www.ahwatukee.com
Coming clean
Tempe Union, Kyrene to ask voters for financial help
BY PAUL MARYNIAK AFN Executive Editor
Both school districts that serve Ahwatukee will be asking voters this fall for financial help by continuing budget overrides in the face of what officials and some citizens call the state Legislature’s continuing refusal to adequately fund public education in Arizona – particularly adequate teacher pay.
Tempe Union High School District’s governing board last week approved a ballot question for a 15 percent operations and maintenance budget override by a 4-1 vote, with its only Ahwatukee member, Brandon Schmoll, voting against it.
Kyrene’s governing board last month unanimously approved three ballot questions – two allowing continuation of 15 percent operating and 10 percent capital budget overrides and a third authorizing the district to borrow up to $116,750,000 in bonds over 10 years.
Both boards’ actions climaxed several
months of study and discussion by scores of business and property owners, parents and community leaders who had volunteered to study the two districts’ financial challenges and recommend solutions.
Despite a plea last week by one of those citizens for a united front in Tempe Union’s campaign, Schmoll opposed the override question because much of the way the money would bolster teacher and staff salaries.
Although he made no statement at the board’s June 7 meeting, he told AFN: “It is risky for the district to allocate the money towards permanent expenses using temporary income, especially since we will be maxed out on overrides and unable to receive more funds.”
He also was critical of the $300,000 cost of the all-mail election.
“Regardless of the outcome of this override, I think it’s important for the state legislature to properly fund K-12 schools so that we don’t have to
Promoter says time growing short for a fireworks show in Ahwatukee
BY PAUL MARYNIAK AFN Executive Editor
Like a quarterback heaving a Hail Mary pass to the end zone in a football game’s final seconds, Tim Matykiewicz hopes to save an Independence Day fireworks show in Ahwatukee.
But he’s going to need his “teammates” –neighbors in the community he’s called home for more than a decade – to cross the goal line.
Matykiewicz, president/CEO of Arizona Events Group, has given himself a Father’s Day deadline to raise the $18,500 he needs to put on the show and party on July 2.
So far, he’s collected $80, adoring to gofundme.com/help-keep-fireworks-inahwatukee. The site is his collection point for donations.
“I just like fireworks,” he said. “I’m thinking about the community. It’s down to quality of life. People ask what’s the big deal about events. It’s a big deal. That’s why I am in business. I want people to enjoy themselves.”
Like thousands of other residents, Matykiewicz was bummed by the Ahwatukee Foothills Chamber of Commerce announcement last month that it couldn’t afford to put on its popular Red, White and Boom! Independence Day party and fireworks show this year.
The chamber had hoped to partner with an unidentified organization that had been interested in financing the 41st annual party, but the group pulled out at the last minute.
Chamber President/CEO Lindy Lutz Cash said that didn’t leave enough time to find another partner.
Besides, she said, finding a site in Ahwatukee to stage the fireworks was next to impossible because the South Mountain Freeway construction eliminated the Pecos Road staging site.
Matykiewicz said he has been working with city officials to stage fireworks July 2 at Desert Foothills Park, with a party running 6-11 p.m. in the nearby parking lot of Native Grill and Wings on East Chandler Boulevard near Desert Foothills Parkway.
Native owner Rod Ticknor is helping him plan the party, which would include a beer garden with food, bounce houses, vendors and other attractions – similar to the chamber’s pre-fireworks festivities. The last two years, that festival was held at Pecos Park.
(Dianne Ross/AFN Contributing Photographer)
Jim McAllister beams as brightly as the Mountain Pointe High School band/orchestra’s instruments did after he and scores of others cleaned them up. For details, see page 22.
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U.S. Navy Ensign Cole
Preston, a Desert Vista grad, going nuclear
AFN News Staff
Ahwatukee native Cole Preston is going nuclear – all in the name of serving his country.
The 2013 Desert Vista High School graduate officially took on the title of ensign in the U.S. Navy last month after earning a bachelor’s degree in applied mathematics from the Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland.
On leave visiting his family in Ahwatukee for a few weeks, Preston will head out soon for the naval base in Charles, South Carolina, to study for service aboard a nuclearpowered submarine.
Committed to the Navy for the next five years, Preston had a wide range of job choices and opted for duty on a nuclear-powered sub because he thinks they are “great vessels.”
“I always kind of had a desire of serving my country in the military,” he said, adding he initially had considered enlisting, but his uncle, a 1980 Naval Academy graduate, convinced him that he should enter the academy.
At Desert Visa, Preston participated in baseball and track and field, but left his mark on the varsity football team, where he played first-string center and defensive end.
He was near the top of his class academically at Desert Vista and was selected by the National Football Foundation (Arizona Chapter) as a “Top 50” High School Football Scholar Athlete.
He chose the Navy over the other Armed Forces because it offered a more extensive list of occupations.
In Charleston, he’ll learn everything there is to know about nuclear reactors and nuclear subs, but he’s open to just about any job on the sub once he’s done.
“I just want to do the best I can, and I want to serve my country,” he said, adding that after his five-year commission has expired, “I’ll re-evaluate and decide if I want to continue in the Navy.”
As an academy graduate, Preston is now among 81,000 alumni who include one U.S. president, 21 members of Congress, five governors, 73 Medal of Honor recipients, two Nobel Prize winners, 52 astronauts and 4,000 admirals and generals.
COLE PRESTON
Brazen break-in doesn’t daunt restaurant owners
BY PAUL MARYNIAK AFN Executive Editor
Brandon Tjhang and wife Montana Kaewlaiko didn’t need a brazen burglary of the Ahwatukee restaurant to remind them that they have good neighbors. But the outpouring of support they received following the June 6 earlymorning break-in at Arroy Thai on the northeast corner of Ray Road and 48th Street was still surprising.
And it made them think even more warmly of their neighborhood.
“Ahwatukee has been a good place,” said Tjhang, who helps run the restaurant that his wife owns. “A lot of people have been really supportive.”
The break-in easily could have ended badly for whoever committed the crime around 4:30 a.m.
At least one person climbed up an unsecured utility ladder to the roof, broke into an air-conditioning unit, slid six feet down through an 18-squareinch chute to the ceiling. Then they had to jump down to the floor another 10 or so feet.
“They must have been pretty skinny,” Tjhang said. “They could have gotten
stuck in that chute. It’s a one-way street once you get in: You either get to the floor or get stuck.
“You hear all the time about burglars getting stuck trying to break into a house down a chimney. That is no bigger than a chimney,” he added, pointing to the
Once in, the burglars broke into the cash register, stealing an unspecified amount of cash, rifling through papers on a shelf below and then setting their sights on what Tjhang thinks was the real target all along: the Verizon phone store next door.
They first ripped a hole in the wall in the kitchen, trying to break into the Verizon store, but ran into a concrete wall behind the plasterboard. Then they went into the bathroom and did the same, finding success.
But the surveillance camera-equipped alarm went off immediately, giving the thieves only a few minutes to escape through a back door – likely empty-handed because the store’s expensive cellphones are locked in a vault.
Although some Ahwatukee social media sites buzzed about crime in the
area, Phoenix Police said only one other criminal incident in the area has been reported this year.
Earlier this year, a man with a gun held up the Subway sandwich shop on the same corner, and last December, a bicycle theft and a burglary were reported in the area.
“I feel secure here,” Tjhang said, relieved that no more than about $1,500 damage had been done to the walls and that he had to close only a few days for repairs. The thieves never disturbed the food, beer and other beverages in the kitchen.
The restaurant has been open only about seven months and carries a menu reflecting its name – “arroy” is a Thai word that diners use when a dish tastes good, Tjhang said.
With an emphasis on fresh and homemade dishes, he said his wife’s goal is to bring authentic Thai food to Ahwatukee.
“If you go to Thailand, you’ll taste the same food there,” he said.
His wife does some of the cooking while he tends to a variety of tasks. Two of their three daughters also pitch in as part-time employees.
Tjhang’s big responsibility: “I’m not good at cooking, but I’m good at tasting.”
“I try to taste different dishes every day,” he said. “If I don’t like the way something tastes, I tell the cook to do it all over.”
He also rigidly enforces rules to maintain cleanliness and keep out bugs, making sure every night that when the restaurant closes, not a crumb can be found anywhere.
Tjhang and his wife also are big on making the restaurant an integral part of their neighborhood. He said high school students like to come by in the evening and as long as the restaurant isn’t full, he lets them hang out.
“We are part of the community, not just a business,” said Tjhang, who chose the location for the traffic.
And he’s not about to move, despite the first crime he and his wife have ever encountered in the restaurant business.
“The property management company is very good,” he said. “And we feel very secure.”
Tartaglio Owner
(Kimberly Carrillo/AFN Photographer)
Brandon Tjhang and his family run the Arroy Thai restaurant at Ray Road and 48th Street, Ahwatukee.
With him are, from left, daughter Shania Tjhang, wife Montana Kaewlaiko and daughter Alyssa Tjhang.
Council race down to two candidates, both with Ahwatukee connections
Zofia Rawner has suspended her campaign for Phoenix City Council District 6, making the only competitive election this year a two-
And it will pit an incumbent who lives in Ahwatukee against a challenger who grew up in the community.
In an announcement to her supporters, Rawner said she was withdrawing in an attempt to unify support from progressive voters behind healthcare executive Kevin Patterson against incumbent Sal DiCiccio.
“Right now, there are two progressives in the race,” she said. “Unfortunately, there are limited resources to support the campaigns, and I want to ensure no one feels torn or sits on the sideline for this important election. Our goal has always been to put the needs of Phoenix City, District 6 above all else. To achieve our aim and see the city of Phoenix thrive, I have decided to suspend my campaign. This will help us unify.”
Patterson said, “We are so grateful to Zofia and her entire team for the work
that they did engaging voters and the community for the past few months. Our campaign will be better off for their work, and we can’t wait to continue to bring our positive economic message to thousands of voters over the next two months.”
DiCiccio said, “I wish her the best. She is a very bright individual with a significant future ahead of her. She has a voice that needs to be heard in the district, and I plan on reaching out to her to see what I can do to help.”
In her announcement, Rawner noted that she had begun “volunteering politically” five years ago “because I knew that the concerns of our residents needed to be addressed.
“I could see the struggles families faced,” she said. “During this time, my mother had recently passed away, and my son stopped breathing after birth, which kept me awake night after night. Still, I spent my first year learning about our local political process and continued to be engaged.
“Five years later, both my children are
See ELECTIONS on page 10
Summit School of Ahwatukee CLASS of 2017 Congratulations
“Our child has thrived during his time at Summit Middle School. The teachers are kind and compassionate. They work hard to make the middle school years fun for the students. In addition to having a heart for middle schoolers, they also have provided a top notch education in all subject areas. We could not have been happier with our experience.
-Summit Parent
100% acceptance by all high schools.
Graduates will be attending Desert Vista, Brophy, Xavier, Horizon, Seton Catholic, Hamilton, Valley Christian, and two out of state.
4515 E. Muirwood Drive Phoenix, Az 85048 summitschoolaz.org
Tempe Union takes another step toward selling Ahwatukee site for homes
Tempe Union High School District officials are another step closer to selling a 63-acre site in Ahwatukee that could become home to as many as 178 houses on Desert Foothills Parkway and Frye Road.
Now all they need is for the developer to at least match the offer of the highest bidder.
The governing board last week unanimously authorized its broker to negotiate with an unidentified developer for the property’s sale after winnowing its choice from an original field of 18 bidders.
Although the amounts of all bids were not disclosed, officials have previously stated that the land sale could yield close to $20 million for the district.
Under law, that money cannot be used for salaries and must be put in a capital fund for repairing facilities or reducing debt.
Because public disclosure of the developers or their bids could affect their negotiations, school officials are allowed to keep details secret until the board is ready to approve a deal.
During their public meeting last week, board members had to discuss the next step in the sale in only the vaguest terms, referring to developers by numbers and avoiding any mention of a purchase price.
The board then directed its broker, Nathan and Associates and JLL, to ask the favored bidder to at least match the offer of another developer and make a few other adjustments in its original bid to craft a purchase offer “that will be a little
more advantageous to our district,” Tempe Union Superintendent Kenneth Baca said. If the developer agrees to the new terms, the buyer and the purchase price will be disclosed as a future meeting.
Moreover, the target price would be such, board President DeeAnne McClenahan said, that “I think taxpayers will be happy.”
Voters last November gave Tempe Union officials permission to sell the site, which had been purchased years ago for the possible construction of a third high school in Ahwatukee.
“It’s a highly coveted site by the development community,” Ryan Duncan of Nathan and Associates told the board earlier this year. “There’s not a builder in town who doesn’t know about it.”
Although the board also is marketing another piece of vacant land it owns in Chandler that could involve a partnership between the district and the developer, members have opted for a straight-out sale of the Ahwatukee site.
But even if the board and its favored bidder reach an agreement, the sale likely would not be finalized until the developer has an opportunity to evaluate the site for its suitability for development.
The site is hilly and presents drainage challenges, officials have said earlier.
Although 178 homes have been mentioned as the maximum that could be built on a site of that size, topography and other conditions could mean that far fewer homes are possible.
Moreover, any development plan would need city approval before construction could begin.
Ahwatukee!
NEWS STAFF
(Special to AFN)
Tempe Union officials are trying to seal a deal with an undisclosed developer who wants to buy this 63-acre site at Frye Road and Desert Foothills Parkway. Although the potential price is under wraps, it like will yield millions in new capital money for the school district.
FIREWORKS
from page 1
The fireworks alone cost $10,000, and even that’s coming at a discount. Ahwatukee residents Kerry and Lori Welty, owners of Fireworks Productions of Arizona, have agreed to provide an extra $3,000 in explosives for free, Matykiewicz said.
Matykiewicz said he’s working with city officials, and he admitted some of them have reservations about setting off fireworks in a park surrounded by private homes. However, the rockets incinerate at least 300 feet above the ground, leaving no embers falling to earth, he said. While the city requires applications for fireworks and other related permits to be filed no later than 10 days before the actual event, Matykiewicz said he doesn’t want to wait that long.
“I just don’t like putting the city in that position and filing the applications at the last minute,” he said. “That’s not the way I do things.”
Matykiewicz is no stranger to staging public spectacles; it’s been his livelihood for 20 years.
While he’s been on two Super Bowl planning committees and is a life member of the Fiesta Bowl Committee, his fulltime job these days is putting on the Arizona Balloon Festival, which will be held for the seventh consecutive year next February in Goodyear.
Although hot-air balloon festivals draw crowds that can exert a multi-milliondollar impact on the region, they’re getting increasingly difficult to organize because many municipalities don’t want the hassles, he said.
“You need a lot of space for the balloons, not just space on site but in the air,” he said, noting that all the East Valley cities already have banned them.
While attending Colorado Christian University in the 1980s on an athletics scholarship, Matykiewicz fell in love with events promotion after he was recruited to organize student activities.
One of his standard features at his balloon festivals happens to be fireworks shows.
“You don’t have to make them real long,” he said, adding that his shows last no more than 15 minutes.
He staged a fireworks show in Gilbert atop the town hall roof. The show went off without a hitch, he said, calling it proof that a show at Foothills Park would be safe.
Besides individual contributions from residents, Matykiewicz also is reaching out to businesses, and has put together several sponsorship packages on the gofundme site.
He said he’ll refund donations if he doesn’t make his goal. He’s less certain what he’ll do if a storm forces him to call off the show on July 2, though he said he’s looking into cancellation insurance.
“Right now, it’s really all about raising the money,” he said. “The event business is tough. You have to get sponsors, deal with local government, but if you have the will and the support, you can get it done.”
Matykiewicz also said he’s not interested in taking over Ahwatukee’s Independence Day celebration every year.
“I’m not saying this is an annual thing, I’m just saying I’m doing this this year,” he said. “I’m not interested in replacing the chamber.”
Despite the tepid response so far on gofundme.com, Matykiewicz remains hopeful he can pull off the show.
“It’s human nature to wait,” he said. “Nobody sees it as a crisis until you say, ‘Hey, it’s a crisis.’”
And with his self-imposed deadline for raising the cash looming, Matykiewicz said the crisis is now.
(Kimberly Carrillo/AFN Photographer)
Rod Ticknor, left, owner of Native Grill and Wings on East Chandler Boulevard, and event promoter
Tim Matykiewicz, hope to keep fireworks bursting in air in Ahwatukee for Independence Day.
Foothills
Listed
ELECTIONS
yelling at the top of their lungs how proud they are of their mother, all those who supported me on my petition continue to encourage me, and we added close to 700 signatures in support of our progressive ideals,” she continued, adding:
“Five years ago, people would have questioned whether to financially support a young progressive candidate, but today they are supporting two. Five years ago, many would have told us that we were too ideal, but today people are beginning to see how we can build a movement.
“I have come to believe that one candidate is better than two after speaking with many amazing people,” Rawner added.
District 6 has the only contest in the four districts where elections are being held this year.
Election Day is Aug. 29 with early voting beginning on Aug. 2. If neither DiCiccio nor Patterson gets more than 50 percent of the vote, they will get to repeat their campaign for a November election.
District 6 has the largest number of registered voters, according to city records. Its 117,724 voters are among 737,392 registered voters in all of Phoenix. Of that 117,724, about 13,800 are considered “inactive” because they did not vote last year.
DiCiccio is seeking his third four-year term on Council and would be termed out after this one. He also served two terms, between 1994 and 2002, before he again sought the seat in 2009.
He is expected to focus on the city’s fiscal condition and has already been sounding the alarm about Phoenix’s “structural budget deficit” that, he said, does not focus on prioritizing spending and instead is “revenue focused.”
Besides fiscal accountability by city officials, DiCiccio also has listed job creation and protecting neighborhoods as his other top priorities.
A native of Youngstown, Ohio, DiCiccio relocated with his family in 1962 to the Valley, where he attended Tempe High School. He and his wife have two daughters.
Patterson made Arizona history several years ago when he and his partner were married in the state’s first gay wedding.
His campaign website boasts of having “firsthand experience in the importance of neighborhood safety, community programs and access to city services to our most vulnerable populations.”
Director of Banner Health’s leadership development, Patterson is president of
Equality Arizona, a group that advocates for the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community.
Though his website does not make any promises specific to Ahwatukee, he pledges to “empower small businesses and entrepreneurs with local financing opportunities,” “retain university talent by making Phoenix an affordable and attractive city to live in,” “increase resident access and awareness of parks, libraries, and community centers” and “ensure efficiency by reducing waste and investing savings in our neighborhoods.”
Ahwatukee residents who have not registered to vote can go to servicearizona. com. Voters who are not on the permanent early ballot list and want to vote by mail can call 602-261-8683 to request a ballot. The city also will have in-person early voting available on the 15th floor of City Hall. Details: phoenix.gov.
SAL DICICCIO
ZAFIA RAWNER
KEVIN PATTERSON
spend $300,000 of district money on proposition expenses asking voters to approve more funding,” Schmoll said. “It’s extremely inefficient.”
No disharmony appears among Kyrene governing board members on their ballot questions. They were scheduled last night, June 13, to vote on two separate statements urging voter approval of the two override measures.
“We are in the midst of a crisis when it comes to attracting and retaining highly qualified teachers, as the teacher shortage is all too real,” says a draft of the district’s “pro” statement that will be included in voter information guides before the November election.
“This governing board has made teacher compensation a priority and we have worked hard to adopt a long-term strategy for increasing teacher salaries,” it also says. “Continuation of our (maintenance and operating) budget override will allow us to continue that important work and honor our commitment to our teachers.”
In a separate draft statement urging approval of the capital budget override, Kyrene board members stress that the district needs technology upgrades – some necessary because of statemandated tests.
The only alternative to financing those upgrades, they warn, would be taking the money from the district’s operating budget and “displacing funding for teacher compensation.”
Kyrene’s two budget overrides will not increase property taxes.
Rather, the district is simply asking voters to continue for another seven years of overrides that they have already approved. The operating budget override won approval in 2013 and the capital override was OK’d by voters two years before that.
Tempe Union officials’ override question would result in a small tax increase because it would raise the existing 10 percent override to the maximum 15 percent allowed by law.
But that additional 5 percent might not take effect all at once and instead be phased in by the school board over four or five years. It would end up giving teachers an average 8.5 percent pay increase over those time periods, totaling an average $4,700.
Once full in effect, it would add $70 to the annual tax bill of a home valued at $204,500, according to district records.
The state Legislature raised teacher pay 2 percent over the next two years. Gov. Ducey earlier this year proposed a 2 percent pay hike for teachers over five years.
Kyrene voters last authorized the district to float bonds in 2010.
That money funded a slew of repairs at schools throughout the district and the purchase of propane-powered school buses and air-conditioning upgrades on those vehicles.
The $12.6 million that Kyrene earned in the 2016-17 from the existing operating budget override “is the equivalent of 200 teacher salaries,” according to district records.
Those records also noted that override money goes directly to maintaining enough teachers to keep class sizes small, fund enrichment classes such as physical education and music, cover part of the cost of servicing students who have physical or learning disabilities, and pay for support services such as libraries and laboratories.
Much of the capital budget override will help Kyrene maintain its aging buildings – which average around 30
years old.
Both Tempe Union and Kyrene are in various stages of studying the sale of large tracts of land that the districts bought years ago.
Tempe Union is a little further along with one of its two parcels and is homing in on the sale of a 63-acre tract in Ahwatukee.
Kyrene is just beginning the process of hiring a broker to help study the disposition of two tracts it owns –including part or all of the district headquarters in Tempe.
While the disposition of those four tracts could yield tens of millions of dollars, the money could not be used for operating expenses. It could only go for capital expenditures or to pay down debt under state law. Some officials in both districts have said the Legislature needs to change that law so the money could help cover operating expenses, including teacher salaries.
Tempe Union plans to use the entire additional 5 percent in override money exclusively for teaching pay increases averaging 8.5 percent over four or five years.
Arizona ranks among the bottom five states for teacher salaries, studies show. Salaries have not only driven many experienced teachers out of Arizona schools into other states or occupations, but also have diminished the number of new university and college graduates who want to teach in the state, education officials have said.
The resulting teacher crisis has fueled numerous demands by business and citizen groups for more state funding. It also has fueled anger among the same groups at the Legislature’s expansion this year of vouchers for parents who want to send their children to charter schools since a large portion of state funding for public school districts is based on enrollment.
(Lauren Scott/Special to AFN)
Kyrene del Milenia Summer Academy teacher Ruben Johnson shows youngsters some guitar basics as part of the district’s elementary school program for students who want to pick up extra learning in areas such as movie making, chemistry and other subjects.
Committee targets opioid addiction in the East Valley
BY SRIANTHI PERERA Tribune Staff Writer
With evidence of a full-blown crisis at hand, opioid addiction in the East Valley has a new force to reckon with.
Tempe Councilmember Joel Navarro is heading a large multi-agency and multi-city committee to find ways to share resources and ideas to create a bestpractices approach to the problem.
“It does not matter who you are; addiction will hit everybody,” said Navarro, addressing representatives from the Regional Opioid Action Planning Committee at the Graduate Hotel in Tempe recently.
“It’s a crisis, and right now, we’re in the middle of it,” he added. “Over-prescribing of pills, the availability of heroin, fentanyl, carfentanyl – all these things have really got us to this point. That’s why we’re here – to work together.”
According to new data from the state Department of Health Services, 790 Arizona residents died from opioid overdoses last year, showing a startling increase of 74 percent over the past four years.
The report also shows that more than two Arizonans die each day as a result of an overdose of opioids, which include heroin as well as prescription medicines.
The new numbers have prompted Gov. Doug Ducey to declare a statewide health emergency “because we need to know more about the epidemic.. so that we can develop real, targeted solutions,” he said.
While data specific to the East Valley is difficult to parse, Maricopa County shows that opioid-related mortality rates have increased from 2005 to 2015.
The county also has created a map of metropolitan Phoenix denoting drug activity by ZIP code. It shows high and medium-high activity in Central Phoenix and Mesa, while Chandler and Gilbert show medium to medium-low activity and Tempe shows medium-low activity.
Arizona Department of Health Services reported in July 2015 that from 2008 to 2014, there were 1,903 cases – an increase of 235 percent – of neonatal abstinence syndrome in babies born addicted to drugs because their mothers used them.
Navarro, a former Phoenix firefighter, worked last year on a national task force on drug addiction and met people who were battling the epidemic on the West Coast.
“We have opportunities to learn from
best practices that are going on around the country and craft something that makes sense here,” he said. “We want to be effective; we want to be efficient; we need to advocate for programs that are going to make an impact.”
Navarro established the local committee in November, comprising representatives from Ducey’s office, Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office, Chandler Coalition on Youth Substance Abuse (CCYSA), the Chandler Gilbert Substance Use and Treatment Task Force, medical, educational and public safety providers and substance use treatment and recovery groups from East Valley cities.
Ted Huntington, who heads CCYSA, is part of the Chandler-Gilbert task force and also a member of Navarro’s committee, has been leading efforts to educate the community and counter drug abuse in Chandler for many years.
Working with five sectors – healthcare providers, pharmacists and dispensers, law enforcement, education, and prevention and rehabilitation – the task force has devised a strategic plan to fit Chandler, and also added partners from Gilbert and Queen Creek.
Its strategies include constant networking; using the CCYSA’s website as a resource tool; community presentations on topics such as the prescription drug disposal program and alternatives to prescription drugs; helping schools with implementing their campaigns; changing health care prescribing practices, referrals to treatment and messaging to peers; and promoting pharmacists’ use of the Controlled Substances Prescription Monitoring Program.
“The committee’s common theme is to allow for the leaders in the community to understand their community and then
adapt these different principles to that and be flexible with that,” Huntington said.
Along those lines, the Maricopa County Correctional Health Services has introduced MOSAIC, an intensive, sixweek substance abuse treatment program to inmates. Consenting participants work with medical and mental health staff to overcome addiction and develop skills to prevent them from failing and lapsing into bad behaviors and returning to jail.
“You have to continue to service (people) outside of the jail,” Navarro said.
Questions such as “Are there enough resources? Is there enough connectivity and where do we lose people?” should be posed by communities, he said.
Another is the Community Paramedicine program, in which cities send paramedics to individuals they have previously identified, help them along in their treatment and get specialized help if necessary. This also helps reduce 911 calls that create a large cost to cities.
Educating youth is another pillar in the plan, officials said.
During the committee’s last meeting at the Graduate Hotel, the participants divided to discuss a three-pronged approach: foster regional corporation, increase public awareness by all means available and facilitate treatment in jails.
Committee members are working over the summer to achieve two or three items in the resultant action plan; they will reconvene on Sept. 5 to evaluate their work.
“Our regional partnership will make a difference as we begin to execute our plan,” Navarro said in an email to the group.
The Chandler Gilbert Substance Use and Treatment Task Force is holding a free conversation about opiates with prevention and treatment professionals 6-8 p.m. June 22 at Dignity Health Mercy Gilbert Medical Center, McAuley Conference Rooms, third floor, 3420 S. Mercy Drive, Gilbert. Details: ccysachandler.org.
(Anthony Marroquin/Cronkite News)
Tempe Councilmember Joel Navarro established the Regional Opioid Action Planning Committee in November.
ADOT praises freeway progress, says blasting still under study
Blasting in Ahwatukee to make way for the South Mountain Freeway may not be necessary after all.
Arizona Department of Transportation spokesman Dustin Krugel told AFN last week that freeway developer Connect 202 Partners “is in the process of evaluating whether it will be necessary to conduct limited controlled rock blasting within the Pecos Road segment as part of ongoing earthwork activities.”
Although surveys of homes in the blast area, west of 32nd Street, are still underway, Krugel said ADOT won’t know whether blasting is necessary until late this month.
Meanwhile, ADOT also last week issued a news release stating that freeway work is proceeding at a swift pace.
At the same time, the pace has been anything but swift in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, where freeway opponents are fighting a last-ditch effort to stop construction of the 22-mile thoroughfare that will connect the Chandler and 59th Avenue interchanges of I-10 and allow I-10 traffic to bypass downtown Phoenix.
Although the primary parties in that case have all filed their briefs, the court must rule on whether to allow 21 Southwest Native American tribes to intervene and must set a date for oral argument.
ADOT is taking full advantage of the appeals court’s refusal to grant an injunction request that the Gila
River Indian Community and Protect Arizona’s Resources and Children had filed in December to stop construction until the court fight was resolved.
PARC President Pat Lawless of Ahwatukee said her organization likely would again seek an injunction if blasting is scheduled.
The blasting in Ahwatukee is separate from blasting that will occur on South Mountain next year when crews beginning carving a 200-foot-wide path across three peaks.
The mountain is part of a segment between 51st Avenue and 32nd Lane – the only segment along the freeway path where construction is not currently occurring.
ADOT has repeatedly said that by working along most of the right-of-way simultaneously, the agency will be able to keep costs down for the $1.77 billion project – the most expensive in state history. That coordinated construction effort also is aimed at completing the project by late 2019.
“Less than six months after major construction began on the state’s largest single highway project ever, progress on the Loop 202 South Mountain Freeway has been swift,” ADOT said in its release.
“In Ahwatukee Foothills, future interchanges are taking shape at 17th Avenue and 40th Street, with columns and abutments in place and crews scheduled to begin placing bridge girders
(Arizona Department of Transportation)
An aerial photo shows progress on the construction of two half-mile-long bridges that will take the South Mouintain Freeway over the Salt River just north of Southern Avenue in Laveen.
next month,” the highway agency said, adding:
“In Laveen, 72 large concrete piers form the start of two half-mile-long bridges that will carry traffic over the Salt River. In the West Valley, work continues to create an interchange with the I-10 Papago Freeway at 59th Avenue, including adding piers that will carry ramps.”
Calling the freeway “a critically needed transportation project for Valley motorists,” ADOT said the 2019 completion date would be three years ahead of when work would be completed if it was done one segment at a time in nine stages.
Connect 202 Partners consists of Fluor Enterprises Inc., Granite Construction Co. and Ames Construction Inc., with Parsons Brinckerhoff Inc. as the lead designer. It also will be responsible for maintenance for the next 30 years.
While work is proceeding along the thoroughfare, design also is continuing.
ADOT said those two approaches to the project make for greater efficiency and keeps the $1.77 billion project – the most expensive in state history – from exceeding cost estimates.
American Legion Post 64 to conduct flag retirement rite today
An Ahwatukee tradition that is part of a far older tradition will take place today, June 14, when Ahwatukee’s only veterans service organization holds its annual flag retirement ceremony.
American Legion Post 64 will be retiring unserviceable American flags at 7 p.m. at the Ahwatukee Recreation Center, 5001 E. Cheyenne Drive. June 14 is Flag Day in America.
Post Chaplain John Boyer said the ceremony is designed to remind people “about what the flag truly means.”
“This is a very moving ceremony which demonstrates the dignity of properly retiring our flags,” said Boyer, adding that Legionnaires will be “conducting an approved method of retiring unserviceable U.S. flags.”
The program is free and open to the public. People also are welcome to bring worn-out flags to the ceremony for disposal.
While only a few are retired at the ceremony, the rest are sent to Luke Air Force Base for further disposal.
the 1923 Flag Code passed by Congress.
Team
Respectful flag burning has served as a tradition since the 1940s, and continues to be an honorable and proper method of retirement.
The flag was adopted by the Continental Congress on June 14, 1777, seeking to promote unity.
The disposal ceremony was introduced by the American Legion at its 19th national convention in 1937 and has been a part of that organization ever since. The Legion adopted it from
“The observance of proper respect for the flag of our country and the education of our citizenry in the proper courtesies to be paid the flag is an essential element of” of Americanism, the legion said in its resolution creating the ceremony and disposal protocol.
The ceremony includes these words:
“A flag may be a flimsy bit of printed gauze, or a beautiful banner of finest silk. Its intrinsic value may be trifling or great; but its real value is beyond price, for it is a precious symbol of all that we and our comrades have worked for and lived for, and died for a free nation of free men, true to the faith of the past, devoted to the ideals and practice of justice, freedom and democracy.”
(Special to AFN)
Leading last year’s flag retirement ceremony were Ahwatukee American Legion post members, from left,Dave VonTersch, John Boyer and Bob Smithson .
Dogs’ bacterial disease can spread to humans, area vets warn
BY JESSICA SURIANO
AFN Staff Writer
In the past year, over 70 dogs in Maricopa County have been diagnosed with a bacterial disease that can also spread to humans – and the number of outbreaks is on the rise.
According to the Maricopa County Department of Public Health, the disease, leptospirosis, or “lepto,” spreads through urine, urine-contaminated water or wet soil. Dogs with leptospirosis can sometimes contain the harmful bacteria in their urine for months without showing any symptoms.
Symptoms of leptospirosis in dogs include fever, lack of energy, lack of appetite, red eyes, vomiting, diarrhea, frequent urination, excessive drinking and abdominal pain.
State veterinarian Peter Mundschenk said the 70 reported cases mostly hve been from the Scottsdale and Phoenix areas, and a new cluster has appeared in Tucson. Three dogs have been euthanized, but it is unknown what the reasons for euthanasia were.
Dog owners lined up to have their pets vaccinated against the lepto disease at the Animal Rescue League’s Phoenix headquarters earlier this year, but only 50 doses were on hand. More are expected to be on hand for the league’s vaccination clinic this Saturday.
consider starting to require proof of a leptospirosis vaccine. The vaccine protects animals from the disease for one year.
Jeff Jenkins, a veterinarian at Ahwatukee Animal Care Hospital, says there are different varieties of lepto. He said symptoms aren’t unique, so sometimes veterinarians may not realize lepto is the underlying problem right away.
“The vaccine covers the four most common strains of the disease,” Jenkins said. “Once vaccinated, the chances of getting sick are very, very slim.”
Dogs at risk for exposure are ones that have had contact with areas potentially contaminated by rodent, wildlife or farm animal urine, dogs that swim in potentially contaminated water sources and dogs that visit dog parks and boarding facilities.
He said many of the outbreaks have been associated with boarding and day care in pet facilities because of the high concentration of animals in these environments.
“Lepto thrives in a warm, moist environment and can stay infective for a long time if the environment is right,” Mundschenk said in an email. “It could
be that the increased moisture we had this winter, and the irrigation and warm weather would allow the bacteria to survive in the environment.”
There is a vaccine available for leptospirosis, and Mundschenk said boarding and day care facilities may
Even dogs in completely urban settings can be exposed to rodent urine, according to Mundschenk.
Barb Savoy, public relations director for the Friends for Life Animal Rescue in Gilbert, said the shelter has avoided
See LEPTOon page 19
(Special to AFN)
any incidents of leptospirosis so far.
She related the decision of whether or not to vaccinate a dog for lepto to parents’ decisions to vaccinate their children, and said it can be very personal from household to household.
“The more we have not vaccinated, the more we’re putting at risk,” Savoy said.
The Arizona Animal Welfare Clinic will distribute leptospirosis vaccinations for $20 between 7:30 and 11:30 a.m. Saturday, June 17, at the main shelter, 25 N. 40th St., Phoenix. The clinics are held the third Saturday of every month.
A second booster shot is needed two to four weeks after the initial vaccination, which the clinic will also provide.
The most recent leptospirosis clinic the organization held was in February, but it was stocked with only 50 doses. Saturday’s vaccination clinic is expected to carry more doses, but they will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis.
Most people who contract leptospirosis from dogs will not get sick until a week after exposure to the bacteria, but symptoms can appear anywhere from two to 30 days after contact.
However, all the testing the Arizona Department of Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have done on exposed humans have come back negative for the disease, according to Mundschenk.
Leptospirosis in humans can cause fever, headache, chills, severe muscle pain, red eyes, rash, yellow eyes and skin, vomiting, diarrhea and liver or kidney damage in severe cases.
Leptospirosis in cats is rare, according to the Arizona Veterinary Medical Association. The AVMA website said
new cases outside Scottsdale and Phoenix are being reported in other cities throughout the Valley, including Gilbert, Tempe, Litchfield Park, Fountain Hills and Avondale.
People who work in jobs with frequent contact with animals should wear protective equipment such as gloves, facemasks and gowns when caring for ill patients or animals, especially if they are responsible for cleaning up bodily fluids, according to the Maricopa County Department of Public Health website.
Infected dogs placed in boarding facilities or daycares should be placed in floor-level kennels and away from hightraffic areas.
Jenkins cautioned that many animal clinics don’t vaccinate for lepto.
“We recommend people are going to the southeast or northeast U.S. or Texas get their dogs vaccinated because they were having problems there,” he said, adding pet owners can administer the vaccine themselves.
(Special to AFN)
State veterinarian Peter Mundschenk said the 70 reported lepto cases mostly have been from the Scottsdale and Phoenix areas.
Mountain Pointe High School’s music man returning home
BY COTY DOLORES MIRANDA AFN Contributor
Leo Werner is back. The newly reappointed Mountain Pointe High School band and orchestra director has returned to the program he originated when the school opened in 1991.
Yet, he and his family – wife Melissa, son Mitchell, 22, and daughter Alicia, 14 – have never really been far away; they’ve lived just down the street from Mountain Pointe High School for 21 years.
Werner said being selected first to start the school’s band, orchestra and choir programs, and now to return after nine years to be the band/orchestra director was, and is, “an honor and a privilege.”
Upon leaving Mountain Pointe in 2008, Werner was hired to establish another band program, this time at Combs High School in San Tan Valley. It is that district’s only high school.
Ceremonies at ASU – planned their December 1990 wedding, Mountain Pointe sat empty except for a skeleton crew of administrative staff that was organizing the new high school and conducting a search for teachers.
The last three years have been at Brophy College Preparatory, reviving and restructuring its band program. Even as he now prepares for the next school year at Mountain Pointe, he’s also teaching summer school classes at Brophy. Werner, newly celebrating age 51, began his teaching career at Glendale’s Washington High School while in his senior year at Arizona State University, where he also earned his master’s degree in music education.
“My first duty was to hop on a bus in mid-November with 27 kids I’d never met to go play at a playoff game,” he recalled. “I graduated in December and taught there another year.”
As Werner and his bride-to-be – now director of the Office of University
lions are members of a pride. So, we came up with the lion face with the heart-shaped mane as our logo and Lionhearts as our band name,” he recalled.
He laughs at the irony that his first name, Leo, is Latin for lion.
Werner admits that leaving Brophy is difficult, and a move he possibly wouldn’t have made if it weren’t for the opportunity to return to Mountain Pointe.
“It’s been three wonderful years. There’s a lot of support for the program and a sense of family and brotherhood there that I hope to bring to MPHS,” he said.
Bob Ryan, principal at Brophy College Prep for the last 10 years of his 17-year tenure, said Werner will be missed, having “left his mark on our band program.”
“I can’t help but admire, however, his desire to return to Mountain Pointe and serve the community there,” he said. “Leo is the consummate professional and is tireless in his desire to position his students for success, both as musicians and in life.”
For Werner, his students are his foremost focus.
“It’s not about me. It’s about the students and what they need. My mantra has always been, ‘This is your band and it’s going to be what you want it to be.’
On the day before his wedding, Werner had his second interview and was offered the position. While continuing at Washington High that spring semester, he spent his after-hours at Mountain Pointe, ordering music stands and sheet music and otherwise prepping for the 1991 school opening.
And now, he’s back. Back to leading the Lionhearts Marching Band and orchestra. Lionhearts was the band’s name he originated in the early 2000s while at Mountain Pointe.
“That name came about because it seemed every band was ‘the pride of something,’ when for us it was because
learning to play music. These values not only helped me excel in playing music, but they have carried over to helping my professional career,” said Vender, an Ahwatukee resident and digital marketing vice president who still plays drums at home.
“Leo’s been a lifelong influence for many past students, and I’m very happy that he’s come home to MP,” Vender added.
Kapellusch, a senior software technical manager at General Dynamics, said even though his career has nothing to do with the saxophone, lessons learned under
“The high school student can do much more that they often think they can. And I tell them there’s always reasons not to do something, but I’m the kind of person who says, ‘Why not?’ and ‘Yeah, we can!’”
Percussionist Adrian Vender, who graduated from Mountain Pointe in 1999 and studied music under Leo Werner, turned out Saturday with scores of other volunteers to clean the school orchestra and band's instruments.
Werner during four years in marching and concert bands still serve him well.
On June 10, dozens of Werner’s Mountain Pointe band and orchestra alumni showed up to help him organize and clean in preparation for the upcoming year.
Among them were former band members percussionist Adrian Vender and saxophonist Brent Kapellusc, 1999 and 1997 Mountain Pointe graduates, respectively.
“Leo taught me the importance of dedication, persistence, and fun when
“As cliché as it sounds, Leo has undoubtedly had the greatest impact to my career of any instructor I have ever come across,” said Kapellusch, a Mesa resident who still plays alto sax, sometimes accompanied by his 9-year-old daughter, Nadia, on piano.
“While technical expertise and problemsolving skills are obviously important as an engineer, it is the ‘soft skills’ I began to hone
(Dianne Ross/AFN Contributor)
Leo Werner is delighted to be returning to Mountain Pointe High School where he will be director of the school's orchestra and band.
(Dianne Ross/AFN Contributor)
Dozens show up to clean, repair Pride instruments
PHOTOS BY DIANNE ROSS
AFN Contributing Photographer
Young and old alike from Ahwatukee joined Mountain Pointe High School band alumni Saturday, June 10, to clean and repair the band's instruments and tidy up their meeting areas. While alumni from the classes of 1994 through 2008 attended, so did incoming high school freshmen and supportive parents and grandparents. Although next school year's band members won't return to rehearsals for several weeks, the volunteers wanted them to be ready to practice, practice, practice rather than spend time fixing instruments, painting walls and organizing trophies and flags. The volunteers included, clockwise from top left: Shantala Ramaiah, cleaning a xylophone; a good cross-section of the community; incoming Mountain Pointe freshman Taryn Collins, who polished some horns; Ian Gryzb, Centennial Middle School band director, who repaired drums, some belonging to his onetime students; Nicole Olmstead, who repaired broken trophies; 2003 Pride graduate Cori Heads, who put the band’s marching flags into order; Shana Villarreal, who also polished xylophones; Yvette Garcia, who helped spackle walls; and J.J. Mixdorf, who repaired drums.
Ahwatukee Munchkins enjoying the yellow brick road
BY COTY DOLORES MIRANDA AFN Contributor
Molly Prefling and Cody Rooney may only be 8 and 9, respectively, but neither takes offense at being called “Munchkins.”
The two Ahwatukee youngsters are, after all, appearing on center stage at the Herberger Theater as Munchkins in the Valley Youth Theatre’s production of the “Wizard of Oz," a musical running through June 25.
And these two Ahwatukee youngsters have special roles made memorable in the classic 1939 motion picture. Molly is one of the baby ballerina members of the Lullaby League, and Cody is one of the three boys of the memorable Lollipop Guild.
Both say they are honored to be a part of the hardworking, 58-member cast that is presenting 24 shows in three weeks.
For Molly, a Kyrene de los Lagos thirdgrader, becoming part of the production required one audition and two call-backs.
“You have to wait and wait, and that’s very annoying,” said the brown-haired, petite youngster. “I was nervous, but I was also very excited.”
When the announcement of the cast was posted online, both she and Cody said they were ready to start rehearsals, which began in April and seriously ramped up last month.
They said they boned up for the production by watching the 78-year-old Technicolor movie.
“I’ve watched the movie a couple of times and it’s interesting,” said Molly.
Though she’s happy with her role, which includes stage time with Dorothy – to whom she presents a bouquet of flowers –
she wasn’t as thrilled over her costume.
“I wear a baby bonnet. I’m dressed as a baby,” she moaned when describing her entirely pink outfit.
To her family, the Munchkin role seemed fitting for Molly.
“It was rather fun for us, as we’ve always called her Molly Munchkin,” said her mother, Laura Prefling, who along with husband Mike are among the parent
volunteers for the show.
Molly started her thespian career at age 5, appearing in a summer theater camp production of “Jungle Book, Jr.” where she sang a solo “I Wanna Be Like You!”
“She blew me away,” recalled her mother.
“Up to that point we had put her in a few different sport activities, but she didn’t really like any of them.
“I still can’t believe this shy little girl has
the guts to go into an audition and sing for a group of strangers, much less get up on stage and perform for an audience,” Prefling added.
She also acted in another summer camp production, and two presentations of Ahwatukee Children’s Theater’s “A Christmas Carol.”
Cody, a Kyrene de la Estrella fourthgrader, is appearing in his first play, but probably not his last, as he awaits a callback for the August production of “Shrek the Musical,” also being presented at the Herberger Theater.
His is a theatrical family, as his older brother Lucas, 14, and sisters Noel and Jaymie, 13 and 11, respectively, are already involved in theater.
“Our house has always been filled with music,” said Cody. “We have three keyboards in our house, and we all play. I love that we can sing and practice whenever we need to, and it’s always loud in our house when all four of us are getting ready for an audition.”
Even callbacks for roles are a time for rejoicing at the Rooney household.
“When I got a callback for the ‘Wizard of Oz,’ I was very excited. And when I heard I got the part, Lucas said, ‘Good job, Cody, I’m proud of you.’ I want to be an actor when I grow up.”
For parents Misty and Josh Rooney, shepherding a family of thespians (eldest brother Kyle, a 2016 Desert Visa High grad was an athlete) requires certain guidelines.
“For one month, all four of the younger ones were practicing with different songs. One of the rules in our house is if you’re going to audition, you have to pick a theater song and perform
(Special to AFN)
Molly Preling and Cody Rooney are proud to be called Munchkins, since they're appearing in the Herberger Theater's version of the musical favorite "The Wizard of Oz."
St. John Bosco kindergartners write their own ‘runaway food’ books
Kindergarten students at St. John Bosco Catholic School in Ahwatukee recently got so turned on by a 140-year-old story that they decided to write their own.
Under the direction of teachers Samantha Espar and Jamie Bescak, the students read “The Gingerbread Man” and other books about runaway food and decided to write their own food stories with characters they made up themselves.
The gingerbread story dates back to 1875 and spawned other tales of runaway food over the years.
The exercise taught the St. John Bosco kids about the writing process, from pre-writing and drafts to revising and publishing.
Then they invited their parents to attend a reading, modeling that after sessions that top-selling authors often conduct to peddle their books. The students also did their own illustrations.
“The students enjoyed reading these funny stories and were excited to come up with their own character,” said Espar. She added that the exercise showed “children can go above and beyond any expectations when they feel encouraged and excited about their work.
been introduced to writing mechanics.”
The students were as proud as any adult author with the reaction they received.
“The children felt accomplished and proud when they finished their book,” Espar said. “I’ve never seen such big smiles. By writing a book at such a young age, not only are our students developing their writing and literacy skills, they are learning to express themselves in such a creative way. It will be beneficial to them in later years that they’ve already
“My mom and my dad love my book,” said one student. “They are so happy that I wrote it for them. “
Some of the fledgling authors said they chose a particular character because they liked the food their book represented.
And while they thought it was cool to be an author and illustrator, one student said the exercise taught them an important lesson about writing.
As one student summarized, “It’s not easy, but it’s a lot of fun.”
(Erin Holgreve/Special to AFN) Keegan Stone wrote about the hot dog man.
(Erin Holgreve/Special to AFN) Lawrence Yi wrote his story about a runaway pizza.
(Erin Holgreve/Special to AFN) Marcelina Morcillas shows off pages from her book to her classmates.
Desert Garden Montessori students nail top honors for inventions
AFN News Staff
When it comes to competing as entrepreneurs, high school students don’t have a thing on eighth-graders at Desert Garden Montessori in Ahwatukee.
Four Desert Garden Montessori students took the top two awards recently in a national competition, defeating 21 high school finalists and 1,500 of their peers in a business incubator’s contest focusing on innovative ideas from young students
Seed Spot’s High School Demo Day attracted students from Virginia, New Jersey and Arizona for a daylong event in which participants were mentored by local investors and entrepreneurs.
Seed Spot is a nonprofit that calls itself “dedicated to supporting all social entrepreneurs creating a product, service or technology that improves lives or makes the world a better place. We support entrepreneurs by surrounding them with the right access to resources, mentors, business fundamentals, community partners, capital sources and
anything they need to succeed.”
Anna Buchmann and Katie Ludwig won the $5,000 Cisco Innovation Challenge with a proposal for a device they call TempTrac, which is designed for hikers and outdoor enthusiasts to detect body temperature using a system that helps prevent heatstroke.
“Unlike other products on the market, this device predicts warning signs through artificial intelligence and alerts the user before it is too late,” a spokeswoman for the Ahwatukee school said.
Ember Perez and Bella Pio took the $3,000 second-place award with their invention, called Safe Soles.
That venture focused on helping parents locate missing children through a gel-shoe insert with tracking technology. “Unlike other wearable devices that are easy to see or remove, the covert nature of this device makes it difficult to know a child is wearing a tracking device,” the spokeswoman explained.
The startup community in Arizona rallied with additional prizes, including summer office space from Workuity, one-on-one mentorship with lead-
ers from EY and GoDaddy and the opportunity to prototype and learn additional skills at the University of Advanced Technology.
The four Desert Garden Montessori students and their counterparts have been working on their projects for a year.
Working in two-person teams, they explored how to interview potential customers, validate the demand, properly size a market, project cost and revenues, measure impact and, “most importantly change the world for the better,” Seed Spot said.
The student program was adapted from Seed Spot’s adult incubator, which has raised $8.4 million in capital for 288 ventures.
A Foundation for a Lifetime of Learning
Keystone Montessori has provided my children with a warm and nurturing environment in which to develop their love of learning. The teachers, staff, and parent community all work together to ensure our children receive an outstanding education that focuses not only on academics, but also on grace, courtesy, and respect for their community. We love Keystone!
- Parent Testimonial
(Special to AFN)
Desert Garden Montessori eighth-graders Anna Buchmann and Katie Ladewig won the top prize in a contest for high school entrepreneurs and walked away with $5,000.
Because having the confidence and peace of mind of accreditation is important. That’s why Hawthorn Court is accredited by CARF International. It’s an independent organization that sets exceedingly high standards for care and service. It’s a lot like an accreditation for a hospital or college. Or a five-star rating for a hotel.
So if you’re looking for memory care services for a loved one, take a good look at Hawthorn Court. We think you’ll find that our CARF accreditation is only one of the many reasons you’ll like what you see.
Please join us for a personal tour. Call 480.359.2898 to schedule.
Kyrene holding job fair for school bus drivers and monitors today
Kyrene School District is facing a serious shortage of bus drivers and hopes a job fair from 3 to 5:30 p.m. today, June, 14, will help close the gap. The job fair is at district headquarters on the northwest corner of Kyrene and Warner roads, Tempe.
District spokeswoman Nany Dudenhoefer said the district is down by 18 drivers and six bus monitors.
“This is definitely more than last year,” she said. “Most of our losses were due to retirement, (or people ) needed full-time work year-round or relocated.”
Interviews will be conducted on the spot today. Drivers’ starting wage ranges from $14.49 to $15.10 an hour while bus monitors start at between $10.27 and $10.62 an hour. Most positions include benefits.
Besides driving buses on regular routes and for special trips, operators are responsible for inspecting, fueling, and cleaning buses; monitoring the behavior of students; performing bus evacuations; and maintaining records related to incidents, mileage and vehicle discrepancies.
AROUND AHWATUKEE
Monitors tend to children’s minor medical needs, ensure they’re using seatbelts and monitor student behavior and safety inside the vehicles.
Applicants are encouraged to apply online at Applitrack on the Human Resources Department page at Kyrene.org.
Rep. Norgaard making the rounds in Ahwatukee
State Rep. Jill Norgaard will be the guest speaker at two different events in Ahwatukee, where she lives and is one of two members of the legislative district that includes the community.
watukee, every Thursday and welcomes the public. Information: mike.maloney2003@gmail.com.
vide a “simple, tangible and visible way people are able to help a basic need right in their backyard.” Last year, it collected 2,000 cases.
She will be the featured speaker at a joint meeting of the Legislative District 18 GOP Committee and Ahwatukee
Republican Women 6:30-8:30 p.m. June 28 at Mountain View Lutheran Church, 11002 S. 48th St., Ahwatukee. Information: arwomen@aol.com.
At 7:30 a.m. June 29, she will be the featured speaker at the regular weekly meeting of the Kiwanis Club of Ahwatukee. The Kiwanis Club meets at Biscuits Restaurant, 4623 E. Elliot Road, Ah-
Mountain View Lutheran collecting water for homeless
Mountain View Lutheran Church, 11002 S. 48th St., Ahwatukee, is holding a bottled-water drive throughout June to benefit the Summer Heat Respite Program at Grace Lutheran Church in downtown Phoenix.
The heat relief program addresses hunger as well, and connects the homeless to resources June 12-Sept. 1.
The drive has become an annual event at Mountain View, which seeks to pro-
Cases of water or cash donations can be dropped off at the church 8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. weekdays or during one of the regular worship times at 5:30 p.m. Saturday or 8, 9:15 or 10:45 Sunday morning. Any size case or amount of bottled water is accepted.
Information: pastorsarah@graceinthecity.com.
Cactus Jack’s poker night to benefit arthritis sufferer
Cactus Jack’s, 4747 E. Elliot Road, Ahwatukee, is holding a poker tournament starting at 2 p.m. Saturday, June 17 to benefit a member of Momma’s Poker League whop is suffering from rheumatoid arthritis and to increase awareness of the condition.
A car show also will be held at the site from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
The tournament has a $25 buy-in.
Details: Becky at 602-697-4823.
TODAY, JUNE 14
Moana and Ariel arrive
Join in a live presentation featuring costumed characters Moana and Ariel for some under the sea stories, princess lessons and dancing. Free tickets are required and available at 1:30pm on the day of the event.
DETAILS>> 2-2:45 p.m., Ironwood Library, 4333 E. Chandler Blvd., Ahwatukee. No registration required – first come, first serve. Ages 0-11.
College planning discussed
Lay the ground work for college planning, application, and funding, as well as goal setting and career exploration in this info-packed session. Presented by Phoenix Public Library college depot staff.
DETAILS>> 4:30-6:30 p.m., Ironwood Library, 4333 E. Chandler Blvd., Ahwatukee. No registration required.
THURSDAY, JUNE 15
Drawing class for adults
“Learning to Draw from Observation” with Rachel Bess is for beginner to intermediate-level artists. It will teach drawing from observation by looking at positive and negative space and using a gridding method.
DETAILS>> 6-7:30 p.m., Ironwood Library, 4333 E. Chandler Blvd., Ahwatukee. No registration required. Ages 18+.
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 21
Free CW concert planned
Cactus Jacks in Ahwatukee will present a free country-western concert featuring Arizona native
Kyle Mercer after free line-dancing classes by Carrie McNeish of dancemeetsfitness.net
DETAILS>> line dancing at 5:30 p.m., concert at 7:30 p.m., southwest corner of 48th Street and Elliot Road. Information: kylemercermusic.com/bio and cactusjacksbar.co.
Reptile adventure in offing
Snakes in the library! Meet some of Rich Ihle’s extraordinary reptile friends, including a 15-foot boa constrictor.
DETAILS>> 2-2:45 p.m., Ironwood Library, 4333 E. Chandler Blvd., Ahwatukee. No registration required.
TUESDAY, JUNE 27
LGBTQ history explored
Phoenix’s “hip historian,” Marshall Shore, discusses Arizona’s LGBTQ history. From pre-statehood to present day, Shore will use film footage and photos and artifacts in an entertaining and educational presentation.
DETAILS>> 6:30-7:15 p.m., Ironwood Library, 4333 E. Chandler Blvd., Ahwatukee. No registration required. All ages.
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 28
Norgaard addressing GOP
Ahwatukee State Rep. Jill Norgaard will present “Wrap of the Capitol” at a joint meeting of the Legislative District 18 GOP Committee and Ahwatukee Republican Women. A light dinner of sandwiches and salads will be available for a $5 donation.
DETAILS>> 6:30-8:30 p.m., Mountain View Lutheran Church, 11002 S. 48th St., Ahwatukee. Information: arwomen@aol.com.
Richard Steele creates magic
Be astounded by mind reading and other feats of magic as renowned magician Richard Steele takes the stage. Free tickets are required and available at 1:30 p.m. on the day of the event.
DETAILS>> 2-2:45 p.m., Ironwood Library, 4333 E. Chandler Blvd., Ahwatukee. No registration required – first come, first served.
THURSDAY, JUNE 29
Police visit Ahwatukee
The Phoenix Police Department’s South Mountain Precinct will hold its next “Tukee Talks” session with interested residents. People can get informed on department changes, have one-on-one conversations with officers, share concerns with officers and get crime-fighting tips.
DETAILS>> 6:30-8 p.m. Ahwatukee Event Center, 4700 E. Warner Road, Ahwatukee.
THURSDAY, JULY 5
American dance party set
Cactus Jacks Bar in Ahwatukee will hold a “Proud American Summer Line Dance Party with Ahwatukee dance and fitness instructor Carrie McNeish. A cake and a raffle will be offered, along with food and drink specials.
DETAILS>> 4 p.m., southeast corner of Elliott Road and 48th Street. Information: cactusjacksbar.co., Carrie@dancemeetsfitness.net.
SATURDAY, JULY 8
Build your own sundae
Family, kids and friends can build their own sundae
and enjoy music and other fun events at Hawthorne Court.
DETAILS>> 12:30-2 p.m., 13822 S. 46th Place, Ahwatukee. Free. RSVP: 480-598-1224.
TUESDAY, JULY 18
Kyrene plans ‘kinder roundup’
Kyrene School District’s Kinder and Pre-K Roundup will give parents a chance to register their child for kindergarten or pre-kindergarten classes and get their questions answered by school principals and staffers. To register, parents need the child’s birth certificate, immunization records and proof of resident.
DETAILS>> 6 p.m. Kyrene District Offices, 8700 S. Kyrene Road, Tempe. Childcare will be provided.
FRIDAY, JULY 28
Food and fun at Hawthorn
Family, friends and kids can enjoy live music and a food truck rodeo.
DETAILS>> 6-8 p.m., 13822 S. 46th Place, Ahwatukee. Free admission. RSVP: 480-598-1224.
DAILY
Online reading is rewarding
The Maricopa County Reads Online Summer Reading Program will continue through Aug. 1. Adults, teens, children, and babies can log onto maricopacountyreads.org to record their reading and earn points toward a voucher for a free book and other prizes. Just read 20 minutes a day, every day.
See CALENDAR on page 30
DETAILS>> Registration is online. Come to Ironwood Library, 4333 E. Chandler Blvd., Chandler, to pick up the schedule. Attend programs and earn points toward a free book. All ages. Free.
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.
LD 18 Dems meet monthly
Legislative District 18 Democrats gather monthly, usually the second Monday, to share news, opportunities, food and laughter. Meetings include guest speakers, legislative updates, how-to sessions and Q&A. Volunteer or just enjoy an evening with likeminded folks.
DETAILS>> For times and places: ld18democrats.org/ calendar.
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. 602-6365390 or HOV.org.
Foothills Women meet
An informal, relaxed social organization of about 90 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, 480-7537676.
THURSDAYS
Kiwanis meets weekly
The Ahwatukee Kiwanis Club meets weekly and welcomes newcomers. Future speakers include state Rep. Jill Norgaard on June 29, Phoenix City Councilman Sal DiCiccio on July 27 and state Rep. Mitzi Epstein on Aug. 31. There is no meeting July 20. 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.
SATURDAYS
Kids can play at Ironwood
Head to ironwood library for some cool indoor play time. kids can participate in a variety of activities including giant dice games, bingo, Code & Go with robot mice, and more.
DETAILS>> Saturdays 2-4:30 p.m., Ironwood Library, 4333 E. Chandler Blvd., Ahwatukee. No registration required; for school-aged children and their families.
Read to therapy dogs
Reading aloud to certified therapy dogs is an excellent way for emerging readers to practice their skills (and lots of fun, too!) Come read to our certified therapy dogs.
DETAILS>> 11:30 a.m.-1:00 p.m., Ironwood Library, 4333 E. Chandler Blvd. Ages 1-11. First come first served.
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.
Maestro
from page 20
under Leo’s tutelage that has accelerated my career progression,” he said, adding:
“Specifically, there are four characteristics he helped me to develop over the four years in his program which continue to set me apart to this day: self-discipline, a feeling of empowerment, and understanding of team dynamics, and comfort in leadership roles.”
For Werner, meeting with new Mountain Pointe students is an opportunity not just to instruct, but to help empower them.
“I think my primary goal is to help them find joy in their performance, and be excited about what they’re able to do,” he said. “To be empowered, not just musically, not just in the band room, but throughout every aspect of their life.”
After 28 years of teaching music, there are many who must be thankful Werner didn’t pursue veterinary medicine at ASU as he’d originally planned. His love of animals persists at home with three rescue dogs.
Rehearsals for the 50-plus-member Lionheart Marching Band and their new director are set to start July 24.
Munchkins
from page 22
it for us the night before,” said Misty Rooney, adding:
“Other rules include you can’t tell someone to quiet down, you must show respect for each other, and if you get feedback, you can’t take it personally.”
She said theater is a fortuitous outlet for her youngest child, who is allergic to the outdoors.
“He’s literally allergic to every type of grass and bush, and requires injections three times a week,” she said of her blond, blue-eyed youngster.
Despite their age difference, the two theatrically inclined brothers are close.
“I talked to my brother, Lucas, and he’d give me pointers on things while he was working on plays he was in,” said Cody, adding that he had always enjoyed watching his acting siblings getting ready for plays.
“Lucas runs lines with Cody in their room,” said their mom, who with her husband Josh also are parent volunteers for this production at the Herberger.
Tickets for the show at the Herberger, 222 E. Monroe St., Phoenix, are available at HerbergerTheater.org.
www.ahwatukee.com
Humanity is not just an academic exercise for Ahwatukee prof
BY PAUL MARYNIAK AFN Executive Editor
From time to time, you’ve probably come across depictions of college and university professors as living in ivory towers, separated from the world of working stiffs and somehow divorced by their studies from the realities of everyday life and hardship confronting so much of society.
Even if you agree with that debatable slam, you can’t count Neal Lester of Ahwatukee among them.
Although he made his academic bones in the study of literature and AfricanAmerican culture, the Arizona State University Foundation Professor of English is no navel gazer.
He seeks out ways to put into practice what he teaches – the need to connect people and different cultures with each other.
He does this through an ASU program he founded and directs called Project Humanities.
It’s designed to show – not tell – students
that it’s not enough to just read books and talk in class about how people of vastly different cultures and backgrounds should and can live in harmony with each other.
He gets into the real world and actually does something about it.
One of Lester’s projects in his lifelong quest to make a difference in the world
his Ahwatukee neighbors, showing his students along the way that his message of unity isn’t just something for people chasing credits toward a degree.
Local social media sites and AZ Spine & Disc in Ahwatukee have joined him in collecting items many of us take for granted for use by people who can’t just
“ Giving these kids a chance to select items rather than being given things takes some sting out of being at the receiving end of charitable giving.”
involves a biweekly outreach to homeless people in downtown Phoenix.
You can read about that project on the next page of this section, where one of his students writes about the effort to collect clothing, shoes, toiletries and other necessities for distribution among some of the Valley’s most desperate people.
Three things about the project are striking.
First, he has enlisted support from
walk into Walmart or Walgreens to pick them up.
As you can read in Ariz Chang’s account on the next page, participants also get face time with people who don’t have a dorm, an apartment or mom and dad to turn to for shelter.
Perhaps most striking of all is the way the items are distributed to these lessfortunate souls.
Each person is escorted by a volunteer
and given the opportunity to peruse the donations and pick what out what they need.
They go “shopping,” not begging.
There are similar efforts that inject some humanity in an experience that must be a little humiliating for many recipients.
For example, the Kiwanis Club of Ahwatukee and its counterparts in the Valley – along with other charitable organizations – take underprivileged kids out shopping for back-to-school clothes and items in July.
Giving these kids a chance to select items rather than being given things takes some sting out of being at the receiving end of charitable giving.
The recipients get to exercise a little free will and a little control in their lives at a time when it probably seems they have none at all.
By giving homeless people an opportunity to do the same thing, Lester’s project helps them feel human.
Connected one-on-one with a volunteer, if only for a little while, they also are reminded that there indeed are people who aren’t holed up in an ivory tower.
A Father’s Day message: Encourage a sense of adventure
BY CARLOS TOSCA AFN Guest Writer
Fathers play an essential role in creating a safe and secure environment for children to grow and explore. In today’s world of social media, this can be a challenge.
The internet exposes children to the world in a manner never seen before in human history. While this can be an enlightening experience, learning about the world, other people, and other cultures, it also can expose children to inappropriate and, at times, disturbing material.
Parents have a choice on how they manage this exposure and what
controls they place on their children’s environment. The tendency to protect children from harm can lead some to become “helicopter parents,” shielding their children from any potential risk.
As a result, many children are growing up without experiencing a true challenge. This is a disservice to the overall wellbeing and maturity of our children.
We cannot shield them from everything – and we should not. While children need to grow in a secure environment, they also have to develop the strength and confidence to explore the world and take on new challenges. Challenges should not be avoided; the risk of failure is key to becoming a well-balanced adult.
As fathers, we should encourage our children to explore the world. Not just digitally through the internet, but
directly.
Fathers should model this behavior and speak with their children about their own experiences and their own adventures, including misadventures. During this age of social media, it can sometimes be difficult to find the time to talk to your kids, but DrugFreeAZKids. org, a program of Southwest Behavioral & Health Services, has resources you can use on its website.
In keeping with this perspective, I have modeled our family trips to include adventure. During family trips, we don’t just go to amusement parks and stay at hotels; we travel to different parts of the country, often renting private homes to have the experience of a local.
During summer months, we send our children to overnight camps.
When my children were younger, these were anxiety-provoking experiences as many of the camps did not allow us to communicate with our children.
We were without contact for a week at a time. These experiences planted the seed of adventure and encouraged independence.
For example, my daughter spent a college semester in Ecuador. She traveled to places that are on many people’s bucket lists. She went to the Galapagos Islands and swam with sea turtles; she hiked for three days to Machu Picchu in Peru, and spent five days in the Amazon jungle, trudging through knee deep water for hours eating ants.
Upon her return, I noticed a distinct
Ahwatukee professor’s homeless outreach offers hope, help
BY ARIZ CHANG AFN Guest Writer
The clothing on our backs, the shoes on our feet, the toothpaste in our bathrooms – all these things that people have and tend to take for granted.
This is something that we individuals might recognize in order to support those who do not have the items we deem as ready essentials. Almost everyone has clothes or shoes that they no longer wear but are still in good condition.
These are precisely the items that organizations look for when asking for donations to support those experiencing homelessness. And all it takes is a little closet cleaning to search for those items – which are probably of no use to you but can make a whole world of difference for someone else.
As a high school student, I am familiar with the importance of community service and the emphasis placed on it by student clubs and organizations.
When I chose Project Humanities at Arizona State University as a summer internship site, I felt that I would assimilate easily into the program. However, despite having previous experience doing community service, I find that this organization goes beyond anything I had ever done before. It is
from page 31
change: She stands taller, she is confident, she is more independent, she is in control of her life.
What can fathers do? They can encourage travel, domestic and international; encourage their children to
led by Neal Lester of Ahwatukee, ASU Foundation Professor of English.
The mission of the award-winning Project Humanities initiative is to bring people together to “talk, listen, and connect” across disciplines, communities, generations, and professions.
Outreach to diverse communities – both inside and beyond ASU –is central to the project’s goals and accomplishments. Especially as a high school student, I see many opportunities for service, and all serve a benevolent purpose. However, what makes Project Humanities different is the dedication of the people and the extent to which the organization goes to accomplish their mission.
My beginning experience with this initiative is new and far from complete, but I can already sense the reason that Project Humanities has been able to reach out and support so many people.
I discovered the program when searching for summer internships toward the end of the school year. Cofounded by Professor Lester, Project Humanities has for the past couple of years spawned a social movement called Humanity 101.
This involves intentional programming and activities at ASU and across the Valley that promote these seven values: kindness, empathy, compassion, respect,
learn a new language and, thus, culture; send their kids to overnight camps; have them walk or ride to school alone; at a young age, have children manage their own backpacks and lunches.
And let them take on a challenge, and yes, let them fail
The message that fathers can convey is that amid life’s ups and downs, take time
forgiveness, integrity, and self-reflection. This focus responds to the question many ask when hearing and reading the local, national and global headlines that make us wonder: “Are we losing our humanity?”
Through the project’s bimonthly Service Saturdays, I have already seen these principles being enacted by anywhere from 20 to 50 volunteers from ASU and across the Valley – many from Desert Vista High School and Ahwatukee generally.
Volunteers of all ages come together from 6:30 to 8:15 a.m. in downtown Phoenix to distribute clothing, shoes, water and toiletries to 150-200 adults experiencing various stages of homelessness. From my first volunteer Saturday, it was immediately clear that the volunteers engage in the principles and are committed to experiencing our shared humanity.
Participating in this “Humanity 101 in Action” activity is quite moving, and I realized that I had more freedom to make an impact than I originally had thought.
As a high school intern, I am involved in several different tasks that either directly or indirectly support our homeless outreach project. Among these tasks, I find ways to let others know that everyone has the ability to contribute, and those contributions can take several
to enjoy. Spend time with the people around you, your friends and family, and cherish them. Children need to accept that at times, life will be difficult; however, let them know that they belong to a family that cares about and loves them.
To my children I say: Run, laugh, play, feel the sun on your skin, swim in
different forms from simply donating and collecting items to distribute, sorting items donated and then volunteering on Saturday mornings to distribute.
Project Humanities has given me the opportunity to make a true difference in my community, and I know that the education I receive by participating in this internship has already proven invaluable to me personally by further widening my perspective on the world we live in.
I realize that it is important to recognize the wide spectrum of circumstances any person can be facing at a given time and to be mindful of that fact. No one lives the same way, but we certainly all have the ability to support each other through mutual guidance and compassion. This initiative matters to me, and it matters to the hundreds of people who benefit from our services. By utilizing its resources to the greatest extent possible, ASU Project Humanities serves as a symbol for what people should strive for in life – understanding through connecting with one another.
Details about this bimonthly outreach – the next is this Saturday, June 17 – and the project are at projecthumanities.asu. edu, projecthumanities@asu.edu, or 480-727-7030.
-Ariz Chang is a junior at Corona Del Sol High School in Tempe.
the ocean, climb a mountain, tour the world, dance under the stars at night. Open your eyes to the beauty around you and inspire others to do the same.
CARPET CLEANING
-Carlos Tosca of Ahwatukee is the Mesa outpatient clinic director for Southwest Behavioral & Health Service. He and his wife of 20 years and have three children.
www.ahwatukee.com
This Ahwatukee dentist’s patients bark and roar Business
BY PAUL MARYNIAK AFN Executive Editor
Some patients shudder when they see a dentist.
Dr. Curt Coffman’s patients growl. Or bark. Some even roar.
The Ahwatukee man is a veterinary dental specialist, whose patients range from typical domestic pets to intimidating creatures that live behind bars.
He has treated thousands of animals in his career. He began in 1993 as a primary care vet after graduating from the University of Missouri and then went into dentistry beginning in 2000 with a five-year residency.
As a managing partner of Arizona Veterinary Dental Associates, he helps run three clinics in the Valley and a fourth in Tucson. He also is one of only about 150 veterinary dentists in the country. In his business, he typically treats dogs and cats with gum disease, abscesses and other oral maladies that require his expertise.
But he also often works pro bono at the Phoenix Zoo and other animal habitats, addressing the oral diseases and injuries of lions, tigers, apes, cheetahs, bears and even lizards.
“We try to save the teeth, especially in the zoo animals. If they can’t chew, they can’t eat,” he explained. “Their teeth are really important for their nutrition. The family dog or cat can eat whatever. Zoo animals typically cannot.”
Recently, Coffman’s work for zoos and in other areas of his profession prompted the Arizona Veterinarian Medical Association to name him Veterinarian of the Year.
“Dr. Coffman is well known to the veterinary community,” the association said. “He not only is an esteemed practitioner, he is an enthusiastic educator, selflessly giving of his time to train veterinary professionals to achieve excellence in patient care.”
Long active in the association and an organizer of its annual Dental Extravanganza, Coffman also “has made exceptional contributions to the veterinary community and the
profession,” the group said.
Those included continuing education programs for general practice vets, who by basic training can take care of animals’ dental needs like teeth cleaning.
“I was surprised by the award,” said Coffman, who is a member of the board of directors for the American Veterinarian Dental College and author of numerous publications.
A 16-year resident of Ahwatukee with his wife, Realtor Stephanie Coffman, and their three dogs, Coffman said he had wanted to become a veterinarian since he was a child.
“As a kid, I always had pets and horses and dogs and liked science,” he said. “I intended to do research in vet school and when I got to the clinical part, I found liked the interaction with pets and people and people more.”
In his regular practice, he typically treats ailments like periodontal disease and tooth and gum infections in domestic animals, mostly cats and dogs.
Typically, such ailments don’t come to anyone’s attention until they’re examined by a general practice veterinarian during a routine physical.
“It’s very subtle,” Coffman said. “Animals hide their oral pain very well, and you don’t notice it unless you’re
alike to look into their mouths and see an abscess or see a swelling or they don’t eat.”
Many times, his patients develop those conditions because their owners are put off by the cost of teeth cleaning.
“I understand many people don’t like the cost, but a lot of dogs can really benefit from having their teeth cleaned annually,” he said. “It’s important that their plaque is removed. You can control it to some degree with the appropriate kind of food, brushing their teeth. But that is no substitute for a professional cleaning.”
The treatments required by the exotic animals are a whole different story.
Most often, Coffman treats injuries, such as broken teeth, that often result from fights. And they can require crowns, fillings or even some general jaw repair.
Often, their oral discomfort is noticed by their zookeepers. Because zoo attendants “are really attuned to those animals” because they typically are assigned to just one breed, they become more attuned to the animals’ habits and notice if their charges are chewing differently.
The biggest animal Coffman has treated is a lion, though he admits he won’t be surprised some day if he’s asked to visit an elephant or other similarly sized creature.
It’s not as if any of those exotic patients are reading a magazine when he greets them.
Usually, they’ve already been are under anesthesia , Coffman said.
“We’re fortunate to work with a lot of competent zoo veterinarians,” he said. “By the time we see them, they’re pretty much asleep.”
Nevertheless, he’s careful, wearing thick rubber gloves as he prods inside their mouths. “I wouldn’t want a lion to bite down, he said, adding:
They can bite down when they’re asleep. Fortunately, I’ve never had one wake up.” Coffman said the majority of his exotic cases require only one visit.
Among them was the sea otter that had a cracked molar and couldn’t eat its clams. Coffman resolved that problem with a root canal.
But his most unusual patient didn’t even have teeth.
It was a gila monster.
A wildlife rescue group found the critter and a subsequent examination revealed it had a fractured jaw. Coffman had to treat it gingerly, given its poisonous nature.
But in the end, Coffman accomplished his mission – and one satisfied gila monster became a fan.
Information: azvetdentists.com
(Special to AFN)
ABOVE: Dr. Curt Coffman gets to work on the molars of a wild dog.
(Special to AFN)
LEFT: Ahwatukee veterinary dentist Dr. Curt Coffman examines one of his smaller patients as assistant Audra Hudson holds it down.
BY WAYNE SCHUTSKY AFN Staff Writer
In a move designed to capitalize on the success of its existing assets, the Gila River Indian Community intends to develop a high-end entertainment district adjacent to Wild Horse Pass Hotel and Casino.
The Wild Horse Pass Development Authority, GRIC’s development arm, issued a request for qualifications in order to find a developer to work on the future mixed-use project.
The project would serve as a bridge of sorts between the area’s two most popular destinations, Wild Horse Pass Hotel and Casino and the Phoenix Premium Outlets.
Phase 1 of the project, as described in the RFQ, calls for the development of at least 68,000 interior square feet of restaurant, bar and entertainment as well as an outdoor patio and rooftop dining component. Traditional retail is absent from the request because the organization does not want to create competition for
Dr. Anita Marra and Staff
(Special to AFN)
The Kansas City Power & Light District in Kansas City, Missouri, is one entertainment district admired by the authority looking to do something similar near Wild Horse Pass. See WILD HORSE on page 35
WILD HORSE
The authority is interested in attracting a diverse array of restaurants reflecting different cuisines and multiple price points. It also is interested in attracting local and regional restaurants with fewer locations nationwide as opposed to larger chains.
Additionally, the project contains plans to create an indoor/outdoor concert-style venue like Stage AE in Pittsburgh that can host music, comedy, mixed martial arts and other entertainment.
The RFQ calls for a venue with an indoor capacity around 3,000 seats and an outdoor capacity of roughly 6,000 seats.
Full buildout of the entertainment district eventually could encompass up to 59 acres.
Analysis included with the request for proposals pegs the investment in project after year one by GRIC and/or private developers at roughly $87 million. That will include development of the entertainment venue and the first phase of office, restaurant, retail, and hotel space.
By year 10, according to estimates in the RFQ, the project will cost around
$245 million.
These numbers are only preliminary estimates and the real cost will likely not become clear until a developer and plan are selected, said Hunden Strategic Partners President Rob Hunden, who is advising the authority on the project.
The authority also will separately develop additional boutique hotel options
adjacent to the entertainment district.
On a macro scale, the Wild Horse Pass Development Authority is attempting to create a walkable entertainment district, though it does not have specific designs for the property yet.
Rather, the organization will rely on interested developers to bring specific development plans to the table.
“This is basically a search for partners that would create something compelling – create a true destination,” said Hunden. Hunden and Wild Horse Pass point to nationally renowned districts like Kansas City Power & Light District, Louisville’s 4th Street Live! and Charlotte’s NC Music Factory as inspiration.
Replicating the success of those projects will be no easy feat, though, as those districts are located in dense urban environments and Wild Horse Pass is still edge development, said Mark Stapp, Fred E. Taylor professor of Real Estate at W. P. Carey School of Business, Arizona State University.
However, Stapp noted that the area surrounding Wild Horse Pass Casino will likely benefit from the Loop 202 expansion and become “less edge.”
“The [Loop 202 expansion] is going to change the dynamics of West Valley and Southeast Valley, and this property is well-located,” said Stapp.
When the expansion is complete, there is potential for an increase in both consumer traffic and the employment pool.
The authority and Hunden plan to have the list of qualified developers narrowed down to a final few by this fall, and they do not yet have a timeline for when construction will begin.
(Special to AFN)
The AE Stage in Pittsburgh also could be a model for some development at Wild Horse Pass, especially because it provides both indoor and outdoor venues.
www.ahwatukee.com
SPIRITUAL SIDE
If you are facing a door as Father’s Day nears, I’ll pray for
BY LYNNE HARTKE AFN Guest Writer
“It’s just a door,” my friend said as I talked to him over the phone. We had been discussing dates to have him come over and replace the entry door of our home. “Pick out what you want and I’ll install it.”
So, I went to Home Depot. Just? There is nothing “just” about choosing a door. Slab doors. Pre-hung doors. Wood doors. Steel doors. Fiberglass doors. Did I want a window in the door? Did I want to paint the door? Did the door open from the right or from the left? Was it 32 or 36 inches wide?
The man from Home Depot had many
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.
questions. I went back home without a door.
I lamented about the door to my husband, the man who was perfectly fine with the original 1970’s press-board door that currently hung in the entryway, a door that was exfoliating like skin after a bad sunburn. After four decades in the Arizona sun, the door’s condition was understandable.
“You’ve been talking about replacing that door for over a year,” he said.
“I know.”
“What’s keeping you from doing it?”
I started to repeat the Home Depot lament.
He interrupted me, “What’s keeping you from doing it?” We both knew I had no problem picking out other things I’ve wanted over the years for the house.
The answer to his question hit me hard. My dad always did house projects with me.
I was waiting for Dad to walk through that door and help me install a new one – which, of course, made no sense at all since Dad had died four years ago. The longer I put off installing a new door, the longer I could avoid facing the fact that he wasn’t around to join me on a trip to Home Depot, exploring the aisles of faucets, toilet seats, and window blinds. Choosing a door was just one more of the unexpected changes needed to be faced in the walking out of loss and grief. Who knew grief was so complicated? Yet, once I realized and put a name to it, I went to Home Depot and selected a door. I made an appointment for our friend to install it.
FAITH CALENDAR
Baseline Road, Suite 103, Tempe. Information: 480-7921800, unityoftempe.com.
FOUNDATIONS OF FAITH
The Foundations of Faith Bible study embraces a spirit-filled, intellectually honest, and refreshingly 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. 480-8932579. mvlutheran.org.
MONDAYS
JOIN CHRISTCENTERED 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.
TUESDAYS
GRIEFSHARE
Mountain Park Community Church is offering an ongoing GriefShare programs to help people deal with the pain of losing a loved one.
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.
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.
DETAILS>> 6:30-8 p.m. Mountain Park Community Church, 2408 E. Pecos Road. mountainpark.org.
SENIORS ENJOY
TUESDAYS
The Terrific Tuesdays 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.
Sometimes grief leaves you gasping for air. Sometimes grief is about walking through new doors.
So, to my dad on this Father’s Day: I’m opening a door. It’s been closed for too long and I wasn’t even aware it was shut. But you taught me how to open closed doors. You taught me that when life shuts a door to open it again. Because it’s a door. And that’s how doors work.
If you are facing a closed door on this Father’s Day, my heart is with you. I pray for the courage to grasp the door knob and open your door. I pray you discover that’s how doors work.
-Lynne Hartke is the author of “Under a Desert Sky: Redefining Hope, Beauty, and Faith in the Hardest Places.” She blogs at lynnehartke.com and is the pastor’s wife at Trinity Christian Fellowship in Chandler.
WEDNESDAYS
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. Whether it’s addiction, loss, anger or stress, you can find the freedom you’re looking for today.
DETAILS>> 6:20 p.m. Mountain View Lutheran Church. 11002 S. 48th St., Ahwatukee.. 480-893-2579. mvlutheran. org.
DIVORCE CARE
Don’t go through one of life’s most difficult times alone. 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.
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.
Illegal immigrants find sanctuary in Arizona churches
BY ALYSSA HESKETH Cronkite News
Atwin bed, a desk and a bookcase fill a small, rectangular room at Shadow Rock United Church of Christ in north Phoenix. On top of the desk, a Bible lays open, which Ismael Delgado, an immigrant from Mexico, uses each day to study Scriptures.
Delgado has lived 1½ years in this room, off a hallway on the lower level of the church. He has lived more than a quarter-century in Arizona but never as a U.S. citizen.
Here, he can escape the attention of U.S.Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and prays for comfort.
Down the hall, a larger room that is used by other members of the church for other activities during the day, also has served for ten months as a bedroom for Sixto Paz, an immigrant from Mexico who has been living in Arizona for 32 years without becoming a U.S. citizen.
The church is their sanctuary, considered a place of refuge or safety for undocumented immigrants. Technically,
people like Paz and Delgado can still be arrested. But that it’s unlikely, with federal policies to avoid enforcement at “sensitive locations” except under certain circumstances, according to ICE.
Since 2014, Shadow Rock has been part of the sanctuary movement, which involves more than 700 different churches and more than 4,000 people in the U.S. who help immigrants facing deportation because they are in the United States illegally.
Churches offer sanctuary while immigrants are in the process of trying to gain U.S. citizenship.
But living in sanctuary has limits. Delgado and Paz can’t travel any further than the church parking lot. Delgado and Paz can’t visit family or friends, go to the grocery store, or to the movies. Friends visit them once a week, sharing coffee and conversation.
Until Shadow Rock, Delgado had worked as a cook in various restaurants, and Paz repaired roofs. Delgado lost his work permit because he committed a felony, which he would not disclose, and Paz was pulled over at checkpoint.
Ken Heintzelman, the pastor at Shadow Rock, said Paz and Delgado’s transition into the church was easy, and members of the church are supportive.
When a church declares itself a sanctuary, a commitment is made to provide shelter and material goods for refugees.
First Congregational United Church of Christ in Phoenix, University Presbyterian Church in Tempe, and Southside Presbyterian Church in Tucson, provide sanctuary to illegal immigrants. Community Christian Church in Tempe also welcomes immigrants.
In January, Southside Presbyterian announced that it would join “Sanctuary Rising,” a movement that involves 700 congregations protesting Trump’s immigration policies. The movement’s pledge states that those involved will help preserve human rights by opening up churches and communities to everyone, including immigrants.
Heintzelman said ICE does not take into consideration how much immigrants would be affected if they
were deported after living in the United States for a long time.
University Presbyterian Church in Tempe also provided sanctuary to Guatemalan-born Luis Lopez-Acabal, for around 100 days, according to the Rev. Eric Ledermann, the pastor. The church also works with Humane Borders to maintain clean water for people living along the Mexican border.
First Congregational United Church of Christ in Phoenix established Keep Phoenix Together, a free immigration clinic that provides help with covering citizenship applications and cost.
The First Congregational church has also worked with ICE to temporarily house immigrants in private homes as they were being released from detention.
“The agency does not define the term ‘sanctuary’,” ICE representative Yasmeen O’Keefe said in an email regarding whether or not sanctuary churches are legal under ICE policies.
Federal policies “are meant to ensure that ICE and (Customs) officers and agents exercise sound judgement,” according to the website.
Happy FATHER’S Day!
Bleachers marks 10 years with a big party this Saturday
AFN News Staff
Mark Clarke said he’s “always been a sports person.”
A decade ago, he combined that lifelong love with his 40 years of experience in the restaurant business and opened what’s become an Ahwatukee entertainment landmark – Bleachers Sports Grill at 15410 S. Mountain Pkwy.
On Saturday, June 17, from 4 p.m. to closing, Clarke hopes regulars and newcomers will help him celebrate Bleachers’ 10th anniversary with a party that promises drink and dining specials and raffle prizes.
restaurant chain.
Now, he said, “I basically manage the restaurant,” though he also relies heavily on his staff of 16 employees.
One token of his affection for sports that he enjoys sharing with his customers is the 30 TV sports packages available for fans of just about any kind of game.
One of Bleachers’ biggest days, however, is a once-a-year competition: the Kentucky Derby. The bar also offers offtrack betting.
Clarke marked Bleachers’ fifth anniversary with a major remodeling that brought larger booths, flat-screen TVs, lakefront tables and an enhanced community bar.
In one way, the remodeling was a celebration of survival, since Clarke bought the former Peyton’s Place restaurant just as the recession hit the Valley.
At the time, he called it an accomplishment because so many bars and restaurants had folded during the turbulent economy.
Clarke at one point in his 40-year career was regional vice president for the Carl’s Jr.
Bleachers also is the Valley’s official bar for University of Nebraska football fans and has been called “Nebraskabar.”
“I had a friend who was from Nebraska who suggested it was a good college team to follow, so we started promoting the bar as a good place to be with other fans during the games.
Along with 30 wallmounted flat-screen TVs, some on the spacious patio, Bleachers also offers billiards, darts and Golden Tee.
Among its regular specials is a “reverse happy hour” from 10 p.m. to midnight Sunday-Thursday, as well as a conventional 3-7 p.m. happy hour Monday through Friday. Both offer half-priced appetizers and reduced drink prices. There are also rotating drink specials seven days a week.
The menu offers sandwiches, burgers sliders, pizza, wings and salads and even provides a kids’ menu, since Clarke encourages families to make themselves at home.
He’s proud of the kitchen, where most of his cooks have worked seven years.
“All our soups are homemade, our
dressings are homemade, the meatloaf is homemade and our cheddar-encrusted chicken is special,” he said.
It’s also one of the few places that sells its jumbo wings – a popular item with patrons – by the dozen and not the pound.
And as with most of the nitty-gritty details of Bleachers, the kitchen is no alien territory to Clarke. Asked who oversees the cooking, he replied, “I do.”
Information: 480-759-4034 or bleachers sportsgrill.com
(Kimberly Carrillo/AFN Photographer)
Mark Clarke has equipped Bleachers with 30 TVs for sports fans.
(Kimberly Carrillo/AFN Photographer)
Mark Clarke has owned Bleachers in Ahwatukee for 10 years and is marking that milestone with specials on Saturday, June 17.
(Special to AFN)
Bleachers offers up tasty tacos all day on Taco Tuesday with Bleachers-Style $1.50 tacos and $2.50 fish tacos.
Dustin Lynch gets the party started for Brad Paisley
BY CHRISTINA FUOCO-KARASINSKI GETOUT Contributor
Country singer Dustin Lynch loves to have a good time.
In April, he performed his hit “Small Town Boy” on Jimmy Kimmel Live, wearing a Matt Damon T-shirt, an ode to one of the host’s bits.
“I was pumped when (Kimmel) said he was cool with me having the T-shirt on,” Lynch said enthusiastically.
Lynch upped his public persona further with a big win on Spike TV’s Lip Sync Battle, during which he faced off against fellow country star Cassadee Pope for the coveted championship belt.
The Tullahoma, Tennessee, native ditched his cowboy hat to show off his “hip-hop swagger” for a performance of Ludacris’ hit “What’s Your Fantasy.” To lock down his victory, Lynch donned a faux mustache and zoot suit for a choreographed rendition of Lou Bega’s song “Mambo No. 5.”
“I knew I had to win,” he said with a laugh. “I was telling myself that if I was going to
put myself through this embarrassment, I would need to have a trophy to remember the day.
“I was so out of my element dancing with professional dancers. That’s not really my bag. There was a lot of mental preparation and just going for it. Man, what a fun night. That was probably one of the highlights of my career.”
The country singer is channeling his trademark sense of humor as well as his love of partying to stages this summer as an opening act for Brad Paisley. The jaunt comes to Ak-Chin Pavilion in Phoenix on Sunday, June 25.
“It’s a big party,” Lynch said of his show. “We’ll carry that party, which starts backstage, to the stage and do what we love to do. There will be no sitting down. You’ll stand up and dance the whole time.”
The set is sure to feature songs from Lynch’s third album due out later this year, including “Small Town Boy.” The song speaks to the “core country audience,” Lynch said about its success.
“It definitely comes from a true place for me,” he said. “I grew up in a little bitty town in Tennessee. This song isn’t about that, though.
“This is a song that’s speaking about true love. It’s about two people loving each other for who they are on the inside and it’s a really, really cool message.”
Lynch has been working on the as-ofyet-unnamed third album for more than
three years. (He pauses for a second and said, “Good grief,” when he thinks about that.) He calls “Small Town Boy” a great introduction to the collection.
“It has party elements, which I love,” he said. “That’s what we do. We throw parties every night when we play shows. This album is about love — falling in love,
(Special to AFN)
Singer Dustin Lynch is getting his country on to open for Brad Paisley.
breaking up and getting over that, and making love. That seems to be mostly the theme.
“I don’t know why over the past few years that’s where I’ve gone. I’ve been in relationships, out of relationships. Now I don’t care to be in one. I think everyone’s going to hear that timestamp of my life.”
His sets opening for Paisley will include other new tracks. Lynch calls those moments special.
“I love gauging the crowds’ reactions when they first hear a song,” he said. “That’s a special moment, when you play something no one has heard out there.”
With a new tour and a forthcoming album, this year is sure to be busy for Lynch. It’s going to get more hectic, though, as he introduces more items into his men’s and women’s clothing line, Stay Country.
“It keeps me busy,” he said. “It’s a good problem to have. It’s taking off on its own.”
In the meantime, he is focusing on prepping Paisley fans for a night to remember.
“It’s all about setting the scene for Brad,”
he said. “I need to get fans fired up, drinking and dancing and prepare them for Brad to melt their faces. The best way to describe it I get them ready to dance and party.”
IF YOU GO
What: Brad Paisley w/Dustin Lynch, Chase Bryant and Lindsay Ell Where: Ak-Chin Pavilion, 2121 N. 83rd Ave., Phoenix When: 7 p.m. June 25
Cost: $23.50-$250 Info: livenation.com
The East Valley Children’s Theatre caps off its 20th anniversary season with a production of “OZ!”, the timeless “Wizard of Oz” tale. The show will run June 15-25 at the Mesa Arts Center, and feature 41 talented youths ages 8 to 18 from across the Valley.
Phoenix and Maricopa. Two sisters who live in Chandler, Analisa and Araceli de la Rosa, are playing Munchkins.
Long-time EVCT Producing Artistic Director Karen Rolston, a retired Mesa Public Schools music and drama teacher, directs the music. Jennifer Duxbury, and EVCT instructor and teacher at Highland High School in Gilbert, created the choreography.
IF YOU GO
Where: Mesa Arts Center, 1 E. Main St., Mesa
There are 26 cast members who live in Mesa, and several play significant roles. Abby Potts (Dorothy), Christian Armanti (Toto), and McKenzie Elias (Wicked Witch of the West) are all from Mesa. Also from Mesa are Mikey Cornejo (Cowardly Lion), L J Deacon (Tin Woodsman), Elizabeth Schaible (Scarecrow), Suzy Olson (Glinda the Good Witch), and Tre Moore (OZ!).
In addition, there are five cast members from Gilbert, and one each from Tempe,
When: June 15-25, Thursdays and Fridays at 7 p.m., Saturdays at 4 and 7 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m.
Cost: $15 for adults and $11 for children Info: mesaartscenter.com or 480-644-6500
(Alan Ignatowski/Special to the Tribune)
From left, McKenzie Elias as the Wicked Witch of the West, Christian Armanti as Toto and Abby Potts as Dorothy rehearse for the East Valley Children’s Theatre production of “OZ!,” the “Wizard of Oz” story.
(Special to AFN)
Counry singer Dustin Lynch plays to the crowd.
Father’s Day dos and deals in Ahwatukee region
BY JUSTIN FERRIS GETOUT Editor
People always make a big deal about Mother’s Day – as they should – but Father’s Day can sometimes fly under the radar. That’s why we rounded up some activities and specials in the East Valley that will show Dad your appreciation. Unless otherwise noted, these take place on Father’s Day, Sunday, June 18.
Alamo Drafthouse
Attend a special 1 p.m. Father’s Day screening of the classic Western “Rio Bravo” starring John Wayne, Dean Martin and Ricky Nelson. In addition to the usual food menu, enjoy a selection of fine whiskeys. Also, if you spend $100 or more on an Alamo Drafthouse gift card before Father’s Day, save 25 percent.
Alamo Drafthouse, 4955 S. Arizona Ave., Chandler. drafthouse.com/phoenix.
Arizona Mills
Visit Legoland Discovery Center Arizona, which offers build areas, rides, a 4-D movie and a father/child Lego car derby. Fathers get in free with the purchase of a child ticket.
Legoland Discovery Center Arizona, 5000 S. Arizona Mills Circle, Suite 135, Tempe. arizona.legolanddiscoverycenter. com.
When you finish the Lego fun, head next door to Sea Life Arizona and check out amazing fish, sharks, sea turtles and the new Colorado River exhibit. Fathers get in free with the purchase of a child ticket.
Sea Life Arizona, 5000 S. Arizona Mills Circle, Suite 145, Tempe. visitsealife.com/ arizona.
C2 Tactical
Take dad to the indoor range for some gun fun. A variety of shooting packages and a range of guns are available. For Father’s Day, C2 Tactical will offer a special for Dad. Check the website or call for the specifics.
C2 Tactical, 8475 S. Emerald Drive, Tempe. c2tactical.com, 480-588-2257.
Chandler Aquatics
Beat the heat and take a nice family swim at any of the Chandler aquatic centers. Dads get in for free on Father’s Day. Check chandleraz.gov/aquatics for the nearest center.
Cold Beers & Cheeseburgers
On Father’s Day, dads get a free entree with the purchase of any other entree. Enjoy massive cheeseburgers, beer and sports. coldbeers.com/fathers-day.
Chandler: 1980 W. Germann Road, 480899-2007.
Gilbert: 4604 S. Higley Road, Suite 103, 480-638-9141.
i.d.e.a. Museum
On Saturday, June 17, kids, dads and grandpas can participate in the MultiGenerational Father’s Day Tinkershop. Work with your hands and build a buzz bot. Registration costs $15 each and also provides full museum access. Register at bit.ly/2rVUzYE.
In addition, on Father’s Day, dads get free admission to the museum to check out the brand new My Monster exhibit.
i.d.e.a. Museum, 150 W. Pepper Place, Mesa. ideamuseum.org.
Organ Stop Pizza
From 11:15 a.m. to 1 p.m., enjoy a Father’s Day all-you-can-eat pizza buffer and a special musical performance on the Mighty Wurlitzer theater organ. Tickets cost $12 for
adults and $10 for kids ages 3-9. Advanced ticket purchase required.
Organ Stop Pizza, 1149 E. Southern Ave., Mesa. organstoppizza.com, 480-813-5700.
SanTan Brewing Company
Treat Dad to the Father’s Day AllDay Buffet at SanTan Brewing Company. Smoked turkey, beef brisket, breakfast food and plenty other yummy delights await. Tickets cost $25 for adults and $15 for kids 6-12. Reserve priority seating on the website.
SanTan Brewing Company, 8 S. San Marcos Place, Chandler. 8 a.m.-9 p.m. (breakfast ends at 1 p.m.). santanbrewing. com.
The Keg Steakhouse and Bar
Treat dad to a choice of chicken, sirloin steak, prime rib, seafood and salad on The Keg’s special Father’s Day menu. Items range from $39-$53. kegsteakhouse.com.
Chandler: 3065 W. Chandler Blvd., 480899-7500.
Gilbert: 22240 E. Williams Field Road, 480821-1500.
Tempe: 23 S. McClintock Drive, 480-5575552.
Vegans and vegetarians find more dining choices in Arizona
BY CHELSEA SHANNON Cronkite News
Whether breakfast, brunch, lunch or dinner, experts say Arizona has become a much easier place to be a vegan or vegetarian.
Alan Manuel, who has been vegan for two years, said there are more options in downtown Phoenix.
“When me and my girlfriend come downtown, we always find these cool new vegan restaurants, like we just recently discovered Loving Hut,” Manuel said. Generally, vegetarians don’t eat meat, seafood or poultry. And vegans take it a step further and avoid dairy and eggs as well.
Vegetarian and vegan online resource Happy Cow listed five purely vegan restaurants in 2007 for Arizona. As of August, it listed 21. The list relies on user-generated content.
Food festivals that bring awareness to the diet, such as the PHX Vegan Food Festival, also indicate a growing interest. The festival sold out this year.
The smell of black bean burgers, mushroom tacos and falafel made with chickpeas wafted through the air at the February festival, held at the Phoenix Art Museum.
About 2,000 people attended the event, which included about 60 vendors, music and cooking demos, including one by Jason Wyrick, the first vegan chef to teach at Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts in Scottsdale.
“It’s insane because even three years ago, it wasn’t nearly this big, and now it’s big enough to sustain a festival for thousands of people to come, and we pack a theater for a cooking demo, it’s incredible,” Wyrick said.
As he blends the peppers and vegan cheese to make taco sauce, Wyrick explains
how becoming a vegan changed his life. He said doctors had diagnosed him as having Type 2 diabetes. But after he became a vegan, he “reversed his diabetes in eight months” and lost more than 100 pounds in two years, according to Vegan Taste, the business he owns.
At Vegan Taste, Wyrick and his wife Madelyn Pryor prepare fresh dishes for clients, and the company delivers them. They also hold classes and seminars. He noted that just because vegans eat a plant-based diet, they don’t have to compromise taste.
“My business increases by at least 50 percent every year, which is an insane growth rate,” he said. “I mean, there’s some years where my business even doubles.”
Festival attendee Jasmine FerdinandFernandez said vegan food tastes better than she thought it would.
“I cook vegan food at home,” FerdinandFernandez said as she waited for her sriracha pizza. “When I am out with friends, I won’t say no to cheese, but I try not to eat it.”
Not being vegan 100 percent of the time is a common phenomenon, said Carol Johnston, associate director of the nutrition program at Arizona State University.
A 2016 online survey commissioned by the Vegetarian Resource Group indicated that about 37 percent of respondents “always or sometimes eats vegetarian meals” when eating out, and about 3 percent noted they were vegetarian or vegan all the time. The survey had 2,015 respondents.
Johnston said people should be careful when they change their diets to either vegetarian or vegan.
“They need to pay attention to their nutrients and understand some of the problem nutrients like B12, Vitamin D, those are very much problem nutrients on a vegetarian diet,” she said.
(Cronkite News)
Vegan donuts are on the menu at Nami bakery in Phoenix.
From summer splashes to baby show, weekend offerings are varied
BY JUSTIN FERRIS GET OUT Editor
‘Aida’
This Tony Award-winning musical tells a tale of love and betrayal in ancient Egypt. It features intricate choreography, brilliant costumes and the music of Elton John,
and handmade decorations, clothes, furniture and more. This month’s theme will be “Sweet Tea and Porch Swings.”
DETAILS>> 10 a.m.-6 p.m., June 15-18. Behind Merchant Square, 1509 N. Arizona Ave., Chandler. Cost: Free. facebook.com/ Highlandyardvintage
Parent’s Night Out
Take a well-deserved break and drop the kids 3-11 off at the YMCA for an evening of snacks and fun activities.
tube rentals. facebook.com/brimhall. mesapools.
Spark! After Dark
Walk at Riparian Preserve
Tuesdays-Saturdays, June 15-July 1. Hale Centre Theatre, 50 W. Page Ave., Gilbert. Tickets: $18-$30. 480-497-1181,
On Thursdays, kids get the opportunity to meet their favorite superheros and Disney characters, plus enjoy music, themed games and activities, and a splash pad. This
6-7:30 p.m., Thursdays, June 15-July 27. Tempe Marketplace, 2000 E. Rio Salado Pkwy., Tempe. Cost: Free.
Join 40 local designers and artisans for an indoor, air-conditioned market of vintage
Take an early morning walk and see native birds in their natural habitat. The walk includes time at the end to talk about the species you see and hear. Limited space.
DETAILS>> 6-8 a.m., Friday, June 17. Gilbert Riparian Preserve, 2757 E. Guadalupe Road, Gilbert. Cost: Free, but donations accepted. Email kathe.coot@cox.net to register.
Phoenix Baby Show
Get ready for your new baby. Learn about the latest products and save up to 30 percent. Attend demos and workshops, and talk to healthcare experts. Create a baby registry and potentially win big prizes.
DETAILS>> Noon-4 p.m., Friday, June 17. Mesa Convention Center, 263 N. Center St., Mesa. Tickets: $10, Free for 12 and under. bit. ly/2sdZeFD.
DETAILS>> 6-9 p.m., Friday, June 17. Ahwatukee Foothills YMCA, 1030 E. Liberty Lane, Phoenix. Free for members, $15 for the first child, $10 for additional. valleyymca. org/events.
Food Truck Picnic
Love food trucks? Snag dinner from a variety of available food truck options and join a large picnic. You can also help the nonprofit Abigail’s Lunch Box through donations of non-perishable food items, clothing, hygiene products and more.
DETAILS>> 5-9 p.m., Friday, June 17. Horizon Learning Center, 16233 S. 48th St., Phoenix. Cost: Free. facebook.com/ahwatukeeeats.
Dive-In Movie: ‘Moana’
Watch Disney’s latest hit, “Moana,” on a 30foot outdoor screen as you lounge in the pool.
DETAILS>> 7-10 p.m., June 17. Brimhall Aquatic Complex, 4949 E. Southern Ave., Mesa. Tickets: $4 adults, $2 kids, $5 inner
See the Taylor Family Circus performing amazing tight wire and strongman feats. There will also be live music from Jerusafunk, the Americana Tattoo Art Collection and plenty to eat and drink.
DETAILS>> 8-11 p.m., Friday, June 17. Mesa Arts Center, One E. Main St., Mesa. Cost: Free. 480-644-6500 mesaartscenter.com.
Tony winner at Gammage
In “The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time,” 15-year-old Christopher boasts above-average intelligence, but belowaverage social skills. When his neighbor’s dog is killed and he’s a suspect, he sets out on a journey to find the real killer. Don’t miss the Tony Award-winning Broadway play.
DETAILS>> Tuesday-Sunday, June 2025. ASU Gammage, 1200 S. Forest Ave., Tempe. Tickets: $20-$125. 480-965-3434, asugammage.com.
Sudoku
BY JAN D’ATRI AFN Contributor
New appointments made to three Desert Vista athletic posts
Aseries of changes have been approved for athletic positions at Desert Vista High School, including new coaches for the varsity baseball and girls varsity basketball teams.
In addition to Tommy Eubanks being named the new assistant principal for athletics at Desert Vista, the Tempe Union High School District Governing Board last week approved Cody Brassfield as the Thunder’s new baseball coach and Raymond Patche II as the girls basketball coach.
Eubanks had been athletic director the last five years at Chaparral High School after serving in athletic positions at two Glendale schools. He was a physical education teacher and athletic director at Hillcrest Middle School varsity baseball coach at Mountain Ridge High, where he was voted the Northeast Valley Coach
of the Year in 2007 and 2010.
Eubanks also has coached boys golf, basketball and cross country in the Deer Valley Unified School District and was on the baseball coaching staff at Deer Valley High when it won the 5A Division 2 State Championship in 2006.
District spokeswoman Jennifer Liewer said Eubanks “comes from a family of educators, which include his grandparents, his parents as well as his sister and his brother-in-law.”
He played baseball on scholarships at both Central Arizona Community College and McNeese State University.
Brassfield has been teaching and coaching baseball at Desert Vista for nine years.
He played baseball at Red Mountain High in Mesa in the mid-1990s and later at Phoenix Community College and Kansas Wesleyan University. He holds a master’s degree in human performance with an emphasis on coaching.
After graduating college, Brassifled spent three years as an athletic director at the Boys and Girls Clubs of Metro Phoenix. He also taught physical education at Eduprize Charter School in Gilbert.
During his time at Eduprize, he became a volunteer coach at Desert Vista, assisting at all levels of its program.
In 2008, he was hired as a science teacher at Desert Vista and became the head freshman coach, then became the varsity hitting and outfielder’s coach in 2014.
He also has volunteered with Little League, Pony League and other camps and clinics to help the local baseball players improve.
“He has been a part of several successful seasons at Desert Vista in the last 12 years and plans on continuing the outstanding tradition and culture that surrounds the baseball program,” Liewer said, calling him “passionate about the game
of baseball and helping young athletes become successful adults.”
Brassfield said he is “committed to guiding my players to the next level through with a focus on the core values of gratitude, responsibility, integrity, inspiration, toughness and trust.”
Patche graduated from Arizona State University with a degree in exercise and sports science and was a volunteer coach for the Lady Devils’ basketball program, where he provided scouting reports and ran scout teams.
After graduating from ASU, he became a personal trainer, working with high school and collegiate athletes throughout the Valley.
“His focus is on the development of skills and understanding of the game,” Liewer said.
Patche recently has been assistant boys basketball coach in the Scottsdale Unified School District.
Derek Kline showing promise as Thunder’s new QB
BY GREG MACAFEE AFN Sports Editor
Desert Vista High School’s varsity football team had a void to fill at quarterback after the departure of 2,000-yard passer Nick Thomas, who led the Thunder to a record of 7-5 as a senior in 2016.
Insert 6-foot-6 Nevada transplant Derek Kline.
Kline arrived at Desert Vista high school in January to wide-open arms from his future teammates. With a lot of talent and size at the skill positions, he already has shown coach Daniel Hinds exactly what he can do.
“He’s got great arm strength, he’s
got great accuracy, and he makes great decisions when he’s out there.” Hinds said. “That’s pretty powerful, and he’s a good leader.”
Last year, the Thunder threw for about 2,100 yards and ran for close to 1,800 yards on the ground. But two of the team’s top rushers were among the 2017 graduating class: Lelon Dillard (557 yards, 126 carries 9 TD’s) and Thomas, who produced 527 yards on the ground and scampered into the end zone six times.
Hinds already may have begun to fill the void.
Keishaud White carried the ball 37 times as a junior and racked up 221 yards, finding the end zone five times.
White was also one of DV’s top receivers, catching 38 passes for six touchdowns.
James Stag, who caught 22 passes for 338 yards last season, also will return for the Thunder this season.
With White and Stag returning on the offensive side of the ball, Kline under center and underclassmen making a name for themselves in spring ball, Hinds believes the Thunder can take whatever teams are going to give.
“If they want to drop back and protect the pass, we’ll run the ball,” Hinds said. “It really depends on what teams decide they want to stop and that’s what we’re going to do.
“It’s hard to go into the season and say were gonna go and throw the ball
Former DV basketball coach seeing success with Legion of Hoops
Former Desert Vista High School varsity boys basketball coach
Antonio Darden is turning his youth basketball organization into one of the Valley’s largest.
In two years, his Legion of Hoops has attracted more than 80 boys and girls ages 7 to 17 from Ahwatukee, the East Valley and beyond.
“Our youth program has been pretty successful thus far in a short period of time,” he said. “We have won a state championship.”
He also said that club leagues West Coast Elite and Grassroots 365 consider the League of Hopes teams for 10-, 11and 12-year-old kids among the best in the state.
On his legionofhoops.com website, Darden said the club aims “to provide a platform for the youth of Arizona to achieve excellence in the sport of basketball.
“Through intense training, exceptional coaching, competitive experiences, and educational mentoring, members are given the very best opportunity to
maximize his/her potential and reach their basketball and educational goals,” it adds.
He said he chose the name for a reason.
“The definition of ‘legion’ is a vast host, multitude or number of people,” he said. “Our vision is to create a
large, welcoming family environment where all kids are welcome to come and improve their skills.
Darden is a 1998 graduate of Randallstown (Maryland) High School, where he helped the school to four consecutive region championships, the 1995 State Championship and trips to the state semifinals in both his sophomore and junior seasons.
He averaged 17.3 points, 11.4 rebounds and 3.0 assists per game as a senior, and averaged 11.5 points and 7.3 rebounds per game and was named Honorable Mention All Baltimore County as a junior.
At Costal Carolina, Darden was a 6-foot-5 small forward/shooting guard. He finished with 720 career points, 520 rebounds and 32 blocked shots.
He returned to Randallstown, near Baltimore, after his playing days in Germany and the ABA were over and helped the program to the first of backto-back state championships as an assistant.
DATES:
2017-2018 SEASON
*SUNDAY JUNE 4TH, 2017
*SUNDAY JUNE 11TH, 2017
*SUNDAY JUNE 18TH, 2017
AGES:
11U-12U FROM 1PM-3PM
13U-14U FROM 3PM-6PM
CONTACT: COACH GRAY P: 480-826-3541 E: CGRAY@AZFACTSOFLIFE.ORG
See COACH on page 47
(Special to AFN)
Darden is proud of his Legion of Hoops players, who receive instruction and training in every phase of the game of basketball.
(Special to AFN)
Former Desert Vista High boys basketball coach Antonio Darden is seeing success with his 2-year-old Legion of Hoops basketball team.
In Darden’s first season at Desert Vista, the Thunder went 26-5 and reached the state final, losing to Tempe Corona del Sol 57-32. In his second year at Desert Vista, the Thunder went 14-13 and lost to Chandler Hamilton 63-50 in the first round of the 24-team Division I state tournament.
Darden promises parents that for the standard $75 monthly fee in his year-round program, their children will be involved “in wholesome, energetic activity based on teamwork, good sportsmanship, and fellowship,” will “have pride in achieving the best possible” and will “sharpen their individual understanding of the importance and necessity of teamwork, fair play, cooperation, dependability and unity – the core of success in all team efforts.”
In addition, he aims to “build selfconfidence and poise in your child through personalized attention, encouragement, and interaction with teammates” and “provide thorough, personalized training in the skills of the game according to individual age and exposure.”
Many of his 10 teams have been
KLINEfrom page 45
There hasn’t seemed to be any learning curve for the new Thunder signal caller: Hinds said he has picked up everything offensively easily.
“He’s really smart and he’s picked up everything offensively we’re trying to do,” Hinds said. “He not only knows what he’s doing, but he can direct every kid.”
Recently, Kline showed off his potential at Dennis Gile’s Dime Dropper quarterback academy in Scottsdale. Some of the top quarterback talent from around the country was on display and Kline was featured among that top talent, winning one of the quarterback challenges.
“It was good, I really learned just really getting my mechanics down helped me out a lot,” Kline said. Look for Kline and Desert Vista to make some noise in 2017.
-Contact Sports Editor Greg Macafee at gmacafee@timespublications.com or by phone at 480-898-5630. Follow him on Twitter @greg_macafee
traveling throughout the West to participate in a variety of tournaments. Many of them also are ranked within the top five club basketball ranks.
“Our primary goal is to develop wellrounded basketball players with a high basketball IQ, who can compete not only at the club level, but at the middle/high school level and beyond,” he said, noting 96 percent of his players have made their middle-school or high school teams.
Darden also will be conducting a summer basketball camp and ChandlerGilbert Community College July where he also coaches the school’s team. The camp is 9 a.m.-3 p.m. July 10-13 and includes lunch.
“We have done this camp for several years and has always had a great turnout and been lots of fun for the kids in the surrounding community,” Darden said. “Further, it is likely one of the best skill development camps in the valley.”
All that’s required for the camp and the League of Hopes, he said, is “a love for basketball and a willingness to learn and play their role, whether that is a starring role or supporting cast.”
Information: legionofhoops.com.
Former DV wrestler Mathers wins nationals title
AFN News Staff
Former Desert Vista High School wrestler Robbie Mathers recently defeated three of the NCAA’s toughest competitors in less than three hours to win the 2017 University Nationals title at 143 pounds as well as the tournament’s Outstanding Wrestler award.
Mathers secured a quick technical fall over Dean Heil, a two-time NCAA champion for Oklahoma State and the top seed, then beat two-time All Maerican Earl Hall of Iowa State. He then defeated Tommy Thorn of the University of Minnesota.
“Each match was a battle,” Mathers said. “I just put my will against them and I fought as hard as I could every match and used my technique that I’ve been training for my whole life. I feel great. All my game plans worked.”
wrestling program’s most decorated and accomplished wrestlers and in 2012 as a senior became the school’s first threetime state champion.
ASU baseball players ponder a season capped by failure
BY REINERT TOFT Cronkite News
With all the commotion surrounding Arizona State’s baseball season, the story of the players who remained with the team fell through the cracks.
“Around halfway through, we kind of noticed that we weren’t bouncing back,” starting pitcher Eli Lingos said. “We looked pretty good at the start of the year and slowly as the year went on, we never improved.”
The Sun Devils ended 2017 with a 2332 record. For the first time in 54 years, the program failed to reach the 30-win mark, ending the longest streak in the nation. It was also the first time since 1985 it had a losing season and the first since 1999 it missed the postseason.
During coach Tracy Smith’s tenure, ASU baseball has had success at the start of the schedule against non-conference teams (10-5 in 2015, 13-3 in 2016 and 9-6 in 2017). Its performance against Pac-12 opponents, however, slipped (18-12 in 2015, 16-14 in 2016 and 8-22 in 2017).
After being swept by Arizona in the last home series of the year, Smith was asked about the team’s visit to the Dominican Republic.
In hindsight, he said he would now wait to take the trip at a later date. What he had hoped would be a team-building experience was not, and for some of those who left during the season, Smith called it a lack of “buy-in.”
ASU senior pitcher Eder Erives saw the trip from a different perspective.
“There was other issues, which I would like to keep within the team,” he said. “The Dominican had nothing to do with ‘buying in’ or not, that was just a team-bonding experience. It was to play more baseball games.”
In order to reach the College World Series, the team needed to focus on the “smaller pictures,” he said.
“It all breaks down to the little things. At some points during the season, we did not execute well and that cost us the bigger picture.”
An issue that was reported throughout the season was the departure of seven ASU baseball players.
Lastly and most controversial were the dismissals of Ryan Lillard and Andrew
Shaps. While Lillard left the team on his own accord, Shaps was dismissed from the team, and in a tweet said it was due to “failing to buy into team culture.”
Erives explained that after logging extra innings and at-bats in the Dominican Republic, he felt the Sun Devils were a complete team with the goal of making it to the College World Series.
”It was a bit frustrating that we kept losing,” Erives said.
As the season progressed, failing to reach 30 wins started to weigh a bit on the team’s psyche.
Throughout the season, ASU players tried to find the right balance.
“We would just keep practicing hard and hope that things would turn around into a positive direction,” Erives said.
An example of this balance came during the middle of the season when ASU baseball started an “energy circle” to pump each other up before games. In addition to the circle, the players had a prop: a giant fork which was a decoration from the team’s kitchen.
Meeting off the field became more frequent than in the past.
Finally, with such a rich baseball history, the players also received words of wisdom from ASU baseball alumni, most notably Barry Bonds. “They came and it’s just like ‘Hey guys, this is what it means to be a Sun Devil, this is the way we took care of things,’ and things that they did back then that might have helped us this year. Trying to keep the spirits high,” Erives said.
In order for ASU baseball to right the ship for next season, pitching and defense will be a priority. The Sun Devils ranked near the bottom of the Pac-12 in both team ERA (5.54) and errors (63). Erives believes the talent is already there.
“We have the arms, we have the bats, we have the defense. It was just putting it all together at one time and having consistency with it.”
For those unsure about the status of Smith, ASU Vice President Ray Anderson already said he “unequivocally” supports him and understands that “tough spots” will occur during his tenure.
For this historic baseball program, the goal will always be reaching 30 wins and securing a postseason appearance, no matter who the players or coaches are.
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Meetings/Events
Dining For Women (DFW) diningforwomen org inspires, educates and engages people to invest in programs that make a meaningful difference for women and girls living in extreme poverty DFW helps women find dignity and strength, develop skills and opportunities, value and support their children s education We have a local chapter in Ahwatukee which meets the 3rd Thursday every month from 6:30 p m -8 30p m If you d like to know more on how you can transform lives and reduce poverty contact Mary Hake at marysullivanhake @gmail com
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Friends and Neighbors (AFFAN) is a women ' s organization, dedicated to cultivating friendships, and goodwill AFFAN promotes social, charitable and educational events all year long AFFAN holds monthly luncheon meetings with varied speakers We offer over 40 monthly activities including Book Clubs, Canasta, Bunco, Euchre, and Bridge Other monthly activities are Dining Out, Stitch and Chat, Explore Arizona, and Garden Club Significant others/ spouses can attend some events For more info contact Teresa Akrish Phone: 480-518-5788, teresaakrish@gmail com
Check our website at affanwomensclub com THE AHWATUKEE TEA PARTY Watch For An Announcement on our New General Meeting Location, with Dates And Times in January, 2017
Email: info@tukee teaparty com
GAMBLERS ANONYMOUS & GAMANON for meeting information 602-266-97846
Overeaters Anonymous Tuesday s at 10:30 AM Esperanza Lutheran Church Ray & Thunderhill
Smart Recovery Meeting Wed’s 7:008:30 p m 6400 W Del Rio Chandler Montessori School next to Unitarian Church room 5 All issues drugs, alcohol, gambling, online addictions, & medications 480-532-2460
In-Ahwatukee Toastmasters Club meets from 6:45-8am every Tuesday at Dignity Health Urgent Care Ahwatukee - Community Room (1st floor), 4545 E Chandler Blvd , Phoenix, AZ 85048 Guests welcome anytime! http://4873 toast mastersclubs org/
PARENTS OF ADDICTED LOVED ONES
Are you affected by someone who is dealing with an addiction? If so, know that you are not alone and that the PAL (Parents of Addicted Loved Ones) group can help The group is available to provide education and support to anyone 18 years or older who is dealing with a friend or family member with an addiction. See our local meeting list at palgroup.org
