THE GOLF RESERVE REDEFINES THE GAME IN
Good News from Glendale Union High School District
The Glendale Union High School District will celebrate the Class of 2026 with commencement ceremonies honoring more than 3,000 graduates on May 18 and May 20 at Desert Diamond Arena. Ceremonies will begin on Monday, May 18, with Washington High School at 10:00 a.m., followed by Sunnyslope High School at 1:00 p.m., Independence High School at 4:00 p.m., and Thunderbird High School at 7:00 p.m. On Wednesday, May 20, Cortez High School will hold its ceremony at 10:00 a.m., followed by Apollo High School at 12:30 p.m., Glendale High School at 3:00 p.m., Greenway High School at 5:30 p.m., and Moon Valley High School at 8:00 p.m. Families and community members unable to attend in person can watch the ceremony live on the district’s YouTube channel by searching @GUHSDAZ.
With the school year winding down, now is a perfect time for families to plan and explore open enrollment at Glendale Union High School District.
GUHSD high schools are rated “A” and recognized among the nation’s best by U.S. News & World Report, offering students a high-quality education. Through open enrollment, families across Arizona can apply to attend a school outside their attendance boundary, providing access to strong academics, career pathways, and supportive programs that prepare students for college, career, and life. GUHSD encourages families to take the next step before the school year ends by contacting their campus and completing the enrollment process for the 2026-2027 school year.
Thunderbird High School Senior Recognized
A senior at Thunderbird High School is making headlines with an impressive academic achievement that highlights the power of Career and Technical Education (CTE) in the Glendale Union High School District. Daniel Wang, a senior coding student, has earned the highly competitive Amazon Future Engineer Scholarship, securing $40,000 in funding for his education and a paid internship with Amazon during college. He has also been accepted to the University of Southern California, where he plans to pursue a degree in Computer Science. Daniel’s success reflects his dedication and talent, the opportunities provided through Thunderbird High School’s CTE programs, and the district’s commitment to college, career, and life, which equips students with real-world skills, industry experience, and a clear pathway to postsecondary success.
TRAPPED IN MOON VALLEY
Back in 2010—16 years ago now—“high-tech” meant something very different than it does today. Looking back, it’s almost funny… we hadn’t seen anything yet. And while so much has changed, some things still ring just as true.
We don’t just want to rely on AI or technology—we want to hear from you: the people of Moon Valley. Your voices, your smiles, your stories.
This is still the same charming, close-knit, and vibrant community we’ve always loved. It’s been shaped and sustained by the people who have lived here, worked here, raised families here, and helped grow this place we proudly call home.
Since 1980, the Moon Valley Tattler has stood the test of time—and it continues to be a reflection of the community that makes it special.
May 2010- Moon Valley Tattler re-print
As the world turns”, I think that might be a day time soap opera, one that has been on the screen for many years. I personally have never watched any soap operas and have never really understood why anyone would want to.
Maybe because after receiving my social security statements last week realizing I have worked since 1978, and by no means have had much time or interest in day time television or the complicated sagas within. I am more of a reality type girl, stories depicting real life episodes of a grueling survivor, a left footed wantabe dancer, a karaoke queen singing her heart out, and the weeks most exciting sports coverage is my idea of a good TV night.
Even the news has changed, recently talking with a retired well known valley reporter he indicated to me that many of the stories each day come from you, the local citizen calling, emailing, and twittering and or face booking the stations with hot breaking news. The need for newsgathering reporters has declined with the aid of high tech cameras, phones, and immediate capability of all these new gadgets that are adaptable and ready to send immediate information. Going viral (I think is the term) is the new way to” watch the world turn.” Newsgathering is no longer done just by professionals; the media is now relying on citizen journalists.
The Moon Valley Tattler is no different we look for reader submissions each month. The Wikipedia defines “citizen journalist” as a “public, participatory, or street journalism, the concept of members of the public playing an active roll in the process of collecting, reporting, analyzing and disseminating news and information.” Becoming a citizen journalist is not difficult. No writing experience is actually needed, mostly you will just serve as our extra set of eyes and ears in the neighborhood, capturing the most heartfelt exhilarating stories, attention-grabbing information, ordinary facts and astounding photo images. Some of “everyday happenings” are the most sought after stories.
For 30 years, the Moon Valley Tattler has tried to represent and tell the stories you will find interesting about your community and surroundings.
As we enter into the summer season a lot will be going on. Please be ready to snap that photo, take a few notes and submit and don’t forget to include who, what, why and where, that’s all the lessons you need for now.
We will look forward to hearing from you soon.
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Moon Valley Country Club Summer Membership
Memorial Day – Labor Day
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Popping Up in Moon Valley –Citrus & Confections
If you live in Moon Valley, you most likely have a citrus tree—lemons, oranges, grapefruits, maybe even limes—growing right in your yard. And if you don’t, there’s probably one nearby (or a bag of them sitting at the end of a driveway).
Since 2019, Andrea Tuck and I have called Moon Valley home, and we’ve always enjoyed collecting citrus from around the neighborhood for our own use. Recently, Andrea—the founder and creative force behind A Bakeshop in downtown Phoenix—saw an opportunity to take that beautiful citrus and channel it into what she loves most: creating thoughtful, scratchmade confections.
Andrea started A Bakeshop in 2014 as a small cake and dessert shop on 16th Street and Bethany Home. What began as a passion project—baking cakes for birthdays and celebrations—quickly outgrew its space. In 2022, we moved downtown to 7th Street and McKinley, tripled in size, introduced A Flourshop, and stepped fully into a family business journey we never quite expected. Today, A Flourshop serves as both a neighborhood coffee shop & bakery and a creative gathering space—where guests can slow down, enjoy something sweet, and take part in hands-on experiences centered around cake, coffee, and connection.
On April 12th, A Bakeshop “popped up” on Moon Valley Drive—bringing with it scratch-made pastries, cookies, desserts, macarons, juices, and more, all infused with Moon Valley citrus. With the help of a few neighbors and a couple of Facebook posts, our Citrus Bake Sale turned an ordinary Sunday morning into something special. The turnout exceeded even our highest expectations.
The idea behind it all—Andrea’s, of course—was simple: bring the neighborhood together. On what turned out to be a perfect spring day, she combined two of the best parts of Moon Valley—its people and its citrus—to create a moment we won’t soon forget.
In many ways, the Moon Valley Citrus Bake Sale reflects what A Bakeshop has always been about: helping people create memorable moments. Birthdays, anniversaries, weddings, business events—big or small—we’re honored to play a small role in making them just a little sweeter. That same spirit carries into A Flourshop, where host small group experiences, cake painting experiences, and seasonal gatherings designed to bring people together in a creative space.
We’d like to thank Jason and Jaime Kinman for opening up their front yard to us. Their generosity and support were a huge part of making this pop-up possible. We’re also grateful to the many friends and neighbors who helped spread the word— both online and by simply telling someone down the street.
Most of all, thank you to the Moon Valley community for showing up. We saw so many familiar faces and met so many new ones. We hope you enjoyed your time with us—and, of course, everything you brought home.
We’ve been asked more than a few times: “When’s the next pop-up?” We can promise this—we’ll be back—just not too often, so each one stays a little special.
Until then, if you find yourself downtown, we’d love to see you—whether it’s for a morning coffee, a pastry, or one of our in-store experiences. And if you’re planning a celebration, gathering, or event, A Bakeshop is always here to help make it memorable.
You can visit A Flourshop Monday through Saturday, 7 AM – 3 PM, at 803 N. 7th Street in downtown Phoenix. For cakes, desserts, and custom orders, visit www.abakeshop.com or email us at info@abakeshop.com.
Moon Valley Loses a Visionary
BY BRET ALDIERI, VICE PRESIDENT - MOON VALLEY NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION
Edwin “Ed” Delph passed away in March of this year, just short of his 102nd birthday. Ed and his family were instrumental in the development of our Moon Valley Community.
I met Ed over lunch about 7 years ago to learn more about the history of our community and his family’s role in the development. Prior to meeting him, I had no idea how vital his family was in developing Moon Valley. Ed showed me the early black and white photographs where dirt roads were graded that would form the major arteries of Moon Valley. You can also see aerial photographs of the community progress over the years in a hall at the Moon Valley Country Club.
Ed was married to Margaret “Margie” Jacobs, whose father founded a large farm that extended from what’s currently I-17 eastward past 7th street. Margie’s dad, John Marshall Jacobs was a pioneer agricultural developer of Deer Valley, AZ.
As the city of Phoenix began moving North, John could see that farming would become less feasible. John was key in bringing General Electric and Sperry Rand to Deer Valley in the 1950s. Later, Honeywell bought the northwest corner of the ranch where the cattle feeding operations were. The city of Phoenix annexed the farm in the 1970s.
Ed was President of Deer Valley Utilities, a
domestic water company that served both Deer Valley and Moon Valley as water was key to any new development. Ed was involved in both the creation of Moon Valley Country Club (MVCC) and the development atop Moon Mountain. As a founding member of MVCC, he was its first club President.
Bob Goldwater was also key to the founding of Moon Valley, and Karsten Solheim (Ping Founder) further shaped the golf course over the years.
It’s hard to believe that 70 years ago – all of area of Moon Valley and Deer Valley was farms; no neighborhood, no country club, no commercial and industrial residents. It’s truly amazing how far our area of North Phoenix has come since then. I find it fascinating to study history and to understand who were the key people that made the things happen that we take for granted all around us. Ed was one of those hard-working visionaries that brought Moon Valley into existence. I highly recommend you read Ed’s obituary posted on the Dignity Memorial website. Condolences to the Delph family and friends. Thank you Ed Delph for our Moon Valley community that we call home.
THE GOLF RESERVE REDEFINES THE GAME IN MOON VALLEY
In a neighborhood long known for its deep ties to the game, a new kind of golf experience is quietly changing how Moon Valley residents play, practice, and connect.
At The Golf Reserve, there are no tee sheets pinned to a clubhouse wall, no waiting on the group ahead, and no closing time. Golfers unlock the door with their phones, step into a private suite, and tee off on some of the world’s most iconic courses at any hour.
It is a model that blends cutting-edge technology with a simple idea. Make golf easier to access, easier to enjoy, and tailored to each individual player.
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A Different Kind of Club
From the moment a player books a session, the experience is designed to be seamless. Reservations can be made in seconds, and shortly before their tee time, players receive a digital key that allows them to enter the facility.
Inside, the environment is calm, modern, and intentionally
uncluttered. Three private golf suites create an intimate setting, powered by high-end simulator technology capable of capturing detailed swing and ball data with remarkable precision.
But the experience is not just about numbers.
It is about control.
Players choose their course, their pace, and their purpose. Some come in for a focused hour of practice. Others play full rounds with friends or treat it as a relaxed social outing.
“There’s no pressure here,” said founder Andy Moreno. “You can come in and work on one part of your game, or just have fun. We meet players wherever they are.”
Membership Designed to Be Simple
One of the biggest differences at The Golf Reserve is how straightforward the membership model is.
There are no long-term contracts or complicated structures. Instead, the club offers flexible monthly memberships alongside options for casual players who want to book time as needed.
Members receive daily access to play, with the ability to reserve time in advance. Those who prefer flexibility can purchase discounted hour packages
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or book public tee times during the day.
Pricing is clearly defined and easy to understand, removing a common barrier that keeps many golfers from joining traditional clubs.
“Membership here isn’t about locking people in,” Moreno said. “It’s about giving them options that fit their lifestyle.”
Technology That Feels Personal
The technology inside The Golf Reserve is powerful, but the experience is designed to feel approachable.
Players can track their rounds, review performance data, and use built-in tools to better understand their game over time.
For those new to simulator golf, the club offers guided sessions that walk players through everything from basic setup to advanced features. These short introductions help remove any uncertainty and allow players to feel comfortable right away.
Support is always within reach. Players can call or text for help during operating hours if they need assistance.
“We don’t want the technology to feel intimidating,” Moreno said. “It should feel empowering.”
More Than Just Practice
While many players come to improve their game, The Golf Reserve has also become a place to spend time.
Each suite includes complimentary beverages and snacks, creating a comfortable, lounge-like environment. Food from local partners can be delivered directly to players during their session, making it easy to settle in and stay awhile.
Some visits turn into casual hangouts. Others become business meetings or small group gatherings centered around a shared love of the game.
“This is a place where the social side of golf can thrive,” Moreno said. “You can come here to get better, but you can also come here to connect.”
Rooted in Community
For Moreno and his team, the project is personal.
They are longtime Moon Valley residents who saw an opportunity to build something specifically for their community after realizing that larger national concepts did not fully understand the local golf culture.
“We saw a chance to create something that reflects the people here,” Moreno said. “Not just a business, but a place where people feel like they belong.”
That mindset shapes everything from the design of the space to the way membership is structured.
Competition Meets Innovation
The Golf Reserve is already building its own traditions.
Its first major event, The Founder’s Cup, is currently underway. The tournament features players competing in a stroke-play format, with the
“We respect what golf has always been, but we’re also excited about what it can become.”
–Andy Moreno
winner earning a signature “crimson coat” that is expected to become an annual symbol of the event.
Additional tournaments and league play are planned, offering opportunities for both competitive golfers and those simply looking for a fun way to stay engaged with the game.
A New Chapter for the Game
Golf is evolving, and The Golf Reserve represents a new way to experience it. It does not replace the feeling of being out on a course. Instead, it complements it by offering flexibility, convenience, and a controlled environment where players can focus on their game.
“We respect what golf has always been,” Moreno said. “But we’re also excited about what it can become.”
In Moon Valley, that future is already here.
The Power of a Few Minutes
BY NICHOLAS WARNER, DC
What if improving your long-term health didn’t require carving out large chunks of time, but instead came down to a few intentional minutes scattered throughout your day? A study published in the European Heart Journal suggests brief bursts of vigorous activity - sometimes lasting just a minute or two – can significantly reduce the risk of chronic disease and even early death.
The research followed nearly 96,000 adults, using wearable devices to capture how people actually move in their daily lives.
Rather than focusing only on how long participants were active, researchers looked closely at how intense that activity was.
Results challenge the traditional “more is better” mindset around exercise. People who incorporated even small amounts of higher-intensity movement into their routines experienced meaningful health benefits, regardless of how much total exercise they accumulated.
In fact, just 15-20 minutes per week of vigorous activity, broken into short bursts, was associated with a noticeably lower risk of developing a wide range of conditions, including heart disease, type 2 diabetes, dementia, and several other chronic illnesses. The reductions were substantial. Those who engaged in more intense activity saw significantly lower risks across all conditions studied, along with a reduced likelihood of dying from any cause during the follow-up period.
What makes these findings especially compelling is how accessible this type of activity can be. The study didn’t focus on structured workouts or gym sessions. Instead, it captured real-life movement – activities like climbing stairs quickly, carrying groceries with purpose or briefly hurrying to catch a bus.
These “exercise bursts” may be short, but they appear to trigger meaningful physiological changes, improving cardiovascular function, boosting oxygen efficiency, and helping to reduce chronic inflammation – a key driver of many diseases.
This doesn’t mean longer workouts no longer matter, but it does suggest intensity plays a powerful and often-overlooked role in health.
For people who feel pressed for time or discouraged by traditional fitness recommendations, the idea that a few minutes here and there can make a real difference is both practical and motivating. It reframes exercise as something that can fit into the margins of daily life, rather than something that requires a dedicated block of time.
Of course, higher-intensity activity isn’t appropriate for everyone. Individuals with underlying health conditions or those who are new to exercise should approach these bursts carefully and consider guidance from a healthcare professional. Still, for many people, simply adding a bit more speed, effort, or purpose to everyday movements could be a powerful step toward better health.
The takeaway is refreshingly simple: Improving your health doesn’t have to be time-consuming – you may just need to make a few minutes count a little more.
Do you need an irrevocable trust
BY LIBBY BANKS, THE LAW OFFICE OF LIBBY BANKS, PLLC
One question I often get (and see lots of misinformation about) is whether a client needs an irrevocable trust.
As I have mentioned in previous articles, the centerpiece of most of our plans is the Revocable Living Trust (RLT). This trust allows you to update your estate plan as you and your family grow and change. It leaves you in charge of your assets, handling them mostly just as you would if they were in your name alone, and allows you to continue filing tax returns in your name – the RLT does not have a separate tax return. The RLT is easy to use and makes for a smooth administration of your estate when you pass away.
In comparison, the irrevocable trust transfers your assets out of your name into a trust that is not intended to be changed as circumstances change. You are no longer considered the owner of the assets. For some types of irrevocable trusts, you cannot be the trustee, so you also no longer control the assets. The trust is its own entity, so it files its own tax returns – and pays much higher taxes than you would on the income. There are other tax disadvantages as well, that I don’t have room to go into in an article. Suffice it to say, the irrevocable trust is a huge commitment and may or may not be a good idea for you.
So why does anyone ever create an irrevocable trust? There are sometimes when an irrevocable trust is a great solution for a specific issue.
Protecting Assets from Creditors and Lawsuits
One of the most compelling reasons to establish an irrevocable trust is asset protection. Because the assets in the trust no longer legally belong to you, creditors generally cannot reach them to satisfy debts or judgments.
This is particularly valuable for professionals in high-liability fields, such as physicians, construction contractors, and business owners, who face elevated risk of lawsuits. If a judgment is entered against you personally, assets held in a properly structured irrevocable trust are typically beyond the creditor’s reach. For most of us, however, having adequate insurance is going to cover any situation where we would be sued.
Reducing Estate Taxes
For individuals with substantial estates, federal estate taxes can take a significant bite out of the wealth passed to heirs. An irrevocable trust removes assets from your taxable estate, which can reduce or even eliminate estate tax liability. Vehicles like the Irrevocable Life Insurance Trust (ILIT) are commonly used to keep life insurance death benefits out of the taxable estate, ensuring that more of the payout goes to your beneficiaries rather than to the IRS. Right now, each of us has a $15 Million dollar exemption from estate taxes, meaning most of us do not need to worry about estate taxes.
Qualifying for Medicaid
Long-term care is expensive, and many people ultimately need nursing home or in-home care as they age. Medicaid can help cover those costs, but it has strict asset limits. An irrevocable Medicaid Asset Protection Trust (MAPT) can allow you to shelter assets while still eventually qualifying for benefits. This is one of the most common reasons middle-income families turn to irrevocable trusts. The MAPT must be established well in advance of needing care. In Arizona, Medicaid has a five-year look-back period. You will be disqualified if you have transferred assets out of your name within that time.
Providing for a Special Needs Beneficiary
If you have a child or other loved one with a disability who relies on government benefits like Supplemental Security Income (SSI) or Medicaid, leaving them a direct inheritance could disqualify them from those programs. A Special Needs Trust (also called a Supplemental Needs Trust) is an irrevocable trust that holds assets for their benefit without being counted against benefit eligibility, allowing them to enjoy an improved quality of life while retaining essential support.
Preserving Wealth Across Generations
In our RLTs we often suggest a Dynasty Trust or generation-skipping trust to transfer assets to your descendants. These can hold wealth for multiple generations, shielding assets from estate taxes, or they can simply be a way of protecting the inheritance from divorces or creditors of your children or grandchildren.
The Bottom Line
An irrevocable trust is not a decision to make lightly, and it’s not a onesize-fits-all solution. But for those facing estate tax exposure, liability risk, longterm care concerns, or the need to provide for a vulnerable loved one, it can be an indispensable part of a thoughtful estate plan. We would be happy to go over your situation in our free initial consultation. Give our office a call at 602-375-6752.
This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal or financial advice. Please consult a licensed estate planning attorney for guidance specific to your circumstances.
I am told a word of hope is always appreciated.
I think we all agree but we can ask what kind of hope and hope in what? I want to point to a deeper hope because when we put our hope in the wrong place we are set up to be disappointed.
Our radical hope is connected to our radical freedom. We are radically free, and our freedom is so radical that when we acknowledge it, we are free-falling through life. It is like the ride at the amusement park that picks you up and then drops you. The amusement is not in the falling but in the relief of being caught before gravity smashes you to the ground. That is the amusement park ride, but the ride of life has no such safety features except the ones we make up. This is frightening on the one hand, but on the other hand, it describes the kind of freedom that comes when we are no longer driven by the need to secure the future for ourselves. We no longer act and put constraints on ourselves out of fear of eternal punishment. We can act because something is right, not because we can see where it leads. We can participate in what is loving, right, and good without needing to hold onto the result. This kind of hope does not withdraw from the world. It does not give up on change. It removes the demand that the future confirms us. It allows us to remain engaged in the moment with who we are with right now, without being controlled by outcomes. We do not know what the outcomes of our decisions or the outcomes of history will be. We are free from those outcomes. We are free to love and trust those outcomes to the power of love. The reason I have the hope that I have is because I trust in the power of life and love. I do not and cannot hold the future in place. I can loosen my grip on tomorrow because tomorrow is held by bigger, more powerful, and more loving hands than my own. We are not asked to guarantee the future. We are asked to participate in it. To act with clarity. To remain connected to what is real. To contribute to life where we can, without needing to secure how it unfolds.
We do not need to know, nor can we know, where everything is going. Our hope is not dependent on the outcome. We need to know how we will live within life as it is and all the uncertainty that comes with it. We live in it with love and hope.
BY DR. LUPITA HIGHTOWER SUPERINTENDENT, WESD
Dear WESD Partners and Community Members,
As we approach the close of the 2025-2026 school year, I find myself reflecting with deep gratitude on the incredible support that has defined our District community. Our students, staff, families and community partners have come together time and again to create an environment where learning, growth and opportunity thrive. It is because of your commitment, resilience and shared belief in the power of education that this has been such a meaningful and successful year. I want to extend a special congratulations to our eighth-grade students as they prepare to promote to high school. This is an incredible milestone, and we are proud of all they have accomplished. We look forward to seeing the great things they will achieve in this next chapter.
As this school year concludes, it also marks a personal transition for me. It has been an honor to serve this District, and I am sincerely grateful for the trust and partnership you have extended throughout my tenure. In July, I will be passing the torch to the new superintendent, confident that the District will continue to flourish under new leadership.
Thank you all for an unforgettable year. I wish you a safe, restful summer and continued success in the years ahead.
Nutrition Services Program Supervisor Selected to Participate in 2026 Healthy School Food Pathway Fellowship
The WESD is proud to recognize Tim Briggs, program supervisor in Nutrition Services, for being selected as a 2026 Healthy School Food Pathway Fellow through the Chef Ann Foundation. Now in its fourth year, this competitive national fellowship equips experienced school food professionals to lead healthier, more sustainable K-12 meal programs centered on scratch cooking and equitable food practices. Chosen as one of just 23 participants nationwide, Tim will spend the next 13 months strengthening his leadership skills and advancing efforts to provide fresh, nourishing meals that benefit thousands of students. He will also receive a $5,000 stipend to support a capstone project focused on expanding scratch cooking across the district. Congratulations to Tim. His leadership continues to make a meaningful impact on the future of student nutrition within the WESD.
Enroll Your Incoming Kindergartner in WESD Jumpstart
Registration is now open for WESD Jumpstart—a free, four-week, half-day program designed to help children get ready for kindergarten. Multiple WESD schools will host the program this summer from May 26 through June 18. During Jumpstart, children will build friendships, learn kindergarten routines and develop important readiness skills in a fun, supportive environment. Plus, free breakfast and lunch are provided each day. To participate, children must be registered for kindergarten at a WESD school for the 2026-2027 school year. Families can complete registration online at www.wesdschools.org/families/registration or in-person at the WESD Welcome and Registration Center, located at 3200 W. Cholla Ave. Please share this opportunity with family, friends and neighbors who have an incoming kindergartner. Visit www.wesdschools.org/jumpstart to enroll in Jumpstart today. We look forward to helping your child build a strong, confident start to kindergarten.
With gratitude,
Dr. Lupita Hightower, WESD Interim Superintendent
By Rabbi Shneur Wolfman
An orangutan once sat in a zoo reading Darwin and the Bible. The zookeeper asked, “What are you doing?” The orangutan replied, “I’m trying to figure out, am I my brother’s keeper, or my keeper’s brother?”
The great books of history are deeply significant and filled with meaning, but they are often difficult to decipher. One such work is the Babylonian Talmud, written in ancient Aramaic and serves as the foundation of Jewish law.
Chabad of Moon Valley will be offering “Decoding the Talmud”, a sixsession course open to the Moon Valley community, beginning April 15.
Students will meet its main characters, explore its dynamic history, and engage in authentic Talmudic study. They will learn the key terms, logical principles, and historical context required to decipher the text of this 1,500-year-old work and discover how it has survived and thrived, continuing to fill Jewish study halls to this day.
As Dr. Leib Moscovitz, Professor of Talmud at Bar Ilan University, explains, “The Talmud is a difficult work, one which is extremely different from modern works of law, yet at the same time it has exerted a decisive influence throughout the generations.”
Author of Talmud Reclaimed, Shmuel Philips adds, “The Talmud is maddening, fascinating, even addictive. The chance to partake in an introductory course in Talmudic literacy is an opportunity that should be grasped with great enthusiasm.”
The Talmud feels closed and inaccessible to many. This course is designed to open it up in a clear and engaging way, with no prior experience needed.
To learn more, visit jewishmoonvalley.com/learning.
Stuart Hansen, Trish Hansen K err
Br
Thunderbird High School Student Achieves Perfect ACT Score
Junior student Peter LeStourgeon of Thunderbird High School achieved a perfect score of 36 on the ACT this year, placing him among the top test-takers in the nation. The ACT, a standardized college readiness exam, is scored on a scale of 1 to 36, making this accomplishment exceptionally rare. Peter’s achievement reflects both his academic dedication and the strong support system at Thunderbird High School.
THS NJROTC excell at state championship
The NJROTC unit at Thunderbird High School delivered an outstanding performance at the Desert Classic State Championship drill competition. Competing against 32 schools representing multiple service branches, Thunderbird earned an impressive second place overall in the state. The cadets secured top honors in multiple events, including first place in both 10 Person Armed and Armed Sweepstakes, as well as numerous second place finishes in inspection, regulation, and team drills. Their strong showing across categories highlights the program’s discipline, precision, and commitment to excellence.
Spring Sports
BY ARCHER CUSHMAN
This Spring, I decided to try something new...I joined a soccer team. You remember back in January when I told you that my word for 2026 was “rhythm”? My goal was to find new ways to move my body, and I thought trying a team sport was a great way to do that. I chose soccer because I enjoy playing it during our lunch break at coop. I like the strategy behind trying to figure out how to get the ball away from the other team and pass it to my teammates. My friends encouraged me to join a team and when I went to sign up it was the last day to register so I didn’t have a lot of time to think about it. My dad volunteered to help coach because he had played some soccer when he was younger, which made me feel better about my quick decision. A few weeks later, we showed up at the soccer field not knowing what to expect.
The season didn’t start the way that we had planned. The league I’m in didn’t have enough players in my age group to make two all-girls teams, so instead they made one mega team with the idea that we would scrimmage against each other. They didn’t tell us about this plan so on the first day we showed up ready to face another team. We waited for ten minutes until a league official arrived and told us that we were facing ourselves. This came as a shock to all of us but we decided to make the best of it. We had two teams of five girls and two dads in the goal. Even though it wasn’t what we expected, we battled as if we were facing an opposing team.
I earned a nickname that day - “The Tripper” - because I took down some teammates while trying to get the ball. I wouldn’t say that I’m normally bloodthirsty but soccer has really brought out my competitive side. I also discovered that I love being part of a team. For the last three years, I have been rock-climbing, which is a solo sport. Soccer, on the other hand, requires working with other people toward a common goal. I’ve really enjoyed the change. I also really like being part of all-girls team because I’ve made a lot of new friends with similar interests, which was one of the reasons why I joined soccer in the first place.
Although we aren’t going to face another team, we decided to name ourselves anyway. I had been reading a book series called “The Kicks” and another girl had too, so we decided to name ourselves “The Kicks”. Other name ideas included “The Pancakes” and “The Ravens” and “The Ravenous Pancakes” but we all unanimously agreed on “The Kicks”.
All in all, joining a soccer team has been a good change for me and I’m excited to keep playing in the future.
P.S. I owe you the answer to last month’s serial mystery.
When the story ended, I asked if you knew where the present was and how Brooklyn knew. The answer was that when Brooklyn arrived, she set her tiny present on the floor while she was untying her shoes. In her rush to get upstairs, she kicked her shoes (and the present) aside and forgot that it was in the entryway. Lacey reminded Brooklyn of this misplacement, Brooklyn ran back to the front door and, sure enough, there was the present.
Swing Away SMA.com
Please join us on Saturday May 23rd- 2026 for the annual Swing Away SMA golf tournament. It’s held at the Pointe at Lookout Mountain (7th street and T-bird). With a 1 pm shotgun start- registration at 11 am. Great after party with home made food, whiskey tastings, beer from North Mountain Brewery.
It’s a benefit for the family of Madison Wolff- graduate of Thunderbird HS. Her dad is the Athletic Triner at T-bird since 1999. So is a staple in the community. Madi was diagnosed with a neuro-muscular condition called SMA ( Spinal Muscular Atrophy) as a toddler when she was unable to sit upright or crawl during her normal development. With genetic testing the found out that her parents were both carriers of this defect. Madi graduated from. ASU last spring but family still needs help with ongoing expenses. More info at swingawaySMA.com
On the roads
BJ and I have a townhouse in Munds Park, which is about 20 minutes south of Flagstaff. We have owned it for years and really enjoy spending time up there and escaping the heat here in Phoenix during the summers. Before BJ retired, we would only spend an occasional weekend and some vacation time there, but since she retired, we basically spend our summers in the cool pines. During the past couple of years, there has been road construction, which made the trip a little cumbersome, but now it appears that they are done or almost done and what a beautiful, scenic drive it has become. The addition of “flexlanes,” widening the existing lanes, and easing the grade make the drive a real pleasure. If you have occasion to drive north on I-17, be informed that the flex lanes begin just beyond Anthem and end right before Sunset Point. Know that they are there and try to use them if available. I could be a little off, but I think they are open for north-bound traffic on Monday through Saturday, and available for south-bound on Sundays. You will love the drive.
In a somewhat related note, Phoenix has installed speed cameras on some streets where they may be warranted. Several are positioned in close proximity to our Moon Valley area. If you didn’t know about these cameras before, now you do. According to AZCentral they are located as follows:
• Thunderbird Road: 35th Avenue to Interstate 17
• 32nd Street: Greenway Parkway to Bell Road
• Thunderbird Road: Interstate 17 to 19th Avenue
• 7th Street: Thomas Road to Indian School Road
• Indian School Road: 83rd Avenue to 75th Avenue
• Camelback Road: 24th Street to 32nd Street
• 51st Avenue: Van Buren Street to Interstate 10
• Baseline Road: 16th Street to 24th Street
• Bell Road: Interstate 17 to 19th Avenue
I encourage everyone to leave a few minutes earlier and slow it down. I’m as guilty as anyone about letting my foot get a little heavy. Just be aware. And, there is drive to get “speed cushions” installed on Coral Gables, between the Lookout Mountain School and 7th Street. Apparently, Coral Gables has become quite a “cut-through” between Thunderbird and 7th Street. At times traffic is quite heavy and the span from Central Avenue to 7th Street seems like Manzanita Speedway. Please support this.
Speaking of the North Country, if you are thinking about a vacation home up in the pines, there are a lot of financing options available. Give me a call and we can discuss what may work for you. It doesn’t cost anything to talk.
Kit
THE WRITE STUFF BY GERRY JOHNSON
Flow Into Alignment, Moon Valley
BY JENA RITCHIE NBC-HWC
Flow Into Alignment offers Moon Valley residents and neighbors an uplifting wellness experience sponsored by Moon Valley Chiropractic and brought to life with a thoughtful collaboration of local professionals: Jena Ritchie NBC-HWC, M-CPT, Certified Advanced Aromatherapist; Rayn Fenty RYT-200, Certified Lymphedema Therapist; and Sensei Oscar Cruz. Taking place Sunday, May 31st from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at The DOJO Studio Moon Valley (13466 N 7th St, Phoenix, AZ 85022), the experience is $35 per person (RSVP 480-788-3750). This event will weave together foundational wellness practices, lymphatic flow movement, and the principles of qi gong and tai chi to support alignment, circulation, and nervous system balance, concluding with a gentle multi-sensory guided meditation journey designed to restore and integrate mind-body wellbeing.
This integrative approach reflects the principles of holistic health best practices and the benefits of advanced chiropractic care, which is grounded in the essential connections between the spine, nervous system, and overall vitality. When the spine and skeletal system are optimally aligned, communication between the brain and body becomes more efficient, supporting improved posture, more fluid movement, and a greater capacity to adapt to physical and emotional stress. In this way, alignment serves as a foundation for the body’s ability to self-regulate and maintain balance.
Compromised spinal alignment leads to tension and interference within the nervous system, impacting the body’s function as an interconnected system. Conscientious care helps restore and maintain postural integrity, reducing strain while supporting coordination, recovery, and resilience. When combined with mindful movement, breath awareness, good nutrition, and practices that support lymphatic flow, the body is better equipped for performance, able to release stored tension, maximize immune function, and deepen the mind-body connection for more balanced, sustainable wellbeing. Reach out to Moon Valley Chiropractic with any questions or to schedule a new patient appointment at 602-298-0292
Join Us on May 30th
for Author’s Day at North Mountain Visitor Center
Do you have a pile of books on your nightstand? Is your idea of a perfect night getting lost in a good story? Is your TBR list ever expanding? If so, this event is for you!
Join us for a celebration of all things literary at the Author’s Day Event, taking place at the North Mountain Visitor Center on Saturday, May 30, 2026, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Support Arizona authors while enjoying book talks, author readings, and book signings. Discover new favorite voices and take home a book to remember the day.
Headlining our event is award-winning author and travel writer Roger Naylor who brings the Route 66 history and cultural significance to life with his latest book. Arizona Route 66 Road Trip. Other featured author include: Bonnie Apperson, Sophie Bernbaum, Ron Dugan, Kristen Gilger, Michael Hale, Linda Henley-Smith, Jean Klein, Barbara McCarthy, Patrick McMullen, Kathy Peach, Barbara Renner, Jane Ruby, Sandra Rose Simmons, Joyce Story. Representatives from the Acacia branch of the Phoenix Public Library will also be present.
This is a family friendly event and will feature several children’s book authors and children’s story times throughout the day.
There will also be a silent auction with fun book baskets and a chance to bid on 3 roundtrip Southwest Airlines tickets.
Funds raised at this event directly support Save Our Mountains Foundation, a 501(c)(3) whose mission is to acquire and preserve land to assist in the expansion of the Phoenix Mountains Preserve. We support the Mountains Preserve with education, conservation, and research as well as maintain operations at the North Mountain Visitor Center, the Exhibit Hall of the Phoenix Mountains Preserve, in collaboration with the City of Phoenix. By attending, guests are not only supporting local authors, but also investing in conservation, education, and the continued care of the North Mountain Visitor Center.
Rookie Mom: Fiery Irish Women, Emotional Legacy, and the Work of Healing
BY BRIGHID CONSTABLE
The greatest gift I can imagine a parent giving a child is this: the ability to regulate their emotions in a healthy way.
That sounds simple. It’s anything but.
So where does emotional regulation come from? And where does all the pent-up feeling, reactivity, grief, and survival energy so many of us carry actually begin?
For me, it begins with the women in my family.
I come from a long maternal line of strong, ferocious Irish women with strongly held opinions. The kind of women who endured, adapted, managed, carried, and kept going. The kind of women whose strength could look like love, control, fierceness, sacrifice, or sharpness depending on the day. The kind of women whose emotional lives shaped the generations after them, whether anyone spoke of it or not.
essentially took charge of operations while her husband, John Moran Jr., headed west to scout new oil fields. She was said to deliver payroll to the fields herself, riding out with cash in a wagon and a shotgun at her side— prepared, at least in legend, to fend off enforcers rumored to have been sent by Rockefeller to intimidate rivals. Family stories, however, hint that the shotgun may have been more for show; her presence alone likely commanded all the authority she needed.
She used to say she had raised four families in her lifetime: her siblings after her own mother died young; her husband’s two sons from his first marriage; the seven children she had with John Moran, including my great-grandmother Evangeline; and later, her grandchildren after tragedy struck again.
That tragedy came for my family, too.
And that’s true for all of us, really. Every family carries its own emotional origin story. Even when we don’t know the full history, we often live with its effects. We inherit patterns before we inherit language for them. Our bodies remember what our minds may not.
In tracing my maternal line, I can feel that legacy clearly.
As far as my family can trace, we know the history of my greatgreat-great-grandmother Jane McMullen, born around 1811, who came to Canada from Ireland in the early 1830s with her husband, Michael McMurray. We know very little about her, not even where in Ireland they came from.
Then came Margaret McMurray, likely among the first children of European ancestry born in Simcoe County, Ontario. She died young, around age 36 or 39, from a postpartum infection. Her gravestone, what remains of it, is broken and weathered, gathered decades later from an abandoned cemetery.
It reads: In death’s cold arms lies sleeping here A tender parent, a companion dear. In love she lived, in peace she died, Her life was asked, but was denied.
Even that feels symbolic: the evidence of women’s lives so often partial, fractured, and still somehow enduring.
Then came Mary Jane McDevitt, known in the family as Grandma Moran, a woman who seems almost mythic in both strength and presence. For example, as a child in rural frontier Canada, she once saw a Native man approaching the family cabin and thought she was about to die, only to discover that he had simply come to offer the family fish he had caught.
My great-grandmother, Evangeline Moran, died during the Great Influenza, leaving behind four young children. My grandmother, Dorothy Mooney, was only three years old. After that, she was raised by her grandmother Mary McDevitt, Grandma Moran, and by her aunts. Later, she was sent to boarding school in Bolivar, New York, at the insistence of her father, Captain Bill Mooney, who eventually remarried a woman my grandmother did not know well.
That kind of childhood leaves a mark.
Chaos teaches you things. Loss teaches you things. Emotional unpredictability teaches you things too, especially if no one is there to help you process it.
After the Richburg oil strike ushered in the family’s prosperity, she
My great-grandmother, Evangeline Mooney, with her daughter, Eileen, and son, Bill.
My grandmother Dorothy grew up in a world shaped by grief, instability, sternness, duty, and survival. She later married my grandfather, Arthur Hallinan, the most stable man in the history of men. And honestly, that makes perfect sense to me. When you come from emotional chaos, stability can feel like salvation.
The great matriarch, Grandma Moran - Mary Jane McDevittwho helped raise my grandmother, Dorothy Mooney.
Together they had six children—five boys and one girl, my mother, Marie.
After my grandfather died of a heart attack in 1996, my grandmother moved in with our family and helped my mother raise her own five children through divorce and upheaval. I was twelve years old.
As you can imagine, our family life was not exactly calm.
My grandmother had survived loving chaos and, like so many women before her, passed down what she knew about handling emotion – not intentionally, not maliciously, but honestly. We parent from the map we were given until we do the work to draw a new one.
To say my mother and grandmother were similar in the way they processed emotion would be an understatement.
My grandmother was, let’s be honest, what starts with a “b” and rhymes with “witch.” And I don’t even mean that as an insult. She was assertive, confident, intense, emotional, and powerful. My mother, by contrast, processes emotion with more logic, a gift from my grandfather, though she can also be reactive, especially with her daughters –a gift, perhaps, from the maternal line she comes from.
And then there’s me.
Still, I want to be clear about something: my grandmother is not a victim. My mother is not a victim. I am not a victim.
But we are shaped by circumstance. We are living outcomes of the emotional environments that formed us. And it would be irresponsible, not just to ourselves, but to our children, to ignore the way unprocessed pain travels through generations.
So why write this for Mother’s Day?
Because when I think about motherhood, I don’t just think about tenderness. I think about inheritance. I think about what gets passed down in a glance, a tone, a silence, a shutdown, an explosion, a sacrifice, a survival instinct. I think about the women in my family and the fire in them. I do identify with that strong Irish, witchy, Mooney-lineage energy. I love it, honestly. There is power in it. There is life in it.
But there has to be healing in it too.
My daughter Brynn is a lot like me: emotional, reflective, deeply shaped by feeling, not always able to access logic in the heat of the moment. And the truth is, our children will learn how to deal with emotions from us whether we mean to teach them or not.
That reality humbles me.
As a woman with ADHD and bipolar disorder, trying to heal my own pain while raising two children, I know this work is not theoretical. It is daily. It is sacred. It is exhausting. It is necessary.
And it is work I am more than willing to do.
Because maybe that is how healing enters a lineage – not by becoming perfect, not by erasing the women who came before us, and not by pretending we were untouched by them. Maybe healing begins by telling the truth. By honoring their strength while refusing to pass down their pain unchanged. By learning to stay with our emotions without letting them rule the room. By becoming, slowly and imperfectly, the safe place we may not always have had.
This Mother’s Day, I’m thinking of the women who raised us, the women who carried us, the women who frightened us, the women who steadied us, and the women we are still becoming.
And I’m especially honoring the mothers who are deeply aware that the way they handle emotion today may become their children’s inner voice tomorrow. That awareness is its own kind of inheritance.
And maybe, if we’re brave enough, a new beginning.
As a child, I often looked to my grandmother as a stable figure amid our family’s emotional chaos. But stability and softness are not always the same thing. Around me were experiences that shaped me deeply: my brother struggling with addiction and overdosing at age 26; my father leaving our family, remarrying quickly, and moving away after my parents’ divorce; my mother working to make ends meet for five children. There was grief, volatility, abandonment, confusion. There was love too, but love does not erase emotional impact.
My grandmother, Dorothy Hallinan (Mooney), with Grandma Moran who helped raise her.
My daughter, Brynn Constable, with my mother, Marie Hallinan, Grandma Marie.
Me, Brighid Constable (Tomasik), with my daughter, Brynn Constable, at 2 days old.
IS A DRONE GOING TO DELIVER YOUR NEXT AMAZON PACKAGE?
At the March 11, 2026 Black Mountain Community Alliance meeting Lieutenant T. J. Nash reported on the events in the precinct in the last month. Commander Mykel Moller and City teams have concentrated on the biggest problem areas and made significant progress in arresting people with outstanding warrants and confiscating drugs and firearms. They have cleared out more washes of homeless people and offered them services. Brush will be cut back but trees will not be cut down. Citizens have helped identify problem areas.
Jeffrey Blair added, in the breakout room, that a young woman, only 20 years old was alone in a wash and trying to get off “meth.” Thankfully she did accept services and now is in an apartment and getting rehabilitation help. A homeless man tried to commit suicide but was administered Narcan and transported to a hospital. The City coordinates teams of people to help homeless people find better, safer housing.
Officers become tired because staffing is so low. But when their work turns out well and they return to a neighborhood that has had effective police work done, it is rewarding.
Detective Eric Nash provided the names of various classes of drones. The police drones are very sophisticated and can “see” what is happening on the ground much better than helicopter police. It is good to know that police drones will not be armed. They are guided by trained staff in an office or on site. They can arrive at a trouble spot fast. They also can “talk” with people on the ground and coordinate with officers, including canine unit staff. Drones
By Frosty Kroening
can be used to search for suspects in buildings. Camera footage can help in prosecutions. Police drones cost about $22,000 apiece.
Boxes are located around the city for drones to be recharged and ready to fly to incidents. There are high penalties for downing police drones. In the future we likely will see more drones and they will become more and more sophisticated. Drones are used a lot in the I-17 corridor.
Note: One dark night a friend and I were leaving a facility on NE Bell Road. I stopped the van because the drone was big and black and had bright lights shining on us. It hovered on the south side of Bell. The next day I called the Federal Aviation Agency and the man who answered showed no concern about the drone. He said that there were no regulations about them that they were enforcing. (That may be different now. There are at least height limitations.) I also learned that flying drones in city parks is not allowed except for the July show. Amazon’s drones which deliver packages in yards from a 10 foot level.
Saturday June 27th there will be an After Dark in the Park Drone Show from 6 to 9 p.m. in Deer Valley Park. Staff are urging people to arrive early and bring chairs or blankets and food and water. Last year the show was amazing and very well attended.
June 13 is the next meeting of the Black Mountain Community Alliance. 6:30 p.m. at the Deer Valley Community Center.
Pilgrimage to Rome and Assisi
By Shannon E. Perry
This year, 2026, is the 800th anniversary of the death of St. Francis and his bones were on display from February 22 to March 22, and I wanted to see them. I flew into Rome to first attend the Wednesday papal audience. Since the Pope was born in Illinois as was I, my daughter made a flag with the names of my hometown and high school that I could hold up for the Pope.
Gwen, my guide, was able to find me a place right next to the barrier where the Popemobile would pass. I held up my flag as Pope Leo XIV went by. He looked at the flag and said, “Bloomington” then looked right at me as if “I wonder if I know her?” I was thrilled.
We traveled to Assisi to the Basilica of St. Francis to venerate his bones which are on display to the public for the first time. After a short explanation, we walked slowly past the glass-enclosed case containing the bones. Since I am a nurse, I think I looked at the bones clinically; the skull was flattened but the rest of the bones looked well preserved. I moved my rosaries along the top of the glass enclosure hoping some of Francis’ holiness would extend to them, but I think I forgot to pray.
The next day we drove to La Verna to visit the Chapel of the Stigmata. There is a glass enclosed area on the floor which is traditionally regarded at the actual site where the stigmata, the five wounds of Christ, were received by St. Francis. The tunic that Francis was wearing when he received the stigmata
is lying in a glass enclosed container. That evening we participated in the Stations of the Cross through the streets of Assisi. There were small wooden crosses along the streets with a light at the bottom of each cross. We walked along, following the crucifix, with prayers and songs along the way. People joined us as we passed by.
We drove to San Damiano where the crucifix spoke to Francis asking that he “rebuild my church.” The church Francis rebuilt is inside the larger church, St. Mary of the Angels. When Francis was dying, he returned here and died outside lying on the ground. My flight home was through Chicago. The Pope is from Chicago, so I thought of him during my layover. A wonderful and prayerful trip. I was able to visit/see most of what I wanted to see and more.
Photos captured by Gwen Wiseman
Heard Museum Partners with Pal Experiences to Expand Accessibility for Visitors with Disabilities
Pal Place resources support guests with intellectual and developmental disabilities
Pal Experiences (Pal), a nonprofit organization focused on creating accessible and inclusive adventures, has partnered with the Heard Museum to expand access for visitors with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD).
Through the collaboration, the Heard Museum became part of Pal’s growing network of “Pal Places”—destinations equipped with tools designed to support guests with autism, sensory processing differences, anxiety, and other nonvisible disabilities.
Just as physical accommodations support guests with mobility needs,
identified potential sensory challenges and informed the development of a visitor video designed to reduce uncertainty and improve the guest experience.
The video walks viewers through what to expect—from arrival and parking to navigating exhibits—while also highlighting quieter spaces and other supportive features available throughout the museum.
Other resources include a visual schedule, sensory scales, assistive communication, and staff training on supporting guests with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
The Heard Museum is committed to ensuring all visitors feel welcome and supported. “The Heard Museum is a destination for Arizonans and visitors from all communities, and it’s paramount to us that this umbrella always includes our friends with IDD,” said Patty Talahongva, Heard Museum Chief Programming and Engagement Officer. “By joining the Pal Places network, we are reinforcing our commitment to making the institution a place that is safe, and fun, for everyone.”
“Heard Museum is one of Arizona’s great treasures,” said Melanie Isaacs, Founder and Chief Inclusion Officer of Pal Experiences. “We are thrilled to
Boys to Men
BY DEBBIE ERBSTOESSER
These little boys who turn into amazing men…when exactly does it happen? This doesn’t pertain to every male, or we wouldn’t have “The Files”…but it happened with mine and some friends. I know they had examples to follow if they were raised by a good man, but some men out there weren’t and they still turn into protectors. There are kind men in the store who help me reach something without asking vs the man who stepped on my toe to grab a grocery cart before I could. Sooo not the entire species feels inclined to protect.
Many years ago I shared about a book I was reading called, “Preparing Him for the Other Woman” by Sheri Rose Shepard. It is filled with bible verses, stories and antidotes. I had started praying for my boys’ wives as soon as I knew I was having a boy and this book was a wonderful ‘how to’ I read over and over. I was committed to being the best mom I could and yet, still felt like I failed miserably.
Our middle son, Joel, detested girls for a long time. He thought air was wasted on them. I told him every day, “Remember, boys don’t hit girls.” By third grade he’d come around and liked the same girl his friend did. She was having a hard time choosing between them. Finally he said, “I’m taking a break from girls, they’re too distracting.” Now I’m in awe of the attentive, protective, thoughtful, loving man he’s become. Our oldest and youngest sons liked girls from the get go. Jon’s first girlfriend was in preschool, but his first true love was in 4th grade when he got his first kiss under a table. Jaden was in kindergarten when he tackled a girl on the play- ground to kiss her. His apology letter was a picture of him lying on top of her. The little kindergartener’s mom wasn’t happy. He’d written the apology in school, which was a picture because he was only five. Not exactly appropriate, but he was five and in love. I was horrified, but his teacher laughed, which allowed me to relax and see the humor. And good grief, he was funny. Whenever he saw his latest love interest, and there seemed to be a new one each week, he’d comment, “There goes my love...she so boo-ee-full.”
Even though I felt like an epic failure on a daily basis, I continued to try and groom our boys to be good husbands. I often said, “You have to learn how to do this, so your wife won’t hate me!” They eventually mastered cleaning, cooking and making a bed, among other household chores. I also drilled into them that even independent, sassy women like me need to feel safe, protected and valued. They practiced on me. Like my own 3 men, Michael writes words of love, affirmation and appreciation to his mom. James, Jesse, Gus and Elijah do the same thing on social media, broadcasting their deep admiration for all to read about theirs. Ryan makes it a point to call his mom every week and connect. He also is careful to put the toilet seat down and wash the dishes when he’s visiting. Logan calls. . all the time! Brothers Jon and Sam also call regularly and remember important events and ask for their mom’s opinion, making her feel important to them. Trent and Trevor call most days on their way home from work to check in. They learned that from their dad.
Thanks to Gary, ours can also fix things and dance. Jon’s girlfriend had a post of him dancing go viral with over 2 million views a few months ago. People magazine contacted her for an interview and the wonderful things she said about my son, showed what a fabulous person she is herself. Our little family dance parties were epic after Gary installed speakers all over the house, and as a result, they all have the moves!
Being a mom has been my greatest joy and accomplishment. They may not be perfect, but they are pretty darn close. Despite us, they turned into the most amazing men and because they are so incredible, we’re going to have fantastic daughters (in law). They will continue our legacy, teaching their own children how to love, respect and affirm.
Drywall Repairs and Texturing
Drywall repairs and Texturing. Includes water damage, remodeling, and popcorn ceiling removal. In business since 1980. Mike Collins Acoustics 623-582-4325
Classifieds
Paper Shredding
ABCO Shredding Services located at 2640 E Rose Garden Lane, Suite 4, in Phoenix, AZ 85050, offers shredding services, etc. to residents and businesses of all sizes.
Bring any amount of paper and watch the shredding 9am until 2:00pm M-F, or drop it off from 9am until 2:30pm. Either option will have a Certificate of Destruction on the receipt. All shredded paper is recycled. www.abcoshredding.com is our website for information on other items such as hard drives from your laptops or towers, iPads, tablets, cell phones, CD’s/Floppy disks, etc.
Please call us at 602-374-4408 for Saturday and/or holiday hours, or if you have any questions. Pickup of documents also available.Thank you! Looking forward to seeing you soon!
Piano Lessons
PRIVATE ONLINE & IN STUDIO
SPRING LESSON SPECIAL - All Ages. Positive, patient instruction. How you learn makes a difference. Play songs you love. Feel accomplished. Startup 2 free lessons + books. www. PianoKeysToMusic.com Music Educ/Pianist Established MV Moon Valley Studio. 602.971.0089Cell 602-574-3694 Valerie Thomas
Distribution Information
Pro Window Cleaner
Pro Window Cleaner. Spotless Windows, Guaranteed. Moon Valley Resident. Text 602.969.1924 or visit albinobuffalo.com to learn more.
The Moon Valley Tattler is distributed monthly free of charge to Moon Valley area homes. Additional copies are distributed at rack locations. Content in full or part may not be reproduced without the written consent of the publisher. Opinions expressed by contributors are not necessarily the opinions of the publisher and do not constitute an endorsement of products or services. Publication of an ad does not constitute an endorsement. Business profiles are based on information supplied from advertisers. Readers are urged to verify. Articles and photographs can be submitted for use in future issues.
Please submit a SASE if return is necessary. The publisher reserves the right to reject any advertisement or letter to the editor that is not in keeping with the standards of the publication. The publication’s name is copyrighted by: THE MOON VALLEY TATTLER, LLC, info@mvtattler.com, 602-765-0902, Publisher & Editor: Dawn Trapp
Handy Dandy Classifieds Form
Use the form at right to mail or drop off your classified ad. You may also email a Word document directly to info@mvtattler.com 20 WORDS FOR $20 (PER MONTH). Additional words are 50 cents each.
MAIL Moon Valley Postal 13236 N. 7th St. #4304 Phoenix 85022
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Cleaning Services
Residential Homes, Commercial Businesses, Move in / Move outs
One time, Weekly, by-weekly or Monthly, Free estimates, call 602-326-2780
Clear Advantage Window Cleaning
Glass Cleaning Specialist performing highest quality detailed PERFECTIONIST work every time. Tracks/Sills/ Screens/Sunscreens cleaned. 15+ yrs. exp. Free Estimate. Owner Operated. Moon Valley Resident. Joe Albert 480 228-5453
Cleaning Services
Professional Deep Cleaning or reoccurring maintenance for Homes, Business, Airbnb, Move in/Move outs
Once, weekly, by-weekly, monthly Free estimates Call Sparklehomeco 480-698-9484
REAL ESTATE MARKET UPDATE
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St or age i s abundant t hr oughout t he home wi t h appr oxi mat el y 200 f eet of i nt er i or s t or age, pl us a t hi r d- car gar age and a l ar ge s i de yar d
The r emodel ed pr i mar y bat hr oom s howcas es l uxur i ous Ar i zona Ti l e por cel ai n f i ni s hes and a mas s i ve wal k- i n s hower wi t h dual s hower heads Addi t i onal hi ghl i ght s i ncl ude doubl e- pane, s ound- r educi ng wi ndows t hr oughout , wi t h a hi g h- per f or mance f r os t ed wi ndow i n t he pr i mar y bat h des i gned f or s uper i or heat and noi s e r educt i on.
The backyar d i s an ent er t ai ner ' s dr eam, f eat ur i ng a pool and a r ai s ed yar d ar ea wi t h unl i mi t ed pot ent i al f or expans i on, an ADU, out door ki t chen, or addi t i onal di ni ng and ent er t ai ni ng s paces Combi ni ng pr i vacy, vi ews , s pace, and t hought f ul upgr ades , t hi s home of f er s a r ar e oppor t uni t y i n one of Moon Val l e y' s mos t des i r abl e s et t i ngs
Si ngl e fami ly Homes Sal es
Pas t 6 mont hs
Tot al Sal es: 46
Average Sal e Pri ce: $793, 547
Average square foot pri ce sol d: $315
Lowes t Sal e Pri ce: $425, 400
Hi ghes t Sal e Pri ce: $2, 900, 000
Average Days on Market: 59
