www.ahwatukee.com
Wednesday, April 12, 2017
Only one adult gets to be the Easter Parade bunny
BY COTY DOLORES MIRANDA AFN Contributor
The 41st annual Ahwatukee Kiwanis
Easter Parade steps off Saturday with one Easter bunny – and only one.
AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS
Limiting the parade to one adult-sized Easter bunny is a policy that the sponsoring Kiwanis Club of Ahwatukee is firm on – as one costumed adult discovered a few years back.
“About three years ago, when Vision Community Management became the grand sponsor, they supplied the Official Easter Bunny. That was the year that we had an intimate conversation with an unofficial Easter bunny, who then left her float for other pursuits,” laughed
High-end
BY PAUL MARYNIAK AFN Executive Editor
AMike Schmitt, Easter Parade Boss and longtime Kiwanian. Schmitt originated the term “Official Easter Bunny” in 2012 after it became a sponsored position.
And then the unthinkable happened that year: seven full-size bunnies appeared on the scene – enough to make the Official Easter Bunny nearly hopping mad.
To ensure against another proliferation of faux rabbits, the parade entry form now warns: “The ‘Official Easter Bunny’ is a parade sponsor, so no other adult-sized Easter bunny costumes, please.”
AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS
luxury homes hitting the Ahwatukee market
hwatukee may be on the verge of a 21st century kind of gold rush. Suddenly, high-end luxury homes – at least a half dozen with multimilliondollar price tags – are hitting the market as the spring buying season peaks.
Within the last five weeks or so, “For sale” signs have sprouted up at two homes priced at $6.5 million; at least four houses carrying $2 million price tags have gone on the market; five homes closed for prices between $1.2 million and $1.8 million. Four of those deals occurred last month.
“It’s very interesting,” said Ahwatukee Realtor Bonny Holland, who specializes in luxury homes and was the agent who sold two of the million-plus homes last month.
“It’s good to see and exciting to see those numbers,” she added.
Realtor Pam Eagan, who represents the seller of the latest $6.5 million Ahwatukee house to hit the market, thinks several factors are at play.
“The older the subdivision, the more valuable it gets as years go on,” said Eagan, who has been selling homes in the community for 33 of the 36 years she has lived in Ahwatukee.
Couple that with extensive remodeling
undertaken at some of these luxury homes, sellers think now is the time to act before rising mortgage interest rates get too high for buyers looking to move up.
“So now these homes look like new and they’re in an old prime location like Ahwatukee,” she said.
Since 2000, only 17 homes in Ahwatukee have sold for more than $2 million – and most of those sales were before 2010. Only three deals worth more than $2 million have closed since 2011, according to Holland and Mike Orr, a former Arizona State University housing market analyst whose Cromford
See LUXURY on page 14
(Special to AFN)
Keeping tradition, only one adult bunny will be allowed to march in the Ahwatukee Kiwanis Easter Parade when it rolls out for the 41st consecutive year on Saturday,
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(Kimberly Carrillo/AFN Staff Photographer)
Cecily Dunham and her son Logan hold the roller coaster project that a Kyrene school bus driver said was too big to take aboard. Logan, who worked on the project with eight classmates, walked home three miles from Akimel A-al Middle School because the driver wouldn’t let him aboard with it.
Bus driver refuses to let boy, 12, on board, calls class project too big
BY PAUL MARYNIAK AFN Executive Editor
A12-year-old Ahwatukee middle-school student walked three miles home after school last week because his bus driver said his classroom project was too big to take aboard.
Logan Dunham walked from Akimel A-al Middle School on East Liberty Lane between 32nd and 24th streets to his home near 44th Street and Frye Road carrying a paper roller coaster that he and eight other classmates had built for their engineering class.
His mother, Cecily Dunham, said she doesn’t understand why the bus driver gave no instructions to Logan, who does not have a cell phone.
“I don’t know how a bus driver can deny a student from coming on board without giving any warning to a parent or directions to the student to go to the office,” she said.
Dunham said she was worried sick when Logan failed to show up at home within the approximate 25 minutes it usually takes for the bus to drop him off after school.
“I called the school first because the buses have been late before,” she said.
After checking, the school’s front office said he hadn’t made the bus.
One hour and 15 minutes after the school day ended, Dunham saw her son walking down the street after she had called police and a neighbor was getting ready to drive around the neighborhood looking for him.
“His first words were, ‘I’m sorry, Mommy. They wouldn’t let me on the bus,’” Dunham said.
She called off the police, then called the front office back to tell them Logan had finally shown up.
Close-out Specials!!
Her call went to voice mail.
Dunham said that the other classmates who had worked with Logan to build the roller coaster didn’t want it. “So, my son decided to take it,” she said. “He can be a little pack rat.”
Although he was “upset and tired” that afternoon, Logan went to school the next day.
Akimel principal Stephanie Phillips called Dunham the next morning to see if Logan was okay and told her the unidentified bus driver’s handling of the situation was a matter for the Kyrene School District’s transportation department.
That still left Dunham unable to understand why the driver never told Logan to go to the main office – and why the driver considered the roller coaster too big to be on board.
“What about kids in band who bring a tuba on the bus?” Dunham wondered.
“I understand that a lot of the problem falls on the Kyrene School transportation department and not on the school directly,” Dunham said, adding she hoped district officials will “change the protocol so that this does not happen again.
“I understand that this cannot be
resolved overnight, but Principal Phillips is working to ensure that this does not happen again,” she added.
District spokeswoman Nancy Dudenhoefer said steps were being taken immediately and that bus drivers would be retrained on how to handle students who try to board with large objects.
She said the roller coaster would have had to occupy a seat and the bus was full.
“It was not possible to accommodate the large project and still safely seat all the riders. However, the driver should have informed the school’s front office or the dispatch office giving the school the opportunity to determine with the parent the appropriate method for getting the project home,” she said, adding:
“The driver made an error by not instructing the student to go to school office and work with staff and parent on transportation and by not informing dispatch regarding the student not getting on the bus.”
She also said the driver would be disciplined. “When personnel make errors in judgment,” she said, “appropriate disciplinary actions are taken but not disclosed publicly.”
“We are very sorry the student was not given the appropriate direction to return to the school office,” Dudenhoefer added.
SUMMER FUN
Senators question FAA over flight-path changes as court hears arguments
Ahwatukee residents who have been waiting for the courts or federal administrators to do something about the noise from commercial airliners leaving and heading to Sky Harbor International Airport apparently will have to wait longer.
A federal appeals court in Washington, D.C., finally heard oral arguments in the City of Phoenix’s lawsuit against the Federal Aviation Administration but gave no indication when it might rule on the two-and-ahalf-year-old case.
And the FAA has yet to respond to a new federal law requiring it to review the kind of flight path changes it made for Sky Harbor flights that created the problem for some Ahwatukee residents in the fall of 2014.
Even Arizona’s two U.S. senators are frustrated.
Sen. John McCain and Sen. Jeff Flake last week sent a joint letter to FAA Administrator Michael Huerta
requesting an update on the agency’s implementation of a provision in the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2017 that requires it to review flight-path changes at airports Sky Harbor, and mitigate any negative effects of these changes on local communities.
McCain and Flake sponsored the provision in response to Phoenix citizens’ complaints about an increase in flight noise as a result of flight-path changes made without consultation with the community.
“As you are aware, the flight-path changes implemented at Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport in 2014 affected a significant number of residents and businesses near the airport,” the senators wrote.
“The changes in flight patterns caused an increase in the frequency of overhead flights, ultimately leading to an escalation in flight noise,” they added, stating:
“Many of our constituents who live and work near Sky Harbor airport were understandably frustrated
with the FAA’s lack of engagement with the community prior to the implementation of these changes… It is important the FAA follow the instruction in the NDAA and work to improve community outreach and participation in flight-path changes.”
Huerta has not responded to the letter.
Last month, Phoenix finally got its day in court over the flight-path changes, which it contends violated requirements to confer with residents.
Several historic neighborhoods in Phoenix have joined the suit, saying planes can be heard from early morning until after midnight.
The hardest hit part of Ahwatukee is in the far west, at the end of Pecos Road, where some residents say the noise is almost incessant from sunrise to well past sundown.
“Phoenix is the only city in the country that had flight paths moved overnight, without any formal community notification,” said Jim Bennett, Phoenix director of aviation services. “We would like to see the
FAA conduct a full environmental assessment of the flight-path changes, as the agency should have done prior to moving the routes in September 2014.”
While a low-level Phoenix employee was informally advised of the FAA intentions, no formal notification was given to Phoenix aviation officials at any time, Bennett said.
“We are here today because the FAA did not follow its own rules when it abruptly changed flight paths,” said Bennett. “This has caused severe consequences to our community and to quality of life in the city of Phoenix and the metropolitan area.”
Since the FAA changed the flight paths over Phoenix, noise complaints at Sky Harbor have soared from 200 in 2013 to 80,000 since the new flight paths were implemented in September 2014.
McCain and Flake raised four questions with Huerta that demanded a full accounting the agency’s response to the federal law and a timeline for completing the review.
Feds schedule water permit hearing for freeway
As work crews continue to straighten out problems involving the interim Pecos Road, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers announced it will hold a public hearing next month on a permit needed for the South Mountain Freeway.
The hearing – 6-9 p.m. May 9 at the Boys and Girls Club of the East Valley, Gila River Branch-Komatke, 5047 West Pecos Road, Laveen – won’t slow down construction, the Arizona Department of Transportation said in a release last week.
“The project remains on track for completion in late 2019,” ADOT said, adding its “project team will move forward with other construction while the May 9 hearing is pending.”
“Along the 22-mile South Mountain Freeway corridor, these areas, including the Salt River, various washes and a conveyance channel in Laveen, are being been roped off and identified by signs saying “Waters of the United States,’” ADOT said.
The Gila River Indian Community early last year requested the hearing, which the Corps of Engineers has the discretion to hold.
“ADOT has worked closely with stakeholders to plan a South Mountain Freeway that not only meets strict environmental standards but also addresses one of the most critical transportation needs in the Valley: an east-west alternative to Interstate 10 through downtown Phoenix,” the department said in a release, saying its 13-year analysis was “the most extensive environmental review of any highway project to date in Arizona.”
That position is at the heart of the
Any work occurring in a designated waterway that falls under the jurisdiction of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Environmental Protection Agency requires a so-called Section 404 Clean Water Act permit.
appeal by the Gila Community and Ahwatukee-based Protect Arizona’s Resources and Children, which is attempting to stop the freeway’s construction.
They are asking the U.S. District Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit to overturn a federal judge’s finding that ADOT and the Federal Highway Administration complied with all environmental regulations when the agencies planned the freeway.
Meanwhile, ADOT and freeway develop Connect202Partners are continuing to field complaints from motorists and residents about overnight construction noise and the condition of the interim Pecos Road between 24th and 40th streets in Ahwatukee.
“My experience was one of the most frightening driving situations ever,” one motorist wrote on social media about the road as he recounted how the glare of the rising morning sun blotted out lane markings and signs on the new road.
“What you could see was the sun reflecting off the old tar lines from previous repair of Pecos,” he said. “Those lines appeared to look like the road was straight, but it wasn’t. The next thing I saw was a car coming straight at mine. Thankfully nothing happened, but it was close. ADOT needs to make a lane divider separating the two directions of traffic or there is bound to be a serious head-on.”
ADOT has stated it and the freeway developer are continuing to upgrade signage and road striping along the makeshift interim roadway, and reduce long traffic jams on 40th Street and Pecos Road.
“I completely agree that what happened on Pecos Road this past week is not safe and not conducive to allowing traffic to get through,” city Councilman Sal DiCiccio posted on Facebook Friday, adding that ADOT told him it had made some improvements last week and would be continuing this week.
Ahwatukee Foothills
Carbrillo Canyon
Foothills
Foothills
BUNNY
Kid-size bunnies or bunny-ears headbands or hats are welcome.
Just leave the adult-size Easter bunny costume at home so the official hare – sponsored again this year by Vision Community Management – can shine in pink-tinged ears and fuzzy whiteness, shaking paws with parade goers and posing for cellphone selfies.
As the parade’s grand sponsor for the fifth year, Ahwatukee-based Vision Community Management, which manages HOA communities, is the caretaker of the Official Easter Bunny.
According to Vision Community Management’s CEO, Darin Fisher, being the big bunny is both an honor and an uncomfortable experience.
With warm-to-hot temperatures on parade day, former bunnies said, the plush head-to-toe suit can become a challenge.
Making a cool bunny
So Fisher had an idea.
“It can be very warm in that costume,” agreed Fisher. “While we had previously rented the bunny suit and other characters featured on our floats each year, we finally purchased our own.
“The new suit has secret areas inside to hold ice packs as well as cleverly disguised venting solutions,” he explained. “And we have been very careful to never allow parade watchers, particularly the kids, to see the Easter bunny unmasked or lifting up the head to cool down and hydrate.”
Tempe-based Brewer’s Air Conditioning & Heating was a long-time parade sponsor beginning in 1982, when it was owned by Ahwatukee resident Jerry Brewer.
Arcadia Place – Chandler
Dobson Ranch – Regency Estates
When it was sold, new owners Dale Falk and Tim Riley, a Kiwanis of Ahwatukee member, kept the tradition alive. Falk has since retired from the company.
The Official Easter Bunny costume was occupied various years by Brewer, Riley, employees and even Riley’s daughters.
“I did the suit two or three years out of the last 15,” said Riley. “Jerry used to be the bunny when I first started but then he let employees and their children do the honor. My daughters did it once as well.”
Those who have shared the honor of striding the mile north on 48th Street as the Official Easter Bunny for the Kiwanis Easter Parade recall the joy on the faces of
children and adults.
“Our bunny doesn’t remain seated on the float, instead opting to work the crowd, pose for pictures and light up as many faces as possible,” said Fisher, Fisher’s business is heavily involved in community activities, and he is a founding director of the Ahwatukee Chamber Community Foundation.
Riley said photo ops are a fun part of the bunny gig.
“I did several photo ops at different times, and that was always a pleasure. You’d be surprised to see how many adults wanted their photo with the bunny more so than the kids!” recalled Riley. “They were all wonderful experiences to see the looks on kids’ faces.”
Spring Fling caps the march
Heading the post-parade Spring Fling for the 15th year is Kiwanis Club member Andi Pettyjohn.
“The Spring Fling Carnival and Craft Fair seems to get bigger and better every year. This is the 17th year that the Kiwanis Club of Ahwatukee has sponsored the Easter Parade and Spring Fling,” she said. Open to 5 p.m., it offers entertainment for kids and adults.
Entry is free but carnival rides, the Easter Egg Hunt and food and drinks require the purchase of tickets.
“The event is the largest fundraiser of the year for the Ahwatukee Kiwanis Club and takes months of planning and organization,” Pettyjohn said, adding:
“A very popular event with Ahwatukee families, it’s so much fun to see so many community members gather together for an afternoon of fun.”
The egg hunts comprise more than 30 pounds of candy encased in plastic eggs and are held throughout the day, as carnival rides and games keep youngsters happy.
Up to 60 local merchants, crafters, food and drink booths and live onstage entertainment keep adults amused.
The Kiwanis Easter Parade and the Spring Fling are organized by the 27-member Kiwanis Club of Ahwatukee with proceeds earmarked for community and Kiwanis charities. Local Key Clubs from Desert Vista and Mountain Pointe High Schools assist with the Spring Fling.
-Info: AhwatukeeEasterParade. com.
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Montgomery urges Ducey to veto forfeiture law changes
BY HOWARD FISCHER Capitol Media Services
Maricopa County Attorney
Bill Montgomery is asking Gov. Doug Ducey to veto legislation to make it more difficult for him and other prosecutors to seize property unless changes are made in the measure.
And the governor said he is listening. Montgomery told Capitol Media Services last week he does not believe it is necessary to change the law so that a judge would have to find there is “clear and convincing evidence’’ that the cash or property a prosecutor wants to take is linked to a crime before it must be forfeited to the state.
He said the entire controversy has been “generated by groups on the right who have also used it for fundraising.’’
The county attorney said there’s nothing wrong with the current “preponderance of the evidence’’ standard, even though that is far easier to prove. Some proponents of the change said the higher standard is appropriate, especially as there is no requirement of
prosecutors to actually charge anyone with a crime.
“That’s usually from very narrow minds who couldn’t understand that the entire focus of a process like this is on the property, not the person,’’ Montgomery said.
Montgomery did not name names. But the legislation was supported by a broad spectrum of groups, ranging from the American Civil Liberties Union to the Free Enterprise Club, the Institute for Justice, the Goldwater Institute and Americans for Prosperity.
Montgomery insisted the real reason he wants a veto is because HB 2477 would give each county’s board of supervisors the power to approve or veto how the proceeds are spent and because supervisors could hire another attorney to advise them on how the elected county attorney should be spending the cash.
Rep. Eddie Farnsworth, R-Gilbert, who crafted the legislation, rejected Montgomery’s contention.
“If you’re going to have a board that has oversight, it makes absolutely no sense that the person they have oversight of gets to choose who’s going to give
them the legal advice to decide if they’re engaging in lawful practices,’’ Farnsworth said.
Montgomery also complained about new reporting requirements in the statute, detailing how prosecutors – and the police agencies that work with them – are spending their money. He said the kind of detail that would have to be produced in formal reports “really reflects the incompetence of some of these groups in being able to file a proper public records request.’’
“If it turns out to be overly burdensome, then we’ll have to figure something out,’’ he said.
The governor, for his part, said he wants to see some sort of legislation.
“I think this is an area of law in need of reform,’’ Ducey said.
But Ducey said he is getting lobbied by prosecutors to quash the measure if it arrives on his desk in its current form.
And he would not say whether he is willing to sign this legislation. which was approved unanimously by both the House and Senate.
“I’ve heard from people I respect on both sides who I think are making very significant points,’’ the governor said, adding “I want to get deeper into the weeds on’ the measure.’
(Special to AFN)
Maricopa County Attorney Bill Montgomery has been arm-twisting the governor to veto a bill that would sharply curtail state prosecutors’ powers to seize property from suspected criminals even if they are never even arrested.
Despondent Bowie apologizes to constituents over voucher bill passage
Ahwatukee’s two legislators were on opposite ends of the debate over Arizona’s universal voucher plan approved last week – and the one on the losing side on Monday apologized to his constituents for its passage.
Republican state Rep. Jill Norgaard cast her vote in favor of the bill, which got the bare minimum 31 votes it needed to passage in the state House, while Democrat Sen. Sean Bowie’s vote against it still couldn’t stop it from getting the minimum 16 votes it needed for Senate approval.
Bowie said that after the vote on Thursday, April 6, “I honestly questioned whether politics was worth it anymore.”
Noting he opposed expansion of Arizona’s voucher system, he said, “The premise – that public dollars would be used to fund private education, with far less oversight and accountability than public schools, with the dollars largely going to high income households –struck me as troublesome.”
“After all we’ve achieved over the years, and all the work we’ve put in to get here,
if we can’t stop the bills that mean the most to us, what’s next? And is it worth the fight and the sacrifice?” he wrote in his weekly letter to constituents.
“I’m still questioning it as I type this,” Bowie continued. “I love my job, love representing my district, and love working on good public policy that helps our state. At the same time, when you put your heart and soul into something every single day, and worked really, really hard to get here, defeat hurts. A lot.
“To everyone who followed the vote on Thursday, I’m sorry we let you down. I’m sorry we couldn’t round up the votes to defeat the bill. I’m sorry we didn’t win enough seats in the election last year to prevent bills like this from passing.”
Norgaard said she felt a compromise amendment crafted by state Sen. Bob Worsely eased her concerns.
“District 18 has fantastic teachers in district public, district charter, online and private schools,” she said, adding:
“I find it unlikely that there will be a mass exodus from our district schools in that our students’ needs are being met there...To assert that the public district and charter schools in LD18 are going to
be decimated is not a real fear.”
Meanwhile, an architect of the measure was already looking last week to undermine the key provision of the compromise that secured the votes for the programs expansion.
In a message to financial supporters late Thursday, Darcy Olsen, chief executive officer of the Goldwater Institute, said those who want to give more state money so parents can send their children to private and parochial schools should not be dismayed about the enrollment cap of about 30,000 that is in the final version of the bill.
“We will get it lifted,’’ Olsen said.
Olsen didn’t even wait until Gov. Doug Ducey had penned his approval hours later to the delicately crafted deal, a deal in which the Goldwater Institute participated.
The comments angered Sen. Bob Worsley, R-Mesa, who brought all the interests together and corralled the votes.
“I just think it’s deplorable that she would put that in print,’’ he told Capitol Media Services. And Worsley said what’s worse is that Olsen was involved in the talks.
“She was negotiating in bad faith with us if that was her intention,’’ he said. Olsen was not available to comment. In her place, Goldwater President Victor Riches told Capitol Media Services that her message, meant for long-time donors, should not be taken as a vow to start working to remove the caps – at least not yet.
“It was probably not very artfully worded, I would say,’’ Riches said.
But Riches, who acknowledged Goldwater’s role in the final deal, would not commit to waiting that full six years the deal limits enrollment before trying to get the cap removed.
“We’re not interested in making any changes right now,’’ he said, adding that he could foresee a scenario where waiting makes no sense.
“Let’s just say the present cap is hit and there is 20,000 people on the equivalent of a wait list,’’ he said. “Would we want to reevaluate that? Yes.’’
Worsley said that is directly contrary to the whole purpose of cap, which would be about 30,000 by the 2022-
See VOUCHERS on page 13
2023 school year. He said the next six years are designed to be an “experiment’’ to see if it’s appropriate to keep the cap, increase it, or get rid of it entirely.
He said the six-year period gives the Goldwater Institute and other supporters of vouchers “plenty of freedom’’ to make the case for further expansion.
And Worsley had a message for the institute and anyone else who intends to try to make changes before then: “That will not happen while I’m in the legislature.’
But here’s the thing: With term limits, Worsley can serve in the Senate only through 2020.
Someone who could be here longer is Ducey. If reelected next year, his term would run through 2022.
What makes Ducey’s views so significant is that the ability of Olsen to pull apart the deal and scrap the caps could be dependent on whether the governor goes along.
The Goldwater Institute has links with the governor.
Riches had previously been Ducey’s deputy chief of staff. Christina Corieri, Ducey’s education policy, came from the Goldwater Institute.
Ducey apped Clint Bolick, Goldwater’s vice president for litigation, as his first pick for the Arizona Supreme Court.
The caps Worsley wants protected are the centerpiece of the deal.
Arizona has had vouchers since 2011 when lawmakers agreed to give money to parents of students with special needs who say their youngsters cannot get their needs met in public schools. Since then there has been incremental expansion to cover children on Indian reservations, students in schools rated D and F and foster care children.
All along, there have been caps, currently about 5,000 students a year, though only about 3,800 have enrolled.
Those caps, however, had been set to self-destruct after 2019.
Sen. Debbie Lesko, R-Peoria, sought to remove all those limits on who was eligible, entitling 1.1 million students in Arizona to a state-funded voucher, formally known as an “empowerment scholarship account,’’ to attend a private or parochial school.
That proved unpalatable to a majority of lawmakers.
The new law Worsley shepherded through the legislature on Thursday phases out all of the restrictions between now and 20201 on who can seek a voucher.
On paper, that would make all public school students eligible for a voucher. But under the deal, the caps would remain, though they would increase slowly to about 30,000 by the 20222023 school year.
-Capitol Media Services contributed to this report.
(Special to AFN)
State Sen. Sean Bowie was all smiles two weeks ago when some Kyrene School District children visited the Capitol, but he wasn’t smiling last week when the Senate expanded school vouchers.
and is appreciating much faster.”
Market
Although Orr admitted “homes priced at more than $6 million are extremely unusual for Ahwatukee,” he isn’t ready to declare a seismic shift in the local luxury market.
“I would say that home sales over $1 million in Ahwatukee are very strong but not exceptional,” Orr said. “The 2016 market was unusually weak and the first half of 2015 was similar to what we are currently experiencing. However, I would say that pricing for the luxury market is not very strong and has gone slightly backwards since summer of 2015.
“I am not convinced there is anything unusual going on in the Ahwatukee highend market, when you look at closed sales, rather than owner aspirations,” he added. “It is fair to say there has been a big improvement since the spring of 2016 back to the levels of the spring of 2015.”
Valley-wide, while luxury homes are selling better than they have in 10 years, “pricing is rather weak and has not regained its peak of summer 2015,” Orr said.
“The only exception would be Arcadia, which has remained extremely popular,” he added. “However, even there, pricing has stabilized since last summer. The market below $500,000 is much stronger than the luxury home market
Nevertheless, local real estate agents are bracing for a parade of sports celebrities and newly minted tech millionaires coming into Ahwatukee to check out some of the modern-day palaces that are for sale.
Dream on, Harry Potter
Realtor Jennifer Parks thinks her client’s 9,100-square-foot home on South Canyon Drive might catch the eye of a hoops star because the house includes a basketball half-court with a floor installed by the same company that installed the floor at the Phoenix Suns’ court at Talking Stick Resort Arena in downtown Phoenix.
Located right off the court is an exercise room stocked with the latest and some of the most expensive exercise and body-building machines on the market.
Situated on a hill with part of the South Mountain Preserve as its backyard, the Canyon Reserve home’s Tuscan design gives it a look of what Parks called “a Harry Potter castle.”
But then, a visitor sees accoutrements that the young wizard never dreamed of – including an extra-wide, commercialgrade Sub Zero refrigerator/freezer, two fully equipped laundry rooms, three dishwashers, Wolf stainless steel kitchen appliances, app-driven floor-to-ceiling glass patio doors and gravity-edge swimming pool near a huge stone spa.
The home also sports some unusual decorative accents: Bricks from an old
street
used to make the
Paris
were
(Jason Youn Photography)
A $2.25 million price tag is on this 9,100-square-foot home on Canyon Drive in Ahwatukee.
Always
I have been very
Wolfgang’s takes very good care of us. ~ Amy M.
with the
I have received from Wolfgang’s. ~ Bob R.
massive range hood; two-inch thick doors to many rooms are from the 17th century; rough-hewn massive ceiling beams also date back hundreds of years.
Parks said the owner, who is downsizing now that his children have grown up and moved on, spent three years building the home before it was finished in 2006.
While there, his children enjoyed small hiding places linked by a concealed tunnelway running beneath the main floor of the home.
Parks says the house offers “luxurious living ideal for a Valley executive or sports star.”
And an economy-minded one at that, since the house recently dropped in price from $2.5 million to a mere $2.25 million.
It will ‘blow your mind’
Its original sales price represents just the cost of the addition that was put two years ago onto the home Eagan is selling for $6.5 million on South Equestrian Trail.
At just under 8,000 square feet, the contemporary home was designed by architect Ian Baldinger and built in 1995, but completely remodeled with a $2.5 million addition two years ago.
That addition includes an 18-footby-36-foot “celebration room” with retractable walls and a full bar that Eagan said “will blow your mind.”
Eagan describes the home as a “beautiful artistic creation,” partly because of its extensive use of copper, glass, Jerusalem stone, imported custom
artwork and custom wall coverings.
Its 30-by-25-foot master bedroom is next to a woman’s walk-in closet that is 18 feet long and 23 feet wide – and enough room to store 360 pairs of shoes.
One room measuring 20 feet by 15 feet is reserved just for crystal and china that can be stored in 30 built-in cabinets.
Attached to a 68-cabinet prep room, the gourmet kitchen offers 18 feet of counter space.
And for anyone who can tear themselves away from the wine cellar with tasting room, there’s always outside, where they can find a children’s playground, beachentry pool, a basketball court, multiple patios and even a domed-roof gardener’s retreat.
The house’s direct competitor in Ahwatukee is a 14,124-square-foot home on South Honah Lee Court.
“These are the first listings I have ever seen over $5 million in Ahwatukee,” Orr said. “Quite odd they should come close together, which is a problem for the sellers since they will compete with each other for the extremely scarce buyers with this kind of budget.
“Very high-end luxury homes are extremely individual and unusual and are often worth a lot more to the current owner than to any prospective buyer, who probably has very specific and different tastes,” he added.
Nevertheless, Eagan is optimistic, saying the tech millionaires in their 40s are itching to settle down and hoping they’ll be attracted to “Ahwatukee’s work of art in the desert.”
For a related story, please see p. RE1.
(Jason Youn Photography)
The same company that installed the floor at the Phoenix Suns’ arena installed this half-court in the Canyon Drive home. It’s connected to a full equipped work-out room.
(Jason Youn Photography)
The Tuscan design of the Canyon Drive home is accented by centuries-old doors and floors.
(Special to AFN)
The master bathroom in the Equestrian Trail home offers super-sized luxury.
(Special to AFN)
This home on South Equestrian Trail is one of two in Ahwatukee on the market for $6.5 million. The 7,900-square-foot house had a $2.5 million addition put on it two years ago.
‘Fling’ follows parade
What: 41st annual Ahwatukee Kiwanis Easter Parade
When: Rain or shine, 10 a.m. Saturday, April 15.
Where: Parade starts at Warner Road and 48th Street and heads down 48th to spot just south of Elliot Road.
What: 17th annual Ahwatukee Kiwanis Spring Fling Carnival and Craft Fair
When: Immediately after the parade, until 5 p.m.
Where: Ahwatukee Community Park, on Warner Road just west of 48th Street.
Both events help fund the Kiwanis Club of Ahwatukee projects: Reading is Fundamental, Children’s Book Drive, Back to School Shopping Spree, adoption of group homes for teens in foster care, Bikes for Tykes, Key Clubs at Mountain Pointe and Desert Vista high schools and Horizon Honors Secondary School, six Middle School Community Service Awards, Ahwatukee YMCA and the Eliminate Project.
3 Panel(9’x6’8”)$4400Installed (12’x8’)$5400Installed 4 Panel(10’x8’)$5700Installed
Easter Parade boss Mike Schmitt marks 25 years
BY COTY DOLORES MIRANDA AFN Contributor
When Mike Schmitt began his tenure as the Ahwatukee Kiwanis Easter Parade Boss, the parade had a plethora of horses, with categories for solo riders and horse groups.
As he readies for this year’s 41st Annual Easter Parade on Saturday, April 15, he has fewer equines, but the marching bands, Girl Scouts, floats and fancy motor vehicles are lining up to mosey along for a mile down to 48th Street from Warner Road north to just shy of Elliot Road.
This year, Schmitt marks his 25th year as parade boss.
Even with the milestone noted by fellow Kiwanians, Schmitt remains humble. Only reluctantly does he recall his incalculable hours of community service to ensure Ahwatukee children and adults are treated to the only parade in town.
Not only does he rise at dawn on parade day, but he and his wife of 49 years, Bonnie, commandeer their kitchen countertops for weeks prior as they lay out index cards with each entry, arranging and rearranging them until they create the perfect lineup.
And that isn’t as easy as it might seem.
“It’s a bit of an art,” he said, describing how they lay out all eight parade categories, from marching band to color guard, floats to antique vehicles and the one that often brings surprises – “other.”
After stacking the eight types of entries, the Schmitts begin the placement process.
“Some units have to be a little early, like the fire department truck, obviously. But as you can imagine, everyone wants to be first,” said Schmitt. “We try to get the kids and dogs in as soon as possible.”
Then there’s the finessing – where to put a dance group that carries its own music so it won’t interfere with a high school marching band and its parade presentation.
And, yes, there remain considerations about who follows the horses.
Both the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Mounted Posse and the Wells Fargo horse-drawn stagecoach have volunteers with decorated scoopers following, but it’s still not what you want in front of a
preschool marching group.
“When I first started, we had a lot more horses. We had two categories – one for single riders, the other for groups,” Schmitt recalled. “That’s one of the changes in the past years.”
After the parade lineup is completed, it’s time for Schmitt to write the scripts that announce each of the upcoming parade units – this year expected to remain around 75.
As in years past, the script is more than a listing of parade numbers and group names. Schmitt strives to add tidbits of information for each of the four route announcers to read to the 5,000 or so spectators lining the parade route.
If a float had a designer, they’re mentioned; if a group has marched in the parade for many years, that’s relayed to the crowd; if a marching band has won awards during the year, those honors are included.
It takes time and research.
The script often runs 20 pages and is solely written by Schmitt, a former U.S. Navy journalist who served in Vietnam, and later was a writer and editor with the St. Norbert College newspaper in De Pere, Wisconsin.
“The script itself always takes me 14 hours,” said Schmitt.
There’s even more time involved as the parade boss makes all the signage that appears on the entries. He does so on his computer, and then takes it to be enlarged and printed.
“You blow it up 140 percent and you’ve got a real nice-size sign,” he smiles proudly.
Technology has helped cut down on hours, but there are still more spent driving to the post office picking up entry forms with checks.
A week before the parade, he goes back to the post office, where he sends welcome letters, staging area maps and their parade number to all entrants.
“When I first started this, it took me 200 hours. I had to type out all the addresses and then mail it all out. Now with the computer, I’m down to about half of that,” he said.
So why donate hundreds of hours every year for the Easter Parade – the only one in Phoenix?
“It’s fun,” shrugged Schmitt. “You like seeing a project come together. I know
that sounds corny, but it’s carrying on a tradition. We’re into the third generation of people coming to this parade.”
He’s proud of the elements that make up this tradition, even if his view of it is short-lived.
“I start the parade, that’s my only thrill. I never see the parade, I’m directing it from the golf course,” said Schmitt, who often wears a straw hat and t-shirt announcing him as parade boss.
And clutched in his hand is his ubiquitous clipboard, “my real symbol of authority.” While adding an officious tone, he confessed he carries it because it holds the parade permit issued by the City of Phoenix.
For Ahwatukee Kiwanis club president Scott Ryan, seeing what it took to obtain that permit annually was an eye-opener.
“The last few years I’ve been able to accompany him to do the permit review with the city, and it’s an education to watch how everything comes together,” said Ryan, a 13-year Ahwatukee resident.
“The sense of ownership and pride that Mike shows in the parade is contagious and is one of the things that made me want to get more involved in the Ahwatukee Kiwanis,” he said, adding:
“Mike has kept the Kiwanis Easter Parade an Ahwatukee tradition through force of will and dedication. The Kiwanis inherited the Easter Parade from the Jaycees, and for a few lean years, Mike was the only thing that kept the parade going. For those years, he covered all the expenses himself and was the primary, read only, sponsor.”
He noted that parade proceeds garnered by the 27-member Ahwatukee Kiwanis go back to helping the community and foster kids.
Ahwatukee Kiwanis Club secretary, Mike Maloney, said watching the parade boss at work on parade day is impressive.
“I’ve seen how his detailed preparation, combined with his years of experience, allows him to manage a complicated event with calm and humor,” said Maloney, an 18-year resident and a sixyear club member.
“The parade always starts on time and everything falls into place,” the Realtor said. “Its fun to watch him work.”
Schmitt is quick to refocus attention to others, and this year that includes the four announcers who broadcast at various spots along the parade route.
At the head is Phoenix radio personality Becky Lynn, who for 10 years has announced from the judges’ reviewing stand and is known for her pre-parade invitations to the waiting crowd to join her in the street for the Chicken Dance and Hokey-Pokey.
Other announcers along the route include Moses Sanchez, Linda and Jim Jochim and Tom and Gloria Rosenthal.
As in prior years, the understated Schmitt proclaimed the 41st Annual Easter Parade will be “a very good parade.”
Twice during his interview, he mentioned this year’s grand marshal, saying that the honoree was “very deserving”:
“Pastor Don Schneider was a longtime pastor at Mountain View Lutheran Church and one of the original founders of (Ahwatukee) Kiwanis. He’s been with the community a long time and he certainly deserves to be grand marshal.”
Mountain View Lutheran Church is the only parade participant to have been in all 41 Easter Parades.
(Special to AFN)
Ahwatukee resident and Kiwanian Mike Schmitt will be marking his 25th year Saturday as Ahwatukee Easter Parade boss. He and his wife, Bonnie, spend hours preparing for the march.
Having fun helping vets, dogs
PHOTOS BY DIANNE ROSS/AFN CONTRIBUTOR
Clockwise from upper left: The Wags and Bags Festival in Ahwatukee April 8 saw hundreds of people having fun as they helped veterans and dogs. Josh and Marci Miller organized the second annual event; Deedee Graham and Graham Doering met Peppermint; Shophie the dog watched; Shea McGrew tried to put Marci Miller in the dunk tank; Jan Radcliff, Heather Akerson and Matthew Gomez conversed; Tammy Marcelle toss a beanbag in cornhole, as did Jarrod Gosh. Couldn't attend? Go to valleydogs.org/donate.html.
Ahwatukee teen following in her Miss America grandmother’s steps
BY COTY DOLORES MIRANDA AFN Contributor
Ahwatukee teen Anna Alber, recently crowned Miss Estrella Mountains, has an experienced coach to help her prepare for the Miss Arizona Outstanding Teen Pageant.
Her grandmother, Deborah Bryant Berge, was crowned Miss America in 1966.
For Anna, that connection has proved invaluable.
“I’ve heard so many great stories about the pageants, and she’s such an inspiration and a person I admire so much,” said Anna, a freshman at Desert Vista High School.
The petite 15-year-old wears her 62 inches regally.
In her four-inch pageant heels, navy blue halter top and floral skirted ball gown, she confidently strutted the catwalk with confidence and a smile.
After being crowned Miss Estrella Mountains, her four-peaked sparkling rhinestone tiara only added to her stature.
Even with her full academic schedule and dance lessons six days a week, Anna is preparing physically and mentally for the June 24 pageant at Mesa Arts Center.
There, she’ll compete against other locals vying for the title of Miss America’s Outstanding Teen to be awarded this July in Orlando, Florida.
Anna’s talent presentation is, and will continue to be, dance.
“I love dance; I have a real passion for it,” said Anna, who trains at Dance Studio 111 in Ahwatukee. “I do all types of styles of dance – contemporary, lyrical, pointe, jazz; I especially love jazz and hip-hop.”
Maintaining such an active regimen takes more for Anna than other teens due to her type 1 diabetes. She was diagnosed when she was just 16 months old.
“I have a strong support system of family and friends,” she said, adding she keeps in regular communication with her New York-based diabetes coach.
“I report to her and she advises me on foods I can eat to help keep my numbers steady while I dance,” the teen said.
In addition to her diabetes coach, her support team includes a naturopath, endocrinologist and trainer.
No one knows better the challenges she faces daily than her mother, Kristin Alber.
“This is a really difficult disease, which causes many complications and requires a whole team,” said her mother. “Diabetics just want to be normal, but many don’t understand the 24/7 challenges of the individuals, espe-
cially for an athlete and those as active as Anna.
(Special to AFN)
Desert Visa High freshman Anna Alber, left, accepts a bouquet after being named Miss Arizona Outstanding Teen. Her grandmother, Deborah Bryant Berge, is shown on the right becoming Miss America in 1966.
deals with on a daily basis with type 1 diabetes, I realized what a special young lady and role model she is for everyone.”
“I admire Anna and am thankful she has taught me there is nothing someone cannot overcome, no matter how challenging or difficult it may be,” said Lewis.
Anna’s mother lauds her daughter’s perseverance in school and dance, and said she encourages her involvement in the Miss Arizona’s Outstanding Teen Scholarship Pageant, which is under the Miss America organization’s umbrella.
eants, and as a trained dancer, she came with a ready-made talent – she didn’t have to wonder what she would do,” Berge continued, adding:
“And because of her diabetes, she came with a platform as well.”
“She’s a natural,” she smiled.
Berge, a Mesa resident, was recently named to the Miss America board of directors.
Prior to that honor, announced in early March, she’d served as a preliminary judge in recent years at the 97-year-old Miss America Pageant.
She conducted personal interviews before the judging was handed off to celebrity judges.
“As a preliminary judge, you really take notice of those who are genuine,” she said. “I didn’t give her any real tips other than just try and be comfortable in yourself, what you’re wearing, what you say. I try to reinforce the direction she’s going.”
The Miss America’s Outstanding Teen Program is open to girls ages 13 through 17.
Also competing at the Mesa Arts Center June 24 for that title are Natalie McCasland, Miss Mesa; Tiffany Ticlo, Miss Tempe; and Jessie Laureanti, Miss Chandler.
“It’s a huge challenge, and for that I am most proud of everything she endures and how strong she is,” Kristin Alber continued, adding:
“That to me is more important than anything else – the positive, strong young woman she is. Anything I can do to encourage that is what is most important to me.”
Addressing her daily battle with the disease, Anna is both practical and stoic.
“It’s definitely difficult, but it's not as bad as some things could be,” said Anna, who attended middle school at Bethany Christian School in Tempe.
Kimberly Lewis, owner of Ahwatukee’s Dance Studio 111, said she considers Anna, who joined the studio in 2015, to be a “kind soul and a role model” not only to younger dancers, but to Lewis herself.
“As a dancer who trains 20 hours per week like Anna does, you need to be able to produce energy for your body to keep up with such a rigorous training schedule,” Lewis said, adding:
“As I learned more about what Anna
“Anna has always been interested in entering pageants,” said Kristin Alber, who with her husband, Dan Alber, own FOUND by domestic bliss in Chandler’s Casa Paloma shopping center.
“The Miss America pageant organization is a wonderful program that empowers young women and recognizes academic excellence, community service, poise and talent,” Kristin Alber said.
Since it’s founding in 2005, the Miss America Outstanding Teen (MAOT) Scholarship Program has become one of the top scholarship providers for teen girls in the U.S. According to their website, the organization awards more than $22 million annually in cash and in-kind scholarships.
For her maternal grandmother, a Miss Kansas crowned Miss America in 1966, Anna’s first foray into the pageant world was unexpected.
“Yes, it kind of came as a surprise in some ways, and in some ways not. This was totally on her own motivation that she entered,” said Deborah Bryant Berge.
“She’s the only one in the family who’s shown interest in being in pag-
(Special to AFN)
Desert Vista High School freshman Anna Alber, who will compete June 24 for Miss America's Outstanding Teen, gets a hug from her grandmother, Deborah Bryant Berge, who was Miss America 1966.
Tidal Waves ready to start a 35th season at Ahwatukee swim center
The Tidal Waves just might be Ahwatukee’s oldest swimming team.
The Ahwatukee Community Swim and Tennis Center’s summer recreational swim team has been doing its thing for 34 years – and it’s ready for Season 35.
Center director Susan Hyden calls the Tidal Waves “one of the most successful summer programs in the Valley.”
“The goal for all Tidal Wave swimmers is to become proficient in all four strokes and learn sound workout habits.” Hyden said. “Our highly qualified coaches strive to make this a positive and memorable experience for all swimmers on the team.”
The team is open to boys and girls between the ages of 6 and 12. Preseason Saturday practices begin May 6 and the regular season runs May 31July 22.
Space is limited on the team, which is broken down to 50 kids 6-8 years old;
40 kids 9-10 years old; and 35 who are 11 to 12.
The center also is starting a new strength/condition swim program for teens 13-18.
“This is a two-month noncompetitive conditioning program to promote wellness and a healthy lifestyle
with focus on swimming as a lifelong sport,” Hyden explained.
“Whether your goal is to become a competitive swimmer, utilize swimming as a cross-training tool or looking to join a fun group for the summer,” the program should work for older teens, Hyden added.
“Participants will become proficient in their strokes, build endurance and strengthen and tone nearly all the muscles in their body,” she said, calling the center a “great environment with great results.”
Hyden said many children return each season and that her coaches are all former Tidal Waves members. The head coach is Sam Foote and the assistant coaches are Jordan Dick and Katherine Schmidt.
She said the Ahwatukee Swim and Tennis Center, at 4700 Warner Road, makes sure each partipant is ready for team swimming.
“If there is a swimmer who has never been on a swim team before, we like to
(Special to AFN)
Among the participants in the Tidal Waves summer recreational swim team at the Ahwatukee Swim and Tennis Center are, from left, Isabella Marquez, Teagan Kelly, Eden Holcomb and Kayli Taylor.
set up a day and time for one of the coaches to evaluate their abilities to see if swim team is right for them,” she said. “We also offer swim lessons for those who may need a little help before swim team practices begin. We want each swimmer to feel successful.”
Because the Tidal Waves is a recreational team, Hyden added, “the emphasis is for the swimmers to have fun yet become better swimmers.”
The seven swimming meets held during the season “are not meant to be competitive but do bring out the competitive spirit among teammates,” she continued, adding:
“Kids cheering for other kids and encouraging them is what it’s all about. All the kids become friends and really enjoy being in the pool together on those hot summer days. The coaches are energetic and engaging and love working with all age groups. They provide the perfect mix of great instruction along with creating a fun atmosphere.”
Hyden said the program for older teens offers good training for anyone hoping to join their high school swim team as well as those kids who “just want a great way to get in shape during the hot summer months. It is a great way to get in condition for the swim season which begins right when school starts in August and/or have great workouts to stay healthy. “
Every swimmer will receive a participant swim team medal at the end of the season along with a fun swim meet. Parents get to swim a race and participate in a family relay and a potluck breakfast caps the season.
Members who are 6 to 10 years old practice for an hour on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays while those 11 to 18 practice every weekday except Tuesdays.
Information: 480-893-3431, 480-893-1942 or ahwatukeehoa.com and facebook.com.
Dunkin' teacher at Horizon
It’s not to say that dementia isn’t an emotional and challenging disease. It’s just that when you see the human instead of the disease you don’t see sadness. You see life. You see history. You see achievements. You see family. You see love. And that’s how we see it at Hawthorn Court. We can help you with the challenges you’re facing. Please join us for a personal tour. Call 480.359.2898 to schedule.
(Melissa Hartley/Special to AFN) Horizon Community Learning Center first- and second-grade teacher Elizabeth Tavasci doesn't seem to mind that someone accurately threw a ball that landed her in the dunk tank during the school’s recent spring fling celebration.
Desert Pointe Garden Club offering commemorative pavers
The Desert Pointe Garden Club is hoping Ahwatukee residents will help it expand its project around the Blue Star Memorial site at Ahwatukee Board of Management headquarters.
The club is selling memorial pavers in honor of living and deceased military veterans that will be installed around the Blue Star Memorial that the club erected in 2012 at 48th Street and Warner Road.
thousands around the U.S.,” Everett said. “There are many in the Phoenix area, including at the Veterans Cemetery near Deer Valley and one at Tempe Town Lake.”
To further enhance the memorial in Ahwatukee, the club already has laced between 125 and 150 memorial pavers, as well as three benches. A fourth bench has been ordered.
“The paver project is somewhat unique, in that not all Blue Star Memorials have pavers,” Everett said. “But we thought this was a good way to include the community in our project. The site provides a spot for relaxation and mediation while enjoying the plantings our club provides and cares for.”
With both Mother’s Day and Father’s Day on the horizon, the pavers also may make unique gifts. The person commemorated on the paver can be living or deceased but must have served in the military.
“I also think it is somehow comforting to survivors to be able to honor their parent or grandparent even after they have passed,” Everett said.
“Our next order will be completed in time for Memorial Day, and we think this is a perfect way to show appreciation to those who sacrificed for America, and we want people to be aware of this opportunity,” said Garden Pointe Garden Club secretary Sandra Everett. Everett said her family placed the paver in honor of her late father-in-law, who served in the Coast Guard during World War II as captain of a ship that carried iron ore from mines in Minnesota to steel plants on the lower Great Lakes.
“He was not young when he served, since he was born in 1898, but his service was somewhat unique in that the government basically ‘drafted’ the men who worked on the iron ore ships on the Great Lakes,” she said.
The Blue Star Memorial honors all men and women who serve in the military. It began with the planting of 8,000 dogwood trees by the New Jersey Council of Garden Clubs in 1944 as a living memorial to veterans of World War II.
In 1945, the National Council of State Garden Clubs adopted the program and began a Blue Star Highway system that covers thousands of miles across the continental United States, Alaska and Hawaii. A large metal Blue Star Memorial Highway Marker was placed at appropriate locations along the way.
The Blue Star became an icon in World War II and was seen on flags and banners in homes for sons and daughters away at war, and in churches and businesses.
The program has expanded to in-
clude all men and women who had served, were serving or would serve in the armed services of the United States.
“I don’t know exactly how many Blue Star Memorials there are – probably
“There are a few pavers for women, but since fewer women served in years past, most are for men,” she added.
The pavers cost $50 without a military logo and $60 with one. Order forms can be obtained at the Ahwatukee Recreation Center or ABM’s office.
(Special to AFN)
The Desert Pointe Garden Club worked with the Ahwatukee Board of Management to secure this Blue Star Memorial honoring military veterans.
Two dogs seek Ahwatukee ZIP codes for their next address
AFN NEWS STAFF
Two dogs are hoping someone will get them an Ahwatukee ZIP code for their new home address.
Shauna Michael of the Arizona Animal Welfare League said Wookie, a 2-year-old Newfoundland mix available for adoption at its main adoption center, 25 N. 40th St., Phoenix, is a “loving, gentle giant who enjoys show-
ing off his goofy side to everyone who meets him.
“Wookie walks very well on a leash and loves to stay active during the cooler parts of the day. He will need a family who can keep him wellgroomed and cool during the summer months, and one who doesn’t mind a few slobbery kisses,” Michael added, noting he likes other dogs.
Information: 602-273-6852, ext. 116.
Meanwhile, Jenny Bernot of Arizona Rescue, said Sienna, a 3-year-old Plott Hound mix, is “goofy, fun, and high energy.”
“This friendly gal loves people and will ask for attention by subtly placing her head on your leg or lap to request petting,” Bernot said.
“Sometimes, she’ll roll over on her back and stretch out her front paw to request a belly rub. As you begin rubbing her tummy and chest, you’ll see her slowly relax and her eyes go droopy as she revels in the experience.”
Bernot added that if Sienna finds a
squeaky ball, “she will squeak it forever” and that she “also loves a good game of fetch with her favorite tennis balls.”
“Sienna is well-mannered, walks well on a leash, and rides well in the car. She is also very food motivated – willing to learn and do just about anything for some yummy treats. She plays well with other dogs but could easily live as an ‘only child.’”
Sienna is looking for a home with daily walks, weekend hikes, dog park time or all of the above. Bernot said the dog “would do really well with an active person.”
Information: azrescue.org.
She's run a lot
(Flash Santoro/Special to AFN)
Ahwatukee resident Charlotte Kaiden celebrates her 1,000th consecutive day of running at least one mile. She started in July 2014 to keep in good cardiovascular shape and to maintain training consistency. It became a lifestyle and now she just does it second nature. Runners from all around Ahwatukee came out to join her 1,000th mile.
Wookie
Sienna
AROUND AHWATUKEE
Ahwatukee Republicans plan a ‘tax relief’ party fundraiser
The Ahwatukee Republican Women and Legislative District 18 GOP will hold a Tax Relief Beer, Wine & Soda Tasting fundraiser 6:30-9 p.m. Friday, April 28, at 4025 E. Tamaya St., Ahwatukee.
A variety of beer, wine and soda will be available to taste. Burgers, hot dogs and brats will be available for dinner in addition to tasty side dishes and desserts.
Advance tickets are $20 for 20 tickets. If you pay at the door, it will be $25. Additional tickets will be available for purchase at the event.
Tickets can be used for beverage tastings and main dishes. People are asked to buy tickets early so organizers can plan for food accordingly. Also, attendees are asked to bring a bottle of wine or two bottles of specialty beer as a donation. Information: ahwatukeerepublicanwomen.com
Helping food banks can eliminate overdue book fines
Phoenix Public Library, including the Ironwood branch at 4333 E. Chandler Blvd., Ahwatukee, is making it easy for people to discharge fines for overdue books. From now until April 23, they can donate a can of food or a nonperishable food item And get a 50 cent credit per item toward any fines they’ve accumulated.
The “Food for Fines” program allows for a total $75 to be credited toward fines or for lost library items.
The program collected more than 30,000 pounds of food for Arizona’s hungry last year, Food will be donated to St. Mary’s Food Bank Alliance.
Desert Foothills Methodist slates ‘Care for the Caregiver’
Caregivers often feel stressed and tired, forgetting or feeling guilty about taking care of themselves. Desert Foothills United Methodist Church’s Stephen Ministry will present a panel of area agency professionals to help caregivers focus on their physical, emotional and spiritual needs while taking care of others.
The panel includes: Scott Hawthornwaite from the Area Agency on Aging, Cindy Findley of the Arizona Caregiver’s Coalition, Sandra Brinkley, registered nurse and the Rev. Dr. Kristin Hansen, Pastor of Desert Foothills Methodist.
The panel is at 7 p.m. Monday, May 1, at Desert Foothills United Methodist Church, 2156 E. Liberty Lane, Ahwatukee. RSVP is required: 480-460-1025 or office@desertfoothills.org.
Foothills Montessori slates 8-week summer camp
Ahwatukee Foothills Montessori, 3221 E. Chandler Blvd., Ahwatukee, is offering a “fun, interactive and handson” summer camp for children age 3-8 for eight weeks from May 30 through July 21 with a different theme each week.
Campers will participate in theme-related activities, crafts and games each week and enjoy Water Day every Friday. Themes are related to Spanish and art activities and special events such as puppet shows and magic shows are scheduled throughout the summer. Campers do not need to be enrolled in the regular school program and can sign up for weekly sessions or just for a few days a week. Space is limited.
Information: 480-759-3810.
Kyrene Foundation needs dresses for eighth-grade girls
The Kyrene Foundation is asking the community for help in providing donations for its Wishes Come True drive. Not every eighth-grade student can afford a one-time dress for a special occasion such as the eighth-grade promotion ceremony.
To help meet this need, the Kyrene Foundation is collecting gently used dresses for eighth-grade girls in need for upcoming promotion ceremonies.
New or like-new attire that is appropriate, such as semi-formal dresses, can be donated through April 27 at the Kyrene School District Office, 8700 S. Kyrene Road, Tempe, or the Kyrene Family Resource Center, 1330 E. Dava Drive, Tempe. Volunteers are needed for the April 29 dress selection. Information: tward@kyrene.org or signup.com/ go/gFJURS.
Tickets on sale for wine-beer fest, auction items needed
The 22nd annual Wine & Beer Tasting Festival will be presented by Festival of Lights, a nonprofit organization, 6:30-10:30 p.m. April 29 at Rawhide Western Town.
CALENDAR
MONDAY, APRIL 17
Culinary plant tour slated
Learn about local culinary and medicinal desert plants during an easy-to-moderate hike in South Mountain Park, including Palo Verde and Ironwood flowers and beans. Bring water, hat, sun block, icy water, snack, sturdy shoes, small backpack, pen, paper and camera/cell phone.
DETAILS>> 8 a.m., $15 per person or $20 for two people, RSVP greengirl@kellyathena.com. Information: kellyathena.com.
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 19
Legion hosts hospice speaker
American Legion Post 64 of Ahwatukee community is hosting a free public education program featuring Hospice of the Valley’s Lin Sue Cooney. “We offer so much more than end-of-life care,” said Cooney. “We provide all sorts of expertise in dementia, have a thriving volunteer program, pet therapy and music. We also have a wonderful program called Saluting Our Veterans which I will definitely discuss.”
DETAILS>> 3 p.m., Ahwatukee Recreation Center, 5001 E. Cheyenne Drive, Ahwatukee. Information: Ed Mangan, USAF Captain (former), Post 64 Commander, emangan3@ aol.com 602-501-0128.
THURSDAY, APRIL 20
Peter Longo discusses golf
“The Evolution of the Golf Swing” is the title of a presentation by PGA life member, trick shot artist and golf historian Peter Longo. He will present a fun-filled,
dynamic seminar of golf swings from then until now. He will also demonstrate a few trick shots.
DETAILS>> 6:30-7:30 p.m., Ironwood Library, 4333 E. Chandler Blvd., Ahwatukee. Free, no registration required.
TUESDAY, APRIL 25
Annual school band concert set
The Mountain Pointe High School Band will hold its annual joint-concert with the Ahwatukee Foothills Concert Band. The bands perform individually as well as jointly.
DETAILS>> 7 p.m., Mountain Pointe High School auditorium, Knox Road and 44th Street, Ahwatukee. Admission: $5.
SATURDAY, APRIL 29
Winetasting fest slated
The Winetasting Festival that helps support Ahwatukee’s annual Festival of Lights show along Chandler Boulevard will be held. Tickets are going on sale soon.
DETAILS>> 6:30-10:30 p.m., Rawhide in Chandler. Ticket info: folaz.org/winetasting-festival.
SUNDAYS
‘TinkerTime’ open for kids
A makerspace for children to design, experiment, and invent as they explore hands-on STEAM activities through self-guided tinkering.
DETAILS>> 1-4 p.m. every Sunday, Ironwood Library 4333 E. Chandler Blvd., Ahwatukee. Ages 6-11. Free; No registration required.
MONDAYS
Chamber offers networking
The Ahwatukee Foothills Chamber of Commerce networking and leads group is open to chamber members.
DETAILS>> Noon, Native Grill and Wings, 5030 E. Ray Road, Ahwatukee. Devida Lewis, 480-753-7676.
TUESDAYS
Chair yoga featured
Inner Vision Yoga Studio offers chair yoga to help seniors and people recovering from injuries to stay fit.
DETAILS>> 1:30-2:30 p.m., 4025 E. Chandler Blvd., Ahwatukee. $5 per class. Information: donna@ innervisionyoga.com or 480-330-2015.
Toastmasters sharpen skills
Improve your speaking skills and meet interesting people at Ahwatukee Toastmasters meetings
DETAILS>> 6:45-8 a.m at the Dignity Health Community Room, 4545 E. Chandler Blvd., Ahwatukee.
Power Partners available
The Ahwatukee Foothills Chamber of Commerce networking and leads group is open to chamber members.
DETAILS>> 8-9 a.m., Four Points by Sheraton, 10831 S. 51st St., Ahwatukee. Dorothy Abril, 480-753-7676.
WEDNESDAYS
Watercolor classes available
Watercolor classes that teach both bold and beautiful as well as soft and subtle approaches to the art are available twice a week for beginners and intermediate students who are at least 15 years old. Step-by-step instruction and personal help are provided.
DETAILS>> 2:30-5 Wednesdays and 10 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Saturdays at Hobby Lobby, 46th Street and Ray Road, Ahwatukee. Cost: $25 per class, $80 for four classes. Registration required: jlokits@yahoo.com or 480-471-8505.
Montessori holds open house
Ahwatukee Foothills Montessori holds an open house weekly. It includes a short talk about Montessori education, followed by a tour of its campus.
DETAILS>> 4 p.m. Wednesdays, 3221 E. Chandler Blvd., Ahwatukee. Information: 480-759-3810
Grief support is free
Hospice of the Valley offers a free ongoing grief support group for adults and is open to any adult who has experienced a loss through death. No registration required.
DETAILS>> 6-7 p.m. first and third Wednesdays, Pecos Community Center, 17010 S. 48th St. 602-636-5390 or HOV. org.
Foothills Women meet
An informal, relaxed social organization of about 90 See CALENDAR on page 29
women living in the Ahwatukee Foothills/Club West area.
A way to escape once a month to have fun and meet with other ladies in the area. Guest speaker or entertainment featured.
DETAILS>> 7 p.m. second Wednesday of the month, Foothills Golf Club, 2201 E. Clubhouse Drive. Contact jstowe2@cox.net or FoothillsWomensClub.org.
Parents can ‘drop in’
Parents are invited to join a drop-in group to ask questions, share ideas or just listen to what’s going on with today’s teenagers.
DETAILS>> 5:30-7 p.m. second Wednesday of each month. Maricopa Cooperative Extension, 4341 E. Broadway Road, Phoenix. Free. RSVP at 602-827-8200, ext. 348, or rcarter@cals.arizona.edu.
‘Dems and Donuts’ set
Legislative District 18 Democrats gather for an informal chat.
DETAILS>> Free and open to the public 7:30-9 a.m. the third Wednesday of the month at Denny’s, 7400 W. Chandler Blvd., Chandler. RSVP: marie9@q.com or 480-592-0052.
LD 18 Dems meet in Tempe
The Legislative District 18 Democrats meet the second Monday of the month.
DETAILS>> 6:30 p.m. social time, 7-8:30 p.m. meeting time. Because the location may be different from month to month, see ld18democrats.org. Information: ld18demsinfo@gmail.com. Free and open to the public.
Special networking offered
Ahwatukee Foothills Chamber of Commerce has a networking and leads group is open to chamber members.
DETAILS>> 11:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m., Radisson Hotel, 7475 W. Chandler Blvd., Chandler. Devida Lewis, 480-753-7676.
THURSDAYS
Kiwanis meets weekly
The Ahwatukee Kiwanis Club meets weekly and welcomes newcomers.
DETAILS>> 7:30 a.m. Biscuits Restaurant, 4623 E. Elliot Road, Ahwatukee. Information: mike.maloney2003@ gmail.com.
Mothers of Preschoolers gather
Free child care for ages 0 to 5.
DETAILS>> 9 a.m. second and fourth Thursday, Foothills Baptist Church, 15450 S. 21st St. Call Kim at 480-759-2118, ext. 218.
FRIDAYS
‘Gentle yoga’ offered
Inner Vision Yoga Studio offers “gentle floor yoga” for core strengthening and healthy backs.
DETAILS>> 1:30-2:30 p.m. 4025 E. Chandler, Ahwatukee. $5 per class. Information: 480-330-2015 or donna@ innervisionyoga.com.
Toastmasters teach skills
This chamber-exclusive Chapter of the International Toastmasters club boasts professional development
skills. Become the speaker and leader you want to be with Ahwatukee Chamber Toastmasters Club.
DETAILS>> 8-9 a.m., First American Title Conference Room, 4435 E. Chandler Blvd., #100, Ahwatukee. Devida Lewis, 480-753-7676.
SATURDAYS
Local Alzheimer’s support group meets
Caregivers for Alzheimer’s patients can find support monthly.
DETAILS>> 10-11:30 a.m. Ahwatukee Alzheimer’s Support Group meets the first Saturday of the month at Mountain View Lutheran Church, 11002 S. 48th St.
Bosom Buddies slates meetings
Ahwatukee/Chandler nonprofit breast cancer support group.
DETAILS>> 10 a.m. to noon, second Saturday of the month. Morrison Boardroom next to Chandler Regional Medical Center, 1875 W. Frye Road, Chandler. Contact Patti Lynch at 480-893-8900 or tomklynch@msn.com or Cele Ludig at 480-330-4301.
AROUND
from page 27
All proceeds will benefit the Million White Light display along Chandler Boulevard during the holiday season,. Tickets are $50 in advance and are available at all three Safeway stores in Ahwatukee and folaz.org.
To donate auction items, please contact Susan Anderton at info@folaz.org. All items are welcome.
Longtime Mountain Pointe project needs help to finish
A project begun by a group of Mountain Pointe High School students more than four years ago needs a little help to cross the finish line.
The students had developed a plan for a mobile dental unit and worked on the project throughout college.
Email your calendar items to pmaryniak@ahwatukee.com
Check us out and like the Ahwatukee Foothills News on Facebook and AhwatukeeFN on Twitter.
To finish it, they need a little money and are holding a fundraiser 5-7 p.m. today, April 12, at Boulders Restaurant, northeast corner of Broadway Road and Roosevelt Street, Tempe.
The mobile unit will be on display.
www.ahwatukee.com
Counterpunch the flag-burner: Wave Old Glory at the Easter Parade
BY PAUL MARYNIAK AFN Executive Editor
Could the miscreant who torched the American flag on Brian and Lisa Ellison’s house have done Ahwatukee a favor?
I raise the question only because of what has followed in the wake of that thoughtless, dangerous and disgraceful act on the night of March 29 on 16th Avenue.
Whether it was some bored imbecile whose act could have set the retired Marine’s house on fire or some misguided zealot who was lamely making some misguided statement, the flag-burner ignited more than just the Stars and Stripes.
He ignited a movement.
For the last 10 days, residents are connecting and reconnecting with each other on social media in a unified voice, saying that this is something Ahwatukee will not tolerate.
Lisa Ellison’s shout-out to the community that last Sunday be designated Ahwatukee Unite Day stirred an untold number of residents to hang a flag out in front of the homes.
But why stop there?
Hopefully, more people will be inspired – indeed reminded – to fly the flag every day.
But there’s one other public way Ahwatukee residents can show that they will not let this senseless and repugnant act to either intimidate them or throw them into unproductive rage.
And that would be to wave the flag at the Ahwatukee Kiwanis Club’s 41st annual Easter Parade this Saturday, April 15.
The colors already will be presented by either the Boy Scouts, American Legion or a combination thereof. Spectators can enhance the moment by waving a flag as they line up along 48th Street to watch the parade march down from Warner Road to Elliot Road, starting at 10 a.m.
Let the Easter bunny, the floats, the
organizations and the dignitaries be flanked by row after row of flag-waving residents as the parade proceeds.
To aid and encourage this display, the AFN will be handing out miniature flags before and during the parade.
Our “float” will be a red 1971 convertible, but we will be handing out flags before the first parade contingent steps off.
We can all cheer for the Easter bunny, applaud the bands of kids marching down 48th and shout out our approval of any ingeniously decorated vehicle.
But we also can be waving the flag, and letting the flag-burner and the rest of the world see that Ahwatukee stands united in condemning what happened in front of the Ellisons’ house and in supporting what the flag stands for.
Lisa Woods Ellison spoke for the community, I believe, when she told the AFN last week, “People have died for that flag and this is just outrageous. … I could not believe someone would do this.”
Who among us can?
Frankly, it’s hard to imagine this was some kind of statement beyond, “Man, I’m drunk and I wanna have some fun.” A flag on the house next to the Ellison’s was untouched, and Lisa theorized it might have been because a truck was parked beneath it in the driveway. Too much trouble climbing around a truck to do even more mischief.
Moreover, no scribbled statement or leaflet accompanied this horrific act, making me even more convinced that this act of vandalism was a crime of opportunity.
Even so, it was a crime – on several levels.
And while it’s unlikely someone will ever be apprehended and punished, Ahwatukee as a community can stand up this Saturday and protest this outrage in a silent but powerful way without diminishing the spirit of the parade. So, bring a flag or pick one up from us on Saturday.
And have a Happy Easter.
Chief reports on her progress with Phoenix Police Department revamp
BY CHIEF JERI WILLIAMS AFN Guest Writer
Since my return as your police chief in October 2016, the Phoenix Police Department has continued to build on the successes of Retired Chief Joe Yahner, while also implementing some of my own philosophies and professional experiences. As we move forward, I have established the following five focus areas:
• Crime suppression and prevention,
• Community engagement and outreach,
• Training, hiring and retention
• Employee well-being
• Increasing legitimacy
The Phoenix Police Department has completed its review of the 2016 crime statistics and has forwarded that
information to the FBI as part of the Uniform Crime Reporting program.
On a positive note, we did see a notable drop in burglary related offenses. In 2016, there were 13,024 burglaries. The last time there were fewer than 13,000 burglaries was in 1969.
I attribute this drop to the hard working, professional men and women of your Phoenix Police Department, and I believe each of our focus areas will continue to make positive impacts as we move forward.
While we experienced an increase in violent crime, it’s also important to note that our population grew by approximately (2.6 percent). Overall, we experienced a 13 percent increase in violent crime and a 4.3 percent increase in property crime from our 2015 counts.
Despite this, I remain confident we are one of the safest major cities in the United States.
In keeping with my philosophy of
community engagement, I have attended over 300 meetings and events. It is vitality important that we work together, create partnerships, and that you feel we are available to you.
Many different divisions and units continue to create partnerships with community leaders, businesses and organizations that allows for open, factual, honest and transparent communication following critical incidents.
Our goal is to share that information as quickly as possible, while also maintaining my obligation to follow labor agreements and state law on officers’ rights.
In February, we reorganized department manpower to ensure we operate at maximum efficiency in support of our crime suppression efforts.
For the first time in nearly eight years, we have grown the number of sworn officers serving the City of Phoenix. As of today, we have 2,876 sworn officers
and are working to grow to 3,125 by next year.
With this goal in mind, we are excited to implement new regional recruiting efforts. This will allow us to actively pursue quality applicants out of state, with an emphasis on military bases and out of state colleges. Our focus is to select the best candidates that reflect our own Phoenix community.
Exceptional delivery of law enforcement services is at its best when your officers are healthy. The department has implemented wellness programs and a new psychologist that will help us evaluate and implement policies that benefit everyone. By bringing this all together we can increase our legitimacy with those we serve. We are your public servants and recognize we are stronger when we come together as one community, city, and team.
Progressive workplace policies important to private sector diversity
BY BENITO ALMANZA AFN Guest Writer
National Women’s History
Month was an opportunity to highlight the contributions of women throughout American history and their impact in our own backyard. It was also a good time to reflect on why diversity matters – and, for companies like mine, why the private sector should invest in it.
Besides being the right thing to do, it also makes good business sense, because diverse and inclusive workplaces are essential in meeting the needs of today’s diverse customers and communities.
Women play an increasing role in helping advance the global economy, with women owning 37 percent of all businesses worldwide.
I am proud that my employer, Bank of America, recognizes the significant role women play in advancing thriving economies. It’s why we continue to invest every day in helping women make meaningful contributions within the company and in their communities.
A snapshot of our current employee demographics show that women make up more than 50 percent of Bank of America’s global workforce, nearly 40
percent of the management team and nearly 30 percent of board of directors - exceeding industry benchmarks for representation. Here in Arizona, our Tucson president and Phoenix-based consumer and small business executives are women.
So how did we get here? By bringing talented women to our company, investing in their career growth, and supporting the economic empowerment of women everywhere.
For example, we are partners with
But an effective diversity and inclusion program goes beyond recruitment and development to having progressive workplace policies and benefits, so employees can feel supported in managing responsibilities at work and at home.
For example, last year we extended paid parental leave for employees to 16 weeks for maternity, paternity and adoption leave that can be used at various times throughout the year. Parents can also receive up to $240 reimbursement per
“ I am proud that my employer, Bank of America, recognizes the significant role women play in advancing thriving economies.”
more than 200 colleges and universities around the world, and we have programs designed specifically to support the retention and career development of female employees such as our Women’s Executive Development Program and the Leadership, Education, Advocacy and Development (LEAD) for Women employee network with more than 25,000 members.
month per child for eligible child-care expenses.
And like so many of us here in Arizona, colleagues caring for aging parents can take advantage of our company’s adult care services program offering resources, support and expertise to help manage these responsibilities.
But we’re not just a large employer that supports our own workforce.
As a leader in the financial services industry, we also support women entrepreneurs with capital and resources to help them grow their businesses. Statewide, we partner with the Tory Burch Foundation Capital Program and ACCION, along with other community microlenders across the U.S., providing $24 million in affordable loans to women business owners.
We also work with the Cherie Blair Foundation, connecting women entrepreneurs around the world to mentoring and skills-building that will help them build business acumen.
We’re proud of these investments, which have been noticed by Working Mother magazine’s 100 Best Companies and Bloomberg’s annual Financial Services Gender-Equality Index.
But, while the recognition is humbling and underscores our commitment to a diverse workforce, the achievements directly reflect the dedication, effort and drive to make a positive and lasting impact on our company, our communities and our world – not just during Women’s History Month, but every day.
First Things First trying to stem child abuse, neglect
BY MARIE REDMOND
AFN Guest Writer
As local communities highlight April as Child Abuse Prevention Month, we at First Things First remind everyone that young children who experience abuse or neglect – such as family violence, poor nutrition, housing instability and infrequent health care – can have their ability to learn and succeed compromised.
Because 90 percent of a child’s brain development happens by age 5, these negative experiences can have lasting impacts to a child’s physical and emotional health, their performance in school and their likelihood to engage in risky behaviors.
First Things First is doing its part to strengthen families and keep challenging situations from becoming worse, including funding programs
such as:
The Arizona Parent Kit, provided free of charge to parents of all newborns before they leave the hospital or birthing center.
It contains resources to help parents support their child in each phase of their early development, from baby to toddler to preschooler.
The FTF digital Parent Kit which is available online at FirstThingsFirst. org/Parent-Kit. Ninety percent of new parents are millennials born between 1980 to 2000.
For the most connected generation, the digital Parent Kit is designed to engage those parents with easily accessible, high-quality parenting information, which they can then share with others on their own social media outlets.
The toll-free Birth to Five Helpline, which provides free advice and answers
to the toughest parenting questions from nurses and other child development experts. Expert help is a phone call away at 1-877-705-5437. Parents can also download the Birth to Five Helpline app to their smart phones through the Apple App Store or Google Play. Search Birth to Five Helpline.
Home-based and community-based programs to support families in their role as their child’s first teacher by providing information and resources that promote more positive parent/child interactions and healthy development.
Community-based parent education on topics like safety, dealing with challenging behaviors and early learning.
Research shows that chronic stress on a young child, often induced by abuse and neglect, can have adverse effects on the body’s nervous system later in life, causing poor responses to normal
environmental cues.
Here are some ways to help prevent abuse or neglect and to help the youngest victims.
You can volunteer at or donate to community-based organizations that support children and families.
You can also join a child abuse prevention council in your area. For information call: 602-255-2548. Child abuse is not just a parental issue or a criminal issue. Child abuse is a critical health issue that is 100 percent preventable. Everyone can play a role to ensure that Arizona’s kids achieve a safer and brighter future.
-Marie Raymond chairs the First Things First East Maricopa Regional Council. First Things First is a voter-created, statewide organization that funds early education and health programs to help kids be successful once they enter kindergarten. Information: FirstThingsFirst.org.
-Ahwatukee resident Benito Almanza is the Arizona market president for Bank of America.
our Ahwatukee homes – two within a few blocks of each other –sold for more than $1 million last month, according to new mls.com data. The priciest was a 6,000-square-foot home at 337 E Windmere Drive that sold for $1.85 million.
A 6,200-square-foot home at 3616 E. Kachina Drive went for $1.45 million while down the street at 3324 E. Kachina, a 10,300-square foot house sold for $1,180,000. The fourth, at 16807 S. 32nd Lane, sold for $1.29
million and was the smallest of the four at 5,421 square feet.
Despite their seven-figure prices, three of the four luxury homes were sold at bargain prices: The sold price for each was significantly lower than it was the last time they were on the market, mls. com data show.
The 32nd Lane house was sold in 2009 for $1.7 million – nearly $500,000 more than it sold for last month. Likewise, the $1.45-million price tag on the home at 3616 E. Kachina was about $450,000 lower than its original $1.9-million price
Mendoza
when it was built in 2003. It also went for about $200,000 less than its listed price this year.
The $1.18 million paid for the home at 3324 E. Kachina was the biggest bargain among the three: It was a short sale and had been priced at $2.7 million only three years ago, records show.
All four houses boast numerous amenities and touches that set them apart from homes most people can afford. Here’s a rundown on their features and selling points.
3616 E. KACHINA DRIVE
The two-story, five-bedroom, 5.5-bath house was built in 2002 by Pridemark and had been priced to sell, according to its mls.com listing.
It features the “best entertaining backyard” – set against the South Mountain Preserve – and includes a heated pool, spa, large gazebo, new oversized barbecue, a spacious patio and a sport court.
Modeled in the style of an Italian villa, the interior sported hand-carved Cantera Stone archways, fireplaces and crown moldings. The home had been voted by real estate agents as the best on a recent tour they took of luxury houses in Ahwatukee.
It also offered some high-tech touches, with a fully equipped media room and a phone-controlled Savant Smart Home system controlled by your phone. Besides fireplaces in the family room and master bedroom, a third had been built on the patio.
“I personally think this is the BEST Preserve lot in Ahwatukee Custom Estates – feels like miles of open space in your own backyard,” an unidentified agent said on Zillow.com, a real-estate website. “The quality and pristine condition of the property along with being turn-key with the high-end furnishings being available for sale makes this home a ‘10’” Robb & Stuckey furnishings were
offered for sale separately, but there was no indication if they eventually were included in the deal.
3324 E. KACHINA DRIVE
This home has six bedrooms and eight baths, although information on mls. com indicated that at least four other rooms could be used for bedrooms.
Its over-sized “cook’s kitchen” included a large, functional island and extended breakfast bar, along with highend appliances and ample storage.
Along with soaring ceilings and large picture windows in the family room, the home features a loft, craft room/library, media room, a “bonus room that has been used as a commercial-style gym” and even a dedicated tanning room.
I you get tired of enjoying mountain views from the balconies, you can retreat to a separate office that includes its own entrance to the four-car garage and a full bath.
The master bedroom sports a two-way fireplace – one of three in the house – a personal balcony, his and hers walk-in closets, jetted tub and steam shower. A guest suite with private entrance also is included. And there’s a full, finished basement to boot.
Along with an ample patio, the backyard has a pool with multiple water features and a built-in slide.
16807 S. 32ND LANE
This single-level, five-bedroom, 5.5-bath Forte’ home in the Calabria subdivision is built around a courtyard that includes a fireplace, a large ironwood tree and travertine pavers. It offers a retreat for those who get tired of the 1,400-square-foot patio.
Inside, there’s a climate-controlled 900-bottle wine cellar, Cantera Stone columns and floors that are stone and engineered wood – along with a gourmet kitchen that includes a Wolf and Sub-Zero appliance package.
The master bedroom suite includes
(Special to AFN)
At $1.18 million, the home in this short-sale deal on 3324 E. Kachina St. was a bargain. It has six bedrooms, eight baths and an over-sized kitchen, along with a “commercial-style gym.”
(Special to AFN)
This home on S. 32nd Lane includes a tranquil courtyard with a fireplace.
to AFN)
This home at 3616
Kachina Drive is set against the South Mountain Preserve and sold
a sitting room, fire place a bathroom with a spa-like tub and custom walk-in shower, and oversized walk-in closet and the same custom stone and cabinetry found throughout the rest of the home.
337 E. Windmere Drive
The five-bedroom, 4.5-bath singlelevel home in the gated Eagle Ridge subdivision includes a gourmet kitchen with a butler’s pantry and built-in designer appliances, formal living and dining rooms, family room, game room, large inside laundry room and what Zillow.com called a “resort-style backyard.”
Custom-built features include cabinetry, stone floors and the iron front door with waterfall glass. The turret foyer leads to sunken living room with custom columns highly upgraded carpet and stunning views.
The master bedroom is located on its own wing of the house and comes with a custom gas fire place with stone mantle and hearth, views of South Mountain Range and a private patio. The walkin closet is large enough to include a laundry center with washer and dryer.
The waterfall, negative-edge pool and 8-person spa are part of a backyard that includes a massive covered patio.
(Special
This five-bedroom home on E. Windmere Drive was the top seller among the four million-dollar deals closed last month.
to AFN)
Waking up in the master bedroom at the Windmere Drive puts you right in front of gorgeous mountain views.
$297,400 4206
$300,000 4310
$308,000 4407
$308,000 3934
$319,900 4424
$320,000 9414
$330,000 4630
$336,000 15228
$369,000 3302
$385,000 4222
$394,000 15233 S.
$430,000 4582
$710,000 11627 S. Tusayan Court
$850,000 13634 S. 32nd St.
$1,180,000 3324
$1,450,0003616
$200,000 315
$287,000 410 W.
$290,000 15550
$294,000 16645
$315,000 327
$325,000 16417 S. 17th Drive
$371,000 15633 S. 5th Drive
$385,000 16825 S. 14th Drive
$427,500 1816 W. Mountain Sky Ave.
$490,000 2809 W. Amberwood Drive
$490,000 2802 W. Briarwood Terrace
$685,000 16050 S. 15th
$1,285,000
$125,000 16013
$135,750 3830 E. Lakewood Pkwy.
$150,000 3236 E. Chandler Blvd.
$193,500 16904 S. 22nd St.
$216,000 1024 E. Frye Road
$233,500 4714 E. Silverwood Drive
$235,000 2418 E. Cottonwood Lane
$237,000 4154 E. Wildwood Drive
$244,500 4056 E. Mountain Vista Drive
$244,900 3221 E. Glenhaven Drive
$249,900 4716 E. Amberwood Drive
$250,000 16034 S. 46th St.
$261,000 15846 S. 29th St.
$266,000 1533 E. Windsong Drive
$266,000 4714 E. Ashurst Drive
$267,000 1414 E. Cathedral Rock Drive
$268,000 4730 E. Silverwood Drive
$269,900 4116 E. Silverwood Drive
$279,000 3318 E. Nighthawk Way
$282,900 16633 S. 32nd Place
$287,000 4234 E. Liberty Lane
$290,000 1424 E. Cathedral Rock Drive
$290,888 4430 E. Hiddenview Drive
$300,000 4202 E. Redwood Lane
$302,000 3353 E. Woodland Drive
$312,000 14802 S. 24th Place
$315,000 4113 E. Liberty Lane
$328,000 16622 S. 15th St.
$329,000 4213 E. Frye Road
$335,000 4101 E. Redwood Lane
$335,000 1402 E. Nighthawk Way
$350,000 15201 S. 28th St.
$350,000 16226 S. 11Th Place
$350,000 315 E. Glenhaven Drive
$365,000 102 E. South Fork Drive
$368,000 16031 S. 45Th Place
$375,000 3404 E. Mountain Vista Drive
$398,000 15834 S. 10th St.
$413,000 3143 E. Tanglewood Drive
$418,000 16638 S. 37th Way
$454,900 15452 S. 5th St.
$460,000 2550 E. Amberwood Drive
$511,180 1450 E. Dry Creek Road
$550,000 16054 S. 4th St.
$565,000 1828 E. Mountain Sky Ave.
$589,000 2424 E. Sapium Way
$700,000 231 E. Mountain Sage Drive
Drops in housing prices during the Great Recession account for between 24 percent and 32 percent of the rise in student loan defaults during the same period, according to the National Bureau of Economic Research, a nonprofit economic research organization.
The study — which is based on administrative student loan data, de-identified tax data and zip code home price data for roughly 300,000 student loan borrowers in repayment during the recession — shows that borrowers living in zip codes where home prices fell more dramatically were more likely to default.
The study doesn’t indicate that the risk of a student loan default is directly connected to the value of a borrower’s home, according to Realtor.com. “Instead, the findings show that the effect of declining home prices on a region’s labor market contributes to rising student loan defaults,” it said..
Earlier research cited in the paper indicates that when the value of homes in an area fall, households spend less and therefore local businesses are often forced to keep workers’ pay stagnant or, ultimately, lay them off.
“The huge rise in student loan defaults is on everybody’s minds and the question is what’s the cause of this rise?”
said Holger Mueller, a professor of finance at New York University’s Stern School of Business and one of the
study’s authors. “What we want to do is point to another very important source of default risk and that’s just the labor market.”
The study adds a new element to prior research, which has pointed largely to one explanation for the rise in student loan defaults: An uptick in riskier borrowers attending college. So-called nontraditional students, who tend to be older and attend community or for-profit colleges, have accounted for a growing share of student loan borrowers.
Because this group is at higher risk of defaulting on their loans, the growth in their ranks has pushed up the overall default rate, previous research by Mueller’s coauthor, Constantine Yannelis, has indicated.
More than 1 million federal student loan borrowers defaulted on their debt last year. Defaulting on student debt, particularly a federal loan, can be devastating for a borrower; it’s typically a credit-ruining event and the government has the power to garnish Social Security check, tax refunds and wages over a defaulted student loan.
Mueller and Yannelis’ research indicates that the policies the government offers to help borrowers avoid this outcome are somewhat effective. Federal student loan borrowers have the ability to pay back their loans according to their income. These plans also offer borrowers the opportunity to discharge their loans after at least 20 years of repayment.
Mueller and Yannelis’ research indicates that these plans are at least partially successful at protecting borrowers from the income and employment shocks that can come from falling home prices — as long as borrowers sign up for them.
The Obama administration expanded these plans, but struggled to publicize them. What’s more, regulators and others have accused student loan servicers of making it more difficult than necessary for borrowers to enroll in the plans.
But congressional Republicans have questioned the plans, as the potential cost of forgiveness appears larger than estimated.
SPOTLIGHT home
system with remote control, capable of scheduling, senses rain from weather reports and manual intervention by phone app if needed. Beautiful powder room with unique design. 3 spacious bedrooms with custom bathrooms. Large den with hard wood flooring. All rooms also include CAT5 wiring. The home has a Wink Smart Home System with automated remote light control, control from phone app and scheduling capabilities. Inside laundry room with sink and custom cabinetry. 3-car garage, this home has it all! Excellent Kyrene Schools. Great Ahwatukee Location!
Mountain Park Ranch
Gorgeous remodel that is move-in ready. 5 br, 3 ba with 3,042 sq. ft. Welcoming entry into curved staircase. Open floor plan with fireplace in spacious family room. Completely updated eat-in kitchen boasts granite counters, backsplash, island and breakfast bar plus stainless steel appliances, refinished cabinetry with custom hardware and bay window. Bathrooms all remodeled with granite, mirrors, toilets, hardware and seamless glass showers. Tile flooring plus new carpet in three bedrooms. Large laundry room with storage cabinetry. Additional updates include plantation shutters, new interior paint 2016, roof 2015, exterior paint 2013 and Lennox A/C units 2012. New epoxy flooring with custom cabinetry in 3-car garage. Beautiful backyard features large covered patio, view deck, lush landscaping and remodeled saltwater Pebble Tec pool and spa.
Listed for $498,900
LIVING
Stunning curb appeal on this quality built home located in gated finesterra! Single level 4 bedroom, 2.5 Bath, with an open floorplan, n/s exposure gated courtyard entry, grand foyer formal living & dining, family room w/ fireplace & built-ins stone-look tile flooring, sculptured carpet shutters kitchen includes: rich dark cabinets, s/s jenn-air appliances, slab granite, island, & pendant lighting breakfast nook, large master suite w/walk-in closet, spa-like master bath w/soaking tub & glass shower, paradise perfect backyard w/ pebbletec pool, putting green, gazebo, patio, pavers, & tropical landscaping, 3-car garage, community park w/ playground, ramada, grass area, & basketball court, walking distance to top rated schools, located close to shopping & dining!
Listed for $589,000
Steps to take in determining what you can spend on a new house
BY STACEY LYKINS AFN Guest Writer
How much can you afford to spend on a new house? Follow these steps.
Calculate the mortgage payment Since most people need a mortgage to buy a house, use an online mortgage calculator to estimate how much your mortgage payments will be. This is done by typing in values like the price of the property, down payment, the dollar amount of your loan, the prevailing annual interest rate, and private mortgage insurance, if applicable.
Get pre-qualified. Get prequalified for a mortgage loan and it is prudent to speak to more than one lender to ensure you are getting the prevailing rates and fees. The lender(s) will tell you how much you’ll be able to finance through a loan and what your monthly payments will be.
Consider all of your debt. Calculate in all of your debt including car loans, student loans and credit cards. The goal would be to try to keep your total debt, or your debt to income ratio (including your mortgage debt) to no more than 36 percent of your gross income.
As in the example above, for a takehome pay of $5,000, you may want to aim for a total debt of no more than $1,800 a month. ($5,000 x .36 =$1,800).
When you get serious about shopping for your new home, get pre-approved by a lender. When you are pre-approved by a lender, it means that the lender has agreed to lend you a specified amount under certain conditions outlined in the pre-approval. This agreement gives you a definite idea of how much you are able to borrow.
Calculate monthly housing expense. Once you know how much your monthly mortgage payment will be then calculate your monthly housing costs, which will include your mortgage payments, property taxes and homeowner’s insurance. Ideally, these costs should not exceed 28% of your gross income.
Be generous when calculating the estimations to cover any unforeseen expenses and try to limit yourself to 28 percent of your take home pay. The take home pay is lower than your gross pay. For example, if your monthly income is $5,000 after taxes, you could aim to keep your total monthly housing costs at about $1,400 a month ($5,000 x .28=$1,400).
Factor in all expenses
This includes utilities for your new home. If the home is bigger than your current home, these items will increase. You can call the utility companies to get a summary of prior years’ expenses, so you do not have to guess when calculating. Do not forget to include lawn service, cleaning service and pool service, plus monthly commuting, food and entertainment costs. The amount you spend on these items per month will leave you with less income to put toward mortgage payments.
Determine the closing costs. Make sure to consider that you’ll have to pay about 2-5 percent of your home’s purchase price in closing costs. These costs include a home inspection, appraisal, discount loan points and title costs.
Include these costs and then subtract this amount when calculating how much money you’ll have for a down payment. For example, a $100,000 home, you may have to pay $2,000 to $5,000 in closing costs and this will be less money you have toward your down payment. You can also ask for the seller to pay some of your closing costs. No one wants to be “house poor.” Make sure to keep some savings on hand to pay for any decorating, furniture or fixes for your home. You don’t want to be sitting on the floor of your new home, because you can’t afford new furniture or the home needs a repair.
- Ahwatukee resident and associate broker Stacey Lykins, West USA, can be reached at 602-616-9971, S.Lykins@LykinsProperties. com or LykinsProperties.com.
Stacie Lykins
10 teen would-be CEOs make pitches for their start-up businesses
BY PAUL MARYNIAK AFN Executive Editor
They weren’t building better mousetraps, but they were ready for the world to beat a path to their door.
Or so the 10 teen members of the Young Entrepreneurs Academy run by the Ahwatukee Foothills Chamber of Commerce proved last week as they faced a panel of local investors and discussed the new products and services they had invented.
They had been preparing for the fateful session since September, gathering every week with YEA! director Pamela Manwaring to learn every facet of running a business – from product development to bookkeeping,
marketing to distribution, cost analysis to quality control.
With the help of volunteer business owners and other experts, Manwaring had organized weekly guest speakers, meetings and lessons to help the teens get grounded in business fundamentals so they could actually turn their ideas into money-makers.
Last week was the moment of truth as each teen appeared before the local business owners who had volunteered to pony up money or other assistance to make them make the leap from concept to reality.
Some, like Pradyouth Velagapudi of Ahwatukee, injected some humor into their presentations.
The 13-yearold Horizon Honors Secondary School student had developed the WristBandit, a device to help parents located their lost children at amusement parks, stadiums and malls.
“I was lost at Sea World when I was young for 20 minutes at a gift shop,” he said, prompting laughter from the panel and the audience of parents and other supporters.
Pradyouth and his nine counterparts were prepared with slide shows that buttressed their five-minute speeches.
The slides identified their projected operating and supply costs, financing strategy, target market, competition, short and long-term business goals and promotion plans.
In the end, the panel agreed to give each entrepreneur investments ranging from $200 to $950 in cash that would supplement the money they had saved and the money they’d be getting from their parents.
The panelists were no strangers to the business world. They included Ahwatukee auctioneer Bobby Ehlert, San Tan Ford owner Tim Hovik and PostNet owner Aaron Mueller.
Also on the panel were Ben
Lewis, a design consultant and director of education for TechShop, a national chain of spaces for start-up manufacturers; Bill Lombardi, a consultant for IBM Global Business Services; Charles Morales III, operations manager for the publishing company for the Ahwatukee Foothills News; and Matthew Wilson, co-owner of the advertising-public relations firm Knoodle.
The big winner was 13-year-old Emma Shaurette of Tempe, a Kyrene Middle School eighth grader who had invented an app and website called Rover’s Reviews, which she described as:
“A social hub where any and all dog owners go to for honest reviews by other dog owners all around the country on any and all dog products, services, parks, stores, hotels, restaurants, miscellaneous and events.”
She figured that between $250 in savings and an equal amount from her family, she needed another $845 to start her operation.
Emma not only received the full amount she requested, but also was
named a Saunders Scholar, entitling her to a trip in May to Rochester, New York, where she will compete with 300 other young entrepreneurs selected by other YEA! programs across the country for college scholarships, prestigious prizes and a trip to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s Small Business Summit in Washington, D.C., in December.
Pradyouth was awarded two-thirds of his $935 “ask” to develop and sell his first WristBandit, which actually would be a tracking unit with 50 wristbands. His idea is to sell these units to theme parks and similarly large venues, which would then sell individual wristbands to parents. The venue would then use the tracking unit to locate any wristband wearer who might have been separated from a parent or guardian.
The Ahwatukee Chamber runs the only YEA! program in the East Valley and the young CEOs came from Ahwatukee, Tempe, Phoenix, Chandler and Gilbert.
(Special to AFN)
The young CEOs who participated in the Ahwatukee Foothills Chamber of Commerce's Young Entrepreneurs Academy include, from left: bottom row: Pradyoth Velagapudi,Tevel Oakes and Adam Stewart; standing: Morgan Higginbotham, Will Urtuzuastegui, Alec Liapis, Swalynn Sims, Brooke Kirk, Sophie Bruner and Emma Shaurette.
(Special to AFN)
The big winner during YEA members' meeting with investors was Emma Shaurette, standing next to her mother, Phyllis Shaurette. The investors panel is sending her to compete with 300 other YEA! participants from across the country.
Chamber President/CEO Lindy Lutz Cash said the program offered a chance for tomorrow’s innovators to get a headstart with the broad-range help of their community.
“For our community and our country to prosper, the Ahwatukee Foothills Chamber of Commerce is aware that developing the entrepreneurial spirit in our young people is critical,” she said.
The other CEOs are:
Brooke Kirk, a 13-year-old Tempe Prep student whose SELFish Skincare company developed a line of organic do-it-yourself skincare kits that include no harmful chemicals and could be mixed with everyday kitchen foods like avacadoes.
Sophie Bruner, an Ahwatukee 15-year-old at Desert Vista High School who developed a website called dyslexicstudent.com that aims to help kids with dyslexia find resources to overcome their condition and realize their full potential.
Morgan Higginbotham, another Desert Vista High student and Ahwatukee resident who had formed Poccette, a company that would sell Cherry Nubbs, cherry-filled chocolates, at convenience stores. He was recently accepted into Yale’s exclusive National Student League Conference to be held this summer.
Will Urtuzuastegui, a 17-yearold Ahwatukee student at Horizon Honors who invented a subscription service called TipsyRides that would use Uber to give rides home to customers who realized they had too much to drink during a night on the town.
Tevel Oakes, a 17year-old Chandler resident and Horizon Honors student who is developing a universal portable charger for electronic devices that can be used when there is no ready source of power. Users would rotate a hand crank to generate enough juice to charge devices.
Alec Liapis of Gilbert, a collegebound Highland High School football player whose TerraSpan website is aimed at merging “social media with positive ideas” to offer users unique volunteer opportunities and connect with others who share their passions for solving various world issues.
Swalynn Sims, a 15-year-old South Phoenix student who invented HairEnvy, an online subscription service for African-American women looking to try natural and organic hair products.
Adam Stewart, a 14-year-old Altadena Middle School eighth grader whose Figuremakers website allows subscribers to design action figures that he would then create on a 3-D printer and ship to their homes.
New students sought
The Ahwatukee Foothills Chamber of Commerce is recruiting young wouldbe CEOs for its next Young Entrepreneurs Academy beginning in the fall. Contact: 602-515-3800 or yeaahwatukee @gmail.com Information: yeausa.org.
Arizona lags behind other states in solar-related job generation
BY JOSEPH GUZMAN Cronkite News
WASHINGTON – Arizona
saw a 6 percent increase in solar jobs in 2016, bouncing back from a sharp drop the year before but still trailing well behind the national average growth of 25 percent in solar jobs.
Arizona’s 7,310 solar-related jobs put it seventh-most among states last year, according to the Solar Foundation’s 2016 National Solar Jobs Census.
But experts said the nearly 400 new jobs in the state last year followed a drop of more than 2,000 in 2015, when a change in utility company charges to owners of solar-powered homes drove down demand for solar power installation.
“We used to be number two right next to California, now we’re number seven,” said Harvey Bryan, senior sustainability scientist at Arizona State University.
Bryan and others blame the change on the state’s “net metering” rules, which had allowed solar system owners to get credits for excess electricity they put back on the grid. But utilities began imposing a fee on solar customers in 2015, and Bryan said the rooftop solar industry in Arizona “collapsed.”
“Utilities like SRP eliminating net metering in their service area or on any new installations literally killed rooftop solar in the SRP territory – so almost every installer left the area because they can’t make the projects pencil out,” Bryan said.
“The attractiveness of rooftop solar is just not there anymore because there is a surcharge that has to be paid to the utility for connecting your system,” he said.
But an SRP spokesman defended the
practice Monday, saying the new price plan for residential solar customers lets the utility “adequately recover the cost rooftop solar customers impose on maintaining the energy grid, which they still rely on for electricity at night and when skies are cloudy.”
“Customers in SRP service territory who install solar on their homes today continue to save on their monthly SRP bill,” said Jeff Lane, the spokesman.
Calls seeking comment from other utilities and the Arizona Corporation Commission were not immediately returned Monday.
But an official with the Solar Foundation said net metering is an important part of the “favorable policy environment” that states need to ensure consistent growth in their solar industries.
“One of the important things is the ability to sell your excess power back to the grid at the retail electric rates,” said Ed Gilliland, senior director of programs at the Solar Foundation.
“About 45 states in the country allow you to do that. If you put solar power on your roof, an excess goes back to the grid at the retail rate,” he said. “A lot of utilities are pushing back on that rate.”
Gilliland said solar industry growth has started to spread from its traditional base in California and the Southwest, as payment incentives such as net metering have been effective in other parts of the country.
He said states like Massachusetts and Vermont, not typically thought of as centers of solar jobs, are going strong because they have encouraged solar development and have policies that support the industry. Massachusetts’ 14,000 solar jobs put it second to California, which dwarfed other states.
Eleanor Marsh marks 12 years of babysitting homes, pets
Eleanor Marsh last week marked 12 years of being a kind of professional grandma to strangers' pets.
Her pet-and-house-watch business, While You’r Away Services, makes her feel that way.
Of the pets she has watched, Marsh said, “Where else can you be blessed to have 12 years of love and kisses? Every little one has their own unique personalities. Each one holds a special spot in my heart and I feel that when mom and dad are gone, grandma is here.”
March started her business not long after friends had suggested that Ahwatukee “needed a good customeroriented pet-and-house-watch service “that would be customized to the customer’s particular needs and deliver with a positive professional attitude.”
After what she called “intense strategic planning, While You’r Away Services became a reality.
An Ahwatukee resident since 1989, Marsh said she and her four employees, with a combined 40 years of field experience, are bonded and trained.
Her contact with a client begins with a “meet and greet” that “gives us the opportunity to meet the client, their pet or their home. At this time. we further discuss their particular needs and special requests that they have in mind.”
Marsh leaves no room for worry with her clients, sending them texts and photos of their home or pet every day while they’re away after her visits.
The services vary, as do the visits.
“We have clients that have regular visits for three or four weeks, and other client go away for five or six weeks and
we stay overnight,” Marsh said. “Then we have clients for whom we give potty breaks during the day. We customize each visit to the customer’s needs.”
Her career path has been varied.
A onetime sales representative for a major computer company, Marsh ran her own interio0r-decorating company and also worked positions in the banking industry.
While they may not have had much to do with animals, she said, “all these companies have been very customerservice oriented.”
Besides, she added, “It was good training for anyone wanting to start a unique and customized business of any kind, but also someone with deep love and passion for animals.”
While Your’ Away Services offers protection for vacation homes and rental properties as well as people’s primary residences.
Visits include a complete visual inspection of a property’s interior and exterior as well as a check of pools and irrigation systems. She also checks the refrigerator, thermostats and air conditioning and flushes toilets. And she makes unscheduled inspections after a severe storm.
Marsh said she has only one ambition for her business as it enters its 13th year: “My long-term goal is to continue to provide each client with exceptional service so they know they can leave their most previous ones without worry or stress.”
Information: whileyouareaway@ yahoo.com or 480-287-4897.
(Special to AFN)
No matter how many pets Eleanor Marsh watches while their owners are away, she still has lots of room in her heart for her own dog, Blue.
CARPET CLEANING SPECIAL
Wine broker wants to revive Ahwatukee Foothills Wine Society
Jeff Williams has made wine a big part of his career.
Now he’s adding winemaking to his resume.
Williams, who is planning to return to Ahwatukee soon after living the past few years in Chandler, has made a wine he calls Rugby Red, partly to honor the sport that he played 12 years in college and professionally.
And once he moves back to Ahwatukee, he also is planning to revive the Ahwatukee Foothills Wine Society, which he helped start in 1997 with Liz Echeverria and Kristy Loftus when he was working at the El Chorro Lodge in Paradise Valley.
“We met once a month at Caffe Boa on the patio,” he recalled, noting that owner Scott Rennard offered his Ahwatukee restaurant as a permanent home for the society.
A broker for a Napa, California, winery, Williams, who lived in Ahwatukee for seven years, made the wine from a 2012 vintage with the help of Doce Roble Winery in Paso Robles, California.
He directed the mixing of grapes and would sample the mixtures until he felt he had the right combination to produce a wine that is 60 percent Syrah and 40 percent cabernet sauvignon.
He even picked the label, showing his name and a photo of him as a rugby
player on the front while the back contains the usual list of ingredients, a thanks to the winery that helped him and his favorite statement: “Water separates people, wine brings them together.”
The wine was not bottled until last Sept. 21 and it needed a couple more months to recover from “bottle shock,”
Wallace said.
But now he has been distributing it to restaurants, for people who want to buy it by the glass, and several stores, for those who want to take a bottle home.
The restaurants include Caffe Boa in Ahwatukee, the Mesa and Ahwatukee Nello’s, the Italian Grotto in Scottsdale, El Vinaio and Desert Eagle Brewing Company in Mesa, Angelina’s Italian Kitchen in Lake Havasu and A Latte Vino in Casa Grande. Stores that have stocked it are Sun Devil Liquors in Mesaa and Jerry’s Liquors and Tops Liquors in Tempe.
Wallace developed his wine sensibility working in the restaurant industry starting in 1984 – his sister is a chef as well. But then he gravitated to the wine industry, and at various times has been a partner or regional sales manager for different distributors.
As a broker, he said he has developed an extensive network, particularly in California’s wine industry.
So, will he try another batch once his 70 cases of Rugby Red run out?
“Maybe down the road,” Wallace said.
(Kimberly Carrillo/AFN Staff Photographer)
Jeff Wallace holds a bottle of his Rugby Red. He made the wine and the label has a photo of him as a young rugby player.
20th Annual Chamber Masters
SPIRITUAL SIDE
Easter is about more than bunny; it’s all about us
BY DIANE MARKINS AFN Guest Writer
What are your Easter memories and traditions? As a little girl, I loved Easter.
What’s not to love? My sister and I always got a new “Easter outfit” which included a frilly dress of our choosing, lacy socks, shiny new patent leather Mary Janes, a hat and even little white gloves. No, I’m not nearing 80, that’s just the way my mom wanted to do things.
Coloring enough eggs to exhaust a barnyard of chickens, we were artistic geniuses. The night before the big day we’d be filled with butterflies of anticipation for the beautiful, loaded basket that giant rabbit would drop off in exchange for the large carrot left as an offering of gratitude...and yes, we believed!
Up at dawn, we’d marvel at the love-
ly loot bestowed upon us and eat a few pieces of candy before breakfast. Church was fun because we got to show off our new clothes and find out how much the Big Bunny liked other kids.
Off to Grandma’s house for Easter egg hunts until the last adult finally said no more. Aunts, uncles, cousins and grandparents sat down to a table laden with what we now call comfort food.
Throughout the day, we were depleting our stash as the marshmallow peeps, chocolate bunnies, jelly beans and malted milk eggs were consumed.
Um...and there was something about Jesus. Any of this sounding familiar?
I’m not one to condemn any tradition that results in family togetherness and forming sweet memories, but perhaps there’s a better way. I realize now that the Easter celebration I grew up with was all about me: my appearance, my stash of goodies, my fun day.
Honestly, it’s still all about me...at least that’s what Jesus would say. He lived in our challenging, abusive, hurt-filled world for me. He died a brutal death, at the hands of hateful people for me. He defeated death and lives on, for me. Romans 5:8 says, “But God demonstrates His love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
For those who love the fun family traditions like I grew up with, maybe there could be two days of Easter celebrations. Perhaps Good Friday or even on Saturday, we could spend a little time remembering this man who brought each of us so much more than a wicker basketful of colored sugar.
We could deliberately try to relate to Jesus by recalling our own (comparably shallow) experiences of pain and sacrifice for others. We could spend some time being still, soaking in God’s eternal expression of love that encompassed the
very first Easter.
“Oh, give thanks to the Lord! Call upon His name; Make known His deeds among the peoples! ...” Psalm 105:1. We could write Him a sincere letter of thanks. We could teach our kids to draw a picture or use other artistic methods to create a gift expressing grateful hearts. Our wonderful God doesn’t want us to throw away fun times or eliminate lasting traditions or replace them with a stiff, obligatory religious ritual. He loves to see us smile, hug and enjoy treats.
But I believe He’d delight even more in the way our spirits would respond to an intentional interlude basking in His presence. Not for His sake because Easter is all about us, because what He did on the cross was certainly for each of us.
Hospital chaplains see the pain doctors can’t treat
BY RALPH ZUBIATE AFN Managing Editor
The image of a hospital chaplain is pretty standard.
A man in a collared shirt slips into the patient’s room as machines beep and hiss. A stole is kissed and placed over the back of the neck. Oil is applied to the patient’s forehead, and a prayer is muttered. Maybe a squeeze of a hand and a word whispered in an ear. Then, the chaplain quietly slips away.
“That’s Hollywood,” said Mario Valadez, manager of spiritual care with Dignity Health in the East Valley. “This is not Hollywood.”
Chaplains do provide spiritual care, but the reality can be more raw than that. They deal with illness, death, uncertainty, doubt and fear. Often, chaplains become counselors of a sort, a sounding board for patients and families at a critical time in their lives.
“Chaplains are trained to help any
person. Those of faith, or no faith or little faith,” said Valadez, who oversees 10 chaplains at both Chandler Regional and Mercy Gilbert medical centers.
Chaplains are primarily Protestant or Catholic, but are trained in different traditions, such as Muslim, Jewish, Baha’i, Buddhist, Jehovah’s Witness, Native American, Mormon, even atheist.
“There’s no agenda of me sharing my faith with you,” Valadez said. “I have to find out what you have as values.”
Chaplains are from all walks of life. All have gone through seminary and some are certified in clinical pastoral education.
“The primary reason one comes in is to help and be compassionate to those in pain and suffering,” said David Yanez, chaplain at Banner Baywood Medical Center and Banner Heart Hospital in Mesa.
“You have to be compassionate and giving. If not, you shouldn’t be here. If you’re not sympathetic (to their belief system), you can at least listen,” Yanez
added. “You need to meet them where they are.”
‘Why God?’ precedes a call
-Ahwatukee resident Diane Markins divides her time between family, platform speaking, radio, business and writing. Reach her: Dianemarkins.com
Gene Sellards is an on-call pastor for Tempe St. Luke’s Hospital and St. Luke’s
See CHAPLAINS
(Kimberly Carrillo/AFN Staff Photographer)
Banner Baywood Medical Center Chaplain David Yanez prays with a patient.
THURSDAY, APRIL
13-FRIDAY, APRIL 14
MEDITATION TIME SLATED
Mountain View Lutheran Church will host “The Way of the Cross – A Time of Meditation & Prayer,” using paintings, Scripture readings and meditative pieces. Stations throughout the sanctuary will lead people along the way of Jesus’ suffering. The paintings are by Sieger Köder (1925-2016), one of the best known Christian artists in German-speaking Europe. The meditations and prayers are written by Theo Schmidkonz, SJ and taken from the book “Kreuzweg-Erfahrungen,”
DETAILS >>8-10 p.m. Thursday and 7 a.m.-6 p.m. Friday. At 6:30 p.m. Thursday, a Maundy Thursday service will be held. 11002 S. 48th S. Ahwatukee. 917208-0538, communications@mvlutheran.org.
THURS, APRIL 13-SUN, APRIL 16
THREE-DAY WORSHIP SET
Family of Christ Lutheran Church will hold three unified days of worship marking Jesus’ passion, death and resurrection. Thus, on Maundy Thursday and Good Friday, there is no benediction and the congregation leaves in silence. Likewise, there are no opening preludes on Good Friday or Easter and the whole service concludes with the Easter benediction. The purpose for treating the worship taking place on these three days as a unity is to emphasize how Jesus’ passion, death, and resurrection from the dead form one saving action and to underscore how the goal of reflecting on Jesus’ passion and death is to prepare the worshiper to celebrate Jesus’ resurrection from the dead
DETAILS>> 3501 E. Chandler Blvd., Ahwatukee. 480759-4047, Dmburge1953@gmail.com. 7 p.m. Thursday, April 13: Besides the celebration of Holy Communion, this portion of the liturgy will feature a special form of confession and absolution. 7 p.m. Friday, April 14: Special elements of this portion of the liturgy include the unveiling of the crosses, which have been veiled during Lent, and the speaking of the reproaches, during which the sanctuary gets progressively darker, symbolizing both how Jesus’ disciples deserted him and his death. The last part of this portion of the liturgy is a series of prayers based of Jesus’ seven last words from the cross. 9:30 a.m. Sunday, April 16, Holy Communion is celebrated.
SUNDAY, APRIL 16
SERVICES, BREAKFAST OFFERED
Mountain View Lutheran Church will hold five services with childcare provided at three. An Easter breakfast will be offered to support the chuch’s Youth Ministries and feature pancakes, eggs, three kinds of meat, pastries and cereal.
DETAILS >> Services at 6, 7:30, 8:45, 10, and 11:15 a.m. Childcare at the 8:45, 10 and 11 a.m. services. Breakfast is 7-11 a.m. and tickets are $8 with children under 3 free. 11002 S. 48th St., Ahwatukee. 480-8932579, mvlutheran.org.
SATURDAY, APRIL 29
SHIRER TO BE SIMULCAST
Priscilla Shirer Simulcast for women and teen girls will focus on the power of prayer and learning to study God’s Word for yourself.
DETAILS>> 9 a.m.-4 p.m., Bridgeway Community Church, 2420 E. Liberty Lane, Ahwatukee. Cost: $15 (includes refreshments), plus $8 for lunch (optional). Register: bridgewaycc.org.
SUNDAYS
BIBLE EXPLORED
This biblical scripture study embraces a spirit-filled, intellectually honest, and understandable exploration of God’s Word. Lessons will combine Christian and Jewish theology along with Bible history, archaeology and linguistics for a rich learning experience.
DETAILS>> 9:15 a.m. Mountain View Lutheran Church. 11002 S. 48th St., Ahwatukee. 480-893-2579, mvlutheran.org.
HORIZON SEEKS YOUNG PEOPLE
High school and middle school students meet to worship and do life together.
DETAILS>> 5 p.m. at Horizon Presbyterian Church, 1401 E. Liberty Lane. 480-460-1480 or email joel@ horizonchurch.com.
KIDS CAN LEARN JEWISH LIFE
Children can learn and experience Jewish life. Chabad Hebrew School focuses on Jewish heritage, culture and holidays.
DETAILS>> 9:30 a.m. to noon, for children ages 5-13 at Pollack Chabad Center for Jewish Life, 875 N. McClintock Drive, Chandler. 480-855-4333, info@ chabadcenter.com, or chabadcenter.com.
SUNDAY CELEBRATION SERVICE
Inspirational messages and music to lift your spirit. A welcoming community committed to living from the heart. Many classes and events offered. We welcome you!
DETAILS>> 10 a.m. Sundays at Unity of Tempe, 1222 E. Baseline Road, Suite 103, Tempe. Information: 480792-1800, unityoftempe.com.
MONDAYS
JOIN CHRIST-CENTERED YOGA
This Flow 1-2 class (intermediate) is free and open to
the community.
DETAILS>> 6-7 p.m., Mountain Park Community Church, 2408 E. Pecos Road. Greg Battle at 480-7596200 or gbattle@moutainpark.org.
CLASS TARGETS THE GRIEVING Classes for those grieving over death or divorce. DETAILS>> 6:30 p.m., Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, 739 W. Erie St., Chandler. 480-963-4127.
TUESDAYS
GRIEFSHARE
Mountain Park Community Church is offering an ongoing GriefShare programs to help people deal with the pain of losing a loved one.
DETAILS>> 6:30-8 p.m., 2408 E. Pecos Road, Ahwatukee. To register: mountainpark.org and click on Launch. Information: Alex at 480-759-6200
FINDING HEALING FOR PAIN
HOPE, an acronym for “Help Overcome Painful Experiences,” offers support for men and women who seek God’s grace and healing.
CALENDAR
DETAILS>> 6:30 to 8 p.m. Mountain Park Community Church, 2408 E. Pecos Road. mountainpark.org.
SENIORS ENJOY ‘TERRIFIC TUESDAYS’
The program is free and includes bagels and coffee and a different speaker or theme each week. Registration not needed.
DETAILS>> 10-11 a.m., Barness Family East Valley Jewish Community Center, 908 N. Alma School Road, Chandler. evjcc.org or 480-897-0588.
WEDNESDAYS
CHIMING CHERUBS
For younger kids, grades 2 and 3, who love music and want to learn to ring the handbells.
DETAILS>> 5:45 p.m. Mountain View Lutheran Church. 11002 S. 48th St., Ahwatukee. 480-893-2579. mvlutheran.org.
CELEBRATE RECOVERY
Celebrate Recovery is a Biblical 12-step program that helps you find hope and healing from all of life’s hurts, habits and hang-ups.
DETAILS>> 6:20 p.m. Mountain View Lutheran Church. 11002 S. 48th St., Ahwatukee. 480-893-2579. mvlutheran.org.
DIVORCE CARE
DivorceCare is a friendly, caring group that will walk alongside you and provide support through divorce or separation.
DETAILS>> 6:30 p.m. Mountain View Lutheran Church. 11002 S. 48th St., Ahwatukee. 480-893-2579. mvlutheran.org.
SANCTUARY CHOIR
This choir sings regularly at the 9:15 a.m. worship services and is a part of the Cantata Choir that presents around Christmas and Easter.
DETAILS>> 6:45 p.m. Mountain View Lutheran Church. 11002 S. 48th St., Ahwatukee. 480-893-2579. mvlutheran.org.
CELEBRATE RECOVERY MEETS
Celebrate Recovery says it “brings your relationship with the Lord closer to your heart as it heals your hurts, habits and hang-ups.” Participants can discuss issues ranging from feeling left out to addictions. “Nothing is too small or too large.”
DETAILS>> 6:20 p.m. at Mountain View Lutheran Church, 11002 S. 48th St., Ahwatukee. mvlutheran.org/
celebraterecovery or email cr@alphamvlc.com.
WOMEN’S BIBLE STUDY OFFERED
Living Word Ahwatukee women’s Bible study and fellowship that offers “a short, low-key time of praise and worship in music and message.” It’s also an opportunity to meet other Christian women in Ahwatukee.
DETAILS>> 10-11:30 a.m., Living Word Ahwatukee, 14647 W. 50th St., Suite 165, Ahwatukee. Free child care.
THURSDAYS
SLEEPING BAGS FOR THE HOMELESS
Ugly Quilts has made more than 15,500 sleeping bags for the area homeless, and continues to do so at First United Methodist Church every Thursday. Quilters stitch donated fabric, comforters, sheets and blankets into sleeping bags. Those are then distributed to the Salvation Army, churches and veterans’ organizations.
DETAILS>> 8 a.m.-2 p.m., 15 E. 1st Ave., Mesa. Information: 480-969-5577.
KIDS CAN FIND SUPPORT
Support group for children ages 6 to 12 coping with a separation or divorce in the family. One-time $10 fee includes snacks and workbook.
DETAILS>> 6:30-8:30 p.m., 1825 S. Alma School Road, Room C202, Chandler. Pastor Larry Daily, 480-9633997, ext. 141, larrydaily@chandlercc.org or chandlercc.org.
FRIDAYS
NEFESHSOUL HOLDS SERVICES
Congregation NefeshSoul holds Shabbat services the second Friday of every month on the campus of the Valley Unitarian Universalist Congregation.
DETAILS>> 6:15 p.m., 6400 W. Del Rio St., Chandler. Information: nefeshsoul.org.
TOTS TAUGHT TORAH
Hosted by Chabad of the East Valley for children ages 2 to 5. Features hands-on activities about the Shabbat, songs, stories and crafts. Children will make and braid their own challah.
DETAILS>> 10:15-11 a.m., members’ homes. 480-7855831.
SATURDAYS
WEEKLY SERVICES SCHEDULED
International, nondenominational church offers weekly Sabbath services. Congregational meeting in
CALENDAR
from page 40
the morning and Bible study in the afternoon. DETAILS>> 10:30 a.m.-noon; 1:30-2:45 p.m. at True Jesus Church, 2640 N. Dobson Road, Chandler. 480899-1488 or tjcphoenix@tjc.org.
JEWISH KIDS PROGRAM AVAILABLE
Shabbat Yeladim is a free Shabbat program for Jewish children ages 3-7 sponsored by Ahwatukee’s NefeshSoul Jewish Community. Shabbat Yeladim is on
the second Saturday of the month. Songs, stories and art project each month.
DETAILS>> 10-11 a.m. on the Valley Unitarian Universalist Campus, 6400 W. Del Rio, Chandler. Contact Rabbi Susan Schanerman at rabbi@nefeshsoul.org or nefeshsoul.org.
Submit your releases to pmaryniak@ahwatukee.com
DESERT PALM UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST E
Easter Sunday ServiceS at 6am & 9am
E IS WELCOME
• Pro-LGBT, Pro-Immigrant & Pro-Environment
• Programs for children & teens
• Many volunteer opportunities & social-justice activities
• Great music programs, from choirs to a ukulele club
• Transit accessible
• Adult education, book club, film series & other social events 1230 E Guadalupe Rd, Tempe • www.DesertPalmUCC.org • 480-831-0065
You are invited to celebrate...
1401 E. Liberty Lane Phoenix, AZ 85048 www.horizonchurch.com
480.460.1480
Maundy Thusday, April 13
Maundy Thursday, March 24
Dramatic Presentation “Is It I, Lord?”....7:00 pm
Contemplative Soup & Bread Potluck Supper 6:00PM “Service of Shadows”................................... ....7:00PM
Easter Sunday, April 16
Easter Sunday, March 27
Sunrise Service ........................................6:15 am (dress warm, it’s outside)
Sunrise Service.....................................................6:00AM (dress warm, it’s outside)
Easter Celebration Service
Easter Celebration Service
“Sunday: Amazing Victory” .......... 9:00 am Refreshments and Children’s Easter Egg Hunt Following the service. Enrolling now for Fall 2017. 480.460.0081
Celebrate Easter at Horizon 9:00AM Refreshments and Children’s Easter Egg Hunt Following the Service.
CHAPLAINS
Medical Center in Phoenix.
“I make myself available for anybody who has spiritual issues,” he said. “The main thing is being available.”
For some hospital patients, it’s a time to confront the big questions.
“They’re lying in bed,” Valadez said, “and it may be the very first time they ask, ‘Why, God?’ That’s when we get a phone call.”
The most difficult cases Valadez sees are unexpected deaths.
“Those are the most challenging, personally,” he said. “That’s the hardest.”
He cited child drownings, or sudden heart attacks. He recalls one time being called in on Christmas Day.
“A father with two young kids and a wife was opening presents,” he said. “Suddenly, he has a cardiac arrest and dies. That’s tough.
“For the rest of their lives, that’s their Christmas memory. Nothing you say could take away the pain.”
When he was a chaplaincy student, Valadez’s first case was a trauma call. A nurse asked him to join the family as a man who had been in an automobile accident was brought in through Emergency.
He saw the man on a gurney with gruesome injuries, and it was apparent that he was not going to survive.
“I had to see that, then go be with the family, his two daughters,” he said. “I walked in, and they knew it was not a good outcome.
“I didn’t know the rawness of that, what I’d be getting into. But somehow, by the grace of God, I’m still here.”
Life-death mediation
Yanez, who retired from the Air Force, says he feels the most conflict when he steps into a difficult family situation.
“It doesn’t always happen, but sometimes there is a difference of opinion, even when there’s something written
down,” he said.
“The family may be at odds with what to do with a loved one. It could be that Dad said no machines, but some want to keep him alive. I have to be an umpire, arbitrator between both sides,” he said.
Valadez sometimes acts as a mediator in family meetings with medical personnel.
“When you get that diagnosis, say a cancer diagnosis, sometimes the family is like a deer in the headlights. I might interrupt and say, ‘We need time to digest this information.’
“You have to step in for the family,” Valadez said.
Sellards has been at bedside during endof-life situations. “About a dozen times,” he said.
“I’ve had to get to somebody’s bedside so we can say a prayer before we unplug. That’s tough, too, because the minute you leave, all the wires and plugs are pulled, and that person is off to eternity, whatever way they’re going. That’s not up to us to decide.”
At those times, he said, his ministry reaches more than the patient.
“The family needs it worse than the one passing away,” he said.
All chaplains have to deal with stressed patients and families.
Yanez said, “They want me to share scripture and prayer, especially when they’re withdrawing care. If they’re fearful, you talk about their fear. They often have fear, anxiety, doubt. They want peace with God.
“More than 50 percent of the people I talk to are not attending church. They have kind of been forgotten – I hate to stay that.”
Valadez said, “We don’t go talk to the family, we go listen to them.”
Impact hard to know
That said, chaplains don’t always know whether they’ve helped people in the long run.
“It’s hard to tell the impact you’ve had,”
Valadez said. “I hope I’ve blessed people.
“Once, I was shopping at Target, and somebody looked at me, and she started crying. She said, ‘Chaplain Mario?’ I didn’t remember her. I’ve seen hundreds of families. But she remembered me.
“She said, ‘You were there for me and my family when my husband died. We’ll never forget you,’
“You become part of their forever memory.”
He’s also comforted those that wouldn’t seem to want a chaplain – atheists.
“One woman, an atheist, said, ‘You were so helpful, how you were present with me.’
“It’s always a great reminder that we all have this human experience. Even if you can’t relate on a religious level, you can relate on a human level,” Valadez said.
Atheists reach out to Yanez also.
“They want to know, ‘Could there be something to God?’”
He has been present for deathbed conversions, too. “But those are not pushed,” he said.
The patients and families aren’t the only ones who need a little assistance. Doctors and nurses face their own struggles with compassion fatigue – burnout.
“We try to help them find renewal,” Valadez said. “Doctors appreciate what we do.”
Doctors don’t often approach them for spiritual help, but many do participate in a Blessing of the Hands, a prayer said for safety and skill of a doctor.
“They are appreciative,” he said.
Not all of a chaplain’s work is so dire.
Yanez has been part of a few happier occasions at Banner Baywood.
“I have performed weddings here – not too much,” he said.
In fact, the Tribune reported on a
wedding ceremony Yanez performed at Banner Baywood a few years ago. A Florida couple got married so the bride’s ailing mother could witness the ceremony.
Susan and Eliu Irizarry tied the knot in the intensive care unit, where Susan’s mother was receiving treatment for a lifethreatening illness. The couple had been planning to get married in Las Vegas, but the bride wasn’t sure her mother would be able to hold on.
Yanez described the ceremony as “very intimate and personal.”
Sellards became a chaplain late in life. He retired from his own sports-related retail business and was looking to dive deeper into his faith. He got a master’s degree in Biblical leadership and now ministers in jails, institutions, and retirement and nursing homes, along with St. Luke’s.
He views his service as a gift from God.
“The Lord’s opened a lot of doors for me,” he said.
Volunteering is important to him.
“If you’re on a payroll, you’re obligated. If you’re a volunteer, you want to be available,” he said.
“The blessing is all mine from volunteering. I wouldn’t do it for money. I wouldn’t have near the interest in pay than I have in doing it for nothing.
“My payday comes later,” he chuckled.
ANSWERS TO PUZZLE & SUDOKU on page 49
(Kimberly Carrillo/AFN Staff Photographer)
As a chaplain Pastor Gene Sellards deals with a wide variety of situations at Tempe St. Luke’s Hospital.
Get Out
These egg-cellent Easter activities will leave you egg-static
GETOUT STAFF
Whether you celebrate Easter at church or with brunch, the Ahwatukee region offers a number of holiday activities for the entire family. From egg hunts to pageants, here are some egg-speriences you’ll want to put on your calendar.
Kick off your Easter weekend at the world’s largest annual outdoor Easter pageant. From today, April 12, to Saturday, April 15, Mesa Arizona Temple puts on the production “Jesus The Christ.”
More than 475 cast members re-enact the story of Jesus, including his life, death and resurrection, in a 65-minute professionally produced musical.
The show starts at 8 each night and costs nothing to attend. However, you should show up a few hours early to get a seat.
The Mesa Arizona Temple is at 525 E. Main St., Mesa. Learn more at easterpageant.org.
On Thursday, April 13, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., kids under 8 can enjoy the trick-ortreat-style Tiny Tots Egg Hunt along Mesa’s
Main Street. Stop at businesses flying a balloon to receive one egg per child. The Easter Bunny will also be around for photos. Learn more at com/kidtasticmesa.
If you aren’t averse to a drive, Schnepf Farms in Queen Creek hosts its annual Easter Eggcitement on Saturday, April 15, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Kids can enjoy egg hunts, Easter cookies, rides, a hot dog lunch and photos with the Easter Bunny. Tickets cost $25 per kid and $3-$10 per adult. If you plan to go, however, you’ll want to buy soon as tickets go fast. Learn more at schnepffarms.com.
Snedigar Sportsplex in Chandler offers its free
Family Easter Celebration.
From 9 a.m. to noon on Saturday, kids up to 9 years old can participate in age-divided egg hunts. Plus, enjoy interactive activities, rides, photos with the Easter Bunny, food and a Family Easter Basket Giveaway. The complex is at 4500 S. Basha Road, Chandler. Learn more at chandleraz.gov. If you’re looking for an Easter play that isn’t of a religious nature, check out “Who Stole My
The fun, free mystery play courtesy of East Valley Children’s Theatre scrambles to capture an egg thief (possibly
Sinbad promises laughs at his Wild Horse Pass show
BY CARSON MLNARIK GETOUT Contributor
Traveling and performing stand-up is old hat for comedian Sinbad. After more than 30 years in the business, it still doesn’t get old.
“I’ve been on the road since ’83,” said Sinbad, who was born 60 years ago as David Adkins in Benton Harbor, Michigan. “I never stopped doing standu-p and I never will. I love it.”
Audiences may know him best from “Jingle All the Way” or “The Sinbad Show,” but the multifaceted entertainer is doing what he does best – perform live, on Friday, April 28, at Wild Horse Pass Hotel and Casino in Chandler.
A basketball star at the University of Denver, the 6-foot-5-inch Sinbad took an untraditional route to comedy. He served in the U.S. Air Force and, while assigned to the 384th Air Refueling Wing at Kansas’ McConnell Air Force Base in 1981, he competed as an emcee in a talent contest. It was then that he realized he could make people laugh.
“I said, ‘Hey I like this. This is what I’m going to do,’” he said simply.
Since then, the comedian, who was inspired by Bill Cosby, Lenny Bruce and Redd Foxx, hasn’t adhered to any rules
while developing material.
“I don’t know what I talk about until I get there,” he said with a laugh. “A lot of it is improv right at the moment.”
a chicken burglar?). It takes place at Red Mountain Library, 635 N. Power Road, Mesa, from 2-3 p.m. on Saturday. You can call 480-644-3100 for more info.
On Easter Sunday itself, scoot over to Rawhide Western Town in Chandler for the annual Easter Egg-Stravaganza (tired of the egg puns yet?) from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Rawhide offers an Easter buffet at the Steakhouse that ranges from pancakes to top sirloin. Then the kids can wear themselves out in an egg hunt.
Tickets cost $21.95 for adults and $9.95 for kids 4-12. Register your spot at 480 - 502-5600 or at reso@rawhide.com. Learn more at rawhide.com.
If you want an event not traditionally Easter-related, head over to Organ Stop Pizza in Mesa on Easter Sunday from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
You can partake in all-you-can-eat pizza and salad while you enjoy a special concert from the Mighty Wurlitzer. Lunch costs $12 for adults, $10 for kids 3-9, and you do not need to purchase tickets in advance. Information: organstoppizza.com.
And how do all the laughs come together?
The comedian is similarly concise.
“I try not to overanalyze it,” he said. “You put the time in and somehow it works.”
As for his plans, Sinbad hinted toward TV and movie projects, potentially with his filmmaker son.
In the meantime, he’s focusing on his live performances.
“It’s going to be a wild ride, that’s all I have to say.”
for eggs at Snedigar Sportsplex’s free Family Easter Celebration.
(Special to AFN)
Even after 30 years in the business, comedian Sinbad isn’t tired of traveling and performing stand-up.
Only two days left for Phoenix Film Festival
BY ERICA THOMPSON Getout Contributor
Cinephiles annually flock to the Valley for the Phoenix Film Festival, the largest event of its type in Arizona.
In its 17th year, the festival anticipates more than 25,000 attendees this spring.
Phoenix Film Festival director Jason Carney encourages the thousands of movie fans to take full advantage of the event, which ends its run today, April 12, and Thursday, April 13, at the Scottsdale Harkins 101.
The festival is offering a flex pass that allows them to see four films over the weekend. Carney says this helps fans
realize, “These are people who love films as much as I do.”
Carney has been involved with the Phoenix Film Festival since its inception in 2001. It was founded when two local filmmakers, Golan Ramas and Chris Lamont, were disappointed in the lack of opportunities to show their work in the Valley. They started a film festival to fill that void.
In its 17 years, the Phoenix Film Festival has grown from a few days to a weeklong event. It stands out because it is housed in one location, with a pavilion outside the
theater for parties. Carney says he believes this is one of the main draws.
“Everything takes place in one location. Other places you have to shuttle to get from film to film,” Carney says. “There is no reason to leave once you are there. It creates a great sense of community, with filmmakers and filmgoers all in one location.”
The festival boasts an impressive lineup of a short films, independent movies and documentaries. Past movies include “Me, Earl and the Dying Girl” and “Boyhood.” Among
the films chosen this year are “Dean” by comedian Demetri Martin and “Norman and the Stars,” starring Richard Gere.
The directors and many of the actors attend the screenings and stay afterward for question-and-answer sessions.
This year, the Phoenix Film Festival started a new category, Unified by Film, to add new content and hear from other filmmakers. This year they wanted to focus on movies made by Native American, Latino/a Americans and African-American filmmakers.
(Special to AFN)
Colleen Hartnett was voted the Filmmaker of the Year at last year’s Phoenix Film Festival.
We looked around every school before our eldest started kindergarten. Once my husband and I visited Keystone Montessori, we stopped looking. We have now been a part of the school for six years. Our children, ages 10, 8 and 2 love the school. The teachers’ commitment to our kids’ development, happiness and success and the freedom to choose and follow their own passion, are some of the many reasons of why we love Keystone. It takes a village to raise a child, and Keystone is the living example of a community working together for the future of each child.
Improv Festival brings unscripted actors from nine countries
BY KENNETH LAFAVE Getout Contributor
If you think “improv” and envision “Whose Line Is It Anyway?” you need to visit the 16th Phoenix Improv Festival International Thursday, April 20, to Saturday, April 22, at the Herberger Theatre Center. There, for four shows over three days, ensembles of unscripted actors from nine countries will go well beyond the bounds of obvious gags.
“There’s nothing wrong with that kind of improv,” said Bill Binder, festival producer. “Being funny in short skits is one valid part of it. But the long form does a lot more than that.”
The “long form” can go from 15 minutes to 90 minutes and can include serious displays of unscripted acting. The art of creating characters and situations on the spot leaves no aspect of human experience untouched.
Actors can be called on to re-create moments of trauma or despair or lovesickness as much as instances of hilarity.
Nor do the differences stop there. The actors who make improv their lives have a different attitude toward the lack of a script.
“The idea in ‘Whose Line is It?’ is that the
lack of script is an impediment and let’s show how clever we can be, filling in that gap. We look at the lack of script not as an obstacle, but as an opportunity,” Binder said.
The opportunity is one of emotional openness, he said.
“If I am an actor in ‘Our Town‘ or ‘Into the Woods,’ I need to stick to the words written for me,” Binder explained.
“If I am profoundly moved in one of those situations, I may not be able to bring that out in the words I’m given. But as an unscripted actor, the emotions and vulnerability we feel go right into what we say and do. It’s the difference between creating real emotions, and just re-creating them in one performance after another.”
Binder spends most of his time globetrotting to participate in the more than 60 improv festivals in North America, Europe, Asia and elsewhere. The phenomenon is growing in South America and even the Middle East.
For the Phoenix festival, actors from Ireland, Canada, Australia, the United States, Finland, the Netherlands, Germany, Italy and Turkey will be in residency for one week before they take their art to the public.
“Unscripted acting takes years of training, just like any other craft. If you’re on stage
with an actor you’ve known for 20 seconds, playing a couple that’s been together 60 years, you need to have honed your skills and acting practices,” Binder pointed out.
How do the actors get the ideas for the characters and situations that spark their improvised journeys?
“The most common way is to ask he audience for suggestions,” Binder noted.
“The actors will ask, ‘What’s on your mind right now? What affects you?’ Or they will just ask for a noun, a single noun, and they’ll personify that.”
The word can be common and still unleash a torrent of emotions and associations.
“Suppose the word is ‘pencil,’” he said.
“It’s a writing implement, yes, but it’s also something that’s kind of out of the past, something that’s outlived its usefulness.”
The situation allows the actor to explore what it feels like to be out of date – in a serious way. Although not all the groups in the Phoenix event are from countries where the main language is other than English, all the troupes will perform in English, which has become the de facto international language.
Binder has, however, found himself in countries that did not use English –sometimes to amusing effect.
“I was once in a show in France where everyone had to speak French. Beyond
‘bonjour’ and ‘oui,’ I don’t have any French, so it was challenging. I had to use eye contact and physicality and, just through that, I was able to react emotionally,” he recalled.
Binder promises that the nine companies will have different approaches.
“Some use music, some electronics, another uses animated GIFs to inspire them,” he said.
The bottom line for improvising actors is pretty much the same as for all of us in reality: We make it up as we go along. The major contrast might lie in the actors’ need to do something we often forget in daily life: “On stage with other actors and no script, you really need to listen and hear what other people say.”
IF YOU GO
What: Phoenix Improv Festival International
Where: Herberger Theatre Center, 222 E. Monroe St., Phoenix.
When: Thursday, April 20, to Saturday, April 22.
Tickets: $10-$20.
Info: 602-252-8497, phoeniximprovfestival.com.
(Special to AFN)
The 16th annual Phoenix Improv Festival International features a huge cast of talented improvisation artists.
Grumpy boys and Wonderettes are among weekend fun
BY JUSTIN FERRIS GETOUT EDITOR
Wonderettes are marvelous
“The Marvelous Wonderettes” and follows four girls as they attend the 1958 Springfield High School prom. Learn about their lives through more than 30 hit ’50s and ’60s songs, including “Lollipop,” “Dream Lover” and “Lipstick on Your Collar.”
DETAILS>> Mondays and Tuesdays, April 17-18. Hale Centre Theatre, 50 W. Page Ave., Gilbert. Tickets: $18-$30. 480-497-1181. haletheatrearizona.com.
County Fair begins
Enjoy 35 carnival rides, a wide selection of fair food, shopping pavilions, and exhibits of agriculture and livestock. Entry (except parking) is free Wednesday-Friday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
DETAILS>> Times vary, Today-Sunday, April 12-16. Arizona State Fairgrounds, 1826 W. McDowell Road, Phoenix. Tickets: $9 adult, kids under 8 free; Parking $8. maricopacountyfair.org.
‘Sergeants’ offers laughs
In “No Time for Sergeants,” lovable hillbilly Will Stockdale gets drafted into the Army Air Corps (the precursor to the Air Force) and sets his sights instead on serving in the infantry. His journey turns the Air Corps upside down in this hilarious play.
DETAILS>> Wednesdays-Saturdays, April 12-May 13. Hale Centre Theatre, 50 W. Page Ave., Gilbert. Tickets: $18-$30. 480-4971181. haletheatrearizona.com.
Marquee Brass performs
Hailing from the famed Peabody Institute in Baltimore, this five-piece virtuoso brass ensemble presents an evening of unforgettable music.
DETAILS>> 7:30 p.m., Thursday, April 13. Mesa Arts Center, 1 E. Main St., Mesa. Tickets: $30-$45. 480-644-6500. mesaartscenter.com.
Disney dreams big
Th skating extravaganza “Disney on Ice: Dream Big,” features four stories with beloved characters that include Tinker
Bell, most of the Disney princesses, and –of course – the cast of Disney’s mega-hit “Frozen.”
DETAILS>> Times vary, ThursdaySaturday, April 13-16. Talking Stick Resort Arena, 201 E. Jefferson St., Phoenix. Tickets: $11.25-$85. 602-379-7800. talkingstickresortarena.com.
IMP Fest launching
For Mesa’s regular 2nd Friday Night Out, the theme is Independent Music and features a range of live local bands. Plus, enjoy more than 60 art booths, food trucks and a drawing to win an electric guitar.
DETAILS>> 6-10 p.m., Friday, April 14. Downtown Mesa, Main Street between Center and Robson. Cost: Free. 2ndfridaynightout.com.
Crafts festival slated
Show up for the final MACFest of the season and browse handmade arts and crafts from a number of local artisans.
DETAILS>>10 a.m.-4 p.m., Saturday, April 15. Downtown Mesa, North MacDonald St., between Main Street and Pepper Place
Cost: Free. macfestmesa.com.
Bollywood arrives
Experience the sights and sounds of India in this colorful Bollywood review. Taj Express fuses film, dance, music and elaborate costumes to create an electrifying cinema-like experience.
DETAILS>> 8 p.m., Saturday, April 15. Mesa Arts Center, 1 E. Main St., Mesa. Tickets: $30-$50. 480-644-6500. mesaartscenter. com.
‘Grumpiest Boy’ hits stage
“The Grumpiest Boy in the World” tells the story of a completely average boy, Zachary, who wants to stand out in some way. So, he takes a magical journey to find a place he can be special. How will his journey end? Find out in this new Childsplay production aimed at kids ages 5 and older.
DETAILS>>Saturday-Sunday, April 1516. Tempe Center for the Arts, 700 W. Rio Salado Parkway, Tempe. Tickets: $12-$26. tempe.gov
Bruschetta makes a perfect appetizer for Easter entertaining
BY JAN D’ATRI
Contributor
We’re approaching Easter, and many of you will be gathering with family and friends on Sunday for the big holiday meal!
If you’re looking for a real rock-star appetizer for your Easter buffet or patio parties, you will never go wrong with bruschetta. Here’s my go-to recipe and a how-to video to take all the guesswork out.
BRUSCHETTA
Ingredients: (serves approx.8-10)
8 large ripe Roma tomatoes, sliced in half and cored and chopped medium fine
1/2 sweet yellow onion, chopped fine
4 gloves of garlic, minced or chopped fine
1/4 cup fresh grated Parmesan cheese
2 tablespoons extra virgin oil
8-10 fresh basil leaves, chopped fine. (Do not use dry)
Kosher salt and fresh ground pepper to taste
1 baguette, sliced thin
1/4 cup olive oil and about 1 tablespoon of Parmesan cheese for sprinkling on the bread.
Directions:
Cut baguette into thin slices. Lay the pieces on a cookie sheet. Put some olive oil in a small cup and brush the slices with oil using a pastry brush or spoon. Top with a very light sprinkle of grated cheese. Broil or bake at 350 degrees for about 10 minutes or until the slices are toasted golden brown. Remove from oven and set aside.
In a medium bowl, combine the tomatoes, onion, garlic, cheese, basil, parsley, salt and pepper and lightly toss. Add olive oil and blend all ingredients well.
Place a teaspoonful of tomato mixture on top of each bread slice. Sprinkle with a hint of grated cheese. Garnish with fresh basil.
– Check out my One Minute Kitchen video here: http://www.jandatri.com/ recipes/bruschetta/?category_id=384
Sports
Desert Vista girls tennis closing in on No. 1 tourney seed
BY JASON P. SKODA AFN Prep Sports Director
The Desert Vista High School girls’ tennis program has been stuck at a level of success that most programs would like to maintain.
For more than a decade, the Thunder could be counted on for double-digit regular season wins, compete for the Tempe City Tournament title and qualify for the state tournament.
All commendable standards, but Desert Vista could also be counted on to lose to Xavier and bow out in the state tournament somewhere around the second round.
“We’ve been pretty good but it has never been enough to get over the top,” Desert Vista coach Angel Singer said. “We just might be good enough to do it.”
The season certainly is shaping up to be something special so far, as the Thunder, infused with a talented freshman class that includes No. 1 Rimona Rouf, has
shown signs of breaking through.
Desert Vista entered Tuesday’s match against Westwood undefeated at 10-0. It won the Tempe City Invitational for the fifth time on March 18,
But the real sign came on March 28.
That is when the Thunder topped Xavier, 6-3, for the first time in the 12 years Singer has been the head coach for the program.
“There was definitely some personal gratification there,” Singer said. “We’ve never done that since I’ve been coach. There’s a little redemption there. It could have been even more but we kind of let up at the end.
“It’s always been a tough one of us, but some of the young players have no reason to be dreading that match (in the years) to come because they’ve beaten them.”
Much of the success this season has been the result of Rouf’s taking over the No. 1 spot.
Last year’s No. 1, Jacy Chan, held her own at the top spot a year ago, but now at
No. 2, she is a very difficult matchup for opponents. The addition of Rouf drops all the players – junior Jody Zhu, junior Jody Palmer, senior Paris Bennett and senior Erica Liu – down one slot to make them even stronger players.
“For me personally, it has been a good addition,” Chan said of Rouf. “She makes me better. It’s a good match and I feel like if I can play with her then I can beat anyone else. And the team is better for it.”
Singer said the best part about a player Rouf’s of caliber is that she can be focused on USTAF rankings and the high school team is just something to do.
“The whole family has been great, and totally supportive of the team,” Singer said. “It’s rare, really. Usually, team tennis is secondary. They couldn’t be any better.”
Rouf has a chance to be a really special player for Desert Vista over the next four seasons.
“She’s dynamite and her upside is
See TENNIS on page 51
Thunder boys volleyball looks to golf tournament for support
Competitive high school volleyball doesn’t come cheap.
That’s why Desert Vista High School’s boys volleyball team is working with its booster club and Breyer Law Offices of Ahwatukee to put on the first of what organizers hope to make an annual event – a golf tournament. “We are trying to accomplish big goals on and off the court,” said volleyball head coach Clay Webb. “In order to ensure that all our student athletes are able to be successful, it takes a lot of time and money to create a great program. I want to create a culture that allows for these
young men to develop and persevere through challenges they might face on and off the court.”
The Thunder Scramble Golf Tournament will be held at 8 a.m. May 25 at Ak-Chin Southern Dunes Golf Club in Maricopa. The $70 per-player fee includes a bucket of range balls, cart and a barbecue dinner.
Organizers have set an April 21 deadline for buying tickets and also are offering a wide range of tax-deductible sponsorships that they hope will attract the support of local businesses. Webb can be contacted at 480-706-7900, ext. 70111 or cwebb@tuhsd.k12.az.us for information.
Booster Teddie Baldwin said the team needs financial support.
“It takes a lot of money to pay for volleyball tournaments, meals, uniforms, balls and so forth,” Baldwin said. “It is up to the coach and boosters to raise money.”
Every year, Desert Vista has tried to travel out of state to at least one tournament a year, but the cost can reach $5,000, with food, travel expenses and hotel as well as the tournament entry fee.
There are also two state tournaments that can require travel and other expenses such as weekly team dinners, apparel for the season and the end-of-
year team banquet.
“It takes a lot of work and time to raise the amount of money we need in order to continue to create a winning program,” Baldwin said, noting people can support the tournament as players, prize donors or sponsors.
Baldwin added that the organizers have only started rounding up prizes that hopefully can provide a silent auction. The winner in the tournament will get a free foursome at Ak-Chin. Webb said there were various reason for opting for golf as a fundraiser.
“First, who doesn’t enjoy to golf?” he
AFN Sports Staff
(Jason Skda/AFN Staff) Desert Vista High freshman Rinoma Rouf has stepped into the No. 1 slot for the Thunder tennis team.
See GOLF on page 51
Ahwatukee Rugby Club prepares for state championship game
For the second consecutive year, the third-place Ahwatukee Rugby Club is heading to the state championship finals after defeating the second-place Tucson Blackbirds over the weekend.
The 6-3 Ahwatukee Rugby Club, made up of athletes from both Desert Vista and Mountain Pointe high schools, beat Tucson 33-17 on Saturday, April 8.
“It was a very close game for 55 of the 70 minutes,” said coach Roger Tushingham. “We were never behind, but Tucson kept coming back at us. Our boys’ togetherness really shone through.”
Tucson had defeated his club in regular season play.
Tushingham credited the team’s togetherness to a Las Vegas trip early in the season for a game against the Nevada champion team, the Las Vegas Blackhawks.
“We had an impressive win in the match, but more importantly the trip really helped the squad gel together,” he said.
The club also started a team for boys 14 and under, and although Tushingham said membership this year was “a little low,” he hopes “to continue to grow.”
The club won its last two games of the season “with excellent performances against a very big and experienced Tempe side, and then a dominant performance against Arrowhead,” Tushingham said. Those results earn it a berth in the fourteam seifinals.
TENNIS
unbelievable,” Singer said. “She has no off switch. She plays hard whether she is playing Xavier or someone who just picked up a racquet for the first time. I’ve had very good players before, but they would pull back a little against a lesser
GOLF
from page 50
said. “Second, my high school friend and college roommate is the head pro at Ak-Chin Southern Dunes and his course is always in great shape. It has phenomenal facilities, and they are super-easy to work with.
“Lastly, I have done a fundraiser like
The Ahwatukee Rugby Club will play Red Mountain on April 22. Noting Red Mountain defeated his team last year in the finals, Tushingham said:
“Red Mountain is a very strong team and well coached and has won state for the last five years. They are coached by Ahwatukee resident OJ Hawea. In last year’s final, they beat us heavily – 64 to 5, I think it was. Earlier this season, they beat us 50-38, and we are hoping to build on that improvement and push them harder this year.”
Tushingham said the regular seasn “has been good for us so far in terms of a number of boys being selected to play for representative sides.”
player. Rimona will ace them out and be off the court in 10 minutes. She doesn’t let up.”
It puts the Thunder in a good position as the regular season winds down. It has been No. 1 or No. 2 most of the season, with Desert Mountain ending the week at No. 1.
The team had a match suspended by
this before and with support from the community and a little time and planning, we can make this a really special and unique event that hopefully we can make our only fundraiser for the year.”
He also noted that there is “a handful of local businesses that support us in a variety of ways and this is a great way for us to say thank you by advertising
For example, Kyle Ostendorp represented the Arizona U16 team and was elected team captain. Kyle Bohlen, Adriaan VanNiekerk and Cameron Diamond represented Arizona U18 and Adriaan was captain. Malachi Knox was selected to play for Atavus All Star Elite, a team made up of high school boys from all over the United States.
The club includes Herman VanNiekerk, Erik Larson, Francisco Canales, Cameron Diamond, Micah Meehan, John McGill, Miles Barrios, Alec VanLue, Dasi Rogers, Malachi Knox, Sean Watters, Kyle Bohlen, Kyle Ostendorp, Caleb Watters, Miquaos Barrios, David Husband, Cameron
rain during singles play. When it picks back up on April 17, each team is leading two singles matches and two singles matches are tied.
The winner will most likely grab the No. 1 overall seed for the team state tournament on April 25.
It would give one team, in theory, an easier path to the state title match,
and promoting their businesses through ads in our programs we hand out at all home games, signage on the course and tee flags and through word of mouth.”
Webb is hoping that his players do most of the tournament recruiting, noting that there are 45 players in all when counting the varsity, junior varsity and freshman teams.
“If each player can get two golfers to
Watters, Vince Sparti, Chance Glover, Christian Spackman, Adriaan VanNiekerk, Wesley Aaron, Elias Poole, Ian Spackman, Demarius Sharpe, Justin Williams, Amir Bethea, Matthew Wilkes and Jace Jenkins. It also has added Omar Habbal to the coaching team and is sponsored by local restaurant Pita Jungle, which provides food for the club and its opponent after all home games
“We hope that a good number of these boys will be selected to represent Arizona in Denver in June,” Tushingham said. “But for now we are focused on preparing for what will be a tough assignment against Red Mountain.”
something the Desert Vista program has yet to accomplish. The Thunder lost twice in the state semifinals in the last five seasons.
“I think this team is playing at a very high level,” Chan said. “We win that one and we should get the No. 1 seed. Winning state is always the goal but this year it seems to be more of a possibility.”
join the event, then we would be able to bring in a good amount of traffic –which in the end is outstanding for all who are involved.”
People who can’t attend the tournament but want to help the team can make a check out to DV Boy’s Volleyball and send to DV Boy’s Volleyball, Desert Vista High School, 16440 S. 32nd St., Phoenix, AZ 85048.
(Jason Skda/AFN Staff)
The Ahwatukee Rugby Club, consisting of athletes from Desert Vista and Mountain Pointe high schools, is returning to the state championship game for the second consecutive year. Players posed for this team photo after they beat Tucson last Saturday, April 8.
Homebuilder’s Divinity Hoops posting a divine record
AFN Sports Staff
Divinity Hoops is creating a record that’s, well, divine.
The all-Ahwatukee team of fifth graders, part of the Amateur Athletics Union Boys Basketball federation, has won five tournament championships and two league championships and placed second in two other tourneys since October.
Credit Ahwatukee builder Aaron Wallace for some of that success.
Wallace, who named the team after his company, Divinity Homes, started with four boys three years ago whom he recruited from the YMCA. The team now numbers eight players.
Five are fifth-graders at Sierra Elementary School, including his son Austin. The other team members are Korey Woods, Evan Coates, Nazeer Davis and two pairs of brothers - Nicholas and Elijah Valez and Lyle and Cliff Robinson.
Against other fifth-grade teams, Divinity Hoops has a 43-4 record since October.
Wallace said he formed the team because he wanted “to invest my time and resources into helping young men evolve and to invest into my community.”
“My wife and I are 12-year residents in Eagle Ridge in the Foothills,” he said.
“Our daughter went to Sierra and is now a seventh grader at Altadena.”
There is no “off season” for the team. It plays year-round.
“It is there No. 1 priority outside of school,” Wallace said. “We play around 120 games per year and practice Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. The boys have evolved as one, they are all best friends and have learned how working together as a unit can give exponential results in life. They continue to learn how hard work and commitment pays off.”
Besides playing two or three tournaments a month, Divinity Hoops also plays in various leagues, including all four YMCA leagues.
Last month, he team took second place in state championship play in Tucson.
APRIL 16 • 10AM - 2PM
(Special to AFN)
Ahwatukee homebuilder Aaron Wallace, top right, and assistant coach Larry McDonald flank Divinity Hops players Elijah Velez, Lyle Robinson, Austin Wallace, Nazir Davis, Cliff Robinson, Nicholas Velez, Evan Coates and Korey Woods.
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Classifieds
Awatukee Foothills News / East Valley Tribune 1620 W. Fountainhead Parkway #219 • Tempe, AZ 85282 • 480.898.6465 • classifieds@timespublications.com
Deadlines: Classifieds: Monday 11am for Wednesday • Life Events: Friday 10am for Wednesday
Housekeeper needed 3 days/wk approx. or 12 hrs/wk. Ahwatukee home w/ 2 adults and dog. 480-496-0882
Resistant
1230 West Southern Ste. 103 Tempe, AZ 85282
http://www.granitetransformations.com/phoenix/
KYRENE is now hiring School BUS DRIVERS FT 30 hrs/wk. Benefits offered. Paid training and CDL testing onsite. Flexible work schedule with split shifts. Starting Salary $14.49 - $18.00 For additional info go to www kyrene org/hr
Christian Preschool seeks Part time Teacher Assistant for Aftercare. Hours are 3:00 to 6:00 five days per week. Send resume to sn10115@ yahoo.com
DriversCDL-A: Local-HomeDaily& OTR!!Insurance (familyavail!) PaidVacation,Age 23,w/TankEnd.Req. Frank:877-589-5518
Neurology office looking for a FT employee Monday-Friday; 8-5. Medical front office experience preferred. Must be able to multitask and have a positive, outgoing attitude. Email resume to: tlyons@foothillsneurology com
HIRING COOKS/ DISHWASHERS FT & PT
Both Locations: Ray Rd/I10 and Chandler Blvd. & Desert Foothills Pkwy. Apply in person
Nursery workers, 5 temporary full-time positions
Duties: Work in nursery facilities or at customer location planting, cultivating, harvesting, and transplanting trees, shrubs, or plants. No EXP REQ. No EDU REQ.
Days & Hours: 40 hours/week (6:00am-2:30pm); day shift; Mon-Fri. Dates of employment: 04/18/1711/15/17. Wage: $9.51/h, OT $14.27/h if necessary. Raises, bonuses, or incentives dependent on job performance. OJT provided.
Assurances: Transportation (including meals and, to the extent necessary, lodging) to the place of employment will be provided, or its cost to workers reimbursed, if the worker completes half the employment period. Return transportation will be provided if the worker completes the employment period or is dismissed early by the employer. Employer will provide workers at no charge all tools, equipment and supplies required to perform the job. Job location: Phoenix, AZ - Maricopa County. Applicants may send or contact the AZDES Office, 4635 S Central Ave, Phoenix AZ, 85040. Desirae Diaz ph:520-866- 3608. Please reference AZDES Job Order #: 2560784.
Meetings/Events
St. Mesa, Refreshments provided. Contact: Rick Wesley 480-219-4790 rick@ aegishospice.com
Same
(480)
Meetings/Events
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Los Angeles District (Corps) is considering issuing a permit for the project under Section 404 of the Clean Water Act. The Corps Regulatory Program evaluates permit applications for most construction activities that occur in the nation’s lakes, rivers, streams, oceans, and wetlands. The purpose of the public hearing is to gather additional public views and comments on the proposed activity. The information gathered will become part of the record and will be considered in the decision. All interested individuals are invited to attend and are encouraged to review the full Public Notice at:
http://www.spl.usace.army.mil/Media/Public-Notices/Regulatory-Public-Notices/
To provide an equal opportunity for all speakers and to keep the hearing from running excessively long, a time limit for speakers may be imposed and one representative from each organization in attendance may speak on behalf of their group. In addition, translators will be available at the public hearing for those wishing to provide oral comments in their Native traditional language. Comments regarding the proposed permit application can be submitted orally or in writing at the public hearing. Oral comments can be provided directly to a court reporter, or to a panel of Corps of Engineers’ representatives and the public hearing attendees at large.
Written comments will also be accepted after the hearing and should be submitted by Friday, May 19, 2017. Written comments submitted after the hearing can be mailed to the address below or sent via email to: Jesse.M.Rice@usace.army.mil. Comments received during the public review period will be considered by the Corps and will become part of the administrative record for the decision.
Should you have any questions about this project or the public hearing, please contact:
LOS ANGELES DISTRICT, U.S. ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS REGULATORY DIVISION
ATTN: Jesse Rice, Project Manager
3636 North Central Avenue Suite 900 Phoenix, AZ 85012-1939
Jesse.M.Rice@usace.army.mil
602-230-6854
Activity
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Los Angeles District will hold a public hearing in relation to the Department of the Army permit application received for the Loop 202 South Mountain Freeway project.
This Public Hearing will be held on: Tuesday, May 9, 2017 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Boys and Girls Club of the East Valley Gila River Branch-Komatke 5047 West Pecos Road Laveen, Arizona
Aegis Hospice Grief/Loss Support Group
We meet 6 pm on the 2nd and 4th Wednesday of each month. Legacy Funeral Home: 1722 N. Banning St. Mesa, Refreshments provided. Contact: Rick Wesley 480-219-4790 rick@ aegishospice.com
AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS SENIOR ASSOCIATION (AFSA)
Attention: Seniors 55+ --- become a member of AFSA. Mark your calendars for the first Thursdayof every month and enjoy meeting new friends, have a delicious lunch, and be entertained. This all takes place at the Sheraton Four Points Hotel located at 51st St. and Elliot Rd. in Phoenix. Doors open at 11am and lunch is at Noon. Cost is $15. For further information and details, please call Sue McCann at (480) 469-9388.
Public Notices
