y t i n u Comm
The communities
within the community make Ahwatukee great By Alison Stanton
A
s someone who is new to Ahwatukee, you might be wondering how you can get to know your new town. One great way to become familiar with Ahwatukee is to check out all that it has to offer—including meeting others who also live here and share some of your interests and hobbies. As it turns out, you don’t have to look far to find ways to connect with Ahwatukee and the many people who call it home. A good place to start is comedy. There are no brick-andmortar comedy clubs in “The Tuke,” but there are comedy clubs that give periodic performances in Ahwatukee venues. Find one and go yuk it up. Maybe boxing is a good escape after the week you just had. Put on the gloves and have at it. If you’re into it, there’s very likely a community of people in the village who also are into it. There are mom’s clubs and women’s clubs. Gays and singles have groups they can join. For writers and book readers, join the conversation. Maybe you just enjoy a good lunch. Other people in Ahwatukee do, too, and there are many places where groups meet to eat. Let’s say that politics is your thing. The donkeys and elephants both have Ahwatukee-based organizations where you can go commiserate about the opposite animal’s doings in various legislative bodies. Maybe that will even spur you to run for office. Before you do, it might be wise to join Toastmasters International in Ahwatukee to brush up on your public speaking. Ready to try to make change? Get involved with your HOA, the largest being Ahwatukee Board of Management and Mountain Park Ranch. Just be ready to referee whether a home’s paint color is correct for the neighborhood, if the owner needs to address weeds in the front yard, or whether it’s OK to leave a portable basketball hoop up in the driveway overnight. Being on an HOA gives you a chance to meet your neighbors and have a say so in what goes on right where you live. If your interest is business and you are adept at networking, or if you’d like to learn to be more adept at networking, join the Ahwatukee Chamber of Commerce. It’s likely to be a mutually beneficial experience. Arizona is such a beautiful state and at least half of the year there is no better place for outdoor activities. Ahwatukee is onboard, with running, hiking, camping and bicycling clubs. As you ponder your new home, draw a deep breath, look at the mountains and decide where you want to play golf or pickleball today. Groups in “The Tuke” make that easy. There are a wealth and variety of communities within the community that make Ahwatukee a place where people want to live.
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