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Mecum Auctions return to State Farm Stadium

BY GLENDALE STAR STAFF

Mecum Auctions, the world’s largest collector car auction company, returns to State Farm Stadium from Wednesday, March 16, to Saturday, March 19, for its fourth annual auction in Glendale, with an estimated 1,500 vehicles and nearly 200 pieces of road art and memorabilia items to be offered.

Among the highlights is a pair of Ford GTs, the fi rst being a 2006 Ford GT (Lot R160) that was previously owned by NFL Hall of Famer John Elway. Cloaked in yellow with the optional black stripes and a black interior, the GT is offered at no reserve with just 232 miles on the odometer. The other is a 2020 Ford GT (Lot R305) that is fi nished in Triple Yellow Tri-Coat with Shadow Black overtop stripes — an optional color scheme that costs $17,500 — and shows just 1,270 miles on the odometer.

Other main attractions include a Ferrari Classiche-certifi ed 1967 Ferrari 275 GTB/4 (Lot R322), S/N 9495 and Scaglietti Body No. A0037, with a correct 3286cc four-cam V-12 engine that is believed to be one of only two spare engines produced by the factory; research suggests that it was mounted on the chassis in the late 1960s.

The Glendale auction will additionally feature a 1929 Duesenberg Model J Murphy Convertible Coupe (Lot R430), J-142/2165, that was the recipient of an AACA National First Prize and ACD Category 1 certifi cation, and it’s powered by a 420/265 HP Lycoming inline eight-cylinder engine and three-speed manual transmission.

The auction will also be highlighted by several private collections, including the Hooked on Vettes Collection of 13 top-shelf Corvettes from collector Michael Brown featuring a 1954 Chevrolet Corvette Roadster (Lot R103) that is one of four fi nished in black, a 1963 Chevrolet Corvette Split Window Coupe (Lot R106), a 1967 Chevrolet Corvette Convertible (Lot R109) with a matching-numbers 427/435 HP Tri-Power V-8 and a 2020 Chevrolet Corvette Coupe (Lot R115) with just 1,639 miles and the Z51 package, to name just a few. The collection will also feature a truly impressive selection of nearly 200 large-scale neon signs ranging from neon advertising for dealership and automotive brands to restaurants, gas stations, radios and more.

The Mile High Collection will bring a Ford- and Shelby-heavy selection to the Glendale auction block, ranging from a 1969 Shelby GT500 Fastback (Lot R138) and a 1969 Ford Mustang Mach 1 Fastback (Lot R136) with the 428 Super Cobra Jet and Drag Pack, to a 2020 Ford Shelby Signature Series (Lot R162) with just 103 miles on the odometer, the Elway GT (Lot R160) and more. The collection isn’t limited to Fords though, as it also packs a punch from the Mopar stables, including vehicles like a 2020 Dodge Challenger 50th Anniversary Limited Edition (Lot R146) and a 32-mile 2021 Dodge Durango SRT Hellcat (R145).

Bidder registration for Mecum Glendale 2022 is available in advance online at mecum.com and on-site at the auction for $200, and it includes admission for two to all four auction days. For those unable to attend in person, enhanced remote bidding options are also available, with options for both online and telephone bidding.

(Photos by Mecum Auctions)

Mecum Glendale 2022

WHEN: Doors open at 8 a.m. Wednesday, March 16, to Saturday, March 19 WHERE: State Farm Stadium, 1 Cardinals Drive, Glendale COST: Spectator tickets are $20 in advance online, and $30 at the door and online after March 15, per person, per day; children 12 and younger receive complimentary admission INFO: mecum.com

Ninth annual Hike for Hope benefi ts Billy’s Place

BY GLENDALE STAR STAFF

The ninth annual Hike for Hope, Rocking through Grief, benefi ting Billy’s Place, is set for 8 a.m. Saturday, April 2.

It will start and fi nish at Copper Hills Church near Sunrise Mountain, 27035 N. Black Rock Road in Peoria, and will feature therapy animals, music, raffl es and other activities.

All hikers will start at the registration table between 8 a.m. and 10 a.m. They will then move through the activities and the self-guided hike with their group at their own pace.

The closing ceremonies and raffl e winners will be announced in person at 11 a.m. Advance registration is required to ensure a T-shirt; however, participants can register until the start of the hike.

Sponsorship opportunities are available for the event as well.

The Glendale-based Billy’s Place is a safe community for grieving kids and families in the West Valley. Several free peer support/education groups are offered for children ages 3 to 30 and their family members.

The groups are open to those who have experienced the death of a mom, dad, brother, sister or primary caregiver.

Participants take part in activities that are designed to help them discuss death through their play, art, storytelling, music and talking.

“Our community has been so supportive of Billy’s Place while helping those who are struggling with grief,” founder Juli McGreal said.

“This hike is such a great way to be outside, enjoy time with family and friends, and memorialize your special person.”

To register for the Hike for Hope, Rocking through Grief, visit billysplace.me.

Axis for Autism provides access to testing, care

BY ALLISON BROWN Glendale Star Staff Writer

Axis for Autism is helping families awaiting an autism spectrum diagnosis to be seen sooner, allowing for faster access to life-changing therapies.

The platform has found a way to combine “tech and touch” to streamline the process of getting a diagnosis for children, youth and adults. Without it, families could be waiting for over a year and paying thousands of dollars out of pocket.

“Currently, the way things are working is typical people would go see a psychologist to get an evaluation, and oftentimes the wait times are over a year,” said Christine Ehrich, founder and CEO of Axis for Autism. “Some families can afford $2,500 out of pocket to pay for an evaluation, but if you want to use your commercial insurance or Medicaid plan, it’s a crazy long waitlist. So, it’s really hard for families to get in and do what they need to do for their child or their adults. There aren’t enough providers, and there are thousands of kids waiting. It’s not a great situation for Arizona.”

With its new model, Axis for Autism cuts the wait time down to fewer than 60 days. The company can conduct up to 500 evaluations a month. Some providers charge up to $4,500 for screenings and don’t accept health insurance, but Axis for Autism is covered by commercial insurers and Medicaid. For those needing to pay cash, the cost is $1,700.

The process starts once an intake form is fi lled out online or a physician makes a referral. Ehrich said someone from the company will call within 48 hours and do a free screening. From there, if deemed appropriate, an in-person evaluation will be done in one of its three offi ces in Central Phoenix, Glendale or Tucson. The evaluation is done by a psychologist and typically takes about an hour. Within two weeks of the evaluation, the psychologist will reach back out to the family via Zoom to go over the results and talk about the next steps, such as medication or therapy.

One of the ways Axis for Autism can shorten wait times is by enlisting a large network of psychologists. Enrich said some are full time, some are part time and some even may have their own private practice but offer to contribute 10 or 12 hours a month just to help. Most psychologists want to help, according to Ehrich, and Axis for Autism makes it easier by not having specifi c requirements for time put in; anything they can contribute helps.

The platform is also popular with psychologists because it uses technology to help with the paperwork so they can do more of what they love.

“Previously, it would take fi ve or six hours for a psychologist to do the report,” Ehrich said. “Through our technology and with the psychologists using that, it only takes them an hour. It just makes everything faster, and it allows them to work at the top of their license, which they really like.”

Because of its vast network of psychologists, Axis for Autism can also pair patients with someone who is specialized in working with their age group or particular needs for a more personalized experience.

So, how does all this really make a difference? Ehrich said the biggest impact comes from gaining access to therapy. Once patients receive a diagnosis, they aren’t just checked off the list. The psychologist will do a “warm handoff” to therapy, which helps get the patient in more quickly and ensures the therapist is matched to the family’s needs.

More than getting people into therapy, Ehrich said Axis for Autism is also in the process of monitoring the outcomes of therapy, to see what physicians or what treatments seem to work better. While this is still in the works, it will eventually ensure those with autism spectrum disorder get the best care available to them.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, autism spectrum disorder affects about 1 in 44 children in the United States. In Arizona, the average age of diagnosis is four years and 10 months, but one of the goals of Axis for Autism is to get that down to 2 years old for better outcomes. Ehrich said getting into therapy earlier can have a much bigger impact than most people realize.

“If you can get a diagnosis early, around 2 years old, you can signifi cantly impact the short- and long-term outcomes for your child,” she said. “The brain is very neuroplastic when you’re 1 1/2 or 2 years of age, and if you get therapies on board, you can make a huge difference in your child’s life. So, it’s really important to have access to testing early on in the process.”

Axis for Autism is all about access — making sure everyone has access to the care they need in a timely manner and for a reasonable price. In fact, Ehrich said accessibility is one of the reasons the company wanted to have the Glendale offi ce.

“Glendale is 40% Latino, and a lot of times when people are getting an evaluation, there is a language barrier, and we really need someone who speaks the language or can interpret, so we have bilingual staff at every one of our offi ces,” she explained.

“We’re very committed to helping everyone, and I think that’s something that’s not been available. There have been both economic disparities as well as ethnic disparities.”

For more information, visit axisforautism.com.

Axis for Autism’s onehour evaluation feels like play to children but uses multiple scientifi cally validated diagnostic tools. (Submitted photo)