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COMMUNITY
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AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS | JANUARY 18, 2017
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Blvd., Ahwatukee, has booked “Moana” on Feb. 3 as part of an event where kids can learn the hula and paint an Hawaiian sunset and has scheduled “Sleeping Beauty” on Feb. 10 to help kids paint pink sparkle hearts before dancing and singing. Both events are 5-7 p.m.; each costs $35 per child. Kids older than 6 can be dropped off while parents can stay with their child no matter what their age. Both events include pizza and bottled water. The studio also is holding a murder mystery dinner catered by Buca di Beppo Restaurant at 6:30 p.m. Feb. 4. Tickets are $58. To reserve for any of these three events: 480-247-6689 or beanartistaz.com/ registration-form. Studio owner Sandra Marshall is holding a signing for her new book, “One Hot Night at the Veggie Bar,” 6-7 p.m. this Friday.
Best school nurse contest seeks nominations in Ahwatukee
Children’s Advil, Children’s Robitussin and Children’s Dimetapp have launched a nationwide contest to find “America’s Greatest School Nurse.”
Nominations are being accepted nationwide now through Feb. 23 for everyone. Once a finalist is chosen from each state, there will be a round of voting through mid-April. Information: AmericasGreatestSchoolNurse.com.
It has scheduled a Super Citrus Saturday on Jan. 28. from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. for residents to drop off their fruit for a taxdeductible donation. The nearest drop-off location to Ahwatukee is at the food bank’s main location, 2831 N. 31st Ave., Phoenix.
Inspire Kids Montessori center slates open house Friday
Inspire Kids Montessori, 4025 E. Chandler Blvd., Ahwatukee, will hold an open house 9-11 a.m. Friday. Visitors can learn about its early education programs for ages 3-6 years as well as a curriculum that introduces them to reading, writing, math, science and social skills— including manners and practical life skills. Other programs are available for toddlers. Discounts will be provided to parents who register their child during the event. Information: inspirekidsmontessori.com or 480-659-9402.
St. Mary’s Food Bank seeks excess citrus for the needy
St. Mary’s Food Bank Alliance is hoping Ahwatukee residents will share oranges, grapefruit and other excess citrus from their trees with needy individuals and families especially now that Arizona’s quarantine has been extended statewide.
God’s Garden seeks help and vendors for Transportation Day
God’s Garden Preschool at Horizon Presbyterian Church, 1401 E. Liberty Lane, Ahwatukee, isn’t wasting any time ramping up for its popular Transportation Day 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Feb. 25. Thousands of kids and their parents descend on the school’s parking lot, where more than 40 vehicles, ranging from go-karts to firetrucks, are on display for them to explore. Over the years, it has grown to include activities for kids of all ages, including live entertainment, inflatable bouncers and carnival games, raffle baskets, and boutique and food vendors. There is no price for admission, but a portion of all the funds collected support the school’s students and education program. More than 4,000 people attended last year. The school is currently signing up vendors and looking for sponsors as well as donations
Free-roaming cat stirs fears for birds in Ahwatukee neighborhood RYBERGS AFN NEWS STAFF
E
ileen Holloway has for weeks been watching a well-kept cat circling around her backyard near the South Mountain Preserve in Ahwatukee, nailing smaller birds and running away from larger ones. It reminds her of a dual danger involving cats whose owners allow them the run of any Ahwatukee neighborhood. Both those felines and the birds they prey on are exposed to injury and, more likely, death, she fears. “That hawk sitting on the wall and watching your cat isn’t doing that because it think’s the cat’s pretty,” Holloway said. Moreover, she cites a recent report by the American Bird Conservancy that says when it comes to cats and birds, “The combination can be disastrous.” “Although domestic cats can make wonderful pets, they threaten birds and other wildlife and disrupt ecosystems,” the conservancy says, calling predatory actions by domestic cats comprise “the number-one direct, human-caused threat to birds in the United States and Canada.” “In the United States alone, outdoor cats kill approximately 2.4 billion birds
Milenio Elementary School is still collecting shoes until Jan. 30
The Milenio Elementary PTO is collecting new and gently worn used shoes to raise money for student classrooms and learning materials. The shoes are sold to “micro-enterprise" vendors, small businesses in developing nations that are typically owned by individuals or families. The drive extends through Jan. 30. Shoes can be dropped off at the front office, 4630 E. Frye Road, Ahwatukee.
Do you have Community News? Updates? Write pmaryniak@ ahwatukee.com or call 480-898-5647.
BONNY HOLLAND
as stalking grounds and on several occasions, it has walked around with a bird carcass between its teeth. “As this land behind us is preserve, we can’t really control the environment but this is obviously a very well cared for, rather large beautiful cat who seriously isn’t doing this for food,” Holloway said. The cat is at risk as well. “We had a huge Cooper’s Hawk hunting off of our back fence into the preserve,” she recalled. “We have had neighbors who have lost cats and this time of year, we also have a lot of Great Horned Owls which consider cat ‘bacon.’ It is reckless for a responsible pet owner to allow their cat outside in this area. “And don’t get me started on all the coyotes which we see and hear almost every day in the back,” she added. “The cat is not going to survive.” Although she considers the feline “lethal to our wildlife” that abounds around her home, Holloway said, “I don’t blame the cat at all .. it is doing what cats do.” “I doubt the owner is even considering that their beautiful boy is out slaughtering birds in his neighborhood,” she added. “I just wish people would be more responsible pet owners.”
enough donations for the family to buy a small shuttle bus with a wheelchair lift. The site is at tinyurl.com/RybergFamily. Currently, the campaign is at more than $50,000 of its $75,000 goal. At first, he didn’t want to create the campaign. But now Nathan is heartened to see how the community has supported his family, which might spark others to adopt or take part in foster care. “That’s a great community thing,” said Nathan, “The community rallies together and that could encourage more people to do this.” Nathan and Lori have decided to keep their doors open for now. “We have a huge gap between my 2and 12-year-old. We’re still parenting. We’re not going to stop,” said Lori. Nathan and Lori don’t see their children as harder to parent than “typical” kids. Lori said she knows plenty of families who struggle with their own issues, so they don’t see their family as out of the ordinary. “We know tons of families who have more kids than us,” said Nathan, “In our world, it seems normal.”
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every year. Although this number may seem unbelievable, it represents the combined impact of tens of millions of outdoor cats. Each outdoor cat plays a part,” the report states. Neither the conservancy nor Holloway are cat-haters. Holloway has three of her own “and they have been trained not to go outside.” “We have cultivated a ‘fear of outside’ in them so they don’t make any efforts to escape,” she added. The conservancy blames cats for the extinction of entire species of birds. “When a cat plays with a feather toy or laser, it is practicing predatory behaviors,” it says. “When these behaviors continue outdoors, the results are deadly for birds and other wildlife. “Unfortunately, the mere presence of cats outdoors is enough to cause significant impacts to birds. Because cats are recognizable predators, their presence near nesting birds has been shown to reduce the health of chicks and decrease nest success,” the conservancy adds. Holloway said that with nesting season almost here, the cats pose an even greater danger to the local bird population. She said the cat has used her backyard
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JANUARY 18, 2017 | AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS
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