The Foothills Focus - Zone 2 - 2.23.2022

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Around the Bluhmin’ Town PAGE

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TheFoothillsFocus.com

INSIDE

This Week

NEWS ................. 8 Arizona Lottery celebrates 40 year anniversary

FEATURES ........ 15 Health & Rifle Club hopes to expand fanbase at Amped

YOUTH ............. 18 Desert Forest Golf Club caddy wins scholarship

OPINION ......................9 FEATURES ................ 15 YOUTH ...................... 18 CLASSIFIEDS ............ 20 Zone 2

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Serving the communities of Cave Creek and Carefree

Cave Creek - Carefree Area Edition

Wednesday, February 23, 2022

Bikers ride for a purpose

BY ALLISON BROWN Foothills Focus Staff Writer

B

ikers Against Child Abuse riders may look gruff on the outside with their tattoos and leather jackets, but the caring bikers help empower abused children. They use road names for safety and are there for the kids 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

“We’re there so that an abused child who is afraid can live the life that a normal kid should have. And we do that just by showing up,” said Woodstock, BACA member and treasurer of the Maricopa

County chapter. “It’s amazing how much showing up for a child who’s been abused and been disappointed by adults their whole lives — it’s amazing how much showing up really does empower a child.”

The process starts when an abused child’s guardian calls the BACA Arizona Helpline. A child liaison returns the call to discuss the child’s situation. Woodstock said the trained child liaison knows the specifics about the child’s situation, while the other members only know that he or she needs their help.

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Patch on the vest of member Turtle, of Bikers Against Child Abuse. (Photo by David Minton)

houses, during which time select committee members will be available to present to talk, take you through their experience, what they found out, etc. because they are making a recommendation to, in reality, the citizens of Carefree and also to the town council, because it’s a two-step process.”

Rural Metro expires in June. Peterson said the search for options was not related to dissatisfaction with Rural Metro services.

The biggest factor in a possible change of fire services is the requirements for the regional automatic aid system. Peter Burns, a member of the Public Safety Advisory Committee, explained why this is important.

“With mutual aid, when a department needs assistance, the fire department calls a neighboring department. And it’s up to the responding department to decide whether or not they will

Council mulls auto aid’s pros, cons, costs

BY ALLISON BROWN Foothills Focus Staff Writer

A

fter an extensive presentation and discussion the Carefree Town Council unanimously approved a resolution to hire fire and emergency service consultants as well as a financial consultant to help meet requirements to join the automatic aid system at a February 15 meeting.

“This is the first disclosure of this information to the town council and those of you who are here,” Mayor Les Peterson said at the start of the meeting. “There will be several additional open

Seeking automatic aid The meeting was initiated by a presentation from the Public Safety Advisory Committee, a group of eight citizen volunteers who have spent the past 10 months reviewing possible fire service options, as Carefree’s current contract with

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NEWS

An edition of the East Valley Tribune The Foothills Focus is published every Wednesday and distributed free of charge to homes and in single-copy locations throughout the North Valley. To find out where you can pick up a copy of The Foothills Focus, please visit www.thefoothillsfocus.com CONTACT INFORMATION Main number: 623-465-5808 | Fax: 623-465-1363 Circulation: 480-898-5641 Publisher: Steve T. Strickbine Vice President: Michael Hiatt ADVERTISING DEPARTMENT Display Advertising: 480-348-0343 Classifieds/Inside Sales: Elaine Cota | 480-898-7926 | ecota@timespublications.com TJ Higgins | 480-898-5902 | tjhiggins@timespublications.com Steve Insalaco | 480-898-5635 | sinsalaco@timespublications.com Advertising Office Manager: Tricia Simpson | 480-898-5624 | tsimpson@timespublications.com Director of National Advertising Zac Reynolds | 480-898-5603 | zac@thefoothillsfocus.com NEWS DEPARTMENT Executive Editor: Christina Fuoco-Karasinski | 480-898-5631 christina@timespublications.com Design: Veronica Thurman | vthurman@timespublications.com Production Coordinator: Courtney Oldham | 480-898-5617 production@timespublications.com

THE FOOTHILLS FOCUS | THEFOOTHILLSFOCUS.COM | FEBRUARY 23, 2022

BIKERS ���� ���� 1

From there, if BACA board members deem this is a child they can help, the organization does a level one interaction, which is its first visit to invite the child to be part of the organization. Turtle, who lives near Bell Road and is vice president of the Black Canyon BACA chapter, said it’s a great moment and a spectacle to see.

“This is the first interaction with the child where we will actually set up a time where the whole chapter can ride out and meet that child for the first time,” Turtle said. “And when we ride in, it’s kind of an occasion.

Then we initiate them by giving them a cut to make them feel like they have that biker family.”

The “cut” is a vest with a BACA patch on it, which the kids can choose whether or not to wear. The child is then assigned two primaries, those who are the main point of contact and do routine checks and visits to ensure the child’s safety and work toward removing fear from his or her life.

BACA also goes to court with the kids, to provide support for the child during a stressful time. And, while the organization does not condone violence, its mission states that “if circumstances arise such that we are the only obstacle preventing a child from further abuse, we stand ready to be that obstacle.”

“That biker mentality of family comes into place where we don’t have to be blood to be family,” Turtle said.

“We are always there for one another.

And that reputation as a biker definitely helps us in the case of the perp, but it also helps us with the kids because when they get to know us, they know we’re just teddy bears. But they know we’re teddy bears that are going to do anything to protect them.”

Being a biker isn’t a free pass to join the group, though, and Turtle said there is an extensive process to become a primary. After attending three group meetings, those interested in being a primary undergo a background check. Once the background check has cleared, the per-

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son will become eligible to start the “supporter” process and serve in that role for over a year to learn policies and procedures. After that time, and if approved by the board, the person will be promoted to full membership status and an honored primary.

The organization was founded in 1995 and now covers 48 states and 22 countries. Woodstock said the organization is growing strong, but the problem is increasing even faster. He said the latest studies show there were more than 51,000 cases of child abuse in Arizona annually.

Both Turtle and Woodstock said they have seen the positive impact BACA can have for the kids. While they admitted the kids are sometimes a little intimidated at first, they always open up and seem to feel more confident.

“When we do the level one interaction and we roll in, we wake up the neighborhood,” Woodstock said.

“We’re parking all these bikes in front of the child’s house and sometimes the child will be hiding behind mom.

After a few minutes, though, that child will come around after we introduce ourselves. Pretty soon, they’re walking up and down the street looking at the motorcycles with us.”

Turtle said adults have repeatedly disappointed these kids. Being a reliable constant in the kids’ life is a huge part of making them feel safe. He said the primaries try to be available at any time, whether it’s responding to a text or showing up in person.

“We always tell the kids that they can reach out to us 24 hours a day, seven days a week,” Turtle said.

“We’ve had kids call us at 1 a.m. just to see if we will answer the phone and if we can talk them through some of their nightmares. If we need to, the primaries will do a little drive by, rev the motors up and just let the child know that we are always available for them.”

He said, over time, they build a relationship with the child and the transformation is evident. In fact, that inspired Woodstock to join.

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NEWS

THE FOOTHILLS FOCUS | THEFOOTHILLSFOCUS.COM | FEBRUARY 23, 2022

COUNCIL ���� ���� 1

come to the aid of the calling district,” Burns said. “But under automatic aid, each emergency vehicle is equipped with a tracker, so dispatch knows where every piece of equipment in the Valley is. When a call comes in, they will dispatch the closest appropriate asset to that call, regardless of jurisdiction boundaries.”

Carefree Town Administrator Gary Neiss inquired about how the town could be part of the automatic aid system and was met with disqualifiers regarding Rural Metro’s staffing, training and communication system. Burns said those disqualifiers were not “showstoppers,” and could be overcome with extra funding.

Setbacks with Rural Metro However, even if those issues were fixed, Carefree runs into issues using Rural Metro. The first is that Rural Metro is a private company, which ultimately runs on making a profit.

“This has nothing to do with their capacity as firefighters,” Scottsdale Fire Chief Tom Shannon explained. “What this is about is a

business model that is designed to minimize the number of resources because they are a for-profit entity and to ensure it isn’t costing them more than their contractors are providing.”

The second issue that comes from using Rural Metro is correlated to the first, according to Shannon. He said Rural Metro is an increased liability, and a recent analysis showed over $1 million in workman’s compensation claims. Because Scottsdale has a mutual aid agreement with Carefree, the city of Scottsdale — meaning Scottsdale taxpayers — is left paying for those claims. More than just the finances, though, Shannon said the more Scottsdale has to send help to Carefree, the less resources it has for its issues.

“If I have a neighbor who borrows my lawnmower a couple times a year to mow their lawn, I have no beef with them,” Shannon said. “But they use it every other week because they don’t want to buy a lawnmower, I’m going to ask them to buy a lawnmower.

That’s the best analogy that I can give you.”

Neiss and members of the Carefree Public Safety Advisory Committee have repeatedly stated that Carefree called for Scottsdale’s help nine times in the past 15 years,

indicating that Carefree is not that much of a burden. Shannon said he would “debate the validity of that data.” Shannon said his data, which comes from a computer aided dispatch that receives calls for mutual aid, shows that from January 2015 to date, there were 41 calls for mutual aid in Carefree.

Shannon provided The Foothills Focus the incident reports from these calls.

Shannon said because of the increased liability and Rural Metro’s lack of change, he terminated the mutual aid agreement between Scottsdale and Carefree in early January. This was another factor in Carefree’s search for the best option for emergency services. Shannon said Scottsdale would still respond if necessary, but not at the rate that they were before, which raises the stakes for Carefree.

Next steps If Carefree takes action to join the automatic aid system, it will be a massive financial undertaking. The town has a slight advantage in that it does already own its own fire station and equipment. However, the fire truck is 15 years old and will need to be replaced regardless of what route the town goes. The truck alone will cost about $750,000.

To meet the staffing and training requirements for automatic aid, a few options were brought to the table. One is to stay with Rural Metro, but revise the contract to have four people per truck and to put all Rural Metro firefighters through additional training. The other options are to contract with either Daisy Mountain or Scottsdale for staffing.

Burns said the one-time startup cost for this contract would cost the town $500,000 for Daisy Mountain and $650,000 for Scottsdale.

Based on the 2022 budget, Carefree has $7 million in revenue per year. Burns said

the absolute minimum yearly cost of joining the automatic aid system is an $800,000 increase from what the town is paying now.

Shelia Amoroso, member of the Public Safety Advisory Committee, presented some of the options of how to finance the increase in service. Those options include implementing an increased sales tax, a property tax or a blend of the two to cover funds.

The official recommendation of the Public Safety Advisory Committee had three parts.

The first was that the town contract with a fire and emergency services professional who can assist the town’s transition into automatic aid, if it goes in that direction. The second was that a financial consultant also be brought on to explore different options of financing the increased service. The last recommendation was that the town continue its contract with the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office.

The council unanimously approved the recommendations, but several members voiced their displeasure with the situation, mainly the uncertainty of future costs.

“We should recognize that this is a 25-year contract. Just on basic inflation, that contract is going to increase by 300%, easy,” said Councilmember Stephen Hatcher. “We can’t sign up for something like this, the risk is too high. Personally, I think relative to the cost we’re facing to the quality of service we’re already receiving from Rural Metro, this is a big jump. I’m not convinced.”

With the council’s approval, the town will hire the consultants immediately. Neiss said the goal is for the consultants to present their information to the town council within the next 90 days. At that point, there will be several community open houses to get input from Carefree residents. Neiss said the goal is to transition to automatic aid in the summer of 2023.

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THE FOOTHILLS FOCUS | THEFOOTHILLSFOCUS.COM | FEBRUARY 23, 2022

BIKERS ���� ���� 4

“I attended a meeting and this BACA child is goofing around, playing with the president and board members, giving them a hard time, just being a kid and having fun,” Woodstock said. “I determined that if BACA could make somebody who’s been through what she’s been through that strong, I have to join this organization.”

Woodstock said he rode with a group before, but once he found BACA, he has been riding for a purpose. He said all members are volunteers, and their reward is seeing the children lose their fear.

BACA has four chapters in Arizona — the Black Canyon, Maricopa County, Pima County and White Mountains chapters. The organization accepts new members and donations, which go toward informational brochures as well as blankets, backpacks and the cuts for the kids.

The Desert Foothills Library is hosting a Bikers for Books Motorcycle Poker Run in partnership with BACA

NEWS

from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, March 12. The event will be a drive-by starting at Buddy Stubbs Harley Davidson and ending at the Desert Foothills Library. There will also be live music, food vendors, drinks, a used book sale and raffle.

Bikers for Books Motorcycle Poker Run

WHEN: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, March 12 WHERE: Starts at Buddy Stubbs Harley Davidson 13850 N. Cave Creek Road, Suite 2, Phoenix COST: $25 INFO: dfla.org, arizona.bacaworld.org

HAVE A NEWS STORY?

Contact Christina Fuoco-Karasinski at 480-898-5631 or christina@timespublications.com Einstein, Viking and Turtle are members of the Bikers Against Child Abuse that serve children in Arizona to help the kids conquer their fears. (Photo by David Minton)

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THE FOOTHILLS FOCUS | THEFOOTHILLSFOCUS.COM | FEBRUARY 23, 2022

Lottery marks 40th anniversary with giant Scratchers

BY FOOTHILLS FOCUS STAFF

T

he Arizona Lottery recently marked its 40th anniversary by unveiling a “big win” on a giant 30-foot Scratchers ticket in Downtown Phoenix.

The ticket revealed a $40,000 Gives Back Sponsorship to Save Our Saguaros, a National Forest Foundation effort to mitigate wildfire threats across Arizona’s national forests and to ensure the future of this iconic desert species.

Gov. Doug Ducey congratulated the Arizona Lottery, stating that 40 years of ticket sales have translated to a big win for Arizona.

“On this day that we celebrate our 110th year as a state, we also celebrate the 40th anniversary of the lottery in Arizona,” he said on Feb. 14.

“Over the past four decades, the Arizona Lottery has paid nearly $10.5 billion in prizes to players and more than $1.1 billion to retailers in commissions. More importantly, the Arizona Lottery has returned over $4.8 billion to many vital state programs and ser-

vices that would otherwise rely on tax dollars for their funding.”

Arizona Lottery Executive Director Gregg Edgar said the Arizona Lottery has made a substantial financial contribution over four decades to the state for programs in environmental conservation, higher education, health and human services, and economic and business development.

“We’re celebrating 40 years of giving back to the community, and we’re proud to have transferred more than $4.8 billion, through ticket sales, to vital programs and services throughout the state,” Edgar said.

“Our ‘Gives Back’ sponsorships, totaling hundreds of thousands of dollars every year, are funded with Arizona Lottery marketing dollars. These unique partnerships help nonprofits across Arizona accomplish their missions while helping the Arizona Lottery to tell its story.”

Measuring 30 feet high, 15 feet wide and 6 feet deep, the Arizona Lottery’s giant Scratchers ticket was built over several hours on Feb. 11 in the Legends Entertain-

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ment District next to the Footprint Arena.

Throughout the weekend, players 21 and older scanned a QR code on the bottom of the ticket into the Arizona Lottery’s Players Club, where they entered the 40th anniversary drawing for a chance to win one of 40 $400 e-gift cards.

During the Feb. 14 event, emcee Gayle Bass, broadcast journalist and host of the nationally syndicated television show “Right This Minute,” ascended some 15 feet in a scissor lift to help peel off a section of the ticket for the big reveal.

“We designed our giant Scratchers ticket to be educational, interactive and fun, and our big reveal this morning to the National Forest Foundation’s effort, Save Our Saguaros, in many ways symbolizes the Arizona Lottery’s giant commitment to preserving a vital part of our state’s future. Many people don’t realize that the saguaro is a keystone species. Widespread loss of saguaros would be devastating to our desert ecosystem,” Edgar said.

Unnatural wildfire and fire-prone invasive grasses are threatening saguaros, which is a key reason the Arizona Lottery chose to support the NFF’s Save Our Saguaros’ effort with a Gives Back Sponsorship. The funds will benefit conservation work on the Tonto National Forest in central Arizona and in southern Arizona’s Coronado National Forest. Both habitats are part of the scenic Sonoran Desert.

Rebecca Davidson, the National Forest Foundation’s Southwest regional director, was at the Arizona Lottery event to witness the big reveal of the $40,000 Gives Back Sponsorship to the NFF’s Save Our Saguaros effort.

“The saguaro cactus has evolved to thrive in the harsh and arid Sonoran Desert, and it can continue to survive, even in times of drought” Davidson said. “But with the rapid expansion of nonnative grasses, like buffelgrass and fountain grass, saguaros and Arizona’s desert landscapes are at threat.”

Davidson explained how Arizona Lottery funds will support the NFF’s Save Our Saguaros effort.

“Invasive grasses fueled the June 2020 Bush Fire on the Tonto National Forest, which burned an approximate 194,000 acres into the Four Peaks Wilderness Area,

The Arizona Lottery’s 30-foot Scratchers ticket revealed a $40,000 Gives Back Sponsorship to Save Our Saguaros. (Photo courtesy of Arizona Lottery) impacting more than 80,000 iconic saguaros. Working with the Forest Service and other community partners, Arizona Lottery funds will help us establish a cacti and saguaro nursery so we can replant and restore portions of the scarred habitat,” she said.

Arizona Lottery funds will also catalyze NFF’s Save Our Saguaros effort on the Coronado National Forest which focuses on management and treatment of invasive grasses across hundreds of acres of Sonoran Desert habitat in the Tucson area.

“Through continued treatment we are hoping to avoid ignition of buffelgrass-fueled fires, which can carry fire swiftly, scorching plants and soils, ultimately converting a rich desert ecosystem into a monoculture of buffelgrass in a very short time,” she said.

“When lightning sparked the Bighorn Fire in June 2020, it quickly burned over 120,000 acres of Sonoran Desert in the Santa Catalina Mountains, and the Tucson community was devastated. Luckily, no harm came to people and homes and structures were protected, but it was a wake-up call to the immediacy of treatment need on national forests and in adjacent neighborhoods.”

Davidson said that while treatment reduces threats on some acres, it is expensive work, and land managers require additional partners and resources to manage and eliminate the invasive species.

“Truly, time is of the essence to protect our iconic saguaro cacti. Together with the Forest Service, we’re working to raise awareness about the importance of these issues, and get acres treated and cacti reestablished, and that’s why we’re so grateful for the support of organizations like the Arizona Lottery and our other community partners,” she said.

OPINION

THE FOOTHILLS FOCUS | THEFOOTHILLSFOCUS.COM | FEBRUARY 23, 2022

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AROUND THE BLUHMIN’ TOWN

Sportsmanship makes winning golden

BY JUDY BLUHM Foothills Focus Columnist

S

ports. We have been able to sit back and watch the greatest shows on Earth. The WP Phoenix Open at TPC Scottsdale, the Super Bowl and Winter Olympics.

Almost too much to comprehend in the span of a few short weeks. Dubbed the “Greatest Show on Grass,” the TPC really lived up to its name, with the spectacle of people going berserk. And the golf was fantastic too. Pandemonium on the 16th hole. Another day, another ace and another insane celebration by a crowd that looked like they were at a rock concert.

There is no bigger party than watching folks go bonkers over a hole in one, with a mist (of beer) descending onto the green like a monsoon. Oh yeah, those golf fans can be rowdy. The TPC security and medical teams were kept busy each day with quite a few “emergency” calls from ladies falling over because their high heels got stuck in the cracks in the sidewalks, drunks passing out and folks succumbing to heat stroke. Yikes! Golf (viewing) can be dangerous!

The Super Bowl didn’t disappoint, unless your team lost. But at least it played out as a thrilling cliffhanger of a game.

About 112 million Americans watched the “big game.” Hip-hop and rap took over the halftime show, with the likes of Eminem, Dr. Dre, Snoop Dog and Mary J. Blige. Some people complained bitterly, but there were plenty of rave reviews and the ratings showed people kept “tuned in.”

And if you don’t like the teams, or the show, there is always the commercials.

Alright, so if everything disappoints, there is always the wings, pizza and beer.

The Olympics shows us the world’s best athletes attempting to achieve the incredible. Faster. Higher. Stronger.

Snowboarders, skiers and ice skaters flying through the air, defying gravity, common sense and physics. It is breathtaking to watch. A thrill to see what the human body can endure and leaving we, the viewers, wondering how they do what they do. We can barely imagine what makes them jump, spin, twirl and race. One commentator’s 6-year-old son asked the question of Nathan Chen, after his gold medal routine, “How exactly did you do that?” We all want to know.

Doping. Cheating. Lies. Lawsuits. Sadly, it is happening again. When a Russian skater tests positive for a banned substance is still allowed to compete, it causes a rupture in the trust of the Olympics and what they stand for — fair and clean competition.

Still, there are plenty of examples of how the spirit of the Olympics remains strong. When speed skater, Erin Jackson, slipped during her race at the U.S. trials, her teammate, Brittany Bowe, gave up her spot so that Jackson could be on the team to compete. Erin Jackson went on to win gold in the 500-meter race. Leaving us to ponder if it is the sportsmanship that makes winning golden and not the medal.

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

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OPINION

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THE FOOTHILLS FOCUS | THEFOOTHILLSFOCUS.COM | FEBRUARY 23, 2022

Legislature outdoes its usual nonsensical self with sex ed

BY DAVID LEIBOWITZ Foothills Focus Columnist

W

hen I was a kid, the fastest way to get me to read a book was to tell me it was too mature for my young eyes. I passed many nights sneaking peeks at my mom’s Harold Robbins novels to find the sexy parts. And there wasn’t a kid in my middle school who couldn’t recite by heart from Page 85 of Judy Blume’s teen lit classic, “Forever.”

You know, the page where Michael introduces Katharine to his manhood, which he has inexplicably named … Ralph.

Speaking of members, this brings us to the Arizona Legislature, which may have done more to encourage teen reading than any governmental body in America.

Last year, it passed House Bill 2035, a racy little number that made Arizona the fifth state in America to mandate parents opt-in to sex education for their kids. Had the measure stopped there, I would have been okay with it, but this being our Leg-

islature – where common sense is not so common – they had to go just a bit further.

HB 2035 also requires school governing boards to “adopt procedures to notify parents in advance and provide them the opportunity to withdraw their children from any instruction or presentations regarding sexuality” – even outside sex ed class.

Which brings us to one local school district’s strenuous efforts to warn parents – about, among other things, kids cooking chicken breasts.

Times Media reporter Ken Sain detailed The Great Poultry Alert last week.

To comply with the state edict, the Chandler Unified School District Governing Board in December passed a new opt-in policy concerning materials that might be deemed sexual. Sain quoted Chandler High teacher Caroline Sheridan, who last week told the Governing Board: “I teach English and I teach criminal justice,” she explained. “Somehow I found out I need permission slips before I can teach,

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‘Of Mice and Men,’ ‘Romeo and Juliet,’ ‘Othello,’ ‘To Kill a Mockingbird.’ I can’t teach about Emmett Till without a permission slip. Of course, this makes no sense.”

In January, the Permission Slip Police also sent home an opt-in form to parents of cooking students learning to prepare chicken breasts. District spokesman Terry Locke told Sain this was “a misinterpretation of the legislative statute” which “was corrected and did not apply to the context or content.”

Thank goodness the curriculum didn’t include a recipe for sticky buns.

Of course, the Legislature is hardly done with the issue. This new session has seen a number of sex education bills, including a measure to change the opt-in requirement back to an opt-out requirement.

There’s a bill that will require a parent’s written permission before a student can participate in “any school student group or club involving sexuality, gender or gender identity.” And there’s a bill – no doubt dead on arrival – that not only

would make sex ed an opt-out class, but would also allow teachers to “discuss populations that historically have been more vulnerable to sexual abuse and assault, such as the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning community and the disability community.”

Finally, there’s a bill that would forbid educators, restaurant workers and grocery store employees from “referring to certain foodstuffs and edible materials using language that may be construed to convey a sexual connotation.” Among the terms set to be joining “chicken breasts” as no longer be permissible, as spelled out in statute?

Chicken “breasts.” Pork “butt.” Hot dog “buns.” The phrase “finger foods.” And Denny’s has been put on notice that diners will no longer be allowed to order the “Moons Over My Hammy.”

OK, I made that last bill up. But with this group of elected geniuses, it absolutely could have been real. They’re just that … nuts.

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Long after studying Orwell’s novel, 1984 has arrived

BY J.D. HAYWORTH Foothills Focus Columnist

“W

hat you’re about to read is a vision of the future,” the teacher told her class.

“If you expect to read a tale of space travel…or a story focused on happy, prosperous people living in a bright, sparkling city of tomorrow, you need to prepare yourself for something completely different.”

“Jimmy Jones, if you could develop an appreciation for books that rivals your love of the Beatles, you could get into an Ivy League School.”

The teacher combined her admonition with an appeal: “JJ, I assure you that you’ll find no ‘Flying Circus’ within the pages of this novel, but the author is British and given your world view, that ought to count for something.”

The large young man grabbed a box of 40 books and put one on the desk of each of his 35 classmates.

Then she said, “Class, there are three goals to which we all should aspire. We need to think clearly, speak clearly and write clearly.”

“We all know that words have meaning, and that some words have many different meanings. But what would happen if a government sought to control its citizens by the deliberate distortion of language?”

“Prepare to encounter ‘newspeak,’ and discover the consequences of calculated, confusing communication, designed to discourage independent thought and action.”

“George Orwell’s book is titled ‘1984,’ and that’s only 10 years from now. You’ll read of a future that’s quite distressing. A future based on language control, thought control, and collective control through a surveillance state.”

“Could something like that happen here? Read this book and decide for yourself.”

For the next two weeks, the class immersed itself in Orwell’s dystopian tale,

discussing the distressing, foreboding future presented in the text.

And then, the future arrived.

JJ did in fact become a lawyer and Big Guy eventually became a federal lawmaker.

Both marveled that the USA in 1984 was nothing like Orwell’s “1984.” Ronald Reagan carried every state except Minnesota en route to his second term.

The same was true 10 years later. Big Guy became part of a big class of conservative congressmen – over 70, who won a Republican House Majority for the first time in 40 years.

Almost 30 years have passed.

What happened?

A terror attack on our soil and a decision that collective security should be emphasized over personal liberty.

A computer revolution that encouraged surveillance and enriched tech firms, which in turn offered allegiance to the business and the bottom line rather than the country that made their success possible.

The election of a President, heralded as “post racial,” who instead became our “most racial,” inserting race and other wedge issues into virtually every public debate.

A public education system transmogrified into a political indoctrination system, populated with leftist grievance mongers who promote “wokeism” — a political movement designed to intimidate by shutting down debate and insisting on uniformity.

And “pandemic panic,” where sound science took a backseat to political science and government curtailed our freedom of movement as well as our right to work.

Through it all, echoes of “Newspeak…”

Ignorance is Strength…

Uniformity is Diversity…

War is Peace…

Equity—not Equality!

Two weeks to flatten the curve.

Sadly, it’s become clear…1984 is finally here.

THE FOOTHILLS FOCUS | THEFOOTHILLSFOCUS.COM | FEBRUARY 23, 2022

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OPINION

THE FOOTHILLS FOCUS | THEFOOTHILLSFOCUS.COM | FEBRUARY 23, 2022

READER’S VIEWPOINTS LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

‘Responsible government’ preaches fear Editor: On Feb. 2, a local news source published a letter to the editor from the chair of “Carefree Citizens for Responsible Government” (CCRG).

From the letter, one may conclude that the chair is Carefree’s resident expert on everything from the Carefree Water Consolidation Project, fire protection, proper land use and development and the town government members’ integrity.

The use of misleading catch phrases such as “consume every bit of open desert space,” “Hampton Inn designed for mass tourism,” “government seizure of private land,” “forced industrialization,” “Town Hall deciding what is best,” “Deception has been instrumental,” “ADEQ has never received a single complaint,” “costly new water tank,” “permit dense development,” “town officials in private emails,” “increase the water

for the development of this corner,” “Town today faces an immediate fiscal crisis,” “chronic underfunding of our essential fire protection,” “automatic aid will run into the millions,” “unsupportable without a property tax,” and, best of all, “unbridled expansion, unnecessary infrastructure development and reliance on uncertain revenues” is very dark indeed.

Reading all this malarkey would make one think the sky is falling in Carefree.

Where is the specific evidence to substantiate these narratives? I believe there is a real motivation behind these claims.

Could it be that all this fear mongering is camouflage because the chair and CCRG does not want the water storage tank that is to be buried and hidden with landscape on property set aside as a utility easement at the Boulders, just off Tom Darlington Road?

It’s curious that after losing in court trying to stop the water tank, this letter appears telling us what a big mess Carefree has become.

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The tank must be installed to provide additional capacity for fire protection when West Carefree residents and businesses connect to Carefree’s water system.

The ideal location for the water tank and systemwide plumbing has been studied infinitum. Debt service for the cost of the new infrastructure will be serviced by the new Carefree accounts.

In conclusion, and with all due respect, I believe the chair just wants their way — “No water tank in my backyard” — “Let West Carefree eat cake.” If this “unnecessary infrastructure” is not built, it will divide Carefree into water “haves” and “have nots” and be a slap to the face of all Carefree’s west side residents, which constitutes almost one-third of the town’s population and 550 connections.

They have been waiting patiently and lobbying for years for this to happen.

Also, they did not try to stop the removal of the waste treatment plant at the Boulders that caused everyone’s sewer rates to go up.

Every westside resident I’ve ever spoken to is anxious to connect to Carefree’s water system and not happy. They can’t vote in Cave Creek but do complain to Cave Creek and Carefree about water quality; not ADEQ as suggested.

I have some questions for the chair: Why would you possibly deny almost one-third of the Carefree residents’ access to water in the town in which they live?

If you gain control of the town council what specifically would you change?

Would you stop the Carefree water consolidation project?

Would you stop all commercial development in Carefree?

What commercial development would you propose?

Would you study any and all options for fire safety or just secure Daisy Mountain hat in hand?

How would you raise more revenues without a property tax or increasing the sales tax base?

Would you ask the voters to approve property taxes to pay for fire protection?

Mike Johnson Carefree town councilmember

The upcoming ‘open space’ ballot initiative Editor: The upcoming ballot in Carefree this summer will offer Carefree voters an initiative relating to “prohibit (the) use of eminent domain to develop privately owned land designated open space/recreational in (the) current general plan.”

But the initiative also continues: “Measure is retroactive to Jan. 1, 2021. Property condemned between Jan. 1, 2021, and effective date must be offered for sale back to original owner at price paid plus interest.

If repurchased, town must restore property to condition at condemnation at town’s expense.”

Let’s be clear about what is being attempted here. This is not about preserving open space. It is about forcing the underground water storage reservoir currently under construction in the Boulders open space to be torn down and removed, thus forcing the rebuilding of a new reservoir in an alternative Carefree neighborhood at the expense of all Carefree Water Company ratepayers.

After the Boulders HOA directors and their friends lost all 12 court decisions over the last year and attempts to delay and halt the construction of the reservoir in an area reserved for the installation of utilities on the perimeter of the Boulders, construction is now moving ahead.

This so-called “open space” initiative is a last gasp effort to force the new reservoir to be torn down and removed, requiring a new identical capacity reservoir to be built in another Carefree neighborhood and presenting the estimated $8 million bill for this senseless undertaking to all Carefree water users, 85% of whom live outside of the Boulders.

Why would the 85% of Carefree residents living outside of the Boulders want to pay for the removal of an underground fresh water reservoir only to have it placed in someone else’s backyard at a higher cost to all residents?

Les Peterson Carefree resident

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Health & Ri�le Club hopes to expand fanbase at Amped

BY ALEX GALLAGHER Foothills Focus Staff Writer

N

ortheast Mesa alt-rockers The Health & Rifle Club are excited to make its Amped Coffee Co. debut on Friday, Feb. 25.

The band is looking to expand its audience and with the help of fellow rocker Austin Walashek of Wild Giants. After meeting the son of Amped’s owners, The Health & Rifle Club realized this would be an ideal space to captivate a new wave of fans.

“We’ve never played Amped but we shared a lot of bills with Austin,” said Palmer Saylor, drummer and keyboardist.

“We’re just wanting to get out to the staples.”

Playing at a more intimate venue also

provides The Health & Rifle Club the bandwidth to project its sonically soothing sounds to an engaged audience.

“Because we all have an equal voice in the songs, it comes out,” Saylor said. “It feels like it’s an equal investment, which makes it easy for us The Health & Rifle Club is, from left, Palmer Saylor III, Andrew Saks, to put our hearts and Brent Bosely (standing) and Eric Moore. (Photo courtesy of The Health & Rifle Club) souls into the live show.”

The band hopes that Amped Coffee Co. bands’ rave reviews. will provide that stage based on other “The cool thing about Amped Coffee Co. is

that we’ve heard a lot of great things about it and we’ve built a good friendship with Wild Giants,” said guitarist Andrew Saks.

“This just sounded really cool. This is also allowing us to branch out of our Central Phoenix area.”

The biggest selling point for Amped is its great sound system.

“The sound of the place or the sound system is the factor that scares us the most but from what we’ve heard has eased our worries,” Saks said. “We’re expecting to go and rock it out.”

Although Saks is a new addition to The Health & Rifle Club, he admitted he was a fan of the music before joining. He’s still

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From Page 15

smitten every time he takes the stage with his new bandmates.

“For me — with fresh ears — every time I get into and dive deeper into the songs, I like it more and more,” Saks said. “Personally, I always love to play. There’s an element of playing in front of people that takes a song and gives it new life.”

However, the songs “Gold in the Throes of Summer” and “If You Need This” remain his top tracks to play live.

In addition to playing a venue that feels comfortable for the rockers, the band will be surrounded by artists with a similar sound the evening it takes the stage at Amped Coffee Co. “We’re latching on to similar sounding bands, which is surprising to us because the music scene has been an up and down, love/hate thing for the past 20 years,” Saylor said. “We’ve found some bands who are very complementary to our sound. We’ve made fast friends with a lot of these people that we’re sharing bills with.”

Saylor said he hopes to display the band’s originality.

“We’re hoping people find us original,” Saylor said.

“Much like a lot of new bands in Phoenix, we are ultimately striving and navigating our way through the current new music scene. We’re hoping that our listeners hear some unique music, ultimately helping us emerge as some of the new sounds of Phoenix.”

Coffeehouses, Saks said, are some of the best stages in the Valley for fledgling bands.

“We’re always trying to find an audience,” Saks said. “So, we’re looking for places that make sense and we can reach people. Sometimes, as a band, you’re always looking for opportunities. You can play at the most reputable place in town to four people, whereas you can play at a coffeehouse for 30 to 40 people.”

Following the show, the band plans to hibernate in the studio until its next wave of shows to record another EP. “Our battleplan is to put out an series of EPs just to get out as much as we can,” Saks said. “As we mature as a band, especially with the new lineup, the sound will evolve to a certain extent to be more representative of what we have going at the moment.”

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Create something great about something CHURCH COMMUNITY CONNECTION

Pastor Ed Delph Foothills Focus Columnist

L

et’s explore some rare insight by an unknown author. “You glow differently when you have good people with good intentions in your life.”

We could also say you glow differently when you are happy. Or you glow differently when you are loved and treated well. How about you glow differently when you’re not hating, hurting, bitter or messy?

Finally, you glow better when you create something great for others that comes from love or genuine altruism, not some self-serving agenda.

George Bernard Shaw said, “Life isn’t about finding yourself. Life is about creating yourself.” Of course, finding yourself is essential, but finding yourself doesn’t end with

finding yourself. Instead, we find ourselves to create ourselves, hopefully for genuine service or ministry to others.

In Elmer Bendiner’s book, “The Fall of Fortresses,” on page 139, he describes one bombing run in World War II over the German city of Kassel. Read, grow, be inspired.

“Our B-17 (The Tondelayo) was barraged by flak from Nazi antiaircraft guns. That was not unusual, but our gas tanks were hit on this occasion. Later, as I reflected on the miracle of a 20-millimeter shell piercing the fuel tank without touching off an explosion, our pilot, Bohn Fawkes, told me it was not quite

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DELPH

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that simple.

“The morning following the raid, Bohn went to ask our crew chief for that shell as a souvenir of our unbelievable luck. The crew chief told Bohn that not just one shell but 11 were found in the gas tanks — 11 unexploded shells where only one was sufficient to blast us out of the sky.

“Even after 35 years, so awesome an event leaves me shaken, especially after I heard the rest of the story from Bohn.

“Bohn told him that the shells had been sent to the armorers to be defused. The armorers told him that intelligence had picked them up. They could not say why, but Bohn eventually sought out the answer. When the armorers opened each of those shells, they found no explosive charge. They were clean as a whistle and just as harmless. Empty?

Not all of them.

“One contained a carefully rolled piece of paper. On it was a scrawl in Czech. The intelligence people scoured our base for a man who could read Czech. Eventually, they found one to decipher the note. It set us marveling. In Czech, the message read: ‘This is all

we can do for you now.’”

Wow, what a powerful statement, especially when you consider the origin of those written words. For much of World War II, German munitions were made by Jews in Nazi death camps — slave labor.

These Jewish prisoners carried out their duties, loading explosives in the shadows of the gas chambers that would claim many of their lives. Yet, in those direst of circumstances, they were looking for goodness — looking to do good in any way they could.

One thing they could do was disable the firing mechanisms in the munitions. And because of their actions, the crews’ lives were saved. Men came home from the war, married, built homes, and had families. And those families had families and so on. Their small, seemingly insignificant act of goodness echoes for generations. It still resonates today.

Here are my thoughts about this historical event.

You never know how strong you are until being strong is the only choice you have.

Notice how the prisoners maximized their plight and pivoted. If their situation wouldn’t change immediately, they created something

great for others.

They became innovative disrupters in the nick of time. They took the risk of their lives and saved someone else who was risking their lives. They made a deep dive into their deep reserves. They didn’t save all, but they did save some. And one of those someones made known to the world what no one knew about. The prisoners created for themselves a legacy that others will admire for years.

The same can be true for us. Theodore Roosevelt said, “Do what you can, with what you have, where you are.” You never know how your witness or your good deeds to and for another will affect their eternity. To the world, you might be one person, but to one person, you might be the world. Just ask the crew of the Tondelayo, who reaped the benefit of some unknown Jewish prisoners who created something good out of something bad.

Here’s our takeaway. You are created by a Creator who created you to create something great about something. The best this world can get is you, being you, with God all over you.

So, get out of the seat and into the street.

Be an innovative disrupter in the nick of time in these chaotic times. Find a need and meet

17 ••

it. Be the change. Be onsite with insight. Now is not the time to isolate, now is the time to incarnate. The Word needs to become flesh and move into the neighborhood.

Create a great business, service, or ministry. Create a great kind disposition and smile. Create a great honest community. Live in such a way that, when you die, even the undertaker will be sorry.

One final thought for you, “This is all we can do for you now,” innovative disrupters.

Karl Menninger said, “Love cures people; both the ones who give it and the ones who receive it.” How do I know? Both givers and receivers glow differently.

Ed Delph is a noted author of 10 books, as well as a pastor, teacher, former business owner and speaker. Ed 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.

Ed may be contacted at nationstrategy@cs.com.

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YOUTH

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Youth TheFoothillsFocus.com

For more Youth News visit thefoothillsfocus.com @TheFoothills.Focus

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Desert Forest Golf Club caddy wins scholarship

BY BRENDAN MAU Foothills Focus Staff Writer

J

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eremy Dreher has been golfing since sixth grade and started caddying his sophomore year of high school at Desert Forest Golf Club in Carefree.

“I’ve always had passion for golf.

My dad introduced me to caddying sophomore year (after getting an) email from the Junior Golf Association of Arizona, asking players to start having a Desert Forest (job),” Dreher said.

“He called me up in the middle of fourth hour, and I was like, ‘OK, sweet, I’ll do it.’ And then went up two weeks later, did the training and it was all history from there.”

After a lot of hard work, two years later, Dreher, a student at Moon Valley High School in Phoenix, has become the second consecutive recipient from Desert Forest Golf Club of the Chick Evans Scholarship, a full, four-year tuition and housing college scholarship after a lengthy application process.

“I got the scholarship on Christmas Eve. So, you can probably say that was the best Christmas present ever.”

“When we got the letter in the mail, I was just ecstatic and called my parents up, they were at work. But I was just really excited and happy when we got the letter in the mail. When I opened it and it said ‘Congratulations, you got the scholarship,’ it was one of those moments where you almost just dropped down to the floor.

It was a pretty awesome experience.”

The Evans Scholars Foundation “seeks students who show academic strength, financial need, outstanding character and a strong caddie record” for the scholarship, according to the Western Golf Association, which supports the foundation. This year, around 300 students were awarded the prestigious scholarship, which is valued at over $120,000 for four years.

Dreher has applied to Penn State University and the University of Colorado, and he will use the scholarship for his education at one of the schools. He would prefer to attend Colorado and plans to major in accounting and finance.

The scholarship was always on Dreher’s mind once he heard about it from his caddy masters and was his “biggest motivating factor” to continue caddying. He added that he has learned a lot from the past caddy it was given to from Desert Forest.

“When I was in my training, the former scholarship recipient, Evan Johnson, he was one of my biggest inspirations because I saw that he was applying for the scholarship, and he was a go-getter. And so, that just made me want to excel,” Dreher said.

“Since Evan was the first recipient in Arizona, it kind of gave me a window to think like, ‘hey, you know what, if he can do it, I can do it.’”

Desert Forest Golf Club is a 45-minute drive for Dreher, but he was

�ee SCHOLARSHIP page 19

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SCHOLARSHIP from page 18

willing to make the commute every weekend because he loves caddying.

He said his dad is his No. 1 supporter.

“He’s a self-employed business owner, so he doesn’t have necessarily that much time to go out,” Dreher said.

“Yet, he was still, he still had enough time to take me out to go every weekend who drove me up when I didn’t have a car.”

“I thank him for that so much, because I know how long of a drive it is and how much of it is a burden to him because he’s a self-employed business owner. We try to play as much golf as we can, but it’s usually not that much, around at max once a month, but it’s those moments I’ll spare forever.”

Dreher said he likes every “loop” because it educates him. A loop is when a caddy is assigned to a golfer and heads out with him or her. Dreher said he looks forward to completing these loops whenever he is on the job.

“I always found valuable information from every group I go to,” Dreher said. “And it’s nice how every single person is unique. So, they have their own lives and experiences. Just hearing their stories around the world and where they traveled, it’s really fun and some of the cool golf stories and tournaments they’ve had, it’s a really neat experience to kind of meet every new person every time.

“Caddying put a new perspective not just on the course, but off the course, too, like learning to converse with adults. I know it’ll help tremendously when I’m in that job interview or something like that. And then with golf, it gave me a different perspective on how I should play the shot and how I could have the greatest outcome when I go play.”

Dreher plans to continue golfing on the side in college and beyond and potentially caddy at a local golf club if he can. He hopes younger caddies will be inspired by his scholarship.

“It’s nice to know I’m proof of a

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Jeremy Dreher is the second consecutive caddie from Desert Forest Golf Club in Carefree to win the Chick Evans Scholarship. (Photo courtesy of Jeremy Dreher)

success story that could happen to literally anyone that caddies,” Dreher said.

“And so, going to those trainings that I used to go to and meeting some of the new caddies and telling them, ‘Hey, I can get the Evans Scholarship, you can do it too,’ and they’re really excited about that.”

He said he wants to thank the golf club for having him.

“What they’ve done for me is just amazing because all the members there, they just want the caddies to succeed,” Dreher said.

“They like the kid caddies because they want to connect with them and kind of shape out our future. So, seeing them with the smiles on their faces when I tell them I got the scholarship, it just makes me feel even better. And the work they put behind it, you know, helping me out with the emails and all of that, it’s just awesome. So, I want to give big thanks to the club and Brandon Rogers, the head pro, for just believing in me the whole time and my parents too.”

CUSTOMIZED INSURANCE COVERAGE TO MATCH YOUR NEEDS & BUDGET JOHN KOVACH OWNER, AGENT

CALL TODAY TO RECIEVE AN INSTANT QUOTE!

623-551-7900 JOHN@KOVACHINSURANCE.COM 3715 W ANTHEM WAY, SUITE # 112 ANTHEM, AZ 85086-0424

Whatever coverage you are looking for, I can help.

With customizable coverage and options to match your lifestyle – plus tools, tips and discounts to help keep costs down – I’ll help protect you and your loved ones against the unexpected.

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THE FOOTHILLS FOCUS | THEFOOTHILLSFOCUS.COM | FEBRUARY 23, 2022

Employment General

MetroPhoenix

JOBS

••

Three Day Hiring Event Friday, Saturday, and Sunday Feb. 25 - 27 9am – 3pm

Where:

CMC Steel Arizona 11444 E Germann Rd. Mesa, AZ 85212

NOW HIRING IN MESA: • Forklift Operator • Mechanic and Electrician • Production Operator • Entry Level Positions • Technical Training Program

CMC Steel Arizona has proudly been making the steel that builds America since 2009.

With great benefits, competitive pay, and a family-like culture, we hope you’ll take the opportunity to grow in your career. Visit us next weekend to apply in person!

To Advertise Call:

480 898 6465

When:

Scan to see all job openings!

CLASSIFIEDS

THE FOOTHILLS FOCUS | THEFOOTHILLSFOCUS.COM | FEBRUARY 23, 2022

The legendary Rock Springs Café is

NOW HIRING FOR ALL POSITIONS*!

Lead Host and Assistant to the Manager Lead Pastry Baker Bussers - $15 – 20 per hour with tips Servers - $25 – 30 per hour with tips (average) Line Cooks – Flexible Hours Rock Springs Café is located just 15 minutes north of Anthem – Exit 242. *Signing CASH BONUS at the end of 30 days employment

EMPLOYMENT

EMPLOYMENT

Experience Painters Needed.

Interior/ Exterior Residential / Commercial. Jobs in North Phoenix, Scottsdale and West Valley. Must Have Own Transportation. Starting Salary Between $19-20 Per Hour.

Temporary Full Time Double D Services Contact Paula Paulastonedds@gmail.com 602-309-4255

Join our experienced inside sales team!

HELP WANTED✷✷

✷✷

COME JOIN OUR TEAM AT WEST VALLEY ROCK

WE HAVE MULTIPLE POSITIONS AVALIABLE!

Great team environment Our small team wants to grow with you! Do you get excited when you sell? Do you talk louder when you are selling something you believe in? We get it - it's exciting to sell!

623-386-8777 WESTVALLEYROCK.COM

Submit resumes to: rockspringscafe@gmail.com

Do you learn quickly, like to stay organized, multi-task, are you familiar with Gmail, Google Docs/ Sheets/Voice, Word, Excel, internet browsing and other software programs?

This is a full time job with benefits. 8:30-5pm Mon-Fri. If you think you are the missing puzzle piece, please apply!

JOIN CENTURION HEALTH FOR A HIRING EVENT! Your newspaper.

Your community.

Your planet.

Wait, did I mention we are a FUN team?

Please recycle me.

Send resume with over letter to Elaine

ecota@times publications.com EOE

EMPLOYMENT

VALLEYLIFE Seeking Healthcare Professionals to join our exceptional team in Arizona.

Thursday, February 24th

at Arizona State Prison Complex - Phoenix

For more information or to RSVP (not required), please contact:

Laurie Koch lkoch@teamcenturion.com 520.317.3154

is a non-pro it organization that provides programs and services to men, women, and children with developmental disabilities.

Full Time and Part Time Caregivers Needed!

We are currently looking for caregivers to work in group homes throughout Glendale, Phoenix, Peoria and Scottsdale. Must pass background check.

Please apply at www.valleylifeaz.org

MetroPhoenixJobs • 480-898-6465

JOBS

BONUSES AVAILABLE!

Do you have print media/digital advertising selling experience? We may be looking for you!

The position is in Tempe (Broadway curve area) includes lots of outbound calls selling advertising all over Phoenix Metro and even Tucson! Our 20 local publications, newspapers, magazines and digital solutions fit pretty much every need!

MetroPhoenix

EMPLOYMENT

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To Advertise Call:

480 898 6465

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CLASSIFIEDS

THE FOOTHILLS FOCUS | THEFOOTHILLSFOCUS.COM | FEBRUARY 23, 2022

Ahwatukee Chandler Gilbert Glendale Mesa North Valley Peoria Phoenix San Tan Scottsdale Tempe West Valley

MetroPhoenixClassifieds com To Advertise Call: 480-898-6465 or email Class@TimesPublications.com Meetings/Events

Air Conditioning/Heating

Affordable Anthem Executive Office Suite for Lease in Gateway Office Park. Incl: Internet, util, alarmed.

623-696-8670

Classifieds 480-898-6465

Irrigation

Landscape/Maintenance

DONALDSON DRYWALL

Alanon meeting : New River Serenity Thursday nights 7P Desert Hills Comm Church, 34835 N. 7th St. 85086 newriverserenity.com

Commerical/ Industrial/Retail

Drywall

AZ PERFECT COMFORT A/C & Heating Services Info@azperfect comfort.com

(602)789-3000 azperfectcomfort.com

Announcements

Cave creek Resident Since 1984 • Water Damage • TV Niche Changes • Texture Match • Repairs/Remodels • New construction

Backhoe • Hammer Hoe • Grade Tractor 1,000 Gallon Water Wagon • Dump Trailer Septic Install & Repair (Lic. #276732) Tree Brush and Cactus Removal Road/Driveway Repair & Maintenance Utility Trenching & Plumbing Construction Cleanup Material Screening

FREE ESTIMATES 480-861-1375

Family Owned & Operated

Licensed Bonded Insured ROC #289594

Glass/Mirror • Custom Glass • Shower Doors & Enclosures • Window Glass Replacement • Custom Mirrors • Glass Table Tops & Shelves Come and visit our custom glass showroom behind the Dairy Queen in Cave Creek.

480-235-6101

www.aboveandbeyondglass.com ROC 233846 & ROC 236899

Landscape/Maintenance

North Valley Landscaping Quality you deserve for a great price you can afford.

✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔

Yard Clean-ups Maintenance Tree trimming Water features Irrigation / Repair

FREE ESTIMATES!

Irrigation

Sprinkler Repair Landscaping & More!

Call Brian

• Affordable Same Day Service • Dependable • Guaranteed • 12 Years Experience

602-330-6965 Add a Background Color to Your Ad! Classifieds 480-898-6465

FREE ESTIMATES • 623-465-2546

Irrigation

& Landscape Install • Repair • Replace

623-203-7717

Residential & Commercial

480-388-9442

ROC#215280

est. 2002 ~ Anthem, Arizona

No Job Too Big or Small

KIB EXCAVATING Your Septic System Experts

Complete Septic Systems • Conventional & Alternative and Repairs

Engineered Pads • Site Prep • Grading • Hard Digs Utilities • Trucking/Hauling • Driveways (Gravel, Dirt and Rock)

Mobile

602.319.1089

Licensed • Bonded • Insured COMMERCIAL/RESIDENTIAL

PREMIER LANDSCAPING & GARDENING

• Custom Design • Water Feature • Container/Pot Gardens • Fireplaces & BBQs • Patio & Walls • Irrigation Specialists • Tree Trim/Removal • Bi-weekly/Monthly

Licensed, Bonded & Insured • ROC #166390

THE FOOTHILLS FOCUS | THEFOOTHILLSFOCUS.COM | FEBRUARY 23, 2022

Plumbing

Plumbing

Drain Cleaning Experts, water heaters, disposals, water & sewer lines repaired/replaced & remodels.

Rapid Response.

If water runs through it we do it!

602-663-8432

Wyman Plumbing.

Your friendly neighborhood plumber for the NORTH PHX area!

We can quote most jobs over the phone!

623-551-6688 ROC License #309216 Book Online at wyman-services.com

Roofing

HIRING?

Tax Services

NORTHRIDGE TAX & ACCOUNTING

TAX PREPARATION

If someone Needs a Job, They Look Every Day! For a Quote email: class@times publications.com

CLASSIFIEDS

Worried about managing your bill payments?

Take the month off, on us.

480-898-6465

35+ years experience Former IRS Auditor Specializing in IRS problems IRS Enrolled Agent Personal & Business

Serving All Types Clean, Prompt, Friendly and Professional Service of Roofing: • • • •

FREE ESTIMATES

Tiles & Shingles sunlandroofingllc@gmail.com Installation Repair Re-Roofing

602-471-2346

PHILLIPS

ROOFING LLC COMMERCIAL AND RESIDENTIAL

Family Owned and Operated 43 Years Experience in Arizona

623-873-1626 Free Estimates Monday through Saturday Licensed 2006 ROC 223367 Bonded Insured

Anthem Plaza 42302 N.Vision Way, #113, Anthem, AZ (Just South of Walmart)

623-551-0552

Your newspaper.

Your community.

Your planet.

Please recycle me.

Roofing

Almeida Roofing Inc. All Types of Roofing

602-743-3175 Free Estimates & Inspections • Tile • Shingles Foam • Coatings • Modified Bitumen • New Roof Repairs • Reroofs

SilverBills eliminates the stress and hassle of managing bills.

• Each client is paired with a dedicated, U.S.based account manager who advocates for your household.

• All household bills are guaranteed to be paid on time.* • No computer needed to use our service.

Call today for a free month trial or custom quote:

855-384-4496

www.almeidaroofing.com Licensed • Bonded • Insured • ROC #215758

PhillipsRoofing.org PhillipsRoofing@cox.net

Meetings/Events?

Get Free notices in the Classifieds!

Submit to ecota@timespublications.com

* as long as appropriate funds are available

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THE FOOTHILLS FOCUS | THEFOOTHILLSFOCUS.COM | FEBRUARY 23, 2022