The owner of a site where a controversial QuikTrip gas station would be located along the only way in or out of an Ahwatukee community has withdrawn a request for city review of some site plan changes, leaving it unclear whether the company has abandoned its plan.
The owner of a 3-acre plot at the corner of Cottonwood Way and 40th Street had sought city approval of some modifications to an original site plan that was approved in 2001, when the site was zoned C-2 commercial.
“The applicant withdrew the request for modifications so the case is closed,” said city Planning and Development Department spokeswoman Angie Holdsworth. “The ap-
plicant will be required to comply with the existing zoning for this site and the development review process.”
The modifications would have enabled QuikTrip to construct the store in the way the company thought best and it is unclear if the it has a backup plan.
Adding to the mystery is the absence of any request to the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality, which reviews plans for underground gas tanks. The city Fire Department issues permits for tanks but could not answer a question on whether a permit had been sought for the site.
Attorney Charles Huellmantel, the attorney who represented the site owner in a testy hearing before the Ahwatukee Foothills Village Planning Committee in April, did not return calls for comment.
New Kyrene pupil, 5, to take on Congress
BY CECILIA CHAN GSN Managing Editor
Five-year-old Grant Leonard has enough on his plate with his type 1 diabetes, but this summer he’s also advocating for more research dollars to fight the disease.
The Gilbert youngster — an incoming kinderartner at Colina Elementary in Ahwatukee — will join over 160 other children from across the country July 8-10 at the nation’s Capitol for the JDRF 2019 Children’s Congress.
JDRF is an advocacy nonprofit that funds type 1 diabetes research and was formerly known as the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.
“He is such a strong little boy and we are so proud of him,” said mom Faith Leonard. “We see real strength every day.”
Grant has a one-on-one meeting with Arizona’s lawmakers, U.S. Sens. Kyrsten Sinema and Martha McSally and U.S. Rep. Andy Biggs, who represents District 5, which includes Gilbert and most of the East Valley, according to Leonard.
Controversial gas station’s future gets hazy
QuikTrip does not own the land and the Scottsdale developer who does own it would presumably be leasing it to the company. Regardless, it promises to be a cash cow because it would have been the only gas station closed to the South Mountain Freeway along the entire 6.5-mile Pecos segment.
Foothills Paseo II residents were buoyed by the application withdrawal, but remain vigilant.
“We’re not giving up,” said resident Brie Nielsen. “They still have many approvals to go through and we’re going to be watching every step of the way.”
Residents have expressed concern over the fact that the gas station — with its potential for a hazardous material spill — would sit on
Grant Leonard, 5, an incoming Colina Elementary kindergartner, suffers from type 1 diabetes, but the brave tyke won’t let that deter him from heading to Washington. (The Leanard Family)
TheAhwatukeeFoothillsNewsis published every Wednesday and distributed free of charge to homes and in single-copy locations throughout Ahwatukee Foothills.
Times Media Group: 1620 W. Fountainhead Parkway, Suite 219 Tempe, Arizona, 85282
Main number: 480-898-6500
Advertising: 480-898-5624
Circulation service: 480-898-5641
PUBLISHER
Steve T. Strickbine
VICE PRESIDENT
Michael Hiatt
ADVERTISING STAFF
National Advertising Director Zac Reynolds 480-898-5603 zac@ahwatukee.com
Caregivers can now apply for a state grant of up to $1,000 to make adjustments to their house to help keep a relative with disabilities living there.
The Family Caregiver Grant Program is designed to reduce the burden on state-supported care facilities and provide a little financial relief for families.
Steve Jennings, associate state director of AARP Arizona, told Public News Service, “It reimburses unusual expenses, things like if you need to change the bathroom or the shower or install grab bars or build a ramp on the home or put a lift on a car.”
Jennings pointed to studies showing that almost half of caregivers say spending money on the care of a loved one negatively affects their own finances.
State Rep. Mitzi Epstein, who represents Ahwatukee, told constituents last week, “I’ve been working on this project with AARP, the legislators of the Senior Caucus and many stakeholders for three years.”
“We heard stories from families who care for an aging grandparent or a loved one who has a disability,” she added. “As AARP put it, ‘Around the clock caregiving can take a heavy toll physically, mentally, and financially. Reducing financial stress can help families keep loved ones in their homes as they age — where they want to be.’”
Epstein said when the idea was first brought up in 2017, it was proposed as a tax credit “and there were not many accountability measures.”
Epstein proposed a grant instead of a tax credit because the latter “would not help people with low income.”
She also said accountability was important.
“Our goal is to help people to live in a healthy, safe home,” Epstein said. “If this grant program does not produce that result, then it should be re-evaluated and changed or eliminated.”
She noted that the final bill requires an annual report “about the ability for qualified family members to delay entering a long-term care facility or assisted living facility.” Rather than allotting $1.5 million as was originally suggested, Epstein said she pushed for a cap — now $500,000 a year for the next two years.
“If the reports show that it is a cost-saver and potentially a life-saver, then it can be expanded,” she said.
Additionally, recipients can get a grant one once every three years and the program is limited to individuals with an annual income of less than $75,000 and couples making less than $150,000 annually.
AARP research found that of likely Arizona voters age 40 and older, about two out of five are current or former caregivers, and almost half of all surveyed expect to be a caregiver during their lifetime, Public News Service reported.
It’s unclear when the specific mechanism for requesting the grant will be set up, but there’s still a little time since the new fiscal year won’t begin until July 1.
Also unclear is whether there will be an retroactive period of time allowed in the program.
Fire threats in Arizona could last into fall, experts say
BY MELISSA ROBBINS Cronkite News
Fire experts say with high temperatures, combined with an increasing amount of brush drying up from the wet winter, the fire danger is high — particularly in southern Arizona, where the threat is above-average.
At least nine wildfires are burning around Arizona, only three of which are prescribed burns.
Two fires burning in the Tonto National Forest northeast of Phoenix were human caused, officials said, but they’re burning away from structures.
Bryan Henry, assistant predictive services program manager with the National Interagency Fire Center in Boise, Idaho, said this year’s monsoon season may be delayed, meaning the danger for wildfires will likely continue further into the fall than usual.
The weather patterns that gave Arizona its extra-wet winter may also kick up heavier winds in summer, Henry said, which could exacerbate fire conditions.
Similarly, the lower temperatures and humidity that kept Arizona’s grasses from drying out appear to be coming to
The Woodbury Fire has lit up the Superstition Mountains, although so far the blaze has not been a major threat to homes. The incident management team said a variety of suppression actions created “a contiguous line around the fire, and stop is spread southwest towards state and private lands, and local communities. (Cronkite News)
an end as the summer heat settles in.
Brad Widhalm, a spokesman with the Central West Region of the Tonto National Forest, warned residents against stopping in the area to watch the fire.
“They shouldn’t be stopping to take pictures, ‘cause they’re just creating a
hazard for themselves plus other people that are driving along the road,” Widhalm said.
Officials said the fire “requires implementing a variety of firefighting tactics commensurate with steep, rugged terrain, wilderness values and extreme fire behavior.”
The Woodbury Fire in the Superstition Mountains on Monday was reported to have moved east and dropping ash on Tonto Basin and Roosevelt.
However, no evacuations have been deemed necessary because retardant and water drops have successfully hindered the blaze from gaining much ground in the direction of homes.
Firefighters are using fire to conduct burnout operations which will stop the spread of the wildfire to the north.
Brush along its eastern edge “is slowly carrying the fire towards the east,” officials said, adding, firefighters are assessing opportunities to construct fire breaks outside of the wilderness boundary.
Firefighting efforts on the north end of the fire will concentrate on protecting campgrounds, infrastructure, powerlines, and businesses along State Highways 88 and 188.
This inclujdes Canyon Lake, Apache Lake, Tortilla Flats and various campgrounds.
However, Saguaro, Bartlee and Roosevelt lakes remain open.
Ahwatukee Health and Recovery
ASU symposium stresses ‘trauma sensitive’ schools
BY JORDAN HOUSTON AFN Staff Writer
In a state where children experience more abuse, divorce, neglect, poverty and violence than anywhere else in the country, more than 150 education professionals flocked to Arizona State University recently to learn about the importance of creating trauma-sensitive schools.
Hosted by Kohl’s Mindful Me at Phoenix Children’s Hospital and ASU’s Sanford School of Social and Family Dynamics, the 2019 Trauma Sensitive Schools Symposium sought to explore “best practices” for providing trauma-informed care to students while also emphasizing teaching with empathy.
Around 31 percent of Arizona children experience two or more traumatic events before turning 18, according to an annual report by America’s Health Rankings.
Adverse Childhood Experiences, or (ACEs, are defined as an emotional response to a “less-than nurturing” life event.
“There is an epidemic of students who are struggling with a lot of challenges, and we all know schools are mostly un-
der-funded,” said Kohl’s Mindful Me program Co-Organizer Beheir Johnson. “They don’t have support to help those students learn about self-regulation.”
Recent research suggests that ACEs have a direct correlation to mental health and well-being in adulthood, she added.
The symposium’s goal was to arm educators with a framework to create safe and inclusive environments for children — in which kids have equal access to opportunities at every stage of their education.
“The idea behind the conference was to get dynamic speakers to come in and break down these issues,” said Johnson.
Experts in the mental health field and relationship building, including keynote speaker Rick Griffin, shared their insights on trauma and its impact on brain development at the third annual symposium.
Griffin, Community Resilience Initiative master trainer, opened his keynote presentation with a game of “Simon Says.”
The practitioner asked everyone in the room to participate, adding that he wanted them to succeed — of course, he was joking.
Griffin managed to knock everyone out
in only a few rounds, and explained that the game was a good example of how experiences can shape how people act and think — especially when it comes to trauma.
“Does Simon actually want you to be successful? No, and you know that from your past experiences with the game,” he said. “You play the game based on your experiences, and that’s what today’s all about.”
“It’s about what happens when there are some challenge experiences that complicate what’s happening in the present,” he continued. “You discovered what it looks like when your expectations aren’t met and when your experiences communicate something different than what’s being said in the present.”
Griffin touched how ACEs can cause toxic stress, saying it can cause a child to go into “fight, flight or freeze mode” that results in “reactionary” coping skills and behaviors, said Griffin.
These coping skills can include yelling, physically lashing out, shutting down emotionally or working hard to appease everyone, he told the audience.
“What about the defense mechanisms
of a 3-year-old against an adult male who wants to put him on his lap?’” he asked. “Maybe he [the child] the sticks his arms out, but that still doesn’t work. So what else is a 3-year-old going to do? Scream kick, bite and spit.”
Griffin also discussed how knowledge of a child’s traumatic event is crucial to supporting them, but that understanding how the child interprets it is key.
He explained that because not everybody interprets events in the same way, cautioning that a caretaker or teacher could re-traumatize a child if they fail to see the adversity from their point of view.
“Knowledge without insight could be harmful,” he said.
Griffin acknowledged that teachers may not have the time to learn the traumas of all their students, but that something as simple as a smile could change their behavior.
“Everything you do that shows that you care and that they can feel some love, trust and safety around another adult — that in itself can prevent a lot of problem behavior,” said the speaker. “It doesn’t take
see TRAUMA page 15
the only way in or out of the 185-home
They also are worried about the impact on traffic, since QuikTrip’s entry and exit would only be to and from the narrow, two-lane Cottonwood.
The Arizona Department of Transportation owns 650 feet of 40th Street frontage north from the South Mountain Freeway interchange and has already told the committee it would not allow a driveway along 40th for QuikTrip, which is about 365 feet north of the freeway.
Most residents also have stressed that they are not opposed to some kind of business being located on the premises, since the land has been commercially zoned before many of the homes in the subdivision were even built.
But they note that a C-2 zoning classification covers more than 100 different types of businesses and have opposed a gas station because of the dangers a HazMat spill.
Those fears were amplified on June 1 when a fuel spill at a Circle K gas station on Camelback Road at 27th Avenue shut down part of Camelback and the nearby I-17 ramps for several hours.
About 250 to 300 gallons of fuel spilled at the Circle K when, police said, the fuel
tanks were being cleaned by a vacuum truck and a pressure relief valve failed. That collapsed the tank on the vacuum truck and allowed the fuel to spill. No explosion occurred, but it took more than four hours to clean up the spill.
“This is exactly the type of event that could cause disaster for our neighborhood if a gas spill happened in the middle of Cottonwood Lane,” Nielsen said. “Some critics of our opposition to the gas station have asked how likely it is that a gas spill will occur. The June 1st gas spill is a great example that they do happen and there is absolutely nothing that QuikTrip can do to guarantee that it will not happen at the only entrance/exit to our neighborhood.”
Resident Derrick Johnson, a Phoenix Fire Department captain, has said that a spill at the Cottonwood-40th Street site would close down the only escape route for Foothills Paseo II residents.
Speaking as a citizen and not on behalf of the department, Johnson also said vapors can travel for hundreds of feet in any direction, then settle in culverts or other areas — posing both a health hazard as well as the potential for an explosion caused by something as commonplace as a spark from a cellphone.
The Arizona Department of Environ-
What sets me apart from the
no
QUIKTRIP
from page 7
mental Quality said that in the last three years, there have been 257 confirmed releases from underground storage tanks in the state and 3,908 violations issued against gas stations in that time period.
Of the total violations, QuikTrip stations accounted for only 39. None of its stations reported underground storage leaks, ADEQ said.
“Releases are most often self-reported because the facility is required to have a system in place to detect releases, which are then required to be reported to ADEQ within 24 hours of detection,” said ADEQ spokeswoman Erin Jordan, adding:
“Violations are issued when inspectors are on-site checking for system issues and paperwork deficiencies that could be indicative of future problems that would lead to a release.”
She added that underground tanks are inspected once every three years.
While ADEQ does not issue permits for the installation of underground storage tanks, it does review their plans.
“The proposed UST must meet all state and federal requirements,” Jordan said. “Additionally, there could be local building and fire codes that need to be met, depending on location.”
And that is only one of a wide array of reviews that QuikTrip must undergo at Phoenix City Hall — reviews that Nielsen said she and her neighbors will be follow-
ing closely.
Reviews are required for any new business’ site plan, grading and drainage, life/ safety, water, sewer, paving, concrete and building elevations — as well as traffic. Additionally, city staff invites neighbors to discuss those plans.
The most recent study of traffic on Cottonwood Way found about 500 trips each way on the two-lane road within a 48hour period. It’s unclear whether ADOT, which has declared 40th Street under its jurisdiction, has conducted any recent traffic counts along that roadway. A large park-and-ride lot is at the end of 40th Street and what remains of Pecos Road.
Nielsen said the city traffic engineer who reviewed the QT case before it pulled its request for permission to make site adjustments said the Phoenix Street Transportation Department will require a traffic impact study for Cottonwood Lane and that would not be implemented until at least this fall.
ADOT will require a right-turn lane on northbound 40th St at the Cottonwood Lane intersection, she said she also was told.
“Many Ahwatukee residents have expressed confusion about why QT would even want this location, considering how difficult it will be for all of their customers to get in and out,” Nielsen said, adding:
“It will be interesting to see what the traffic study shows.”
Now that the owner of this lot at 40th Street and Cottonwood Way has withdrawn a request for city permission to alter a site plan approved in 2001, it is unclear if QuikTrip will set up shop. Even if the developer and gas station company still want to build there, they face a series of reviews that Foothills Paseo II residents say they will monitor closely. (Tom Sanfilippo/Inside Out Aerial)
Desert Village - Mesa
Enclave at Sweetwater Ranch
Canyon Estates
DIABETES
from page 1
He also may have a chance to share his personal testimony at a congressional committee hearing on the last day, she added.
The boy’s journey with the disease began more than three years ago with a few tell-tale signs.
Leonard remembered finding her son’s crib soaked, sopping wet with urine every morning. True, he was still going through potty-training but “this is crazy,” Leonard thought as she decided to move him up to the next diaper size.
And the couple’s only child was always thirsty.
“It’s tricky here in Arizona,” Leonard said. “We push water so much and he’s always been good at drinking water.”
But one day on a short walk back to the house from a park, Grant was lagging. He was tuckered out, wasn’t super talkative and was going slower, Leonard said.
The former teacher called the pediatrician and told her Grant’s symptoms.
“I remember it was a Friday afternoon,” Leonard said. “She said get him in now.” Leonard, however, wanted to wait a week when her husband Dave, then a teacher at Kyrene de las Lomas Elementary School, was on spring break.
Dave will begin teaching this fall at Kyrene Centennial Middle School, which is next door to Colina.
“If I had waited until the next week, he would have probably passed away,” Leonard said.
Grant was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes days before his second birthday. Normal blood sugar levels are 80 to 120, Grant’s level was over 770, his mom said. Grant is one of about 200,000 youth in the United States with the disease where the pancreas can’t make the insulin to regulate sugar in the blood.
Multi Family Property
Grant Leonard, flanked by parents Faith and Dave Leonard. (The Leonard Family)
Grant has learned to prick his finger for blood tests to monitor his insulin level.
(The Leonard Family)
Left untreated, people risk diabetic ketoacidosis or DKA, a life-threatening condition that leads to diabetic coma and death.
There is no cure and people need insulin to survive. Type 1 can be diagnosed at any age with more than 1 million U.S. adults living with the disease.
The American Diabetes Association estimated 40,000 people will be newly diagnosed each year in the United States.
And, between 2001 and 2009, there was a 21 percent increase in the prevalence of type 1 diabetes among people younger than 20, according to JDRF.
“I have a broken pancreas and fingertips of steel,” Grant said in reference to his fingers being pricked to test his blood. “The hard part about type 1 diabetes is trying to be strong every day.”
Grant said he doesn’t let the disease keep him from doing things he loves — playing soccer, basketball, swimming, reading a good book or playing with his friends.
Grant said he’s not known for turning
down a doughnut and one day he hopes to become a firefighter to help people because he is “very brave.”
Leonard said Grant’s diagnosis came out of the blue because no one in her or her husband’s family has the disease. Her father does have type 2 diabetes, which is more common and can be controlled through diet and exercise.
“It was obviously very challenging,” Leonard said. “This was a complete adjustment in our lives, the shots, the pokes and measuring everything. But I think, as with anything, aspects definitely get easier.”
For example, Grant has to take insulin every time he eats. He used to have shots but he now wears a computerized insulin pump.
“He’s been healthy and strong, which has allowed him to keep as much normalcy as possible,” she said.
Leonard said her son is handling the disease like a trooper but social awareness is beginning to weigh on him. For instance, he’s begun to notice his peers in pre-school and on his sports team don’t have diabetes.
“It’s hard,” she said. “He’s starting asking when his type 1 diabetes will go away. It’s heartbreaking. There’s no cure but we keep doing what we are doing.”
Because Grant’s pump is visible, he gets questioned frequently, which he uses as an opportunity to educate people about the disease.
“This morning at Vacation Bible School, one of the kids in the group asked, what is that,” Leonard said. “‘It’s my insulin pump,’ (he said). He knows if he doesn’t get the insulin, he’s not going to be alive.”
Leonard recognized Grant is able to access care and devices because of their health insurance but she worried about other families not afford the same opportunity and when her son is older and is on his own.
Most stories about people rationing their insulin are among those 20-30 years old, Leonard said. That’s the age group where young people fall off their parents’ insurance and either have no insurance or inadequate policies, she added.
“These guys have to pay upwards of $1,000 for insulin and can’t afford it,” she said. “You hear about rationing or
hear about people using other people’s insulin.”
In the last 20 years the cost of insulin has shot up 200 percent, according to Leonard.
“It costs us upwards of like $500 to $600 a month for medical supplies and insulin,” said Leonard, who is now an event planner. “It’s very expensive even with the support of insurance. It’s not like it’s medicine that (Grant) needs to make him better but it’s something he needs to keep him alive.”
She said it is important to bring awareness of the disease to Congress members to ensure there is funding to eventually find a cure.
“More and more kids are getting diagnosed every day,” she said. “It’s about quality of life, allowing children to live independent, happy, healthy and normal lives and still do things that they are able to do.
“My goal as his mom is to bring as much advocacy and awareness and hopefully make grains so by the time he is a 25-yearold man, he is never in a situation where he’ll even feel tempted to ration.”
EV psychiatrist runs afoul of 2 medical boards
BY JORDAN HOUSTON AFN Staff Writer
The way the medical boards of California and Arizona saw it before suspending him this month, East Valley psychiatrist Dr. James Matthew Crowley Ryan had other things in mind when three different women came to him for psychiatric care.
Investigators for the California Attorney General’s office said:
When one woman told the Gilbert resident, then practicing in the San Diego area, that she had had an extramarital affair, he “told her that she should have more affairs” — then had one himself with her.
When a second woman told him of her history of sexual assault and panic attacks, he replied “Honey, I’ll prescribe whatever you want” — and made repeated efforts to seduce her while writing her prescriptions for powerful anti-anxiety medications.
When a third woman came to see a fellow psychiatrist, Ryan intervened and soon started dating her — writing prescriptions for controlled anti-anxiety medications but keeping no records to justify their use.
And after the second patient complained to Chula Vista, California, police in May 2016, Ryan moved to set up his practice in east Mesa.
He told his wife in a handwritten birthday card that he was treating CIA secret agents, that one of the three women is “the highest rated assassin of the government,” that he is “the best psych that the U.S. government has and the only one to fix their agents,” and that he had to move and change his name, investigators said.
Ryan’s past caught up with him following an extensive investigation by the California Attorney General’s office.
In March, the Arizona Medical Board summarily suspended his license to practice here. The California Medical Board followed suit on June 10, even though it had the results of the AG investigation since December.
In its suspension, the Arizona Medical Board noted that Ryan “denied all allegations documented in the accusation. Respondent reported to board staff that during the time period covered by the accusation, he was experiencing delirium that affected his ability to recall specific events.”
It also said that last February, he “refused to enter into the practice restriction
and that he did not intend to comply with the interim order” requiring that he be examined by a doctor.
That the California board waited until Arizona took action was not a surprise to private investigator Kenneth Kramer, who works for psychsearch.net, an arm of a Florida private investigation company and the world’s largest repository of disciplinary records on psychiatrists who go astray.
“Medical boards can be slow — years sometimes,” Kramer said. “It’s not common for one state to wait for another to act, so, this is astounding! No suspension in California with all the allegations but when Arizona decides to protect its citizens and suspend him, California follows suit. That’s California for you — anything goes - permissive as hell!”
The Arizona board took action quickly because of the seriousness of the allegations, stating “the public health, safety or welfare imperatively requires emergency action.”
Arizona Medical Board Executive Director Patricia McSorley explained, “Before the board summarily suspends a physician’s license, it must have evidence to conclude ‘that the public health, safety and welfare imperatively requires emergency action.”
“Once a license is suspended,” McSorley continued. “The board has 60-days to present the case for a full evidentiary hearing …. The physician will remain suspended until such time as the matter is concluded.”
Ryan’s string of malpractice began in 2016 while working as a psychiatrist at Achieve Medical Center in California.
On March 2, a woman scheduled her first appointment with Ryan to talk about her diagnosis, medication and marital issues. A week later, she confessed about having an extramarital affair.
Board documents state that Ryan told her about his own marriage problems, and said that she was beautiful and “stated he will give her whatever he wanted. He then continued kissing her,” the California AG report says.
The two quickly began a sexual relationship and Ryan convinced her to leave her husband, the AG reported.
At some point during the beginning of their relationship, the woman asked Ryan if he could still be her doctor and help with her medication.
In a text message recovered by inves-
“Laura and I have dealt with 10+ REALTORS® in our married life. Mary Jo and Mike are the best we have met and we make sure everyone knows that.”
– Greg Mo tt
LIVING - We have lived in Ahwatukee since 1997 and raised two wonderful boys here. We love the community feel of Ahwatukee as well as its beauty. Anytime we have contemplated moving, the minute we drive up over the hill and see the majestic views, we know we are home.
WORKING - Top 25 Team Ranking in Maricopa County and Ranked 59 out of 43,000 Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Agents Nationally #1 Team overall for Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Arizona Properties. 167 Homes Sold in 2017 Over 1000 Arizona residents have bought or sold a home with Team Santistevan!
LOVING AHWATUKEE - We enjoy showing o the beauty of our Ahwatukee community to our clients! One of our favorite things we do with our out of state clients is to take them on a tour of the town. We show them the local YMCA, community services, schools, nature trails, and usually stop o at a local restaurant/co ee shop. We love to support our local businesses and are regular participants in community events.
tigators, Ryan wrote, “Sorry…just saw this…I’ll prescribe a bottle of happiness… what flavor would you like?”
The woman’s husband called Ryan’s office around March 22 to complain about his behavior, and two days later she was transferred to another psychiatrist.
Around this time Ryan met with the second patient, the sexual assault survivor.
She later told investigators that Ryan made her feel uncomfortable from the get-go — hugging her for “too long” at the beginning of their appointment.
Despite the woman’s efforts to set boundaries, including telling Ryan that she didn’t like to be touched, the psychiatrist attempted to hold her hand and rub her legs during their second appointment.
Investigators found that Ryan told the woman he wanted to make her feel better and would prescribe her anything she wanted — much like he did with the first woman.
He also showed shirtless pictures of himself and talked about his gym routine.
“He told her she did not need to work out because she had a perfect body,” investigators said.
A few days later she reported him to
TRAUMA from page 6
much time to smile or say hello. It doesn’t take much time to honor the presence of another human being.”
Griffin also discussed how trauma-sensitive schools can promote accountability for disruptive or “bad” behavior, but in a compassionate way.
During his breakout session, he honed in on the idea of compassionate consequences and teaching students how to better communicate their needs.
“If you learn to play the piano and you
Chula Vista Police.
Wasting no time, Ryan left a handwritten note for his wife on May 8.
He told his wife that she would not be allowed to know his new name or discuss any of the information electronically.
Between February 2016 and January 2017, the psychiatrist wrote nine prescriptions for the third woman for controlled substances, California investigators found.
He had no progress notes to justify any of the medication, according to investigators, who noted that during a sworn statement at a deposition, the woman said she had no knowledge of what any of the medications prescribed to her were.
The Arizona Medical Board unanimously voted on March 8 to summarily suspend the man’s license for practicing in Arizona.
“For Arizona licensed physicians,” said McSorley, “Once the agency finds evidence that a physician may be unsafe to practice medicine, the process allows for the board to take immediate steps to protect the public.”
Ryan will not be allowed to practice until his case is heard by an administrative law judge and a recommendation is made to the board about what should be done.
He also has the option to fight his charges via a formal hearing.
hit a wrong note and somebody slaps your hand, how long will it take you to learn to hit the right note? You’ve got 88 keys, so it could take you 87 more chances,” he said. “It’s a lot easier and more effective if they just teach you the right thing instead of punishing you for hitting the wrong one.”
“Behavior is communication,” he added. “They [the students] don’t know how to communicate their frustration or their inability to do something and so it’s coming out in a different way — let’s teach them how to communicate.”
Relax with a Staycation @ Fuchsia
ADOT still foresees end-ofyear freeway opening
The South Mountain Freeway is nearly three-quarters complete and is still on target to open this year — though a little later than the Arizona Department of Transportation had originally hoped.
Minutes of the State Transportation Board’s May 17 meeting shows that ADOT Director John Halikowski and district engineer Julie Gadsby reported that 21 of the 22-mile thoroughfare’s 41 bridges are virtually finished and more than 260,000 tons of asphalt has been laid so far.
The eight-lane highway will connect the West 59th Avenue and Chandler interchanges of I-10 and provide a bypass for thousands of cars and trucks around the downtown Phoenix portion of I-10.
“Now that I have to drive in Phoenix several times a week, I am really anxious for the South Mountain Freeway to be completed,” said board member Jack Sellers, who is also a Maricopa County supervisor.
Gadsby said, “Under our original contract, we were supposed to be completed in November.”
es at 32nd Street in Ahwatukee and Ivanhoe Street in Laveen added some additional time, Gadsby said.
“It’s pushed some things back, but my developer is confident we’re going to open this year, Gadsby said, joking that it would be a Christmas present for Sellers and other board members.
“I will look forward to the grand opening,” Sellers added.
ADOT last week boasted of the work that has gone on during the first half of this year on the 59th Avenue interchange, saying all bridge girders are in place, frontage road construction is underway and an overpass has been built over railroad tracks.
“In the first half of 2019, crews working on this Arizona Department of Transportation project have made significant progress along the Papago segment between Interstate 10 and Lower Buckeye Road,” the agency said in a release.
But the late decision to add interchang-
It noted that the last bridge girder — a whopping 97 feet long and weighing 83,000 pounds — had been laid for the Van Buren Street interchange and that the concrete bridge deck for the Lower Buckeye Road interchange had been completed and the same work was underway at two other nearby interchanges.
AFN NEWS STAFF
This photo of work being done on the 40th Street bridge of the South Mountain Freeway was dubbed by the Arizona Depatment of Transportation one of its best photos among thousands taken by the agency along the path of the 22-mile thoroughfare since construction began in 2017. (Arizona Department of Transportation)
Hepatitis A outbreak sweeping state, county
BY ABBAGAIL LEON Cronkite News
Anational outbreak of hepatitis A, which can cause nausea, jaundice and, in rare cases, kill, is sweeping through the state — including Maricopa County, Arizona health officials report.
Two people have died of the liver disease in Arizona. Since November, 353 cases have been reported, according to the Arizona Department of Health Services. Nearly 90 of those cases were reported in May in eight counties.
The best ways to protect against the highly contagious virus are through vaccination and regular handwashing, DHS said. Hepatitis A is contracted by eating food or drinking water contaminated with the virus through feces. That happens when an infected person does not wash his or her hands properly after using the restroom.
Common symptoms include a sudden fever, jaundice, abdominal pain, nausea and clay-colored bowel movements. The virus also affects liver function.
titis A linked to the consumption of the blackberries.
“Every year, we will often see smaller outbreaks of hepatitis A that are associated with a contaminated food product,” Rigler said.
About 80 percent of people who contracted hepatitis A over the course of seven months had to be hospitalized. Groups at a high risk of infection include young children or workers in child care, people who are homeless, use drugs or have been incarcerated, according to DHS.
State health officials encourage those who are at a high risk to contract the virus receive a hepatitis A vaccination. They recommend it for food-service workers, child-care workers and children who are at least 1 year-old and in a child-care setting.
Mass produced food can be at risk.
Last week, the U.S. Food and Drug
“If you are experiencing any symptoms of concern it is important to reach out to your health care provider,” said Jessica Rigler, DHS assistant director. “There is no treatment for hepatitis A.”
Administration alerted consumers of a hepatitis A virus contamination of certain kinds of frozen blackberries under the Kroger “Private Selection” brands. According to the FDA, there have been no reported cases of hepa -
About 20 states are experiencing an outbreak of the virus, including nearly 4,700 cases in Kentucky and about 3,000 in Ohio, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Nationally, 189 people have died over three years.
Jessica Rigler, assistant director at the Arizona Department of Health Services, says the best way to prevent contracting hepatitis A virus is to thoroughly wash your hands after using the restroom and get a vaccination. (Alicia Canales/Cronkite News)
This map by the state Department of Health Services shows the counties hit by the hepatitis A outbreak. (Arizona Department of Health Services)
Court rejects bid to order care safety equipment
BY HOWARD FISCHER
Capitol Media Services
The state Court of Appeals is refusing to require vehicle manufacturers to install safety equipment for cars sold in Arizona that are not mandated by federal law.
In a new ruling, the judges rejected arguments by a woman who was seriously injured in an accident that Nissan should be held liable for failing to install an automatic braking system in the vehicle that struck her car.
Her lawyer, Lynn Shumway, contends that the system, which would have cost perhaps no more than $500, could have prevented the accident that left Antea Dashi with brain damage and diminished mental capacity.
But Judge David Weinzweig, writing for the unanimous three-judge panel, said the National Highway Safety Administration has so far refused to set formal standards for advanced automatic braking technologies in light-weight vehicles.
Weinzweig is one of the three Appeals Court judges considering the Ahwatukee Lakes Golf Course case.
The judge said Congress gave the power to the U.S. Department of Transportation to set safety standards, a power it delegated to NHTSA. And what that also means, Weinzweig said, is that federal authority preempts any state law — and any litigation based on state law.
“If successful, Dashi’s design-defect and negligence claims would impose a duty on manufacturers whose vehicles drive in or through Arizona to install forward collision warning and crash imminent braking systems or face liability from Arizona juries for making and peddling uncrash-
worthy vehicles,’’ Weinzweig wrote.
“ Dashi’s claims would frustrate NHTSA’s federal regulatory objectives by thrusting a jury-imposed AEB standard on Nissan inside Arizona’s borders.’’
Shumway, however, contends the judges got it wrong, both legally and from a safety perspective. And he plans to seek review by the Arizona Supreme Court.
“Arizona law requires when you sell a product that it not have any conditions that are unreasonably dangerous,’’ he said. Shumway said that is when “the harmful characteristics or consequences outweigh the benefits of the design.’’
All that leads to what happened in 2015 when Dashi was driving along a one-way access road to a freeway in north Phoenix
when she missed her turnoff.
Rather than proceed and go through side streets, she decided to turn around and seek to return to the missed exit. But while she was turning around, a 2008 Nissan Rogue swerved around a vehicle that had stopped behind Dashi’s vehicle and crashed into her car, then perpendicular to traffic.
She sued Nissan saying the crash would not have occurred if Nissan had equipped the Rogue with then-available automatic emergency braking systems.
These included “forward collision warning’’ and “crash imminent braking,’’ the former warning the driver of a likely crash, and the latter automatically applying the brakes.
A trial judge threw out the case on Nissan’s claim of federal preemption, leading to this appeal.
Weinzweig said both DOT and NHTSA have shown “palpable and enduring interest’’ in the development of automatic emergency braking and “continues to explore test procedures and the effectiveness of these systems and to refine the
see SAFETY page 20
The state Court of Appeals rejected an accident victim’s assertion that Arizona was negligent in not demanding that this 2008 Nissan Rogue should have been required to be equipped with an automatic braking system. (Special to AFN)
Census citizen question could cost state new seat in Congress
BY HOWARD FISCHER
Capitol Media Services
Arizona is in danger of losing out on a new congressional seat if the Trump administration is successful in adding a citizenship question to the U.S. census, according to a new study and analysis.
The Shorenstein Center on Media, Politics and Public Policy at Harvard University ran sample census questions past groups of Hispanics, half asked whether those in the household are citizens and half without that question.
Researchers found that Hispanics skipped significantly more questions in the survey that had the citizenship question.
“Extrapolating our results to the general population, we estimate that asking about citizenship would reduce the share of Hispanics recorded by the census by approximately 6.08 million, or around 12.03 percent of the 2010 Hispanic population, a sizable reduction in the share of the U.S. population that would be recorded as Hispanic,’’ the report says.
Matthew Baum, a professor of global communications at Harvard who worked on the study, said the results are even more nuanced than that.
“People who are Hispanic from Mexico or Central America are especially likely to be skipping questions,’’ versus those of
from page 18
performance criteria that should be used to assess these systems.’’
More recently, he said, NHTSA is seeking ways to incentivize manufacturers to install new technologies. And Shumway said the agency has gotten commitments from 20 car companies to make them standard in 2022.
But that, said Shumway, is not enough.
Cuban or Puerto Rican heritage, he told Capitol Media Services.
“In addition, having the citizenship question decreases the number of Hispanic household members that people report in addition to themselves,’’ Baum said, meaning an undercount of people living in that specific residence.
That has political implications.
The decennial count determines how many of the 435 seats in the U.S. House are allocated to each state.
Last year Election Data Services concluded that shifts in population from the Northeast to the South and West pretty much guaranteed that Arizona would pick up a 10th House seat.
That organization’s Kimball Brace said that’s because Arizona is adding residents at a pace faster than much of the rest of the country, with 780,000 new residents since the 2010 census when the last lines were drawn. That’s a 12.1 percent increase, versus the national average of less than 6 percent.
But Bryce Dietrich, a research fellow at the Shorenstein Center who also wrote the study, worked with the Washington Post to figure out some state-by-state figures of what a citizenship question might do.
That produced a Hispanic undercount in Arizona of nearly 363,000. And when that is subtracted from state’s tally, it brings the percent population change since 2010
Nor he said, should it immunize manufacturers from failing to install clearly available — and he believes affordable — safety features.
“Statistically, we’re talking about many, many thousands of deaths every year and hundreds of thousands of serious injuries that are not being prevented by the withholding of these,’’ he said.
The judge said if Shumway’s case were to proceed it could create a “patchwork
down to just 6.5 percent, close to the national average.
And what that means is that any additional seat that Arizona could have gained through population growth would be lost.
He told Capitol Media Services a state like Arizona is particularly susceptible to problems a citizenship question might create.
“It’s not the number of Hispanics that you have within the state,’’ Dietrich said.
“But it’s the proportion of Hispanics that might respond negatively to the citizenship question,’’ he said. “So if you have a state that has a large number of Hispanics, for example, and a low population, that’s a state that can theoretically be at risk.’’
Elizabeth Berry, a press aide to Gov. Doug Ducey, did not address specific questions asked of the governor about the findings. Instead she cited the state’s “tremendous growth’’ in the decade and desire to ensure that the 2020 count accurately reflects the state’s population.
“We’re continuing to work with state, local, federal and private sectors partners to do just that,’’ Berry said.
But Ducey already has pronounced that he is siding with the Trump administration in its bid to add the citizenship question, telling Capitol Media Services in April that he — unlike officials in 18 states and various cities and counties that have sued — does not see a problem and does not believe it will result in an undercount.
quilt’’ of liability exposure, where the question of whether a vehicle without AEB traveling across the country is unsafe based on which state it was in at the time.
Weinzweig said the ruling does not immunize manufacturers from all liability claims. He said a customer who was injured would be able to sue if an installed device, like AEB, was improperly designed or installed.
Shumway said his interest in the issue
“There’s a number of different questions the federal government chooses to ask,’’ the governor said at the time. “And I think to get a handle of who’s here, who’s a citizen and who’s not is a fair question.”
The governor, however, did issue an executive order at the same time to educate Arizonans about why the decennial exercise is important, saying each person counted translates into $887 annually in federal dollars.
“Given the current conservative rhetoric and policies regarding immigrants and immigration, some U.S. residents — particularly Hispanics — may be primed to be skeptical of the government’s motives if the citizenship question is introduced,’’ the report says, adding:
“For example, although some may see the citizenship question as just another demographic variable, in an environment where the Trump White House has heavily primed Hispanic distrust in government, others may perceive the same question as unfairly targeting specific groups or as discriminatory.’’
It’s not just political clout that matters.
In 2015 the federal government distributed $675 billion based on census data. States and communities with undercounts are most at risk of not getting their share.
Using Ducey’s estimate of $887 per resident, the potential 363,000 undercount would mean the loss of more than $320 million.
is personal.
“I had a brother killed by a driver running over him when he was stopped at a light on a motorcycle,’’ he said.
“There’s systems to prevent that.’’ Shumway said. “How can you let these manufacturers choose to withhold that ... because they want to preserve this technology for their high trim levels and luxury cars?’’
SAFETY
Ducey gets White House stage to tout licensing law
BY MIRANDA FAULKNER Cronkite News
Gov. Doug Ducey last week touted Arizona’s first-in-the-nation universal licensing recognition law at the White House to a receptive audience of governors and the president, who were there to talk about workforce mobility.
Ducey, sitting to President Donald Trump’s immediate left at a large table in the Cabinet Room, said the state’s universal licensing recognition law removes barriers for people who want to work.
“We want to make the state an opportunity for all. We have great success with that and we want to expand it,” Ducey said. “We move…to what we call universal recognition of occupational licensing.”
The law directs Arizona boards to issue occupational licenses to anyone who has been licensed for at least a year in another state and whose license there is still in good standing.
The law, signed in April, applies to everyone from cosmetologists to veterinarians, from health care workers to real estate agents, among others.
Currently, it’s a one-way street: Arizona residents who want to get a professional
license in another state still have to pay all the fees and jump through all the hoops.
But Trump encouraged other governors to consider adopting similar laws in their states, and said the federal government should look at ways to reduce the “very burdensome” licensing requirements between states.
“Over the past 50 years, occupational licensing regulations have nearly tripled, keeping workers out of really good paying
jobs,” Trump said, adding:
“For the most part I guess the states will be handling it, but you do need reference to the federal government…anything we can do, we’re going to make it very easy for you to go very quickly.”
Thursday’s meeting on “workforce mobility and freedom” included White House officials and a bipartisan group of eight governors talking about their states’ efforts to make workplaces more accessible.
Those included programs to help former inmates get jobs, finding child care for working parents and recovery programs in businesses, among others.
Trump claimed that “tremendous progress has been made” on workforce development and job creation during his administration.
While he talked about Arizona’s licensing law, Ducey also took the opportunity to highlight the state’s economy at the meeting.
The governor’s website said Arizona is fourth-fastest growing and ranked among the top three states for economic momentum.
“Not only is our economy booming right now, but our state is growing. We have people coming from all over the country,” he said at the White House.
Ducey also welcomed the opportunity to hear what other states are doing.
“Just like I learn from many of the ladies and gentlemen around the table here, governors take good ideas and reapply them. Everyone here as well can take this idea and reapply it in your state,” Ducey said of Arizona’s licensing law.
While the law helps the economy, he said, it is aimed at “the little guy.”
Ahwatukee!
Gov. Doug Ducey last week visited the White House to discuss the newly approved Arizona universal licensing recognition law, which allows necomers from other states to get an occupational license if they had one in the state they came from for at least a year. (Cronklite News)
Ducey takes shot at Corporation Commission
BY HOWARD FISCHER Capitol Media Services
Gov. Doug Ducey said Monday the Arizona Corporation Commission has been getting into areas beyond its constitutional authority to set utility rates.
“There’s been a bit of mission creep,’’ the governor said.
Ducey’s comments were most immediately about the report of the death last year of an elderly customer of Arizona Public Service whose power was turned off in the middle of summer because she only paid a part of her bill. It was not until that death became public this past month — and it was learned that APS had shut off power last year to 110,000 customers — that the utility agreed to temporarily suspend cutoffs.
The reports led three commissioners to seek to revamp rules about when a utility can shut off power.
But the governor said he’s not sure that the commission is the agency that, by itself, should be setting the rules. He also said that the commission, which is constitutionally created, may be overstepping its bounds in telling utilities how much of
their power has to come from renewable energy.
Those contentions drew a surprised reaction from Bob Burns who chairs the five-member panel.
“Maybe he ought to read the constitution,’’ Burns told Capitol Media Services, specifically rejecting Ducey’s contention that the question of when a utility can shut off power is an issue to be decided by the Legislature and the governor.
“We have rule-setting authority to establish rules to have utilities follow,’’ said Burns. “It’s part of our charge.’’
The governor said he would call on the commission to see “what’s possible.’’
“But I also think there’s been a bit of a mission creep on the Corporation Commission beyond just setting rates,’’ Ducey said. “And something of this level could rise to legislation or regulation to protect Arizona’s most vulnerable.’’
More than a decade ago the commission approved rules requiring utilities to generate at least 15 percent of their power from renewable sources — not including nuclear — by 2025.
That occurred with some opposition from affected electric companies. Now
commissioners already are talking about increasing that goal.
The governor questioned whether that’s something the regulators should be doing.
“We want to see the Corporation Commission doing what their constitutional charge is,’’ Ducey said. “If there’s other opportunities around energy regulation and policy that the Legislature and the governor’s office should be involved in, we want to make certain that we’re involved.’’
Burns said having the Legislature — presumably with the governor — setting energy policy for the state ignores the specific powers given to the commission under the Arizona Constitution.
“The commission has legislative authority as well as executive authority as well as judicial authority,’’ he said. And that, said Burns, gives the commission the power to enact and enforce rules over its sphere of influence, meaning the utilities, just as if it were acting as the Legislature.
Burns has a unique perspective in seeking the division of power between the commission and the Legislature: He served as a state lawmaker for 20 years, including a term as Senate president.
The governor separately brushed aside questions about his decision last month to replace Andy Tobin on the commission. Tobin, named to the regulatory panel by Ducey in 2015, has been increasingly critical of APS and its practices, voting against several proposals sought by the utility. That included a moratorium on building new power plans that use fossil fuels and Tobin’s own proposals to increase the amount of renewable energy utilities must generate.
By naming Tobin to head the Department of Administration, that freed Ducey to tap Lea Marquez Peterson, an unsuccessful Republican congressional candidate who also had sided with APS against a 2018 renewable energy ballot measure.
Ducey told Capitol Media Services he rejects the premise that he was looking to put someone more friendly to the utility on the commission.
As to the money she has taken from Pinnacle West for her losing congressional campaign, Ducey said that just shows “she’s built broad support for her campaigns.’’
“And I think that’s a reflection people have trust in her,’’ the governor said.
www.ahwatukee.com
Ahwatukee teen vying for a state crown
BY COTY DOLORES MIRANDA AFN Contributor
Leilani “Lani” Nish is crossing her fingers as she heads to this weekend’s Miss Arizona’s Outstanding Teen 2019 competition to vie for the crown in the crowded field of 29 young women from across the state.
The Ahwatukee teen also is asking for your vote in the People’s Choice award — which can be cast online now through 4 p.m. tomorrow, June 20, or through intermission at Thursday’s preliminary pageant at the Mesa Arts Center.
The same is requested by Briana Angel Delgado, a Maricopa resident who is Ahwatukee’s candidate in the Miss Arizona Scholarship Pageant, the official state preliminary to the 93rd Miss America 2020 competition. Contestants for the state do not have to live in the community they represent.
The Miss America pageant, normally broadcast the second Sunday in September, has not been scheduled yet.
But Lani has her calendar marked on
cludes with finals on June 22, when the Top 11 initially compete.
The Saturday event gradually winnows those 11 to the Top 5, and then to the announcement of runners-up followed by the crowning of Miss Arizona 2019 and Miss Arizona Outstanding Teen.
Choice winner. The scholarship amounts are listed on the Miss Arizona website.
This is the first pageant competition for Lani, the 17-year-old daughter of longtime Ahwatukee residents Cody Nish and Harrilyn Youvella.
As the pageant date grew closer, Lani found herself the recipient of a strong, extended-family support system.
An initial social media call-out asking for donations to help cover a $300 ad in the Official Pageant Magazine resulted in much more than expected.
“We have never fundraised and just paid for everything ourselves,” said her father. “We met our goal immediately within 23 minutes of posting it.”
July 27, when the 14th annual Miss America’s Outstanding Teen pageant will be held in Orlando, Florida.
Mesa Arts Center is hosting the concurrent Miss Arizona and Miss Arizona’s Outstanding Teen competitions — a threeday event beginning with the Wednesday and Thursday preliminaries that con-
The People’s Choice award accounts for the additional 11th finalist. Votes are $1 for one vote, $5 for six votes, $20 for 25 votes and up to 125 votes for $100. Proceeds help fund to the Miss Arizona Scholarship Foundation.
Each of the Top 11 winners is given an additional scholarship, as is the People’s
Since then, additional donations have helped fund other pageant costs including her evening gowns, make-up even the hotel room required during her pageant stay. All of it astounded Desert Vista High School senior.
“To see all of our friends and family helping me get to the Miss Arizona Out-
Generation Church food pantry a community affair
BY PAUL MARYNIAK AFN Executive Editor
It was somewhat of a role reversal for the congregants from Generation Church in Ahwatukee who gathered for a luncheon last week.
They normally aren’t eating on the church campus, but rather providing food to those who otherwise might not be eating at all.
The guests were attending an appreciation lunch organized by Rev. Paul Lavino, the church’s chapel pastor and former congregation leader who semi-retired a couple years ago and handed the leadership to his son-in-law, Rev. Ryan Visconti. But the people who really appreciated the 55 volunteers — a collection of both Generation members as well as area residents who don’t belong to the church — were 10,000 unemployed and underemployed people, seniors, single moms and other eco-
nomically hard-pressed individuals.
They benefited from Generation Church’s food pantry last year, receiving 820,000 pounds of food donated by caring individuals, restaurants, other Ahwatukee churches and four major food retailers in the community — Trader Joe’s, Fry’s, Safeway and Target.
The pantry started 20 years ago at the 28-year-old church, which has since given birth to a sister campus in Mesa, when congregants William and Sheilah Wilks told Lavino about their experience working with a food pantry at an inner-city church and suggested it would make a good community outreach.
“My first thought was “Why?” This is Ahwatukee,” Lavino recalled.
Yet, over those two decades, the pantry has not only served many underprivileged individuals from outside Ahwatukee, but
Leilani “Lani” Nish, right, Ahwatukee’s entry in the Miss Arizona’s Outstanding Teen 2019 competition this week, and her sister Leila are best friends who bond over vegan dishes at the Pomegranate Cafe in Ahwatukee. (Special to AFN)
Some of the volunteers at the food pantry operation of Generation Church Ahwatukee include, from left, William Wilks, Brandon Miller, Rev. Paul Lavino, Bruce Neely, Sheilah Wilks and Blanca Neely. The Wilks proposed the food pantry 20 years ago and Lavino thought it was a good idea. (Pablo Robles/AFN Staff Photographer)
Local family bids farewell to their 3rd foreign guest
BY SAMANTHA MORRIS
AFN Contributor
It was a bittersweet goodbye recently for Stephanie Pedersen, a foreign exchange student from Copenhagen, Denmark, who just finished her junior year at Desert Vista High School.
An active participant in Desert Vista girls wrestling and badminton, Stephanie fully embraced the student athlete culture of Desert Vista.
“I expected really good school spirit and sport spirit and I got that,” she said. “Back home, there is not really any school activities because everything is clubowned or outside of school.
“So, it was very nice to get to know a lot of people by wrestling club or art club. There are hundreds of opportunities to get involved.”
Wrestling was a natural choice for her, since she competes in karate back home.
Once home, Stephanie believes her time in wrestling will be the most memorable, citing lifelong friendships, dedicated coaches and the inspirational hard work of her peers.
Even with busy schedules, she explained, “Everyone plans around dinner time, so families may eat around 8 or 6, but you are always together for dinner.”
Her host family, the Thompsons, can attest that Stephanie’s family values from the nine months she shared their home.
Patrick Thompson, a math teacher at Aprende Middle School and his wife Mariah, enjoyed having Stephanie become a part of their family.
“I feel like an exchange student gives you their best year,” Patrick said. “She was really great with the kids and made time to play with them. They know they only have nine months here so it seems like they do their best to be as outgoing and friendly as they can be. It seems like they are having their best year so it always is a great year for us.”
When it came to cultural differences, she found the lives of American teens to be more restrictive.
She feels parents in America are more concerned about whom their children are with socially whereas in Denmark parents are less overbearing.
Also, the drinking age in Denmark is sixteen, so teens are freer in that respect, she noted.
Stephanie was also struck by how many families eat at different times, which is uncommon for her back home.
The Thompsons added that Stephanie’s departure marks an “end of an era” for their family since they have hosted two girls before her, one from Japan and one from Norway.
Part of the appeal of hosting exchange students was a chance to ex-
see EXCHANGE page 29
Denmark exchange student Stephanie Pedersen, with her host family, Patrick and Mariah Thompson of Ahwatukee, enjoyed their time together in the community. She recently returned to her native Copenhagen. (Samantha Morris/Special to AFN)
standing Teen Competition is still unbelievable. None of this would’ve been possible for me without them,” said Lani.
She explained that eight dresses are needed for the competition. One dress was specially created for her talent competition.
“I will be performing a Fancy Shawl dance that ties into my culture background as Native American,” she said. Lani is a descendant of six tribes: Paiute, Akimel O’odham, Tohono O’odham, Hopi, Tewa and Mohave.
“My outfit, referred to as a regalia, was made for me along with the hairpieces,” she said. “It’s definitely a beautiful work of art.”
The Miss Ahwatukee Outstanding Teen is active in theater and dance.
As a junior, she performed in various Desert Vista Arts Theatre productions, received the award for best performance in “Romeo and Juliet” and was inducted into the International Thespian Society.
A member of the Desert Vista High Dance Company, she said one of her favorite school clubs is Thunder Buddies, a sponsored program that, according to sponsor Karen Hinds, “promotes one-onone friendships and group friendships with students in the regular education population with others in the special education life skills program,” and includes the annual Life Skills Prom.
She’s also in her school’s Link Crew that welcomes and mentors incoming freshmen.
In addition to her pageant commitments, Lani is working full-time this summer, hostessing at Kai, the Sheraton Grand Wild Horse Pass five-star restaurant.
Lani elected to go vegan a year ago, and said her sister Leila, a Desert Vista sophomore, and her mother often enjoy her dietary lifestyle.
PANTRY from page 24
others within the community as well.
“When people were losing their jobs and businesses in 2007 and 2008, we had a lot of local residents coming to us,” Lavino said. Open from 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays at the church, 11832 S Warner Elliot Loop, the pantry is through what Lavino calls “truly a community-wide effort.”
Churches collect food and bring it to the pantry. Mountain View Lutheran, for example, closed its food pantry and instead collects donated nonperishables as well as cash from its congregants on Sundays, then delivers the gifts to Generation on Monday.
Volunteers visit the stores and even some restaurants, picking up nonperishables as well as perishables for storage in
“Leila isn’t vegetarian or vegan but whenever we eat vegan meals at a restaurant, like Pomegranate Cafe, or at home, she eats with us and loves it,” laughed Lani. “My mom isn’t 100 percent vegan, but most of the time she is.”
Lani said selecting her pageant platform, “Healthy Me, Healthy We: Inspiring a Well-Balanced Lifestyle,” was an easy choice for her.
“I wanted to start something that would encourage people to be more physically active and to bring more awareness to their own mental health as well as others,” she explained, adding:
So, I started my own running/hik-
the church’s walk-in refrigeration unit — a gift from a restaurant that was installed through a donation by the Ahwatukee campus of Central Christian Church.
Generation Church — heralded by the evangelical magazine Outreach as the 17th fastest growing congregation in the county and the fastest growing in Arizona — doesn’t have a pantry at its Mesa campus because leaders decided it would be redundant.
“There’s a Baptist church down the street that has a pretty big food pantry operation going there so we just decided another wasn’t necessary,” Lavino said.
People who want to donate food are advised to drop by the Ahwatukee campus about an hour before the pantry opens.
Those wishing to donate cash can go to its website, generation.church.
ing group for all ages. When I bring a group out for an adventure in the mountains, I keep in mind the benefits for our bodies as well as our minds, and I share that with everyone in a small speech I give before we begin. It’s also a really fun way to meet new faces and catch up with old friends.”
Another project she is involved in “focuses on spreading my platform through different types of social media such as Twitter, Instagram and Facebook,” she said.
“Every week I post on all these platforms facts and information about what it means to keep a balanced and healthy lifestyle, and how you can achieve one,” she said, adding that her choice of college will be one that offers the opportunity to help people in need, focuses on the environment and “anything helping animals.”
Her Miss Ahwatukee’s Outstanding Teen Facebook page showcases her various hikes and local appearances.
Entering the Miss Outstanding Teen contest was a leap of faith encouraged by her friend, Jiselle Diaz, Miss City of Maricopa Outstanding Teen.
“I thank her so much because I’ve learned a lot with this title,” Lani said. “And I wanted to join because of the community and volunteer service I’d be involved in. I really love to be in events that
help me learn more about hospitality, social skills and the events that allow me to help those who are less fortunate.
“It will always be a chapter of my life that I cherish, and don’t regret.”
Lani’s involvement with charity events began before donning the crown and sash, said her father, who explained:
“Prior to this she did numerous charity events with her mother which came to light more as she began her title and wearing of the crown.”
Nia Franklin, Miss America 2019, is scheduled to host both Thursday and Friday night’s preliminary competitions.
Franklin was the first to win the crown after the pageant scrapped the swimsuit segment, and her response that young women considering entering the pageant felt “more empowered that they don’t have to do things such as walk in a swimsuit for a scholarship” drew raves.
Tickets for the 2019 Miss Arizona Scholarship Pageant and the Miss Arizona’s Outstanding Teen competition are available at Mesa Arts Center box office at One East Main Street or online.
Preliminary competitions Wednesday and Thursday begin at 7:30 p.m., and Saturday night’s finals and crowning begins at 6:30 p.m. The People’s Choice winner will be revealed Saturday night.
The Miss Arizona Scholarship Organization is a nonprofit foundation. Its website explains “since its inception in 1921, the historical and social significance of Miss America has evolved from a boardwalk beauty pageant to the world’s largest provider of scholarship assistance for young women, awarding more than $45 million each year.”
For more information, to view candidates for the Miss Arizona Scholarship Pageant and Miss Arizona’s Outstanding Teen, or to cast an online People’s Choice vote see MissArizona.org
Leilani “Lani” Nish wears her sash and crown in preparation for the Miss Arizona’s Outstanding Teen competition at Mes Arts Center this week. (Special to AFN)
Rev. Paul Lavino said Generation Church’s walk-in refrigeration unit for its food pantry was donated by a restaurant and installed with the help of the Ahwatukee campus of Central Christian Church. (Pablo Robles/AFN Staff Photographer)
‘Retiring’ Miss Arizona to lead Lions Club
BY COLLEEN SPARKS
AFN Staff Writer
Isabel Ticlo’s reign as Miss Arizona 2018 may soon be over but the dedicated volunteer who is passionate about helping the visually impaired is getting warmed up for her next crowning achievement — serving as president of the Chandler Lions Club.
Ticlo, 25, of Chandler, will begin her one-year term as president on July 1, taking over from Ruth Jon Wick, who served in the position for three years.
Ticlo had served as one of the organization’s vice-presidents last year and first got her feet wet with the Chandler Lions Club 10 years ago while a student at Hamilton High School.
She had been a member of the Leo Club for high school students who work with the Lions and learn about community service. Her platform as Miss Arizona was to support people with vision impairment, a big focus of the Lions Clubs.
Empowering the visually impaired is her passion.
“It’s something that we don’t think
about every day because most of us are born with our sight,” she said. “There are 200,000 people in Arizona who are
visually impaired.
I can’t imagine what that would be like one day to lose that…to one day wake up and not be able to see your kids’ faces.
“I’ve met so many people who lost their vision later in life. Adapting to that is terrifying, it’s frustrating. The solutions we can provide; whether they’re prevention solutions or adaptive ones it helps to lessen that pain.”
Ticlo enjoys helping her fellow Lions provide vision tests and glasses for students in need in Chandler Unified. Vision became a big part of the international Lions clubs’ philanthropy af-
ter Helen Keller, an author and activist who became deaf and blind at a young age urged them to champion vision as a cause in 1925.
Ticlo also loves the Chandler Lions Club’s “Blinded by De-Light” events which enable people to feel what it’s be like to be sightless. Last year at one such event, people sat in a movie theater and heard sounds and descriptions of a movie via earphones with no picture.
During her reign as Miss Arizona, Ticlo volunteered with the Arizona Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired, the Foundation for Blind Children, the Brain Injury Alliance of Arizona and Phoenix Children’s Hospital.
She joined people making beaded bracelets at the Arizona Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired and handing out medals to those who took part in a 5K run. In that run, children who are blind would hold onto a pole and a runner with vision would guide them. She is also excited to tell people about the Be My Eyes free app that links peo-
see MISS AZ page 29
Isabel Ticlo, 25, will start her term as the Chandler Lions Club president on July 1. Her platform as Miss Arizona, and a big focus of the Chandler Lions Club, is helping people who have visual impairments. (Harvey Ticlo)
Mackenzie Saunders eyeing Harvard Law School
Automobile accidents and sports injuries may make up most of the spinal cord injuries that occur each year, but for Mackenzie Saunders of Ahwatukee, her injury falls on the rare side. It came after an unexpected soccer injury.
Injured when she was just 11, she worked incredibly hard to walk again.
Now, nine years later, she’s walking, defying her paraplegia and has even bigger dreams outside of physical return.
She wants to change the world as a lawyer.
“I was the youngest person in the inpatient rehabilitation program, by far,” says Mackenzie about her time in rehab following her soccer injury in 2009.
“I was playing a club soccer game when I was knocked down by an opposing player. I fell down, fracturing my tailbone upon impact. I got right back up and played for 20 more minutes. After those 20 minutes, my legs started burning and getting really weak.”
EDITOR’S NOTE: Ten years ago, Ahwatukee residents rallied around the MacKenzie Saunders, then an 11-year-old girl was partially paralyzed while playing soccer. Today, Mackenzie is an Arizona State University senior. This update on her aspirations and plans is reprinted from spinalpedia.com, a network supporting people with spine injuries. As an 11-year-old girl, left, Mackenzie Saunders of Ahwatukee was partially paralyzed while playing soccer. The community rallied around her and now she is entering her senior year at Arizona State University with an eye on becoming a lawyer eventually working for the disabiled community. (Special to AFN)
After going home with her parents, her symptoms progressed and within hours, Mackenzie lost all feeling and movement below the waist.
“It took the doctors two days to get me an MRI and diagnose the fracture in my tailbone and the spinal contusion that
caused my paralysis,” she recalled.
Mackenzie was diagnosed with an “S-5 incomplete injury.”
Within two months, she was back home and eager to return to her school, which supported her in the transition.
By high school, she could walk with AFOs, a form of orthotic braces that support the ankle and foot. She still, however, can’t jump or run.
“Standing is difficult for me, as well; I avoid standing for long periods of time,” she said. “I used to be incredibly athletic.”
Mackenzie reflected on how hard the loss of playing sports was in her life: “It was the biggest part of my life. But I have found other things that I really enjoy, such as legal work, speech and debate coaching and taking on leadership positions in different organizations.”
Once Mackenzie graduated from high school, she enrolled at Arizona State University, which is where she had the revelation of going to law school. see MACKENZIE
Uno Mas Cantina
HAPPY HOUR
Real Estate Guide
May set new records for home sales in Gilbert and the rest of the Valley and June is continuing the ride, analysts say.
“The month of May 2019 was a monster. New all-time records were set for sales units and dollar volumes through ARMLS, surpassing not only 2018 but the bubble year of 2005,” declared the Cromford Report, which closely analyzes the Phoenix metro housing market. And June is well into another strong month, especially for sellers, it said.
The report found that May saw 10,466 homes and condos sold in the Valley –“the largest unit sales count we have ever measured for a calendar month,” the Cromford Report said.
“The previous record high was 10,345 which was set in June 2011 at the height of the REO feeding frenzy,” it added, referring to lenders’ big sell-off of homes that were underwater.
Dollar volume for May was $3.65 billion – exceeding the record of $3.35 billion set in May 2019. “The previous high was $3.245 billion set in June 2005 at
When seeking a home, consider days on the market
Many buyers understand that knowing a home’s days on market (DOM) is absolutely critical intel.
Why? Because the number of days a home spends on the market directly affects the price of a home. Plus, this information can be used to the buyer’s benefit to negotiate a lower price.
“'Days on market’ is the number of days that a property has been listed on the local multiple listing services (MLS) until a seller has accepted an offer and signed a contract,” said Ryan Substad, a real estate investor and owner of NorthWestPropertySolutions.com. It can also be referred to as “time on market” or “market time.”
When browsing home listings, buyers should always take a look at the number of days on market to determine how other buyers are reacting to the property.
A house that has only been on the market a few days typically means that home could go at the asking price or higher, said one Realtor. But a home that has been on the market for a longer period of time, say 187 days, is likely overpriced in most markets. This is usually a sign the seller seriously
misread the market.
While a high DOM can be a sign to buyers that something is wrong with the house, it can also indicate a potential bargain.
“Buyers and their agents can use days on market as a search filter to identify homes that have been listed for a long time,” said Brian Davis, a real estate investor, landlord, and co-founder at SparkRental.com.
While DOM can indicate sellers who are refusing to budge on their asking price, it can also identify sellers who haven’t received offers and who may be open to a dramatically lower offer. Because the last thing sellers want is for their house to get
stale on the market.
“A home with a high DOM tends to get overlooked because it becomes the ‘rotten banana,’” said Burmester. “It could be a beautiful home that was just overpriced from the start, but after weeks or months on the market, everyone wonders, ‘What is wrong with this house?’” And that perception can be difficult to recover from.
Generally speaking, the longer a house is on the market, the more there’s the potential for buyers to score a great deal.
“Depending on the market, a home that’s been on the market for a long time begs for negotiation in a real estate agent’s mind,” said Burmester.
Buyers and their agents can often learn more about the seller’s urgency to sell by calling the property’s listing agent.
“Ask probing questions about why the property has sat so long on the market,” said Bryan Stoddard of HomewaresInsider.com.
Also feel out the seller’s openness to lower offers. While listing agents can’t violate
their fiduciary responsibility to their sellers, you can usually gauge a seller’s openness to lower offers based on how the listing agent responds.
You can then arrive at an offer with your agent by researching recent comparable sales.
Be sure to ask your agent to do a deep dive on a listing’s full history so you will know exactly how long the home has been for sale.
An overpriced home can be the result of sellers who think their house is the best in the neighborhood and won’t deviate from that idea, no matter what.
“Some sellers don’t understand that buyers set the market numbers,” noted Burmester.
You can figure out your home valuation by entering your address into an online home value estimator, which will give you a free evaluation of what your home is worth, based on recent home sales in the area, among other things. But that’s just a starting point — remain objective and talk indepth with your agent to avoid a high DOM.
From Realtor.com
the height of the real estate bubble,” the Cromford Report noted.
“These were not the only new records. The monthly median sales price of $278,000 is a new record high. The annual median sales price is also at a new record high at $265,900,” it added.
Average price per square foot “is nowhere near setting a new record, because the homes being sold today are much larger than those being sold at the last peak,” it said
Current trends also still favor sellers, the report said, and a small bright spot for buyers involving available homes for sale may not last much longer.
The report found that June so far continuing May’s strong showing, noting that the first week of this month saw 1,932 closings – “a very large increase” over the same period of time a year ago and “a record number for the first week of June,” the report said.
“It is unlikely that anyone would have predicted a May like this back in January,” it said, citing the sluggish start of the year.
“June looks pretty good too, but it has almost no chance of beating May. June 2019 starts and ends with a weekend and has only 20 working days, so we should
expect a 9 percent fall in sales and dollar volume during June compared with May,” the report said.
It also had this warning for buyers who were hoping to see more inventory and a leveling in prices:
“Although June is very likely to deliver lower volume numbers than May, the balance between buyers and sellers is swinging hard in favor of sellers.
“Supply is still higher than last year, but it is dropping faster than it did at this point a year ago. New listings are arriving at roughly the same rate as 2018 so the reason supply is falling is that homes are going under contract faster than last year.”
Cromford recently expressed puzzlement over some poor reviews of the metro housing market.
“We are still seeing pessimistic commentary about the housing market in many national press reports,” it said. “It is extremely hard to reconcile that commentary with the facts on the ground in Greater Phoenix. I suppose things must be a lot worse outside Arizona. In the ARMLS database we are recording the highest ever spending on housing.”
Nationally, Realtor.com reported that the dollar volume for all closed sales in May was $3.64 billion.
“This is the highest number we have ever recorded, surpassing the prior record set in June 2018,” the site said.
Although Realtor.com reported that real estate agents see the “housing market is tipping in favor of buyers,” that appears to mean that the rate of price increases is slowing – a trend analysts have been citing most of this year so far.
“Existing-home sales slipped relative to last month and last year,” said Mike Fratantoni, chief economist for the Mortgage Bankers Association.
“However, the unadjusted data shows some strength,” he added. “We view it as a positive that inventories continue to increase, although the supply of homes on the market remains relatively tight and the pace of home-price increases continues to decelerate.”
SPOTLIGHT home
Outstanding custom home, perched on large hillside lot showcasing spectacular city lights and mountain views. Eat-in kitchen boasts granite countertops, cherry-finished panel cabinetry, new stainless steel appliances and sun-filled dining area. Coveted features include jaw dropping views of Four Peaks, exposed viga beams, plus freshly painted interior and exterior. Expansive great room with large picture windows, wet bar, fireplace and adjacent to media room. Grand master suite with sitting area, spacious walk-in closet, exposed viga beams and full bath. Backyard amenities encompass walk-out private office/game room with loft and access to astonishing exterior with vast, oversized covered patios, fountain, brand new built-in BBQ and negative edge Pebble Tec play pool. Fabulous ample space to entertain.
for $1,250,000
Mendoza
Grand Paradise Valley estate with Mummy Mountain views
8000sqft and located on a private 1 acre lot, 5 bedroom, 5.5 Bath plus library,media room,den, & executive office, gated courtyard entry, grand foyer, formal living & dining room, large family room w/wet bar & built-in ent ctr, gourmet kitchen includes:slab granite, s/s appliances, viking 8 burner cooktop, double oven, 2 dw, subzero fridge, pendant lighting, & walk-in pantry, breakfast nook, laundry room, master suite w/sitting area & views, master bath w/jacuzzi tub, snail shower, wine fridge, & his/her closets, all secondary bedrooms are large w/ensuite baths, 2 master suites, anderson windows, paradise backyard w/covered patio, flagstone, firepit, pebbletec diving pool, outdoor shower, & grass area, rv gate, 4-car garage, the possibilities are endless!!!
Listed for $1,649,000
Ahwatukee housing market remains a seller’s dream
BY ALLEN HENDERSON AFN Guest Writer
May was an interesting month in Ahwatukee. Home values are up over the same period in 2018 but the rate of appreciation slowed dramatically in May. After a strong performance in the first four months of 2019, the average home price in Ahwatukee had increased by 5.5 percent over the same period in 2018. This was a continuation of the strong 2018 performance when Ahwatukee property values increased 8.6 percent over 2017 prices.
The January-May 2019 sales figures are in: 699 homes sold and the average price of an Ahwatukee Foothills property rose to $365,089. That compares with 744 homes sold and the average price of $350,538 in the same time period last year.
Ahwatukee’s average home values increased 4.1 percent between January and May 2019 over the same period in 2018.
Days on Market dropped slightly, with
the average property going under contract in 65 days in 2019 versus 73 days in 2018.
The Ahwatukee listing inventory is at historic lows. The number of homes on the market has been hovering between 250 to 260 daily and at the beginning of June there were 206 active listings. This indicates that we have a 1.47-month inventory of listings. In other
words, our current inventory of 206 listings would be depleted in 1.47 months at the January to May 2019 rate of 129 sales per month. This confirms that we are still in a strong seller’s market. It is difficult to say with certainty that the low inventory is solely responsible for the drop in sales volume. In addition to the low inventory, we now have a significant one month slowing in the in-
crease in value of the average Ahwatukee Foothills property.
We are definitely are seeing a trend in the low number of units on the market. Is the one month slowing in the increase in value of the average Ahwatukee property an aberration or is it the start of a downward trend in average value of Ahwatukee homes?
Is the low inventory playing a part in the slowing rate of increase? If this were true, it would appear to contradict the premise of the law of supply and demand. It will be interesting to note the trending average property values, the number of units sold and the daily inventory at the end of the second quarter. Only time will tell.
With the listing inventory at record lows and interest rates holding under 5 percent, buyers are anxiously waiting for every new listing. It is stlll one of the best times in recent years to list and sell a home in Ahwatukee.
-Allen Henderson is an Ahwatukee resident and broker for Henderson Real Estate. Information: 480-392-2090 or Allen@ HomesAhwatukee.com.
pand her family.
“Now we have three more girls, that will always be a part of our family even though they’re not here,” she said.
The family also noticed that all their foreign exchange students had healthier eating habits.
“I feel like it was confirmation that this is the third country in a row where it seems like they all eat healthier. All three of the girls that we hosted, their grocery requests were all healthier than what’s typical.”
The family felt they had a standard to live up to.
In time, they know they will experience the benefits of hosting, especially when it comes to their young kids.
“There’s probably things we don’t see. I think one of the initial reasons we wanted to host a foreign exchange student was to give the kids an experience of different people, different accents or just a different culture,” Patrick said.
“I’m hoping there’s that benefit even if we can’t point to specifics where our kids appreciate other cultures and ways of life.”
Patrick also felt an obligation to not only provide his exchange kids with the
American experience, but also to “be a good tour guide.”
“With our kids we always felt like you know, they are coming to get the best view of America they can and they only have this one chance to do it,” he said.
The Thompsons found their foreign guests through Education First Exchange, also known as EF High School Exchange.
There are multiple exchange companies out there, “just make sure you do some research and find a good one,” said Mariah.
Mariah insisted that families considering hosting don’t have to have a child who matches the age of the exchange student to get involved.
She mentioned speaking with skeptical families who felt they were too busy or thought their kids were too young.
“You absolutely don’t have to have high-schoolers. The kids are so independent, especially in Europe. They are even more independent than our kids are because they are used to using public transportation and biking to school,” she explained.
Overall, she stressed that, “You could have whatever type of family you have, they just want a family.”
Information: efexchangeyear.org
ple with blindness or limited vision with sighted volunteers and company representatives who help them do things through live video calls.
When she spoke and met people who had brain injuries during a Rays of Hope 2019 conference in Phoenix, Ticlo was especially touched by a man who had suffered a brain injury when he was struck by lightning. He showed her a mask he painted to tell his story.
Sometimes people believe people who are blind or visually impaired can’t work, she said.
“That’s absolutely not true,” Ticlo said. “I spoke about my experience working with Chandler Lions Club and belief people who are blind or visually impaired aren’t limited by their disability. They are some of the most adaptive and resilient people I have ever met. Any qualified applicant should have the opportunity to pursue the career of their dreams.”
As a nod to her heritage, Ticlo performed Bollywood dances while competing as Miss Arizona and at the Miss America competition. She started dancing at 13, doing jazz and hip-hop and then took classes in Bollywood dancing with her mother. She started competing in pageants at about 21 and was in the Miss Arizona competition twice previously before winning.
“Every candidate has the opportunity to win a scholarship just by competing on the stage,” Ticlo said. “That was a wonderful bonus. The sisterhood was great. You meet these amazing women.”
Serving as Miss Arizona 2018 also helped her, teaching her how to balance different activities and gave her a chance to make more contacts in the volunteer world.
Lions Clubs International has clubs in over 200 countries and geographic regions and started in 1917. Information: e-clubhouse.org/sites/chandlera
facebook.com/getoutaz twitter.com/getoutaz
from page 28
“Speech-and-debate has really fueled my love for public speaking and argumentation, and it wasn’t until my sophomore year in college when I finally realized I should go into law.”
While coaching a middle school debate team, one of her students gave her the idea.
“He just said it so matter-of-factly, like, ‘You WILL be a lawyer, and you will be good at it.’ I realized, wait, he’s right! I would be a good lawyer! I should do that!’” And that is exactly what Mackenzie is currently on her way to doing.
She is waiting to hear back from Harvard Law School this July about attending. Stanford and Yale law schools are backups.
“After my injury, I thought I wanted to go into politics so I could change policy and laws around disability. I’ve always wanted to help people who are disabled, just like me. But I later realized that I don’t need to be a politician in order to change policy; I can be a lawyer.”
Village planning committee cancels June meeting
The Ahwatukee Foothills Village Planning Committee has canceled its monthly meeting that had been set for June 24. This is the second consecutive month the board has cancelled — generally a sign that there are no pending city Planning and Development Department applications requiring citizen input and the panel’s recommendations. The next meeting is tentatively scheduled July 22.
Patriotic concert slated next week at Ahwatukee Recreation Center
The Ahwatukee Foothills Concert Band will hold a patriotic concert at 7:30 p.m. June 27 at the Ahwatukee Recreation Center, 5001 E. Cheyenne Drive, Ahwatukee. The concert is free and open to the public.
“The concert will consist of many patriotic songs and song lyrics will be passed out ahead of time,” band spokesperson Scott Plummer said. “The audience is encouraged to sing along if they wish.”
The Ahwatukee Foothills Concert Band consists of approximately 60 volunteer musicians, many of whom live in Ahwatukee community. This is the last concert of the season and is also the farewell concert for Dr. Martin Province, the director of the band for the last five years.
Some of the songs that will be played include John Phillips Sousa Marches, a tribute to veterans with the Armed Forces Medley and “God Bless America.”
“The band is hoping for a large crowd to celebrate our country’s independence a week early and end our season with a bang and send off our conductor in style,” Plummer added.
Dr. Cameron Call offering free exam for backp[ack donations
Ahwatukee chiropractor and community leader Dr. Cameron Call is collecting new backpacks for needy kids and he’s offering a sweetener to attract donor.
From now till July 17, anyone who brings in a new backpack to his office at Suite 104, Building 8, 4425 E. Agave Road, Ah-
“I never thought I would actually be accepted to Harvard Law, but then I took the LSAT for the second time in November and actually got the score I needed to be qualified (174).”
This law school is of particular interest to Mackenzie based on Harvard’s reputation as a leading resource for disability rights law.
In looking to gain experience in this area before entering law school, Mackenzie has taken on a summer internship as part of her undergraduate studies at Arizona State University.
She is working alongside attorney Kelley Brooks Simoneaux, a paraplegic who founded The Spinal Cord Injury Law Firm, the nation’s only firm of its kind.
“I will be conducting investigatory research for the cases that Kelley is involved with,” Mackenzie said.
She will also track policy issues regarding disability rights and help run the social media for The Spinal Cord Injury Law Firm.
Kelley Simoneaux has already been impressed by Mackenzie, noting that she
hopes “Mackenzie will be the next generation of lawyers with disabilities fighting for the rights of the disability community.”
Naturally, Mackenzie is interested in practicing disability rights law once she becomes a practicing attorney.
“I want to get into the nitty-gritty policy stuff,” she says. “Like reforming the ADA and working with Congress to create new, beneficial policy for those with disabilities.
“I really enjoy litigation and trial advocacy as well, so I’m sure I’ll be doing both of those things and representing clients with disabilities while I fight for policy reform.”
Dreaming big is why we love having Mackenzie part of our team.
“I’ll be taking two gap years after I graduate from Arizona State to gain some work experience before I start attending law school in 2022. I would then graduate with my J.D. in 2025.”
She has her eyes set on the biggest prize of them all for any lawyer — the Supreme Court.
“My dream is to be a Supreme Court justice someday.”
AROUND
watukee, will get a gift certificate for a complete structural chiropractic exam.
“There are hundreds of kids in our community who are in need of help and we want to do what we can as we kick off summer and prepare for the new school year,” Call said. “We have never offered a deal like this before and are hoping this helps us collect as many backpacks for kids as possible.”
Since other businesses are collecting school supplies, Call hopes to have a backpack-packing party on July 17, though he hasn’t announced details.
Information 602-753-7782
Kelli Ward to address Ahwatukee
Republican Women next Tuesday
State Republican Committee Chair Dr. Kelli Ward is the featured speaker at the next meeting of Ahwatukee Republican Women at the Ahwatukee Country Club, 48th Street just north of Warner Road.
Networking is at 6:30 p.m. June 25 and the regular meeting starts a half hour later.
Men are welcome. Information: President Cindy Casaus 602-300-4185 / cindy.casaus@gmail.com.
Andrew Klein marks 15 years as a financial advisor in Ahwatukee
Andrew Klein, an Edward Jones financial advisor in Ahwatukee, still remembers the day he decided to join the financial services firm. That was 15 years ago.
“The fact that Klein works in the same community in which he lives is unique among financial services firms, most of which do their business by phone,” said Linda Sullivan, senior branch administrator at the Edward Jones branch at 4505 E. Chandler Blvd.
Added Klein: “I’ve enjoyed doing business the old-fashioned way — in person. And I am looking forward to many more years serving the investment needs of my friends, neighbors and business associates.”
Klein also is marking his authorization by the Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards to use the certification mark CFP after completing a course and passing a compre-
hensive examination.
Individuals who hold CFP certification must agree to meet ongoing continuing education requirements and uphold the CFP Board’s code of ethics and professional responsibility and financial planning practice standards.
The advanced training offers investment professionals the hands-on information needed to provide comprehensive financial services. Study topics include the financial planning process, risk management, investments, tax planning and management, retirement and employee benefits and estate planning.
Information: 480-961-6007.
Church seeks breast cancer victims for classes run by ASU research team
Researchers from ASU’s Recovery and Rejuvenation study are now enrolling eligible breast cancer survivors for a free eight-week series of one-hour classes at Mountain View Lutheran Church.
The classes explore how gentle movement and educational support may provide survivors with increased energy and feelings of well-being, enhancing quality of life. Participants who complete the study will receive $70 in gift cards.
“Evidence-based research indicates gentle movement and peer support are both associated with significant benefits for cancer survivors during treatment and beyond,” said Dr. Linda Larkey, principal investigator for the ASU research study. “We are hoping to learn why that might be, and which approach is most beneficial.”
Information: RnR@asu.edu or 602-496-2329.
Swim & Tennis Center hosting STEM summer camps for kids
The increasing importance being place on getting kids interested in careers in science, technology, engineering and math has prompted the folks at the Ahwatukee Community Swim and Tennis Center to offer a new summer activity for children 6 to 12 years old.
During June and July, the center will host weekly STEM and Sports Camps with seven five-day sessions with different
themes.
Cost per week is $220 with a 10 percent discount for siblings. The camp runs 8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. daily.
Registration/information: ahwatukeecommunitycenter. com or 480-893-3431.
Free self-defense seminars offered at Mountainside Martial Arts Center
Mountainside Martial Arts Center in Ahwatukee will be offering free self-defense seminars through July 20 as part of its 40th anniversary celebration.
The six-week series will focus on simple but effective techniques and are being broken up for different age levels.
All seminars are on Saturdays from 10 a.m.-noon. For adults and teens over 13 the session is July 13. For children 8-12, sessions are June 25 and July 20.
Parents are encouraged to attend and participate with their children.
Information/registration: 480-759-4540 or mountainsidemartials.com
Ahwatukee chapter of Moms In Prayer can help in many ways
People who would like some prayer power on behalf of their children can contact the Ahwatukee chapter of the national group Moms in Prayer.
The group meets once a week for an hour, praying for children and their school. Grandmothers are welcome to come and pray for their grandchildren.
Information: MomsInPrayer.org or azcarolina7@gmail.com.
Meditation classes offered by Art in the Garden Studio in June
The Art in the Garden Studio, 4221 E. Chandler Blvd., Ahwatukee, is offering meditation classes 9-10 a.m. and 7-8 p.m. Wednesdays in June. Classes are $10 each by the studio needs a minimum of eight students to hold a class. Register: artinthegardenstudio.com.
MacKenzie Saunders holds one of several awards she won for her work on the ASU campus. (Special to AFN)
100+ Women Who Care gives YOPAS a lifeline
BY KIM TARNOPOLSKI
AFN Guest Writer
Communities rally when there is a local cause in need of resources.
Sometimes, that need is shortterm and other times, it is a long-term objective that requires continuous support.
In Ahwatukee, there is an ongoing need to support its growing senior population.
As individuals age, some people find it difficult to remain as independent as they once were.
Driving to appointments or running errands becomes a challenge; simply leaving the house is impossible for some seniors.
Ahwatukee has an organization dedicated to helping its seniors.
Y OPAS is an outreach program, under the umbrella of the Ahwatukee Foothills Family YMCA, that serves seniors 65 and older, living independently in three Ahwatukee’s three zip codes (85044, 85045 and 85048).
Its mission is to provide support services that enable seniors to maintain their independence.
It takes a dedicated team of trained vol-
unteers to pull off this mission.
In 2018, Y OPAS volunteers donated over 8,000 hours to complete 8,600 assignments. 86 percent of the requests for service were for transportation.
Aside from rides, Y OPAS volunteers also provided friendly visits, reassurance calls and assisted with light chores or repairs around the home, all free of charge.
In 2019, the numbers are even higher
and additional volunteers/drivers are always needed to meet the growing needs.
Many of Y OPAS’ clients rely on their services as their only source of transportation and socialization.
One such client, Patricia, said, “I have been with Y OPAS for several years, and just last year, Y OPAS provided 79 rides for me.
“That’s 79 times a caring, compassion-
ate volunteer not only provided transportation to all my many medical appointments, Y OPAS social events and shopping, but companionship and the peace of mind to know I never had to worry about how I would get there,” she continued.
Patricia lives alone and deals with many health issues. Y OPAS is her connection to the outside world.
Y OPAS knows how important it is for seniors to socialize and connect with others.
Every month, seniors are invited to gather for a monthly luncheon and various social activities that include game day and a crochet club.
Their goal is to provide friendship, support and a sense of community so these seniors may live life to the fullest.
Y OPAS is funded through private donations, grants and the YMCA.
This year, one of the grants did not come to fruition and there was a budget shortfall.
Program director Jill Sears had the opportunity to bring this need to the attention of 100+ Women Who Care Valley of
Joseph B Ortiz, AAMS®, CRPS® Financial Advisor
4902 E Warner Rd Suite 1 Phoenix, AZ 85044 480-753-7664
Y OPAS volunteers and members of 100+ Women Who Care pose with the check the group raised for YOPAS. They include, from left, Back row: Vicki McAllister, Maggie Barkdoll, Brian McDonald, Kate Bibber, Jane Forde; Front: Marcia Wright, Jill Sears, and Maureen Davies. (Special to AFN)
Questions Answered
COMCARE
from page 31
the Sun.
She is a member of this philanthropic group that allows its members to nominate local charities resulting in awareness, exposure and funding for the organizations.
This group of 100+ women, who want to make a difference in their community, meet quarterly and hear about three of the nominated charities.
Visit today and learn how we can make a difference for you and your family member experiencing dementia.
Collaboratively, they decide which charity to donate their funds to that quarter. By pooling their donations together, the group creates an impact in the community that far exceeds that of one single person’s donation.
In May, 100+ Women Who Care Valley of the Sun donated $10,900 to Y OPAS.
Sears was overcome with gratitude.
“Having the support of our community
means everything to us,” she said. “Y OPAS is a local program focused on helping our neighbors live their best lives. We could not do what we do without volunteers from the community and support from our generous community partners.
“This gift is huge for us. We cannot thank 100+ Women Who Care enough for their support. Maybe one day, we will be able to help someone close to you — that would be the best thank you we can give.”
Through the commitment of organizations like these, community needs are being met. If you’d like to learn more about Y OPAS and volunteering your time, visit valleyymca.org/opas. 100+ Women Who Care Valley of the Sun meets quarterly and always welcomes guests who have a heart for giving. Register for their Aug. 27 giving circle or learn more at 100WWCValleyoftheSun.org.
Y OPAS volunteers include, from left: Cossette Wiedenroth, Beverly Strom, Madeline Carney and Jeanne McLain. (Special to AFN)
TODAY, JUNE 19
KonMari Organizing 101
Certified KonMari consultant Cathy Pérez will introduce participants to the world-renowned KonMari Method of Organizing. Bring a piece of clothing to learn folding and storing techniques. Program sponsored by The Friends of the Phoenix Public Library Ironwood Chapter.
DETAILS>> 6-7:30 p.m., Ironwood Library, 4333 E. Chandler Blvd. Ages: Adults. Free. Tickets are limited and will be available in the library 30 minutes before program start time.
Puppet Show
See the original musical “The Princess, the Unicorn and the Smelly Foot Troll” brought to life by the master puppeteers from the Great Arizona Puppet Theater. Program sponsored by the Friends of the Phoenix Public Library as part of Maricopa County Reads, the summer reading program.
DETAILS>> 2-3 p.m., Ironwood Library, 4333 E. Chandler Blvd. Ages 3-12 years. Free. Tickets are required & available in the library 30 minutes before program start time.
Classes today
Art in the Garden Studio in Ahwatukee has classes in meditation and lotion making.
Gregory Geryak will discuss all aspects of Medicare. DETAILS>> 1:30 p.m., Ironwood Library, 4333 E. Chandler Blvd., Ahwatukee. RSVP: 480-797-5615 or greg.geryak@gjgia.com
Numerous classes set
Art in the Garden Studio in Ahwatukee has several different classes.
Art in the Garden Studio is offering classes on soap making and painting.
DETAILS>> Soap making for beginners through intermediate is 10 a.m.-noon; expressive acrylic painting is 7-9 p.m. Register: artinthegardenstudio.com
Studio has classes today
Art in the Garden Studio has a brought array of classes.DETAILS>> Pour and string pull art, 10 a.m.-noon; making personal care products for beginners through intermediate, 1-3 p.m. and alcohol ink art, 7-9 p.m. Information/registration: artinthegardenstudio. com. Alcohol Ink Art
MONDAY, JUNE 24
Drawing sessions set
Art in the Garden Studio will offer a class in still life drawing and another on drawing pitchers and fruit.
DETAILS>> still life, 1-3 p.m./; drawing with Pam, 4-6 p.m. Register/ information: artinthegardenstudio.com.
TUESDAY, JUNE 25
Family H2O Lab
Learn about the water cycle, watersheds, where we get our
PLUMBING
Tobias General Manager
water here in Phoenix and how to recycle correctly through fun, hands-on learning stations and activities. Presented by the City of Phoenix Water Services Dept and Zero Waste Team.
DETAILS>> 4-5 p.m., Ironwood Library, 4333 E. Chandler Blvd. Ages: 5-12. Free. No registration required.
French Talk Time
Brush up on your high school, college or tourist French speaking and listening skills in this informal French conversation group. Participants should already speak some French to benefit from this program.
DETAILS>> 6:30-7:30 p.m., Ironwood Library, 4333 E. Chandler Blvd. Ages: Adults. Free. No registration required.
WEDNESDAY JUNE 26
Medicare workshop
Hawthorne Court will offer a workshop on Medicare and Medicaid by Diane Forshee Prentice.
DETAILS >> 6-7 p.m., 13822 S. 46th Place, Ahwatukee. People wishing to attend must RSVP at 480-598-1224.
Sit, Stay, Read!
Emerging readers of all ages can sign up for reading time with a registered therapy animal & human team. Read to Truffles on Wednesdays.
DETAILS>> 4-5 p.m. Ironwood Library, 4333 E. Chandler Blvd. All Ages. Free. No registration required.
Fairytale Fun
Join costumed characters — Anna and Elsa — for stories, singing, dancing and photo ops. Program sponsored by the Friends of the Phoenix Public Library as part of Maricopa County Reads, the summer reading program at the library.
DETAILS>> 2-3 p.m., Ironwood Library, 4333 E. Chandler Blvd. Ages 3-12 years. Free. Tickets are required & available in the library 30 minutes before program start time.
SATURDAY, JULY 13
Arizona Kicks on Route 66
Explore U.S. Route 66 with local historian Marshall Shore! This important “Mother Road” connected Chicago and L.A. in 1926, and became a major Depression-era western migration route. Program sponsored by Maricopa County Library District as part of Maricopa County Reads.
DETAILS>> 2-3 p.m., Ironwood Library, 4333 E. Chandler Blvd. Ages: Adult. Free. No registration required.
WEDNESDAY, JULY 17
Family Reading Camp
Wear your pajamas; bring your teddy bears, flashlights, pillows & blankets; and snuggle up in tents for this all-ages family read-together “indoor camping” adventure. #IronwoodLibrary
DETAILS>> 6:30-7:30 p.m., Ironwood Library, 4333 E. Chandler Blvd. All Ages. Free. No registration required.
SUNDAYS
TinkerTime
Explore hands-on creative ways to design, experiment and invent while learning about Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math (STEAM) through tinkering.
edge, the produce and the smiles. All ages welcome Bring sun protection and water, tools optional.
DETAILS>> 8-9:15 a.m. in the northwest corner of the park at 4700 E. Warner Road, Ahwatukee, behind the guitar player at the Ahwatukee Farmers Market, which is open 9a.m.-1 p.m. Information: acgarden.org or 480-759-5338.
Chess, knitters clubs
Two clubs meet in Ahwatukee every Sunday the chess club for players at all skill levels and Knitters Anonymous for all levels of knitters and people who crochet.
DETAILS>> The Chess Club meets at 11 a.m. and Knitters Anonymous meets at 2 p.m. For either club, call 480-246-1912 for more information.
Bible Study
A journey through Leviticus that is biblically accurate and understandable for everyone. Learn the historical perspective which reveals the love of God for all His people. Technology and questions are both encouraged.
Ahwatukee Foothills Friends and Neighbors (AFFAN) is an organization of women who meet regularly to socialize through groups/activities and provides educational and cultural information for its members. General luncheon meetings are the fourth Monday of every month.
DETAILS>> For more information: affanwomensgroup@gmail. com.
Power Partners meet
The Ahwatukee Foothills Chamber of Commerce’s Power Partners meets. It’s a category-specific networking and leads group. Non-Chamber members can attend one event to “check it out.”
DETAILS>> noon-1 p.m.at Native Grill and Wings 5030 E. Ray Road, Ahwatukee. Contact: Gina Jenkins 480-990-5444
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 like-minded folks.
DETAILS>> For times and places: ld18democrats.org/calendar.
Babytime for walkers
Babies up to 23 months who are walking and are accompanied by a favorite adult enjoy Babytime with American Sign Language for Walkers, with songs, activities to promote movement, rhymes, books and playtime in each lively session.
DETAILS>> 9:30-10 a.m., Ironwood Library, 4333 E. Chandler Blvd. Ages walking to 23 months. Free. Tickets are limited & available in the library 30 minutes before program start time.
Babytime for crawlers
DETAILS>> 2-4 p.m., Ironwood Library, 4333 E. Chandler Blvd. Ages 6-11. Free. No registration required.
Learn gardening from pros
Learn desert gardening by getting your hands dirty with the Ahwatukee Community Gardening Project. Share in the knowl-
Accompanied by a favorite adult, babies birth to crawling can enjoy songs, music, rhymes, books, interactive stories, simple American Sign Language words, activities to promote movement, and playtime.
DETAILS>> 10:30-11 a.m. Ironwood Library, 4333 E Chandler Blvd. Ages birth to crawling. Free. Tickets are limited & available in the library 30 minutes before program start time.
Matt
Digital City
Children can let their digital creativity flow in this self-guided tech “playground.” We provide hands-on beginner bots, exercises to build fine motor skills and Chromebooks preloaded with links to code-learning environments, 3D modeling and digital art programs.
DETAILS>> 4-5 p.m., except May 27. Ironwood Library, 4333 E. Chandler Blvd. Ages 5-12. Free. No registration required.
Desert Pointe gardeners meet
Desert Pointe Garden Club meets on the first Monday of the month with special programs.
Adults. Free. No registration required.
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. $6 per class. Information: 480-330-2015 or donna@innervisionyoga.com.
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.
DETAILS>> 9 a.m., Ahwatukee Rec Center, 5001 E. Cheyenne Drive, Ahwatukee. Information: 602 478 6732 or dpgc.org.
TUESDAYS
Get Ready for Kindergarten
Three- to 5-year-olds and their adult caregivers learn through stories, games and structured activities designed to nourish the skills that lead to success in school: persistence, flexibility and problem-solving.
Power Partners available
The Ahwatukee Chamber offers Power Partners every Tuesday except the second Tuesday of the month, when attendees are encouraged to attend the Wake Up Ahwatukee Morning Mixer. Unlike our Monday Power Group, this group will be non-category specific, meaning you can have more than one member in each business category.
DETAILS>> 7:45-8:45 a.m. Jason’s Deli, 7230 W. Ray Road, Chandler. Free. Information:. Gina Jenkins, 480-990-5444.
WEDNESDAYS ToddlerTime
DETAILS>> Tuesdays June 4 – July 23, 10:30-11:15 a.m., Ironwood Library, 4333 E Chandler Blvd. Ages: 3-5 years. Free. Tickets are limited & available 30 minutes before program start time on the day of the program.
Yoga Guided Meditation
Take a guided tour of how to center the mind-body connection through the practice of yoga and meditation. Please bring a yoga mat or large towel. Presented by Life Empowerment Yoga Guided Meditation and Reflexology.
DETAILS>> Tuesdays June 4-25, 1:30-2:30 p.m., Ironwood Library, 4333 E Chandler Blvd. Ages: Adults. Free. No registration required.
Toddlers 24-47 months-old, accompanied by a favorite adult, enjoy interactive activities that encourage emerging language skills such as stories, songs, games and playtime. Children and caregivers also practice Baby American Sign Language, a great way to help young children develop communication skills, in this active session.
DETAILS>> Wednesdays, 10:30-11 a.m., Ironwood Library, 4333 E. Chandler Blvd. Ages 24-47 months. Free. Tickets are limited and availabley 30 minutes before program start time.
Sit, Stay, Read!
Patriotic playgroup
Parents looking for playtime for their kids and, for themselves, stimulating conversations rooted in family, faith and conservatism can gather ever second Tuesday of the month.
DETAILS>> 9-11 a.m. Pecos Park playground. 17010 S. 48th St., Phoenix. Check ld18gop.com for more details or contact: ld18gop@ gmail.com
Estrangement support
Although rarely discussed, family estrangement is far more common than most people realize. The estranged suffer from loneliness, lack of self-esteem, guilt, anger and depression. Desert Foothills United Methodist Church provides a support group that meets the first Tuesday of every month. The public is invited to the “Living Loss” sessions. No questions asked, and anonymity will be respected.
DETAILS>> 7 p.m., first Tuesday of every month; 2156 E. Liberty Lane, Ahwatukee. Use Entry B. Free. Information: 480-460-1025 and office@desertfoothills.org
Prayer night offered
Ahwatukee Health and Recovery holds a weekly prayer night. The public is invited.
DETAILS>> noon-1:30 p.m., 16515 S. 40th Street #119, Ahwatukee. Free.
Coloring for grown-ups
Adult coloring promotes mindfulness, reduces stress and improves cognitive motor skills. We’ll provide the markers, crayons, colored pencils and coloring sheets; you just bring yourself and your friends.
DETAILS>> 1:30-3 p.m. Ironwood Library, 4333 E. Chandler Blvd.
Emerging readers of all ages can sign up for reading time with a registered therapy animal & human team. Read to Truffles on Wednesdays.
DETAILS>> Wednesdays, 3-4 p.m., Ironwood Library, 4333 E. Chandler Blvd. All Ages. Free. No registration required.
Fun with watercolors
People can get step-by-step instruction in water-coloring whether they are beginners or intermediates.
DETAILS>>2-4:30 p.m. in instructor’s home studio off Ranch Circle North in Ahwatukee. Four classes for $90. To register: Judy Lokits 480-471-8505, or jlokits@yahoo
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 hangups. Whether it’s addiction, loss, anger, or stress, you can find the freedom you’re looking for.
An informal, relaxed social organization of about 90 women
GI Bill’s 75th anniversary special for Chandler man
BY SUZANNE JAMESON Staff Writer
Peter Drucker, the founder of modern management once called GI Bill of Rights the impetus for “the shift to the knowledge society” and that historians might one day “consider it the most important event of the 20th century.” Since it was signed into law in 1944, millions of deserving veterans have received their educations, zero-down, low-interest home and business loans and other benefits through the GI Bill of Rights.
Celebrating its 75th anniversary on June 22, few know of Arizonan Ernest W. McFarland’s relentless fight to get the bill passed into law, but his grandson who lives in Chandler has made efforts to get that story out.
Born in 1894 in a log cabin in Oklahoma, Ernest W. McFarland, or “Mac” as he was known, came to Arizona in 1919 for his health after nearly losing his life to illness during a brief stint in the Navy.
With only $10 in his pocket, the recovering sailor began life in his adoptive state first as a farmer to later rise to the ranks of US Senator, U.S. Senate majority leader, governor, chief justice of the Arizona Supreme Court, founder of KTVK in Phoenix. Instead of facing unrelenting unemployment and standing in soup lines as returning World War I veterans had, the GI Bill allowed World War II vets to come back to a land of opportunity, where higher education, home ownership and business
CALENDAR from page 34
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 Shelley Miller, president, at 602-527-6789 or essentiallyshelley@gmail.com
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.
Grief support
Hospice of the Valley holds a grief support group for adults on alternating Wednesdays.
DETAILS>> 6-7:30 p.m. at Pecos Community Center, 1710 S. 48th S. The assigned classroom varies signs will be on premises. It is a
loans were not just entitlements for the privileged, but realistic goals for the common man.
First elected to the Senate in 1940, Mac felt the first duty of Congress was not only to win WWII but to also help veterans readjust to civilian life after the war.
McFarland, along with 1943-1944
American Legion Commander Warren Atherton, shepherded the legislation through Congress and are jointly considered the “Fathers of the GI Bill.”
According to American RadioWorks, “The GI Bill increased the country’s intellectual capital exponentially. The bill fund-
drop-in group and there is no need to call or register. Meeting dates this year: Jan. 23; Feb. 6 and 20; March 6 and 20; May 1, 15 and 29; June 12 and 26; July 10 and 24; Aug. 7 and 21; Sept. 4 and 18; Oct. 2, 16 and 20; Nov. 13 and 27; and Dec. 11.
THURSDAYS
MOPS – Mothers of Preschoolers
This group is designed for moms whose kids are aged birth to kindergarten. They meet in a safe place “to navigate the world of motherhood, faith and life together.” Free child care for ages 0 to 5.
DETAILS>> 9-11 a.m. every other Thursday starting Aug. 23. Foothills Baptist Church, 15450 S. 21st St., Ahwatukee. Information: 480759-2218 or foothillsbaptist.org/mops.
Networking group meets
ACT Networking Group, standing for Ahwatukee, Chandler and Tempe, meets weekly.
The Ahwatukee Kiwanis Club meets weekly and welcomes newcomers. Here is the speaker schedule: June 13, Nicole Wolf, Save Our Schools; June 27, Connie Perez, president/CEO of East Valley Boys& Girls Club; July 25, State Sen. Sean Bowie; and Aug.
ed the educations of 22,000 dentists, 67,000 doctors, 91,000 scientists, 238,000 teachers, 240,000 accountants, and 450,000 engineers, as well as three Supreme Court justices, three presidents, a dozen senators, 14 Nobel Prize winners, and two dozen Pulitzer Prize Winners.”
The GI Bill provision for low-cost mortgages written by McFarland also allowed returning veterans to purchase houses.
From 1944 to 1952, the VA backed nearly 2.4 million home loans.”
John D. Lewis of Chandler, McFarland’s grandson, added that “This created a housing boom. This, and the increased earning capacity of veterans due to their ability to get an education, coupled with pent-up demand for consumer goods, resulted in the prosperity of the 1950 and 1960s.”
McFarland was recently celebrated on March 30 in Florence, where he began his political career.
On Arizona Statehood Day, Feb. 14, 2015,
29. Steve Kelley of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. DETAILS>>7:30 a.m. Biscuits Restaurant, 4623 E. Elliot Road, Ahwatukee. Information: mike.maloney2003@gmail.com.
Preschoolers’ moms 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
Financial peace
Financial Peace University is a nine-week video and small group class that teaches God’s plan for handling money. It will help you: pay off debt, save for the future and give like never before!
DETAILS>> 6:30 p.m. Mountain View Lutheran Church. 11002 S. 48th St., Ahwatukee 480-893-2579. mvlutheran.org/classes or fpu.com/1070125
Toastmasters meet
The Ahwatukee Foothills Chamber of Commerce has a weekly Toastmasters meeting.
DETAILS>> 8-9 a.m., First American Title conference room, 4435 E. Chandler Blvd. #100, Ahwatukee. Information: Tessy Bryan 480330-6528 or vppr-1811442@toastmastersclubs.org
DETAILS>> 3:30-6:30 p.m. every Friday, 3930 E. Chandler Blvd., in front of the Century 21 offices. Information: amadioranch.com or
a new memorial entitled “Ernest W. McFarland and the American Dream” was dedicated at Wesley Bolin Plaza in Phoenix.
“Mac was so humble that he wouldn’t have wanted a memorial – he always considered himself just a public servant,” Lewis said. “ For this reason, we designed the monument to represent the hopes and dreams of all Americans – and not just one man.”
A recently published book, Ernest W. McFarland – The Arizona Years was commissioned by the McFarland Historical State Park Advisory Committee and was officially released by the U. of A. Press on Oct. 16, 2018.
The book outlines the untold story of the early Arizona years of Mac as a young farmer, lawyer, judge, his ascent to higher office and how he overcame personal tragedies, including the loss of his first wife and three young children to illness within a two-year period.
McFarland sponsored an additional 40 bills to benefit veterans and fought equally hard for Arizona’s water rights. He was instrumental in the development of the Central Arizona Project (CAP), a portion of which still bears his name, and is credited with creating the Arizona Parks System.
Arizona State Historian Marshall Trimble said Mac rose from humble beginnings “to become one of the most distinguished political figures in 20th century America. He was an original.”
Information: ewmcfarland.org, info@ewmcfarland.org or 602-466-3333.
Facebook at Amadio Ranch Farm Store.
SATURDAYS
DIY Board Games
Kids can learn about the design process while developing their very own board games.
DETAILS>> Saturdays June 1-29, 2-4 p.m., Ironwood Library, 4333 E. Chandler Blvd. Ages: 6-11. Free. No registration required.
Sit, Stay, Read!
Young readers & listeners can sign up for reading time with a registered therapy animal & human team. First and third Saturdays: Read with Raven and Cassie. Second & Fourth Saturdays: Read with JoJo.
DETAILS>> 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m., Ironwood Library, 4333 E. Chandler Blvd. Ages 5-10. Free. No registration required.
Fun with watercolors
People can get step-by-step instruction in water-coloring whether they are beginners and intermediates.
DETAILS>>10 a.m.-12:30 p.m. in instructor’s home studio off Ranch Circle North, Ahwatukee. Four classes for $90. To register: Judy Lokits 480-471-8505, or jlokits@yahoo.com.
— Email calendar items to pmaryniak@ ahwatukees.com
John D. Lewis of Chandler, above, is proud to be the grandson of Ernest W,. “Mac” McFarland, considered the father of the G.I. Bill. A book published last fall recounts his storied life. (Special to SanTan Sun News)
Bobcat sightings no cause for alarm – except for pets
BY GAIL COCHRANE AFN Guest Writer
Numerous sightings of bobcats in Ahwatukee this spring have been a source of alarm for some residents.
According to the Arizona Game and Fish Department, bobcats are common throughout Arizona and the animals are often found on the outskirts of urban areas where food is available.
Like all living beings, bobcats seek food, water and shelter. Food includes birds, rodents, snakes, rabbits and in suburban areas, small, unattended pets.
Bobcats find water in pools, fountains and pet water dishes. Shelter can be as simple as thick brush, shade and unoccupied yards.
Bobcats are most active at sunrise and
sunset, but may be caught day-napping under shrubs in brushy backyards. They are not considered a threat to humans, but are certainly predators that view small, unattended pets as prey.
If your neighborhood is frequented by one or more bobcats, you have a couple of choices.
You might decide that bobcats are wild animals that you are interested in observing from the comfort of your home. The animal is unlikely to linger in any case provided there is no food available.
However, you may own small pets or have neighbors who do. Perhaps you just believe wild animals should stay in the wild.
In that case, if you see a bobcat, go outside and make a lot of noise. Bang some pots or pans together. Pick up the hose and spray the animal. If the bobcat is trapped in your enclosed yard, open the
gate and go inside until it leaves.
Remember bobcats can jump 12 feet, so our 6-foot walls are not a problem for them.
Do keep in mind that this is kitten season. Bobcats are generally solitary animals, but kittens will stay with their mother for up to 12 months.
Sometimes siblings or a mated pair will be seen together. If a bobcat is persistently staying in an area, it may have a hidden den with kittens.
Before chasing off the mother check for access openings under buildings on your property. If you do discover bobcat kittens under a porch or storage shed, it is best to leave the animals alone for a couple of weeks until the family moves on.
Arizona Game and Fish Department provides ample bobcat information on their website. https://www.azgfd.com/ wildlife/livingwith/bobcats/
Since bobcats are not considered a threat to human safety AZGFD does not routinely relocate bobcats.
Possession of live bobcats is illegal. Arizona ARS-13-3107 bans shooting firearms in city limits. There is an exception for control of nuisance animals, but only with a permit.
In rare cases bobcats can contract rabies. A bobcat with rabies would be foaming at the mouth, be erratic, hyperactive or acting paralyzed and lethargic.
If you observe this behavior stay inside, immediately call 9-1-1 or Arizona Game and Fish Department or a wildlife control business.
Bobcats males are larger than females, individuals weigh 15-35 pounds. They are 18-24 inches tall and 24-48 inches long. Mating season is February to March with two-three kittens usually born between April and early June.
SRP is on the path to becoming a sustainability leader
BY DIANE BROWN AFN Guest Writer
Salt River Project is on the path to becoming a sustainability leader in our state and a positive example for electric utilities across the nation.
Earlier this month, the SRP board voted to reduce water consumption and waste while increasing commitments to energy efficiency and electric vehicles, each of which can save money for SRP ratepayers. While reducing water, waste and energy — and saving money — should be a no-brainer, elected officials don’t always see things the way you or I do.
The vote towards improved sustainability followed SRP management’s proposals and a robust stakeholder process held over the course of several months.
The stakeholders included represen-
tatives of big businesses including Apple and Intel, large municipalities including City of Mesa and City of Phoenix, Arizona State University and advocates including myself.
The process towards SRP’s 2035 Sustainability Goals and the adoption of the goals should be a model for utilities and all decision-making bodies.
The historical perspective, recent policies and data and thoughts provided by SRP Management and staff helped to provide an assessment of where the utility is today and what they see as achievable in the not too distant future.
The back-and-forth, give-and-take by participants and SRP management, enabled board members observing the process to feel secure knowing the goals were vetted and attainable.
And when the goals came before the board, their questions and the discussion resulted in further enhancements.
Here’s a snapshot of SRP’s 2035 Sustainability Goals:
Keep 95 percent of SRP’s operational waste — including office furniture, electronics, power poles, cable and equipment — out of our landfills.
Reduce water use at SRP’s facilities by at least 45 percent.
Expand funding for energy efficiency to $50 million by 2020 and $55 million by 2025 to help ratepayers cut energy waste and save money on monthly electric bills.
Support the necessary infrastructure for at least 500,000 electric vehicles in SRP’s service territory by 2035. With more EVs on our roads, adequate EV infrastructure and managed EV charging, SRP and its ratepayers can save money, eliminate air pollution and reduce the adverse public health impacts of gasoline vehicles.
Communicate progress on sustainability initiatives to SRP customers and stake-
holders in a proactive and transparent manner.
Members of the SRP Board and Management — particularly Mike Hummel, Kelly Barr and Marc Campbell — deserve credit for their leadership throughout the development of their sustainability objectives. While the hard work now needs to take place, SRP makes a habit of accomplishing the goals it sets.
Due in large part to SRP’s interactive process and responsiveness to stakeholders, diverse entities have pledged to remain engaged and ensure the goals remain on track and when warranted, improve.
The Arizona PIRG Education Fund looks forward to continued participation.
-Diane E. Brown is executive director of the Arizona PIRG Education Fund. The Arizona PIRG Education Fund conducts research and education on issues in the public interest. arizonapirgedfund.org.
LETTERS
of LD 18 delegation’s work this session
The residents of Arizona’s Legislative District 18 should be very proud of the policy-making efforts of state Sen. Sean Bowie and state Reps. Mitzi Epstein and Jennifer Jermaine.
Together, all three of the district legislators sponsored or co-sponsored many bills designed to help people get better education, cleaner air and water, health care, social services, housing, safety and secure democratic rights.
Furthermore, Sen. Bowie and Rep. Jermaine represented 25 percent of the Democratic Arizona State Legislators who had bills they sponsored signed into law by Gov. Doug Ducey.
These bills included Sen. Bowie’s proposal to provide training to prevent suicide in public middle and high schools and Rep. Jermaine’s initiative to create a committee to conduct a study on the murder of indigenous women and girls.
Going into 2020, the residents of LD 18 should be comforted that our local public servants, Sen. Bowie, Reps. Epstein and Jermaine, will continue to work to move the district and the state forward to improve conditions for everyone.
-David Gordon
Foreseeing tragedy on Ahwatukee streets
We’ve been lucky so far. Few automobile collisions and fewer fatalities. But the chances are increasing at a dramatic rate. Here’s the scenario I fear.
You’re driving your Prius west on Ray Road at the posted speed limit to save fuel. You’re in the right lane letting those gas guzzlers fly by. You look up from your iPhone just in time to see a luxury car move into traffic just in front of you.
You catch the driver’s eyes, but she pulls out regardless. The closing rate is 45 MPH or 66 feet per second. It’s been two seconds. Now you are 132 feet closer. You stomp on the brakes and skid to a stop before hitting the shiny car.
But the driver behind you didn’t notice the sudden reduction in speed. He crashes into your Prius. The accident is his fault, but wrecked your paid-off car.
One careless driver put eight people at risk of injury.
Worse yet, these drivers are teaching their children to drive in the same manner. More careless drivers on our streets endangering more people.
How long before the pileup happens? How long before you’re an accident victim?
-David Anderson
www.ahwatukee.com
Skin clinic founder’s passion began as a teen
AFN NEWS STAFF
Sarah Neumann is on a mission.
As a MMS-PA-C dermatology physician assistant, Neumann wants to personalized and caring approach in the treatment of all disorders of the skin, nails and hair.
She now has three clinics to accomplish her mission.
Using her savings, Neumann opened her first dermatology office, Ahwatukee Skin & Laser in 2010. The practice has been voted “Best of Ahwatukee” in AFN’s annual poll.
She branched out to create Natural Skin Solutions, a product outlet and multidisciplinary clinic in Scottsdale, in 2012. Last August, she started Sun City Dermatology Sun City West.
Neumann’s passion for skin health started when she was a teenager battling severe cystic acne.
“Having acne shaped how I felt about myself and made me self-conscious, but it also made me more compassionate towards others with any skin condition,” she said.
“I learned through my own experience that the skin needs to mirror the overall health and well-being of a patient,” she added. “You have to treat the entire in-
dividual — and not just a symptom — with care.”
Neumann has been a practicing dermatology PA since 2000.
The Wisconsin native pursued her undergraduate degree in community and medical dietetics and psychology, and later received her registered dietitians license.
While completing a medical mission at a hospital in Belize, Central America, Neumann discovered her true love for providing attentive patient care and decided to seek more advanced training.
After returning to the U.S. and moving to Arizona, she received her Masters of Medical Science in physician assistant studies from Midwestern University.
She employs a full staff of medical providers and MOHS surgeons at the Ahwatukee and Sun City locations while the Scottsdale office is used primarily for retail sales.
The practices offer a full complement of general medical and esthetic dermatology services and specialize in the treatment of skin cancer.
Her services include surveillance exams and preventative skincare regimens, acne treatment plans using natural alternatives to oral antibiotics and topical medications, anti-aging programs and other services to address a broad variety of disorders.
Neumann said she and her providers focus on the best interest of the patient regardless of insurance constraints.
“A patient recently came to us with three skin cancers.” Neumann recalled. “She had been quoted $1,800 for surgical intervention by another provider. We were able to prescribe a highly effective topical chemotherapy prescription that only costs $85.
“She may need minor surgery eventually — but at a more reasonable rate. She was a single mother of three. We couldn’t justify her spending so much on a condi-
Ahwatukee lawyer hired by area real estate lawfirm
MacQueen & Gottlieb PLC, a Chandler real estate law firm, has hired its eighth attorney — an Ahwatukee resident, just like one of the partners.
Pamela A. Hostallero of Ahwatukee comes to M&G from Lewis Brisbois Bisgaard Smith, where she served as a senior associate focusing on civil litigation in both state and federal courts. She spent three years with the Arizona Attorney General’s office where she represented the Arizona Department of Transportation and the Arizona Department of Public Safety, providing civil defense litigation counsel in both state and federal court.
She handled courtroom duties including oral arguments as both first and second chair as well as depositions, court hearings, settlement negotiations and mediation.
Hostallero earned her law degree from the Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law at Arizona State University, where she was the recipient of the Public Interest Fellowship. She received her Bachelor of Science degree from Barrett, The Honors College at ASU in 2005, where she graduated magna cum laude and was on both the university and national dean’s lists in both 2003 and 2004.
Founding partner Patrick MacQueen of Ahwatukee said Hostallero “has a great
deal of experience in the courtroom, and has been extremely successful there.”
“Our firm prides itself on being tough, well-prepared, hard-working and fair in litigation,” MacQueen added. “Pam’s track record shows that she is all of those things, and more. She is a fantastic addition to our team.”
She is a member of DRI — the Voice of the Defense Bar, and a former member of the Arizona Women Lawyers Association.
MacQueen and Gottlieb was voted the top real estate law firm in Arizona in the 2019 Ranking Arizona survey in its second year of practice.
The team at Ahwatukee Skin & Laser includes, from left, Taylor Williamson, MA; Sarah Neumann, owner & PA; Lauren Harvey, RN; and Lauren Gaines, Extern. (Special to AFN)
Drivers will have to buy more insurance next year
BY HOWARD FISCHER Capitol Media Services
Arizona motorists who purchase just the bare minimum liability insurance now required are going to have to spend a bit more.
But not until next year.
Legislation signed last week by Gov. Doug Ducey mandates that vehicle owners purchase policies which provide for at least $25,000 worth of coverage for injuries caused to any one person. The current minimum is just $15,000, a figure that was put in place in 1972.
The new law also boosts total coverage for all injuries in any one mishap from $30,000 to $50,000. And the property coverage — essentially damage to someone else’s vehicle — would go from $10,000 to $15,000.
It would apply to policies purchased or renewed after July 1, 2020.
How much more that will cost, however, remains a bit unclear.
Lobbyist Rob Dalager who represents groups backing the higher limits told lawmakers earlier this year he has heard figures of anywhere from $3 to $8 a month.
He said, though, the only people who should be affected are those who buy the bare minimum. The bills for those who
already purchase more extensive coverage would remain unchanged.
Ducey vetoed a similar measure last year which would have boosted the minimum property damage to $25,000.
The governor expressed concern on how higher liability limits would make insurance less affordable for those at the bottom of the income scale. And that, he said at the time, could result in some motorists choosing to drop coverage altogether, even though it’s required under state law and first-time violators face a $500 minimum penalty.
Sen. Kate Brophy McGee, R-Phoenix,
to provide a comprehensive care experience and educate patients.
the sponsor of last year’s bill, responded by scaling back that property damage coverage to $15,000.
That, however, still left some foes. Sen. Eddie Farnsworth, R-Gilbert, said he had philosophical objections to the whole concept.
“I’m not a big fan of mandatory insurance,’’ he said.
“Nobody mandates you have insurance in business,’’ Farnsworth said. “And you can do a lot of damage that way.’’
Sen. Lupe Contreras, D-Avondale, acknowledged during the debate the increased financial burden on some of his
constituents. But he said he sees this as providing protection for those who get into accidents.
Contreras said that many of the vehicles on the road cannot be replaced for the $10,000 maximum that an errant motorist’s insurance company would have to pay out. Any additional costs would be borne by the at-fault driver, assuming that person actually has the finances to make up the difference.
“I would want to protect them in a sense of them paying $3 to $8 more a month to make sure that they’re getting what they need out of their vehicles,’’ he said.
But Contreras said he is under no illusion that higher coverage for personal injury is going to make a significant dent in the kind of medical costs after a major accident. And that, he said, comes from personal experience.
“The limits were nothing close to my million-dollar bills from the hospital from being revived twice,’’ he said. That same 1990 accident also claimed the life of his 18-year-old sister.
“These liability limits, it doesn’t bring a person back, doesn’t do anything,’’ Contreras said, but does provide at least some additional coverage. “You can’t put a price on a life when you’re talking about a few dollars a month.’’
tion that wasn’t life-threatening,” Neumann said.
Her practice also advocates for patients with insurance companies when necessary, she added.
To keep up with the latest advancements in dermatology, Neumann said her providers regularly research technology, medicine and products in order
“Education is key. The Food and Drug Administration recently announced that they will be formally investigating the safety of sunscreens with chemicals. This is why we have always recommended sunscreens with titanium and/or zinc oxide as the active ingredient which are safer to use. We keep informed so we can better educate our patients,” said Neumann.
When asked why she chose Sun City West for her newest location, she said, “We felt strongly that Sun City was an underserved population. One in three Arizonans will be affected by skin cancer during their lifetime, and every community should have access to treatment.
“My team is also from the Midwest. We hope our old-fashioned values will shine through with its residents.”
Many of Neumann’s patients credit her
service with correcting long-standing problems.
One mother recalled, “We had visited numerous doctors to try to get our daughter’s skin issues under control, but it only took one appointment with Sarah to see a complete turnaround with our daughter’s eczema.”
Information: 4425 E. Agave Road, Bldg. #9, Suite 148. ahwatukeeskincare.com or 480-704-7546.
BOARD OF DIRECTOR NOMINATIONS
Preparations are now underway for the Mountain Park Ranch Homeowners Association (MPRHOA) Annual Meeting scheduled for Tuesday, October 15, 2019. Three (3) of the five Board of Director positions will be voted on this year. Nominations are now being accepted in the MPR Office for the open positions up until July 5, 2019. Any Member interested in serving on the Board should contact Jim Welch, Executive Director, at the Mountain Park Ranch office at 480-704-5000 or e-mail: jim@mtparkranch.org for further information. MPRHOA By-laws allow Board Members to serve two consecutive two year terms.
Mountain Park Ranch Homeowners Association, 15425 S. 40th Place, Suite #4, Phoenix, AZ 85044 (FAX) 480.704.5005 - Website: www.mtparkranch.org
Back To School Coming July 17, 2019
The Back to School section will contain important information for students and parents, pre-school to college. They’ll learn about start dates, supplies, after-school activities, child care and more. It’s a great vehicle for you to reach an audience that’s ready to spend money before the first bell rings.
DON'T MISS OUT!
JUNE 21, 2019
Any size purchased will automatically be upsized to the next available size at no extra charge. (excludes full page)
ADVERTISING DEADLINE: JULY 12TH, 5:00 PM
Contact your Ahwauktee Foothills News multimedia sales consultant or call 480-898-7900 today to share your story with 72,000 potential customers!
Ahwatukee resident Michael Myrick rejoins NAI Horizon
AFN NEWS STAFF
Ahwatukee resident and Kyrene Governing Board President Michael Myrick has joined NAI Horizon. Myrick, who specializes in leasing and sales of office and industrial properties, returned to NAI Horizon after almost four years at Marcus & Millichap. He previously worked at NAI Horizon from 2012 to 2015.
Myrick has been involved in more than 500 million square feet of agency transactions and more than $1 billion in leasing and investment sales transactions.
He currently acts in an advisory capacity to a large national financial institution and has also worked for one of the largest private equity funds.
“I’m happy that Mike made the decision to return to NAI,” said Terry Martin-Denning, CEO and designated broker for NAI Horizon.
“His strong experience and relationships are valuable assets that strengthen our NAI team,” he added Myrick holds the designation of Certified
Commercial Investment Member.
A native of the Southeast Valley, Myrick earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Northern Arizona University.
Myrick serves as a youth sports coach, has served on various boards and commissions and was elected to the Kyrene board in 2016.
Established in 1992, NAI Horizon is a full-service commercial real estate company serving Arizona with offices located in Phoenix and Tucson.
The commercial real estate business provides brkerage and property management services for local, national and international clients.
NAI Horizon is part of the NAI Global commercial real estate network with 400 offices worldwide.
NAI Global provides corporate real estate services, including brokerage and leasing, property and facilities management, real estate investment and capital market services, due diligence, global supply chain and logistics consulting and related advisory services.
Ahwatukee hosts state debut of ‘Disney Frozen Jr.’
BY COTY DOLORES MIRANDA AFN Contributor
Is there any better stage musical to watch during June in Arizona than “Disney Frozen Jr.” — all that snow, all that ice, all that cold!
But factor in that production this Saturday, June 22, is being presented by Dance Studio 111 of Ahwatukee — well-known for their stage productions but especially the annual Holiday extravaganza “The Nutcracker” — and you’ve got even more reasons to attend.
Tickets for the two shows — at noon and 5 p.m. — are on sale now. The online purchase also allows you to select your favorite seat or seats in the Mountain Pointe High Arts Theater, 4201 E Knox Road.
According to producer Kimberly Lewis, Dance Studio 111 and Studio 111 Theater Company owner, the “Disney Frozen Jr.” production not only is based on the 2018 Broadway musical but is the only one licensed to be performed in Arizona.
“I was on a plane to Baltimore in January to go see my son Alex. I checked my
email right before take-off and I received an email from MTI (Music Theatre International) that the rights had come available that day for ‘Frozen Jr.’ I was able to get a call off to MTI right before take-off, and Studio 111 Theater Company was the first in Arizona to purchase the rights
2 Ahwatukee actors in ‘Freaky Friday’ musical
GET OUT STAFF
Two young Ahwatukee thespians are getting their freak on for the final production of Valley Youth Theatre’s 30th anniversary season.
“Freaky Friday,” the musical, is now playing at the Herberger Theater Center in Phoenix through June 30 and Asher Stubbs, 11, and Justin Vaught, 17, are part of the cast of 32 actors and actresses who made the cut during auditions in April that drew 100 boys and 30 girls.
Asher, a fifth-grader at Monte Vista Elementary School, is appearing in his second Valley Youth Theatre production after playing Amos in “The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane.
At school, he is involved in soccer and scouts and loves his “Freaky” character, Fletcher, who is “annoying and loveable and likes the lesson this show teaches about understanding others.”
Justin, who attends Desert Vista High School, is making his 12th appearance in a Valley Youth Theatre production and
also is a member of VYTeens. He has also been in “Tuck Everlasting” (ensemble), “Newsies” (Sniper), “Annie”
(ensemble), “The Hobbit” (Thorin Oakenshield), “Shrek” (Pied Piper), “Wizard of Oz” (Flying Monkey), “Alice in Wonderland” (knave), “Emperor’s New Clothes” (ensemble), “Peter Pan” (Slightly), “Snow White” (Scotty) and “Seussical “(Little Who).
Justin has also been in Hale Centre Theatre’s “Christmas Carol” as Peter Cratchit and played the wizard in Desert Vista High School Theatre Company’s “Wizard of Oz,” Rev. Parris in “The Crucible” and was part of the “Addams Family” ensemble. He also has been in Plan B Entertainment’s “Les Misérables,” playing Gavroche.
The musical is based on a 1972 novel and several movies about what happens when a mom and daughter get their bodies magically switched and have to make it through the day — being at high school for the mom and preparing for a wedding for the teen — all while hoping to switch back.
The Valley Youth Theatre production is the Arizona debut of the musical, which
debuted in Virginia in 2016. Its book
Tending to the frozen Anna during a rehearsal last week for Ahwatukee’s “Disney Frozen Jr.” are, from left, are Ryan Sadowsky, Mia Dickson, Eli Hernandez and Mikaylee Bellino. In the photo on the right, Elsa, played y Marlee Billeter, belts out on of the musical’s songs.
(Kimberly Carrillo/AFN Staff Photographer)
Asher Stubbs, 11, of Ahwatukeem and a fifth grader at Monte Vista Elementary School, plays Fletcher in Valley Youth Theater’s production of “Freaky Friday.”
(Special to AFN)
Justin Vaught,a Desert Vista High School student, is in his 12th Valley Youth Theater production. (Special to AFN)
to this play when they became available,” she said.
The musical follows the plot of the Oscar-winning animated movie released in 2013. A sequel, “Frozen 2” is set for release this November.
Both are based on the fairy tale ‘The Snow Queen’ by Danish author Hans Christian Andersen, first published in 1844.
There are 42 cast members ranging in age from 4 to 18, all selected after the crowded auditions in March.
Unlike Andersen’s fairy tale that had the two main female characters as friends, the animated film and the musical follow the lives and travails of sisters, Princesses Anna and Elsa in the kingdom of Arendelle.
“It’s a story of love and acceptance between the sisters,” said Lewis. “The musical expands on their emotional relationship as they face danger and discover both their hidden potential and the powerful bond of sisterhood.
“There’s plenty of magic, adventure and humor — enough to thaw the coldest heart. The kids have worked so hard, and it’s a wonderful performance for the whole family to enjoy!”
Playing the role of Princess Elsa, who becomes queen, is Marlee Billeter, 13, appearing in her fifth summer musical with the Studio 111 Theater Company. She was Teen Fiona in last year’s “Shrek the Musical Jr.”
The 5’8” Altadena Middle School eighth-grader has been training as a singer at RLS Music, a part of Dance Studio/ Theater 111, since she was 6.
“Rather than a dancer, she’s actually a soccer player and she’s played since she was 5,” said her mother Brandye Billeter. “While she’s sad to miss a big tournament in California in order to rehearse for the show, she looks forward to the Studio 111 Theater Company shows all year, and worked very hard for her role.”
The teen’s enthusiasm is palpable.
“Before auditions, I knew I really wanted a lead role, so I worked very hard. I was nervous because there were older girls trying for the same parts. When I found out I was Elsa, I was freaking out! I was so excited, very happy and proud of myself,” the teen enthused, explaining:
“I’ve always loved this movie. I was seven when it came out and I got a poster, the music, stuffed dolls and the movie. I’ve always loved how strong Elsa is, and the powers she has. I can’t wait.”
Sara Watson, cast in the role of Princess Anna, is an experienced thespian both at Studio 111, where she appeared in the “Wizard of Oz” and “Beauty and the Beast,” and at Xavier College Preparatory, which she’s been in every school production since her freshman year.
A talented singer, the 17-year-old also started voice lessons at age 6 at RLS Music, and has taken numerous acting classes over the years.
Preparations for the musical started months ago as she repeatedly reviewed the movie, and film of the Broadway musical.
“I watch them and compare what I’m doing with what’s been done. It takes a lot of time preparing,” said Watson, un-
derstating her pre-senior year schedule which included an intensive nine-day American Government summer course at Xavier weeks before the play.
“I like that Princess Anne is very lively and funny, and the part gives me a lot of room to develop her character. I can be both comical and serious,” she said.
Though she’s had a solid base in theater and singing, Watson has her sights set on becoming an obstetrician.
“I’ll be pre-med, but I might minor in theater or vocal performance as I want to keep it in my life,” she said.
Watson has two siblings also involved in “Frozen Jr.” Her brother Steven, a junior at Brophy College Preparatory, is part of the crew backstage, and her sister Katie, an Altadena eighth-grader, plays Celeste of Arendelle.
Having their three children involved in the production makes for a busy time for parents Alisha and Bill Watson, an Ahwatukee Realtor for 26 years.
“It’s much easier to balance it all now that the kids drive,” laughed Alisha. “Now we plan out our week, figure out who needs what and when, and decide how it will all work. We have to try to be organized and stay on top of the schedule.”
She says it’s still worth it.
“We’ve loved having our children involved in theater, both onstage and behind the scenes. We do it because it’s their passion and really gives them a chance to shine. We also get the fun of watching the shows! And we love having them involved in their community,” she said.
Mario Clayton, 17, who played Donkey
in last year’s Shrek, has the role of Prince Hans of the Southern Isles, a character he relishes.
“What I like best about the role is that I’m able to essentially play two characters in one. As you know in the movie “Frozen,” Hans is a two-sided character, but if you didn’t know that, just wait until what we have coming for you,” said the recent NFL YET College Prep Academy chuckled.
Desert Vista High School junior Makay Blackburn, 15, landed the role of Kristoff, the ice harvester who befriends Princess Anna.
It’s Makay’s first Arizona performance since moving to Ahwatukee last fall from Washington State, where he was active in competitive choir, often singing as a soloist. He also undertook supporting roles in several musicals there.
Olaf, the cheerful snowman who Elsa unknowingly brought to life, is played by Emma Krassett, 13.
This is the fifth year Studio 111 Theater Company has produced a summer musical for the community.
All were directed by Jenefer Miller, an award-winning choreographer and nationally-acclaimed tap dancer who teaches tap as an adjunct professor at ASU. Rachal Bautista is musical director, and Brandi Petersen is the production’s costumes designer.
The $15 assigned-seating tickets are available at DanceStudio111.com.
As in other productions, cast members mingle with the audience afterwards, signing autographs and posing for photos with fans.
FROZEN from page 42
In the photo on the left, Anna, played by Sara Wtson, rides on the back of Kristoff, played by Maykay Blackburn. Many of the clorfully attired thespians - dressed in costumes specially made for Kimberly Lewis’ production of “Disney Frozen Jr.” - rally around Olaf the snowman, played by Emma Krasselt. At right, Sierra Ricks portrays a young Anna. (Kimberly Carrillo/AFN Staff Photographer)
Oregon tourist campaign targets Valley residents
GET OUT STAFF
In case you need incentives beyond cool weather and majestic views to fly or drive to Mt. Hood Territory in northwestern Oregon, tourism officials there have a suggestion: Head over to Arrowhead Towne Center in Glendale Saturday or Sunday or the last 10 days of this month to Scottsdale Fashion Square.
From 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Saturday, June 22, and 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Sunday, June 23, at the Glendale mall territory tourism officials will hold a pop-up event aimed at luring Arizonans to the end of the 2,000-mile Oregon Trail, the wagon route that connected the Missouri River to Willamette Valley in Oregon more than a century ago.
From 10 a.m.-9 p.m. June 24-28, the vending machine will move to Scottsdale Fashion Center, where the same free gifts will be available.
Then, from 10 a.m.-9 p.m. June 29 and 11 a.m.-6 p.m. June 30, tourism officials will be on hand for a similar pop-up event with the vending machine as well as a chance to see Mt. Hood and its surroundings through virtual reality goggles, enjoy a free snow cone and maybe even win a grand prize trip to the area.
The two-night trip for two includes $500 in travel vouchers, a two-night stay at the Best Western Rivershore Hotel in Oregon City, a $120 gift certificate to Mt. Hood Outfitters for a tour or gear rental, a visit to an alpaca ranch and even a gift certificate to Bob’s Red Mill and Wholegrain Store.
Guests can go to omht.us/win at any time to get a unique 6-digit code they can use at the vending machine to receive a random boxed item that relates to Mt. Hood Territory.
A total of 18 different items are packed in the vending machine – things like a
FREAKY from page 42
is by Bridget Carpenter, the co-executive producer and writer on the TV hits “Friday Night Lights” and “Parenthood,” - and music and lyrics are by Tom Kitt and Brian Yorkey, Pulitzer Prize-winning composers of “Next to Normal” and “If/Then.”
A spokeswoman for the theater said, “More than 200 hours of intense rehearsals have taken place since April 22 and the final dress rehearsal,” which was held last week before an audience of chronically and terminally ill and their families. Tickets are available at vyt.com or by calling 602-252-8497.
gles that will whisk their minds to whitewater rafting on the Clackamas River and riding the Alpine Slide at the Adventure Park at Mt. Hood Skibowl.
Hood Territory, in a fun and unique way of claiming the prizes.”
The snow cones were thrown in as “a bonus treat for visiting” while the virtual reality goggles are meant to provide “even more inspiration of possible trip ideas,” Krupnik said.
Krupnik said the whole campaign is unique. “We are unaware of anyone else who has done a pop-up like this,” he said, adding that the custom vending machines have been done before by businesses.
stuffed alpaca to get you interested in seeing the animals for themselves at the Marquan Hill Ranch; a dry sack to store your valuables while you rent a kayak or paddleboard to reach the base of Willamette Falls, second only to Niagara Falls in water volume; a Bigfoot air freshener since the territory has the fourth most sightings of the legendary creature in the country; and other gifts.
And on each of the two pop-up days at each mall, the vending machine will contain a box with a free trip for four to Mt. Hood Territory.
As for the other pop-event offerings, the free snow cones will come in flavors huckleberry, blackberry and lavender because huckleberries are found on the slopes of Mt. Hood, blackberries are available at u-pick farms nearby and the region is home to multiple lavender farms.
Along with tourist representatives to answer questions, the popup events also will allow guests to use virtual reality gog-
“As with all of our productions, Freaky Friday gives everyone involved the real-life experience and real-time schedule of a professional theatrical production,” director Bobb Cooper said. “Cast, crew and orchestra members never pay fees to participate. They don’t have to rent or purchase costumes or equipment and there are never requirements to sell tickets.
“They also aren’t required to have any previous theatre experience or any theatrical education. We just strive to recognize potential and to match talent and skill levels with the requirements of each role. I think that’s very evident in this production.”
Arizona is a guinea pig for this new approach to vacation advertising, said Caesey Krupnik, spokesman for the Clackamas County Tourism & Cultural Affairs Bureau.
“This is the first time that we are doing a pop-up like this,” Krupnik said. “We have done other awareness campaigns but nothing like this. Until now our efforts in the Phoenix area have only been on the traditional marketing side: cinema videos, airport ads, office elevator screens and digital ads.”
He said he and his tourism bureau colleagues decided their campaign needed “a fun and exciting way to raise awareness about” the area.
“We thought, what better way to help visitors experience our area than by bringing part of Mt. Hood Territory to them,” he said. “When the idea for the vending machine came up, it seemed like the perfect opportunity. We worked with local businesses to find products that helped tell our story and highlight the experiences visitors can expect to find throughout Mt.
Though he and his colleagues wouldn’t mind seeing Arizonans before fall, the campaign is really targeted to luring outof-staters to Mt. Hood after Labor Day.
“We know that it does take time to plan a vacation and wanted to do the pop-up during the summer when people were starting to think about places they could travel. Portland International Airport is a quick and easy flight from Phoenix,” he said.
“We also know that our fall up here is a little bit different than the fall in the Southwest that Arizonans are used to and believe that they will really enjoy the variance of what Oregon’s Mt. Hood Territory can offer. The weather is beautiful, the trees are changing colors, the summer crowds have left and it truly is an amazing time to visit.”
As for why Glendale and Scottsdale were selected, Krupnik said “a lot of research and data” pointed to the cities.
“We wanted to find places that were inside so people would be gathering away from the heat, areas of large populations, easily accessible and highly trafficked,” he said. “We also wanted to select places with enough distance from each other that it would make it easy for people from different areas to check out one of the pop-up events. These two locations rose to the top.”
Veteran actress Sarah Ambrose, left, rehearses a scene with Kate Brink as they play mother and daughter, respectively, whose personalities have mysteriously been swapped with each other.
(Valley Youth Theater)
A variety of trinkets representing the Mt. Hood area in Oregon will be available at specially designed vending machines to lure Arizonans to the area as part of the Clackamas County tourism bureau’s campaign to boost visitors to the northern terminus of the Oregon Trail. (Special to AFN)
IIWith JAN D’ATRI
GetOut Contributor
GetOut Contributor
GetOut Contributor
GetOut Contributor
know you’ve been waiting for someone to give you permission to safely eat raw chocolate chip cookie dough.
say we take dad off grill duty today on his special day, and cook up a big ol’ burger just for him.
I have some tips and tricks that make the burger better than ever and a special four-ingredient sauce that could rival any of your favorite fast-food burger stops.
We like to think dad wants to grill something on Father’s Day.
Well, now you have it because this delicious version of America’s favorite cookie uses hard boiled eggs instead of raw eggs.
So beat him to it, fire up the grill (or an indoor grill pan) and let him dive into deliciousness.
The first tip is to buy ground beef that has a little fat because fat equals flavor. An 80-20 blend is great; that’s 80 percent lean beef to 20 percent fat.
Also, you can cook up some nice, crispy bacon and chop it up into bacon bits.
It’s no surprise that eggs are an important ingredient in most chocolate chip cookie recipes. But can hard boiled eggs not only substitute for fresh eggs, but in fact, make the cookies fantastic?
TThen, dice a sweet yellow onion, sauté it in a little of the bacon fat and when the bacon and onion are cooled, add it to the ground beef. It adds flavor and moisture.
in fact, that you can literally cut it with a fork. I’ve heard from countless readers that Momma’s Golden Chicken is a regular dinnertime favorite. The recipe also comes with a family secret as juicy as the cutlets! In fact, this dish ignited a downright rivalry between my mom and my grandmother.
That’s eggsactly what they’ll do!
cooking up a burger to keep it moist. It actually works! Form your beef patty, make a shallow indentation with your fingers in the middle of the burger and place an ice cube in the divot. (The ice cube should only be about an inch in diameter. Place the patty on the grill, and as the burger heats up, the ice cube will melt into the ground beef. The divot helps keep the burger flat and the ice adds moisture. Don’t keep flipping the burger. Once on each side should do it.
aco lasagne is easy to put together, can be made ahead and I will guarantee there will not be one bite left in the casserole dish. I’ve recommended using Herdez Roasted Salsa Roja for the salsa. It’s found at Bashas’. It adds a terrific zing to the dish, but you can use your favorite brand of salsa.
Taco Lasagne
Hard Boiled Egg Cookies
The only other ingredients you need for a tasty burger is salt, pepper and maybe some garlic powder. Now, you may have heard of the ice method of
Ingredients:
Ingredients:
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 and 3/4 cups flour*
1 large sweet yellow onion, chopped fine
Years ago, the kitchen of my family’s gourmet Ital ian restaurant at Lake Tahoe was momma’s undisputed domain. She had built her reputation on her original recipes and made-to-order dishes. In this cuisine, she reigned supreme.
4 cloves fresh garlic, minced
1 cup chilled butter (2 sticks), cut into small chunks or browned (see Jan’s Note)
2 lb. lean ground beef or turkey
Momma’s Golden Chicken
1 and ½ packages Lowry’s Taco Seasoning Mix
Ingredients:
1 teaspoon salt
3 tablespoons fresh cilantro, chopped fine
Ingredients:
Mix this recipe up in a food processor or mixing bowl. I’ve also included some tips like browning the butter to make chocolate chip cookies even yummier.
Then there’s the sauce. It’s a simple, four-ingredient sauce that’ll make this Big Daddy Burger a Father’s Day favorite!
That is, until she broke her leg skiing and let her mom take over the kitchen. Well, in short order, my Nonna went rogue, disregarding momma’s menu and methods and happily feeding guests the way she wanted to! It all ended well, though, and momma even got a great recipe out of the ordeal — this Golden Chicken. Would you be surprised if I told you that through the years momma has changed it up a bit
I hope you can make a beautiful plate of Golden
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 green bell pepper, chopped fine
1 ½ pounds ground beef (makes 4 (6oz) patties
1 and 1/2 cups brown sugar
4 skinless, boneless chicken breasts
1 (4oz can) diced green chiles
6 slices bacon, cooked crisp and chopped fine, reserve fat
3 eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1/4 cup half and half
2 (15.7 oz) jars Herdez Roasted Salsa Roja or any red salsa of your choice
Directions:
1/4 cup Romano cheese, grated
1 sweet yellow onion, chopped fine and sautéed in 2-3 tablespoons bacon fat
1 (15 oz) can black beans, drained
3 cloves garlic, minced fine
Directions:
1/4 cup Sherry wine
Directions:
1 tablespoon fresh parsley, chopped fine
1/2 teaspoon salt
In a bowl, combine ground beef, bacon bits, cooled sautéed onion, salt, pepper and garlic powder. Gently mix to combine. Form 4 (6oz) patties. Press the center of each burger down with your fingers. Add one (1-inch) cube of ice to each patty.
1 teaspoon pepper
1 (16 oz) container sour cream
1 teaspoon garlic powder
2 hard boiled eggs, finely diced or mashed 1 and 1/2 cups semi-sweet or milk chocolate chips
For optional toppings: Sliced black olives, chopped cilantro, chopped tomatoes, diced avocado, sliced green onion, sliced jalapenos, diced mini bell peppers
Combine flour and butter in a food processor or mixing bowl. Blend until mixture is the texture of small crumbs. Jan’s Note: For browned butter, melt butter in skillet over medium high heat and simmer until butter turns amber. The melting butter will bubble and foam, so stir to check for amber color. Pour into bowl and freeze butter to re-harden. When hardened, combine with flour in the processor or mixing bowl.
In a large skillet, heat olive oil and sauté onion and garlic until soft and translucent. Add ground beef or turkey, cooking until browned. Add taco seasoning spice packets, stirring to combine well. Add cilantro, bell pepper, diced green chiles and salsa and cook for several minutes to soften. Stir in black beans and corn, combining gently.
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1 cup flour
3 tablespoons olive oil
1/2 cup chicken broth
Add the salt and baking soda to the flour and butter combination and mix until just combined. Add brown sugar, vanilla and boiled eggs. Pulse again or mix until mixture comes together.
1 ½ cups Italian-style breadcrumbs
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
Add chocolate chips and walnuts, using a wooden spoon to mix.
Directions:
Make 1-inch balls of cookie dough and place them on parchment-lined baking sheets.
Toast the bun on the grill or in the hot grill pan. Slather the special sauce over bun. Add fixings and burger. Enjoy!
Grease a grill pan or grill. Cook burgers on medium high for 3-4 minutes on each side. Only turn once. For cheeseburger, add cheese after you’ve flipped the burgers.
Refrigerate for 30 minutes. When ready to bake, preheat oven to 350 degrees.
For the special sauce: (for four burgers)
Wash, pat dry and cut each chicken breast into 3-4 slices lengthwise. Place chicken pieces in a Ziploc bag and gently pound each piece to ¼ inch thick.
Bake for about 12 minutes or until the edges of the cookies are lightly browned.
Simmer for 15 minutes. Meanwhile, prepare the casserole dish. Line the bottom of a lightly greased or buttered 9 x 13 inch casserole dish. Cover the bottom with half of the flour tortillas. (Tip: If you cut the tortillas in half, the cut side will fit nicely into the edges of all four sides of the pan.) Warm the refried beans in the microwave for about 45 seconds for easier spreading. Lightly spread the refried beans over the tortillas. Sprinkle one cup of the cheese over the refried beans. (Use more if desired.)
Ingredients:
In a bowl, beat the eggs, cream, cheese, garlic, sherry wine, parsley, pepper and salt. Divide mixture into two bowls. Place the chicken in one of the bowls, cover and marinate for one hour.
4 tablespoons mayonnaise
Remove cookies from oven. Cool for several minute and then place on cooling rack. For soft cookies, place them in an air-tight container as soon as they have cooled. Makes approximately 32 cookies.
Spoon one half of the meat mixture over the cheese. Repeat the process for the second layer. Top with remainder of cheese, or more cheese if desired.
4 tablespoons softened butter
¼ cup hot sauce (like Frank’s) 1/3 cup brown sugar
Catch my new radio show: It’s called Dishin’ It Up with Jan D’Atri and you’ll hear it every Saturday from 2-3 p.m. on KTAR NEWS 92.3 FM.
Bake in 350-degree oven for 30 minutes. (Optional, cover with foil and bake for 20 minutes, then uncover and bake for another 10 minutes or until cheese is melted and bubbling.) Cut into portion and serving for toppings and sour cream on the side.
Prepare three shallow dishes or pie pans. Place flour in the first, the remaining egg mixture in the second and the breadcrumbs in the third. Dredge chicken pieces in flour then dip into egg mixture and then coat with breadcrumbs.
Directions: Mix together all ingredients in a bowl and whisk until smooth and creamy.
*The Centers for Disease Control warns against eating raw flour as it may contain E. coli.
In a large frying pan on medium high heat, fry chicken in olive oil until golden brown on both sides, about 3-4 minutes. Pour broth over chicken and dot with pieces of butter. Cook for 15 minutes or until chicken is cooked through.
For appetizer or kid-sized portions, line a cupcake or muffin tin with small street-sized flour or corn tortillas. Follow the same directions as the casserole. Bake for about 15-20 minutes.
Serves 4.
Big Daddy Burger
Sports & Recreation
Kevin Cron feels prepared for Diamondbacks opportunity
BY BRADY VERNON Cronkite News
Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo summed it up perfectly.
“He’s raised in a bat bag.”
Kevin Cron’s life has revolved around a ball that measures nine inches in circumference and is laced with 108 stitches.
His dad, Chris Cron, a former major leaguer and current manager of the Diamondbacks’ Triple-A affiliate, the Reno Aces, started Kevin and his brother C.J., a player for the Minnesota Twins, on a path to baseball.
With a bloodline of talent, it was no shock that Kevin, 26, made his major league debut on May 24 for Arizona after six years in the minors. Yet the product of Mountain Pointe High School admitted still experiencing butterflies during his Chase Field debut Friday against the Mets.
“It’s really special,” Kevin Cron said on Monday. “I grew up being in the stands
going to these games, five, six, seven times a summer with some buddies just messing around in the outfield bleachers. Now, looking up and seeing your face on the scoreboard, it’s a really
special moment.”
The memorable moment exceeded the family’s dreams as Chris was able to give the news to Kevin about his call up.
The news wasn’t the only thing Chris
passed on to Kevin.
Lovullo and Kevin’s coach at Mountain Pointe, Brandon Buck, praised his character and the lessons Kevin learned from his father.
“That’s the thing that stands out to me more than anything, his professionalism,” Lovullo said. “He comes out and he knows exactly what he’s supposed to do on a given day to help this team win a baseball game.
“He was a professional hitter, he’d hit strikes and take balls, he knew how people were going to work him, and he was squaring up the ball…The overall professionalism stood out to me more than anything.”
“He’s as good a kid as you can get. Just his character, him as a person, he’s just one of those special young men you love to be around,” said Buck, who led the 2011 Mountain Pointe team with Cron on the roster to an Arizona state championship. “He loves seeing other
Pride track and field coach Larry Thomas dies at 45
BY ZACH ALVIRA AFN Sports Editor
Larry Thomas, who took over the Mountain Pointe High School track and field program this past season, died from brain cancer June 12. He was 45.
“Coach Thomas has only been on our campus for a short amount of time,” said Principal Tomika Banks. “But in that short amount of time he made an incredible impact on our students and families.”
Coach Thomas was hired to take over the Mountain Pointe track and field program on Jan. 18, just two weeks before the season began. He also served a full-time role as the school’s dropout prevention coordinator.
“He’s an extraordinary human, and we were blessed to have him a part of our family at Mountain Pointe,” Banks
said. “Our condolences go to his family at this time.”
Coach Thomas had begun to experience headaches in late April and into early May.
A trip to the emergency room on the night of May 2 resulted in emergency surgery to remove 80 percent of the tumor doctors found in his brain. However, the tumor returned.
“It’s been really devastating,” said Rich Wellbrock, Mountain Pointe football coach and a longtime friend.
“He was only here for a short time but had already made his footprint here.”
Coach Thomas spent two years at
Desert Edge High School as the head coach of the track and field program and one as the head freshman football
coach under Wellbrock.
He then went on to coach the track and field team at Copper Canyon High School before being hired at Mountain Pointe.
He was gearing up to be the Pride’s head freshman football coach this season.
Services will be held on Saturday, June 22 at Pilgrim Rest Baptist Church in Phoenix. A viewing will be held at 10 a.m. followed by the service at 11 a.m.
“He made such an impact on all kids and adults that came in contact with him,” Wellbrock said. “Just how he attacked life on a daily basis with a smile on his face was second to none. He left something with every person he came in contact with that they will remember forever.
“I miss him now and I’m going to miss him for a long time.”
Kevin Cron paid his dues with the Reno Aces and is excited he got the call-up from the Diamondbacks. (Photo courtesy Reno Aces)
Larry Thomas, who took over the Mountain Pointe High Track and Field program this past season, has died from brain cancer at the age of 45. (Zach Alvira/AFN Staff)
Donated rods, reels get kids fishing this summer
BY ZACH ALVIRA AFN Sports Editor
As the weather heats up, East Valley kids begin spending their free time in front of a television rather than experiencing the outdoors.
Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s are trying to reverse that trend.
“We are trying to get as many kids as possible outdoors,” said Levi Slocum, the assistant general manager of the Bass Pro Shops in Mesa. “We know we can’t completely ignore technology, it is what it is. But the more we can promote the outdoors, the better.”
A large part of the two store’s initiative to promote the outdoors started on June 6, when over 200 fishing rods and reels were donated to two East Valley Boy Scout troops. The donation at the Mesa store was just one of many across the country to kick off National Fishing and Boating Week.
This is the first year competitors Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s have joined forces for the event. More than 55,000 rods and reels were donated this year alone, the largest donation ever.
Since this initiative began in 2005, Bass Pro Shops has donated over 400,000 rods and reels nationwide to groups such as the Boy Scouts, Man-Up Surprise, branch-
es of the YMCA and Difference Makers Dads Club, among others.
“We target mainly youth groups,” Slocum said. “The Boy Scouts, for example,
are really involved in the outdoors already where as others might not be. But just be-
Pack 451 (left) from Mesa and Pack 330 (right) from Gilbert received a donation from Bass Pro Shops in Mesa that included 200 fishing rods and reels. (Zach Alvira/AFN Sports Editor)
Gold’s Gym makes return to East Valley
BY ZACH ALVIRA AFN Editor
It’s been nearly five years since the last Gold’s Gym location in the East Valley changed ownership and rebranded under a different name.
But thanks to Jad Awale, a 29-yearold fitness enthusiast, Gold’s Gym has made its return with a new location in Chandler.
“It was extremely important to me to bring the brand back to the Valley,” Awale said. “I felt there was a need for this type of concept, especially with our fully redesigned studio. I’m extremely excited.”
Before the change in ownership in late 2014, there were six Gold’s Gym locations across the Valley. They were part of a franchise with 16 total gyms in the region, with the other locations in Nevada and Southern California. In January 2015, every location was
rebranded under the Eos Fitness name.
The new Gold’s Gym, in the Sunset Plaza center on Ray and Rural roads in Chandler, opened its doors in late May, but a grand opening with raffles, vendors and other events will likely take place sometime in July.
Growing up in Tucson, Awale became a fitness enthusiast at a young age. He recalled being in awe of the fitness magazines he would see at local grocery stores. As he got older, his love for fitness grew.
“It’s amazing how a little bit of money can transform your body and your whole life,” Awale said. “You feel like you have more energy, you feel less stressed. Overall, you’ll have a much healthier and happy life.”
Awale used to workout at Gold’s Gym locations in Tucson when he was younger. He knew he would always be part of a health club, but he never imagined he would be able to call one his own.
“I’ve always been (submerged) in business and I wouldn’t have it any other way,” Awale said. “I’ve been talking to this company for about three years now and I’m excited we can bring this concept back to Arizona.”
Awale’s uncle is a franchiser on the East Coast, so the passion for owning his own business runs in the family.
He already has four other Gold’s Gym locations paid for, though exact locations have yet to be determined. But he doesn’t plan to stop there. He anticipates he will open several other Gold’s Gym locations in the near future.
“This first
location is kind of like a training ground,” Awale said. “We want to work out all the little kinks and make the next one better. That’s what we are aiming to do across the Valley.”
The new facility is the most up-to-date design in the Gold’s Gym family. The 40,000-square-foot gym offers stateof-the-art equipment and amenities, including a full studio package with Gold’s Burn, Gold’s Fit and Gold’s Cycle. It also includes Gold’s 3D, which measures every part of the body to track results.
The gym floor is equipped with several treadmills, ellipticals and other cardio equipment. Two areas fitted with artificial turf offer gym-goers an area for a variety of workouts, including TRX racks, punching bags, tire flips and rowers.
Traditional machines that work a variety of muscles occupy one side of the facility. But where this Gold’s location sets itself apart from other gyms is the large area for free weights.
The gym is equipped with several Breaker Olympic Flat Benches. On a traditional bench press, the weight is lifted from behind the head. The Breaker Bench moves forward once the person using it lays down, allowing them to lift the weight from their chest to reduce the risk of injury. Once finished, the bench moves back to allow a clear path to get up.
Each half rack is equipped with sound dampening platforms to reduce noise
if weights are dropped. There are also machines that will count an individual’s repetitions and time the workout.
“It’s like the ultimate fitness playground in here,” Awale said. “There are very unique areas that will cater to whatever it is they want to train.”
A former 300-pound bodybuilder, Awale designed the gym with results in mind. But he also made it a priority that every piece of equipment could be used by every member.
“One of the greatest things about it is the unity of people,” Awale said. “Everyone has a perception of what the brand is and when they come through the doors they evolve. It’s very resultsdriven and a positive environment.”
Awale has received strong feedback from early members. From the layout and look of the gym to the overall atmosphere, it’s been a positive experience for all who have walked through the doors.
But Awale welcomes criticism. To him, that presents an opportunity to make each new facility he opens better than the rest.
“I like to look for the negative because that’s where I want to improve,” Awale said. “It’s a lot of good stuff. We are excited for the expansion and ready to see where it all goes.”
More information about the new Gold’s Gym in Chandler, including membership pricing and hours can be found at www. goldsgym.com/chandler-az/.
Jad Awale, a 29-year-old fitness enthusiast, brought Gold’s Gym back to the Valley after the original franchise was rebranded. Besides his Chandler gym, Awale hopes to open a few more in the Valley. (Kimberly Carrillo/AFN Staff Photographer)
The brand new Gold’s Gym in Chandler offers an expansive, clean environment with plenty of machines for users. (Kimberly Carrillo/AFN Staff Photographer)
Is MMA a martial art? History provides the answer
BY RICK SAVAGIAN AFN Guest Writer
The debate over whether mixed martial arts or ultimate fighting championship matches really fit the category of martial arts has been on going on for decades.
To determine the answer to that question, one must first understand what these fighting styles are and where they came from.
MMA, or the idea of it, dates back to Ancient Greece in which a combat sport known as pankration was a popular Olympic sport.
It combined grappling and striking techniques, which are similar to mixed martial arts.
CRON from page 46
people succeed. It didn’t matter the age of a player. If he were a senior and there were freshmen around, he just showed everyone so much respect and just had a way of going around his business as a professional but yet just had a good time to be around. He made everyone laugh, have fun. He was a special one.” Cron, who has hit 43 combined home runs for the Aces the past two seasons, showcased his professionalism through his understanding of his role to help the Diamondbacks win games.
“Any time you get called up you want to find a way to contribute with the
FISHING from page 47
cause they do go outdoors, doesn’t mean they have the right equipment to enjoy something like fishing.
“We want them to enjoy it, and we are giving them an avenue and the product to do so.”
Pack 451, based out of Trinity Church near Gilbert Road and University Drive in Mesa, was among the two troops present at Bass Pro Shops for the donation. Pack 330, which is based out of Val Vista Academy on Val Vista Drive and Germann Road in Gilbert, was also present.
The scouts, along with other family
Over the years many other types of martial arts, wrestling and boxing have incorporated other arts within their fighting system. All of these have taken a vital role in developing MMA.
The ultimate fighting championship, which was introduced in the mid 1990’s, has been a key part in the wide exposure to mixed martial arts.
If we break it down, we see many talented fighters from all types of backgrounds. These MMA athletes often have a traditional background in one or more traditional martial arts.
Jiu jitsu, karate, judo, wrestling and boxing, just to name a few, are at the roots of MMA.
Though MMA rules may be different
team any way you can, whether it be off the bench or starting role or how ever it may be,” Cron said. “Making the guys around you better and doing whatever you can to help produce a single win on any given night. That’s all of our goals every night is to find a way to help the team get a win. My skill set, I’m supposed to help produce runs, any way possible.”
Originally drafted in the third round by the Seattle Mariners out of Mountain Pointe in 2011, Cron decided to go to Texas Christian University instead. At TCU, he hit for a .271 average and drove in 95 runs for the Horned Frogs.
Arizona then selected him in the 14th
members, had the chance to fish in Bass Pro Shops’ indoor catch-and-release pond with their new rods. For some, it was their first time catching a fish.
“We are amazed at the rods they are giving us,” said Laura Higgins, whose son, Zach, is in Pack 330. “I know our cubmaster, Danielle (Alfandre), will have something set up in the future to get these guys out there. It will be great.”
Higgins’ daughter, Sara, caught her first fish during the event, sparking cheers from the rest of the kids. Growing up fishing herself in Minnesota, Higgins said her kids also share the same passion she has for the sport.
and there are no specific belts in it, techniques themselves are from the basics of traditional martial arts. These athletes spend years training and developing their fighting style which, focuses on this extreme, no holds barred type of sport.
Traditional martial arts such as jiu jitsu, karate, judo to name several are taught, often from a young age, over years and belt levels are part of the training.
The students develop not only their fighting skills, but also learn the history and culture of the art they are studying.
MMA students and practitioners also train their different fighting techniques, have to be in top physical shape and learn how to read their
round of the 2014 MLB draft after his junior season. He signed with the Diamondbacks on June 23, 2014.
He spent six seasons at various levels in the Diamondbacks organization before his debut. Arizona optioned Cron back down to Reno on May 31 before it recalled him the next day. The 26-year-old rookie spoke with years of clubhouse wisdom and clearly wasn’t rattled by being sent down.
“I just always grew up being around the yard,” he said. “Anytime you’re around baseball at a young age you’re going to learn things about handling yourself, about being around a locker room, being a professional and not only
But having moved to the East Valley just two years ago, she understands there is limited time during the summer to go out before temperatures become unbearable.
“It’s really hard in the summer,” Higgins said. “We try to put a limit on how much time they spend on electronics, but it’s hard in the summer if I have something going on or it gets too hot. But anything that isn’t electronic and can get them outdoors is a good thing.”
Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s held family-friendly Events on June 8-9 and 15-16 as part of the initiative to get kids interested in the outdoors and fishing. The events
opponents. It becomes a personal choice as to what a student from either wants to learn, and what they want to get out of their training.
Some may say MMA isn’t a real martial art, but knowing the history of where MMA has come from, its roots as well as the individual fighter’s background all become key when answering the question.
Regardless of what you decide, both have valuable fighting style and art. Perhaps its safe to say that MMA is a modern day mixed martial art which encompasses many different types of martial arts.
-Rick Savagian is found and owner of Mountainside Martial Arts Center, 3173 E. Chandler Blvd., Ahwatukee. Information: 480-759-4540
that but the intrigues of the game that are the intangibles that are overlooked sometimes.”
Baseball, coined as the Cron’s family business by Kevin, wasn’t just all work and no fun. Chris Cron told his two sons long before their MLB careers that until they surpass his two career hits, he’ll still be the best in the family. C.J. had a three-hit game in his major league debut back in 2014, and Kevin passed him in just his sixth game in the big leagues. Kevin passed his dad in hits. Depending on how their careers go, he may pass his brother. No matter the outcome, Kevin is happy to have baseball and his family combined into one.
led up to National Gone Fishing Day on June 18.
Anywhere from 600 to 1,000 kids usually take part in these annual weekend events, with many sticking around for Bass Pro Shops’ summer camp where they can earn pins for attending seminars related to the outdoors.
“One of the questions we get all the time is if we have WiFi in the store,” Slocum said. “We promote the outdoors, so there is no WiFi. We are trying to get as many kids as possible outdoors.
“We know we can’t completely ignore technology, it is what it is. But the more we can promote the outdoors the better.”
When it comes to water, it all adds up. This is why, living in a desert city, we spend considerable time and energy protecting water and finding ways to save more of it. There is always a potential for water shortage here, so we’ve been planning ahead and banking water for years. Being prepared. It’s what happens when you SEE WATER DIFFERENTLY.
Classifieds
Classifieds: Monday 11am for Wednesday Life Events: Friday 10am for Wednesday
Domestic/ Childcare/Caregiver
Thank you for your interest in my child DayCare. My name is Riza. My husband & I live near Mountain Pointe High School. I have over 10 years’ experience caring for children I am currently available to provide DayCare for 2 to 5 year old children. I have a genuine love of children & enjoy seeing them reach their full potential. Please call me at 480-688-7672. I look forward to meeting you & your family!
Employment General
KYRENE is now hiring School BUS DRIVERS FT 30 hrs/wk. Benefits offered. Paid training and CDL testing onsite. Flexible work schedule with split shifts. Starting Salary $15.26- $18.00 For additional info go to www kyrene org/hr
Office Admin, PT Must be personable. Computer literate, quick learner. Ahwatukee 602-369-4134 Miscellaneous For Sale
KILL ROACHESGUARANTEED!
KILL BED BUGS!
Buy Harris Bed Bug Sprays, Kits, Mattress Covers
Available: Hardware Stores, The Home Depot, homedepot.com DIATOMACEOUS EARTH-FOOD GRADE
HARRIS DIATOMACEOUS EARTH FOOD GRADE 100% OMRI
Listed-For Organic Use Available: Hardware Stores, The Home Depot, homedepot.com
Buy Harris Roach Tablets, Sprays, & Concentrate Available: Hardware Stores, The Home Depot, homedepot.com KILL SCORPIONS!
Employment General
Candidate
be responsible for developing
business for targeted specialty publications. Primary responsibilities include strategic prospecting, sales acquisition via the phone, account retention and must be able to work collaboratively with clients and internal staff. Top candidate will possess excellent communication skills, phone presence, and enthusiasm, be able to meet critical deadlines, have a positive, professional attitude and the ability to work as part of a fun team.
Qualifications/Requirements
• High School Diploma or GED; BA/BS in advertising, Marketing or related field a plus • Minimum of 3 yrs sales experience; advertising preferred; knowledge of print media a plus • Excellent customer service skills internal and external • Strong computer s kills, Word, Excel, Gmail, Google doc and spreadsheet knowledge helpful • Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Valid Driver’s License and Proof of Vehicle Insurance
Benefits, 401K, PTO, Paid Holidays
Please send your resume to ecota@timespublications.com Employment General
Buy Harris Scorpion Spray/Kit Odorless, Non-Staining Effective Results Begin, After Spray Dries Available: The Home Depot, homedepot.com, Hardware Stores
Watch for Garage Sales in Classifieds!
You will find them easy with their yellow background. Only $25 includes 1 week online
To place an ad please call: 480-898-6465 class@times publications.com GarageSale Fri&Sat 7a-11am Household,clothes, kitchenitems, furniture,electronics, masonjars,kiditems, DVDs,MORE 555W.LaneDr Mesa
SINCE 1982 ROC #C39-312643
Interest will be charged to your account from the purchase date if the purchase balance is not paid in full within the promotional period.
period. Interest will be charged to your account from the purchase date at the APR for Purchases if the purchase balance is not paid in full within the promotional period. Paying only the minimum monthly payment will not pay off the purchase balance before the end of the promotional period. For new accounts, the APR for Purchases is 28.99%. If you are charged interest in any billing cycle, the minimum interest charge will be $1.00. This information is accurate as of 03/01/2019 and is subject to change. For current information, call us at 1-800-431-5921. Offer expires 12/31/2019. *See your independent Trane Dealer for complete program eligibility, dates, details and restrictions. Special financing offers valid on qualifying equipment only. All sales must be to homeowners in the United States. Void where prohibited. Includes a 16-Point Inspection. LIMITED TIME ONLY RESIDENTIAL ONLY REG. $99.
