Ahwatukee Foothills News 02/22/2023

BY PAUL MARYNIAK AFN Executive Editor

COVID-19 may be little more than a memory for most people, but millions in pandemic relief funds that school districts and charters in Ahwatukee and throughout the state received directly or indirectly from the federal government are very much a part of the present, according to a new report by the Arizona Au-

ditor General.

“Districts and charters reported spending just over $2.2 billion, or 48 percent, of their nearly $4.6 billion allocated relief monies through June 30, 2022,” the report states, adding the state Department of Education “had yet to spend/distribute almost $322 million, or 79 percent, of its discretionary relief monies as of June 30, 2022.”

For the two school districts serving Ahwatukee, the pool of unspent money trans-

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lates into a combined $25.5 million, the report shows. It says:

• Tempe Union High School has received just under $22.2 million in COVID relief and still has $12.3 million to spend, mostly by Sept. 30, 2024.

• Kyrene has yet to spend $13.2 million of the $27.7 million it received.

• BASIS Ahwatukee has spent only about

BY PAUL MARYNIAK AFN Executive Editor

In a cautiously optimistic report released last week, the City of Phoenix administration says it expects to start the new fiscal year beginning July 1 with a $134 million surplus and total spending for the new fiscal year to rise to $1.88 billion from a current $1.78 billion.

As it prepares for the trial budget submission to City Council on March 26, the City Manager’s Office also warned “significant economic uncertainty and volatility exists for 2023, which makes forecasting revenues very challenging.”

The City Manager’s forecast for the coming fiscal year also includes an equally cautious General Fund five-year outlook.

Some of the revenue volatility cited in the 2023-24 forecast relates to a bill that state Republicans lawmakers passed to eliminate municipal rental taxes and another cutting corporate taxes.

A legislative analysis says eliminating the rent tax would cost the city $70.5 million in revenue and that the corporate see BUDGET page 19

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The Ahwatukee Foothills News is published every Wednesday and distributed free of charge to homes and in single-copy locations throughout Ahwatukee Foothills.

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EV lawmaker makes impassioned plea for kids’ mental health

BY PAUL MARYNIAK AFN Executive Editor

As he appeared Feb. 14 before the state House Education Committee, state Rep. Travis Grantham bluntly told members that he wasn’t happy last year when he was assigned to the task force on teen mental health that had brought him before them.

“In the last session, I was asked to serve on an ad hoc committee dealing with teen mental health,” the Gilbert Republican told his colleagues. “And to be honest with you, I didn’t want to. But once I got on the committee and I understood how important of an issue this is, I changed my mind.”

Grantham had been appointed with then-state Rep. Joanne Osborne, R-Goodyear, to co-chair a committee that would “take a substantive look into the issues and causes affecting teen mental health, including substance abuse, depression, and suicide, and to identify potential solutions and improvements.”

From September through November, that panel – comprising police, school officials and various medical experts –heard at times gut-wrenching testimony about the rising incidents of drug overdoses, substance abuse, suicides and attempted suicides among teenagers in Arizona.

That panel produced 23 recommendations and Grantham in the committee’s first meeting warned members and the audience they shouldn’t get their hopes up.

Grantham warned the panel and people in the audience against unrealistic hopes for the committee’s work.

“There was an understanding that while mental health can be addressed and can be changed and for the better,” he said, “it’s like steering a ship: you turn the wheel and over time, the ship slowly starts to move, hopefully, in the right direction. It’s not an overnight fix.”

And though he echoed those cautionary remarks in the task force’s final meeting in December, he appeared be-

fore the House committee last week as a crusader.

“I heard stories that quite honestly made me want to cry and formed a new appreciation for the folks who are the professionals in this industry who work so hard to try to solve these problems and the people who deal with this on a day to day basis,” he said.

A tragedy also struck closer to home for Grantham.

A female sophomore at a Gilbert private school died by suicide only a day earlier.

“We had an incident in my own district just a couple days ago where a young woman (died by) suicide and it set the school in a crisis mode,” Grantham told the committee.

“And I’m sure it’s affected a lot of her friends and the people who knew her. And every time a student or a young person does that, we lose tremendously and it’s devastating,” he said.

“I can’t tell you that this legislation will change the social aspect of the family or whatever might be weighing on these people that are choosing to go down this road or having mental health issues, but at least it provides the opportunity for help to be there at the push of a button.”

The legislation he was referring to was the first – and probably easiest –of three bills he has filed to help push Arizona into a more proactive response to a crisis that has been aggravated by pandemic school closures, social media, bullying and other peer pressures.

He won when the committee voted to send to the House a measure that would allow school districts to develop or buy an app that would enable students to anonymously report safety issues ranging from self-harm to threats against students and receive anonymous clinical support 24/7.

The app also would provide students and parents with resources on mental health, bullying and substance abuse issues. It does not require districts to provide such an app but rather clears any administrative hurdles that might be preventing one from being offered, Grantham stressed.

Grantham’s other bills would create a teen mental health program within the state Department of Health Services and

State Rep. Travis Grantham, R-Gilbert, implored the House Education Committee to approve the first of three bills he has submitted to improve state and local response to the worsening teen mental crisis in Arizona. (Arizona Legislature)

provide a so-far unspecified amount of money to fund its operation.

Such a program – which Osborne suggested could be funded with some of the $14 million Arizona will receive from the settlement of its lawsuit against Juul for a marketing campaign that led millions of children and teen into vaping addictions – could help pay for school district programs like the app.

Grantham’s bill would empower DHS to also pay school districts and nonprofits for training on mental health first aid, youth resiliency and substance abuse for staff, parents and peers.

It also would require the Health Services Department to make an annual report on projects it funded and the outcomes it achieved.

Grantham’s appearance also comes on the heels of a Chandler Unified School District report that disclosed 395 district students had considered suicide since July – and those are just the ones that officials know about.

Before the House committee took its unanimous vote, Osborne also addressed the crisis, noting that Grantham, a major in the Arizona Air National Guard, knows all too well about the “horrendous” suicide rate among military veterans in the United States. The Guard uses the app the committee voted on to the full House.

She then cited a new report by the Centers of Disease Control last week that

BY HOWARD FISCHER Capitol Media Services

The way Rep. Neal Carter sees it, those electronic signs along freeways and major Arizona roads should be spreading safety messages to motorists, not telling them how to run their lives.

And especially not to get vaccinated.

So now state lawmakers are taking steps to ensure that doesn’t happen again.

On a 7-4 vote Friday the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure approved a measure which limits the messages to those “directly related to transportation or highway public safety.’’ Anything else, the San Tan Valley Republican said, should be off limits.

“They are a little bit distracting,’’ he said.

thing else behind his measure.

“What we’re worried about is the government is the government effectively using as a kind of advertisement for other things,’’ he told colleagues. And Carter said such decisions should not be made by bureaucrats in the Arizona Department of Transportation who decide what is “worthy’’ of being posted.

“We think there’s a little bit of a slippery slope,’’ he said.

But Carter already has seen the state sliding down that slope.

Two years ago, signs above state roads spelled out the message, “Want to return to normal? Get vaccinated.’’

That got the immediate attention of then-Sen. Kelly Townsend, R-Apache Junction.

480.598.9811

“They do put on things sometimes that are not related to transportation,’’ he said. “That would be inappropriate.’’

But Carter conceded there’s some-

“Seen in Communist China today,’’ she wrote in a Twitter post with a photo of the sign. “Oops, I mean Arizona.’’

The message disappeared days later.

ADOT maintains to this day it did nothing wrong, saying that the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices, which is the standard for all devices and signs on roads open to public travel, specifically allowed the vaccine message because the president had declared a national emergency. And that, the agency said, permitted state and local transportation agencies to display optional “homeland security messages’’ such as this one.

Carter, however, said it’s not related to transportation. And his legislation, if it becomes state law, would preclude that from ever happening again in Arizona.

But it’s broader than that.

Also gone would be signs advising motorists of “no burn’’ days during periods of high pollution. So, too, would messages ADOT posts for state and national parks as well as the U.S. Forest Service related to wildfires.

And there would no longer be signs, usually displayed on the day a police officer or firefighter who had died in the line of duty was buried, with a message like “rest in peace’’ with the officer’s name.

“I’m sure he’s an upstanding guy,’’ Carter said of seeing one of those signs.

“And I love firemen,’’ he continued.

“But this is the beginning of a sign, now, that’s going to start to say everything from ‘someone died’ to ‘thanks to soand-so’ to ‘voting.’”

That last one already has happened.

Rep. Teresa Martinez, R-Casa Grande, said ADOT has allowed signs in the past reminding people about Election Day. Carter said that should not have happened.

“It’s not transportation related,’’ he said.

The legislation does contain exceptions.

HB 2586 would still allow the “silver alert’’ messages about missing seniors and the “blue alerts’’ where police are seeking the public’s help in finding someone who has assaulted or killed a law enforcement officer.

And Carter said nothing in his legislation would kill the ability of ADOT to display their safety messages in a humorous way.

So there will keep being communications like “Drive hammered, get nailed,’’ “Focused driving is the way of the Jedi,’’ or “Drive like the person your dog thinks you are.’’

That pleased Rep. David Cook, R-Globe.

“I kind of like the funny stuff,’’ he said. “You’re tied up in traffic and you’re not going anywhere.’’

The measure now needs approval of the full House. 

said 57% of adolescent girls “feel persistently sad or hopeless.”

“That’s the highest rate in a decade and 30% said they have seriously considered dying by suicide, a percentage that has risen by nearly 60% over the past 10 years,” Osborne said.

“We have a crisis. It’s not an answer from one bill. It’s not an answer from

one organization or one group or one teacher. It’s all of us. As parents, it’s our churches. It’s our schools. It’s our communities. We’ve got to recognize this because our kids don’t have five years for us to wake up as adults and say we got a problem here.

“It’s at our doorstep right now. And it’s affecting every one of our districts. There is no social, economic or whatever to it. Kids are having trouble.” 

team are dedicated to providing each and every patient with the care and attention they need in the most comfortable

BY HOWARD FISCHER Capitol Media Services

State lawmakers are moving to wrest control of transportation planning from local officials to instead represent their own political philosophies.

forcing people to accept the policies desired by those setting the rules.

Hoffman said that’s what’s happening under President Biden by shutting down the Keystone Pipeline, curtailing offshore drilling and refusing to renew some lease permits for drilling in Alaska.

And now the question is whose vision among all those lawmakers should take effect.

Strictly speaking, the debate on SB 1122 deals with whether Maricopa County voters will get a chance to extend a half-cent sales tax for transportation projects for another 20 years.

“The Left is making a concerted effort to drive up the cost of gas,’’ he argued, to advance its agenda of reducing driving and emissions.

But Carroll, who supports more money for mass transit – and even sponsored a bill continuing dollars for light rail –said while that may be true, it’s also irrelevant. He said the gas prices are a reality for taxpayers.

That can happen only with permission of the Republican-controlled Legislature. And several GOP lawmakers said they will give the go-ahead only if the amount set aside for mass transit is reduced from current levels – and if absolutely none of that goes to fund light rail.

For the moment, the 4-3 vote on Feb. 13 to kill SB 1122 by the Senate Committee on Transportation and Technology quashes any future election.

The Maricopa levy is set to expire in 2025 unless lawmakers give the goahead for an election.

“They’ve still got to get to work, they’ve still got to get to places,’’ Carroll said. And that, he said, makes it logical to assume that ridership on mass transit will increase with higher gas prices.

The more over-arching question is whether lawmakers, being pushed by groups like the Home Builders Association of Central Arizona whose members are developing housing projects farther from the county’s urban core, know better than local elected officials what their constituents want.

Last week’s debate and vote show that any county that wants to fund transit projects will get the necessary legislative approval to ask their own voters for approval only if the plan complies with how state lawmakers agree how the money should be spent.

And that has become tainted by political philosophies, including a specific bias toward roads at the expense of mass transit and light rail in particular.

Sen. Frank Carroll, R-Sun City, has backed a broader approach with continued funding for alternatives to freeway construction. That’s the plan prepared by and backed by the Maricopa Association of Governments, made up of elected officials of all area cities, tribes and the urban areas of the Maricopa and Pima counties.

But Sen. Jake Hoffman, R-Queen Creek, rejected that as being driven by “nudge theory.’’

“It’s a tactic the Left likes to use called ‘choice architecture,’‘’ he said, essentially

Avondale Mayor Kenn Weise, who chairs MAG, acknowledged that not every community benefits from each part of the regionally developed plan. For example, he said, his residents would not be aided by light rail which doesn’t extend into his community.

But he said the plan was unanimously adopted after “extensive public input’’ as being the best for all concerned.

In fact, state lawmakers agreed last year to put that on the ballot. But that was quashed when then-Gov. Doug Ducey vetoed even letting the issue go to voters.

That resulted in this year’s new and sharply modified plan, with more of the share going to pavement.

What the Legislature wants to do, Weise said, is override the locally adopted plan with its own priorities and those of “special interests,’’ meaning groups who would benefit financially by financing more

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TRANSPORTATION from page 8

road-construction rather than transit.

MAG wants lawmakers to simply give voters a chance to approve the plan it created, the votes that adopted the tax and the first 20-year plan in 1985 and its renewal in 2005.

Weise rejected Hoffman’s suggestion of two separate votes: One on road construction and the other on mass transit. That, he said, would destroy the idea of having a plan where everyone recognizes the needs of the larger community.

He said that’s what enabled the MAG plan to include money for extension of State Route 24 in Hoffman’s district even though his own residents might otherwise have wanted dollars for a new State

Route 30 to funnel traffic into his own area of the county.

Hoffman and some other lawmakers also want to insert other political elements before giving local voters permission to vote on transit funding.

For example, he wants to say that projects cannot be developed to fit “demand management’’ policies to reduce vehicle miles traveled. And he said he is not bothered if that means giving up federal dollars, a large share of transit funding that the state and counties receive.

The committee’s vote leaves in limbo the question of whether Maricopa County voters will get a chance to enact or extend existing taxes for their transportation plans if they do not meet with approval of a majority of lawmakers. 

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BY HOWARD FISCHER Capitol Media Services

Legislation awaiting a House vote would override most local ordinances that now keep poultry out of many residential areas.

The move comes only a couple months after Chandler City Council voted to allow residents to keep up to five chickens in backyard coops, but no roosters.

The measure is being pushed by Rep. Kevin Payne, R-Peoria, would allow residents to keep up to nine birds as long as they comply with certain conditions. Like Chandler’s ordinance, it would not supersede HOA rules against chicken coops.

The City of Phoenix Municipal Code allows residents to keep poultry within 80 feet of a residence if all residents living from the home less than 80 feet provide written permission. It also bans roosters.

“Chickens are loving birds,’’ Payne told members of the House Committee on Land, Agriculture and Rural Affairs last week, likening it to having a pet.

“You can hold them,’’ he said. “They purr.

They help soothe people.’’

Payne also said they “love to have company,’’ which is why his HB 2483 seeks to allow more than just a lone chicken.

And then there’s the practical side.

“They produce eggs, the golden nuggets that come out,’’ he said.

Only thing is, not every community sees things the same way. And even in cities and counties that allow residents to have the birds, the rules are not uniform.

This would change all that.

In essence, the proposal said if you live in a single-family detached home, you can have chickens.

Still, there would be rules.

Noisy roosters are still poultry-non-grata.

Letting the chickens roam cage free on a lot of less than half an acre also would be off limits. Instead, they would have to be kept in an enclosure at the side or rear of the property at least 15 feet from a neighbor. And the pens could be no larger than 200 feet.

Then there would be requirements to maintain the pens and either pick up or compost the manure at least twice a week, and do it in a way to prevent insects.

There also are requirements to have adequate overflow drainage for water sources and that food be stored in insect-proof and rodent-proof containers.

Glendale resident Shelly Honn urged lawmakers to approve the measure after she was forced to get rid of “the girls’’ in her yard. And she said efforts to get the city to change its ordinance proved unsuccessful.

Honn also told lawmakers they need to consider the issue in light of other events, ranging from fires at egg ranches to other disasters.

That would include incidents of bird flu which have required flocks to be destroyed. And that, in turn, has been one of the things that has driven up the price of eggs.

“Arizonans need some sort of food security,’’ Honn said.

“Some want to live sustainably,’’ she continued. “A small flock of chickens would go a long way with both of these.’’

Not everyone was enthusiastic.

Marshall Pimentel, lobbyist for the League of Arizona Cities and Towns said his organization is not opposed in con-

cept. But he would like changes, like limiting chicken ownership to lots of more than a half acre, with a six-bird cap.

Lawmakers were not persuaded as they voted unanimously to approve the measure.

“With the cost of food nowadays, this is how families can afford good-quality protein,’’ said Rep. Gail Griffin, R-Hereford.

There is one group left out of this: Residents of homeowner associations which can enact their own restrictions, regardless of local ordinances.

Lawmakers could override HOA rules. And they’ve done that in the past.

Consider the measures they have approved governing everything from allowing political signs to permitting them to fly certain flags like those honoring first responders or remembering prisoners of war.

In fact, there’s a bill this year awaiting Senate action to allow HOA residents to display “any historic version of the American flag, including the Betsy Ross flag, without regard to how the stars and stripes are arranged on the flag.’’

Payne’s measure, however, contains no similar override. 

$473,000, leaving it with a little over $1 million in the bank while Horizon Honors has $624,783 left from the $2.07 million it got.

• Schools in LD12 – which includes Kyrene and Tempe Union school districts but also Chandler Unified, Tempe Elementary and assorted charters – have $279.1 million left to spend out of the total $545 million distributed in that legislative district.

Most of the money statewide was spent on maintaining operations, according to the report. Of that total $1.2 billion, $840 million – about 72% – was spent in the classroom. That includes $741.1 million

on salaries and benefits and another $335 million on non-classroom salaries, benefits and other costs.

The Auditor General defines classroom spending as “instruction costs of activities that deal directly with the interaction between teachers and students, student support costs for activities that assess and improve the students’ well-being, and instruction support costs of activities that assist instructional staff with the content and process of providing learning experiences for students.”

For Kyrene, maintaining operations consumed $2.68 million – 68.5% – of the nearly $4.9 million the district has spent through June 30, the report said.

That $2.68 million included nearly $1.7

Kyrene COVID spending

million on classroom salaries and benefits, $507 million for non-classroom salaries and benefits and $477,585 for other classroom costs.

In addition, Kyrene’s spending for new programs and curriculum cost another $1.4 million – or 16.3% – with $885,262 going for classroom salaries and benefits and $131,851 for the same expenses for non-classroom personnel.

New programs and curriculum include the cost of “academic progress assessments, instructional delivery modifications, summer enrichment, after-school programs, etc.,” according to the report.

Kyrene also spent $329,978 on personal protective equipment that ranges from masks to additional cleaning to extra air purifiers and $125,047 for medical

and health services for staff and student, according to the report. That includes testing, counseling and vaccinations.

Because Tempe Union equipped all students with laptops as a result of closed campuses, the vast majority of its $9.9 million in spending through June 30 went to technology – just under $7.2 million or nearly 73%, according to the report.

Maintaining operations cost the district nearly another $1.3 million with $1.1 million going to classroom salaries and benefits and $74,402 for similar costs for non-classroom personnel.

Personal protective equipment cost Tempe Union $122,206 while additional

see COVID page 16

The state Auditor General broke down the categories of Kyrene School District’s spending of all its COVID-relief funding through June 2022 and also broke down the ways Kyrene officials said they planned to spend their remaining $13.2 million in relief funds. (Arizona Auditor General)

Tempe Union COVID spending

The Arizona Auditor General broke down the ways Tempe Union High School District has spent its COVID-relief money through June 2022 and also provided a chart on how iit plans to spend a remaining $12.3 million in relief dollars. (Arizona Auditor General)

*this

WARNING! PERIPHERAL NEUROPATHY AND CHRONIC PAIN TREATMENTS NOT WORKING!!

Mesa AZ – When it comes to chronic pain and/ or neuropathy, the most common doctor-prescribed treatment is drugs like Gabapentin, Lyrica, Cymbalta, and Neurontin. The problem with antidepressants or anti-seizure medications like these is that they offer purely symptomatic relief, as opposed to targeting and treating the root of the problem. Worse, these drugs often trigger an onset of uncomfortable, painful, and sometimes harmful side effects.

The only way to effectively treat chronic pain and/or peripheral neuropathy is by targeting the source, which is the result of nerve damage owing to inadequate blood flow to the nerves in the hands and feet. This often causes weakness, numbness, balance problems. A lack of nutrients causes the nerves degenerate – an insidious

As displayed in figure 1 above, the nerves are surrounded by diseased, withered blood vessels. A lack of sufficient nutrients means the nerves

cannot survive, and thus, slowly die. This leads to those painful and frustrating consequences we were talking about earlier, like weakness, numbness, tingling, balance issues, and perhaps even a burning sensation.

The drugs your doctor might prescribe will temporarily conceal the problems, putting a “Band-Aid” over a situation that will only continue to deteriorate without further action.

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1. Finding the underlying cause

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3. The amount of treatment required for the patient’s unique condition

Aspen Medical in Mesa

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The treatment works by delivering energy to the affected area(s) at varying wavelengths, from low- to middle-frequency signals, while also using Amplitude Modulated (AM) and Frequency Modulated (FM) signaling

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COVID from page 14

medical and mental health services such as counseling and vaccinations cost Tempe Union $104,313, the report says.

Protective gear and services consumed 4.5% of Kyrene’s total relief spending through June 30 while Tempe Union’s costs in that category represented 1.6% of its total pandemic aid expenditures in that time period, according to the report.

But food service that comprised free meals distributed at campuses cost Tempe Union $851,866 – including $646,921 for salaries and benefits. That was nearly three times the $239,482 Kyrene spent on food service through last June.

In reporting districts’ plans for spending the remainder of their relief money, the report says Kyrene anticipates spending 24% on maintaining operations and 68% on new programs and curriculum.

Tempe Union’s two largest spending areas for the rest of its money fall into the same two categories with 35.3% on new programs and curriculum and 23.8% on maintaining operations.

But Tempe Union also anticipates spending 13.9% on medical and mental health help and 20.5% on technology as well, the report says.

The millions of dollars allocated to schools, districts and the state Education Department came from Congress’ passage of three separate COVID-19 federal relief packages in 2020 and 2021.

The bulk of the districts’ relief money came from three rounds of Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund, or ESSER, funding.

School districts have until Sept. 20, 2024, to spend their third round of ESSER money and 20% of that allotment must be set aside to address learning loss stemming from the school closures and remote learning that occurred during the pandemic.

The audit had three overall findings related to statewide spending of schools’ COVID dollars.

“Our first finding found that statewide, districts and charters reported that they plan to spend $1.1 billion of remaining relief monies, which expire in 2024, for ongoing expenses to maintain operations,” it said, recommending “they develop plans for their operational needs supported by these monies.”

The report also said “that numerous districts and charters failed to comply with statutory relief monies spending reporting requirements designed to ensure necessary data is available for this report and to increase financial transparency.

The report indicated that both Tempe Union and Kyrene reported some of their data inconsistently or failed to report grants reported by the funding source.

The Auditor General’s two remaining overall findings are based on findings related to “statutory financial reporting requirements.”

One finding told districts to report their COVID spending “in the format and manner prescribed by the required deadline to ensure transparent reporting and the availability of complete and accurate financial information for decision-makers, other key stakeholders, and the public.”

It also said 89 districts and charters “reported fund balance information that appears inconsistent when compared to other self-reported financial information” and that “58 districts and charters reported relief monies spending in addition to or instead of state and local monies that appears inconsistent with their reported fund balance increase or decrease.”

It therefore recommended that those districts submit more complete reporting and increase transparency of information available and indicated state auditors would be following up to ensure compliance. 

Council wants Phoenix prepared for water rate hikes

BY PAUL MARYNIAK AFN Executive Editor

The Phoenix Water Services Department can show that its water and sewer rates are among the most affordable in the nation with several incentives that can help households cut their monthly bills.

Nonetheless, City Council members on Feb. 15 told Water Services Director Troy Hayes to map an extensive public information blitz to explain to homeowners why their water and sewer bills will likely each be going up again in October by 6.5% – and increase every year after that for at least the next five years.

Members of Council’s Transportation, Infrastructure, and Planning Subcommittee stressed that such a campaign is especially critical this year because rate increases may not be the only factor affecting water bills.

To encourage conservation, the city also proposes to change the rate structure by lowering the number of monthly water usage units covered by the flat rate, called a “water allowance,” and increasing the number of units billed for actual usage.

The city also is considering including in monthly water bills an opt-out program for insurance that would cover homeowners’ cost of repairs up to $8,500 per break in their water and sewer lines between the water meter and home. Repairing those breaks is a homeowner’s responsibility.

The insurance programs currently cost homeowners who sign up for them $7.95 a month for water line coverage and $9.95 a month for sewer line coverage.

An official for the insurer told Council earlier this month that by including all single-family homes in the plan and billing them with their water bill, the cost would be $2.50 to $3 a month. Homeowners would be able to opt out of the coverage and avoid the fee.

Councilwoman Betty Guardado pressed for a more intensive and extensive public information campaign than Hayes had outlined and wants it done before Council votes on the rate restructure and increase. Council must approve the rate increases at least 60 days before they would take effect, likely in October.

“I think it’s very important we have dialogue with all our neighbors,” she said.

“It’s been a little confusing for all of us sitting up here that we’ve all got in briefings,” she continued. “I can only imagine what this is going to be like for our residents.

“Because if we really look at this, we’re looking to raise water rates, we’re looking to reduce the water allocation.We really have to go out there and really explain that to folks. And then we’re also talking about raising waste water rates.

“So I think it’s important that we explain each component of this and why it’s important. I don’t think people are opposed to this. I just think that constituents don’t like it when we don’t explain things to them before we actually take an actual vote.”

Hayes had noted that department staffers would be at all neighborhood budget meetings in April and that they would appear before all village planning committees in April and May – although Guardado said some of those panels rarely meet and often many don’t attract that much general public interest.

But Hayes also showed he is prepared to make the department’s case for the rate increases, coming armed with a slew of charts to show how Phoenix compared favorably with most large and even some small cities on the household cost of water.

He also detailed the crippling impact inflation has exerted on the cost of materials vital to water purification and the city’s water delivery infrastructure.

And Hayes warned bypassing a rate increase “adds pressure to the fund balances, future rate increases or the capital program.”

Noting that “over the past 30 years, our customers have embraced conservation initiatives,” he said the changes in the rate structure and the increased rate “strike the balance between water conservation and affordability.”

He also said, “It is worth noting that many of the customers will be able to mitigate the impacts to the allowance change on their bill without investing in expensive appliances.”

He said homeowners can follow recommended outside water schedules posted

on the city’s website and “fix all of the leaks in their homes.”

“They would reduce their water use by nearly four units a month – or double the maximum proposed changes in the allowance levels.”

He said guides to fix leaks and recommended irrigation schedules are available in several different methods, including texts.

And Hayes said too many households are “over-watering their landscaping.”

In addition, the city is planning to roll out additional incentives to households for conserving water, and therefore lowering their use and monthly cost.

Those incentives will include an enhanced toilet replacement program

that provides a $75 credit for installing a water-saving irrigation system.

Hayes also said the city works with Arizona State University to provide free xeriscaping ideas to households that want to replace or reduce grass and other greenery.

“The department will then offer a home audit where we will come out and identify areas where water can be conserved,” he said, adding that elderly customers and those households that complete an audit would then be eligible for a $150 irrigation controller rebate.

Identifying leaks and installing an irrigation controller through the audit, he

Water Services Director Troy Hayes produced this chart comparing single-family household water bills under the proposed new rates with existing average monthly bills in other Southwest cities. (Phoenix Water Services Department)

The average single-family household water and sewer bills under the proposed new rates and rate structure also compares favorably with existing monthly water bills in the nation’s largest cities. (Phoenix Water Services Department)

WATER from page 17

said, would reduce enough water usage to compensate many households for the higher rates.

The bottom line, Hayes added, is “that Phoenix’s water services are affordable, inflationary impacts are drastically affecting both the operating and capital budgets as seen throughout our industry in the water and the waste water capi-

tal program.”

Guardado noted one other area of concern –unpaid and delinquent water bills. She said the latest city report indicated some 6,000 households owed at least $4 million.

“I just think we just have to deal with that debt and figure out a plan with those residents and see how we can be helpful, what type of plans we can put them in so they can also pay down their

debt,” she said, adding:

“I don’t think this is something any of us are saying that this is not overdue. We understand that. But at the same time, it just has to be a very comprehensive plan, very robust.”

“This is something that’s very delicate because we already have folks that are having a hard time paying their water bill so we just need to figure out how is it that we can be helpful with that. And

with the summer months among us, it’s only gonna get worse.” 

This chart illustrates Phoenix’s average water and sewer bills for single-family households with those of other area municipal and private utility water and sewer rates. (Phoenix Water Services Department)

This chart traces the history of Phoenix’s water and sewer rate adjustments. (Phoenix Water Services Department)

Excitement building over TPC sportsbook

BY HARRISON CAMPBELL Cronkite News

The PGA Tour is taking the plunge into the world of sports gambling as completion nears of a one-ofa-kind DraftKings Sportsbook located across from TPC Scottsdale.

DraftKings joins FanDuel, Caesars and BetMGM as sportsbook operations with brick-and-mortar venues in the Valley. The others are located at Footprint Center, State Farm Stadium and Chase Field.

Construction is currently ongoing and the grand opening is tentatively planned for October for the first ever physical sportsbook on a PGA Tour event site.

The goal of the partnership between the PGA Tour and DraftKings is to help use the growing popularity of sports betting to bring new fans to golf. In Arizona

BUDGET from page 1

tax cut would cost Phoenix another $3.5 million. The rent tax elimination bill is currently being reviewed by the Hobbs administration.

Less certain for city spending in the coming fiscal year – as well as for the next five years – is the impact of new contracts with its major worker groups.

Existing agreements expire in June and the City Manager’s forecast says it currently “assumes no changes to existing labor contracts or service levels.”

It also assumes no increase in ongoing operational costs for the new facilities proposed in the $500 million bond issue that Council is likely to put up in November for voter approval.

That bond issue includes a number of new facilities, such as four new fire stations, a police evidence warehouse and a Latino Cultural Center.

But the report also assumes any budget surplus will be “incorporated into the subsequent years’ expenditures, whether in increased one-time and ongoing costs for added programs and services, labor increases, setasides, or other uses.”

“The forecast also assumes any deficit is resolved by reducing expenses in order to achieve a balanced budget,” it adds.

Both forecasts stress the numerous uncertainties that could challenge Phoenix spending and service levels.

more than $618 million was wagered on sports bets in December 2022 alone, a figure that has steadily risen since legislation passed in 2021 to legalize online and retail sports wagering in the state.

“Part of the overall strategy is to reach more new fans and to create more engagement with existing fans through the lens of sports betting,” said Norb Gambuzza, senior vice president of media and gaming for the PGA Tour.

“When we talk about our strategy, that’s really at the top.”

With the rapid rise of sports betting in Arizona, it comes as no surprise that many spectators at the recent WM Phoenix Open were eagerly anticipating the sportsbook’s opening.

“Yeah, a sports book entices people to gamble no matter what,” said Patrick Fortuna, a Phoenix resident at the tour-

“Areas that could impact the (General Fund) include revenue volatility, continued pension cost increases, higher costs for employee compensation, impacts from State legislative actions, and unfunded mandates,” it says, adding:.

“Additionally, if a recession were to occur in 2023, or legislation is passed that would dramatically reduce revenues, it’s possible that deficits could occur in the future requiring strategic budget balancing actions by the City Council.”

The city’s five-year forecast also notes that while COVID-relief money and higher revenue collections helped the city avoid budget cuts, “the specter of another recession is beginning to take shape.

“Although many economists warn of a downturn in 2023, it is far from certain when a recession will occur, how significant the impact will be, and for what duration.”

For now, the increased spending in the coming year will include higher salaries and benefits for workers, increased vehicle replacement and fire apparatus costs, rising capital equipment prices and a host of inflation-driven expenses.

“Inflation has also dramatically impacted several expenditure categories, including commodities and contractuals such as fuel, compressed natural gas, electricity, motor vehicle parts, plumbing supplies, custodial and security services, machinery and equipment repair, and facility maintenance

nament. “I think a sports book would really push people in the direction of gambling on the sport and really being more enticed to come here and enjoy

costs,” the forecast says.

Hailing the surplus as “good news,” the report said it includes $69 million in ongoing savings and $65 million in unexpected revenue brought on partly by higher sales tax revenue.

That additional sales tax revenue results largely from inflation, since higher prices on many goods and services generate a bigger bite of consumer spending for taxing bodies.

Moreover, the surplus also comes from unfilled city positions as Phoenix and other municipalities compete for workers to fill a wide variety of jobs, from police officers and firefighters to administrators and skilled laborers.

Among some sharp increases in spending anticipated for the coming fiscal year is a $45 million rise in pension costs.

Of that increase, $40 million represents higher payments for police and firefighter pensions.

The forecast for the next fiscal year also includes $118 million for “pay-asyou-go capital projects.”

One of those projects is a fourth fire station in Ahwatukee on the northwest corner of 19th Street and Chandler Boulevard that Mayor Kate Gallego and Councilman Sal DiCiccio lobbied the City Manager’s office to include in 2023-24.

The fire station will be built on cityowned land that also includes a trailhead parking area, but DiCiccio’s chief

the sport.”

The sportsbook will include 40 bet-

of staff, Felicia Mendoza, said it will only cover “the south 300 feet of the property, which will allow Parks to utilize the north portion for the trailhead.”

Expected to open in two years, that station will cut response times for fire and medical emergencies in Ahwatukee’s western communities, DiCiccio said.

And the station will be fully operational when it opens: $3 million in annual funding for personnel and other operating costs will begin to be included next fiscal year so that firefighters entering the academy this year will be fully trained, Gallego said.

The pay-as-you-go projects also include new information technology and a new Municipal Court case management system, the City Manager’s report says.

The report also says the budget will increase its contingency fund from $68 million to $76 million to “improve the city’s ability to withstand future economic declines.”

It notes that the city is steadily increasing that emergency reserve so that 5% of spending in every annual budget from 2026-27 onward will be set aside for contingencies.

The spending plan for the coming fiscal year has a long way to go before becoming reality.

Once the Trial Budget is released March 26, Council will hold hearings and citizens will be asked for their input as well. 

Planners envision a comfortable, upscale setting for the new DraftKings Sportsbook, which will be located directly across from the TPC Scottsdale clubhouse. (Courtesy of Allen + Philp Partners)

His website pays homage to Holocaust survivors

BY ALEX GALLAGHER Progress Staff Writer

Even though Jerry Guttman was a child when he was introduced to the gruesome reality that his parents had survived during World War II, the Scottsdale man said it wasn’t until he was older that they began recounting the horrors they witnessed.

The youngest of three children of Irving Guttman and Rosie Polkenfeld of Detroit, Michigan, Jerry always felt a burning curiosity about his parents’ earlier life in Europe.

“I was very young when I learned that they were in the Holocaust, but my mom would never tell a story,” Guttman recalled. “My brother was born in a displaced prisoner of war camp (DPW) in Fürth, Bavaria, Germany, so he is also considered a survivor.

“My father told some stories… but most people who went through the atrocity didn’t want to tell their story.”

It wasn’t until his father passed away in May 1997 that his mother began talking

about her life in the Nazis concentration camp at Auschwitz in the late 1930s into the early 40s.

Rosie Polkenfeld was born in June 1927 as one of six children in Petrova, Romania, but relocated to Hungary when she was 14 to care for her mother’s cousin.

Upon her arrival in Hungary, she was met with the frightening presence of the German Nazi party’s growing presence.

Though she led a somewhat normal life throughout her early teens, Polkenfeld’s life was ripped away from her around age 16 when she was taken from her home, shaved of her hair and transported to Auschwitz. She split her imprisonment between there and the camp at Bergen-Belsen throughout the Holocaust.

She shared a bed with 13 other people and subsisted on one loaf of bread a week and a bowl of soup that contained one potato and a bean.

She worked on an assembly-line-style conveyor belt, examining hundreds of bodies prisoners executed in gas cham-

bers and harvesting any valuable dental work before they were incinerated.

Although workers were expected to remain emotionless during their long, draining days of work along that assembly line, Polkenfeld one day was overwhelmed by the shock of seeing her pregnant cousin’s corpse.

Prison guards reacted by lashing her, leaving permanent scars on her shoulder.

Rosie remained in concentration camps until English forces advanced onto the eastern front and began liberating camps.

Irving Guttman was born as one of six kids in 1915 in Poland at a time the country was already becoming a battleground that evolved into World War I.

“The Great War” put the Guttmans in a strong economic position as the family owned a successful creamery that was so busy Irving left school after the seventh grade to work there. The creamery was closed after Germany invaded Poland in 1939.

German soldiers showed up at the Guttman home, forcing Irving and his brother to hide and listen as the soldiers executed his mother and three sisters.

Irving refused to live in a German settlement and eluded the invaders, spending months on the run from the Nazis.

“He would always try to find places under stairs and he’d have a piece of wood with him so he could go under the stairs, pull the piece of wood, and then they would not see him,” Jerry recalled his mother telling him.

When his father was captured, Irving surrendered and was sent to a labor camp, where he worked alongside his father until the two were stricken by typhoid. Irving returned to work but his

father was too weak to return.

They never saw each other again.

Irving was sent to a small camp in Poland of 800 Jews that were under looser supervision than other camps.

One rainy night, he slipped under a fence and ran to the forest, eventually finding refuge in a Polish village where he was given clothes and a place to live for months.

Irving later found work working on a highway alongside the Russian army paving his way through what was then Czechoslovakia, Poland and Germany. He eventually ended in the same displaced persons camp where Polkenfeld had been searching for her family.

Polkenfeld and Guttman fell in love, married and gave birth to their first child at this camp. They eventually got to the United States in the early 1950s, living in their cousin’s basement in Michigan and working multiple jobs.

“(My dad) worked three jobs and my mom worked two jobs,” Jerry recalled. “They worked for Dodge, they worked for Chrysler. My dad used to move furniture at midnight. They did whatever they could to scrounge up what money they could.”

Jerry Guttman, the son of Holocaust survivors Irving Guttman and Rosie Polkenfeld and the creator of OurHolocaustStory.com, looks over the memorabilia from his parents’ ordeal. (David Minton/AFN Staff Photographer)

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Eventually, the Guttmans saved enough funds to purchase a small storefront in Hamtramck, Michigan, that was originally a furniture store that would become the famous Irving’s Delicatessen.

Though the duo became known for their delicious dishes like gefilte fish, fresh challah bread and chicken-in-thepot with kreplach, matzah ball and boiled potato, they were most renowned for the care that they showed to every customer who walked through their door.

“If you came into our restaurant, my mom would walk up to you, see what she was cooking in the back, talk to get your name, your phone number and learn a little bit about you,” Jerry recalled. “She would take your kids in the back in the kitchen where they’d make bread and they’d make coleslaw.

“Then they’d go to my father, who would teach them one of six Slavic languages of the day, then he put a pack of gum in their pocket and gave them a scoop of ice cream and you became part of our family.”

Jerry recalled instances where his parents sent a week’s supply of food to regulars if they were ill and said they

ting kiosks and seven ticketing windows along with almost 400 seats across the interior and an exterior patio for people to sit and enjoy the high-end dining and cocktail options. Once sports betting was legalized in Arizona, the Tour brought the proposal to multiple betting operators. In the end, it was DraftKings that was able to strike a deal.

The sportsbook is being built on the corner of Bell Road and GreenwayHayden Loop, directly across the street from TPC Scottsdale’s clubhouse and the Stadium Course’s 18th hole.

The facility will be front and center near the entrance to the most attended tournament in golf. The only other sportsbook in the area is The Sportsbook at CAZ Sports Bar at Casino Arizona.

“If you kind of map and plotted where all these (sportsbooks) are, you’d see that we have a bit of a geographic advantage, we’re separate and we’re also in an area that’s got kind of, from an economic standpoint, a bit more of an affluent clientele nearby,” Gambuzza said.

remained active in the community even after they sold their booming business that grew to as many as three locations.

What stuck out the most to Jerry was how welcoming his parents were to fellow immigrants.

“My dad used to give me a little piece of paper on a Saturday (with an address on it) and say, ‘Go pick up these folks,’”

Jerry said. “(My parents) would give them clothes, food and money to get them settled and help them adjust to the country. My parents were just amazing people in the Detroit community.”

Yet, their traumatic background haunted Jerry throughout his life – especially because he still had so many questions about where his parents came from.

“So, I think that’s one of the reasons that DraftKings also was intrigued with this, due to its ability to be a little bit different from the others.”

The DraftKings Sportsbook will be the closest physical sportsbook to many residents of the North Valley.

On top of the location, the opportunity to bring a sportsbook to TPC Scottsdale, home of one of the most popular events on Tour, made perfect sense once sports betting was legalized.

The PGA Tour had been talking about partnering on a retail sportsbook for a year or two before Arizona legalized

Because of this, Jerry began tracking down documents relating to his parent’s past in Europe about a decade ago and has since recovered his father’s European driver’s license, records stating his parents had been at displaced person camps, sponsorship documents to immigrate to the United States and loads of photos of his parents.

Although this piqued his curiosity, Jerry then realized that he couldn’t be alone and felt compelled to create a website called OurHolocaustStory.com, where other survivors and their children could keep these stories alive.

“As I compile things and as I learn more, the more they become my heroes to survive what they went through,” Jerry said.

Jerry hopes that he can hear more heroic stories about how people survived one of the worst genocides in history and keep the dark history of what happened decades ago for generations to come.

“My goal with this is to have other survivors or family members who have documentation, pictures, videos, audio that we can upload for them, and create a library so others or teachers can use it to teach people and try to eliminate hate,” Jerry said. 

Although only VIP fans will be able to place bets there, the sportsbook’s location during the WM Phoenix Open will make hundreds of thousands of people aware that it’s there.

“Yeah, that’ll be so great, not having it this year is just a huge shame,” said Elliot Wood, another WM Phoenix Open spectator. Wood and his friends traveled to the tournament from Canada and said they look forward to seeing the completed building at a future WM Phoenix Open.

sports betting, opening a door for the deal to be made.

“It’s this golf tournament that has this very distinct personality and massive attendance,” Gambuzza said.

“It kind of became like, ‘If we’re going to do this, we’ve got the ingredients for a really special and successful venture, so let’s do it.’”

While the sportsbook is expected to open in the fall, it will not be open to the public at the next WM Phoenix Open. Instead, the space will be used by DraftKings and the sponsoring Thunderbirds as a VIP hospitality area.

The sportsbook will be open to the public for the remainder of the year, but restricting access to patrons at next year’s tournament isn’t exactly in keeping with the event’s “The People’s Open” brand.

And it’s something that Fortuna, as a fan, doesn’t believe is a good idea.

“I think a lot of the time with gamblers, it’s like an everyman’s thing,” he said. “You know, it’s like a lot of people are gambling, whether they’re VIP or not. I think that should be open to everyone. I don’t think it should be exclusive to one or the other.

“Gambling on the app is a whole lot less fun than gambling with a whole group of people at a sportsbook.” 

A 1948 letter from the administrator of the Jewish Displaced Persons camp in Fürth Germany attests that Holocaust survivor Irving Guttman had been at the camp since November 1945.

(David Minton/Progress Staff Photographer)

GAMBLE from page 19

The DraftKings Sportsbook near TPC is not expected to open until October and won’t be open to the public during next year’s WM Phoenix Open. (Rendering courtesy of Allen + Philp Partners)

Ironwood Library hosting its first bike rodeo

BY COTY DOLORES MIRANDA AFN Contributor

For the first time in at least a decade, Ironwood Library in Ahwatukee is holding a Family Bicycle Safety Rodeo.

Scheduled 9-11 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 25, at Ironwood, 4333 E. Chandler Blvd., the rodeo includes a bike helmet giveaway with every participating child receiving a safety helmet while supplies last.

In addition, kids without their own bikes will have access to loaners to maneuver through the course set up in the library parking lot.

A raffle for two refurbished bicycles is also on the agenda.

Asked when the last bike rodeo was held at Ironwood and long-time staffer Connie Dells said:

“I can only speak for Ironwood Branch, during the past 11 years I’ve worked here. And no, during that time we have not hosted a bicycle safety rodeo.”

Retired Phoenix police officer John

Boyd, now injury prevention specialist at the Phoenix Children’s Hospital Center for Family Health and Safety, is leading the rodeo.

It is a task he undertakes with a passion – and has for more than two decades – initially with Phoenix Police, for whom he designed and coordinated the bike and pedestrian safety program.

“Over 20 years ago when I was working as a Police Officer for the City of Phoenix, I revamped a bike safety program and I was on the downtown Bike Detail for three years,” said Boyd,

who also served as bike coordinator with the Maricopa County Safe Kids program. Even off duty, Boyd enjoyed biking

with family, friends and community organizations.

“I’ve raised five children, and going on bike rides with my children and neighborhood children, I realized how important bike safety is in protecting the children,” said Boyd whose Linkedin statement reads, “Working to protect those who have a small voice in life.”

“Fast forward 20 years and I’m right back to what I love to do here at Phoenix Children’s Hospital. The opportunity to have bike safety as a part of my job was right up my alley,” he smiled.

“Even during the 20 years of being retired, I continued to ride my bike, working with neighborhood children and volunteering with other bike programs.”

Boyd said hosting the bicycle safety rodeos for various Phoenix Public Library locations as well as East Valley city programs gives him great pleasure in two ways.

He not only gets to teach children on

see BIKE page 26

Cerritos student to compete for state spelling crown

AFN NEWS STAFF

Afourth grader at Kyrene de los Cerritos Leadership Academy will be boning up on the dictionary as she prepares for the next round in a march to the national spelling crown.

Aanani Dutta won the Maricopa County Region 1 Spelling Bee Feb. 11 in back-to-back verbal achievements during the 10-round contest.

First, she was the only speller in the ninth round to correctly spell “divestiture” and then triumphed again in the final round by nailing the spelling of “vexatious.”

Aanandi bested a group of 33 spellers from Kyrene School District, Mesa Public Schools, Tempe Elementary

School District and private, charter and homeschool organizations. She will now compete March 18 at Madison Center for the Arts for a chance to be one of two students who will represent the state in the national bee, May 30-June 1 at the Gaylord National Hotel and Convention Center in National Harbor, Maryland.

First held in 1925, the national bee is framed around 450 words selected from the Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary.

Some 200 spelling champs will vie for the national title, which carries a $2,500 cash prize, a reference library and bragging rights for the year.

Over the years, the winning contestants have had to tackle some

brain-busting words such as “soubrette” (1953), “chiaroscurist” (1998), “autochthonous” (2004) and “insouciant (1951), according to records of the bee.

While Aanandi will be going on to a new round next month, another Kyrene student – Paige Erickson, an 8th grader at Kyrene Middle School – was also among the top 10 regional spellers.

Dutta will move on to the Arizona State Spelling Bee on March 18 at the Madison Center for the Arts. The top two spellers in that competition will qualify for the 2023 Scripps National Spelling Bee in Washington, D.C. Kyrene congratulates all spellers and wishes Dutta and other regional Bee winners G-O-O-D L-U-C-K! 

Retired Phoenix police officer John Boyd, now injury prevention specialist at the Phoenix Children’s Hospital Center for Family Health and Safety, is leading the Bicycle Safety Rodeo. (Facebook)

Aanani Dutta, seen here with her father Uttaran Dutta of Ahwatukee, is basking in the glow of being the regional spelling bee winner who now will vie to represent Arizona in the famed Scripps National Spelling Bee for the national crown. (Kyrene School District)

Ahwatukee prof’s ASU program wins big award

An Arizona State University program founded and directed by an Ahwatukee professor has received a prestigious international award that puts it in the company of Doctors Without Borders and renowned anthropologist Dr. Jane Goodall.

ASU Project Humanities received an Anthem Award, often called “the internet’s highest honor,” which honors individuals, movements, and organizations “that spark meaningful local and global social change,” according to the Webby Awards, which started the Anthem recognition program in 2021.

Dr. Neal Lester, ASU Foundation Professor of English, a long-time Ahwatukee resident and nationally renowned author and expert in African American literature and culture.

The award also cited his team: Rachel Sondgeroth, program manager; Gregory Broberg, ASU faculty ambassador; and student worker Brekken Cogswell.

“Project Humanities brings together individuals and communities across Ar-

izona, nationally, and globally to instill passion and knowledge of humanities study, research, and humanist thought,” according to its mission statement,” the award said, adding:

“Demystifying this academic discipline, Project Humanities facilitates conversations across to build understanding through talking, listening, and connecting. These conversations lead to action within and between individuals and communities, always connecting diversity and inclusion with justice and humanity.”

Project Humanities includes monthly public programming and events, partnerships, research, and service opportunities “that reflect our pledge to live the principles of Humanity 101: compassion, empathy, forgiveness, integrity, kindness, respect, and self-reflection.”

It has received numerous accolades ranging from Martin Luther King, Jr. Diversity Awards to an endorsement from the 14th Dalai Lama.

The Anthem Awards drew more than 2,000 submissions from 43 countries

Super duper job

The 2023 Super Bowl was extra special for Kyrene Altadeña Middle School Assistant Principal and Athletic Director Deb Wilkinson, who was selected as a member of the ball handler crew. “It’s a dream come true, to know that it’s not only my first Super Bowl but the Chiefs are in it, I just can’t believe it,” shared Wilkinson. “I worked for a long time, worked myself up to it. I don’t think my feet have touched the ground in the last couple of weeks.” Wilkinson, who was the only female on the Arizona Cardinals Ball Handler Crew last year, was also the first woman to join the Arizona Rattlers Arena Football team as a member of the chain crew in 2020. She has also worked for the Arizona State University Football Chain Crew and has been on the field for two Semi-National Collegiate Football Championships. (Kyrene School District)

around the world.

“This award recognizes those who provide opportunities for people to engage with their local communities on behalf

of an important cause,” Lester said in a release, noting its events have drawn over 315,000 participants and 238 community partners and have contributed over 8,000 volunteer hours.

Lester also said, “This award gives ASU Project Humanities a special opportunity to thank our many volunteers, interns, staff, student workers, faculty colleagues, and community partners who continue to support and promote the mission of ‘talking, listening and connecting.’”

Project Humanities’ work also is not unlike the Anthem Awards’ mission, which is: “By amplifying the voices that spark global change, we’re defining a new benchmark for impactful work that inspires others to take action in their own communities.’’

“Whether individuals, groups, or organizations attend an event to discuss important topics or bring friends and family to a volunteer event, there is community for all with ASU Project Humanities,” Lester added.

More information: projecthumanities.asu.edu. 

AROUND AHWATUKEE

Corpus Christi Church to hold annual St. Vincent de Paul furniture drive

The annual furniture drive by the St. Vincent de Paul Corpus Christi Conference Ministry in Ahwatukee is coming soon.

People can drop off furniture either 9 a.m.-3 p.m. March 11 or 10 a.m.-3 p.m. March 12 at the 36th Street parking lot of Corpus Christi Church, 3550 E. Knox Road, Ahwatukee.

However, no mattresses/box springs, tube televisions or damaged or broken items will be accepted.

Legion Post 64 slates social mixer for veterans at Rec Center

American Legion Post 64, the only formal military veterans organization based in Ahwatukee, is holding a free veterans social mixer that’s open to the public 5-6:30 p.m. April 5 at the Ahwatukee Recreation Center, 5001 E. Cheyenne Drive.

Light food, iced tea and water will be served at the free event and music and the card game spades are also on the agenda.

Information: Brenda, 303-301-4429

Beekeeper to discuss her craft at next garden club meeting here

Cricket Aldridge of Arizona Backyard Beekeepers will discuss bees and beekeeping in Arizona at Desert Pointe

Garden Club’s March meeting.

Anyone interested in joining a garden club and learning about gardening in the desert is welcome to attend the meeting at 1:15 p.m. March 6, at the Ahwatukee Recreation Center, 5001 E. Cheyenne Drive.

Ahwatukee Recreation Center slates big sale of hundreds of used books

The Ahwatukee Recreation Center Library will be holding a spring book sale open to the public 8:30 a.m.-2 p.m. March 10 and 8:30 a.m.-1 p.m. March 11 in the center’s parking lot, 5001 E. Cheyenne Drive, Ahwatukee.

Spokesman Dell Taylor said over 1,000 books – including fiction, mystery/thrillers, nonfiction, history, romance, biography/memoir and special interest – will be on sale for $1 for hardbacks and 50 cents for paperbacks.

Phoenix taking registrations for Kids

Triathlon at Pecos Park

Phoenix is taking registrations for the Pecos Park Triathlon 8 a.m.-noon March 26 and parents have just one week left for a discount on the fee – from $38 to $26. The second annual event is broken into three categories – swimming, biking and running – and three age groups. In swimming, ages 6-7-year-olds go 25 meters, 8-10 for 50 and 11-13 for 100. In biking, the youngest group

Dr. Neal Lester of Ahwatukee is founding director of ASU’s Project Humanities. (AFN File Photo)

bikes and non-motorized scooters how they can ride safely, but also hands out safety helmets to every participant and brings along two to four bikes for a raffle.

“Phoenix Children’s Hospital is a nonprofit and the funding that I receive for my program lets me buy helmets, bike bells and other materials to give away, thanks to donations and/or grants,” he explained.

“The Governor’s Office of Highway Safety (GOHS) gives me a grant to buy my helmets and we give out thousands

of helmets each year. If it weren’t for GOHS, thousands of children wouldn’t have helmets to protect them. When kids come to my rodeo, they all get a free helmet.”

The bike raffle is made possible by the 7-year-old Fountain Hills nonprofit Bob’s Free Bikes.

In 2022, founder Bob Mandel and his volunteers collected, restored and donated 1,000 bikes to children throughout the Greater Phoenix metropolitan area.

“Bob’s Free Bikes donates bikes to my program. They work with schools, families and other nonprofits. They take

in used bikes and fix them up to give away,” Boyd explained.

“The bikes are all in great working condition and look almost new. Bob’s Free Bikes is a wonderful organization.”

Ironwood Library Manager Lee Payne said the safety course will be set up in the east and south portions of the Ironwood Library parking lot.

“The 44th Street entrance will be closed, so access to the Ironwood Library is from the Chandler Boulevard entrance,” advised Payne. “Families and kids ages 4-12 will be able to learn specific bike safety points, all about bike sizing & maintenance, practice on the bike course, and more.”

Phoenix Public Library spokeswoman Lee Franklin said many of the 17 library branches will once again host their own family bicycle safety rodeos.

“Before the pandemic, the safety rodeos were a regular thing we did, and now, are doing again for the first time in three years,” she said.

“Like so many throughout our communities, we are returning to offering these types of in-person programs and activities after almost three years of a global pandemic response,” Franklin added.

“Phoenix Public Libraries are great places for families to find activities and programs that are just as much fun as they are helpful, and Ironwood Library has always enjoyed a large community turnout to library events.”

Payne agreed getting back to providing events for families is a great reprieve.

“Being able to connect with a community partner like Children’s Hospital to offer something so beneficial to families is what Ironwood Library is all about,” said Payne.

“We’re excited to see our Ironwood families on Saturday enjoying not only the library, but also a fun and educational activity outdoors.”

Boyd has been busy with bike safety rodeos, explaining they comprise “one of my major events.”

Although May is National Bike Month, Phoenix and area cities like Chandler and Mesa celebrate Valley Bike Month throughout April with various special programs hosted by cities and bicycle groups.

“I really hope Ahwatukee families come and enjoy this Family Bicycle Safety Rodeo,” said Boyd. “If you’re a kid with a (non-motorized) scooter, bring it along.” 

will go a half-mile, 8-10 for one mile and the 11-13 group pedals 1.3 miles. Running is broken down by 6-7, .35 miles; 8-10, .75 miles and 11-13 for a mile.

Participants must be able to swim the designated pool lengths unassisted. One parent/guardian can accompany their child in the bike and run portion in the 6-7 age group only. Parent must bring their own bike and helmets are required.

All participants will receive a finisher medal and event t-shirt. Must register prior by today, Feb. 15, to guarantee an event shirt and the $26 registration fee. Register: email denise.romero@phoenix.gov or call 602-534-5234.

LD12 Democrats slate meet and greet with city council candidate Robinson

The LD12 Democrats will co-host a meet-and-greet with Phoenix City Council District 6 candidate Kevin Robinson 5-6:30 p.m. Feb. 24. For

For info, email info@KevinRobinsonforPhoenix.com.

The group also is seeking phone bank volunteers, drivers and canvassers to work on behalf of Robinson at 9 a.m. Feb. 25. Information/RSVP: bit.ly/RobinsonCanvassVolunteer.

Time to think about the Kiwanis Ahwatukee Easter Parade

It’s time for schools, groups, businesses and even families to start thinking about their entries in the 47th annual Kiwanis Ahwatukee Easter Parade and Spring Fling April 8.

The club is already planning the parade, which starts at Warner Road and 48th Street and heads north to Elliot Road.

Though entries are being accepted until March 30, it’s never too early for organizations “to put their heads together and organize their entries,” said Mike Schmitt, Parade Boss for the 31st consecutive year.

Spectators are welcome to bring lawn chairs or spread blankets and enjoy the parade. Public address stations will be located at Ahwatukee Country Club and at the corners of Ahwatukee Drive, Kiowa Street and Pawnee Street.

Kiwanis Club President Carrie Chipman also reminds people that the club will need volunteers for the Spring Fling fundraiser that immediately follows the parade, which starts at 10 a.m.

After the parade, all are invited to the Spring Fling at Ahwatukee Community Center Park, 48th Street and Warner Road. Enjoy entertainment by local groups, vendor and craft booths, Easter Egg Hunt, carnival rides, games, food, beverages, and games until 4 p.m.

Parade entry forms have been mailed to over 300 local businesses, groups and previous parade entries. But those who haven’t received one can call 480-759-0007 or e-mail msch0007@aol.com.

For more Spring Fling information call 602-402-6267 or email andi@wttaz.com. Forms are available at ahwatukeekiwanis.org.

Ironwood Library offers free activities for all ages throughout the month

Ironwood Library, 4333 E. Chandler Blvd., Ahwatukee, presents a variety of programs for children, teens and

adults. Unless otherwise noted, free tickets are required and available 30 minutes before programs’ start times at the library’s information desk.

For more information: phoenixpubliclibrary.org.

Babytimes - Babies ages birth to 23 months, accompanied by a favorite adult, will enjoy songs, rhymes, books, and interactive fun Tuesdays, 10:30-11:10 a.m. Space is limited to 12 families.

Toddlertimes - Toddlers ages 24-36 months, accompanied by a favorite adult, will enjoy songs, rhymes, books, and interactive fun Thursdays, 10:30-11:10 a.m. Space is limited to 12 families.

Sit, Stay, Read! - Young readers & listeners can sign up for reading time with a registered therapy dog/handler team. Read with Elsa 4-5 p.m. every Tuesday.

Family storytime at Pecos Park - Children birth to age five and their favorite grownups play, read, sing, and dance in a fun, active program that builds reading skills. Every Friday, 9:30-10 a.m., outdoors at Pecos Park, 17010 S. 48th St. No tickets required. Supported by a grant from First Things First.

Sit, Stay, Read! - Young readers & listeners can sign up for reading time with a registered therapy dog/handler team. Read with Elsa every Tuesday, 4-5 p.m. Read with Raven every Thursday, 4-5 p.m.

Full STEAM Ahead - Children ages 6-12 explore handson creative ways to design, experiment, and invent Saturdays, 2-3 p.m., in this Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math (STEAM) program. No Full STEAM Ahead on Feb. 25. No tickets required.

Join Ironwood’s Library Teen Council! - We’re looking for teens ages 12-17 who would like to help us organize programs, create displays, and improve the library experience for all library users! Participating in our library teen council is a great opportunity for those wanting experience in a work environment for school, scholarship, or job applications.

Online volunteer applications are available at volunteer.phoenix.gov. Under “Browse by Interest” choose “Library,” in the “Keyword” box type “Ironwood,” and complete the appropriate application.

A volunteer coordinator will notify applicants when the first meeting will take place. The next monthly meeting is 3:30-4:30 p.m March 3.

Paper Crafts - Adults and teens can learn a new papercraft the first Wednesday of each month. The group will be starting with flowers and all materials will be provided. March 1, 4:30-5:30 p.m. No tickets required.

Next Chapter Book Club - This inclusive communitybased book club is designed for people ages 12+ with intellectual and developmental disabilities who have a desire to make friends, explore their community, and read (regardless of current reading ability). This weekly gathering is free and occurs every Wednesday, 3:30-4:30 p.m. Registration is required and available in the library or online in the Calendar section of the library’s website.

Book Club - Adult readers 18+ can meet up with fellow adventuresome bibliophiles to share their thoughts about each month’s selection the first Wednesday of each month, 5-5:45 p.m. No tickets required. The book to be discussed on March 1 is The Paris Library by Janet Skeslien Charles. 

We invite you to Corpus Christi Catholic Church

Monday, March 6 through Thursday, March 9 for our Lenten Parish Mission and Healing Service entitled:

Why Be Catholic?

Fr. Ken Geraci, lived the life of the prodigal son for most of his young adult life. Raised in a nominal Catholic family, who only lived the externals of the faith, Fr. Ken left the Catholic Church for many years. During that time, he worked as a business profession in Advanced R&D and software testing; a few years into his career he joined a few of his co-workers in establishing a $4.5M Internet software company.

Focused on money, fitness and success, he made little room for God; but God did not give up on him. During this journey, God presented him with challenges that forced him to question his personal beliefs and the question, “What is Truth?”

Through a series of conversions, years of struggle, study and questioning, Fr. Ken found his way from agnosticism to nondenominational Christianity and ultimately, back to the Catholic Church.

The FATHERS of MERCY

Fr. Ken joined the Fathers of Mercy in 2006 and was ordained in 2012. Having lived a secular existence, Fr. Ken has a great understanding of the personal and societal pressures that individuals face and knows what it is like to “hate coming to church.”

This mission is for people of all ages and levels of faith, from those who are madly in love with Jesus, to those who pretty much cannot stand church or religion. Regardless of your level of faith come and experience God’s Divine Mercy!

We invite you to one or all of the talks:

Monday through Thursday at 9am or 7pm in the church.

Fr. Ken will be available to hear confessions each day. Mass at 8:15am each day and 6pm on Tuesday & Thursday.

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AG probing local supermarket chains’ merger

BY HOWARD FISCHER CAPITOL MEDIA SERVICES

Attorney General Kris Mayes is investigating whether to try to block the proposed merger of the state’s two largest grocery chains.

Mayes said Thursday she wants to know what will be the effects of allowing the combination of Kroger Co., the parent of Smith’s and Fry’s Foods, with Albertsons Companies, which operates not just stores under its own name but purchased Safeway and all the stores that company owned in 2015.

It starts, she said, with whether that combination will be able to drive up prices for consumers who already are suffering under high inflation.

“The impacts of this merger, in particular at a time when people are struggling to pay for groceries and prices are high, could be huge,’’ she said.

Then there’s the question of whether the merged company will close stores,

forcing some people to travel farther. And Mayes wants to know how all of this would affect the 35,000 workers now employed by both.

Much of that, she said, will come from “listening sessions’’ her office will conduct to hear what Arizonans think of the deal and how it will affect them.

Mayes is not the only one looking at the deal announced last year.

The Federal Trade Commission is conducting an inquiry into the $24.6 billion deal where Kroger would purchase its competitor while a group of consumers has filed suit in California to block the deal.

Mayes, however, is focused more on what the combination of the two giants would mean here. In fact, she told Capitol Media Services that, on a per capita basis, the merger will have a greater effect on Arizonans than any other state.

What she’s able to do about it, however, remains to be seen.

see GROCERY page 31

New EV business enhances STEM learning

BY KEN SAIN Tribune Staff Writer

It’s not a secret that the jobs of the future are going to require a heavy dose of science, technology, engineering and math education.

“We have to keep producing more career technical education, more STEM, STEM, STEM, STEM, STEM, STEM,” Chris Camacho, the executive director of the Greater Phoenix Economic Council, told Chandler City Council in January. “That is critical for our state’s competitive position.”

A new after-school business has opened up to help.

iCode held its grand opening in Chandler on Feb. 4, with other schools planned in Gilbert, Scottsdale and Goodyear.

iCode started in 2015 and began offering franchises in 2018. Five years later, it has about 70 locations and the Chandler school is the first in Arizona.

“It’s meant to supplement, not take the place of, the regular school,” said Misty El-

lis, who owns both the Chandler and Gilbert locations with her husband, Daniel.

“What we provide here is something that most schools don’t provide. It’s education, but really with the technology. We do a huge focus on soft skills.”

Misty, whose husband works in cybersecurity, said they wanted to own their own business and started shopping around for franchise opportunities.

“When he saw the iCode curriculum, he was like, ‘This is it. This is what I want to do,’” she said.

That curriculum is the main drawing card.

The school hires college students who are finishing up their STEM degrees as instructors. Ellis said her instructors have said they wish they would

Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes wants to see if the upcoming merger of the state’s two largest supermarket chains will impact customers and neighborhoods adversely. (Capitol Media Services)

Huy Tao teaches a lesson about simple machines at iCode, where kids can learn STEM skills like coding, programming drones and robotics, and digital arts. (David Minton/Staff Photographer)

State law forbids any “contract, combination or conspiracy by two or more persons in restraint of, or to monopolize trade or commerce.’’

What Mayes said she needs to study is whether what the two grocery giants are doing, at least in Arizona, meets that definition.

“The people of Arizona have important input to make here, people who live in the neighborhoods where a Fry’s or a Safeway or a Smith’s could be shut down,’’ she said.

That goes not just to the question of whether the combined operation, no longer competing for customers with each other, would be free to raise prices. Mayes said that decisions by the new company to shutter some of the stores could mean much longer drives to get food.

But she said it isn’t just the people shopping there who might be affected.

“We’re going to be getting input from the dairy operators in Arizona and the farmers and cattle growers who are worried about the reduction in compe-

have had an iCode school when they were young.

The couple hopes to open up their Gilbert school by the end of February with a grand opening there likely happening in March.

iCode offers programs for students from kindergarten through senior year of high school, separating the programs by using the martial arts belt system. A white belt is for robotics; yellow, app development; orange, web development; red, game development; green for drones, blue for networking and black for cloud computing.

The key to making this succeed, Ellis said, is that the students have to want to learn. So iCode makes the programs fun so they look forward to coming to class.

tition in Arizona and the reduction in the number of outlets for their products,’’ Mayes said.

The attorney general said she also wants to look at how many workers at the two companies will end up unemployed if the deal goes through.

A spokesman for Albertsons said there would be no comment about Mayes’ investigation. And officials from Kroger did not immediately respond to inquiries.

But on a website set up by the two chains, Kroger CEO Rodney McMullen said the deal will “deliver superior value to customers, associates, communities and shareholders.’’

It also claims that after the deal is closed, Kroger will invest $500 million to lower prices, $1.3 billion into Albertsons stores “to enhance the customer experience,’’ and $1 billion “to continue raising associate wages and comprehensive benefits.’’ Mayes, for her part, said she wants details.

Beyond that, she wants to hear not just from the corporations who will be getting questioned by her investigators, but from those living in the affected communities.

“This makes it fun, it makes it engaging,” Ellis said. “And the kids have a great time. We really focus on soft skills problem solving. They are always learning how to give presentations and to share what they’re learning.

“I think there’s value involved in bringing to light what this potential merger means to the state of Arizona and offering a forum for Arizonans to express what it means to them,’’ Mayes said.

“We’re talking about neighborhoods that could experience the closure of a grocery store, entire communities that might have to drive 100 miles or more to get to a grocery store, and potentially the layoff of thousands of people,’’ she continued.

That gets into one of the details that Mayes wants and could affect any decision on whether there would be violations of Arizona’s antitrust laws.

In its announcement, the retailers said they are willing to divest up to 650 of the stores to overcome regulatory concerns. None of the possible locations have been announced.

But even if that happens, that is no guarantee the stores will stay open.

When Albertsons bought Safeway, it agreed to sell 146 stores to Haggen, a regional grocer. But Haggen eventually went bankrupt and Albertson’s bought back many of the stores.

So they’re not just sitting in front of a computer, they’re learning how to write code.”

iCode has a number of options. Most regular classes meet for two hours once a week though there also is an option with two one-hour classes. In addition, it provides special camps during the summer and breaks in the usual school-year schedule.

Ellis said they would also like to partner with local schools, running an event at their campus at no charge to give parents a chance to know about their program and see what the program offers.

She said so far, they’ve had more luck partnering with charter schools than they have with public school districts.

The most popular hub at iCode, Ellis said, is the gaming hub. She and her husband choose games specifically for the education value, such as Minecraft and Roblox.

“We don’t just set a kid in front of Minecraft and say, ‘oh, have fun,’” she explained. “We teach them how to modify

Then there’s the question of whether anyone would be willing to buy the stores the new company is willing to shed, what with the possibility they are likely to offer up those which are least profitable.

There is, however, a backup plan: If a buyer can’t be found for the stores the new company is willing to sell, there is an offer to create a spin-off, still owned by Albertsons shareholders, which would operate independently and compete with the newly merged operation.

The merger – and whether it violates state antitrust laws – isn’t occurring in a vacuum. that also needs to be considered is what competition would remain in Arizona.

Bashas’ operates 118 stores, mostly in Arizona, under that name as well as Food City and AJ’s Fine Foods.

Mayes said these will be conducted in the next few months, with her office probably having to make a decision on what action to take, if any, within six months. That should still be enough time to intercede given that the two companies are looking to finalize the deal sometime in 2024.

it, how to do mods, how to change different things in the game.

“Then we can teach them how to create their own games. So just it’s a really great supplement to what they would get at school.”

Ellis said the goal of the program is to give students a solid STEM foundation by making learning fun.

“They really work hard to make it engaging, because we don’t want any kid coming in and sitting here and just being like, ‘Oh, I hate this, like, my dad’s making me do this, because he’s a computer science guy,’” she said.

“We want it to be fun, and very hands on. So, you know, we added a lot of hands-on activities.” 

ICODE from page 30

Students at iCode progress through different color-coded knowledge and skill levels similar to a martial arts program. (David Minton/ Staff Photographer)

Consolidating retirement accounts has advantages

BY JOSEPH ORTIZ AFN Guest Writer

One of the rewards for working over several decades is the ability to contribute to tax-advantaged retirement accounts, which can help provide needed income for you when you do retire. As the years went by, you may well have accumulated several retirement accounts, such as IRAs and 401(k)s or similar employer-sponsored plans.

But you might find it advantageous to consolidate these accounts with a single provider.

Consolidating them can provide you with several potential benefits, including these:

Less confusion and clutter. If you have multiple accounts in different locations, it may be difficult to keep track of tax documents, statements, fees, disclosures and other important

information. Consolidating accounts could help provide clear, simplified account maintenance.

Less likelihood of “lost accounts.” It may be hard to believe, but many people abandon their retirement accounts, leaving thousands of dollars behind and unclaimed.

In fact, at the end of 2021, there were nearly 25 million forgotten 401(k) accounts, worth about 20% of all 401(k) assets, according to an estimate by Capitalize, a financial services company that helps individuals roll over retirement plan assets into new accounts.

It’s possible that employers can even move small, old accounts out of their 401(k) plans and into an IRA on behalf of their former employees, thus increasing the chances that savers will lose track of their money. By consolidating your retirement plans with one provider, you can ensure you don’t lose track of your hard-earned money.

Ability to follow a unified strategy. With multiple retirement accounts, and different investment portfolios, you might find it difficult to maintain a unified financial strategy that’s appropriate for your goals and risk tolerance.

But once you’ve consolidated accounts with a single provider, you’ll find it easier to manage your investment mix and to rebalance your portfolio as needed. The need to rebalance may become more important as you near retirement because you may want to shift some of your assets into investments that aren’t as susceptible to swings in the financial markets.

Possible improved options. Often, 401(k)s may have limited investment selection, so consolidating accounts with a full-service firm may allow for a wider array of products and strategies. This broader exposure can potentially help you improve your overall retirement income strategies.

Greater ease in calculating RMDs.

Once you turn 72, you will need to start taking withdrawals — called required minimum distributions, or RMDs — from your traditional IRA and your 401(k) or similar plan. If you don’t take out at least the minimal amount, which is based on your age and account balance, you could face a penalty.

If you have several accounts, with different providers, it could be cumbersome and difficult to calculate your RMDs — it will be much easier with all accounts under one roof.

So, if you do have multiple retirement accounts, give some thought to consolidating them. The consolidation process is not difficult, and the end result may save you time and hassles, while also helping you manage your retirement income more effectively.

Joseph Ortiz is a financial planner for Edward Jones. Reach him at 480753-7664 or joseph.ortiz@edwardjones.com. 

SIMPLY SMARTER

Solutions to Manage Your SRP Account

SRP offers simple account management tools and tips that will save you time and money. Sign up for reminders about your energy usage, enroll in automatic payments or just pick the day you pay. SRP is here to help you simplify your account and your life.

Learn more at srp.net/account.

@AhwatukeeFN

Council District 6 candidates discuss Phoenix issues

To our readers

With early voting underway in the March 14 run-off election between Kevin Robinson and Sam Stone for the District 6 Phoenix City Council seat, which represents Ahwatukee, the candidates are writing weekly columns about their candidacy and positions on issues affect Ahwatukee and Phoenix generally.

Both candidates graciously accepted an invitation from the Ahwatukee Foothills News to provide this information and their previous columns – as well as their answers to our questionnaire – can be found on Ahwatukee.com.

It is too late to register to vote but registered voters who have not requested an early ballot have until 5 p.m. March 3 to do so. To find information about how to request the early ballot, go to phoenix.gov/cityclerk/elections/march-election-23/early-voting-information-23.

Voters who wish to vote early may also cast an early ballot in person at Phoenix City Hall, 200 W. Washington St., 15th floor, now through March 10.

Robinson: I know I can make a positive difference for the city

BY KEVIN ROBINSON AFN Guest Writer

It was 18 months ago, after a great deal of discussion and consideration, that I decided to run for the District 6 position on the Phoenix City Council.

I did so with the complete belief that I would be a positive addition to the council and that I would be an exceptional advocate for the residents and businesses that call District 6 home, in essence, I knew I could make a positive difference.

I arrived at this decision based on several reasons, including but not limited to; I’ve been a Phoenix resident since 1974, I served the citizens of Phoenix for 36 1/2 years as a police officer with the Phoenix Police Department - rising to the rank of Assistant Police Chief, I’ve worked in practically every neighborhood in Phoenix, I’ve collaborated with and worked successfully with practically every neighborhood group and association in Phoenix, I’ve worked or collaborated with, experiencing great success, every department in the City of Phoenix governmental structure.

And, being Ahwatukee-specific, I was part of the driving force behind the police presence and growth in the Ahwatu-

kee and Ahwatukee Foothills neighborhoods.

My commitment and dedication to our community is unquestioned.

Also, I am capable of and have demonstrated, reasoned deliberation when it comes to solving problems. I take all positions and arguments into consideration before arriving at a decision.

I understand that rash decisionmaking is not quality decision-making. Therefore, I invest ample time into my decision-making process because I understand the concept of unintended consequences, which are usually the result of decisions not being fully vetted.

I am optimistic about the future of the Ahwatukee community and our city as a whole.

When we bring people together, I believe we can overcome the obstacles we face. I believe we are capable of shared success, the type of success that benefits all of us and makes our communities stronger than what they currently are.

I maintain this perspective because of my lived experience, I have been a part of such success when people work collaboratively, focusing on the desired result.

Lastly, as I reflect on our campaign over the last year and a half, I am en-

see

Stone: I will serve Phoenix residents and no one else

BY SAM STONE AFN Guest Writer

Council Seats, or any political seat shouldn’t be for sale, but you might conclude after reading about the astronomical fundraising numbers some of our current candidates have raised, that they might be.

Phoenix City Council races used to top out at around $250,000 per side in total fundraising. With the fundraising assistance of Mayor Gallego, she has helped raise more than $1 million each for her chosen candidates in repeated attempts to purchase council seats for allies who will rubberstamp her agenda.

This isn’t the first time the Mayor has attempted to put her thumb on the scale of democracy.

In the 2019 District 5 race, Gallego threw her weight behind one of her close allies, Vania Guevara, over three other Democrats with more extensive experience and closer ties to the community.

That first time out, Gallego failed to get her hand-picked candidate elected, as union-backed activist Betty Guardado used her enormous support network and community ties to overcome Gallego’s financial connections.

In 2021, Gallego recruited, supported,

and funded two candidates, Yassamin Ansari and Ann O’Brien, over challengers with far deeper connections to the city of Phoenix (Ansari had never even lived in Phoenix before announcing her run), and both have rewarded her patronage by reliably voting for the Mayor’s agenda.

So here we are in 2023, and Gallego is once again using her enormous financial muscle to try to buy more votes.

My opponent, Kevin Robinson, seems like a nice guy but he left Phoenix and moved to Scottsdale years ago. He rented a house in Ahwatukee just so he could run in District 6 and then packed his bags and moved from Ahwatukee when his lease was up in 2022.

He also said he is in this race – by his own admission to the Arizona Republic – simply because the Mayor asked him to run and promised to win the seat for him.

Robinson has made it entirely clear throughout this campaign that he has no ideas or plans of his own and he doesn’t know anything about the city outside of the police department. Even our Phoenix police associations have refused to endorse him.

The most frequent question people ask me on the campaign trail is, “Why are you a better candidate than your opponent?”

see

Some HOA boards on the horns of a dilemma

You are 65 years old and retired. You live on fixed retirement income and some investments. You know your budget for the next year. You live in an HOA community that takes care of a number of property maintenance items, this varies by HOA, including possibly the exterior envelope of the house (paint, trim work and the roof membrane, the part that keeps you dry).

In addition, they blow the leaves from the flower beds, cut the grass if you have grass, trim and remove dead trees and shrubs, and pay for the watering of the front yard and shrubs. All of this is performed for a fee that you as the homeowner agreed to when you bought the home, they are known as C, C and R’ s.

Your HOA management committee diligently performs their obligations as responsible managers, but the costs rise and higher dues are needed every year. The trouble is, the amount they have been collecting barely covers the current repair costs and a few capital improvements such as taking out large dead trees, installing new trees, repairing irrigation leaks, replacing golf course fence sections, and equipment replacements, but not enough to save to do the major work due five, 10 and 15 years from now.

This is major work like replacing

ROBINSON from page 34

couraged by the fact that we have garnered wide diverse support from throughout the council district, and around the city.

As a matter of fact, ours is the first campaign in Phoenix history to have the endorsement of all of the previous living mayors, as well as our current Mayor, Kate Gallego.

Neighborhood groups and associations have come on board to assist, making ours a campaign that is wellversed in the concerns of residents and neighborhoods. Small, medium,

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

roofs and repainting the exterior body and house trim. These costs require untouched reserve amounts of money that accumulate until the expense is incurred. One HOA borrowed money to pay for the major roof repairs for the entire community per the CC and R’s. The rub is, this money, a tidy sum each month, is used to pay the roof loan and principle. The loan was executed so not to assess each homeowner this cost. Ideally when “the loan” was executed increased dues would provide funding for future capital expenses.

The trouble is there is not enough money being saved year over year to replace the roofs again in 25 years. It’s called “kick the can down the road” and let “the new board” deal with it. Unfortunately for some communities the end of the road is getting close, so to speak and another money reserves shortfall is looming.

A certified reserve study for one community found it in the negative column for funding a future need. The recommendation by the reserve analysis consultant was (1) raise dues by 20% the next year and 10% a year ongoing indefinitely, (2) reduce the HOA’s responsibility for C, C and R’s by having the homeowner take on some obligations by changing the C, C and R’s or (3) when the next major capital expense occurs, determine the cost and assess each homeowner the pro-rated amount which is the total

and large businesses and organizations within, and outside, District 6 are on the record for supporting our campaign.

Business and civic leaders from around the Valley have voiced their support because they desire, and benefit from, good governance from the City of Phoenix. After all, they understand that Phoenix is the catalyst for the region.

For all the reasons stated above (and many more not stated), I believe I’m the best candidate for Phoenix City Council District 6 and I humbly ask for your vote. 

amount divided by number of homes.

The assessed amount will be a substantial amount. HOA ‘s per the C, C and R’s have the right to assess your home, after a simple majority vote of the homeowners. The homeowner will be obligated to pay their share.

Why not deal with it now and save the big financial hit down the road, or keep your assessments lower and save for your own repairs on your own schedule?

Homeownership isn’t for everyone; it takes planning and diligence. As the saying goes “you can pay it now or you can pay it later.”

Regardless, you are going to pay it.

When your HOA contacts you, ask them what is happening with my dues and what can I do to help to reduce or hold them steady?

As the Bob Dylan song goes “times they are a changin’” and maybe $400$500 or more a month HOA dues in some communities is not unrealistic.

-Tom Hemingway RT-2 Resident

Surprised by former council candidate’s endorsement

I was surprised and disappointed to see a full-throated endorsement of Sam Stone for Phoenix Council from Joan Greene, a former candidate. It is NOT acceptable to say everyone is entitled to different opinions when that opinion is anti-gay, anti-trans, they believe their life is more important than mine,

STONE from page 34

I point to my public policy background, in-depth positions, and my years of work on behalf of the residents of this district. But there is a bigger issue at stake; the future of Phoenix and Ahwatukee.

Phoenix has a homeless population that continues to increase every year, a water crisis, and a shortage of affordable and attainable housing. It is crucial that we have City Council members with diverse solutions to help solve our pressing problems.

A vote for me is a vote for account-

more “righteous” and continues to disenfranchise communities when we should all be working together.

As an out and unapologetic gay male, I remember how Sal DiCiccio attacked the gay and trans community. Sam Stone is cut from the same cloth. I also recognize how I must continue to speak up against those that appear confused or self-loathing in the LGBTQ community.

Being anti-gay and trans is not political...it’s bigotry, plain and simple. Voting for Sam Stone makes you complicit in his hatred.

-Paul Hopkins

Council members must recognize Bidens legitimacy

This is in response to Rudy Stricklan’s letter in the Feb. 8 edition.

In March, we folks from District 6 will not be voting for Trump, Hillary or Gore. We will, however, be voting for Stone or Robinson. Stone, as chief of staff for Kari Lake, has consistently denied the 2020 elections.

The question is pretty simple: Is Biden the legitimate President of the US. If your answer is no (as is the case with Stone), then you live in an alternate reality and cannot represent the folks from District 6 or Phoenix who voted overwhelmingly for Biden. You are free to hold your own opinion but facts are facts.

-Stanley D’Souza

ability and transparency. Unlike my opponent, I won’t walk into city hall owing someone else on the Council my vote. I’ll happily work with the Mayor, or anyone when they have a good idea.

I’ll try to make them better, and work to adjust plans that don’t fit the needs of our city. I’ll promote and support ideas of my own, and work with other members to enact them. My priority will be holding everyone accountable and ensuring that every dollar we spend will benefit our community and city.

I will serve you and no one else.

My opponent can’t say the same. 

Democrat Joan Greene: Why I am supporting Sam Stone for Phoenix City Council and urge you to do the same

In a few short weeks District 6 will have their runoff election to seat a new Council Member. You may have read about the excessive amounts of donation money that is pouring into this race and the political endorsements attempting to sway you to vote a particular way.

It is important to remember that the Phoenix City Council is the People's Council. It is not the Mayor's City Council or one political party's city council. ALL voices must be heard, including far-left, far-right, centrists, independents, and those with no political affiliation.

Sam Stone and I are opposite in our political beliefs which is one reason why I am supporting him. Sam will provide the checks and balances that we need on the Phoenix City Council. He will bring another perspective to solving Phoenix's pressing problems that have increased over the years. Sam has extensive work experience within our community as the chief of staff for Councilman Sal DiCiccio.

Instead of rejecting the council members' differences, the leadership should embrace it and work together to find solutions that improve the lives for all Phoenicians.

Joan Greene Ahwatukee Resident and Former Candidate for Phoenix City Council District 6

Check us out and like the Ahwatukee Foothills News on Facebook

Flag football combine presents unique opportunity for girls

BY ZACH ALVIRA AFN Sports Editor

Opportunities continue to grow for girls in Arizona wishing to compete for their respective high schools on the football field.

Flag football is in its last stretch as a club sport, as it will move into an officially sanctioned status by the Arizona Interscholastic Association next fall. Club programs outside of high schools continue to grow, most notably the Lady Ghost who practice at Mountain Pointe High School. The club is home to girls all over the Valley, including those that hold scholarship offers to colleges to play flag football at the next level.

Damion Dedmon, the founder and head coach of Lady Ghost, has built connections with NAIA level colleges to offer his girls opportunities. On Friday, Feb. 17, he helped extend those oppor-

“These coaches wanted to come out to Arizona and see the talent,” Dedmon said. “They called me up and asked me to put this on. I guess I’m the guy in Arizona.”

A group of girls ranging in age went through various drills at the school.

From timed 40-yard dashes to the shuttle drill and 7-on-7 competition, it presented an opportunity for the girls to be coached by a group of NAIA coaches and potentially receive offers. That turned out to be the case at the end of the combine.

Coaches from Kansas Wesleyan, Cottey College in Missouri, Reinhardt University in Georgia, Midland University out of Texas and Hesston College in Kansas all were present to mentor and uplift the girls. Many said it was a unique opportunity to get in front of

Ahwatukee, East Valley athletes shine at wrestling finals

BY ANDREW LWOWSKI

AFN Contributing Writer

Chants of “Two! Two! Two!” and cheers from family and friends rained down on all the state’s top wrestlers from every school and division as they battled in the 2023 AIA state championship at Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum on Feb. 18.

Sunnyside of Tucson proved to be the top dog again in Division I, coming in first with a dominant 307.5 points and placing 13 kids throughout the 14 weight classes.

“It almost seemed like it was Sunnyside versus all the matches out there,” Hamilton coach Travis Miller said half jokingly.

However, the East Valley made sure it was well represented with 41 kids placed from Ahwatukee, Chandler, Gilbert, Mesa, Queen Creek and Tempe.

In Division I, Mountain View came in

third with 135 points with seven kids placing. Desert Vista came in a close fourth place with 122 points, placing five.

Logan Smith, who placed third at 132 pounds for Desert Vista, said he was disappointed in his performance, as well as the Thunder’s.

“I could’ve done better,” he said. “Not what we (as a team) expected. We could’ve done better definitely.”

Despite his disappointment, Smith will leave Desert Vista with numerous accolades under his belt.

The third-place win secures his spot as the only Thunder wrestler currently on the team to place at state in the topthree in all four years of high school. He’s also the program’s only current four-time sectionals champion all in different weight classes.

Smith signed with Central College earlier this month, a Division III school in Iowa. He is currently weighing his options, however, as he may decide to pur-

sue a different route in college.

One of Smith’s teammates, Carter Holt, placed third at 138 pounds for Desert Vista. He echoed Smith’s testament that the Thunder underperformed and were disappointed with their results.

“We did better earlier in the week,” he said. “We didn’t expect Damen (Miller) to lose. We couldn’t get it done tonight.”

Miller, who wrestles at 144 pounds, was the only Desert Vista wrestler competing in a state title match. He fell Sunnyside’s Christian Rivera.

Casteel fell in fifth place with 91 points while Desert Ridge placed sixth with 79 points.

Hamilton nearly cracked the top-10 at 11 with 50.5 points.

“Being at the DI level, you never know what’s going to happen,” Hamilton coach Travis Miller said. “There’s a lot of good competition, but I’m really proud of our kids and how well they did and the placers we had making the podium. Putting

Hamilton near the top-10 for us is big. I’m proud.”

Miller added that his second-place finisher at 165 pounds, Grant Murray, gave Mike Avelar of Sunnyside — who is committed at the collegiate Division I level — a run for his money.

“He (wrestling in his first state finals) really brought it to him,” Miller said. “He made a seasoned champion look a little bit nervous before championships do what champions do.”

Chandler, Corona del Sol and Queen Creek closed out the East Valley in Division I.

Queen Creek coach Joel Anderson acknowledged the dominance by Sunnyside but credited his boys for the grueling season and effort in the championship rounds.

“I’m incredibly proud of my boys,” Anderson said. “You know, the season is

tunities to girls in Tempe Union High School District, Chandler and some

middle schoolers at a flag football combine held at Mountain Pointe.

Girls from Tempe Union High School District, Chandler, Tolleson and some surrounding middle schools took part in a special combine at Mountain Pointe High School that put them through drills in front of NAIA college flag football coaches. (Dave Minton/AFN Staff)

college programs.

“It’s really cool. I enjoy it,” Morrison said. “It’s nice to have them all in one spot and you can show them all in one go rather than risking having a good day for one school and a bad day for another.”

Morrison was one of three athletes from Mountain Pointe to receive an offer from Kansas Wesleyan after the combine.

A cheerleader in the fall and soccer player in the winter, Morrison grew up with brothers who played football. She always wanted to give it a try, so she took the chance when Mountain Pointe’s flag football program was started by coach Sergio Ramirez. She’s thrived, using her footwork from soccer and stamina from both of her other sports to succeed on the gridiron.

While the senior won’t get a chance to help lead Mountain Pointe to a state title in the fall, she feels content knowing she was part of the class that led the way to help build flag football into a fast-growing sport.

Both Ella Creech and Nyjah Green

WRESTLING from page 38

long, not everyone sees the mat during the season, it’s tough. But the determination and grit make it here and to have my boys on that podium, it feels great.”

The Bulldogs placed two wrestlers, Riggs Anderson with fourth place at heavyweight (285 lbs) and Beau Shepherd with third place at 135 lbs.

The East Valley had little action in Division II, with Marlin Whyte of Mountain Pointe being the only contender, placing first at 165 lbs. The Pride finished 17th in Division II.

While Mesquite and Marcos de Niza were the two East Valley programs featured in Division III, the Wildcats had four make the podium. Angelo Martinez placed fifth at 106, Trevor Ouellette placed third at 120, Eli Conde placed sec-

thought they would have to play a different sport when they entered high school. Football was their first love.

Green even said she thought she may have to move states for the opportunity to play. Then her she found the Lady Ghost and her home school, Tolleson, created a program.

Green is one of the few girls that went into the combine with an offer to play at Midland. The junior opened the eyes of coaches with her speed and ability at wideout during the 7s period.

“It’s a chance to show what you can do,” Green said. “It was very spiritual. It was good for all the girls. I see all the boys’ camps and now we get a chance.”

Creech is one of Green’s teammates on the Lady Ghost. She is also a wideout and can play quarterback for the Desert Vista girls’ flag football team led by coach Ted Vigenser.

She didn’t have a favorite drill at the combine. To her, it was all about interacting with the coaches. That’s what she enjoyed the most.

“I think it’s great they came all the way out here just to see us,” Creech said, adding that she feels she and her

ond at 138 and Michael Story placed fifth at heavy weight.

Luis Pichardo was the lone Padre in Division III to place for Marcos de Niza, he finished third at 165.

The East Valley was well represented on the girls’ side early Saturday morning. Casteel’s girls finished in third place. The Colts were led by Isabella Munoz, who captured her third state championship in 145, as well as Anneliese Kisting (126) who was in the finals for the second time in her career.

Freshman Mia Johnson took fifth in her first state meet for Casteel.

Mountain View’s Taina Uasike placed second in the 185-pound class. Her finish is the highest in the history of the Toro girls’ wrestling program. Basha’s Trinity Bouchal captured her second state title wrestling in 165. 

peers have a chance to do something special this fall. “This was a cool opportunity to have. It’s a good prelude to what is going to happen. We get to make history.”

Hamilton quarterback Catarina “CC” Maccagnano, who is regarded as one of the best in the state, was one of the few players from outside Tempe Union to compete at the combine. Amaya Moreno, an eighth grader planning to attend Mountain Pointe in the fall, is following in Maccagnano’s footsteps as a top quarterback regardless of age.

One girl even flew in from Hawaii for the opportunity to compete.

The combine itself was an actionpacked two hours. It was followed up with messages of encouragement and a rally cry led by Kansas Wesleyan coach Melinda Nguyen. The message was simple: “Girls can ball, too.”

“These girls are just going to develop more and more,” Dedmon said. “Arizona can be a leader in talent in this sport. Flag football is definitely going to be a sport every college coach can come out and recruit and give these girls an opportunity.” 

Desert Vista freshman Ella Creech was one of the several girls to take part in the combine. She participated alongside Desert Vista teammates and those she competes with in the club circuit on Lady Ghost. (Dave Minton/ AFN Staff)

Parents’

Kids’

A more robust Spring Baseball season beckons this year

BY KEN SAIN GetOut Staff Writer

There were times in the past three years when Huss Brewing Company considered getting out of the Spring Training business.

“We did have some hearts-to-hearts about it,” said Chip Mulala, the director of operations for the company, which sells its local craft beers at seven of the 10 Cactus League stadiums.

The past three years have hurt businesses and frustrated baseball fans who like to visit Arizona in March for the nice weather and Spring Training games.

First, the COVID pandemic forced an end to nearly all sports in mid-March 2020, abruptly ending a strong Cactus League season. In 2021, stadiums had to deploy social distancing, limiting capacity to 50%. Plus, they started late and had fewer games.

COVID was not a problem last year, but Major League Baseball’s labor dispute was. The owners locked players out until they reached a new collective bargaining agreement, forcing a late start and fewer Spring Training games.

In 2019, there were 220 Spring Training games played in Arizona, drawing 7,900 fans per game. The number of games dropped to 143 in 2020, hit 208 with the limited capacity in 2021 and bottomed out at 135 last year.

The impact those three years had on the state’s tourism and the industries that support it is still being felt.

“It made something abundantly clear,” said Steve Chucri, the president/CEO of the Arizona Restaurant Association. “Spring training is crucial to a lot of restaurants.”

The Cactus League schedule begins on Feb. 24, and for the first time since 2019, a full slate of games awaits with no capacity restrictions.

“In 2023, we are looking forward to a ‘normal’ season,” said Bridget Binsbacher, executive director of the Cactus League. “Combine that with an upswing in tourism and I’m optimistic we will see much higher attendance. Everywhere I go, people tell me how excited they are to get back out to the ballpark.”

There are 15 Major League Baseball

Pet palaces on the block at special auction

BY ALEX GALLAGHER GetOut Staff Writer

For the ninth consecutive year, Facings of America will switch its prized products with some of the swankiest pet palaces around.

The Scottsdale business – which boasts some of finest tile, stone and architectural features in the world – is hosting an auction of uniquely designed dog and cat houses to benefit the Arizona Animal Welfare League.

The nonprofit is state’s oldest and largest no-kill shelter and houses over 4,000 pets while funding low-cost vaccine clinics, rural rescue efforts and a commu-

nity vet clinic.

“Animals really touch everyone’s hearts and here’s just something about the love an animal can bring you that I think a lot of people can relate with,” said Facings of America spokeswoman Carrie Hamblin, calling the league “an amazing partner with us” that has helped make the dog house auction its biggest fundraiser of the year.

The Arizona Animal Welfare League nearly a decade ago was one of three nonprofits that Facings was considering partnering with.

“At the time, Facings was going

teams that train in the Valley, playing their games at 10 stadiums. Five ballparks are home to two teams.

Most of the stadiums are supported by local charity groups, such as the Thunderbirds in Scottsdale and the HoHoKams in Mesa, that raise money and then spread it around to local charities.

The charities’ ability to do that has been hurt during the past three seasons.

Binsbacher said before 2020, the Cactus League generated $644 million annually for the local economy. In 2020, that dropped to $363.3 million. The league does not have the numbers for the past two years yet.

One Scottsdale based-business, Bella Palazzo Collections, rents out private homes. Owner-operator Margie Van Zee said MLB’s labor issue last year was the hardest on her business.

Many of the people renting some of the 80 homes in her collection are ballplayers.

“We had to have a cancellation clause in our contract so that if MLB continued to obstruct the ballplayers, then they could get out of it,” Van Zee said, adding that it forced her to be more flexible.

Ironically, the pandemic’s onset in 2020 led to an increase in business.

“2020 was the best year we’ve ever had, even during the pandemic,” she said. “What happened was nobody wanted to

go back to their hometown. They were already here for spring training, COVID happened. A lot of them would have to go back to their cold weather climates and areas that were still shut down.

“So, a lot of the ballplayers just said we’re extending, many of them extended and stayed till the beginning of the year.”

Mulala said Huss Brewing Company decided to stay in the Spring Training business. In fact, they just opened a new location – Papago Brewing Company, close to Sloan Park in Mesa where the Chicago Cubs play.

“We actually have it set up that we’re going to have a shuttle that is going to be taking people to the games on game day for most games that start at one

o’clock,” he said.

While the past three years have been difficult, right now is a great time to be in the restaurant business. In addition to Spring Training, the Super Bowl and Waste Management Phoenix Open were also in town.

All those events brought a lot of tourists. Chucri expected to see between a 20to-25% increase in sales just because of the Super Bowl.

“The restaurant economy, for all of our hopes and desires this February and March, is going to be very, very much needed,” Chucri said. “[We’ll] really get a huge boost when it comes to these these big events coming to the state, especially Spring Training.” 

through a little bit of a cultural shift in a positive way,” recalled Hamblin. “We decided that we wanted to do a lot more community service and a lot more charity work, so we polled the staff and asked ‘what are some things that people are into?’ And we chose the Arizona Animal Welfare League as one of three.”

Eventually, Facings proposed recruiting designers to build state-of-the-art pet palaces that could be auctioned off to benefit the nonprofit.

“We work with the top talent as far as designers, architects and builders in the Valley. Some of them we’ve been working with for decades,” said Hamblin.

“We asked them if they wanted to build these pet houses and they spent their own money, got their sponsorships to build the houses and recruited their friends in the industry.”

Among the 15 participating builders is Phoenix-based designer Sherwood Wang who is returning for his second year and will be the lone solo designer in the showcase.

“The AAWL was a big part of it since it’s such a well-run organization and I know they do a lot of important work in the community for these dogs and cats,” Wang said. “It’s always a really good time

seeing everyone in the community come together.”

Wang has spent between 60 and 80 hours crafting a home with complex shapes that fit together almost like a LEGO set.

He also decided to differentiate himself from the pack by creating a home for cats.

“This year, we decided to focus on cats, which is kind of an area where hopefully we’ll be in front of the few cat houses

over there,” Wang said.

Not only will his design stand out because of its use, but Wang also created three levels in the home for the animals to explore.

Because of this, Wang hopes to win the best in show and fetch a steep price tag for his home to raise as many funds as possible for the Arizona Animal Welfare League.

“The goal is to get these houses into homes and have pets enjoy them for

that time,” said Wang.

However, the big goal is to raise nearly $60,000 for the nonprofit — which is especially important as the Arizona Animal Welfare League continues to navigate its way through inflation.

“We always need the support of our community as a nonprofit since we rely directly on our generous supporters for that funding,” said Arizona Animal Welfare League spokeswoman Kimberly Vermillion. “We don’t receive any government funding, so any support that we can get makes it possible for us to do our lifesaving work.”

In addition to auctioning off swanky pet palaces, the Design for Dogs event will also feature live music, food trucks and the Arizona Animal Welfare League will have animals on site available for adoption.

Because of this, Hamblin hopes to witness another successful event and see record sales of the homes.

“I hope we have more attendees than last year. We had about 600 people last year and we’re hoping for at least 650 to 700 people,” Hamblin said. “I would also love to see the dog houses go for as much as we can because the designers and builders work so hard and invest so much time and money in building them. That’s really what I would love to see.” 

DESIGN

For the ninth year, Facings of America has partnered with the Arizona Animal Welfare League to auction off some of the swankiest pet chateaus at its annual Design for Dogs event hosted at the Facings of America Showroom on Friday, Feb. 24. (Special to AFN)

ACROSS

1 Shade of blue

6 Wanderer

11 Physician, slangily

12 Lessened

14 Veep before Biden

15 -- del Fuego

16 Some fridges

17 Egypt’s Anwar

19 Have a bug

20 Sunrise direction

22 -- Alamos

23 Faction

24 Cybercommerce

26 Pungent relish

28 Scratch

30 Pub pint

31 Passageway for Santa

35 “Three Sisters” sister

39 -- Godiva

40 Dict. info

42 “Star Trek II” villain

43 “Hail, Caesar!”

44 Carvey and Delany

46 “-- had it!”

47 Winter, for one

49 Lon of horror films

51 Inventor’s insurance

52 Oregon city

53 Modern messages

54 Actions

DOWN

1 Prepare leftovers

2 Black Sea port

3 Feminine principle

4 High cards

5 Faithful

6 Boris’ cartoon partner

7 Final notice

8 West of Hollywood

9 Subway line in an Ellington song

10 Mock

11 “Me and Bobby --”

13 Longtime Chicago mayor

18 Elmer, to Bugs

21 “Lassie” lad

23 Porterhouse, e.g.

25 PC linking system

27 Einstein’s birthplace

29 Stinging insects

31 Purse fastener

King Crossword

32 Attack

33 Think up

34 Hankering

36 Polished

37 Sanctuaries

38 In the blink of --

41 Confronted

44 Word of warning

45 Actress Elisabeth

48 Gender

50 Bio stat

We are right in the middle of Greek carnival season known as apokries. Greek street foods are, of course, a big part of the celebrations.

So this week I wanted to feature one of my favorite Greek appetizers, Kolokithokeftedes. Ok, that may seem Greek to you, but really, they are just delicious deep-fried zucchini balls paired here with a fantastic dipping sauce, and pronouncing the word correctly is not part of the recipe, so don’t worry about a thing!

(For the record, it’s pronounced KoloKeetho- Kef-ted-es.)

Sudoku

You’ll love the crunch and the fabulous flavor combination of zucchini, cheese, onion, garlic and a hint of white truffle oil, made even more delicious by dipping them in a zesty red sauce. There’s only one more thing to say about this delightful Mediterranean

Ingredients:

Dipping sauce

2 TBSP olive oil

3 cloves garlic, minced

5 fresh tomatoes, diced

2 TBSP fresh basil finely chopped

3 TBSP honey

1 tsp salt

1 tsp ground black pepper

¼ tsp red pepper flakes

2 TBSP parsley, chopped fine

Directions:

With JAN D’ATRI

Zucchini balls a gem of a Greek street fest food

treat, “Nostimótatos!” ( Delicious!)

What a difference one day and one cake can make! The recipe was such a smash hit nationwide, that the company had to make 30 thousand pans a day just to keep up with the demand! So this fudgy cake is not just a lavish, chocolately gooey-centered yummy work of art, but it was actually responsible for the whole Bundt Pan craze!

The cake itself proved just as popular as the pan. But then Pillsbury discontinued the crucial ingredient to the cake’s success, Double Dutch Frosting Mix. Angry fans of the cake deluged the company with complaints, prompting Pillsbury to adapt the recipe, replacing the frosting mix with cocoa powder and confectioners’ sugar.

Ella won $5,000 for her creation, but its unique mysterious chocolate tunnel, brownie-like consistency and silken

Zucchini balls

3 TBSP butter

1 TBSP olive oil

1 tsp white truffle oil

chocolate topping makes is worth a million bucks which, incidentally, is what the winner takes home today! So, again, let me ask you. Passion, romance or chocolate? Read on

1 small onion, chopped fine

1 large clove garlic, pressed or minced

3 large zucchini, grated and wrung out to drain liquid 2 large eggs

1/3 cup Parmesan cheese

1/3 cup mozzarella, shredded

½ cup breadcrumbs

1 TBSP lemon zest and 1 tsp salt

1. Make the dipping sauce. Heat oil in a saucepan over medium heat. Add garlic and cook until soft and fragrant, about 2 minutes.

2. Stir in tomatoes and simmer uncovered, until tomatoes have mostly broken down, about 25 minutes. Stir often to prevent burning.

3. Stir in basil, honey, salt, pepper, and parsley. Continue simmering for about 10 minutes.

4. Puree it in a food processor/blender. Place in a serving bowl and set aside.

5. Make the zucchini balls. In a small pan over medium high heat, sauté butter, olive oil, white truffle oil, onion and garlic, sautéing until soft and translucent and onions begin to caramelize. Remove from heat to cool down.

6. Grate zucchini. Place in a cheese cloth and wring out as much water as possible.

7. In a large bowl, combine the zucchini, eggs, mozzarella, parmesan cheese, breadcrumbs, 1 TBSP of lemon zest, salt, black pepper and cooled sautéed onion mixture. Mix well to fully incorporate.

8. In a medium saucepot, add 2 cups of vegetable oil. Heat oil to 365 degrees.

9. Form the zucchini mixture into 1 inch balls, by rolling the zucchini mixture in the palm of your hands.

10. Add several balls into the hot oil and fry for about one minute on each side, cooking until deep golden brown.

11. Drain zucchini balls on a paper towel lined baking sheet and immediately sprinkle with salt

Makes 16 zucchini balls

JOB SEEKERS

In some cases, who you know is as important as what you know. Building professional relationships through networking can be a cornerstone of professional development.

They provide tips, expert advice and camaraderie when you are tenured at a certain company, then can play a key role in opening doors for your next professional role. Best of all, networking costs you nothing. The only investment is time, either by joining industry groups, being actively involved with online forums or professional websites, and attending meetings and conventions. The results will be friendships and connections that may unlock doors to opportunities you may never have even heard about before.

GOING ON-LINE

Networking forums and websites have made it easier than ever to make new connections. Sometimes, it’s smart to begin with your long-standing ones. Prior relationships can lead to introductions, since your friends, family and coworkers may already be connected to decision-makers, hiring managers or related professionals. Friend, follow, comment, endorse skills and write recommendations. These

professional courtesies might just lead to real-life partnership opportunities in the future.

IN-PERSON MEET UPS

It can be easy to rely too much on technology, since connecting with others is now such a streamlined experience. But sometimes there’s simply no substitute for person-to-person conversations. This kind of traditional relationship-building does more than put a name with a face. By catching up over lunch or coffee, you’re creating a conversational space to discuss things that go far beyond a specific job opportunity. Open up about your goals and dreams, ideas you have to advance your role or the wider industry, or other long-range professional-development goals. When that perfect position comes open, these contacts will more likely to recommend you based on knowing more about how well you’d fit.

JOIN THE CLUB

Attending a professional association or trade-group event can provide job seekers with early information about staffing changes

or new employment opportunities. Even joining an online forum can open the door to a wealth of information, including things like industry trends. Some of these groups and associations are focused on complete business sectors, while others might be job specific. Either way, you’ll be have access to leaders, influencers and fellow workers who move these industries forward. Some university alumni associations also create smaller professional subgroups so that graduates can advance their careers. Contact your alumni relations office. 

Carvana, LLC seeks a Manager, Inventory Status and Analytics in Tempe, AZ to explore and segment data to identify and explain key drivers. Telecommuting permitted Apply at https://www jobpostingtoday com/Ref # 62541

EMPLOYMENT GENERAL

CPA Global North America, LLC d/b/a Clarivate seeks Senior Software Engineer in Chandler, AZ to work on modification, enhancement, dev, & debugging of SW requirements. 100% telecommuting permitted in the US Apply at jobpostingtoday com Ref: 84838

EMPLOYMENT GENERAL

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EMPLOYMENT GENERAL

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EMPLOYMENT-GENERAL

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