Ahwatukee Foothills News - 02.17.2021 by Times Media Group

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Golf course polarizes Club West homeowners

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LOCAL CAKERY

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HOUSING HOT SPORTS

. RE1

WINNING COACH

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Wednesday February 17, 2021

BY PAUL MARYNIAK AFN Executive Editor

ith a critical court ruling expected any day and an even more critical election two weeks away, Club West’s defunct golf course has polarized the community of 2,600 homeowners. Radically divergent views of the course’s future – and, more significantly, how to achieve it – have made the Foothills Club West Association board of directors and the Club West Conservancy the chief combatants in the monthslong debate. The court ruling and the upcoming HOA board election could determine how course owner The Edge and its affiliate, Community

Land Solutions, will deal with the 160-acre site that it bought for $750,000 from Wilson Gee, who holds the note on the deal. Other than to say it wants to create a park, The Edge has not disclosed much about its plan for the course after its aborted proposal 13 months ago to restore the 18-hole course and finance the project by selling three tracts to homebuilder Taylor Morrison. Even with its park proposal, The Edge has said selling some pieces of the course to a homebuilder is the only way to pay for it. HOA board President Michael Hinz depicts the Conservancy as a group that has obstructed constructive dialogue with both the board and The Edge. “Everything they’ve done has been with the

Kyrene of�icials look to March 16 to reopen classrooms

intention to hamstring any collaborative effort to resolve the golf course,” Hinz said in an interview. “And what they’re afraid of is the community is going to do something that they can’t control – that’s what the issue is.” Pointing to its survey of more than 800 households last June in which 80 percent of the respondents opposed any homes on the course, Conservancy President Matthew Tyler blames the board for the course’s condition and its muddled future. “It’s really kind of ego and hubris that’s leading them to where they are now and it’s not healthy,” he said. Aside from five months in late 2017 and early 2018 when it had been fully restored by a

see WEST page 12

With gratitude and love

BY PAUL MARYNIAK AFN Executive Editor

yrene administrators last week told the Governing Board classrooms will reopen March 16, though they held out a slim possibility that kids might be back at their desks a bit earlier. In a lengthy presentation Feb. 9, Superintendent Dr. Laura Toenjes and several top aides laid out the district’s game plan for reopening classrooms that were closed after Thanksgiving. The presentation also included results from a survey of staff and parents on reopening that illustrated a continuing divide between staff and parents who want classrooms open and those who fear for their safety regardless of vaccinations and safety measures. And it included a look at how the district is preparing to address learning gaps resulting from online learning. Unlike learning gap presentations in Tempe Union and other districts, however, they provided no data on

see SCHOOLS page 4

Stephanie Phillips, principal of Akimel A-al Middle School in Ahwatukee, was busy Saturday taking more than 1,000 Valentine’s Day cards to healthcare workers at Tempe St. Luke’s, Chandler Regional and Banner Baywood medical centers and Dignity Health ER in Ahwatukee. Phillips’ localized version of the national “Hearts for Heroes” project was inspired by her daughter, a nurse at Banner Baywood, and so she enlisted kids from her school as well as Kyrene Traditional Academy, Kyrene de los Lagos, Kyrene Monte Vista and Aprende Middle School. Phillips said the Lagos PTO donated Crumbl cookies and her school’s PTSO donated Valentine goodie bags. “We were able to put together a treat bag with Valentines for 200 health care workers,” she said. (Pablo Robles/AFN Staff Photographer)

AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS | FEBRUARY 17, 2021

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Phoenix launches $51M rental/utility aid program

NEWS

BY KEVIN PIREHPOUR AFN Staff Writer

$51.1 million city-wide rescue plan is underway to help thousands of Phoenix residents behind on rent and utilities. Starting March 8, Ahwatukee landlords and renters can apply for up to 15 months of assistance to go toward paying off 12 months of overdue rent and/or utility payments. They also can apply for three months at a time of pending payments. “I’m proud of [Phoenix] for stepping up by providing emergency help with rent,” Mayor Kate Gallego said in a tweet after Council last week unanimously voted in favor of the aid package. “With the approval of $51 million in rental and utility assistance, we are giving our residents both financial and emotional relief when they need it most.” The relief comes from a $25 billion national Emergency Rental Assistance Program that Congress rolled out in January to help people struggling with mounting household bills as a result of the pandemic. The Arizona Department of Economic Security received about $492 million and is working with local governments to disburse the assistance statewide, according to Gov. Doug Ducey. “We want to make sure renters in Arizona have the resources and support they need,” Ducey said in a release. “The rental assistance program will keep families and those in need in their homes and help them get back on their feet as we overcome the effects of the pandemic.” In 2020, the city dispensed $29.2 million in rental and mortgage assistance through its Coronavirus Relief Fund Program, helping over 5,700 Phoenix households, according to Ingar Erickson, Phoenix deputy city manager. Unlike last year’s relief, the new plan does not provide assistance for mortgage payments and applicants must meet stringent income requirements to qualify for the rental and utility aid. Now, the program will prioritize Phoenix residents who have been unemployed for more than 90 days and those making at or below 50 percent of the area median income — the midpoint of a region’s income distribution. For example, 50 percent of the area median income for a family of four in Phoenix is $38,900 annually. The program also offers assistance to residents at or below 80 percent of the area median income, which for a family of four is $62,250. All applicants must show a loss of income resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic. Payments will be issued directly to landlords or utility companies on behalf of the renter. The Phoenix Human Services Department will be working with Wildfire, a local nonprofit aimed at ending poverty, to rollout in-person and online rental sup-

see AID page 6

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AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS | FEBRUARY 17, 2021

SCHOOLS from page 1

failure rates. Administrators said teachers will be trained to zero in on specific areas of learning deficiencies rather than reteach everything that had been covered in class and that the main focus will be on “major standards or skills.” Tempe Union earlier this month set a tentative reopening of its campuses for March 15. Although the Tempe Union board and administration appeared to favor four days in classrooms with a fifth day of online learning for all students, the issue was not resolved at the board’s Feb. 3 meeting. The agenda for the Tempe Union Governing Board’s meeting at 5:45 p.m. today, Feb. 17, does not list any discussion of reopening. The position taken by both Kyrene and Tempe Union officials on reopening classrooms differs markedly from that of the East Valley’s largest districts, which have had kids in classrooms for a month. Virus spread metrics in those districts – Mesa Public Schools, Gilbert Public Schools and Chandler Unified – have been higher than those in Tempe Union and Kyrene. Toenjes said that Kyrene will be prepared to reopen classrooms earlier than March 16 if all three metrics released by the county health department every Thursday morning have dropped from the substantial to moderate level. Metrics released by the county two days after the Kyrene board meeting showed that one metric – percentage of hospital visits with COVID-like symptoms – had fallen to that moderate level. The two other metrics also had trended downward but remained in the substantial spread category. COVID-19 cases per 100,000 fell from 452 to 300 and the percentage of new positive test results dipped from 14.6 to 11.6 percent. Tempe Union’s metrics closely followed those in Kyrene. Spring break in both Kyrene and Tempe Union begins in two and a half weeks. So, under Kyrene’s reopening plan, all three metrics would have to be in the moderate spread level when the county releases its latest data tomorrow, Feb. 18, and on the following Thursday if its classrooms are to reopen before March 16. Kyrene administrators also said those metrics are not the only factor the district is taking into account in making a reopen-

Kyrene parents whose children have been in online learning for most of the school year and staff who have taught online still think it’s risky to return to classrooms even after vaccinations, according to this district survey. (Kyrene School District)Special to AFN)

Parents whose kids have been in online learning and staff in that environment have greater doubts about the district’s safety measures. (Kyrene School District) ing decision. “We also consult directly with county doctors who have stressed that the met-

Carrie Furedy, Kyrene executive director of school effectiveness, said many factors are being considered in the decision to reopen classrooms. (YouTube)

rics are just one factor to consider,” said Carrie Furedy, district executive director of school effectiveness. “We know that infectious disease is only one factor that impacts the overall health of a child, family and community,” she said. “The learning, emotional support and socialization that occurs in schools also weighs strongly in the equation. “We also know that the level of community transmission does not always reflect transmission within schools. When strong mitigation controls are in place and the school community supports those strategies, schools can be a safe haven for both students and staff even when COVID-19 is spreading outside of school.” Furedy said vaccinations comprise “a significant new factor to consider in our decision-making to a safe return even if health metrics do not change as rapidly as we hope.” There was no information provided on how many teachers and other staff had received shots. Furedy noted that those who got them

in the second half of January should be getting their second dose the last weekend in February. Furedy stated that because “the vaccine reaches its maximum efficacy one to two weeks after the second dose, this is a critical factor to consider in any timeline for a safe return to in-person learning.” Asked what other factors will figure in reopening, Furedy replied, that the “scientific guidance that comes from the” Centers for Disease Control is one. Ironically, the CDC three days later released a lengthy report that stated, “K–12 schools should be the last settings to close after all other mitigation measures in the community have been employed, and the first to reopen when they can do so safely.” The agency also said, “In-person learning for elementary schools is likely to have less risk of in-school transmission than for middle schools and high schools.” But the CDC said paramount to ensuring safety in schools were mandatory masks and that “physical distancing (at least 6 feet) should be maximized to the greatest extent possible.” Board member Michelle Fahy noted that social distancing “is not going to be a mitigation strategy we’re able to deploy at this time,” but had noted “there are other strategies we can use to support groups.” She was referring to the fact that classrooms aren’t large enough to accommodate the number of students who will be in them by spacing them 6 feet apart. Furedy said other factors Kyrene will consider include guidance from Maricopa County and Arizona health officials and “our operational capacity – things such as staffing levels and our ability to ensure that classrooms have qualified teachers and appropriate coverage – as well as the learning and social emotional needs of our students.” Fahy indirectly referred to the issue of staffing levels when she noted that the second dose of the vaccine has been known to have strong after-effects and that this could have an impact on whether a teacher or other staffer is able to work the day after that second shot. That in turned would affect any school’s ability to have sufficient coverage of all classrooms. Assistant Superintendent Dr. Susie Ostmeyer also provided results from a survey of parents, teachers and other district staff between Jan. 26 and Feb. 3 that drew

see SCHOOLS page 17

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AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS | FEBRUARY 17, 2021

Hard-hit Arizona Grand offering city vaccine help AFN NEWS STAFF

epresentatives of the Arizona Grand Resort & Spa said they hope to meet with Phoenix officials soon to offer their site as a distribution center for the COVID-19 vaccines for essential workers. The resort also is offering $50 to each of its 175 employees who get the shots, regardless of where. “Currently, hospitality industry workers are not included in an eligible group for vaccination, although we are hopeful that they will be in the next phase of vaccination,” Arizona Grand spokesman Tom Evans said. He said while some employees currently qualify for vaccinations based on other criteria such as age, “the overall goal of the program is to ensure that employees are not affected negatively financially when they are eligible to be vaccinated.”

Since the pandemic hit Arizona last March, year-over-year occupancy at the Arizona Grand is down 56 percent and food and beverage sales are down 96 percent from January 2020, he said. “Overall, the resort’s revenue has dropped by 80 percent year-over-year, while ownership has absorbed significant losses to keep the resort open,” Evans said. “Despite these challenges the resort remains open and our number-one priority is bringing back as many of our associates as possible, while ensuring the safest possible environment for employees and guests.” He added that Arizona Grand executives are anxious to discuss with Phoenix officials “ways the resort can support the city’s efforts to mitigate COVID-19, including offering the Arizona Grand as a potential vaccination site for essential workers.” 

AID from page 3

port to residents. About half, or $26.1 million, will be disbursed through the Human Services Department and the remaining $25 million will flow through Wildfire to deliver rental assistance services through its web of non-profit community organizations. Ten percent of the funding will go toward city administrative costs. City and community managers are focusing on improving communication with the community and expanding access to financial services for those in need, Cynthia Zwick, executive director of Wildfire, said in Tuesday’s meeting. “What we are looking at this time around, and what we’ve learned from the last program that we administered, is that applicants are struggling and continue to struggle,” Zwick said. “They will apply in as many places as they can, as many times

GOT NEWS?

as they can, until they feel that they are getting the support that they need.” For those with limited internet access, three services centers will be available for in-person assistance. They are: Sunnyslope Family Services Center, 914 W. Hatcher Road; John F. Long Family Services Center in Maryvale, 3454 N. 51st Ave; and Travis L. Williams Family Services Center in south central Phoenix, 4732 S. Central Ave. Services will be available in English and Spanish, along with translation options for other languages spoken, and applications can be received through an existing central intake line at 602-534-2433. “We know that people are suffering in our community, we know that people are in need, we don’t know how many but we know that people are in need,” Erickson said, adding she and his department were “extremely excited about the opportunity to be the lifeline to those folks.” 

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AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS | FEBRUARY 17, 2021

Kyrene signs off on 77-year land lease worth millions That annual total will rise to $900,000 after that for the next five years, then go up to $1.012 million annually and then go to $1.14 million a year with some adjustments in various years for the duration of the lease. State law requires districts that sell or lease land to use the money for capital expenditures. Although Ellel had told the board last fall he hoped to confer with the state Attorney General on whether the money could be used for operational expenses, he made no mention of that at the board meeting. Voters in 2013 gave the district permission to sell or lease the land, which had been purchased in the 1990s as a possible site for a school. Instead, Kyrene del Milenio in Ahwatukee was built in 2000 and the land has laid fallow ever since. Kyrene governing boards that existed before any of the current members were in office had explored possible disposition

AFN NEWS STAFF

yrene School District officials have signed off on a 77-year lease with developer ViaWest for the use of a 28-acre parcel of land along the I-10 between Chandler Boulevard and Ray Road in Ahwatukee. Governing board members unanimously gave final approval to the lease, hailing the promise of an annual source of funds. “I believe it will be April of 2022 that we should get our first check in the mail and I’m sure that would be very exciting,” General Counsel Jordan Ellel told them. ViaWest plans to build three industrial buildings that will mirror three it owns on a parcel in Chandler that’s parallel to the Kyrene land. The lease provides for monthly payments totaling $240,000 next year, then $800,000 annually for the following five years.

of the land. But the move gained momentum in the last two years. Ellel noted that there had been considerable discussion of the disadvantages and advantages of selling the land as opposed to buying it. Under the lease, the land could technically revert to Kyrene at the end of the lease, though presumably it also could be extended with negotiations. This is the last piece of vacant land owned by Kyrene and one of two parcels that had been studied for possible sale or lease. There had been discussion several years ago about selling the land at Kyrene and Warner roads in Tempe where district headquarters is located, but that never reached the point where it was given serious consideration. Ironically, farther south on Kyrene Road near the Loop 202 Santan Freeway, Tempe Union owns a 49-acre parcel that the dis-

GOT NEWS?

trict’s board in 2017 pondered for a sale or some other revenue-generating option. That land also had been bought in 1994 for a high school that never materialized. Tempe Union sold a 63-acre parcel in Ahwatukee several years ago for $23 million that also had been once considered as a high school site. That parcel is now the new Palma Brisa gated community. A previous Tempe Union board had discussed what to do with the Kyrene Road property but never moved beyond the discussion phase, partly because an adjacent parcel made it nearly impossible to just sell it outright. The Kyrene land that the board approved for lease is zoned for industrial use, though some members of the Ahwatukee Foothills Village Planning Committee several years ago had hoped it would become the site of a hospital. But no healthcare company ever expressed serious interest in the land. 

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Five bedroom, 4 bathroom, 4,556 sf single level home in a cul de sac on nearly a 1 acre preserve lot! East facing back yard! The kitchen has an abundance of granite slab counter space, a center island with prep sink, breakfast bar, Subzero refrigerator, double ovens, Jennair smooth surface cook tops with grill, walk in pantry, large casual dining area, and an R/O system. Open kitchen family room floor plan! The family room is enormous with a two way fireplace with stone surrounds and a large wet bar with bar seating. A bonus/game room ( the perfect space for a pool table) is on the other side of the two way fireplace. Exit the family to the sprawling resort style back yard. Extensive land and hardscape, sparkling pebble tec pool and spa, elevated fireplace with stone surrounds and seating area, outdoor kitchen with BBQ, burner and beverage fridge, and a separate built in draft beer system. Master bathroom has a dual sink vanity with granite slab top, separate shower and Jacuzzi tub with granite surrounds and large walk in closet with custom built - ins. 8’ solid core doors. Temperature controlled wine cellar. All three AC’s are approximately five years old. Three car garage has a mini split and an epoxy floor coating. RV Gate. Extra slab parking in front and behind the RV gate (slab parking for approximately 8 in the front depending on vehicle size and a single slab behind the gate.)

Ocotillo – Skygass Bay Listed for $875,000

Stunning home on over a 1/3rd acre lot with sprawling golf course and lake views! 3,735 sf single level home with 4 bedrooms and 3.5 bathrooms. The newly remodeled kitchen boasts rich dark wood cabinetry, extended kitchen island with quartz counter top and trendy pendant lighting, and stainless steel appliances; gas cooking! New interior paint. New wood – look tile ﬂooring. The luxurious resort style back yard overlooks the prestigious Ocotillo Golf Course! Sparkling pebble tec pool and beautifully landscaped. Large theater room with wet bar, beverage fridge, buffet, two built in work stations, projector and movie screen, perfect for movie night, games, and entertaining guests! Shutters, updated ﬁxtures, 4 year old roof with 10 year warranty!

Monterey Ridge Condominiums Listed for

$399,000

North Scottsdale living at its finest! Close to restaurants, theater, Lifetime Fitness. Just minutes to Keirland Commons, Scottsdale Quarter & the 101. Gated community! 1,873 sf with 2 bedrooms plus office area and 2.5 bathrooms. This home has a 1 car oversized attached garage and a 1 car detached garage PLUS a large separate storage room. The kitchen boasts granite slab counter tops, breakfast bar / island with pendant lighting, trendy backsplash, stainless steel appliances and porcelain tile flooring. Open kitchen family floor plan! Master bathroom has dual sinks and separate shower and Roman soaking tub. Built in speakers in the family room and both bedrooms. Plantation shutters and recessed lighting. Both electric and gas hook up for the dryer.

Circle Mountain Ranch Land (2 parcels) Listed for

$185,000 Each

Two parcels; 4.7 acres each. Residential Acreage abutting Pyramid Peak and state trust land. Elevated property, away from ﬂood zones. Build a grand estate or subdivide a small community! Beautiful Northeastern views of New River Mesa and surrounding mountains. Zoning requires at least 1 acre per home. 15-20 minutes from Anthem and Cave Creek and still only 45 minutes from Sky Harbor 9.4 acres total available (10 acres minus 40 foot road easement along Northern edge.)

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Two ﬂoor plans to choose from; 1,387 sf or 1,493 sf. Both have 3 beds, 2 baths

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hopeful owner who eventually ran out of money, the site has devolved into an Ahwatukee eyesore rivaled only by the Ahwatukee Lakes Golf Course. How its condition might change will be impacted by the outcome of the Conservancy’s lawsuit against the HOA board that seeks to nullify its assumption of the declarant rights that the board can use to have the community decide what to do with the land. The Conservancy has accused the board of improperly assuming those declarant rights without the permission of 75 percent of Club West homeowners – the margin needed for amending the master declarant rights governing the community except the golf course. The board contends it did nothing wrong and that by assuming the declarant rights at no cost from a onetime homebuilder, it was preventing a “bad actor” from gaining control of the course. Superior Court Commissioner Andrew Russell has yet to rule on the Conservancy’s request to permanently prevent the board from exercising the declarant rights on the course. Russell’s ruling could determine whether a trial even needs to be held on the same issue. Judge Daniel Kiley last November issued a temporary injunction on the board from moving forward on any plan proposed by The Edge. But even the lawsuit could be trumped by the outcome of the board election in which four of the five board seats – except Hinz’s – are up for reelection. Besides the incumbents, seven other homeowners are running – including four Conservancy members and a non-member described as opposed to houses on the course. Voting is going on right now and the results are slated to be tabulated and revealed March 4. Tyler said the outcome likely would make the lawsuit moot if some or all the incumbents lose and that a reconstituted board could open a new dialogue with The Edge in which houses are not on the table. Hinz contends that the Conservancy’s motives are questionable and that it has distorted what he and his fellow board members have tried to do with the course and the limits of any board’s power to influence the site’s future. “None of these people have volunteered

AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS | FEBRUARY 17, 2021

for anything ever,” Hinz said. “What they’re doing, what they’re communicating is not about conservancy. It’s about packing the board so that they can try and implement changes to basically protect their views.” How homes on the course might obstruct existing homeowners’ views of the desert and mountain landscape has been a central part of the debate. Partly fueling that debate is the fact that the more than 350 homeowners whose property abuts the course paid higher lot prices for those views. “They’re afraid that the community is going to vote to take away their views and I understand that,” Hinz said. “And I think that’s a reasonable fear.” But he said some homeowners are elevating the primacy of their landscape views over those of others. Tyler said the Conservancy is acting on advice of its lawyers and not engaging in any dialogue with the board. Hinz said the board interprets the preliminary injunction as a ban on any discussions it can have with the Edge. But he also said, “We’re under the impression that they’ve made no contribution and no effort in terms of this, quote, ‘conservancy’ effort. They’ve done nothing other than sue us.” “The board has no interest in development. …We don’t care what the city wants. We don’t care what the golf course wants. We don’t care what the CWC wants. All we care about is what the community wants. My responsibilities are to the 2,600 homeowners, not some subset of 350 people,” Hinz added. But Tyler noted that the Conservancy has laid out a plan for restoring the course without building homes on any part of the site. Others in the Conservancy said the survey showed that many homeowners who don’t live along the golf course also oppose houses being built on it. Tyler also said, “Hinz took a pretty aggressive edge with us at the beginning and we said, ‘OK, they’re going to try to hammer this thing through so we’ll just move forward with our lawsuit, which really makes any meaningful communication between the groups impossible until that litigation is resolved.” Tyler said the board and its supporters have resorted to “scare tactics,” particularly when it comes to the four Conservancy candidates in the race. Even if those candidates win, he said, “It’s not going to be like a slam-dunk – like

suddenly we’ve got a voting majority, that we turn the whole thing upside down and do terrible things to the neighborhood.” “That’s not realistic,” Tyler added, citing the 75 percent vote requirement needed to make any significant changes in Club West. Whether the site is restored to an 18hole golf course or turned into a park, the availability of affordable water remains the singularly most important factor that will impact the site’s future. When he closed the course, Gee said he no longer could afford the annual $750,000 he was paying for the city potable water used to irrigate the course. Hinz said that he and the board have aggressively pursued every option for solving the water problem, which Phoenix officials created nearly three decades ago when they demolished a nearby treatment plant that provided reclaimed water for the course. He said the board tried unsuccessfully to reach long-term agreements with nearby Foothills HOA and the Ahwatukee Board of Management to draw water from their wells. Hinz also said Ahwatukee businessman Randy Leonard’s plan to build a pipeline between Club West and the Gila River Indian Community – which would have cost at least $1.2 million just to build – would have been far too costly for homeowners. Moreover, he added, “coming down the pike in the next several years are additional five and six percent raises to our water rates. I pay as much for water as I for electricity and unless you’re living in a condo or an apartment, it’s probably true for everybody that has landscaping.” Tyler said part of the Conservancy’s business plan for restoring a golf course involves construction of a wastewater treatment plan that could not only irrigate the golf course but all common areas in Club West. The plant would cost around $670,000. He said that would bring the HOA’s annual water bill of around $160,000 “to zero” and overtime would generate a positive cash flow. “You’ve got to fundamentally solve the underlying water problem and that’s a problem for the whole community. That’s what people don’t really realize,” Tyler added. He said the Conservancy also has a “progressive plan” for the course that would include bringing in a quality restaurant “like an OHSO or Four Peaks,” opening the

driving range and restore the course over the next three to five years. “We’re terribly underserved out here,” contending a higher-end restaurant would attract residents in the area who currently have few places nearby to socialize. Hinz asserted that the Conservancy has shown a misunderstanding of the powers of the board when it comes to the golf course, noting it is privately owned and not any different from any house in Club West. “The board has no legal standing in telling the golf course what to do,” he said. “The city can’t go to a restaurant owner and tell it ‘we want you to be a tire store.’” Hinz also said the board has levied “substantial” penalties on The Edge for unspecified conditions on the course that needed to be corrected. As of now, he added, “They’ve been compliant.” But he said that just as the board would not discuss similar actions against a homeowner for violating any HOA regulation, he and the board are precluded from disclosing any details. Overall, he said, the board must strike a delicate balance when it comes to dealing with any owner of the golf course. “We don’t have any skin in the game until the golf course says, ‘This is what we want to do,’” Hinz continued. “Then, we can tell them ‘no’ or we can say ‘OK, pitch it to the community.’ “And that’s what the CWC is afraid of – that The Edge will come up with something else, pitch it to the community and the community will buy into it, whatever it is,” Hinz said. Conservancy members have said that their survey last year showed that many respondents would even be happy with the course being a walkable area with neither golf nor houses. Unclear is whether the county could then assess whoever owns the course for back taxes since golf courses are taxed at a lower rate than other land. That happened to Gee when he closed Ahwatukee Lakes. The county came back and demanded more than $1 million in taxes that would have been owed except for the golf course exemption. “What we’re doing is long,” Hinz said. “It’s slow. It’s maddeningly frustrating but we think it’s prudent and in this kind of a circumstance, unintended consequences require you to be prudent. …There could be millions of dollars in tax liabilities to whoever gets the course.” 

AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS | FEBRUARY 17, 2021

NEWS

AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS | FEBRUARY 17, 2021

Judge dismisses challenges to new education tax BY HOWARD FISCHER Capitol Media Services

new income tax surcharge on the wealthy to add more dollars to public education can take effect. In a 21-page ruling last week, Maricopa County Superior Court Judge John Hannah Jr. rejected a series of arguments by business interests and some Republican lawmakers that Proposition 208 was so flawed that he needed to immediately quash it. Hannah said that’s not the case. The judge saw little merit to the claim that only elected lawmakers are authorized to raise taxes. If nothing else, he pointed out that the Arizona Constitution makes the people co-equal with the Legislature. Similarly, he said when voters approved a constitutional amendment requiring a two-thirds vote for new or increased taxes, they worded it so as to apply only to the Legislature and not to their own initiatives.

And Hannah found little merit to the claim that the 3.5 percent surcharge on earnings above $250,000 for individuals and $500,000 for married couples filing jointly is not a sufficient revenue source for the money that will go to public schools and other education issues. In declining to issue an injunction, the judge also concluded that enacting the tax, by itself, likely does not run afoul of constitutional caps on total spending on education. He said there are legitimate ways to interpret Proposition 208 in ways that make it legal. And even if there is a legal problem – a point Hannah does not concede – he said it would require a full-blown trial, complete with evidence, to reach such a conclusion. In the meantime, however, he said there is no immediate reason to declare the law or this provision illegal. Hannah pointed out that while the higher tax rate began Jan. 1, it won’t really be an issue for most people un-

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til April 2022, when they pay their income taxes. And even for people whose income is high enough to require them to pay estimated taxes, the judge said the worst that could happen is they pay a little more now and then could get a refund if Proposition 208 eventually is declared illegal. All that technically leaves the door open for the foes of the tax, who tried unsuccessfully to keep the measure off the ballot in the first place, to renew their arguments at a trial. But they have an uphill fight. In refusing to issue the injunction, Hannah had to consider whether the challengers had a likelihood of success. And he said that does not appear to be the case. Hannah’s rulings in the Ahwatukee Lakes Golf Course case have consistently passed appelate review and have been the foundation for an order by an other judge directing Wilson Gee to restore the course and have it open for business by fall of next years. Jonathan Riches, an attorney for the

Goldwater Institute, called the Hannah’s tax ruling ``unfortunate.’’ But he pointed out that Hannah is giving foes another chance to make their case at trial. The ruling is a key victory for the backers of Invest in Education who convinced 51.7 percent of those who turned out in November to support the plan to add new dollars for education. It is expected to raise anywhere from $827 million to $940 million a year, depending on whose estimates are used. Half of the dollars are earmarked for grants to school districts and charter schools to hire teachers and classroom support personnel. Those dollars also can be used to raise teacher salaries. Another 25% is for student support personnel, with 10% earmarked to retain teachers in the classroom, 12% for career and technical education and the balance into a fund to help pay the college tuition of students who go into teaching.

see TAX page 20

LA CASA DE JUANA

DELIVERS A KNOCKOUT WITH ITS FRESH, AUTHENTIC AND MOUTHWATERING FOOD If you thought you have been to a Mexican restaurant lately you probably need to reconsider and visit La Casa De Juana in Ahwatukee. The fare is authentic Mexican, and when we say authentic we mean it, unlike many of the restaurant chains that call themselves Mexican. Upon entering you’ll be dazzled by the colorful décor, the tables and chairs are beautiful, Mexican painted murals, colorful banners hanging from the ceiling and the gracious service with warm orange and yellow tones echoing throughout the restaurant will make this your favorite Mexican restaurant. With great lunch and dinner specials, live guitar player on Tuesdays and a bar with freshly made drinks, TVs, and live guitar music for all ages on the weekends and least but not last their happy hour from 2 pm to 6 pm every day $2 beer domestic and imports and $3 margaritas this place is a must. In conclusion The flavorful salsa, the delicious margaritas, the extraordinary and well-priced food will definitely keep you coming back.

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AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS | FEBRUARY 17, 2021

GOP senators vote to curb governor’s emergency powers BY HOWARD FISCHER Capitol Media Services

epublican senators voted last week to curb the emergency powers of the governor – in a way he can’t veto. SCR 1003, approved on a party-line 1614 vote, would terminate any emergency declared by the governor in 30 days unless both the House and Senate agreed to an extension. And any extension could be for no more than 30 days, though there could be continued reauthorization. The proposal now goes to the House. Nothing in the measure would affect the current emergency that Gov. Doug Ducey declared in March. That’s because the legislation requires voter approval. Sending it to the ballot skirts the normal requirement for gubernatorial approval. But lawmakers may yet get a chance to pull the plug on the current emergency. SCR 1001, which would do just that, already has cleared two Senate committees and awaits floor debate.

ride his order, that left only the option for lawmakers to call themselves in. That, however, takes a two-thirds vote, which the Republicans did not have. Petersen said this measure, if approved by voters, ensures that the governor has to work with lawmakers if he wants his emergency powers extended. Sen. Kelly Townsend, R-Mesa, was more blunt in her belief that there needs to be legislative oversight and input, even in the case of a deadly disease. “I hope we never again see something so fearsome that we give all power and control to one person and his bureaucrats who cannot be held accountable by the public,’’ she said. “There are severe consequences when we place that much power in the hands of one person indefinitely.’’ Senate Democrats, who generally believe the governor has done too little with his emergency powers to curb the spread of the pandemic and its effects, found themselves in the curious position of defending the current law and speaking against efforts to allow curbs. “The whole purpose is an attempt to

Last week’s vote followed months of complaints by many GOP lawmakers that their party’s governor has used his emergency powers to infringe on individual rights. That has included the closure of businesses he has declared to be “non-essential,’’ a moratorium on evictions, and what amounted to a stay-at-home order for people who do not need to be out. Most of those are gone. But his orders still keep bars closed unless they operate like restaurants, with sit-down food service and no dancing. And restaurants can operate with only limited seating capacity. “My constituents were banging down my door wanting me to do something and take action,’’ said Sen. Warren Petersen, R-Gilbert, who crafted the plan. Existing law does allow the legislature to terminate an emergency order with a simple majority vote. Only thing is, with the legislature not in session, there was no way for lawmakers to do that. And with Ducey unwilling to call them into a special session to over-

remove politics from action during an emergency so that we can act swiftly to save lives,’’ said Sen. Juan Mendez, DTempe. And he suggested Republicans were making far too much out of the gubernatorial powers. “This isn’t Star Wars,’’ he said. “The Senate didn’t turn Ducey into an emperor.’’ Mendez said that now that legislators are back in session, there are things they should be doing, like dealing with housing and child-care issues of those who have been affected, whether physically or financially, by the virus, “instead of taking advantage of lathered-up constituents and their fears.’’ If approved by the House, the measure will be on the 2022 general election ballot. 

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AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS | FEBRUARY 17, 2021

Supervisors, lawmakers in historic confrontation

BY HOWARD FISCHER Capitol Media Services

he chairman of the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors, whose district includes part of Ahwatukee, and his colleagues are at the epicenter of a historic confrontation with the State Senate over the Nov. 3 presidential election results. Board of Supervisors Chairman Jack Sellers and his four colleagues are at odds with his fellow Republicans in the Senate over lawmakers’ demand for access to voting machines and ballots from the last election. The Senate Republicans’ effort to hold Maricopa County supervisors in contempt – possibly exposing them to arrest – faltered last week after Glendale Republican Sen. Paul Boyer refused to go along. For his part, Sellers said last Friday at a Chandler Chamber of Commerce that it was time Senate Republicans put the election in the rearview mirror.

JACK SELLERS

PAUL BOYER

“I’m anxious to get back to the real work of the county,” he said, repeating his and his three Republican supervisor

colleagues’ insistence that they have given senators everything they legally can provide.

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6,782 responses – including 1,182 staffers, about two thirds of whom work in classrooms. Parents who responded included 1,558 whose children are learning at home and 3,463 whose kids had been in classrooms prior to the district-wide shut-down. One survey question sought the respondents’ comfort level with returning to classrooms if staff had the opportunity to be fully vaccinated. Staff and parents who had been in classrooms overwhelmingly

Boyer said that while he believes the

see SELLERS page 20

favored a return while only about a third of those in the Kyrene Digital Academy or the flex model were comfortable. While board members applauded the administration’s presentation and overall plan to return to classrooms, that wasn’t the case among the 48 parents and staff that wrote statements to the board. The majority of parents who emailed the board pleaded for open classrooms immediately and criticized the administration and board for keeping them closed. 

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SELLERS �� 17

Senate has the power to use its subpoena power to demand access to the voting machines and ballots, he believes that power should be used “sparingly and reluctantly.’’ Boyer said he believes the county is willing to conduct an additional audit of the results of the Nov. 3 election to answer questions about whether the reported results giving the edge to President Biden were accurate. What’s needed, he said, is a judge to issue an order clearing the way for the access that senators seek rather than a contempt citation. “I believe the board genuinely seeks the con�idence and clarity of a court order to legally proceed,’’ Boyer said. And once that happens, he said, there will be no legal reason for the supervisors to claim that giving the Senate what it wants would violate the law. That drew derision from Gilbert Sen. Warren Petersen, who walked colleagues through a timeline of what he said has been an ever-changing stance by the supervisors over whether there would or would not be an audit, who has access to the ballots and even some apparently con�licting arguments about whether courts have authority over the enforcement of legislative subpoenas. Petersen late last week took a new tack, sponsoring a measure that would change the law retroactively in a bid to eventually get their hands on voting equipment and ballots, even if it takes months. SB 1408 would spell out in statute that county election equipment, systems, records and other information “may not be deemed privileged information, con�idential information or other information protected from disclosure.’’ The measure, approved on a party-line 5-3 vote by the Senate Judiciary Committee, declares that this information is “subject to subpoena and must be produced.’’ And it empowers a judge to compel production of the materials and records. Petersen, who chairs the panel, made

TAX�� 14

With Arizona’s tiered tax system, only the earnings above that $250,000/$500,000 threshold are subject to the higher levy. Estimates are that only about 4 percent of Arizonans would

AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS | FEBRUARY 17, 2021

it clear the legislation has one purpose: to force the hand of Maricopa County of�icials who have so far refused to comply with a subpoena the Senate has issued. They have produced various records. But the supervisors contend the county is precluded from surrendering access to voting machines and the actual ballots to senators or the auditors they hope to hire. And so far, the Senate’s efforts to get a court ruling compelling disclosure have faltered. Chandler Sen. J.D. Mesnard said claims by the supervisors they want this resolved ring hollow, citing a �iling which sought a court order to block the Senate from even voting on the contempt resolution. In that �iling, board attorney John Doran told Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Joseph Mikitish the move was part of “politically charged paranoia’’ and a bid by the Senate to “press ahead with a false narrative belied by the actual facts and evidence.’’ “That is beyond outrageous,’’ Mesnard said. “Their actions show they are dripping with contempt.’’ Senate President Karen Fann, RPrescott, detailed for colleagues her own attempts to resolve the issue with the supervisors. In fact, Fann said she originally had planned a contempt vote for 2-1/2 weeks ago but held off in hopes it wouldn’t come to that. Yet every effort to get a resolution, she said, was met with objections from the board. “So I’m sorry to say, this is why we’re at where we’re at right now,’’ Fann said. Sellers has the full support of the board’s other three Republican members and the lone Democrat. In a Facebook post Feb. 5, Sellers castigated Fann, stating she “continues to run from the fact that she has hired debunked conspiracy theorist utilized by Rudy Giuliani to conduct a Senate ‘audit’ suspiciously as an impeachment trial is set to begin in the United States Senate. He noted it is illegal for the board to give custody of ballots to anyone without

be affected. Hannah brushed aside the claim that only the legislature has that power, pointing out that the Arizona Constitution speci�ically empowers voters to create and defeat legislation at the ballot box.

a court order and that the county already has given the Senate “reams of data” and “everything in their subpoena that we are legally allowed to provide.” Sellers also noted the county is conducting two audits with the help of certi�ied auditors from the U.S. Elections Assistance Commission. Supervisor Steve Gallardo, the lone Democrat on the board, was more blunt, stating in a release, “Arizona GOP senators have been complicit in a big lie about the election for three months now. This sham subpoena to get access to people’s private ballots is all in service of the big lie. The big lie has always been about a single issue on the ballot—the presidential race—and the ego of the former President…The November election was safe, secure, and accurate.” He also said a vote in favor of the contempt action is “expressing their contempt for the will of the majority of Maricopa County residents.” With the 30-member Senate having just 16 Republicans and the Democrats opposed, Boyer’s decision left the majority one vote short of what was needed to approve the contempt resolution. What happens next is unclear. Contempt citation or not, there is still a subpoena demanding access to the machines and the ballots. The county has a pending lawsuit asking a judge to void the subpoena as invalid, saying state law prohibits the county from surrendering access to them. But that lawsuit could be used to adjudicate the dispute about whether that also applies to the Legislature. Much of the dispute is over a section of state law which says that after the postelection canvass, an envelope with the ballots is placed in a secure facility managed by the county treasurer “who shall keep it unopened and unaltered for 24 months for elections for a federal of�ice.’’ Tully contends the only exception is when there is a legal challenge by a candidate or a recount, neither of which is at play here. Petersen said he doesn’t read the law

In anticipation that Proposition 208 could bust the spending limit, the drafters of Proposition 208 speci�ically said that the dollars raised by the new levy are exempt from that limit. But Hannah said that’s not so simple, as the initiative is a law that, by de�inition, cannot over-

as precluding the supervisors from allowing legislators -- or their designated agents -- from looking at the ballots. “We issued a subpoena and they have given us the �inger,’’ Petersen said. He said that undermines the authority of lawmakers to issue subpoenas, presumably backed by the power to enforce them. “When we were given the authority under the state constitution to be lawmakers, we need to be able to collect facts, we need to be able to investigate,’’ he said. “Otherwise, how are we going to know how to change the laws,’’ Petersen continued. “How are we going to know how to make a law to �ix something if we can never know what to �ix?’’ Fann said she’s not starting from that premise. But she said there are enough questions by constituents to require an inquiry. Sen. Kelly Townsend, R-Mesa, questioned why the supervisors are expending so much energy trying to deny that the Senate has absolute power to demand an audit and access to the equipment and ballots. Fann made it clear she would not have brought the resolution up for a vote had Boyer told her ahead of time he would not balk. “I think all my bills are now dead,’’ Boyer told Capitol Media Services, as his GOP colleagues who control both the Senate and House won’t provide the votes. Townsend all but con�irmed that. “If you say you’re going to vote along with your caucus and then you do not, your word is never going to be trusted again,’’ she said. Then there’s the 2022 election. “I’m sure there will be political rami�ications as well,’’ Boyer said. AFN staff contributed to this report.

GOT NEWS? Contact Paul Maryniak at 480-898-5647 or pmaryniak@

rule a constitutional provision. The judge said, though, that Proposition 208 could be read so that the funds raised do not fall within the cap. He said the new dollars could be considered “grants’’ which are not covered by the constitutional limit. 

NEWS

AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS | FEBRUARY 17, 2021

Chandler lawmaker’s gaming law advances BY HOWARD FISCHER Capitol Media Services

romoted by an aide to Gov. Doug Ducey and urged on by sports teams and Native American tribes, a vastly expanded legal gaming proposal for Arizona advanced by a Chandler lawmaker cleared its first hurdle last week. The far-reaching legislation approved by the House Commerce Committee would legalize the ability of Arizonans to wager on professional and college sports. Betting on fantasy sports also would become legal if HB 2772 becomes law. And all that could be done online through a smart phone. On top of that, off-track betting locations and service organizations would get the right to legally offer keno. That’s a form of lottery but with a new game and new numbers up to 15 times every hour. Chandler Rep. Jeff Weninger, who is sponsoring the House version of the offreservation gaming plan, said he sees a possible ripple effect. “I truly think you’re going to see things where more people are going to games because it is exciting maybe to have a bet and maybe watching the game in person,’’ he said, “more people wanting to watch it in a group setting because maybe they have a $20 bet on the game.’’ The 9-1 vote followed testimony by a parade of lobbyists for professional sports organizations. Several of them told of the financial woes they faced after the pandemic shortened the seasons. They see legal wagering – and the money generated – as a financial lifeline. The plan, if approved would generate anywhere from $20 million to $42 million a year for the state – lawmakers could use for new or expanded programs or even to grant tax cuts. Only Rep. Pamela Powers Hannley, DTucson, cast the dissenting vote, stating “Gambling is an addiction.’’ “People lose their homes and their live-

Chandler state Rep. Jeff Weninger is ushering Gov. Doug Ducey's expanded gaming proposal through the House while another lawmaker is doing the same in the Senate. (Tribune file photo)

lihoods from gambling,’’ Powers Hannley continued. “We need to realize that we could have unintended consequences from expansion of gambling.’’ The Tucson lawmaker also said she’s not convinced that the private companies that will be hired by sports teams and franchises to run the operations will properly store and protect private information of those who place their bets online. Powers Hannley said this could provide the opportunity for companies to “geotrack’’ the gamblers who make their wagers through their smart phones. But other lawmakers were more in-

clined to listen to the lobbyists who saw nothing but positive out of this. Rob Dallagher who represents the Arizona Cardinals, one of the teams that would get the right to establish its own online and in-stadium wagering facility where people could bet not just on Cardinals game and not just on football but on any professional or college sporting event anywhere in the country. “If I wanted to go today and make a sports bet, there is a way for me to do that,’’ Dallagher said. “What I’m not so certain about is, if I win, am I going to get paid, or is the person holding that bet for me using data

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that is legitimate to determine whether I won or lost that bet,’’ he continued. “And this bill covers both of those.’’ Amilyn Pierce, vice president of the Arizona Diamondbacks, said teams elsewhere have brought in new cash because their home states have given the go-ahead for sports wagering since the U.S. Supreme Court in 2018 voided a federal law banning such gambling. “In the years since the ruling, we have watched as other states have significantly implemented sports betting and what it has done to the financial health of the teams who have been able to participate,’’ she told lawmakers. “We cannot let Arizona fall behind, putting our sports teams at a significant disadvantage in a competitive market.’’ What’s in HB 2772 and a mirror bill in the Senate of SB 1797 are half of a deal that Ducey cut with tribes as they are renegotiating the gaming compacts first approved in 2002. In essence, the tribes would get opportunities for additional locations for casinos and the right to operate new games like craps and roulette. They, too, will be able to take in sports bets. All the terms of that, however, have not been made public. Anni Foster, the governor’s legal counsel, said her boss is entitled to approve new terms without the approval of lawmakers. What does require legislative ratification is what the tribes are giving the state in return: the right to operate new forms of off-reservation gaming that were prohibited in the original 2002 deal. But the whole package is tied together: The tribes don’t get expanded gaming if lawmakers don’t OK the new off-reservation games. And sports betting is permitted only if the tribes in the Phoenix and Tucson areas approve the final deal. The measure now goes to the full House following a review of its constitutionality. No date has been set to hear the Senate version sponsored by Sen. T.J. Shope, RCoolidge. 

Contact Paul Maryniak at 480-898-5647 or pmaryniak@timespublications.com

AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS | FEBRUARY 17, 2021

REAL ESTATE

Real Estate Guide Unprecedented low supply strains housing market BY PAUL MARYNIAK AFN Executive Editor

he inventory of homes for sale in the Valley has reached the lowest levels in modern history, real estate experts say. That means that while the few homes on the market are drawing multiple offers – sometimes scores of them for one house – anxious buyers may soon have to cast their search far from the center of the Phoenix Metro. During Land Advisors Organization’s annual assessment of the state of the

Phoenix real estate scene, two experts said they see no end to the home buying frenzy or the spiraling upward trend in prices. Jeff Palacios Jr., director of research for John Burns Real Estate Consulting, and Land Advisors CEO Greg Vogel, indicated homebuyers may have to look as far away as Casa Grande, the Lake Pleasant area and Florence. The Cromford Report, which also closely watches housing trends in the Valley, earlier this month observed, “The supply situ-

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ation is the worst we have ever recorded.” “It is difficult to describe the state of the housing market in Greater Phoenix these days,” it said. “Just quoting the raw facts makes many people feel you are exaggerating wildly. There are those who seem to believe it cannot really be true when so many people are struggling with their daily lives, battling the worst pandemic we have seen for many decades.” “Variations in demand are almost insignificant,” it continued. “This is because the supply of re-sale homes is so poor it crashes below all-time record lows almost every week.” Cromford said the ratio between homes under contract and those for sale is so out of whack that “we have never before had to invent a description” for it. It noted that as of Feb. 1 and compared to a year ago, listings were down 67 percent, the median sales price had jumped nearly 17 percent and the average price per square foot climbed over 19 percent. That will be good news for those who do own a home. Cromford said, “The annual appreciation rate has already surpassed 19 percent and could easily reach

This chart shows the course of homebuilding the Phoenix Metro market over the last 60 years. Areas in purple are all that’s left besides reservations and federally owned land (black) and State Trust Land (white). (Land Advisors Organization) 30 percent by the time we are well into the second quarter.” “New homebuilders are trying as hard as they can to create more supply, but there are many physical, financial and legal limits to how quickly they can do this,” Cromford said. “These additional homes are sure to be priced well above the current level.” Palacios said “the ridiculously strong” housing market in the Valley is evidenced by the fact that home sales in 2020 were

80 percent higher than the norm for the years 2014-2019. He advised homebuilders that sales were so strong that “it is going to be tough to get your growth this year” and said any overall sales growth, primarily for new homes, will not occur until the second half of 2021. Palacios said that prices and demand not only will be driven by a seemingly no early end to “crazy cheap money” in the form of low mortgage rates but also by the unrelenting influx of out-of-state residents and the growing trend toward working at home. “I’ve talked a lot about work from home,” he said. “It is triggering a massive catalyst for housing demand. …So, affordability will get stretched beyond what you think is the norm.” Vogel said it’s not just home sales that have entered a new territory but land sales as well, saying he sees the market

going “from a chronic shortage that we were experiencing for several years into a panic that’s leading to rapid appreciation.” “Even when we look at the 500,000-$2-million price range, we’ve gone from 283 days down by 90 to 26 days,” he said of the time houses stay on the market before coming under contract. “We have outsized appreciation,” Vogel said. “I think this is too much. We are going to have a real hard time adding enough supply to curtail this but this can get quickly unaffordable.” Vogel noted that the number of building permits soared last year in the West Valley and Pinal County, largely because available land in the East Valley has all but vanished except for huge tracts of State Trust Land in far east Mesa. He noted that the current inventory of finished lots in the Phoenix Metro market totals about 13,000 after 28,700 building permits were issued in 2020. “It’s a little bit frightening related to the supply that is being burned off,” he said. “The builders bought 21,000 lots this past year. Some of those are larger supplies that will last several years, but there’s clearly a deep shortage and the shortage is not only looming but growing.” He said builders and developers “have to buy land differently than they did in the years prior, where they were able to buy morsels or be able to digest 60 lots and have an option on another 60. “They need to buy big platforms and we’re seeing that occur very often at this point. It is not unusual for a builder to come in and buy 300 to 600 units. That was not occurring even just pre-COVID,” Vogel said. 

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The areas circled in red are the home-building hotspots now and into the next few years. (Land Advisors Organization)

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end of March 2021 and is not extended – an unlikely scenario based on recent history – you can count on an avalanche of eviction lawyers lining up in lockstep on the courthouse steps on April 1. If the moratorium is not extended, these tenants won’t be honoring or celebrating April Fool’s Day. Instead, the joke will be on them as they will be focusing on finding replacement housing. On its face, the federal eviction moratorium appears to protect landlords who are not getting paid by tenants because the order does not relieve any obligation that a tenant owes under the lease. In reality, however, real estate experts are leery of a landlord’s ability to collect on a significant judgment against a tenant who has not paid rent in several months. If a tenant qualifies under the federal eviction moratorium, the reason is that the tenant cannot afford to pay rent due to a loss or reduction in income. If a tenant cannot afford to pay rent, it is unlikely that same tenant can satisfy a large court judgment. Thus, if and when the federal eviction

moratorium expires, not only will many tenants be forced to move, but landlords will be forced to reckon with the reality that they may never be made whole on the months no rent was paid. It is also important to note that the federal eviction moratorium does not protect all renters. The tenant must sign a declaration, which can be found on the CDC website. The declaration form provides that the tenant cannot afford rent, has sought governmental assistance, and is likely to be deemed homeless if evicted. Many landlords are still proceeding with eviction lawsuits, raising arguments about the truthfulness of the declaration signed by the tenant. In other cases, landlords are proceeding with eviction actions for cases that do not relate to non-payment of rent – i.e., the tenant damaged the property or engaged in criminal activity. Ben Gottlieb is a partner in MacQueen & Gottlieb, PLC, the state’s leading real estate law firm. Information: 602-5332840. 

BY KEVIN REAGAN AFN Staff Writer and HOWARD FISCHER Capitol Media Services

ommittees in the state House and Senate have given their approval to two competing bills that would give cities more power to regulate short-term rental properties. Some Valley cities have come out in opposition to Chandler Sen. J.D. Mesnard’s SB 1379, which tries to prevent those rentals from turning into rowdy party houses by allowing local governments to set occupancy limits and insurance requirements on the owners who lease out their homes through websites like Airbnb and VRBO. But Scottsdale Rep. John Kavanagh’s bill would go much further, restoring much of the authority that previous legislatures and Gov. Doug Ducey stripped away in recent years. Houses rented through the digital applications have been the source of several complaints in recent years by neighbors who don’t appreciate seeing residential properties turned into de facto hotels.

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of most East Valley communities, said Mesnard’s bill does not go far enough to resolve the issues brought up by local governments. Nick Ponder, the League’s legislative director, said SB 1379 doesn’t make enough substantive changes to the state’s current laws that are favorable to municipalities. The League is not advocating for outlawing short-term rentals, he added, but cities and towns want more autonomy over how to control these properties. “The prominent issue here is that the law that was passed in 2016 requires cities and towns to treat short-term rentals exactly the same as we treat long-term residential rentals,” Ponder said. Ryan Peters, Chandler’s government relations manager, said Chandler opposes the bill for similar reasons to the ones expressed by other cities. Mesnard’s caps civil penalties at the amount of daily rent advertised by the short-term rental where a violation occurred. SB 1379 additionally requires a mu-

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One such rental was the site of a homicide in Chandler a couple years ago after a deadly fight broke out during a house party. Airbnb and VRBO, which have more than 500 rental listings spread out across Chandler, claim many of their hosts are conscientious residents simply trying to earn some extra income by leasing out empty rooms. Lawmakers have been trying to appease the conflicting interests between municipalities and rental owners ever since Ducey prevented local governments from banning short-term rentals. Mesnard said he intentionally wrote his bill to specifically target rentals that become a revolving door for boisterous revelers by letting cities decide whether to restrict the number many tenants who can occupy them. The bill allows the revocation of homeowners’ tax license if they violate local regulations at least three times within a one-year period. But the Arizona League of Cities and Towns, which represents the interests

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he courageous investors who plunged into the deep end of the stock market swimming pool in March of 2020 have basked in delight and euphoria these past 10 months as their household net worth rose dramatically due to a rising stock market. This is also especially true for those affiliated or invested with companies like Zoom, Peloton, Big Tech, Netflix – to name just a few – that were uniquely positioned to benefit from the post-COVID-19 economy. Others are not so fortunate, however. The past 10 months have wrought significant and ongoing emotional and financial distress – waiting precariously for the next executive order or stimulus check to arrive just to get by and meet monthly expenses or avoid being dispossessed from the home in which they reside. Experts refer to this phenomenon as a “K-Shaped Recovery,” which has gripped

the post-COVID-19 economy, significantly exacerbating economic disparity among different divisions, sectors, and demographics of the U.S. economy. This phenomenon is on full display in the real estate market, where thanks in part to record low interest rates many households are benefitting from purchasing their first home, upgrading their home or refinancing their existing mortgage. Others are unemployed and are at risk of being removed from their home to eviction or foreclosure. The numbers are too large to ignore. Recent data produced by Zillow reveals that millions of renters in the U.S. are not employed and are at risk of losing their homes once the federal eviction moratorium expires. In the Phoenix metro area, numerous renters cannot afford rent even with stimulus checks and unemployment payments. This presents a unique problem both for the unemployed tenants as well as the landlords renting out the property. From the tenant perspective, if the federal eviction moratorium expires at the

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Competing short-term rental bills advance

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nicipality to wait 30 days before imposing a civil penalty to a rental owner who fails to provide their contact information to the city. On Feb. 3, the Senate Commerce Committee voted unanimously to pass Mesnard’s bill to the Rules Committee for further review. Despite the bipartisan support for Mesnard’s bill, representatives from the cities of Scottsdale, Surprise, Casa Grande and Fountain Hills have come out in opposition to the legislation. Paradise Valley Mayor Jerry Bien-Willner said his town opposes SB 1379 because it doesn’t go far enough to restore the rights of ordinary citizens who feel their neighborhoods have been impacted by short-term rentals. “Our state’s predicament will, I think, get worse if we don’t take action here,” the mayor said. “We want real reform.” Mesnard said he is not interested in overregulating the rental industry, stating, “I know there are other proposals

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FEBRUARY 17, 2021 | AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS

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AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS | FEBRUARY 17, 2021

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SPO OTLIGHT home

PRISTINE &CLASSY GATED CALABREA ESTATE! PRISTINE & CLASSY GATED ESTATE ON A PREMIUM 2/3 ACRE HILLSIDE LOT • PRIVATE CUL-DE-SAC • 6 BEDROOMS, 4.5 BATHS, 5200 SQFT OF PURE LUXURY FINISHES • STUNNING VIEWS IN EVERY DIRECTION • IRON DOOR • BUTTED GLASS WINDOWS IN ENTRY & KITCHEN • CUSTOM WINDOW TREATMENTS • DECORATOR PAINT • DOME CEILING FOYER & GROIN VAULTED CEILINGS IN LIVING ROOM • TRAVERTINE & HARDWOOD FLOORS THROUGHOUT • 7-INCH BASEBOARDS • MEDIA ROOM • DREAM KITCHEN INCLUDES S/S APPLIANCES,SLAB GRANITE COUNTERS, ALDER CABINETS,HUGE ISLAND,WALK IN PANTRY • LARGE MASTER SUITE W/STONE FIREPLACE • MASTER BATH W/JACUZZI TUB,3 VANITIES & SNAIL SHOWER • PARADISE BACKYARD W/TRAVERTINE IN VERSAILLES PATTERN,TURF GRASS,PEBBLETEC POOL/JACUZZI,4 WATER FEATURES,LARGE COVERED PATIO,STACKED STONE BBQ • 4 CAR GARAGE W/EPOXY & STORAGE! YOUR DREAM ESTATE AWAITS!!

Listed for $1,339,000

Geno Ross (602) 751-2121 www.GenoRoss.com CIRCLE G AT RIGGS RANCH

CALABREA

3043 W Briarwood Terrace

Estate living with refined tranquility in this exquisite setting. Meticulous stonework adorns entire exterior of this luxury home. Inviting entry opens to diagonally laid tile with granite inlays and dramatic wooden staircase. Formal dining room with stacked stone fireplace. Gourmet kitchen features granite countertops, large island, Subzero refrigerator, and Wolf gas cooktop with double ovens. Fireplace and wet bar in great room. Floor plan boasts seven bedrooms, playroom and large game room. Expansive master suite includes large sitting area with two-way fireplace, crown molding, separate walk-in closets and spacious bathroom. Three custom iron doors lead to massive covered patio with pavers, built-in barbeque, heated pool with waterfall and slide, gorgeous landscaping with fruit trees and koi pond.

Stunning 5 bed / 5.5 bath custom basement home w/ 4 car garage in Ahwatukee Foothills’ prestigious gated community of Calabrea. Gorgeous curb appeal w/ stacked stonework, front courtyard & paver driveway. Highly upgraded with amazing architectural design throughout the home including custom wood beam, arched, tiled & coffered ceilings. Bright & open with huge windows letting in the natural sunlight. The spacious living room has full wall of sliders that open to back patio. Dream kitchen offers top of the line SS appliances (including 6 burner gas range w/ pot filler & multiple ovens), pristine staggered cabinetry, granite counters, pantry & large island w/ sink & bar top seating, as well as built-in desk/workstation in the breakfast area. Formal dining room & wine cellar perfectly located for entertaining. Sprawling master suite w/ double door entry & private exit doors to outside has wet bar w/ mini fridge & fireplace w/ mantel. Master bathroom has two vanities w/ seated area, large soaking tub, huge walk-in tile shower w/ bench & multiple shower heads, & enormous closet w/ custom organization.

Large secondary bedrooms. Oversized laundry room with sink, granite countertops, cabinetry and room for a refrigerator. Additional upgrades throughout include 8’ solid core doors, speakers, surround sound in numerous locations, designer paint and exterior security cameras. Three masonry fireplaces. Anderson windows installed six years ago on entire first level. Four Trane a/c units with variable speed. Over-sized side entry four car garage. Availability to park an RV in the back as long as a garage is built for it. Over 7,000 square feet of stone on exterior. Almost acre-sized lot affords complete privacy.

Finished basement offers huge family room w/ wet bar & mini fridge, perfect room for home theatre if desired, additional bedroom & full bath. Spectacular backyard w/ no neighbors behind or to one side is a true sanctuary w/ its large covered patio, breathtaking pool (waterfall feature & negative edge side), spa, built-in bbq, perfectly placed desert landscaping, scenic fencing & of course the hillside views. This is a MUST SEE home in Calabrea. Easy access to freeway & all Ahwatukee has to offer including shopping, dining, hiking/biking trails, golfing & plenty of other entertainment choices. Schedule your showing today!

Listed for $1,790,000

Mike Mendoza

SONORAN LIVING

KELLER WILLIAMS® REALTY

480.706.7234 • www.MendozaTeam.com

LISTED AT $1,450,000

Rachael Richards

480.270.5782 • rhouserealty.com

REAL ESTATE

FEBRUARY 17, 2021 | AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS

Correction A report in last week’s Ahwatukee

Foothills News on how attorneys Patrick MacQueen of Ahwatukee and Ben Gottlieb of Chandler were named among the top 100 lawyers in Arizona misidentified a photo of MacQueen.

Got s? New

480-706-7234

RENTALfrom page RE5

out there that would like to go broader. I will not be on board with those.” Meanwhile, a House panel last week voted 8-5 to would allow city and town councils to impose limits on how many people can be in a short-term rental based on the number of bedrooms. Potentially more significant, Kavanagh said his legislation would permit cities to enact zoning restrictions that could limit the number of these short-term rentals in any one neighborhood – or entirely within the community’s borders. The 2016 law “was sold as the elderly couple, empty nesters with the extra bedroom, who could make a few extra bucks renting out their room to tourists or whatever,’’ Kavanagh said. “That seemed benign,’’ he said, what with the owners on the premises to control any problems.

Capitol Media Services contributed to this report. 

Ahwatukee’s #1 Team for Over 30 Years 3 BR / 2 BA / 2,182 SQFT Rare opportunity for superb Scottsdale Villa with amazing amenities. Largest floor plan with a full third bedroom.

Estate living with refined tranquility in exquisite setting. Meticulous stonework adorns entire exterior of home.

Call for Details

5BR / 4.5 BA / 4,924 SQFT Majestic Southwest contemporary estate on private hillside lot with stunning mountain and city light views.

Tapestry Canyon

re7

whatever you want with your property,’’ he said. “If there’s a vacant lot in a residential neighborhood, maybe next to your house, and somebody buys it, they shouldn’t be allowed to open up a McDonald’s,’’ Kavanagh continued. “When you invest your life savings in home in a residential neighborhood, you have a right to make sure that it stays residential.’’ Kavanagh said his legislation would have no effect on individuals who are owner-occupants and rent out rooms in their own homes. He said they are not the problem. And he promised to amend his legislation when it goes to the House floor to “grandfather’’ in any existing short-term rentals so they could continue to operate if and when his measure becomes law.

Contact Paul Maryniak at 480-898-5647 or pmaryniak@timespublications.com

7BR / 4.5 BA / 8,873 SQFT

Circle G at Riggs Ranch

“But in reality, short-term rentals are such that an investor can make far more money buying a house and renting it out as a hotel -- as a horizontal, decentralized hotel -- than renting the house out for long-term rental,’’ he said. Kavanagh said it has created problems in places like Sedona, where he said 40 percent of the available rental units are now vacation properties, “driving up the prices of all rentals and making it impossible for city employees or even business employees, store employees, to live in the town.’’ Rep. Jake Hoffman, R-Queen Creek, said the whole concept is offensive. “Property and the ability to use one’s property to its fullest extent, and to the fullest enjoyment, is your right,’’ he said, contending there are enough ordinances already in place to deal with “bad apples.’’ Kavanagh said that Hoffman is wrong. “There is not an absolute right to do

Listed for $1,325,000

Winfield ! LD O S

Listed for $589,000

3BR / 2.5 BA / 1,689 SQFT New interior paint and flooring. Master suite downstairs with loft and Jack and Jill bathroom upstairs. Close to community pool.

Keystone

! LD O S

Listed for $349,900

Mike Mendoza MendozaTeam.com 5 BR / 5 BA / 6,455 SQFT Stunning panoramic views from privately gated luxury retreat with casita on elevated preserve lot.

Sanctuary ! LD O S

Listed for $1,950,000

4 BR / 3 BA / 2,730 SQFT Spectacular waterfront home in popular Laguna Shores. 2019 A/C replacement.

Call for Details

Laguna Shores

Tapestry Canyon

AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS | FEBRUARY 17, 2021

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Ahwatukee Custom Estates One of the most amazing view lots in

$2,099,000

SOLD!

all of AZ. Custom home with everythingl 10,000 sq. ft., 3/4 acre prserve lot, 6 bedrooms, 6 bathes, Executive Office Suite, Master Suite with Sitting Room, Master Bath with Jacuzzi, Theater Room, Exercise Room, Loft, Guest House, Grand Foyer, Gourmet Kitchen, Resort Backyard with Pebbletec Diving Pool, Watertalls, slide, Volcano, firepit, Spa, Sport Court, Grassy Play Areas, & Outdoor Kitchen, 4-car A/C Garage. A true masterpiece!!!

Ahwatukee Custom Estates

Calabrea

$1,750,000

$1,339,000

Pristine & Classy Gated Estate On A Premium 2/3 Acre Hillside Lot, Private Cul-De-Sac, 6 Bedrooms, 4.5 Baths, 5200 Sqft Of Pure Luxury Finishes, Stunning Views In Every Direction, Iron Door, Butted Glass Windows In Entry & Kitchen, Custom Window Treatments, Decorator Paint, Dome Ceiling Foyer & Groin Vaulted Ceilings In Living Room, Travertine & Hardwood Floors Throughout, 7-Inch Baseboards, Media Room, Dream Kitchen Includes S/S Appliances, Slab Granite Counters, Alder Cabinets, Huge Island, Walk In Pantry, Large Master Suite W/Stone Fireplace, Master Bath W/Jacuzzi Tub, 3 Vanities & Snail Shower, Paradise Backyard W/Travertine In Versailles Pattern, Turf Grass, Pebbletec Pool/Jacuzzi, 4 Water Features, Large Covered Patio, Stacked Stone Bbq, 4 Car Garage W/Epoxy & Storage! Your Dream Estate Awaits!!

SOLD!

Amazing Remodeled Custom Estate with mountain views located at the end of a cul-de-sac.Over 8000sqft of pure luxury finishes.6 Bedroom,5.5 Baths.Custom Kitchen.Elevator.Executive Office.Basement Media Room.Dance Studio.Huge Backyard with Pool, Jacuzzi, Turf, BBQ, Sportcourt.This Spectacular Estate has it all!!! Stunning single-level custom estate gated summerhill on a 1/2 acre lot. beautiful mountain views. Gourmet Kitchen. Master Suite w/sitting area. Two master suites. Split floorplan. Executive office w/built-in cabinets. Tropical paradise backyard w/covered patio, gazebo, pebbletec pool, rock waterfall, built-in bbq, turf, & putting green. This estate has the perfect floorplan!!

Summerhill $1,099,000

Calabrea $1,099,000

Cabrillo Canyon $689,000

5 bedroom / 3 bath, 3,506 SqFt, Cul-de-sac location with huge backyard, sports court, built-in BBQ, mature shade trees, very private backing to wash. Good size SOLD! bedrooms, master downstai5. Features a large office with balcony, plus office/loft with built-in bookcase and 3 full baths. Th� home is perfect for family gatherings BEST NEAR THE LOOP 202 in gated withand stunning mountain only. views. andLOCATION entertaining. CanNEW be previewed with 24Calabrea hour notice appointment

SOLD! Stunning Single Level Custom Remodel on a huge corner lot in a cul-de-sac! *4 Bedroom, 2.5 Bath *The highest quality custom finishes throughout *Grand foyer *Formal living & dining room *Familt room w/fireplace *Wetbar *Designer kitchen includes: quartzsite counters & island, s/s appliances, custom cabinetry, walk-in pantry *Recessed LED lights throughout *Plantation shutters *Large master suite *Master bath w/walk-in shower, free standing tub, & walk-in closet *Laundry room w/sink *Wood flooring *Custom fixtures *Trane A/C’s *Private backyard w/covered patio, pebbletec pool, turf, & RV gate with tons of room to park the toys *3 Car garage with epoxy *The lot is very private *The house shows like a new build *Do not miss your opportunity to own this amazing Cabrillo Canyon Estate!

Complete with the highest quality build and finishes. Gourmet kitchen includes slab granite counters, alder cabinets, and stainless steel appliances. This estate also features a media/ theater room with 105 inch screen. The basement includes a full wet bar, family room & 2 bedrooms. Resort Backyard with pool. A perfect 10!

www.GenoRoss.com Donna Leeds

�

TOP GRI, ABR REALTOR

949.310.5673

lf"fl!

SOLD!

Canyon Verde/$899,000--SOLD IN 1 DAY Foothills/$299,000--SOLD IN 1 DAY Ahwatukee/$489,000--SOLD IN 1 DAY

Geno Ross

602.751.2121

wwwBestAgentWUSA.com

Making Ahwatukee

Home Dreams Come True Since 1986 www.WestUSA.com I 480.893.0600

4505 E. Chandler Boulevard, Suite 170, Phoenix, AZ 85048

Horse Property - Queen Creek

$695,000

PENDING!

Over 2200 sq. ft main house with 5 bedrooms, 3 baths, and a separate 844 sq ft 1 bedroom, 1 bath guest house, complete with full kitchen, lvg room and laundry room, a 44 x 32 mare motel, enclosed 16 x 16 area with AC, heat and electrical. An expansive front courtyard with views of the San Tan Mountains and a back covered patio, with views of the Superstition Mountains. With over an acre, of lasered level irrigation land, 3 grass pastures divided by fences, gates for horses and livestock, 3 stalls for horses or livestock 1 dog kennel/work room, all sitting on a county island!

Mountain Park Ranch

$320,000

Open Floor Plan, Bright & Cozy Corner Lot Home Across from Large Greenbelt. 2 Bedroom 2 Bath Pool Backyard Paradise Private Pool with Travertine Pool Deck, Split Master with Separate Entrance to Back Yard. Beautiful Custom Shower and more.

Rhonda Fosenburg 480-227-0815 rhonda@rhonda4realestate.com rhondafosenburg.com

Ahwatukee

SOLD! 4 bedroom, 3 bath, 3252 Sq Ft. This gorgeous family home with it’s backyard oasis combines the best of indoor and outdoor living . The remodeled kitchen overlooks the dining/family room with gas fireplace and offers granite counter tops, stainless appliances, duel ovens, wet bar and large pantry. Recently repainted inside & out and re-carpeted in 2019.

Troy Royston 480-435-3461 troyston61@gmail.com

SOLD!

Warner Ranch Meadows

$599,900

Citrus Mountain Estates

$849,900

$399,900

Gorgeous Views! SEMI-CUSTOM BASEMENT HOME SITUATED ON A STUNNING WATERFRONT LOT IN HARBOR ISLAND COMMUNITY. 4,525 sq ft. 4 Bedrms 3 Baths. 1 Bedroom & Bath Downstairs. Awesome Backyard W/ Play Pool, Grassy Area, Dock Where You Can Boat or Fish.

Prepare to be amazed! Come and see this wonderful 4 bed, 2 bath property now for sale in Phoenix! A beautiful facade, desert landscaping, 3 car garage, this home has it all and more!

Geri Thompson 480-239-7589 gerithompson@westusa.com

$419,900

UNDER CONTRACTBACK UPS

Kelly Quek, M.B.A. 480-734-9808 kellyquek8@gmail.com

SOLD!

Charming 3 bed, 2 bath home. Formal living and dining room. Tile & carpet in all the right places. Vaulted ceilings and soft color palette. Spacious open floor plan for the kitchen, dining, and family room. The stunning eat-in kitchen has a plethora of custom cabinets, beautiful granite counters, SS appliances, breakfast bar seating, and a pantry. The master has a private entrance, a full bath, and a walk-in closet. The serene backyard has a covered patio, mature foliage, and a nice lawn area for the kids & pets to play! Community amenities. Close to schools, shopping, and major freeways. Make this your new home today!

Marty Griffin 602-692-7653 martygriffin@q.com

Jenifer Bulfer 480-297-6968 jbulfer@westusa.com

Harbor Island

SOLD!

Let the AZ sunshine in with all it’s glory through the panoramic windows.1/2 bath + 3/4 bath & 1 bedroom downstairs. Eat in kitchen is complete with center island, breakfast bar, granite countertops, a plethora of custom cabinets, and stainless steel appliances. Three bedrooms up plus a office with built in desks! Master suite has wood flooring, private exit to balcony, and built in desk. Full spa bathroom with double sink vanity and separate soaking tub + shower. Resort style backyard features a covered patio with lush green grass and a sparkling pool.

Mountain Park Ranch

Foothills Reserve

$625,000 Beautifully maintained and upgraded home that has it all. Built with your family in mind. Mountain views and a large pool for the family. This newly renovated kitchen is a must see. From the large granite counter top, double ovens, gas stove top, warmer tray and so much more. The Master bedroom is your own getaway with a private balcony for your retreat as you gaze upon South Mountain. Relax in your own sitting room nestled adjacent you Master suite. This unique home is waiting for your enjoyment.

Marty Griffin 602-692-7653 martygriffin@q.com

Tempe - Temporary off the Market $299,900

TEMPORARY OFF THE MARKET

Wonderful single story 3 bedrooms, 2 baths great Tempe location. Large living room, kitchen offers black appliances and granite counters. Spacious master with walk in closet. Large yard with RV gate and no HOA. Great location and minutes from ASU , restaurants and entertainment.

Natalie Christensen 602-373-6212 nchristensen@westusa.com

Beth Cooke 520-635-3727 beth@bethrealaz.com www.bethrealaz.com

Mountain Park Ranch

$450,000 5 bedroom 3 bath, 4,254 sq ft. Large lot “Cul-D-Sac” family home in the heart of Ahwatukee. Home features two new Trane AC units, new roof and newer pebble tec diving pool! Enjoy Mountain Park Ranch and all its amenities. Award winning Kyrene School district and close to Sky Harbor Airport.

Link Paffenbarger 602-989-7221 linkpaff@gmail.com

AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS | FEBRUARY 17, 2021

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FEBRUARY 17, 2021 | AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS

Community

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www.ahwatukee.com

Local man’s collection is the toast of the town BY COTY DOLORES MIRANDA AFN Contributor

dual degree in architecture and engineering formed the basis for Don Ellwanger’s unique hobby – collecting toasters. When the Ahwatukee man was first gifted an antique but working toaster in the mid-70s, his eye for workmanship and art deco style started him on a path to collecting the bread-browners. His collection of 36 toasters, ranging from vintage 1900 models through the Fifties, grace shelves in his kitchen while at least 10 leftovers displayed in his office. “In our home, toasters dominate the landscape,” he said of his well-polished, stamped or engraved one and two-slice antique toasters in his collection. He is not only attracted to their unique nickel or chrome exteriors, often in art deco style with Bakelite handles and feet, but also marvels at their mechanics and

Don Ellwanger shows of some of the 36 antique and vintage toasters he has collected over the years at his Ahwatukee home. (Pablo Robles/AFN Staff Photographer) craftsmanship. It all began in a beachside apartment in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, while he was working as a radio station disc jockey.

“My landlady was in her 90s and one day she came downstairs with a General Electric toaster with the old flopper type doors that come down on each side, and

though the apartment was fully furnished, she said ‘I don’t think you have a toaster in here,’” recalled Ellwanger. “She said the toaster was one of two she and her long-departed husband had received as wedding gifts. She told me, ‘This is yours; I want you to keep it.’ It continued to serve me until 2007 when the filament burned in two.” He said the more he examined the antique toaster, the more he wondered what else might be out there. But he had been advised by his physician to cut back on bread, so he put it aside. And then came a 2011 CBS Sunday morning segment from South Carolina on the undisputed king of toaster collecting – Dr. Kenneth Huggins. It was the same year Huggins entered the Guinness Book of World Records under the category “largest collection of toasters” – 1,284.

�ee TOASTERS page 26

Ahwatukee sports reporter’s impact was far-reaching BY MARCO PERALTA Cronkite News

rizona State University’s Cronkite School has established a memorial foundation fund for ESPN reporter Pedro Gomez, 58, who died Jan. 7 at his Ahwatukee home. “He’s gone and I was shocked to be completely honest,” Diamondbacks Spanishlanguage broadcaster Oscar Soria said through an interpreter, “I had to check my sources to make sure that the news I was watching wasn’t false.” Fellow journalists, major league baseball players past and present, athletes in other sports and many fans took to social media to express their sorrow or share stories of a sports journalist known as a great storyteller and a better human being. In more than 30 years covering baseball, Gomez gained a reputation as a talented,

fair and respected reporter while influencing and mentoring the next generation of sports journalists. ESPN reporter Phil Murphy was covering Super Bowl LV in Tampa when he learned that his friend and co-worker had passed. It was instant sadness and a gut punch,” Murphy said. “Everything you see on social media about ESPN’s Pedro Gomez, an Ahwatukee resident, passed away suddenly on Super Bowl Sunday, leaving behind a wife and three kids. Pedro, it’s completely (Courtesy ESPN) true. I’m sad ever Murphy and Gomez sat together during since I heard the news, and I’m sad that I four games of the 2019 World Series, keepwon’t get to talk to him again.”

ing box scores and talking about baseball. “The guy just oozed wisdom,” Murphy said, “It’s not just a loss for baseball or for the ESPN family, it was a loss for the whole world of journalism.” Gomez, the son of Cuban refugees, always took pride in his roots. In 2016, the Tampa Bay Rays played against the Cuban National Baseball Team and Gomez was sent on assignment to cover the event. During his time in Cuba, Gomez spread the ashes of his late father and brother at their former home there. “It was very emotional to me. It was their wish to have this done,” Gomez told ESPN SportsCenter host Scott Van Pelt in a 2016 report from the island nation. “I was very honored, happy and proud to be able to fulfill a wish that each of them had.” Gomez was a regular at Cactus League

�ee GOMEZ page 27

COMMUNITY

AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS | FEBRUARY 17, 2021

AROUND AHWATUKEE

Scams are topic of Ahwatukee women’s meeting next week

The Ahwatukee Friends Family and Neighbors women’s club remains online for its monthly meetings. At 1 p.m. Monday, Feb. 22, they will present Joan Campbell of the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office. She will discuss “Scams, Schemes and Frauds; How to Avoid Being a Victim.” Registration/information: affanwomensgroup@ gmail.com.

Chamber women launch a Business Bingo effort here

The Ahwatukee Foothills Chamber of Commerce Women in Business Committee have launched Small Business Bingo. Jessica Magee, studio manager for Music Maker Workshops, and Angelica Parra, a Cox account executive, chair the committee – which is giving a local spin to

TOASTERS from page 25

He was among the first members of the Toaster Collectors Association, founded in 1999. In the interview, available on YouTube, the retired psychiatrist opens an outbuilding constructed to display his vast collection to fellow TCA members for that year’s annual convention. Among the toasters exhibited was the first Americanproduced electric toaster made by General Electric. “I saw that interview and basically started thinking about toasters and started searching online and found another Westinghouse that looked exactly like mine. It was from the 1930s and had a spider web design,” said Ellwanger. He ordered it from a private collector and was disappointed when it arrived with a broken heating element but the seller told him to keep it. That second acquisition often sets you on the road to collecting. His third one, which still works, was an expandable model that could hold a sandwich. He decided to connect with Huggins and called him. “We had a very lively conversation,” Ellwanger recalled. “He quizzed me about what I had and wanted me to come and see his collection. I never got to South Carolina but he probably inspired me a lot with his enthusiasm.” Huggins continues to inspire with his regular posts on Toaster Collectors Association’s Facebook page.

that classic game to promote businesses in Ahwatukee. Participants can pick up bingo cards either at businesses that are part of the campaign or download them at ahwatukeechamber.com. Then, through March 31, players will have to visit businesses listed on the card and look around the establishment for the code word that they use to fill a bingo square. Once players have completed traditional, they turn in the card. Winners will be picked in a raffle in early April and first prize is a $200 gift card to one of the participating businesses while the second-place winner gets a $100 gift card and third place a $50 card. Participating businesses include Music Maker Workshops, Ahwatukee Carpets, Pigtails & Crewcuts, Your CBD Store, Pure Barre Ahwatukee, Board & Brush, Nicholas Goode at Edward Jones, Von Hansons, Kolache Cafe, Smallcakes, Where U Bean, Fuschia Spa, Urban Air, Foothills Pet Resort, Buzzed Goat, Honey Baked Ham and Once Upon a Child.

Ahwatukee travel agent finished training on safety issues

Four students from Ahwatukee schools are Flinn finalists

JoAnne Michaud of Ahwatukee, a Dream Vacations specialist and franchise owner, has completed training as a Travel Safety Verified travel advisor. The training covered health and safety best practices while traveling, health protection policies, safety protocols in place at resorts, airlines and cruises and how to address customer concerns for various scenarios. “It’s a crucial part of a travel advisor’s role to be able to decipher the information relevant to each traveler and destination, she said, adding that her training has made her “well-informed on the current travel environment” and that she “can better guide and advocate for my clients so they may travel with additional peace of mind.” She said the pandemic has elevated the importance of using travel agents to book vacations. Information: 919-452-0227 or visitjmichaud. dreamvacations.com.

Four Ahwatukee high school seniors are among the 35 finalists students for one of 20 prestigious Flinn Scholarships, which provide a four-year ride at any of Arizona’s three universities and a number of benefits throughout their undergraduate studies. The Class of 2021 Flinn Scholarship finalists will interview in March with a four-person selection committee comprised of distinguished Arizona leaders for an opportunity to be chosen as one of 20 Flinn Scholars. Those interviews will include Shirley Wang of Ahwatukee, a Desert Vista High School senior; Mitch Zakocs of Ahwatukee, a Mountain Pointe senior; Jordyn Hitzeman, of Ahwatukee, a BASIS Ahwatukee senior; and Surabhi Sajith, a BASIS Ahwatukee senior who lives in Tempe. Those four students, along with the 31 other finalists, have made it through a rigorous process that began last August and drew 951 applications from 209 Arizona high schools in 73 cities and towns and 13 of the state’s 15 counties. 

as common as bread in a household. Toasted bread has been a human enjoyment since ancient times. The term “toast” is derived from the Latin word “tostum,” which means “to scorch or burn” which is often what resulted from placing bread on sticks or metal forks over fire. Pre-electric toasters were pyramidshaped tin-and-wire devices heated on the wood or coal stove toasting one side of the bread at a time. Then, Ellwanger explained, in 1893, Toasters have a long history, Don Ellwanger said, scientist Alan MacMasters of Scotthough the devices didn’t become more effi- land invented the first electric toaster cient until the first electric one. (Special to AFN) which he named the Eclipse. Ellwanger’s collection has brought with The new invention’s wiring was suscepthem a wealth of knowledge on the origin tible to melting, a definite fire hazard. In and evolution of toasters. 1905, Albert Marsh of Chicago created niHe continues the quest for the special chrome, an alloy of nickel and chromium additions in-person as well as online. that was highly fire resistant. “You find the gems every once and a Four years later, the D-12 model patwhile,” he said, describing how he found ented by Frank Shailor was manufacsuch a dust-covered gem nearly hidden tured by General Electric and became a behind other collectibles in the back of a commercial success. Prescott antique store. In 1919, Charles Perkins of Chicago, “They didn’t know what they had. It was grew weary of burnt toast in the cafeterias number 326 of the first run of pop-up where he labored and designed springs toasters,” he explained. and a timer for the first pop-up toaster. “It was very heavy and single-slice. Each In 1926, his company offered a redetoaster I obtain generally is still in work- signed model and named it Toastmaster. ing condition – some better than others Ellwanger is still in the hunt for excep– and I tend to rotate them from home dis- tional toasters but he admits because of play to kitchen counter. space and so as not to test the patience of “However, I do use one toaster fairly his wife of 28 years, he is being selective. consistently – a 1953 single-slice pop-up “Sheila made me promise I’d consult McGraw Electric Co. Toastmaster with a with her before buying any new ones,” he separate knob for lighter/darker settings.” said of his partner, whom he met in Hawaii It’s hard to imagine a time when it wasn’t 33 years ago.

He favors art deco designs. “Each one has been acquired because of each one’s unique design and functionality. I do find the ones that represent the Art Deco era appeal to me a bit more than other designs,” he said. The oldest in his collection is a 1912 Landers, Frary & Clark Universal, one of the first American companies to manufacture electrical home appliances. Ellwanger describes it as having an open arabesque design “with doors that articulate to toast each bread slice one side at a time.” Ellwanger is retired from a career that included serving as a contract specialist with the City and County of Honolulu, senior procurement specialist for Arizona, contract administrator for Arizona Public Service Company, an independent contracts management consultant and president of the National Contract Management Association. He has returned to radio. Prior to the COVID-19 shutdown, Ellwanger was a volunteer reader for KJZZ’s Sun Sounds, and served as one of their Outreach Ambassadors. Since the pandemic limited access to the studio where he read live or recorded magazines and newspapers for persons with disabilities, he put together an inhome studio where he will record again later this month. In late 2020, Ellwanger displayed a sample of his collection with identification details at the Ahwatukee Recreation Center, where it was well-received. Plans are being made for a repeat. 

COMMUNITY

FEBRUARY 17, 2021 | AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS

GOMEZ from page 25

and Arizona Diamondbacks games, but also became a familiar face within the halls of the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication in downtown Phoenix. He visited the campus multiple times as a guest speaker in a variety of classes to spread insight, wisdom and support to many aspiring journalists who wanted to be like him. Brett Kurland, director of sports programs at Cronkite, often asked Gomez to speak to Cronkite students. “Pedro was a wonderful reporter, but an even greater human being,” Kurland said, “He was tremendous out in the field with our students. He would always go out of his way to introduce himself to them, ask them what story they were working on and he would introduce them to the players. He just was so remarkably helpful and generous with his time and his wisdom.” Often, those connections lasted well beyond graduation day. Matt Lively was one of the students who learned from Gomez and remained in

touch with him beyond Arizona State. “I know I’m not the only one, but he meant a lot to me because he was such a great mentor to me,” Lively said. “There are so many Cronkite students who have that same story and it goes to show how good of a guy he was.” Gomez was so helpful to Lively that he agreed to appear in a one-on-one interview with Lively when the Cronkite graduate landed his first job in Bakersfield, California. Nikki Balich, executive director of the Arizona Sports and Entertainment Commission, viewed Gomez more as a friend than a sports media personality. “Anytime you were down or needed some advice, you could always call him,” Balich said, “He was unbelievable. He made an indelible mark on my life. When he was your friend, he was your friend, and he was one of the nicest men on the planet.” Gomez was also an Arizona Sports Hall of Fame trustee. Gomez is survived by his wife, Sandra, sons Rio – a pitcher in the Boston Red Sox organization – and Dante and a daughter, Sierra. 

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BUSINESS

Business 28

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After a year, Smallcakes owners sweet on Ahwatukee AFN NEWS STAFF

tephanie and Christian King wouldn’t be pulling a Marie Antoinette if they looked on Ahwatukee and thought “Let them eat cake.” They love Ahwatukee and believe the sweet treats they’ve been making for a little more than a year will please their neighbors. Anyone looks at the photos of the small and big cakes they post on the Facebook page for their business, Smallcakes, (facebook.com/smallcakesPHX) probably won’t disagree. The Kings took over Smallcakes at 4302 E. Ray Road in January of last year. And though the pandemic slammed small businesses in Ahwatukee and just about everywhere else two months later, they’ve managed to survive – and even expand. “We have been blessed with an amazingly supportive community here in Ahwatukee and it’s because of this that we have been able to stay open and grow our gour-

Stephanie King and her husband Christian took over Smallcakes in Ahwatukee in January 2020 and have managed to survive the pandemic’s brutal impact on small businesses. (Pablo Robles/AFN Staff Photographer)

met custom cake business,” Stephanie said. When they took over the business, she

said, they “upgraded everything – from the ingredients in everything we make,

the decor, added a gourmet custom cake offering and, of course, enhanced the level of customer service to our guests.” She said they were only closed for a week at the onset of the pandemic and they put that week off to good advantage: “We used it to strategize on how to best serve the community and in what capacity.” Their game plan: “We truly believe that when you have a high quality and excellent tasting product along with an actively supportive community, it’s de�initely the recipe for success.” The Canadian natives came to Ahwatukee in 2014, drawn to the fact they found it a “community in every sense of the word.” It’s “a wonderful family-centric place that spoke to us and really made us feel at home,” said Stephanie. And Smallcakes “is our baby.” “We work in tandem as a true mom-andpop shop to ensure that every aspect of

�� CAKES �� 30

New Ahwatukee business preserves memories, helps charity AFN NEWS STAFF

t’s not a bad thing if Dave Modean wants to frame you. The Ahwatukee man has been doing it long enough. Now he’s come up with a way of taking his expertise in the picture framing business and helping nonpro�its. Running his newly formed business, Frame It for Good, out of his Ahwatukee home of 17 years, Modean frames digital photos and sends them anywhere in the U.S. without charge. And up to $10 of job’s cost will be sent to a charity of the customer’s choice. Those without a particular charity in mind can choose from ones that he supports: Desert Visa High School’s baseball team; Native American Helping Hand, which helps tribal elders; Military Assistance Mission, which providing �inancial

Purple Heart recipients; and Haiti Cheri, which cultivates Christian communities throughout Haiti. “Time moves forward, children grow up and parents age,” Modean notes on his website. “The time to capture and preserve these memories is now. ” Modean has been in the picture-framing business for over 23 years. He spent 17 years with a Berkshire Hathaway company called Larson Juhl, where he was west region sales Dave Modean in Ahwatukee has started a framing busi- director, and then was vice president of North American ness that gives back to charities. (Special to AFN) sales for six years for Cresand moral support to current Arizona cent Matboard Company. military and their families and post 9/11 “I wanted to leverage my background

and relationships in the industry I have been in for the last 23 years and come up with a way to give back,” he explained. “There are so many charities and organizations that do such great work in our communities that need help to keep doing what they do best, help people,” he said. And he’s just not looking for customers; he also seeks nonpro�its that might want a partner. “We are actively looking for more organizations to help,” he said. “Churches, school teams/clubs, Boys & Girls Scouts and any charity organization that would like us to help them raise funds.” It won’t cost those organizations a cent, he added. “There are no fees or minimums.” His business is strictly an online operation. “We only frame photos that people can upload from their phone or computer,”

�� FRAMES �� 30

FEBRUARY 17, 2021 | AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS

EV company aims for healthy delights

BUSINESS

BY STACI HAUK AFN Contributor

hen the late James May Sr. took a leap of faith and quit his job as a medical administrator to engage fulltime in a passion project to bring better health to the world, he did so right here in Arizona. It was out of his garage in Scottsdale that Wisdom Natural Brands got its roots and laid the foundation for massive growth in the natural sweetener industry. Now a thriving business with its corporate of�ice in Gilbert, Wisdom aims to harness the health bene�its of nature so everyone can enjoy sweet treats without the guilt. “James May was on a trip to South America when he was presented with tea for his ailing throat, after a long �light from the U.S., “ explained Wisdom Natural Brands Vice President of Operations Michael Jamison. “The herbal tea that he drank had crushed stevia leaves in it and he was as- The late James May Sr. laid the foundation for Wisdom Natural Brands in Gilbert. (Special to AFN) tonished at the level of sweetness without sugar. He decided to start on a business tasting products,” Jamison said. “A lot of merce Board, bringing product knowlventure to bring this product to the U.S. He natural sweeteners have gotten the repu- edge to the community and working with quit his job, sold items to fund his project tation of having an aftertaste and there are other local businesses to support growth and enlisted his family in the packaging, scienti�ic reasons why that occurs. How- and familiarity. He also works from the Fiesta Park ever, we strive to allow people to enjoy selling – every piece of the business.” May’s dream was to bring stevia to the same taste of sugar, without the health complex, north of Guadalupe Road, in the 30,000 square foot Wisdom facility. rami�ications.” the world and he The Food and “Taking an active role in the commubecame an entreDrug Administranity in which our corporate headquarpreneurial legend, It’s a difficult time, so, we tion gave Wisdom’s ters resides in, is important. We believe with several preswant you to bake, indulge, sweetener safe in attracting more businesses to Gilbert, tigious awards have comfort foods, status in 2008 and where we currently have 43 employees under his belt and the title of “First experiment with new recipes since then, several ourselves.” to bring stevia to – but let’s still be conscious. competitors have With COVID-19 still prevalent in 2021, entered the market. Jamison shares the goals Wisdom has for the U.S.” While some are His passion and knowledge were met with opposition large, well-known names, Jamison said – no one wanted a zero calorie, natu- Wisdom is unphased, staying true to its ral sweetener competing with big name vision and that attracts loyal customers. “We stick to our niche of a taste-focused brands or the arti�icial names that were product line. We also offer a variety of well recognized. Determined to break barriers, May’s products from liquid (for �lavoring drinks) product was the �irst to receive FDA recog- to powdered and granulated varieties,” he explained “A young man from India nition for the stevia leaf extract as a food. Before his death in 2017, he was able thought our product was straight sugar to witness broad distribution and a suc- in a taste test and it was great to see that cessful company that has expanded into ‘raised eyebrow.’” Jamison believes that consumer educathirty plus countries. All stemming from a tion is key with any unfamiliar product. dream that started in 1982 He sits on the Gilbert Chamber of Com“At Wisdom, our goal is to have the best

Wisdom Natural Brands has a full line of healthy products. (Special to AFN) the coming months. “Gilbert always welcomed us at events in the past, which we loved, because we could get the product in front of community members and have them experience the difference for themselves. Now, many are cooking from home and engaging the kids – our products can help in the kitchen, so families are staying healthy in these uncertain times.” From selling raw ingredients to assist companies in healthier food production, to stevia based shaker containers, powdered packets, liquid concentrates, and the new monkfruitbased line, Wisdom is the go-to for high quality, natural, zero calorie, high intensity sweeteners. “It’s a dif�icult time, so, we want you to bake, indulge, have comfort foods, experiment with new recipes – but let’s still be conscious. We want to educate you on the bene�its of switching from sugar, and if it tastes just as good, that’s a pretty attractive offer.” To �ind products near you and learn more: Shopsweetleaf.com 

BUSINESS

CAKES �� 28

AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS | FEBRUARY 17, 2021

that had included ice cream from the time they opened. The homemade ice cream comes in straight scoops, pints, waf�le cones, a cookie sandwich stuffed in a cup cake and in a decadent treat called a “smashcake” – which they describe as “two heaping scoops of homemade ice cream smashed between a gourmet cupcake of your choice, fudge or caramel drizzle.” They accept bookings for special cakes for the whole gamut of special occasions,

from birthdays and anniversaries to even weddings. And after a little more than a year in business, Stephanie said they have never looked back with regret on their decision to start the business. “We never imagined we would be where we are today,” she said. “We are so blessed to have earned the trust and respect from Ahwatukee.”

the business is detail rich and caters to the demands of our community,” she said. “I do all the fun stuff – baking, decorating, designing and building relationships with our clients – and Christian does everything else to ensure we provide the best possible experience we can.” For the dozens of cupcakes and tailormade large cakes, they rely on “a combination of old traditional family recipes and Information: smallcakesphx.com  new fun creations that we continuously develop” – all in the name, she added, “to bring (customers) all the most delicious goodies in Arizona.” Their offerings go well beyond cakes too. They’ve added “our award-winning Best in Arizona chocolate chip cookies and seven other homemade cookies, sweet bars, pastries, bagel Besides small and large cakes, the Kings’ business also makes ice cream and several decadent ice cream concocbombs” to a lineup tions. (Special to AFN)

FRAMES �� 28

he said. “All the production-printing the photo and framing is done with a great family-owned partner that shares our vision for great quality and our mission to make a difference,” Modean continued. “We produce a beautifully framed photo and then ship it freight free in the continental USA.” Modean offers �ive print sizes to choose from up to 16” x 20” and customers can pick from a single- or double-mat design. Small wonder that Modean’s mission of giving customers a quality framing job while helping a nonpro�it formed the motto for his company: “Preserve a memory while making a difference.” Information: dmodean@frameitforgood.com or frameitforgood.com 

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OPINION

Opinion FEBRUARY 17, 2021 | AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS

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Thoughts on the Biblical significance of 40 BY BRAD BUTLER AFN Guest Writer

ometimes God comes right out and tells us what to do. Matthew 7:12 says, “Treat others the way you would like them to treat you.” Now it doesn’t get much more blackand-white than that. At other times, He can be more subtle. Jesus often spoke in parables and afterwards his disciples had to say, “What in the heck were you talking about back there?!” After a couple of times reading through the Bible, I noticed the number 40 kept popping up. It started in the Old Testament with the Great Flood lasting 40 days. Then Moses spent 40 days on Mount Sinai getting the Ten Commandments from God. After that, the Ninevites were given 40 days to repent and the spies spent 40

School opening proponent ‘cherry-picked’ data

Andy Lenartz admonishes school districts whose decisions during COVID-19 have been to “follow the science.” But when the science does not agree with the leaders’ narrative, Lenartz accuses them of rejecting the science because it does not align with their agenda. He cites a Journal for the American Medical Association that explains COVID-19 does not appear to be as transmittable in a school setting as once thought. Ironically, however, while scolding people for being selective in the science they choose to follow, Lenartz fails to disclose that in the very same article he cites, the experts share an instance in Israel where a large outbreak occurred in a high school where 153 cases were identified. And more alarmingly, Lenartz fails to disclose JAMA’s other pertinent conclusion: “Preventing transmission in school settings will require addressing and reducing levels of transmission in the sur-

days checking out the Promised Land. And guess how many days Goliath taunted the army of Israel before a shepherd boy named David “rocked” his world? (hint: it’s between 39 and 41.) In the New Testament, one of the first things Jesus did to begin his ministry was go out into the desert and fast for 40 days. And after he died and rose from the grave, he stuck around for 40 days before ascending back up to heaven. Rather than chalk it up to mere coincidence I kept thinking, “Is God trying to tell us something by doing things in 40-day chunks of time?” Then one day I was thumbing through a magazine at the doctor’s office and I came upon an article about “habits.” After talking about how we are “creatures of habit” and how significant a role our daily habits play in the quality of life

we live, the psychologist who wrote it said, “It takes about six weeks to either break a bad habit or establish a new one.” That was my “ah-ha” moment. Do you know how many days “about 6 weeks” is? It sounds pretty close to 40 to me! God, you crack me up. You could have just told us that “significant, lasting change takes 40 days.” But instead, you give us examples of it in the Bible and then wait till we figure it out. Today, Feb. 17, is exactly 40 days before Easter. The Catholics call it Ash Wednesday and they do a pretty cool thing. They give up something for 40 days or do something extra for 40 days to get them thinking about what Jesus did for them on Good Friday. It’s a way to try to align more with Luke 9:23 which says, “Deny yourself, take up your cross and follow Jesus.” I fight the sin of gluttony so I’m going to

be giving up my beloved Dr. Pepper and M&M’s until Easter to remind myself to eat healthier. I’m also a little lazy when it comes to meditating on God’s word day and night (Joshua 1:8). So, I am going to try to memorize a verse a day for 40 days. Yikes! I can’t even remember what I had for lunch yesterday. And just for a little bonus activity, I am going to pray for our president everyday instead of criticizing him. I encourage everyone reading this to use the next 40 days to pick a thing or two and give it a try. It’s truly amazing what doing something for 40 straight days can do for you. Good idea, God.

rounding communities through policies to interrupt transmission (eg, restrictions on indoor dining at restaurants).” Currently, Arizona has no such restrictions, and we have one of the highest rates of infections in the country. Apparently cherry-picking the science is okay if Mr. Lenartz is doing the choosing. Everyone wants children back in school. However, selecting the science from an article that fits one’s narrative and then accusing leaders of rejecting science that doesn’t agree with theirs is disingenuous and misleading. - Wanda Kolomyjec

be overturned by the opposing party? Mrs. Bolick, as Samuel Clemens, aka Mark Twain, so eloquently stated, “It’s better to keep your mouth shut and appear stupid than open it and remove all doubt.” Scott Price

lived in the driest Flagstaff year on record. There’s no denying it. The climate is changing, and it’s not holding back the punches. As a student at Northern Arizona University, a conservationist, and an aspiring environmental chemist, I am keen to the changes in our environment. I grew up in Phoenix, but have visited Flagstaff and northern Arizona since my childhood. Even in my lifetime, I’ve witnessed and noticed changes in our climate, at a rate too fast to be natural. It’s clear now that we need to act if we want to protect the ecosystems we love and need. This is not an issue a single person or state can solve alone. That is why I’m asking Senators Sinema and Kelly to support the Biden’s administration 30x30 conservation plan. -Zane Ondovcik

Brad Butler attends Mountain Park Church in Ahwatukee and can be reached at bbgolf@cox.net. 

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Not impressed with Rep. Bolick’s vote effort

So, let me get this straight. Rep. Shawnna Bolick, an avowed Trumpublican, wants to be able to use the powers of her gerrymandered district seat to overturn my presidential vote to suit her and her party’s wishes. Who among us would allow their vote to

He is proud that he’s not one of the .004 percent

I am proud to be one of the 99.996 percent of Americans who did not storm the Capitol on January 6, 2021. I only hope that the .004 percent who did engage in violent protest will soon be incarcerated for their repugnant and reprehensible behavior. -Robert Baron

Changes in Arizona’s environment concerning

In the few years I’ve lived between Flagstaff and Phoenix, going to NAU, I’ve seen a major wildfire that consumed 2000 acres of forest (the Museum Fire, 2019), lived in the hottest Phoenix summer on record, and

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Ahwatukee youth soccer team excelling on the �ield BY ZACH ALVIRA AFN Sports Editor

here was a point in time where Danny Garcia thought he wouldn’t be able to �ield a team for the club soccer season. After AYSO United AZCV 2009’s previous coach departed for a job out of state, a handful of players left the program. One parent stepped up to �ill the coaching vacancy but quickly was overcome with other obligations for work. So, Garcia stepped up to the challenge of �illing his roster of 10- and 11-year-old players in a limited amount of time. “I came in volunteering as an assistant coach but then I applied to be the head coach and United put me in there,” Garcia said. “I was happy to do it. I played club soccer coming up and in college, so it was a good �it.” He and his other two coaches, Seanin Kelly – who played football for Arizona State – and Stuart Russell, who are all volunteers, recruited players and parents from AYSO 1046, a local recreational league team in Ahwatukee and the surrounding areas. The change in environment from rec league to club was something most players had never experienced. The level of competition grew signi�icantly. The overall speed of the game increased, too. But every player bought in to Garcia and his coaching staff and showed strong work ethic in preparation for the club season. That preparation has begun to pay off, as United AZCV has placed �irst overall in two recent tournaments at the Open League and was one win away from competing for a championship in a third tournament. “I thought the season was going to get canceled,” Garcia said. “There were also some concerns based on what they saw with other clubs being too cutthroat. Skills training is more important than winning

The AYSO United AZCV soccer club in Ahwatukee has been demonstrating excellence in tournament play this year. (Courtesy Danny Garcia) games. We made a promise to not be cut- by the city. The team then had to move throat and I would have to say it worked.” to a �ield near the wash in Ahwatukee where there were no As is the case with other lights, which created a Ahwatukee or Phoenixdif�icult environment bebased youth programs, cause of Arizona’s soarpreparing for a season ing temperatures into Occame with additional chaltober last year. lenges due to the pandemNonetheless, United ic. AZCV guided its way The team had initially through the adversity targeted Pecos Park in Ahfaced early on and evenwatukee as its home locatually secured a �ield in tion. But that was quickly Tempe where guidelines changed when the City of were slightly less strenuPhoenix closed all parks ous. Masks, however, redue to rising COVID-19 AYSO United AZCV 2009 coach main part of the team’s metrics last fall. They then Danny Garcia stepped up to moved to Vista Canyon lead the team after it was left practices. “The beginning was rePark near Desert Vista, without a coach and roster where they were faced not large enough to field a ally rough,” Garcia said. “In with guidelines that in- team ahead of the club season. 110 degrees we are always worried about the kids. I cluded masks being worn (Courtesy Danny Garcia) would cancel practice if it at all times and a limited hit 110. We tried to �it in time, so we didn’t number of participants on one �ield. Shortly after, that park was also closed lose daylight. We all kind of look back on

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that and are thankful we don’t have to deal with that anymore. And, I think the players also appreciate it.” Despite many players having never played at the club level before, they’ve all risen to the occasion. The team took �irst place in the 2021 North Scottsdale Sand Shark Invitational, hosted by a club team in Scottsdale on Jan. 23-24. The team went 2-1 in the tournament overall to secure �irst place. On Feb. 5-7, United AZCV went undefeated in the 2021 Desert Classic, only conceding one goal in three games thanks to goalkeeper Cameron Anderson. Garcia said the team plans to play at least two more tournaments between now and May before ending the season for the summer. “I’m a big proponent of the tournaments because you get two or three games in one weekend,” Garcia said. “The parents agreed to do two more because we have to pay out of pocket for those. I know a lot of parents wanted to play in the Yavapai Cup in Prescott to get out of town.” As rewarding as tournament wins are for Garcia, he appreciates the opportunity to coach and spend quality time with his stepson, Jadan Pousson. The bond between the two has grown to new heights since he took over as coach, and they relish the success they have been able to obtain as part of the same organization. While he didn’t initially plan to make coaching a long-term deal, he now sees it as a rewarding experience and plans to continue leading United AZCV to success in tournaments to come. “These kids needed something,” Garcia said. “My family is doing everything we can to stay safe, but my perspective was that it’s outdoors and the kids still wear masks in practice and some in games. We wanted to give them something to do and it takes away a lot of stress for them. “We are really happy.” 

AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS | FEBRUARY 17, 2021

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Hi Everyone, Just a friendly reminder that if your toilet water supply has a thin white plastic nut, you should consider changing it to a steel braided, steel-tipped supply line. We have been seeing these plastic ones crack at the ﬁtting and they can do a large amount of ﬂood damage to your Matt Tobias General Manager house, especially if you’re not home when it happens. If you are unsure if yours should be changed, please give us a call. Thank you! — Matt

ROC # 272721

704.542 704.54 22

(480) (48

FEBRUARY 17, 2021 | AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS

@AhwatukeeFN @AhwatukeeFN

www.ahwatukee.com

Chandler store houses a whole wine-making operation GET OUT STAFF

ou won’t �ind grapevines or even grapes around Basil and Colleen Kaspar’s Chandler store, but inside you’ll �ind all the makings for the smallbatch, home-made wines they make, bottle and sell there. What started as a hobby for Basil 18 years ago has evolved into Down Time Wines at 393 W. Warner Road – a store, a boutique restaurant-special events venue and a growing distribution center owned by Colleen, a former bank teller supervisor, and her husband, a vice president for IT at Bank of America. Some social discomfort started all this. “He always told people he was embarrassed to go some place and take a bottle of Mogen,” Colleen explained. “He wanted to make his own.” And so he started doing just that. He gets juices from various vineyards and experiments with various ingredients – whipping up wines like a peach chardonnay, three varieties of a Tuscan red and even a coffee wine. He also has a Christmas line which he puts out around Thanksgiving – and sells out of well before Dec. 25. At most times, the store’s shelves are loaded with 30 to 40 different varieties of Basil’s wine creations priced between $12 to $18 generally. His entire operation is housed at the store – a welcome change for Colleen from where he used to make his wine. Back then, Basil’s hobby occupied “my dining room and my kitchen” she recalled until “I �inally said, ‘OK, this is enough.’” Colleen quit her job as a bank teller supervisor four years ago to run the store while Basil splits his time between his job as a vice president of IT operations for a bank and orchestrating the whole fermentation, �lavoring and bottling operation at the store. Basil executes the whole fermentation process at the store, using plastic barrels because they are easier to sanitize. “We bottle it, cork it, label it – everything

Basil and Colleen Kaspar have turned a hobby into a wine-making and retail business in Chandler. (Pablo Robles/GetOut Photographer) “Many people who can’t normally drink wine because it causes them to break out, get headaches or have other adverse reactions have come to �ind they can drink our wine with no problems,” Colleen explained. The home-made labels – and their brand name – have a sentimental attachment for the couple. “It’s got a picture of Canyon Lake – that’s kind of part of the story of where I started. We had a boat at Canyon Lake and we love Canyon Lake and our boat didn’t have a name on it when we bought it. We had it in a slip out there and we’d go out every weekend and people kept saying ‘you got to name your boat, it’s not good luck to have a boat without a name.’ So Basil �inally came up with Down Time Wines stocks between 30 and 40 varieties made by Basil the name ‘Down Kaspar. (Pablo Robles/GetOut Photographer) Time’ because all right here,” Colleen said. “We’ve got barrels that hold up to 150 bottles.” “I keep a schedule of what needs to be done each day – this needs to be mixed, this needs to be racked, this needs to be started, whatever,” she added. “We might not have anything and other days we might have three or four to work on.” The wine also has no nitrates or preservatives, opening the Kaspars’ product to an entirely new demographic.

we’d go to the lake for downtime.” They had to sell the boat when they started the store – and that was probably all for the better since they do more than make, bottle and sell wine at the establishment. The front of the store can seat 30 people and before the pandemic struck, Down Time Wines hosted comedy nights the third Friday of the month. They also host paint parties, where an artist comes in with table top easels so patrons can sip and create; “Fine Farkle Nights,” when patrons can play a popular dice game and relax with a glass; “Wine Wednesday” and “Fantastic Friday” for wine tastings all day from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. They also host birthday and other kinds of parties and a monthly dinner-and-wine event, featuring fare like prime rib and Italian specialties from restaurants that carry their wine. Though they still hold the dice game nights – Colleen calls the game “like Yahtzee but more fun” – they have been holding off on many of those larger gatherings because of the pandemic. Still, the pandemic hasn’t stopped them from offering memberships in their wine club, which patrons can join to have wine delivered or ready for pick-up at the store. Aside from catered dinners once a month, they also have a daily menu of $5 croissant sandwiches, other kinds of sandwiches, chips, pizza and salads. “The pizza we get from Nick & Tony’s Pizzeria in Gilbert,” Colleen said. “He carries our wine and we carry his 10-inch pizza here. We’ve got three kinds and he makes them for us and then he partially bakes them and then we get them frozen and then we continue the baking process.” They even have a gift shop with “winethemed items” such as glasses, tumblers, towels. And they even personalize their labels for special occasions and events. “Those make special gifts for private celebrations and even for businesses that want to give their customers a token of their appreciation,” Colleen noted. Information: downtimewines.com. 

AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS | FEBRUARY 17, 2021

Best of Ahwatukee Coming Soon!

BESTOF

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WHO’S the BE

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The votes are in. The people hav e spoken... It’s the Best of Ahwatukee!

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AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS | FEBRUARY 17, 2021

King Crossword

OUR JOB BOARD HAS THE TALENT YOU’RE LOOKING FOR.

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Ahwatukee Board of Management is seeking candidates to join our self-managed Homeowners’ Association team as an Administrative Assistant Must have excellent customer service skills and be proficient in MS Office. At present this position is part-time with the potential for full-time employment and advancement for the best candidate. Contact annemariehancock@ahwatukeehoa.com or call 480-893-3502 ext. 1. SVB Financial Group has openings for the following positions (various types/levels) in Tempe, AZ: Sr. Software Engineer (781.400) Provide technical guidance to understand and decide upon the optimal technology solution. Enterprise Application Support Engineer (781.399) Deliver software requests, navigate through technical challenges, and provide technical guidance, estimation of efforts, and understanding upon the optimal technology solution to achieve the desired business needs to navigate differing levels of software unknowns. Sr. Software Engineer (781.444) Develop and coordinate the design and development of complex software systems models, primarily CECL Platforms such as Moody's Risk Foundation, Risk Confidence, and its integrations. Send resume to S.M. at Staffing Operations Team, Silicon Valley Bank, 80 E Rio Salado Pkwy Ste 600, Tempe, AZ 85281. Must reference job #.

Merchandise Pets/Services/Livestock

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DOWN

1 USO audience 2 Fan’s cry 3 Khan title 4 Third-largest island 5 “The Martian” actor Damon 6 Historic periods 7 Junior 8 Clumsy 9 Mountain road feature 10 Snitched 11 Reply to “Shall we?” 16 White wine cocktail 20 Mornings (Abbr.) 21 Piece of lettuce 22 Exotic berry 23 Elm, for one 24 Low digits 26 Union payment 27 Bruins legend 28 Portent 29 Canape spread 31 South Carolina university 34 Decorate Easter eggs 35 Actor Warren 37 Beetle Bailey’s rank (Abbr.) 38 Garr of “Tootsie” 39 Scraps 40 Unite

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If Stability is what you are looking for, then MAAX Spas, one of the Best Places to Work in the Chandler area has immediate openings for 1st and 2nd shift production. Many associates have been with us for 10 to 35 years and we are looking to add more to the family. Generous pay with full health insurance, paid vacation and sick time, combined with matched 401K program are the just the start. Call today to learn more about the opportunities and join the MAAX Spas family, 480-8954575. OR Apply online at maaxspas.com.

EASILY POST JOBS 480-898-6465 EMAIL: jobposting@evtrib.com JOBS.EASTVALLEYTRIBUNE.COM MORE INFO:

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AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS | FEBRUARY 17, 2021

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The Place “To Find” Everything You Need | Ahwatukee.com Click on Marketplace

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Cleaning Services

JB's House Cleaning

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Contractors

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Your Ad can go ONLINE ANY Day! Call to place your ad online! Classifieds 480-898-6465

2010, 2011 2012, 2013, 2014

LLC

• Drywall Repair • Bathroom Remodeling • Home Renovations

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Ahwatukee Resident

480.335.4180 Not a licensed contractor.

NOT A LICENSED CONTRACTOR

FEBRUARY 17, 2021 | AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS

• 20 Years Experience • 6 Year Warranty

480.345.1800 ROC 304267 • Licensed & Bonded

CLASSIFIEDS

AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS | FEBRUARY 17, 2021

Juan Hernandez

TREE

TRIMMING 25 Years exp (480) 720-3840

Juan Hernandez

Foothills Touch Landscapes LLC Lawn care/Maint. Starting as low as

$25 per visit.

Install/Design We do it all!

Not a licensed contractor

Drip/Install/Repair & Tune ups!

Ahw. Res - 30 yrs Exp Free Estimates. Call Pat (480) 343-0562

25 years exp. Call Now (480) 720-3840

Classifieds 480-898-6465

SPRINKLER Not a licensed contractor

SPRINKLER DOCTOR Repairs - Installs - Modifications

Landscape/Maintenance

Painting

Arizona Specialty Landscape

Complete Lawn Service & Weed Control

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Irrigation Repair Services Inc. Licensed • Bonded • Insured Technician

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Call Lance White

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Not a licensed contractor.

CLASSIFIEDS 480-898-6465 class@times publications.com

Landscape Design/Installation

Starting @ $60/Month! • One Month Free Service • Licensed, Bonded Insured for your protection. • Call or Text for a Free Quote

kjelandscape.com • ROC#281191

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Specials

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Free Estimates • Senior Discounts

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ROC#309706

Looking To Freshen Up Your Home? WE CAN HELP!

I could help you have your palm trees and other trees trimmed by giving you a reasonable and better price than the others.

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Responsible • 100% Guaranteed Ask for Ramon

Not a Licensed Contractor

480-217-0407

WANT A WEED-FREE GREEN LAWN?

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FREE WEED CONTROL FERTILIZER TREATMENT WITH LAWN AERATION SOIL AMENDMENTS * SOIL TESTING * LAWN SERVICES

ROC 282663 * BONDED * INSURED YOUR LAWN EXPERT SINCE 1995

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Veteran Owned

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Place a Birth, Anniversary, Wedding Announcement, In Memoriam, Obituary or any life event in this paper today! Call us for details.

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Bonded/Insured/Licensed • ROC #225923

Painting

SONORAN LAWN

RAMON LANDSCAPING SERVICES

Custom Design and Renovation turning old to new

or Call

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15 + Yrs Exp! All English Speaking Crew

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Lawn Mowing Starts At $40 Full Service Starts At $70 480-745-5230

Serving the Valley for over 28 years

People are looking at the Classifieds Every day!

High Quality Results

Timers/Valves/Sprinklers DRIP-PVC-COPPER Backflows & Regulators

25 years Experience & Insured

HIRING?

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www.ACPpaintingllc.com Licensed - Bonded - Insured ROC 290242

FREE ESTIMATES • CALL TODAY! class@timespublications.com or call 480-898-6465

(480)785-6323

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FEBRUARY 17, 2021 | AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS

Painting

CONKLIN PAINTING Free Estimate & Color Consultation

Interior Painting ● Pressure Washing Exterior Painting ● Drywall/Stucco Repair Complete Prep Work ● Wallpaper Removal

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Pool Service / Repair

Plumbing

PLUMBERS CHARGE TOO MUCH!

AHWATUKEE SPECIAL $

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Bonded/Insured • ROC #223709

★ Interior/Exterior Painting ★ Drywall Repair & Installation ★ Popcorn Ceiling Removal

You will find them easy with their yellow background. Garage Sale Fri & Sat 7a-11am Household, clothes, kitchen items, furniture, electronics, mason jars, kid items, DVDs, MORE 555 W. Lane Dr Mesa

Monthly Service & Repairs Available

“We get your house looking top notch!”

Watch for Garage Sales in Classifieds!

$25 OFF

Off 40work done

ALL YOU NEED IS A PU

480-405-7099 ItsJustPlumbSmart.com

480.898.6465

See our Before’s and After’s on Facebook Licensed, Bonded & Insured ROC# 272001

Only $27.50 includes 1 week online To place an ad please call: 480-898-6465 class@times publications.com

Pool Service / Repair

CLASS@TIMESPUBLICATIONS.COM

★ Elastomaric Roof Coating ★ Epoxy Floors

Plumbing

★ Small Job Specialist

Scott Mewborn, Owner 480-818-1789

SERVICE • REPAIR • REPLACEMENT

License #ROC 298736

We offer personalized service for our customers. We use the best materials that we can find.

SUN TECH

PAINTING INC.

Serving Ahwatukee Since 1987 Interior / Exterior

• High Quality Materials & Workmanship • Customer Satisfaction Free Est imates • Countless References • Carpentry Services Now Available Visit us at Suntechpaintingaz.com or view our video promo at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GM5pbvpZJlg

602.625.0599 ROC #155380

Owned and Operated by Rod Lampert Ahwatukee Resident Serving Ahwatukee for over 25 years

Our services include: Sinks, Toilets, Faucets, Water Heaters, Garbage Disposal, Drain Cleaning, Pressure Reducing Valves, Pressure Vacuum Breakers, Hot Water Circulation Systems, Main Service Valves and Hose Taps.

(480)

279-4155

Licensed • Bonded • Insured • ROC 189848

FALL SPECIAL! $500 OFF COMPLETE REMODEL! 25 Years Experience • Dependable & Reliable

Plumbing

PAINTING OF ALL TYPES

Call Juan at

SPECIALIZING IN: Wood & Stucco Repairs • Deck Restoration Roofing, Shingles & Metal • Exterior/Interior Painting Elastometric & Clear Coats • Power Washing Leaf Guards (20yr No Clog) New 6" Seamless Gutters (Gutter Art Available)

480-720-3840 Not a licensed contractor.

PLUMBING

480-532-2525 • Residential / Commercial

$35.00 Off Any Service Call Today!

A+ RATED

Sell Your Stuff! Call Classifieds Today! 480.898.6465

CLASS@TIMESPUBLICATIONS.COM

PPebbleOcracking, O L Plaster R Epeeling, P ARebar IR showing, Pool Light out? I CAN HELP!

Family Owned • Free Estimates

ROC 296559 • Licensed, Bonded & insured

Juan Hernandez

Pavers • Concrete • Water Features • Sprinkler Repair

We Repair or Install ROC # 272721

AHWATUKEE’S #1 PLUMBER Licensed • Bonded • Insured

704.5422

(480)

Rooﬁng

TILE ROOFING SPECIALISTS

10% OFF COMPLETE UNDERLAYMENT Commercial & Residential Family Owned & Operated AZROC #283571 | CONTRACTOR LIC. AZROC #312804 CLASS CR4 | FULLY INSURED

FREE ESTIMATES 602-736-3019

CLASSIFIEDS

Rooﬁng

AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS | FEBRUARY 17, 2021

Rooﬁng

30 Years Roofing Experience

Rooﬁng

Over 30 Years of Experience Family Operated by 3 Generations of Roofers!

Spencer 4 HIRE ROOFING

JILEK ROOFING, LLC

New Roof Installation & Roof Repair Specialist

Cell: 480.417.3689 Office: 480.912.5014 Email: tomjilek60@gmail.com Licensed & Insured • Bonded, Res/Com ROC 328854

Valley Wide Service

602-938-7575 $ 1000 OFF when you show this ad

on qualifying complete roof replacements 480-699-2754 • info@monsoonroofinginc.com

10% Discount for Ahwatukee Residents 100% NO Leak Guarantee Re-Roof & Roofing Repairs Tile, Shingles & Flat Roof

Let us show you the IN-EX Difference! Serving The Valley Since 1996

Licensed – Bonded – Insured – ROC187561

Call us to place your ad online!

Over 30 yrs. Experience

480-446-7663

480-706-1453

Licensed/Bonded/Insured • ROC #236099

Family Owned & Operated for over 30 years

ROC #152111

10% OFF with this ad

Ahwatukee’s Premier Tile, Shingle & Foam Roofer!

Quality Repairs & Re-Roofs Complimentary & Honest Estimates

Call our office today!

MonsoonRooﬁngInc.com

MISSED THE DEADLINE?

Tiles, shingles, flat, repairs & new work Free Estimates • Ahwatukee Resident

480-460-7602

inexroofing.com

Ask us about our discount for all Military and First Responders!

Call for your FREE Roof Evaluation

www.porterroofinginc.com

FREE Estimates • Credit Cards OK www.spencer4hirerooﬁng.com ROC#244850 | Insured | Bonded

Window Cleaning

480-898-6465 Ahwatukee Based Family Owned and Operated Insured • Free Estimates

Family Operated by 3 Generations of Roofers! We have a “Spencer” on every job

See our reviews and schedule at:

and every step of the way.

Licensed, Bonded, Insured

480-446-7663 Ahwatukee’s Premier Tile, Shingle & Foam Roofer!

FREE Estimates • Credit Cards OK www.spencer4hirerooﬁng.com ROC#244850 | Insured | Bonded

Licensed • Bonded • Insured ROC # 269218

See MORE Ads Online!

www.Ahwatukee.com

www.cousinswindowcleaning.com

480-330-2649

CLASSIFIEDS

FEBRUARY 17, 2021 | AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS

palmabrisa.com

NOW SELLING

A new gated resort community is now selling in the Ahwatukee Foothills with a dramatically different style. It feels exclusive, but also lively and exciting — and it's called Palma Brisa. • Modern resort-style gated community with stately palms

• Diverse architecture: Modern Bungalow, Urban Farmhouse, Italian Cottage, Andalusian, Modern Craftsman, French Country, and Spanish Mission • Four amenity areas connected by expansive lawns

• Homes from 1,700 sq. ft. to 4,000 sq. ft. from the $500’s

ERIC WILLIAMS

480-641-1800

TERRY LENTS

© Copyright 2021 Blandford Homes, LLC. No offer to sell or lease may be made prior to issuance of Final Arizona Subdivision Public Report. Offer, terms, and availability subject to change without prior notice. Renderings are artist’s conceptions and remain subject to modification without notice.

AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS | FEBRUARY 17, 2021

58” 4K UHD SMART TV • 2 HDMI Inputs • Airplay2 Built-In

Spencers Warehouse is Jammed Packed With Outstanding Deals! Everything Is Priced To Move. If You Need An Appliance In The Next 6 Months, You Owe It To Yourself To Get Here Today. At Spencers you Get The Products You Need, At The Prices You Deserve. 1000’s of People Have Made The Wise Choice By Buying At Spencers!

47999 $499

1.6 CU. FT. OVER-THE-RANGE MICROWAVE

• 3.5 Cu. Ft. • Porcelain Tub • 700 RPM Spin Speed NTW4500XQ CLOSEOUT

449

WMH1162XVQ CLOSEOUT

• Adjustable Glass Shelves • 2 Crisper Drawers • LED Lighting

899

FRSG1915AV

$ NO INTEREST**

• 950 Watts of Power • 10 Levels of Power • Sunken Glass Turntable

199

SIDE BY SIDE COUNTER DEPTH REFRIGERATOR

12 MONTHS

• Active Blue Light Technology • NeoFrost Dual Cooling Technology

UN58TU7000

WASHER

FAMILY SIZE REFRIGERATOR

DISHWASHER

• 12-Place Settings • 5 Wash Cycles • Piranha™ Hard Food Disposer • Hot Start Option GSD2100VWW –

299

BFTF2716WH

BFTF2716SS BEKO

REFRIGERATOR DISHWASHER • Integrated Control Styling • Premium Nylon Racks • In Door Silverware Basket • Energy Star Qualified WDF520PADM

• 25 Cubic Foot Capacity • Spill Proof Glass Shelves • Humidity Controlled Drawers • Energy Star Qualified WRS325SDHZ

RANGE • 4.8 Cubic Foot Capacity • Self Cleaning Oven • Smooth Top • Proudly Made in USA WFE505W0HS CLOSEOUT

$339 10%

2350

99 $

BUYS ALL 3 PIECES

** NO INTEREST IF PAID IN FULL IN 12 MONTHS. $799.00 Minimum Purchase Required Minimum Payments Required 30.79% APR If the promotional balance is not paid in full by the end for the promotional period or, to the extent permitted by law, if you make a late payment, interest will be imposed from the date of purchase at the APR noted above. This APR is as of 7/4/2019 and will vary with the market based on the Prime Rate. Your card agreement, the terms of the offer and applicable law govern this transaction including increasing APRs and fees and terminating the promotional period.

Arizona’s largest independent dealer! “It’s Like Having A Friend In The Business” Check Out Our Website

WWW.SPENCERSTV.COM OPEN DAILY 9AM-9PM | SATURDAY 9AM-6PM | SUNDAY 11AM-5PM

HOUSE IN S R E C SPEN PLANS PAYMENT BLE AVAILA Due to current circumstances, some items may be out of stock.