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December 2019 | Volume 6 | Issue 12

Publisher Steve T. Strickbine steve@timespublications.com

features

Vice President Michael Hiatt mhiatt@timespublications.com

Executive Editor Christina Fuoco-Karasinski

Sensitive Santa

Graphic Designer Tonya Mildenberg

Sensory-friendly St. Nick visits Anthem Outlets

Copyeditor April Morganroth Contributors Lorraine Bosse-Smith, Pastor David Bowen, Dr. Kelly Collins, Shannon Fisher, Curtis Finch, C.A. Haire, Dr. Brian Hester, Laura Latzko, Heather Maxwell, April Morganroth, Alexandra Prach, Bridgette Redman, Octavio Serrano, Humphrey Shin, Tara Storjohann, Emma Suttell, Annika Tomlin, Judge Gerald A. Williams Staff Photographer Pablo Robles

fresh

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business

The Essence of Life

‘Something to Believe In’

home

Family First

29 More Merry, Less Stress

10 A-Grade Advocate

30 Kuma’s Great Adventures

11 Curtis’ Corner

32 Common Cents

Traveling exhibit educates guests on the importance of water sustainability Inspirational singer Michelle Moyer pushes new single in Anthem Whey Jennings brings true country to New River Junior Mandy Buster serves as The Borgen Project intern Deer Valley Unified School District hopes to stay on award-winning path

12 Holiday Cheer

Anthem youth go a wassailing to celebrate the season

13 Perspective

The holiday’s meaning isn’t found in a legal database

26 A Lasting Impression

Veteran Mike Spinelli is honored at Anthem military ball

28 Easy Wreaths

Get in the holiday spirit with these decorations

Anthem twins land ‘Fun Home’ roles in New York

Circulation

Desert Botanical Garden welcomes pups in January 10 ways to save money during the holidays

34 Extraordinary Rides

The Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio is a pleasure to drive

food

36 Renaissance Woman

Anthem’s Donna Chilleen keeps the dream alive at Chilleen’s on 17

36 Tasty Trends

38 What’s Cooking? with Jan D’Atri

17 Things To Do

Holiday Cookie Platters

features

better

22 Leapin’ Lizards!

40 Cannabidiol Chat

24 No Regrets

42 Holiday Skin Care Gift Guide

‘Annie’ takes over the holiday at Starlight

CBD can be helpful—with the right information

Young Marine finishes rigorous program to prepare for his career

Get your best look with the help of professionals

43 High Blood Pressure

Five holistic tips to lower your numbers

85086 | DECEMBER 2019

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S P OT L I G H T

The Essence of Life

Traveling exhibit educates guests on the importance of water sustainability By Octavio Serrano

For a state depending on a healthy flow of water, Arizona, along with its residents, often forget the importance of it. “A lot of people don’t realize how scarce water is,” says Ann Hutchinson, co-chairwoman of the Black Canyon Heritage Park in New River. “So many people have moved here from wetter states. There’s very few of our rivers and washes flowing all the time. Most of them flow when it’s raining and that’s about it.” Thanks to Black Canyon Heritage Park, Canon Elementary School is exhibiting Water/Ways, a traveling Smithsonian Institute exhibit educating guests on the importance of water, its effects and its sources from Saturday, December 14, to Sunday, January 26. “It covers all the facets of water cultur-

85086 | DECEMBER 2019

ally, for work, for employment, scientifically, it covers the way water affects all our lives on a national level,” Hutchinson says. New River Group President Barbara Chatzkel says Arizona Humanities and ASU came together and asked the Smithsonian Institute to bring the Water/Ways to Arizona. Of course, New River wanted to be a part of this educational experience. “They usually only give a state six cities, but Arizona wanted 12 sites because water is such a key component of our life,” says Chatzkel, whose organization is a management consulting firm. The other cities are Fort Apache, Miami, Florence, Sierra Vista, Dragoon, Winkleman, Page, Camp Verde, Tubac and Lake Havasu City. The exhibit will have five two-sided panels, which Hutchinson says take up roughly

The riparian areas and rivers in Arizona rely on a constant flow of water to keeps its ecosystem healthy, which is why learning about water sustainability is part of the Water/Ways exhibit. (Submitted photos)

700 feet and include interactive components covering topics like the fluidity of water and its power. In addition, guests can use three kiosks to learn more aspects of water. “It is a simulator in which you put in some variable and learn how you’ll deal with groundwater and then you run the model to see the effect,” Hutchinson says. Other activities will include short films about water—5 to 6 p.m. December 27, January 3 and January 23, the latter of which is for youth. All these components are meant to provide an informative and interactive source of educational information, so people learn why water is important and how to preserve it in their day-to-day lives.

Water/Ways will consist of five panels and three kiosks with interactive components that will educate guests on one of the state’s most important resources.

“The overarching goal of the exhibit is we want people to think about water and the ways it affects us and can affect us if it’s gone,” Chatzkel says. “We want people to become better stewards of protecting and conserving our water.” Hutchinson agrees. “The riparian areas in Arizona are less than .4% and we’ve lost almost all the riparian ar-

eas, so it’s important people understand the role they carry,” Hutchinson says. “No matter what you do in life, there’s water. In Arizona, there’s so much pressure on the water you don’t know where the support for this incoming population is coming from, but there’s lots of things people can do to help to be more sustainable.” Water is not only a vital resource for Ari-

zona but for the nation. In the state, however, it has a strong history and many of its ecosystems depend on it. For them to continue to flourish, the population surrounding those areas need to be conscious of its scarcity and how they can diminish waste in their daily lives. Water/Ways brings it all together. History, science and sustainability. Everything encompassing the world of water is displayed in one exhibit where guests can use as a guide to a better way of utilizing the resources their state grants them. “It takes a community to ensure that our water is sustainable,” Hutchinson says. “If you look at all the contributors to the local exhibit, there are a lot of organizations and individuals that think that this is important.”

Water/Ways When: Various times Saturday, December 14, to Sunday, January 26 Where: Canon Elementary School’s Library, 34630 S. School Loop Road, Black Canyon City Cost: Free admission Info: 623-374-5282, waterwaysaz.org, blackcanyonheritagepark.org

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EVENTS

‘Something to Believe In’ Inspirational singer Michelle Moyer pushes new single in Anthem By Laura Latzko Finding success as a local musician is not an easy task, as they have to be versatile. North Phoenix singer Michelle Moyer has built a career in the local music scene by performing different styles

of music, in a wide variety of settings. On Saturday, December 14, Moyer will perform at the Anthem Community Council’s Java and Jammin’ event, which features local artists the second Saturday of the month from September to May. An eclectic singer, Moyer blends country, pop and spiritual music. Recently, she added mainstream pop to her usual collection of country tunes. “I’m not just limiting myself to just country music, which I think is a good thing,” Moyer says. “I think a lot of artists shouldn’t limit themselves to one genre. I think it’s good to experiment with other types of music.” In October, she released her latest single “Something to Believe In,” a song she hopes inspires others with its positive vibe and message. “I wanted to write something that would help someone feel happy and feel like they can keep going,” Moyer says. “I’ve always needed stuff like that in my life. I always turn to music in moments when I need something to make me happy. I wanted to write somet hing t hat would make people feel that same way.” Local singer Michelle Moyer has been singing and playing music for most of her life. (Photo by Ian Harris)

85086 | DECEMBER 2019

Before “Something to Believe In,” her last release was in 2013. Recently, she started writing more music and plans to release singles and a full album by next year. Moyer writes and records in Los Angeles and Arizona with producer Jim McGorman. “We work really well together. He gets my sound, and he understands where I want to go with everything,” Moyer says. Originally from Mesa, she recently moved to North Phoenix. She regularly performs at places like Amped Coffee Company. Along with singing, Moyer also teaches guitar and voice in Gilbert. During a mission trip to South Korea, she used her music as a teaching tool.

Early years A Mesa High School graduate, Moyer has been performing since age 14 and doing music professionally since age 18. She was inspired by Shania Twain, whose music she covers. She was in choir at Mesa High and later her brother taught her how to play the guitar at age 16. Moyer continued to expand on her guitar abilities by taking private lessons. “The guitar, when I picked that up, it just felt so natural to me. Learning on my own wasn’t really a problem. I would practice every single day,” Moyer says. Moyer worked and performed at Firebirds Wood Fired Grill in Chandler. She says this helped her make important connections. Throughout her career, she has performed at a variety of events, including corporate and house parties, fireside performances, fundraising and church events, weddings, festivals and graduation parties. She’s a veteran of Anthem’s Fall Music Festival and the Mesa Music Festival. She sang the national anthem for the Phoenix Suns, the Arizona Cardinals and the Arizona Diamondbacks. Michelle continued on pg. 9

EVENTS

Family First Whey Jennings brings true country to New River By Christina Fuoco-Karasinski Whey Jennings says his gigs are different than most country shows and it’s a credible claim. After all, he’s the grandson of Waylon Jennings and Jessi Colter, and the nephew of Shooter Jennings. “We put a lot of energy into it,” Jennings says. “We have a lot of my grandfather’s traits, too.” Born and raised in Grand Prairie Texas, Jennings is the oldest son of Katherine and Terry Jennings. He was a precocious kid. At one gig, Colter finished singing “Storms Never Last” and put the microphone on a chair backstage. The youngster grabbed the mic, walked on stage and started singing “Mamas, Don’t Let Your Babies Grow Up to Be Cowboys.” His grandfather joined him and that’s when the younger Jennings fell in love with music. But that confidence was short-lived. “I loved music when I was young,” Jennings says. “I used to go on stage with my grandfather and sing with him when I was a little kid. But when I was 13, I went out there and froze. “I then got a job at a coffee farm for about 10 years, until my mom got sick and asked me to do something in music.” She passed away and he continues to pursue her dream.

Whey Jennings channels his grandfather when he performs live. He’s scheduled to perform at the Roadrunner Restaurant and Saloon in New River on Saturday, January 4. (Photo by Shelle Cleland Photography)

“You’re going to have your ups and downs,” he says. “I just stay in the fight. What keeps me there are my kids and the way they look at me on stage. It feels good and right there is enough.” Playing the Roadrunner Restaurant and Saloon in New River on Saturday, January 4, Jennings is promoting his new EP “Gypsy Soul,” a six-song effort he recorded with studio musician friends in Nashville. The songs, Jennings says, pay homage to his grandfather

but in his own style. “My family means a lot to me,” he says. “I can’t wait to share my music with everyone.”

Cohen’s “Hallelujah.” Although she has performed with bands, she has found her voice lends itself more as a solo artist. “I’ve had people come up to me in venues where other people are using bands, and they’ll be like, ‘Thank you so much for not playing with a band. I really like hearing your voice instead of all of these instruments overpowering you,’” she says. “It’s really interesting to hear stuff like that. I feel like people would want that big-

ger sound, but I think people do appreciate the simplicity of a solo artist.”

Whey Jennings When: 5 p.m. Saturday, January 4 Where: Roadrunner Restaurant and Saloon, 47801 N. Black Canyon Highway, New River Cost: $7 in advance, $10 at the door Info: 623-465-9903, roadrunnerrestaurantandsaloon.com

Michelle continued from pg. 8

In 2012, she performed on Glenn Beck’s Christmas show, which led to a collaboration with him and Clyde Bawden on a Christmas album. Moyer and Bawden’s rendition of “Silent Night” reached No. 39 on the Billboard Music charts in 2012, and the Christmas album made its way to No. 3 on the iTunes Christmas CDs list. Moyer’s setlist features her music and covers that are meaningful to her, such as “Landslide” by Fleetwood Mac and Leonard

Michelle Moyer When: 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. Saturday, December 14 Where: Civic Building Terrace, 3701 W. Anthem Way, Anthem Cost: Free admission Info: onlineatanthem.com/events, facebook.com/michellemoyermusic

DECEMBER 2019 | 85086

SCHOOLS

A-Grade Advocate Junior Mandy Buster serves as The Borgen Project intern By Emma Suttell Boulder Creek Junior Mandy Buster’s calendar is always occupied with an impressive array of leadership activities. At the top of her class and enrolled in four Advanced Placement classes, Buster is well on her way to making a significant impression on the community. In her roles as junior class representative, National Honor Society junior ambassador and vice president of the Future Business Leaders of America, Buster is looking forward to making an impact. This summer, Buster was hired as a political affairs intern at The Borgen Project, a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization aimed at promoting local and global economic development. The project aims to advocate for a more proactive budgeting of foreign aid with a goal to increase national security and the success of the global market. “I hope that as a country we are able to come together and open our minds to a world that is widely suffering,” Buster says. “I am passionate about advocacy and finding long term solutions to our nation’s challenges.” Throughout her 12 weeks with the project, Buster learned valuable political skills such as lobbying, advocating for others, sending public service announcements to radio stations and how to professionally network with congressional leaders. Motivated by a goal to raise $500 for The Borgen Project, Buster tapped into her connection with the community. With her background as an active representative of Boulder Creek’s student government, Buster has

85086 | DECEMBER 2019

already had experience advocating for fundraising in the community. She is planning the student government’s second “Wish Week Gala,” a community event with the intent to raise money for a Make-A-Wish child. Last year, Boulder Creek raised $10,000 for the charity, and this year, it aims to surpass. “I love how the community comes together to support a common goal. Our events at Boulder Creek rely on Anthem residents to take pride in the school,” Buster says, “Wish Week last year would not have been possible without (the Mandy Buster was named a “Chief Closer” by The Borgen Project. She raised community) and I can’t wait more than $1,500 for the organization during her internship there. (Photo courtesy Mandy Buster) to see the support of our upcoming Wish Week events this February.” cational ambassadors for activities at local After using several of the same “Wish assisted living facilities. Week” fundraising tactics such as sending Buster aims to continue her service with letters to community members and crafting seniors through founding her own nonprofit her own online campaign page, Buster raised organization, “Senior to Senior Connection.” over $1,500 for “I hope to plan community service activiThe Borgen Proj- ties for high schoolers that provide the elderly ect—three times with opportunities for outings,” Buster says. her original goal. “It will focus on bridging the disconnect To recognize her between my generation/seniors in high school achievements in and seniors within the community.” fundraising and Eager to continue her service after her high lobby ing, The school years come to an end, Buster hopes to Borgen Project pursue her passion for serving as a medical named her its malpractice attorney. “Chief Closer.” “The experiences I have had through volunInspired by her family’s commitment to teering have shaped me into the person I am community service, volunteering is in Bust- today,” Buster says. “(They) have inspired me er’s blood. For the past several years, Buster’s to make a difference in the future.” family has raised several exotic animals— Emma Suttel is a senior at Boulder Creek. You can find more of four kangaroos, two Patagonian maras and her work at andthenemma.com. a capybara—to act as therapeutic and edu-

SCHOOLS

What’s Next?

Deer Valley Unified School District hopes to stay on award-winning path By Superintendent Curtis Finch, Deer Valley Unified School District This has been a busy year for the Deer Valley Unified School District. After multiple awards of excellence and outstanding academic performance on the 2019 AzMERIT state tests, the task now is staying on top. With these outstanding performances this year and last, we are fully expecting to move into the No. 1 position of KTAR’s “Best AZ School Districts” list from our current No. 2 position. DVUSD also expects to remain on the Forbes “Top 50 businesses over 500 employees” list this year. If you add in the community support for the bond and override elections in November and the overall increase in student enrollment, the sky appears to be the limit for Deer Valley Unified. So, you are probably thinking, “what’s next?” There are three issues that have been discussed at DVUSD for over a decade but have sat on the back burner: Balancing the high school regions through boundary changes Special education improvements Specialty schools. In 2014, the governing board went completely through the boundary-change process only to see the recommendations stall at the last minute. DVUSD is on the “balancing” mission again this year with completion of a phase-in plan to be announced in January— stay connected to the process to provide your input and suggestions as we work together to maximize the use of our facilities (dvusd.org/ Boundary2020). The same can be said for the expansion of the continuum of services for special education. We’ve spoken about it for years with little systemic change. We know DVUSD does an amazing job with special education students, but we can always improve. Last year, the governing board commissioned an external study, giving DVUSD a plethora of recommendations after interviewing and

surveying hundreds of staff and parents. From this “Futures Report,” four DVUSD work-teams were formed to examine the execution of the key proposals with a potential four-year phasein plan to be launched in early 2020 as well. With enrollment on the rise and competition for students on that same trajectory, DVUSD will move into the traditional school arena over the next five years. DVUSD hopes to repurpose one school in the south, north and the central regions during this time. Charter schools hold the traditional market and we believe DVUSD can excel in this environment because of our excellent track record of extraordinary education and quality teachers with appropriate certifications in their respec-

tive subjects. So, to answer your great question of “what’s next” from DVUSD, you can see that we are now tackling some systemic challenges that have sat dormant. If DVUSD wants to be listed as the best school district in all of Arizona every year, on every list, we need to improve in every area, every year; remember, as Jim Collins says, “Good is the enemy of Great!”

Dr. Curtis Finch is the superintendent at Deer Valley Unified School District and can be reached at superintendent@ dvusd.org.

DECEMBER 2019 | 85086

EVENTS

Holiday Cheer

Anthem youth go a wassailing to celebrate the season By Bridgette Redman The traditional winter celebrations are coming, which means the Musical Theatre of Anthem’s Outreach Group is on the road bringing holiday cheer to shut-ins, veterans, people in assisted living situations and many others throughout the community. The holiday show will also have a public performance at 7 p.m. Thursday, December 19, at the theater’s home stage. Jackie Hammond of the Musical Theatre of Anthem says the show transcends what people typically expect from a children’s show. This year, they’ve pared their touring performances down to half a dozen because they are concurrently producing “The Little Mermaid.” “We just make sure our schedules are very detailed and organized,” says Hammond, who directs the show and is MTA’s co-founder, producing artistic director and resident vocal director. “We make sure they don’t conflict.” Performing around the Valley, MTA’s Outreach Group is comprised of 13 elite, awardwinning performers ages 11 to 18 whose goal is to give back through performance and involvement with service organizations. “We get asked back year after year,” Hammond says. “All the organizations say, ‘Can we get you back?’ That is a nice compliment.” The holiday show includes a mix of traditional carols, pop songs and parodies. Songs include such numbers as “Deck the Halls,” “Joy to the World,” “Baby, Please Come Home” and “Underneath the Tree.” They also do a comedic Hanukkah song, such as the one they did in the past based on Taylor Swift’s “Shake it Off.” It’s a formula they’ve used for the holiday show’s 10 years. “If it’s not broke, we don’t fix it,” Hammond says. “We really keep the same quality, so people know what to expect when they come. Sometimes we keep a couple songs that are the same, but we like to keep it fresh by changing

85086 | DECEMBER 2019

The Musical Theatre of Anthem’s Outreach Group spreads holiday cheer throughout the Valley and beyond. (Photo courtesy Musical Theatre of Anthem)

out the material. It is still, though, the same set of classic carols, pop songs, comedy and ending with a heart-felt, big closing number. It’s a holiday journey.” While MTA is committed to casting each child who auditions for a main-stage show, the Outreach Group is limited to those with superior ability because they are community ambassadors. “I think the coolest thing is when people say, ‘Wow, I can’t believe these are kids,’” Hammond says. “We’re not only singing and showing talent. We also interact with people at each organization. There is a level of professionalism I expect them to have with the way they come across and the way they present themselves. These are life skills and giving back skills that far surpass that they’re singing something.” This fits in with MTA’s overall mission “to develop youth and adults within the field of performing arts while enhancing their intrin-

sic creativity and brokering their vast talents. MTA trains and educates youth so they can become the artists, patrons, and leaders of tomorrow while providing opportunities to adults empowering them and foster their creativity.” The Outreach Group has performed at Disneyland, for the Phoenix Suns, the Arizona Diamondbacks and for Ambassador David Bolen. “We’re not the typical kids’ kind of group,” Hammond says. “There is a lot of high-quality entertainment all ages enjoy.”

Musical Theatre of Anthem’s Annual Holiday Performance When: 7 p.m. Thursday, December 19 Where: Musical Theatre of Anthem, 42201 N. 41st Drive, Suite B100, Anthem Cost: $15 general admission tickets Info: musicaltheatreofanthem.org

PERSPECTIVE

Computer Search for Christmas The holiday’s meaning isn’t found in a legal database By Judge Gerald Williams Christmas is one of my favorite times, but I have been blessed with good Christmas seasons and with good Christmas memories. Many struggle to find meaning and purpose during the holiday season. Some of those people will search the internet for answers. As I have done before, I recently typed the word “Christmas” into a legal database. I decided to start with federal cases because they are allegedly the most important. Not surprisingly, the first case to pop up was Lynch v. Donnelly. In the 1984 case, the U.S. Supreme Court held a city government could have a Christmas display in a park, including a nativity scene as part of an overall display, it also included things like a Santa Claus house, reindeer pulling Santa’s sleigh, candy-striped poles, a Christmas tree, carolers, cutout figures representing characters like a clown, an elephant, and a teddy bear, hundreds of colored lights, as well as a large banner reading “season’s greetings.” Other cases have held that a menorah can also be a part of an overall holiday display. While the law is reasonably clear, it is not clear whether anyone would like such a display once all of the required components are present. Another hit was for ACLU v. City of

Birmingham. In that case, the Sixth Circuit applied Lynch v. Donnelly with predictable results. The appellate court held that the placement and maintenance of a nativity scene on the city hall’s lawn was unconstitutional because it was not also accompanied by secular decorations. When I searched only for cases from Arizona state courts, a divorce case ironically called Peace v. Peace appeared. The father objected to the family court order that listed Christmas as a visitation day that would be rotated. He claimed that doing so coerced him to participate in Christianity. The Arizona Court of Appeals disagreed. It seems clear that the meaning of Christmas cannot be found in a legal database. A different reference is needed. In the Gospel of Luke, in the second chapter, after the birth of Jesus Christ is announced to common shepherds,

A brief history of Christmas While Jesus Christ clearly commanded his followers to remember his death and to celebrate his resurrection, there is no Biblical evidence that Jesus requested a celebration of his birth. The origin of Christmas or “Christ’s Mass” is somewhat obscure. It became part of the liturgical calendar by tradition and St. Francis of Assisi allegedly introduced the nativity scene as a symbolic representation of the birth of Jesus. But when religious puritans set sail for America, they believed Christmas was a false holiday and the gluttony associated with it had little to do with

the teachings of Jesus Christ. The first Christmas carolers were apparently drunken gangs who would demand food in return for singing door-todoor. Perhaps this is one reason the second verse of “We Wish You a Merry Christmas” requests figgy pudding and says, “We won’t go until we get some.” In 1870, President Ulysses S. Grant signed legislation making Christmas, New Year’s Day and Independence Day official nationwide holidays. However, it only applied to federal employees working in Washington, D.C. Federal employees working across the rest of the country apparently did not receive holiday benefits until 1885.

it is recorded that a multitude of angels announced, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men.” Whether you celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah, or nothing, hopefully, you can get behind at least parts of that message. So Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, and may you have an opportunity to spend some time this holiday season with someone you love. Take care and stay safe. 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.

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ARTS

New York Bound

Anthem twins land ‘Fun Home’ roles in New York By Bridgette Redman At 12 years old, Anthem twins have already made a name for themselves around the country as professional actors. Lennon Hammond created the character of John in the First National Tour of the Tony Award-winning “Fun Home.” Noelle Hammond has taken three professional turns in Utah’s Tuacahn Theater playing roles in “Aladdin,” “The Prince of Egypt” and “Matilda.” Now the in-demand preteens—the children of Musical Theatre of Anthem’s owner Jackie Hammond and her husband, Jeff—have both been asked to come to New York to perform along Broadway stars in a special site-specific reading of “Fun Home” that takes place in a funeral home. Lennon will reprise his role as John while Noelle will play Small Alison, one of three lead actresses, who gets to sing the ballad “Ring of Keys.” They will perform in the Plaza Jewish Community Chapel on New York City’s Upper West Side on Thursday, December 19. In the Daniella Caggiano-directed show, they will perform alongside such actors as Jenn Colella, Caitlin Kinnuneun, Will Swenson and Kate Baldwin. The title “Fun Home” is what the musical’s family calls the funeral home that the father owns and works in. It’s a show that travels back and forth through time as Alison, now middleaged, looks back at her childhood and tries to figure out what led her closeted gay father to commit suicide shortly after she came out as a lesbian in college. Three actresses play Alison at three different ages—the adult, the freshman college student and the 10-year-old child. The musical, developed by Lisa Kron and Jeanine Tesori, is considered the first mainstream musical about a lesbian, though the show is

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Noelle and Lennon Hammond’s mom, Jackie, runs the Musical Theatre of Anthem. The two will perform in “Fun Home” in December in New York. (Photos courtesy Musical Theatre of Anthem)

also about self-identity, family, sacrifice and coming of age. Alison has two brothers, John and Christian. The three children get an early show-stopping number together when they sing “Welcome to the Fun Home,” a musical advertisement they’ve developed for their family funeral home. This won’t be the first time Noelle and Lennon have performed together. Lennon says they’ve done 15 to 20 shows together, mostly at the Musical Theater of Anthem. It was there that Noelle started performing in musicals at age 4 when she played Kangaroo in “Seussical Jr.” “We have a theater company in Anthem that my mom owns and they started doing stuff there so I decided, hey, it would be fun to do a show,” Noelle says. “I was 4 years old and I have done theater ever since then and I’ve really

enjoyed it.” It took Lennon a little longer to join, but he found himself inspired by his twin and began performing at age 7. “I was drawn in because I saw my sister doing it and I wanted to give it a try,” Lennon says. “I kept doing it.” They both say one of their favorite times together was a recent production of “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown” where Noelle played Lucy and Lennon played Linus. Both say that working as an actor away from home can be challenging as they leave their friends, their family and pets behind and even have to do online schooling, but that the benefits outweigh the downsides. “It’s kind of fun being away from home for a little bit,” Lennon says. “I like being away as I got to

explore an area I’d never been to before and got to meet new friends,” Noelle says. “I enjoy performing in a different area.” A parent always traveled with them, so they were never completely without family. For both, it will be their first time performing in New York, a place often seen as the pinnacle of live theater. While “Fun Home” is often seen as a musical for older teens and adults because of its sexual content, both twins love the show and the empowering message that it has. Noelle says she saw it many times when Lennon was performing in it on tour and they are both thrilled to be getting a chance to perform together in the show. “I liked being John,” Lennon says. “The character was very exciting to play as he did a lot of fun stuff and I got to hang out with the small Alison and Christian. I liked standing on the coffin.” “I have been studying the role of small Alison,” says Noelle. “I like how she is very opinionated and she is sure of herself. I like how she is a strong character. She is independent and curious. It’s very interesting to play a character who is finding things out about herself.” Both feel their experience at the Musical Theater of Anthem has prepared them to be professionals because of the high degree of professionalism and the high expectations at MTA. “It teaches their students and actors how to be professional and what to do when coming to rehearsal when to come, how early, the importance of knowing all your stuff, rehearsing every day and just being prepared,” says Noelle who plans to make acting her career and to eventually perform on Broadway. “It has impacted me and helped me prepare myself for the professional world.” Lennon recalls how when he started at age 7, he questioned his singing and dancing skills. “The Musical Theater of Anthem helped me grow exponentially and tremendously. I learned how to act better and how not to laugh at every line,” Lennon says. “I learned how to dance decently and how to sing a lot better than I used to.” He encourages people to come perform at MTA no matter what their level of experience because the instructors are helpful and well-trained and that like him, you can start at any level. “They should all come, even if they’re not confident in themselves,” Lennon says. Noelle agrees, urging her peers to take advantage of what MTA has to offer. “The choreographers and instructors are very professional,” Noelle says. “They know what they’re doing and they’re very helpful. They don’t expect you to know everything. They take the time to teach you. You learn how to be good and how to sing and dance and act. You don’t need to already come in knowing how to do it. They help you no matter what level you are at.” And while both young people have interests outside of musical theater—Lennon has attended the National Mathleague Championship and Noelle is a district spelling bee champion—they are looking forward to getting to do this New York show together. “I find it very fun that I get to be in the show with my sister because it’s very fun acting with her,” says Lennon. “It’s a shared experience that is very fun and exciting. I’m really excited to do it.” “Ditto,” Noelle responds.

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Anthem Fall Festival Photos by Annika Tomlin Anthem residents and visitors came together to celebrate all-things fall at the Anthem Community Council’s Autumnfest. This family-friendly event celebrates the season with fall-flavored festivities including arts and crafts vendors, carnival rides, pumpkin picking and live entertainment.

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1. Families cuddle with the baby chicks and other animals in the petting zoo. 2. Brian, Weston and Serene Vivadelli chose their perfect pumpkin. 3. Hazel Lee plays in the pumpkin patch. 4. Dressed as a SWAT officer, Dylan Pause checks out the pumpkins. 5. Lily Alarcon celebrates after pulling out a block in Jenga. 6. Ana Gonzalez holds a chick in the petting zoo. 7. Charlotte Tillman tries to make the tough decision of choosing a pumpkin. 8. Jessica and Cora Strykl chooses a pumpkin for the family. 9. Camryn Pause dons a pink fairy outfit.

EVENTS

December Compiled by Christina Fuoco-Karasinski

2019

Have an event you would like in the calendar? Tell us about it! Send details to christina@timespublications.com

SUNDAYS

DECEMBER 7

DECEMBER 14

The Anthem Farmers Market in Community Park features local producers of organic and seasonal crops, plants and seeds, compost and worm castings; grass-fed beef, pork, lamb and goat; fresh local eggs, cheeses and butters; value-added food producers of jams, jellies, pickles, tamales, sauces; and freshly baked artisan breads, pastries. Community Park, 41730 N. Gavilan Peak Parkway, Anthem, onlineatanthem.com, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., free admission.

Come have breakfast with Santa. There will be storytime, free kids’ activities, live entertainment and goody bags. All proceeds benefit the Daisy Mountain Firefighters Charities. Outlets at Anthem, 4250 Anthem Way, Anthem, outletsanthem.com, 8:30 to 10 a.m., $5, cash only. No ticket sales at the door.

Walk into a winter wonderland filled with music, games, crafts, mini train rides and snow. Snap free photos with Santa after his festive fire truck arrival. Activities include: Holiday cookie decorating, letters to Santa, festive face painting, holiday bracelet making and reindeer ear crafts. Happy Valley Towne Center near Dollar Tree, 2501 W. Happy Valley Road, Phoenix, 602-866-0900, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., free admission.

Anthem Farmers Market

DECEMBER 3

Kids Plant Adventure

Kids will receive a terracotta pot to paint. While the paint dries, they will learn about soil and why it’s important in keeping plants alive. Children will help mix the soil and chose a 2-inch succulent. Plant Bar, 46135 N. Black Canyon Highway, New River, plantbaraz.com, 3 to 5 p.m., $14.95 plus tax; upgrades available in store.

DECEMBER 5 Big Idea Forum

Learn, explore, and understand subjects that impact everyone, like cutting-edge technology, socioeconomic issues or cultural trends and phenomena. Civic Building, 3701 W. Anthem Way, Anthem, bigideasforum.info, 6:30 to 8 p.m., free admission.

Bill Gates Breakfast

Join Supervisor Bill Gates and his guest speaker for breakfast and questions. Occurs the first Thursday of each month. Deer Valley Airport Restaurant, 702 W. Deer Valley Road, Phoenix, nrdhca.org, 8 to 8:50 a.m., free admission.

DECEMBER 5 TO DECEMBER 15 “Little Mermaid Jr.”

Journey “under the sea” with Ariel and her aquatic friends in the musical adapted from Disney’s Broadway production and the motion picture. Musical Theatre of Anthem, 42201 N. 41st Drive, Suite B100, Anthem, musicaltheatreofanthem. org, various times, $13-$19.

DECEMBER 6 TO DECEMBER 22 “Annie”

It’s a hard-knock life for Annie, but she perseveres. Come witness her story. Starlight Community Theater, 1611 W. Whispering Wind Drive, Phoenix, starlightcommunitytheater.com, various times, $15.

Breakfast with Santa

Cars Café and Flea Market

Vintage cars are just part of the fun the first Saturday of each month. Free coffee and biscuits and gravy are served this morning. Area residents are welcome to sell their goods at Cars Café and Flea Market as well. My Crossroads Christian Fellowship, 42425 N. New River Road, Phoenix, 623-465-9461, myccf. church, 8 a.m., free admission.

DECEMBER 10

New River/Desert Hills Community Association Community Meeting Christmas Party

Celebrate the holidays with the New River/Desert Hills Community Association. My Crossroads Church, 42425 N. New River Road, New River, nrdhca.org, 7 to 7:50 p.m., free admission.

Kids Holiday Craft Day

Get more details on the website on December 1. Plant Bar, 46135 N. Black Canyon Highway, New River, plantbaraz.com, 3 to 5 p.m., tickets start at $10; upgrades available in store.

DECEMBER 11

Holiday Craft Extravaganza

Get more details on the website on December 1. Plant Bar, 46135 N. Black Canyon Highway, New River, plantbaraz.com, 3 to 5 p.m., tickets TBA.

DECEMBER 12

Cookie N Canvas

Winter Wonderland

Santa Meet and Greet

Come meet Santa and explore Plant Bar. Plant Bar, 46135 N. Black Canyon Highway, New River, plantbaraz.com, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., free admission.

Winter Cookie Decorating Class

Join the group for a beginner cookie decorating class, which includes six sugar cookies to take home and share. All supplies will be provided, and tickets are nonrefundable. Plant Bar, 46135 N. Black Canyon Highway, New River, plantbaraz.com, 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., $45.

Java & Jammin’ with Michelle Moyer

Free, family-friendly program features tunes by Michelle Moyer. Coffee and treats will be provided. Anthem Civic Building, 3701 W. Anthem Way, Anthem, 623-742-6050, onlineatanthem.com, 9:30 to 11:30 a.m., free admission.

DECEMBER 16

DMFM Board Meeting

Bill Gates hosts an open meeting, in a town hall format. Residents are encouraged to bring questions. Daisy Mountain Fire Department Meeting Room, 1120 W. Desert Hills Drive, Phoenix, nrdhca.org, 7 to 8:20 p.m., free admission.

DECEMBER 19

Eat, Plant, Sip: Dinner and Planting Class

Cookies N Canvas is a fun canvas class for kids. Artists teach step-by-step artistry on fun, 9x12 canvases. Recommended for children 4 and older. Mudpie Studios, 4250 W. Anthem Way, Anthem, 623-551-9177, 4:30 to 5:30 p.m., free admission.

Enjoy a fun, all-inclusive night with a planting class with Plant Bar’s “bartenders,” and then a buffet dinner on the patio. Plant Bar, 46135 N. Black Canyon Highway, New River, plantbaraz.com, 6 p.m., tickets start at $24.95.

DECEMBER 13

DECEMBER 20

Representatives Town Hall

Christine Dyster of Maricopa Recorder’s Office and Danny Denver of the U.S. Census will speak. Anthem Civic Building, 3701 W. Anthem Way, Anthem, onlineatanthem.com, 9 to 11 a.m., free admission.

An Evening with Santa

Meet with Santa and tell him all of your wishes for the holiday. Plant Bar, 46135 N. Black Canyon Highway, New River, plantbaraz.com, 5 to 8 p.m., free admission.

DECEMBER 2019 | 85086

Sensitive

SANTA Sensory-friendly St. Nick visits Anthem Outlets By April Morganroth A very special kind of Santa is returning to The Outlets at Anthem. The twinkling lights, holiday cheers, dazzling displays and the booming music coupled with large crowds aren’t things most would even bat an eye at this time of year—unless, of course, you or a family member happen to be on the autism spectrum. In which case, things can easily and often do go awry very quickly. Something as simple as a visit to Santa during the holiday season can become a nightmare for a family with an autistic member. In fact, according to the Autism Speaks Arizona spokeswoman Heidi Naranjo, many families forego the Santa experience simply because it’s so traumatic. So often, siblings also miss out on holiday experiences, such as visiting Santa’s workshop in between Children’s Place and Polo Ralph Lauren on the mall’s east side. The Outlets at Anthem are making it a little easier for those families. From 9 to 11 a.m. Sunday, December 8, families with specialneeds children are invited to visit the sensoryfriendly Santa Workshop to see the big guy.

Space is limited and slots fill up fast, according to Outlets at Anthem General Manager Christina Henning. To sign up, visit outletsanthem.com, click on the “Santa Cares: A Sensory-Friendly Santa Photo Experience” tab to be directed to the Eventbrite signup. “We just want to let families know this is a free event and they are free to bring cameras, cellphones or tablets to snap their own photos. We will be offering a professional photo package for a fee at the event,” Henning says. “For those families who can’t make that time slot, or if spots fill up, they are still more than welcomed to come and see the sensoryfriendly Santa, just it will be with the general public. We will, of course, let Santa know he has a special package in line to see him.” Naranjo says Autism Speaks and Cherry Hill Programs partnered with malls and shopping centers nationwide to dim Santa’s workshop lights, lower the sound of nearby tinkering elves and extend the time each child can spend with Santa. Many autistic children need to warm up to Jolly Ol’ St. Nick, before approaching him. Santa will even get down to a child’s level on his famous Christmas red carpet in his shop, just to make an autistic child and family feel welcomed. “All families with children with autism and other special needs can enjoy the timehonored tradition of a visit with Santa, in a more subdued and calmer environment,” Naranjo says. “We open up Santa’s workshop, one day out of the season, two hours early, specifically for families with sensory and autism needs,” Henning says.

Autism stats

According to the Centers for Dis-

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ease Control and P r e v e n t i o n ’s last report in 2014, roughly 1 in 71 children aged 8 were identif ied w it h an autism spectrum disorder in Arizona. It is 15% higher than its previous study where 1 in 59 children aged 8, were identified with ASD. Although the CDC estimates that number to be closer to 1 in 59 in Arizona, a spokesperson did say it can change once the new report is released in 2020. “Even though the rates of autism in Arizona seem to have gotten better from the last report, it is important to realize these numbers are only estimates,” said Dr. Christopher Smith, Southwest Autism Research & Resource Center vice president and research director. “Given these rates are only based on 8-yearold children and people continue to get diagnosed with ASD after age 8, it is probably most accurate to consider the rates to be between 1.5 and 2% of the population.” However, Smith says the importance still lies with early detection and diagnosis. The CDC reports many children with ASD typically start to show autism symptoms and signs by age 3 and are diagnosed many times before entering kindergarten. But, some chilSanta continues on pg. 20

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Santa continued from pg. 18

dren remain undiagnosed or misdiagnosed due to several factors, including lack of access to medical providers, long waitlists in Arizona, slowly developing symptoms or subtle signs easily missed by pediatricians, parents and community partners who have limited, little or no experience and knowledge about autism. SAARRC and the CDC report there are still disparity gaps in diagnosing children with ASD. Boys are 3.2 times more likely to be diagnosed with ASD because parents will initiate a conversation with doctors about commonly thought typical-boy behaviors in school, which are later identified as ASD behaviors. Caucasian children are 1.6 times more likely to be diagnosed than Hispanic American children and African-American children are 1.9 times more likely to be diagnosed than Hispanic American children due to environmental factors. More than 90% of parents with ASD children had developmental concerns by the time their children were 3 years old, according to the CDC. Of that 90%, only 34% received comprehensive developmental evaluations by age 3. Many children don’t receive developmental services until after kindergarten starts. The Arizona autism community is discussing lowering the age of diagnosis to help target and address ASD services early on. Now Arizona children cannot have an official diagnosis until kindergarten. By then, many struggling families have given up on “normal” holiday traditions. This translates to and dictates how families maneuver and manage ASD symptoms during normal family functions, such as holiday traditions, like visiting Santa, Naranjo

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The Outlets at Anthem Sensitive Santa is available for special-needs children from 9 to 11 a.m. Sunday, December 8. (Photo courtesy Outlets at Anthem)

ferent in every child and often, a child with autism looks normal. It’s not like a child with down syndrome or MS, where there is a physical and noticeable feature. Autism is more of a neurological, mental and socioemotional disorder. It’s something you just can’t ‘see,’ so to speak.”

Familiar Santa

reported. She adds autism looks different in every child, which adds to the confusion and delay of an ASD diagnosis. “What might bug or traumatize one autistic child, may not another,” Naranjo says. “Those little issues, like an A/C blowing too hard or lights are too bright, often change and morph as children age and learn to manage triggers.” Sometimes new triggers emerge as children age or environments change. Compounding these issues is the evolving definitions and diagnostic codes in the American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, fifth edition, also known as the DSM-5. Naranjo says this complicates how and when children are diagnosed because “autism truly looks dif-

Anthem’s Santa knows every child well and knows what the children need, Naranjo says. “His elves have taught him that sometimes he needs to wait for a child to come to him, and it could take 10 or more minutes before an autistic child is ready to walk up to him,” Naranjo adds. “Santa also knows some autistic children simply want to admire him from afar and are perfectly content with doing so. This special time at the Outlets in Anthem is designed specifically for a full family experience where the autistic child, siblings and entire family can experience the wonder and awe of Christmas and Santa in a less stressed and simulated environment before the shopping crowds show up.” As for Santa’s special holiday wish this year? “Ho, Ho, Ho, my wish for children who visit me this year is to show kindness, show politeness and show a smile to each other,” he says. Above all, he wants to promote holiday cheer in the eyes of families who previously were not able to experience a visit to his workshop.

More info

For more information, visit autismspeaks.org or outletsanthem.com/events.

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Annie takes over the holiday at Starlight By Bridgette Redman For Sandi Carli, there is no such thing as too much “Annie.” The director of Starlight Community Theater’s most recent production of “Annie”— running Friday, December 6, to Sunday, December 22—has enjoyed “Annie” ever since she was a child and through all five productions her daughter performed in. Now directing the show for the first time, she’s thrilled to bring the joy of “Annie” to a new group of children and carry on the tradition at Starlight of producing a show with people of all ages. Carli says “Annie” has always been a family favorite and a challenge she wanted to take on. “I have always been a lover of musicals,” Carli says. “I saw the stage version of ‘Annie’ in local theater when I was a child and I fell in love with the movie with Carol Burnett. But my real joy came from seeing my daughter in her first show when she was 5 and played the littlest orphan. I was hooked from there.” Her daughter went on to play several Annie roles over the years, two of them at Starlight, with her last performance being as Miss Hannigan at a summer camp. While the traditional

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show is important to her, she said she wanted to bring some fresh looks to the show, particularly with the choreography which is being done by Nathalie Valesquez. “I have the best choreographer in the Valley,” Carli says. “She’s an amazing choreographer and has done very big things here in the Valley. We are so thankful to have her. Her choreography is what is bringing this story a whole new fresh look. We’re really going to

give audiences some theater magic and star power in these actors who are really delivering their dances like no other.” The lead role, Annie, is being played by 11-year-old Anora Biggs. In a show revolving around the young girl, she carries a heavy burden of lines, choreography and singing. Biggs is the same age Annie is in the show and has performed in several shows around the Valley, including in Starlight’s “Frozen Jr.” this past summer. “She’s just so talented,” Carli says. “She came ready to work and she’s doing a beautiful job in her singing and dancing. She is very professional in the way she has approached this project Cast members of ‘Annie’ include (from left): Audrey Clark, Izzy Herndon, Anora Biggs, Jaxyn Damasco, Jordis Lebbon, Meredith Arends and Katie Kirsch. (Photos by Renee Ashlock)

for a girl who is 11. She’s really been called on to do quite a bit of rehearsal for many weeks leading up to our opening night and she’s just a joy to work with.” Max Reed, another returning Starlight actor who has performed all over the Valley, takes on Daddy Warbucks, a reprisal for him as he played the same role for Mesa’s Encore Theatre. “He’s reviving the role, but tells me often this version of Daddy Warbucks is much different,” Carli says. “A different director, different theater, different fellow actors make it a new and fun experience for him to explore the character in a totally different way. He’s a whole lot of fun to work with— lots of energy. He’s going to be a really fun, exciting, dynamic Daddy Warbucks.” The woman everyone loves to hate, the caretaker of the orphans, Miss Hannigan, is played by Lynn Golden who confided to the director the role was her bucket list. “She brings such feisty, spicy fun and over-the-top- energy to this role,” Carli says. “She just loves and hates her little rotten orphans all at the same time. It is really cute to see her interact with them. Audiences will never forget her Miss Hannigan. She is loud and crazy and so much fun to watch.” Just as the show itself is a family show for audiences to enjoy, it’s a family show among the performers and crew as well. There are several families participating in the show with four or five parents acting alongside their teens and younger children. There are also those who are working behind the scenes while either a parent or child is on stage. “I like to think of it as instead of gathering around the dinner table, they are gathering and spending hours in rehearsal,” Carli says. “It’s fun to see them interact with each other. Our adults learn a lot from the kids and vice versa.” Even the dog is a family dog, a tan canine

dy Warbucks is an industrialist who harangues President Franklin Delano Roosevelt about fixing the economy, and there is eventual reference to FDR’s historic New Deal. “Even though our current day isn’t experiencing that sort of a scenario, there is still some political craziness out there in the world, no matter where you fall on that spectrum,” Carli says. “This is a story that speaks to everyone, and brings you back to what is important, especially at the holiday time. It is about a little girl who just wants to be part of a family.” While the adults may be the ones who change the laws or protest in the street, Annie makes a difference to everyone around her because of her attitude. “She is just infectious in her positive attitude and her street smarts,” Carli says. “She is a child who is empowered to make a difference and is a really strong message, it plays out today.” Finally, she says, the musical is just plain fun. The characters, the costumes, the music, and the dancing all combine for two hours of total fun and enjoyment. Even more broadly, she says, whether it is “Annie” or another show, supporting the arts in the Valley is important. “Starlight does a lot of great things, but there is a lot of great theater and other productions in the Valley,” Carli says. “Anytime people go out and support the arts, it’s really great for kids, it’s really great for our community. Enjoying live theater and unplugging from your phone and technology to watch people in their craft is always appreciated.”

Melody Pierce, Will Rippenkroeger, and Lynn Golden play colorful characters in ‘Annie’.

named Brody Riddle whom Carli praises as already knowing all his parts and performing them well. Carli cites several reasons for people to come see “Annie.” First, it’s affordable, family entertainment around the holiday time when people are looking for something to do, especially when relatives come to visit, and they want an outing for the family. “They can come and see live entertainment that is wholesome and exciting and live,” Carli says. “More than that, this story is so needed right now. Annie is a story of hope and optimism and family and fighting for those things and not losing sight of what is really important.” Carli says the “Annie” storyline has a lot of political craziness and political undertones in it. It takes place during the Great Depression and Hoovertown makes an appearance. Dad-

‘Annie’ When: Various times Friday, December 6, to Sunday, December 22 Where: Starlight Community Theater, 1611 W. Whispering Drive, Phoenix Info: Visit starlightcommunitytheater.com for ticket info DECEMBER 2019 | 85086

No Regrets

Young Marine finishes rigorous program to prepare for his career By Christina Fuoco-Karasinski When Peter Buckley graduated from Boulder Creek High School in 2017, he was unsure what to do with this life. But a chance meeting at an AT&T Store changed his life. Buckley was trading in his phone for a new one when a Marine recruiter next to him in line started a conversation with him. “He and I started talking about sports and working out,” Buckley says. “He’s a recruiter, so he asked me my age and what I was doing with my life. I told him, ‘Not much, honestly.’ That’s their favorite thing to hear. “He asked me, ‘What’s stopping you from thinking about the Marines?’” Buckley felt it was fate and stopped by the recruiter’s office the following morning. “I fell in love with everything about the Marine Corps, like their values. He shot it straight,” he says. “The Marine Corps is going to tell you Boot camp is going to suck. The early years are going to suck because you’re at the bottom. If you have the commitment to stay in and work your way to the top, it can really be beneficial to you.” It’s worked out well for Buckley, who recently left for a three-year stint in Okinawa, Japan. In the early fall, he wrapped up his eight-month air traffic control training, which was rigorous, he says. “It’s a lot of bookwork,” Buckley says. “There are a lot of people who failed out of school because they didn’t take it seriously. They have to stay disciplined with studying. “We took two tests every week for six weeks. Obviously, if you’re not dedicating yourself to studying, you can’t graduate and make it through.” The courses were satisfying for Buckley, however. “It’s such a transferrable skill,” he says. “I can transfer that over and be an ATC on the civilian side. That’s already six figures. I understand there are kids who are just now starting to go their four, five, eight, 10 years of college and they’re going to get out and have

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student debt and still be at an entry-level job. “I’m 20 and I already have the training for that job. In four years if I decide to get out, I’ll still only be 24. I have my whole career set up for me.” Before he left for Japan, Buckley was looking forward to his career as an air traffic controller. “Many people think air traffic controllers are just the ones who hold the cones on the runway or direct traffic,” he says. “Every time a plane takes off or coming to land or even be in the air, the pilots have to be talking to somebody at the airport. “A lot of people think you see a plane in the air and it’s a free-for-all. It’s really not. It works almost the same way as the freeway. There are passing lanes and planes have to fly in a certain lane. It’s our job to keep track of all the planes in the air. “We’re also responsible for taking them off safely—making sure the weather is clear. The pilot is 100% relying on me to tell him you’re too high or you’re too low, or too far left. He’s 100% reliant on me to get him down to the ground. That’s stressful.”

Less stress When Buckley graduated from Boulder Creek, his goal was to study journalism, first at a community college and then at ASU’s Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication. He dashed his dreams when he left community college. “I was going to do community college first for two years. I just didn’t feel like I was learning anything of value, though. I felt like I was wasting my time,” he says. His parents were extremely unhappy that he stopped going to college but were surprised he decided to join the Marines. “I was 19 at the time, so I didn’t need my mom’s permission,” he says about joining the military. “She took it a different way than I thought she would. I thought she was going to cry. She was a little apprehensive, but she

Peter Buckley, a 2017 Boulder Creek High School graduate, is an air traffic controller in Osaka, Japan. (Photo by Pablo Robles)

thought it was a really good thing for me.” His father as equally as surprised. Neither one was overly upset, which relieved a bit of Buckley’s stress. “He sat there in shock and never thought in a million years I was going to do that,” he says. “I’d never really shown interest in anything like that and never really talked about it. My parents were shocked, to say the least.” In the Marines for only a year, Buckley has no regrets. “I’ve never looked back and thought, ‘Wow. Why did I do this?’” Buckley recalls. “I have all these opportunities to do things and I have all these benefits. Things are set up for me already at the age of 20. Kids my age are still living with their parents. That’s their call. I love the position I’m in now versus a year ago.”

DECEMBER 2019

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CHAMBER CORNER

A Lasting Impression

Veteran Mike Spinelli is honored at Anthem military ball By Heather Maxwell, Executive Director Anthem Area Chamber of Commerce Area veterans from all the Anthem Veterans Memorial. branches gathered alongThe image shows the sunlight side law enforcement, illuminating a mosaic of the first responders, family great seal of the United States and friends for the milias its rays shine through the tary ball at the Anthem openings in five staggered pilGolf and Country Club lars representing every branch on November 9. of the military. As is often the case for Mike lives in Anthem with his events like this, Mike wife, Ro Logrippo.” Spinelli and his wife, Ro Spinelli’s response was what Logrippo, arrived early one would expect from this to set up lighting for the humble servant, “I am totally red-carpet photos. blown away by all of this. I love An internationally being a part of this community known photographer, Photographer Mike Spinelli, second from left, was recently honored. To celebrate with him were his wife, where so many give so much of Spinelli is known best Ro Logrippo, Rep. Debbie Lesko and her husband, Joe Lesko. (Photo courtesy Anthem Area Chamber of Commerce) their time, energy and talent.” among local business leaders for his warm said. “And I don’t think he’s expecting it. smile and catchy tagline reminder to update And this person is none other than tonight’s More about Spinelli their headshots: “You only get one chance to photographer, Staff Sgt. Mike Spinelli, who Before moving to Anthem, Spinelli served make a first impression.” served in the U.S. Air Force during the Viet- as councilman, vice mayor and mayor of As the cocktail hour ended and everyone nam War, from 1968 to 1972.” Burlingame, California (a suburb of San made their way to their seats, Spinelli was As applause broke across the crowd and Francisco). He serves on the Anthem Comunaware of the honor. The dinner ceremony Spinelli made his way to the podium, the munity Council Community Planning & opened with the national anthem played by congresswoman continued. Development Committee. He previously the U.S. Coast Guard band, the invocation “Mike was nominated for a Congressio- served on the Anthem Community Counand POW/MIA recognition, before U.S. Rep. nal Recognition for his lifetime of dedicated cil Economic Development Committee as Debbie Lesko delivered a poignant keynote service to our country, his community, and well as the Anthem Area Chamber of Comspeech. She recounted her father’s military our veterans,” Lesko said. merce Board of Directors. In 2014, Spinelli service, her humble beginnings and simple “He is the son of a World War II veteran, was named Anthem Area Chamber of Comacts of local community service served as who received the Purple Heart and a Bronze merce Businessperson of the Year. building blocks along her path to the U.S. Star. Mike served our country honorably House of Representatives. As she wrapped during the Vietnam War; he has led a life of Professional acknowledgments up her comments, she turned her attention public service; and has received countless During his active duty service, Spinelli to the certificate folder in her hand. awards and recognitions for his photogra- trained the photographer who later went “I have the privilege tonight to recognize phy. on to work for NASA processing film from one of your local community servants,” she One of his best-known images in Arizona the Apollo 11 moon landing. Spinelli won

About the Anthem Area Chamber of Commerce The Anthem Area Chamber of Commerce is a member-driven chamber of influence, providing effective connections that enhance advocacy, business development and community investment in the Anthem area and the surrounding region. The chamber hosts several meetings and events monthly,

85086 | DECEMBER 2019

including Morning Meeting on the second Thursday of each month and Business After Hours on the fourth Thursday of each month. Visit anthemareachamber.org for information on membership and upcoming events. Its New Member Mixer is 5 p.m. Thursday, December 5, followed by the Winter Gala at 5 p.m. Saturday, December 7, and the morning meeting at 7 a.m. Thursday, December 12.

best in show and first place at the Biennial Inter-Service Worldwide Photographic Competition and was featured in Air Force Times and had his work displayed at the Smithsonian Institute in Washington, D.C. (Now in archives.) Spinelli received Associated Press honors for outstanding news photography and earlier this year two of his favorite sports photos—one of Tom Watson and one of Payne Stewart—were chosen for “locker” displays at the World Golf Hall of Fame and Museum in St. Augustine, Florida. His work has also been featured in Newsweek, Sports Illustrated, GQ and Vogue, and several books.

Veteran service Spinelli served on the original planning team for the Anthem Veterans Memorial, which has since received the following awards and recognition: Arizona Historic Landmark Designation 2012 – Arizona Historical Society; Arizona Public Works Project of the Year Award 2012 – Arizona Chapter of the American Public Works Association (APWA); and ACEC 2012 Grand Award – Best Engineering and Environmental Consulting Project – American Consulting Engineers Companies. Spinelli captured and donated the initial promotional photos of the Anthem Veterans Memorial; donated countless hours of his time and talent to capture hundreds of photos of local veterans were featured Anthem Community Council website and during the Veterans Day ceremonies; and he continues to donate his time and talents for red carpet event photography at the Military Ball and the annual Anthem Area Chamber of Commerce Winter Gala.

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CRAFTS

WREATHS Get in the holiday spirit with these decorations By Shannon Fisher December is here and it is the perfect month for making wreaths. We made three different types and all of the materials were from Dollar Tree. We started with a green foam floral wreath. We painted it all white with acrylic paint and set aside to dry. While we waited, we heated up the glue and cut strings off some snowflake ornaments that came in a pack of 10. You can use a blow dryer to speed up the paint drying, but once the circle was dry, we added hot glue to the middle part of the ornaments and glued the snowflakes around the edge of the wreath. You could add ribbon or other decorations as well, but we liked the all-white and glitter look. The next wreath was made from the green foam floral piece as well. Paint the wreath white again and set to dry. Next, we used

85086 | DECEMBER 2019

white garland to wrap around the bottom half for a beard. You could also use white tulle cut in strips to tie around the bottom to create the beard. We pulled one piece of garland across the center for the mustache. We then hot glued the end and let dry. Add a Santa hat to the top and your wreath is complete. The last wreath is on a wire floral form. We got two packs of small, red-and-silver ornaments. You could use any color, though. We found a cute snowman ornament and cut the string off and glued him to the bottom of the wreath. We then affixed the round ornaments with hot glue. Once you have it all filled in you are set to hang it. These are the easiest wreaths and can be a great gift or kept for your own decor. I hope you have a great December of crafting.

Shannon Fisher is a local wife, mom of two girls and owner of Shannon Fisher Photography. She taught high school and elementary art before opening her photography business.

F A M I LY

More Merry, Less Stress Stay grounded this holiday season

By Pastor David Bowen, Standing Stones Community Church Standing Stones Christian Academy The sounds of the season say it’s the most wonderful time of the year. Neighbors, coworkers, and even some store clerks will wish you a “Merry” Christmas. What happens when you find yourself feeling guilty because you do not feel very merry? You didn’t set out to be bah humbug; it just sort of snuck up on you. So now what? During the most wonderful time of the year, the demands of maintaining a household do not go away. In fact, this is when you host more visitors and guests than normal, plus the kids are home more, all of which increase the usual demands. May the good cheer of the Christmas season fall upon you. Adding to the daily chores are the additional tasks of decorating and shopping, both of which can be exhausting and expensive. There’s a moment when you first realize just how few weekends there are between Thanksgiving and Christmas. How does one get it all done? Research has found one of the biggest stress factors may be the expectation we have and the expectations we believe others have of us. This is Christmas, this is when the perfect picture postcard of an amazingly decorated home and your happy family gathers around the perfectly adorned Christmas tree after which they then share the perfectly cooked dinner. Because of social media, we see how perfect everyone else’s home, decorations and dinners are. So, yours must be as well. There does seem to be a solution, however, as unhealthy but delicious dessert calls out your name, you know there has to be a better solution. Each delicious bite is supposed to help melt the stress away, at least until the guilt from consuming all those uncounted calories begin to bounce around in your head. Guilt, stress, expectations, none of these elements work to produce Christmas cheer. In 1843, the phrase, we wish you “A Merry

Christmas and a Happy New Year” first appeared on a commercially available Christmas card, as the world embraced Charles Dickens’ “Christmas Carol.” The greeting, however, goes back much further, to at least the 1300s. But what does it mean? To have a Merry Christmas is to wish for someone to have a joyful Christmas, an exultant Christmas, a content Christmas. In the original Old English, merry meant “to be pleasant, and agreeable.” Christmas has its own vocabulary such as noel and nativity. The French root of the word “Noel” means “birth,” thus the First Noel means the first birth or first advent of Jesus. The word nativity, from the Latin, means “arisen by birth.” In 1223, after a trip to the Holy Land, Francis of Assisi created the very first Christmas nativity scene. So, where does one’s priority land? Committing to the hours required to find and obtain the perfect gift? The hours and backache involved in displaying the perfectly decorated house? Developing the skills needed to master creating the perfect eggnog mixture? Or enjoying some quiet time with family and friends celebrating the First Noel over a simply prepared dinner. Place the Nativity scene at the center of the table and your house will instantly be decorated with the most important feature of Christmas. To that, let me close by saying I wish you all a Merry Christmas and a less stressful New Year. DECEMBER 2019 | 85086

PETS

Dog Days Desert Botanical Garden welcomes pups in January Told by Kuma & Written by Lorraine Bossé-Smith I can tell we are entering the holiday season as the house has been transformed into a Christmas wonderland. Mom is always humming Christmas tunes and the aromas from the kitchen are heavenly. I’m on cleanup duty and take my job seriously. Each and every year I think mom is putting up trees for me and my brother to use, but they smell funny and have things dangling from them. Perhaps those are toys for us? I’m told “no” so I stay clear. I want to be a good pup, so Santa Paws comes. If you and your family are looking for a neat outing, consider the Desert Botanical Garden. Right now, it is decked out for Christmas. My folks went and enjoyed all sorts of music as they walked the grounds. Go in the evening to see all the plants lit up. If you don’t get to go, think about heading there

Cool cactus await at the Desert Botanical Garden.

in January because they have Dog Days. Yes, my kind is welcomed. Last year, my mom put on my bowtie and her hiking shoes. I wasn’t exactly sure what we’d be doing. I am always game for just about anything. As we pulled up into the Desert Botanical Garden’s parking lot, I saw tons of dogs—I mean tons! It was Dog Days. Desert Botanical Garden is a 140-acre botanical garden in Papago Park, at 1201 N. Galvin Parkway in Phoenix. On the third Saturday of January, they open the gardens to dogs from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. If your humans have a membership, doggies are free. Passes at $24 each, dogs are $4 per dog. I strutted my way in and was greeted by all sorts of dogs and humans. We were all polite and did our sniff and swirl—the dogs that is. Humans said hello and admired us, as it should be. Dogs were sporting bandanas, bling, colorful collars, coats and even hats. One old dawg had a very cool hat. I bet he could tell some stories. No time, though, I had trails to hike and plants to check out. My dad was in charge of the map and we planned on hiking every trail. The garden Kuma enjoys Dog Days at the Desert Botanical Garden. (Photos by Lorraine Bossé-Smith)

85086 | DECEMBER 2019

has special areas for butterf lies, f lowers and cactus. As we walked the grounds, we noticed special activities throughout. Some were participating in “doga” (yoga with dogs), while others listened to music. Besides the beautiful scenery, photo op stations were dispersed throughout. I saw one that said “Cheese” and thought I would get some. No such luck. Mom took my picture, though. I was proud of my species. Everyone behaved: no barking, biting or lingering. We occasionally had a doggy jam, but that was because the humans had to pet us. Although we didn’t visit it, they had a BarketPlace with all things dog. They truly thought of everything to make it a fun and special outing. Even if you go during Christmas, mark your calendars now for the third Saturday in January so your pup can go. May your holidays be merry and bright! Kumaito (Kuma for short) is a multi-tan Shiba Inu, the oldest and purest from Japan. I personally was born in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado, moved to Friendswood, Texas, and now call Phoenix home. I enjoy running or hiking almost every day with my mom, chasing rabbits out of my neighborhood, playing with toys, pestering my brother Edmond, eating and napping.

Lorraine Bossé-Smith is the founder of the FIT Leader Formula. She shares Kuma’s adventures. She is a motivational speaker, corporate trainer, business consultant, executive coach, behavioral-wellness expert, and author of eight published books.

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FINANCES

Common Cents

10 ways to save money during the holidays By Humphrey Shin, Executive Vice President, FirstBank The holidays are a special time for giving and celebration, and this year, consumers plan to spend an average of $1,048 on holiday gifts and events, according to the National Retail Foundation. But, when the holidays come to an end, the new year all too often ushers in a big stack of bills. Last year, Americans with holiday debt added an average of $1,230 to their credit cards, according to Magnify Money. And this year, individuals are going into the holiday season already burdened with larger than average debt. For instance, Wallethub says the average credit card balance for an Arizona household this year is $9,104, ranking 14th highest in the nation. At FirstBank, we want to help you enjoy the holidays—and the New Year. To help you spend and stress less, here are 10 of our favorite timetested ways to celebrate the season without breaking the bank. 1. Make a list. Write down everyone you plan to give gifts to, from your nearest and dearest to your in-laws and the mail carrier. Then put a dollar figure next to each name. Setting limits will help you keep your holidays on budget. 2. Track your dollars. Whether you use a spreadsheet or check your bank balances on an app, keep track of your holiday spending in real time. This will help ensure you don’t overspend. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau even found money tracking tools can help curb impulse spending, reduce financial uncertainty and make it easier to budget. 3. Rediscover cash. Although credit cards can be useful year-round, cash can help you stick to your budget during the holidays. Before you go shopping, take out the amount you’ve budgeted for in cash. When the cash is gone, shopping trip is over. 4. Try not to procrastinate. When you’re in a race against the clock, you’re less conscience how much you’re spending. Plan ahead and you

85086 | DECEMBER 2019

could save hundreds of dollars, especially by taking advantage of advertised sales. 5. Host a secret gift exchange. For extended families or large offices, you can save a lot of money by hosting a secret gift exchange, where you each pick the name of one person to buy a gift for, instead of feeling obligated to buy a gift for every individual. The added fun is no one knows who has who. 6. Embrace potlucks. Good food is a great part of the holiday experience, and it’s always fun to have everyone over for a festive meal. But why not invite people to contribute their own special dish to the celebration? Keep track of who’s bringing what and you’ll have a less costly and stressful mealtime. 7. Dollar stores are your friend. A new chew toy for the dog? Check. Candy canes for the tree? Check. Stocking stuffers for the kids? Check. You can find great prices at dollar stores on all those little extras that can end up costing big. Don’t forget the tape and wrapping paper. 8. Consider vacation rentals. Whether you’re traveling out of town or hosting family in town, vacation rentals can offer a budgetfriendly option with added amenities. (In some cities, a hotel room can cost about 50% more than a vacation rental, Busbud says.) Find listings from vacation rental companies like Casago, Airbnb, VRBO and others. If you’re traveling, make back some of those expenses by listing your vacant property as a vacation rental. 9. Get creative. Use your special gift for knitting, baking or woodworking to make FirstBank ATMs 28635 N. North Valley Parkway, Phoenix 85085 3610 W. Anthem Way, Anthem 85086

a unique present with your own hands. Or buy several small items to make a thoughtful gift basket. When you draw on your imagination, you’ll discover countless inexpensive options for gifts. 10. Offer the gift of time. Presents don’t have to come in boxes. There are plenty of ways to show how much you care with the greatest gift of all: time. Buy a special card and write a message inside with promises of an intangible gift, like an offer to babysit for new parents, host a special dinner party or help an elderly neighbor with an errand. Here’s an additional bonus tip, and it may be the most valuable one of all—try to create traditions not revolving around money. There are so many ways to experience the true spirit of the holidays without racking up a big bill. You can set up an evening of caroling and hot cocoa with friends, take the kids to view the neighborhood’s holiday lights or assemble care packages for shelters, hospitals, or the armed forces. You can’t put a price tag on those memories, and they may end up being the ones you cherish the most. For more financial health money-saving tips, check out FirstBank’s “Smart Cents” blog at efirstbankblog.com. Humphrey Shin is executive vice president of FirstBank.

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E X T R AO R D I N A RY R I D E S

Alfa Romeo

The $88K Stelvio Quadrifoglio is a pleasure to drive By C.A. Haire When an SUV carries an $88,000 price tag, it is sure to be special. In the case of this Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio, it can be found under the hood. There we find a Ferrari-designed and -built 2.9-liter twin turbo V-6 engine, cranking 505 horsepower, and 443 lbs./ft. of torque. It is hooked to an eightspeed automatic transmission with manual shift mode and an all-wheel-drive for a solid grip on the pavement. The driveshaft is a super-light carbon fiber, which is also very durable. The steering has a quick 12:1 ratio for taking brisk corners. A computer control knob offers four driving modes: eco, normal, dynamic and race. Placing the Stelvio in race mode provides maximum turbocharger output, hard trans-

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mission shift points, and opens the exhaust noise level to the legal limit, sure to attract any traffic police nearby. The factory claims a 0-60 mph time of 3.6 seconds, and a top speed of 176. We did hit 60 in 4.0 seconds easily, but because most commuting was in the city limits, going for that top speed didn’t seem like a good idea. But it is still nice to know it can do so, for at least bragging rights. While this vehicle offers great performance, it is still practical to drive in every day commuting when placed in the normal and eco mode. In these settings, the exhaust noise is mild, and claimed fuel economy is 17/23 mpg. The rear storage area can hold 26 cubic feet of gear, the total cargo limit is a half-ton, and towing ability is 3K pounds.

The Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio is priced at $88,000 and features a Ferrari-designed and -built 2.9-liter twin turbo V-6 engine. (Submitted photos)

The interior controls are easy to understand and use, but the cabin materials used do seem to be rather bland, not impressive for such an expensive machine. For those who would like to own this SUV, but don’t need all this power, but do need a lower price, Alfa Romeo offers the base Stelvio with a milder, yet still sophisticated fourcylinder turbo engine. It puts out a healthy 280 horsepower, reaches 60 mph in about 5.5 seconds, gets 22/28 mpg, and starts at $44K. We racked up 800 miles on this model and found it to be more practical than the more exotic Quadrifoglio. Then again, who pays $88K for a sleek Italian sports machine to be practical? Either model is a pleasure to drive.

BRAINTEASERS 52 Type squares 1 Whitewater carriers 53 Sib 54 Villainous look 6 Zero 55 Scoundrel 9 Hot tub 56 Train component 12 Confederacy's foes 13 Spoon-bender Geller 57 Aquarium favorite DOWN 14 Still 1 Pirates' potable 15 Blunder 2 Blackbird 16 Advisory group 3 Hosiery style 18 1970s band, 4 Fuss Mott the -5 "Beezer" 20 PBS science series 6 Centers 21 Pale 7 Dies -23 Ball-bearing item 8 Freedom, for short 24 Venomous viper 9 Churchly council 25 Utah city 10 Source of annoyance 27 Elmer Fudd's weapon 11 Rose oil 17 Owing 29 Ink producers 19 Jeopardy 31 Cottontail 21 Go a-courtin' 35 Trumpet part 22 Curved line 37 Mexican entree 24 Carte lead-in 38 Up to the time that 26 Not idle 41 Doctrine 28 New 43 Evergreen variety 30 Chum 44 Midday 32 Gun attachment 45 Psychotic, for short 33 Lemieux milieu 47 Jack Webb series 34 AAA job 49 Recipient 36 Champ ACROSS

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DECEMBER 2019 | 85086

DINING

Renaissance Woman

Anthem’s Donna Chilleen keeps the dream alive at Chilleen’s on 17 By Christina Fuoco-Karasinski Chilleen’s on 17 is warm and welcoming. With wood-lined booths and its legendary bathrooms, the low-lit family barbecue eatery is taking dining to the next level, thanks to owner Donna Chilleen and her daughters, Cheyenne and Aleah. She hosts weddings every weekend in its elegant facility behind the restaurant. It’s so popular, the facility is booked into 2021. To keep the locals happy, she hires Arizona bands perform on the patio and when that ends, the party continues inside with karaoke. The former wedding coordinator for the Satisfied Frog, Chilleen has owned the restaurant since 2002, when she bought it on a whim with her now ex-husband, Scott. “We were just driving by and we saw this place was for sale,” the Anthem resident says. “My husband was no longer working for his dad at the Satisfied Frog. I said, ‘Why don’t we just buy that place?’ The kids were little. It was a rainy day. We bought it that day. “I had to have it. I saw the potential.” She bought it in 2002 and reopened it in February 2003. Since then, it has been remodeled and received a food makeover, with “Bar Rescue” at the helm in April 2013. Barbecue is where restaurant excels

Donna Chilleen of Anthem has turned around Chilleen’s on 17 with the help of her family and “Bar Rescue.” (Photos by Pablo Robles)

and Chilleen thanks “Bar Rescue" and Jon Taffer for that. “Jon Taffer wants you to do well,” Chilleen says. “We were one of their most successful episodes. We kept everything he did. I have a friend who worked with ‘Bar Rescue.’ He had all the equipment in the attic.” Before the “Bar Rescue” visit, Chilleen’s didn’t smoke their barbecue. Now they're trademark dishes. “Everything from the smoker is really good,” she says. “The smoker is amazing. It gives us that good flavor. The brisket takes 14 hours. They put that in at night and the chef in the morning gets it. We can’t make it really quick. That’s something we do fresh.” The barbecue at Chilleen’s is stellar. The all-you-can-eat barbecue beef ribs are $18.99. Other menu items include Black Canyon chicken that is brined and slow smoked Cassi Heaton bartends at Chilleen’s on 17 in Black Canyon City.

85086 | DECEMBER 2019

($13.99); Southwestern smoked brisket that is cooked with the fat on it ($16.99); Chilleen’s St. Louis-style pork ribs are seasoned and slow smoked ($16.99 to $20.99); the chicken and pork rib combo ($17.99) and the “I Want It All” barbecue platter with pork ribs, chicken and sliced brisket at ($26.99). The Saturday prime rib special is another attractive Chilleen’s dish. “When it’s gone, it’s gone,” she says. “We slice it and it’s made to order. We try not to run out of things, but you’re going to. People also drive very far just to get the green chili.” She’s referring to the green chili con carne, a pork-based green chili served with a fresh flour tortilla ($7.99). Other green chili-themed starters are chili en chips, cooked in-house tortilla chips with the green chili dip ($6.99); green chili cheese fries ($6.99); and fried green chiles, a 40-year-old family recipe of handbreaded, deep-fried mild ortega chiles ($7.99). Entrees include standard fare like New York strip steak ($25.99); choice ribeye Chilleens continues on pg. 41

DINING

Tasty Trends

Manny’s Burger serves anything but a plain burger By Annika Tomlin As the lead chef of Manny’s Burger, Manuel “Manny” Cruz is always ready to serve. But the shop is anything but ordinary. His goal in opening six months ago was to serve 100% Angus beef and add to Anthem’s limited food options. “There was nothing here in Anthem,” says Cruz, who owns three Filiberto’s restaurants. “This community needed food—really good food.” In its short time, Manny’s Burger has become known for its namesake—two beef patties, lettuce, tomato, onion, cheese, roasted fajitas, over medium egg, avocado and hollandaise sauce ($10.50). For those who aren’t that hungry—and in tribute to his 6-year-old son—Cruz recently added the Manny’s Burger Jr., which is just one patty ($8.99). The barbecue burger is another creative dish, with one patty, onion rings, bacon, provolone cheese and barbecue sauce ($9.99). The LA burger is a standard at Manny’s Burger. The Angus patty is piled high with habanero spread for spice, roasted pineapple and coconut chutney for a fruity tang, bacon, lettuce and tomato.

The Cuban burger ($8.99) is a risk taker with sliced pork, ham, pickles, mustard and provolone cheese. Another top menu item would be the Cuban Burger priced at $8.99 plus tax. This classic burger includes sliced pork, ham, pickles, mustard and provolone cheese. But Manny’s Burger isn’t all about beef. Fish burgers ($10.50) are cod, tomato, cabbage slaw and tartar sauce. It has choice salads as well—garden, crisp apple, southwestern, quinoa tofu, cobb, grilled chicken Caesar, taco, tropical, beet and barbecue. Cruz prides himself on his potatoes that can accompany any dish. He spends time cutting natural potatoes throughout the day, as he prepares French fries daily. “It changes the life for the people here, just by using natural potatoes,”

Manuel “Manny” Cruz celebrates Burger Night on Thursdays, when a double-patty burger is $5, instead of $9.99 at Manny’s Burger in Anthem. (Photos by Annika Tomlin)

he says. Chicken is available for those who eschew red meat. The buffalo chicken burger ($8.99) has a baked chicken breast with buffalo sauce, bacon, lettuce, tomato and pepper jack cheese to round out the spice. The chicken burger is anything but regular. For $8.99, guests get a grilled chicken breast, coleslaw for a twist, along with pickles, tomato and onions. On Thursdays is Burger Night—but don’t let the name fool you. The special—a double cheeseburger with French fries and a 22-ounce drink for $5—runs 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. The two beef patties, lettuce, tomato, onion and cheese dish is normally priced at $9.99.

Manny’s Burger 3434 W. Anthem Way, Anthem 623-551-1789 DECEMBER 2019 | 85086

W H AT ' S C O O K I N G ?

Holiday Cookie P latters By Jan D’Atri

Does your holiday cookie platter need a makeover? Are you looking to add a couple of delightful holiday treats to your cookie exchange? You can’t go wrong with either one of these! The M&M’s Christmas Cookie Bars was determined by Taste of Home magazine to be the most popular cookie in America this year with nearly 400,000 pins and online shares. It’s really easy and so very festive looking! If you love Snickerdoodles, this one has loads of flavor. Happy baking!

85086 | DECEMBER 2019

M&M’s Christmas Cookie Bars

Ingredients: - 2 sticks of butter, room temperature - 1 cup sugar - 1 cup firmly packed golden brown sugar - 3 large eggs - 2 teaspoons of pure vanilla extract - 3 cups all-purpose flour - 3/4 teaspoon of baking soda - 3/4 teaspoon of salt - 1-1/2 cups of Christmas M&M’s plus more for topping - 1 cup of mini chocolate chips plus more for topping - 1/2 cup of white chocolate chips Directions: Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a 9x13 baking dish with foil or parchment paper; leave some overhang to make removal easier. Spray foil with nonstick cooking spray. With an electric mixer, beat butter, sugar and brown sugar together until fluffy. Add in eggs and vanilla extract. Mix well. Lower speed and add flour, baking soda and salt. Mix until combined. Add M&M’s and mini chocolate chips and give a final stir, reserving some M&M’s, mini chocolate chips and white chocolate chips for topping cookie bars. Transfer cookie dough to prepared baking dish. Press additional M&M’s, mini chocolate chips and white chocolate chips into top of cookie dough. Bake 35 to 40 minutes on oven rack in lower third of oven to prevent over browning. Let cool completely and cut.

Snickerdoodles

Ingredients: - 1 cup butter, room temperature - 3/4 cup granulated sugar - 1/2 cup light brown sugar - 1 egg, plus 1 yolk - 1 tablespoon vanilla - 1 teaspoon baking soda - 1 teaspoon cream of tartar - 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt - 1 teaspoon cinnamon - 2-3/4 cup flour - Cinnamon Sugar Mixture - 1/4 cup granulated sugar - 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon

Directions: Line a baking sheet with a parchment paper and set aside. With an electric mixer, beat together butter, granulated sugar, and light brown sugar on medium speed until light and fluffy, 2 to 3 minutes. Add in the egg, the yolk, vanilla, baking soda, cream of tartar, salt, and cinnamon and mix for 1 minute, scraping the sides of the bowl as necessary. Turn mixer to low and add in flour, mixing until just combined. In a separate small bowl, make your cinnamon sugar by mixing together cinnamon and sugar, stirring until evenly combined. Using a medium (2 tablespoon) cookie scoop portion out the dough and roll into a ball. Roll each cookie dough ball into the cinnamon sugar mixture until coated. Refrigerate for 30 minutes. Bake at 325 degrees for 8 to 10 minutes or until done. Watch my How-To Video for Christmas Cookies: Store in airtight container. jandatri.com/recipe/christmas-cookie-bars/

Chilleens continued from pg. 38

($27.99); and top sirloin ($19.99). Boneless marinated chicken with “grandma’s secret marinade” ($14.99); broiled cod fillet ($12.99) and blackened cod fillet ($13.99). Burgers and sandwiches round out the menu—just before dessert. The specialty is a personal-size apple pie with mounds of ice cream and cinnamon-sprinkled whipped cream. Chilleen keeps the restaurant fresh. Last summer, Chilleen’s closed for five days to remodel the dining room and the bathroom. That completed the circle started by “Bar Rescue.” “We had three layers of flooring,” she says. “We put down new flooring, the corrugated tin in the booths. If you get barbecue sauce on particle board, you can’t wipe it clean. “We redid the bathrooms, too. Every time we go in there, we see how pretty they are. We had really bad bathrooms before, so we gutted them completely. It took all of our energy.” The wood that lines the booths are from her grandfather’s house at 19th Avenue and

4th Now in our 3

The wedding venue at Chilleen’s on 17 is booked into 2021.

Dunlap that was torn down after he died. “I think it looks amazing in here,” Chilleen says. Soon, she says, Four Sons is opening next door. She expects business to pick up a bit— even though it isn’t struggling. “This is the dream I always had,” says Chilleen, who moved to Arizona from Ohio at age 18 in 1988. “I wanted a waiting area

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H E A LT H

Cannabidiol Chat

CBD can be helpful—with the right information By Tara Storjohann and Alexandra Prach Cannabidiol (CBD) is everywhere. CBD kombucha at the market, CBD cocktails at the bar, CBD ketchup and salsa, CBD bath bombs—the list goes on. CBD has been introduced to all markets for its potential health benefits. However, not many people are aware of the benefits and which products provide them. This article can give you some insight to see if you could benefit from CBD and can further guide you to choose a CBD product right for you—from a pharmacist’s standpoint.

What is CBD? CBD is one of the 104 chemical compounds naturally derived from the hemp/ cannabis plant. Unlike THC, CBD has no psychoactive effects. CBD users claim it has the ability to help with many conditions such as chronic pain, insomnia, inflammation, anxiety, depression, acne, neurological disorders, high blood pressure, and side effects related to cancer, including nausea,

85086 | DECEMBER 2019

vomiting and pain. Although there are not yet large-scale studies proving CBD’s effectiveness in these conditions, many patients rave of the benefits.

How does CBD work? CBD works through a system called the endocannabinoid system (ECS), which primarily regulates mood, sleep/wake cycle, inflammatory responses, and the immune system. Research indicates CBD affects other receptors as well which are involved in regulating pain, mood and seizure activity.

How do I choose the right product? If you have any of the above-listed issues, CBD could be an option for you but knowing which product to choose can be confusing.

Five rules for choosing a CBD product 1. Choose a professional brand. Profes-

sional brands are created by medical professionals such as doctors and pharmacists, with the intention of providing safe and effective CBD products. Make sure the CBD product’s manufacturer tests for purity and is compliant with the FDA’s Current Good Manufacturing Practice regulations, which ensures product consistency, potency and safety. These professional products are likely to be found at pharmacies. 2. Choose a full-spectrum product. Fullspectrum CBD products contain not only CBD but also various nonpsychoactive components including cannabinoids, flavonoids and terpenes, which work together to promote a greater therapeutic response at a lower dose. 3. Choose an appropriate dosage form. Many different forms of CBD are available to choose from, but which is most appropriate? If you are using CBD for widespread pain, insomnia, anxiety, acne or nausea, an oral form of CBD is recommended. Capsules and tinctures are available for

oral use. The sublingual tinctures are great because they allow for easy dose adjustments. Any concentrated pain in one area such as joint pain or muscle pain can be relieved with topical CBD in the form of a salve or lotion. Many of these formulations also contain menthol, which can provide a cooling effect for pain relief. The oral and topical forms of CBD are safe to use in combination if the pain is not relieved by just one by itself. 4. Choose the correct dose. This one is a bit harder. Everyone metabolizes CBD differently, and so the dose of CBD is unique to each individual. If you are sensitive to medications, it is recommended to take 5 to 10 mg daily to start. If you are taking other medications to control pain and usually have to take higher doses of medications, it is recommended to start with 10 to 20 mg daily. These can be adjusted depending on tolerance and effects and can be used multiple times a day. 5. Choose a time of day to take CBD. If you are using CBD for insomnia, take CBD about a half-hour before bedtime. Use caution in using CBD throughout the day when starting off and unsure if it will make you drowsy or

not. It is OK to take CBD multiple times a day for conditions such as pain and anxiety, but be careful engaging in any activities requiring complete attention and control of bodily motions as you are getting used to it. Topical formulations scarcely are absorbed into the blood, and therefore can be used any time of day without causing drowsiness.

What are the risks? Two concerns patients usually have regarding CBD include side effects and drug testing. Although CBD is very well tolerated by most people, some may experience some side effects such as fatigue, changes in appetite, diarrhea, drowsiness and dry mouth. It is rare these kinds of side effects occur, however, it is important when begin taking CBD oil to be aware of the side effects. Study how your body responds to it. Also, if drug testing is a concern, either for work or at pain clinics, many professional brands carry one or two “THC-free” products. The minuscule amount of THC found in the full-spectrum products does not yield any psychoactive effects, however, it may show up

in a drug test. If this is a concern, I recommend trying the THC-free products, which are just as effective. So, could CBD help you finally get a good night of sleep? Could it help relieve the pain in your knees stopping you from doing yard work? Could it possibly help you get off anxiety medication with the undesirable side effects? Possibly! For more information, reach out to your pharmacist or health care professional, who can work with you to start CBD. Dr. Alexandra Prach earned her PharmD degree from the University of Rhode Island College of Pharmacy in Kingston, Rhode Island, in 2019. She interned full time at two compounding pharmacies in New England and has been heavily involved in seeking solutions to the national opioid epidemic. Her passion for compounding and interest in alternative pain management guided Prach to Arizona to do a post-graduate residency training program at Potter’s House Apothecary & Wellness. She is excited to have the opportunity to learn from the leaders in compounding pharmacy and play a role in providing personalized pharmaceutical care to patients.

Dr. Tara Storjohann has resided in Anthem since 2002 and is a pharmacist and an associate professor in the College of Pharmacy at Midwestern University in Glendale. She is a board-certified geriatric pharmacist and a fellow of the American Society of Consultant Pharmacists. She loves Anthem and enjoys spending time in the outdoors hiking and snowskiing. She is a health advocate and is passionate about helping others achieve their wellness goals.

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H E A LT H

Holiday Skin Care Gift Guide Get your best look with the help of professionals

By Dr. Kelly Collins, Premier Wellness Center and Aglow Medspa The holiday season is upon us and it’s time to find gifts for everyone on the list. With that said, the holidays are the perfect time to give the gift of gorgeous skin. But with all the products out there, who has time to sift through everything? To make it easier, I have paired some of my favorite products with those on your list who are hardest to shop for. So, if you have been searching for the perfect beauty gift idea to give this holiday season, look no further! Here are the top products guaranteed to put a smile on anyone’s face.

For the skin care product guru Revision Skincare-Nectifirm: This awardwinning formula features five peptides, plant extracts and antioxidants work cohesively to create a smoother, younger-looking neck, décolletage and jawline. SkinBetter Science - InterFuse Intensive Treatment, Lines: Do you want the look of dermal fillers without injections? This patented, state-of-the-art technology contains an injectable-grade hyaluronic acid along with a collagen-nourishing complex of amino acids, peptides and vitamin C. Intensive Treatment Lines will improve moisture retention while plumping the skin to reduce the appearance of lines and wrinkles.

For the outdoorsy type SkinBetter Science – Alto Defense Serum: Alto Defense Serum contains antioxidants will improve the appearance of uneven skin

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tone and redness. Combines vitamins C and E plus 17 additional antioxidants designed to provide a new level of comprehensive and dynamic defense against free radicals. Enhances vitality and improvement of skin tone and luminosity. Revision Skincare – Intellishade: Intellishade is an age-defying tinted moisturizer with sunscreen. This award-winning formula will provide your skin with a healthy and natural glow. Anti-aging daily moisturizer intelligently designed to deliver the power of five antiaging products in one. It helps to correct, protect, conceal, brighten and hydrate skin to deliver results. This 5-in-1 moisturizer features more than 20 age-defying ingredients, broad-spectrum SPF 45 protection plus a universal tint blends naturally with the color of your skin for an instant glow.

For the ‘glow-getter:’ A guide to hydration and moisture SkinBetter Science Trio Rebalancing Moisture Treatment: Looking for a product providing heavy hydration without the weight? (This is the “big-gun” moisturizer perfect for dry and mature skin types.) The patented formulation will bring back balance to dry and aging skin. SkinBetter Science – Refresh Hy-

dration Boosting Cream: Refresh Hydration Boosting cream is a dual-action moisturizer delivering immediate and long-lasting hydration. It’s a perfect universal moisturizer great for all skin types (anyone can benefit from this product). It provides soothing hydration with a velvety finish and uses a unique combination of ceramides and botanical lipids to hydrate the skin and provide a smooth and supple, yet airy finish. (Tip: Add a little splash to your makeup foundation to enhance your glow.) Revision Skincare – Hydrating Serum: Oilfree moisture great for all skin types. It features two forms of hyaluronic acid plus a blend of powerful natural fruit extracts, antioxidants and a peptide leaving skin smooth and refreshed. The product’s ultralight texture absorbs instantly without leaving skin feeling greasy. It’s excellent for oily or acne-prone skin.

For the Makeup Maven Glo Skin Beauty Mineral Makeup & Skincare Products: These award-winning, skin-nourishing, mineral makeup formulations will enhance and protect even the most sensitive skin types. Glo Skin Beauty offers a variety of formulas and finishes along with an exceptional shade gallery to promote beautiSkin continues on pg. 44

H E A LT H

High Blood Pressure

Five holistic tips to lower your numbers By Dr. Brian Hester, Back to Health of Anthem For as long as I can remember, my mom has had high blood pressure. Most kids would hear their dad yell from the front seat, “Quit horsing around, you’re raising my blood pressure!” Except our mom meant it. And she most definitely said those exact words to us on multiple occasions. Whether or not her blood pressure was actually being raised at that moment or she just wanted 4 seconds of peace and quiet remains to be seen. Hypertension was a part of her life since she was 18. Eighteen! Can you believe that? If you know my mom, it almost makes sense though. She’s basically “Super Woman,” always on the go, doing things the right way (her way), and is mega intense. That doesn’t exactly lead to serenity and peacefulness. On top of that, she’s always been the type of person that could eat whatever she wanted with zero consequences. So it’s not like she was eating fish and kale her whole life. Once she hit 40, things started to change, and her body just couldn’t deal. Her blood pressure was high. On medication, it was 180/95. If you have no idea what those numbers mean, just know, that’s not good.

I share that with you to show my heart behind all of this. I made it my mission, because I saw the danger with my mom, to be able to holistically eliminate diseases like hypertension. Whether you are trying to work yourself off of medication or wanting to avoid it altogether, let’s jump into a few different ways to lower your blood pressure. 1) Get rid of the inflammation in your diet. If you weren’t already aware, hypertension is when the force of blood pushing against vessel walls is too high. This added pressure causes the heart to work too hard and blood vessels to function less effectively. When we eat foods that inflame those vessels, it makes blood pump even harder. Which then raises your blood pressure even more. We put our bodies in a chronic state of inflammation by eating foods made or covered in flour, sugar, or oil. Fries, donuts, cereal, cookies. Even your whole-grain breads and “sugar-free” items are inflammatory. Pretty much any food that is “made” and not simply “grown.” We want to stick to a whole food diet, filled with one-ingredient items. Grass-fed meats, wild-caught fish, fresh vegetables and fruits, sweet potatoes, quinoa, nuts, and good oils like olive, co-

conut, and avocado. Fuel your body instead of just filling it. Plus, you won’t be consuming anything that sticks to the inside of those vessels that further narrows the blood flow path. 2) Increase cardio. Now notice I didn’t say “go run a marathon.” The Catch-22 of increasing your cardio is that you need to do it in a way that doesn’t raise your blood pressure too high. My advice: start small and work your way up. If your current cardio includes carrying your chips from the pantry to the couch or walking upstairs to your bed each night, you must start simple like speed walking around the block. After a week or two, work your way up to being able to jog one lap with a walking lap before and after. Or try low impact, like cycling or swimming. Strength training is another great option. Building muscle while conditioning your heart is one of the best things you can do (and is another great low-impact option). Home gym, at the park, big-box gym—there are lots of choices. I can’t say it enough, start small. Anything above and beyond what you normally do will have an impact. I highly recommend our Function Training Center here at Back to Health of Anthem. Our trainers are professionals who pride themselves on building workouts specifically tailored for each person and their goals. 3) Refuel your pill container with supplements. We all know those pill organizers that have the S M T W T F S markings on them we’ve seen our grandparents use for years. I know, I know, they’re for “old people.” But I have to admit, I bought one a few months ago and it was the best $3 I’ve ever spent! Our grandmas knew what was up. A while back, I wrote about the six essential vitamins everyone should be Pressure continues on pg. 44 DECEMBER 2019 | 85086

Pressure continued from pg. 43

taking. But with hypertension, we need to add a couple more: hawthorn and garlic. My botanicals professor in chiro school had super high blood pressure in college so he started taking hawthorn regularly. After six months, it was gone. That’s the great thing about botanicals and herbs, they aren’t Band-Aids for a bigger problem. They cure the problem, not treat the symptoms. As always, consult your chiropractor before starting or increasing any vitamin regiments. If you’re not sure what you may or may not need, call us up for in-depth blood analysis. It’s a great way to determine your needs. 4) Increase specific foods in your diet while decreasing others. Isn’t it cool that the right foods can not only fuel our bodies but can also help heal our bodies? Some great foods known for reducing blood pressure are celery, garlic, pomegranate, ground flaxseed and beets. On the flip side, you’ve must eliminate some foods, and this one won’t really be all that of a shocker: salt. Adding salt to food Fall is a terriﬁc time to replace aging air and eating foods naturally high in salt like conditioning systems - amazing specials, cured or processed meats are the biggest

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extract for nourishing antioxidant protection. All products are talc-free, allowing silky, even coverage enhanceing skin’s beauty. With a stunning color range designed to celebrate individuality, from “barely there” the “beautifully bold.” Still can’t decide? Take the guesswork out of holiday giftgiving with a Premier Wellness Center Gift Card. It is the ideal solution for anyone on your list! Beautiful skin is a present worth giving. If you are interested in learning more about any of these or other aesthetic treatments for fall, book a free consultation with me or any of our other providers at Premier Wellness Center.

Dr. Kelly C. Collins is the owner and medical director of Premier Wellness Center in Anthem.

Pressure continued from pg. 44

culprits. In school, they always said, “where sodium goes, water flows.” So, if we have an excessive amount of sodium in our bodies, we retain water to dilute it. The more water we retain, the higher volume of blood we have which further increases the stress on our arteries. This is why if you ask any doctor, their first dietary recommendation for a patient with hypertension is sodium reduction. 5) Make relaxation part of your day. I can already hear you. “If I had time to relax, my blood pressure wouldn’t be so high!” I get it. Again, start small. Even if it’s just 10 minutes a day sitting in your room with the door locked so your kids can’t barge in, it’ll help. You can find a relaxation playlist on Spotify or Pandora or even a worship station. Find something that works for you and helps remove the thoughts of everything going on in your life. Find a comfy spot, sit up straight and concentrate on deep breaths. This time can be spent in prayer, listening to the music, or completely zoning out. The important part is that you can just relax. BONUS: Add essential oils to your nighttime routine. Again, one of those cool things that products made from plants can actually help heal your body. There are essential oils that can help lower your blood pressure and help your body relax. Some great ones to try are lavender, frankincense, bergamot, clary sage, ylang-ylang, and jasmine. You can have a diffuser next to your bed so they will not only help you get to sleep easier but can help the healing process while you sleep! Left untreated, high blood pressure can be extremely dangerous. But there is hope! If you know you are struggling with high blood pressure and want to make a change the right way, call us to schedule a consult at 623-551-6677. We are ready to help get you on the path to a healthier you! Info: myanthemhealth.com.

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• Sprinklers • Valves • Timers • Maintenance • Tree Trimming • Artificial Grass • Installation of Winter Grass

602-367-8742 No Job Too Small or BIG!

LEGAL

PROFESSIONAL SERVICES

Local general practice law firm. Free case evaluation for personal injury matters. Experienced attorneys and effective representation. 623-551-9366

Caregiver & CNA we are the one to call if you need help at home. We Cook, Light housekeeping, personal care. We are mature and experienced Call 623-734-0587

PLUMBING Wyman PLUMBING of ANTHEM Your friendly neighborhood plumber for NORTH PHX area! Schedule a FREE ESTIMATE

623-551-6688

CONCRETE

ROC#309216 www.wyman-services.com

PROFESSIONAL SERVICES KOOL DECK REPAIR, GARAGE EPOXY COATING, CONCRETE STAIN, & MORE! Free Est. No Tax Ever! CarefreeStone.com 602-867-0867

Concrete in Arizona All phases of concrete No job too small, free estimates Licensed, bonded, insured Visit our website at www.ciaconcrete.com Jeremy 623-764-9283 Jason 602-410-3598

LANDSCAPING HAWKEYE LANDSCAPING INC 85085 local company. Doing business for over 22 years. ROC CR-21138105, ROCB-3284133. Providing all your custom design and installation needs. 623-582-1122 HawkeyeCustom Landscaping.com

85086 | DECEMBER 2019

Light Up Your Life With LED!

- Outdoor Lighting Installs, Remodels, Repairs Landscaping, Irrigation, Maintenance, Synthetic Grass, Fire Pits, BBQs and More! POTTER LANDSCAPING 623-465-0952 ROC150017, 203168 Bonded & Insured mikescreativescapes.com

Desert Rock Spreaders Offering Delivery, Install & Removal: Landscape Rock Crushed Asphalt Arena Sand Free Estimates & Scheduling Call 602-410-4153 Quality Service & Competitive Pricing *15 Ton Min. Required. Family Owned & Operated

REAL ESTATE -RENT Affordable Anthem Executive Office Suite for Lease in Gateway Office Park. Incl: Internet, util, alarmed. 623-696-8670

ROOFING Phillips Roofing

Family Owned & Operated Residential & Commercial Free Estimates Valleywide Service Where Quality Matters

623-873-1626

phillipsroofing@cox.net www.phillipsroofing.org ROC 223367 Bonded & Insured

WINDOWS All your window covering needs & security doors. Some of our products: Tint, Sunscreens, Patio Shades, Plantation Shutters, Wood Blinds. Check our web site for products & ref's. Family Own/Op dhwindowcoverings.com 623-465-0373 Lic Bonded, Insured ROC# 286896 Desert Hills Sunscreens LLC Your newspaper. Your community. Your planet. Please recycle me.

SANTA KNOWS DR. FLOWERS IS ON THE NICE LIST! AnthemSmile.com

NAUGHTY o rÇNICE? Listen to Santa, “Ho, ho, ho! Keep off the

Naughty list, by taking good care of your teeth; and make sure to see Dr. Flowers!” CALL TODAY TO SCHEDULE

623-551-8000 DECEMBER 2019 | 85086

DINNER AND DINNER AND A DINNER AND A AMOVIE! MOVIE! DINNER AND A MOVIE!

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