sells bouquets — mostly to other Romanians in her community. It helps finance her seeds and Addedsupplies.benefits
“I recall my mom bought a packet of zinnias and that’s the first thing she planted, along with a Rose of Sharon tree,” Moghina says. “I helped her plant and weed and water. When I was married 20 years later and moved to Arizona, it was a whole new ballgame; I had to re-learn a lot.”
Photography by Yuri Bejarano
started.histobringingcomeJapan,alsoonlyhasinprofessionalJoeAnthemAlthoughresidentBousard’sjourneymusicandtheatertakenhimtonotNewYorkbutasfarawayasithasnowfullcircle,himbackArizonawherestoryofstardom
Writer Joseph J. Airdo
Bousard continued his work in piano and voice, honing his skills as accompanist and composer/lyricist for several singers while also directing choral groups
“If you allow yourself that communication, you become the illuminator of all time. That, to me, is what acting is about. It is about illumination, telling a story and really creating a relationship with the audience and giving them something that they cannot get without you.”
“You can do it with an actor, an audience, a good script and some good direction,” he says.
“Let yourself hang loose,” explains Bousard, noting that an actor is him or herself first and the character that they are playing second. “Let yourself be as emotionally naked as possible — including the bad stuff that you do not think is very interesting.
“For two years there, I did everything I could possibly do to get involved in the arts, as well as with the community,” Bousard says. “I also worked with Don Doyle, who was a professor at Arizona State University and had a children's theater. Little by little, everything started to come together.”
Born in Boston, Bousard moved to Phoenix at age 10. Although he had had some involvement in the performing arts as a child, it was not until high school and college that he began to discover its true significance in his life.
“I always felt that music and theater were very important to me,” says Bousard, noting that he played a ghost in a play during the third grade — a role for which he had only one line. “I guess it was never not there, because I was always a pianist. That was my door-opener. The voice stuff came later.”
Most important, though, is a willingness to be completely honest with the audience.
Bousard later received a bachelor’s degree in speech arts and theater from San Diego State College, where he performed and directed operas, plays and musicals. He was also very active in local radio and television.
After graduating from West Phoenix High School, Bousard attended Phoenix College, where he studied under drama teacher John Paul — for whom the campus’s theater is now named.
Anthem resident Joe Bousard believes that you do not necessarily need high production values to tell a compelling story on a stage.
A
After a stint in the U.S. Army, where he furthered his musical career, Bousard moved to New York in 1962.
Bousard has been creating just such a relationship with the audience for more than 50 years. And although his professional journey in music and theater has taken him to not only New York but also as far away as Japan, it has now come full circle, bringing him back to Arizona where his story of stardom started.
“I thought that the ultimate reason to be around was to be an actor, which is why I went to New York to begin with,” he says. “That was foremost in my mind as the most illuminating role that I could possibly have. And I was lucky enough to somehow become involved in the opening of Lincoln Center as one of the chorus people.”
BIG APPLE ASPIRATIONS
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Since his return to Phoenix, Joe Bousard has appeared in and worked on numerous stage productions. His most RowandTheatreStudio,TheTheatreArizonahavecollaborationsfrequentbeenwithJewishCompany,TheatreArtistsMusicalofAnthemDonBluthFrontTheatre.
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Bousard’s most frequent collaborations have been with Arizona Jewish Theatre Company and The Theatre Artists Studio, for which he has performed and created cabaret fundraisers, special vocal performances and more. He also co-produced and musically arranged the AriZoni Theatre Awards of Excellence in 1995 and 1997.
“Musical Theatre of Anthem has produced two of his original works — ‘Something Beautiful’ and ‘The Pied Piper of Hamelin,’” says Hammond, noting that Bousard also allowed the theater to remount the former show as a “Zoomsical” during the COVID-19 pandemic at no cost. “Joe has also vocal directed a number of shows at Musical Theatre of Anthem and continues to be a guest master instructor at our summer performing arts institute.”
One of the highlights of his musical cabarets, which played all over New York City, was a lunchtime gathering at the Hallmark Gallery that featured the music of the Great American Songbook.
“I stayed in New York for 32 years,” Bousard says. “I built up a career in coaching and teaching, met my wife, had our daughter and did a lot of different things. Then, in 1994, I felt like I would be in a rut in New York if I did not get out. It was just not fun anymore in the late 80s and 90s — and it got expensive. So we decided to move back to Arizona, which was my home.
“And I have been busier than I have ever been in my entire life on every level of teaching, musical theater and cabarets,” he explains. “I have also met some of the best, talented and most wonderful people that I have ever known.”
Since his return to Phoenix, Bousard has appeared in numerous stage productions — including Paradise Valley Community College’s musical revue “Gotta Sing, Gotta Dance,” for which he also served as musical director and arranger.
Bousard is as grateful to have Arizona’s community theaters like Musical Theatre of Anthem as they are to have him.
In 2003, Bousard moved to Anthem, where he has since collaborated with Musical Theatre of Anthem as a guest instructor, composer, writer, music director and performer. The nonprofit performing arts organization’s producing artistic director Jackie Hammond says that Bousard has a heart of gold and an enormous amount of talent.
THERE’S NO PLACE LIKE HOME
“And that is when I started all over again. At 57 years old, I started making the rounds and sending out letters and resumes. I met people and, little by little, built up my career all over again.”
Bousard was also a contractual teacher of voice and musical theater at HB Studio, The New School and The O’Neill Theater Center.
and producing original scores for musical theater under his own banner — JBL Productions.
Within about five years, Bousard began to hit his groove again — but, this time, in Phoenix.
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I thought that the ultimate reason to be around was to be an actor, which is why I went to New York to begin with. That was foremost in my mind as the most illuminating role that I could possibly have. Bousard
“ life.entirehisinbeeneverhashethanartsperformingtheinactivemorenowisBousardJoeresidentAnthem85,ageAt Experience Camelot Through April 30 | See website for times | Don Bluth Front Row Theatre | 8989 E. Via Linda, Suite 118, Scottsdale $28+; youth, senior, student and military discounts available | 480-314-0841 | donbluthfrontrowtheatre.com
Joe
In other words, you do not need to go to New York in order to see a spectacular performance. You also do not need to go there in order to live out your star-studded dreams; although Bousard would never dissuade someone from doing so if that is the path they desired to take.
BELIEF, SPIRIT AND HARD WORK
Bousard will be co-directing “Camelot” with his wife Lorraine, a retired director of education for Hospice of the Valley who loves all aspects of the performing arts almost as much as he does.
“We are doing the original production from the original script,” he says. “We just trimmed it a little bit here and there to help it move along in a tighter format. And we are doing it in the round, so it is going to be a very intimate production.”
Up next for Bousard is a production of “Camelot” at Don Bluth Front Row Theatre in Scottsdale.
Shana — a full-time music therapist — having met her husband in Arizona Jewish Theatre Company’s 1997 production of “Fiddler on the Roof.”
As it turns out, it is a love that runs throughout all branches of the couple’s family, with his daughter
Bousard’s lifelong dedication to the arts is due, in part, to his belief that they truly do make the world a better “Thoseplace.who
“In fact, my son-in-law asked me, ‘Do I have to audition to become a part of your family?’ Bousard says. “We just laughed and said, ‘Yes, you do.’ My grandkids are not into it as much as we are but they are both very talented as well.”
“I learned a lot from New York,” he says. “I met some great people and did a lot of wonderful work but had a lot of frustrations as well. New York made me fight harder for what I wanted.”
At age 85, Bousard is now more active in the performing arts than he has ever been in his entire life. In addition to acting, directing and instructing here in Arizona, he continues to make an annual trip to conduct special workshops and classes at Showa University of Music, just outside of Tokyo, Japan.
are involved in the arts are considered to be better experienced and better prepared to do other jobs as well because they have studied a wide range of [subjects],” explains Bousard, noting that a proper arts education typically extends far beyond just theater, music and voice to include literature, history, different cultures and so much more. “The arts are all about belief, spirit and hard work.”
“We have some of the most talented young people and adults who have never been professional or gotten paid a huge fortune but do some of the best work that I have ever seen,” he explains.
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of spring, I love the idea of creating a piece of art out of your delicious bread. This spring bouquet focaccia is such an easy way to elevate a simple focaccia and make it worthy of any gathering of friends or family. It is perfect for Easter, graduation, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, birthdays, showers or any other special occasion!
2 boxes chives
Serves: 12
Arrange chives to resemble flower stems. Spread out parsley stems to look like leaves at the top of the chives. Cut cherry tomatoes in a zigzag fashion through the center, discarding seeds if possible. Cut some cherry tomatoes vertically in four segments without cutting through the base and fan open, arranging them to resemble flowers.
3/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil, divided
Writer and Photographer Francine thefancypantskitchen.comColes
1 pint cherry tomatoes
Remove the focaccia from the oven and let cool slightly before using an offset spatula to slide it onto a cutting board. Top with basil and let cool completely, then cut into pieces and serve.
1 teaspoon honey
Ingredients:
2-1/4 teaspoons active dry yeast
Lightly grease a large bowl with one tablespoon of oil, then add the dough, cover with plastic wrap and set aside to rise until the dough has just slightly more than doubled in size, about one hour.
Spring Bouquet Focaccia
Directions:
RECIPEAswewelcomethestart
Brush a 9-by-13-inch rimmed baking sheet with two tablespoons of oil. Transfer the dough to the baking sheet and, using your fingers, spread to the edges. Press all over to form dimples. Drizzle with two tablespoons of oil then cover loosely with plastic wrap and set aside to rest until the dough puffs up slightly, about 30 minutes.
In a medium bowl, add yeast, honey and one cup of lukewarm water then stir to combine. Set aside until foam forms on the surface of the liquid, about five minutes. Add 1/4 cup of oil followed by flour and salt. Using a fork, stir until a dough forms then turn out onto a lightly floured work surface. Knead until the dough is smooth and supple, about 10 minutes, then form into a ball.
1 teaspoon Kosher salt
2-1/2 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for kneading
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Set a rack in the center of the oven and preheat to 450 degrees. While the oven preheats, decorate the dough with herbs and vegetables.
1 bunch Italian parsley
Drizzle decorated dough with the remaining two tablespoons of oil and sprinkle with flaky salt, to taste. Bake until the focaccia is golden at the edges and browned on the bottom, about 20 minutes.
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