For the Love of Pets
For 13 years, our dog, Icy, was part of nearly every family memory. She greeted us at the door, followed us from room to room, came running whenever she heard us grab a slice of cheese, and somehow always seemed to know when someone needed a little extra comfort.
A few weeks ago, we lost her unexpectedly.
My husband, my two kids, and I were heartbroken. By chance, both of our children had just returned home from college, so we were all together to say goodbye. While nothing makes losing a beloved pet easier, I'm grateful we could lean on one another through those first difficult days. The house is quieter now, and there are countless daily reminders of the space she filled in our lives.
As painful as it has been, it also reminded me why the bond between people and animals is so extraordinary. Pets don't just share our homes; they become part of our families, our routines, our celebrations, and even our identities. They teach responsibility, patience, compassion, and unconditional love. And when they're gone, they leave paw prints on our hearts that never really fade.
Those sentiments are exactly what inspired the stories within this month's Kids & Pets Issue.
Throughout these pages, you'll meet inspiring people, discover organizations making a difference for animals, and read stories that celebrate special bonds. Learn about local rescues helping animals find loving homes, an innovative smart pet door inspired by one beloved labrador, and young people pursuing their passions—from the tennis court to launching a business while still in high school.
Together, these stories remind us that love, trust, and connection often come in unexpected forms. If there's one thing Icy taught our family, it's that the time we have with those we love—whether they have two legs or four—is never long enough, but it is always worth cherishing.
Yours,
August 2026
PUBLISHER
Joyce Selk | joyce.selk@citylifestyle.com
EDITOR
Michelle Glicksman
michelle.glicksman@citylifestyle.com
PUBLISHER ASSISTANTS
Jessica Bush | jessica.bush@citylifestyle.com
Christina Larson | christina.larson@citylifestyle.com
Skye Wagner | skye.wagner@citylifestyle.com
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
Megan Ewing, Rebecca L. Rhoades, Alison Stanton, Michelle Talsma Everson, Georgann Yara
CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHER
Lindsay Borg
Corporate Team
CEO Steven Schowengerdt
President Matthew Perry
COO David Stetler
CRO Jamie Pentz
CoS Janeane Thompson
AD DESIGNER Rachel Otto
LAYOUT DESIGNER Kathy Nguyen
QUALITY CONTROL SPECIALIST Megan Cagle
MICHELLE GLICKSMAN, EDITOR @CHANDLERCITYLIFESTYLE
3:5-6
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city scene
WHERE NEIGHBORS CAN SEE AND BE SEEN
1: Chandler Chamber’s ribbon-cutting for Lucca Living Room & Lucca Coastal Kitchen in Downtown Ocotillo. 2: Basha’s Film & TV program repeats taking first place in the National Film & TV CTE program. 3: Michelle Mac Lennan receives a recognition gift at her retirement party from Chandler Center For The Arts. 4: It was a great turnout for the weekly Monday Mixer Networking event at Lucca in Downtown Ocotillo. 5: The 2026 Men of Chandler were honored at a luncheon co-hosted by the Chandler Chamber and Chandler City Lifestyle magazine. 6: Scheels Give Back Program helps a local family who recently lost a family member to cancer. 7: Chandler Law Enforcement Association hosted the charity golf tournament Bogeys & Stogies, raising funds for CPD.
8: Nothing Bundt Cakes celebrates its opening in South Chandler with a Chamber ribbon-cutting. 9: Congrats to all the graduates of Chandler’s Civic Program! 10-14: Chandler Chamber’s Annual Community Awards is always a surprise and did not disappoint!
Seafood City Arrives at Chandler Fashion Center
Seafood City, the nation’s leading Filipino supermarket, recently opened at Chandler Fashion Center. The location features its flagship grocery experience, as well as an expanded food hall with several new concepts. There's Grill City (Filipino barbecue), Bakers Avenue (baked goods), Sizzle (Filipino favorites and modern takes on sisig), Slurp Alley (noodles and hotpots), Kakanin Corner (Filipino rice cakes and delicacies), Crispy Town (Filipino comfort food), and Crab Market. SeafoodCity.com
Photography Courtesy Chandler Fashion Center
Fifteen nonprofit organizations were selected to participate in the Chandler Chamber of Commerce’s inaugural Nonprofit Blueprint Program, developed along with the City of Chandler to strengthen local nonprofits and enhance their ability to serve Chandler residents. They are: 7 Generations Indigenous Foundation, Be A Mushroom Foundation, Branching Out, CeCe’s Hope Center, Chandler Sister Cities, D Squared Homes for the Homeless, iReach, Justice4PrestonLord Inc., Neighbors Who Care, Recreation and Athletics for Individuals with Disabilities (RAD), Rowell Ranch, Saving One Life, Semicolon Society, Sizzle Academy, and Sun Lakes Rotary Foundation 2000. ChandlerChamber.com
Photography Courtesy Chandler Chamber
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Chandler Compadres Awards More Than $2.9 Million to Local Charities
The Chandler Compadres recently hosted its annual Give Day, with a $2.9 million check presentation event for local nonprofits serving East Valley underprivileged kids and families. It marked the 10th year in a row that the organization has outdone previous fundraising efforts to provide the largest distribution in its 45-year history. Recipients included the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Valley, ICAN, Chandler Service Club, AZCEND, Chandler Care Center, and Boost a Foster Family. ChandlerCompadres.org
Photography Courtesy Chandler Compadres
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BackFit Health + Spine Expands to Colorado
BackFit Health + Spine, which has locations on both Ray Road and Ocotillo Road in Chandler, is growing again! The practice, which has 14 locations in Arizona, has expanded into Colorado with seven new clinic locations. Like the Chandler locations, patients in these new locations now have access to personalized chiropractic care, medical services, rehabilitation, and pain management. BackFitHealth.com
Photography Courtesy BackFit Health + Spine
The University of Arizona is launching a part-time Master of Science in Business Analytics (MSBA) 12-person cohort in Chandler this month. Designed for working professionals, you can earn a graduate degree while continuing to work full time, with classes meeting one evening per week. The AI-infused curriculum includes hands-on training in Python, SQL, R, Tableau, and Power BI. Applications are due Aug. 12; program begins Aug. 24. Eller.Arizona.edu
Register Now for Chandler Chamber’s 25th Annual Charity Golf Tournament
Hit the greens for a good cause! The Chandler Chamber’s 25th Annual Charity Golf Tournament is not only fun but raises scholarship funds for the Chandler Chamber Community Foundation to send a select group of students to Chandler-Gilbert Community College. Registration starts at 6 a.m., call to carts is at 7 a.m., and the shotgun start is at 7:30 a.m. Held at Ocotillo Golf Club. Registration is now open at ChandlerChamber.com. Photography Courtesy City of Chandler
Arizona’s Probate, Trust & Estate Planning Law Firm
Dr. Stephanie Ellman Joins
Young Orthodontics
Dr. Stephanie Ellman recently joined the team at Young Orthodontics. A San Francisco native, she earned her Doctor of Dental Surgery degree from the University of California, San Francisco, before continuing her orthodontic training at A.T. Still University. There, she completed her Master of Science in Orthodontics, along with Certificates in Dentofacial Orthopedics and Dental Public Health. She is deeply passionate about serving her community and caring for individuals from all walks of life. SmileStraight.com
An agency hires caregivers who have been background checked, are legal to work in the United States, have workman’s compensation coverage, and abide by labor laws. Arizona agencies who are members of Arizona In-Home Care Association agree to have business liability, and uphold to the standards by the association due to the lack of regulation of inhome care in Arizona. An agency protects you, the client, and your family from potential financial and legal risks.
What Began in the Professional Realm of Child Welfare Evolved Into a Personal Connection for Karen Taylor and Kody Shaffer
Fostering a Family
ARTICLE BY GEORGANN YARA
PHOTOGRAPHY BY LINDSAY BORG
Karen Taylor doesn’t remember the exact moment she met her son. And Kody Shaffer can’t recall meeting his mom for the first time.
But more than 20 years after Taylor, permanency program administrator for the Arizona Children's Association, adopted Shaffer—who had spent six of his first 10 years in foster care and shelters—what matters is that they were destined to find one another.
Taylor was working as a youth case manager at a shelter where Shaffer was living. One day, a staff member who had known Shaffer since he was 4—when he entered the foster care system—shared an observation.
“He’s never responded positively to anyone the way he responds to you,” Taylor recalls of the revelation. “It made me go, ‘Why is that?’ For some reason, he just connected with me.”
Shaffer was 9 when Taylor came into his world. He admits he was closed off to most people because of the trauma he had endured in his young life that forced him to constantly be on the move.
But Taylor made a point of entering his world. Instead of shunning her, he let her in.
“I just remember her being there, out of the blue,” Shaffer, now 32, says. “I tried not to get close to anyone … but my mom took me by storm. I liked it.”
Their bond grew, and a year later, Taylor decided to make it permanent.
When Taylor and her husband told Shaffer they wanted to adopt him, he remembers it like it was yesterday. He thought they were kidding.
“They gave me the love that today I cherish most,” Kody Shaffer says. “I wouldn’t be the man I am today if they didn’t adopt me.”
“No, we’re not kidding. We definitely want to adopt you,” Shaffer recalls them saying. “I was so shocked. At that point, I had given up hope. I couldn’t think of anyone better, and I was so excited for a new chapter.”
For the next eight years, until he reached adulthood, Shaffer experienced something he'd never truly had before. For the first time since Shaffer was removed from his home and biological family, he had a permanent home, two parents, and a sister, Taylor’s biological daughter.
And even after Shaffer moved out on his own, he knew Taylor would always be the constant rock he could rely on.
“When she came in, she was the light of my life,” Shaffer says. “She wanted to give me the love, that motherly loving feeling that connected with me very deeply.”
Taylor knows she is not front and center of her son’s life all the time. She’s good with that. And when times get tough, mom is always there with open arms.
“He comes back for an issue or a celebration … he knows he’s not by himself in his life,” Taylor says. “That’s what every kid and adult wants—stability and to know we are here for the happy times and the not-happy times.”
Taylor has spent more than 25 years in the child welfare space, moving through the ranks and working in several facets
spanning case management, collaborating with nurse practitioners, and working directly with children and families. She sees firsthand the positive impact a stable family and home life can have on kids. She also witnesses the damage instability can cause.
“I think he takes my advice a little more seriously than he would from anyone else,” Taylor says. “He still calls and says, ‘I just need to hear your voice. You calm me down. I need to know I’m on the right track.’”
Today, Shaffer is engaged and has a 2-year-old son. Despite some trepidation, he feels equipped to handle parenthood, thanks to his parents.
“I give them 100% credit for everything. They are the ones who taught me how to parent, and they’ve given me the blueprint on how to navigate this crazy world, as well,” Shaffer says. “All the love I didn’t get when I was a kid … it feels so nice to give it to someone who can give it back.”
Shaffer calls Taylor's decision to adopt him a blessing that allowed him to finally breathe freely and become the man he is today.
“They took me in like I was their own; it didn’t feel awkward. They gave me the love that today I cherish most,” Shaffer says. “I wouldn’t be the man I am today if they didn’t adopt me.”
Liberty Wildlife: Serving Arizona’s Native Wildlife
THE NONPROFIT WILDLIFE RESCUE HELPS
10,000 ANIMALS ANNUALLY
When Laura Hackett, education manager and lead wildlife biologist at Liberty Wildlife, is leading a field trip at the Phoenix nonprofit, she likes to ask the kids what they think goes on there.
After listening to the wide range of answers, Hackett explains that Liberty Wildlife is “a nonprofit, wildlife, rescue, rehabilitation, education, conservation organization.”
“There’s a lot that goes into that sentence, but the gist of it is that we are here to serve Arizona’s native wildlife,” Hackett says, adding that Liberty Wildlife is primarily a hospital for sick, injured, and orphaned wildlife animals with the hopes of rehabilitating them and releasing them back into the wild. “The education part of our job comes in when those animals cannot be released back into the wild for one reason or another, and they potentially have a job change and become animal ambassadors or teachers.”
There are currently about 70 birds of prey education ambassadors who live at Liberty Wildlife permanently. They include owls, hawks, vultures, falcons, eagles, and California condors.
“We also have a bobcat, raccoon, ringtail, and coatimundi, plus a few squirrel species on display, and about 20 reptiles, including snakes, lizards, and tortoises,” Hackett says.
While Liberty Wildlife is primarily known for helping a wide variety of birds, and about 80% of their intakes are birds, Hackett says they take in the majority of native wildlife, including mammals and reptiles.
“We currently cannot take in ducks or Canada geese, because they are considered to be prime carriers of avian flu, and we also aren’t taking in lovebirds because of a common avian disease that they carry and could spread to our native populations,” Hackett says.
On average, she notes, Liberty Wildlife takes in about 10,000 patients every year.
“We run off the kindness of the public to bring animals to us for the most part, and then very much off the dedication of our volunteers who have so many different roles at Liberty Wildlife,” Hackett says.
Susie Vaught, volunteer coordinator at Liberty Wildlife, says 490 volunteers currently work at the nonprofit, including 35 from Chandler.
“These wonderful volunteers are part of the backbone of what makes Liberty the state-of-the-art facility that it has become,” Vaught says, adding that Chandler volunteers work in every area at Liberty.
Volunteer jobs include working at the intake window, which Vaught describes as “the face of Liberty Wildlife.”
“These volunteers are usually the first people someone who has found an orphaned or injured animal may meet face to face,” Vaught says. “Our intake volunteers are trained on how to explain what our process is, reassuring them that the animal will receive the best of care.”
Volunteers also work on the hotline, which Vaught calls “the voice of Liberty.”
“They answer the calls from people who have found an injured or orphaned animal and want to find the best place to care for it,” Vaught says. “If it is a raptor and may be dangerous, the hotline staff coordinates with rescue/transport volunteers to send them out to bring the animal to Liberty. They drive to the reported location of the animal, safely capture it, and then bring it back to Liberty for treatment and care.”
Other volunteer jobs at Liberty Wildlife include orphan care, daily care, owl team, medical services, interpretive guides, and the wildlife guardian and fundraising team.
People who are interested in volunteering can find more information on the Liberty Wildlife website.
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“From the different animals and their situations that we see daily, to the field trips or visitors that come to learn, there’s always more to learn and be amazed by.”—Laura Hackett
“We run off the kindness of the public to bring animals to us for the most part, and then very much off the dedication of our volunteers who have so many different roles at Liberty Wildlife.”
—Laura Hackett
Hackett is grateful for the many volunteers and visitors, as well as the members of the public who care enough about wild animals to get them help.
“I love that no day is the same. From the different animals and their situations that we see daily, to the field trips or visitors that come to learn, there’s always more to learn and be amazed by,” she says. “When you work 40-plus hours a week with these animals, sometimes you don’t remember their uniqueness until you lead a tour and have them hear the sounds of the eagles. Or you talk to someone who drove 40 miles to bring an injured dove to the hospital. Then you realize how important nature is and how connected humans are to it.”
LibertyWildlife.org
BRUCE’S
LEGACY
“IT’S BUILT TO BE AS STRONG AS YOUR FRONT DOOR AND IS DESIGNED TO KEEP WILDLIFE AND UNWANTED VISITORS OUT OF YOUR HOME.” — MARTIN DIAMOND
An East Valley man's devotion to his dogs led to the creation of a dog door that's smart, safe, functional, and attractive.
When Martin Diamond and his family moved into their home, they quickly decided it was best to keep the two old-fashioned pet doors blocked off.
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A BELOVED LABRADOR INSPIRED A SMARTER, SAFER PET DOOR FOR DOGS EVERYWHERE
Martin Diamond with Bruce
“Because our home is in the desert areas of the Valley, we were afraid to use them for fear that a coyote, bobcat, snake, or javelina might find its way inside. Plus, they weren’t exactly nice to look at,” Diamond says. “We kept the pet doors covered and hidden, and our dogs never even knew they existed. Our lab, Bruce, was constantly looking to go outside though, so it felt like a problem that needed to be solved.”
Inspired by Bruce and his other dogs, Diamond decided to put his technology and design experience to work and create a pet door solution that addressed the problem from every angle: security, aesthetics, and functionality.
Diamond named his invention Pawport. His company, and its innovative pet door, launched in late November 2025.
“I designed Pawport to easily retrofit over most existing pet doors, while also offering a complete system option for homes that don’t already have a pet door installed,” Diamond says.
He notes that Pawport brings many of the conveniences people expect from modern smart home products to the pet doors.
“First and foremost is security. It’s built to be as strong as your front door and is designed to keep wildlife and unwanted visitors out of your home,” he says.
Pets access the door using a small, lightweight Smart Pet Tag attached to their collar. The door then only opens for those pets, which helps keep wildlife from getting indoors. In addition, owners can set schedules and curfews so pets can’t wander outside when they need to stay in.
“The app sends notifications each time a pet uses the door and tracks how long each pet spends outside throughout the day, helping owners stay connected to their pets’ routines,” Diamond says.
Pawport also offers a variety of additional controls and safety features, including Weather Lock, which can automatically keep pets inside if rain or lightning is detected in the area.
Beyond its technology, Pawport is designed to look good, too.
“It is available in 14 finishes and three sizes, so it’s a much more attractive alternative to the traditional plastic pet door,” Diamond says.
Although Bruce passed away in 2023 before Pawport officially launched, Diamond is proud to have created a product that carries on his legacy.
“We hope other dogs enjoy using their Pawport, in Bruce’s honor,” Diamond says.
Pawport.com
Pawsitive Places
ARTICLE BY GEORGANN YARA | PHOTOGRAPHY PROVIDED FOR THESE ANIMAL RESCUES, SAVING LIVES IS A LABOR OF LOVE
Anyone who has been a pet parent knows how rewarding and fulfilling it is to open your heart to an innocent creature who offers love in return.
And many of these unions are made possible by the admirable efforts of nonprofits and volunteers who ensure these animals are cared for until they find their furever homes.
Perhaps you are looking to expand your family with a furry, feathery, or even scaly friend. Or, maybe you seek to lend your support to a worthy cause in the form of donations or time. Either way, these animal rescues are excellent candidates for all of the above.
CRYSTAL’S CRITTER HAVEN
As its name indicates, this Mesa rescue offers rehabilitation and sanctuary for all kinds of critters in need. Birds, reptiles, bunnies, guinea pigs, goats, and turtles— to name a few—in addition to the usual pups and kitties, have all been given a new lease on life thanks to founder Crystal Alldredge-White and her team. With a specialty in medical care of creatures 4 weeks old and younger, the rescue is also a licensed rehabilitator at the state and federal levels and is 100% volunteer-run.
CrystalsCritterHaven.org
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Courtesy Crystal's Critter Haven
Courtesy RAIN: Rescuing Animals In Need
SAVING ONE LIFE ANIMAL RESCUE AND SANCTUARY
This never-kill and volunteer-run organization cares for at-risk cats and dogs by harnessing the power of foster and adoption programs, animal sanctuary services, feline colony management, and community outreach and collaboration. Since 2009, the Chandler-based Saving One Life has saved countless canines and felines in need throughout Arizona, as well as Southern California, that have been abandoned or were candidates for euthanasia. The locale also welcomes animals from local shelters, as well as owner surrenders and Trap-Neuter-Return.
SavingOneLife.org
RAIN: RESCUING ANIMALS IN NEED
Operating on a mighty foster-based network rather than a traditional shelter setting, this no-kill nonprofit rescue has come to the aid of thousands of fur babies Valleywide for decades. While both dogs and cats have found their forever homes through the efforts of this Chandler-based rescue, RAIN’s kitties of all ages have captured the spotlight in recent years, making the organization a specialist in all things feline. In addition to an army of foster parents, the organization partners with PetSmart Charities to host two adoption centers at PetSmart locations in Chandler and Tempe.
AZRain.RescueGroups.org
MOSELEYS' MUTT OASIS
Founded by the husband-and-wife team of Tana Fellenz-Moseley and Tim Moseley, this Gilbert rescue focuses on dogs, who find safety and comfort on 1.5 acres of play space featuring a pool and a 1,200-square-foot facility complete with large dog runs and a “she shed,” where they can relax, feel safe, and begin adjusting to the comforts of home life. Additionally, horses, alpacas, a pig, ducks, chickens, and rabbits are under their care here.
MoseleysMuttOasis.org
DOGS DAY OUT AZ
This animal advocacy organization dedicates its efforts to an overlooked population that has yet to find a brickand-mortar space to call home. The generosity of donors enables it to handle a bevy of outreach programs that support dog owners experiencing homelessness, as well as rescues and local shelters. Targeting shelters and the streets, an army of volunteers hand out doggie care packages and other necessary supplies, including food, water, toys, dog shoes, clothing, and bedding, as well as strollers and wagons, to canine parents, providing these vital items to more than 1,800 dogs at any given time.
Find Dogs Day Out’s Facebook Group page for additional information.
HARTT (HUMANE ANIMAL RESCUE AND TRAPPING TEAM)
HARTT is a volunteer-powered Arizona nonprofit specializing in the humane rescue of animals that cannot be safely approached or captured through ordinary means. From frightened lost pets to injured strays and abandoned animals, HARTT's teams respond to some of the community's most challenging rescue situations, using specialized trapping equipment, proven strategies, and remarkable
patience to bring animals to safety. By reuniting lost pets with their families and rescuing vulnerable animals that might otherwise be beyond reach, HARTT fills a critical gap in animal welfare that few organizations are equipped to provide. Supported entirely through community donations, HARTT gives animals—and the people who love them—a second chance. Unowned, unclaimed animals are available for adoption.
AZHartt.org
Courtesy HARTT
KINETIC CURLS TAKES SHAPE
How One Teen Turned Her Curl Journey Into a Growing Brand
ARTICLE BY MEGAN EWING PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY KINETIC CURLS
At just 15 years old, Hamilton High School student Zoya Siddiqui has already accomplished something many adults only dream of: launching her own business.
Siddiqui is the founder of Kinetic Curls, a hair-care brand designed to help teens with curly and textured hair
achieve healthy, defined curls without spending hours on complicated routines.
The idea grew out of her own experiences. As the only person with curly hair in her family, Siddiqui often struggled to find products and routines that worked for her. Growing up alongside two older sisters and a younger brother who all have straight hair, she said she sometimes wished her hair looked like theirs.
“I learned to appreciate my curls,” Siddiqui says. “And I wanted to be able to share the ability to appreciate your curls in the same way that I learned to do with other people.”
As she got older and began watching curly hair content online, she noticed another problem. Many routines required numerous products and lengthy styling sessions. For busy teenagers, she felt there had to be a simpler solution.
The idea first took shape when Siddiqui was in eighth grade. Last summer, she began researching ingredients, surveying friends about their hair-care experiences, and working with a cosmetic chemist to develop a formula. Each weekend, she tested adjustments to the product in
her kitchen, tracking results in spreadsheets while balancing schoolwork and extracurricular activities.
After months of testing, Siddiqui launched Kinetic Curls in March.
The brand’s first product is a curl cream designed to moisturize, hydrate, and define curls while providing a light hold. Made in small batches, it includes ingredients such as sweet almond oil and aloe vera juice, and is intended to simplify styling for curly-haired users.
Today, Siddiqui continues to make and ship orders herself while growing the brand through social media and partnerships within the curly hair community.
Kinetic Curls products are currently available online through the company’s website, with additional products planned for the future.
What began as one teenager’s search for a simpler curl routine has evolved into a growing business aimed at helping others embrace their natural hair. And for Siddiqui, this is only the beginning.
KineticCurls.com
We work mainly with women who find themselves suddenly single.
Women who are scared.
Women who feel like they don’t know anything about finance.
Women who don’t want to be taken advantage of.
Women who don’t want to be judged.
Women who just need someone to help.
I work with women who come in heavy and leave my office lighter.
That’s the NOWFinancial way.
ARTICLE BY MICHELLE TALSMA EVERSON
PHOTOGRAPHY BY LINDSAY BORG
A WINNING PAIR
A SHARED LOVE OF TENNIS CARRIES LOCAL SIBLINGS INTO THEIR NEXT CHAPTER
For Natasha and Andre Aghenta, tennis began long before either of them stepped onto a court.
Their mother grew up in Nigeria, watching matches on television with her father. Years later, she introduced the sport to her own children as something the family could share. What began as a simple family activity eventually became a defining part of Natasha and Andre’s lives, carrying them through championships, injuries, undefeated seasons, and the kind of sibling bond shaped by both competition and encouragement.
“I was drawn to the way it combines grace and elegance with power and intensity,” Natasha Aghenta says. “I also love that it challenges you both physically and mentally.”
Natasha began taking tennis lessons when she was 8, though she says she became serious about the sport around age 10 or 11. Before then, she had tried gymnastics, karate, swimming, basketball, and soccer. Tennis, however, offered something different.
“I was drawn to the way it combines grace and elegance with power and intensity,” she says. “I also love that it challenges you both physically and mentally.”
Andre followed his older sister onto the court for a more straightforward reason: He wanted to be included.
“My mom influenced my sister to start playing tennis, and then I followed suit,” he says.
Together, the siblings helped make Arizona College Prep history. Natasha and Andre were part of the ACP Middle School tennis teams that won three consecutive East Valley Conference titles, the first championships in the program’s history.
For Natasha, the experience was about more than the final score.
“Winning those championships was an amazing experience, but what meant the most to me was the friendships I built with my teammates,” she says.
Andre felt that same pride in helping secure the third straight title.
“Knowing that I contributed to our team’s success made all the hard work, sacrifice, and practice worth it,” he says. “Sharing those moments with my friends and teammates is something I’ll always remember.”
Now, both siblings are stepping into new chapters.
Natasha continued her tennis career at Hamilton High School, where she made an immediate impact as a freshman, finishing the regular season undefeated. She says high school tennis gave her another chance to represent her school, learn from her coaches, and build lasting friendships with teammates.
The season also brought a setback. Toward the end of the year, Natasha injured her right big toe. When it did not improve, she saw a podiatrist and learned it was a bone bruise. Now, she is focused on recovering and returning to training stronger than before.
Her next goal is clear: help Hamilton win its first state championship.
“I know it won’t be easy, but I believe that with hard work, dedication, and everyone giving their best, anything is possible,” she says.
Andre is preparing to join Natasha at Hamilton for the 2026–27 school year and has his sights set on making the boys varsity tennis team.
His own path has required patience. Knee and foot injuries sent him to physical therapy, but he returned in time to complete an undefeated eighth-grade season.
“It was somewhat like a full-circle moment for me because I was reminded of how eager I was to get back on the court,” Andre says.
“A lot of what I know about tennis, from the way I approach the game to the way I compete, came from watching and learning from my sister.” —Andre Aghenta
Since then, he has resumed physical therapy and returned to the USTA Junior Circuit. Recently, he and his doubles partner were finalists at a Level 5 tournament in Tucson.
For both siblings, tennis has become more than a sport measured in wins. It has taught confidence, discipline, perseverance, and resilience. Natasha often returns to a lesson from their mother: “Nothing is difficult; it’s just unfamiliar.”
Andre says tennis has taught him how to get back up after adversity and how much the people around you matter. He also credits Natasha as one of his biggest role models.
“A lot of what I know about tennis, from the way I approach the game to the way I compete, came from watching and learning from my sister,” he says.
Natasha sees that bond as one of the most meaningful parts of the journey.
“We’ve celebrated wins together, learned from losses together, and pushed each other to become better both on and off the court,” she says.
ATT ORNEY BERNARD JOHNSEN SHARES TIPS FOR ORGANIZING ASSETS AND PROTECTING LOVED ONES DURING NATIONAL MAK E-A-WILL MONTH
ARTICLE BY REBECCA L. RHOADES | PHOTOGRAPHY BY LINDSAY BORG
A LIFE
WORTH PLANNING
The phrase “death is hardest on the living” refers to the emotional grief a person feels after losing a loved one. But in many cases, it can also represent the financial and legal complications that arise when a family member passes on without a will.
Bernard Johnsen
“And, you should discuss your estate plan with your family. A huge reason why most families have disharmony is that they simply don’t talk about it.”
— BERNARD JOHNSEN
According to the Pew Research Center, only 32% of U.S. adults have created a will that describes what to do with their assets and belongings after they die. And only 31% have made a living will or advance healthcare directive.
To understand why doing so is important, we sat down with Bernard Johnsen, founder and managing attorney of Praesidium Law, a Chandler-based legal firm that specializes in probate and trust litigation, estate and trust administration, and estate planning, to share the basics of what you need to know to get started.
WHEN SHOULD I START THINKING ABOUT ESTATE PLANNING?
People will often ask me, “What age do I need to be or how much money should I have before I should make an estate plan?” I tell them that if you’re breathing, you should have an estate plan because proper planning actually serves you while alive—not just after your death. At a minimum, you should start with some basic powers of attorneys. You’ll need these documents in the event you don’t have the capacity to make decisions for yourself regarding your assets and your health care. Powers of attorneys are fairly inexpensive and can save you thousands in attorneys fees and costs by avoiding the need for a guardianship and conservatorship.
WHY DO I NEED A WILL OR TRUST?
Most people want to avoid probate as it is a costly process with very rigid rules, and nearly everything filed with the court is part of the public record. You can avoid probate with a Last Will and beneficiary designations on your assets. However, creating a trust is the most common way to avoid probate, which comes with many other benefits such as promoting family harmony (no questions as to your wishes); privacy; protecting your children from creditors
and predators; preserving inheritance from wasteful spending; and protecting your children in the event they have drug, alcohol, or gambling addictions. But, most importantly, if you do nothing, the state of Arizona decides who receives your assets. Sometimes it’s right, but sometimes it’s wrong. It’s hard enough to lose someone, but you don’t want your loved ones to be stuck cleaning up a mess at the same time.
WHAT ARE THE MAIN THINGS PEOPLE NEED TO KEEP
IN MIND WHEN IT COMES TO ESTATE PLANNING?
Estate planning is more about being prepared for unforeseen circumstances than simply dividing assets at your death. It is kind of like insurance, where you are planning for unfortunate events that you hope never happen. The plan should work for tomorrow— not just in 20 years. Also, they should make sure they put responsible people in charge of managing their assets while they are alive and after their death. Most of the litigation calls we get are because the person who’s put in charge simply isn’t doing the work. You need someone who is very task-oriented and desires to get things done quickly. And, you should discuss your estate plan with your family. A huge reason why most families have disharmony is that they simply don’t talk about it. Death can be an uncomfortable topic, but you need to communicate with your kids and family members about who you’re choosing to manage your finances and make your healthcare decisions. This way, questions can be answered while you’re alive instead of questions and assumptions being made after your death. This open communication will defuse potential fights in the future.
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TREY & KATIE KENNEDY
ON MARRIAGE, KIDS, AND THE COMEDY OF REAL LIFE
Trey Kennedy makes a living finding comedy in regular life. Marriage. Toddlers. Yoga pants. The Thursday-night scramble between school dropoffs, soccer practice, and whatever has to be done by morning. Twelve years in, it shows: millions of followers across every platform, three stand-up specials, a sold-out Relatable Tour, and a style of humor fans send each other captioned, “Are you watching me?” He delivers the kind of comedy that travels because everyone’s living some version of it.
Katie, his wife of six years, is a former biomedical engineer who also built a modeling career. She’s now raising their kids and co-hosting Correct Opinions alongside Trey — the show where the two of them swap takes on marriage, parenting, and whatever came up that week.
Trey has been at this longer than people realize. An Edmond, Oklahoma kid who grew up playing basketball described himself as a “shy kid who never thought he’d be an entertainer.” He started making videos while attending Oklahoma State University. After building millions of followers on Vine before the platform shut down, he gave himself six months on Instagram and Facebook to see whether he could rebuild from zero. He did. Stand-up soon followed. His first special, Are You For Real?, streams on YouTube; the second, Grow Up, on Amazon Prime; the third, built around the Relatable Tour, wrapped earlier this year. “I’ve been trying to be funny every week for like twelve years now,” he says. A slow climb, made one bit at a time.
ARTICLE BY KALI KASPRZYK
“I’ve been trying to be funny every week for like twelve years now.”
Most of what Trey writes lately starts in his own kitchen. Thomas is three and a half, and he is, in his father’s words, “a movie.” He narrates his own life from the moment his eyes open and mispronounces words in ways his parents now repeat to each other because no one else would believe them. His younger sister, Eva, is what Katie calls “the calm one.” With a third now in the mix, the Kennedys are officially outnumbered.
After six years of marriage, Trey and Katie have learned that the partnership runs best when it gets its own time on the calendar. So once a week, they leave the kids with a sitter and go out for coffee. “You need a system,” Katie says. “It’s about taking time to look each other in the eye. Not the kids. Not the cameras. Just each other.”
The same instinct shapes the work. Most of Trey’s trial and error happens onstage or on Instagram, but the first read is always Katie’s. “There’s only been one time ever I’ve had to be like, ‘you’re not doing that,’” she says. The rest of the time, she just laughs first.
FEATURING TREY & KATIE KENNEDY
Trey and Katie talk about marriage, parenting, and the moments that don’t make the Instagram feed.
Watch or listen to the full conversation wherever you get your podcasts.
PHOTOGRAPHY BY JANIE JONES HAIR & MAKEUP BY MIKAYLA CRANE
