85085 Magazine - August 2020

AUGUST 2020

HOPS & DREAMS

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AUGUST 2020 | Volume 7 | Issue 8

Publisher Steve T. Strickbine steve@timespublications.com

features

18

Vice President Michael Hiatt mhiatt@timespublications.com

Lifelong Dream Realized Pietro Marsala fought for the right to fly commercial planes

Executive Editor Christina Fuoco-Karasinski Assistant Editor Connor Dziawura cdziawura@timespublications.com Graphic Designer Shannon Mead

20

Desert Adventure Local tour company continues through pandemic

fresh

business

6

Information Overload

24 Fit for Royalty

Preparing for Post-High School Years

home

7

8 9

Trust DVUSD for a slew of school resources Author Perna says students need ‘robust academic knowledge’

Cool Mint, Creme Brulee and Mango

Flavored tobacco is hooking a new generation on nicotine

Marisa Johnson puts an athletic twist on cheer and tumbling

26 Resilience

We need to stay strong during the COVID-19 pandemic

27 It's Back-to-School Time

Stickers are a fun way to colorize school supplies

Virtually Present

Musical Instrument Museum relies on web content during COVID-19

10 'Dare to Dream'

Jerry O'Connell visualized a 'Secret' role, and landed it

12 Cold As Ice

Here are solutions to backyard beverage questions

28 Extraordinary Rides

food 29 What's Cooking? with Jan D'Atri Black Forest Ice Cream Cake

30 Truly Successful

travel

32 Hops and Dreams

Tortilla Flat's new 'caretakers' are looking to freshen it up

16 Exploring the Grand Canyon State Summer staycations at Arizona’s parks and trails

features

Veteran beer duo forges ahead with Simple Machine Brewing

34 Changing Things Up

State 48 keeps things fresh at a new Norterra Rock House

better 36 Back to School, Back to Fitness

22 Just Doing His Job

Caring Corps names Arthur Gimson top humanitarian

Tips to stay motivated when you're a busy parent

38 Brainteasers

King Crossword and Sudoku puzzles

On the cover: Pietro Marsala Photo By: Pablo Robles

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85085 | AUGUST 2020

Advertising sales@85085magazine.com (623) 299-4965 Marketing Director/ Social Media Manager Eric Twohey eric@85085magazine.com Production Manager Courtney Oldham Circulation

85085 Magazine sets high standards to ensure forestry is practiced in an environmentally responsible, socially beneficial and economically viable manner.

This issue was printed on recycled fibers containing 10% post consumer waste, and with inks containing a blend of soy base. Our printer is a certified member of the Forestry Stewardship Council, the Sustainable Forestry Initiative, and additionally meets or exceeds all federal Resource Conservation Recovery Act standards

There's nothing basic about Tru Burger

14 A New Outlook

85085magazine.com

Staff Photographer Pablo Robles

The 2020 Lexus LS 500h Hybrid is comfortable and luxurious

13 Perspective

Why kids end up in justice court

Contributors Monica Baez, Brandie Bosworth, Pastor David Bowen, Jan D'Atri, Dr. Curtis Finch, Jadyn Fisher, Shannon Fisher, C.A. Haire, Joella Hopkins, Shelley Sakala, Michelle Thompson, Judge Gerald A. Williams

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85085 Magazine is published 12 times a year for full saturation distribution in Sonoran Foothills, Norterra, Fireside, Deer Valley Airpark, Dynamite Mountain Ranch, Carefree Crossing, Valley Vista, and Amber Hills. You can also pick up 85085 Magazine at many businesses including specialty shops, salons, spas, auto dealerships, libraries, children’s and women’s specialty shops, boutiques, restaurants, health clubs, hotels, medical offices, and many rack locations.

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Postmaster: Please return all undeliverable copies to AIM, 1236 W. Southern Avenue, Ste 105, Tempe, AZ 85282. All rights reserved. ®2020 Affluent Publishing, LLC. Printed in the USA.

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CURT'S CORNER

Information Overload Trust DVUSD for a slew of school resources

By Dr. Curtis Finch Deer Valley Unified School District Superintendent

L

iving in a virtual world can send you into information overload. What’s true, what’s not? The Deer Valley Unified School District will continue to work hard to clear up any confusion on the latest information for school-aged students, parents and community members.

The district’s website is full of resources on parenting in a pandemic, future oncampus safety protocols, food and nutrition information, and a treasure trove of information on the details surrounding learning.

In a COVID-19 learning environment, the district has to be nimble and quick to respond to any programming changes from the state Legislature, government officials, Gov. Doug Ducey, Maricopa County Health Department, and/or the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Two main district page links are very helpful for parents and community members during this unique time in our nation’s history. The district has invested financial resources into five very valuable speakers that can be viewed on the “Parent Webinars” link at the dvusd.org website.

Ester Wojcicky is an international speaker and author of two books: “Moonshots in Education” and “Raising Successful People.” The ideas behind this webinar are the challenges of remote learning and strategies to encourage creativity and independent learning.

School Counselor Phyliss Fagell authored “Middle School Matters” and talks about parenting under the pressure of the pandemic.

Maria Dismondy, author of “Spaghetti in a Hot Dog Bun” and 10 other children’s books, talks about raising re-

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85085 | AUGUST 2020

silient children and shares the session with social worker Michael Klinker to talk about the important topic of student trauma and learning. Titiana Jordan uses her webinar to talk about the hot topic of how to monitor screen time in this virtual environment.

All of these resources are free to the public and can be viewed at any time.

The second-most-valuable website link for parents is also found under the Social Emotional Learning (SEL) tab and is labeled “SEL Activities for Families.” The collection of resources for families comes from the “Wide Open School” project, and the work on emotional well-being of students is broken into two parts: sixth to 12th graders and b) prekindergarten to fifth grade. The same district webpage also adds many professional resources, such as All Things E.Q.; Calm; Common Sense Media; Hoonuit; trauma-informed teaching; CASEL; Edutopia; Getting Smart; PBS; time-management apps; CDC; and Stop, Breathe and Think Kids. The collection of

resources will be invaluable to parents and community members who will work with children during COVID-19.

Other district webpages also have material on how to talk to your children about COVID-19, tips for supporting your student during learning, supporting children with disabilities in a virtual format, and a large collection of 47 other family resource connections with websites and informational options that are printable to gather your own collection of material helpful for your family.

The social-emotional needs are just as important as academics. Get informed today from a resource you can trust: Deer Valley Unified School District.

Dr. Curtis Finch is the DVUSD superintendent and can be reached at superintendent@dvusd.org.

SCHOOLS

Preparing for Post-High School Years Author Perna says students need ‘robust academic knowledge’

By Jadyn Fisher

L

ast August, Mark C. Perna was delivering a keynote speech to 4,000 DVUSD employees for their back-to-school

rally.

While DVUSD isn’t hosting back-to-school rallies this year, Perna—the founder and CEO of TFS Results and award-winning author of “Answering Why: Unleashing Passion, Purpose, and Performance in Younger Generations”—has been working with the district’s career and technical education (CTE) team.

The high schools will use Perna’s Career Trees to engage students who want to be in a CTE program.

“The world is rapidly changing, and to adapt effectively, every student needs robust academic knowledge, technical competencies and professional skills,” Perna says.

“It is the combination of all three that delivers a powerful competitive advantage. The re-

markable CTE programs at DVUSD are key to learning the technical competencies and professional skills needed to help each student thrive today regardless of their ultimate destination. I am supporting their efforts to ensure every student, parent and community member knows how their children can take full advantage of the remarkable value in high-quality CTE.” CTE programs allow students to be career and college ready by learning from experts so they can earn above-average pay right out of high school. They also made a plan to involve middle school students so they can take advantage of these classes. Perna says these classes give students “focus, passion and grit by using their learned robust academic

knowledge, technical competencies and professional skills to generate a powerful competitive advantage needed to achieve their chosen career plan based on their own unique interests, talents and abilities.”

CTE classes allow students to explore career paths while gaining high school credit, developing life skills and possible program certificates that they can use beyond high school. All DVUSD high school campuses offer these classes.

For more specifics on CTE programs, visit DVUSD’s CTE website: dvusd.org/Page/175 or 85085magazine.com/hands-on-learning.

Author Mark C. Perna penned “Answering Why: Unleashing Passion, Purpose and Performance in Younger Generations.”

(Photo by Jadyn Fisher)

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YO U T H

Cool Mint, Crème Brulee and Mango Flavored tobacco is hooking a new generation on nicotine

By Monica Baez

A

s part of the newest generation, I have seen many give in to the dangers of flavored tobacco products. These deadly products cause a disruptive and unhealthy lifestyle. More than 5.3 million kids nationally use e-cigarettes, and I have seen many of my peers do it locally.

They buy more and more products every day to satisfy themselves. I see them post on social media or rant at school about smoking.

They talk about all the new flavors and which ones they are going to buy once they get their allowance. One out of six Arizona high school students use e-cigarettes. Over 80% of young people who have used tobacco started off with flavored products. With 15,000 flavors to choose from, these addictive and neverending products mask away the dangers of using tobacco.

Throughout school, I tried my best to keep away from the talk and drama of smoking, but everywhere I looked there was someone either changing their flavor pod or smoking and laughing with a group of other students.

I noticed they skipped school to head to the smoke shop early. I have lost many friends due to their obsession with e-cigarettes, which I was not interested in.

But it is not just teens who are negatively

effected by nicotine addiction. My grandparents and friends fell extremely ill or went to rehab from being exposed to flavored tobacco products, which led to using other dangerous drugs and habits. It is hard to see a loved one become so isolated and weak due to smoking.

My family and I have tried to help them, but that person need to realize for themselves that what they are doing is unhealthy. They have to realize how sick and weak they are becoming to get better. I used to think all you can do is wait and hope for the best.

Lung cancer and rehab are very serious. I watched my grandmother fight cancer and my grandfather battle through rehab. For them, it seemed like their troubles all started with flavored tobacco products and led to more addictive and dangerous drugs. The amount of nicotine and the use of menthol

cigarettes is so addictive, it takes a long time for someone to realize how bad they are. Their focus is only on the flavor and the constant need to be smoking.

Today, with a global pandemic, we should pay attention and protect our lung health even more. Smoking weakens the immune system and leads to a high risk of respiratory infections. COVID-19 attacks the lungs, and it has been shown that smokers—traditional and ecigarette users—are more than twice as likely as nonsmokers to experience severe symptoms of COVID-19. Some smoke shops are handing out face masks when merchandise is sold. As if the masks will help. The flavored tobacco products are already weakening the lungs’ functions.

Everyone falls at some point, and while it is important that family and friends help when you do, lawmakers can also help. I am tired of living in a world where every conversation includes something about heading to a smoke shop and my friends not realizing that flavored pods are dangerous. A new ordinance is going to be presented to Phoenix City Council members. The ordinance would ban the sale of flavored tobacco products. This could help protect the health of my family and friends and the future of our youth.

Monica Baez is a youth ambassador for the Phoenix Flavors Ban campaign supported by the Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids.

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85085 | AUGUST 2020

ARTS

Virtually Present Musical Instrument Museum relies on web content during COVID-19

By Connor Dziawura

T

he effects of the coronavirus have been felt by many, from the closing of movie theaters and the pause on live music to the halting or limiting of operations by businesses like gyms, restaurants and bars. Those at the Musical Instrument Museum know all too well, as the venue closed this past spring to mitigate the spread of the virus.

To remain connected with and involved in the community during the closure, the Musical Instrument Museum continued to share updates and engaging posts to its various web channels. This includes virtual tours, where curators put the spotlight on certain exhibits and instruments; DIY instrument craft tutorials; and the conversion of some kids activities to online instruction.

The latter, called the MIMkids Mini Music Makers classes and intended for kids ages 0-5 and their caregivers, have been a popular endeavor at the museum since 2013, according to Katherine Palmer, its curator of education.

Described as 30 minutes of song, play and dance, the classes are intended to support child development.

As a result of COVID-19, however, MIM took those classes to Zoom on a choose-whatyou-pay basis ($4, $8 or $12) to stay engaged with the community and give “families and caregivers an option for something to do during this time that we all thought would be much shorter than it has been,” Palmer explains. For more information, visit mim. org/mimkids/mini-music-makers.

“We take what is sort of a traditional early childhood music and movement format, where we make music with basic instruments, we sing songs, we dance, we move, and all of it has sort of an underpinning goal of child development,” Palmer describes.

According to Palmer, the classes are based around the idea of “world” music and have alternating themes tied to different regions.

Kids can hear songs they know—like “Itsy Bitsy Spider,” “The Wheels on the Bus” and “Mulberry Bush”—put into new contexts, but they’ll also be introduced to children’s songs from other cultures.

While in some ways the classes translate well to the online format, she says, the difficulty is providing kids access to materials.

Obviously they can no longer experiment with the museum’s collection of instruments, so Palmer says classes are supplemented with additional video content.

“The access to instruments has been challenging, but music making can happen anywhere and with anything, and so we just use what we have, much like people have around the world for centuries,” she says.

MIM’s YouTube and other social media channels are also hotbeds of content, from live performances and installation teasers to several instrument craft making videos in which Palmer explains how to easily create maracas, a musical washboard and spoons, and a Tupperware drum. Th is inclination toward craft ing recycled instruments is a regular practice in the museum’s educational department, she says.

The museum has also been sharing Virtual Museum Curator Tours, in which staff members showcase different exhibits/regions and their instruments and provide contextual information. This includes a video on Ireland, in which Rich Walter, the museum’s curator for the United States/Canada and Europe, discusses three recent acquisitions: a 1760s fiddle, a set of 20th century uilleann (“elbow”) pipes, and a custom-built contemporary tenor banjo. In another, Walter chronicles the history of the popularity of mandolins in America, along with examples. Instruments like zithers, dulcimers and bagpipes and regions like

the Andes, Cuba and Brazil, among others, have also been covered by curators.

These video presentations, Walter tells, cover the type of content normally shared in person. But it’s just a little basic information to get people excited about the museum and make mental notes of what they should look out for when they return.

“There’s never a substitute for an in-person visit, of course, so I think we’re all, just like everyone everywhere, looking forward to being able to return to some normal routines,” Walter explains. “But it’s an opportunity just to take a few themes, a few topics, a couple displays occasionally, and point out some things that we find interesting and put them on that platform, which is a little bit different for us.”

Meanwhile, Palmer and Walter say staff members have been attempting to adapt to these times as best they can. According to Palmer, that includes ongoing conversation as to programming. And Walter says curators aim to ensure safety in the midst of COVID-19 and improve and continue to develop exhibits behind the scenes.

“There’s been quite a bit of energy just going on that premise that we’re still really determined to be as great a museum as we possibly can, and in our typical way of doing things that includes fresh content in the galleries to share,” Walter says.

Musical Instrument Museum mim.org

For more information about the museum, events and its reopening, which is unconfirmed as of press, visit mim.org or follow @ mimphx on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

AUGUST 2020 |

85085

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ART

‘Dare to Dream’

Katie Holmes plays Miranda Wells, the love interest of Jerry O’Connell’s Tucker, in “The Secret: Dare to Dream.” (Photo courtesy Lionsgate)

Jerry O’Connell visualized a ‘Secret’ role, and landed it

By Christina Fuoco-Karasinski

A

ctor Jerry O’Connell was on a set of a TV show and frequently complaining about his life, when a coworker gave him a copy of the book “The Secret.”

“I said, ‘Oh brother. This is going to be like a cult,’” O’Connell recalls. “I read it and it was very helpful. It was a really crazy time in my life professionally. I know it sounds cheesy to say this, but I visualized if they ever made a scripted version of the film, I wanted to be in it.”

He is.

“The Secret: Dare to Dream” hit premium video on demand outlets on July 31. The fi lm was originally slated for an April 17 theatrical release by Roadside Attractions, but the COVID-19 pandemic changed that.

The movie tells the story of Miranda Wells (Katie Holmes), a hard-working young widow struggling to raise three children, when she encounters Bray Johnson (Josh Lucas).

He’s carrying—literally—a secret that could change Miranda’s life. Meanwhile, she’s involved with her coworker, Tucker, played by O’Connell.

Written by Rhonda Byrne, “The Secret” was one of 2006’s best-selling self-help books,

Jerry O’Connell, right, jokes that he nearly fell off the roof when he saw Josh Lucas’ blue eyes. The two costar in “The Secret: Dare to Dream.”

(Photo courtesy Lionsgate)

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85085 | AUGUST 2020

based on an earlier fi lm of the same name.

It is based on the belief of the law of attraction, which claims that thoughts can change a person’s life directly. It sold 30 million copies worldwide and has been translated into 50 languages.

“The book has such a fanbase,” O’Connell says. “It has changed so many people’s lives.

I’m interested to see what ardent followers of the rules of attraction will think about the scripted version of their beloved book.

“It’s an international phenomenon, ‘The Secret.’ This is a dramatic version of that. I think the most challenging part is making sure the secret, this is the dramatic version of that. I think the most challenging part is making sure—I wouldn’t call it the fans—the

followers of ‘The Secret’ are happy with what we did.”

The movie was directed by Andy Tennant, with whom Lucas fans would be familiar because he helmed “Sweet Home Alabama” as well.

“They certainly got the right person when they got Andy Tennant to come do it,” O’Connell says. “He’s our writer/director, and I guess he really is one of the kings of rom-com. It was just so interesting that they went to him with the scripted version of ‘The Secret.’”

O’Connell is keeping busy these days. Amazon’s IMDb TV is carrying his show “Carter,” which is about an actor who played a cop on television and has a problem determining the difference between reality and fiction.

He also voices Cmdr. Jack Ransom on CBS All Access’ “Star Trek: Lower Decks,” which premieres on August 10. He describes the 10-episode run as a comedic version of “Star Trek.”

During the pandemic, O’Connell says he’s using his “laws of attraction” talents and visualization techniques to get his kids back in school. (He’s kidding.)

He’s hoping that fans and followers of “The Secret” have as much fun with the movie as he did.

“It was a fun set,” O’Connell says. “Katie Holmes is such a doll. She’s so much fun to work with.

“And man, I wasn’t playing his love interest, but that Josh Lucas is so dreamy. I had scenes with him—not to judge him—but I do get lost in his Paul Newman-esque blue eyes.”

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C LO S E TO H O M E

Cold as Ice Here are solutions to backyard beverage questions

By Shelley Sakala

T

here is an immutable, inescapable fact of outdoor living during the summer: You need drinks. Whether you’re hydrating or celebrating, a patio isn’t complete until your beverage plan is in place. Keeping your cold ones cold (and close by), saves you from all those back-and-forth trips into the house. And a supply of water bottles and juice boxes on the patio helps ensure that your fresh-from-the-pool kiddos aren’t tracking water into the kitchen. But what’s the best way to keep those drinks chilled and accessible? This month we look at five battle-tested backyard beverage storage solutions.

The Rolling Cooler Cart

Keeps ice and drinks elegantly stored and properly chilled. The wheeled stand holds the cooler at table height from the ground, which means no bending over to search for your favorite drink. The almost limitless design choices mean you can pick a model that blends in with your patio décor—or makes a bold contrasting statement. And whether you load it up with five cases of suds or just a few Cokes for your family, the exterior appearance of the cooler never changes. Prices start at $160 on Amazon.

Conquer the night with the CoolerBrightz LED Cooler Light Accessory. Eight color choices to illuminate the interior of your cooler or ice bucket. $15 on Amazon.

The Classic Cooler

The Steel Trough

We are in the golden age of ice chests. Coolers used to be mostly utilitarian containers for the beach or the lake. They were designed to keep drinks cold and food fresh for a weekend, while doubling as a campfire bench. And then somewhere along the way, coolers became status symbols with pressure-injected foam insulation and reinforced tie-downs. You can still grab a $25 ice chest that gets the job done. But the stakes have been raised. Why not go all in on an indestructible rotomolded military-grade cooler? It may not be elegant, but there’s no bigger flex than a $1,200 cooler that keeps your seltzer chilled for an entire week. Yeti.com.

Nothing says “party” like a giant metal tub filled with ice and drinks. No lid, no insultation and no pretense. It’s got the look and feel of a country bar or a company picnic.

Best for large gatherings, as a single six-pack would seem lost and lonely in the middle of a trough. These low-tech lidless beauties let you know when the party is starting—and when it’s over. Look for one with a drain plug or be prepared to lift and tip 150 pounds of melted ice the next morning. Rent a galvanized stock tank locally for $25 a day at a-zparty.com.

The Tabletop Tub

The insulated beverage tub countertop beverage cooler is a perfect way to put 91 iced-down bottles of whatever you’re serving within easy reach of everyone around the table. Think of it as the greatest centerpiece ever created. $136 at rapidwholesale.com.

The Classic Beer Bucket

Remember that surf bar you visited on your vacation that served metal buckets filled with ice and Coronitas? Recreate that vibe in your background with a galvanized steel beer bucket. A simple and effective way to keep your drinks cold and handy while you dream of the days when people still traveled (heavy sigh). $11 and up on Amazon.

Shelley Sakala is a local Realtor with The Sakala Group, and an 85085 resident.

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85085 | AUGUST 2020

PERSPECTIVE

Why kids end up in justice court

By Judge Gerald A. Williams North Valley Justice Court

don’t tell me, “But judge, I was under the legal limit.” If you are under 21, there is no amount of alcohol that you can lawfully consume, although you are unlikely to be arrested if your faith uses wine as part of a religious observance.

S

chool, in some form, will return this month. So, this is perhaps a good time for a teachable moment on what high school students do that triggers them having either to appear or to interact with a justice court. The North Valley Justice Court’s jurisdiction includes Anthem and Desert Hills, and if I am talking with a parent and with one of their kids, it is usually for one of three reasons.

Curfew

Traffic violations

Civil and criminal traffic violations are the No. 1 reason I see high school students in my courtroom. I realize that arterial roads like Gavilan Peak Parkway, Anthem Way and Daisy Mountain Drive look like superhighways, but they are not.

Speed limits matter,and most of the tickets I get are not close. They are for students driving around 20 mph or more over the posted speed limits, either within Anthem or on I-17.

Why do I make a big deal about teenagers who drive too fast?

According to the Center for Disease Control, in 2017, 2,364 teens in the United States aged 16 to 19 were killed, and about 300,000 were treated in emergency departments for injuries suffered in motor vehicle crashes.

While our nation is divided on many issues, hopefully we can all agree that those type of statistics are unacceptable.

Some other commonly cited violations include failure to control speed to avoid a collision, unsafe lane change and parking.

Yes, there are more than a few parking tickets issued, perhaps especially around Boulder Creek High School.

A parking ticket can become a big deal if it is ignored. It is not a moving violation, so it won’t trigger any points against someone’s driver’s license. Even so, if it is ignored, the vehicle owner’s driver license can get suspended. Often students are driving cars that are registered in a parent’s name, so a student

who ignores a parking ticket can expect to be on the receiving end of a conversation from an angry parent who has just discovered that their driver’s license has been suspended.

Underage drinking

Several years ago, when I was on active duty as a military lawyer or “JAG,” I was assigned for a few years as a criminal defense attorney. I remember arguing with a squadron commander and maintaining that a reduction in rank was too severe a punishment for my 19-year-old client who had been caught drinking a beer. The lieutenant colonel told me, “Captain, you don’t understand. I’m trying to save his life.” Although if given a chance, I might make the same argument today, I do clearly understand the squadron commander’s point.

Underage drinking is a big deal because alcohol and immaturity can provide a toxic mix. It is undisputed that consumption of alcohol can impair both reflexes and judgment. If underage drinking is happened, there is a chance additional misconduct is also occurring.

In Arizona, underage drinking is a class one misdemeanor, which means it is on the same level with other crimes that are the most serious kind of misdemeanor. By way of comparison, reckless driving is a class two, or lower, misdemeanor. If you are under 21, you can’t drink. It really is that simple. Please

After a new sheriff disbanded the North Valley Posse, citations for minors violating the Maricopa County curfew ordinance have decreased drastically. Essentially, if you are in an area without a municipal government, and you are under 16, you are directed to be inside from 10 p.m. until 5 a.m. If you are between 16 and 18, the curfew times are midnight to 5 a.m.

There are several exceptions to this ordinance. They include being with an adult and being involved in an emergency. There is also an exception if the student is coming directly home from work.

Judge Gerald A. Williams is the Justice of the Peace for the North Valley Justice Court. The court’s jurisdiction includes Anthem and Desert Hills.

Why are juveniles not charged in juvenile court?

Juvenile misconduct can be cited into either juvenile or into a justice court. Juvenile courts have a unique set of terms, some of which sound as if they came from a Charles Dickens novel.

Most do not use words like either delinquent or incorrigible as part of their daily vocabulary.

If a minor is cited into a justice court, the justice court must contact the juvenile court and request permission to hear the case. But whether that request is granted or not, the outcome for the minor and for his or her family will be substantially similar. Justice courts even use juvenile court forms.

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NEW ADVENTURES

Tortilla Flat

1 Main Street, Tortilla Flat tortillaflataz.com

A New Outlook Tortilla Flat’s new ‘caretakers’ are looking to freshen it up

By Christina Fuoco-Karasinski

K

atie Ellering, one of Tortilla Flat’s new owners, isn’t about modernizing the remnant of the Old West

town.

She and her fiancé/operations director, Chris Field, just want to bring a fresh look to the tourist attraction, which boasts a population of six.

“The most important thing to remember is we—the owners—are temporary,” says Field, who lives in Gilbert with Ellering.

“We’re transitioning what Tortilla Flat was into the 21stcentury. We’re not a sports bar or a strip mall that’s going to be gone in 10 years. Th is is a historical Arizona property that will be here for another 100 years. Our goal, as caretakers, is property maintenance, and we want to keep the look and the feel and provide programming to make sure we’ll be able to pass it on.”

Ellering has owned it since September with partners Ryan Coady, Tom Misitano

and Dale Evans.

“We thought this was such a unique thing, and we were like, ‘Yeah, let’s do this,’” Ellering says. “We got together and made it work.”

So far, the team has upgraded the kitchen and the food on the menu, except—Ellering and Field are quick to add—the famous chili recipe that’s been around since the 1940s.

“It’s a time-honored tradition, and that will not change,” she says.

The chili, which is also found on the chili dog, is part of a hearty American menu that includes the Mucho Macho nacho ($15.99);

Roosevelt “Dam” Good wings ($7.99 starting price); Gaucho cheesesteak ($12.49); Ol’ Faithful BLT ($11.49); chicken street tacos ($12.59) and fajita salad ($14.39).

“We have great food,” Field says. “We do. Is our food better than what you’ll find elsewhere? Maybe. We’re trying to create an experience. It’s a little gem of an experience.”

After having a meal in the saloon, guests can head to the Tortilla Flat General Store and Ice Cream Shop, where they can enjoy its well-known prickly pear gelato, or take home prickly pear barbecue sauce or a Tortilla Flat “Killer Chili” packet.

Beloved attraction

The owners have heard plenty of heartwarming stories from visitors to Tortilla Flat. They see children dressed up as cowboys and cowgirls and the awe on their face when they’re out there.

“They’re used to growing up in the city, and when they come out here, they play in the dirt and see cactus everywhere,” she says. “They have a lot of fun. They have a lot of fun with the dollar bills, too.”

“I got a letter a few months ago that had a dollar bill in it. A young kid had taken one of the dollars off of the wall (at Superstition Saloon and Restaurant) and had written us a letter of apology and sent us the dollar bill back. It was really cute.”

The couple have been visited by folks who have donated the collectibles that fi ll the saloon, like the saddles that sit atop handcarved bar stools and worn leather goods

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that are tacked to the walls.

One of the fun parts of Tortilla Flat is its history and games. Field explains that in the frontier days, if there were more than 100 permanent residents, you were considered a town or settlement and you’re officially on the map.

“Tortilla Flat was never big enough to have that prestige,” he says. “We were big enough to have a post office. Because of that, there’s no real town hall records or building plans. Most of what we know about Tortilla Flat has been assembled by different people who were here.”

No one knows the real story behind the name, Tortilla Flat. But one is believable, Field says. It’s understood that it came from a family who was caught in a monsoon in the 1930s in the area. After being stuck for a couple days, all they had left was masa and water.

“They were down to eating tortillas for the last couple of days,” he says. “So, they called it Tortilla Flat.”

A man who visited in the early 2000s said he lived there when he was a child. He sketched a picture on a napkin of the town before fires and floods ravaged it. It included the Goldbrick Motel, which was constructed from mud bricks manufactured on-site out of clay in the ground and then mixed with gold dust from the local miners in the Superstitions at the time.

The kitchenettes in the motels were rented to tourists until 1987, when a fire destroyed the entire town. A building that replaced it houses the gift shop and post office.

“Every time it rains, we have a little creek alongside the property,” he says. “You can see little shiny flecks.”

Other stories revolve around the items that

adorn the walls of the saloon.

“One of the funny things is, maybe a month ago, there was a couple here who were like, ‘Hey, that stuff right there is ours—that gun and jacket. We donated that,’” Ellering recalls.

“People are so proud to have their things up on the wall and just be a part of history. There are some really cool, fun stories and things that happen out here.

Self-sufficient

Tortilla Flat is a self-sufficient little town, according to Ellering.

“We’ve got a sewer plant. We’ve got a water plant. We do process our own water,” she says.

“However, we don’t even have a phone line.

We can’t get a landline here. So, when people call us, they don’t know that they’re calling a

cellphone, because we don’t have a landline.

We can’t get the internet.”

Field and the all-female leadership team— Ellering, restaurant manager Renee Lockhart, restaurant supervisor Marba Carroll, kitchen manager Kaleena Gallegos and retail manager Stephany Duarte—are planning some improvements, though. They include painting signs and creating a town newspaper with treasure hunts for kids, a historical crossword puzzle and stories of Tortilla Flat.

“I’ll be all silly advertisements, like period pieces,” Field says. “I have this really fun idea.”

Field says Tortilla Flat, which also houses a museum, is perfect for a day visit for Valley families during the pandemic.

“You don’t have to commit to a day of travel or two days of travel,” he says. “You can spend a half day with us and get away from all the craziness.

“Our goal is to take what’s here and just make sure that it looks fantastic. It’s in repair so people can create memories with their families long after we’re dead and gone.”

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E X P LO R I N G

Exploring the Grand Canyon State Summer staycations at Arizona’s parks and trails

By Michelle Thompson

W

ith the advent of the COVID-19 pandemic, many Arizonans are looking for great summer vacations in their home state. Arizona State Parks and Trails has amazing lesser-known parks that are a great fit. With family-friendly activities, camping for beginners (and experts), plus miles of trails and plenty of rest and relaxation, a road trip to one of these parks will make lasting memories.

Lakeside destination

Roper Lake Cabins

Head north to Lyman Lake State Park, where the capacity for water fun is only limited by your imagination. This large lake has no motor size restrictions for boaters but also has a nowake zone for swimming. You can take your paddleboard, kayak or jet ski out—or try water skiing! This park was once host to several water ski tournaments. Located in St. Johns, this higher-elevation park will have pleasant days and cool nights, and it has campsites for tents or RVs. If you’re not a camping expert, try staying in one of the cabins. All you need to bring is a sleeping bag and you’re all set. Wake up and have your morning coffee on the front porch overlooking the sunrise on the lake. There are trails that tell the history of the area as well as a playground and park store.

where you can relax at the base of Mount Graham in southeastern Arizona. Roper Lake and Dankworth Pond are connected parks that offer camping, cabins, trails, fishing, boating and swimming. Plus, with Mount Graham so close by, you can explore longer trails during the day and return to your cozy campsite in the evening. Any time of year, Roper Lake is a great place to spend a day on the lake, and the kids will love the playground and model Indian village. Safford sits at a slightly higher elevation, so expect warm days and cooler nights—perfect for swimming and hanging out by the shore. Plus, Roper Lake is an excellent spot for birdwatching.

For a change of scenery, head to Safford,

The Lime Kiln Trail in north-central Ari-

Southern Arizona charm

Hiking adventure

Lyman Lake Camping

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zona is a fun hike that connects two amazing parks. Start at Dead Horse Ranch State Park in Cottonwood and follow the trail all the way through to Red Rock. The changing scenery and topography will keep this 15-mile hike interesting every step of the way, and the trail is an experience you don’t want to miss.

Home base camp

Back at Dead Horse Ranch, mesquite bosques and canopies of cottonwood trees give campers privacy and outdoor recreationalists a break from the summer sun. A gentle, ever-present breeze sways and keeps the park cooler than the Valley. This high-desert destination is full of outdoor activities and gives visitors a chance to focus on one or try them all. A variety of shared-use trails, horseback riding, lagoon and river fishing, and kayaking opportunities are within short distance of more than 100 large RV campsites. The park location in Cottonwood is centralized to allow quick, easy travel to nearby parks in Sedona, Jerome and Camp Verde. Come along for this multipark adventure. Hang your hat at Dead Horse Ranch and explore north-central Arizona’s unforgettable culture, history and beauty.

Michelle Thompson is the chief of communications at Arizona State Parks and Trails, which has more than 30 parks across the state. She has more than 20 years of experience in marketing and communications for various industries. Visit azstateparks.com for locations and things to do.

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g n o l e f Li Dream d e z i l a e R

Pietro Marsala fought for the right to fly commercial planes

By Christina Fuoco-Karasinski

P

ietro Marsala remembers, as a child, his father bribing him with trips to the flight deck midflight when they flew to Italy every summer to see family.

“I was the best kid in the world for two weeks,” Marsala says. “It would be just me and my dad in there with them. This was before 9/11. I’d be in awe of everything going on. I looked at them like they were superheroes.

“I loved the way they carried themselves

in the terminals, the equipment they fly and their passion. I was in awe of it all. I developed my passion for flying there.”

That passion never died, but a diagnosis of type-1 diabetes almost derailed his dreams.

For pilots who dreamed of flying airplanes commercially, a diabetes diagnosis meant having to give it up. That is until November, when the Federal Aviation Association reversed course and began issuing first- and second-class medical certificates required for commercial flying to people with diabetes, like Marsala, a Scottsdale resident.

Why the change? A combination of advancements in diabetes technology—and a ton of heart and perseverance from the people who use it.

Practice makes perfect

When Marsala was 11, he spent hours on his Microsoft flight simulator, giving him Pietro Marsala shows the results of his continuous glucose monitoring device, a small wearable technology that is placed on a person’s lower abdomen and automatically sends a user’s blood glucose levels to a receiver, smartphone or Apple Watch every 5 minutes.

(Photo courtesy Pietro Marsala)

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his first taste of flight. As time progressed, he developed his passion for flying.

“I would spend hours on it,” Marsala says.

“I’d have my parents and brother behind me in the office and act like my passengers. They couldn’t stand more than 30 minutes of being there.

“Then it would be just me in the room. It’s so realistic, and it’s in real time. I would take off from Chicago and fly across the Atlantic Ocean, put it on autopilot and set the alarm for Spain. I had a couch in the office, where I’d sleep. I’d wake up and pick up where I left off and turn autopilot off.”

When he entered high school, Marsala thought maybe he wasn’t smart enough to be a pilot. He was indecisive, until he went on a tour of a flight school at Deer Valley Airport.

“I saw I could learn to fly in sunny Phoenix, Arizona, at Deer Valley Airport, so I went out there,” Marsala says. “I fell in love.

The rest is history. I started taking flying lessons, doing my training and working on my commercial flight training. Right in the beginning of it, they diagnosed me with type-2 diabetes.”

The diagnosis came after he lost 10 pounds in a week, he was thirsty and urinated frequently. Marsala was devastated to be diagnosed with a chronic illness at 21. Ten to 11 months later, he started “feeling weird” again and was re-diagnosed as a type-1 diabetic.

“I didn’t fit the bill of a type-2 diabetic,” he says. “I was fairly fit and pretty young. That was the hardest day of my life, to go back on insulin, a career-ending drug.”

Not ready to give up

Marsala, who was licensed to instruct, was still determined to be a commercial pilot. The FAA allowed pilots with diabetes to obtain third-class medical certificates, enabling them to fly privately and flight instruct. But they can’t earn first- and second-class medical certificates required for commercial flying.

The FAA believed pilots with diabetes who suffered from severe high or low blood sugar during a flight would endanger the passengers and the aircraft. With continuous glucose monitoring technology from companies like Dexcom, users can see their blood glucose levels at any given moment and know if their levels are trending up or down so that they can proactively make educated treatment decisions.

A continuous glucose monitoring device is a small wearable technology that is placed on a person’s lower abdomen and automatically sends a user’s blood glucose levels to a receiver, smartphone or Apple Watch every 5 minutes. The Dexcom system also has builtin alerts that proactively notify patients and their family and friends before their blood glucose reaches potentially dangerous levels.

“It’s great because it sends to a cloud and I’m able to print these reports from my receiver,” he says. “It constantly records blood

Pietro Marsala, right, with the FAA’s James DeVoll when they met to discuss diabetic pilots. (Photo courtesy Pietro Marsala)

sugar.”

He and his friend decided to take a trip to Washington, D.C., in 2015, and while they were there, Marsala inquired with the FAA’s Dr. James DeVoll. He was turned away, so instead Marsala sent DeVoll an email. Surprisingly, he received a response.

“Two hours later, I received a response when I was at dinner that he’d like to meet me,” he recalls. “The next day, at noon, I went up there and I was overly excited to meet him.

He said he didn’t have too much time, but we ended up talking for about an hour and a half.”

Marsala showed DeVoll he was stable in flight, and the FAA said they were going to consider type-1 diabetics on a case-by-case basis. However, no one had been certified yet.

“I was pleasantly aggressive,” he says. “I made an Excel spreadsheet to prove I’m stable in flight.”

On November 7, the FAA decided to allow pilots with insulin-treated diabetes to apply to fly commercial airliners. The FAA’s reversal came after a series of lawsuits issued by the American Diabetes Association in partnership with diabetic pilots. Another factor that played a role in the FAA’s deci-

sion making is the advancement of medical technology.

Marsala sent records from a cardiologist, endocrinologist and optometrist, and he was certified in April.

“I knew we were close, but I didn’t know when it was going to come,” he says. “I was driving, and my watch goes off. It was an email from the FAA. I thought, ‘Holy cow.

This is it.’ It required a password, so I did that, and I scrolled to the bottom—not even reading the whole thing. It said I was first-class medical certified.

“Eight long years. I didn’t give myself a chance to enjoy the moment. I immediately called my doctor, thanking him and still crying at the time. I thanked him for believing in me and trusting me. He changed my life forever. He said, ‘If I didn’t shed a tear when I sent out that email, I would have been lying.’

I knew it meant a lot to him as well.”

Now comes the task of looking for a job in the time of COVID-19, when many flights are grounded.

“I hope things pick up pretty quickly,” he says. “There’s so much uncertainty around the whole industry, but the biggest obstacle is over.”

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Local tour company continues through pandemic

By Brandie Bosworth

H

unting scorpions after sunset, firing machine guns off of ATVs, and offroading at the base of the Bradshaw Mountains with Tomcars are a few of the adventures guests can experience through Desert Wolf Tours.

Located in 85086, the business began in 2006 when the original owner started leading tour expeditions for tourists stopping at Jack Ass Acres, an old gas station off the I-17 and New River. The owner had two Tomcars and ran it as a one-man show. Fast forward

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14 years, and the business has expanded to 16 Tomcars with more activities added to the mix.

Tomcars originated from off-road military vehicles and are durable, versatile machines that are designed to be safe and dependable in rugged terrain.

Hunter Corbier has been the general manager at Desert Wolf Tours for eight years. He says the tours are unlike any other, even for locals to experience.

“The biggest expectation would be to go out there without any,” Corbier says.

One of the more popular tours is the halfday Tomcar adventure. Guests 16 years and older with a valid driver’s license get to drive their own Tomcar, following a guide into the desert. The vehicles hold four people, and all ages can be passengers, as there are car seats for the little ones.

“Our vehicles are very smooth. They are kind of like the Cadillacs of the off-road vehicles,” Corbier says.

This experience includes about two hours of drive time in the Tomcars. The rest of the time is filled with sharing knowledge about the surrounding area.

Corbier says, “We do have certain stops where the guide gets out with them and teaches about the plants, animals, history, desert survival and does some active demonstrations.”

One demonstration showcases the different cactuses that are safe for consumption. To do so, they burn the needles off first. Another demonstration allows guests to try mesquite flour

straight from mesquite trees and its pea pods.

The Tomcar “Scorpion Hunt” Sunset ATV Tour takes guests out to watch the sunset.

Then, the hunt for scorpions begins.

“We flip on our LED light bars in the cars and head farther into the desert until we get to a spot we call Scorpion Alley,” Corbier says.

“We get out with black lights and you light them up with the black light like a highlighter.

They are very distinct and bright.”

Guides will talk about the scorpions, and depending on the temperature, anywhere from 10 to 40 scorpions may be uncovered.

The ATV Tour Machine Gun Adventure lets guests use firearms at a permitted desert shooting range. One firearm, an M1919 machine gun, is mounted on an ATV that guests shoot from the top of the vehicle. The other guns are an AK-47 and a military grade M4.

Other packages include guns like a fully automatic 9mm Uzi. There are over 13 different machine gun platforms, and Corbier says the customer can customize the guns they want

to try however they wish. Customers must be at least 13 years old to shoot.

Desert Wolf Tours was hit hard by the coronavirus, as have other tourism companies, Corbier says. However, to combat the virus, the company is having guests be in their own vehicles and not combining different groups of guests.

Additionally, dust gators are given to each guest before the tour, and they not only keep the dust at bay but qualify as a face covering.

The sanitization of the vehicles is a little different, Corbier says, but the other aspects of the operation are the same.

In the summer season, tours run in the mornings and sunset to beat the summer heat. When it gets cooler, they run in the

mornings and afternoons. Some of the tours are unavailable due to the fire ban and fire hazards associated with them.

Prices begin at around $150 per person and increase based upon the adventure and customer customizations.

The business has racked up several awards for its excursions since its beginnings, Corbier says, including being in TripAdvisors’ Hall of Fame.

“I know everyone’s been cooped up inside with not a whole lot going on and the desert is a good way to get out of the house and have a change in scenery,” Corbier says.

Desert Wolf Tours

4220 W. Opportunity Way, Suite 116, Phoenix 1-877-613-9653, desertwolftours.com $15 off per adult with the code LOCAL15

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Just Doing His Job Caring Corps names Arthur Gimson top humanitarian

By Christina Fuoco-Karasinski

A

s a child in England, Arthur Gimson learned the importance of neighbors.

Gimson recalls his mother giving a neighbor sugar, even though she knew the person couldn’t repay the “loan.”

When he moved to Carefree, he brought that mentality to the Foothills, and for his efforts, The Foothills Caring Corps named him its Humanitarian of the Year.

“His unselfish and dedicated service to our neighbors as a van and medical transportation driver has made a significant difference in our community,” said Debbra Determan, Foothills Caring Corps director.

“As I head into my own retirement from the Caring Corps, I am delighted to recognize Arthur for all he has done for us.”

The Foothills Caring Corps is a volunteerdriven nonprofit 501 (c) (3) organization dedicated to promoting independence and enhancing the quality of life for older residents.

Determan gave Gimson the award, which previously honored William (Bill) Budris, Phil and Marion Abramowitz, Jill Ford, David Schwan, Jean and Richard (Dick) Segil, William (Bill) Bergman and Peter Slocum.

The agency recently celebrated 20 years of serving the community by providing a variety of invaluable services, including medical and van transportation, friendly visits, mobile meals, shopping assistance and more for North Valley residents, including those in 85085.

Gimson was born in Kingbury, Middlesex, England. At 6 months old, his parents moved to Watford, Hertfordshire, where he attended Parkgate Road primary school and the Watford Grammar School for Boys. His father worked for the Ministry of Pensions and National Insurance (the U.K. equivalent of Social Security).

His father could not enlist because his work was deemed “essential.” Instead, he kept his daytime job from 9 to 5, and after hours served as a Home Guard air raid warden, who made sure curtains on houses showed no lights. Also among his duties was standing watch on the tops of tall buildings looking out for Germans dropping incendiary bombs to

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Arthur Gimson says it is humbling to be Humanitarian of the Year for something that brought him so much pleasure.

(Photo courtesy Foothills Caring Corps)

find out their positioning.

Gimson, along with his two brothers, and his mother slept on mattresses in a steel air raid shelter in the front room of their house.

Even though the war ended in 1945, rationing continued until 1953.

After the war, even though his parents were working, they volunteered at the local community center, which hosted dances, theater and other activities for the locals. His mother baked cookies—or “biscuits,” as they’re called in England—especially coconut macaroons and other minidesserts, selling them for pennies, with all money raised going to a needy cause.

At school, Gimson and his twin brother were encouraged to join the Wolf Cubs, later graduating to the Boy Scouts.

After leaving high school, he spent nearly 30 years with Hilton Hotels. Management staff were encouraged to participate in trade associations but also in community service activities. He participated in the United Way, later as a member of the Kiwanis Club and 14 years as a member of the Rotary Club.

After moving to Carefree, Gimson became very involved with his homeowners association. He was later elected to the Carefree

Town Council for a two-year term.

Soon, he became a volunteer for the Foothills Caring Corps. Even though Pastor Jayne Hubbard told him never to be afraid of saying no (she didn’t want her drivers getting burned out), it was difficult for Gimson not to accept requests for help.

He has been the Caring Corps federal Passenger Assistance Safety & Sensitivity (PASS) trainer since 2012. Gimson is the first volunteer who was certified as a PASS trainer in Arizona. The six-hour PASS training class he teaches is required for all Level II drivers and assistants who are transporting For Gimson, it is humbling to be nominated as Humanitarian of the Year for just doing something that brought him so much pleasure. A tap on his shoulder from a neighbor after a van trip, with a smile saying “thank you,” was just as satisfying as getting a paycheck.

He said in retrospect that he wishes he kept a log of the van trips and medical transportation runs that he drove. The stories he can tell could fi ll a book.

Info: 480-488-1105, foothillscaringcorps. com

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S P OT L I G H T

Fit for Royalty

Marisa Johnson puts an athletic twist on cheer and tumbling

By Christina Fuoco-Karasinski

M

arisa Johnson was a competitive all-star cheerleader during her time at Boulder Creek High

School.

Little did she know the two would come together.

Seven years ago, on New Year’s Eve, she opened AZ Royals to turn cheerleaders and tumblers into a well-conditioned and mentally fit athletes. The competitive cheer program stresses respect, while the power tumbling program is under the USA Gymnastics umbrella.

“Our staff takes pride in our ability to focus on each individual,” Johnson says. “It is important for our staff to teach students to excel in all areas of cheerleading and tumbling.

“Our staff strongly believes that our success originates from the dedication and commitment of our athletes and parents.

Not only do we strive for success through the cheer program, but we also encourage positive attitudes and respectful behaviors among our students.”

AZ Royals was forced to close in March, due to COVID-19, but reopened at the end of May because the company is branded a youth and recreational program.

Johnson used the COVID-19-forced closure to rebrand to Arizona Royals with new colors: silver, red, black and white.

Arizona Royals offers tumbling, recreational cheer and Arizona Royals All-Star, the latter of which is an elite cheer program.

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“We’re trying to rebrand and give it a facelift ,” she says. “We’re still following strict guidelines. We have 10 tumbling kids at a time. It’s nice because all of our panel mats are 6 feet apart.

“Unfortunately, we can’t stunt with any of the kids. They can’t touch each other. We have different workouts for them in order to help them maintain that stretch. We’re working on tumbling, jumps, strength and conditioning, and flexibility.”

Young start Johnson wasn’t planning on opening a cheer gym. It just fell in her lap.

“I started coaching and then I acquired the gym after that,” she says. “I just love cheer. We incorporate fitness into our program with personal trainers and instructors who are catered toward adults, too.

“We also do recreational tumbling classes as well for those who aren’t ready to compete. They can come in and work on tumbling skills at any level or age group.”

Its focus is competitive cheering throughout the Valley at local competitions. The organization does travel out of state a couple times a year.

“The program is based on kids who are Marisa Johnson helms Arizona Royals in Anthem, where she provides disciplined training in all-star cheerleading and tumbling. (Photos courtesy Marisa Johnson)

really elite athletes,” Johnson says. “We also have programs for kids not wanting to compete in states to keep it affordable.”

Cheer has played a big part in Johnson’s life.

She competed in the worlds twice and, in her last year, she earned a silver medal with the West Valley Thunder in 2008.

“One aspect with competitive cheer that’s important is you have to be a well-rounded athlete,” she says. “You have to be able to tumble, stunt, jump and dance. It’s a really athletic sport. When I started working with Arizona Royals, I felt strongly about incorporating the fitness aspect.

“It’s so competitive. That’s what I love about it. I love the athletes who push their limits. I love showing them they’re better than they think they are and showing them that hard work and determination will pay off. Plus, these kids are able to go out on stage and have the confidence that will help them down the road in life.”

Arizona Royals

4235 W. Opportunity Way, Suite 104, Anthem 623-551-2780, azroyaltwist.com

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F A M I LY

Resilience We need to stay strong during the COVID-19 pandemic

By Pastor David Bowen Standing Stones Community Church Standing Stones Christian Academy

B

y definition, resilience means “the capacity to recover quickly from difficulties.” Arizonans are resilient.

When temperatures hit 112 or 115, one has to learn to be resilient. We all understand how our summer heat can make everyday things harder to do. We all have heard how Arizona is suffering from one of the worst outbreaks of COVID-19. It’s not just us out here is the desert. A recent USA Today headline stated that one in every three Americans knows someone who has been diagnosed with coronavirus.

How are families coping with this daily life of constant uncertainty? It seems every day my email inbox is filled with phrases like “uncertain times.” As people settle into the stay-at-home and pause in our daily routines, many are ready for more optimism and more forwardlooking scenarios. It seems everyday there are more coronavirus TV ads filled with pictures of empty streets and first responders doing their best to deal with the current circumstances. Fortunately, it seems marketers and many advertisers are switching to advertising that demonstrate empathy. They are highlighting how companies are helping and telling

us how they are expressing care and concern.

Maybe families can take a cue from marketers and advertisers and talk about how they can look forward and how they can focus on empathy for others and not get caught up in fear or panic. Obviously, there are some things that we have no control over. However, we do control how we respond in uncertain times.

In our family, we have had conversations about how uncertainty can be unnerving.

But at the same time, we know we have a wonderful church family, we have good neighbors and we have each other. Knowing we are not left to figure it all out on our own brings comfort. Anyone who’s alone is vulnerable, but together we are stronger than the combination of our individual strengths. People together can take turns

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HILLCREST B A P T I S T

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SUNDAYS AT 10:30AM

between drawing strength from others and being a source of strength. That has been a key for us. Sometimes we lean on others; other times we help people who need a hand.

In uncertain times, some may feel it is reasonable to respond in anxiety or despair.

However, we do have a say in how we respond, and we can choose to have hope.

We can let go of thinking about the worst possible scenario and look forward with a positive perspective. We can let our compassion for others and those who are having a hard time be the driving force behind our efforts.

There have been many inspirational stories that have come out of this pandemic, especially the ones where kids have been the resilient ones. One young boy stood outside a hospital and played his instrument for health care workers. A young girl began making masks and blankets for those who could not afford such comforts. Families have found ways to bring joy into a culture that needs a healthy dose of benevolence. My heart has broken several times when I have heard the pain in the voices of those who have loved ones in the hospital and because of this virus they cannot visit.

The same goes for those who have loved ones in adult care facilities. Visitors are not permitted. Those in that situation desperately need to hear the sound of hope. It just takes people being willing to be resilient. Stay strong, Arizona!

YOU

TO BE

You Deserve You Deserve to be Comfortable to be Comf

It’s Back-to-School Time

YOU

You Deserve TO BE to be Comfortable

You Deserve to be Comforta

Stickers are a fun way to colorize school supplies

By Shannon Fisher

S

chool will soon be back. Because DVUSD schools won’t be online until August 17 or later, we made crafts to help stay organized for home learning.

We chose stickers as a theme for our homework station and made a few things to organize our school supplies. We used the Dollar Store for all the items because it was an inexpensive way to get ready for school.

The first thing we made was a clipboard to use when writing. I know my girls work from home in their bedrooms the best. The clipboard makes taking notes easier if they are not at a desk. We used shelf paper to cover the plain brown clipboard. It is easy, since you just peel back the paper backing and wrap around the board. Last, just trim off any excess and put a few decorative stickers if you want to make it more creative. You now have a cute clipboard to take notes or keep schoolwork on.

The next thing we decorated was a caddy for supplies. We used the same pack of stick-

ers to add a couple of cute designs to match the clipboard. It is a great way to have school supplies in one place that is easy to move from place to place.

Another great find was a corkboard. We just added more of the cute stickers. You could also cut the board to fit in a frame and take the glass out. It HEATING can sit on a desk •or COOLING table and be HEATING • COOLING • INDOOR AIR QUALITY • INDOOR QUALITY HEATING • AIR COOLING • INDOOR You used to keep notes and photos on the board Feel Deserve the 602-789-3000 with pushpins. Feel the tothe be omfortable ComFeel fort info@azperfectcomfort.com www.azperfectcomfort.com The last thing we decorated was a compoYou’ve Been info@azperfectcomfort.c ROBIN & JOHN MCCOMBS sition book using the same stickerinfo@azperfectcomfort.com pack. It VETERAN OWNED & OPERATED www.azperfectcomfort.c Missing! www.azperfectcomfort.com ROC#300933 • BONDED & INSURED made a plain notebook You’ve Been You’ve match Beenthe rest of the $ ROBIN & JOHN MCCOMBS cute supply holders. You can even use the on ANY REPAIR VETERAN OWNED & OPERATED shelf paper and cover theHEATING book if you wanted• COOLING N o t v a l i d w i t h o t h e r o f f e r s o r•p r o INDOOR m o t i o n s , o n e c o u p o n p e r p e r s o n AIR .

Q ROC#300933 • BONDED & INSURED a matching design. For under $10, we made HEATING HEATING •• COOLING COOLING •• INDOOR INDOOR AIR AIR QUALITY QUALITY $ all the crafts and got as well.the I hope $ supplies Feel Feel Feel the the HEATING • COOLING • INDOOR AIR QUALITY everyone is staying safe and enjoys making Feel Nthe ot valid with other offers or promotions, one Com Com f f ort ort info@azperfectcomfort.com o t vsa lbefore i d w i t h school o t h e r ostarts f f e r s o r p r o m o t i o ninfo@azperfectcomfort.com sinfo@azperfectcomfort.com , o602-789-3000 ne coupon per person. back-to-school N craft Com fort info@azperfectcomfort.com www.azperfectcomfort.com www.azperfectcomfort.com www.azperfectcomfort.com www.azperfectcomfort.com again.

You’ve You’veBeen Been You’ve Been You’ve Been ROBIN ROBIN& &JOHN JOHNMCCOMBS MCCOMBS ROBIN & JOHN MCCOMBS & VETERAN VETERAN OWNED OWNED&ROBIN &OPERATED OPERATED VETERAN OWNED & OPERATED Missin Missin gg!! g!

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N o t v a l i d w i t h o t h e r o f f e r s o rAUGUST p r o m o t2020 i o n s ,| o n e c o u p o n p e r p

WHEELZ

Extraordinary Rides The 2020 Lexus LS 500h Hybrid is comfortable and luxurious Story and photos by C.A. Haire

C

ar buyers who are seeking the best fuel economy often shop for a hybrid vehicle. They use a gas-powered engine combined with a battery/charging system to provide maximum fuel efficiency.

Because the main advantage is to spend less on fuel bills, these systems are usually placed in inexpensive vehicles to spend less on the initial purchase as well. But in the case of this Lexus LS 500h, the entry fee is anything but cheap—$116,000.

The base price starts at $80,000. Add $1,500 for air suspension, $3,000 for the safety package, $2,000 for an upgraded stereo and $3,000 for those larger alloy wheels, among other small items.

Then we get the “Executive Package.” It has Kiriko glass panels, massaging seats, a sun shade, reclining rear seats and a host of other goodies too long to detail here. This added a

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whopping $23,000. After all of this, it’s rather insulting to be charged $380 for floor mats that should have been standard.

Under the hood we get a 3.5-limats aren’t standard on the $116,000 2020 Lexus LS 500h Hybrid. They’re ter V-6 engine and hybrid combo Floor an extra $380. putting out 354 horsepower. Fuel economy is claimed to be 25 mpg in the city, 33 computer drive offers many modes to choose on the highway and 28 overall. This compares to from: normal, eco, custom, comfort, sport the nonhybrid LS 500 that has a 416-hp, 3.5 V-6 and sport plus. The 2,400-watt stereo sounds rated at 23 mpg overall. We put 600 miles on the great. There are more buttons and switches clock to get real-world figures. In heavy city traffic than a space shuttle, so there is an obvious the mileage was 24, in mixed commuting 27 and learning curve to master it all.

The LS 500h is very comfortable to drive, highway trips 28. This compares to the LS 500 and those spending lots of time behind the nonhybrid we drove previously at 15 mpg in hard wheel will have few complaints. But keep in city driving, 19 in mixed and 27 on the freeway. mind the excellent fuel economy promised As can be seen, the hybrid car gives about 25% will be obtained on city streets, not the freeto 65% fuel economy improvement in town, but way.

For drivers planning to take lots of innot so much on long highway trips. terstate trips, the standard LS 500 nonhybrid The cabin is a nice place to be, with plenty may be a more practical choice. of comfort and luxury toys to play with. The

RECIPE

What’s Cooking? with Jan D’Atri

Black Forest Ice Cream Cake

W

hoever came up with the combination of cherries and chocolate hit a home run!

That combo is especially delicious in a black forest cake with layers of cherry filling, chocolate cake and whipped cream. Have you ever thought about a frozen version of this favorite dessert?

It’s delicious.

This cake starts with a thin layer of chocolate cake or brownies on the bottom, then layers of cherry ice cream, ice cream sandwiches and whipped topping make this recipe a frozen dream. It all gets topped with fresh berries, cherry pie fi lling and maraschino cherries for color. I screamed, and you’ll scream for this refreshing gourmet ice cream cake!

Watch my step-by-step how-to video for black forest ice cream cake: jandatri.com/recipe/ no-bake-black-forest-cake-3

Black Forest Ice Cream Ingredients:

- 1 box chocolate cake mix or fudge brownie mix (or store-bought cake or brownies) - 1 quart cherry or cherry chocolate ice cream, thawed - 1 package (12) ice cream sandwiches - 1 tub, Cool Whip, thawed in the refrigerator - 1 package Oreo cookies, thin or regular - 1 small jar maraschino cherries - 1 can cherry pie filling - Fresh berries like blueberries, raspberries and blackberries, optional - Chocolate coating, optional

Directions:

Line an 8-by-8-inch square cake pan with foil, extending enough foil on both ends to be able to lift the cake out when frozen. Bake the chocolate cake or fudge brownies according to package instructions in a shallow baking sheet pan so the cake is only about 1 inch high. When done, cut the cake or brownies to fit the 8-inch cake pan. (You can also use a store-bought frozen chocolate cake or store-bought brownies.)

Thaw the cherry ice cream in a container enough so it can be spreadable. Spread about 1/2 to 3/4 inch of the melted ice cream over the cake bottom.

Place the ice cream sandwich bars over the ice cream so that they all fit snuggly together. Press down on the ice cream sandwiches so they press into the

ice cream. Top the ice cream sandwiches with the remainder of the melted ice cream. Cover and freeze overnight.

When cake has hardened, spread Cool Whip over the top and sides of the cake. If desired, put some Cool Whip in a piping bag to decorate the top. Combine about 1/2 cup of the cherry pie filling with several fresh berries, mixing gently to combine.

Spoon the berry mixture in the center of the cake.

Press Oreo cookies around the top of the cake so that they are standing up. Rinse maraschino cherries and place a few around the top of the cake.

(Optional: In addition to the bright red cherries, you can also dip cherries in chocolate coating. Let harden, and place around the cake.)

Return to freezer for several hours. When ready to serve, cut cake immediately and serve while cake is still frozen.

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RESTAURANT

TRULY

Successful There’s nothing basic about Tru Burger

By Christina Fuoco-Karasinski

S

tuart Gee has literally spent his life in the restaurant business.

Growing up in Waterloo, Iowa, he split his days between school and his father’s Chinese restaurant. After college, he worked for Red Lobster, Macaroni Grill, Mimi’s and TGI Friday’s—all in management or executive positions.

When he bought Tru Burger, which at the time had stores in Peoria and Anthem, he went with his gut instinct.

“I did like the name. I liked the concept, but I thought it was a little undervalued,” Gee says.

“The past owner wasn’t really a restaurant person. Both stores were on negative sales trends, so I was able to get him at a good price.

My whole world was in corporate at Macaroni Grill, Red Lobster, TGI Friday’s—things like that. I’ve been the turnaround guy.

“That’s why it appealed to me. They had a good product, but they started taking short cuts. I knew that there was a lot of low-hanging food to move the needle the right way.”

Since Gee bought Tru Burger in April 2017,

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Stuart Gee had a long history in the restaurant business before acquiring Tru Burger, which has locations in Anthem, shown above, and Downtown Phoenix. (Photo by Pablo Robes)

the Anthem location has doubled in sales. He chalks it up to improved management and products.

“Since we’ve doubled our sales, there are a lot of loyal guests,” he says. “Internally, when we talk, we wonder how our ‘Tru Believers’ will feel about this rollout, that addition to the appetizers, these burgers. We stay way ahead of the curve.”

He doesn’t skimp on product, either, which helped bolster sales. Burgers start at $9.95.

“Our main burger that we use on all of our items is a half-pound black angus all-natural patty with no added hormones or antibiotics,” Gee says.

“If you’re going to have a burger, that’s about as healthy as you can get. We don’t do a basic cheeseburger. There are some people who say we’re a little expensive. We may be a little more expensive, but our food cost is about 5 points higher, simply because we invest in the food that’s going to give us the repeat business, the high scores and good value.”

And while the cost of beef has risen, Gee

has kept his prices the same. Gee says his chefs will also cook burgers to a certain temperature—something a lot of other restaurants will not do. With black angus certified, there’s a lot less risk of illness, too.

“A very small number of cows make up that ground beef,” Gee says. “A thousand different animals are sometimes in other beef products. You never know where to look to find the problem.

“Fortunately, black angus has never had an issue. It’s safer for the consumer. You don’t get as much saturated fat, either. We’re proud to serve that burger. We do not and will not serve an inferior burger.”

Gee says the pandemic has been difficult and disappointing—especially when he had to switch to takeout only in March. He makes most of his money during the winter season, from January through the end of May. However, Anthem and the city of Phoenix helped keep the restaurant afloat.

“We did not hit the sales,” Gee says. “We did about 50% of what we would have done with takeout. We did that with a lot less people. We were able to make money through those times, which was very, very helpful. And with (Gov. Doug) Ducey allowing alcoholic beverages for takeout sales, it worked. There’s very low labor to serve drinks.”

For August, the Tru Burger staff revamped its drink menu, which features freshsqueezed fruit.

“If you order lemon, lime or orange juice, all of it is freshly squeezed,” Gee says. “It takes more labor, but the drinks are significantly better than if you use canned frozen concentrate of anything.

“We want to promote a better price and product, so you’ll get the full benefit of the taste, the look and the sweetness of the fruit that’s in season. Mexico has a year-round growing season, so we have a lot of choices.”

Tru Burger’s trademark drink is the Pink Dragon ($9), which is a blend of fresh watermelon juice, vodka, basil and a few secrets Gee doesn’t want to divulge.

The restaurants’ most recognizable drink is the smoked old-fashioned made with bourbon liquor-soaked cherries.

“They’re out of this world,” Gee says with a laugh. “You get a nice buzz and have a nice

Tru Burger’s sales doubled in Anthem after Stuart Gee acquired it. (Photo by Pablo Robles)

snack. The smoked old-fashioned is my medicine I take when I don’t feel well.”

Gee challenges his staff to create new dishes and drinks. After working with top chefs at national chains, Gee has a lot of the answers, he says—but not all of them.

“Getting our employees involved with the creative side gives them buy-in, job satisfaction,” Gee adds. “They’re going to sell something they’ve created.

“We get quite good ideas from our guests, too. They wanted different options besides burgers, salads and sandwiches. A guest came in and said her husband loves Tru Burger and wants a burger every week, but she wasn’t a burger person.”

As a result, Gee added three grilled en-

trees—salmon with a compound lemon butter, fries and a side of fresh roasted vegetables ($16.95); marinated chicken ($14.95) or steak ($18.95) served the same with garlic herb butter.

“This is a great steak,” Gee says. “It’s also black angus. It’s aged with no hormones. It’s expensive for us—$19. It’s a plateful, but you’d pay $30 anywhere else.”

Tru Burger

39504 N. Daisy Mountain Drive, Anthem 623-465-5000, geeconcepts.com 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday to Thursday 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday AUGUST 2020 |

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BREWING

Hops and Dreams Veteran beer duo forges ahead with Simple Machine Brewing

By Brandie Bosworth

I

n 2017, Matt Wright and Marshall Norris met while working at Helton Brewing Company. Both had the same hopes—to be more involved in the beer industry. The pair along with a silent, third partner, dug up Norris’ old business plan and left their day jobs to found Simple Machine Brewing Company.

Wright moved to Arizona from Washington, D.C., with the hopes of shifting away from his corporate sales gig. Norris, an Arizona native, started as a home brewer in college before volunteering at a Tucson brewery to learn more about the process.

“It took us from December of 2014 to January of 2019 to actually sign a lease on a build-

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ing,” Norris says.

The business held a soft opening the week of Thanksgiving in 2019, which Norris says went off without a hitch and without drunk and disorderlies.

“It was kind of cool just to get our feet under

us and make sure the draft lines were working,” he says.

The brewery started by selling only local, guest beer on all 14 of its handles. By its January 2020 grand opening, it was procuring its own flavors on its handles and the sales

numbers were double the projected amount.

Norris says his favorite beer is Day Crusher.

The light, blonde ale has a malty sweetness that finishes dry with a 4.8% ABV. “It’s called Day Crusher because you can drink it during the day and not get hammered,” he says.

Wright says he favors the newest available beer, which at the time, was the Pillow Session Hazy IPA. The soft, smooth beer is composed of Cascade, Cashmere and Columbus hops with a 5.4% ABV. The prices range from $11 to $20, depending on the beer and quantity. There are fourto six-packs of 16-ounce bottles to 64-ounce cans available.

Since January, the business partners describe their experience as a rollercoaster. This is because COVID-19 hit shortly after their opening, and bars were forced to close or convert to takeout and delivery alternatives.

“We were definitely unsure about our future,” Wright says.

“We had no idea how people would react or if anyone would come in the doors anymore.”

They shut their tap room and switched to a different business model from what they anticipated, Norris says. They were bottling and canning everything they had made to get it out the door.

In a June 29 statement, Gov. Doug Ducey instituted a monthlong pause for businesses, including bars.

Wright says Simple Machine Brewing’s license doesn’t fall under Ducey’s restrictions, but as a company the owners decided to voluntarily close their taproom and revert back to delivery and to-go options.

“It was tough because we could stay open, but we think it is the right thing to do right now,” Wright says. “Bars are hotspots for carrying this virus.”

Pre-coronavirus, the business held activities that had the building buzzing, including free trivia nights every Wednesday and cornhole league tournaments every Thursday.

The duo was happy to also introduce different food trucks to complement their drinks.

Trucks that have stopped by the brewery include Doughriders, Crazi’s Hot Kitchen, and Mr. Wonderful’s Chicken and Waffles.

The success of the business so far is attributed to Norris’ knowledge of the brewing process and loyal customers, Wright says. A solid customer base was built at the beginning of the year, and the same faces week after week placing orders are the ones who are getting the brewery through being closed.

Simple Machine Brewing Company

701 W. Deer Valley Road, Suite 1, Phoenix 623-469-9199, simplemachinebrewing.com AUGUST 2020 |

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BREWING

Changing Things Up

State 48 keeps things fresh at new Norterra Rock House

By Christina Fuoco-Karasinski

S

tate 48 likes to keep things fresh.

In Downtown Phoenix, State 48 Brewery caters to the concert crowd from The Van Buren and Crescent Ballroom when there’s not a pandemic. The location also brews its flagship, year-round offerings, such as the Sound of Freedom IPA, Javelina Hefeweizen, Lost Dutchman Golden Ale, Copper Star Kolsch and Vortex Amber.

State 48 Lager House in Scottsdale has the chain’s biggest brewing system, a full-service restaurant, a second-level mezzanine, a din-

ing patio and second-level patio that overlooks the McDowell Mountains.

The original location, State 48 Brewery in Surprise, features a 10-barrel system where it brews seasonal and specialty beers. It has a full kitchen as well as a wood-fired pizza oven featuring Neapolitan-style pizza. There’s a dog-friendly patio with games such as cornhole and giant Jenga and Connect 4.

At Westgate, it’s all about entertainment, where State 48 Funk House boasts 12 lanes of bowling, two pool tables and a shuffleboard table. Its 20-barrel system will eventually

Graffiti adorns the walls of State 48 Brewery’s Rock House in Norterra. (Photos by Pablo Robles)

brew sours and other mixed fermentation beers.

“We create a wonderful, good vibe and a great craft beer to keep them coming back for more,” says Greg Emmett, State 48 Rock House’s general manager. “We have excellent service.”

So, expectations were high when State 48 Rock House opened in Norterra. A stage overlooks the room that is adorned with graffiti art of a drum kit, the restaurant’s logo and a peace sign.

“I come from a background where details matter,” Emmett says. “We do it well, and the guests know that. We wanted to create a fun environment with music, burgers and beer.”

“Fun” is in the menu as well. Starters range from Disco Fries—French fries covered in beer cheese, brown ale gravy, pork carnitas, pepperoncini and green onion ($11)—to Totchos—tater tots smothered in beer cheese, pickled jalapenos, pico de gallo, bacon, black beans and green onions ($12).

Salmon salad with grilled salmon, grape tomatoes, cucumbers, red onions, carrots, feta, avocado and basil vinaigrette ($15) and roasted beet with braised red and gold beets, orange supremes, goat cheese, pistachios, arugula, basil vinaigrette and balsamic reduction ($9) are among the creative salad dishes.

Sandwiches include hot chicken with buttermilk-battered chicken breast, spicy oil, State 48 Rock House’s lobby is warm and inviting.

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bread and butter pickles, coleslaw, all on a brioche bun ($13.50); meatloaf melt ($13.50); beer cheesesteak ($14.50) and brisket sandwich ($14.50).

The entrees are the stars of the show with Southwest chicken pasta mixed with chipotle alfredo sauce, grilled chicken, bacon, red bell peppers, roasted mushrooms and grilled corn ($14.50); meatloaf smothered in Dust Devil Brown Ale gravy ($15.50); schnitzel ($16.50) and steak frites ($24.50) on the menu.

“My favorite item is the fish and chips,” Emmett says. The Lost Dutchman Golden Ale battered Alaskan cod comes with handcut fries, coleslaw, tartar sauce and grilled lemon ($16.50).

Beer plays a big role in the dishes at State 48, even in the burgers. The State 48 burger ($14) comes with beer-battered pickles and IPAsriracha bacon. S-48 steak sauce is available as a condiment for any of the burgers or entrees.

“We want consistency across all of our locations,” Emmett says. “We focus on fresh, quality ingredients, and the majority of them are housemade. We create an ambiance, but our food is great.

“We have some great entrees—fish and chips, Southwest chicken pasta, grilled salmon, a variety of burgers and some great sandwiches and wraps. Anybody can fi nd

A stage for live music acts sits behind the taps at the full bar at State 48 Rockhouse.

something they want on our menu. Every location has a diverse customer base.”

Emmett says Norterra has been missing a place like State 48 Rock House.

“It’s a fun place to hang out,” he says. “It’s a craft brewery. We have live music. We put all of that together.

“We’ve received a lot of feedback from people who live 2 to 5 miles away, and they all say Norterra needed this. The other part

that excites me is Norterra needed a place like this to draw people to the area and build it up.”

State 48 Brewery

2530 Happy Valley Road, Suite 1269 Phoenix, AZ 85085 623-581-7553, state48brewery.com

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H E A LT H

Back to School, Back to Fitness Tips to stay motivated when you’re a busy parent

By Joella Hopkins

D

on’t allow yourself to get in a rut!

Summer is nearly over, and the kids are finally back in school— whether it’s still online learning or in person. Schedules for everyone have drastically changed—for kids and parents! It’s easy to put your own workout on the back burner when everybody else seems to need you and there doesn’t seem to be enough time in the day. If you don’t make your fitness routine a priority right out of the gate, you may find yourself stuck in a rut that’s hard to get out of.

Good intentions are not good enough.

From working your full-time job to managing your kid’s school schedules, it’s easy for the day to get away from you without getting your workout in! It’s an endless cycle because when you don’t exercise, you have less energy, which makes it tough to feel motivated.

Even the best intentions to work out in the evening can be derailed at the end of the day when you’re exhausted. What’s a parent to do?

Here are a few tips:

Create a schedule —and stick to it!

You are more likely to succeed when you schedule your workout time (just like you would your kid’s soccer practice). This is an appointment that you do not cancel; it goes on your calendar and becomes a

non-negotiable. This is “you” time—time to take care of yourself so you will be a better parent, spouse, employee and friend.

It’s not just about your physical health— it’s about your mental health as well. You will be more patient with people, happier throughout your day and have more energy for family time.

Get an early morning start to your day

Make your first decision in the morning a healthy one by setting your alarm early enough to get a 30- to 45-minute workout in. Switching to this schedule sets you up for good, positive decisions the rest of the day! Just like any habit, it will only take a few short weeks to get into your groove. In no time you’ll be rocking a fitter, happier lifestyle and actually look forward to your morning workouts!

Prep food on the weekend

It only takes a couple of hours on a weekend to prep some healthy choices for the week.

Cook chicken breast or lean meats for dinner or dice it up on top of salads. Grill salmon and veggies that you can make or pack for lunch and reheat later so you’re not tempted to go out to eat and make poor choices. Boil eggs for a breakfast on the go or a great mid-day

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85085 | AUGUST 2020

snack. Keep plenty of fruits, raw veggies and heathy nuts on hand for snacks when you get hungry between meals.

Your workouts don’t have to be long to be effective

There is good news! Studies have proven that you don’t need to spend hours working out to get quality exercise. Even a quick workout before the kids start school will put you in a better mood and make your day more productive. Keep it fresh and fun so that you don’t dread your workouts. The best advice is for people to cross-train. Practice different things so your mind doesn’t get bored.

Take a kickboxing or dance class online, try strength training with weights, practice yoga or just go for a brisk walk. There are plenty of on-demand and live workouts available—eosfitness.com has plenty to choose from. Fitness is not a specific formula—do what you enjoy, and you will stick with it!

Joella Hopkins is the vice president of group fitness at EOS Fitness, which has 22 high-value, low-price gyms and counting throughout the Valley. She has more than 20 years of experience in the fitness industry. For free on-demand and live workouts, go to eosfitness.com/athome-workouts.

A TABLE FOR TWO?

Phind it AUGUST 2020 |

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BRAINTEASERS

Difficulty This Week:

★★

★ Moderate ★★ Challenging ★★★ HOO BOY! 38

85085 | AUGUST 2020

DOWN 1 Ref 2 Sky safety org.

3 Bobby of hockey 4 Radio interference 5 A party to 6 Aviv lead-in 7 Heights 8 Mummify, maybe 9 Any time now 10 Play a prank on (Sl.) 11 Longings 13 Sacred wading bird 19 Listen to 20 Kimmel’s network

21 22 23 25 26 27 29 31 33 34 36 37 38 39 40 43 44 45 46

Fall into a beanbag chair Sauce source Piece of information Jif rival Eye layer Portent Partner Cauldron Disturbed the peace Argentine grasslands Burn somewhat Secondhand Protuberance Venetian magistrate Get ready, for short Literary collection Lubricate Wedding utterance Venomous viper

Answers:

Place a number in the empty boxes in such a way that each row across, each column down, and each small nine-box square contains all of the numbers from one to nine.

ACROSS 1 Fleet from faraway?

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