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AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS www.ahwatukee.com
SUMMER CAMP Special section
Wednesday, March 29, 2017
@AhwatukeeFN |
@AhwatukeeFN
ADOT okays bike path, city widens traffic impact study
AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS BY PAUL MARYNIAK AFN Executive Editor
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chools near 32nd Street in Ahwatukee would be better protected in an emergency, bicyclists will get their longsought path and the city will expand its study of the South Mountain Freeway’s impact on Chandler Boulevard and Ray Road traffic, a group of local officials have announced. That announcement came last week as the Arizona Department of Transportation said half of the “interim Pecos Road” will open Monday, April 3, between 24th and 40th streets as freeway construction activity continues to escalate. Getting cheaper water from the south side of the freeway to Club West’s beleaguered
golf course is the major unresolved issue, and any solution won’t involve ADOT because the state constitution prevents it from doing anything, the officials said. On the other hand, residents who have been grousing about the absence of a 32nd Street interchange with the freeway may one day see that added. Details of the agreement with ADOT were discussed by state Sen. Sean Bowie, state Rep. Jill Norgaard, Phoenix Councilman Sal DiCiccio and Ahwatukee Foothills Village Planning Committee Chairman Chad Blostone. Mike Hinz and Bill Fautsch of the Club West and Foothills HOA boards, respectively, also participated. All six have been meeting with ADOT – and some of them with the city as well –
to resolve a variety of issues created by the impending freeway. “I think we all agree we’re trying to make this freeway more livable,” said Bowie, who has been part of the negotiations since his election last November. Added Norgaard, who has been leading the talks for the local officials: “This has been a long time in the making, and I’m glad we’re seeing it come to fruition.” Blostone said he thinks citizens also had a lot to do with turning the city and ADOT around on some issues.
AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS RATS!
Rodents continue plaguing Ahwatukee
Generosity of parents, strangers helps keep classroom supplied
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TURNING 30
CATHRYN CRENO AFN Contributor
Kyrene de la Colina marks anniversary
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POPPIN’ IN
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Longtime Ahwatukee resident and former professional journalist Cathryn Creno now teaches Spanish in the Kyrene School District. This is the third in her occasional reports on her new career.
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t takes a village to create a successful classroom. In the nine months that I have been teaching at Kyrene Altadeña Middle School, I have been amazed time after time at Ahwatukee Foothills Villagers who have helped me create and maintain my classroom. Donors have ranged from my own students to anonymous
community residents who have responded to Facebook posts requesting supplies. My classroom walls and cupboards were not exactly bare when I arrived at school last July. A former teacher generously left plenty of Spanish books, posters and classroom supplies. But I still needed a few things – items that added up to a substantial credit card bill: Colorful baskets to hold attendance rosters, tests and worksheets; bilingual story books for students who finish their work early; Spanish music CDs; educational posters; heavy cardstock for nametags; See
TEACHER on page 17
100% Gluten-Free ~ Clean ~ Farm-Fresh ~ Delicious (and Paleo)
Bike path hailed by cyclists
The provision for a cycling path marks See
FREEWAY on page 9
A lot of heart
(Lauren Clark/Special to AFN)
Five-year-old Marin Merchant of Ahwatukee was responsible for raising nearly $3,000 for use in classrooms at Estrella Elementary School. Read how she inspired donors on p. 18.
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