ECRWSS Carrier Route PreSorted Standard U.S. POSTAGE PAID Permit No. 371 Cave Creek, AZ
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MTA Fall Schedule
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TheFoothillsFocus.com
INSIDE
This Week
BUSINESS ......... 17
Stoke Interactive personally connects to local businesses
FEATURES ........ 21 Creativity runs in landscape artist Matthew Killick’s blood
YOUTH ............. 24 Deer Valley Superintendent Dr. Curtis Finch sees positive AzM2 results
OPINION ................... 10 BUSINESS ................. 17 FEATURES ................ 19 YOUTH ...................... 24 CLASSIFIEDS ............ 26 Zone I
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Serving the communities of Anthem, Desert Hills, Norterra, Sonoran Foothills, Stetson Valley, Tramonto, New River, Desert Ridge and North Phoenix
Anthem Area Edition
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Wednesday, September 29, 2021
Scholarship honors late Rotary member BY CHRISTINA FUOCO-KARASINSKI Foothills Focus Executive Editor
T
o the Anthem Rotary, Ed Varney was more than a member. He was a friend and family member. Recently, the organization named its annual scholarship in honor of Varney — the Edward F. Varney Memorial Scholarship — who died on June 20. “He was a dear member of the community and a long-time Rotarian,” said Joseph Alvarez, Anthem Rotary’s treasurer. “Ed’s mission in life was education and he was really
a driving force in our scholarship program.” A retired salesman, Varney was told of the honor when Rotarians visited him days before his death. His friends read a few of the scholarship applicants’ essays to him. “He was very proud,” Alvarez said. “You could see it in his face.” The next day, Varney died. And, instead of giving five $1,000 scholarships to outstanding high school seniors, all 18 applicants received checks. “Our scholarship committee, led by Krista Solomon, reviewed all the applications and we could not separate five winners,” Alvarez
said. “The board of directors agreed with the scholarship committee’s recommendation, and we awarded all 18 of the applicants with a $1,000 scholarship.” Other members of the scholarship committee are Manny Chazan, Bill Temple and Bonnie Markham. On July 27, the Anthem Rotary held a reception for the seven winners who were able to attend. “All seven got to speak and read to the public their essay on why they felt they were deserving of the scholarship,” he said. “It
campus. In the coming months, DVUSD will hire a principal, and that person will coordinate the selection process to determine a school name, colors and mascot. “This is a historic day,” said DVUSD Governing Board President Ann O’Brien. “Whenever we break ground and celebrate a new school, we are really celebrating the extraordinary Deer Valley family. As we expand our family, we increase our excellence throughout the community.” Superintendent Dr. Curtis Finch also spoke, mentioning the semiconductor
boom that’s bringing rapid growth of business and housing development to North Phoenix. “This school is in a perfect location for the expansion that’s already begun in our district,” he said. “I have no doubt that the neighborhood will fill this school quickly, and it will be an extraordinary school from the start.” Students from nearby Sandra Day O’Connor High School, where Elementary No. 32 students will move on to graduate, partic-
see ROTARY page 5
DVUSD breaks ground for new school
BY FOOTHILLS FOCUS STAFF
D
ignitaries helped break ground for Deer Valley Unified School District’s Elementary School No. 32 in Stetson Valley on Sept. 17. Students in kindergarten to sixth grade will enter its doors in August at 5757 Inspiration Mountain Parkway, near 57th Avenue and Happy Valley Road. District officials have yet to find a permanent name for the school, which will have the infrastructure for future expansion to a kindergarten to eighth-grade
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see
DVUSD page 4