March 2, 2011 • Vol. 09, No. 14
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Anthem • Black Canyon City • Carefree • Cave Creek • Desert Hills • New River • N. Phoenix • Tramonto
Anthem Council explores possibility of changing to planned community MARC BUCKHOUT MANAGING EDITOR
Members of the Anthem Community Council made an initial report outlining the process under which Anthem residential property owners could become members of the ACC at the Feb. 23 meeting. “Our subcommittee unanimously recommends that Anthem becomes a
planned community,” board member Craig Boates said. “In doing so Anthem residents would become members of the ACC and that would give them voting rights on a yet undefined scope of issues.” The Governing Documents Review Group, consisting of board members Jeff Pointer, Bob Copen and Boates along with Community Executive Officer Jenna Kollings, has
Upbeat catchy music, a timeless message of tolerance and acceptance and an enthusiastic cast is the formula Cactus Shadows Theater Director Andrew Capo is banking on when the school performs the musical Hairspray with a 7:30 p.m. debut on Thursday. The show, with six performances includes Thursday, Friday and Saturday performances and then March 10, 11, and 12, is the second under the direction of Cupo, a Northern Arizona University graduate who returns to teach at the high school where he was once a Falcons student himself. “We’re very excited to do this show,” Cupo said. “I believe theater should have a purpose bigger than just teaching kids how to act. Sometimes people forget about the message. They Hairspray
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Inside:
need to be considered. The subcommittee announced a proposed timeline during which the ACC should examine some of the issues: – March 23 meeting: The power of the Council to borrow, placing limits on borrowing and associated member approval, and assessment increases. Also the process for removal of directors. – April 27 meeting: An
examination of the officer positions and their related duties and assesses which positions are truly needed. The other item would be the ACC’s nonprofit status 501 ©(4). The ACC is currently established as an Arizona nonprofit corporation, which is not tax exempt. The governing documents Anthem council meeting continued on page 9
Volunteers share love of desert, aid Desert Foothills Land Trust
Cactus Shadows debuts Hairspray MARC BUCKHOUT MANAGING EDITOR
been exploring the process and options that would be required to carryout the switch since forming late in 2010. By modifying the governing documents for the ACC and making Anthem a Planned Community certain requirements would have to be adhered to. Boates explained that beyond rewriting the bylaws there are numerous issues that would
MARC BUCKHOUT MANAGING EDITOR
When Mary Buckingham and her husband moved to Phoenix four years ago she did so reluctantly. The woman from New Jersey, the Garden State, was skeptical about the environment she was inheriting. Once she started getting out and hiking in her new desert home though Buckingham was quickly won over. “It’s wonderful,” she said. “I feel such an identification with the area,” she said. At last year’s Taste of Cave Creek Buckingham went by a booth set up by the Desert Foothills Land Trust where she found out about their volunteer docent and steward program. “We teach them about the natural history of the area, the plants, the animals, the archaeology, the geology,” Conservation Director Stacy Fischer said. “We then take them to the different preserves
and point out what different plants are blooming in what season, to make them aware what’s out there.” After going through a six week class Buckingham became a steward late last year. “I love the pride and ownership our volunteers take,” Fischer said. “Once we complete the training and they’ve seen the various preserves I ask them if there is a particular area that calls to them. Some volunteers float between a couple different preserves, but a lot find one that they become attached to.” The Caroline Bartol Preserve at Saguaro Hill was Buckingham’s pick. The area is adjacent to the Desert Foothills Library, located off of School House Road in Cave Creek. After walking through the Richard Rudolph Memorial Garden hikers are into the preserve. “Every visitor I have from landtrust volunteers continued on page 6
Marc Buckhout/The Foothills Focus
Desert Foothills Land Trust Conservation Director Stacy Fischer is joined by volunteers Mary Buckingham and Marilyn Schrab at the Caroline Bartol Preserve on Thursday in Cave Creek. The organization offers a variety of training opportunties for docents and stewards, as well as though interested in office positions.
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New River, Desert Hills Community Association seeks board members
Cactus Shadows, Boulder Creek softball swing for successful seasons
Head-on accident closes Carefree Highway
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