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Alice Cooper teams with Salvation Army for kids event
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YOUTH ............. 20 MTA lines up ‘Cinderella Kids’ auditions and performances
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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
15
Wednesday, December 29, 2021
Dustin Holm continues clearing the desert BY CHRISTINA FUOCO-KARASINSKI Foothills Focus Executive Editor
D
ustin Holm of Anthem-based North Valley Custom Hauling said he was shocked to be honored by Rep. Debbie Lesko and the Anthem Area Chamber of Commerce at the business organization’s annual awards. After all, he said, accolades were never his goal. He’s clearing the North Valley of debris one piece of trash at a time. “I was surprised to be recognized by the community,” he said. “The Congressional Recognition letter from Debbie Lesko was cool, too. There was a lot of excitement at the event.” In 2021, North Valley Custom Hauling completed nine large cleanups, averaging 40 to 50 volunteers at a time. They tallied 50,000 pounds of debris this year.
Holm said 18 months ago that “the illegal dumping program is out of control.” His opinion has since changed. “I can always go out and find something, but it’s getting harder to find (debris) and that’s a good thing,” he said. When the Sacramento native founded North Valley Custom Hauling four years ago, it covered 85086, 85085, North Scottsdale and all along the Carefree corridor. He’s expanding beyond that now. “We go out to Cave Creek and around by Lake Pleasant,” he said. “As long as the volunteers have an appetite, I’d be willing to go. The city, as a whole, has a lot of different litter sites throughout. “So far, everybody has been really receptive to keeping it going. I was going to quit from June to September, but we ended up getting a few in.” Holm said he primarily works with real
estate agents, who must clean out homes before they’re moved into; local businesses; and those who are moving. North Valley Custom Hauling doesn’t move trash or chemicals. His definition of “trash” is anything one would throw in a trash can. “We move large items like furniture, hot tubs, sectionals and refrigerators,” he said. “We’re on-demand, bulk pick-up. If someone’s moving and they have a pile of what they don’t need to take, we’ll take it.” Owning North Valley Custom Hauling is appropriate for Holm. In his early 20s, he was in the furniture business. His resume also includes stints in construction, commercial truck driving and home loans. They all provided Holm with experience to accomplish his tasks. “The furniture business correlated to
The grants — collectively $2.5 million — fund an array of projects countywide, including a new gymnasium and dance center at the Arizona Autism Charter Schools in Phoenix; and construction of an off-ice conditioning area at Oceanside Ice Arena in Tempe, home of the Desert Youth Hockey Association, which is promoting the sport’s growth in the desert.
“Our school was so excited when we heard we would receive the AZSTA grant,” said Great Hearts Anthem Prep Headmaster Zackary Withers. “The money will be used to bolster our athletic facilities enabling us to better support our student-athletes at Great Hearts
see HOLM page 4
Authority awards funds to Anthem Prep
BY CHRISTINA FUOCO-KARASINSKI Foothills Focus Executive Editor
G
reat Hearts Anthem Preparatory Academy is among the 16 organizations that received funds from the Glendale-based Arizona Sports and Tourism Authority to promote youth and amateur sports programs in Maricopa County.
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ANTHEM PREP page 5
