The Foothills Focus Cave Creek 02-23-2023

Wednesday, February 22, 2023

Rodeo Days names its two queens

BY FOOTHILLS FOCUS STAFF

Cave Creek Rodeo Days crowned Queen Mary Norton and Teen Queen Isabella Schofield at the Holland Community Center on Feb. 11.

Norton, 21, was also the 2019 Miss Teen Rodeo Arizona and during that time, she developed her platform “Every Moment Matters.”

She works to inspire those she meets and shares the small moments are just as important as the big ones.

The 15-year-old Schofield is a sophomore at Cactus Shadows High School. A 12-year Cave Creek resident, Schofield is competing in the Queen Creek Junior Rodeos. She learned about working with horses and roping from her siblings and father, the

see RODEO DAYS page 4

Cave Creek man dedicates career to burn patients

Dr. Kevin Foster, renowned burn surgeon and director of the Arizona Burn Center at Valleywise Health, has dedicated his career to providing first-class care to those in need.

With more than 25 years of experience, the 61-year-old Cave Creek resident is considered

one of the preeminent burn specialists in the nation. He’s saved countless lives through his work.

From innovative treatments to pioneering medical research, he has proven to be an invaluable asset to the medical community. He’s also become the face of the Arizona Burn Center, one of the busiest burn centers in the country.

Hired by Valleywise Health in 1999, Foster never believed he would still be there in 2023. Ask anyone in the industry, it’s not common for a doctor to stay in one spot for that long, let alone at the first job after years of medical training.

Foster cited the freedom he has been given see CAREER page 4

Cave Creek Rodeo Days crowned Teen Queen Isabella Schofield, left, and Queen Mary Norton at the Holland Community Center on Feb. 11. (Cave Creek Rodeo Days/Submitted)

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CAREER from page 1

to organize his own team and the support Valleywise Health provides him as the main reasons he has stayed there.

“We tend to hang on to our staff for quite a while. They like being a member of this team and where we work,” Foster said. “Everybody on our team could go someplace else and make more money, but they choose to stay here because they believe in the work we’re doing.”

As Arizona’s only nationally verified burn center, and one that services much of the southwest, the Arizona Burn Center treats injuries related to flames, chemicals, electrical injuries and scalds. The Arizona Burn Center also provides treatment for complicated skin infections and disorders, such as necrotizing fasciitis, commonly known as flesh-eating bacteria.

“I get to take care of people when they are at their absolute worst,” Foster said. “A big burn injury is the worst thing that’s going to happen to any person in their lifetime and we get to take care of these people and make them better.”

According to Foster, even through numerous administration changes at Valleywise Health, he has always been supported.

“They have always said to the burn care team, ‘You do what you need to do to take care of patients and we’ll figure out how to pay for it.’ And that’s still our method

of operation here. That’s never changed,” Foster said. “There are very few places in the western world where you get to practice medicine like that.”

As many would imagine, the combination of top-notch resources and a team that genuinely cares about their work results in some of the best care in the country. According to Valleywise Health, the Arizona Burn Center treats more than 8,000 burn injuries a year and provides critically injured patients a greater than 98% survival rate, one of the highest rates in the nation.

Exploring new paths

Throughout his time at Valleywise,

Foster and his team have helped pioneer new advancements through several research and clinical trials. One that they participated in that has brought significant change to the burn care industry is a spray-on-skin product created by ReCell.

Foster saw a presentation on the product by ReCell about 15 years ago and he knew then and there that it could help make significant strides in the industry. The product’s original purpose was to treat severe burns, but Foster and the team saw the opportunity for broader use.

A special clinical trial at Valleywise

see CAREER page 7

Creek

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latter of whom worked on a ranch as a teenager. He also competed in rodeos in college.

“Cave Creek Rodeo Days Queen and Teen Queen symbolizes the young women of Arizona who desire to promote the sport of rodeo and, in doing so, the western way of life,” said Patty Pollnow with Cave Creek Rodeo Days.

“They will represent rodeo as they travel throughout the Turquoise Circuit as well as other parts of the southwest as required or desired assisting the Cave Creek Rodeo Days organization and its royalty program.”

The royalty participates in community service programs, 4-H, local events

within Cave Creek and the charities supported by Cave Creek Rodeo Days, supporting the western heritage and lifestyle.

This year’s competition was judged by several women, including Celeste Jones, a horsewoman, ranch recipe blogger and western enthusiast.

Judge Cait Opanski-Luca is an Iowa State and Nebraska Youth Champion in Western Pleasure, performing on her Appaloosa horses.

A former equine small business owner, she runs Corral West Horse Adventures in Goodyear and the nonprofit Lucky Break Rescue.

She was a Miss Illinois USA finalist and is fundraising and is a marketing consultant full time. Opanski-Luca is pas-

sionate about preserving the western way of life as a first-generation cowgirl.

Cave Creek’s Rodeo Queen in 2011 and 2012, Amanda Radford judged as well. She filled out her permit and got her pro rodeo card in 2012.

She also qualified for finals in NMRA, GCPRA, Turquoise Circuit, Mountain State Circuit, CCOBRA and IBRA & NBHA.

Radford now competes on horses she has bred and raised, all while raising two daughters.

The Cave Creek Rodeo Days Royalty reign runs from the Coronation Ceremony to Jan. 31 of the following year.

Those interested in the 2024 Royalty Court should email queens@cavecreekrodeo.com

The content of any advertisements are the sole responsibility of the advertiser. The Foothills Focus assumes no responsibility for the claims of any advertisement.

Queen

Tribune is distributed by AZ Integrated Media a circulation company owned & operated by Times Media Group The public is limited to one copy per reader. For circulation services, please contact Aaron Kolodny at aaron@phoenix.org.

RODEO DAYS from page 1

When Dr. Kevin Foster isn’t at Valleywise Health, he is mountain biking near his Cave Creek home. (Dr. Kevin Foster/Submitted)

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Museum completes Golden Reef Stamp Mill exhibit

BY FOOTHILLS FOCUS STAFF

Cave Creek Museum will introduce its Golden Reef Stamp Mill exhibit on Saturday, Feb. 25.

Registration is required by calling 480488-2764.

Guests will see the newly completed diorama of Cave Creek Museum’s Golden Reef Stamp Mill in its history section. The model shows what the stamp mill looked like when it was on one side of Continental Mountain. The detailed and accurate model is the works of long-time museum volunteer Jay F. Williams. Williams is better known as “Grandpa Jay” by the hundreds of students he has guided through the museum.

The amazing Golden Reef Stamp Mill and Tramway is Arizona’s only fully operational ten-stamp ore crushing mill. The real 10, 1,000-lb. stamps slam down in synchronized motion to pound ore removed from the mine into fine gravel.

The stamp mill was brought from its

former location at the Golden Reef Mine on Continental Mountain to Cave Creek Museum, which has the only fully operational mining stamp mill in its original mining district in Arizona; it is located five miles from its site on the mountain. The Golden Reef stamp mill runs the second Saturday of every month

through May.

The giant stamp mill is connected to a working tramway and ore carts that carry the ore to be pulverized by the stamp mill. In addition, the Arizona Gold Mining Experience features blacksmithing and gold panning.

The 52-year-old museum’s mission is

to preserve the artifacts of the prehistory, history, culture and legacy of the Cave Creek Mining District and the Cave Creek/ Carefree foothills area through education, research and interpretive exhibits.

Open October to May, the Cave Creek Museum is at 6140 E. Skyline Drive in Cave Creek. Its website is cavecreekmuseum.org.

Crash kills motorcyclist in Phoenix

BY CHRISTINA FUOCO-KARASINSKI Foothills Focus Executive Editor

Phoenix police are investigating a Feb. 18 traffic collision involving a motorcycle that left one man dead, according to Sgt. Phil Krynsky of the Phoenix Police Department.

Phoenix police officers responded to a call of a serious vehicle collision involving a motorcycle around 7:15 p.m. near Cave Creek and Bell roads. When they arrived, officers located 52-year-old Jay Dils unresponsive on the roadway. The fire

department responded and transported Dils to the hospital, where he died from his injuries.

The vehicle involved in the collision remained in the area and the driver was not injured. Detectives responded and determined Dils was heading north on Cave Creek Road when a vehicle turned onto Cave Creek Road from a private drive in front of Dils, causing the collision.

The driver was released and showed no signs of intoxication. The investigation remains active as detectives review the evidence.

The Golden Reef Stamp Mill exhibit model will be on display at the Cave Creek Museum starting Saturday, Feb. 25. (Cave Creek Museum/ Submitted)

CAREER from page 4

Health was cleared for use on a couple who had sustained burns to 60% of their bodies. In this trial, they saw the product have success when treating less severe burns. This study ultimately propelled FDA approval of the product.

Since receiving FDA approval, Foster said that using the healing spray instead of staples or stitches has significantly helped how they treat kids.

“The way that the skin spray is now used in burn care in the United States is the way that we thought it should be used and it’s made a big improvement in the care of a lot of patients,” Foster said. “It’s been really gratifying over these two decades to be involved with so many products and techniques that have resulted in interval improvement in burn care. I don’t think that you’ll find another center that’s had that much impact on burn care as we have had.”

The courage to ‘rise’ up

In the summer of 2020, eight burn survivors who were treated by Foster and his team at Valleywise Health were set to climb Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania, a journey orchestrated by Valleywise Health Foundation, the health system’s charitable 501(c)(3) partner, and led by K2 Adventure Travel. But as so many other things were in 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic derailed their plans.

The trip was put on pause for two years and resumed in the summer of 2022. Fos-

PERIPHERAL NEUROPATHY AND CHRONIC PAIN TREATMENTS NOT WORKING!!

ter joined the survivors on the trip and mentioned how fulfilling it was to see all eight of his former patients summit the 19,341 feet high peak after six days of hiking.

“The trip ended up being something really spiritual for a lot of us. It wasn’t just something that was accomplished; It was something much more than that,” Foster said.

“And to climb Kilimanjaro is difficult. Most people who haven’t been burned have a tough time doing it. And then you take people whose lives were literally threatened and who’ve had significant disabilities and dysfunction, and to have them all make it is just really amazing.”

As if he wasn’t surrounded by enough stories of perseverance, Foster and his daughter, Katie, who attended the trip, were faced with their own dilemma while on the hike. After the first couple of days, neither tolerated the food provided for the team.

Luckily, Foster had packed a case of his favorite candy bars, Payday. They credit bringing this case of peanut caramel bars with getting them through the hike and ensuring them their own happy ending.

“We basically lived on Paydays for the final three days of hiking until we got to the summit,” Foster said.

“They have always been my favorite candy bar and they still will be. If we hadn’t had them, I’m really worried that we wouldn’t have made it because I literally did not eat

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.

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Dr. Kevin Foster of Valleywise Health embraces a patient. (Dr. Kevin Foster/Submitted)

CAREER from page 7

anything except Paydays for three days.”

Overall, Team Courage Rising raised over $350,000 for the new Diane & Bruce Halle Arizona Burn Center at Valleywise Health, which is due to open in October. According to Foster, the new burn center will be nearly triple in size and offer an added focus on patient care after their initial inpatient care.

“The new burn center is really set up to help take care of people as outpatients. When people are in the hospital with a burn injury part of that is kind of easy because everything is done for them and we do that really, really well,” Foster said.

“But then when they leave the hospital and are in their home, they have to deal with being at home and how do I drive? How do I go back to work? How do I deal with all these scars? Now, that’s going to be a part of caring for them is that even though you leave the burn center physi-

cally we are still going to help you in any way that we can.”

The number of opportunities to not only continue doing great work, but to also participate in industry-altering trials and keep up with patients through oncein-a-lifetime experiences is something that not many health centers can provide.

Beyond the scrubs

In addition to his love for hiking and peanut-covered caramel and nougat, he has a multitude of hobbies to keep his body and mind sharp for the grueling days spent at the burn center.

On his days off, instead of taking care of patients, Foster takes care of animals. His family has five horses, two miniature donkeys and one pony on their property.

“My wife and daughter are equestrian people,” Foster said. “My wife does horse therapy in the backyard and it’s my job to pick the stalls every once in a while and do repairs when I can.”

His other hobbies include mountain biking near his house in Cave Creek and practicing taekwondo, in which he is a second-degree black belt.

Newly rebranded resort

Valleywise Health employees and burn survivors at the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro. (Dr. Kevin Foster/Submitted)

Valleywise Health employees Dr. Kevin Foster and Michael Murphy, Valleywise Health communications director, at the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro with burn survivors Stephanie and Christian Nielson. (Dr. Kevin Foster/Submitted)

Hilton Grand Vacations hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Feb. 15 for its newly rebranded resort — Rancho Mañana Resort, a Hilton Vacation Club. Members of the Carefree Cave Creek Chamber of Commerce joined Hilton Grand Vacations leaders and team members to celebrate. Following Hilton Grand Vacations’ acquisition of Diamond Resorts, Rancho Mañana Resort is one of several properties worldwide to be unveiled under the new Hilton Vacation Club brand. (Hilton Grand Vacations/Submitted)

The parties are over, but the memories remain

BY JUDY BLUHM

Arizona knows how to throw a party. While our eyes were temporarily diverted from unidentified flying balloons, visitors flocked here from all over the country and seemed to have one big spend-fest. Like an estimated $1 billion in revenue!

The Valley of the Sun hosted Super Bowl LVII, helping us all to brush up on Roman numerals. The weather was warm, the skies were blue, the crowds were noisy but tame and the Big Game was very exciting football.

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We witnessed greatness that day.

The WM Phoenix Open was a bit more of a wild ride when it comes to fans. What madness ensued this year? Well, one (drunken) man sprinted out to the 16th tee and performed a pole-dance on the flag stick only wearing a Speedo in front of 20,000 shocked spectators.

If that wasn’t enough of a spectacle, the guy raced through the tunnel to the 17th tee and proceeded to prance around the fairway. Finally, the race was on, and he was captured by security after he took a dive into a pond. Yes, this was one tournament that fans will not forget. Of course, the golfing was fantastic.

Arizona just welcomed about 1 million tourists. Evidently one of the pre-game Super Bowl ads run by the NFL, showed the Grand Canyon as a backdrop to State Farm Stadium, confusing many visitors. The Grand Canyon National Park had to issue a statement that “Super Bowl LVII is not being played at the Grand Canyon.” Then the park further clarified that you cannot drive from the stadium in Glendale to the South Rim in

20 minutes. Joking perhaps?

We watched history at Super Bowl LVII. For the first time, before kickoff, the U.S. Navy jet flyover was piloted by a team of women.

The four planes flew in formation, commemorating 50 years since women were allowed to become U.S. Navy pilots. A beautiful sight.

The Super Bowl had controversial referee calls, heartwarming and comical commercials, and a glitzy halftime show. Yet, it seems that the real half-time show was in our kitchens, because Americans had a whole lot of wings, pizza and beer to devour. Hey, the game spanned almost four hours, and during that time Americans had eaten over a billion chicken wings!

Perhaps one of the most poignant moments came after the Big Game, when Eagles quarterback, Jalen Hurts, was being interviewed about his loss. In the midst of his shattered dream, he politely fielded questions from the media. Part of his emotional comment was, “Everyone experiences different pain and agonies in life. You decide if you want to learn

from it and want it to be a teachable moment. I know that I do. My only direction is to rise.”

And just like that, we were given an inspirational message from a quarterback, a historical thrill from Navy pilots, a geography tutorial from the Grand Canyon Park and one entertaining week of golf. Oh Arizona, the party is over. The memories remain.

Judy Bluhm is a writer and a local Realtor. Have a comment or a story? Contact Judy at judy@judybluhm.com or at.arouondthebluhmintown.com.

Foothills Focus Columnist

Homeland Security’s border policies not so secure

BY J.D. HAYWORTH Foothills Focus Columnist

Before Tinseltown’s glitterati descended on the Valley of the Sun for Super Bowl 57, an inhabitant of “Hollywood for the cosmetically challenged” preceded them. One of Washington, D.C.’s “celebrated public servants” stood before a multitude of microphones and cameras five days before the big game.

And talk about an acting job!

To hear Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas hold forth, you would have thought that a motion picture portrayal akin to Pat O’Brien as Knute Rockne — or a performance recalling that old made-for-TV movie with Ernest Borgnine as Vince Lombardi — was in production.

What has made Joe Biden’s selection of Mayorkas unbearable for many residents of this border state is his unflagging effort to erase the international boundary that supposedly exists along our southern state line.

It even led Arizona’s 5th District congressman, U.S. Rep. Andy Biggs, to file articles of impeachment against him six days prior to his latest visit.

“Every day Secretary Mayorkas remains in office America becomes less safe,” Biggs said.

Perhaps to prove that our nation is the “land of second chances” — not to mention third, fourth and fifth opportunities for chronically criminal border crossers — Mayorkas played the part of “Mr. Enforcement” when he addressed the press.

Of the efforts to secure Glendale’s State Farm Stadium, Mayorkas said, “We screen everything that comes into this stadium… Not just the people, but the food, the concessions… We screen everything!”

The media passed along this headline: “Homeland Security Secretary Mayorkas says there is no credible threat against Super Bowl in Arizona.”

Of course, the same cannot be written about the border — if we can still truly call it a border.

It seems the worldview of Sec. Mayorkas and others of his ilk was reflected in the graffiti scrawled across a wall meant for messages instead of security: “Borders are scars upon the Earth!”

Nope.

Borders are reasonable and rational lines of geopolitical demarcation between and among nation-states for their mutual security and sovereignty.

As President Reagan put it, “A nation that cannot control its borders is not a nation.”

Sadly, that basic truth is willfully ignored by Mayorkas.

How else to explain his failure to recognize that if the same screening in place at State Farm Stadium for the Super Bowl — as well as the military and law enforcement personnel needed to conduct it — were likewise present along our southern border, it would like-

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Raquel Welch was a modest kind of sexy

BY DAVID LEIBOWITZ Foothills Focus Columnist

The news caught my eye late on a mid-February morning: Actress Raquel Welch had died at the age of 82. If you are an adult of a certain age — and especially a male — you surely can close your eyes and conjure visions of Raquel, who was to Hollywood sex symbols what John Adams was to presidents — second in line.

In Welch’s case, behind only Marilyn Monroe when it came to earning headlines not for her acting talent, but for the way she looked. This isn’t to say Welch was untalented — she won a Golden Globe for her role in “The Three Musketeers” — but more to give credit to her beauty, which was otherworldly.

It’s considered politically incorrect to comment on female attributes in the 21st century, but there is no way to think about Welch without acknowledging the obvious. As a beauty, she had few peers.

In 1998, when Playboy magazine made a list of the 100 sexiest female stars of the 20th century, Welch placed third, behind Monroe and Jayne Mansfield and ahead of Greta Garbo. Me, I think Raquel got robbed by the

judges. Not merely because I had a teenage crush on her, but also because Welch accomplished something precious few sex symbols have ever done: She went her entire movie career, from her first role as a call girl in 1964’s “A House Is Not A Home,” to her last movie, 2017’s “How To Be A Latin Lover,” without ever once appearing nude in a movie.

“I’ve definitely used my body and sex appeal to advantage in my work, but always within limits,” Welch once said. “I reserve some things for my private life,

and they are not for sale.”

Nowadays we live in a time when nudity is never more than a click away, and OnlyFans, webcam shows and YouPorn have made cashing in on being naked the easiest side hustle imaginable.

By contrast, Welch embodied a sense of mystery and a sense of decorum that died many, many years before she did.

Now? Selling and sending nudes has become little more than a hobby for the masses. We are urged to be thankful for this newfound liberation, but somehow Raquel Welch managed to strike a balance between feminine power — think of her in that famous deerskin bikini from the poster for “One Million Years B.C.” — and feminine modesty.

Even when Welch finally appeared in Playboy in 1979, she stripped down only as far as a red bikini. My father kept that issue hidden on the top shelf of his closet, a hiding spot I will confess to visiting on many occasions.

Speaking of fathers, Welch said her dad was another reason she never ap -

peared nude.

“I am my father’s daughter and that’s just not the way you behave,” she said. “You don’t do that if you are a certain kind of a woman and that’s the kind of woman I was raised to be.”

As legend would have it, Playboy publisher Hugh Hefner summoned Welch to his mansion after the photo shoot to complain.

As Welch recalled the meeting: “I said, ‘What’s the problem Hugh?’ and he said, ‘Well there’s no t–s and there’s no a–’. I said, ‘Isn’t that the deal we made?’ He said, ‘Yes, but it’s boring.’”

It seems quaint now, the notion that modesty ever existed and that it was once possible to be sexy — in fact the sexiest woman on Earth — and to keep certain assets and certain images to yourself.

Somehow, Raquel Welch managed to shock without being shocking, to be sexy without being lewd. In 2023, the age of the Kardashians and Pornhub, that seems like a trick we may never glimpse again.

ly result in a similar outcome: no credible threat.

Instead, Mayorkas is similar to a muttering motivational speaker — insisting to himself and the rest of us — that this crisis is a “threatening opportunity.”

We need to take Mayorkas literally. That’s why that when he testifies on Capitol Hill, he repeatedly says, “Things are going according to plan.”

And it’s also the reason he discounts the obvious threats to embrace “opportunity.”

Nothing matters more to Mayorkas than a mass amnesty that would make millions of illegal aliens into instant American citizens.

Biggs points out that the Secretary’s “policies have incentivized more than five million illegal aliens to show up at our southern border — an all-time figure.”

But as gratifying as the impeachment of Mayorkas would be, the sad fact is that the Democrat-controlled Senate would not vote to convict and remove him from office.

That’s why the best course for the House would be to pull on the purse strings and reduce funding to both the Department of Justice and the Internal Revenue Service.

If the operating budgets of both those entities were reduced by 25% each and reallocated for genuine border enforcement during the appropriations process, it would prompt positive results.

Of course, “enforcing that enforcement” would have to come through aggressive and constant oversight.

Otherwise, Mayorkas would seek mere cosmetic changes to maintain the ugly truth of a wide-open border that imperils the security of every law-abiding American.

And it’s not a game.

HAYWORTH from page 11

Agent transitions from marketing films to marketing homes

BY KEN ABRAMCZYK

Foothills Focus Contributing Writer

Before Diana Lynn Smith dove into her real estate career in the Scottsdale area and Paradise Valley, she spent many years in Los Angeles, marketing the film industry.

Smith, who goes by Lynn, worked for Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, United Artists and Disney, evolving into a position at Warner Bros. as the worldwide vice president of strategic alliance and promotion at Warner Bros. She spent years working in corporate strategic alliance, licensing, product placement and sponsorship of network specials.

After Smith left the film industry, she worked with the PGA on several tournaments and had an advertising company, adding to a skillset that she said dovetailed nicely into real estate. She went for walks with a friend in the real estate business. She shared her private stories about the film industry, actors and her jobs there, and her friend told her she would be “perfect” in real estate. “I said, ‘I’m not going to do it, unless I can be really good at it,’” Smith said. “After a lot of consideration, I figured if I can do movies, I can do anything.”

Today Smith works with clients looking for homes in North Scottsdale, Scottsdale, Cave Creek, Carefree, Desert Ridge and Paradise Valley for MCL Realty in Fountain Hills. Many of her sales listings are located in Scottsdale and Paradise Valley.

Protecting the client Smith learned in Hollywood to

work with all types of personalities at all levels on several films a year. “If you can imagine the end goal of trying to accomplish results for actors, producers, directors, corporate America, whether it is McDonald’s, Coke or Pepsi, M&Ms, Nestle or whatever, it was challenging. The key part of my job at that point was to protect all interests, and that was difficult, because everyone had different goals and outcomes.”

Before any marketing items or products proposed by the licensing division were released to the public, it went across her desk for approval from the film company as she was the liaison between the licensing division and film company. If she pitched a movie to a corporation for product placement, she made sure that a competitor wasn’t in the film.

She describes her work in the film industry “like a wheel.” “And there are a lot of spokes on the wheel,” Smith said. “Those spokes include actors, directors, Fortune 500 companies, my studio’s president and other departments.” Smith protected the brands of Warner Bros., and the producers, directors and actors, which translated well into real estate. “People need agents to protect them. I’ll always look at that as my No.1 priority.”

A home purchase can be the most significant purchase of a lifetime. Smith said a prospective buyer going directly to a listing agent without their own agent will not generate a better deal for the buyer because that agent is looking to negotiate the

Chamber celebrates local businesses

BY CHRISTINA FUOCO-KARASINSKI Foothills Focus Executive Editor

The Carefree Cave Creek Chamber of Commerce held ribbon-cutting ceremonies for a number of businesses recently.

JDog Junk Removal & Hauling

Scottsdale:

One-year ribbon-cutting ceremony

nity. On Wednesdays, 10% donation for every job completed supports Dogs 4 Vets. Dogs 4 Vets provides service animals to disabled veterans, which gives them the gift of independence, trust and companionship.

Black Lion Café: Grand opening ribbon-cutting ceremony

and breakfast and lunch sandwiches. They offer a wide variety of catering for events and corporate lunches. Follow them on Instagram @black.lion.cafe.

KAKB PLLC: Merger celebration

The Carefree Cave Creek Chamber of Commerce led the community celebration of KAKB PLLC merging with Johnson Goff PLLC at 7518 E. Elbow Bend Road, Suite A7, Carefree. Chamber leaders, friends and community members gathered to watch the Johnson Goff PLLC partners cut the red ribbon.

Johnson Goff PLLC offers a variety of tax and accounting services to individu-

als and small businesses in the Greater Phoenix area.

Sonoran Arts League Gallery: Grand opening ribbon-cutting ceremony

The Carefree Cave Creek Chamber of Commerce along with Carefree Mayor John Crane led the community celebration of the Sonoran Arts League Gallery grand opening at 7275 Easy Street, Suite A104, Carefree. Chamber leaders, the league’s board of directors, friends and community members watched board president Patrick O’Grady cut the red ribbon.

The league began in 1975 as an informal gathering of local artists who put on art shows under the Tamarisk groves in Cave Creek. Today they are a nonprofit arts organization that offers high-quality art making and educational programs for a broad spectrum of constituents. Follow them on Facebook & Instagram @sonoranartsleague.

The Carefree Cave Creek Chamber of Commerce led the community celebration of the JDog Junk Removal & Hauling Scottsdale’s one-year celebration. Chamber leaders, Dogs 4 Vets pups, friends, and members of the community gathered to watch owner, Juliann Gornick-Boucher, cut the red ribbon.

JDog Junk Removal & Hauling Scottsdale offers reliable cleanout and hauling services for residential and commercial customers. They ensure their services are delivered the “military way: with respect, integrity and trust.” Follow JDog on Facebook @jdogscottsdale.

JDog’s staff gives back to the commu-

The Carefree Cave Creek Chamber of Commerce along with the Holland Community Center led the celebration of Black Lion Cafe’s grand opening inside the Holland Community Center at 34250 N. 60th Street, building B, Scottsdale. Chamber leaders, Jennifer Rosvall Holland Community Center executive director, friends and community members gathered to watch owner Sarah Farragalla and her husband, Mena, cut the red ribbon.

Black Lion Cafe serves coffee, specialty espresso beverages, teas and lemonades, smoothies, protein shakes, pastries

JDog Junk Removal & Hauling Scottsdale offers reliable cleanout and hauling services for residential and commercial customers. (JDog Junk Removal & Hauling Scottsdale/Submitted)

Black Lion Café’s staff celebrated its opening. It serves coffee, specialty espresso beverages, teas, lemonades, smoothies, protein shakes, pastries and breakfast and lunch sandwiches. (Black Lion Café/Submitted)

Johnson Goff PLLC merged with KAKB PLLC recently. (Johnson Goff PLLC/ Submitted)

The Carefree Cave Creek Chamber of Commerce celebrated the Sonoran Arts League Gallery’s grand opening. (Sonoran Arts League/Submitted)

best transaction that makes the most money for the seller. It isn’t going to cost the buyer anything to have an agent, because the buyer’s agent is usually paid by the seller, Smith said.

“We negotiate on price-point consideration, we have expertise and knowledge of the market, particularly if there are out of town buyers who may not be aware of this market, so it becomes our due diligence to act on behalf of the buyers. We assist with finding listers, mortgage brokers, as well as appraisals, inspections and coordinating repairs, whatever may be required.”

Creating a smooth transition

Real estate is all about customer service, Smith said. “It’s all about providing a smooth transition. There are often unforeseen hoops along the way, and so that’s what agents are paid to do, so we are a buffer.”

For sellers, agents are their marketers, navigating through various platforms, and agents remind sellers to prepare their home for open houses. In the movie and entertainment industry, it was about getting “bottoms” in the seats to watch movies. “Here in real estate, it’s getting eyeballs on the homes. Sellers are always looking for the best return on their investment, so I think agents provide the big picture of that, and I think the sellers using an agent always have an advocate in their corner as opposed to trying to do it themselves or doing it on 72Sold.”

Smith meets with potential clients to make sure she and them are a good fit. She finds out what their interests are, what they want in their next home, then she discusses her background. “I put the sellers and the buyers in a similar bucket because they all want the same outcome. They want to get the best price for the property, and both want to work with competent and trustworthy agents who they can depend on. There are many agents that call themselves agents who aren’t. The bottom line for me as an agent I always go back to that personal con -

nection and making sure that I and my clients are comfortable.”

Every home and clients are different, Smith said. She remembers one client in Paradise Valley who wanted to downsize, with Smith using movie metaphors to describe the scenario. The home was staged during its listing. Her client said she had “something” to show her. “It took weeks for her to show me. She said some people call it a bunker, some a vault or an underground shelter, but she called it her secret room. It was a complete secret. I had been through this house 100 times, and I never found this room. It was a ‘teaser trailer’ for me, and the next blockbuster movie of the year, and she kept hyping this. She referred to it as her secret room with everything in it from valuables, rations, water, whatever. I promise you, if you went into that house today, you could not find that room. As folks became more interested and wanted to learn more about the home, they were extremely excited about making an offer.”

Smith expects 2023 economic growth in real estate will be at a modest pace. Feds have increased the interest rate in the 4.5-4.75 range earlier this year, 4.25 percentage points more than a year ago, which affects borrowing. She predicts rate hikes will ease up and inventories will be low.

She expects the Scottsdale and surrounding areas to be more of a balanced market between sellers and buyers than in recent years.

“The past few years have been nuts with lines out the doors, 22 different offers in the first hour, buyers were out in the street, and there were no concessions, and it was all cash buyers,” Smith said. “I think it will be a touch more balanced, maybe in the buyer’s area.” In the past few months, she has seen more concessions for buyers in closing costs, repairs or buydown rates.

Pinning the ‘tale’ on the donkey

There is an occurrence in the ancient Scriptures that has a life lesson for all of us if we are open. Let me introduce this life coach and her claim to fame story. Warning: This life coach is not pretty, is silent most of the time, and comes across as stubborn and dumb, but when she speaks, angels listen.

Her story is in Numbers, Chapter 22 in the Bible. There was an Old Testament prophet by the name of Balaam. He was on a misguided, money-driven mission to curse someone God did not want to be cursed.

As he was riding along, his donkey suddenly stopped on the road. No matter how hard Balaam tried to get the donkey to move, the donkey would not budge. Then the donkey pinned Balaam’s foot against a fence, sending Balaam into a frenzy. Balaam started beating the donkey in a fit of anger.

Then the donkey cried out, “Why are you beating me? Haven’t I served you faithfully all these years?” Next, an angel sent by God appeared to Balaam,

“You fool, quit beating her. Even she could see I was standing here. Your donkey just saved your life. If you had tried to carry out your misguided mission, I would have killed you and let the donkey live.”

The Bible occurrence I conveyed to you above may sound wild to you. A donkey who becomes a life coach, a big angel sent by God, and a prophet who is more pathetic than prophetic. But never be surprised by what God can do. This time God chooses to speak through a donkey. God, being merciful, was merciful to the unmerciful prophet who didn’t deserve any mercy. God broke almost every rule in the creation to warn His prophet. Balaam tried to pin the “tale” on the donkey, but the angel pinned the “tale” onto Balaam.

There is a lesson here. When the donkey you are riding on, who has only your best interest in mind, suddenly refuses to move, don’t kick it. Instead, slow down, and don’t let anger or other fallen emotions guide you. Instead, look for the angel standing on the road. There’s a reason the loyal, devoted donkey is not acting the way it usually does. That donkey could be trying to save your life. My mother used to say to my father, who

hated taking medicine, “A nagging wife may save your life.”

Of course, she didn’t usually want to nag, but when she did, it was for a good reason — to keep my dad alive.

There is a Scripture in the New Testament that says, “With gentleness correct those who oppose themselves….” That’s what that brown, shaggy, consistent, reliable, sure-footed, big-eared (donkeys have big ears for hearing what we don’t hear) life coach did. The donkey was “bray-ve.” She had more “donkey” sense than the prophet of God, trying to stop Balaam from avoiding the consequences of opposing himself.

Let’s explore the concept of “with gentleness correct those who oppose themselves….” Think of a boxer in the ring in a fight. Suddenly, not only is his adversary boxing him, but the boxer is also boxing himself. We have all done that, haven’t we? Many times, in this life, we are our own worst enemies. Those life coaches who love us enough to try to warn us are all but ignored. Why? Because we want to do everything our way.

But, many times, it’s a God-appointed donkey just trying to save our life when we have been trying to do our life alone. Here’s some wisdom: Be teachable, not offended. Don’t curse the life coach sent to you by the life coach trying to put you in a position to succeed. Just think, you might be meeting God in a braying donkey or a friend or coach sounding like one.

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I’ve learned a thing or two about this in my ministry. As a pastor, I usually see others’ issues and consequences. I was known as “Pastor Love.” I loved people, and they knew it. But sometimes, I could see an angel in the way of where they wanted to go. When “Pastor Love” warns you, you should probably listen. Why? Because it’s generally not in my nature to say no. Haven’t I been a faithful pastor all these years? Whoops, I leaked!

There’s a bit of Balaam in us, wanting our way come hell or high water. We think circumstances are slowing us up, friends are not supporting us, our spouse is stopping us, the banker should have said yes to that loan, God is against us, or the pastor doesn’t understand us.

I know what you are thinking. You are thinking I’ve been watching reruns of “Hee Haw” too much!

Ed Delph is a noted author of 10 books, as well as a pastor, teacher, former business owner and speaker. He has traveled extensively, having been to more than 100 countries. He is president of NationStrategy, a nonprofit organization involved in uplifting and transforming communities worldwide. For more information, see nationstrategy.com. He may be contacted at nationstrategy@cs.com.

Pastor Ed Delph

Foothills Focus Columnist

BY CHRISTINA FUOCO-KARASINSKI Foothills Focus Executive Editor

Musical Theatre of Anthem will unveil its “sweet 16th season” during its annual fundraiser on Saturday, March 4.

The event will be chock full of entertainment, featuring professional singers and MTA’s outreach group of award-winning performers who tour the Valley. Dinner will be served, and live and dollar auctions will be offered.

MTA will host a drawing for a prize basket, valued at $2,000, that includes four free tuitions plus one summer show tuition for the 2023-2024 season; four audition prep classes for the 2023-2024 season and two season tickets to the 2023-2024 MTA season.

The goal is to raise more than $20,000.

“We obviously want to outdo that,” said Jackie Hammond, producing artistic director of Musical Theatre of Anthem.

“We try to up the bar each year. We had a very, very generous donation from one of our staff members last year who moved away. She donated almost $12,000. I don’t know if that’s fully counted. It was just so wonderful of her. She gave a very touching speech about how important Musical Theatre of Anthem is to the community.”

Hammond added, “It’ll be hard to top that individual donor. We tend to raise the $20,000 mark, based on tickets. We have more than $10,000 of prizes, and auction items to give away. When they leave, most winners will make more than what they paid to go to the event.”

Musical Theatre of Anthem is also raising money by selling 18 table sponsorships. A number of Anthem businesses have come forward already but a few still need sponsors.

“If they can’t attend, they can support in a way that’s really helpful and promote their business at each table,”

she said.

The centerpiece of the benefit is the season 16 reveal. Prior to the announcement of each show, adults and kids will start singing a song. That tune will hint to the individual shows.

“The adults and kids will start singing a song from the upcoming show,” she said.

“We put up a slide of the logo. It’s super exciting. The kids start to scream in the middle of the songs.”

Hammond said she hopes the community will support her local business.

“We are a nonprofit. One of our biggest missions is to provide, for the community, entertainment and give opportunities to youth and adults so they can grow and be the leaders that they’re going to move on to be. We’re a teaching and training program.

“When someone comes to the Musical Theatre of Anthem benefit, they’re not just coming to hear about the 16th season. They’re directly contributing to the success of the program and all the people involved.”

Ticket sales from the benefit make up 60% of the operating cost. But, Hammond said, Musical Theatre of Anthem needs support from local businesses and the community to stay afloat.

“There’s something for everyone during the event, from ages 6 to adults,” Hammond said. “There are great performances and great food. Everybody is welcome. It’s not just for people who perform at Musical Theatre of Anthem. Anyone can come and have a great evening.”

Musical Theatre of Anthem Annual Benefit

WHEN: 4 p.m. Saturday, March 4

WHERE: Outside of Musical Theatre of Anthem, 42201 N. 41st Drive, Suite B100, Anthem COST: $60

INFO: musicaltheatreofanthem.org

ProMusica hosting its fifth champagne salon

BY FOOTHILLS FOCUS STAFF

ProMusica Arizona’s fifth annual Musical Champagne Salon will bring together music lovers while helping the nonprofit celebrate its 20th anniversary.

The semi-formal event starts at 6 p.m. Saturday, March 11, in a private home in Anthem Country Club. Guests will be able to mingle with ProMusica Arizona’s musicians and enjoy performances by soloists and small ensembles. An array of heavy hors d’oeuvres and dessert choices will be paired with champagne, wine and other beverages. A silent auction will further the fundraising efforts.

A limited number of tickets available are obtainable for $100 at pmaz. org/tickets or 623-3265172. The location will be announced only to ticket holders to the Musical

Champagne Salon, sponsored by Tetsell Team with Realty Executives. Since its founding in 2003, ProMusica Arizona has brought live music to the North Phoenix area. With 100 multigenerational singers and instrumentalists, the group has per-

formed more than 285 times for over 139,000 people.

ProMusica Arizona is a 501(c) (3) nonprofit supported by the Arizona Commission on the Arts, which receives support from the state of Arizona and the National Endowment for the Arts.

ProMusica Arizona Musical Champagne Salon

WHEN: 6 p.m. Saturday, March 11

WHERE: Private home in Anthem COST: $100

INFO: 623-326-5172, pmaz.org/tickets

Violinist Alexis Ranno performs at the Musical Champagne Salon. This year, it’s set for Saturday, March 11. (ProMusica Arizona/Submitted)

A variety of heavy hors d’oeuvres and desserts will be served at the Musical Champagne Salon. (ProMusica Arizona/Submitted)

Foothills Focus resident guest on new podcast

BY FOOTHILLS FOCUS STAFF

Author Cheryl Cocroft of Cave Creek is the featured guest on Episode 7 of “Murder in the Air Mystery Theatre” podcast, which began airing Feb. 22 on Apple, Spotify, Amazon Music and at https://bit.ly/MurderintheAirPodcast.

Host Laurie Fagen of Chandler interviews the author, and she reads from Cocroft’s literary story “Spokane Words.”

“Cocroft writes character driven, contemporary fiction with edgy characters who experience odd encounters and strange situations,” Fagen explained.

Hailing from Altrincham, England, Cocroft left London and her finance career 13 years ago and moved to Arizona. Her series, “Twisted Tales from Luna’s Attic,” also includes “Twice Dead” and “Weeping Creek” with two more books to be released. Cave Creek was the inspiration for the fictional town of Weeping

Creek.

The first season of “Murder in the Air Mystery Theatre” podcast features interviews with and readings from mystery, suspense and thriller authors as well as episodes from portions of Fagen’s first two audiobooks, “Fade Out” and “Dead Air.”

Devon Hancock of Tempe composed

original music and is handling editing, mixing and mastering for the podcast.

In addition to podcast platforms, “Murder in the Air Mystery Theatre” can also be heard on Fagen’s YouTube channel at youtube.com/@readlauriefagenmurderintheair. For those wanting sneak peeks, extra content and to support the podcast, there’s a Patreon

page at https://tinyurl.com/MurderInTheAirMysteryTheatre.

For more information on Cocroft, visit her Amazon page at amazon.com/ author/cherylcocroft and she’s on Facebook at facebook.com/cheryl.cocroft.3

For podcast details, go to readlauriefagen.com or email Fagen at laurie@readlauriefagen.com.

Legion to be site for filming of Be the One

BY FOOTHILLS FOCUS STAFF

The National Headquarters for the American Legion is planning to film a Be the One event at American Legion Post 34 at 6 p.m. Wednesday, March. 8, and 11 a.m. Thursday, March 9.

The video and workouts will take place at Post 34, 6272 E. Cave Creek Road in Cave Creek.

Be the One events will build public

support and camaraderie for veterans, veteran families and the public-at-large as a way to bring awareness to the issue of veteran suicide and the stigma of mental health.

For the March 8 Be the One, a DDPY Warrior’s Purpose Event, attendees should bring a yoga mat, water and a sweat towel. On Thursday, March 9, the DDPY team will host chair yoga. Both events are donation-based, are open to the public and the proceeds go to help

veterans in need.

“Join your peers in helping our local veterans with positive physical and mental health while stretching and flexing muscles, ligaments and tendons and increasing range of motion with the no impact workouts,” said Scott French, head of the DDPY group.

“More Be the One events will be forthcoming.”

To learn more about how to help, visit betheone.org.

Easy-To-Read Digital Edition

Cowboy shooters come together for tourney

BY COLE JANUSZEWSKI Foothills Focus Staff Writer

Hundreds of shooters will converge on Ben Avery Shooting Facility from Monday, Feb. 27, to Sunday, March 5, for the 42nd annual End of Trail: SASS World Championship of Cowboy Action and Wild Bunch Action Shooting.

Expected to bring in 900 competitors from around the world, the event is hosted by the Arizona Territorial Company of Rough Riders.

Leo “Rattlesnake Slim” Horton, the Arizona Territorial Company of Rough Riders and End of Trail president and deputy range master, said there are two kinds of shooting.

“The cowboy action shooting (uses) firearms that are representative of the end of the 1800s — single-action pistols, lever-action rifles and double-barreled shotguns,” Horton said.

“The other type of shooting we call Wild Bunch, which is representative of the turn of the century into the early part of the 1900s. They use a Colt model 1911 semi-automatic pistol and the same lever-action rifle. However, they use pump-action shotguns.”

The shooters will compete in 52 categories, which are broken up by age, the gun type and how people dress.

“The amount that you want to or don’t want to dress up is up to you,” Horton said. “At a minimum, everybody has to wear a long sleeve shirt and long pants. You can’t wear tennis shoes or a baseball cap or anything that is modern — but it can be simple. A long-sleeve shirt and a pair of Levi’s and a cowboy hat will get you in the door and out there competing.”

He also said every shooter must “choose an alias that is unique to you. Only one person can have an alias and our group, SASS, keeps track of that. They don’t allow doubling up on the alias.”

Horton said he got his alias through his wife and noted that he tries to

keep his costume simple.

“My wife named me as most do,” he said. “She named me ‘Rattlesnake Slim’ because when we hike out in the desert, I find the rattlesnakes or they always seem to find me on the trail and I’m kind of ‘Slim’ in her eyes. For dress, I definitely tend more toward the classic look. Classic pants with a pair of suspenders and a vest and a long-sleeve shirt and just an old beat-up felt cowboy hat just like you would see a cowboy roaming around in the Old West.”

Heather “Half-a-Hand Henri” Dunbar is an accomplished shooter who enjoys participating in Cowboy Action and Wild Bunch Action Shoot-

ing. She also came up with her name through personal experience.

“Half-A-Hand comes from cutting off my pinky and almost a second finger when my husband and I were converting an old barn into a house,” Dunbar said.

“The Henri part came from one of my husband’s long lifelong friends who had been somewhat of a ladies’ man. He didn’t dare tell his wife that he was going goose hunting with Dan and Heather, so he said it was Dan and Henri. So, when I cut my finger off, I was sitting there plugged into the morphine and all of a sudden started laughing and said, ‘Well, it just has to be Half-A-Hand Henri.’”

Not only this, but Dunbar prefers a more minimalist style of dress while she competes.

“I always hated shoes,” she said. “So anytime I got home from someplace where I obviously had to wear shoes I’d go barefoot, so I shoot barefoot. Always barefoot in a skirt with a little blouse of some sort, holsters, shotgun belt and a hat. So, I’m just a little old hillbilly — a little old fat lady hillbilly running around.”

While Dunbar enjoys the competition, she said the main reason she competes is to meet people and feel like a kid again.

“I’ve traveled clear across this country shooting and hunting and I have met people that I never would have met before,” she said.

“When we’re out there competing, we’re like a bunch of kids playing cowboys and Indians. You could care less what the person does in real life as there are people from all walks of life and all kinds of economic backgrounds from across the world. I mean, if you go out there and you haven’t laughed your butt off all day long even while you’re competing, you’re in it for the wrong reasons.”

In addition to the shooting competitions, Horton said there will also be an Old Western-themed tent city with 60 vendors and entertainers. Specifically, he said there will be half a dozen food vendors, firearms vendors, custom leather makers, retail clothing and “a very nice lady that sells homemade jams and jellies.”

End of Trail: SASS World Championship of Cowboy Action and Wild Bunch Action Shooting

WHEN: Various times Monday, Feb. 27, to Sunday, March 5

WHERE: Ben Avery Shooting Facility, 4044 W. Black Canyon Boulevard, Phoenix

COST: Free but parking is $10 and donated to charity INFO: endoftrail.org

Leo “Rattlesnake Slim” Horton is the Arizona Territorial Company of Rough Riders and End of Trail president and deputy range master. (Leo Horton/Submitted)

Fan Halen embraced in Van Halen’s hometown

BY CHRISTINA FUOCO-KARASINSKI Foothills Focus Executive Editor

Fan Halen wasn’t nervous about playing The Mixx in Pasadena, California, the hometown of its namesake, Van Halen.

Several years ago, Fan Halen played at a Pasadena bar for Greg Renoff, who penned the book “Van Halen Rising.” A who’s who of Van Halen fans, friends and family filled the venue.

“All the people in and around the band back then participated in the book and they were there,” said Fan Halen guitarist Derek Fuller. “The pressure, as you can imagine, was intense. We were a little concerned. But people came up to us and said, ‘We just went back in time.’ It was really, really special.

“From that standpoint, the pressure is a little bit off. We’ve performed in front of the most critical people.”

Fan Halen headlines Casino Arizona on Friday, March 17, and Saturday, March 18, to celebrate the music of the “Hot for Teacher” band.

“We love the music,” Fuller said of Van Halen. “We’re fans just like everybody else. We celebrate that music and that era when they ruled rock ‘n’ roll.”

Based in Huntington Beach, California, Fan Halen was founded more than 10 years ago and has since played around the world, including Japan, South and Central America, Canada and Mexico.

Fan Halen focuses on Van Halen’s first six albums, from 1970 to 1984 — not “Van Hagar,” when Sammy Hagar replaced original singer David Lee Roth.

The band features vocalist Ernie Berru, who uncannily resembles Roth. Fuller recreates Eddie’s riffs and enthusiastic live persona.

Bassist Andy Catts is a doppelganger for Michael Anthony — in terms of looks, musicianship and vocals. Alex Van Halen’s drumming comes courtesy of Michael Thompson, who brings a 1981 18-piece double-barreled bass drum Ludwig kit.

Bringing the sound

As a teenage guitar player in Hacienda Heights, Fuller started following Aerosmith and Ted Nugent — until Van Halen came on the scene.

“Hundreds of millions of other guitar players and I gravitated toward them,” Fuller recalled. “It was so different and so impactful. It was an easy choice for me. There’s only one choice

for me: It was Van Halen.

“If you’re a tribute band and you have a passion for that music, it transcends into your show. We lived it, breathed it. It’s what we love.”

Fuller said Fan Halen worked for about three years to perfect its live show.

“The biggest compliment is someone who said, ‘That just took me back

to 1979, the Forum, when I was in high school. I brought a date,’” Fuller said. “‘That show changed my life and your show brought me right back.’

“When we’d see rock shows like Aerosmith and Kiss, it was just four dudes kind of rocking out. Nothing was wrong with that. When Van Halen came out, it was like a party. David Lee Roth was this ringmaster doing the splits off the riser and Eddie playing guitar, jumping around like crazy, too. It was just a party, and you couldn’t help but feel so elated. We bring it, too.”

Fan Halen

WHEN: 7:30 p.m. Friday, March 17, and Saturday, March 18

WHERE: Casino Arizona, 524 N. 92nd Street, Scottsdale

COST: Tickets start at $15 INFO: casinoarizona.com, ticketmaster.com, fanhalen.net

Fan Halen was founded more than 10 years ago and has since played around the world, including Japan, South and Central America, Canada and Mexico. (Fan Halen/Submitted)

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