Ahwatukee Foothills News, October 26, 2022

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Industrial, apartment complexes proposed here

BY PAUL MARYNIAK AFN Executive Editor

neither has yet been scheduled for a public hearing before the Ahwatukee Foothills Vil lage Planning Committee.

congestion that often develops along the en tire Ray Road retail strip between 48th Street and I-10.

Separate

and unrelated rezoning requests submitted to the Phoenix Planning De partment recently would bring three massive light-industrial buildings and a sixbuilding, 417-unit apartment complex on the eastern edge of Ahwatukee.

Bordered by S. 50th Street, I-10, Chandler Boulevard and Ray Road, the projects are just beginning with the city approval process and

At least one nearby resident fears the two projects pose the possibility of a significant impact on traffic – especially at Ray Road and S. 50th Street, where the apartment complex would be located.

“It’s already a nightmare on that part of Ray Road,” the resident said, noting the traffic de lays that often extend east into the first two major Chandler intersections as well as the

Online neighborhood meetings – the first step in the city approval process – have al ready been scheduled for both projects.

Converge Logistics Center, which wants to rezone 28.6 acres at 15175 S. 50th St. between Ray Road and Chandler Boulevard, was to hold its neighborhood meeting yesterday, Oct. 25.

Costumed canines

BY PAUL MARYNIAK AFN Executive Editor

One of the staples of Ahwatukee’s social calendar that appeared all but dead is coming back next month after a twoyear hiatus with a different date and vendor focus – but still loaded with the elements that made it a festive occasion for more than two decades.

For the 25th time, the Ahwatukee Festival of Lights Kick-Off Party will be held 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Nov. 19 at Desert Foothills Park, 1010 E Marketplace Way.

Some major tweaks have been made to the party – which provides some of the funds for the holiday lights that will be switched in the next week or so on the Chandler Boulevard

People won’t be the only creatures with costumes this Halloween weekend in Ahwatukee. Dogs will be able to vie for best costume among other categories at the Ahwatukee Events Center, 4700 E. Warner Road, for the 15th annual Ahwatukee Dog Show. For full details, see page 24. (Tabitha Doyle/Special to AFN)

ARC assessment hike angers some homeowners

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EDITORIAL CONTENT

The Ahwatukee Foothills News expresses

BY PAUL MARYNIAK AFN Executive Editor

Some of the1,628 homeowners in the Ahwatukee Recreation Center home owners association are fuming over a 9.94% increase in their annual dues, con tending it adversely impacts residents on fixed incomes.

Critics have taken to social media con demning the dues hike, saying they had no warning it was coming. The increase for homeowners amounts to $64, bringing their annual assessment to $710.

HOA Board President Andy Wangstad said the increase is needed to help fund ex pansion of ARC’s physical fitness services and that he had been warning homeown ers in monthly newsletters for the last two months that an increase was coming.

Minutes of the HOA’s board meetings show an increase had been discussed as early as January. “An assessment increase that the board can approve without tak ing it to the membership is 10% for capital improvements,” the minutes for its Jan. 13 meeting state.

The minutes for its July 14 meeting show that one woman wrote theboard and said “There is some concern among members about the 10% increase in the assessment. With today’s economy, many people are worried about making the increased pay ments. She asked when people come to the board with concerns please listen and be sympathetic to their issues.”

According to those minutes, that pro voked a discussion on whether the board should create a nonprofit foundation “that members could donate to also receive help from when needed.” Subsequent meeting minutes do not indicate whether the idea was further discussed.

Further fueling residents’ furor is a proposed revision of the HOA’s articles of incorporation. The board has scheduled a meeting to explain those revisions at 10 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 29, in the main hall.

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The HOA also is in the middle of an all-mail election for two board seats and will determine if homeowners accept the revised articles of incorporation. Ballots must be turned in by 4 p.m. Nov. 7 and the

ARC page 4

from

board will disclose the results at 6:30 p.m. the same day.

Some long-time residents like Madelyn Israel are wondering why the articles of incorporation are being changed and why one of those changes involves the elimination of a $250,000 cap on any borrowing.

Wangstad told AFN, “I was surprised to see that (cap) removed.”

He said the board has never borrowed any money and any ove to take a loan would be subject to a vote by members anyway.

“As far as I am concerned, that can be put back into the articles of incorporation next year,” he said, adding that most of the revi sions are needed because the document has not been revised since it was first approved in 1974.

Israel, 87, is most upset about the as sessment increase, saying it was done “in secret” and that she was upset by Wang stad’s reminders to some members that Social Security recipients are getting an 8.7% bump for 2023.

“I just got my new premium for my Medicare supplement and that’s going

up,” she said. “And the 8.7% increase in Social Security – that’s mostly gone to the supermarket.”

Added homeowner Janice Hecht: “Not everyone living here is on Social Security and I wonder how many of the work ing people got an 8.7% salary increase

this year.”

She also contended that the board did little to advertise the assessment increase when it held its meeting to adopt next year’s budget.

Wangstad said that the assessment is needed so the board can prepare an ex

pansion of its gym facilities.

“It boils down to the fact that we need space for our most popular use – fitness classes such as tai chi, yoga and Zumba,” he said.

“As younger people join, this is what they want,” he continued, adding that the board should have been adding a 1% in crease in each of the last 10 years to build up enough money for the expansion.

“So we’re doing a larger bump this year, but it still doesn’t equal inflation,” he said. Board minutes show that dis cussion of the ARC’s 2023 budget was delayed in July until the following month “to give members the opportunity to look at the proposed budget more closely.”

The minutes – which all members can access online – also show the budget wasn’t approved until Sept. 15, when there also was a discussion of a physical fitness building.

Noting constriuction “couldn’t feasibly start until the beginning of 2024 at the very earliest,” the Sept. 15 minutes also state, “A very basic building, no bath rooms, just to use for fitness could possi bly be done for $700,000.”

The Ahwatukee Recreation Center on Cheyenne Drive is marking its 50th anniversary next year. (Ahwatukee Recreation Center)

Scheduled to mark its 50th anniversary next March, the ARC is a 55+ sub-associa tion of the sprawling Ahwatukee Board of Management, which assesses its own an nual dues on homeowners.

The ARC is home to 28 craft clubs, a nonprofit that sends packages to over seas troops, and Ahwatukee Ameri can Legion Post 64. It also makes social memberships available to non-residents over 55 who pay a higher annual fee but have no voting rights.

The HOA also offers a swimming pool, tennis and pickleball courts, billiards ta bles, and even a gift shop to members.

With a. staff of 17, it runs on a budget that totals $1.14 million this year, and has a reserve fund of more than $1.35 million used for repairs and other capital costs.

“It would be fun to do a comparison with other recreation centers,” Wangstad said. “At first glance, we’re by far the least expensive. But it’s tough to compare.”

When the ARC was formed in 1973, he said, the late Randall Presley “had three markets in mind: families, adults-only and a retirement community” because “the three housing types would provide more diversity than existed in Sun City.” Presley, who died 10 years ago, laid the foundation for Ahwatukee.

The ARC’s retirement homes “were tied to an activities center that provided a place for retirees to gather, swim and have activities. All the retirement homes belong to the center as specified in their deeds,” Wangstad said.

“Today, the Ahwatukee Recreation Cen ter has a beautiful facility, indoor and out door pools, fitness center, complete wood working shop as well as stained glass, jewelry, quilting, ceramics and much more, including social groups to sing, play cards and games,” he continued.

Wangstad also stressed that as it ap proaches its half-century since it was built, the ARC buildings are aging.

“The reserve fund is well funded, which will replace assets as they wear out,” he said. “Unfortunately, the fitness classes are very popular and were moved to the Main Hall during the pandemic as the aerobics room is small and has poor ventilation.

“Even though we have funding to re place existing assets, we haven’t raised our annual dues more than inflation so that we have little for a new structure.”

Minutes for the HOA board’s meetings

show a continuing concern about comndi tions of Building B.

Wangstad also said assessment increas es are “normally just included in the bud get and not announced.”

“But this was larger than our recent in creases so we’ve been talking about it in our newsletter, the ARC Life,” he contin ued. “If you compare it to Social Security, it’s about $5 a month.”

Wangstad acknowledged the criticism the increase has generated, stating, “There is always a faction that opposes any effort to improve the facility, and they’ve been vocal recently.

“We have never gone into debt to fi nance any improvement – and have no intentions to do so – and feel that this in crease will give us a strong financial posi tion to provide what our active members are asking for.”

Hecht countered, “Some of the mem bers are over the age of 75 and not that interested in exercising, therefore there should be plenty of room for those who may attend.”

She said the board should make the nonresident ARC members bear the larger share of the annual assessment increase.

On social media, some residents com plained that during the height of the pandemic, many of the ASRC’s amenities were closed. “None of us got some monies back,” one commenter wrote, “but for sure we had to pay.”

Critics also have been urging residents to vote against the proposed revisions to the articles of incorporation. Those revi sions also have been discussed at several board meetings this year.

Other residents have been less harsh about the board, urging residents to pro pose ways of saving money instead.

“You complain about the price increase but what are you doing to help the ARC save money?” one wrote. “Health insur ance costs are going up for the ARC as well as utilities and maintenance costs. Pitch in to help cut costs, ask what you can do!”

Meanwhile, Hecht hopes homeown ers are paying attention to the ongoing election, which is not beign conducted online.

“A 5x7” white envelope was sent to our homes with a return address show ing Ahwatukee Recreational Center,” she said, stating she hopes residents will “open and read the materials and vote and return it in the envelope provided or drop it off inside the ARC lobby.” 

AND CHRONIC PAIN TREATMENTS NOT WORKING!!

Mesa, AZ – When it comes to chronic pain and/ or neuropathy, the most common doctor-prescribed treatment is drugs like Gabapentin, Lyrica, Cymbalta, and Neurontin. The problem with antidepressants or anti-seizure medications like these is that they offer purely symptomatic relief, as opposed to targeting and treating the root of the problem. Worse, these drugs often trigger an onset of uncomfortable, painful, and sometimes harmful side effects.

The only way to effectively treat chronic pain and/or peripheral neuropathy is by targeting the source, which is the result of nerve damage owing to inadequate blood flow to the nerves in the hands and feet. This often causes weakness, numbness, balance problems. A lack of nutrients causes the nerves degenerate – an insidious

cannot survive, and thus, slowly die. This leads to those painful and frustrating consequences we were talking about earlier, like weakness, numbness, tingling, balance issues, and perhaps even a burning sensation.

The drugs your doctor might prescribe will temporarily conceal the problems, putting a “Band-Aid” over a situation that will only continue to deteriorate without further action.

1. Finding the underlying cause

2. Determining the extent of the nerve damage (above 95% nerve loss is rarely treatable)

3. The amount of treatment required for the patient’s unique condition

The number of treatments required varies from patient to patient, and can only be determined following an in-depth neurological and vascular examination. As long as you have less than 95% nerve damage, there is hope!

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Th is ground-breaking treatment is engineered to achieve the following, accompanied by advanced diagnostics and a basic skin biopsy to accurately analyze results:

1. Increases blood flow

2. Stimulates and strengthens small fiber nerves

3. Improves brain-based pain

The treatment works by delivering energy to the affected area(s) at varying wavelengths, from low- to middle-frequency signals, while also using

Amplitude Modulated (AM) and Frequency Modulated (FM) signaling

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Aspen Medical begins by analyzing the extent of the nerve damage –a complimentary service for your friends and family. Each exam comprises a detailed sensory evaluation, extensive peripheral vascular testing, and comprehensive analysis of neuropathy findings.

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In previous years, the Festival of Lights Kickoff Party was held the Saturday of Thanksgiving weekend, which organizers of the new party said often kept local families from attending because they were away for the holiday. (Kelly Athena)

LIGHTS from page 1

medians between Desert Foothills Park way and 24th Street.

Instead of being held the Saturday of Thanksgiving weekend, the event will be hel;d the Saturday before the holiday.

And there will be more local artisans and crafters selling their wares – and po tential holiday gifts – instead of window installers and healthcare providers hand ing out flyers and brochures.

But other traditional features of the Kick-Off Party are not only returning but promise to be bigger than ever, according to Festival of Lights Committee President Raphael Isaac and committee marketing specialist Morgan Vanderwall.

“The tavern is going to be larger area this year and we have live music and per formances all day from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.,”

Vanderwall said, adding a new Candy Cane Lane will offer more than 30 inflat ables for kids.

“We really want to encourage people from the community to come down, bring their chairs, bring their picnic blanket,” she said.

The party provides a financial boost to the increasingly expensive lights display, which is now run by the Foothills Commu nity Association.

The HOA spends at least in $50,000 and the Club West Community Association kicks in $25,000 for all the expense in volved in setting up and tearing down the lights display – as well as the electric bill. But the HOAs’ generosity goes only so

far in covering total costs that in the past have exceeded $125,000 – and that are projected to increase by what Isaac said will be “probably a good 15% or more.”

Some of that cost was defrayed by dona tions by local businesses and individuals over the summer.

The FOL Committee comprises local business owners who were determined to keep the lights tradition alive.

The display was started by homebuilder Del Webb as a marketing tool to attract homebuyers to The Foothills and was picked up by a small group of residents when the company was prepared to pull the plug. Those residents formed the nonprofit Festival of Lights Committee in 1995 to keep the lights burning bright.

The committee raises a portion of the funds for the display with the adults-only Beer and Wine Festival, which Isaac said was a big hit this year – and revived the nearly DOA party..

Two years ago, Isaac had held out little hope for party’s return, especially after city officials preventing large gatherings in city parks because of the pandemic in 2020 and 2021.

But the committee persevered, buoyed by this year’s Bear and Wine Festival success.

“The response from the Ahwatukee community has been resounding with positivity,” Isaac said. “With the two year hiatus, many feared we would not be back for 2022. After our very successful Beer and Wine Festival this summer, there

was renewed hope and the feedback we have received since announcing just a few weeks ago has been incredible.”

“The Kickoff Party is an event that our Ahwatukee community looks forward to attending every year,” he added. “Read ing last year’s headlines about never returning was a hard pill for all of us to swallow and being a small community, we never want to see any of our large events go away.

“Everyone is chomping at the bit to get out, back to normalcy and we are so happy to be back. In addition to the community support, these events not only help fund our amazing light display along Chandler Bouelvard and provide entertainment and a sense of community pride for thousands of people in the area, but we are also here for a larger reason. It’s important to re member the purpose behind our two sig nature events – which is to help provide thousands of dollars in contributions to locally focused charities.”

The committee hopes two big changes from previous Kick-Off Parties will draw even bigger crowds than the past events.

“The event is a week earlier than it has been in the past – which we were a bit nervous about. But it seems that many more local families and businesses will be able to participate this year since it is not over the Thanksgiving holiday,” Issac explained.

Plus, he hopes it will be easier to at tract volunteers – the group needs them as well as more sponsors for the Kick-Off Party – because people and businesses won’t be as distracted by the approach ing Christmas and Hanukkah holiday shopping season.

“We found a lot of vendors are able to par ticipate now because it is not on a Thanks giving weekend,” he said. “A lot of our com munity members that have reached out on Facebook are super-excited.”

The other big change is the broader fo cus on artisans and crafters.

“We decided to try to have more arts and crafts vendors,” Isaac said. “We want

ed people to be able to sell honeys, jew elry and wreaths – more of an arts and crafts feel – and get away from just having a booth with a dental office that’s just go ing to be handing out brochures or trying to get people to sign up. We got a lot of feedback from people who just didn’t like that and felt that there were some pushy salespeople at those booths. And that’s not the flavor that we were going for. “

In addition, the event will feature an updated Santa’s Village with photo shoots of old Saint Nick and families available from noon-5 p.m.

The beer garden – sponsored by WCKD Brewery of Ahwatukee – will have a more “sports bar feel” with TVs for college football games, craft food and beer from WCKD, a variety of wines from differ ent regions curated by a local sommelier, champagne and seltzers. Drink tickets will be $7, or 3 for $20.

Food Truck Lane will include Hot Bam boo, Chick-fil-A, Cuties Lemonade, Para dise Brothers Funnel Cakes, Mini Donuts and Treats, Pita Jungle, Water and Ice Ah watukee, I Dream of Weenies and Dominos.

“The entertainment stage will also be a main focus this year including quality headlining live music from local bands,” Vanderwall said.

Community performances will be of fered 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.,, followed by live music until 10 p.m. with a DJ and local bands Lil’ Debbie Band and Calico.

The FOL Committee is still seeking vol unteers, sponsors, marketplace vendors and classic car entries.

The gorup is also still seeking a charity partner for the 2022 Kick-off Party.

Charities that want to partner with the Festival of Lights Committee must be reg istered 501c3 nonprofits.

Applications must be submitted by Mon day, Oct. 31. The application form can be completed online at folaz.org.

Sponsors for the 2022 Festival of Lights Kick-off Party include: San Tan Ford, WCKD Brewery, Safeway, PostNet, Cano py Mortgage, Realtor Dawn Matesi, Big O Tires, Buessing, Blaze Media, Vanderwall PR, Annette Holmes and AFN. 

LA CASA DE JUANA DELIVERS A KNOCKOUT WITH ITS FRESH, AUTHENTIC AND MOUTHWATERING FOOD

If you thought you have been to a Mex ican restaurant lately you probably need to reconsider and visit La Casa De Juana in Ahwatukee. The fare is authentic Mex ican, and when we say authentic we mean it, unlike many of the restaurant chains that call themselves Mexican. Upon en tering 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 im ports and $3 margaritas this place is a must. In conclusion The flavor ful salsa, the delicious margaritas, the extraordinary and well-priced food will definitely keep you coming back.

Don’t hesitate to stop by the Ahwatukee location

3941 E. Chandler Blvd. (S/W corner Chandler & 40th St) to make your next reservation call 480-823-2834 www.juanashouse.com

SELLER WILLING TO PARTICIPATE IN A RATE BUY DOWN!

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bathroom 1,244 sf condo in the luxuri ous gated community of Bridges at Ocotillo! Ground floor, single level unit with north / south exposure and a private covered back patio; no neighbors behind! TWO CAR GARAGE! Open kitchen - family room floor plan! Kitchen boasts new Samsung stainless steel appliances, new sink and faucet and a breakfast bar. New ceiling fans throughout! The master suite has a walk in closet, double sinks, and separate shower and tub (new shower head!) Master bedroom has its own Arcadia door exit to the back yard/patio area. New carpet!

Mountain Park Ranch Listed for $475,000

Move in ready 1,594 sf 3 bedroom, 2.5 bathroom home with north / south expo sure! 2014 roof with 12 year warranty, 2015 Milgard windows including the slid ing glass door to the back patio, and 2015 Therma - Tru front door. 2018 water heater. Motor on the 15 seer HVAC unit was replaced in 2020. Kitchen has a large eat – in dining area with bay window, breakfast bar and pantry. All appliances convey including the refrigerator and front load washer / dryer. The spacious great room has soaring vaulted ceilings and a cozy wood – burning fireplace with brick surrounds. Enormous storage closet under stairwell. Wood blinds and ceiling fans throughout. Ceiling fan in the secondary bedroom, that is currently being used as an office, was installed in 2022. Large master suite! Walk in closet in the master suite. Master bathroom has dual sinks and a walk in shower with a 2022 glass door enclosure. Both secondary bedrooms have gorgeous views of South Mountain! Pool size back yard! Low maintenance desert landscape in front and back. Slab in back pre-wired for a hot tub. Large side yard with storage shed. 2.5 car garage with work bench and built in cabinets.

Sun River Listed for

Scottdale Springs – Old Town

Listed for $385,000

Beautifully

vanities, faucets and light fixtures. 2022 ceiling fans in bedrooms and family room. Community amenities include two pools, a work out facility and multiple, impeccably cared for common grass areas; pet friendly community! Close to Scottsdale Stadium, art galleries, restaurants, Civic Center, and Fashion Square.

Kyrene participate in national after-school campaign

BY NICOLE ASHTON AFN Guest Writer

I worked, and I was fortunate to be able to enroll them in a program just like Kids’ Club.” Toenjes said, adding:

Kyrene

School District last week hosted a series of events across the District to celebrate “Lights On Afterschool,” a nationwide effort to recog nize the critical importance of before and after school programming.

Lights On Afterschool is a project of the Afterschool Alliance, a nonprofit or ganization dedicated to ensuring that all children have access to quality, affordable afterschool programs.

According to the After School Alliance, more than 7 million children are unsuper vised after school in the United States.

Kyrene Superintendent Laura Toenjes and Congressman Greg Stanton visited students in Kyrene’s Kids Club afterschool program at Kyrene de los Lagos Dual Lan guage Academy.

“I am here to celebrate afterschool ex cellence and that’s exactly what Kids Club is,” Stanton said. “Kids Club teaches not just good academic skills; it teaches you things that are going to help you be as suc

cessful as possible in life.”

Kyrene Community Education club leaders hosted several Lights On After school festivities with Kids Club students throughout the District, including events at Kyrene de la Mirada and Kyrene del Cie

lo in Chandler, C.I. Waggoner in Tempe, and Kyrene de la Sierra and Kyrene de la Colina Ahwatukee to celebrate all that afterschool programs do for their communities.

“When I was a teacher, I needed a safe place for my two young boys to be while

“I am proud of the quality programs led by the Kyrene Community Education team and grateful for the individuals who are dedicated to providing a place for children after school, with quality programming that positively impacts our students and our communities.”

Thousands of schools across the country hosted ceremonies to emphasize the im pact that afterschool programs play in chil dren’s success in and out of the classroom.

The events, which were open to par ents and other members of each school’s community, highlighted the importance of keeping the “lights on” for youth in after school and summer programs.

Launched in October 2000 by the Af terschool Alliance, Lights On Afterschool is the only nationwide event celebrating afterschool programs and their important role in the lives of children, families and communities.

The effort has become a hallmark of the afterschool movement.

TO

JUST SOLD

Kyrene Governing Board member Margaret Wright, far right, and Superintendent Laura Toenjes, second from right, were joined by U.S. Rep. Greg Stanton, children and others at Kyrene de los Lagos Dual Language Academy for the “Lights On Afterschool” event. (Kyrene Schools)

At Ahwatukee Dental Health, Dr. Amy Nordquist and her team are dedicated to providing each and every patient with the care and attention they need in the most comfortable way possible. Her time spent with you will always be thorough and focused on your dental concerns. Our team values personalized attention and long-term relationships with all of our patients. We can’t wait to

That rezoning request would change the site’s classification from General Com merce Park to Planned United Develop ment for three buildings with 510,831 square feet of light-industrial space.

The rezoning classification would allow for heights greater than currently allowed.

It also would “broaden the permitted uses to include select light industrial uses within enclosed buildings and provide for development standards that permit great er lot coverage and screened outdoor stor age,” according to a notification sent to residents by the developer’s law firm.

Scottsdale-based Everest Holdings also has scheduled an online neighborhood meeting for 6 p.m. next Tuesday, Nov. 1, for its apartment complex plan.

It wants to replace an existing office cen ter and rezone 13.95 acres near the south east corner of Ray and S. 50th from Com merce Park to Intermediate Commercial. It also seeks height and density waivers to allow for four three-story and two fourstory apartment buildings.

Neither developer has set a timetable for construction and it is unclear if either proposal will come before the Village Plan ning Committee for review next month.

The VPC has meetings scheduled for Nov. 28 and Dec. 19, though whether they actually will be held will depend on wheth er the panel draws a minimum number of members for a vote – a problem it has faced several times in the last couple years.

Once the VPC makes a recommendation,

This architectural rendering of the proposed apartment buildings for 50th and Ray shows the part of the building that would face 50th Street. However, site plans filed with the city indicate this is not necessarily the final design. (Everest Holdings)

the two projects then go before the city Planning Commission for a public hearing and recommendation, which ultimately must be voted on by City Council.

Here’s a closer look at the two projects:

Converge Logistics Center

ViaWest Group leased the 28.6 acres that Commerce Logistics will use from Kyrene School District for 77 years in a deal that is expected to generate as much as $100 million in additional revenue for the district.

ViaWest in April last year announced its deal with Commerce Logistics and had said construction would begin in the summer of 2021 with completion in spring 2022.

ViaWest has three similar buildings on property with a design that parallels the Kyrene property on the other side of I-10 in Chandler.

“Delivering newly constructed, inter state fronting, Class A industrial product to the I-10 corridor is something ViaWest is very excited about,” ViaWest Found ing Partner Steven Schwarz said in an April 2021 announcement. “Infill devel

opment sites are quite scarce in Phoenix and bringing distribution and logistics to a highly desirable location will benefit the surrounding community.”

Indeed, the scramble for land for light industrial development has been as in tense across the Valley as competition for residential sites. Mesa alone has approved the development of close to 3 million square feet of industrial space, mostly in the southeast part of the city.

Site plans for the Converge Logistics Center show it wants to construct three buildings that will range between 141,328 and 210,505 square feet for what is billed as “a hybrid office and business park to ac commodate a headquarters complex with light advanced manufacturing uses.”

“This portion of the I-10 freeway is lack ing in these uses despite its optimal loca tion and freeway access,” Converge states on its website.

It says the expanded uses allowed by a rezoning “are consistent with this type of development, especially for development along a major freeway.”

Site plans indicate the buildings would

range in height from about 40’ to 45’ and bays for large trucks would exist along one wall of each building. The site plans indicate at least a dozen bays will be part of the complex.

The entrance would be from S. 50th Street, according to site plans, and 11 dif ferent varieties of trees and 16 varieties of bushes would be planted every 20 feet along the entire perimeter.

A letter from the developer’s lawyer to neighbors indicates that because outdoor storage would exceed the current allow able height of the buildings, “it is subject to additional visual screening requirements.”

Apartment complex

Everest Holdings and P8 Phoenix Foot hills Holdings LLC said in a letter to some residents that the existing business park on the site has outlived its usefulness.

It bought the two-building, 145-squarefoot Foothills Corporate Center II in 2017 for $18.4 million – almost half the $29.5 million that seller Fort Properties Man

The bordered area was leased by Kyrene for 77 years to ViaWest Group, which is work ing with Converge Logistics. (AFN file photo)

see REZONE

This is an architectural rendering, though not a final one, of one of the four three-story buildings on the six-building apartment complex. It represents the façade of the building facing 50th Street.

N.T.S

agement of Los Angeles paid for it 10 years earlier.

“As workplace preferences shift and the Phoenix housing market remains strong post-pandemic,” developer attorneys Gammage & Burnham told residents in an Oct. 4 letter, “it ahas become apparent that the existing business park, which was built in the late 1990s, is no longer the best use for the property.”

“Given the property’s prime location near major employers along Interstate 10 and its proximity to numerous dining, entertainment and retail options along Ray Road, we feel it is best suited to ac commodate a multifamily community that will provide additional housing opportu nities to support these uses and continued growth in the area.”

“It is worth noting the proposed rezon ing will preserve the potential for com mercial uses on the property while adding the flexibility to develop a higher-density multifamily community that is compatible with the more intense commercial and employment uses in the area and along Interstate 10,” the lawyers added.

The six buildings, ranging in height be

The shaded area is the location of the apartment complex that would replace the twobuilding Foothills Corporate Center II at Ray Road and S. 50th Street, which developer Everest Holdings bought in 2017 from a Los Angeles real estate investment company for almost half the $29 million the seller paid 10 years earlier. (Everest Holdings)

tween 48’ and 58’, would be largely de voted to one-bedroom and two-bedroom apartments. Site plans show there would be 200 one-bedroom, 183 two-bedroom

and 34 three-bedroom units represent ing a distribution of 48%, 44% and 8%, respectively.

A total 781 parking spaces would

be provided, with 158 garage spaces with 158 tandem spaces below them, 260 covered spaces and 205 open park ing spaces.

A swimming pool and 12,000-squarefoot clubhouse would be located in the center of the complex and one of the apartment buildings fronting the pool also would have fourth-story club deck. Both four-story buildings would be located around the pool area.

The site plan indicates the complex would have a single entrance from S. 50th Street and a separate exit gate farther south along that street. One of the four three-sto ry buildings would front 50th as well.

The neighborhood informational hear ing for the apartment project is slated for 6 p.m. Nov. 1 and people can register for it at gblaw.com/50rayrezone. 

GOT NEWS?

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

Ballot measure could weaken citizen initiatives

BY EMILEE MIRANDA Cronkite News

WhenArizona voters approved a measure in 2020 that would have increased school funding by rais ing income taxes on higher earners, they did so by a comfortable 52-48% margin.

That was too comfortable for support ers of Proposition 132 on this fall’s ballot, which would require any initiative that raises taxes to get approved by at least 60% of voters to pass.

Supporters say the higher threshold is needed to keep special-interest groups from coming to Arizona and spending mil lions of dollars to win tax increases at the ballot box that they could not win in the Legislature, where any higher taxes must be approved by a two-thirds majority.

Those outside groups think “they can get a slim majority to impose a new tax … on a minority of the population,” said Scot Mussi, president of the Arizona Free En terprise Club. “So, we think a 60% thresh old for tax increases is appropriate.”

But critics say it’s not external groups who will be affected by Proposition 132 –it’s Arizona voters, who will see their con stitutional right to pass laws at the ballot box severely weakened.

“If we’re about to start changing every thing from the state’s inception, it’s really disappointing that the first thing that leg islators want to do is take away the voice of the people that they represent,” said Arizona Education Association President Marisol Garcia.

That was echoed by Christie Black, Arizona chapter coordinator of Mormon Women for Ethical Government, who said the ballot process is there to give voters a voice in their governance, which is espe cially important when the Legislature fails to act in their best interest.

Currently, any ballot initiative can pass with a simple majority of 50% plus one vote.

Proposition 132 would amend the Ari zona Constitution to require a superma jority for approval of initiatives or refer endums proposing new or higher taxes.

It would apply only to those measures –all others would still only need a majority.

Critics call the supermajority require ment a solution in search of a problem.

David Lujan, president and CEO of Chil dren’s Action Alliance, points to Proposi tion 301 in 2000, a 20-year increase in the sales tax to support public education, and Proposition 203 in 2006, which raised to bacco taxes in the state to fund early child hood education.

He said both were “very popular and passed by Arizona voters … but neither one reached the 60% threshold,” with both getting about 53% of the vote.

“Had Prop 132 been in place, these would have failed,” said Andrew Sugrue, an official with the Arizona Center for Eco nomic Progress.

“For years, Arizonans have used direct democracy – the initiative and referen dum process – to voice and enact their priorities,” like schools, roads, parks and early childhood development programs, Sugrue said in a statement opposing Prop osition 132

Critics say the proposition would need lessly “move the goalposts” on that pro cess.

“Most people in the United States be lieve in majority rule, right?” asked Garcia.

“What this does is actually move the goalposts to 60%, which is not something we were ever raised with, something that is not even necessary to win the presi dency, to win the governor’s race, to win a school board, to win anything.”

But the proposition’s backers say rev enue proposals are different, pointing to the higher threshold in the Legislature.

They argue that if there is an issue on the ballot that Arizonans believe in strongly enough, more than 60% of them will vote for it.

“Ensuring that future tax increases gar ner broad public support is good policy and creates needed stability in Arizona’s tax code,” said a statement in support of Proposition 132 from Kevin McCarthy, president of the Arizona Tax Research As sociation.

But Pinny Sheoran, president of the League of Women Voters of Arizona, calls the 60% level almost impossible to meet.

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Default threatens owners’ hold on Bell Bank Park

BY SCOTT SHUMAKER AFN Staff Writer

Theorganization that built the $280 million, 320-acre youth and ama teur sports complex known as Bell Bank Park in southeast Mesa is in default of its loan that covered the project.

A formal notice issued Oct. 18 by bond trustee OMB Bank to investors states that Legacy has missed monthly payments on interest and principal, failed to submit audits and financial statements, and has unpaid construction company liens on the property.

Over the summer, at least 10 subcon tractors that worked on the project filed liens totaling millions of dollars against the property owner for non-payment for services, according to the Maricopa Coun ty Recorder’s Office.

Legacy Cares doesn’t own the land, but leases it from Pacific Proving LLC, a joint venture between William Levine and Ar turo Moreno, owner of the Los Angeles Angels MLB baseball team.

Levine and Moreno were partners in the billboard company Outdoor Systems, which they sold to Infinity Broadcasting for $8.7 billion in 1999. Pacific Proving purchased 1,800 acres of the General Mo tors testing facility, which has provided land for Mesa’s tremendous expansion in the southeast.

Liens make the 320-acre property dif ficult to sell or mortgage, and one of the terms of Legacy’s lease with Pacific Prov ing is that no liens be allowed on the prop erty for more than 20 days – a time frame that has long passed.

Executives for Legacy Cares told the Tri bune on Sept. 14 there was no danger of the facility defaulting on its loans, saying, “We’re right on track in the fall and winter heading into a position where we don’t an ticipate having any shortfalls whatsoever.”

On Oct. 4, though, the trustee informed Legacy that conditions exist for a “default,” including the failure to make its monthly loan payments. After managers for the sports complex failed to resolve the con ditions, the trustee issued the notification and called a meeting of bondholders for Oct. 25.

Stephen Griffin, a whistleblower in Rhode Island who is a former executive and investor in a failed youth sports com

Hopes were high among investors and some East Valley officials when ground was broken for Bell Bank Park, now the focus of a widening financial and legal mess. (Tribune file photo)

pany in Boston, has been predicting trou ble for Bell Bank Park since September.

Griffin, an accountant for major firms before becoming an investor, doesn’t think the Mesa project is capable of generating the revenue needed to cover its current obligations.

He said the revenue potential and eco nomic benefits of destination sports fa cilities like Bell Bank Park have been overhyped to communities across the country.

That’s also been true in the East Val ley, where Mesa and Queen Creek offi cials have been especially enthusiastic about the park and its future potential as a magnet for visitors to their municipali ties. Although some Gilbert officials were concerned about the park’s impact on the town’s Cactus Park sports venue, they too took a broader favorable view of its tourist potential.

Griffin pointed out that a similar sports complex in Indiana, the 400-acre Grand Park, was recently appraised for just $85 million.

Griffin said in his experience the youth sports market is “a mom and pop indus try” that’s “impossible to do at scale.”

“The destination youth sports complex concept is a bubble,” he said.

He said when he heard about the project and looked into it, he was surprised Bell Bank Park was financed with municipal bonds, and he thought the 7.5% interest rates offered were “really high for bonds.”

It all seemed too good to be true.

of all or a portion of the Bonds by defea sance, redemption, open market purchase and/or exchange.”

Griffin said it might be difficult to find new investors, saying that in addition to possible concerns about revenue potential of the project, the investors would be on the hook for paying the interest through at least 2027, increasing the cost of taking over the debt.

There are also millions in contractors’ liens on the property that have to be taken care of before proceeding.

Most of the contractors that filed liens with the county this summer are based in Phoenix or other Valley cities, and most of the lien amounts are in the high six fig ures, several over $1 million.

Having read the loan documents “five times,” Griffin believes there are omis sions and distortions in Legacy Cares’ sales pitch “meant to excite bondholders.”

Griffin said he is providing information to the Securities and Exchange Commis sion about Legacy Cares. He shared an email exchange with the Tribune show ing communication with Rebecca Olsen, deputy chief of the SEC’s Public Finance Abuse Unit.

A spokesman for the SEC said the agen cy “does not comment on the existence or nonexistence of a possible investigation.”

Griffin said the notice of default and bondholder meeting could likely be the start of “a very complicated, messy, liti gious situation for the next 12 months.”

He said that a possible next step in the default process is bondholders could hire an outside consultant to manage the facility.

If the principals of Legacy Cares and Legacy Sports, the for-profit group that manages the facility, resisted giving up control, it could unleash a “hornets’ nest of lawyers and litigation.”

Legacy Cares did not respond to a re quest for comment before press time, but the organization may be seeking a way out by refunding the bonds, or finding new investors who will put up the capi tal to cover the current bonds and loan to Legacy under new terms.

On Oct. 5, Legacy notified bondholders of a potential “refunding and defeasance

For example, Kearney Electric in Phoe nix filed a lien for $1 million on July 21 and Siteworks Landscape Development filed a lien for $826,000 on the same day.

As its troubles have mounted, Legacy Cares has also gotten pushback from ath letes and their families.

Under pressure from its bondhold ers to maximize revenue, the facility has started collecting parking fees Friday through Sunday. It also enforces prohi bitions on outside food and beverages, except water.

Some visitors to Bell Bank Park have complained in online reviews about hav ing to pay for parking and admission to see their children play in addition to tour nament fees, as well as paying for food and beverage in the venue.

One sentiment is that visitors are being “nickeled and dimed” and not getting a re turn on value for the fees.

Bell Bank Park has a two-star rating out of five on review website Yelp. The rating is 3.4 on Google, but several recent view ers have savaged the facility for the fees.

“They charge $5 per vehicle per day to park in their dirt lot,” one poster wrote.

“This place is at the ends of the earth in Mesa, why is there a charge to park?”

Whatever the outcome of Legacy Cares’ default and upcoming bondholders’ meet ing, a statement Griffin posted in early September to kick off his whistleblowing campaign is resonating today.

“Whoever said municipal bonds are boring has never been to Mesa, Arizona. Stay tuned – this story is incredible,” he wrote.

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Code compliance may be a challenge for some

BY NICOLE MACIAS GARIBAY AFN Contributor

APhoenix resident’s failure to comply with neighborhood city codes highlights the need to provide community resources for sustainable practices, an environmental activist says.

The homeowner was cited because his property failed to comply with the city’s Neighborhood Preservation Code after inspectors found an accumulation of junk and trash, including car parts and chemicals in outdoor areas, according to the case file.

“My first thought was, ‘What are this man’s obstacles and hurdles?’ and ‘Does he need help?’ just from looking at the document,” said Tailer Shadron about the case.

Shadron is the green team coordina tor at Local First Arizona, a nonprofit formed in 2009 that aims to promote to the community and economic develop ment throughout Arizona.

The homeowner was given a 30-day extension and fined $215, including taxes, for two city violations during the a hearing before Municipal Court Judge Felicia Villa.

Shadron said economics force some people to choose not to spend resourc es, time, and money to address condi tions on their property. “If you’re wor ried about housing or how you’re going to get food on the table, you’re not wor ried about recycling, and that’s okay,” said Shadron. “People need to survive first.”

Neighborhood Services Department has a volunteer program that can assist owners with recycling, cleaning the prop erty, and getting rid of chemicals, trash, or big trees, according to code compli ance supervisor Monique Sermeno.

The city department also collaborates with environmentalist nonprofits to help residents keep properties in com pliance as an effort to keep the envi ronment healthy and safe, according to Sermeno.

“Keep Arizona Beautiful” is a Local

First Arizona initiative that implements programs dedicated to reducing littering practices, providing recycling education, and preventing the illegal disposal of waste, according to its website.

Shadron said she provides information on recycling, composting, and hazardous materials disposal to people who face economic or physical obstacles that make it difficult for them to keep their property in neighborhood code compliance.

“When you put things where they should go, they will not get to the envi ronment and potentially poison the soil, water, and air because everything we put on the ground will go somewhere,” said Shadron.

“But when we put it in a facility where it will get contained and destroyed in a way that will not cost human health is sues, we’re breathing cleaner air, walk ing on cleaner soil, and drinking cleaner water.”

The city Neighborhood Serices Depart ment works with residents to identify, advocate and organize initiatives to pre

serve areas in Phoenix.

“Our purpose is to promote environ mental health and safety in neighbor hoods for the residents of Phoenix when addressing these violations,” said Ser meno.

The most common types of neighbor hood violations include accumulations of junk and trash or dried plants, includ ing grass, weed, and trees; visible non functional cars, graffiti, outside storage of appliances or machines, and dam aged fences, according to the city.

NSD receives complaints about neigh borhood properties and determines if they fail to comply with the city code.

Each complaint is assigned to an in spector, depending on the residential area, and they collaborate with the property owner to plan solutions, ac cording to Sermeno.

If they do not get a response, the own er “does not show interest in getting the property in compliance,” and the proper ty still violates the code, they get a court citation, according to Sermeno. 

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Community www.ahwatukee.com

Dog show a Halloween treat at Event Center

BY GERI KOEPPEL AFN Contributor

If you want to have a doggone good time, don’t miss the 15th annual Ahwatukee Dog Show showcasing furry friends as they compete in cat egories including best dressed, best kisser, best tail wag, cutest senior, best high five and more.

Cosponsored by the Ahwatu kee Community Swim, Ten nis & Event Center and Desert Dog Obedience, the show will run 9 a.m.-noon Sunday, Oct. 30, at Ahwatukee Park, 4700 E. Warner Road. Last year, roughly 50 dogs en tered the contests and even more at tended, along with 200-300 people. New this year is the best costume duo category.

“If a child and dog have costumes

that complement each other and pres ent as a duo, they can enter to win,” said Susan Rast, the center’s director.

“Last year was the first year we had done [the show] in October, and we were surprised: There were a lot of kids wearing their Halloween costume.”

It’s free to attend the dog show, but costs $7 in advance to enter a dog in the contest in one category and $3 for additional categories ($8 per dog and $4 for additional categories the day of the event).

The registration fees benefit Leave No Paws Behind, Inc., a nonprofit foster-based rescue group specializ ing in senior, terminal and end-of-life animals and those with special needs.

Registration and payment can be done online this year for the first time by going to ahwatukeecommunity center.com and clicking on “events”

and then “dog show.”

It also can be done in person at the center during business hours or at the park from 8:30-9 a.m. the day of the event.

Trophies are given to all first-place winners; ribbons are awarded to sec ond- through fourth-place winners. All first-place winners are entered in the “best of show” category.

Categories are judged throughout the morning and last about 10-15 minutes each. Rast noted that cano pies are set up around the judging ring and urges people to bring a

Paige Brooks of Tempe is entering her dog, Bear, in the “cutest dog” and “cut est rescue dog” categories at the 15th annual Ahwatukee Dog Show on Oct. 30. (Courtesy of Paige Brooks)

HaHa Tukee Comedy Night brings laughs aplenty

BY CHRISTINA FUOCO-KARASINSKI AFN Staff Writer

Anthony Solimini is a longtime co median and a baby boomer. Lately, he’s noticed clubs and festivals don’t cater to those over 50.

So, he’s hosting the first 60+ Comedy Competition at 7:30 p.m. tomorrow, Oct. 27, at Cactus Jack’s. It’s part of his HaHa ‘Tukee Comedy Night.

“I’ve been doing comedy for a long time,” said Solimini, who just turned 60.

“A lot of the comedy festivals here and in Asia, they just cater to up and coming, young comedians. Some of them had age limits. I decided to do things differently.”

Competing are Chris Cluff, Ira Sum mer, Bob Howard, Sandra Risser, Arizona Lou and Sherie Hayes. Solimini and Jan Brenner are co-hosting. The winner re ceives $300; second prize is $200, and third place gets $100.

They will be judged on originality, stage presence and audience participa tion. The audience will determine the winner by ballot.

The event is part of a three-part series:

If You Go...

Who: 60+ Comedy Competition with Anthony Solimini and Jan Brenner

Where: Cactus Jack’s, 4747 E. Elliot Road, Ahwatukee

When: 7:30 p.m. Thurs, October 27, Cost: $6 in advance; $8 at the door Info: standupbanker. com

The young kids won because that’s who’s in the audience. We do it by audience participation.

“Having just turned 60 myself, I’ve no ticed a lot of great comedians over 60 who weren’t getting booked that much because of their age. I’m not saying it’s a major problem. People want new. They want young. There’s a lot of millennials in the audience. There aren’t a lot of elderly people coming out to these shows.”

Solimini regularly hosts HaHa ‘Tukee Comedy at Cactus Jack’s. Prospective co medians send their tapes to Solimini for consideration. The goal is to have “really good comedians.”

60 and older; all-female and under 30 competitions.

“A lot of competitions are all over the place,” he said. “There’s no fun theme to it; just people ranging from 25 to 60.

Born in Boston, Solimini said he’s been “making people laugh since 1962.” Being the youngest of four, with three older sis ters and an Italian grandmother, Solimini adds he had no choice but to enter comedy.

@AhwatukeeFN | @AhwatukeeFN

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Ahwatukee comedian Anthony Solimini has performed around the world. (Dennis Murphy/Con tributor)

Estrella opens mindfulness room for students, staff

BY NICOLE ASHTON AFN Guest Writer

Studentsand staff in the Kyrene de la Estrella community now have a place to recharge, relax and self-regulate before retuning to their classrooms or other duties.

The Calm Cove is a physical, com munity-created space that is open to students and staff alike who may need a few moments to reset and take on the rest of the day with a refreshed mindset for learning or instruction.

Estrella counselor Jessie Davis had experience creating the Zen Den at Kyrene de la Sierra and was the catalyst for the creation of the Calm Cove.

The space came to life with sup port from Estrella Parent Teacher Organization, Donors Choose grants, items found at Goodwill and

staff donations.

“Last year, I had the opportunity to collaborate at my previous site and admin to create a meditation room for staff, funded through a grant obtained by the principal,” Davis said.

“I enjoyed designing a space where everything in it had inten tion by appealing to all the senses to curate a relaxing space.”

The Calm Cove features stations designed to capture the needs of just about anyone who could ben efit from a mindful moment.

Students and staff can press pause in a variety of stations, such as in a tent with a cozy rug, pillows or weighted lap pads.

Other stations include a calm ing corner with yoga mats, a book station with rocking chairs, a sand table, a sensory fidget table, an art and journaling station, affirmation

board, essential oil area and the student favorite: a “rainbow road” of sensory tiles to step on.

The Calm Cove is used in a vari ety of ways, from one student that needs a break to whole-class les sons, small group counseling, even staff meetings and impromptu team lunches.

The Calm Cove is just one ex ample of Estrella’s focus on social emotional learning and raises the bar for defining wellness in schools.

“If the Calm Cove helps one per son a day find a sense of calm, a renewed positive mindset or mo tivation to persevere even on the hardest days, I consider that suc cessful,” Davis said.

Kyrene de la Estrella students and staff can use the Calm Cove, a mindfulness room, to decompress if the day gets to stressful. (Kyrene School District)

Dog Show.

chair or blanket to watch in comfort.

Other attractions at the show include Tempe Disc Club for disc dogs, raffles for prizes such as gift baskets and gift cards to local merchants and restaurants, and ven dor booths with pet-focused businesses including boarding, grooming, photogra phy and CPR classes. Pet rescue groups will be on site as well.

As in past years, a flyball course will be set up, which is popular with spectators.

“Flyball is always so exciting,” Rast said. “Those dogs are just incredible.”

The dogs run down a course and hit what looks like a cornhole board, and when a ball pops out, they grab it in their mouth and run back.

“It’s definitely something you can tell they love to do,” Rast said. “They’re so fast.”

Some concessions will be sold at the park, and the Ahwatukee Farmers Market will be open 9 a.m.-1 p.m. in the adjacent parking lot with food vendors. Just as last year, all dogs and kids will get Halloween treat bags appropriate for their species.

Paige Brooks of Tempe, the event cen ter manager for the Ahwatukee Commu nity Swim, Tennis & Event Center, plans to enter her dog, Bear, in the categories of

cutest dog and cutest rescue dog. He goes to the office with her about three days a week and even has his own title at the cen ter: CEO of safety.

The Australian shepherd/corgi mix is “trying to be an Australian shepherd, but his legs give it away,” Brooks said. “I’ve never brought him out and not been asked, ‘What kind of dog is that?’ At least one person a day asks me that because he’s so strange looking—in a good way.”

This will be Bear’s first time entering the dog show because Brooks moved to Arizona from Florida less than a year ago and wasn’t here for last year’s festivities.

She recently also entered Bear into the “America’s Favorite Pet” contest and made it to the quarterfinals, which winnowed 50,000 entrants down to 600.

Bear placed fourth in the quarterfinals and didn’t move on, but Brooks has high hopes for his chances at the Ahwatukee

“He’s got such a personality,” she said of Bear. “The second you meet him, he’s ner vous for a second, and then he’ll wag his tail and show you his teeth like he’s smil ing instantly. He’s got so much personality it’s weird, and everybody notices it right off the bat, too.”

All dogs in the park should be at least four months old, have their current shots, be on a leash six feet or less and be wellbehaved. 

If You Go...

Who: 15th annual Ahwatukee Dog Show, featuring a competition with prizes for dogs in various catego ries, doggie demos, rescue groups, vendors, raffles, treat bags for kids and dogs, and the Ahwatukee Farmers Market (including food vendors).

Where: Ahwatukee Park, 4700 E. Warner Road.

When: 9 a.m.-noon Sunday, Oct. 30. Cost: Free to attend; registration before Oct. 30 is $7 per dog for one category, $3 for each additional cat egory; day of show, registration runs 8:30-9 a.m. and is $8 per dog and $4 for additional categories.

Info: 480-893-3431 or ahwatukeecom munitycenter.com.

DOG SHOW from page 24

The Ahwatukee Dog Show returns to Ahwatukee Park on Oct. 30 with prizes for among other things, best kisser. (Courtesy of Tabitha Doyle)

Free prostate exams offered in Ahwatukee this Saturday

Prostate On-Site Project, a medical mobile service, will be providing free prostate cancer screenings to men 40 and older 8 a.m.-noon Saturday, Oct, 29 at Safeway at 4005 E. Chandler Blvd., Ahwatukee.

Prostate cancer frequently presents itself without any signs or symptoms and one in seven men will develop the disease in their lifetime; if detected early, the course of treatment is less evasive, and survival is nearly 100% possible.

The free exams include a non-fasting blood test, digital rectal exam, testicular exam and physician consultation by a board-certified urologist. Appointments are required: 480964-3013 or 1-800-828-6139.

Desert Pointe Garden Club is seeking new members at next meeting

Desert Pointe Garden Club invites interested people to join their next meeting at 1:15 p.m. Nov. 7 at the Ahwatukee Recre ation Center, 5001 E. Cheyenne Drive.

Bill Robinson of the Crazy Chile Farm in Mesa will speak about heritage seeds and the farm’s efforts to address food insecurity in their neighborhood. The club offers opportuni ties for hands-on gardening at several near-by locations and supports reforestation efforts in Arizona as well as Ahwatu kee’s Blue Star Memorial.

Local organization planning November events for area caregivers

Care 4 the Caregivers, an Ahwatukee-based organization, is celebration November, Arizona Family Caregiver month, with

events around the Valley specifically designed for people rais ing children with disabilities.

“Caring for a child with a disability can be a lonely endeav or and one that impacts every aspect of a person’s life,” said founder Michele Thorne of Ahwatukee. “These caregivers are regularly isolated, experience a loss of self-identity, and are unsure of their future and that of their children. They often feel unseen and unsupported.

Care 4 the Caregivers was created with one mission--to make sure that caregivers know they are both seen and supported.”

Her group has directly served over 500 families in Arizona with support groups, life coaching, parent-empowerment class es, and community events. The group also provides free online resources that include educational webinars, service roadmaps, visual tools, fitness programs, and guided meditations.

The November events include two 100-person paint nights at the Arizona Opera Black Box Theater. A 100-seat celebration dinner at the Coronado Venue and a spa day experience at Modern Allo.

“Care 4 the Caregivers is hosting these events this Novem ber in honor of our hardworking community. Each experience is designed to build connections, allow families access to es sential self-care, and explore some of the supports Care 4 the Caregivers has to offer,” Thorne said.

Those interested in participating in these, or any, Caregiver events can join the mailing list or go to the events page of the website to register at care4thecaregivers.org/events.

Ahwatukee Women’s Social Club plans fundraiser, evening bash

The Ahwatukee Women’s Social Club, open to women 16 and up has scheduled two big events for which tickets are now on sale.

The first is a family-friendly Chili for Charity Cook-off to benefit the Kyrene Family Resource Center. The BYOB event will be held noon-3 p.m. Nov. 5 at the Club West Community Center, 16400 S. 14th Ave.

Tickets are $10 per person or $25 for a family. Bring a nonperishable food item and receive a raffle ticket. The fam ily ticket Includes four 50/50 raffle tickets, Fritos, hot dogs, cookies, bottled water and a voting ticket.

Entertainment will be provided by Chris Donnelly. Tickets are available with cash, Venmo or Zelle. Information: Jean at djazpa@gmail.com or Lori at Lori.battista@gmail.com

The second event is Putting on the Ritz, a gal 6:30-10 p.m. Dev. 7 at Wild Horse Pass’ Palo Verde Ballroom, 5040 Wild Horse Pass Blvd.

Women ages 16 and up are invited to “get dolled up” and meet other women from Ahwatukee to celebrate a hear of socializing.

The $100 tickets include hor’s d’ourves, entertainment, din ner buffet, raffles and dancing. Cocktail attire is optional and there will be a cash bar. Tickets are available at sendomatic. com/AWSCRITZ.

Ahwatukee hunger walk coming soon, registratation encouraged

Esperanza Lutheran Church members have organized the Ahwatukee Foothills CROP Hunger Walk through Church World Services to raise $25,000. Participants can walk for 1 mile or 3.4 miles, the average round-trip distance women and children in the developing world walk for water.

The walk starts at 3 p.m. Nov. 13 at Desert Foothills Park, 1010 Marketplace SW, Ahwatukee.

Of the money collected, 75% will be used by CWS globally to respond to hunger, poverty, displacement and disaster.

The remaining 25% will be donated to the Kyrene Family Resource Center through The Kyrene Foundation to help stock food shelves.

Businesses wanting to sign on as supporters – as well as walkers and people who simply want to donate to the cause – can go to events.crophungerwalk.org/2022/event/ phoenixaz.

The team said people can register as individuals or a group. Esperanza Pastor Annemarie Burke said people with questions can contact CROP.hunger.walk@myesperanza.org or call the church office at 480-759-1515.

Book club for Ahwatukee women who enjoy reading meets monthly

Ahwatukee Book Club for Women is open to local women who enjoy reading quality books and participating in interest ing discussions.

They meet the second Tuesday morning of each month. If interested in joining this group, contact Nina at 860-510-9363.

McNeish revving up dance classes, planning Halloween party today

Registration is open for Ahwatukee dance and fitness instructor Carrie McNeish’s fall line dancing and AZ Two Step Couples dance classes in both evening and daytime formats.

She’s also helping out with planning Cactus Jack’s annual Halloween party starting at 6:30 p.m. today at the bar on the southwest corner of 48th Street and Elliot Road.

\The party will include line dancing lessons and open

dancing, treats, raffles and costumes. Information: dance meetsfitness.net, cmcneish@cox.net.

Tukee Trot lining up walkers/runners; plans free kids fun run day after Thanksgiving

The third annual Tukee Trot 5K is back on for 8:30 a.m. Nov. 25 with the course and venue hosted at Desert Vista High School and the walk/run is chip-timed and USATFsanctioned. The nonprofit event will benefit the Kyrene Foundation. Early registration is now open at racerooster. com. There also is a 1-mile Kids Quail Fun Run around Vista Canyon Park.

Event sponsors and volunteers are sought. Contact: tukeetrot@cox.net.

Esperanza Lutheran planning Oktoberfest this Saturday in Ahwatukee

Esperanza Lutheran Church, 2601 E Thunderhill Place, Ahwatukee is holding a free Oktoberfest at Esperanza 6-9 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 29.

The public is invited but asked to register by calling 480759-1515.

Ahwatukee golf ladies league starts new season next week at Foothills

The Foothills Golf Course Ladies League is ready to start up n advance of a formal opening Nov. 1.

The league plays 18 holes of handicap golf every Tuesday morning from September through May. Play includes weekly games, prizes and friendly competition. If you are interested email Marsha Morris at marshacmorris@gmail.com.

Poetry in the Park at Kiwanis Park in Tempe is free and open to everyone

Poetry in the Park, presented by the East Valley Poet, a

branch of the Arizona State Poetry Society, invites the public to the free Poetry in the Park 10 a.m.-noon Nov. 19 at Kiwanis Park, 6111 S. All America Way, Tempe.

Members of the group will read their work followed by an open mic.

Information: evpoets@yahoo.com or eastvalleypoets. wordpress.com. For a map of Kiwanis Park and the Ramada location, please go to: tempe.gov/home/showpublished document/79513/637153743620100000.

Ironwood Library offers free activities for all ages

Ironwood Library, 4333 E Chandler Blvd., Ahwatukee, pres ents a variety of programs for children, teens and adults. Un less otherwise noted, free tickets are required and available 30 minutes before programs’ start times at the library’s information desk.

For more information: phoenixpubliclibrary.org.

Babytimes

Babies ages birth to 23 months, accompanied by a favorite adult, will enjoy songs, rhymes, books, and interactive fun. Tuesdays, 10:30-11:10 a.m. Space is limited to 12 families. There is no Babytime Nov. 29

Toddlertimes

Toddlers ages 24-36 months, accompanied by a favorite adult, will enjoy songs, rhymes, books, and interactive fun. Thursdays, 10:30-11:10 a.m. Space is limited to 12 families. There is no Toddlertime Nov. 24.

Full STEAM ahead for kids

Children ages 5-11 can explore hands-on creative ways to design, experiment, and invent. Saturdays, 2-3 p.m., in this Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math (STEAM) program. Space is limited to 10 families. It will not be held Nov. 26.

Next Chapter Book Club

This inclusive community-based book club is designed for people ages 12+ with intellectual and developmental disabilities who have a desire to make friends, explore their community, and read (regardless of current reading ability).

This weekly gathering is free and occurs every Wednesday, from 3-4 p.m. Registration required in the library or online in the calendar section of the library’s website.

Sit, stay, read!

Young readers & listeners can sign up for reading time with a registered therapy dog/handler team. Read with Elsa on Nov. 1 and 15 4-5 p.m. Read with Raven on Nov. 3, 10 and 17, 3:30-4:30 p.m.

Book Club

Adult readers 18+ can meet up with fellow bibliophiles the first Wednesday of each month, 5:00-5:45 p.m. On Nov. 2, “My Family and Other Animals” by Gerald Durrell will be discussed and on Dec. 7, “The Tobacco Wives” by Adele Myers is the featured book.

Take a Hike, Do it Right!

Learn about mountain rescues, the trail rating guide, dif ficult hiking areas, heat awareness, pet safety, and the City of Phoenix’s New Parks and Recreation Safety Checklist: “Take a

Hike. Do it Right.” Saturday, Nov. 5, 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Sit and Stitch

Join fellow stitchers with your current project on the first Saturday of each month, Nov. 5, 3-4:45pm. Knitting, crochet ing, cross-stitch, needlepoint. All are welcome.

Kiwanis Club of Ahwatukee to hear Kyrene Governing Board president

The Ahwatukee Kiwanis Club invites interested people to attend one of its weekly meetings at 7 a.m. Thursdays at Biscuits Restaurant in the Safeway Plaza at 48th Street and Elliot Road. Kyrene Governing Board President Kevin Walsh will speak tomorrow, Oct. 27.

Submit

This, along with his travels overseas, have provided plenty of material.

An Ahwatukee resident, the banker by trade lived overseas for 30 years in London, Singapore, Thailand and Hong Kong. His resume includes stints at Grou pon, Deutsche Bank, JP Morgan and So ciete General.

On the comic side, he’s been featured on Comedy Central, Asia, and in the movie “I Need You to Kill” with Tom Segura, Chad Daniels and Pete Lee.

“Right before I left the States in 1989, there was a resurgence of comedy in the 1980s in Boston — and even more in New York,” he said.

“I used to go to shows every night during the days of Steve Martin. I’m a huge com edy buff. I used to do community theater.”

When he moved to Asia, he performed at venues like TakeOut Comedy Club Hong Kong, which was founded in 2007 by Jami Gong, a Chinese American standup come dian. It’s the first full-time comedy club in Asia and it fosters local English- and Can tonese-speaking talent.

“I performed at the Comedy Store in Lon don,” he said. “I’ve also performed in China, Singapore, Philippines, Australia, Hong Kong, here at the House of Comedy in Min nesota and Off the Hook in Naples, Florida.”

Besides HaHa ‘Tukee, Solimini is behind Stand Up and Deliver, a creative course for wannabe jokesters.

“I’m extremely positive about this, not only about the venue, but the monthly show as well,” he said. “This has been a drug for me. It gives me energy to get on stage. This is a good market for HaHa ‘Tukee.”

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Longtime resident athlete opens HIIT studio

BY COTY DOLORES MIRANDA AFN Contributor

Physical fitness has been a life-long commitment for 25-year Ahwatukee resident, Tammy Nash.

On Oct. 17, she took that passion to a new level when opening HiitZone in suite 16 at 4232 E. Chandler Blvd.

HIIT is an acronym for “High-Intensi ty Interval Training,” a vigorous fitness method that can provide results in a shorter amount of time.

Nash had been a part of another Ah watukee gym offering HIIT classes, and when it closed last month, she decided to open her own HIIT gym – and do it quickly.

She did so in 30 days, purchasing the former gym’s equipment, locating her new space and renovating it.

One reason for doing it all within a month’s time was because she’d grown close to others involved in the program, and wanted to ensure the continuation of those friendships.

“First of all, we are a community,” said Nash. “Working out in a class situation, you get a real sense of community; you are there for each other, you encourage each other and you hold each other account able. On the other hand, if you like to workout in a more solo environment, no one gets in your way. It’s a really nice mix.”

Nash, who earned degrees in sports medicine and secondary education at Central Michigan University, was active in sports from an early age.

She later met her husband Dave, also a CMU grad, and as an adult she continued to be an avid life-long athlete competing in triathlons and Valley races.

She passes along her commitment to fit ness to her three children, Jaxon, 23; Madi, 22; Ally, 20. All are Desert Vista High grad uates and her oldest two are Arizona State University alumna, with Ally currently en rolled at ASU and a member of university’s dance team.

The family moved from Northern Cali fornia and settled in 1994 in their Ahwatu

kee home, where they have remained.

She began her career in medical device sales – the first 15 in ortho sports, spine and trauma, then another 10 years in open heart before retiring in 2020.

Nash said she’s discovered HIIT to be beneficial to beginners as well as more ex perienced fitness aficionados.

“The high intensity interval training format we use, allows for all levels of fit ness, all ages, and individuals with injury limitations to all work out together in the same class,” she said.

“You work to the level that your body is conditioned for. It doesn’t matter if you have been doing this for one week or five years, you always get a great workout be cause our amazing trainers provide modi fications for every exercise to help meet the needs of the individual members to ensure they get a good and safe workout.”

Nash’s pedal to the medal 30-day goal to open the new gym has proven to be a smart one as many of her former gym buddies, and even some of the former gym’s staff, followed her to HiitZone.

Among them is lead trainer Steve Rodriguez, who augments his high en

ergy with a new enthusiasm for the Hiit Zone opening.

“We’re so excited to open up HittZone in this community. This gym, with this group of loyal members and Tammy’s passion and drive is what makes this place special. With HiitZone you aren’t just joining a gym/fitness group, you’re joining a family.

“One where everyone wants the best out of each other, and everyone pushes each other to do a little more each day,” said Ro driguez, an Ahwatukee resident.

“This gym has a special way of motivat ing you into doing things you wouldn’t have thought you could do, and these workouts are created for the members and they’re able to make them as hard as they’d like but also modify them when needed,” he said.

“I’m incredibly blessed to be a part of this experience and that’s another reason why I’m so excited about Tammy being able to continue offering this experience to the Ahwatukee community”.

Two longtime friends of Nash and her family are already signed up at HIITZoneDeb Allenspach and Monica Hedeby, long time Ahwatukee residents.

Allenspach worked with Tammy Nash at Summit Male Medical Center, a Tempe business with satellite clinics in Scottsdale and Peoria that Dave and Tammy Nash founded in 2008.

She said over the years, she’d joined her friend in various running groups and oth er fitness endeavors.

“Tammy is very athletic and has a strong fitness and medical background. She takes fitness seriously, is knowledgeable on technique, and is a great competitor,” said Allenspach, a regional sales manager for the Scottsdale educational technology company, Parchment.

Their two families, both with daughters who danced competitively, remain close.

“Tammy is also open minded, easy to talk to and has the most positive and cheerful disposition,” she said.

Allenspach said when their prior gym, TruHiit announced they were shuttering after seven years, she encouraged Nash’s consideration to open her own business to continue HIIT training they’d so enjoyed.

“When we heard it was closing, Tammy asked if she should take it over. My imme diate response was ‘why wouldn’t you?’ We didn’t want to lose the family we’d come to love, and the workouts, so she kept most aspects of the gym, and even some of the trainers,” she said.

Hedeby has also been a friend and fel low athlete with Nash for decades as they raised their families in the Ahwatukee Foothills. They ran together until an in jury required Hedeby to reluctantly hang up her running shoes.

“After she, and many others raved about the HIIT workout, I gave it a try last year. I was hooked too,” she said.

Hedeby described the HIIT exercises as “super intense but fun”.

“I don’t dread going; actually I wake up excited to get to the 7 a.m. class,” she laughed. “What I like most is the way it’s structured and timed.

“Even if a move is really challenging, I

Tammy Nash just opened the HiitZone in Ahwatukee, replacing a fitness studio in the com munity that had offered the HIIT program. (David Minton/AFN Staff Photographer)

just tell myself, ‘c’mon, you can do this for one minute’ or whatever the time/reps are. It’s a great feeling of accomplishment at the end. Friends made in class help me stay accountable.”

Hedeby, an R.N. and mother of four grown children, was among the first to attend HiitZone classes last week. She agrees Nash’s “determination and perseverance” will make her studio a success.

“Tammy is highly motivated and open ing HiitZone is a perfect fit. She is a life time athlete and is motivating to others.

Another former TruHit gym member, Nee Nee Toms has made the move to Nash’s new gym.

“I like HIIT training because of the inten sity level. It is a good workout with lots of movement and high energy. You can accel erate your heart to a high target rate. You also have a class coach to help you out,

and motivate you during class,” said Toms, a registered nurse who’s lived in Ahwatu

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kee five years.

“I think HIIT is definitely good for all lev

els. Each exercise has modifications, and most importantly, regardless of the gym it’s what you put into a workout,” said the mother of three boys, who sometimes ac company her in her workouts.

“It’s your effort that will make you see progress. I’ve been doing HIIT for three years now and it’s changed my body shape.”

Nash invites the community, men and women, to give HiitZone a free try by of fering a free introductory class.

“I’m inviting people to come and try one of our HIIT classes, with personal trainer supervision, free of charge,” said Nash. “We want to let people know what HIIT can do for them, regardless of their age or physical condition.” 

HiitZone 4232 E. Chandler Blvd. Ahwatukee

hiitzone.live

SEND YOUR BUSINESS NEWS TO PMARYNIAK@TIMESLOCALMEDIA.COM

Tammy Nash fills out the class schedule on a sign outside of HIITZone. (David Minton/AFN Staff Photographer)

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Share Your Thoughts: Send your letters on local issues to: pmaryniak@timespublications.com

Domestic violence often hides in plain sight

BY HOLLY YZQUIERDO AFN Guest Writer

Arelationship char acterized by do mestic violence

rarely starts that way. In the early stages, an abuser may shower their partner with affection to gain trust.

But over time, behaviors that seem in nocent can lead to a controlling dynamic.

This fact is important fact every day of the year, but takes on an even greater meaning during October’s National Do mestic Violence Awareness Month focus.

Despite news coverage of murders, missing persons cases and more involv ing domestic violence, there’s a lack of awareness surrounding how common it really is. According to the National Coali tion Against Domestic Violence, 10 million adults in the U.S. experience domestic vio lence every year.

Not every case involves physical abuse, such as hitting, slapping, punching holes in walls or destroying belongings. There

Not much hope for a fire station in Ahwatukee any time soon

Great coverage (AFN October 19th, 2022) concerning the Phoenix Fire De partment response times and the impend ing bond election by Phoenix residents.

Having served on the Phoenix police force for 30 years, I had the opportunity to be in the planning unit as a middle manager dur ing the early 2000 bond election planning.

And at my retirement in 2003 I served as a citizen, appointed by Sal DiCiccio on the Police Department’s bond committee that was responsible for preparing the depart ment’s needs for the bond election.

I can tell you that a shovel hitting the dirt at this point and time for any city de partment’s future bond projects is a long way away.

-Christopher Gentis

are four other types of abuse:

Financial abuse occurs when a person is denied access to or prevented from mak ing money, or their money is controlled by someone else.

Sexual abuse involves forcing or coerc ing a person into unwanted sexual con duct or exposure.

Emotional abuse can include name-call ing, unnecessary criticism and manipula tion that toys with a person’s self-esteem.

Psychological abuse entails the use of fear, intimidation and isolation from friends and family members. A common tactic abusers undertake is to “gaslight” victims, so they question their sanity.

The most difficult thing for people who haven’t experienced abuse to understand is why someone would stay in this situa tion. In some cases, a person may stay in an abusive relationship because they don’t have the financial resources to leave.

“They won’t take the first step because they know they can’t afford to live and pay rent on their own,” says Alicia Paddock, Senior Program Manager at Catholic Char ities’ My Sisters’ Place shelter.

However, there are resources to help people escape abusive relationships. Catholic Charities’ domestic violence programs support individuals and families whose lives have been uprooted by abuse.

My Sisters’ Place, Catholic Charities’ confidential domestic violence shelter, serves individuals and families.

Staff provide safety planning, case man agement and skill/resource building to empower survivors to advocate for them selves. The shelter also assists with after care planning, employment, referral to transitional programs, affordable housing, furniture, food, and more.

When Ashley found herself at My Sis ters’ Place, she knew it was an oppor tunity to change her life. Her boyfriend became physically abusive when she got pregnant, and she feared for her and her child’s safety.

At My Sisters’ Place, Ashley worked with a counselor and focused on her parenting skills, which motivated her to find a job and housing.

The Pathways program is a commu

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Nailing political signs to Ahwatukee trees was the last straw

With elections less than a month away, everyone is suffering from campaign over stimulation. It’s everywhere. It’s in your mailbox, at your front door, on your TV, radio, phone and let’s not forget the over abundance of street signs. Back in the day, you typically received campaign mailers which are easily tossed... and you could easily change a media channel to avoid the onslaught of intrusion.

As a seasoned advertising and market ing professional of 35 years, I am all for a big campaign push. But over the past decade the intrusion is excessive as there is exponentially MORE of it. More in each form of traditional media and now on so cial media, direct to phone and online that we never had before.

Traditionally, signs were placed on street corners of “major” intersections. Now you find them everywhere at inter sections on side streets and in neighbor hoods. I am not talking about in your own yard. I have a couple in mine, too. But now they are more common in housing devel opments on residential streets. If it’s your favorite candidate, you might not mind or even care that it’s probably against your HOA guidelines.

Just know that this placement on a resi dential street corner only invites more to come in the future, lots more. And if this isn’t bad enough, two candidates had signs nailed to our beautiful Ahwatukee palm trees on the medians of both Ray and Chandler Roads. Talk about a disgrace to our palm trees and our community!

These were on two of our very own Ah

nity-based resource provider that helps victims of domestic violence in Maricopa County. This three-part team helps survi vors by providing free counseling, support groups and mobile victim advocacy.

With the help of Pathways, victims like Susan are overcoming domestic violence situations. Susan’s partner had been emo tionally and physically abusing her for years when she reached out to Pathways.

The team assisted her in completing an order of protection and helped her create goals, find employment, access benefits, and move out on her own.

These programs don’t just get people out of domestic violence situations, but educate them so they can protect them selves. With this knowledge, clients can work towards stability while giving them selves the kindness they deserve.

Holly Yzquierdo is marketing and communications manager for Catholic Charities Community Services. She can be reached at HYzquierdo@cc-az.org. If you need help: catholiccharitiesaz.org/ phoenix/domestic-violence.

watukee road medians that we pay taxes to keep manicured with landscaping. Not only were they an eye sore but total disre gard for the place we all call home.

To be fair, candidates don’t have com plete control over what an individual might do with a sign, but clear param eters of what is okay and isn’t, should be handed to anyone given a sign. Whatever is out of line should be taken down im mediately by campaign staff. Thankfully, someone had the common sense to take these down pretty quickly.

Next up is the constant inundation to your email or phone. Electronic devices are a hot bed for not only general politi cal spam, but certainly campaign spam. No matter which political party you are

from

for, you are being bombarded. If you are a social media person that number just went up tenfold! No matter how many times you have unsubscribed from a list, the pings keep coming.

I find the texts to my phone to be espe cially intrusive as they are mixed in with all of my personal, family, work texts. It’s maddening. Email seems to be easier to filter for spam, but with the phone no mat ter what you do to prevent, it just keeps coming. The most upsetting part of these spam texts and emails, is that we have rights to privacy on our personal devices.

Again, I am all for advertising and get ting your name out there. The question is when it becomes too much that voters are burned out from political campaigns. A voter may have been considering a candi date but is so irritated with excessive and intrusive marketing or smear tactics, you may have just turned them off. Or they’ve been so inundated, they spend more time deleting the spam and robo calls than reading about what a candidate stands for.

And what about privacy? Isn’t it part of our elected officials job to help protect it? How do we as voters trust them when

they themselves are abusing it? It’s too late for this campaign cycle, but hopefully someone is listening for the future. I have to say, seeing those signs littered on our palm trees was just too much for me.

Dear Candidate, please STOP and THINK.

-Michelle Watson

Democracy depends on your vote this November

Insurrectionist and election denier Mark Finchem is the Republican candi date vying to be Arizona’s next secretary of state. Finchem has gone on record to say he wouldn’t have certified the 2020 election results and Joe Biden could not have won because he “personally didn’t know anyone who voted for Joe Biden.”

Luckily, Arizonans can vote for a can didate with a proven track record of protecting free and fair elections: Adrian Fontes, the Democratic candidate for sec retary of state.

-Doug Arnold

Politics in Arizona becoming more and more tribal

I have always voted for the person I honestly believed would be best for the job. I voted for John McCain for years. I

think that is no longer possible. I cannot vote for anyone in a political party that is willing to support the overthrow of our long-standing democracy. Republicans, when they say the last election was sto len, they are committing to a lie that will end democracy in the United States. When the only election that is real is an election they win, that is no longer democracy, and they are supporting the overthrow of de mocracy (dictatorship).

The leader of the Republican party in Arizona had to plead the fifth because she knew she was cheating to win the election when she produced an alternative (fake) set of electors. The Cyber Ninjas audit produced nothing.

Yet Republicans in our Legislature are trying desperately to make it harder to vote. Nationally, the Republicans lost over 60 court cases related to the 2020 election because they had absolutely no evidence to support their claims. A party willing to go to these lengths to quiet our voices cannot be trusted with power.

Republicans are also trying to take over the courts in the United States. They put in judges that have been vetted by the far-right Federalist Society. These are the judges that have decided to end the Vot

ing Rights Act so that states can make it harder to vote.

Again, why are these laws being imple mented when there is no evidence of elec tions being affected by fraud? Because the Republicans need to be able to pick who votes so that they can win.

The vast majority of Americans believe women should have the right to decide if they will bear a child. Yet the judges who lied and said they would respect prece dent, did not and overturned Roe v. Wade.

A party that would rather see the Capi tol overrun by domestic terrorists who threaten the life of the vice president, causing injury and death to police of ficers, destroy property and attempt to overthrow the peaceful transfer of power cannot be trusted with power.

We cannot afford to have any election deniers in any office, because they work in lockstep to deny Americans their voice.

I really hate to decide who I vote for by party, but the Republicans have made it clear they will not stand up for the ma jority of Americans. Therefore, to save America from totalitarianism we must vote out the election deniers, the freedom fakers, the court packers.

-Barry Smith

comfort

Sports & Recreation

Desert Vista golf qualifies for state championship

BY ZACH ALVIRA AFN Sports Editor

Forthe 20th year in a row, the Desert Vista Thunder boys’ golf program will compete for a state championship be ginning Wednesday, Oct. 26 in Tucson.

The Thunder officially qualified as a team Saturday after its No. 11 state rank ing was officially locked in with one of the final events featuring other Division I teams having concluded. The qualifica tion guarantees a chance at the team title yet again.

Head coach Matt Russo said if his team wins their first title since 2016, it would be the ultimate conclusion to a special year with a special group of seniors.

“It would be really special,” Russo said. “The bonding of this group of seniors and

For the 20th consecutive year, Desert Vista’s boys’ golf team has qualified for the Division I state championship. Led by head coach Matt Russo, “far left,” the Thunder will tee off at Omni Tucson National Wednesday, Oct. 26 in pursuit of their first title since 2016. (Courtesy Matt Russo)

how they’ve mentored the other guys, it’s all about passing the torch. What we do

this year leads to next year. I think it will keep momentum rolling.”

To qualify, seven of the Thunder’s events this season were counted toward its over all ranking. It’s best score from a single event came on Sept. 20 when they faced Mountain View, Mesa and Saguaro.

Desert Vista won the event and was led by senior Caeden Bolander shooting oneunder for the match. The team shot a 150 overall to win. Russo said it’s ironic that his team’s best golf has been played in 36-round matches.

But he believes that, along with a frontloaded schedule, will benefit his players in Tucson beginning Wednesday.

“We haven’t really had a great nine-hole qualifier stretch, which is a good thing leading up to tournament golf,” Russo said. “They’ve been good enough to score

see DV GOLF

Pride golf program on rise after qualifying 1 for state

BY ZACH ALVIRA AFN Sports Editor

TonyRamseyer has spent the last 25 years doing something he adores: Coaching golf at Mountain Pointe. He’s seen the program in its infancy. He’s seen it flourish at times and most recently, he’s seen it at its lowest. But year after year, players joined. Even when the team failed to qualify any players for the state championship on countless occasions, he doubled down on his passion for creating lasting memories and molding high school aged boys into young men.

That’s what he has taken pride in over the last two decades as a coach and nearly three as a teacher. But this year it is paying off on the course.

“I run the state tournament so it’s nice to have a kid playing in it,” Mountain Pointe head golf coach and AIA golf State Tournament Director Tony Ramseyer said.

“It’s been really neat to have Teagan Kear ney qualify for state and try to get us back there and rolling.”

The Mountain Pointe golf program appears to be on an upward trend after qualifying senior Teagan Kearney, “middle,” for the Division II state championship on Nov. 2. Kearney is the first Pride golfer to qualify since 2017, when head coach Tony Ramseyer’s son, Zachary, did it. (Dave Minton/AFN Staff)

For the first time since 2017, when Ramseyer’s son, Zachary, qualified for the state golf championship, the Pride will be represented in Tucson. Kearney, a se nior leader of the golf program, qualified for state and is currently ranked No. 56

overall in Division II. He shot a 39 against Desert Vista, Corona del Sol and Brophy, Mountain Pointe’s final match of the regu lar season.

However, he isn’t letting the ranking de fine who he is as a player.

He’s confident in his ability. His team mates are confident in his ability. So are his coaches.

“It feels really good after all the hard work,” Kearney said. “I’m just excited to be there at the end of the day. Win or lose it’s going to be a great time. But I want to win.

“No one really knows about Moun tain Pointe golf. I have a chance to make us known.”

This year’s Mountain Pointe team is made up of a majority of baseball players. Kearney is one, Carter Bailey is another. Four more joined them this season.

That has allowed the team to become closer together. They already have chem istry from their time on the diamond, and it’s only grown since they all joined the golf team to play in the fall.

In their minds, it’s another way to repre sent the school. They feel they have what it takes to make a deep run this spring with the returning players they have in

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Clark, Rushing lead Pride to dominant win

BY RYAN MCCLURE AFN Contributing Writer

screen passes.

Dominant,

yet simple football was all the Mountain Pointe football team needed against Dobson Fri day night.

The Pride squad found themselves back in the win column after a methodical de feat over the Mustangs in Mesa, 55-10.

“We came into the game knowing we had to play fundamental football,” Pride offensive coordinator Brian Whitacre said. “We wanted to execute at a fast pace and play physical football.”

The Pride did just that behind a physical rushing attack that led the way offensively.

The running backs led the way behind the offensive line, as senior Jay’len Rush ing and junior Christian Clark combined for over 200 yards.

“Every game we try to establish the run game early,” Clark said. “We are just trying to beat them down. We kept sticking to it and got the win.”

Clark split the carries with Rushing, changing the pace up for the Pride. Clark found success on the ground and found the end zone twice, once early in the first quar

ter and again late in the second quarter.

In the Mustang’s third possession, out side linebacker Izaac Patterson tipped a pass, caught it, then broke two tackles on his way to a pick-6 to put the Pride up three possessions in the second quarter.

“The ball just came to me, and I had

Thunder fall to Corona del Sol in thriller

BY ANDREW LWOWSKI AFN Contributing Writer

DesertVista and Corona del Sol put on a thriller Friday night as the Aztecs fended off the gritty Thunder, 62-48.

The two teams combined to score 110 points. It was a high school game that re sembled a Power Five college matchup.

The Thunder, who have had a frustrat ing season, were electric on offense, but it was not enough to overcome their di vision rivals. The Thunder offense ran through junior quarterback Braxton Thomas as he threw for 330 yards, five touchdowns and a pair of interceptions on 43 attempts. Thomas also led Des ert Vista in rushing with 76 yards and one touchdown.

“We liked what we saw, we liked our

matchups on the outside,” said Thomas. “We just clicked really well tonight.”

Receiver Jackson Sanders was Thomas’ top target with 182 yards and two scores. Traven Vigenser also surpassed 100 yards receiving and recorded a score.

“We still left points on the board and had three turnovers,” Thomas added. “We fought really well and that’s what I can say.”

While the Thunders’ offense was keep ing them in the game, the defense had

Desert Vista junior wide receiver Roan Mar tinez holds up the ball after a diving touch down catch ahead of Corona del Sol junior corner Keyvon Thomas Friday, Oct. 21, 2022, at Hascall Henshaw Stadium in Tempe. (David Minton/Staff Photographer)

to go score,” Patterson said, who plays both sides of the ball. “I just have to keep my breath under me and keep running and running.”

Mountain Pointe came out offensively with a simple approach: A heavy attack at the Mustang run defense, while mixing in

Play-action passes were also mixed in sporadically throughout the game. This comes a week after quarterback Chris Ar viso attempted 33 passes in a tough loss to Corona Del Sol.

Using the play action, Arviso found Clark twice for touchdowns on the night.

“My dad and brother taught me to play with a chip on my shoulder,” Clark said. “I imagine the guy in front of me is stopping me from getting to college.”

Rushing was the focal point for the Pride offense to start the game. Setting the tone for the offensive attack with four runs over 20 yards in the first two drives.

It was a testament to the work of the of fensive line.

“We have to remember our fundamen tals from practice,” senior right guard Tyrese Henderson said. “We have to keep on pushing for those rushing yards and those passing yards.”

Arviso didn’t have his usual volume. He attempted mainly screen passes, throwing one that led to a 40-yard touchdown catch and run by Mountain Pointe’s third run

Mountain Pointe junior running back Christian Clark powers through the Dobson defense Fri day, Oct. 21, 2022, at Dobson High School in Mesa. (David Minton/Staff Photographer)

ning back, Randle Parker.

But Parker, a junior, was the Pride’s focus point in the passing attack Friday night. He led the team with five catches for over 70 yards. He also secured his second touchdown of the game with a 5-yard rush in the third quarter.

Dobson couldn’t find momentum on the defensive side of the ball but showed glimpses of hope on the offensive side. The Mustangs scored their lone touchdown on their first possession.

Although the Pride simplified the offen sive attack, Whitacre found an opportuni ty for the team to work on the basics while developing the system for the coming “We wanted to come into the game play ing solid Pride football,” Whitacre said. “We have a lot of talented playmakers and it’s at times challenging to get them in the right spot. When you have those kinds of players you get those kinds of players throughout the game.”

Junior running back Jeremiah Adams

wrapped up the scoring in the game with a 15-yard touchdown run.

It was a bounce back performance for the Pride after a loss last week

trating part is knowing you have talent as positions but can’t quite get it to click.

against Corona Del Sol set them back to an even record.

After the victory over Dobson, Moun tain Pointe finds themselves over .500 yet

again this season, and are hoping a domi nant victory leads to a dominant stretch at the end half of their schedule.

Mountain Pointe will look to carry the momentum from Friday’s win to next week when it travels to Mesa to face Des ert Ridge.

“We need to continue to progress, and make a playoff run,” Whitacre said. “That’s the mindset. These guys want a playoff run. They want to get back to that Pride mentality.”

Have an interesting sports story?

Contact Zach Alvira at zalvira@ timeslocalmedia.com and follow him on Twitter @ZachAlvira.

their hands full trying to contain the Aztecs dynamic attack of quarterback Connor Ackerley, running back Jonathan Kubat and receiver Zuri Glenn. Five of Corona’s nine scores came from plays of over 20 yards.

“We’ve got to do a better job of not try ing to be heroes,” coach Nate Gill said. “Usually when a guy is out of position, that’s when those big plays happen. And the crazy thing about good offensive teams is when those things happen, they find it.”

Senior linebacker Antonio Delgado said a lot of the plays given up on defense were mental.

“We had some blown gaps where we would have two guys in one gap,” he said. “We tried to change some calls and change some blitzes, but it was more of a mental thing. We needed to come more downhill instead of playing laterally.”

Delgado admitted that the most frus

“We need to come together and play,” he said. “We have potential everywhere, we know its there, but if we’re not using it, but we know that it’s there, that’s the most frustrating part.”

That has been the theme for the Thun der all season as they adjust to a new coaching staff and roster. Gill recognized the same dilemma, “our guys are still fig uring us out as coaches and we’re still fig uring out our guys.”

Thomas recalled last week against High land, where the defense held strong until mistakes by the Thunder offense cracked the game open. “We know how good we are if we just come and play as a team on both sides of the ball, he said.

While Corona is in the discussion for the Open Division, Desert Vista was able to compete at a high level, which shows promise and growth.

Desert Vista will travel to Brophy Col lege Prep next Friday. 

Desert Vista junior quarterback Braxton Thomas gets wrapped up by Corona del Sol senior de fensive end Jedidiah Maurer Friday, Oct. 21, 2022, at Hascall Henshaw Stadium in Tempe. (David Minton/Staff Photographer)

Mountain Pointe senior defensive tackle Bryon Coles pulls down Dobson junior running back Al len Wallace Friday, Oct. 21, 2022, at Dobson High School in Mesa. (David Minton/Staff Photographer)

and qualify. But our best potential is out of those 36-hole events. We had a good sea son with a good core of seniors.”

Bolander, seniors Michael Conti and Ross Kocsis, junior Bode Thomas and sophomore Perrin Covey is the group of five that will represent Desert Vista at Omni Tucson National. Russo said they’re a good group that has carried on the leg

POINTE

baseball. But they first wanted to set the stage for a successful year in golf. They did that by qualifying Kearney.

“I couldn’t be more proud of him,” Bai ley said. “I know how hard he has worked for this moment. We both started playing together my freshman year, he got me into golf. I’ve seen him improve so much over the last four years. I’m excited to see what he does down at state.

“I think he can win.”

Ramseyer’s love for the Mountain Pointe community runs deep. He’s taught there for nearly three decades – next year marks his 30th at the school. His wife works at the school and it was the first to give him

acy set by former Desert Vista golfers in making the state championship.

Those golfers from the past, many of which went on to play at the next level, as well as the former coaches were pivotal to the success of the Thunder golf program.

They set the standard early on and it was up to Russo to continue it with his groups he has coached and will coach in the years to come.

“It’s taken a village,” Russo said of the

a position as a teacher when he moved to the Valley from Michigan back in 1994.

He told himself at the time that he wanted to find a school that he could be come involved in and remain for the en tirety of his teaching career. He knew he found that right away at Mountain Pointe.

He’s had his own kids go through the school, he and his wife live right down the street. Some of his former students are now coaching alongside him, includ ing girls’ golf and baseball head coach Max Pincus. He’s also started to see some of his former students’ kids in his classes.

That, he joked, was a sign to him that he’s been doing it for quite a while. But as it stands, he has no plans to call it quits anytime soon.

program’s success. “We’ve had different eras of golfers who have passed the torch to each other. It’s the culture, striving for excellence. It’s been special, for sure. But it has taken a village to get there.”

Desert Vista visited Tucson National last Wednesday for a practice round and get a feel for the desert landscape and tight lies. His players had an opportunity to walk the course and take notes.

That has since been followed up by

“I love the school, I love the legacy of it,” Ramseyer said. “I really want to make sure the legacy of Mountain Pointe continues. I’ve had some great golf teams with good athletes, great people come through.

“I do this for the kids. I do this because I enjoy watching these boys turn into good young men. That’s something I pride my program around. I’m not the best golf coach, but I know enough to let them become good young men and help them reach their maximum potential.”

Kearney will tee off Wednesday, Nov. 2 at Omni Tucson National in the Division II championship starting at 9 a.m. The tour nament will conclude Thursday, where in dividual and team state champions will be crowned. 

strong practice sessions where strategy has been the topic of conversation.

Tucson National presents a challenge. But Russo feels his players are ready.

“It’s a tough course but the guys are ready,” Russo said. “I think we have a puncher’s chance to do something special. All three of our seniors can break par and the other two have the ability to hover around par, too. Anything can happen.

“We’re ready to play our best golf.” 

Along with qualifying, Kearney, “left,” has also been one of the leaders of the golf program alongside senior Carter Bailey, “right.” The two have cherished their time with head coach Tony Ramseyer, and Ramseyer has cherished his 25th year coaching the golf program. (Dave Minton/AFN Staff)

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SanTan Gardens patio hosting al fresco events

BY GERI KOEPPEL GetOut Contributor

Ever since it opened its brewpub in downtown Chandler in September 2007, SanTan Brewing Company has continued to grow.

Its latest addition is a 2,000-square foot patio that joins its retail shop, tasting room and production facility on Warner Road just east of Arizona Avenue, where it hosts live music and other public and private events.

The idea for the al fresco area at SanTan Gardens was sparked by the earlier days of the pandemic when people were con cerned about keeping six feet apart, said SanTan Brewing Company founder/brew er Anthony Canecchia of Gilbert.

“It evolved from “a place for people to socially distance to a genuine events cen ter that can hold upwards of 250 people,” he said.

Originally, the outdoor area was only around 10 by 10 feet, but they removed a door and windows to open up the space.

Then they got the idea to add a stage for live music.

“It kept snowballing,” Canecchia said.

“The catering department came over and asked, ‘When are we going to be able to

use this for events?’”

SanTan Gardens began testing the wa ters over the summer with gatherings such as psychedelic jam sessions on Sat urdays and “Whiskey Wednesdays” fea

turing live music and specials on whiskey cocktails and bottles.

Events ramped up in September with “Beer, Bourbon, BBQ + Band,” featuring a pig roast; a roster of live music and other happenings is ongoing.

Canecchia said SanTan Brewing Com pany built some large events in downtown Chandler over the years, but they became overwhelming.

“The last one we did was Oktoberfest 2019, and we looked at each other and said, ‘It was successful, it was great, I think we’re done.’ It takes so much energy and months and months of planning.

“When we said, ‘Let’s start doing events at Warner,’ it was, ‘Yes, they’re intimate, they’re manageable,’” he remarked.

SanTan Gardens events are “mellower; there’s not a lot of pomp and circum stance,” Canecchia noted, and they don’t run past 10 p.m.

Upcoming activities include A Grateful

The Nash plans expansion in the world of jazz

BY CHRISTINA FUOCO-KARASINSKI GetOut Editor

The Nash has spent the last 10 years filling a void for jazz fans in the Val ley and the staff hopes to expand its offerings going forward.

Executive director and jazz pianist Joel Goldenthal boasts that The Nash has been satisfying a pent-up community need since Wynton Marsalis played the first note at the club on Sept. 30, 2012.

“Everything that’s happened at The Nash has been from people walking in the front door wanting to be involved in it,” he said.

That includes a key component to The Nash – its education programs like sum mer jazz workshops, emerging artist pro gram, masterclasses and clinics, Hot Dogs & Jazz, The Nash Legacy Ensembles, The Nash Vocal Ensemble, The Nash Futures Workshop, Nash Jazz DivAZ and Sunday Jam Sessions.

“The educators all came to us and asked to do these programs at The Nash,” Gol denthal said. “The jam session has been a steady flow of musicians, audiences, teachers and supporters who just want to be involved.”

Named in honor of musician Lewis Nash, the club will celebrate its 10th anniversary Thursday, Oct. 27, to Sunday, Oct. 30.

It kicks off with a VIP private preview at 6 p.m. Thursday, when guests can see a 10-Year Photo Exhibition, which runs throughout the 2022-2023 season.

The celebration officially kicks off Fri day with Cocomama Latin Jazz at 7 p.m. and 9:15 p.m.

On Saturday, Oct. 29, Hot Dogs & Jazz makes its return from 11 to 11:45 a.m. Families are invited to this free event that includes a jazz performance geared for all ages, an instrument petting zoo, and expo

of The Nash education programs fostering the next generation of jazz musicians. Fol lowed by free hot dog lunch with the band.

Furthering that mission, the educa tion expo is from noon to 1:30 p.m. and it features performances by The Nash’s Education Ensembles, including The Nash JazzDivAZ (all-female ensemble of musi cians ages 10 to 17), The Nash Legacy En sembles (top high school jazz musicians selected by audition) and The Nash Jazz Vocal Ensemble (community-based group of jazz vocalists).

Prior to the performances, the Phoenix mayor’s office will present a proclamation to The Nash to honor its contributions to the community and to celebrate its 10th anniversary.

The club’s namesake, drummer Lewis

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SanTan Gardens’ patio is open daily except for private parties, and often hosts live bands and special public events. (Geri Koeppel/Contributor)

The club’s namesake, drummer Lewis Nash, will perform with his All-Star Quintet at 7 and 9:15 p.m. Oct. 29. (Courtesy of The Nash)

Dead Halloween and a comedy series with headliners such as Harland Williams, Ja mie Kennedy and Jay Mohr.

SanTan Brewing Company’s tasting room and SanTan Gardens is generally open 3-8 p.m. Monday through Thursday and noon to 8 p.m. Friday through Sunday for retail sales, tastings and tours, and all special events are listed on the website.

There’s no kitchen, but food trucks are present at some special events.

The patio and tasting room also are avail able to rent for private parties such as wed dings, reunions and more. In the tasting room, barrels stacked eight high against the 25-foot ceilings make for a fun back drop, and the patio can be dressed up with centerpieces, flowers and other decor.

The website lists blackout dates when it’s closed to the public.

SanTan Brewing Company has expand

from

Nash, will perform with his All-Star Quin tet at 7 and 9:15 p.m. later that night.

The Nash volunteers will be honored during a private event on Oct. 30. A public concert with the SCC Jazz Orchestra and Jimmy Greene will happen at 7:30 p.m.

Longtime Valley attorney Herb Ely pitched the idea for The Nash to Golden thal over coffee in the end of 2010.

“He told me he wanted to open a jazz venue in Downtown for the purpose of giving young people a chance to be ex posed to this music,” Goldenthal recalled.

“I suggested to do it through Jazz in Arizona, a nonprofit founded in 1977. We connected Lewis Nash to it because of his stature in the jazz world as a musician and educator, and a role model we would want to put forth.”

The Nash was conceived and born in one day, Goldenthal said.

“It took about a year and a half to get it off the ground,” he added. “There were many naysayers. It was interesting, the negativity toward it in the beginning. Peo ple were skeptical of a jazz venue being a nonprofit and having the youth as the fo cus. But that gives us the special position.

ed exponentially since its start as a small brewpub on historic San Marcos Square, which was one of the early brewpubs in the Valley.

Canecchia originally was a home brewer and worked at Four Peaks Brewing Com pany in Tempe as its first employee start ing in 1996.

After the brewpub launched, it helped revitalize a then-sleepy downtown Chan dler. Its craft beer made on-site along with a menu of comfort food favorites with a Southwestern twist — including meats smoked on hickory and oak out back — drew lines of people waiting for tables.

However, the Great Recession soon hit, and the brewery “scrambled and started distributing our beers,” to other restau rants and retailers, Canecchia said.

A year later, they signed to a major dis tributor, and before long, they outgrew their production capacity at the brewpub and opened the bigger facility on Warner

Road in 2010.

The company also got its Series 1 license in 2015, which “allows us to produce any type of alcohol you can think of,” Canec chia said.

Back then, few breweries were making other alcohol, but now, “it’s becoming very popular for people to diversify beyond beer,” he noted.

The brewery makes a variety of styles, including IPAs, lagers, stouts, wheat beers and more, and SanTan Spirits distills vod ka, gin, whiskey, bitters, canned cocktails and other occasional special releases, such as coffee liqueur or brandy.

A wall in the tasting room displays the copious number of awards it has received.

In addition to its retail/tasting room and live entertainment, a major focus at SanTan Gardens is education. Tours at the production facility started in 2019; they cost $15 and can be booked online.

The tours, which last an hour or more,

discuss the company’s history and the nuts and bolts of making beer and spirits, with explanations about the ingredients, the distilling, the canning and more.

The Warner location produces 98 per cent of the company’s beer in its 50-barrel brewing system and all of its spirits in a specially designed artesian pot still.

SanTan Brewing Company is now the state’s largest independent brewer and distiller. It brews about 50,000 barrels of beer — roughly 16.5 million cans — and more than 10,000 cases of whiskey.

Yanina Santos of Mesa, who took a tour on Sept. 24, said “I think I have a new ap preciation for beer and what goes into it than I had before.”

Her husband, Isaac Santos, said, “It was pretty cool learning the history of it and learning that the main owner designed the still and all that.” He added, “They make a great caramel whiskey, which is the big takeaway.” 

year five. Then we had just, in the last our months, added our first development and marketing director, and our first full-time education director. Those additions to the staff have just put us in a position to really grow and maximize our potential.”

Going forward, Goldenthal sees the edu cational programs expanding. They are, in earnest, evaluating the facility for the future to figure out how to accommodate the growth.

“The performance venue doesn’t have to be any bigger,” he said.

“Jazz is an intimate artform. If we could do two shows with 116 people in them, that would be just dandy. Clearly in order to accommodate additional educational programs, we’re going to need more space under the same roof. I think that’s the big gest opportunity that we have—expand ing to accommodate the growth that the market is asking for.” 

“There is no other entity in the coun try that has the exact model we have. We provide students an opportunity to experience these jazz greats in live per formance. Nothing done in the four walls of academia begins to approach the impact of experiencing the greats in

live performance.”

In the early days of The Nash, the staff was just Goldenthal. It has since been expanding.

“When we started out 10 years ago, I was the only staff person,” Goldenthal said.

“We added a managing director about

The Nash

thenash.org info@thenash.org

Sudoku

With JAN D’ATRI

GetOut Columnist

Planning a party? Think paella and plenty of sangria

Itwas on this day, decades ago, that my momma and I celebrated my birthday in Madrid, Spain.

took me on a magnificent trip to six European countries on our way to her hometown of Treviso, Italy. It was in Madrid where we both fell in love…. with paella. The place was Restaurante Botin, the oldest restaurant in the world, according the Guinness Book of World Records – and to this day, one of the most charming establishments I’ve ever visited.

We bought our paella pan there and have loved making this authentic Spanish dish ever since.

Ingredients:

• 3 cloves garlic, minced

• 1 large sweet yellow onion, chopped fine

• 1 red bell pepper, diced

• 1/3 cup olive oil

• 1 ½ tsp salt, divided

• 1 lb. calamari, cut into rings

• ½ cup tomato sauce

• 1 teaspoon black pepper

• 12 raw jumbo shrimp, peeled & deveined

Directions:

1. Mince 3 cloves of garlic. Chop onion fine. Dice red bell pepper.

2. Slice calamari into thin rings.

3. Heat a paella pan with a medium-high heat and add in 1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil. After 1 minute season the olive oil with 1 teaspoon of sea salt.

4. Add the calamari and cook for 2 minutes then remove from the pan and set aside.

5. Add the garlic and onions to the pan and cook for 2 minutes. Add the red bell pepper and continue to sauté until the vegetables are soft and tender, about 4 minutes.

6. Add the tomato sauce, smoked paprika ½ tsp salt and pepper. Stir to incorporate and then cook for 2 minutes or until the tomato sauce has thickened. Add the calamari back into the

you’re in the mood to party, a paella party (with plenty of sangria to wash it down!) can be a very tasteful get-together!

• ½ lb Spanish chorizo, cut into small pieces

• 12 fresh mussels, cleaned

• ½ teaspoon smoked paprika

• 3 cups fish broth (Can be made with Better Than Bouillon Seafood Paste)

• 1 teaspoon saffron threads or powder

• 1 cup uncooked Carnaroli or Arborio rice

• 1 cup finely chopped parsley

• 1 large lemon, sliced into wedges

pan and stir.

7. Add the fish broth and bring to a boil.

8. Add Carnaroli or Arborio rice, mix well and cook for 20 minutes.

9. Add the shrimp and mussels, and cook for another 10 minutes.

10. Lower the heat to medium low, and simmer until the broth has been absorbed by the rice and the rice is tender.

11. Return the heat to medium high, stir the mixture once and then leave it undisturbed to achieve the socarrat. (Socorrat in paella is the thin layer of toasted rice that sticks to the bottom of the pan. The rice should smell toasted, make a crackling sound.)

12. After 5 minutes, garnish the paella with lemon wedges and finely chopped parsley.

Serves 6

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