December 23, 2015 • Vol. 14, No.6
POSTAL PATRON CAVE CREEK
www.thefoothillsfocus.com
ECRWSS Carrier Route PreSorted Standard U.S. POSTAGE PAID Permit No. 371 Cave Creek, AZ
Anthem | Black Canyon City | Carefree | Cave Creek | Desert Hills | New River| North Phoenix | Tramonto
Delivering happiness: DMFD charity New River gas station on donates toys to hospitalized children track in permit process ELIZABETH MEDORA STAFF
NORTH VALLEY – Sometimes Santa doesn’t arrive in a sleigh. For local children who are in the hospital, Santa arrived in a fire truck this year. At Christmastime, the Daisy Mountain Firefighters Association holds a toy drive and collects items to distribute to local hospitals and to local kids in need. Thanks to employee contributions and community donations, toys of all kinds are given to community kids and hospitalized children in need. Toys also are given to local hospitals to be handed out all
DMFD DONATES TOYS continued on page 3
Photo courtesy of Daisy Mountain Fire Department
The spirit of Christmas in action: Daisy Mountain Fire’s own Santa brought toys and Christmas cheer to Valley hospitals.
NEW RIVER – The planned gas station in New River is still in the permit planning process. No date for the groundbreaking has yet been released. According to Maricopa County Planning & Development Department Deputy Director Darren Gérard, pending construction permits are in place for the development. Construction permits have been filed for the Shell convenience store to include Subway restaurant; the fuel sales canopy and diesel sales canopy; the 1,000 gallon propane tank and two underground 18,000 gallon fuel/diesel fuel tanks and 20,000 gallon above ground water tank; and the retaining walls.
“The last submittal was 11/25/15,” Gérard said. “The permits are still under technical review by staff.” Community discussion about the gas station began in spring 2014 when development plans were put forth. Since then, in response to community concerns, the owner has made some design changes. This delayed the design process. Gérard noted that except for Zoning, Drainage Engineering, and Transportation, the needed signoffs for the development had been received. “Once those approvals are received, the permit can be issued and construction may commence,” Gérard added.
Diamond Canyon School holds annual Operation Santa drive ELIZABETH MEDORA STAFF
ANTHEM – Diamond Canyon School is helping local veterans have a happy holiday. Diamond Canyon School’s National Junior Honor Society, Student Council, and girls’ basketball team worked hard this December collecting donations for local veterans in need. On Dec. 17, the kids stuffed hand-decorated bags with snacks, toiletries, and cards to make personalized Christmas packages for the veterans at MANA House in downtown Phoenix. Organizer Debi Callies runs Operation Santa, which developed out of sending
tough times,” Callies said. Callies works with Diamond Canyon’s NJHS and Student Council to get donations to veterans in need. Each year, students, under the guidance of Diamond Canyon teacher Chris Lyijynen, collect hundreds of donations and package them to be donated to veterans. On Christmas Eve, Callies delivers the packages to MANA House, an organization that provides support and aid to veterans in need. This year, Diamond Canyon students were honored with a plaque commemorating their ten years of volunteering to help veterans. Student volunteers were presented with the award
donations overseas when her son Robert was deployed to Iraq. “After he completed his
enlistment in the Marines, I began to focus my efforts on our veterans here in Phoenix who are going through some
SAFETY TIPS:
BUFFALO CHIP:
LOCAL CHURCH:
Local fire department
Fundraiser nets over $40,000
BCC church fills Christmas
shares holiday safety tips
for Buffalo Chip employees
boxes for local kids
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in a surprise ceremony during their donation pack-up. This year’s drive netted eight tables full of donations, including canned goods, granola bars, tea, oatmeal, noodle soup, coffee, chips, soap, toothbrushes, socks, and other needed items. “All the donations are from this school,” Callies said. Thanks to these donations, local veterans in need will be having a brighter Christmas and getting some new hope for the new year. “The students and the families at Diamond Canyon have warmed the hearts and brought a smile of appreciation to many of our Phoenix veterans,” Callies said.
OTHER : • Bluhm Column
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• Service Directory
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• Classified Ads
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