Ahwatukee Foothills News - 04.28.2021

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www.ahwatukee.com

Wednesday, April 28, 2021

BY PAUL MARYNIAK AFN Executive Editor

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TRIPLE GLORY

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SIGNS OF THE TIMES

orget the pandemic: Kyrene School District’s decline in student population has been a decades-long trend that predates any parental reaction to COVID-19 and is the product of forces pretty much beyond the district’s control.

Those forces and resulting enrollment trends were laid out last week for the Kyrene Governing Board by demographer Rick Brammer of Applied Economics LLC. A similar presentation had been scheduled for last week’s Tempe Union Governing Board meeting but was called off for unspecified technical reasons.

One of the more stunning findings from Brammer’s presentation was this: “Since the year 2000, there’s been about 8,500, 8,400

see ENROLL page 12

Tis chart shows the shifts that have occurred in Kyrene's student enrollment since the beginning of this century through last school year. The green portion represents out-of-district students who attend Kyrene schools. (Applied Economics LLC)

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Hotel re-do not for migrants but for professionals

BY PAUL MARYNIAK AFN Executive Editor

THUNDER THROWER

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@AhwatukeeFN

Many forces impact Kyrene enrollment decline

MASKS REMAIN

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@AhwatukeeFN |

Work began pretty quickly converting the old Quality Inn into an apartment complex. (Pablo Robles/AFN Staff)

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or more than a month, rumors and questions have swirled around the former Quality Inn Hotel in Ahwatukee near I-10 and Elliot Road as some local residents expressed concern that it would shelter migrant families just as the Holiday Inn Express is being used a few miles south.

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see HOTEL page 14

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AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS | APRIL 28, 2021

AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS | APRIL 28, 2021

The Ahwatukee Foothills News is published every Wednesday and distributed free of charge to homes and in single-copy locations throughout Ahwatukee Foothills.

Times Media Group: 1620 W. Fountainhead Parkway, Suite 219 Tempe, Arizona, 85282 Main number: 480-898-6500 Advertising: 480-898-5624 Circulation service: 480-898-5641

PUBLISHER Steve T. Strickbine

VICE PRESIDENT Michael Hiatt

ADVERTISING STAFF National Advertising Director Zac Reynolds 480-898-5603 zac@ahwatukee.com

Advertising Sales Representatives: Karen Mays, 480-898-7909, kmays@ahwatukee.com Laura Meehan, 480-898-7904, lmeehan@ahwatukee.com

Classified:

Elaine Cota, 480-898-7926, ecota@ahwatukee.com

Circulation Director:

Aaron Kolodny 480-898-5641, customercare@ahwatukee.com

NEWS STAFF Executive Editor:

Paul Maryniak, 480-898-5647, pmaryniak@ahwatukee..com

GetOut Editor:

Christina Fuoco-Karasinski, 480-641-4518, christina@timespublications.com

Sports Editor:

Zach Alvira 480-898-5630, zalvira@timespublications.com

Designer: Ruth Carlton - rcarlton@timespublications.com

Production Coordinator:

Courtney Oldham 480-898-5617 production@timespublications.com

Reporters:

Tom Scanlon, 480-278-6903 tscanlon@timespublications.com Wayne Schutsky, 480-898-6533 wschutsky@timespublications.com Cecilia Chan. 480-898-5613, cchan@timespublications.com Ahwatukee Foothills News is distributed by AZ Integrated Media, a circulation service company owned by Times Media Group. The public is permitted one copy per reader. For further information regarding the circulation of this publication or others in the Times Media Group family of publications, please contact AZ Integrated Media at circ@ azintegratedmedia.com or 480-898-5641. For circulation services please contact Aaron Kolodny at aaron@ azintegatedmedia.com.

WRITE A LETTER

To submit a letter, please include your full name.

Our policy is not to run anonymous letters. Please keep the length to 300 words. Letters will be run on a space-available basis. Please send your contributions to pmaryniak@ahwatukee.com.

EDITORIAL CONTENT

The Ahwatukee Foothills News expresses its opinion. Opinions expressed in guest commentaries, perspectives, cartoons or letters to the editor are those of the author.

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The content and claims of any advertisement are the sole responsibility of the advertiser. The Ahwatukee Foothills News assumes no responsibility for the claims or content of any advertisement.

© Strickbine Publishing, Inc.

Tempe Union gets good fiscal news, projects a surplus

AFN NEWS STAFF

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empe Union High School District has dodged a couple budget bullets and appears on course to end the current school year with a surplus.

The good news came last week during the Governing Board’s budget briefing by Diane Muelemans, assistant superintendent for business services, who attributed the break to several factors – particularly the closing of Compadre High School and the fortuitous retirement and/or voluntary departure of employees representing 28.6 full-time equivalent positions.

Those departures equaled just over $3.9 million in savings and were enough to turn the district’s fortunes dramatically around for the coming school year.

District spokeswoman Megan Sterling noted the reduction in force among the district’s personnel ranks, mostly teachers, “was achieved through a combination of retirements, transfers, and natural attrition.

We have not had to RIF.” RIF is a common acronym for reductions in force achieved by layoffs and furloughs.

Tempe Union Superintendent Dr. Kevin Mendivil also took a moment during the board meeting to sound a celebratory note on that news, noting that much of the early forecasted budget impact “was handled and adjusted through attrition. I think that alone is a success story.”

“I do want to say, though, that this is a really, really solid good report considering what other districts are facing in terms of budget reductions,” Mendivil said, noting Gilbert Public Schools’ recent decision to not renew the contracts of 154 teachers for the coming school year to cover state reimbursement losses stemming from an enrollment loss of about 1,600 students this school year.

“We are in a very fortunate situation financially in spite of a pandemic and the gradual decline of our enrollment where we have two funding areas where we have surplus.”

That was accomplished, he added, partly by “right sizing” teaching staff for the first time in four years to account for that enrollment loss.

The closing of Compadre High, which has seen a steady and significant enrollment decline over recent years, affected 25.5 teaching positions. But retirements and other voluntary departures made that a wash, since the Compadre teachers are being shifted to the vacancies those departures leave behind. Four positions in the district’s central office also were eliminated for a savings of $191,000.

Compadre’s programs are being shifted to Marcos de Niza High School. What will happen to the Compadre school building, located next to Tempe Union’s

see BUDGET page 9

NEWS

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NEWS

AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS | APRIL 28, 2021

Kyrene, TU see developments on student mental health front

said in a release. “Despite these gains, demand outstripped program funds - leaving many schools on the waitlist.”

The additional money will enable districts that have been waiting for nearly two years to hire 71 counselors and 69 social workers across the state.

Toenjes said, “Kyrene is thrilled to be a recipient of the School Safety Grant, which will provide funding for positions that play a critical role in the mental health and emotional well-being of our children.”

“Social-emotional learning is about equipping students with the knowledge, attitudes and skills necessary to understand and manage emotions, to maintain positive relationships and make responsible decisions,” Toenjes said. “These skills create a foundation for high academic achievement, reduce harmful behaviors like drug use and bullying, and help children to be well-rounded students and good citizens.”

She noted that Kyrene had made a commitment two years ago to staff all its schools with counselors and “that commitment is more important now than ever before, as students are emerging from the life-changing impacts of COVID-19 and entering a period of social-emotional recovery.”

“The challenges presented by the global pandemic threaten our ability to continue funding counselor positions at the very moment when they are needed most,” she said.

Experts nationally are still assessing the pandemic’s impact on students of all ages.

Although initial national data show suicides among people under age 21 actually declined last year, experts say it is inevitable that the isolation and stress created by campus closures, online learning and other fallout of the pandemic will take an inevitable toll on young people.

Moreover, even before the pandemic, rising teen suicide rates had become a concern across the country. In Arizona, suicide was identified by state health officials as the leading cause of death for Arizonans ages 10-14.

Last September, state health director Dr. Cara Christ said nearly 41 percent of Arizona high school students who participated in the state’s 2019 Youth Risk Behavior Survey reported feeling “sad or hopeless” for two or more weeks in a row during the 12 months before the survey. That result was higher than the national average of 36 percent, Christ said. The survey also showed 16 percent of high school participants had made a suicide plan.

The resolution the Tempe Union board approved set out the issue that the new committee would be addressing.

“A U.S. Surgeon General report indicates that one in five children and adolescents will face a significant mental health condition during their school years,” it said, noting this covers a wide range of disorders.

One of the obstacles to getting treatment is the stigma surrounding mental health issues, the resolution notes.

“For unfortunate historical and cultural reasons, mental health has persistently been stigmatized in our society,” it states.

“This stigma is manifested by bias, distrust, stereotyping, fear, embarrassment, anger, and/or avoidance. Addressing psychosocial and mental health concerns in schools is typically not assigned a high priority, except when a high-visibility event occurs, such as a shooting on campus, a student suicide, or an increase in bullying. Additionally, efforts to address school-based services for mental health continue to be developed in an ad hoc, piecemeal and highly marginalized way.”

The resolution also states that the district “believes that for schools to promote a safe learning environment for all students, including those students who may be suffering from some form of mental illness, policymakers must provide adequate levels of access to mental health and counseling services for all students who attend our public schools, in order to foster success in school and to address the mental health needs of students suffering from some form of diagnosable mental illness.”

The resolution sets out a number of goals for training teachers and other school personnel.

Those goals include “techniques to

will be effective April 30, 2021.

“Our plan is to continue publishing all publications in the portfolio, and to do so with all of the current staff members,” said Steve Strickbine, Times Media Group’s founder and president.

“Jason Joseph, current publisher, will be exiting as a planned result of the deal.”

Times Media Group also operates several community news websites in the Valley, including EastValley.com, WestValleyView.com, themesatribune.com,

Phoenix.org, Scottsdale.org, gilbertsunnews.com, Ahwatukee.com, ChandlerNews.com, santansun.com and others with a cumulative monthly unique visitor count in the Valley of more than 500,000. The company said its online audience numbers are also supported by its most recent independent audit by AMA. At a time when many newspaper-centric media companies are curtailing circulation and managing declining operations, Times Media Group has famously

continued to expand its reach and footprint, mostly through the acquisition of other similar media groups.

“We are always interested in expanding our portfolio of publications and news websites that have at their center, a mission of providing the news to the community,” Strickbine said. “The publications we are acquiring from Tucson Local Media have that in common along with long-standing loyal readership audiences.” 

AFN NEWS STAFF

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ajor developments occurred last week in efforts to adequately address the mental and emotional well-being of students in Kyrene and Tempe Union school districts.

Kyrene learned it was getting funding for social workers at Esperanza and Las Brisas elementary schools while the Tempe Union school board approved the creation of an ad hoc advisory committee “for the purpose of discussing and recommending policies to the Governing Board to address the social emotional wellness of all students.”

The committee will be chaired by new board member Armando Montero of Ahwatukee, who before he graduated from Desert Vista High School in 2019 was a vocal proponent of more attention being paid to students’ mental health. The committee will include various administrators and teachers as well as students and is to give the school board recommendations

by May 21.

Kyrene Superintendent Laura Toenjes appeared last week at a press conference called by state schools chief Kathy Hoffman to announce the transfer of $21.3 million in federal pandemic relief funds to the Education Department’s School Safety Grant Program to cover requests for social workers and counselors that originally could not be funded because funds had been exhausted.

“The School Safety Grant program has brought more than 260 social and emotional support professionals to our schools – seeking to reduce our state’s student-toschool-counselor ratio, one of the highest in the nation,” the Education Department

Board member Armando Montero of Ahwatukee is heading the committee. (Special to AFN)

see MENTAL page 9

Times Media Group again expands with Tucson acquisition

AFN NEWS STAFF

T

imes Media Group, a Valleybased company with community weekly newspapers and websites throughout Arizona and California, announced today that it has acquired Tucson Local Media.

Tucson Local Media is the publisher of the Tucson Explorer, Tucson Weekly, Marana News, Foothills News, Desert Times and Inside Tucson Business. The deal

AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS | APRIL 28, 2021

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AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS | APRIL 28, 2021

Major year for Arizona wildfires feared

the state is in severe to exceptional drought. That’s not rizona already has seen a few fires expected to change this year and experts say the state any time soon. is likely to experience another ma“We didn’t see as jor year for wildfires. much rain or snow,” In April alone, the Margo Fire in Pinal said Andrew Deemer, County burned about 1,100 acres, and anmeteorologist with other blaze continues to burn southwest the National Weather of Heber. On Monday, a fire started southService in Phoenix. east of Whiteriver and has burned 1,300 “So that proposes acres, according to InciWeb. Tiffany Dathe question, how vila, public affairs officer for the Arizona did those plants reDepartment of Forestry and Fire Managespond? Going out in ment, said there likely will be widespread the desert, listening fire activity across the state by June. to the fire folks who One reason, Davila said, is plentiful are out there gauging dried vegetation that fuels fire. those fuels, looking “When we’re talking about early activ- This fire in Dudleyville, Pinal County, had a human origin. (Special at satellite imagery, ity in those particular areas, central and to AFN) we’re definitely not southern Arizona, we still have a carryover within cities and are urging homeowners seeing the kind of (vegetation) growth that of fine fuel from last year and some un- to clear brush and dried grass away from we saw in 2020.” ~ Luxury Viny ugshouses. burned areas,” Davila said. “It’s just pretty The NWS works with partners to give l ~ Co Area Rtheir m o t u s n u much an abundance of this grass fuel type.” detailed forecasts that could affect fire actert Arizona had one of the driest monsoon rs ~ C ethere o w o p h S ~ Some experts fear may be fires tivity.

The information helps first responds seasons on record last year, and much of ood ~ Laminate

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“Our goal is 30 minutes or less, get that data out there to the folks who really need it, because they’re making decisions,” Deemer said. “The last thing we want to do is, you know, have anyone’s life on the line, because they’re not aware of a wind shift, or the potential for lightning strikes.”

When conditions are ripe for fires, it’s important for everyone in the state to stay cautious. A fire near Dudleyville in Pinal County earlier this month was human caused.

Dolores Garcia, with the state Bureau of Land Management office in Phoenix, said Arizonans should remember to completely put out their campfires, properly stow tow chains and make sure car tires are properly inflated and in sound condition to prevent blowouts.

“Most of the fires we do have that start in Arizona are preventable,” Garcia said.

“We really want to encourage people that they don’t want to be that person that starts that one wildfire that takes out homes, communities, and is a threat to public health and safety.” 

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AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS | APRIL 28, 2021

BUDGET from page 3

district headquarters, has not yet been decided.

It was only a few months ago that Tempe Union was looking at a deficit of between $2 million and $3 million created by several factors, including enrollment decline and the lower reimbursement rate paid for students in online learning.

District data shows that by the time the current school year ends, in-class learning will have accounted for only 52 days – 28.9 percent of the mandatory 180 days of instruction. There was no inclass learning option for five months of the district’s 10-month school year.

But it was the change in personnel counts that gave the district a surplus projected at just under $1.65 million.

“This money can be spent on everything but because we do have other funds that are available for our teachers and support staff, this is a projected amount that’s available for classified and administration, Muelemans said.

Development of the 2020-21 budget is far from over, she noted, largely because the Legislature has not yet formally begun work on the state’s budget.

480-706-7234

Board Vice President Andres Barraza noted that as the Legislature barrels toward the conclusion of its session, “it’s always a running-outthe-clock” situation.

Muelemans also tamped down any hope for an enrollment increase that would yield a greater reimbursement by the state.

She said what “was predicted and projected is that we will be Diane Muelemans, assistant superintendent for business ser- declining again next vices, discussed the state of Tempe Union's finances last week. year and for several years moving forward.

(Special to AFN) “The decline is not “Right now, the Legislature hasn’t told as great as this year has been but it reus what they’re doing with their budget ally depends on who actually comes and and therefore how it will impact our bud- attends our schools and it’s really kind get,” Muelemans told the board. “We be- of hard to predict,” Muelemans said. “I’m lieve at this point that we have included thinking that even if our enrollment is what’s going to end up coming to us, but down, if we get the online students to it’s sometimes hard to predict what they come back to brick and mortar, I think that will help us.”  do down there at the Capitol.”

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identify students early on with, or at risk of, mental illness;” “the use of traumainformed practices aimed at helping our students feel safe, connected, and equipped to learn;” “referral mechanisms that effectively link students to treatment and intervention services in the school and in the community;” and “strategies that promote a positive school environment.”

There are numerous other goals listed in the resolution, including “modeling and promoting positive interpersonal and professional relationships;” “partnering with students’ families in fostering the social, academic, and intellectual success of each student;” and “matching students with an adult advocate who has similar lived experiences, to advise and individualize the educational and school experience for each student.” 

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NEWS

AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS | APRIL 28, 2021

Ahwatukee clinic alarmed by more positive COVID results AFN NEWS STAFF

T

he manager of a COVID-19 testing clinic in Ahwatukee is sounding the alarm about results he and his wife are seeing in recent test results.

“I kind of chart our seven-day moving average, and we’re up two and a half times what we were two weeks ago,” said Ron Willoughby, whose wife Nadia Willoughby owns Affordable Rapid Testing 12020 S. Warner Elliot Loop. “Our positivity is probably tenfold from two weeks ago.”

The Willoughbys had planned to open a med spa at that location on March 15 of last year – just as Arizona began shutting down to control the spread of the coronavirus.

“So it was never able to actually open,” Ron Willoughby. “We converted it into a COVID testing site.” He added the med spa is on indefinite hold, stating “We’re not going to do it while we’re doing testing.”

The clinic performs rapid antigen testing, which it notes on its website, affordablerapidtesting.com, is not as accurate as the standard tests used to accurately identify those infected.

But that offers no comfort for what Willoughby said he and his wife are seeing because it’s not the infected people that their test will miss.

“A significant percentage of those infected pass the test as a false negative,” the clinic warns. “In a few days, these people will spread the virus among others, thinking they are healthy.”

Willoughby said he was so concerned

Nadi Willoughby owns Affordable Rapid Testing in Ahwatukee, where her husband Ron says positive COVID-19 test results are quickly rising. (Pablo Robles/AFN Staff) by the uptick in positive results he and his wife are seeing that he called both Mountain Pointe and Desert Vista high schools to urge them to have students tested.

Willoughby said the clinic had been performing an average of about 30 tests a day until recently, when that number more than doubled to an average 75 a day.

Asked if the number of positive results is the highest they’ve seen since they opened, he replied, “I can’t go as far as to say that, but what I will tell you for sure is we have people coming in that are really sick.”

The latest data released by the county health department last Thursday show

that while all three Ahwatukee ZIP codes are considered to be at the “substantial” level for virus spread, only 85048 has a test positivity in that category.

All three ZIP codes are considered having a “substantial” transmission level because virus cases per 100,000 people range between 69 in 85044 to 98 in 85045 to 75 in 85048.

New positive test results, however, are at the substantial level only in 85048, which has a positive rate of 9.4 percent, according to the county data. The other two ZIP codes are at minimal transmission levels for positivity with less than 5 percent.

cilities. Further information will be available in the coming days about what impact, if any, the order will have on Kyrene’s current safety strategies.”

Acknowledging that “the question of face coverings has been fraught with debate,” Tempe Union last Friday said the mask mandate would remain in effect for the rest of the school year.

It said COVID-19 “remains in a level of community spread that is categorized as ‘substantial’ by both Maricopa County and the State of Arizona and that that means cloth face coverings must be worn at all times while on any District property, in any District facility, at any District event, whether indoors or outdoors, and in any

District vehicle.”

Some of the two districts’ neighbors took different approaches in light of Ducey’s ruling even though they all agree that the Centers for Disease Control has recommended masks be used on campuses.

Mesa Public Schools, the state’s largest district with 50,000 students and over 9,000 employees, made masks voluntary outside of buildings on playgrounds and sports courts but retained the mandate inside schools and district vehicles until next Monday, when masks could become optional inside or outside if virus transmission levels do not rise.

Gilbert Public Schools, Scottsdale Uni-

11

There is a two-week lag in the data and the results posted last Thursday by the county covered the week of April 4.

Willoughby said a number of Affordable Rapid Testing’s clients who have come in were already sick and “they suspect that they have COVID.” “They tell me that their own words – that they’re sicker than they’ve ever been in their entire life.: With those clients who have positive test results, Willoughby said he and his wife advise them to call their doctor for help.

Willoughby said he has no idea whey he and his wife are seeing a spike in positive test results, but noted that stronger variants have been detected in Arizona.

The state health department recently announced the discovery of three cases of the P.1 variant that has plagued Brazil, on top of at least 35 cases caused by the B.1.1.7 variant first detected in England.

The U.S. does not consistently screen for the new variants.

Both variants spread 50 to 70 percent more easily than the normal strain.

But Willoughby said his biggest fear it “that they wind up shutting the economy down again” – though no state official has even suggested there is any possibility of that happening.

Willoughby himself said he was struck

by COVID-19 in January 2020 and “it was the sickest I’ve ever been…I was down for about five weeks.”

“I lost all of my lung capacity and I’m still trying to get it back.” 

Kyrene, TU keep mask mandates after Ducey lifts his AFN NEWS STAFF

G

ov. Doug Ducey’s decision to pull his statewide mask mandate for schools won’t make any difference for staff, students and visitors at Kyrene and Tempe Union campuses.

Soon after Ducey on April 19 rolled back the mandate – and gave individual school districts the power to decide whether to require masks – both Kyrene and Tempe Union announced their mask requirements will remain in effect indefinitely.

“There is no immediate impact to Kyrene’s existing guidelines,” Kyrene announced. At this time, face coverings are still required in all Kyrene schools and fa-

fied and Chandler Unified governing boards voted to retain the mask mandate until the end of the current school year, stating it could become optional during summer school. Higley Unified’s board was meeting after AFN’s deadline to discuss its mask mandate.

During the Tempe Union Governing Board meeting last week, some parents emailed the board imploring the district to remove the mandate while others praised officials for “following the science.”

But some parents criticized the district’s continuation of all-virtual learning on Wednesdays for “deep cleaning” in build-

see MASKS page 12

12

NEWS

MASKS from page 11

ings, questioning what science the district is following with that policy.

While invoking the Centers for Disease Control’s recommendation that masks continue to be worn on school campuses, Tempe Union has had no reaction to the agency’s recent announcements that “it is possible for people to be infected through contact with contaminated surfaces or objects (fomites), but the risk is generally considered to be low.”

One parent wrote, “There is zero justification for continuing to be closed on Wednesdays. No district that is in person five days is spiking with cases. It is absurd that you are counting that as an education day to slither through the days requirement to get funding. We want funding also, but we want the education that goes with it.”

Numerous news organizations, including CNN, The New York Times have taken to task the “hygiene theater” of “overzealous cleaning.”

The board and administration could not respond to such criticisms because state

ENROLLMENT from page 1

housing units built in the district and the population has gone up by a grand total of 1,200 people. And that’s because the population per household has been declining so rapidly and especially in the period from 2000 to 2010.”

As a result, he said, the total number of students has declined from a turn-ofthe-century total of just under 19,500 to 15,488 in the 2019-20 school year.

While the number of students who live in the district steadily declined over that time from 19,055 to 12,075, Brammer said Kyrene’s reputation for the quality of its education attracted more outof-district students so that up through 2018-19, the district’s total enrollment was above 16,000.

“What’s happened since 2000 is in-district enrollment has fallen by about 7,000 students,” Brammer said. “Most of that, though …has been offset, almost lockstep for years, by the influx of students from outside the district."

Last year, it slipped below 15,500 and this year the district has lost another 800 students believed to be related to parental choices made in the face of the pandemic.

Kyrene’s out-of-district student population also is leveling off, though it still

AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS | APRIL 28, 2021

law forbids officials from responding to items brought up by the public that were not on the agenda.

Ducey in a prepared statement said he was rescinding his executive order mandating masks in schools because of the number of people who have been vaccinated against COVID-19.

At last count, 38 percent of Arizonans had received at least one dose of a vaccine.

The figure for those fully immunized is closed to 27 percent.

All of those who have been inoculated, however, are at least 16 – older than most of the children in school – because the Centers for Disease Prevention and Control has yet to approve any vaccine for those younger than that.

Chris Kotterman, lobbyist for the Arizona School Boards Association, acknowledged that was true. But he said the governor’s decision, coming just five weeks from the end of the school year, was both unnecessary and creates “mask mandate chaos.’’

“Now the pressure will be on various boards,’’ Kotterman said. And he said there will be other complications.

“It’s likely you’ll have students showing up saying they don’t have to wear masks anymore,’’ Kotterman explained. He said the governor should have just let the situation remain stable through the rest of the year.

“Five weeks isn’t that long,’’ he said.

State schools chief Kathy Hoffman was even more critical.

“Today’s abrupt removal of the mask mandate in schools is just one example in a long line of decisions that have resulted in Arizona’s embarrassing response to a virus that has claimed over 17,000 lives and impacted thousands more,’’ she said in her own statement.

Hoffman also pointed out that children younger than 16 remain ineligible for the vaccine.

“And the CDC still recommends universal masking in public schools to ensure safe learning environments,’’ she said.

That question of who is and isn’t vaccinated also concerned Joe Thomas, president of the Arizona Education Association, noting “about 80 percent, if not 85 percent, of the people in a building are students.”

This chart shows how few single-family homes have been built in the Kyrene School District in the last 10 years and that means fewer kids. (Applied Economics LLC) comprises about a fifth of Kyrene’s total enrollment.

“District declines are linked to expanding education alternatives, low recession era birth rates, rising housing prices and limited housing choices,” Brammer’s slide show presentation stated.

“Outside enrollment rose over time due to the success and reputation of the district,” it continued. “Recent out-of-district enrollment declines are driven by reductions in the school age population in surrounding areas and improvements and greater acceptance of schools in some of the major source districts.”

Brammer said there’s reason to be optimistic despite the enrollment declines, suggesting “Kyrene has finally hit bottom” and then a few minutes later adding, “I’m not sure Kyrene is at the bottom but it's getting very, very close to that.”

Declining birth rates across Arizona has impacted Kyrene’s enrollment picture, Brammer said.

He said normally after a recession, there’s a “birth bump.”

But that bump didn’t happen after the Great Recession of 2008-2011, he said.

“The opposite has happened,” he said, saying the age when people first become

“And so you’ve got a small population at the school that maybe has had the vaccine if they’ve chosen to do so,’’ Thomas said.

“And you have a massive population that doesn’t have it.’’

He noted that in Michigan health authorities just reported 43 new outbreaks of COVID-19 in schools.

“Taking down our guard too soon and not finishing out the year in as safe a way as possible is likely going to make us take a step backwards,’’ Thomas said. “It’s unfortunate and it’s frustrating. And it shows once again that educators, once again, can trust this governor to not support them.’’

Hoffman also has concerns about the timing.

“Today’s announcement destabilizes school communities as they end what has arguably been the most challenging year for education,’’ the schools chief said. Hoffman said now that the decision has been foisted on local boards they should make “transparent, evidence-based decisions that build trust in the safety of our schools.’’

Capitol Media Services contributed to this report.  parents “has been just pushed out, pushed out, pushed out.

“There are fewer kids in the pipeline and people are waiting longer,” he continued.

“If you have put off the age of first birth from 22 years to 32 years, over that period of time you effectively lost about a third of a generation with kids.”

And even once people start having children, he said, “by the time they get to kindergarten in 2025, 2026, it’s going to be 6 to 8 percent lower than the pool you have now.”

“In terms of could there be growth in this district in that age group?” he asked rhetorically. “Very, very unlikely,” he continued.

“We’re just still looking for a stabilization.”

Brammer noted that charter school population within the district also is declining, eliminating that as a factor impacting Kyrene’s enrollment.

Housing also is impacting the district’s population, he said.

Noting that in the last 10 years of enrollment decline, there have been just under 4,000 new living units added to the district, three-quarters of those units are multifamily.

“The type of multifamily and these urban lifestyle, high-amenity, $2,500-amonth-type units just generally don’t at-

see ENROLLMENT page 15

AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS | APRIL 28, 2021

13

14

NEWS

AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS | APRIL 28, 2021

HOTEL from page 1

Turns out, nothing could be further from the truth.

The developer whose company bought the 34-year-old hotel for $8 million earlier this month is turning the building into an apartment complex, eyeing young professionals who are facing the same kind of low inventory among rental units in the Valley that homebuyers are confronting in the re-sale and newbuild markets.

“It’s contemporary market rate apartments. It’s no Section 8. It is no migrants.

It is not stuff like that,” said Josh Wertlieb, who, with Jay Chernikoff, owns Harc Holdings, a subsidiary of Quinn Holdings LLC, which is listed as the official buyer of the hotel.

“We think it’s a handsome building in a good location where people want to live,” Wertlieb told the Ahwatukee Foothills News. “And we think rather than an old run-down Quality Inn, it’s best served by being apartments for young professionals.”

The 188-unit four-story hotel consists of six buildings and 179 parking spaces on just under 3 acres of land with an additional 3.4-acre parcel next to it.

The sale price equaled just under $2.4 million per acre and $42,553 per unit, according to Valley real estate transaction tracker vizzda.com.

That price is a lot higher than the last time the hotel was sold.

Vizzda records show that in 2013, a couple and a woman bought the hotel for $3.23 million – which translated into $951,327 per acre and $17,154 per unit.

Harc Holdings' two partners are no rookies when it comes to converting hotels into apartment complexes.

Wertlieb, who lives in Phoenix, “has made a career out of finding value in a multitude of asset classes,” according to the company’s website.

“He began his career running two successful fine wine wholesale firms and was widely recognized as an expert in old and rare wines. His work included authentication services for the US Marshals Service in a high-profile counterfeiting case.”

Chernikoff, a Scottsdale resident and notable philanthropist, “has 15 years of experience as an owner and operator of commercial real estate in the Phoenix area,” Harc Holdings website states.

“He has bought and sold office build-

JAY CHERNIKOFF

JOSH WERTLIEB

ings, hotels, and multifamily property over that time.”

Wertlieb in recent years “has taken his nose for value and transitioned it into finding undervalued multifamily projects in and around the metro Phoenix area,” the website states.

Their company also describes its mission as “finding the highest and best use for underutilized hotel properties.”

“We reuse functional space and reimagine the footprint for a greater purpose,” it continues. “We focus our business on growing markets that have seen their supply of affordable apartments diminish over the past few years due to increased populations, rising rents and gentrification. Our units are fully renovated and present a great solution for renters looking for quality infill product that still fits within their budget.”

With a mantra of “redefining rental apartments one hotel at a time,” the company boasts about its goal of “finding locations where demand for attainable hous-

ing has outgrown the supply and hotel properties are no longer the highest and best use for the area.”

“We optimize the existing hotel for apartments, often combining rooms or reconfiguring common space to lend an apartment feel,” it said, adding its property managers “understand the market and work closely with us to deliver a first class experience for tenants at rents that work for their budgets and are below the surrounding neighborhood.”

Its portfolio includes The Merlino on Baseline Road at I-10, which is the old Innsuites at the Mall hotel currently being converted into apartments, and The Woodson on Thomas Road near I-17, a converted hotel that currently has studio and one- and two-bedroom apartments for rent that include a kitchen and hardwood floors.

Rumors about what was in store at the Quality Inn were fueled partly by the fact that Harc Holdings wasted no time getting started with the conversion.

The old Quality Inn near Elliot Road and I-10 sold this month for $8 million – more than twice the sale price when it last changed hands in 2013. (Pablo Robles/AFN Staff)

Within days of closing, dozens of mattresses were piled up in front of the building and some callers to AFN indicated that at least some people thought the beds were waiting to be moved into the building for migrant families.

But the main driver for the rumors was the disclosure that the Holiday Inn at 50th Street and Chandler Boulevard was under contract with a Texas nonprofit called Endeavors, aka Family Endeavors, to house families that had entered the country legally and immediately surrendered to U.S. border officials, asking for asylum.

The U.S. is legally bound by its own laws and international laws to consider those asylum requests. While immigration judges evaluate the requests – a process that can take several years because of the sheer volume of cases – the families receive temporary shelter, often only a few days, before they find longer-term living arrangements with relatives or through organizations that assist migrants.

But there has been little specific information about the Holiday Inn contract with Endeavors, which has an $86.9 million contract with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to provide 1,239 shelter beds in Arizona and Texas hotels through September.

East Valley Congressman Andy Biggs last week wrote a scathing letter to ICE and the Department of Homeland Security demanding more information.

“I am appalled that illegal aliens are being housed in American hotels,” Biggs wrote. “Illegal aliens should be held in Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention facilities, not in hotels.”

He then listed 14 specific questions seeking the same information that AFN requested of ICE three weeks ago.

Those questions included whether any other hotels in the Valley are under contract, what kind of background checks had been made on the people prior to their arrival at the hotel and the duration of their stay in the hotels, ICE has disclosed little except to say the families are tested for COVID-19.

In past years, families have generally been sheltered for only a few days at government expense before they are placed longer term with relatives or others.

One of the people hailing Biggs’ letter is Patricia Porter, an Ahwatukee accountant who has organized a weekly protest at the

see HOTEL page 16

AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS | APRIL 28, 2021

ENROLLMENT from page 12

tract kids,” Brammer said, noting there has been “very little single-family construction.”

Brammer also appeared to be holding little hope for much of a positive enrollment impact from next month’s auction of the 373 acres of State Trust Land on Chandler Boulevard between 19th and 27th avenues in Ahwatukee, which he expects will be built up quickly by the winning bidder. The state Land Department projects the parcel can accommodate 1,050 homes and an undetermined number of multi-family units on about 33 acres of the entire site.

One of the former drivers of out-of-district student counts has been Maricopa, but Brammer said, ”We’re actually seeing fewer kids out of the South Mountain area and definitely fewer kids out of Maricopa.

People are established in Maricopa; that’s probably going to continue.”

In analyzing the population of each of Kyrene’s 25 schools, Brammer’s chart showed that Estrella and Manitas had student counts below 400, prompting him to remark, “Typically when you start seeing schools with less than 400, then you re-

ally start thinking about the efficiency and whether you can offer a full program.”

Admitting that the pandemic “makes my crystal ball very, very blurry,” Brammer told the board that while he expects some modest housing and subsequent population growth in the western reaches of the district, he anticipates the district will lose about 1,200 more students over the next five years.

He applauded Kyrene’s educational program, noting that while student population has declined, “there really isn’t any slippage in perception” of its quality.

“It’s really the school age population that’s driving the enrollment decline," he said. “All around you it’s getting smaller.”

And he held out no hope that skyrocketing home prices were “just a blip” and that more affordable housing would magically reappear and attract more young families to the district.

“Phoenix has for so long been the least expensive major market that we have been insulated from these kinds of housing prices and dollars per square foot – that $300, $350, $400-a-square-foot that I used to associate with San Diego County,” he said. “But the fact of the matter is, I don’t think we’re going back.” 

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NEWS

15

Toughened abortion law awaiting Ducey action

BY HOWARD FISCHER Capitol Media Services

A

cting under the banner of protecting disability rights, the Republican-controlled legislature on Thursday voted along party lines to impose a new restriction on a woman’s right to terminate a pregnancy by making it a crime to abort a fetus because of a fetal genetic defect.

SB 1457, which now is before Gov. Doug Ducey, says any medical professional who performs or aids an abortion in those cases can be sentenced to up to a year in state prison. Ducey has not said whether he will sign or veto the measure.

The measure also: • Allows the husband of a woman who seeks such an abortion or the woman’s parents if she is younger than 18 to sue on behalf of the unborn child; • Outlaws the ability of women to get otherwise-legal drugs to perform an abortion

SEN PAUL BOYER

through the mail or other delivery service; • Declares that the laws of Arizona must be interpreted to give an unborn child the

see ABORT page 16

LA CASA DE JUANA

DELIVERS A KNOCKOUT WITH ITS FRESH, AUTHENTIC AND MOUTHWATERING FOOD If you thought you have been to a Mexican restaurant lately you probably need to reconsider and visit La Casa De Juana in Ahwatukee. The fare is authentic Mexican, and when we say authentic we mean it, unlike many of the restaurant chains that call themselves Mexican. Upon entering you’ll be dazzled by the colorful décor, the tables and chairs are beautiful, Mexican painted murals, colorful banners hanging from the ceiling and the gracious service with warm orange and yellow tones echoing throughout the restaurant will make this your favorite Mexican restaurant.

With great lunch and dinner specials, live guitar player on Tuesdays and a bar with freshly made drinks, TVs, and live guitar music for all ages on the weekends and least but not last their happy hour from 2 pm to 6 pm every day $2 beer domestic and imports and $3 margaritas this place is a must. In conclusion The flavorful salsa, the delicious margaritas, the extraordinary and well-priced food will definitely keep you coming back.

Don’t hesitate to stop by the Ahwatukee location / corner Chandler & 40th /W h St) St 3941 E. Chandler Blvd. (S/W

to make your next reservation call 480-823-2834

www.juanashouse.com

16

NEWS

AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS | APRIL 28, 2021

HOTEL from page 14

intersection of 48th Street and Chandler Boulevard.

The first protest April 14 drew about 40 people, who waved signs and banners protesting partly the lack of information on the shelter arrangements with Holiday Inn and partly the Biden Administration’s handling of the border.

Porter said about 30 people showed up last week, but she intended to continue the protests every Wednesday, including today, April 28, beginning at around 4:30 p.m.

She said she also was encouraged that some passing motorists parked their cars and joined them, with one saying, “You’re speaking my language.”

A few people set up a counter demonstration across Chandler Boulevard and Porter said the college-aged son of one participant came over to her group and wanted to know more about their positions.

“He was really interested in learning different viewpoints instead of arguing,” Porter said.

Porter also insisted the protest is not anti-immigrant.

“Most people are immigrants,” she said.

ABORT from page 15

same rights, privileges and immunities available to anyone else.

“We must stand for those at risk, the children with Down’s syndrome and other genetic abnormalities, through no fault of their own, who are being snuffed out in Arizona and throughout our country, and need to stand up for their life,’’ said Sen. Nancy Barto, R-Phoenix, the sponsor of SB 1457.

“What this bill is about is about giving a child the right to live,’’ said Sen. Warren Petersen, R-Gilbert. “If we take actions to protect those with disabilities outside the womb, we should also protect them from discrimination inside the womb.”

But Rep. Rosanna Gabaldon, D-Green Valley, said, “This bill is an attempt by anti-abortion groups to co-opt the mantle of disability rights,’’ she said.

Rep. Kelli Butler, D-Paradise Valley, said the measure is not being backed by any organization that lobbies on behalf of the disabled.

In many ways, the arguments by some of the supporters confirmed that the mea-

The hotel in north Phoenix that Harc Holdings converted into an apartment complex has studios and one- and two-bedroom apartments for rent. (Harc Holdings) “But they came over the correct way.”

The protest occurred on the same day Gov. Doug Ducey and a group of legislators visited the border to reinforce the governor’s decision to assign 250 Arizona National Guard troops to assist border communities in ways that will allow their own police departments to perform their normal duties.

The governor mentioned there have been more than 170,000 apprehensions

sure has less to do with disability than is a way for those who are opposed to abortion in all forms to find ways to chip away at the historic 1973 U.S. Supreme Court decision that legalized abortion.

“Abortion is not health care,’’ said Sen. Paul Boyer, R-Glendale. “Abortion takes the life of an innocent child every single time.’’

And Rep. Jacqueline Parker, R-Mesa, whose grandfather was an obstetrician, said she sees nothing wrong with criminalizing abortion.

Less clear is whether the measure is constitutional.

In the years since Roe v. Wade, the justices have allowed states to impose some restrictions on the procedure. In general, though, these have been limited to questions of protecting the life of the mother.

Petersen pointed out that five other states have similar laws. That includes Ohio where the statutes say a doctor can be punished for performing an abortion after a patient says that a fetus having Down’s syndrome is part of her decision.

Earlier this month a divided federal ap-

along the border since the beginning of the year, with almost 19,000 unaccompanied minors taken into custody. And that is higher than figures in prior years.

“The numbers don’t lie,’’ he said. “This surge is a direct result of the bad policies coming out of Washington, D.C.’’ Sen. Victoria Steele, D-Tucson, called the move “political grandstanding.’’

She said the state has secured $110 million in emergency funding from the Ameri-

peals court agreed to allow that law to take effect, with the majority concluding that it furthers the state’s interest in affirming that individuals with the genetic disorder “are equal in dignity and value’’ with others.

And the judges said that it does not impose an absolute ban on abortions.

None of these laws, however, has yet to get to the Supreme Court.

Several medical associations urged lawmakers not to criminalize the doctorpatient relationship. Two doctors in the Legislature also said the measure would create problems.

Rep. Randy Friese, D-Tucson, said there needs to be trust and communication between a doctor and a patient.”This bill will diminish both things,’’ he said.

Rep. Amish Shah, D-Phoenix, noted that the measure was amended at the request of Rep. Regina Cook, R-Kingman, and Sen. Tyler Pace, R-Mesa, to ensure that a woman was not forced to carry and give birth to a fetus that clearly would not live.

As approved, the measure allows doctors to perform abortions without fear of

can Rescue Plan, crafted by the Biden administration, to support local government and nonprofits who are currently providing care to migrants at the border.

“Seriously, we’re going to spend $25 million in state money on this?’’ she asked in her own Twitter post. “Where were the Arizona Republicans when the Trump administration was ripping babies out of the arms of their mother’s and father’s arms?

Where was the outrage then?’’

But the announcement also got what could be considered predictable accolades from Republican legislators.

“The security of Arizona and our residents is our first priority,’’ said Senate President Karen Fann, R-Prescott, in a prepared statement released by Ducey’s office. “Illegal crossings put our border towns, safety personnel and all Arizonans at risk, but also the immigrants who are facing unsafe conditions as they cross into the state.’’

House Speaker Rusty Bowers, R-Mesa, said the deployment “helps combat the Democrats’ misguided message that crossing the border illegally is acceptable.’’

(Capitol Media Services contributed to this report.)  prosecution in cases where there is a reasonable certainty the child with die within three months after birth.

“Do you really believe we know that?’’ he asked colleagues about having to make such a judgment call with the risk of a prison term. “We’re not God, we’re doctors.’’

Sen. Kirsten Engel, D-Tucson, openly worried about the language declaring that a fetus has the same rights as “other persons, citizens and residents of this state.’’

“This provision will open up the potential for criminal liability, prosecutions for murder, manslaughter, dangerous crimes against children, liability for wrongful death to any person responsible for a woman’s miscarriage,’’ she said.

Barto pointed out that the verbiage on the rights of an unborn child has a caveat, making them “subject only to the Constitution of the United States and decisional interpretations thereof by the United States Supreme Court.’’

Barto said that for the moment, those rulings do not recognize a fetus as a person. 

GOT NEWS? Contact Paul Maryniak at 480-898-5647 or pmaryniak@timespublications.com

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AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS | APRIL 28, 2021

Give mom music lessons for Mothers Day AFN NEWS STAFF

M

usic Maker Workshops in Ahwatukee is honoring mothers in a unique way this year with a music lesson giveaway.

Any resident in the community – children, friends, family – can nominate a deserving mother to win a music lesson package worth over $100.

This year the studio has increased the giveaway to include 10 lucky moms.

“We increased our giveaway to celebrate more mothers during this pandemic. This year was incredibly hard for them with everything they needed to balance,” said co-director Shelley Yakubow.

“They can come and enjoy two private music lessons for an instrument of their choice. Music can be very therapeutic and calming, joyful and they need it most right now” added Kim Steedman, the other studio co-director.

Kim Kirkes learned to play a ukulele after winning music lessons from Music Maker Workshops in Ahwatukee last year. (Courtesy of Music Maker Workshops) Last year, Kim Kirkes was one of the lucky recipients. Nominated by her son, Tucker, Kim Kirkes used her lessons to try her hand at ukulele lessons.

For over a year, Kim has been able to attend virtual Zoom lessons with her instructor, Austen Mack, and “has been able to enrich her life with music,” Steedman

GOT NEWS?

noted.

Lessons can range from piano, voice, guitar, ukulele, strings, brass, woodwinds, drums, and beyond.

The directors of Music Makers were inspired to start this special giveaway last year after seeing an increase in parents enrolling for music lessons at the same time as their kiddos.

“A lot of times parents want to do something for themselves but find they don’t have the time. Once they realized that they could take lessons while they were already at the studio waiting for their children we were thrilled to see a boost in adult lessons begin. This inspired us to start this giveaway, “ said Jess Libman studio manager.

To nominate a mother simply stop by the studio or log into MMWaz.com. The studio is located on the SE corner of 32nd Street and Chandler Boulevard. For more information call 480-706-1224. 

Contact Paul Maryniak at 480-898-5647 or pmaryniak@timespublications.com

NEWS

AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS | APRIL 28, 2021

19

Group helps preserve Native American culture

the Liberty Wildlife Non-Eagle Feather Repository Program.

The organization aims to support Native American cultures by providing them with feathers necessary to construct religious and ceremonial regalia.

Obtaining feathers is not always easy and every year thousands of birds are killed and their feathers are sold illegally on the black market.

The Non-Eagle Feather Repository is the only organization in the U.S. permitted to accept, hold and distribute non-eagle feathers to Native Americans for religious and ceremonial purposes.

Part of the organization’s goal is to eliminate illegal harvesting of feathers in the wild by providing a legal source of feathers.

All enrolled members of a federally rec-

ognized tribe that are at least 18 can submit an application to receive feathers for ceremonial purposes.

According to Robert Mesta, a member of the Yaqui tribe and the program director of the repository program, Liberty Wildlife’s work is necessary when it comes to supporting Native Americans’ ability to practice their religion.

“Ever since we started in 2010 this [is] actually really the first Native Americans really had a legal access to feathers which is kind of sad,” said Mesta.

“For a long time when there wasn’t a legal source of non-eagle feathers for Native Americans, they lost a lot of these ceremonies because they didn’t have access to feathers so it really impacted Native American culture for a really long

time, and that’s why it’s so significant that we exist now.”

The repository sends feathers to tribes and tribe members all around the U.S. The program provides feathers for 209 tribes and to Native Americans in 44 states.

On average, Mesta says he receives about 400 orders a year.

Mesta said the program relies heavily on feather and carcass donations from rehabilitation and wildlife groups, state and federal wildlife agencies, museums, zoos, and falconers.

Because some birds are regional and they receive special requests, having a variety of feathers in their inventory is necessary.

“A lot of the orders that we fill are for Native Americans that need the feathers for a ceremony but it’s not species-specific.

By that, I mean any hawk will work but there’s a lot of ceremonies that are species-specific,” said Mesta.

“We like to have those in our collection so when we get donations from all over the United States it helps us do that because we get a greater diversity.”

Mesta said one of his goals is to increase awareness about the importance of bird feathers in Native American culture and obtain more support for the feather program, to help protect and preserve Native American culture.

“People need to know and understand the importance of what we do. It’s extremely significant that we make these feathers available because we’re helping to support their ability to practice their religion and when you think about it, that’s pretty heavy stuff,” said Mesta. 

and Democratic caucuses have signaled their support of the measure.

Recognized as an international crime by the United Nations, genocide is an act committed with an intent to destroy a national, ethnic, racial, or religious group.

The systematic persecution and execution of Jews lead to 6 million deaths during the Holocaust, said Rep. Alma Hernandez, who sponsored the bill.

Genocide education comprises a smallpart of McClintock teacher Kristie Johnson’s world history class.

Johnson said having the requirement of

genocide education incorporated into lesson plans will help students better connect with atrocities that have been and are being committed in various parts of the world.

While exploring the Holocaust and Armenian genocide in class, Johnson also tries to incorporate modern events like that in Rohingya.

“I try to make sure that when I’m teaching world history, especially ancient history, that there are connections to modern-day society,” Johnson said. “As human beings, we are pattern-oriented and we are continually repeating things,”

State Sen. Sally Ann Gonzales, D-Tucson, said during committee hearings on HB 2241 that it was paramount that schools teach students about other acts of genocide – including that against Indigenous people in America.

Genocide is an integral part of U.S. history, and its effects can still be identified today, said Gonzales.

“The reason we added ‘other genocides’ to the bill was so that … they could be taught as well,” said Hernandez. “This ensures we are teaching the next generation about the Holocaust so that it never happens again.” 

BY DEJA BRUMFIELD AFN Contributor

J

ust off a busy highway in Tempe, Liberty Wildlife has launched a quiet effort to preserve and protect Native American culture through the acquisition of feathers from birds long important to Indigenous people’s religious beliefs.

In order to practice ceremonies and dances, Native American tribes need access to various types of bird feathers to create capes, skirts, bundles, headdresses, prayer fans and healing implements.

Pristina Benally, a member of the Navajo Tribe and student at Arizona State University, explained that the symbol of birds and their feathers hold special meaning to various Native American tribes.

“The feathers that come from birds can be used within traditional clothing and as important cultural symbols. A feather can be a symbol of many things within many tribes, such as trust, honor, strength, and power. Birds are as special as its feathers; they represent the physical form of a spirit and guide,” said Benally.

“The feathers are given to another individual to use in traditional ceremonies, or to protect themselves from harm and to pray in the Navajo tradition," Benally added. "They are considered the first people in our cultures, in most of our teachings.

Located in South Phoenix, Liberty Wildlife rehabilitates wild injured raptors and returns them to the wild if possible.

In 2010, the Liberty Wildlife organization partnered with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service created a program called

Liberty Wildlife acquires bird feathers for Native Americans to use for a variety of religious and other purposes. (Special to AFN)

No action yet in Senate on Holocaust lessons bill

BY MINGSUN LAU AFN Contributor

T

he State Senate has yet to act on a House-passed bill that would require schools to include a study of the Holocaust and other acts of genocide in their mandatory curriculum.

Under HB 2241, students in grades 7-12 would be taught about genocide at least twice in the school year.

The bill passed the House with only one abstention on Feb. 4 but has not had a final Senate vote even though both Republican

20

AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS | APRIL 28, 2021

Chandler tutor indicted for hiding seamy past AFN NEWS STAFF

A

Chandler man, who has been arrested up to 10 times in other states for inappropriately touching children, has been indicted by a state grand jury for trying to fraudulently conceal his history of transgressions.

Brett James Smith, 38, became the subject of an investigation last year after he attempted to legally change his name in Maricopa County Superior Court and find work as a tutor around the East Valley.

Smith, who has used several aliases, advertised his services online and quickly found some clients in the Chandler area.

But his past soon came back to haunt him once parents started digging into Smith’s criminal history and sounding the alarm to local authorities.

Nine months after a group of parents in Chandler discovered Smith’s sketchy past, the Arizona Attorney General’s Office has obtained an indictment that charges Smith with 15 counts of fraud and forgery.

Smith is accused of purposefully omitting or falsifying several facts about his past when he attempted to change his name.

BRETT JAMES SMITH

Public records show Smith has been arrested at least 10 times in Indiana between 2002 and 2015 for various crimes involving children. He has been convicted at least three times for misdemeanor offenses and spent some time in jail.

The offenses typically involved Smith sliding his hand under a child’s shirt and rubbing their back. Smith was additionally accused of creating fake identity badges and teaching certificates.

Smith eventually relocated to Arizona and attempted to restart his teaching ca-

reer by obtaining a fingerprint clearance card, which would have allowed him to work in the state’s public schools.

As Smith was awaiting a decision from the Arizona Fingerprinting Board, the state’s law enforcement agencies intervened by filing a lengthy complaint detailing Smith’s prior arrests in Indiana.

Arizona Department of Public Safety Director Heston Silbert told the board it would have been a mistake to clear Smith for teaching in the state’s schools due to the applicant’s pattern of troubling behavior.

“Smith has engaged in a prolonged series of inappropriate acts against children — even twice violating his probation conditions,” Silbert wrote in his complaint.

According to Silbert’s complaint, local authorities were first tipped off about Smith in 2018 after some Chandler residents reported his suspicious behavior.

One mother told Chandler Police she discovered Smith’s tutoring ads appeared to publicize false information about his work history.

The Chandler Chamber of Commerce informed local police something seemed

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“not right” about Smith when he interacted with the Chamber’s staff. He allegedly seemed “pushy” about having the Chamber introduce Smith to local businesses and school administrators.

Chandler Unified School District officials additionally told authorities Smith had asked for permission to place flyers advertising his tutoring service in the backpacks of the district’s students.

“The school district reported that Smith was persistent about being allowed to put flyers in the backpacks and became upset that he was unable to do so,” Silbert’s complaint states.

Once Silbert’s complaint went public last summer, parents around Chandler immediately discontinued Smith’s tutoring services and the defendant’s online advertisements were hastily removed.

Although some local parents claim there may have been some inappropriate behavior between Smith and their children, none of the charges contained in the defendant’s indictment accuse him of abusing juveniles in Arizona.

Smith was taken into custody on April 13. 

AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS | APRIL 28, 2021

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Flinn Scholarship spotlight shines in Ahwatukee Mountain Pointe senior sets cyber sights on ASU

BY PAUL MARYNIAK AFN Executive Editor

M

itch Zakocs has taken a roll-upyour-sleeves attitude toward the pandemic disruptions that have afflicted his senior year at Mountain Pointe High School.

“Just try to stay busy,” the Ahwatukee teen said. “It’s not worth it to give up an entire year of work. I have plenty of friends who haven’t done any schoolwork in months, and their entire workflow and motivation have been completely killed for college. You have to stay in that flow throughout the downtime or it’s very easy to completely mess up your mindset for future years.”

Last week, Mitch’s immediate future got a whole lot brighter when he was named one of 20 Arizona seniors who have won a prestigious Flinn Scholarship, which

covers all four years of tuition and other expenses at one of Arizona’s three state universities and includes an array of other perks, including two learning stints abroad and mentorship and meetings with scores of business and cultural leaders.

Mitch also is one of two Tempe Union High School District recipients this year – the other is a senior at Tempe High. Tempe Union and Gilbert Public Schools were the only two districts to have more than one Flinn Scholar this year while BASIS Ahwatukee is one of only two individual schools with more than one Flinn Scholar.

The son of Nikki and Justin Zakocs, who moved to Ahwatukee three years ago from Charlotte, North Carolina, Mitch is heading to Arizona State University’s Barrett, The Honors College to study computer science – a logical academic choice for

see MP page 26

Y OPAS welcomes new director as it recovers

BY COTY DOLORES MIRANDA AFN Contributor

S

imon Hill is an optimistic kind of guy and as the newest director of the YMCA’s Outreach Program for Ahwatukee Seniors, of Y OPAS, he’s looking to a future without pandemic parameters.

Hill, 30, joined the program earlier this month and is transitioning into the role even as he remains a bit hobbled by COVID-19 restrictions.

“We had to cut back on some services during COVID, but we are looking to get it

up and going again as we’re able,” said Hill, whose office is at the Ahwatukee Foothills Family YMCA on East Liberty Lane.

Y OPAS has been an integral part of helping area seniors retain their independent living since 2001, when it was established at the Mountain View Lutheran Church. It became a YMCA program in 2006.

Since then, it has offered free support services to Ahwatukee seniors and their caretakers, thanks to assistance of a cadre of volunteers.

Because COVID restrictions remain in

see Y OPAS page 24

BASIS Ahwatukee winners delighted with award AFN NEWS STAFF

B

ASIS Ahwatukee is one of two Arizona schools to have two seniors awarded Flinn Scholarships and Jordyn Hitzeman of Ahwatukee and Surabhi Sajith couldn’t be happier.

Both teens are heading to Arizona State University’s Barrett, The Honors College, where Jordyn, the daughter of Shane and Allison Hitzeman, will be studying physics and economics while Surabhi, daughter of Nirmala Pallichadath and Sajith Nair, will be in a pre-med program as she eyes a career as an OB-GYN. If studying physics and economics seems an unusual combination, it’s a perfectly natural pairing to Jordyn, who pointedly stated, “I want to understand the world.”

“When you’re an economist, you can predict people and what they’re going to

do,” she explained. “When you’re a physicist, you can predict the entire physical world. So with the two, you can predict everything. Physics sets the physical bounds of the world and then economics kind of sets what people do within this physical realm.”

Her career goal “changes every day,” she admitted, though she’s thinking big: a PhD in economics followed by law school, and maybe then work in the field of urban planning. She’s already taking a step in that direction with an internship in Culdesac Tempe, Arizona’s first car-free community.

The development was started by a former Flinn Scholar and Jordyn is helping with its business operations.

The public relations specialist for the National Honor Society chapter at BASIS

see BASIS page 27

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APRIL 28, 2021 | AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS

Horizon Honors Key Club, Realtor honored AFN NEWS STAFF

A

s a branch of Kiwanis International, Key Clubs are a vital part of that organization’s efforts to give back, engaging high school students in a variety of service projects.

This month, Key Club members and a mentor in Ahwatukee earned honors for their involvement in the community.

Horizon Honors Secondary School’s Key Club was awarded the highest honor at the SouthWest District Convention and four members earned individual awards for their community service.

Meanwhile, Ahwatukee Realtor and Kiwanis Club member Donna Leeds earned the 2020-2021 Outstanding Kiwanis Advisor Award by the SouthWest District Key Club International, which consists of Nevada, Arizona, New Mexico and parts of California and Texas.

Horizon Honors students who were honored for community service included their Key Club President Alexis Blasko, her sister Marissa Blasko, Alexandra Charmoun and Daniel Grosjean. Marissa was honored

Horizon Honors students who were honored for community service by the district Key Club are, from left, Alexandra Chamoun, 17, Alexis Blasko, 18, Marisa Blasko, 15, and Daniel Grosjean, 15. With them is their advisor, Mindy Duet. (Special to AFN) for devoting 100 hours to community service in a year and the other three students 150 hours of service in a year.

There were 17 different divisions representing 117 high schools being judged.

Alexis and Horizon Honors Key Club advisor Mindy Duet both nominated Leeds for her award.

“From her motivated spirit, infectious positivity and radiating kindness, Miss Donna has touched the lives of so many children,” Alexis wrote.

Duet, a fellow Ahwatukee Kiwanis Club member, also nominated Leeds, writing, “Donna has a passion for working with and for children, she guides them with

23

great mentoring skills and she is their biggest cheerleader.”

Added nominee MacKenna Ramsey “Overall, Miss Donna has been a valuable and loved member of our Key Club here at Horizon Honors, and deserves the honor of Outstanding Kiwanis Advisor.”

The Horizon Honors club received the Distinguished-Diamond Level Award for participating in a variety of activities and the hours of community service.

“Horizon Honors Key Club shined and racked up the most points of all other schools participating,” Duet said.

Mindy Duet, who also is Horizon Honors’ media center coordinator, noted, “Not only did the District recognize these awesome students and clubs but they also offered some informative and engaging workshops to grow our leaders.

Workshops ranged from college survival, stress management, public speaking, conflict management, fundraising, UNICEF awareness, social media and Key Club branding.

They also participated in some fun games

see KEY page 26

Ahwatukee educator, adventurer publishes novella

AFN NEWS STAFF

A

longtime Ahwatukee resident has penned her first novella and she’s chosen some heavy topics to explore in it.

Marla-Tiye Vieira, a New Jersey native who has lived here for 17 years, teaches English as a second language and has had students from around the world.

Her novella, “Jasmine Breeze” – which is available at olympiapublishers.com, is about a biracial and bisexual young woman living in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, during the 1990’s.

She is conflicted by her sexuality because of her religious roots and the sociodemographics surrounding her.

“She discovers her mother’s diary, which reveals dark secrets of incest, conflicts within Northern Ireland and hardships regarding Irish immigration are just to name a few compelling instances in the book,” said Vieira.

“The chapters are lyrical songs representing the plots. The readership will ex-

Ahwatukee educator Marla-Tiye Vieira has finally finished a novella she had been working on intermittently for years. (Special to AFN) perience exotic places: Spain, Morocco, Australia, Great Britain and San Diego, California,” she said. “Jasmine finally has

to make a vital decision because her life depends on it.”

The book was partially inspired by her

past academic career.

Vieira taught French for Teach for America in Southern Louisiana and said she “met some female French teachers who were openly bisexual.”

“These women broke stereotypes about being gay due to their immense beauty and femininity,” she recalled. “The race relations were just as horrific during my term with TFA due to the O.J. Simpson trial, as they are today.”

Lest you think Vieira is a desk-bound academic, however, consider this description on Olympia Publishing’s website: “I am fascinated with culture, food and foreign travel. In Darwin, Australia, I did the ‘cage of death’ with a giant salt-water crocodile by the name of Leo and relished delectable cuisines. Yet, my favorite vacation was when I cage-dived near Cape Town, South Africa, with two female great white sharks with my mother during the Christmas holiday.”

With a bachelor’s degree in broadcast

see BOOK page 24

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COMMUNITY

BOOK from page 23

journalism and French from Howard University and a master’s in second language education in curriculum and instruction from the University of Houston, Vieira excited about publishing her novella.

She said the pandemic actually helped her complete this “internal and external lyrical journey of self-discovery, secrets, joy and pain with sultry and exotic Jasmine.”

“The positive aspect of the lock downs

Y OPAS from page 22

place with stay-at-home directives and social distancing guidelines, Hill has had limited access to the volunteers, which at their peak numbered 178, and the clients Y OPAS serves.

But he is optimistic that as vaccinations increase, Y OPAS in-person events will return, hopefully by fall.

“I know there’s been a lot of anticipation for when we’ll be able to resume in-person events, and we’re aiming now for September when we traditionally host one of our most popular events - the Community Tea,” said Hill, a Michigan native.

“This event will be a ‘welcome back’ for our clients and volunteers, and be the official celebration of our 20th anniversary,” he said.

In the interim, service continuity has provided seniors with rides to doctors, vaccination sites and grocery shopping. Prior to the pandemic, rides were also available to hair salons, barber shops, nail salons and other non-essential travel destinations.

“We have a handful of dedicated volunteers who are our drivers during this time.

Without their assistance, so many seniors would be unable to get around. The volunteers are really the lifeline to our program,” said Hill noting drivers maintain social distancing and required masking for drivers and passengers.

“Without this service, many seniors didn’t know how they would be able to go get groceries or get to their medical appointments,” he added.

Jane Forde, a 29-year Ahwatukee resi-

AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS | APRIL 28, 2021

during COVID-19 was that it allowed me to finally complete my manuscript,” she said.

Her target audience is 18 and older.

“Centenarians will also enjoy my book due to its historic nuances,” she said, adding: “My book aims to embrace anyone who feels ostracized and/or oppressed within their respective communities. I hope to create world peace.

“Although my novella took 25 years to complete, I did not face any major obstacles meeting this particular task.

dent, is one of those “handful of volunteers” who have remained active through the pandemic.

“I love Y OPAS and its mission to help Ahwatukee seniors to live independently,” said Forde, a Y OPAS volunteer for 18 years. “To keep serving our seniors during COVID was and is a challenge, and it amazes me how our volunteers stepped up in so many ways.”

With the Y OPAS office closed, Forde said a core of volunteers were set up to take calls remotely.

“Our phone tree volunteers called clients to check on them, while another group offered to take them food shopping.

The dedication of the drivers who took clients to medical appointments was amazing, especially during the summer months when they weren’t even allowed into any physician offices. Although not fully-operational, we were able to provide essential services to our seniors that would not have been feasible if we shut down completely,” she explained.

Forde said the organization had many goals that had to be put on hold.

“Social isolation is such a big issue with the senior population, so returning to some of our social activities will be so welcome down the road,” she said. “I’ve been able to meet Simon on a few occasions, and I find him to be excited, enthusiastic and engaged in this program. He will work hard to pull it all back together; of that I have no doubt.”

Hill is actively seeking to grow the active volunteer base as more seniors once again begin seeking rides. Y OPAS is currently

“I love writing because it is very therapeutic for me to give birth to fictional characters making life-altering choices. These vital decisions affect the entire characterization and plot in unpredictable ways for me as the author.”

She also loves to travel and discover exotic cuisines and was even featured with the Valley super chef Mark Tarbell on PBS. She said “Jasmine Breeze” “saliently delineates the current acrimonious race relations occurring worldwide – the hostility between Northern Ireland and England,

doing in-home intake, and after seven days, approved seniors are allowed to request up to two rides per week.

Volunteer Leslie Diephuis and her husband Steve are both drivers, but during the slow period of 2020, she found ways to use her talents in the office.

“During the pandemic, I drove only a handful of times because, luckily, we had just enough drivers to handle all the appointments,” said Diephuis, 51.

“I did, however, volunteer a lot of hours working on operationalizing the office,” Diephuis added. “I took all our paper processes and brought them online so that we could recruit other office volunteers to work remotely.”

She said Hill will be an asset to the organization.

“Simon is amazing, and it’s great to have someone with a new perspective and ideas.”

One of Hill’s new ideas is working on an outreach program with Arizona State University and other area colleges in an effort to woo younger volunteers to drive and fill other capacities.

“We’re looking for students to help us,” he said, explaining drivers must be 21 or older, have reliable transportation and insurance, and be “someone understanding of our mission.”

“One of my main focuses coming into this position is to connect the younger generations with opportunities here. I believe that with being on the younger side of things, this will help with how we market positions such as Instagram, Facebook, Tik Tok and other social media. I also plan to position Y OPAS within community co-

racism towards the African-Diaspora, religious intolerance and homophobia.

“My book offers ways to overcome these challenges and begin a trajectory of unification.” 

Got News?

Contact Paul Maryniak at 480-898-5647 or pmaryniak@ timespublications.com

alitions to better seek more volunteers for our organization” he said.

“Volunteers are the true lifeblood of any nonprofit and they drive our organization forward. This is our 20th year so there is so much to celebrate – from surviving a global pandemic, economic and societal changes, Y OPAS has continued to stay strong. It’s a truly beautiful program that I am blessed and grateful to be a part.”

Hill comes from a family involved in community service. His mother, now retired and living in Phoenix, was a family therapist and director of a homeless shelter. One older brother is a fire department chief and the other works with the Michigan Department of Human Services.

Hill said volunteerism was important to him throughout his high school years as he tallied more than 1,500 hours volunteering at a homeless shelter. In 2009 he was awarded the Presidential Award for Community Service by President Barack Obama.

He is pursuing a master’s degree with a focus on public administration from Central Michigan State.

Hill said he was proud to find how Y OPAS successfully managed throughout 2020, citing figures that included 3,438 one-way trips, 147 clients, 126 volunteers amassing more than 3,600 hours, and 31,063 miles driven.

“That is amazing to see especially during a pandemic,” he exclaimed.

Y OPAS is available to meet the needs of seniors 65 and older who reside within the three Ahwatukee zip codes.

Information: 602-212-6088 or email opas@vosymca.org. 

The latest breaking news and top local stories in Ahwatukee!

www.Ahwatukee.com .com

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MP from page 22

someone who says “I’ve been tinkering with computers and electronics my entire life and I’m glad to finally take my interests to a higher level.”

He plans to focus on both software engineering and cybersecurity with an eye toward getting “a job at one of the top-ranking tech companies working on important and complex software.”

“I love working on software that helps and influences tons of people and these companies are the ones creating it,” he explained.

He already is taking steps toward that goal by being involved in ASU’s Pwndevils/Shellphish, which conducts cybersecurity research” and intends once he’s on campus to joins the E.P.I.C.S program at ASU, which stands for Engineering Projects in Community Service.

“They do tons of community-servicebased projects related to engineering and computer science that would allow me to use my skills to directly help others,” he said.

Outside of school, two of his three favorite activities reflect his passion for computers. He enjoys programming and tinkering with electronics, and takes a break from cyberworld by building and playing guitars.

“I absolutely love creating projects through programming” he said, and he puts that love to work helping people.

For example, he developed a scraper for car data to gather information on car prices over time for specific models, makes and locations.

He built two Chrome extensions for Mountain Pointe to streamline the attendance process, especially when he and his classmates were in all-virtual learning.

“While I originally created them specifically for my school, they have since

KEY from page 23

and had social meet and greets, with student leaders leading the entire program.

“Our Key Club District is also holding elections for their student board of trustees. Our students have had the opportunity to get to know these teens, watch them lead,” Duet said.

“It has been an unprecedented year, with plenty of obstacles for all of us, but even during this Zoom event I could see, feel and hear the excitement, tears and enthusiasm from and for all. What a great opportunity our students have experienced.”

MITCH ZAKOCS

spread around the world and I’ve gotten emails from teachers in India, Romania, Canada, and tons of states around the U.S. saying how much they appreciate the work I’ve done,” Mitch said. “The extensions have hit around 3,000 users combined, which is crazy.”

So far, he has built two electric guitars as well as custom keyboards “to make long programming sessions more enjoyable.”

“It’s also just great to have a tool that I tuned perfectly to my preferences,” he said.

Given his passion and his self-discipline, he wasn’t all that phased by having to learn at home.

“I actually really enjoyed online school because of the increased freedom,” he said. “It felt much more independent and self-motivated than in-person school. I also had a lot more downtime due to not having clubs, not having to drive back and forth from school and because of the new virtual learning schedule. I used this time to start some new projects, research new topics I was interested in – mainly computer science topics – and just relax…The only things I truly missed were clubs and being able to easily interact with teach-

Key Club is the oldest and largest student-led service organization for high school students. Key Club International is an international service organization, located in 40 countries. Its goal is to encourage leadership through serving others.

Kiwanis is the adult version of Key Club, it too is an international service led organization and sponsors our Key Club.

Duet also praised Leeds’ involvement as a liaison between the Key Club and the Ahwatukee Kiwanis Club.

Leeds, Ahwatukee office manager for West USA Realty, Inc., helped the club make sleeping mats for homeless people

ers/classmates.”

He did return to the classroom when campuses reopened, and has noticed “I definitely felt more physically exhausted at the end of the day and I definitely had less free time, but getting some social interaction and being immersed in my classes is pretty nice.”

He also said, “The main thing I noticed was that some teachers absolutely dreaded teaching online. I don’t blame them, but it was fairly obvious for some teachers, and I heard this observation from a lot of my classmates, too. This meant that some classes this year were heavily self-taught.

“I’d imagine that it was extremely hard to switch to this new teaching style on such short notice, especially when some of these teachers have been teaching in a classroom for 20+ years. Now that we’ve been in this environment for over a year, it’s definitely gotten better, but it’s still interesting to think about.”

He frankly admits he is obsessed with computers and has been for most of his life.

“I never found anything else in my life that combined everything I loved: math, linguistics, and incredibly complex logic,” Mitch said, dating his obsession to age 5 or 6, when he had his first access to a computer.

I never stopped programming since then and it wasn’t even a question when it came time to pick a major.

“I believe I was allowed to use it to play a couple of video games or something similar,” he said, but by age 11 he got “a cheap Dell desktop” that “allowed me to start messing with hardware and software without risking somebody else’s computer.

Since then, he’s built a few computers that he could tailor to his needs.

A devoted math scholar who has been active in Mountain Pointe’s Mu Alpha Theta math club chapter and who has participated in numerous math competitions, with “plarn,” or plastic yarn among numerous other activities, according to Duet.

“Whether it is shopping for back to school with disadvantaged youth, making hundreds of PB&J sandwiches or preparing for a baby shower for foster youth, Donna will show up with her bright smile, positive attitude and we will have fun,” Duet said, noting even COVID restrictions couldn’t stop her.

“She participates by getting the community involved with collecting, contributing, delivering and helping,” Duet said.

“Donna reached out to her colleagues and collected more grocery bags than I could

Mitch also loves learning foreign languages and has developed fluency in Spanish.

“I really didn’t enjoy science until last year,” he added. “Up until then, I’d only taken biology, environmental science, and other “soft” sciences. Last year, I took Honors Chemistry with an absolutely incredible teacher and I found a strong passion for the more complex sciences. I loved all of the formulas and crazy processes involved with chemistry and I’m very excited to take physics in college for this exact reason.”

He was excited and relieved to win a Flinn, stating, “the network and resources that I’ve been given access to are amazing, and I am incredibly excited to see where my future stands in the program.”

“All of the Flinn Scholars that I have talked to in the past have been really great,” Mitch said. “That was another reason that I was excited to get the scholarship; all of the people that I have met in the program have been incredibly personable and motivated and I would love to be friends with any of them.”

“I also have a network built up in Tempe,” he added. “I know some wonderful professors at ASU that I’d love to work with, and they have a ton of research activity in the computer science fields that I enjoy.”

And given his attitude, it’s likely those professors will love to work with him.

That attitude explains how he described an internship he had with a company after a manager saw a project he did on Github.

“I didn’t do it to get hired, I didn’t do it to open opportunities, but I did it because I enjoyed programming and wanted to put my work out there,” he said. “The opportunities came as a side effect, and if you have a true passion for something, that can easily happen. Other than that, I don’t think there’s one secret that will make you successful other than just working hard, staying motivated and getting lucky.” 

have imagined. Now we have people in the community helping cut strips, making plarn and crocheting, for our Plarn Mats for the Homeless Project.

When I showed up to pick up the bags back from her office, she took one of the plarn balls out of the collection bin, it rolled across the corridor of her office building and it unraveled like a giant ball of yarn. People stopped and wondered what in the world we were doing.

“When they find out what we are making, out of what looks like trash, they want to help. Now we have several new “plarn” makers.” 

COMMUNITY

APRIL 28, 2021 | AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS

27

AROUND AHWATUKEE

Fledgling women’s center slates event at TruHit Fitness

Truhit Fitness at 4302 E. Ray Road will be hosting an event to collect clothing, blankets, diapers and other items for children on behalf of two Ahwatukee women’s efforts to create the Janice’s Women’s Center for homeless women and victims of domestic abuse.

For every item donated at the event, 9-11 a.m. May 8, the donor will receive a raffle ticket for a basket filled with goodies. A Mimosa bar, food and vendors also will be featured at the event.

Ahwatukee woman collecting bottled water for homeless

Joan Greene, a 28-year Ahwatukee resident and busi-

nesswoman, is raising as many cases of bottled water and as much cash as she can for The Society of St. Vincent de Paul through May 16.

The Society uses those bottles to help homeless people during the Valley’s scorching summer – which is taking an increasingly higher toll on lives.

In 2020, there were more than 300 heat-associated deaths that were confirmed in Maricopa County.

St. Vincent de Paul gives out 2,500 bottles of water a day – almost 2,300 gallons in a week.

“Just $10 could help people stay safe and hydrated,” said Greene, whose drive lasts until May 16.

There are two ways people can help.

They can drop off cases of water at: Niro’s Gyros, 10826 S. 48th St., Ahwatukee; or Fetch, 6058 N. 16th St., in Central Phoenix. Or they can make a donation at stvincent-

BASIS from page 22

Ahwatukee, Jordyn also relishes participation in the National Economics Challenge competitions locally and for the last two years has been a coach for teams.

She is so steeped in basic economics that when BASIS Ahwatukee’s economics teacher abruptly left the school shortly before AP Economics finals last school year, Jordyn worked with the head of school to put together a study guide that students could use to prep for the exam. Jordyn had already aced that exam a few years prior.

Jordyn said the Econ Challenges, largely held at Mesa Community College, not only give her a chance to hang out with like-minded peers but also a chance to do critical thinking. While those challenges are largely for middle-school students, she gets satisfaction from leading younger kids through critical thinking as a coach.

Her leadership activities also extended into the animal kingdom for several years as a teen volunteer at the Phoenix Zoo. “I noticed a big gap in their resources in the volunteer department for Spanishspeaking guests at the zoo,” she explained.

“And that was like such a large proportion of the people who visited us that I put together this project to develop Spanishspeaking resources for teen volunteers.”

Last year the pandemic wiped out a planned six-week stay in Grenoble, France, where she was to be a youth ambassador for the zoo.

“It turned into a virtual exchange over Facebook,” Jordyn said.

That evolved into including a more oldschool pen pal relationship with a student in China “because they didn’t have Facebook and so they asked a few of the ambassadors specifically to do the ex-

JORDYN HITZEMAN

changes.”

Jordyn also is “super involved” in the Compassion Center, a Chandler food bank, which also has become the heart of her 10-week research project that all BASIS seniors must undertake in lieu of going to classes.

Those projects involve highly sophisticated subjects and approaches to final research papers and Jordyn’s is no exception.

“I’m evaluating the different models of private social welfare organizations – like food banks and homelessness organizations – and deciding which ones are most effective for acting as social capital as a mediator and that connect people to community resources,” she said, jokingly conceding “that’s kind of a mouthful.”

She had jumped into helping the food bank originally as a volunteer last year when she heard the pandemic had significantly reduced the number of volunteers.

Dubbed by her classmates in her sophomore year as the most likely to be the next Oprah, Jordyn has picked up several other scholarships, including a National Merit

depaul.net/joan-greene-water-drive.

Ahwatukee GOP Women scholarship deadline approaches

High school seniors who live in Ahwatukee have until April 30 to apply to the Ahwatukee Republican Women for their annual Marjorie Miner Scholarship, which was established in 2011 in honor of the longtime Republican activist who has been a member of ARW since it was founded in 2005.

Applicants must live in Ahwatukee and be registered Republicans and the deadline is April 30. They can find applications ahwatukeerepublicanwomen.com/scholarships.

Past recipients of the scholarship have been Desert Vista High grads Lacey Morris (2011), Allyson Marie Kolodziej (2012), Tess Marie Kimura (2013) and Jessica Marie Scholarship. When she’s not studying or volunteering, she likes powerlifting.

Jordyn and Surabhi also have a little history beyond being classmates. They both debated the topic of universal background checks for gun purchasers in speech and debate – a big passion of Surabhi.

“I started speech and debate when I was a lot younger and I really liked the community,” she explained. “It helped me meet a lot of the kids that are older and younger than me at my school. It’s a fun way to meet a lot of people outside of our school as well. I got to meet a lot of people from all over Arizona, not just Maricopa County.”

Participating in speech and debate also requires a lot of research, which has primed Surabhi for her BASIS senior project – working with a mentor from the American Cancer Society for a study of a form of uterus cancer.

“I’m pretty much studying the non-genetic risk factors,” she explained. So, for example, like birth control use or pregnancy and how that can impact a person’s outcome of endometrial cancer.”

Her interest in medicine also reflects her compassion for women who do not have adequate healthcare access and both explain her career aspiration.

“In my community, there isn’t a lot of information about women’s health,” she said, “and so that’s something I really want to address.”

“I think everyone has had someone in their family who probably went through some kind of medical situation,” Surabhi said, adding when that occurred in her family “there was no one else in my family who really knew about medicine at the time. So, I was like, ‘you know what, I think that’s what I want to do’ so I can support

Kolodziej (2014; Mountain Pointe High grads Sonia Serio (2015) and Madison Coffman, who tied in 2016 with corecipient Michael Kolodziej of Desert Vista.

Other winners included Mountain Pointe grads Valeria Smith (2017) and Arika Patton (2018), 2019 Desert Vista grad Itzy Doyle and Corona del Sol Class of 2020 member Emma Stewart.

Scholarship applicants should include two letters of recommendation from other than a family member, a 250-500-word double-spaced essay incorporating their involvement volunteer service, extracurriculars, clubs and educational goals.

Completed applications should be sent to Ahwatukee Republican Women - Marjorie Miner Scholarship c/o Scholarship Committee, PO Box 93391, Phoenix, AZ 85070 .

SURABHI SAJITH

my own family and my community and the women in my community.”

She also is a member of the Tempe Mayor’s Youth Advisory Commission and has been especially involved in addressing teen mental health issues, particularly as the pandemic has impacted them over the last 14 months.

And her volunteering activities also extend to working at a nearby hospice. Because the pandemic prevented her from visiting patients the past year, she has helped out with administrative tasks.

Besides academics, debate and volunteering, Surabhi also is a dancer and performs both solo and in groups. And while she can dance to most musical formats, she is particularly active in Indian Classical Dance.

“I think what’s really cool about Indian dances is we’re representing our Indian population,” she said. “I can go out and just perform if I want to. It’s kind of like my artistic outlet, and I think everyone has some form or way that they like to express themselves. So, dance is my medium.” 

28

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@AhwatukeeFN

www.ahwatukee.com

PostNet adds a larger grad lawn sign to offerings

BY COTY DOLORES MIRANDA AFN Contributor

A

year ago, graduation and promotion ceremonies were verboten due to mandatory COVID-19 lockdowns.

One bright spot for those graduates missing the pomp and circumstance comprised the front-yard congratulatory signs in school colors emblazoned with the school logo, often featuring the name and photo of the graduate as well.

For Aaron and Janine Moeller, owners of Ahwatukee’s PostNet, printing those signs for East Valley grads class of 2020 was a much-needed boon to business, helping them when normal business orders stuttered to a stop.

Though life is somewhat returning to normal – including in-person graduation ceremonies next month – PostNet is hoping this year’s yard signs and celebratory

banners will continue to help their business after a year of COVID-19 took its toll on their family business.

“Last year was a lifeline for us when everything else was shut down,” said Aaron Moeller. “We’ve hung on through COVID, and we’re getting back up to where we should be but again, these grad signs are helping.”

This year, the yard signs for graduates come in two sizes: a 36”x24” is now available in addition to last year’s 24”x18.”

Janie and Eric Miller know �irsthand the joy the graduation yard signs can bring to a family.

Last year, their daughter Natalie graduated from Desert Vista High and had one; this year, the youngest of their four children, Tori, will have one as she marks her passage from Kyrene de los Cerritos Elementary to middle school.

��� SIGNS ���� 30

Aaron and Janine Moeller of PostNet in Ahwatukee display some of the yard signs they’ve been producing for high school graduates. (Special to AFN)

Corp Commission strengthens disconnection policies

BY EMMA RICHBURG Cronkite News

W

ith summerlike heat already here and triple-digit temperatures around the corner, Arizonans are cranking up the air-conditioning in April.

As electricity use increases, some Arizona residents who struggle to pay their power bill risk being disconnected.

Last week, the Arizona Corporation Commission took further steps to avoid a tragedy like the one that befell 72-year-old Stephanie Pullman of Sun City West, who died from environmental heat exposure and cardiovascular disease in September 2018 after her power was disconnected

by Arizona Public Service. Pullman owed $51 on her bill.

Her death prompted the �ive-member

Arizona Corporation Commission members discussed utility shut-offs during hot weather at their April 14 meeting. (YouTube) commission – which oversees public utilities in the state – to enact an emergency moratorium in 2019 barring public utilities from disconnecting customers who were late on their bills from June 1 through Oct. 15.

When the pandemic struck, Arizona’s

regulated utility companies extended suspensions and disconnections for nonpayment through the end of 2020.

On April 14, two years after the emergency moratorium was put in place, the commission voted 3-2 to preliminarily approve a package of measures regulat-

ing when utilities can shut off service for nonpayment.

Commissioners Lea Márquez Peterson, a Republican, joined Democrats Sandra Kennedy and Anna Tovar to vote yes, while the two Republican commissioners Jim O’Connor and Justin Olson voted no.

Olson said he didn’t support the measures because they will “lead to an extensive moratorium” and “a substantial amount of the year would be excluded during that temperature threshold.”

“My concern is that we unintentionally create policies that drive up rates for ratepayers and in addition to that, we unintentionally make policies that result in an enticement for folks to build up large amounts of delinquent accounts that they cannot get out from under,” he said.

��� POWER ���� 30

30

BUSINESS

SIGNS ���� ���� 29

“I �irst became aware of this printing service at PostNet last year when my oldest daughter was graduating,” Janie Miller said.

Noting how many typical end-of-highschool milestones were canceled, she said, “We were looking for creative ways we could honor our grad during this unique time.

“The yard sign served as a fun tool for our neighbors, friends and family to share in her celebration as well,” she said.

“This year, at Kyrene de los Cerritos, we are offering an option for �ifth-grade parents to purchase a yard sign celebrating their child’s elementary school accomplishments as well as their promotion to middle school,” Janie explained.

“We have a group of volunteer parents who have formed an end-of-year celebration planning committee to facilitate the ordering and ful�illment processes. The custom-designed yard signs are being sold at/near cost to interested parents.

We anticipate selling approximately 50 yard signs.”

PostNet last year had a special yard sign to bene�it the Arizona COVID-19 Community Response Fund, forwarding $3 of each sale to nonpro�its.

“Our family also purchased one of those yard signs to show our support for frontline workers who have been working tirelessly throughout the pandemic,” she said. “We truly appreciate when a local

POWER ���� ���� 29

The proposals give utility companies the choice between a blanket moratorium from June 1 through Oct. 15 or a temperature-based threshold that prohibits shutoffs on days when temperatures reach 95 degrees.

Commissioners voted 5-0 to ban disconnections for customers who owe less than $300 for electricity and $100 for natural gas and unanimously approved an increase in solar projects for low-income multifamily housing.

After public comment, the commission will vote to revise or �inalize the rules next year, and they would take effect by summer 2022.

Before 2019, Arizona utility companies relied on National Weather Service advisories to determine whether service shutoffs were permitted.

Kennedy argued that a 95-degree threshold was too high and would lead to

AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS | APRIL 28, 2021

business like PostNet goes out of its way to generously support our schools and the families in our community.”

The school bulk orders are a boon to business for the couple.

Some of the full-color signs are being used as small fundraisers for the schools’ clubs or PTOs. “We’re pricing the bulk sales to schools as low as we can so they can make money selling them,” Moeller said. “Everyone is kind of struggling right now so we’re doing what we can so they can help raise much-needed funds for school PTOs.” Bulk sales range from a smaller quantity of 25 and up. Quotes are given for all size bulk orders.

Individual yard signs printed with the 2021 graduate’s name and optional photo remain popular, and the Moellers noted this year they’re receiving orders for the larger signs.

“Parents are doing larger signs this year,” said Aaron Moeller, noting they come with a metal H-stake. “We try and work with the parents to make it more unique if they desire. The custom signs do have an additional small design fee.”

Retail pricing for the 24”x18” signs are $14 for basic signage with school name and top out at $18 with student’s name and photo.

Their 36”x24” starts at $30 for basic and $32 with name added. The school yard sign with the student’s photo and name is

more heat-related deaths.

“The real question is do we really want to have the blood of those individuals who die on our hands?” she asked. “Do the utility companies want to have the blood of those individuals who die on their hands?”

Kennedy said a 90-degree threshold would be a safer option and called it a “life or death” decision.

The commission also voted to move forward with policies that would ensure customers who are behind on their bills receive adequate notice before disconnection and are aware of available �inancial assistance.

Customers will also get a phone call if they are going to be disconnected, and if the utility chooses, an in-person noti�ication.

APS spokeswoman Jill Hanks said, “What’s important for people to know is that APS is here to help our customers, providing �lexible options to those who may be struggling with their bills to avoid ever being at risk for disconnection.”

For those who are unable or struggling

$34.

“We work with schools and school organizations to print signs for graduating seniors who are involved in sports or band,” said Moeller. “The cost for the bulk signs can be as low as $5.50 each for the 24”x18” signs, depending on quantity, and all pricing includes a stake to place it in the ground.”

As with many local small businesses, the pandemic hit PostNet hard.

The couple had just moved their 5-yearold business across the street to their larger site at 4611 E. Chandler Blvd. when COVID struck, closing down most out-ofhome activities.

“It was scary signing a long-term lease in that environment,” admitted Moeller.

As tough a year as it was, the business was able to remain open throughout, even when the school closures meant the additional task of overseeing the virtual online learning for their 9-year-old son, Josh, a third grader at Kyrene de la Sierra Elementary School.

“Janine did most of the home learning with Josh, but it was a bit of a challenge,” said Moeller.

The Moellers were living in Colorado when they decided to start their own business. After deciding on the PostNet franchise, they searched the nation for the perfect spot to establish their �irst business, and chose to open in Ahwatukee, later adding the Chandler location.

to pay their utility bills, APS offers crisis bill assistance and energy support program options such as the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program and Project Share.

Hanks encouraged customers to contact APS through their care center or aps. com for more questions about support and resources.

The National Weather Service reported that 2020 had the driest and hottest summer monsoon season since recordings began in Phoenix in 1895. For Arizona, the year ended as the second hottest on record.

Commissioner Anna Tovar said, “each utility company shall propose and imple-

Their business, which is open Monday through Friday at 4611 E. Chandler Blvd., involves printing, marketing and shipping.

PostNet also offers other services for area businesses and individuals including custom graphic design and custom packing and shipping options through FedEx, UPS, DHL and the United States Postal Service.

Graduation announcements, graduation ceremony or party invitations and personalized promotional items such as mugs or t-shirts are also available through PostNet. They also offer graduating families 10 percent off of party invitations and announcement orders when they order a grad sign or banner.

“Postnet is happy to be able to help celebrate the grads of 2021, from elementary school promotions to college graduations.

The 2020/2021 school year was still challenging in many aspects and many of these students won’t be able to partake in the regular activities that the PTO’s and the schools would have put on for them to celebrate their success,” said Janine.

“We hope that giving them recognition through signage in the neighborhoods will put a smile on their faces and let them know how proud their families and communities are of them.”

To order or for more information see their website PostNet.com/ AZ156. For bulk sales inquiries, phone 480.753.4160.  ment one or more programs targeting heat-vulnerable populations to address heat-related safety concerns” in regard to the �lexibility of how utilities can participate with relief for heat-vulnerable customers.

Although for some utility companies and cooperatives, this vote may not affect the way they run. The commission does not oversee the Salt River Project, for instance.

The rulemaking is likely to be completed in time to take effect in summer 2022. In the meantime, APS and Tucson Electric Power are not allowed to turn power off for customers from June 1 to Oct. 15. 

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BUSINESS

APRIL 28, 2021 | AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS

‘What If Campaign’ launching today in Ahwatukee AFN NEWS STAFF

A

hwatukee travel agent JoAnne Michaud and business publication publisher Don Bridges are launching their monthly “What If” Campaign today.

Aiming to connect local small businesses with residents, Michaud, a Dream Vacations travel agent, and Bridges, owner of Kups2020, are hosting their �irst free gathering 4-7 p.m. today, April 28, in the lot at the southeast corner of 48th Street and Chandler Boulevard.

They’ve lined up a slew of sponsors and plan to raf�le a number of prizes as people mingle with local businesses to learn more about them. There will be food and drink to buy, live entertainment that will include a DJ and enough going on that Michaud advises people to come and bring a chair so they can enjoy the

late afternoon event.

Bridges and Michaud �igure the event – which they plan to replicate the last Thursday of the month in different communities, including Chandler – provide some answers to Michaud’s series of questions that she posed in conversations with Bridges: “What if we came back stronger as a community? What if we created more opportunities for businesses and people to come together? What if a neighbor and another member of the community decided to start a new business? What if I stopped by an event and made new friends? What if I refer a neighbor to a new local business that I know? What if I try a restaurant in my community and it became one of my favorites?”

Ultimately, Michaud said, all these are not so much questions as they are “a series of actions made by individuals to

make a signi�icant impact on our community.”

Sponsors for the debut include The Logoman, Darkart Tattoo Collective, Festive Events and Rentals, Bell Bank Mortgage, I Will Repair, AAMCO Transmission, Sweet Magnolia Smokehouse, Impact Nutrition, the Buzzed Goat, Tacos Tijuana, Farmer’s Insurance, Ghett’yo Pizza, Ghett’yo Taco, STAR Windshield, Rosati’s Pizza, Where U Bean Coffee, SIR Barbershop, Snider Custom Apparel, Bergies Coffee, Sonoran Health Dental, Hillside Spot, Whiz Kids, Spooner Physical Therapy, UFC Fitness, LivGenerations, the Ahwatukee Chamber of Commerce, Reptile Store and Modern Chiropractic.

Giveaways and prizes have been arranged in a kind of tiered fashion, with some being given away at this and subsequent events and others that will be

GOT NEWS?

raf�led at the What If campaign �inale on Aug. 25 at a site not yet determined.

Raf�le tickets for the big prizes will be kept secure until the drawings at that closing event and will be eligible for prizes like a $2,000 gift certi�icate to Cornelius Hollander Jewelers courtesy of Kups2020, car window tint, a full dental exam and teeth whitening package and other items that will be added over time.

Meanwhile, today’s raf�le items include 14 gift certi�icates ranging between $50 and $600 for a �loral arrangement, body art session, a business pop-up banner, dinners for two at some of the sponsor restaurants and other items and services.

Additionally, Bridges and Michaud will be helping a different charity at each event and next week’s bene�iciary is the Ahwatukee-based Armer Foundation for Kids, which assists families with children facing catastrophic illnesses. 

Contact Paul Maryniak at 480-898-5647 or pmaryniak@timespublications.com

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COVID liability law protects a wide range of entities

BY ANDREA MARCONI AFN Guest Writer

O

n April 5, 2021, Governor Ducey signed legislation giving businesses, healthcare providers, and others a broad shield from civil lawsuits related to COVID-19.

The COVID-19 liability shield law is retroactive to March 11, 2020, meaning that claims �iled before the law’s effective date concerning an act or omission by covered persons occurring on or after March 11, 2020 are also subject to the law. The liability limitation will remain in place until the Governor terminates the COVID-19 state of emergency declaration.

This law protects a wide variety of persons and providers, including persons furnishing consumer or business goods, services, or entertainment; educational institutions, school districts or charter schools; property owners, managers, lessors, and lessees; nonpro�its, religious institutions, State of Arizona and State agencies or instrumentalities; local governments or state political subdivisions, including any department, agency, or

Maybe Ahwatukee isn’t Mayberry after all

In 1905, my great grandmother moved her family from Ireland to Indiana, jampacked on a big ship with two small children, escaping poverty and, no doubt, in search of a better, safer, more prosperous future for her children.

Each generation of our family has contributed to America as factory workers, teachers, mechanics, and such.

In December 2005, I migrated from Ohio, traveling with my two small children, to a seemingly “Mayberry-like” community called Ahwatukee.

We were seeking a better life, more sun, good people, a quality public education and an opportunity for my husband to be happier in his career choice.

We immediately felt welcomed. And,

commission of a local government or state political subdivision; It also protects those providing services to clients under a contract, service agreement, or quali�ied vendor agreement with the Arizona Department of Economic Security, Division of Developmental Disabilities; healthcare providers; and health institutions, including nursing homes, residential care facilities, ambulance services, and behavioral health, nursing, and screening facilities.

Workers’ compensation claims are excepted from the new liability shield law.

Thus, employees may �ile workers’ compensation claims related to actual or potential exposure to COVID-19 in the workplace.

Arizona’s new law does not automatically bar all claims relating to alleged COVID-19 transmission, but it signi�icantly raises the bar for anyone wanting to sue a covered person or provider after contracting COVID-19.

Under the new law, a person or provider who “acts in good faith” to protect another from injury from the public health pandemic—COVID-19—is not liable for damages in any civil action for injury, death, or

loss to person or property.

The law creates a presumption that persons or providers acted in good faith if they adopted and implemented “reasonable policies” concerning the public health pandemic.

Although what constitutes “reasonable policies” is not expressly de�ined, the part of the law speci�ically applying to health professionals and institutions states they are presumed to have acted in good faith if they relied on and reasonably attempted to comply with applicable published guidance issued by a federal or state agency.

Although this language is not in the part of the law relating generally to non-healthcare businesses, it is likely that courts will apply a similar standard to them.

To overcome this good faith presumption, claimants must prove by clear and convincing evidence that the person or provider acted or failed to act due to gross negligence or willful misconduct.

This is a much higher standard for plaintiffs than the typical preponderance of the evidence standard. Plaintiffs are now effectively required to prove that the person or provider acted recklessly or deliber-

ately to cause COVID-19 transmission— rather than simply making a mistake or not acting with reasonable care.

Covered businesses and healthcare providers should review their COVID-19 policies. Especially as restrictions continue to relax and businesses are able to re-open fully, it is important to ensure all policies are updated and in line with current federal and state agency recommendations and requirements, including as published by the CDC, Arizona Department of Health Services, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, and other applicable agencies.

Arizona’s new COVID-19 liability shield law is more likely to protect businesses if their policies are in line with current guidance by federal and state agencies and employees are trained to implement and enforce such policies. Please contact legal counsel for help creating or updating your business’ COVID-19 protection policies if needed.

Attorney Andrea Marconi serves as Vice-Chair, Business Litigation at Fennemore. Her areas of practice include business litigation, health care, and real estate. 

I was often struck by the kindness of strangers as neighbors pulled over to catch a dog lost on the street, or Boy Scouts organized can good collections, or Kyrene Resource Center serviced those in need.

I was pleased our new public elementary school taught basic, humane principles, among them “good citizenship.”

But perhaps Mayberry was just an illusion, because if you’ve read the more recent hateful rhetoric and experienced the lack of decorum on community social media pages, it suggests a much darker side.

In addition, our governor uses words like “drug cartels” and “human traf�icking” to stoke more fear in Arizona’s constituents and give the illusion he is doing something important down at the border.

While these things certainly exist, I suspect that’s not really what many of the protestors are afraid of as they march outside our local hotels housing these poor families — families who, by the way, are legally seeking asylum from horri�ic violence, are being tested for COVID, and are not “cutting the line” in the immigration queue.

The “crisis” is the Fear.

How about a little research regarding our less-than-stellar American history and acknowledge who was here �irst.

How about checking your ancestral trees and your hypocrisy, then “walk a mile in another’s moccasins”?

I thank my great grandma for having the strength and courage to make the dangerous voyage. We’re a nation of immigrants, productive members of our communities.

And, one thing we all have in common — we’d do anything to provide a better, safer, more prosperous future for our children. So, let’s lend a helping hand instead of a fearful heart—be the solution.

Whatever happened to, “Give Me Your Tired, Your Poor, Your Huddled Masses”?

— Suzanne Whitaker

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Loan sharks are still circling around Arizonans

Despite Arizona voters defeating a well-funded effort in 2008 to allow small-dollar loans to exceed our state’s interest rate cap of 36 percent plus fees, a persistent group of online high-cost lenders never lost their appetite for trap-

��� LETTERS ���� 34

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OPINION

AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS | APRIL 28, 2021

LETTERS ���� ���� 33

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ping cash-strapped Arizonans in debt.

Enter rogue, out-of-state banks not subject to state rate caps.

The most audacious predatory lenders are now employing a “rent-a-bank” scheme whereby the lender charges and collects interest on a loan but a bank’s name is on the paperwork.

The predatory lender claims the loan is a bank loan exempt from state law, leaving consumers and small business owners on the hook for 225 percent APR loans.

While the legality of this loan laundering scheme is in question, last year the Of�ice of the Comptroller of the Currency,

the national bank regulator, approved a “fake lender” rule that would overturn 200 years of case law allowing courts to follow the money.

But the Senate recently introduced a resolution under the Congressional Review Act to overturn it.

Senators Sinema and Kelly should back the resolution to overturn the “fake lender” rule. Arizona has real rate caps that protect real consumers from the very real consequences of predatory payday lending.

— Cynthia Zwick, Executive Director, Wild�ire, and Kelly Grif�ith, Executive Director, Center for Economic Integrity

Share Your Thoughts:

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Desert Vista shot put, discus a tradition for Hickel family

BY ZACH ALVIRA AFN Sports Editor

C

ompeting in throwing events in track and field always seemed to be in Mason Hickel’s future while growing up in Ahwatukee. Both shot put and discus had already started to become engraved into his family legacy.

His father, Troy, threw in high school and college before he became a coach. His older brother, Torrey, also became involved in shot put and discus and went on to compete at a high level for Desert Vista and is currently on the track and field team at Oklahoma State.

Now a senior for the Thunder, Mason has begun to carve his own path in throws while upholding what has become a family tradition of excellence from the circles.

“I didn’t really start to fall in love with it until my brother really showed the path he took,” Mason said. “Really I attribute it to my father and I’m sure my brother attributes a lot of it to my dad.”

Like his older brother, Mason began

Shot put and discus have become a family affair for Desert Vista senior Mason Hickel “left” and his father and coach, Troy. Mason is currently one of the top throwers in the state, following in the footsteps of his older brother, Torrey, who competed for the Thunder and is now at Oklahoma State. (Zac BonDurant/AFN Contributor) throwing at a young age. He was 4 years old when his father began training technique when throwing. Still not old or strong enough to handle the 12-pound

iron ball used in shot put competitions, he practiced with a softball.

Troy said Mason began to pick up the sport quick and grew a love for it in the

same manner he did as a kid. His passion for throwing events continued to grow as he became stronger and more agile while utilizing proper technique. It also helped seeing Torrey have success in a similar way their father did.

In a way, that further fueled Mason’s desire to be great at the two sports.

“It’s a ladder down the family,” Mason said. “I realized my freshman year I was a lot further ahead than a lot of people.

When I threw 60-feet as a junior I realized the colleges would start looking at me.”

Torrey won two state titles while with Desert Vista’s track and field team. He was also named to the All-State team three out of his four high school years.

This past indoor season as a senior at Oklahoma State, he placed in the top-10 of all seven events he competed in, including two first-place finishes. He finished 10th overall at the Big 12 Championships.

Like he did with Torrey, Troy has coached Mason both privately and as an

�ee HICKEL page 36

Arsenal soccer to host tryouts, partners with Legacy Sports

BY ZACH ALVIRA AFN Sports Editor

A

rizona Arsenal, one of the state’s largest and most competitive youth soccer clubs, has announced it will hold tryouts in Mesa for the upcoming club season.

Arsenal’s tryouts will take place from April 25 through May 8, beginning with younger age groups first before opening to older-aged kids. Tryouts for boys and girls born between 2012 and 2014 will be held April 26-May 1 between 8 a.m. and 12 p.m. at Red Mountain Sports Complex.

Tryouts for boys and girls born between 2003 and 2011 will be held May 3-8 at both Red Mountain Sports Complex and Quail Run Sports Complex, both of which in Mesa.

“We strive to be one of the top clubs in the state that is recognized on a regional and national level,” said David Belfort, Arizona Arsenal Soccer Club’s technical director. “We are a soccer club that strives to maximize the potential and experience of all ages and levels of our membership.”

Along with the tryouts, Arsenal also announced it will hold two fall events at locations throughout the Valley.

The first Arsenal Challenge will take place for the Youngers (u8/2014 –

�ee ARSENAL page 36

Legacy Sports Park, a 320-acre development will feature several sports fields, a multipurpose arena and outdoor amphitheater. It has already partnered with Arsenal and ELITE Youth Football. (Courtesy Legacy Sports USA)

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HICKEL from page 35

assistant on staff at Desert Vista. Overall, Troy has coached 23 state champion throwers throughout his coaching career.

Having the opportunity to coach Torrey and now Mason has been special for Troy. It’s not only allowed the three to further bond but to carve out their college futures.

“It’s a blessing, to be honest,” Troy said of his chance to coach both of his sons.

“Sometimes I have to separate dad from coach, sometimes the children hear dad and I want them to hear coach. To be honest, it’s been a blessing to be part of this with them and to come along for the ride with them.

“You get a front row seat to their successes and a front row seat to put an arm around them during the tough days.”

Mason entered his freshman season at Desert Vista eager to become one of the school’s all-time greats. But he had to battle through adversity early on after tearing ligaments in his ankle while in practice as a freshman. The injury ultimately ended

ARSENAL from page 35

u12/2010) from Sept. 24-26. The Olders (u/13/2009-U19/2003) tournament will follow a few weeks later on Oct. 8-10.

Belfort, who previously coached at Highland High School in Gilbert and is currently an assistant coach on the Hamilton varsity team, said the annual Arsenal Challenge events offer players their first experience playing for the competitive club, one that has consistently aimed toward building and upholding its reputation as one of the top clubs in the state.

“I think there’s a strong human-element we have in our organization that makes it special,” Belfort said. “People want to be with us. Our coaches don’t leave. Our staff is the longest tenured in Arizona and it isn’t even close. That is one of the things that makes us special.”

Arsenal’s reputation has also led it to partner with Legacy Sports USA, the owner of Legacy Sports Park currently under construction in Mesa. The 320acre development will feature several sports fields, a multi-purpose arena and outdoor amphitheater.

The field will serve as the exclusive home to all of Arsenal’s home soccer matches when it opens in early 2022. It will also serve as the club’s main training

AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS | APRIL 28, 2021

all in shot put at the state meet. His junior year was cut short due to the pandemic, which he took advantage of to prepare early for his senior season. As of this year, he now holds the record for longest shot put throw at Desert Vista with 63-feet, 6 inches, a mark he accomplished during a tri-meet on April 14 against Mountain Pointe and Queen Creek.

The throw also inched him closer to his ultimate goal of hitting the 65-foot mark before he graduates.

“I think 65-feet is obtainable,” Troy said. “ObMason Hickel currently holds the Desert Vista all-time record viously, it’s going to take in shot put at 63-feet, 6 inches, a mark he achieved during a a lot of work. But he tri-meet against Mountain Pointe and Queen Creek on April 10. has the drive. He trains (Zac BonDurant/AFN Contributor) hard and lifts well in the his season early, but he battled to come weight room.” back stronger.

Mason is currently among the favorites As a sophomore he placed seventh over- to win the state title in shot put this sea-

high school facility for pracschedules, altices across all lowing its playage groups. ers to play in “We are goboth settings. ing to be the anchor soccer After a year in program with which the panLegacy Sports demic put a bit USA,” Belfort of a damper on said. “All of our the club soccer team trainings scene, Belfort is will be happenlooking forward ing there durto starting a ing the week new season and and we will eventually movhave our games ing into Legacy there as well.”

Sports Park Arsenal’s when it opens ability to benext year. come one of the “Our teams top soccer clubs Arsenal Soccer Club will hold tryouts in Mesa ahead will come back in the state of its upcoming season that will eventually lead into from high stems from the its new partnership with Legacy Sports USA that school late support from gives the club access to Legacy Sports Park in Mesa. February, but the community (Courtesy Legacy Sports USA) our younger and coaches teams will be at every level, according to Belfort. The there when the complex opens,” Belfort club routinely produces high-level soccer said. “It’s really exciting. It’s almost like a players that go on to compete at the NAIA dream come true. We are looking forward and NCAA Division I, II and III levels on a to working with the Legacy people to conyearly basis. tinue improving all of our programming The season typically runs opposite the and how we go about running a youth

son. He’s the top-ranked thrower in the sport and is among the top-five in discus after throwing a personal best 176-feet, 11 inches at the 81st Nike Chandler Rotary on April 10.

He’s placed first in all but one event he’s competed in this season and has become the leader of a Desert Vista throws team that is poised to help lift the rest of a talented Thunder boys team to a state title for the first time since 2018. Finishing his high school career with a state championship in one or both events has been a goal for Mason since he stepped foot on campus.

Being able to potentially share that moment with his father will make it even more special.

“I think it will definitely be your pictureperfect movie scene where you’re walking in and have the weight of your high school career on your shoulders,” Mason said.

“Being the youngest in my family will definitely add more to it.

“I think it will be interesting and something special could happen on that last throw.”  soccer club.”

Arsenal is just one of the organizations Legacy has partnered with ahead of its development.

The company recently announced it had partnered with the ELITE Youth Football Organization, which will formally be known as ELITE Football powered by Legacy Sports USA. Like Arsenal, all of ELITE Football’s tournaments and other events will be held at Legacy Sports Park, with the day-to-day operations managed

by ELITE founder Zeke Sandhu and former Green Bay Packers Super Bowl champion James Jones.

ELITE currently manages 20 local youth football teams in the Chandler area ranging in ages 6U to 14U. The league will offer both boys and girls flag football and adult flag football leagues at Legacy Sports Park. Additionally, ELITE Football Academy, ELITE Club Football Teams, ELITE Bears Tackle Teams, Kids Camps and NFL Player Camps will also be held at the park.

“We are ecstatic about this new partnership with Legacy Sports Park and ELITE Football,” Sandhu said. “We consider our program to be one of the most competitive in the country, so it is a perfect fit to align and work with a top-notch sports facility like Legacy Sports Park.” 

APRIL 28, 2021 | AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS

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AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS | APRIL 28, 2021

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Artists auctioning works to support land trust AFN NEWS STAFF

S

upport area artists and help the nonpro�it Desert Foothills Land Trust protect land in the north Valley by taking part in the Spring 2021 Creative Connections Fine Art auction April 29 through May 10.

This is DFLT’s seventh annual art exhibit and sale, following last year’s event which had to be shut down prematurely by the statewide COVID-19 orders.

Selections for “Jurors Choice” have been made by jurors A.H. Smith, an Arizona Artist Guild member, painter and mixed media artist who taught locally for 32 years; and Tempe glass artist and painter Laurie Nessel, a member of the Arizona Glass Alliance.

The public will have a chance to vote for “People’s Choice” during the preview days now through April 28.

Bidding for the online auction opens at 6 a.m. Thursday, April 29 and closes at 8 p.m. Monday, May 10.

“The past 12 months have brought many surprises, challenges and changes for us all,” said DFLT’s Mary Warren. “Desert Foothills Land Trust, like other non-

1

1: Desert” necklace of sterling, copper and brass by Marlene Sabatina. 2:“Two-Sided Tree Slice,” rose petals and leaves botanical mixed media composition on mahogany base by Kim Walker. 3: “Courtyard” acrylic painting by Tim Frazier. (Special to AFN News) pro�its and businesses, has had to seek out creative ways to continue their work, engage the community and earn support.

We’re excited to be selected as benefactor for the online auction.”

Warren said the theme of celebrating the connection between art and the land will remain the same, as more than 50 artists have their 2D and 3D work available for “Protecting the Land We Love.” Includ-

Cinco De Chandler returns May 5 downtown

BY DAVID M. BROWN AFN Contributor

A

celebration of independence and freedom, Cinco de Mayo commemorates the Mexican army’s victory over the French Empire at Puebla in 1862.

On May 5 downtown, Cinco de Chandler celebrates Mexican food, drink, music, culture and camaraderie during springtime in the desert.

Ghett’ Yo Tacos, 241 S. Oregon St., is hosting the �iesta, in its second year as a

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full participatory event.

The restaurant is the colorful building behind the Perch restaurant with the spray-painted “Dia de Los Muertos” mural painted by Valley artist, Lalo Cota, known for murals and paintings focusing on Mexican culture, desert land-

��� CINCO ���� 39

Ghett’Yo Tacos at 241 S. Oregon St. will be party central May 5 as Cinco de Chandler roars into high gear with a full day of music and food. (Special to AFN News)

ed will be representational art, contemporary art and craft and indigenous peoples.

Nancy Breiman, founder of Creative Connections, says they are happy to support DFLT, and has set a goal to raise at least $20,000 in total sales.

“The auctions are a win-win for everyone,” she says. “As local artists, we cher-

��� AUCTION ���� 39

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APRIL 28, 2021 | AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS

AUCTION ���� ���� 38

ish our beautiful protected lands, wildlife, and indigenous culture to both enjoy and paint. Giving back to those in need �ills my soul.”

In addition, several artists and collectors have donated a number of signi�icant items for which DFLT will receive nearly 90 percent of the proceeds.

They represent art inspired by the artists’ love of protected lands, use of natural

CINCO ���� ���� 38

scapes and politics.

Cinco de Chandler begins at 10 a.m. and includes dancing to live bands, mariachis and DJs. The 4-year-old taqueria will offer its signature street tacos, a variety of cervezas and margaritas.

For the children, Gilbert’s Christina Ranburger with Blushing Peach Art will offer face painting and Chandler’s Cheryl Tisland, co-owner of Burst of Butter�lies, piñata-making 4-7 p.m.

Yard games and prizes are also scheduled. For the adults, DJ Wyzeman will host a party from 6 p.m. until midnight.

“Last year, due to COVID-19 restrictions, we compromised by offering guests the chance to experience live music performances from local bands while they waited for their meals,” said Wally Ansari, who acquired Ghett’ Yo’ Tacos in 2018 a year after the restaurant opened.

A sister property is Ghett’ Yo’ Pizza at 4747 E. Elliot Road in Ahwatukee.

“But the �irst year we hosted the festival in 2019, we had more than 1,200 people come throughout the day,” he added. “We know it is something that the community enjoys taking part in, and we are excited to be back again this year. Please come out whenever you would like, day or night.”

Mexican street tacos are smaller than traditional restaurant varieties, allowing someone purchasing from a street vendor, for example, to hold and eat them without dropping the �illings from the

ts? o Gew N

materials and ancient techniques, the contemporary Southwest and honor indigenous peoples.

They include “The Way” by acclaimed artist J.E. Knauf, valued at $3,500; a contemporary, colorful glass sculpture by Carole Perry valued at $4,500; a handwoven “algodon” or cotton Peruvian textile valued at $5,000; and an oil painting of one of DFLT’s protected lands, “Galloway Wash,” by award-winning painter Michele Schuck, valued at $680, and more.

DFLT is accredited by the Land Trust Accreditation Commission for meeting the highest national standards for excellence and conservation permanence.

Founded in 1991, DFLT focuses conservation efforts in the communities of Anthem, Carefree, Cave Creek, Desert Hills, New River, North Phoenix and North Scottsdale.

To date they have permanently conserved 850 acres on 27 sites. DFLT’s mission is to protect these lands cherished by

What’s a Cinco de Mayo celebration without tacos, and Ghett’Yo Tacos in Chandler will have plenty of them May 5. (Special to SanTan Sun News) corn tortillas.

The street tacos at Cinco de Chandler will include grilled chicken, carne asada, al pastor, jackfruit for the vegetarians and other varieties, Ansari explained.

The venue’s popular sliders will also be available, which include the OG Angus beef, carnitas and �iery chicken. And just for Cinco de Chandler, Gett’ Yo Taco employees will be preparing whole roasted chickens on charcoal outside.

“Our full bar will feature frozen margaritas in a variety of �lavors and several Mexican beers to keep everyone cool and happy,” Ansari said, noting that the Corona, Dos XX and Corazon Tequila companies will be offering samples.

During the day, three local bands will be playing: Johnny Gowans, 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.; the Taide Pineda Band, 12–3 p.m., and The Conveyors, 3–6 p.m.

A Gilbert resident, Ansari has grown Ghett’ Yo Taco with vibrant downtown Chandler, which has become one of the Valley’s go-to areas for restaurants and meeting spots.

“We’re an urban taqueria specializing in authentic street-style tacos, a fun and affordable spot for children and adults, family members, friends and colleagues,” he said.

Ghett’ Yo Taco has 20 employees, mostly East Valley residents, including Stuart Shainberg of Gilbert, who is the

39

the community and sources of inspiration for artists. For details, go to d�lt.org.

Creative Connections Fine Art is dedicated to fostering the artist and collector community, established by �ine art artist Nancy Breiman of Scottsdale, Arizona.

Information: creativeconnections�ineart.com or email Breiman at CreativeConnectionsFineArt@gmail.com; To bid on the artwork, visit the Creative Connections Fine Art website at creativeconnections�ineart.com. 

operations manager for the restaurant, handling day-to-day responsibilities while Ansari coordinates the menu.

“Our team members set us apart from other taquerias. All of them have a passion for having fun with each other and guests and serving outstanding food. We want the community who visit Ghett’ Yo to feel like they’re having a meal with close friends, instead of just stopping by to get a quick bite,” Ansari said.

Cinco de Chandler, he explained, “is a great representation of our mission as a local restaurant and Mexican culture.

And, it is fun for the whole family. With such a dif�icult year behind us, our goal is to put on a safe outdoor festival that everyone can enjoy!”

Children 12 and under are free to the event. Adults may purchase tickets online before for $5 or at the door for $8.

The restaurant also caters and hosts buy-out private parties.

Information: ghettyotaco.com. 

GetOut. GetConnected. ahwatukee.com/arts_life/ facebook.com/getoutaz twitter.com/getoutaz

Contact Paul Maryniak at 480-898-5647 or pmaryniak@timespublications.com

GET OUT

40

AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS | APRIL 28, 2021

King Crossword ACROSS 1 6 11 12

14 15 16 17 19 20 22 23 24 26 28 30 31 35 39 40 42 43 44 46 47 49 51 52 53 54

Fashion Cougars Copier part Sanford of “The Jeffersons” Sweatshirt variety “The Raven” maiden Off-roader (Abbr.)

Burn with steam Khan title “Moonstruck” star -- -la-la War god “Praying” singer TV actor Prinze Business mag Melancholy Dagwood’s lady Chic again Lariat Neither mate Actress de Matteo -- -de-France Red Square figure Last (Abbr.)

Sister of Moses Restaurant fan Sports venues Not as small Admin. aides Plant firmly

36 37 38 41

Plod Counted (on) Western flick Sentry’s weapon

44 45 48 50

Sudoku

DOWN 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 13 18 21 23 25 27 29 31 32 33 34

Cannes milk Linguist Chomsky Check-cashing needs Sphere

Mollify Caches Pay stub abbr.

Floral rings Upright Columns Secondhand Chess piece On the train Composer Prokofiev Crude cabin Rental contract Canine cry Bonn’s river Threw in Moreover Corn serving Movie houses Hat edges Nabokov novel Puccini works Very long time

PUZZLES ANSWERS on page 31

CLASSIFIEDS

APRIL 28, 2021 | AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS

Classifieds

The Place “To Find” Everything You Need | Ahwatukee.com Click on Marketplace

Obituaries Fredric (Fred) E. O’Polka

Fred passed away unexpectedly at the age of 68. He was born in Muskegon, Michigan and moved to Phoenix in 1986.

He owned and operated his own handyman/repair business.

He was very creative and problem solving and worked magic with his ideas and hands---an artist of his trade. He was devoted and always willing to help others. He made his customers’ lives easier and more enjoyable because of his innovation and amazing attitude.

He was very committed to his customers, many in Ahwatukee.

He will be missed for all his humor, jokes, wit, kindness, and whimsical behavior. His family was the light of his life. He is deeply missed by his family, friends and customers. In lieu of flowers donations can be made to Hospice of the Valley

Need help writing an obituary?

We have articles that will help guide you through the process.

Deadline for obituaries is Friday at 5pm for Wednesday. All obituaries will be approved by our staff prior to being activated. Be aware there may be early deadlines around holidays.

Call 480-898-6465 Mon-Fri 8:30-5 if you have questions.

Visit: obituaries.Ahwatukee.com

Ahwatukee Foothills News

1620 W. Fountainhead Parkway #219 Tempe, AZ 85282 • 480.898.6465 class@timespublications.com Deadlines

Classifieds: Friday 3pm for Wednesday Life Events: Friday 10am for Wednesday

Employment

Announcements

Merchandise

Employment General

Prayer Announcements

Pets/Services/Livestock

Renesas Electronics America, in Tempe, AZ is in need of: Anlg Engr (job#VJ0409) Perf des, sim, & lyt of indus-leadng hi-perf timng prdcts. Refer to job#. Apply: us-hr-staffing@dm.renesas.com

MIRACLE PRAYER

POOL MONITORS needed:

See MORE Ads Online!

www.Ahwatukee.com

IMMEDIATE OPENINGS

MAAX Spas is hiring

Special Pricing on Extended Service Licensed/Bonded/Insured Ahwatukee Resident

Call Eleanor Today!

480.287.4897

www.WhileYouAreAwayServices.com Dear Sacred Heart of Jesus, in the past I have asked for many favours, this time I ask You this special one (mention favour).

Take it dear Heart of Jesus and place it in your own broken heart, where our Father sees it, then in His merciful eyes it will become Your favour, not mine. Amen.

Say this prayer for 3 days and promise publication and the favour will be granted no matter how impossible.

Never known to fail. XX

Generous Pay

You will find them easy with their yellow background.

v

v

Paid Vacation v

Paid Sick Time 401K

Apply online at maaxspas.com or call 480-895-4575

Real Estate for Sale Homes For Sale

Pete Meier

Need More Houses to Sell! Call Pete!

Call us for a FREE Consultation

Associate Broker, CRS, GRI

602-690-3361

Full Time Benefits

Pet, Home & Property Checks

Reasonable Rates

Watch for Garage Sales in Classifieds!

v

While Your’ Away Services Voted one of the “Best of Ahwatukee” 10 Years Running!

Must be able to work May 21th thru September 13, 2021, Mon-Fri and/or Sat-Sun. Hours from either 9am to 3pm, or 3pm to 9pm.

Shifts may vary. Uniform provided.

Must be 18 years or older & drug free.

Basic CPR & First Aid Training provided.

Accepting applications until April 19, 2021 Contact MPRHOA for application, 15425 S. 40th Place. #4. 480-704-5000 (West of Fire Station & North off Chandler Blvd near 40th Street.)

v

CLASSIFIEDS 480-898-6465 class@timespublications.com

41

Garage Sale Fri & Sat 7a-11am Household, clothes, kitchen items, furniture, electronics, mason jars, kid items, DVDs, MORE 555 W. Lane Dr Mesa

Only $25 includes up to 1 week online To place an ad please call:

480-898-6465

class@timespublications.com

SOLD

SOLD

$285,000 $275,000 Much sought after townhome 2 split Master bedrooms, 2 ba, 3c gar, glass enclosed in Tuscany Courts in Arizona room 16x16, great Ahwatukee 2br/2.5 Baths 2 gar. Gently lived in. This is not room, fireplaces, low maint. landscaping. Near Multiin the 55+ neighborhood!

Million $ Rec center, shopping.

Near community pool.

SOLD $325,000 3br/2ba/2gar excellent location backing to lush greenbelt lot, 2,294 sq ft his and her home offices. Western décor. Mature landscaping. Near shopping and multi-million $ rec center, single level in 55+ community.

SOLD $335,000 55+ Popular Pueblo flr plan 3BR / 2BA / 2 GAR. Great location near Multi Mil $ Rec Center and Shopping.

Mature citrus.

petemeier.com

Call for a FREE Home Value Analysis

CLASSIFIEDS

AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS | APRIL 28, 2021

Air Conditioning/Heating PROMOTION

REBATES UP TO

SPRING TUNE-UP $ 69 SPECIAL! REG. $99.

500

$

Air Conditioning/Heating

Carpet Cleaning

Garage/Doors

QUALITY, VALUE and a GREAT PRICE!

CARPET & UPHOLSTERY STEAM CLEANING

GARAGE DOOR SERVICE

Lifetime Warranty on Workmanship HVAC Tune Up - $129 New 3-Ton AC Units - now $3,995 New Trane Air Conditioners NO INTEREST FINANCING - 60 MONTHS!

‘A’ RATED AC REPAIR FREE ESTIMATE SAME DAY SERVICE

Trane systems are put through the harshest testing imaginable — all so they can run through anything.

And now, you can get rebates up to $500.* We never stop finding ways to bring you products that never stop.

Includes a 16-Point Inspection. LIMITED TIME ONLY. RESIDENTIAL ONLY brewers www.brewerers.com

*See your independent participating Trane Dealer for complete program eligibility, dates, details and restrictions. Rebates up to $500 valid on Qualifying Equipment only. Offers vary by equipment. All sales must be to homeowners in the United States. Void where prohibited.

Offer expires 5/31/2020.

LIC NO. 123456

480-405-7588

ItsJustPlumbSmart.com

BIG SAVINGS GREAT FINANCING

CHOOSE OR BETWEEN TWO OFFERS A SYSTEM MUST INCLUDE A QUALIFYING OUTDOOR UNIT, INDOOR UNIT AND TRANE CONTROL

480-725-7303 www.BrewersAC.com SINCE 1982 ROC #C39-312643

MORE CLASSIFIED ADS ONLINE! www.Ahwatukee.com

Air Duct Cleaning

Air Duct Cleaning & Dryer Vents

BY JOHN

★ 30+ Years HVAC Experience ★ Disinfected & Sanitized With Every Job

(480) 912-0881 – Licensed & Insured

Air Conditioning/Heating

Nights/Weekends Bonded/Insured 480-251-8610

furniture moving moving furniture furniture moving pre-spotting pre-spotting pre-spotting deodOrizer deodOrizer deodOrizer

$

Not a licensed contractor

Glass/Mirror

2 rooms rooms 22free rooms free hall hall

39 free hall

Bonded/Insured • ROC #289252

(480) 898-7909

YOUR HOMETOWN AIR CONDITIONING SPECIALIST FREE Service Call With Repair FREE Second Opinion ★ FREE Estimate

Broken Springs Replaced

$

UNSTOPPABLE SOLUTIONS. UNBELIEVABLE DEALS.

East Valley/ Ahwatukee

FREE FREE FREE

42

$

5 rooms rooms 55FREE rooms FREE HALL HALL

79 FREE HALL

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sofa && sofa sofa & loveseAT loveseAT loveseAT Free chair Free chair Free chair

No hidden hidden charges. charges.

No Senior and No hidden charges.

Senior and veteran discounts.

Senior and veteran discounts. veteran discounts.

FREE ESTIMATES ESTIMATES FREE FREE ESTIMATES 480.773.4700

480.773.4700 480.773.4700

YOUR CLASSIFIED SOURCE

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CLASS@TIMESPUBLICATIONS.COM

GLASS, MIRRORS, SHOWER DOORS

Family Owned with 50 years' EXPERIENCE. Shower and tub enclosures, Framed, Frameless or Custom Doors, We also install insulated glass, mirrored closet doors, window glass, mirrors, patio doors, glass table protectors. If it’s glass, we can help you. QUALITY SERVICE at Competitive Prices.

FREE Estimates

WESLEY'S GLASS & MIRROR wesleysglass.com SERVICING THE ENTIRE VALLEY Call 480-306-5113

Appliance Repairs

Appliance Repair Now

If It’s Broken, We Can Fix It! • Same Day Service • On-Site Repairs • Servicing All Major Brands • Quality Guaranteed

We Also Buy, Sell & Trade Used Appliances Working or Not

480-659-1400 Licensed & Insured Place YOUR Business HERE! in the Service Directory

Call for our 3 Month Special!

Starting at $145.20/month Classifieds: 480-898-6465

Carpet Cleaning

Family owned and proudly serving Ahwatukee for over 20 years.

Powerful Truck Mounted Soft Hot Water Extractions.

Carpets, Tile & Grout, Upholstery, Pet Stain/Odor Treatment Residential/Commercial www.extractioncleaning.com 100% Satisfaction Guarantee!

480.460.5030 Cleaning Services

JB's House Cleaning Reliable with references, 16 yrs of exp in the Ahwatukee area, and ecofriendly products.

Owners and helper only.

Janeth Bailey 480 330 7579

Concrete & Masonry

Block Fence * Gates

602-789-6929 Roc #057163 Lowest Prices * 30 Yrs Exp Serving Entire Valley

YOU’LL LIKE US - THE BEST!

Contractors

CLASSIFIEDS

APRIL 28, 2021 | AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS Marks the Spot for ALL Your Handyman Needs!

Painting • Flooring • Electrical Handyman Plumbing • Drywall • Carpentry Decks • Tile • More!

Drywall

★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

★ Room Additions ★ Water Damage ★ Popcorn Removal ★ Residential/Commercial ★ Interior/Exterior Painting

Marks the Spot for ALL Your Handyman Needs!

Marks the Spot for ALL•Your Handyman Needs! ✔ Painting Painting Flooring • Electrical “No Job Too ✔Small Flooring • Flooring • Electrical • Drywall • Carpentry ★ ★ Painting ★ ★ ★Plumbing Man!” Plumbing • Drywall • Carpentry ✔ Electrical Decks • Tile • More!

1999 e Sinc k Wor Quality Decks •Affo Tile • More! rdable, ✔ Plumbing 2010, 2011 2012, 2013, 2014 Call Bruce at 602.670.7038 ✔ Drywall Ahwatukee Resident/ References/ Insured/ Not a Licensed Contractor “No Job ✔ Carpentry Too Small Marks the Spot for“No Job Too ALL Your Handyman Needs! ✔ Decks Painting • Flooring • Electrical Small Man!” “No Job Too Man!” ✔ Tile Plumbing • Drywall • Carpentry

Small Man!” Decks • Tile • More! ✔ Kitchens Since 1999 rk Wo y alit Qu e, abl Afford ✔ Bathrooms BSMALLMAN@Q.COM 2010, 2011 9 rk Since 199 2012, “No 2013, Job Too Affordable, Quality Wo And More!

2010, 2011 Small Man!” 2014 Call Bruce at 602.670.7038

★ Ahwatukee Resident ★ Call Bruce at 602.670.7038 2012, 2013, Call 480-200-0043 2014 References/ Insured/ NotResident a Licensed Contractor Ahwatukee / References Call Ahwatukee BruceResident/ at 602.670.7038 ty Work Since 1999 Affordable, Quali

Ahwatukee Resident/ References/ Insured/ Not a Licensed Contractor Insured / Not aCall Licensed Contractor Bruce at 602.670.7038

ROC# 262737

2010, 2011 2012, 2013, 2014

Ahwatukee Resident/ References/ Insured/ Not a Licensed Contractor

CALL DOUG

480.201.5013

THE HANDYMAN THAT HANDLES SMALL JOBS THAT OTHERS DECLINE ✔ Painting ✔ Gate Restoration ✔ Lighting ✔ Plumbing Repairs ✔ Replace Cracked ✔ Sheetrock Roof Tiles Texturing Repairs ✔ & MUCH MORE!

HONESTY • INTEGRITY • QUALITY

ALL RESIDENTIAL & COMMERCIAL ELECTRICAL Call Jim Endres 480.282.7932 Over 28 Years Experience • ROC #246019 Bonded/Insured

C. READ & SON ELECTRIC Ahwatukee Resident

 Electric Car Chargers for ALL your  Fans electrical needs  Lighting 41 years  Troubleshooting  And much more experience

Foothills Touch Landscapes LLC Lawn care/Maint.

REMODEL CONTRACTOR

Plans / Additions, Patios New Doors, Windows Lowest Price in Town!

R. Child Lic#216115, Class BO3 Bonded-Insured-Ref's

Starting as low as

SPEND A LITTLE…

MAKE A LOT!

480-215-3373

Irrigation

Ahwatukee Resident, References Available, Insured

*Not A Licensed Contractor

FREE Estimates!

NTY

5-YEAR WARRA

480.654.5600 azirrigation.com Cutting Edge LLC • ROC 281671

Call 480-898-6465

SH

ALL YOU NEED IS A PU

Electrical Paint Tile

Able Handyman Service LLC

And Much, Much More!

Not a licensed

contractor Jim 480.593.0506 Ablehandyman2009@gmail.com

CLASS@TIMESPUBLICATIONS.COM

Landscape Design/Installation Irrigation Systems & Outdoor Lighting Fountain Repair C - Caring alls Repairs & Instuse.

D - Dedicated for long term S - Service No Yard

LANDSCAPING

.

Maintenance

• Spring Hrs: M-F 8-4; Sat 9-2; • Summer Hrs: M-Sat 7-11 • You Pay Labor & Materials Only • ROC#312942 • David R Smith

Plumbing

Text or Email Only

480-580-4419

Sprinkler & Drip Systems

david@swo-of-artworks.com

Repairs • Modifications • Installs

Jaden Sydney Associates.com

Serving the Valley for over 28 years

The Possibilities are Endless

Visit our website!

Landlord and Homeowner Property Services

Custom Design and Renovation turning old to new

AND so much more!

Ahwatukee Resident

480.335.4180 Not a licensed contractor.

• 20 Years Experience • 6 Year Warranty

480.345.1800

Call Sean Haley 602-574-3354 ROC#277978 • Licensed/Bonded/Insured

MISSED THE DEADLINE? Place your ad online!

480.898.6465 • Sprinkler/Drip Repairs • New Installs Poly/PVC • Same Day Service

Repairs • Drywall • Painting • BINSR Items Trash Removal • HOA Compliance

Residential Electrician

TREE

TRIMMING

Not a licensed contractor

www.readelectricaz.com

480-940-6400

Juan Hernandez

25 Years exp (480) 720-3840

Ahw. Res - 30 yrs Exp Free Estimates.

Call Pat (480) 343-0562

2008 through 2019

ROC #158440 Bond/Insured

$25 per visit.

Install/Design We do it all!

HOME REPAIR SERVICES

Electrical Services

• Serving Arizona Since 2005 •

Landscape/Maintenance

MALDONADO

Your Ad can go ONLINE ANY Day! Call to place your ad online!

Classifieds 480-898-6465

• Panel Changes and Repairs • Installation of Ceiling Fans • Switches/Outlets • Home Remodel

Home Improvement

43

ROC 304267 • Licensed & Bonded

Custom Built-ins, BBQs, Firepits, Fireplaces, Water Features, Re-Designing Pools, Masonry, Lighting, Tile, Flagstone, Pavers, Culture Stone & Travertine, Synthetic Turf, Sprinkler/Drip, Irrigation Systems, Clean ups & Hauling

Call for a FREE consultation and Estimate To learn more about us, view our photo gallery at: ShadeTreeLandscapes.com

480-730-1074

Bonded/Insured/Licensed • ROC #225923

CLASSIFIEDS

44

AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS | APRIL 28, 2021

Landscape/Maintenance

Landscape/Maintenance

Landscape/Maintenance

Complete Lawn Service & Weed Control

Lani's Desert Landscaping

WANT A GREEN LAWN?

Starting @ $60/Month!

• One Month Free Service • Licensed, Bonded Insured for your protection.

• Call or Text for a Free Quote

kjelandscape.com • ROC#281191

480-586-8445

JR’S LANDSCAPING GRAVEL • PAVERS TRIM TREES ALL TYPES SPRINKLER SYSTEMS SYNTHETIC GRASS COMPLETE CLEAN UPS

Not a licensed contractor

HIGH QUALITY RESULTS

Comm'l & Residential Female Owned & Operated!

Weekly, BiWeekly, Monthly

Call Lani (623)755-0452 Arizona Specialty Landscape

SPRINKLER DOCTOR Repairs - Installs - Modifications Timers/Valves/Sprinklers DRIP-PVC-COPPER Backflows & Regulators LANDSCAPE LIGHTING

25 years Experience & Insured Not a licensed contractor.

theplugman.com

PROFESSIONAL PAINTING Interior, Exterior House Painting.

Stucco Patching.

Gate/Front Door Refinishing.

Quality work/Materials Free Estimate Ignacio 480-961-5093 / 602-571-9015 ROC #189850 Bond/Ins’d

FREE ORGANIC LAWN FERTILIZATION TREATMENT WITH CORE AERATION FERTILIZATION • SOIL AMENDMENTS • LAWN SOIL TESTING

CONKLIN PAINTING

480-940-8196

ROC 282663 * BONDED * INSURED YOUR LAWN EXPERT SINCE 1995

TRIM TREES ALL TYPES GRAVEL - PAVERS SPRINKLER SYSTEMS

Affordable | Paver Specialists All phases of landscape installation.

Plants, cacti, sod, sprinklers, granite, concrete, brick, Kool-deck, lighting and more!

Complete Clean Ups

Jose Martinez

Free Estimates 7 Days a Week!

Specials

Lawn Mowing Starts At $40 Full Service Starts At $70 15 Yrs Exp! All English Speaking Crew +

SONORAN LAWN

480-745-5230

Get Your Lawn Ready For Spring!

RAMON LANDSCAPING SERVICES I could help you have your palm trees and other trees trimmed by giving you a reasonable and better price than the others.

Irrigation Repair & New Installation Yard Clean-ups • Storm Damage • Palm & Tree Trimming Tree Removal • Landscape Lighting Installation & Repair Landscape Design

Responsible • 100% Guaranteed Ask for Ramon

Not a Licensed Contractor

480-217-0407

class@times publications.com

Irrigation Repair Services Inc.

480.721.4146 www.irsaz.com

ROC# 256752

Meetings/Events?

Get Free notices in the Classifieds!

Submit to ecota@timespublications.com

ConklinPainting.com Lic/Bond/Ins ROC# 270450

“We get your house looking top notch!” ★ Interior/Exterior Painting ★ Drywall Repair & Installation ★ Popcorn Ceiling Removal

★ Elastomaric Roof Coating ★ Epoxy Floors ★ Small Job Specialist

Scott Mewborn, Owner 480-818-1789 License #ROC 298736

East Valley PAINTERS Voted #1

Painting

Paint Interior & Exterior • Drywall Repair Light Carpentry • Power Washing • Textures Matched Popcorn Removal • Pool Deck Coatings Garage Floor Coatings • Color Consulting

HOME IMPROVEMENT & PAINTING

We Beat Competitors Prices & Quality

Licensed • Bonded • Insured

CALL US TODAY!

480-888-5895

602.515.2767

CLASSIFIEDS 480-898-6465

Specializing in Controllers, Valves, Sprinklers, Landscape Lighting, P.V.C. & Poly Drip Systems

Interior Painting ● Pressure Washing Exterior Painting ● Drywall/Stucco Repair Complete Prep Work ● Wallpaper Removal

Not a licensed contractor.

ROC# 186443 • BONDED

480.844.9765

Free Estimate & Color Consultation

High Quality Results

New & Re-Do Design and Installation

480.690.6081

Painting

Interior/Exterior Painting 30 YEARS EXPERIENCE Dunn Edwards Quality Paint Small Stucco/Drywall Repairs

We Are State Licensed and Reliable!

Free Estimates • Senior Discounts

480-338-4011

10% OFF

Free Estimates!

Home of the 10-Year Warranty!

480-688-4770

www.eastvalleypainters.com Family Owned & Operated

ROC#309706

Bonded/Insured • ROC#153131

Now Accepting all major credit cards

CLASSIFIEDS

APRIL 28, 2021 | AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS

Plumbing

Painting

PAINTING INC.

affinityplumber@gmail.com

Serving Ahwatukee Since 1987 Interior / Exterior

???

AHWATUKEE SPECIAL $

www.affinityplumbingaz.com

• High Quality Materials & Workmanship • Customer Satisfaction Free Est imates • Countless References • Carpentry Services Now Available

Filter Cleaning!

*Any

Looking To Freshen Up Your Home?

WE CAN HELP!

Water Heaters

24/7

Inside & Out Leaks

Bonded

Toilets

Insured

Faucets

Estimates Availabler

Disposals

$35 off

Any Service

Residential & Commercial Painting

PLUMBERS CHARGE TOO MUCH!

• Interior & Exterior • Professional Cabinet Refinishing • Epoxy Floors & Concrete Coatings • In-Home Color Consultations “Professional, Punctual & Clean”

Veteran Owned

Beat Any Price By 10% • Lifetime Warranty Water Heaters Installed - $799 Unclog Drains - $49 FREE RO UNIT w/Any WATER SOFTENER INSTALL NO INTEREST FINANCING - 60 Months!!

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Bonded/Insured • ROC #223709

480-405-7099 ItsJustPlumbSmart.com

FREE ESTIMATES • CALL TODAY!

(480)785-6323

class@times publications.com

See our Before’s and After’s on Facebook

or Call 480

Pool Service / Repair

Juan Hernandez

Pavers • Concrete • Water Features • Sprinkler Repair

PPebbleOcracking, O L Plaster R Epeeling, P ARebar IR

Family Operated by 3 Generations of Roofers! We have a “Spencer” on every job and every step of the way.

showing, Pool Light out? I CAN HELP!

FALL SPECIAL! $500 OFF COMPLETE REMODEL! 25 Years Experience • Dependable & Reliable

Call Juan at

480-720-3840 Not a licensed contractor.

MARK’S POOL SERVICE

480-446-7663 Ahwatukee’s Premier Tile, Shingle & Foam Roofer!

Play Pools start at

$85/month with chemicals

Mark

CPO#85-185793

Plumbing

SERVICE • REPAIR • REPLACEMENT

$35.00 Off Any Service Call Today!

AHWATUKEE’S #1 PLUMBER Licensed • Bonded • Insured

704.5422

(480)

FREE Estimates • Credit Cards OK www.spencer4hireroofing.com ROC#244850 | Insured | Bonded

602-799-0147

PLUMBING A+ RATED

898-6465

Roofing

Ask About Filter Cleaning Specials!

Plumbing

ROC # 272721

www.barefootpoolman.com

Licensed, Bonded & Insured ROC# 272001

Owner Operated - 20 Years

www.ACPpaintingllc.com Licensed - Bonded - Insured ROC 290242

Email Your Job Post to:

602-546-POOL 7 6 6 5

Not a licensed contractor

Family Owned • Free Estimates

Proudly Serving Ahwatukee for 15 Years!

Family Owned & Operated

Monthly Service & Repairs Available

Anything Plumbing Same Day Service

602.625.0599 ROC #155380

People are looking in the Classifieds Every day!

$25 OFF

Off 40work done

Your Ahwatukee Plumber & East Valley Neighbor

Visit us at Suntechpaintingaz.com or view our video promo at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GM5pbvpZJlg

We Repair or Install

Pool Service / Repair

Plumbing

Affinity Plumbing LLC 480-487-5541

SUN TECH

45

We offer personalized service for our customers.

We use the best materials that we can find.

Owned and Operated

by Rod Lampert Ahwatukee Resident Serving Ahwatukee for over 25 years

Our services include: Sinks, Toilets, Faucets, Water Heaters, Garbage Disposal, Drain Cleaning, Pressure Reducing Valves, Pressure Vacuum Breakers, Hot Water Circulation Systems, Main Service Valves and Hose Taps.

(480)

279-4155

Licensed • Bonded • Insured • ROC 189848

46

CLASSIFIEDS

AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS | APRIL 28, 2021

Roofing

Roofing

TILE ROOFING SPECIALISTS

Flat and Foam Roof Experts!

480-699-2754 • info@monsoonroofinginc.com

10% Discount for Ahwatukee Residents 100% NO Leak Guarantee Re-Roof & Roofing Repairs Tile, Shingles & Flat Roof

desertsandscontracting.com FLAT ROOFS | SHINGLES | TEAR OFFS | NEW ROOFS | REPAIRS TILE UNDERLAYMENT | TILE REPAIR | LEADERS | COPPER ALUMINUM COATINGS | GUTTERS | SKYLIGHTS

10% OFF COMPLETE UNDERLAYMENT Commercial & Residential Family Owned & Operated

MonsoonRoofingInc.com

AZROC #283571 | CONTRACTOR LIC. AZROC #312804 CLASS CR4 | FULLY INSURED

Licensed – Bonded – Insured – ROC187561

Roofing

Over 30 Years of Experience Family Operated by 3 Generations of Roofers!

Spencer 4 HIRE ROOFING Valley Wide Service

480-446-7663

FREE ESTIMATES 602-736-3019 30 Years Roofing Experience

JILEK ROOFING, LLC

New Roof Installation & Roof Repair Specialist

Tiles, shingles, flat, repairs & new work Free Estimates • Ahwatukee Resident

Cell: 480.417.3689 Office: 480.912.5014 Email: tomjilek60@gmail.com

480-706-1453

Licensed & Insured • Bonded, Res/Com ROC 328854

Over 30 yrs. Experience

Licensed/Bonded/Insured • ROC #236099

Window Cleaning

10% OFF with this ad

Ahwatukee’s Premier Tile, Shingle & Foam Roofer!

Ahwatukee Based Family Owned and Operated Insured • Free Estimates

See our reviews and schedule at:

www.cousinswindowcleaning.com

480-330-2649

You never know what you’ll find inside

FREE Estimates • Credit Cards OK www.spencer4hireroofing.com ROC#244850 | Insured | Bonded

Roofing Family Owned & Operated for over 30 years

480.898.6465

class@timespublications.com ROC #152111

Quality Repairs & Re-Roofs LICENSED | INSURED | BONDED | ROC #269218

Complimentary & Honest Estimates

*on qualifying complete roof replacements

Call our office today!

$1000 OFF when you show this ad

480-460-7602 Ask us about our discount for all Military and First Responders!

www.porterroofinginc.com

Call for your FRE E roof evaluation today www.InExRoofin g.com | 602-938-7575

Meetings/Events?

Get Free notices in the Classifieds!

Submit to ecota@timespublications.com

SHARE WITH THE WORLD! Place a Birth, Anniversary, Wedding Announcement, In Memoriam, Obituary or any life event in this paper today!

Call us for details.

Licensed, Bonded, Insured

Sell Your Stuff!

Call Classifieds Today!

480.898.6465

CLASS@TIMESPUBLICATIONS.COM

class@timespublications.com or call 480-898-6465

CLASSIFIEDS

APRIL 28, 2021 | AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS

palmabrisa.com

NOW SELLING

A new gated resort community is now selling in the Ahwatukee Foothills with a dramatically different style. It feels exclusive, but also lively and exciting — and it's called Palma Brisa.

• Modern resort-style gated community with stately palms

• Diverse architecture: Modern Bungalow, Urban Farmhouse, Italian Cottage, Andalusian, Modern Craftsman, French Country, and Spanish Mission • Four amenity areas connected by expansive lawns

• Homes from 1,700 sq. ft. to 4,000 sq. ft. from the $500’s

ERIC WILLIAMS

480-641-1800

TERRY LENTS

© Copyright 2021 Blandford Homes, LLC. No offer to sell or lease may be made prior to issuance of Final Arizona Subdivision Public Report.

Offer, terms, and availability subject to change without prior notice. Renderings are artist’s conceptions and remain subject to modification without notice.

47

CLASSIFIEDS

48

AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS | APRIL 28, 2021

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MESA SHOWROOM & CLEARANCE CENTER 115 W. First Ave. | 480-833-3072 AHWATUKEE 4601 E. Ray Rd. | Phoenix | 480-777-7103 ARROWHEAD RANCH 7346 W. Bell Road | 623-487-7700 GILBERT Santan Village | 2711 S. Santan Village Pkwy | 480-366-3900 GLENDALE 10220 N. 43rd Ave | (602) 504-2122 GOODYEAR 1707 N. Litchfield Rd | 623-930-0770 RECONDITION CENTER 160 EAST BROADWAY | 480-615-1763 SCOTTSDALE 14202 N. Scottsdale Rd. | 480-991-7200 SCOTTSDALE/PHOENIX 13820 N. Tatum Blvd. | (602) 494-0100 NOW OPEN - MESA 5141 S. Power Rd. | 480-988-1917

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SE S IN HOU SPENCER T PLANS PAYMEN BLE AVAILA Due to current circumstances, some items may be out of stock.