July 11, 2012 • Vol. 10, No.27
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Anthem • Black Canyon City • Carefree • Cave Creek • Desert Hills • New River • N. Phoenix • Tramonto
Kozacek moves on to North Valley Symphony
Black Canyon City Fire honors samaritans MARC BUCKHOUT MANAGING EDITOR
MARC BUCKHOUT MANAGING EDITOR
It was simply time to move on for Kevin Kozacek. After serving for nine years with ProMusica Arizona, Kozacek stepped down following the last concert of the season in May. Not interested in getting into the details of the split, the founding Artistic Director for ProMusica said he and the group’s management simply no longer saw eye-to-eye. “I think saying artistic differences is fair. They had a different vision of what they wanted to do,” he said. “It happens all the time with all sorts of different groups. When you’re not in sync it’s not good for either side.” While he was unsure what his next move might be, the answer presented itself in short order as a number of musicians from ProMusica decided to branch out on their own and start a new group, North Valley Symphony Orchestra, one they asked Kozacek to lead as the Music Director. “We have a core group with more than 270 years of orchestra music experience,” Kozacek said. “I’m excited to try something different. It’s always fun to start a
SYMPHONY
continued on page 5
Inside:
Marc Buckhout/The Foothills Focus
The Black Canyon City Fire Department honored Deidre McCarthy and Salvatore Muscarella during a ceremony Saturday. The two carried Boyd Smith to safety during a fire on May 18.
When Black Canyon City’s Dee Dee Smith arrived at the Maricopa County’s Arizona Burn Center in the early hours of May 18 she remembers being told she should consider signing a do not resuscitate form. While she said her husband, Boyd Smith, was only being given a 20 percent chance of survival after receiving second and third degree burns to 90 percent of his body Dee Dee wasn’t about to give up on her husband. “I told them to do whatever they needed to do. I knew he was going to make it,” Dee Dee said. “I have faith in God and
also in the will of my husband.” Some seven weeks after being hospitalized, having undergone more than 15 different surgeries and multiple skin grafts, Boyd is still fighting. Perhaps odds don’t apply to the 56-year-old Black Canyon City man who was born with only one fully formed limb. “His parents never treated him differently,” Dee Dee said. “They let him grow up like a normal kid and he never thought of himself as anything but.” On Saturday at Black Canyon City Fire Department both those
SAMARITANS
continued on page 10
Bulls are set for return to Cave Creek
STAFF REPORT
The Running of the Bulls Festival will return to Cave Creek Oct. 20 with seven bull runs scheduled as 1,200 – 1,500 pound animals will run the .25 mile track along with thrill seekers. Last year’s event, which took place Oct. 14 – 16, drew more than 5,000 spectators and more than 1,000 participants, who ran from 21 bulls. The fourth Running of the Bulls Festival in America hosted in Cave Creek, made history as people from around the world turned out to watch or participate in America’s twist on a 400 year old Spanish tradition. An awards ceremony hosted by Judge, Miss Rodeo Arizona
Audrey Hall, and Event Director, Phil Immordino, took place the final evening of the three-day festival. Awards were given out for Best Costume (Thing 1 and Thing 2) and for Best Wipe Out (San Diego native Patrick Richards). The first National Bull Run Champion title and $500 cash prize award went to Justin Kufahl, a seasoned Pamplona Runner and Instructional Guide for the runs. The Running of the Bulls Festival will feature exhibitors, concessions, a beer garden, and live entertainment. The festival also featured a trained buffalo act, American Bull Fighting, and Bull Riding and much more. “The Running of the Bulls in
SPORTS:
PRESERVATION:
High Desert Little League team bids for state berth tonight
Page 3
Marc Buckhout/The Foothills Focus
The Running of the Bulls Festival returns to Cave Creek for a second year the weekend of Oct. 20. Last year’s event drew 5,000 spectators and 1,000 participants. For information on this year’s event go to runwiththebulls.usa.com.
Cave Creek was perfect,” Event Director Phil Immordino said. “It could not have gone any
HOLIDAY:
better. There were no major injuries but enough car wrecks to make it fun and exciting.”
OTHER :
Cave Creek completes purchase of Spur Cross land
Cave Creek celebrates 4th of July with music, fireworks show
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