ECRWSS Carrier Route PreSorted Standard U.S. POSTAGE PAID Permit No. 371 Cave Creek, AZ
Josh Van Gysel
Music in May PAGE
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Serving the communities of Anthem, Desert Hills, Norterra, Sonoran Foothills, Stetson Valley, Tramonto, New River, Desert Ridge and North Phoenix
TheFoothillsFocus.com
INSIDE
This Week
NEWS ................. 6
Artists auctioning works to support land trusts
BUSINESS .........18
The Market and Spa on 41st bursts with creative local items
YOUTH .............23
Mr. Boulder Creek raises money for St. Jude
OPINION ................... 13 BUSINESS ................. 18 FEATURES ................ 21 YOUTH ...................... 23 CLASSIFIEDS ............ 25 Zone I
Anthem Area Edition
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Wednesday, April 28, 2021
Parents want Mandarin program to remain BY CHRISTINA FUOCO-KARASINSKI Foothills Focus Executive Editor
D
avid Lin and his wife, Sara, wanted their children to learn about their father’s Taiwanese heritage, so they enrolled them in Horseshoe Trails Elementary School’s Mandarin Immersion Program.
Now the Lins, as well as other Horseshoe Trails Elementary School parents, are up in arms because the Cave Creek Unified School District Governing Board fell victim to budget cuts. CCUSD officials did not return messages for comment. During the immersion program, students learn in Mandarin and En-
glish throughout the day. “We’re beyond just sad,” Sara said. “We’ve already decided this is important for our family culturally as well as educationally. My husband’s first language is Mandarin. We are just super sad that the board just decid-
see MANDARIN page 5
Anthem Area Leadership welcomes Lesko
BY CHRISTINA FUOCO-KARASINSKI Foothills Focus Executive Editor
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ep. Debbie Lesko visited the Anthem Area Leadership Academy to kick off its class of 2021. Lesko spoke at the Anthem Area Chamber of Commerce and said she strives to stay connected to the community, directly and through her office staff. This was the second time she visited the academy and the chamber. During her presentation, Lesko shared her personal story of how curiosity drove her to get involved in politics. Her path began with volunteering in the district and, as she learned more about how the government works, her interest grew. In between stories, she encouraged the
see LESKO page 4
From left are Sawana Grimmett, The Salt Spa and Anthem Area Leadership Academy program co-director; Rep. Debbie Lesko; and Christopher Gonzalez, loanDepot and academy program co-director. (Photo courtesy of the Anthem Area Leadership Academy)
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