AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS, JULY 6, 2022 by Times Media Group

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Wednesday, July 6, 2022

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No fire station likely anytime soon for SW Ahwatukee

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BY PAUL MARYNIAK AFN Executive Editor

NEWS................................. 3 Early voting for the Aug 6 Primary Election begins tomorrow and LD12 has two big contests

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estern Ahwatukee is a high priority for a new fire station, but its construction may depend heavily on whether it makes the cut for the $500 million bond issue the city hopes to put before voters next March, according to a presentation June 27 by a top city Fire Department official who addressed the Ahwatukee Foothills Village Planning Committee.

“There are definitely plans,” said Executive Assistant Fire Chief Scott Walker, calling the need for a new fire station “certainly sensitive to the community” and conceding that a portion of southwestern Ahwatukee is outside the four-minute response time his department tries to maintain as its ideal standard for most Phoenix neighborhoods. But Walker conceded, “To be perfectly honest, we’re not going to have a fire station down there in the next three years.” And if the project does not get on the 2023

bond project list, simple math may dictate an even longer wait for a fire station, Walker said, because the only other alternative might be revenue from impact fees that a developer must pay for each new home that is built. “We have about $150,000 in the (impact fee) account today that we could use to offset to build a station,” he said. “The reality is we probably need about $9 million, maybe $10 million to build and buy

see FIRE page 22

Federal probe of Another school, another wall 33 Phoenix PD costs $1.9M so far

A new build-your-own juice purveyor has opened in Ahwatukee.

BY PAUL MARYNIAK AFN Executive Editor

REAL ESTATE ....RE1 The Valley housing market is hurtling to a condition not seen in several years.

SPORTS....................... 40 A new training program could inject new track-andfield talent into Ahwatukee high schools.

he city so far has spent $1.9 million on its efforts to cooperate with the U.S. Justice Department civil investigation into Phoenix Police. The bulk of that expense up to now has involved the $1.35 million in salaries paid to the nine fulltime employees who have been assigned to gather materials requested by the Justice Department since it began its investigation Aug. 5, according to a memo that City Manager Jeffrey Barton and the city Law Department sent City Council on June 30. The investigation is focusing on five broad areas of police conduct: whether the department uses excessive force, including deadly

see POLICE page 5

Artist Suzanne Whitaker, left, celebrates with Kyrene de la Esperanza Principal Carolyn Payne, center, and librarian Debbie Rhodes the completion of a mural in the school library that made the school the 10th Kyrene campus where the Ahwatukee muralist’s work brings some cheer and a message for students and staff alike. For the story, see page 28. (David Minton/AFN Staff Photographer)

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AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS | JULY 6, 2022

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AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS | JULY 6, 2022

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

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Early voting begins in 2 heated LD12 contests BY PAUL MARYNIAK AFN Executive Editor

arly voting is scheduled to begin tomorrow, July 6, for a primary election that may hold a bit more suspense for Republicans but has something for registered voters in both parties in the legislative district that includes Ahwatukee and northern Chandler. Along with top-of-the-ticket races for nominations for governor, U.S. Senate and all major state offices, LD12 features a battle between two Ahwatukee residents for the Republican nomination for the state Senate seat and a spirited five-way Democratic contests involving three Ahwatukee residents and two Chandler residents for the two House seat nominations. Those district races in the Aug. 2 Primary Election come against a backdrop of GOP efforts to crack allblue LD12 come the Nov. 8 General Election. As in the past six years of Democratic dominance of what used to be LD18 before last year’s decennial redistricting, voters not registered with either major party likely will make the difference in November. Current data from the Maricopa County Recorder’s Office shows that in LD12, registered Democrats total 51,536 while Republicans total 45,540. But there also are 51,860 people registered as Independents or with a party other than Democrat, Republican or Libertarian. Libertarians comprise a mere 1,322 voters in LD12, according to the County recorder. It’s too late for anyone who wanted to register to vote in the Aug. 2 Primary. The deadline was yesterday, July 5. But anyone who wants to sign up for a mail-in ballot – which has so far survived the Arizona Republican Committee’s attempt to abolish it – can still do so. They have until July 22 to request a mail in ballot. Independents can vote in the Primary if they request a Democratic or Republican ballot. Go to recorder.maricopa. gov/elections. Here’s how the Primary Election races in LD 12 shape up.

Uncontested races

There is no contest in the Republican House or Democratic Senate primary races in LD 12 next month, although new faces are a certainty no matter what the outcome in November. That’s because state Sen. Sean Bowie and state Rep. Jennifer Jermaine both decided against seeking reelection. Democratic State Rep. Mitzi Epstein, a Tempe businesswoman who has served three terms in the House, is now hoping to succeed Bowie in the Senate. The two Republicans who are eyeing the LD House seats are Terry Roe, who is termed out of Chandler City Council after serving eight years, and Chandler CPA Jim Chaston.

see PRIMARY page 12

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AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS | JULY 6, 2022

Kathleen A. Nielsen ATTORNEY AT LAW

♦Trusts ♦ Wills ♦ Probate ♦ Family Law ♦ Divorce Former Phoenix City Manager Ed Zuercher and Phoenix Police Chief Geri Williams welcomed the Justice Department’s announcement of the probe last August. (AFN file photo)

POLICE from page 1

force; whether it engages in discriminatory practices; whether it retaliates against protestors or demonstrators; how it deals with behavioral health issues on calls with people in mental crisis; and whether it violates the rights of unsheltered people by confiscating their belongings. It is unclear if the deadly force investigation includes the May 2020 shooting death of Ryan Whitaker in the doorway of his Ahwatukee condominium that occurred after two officers answered a domestic disturbance call that turned out to be woefully exaggerated by the neveridentified caller, partly after a 911 operator told him how to get police to respond more quickly. The city settled a lawsuit filed by Whitaker’s family, agreeing to pay $3 million. The County Attorney declined to file charges against the cop who fired the two fatal shots in Whitaker’s back and while that officer was fired by the department, he was ordered reinstated by an independent review board. Although Barton sent the memo to Council the day before its last meeting prior to its summer break, it was not brought up for discussion. In his memo, Barton also suggested that the cost of compliance may be only the tip of the iceberg for taxpayers in light of other similar Justice Department investigations in other cities launched under the Obama administration. The memo indicates that city staff have been cooperating with federal investigators in a variety of ways, including complying with two requests for documents. To comply with those requests, the city

provided 80,931 documents totaling close to 1.1 million pages. The nature of those documents was not disclosed. Additionally, the city facilitated visits from Justice Department investigators in April and May that involved precinct tours, interviews with police and civilian personnel, ride-alongs and 14 panel interviews with three to six city employees at a time, according to the memo. Investigators also observed police academy classes and the city has devoted personnel to maintaining a web page to provide citizens with an update on the Justice Department probe. That web page is phoenix.gov/police/doj. The city also hired Steptoe LLC as outside counsel to provide legal services and a Louisiana consultant named Danny Murphy to provide other advice. According to his LinkedIn profile, Murphy “leads police reform initiatives and the implementation of an extensive federal consent decree at the Baltimore Police Department” and “formerly oversaw the implementation of the New Orleans Police Department’s consent decree.” Steptoe so far has charged taxpayers $57,258 for its services while Murphy has cost $3,200. In addition, the city spent $10,500 to train city personnel on the use of a digital tool to find and retrieve documents and $350,000 on document review contracts with Business Intelligence Associates, Inc. and QuisLex Inc. for three years. Those contracts were part of the consent agenda approved by City Council July 1 without discussion. According to a separate memo to Council, “These contracts will provide document

see POLICE page 6

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AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS | JULY 6, 2022

POLICE from page 5

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review legal services to assist the Law Department with high-volume document review projects, especially related to the Department of Justice investigation, that involve analysis and sorting of legally privileged and/or confidential information. “These services are critical to allow the Law Department to timely and efficiently comply with document requests while ensuring that privileged, confidential, and otherwise protected information is properly identified and secured,” the memo stated. As perhaps a warning to council that taxpayers’ expenses for the Justice Department probe had only just begun, the city administration summarized the cost of seven similar federal probes into large metropolitan police departments that have occurred since 2012. The report not only looked at the cost of cooperating with investigators but also how much the city is spending to monitor compliance with consent decrees that were worked out between the municipalities and the Justice Department. Among those federal investigations is Baltimore, Maryland, where city police were under the microscope from May 2015-August 2016 for excessive force, investigation of rape cases, community engagement and unconstitutional stops and arrests. Baltimore incurred $10.5 million in investigation costs and has budgeted $38.6 million this year alone for its compliance bureau. Another costly investigation involved Chicago, where an ongoing federal probe into excessive force and discriminatory policing practices that started in 2015 and so far has cost $25.7 million. Barton’s review of the seven police probes also shows that it’s not just large city police departments that can run up high costs during a federal probe. Albuquerque, New Mexico, so far has spent $25 million on an investigation into excessive force and responses to people in mental crisis that has been ongoing for eight years, according to Barton. Even more expensive is a probe into the Newark, New Jersey, Police Department hat is entering the seventh year of a probe into accusations of excessive force, unconstitutional stops and arrests and discriminatory policing. That investigation has cost $8 million a year for the last seven years, the memo stated.

By far the most expensive federal probe has involved Seattle, Washington, where an investigation that began in 2011 cost $100 million for the first eight years is now costing another $7.9 million annually. But a portion of a memo by Seattle officials that was included in Barton’s memo said this involved the implementation of new technology that shows “this investment was worthwhile.” Cleveland PD also has run up a tab for taxpayers since the Justice Department began probing excessive force complaints in 2013. Initial costs were $11 million in 2015 and the ongoing probe since then has cost $11 million a year with no end in sight. The seventh city listed in Barton’s memo is New Orleans, where the Justice Department is probing accusations of excessive force, unconstitutional stops and arrests and faulty handling of rape and domestic violence cases. That probe cost an estimated $7 million from 2012 to 2020 and is costing $2 million a year for monitoring compliance with a consent decree. The status of the Justice Department probe of Phoenix Police is unclear, although outgoing Police Chief Geri Williams and other city administration and council officials welcomed it when the Biden administration announced the probe. In August, the Justice Department said it also “will include a comprehensive review of PhxPD policies, training, supervision, and force investigations, as well as PhxPD’s systems of accountability, including misconduct complaint intake, investigation, review, disposition, and discipline.” Attorney General Merrick Garland said, “When we conduct pattern or practice investigations to determine whether the Constitution or federal law has been violated, our aim is to promote transparency and accountability. This increases public trust, which in turn increases public safety. We know that law enforcement shares these goals.” Added Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke: “One of the highest priorities of the Civil Rights Division is to ensure that every person in this country benefits from policing that is lawful, effective, transparent, and free from discrimination. Police officers across the country must use their authority in a manner that adheres to the Constitution, complies with federal civil rights laws and respects human dignity.” The investigation is being conducted

see POLICE page 23

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AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS | JULY 6, 2022

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hoenix officials last week said they’re doing their part to shore up the plummeting water level in Lake Mead by leaving 14,000 acre feet of Colorado River water there and looking for alternative sources. The city could get as much as $7.8 million in return to the action, which is part of the so-called 500+ Plan. The plan involves pledges by Arizona, California, Nevada and the federal government to conserve an extra 500,000 acre feet or more through 2026 to try and save shrinking Lake Mead through a variety of strategies. However, since time when the plan was agreed to, California has recently declared it cannot meet its 2022 contribution. Phoenix City Council’s approval of the measure on July 1 came within days after a World War II-era Higgins landing craft surfaced. The boat had been 185 feet below the lake’s surface, which has been dropping at a rate that surprised and alarmed federal environmental officials. An acre-foot is the amount of water necessary to flood one acre of land to a depth of one foot and roughly equals 326,000 gallons – the amount used by about 3.5 Arizona homes over a year.

The Gila River Indian Community, Tucson and other communities have also pledged to make contributions to the 500+ Plan. Mayor Kate Gallego thanked GRIC Governor Stephen Roe Lewis for bringing stakeholders together – partly to make up for what California can’t deliver this year. “In this time of extreme drought, it is not easy to convince governments to leave water behind,” she said. “However, I believe we are all acutely focused on what it will take to help Arizona communities thrive for the long term. In Phoenix, that means we make reasonable sacrifices now, to ensure we can continue to welcome people who want to live here, as well as the businesses that want to set up shop here.” Phoenix last month launched the Phase One Water Alter of its water management plan, which calls for intensified efforts to education citizens on the need to conserve water. The city also is undertaking new efforts to conserve water by making water-efficiency improvements at city facilities. The alert does not impose any mandates on households or other water customers.

see WATER page 16

AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS | JULY 6, 2022

Diamondbacks still the best bargain in MLB BY DAVID RODISH Cronkite News

or the 13th year, the Arizona Diamondbacks remain the most affordable fan experience in Major League Baseball. That’s the determination of Team Marketing Report’s 2022 MLB Fan Cost Index, which combines ticket price with other game-day costs, including beer per ounce, parking and hot dogs. The Diamondbacks had the lowest number in the majors with a Fan Cost Index of $152.30. For Arizona sports fan and mom of two, Crys Melton, the affordability makes a big difference in what she and her family are able to do during the summer months. “Especially as season-ticket holders, when my brother brings his herd of children, (the cost is) not a big deal,” Melton said. “After the price of admission, it’s more expensive to go to the movies.” The Meltons have been season-ticket holders for 10 years. Melton purchases the 28-game pass which allows flexibility for game choice and buying souvenirs and

The Arizona Diamondbacks are one of the few MLB ballparks that offer value items, helping them earn the title of “most affordable MLB team” by Team Marketing Report. (Chris Nano/Cronkite News)

food at the ballpark. Despite a 5.6% increase from last year’s mark, Arizona is still the most affordable team in MLB for fans. This comes as “the majority of Major League Baseball clubs have begun ramping up ticket prices,” Chris Hartweg, CEO and Publisher of Team Marketing Report, stated in the report. “In reversal of 2021,

concessions hold (the) line, while tickets fuel (the) increase.” Melton’s work as a non-medical care provider for pregnant women forces her to be on call most of the time. It makes it hard to go to other ballparks. But from the few she has visited and from what her friends who live elsewhere have said, the affordability of Chase Field makes family trips manageable. Diamondbacks CEO Derrick Hall said it’s important that despite new projects like the Caesars Sportsbook at Chase Field, families like the Meltons must not be priced out. “The affordability for us is a point of pride,” Hall said. “When you come to the ballpark, we want to make sure you’re not gouged. We allow people to bring in their own food (and) water. We have familyvalue pricing. We want to make sure that anything we do, it’s still affordable so people have a reason to come back.” The average ticket price around the majors in 2022 sits at $35.93. For Arizona, the average cost is well below at $22.12. The ticket cost is a 3.5% increase, which

NEWS

sits just below the league average of 3.6%. Melton often brings her nieces and nephews to Diamondbacks games, so she experiences the normal ticket price often. It is in those days that she makes sure to take advantage of outside food being allowed. “In a couple of weeks, I’m coming (to Chase Field) with my brother and his five kids,” Melton said. “There’s a zero percent chance of buying food at the ballpark. We will get a ton of McDonald’s nuggets before we go.” Even if she can’t avoid the cost of concessions, Team Marketing Report found that beer per ounce, soft drink per ounce, hot dog, hat and parking costs are all below league averages. “I go to football games and I go to spring training games and I spend way more money at spring training than I do at Chase (Field),” Melton said. The Diamondbacks have dominated the Fan Cost Index, having maintained the least expensive fan experience in MLB

see DIAMONDBACKS page 10

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More women getting into sports gambling, data show BY ALEX AMADO Cronkite News

he image of a typical sports gambler is ever-changing. What was once a man in a smoky casino now includes a woman looking at point spreads on her smartphone. More than 4.6 million U.S. women joined sportsbook betting apps in 2021, with female user rates growing 115% compared to 2020, according to data analysis company GWS. Though the number of male users still exceeds female by 250%, the rate of men using sportsbook betting apps grew by 63% in the same time period. “It doesn’t surprise me that there’s more growth among women just because, historically, there have been fewer women who wagered on sports, so now that they have access to that, it’s natural that the percentage growth is going to be higher than men because the male market was more mature,” said Mike Seely, a sports betting journalist for SportsHandle who has written about the growth. Some sportsbooks have shown so much success in attracting new female users that they have a higher proportion of women than men in its user base. BetRivers, along with its associated New Jersey outlet SugarHouse, saw approximately 600,000 women sign up in 2021, compared to just under 380,000 men. But, it was FanDuel who brought in more new U.S. female users in 2021 than any other sportsbook gambling company, with an estimated 1.7 million women joining since the previous year, GWS reported. FanDuel Sportsbook at Footprint Center, home of the Suns and Mercury, opened up last year when sports betting was legal-

DIAMONDBACKS from page 9

every year since 2009. In the 13 years, the Diamondbacks’ Fan Cost Index has increased $37.88 from $114.42 to the current $152.30. The Boston Red Sox have the most expensive fan experience, with a Fan Cost Index at $385.37. MLB’s average cost is $256.41. Arizona has remained low in cost while rising in performance on the field. After finishing tied for last in the standings with the Baltimore Orioles with a record

ized in Arizona. It’s a place where sports bettors can go to place bets, watch games and buy a drink. Noah Kirk, the general manager of FanDuel Sportsbook at Footprint Center, has seen an uptick in women at his site. “We see more and more female customers almost everyday,” he said. “It seems to be growing in popularity with the female demographic.” This growth isn’t just exclusive to women, as 2021 was the biggest year for sports betting in general, and growth from 2020. “Five years ago, you wouldn’t have seen guys talk about odds, over/unders and spreads on the air,” Seely said. “Now, not only are you seeing that, you’re seeing dedicated sidebar shows by major networks that exclusively deal with sports betting and on those major networks during telecasts, you’re seeing live in-game odds flashed across the bottom of the screen. I mean, that would have been unthinkable not just five years ago, but even a couple years ago.” With increased popularity comes greater accessibility, and with incentives such as referral bonuses, it’s no surprise women are joining at such a high rate. “A lot of women enjoy sports just as much as men,” Kirk said. “It’s just teaching new customers and not just necessarily women, whether it be the older population as well, how will they interact with the newer way of sports betting. It’s not the guy at the bar. We have a high tech product here and that takes some getting used to.” Lisa Diaz, a sports betting personality and CEO of sports betting company “BettingInHeels” is encouraged by what she sees. “I just think it’s big for us,” said Diaz, also known as “Lady D.” “We can actually step into a male dominant world now that sports betting is everywhere.”  of 52-110 last year, the Diamondbacks sit eight games below .500 after 76 games and are in fourth place in a strong National League West division. Arizona is 13 games behind the first-place Los Angeles Dodgers. But as a diehard, Melton would show up to the games, no matter the performance on the field or if the cost became greater. “I don’t care how the team is,” Melton said. “If (the team) doesn’t look like it’s trying, then why do you expect me to pay $20 just to park my car?” 

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PRIMARY from page 3

Those three candidates already have been mapping their fall campaigns. Epstein champions “great schools, quality jobs and fiscal responsibility” on her website, but also said she supports “adequate funding” and a “secure retirement” for public safety professionals as well as “a balance between conservation and growth” to conserve water in Arizona. Chaston owns his own CPA firm and says he has worked with a number of public agencies and tribal governments. “I’m running to take conservative values and sound financial principles to safeguard your hardearned tax dollars,” he says on his website. A former police officer for 20 years who has been active in the Salvation Army Chandler Corps and is the former chair of the Phoenix Silent Witness Program Board, Roe says he “has made economic growth and development a top priority” and “plans to build upon Arizona’s success as a business-friendly state that attracts job creators and new businesses.”

LD 12 Republican Senate race

PATTY CONTRERAS

MITZI EPSTEIN

SAM HUANG

The all-Ahwatukee race for the Republican Senate race is between Realtor Suzanne Sharer and businessman David Richardson. Sharer, a member of the Ahwatukee Foothills Village Planning Committee who unsuccessfully challenged Bowie in 2020, has touted her deep Republican and Arizona roots as a former vice president of Ahwatukee Republican Women. She describes herself as a staunch conservative whose top issues are school choice, “reasonable teacher salaries, support law enforcement and first responders, crack down on human trafficking, fight against illegal immigration and oppose new taxes.” Richardson, who had moved to Ahwatukee from Chandler prior to the onset of the campaign, says he completed incubator programs through ASU and the Center for Entrepreneurial Innovation and was a Global Innovation Fellow who traveled to China in 2017 as part of a U.S. State Department collaboration to strengthen the two countries’ economic relationship. A winner of multiple Small Business Innovation Research grants from the National Science Foundation and the National Cancer Institute, Richardson received the AZBio Fast Lane Award in 2018 and was part of a team that developed “high-throughput COVID tests and sold 500,000 tests,” according to his website. He said he is “focused on issues that impact our state and district: Educational and economic opportunity, a sustainable water supply, compassion and unity in public discourse, and individual liberty.”

LD 12 Democratic House race

A.J. KURDOGLU

Three Ahwatukee residents – retired City of Phoenix employee Patty Contreras, scientist Stacey Travers and attorney and election law expert Paul Weich – are duking it out with Chandler businessman A.J. Kurdoglu and onetime Chandler City Councilman Sam Huang. All five hopefuls were the only LD12 candidates

to show up for the single debate sponsored several months ago by the Arizona Citizens Clean Elections Commission. During that debate, Huang was the only candidate who did not clearly define his support for abortion rights. Contreras, who spent 31 years with the Parks and Recreation and Human Services departments providing programs, activities, and resources for youth, teens, adults, and seniors says on her website, “I want to continue to serve the public as an elected official to help make policy that will benefit our constituents and all Arizonans.” She champions better funding for public education as well as efforts to protect Arizona’s water resources. Huang quit Chandler City Council before his term ended so he could seek the Republican primary nomination for Congress in 2020. He says his priorities are “affordable medical services, relevant education, improved infrastructure, and welfare policy reform” and that he has “an open mind, global perspective, and extensive knowledge and experience on different cultures and thoughts.” Kurdoglu raised over $1 million in his unsuccessful 2020 effort to unseat Chandler state Sen. J.D. Mesnard in the General Election. Mesnard also raised over $1 million in what was one of the most expensive legislative campaigns in Arizona. A native of Turkey who is an engineer with an MBA and the owner of the Homemart furniture and interior design store, Kurdoglu said he is running “so our small businesses, the backbone of our communities, are supported by our state government so they can create good quality jobs,” and “to help find solutions that will strengthen our communities and make your lives a little better every day.” Travers, an Army veteran who served as a Russian intelligence interceptor, wants to protect children’s rights to “access education, making their own family planning and healthcare decisions, the environment they will inherit, and whether they will have a voice in their democracy.” A graduate of the University of Arizona who also studied at Oxford University in London, she lists her key issues as “protecting our community,” voter rights, women’s rights, education, healthcare and being “more aggressive in water management resources, investing in clean, renewable energy; creating jobs and a sustainable environment. Weich has focused on business and creditors’ rights but also has gained prominence with his two blogs, Arizona’s Law and Arizona’s Politics, that he founded and co-founded in 2019 and 2010, respectively. “I decided to run not despite the current political climate but because of it,” he said. “We need more people with a passion for facts and for fixing the system, rather than fewer.” He said he is dedicated to “ensuring Arizona has a strong public education and supporting our teachers.” He also has been the victim of a vandal who has been defacing and removing his signs in Ahwatukee and elsewhere. Travers also has had some of her signs removed, though it is unclear whether the same culprit is responsible. 

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AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS | JULY 6, 2022

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Other races for Nov. 8 will gel next week AFN NEWS STAFF

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hile Ahwatukee voters have a lot to focus on in the Aug. 2 Primary Election, they also will have even more of local interest on their plate in the Nov. 8 General Election, when two seats are up for grabs on both the Tempe Union High School and Kyrene districts’ governing boards and District 6 on Phoenix City Council. The deadline for filing petitions in all three races is Monday, July 11, but judging by the statements of interest filed in those three contests, the race to succeed termedout city Councilman Sal DiCiccio is more a stampede than a horse race because 11 people have shown an interest in running. There is no primary election for school board candidates and unless one of the city council candidates scores more than 50% of the vote on Nov. 8, a runoff between the top two vote-getters will be held in March at the same time the city will be seeking voter approval for a $500 million bond issue – the city’s first since 2007. Here’s a look at where those three contests stand as candidates scramble with their last-minute petition drives.

City Council

Several candidates months ago declared their interest in running to succeed DiCiccio – notably Sam Stone, DiCiccio’s onetime chief of staff who is currently the campaign manager for Republican gubernatorial candidate Kari Lake, and longtime Ahwatukee resident and US Navy veteran. Moses Sanchez, who ran an unsuccessful bid to become Phoenix mayor in 2020. In all 11 Phoenix residents filed statements of interest, but so far the only hopeful to qualify for the ballot is Kellen Wilson, an Arizonan native and graduate of Fordham University in New York who describes herself as having “worked in retail, food service and volunteered for nonprofits and charity organizations.” Of the 11 who filled statements of interest, Wilson and seven others have registered candidate committees, although an eighth, Juan Schoville, has filed his petitions but has not yet been certified for the ballot, according to the Phoenix City Clerk.

Schoville, who ran as a write-in candidate in the 2020 Phoenix mayoral race at age 22, has described himself as an advocate of police reform. Another Ahwatukee resident seeking the City Council post is Joan Greene, whose grandmother was the second woman elected Phoenix City Council. The owner of a promotion-marketing company and a company that raises money for nonprofits, Greene ran twice for Congress against U.S. Rep Andy Biggs and lists a number of priorities, including affordable housing, help for unsheltered people, strong public safety and environmental sustainability. Professional photographer and community activist Murphy Bannerman of Arcadia also has thrown her hat into the race, and is campaigning, in part, on efforts to preserve and strengthen city parks, improve emergency response times, help unsheltered people and create more affordable housing. Also indicating his candidacy is Mark Mooremans, who describes himself as former consultant at Deloitte who joined a private equity firm leading an Arizonabased benefits administration shop for contractors and blue collar workers. For the past several years, Mark has served as the senior vice president of Entrepreneurship & Venture Development with the Arizona Commerce Authority and leads the Arizona Innovation Challenge – a $1.5 million grant competition for startups. Possible candidate Harry Curtin also has a background in finance, according to his campaign website. He claims to have led $1 billion in “technology and transformational initiatives” and that he has been “an advisor to many of this country’s most successful corporations.”

Kyrene Governing Board

At least one new face is guaranteed on the five-member Kyrene Governing Board come January because incumbent Margaret Pratt, an Ahwatukee mother of four, is opting to run for the Tempe Union board instead this year. Only three candidates filed statements of interest in Kyrene – including attorney and board President Kevin Walsh, seek-

see PETITIONS page 16

AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS | JULY 6, 2022

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PETITIONS from page 14

ing his second term, and educators Kristi Ohman and Triné Nelson – but none have filed their petitions, according to the Maricopa County Superintendent of Schools. Nelson, who narrowly lost a bid for a Kyrene board seat two years ago, is an Ahwatukee mother of two who has been involved in education for more than 15 years. She is the curriculum design manager at ASU’s W. P. Carey School of Business. Ohman is a veteran teacher, including for Kyrene, who is basing her campaign on “education fundamentals and accountability for all,” according to her website.

Tempe Union

So far, Pratt is the only candidate who has filed petitions in a race where both incumbents up for election – board President Brian Garcia and Andres Barraza – have filed statements of interest. Four other people also have filed statements of interest for a seat on Tempe

AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS | JULY 6, 2022

Union’s board. They include Victoria Ehmann, a Tempe Preparatory Academy and Arizona State University grad who has stated she wants to “take the skills she learned studying quality engineering in college to provide a new perspective for Tempe Union Schools. Also in the hunt is Amanda Steele, a community activist and parental advocate for students with disabilities and public schools who is a speech therapist and president and co-founder of EPIC Disability Advocacy. Also filing statements of interest are Ismael Osuna, a Marcos de Niza High School parent from the Town of Guadalupe who is also a member of the Pascua Yaqui Tribe, and Stephan Kingsley, a longtime educator who works for Tempe Union who has been described as someone who “consults and collaborates on diversity and inclusion initiatives with business, education, and community leaders as well as researchers at the national and international level.” 

WATER from page 8

“It is also true that cities and Indian communities cannot solve this issue on our own,” Gallego said. “We need to see proportional action across sectors – particularly agriculture, which uses 70% of available Colorado River water.” Phoenix made its first contribution to the 500+ Plan in January, committing to forego delivery of another 16,000 AF. The money it receives in return for the contribution will be used to help purchase water from other sources and fund conservation programs. “The City of Phoenix has been working for years to prepare for and deal with the extended drought,” the city said in a release. “Water users in Phoenix consume 30% less water per capita than they did 30 years ago, even as the city has experienced dramatic population growth over the same period. “We need that conservation trend to continue,” Gallego said. “But as the

drought stretches on, we are constantly looking for ways to be even better stewards of our most precious resource.” According to a city administration memo related to Council’s action, “at the time, it was anticipated that the Lower Basin States had received sufficient volumes of water from other water users to achieve its goal of 500,000 AF. Since that time, several large water users, including entities in California, have determined they will be unable to provide water for the 500+ Plan in 2022. “The Gila River Indian Community has been working with stakeholders to attempt to find additional volumes to increase the amount of system conservation being created in 2022. Phoenix can forbear additional water in 2022, up to a total of 30,000 AF in order to create system conservation under the 500+ plan.” Lake Mead’s falling water levels have already sparked municipalities in California to order significant reductions in lawn watering. 

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AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS | JULY 6, 2022

Ducey adds some sleight-of-hand to new budget BY HOWARD FISCHER Capitol Media Services

ov. Doug Ducey last week signed a $15.6 billion budget that doesn’t account for another $2.3 billion of real spending – a move designed to keep the state from having to give back some federal aid. On paper, that $15.6 billion figure reflects the General Fund, which historically is supposed to finance state operations. But the actual spending plan for the new fiscal year that begins July 1 is closer to $17.9 billion. That was accomplished by directing the State Treasurer to directly transfer about $1 billion in sales tax receipts directly to the state Highway Fund for road-construction projects, including $400 million to widen Interstate 10 between Casa Grande and the south edge of Chandler. That move, unprecedented in budgets for at least four decades, keeps those dollars out of the General Fund and off the books.

Also off The General Fund books with that same maneuver is about $544 million in border funds, about half of that for some border wall or other physical or electronic barrier. So is $334 million for water projects and a $425 million deposit into the state’s “rainy day’’ fund. But the bit of financial sleight of hand for the first bipartisan budget in more than a decade is not done for political reasons to make voters think the state is spending less than it actually is. Instead, it comes as Arizona has to justify to the federal government that it has properly spent COVID relief cash, much of which was earmarked for public education. In agreeing to take money from the American Rescue Plan Act, state officials signed documents which require Arizona to at least spend the same percentage of its budget on K-12 education as it did, on average, in the 2017 through 2019 fiscal years, prior to the outbreak. That “maintenance of effort’’ figure, according to documents obtained by Capitol Media Services, is 54.5%.

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So if the state has a $17.9 billion budget that would mandate the state spend at least $9.75 billion this coming fiscal year on education. Putting $2.3 billion of that outside the budget reduces that to about $8.5 billion. That just happens to be the amount of K-12 spending that the governor’s office says is in the new budget. House Majority Leader Ben Toma, R-Peoria, said if they had not kept $2.3 billion out of the official General Fund, the state would have had to add an extra $1 billion or more to K-12 spending. He said a similar maintenance of effort requirement on higher education would have forced legislators to boost university and community college funding by $100 million. And that, he said, was a higher ongoing commitment “than we were willing to make.’’ Toma said, though, that structuring the budget like that is justified because everything in that $2.3 billion list is one-time spending. He said there was no reason for

the state to have to count those dollars as part of the budget and then have to compute them into what had to be spent on education so as not to run afoul of the federal grant provisions. Senate Minority Leader Rebecca Rios, DPhoenix, said the maneuver wasn’t hidden from her and other Democrats. And she voted for the budget. But she said that doesn’t make it right. “This is your typical gimmicks and sleight of hand,’’ Rios said. “Any way conceivable to avoid putting extra money into K-12, they will find a way to do it,’’ she said. “So, it is pretty sneaky.’’ Senate President Karen Fann, RPrescott, said there was nothing nefarious about the plan. But that’s not how Sen. Michelle UgentiRita, R-Scottsdale, who voted against the budget, sees it. “By having such an expensive budget, it was going to change what we had to set aside for K-12,’’ she said. “This is a

see BUDGET page 20

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AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS | JULY 6, 2022

Ducey uses line-item budget veto for the first time BY HOWARD FISCHER Capitol Media Services

ov. Doug Ducey exercised his firstever line-item veto of a state budget last week after finding an item he didn’t like. The governor removed $3.6 million from the Department of Veterans Services. Those dollars were specifically earmarked for hyperbaric oxygen therapy for veterans, a provision put in the budget by Sen. Wendy Rogers, R-Flagstaff. She told colleagues during hearings that

BUDGET from page 18

shell game.’’ She is not alone in that analysis that the off-budget spending is designed to keep the feds from taking back some of that ARPA money. “Using that maneuver, to me it’s just clear that they are either worried about that final tally in whatever that calculation’s going to be, or they’re just intentionally just trying to get around it,’’ said

the measure was brought to her by constituents. The therapy involves breathing 100% oxygen while in a hyperbaric chamber, where the air pressure inside is raised to a level higher than normal atmospheric pressure. That is supposed to help the lungs collect more oxygen. “It has been found to be efficacious, helpful in curing post-traumatic stress syndrome,’’ said Rogers, a veteran. But the governor was unconvinced. “Arizona has created a strong, welcoming environment for our veterans,’’ he said Sen. Martin Quezada, D-Glendale. He didn’t vote for the budget either, saying at least part of the reason was because of the transfers that took that $2.3 billion out of the budget. House Minority Leader Reginald Bolding, D-Laveen, who voted for the spending plan, had a slightly different take. “There does appear to be some aspect that money was moved around in order to have creative budgeting,’’ he said. And Bolding said there are things in the final

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in his veto message, adding there has been “no shortage of policies’’ to help them, including spending measures. “This appropriation, however, has little support from the public and veteran community,’’ Ducey wrote. Rogers told Capitol Media Services she was surprised. “Wow, that’s just unimaginable,’’ she said. “Hyperbaric treatment has such a high success rate in curing veterans’ PTSD,’’ Rogers said. “The veteran community and I are absolutely incredulous.’’ Lawmakers actually established a fund

plan which Democrats did not want. But he said that, however the budget was crafted, the $17.9 billion spending plan was “setting the right direction for the state of Arizona.’’ No one from the governor’s office would comment. Aside from the off-budget items, the newly signed budget includes a $330 million cut in state property taxes, $329 million more in base support for K-12 education, $100 million more for special

to pay for the therapy several years ago, with permission to take private donations, grants and other monies. This would have been the first state dollars since an initial appropriation of $25,000 in 2018. Rogers said the program could treat 500 veterans each with 40 “dives,’’ meaning time under pressure. Rep. Walt Blackman, R-Snowflake, who also is a veteran, was skeptical not so much of the treatment but the fact that this would have been one-time dollars. He said there is no answer to what happens when the cash runs out. 

education and an extra $50 million for school resource officers or counselors There also is a 10% raise for all state employees, the first in more than a decade, though those working for the Department of Public Safety and the Department of Corrections will get more. The budget also makes a $60 million deposit into the Housing Trust Fund, provides $15 million in grants to community colleges and universities to expand their nursing programs. 

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NEWS

AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS | JULY 6, 2022

Planning panel OKs Chandler Boulevard reclassification

BY PAUL MARYNIAK AFN Executive Editor

he arrival of Ahwatukee’s largest new subdivision in years is one step closer to reality after the Ahwatukee Village Planning Committee on June 27 recommended city acceptance of the developer’s request to downgrade the classification of two segments of Chandler Boulevard so they won’t have to be widened. With seven of the committee members absent, the panel voted 5-3 on the request by Reserve 100 LLC and Blandford Homes, its parent, moving the matter to the city Planning Commission for its recommendation on Aug. 4 before heading to City Council for approval on Sept. 7. The action involved the newly named Upper Canyon development, which had been called Canyon Reserve until last week – several months after the developers were told that another Ahwatukee community is named Canyon Reserve. Upper Canyon comprises 1,050 mostly single-family houses, 150 townhomes

This map shows the broad outline of Blandford Homes’ plan for Upper Canyon, the 373-acre development bringing 1,050 homes, 150 townhouses and over 300 apartments to Ahwatukee.

(City of Phoenix)

and 329 apartments on 373 acres of for-

mer state land for which Blandford paid

$175.5 million at a state Land Department auction in early 2021. Located along Chandler Boulevard between 27th and 19th avenues, the land was rezoned years ago for large singlefamily residential and some multifamily and commercial development. What the developer is seeking is a General Plan amendment reclassifying Chandler Boulevard and 27th Avenue, which in effect would retain their current width. That likelihood raised a question about access to some of the neighborhoods west of the development in the event of an emergency, but Executive Assistant Fire Chief Scott Walker told the committee he saw no reason for concern. Stating “there’s always an outlier” neighborhood in the city, Walker said, “The roads are such that we can generally get around. “Obviously, if it was catastrophic, we can get resources into these areas through other means,” he continued. “If someone’s having a medical condition, there’s always

see CANYON page 22

NEWS

FIRE from page 1

the apparatus,” Walker said, adding that as far as reaping more impact fee dollars is concerned, “we’re not showing enough accruing over the next few years where we could leverage against future accruals to offset the cost of a station. So right now the impact fee process isn’t an option for us.” Moreover, even if the project gets approved for the proposed $500 million bond issue the city hopes to present to voters next year, Walker said, the city would still have to find money to pay for staffing since personnel needs cannot be paid with bond proceeds. “I do hear about this from community members on a regular basis about this area,” Walker said. “And we’re well aware of the development that’s happening filling in that gap there along Chandler Boulevard. I’ve been aware of that for probably two years, or a year and a half. And you’ll see that station is in our forecast as a need. It fit the forecast I did two years ago. It fit exactly where we’re at today.

CANYON from page 21

air resources we could use for those very rare outliers…Obviously we’re not seeing hazardous materials transported along that road.” City staff had recommended committee approval of the roads’ reclassification, and a traffic impact analysis by Kimley-Horn supported it. Jennifer Meyers, a representative of Norris Designs, the developer’s zoning consultant, said the reclassification of the Chandler Boulevard and 27th Avenue segments that form part of Upper Canyon’s boundaries was compatible with other streets in the area. She also noted that the Arizona Department of Transportation’s decision years ago to eliminate its plan for a South Mountain Freeway interchange at 25th Avenue – a move requested by Phoenix officials – reduced the likelihood of much of an increase in traffic on Chandler Boulevard in years to come. “The interchange was constructed at 17th Avenue so traffic going west of 17th Avenue is considerably less than if the interchange was built at 25th Avenue,” Meyers said. “The reduction of the number of planned lanes on West Chandler Boulevard will right-size it for the forecasted level of traffic and make it more in keep-

AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS | JULY 6, 2022

acknowledging a need for a fire station closer to communities such as Promontory, Calabria and the incoming development of 1,050 homes and more than 400 apartment units and townhouses along Chandler Boulevard between 19th and 27th avenues. That development, formerly called Canyon Reserve, is now Upper Canyon. It was Executive Assistant Fire Chief Scott Walker, seen here in a 2019 pho- renamed by Reto, painted a gloomy outlook for a fire station in southwestern Ah- serve 100 LLC, and Blandford Homes, watukee anytime soon. (Special to AFN) after they learned “So we are aware and this is an area another Ahwatukee community already that we watch very closely,” he continued, had that name.

The site where Upper Canyon will come under construction starting late this year had been State Trust Land until Blandford Homes bought it at auction for $175.5 million. (AFN file photo) ing with the continuation of West Shaughnessy Road,” Meyers said. Though 11 neighbors had protested the reclassification, mainly because of concerns about traffic, Meyers said the developer’s design “seems like a win-win for everybody.” She said the developer will provide 28 parallel parking spaces at the Preserve trailhead, a signed and striped pedestrian crossing at 19th Avenue and Chandler Boulevard, and two bike lanes and a sidewalk along the southern edge of Chandler

Boulevard. Meyers also said that Foothills Reserve HOA may seek a similar General Plan amendment to reclassify and keep the existing width of West Shaughnessy Road west of Chandler Boulevard. Blandford Homes Vice President Tom Lemmon said that once Liberty Lane is extended through Upper Canyon to Chandler Boulevard, it “will act in some ways as a reliever on West Chandler Boulevard” for eastbound traffic from places like Promontory.

Walker’s presentation came before the committee in a 5-3 vote – with seven other members absent – approved Reserve 100’s request to leave the widths of South and West Chandler Boulevard unchanged. Walker said the southwestern part of Ahwatukee shares a condition with other extreme ends of Phoenix where more homes are being built but the volume of calls has yet to justify the expenditure of millions of dollars for a fire station. At least one Promontory resident has complained that the absence of a fire station closer to the area has led to higher fire insurance rates than would exist if a station was closer. “When you get on these very outskirts of the city,” Walker explained, “it is very difficult to address those areas that are generally growing (but) don’t have the volume of calls yet. So it gets to be that high-risk, low-frequency paradigm that we’re in as far as building stations: impact fees are slow to catch up to allow us to build sta-

see FIRE page 23

He said people coming from communities west of Upper Canyon will drive along Shaughnessy Road, head to Liberty Lane and cross over to 17th Avenue, eventually hooking up with the freeway. “It’ll just feel pretty seamless,” Lemmon said. “We’ve also heard that speeding is an issue on West Chandler Boulevard,” Meyers said” and in our mind, increasing the lanes are just going to increase the speed.” Meyers also addressed other issues, including some residents’ complaints of the lack of any clear plan for retail and commercial development. About 44 acres zoned for apartments or condos and 11 commercial-zoned acres are located in the southeast corner of the tract near 29th Avenue and the freeway, although an appraisal done for the state Land Department said that zoning could be moved around within the development’s boundaries with little problem. Some residents say that the absence of retail, such as a gas station or supermarket, adversely impacts the quality of life for people living in Ahwatukee’s westernmost communities, such as Promontory and Foothills Reserve. While acknowledging the residents’

see CANYON page 26

NEWS

AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS | JULY 6, 2022

FIRE from page 22

tions out there,” he continued. “Overall, the reality is that it is not uncommon if you look around the edges of Phoenix as a whole. You’d see very much the same thing in the Northeast, Northwest and southwest part.” “As you can imagine the fire departments certainly does not like to see this,” Walker said. “We want our service levels to be as good as they possibly can. Certainly, there’s an impact on the community when we can’t get there quick enough.” Walker described in detail his department’s ongoing monitoring of calls versus the available inventory of fire engines, other firefighting equipment and ambulances as well as response times. He said a standing committee meets quarterly to assess that data so that the department can maintain available manpower and equipment justified by the number of calls and potential need in any part of the city. Stating the “key is knowing and trying to plan” 10 to 15 years in advance of actual development, Walker said the city has been closely assessing the needs in southwestern Ahwatukee since 2020 and that

“we’re very much looking for what is the best approach to serve the community to help offset a growing call-response time.” Walker said a medical response unit might be the answer to current needs in the area because most of the emergency calls the department receives there involve medical issues rather than fires. Admitting “it’s not in your area now,” he told the committee that the department established a medical response unit around 93rd Avenue and Lower Buckeye Road because “we were able to capture impact fees that had accrued up to that point” and that those impact fee dollars could be leveraged to get a fire station built outside of a bond program. “We are always looking for funding sources, whether it be bond projects, General Fund, impact fees, federal resource dollars,” Walker said. He said city officials met in Washington, D.C., about two months ago with members of Congress to discuss “fire station infrastructure and the needs for any support we can see at the federal level as well because communities really are growing so fast and it’s hard to keep up at a community level. So, we’re always looking for resources out there for us.” 

FREE

Attorney General Merrick Garland announced the civil probe of Phoenix PD last August, saying “our aim is to promote transparency and accountability.” (Special to AFN)

POLICE from page 6

pursuant to the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994, which prohibits state and local governments from engaging in a pattern or practice of conduct by law enforcement officers that deprives individuals of rights protected by the Constitution or federal law. The statute allows the Department of Justice to remedy such misconduct through civil litigation. BEFORE

The Special Litigation Section of the Department of Justice Civil Rights Division, in Washington, D.C., is conducting the investigation. People who wish to file a complaint in connection with it can email Phoenix.Community@usdoj.gov or call 866432-0335. Individuals can also report civil rights violations at civilrights.justice.gov. 

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NEWS

AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS | JULY 6, 2022

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 $3 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.

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Snakebites can be a lifedeath matter for dogs BY MARK MORAN AFN Staff Writer

isinformation alert: The hottest summer months are not the most dangerous time of year for you or your pet to encounter a rattlesnake. Snakes don’t come out to “sun themselves” on the rocks, “emerge from hibernation,” or prey on you or your pet. “When it gets to be a 100 degrees, they shift to night time,” said Cale Morris, venom manager at the Phoenix Herpetological Sanctuary in northern Scottsdale. “The heat burns them just like it burns you,” Morris said. When it’s like 82-degrees at midnight, they are moving, but they’re moving to find a place to get out of the coming sun.” The truth is that the most likely times for a rattlesnake encounter are at night during the hottest summer months and during April and August, he added. There are 13 species of rattlesnake in Arizona, the largest variety of rattlers in the United States. While a bite is painful and dangerous, the good news is that medical treatment is available and its administration straightforward. “People will try to capture them or kill them and it delays medical attention,” Morris said. “You get bit. You go to the emergency room. All the emergency rooms have anti-venom and they have plenty of it.” There is only one anti-venom that is an antidote for every venomous snake in America, a relatively new phenomenon. “The beauty of that,” said Morris, “is that you don’t have to know what you have been bitten by.” But the same can’t be said for dogs. “It’s a life and death situation for dogs,” said Morris. “If a dog gets bitten by a rattlesnake … when they run right up to it and bark and get bit in the nose, in the muzzle, it swells up and makes it hard for them to breathe, they definitely need antivenom. They can die from it.” Veterinarian Dr. David Haworth that while “humans are more often bitten on their hands, arms and ankles,” the location of the dog’s snakebite makes it so much

Cale Morris, venom manager at the Phoenix Herpetological Sanctuary, holds up one of the many varieties of slithering creatures that are housed at the Scottsdale facility. (Courtesy of Cale Morris) more dangerous. “Due to the extraordinary swelling associated with snake venoms, the closer to things like airways and GI tracts, the more urgent the need for intervention,” he said. For some reason, cats are not nearly as susceptible to snakebites. First, Haworth says, because they are much less likely to be bitten due to their size and quick reflexes. And for whatever evolutionary reason, cats are better able to weather a snakebite. “The impact of the venom on them seems to be less than for dogs,” Haworth said. “Same thing for horses and even more so for cattle.” “There are also approaches to demotivate dogs who are really into snakes,” Haworth says. “Usually it involves getting the dog to run away when they hear a rattle or see something that looks like a snake.” The population of Arizona has grown dramatically over the past two decades, but somehow, the number of reported snakebites has not increased along with it.

see SNAKES page 25

NEWS

AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS | JULY 6, 2022

SNAKES from page 24

“Our averages really haven’t changed,” said Dr. Bryan Kuhn, a pharmacist and clinical toxicologist with the Banner Poison Control Center. “ “If you think of where people move, Maricopa County has been expanding outwards for quite a while. We don’t really grow up, we grow out,” he said. “That’s putting residents closer to the boundary of where the natural habitats of snakes are. So, intuitively you would expect more bites.” So why hasn’t the number of reported snakebites increased? The Herpetological Sanctuary’s Cale Morris credits a focused and extended informational campaign. “We have been doing education outreach programs for the past 21 years here in the valley,” he said. “We taught a total of 250,000 people last year through tours and outreach programs. This year will be even more.” He also credits an increase in social

sanctuary in 2003 when someone illegally had two American alligators in their Phoenix swimming pool, which were rescued by wildlife officials. With nowhere to take them, the wildlife officials called Dan Marchand, a known wildlife enthusiast. The alligators – named “Charlie” and “Lucy” after the Peanuts comic strip characters – were rehomed in a shallow wading pool on Marchands’ land, two and half acres of wild Sonoran Desert at North Scottsdale and Dynamite roads and the sanctuary Other reptiles also find a home at the Phoenix Herpetowas born. logical Sanctuary.(Courtesy of Cale Morris) The most improbable of media activity and the Sanctuary’s one Sanctuary residents was the result of a million TikTok followers. “It definitely is prank one friend played on another. making a difference,” Morris said. Chuck Simmon was a homesteader in Dan and Debbie Marchand started the northern Arizona, near a place called Pa-

Information: phoenixherp.com 

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

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koon Springs. A friend somewhere across the country thought it would be funny to mail Simmons a baby alligator, which he kept and fed on his land until 2017. Having disappeared from view for a while, Simmons left the alligator for dead when he vacated his place, now part of the Parashant National Monument in the Grand Canyon. When the Bureau of Land Management went in to clear the overgrown reeds, they discovered Clem, severely malnourished, underweight, and in need of a home. The BLM called Marchand, and the sanctuary bolstered its reputation as the go-to place for rescued reptiles of all sorts. It’s currently home to more than 200 venomous snakes, bearded dragons, crocodiles, gila monsters, tortoises and a host of other creatures over its 2.5 acres. “It’s like a no-kill animal shelter,” Morris said. We don’t euthanize the stuff,” Morris said. “We educate people.”

NEWS

AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS | JULY 6, 2022

CANYON from page 22

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concerns about retail, Meyers had nothing to say about them. Many of the committee members’ concerns focused on the trailhead parking, with some calling it a “bad design” because drivers in vehicles parked in the spaces that run parallel along Chandler Boulevard would be opening their doors with moving vehicles coming up behind them. Meyers noted that there would be about a foot between the edge of the parking space and the boulevard curb. Another committee member was concerned that vehicles leaving the parking area would be making U-turns on Chandler Boulevard, posing the possibility of frequent accidents. Meyers replied, “We worked with the city and that was actually a request by the city.” Some committee members thought highly of the plan to leave Chandler Boulevard’s width unchanged, saying it would reduce the heat island in that area and prevent more motorists from speeding even faster than many do already. But others acknowledged that many residents had numerous concerns about safety and traffic issues related to retainVoted Best Dentist & Customer Service

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REAL ESTATE

Real Estate Guide Valley housing market dashing toward balance BY PAUL MARYNIAK AFN Executive Editor

he Valley’s leading analyst of the Phoenix Metro housing market last week predicted that the entire region could see a balanced market – with supply meeting demand – by September. Buckeye is almost there, according to the Cromford Report, and likely will be the first to achieve this month what the Valley hasn’t seen in more than three years anywhere.

“Buckeye will be a balanced market during the first two weeks of July with that balance looking like it will swing more towards buyers with every day that passes,” the Cromford Report said. “Queen Creek and Maricopa are about one week behind Buckeye. We then have Cave Creek, Chandler, Gilbert, Peoria, Phoenix, Surprise and Tempe all in a similar condition. Their markets are cooling rapidly and look likely to move into the balance zone within a matter of weeks rather than months. Unless the current

see MARKET page RE2

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REAL ESTATE

AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS | JULY 6, 2022

MARKET from page RE1

trends change, we could be in a buyer’s market across much of Central Arizona by the beginning of September.” The trend is a stunning reversal for a market that began the year – and dominated 2021 – with buyers at the mercy of bidding wars, foregoing inspections or making other concessions to sellers in a desperate effort to secure a home. While a sudden flood of new listings might be welcome by prospective buyers, the Cromford Report said they may be in for more heartache – and that sellers will be grabbing their crying towels along with them. That’s partly because home prices remain at record levels and rising interest rates appear to be dousing buyers’ interest. “The last two months have been dismal for the Greater Phoenix housing market, with demand fading sharply and supply growing at one of the fastest paces we have ever witnessed,” the Cromford Report said. “Either trend would have been negative but with both coming together, we have had a very chilly wind blowing through the market. “For many weeks, we have been looking for some convincing sign of the relaxation of one or both of these trends,” it continued. “We have not found any. Instead, over the last week, the situation has turned significantly worse, at least from a seller’s viewpoint. And it is worse from both a demand and a supply perspective.” Realtor.com, an affiliate of the National Association of Realtors, said “Affordability will continue to remain a challenge for anyone looking to buy in the current market, as mortgage rates and home prices are not expected to drop this year; thankfully, they aren’t anticipated to grow as rapidly or significantly as they did earlier

The Cromford Report analyzes 17 Valley communities with a variety of data to determine how balanced the housing market is in them. Numbers higher than 100 indicate a sellers’ market while numbers below 100 indicate markets are more favorable to homebuyers because there are more houses for sale than there are buyers. (Cromford Report) this year, though. “One strong positive is that the number of homes for sale is likely to increase as the year continues, meaning more options for buyers,” it continued. The Cromford Report based its predictions of the trend in the Phoenix Metro market on a variety of data it uses to compile the Cromford Market Index. The figures it arrives at each of the 17 major submarkets in the Valley indicate how close

each community is to a balanced market, with numbers above 100 indicating a sellers’ market and numbers below 100 favorable for buyers. For all of 2021 and the first three months of this year, its CMI showed numbers at times exceeding 500 – indicating

markets heavily tilted toward sellers as supply shriveled. But the latest CMI shows a starkly different picture, with those figures falling between 31% and 42% from the previous month in 16 Valley municipalities. The only exception is Paradise Valley, where the CMI dropped only 5% but remains heavily weighted toward sellers at 234 and ranking second only to Fountain Hills,. with 265. In the West Valley, Avondale registered 189 on Cromford’s market index – well below the 799 it registered a year ago this month. Glendale is now at 185 whereas in July 2021, the CMI was 495. Peoria is listed at 154, far below the 475 index rating it had a year ago. Buckeye in the last 12 months has fallen from 396 to 110. The identical trend has emerged in the East Valley. Chandler a year ago had the fourth most favorable market for sellers at 530; now, it has the 11th most favorable sellers market at. 156. Similarly, Gilbert has fallen from 490 in July 2021 to 156 while Mesa has dwindled from 433 to 184. Scottsdale retains a relatively high ranking for sellers, though its position has fallen from 451 to 327 in the past year. The Cromford Report noted that a whisper of panic among people trying to sell their homes before losing any advantage in the marketplace appears to be settling down. “The brighter sign is that the number of new listings over the past seven days is down from the extreme high of the week before,” it said on June 30. “At some point the seller stampede may run out of new

see MARKET page RE3

Be Smart. Choose LendSmart. Contact Eric Kinneman

for your mortgage needs 602-757-2171.

When you support your local Community businesses, we are all winners, making our Community stronger one closing at a time.

Eric Kinneman, Branch Manager - Ahwatukee Branch. NMLS #212062 | AZ License 0911709

O: 480.477.8464 | D: 602.757.2171 | F: 602.445.0913 | ekinneman@lendsmartmortgate.com | www.erickkinnemanloans.com

This home on S. 36th Street in Ahwatukee recently sold for $1.6 million. The 4,324-squarefoot house, which has four bedrooms and three baths, was built in 1988. (Special to AFN)

REAL ESTATE

AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS | JULY 6, 2022

Cities could get more short-term rental oversight BY MARK MORAN Tribune Managing Editor

he state Legislature has passed a bill aimed at providing local cities and towns with more authority to fine and penalize short term rental “bad actors,” but stops well short of banning them or limiting the length of their leases. Co-sponsored by Republicans Sen. J.D. Mesnard of Chandler and Steve Kaiser of Phoenix, and SB 1168 is being called a “compromise,” and gives cities and towns increased authority to fine homeowners whose occupants violate noise and other community ordinances. Those rules are often breached by weekend visitors who rent a large house for the weekend, fill it with raucous revelers who party late into the night, disrupting families and year-round residents’ peace and quiet, as well as their normal routines. Philip Minardi, a spokesman for Expedia Group, hailed the legislation, calling it “a targeted, sensible package of protections and reforms to Arizona’s vacation-rental industry.” He said the measure puts “Arizona at

MARKET from page RE2

sellers. This is not happening yet, but at least the rate at which sellers are joining the stampede is slowing.” Still, a few days earlier, it also said, “More homes are being listed for sale than at any time since 2011.” But it added, “We are not seeing forced selling, like we experienced during the foreclosure wave of 2007 to 2011. This is people electing to sell because they fear a fall in home prices. That fear is likely to be self-fulfilling. When so many attempt to make it to the exit door ahead of everyone else, people get hurt. “We do not pretend to know how much prices will fall in numeric or percentage terms, but the latest data suggests that it is already impossible for home prices to rise under the current market conditions,” it said. “As people get more anxious to dispose of their housing assets, price cuts are growing in number and size. The very top and bottom of the market are least affected, but the mid-range, where the vast majority of transactions

the forefront of innovative policy solutions for this important industry that supports over 75,000 jobs statewide” and said it creates “new mechanisms to ensure neighborhood safety while fostering an environment that will allow vacation rental hosts and their guests to continue their important contributions to a vibrant tourism economy in Arizona.” The Legislature in 2016 took away municipalities’ authority to impose regulations on short-term rentals but in recent years has given them some leeway to control rowdy party houses. The northeast Mesa community of Las Sendas recently voted to amend its Covenants, Conditions and Restrictions, or CC&Rs, to restrict rentals to no fewer than 31 days. The measure passed with the support of 75% of Las Sendas residents after a six-month campaign that the HOA board publicly supported. Of the 3,090 total votes cast, 2,604 votes were in favor of the amendment and 486 were opposed. SB 1168 really has no bearing on authority to regulate short-term rentals, according to Las Sendas attorney Curtis Ekmark.

“The state doesn’t have anything to do with communities,” he said. “They left intact an association’s ability to ban STRs. But it allows the City of Mesa to fine people who violate noise and other ordinances.” The measure also shifts fines and penalties away from online rental platforms such as Airbnb and VRBO and places them on the property owner or management company that is renting out the house. It also makes various other technical and legal changes to the terms of STR agreements in Arizona. In an earlier interview with the Tribune, Shannon Preston who, with her husband Colin owns a home in Las Sendas but lives in Oregon, said that an outright ban on STRs is not in line with what they thought they bought into when they purchased their Mesa home. “The CC&Rs are a contract that we entered into when we purchased our property with the homeowner’s association. “For them to just take a one-sided majority vote and remove our property rights doesn’t seem like that’s fair,” Preston said. “They are using our dues to take

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our property rights away from us.” The Prestons advocated for an approach that stops short of banning short term rentals outright, such as a higher fee structure, which Senate Bill 1168 addresses, or a “three strikes and you’re out” policy for people who receive multiple complaints about their renters. “There has to be some ways around just changing everyone’s rights,” Preston said. The new state law may give people who live near disruptive party houses in Las Sendas an avenue for their frequent complaints. Given that the new law empowers the City of Mesa to enforce noise ordinances, disgruntled neighbors will be able to call the police with their complaints. As it stands now, annoyed neighbors say they themselves fear being the target of legal action for “harassing” short-term homeowners’ “guests.” Newer communities write short term rental bans directly into their CC&Rs as a matter of course, but older, more established communities that are often sought

see RENTALS page RE7

This house on S. 54th Street, Ahwatukee, recently sold for $1.5 million. The single-story, 4,755-square-foot home was built in 1993 and has five bedrooms and four bathrooms. It boasts a high-end kitchen with walk-in pantry, a detached workshop with air conditioning and gas fireplaces in the master bedroom and family room.(Special to AFN) occur, is experiencing a big freeze. “When a buyer’s strike and a seller’s stampede occur at the same time, the

market stalls in mid-flight. A price correction becomes inevitable. The Federal Reserve has stated that they want to see

a ‘reset in the housing market,’ and it looks increasingly likely that their wish will come true.” 

AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS | JULY 6, 2022

Tex Earnhardt’s old ranch eyed for high-end homes

4082 sqft 5 bedrooms, 4 baths

This map shows how houses would be built on the former ranch of the late Tex Earnhardt. (City of Chandler)

The city wants to annex two parcels of county-owned land for the development on the old Earnhardt ranch. (City of Chandler)

June 23 to consider annexing the county land into the city. Lauren Schumann, the city’s senior planner, said builder Blandford Homes wants to incorporate some of the history into the project. Naming it Earnhardt Ranch is just one

step. She said they are also considering some kind of marker for the green space they hope to build in the middle of the subdivision: Something along the lines of a statue of a bull, for example. Two longhorns still live at the ranch. Earnhardt opened his first dealership in

the early 1950s and often rode his longhorns while filming TV commercials and saying his well-known catchphrase. Tex Earnhardt died on April 19, 2020. He was 89. “So the subject site does fall within our southeast Chandler area plan,” Schumann said. “This plan was established to promote the historic, rural agrarian lifestyle of South Chandler. So in order to align with those goals, they’re coming in at, I believe we have 2.68 units per acre.” According to what he said he’s seen of the plans, de la Torre said it is clear that the developer will be building high-end homes on the site. City officials have said there is a lack of all types of housing, including luxury homes for those who can afford it. City officials say that when people who

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can afford very expensive homes can’t find them, they buy less expensive ones and the process continues all the way down to the least expensive, making it harder for new families and young people to get into the housing market. So, city officials argue, part of addressing the city’s affordable housing shortage is to build homes for all income levels. Many of the projects the planning department has been dealing with lately are for multifamily housing. That reflects the reality that there are The late Tex Earnhardt was one of the Valley’s most suc- not a lot of large spaces left for singlecessful car dealers and often used longhorns in his com- family homes. But, de la Torre said there is room mercials. Two of the animals still live on his Chandler ranch. for smaller subdivisions and single(File photo)

$914,900

2850 sqft, 3 bedrooms and 2.5 baths

This beautiful golf course lot home is in Club West with soaring vaulted ceilings, large bedrooms and a spacious Great Room.

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changes. Then, there is usually a neighborhood meeting and more changes could be suggested and adopted. Then it goes before the Planning and Zoning Commission for its recommendation, and then City Council for approval. Both bodies can ask for additional changes. Another builder is eyeing a large undeveloped lot at the southwest corner of Arizona Avenue and Pecos Road, across the street from the Walmart shopping center. Schumann said the city just received an application for that property. But staff hasn’t looked in depth at it yet. Originally, it was zoned for a large development, say a hotel and retail. The application wants to rezone it for multifamily housing, offices and some retail. 

COMIGN SOON

he last major piece of land in Chandler available for a large singlefamily residential subdivision is a historic property. And that ain’t no bull. “This is the last of the 40 acres – everything else is like peanuts,” said David de la Torre, the city’s planning manager. “Everything else is just smaller infill stuff. So this is kind of the end of an era for Chandler.” The property he is talking about is the former ranch of the late car dealer Tex Earnhardt on the northeast corner of McQueen and Hunt Highway. The city is currently reviewing an application to turn the property into a 100-home subdivision called Earnhardt Ranch. As one of the first steps in that process, the City Council held a public hearing on

ANNEX from page RE4

family homes will continue to be built. “We do have other lots that both Lauren and I have worked on that are smaller infill properties, but they do build single-family homes on,” de la Torre said. “It’s maybe not the same type of caliber as this, but it’s a smaller infill single-family detached subdivision. So that is still possible. But this is the last of the big ones.” Earnhardt Ranch would have only single-level homes on its eastern border to give their neighbors on the other side of the fence some privacy. The entrance would be off McQueen Road and a park area would be built in the middle of the property for recreation opportunities for residents. These are very early plans that the city planning staff is currently reviewing. Staff can, and usually does, suggest

COMING SOON

BY KEN SAIN Staff Writer

REAL ESTATE

AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS | JULY 6, 2022

NEW LISTING

REAL ESTATE

NEW LISTING

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FAMILY RUN TEAM

re6

AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS | JULY 6, 2022

SPO OTLIGHT home PHOENIX | Summerhill

14616 S 1st St

SOLD

7209 sqft, 5 bedrooms, 3.5 baths

Located in the Hillside gated community of Summerhill, this custom luxury estate has it all!

Sold at $2,200,000 Bonny Holland 602.369.1085 www.LeadingLuxuryExperts.com

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14009 S 17TH DR, PHOENIX AZ 85048

TAPESTRY CANYON 4725 sqft, 5 bedrooms, 3.5 baths Stunning Mountain side custom home with amazing city and mountain views located in the premier community of gated Tapestry Canyon

Sold for $1,475,000 SOLD

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ORIGINAL OWNERS*AMAZING FLOORPLAN*FORMAL LIVING & DINING ROOM*FAMILY ROOM W/ FIREPLACE*GOURMET KITCHEN W/CUSTOM CABINETRY & PULLOUTS,SLAB GRANITE COUNTERS,ISLAND,MOSAICS,PENDANT LIGHTING, & BREAKFAST BAR*BONUS/MEDIA/GAMEROOM W/ROLLING SHUTTER*BEDROOM DOWN W/ FULL BATH*CUSTOM HARDWOOD STAIRS*LARGE MASTER SUITE W/VIEWS,HIS/HER CLOSETS & BONUS CLOSET*MASTER BATH W/WALK IN SHOWER & JACUZZI TUB*UPSTAIRS LOFT*UPGRADES INCLUDE: REMODELED BATHS,PLANTATION SHUTTERS,NEW CARPET,NEW TILE,NEW PAINT,NEW BASEBOARDS,NEW APPLIANCES,SURROUND SOUND, & MUCH MORE*LAUNDRY ROOM*3 CAR GARAGE /EPOXY & CABINETS*VERY PRIVATE TROPICAL PARADISE BACKYARD W/COVERED PATIO,NEW PEBBLESHEEN POOL,WATERFALL, NEW DECKING,GRASSY PLAY AREA & RV GATE*THIS IS A CLASSY HOME!!

Listed for $819,000

Geno Ross (602) 751-2121 www.GenoRoss.com

REAL ESTATE

AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS | JULY 6, 2022

RENTALS from page RE3

by weekend partiers have remained wide open and largely unregulated. This issue is not likely to go away any time soon for Las Sendas or any other community that votes to ban the shortterm rentals. A quick internet search reveals page after page of suggestions on how to get around such regulations, for instance. Beyond that, Valley real estate attorney Ben Gottlieb says a decision in March by the Arizona Supreme Court, Kalway v. Calabria, could have a significant impact across the entire state, and on a community’s ability to change its CC&Rs. In a nutshell, the case states that in order to amend them, a community’s original CC&Rs must make mention of the possibility that the rules could, potentially, be altered in the future. “You have short term renters who will come in and seek declaratory relief,” said Gottleib. “And say ‘wait a minute, under the Kalway case this amendment is invalid and I want to protect my investment here and I had no notice that this would happen.’ So, I think this is going to have interesting ramifications. The Kalway case re-

480-706-7234 ! LD O S

Circle G at Riggs Ranch ! LD O S

Regatta at Val Vista Lakes

ally makes it clear that everything hinges on what is in the original CC&Rs.” State Rep. John Kavanaugh, R-Scottsdale, who has been involved in short-term rental legislation since they became an issue, said it will be difficult to get around the HOAs approved ban. “The HOA’s will have no problem enforcing that,” he said. “First of all, the neighbors will know when different people start showing up every weekend.” Kavanaugh, a pro-business Republican understands both sides of the issue, but falls clearly on the side of people opposed to short term rentals. “On one side there is the right of people to own their property and do what they want,” he said. “On the other side is the right of people to rely on zoning laws that were in effect when they bought their land. “No one purchased their homes thinking that there would be horizontal hotels popping up next to them. The fact that people made the biggest investment of their lives and then had that open up next to them is a real shame. It destroys their life and their property value, he said.” As far as the Kalway v. Calabria case? “That’s gonna play out in the courts.” Kavanaugh said. 

Curb utility bills with these helpful tips AFN NEWS SERVICES

ou can lower these bills and free up cash and the changes are far from complicated—some are as simple as switching lightbulbs or tweaking the settings on your appliances. Energy Sage says residential electricity rates have increased about 14% over the past 10 years. One way to cut down on your electric bill is by killing the “energy vampires” in your home. Those are the little lights all over your house that indicate printers and chargers are plugged in and ready but not in use. Energy vampires suck dollars out of your wallet, an average of $250 a year for a typical U.S. household. Unplug these items before bed, which will save you as much as 10% on your energy bill. The high-tech solution? Power cords such as the Embertec Emberstrip AV+ ($45) will turn off equipment when they sense it’s not in use. Another way to reduce your bill is

switching to low-energy lightbulbs. Many local utility companies offer energy audits—often for free. This involves experts assessing your home’s energy consumption patterns and looking for areas where you could cut back . Auditors might do this remotely by poring over your records. Or they might visit your home to examine everything from its windows to ductwork to showerheads—saving you as much as 30% of your monthly bills. You might not have considered when it comes to your ultra hot showers is how much scalding water costs. “About 20% of the energy used in a home goes toward water heating,” says Michael Thomas, founder of Carbon Switch. “One of the most effective ways to cut down on that energy use is to install a heat pump water heater (aka hybrid water heater).” According to Thomas, you can save anywhere from $20 to $600 a year making this switch. 

Ahwatukee’s #1 Team for Over 30 Years 7BR / 4.5 BA / 8,873 SQFT Estate living with refined tranquility in exquisite setting. Meticulous stonework adorns entire exterior of home.

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4BR / 4.5 BA / 3,040 SQFT Rare opportunity for waterfront living in Gilbert. Updated custom with breathtaking lake views.

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Ahwatukee Custom Estates

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Summerhill Estates

AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS | JULY 6, 2022

re8

Ahwatukee Custom Estates

$1,375,000

SOLD!

Pristine & classy single-level gated tuscan estate! stunning curb appeal w/amazing south mountain views. Grand foyer, entertainment room w/full wetbar & scotsman icemaker, formal dining, family room w/canterra fireplace, kitchen incs :slab granite,alder cabinets,s/s wolf appliances,gas cooktop,miele dishwasher,copper sinks,island, & subzero, most amazing custom stonework ever seen in ahwatukee consisting of marble,canterra,travertine, & granite, large master ste w/sitting area & 2 separate full baths, his/her alder & cedar lined closets, guest suite-2nd master w/ensuite bath & courtyard, extremely private backyard w/covered patio, pebbletec pool w/waterfalls, firepots, firepit, grassy play area, & fully equipped outdoor kitchen, fruit trees inc: apple, orange, lemon, & lime, this dream estate has it all!

Calabrea

Ahwatukee Custom Estates

SOLD!

$1,339,000

$1,750,000

Pristine & Classy Gated Estate On A Premium 2/3 Acre Hillside Lot, Private Cul-De-Sac, 6 Bedrooms, 4.5 Baths, 5200 Sqft Of Pure Luxury Finishes, Stunning Views In Every Direction, Iron Door, Butted Glass Windows In Entry & Kitchen, Custom Window Treatments, Decorator Paint, Dome Ceiling Foyer & Groin Vaulted Ceilings In Living Room, Travertine & Hardwood Floors Throughout, 7-Inch Baseboards, Media Room, Dream Kitchen Includes S/S Appliances, Slab Granite Counters, Alder Cabinets, Huge Island, Walk In Pantry, Large Master Suite W/Stone Fireplace, Master Bath W/Jacuzzi Tub, 3 Vanities & Snail Shower, Paradise Backyard W/Travertine In Versailles Pattern, Turf Grass, Pebbletec Pool/Jacuzzi, 4 Water Features, Large Covered Patio, Stacked Stone Bbq, 4 Car Garage W/Epoxy & Storage! Your Dream Estate Awaits!!

SOLD!

5 bedroom / 3 bath, 3,506 SqFt, Cul-de-sac location with huge backyard, sports court, built-in BBQ, mature shade trees, very private backing to wash. Good size SOLD! bedrooms, master downstai5. Features a large office with balcony, plus office/loft with built-in bookcase and 3 full baths. Th� home is perfect for family gatherings one is a show stopper!!! over 4200sqft of luxury on a preserve hillside lot in a cul-de-sac, 5 bedroom, 3.5 bath with andThis previewed with 24family hourroom notice andkitchen appointment only. aentertaining. bonus room, formalCan living &be dining room w/soaring ceilings, w/fireplace, includes:s/s appliances,

SOLD! The best view lot in all of club west!!! this stunning custom gated estate in canyon verde has the best privacy & views you will find in ahwatukee*grand foyer*formal living & dining room*executive office*kitchen includes: custom cabinets w/ antiquing, s/s appliances, cooktop, island, breakfast bar, pendant lighting, & walk-in pantry*butler’s pantry w/wine fridge*family room w/fireplace*upgraded fixtures throughout*large master suite w/sitting area*master bath w/jetted tub, snail shower, & spacious closet*guest suite w/separate entrance*all secondary bedrooms are large*paradise perfect backyard w/covered patio, pebbletec pool & spa, firepit, built-in bbq, flagstone, and putting green*oversized garage w/epoxy & built-in cabinets*this custom estate is a dream opportunity! welcome to paradise!!

slab granite, island, & recessed led lights, breakfast nook, gigantic master bedroom with the most amazing preserve views, custom master bath w/walk-in shower, freestanding tub, his/her vanities, & large walk-in closet, all bedrooms are extremely large with walk-in closets, views from every room, laundry room w/built-in cabinets & sink, extended length 3 car garage w/ epoxy, guest bedroom downstairs, paradise backyard w/covered patio, grassy play area, firepit, & custom new pool & jacuzzi 2020, this amazing home is truly stunning and checks all of the boxes!!

www.GenoRoss.com Donna Leeds

�

TOP GRI, ABR REALTOR

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One of the most amazing lots available in ahwatukee!! Located in foothills mountain ranch estates!! Over 5 acre hillside lot with stunning mountain views from every direction*build your dream custom estate or build multiple homes on this sight*zoned r3*the possibilities are endless on this rare opportunity*there is not another piece of land in ahwatukee that offers this many buildable acres*no hoa*located at the end of a cul-de-sac*be the king of the hill with views all the way to four peaks*plans available and other custom home options available from a well know ahwatukee custom home builder*do not miss this amazing hillside lot in an amazing location!!!!

Foothills $499,000

Mountain Park Ranch $679,000

Canyon Verde $899,000

lf"fl!

Amazing Remodeled Custom Estate with mountain views located at the end of a cul-de-sac.Over 8000sqft of pure luxury finishes.6 Bedroom,5.5 Baths.Custom Kitchen.Elevator.Executive Office.Basement Media Room.Dance Studio.Huge Backyard with Pool, Jacuzzi, Turf, BBQ, Sportcourt.This Spectacular Estate has it all!!!

Ahwatukee Agent 2020

Geno Ross

602.751.2121

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hwatukee s Come True 1986

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4505 E. Chandler Boulevard, Suite 170, Phoenix, AZ 85048

Petroglyph Estates at Superstition Foothills

Lakewood

SOLD!

$635,000

2,498 Sq Ft. EXCEPTIONAL HOME Which Has One of the LARGEST LOTS in the Premier Lakewood Community! PEBBLETEC POOL and SPA in your own Oasis backyard! 4 bedrooms 3 baths with Lakewood Parks, Greenbelts & 2 Fishing Lakes, Playgrounds and More.

Jenifer Bulfer 480-297-6968 jbulfer@westusa.com

SOLD!

$175,000

Marty Griffin 602-692-7653 martygriffin@q.com

Donna Leeds

GRI, ABR

SOLD!

Home backs up the 8th Fairway of the Ahwatukee Country Club with great view of South Mountain. Close to Golf, Restaurants, Shopping, the I-10 and Medical Facilities. Sit on your extended covered patio and watch the sun set. Enjoy all the amenities of the Ahwatukee Recreation Center with a large outdoor pool, heated indoor saltwater pool, Sauna, Spa, Gym, woodworking shop and more!

Troy Royston 480-435-3461 troyston61@gmail.com

SOLD!

$775,000

Gorgeous property on a premium lot (1 of only 6) with an unobstructed view and access to the iconic Morrison Ranch Silos. Captivating Interior Showcases High Ceilings, Soothing Palette, Tile Flooring, & a Sizable Open Dining/Den/4th Bedroom/Living Room. The Kitchen boasts of granite counters, SS appliances, white cabinets with crown molding, recessed & pendant lighting, wall oven, a pantry, & a center island with a breakfast bar. Main bedroom features a lavish ensuite with Separate Tub & Shower granite dual vanities & a walk-in closet. Fantastic backyard with covered patio, sparkling blue pool, & blue Skies !!

949.310.5673

$457,500

Thunderbird Farms South

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5 bedroom / 3 bath, 3,506 SqFt, Cul-de-sac location with huge backyard, sports court, built-in BBQ, mature shade trees, very private backing to wash. Good size bedrooms, master downstai5. Features a large office with balcony, plus office/loft with built-in bookcase and 3 full baths. Th� home is perfect for family gatherings and entertaining. Can be previewed with 24 hour notice and appointment only.

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Gorgeous Highly Upgraded Golf Lot home nestled at the end of a cul-de-sac in the Foothills. Meticulously cared for home w/ Brand NEW Kitchen & Shaw Flooring Remodel 5/22. This 4 bed, 2.5 bath sensible layout w/ high ceilings, energy efficient newer windows w/panoramic mtn views,& spacious FR/kitchen area make this home seem bigger than it is. Master retreat features updated bathroom, walk-in closet, & lrg. Balcony. The sprawling resort backyard has a gorgeous pebbletec pool, multiple sitting areas, lrg grass yard, side garden & shed all backing to the 13th hole of Foothills Golf Course.

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Beautiful move-in-ready 4 bed, 2.5 bath. 3,002 sq ft. Upgraded kitchen with lots of counters! SS appliances, granite, upgraded cabinetry overlook a highly upgraded pool. Master bedroom deck has INCREDIBLE vistas East, incl. South Mountain. Formal living and dining rooms, upgraded paint and flooring are just part of the fun of this home. A new TESLA solar/ battery system saves tons of $$. Nearby NEW Phoenix city park for hiking and biking, easy access off the 202.

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AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS | JULY 6, 2022

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Ahwatukee muralist enlivens another Kyrene school BY PAUL MARYNIAK AFN Executive Editor

t’s pretty difficult to go into a Kyrene school and not see Ahwatukee muralist Suzanne Whitaker’s work somewhere. Whether it’s a wall in a library, along a corridor or the lobby front office, her blazingly colorful murals – often carrying a message of hope or inspiration – appear in 10 of the district’s 25 schools. An artist as well as a professional muralist whose bread and butter come from livening up the walls in businesses and private homes, Whitaker has worked with PTOs as well as principals and other staff in those schools to create murals that add some extra cheer to the daily lives of students and employees alike. Whitaker’s latest creations grace some of the library and front-office walls at Kyrene de la Esperanza in Ahwatukee, where Principal Carolyn Payne, teachers and PTO leaders reached out to Whitaker. That added Esperanza to a list that in-

Ahwatukee artist Suzanne Whitaker takes a break from her work at Kyrene de la Esperanza, where she painted three library walls as well as some in the front office. (David Minton/AFN Staff Photographer)

cludes Centennial and Altadena middle schools and the Colina, Lomas, Monte Vista and Sierra campuses in Ahwatukee;

The front lobby at Esperanza greets visitors with some of Suzanne Whitaker’s handiwork. (Courtesy of Suzanne Whitaker)

Ninos and Mariposa in Tempe; and Cielo in Chandler. It was a daunting task in some ways just because of the ideas they wanted her murals to convey – along with representa-

Foundation aids another ‘Armer Kid’ BY COTY DOLORES MIRANDA AFN Contributor

rooks Pallan is only 3 1/2 and already the Chandler toddler has undergone multiple chemotherapy treatments. The third child of Taylor and Kate Pallan faces treatment for Brooks’ B-Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia that could take three years or more. Ahwatukee-based Armer Foundation for Kids has stepped in to help the Pallans, who began this tumultuous journey on March 12. Brooks is the newest “Armer Kid” for whom the foundation is raising funds. The Armer Foundation’s mission is to be there when health insurance is not enough to help, assisting families with co-pays, premiums, deductibles, and out-of-pocket expenses.

To accomplish its mission, the foundation relies on donations through ArmerFoundation.org and by selling household goods, clothing and shoes at their charity thrift store at 9830 S. 51st St., Ahwatukee. Their major fundraiser, its third annual gala, will be held 5-10 p.m. Aug. 6 at the Ashley Castle, 1300 Price Road, Chandler. All fundraising by the nonprofit is done to ease parents’ financial burden so as they care for their children with chronic or life-altering diseases. Taylor Pallan said he and his wife – the former 2004 Desert Vista High School alumna Kate Rook – said are “shattered and oftentimes overwhelmed by the journey ahead.” They have two other children, Ellie, 7, and Jack, 5. They not only can use the donations

made to their family through The Armer Foundation for Kids but also look for help from a higher power. “We would appreciate prayers for Brooks’ treatment and that God would continue to provide our family with His strength,” Taylor posted on the Armer Foundation’s website. Kate, who was a special education elementary school teacher in California and Chandler before transitioning to a stayat-home mom two years ago, said the nearly 4-month-old journey has been “a

see ARMER page 30

At age 3 ½, little Brooks Pallan has endured four months of chemotherapy – and faces several more years of treatments, as he battles a form of leukemia. (Courtesy of

Kate Pallan)

tions of the school mascot, the shark. She started the project the same way she has approached them all.

see MURAL page 29

COMMUNITY

AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS | JULY 6, 2022

AROUND AHWATUKEE

Ahwatukee women’s group sets luncheon, invites new members

Ahwatukee Foothills Friends and Neighbors, a women’s club serving Ahwatukee since 2001, offers women of all ages an opportunity to share dining, cards and other games, gardening, book discussions, exploring Arizona day trips and other activities. Check out its web page at affanwomensgroup.org/public. AFFAN will be hosting a luncheon at Biscuits Foothills 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. July 25. Matt Metz, volunteer navigator at Sky Harbor Airport, will share his experiences assisting travelers. Contact affanwomensgroup@ gmail.com for more details and to register. The cost

of the lunch is $20. A prepaid reservation is required by July 14.

Ahwatukee Kiwanis lists speakers at its meetings

The Ahwatukee Kiwanis Club is always looking for new members and invites interested people to attend one of their weekly meetings at 7:30 a.m. Thursdays at Biscuits restaurant, 4623 E. Elliott Road in the Safeway plaza. People also are invited to hear the speakers. Speakers who will appear and the dates are: June 23, Anissa Gurrola, Janice’s Women’s Center; June 30, LD12 House candidate Jim Chastan; July 14, Stephanie

Walsh, Arizona Children’s Association; July 28 Stacey Travers, LD 12 House candidate; Aug. 11, Amanda Nosbisch, One Small Step/Clothes Cabin; Aug. 25 Kyle Ross, Kyrene Digital Academy principal.

Local American Legion Post always seeking new members

Men and women who served in the Armed Forces are always invited to join Ahwatukee American Legion Post 64, which meets 4-5 p.m. every third Wednesday of the month at the Ahwatukee Rec Center, 5001 E. Cheyenne Drive, Ahwatukee. The post’s mission is to “enhance the well-being of

MURAL from page 28

“I always ask ‘what do the students most like? Do you have a mission statement?’ We usually start with those two things – the mission statement and the mascot,” she said. “It was really important to them that they incorporate some quotes or something that would demonstrate diversity – that’s really their emphasis in that school right now – and show that everyone is inclusive,” Whitaker explained. “So, one of the pictures that one of the teachers showed me was this bright sun. She really like the sun.” That sun helped Whitaker “tie those other ideas together and bring more color.” But the sharks posed an initial dilemma in a way: Can diversity and Jaws co-exist? No problem for Whitaker, who researches images extensively before she takes paint brush in hand. “I also was looking for a style that would work – something that wasn’t too juvenile or cutesy, too young but not too realistic,” Whitaker said. “So, I started googling that first and then realized how many different kinds of sharks there were.” And that discovery contributed to the murals’ central theme: “There are just so many different kinds of sharks when I started looking at them that I thought that lends itself to the whole diversity idea – that no two are alike,” she explained. Stlll, no one wanted a hammerhead shark on the front lobby wall, though Whitaker said she found a place for it elsewhere because “I kind of like hammerheads.”

Suzanne Whitaker’s murals at Esperanza display various species of shark, the school’s mascot. (Courtesy of Suzanne Whitaker)

And so she went to work, turning three colorless walls in and around the library that measure roughly 15’x30’ feet into a visual treat, then doing the same with walls in the lobby and front office, where visitors are greeted with the message “Safe, Honest, and Respectful” as soon as they walk in. The work was made all the more challenging by COVID-19. Whitaker had begun her project last December, when schools were shut down by the pandemic. Though she usually works

America’s veterans, their families, our military and our communities by devotion to mutual helpfulness.” Information: Americanlegionpost64.com or 480326-4656.

six to eight hours a day on a project, completing it in a week or so, the Esperanza job required her to be on site when a staffer could be on campus. On her website Passion4Murals.com, Whitaker blogs about how she got started doing murals in her native Ohio. After earning her bachelor’s degree in fine arts from the University of Cincinnati and working in publishing as a paste-up artist and illustrator, she started her mural business in 1993. She began with nursery rooms and

Submit your releases to pmaryniak@ timespublications.com recalls how “I loved seeing new parents get excited about the spaces they were providing for their new families customized entirely to their liking. And, as their babies grew, I created playrooms and toddler spaces, suitable teen rooms, and soon I was not only doing murals but beautiful finishes in every room of the house.” “I really love being the ‘hands and heart’ that help people create and shape what they want for their personal and commercial spaces,” she writes. Her first murals in Kyrene were painted almost 16 years ago at Sierra, where she reinvigorated the walls of the multipurpose room. When not decorating school walls, Whitaker also has been hard at work on those personal and commercial spaces as well. Among her more recent projects was decorating the walls of the Coconuts restaurant in Scottsdale with sea-themed images, including a huge turtle. She still has some work to do at Esperanza, where she and Payne have talked about incorporating artwork students did for a Martin Luther King Day exercise. So far, she said, the kids have reacted enthusiastically to what she has done already. And one girl may have related her own inner-artist to Whitaker. “It was so funny,” she recalled. “I was taking the tape off and she said, ‘Removing the tape is so satisfying.’” Turns out, the girl had a point, said Whitaker, explaining, “It really is the best part.” 

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AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS | JULY 6, 2022

East Valley man makes car-cooked meals BY CECILIA CHAN AFN Staff Writer

oe Brown mixed water, eggs and oil into a Betty Crocker box cake mix. The Gilbert man then poured the chocolate-flavored batter into a cake pan. But instead of an oven at 350 degrees for half an hour, it went into his Honda Accord, where it baked at about 210 degrees for two hours. “This cake was a 10 out of 10, would definitely recommend,” Brown announced after taking a bite and giving two enthusiastic thumbs up on his TikTok video. Welcome to cooking in the Arizona heat, where Brown has amassed 2.2 million followers eager to see what concoctions the Gilbert native cooks up on his car dashboard. From cracking an egg on the sidewalk back in 2020, the Highland High School graduate is now grilling, frying and baking in his car. “I get a kick out of it,” Brown explained. “It’s so crazy what I’m doing.” Brown first began his cooking in the car videos in April with a batch of chocolate chip cookies that took an hour and a half to bake at about 180 degrees. The hottest it’s gotten inside his car so far this year was 225 degrees. “The chocolate chip cookies were the best,” he said of the dishes he’s tried so far – which have included pizza, brown-

ARMER from page 28

steep learning curve.” But like her husband, she is thankful for the Phoenix Children’s Hospital – their “home away from home.” She also feels blessed to have the availability of the Phoenix Children’s East Valley Specialty Care Center on E. Southern Avenue in Mesa. It is here that Brooks can receive chemo infusion and spinal taps while receiving physical therapy at the PCU outpatient location at Mercy Gilbert hospital. “It’s a much easier drive for us than driving 40 to 50 minutes into Phoenix,” said Kate, a south Chandler resident who grew up in Ahwatukee. Brooks’ parents agree the chemo treatments especially take their toll on their toddler.

olate chip pancakes on the roof because he was too lazy to use the stove. The panAmong the various dishes Joe cakes baked Brown of Gilbert has cooked in for three his Honda are hamburgers. He hours in showed in a video how he placed 97-degree burgers on the dashboard when the interior temperature regis- t e m p e r a tered 186 degrees. They were tures and cooked in two hours, coming out looked “abwell done which is how he likes s o l u t e l y them and the buns were extra disgusting,” crispy. He rated them a 10 on a Brown says 10-point scale. (TikTok) on the video. “I really don’t want to try these because ies, cupcakes, a New York strip steak, hot I know I’m going to get sick,” he says. “My dogs and chicken nuggets. stomach is going to hate me after this. “I’ve cooked breakfast in there, eggs, This looks awful.” bacon and waffle,” he said. “I would say After commenting on the bad smell, he most of it tasted pretty similar” to the takes a bite and gags, spitting the panconventional cooking method. cake back onto a plate. The item that took the longest to bake Since then, Brown has made pancakes was a pumpkin pie at four hours. in his car that were edible, although he acBrown is sort of a pro now when it knowledged it was the worst food to cook. comes to harnessing the sun’s rays to “They have to be flipped and they turn cook food. In 2020, he cooked food on the out like potato chips,” he said. roof of his family’s home and last summer, Of the three methods, definitely the car is on the roof of his car. the best for cooking because the insulated Brown said his first video went viral in heat makes it so much hotter, Brown said. May 2020, when he cooked a tray of choc“In terms of food, I just won’t do fish,” he “Some of the drugs cause him to lose his gross motor skills and suffer through nerve pain,” said Taylor. “Brooks’ treatment will be about three years with numerous hospital stays and clinic visits.” Seeing the changes the disease and his treatments have wreaked on their youngest son have been heart-wrenching. “Before Brooks’ diagnosis, he was super active, yet at one point he couldn’t walk across the house; he had to be carried. He has access to a walker should he choose to use it,” Kate said. “Even with the chemo, he’s pretty amazing. Brooks’ siblings also earn the adjective from their parents. “Our other two kiddos have been amazing during this time. Although their lives changed in a blink of an eye, they seem to be doing well and learning true empathy

Kate and Taylor Pallan have three children and are grateful for the help they are getting from the Armer Foundation for Kids. (Courtesy of Kate Pallan)

by watching their little brother tackle this mountain,” said Taylor, a project manager

said. “It’s the only thing I don’t like.” Every day, Brown cooks and posts two videos, one showing him prepping the food item and putting it in the car and the second showing him eating and rating the taste. Brown relies on his followers for fresh ideas on what to pop into his car, which includes non-food items such as crayons, candles and a 10-pound gummy worm. “Surprisingly, I’m still not a cook,” he said. “To this day. I don’t make much except for mac and cheese out of a box.” Although Brown earned an associate degree from Arizona State University, he has no plans to continue his schooling for now. Instead, he’s focusing on a career as a social influencer. He’s earning some revenue from his TikTok videos but it’s going back into buying ingredients, he said. He plans to build up his other social media accounts – Instagram, which has 20,000 followers, and YouTube, which has 600 followers. Brown said he’ll continue videotaping until September and take a hiatus until next summer. “Next summer I want to switch it up a bit and keep it fresh,” he said. “I have no idea what at this time.” Until then, he has advice for his followers: “stay cool and stay hydrated and just realize that the sun is really hot and it’s hot in Arizona.” 

for a general contractor. As with other families who are blindsided by unexpected hospitalizations or children suddenly diagnosed with diseases, The Armer Foundation has been there to help in any way possible. “It’s more than just helping us with bills, though that’s been so wonderful especially in the first months when there were a lot of expensive tests and procedures. Jennifer is always contacting us asking what they can do for us. So it’s that emotional support, too,” said Kate, referring to Jennifer, who founded the foundation with her husband Matt, and runs Armer Air with him as well. For more information on Brooks and other Armer Kids and how to help, visit armerfoundation.org. 

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BUSINESS

Business AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS | JULY 6, 2022

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Ahwatukee man now elite bike maker’s president

formance bike parts lacking elements he knew would be useful. Frustrated with the limitations of com-

mon designs, Cocalis invented his own technical components, such as crank arms and chain stays. Eventually, he moved into pursuing cutting-edge frame designs, which set his work apart from the competition. “Chris is brilliant and hard-working,” Mason said. “For him to allow me to be part of the leadership team is awesome.” Cocalis returned the compliment, saying, “Bryan showed a tremendous amount of ambition and strong goals. … He’s a hard charger and incredible sales guy.” Mason has worked in the sporting goods industry since 2009. His passion for riding bikes started when he was 21 as a way to spend time with friends. Now, he prefers to ride enduro-style, which is when a cyclist must pedal a grueling uphill trail only to turn around and race downhill for a thrilling payoff. “I like to go downhill way faster than I should,” he remarked. Pivot has seen an upward trajectory since he started as their national sales manager in 2015. Cocalis said Pivot has seen “massive

from the ground up, organizing taste testing sessions with employees at her family’s Filiberto’s in North Phoenix, next door to their first Craft Juice Bar location, which opened in August 2020. “We signed the lease, and we just kind of had to get going because you know, time’s running, you’re paying rent. And we’re like, okay, so what are we going to do? What’s going to make us different from the other juice bars or other competitors?” said Rodriguez. And that’s how Craft was founded, reaching out to customers who often find themselves tinkering with established recipes at juice bars and giving them the flexibility to form their own juice, smooth-

AFN Staff Photographer)

BY JANELLE MOLONY AFN Contributor

hwatukee resident Bryan Mason has been named president of Pivot Cycles, Arizona’s premier bicycle manufacturer. Chris Cocalis, Pivot’s founder and CEO as well as a former professional BMX rider and inventor-turned-business-mogul, says that since opening the company in 2007, now is the perfect time to “divide and conquer.” He named Mason to manage the dayto-day operations and oversee Pivot’s foreign offices. The delegation of management responsibilities will allow Cocalis to focus more of his time on corporate vision, research and development, and the “ultimate success of the company,” he explained. This choice will provide him the opportunity to maximize his attention on what he is most passionate about: making the best bikes in the world. As a professional cyclist in the 1980s, Cocalis found the selection of high-per-

Bryan Mason of Ahwatukee has stepped into a new role with elite bike manufacturer Pivot Cycles. (Special to AFN)

Chris Cocalis, CEO and founder of Pivot Cycles is excited about what his company has in store for the future of cycling sports.

(PivotCycles.com).

see MASON page 34

New Ahwatukee eatery offers juicy start to the day BY SAMANTHA MORRIS AFN Staff Writer

ndrea Luna Rodriguez may be young, but her experience in the restaurant industry is anything but. The 22-year-old co-owner of the new build-your-own Craft Juice Bar on 48th Street and Ray Road has grown up in a family that has owned businesses and had been helping out at their Filiberto’s franchises since she was 14. So when it came time to open her family’s second Craft Juice Bar in Ahwatukee, Rodriguez was up for the challenge. “I felt the difference when I opened up this location,” explained Rodriguez. “I was nervous, but I felt competent.” Rodriguez has helped build the juice bar

see JUICE page 34

Andrea Luna Rodriguez is co-owner of the new Craft Juice Bar in Ahwatukee. (David Minton/

BUSINESS

MASON from page 33

growth over the last couple of years and expansions to three locations globally.” The mountain bike manufacturer currently operates in Tempe as well as in Germany and Taiwan. “We’ve gained momentum for a long time, but the last several years have shown exponential growth,” said Cocalis, adding that they’ve needed to upgrade to larger production spaces in both America and Taiwan. “We had to move into a facility five times larger to accommodate the demands.” The company saw exponential growth despite the pandemic, during which, the global bike market virtually “exploded,” said Mason. From 2019 to 2022, the bicycling industry at large felt the crippling effects of material shortages similar to the automotive industry. This stunted production for many companies, but Mason claimed Pivot skirted some common issues because they intentionally diversified vendors, increased production capacity, and sustained outputs year after year. “The industry, globally, ran out of essentials to build and fulfill orders,” Mason said. “And for the last couple of years, we’ve been doing everything possible to strengthen our supply chain and get products to consumers as fast as possible.” “We’ve been releasing [new] products at a high rate. Chris is innovating every day,” he added, noting the company hired hundreds of additional staff to support the push. One employee in the sales department said 2020 product delivery delays upwards of 600 days. Now that international

JUICE from page 33

ie or bowl. The menu has a set of fruits and vegetables to choose from along with health add-ins, like soy or almond milk, or ginger and turmeric. Rodriguez has taken on the Ahwatukee location in stride, facing challenges from back-ordered equipment to delayed inspections and renovation. This has all taught her to stay patient. To her surprise, it’s been a slower start than getting her first store ready. “For my first store, I thought I was going to struggle because it was during the pandemic. I think I got all of that sooner than now,” said Rodriguez. Ahwatukee is an exciting opportunity for

AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS | JULY 6, 2022

lockdowns are ending, alleviating strain, the delay has been reduced to half of that, but “We’re still fulfilling orders placed a year and a half ago,” the employee said. Mason said, “Entry level bike sales have caught up.” So, those looking to start riding socially, for The Firebird design boasts “warp speeds, battleship stability and physical exercise and laser precision,” for riding uphill and downhill. (PivotCycles.com). for mental health reasons can find a lower-priced bike at Valley it should be. Mountain biking should be shops much easier than before. inherently fun.” Though a Pivot bike is far more advanced “Just the idea that the product can assist (and expensive) than a big-box bike, Mason you opens up a new sport to people who recommends for those who want to invest can’t ride as long or have never been comin the best, they might consider starting fortable suffering on a bicycle,” he added. with this company’s Ride or Switchblade Taking on the technological challenge models, “considering our local terrain.” of creating a never-before-seen product, Ahwatukee retailers include Global he said, “really takes me back to the early Bikes at Ranch Circle and Ray Road and years … when everything we did was new.” Bike Masters at the corner of 48th Street Now, he feels innovation is more increand Ray Road. mental. These days, a new wave of buyers have Their freshest release is called the Shadbeen prompted by fuel price increases and ow Cat; a trail bike that is geometrically the release of commuter-friendly bikes, ideally for riders with smaller builds. such as e-bikes. “We’re always pushing the envelope and “I commute to work on the e-bike at looking for ways to include more riders of least once a week,” Mason said. every size,” Mason said. While other designers are chasing eMason speaks highly of the Ahwatukee road cycles, Pivot has cornered the off- area, observing, “There’s definitely a more road market with its E-Vault gravel bike passionate cycling community here, riding and Shuttle mountain bike. more often.” “A big part of mountain biking has [hisHe attributed much of that engagement torically] been a certain amount of suf- to the proximity of South Mountain Park, fering,” Cocalis said. “But that’s not what the nation’s largest city park that also perpower of patience and positive thinking. “I think everything happens for a reason,” said Rodriguez. Whenever she gets stressed, she holds onto that sentiment and remembers all of the successful business owners who don’t begin their jourCraft Juice Bar offers an array of fresh ingredients for patrons to ney with a line out the build their own juice from. (David Minton/AFN Staff Photographer) door. Throughout Craft’s journey, customers Rodriguez, as it expands their brand into a more centralized location. Her original helped to mold the final menu into what aim was to open up shop in late May. De- it is today. Rodriguez is grateful for all the support laying the opening was stressful but as a young business owner she has learned the she received from customers starting out,

mits e-bikes on the trails. Pivot Cycles is a financial sponsor for National Trail on South Mountain and Cocalis prioritizes a monthly time for the staff to tend to the trails. He said he and the Pivot leadership team “were instrumental” in getting the threeclass system of e-bike laws to pass in Arizona, in 2020. “That led to e-bike accessibility in city and county parks,” Cocalis stated. Cyclists are advised to confirm e-bike access to individual trails before bringing them, as a precaution (tinyurl.com/azebikelaw). Cocalis sees no end in sight for the projected growth his company, adding, “We’re just at the beginning of the runway.” Similarly, Mason believes, “Pivot is like Porsche of the cycling industry. We offer the best engineered, best performing bike on the market.” “Not everyone that wants one will get one,” he added. “Making the best performing bike in the world just costs more – to us and to the consumer. That’s all there is to it.” Pivot cycles is now hiring passionate people for several full-time positions at the Tempe office, as well as abroad. Cocalis invites bike enthusiasts and non-riders alike to join the family-like workforce. “Pivot is an exciting place to work,” he promised. Mason agreed. “We’re lucky to have a talent pool in this company that is very deep [and diverse]. Right now, we have 15 full-time positions open and are adding more every day.” Information: pivotcycles.com/en/careers. 

and their patience as she dove head first into the food science of smoothie and juice making. For Rodriguez, a juice bar was a natural endeavor for her to take on. She’s always had a passion for healthy food. Its family roots are embedded across the logo as well, with six vein lines on the leaf of the carrot, one for each sibling. The upside down “A” in the logo is also a nod to each of their names, which begin with the letter “A”. Right now the store opens at 6 a.m. Monday through Friday and 8 a.m. on the weekend. The early start time, hopes to attract gym goers from the nearby Mountainside Fitness. Information: craftjuicebar.com. 

AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS | JULY 6, 2022

How to protect yourself from stock market downturn BY HAROLD WONG AFN Guest Writer

CNBC article by Samantha Subin and Fred Imbert on June 13 was titled “S&P 500 tumbles nearly 4% to new low for the year, closes in bear market territory.” The S&P 500 Index was down 21% from its January 2021 record. The DowJones Index was down 17% off its record high and the NASDAQ Composite dropped by more than 33%. When the stock market indices drop by 10%, it’s considered a “correction” and when it drops at least 20%, it’s considered a “bear market.” In the following two weeks, the stock market had a small recovery, but on June 30, a story in yahoo.finance.com by Emily McCormick said “Stock market news live updates: Stocks fall, S&P 500 heads for worst first half in 52 years.” This leaves investors in a dilemma: Do I ride the stock market all the way down and have to wait years for the stock mar-

ket to recover; OR do I cut my losses and sell much of my stock market holdings right now? Let’s clarify this discussion with a live example. A reader of my newspaper column called me and stated that she had $550,000 total financial assets and virtually all was in the stock market. It dropped to $450,000 and she decided to pull it out entirely from the stock market and it’s sitting in a money market fund. She asked whether this was the right decision. I asked her, “How much steady income do you need in retirement to cover all your living expenses, fun money and hopefully bucket list dream money?” She said $90,000 a year would be fantastic. The average dividend yield in the S&P 500 Index companies since Jan. 1, 2000, has only been 2.02% and the average interest rate on a US 10-year or 30-year Treasury bond was around 3%. Here are more details about this single lady: She normally earns $150,000 selling houses and is age 62. She has three major decisions: keep her total $450,000 out of or in the stock market; work longer; and

when to take her Social Security retirement benefits. Scenario 1: Retire at age 64 but take Social Security at age 62, like most do, and put her $450,000 back into the stock market. Her Social Security income will be $1,600 a month and she has no old-fashioned pension. Assume that she can save $25,000 in the next 2 years and this will be her emergency fund that is deposited in a bank. If her $450,000 of financial assets earns 2%, this generates $9,000 of annual dividend income. Her total income is now $28,200 and is nowhere close to her current $90,000 of annual spending. Scenario 2: She retires at 70 and starts major savings and income tax reduction. She’s able to save $50,000 per year over the next 8 years; averages an 8% return; and this adds $574,378 to her retirement fund. If this can continue to earn 8%, this is $45,950 of income at age 70. By waiting until age 70 to take Social Security (SS), and counting major cost-of-living increases due to current high inflation, as-

sume that her SS will be $3,500 a month or $42,000 a year. Now her total retirement income is $87,950. If $350,000 of her current $450,000 assets were deposited today in a private pension, by age 70 it would generate $35,000/year. Now her total annual retirement income would be $122,950 and she can afford her bucket list dreams. Conclusion: More important than gambling in the stock market is protecting principal from stock market crashes; waiting until age 70 to take SS; saving lots of income tax; and substantially increasing your annual savings. To schedule a free consultation on taxes or retirement planning, contact Dr. Harold Wong at (480) 706-0177 or harold_wong@hotmail.com. His websites are drharoldwong.com or www.solarbusinessinvestments.com.

Dr. Wong earned his Ph.D. in economics at University of California/Berkeley and has appeared on over 400 TV/radio programs. 

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AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS | JULY 6, 2022

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Maybe we should each think of ourselves as a choice BY DAVID LEIBOWITZ Tribune Columnist

he was a 12th grader on the afternoon she got the news she was pregnant, in the humid summer days of 1964. The girl was 17, with a beehive hairdo piled to the sky and dreams of going to nursing school. She told her boyfriend the news after he got off work at the bicycle shop. The first of many conversations ensued. Abortion was still six years from becoming legal in New York, where the girl and the 18-year-old boy lived. Roe v. Wade was still nine years away from the United States Supreme Court. Still, there were ways. But they were illegal and dangerous and they cost an outrageous sum of money. In the end, the girl and the boy talked themselves into a decision. They drove one mid-August morning to a small

Agrees with critic of Foothills HOA water practices

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town named Elkton on the Maryland border. They brought with them two witnesses, themselves barely adults. The elopement complete, they returned to Queens, married. I was born six months later. My mother told me the story of her choice not to illustrate a political point, I believe, but to underscore that I was a choice, a defining one, a decision that changed the course of her life and my father’s. She eventually became a nurse, but it wasn’t for another 25 years. My father worked three jobs to put himself through night school to earn a college degree. That one choice led to a million sacrifices, disadvantages that could have been avoided with a single decision, to remove the tiny clump of cells that were only a few weeks along and – in my view – not yet human, a life in potential only. I remember asking my mother, “Why not get an abortion?” Her response: “I just

couldn’t. I thought about it so much. But I loved your father and I wanted to have his baby. So that was it.” My mother, as liberal as they come, didn’t live to see the Friday in June when the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade. I know the news would have been a gut punch for her – a woman who herself had a choice, and believed deeply that every woman should have the same freedom to choose. I can imagine her phone call and where the conversation would have taken us: To topics like personal freedom, the right of a woman and a man to decide their own destinies. We would have discussed sacrifice, because it was a theme my mother drilled into me until the day she died. We choose what we become, and every choice we make negates countless other choices. So choose thoughtfully and with love in your heart, because that is the way your parents chose to have you, son. They

were fortunate to have such a choice, because not everyone does. And now, after Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, that choice is gone for many women in many states. My mother, who chose one path for herself, never once spoke ill of the 17-yearold girls who chose a ride that didn’t lead to a courthouse in Maryland. “I could have had an abortion,” my mother told me. “That wasn’t my choice. But I understand it, because my life was never the same.” To say I’m glad my mother chose as she did will sound macabre, because without that choice there would be no column, no life, no me. So, let me say this instead: Imagine if we each lived with consciousness that we are a choice, a set of sacrifices. Then we might not so easily trample the freedoms of others. And America might not be in the sad state in which we find it today. 

stances should our drinking water be used to fill the ponds. Second, I am offended by the HOA’s stance they do not care if the golf course dries up. I lived in Ahwatukee, not far from the Lakes Golf Course ,for over 35 years. When that course was destroyed,

the neighborhood was drastically affected. That decision helped us decide to relocate to the Foothills. When a golf course is destroyed, rabid builders come in with ideas of condos, affordable housing, Montessori schools, and other unnecessary eyesores ruining the

beauty of the neighborhood and the original neighborhood master plans. Mr. Martin says “everyone must cut back together.” I agree. Maybe the HOA can pick one of the decorative ponds to be “ dried up” and turned into a green belt or graveled. -William J. Walker

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Ahwatukee track club preparing athletes for regionals BY ZACH ALVIRA AFN Sports Editor

hwatukee has become a hotbed for talent in track & field in recent years, most notably at the high school level. Desert Vista’s track team has long been one of the state’s top programs, while Mountain Pointe has a rich history of producing top athletes and is now back on the rise. The talent pool also extends to the senior age groups, with the Pacemakers led by Clint “Flash” Santoro producing national champions on a yearly basis. Now, Ahwatukee will start to see an influx of youth talent thanks to AZ Speed. “This is a passion that I have,” said Stacey Boyd, founder of AZ Speed. “(I’m) just trying to service the community and be a part of the community and bring everyone together. It provides a great opportunity to give back to the community.” Boyd established AZ Speed as an extension of Field of Speed, his year-round training business that aims to enhance the athleticism of youth so they can perform at their best on the field and track. Boyd ran track at the junior college level and then at Cal State Long Beach. He currently is an assistant coach at Mountain Pointe and when he isn’t training athletes, he is helping mentor them as the principal at Gateway Community College in Phoenix. Boyd expected his first year of AZ Speed to be developmental for his athletes. He wanted them to enjoy themselves and prepare to compete at a higher level in the fall. But they exceeded expectations. Four AZ Speed athletes qualified for the Regional Junior Olympics in El Paso, Texas on July 8-10. One, Aaron Junior, was named an alternate for the 800 and 200-meter runs in the 9-10U division after he placed fifth at the state level in June. Boyd very quickly realized the talent he has on his hands, and he is excited for the opportunity to show off what his club can do at the regional level. “The idea was just to come out and de-

velop kids for the first year,” Boyd said. “But it’s amazing to see how far they’ve gotten in such a short time. It’s pretty awesome.” Boyd’s son, Shayden, is among the four athletes preparing for El Paso. Competing in the Shayden Boyd, Cammy Kellogg, alternate Aaron Junior and Jessie Young of the 9-10U divi- AZ Speed track and field team are preparing for the Regional Junior Olympics sion, Shayden in El Paso, Texas from July 8-10. They will be joined by teammate Niko Chattic, who has been training in San Diego. (David Minton/Staff Photographer) is the topranked sprinter in the state for his age pete on a big stage. He spends some of group in the 100 and 200-meter dashes. his free time also playing basketball but In a way, he is taking after his brother, has put that behind him for now as he Stacey Boyd II, who was a standout sprint- aims to make it to nationals in Sacramener for McClintock and won state champi- to in late July. onships in 2018 in the 100 and 200. “Very excited,” said Shayden, who Shayden said he was excited to com- added that he aims to be even better in El Paso than he was in the state competition. “Run faster. I want to try to beat my time, like a 12 (seconds).” Niko Chattic will compete in the 800-meter 8U boys division in El Paso. He spent most of last week training in San Diego with his father on the beach. He even challenged other kids to races, which he won. Cammy Kellogg will also run the 800 in the 9-10U girls division. Kellogg comes from an athletic family. Her older brother Kayden will play football, basketball and run track at Higley in the fall. Founder and head coach of AZ Speed Stacey Boyd, Along with track, she also rides who also coaches at Mountain Pointe, said this year horses and plays soccer. was initially intended to be a developmental year for Horse riding is her favorite the club. But now, all four qualifiers have an oppor- sport for now. She said she enjoys tunity to make it to nationals in Sacramento later this feeling in control while with her month. (David Minton/Staff Photographer) horse Chino. But she’s excited for

what her future holds in track and is looking forward to competing in El Paso on a big stage. She’s also excited for a potential reward from her parents. “It’s very exciting,” Kellogg said. “I want to make a score that was higher than my last one. I want to stay in the top four. I think if I do well, I can convince my mom to get me a ferret. They’re just fun to play with.” Jessie Young, the oldest of the group at 12 years old, initially thought her future would only involve basketball at Leading Edge Academy in Gilbert. But then she began throwing shot put and fell in love. Boyd said her progression in the field event has been a surprise, as she has quickly become one of the best in the state in the 13-14U age group for girls. Like her teammates, she is excited for the opportunity to compete at regionals. Though, she knows her competition will be tough. “I just try to try my best,” Young said. “I threw (9-feet) in my last competition so if I can throw a 10 or 11, that would help me qualify for the next one. That would make me very excited, I would be very happy. So would my family.” It’s not just Young that Boyd has been impressed with this season. All the athletes – including those who didn’t qualify – showed a large amount of improvement in their first season. Boyd and Malia Austin, who is the records specialist at Mountain Pointe and business manager for AZ Speed, aim to build the club into a powerhouse that feeds into both Ahwatukee high schools in the years to come. They both expect the club to grow for the next season, which will begin in October. But for now, the goal is to have all four athletes qualify for nationals. “I’m very excited and a very proud coach,” Boyd said. “The cool thing about it is they all have the opportunity to qualify. The expectation is they do.” Those interested in joining AZ Speed or making a tax-deductible donation can contact azspeedtrackclub@yahoo.com or Austin directly at 520-975-2708. 

AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS | JULY 6, 2022

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Wine collective shares tastes of the state BY ALEX GALLAGHER AFN Staff Writer

t’s hard for Zoya Vora-Shah to remember what her life was like before she got involved in the wine industry. However, she admits there was a time when she knew very little about the beloved beverage. “I didn’t know anything about wine. But I knew that people were passionate about it and people, kind of whoever drank wine, got into it,” she said. That all changed when she had a conversation with a wine representative that came into a restaurant where she was working. “So, I had worked at a couple of wineoriented restaurants, but I had no clue what I was doing. Then a wine rep came in and did a whole sit-down sensory tasting to taste the different wines,” Vora-Shah recalled. “It completely made sense after that why people love wine and why wine

Zoya Vora-Shah owns The Wine Collective in Old Town Scottsdale. (David Minton/AFN Staff Photographer)

goes with certain foods and it clicked.” From that moment on, Vora-Shah was hooked. She eventually ventured on her own opening My Wine Cellar in Ahwatukee and MWC – the acronym version of My Wine Cellar – in Gilbert but eventually sold both places to two different owners.

After that, Vora-Shah went back to the corkboard and took a job at Carlson Creek Vineyard, Scottsdale Tasting Room where she learned more about the wine industry. “I had an impression about Arizona wines and it was completely shattered by working there,” she said. Vora-Shah then found her spark to get

back into the wine business and asked her boss Robert Carlson what her next move should be. “I got energized and I was very just motivated and I asked Robert ‘What do you think I should do?’” Vora-Shah recalls. “And he said ‘Well, you have two choices: You can either move to Wilcox and be a farmer and winemaker or you could open a collective where you represent different orders from Arizona.’” She chose the latter and the Wine Collective of Scottsdale was born. Vora-Shah began looking for a place to call home. After searching three places, she found one place vaulted on the corner of First Avenue and Scottsdale Road, specifically 4020 N. Scottsdale Road, Unit 104. “This was a vault of Bank of America,” Vora-Shah said “But I saw the potential and my property owner

see WINE page 43

Chandler pub serves up authentic Irish fare

BY MELODY BIRKETT GetOut Contributor

ince opening in March 2003, Fibber Magees in Chandler has been the East Valley’s destination place for anyone in search of an authentic Irish pub and fare. “One of the reasons we feel we can claim to be authentic is we got some Irish ownership,” bragged owner and General Manager Matt Brennan, one of four managing partners. “Two of the original founding partners were born and raised in Ireland and one of those is still the remaining partner of the four of us,” he added. “One of our partners is an Irish-born citizen and carries an Irish passport. It lends us a certain amount of authenticity.” “When making decisions about how the pub operates and the kind of offerings we have, what we’re trying to accomplish with

explained Brennan. “If we’re going to make a decision to show sports, is this something you could see in an Irish pub in the countryside for all of Ireland? We think those kinds of things lend to the authenticity.” The food certainly adds to the authenticity. “Corned beef and cabbage have become synonymous with Irish so it’s not something eaten in Ireland or wasn’t historically,” said Brennan. “It was something the Irish immigrants started cooking when they first settled in America and were living in major Fibber Magees owner/General Manager Matt Bren- cities amongst some of the poornan has built an authentic Irish menu and atmosphere est populations. The brisket was a meat that was popular with those at his Chandler restaurant. (Special to the Tribune) communities because it was inexthe business, we’re doing it with the idea of pensive but not necessarily easy to cook.” Brennan added there’s not a lot of beef would this be authentic to a pub in Ireland,”

consumption in Ireland with most of the bovine population being dairy-centric. He said, “They don’t commit a lot of resources to grow cattle for beef – much more with lamb, pork and even chicken than beef. “To that end, we have our shepherd’s pie which is very traditional to the Irish, a stew made of lamb we get imported traditionally from Australia, which has some of the highest quality of lamb in the world. Then it’s cooked into a savory stew with carrots, leeks, and peas and put into a shallow dish covered with mashed potatoes and baked. “That’s very traditionally Irish. We also have fish and chips which is traditional late-night drinking food all over Ireland and the UK, in general. No good night doesn’t end with a trip to the chipper as they call it.”

see FIBBER page 43

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AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS | JULY 6, 2022

WINE from page 42

showed me his vision of what this could be. He showed me that we were going to do the deck and he showed me that we were going to do all these little things.” Even though it took a year to transform the desolate vault into a vibrant wine collective, Vora-Shah used the months leading up to her April opening to reach out to local and prospective wine purveyors to provide their products to her thirsty patrons. “I traveled through Sonoita and Wilcox and I went to see all these vineyards before I opened and they were able to show me showcase like all of their portfolio and I made some relationships with them,” she said. However, the prospect of having wine in a space in Old Town was Vora-Shah’s bestselling point to the budding vineyards especially because of its traveled wine trail that includes stops at Merkin Vineyards, LDV Vineyards and Carlson Creek who Vo-

FIBBER from page 42

The most authentic item, Brennan said, on the menu is the Irish breakfast or as they call it, Irish fry up. It’s usually enjoyed on a weekend or special occasion and consists of a plate of eggs cooked to order, Batchelor’s brand of Irish baked beans and rashers which is Ireland’s version of bacon (pork loin as opposed to pork belly, cured but not smoked, and more similar to Canadian bacon). Also included is black and white pudding which is a mixture of meat, spices and grains, like a sausage. And bangers or house-baked Irish brown bread is served, too, as part of the breakfast along with grilled tomatoes and sautéed mushrooms. “Everything is imported,” said Brennan. “We bring in the real ingredients from Ireland to make sure we’re offering the most authentic plate of food we can.” While burgers aren’t considered authentic Irish food, the Rasher Burger is a popular item and comes with Irish bacon as opposed to American bacon for a little twist. “The Belfast Burger is one of our signature burgers with sautéed onions and mushrooms, garlic aioli, onion ring, choice of cheese on a brioche bun,” said Brennan. “Nothing particularly Irish about it other than its name but it’s one of our most popular burgers. “We’re an Irish pub but we’re still in Chandler and we have to give the customers what they want. People who go out to a

The Wine Collective offers a wide variety of Arizona wines in a relaxed atmosphere. (David Minton/Progress Staff Photographer)

ra-Shah hopes to foster a community with. “My goal is to be a community and the whole goal is for us to recommend each other and showcase Arizona ones and show that we’re here as a community and not a competition,” she said. With her business in its first few months

of operation, Vora-Shah is using the slow time that the summer provides to get prepared for when tourists begin to flock back to town. However, Vora-Shah does have a unique special going on for all local customers where she is offering 20% off all of her nosh

pub are still expecting pub fare and burg- draft - an Irish red ale called Smithwick’s, Harp, Irish logger, and Irish cream ale ers certainly fall under that.” When it comes to popular Irish beers, Kilkenny. An Irish cider is served, too, which Brennan said is also popular. “The Guinness is usually what comes to mind. “It’s not to say there aren’t other brew- Irish nationals that come to the restaurant ers in Ireland but Guinness is going to drink the cider almost exclusively.” The restaurant also owns be represented by about its own brand, called 80-percent of all Irish Boyle’s Beer Combeer sales or pany. It’s made more,” Brennan under consaid. tract by a “Currently, local craft we have a Guinness brewer and draft stout represents available a marriage between here at the old-worldpub. We are style Irish beers actually the reigning Perfect and American craft Pint Champion for beers. 2022. Every year, Fish and chips is one of the specialties at What differentiGuinness brewery Fibber Magees. (Courtesy of Matt Brennan} ates Irish beer from collects the barother beers is watenders from the top Guinness accounts ter, according to Brennan. throughout Arizona, and gets them all to“Water in Dublin is quite hard and mingether to compete in a round-robin tour- eral-rich and when you use that kind of wanament,” he continued. ter to make beer, it leaves a very distinctive “Whoever is the last person standing flavor to the final product that people have gets crowned Perfect Pint Champion. That come to love over the years. It’s one of the was our bar manager Mike Fisch. This is reasons Guinness tastes the way it does. the third time we’ve been the champion. “Brewers in America, where we have a We’re the only pub in Arizona that has different water source, try to treat the wawon three times. So, we take the Guinness ter by adding minerals and salt back into it pouring very seriously.” to replicate that Dublin-style water.” The pub also offers four Irish beers on Brennan is originally from Chicago and

boards all month long for customers to munch on as they sip their wines or sample wines from her various wine flight options. Next month she also plans to offer all bottles of her wines at the price she pays per bottle. “I got my inspiration to do this because the resorts around here do staycation deals in the summertime,” Vora-Shah said. “I feel like in summertime not all of us are lucky enough to have a second home and I figured why not appreciate locals by doing this.” Although she offers several styles of local wine on her shelves and for customers to sip at her bar, Vora-Shah admits her taste in wines is fluid. However, she has recently been on a white wine kick. “I don’t have a favorite wine; However, I have wine that I drink currently because wine should be drunk based on the weather, the food you are eating and your mood,” Vora-Shah said. “What I’m drinking right now is a lot of white wines.” Information: The-wine-collective.com. worked in the beer business for over 20 years, including owning a Chicago pub and neighborhood bar and grill in Chicago. As a professional brewer, he has sold beer wholesale, marketed beer and worked for distributors. “I was not part of the original ownership group at Fibber Magees,” said Brennan. “I was hired in 2013 to be the general manager and within 1-1/2 years’ time I worked out an equity deal with the partners where I would become a partner …and I’m now the majority shareholder of the company.” “I always wanted to turn my interests and my passions into careers if I could,” explained Brennan. “If you enjoy what you do, you never work a day in your life as the saying goes. So, I was passionate about craft beer and the hospitality industry. You need to have some infinity for it because you won’t last long if you don’t. “It’s a tough business – never more so than these days. If you don’t enjoy doing it, it doesn’t lend itself to being successful. You need to be hospitable. If you’re not in a good mood it’s impossible to be hospitable.” Survival during the shutdown was the result of being an established member of the community. “We were well supported,” Brennan explained. “Carryout helped us retain key kitchen staff we didn’t want to lose. But we were able to move a lot of liquor inventory both in selling full bottles and

see FIBBER page 45

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AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS | JULY 6, 2022

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PUZZLES ANSWERS on page 45

You might come to love stuffed grape leaves with this recipe

’ve always sort of liked stuffed grape leaves. But it wasn’t until this recipe that I now love them! What a difference a great recipe can make, right? Stuffed grape leaves, also known as Dolmas or Dolmades, can be a delightful appetizer or side dish to a wonderful Mediterranean or Middle Eastern menu. I found this dish to be really fun to make. The hardest part is taking the grape leaves out of the jar! I have no idea how they stuff them in there, but have patience and take your time getting Rub ingredients: • 25-30 grape leaves, plus more to line the pan • 1 pound ground pork • 5 tablespoons rice, partially cooked and rinsed • 1 large sweet onion, chopped fine • 1 tablespoon butter • 1 tablespoon vegetable oil • 1 small bunch cilantro, chopped • 10 large basil leaves, chopped Directions: Carefully take grape leaves out of the jar, and rinse well. Remove stems. Set torn leaves aside to line the pan later. Partially cook rice by adding rice and 2/3 cups of water to a small pan. Bring to a boil and let simmer 3-4 minutes. Transfer to a sieve and rinse. Add butter and vegetable oil to a medium pan over medium high heat. When butter is melted add onion and cook, stirring, until translucent and just starting to brown, about 3 minutes. Let cool slightly. In a large bowl, combine pork, cooked onion, rice, chopped cilantro, basil, mint, cumin, salt, and pepper. On a clean working surface, place a grape leaf smooth and shiny side down. Put about 2 tablespoons of the beef/rice mixture in the middle of the leave, closer to the stem. Fold the bottom part of the leaf, covering the filling. Then fold two sides over and roll the leaf up, burrito style, seam side

them out. After that, smooth sailing to a memorable meal!.■ • • • • • • •

10 medium mint leaves, chopped 1 tablespoon ground cumin 1 teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon black pepper 1/4 cup lemon juice 1 teaspoon salt 2 cups water (or more depending on the size of your pan)

down. Repeat with all the remaining leaves and filling. Line a large deep skillet with grape leaves. Place the dolmas close to each other in the grape leaves lined pan. (You can make two layers if needed.) Combine lemon juice, water and salt and pour into the skillet just to barely cover the dolmas. Place an inverted plate or a smaller lid on top of the dolmas to prevent them from floating and unwrapping. (This step is essential!) Bring to a boil, then immediately reduce heat to a gentle simmer for 60-75 minutes. Remove from heat and let stand for 15-30 minutes. Serves 12. (Note: You can find a Dolmas Spice Blend at any Middle Eastern Market which can replace the fresh herbs. If choosing this option, replace the fresh cilantro, basil and mint with one heaping tablespoon of dried Dolmas Spice Blend)

AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS | JULY 6, 2022

FIBBER from page 43

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custom-made cocktails to go. The type of liquor license we hold allows us to do it. “The timing of the shutdown was four days after St. Patrick’s Day so for us, it was a crushing blow,” he added. “We didn’t know until the last minute that we weren’t going to be able to hold our traditional St. Patrick’s Day, which is a large outdoor event where we block off the parking lot and extend our premises so we can have a capacity of over 1,200 guests. But we thought we would so we bought $10,000 worth of food and liquor in preparation for the event which never happened.” In addition to serving food and beer, the pub offers live music, bar trivia and bar games and hosts a craft beer festival each July. Information: fibbermageespub.com, 480-722-9434. 

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GARAGE DOOR SPRINGS REPLACED Licensed • Bonded • Insured

Irrigation

REMODEL CONTRACTOR

MD’S LANDSCAPING Drip Systems Installed, Valves/Timer Repairs

Plans / Additions, Patios New Doors, Windows Lowest Price in Town! R. Child Lic#216115, Class BO3 Bonded-Insured-Ref's

CASH OUT!

480-215-3373

FREE ESTIMATES! CALL 24 HOURS 25 Yrs Exp. I Do All My Own Work! Call Mark

Hauling

WORKMANSHIP GUARANTEED!

• BASE BOARDS • DRYWALL • ELECTRICAL • PAINTING • PLUMBING • BATHROOMS • WOOD FLOORING • FRAMING WALLS • FREE ESTIMATES • GRANITE FABRICATION & INSTALLATION • CARPET INSTALLATION • LANDSCAPING

No Job Too Small! Senior Discounts!

Sprinkler & Drip Systems Repairs • Modifications • Installs

David Hernandez (602) 802 3600

daveshomerepair@yahoo.com • Se Habla Español

HOME SERVICES “For all your Home Exterior Needs”

Roger Kretz 480.233.0336

rogerkretz@yahoo.com 25+ Years of Customer Services

• Leaky Roof Repairs • Tile Repairs • Painting • Flat Roof Coating • Wood Repair • Doors & Windows

Your newspaper. Your community. Your planet.

Irrigation

• 20+ Years Experience • 6 Year Warranty

480.345.1800 ROC 304267 • Licensed & Bonded

Landscape Design/Installation

JOSE’S LANDSCAPING

ROC # 336907

480-898-6465

Referred out of Ewing Irrigation Not a licensed contractor.

Please recycle me.

623-853-3311

Call us to place your ad online!

480.295.2279

Home Improvement

SERVICE | INSTALLATIONS | REPAIRS

MISSED THE DEADLINE?

Let’s get your Watering System working again! System Checks • Drip Checks

Home Remodeling

Not a licensed contractor.

CALL DOUG

Home Improvement

NOT A LICENSED CONTRACTOR

• Furniture • Appliances • Mattresses • Televisions • Garage Clean-Out • Construction Debris

• Old Paint & Chems. • Yard Waste • Concrete Slab • Remodeling Debris • Old Tires

• Sprinkler/Drip Repairs • New Installs Poly/PVC • Same Day Service ARRANTY 5 -YEAR PART W

480.654.5600 azirrigation.com Cutting Edge LLC • ROC 281671

Specializing in Artificial • Front Yards Grass

• Synthetic Turf for your Home

• Back Yards • Golfing Greens

Call Today For A Quote

480-690-0081 Not a licensed contractor.

CLASSIFIEDS

AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS | JULY 6, 2022

Landscape Design/Installation

Landscape/Maintenance

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

Serving the Valley for over 28 years

The Possibilities are Endless

Irrigation Repair Services Inc.

MAKE A LOT!

Paint Interior & Exterior • Drywall Repair Light Carpentry • Power Washing • Textures Matched Popcorn Removal • Pool Deck Coatings Garage Floor Coatings • Color Consulting

To learn more about us, view our photo gallery at: ShadeTreeLandscapes.com

www.irsaz.com

— Call Jason —

480.721.4146

480-730-1074

10% OFF

PAINTING

CALL US TODAY!

Specializing in Controllers, Valves, Sprinklers, Landscape Lighting, P.V.C. & Poly Drip Systems

East Valley PAINTERS Voted #1

Interior & Exterior Residential/Commercial Free Estimates Drywall Repairs Senior Discounts References Available

Licensed • Bonded • Insured

Call for a FREE consultation and Estimate

Bonded/Insured/Licensed • ROC #225923

SPEND A LITTLE…

Painting

Custom Design and Renovation turning old to new 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

Painting

We Beat Competitors Prices & Quality Free Estimates! Home of the 10-Year Warranty!

480-688-4770

www.eastvalleypainters.com Family Owned & Operated

(602) 502-1655

ROC# 256752

See MORE Ads Online!

LANDSCAPE SERVICES Landscape/Maintenance

High Quality Results

Gravel Spreading & Removal • Initial Yard Clean Up • We Remove Concrete New Installations Irrigation & Drip Systems Storm Damage • Palm & Tree Trimming Tree Removal

WE ARE SPECIALISTS IN YARD CLEAN UP

TRIM TREES ALL TYPES GRAVEL - PAVERS SPRINKLER SYSTEMS

Responsible • 100% Guaranteed Call or text for a FREE ESTIMATE

Jose Martinez

Arizona Specialty Landscape

Complete Clean Ups

Not a licensed contractor.

602.515.2767 WANT A GREEN LAWN?

480-217-0407 Ramón Rodriguez

ROC# 186443 • BONDED

theplugman.com

FREE FERTILIZER & SOIL AMENDMENT TREATMENT WITH CORE AERATION FERTILIZATION • SOIL AMENDMENTS • SOIL TESTING ROC 282663 * BONDED * INSURED YOUR LAWN EXPERT SINCE 1995

Call/Text 480.695-3639

www.Ahwatukee.com Painting

602.625.0599

Suntechpaintingaz.com Family Owned In Best of Ahwatukee Year After Year

ROC #155380

New & Re-Do Design and Installation

Free Estimates 7 Days a Week! 480-940-8196

• High Quality Materials & Workmanship • Customer Satisfaction ee • Countless References Serving Ahwatuk Since 1987 • Free Estimates

Not a Licensed Contractor

Affordable | Paver Specialists All phases of landscape installation. Plants, cacti, sod, sprinklers, granite, concrete, brick, Kool-deck, lighting and more!

Now Accepting all major credit cards

Bonded/Insured • ROC#153131

“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

Meetings/Events? Get Free notices in the Classi ieds! Submit to ecota@timeslocalmedia.com

License #ROC 298736

1-Day Epoxy for Garages, Patios, Pool Decks & More! • Interior & Exterior Painting • Professional Cabinet Refinishing • In-Home Color Consultations “Professional, Punctual & Clean”

Veteran Owned

www.ACP www.A CPpaintingllc.com paintingllc.com Licensed - Bonded - Insured ROC 290242

FREE ESTIMATES • CALL TODAY!

480-785-6323

CLASSIFIEDS

Place YOUR Business HERE! Call for our 3 Month Trial Special! Classifieds: 480-898-6465

AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS | JULY 6, 2022

Plumbing

Plumbing Drain Cleaning Experts, water heaters, disposals, water & sewer lines repaired/replaced & remodels. Rapid Response. If water runs through it we do it! 602-663-8432

Pool Service / Repair

Plumbing

PLUMBERS CHARGE TOO MUCH! FREE Service Calls + FREE Estimates Water Heaters Installed - $999 Unclog Drains - $49

Watch for Garage Sales in Classifieds!

AHWATUKEE SPECIAL $

Off 40work done

You will find them easy with their yellow background.

*Any

Ahwatukee!

10% OFF

Monthly Service & Repairs Available 7 6 6 5

www.barefootpoolman.com

HOME IMPROVEMENT & PAINTING Interior/Exterior Painting 30 YEARS EXPERIENCE

We Are State Licensed and Reliable!

480-405-7099 www.affinityplumbingaz.com

Free Estimate & Color Consultation

Your Ahwatukee Plumber & East Valley Neighbor 24/7

Inside & Out Leaks

Bonded

ConklinPainting.com

Toilets

Insured

Faucets

Estimates Availabler

$35 off

Any Service

Lic/Bond/Ins ROC# 270450

Plumbing

$95/month

CPO#85-185793

Not a licensed contractor

480-888-5895

Roofing

Play Pools start at

Mark 602-799-0147

Water Heaters

Disposals

Juan Hernandez

Pavers • Concrete • Water Features • Sprinkler Repair

PPebbleOcracking, O L Plaster R Epeeling, P ARebar IR showing, Pool Light out? I CAN HELP!

SPECIAL! $500 OFF COMPLETE REMODEL! 25 Years Experience • Dependable & Reliable

Call Juan at

480-720-3840 Not a licensed contractor.

We Repair or Install ROC # 272721

Not a licensed contractor

$35.00 Off Any Service Call Today!

AHWATUKEE’S #1 PLUMBER Licensed • Bonded • Insured (480)

704.5422

Tiles, shingles, flat, repairs & new work Free Estimates • Ahwatukee Resident Over 30 yrs. Experience

480-706-1453

Licensed/Bonded/Insured • ROC #236099

Over 30 Years of Experience Family Operated by 3 Generations of Roofers!

Spencer 4 HIRE ROOFING Valley Wide Service

480-446-7663

Roofing

PLUMBING A+ RATED

To place an ad please call: 480-898-6465 class@TimesLocal Media.com

Ask About Filter Cleaning Specials!

Anything Plumbing Same Day Service

Interior Painting ● Pressure Washing Exterior Painting ● Drywall/Stucco Repair Complete Prep Work ● Wallpaper Removal

Owner Operated - 20 Years

Licensed, Bonded & Insured ROC#272001

Only $27.50 includes 1 week online

with chemicals

ROC#309706

CONKLIN PAINTING

See our Befores and Afters on Facebook

MARK’S POOL SERVICE

affinityplumber@gmail.com

Free Estimates • Senior Discounts

480-338-4011

Pool Service / Repair

Bonded/Insured • ROC #223709

Affinity Plumbing LLC 480-487-5541

Dunn Edwards Quality Paint Small Stucco/Drywall Repairs

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

BESTOF

2019

All Water Purification Systems Voted #1 Plumber 3 Years In A Row OVER 1,000 5-STAR REVIEWS

Painting

Ahwatukee!

10% OFF with this ad

Serving All Types Clean, Prompt, Friendly and Professional Service of Roofing: FREE ESTIMATES • Tiles & Shingles • Installation • Repair • Re-Roofing

sunlandroofingllc@gmail.com

602-471-2346

Ahwatukee’s Premier Tile, Shingle & Foam Roofer! FREE Estimates • Credit Cards OK www.spencer4hirerooﬁng.com ROC#244850 | Insured | Bonded

CLASSIFIEDS

AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS | JULY 6, 2022

Roofing

Family Operated by 3 Generations of Roofers! We have a “Spencer” on every job and every step of the way.

480-699-2754 • info@monsoonroofinginc.com

10% Discount for Ahwatukee Residents 100% NO Leak Guarantee Re-Roof & Roofing Repairs Tile, Shingles & Flat Roof

MonsoonRooﬁngInc.com Licensed – Bonded – Insured – ROC187561

480-446-7663 Ahwatukee’s Premier Tile, Shingle & Foam Roofer!

LICENSED | BONDED | INSURED | ROC #269218

$1000 OFF when you show this ad *on qualifying complete roof replacements

PHILLIPS

ROOFING LLC COMMERCIAL AND RESIDENTIAL

Family Owned & Operated for over 30 years

ROC #152111

Quality Repairs & Re-Roofs Complimentary & Honest Estimates

Family Owned and Operated 43 Years Experience in Arizona

623-873-1626 Free Estimates Monday through Saturday

Ask us about our discount for all Military and First Responders!

PhillipsRoofing.org PhillipsRoofing@cox.net

www.porterroofinginc.com

Oooh, MORE ads online!

Licensed, Bonded, Insured ROC152111

Check Our Online Classifieds Too!

CLASSIFIEDS 480-898-6465 class@Times LocalMedia.com

u Th

e IN

Call

-EX D i ﬀe r e n c e

602-938-7575

for your FREE Roof Evaluation Today!

Licensed 2006 ROC 223367 Bonded Insured

Call our office today!

480-460-7602

Let Us Show Yo

FREE Estimates • Credit Cards OK www.spencer4hirerooﬁng.com ROC#244850 | Insured | Bonded

www.Ahwatukee.com

www.InExRo

oﬁn

g.c o m

It Only Takes Seconds to Drown. Always watch your child around water.

CLASSIFIEDS

AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS | JULY 6, 2022