INSIDE:
COMMUNITY C O M M U N I TP.27| Y P .AROUND 2 9 | B UAFS P.31 I N E S| OPINION S P . 3 3 P.34| | O P BUSINESS I N I O N PP.37 . 3 8|REAL | S PESTATE O R T S P.RE1| P . 4 1 GETOUT | G E T OP.41 U T | PSPORTS . 4 6 | P.45| C L A SCLASSIFIED S I F I E D PP.47 .53
www.ahwatukee.com
PLEAS FOR SROS
Wednesday, November 10, 2021
. 22 HELPING FOSTER KIDS
D
avid Klecka can still recall the first Ahwatukee Bowl game between Desert Vista and Mountain Pointe like it was yesterday. Desert Vista High School had only just started and was still under construction with students still using Akimel A-al Middle School as its campus.
The two teams met in fall 1995. It was a freshman game, which usually limits the crowd to just parents of the players and cheerleaders. But Klecka, an assistant coach at Mountain Pointe at the time, said it was as if it were a varsity game. The stands were packed to the brim. It was at that point the rivalry was born. “Everybody was there,” said Klecka, now the athletic director at Desert Vista. “From that point on, the rivalry was born and a lot of it
A special Veterans Day
. 29 PICKLEBALL COMPLEX
see BOWL page 14
BY PAUL MARYNIAK AFN Executive Editor
M
. 33
P
MAMMA MIA!
. 46
stemmed from those kids growing up together.” Desert Vista emerged victorious that first game. Mountain Pointe went on to win the next year as the two schools fielded junior varsity programs. The year after that, 1997, the first game between varsity rosters was held. In 1998, with seniors for the first time, Desert Vista, coached by the legend, Jim Rattay,
St. Benedict’s congregation breaks ground for church
P
P
@AhwatukeeFN
25th Tukee Bowl: Iconic rivalry can ‘reset’ BY ZACH ALVIRA AFN Sports Editor
P
@AhwatukeeFN |
ore than 200 parishioners and others gathered Saturday for the long-awaited groundbreaking ceremony that kicked off the conversion of the St. Benedict’s Catholic Church building. “This is a wonderful day for us,” Pastor Fr. James Aboyi, V.C., declared. “The hour has come.” No one in the crowd needed a reminder of the seven years of planning, frustration and, at times, heartbreak, that the congregation of about 1,300 families had endured to reach this milestone for the parish that began 36 years ago, though Bishop Thomas Olmstead, leader of the Phoenix Catholic Diocese, alluded to that long journey several times in his message. He singled out Aboyi when he referred to the most heartbreaking moment in the congregation’s journey – the August 2018 passing of their beloved pastor, Fr. Bob Binta – who had
Brenda Smull of Ahwatukee has a special extra reason to celebrate Veterans Day. The Desert Storm veteran just published her first book, which in part celebrates veterans and Ahwatukee American Legion Post 64, to which she belongs. See page 3 for details. (David Minton/AFN Staff)
Bring the Outdoors In with our Moving Glass Wall Systems 4454 E. Thomas Rd. Phoenix • 602-508-0800 • liwindow.com Mon-Thurs 8:30-5pm • Fri 8:30-4pm • Sat by appointment only • ROC#179513
see BENEDICT page 4
Up to
1500 OFF
$
Call for deta
ils!