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Serving the communities of Anthem, Black Canyon City, Carefree, Cave Creek, Desert Hills, New River, North Phoenix, Tramonto and Peoria
An edition of the East Valley Tribune
INSIDE
This Week
NEWS...............................4 Vitalant extends testing of blood donations for COVID-19
FEATURES........................12
Great Hearts Academies converts annual gala to telethon
DINING.........................14
Desert Donuts to host Parkinson’s fundraiser
OPINION.................................. 6 BUSINESS................................ 8 ARTS........................................ 10 FEATURES.............................12 DINING................................... 14 CLASSIFIEDS........................15
FREE ($1 OUTSIDE OF CAVE CREEK) | TheFoothillsFocus.com
Wednesday, September 2, 2020
Cave Creek restaurants and bars back in business BY SARAH DONAHUE Foothills Focus Staff Writer
W
hen Harold’s Corral was asked to close for the second time after a surge of COVID-19 cases in state, Danny Piacquadio, the restaurant’s co-owner, said it felt like the rug was pulled out from under him. This was the case for many Cave Creek restaurants that were affected by the most recent closures. Restaurants with series 6 or series 7 liquor licenses whose primary business was alcohol were ordered to close under Gov. Doug Ducey’s June 29 executive order pausing the reopening of Arizona. Now with new benchmarks and requirements passed by the Arizona De-
Danny Piacquadio co-owns Harold’s Corral. (Photo by Sarah Donahue)
partment of Health Services on August 10, many restaurants were able to reopen for in-person dining last week. At Harold’s Corral, patrons are met with hand sanitizing stations, blockedoff pool tables and a dance floor filled with tables and chairs, all measures to limit people congregating and possibly spreading COVID-19. However, all these measures were already in place before they were instructed to shut down for the second time, Piacquadio said. “What we’re doing now is what we were doing when they came in and shut us down, and that’s what was more frustrating than anything,” Piacquadio said. Despite food accounting for 60% of
see RESTAURANTS page 2
Peoria council approves PUSD intergovernmental agreement BY BRIAN CANO SR. Foothills Focus Staff Writer
A
t its August 18 meeting, Peoria City Council approved a grant agreement with the Recycling Partnership for a pilot project to reduce contamination in the curbside recycle container. The “Blue Lid Pilot Program” improves recycling efficiency at four similar locations, according to Public Works Director Kevin Burke. The value of the grant is $174,192, with the city contributing $35,800 City council approved the project to curb contamination in Peoria’s marketable recyclables. Burke said an increase in prices charged by China dramatically altered the U.S. recycling industry. “The market has significantly dropped,”
Burke said. “Across the country we’ve seen a lot of municipalities suspend or terminate their recycling services.” Burke said the city is able to pull out 32% more contamination from recyclables. He said recyclables such as aluminum, cardboard or newspaper would be more readily available for market, which he thinks is making a comeback. “There is a $1 million investment in new infrastructure,” Burke said. “This is now in place and is really picking up and paying dividends.” Burke said the pilot program will cost the city $35,000 for the blue lids and reminded the council of the “real value” of the grant is well over $150,000. “They (Recycling Partnership) are bringing personnel to help audit before and after to measure contamination, providing
educational material, providing consulting, etc.,” Burke said. “We are isolating the different variables, making sure that whatever results we have can be repeated in other parts of the country.” Council unanimously approved the resolution. The Blue Lid program will be implemented in January and run through June 2021. “I like the blue lids,” Mayor Cathy Carlat said.
City manager report
City Manager Jeff Tyne gave an update on the city’s response to the economic and health events that have occurred related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Tyne gave an update to the council regarding students and
see PUSD page 4