If you’re spending the long Thanksgiving holiday weekend in Scottsdale or Gilbert, you’ve got an extra reason to be thankful, according to the financial website wallethub.com
Out of 100 cities across the country it analyzed, the website determined that Scottsdale is the third best place to spend Thanksgiving while Gilbert pulled No. 11.
Sadly, though, those municipalities
Busy
BY KATY SPRINGER Contributor
Power mom” means different things to different people.
For some, she’s a make-believe superhero who can juggle all household duties without breaking a sweat. For others, a “power mom” is a fantastical creature who succeeds in a high-demand job while also raising well-mannered, well-nurtured children.
“Real” moms are wise enough to know that motherhood is often messy, difficult and overwhelming – and the real “power” comes in providing a loving, safe and stable home for their children.
Lisa Hall is exactly that sort of power mom. Single mother to 12-year-old Liam, the Chandler resident also serves as national director for the Alzheimer’s Association. It’s a full load, but Hall
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– and the other Arizona communities covered in the recent survey – have lost some luster from their pre-pandemic status.
In 2019, WalletHub declared Scottsdale the second-best place in the nation for Thanksgiving, with Gilbert taking 6th place.
In the 2021 version, all the other Arizona municipalities WalletHub looked at have fallen from grace somewhat.
Chandler has fallen from a 2019 ranking of 11 to a 26; Mesa tumbled from 13 to 43; and Phoenix plummeted from No.
area woman
not too
busy for fostering kids
believed she could do more.
Last summer, she fulfilled an important goal and became a licensed foster care provider. It was something she had long dreamed of, but the pandemic provided the impetus to make that dream a reality.
“Anyone who knows me knows that I’m never too busy to pursue the things I really care about,” said Hall. “It might seem like too much from the outside looking in, but I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
Indeed, Hall said she has always had a place in her heart for children in need.
“I have always loved kids, and as I’ve grown older, I’ve looked for opportunities to help where I can,” she said.
When she decided she wanted to open her home to foster care,
How your community rates for celebrating Thanksgiving
39 to a humbling 76 – even below 72ndranked Tucson. Glendale stayed at 65th. Scottsdale is sandwiched in the top five for 2021 between Atlanta, Georgia, and Orlando, Florida, at 1 and 2, respectively, and Miami, Florida, and Raleigh, North Carolina, at 4 and 5, respectively.
And virtually every Arizonan can be grateful they’re not in San Bernardino, California, which even edged out Detroit for the bottom of the barrel.
To develop its rankings, WalletHub compared the 100 largest U.S. cities across 20 key metrics that ranged from the cost
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of Thanksgiving dinner and share of delayed flights to volunteer opportunities per capita and forecasted precipitation.
One set of metrics measured holiday traditions and celebrations, which included things like the number of pumpkin patches per capita, holiday decoration shops and Thanksgiving events.
On that score, Scottsdale ranked fourth while Gilbert ranked 22nd; Tucson, 38th; Chandler, 45th; Phoenix 46th; Glendale, 50th; and Mesa an abysmal 92nd.
Jennifer Myers owns Earth Sugar, which sells sweet treats online. She and countless other area small-business owners are hoping that shoppers frustrated by supply-chain disruptions affecting large stores will consider their wares as a logical alternative. See story on page 4. (David Minton/Staff Photographer)
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she asked Liam what he thought. He was an only child who was used to having his mom all to himself, but he warmed to the idea immediately. Hall started the process of becoming licensed soon after.
“Every single day, Liam asked me, ‘how much longer?’” she said. “He was nipping at my heels to get started!”
Hall completed her licensure on Nov. 2, 2020. Three days later, she began fostering a 6-year-old girl. She and Liam loved her immediately and provided the best home they could, but Hall makes it clear she was fighting for the girl’s mom, too.
“We loved having her in our home, but at the same time, we were pulling for her mom to do the work that was needed in order to get her daughter back,” said Lisa.
Three months later, the day came for the little girl to go home to her mom.
“I still think about her all the time,” said Hall. “Our last day together, we got up early, made pancakes, watched the movie ‘Brave’ and just enjoyed our time with her. She was so happy to be going home to her mom, but also sad to be leaving us.”
Hall and Liam had mixed emotions, too.
“We loved her and knew we would miss her, but we were also so excited for her and her mom to get a fresh start. You just want what’s best for these children.”
Since that time, Hall has provided a loving and stable home for several other children, including a 4-year-old boy who stayed for six months.
“It was tough in the beginning, but it was such a joy to watch his growth and see his little personality come through,” she said. “We got him enrolled in preschool and experienced many firsts with him. We knew we would miss him like crazy once he left our home, but we made it a point to enjoy every moment.”
During that time, Hall sold her home and bought a new one to be closer to family – as if she didn’t have enough to do.
when Liam was born, and I wanted to do the same thing for this little guy,” she said. But when people comment about Hall’s efforts on behalf of foster children, she is quick to point that she and Liam are the ones who are benefiting most.
“Liam came up to me the other day and
said, ‘I love our family,’” said Hall. “He is such a wonderful big brother to the little ones who come and stay for a time in our home. I am so grateful for these experiences and for his willingness to love and serve others.”
“The home buying and selling was a bit stressful, but what can I say? I’m a Gemini,” she laughed. “The best part is that my family is close and they absolutely love being involved. It’s more people to love these beautiful kids.”
Today, Hall is fostering a 3-month old baby. He was placed in her home when he was 6 days old. And though she also works full time, she’s working from home so that she can spend ample time with the baby.
“I worked from home for three months
Hall doesn’t rule out the possibility of adoption, though she says that has never been her primary goal.
“I am here to provide a respite and a safe space for these kids until their parents are able to take care of them,” she said. “My goal is to foster families.”
Indeed, she has always prioritized communication with parents to ensure they continue to feel a part of their kids’ lives – and also to make it clear she’s on their team.
“I send photos and updates and make sure these parents know I’m going to do my best for their children.”
For now, she will continue providing a loving home for the infant who is in her care.
“As a foster parent, it’s a strange phenomenon to love these children with your whole heart, but also to want them to reunify with their parents,” she said. “I’m sit-
see FOSTER page 16
Mike
Lisa Hall and her son Liam host foster children in their Chandler home. (Courtesy of Lisa Hall)
Local businesses look toward holiday customers
BY ALEX GALLAGHER Staff Writer
With disruptions to the national supply chain that are only expected to grow worse this holiday season, it looks like a wise idea to support local businesses that make their own crafts.
These businesses often sustain other local businesses through the sourcing of local materials and offer people a more sustainable product.
Here is just a sample of area businesses that offer unique holiday gifts.
Brush Bar
After having to close the doors of beloved paint and wine studio in OldTown amid stay-at-home orders, Brush Bar Owner Gia Ciliento feared it was the end of her business.
Then she had an epiphany. She could bring her business into customer’s homes.
“When nobody wanted to leave their homes, we thought this would be a way to save the business,” Ciliento said. “We thought that art was something that people needed to get through the last two years.”
Ciliento created two options for kits that both included paints, a disposable apron, a palette, a canvas and an instructor lead video.
The premium option includes paint brushes and costs $45 while the basic box that has no brushes costs $35.
“We have something for everyone, we have kids kits and then if people are looking to enjoy an adult beverage we have a box for the adults,” said Ciliento.
She believes her boxes will make a great gift for under the tree or could also make for a fun party favor during the holiday time.
“We hope people find some stress relief while painting these and it allows them to try something new,” Ciliento said. “I think everybody has creativity inside them but it just takes some coaxing to get it out.”
Boxes are sold online at thebrushbarshop.com.
The brush bar offers curbside pickup and nationwide shipping.
Earth Sugar
For Jennifer Meyers, food has been the
one thing she has always found comforting. Growing up, she had gut problems that almost took a turn for the worse.
“I’ve been suffering from gut problems since I was 7 years old and it got so bad that I was almost on a liquid diet,” she said. “I had such a fear of food and as a way of coping, I would go to the grocery store and learn about new ingredients.”
This and writing became hobbies for her.
Fresh out of college, Meyers found a job in public relations for The Grammys.
However, not long after celebrating the job, Meyers found herself at a farmer’s market and decided she felt happier shopping for produce than she had ever felt working with a handful of the world’s most accomplished musicians.
So, she quit her job and began looking for something new.
She eventually landed in research and development for a vegan company called Lavva.
It was at this job that she found her calling and decided to start her own business.
Meyers decided to get a one-way plane ticket from Brooklyn, New York to Phoenix and has not looked back since.
Her company, Earth Sugar, specializes in making raw vegan desserts and superfood confections.
“Everything is raw vegan, gluten free, paleo and hand crafted by me,” she said. “It is as natural as it comes.”
Earth Sugar currently sells three flavors
recommend taking our syrup once a day during cold and flu season if you have any symptoms,” she said. “Because our product is all natural and organic, you’re only benefiting your immune system,”
What makes her syrup so unique is the ingredients she uses.
“Each ingredient we select is specific,” said Yoder. “Everything does something different like the cinnamon helps with regulating blood sugar and the local honey helps with allergies.”
In addition to selling syrup, the Original Elderberry Company has launched the sale of gummies.
“I had been looking for two years for a way to make gummies without all the junk,” said Yoder. “I came up with gummies that are Non-GMO, vegan gluten free, USDA organic and has vitamin C and zinc.”
of cookie bark, cookies and other desserts that do not have the bloating effects other desserts have.
Ships cakes across the country.
“This is my personality in food form,” said Meyers, “I just want to bring joy to the world and this brings people happiness.”
Earth Sugar offers nationwide shipping and orders can be made at the website loveearthsugar.com.
Original Elderberry Company
Divya Yoder has always wanted to ensure the health and safety of her family.
“A couple of years ago, I was looking for a product that would boost my family’s immune system and I couldn’t find anything that didn’t have preservatives, fine sugars, glucose syrup and thickening agents,” she said. “So, I ventured out and came up with my own syrup that is made out of elderberries, salon cinnamon, fresh ginger and whole honey.”
This syrup quickly became a hit and the Original Elderberry Company was born.
Yoder’s hit eventually became such a hit that she began producing the syrup in a travel sized bottle.
Since the syrup does not have to be refrigerated, Yoder began offering it in a travel sized bottle that is TSA approved. Yoder expects to see an uptick in sales this holiday season and into the start of cold and flu season.
“In addition to getting your shots, we
Original Elderberry Company’s products can be found across the Valley and on Originalelderberryco.com
Gorgeous Things
Sara Peterson independently operates a custom fashion business out of her ‘she shed’ where she creates custom hats, sweaters, bags, face masks and denim jackets.
Her designs are one of a kind and decorated with custom patches that Peterson stitches herself or that customers bring in.
“I love it when things are personalized and I also love to tell a story on fashion,” she said. “I think fashion is more fun when it’s yours and yours alone.”
Peterson also loves the idea of people gifting items and finds it to be a source of motivation.
“Gifting is what drives me because I love to get things that I would want to give to someone else,” she said.
Her fully custom denim jackets cost around $375 but she does have cheaper items like face masks, hats and headbands which cost around $30.
For custom items, Peterson does have a long lead time and as a result she does sell ready to wear items on her website.
For those looking to get a custom denim jacket, they must make an appointment to meet with Peterson at her ‘she shed’ where she can consult with customers see SHOP LOCAL page 6
Yvette Ramos and Melissa Magallanez own Time To Eat Arizona, a new kind of delivery service that aims to be better serve restaurants and their patrons. (David Minton/Staff Photographer)
SHOP LOCAL from page 5
about their designs.
She also offers gift certificates. To place an order or obtain more information visit shopgorgeousthings.com.
Remedy Salon and Spa
Remedy Salon and Spa owner Michelle Keoghan recently launched new services, including airbrush tanning and artisan sculpting, but what customers can take home from her business adds is a holiday bonus.
Remedy Salon and Spa expects to see an increase in sales of its custom gift sets, which vary in pricing from $30, $50, and $100 based on the size of the sets.
Each box comes with skincare items and hair care products and an extra surprise. Additionally, each gift box is decorated with sparkly ornaments and other aesthetic items.
“I advise getting a gift box and dissecting it because there is something free in there you can take for yourself,” Keoghan joked.
Some boxes come pre-loaded with goodies or customers can create their own boxes.
“We curated and sourced luxury and sustainable products. We have a lot of products in the salon that are made by local women as well,” Keoghan said.
While the products are unique in their own respective ways, Keoghan believes that what makes the boxes special is the efforts her staff goes to make sure the boxes look like a gift.
“We’re always trying to make everything like a gift year-round,” she said.
Info: Remedysalonandspa.com
Sara Peterson creates custom clothing out of her ‘she shed’ and creates custom hats, sweaters, bags, face masks and denim jackets. (David Minton/Staff Photographer)
Time to Eat Arizona
After being frustrated with the way they witnessed other delivery services treating customers and how much money restaurants sacrificed to third-party delivery services, Melissa Magallanez and her friend Yvette Ramos decided to take matters into their own hands.
“We saw the way that other third-party delivery services took so many profits from the restaurants that were already struggling and that they didn’t seem to care about the consumers,” Magallanez said. “We thought ‘why not do it right,’ delivery should be a convenience and not a negative thing on both ends.”
From there the two launched Time To Eat Arizona, a service that focuses on supporting local restaurants by providing
delivery at a lower cost to the restaurants and providing first class customer service.
“Our drivers focus on giving a good product and focus on giving a good product and represent the brand and the restaurant,” Magallanez said.
The two also pride themselves on their constant presence within the business.
“With other big corporations, if there is a problem you won’t get through to the owners or anyone for that matter,” said Magallanez. “With us, we’re always there either running the dispatch or checking on our drivers, we’re going to make sure things are right.”
With most people about to spend their days out shopping for gifts, Magallanez and Ramos want to take the stress out of preparing a meal by taking the stress out
of delivering food.
Time to Eat has a website and a mobile app that customers can place their orders on. Additionally, a couple of the company’s partnered restaurants have a link to Time To Eat Arizona on its websites.
“We hope people give us a try especially because around the holidays there is an effort to support local businesses,” Magallanez said. “I hope that during that time, people will think of us and use us as a local aspect.”
Information Timetoeataz.com
Tortilla Flat
Tortilla Flat not only offers holiday gifts for sale but this beloved Arizona landmark also offers a rich history and famous chili at the Superstition Restaurant & Saloon.
The authentic Western town is also home to a mercantile filled with items that make fantastic gifts for everyone in your life. Some of the best-loved items include new stuffed animals in familiar desert-inspired shapes like cacti, Smokey the Bear and rattlesnakes, which make cuddly gifts for kids and adults alike.
Jewelry lovers will love the wire art jewelry crafted by local artist Netty Riggs as well as stunning stone pieces also crafted by a local artist, Sam Chavis.
For those shopping for interior design and art lovers, Tortilla Flat offers Native American-inspired art by Sharon Gilbertson as well as geometric pottery produced by Arizona artist Livinnia Boschenstein.
Tortilla Flat is also a must-visit shopping destination for Arizona-inspired books, souvenir t-shirts, magnets and much more Tortilla Flat’s mercantile also serves as a village post office.
Information: tortillaflataz.com. ■
Number 1 in the nation for traditions was Atlanta while North Las Vegas took last place. Gilbert also ranked sixth in a sideline category for most pumpkin patches per capita.
Scottsdale still came out ahead of the rest of Arizona communities on another set of metrics that measured affordability. That category took into account the number of affordable restaurants, cost of Thanksgiving dinner and the lowest rate for a three-star hotel room.
the survey by landing a ranking nationally of 15th. Mesa and Tucson pulled 37th and 38th place, respectively, while Chandler ranked 45th, Glendale was at 60th and Gilbert a surprise 72nd.
Mesa also got dinged by being among the five cities in the nation with the lowest number of holiday decorations stores.
The most affordable Thanksgiving in the nation, WalletHub reported, is in San Antonio, Texas, while people Hialeah, Florida pulled up dead last.
delays.
On that score, no Arizona community made the top 10, which was led by Madison, Wisconsin, in first place. Among the 100 cities surveyed, St. Louis, Missouri, was deemed the least safe and accessible.
Gilbert ranked the highest among Arizona communities in this category, but only at 28th nationally. It’s all downhill from there with Scottsdale in 49th place, Chandler in 51st, Mesa in 65th, Glendale 77th and Tucson pulling last in Arizona at number 80.
the School of Hospitality and Tourism Management at Oklahoma State University, suggested any where people can “get outside and enjoy the great outdoors.”
Bob Castaneda of the College of Management and Technology at Walden University said an important factor was “an atmosphere of celebrating the Thanksgiving holiday with events occurring throughout the city.
While Scottsdale ranked 9th for affordability, Phoenix grabbed second place among Arizona communities included in
And Professor Unnati Narang at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign said, “The top indicators for where to go should be your personal preferences, goals, and budget for the travel and how they align with what the destinations have to offer.” ■ BEST from page 1
The last category taken into account by the website involved safety and accessibility factors – such as crime and vaccination rates, pedestrian and DUI-related fatalities, traffic congestion and flight
WalletHub also asked five educators about how they view the best places to spend Thanksgiving.
Stacy Tomas, an assistant professor in
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Lovebirds have adapted to Arizona’s harsher temperatures
BY OLIVIA DOW Cronkite News
Rosy-faced lovebirds bring a splash of color to the Arizona desert, with neon green feathers and vibrant peach faces. The nonnative birds, which first appeared in Arizona about 40 years ago, have learned how to use human innovation to keep cool when temperatures soar.
Their ability to survive in Arizona is linked to urban development, according to a recent study at Arizona State University. For example, lovebirds on the Tempe campus began perching in air-conditioning vents that leak cool air.
Kevin Mcgraw and Raegan Mills spent a year studying the birds’ behavior and perching patterns at the Life Sciences Building. The research showed the birds often spent time in the vents when their temperature threshold hit upper limits.
“There’s a threshold once it certainly gets into the mid to high 90s that things start to get difficult for the lovebirds to cope,” McGraw said. “I think they need water and they need to cool down. The birds basically are standing in the window vents and just getting a cool breeze.”
According to McGraw and Mill’s research, there were more lovebirds in the vents when the temperature reached 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit or higher. During summer months, the National Weather Service says, Phoenix averages about 95 degrees, but temperatures frequently spike well into the 100s.
Mills said they proved that the surfaces
where the birds perched were cool, and that the birds visited most frequently on “really hot” days.
“It was really fascinating to look at why specifically they were there, and (we) assumed that it was because they were getting some sort of benefit from the HVAC,” Mills said.
History of rosy-faced lovebirds in Arizona Rosy-faced lovebirds (Agapornis roseicollis) are small, chirpy, gregarious parrots originally from Southwest Africa. How they came to flourish in metro Phoenix is something of an urban legend. Researchers and bird watchers have varying accounts, but most agree these birds at one point were pets and somehow escaped or were released. No one can say for sure.
Mark Larson, the president of the Maricopa Audubon Society, said lovebirds have expanded their populations throughout the Valley since the 1980s, but they’re unevenly distributed in small colonies.
McGraw said it appears the lovebirds have expanded their range but remain close to human development.
“They are fairly restricted to the city lim-
its, and it looks like they’re heavily reliant on consistently available water, so water is key,” he said, adding that lovebirds can be seen at the fountain in front of Old Main.
Average temperatures in Arizona have risen more than 3 degrees Fahrenheit since 1970, according to Climate Central, and it’s considered one of the fastest-warming cities in the nation. In addition, long term drought continues, and both trends threaten rosy-faced lovebirds.
“As the water crisis continues, Colorado River restrictions, kind of the downstream effects on us and wildlife, certainly could directly hit the lovebirds,” McGraw said. “The water crisis could have a negative impact on the birds, but it might in turn benefit some other organisms if there aren’t as many lovebirds.”
According to the U.S. Drought Monitor, 34 percent of Arizona is in severe or exceptional drought. Lake Powell, which supplies much of Arizona with water, reached critically low levels earlier this year, as did Lake Mead further downstream.
Scientists like McGraw are concerned if the lovebirds continue to expand their
population, they could become an invasive species. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service describes an invasive species as one that’s nonnative and capable of causing economic damage or harming human health or the environment.
“They’re beautiful in a lot of ways, but they also potentially could do some harm,” McGraw said. “I think there’s a little bit of circumstantial evidence that they can out-compete native species for certain nesting habitats. They’ll certainly feed at certain feeders that might displace other smaller, more shy birds.”
Studying the lovebirds was “a call to action” for Mills, to look at the impact of climate change on both nonnative and native animals. Mills said as the climate changes “we are completely changing” the environment for the species that live in it.
“As the climate continues to change the way that it is, we are pushing all sorts of species to interact with us in ways that they would never have before,” Mills said. Mills is a genetic and developmental biology major, but the lovebirds were the “highlight” of the day when Mills worked on the study, observing the birds outside. Mills said people have a responsibility to the lovebirds because we introduced them into Arizona.
“Not to say that we don’t also have a responsibility to wildlife that was indigenous to that area but there’s a certain kind of responsibility that we have to them because they are in such a huge part reliant on us to continue being around,” Mills said. ■
Buying your child a phone? Here’s some advice
BY DEREK JACKSON Guest Writer
You probably would rather I tell you about the best way to stop your child from wanting a smartphone so you wouldn’t have to figure out which one to buy, and you’d no longer have the worry about that impending day when they get that phone, dive into social media, and everything changes.
But unfortunately, that’s impossible. Children want phones at younger ages every year, so it’s better that you buckle up and prepare yourself for the joy of this
next phase.
Instead, here are some simple tips on what NOT to do when thinking through this decision: Don’t avoid bringing up the conversation about social media or pretend like nothing is going to change; don’t throw them into the deep end when they are first learning to swim; don’t handcuff and limit them so that they can’t learn and experience on their own.
Your child will eventually get access to a smartphone and social media, so it’s better that you start teaching them how to be responsible early.
One of the best ways that you can nur-
ture your child’s ideas at an early age is by giving them lots of opportunities for creative play and exploration. The more your child plays creatively now, the more likely it is that he or she will become an innovative adult later.
Yet, when it comes to giving kids access to a smartphone, the most popular advice suggests screen time limitation, extreme structure and blocking certain apps and sites. In my mind, that means that the less your child has the freedom to try and fail on social media, the less likely it is that he or she will be able to handle the pressures and freedom that
the internet can offer. What you need to do instead:
• Bring up social media ASAP. Ask about it. Show genuine curiosity about the apps that their friends use. Ask them about what they would do if one of their friends asked them for a nude picture. You need to be the one that introduces them to the kinds of things that can happen and talk about a response that involves you.
• Choose a phone that gives you access, not control. You need to understand what is going on so that you can show
see PHONES page 16
Rosy-faced lovebirds are small, noisy, gregarious parrots originally from Southwest Africa, with neon green feathers and vibrant peach faces. (Courtesy of Samantha Lloyd)
Burros help Arizona mining towns keep their history
BY NICK ZELLER-SINGH Cronkite News
Afew hours before high noon, about 80 competitors – in this case, donkeys – strolled through Main Street in Superior before wandering over to nearby old mining trails. Around 1,000 human fans lined up along the dusty avenue, cheering the animals as they went hoof-to-hoof in either 3-, 6or 12-mile races.
And once again, the Superior Burro Run was off. Nearly all the competitors walked alongside their donkeys through the historic Arizona town while also learning about the ancient ways of mining.
It’s a tradition that has been around for decades. Burros were introduced into the Southwestern United States in the 1500s. Commonly known as donkeys, the hard-working animals played a huge role in mining and exploring. They carried the miners’ tools, hauled resources collected from the mines and much more.
However, by the late 1940s, following World Wars I and II, the demand for ore
Burro racing is one way that mining communities can acknowledge their history throughout Arizona. (Nick Zeller-Singh/Cronkite News)
was low and mining communities were dying. With the towns on the brink of disappearing, the remaining residents looked to find a niche way to breathe life back into the mining burgs that were sprinkled across America’s West.
In 1949, Leadville and Fairplay, two
the setup in Arizona.
“Everyone seems very excited to have such a new event here,” Brodeur said. “Some of the Colorado races have been going on for 70 years and are very established. But, with the sport being so new in Arizona, it seems to excite the community.”
Since the sport has a small following, many communities and organizations work together to keep the excitement flowing.
“At times, burro racing is a dying sport,” Lee said. “We have (been) encouraged to keep the sport alive by working with the communities and make sure the races happen.”
Besides building communities in the mining towns, burro racing builds communities within the sport.
towns in Colorado, introduced a new professional sport: pack burro racing. Bill Lee, a 72-year-old racer from Colorado, said it helped lure tourists from major cities and boosted the local economy.
Some 70 years later, Arizona jumped on the idea. In the last few years, burro racing has taken place in Superior, Black Canyon City and Tombstone. In the Arizona races, tourists are not the only source of income. At the Superior Burro Run, the event featured competitors from California to Georgia.
Although every human competitor comes with different experience levels, they share the same passion for keeping the tradition alive.
“The history of burro racing is one of the coolest aspects because we run through old mining camps,” said Jon Roberts, a racer from Colorado who competed in the 12mile Superior race Oct. 23. “It is a part of our history and you get to be a part of that because these animals were a part of it.”
Joe Polonsky and Roland Brodeur joined Roberts as the competitive Colorado crew. After experiencing Colorado’s history with the sport, they wanted to expand their burro racing horizon into new mining towns.
“I did the Superior race two years ago because I’ve never competed in Arizona before and wanted to,” Polonsky said. “We wanted to come down and see the new race course and meet the new race director and compete.”
Brodeur, who also competed in the 12mile race in Superior, was impressed with
“It is something so unique and people love it,” said Shane Weigand, who works in media relations for the Western Burro Pack Association. “Since it is a pretty small sport, you see the same people and get to reconnect with them.”
As burro racing brings a variety of competitors and spectators to mining towns, burro organizations have the perfect opportunity to spread their message. The Burros Rock Arizona & Yonder (BRAY) Club used the Superior race as a chance to spread its mission: to advocate, showcase, promote and educate about burros.
The organization, said BRAY board member Kelly Smith, saw the Superior Burro Run as an avenue to teach about and have fun with donkeys. Founded during the pandemic, BRAY’s game plan to spread awareness worked well in the Superior race.
Burro racing relies on a strong partnership between the human and animal. Although humans do not ride the donkeys during the race, their relationship with each other is unique.
Burros are similar to other domesticated animals in that they are able to sense when a human is not feeling well, Lee said. If the burro realizes its human partner is not 100 percent, it will stop putting effort in the race and instead turn its attention and affection toward its owner.
Since the race is a 50/50 effort, humans and their burros must be on the same page.
“It is a challenge because it is a potato sack race with your race partner,” Brodeur said. “Only when you and your donkey are
Terre Steed brings color to ‘Rocky Horror’
BY ANNIKA TOMLIN Staff Writer
Hair and makeup are essential components for a colorful theater production. Terre Steed is the mastermind behind or slew of hair and makeup creations for Phoenix Theatre most recently for the musical “The Rocky Horror Show.” He also plays the keys for the show as well.
“Our director, Robbie Harper, the story that he wanted to tell with this production especially given the climate that we have politically regarding gender and what that means, we wanted to show that these aliens, the characters of Frank N. Furter, Magenta and Riff Raff, gender is a construct — they don’t have gender,” Steed said about the show that plays until Dec. 5.
“Brad and Janet are coming into this story with their 1950s gender norms and then have all of those preconceived ideas of what gender is blown apart in a very aggressive way of course. For ‘Rocky,’ it’s all about makeup, wigs and rock ‘n’ roll and I feel like it is such unlike a lot of other shows because
a lot of the story depends on strong hair and makeup concepts to pull that whole nongender thing across.”
Steed has been a hair and makeup designer for Phoenix Theatre for more than 15 years. He started as an apprentice that required a kick line of chorus girls to have the exact same wig.
“They hired me to come in and style 14 identical wigs,” Steed explains. “After that show closed, I get a call like three days later and they’re like ‘We want you to design our production of “Picnic”’ and so I think I did two or three shows that season and then it just kept going.”
He is involved in six to nine shows per season.
“Usually they have me do, like I don’t get to do the 30 person cast shows because I’m just me,” Steed said. “Anything usually that has drag I get to do because I was a female impersonator when I was in college. Anything with drag or anything with fun or glitter.”
Steed said he also works on “based on a true story” productions that call for him to recreate an actor as a real-life person. For most productions, he and the director have creative control over the hair and makeup looks.
“Other shows where the director or the costume designer because technically in theater hair and makeup fall under the umbrella of costumes, that they have a very specific idea about things and it has to look a certain way and sometimes my artistic input has to go in the backseat,” Steed said.
“I’m just there to give them on paper what they are seeing in their head. That is very rare that that happens because usually when
see ROCKY page 18
The Phoenix Theatre’s presentation of “Rocky Horror Picture Show” includes all the zany characters from the cult classic. (Courtesy Phoenix Theatre)
BLACK FRIDAY
ting in this space right now with this little boy. I would absolutely adopt him, but I also want his mom to be successful in getting him back.”
Calls to Arizona Department of Child Safety’s abuse and neglect hotline have spiked 25 percent in the last six months. At present, there are 13,790 youth in Arizona’s foster care system – but there are only 3,292 licensed foster homes.
PHONES from page 8
that you are interested and care. It’s not about turning the phone off. It’s about seeing the content they interact with, the context of where they see it and why they like it, and understanding the connections they make with people you know or potentially complete strangers.
BURROS from page 10
having great days and communicating, will you be able to go anywhere.”
Besides having a partner carry the load, the race is different because it helps boost the donkey’s productivity. Burros, Lee said,
It’s also the lowest number of licensed homes in DCS’ history.
“We are working urgently to recruit more foster care providers to bring safety and stability for Arizona’s most vulnerable children,” said AZ DCS Director Mike Faust. “Many people in our community have wondered about foster care. They want to make a difference, but they’re not sure they’re a good fit or don’t know where to start.”
Adults ages 21 to 70+ can become licensed to provide foster care. Many young
• Ultimately, give them the freedom to fall down but be there to pick them up without them having to ask you for it. It will cement your bond, increase their trust for you, and keep the connection you crave. But the only way that is possible is to be involved in a non-judgmental and non-controlling way.
Regardless of what you choose to do,
are the best pound-for-pound working animal until their final day. Recently, Lee saw one of his donkeys prove this theory in a spectacular manner.
“I have a donkey named Blaster,” Lee said. “He is a 32-year-old miniature, which is getting old for a donkey. For a
professionals, empty nesters and everyone in between have homes to share and love to give.
Kids enter foster care through no fault of their own. They are placed in care because their biological parents or legal guardians are unable to care for them safely.
The purpose of a foster home is to provide a loving place for children to learn and grow while their parents do the work that’s needed to create a safe home environment.
it’s imperative that you are involved. This is the only way your child will learn how to be responsible for themselves online now with you, or else they will have to learn on their own later when they become an adult.
The best thing you can do is teach them about the risks associated with social media so that they know what
quarter of a century, he was the official mascot for the Colorado School of Mines, but they decided to retire him. Ironically, just after the announcement was made, Blaster won a burro race.”
Although Blaster did not compete in Arizona, he and the other burros look to
“All children need a safe place to learn from their mistakes and gain new skills to use in their future,” said Faust. “They need someone to ask about their school day, wish them a happy birthday and check up on their homework.”
For children who are unable to reunite with their parents, DCS works to connect them with loving, adoptive families.
For more information about foster care, calling 877-543-7633 or visit AZDCS.gov/foster. ■
to expect. You must show genuine curiosity, ask them about uncomfortable topics, and give them access with your involvement.
Derek Jackson is the CTO and Co-Founder of Cyber Dive, which created the �irst, fully monitored smartphone for kids called The Aqua One. Information: cyberdive.co/aqua-one ■
continue the historical sport in the desert for years to come.
“It’s a cool way to pay homage to Arizona’s history,” Weigand said. “A lot of these Western states were started on mining and they used burros for that. It is great to continue their heritage.” ■
IWith JAN D’ATRI
AFN Contributor
For that leftover turkey, try brodo
t’s soothing, it’s simple and boy do we welcome it after a week of holiday binging.
The Italian name for one of the favorite sipping soups of all time is “brodo” or broth.
You probably have most everything you need in your refrigerator to make a big pot of panacea including leftover turkey and maybe some celery, carrots and onion from your stu ng recipe. If you can add a couple of rutabagas, some leeks, a few bay leaves and a squeeze of lemon, you won’t believe how delicious this pot of soup will be.
If you ask my family, they’ll tell you that I make a pretty decent Brodo–especially with leftover turkey parts or better yet, the carcass of a Thanksgiving tur-
Ingredients for the broth
2-3 pounds leftover turkey pieces
2 stalks celery, cut in chunks
2 large carrots, washed, peeled and cut into chunks
1 large onion, quartered
2 rutabagas, cut in half
2 leeks, cut in chunks
3 bay leaves
juice squeezed from 1/2 of a lemon
1 quart chicken broth
2-3 chicken or beef bouillons (if needed for flavor) enough water to cover above ingredients, plus about 2-3 inches more (in a large pot)
salt and pepper to taste
Directions for the broth
Place above ingredients in a large soup pot and bring to boil. Turn down heat and simmer the soup for about 1 1/2 hours. Once the broth is cooked, remove turkey parts to cool down. Strain vegetables and discard. Serve broth alone or make turkey meatballs.
for the Turkey meatballs
Preheat oven to 375 degrees. When turkey from the soup is cool enough to touch, carefully remove all bones and gristle. In a food processor, pulse the turkey so it is chopped fine but not pasty. In a me-
ROCKY from page 12
people hire me for a show, they know what they are getting — I’m fairly opinionated.”
Outside of Phoenix Theatre, Steed has worked for the former Nearly Naked Theatre, as well as other theaters across the Valley. Steed also owns a hair salon called Fairest of All at Bethany Home on Seventh Street because he is “obsessed with Disney and the Evil Queen is my hero.”
“I was always super obsessed with such things and then I started getting into theater in early high school and they were always needing someone to do the makeup.”
His first role was for a church production where he played an 80-year-old woman and used his “mom’s eyebrow pencils and all that stuff” to create the illusion of being that character.
key. I’ve tweaked my recipe through the years, and, at least for now, this is my favorite variation. So after this last week of feasting, make a big pot of Brodo. It’ll sooth your tummy and feed your soul. ■
for the Turkey meatballs
boiled turkey from soup/broth
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 large onion, chopped fine
3 cloves garlic, minced or chopped fine
3 eggs
1 1/2 cups breadcrumbs
1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1 heaping tablespoon fresh parsley
1 cup chicken broth, from soup
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon pepper
1 cup breadcrumbs (for rolling meatballs in)
dium pan, sauté onions and garlic in olive oil until translucent, about 5-6 minutes.
Cool down. In a large bowl, mix together the chopped turkey, sautéed onions and garlic, eggs, breadcrumbs, cheese, parsley, soup broth, salt and pepper. Mix ingredients well with hands or large spoon. Roll turkey mixture into balls, either small or large. Roll the balls around in the breadcrumbs to coat. Gently grease a baking sheet. Place turkey balls on baking sheet and bake for about 25 minutes if large, about 15 minutes if turkey balls are small. Drop turkey balls into broth. Add pasta like Orzo or Acini di Pepe, cooking according to package instructions. ■
While Steed is aware that Frank N. Furter as one of the main characters requires a well thought out hair and makeup design, Frank was not his top favorite character to design.
“I think for this show, personally, Frank is a great character because he is the lead but I think my favorite character makeup-wise for this show is Magenta,” Steed said.
“My dear friend Lynzee Foreman is playing the role of Magenta and my inspiration, the costume designer her name is Maci (Hosler), they based a lot of the costumes on post-pop-punk Britain. It’s very much in line with ‘Cruella’ with the plaids, stripes and leather.”
Steed said that the costumes are reminiscent of the ’80s “London post-punk fashion.”
“When I was designing the characters the image that came to mind immediately when I thought of Magenta and thought of that era in mind was Siouxsie Sioux from Siouxsie and the Banshees,” Steed said.
“She is very much getting to make one of my friends look like Siouxsie Sioux, who is a personal hero of mine from the ’80s. As a progressive female rocker, she is a badass. I loved doing her design.”
Steed grew up as a teen in the ’80s idolizing people such as Boy George and Duran Duran.
“All the boys who wore lots of makeup,” said Steed, who attended Trevor G. Brown High School in Tolleson.
With an art background, Steed had plans to follow a career in theater going to Phoenix and Glendale Community colleges to major in the field. Ultimately, he decided that “the only thing that you can do with a degree in theater is teach it” and that he wanted to do something else.
“(I got) my cosmetology license because it pays better, way more work and less extra time,” Steed said. “My idea was never to work in a salon.”
He planned to stay in theater as an actor and musician as well. Years later he still enjoys what he does.
Steed said he enjoys “just the transformative power of makeup in particular, I consider myself a makeup artist first and a hairdresser second.
“But just when you can see someone and watch the change in their face, they can see someone that they didn’t think that they could be. The person that they always thought that they were inside they get to see on the outside whether because they don’t have the skill or the time or they have just been afraid.” ■
If You Go...
“The Rocky Horror Show”
When: Various times, until Dec. 5
Where: Phoenix Theatre, 1825 N. Central Ave., Phoenix Cost: $44-$94
Info: phoenixtheatre.com
Terre Steed is the mastermind behind the vast array of makeup and hairdos in “Rocky,” including that of Dr. Frankenfurther, played by Šime Košta. (Courtesy Phoenix Theatre)
Blazing the trail for female play-by-play callers
BY GABRIELLE DUCHARME Cronkite News
Handle the moment.
That was the thought running through Lisa Byington’s mind as she prepared to call the NCAA Men’s Division I Basketball Tournament for Turner Sports last March.
Byington made history as the first woman to call a March Madness game – an achievement that might have seemed improbable just a decade ago – and she handled the moment that No. 14-seed Abilene Christian celebrated a stunning victory over third-seeded Texas by doing something that few broadcasters are willing to do: she fell silent.
“I literally pushed myself away from the broadcast table,” Byington said. “We call it ‘laying out’ and that means literally not saying anything, because the pictures tell everything.”
Months later, Byington broke through another barrier when the Milwaukee Bucks named her the first full-time female television play-by-play voice for a men’s professional sports team.
Shortly after that, broadcaster Kate Scott was named lead play-by-play announcer for the Philadelphia 76ers.
The two busted through a glass ceiling women have butted up against for years while trying to advance in sports broadcasting. And nobody watched with more interest than Ann Meyers Drysdale, who has busted through a few glass ceilings herself.
Meyers Drysdale was the first woman to ever earn an athletic scholarship to play basketball at UCLA in 1974, just two years after Title IX was ratified in 1972. The Indiana Pacers signed her to a $50,000 training camp contract in 1979 and gave her a tryout, another first.
And following her playing career, Meyers Drysdale became a trailblazer in the broadcasting booth, too.
She served as an analyst on men’s and women’s basketball broadcasts in the Olympics, WNBA, NBA, and NCAA for the likes of ESPN and NBC since the 1970s.
Now, she serves as a vice president and broadcast analyst for the Phoenix Suns and Mercury.
Broadcasters such as Meyers Drysdale, Scott and Byington are used to the challenges that come with being a woman in a predominantly male industry.
For Byington, it was no different with the Bucks.
When she interviewed for the job, Byington made sure to turn one interview question back to the organization. They asked her how she would handle the moment of being the first woman to be the voice of an NBA team.
“I kind of put it back on them. And I said, ‘How are you guys gonna handle it? It’s new for you, for Milwaukee, for the NBA. It’s new for everybody else except for the person you’re asking how you’re going to handle it,’” Byington said.
Meyers Drysdale’s biography is full of accomplishments that paved the way for talented broadcasters like Byington. But Meyers Drysdale is quick to credit others who came before her as well as those that she has worked alongside.
“I worked with Robin Roberts, and Mi-
works as a play-by-play announcer and sideline reporter for the Pac-12 Networks and WNBA covering women’s and men’s basketball, college football, and softball.
During the NBA offseason, she interviewed with the Philadelphia 76ers and Sacramento Kings for their open play-byplay positions.
Like Byington, Brunson turned one question back on the organization when she interviewed.
“Some of the folks at the Sixers and at the Kings were like, ‘Well, how do you think you’re going to handle this,’” Brunson said. “(I said) ‘I believe in what I’ve got going for me. How are you going to handle it? Because you’re going to get the blowback. I’ve been told all my life, I can’t. And I just keep pushing and succeeding.’”
chele Tafoya,” Meyers Drysdale said. “I’ve worked with Pam Ward. Beth Mowins has done play-by-play in football just like Ward. We’ve got a lot of women that are doing play-by-play that are qualified.”
Meyers Drysdale was a broadcaster on the first WNBA game in 1997 alongside Hannah Storm. She also served on the first NBA game to feature two female analysts alongside Stephanie Ready.
She always handled the moment – especially the ones that shattered those glass ceilings.
Meyers Drysdale never planned on carving out a legacy in broadcasting, but longtime play-by-play voice and former SportsCenter anchor Cindy Brunson feels the impact Meyers Drysdale had on her every day. She showed Brunson what was possible.
“She’s like Billie Jean King in that respect. She doesn’t want the road with her at the end of it,” Brunson said. “She wants it to keep going for everybody.”
Brunson lives in Arizona with her husband Steve Berthiaume, who serves as the television play-play broadcast announcer for the Arizona Diamondbacks. Brunson
Brunson did not receive an offer for the positions, but she opened the eyes of team executives to a far bigger conversation on female representation in a male-dominated industry – a conversation which makes many people wonder why it took until 2021 for women like Byington and Scott to get their break.
Brunson made it clear that, while she might not be one of the first women to break the barrier, she won’t be the last, either. “When I interviewed with the Sixers, I said, ‘Look, it’s not just me in the car,’” Brunson said. “(I said) ‘Everybody in the backseat looks like me, and they’re younger than me. And I’m driving them down the road.’”
Byington has a simple goal for future generations in the play-by-play space.
“I would say I hope that one day a female voice on a men’s game becomes background noise,” Byington said.
At the moment, Byington and Scott are more than background noise because they are the first women in the play-by-play space for major men’s pro sports. But, Drysdale knows from experience that just getting there isn’t enough.
“We do not have to just be grateful that we’re at the table, we have to own the table, too,” Drysdale said. “We have to make sure that we are part of the conversation, and that our voice matters.” ■
Ann Meyers Drysdale was a broadcaster on the first WNBA game in 1997 and also worked on the first NBA game to feature two female analysts. (Kevin Hurley/Cronkite News)
ZooLights returns with 3 different experiences
BY CONNOR DZIAWURA Staff Writer
Thirty years in, ZooLights has become something of an annual tradition. Each year, as winter approaches and the weather begins to cool, the popular production returns, attracting families from around the Valley to celebrate the holidays by seeing Phoenix Zoo in a new light.
Presented by SRP, the seasonal display of lights returns to the zoo beginning at 5:30 p.m. most days from Nov. 24 to Jan. 15 in its traditional walk-thru format, with special dates slated for drive-thru and sensory-friendly versions. Tickets must be purchased online in advance.
And its scale is “massive,” according to ZooLights supervisor Justin Davis.
“It’s almost our entire zoo except for our Children’s Trail,” Davis said. “So, I mean, it’s a pretty massive footprint that we have. We’re probably in the realm of about 3 million lights now, like just with everything that we do with our trees, with our armatures, our specialty lights.”
Davis describes the millions of colorful LED lights and hundreds of displays and armatures as a mix of new and old. In addition to fan-favorite lit animal sculptures like lions, tigers and the dinosaur Fran, he said Phoenix Zoo is introducing a herd of 12 buffaloes.
Other new critters attendees can check out include two “oversized” black widows as well as an oversized ant colony with four ants and an ant hill.
Designed by artist Russell Ronat, 13 illuminated mixed-media paintings of endangered species are special this year. Featuring an elephant, hawksbill sea turtle, Amur leopard, Bornean orangutan, wolf and Bali mynah, among others, the pieces are part of Ronat’s Project Holocene, an international traveling art exhibition to bring attention and funding to wild animal conservation.
Though some of the pieces are prints of Ronat’s previous creations, Davis said others were made custom for the zoo.
“He made prints of them and then he went in and used different mediums, like different types of paints and varnishes and lacquers and pencil, all different mediums so if you come during the day and see the portrait or the picture, it’s really pretty. It’s great, but then if you were to
come back at night, it’s like it’s almost a whole different picture because it’s illuminated from the backside of it,” he explains.
The Wildlife Lantern Safari, returning this year with an estimated 60 or more glowing lanterns, adds another element.
“They’re like Chinese lanterns, so they have a light skin on them, and then they go through — it’s actually a third party that does that — and they do airbrush work on it,” Davis explained.
“They actually do a really good job, and some of them are massive. They’re really cool. They just kind of help switch it up.”
Two Music-in-Motion Light Shows, which Davis said will include the music of the Trans-Siberian Orchestra, will also keep the seasonal mood going.
“And now what that is, is around our main lake, after you walk in, we have a gi-
ant globe and then 11 pillars in the middle of the lake, and then all the trees that are around the lake are wrapped and then they all synced by a computer to dance along with the music that’s playing,” Davis explains.
Families can see these sights and more through the regular Walk-Thru ZooLights or the drive-thru Cruise ZooLights. The latter was a new addition last year, due to the pandemic. And seeing as it was a success, according to Davis, the zoo decided to do it again with limited dates, though more could be added with demand.
Foot traffic will be closed for Cruise ZooLights nights, which also won’t have the Music-in-Motion Light Shows. Davis said drivers can tune their radios to a station synced to the displays, or they can roll down their windows to hear the music playing throughout the zoo.
“We still want to give that as an option because our ZooLights trails have grown so much over the last year or two that the elderly or very young children, they don’t want to have to walk the entire trail,” Davis explains. “So, we did make Cruise ZooLights an option still this year for those who don’t want to walk, but we are mostly back to walking.”
Along the way at ZooLights this season, vendors will remain open so guests can warm up with hot cocoa or enjoy snacks or other concessions.
“The biggest thing about ZooLights is it’s a very tradition-based thing,” Davis said. “A lot of our guests are return guests because it’s just become a holiday tradition for them.” ■
If You Go...
What: ZooLights
Where: Phoenix Zoo, 455 N. Galvin Pkwy., Phoenix
When: Various times Nov. 24-Jan. 15
Cost: Walk-Thru/Sensory-Friendly ZooLights: $20 general admission per person, $16 per zoo member, free for children 2 and younger. Cruise: $75 general admission per vehicle, $60 per zoo member vehicle
Millions of colorful LED lights and hundreds of displays and armatures offer a mix of new and old at the Phoenix Zoo’s ZooLights show. (Special to the Tribune)
The lights at the zoo have been a popular Valley holiday attraction for 30 years. (Special to the Tribune)
ZooLights makes for a massive footprint, encompassing most of the zoo. (Special to the Tribune)
