AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS, JUNE 1, 2022 by Times Media Group

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BUSINESS

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P. 34 INDOOR PICKLEBALL

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P. 39 |

Wednesday, June 1, 2022

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Girl sues school over 19-month sex ordeal BY PAUL MARYNIAK AFN Executive Director

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former teenage student at Desert Garden Montessori School in Ahwatukee last week filed suit against the school, its founders and two related business entities over her sexual abuse for 19 months by a former teacher who also is the founders’ son. Rasmussen Injury Law filed the suit on her behalf in Maricopa County Superior Court against Desert Garden founders Shetal and

James Walters on May 27 – the same day their son Justin Walters, 29, of Tempe was sentenced to four years in prison and lifetime probation for his guilty plea to three felonies. He also is named in the lawsuit. Those felony counts, along with seven others dismissed as a result of his guilty plea, allege that Justin Walters started grooming the victim in March 2019 when she was 14, seduced her June 1, 2019, and continued to sexually abuse her until Dec. 23, 2020 – nine days before he fled to Turkey after learning she had told her

parents and Phoenix Police. He returned to the U.S. in May 2021 and was arrested. Noting that Justin Walters was hired as a teacher in 2017 even though “he did not hold any education degrees and did not possess any educator licenses or certifications from the Arizona Department of Education,” the suit states he “serially sexually abused, exploited, and assaulted” the victim. While the sexual abuse started June 1, 2019,

Phoenix has Splish splash! issued Phase 1 Water Alert

see GARDEN page 18

BY PAUL MARYNIAK AND SCOTT SHUMAKER AFN NEWS STAFF

P. 37 JOINING AUTHORFEST

. 39

hwatukee and the rest of Phoenix arenow under a Phase 1 Water Alert, setting the stage for an intensive citizen education campaign by the city to broaden awareness of the Valley’s shrinking water supply and step up every-day voluntary conservation practices. In issuing the alert last week, the city joined Mesa and Scottsdale, which earlier triggered similar water alerts and involve the same kind of public education programs Phoenix will launch. The first phase does not mandate any specific measures by city Water Services Depart-

see WATER page 25

Amelia Ochoa took advantage of the opening of Pecos Pool for the 2022 season Saturday to go splashing and frolicking with her dad Israel. The pool is one of 14 of Phoenix’s 29 pools that could open this year because of a serious lifeguard shortage and will be open every day except Fridays starting this Friday, June 3. For a look at other kids and adults who joined the fun on May 28, see page 29. (David Minton/AFN Staff Photographer)

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AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS | JUNE 1, 2022

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AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS | JUNE 1, 2022

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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Kyrene board OKs new calendar approach for 2023-24 school year BY PAUL MARYNIAK AFN Executive Editor

yrene students will have longer fall and spring breaks and a slightly shorter summer vacation beginning with the 2023-24 school year after the Governing Board last week unanimously adopted a new calendar that already is in place in three East Valley school districts, including two of the state’s largest. The vote culminated Kyrene’s part in developing a tridistrict calendar that also is expected to be adopted by Tempe Union High School Governing Board today, June 1, and Tempe Elementary Governing Board on June 8 as the three districts align students’ time off for families with children in several of the districts. A committee comprising seven members from each of the districts spent nearly a year developing the new calendar, which is similar to the system that has been in place in Chandler Unified School District for years and that is going into effect in the coming school year in Gilbert Public Schools –both of which are among the state’s five largest school systems. Higley Unified also has a 2-2-2 calendar. The calendar gives students two-week breaks in fall, winter and spring but will have them reporting to classes earlier in July. As she explained the process that led to the development of the calendar, Lisa Gibson, Kyrene executive director of talent management, explained that a survey of households and staffers in all districts – which drew a total 8,035 unique respondents – “captured the multiple ways our families and staff are intermingled” among the three districts. For example, a Tempe Elementary employee might have kids attending Tempe Union and/or Kyrene schools, so that could create households scheduling difficulties when the districts all have their own calendars. Of 4,181 Kyrene respondents, 3,280 came from families and 1,125 came from that district’s staff. Tempe Union responses included 2,501 families and 775 staff. The main question asked by the survey was whether respondents favored the 2-2-2 schedule – with two weeks off in fall, winter and spring – or a calendar with one week off in fall and spring and two around the holidays. Gibson broke down the results in a variety of ways. With all respondents taken together, 46% preferred 2-2-2 and 42% preferred the current calendar. Kyrene respondents split nearly evenly on the two options – 46% for 2-2-2 and 45% with the current calendar – while 11% had no preferences. Tempe Union had almost the same split, with 46%

see CALENDAR page 16

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AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS | JUNE 1, 2022

Hearing set for August in Club West Course case AFN NEWS STAFF

Superior Court judge has set an Aug. 31 hearing on a request by Club West Golf Course owner The Edge and Shea Homes to dismiss a bid by a homeowners group to forever ban houses form being built on any part of the site. But there may be a snag with the date set by Judge Margaret Mahoney because court sources said she is slated to retire before then and the judge who is scheduled to pick up her caseload once worked at the firm representing The Edge. That would mean either her replacement, Judge Scott Blaney, may recuse himself or the lawyers for the Club West Conservancy may ask him to bow out of the case. The Conservancy in December asked that Shea be precluded from changing the course’s Covenants, Conditions & Restrictions – which its attorney Francis Slavin contends “restricts the Golf Course Property to use as a golf course, driving range, recreational facilities related thereto, a golf pro shop and club house facility.” The suit also asks that The Edge “be per-

There likely won’t be any change to the condition of the Club West Golf Course this year as a hearing on a lawsuit involving the site won’t even be held until the end of August. (AFN file photo)

manently enjoined from taking any act in furtherance of developing the golf course property for residential or other non-golf course related purposes” and asserts it is

legally bound to use the site only for golf. And it asserts that Shea Homes doesn’t even own the declarant rights to the golf course because it never signed an agree-

ment to acquire them when it bought out the original developer of Club West. The four partners who comprise The Edge bought the course from Wilson Gee in 2019 for a reported $750,000 about a year after he had taken the property back from a would-be owner who had restored the site but then fell behind on city Water Services Department bills totaling more than $160,000. Gee closed the course in 2016, saying he could no longer afford the cost of city potable water that at the time had risen to more than $750,000. The Edge in January 2020 introduced a plan to restore the course and build a new clubhouse. But the owners said the only way that restoration could occur would be by selling three pieces of the course to Taylor Morrison for the construction of 164 single- and two-story houses. That infuriated many of the approximate 350 homeowners who paid premium lot prices of $60,000 to $80,000 to be next to the course. And as controversy rippled

see WEST page 14

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PERIPHERAL NEUROPATHY AND CHRONIC PAIN WARNING! Our clinic is taking every precaution and we follow strict CDC guidelines to ensure that our patients, clinic and staff are SAFE! Mesa, AZ — The most common method your doctor will recommend to treat your chronic pain and/or neuropathy is with prescription drugs that may temporarily reduce your symptoms. These drugs have names such as Gabapentin, Lyrica, Cymbalta, and Neurontin, and are primarily antidepressant or anti-seizure drugs. These drugs may cause you to feel uncomfortable and have a variety of harmful side effects. Chronic pain and/or peripheral neuropathy is a result of damage to the nerves often causing weakness, pain, numbness, tingling, and the most debilitating balance problems. This damage is commonly caused by a lack of blood flow to the nerves in the hands and feet which causes the nerves to begin to degenerate due to lack of nutrient flow.

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As you can see in Figure 2, as the blood vessels that surround the nerves become diseased they shrivel up which causes the nerves to not get the nutrients to continue to survive. When these nerves begin to “die” they cause you to have balance problems, pain, numbness, tingling, burning, and many additional symptoms.

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NOTE: Once you have sustained 95% nerve loss, there is likely nothing that we can do for you.

Aspen Medical will do a chronic pain and neuropathy severity examination to determine the extent of the nerve damage as a public service to you and/or your family and friends. This neuropathy/ pain severity examination will consist of a detailed sensory evaluation, extensive peripheral vascular testing, and a detailed analysis of the findings of your neuropathy.

2) Stimulate and increase small fiber nerves

Laveen Meadows Listed for $420,000

determined after a detailed neurological and vascular evaluation. As long as you have not sustained at least 95% nerve damage there is hope!

Fig. 2

In order to effectively treat your neuropathy three factors must be determined. 1) What is the underlying cause? 2) How much nerve damage has been sustained.

In addition, we use a state-of-the-art diagnostics like the TM Flow diagnostic unit to accurately determine the increase in blood flow and a small skin biopsy to accurately determine the increase in small nerve fibers! The Sanexas electric cell signaling system delivers energy to the affected area of your body at varying wavelengths, including both low-frequency and middle-frequency signals. It also uses amplitude modulated (AM) and frequency modulated (FM) signaling. During a treatment session, the Sanexas system automatically changes to simultaneously deliver AM and FM electric cell signal energy. THE GREAT NEWS IS THAT SANEXAS IS COVERED BY MEDICARE AND MOST INSURANCE! Depending on your coverage, your treatment could be little to no cost to you! The amount of treatment needed to allow the nerves to fully recover varies from person to person and can only be

Aspen Medical will be offering this chronic pain and neuropathy severity examination from now until June 30, 2022. Call 480274-3157 to make an appointment to determine if your chronic pain and peripheral neuropathy can be successfully treated. Due to our very busy office schedule, we are limiting this FREE consultation offer to the first 15 callers. YOU DO NOT HAVE TO SUFFER ANOTHER MINUTE, CALL Call 480-274-3157 … NOW! We are extremely busy and if your call goes to our voicemail, please leave a message and we will get back to you asap.

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Would Buffalo massacre be a forbidden class topic? BY HOWARD FISCHER Capitol Media Services

here’s little doubt but that the shooting earlier this month by a white teen at a Buffalo supermarket was racially motivated. What remains unclear, however, is whether legislation set for Senate debate as early as this coming week would preclude students in Arizona public schools from being told that the shooter targeted the victims specifically because they were Black. “I’m not sure whether or not that would be an appropriate conversation in those classrooms,’’ Rep. Michelle Udall said during debate on HB 1412 last week. But the Mesa Republican said she believes there is enough wiggle room in the language of her bill to allow for discussion within limits. “This language says that they may not promote to advocate for, or blame or judgment of race or ethnicity,’’ she said. “I would hope that a teacher would not be

WEST from page 9

through the 2,700-home Club West community, Taylor Morrison pulled out of its deal with The Edge. The Edge and a related entity, Community Land Solutions, then reached out to the community for ideas on turning the site into a park, though they did not indicate how the conversion and ongoing maintenance would be paid for. The Conservancy comprises homeowners who formed the nonprofit to fight any effort to build houses on the Anytime. site, saying homes obstructed the mountain and desAnywhere.

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in the classroom promoting or advocating that students judge based on race, as was done in that shooting.’’ “I’m pretty sure that teachers know how to teach about race and about race relations without placing blame or without saying that one race is morally superior to another,’’ she said. “And if you can’t do that, you really shouldn’t be teaching.’’ Rep. Jennifer Jermaine, D-Chandler, said it’s not that simple. She questioned how it is possible to teach history accurately without crossing a line that actually could result in a teacher losing state certification. “Our history is full of systems that have been based on one race thinking they are above others,’’ said Jermaine said she sees it through the eyes of being a descendant of someone who survived the system of Indian boarding schools that resulted in the death and abuse of many Native American children. “The entire system is built on race and sex and targeting of minority populations,’’ she said.

ert views of many homeowners, particularly those with homes along the course’s perimeter. Edge attorney Daniel Dowd calls the lawsuit ”fundamentally flawed” and “unsalvageable” as well as waste of court time and resources. In a motion to dismiss joined by Shea Homes, Dowd said the Conservancy is seeking a resolution of an issue that doesn’t exist and that Shea Homes is indeed owner of the declarant rights that set out how the course can be used. “CWC has not identified any specific damage or imminent harm that its mem-

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bers will suffer if declaratory relief is not entered,” Dowd wrote, adding “CDC’s believe that The Edge might – at some future date – build homes on the property that might somehow harm CWC members is speculative.” Dowd also argues that the central point of the lawsuit is fiction – namely that the golf course was promised in perpetuity to homeowners. He says the Master CC&Rs – which govern the entire Club West Community except for the course – “expressly disclaimed any rights related to that possible use.” Dowd quotes a disclaimer in the Master

On the surface, what is now awaiting Senate action is relatively simple. It prohibits teachers from promoting or advocating the concept that blame or judgment can be ascribed based on race or ethnicity. It also would ban teaching that any race or ethnic group is morally or intellectually superior to another, that individuals bear responsibility for actions of others of the same race, and that any race or ethnicity is inherently oppressive, whether conscious or unconscious. House Minority Leader Reginald Bolding, D-Laveen, however, worried that the law could be used to squelch legitimate discussion. Consider, he said, a discussion of the Fair Housing Act, the 1968 federal law designed to prevent discrimination in the ability of people being able to buy and rent homes and apartment. “A student might ask, ‘Why?’ or ‘How,’ ‘’ he said. And that’s when you start to have a deeper discussion of why a federal law

see RACE page 24

CC&Rs that says “no owner or occupant shall have any ownership interest in any such course.” That disclaimer also states in part: “All persons including all owners, are hereby advised that no representations or warranties have been made or are made by declarant or any other person with regard to the continuing ownership, operation or configuration of, or right to use, any golf course within, near or adjacent to the residential property, whether depicted on the Master Development Plan or any other land use plan, sales brochure or other marketing display or plat.” ■

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Rep. Mitzi Epstein, D-Tempe, acknowledged the language in SB 1412 does specifically say that both teachers and guest lecturers can discuss prior instances of racial hatred or discrimination, including slavery, Indian removal, JapaneseAmerican internment and the Holocaust. But she said none of that matters with the curbs in the measure. “We can’t ask our children to recognize a problem and we can’t ask them to recognize badness if we don’t teach them something is bad,’’ Epstein said. And she specifically questioned how a survivor of the Nazi death camps speaking to students could convey his experience without saying that he was targeted because he was Jewish. At the heart of the debate is whether SB 1412 is simply a safeguard against – what Udall says – students not being indoctrinated to see everything through the lens of racism or – as some Democrats see it – a bid by the Republican majority to sanitize the nation’s often-checkered history of race relations.

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CALENDAR from page 3

favoring 2-2-2 and 42% the current calendar. But when isolating responses from families and staff, the survey showed a clear difference of opinion. Families across all three districts favored the current calendar 46% to 43% with the remainder having no preference. Kyrene families also showed a slight preference for the current calendar over the 2-2-2 model 47%-42% while 45% of Tempe Union families favored the current set-up as opposed to 43% favoring what was finally adopted. Employees alone across all three districts showed a greater preference for the 2-2-2 model, with 57% while only 30% favored the current calendar. The results were similar when breaking down employee groups among each district. “Data only tells part of the story,” Gibson said, stating, “One of the big parts and components of our committee work and our partnership was to talk through the benefits of examining another calendar model. “Some of the points here that you see are mitigating the negative effects of a long summer break on student achievement, providing increased opportunities throughout the school year, instead of focusing solely on summer for interventions and personalized instruction to have a positive impact on student achievement.” “It would provide an increase in time for professional development opportunities, as well as increase in opportunities for tridistrict collaboration,” she said. “It also allows community resources and programs to be aligned with the three districts.” But Gibson also said disadvantages were identified, including impacts on pay period calendars for employees and on families with childcare needs. But she said all three districts will have “childcare options, combined with plans for intervention and personalized instruction, to ensure that our families that our families and the needs of our community are being met.” The childcare option concerned board member Michelle Fahy, who told Gibson and her colleagues, to “spend this next year really looking into school care for the students. “KidZone is the affordable and most flexible of the choices that we have for

AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS | JUNE 1, 2022

our students, but it’s limited because they don’t have enough staff,” Fahy said. “There’s a lot of parents that would not be able to get off two weeks in a row in order to take care of their kids. But if Kids Zone or something like it isn’t available, I think this is going to be a major burden.” Administrators expressed confidence they would find enough employees to expand Kids Zone to relieve parents with childcare burdens. But Fahy was not satisfied, stating, “I just want to make sure that the committee … looks at the cost to the parents of these additional camps because I think that’s what’s going to put the stress on our families the most.” “I think there’s a lot of pluses in this,” Fahy continThe new calendar that goes into effect in Kyrene School. District with the start of the 2023-24 school year provides twoued, “but I’m week fall, winter and spring breaks. (Kyrene School Distrrict) concerned about the families and the families are al- out to parents so that we know ahead of mer slide” in learning retention that ocready concerned about what they’re hear- time as much as possible – how many stu- curs during a long summer away from ing. … I know how we’re all limited in all of dents are going to need that extra help so instruction. She also said that with the new model, struggling students would our districts to what we can offer before that they can continue to work.” Meanwhile, Gibson said the 2-2-2 cal- get help from academic interventionists and after school at this point. So I want to see if there going to be any survey going endar will significantly reduce the “sum- more quickly. ■

AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS | JUNE 1, 2022

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AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS | JUNE 1, 2022

Sordid testimony, praise mark sentencing hearing BY PAUL MARYNIAK AFN Executive Editor

or more than two hours May 27, a series of prosecution and defense witnesses produced two starkly different accounts of Justin Walters before he was sentenced to four years in prison and lifetime probation for sexually grooming and abusing a student starting when she was 14. Among those who testified was his victim, who had been a student at Desert Garden Montessori in Ahwatukee, where Walters had been a teacher from 2017 until December 2020. During that December, the girl told police about the sexual relationship, which began in June 2019 after Walters spent three months grooming her through lurid emails and other social media messages. The witnesses’ testimony came atop a lengthy pre-sentence memorandum filed by his attorney, Colin O’Sullivan, that provided a detailed account of his client’s life. It was accompanied by more than a dozen testimonials – including some from his former colleagues at Desert Garden. In that memorandum, Sullivan told Superior Court Judge Geoffrey Fish that Walters “was undoubtedly influenced by unresolved emotional problems which Justin was unaware at the time” that he repeatedly engaged in sexual acts with his victim. “To be sure, Justin is not a sexual predator,” O’Sullivan wrote. “Rather, he believed, albeit misguided, that he was in a consen-

GARDEN from page 1

the suit states, he had begun to “sexually groom” her three months earlier by sending her sexually explicit emails and social media messages. Then, while as a chaperone for a student field trip to Puerto Rico in May 2019, Justin Walters bought liquor for her and some classmates and had unspecified sexual contact with her. On June 1, 2019, according to the victim’s testimony at his sentencing, Justin Walters picked up the victim, bought vodka and an air mattress, and drove her in his pickup truck to a spot in the desert, where he forced her into intercourse. “Defendant Justin Walters’ conduct was extreme and outrageous and was done

Justin Walters sat grimly during his two-hour sentencing hearing next to his attorney, Colin O’Sullivan, as prosecution witnesses called him a “Pied Piper” with Desert Garden Montessori female students, and defense witnesses portrayed him as someone who had made “poor choices” and accepted responsibility for his seduction and long-term abuse of a girl that began when she was 14. (Special to AFN) sual relationship with the victim whom he believed he loved. “What he did not realize at the time, but now understands, is that Justin made several emotionally charged decisions because he was needy for love and affection

either intentionally or recklessly,” the suit states, saying it caused the victim, identified only as Jane Doe, “severe emotional distress.” The suit states that Shetal and James Walters – who purportedly founded the school partly for their son – “shielded him from discipline and enabled him to take advantage of his position of trust as a teacher” and that they “willfully turned a blind eye to” his “criminal, unprofessional, and inappropriate conduct.” “They shielded him from discipline and enabled him to take advantage of his position of trust as a teacher of Plaintiff Jane Doe, a minor, to groom her and then serially sexually abuse, exploit, and assault her over a period of at least 19 months,” the suit states. The suit also alleges that Justin Walters

that he felt he was not getting from home, which in turn stemmed from his unresolved depression and low self-esteem.” Several witnesses, including his father, buttressed O’Sullivan’s description of Walters, 29, of Tempe, as someone who grew

“fled the United States with the knowledge and assistance” of his parents. He stayed on the run for about five months, and at one point called the victim in a desperate effort for financial help, according to papers filed in his criminal case. At the time of his arrest, the school issued a statement saying he had been terminated in December 2020 but did not mention is familial ties. The suit states that “one or more teachers, directors and other employees of defendant Desert Garden witnessed several red flags” about his behavior with girls. It states Walters was seen: sitting closely to the victim on amusement rides at Disneyland during a school trip; lying on a blanket with her during a school-sponsored camping trip in Prescott; taking

up “surrounded by the love and care of his parents, siblings, and grandparents,” “maintained a strong work ethic” and “has an extensive history of serving underprivileged communities, both at home and abroad.” Desert Garden social worker wrote that Walters “is someone whose presence brings joy to others and longtime Desert Garden teacher called him “an asset to our community.” The victim and prosecution witnesses provided a darker portrait. A Desert Garden teacher said, “He has the uncanny ability to connect with children on a personal level that we previously thought was a beautiful quality of quality about him.” She said students reacted to him “as if he were the Pied Piper” and “looked up to him as a mentor and admired him and wanted to be who he was.” “Others might share that Justin has found his way back to God, that he is serving his community, that he is remorseful for what he has done,” she said. “But his charming and charismatic personality are now …what actually make him a dangerous person in our society. “His ability to mask what he’s really doing at any given time is truly worrisome. He kept a secret sexual relationship with a child that grew up in our community, not only under his parents’ roof but under our school’s roof.” “He has negatively impacted countless

see WALTERS page 20

the victim to a tattoo parlor; walking her around campus when she was supposed to be in class; and spending time with her alone in classrooms. Walters also was seen “being touchy with students and having a lack of boundaries with” other students and “giving his personal cell phone number to female students at the school.” Beyond their protective treatment of their son, the school owners and their companies also are accused in the suit of “failing to properly warn, train, and educate Desert Garden staff on how to spot red flags in other staff members’ relationships with students and on what to do in the event such red flags are spotted.”

see GARDEN page 20

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GARDEN from page 18

It also accuses them of “holding Defendant Justin Walters out as a trustworthy person to the community and to parents of Desert Garden students” and “failing to take reasonable steps or to implement reasonable safeguards to protect Plaintiff Jane Doe and other Desert Garden stu-

WALTERS from page 18

families with his action,” she continued. “Some amazing dedicated teachers resigned because they were worried that his actions reflected upon them. Students and families unenrolled, leaving their community and their support system behind. Students to this day still cry on campus at the mere mention of Justin’s name. … Students feel betrayed by him.” The victim’s stepmother said she was “shocked at how many people are here in support of him.” “I’m not sure what lies they had to tell themselves in order to be here today or what manipulation took place. I would hope that they do themselves a service by reading the police report in full,” she said. The victim’s mother said, “I sent my child to school there because I was told and shown it was a helpful, kind, loving educational school for her. I did not send her there so a teacher could make her a sexual partner. … I can’t even express like how much anger and sadness and betrayal I feel and I tried to talk to my child and she doesn’t want to talk to me about any of this stuff.” The victim, who is now 18, was the final prosecution witness to testify and noted she was “reliving the worst moment of my life.” She described in graphic detail how he started his seduction as “the first boy to

AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS | JUNE 1, 2022

dents from the risk of sexual grooming, abuse, exploitation, and assault.” The Walters could not be reached for comment and no formal response to the lawsuit has been filed. Attorney Chase Rasmussen said in a release “As a parent, the facts of this case absolutely disgust me. Parents have the right to expect that their children will be

safe from sexual violence at the hands of their educators.” The “lawsuit will reveal to the public the numerous ways in which Desert Garden Montessori and its leadership and staff prioritized their own reputation over the safety and well-being of my client,” he added. “Their failings created a culture where a sexual predator like Mr. Walters was able to

that’s what you’re looking for. He knew this and used it against me.” She recalled how Walters “told me I was lucky to have him and he was sacrificing so much to be with me and I should be grateful for that. He made me feel like I was in the driver’s seat, Superior Court Judge Geoffrey Fish sentenced Walters to five years in pris- that it couldn’t on and lifetime probation, rejecting the defense assertion that his sexual be wrong: I abuse of his teenage victim was “consensual.” (Special to AFN) was the one call me beautiful, to make me feel confi- choosing it. I was made to feel like everydent about myself” and how it evolved thing was my responsibility, keeping this a from intimate touches and salacious mes- secret. And I believed him.” sages into a sordid first sexual encounter She described how he was “extremely on an air mattress in his pickup truck that touchy” with other girls at the school and was nothing short of rape – though she ”even wrestled with them while they were said “I would do anything to please him.” in bikinis on a school trip.” “He placed himself in a position of a Walters would ask girls for pictures trusted and caring person who could save of their dates and details about their me from my situation and give me the love sex life, bought a student an emergency that I wanted,” the victim said. “He made contraceptive pill during a school trip to me believe that I was special. When you’re Puerto Rico. She recalled how he gave young and insecure and seeking validation, students a lift in his pickup truck and had

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carry out his criminal acts against Jane Doe.” Desert Garden was founded in 1996 essentially as a home-based operation in three homes after Shetal Walters began meeting with a group of about 40 families. Over the next three years, her efforts grew the program and in March 1999 the school moved into its current building at Warner Road and 51st Street. ■

them look into the console, where he had a stack of condoms. “He would beg me to sleep with other men in front of him,” she testified. “He convinced me that this relationship was just special, that it wasn’t a problem and it was socially acceptable in other parts of the world.” As the pressure of his abuse took its mental and emotional toll on her, the victim said, she told Walters she wanted to tell her girlfriend. He told her it would kill his mother, who owns the school where he was a teacher, and that it would ruin the school. And besides telling detectives she was lying, Walters also told her to tell them she had made it all up. After several witnesses, including his father, testified on his behalf Walters cited Biblical passages and told the judge “I have to work to pay back the debt that I owe my family.” He talked of how every morning “I wake up and humble myself before God” and that “it was also a selfish human being that made these poor choices.” He made repeated references to God, saying “as I continue to learn from what I’ve done, I will use that to help other broken men like me to heal …and heal all the victims of my crime.” But by the end of his semi-coherent address, Walters never acknowledged his victim. ■

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AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS | JUNE 1, 2022

RACE from page 14

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was needed in the first place. Udall, however, insisted that facts can be told without putting a racial spin on it. Her example of where lessons cross the line goes to an essay used in a seventh grade English class in Chandler entitled “Black Men in Public Places,’’ told from that person’s point of view. It deals with a 6-foot-2-inch Black man walking at night in a military style jacket with his hands in his pockets. “A woman out walking was frightened and sought to put distance between them,’’ she said. “He attributes to that that she was racist,’’ Udall said. “I think that’s absurd.’’ Udall said she is a woman who walks or runs at night. “If there’s a big guy near me, I’m going to run from him,’’ she said. “I’m going to distance myself because you have to be careful when you’re walking alone at night.’’ Still, in an interview, Udall acknowledged that this is not a race-neutral society. Consider traffic stops. “You do see minorities are stopped more often and, in more minor situations, are stopped or ticketed or charged,’’ she said. “But I don’t think that’s just white police officers actually.’’ And that, Udall said, proves her point that not everything can be seen as a racist act. “It’s not the color of the police officers’ skin that’s a problem,’’ she said. “It’s their actions that are a problem.’’ Some of the concern by foes appears to have less to do with what SB 1412 would

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prohibit than what would be the effect. It starts with the fact that any parent or even student can file a complaint that automatically triggers an investigation at the school district level but with the potential of it making its way to the state Board of Education where a teacher could lose his or her state certification. And Rep. Domingo DeGrazia, D-Tucson, said he can envision situations where some legislators get constituents “riled up’’ over issues and “make more noise.’’ “So what you’re going to see is an avalanche of complaints based on ‘feels,’” he said. And it’s not just teachers that could get into trouble. Schools that allow prohibited behavior are subject to fines of $5,000 a day, all of which Rep. Andres Cano, D-Tucson, said will “subject our public school educators to intimidation, to harassment.’’ And Rep. Kelli Butler, D-Paradise Valley said that will have an effect on what students are taught. “I’m just worried that it’s going to create a situation in classrooms where teachers are just afraid of teaching anything,’’ she said, saying just the threats of deciding wrong – including loss of license – will have a “chilling effect.’’ But Rep. John Kavanagh, R-Fountain Hills, said that’s not the fault of SB 1412. “If there’s a chilling effect on teachers, it’s not because of what the bill says,’’ he said. “It’s because of how the bill is being misrepresented,’’ Kavanagh continued, saying all it precludes is advocacy or promotion of “seven vile, racist actions,’’ like some people being inherently superior because of their race. ■

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NEWS

AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS | JUNE 1, 2022

WATER from page 1

ment customers. Rather, according to a memo by Deputy City Manager Karen Peters to Council, it launches “an intensive public education and information program to assist all customers in understanding the need for voluntary water conservation. “Public outreach efforts will focus on these three areas to effectively communicate water awareness,” she continued: Raise awareness to shortage conditions on the Colorado River and the City’s response; educate customers on sustainable water use; and activate customers to use water responsibly.” “While asking residents and businesses to do their part, the City is increasing its own water efficiency,” Peters reported. “Toilet and fixture retrofits throughout Phoenix City Hall will provide significant reductions in water use. The City is developing further plans to retrofit fixtures in other City buildings. The City’s Water Efficiency Task Force, an interdepartmental working group, continues to examine additional methods to increase efficiency and conservation in City operations.” Two council subcommittees also were scheduled today, June 1, and June 5 to discuss the alert and its ramifications. The Phase 1 Water Alert came in response to long-term drought and recent declines in water storage on the Colorado River. Though the city states on its website “Phoenix is built for drought,” it cautions, “The city is prepared to establish such re-

EcoFlight, an aviation non-profit that provides the aerial perspective for pressing land and water issues in the West, last week released a batch of photos for the latest flyover over Lake Powell, which is experiencing historic low water levels that threaten electricity production at Glen Canyon Dam. To address the crisis low water levels, a Drought Response Operations Plan was created and approved April 21st. To keep Glen Canyon Dam operational 500,000 acre feet of water will be released from Flaming Gorge Reservoir into Lake Powell over the next 12 months. The Drought Response Operations Plan also includes possible releases from Blue Mesa and Navajo Reservoirs in 2023. (Courtesy of EcoFlight) strictions in future years if absolutely necessary to ensure the safety and health of our residents.” And it notes four factors can impact the city’s water supply and eventually force more stringent water conservation steps. Those factors include, the city states, “Growth rate within our service area; how the seven Colorado River Basin states, and groups of water users within Arizona, will respond to system shortages; the de-

gree to which customer demands can be reduced to meet drought conditions; and how long a drought will last.” Looming on the horizon for the entire Valley is the likelihood that the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation in August will declare a Tier 2a level drought for the Colorado River system. “In Tier 2a, Arizona loses another 80,000 acre-feet,” Tom Buschatzke, the director of the Arizona Department of Water

Resources, said in a briefing last month. “I don’t think that 80,000 acre-feet is going to result in a hue and cry in which they’re going to say you have to turn off your sprinklers outside or you can’t fill up your pool. It’s not that level of cut.” Still, even now the extended drought’s impact on the Colorado, Salt and Verde river levels has been felt in some parts of the Valley. Scottsdale enacted the first stage of its drought management plan last August, canceling water hauling for some 700 households as of January 2023. That move has set off an ongoing dispute among homeowners in that city’s Rio Verde Foothills development over what to do next. Arizona and other Western states that take water from the lower Colorado River for cities and farms were hoping for a good season of rain and snow this winter to keep water levels in the river’s reservoirs above dangerously low levels. Instead, they got another bad year. The dry year, on top of 22 years of regional drought, has shortened the time that states and the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation have to avert a series of dangerous scenarios that could unfold in the next two years without action. About 36% of Arizona’s water – and about 40% of Phoenix’s water – comes from the Colorado River. Lake Mead and Lake Powell store water that goes to population centers, and they have less water now than they’ve ever had. Phoenix takes the rest from in-state

The Phoenix city administration last week provided this update on the status of water-conservation measures approved by City Council so far. (City of Phoenix)

see WATER page 26

NEWS

AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS | JUNE 1, 2022

WATER from page 25

sources, including groundwater and dams managed by Salt River Project. The upshot of the disappointing winter is that water officials are accepting a future where less Colorado River water is available – so they are redoubling efforts to make alternate plans. But at the same time that they are doing long-term planning, water officials are also engaged in a short-term rescue mission to keep the Colorado River flowing and the reservoir system intact. A U.S. Bureau of Reclamation 24-month study predicts that without action, Lake Powell could drop below the level needed to generate hydropower, 3,490 feet, by next spring or as early as the end of December. In briefings last month, officials noted that the reservoirs are V-shaped, which means the rate that the water levels drop accelerates at lower levels. “We’re being piled on in a lot of ways, including by Mother Nature,” Buschatzke said in a joint briefing with the Central Arizona Project last week. While Buschatzke emphasized that there is no “imminent threat” to water flowing from the tap in Arizona homes and businesses, officials made clear that Arizona and other states face a gauntlet of bad scenarios if they can’t halt the decline in the Colorado reservoirs. The most immediate threat to the Colorado water system is the loss of hydropower generated by the dams that hold back the water, when the level drops below the intake for the turbines. Rural communities, like Page, rely on that hydropower, but it’s also “a crucial part of our (Arizona) energy grid,” Glendale Water Resources Manager Drew Swieczkowski said in a presentation last week. “It is a really big energy producer.” CAP, the state agency that delivers Colorado River water via canals and water credits, only relies on hydropower for 6% of its energy needs, but the loss of the power would put upward pressure on water rates. After losing power production, the next problem dam engineers would face is the need to release water from the reservoir via rarely used low water outlets. Dam operators don’t want to rely on these because they have little experience using them. “There are reliability concerns about

More than 95 percent of Phoenix’s demand is met with surface water, according to an extensive report the city completed last year. “In years when SRP reservoirs are low, a portion of the supply may consist of groundwater pumped from SRP wells into the SRP canal system. The City also maintains a number of wells for operational flexibility and for use when Colorado, Salt, and Verde River supplies are reduced,” it states. (City of Phoenix) long-term operations and a lot of uncertainty,” Buschatzke said of dam operations at extreme low water. “I think you’ll hear that word ‘uncertainty’ quite a bit today in terms of what’s facing us.” One-hundred and twenty feet below the loss of hydropower, Lake Powell would reach “dead pool,” when water is below the low water outlet and there no more active storage. At dead pool on Lake Powell, “the maximum amount that could be released (from the dam) is limited to the amount coming in, so-called ‘run of the river,’” a spokesperson for CAP said. CAP said it could continue delivering to cities through its canals as long as Lake Mead stayed above dead pool. The agency also has secondary storage in Lake Pleasant north of Phoenix, for “critical deliveries to Phoenix-area cities.” In a worst-case scenario, cities could keep the taps running for years using stored groundwater and water from the Salt River Project. But a rapid reduction in cities’ allocations of Colorado River water would still likely have local officials scrambling to keep water operations steady. Many cities are drilling new wells to enhance their ability to quickly add groundwater to their water utilities. Phoenix’s budget for the fiscal year beginning July 1 appropriated $1.51 million

for six new hires, materials, vehicles and other costs to operate and maintain three new wells and eight aquifer, storage and recovery wells that will be completed in December. “The water from these wells will supplement the potable water system and augment Phoenix’s water resource during times of water shortages and emergency outages,” City Manager Jeff Barton told Council in his formal budget presentation. Additionally, those new wells will cost $1.2 million annually to maintain. One bit of good news is a large share of Phoenix’s water comes from SRP, and SRP’s reservoirs on the Salt and Verde Rivers are currently healthy, sitting at 77% and 33%, respectively. SRP is studying a plan to raise the height of Bartlett Dam, located 48 miles northeast of Phoenix, to improve storage capacity on the Verde River. But the cost of that project is now put at $1 billion. Phoenix is one of the municipalities involved in a study of the project. The bad year on top of many bad years seems to have forced water officials’ to face the reality that the Colorado will permanently deliver less water each year, and it has galvanized officials to act. Climate change is one reason water officials are resigned to reducing dependence on the Colorado River. One of the findings from this year’s

April water study was that much less water reached the river than actually fell as snow and rain in the watershed. In terms of snowpack, it actually wasn’t that bad a year, with 92% of average. But that snowfall only led to 62% of average inflow to the reservoirs. Officials blame drier soil soaking up more water. It is a “troubling trend that we do seem to be getting the precipitation,” Bureau of Reclamation Deputy Chief Dan Bunk said. “But other factors such as warmer temperatures, the dry soil conditions, increased evapotranspiration, they all seem to be conspiring to some extent against the actual runoff that is occurring on the system.” Officials are talking frankly about reduced flows of the river. Glendale Water Resources Manager Drew Swieczkowski said in a presentation last month the “aridification of the Western U.S.” will result from a long-term reduction in soil moisture due to climate change. He said the Colorado River now has a new estimated annual yield of 10 to 11 million acre-feet of water, compared to 16.5 MAF allocated to U.S. states and Mexico. This reckoning with the Colorado’s oversubscription has energized long-term planning and water development efforts, and stimulated cooperation among local and federal officials. “We can’t rely on Mother Nature somehow restoring the Colorado River to what’s been allocated,” one official said. Officials in a joint briefing last month appeared focused rather than discouraged. Western states – including California, which has traditionally fought fiercely to hold onto its water – have been working together to keep extra water in the reservoirs. This year, states voluntarily left 500,000 acre feet of water in Lake Mead as part of the 500+ Plus compensated conservation program. Buschatzke said this and other conservation efforts have added 70 feet of elevation to the reservoirs, buying planners valuable time. California, Arizona and Nevada and currently working on another version of 500+ Plus for 2023. Officials expect voluntary cuts like these, on-top of cuts already outlined in the drought contingency plans, to keep the Colorado River flowing. “It won’t stop at 2023, but one year at a time,” Buschatzke said. ■

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AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS | JUNE 1, 2022

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Summit School robot teams shine on global stage of different things that could go wrong: mechanisms and parts that could fall off and make your robot fail. I think that is the hardest part.” Douwstra credits the club’s success to students’ desire to be hands-on, in addition to having a successful track record. “I think success breeds more success,” Douwstra sayid. The club began in 2017, and in their first year as a club one of their teams won a STEM Research and Project Award at a tournament in Queen Creek. Since then, Summit students have had the opportunity to travel across the country to compete in various events including the Create U.S. Open in Iowa last April.

BY SAMANTHA MORRIS AFN Staff Writer

he “Cybercat Robotics” club at the Summit School of Ahwatukee recently competed in an international robotics competition in Dallas and bested teams from around the world, with one team landing 4th place for teamwork Summit’s teams competed in the “VEX IQ Challenge,” an annual competition for elementary and middle school students that showcases their hand-made VEX robots. This year’s challenge, titled “Pitching In,” asked them to develop robots that collected and flung as many balls as possible into a basket. There’s a challenge for students to build off every year. At first, they are given the tools to build a basic robot that performs the functions of the challenge at a minimal level. Then it’s up to the students to improve their robots, engineering them to gain more points in the challenge. On its website, the company, “VEX Robotics’’ describes itself as the “STEM solution to your classroom,” a message that Summit teacher Jeremy Douwstra embraces as the world has become more and more mechanized. “STEM careers are the careers of the future,” Douwstra said. “You look at the autonomous Waymo cars that are driving around, well, these are going to be the kids that are the future of the next Waymo cars, or whatever that next autonomous technology that we are going to have is.” Douwstra is the innovation and technology coordinator at Summit and he’s excited to see students learn skills that they can apply in their academic future and beyond. “We’re talking about the 21st century skills that students and adults need to have; communication, collaboration, critical thinking, and creativity.” Constructing their own robots can feel daunting at the beginning, but students learn to problem solve themselves with

Summit School of Ahwatukee’s elementary and middle school; members of the various robotics teams carrying the brand “Cybercats” returned from a world-wide competition in Dallas with heads held high for their accomplishments as one of the middle-school teams ranked 4th and an elementary team 4th among more than 80 teams. (David Minton/AFN Staff Photographer)

limited hands-on assistance from their teacher, who is not allowed to build the device for the kids.

“It’s almost destined to not work at the beginning,” explained team member Camille Van Kirk. “Because there’s a bunch

Summit School Innovation and Technology Coordinator Jeremy Douwstra leads the Cybercats teams. (David Minton/AFN Staff Photographer)

see SUMMIT SCHOOL page 31

Summit School successes

Here is how Summit School of Ahwatukee’s robotics teams have finished in competitions. MIDDLE SCHOOL The Glitched Cybercats Wade Van Kirk and Sydney Hardy : “The Glitched Cybercats” Placed 5th in their division Cybercat Does Not Exist Max Sandell, Markus Wolownik, and Damon Massoud 52nd Null Cybercats Vincent Wang, Ryan Van Kirk, and Bradley Lane 31st ELEMENTARY The Electric Cybercats Camille Van Kirk, Doris Shao, & Lucy Holman Placed 4th in their division The Invented Cybercats Josie Van Kirk, Alejandra Vasquez, & Mercedes Dorsey: 42nd

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AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS | JUNE 1, 2022

All in: Pecos Pool welcomes 2022

Kids and adults flocked to Pecos Pool last Saturday as it opened for the holiday prior to beginning a full season until July 31 this Friday, June 3. The pool will be open every day except Fridays. Taking advantage of the Saturday opening were 1) Aaron Ordaz, who got splashed in the face by a bucket of water; 2) -Vinny Palermo and Aaron Ordaz, who synchronized their jumps from diving boards; 3) John Purdie and his daughter DJ, who high-fived in the shallow end; 4) Elena Ruchie, who played with a rubber duckie while her mom Ashley Ruchie watched; 5) Thomas Margherita who took advantage of the water slide; and 6) Zoey Margherita, who fearlessly leaped from the diving board. (Photos by AFN Photographer David Minton) ■

COMMUNITY

AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS | JUNE 1, 2022

Local law firm, nonprofit working in the metaverse BY JOHN BROWN Cronkite News

here’s a new virtual reality in the metaverse, and Arizona businesses are taking advantage. One Arizona nonprofit teamed up with a Scottsdale law firm to hold a charity event in the metaverse. Ephifania Reyes, a mother of two children, 8 and 2, moved into a Phoenix home in late March with help from Habitat for Humanity Central Arizona. “The house is a really nice space for us. It’s spacious,” Reyes said. She is a part of Habitat’s new initiative to provide affordable housing through the “Habitat Collection.” Habitat and Rose Law Group came together for a metaverse collaboration, which they say is the first of its kind. The metaverse is a virtual reality that brings the internet to life through virtual and augmented reality technology. “The metaverse is more of a concept than a place,” said Omar Abdallah, a lawyer with Rose Law Group. “It represents an interactive place where assets can be

Habitat for Humanity Central Arizona gives a house tour in 3D. The nonprofit Rose Law Group came together to raise money in the metaverse, which they say is a first-of-its-kind collaboration. (Courtesy of Rose Law Group and Habitat for Humanity) owned and we know that the assets are owned because they are recorded on the blockchain.” Non-fungible tokens, also known as NFTs are digital objects, such as music or drawings. NFTs are stored in the blockchain, which Abdallah compared to an Excel file storing important data.

According to a Bitcoin.com study, at least 18% of Americans have invested in NFTs. Jason Barlow, president and CEO of Habitat for Humanity Central Arizona, said he is excited to see what improvements can be made for housing in Arizona through the collaboration. “I think any money we can bring back to

Tickets are now on sale and volunteers are still being sought for the Festival of Lights Committee’s Ahwatukee Beer and Wine Festival 6:30-10:30 p.m. June 17 at Foothills Golf Club, 2201 E. Clubhouse Drive, Ahwatukee. Tickets are $50 and information on volunteering is available at folaz.org. The admission to the Beer and Wine Festival will entitle guests to wine and beer tickets, live music and a commemorative wine glass. There will be casino-style games with a. chance to enter a “split the pot challenge” and a raffle. There also will be an auction, although the number of prizes will be substantially fewer than the scores of items that had been available when the beer-wine event had been held at Rawhide Western Town and Event Center.

The store is located next to two popular businesses, TruHIT Fitness and The Buzz Goat. “Vaincre” is French for “overcome” and Shanté said, “I picked a meaning for Janice and what we seek to accomplish with the women we come into connection with.” Janice is the name of a homeless woman she met in Ahwatukee “that I longed to help, but could not.” The Saulsberrys are hoping to raise $6 million to buy land and build a secured complex. Each campus would include tiny homes built out of refurbished 275-square-foot cargo containers where the women could live “studio apartment-style” safely as they learn job and life skills that would lead to a productive independence with their children. Information: janiceswomenscenter.com

Award-winning Ahwatukee author Katrina Shawver, who is president of the Ahwatukee Toastmasters, said, “The group is celebrating thirty-five years as an active and strong organization in the Ahwatukee-Foothills area. “The club’s mission is to provide a supportive and positive learning experience in which members are empowered to develop communication and leadership skills, resulting in greater self-confidence and personal growth. Founded in 1924, Toastmasters International operates in 149 countries and has helped people from diverse backgrounds become more confident speakers, communicators, and leaders. For more information call or text Janice at 602-818-0472.

Janice Vaincre Boutique marking its first-year anniversary here

Ahwatukee church offering vacation Bible school this month

Tickets available, volunteers needed for wine-beer party on June 17

A boutique founded by an Ahwatukee woman as a place that sells high-end gently used clothing and offers “programs and social impact and a place for others to gather and learn more about how to get involved” is marking its first anniversary soon. Founder Shanté Saulsberry is inviting the public to attend the Business Bash 10:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. June 18 at Janice Vaincre Boutique, 4302 E. Ray Road, Ahwatukee. Saulsberry created the boutique largely to help her nonprofit achieve its goal of opening the Janice’s Women’s Shelter, a complex for unsheltered women and victims of domestic abuse that would not only provide shipping-container homes for residents but programs as well that would be aimed to teach them skills for independent living.

AROUND AHWATUKEE

The Lamb of God Lutheran Church, 599 E. Chandler Blvd., Ahwatukee is offering a vacation Bible school for kids 3 years old up to those entering fifth grade. Times are: 5:30-7:30 p.m. with a meal at 4:45 p.m. June 2324; 9:30-11:30 a.m. June 25; and 9:30 a.m. June 26 with Sunday worship and ice cream social. Enroll: Text VBS to 480-428-2831.

Ahwatukee Toastmasters holding open house, welcomes newcomers

The Ahwatukee Toastmasters is holding an open house 7-8 a.m. June 7 at Esperanza Lutheran Church, 2601 E. Thunderhill Place, Ahwatukee. The club meets 7-8 a.m. every Tuesday.

Ahwatukee Kiwanis lists speakers at its weekly Thursday meetings

The Ahwatukee Kiwanis Club is always looking for new members and invites interested people to attend one of their weekly meetings at 7:30 a.m. Thursdays at Biscuits restaurant, 4623 E. Elliott Road in the Safeway plaza. People also are invited to hear the speakers. Speakers who will appear and the dates are: June 9, Kyrene Digital Academy Principal Kyle Ross; June 23, Anissa Gurrola, Janice’s Women’s Center; June 30, LD12 House candidate Jim Chastan; Aug. 11, Amanda Nosbisch, One Small Step/Clothes Cabin.

Gila River Indian Community offering grants to nonprofits

Gila River Resorts & Casinos – Wild Horse Pass, Lone Butte and Vee Quiva – are accepting applications from nonprofits for its self-excluded jackpot fund beginning June

Habitat will be beneficial to all of our families because it will help us purchase land, buy materials, build homes, volunteer and expand our mission.” The law group’s goal with the collaboration is to create more affordable housing that could give opportunities to more people like Reyes – but also to expose Arizonans to the metaverse and NFTs. Earlier this year, Abdallah said, Ryan and Candice Hurley of Phoenix held a metaverse marriage, hosted by Rose Law Group attended by nearly 2,000 members of the public. “We had a couple and they wanted to marry their digital identities,” he said. “And so, in the metaverse, if you own land, you are not limited.” In fact, the marriage was officiated by Arizona Supreme Court Justice Clint Bolick. The couple’s virtual identities were recorded on the blockchain with “virtual premarital agreements.” For the future, both Rose Law Group and Habitat for Humanity want to expand their efforts globally to create more innovative and affordable housing. ■ 1. The deadline to apply is June 30 at 5 p.m. All Arizona 501(c)(3) organizations that are recognized by the IRS and focus on education and children’s welfare are eligible for consideration to receive self-excluded jackpot funds. The nonprofits can apply online through June 30. The selected applicants will be notified in September and honored during a special Gila River Cares event in October. “We are privileged to further support Gila River Cares mission of giving back through the self-excluded jackpots,” said Kenneth Manuel CEO of Gila River Resorts & Casinos. “The funds help smaller yet influential organizations thrive and we look forward to discovering and supporting new nonprofits each year.” Last year, more than $84,000 was distributed across three nonprofits benefiting Arizonans including one•n•ten, ICAN: Positive Programs for Youth and The Tommy Two Shoes Literacy Project for Children. Self-excluded jackpot funds are accumulated when a gaming winner is ineligible to receive their winnings on table games, slot machines or bingo. This money is distributed to help further support Gila River Cares mission of giving back to locals in need. To apply and view eligibility qualifications visit playatgila. com/gila-river-cares. ■

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COMMUNITY

AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS | JUNE 1, 2022

SUMMIT SCHOOL from page 28

This year’s world competition in Dallas recognized the need to empower more women to enter STEM fields. Summit’s team of all fourth-grade girls, “The Electric Cybercats,” placed 4th overall in teamwork. “Our elementary teams are definitely the epitome of girl power and strength,” said Summit Director of Admissions Kyle Allen. At Summit, robotics education extends beyond just an extracurricular club, it’s integrated into classrooms across grade levels. Douwstra has purchased smaller robots so that even kindergartners can learn the logic of a robot. For Camille and her twin sister Josie Van Kirk, robotics is a family affair. The Van Kirks have a VEX field at home that they can play on, practicing with their brothers’ Wade and Ryan, who are also in the program. Even though they are on different teams, both sisters don’t seem to mind. “It is very competitive, but because we are doing the same game, we both understand what it feels like and we both can help each other,” Camille said

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The VEX IQ Competition challenged teams to build robots that could quickly gather as many balls as possible and fling them into a basket. (David Minton/AFN Staff Photographer) Added Josie: “It makes us want to compete harder.” At the VEX IQ World’s Competition, Camille particularly enjoyed the supportive environment that was created.

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Ahwatukee trainer has camp for teens, their dogs AFN NEWS STAFF

S Brenda Dreyer of Ahwatukee – flanked by two of her dogs, CJ, left, and Yaeger – has create a summer camp for kids and their dogs. (AFN file photo)

ummer vacation for many families often means camp for kids and an Ahwatukee dog trainer has come up with a unique spin on that tradition: a week-long camp for teenagers and their dogs. Brenda Dreyer is opening her Foothills Canine Academy at 2323 East Magnolia St. to kids 12 to 17 years old and their dogs over 4 months old for half- and full-day sessions June 20-24 with an opportunity for children and their pets to “learn and bond together. Children will learn “all about their canine partner” while the dog acquires “much needed physical and mental stimulation, said the Club West resident. Children will “learn how to train obedience while also learning cool

tricks to show family and friends,” Dreyer said. “We also will have educational discussions, movies and other dog-related activities.” Dryer has noted in a previous interview, “There are so many aspects to dog training. Learning how your dog learns and communicates is crucial. I don’t just focus on basic commands. I teach people how to understand their dogs and how to communicate with their dogs.” Indeed, her school is “not a board and train.” During her regular sessions, she said, “The owners are 100 percent involved in training their dog. I think it is instrumental to the owner and dog to form that bond through training. I basically teach the owners to train their dogs. This is also beneficial to the owner if they were to ever get an-

other dog.” “I sincerely love helping people learn about their dogs,” she said. “It gets to me in my heart when I see a student who has been struggling with their pet finally have that breakthrough.” Dreyer, who moved to Ahwatukee from West Virginia a few years ago, does all this in a 1,700-square-foot air-conditioned facility in an industrial park not far from Sky Harbor International Airport. “Being introduced into Dog World was one of the best things that has ever happened to me,” explained Dreyer, who got her introduction to that world through her dog CJ, a Red-Bi Australian Shepherd. She kept working with CJ and eventually also hired a trainer who

see DOGS CAMP page 35

Ahwatukee couple’s butchery marks 18 years AFN NEWS STAFF

longtime staple of carnivores in Chandler founded by a Club West couple is marking its 18th anniversary next month. Von Hanson’s Meats & Spirits, 2390 N. Alma School Road, is celebrating with a ribbon cutting involving the Chandler, Tempe, and Ahwatukee chambers of commerce at 4 p.m. June 7, followed by an open house. The store is known for its fresh meats and seafood as well as signature fresh and smoked bratwursts and sausages. The store offers over 100 varieties of meats and also sells wine and beer, boasting a large selection of craft beers from across the country. Snowbirds Martha and Gene Neese from Apple Valley, Minnesota, used to bring suitcases full of Midwestern-grown meats from the original Von Hanson’s to their

Ahwatukee winter home because they were unable to find establishments that were comparable in quality and flavor in the area. After the couple moved to Arizona, they opened Von Hanson’s Meats & Spirits in Chandler in 2004. This meat shop also specializes in homemade jerky, smoked sausages and wild game processing of elk, deer, javelin, bear, and mountain lion. Over the years, its wild game business has grown because of their tasty sausage recipes and because Von Hanson’s uses the hunter’s game meat without mass-batching with another hunter’s game. They also have raw and smoked dog bones and raw dog food. In addition, Von Hanson’s is also known to barbecue aficionados who visit the store for its sauces, flavored woods and pellets. The butcher shop also features many local products. “Our signature product is our sausage,”

Martha said. “Since 1984, our Minnesotaborn sausage meister who has a strong German heritage has created over 100 different varieties. Stop in and visit us this year of our 18th anniversary in Chandler, sample, and check out our specials.” At her shop, she said “I’m kind of a jack of all trades. I just do whatever needs to be done.” I give my attention to whatever I am doing because I want to do a good job. “I don’t feel happy unless I am productive and getting something done,” she shrugged, relieved that she has escaped the high pressure of traveling around the country most of the year during a 30-year career that catapulted her to the status of a nationally certified trial lawyer and a

see VON HANSON’S page 35

Keith Van Zuiden displays some of the meats he sells at Von Hanson’s Meats & Spirits in Chandler. (Special to AFN)

BUSINESS

AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS | JUNE 1, 2022

Don’t underestimate life expectancy in decisions BY HAROLD WONG AFN Guest Writer

’ve studied the world of economics and investments for over 50 years. One needs to know the math that is relevant to making better investment and retirement planning decisions. Here’s what I mean. The average life expectancy in America is 81 years for women and 77 years for men. These statistics will lead to terrible consequences for millions of retirees. For true retirement planning, one needs to look at a different metric. According to the July, 2006 Society of Actuaries report, “Longevity: the Underlying Driver of Retirement Risk,” there’s a 50% chance that at least one member in a married couple age 65+ will reach age 92 and a 25% chance at least will live to 97 or older. An astounding 67% of retirees and 61% of pre-retirees underestimate average life expectancy. Only 21% of retirees and 35%

DOG CAMP from page 34

happened to be an American Kennel Club obedience competition exhibitor. “Honestly, I never knew of such a thing,” she said, explaining how he introduced her to agility training – putting a dog through an obstacle course within a specified time limit. “There are so many of these fun sports to keep you and your dog active and

VON HANSON’S from page 34

member of the Million Dollar Advocates Forum, whose members are attorneys who have won only settlements of $1 million or more. Neese also specialized in military litigation and headed the Military Advocacy and Federal Tort Section of the American Association for Justice. As a lawyer, she is known for representing patients believed to have been sick-

of pre-retirees provide an estimate of life expectancy that is on-target or higher. Over 40% of pre-retirees underestimate life expectancy by 5 or more years. Among pre-retirees, here are their plans: 44% want to eliminate all consumer debt by paying off all credit cards and loans; 51% of homeowners want to completely pay off their mortgage; 36% want to try to save as much as can; 34% would cut back on spending; 16% would buy a product that would provide guaranteed income for life. My conclusion a way higher percentage of pre-retirees would opt for a product that guarantees income for life if they realized that their spouse may be living 16 years longer than “average” life expectancy. According to the March 4, 2022, Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, “Policy Basics: Top Ten Facts about Social Security” the average Social Security retirement benefit as of January was $1,614 a month or $19,370 per year. “For someone who worked all their adult life at average earnings and retires at age more importantly truly helps build and strengthen your relationship with your K9 partner.” Over time, CJ and Dreyer got so good as a team doing AKC sports with names like “barn hunt,” “fast cat,” “flyball” and many more that they’ve competed six different sports – and won a few ribbons. “There is no greater gift than working as a team; seeing and feeling the moment when human and canine finally make that

ened by ruptured breast implants during the 1990s. In 1998, implant manufacturer Dow Corning settled a class-action lawsuit for $2.4 billion, then the largest settlement of its kind. It was her work as a registered cardiaccare nurse assisting in open-heart surgeries for 10 years that inspired Neese to enter Drake University Law School in Des Moines, Iowa, from which she graduated in 1984. She recalls watching doctors make seri-

65 in 2022, Social Security benefits replace about 37% of past earnings,” it said. In contrast, for the OECD group of developed nations, the average gross public pension is 47% For the top seven countries that provide at least 70%, it’s (in order): Italy, Luxembourg, Austria, Portugal, Denmark, Spain, and the Netherlands. The bottom five countries, starting with the worst, provide less than 30%: United Kingdom, Lithuania, Mexico, Ireland, and Poland. Even worse, most in the USA start their lifetime Social Security retirement benefits at age 62 and only 3% wait until age 70, which gives you the maximum Social Security benefits. At age 70, it can be double the SS income. I created a composite of three older single ladies (nurse, nurse practitioner, and pharmacist). If they took SS at age 70, they would have $40,000 a year vs. $20,000 a year if they took SS at age 62. The average interest rate on a US 10-year or 30-year Treasury Bond for the last 13 years, until the spike in interest rates during the last special connection.” Her summer camp is limited to a dozen “teams” – a kid and his or her dog – that meet certain basic specifications. Dogs must be fully vaccinated and cratetrained and cannot be aggressive or reactive. Children must be able to physically restrain their dog and maintain control of their pet on a leash. Dryer offers a free evaluation of the dog for owners unsure of whether the animal ous mistakes, sometimes because they ignored her advice. “What made me decide to attend law school was seeing the difference that the law can make in the care that people get,” she was once quoted as saying. “The hospital would do the right thing when a lawyer was involved.” But then there came a time, the mother of three adult children said, when “I wanted out of the high-pressure law stuff.” But meat?

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year, was 2%. The average dividend rate in S&P 500 companies since 1/1/2000 has been 2.02%. Is it easier to wait eight years to take SS and get $20,000 a year more or to save $1 million between age 62 and 70 and receive a 2% return = $20,000 a year from US Treasury Bond interest or stock market dividends? The decision to wait until age 70 to take SS can be a $1 million decision. Conclusion: If people truly understood reasonable life expectancy odds, they would wait until age 70 to trigger SS. They would also spend less; save more; pay off all debt; and purchase a product with guaranteed lifetime income … before they retired. To schedule a free consultation on taxes or retirement planning, please contact Dr. Harold Wong at (480) 706-0177 or harold_wong@hotmail.com. His websites are www.drharoldwong.com or www.solarbusinessinvestments.com. He earned his Ph.D. in economics at University of California/Berkeley and has appeared on over 400 TV/radio programs. ■ meets those requirements. A full-day camp, 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., costs $450 and a morning-only session for five days is $350. Full-day students must bring their own lunch, though Dryer plans a pizza party for all full- and half-day participants at the end of the week.

Information: 602-642-1202, Foothillsk9@gmail.com or foothillsk9academy.com. ■

“I had no intention of going into the meat business,” Neese explained. “We were customers. My kids grew up on really good, quality meat.” Quality, she added, that she found lacking in supermarkets when she and her husband were snowbirds, shuttling between the Midwest and Ahwatukee. “We would put it on the grill and it was terrible,” she recalled. “We had to throw it out. So we started eating salads.” Information: vonhansonsmeats.net ■

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AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS | JUNE 1, 2022

Open Enrollment Day is designed to help American Indian students (new and continuing) apply to SMCC or register for the Fall 2022 semester. Wednesday, June 8 and Tuesday, June 14

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southmountaincc.edu The Maricopa County Community College District (MCCCD) is an EEO/AA institution and an equal opportunity employer of protected veterans and individuals with disabilities. All qualiﬁed applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, or national origin. A lack of English language skills will not be a barrier to admission and participation in the career and technical education programs of the District. The Maricopa County Community College District does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability or age in its programs or activities. For Title IX/504 concerns, call the following number to reach the appointed coordinator: (480) 731-8499. For additional information, as well as a listing of all coordinators within the Maricopa College system, visit http://www.maricopa.edu/non-discrimination.

Sports & Recreation AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS | JUNE 1, 2022

SPORTS

Check us out and like the Ahwatukee Foothills News on Facebook

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Chandler gets state’s first indoor pickleball complex TRIBUNE NEWS STAFF

rizona’s first indoor pickleball facility – and the largest of its kind in the nation – has opened in Chandler. The 15-court Pickleball on the northeast corner of Ray and Rural roads is open for play and tours 6 a.m.-midnight daily, offering not only an air-conditioned, windfree playground for participants in one of America’s fastest-growing sports but also opportunities for corporate events, birthday and anniversary parties and the prospect of tournaments. Owner and Chandler pickleballer Mike Rodriguez is beaming over the realization of a dream that began when he and some buddies were standing in a windy court outside in January 2021. “For the serious and advanced player, the elements have to go,” said Rodrigues, who retrofitted the strip mall’s anchor – a Gold’s Gym. “I never thought of Arizona as windy until I started playing pickleball,” he explained. “Since it is a whiffle ball, the slightest amount of breeze can carry what would have been a great cut shot and land it 2 inches out of bounds. Playing indoors will take all the extraneous elements out so that the only thing that affects your game – is your game. And that’s what the best players want, to let their game stand on its own.” “Pickleball is the fastest growing sport in America because it’s fun,” he added. “What’s not fun is waiting for a court, playing in the heat, and having the wind affect your game. We’ve solved all those problems.” The National Pickleball Association saw its membership increase by 650 percent between 2013 and 2019. The Sports & Fitness Industry Association, which tracks the popularity of sports through the sale of related merchandise, estimated that from 2018 to the end of last year, the number of active pickleball players has grown from 3.1 million to 4.2 million. That growth included a 21.3 percent increase last year over 2019 as the pandemic

The 15-court Pickleball Kingdom at the northeast corner of Ray and Rural roads offers an indoor facility for one of the nation’s fastest growing sports. (Special to the Tribune) forced Americans to rethink social distancing and the value of socializing outdoors, the Sports & Fitness Industry Association said. Municipalities can’t keep up with the demand for more free places to play and have spent millions of dollars over the last five years to try and feed the voracious appetite for courts. At Pickleball Kingdom, specialized AC ducts eliminate the heat and wind of outdoor courts. The facility’s specific lighting illuminates the courts without the negative effects of the sun on the game and on players, he noted. Pickleball Kingdom also offers a free app that allows players to reserve a court, eliminating the waiting for a court that typically eats up most of a player’s time. With so many people competing to play on the courts early in the morning or after the sun goes down, the wait times make the experience less attractive, Rodrigues said. “We are excited that Pickleball Kingdom has opened in West Chandler,” said Mayor

Hartke. “Repurposing a big-box gym into 15 indoor pickleball courts is an excellent healthy, indoor exercise option for our Chandler residents.” Pickleball Kingdom is also launching a new initiative to introduce pickleball to everyone. Pickleball 101 is a free class for the public, regardless if they’re a member or not. It’s an introduction to the sport, overview of the rules and coaching of the basic fundamentals of the game. “At the Kingdom, we believe that pickleball is good for you physically, socially, and spiritually,” Rodrigues said. “We want everyone in the game. The reason most people haven’t tried the sport yet is either they don’t know anyone who will teach them, they don’t have the equipment, or they don’t know where to go. “As ambassadors of the sport, we decided to eliminate all those barriers into this great sport ,” he added, noting the class is offered most days of the week. “Anyone can go to our website and fol-

low the link to get registered for a class time that works for them,” he said. “We have highly qualified coaches to teach them, we provide the paddles and balls for our students to use, and they’ll be playing on the custom-colored courts of Pickleball Kingdom,” Rodrigues said. “All they have to do is show up with tennis shoes or sneakers. I would like to personally invite everyone to sign up for one of our free classes and experience what all your friends are addicted to.” Besides reserved court times, Pickleball Kingdom also offers locker rooms and showers, ball machines and a pro shop, leagues and lessons and a lounge area. There also is a mezzanine viewing area and daily drop-in times are available. Its three levels of membership range from $85 a month or $935 annually to $190 a month of $2,090 for a year, with no court or player fees. More details are at PickleballKingdom.com ■

AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS | JUNE 1, 2022

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AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS | JUNE 1, 2022

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Barenaked Ladies have nothing to prove BY CHRISTINA FUOCO-KARASINSKI GetOut Editor

arenaked Ladies singer Ed Robertson knows there’s something to be said for talent. But the “One Week” band’s show comes with impromptu jams and, well, mistakes. “I know the songs are going to go great because we work really hard on them,” Robertson said via Zoom. “We take that part seriously. For me, the whole ‘show’ is the stuff that happens between the songs — the banter, spontaneity, and the funny, stupid songs we make up. That other stuff happens every night.” Robertson contended that stale shows cause burnout or boredom with other bands. Barenaked Ladies keep it fresh. “We’re on a tightrope every night. We’re swinging for the fences,” he said laughing. “We never know what we’re going to do, let alone what the other guys in the band are going to do.

Barenaked Ladies are, from left, drummer Tyler Stewart, multi-instrumentalist Kevin Hearn, singer/guitarist Ed Robertson and bassist Jim Creeggan. (Barenaked Ladies/Submitted) “It’s so exciting. It adds such a layer of excitement and the unknown for every single show. It keeps it fresh for us and

the audience. I was saying to another performer the other day, the superpower of Barenaked Ladies is that we do not

care if we screw up. If you don’t care if you screw up, then you have nothing to be nervous about.” Fans can see that for themselves when the “Last Summer on Earth” tour comes to Arizona Federal Theatre in Phoenix on Thursday, June 9. A few of Barenaked Ladies’ “spectacular train wrecks” are hilarious to Robertson. The band — which also includes bassist Jim Creeggan, drummer Tyler Stewart and multi-instrumentalist Kevin Hearn — just shrug it off and move on. “It’s how people know our shows are real,” he said. The last two years have been strange for everyone, including BNL, who had to postpone their tour twice. Now that the jaunt with the Gin Blossoms and Toad the Wet Sprocket is back on track, Robertson is relieved. “I’m thrilled that we were able to keep

see BARE page 40

Ahwatukee author attending mammoth book fest

GETOUT STAFF

hwatukee award-winning author Katrina Shawver will be joining more than 50 authors will be on hand to share stories and insights into their craft at the inaugural Desert Foothills Book Festival in northern Scottsdale next Saturday. The free event – 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday, June 4, at the Holland Center, 34250 N. 60th St. – will offer attendees a a chance to peruse fiction, nonfiction, memoirs, children’s books and other genres and have books signed by the authors. There will be door prizes and even a raffle. Proceeds from this initial event will fund The Holland Center program “Creative Kids: Tell Me a Story.” Shawver, author of the award-winning “Henry: A Polish Swimmer’s True Story of Friendship from Auschwitz to America,” will

be alongside Ettie Zilber, author of “A Holocaust Memoir of Love and Resilience, Mama’s Survival from Lithuania to America.” Both their stories take place during World War II and the Holocaust and are set in the neighboring countries of Poland and Lithuania. Together, the books offer a shared history and geography, and two different Holocaust experiences. Shawver’s book is about Henry Zguda, of Ahwatukee, a Polish Christian survivor of German concentration camps, and his subsequent life in America. Zilber’s memoir follows her mother’s story from the Lithuanian Jewish experience and subsequent adjustment to life

see BOOKS page 43

Ahwatukee author Katrina Shawver will be attending the inaugural Desert Foothills Bookk Festival in Scottsdale next Saturday. (AFN file photo)

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AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS | JUNE 1, 2022

Cane Hill returns with stop at Pub Rock BY ALEX GALLAGHER Progress Staff Writer

t’s been nearly two years since the members of the Louisiana-based metal outfit Cane Hill have been able to plant their feet on a stage in front of a live audience. During those two years, vocalist Elijah Witt admits that he and his bandmates found it difficult to muster up the energy to rehearse for a show that they feared would never happen. However, the band did still feel a desire to continue writing new material. “We didn’t have a reason to hash out a whole set and we became so focused on writing music that we didn’t have time to get together,” Witt said. “It’s felt great getting back and playing music because even though we’ve released a bunch of music, we didn’t get together to rehearse for two years.” Instead, the band wrote and recorded two EPs, “Krewe De La Mort, Vol. 1” and “Krewe D’Amour, Vol. 2”, and is eager to rip the tracks off the works live. “The songs have taken over our setlist and it’s sick,” Witt said. “We’ve always been one of those bands that do not like to play old songs, so getting to come into this headliner playing mostly-unheard live

BARE from page 39

the lineup and all the shows,” Robertson said. “We actually were able to add a show to the tour.” During Barenaked Ladies’ European leg, the setlist included a mix of hits, tracks from their latest album, “Detour de Force” and deep cuts. The collection continues Barenaked Ladies’ penchant for writing quirky-yet-heartfelt songs. Produced by Juno and Grammy award winners Eric Ratz and Mark Howard, “Detour de Force” fuses the band members’ writing voices into a cohesive work. The 14 tracks include the sonically adventurous “Flip,” the hopeful and infectious “Good Life” and “New Disaster.” “It was a weird one to make because everybody had to roll with the punches through this weird time,” Robertson said. “But for it, (the pandemic break) afforded us something we’ve never had while making a record — that’s time. We got to actu-

(Left to right) Guitarist Elijah Barnett, vocalist Elijah Witt, bassist Ryan Henriquez and drummer Devin Clark make up the metal band Cane Hill who return to the stage when they roll into Scottsdale on Tuesday May 31. (Special to AFN) songs is exciting.” New songs aren’t the only things that Witt feels fans need. “I’m not a scientist and I don’t know what the right time is to come back but touring doesn’t seem as volatile as it has been,” he said. “So as long as we’re allowed to put on shows, I think economically we need to but additionally I think people need some good news since music has been gone for so long.” In preparation for the tour, the band spent months doing something it hadn’t

ally listen to the songs for a few months while everything was closed and think about what some of them needed. Some of them needed things taken away; some of them needed to be fully reapproached.” One version of “Live Well” was scrapped, and Barenaked Ladies went back to the studio and played live, as opposed to recording one instrument at a time. Nearly all the overdubs were removed. “New Disaster” was completely rebuilt from the ground up, something Barenaked Ladies hadn’t previously had the luxury to do. “It’s very expensive to make a record,” he said. “We tour so much that we only build in a limited window to make a record and then everybody’s plans changed.” The plans stuck, however, to record songs that blend dark lyrics with upbeats. Sometimes, it’s the other way around. “Even ‘Flip,’ which is a very positivesounding song, is really about all the insanity of social media and this strange

done in two years: rehearsing. “After two years of not rehearsing we started jamming again about three months ago,” Witt said. However, since Scottsdale marks stop number two on the band’s tour, Witt foresees his performance not being fully dialed in. “I still see Scottsdale having plenty of rust,” Witt said with a laugh. “I’m happy that we’re going west first since Arizona has always been fun and it’s chalked full of rockers so it’s a fun demographic

point in communication that we find ourselves in,” he said. “It’s sort of encouraging that there is another side to this discourse. “Like the old saying, ‘If it rages, it engages.’ Unfortunately, it’s just a bug in the human operating system and the companies are exploiting it. We need to step away and step back. I heard somebody say recently, ‘I think to myself, did I know that person 5 minutes ago. And if not, I move on.’” That wordplay is something that keeps Barenaked Ladies relevant — that and caring. “I think we’ve always really taken our good fortune seriously and we never take it for granted,” Robertson said. “We respect our audience, and we try hard every time. I love what I do, and I love that I get to do it. So, I do everything I can to nurture that. It’s also communication within the band. It’s making sure everybody’s engaged and attached to what we’re doing and why we’re doing it. “I always say this, because it’s true, it’s

to hit first.” In addition to treating fans to new tunes live and fine-tuning his performance, Witt plans to make the live performances more expansive than ever by draping the stage with two custom-made crosses and a light show that will transform each venue into what Witt describes as a “creepy church.” “It’s going to be bigger, better and badder,” he said. “It’ll be bigger than anything we’ve ever done in terms of the production of the performance.” He also meticulously curated a cast of supporting acts: Florida- based metal act Afterlife, Illinois- based metal band VCTMS and rockers Moodring, which will prime fans in attendance for the eclectic sounds Cane Hill brings to the table. “Methodically it was to start them slowly, hit them fast, get them pumped then crush them. That’s the order of the bands,” Witt said. He also wants fans to hear a myriad of sounds and avoid redundancy. “When we all go to a show, we don’t want to see the same band five times just get progressively louder and their songs more memorable,” Witt said. “I wanted to see four or five bands that were completely individual in their sound so that every-

see CANE page 43

more fun than ever. Now, I’ve got nothing to prove. I’ve accomplished 10 times more than I ever thought I would. The fact that I still get to be a guy in a rock band and get to get on stage in venues that, frankly, I would pay to play in is amazing. I get paid to play in them.” Robertson said his good buddy, Canadian musician and actor Alan Doyle, explains it best. “He’ll say something to the effect of ‘How lucky are we?’ I’ve really taken that to heart over the years,” he said. “Literally all my dreams came true 20 years ago.” ■

If You Go...

Who: Barenaked Ladies with Toad the Wet Sprocket and Gin Blossoms Where: Arizona Federal Theater, 400 W. Washington St., Phoenix When: 7 p.m. June 9 Cost: Tickets Start At $56 Info: Livenation.com

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AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS | JUNE 1, 2022

King Crossword ACROSS 1 Knock 4 “The Thin Man” dog 8 Tabloid writing 12 Post-op area 13 Pace 14 Alike (Fr.) 15 Sushi fish 17 “Hi, sailor!” 18 “Burnt” crayon color 19 Melody 21 Ordinal suffix 22 Game fish 26 Looks intently 29 Chaps 30 Man-mouse link 31 Has bills 32 -- de deux 33 Mythical birds 34 Capote nickname 35 Stable diet? 36 Hill of “Moneyball” 37 Raw bar mollusk 39 Impose 40 Ms. Thurman 41 Tristan’s love 45 Tibia’s place 48 Saltwater fish 50 Mata -51 Hotel chain 52 Hot tub 53 Rhyming tributes 54 Lake bird 55 Fixed

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ome things are worth the trip. Especially when they’re handcrafted food products that are local, organic and gourmet. Yes, it’s worth the drive out to Queen Creek to visit The Queen Creek Olive Mill , where you can take in a factory tour or stroll the orchard, savor gourmet olives, sample fig or pomegranate white balsamic vinegars, try tasty tapenades and take home fresh pressed extra virgin olive oils infused with chocolate, white truffles, bacon, roasted garlic, Meyer lemon or blood orange. Then there’s the Tuscan-inspired eatery, wine tastings, music and dancing. The Queen Creek Olive Mill is agritourism at its best, and the booming town of Queen Creek has had Arizona’s only olive working farm and mill all to itself for the last 17 years. If Queen Creek is too far of a trek, you can visit Queen Creek’s Oils And Olives at Kierland Commons in Scottsdale. But the Olive Mill is certainly worth the drive. Owner Perry Rea started with 10 acres, 1,000 olive trees and a retired career in the automotive industry. Now with 25 acres, 16 varieties of olives and 40 products under the Queen Creek label, many of us are happy that Rea switched from motor oil to olive oil. Ingredients: •

•

2 tablespoons Queen Creek Olive Mill Fig Balsamic Vinegar

3 tablespoons Queen Creek Olive Mill Bacon Olive Oil

Directions: If sesame seeds are not toasted, in a small dry skillet, toast sesame seed over medium high heat until golden brown in color. Set aside to cool. In a skillet, add vinegar, bacon olive oil, lemon juice, and sesame seeds. Stir to combine over medium

PUZZLES ANSWERS on page 42

At the heart of everything that Rea does is creating a fun friendly atmosphere where families can gather around the table and enjoy good food, whether it’s at the olive mill or in your own home. So that brings me to my new favorite product from QCOM: bacon-infused extra virgin olive oil. What that means is you now get all the tantalizing flavor of bacon without any of the bacon fat. What better way to enjoy this dynamic duo of olive oil and bacon than with a good old-fashioned spinach salad with warm bacon dressing, the flavor richly enhanced by full-bodied Queen Creek fig balsamic vinegar? This recipe was created just for you by Perry – for olive us to enjoy! Information: queencreekolive mill.com.■ • • • • •

1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice 1 teaspoon toasted sesame seeds 6 cups baby spinach 4 green onions with tops, thinly sliced 1/4 cup crumbled Gorgonzola cheese

heat until hot. In a large bowl, combine the spinach and green onions. Add the warm dressing and toss to evenly coat. Sprinkle with Gorgonzola cheese and serve. Serves 4.■

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from Page 41

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AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS | JUNE 1, 2022

EVERYBODY GRAB A FUTURE Team Member Full and Part Time

Book lovers of all ages will find something – and someone – of interest at the inaugural Desert Foothills Book Festival in Scottsdale next Saturday. (Special to the Progress)

BOOKS from page 39

in America. Lithuania and Poland have shared borders for centuries. Zilber was born in a displaced persons camp in Germany, and after retirement from a career in international schools, she now is active in the Phoenix Holocaust Association and devotes time to educating youth and adults about the Holocaust. “Both books are timelier than ever, given the current events unfolding in Ukraine and shared history and geography,” Shawver said. Shawver is an experienced writer, seasoned speaker, and is the recipient of the 2018 Polish Heritage Award from the Polish American Congress of Arizona. Shawver also is available for speaking engagements. Information: katrinashawver.com, Katrina@ katrinashawver.com or 602-492-1232. The Desert Foothills Book Festival grew from the desire of a group of local authors to connect personally with book lovers and to promote an appreciation of reading and the literary arts. “With the Tucson Book Festival to the south and the Payson and Prescott book festivals to the north, this small group felt the greater Phoenix, Scottsdale, Cave Creek, and Carefree areas were missing

CANE from page 40

one is having a good time.” As for his act, Witt is excited to dazzle the audience and put spins on the band’s signature tunes while exposing fans to the works that Cane Hill created while cooped up during the early days of the pandemic.

a valuable opportunity to meet and engage with local authors from all genres,” organizers say on their website, desertfoothillsbookfestival.com “The year 2022 marks the first year of the festival with many, many more to come.” Organizers describe the festival as “a celebration of the importance of reading in our community” that aims to “promote literacy and a love of reading among adults and children by creating an interactive and inclusive venue for readers and authors to connect.” Among the authors who will be attending are Karen Odden and Dan Baldwin, who will give presentations on the craft and skill of writing. Odden will speak on the importance of the setting for any novel, especially when writing historical fiction. Her passion is Victorian England, and she’ll share photographs of some of the places in London that helped her bring her stories to life. Baldwin will explain his 20 years of experience with psychic detection and spirit communication, followed by how he structured his books to combine these realities with effective storytelling. For a rundown on the other authors who will be on hand Saturday at the event, see desertfoothillsbookfestival.com ■ “We did some fun things with the song ‘Why’ and I’m excited to play that song again with a little twist to it,” Witt said. But his main source of excitement remains in giving his new tracks an on-stage presence. “I’m excited to play the new songs since it’s something fresh for me,” Witt said. ■

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Jose Martinez

Not a Licensed Contractor

Not a licensed contractor.

602.515.2767

Irrigation Repair Services Inc. Licensed • Bonded • Insured

Specializing in Controllers, Valves, Sprinklers, Landscape Lighting, P.V.C. & Poly Drip Systems

Specializing in Artificial • Front Yards Grass

• Golfing Greens

Arizona Specialty Landscape

Painting

• Synthetic Turf for your Home

• Back Yards

ROC 282663 * BONDED * INSURED YOUR LAWN EXPERT SINCE 1995

Responsible • 100% Guaranteed Call or text for a FREE ESTIMATE

Cutting Edge LLC • ROC 281671

Home Improvement

FREE FERTILIZER & SOIL AMENDMENT TREATMENT WITH CORE AERATION FERTILIZATION • SOIL AMENDMENTS • SOIL TESTING

ROC# 186443 • BONDED

LANDSCAPE SERVICES

• Furniture • Appliances • Mattresses • Televisions • Garage Clean-Out • Construction Debris

Landscape/Maintenance WANT A GREEN LAWN?

Irrigation

Small Man!” Decks • Tile • More! ✔ Kitchens 1999 ce Sin rk Wo y alit Qu dable, ✔ Bathrooms BSMALLMAN@Q.COM 2010, 2011 9 Quality Work Since 199 2012, “No 2013, Job Too And More! 2010, 2011 Small Man!” 2014 Call Bruce at 602.670.7038

Landscape Design/Installation

CALL US TODAY!

480.721.4146 www.irsaz.com

ROC# 256752

HOME IMPROVEMENT & PAINTING Interior/Exterior Painting 30 YEARS EXPERIENCE Dunn Edwards Quality Paint Small Stucco/Drywall Repairs

We Are State Licensed and Reliable!

Add a Background Color to Your Ad! Classifieds 480-898-6465

Free Estimates • Senior Discounts

480-338-4011

ROC#309706

CLASSIFIEDS

AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS | JUNE 1, 2022

PROFESSIONAL PAINTING Interior, Exterior House Painting. Stucco Patching. Gate/Front Door Reﬁnishing. Quality work/Materials Free Estimate Ignacio 480-961-5093 / 602-571-9015 ROC #189850 Bond/Ins’d

CONKLIN PAINTING Free Estimate & Color Consultation

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

480-888-5895 • High Quality Materials & Workmanship • Customer Satisfaction ee • Countless References Serving Ahwatuk Since 1987 • Free Estimates

602.625.0599

Suntechpaintingaz.com Family Owned In Best of Ahwatukee Year After Year

ROC #155380

PAINTING Interior & Exterior Residential/Commercial Free Estimates Drywall Repairs Senior Discounts References Available

ConklinPainting.com Lic/Bond/Ins ROC# 270450

East Valley PAINTERS Paint Interior & Exterior • Drywall Repair Cabinet Painting • Light Carpentry Voted Power Washing • Textures Matched Popcorn Removal • Color Consulting Pool Deck Coatings • Garage Floor Coatings

10% OFF

We Beat Competitors Prices & Quality

Free Estimates • Home of the 10 Year Warranty!

480-688-4770

www.eastvalleypainters.com

Family Owned & Operated

Now Accepting all major credit cards

Bonded/Insured • ROC#153131

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

— Call Jason —

Painting

(602) 502-1655

• Interior & Exterior Painting • Professional Cabinet Refinishing • In-Home Color Consultations “Professional, Punctual & Clean”

Veteran Owned

Licensed - Bonded - Insured ROC 290242

FREE ESTIMATES • CALL TODAY!

480-785-6323

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

★ Elastomaric Roof Coating

Need to hire some help? Call Classifieds Today!

480.898.6465

CLASS@TIMESPUBLICATIONS.COM

★ Epoxy Floors ★ Small Job Specialist

Scott Mewborn, Owner 480-818-1789 License #ROC 298736

AHWATUKEE SPECIAL $

Off 40work done *Any

Plumbing

PLUMBERS CHARGE TOO MUCH! FREE Service Calls + FREE Estimates Water Heaters Installed - $999 Unclog Drains - $49

Affinity Plumbing LLC 480-487-5541

10% OFF

www.affinityplumbingaz.com

All Water Purification Systems Voted #1 Plumber 3 Years In A Row OVER 1,000 5-STAR REVIEWS

480-405-7099

affinityplumber@gmail.com

Your Ahwatukee Plumber & East Valley Neighbor Anything Plumbing Same Day Service Water Heaters

24/7

Inside & Out Leaks

Bonded

Toilets

Insured

Faucets

Estimates Availabler

Disposals

MORE CLASSIFIED ADS ONLINE! www.Ahwatukee.com

$35 off

Any Service

Voted #1 Paint Interior & Exterior • Drywall Repair Light Carpentry • Power Washing • Textures Matched Popcorn Removal • Pool Deck Coatings Garage Floor Coatings • Color Consulting

PLUMBING

10% OFF

We Beat Competitors Prices & Quality Free Estimates! Home of the 10-Year Warranty!

www.ACP www.A CPpaintingllc.com paintingllc.com

“We get your house looking top notch!”

Drain Cleaning Experts, water heaters, disposals, water & sewer lines repaired/replaced & remodels. Rapid Response. If water runs through it we do it! 602-663-8432

Bonded/Insured • ROC #223709

East Valley PAINTERS 1-Day Epoxy for Garages, Patios, Pool Decks & More!

Plumbing

Painting

480-688-4770

www.eastvalleypainters.com Family Owned & Operated Bonded/Insured • ROC#153131

Now Accepting all major credit cards

$35.00 Off Any Service Call Today!

A+ RATED

We Repair or Install ROC # 272721

AHWATUKEE’S #1 PLUMBER Licensed • Bonded • Insured

704.5422

(480)

Not a licensed contractor

Painting

Pool Service / Repair

$25 OFF

Filter Cleaning!

BEST PLACE TO MAKE

Roofing

AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS | JUNE 1, 2022

Roofing

Painting

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

Spencer 4 HIRE ROOFING Tiles, shingles, flat, repairs & new work Free Estimates • Ahwatukee Resident

Valley Wide Service

480-446-7663

Monthly Service & Repairs Available

602-546-POOL 7 6 6 5

Over 30 yrs. Experience

480-706-1453

Licensed/Bonded/Insured • ROC #236099

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

LICENSED | BONDED | INSURED | ROC #269218

CLASS@ TimesLocalMedia.com

MARK’S POOL SERVICE Owner Operated - 20 Years

10% OFF

$1000 OFF when you show this ad *on qualifying complete roof replacements

Family Operated by 3 Generations of Roofers! We have a “Spencer” on every job and every step of the way.

with this ad

Ahwatukee’s Premier Tile, Shingle & Foam Roofer!

Play Pools start at with chemicals

Ask About Filter Cleaning Specials!

Mark

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

CLASSIFIEDS 480-898-6465

602-799-0147

class@Times LocalMedia.com

CPO#85-185793

Juan Hernandez

Pavers • Concrete • Water Features • Sprinkler Repair

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

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

Call Juan at

480-720-3840

PHILLIPS

ROOFING LLC COMMERCIAL AND RESIDENTIAL

Family Owned and Operated 43 Years Experience in Arizona

Not a licensed contractor.

Roofing

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

MonsoonRooﬁngInc.com Licensed – Bonded – Insured – ROC187561

u Th

480-446-7663 e IN

Call

-EX D i ﬀe r e n c e

602-938-7575

for your FREE Roof Evaluation Today! www.InExRo

Ahwatukee’s Premier Tile, Shingle & Foam Roofer!

FREE Estimates • Credit Cards OK www.spencer4hirerooﬁng.com ROC#244850 | Insured | Bonded Family Owned & Operated for over 30 years

oﬁn

g.c o m

ROC #152111

Quality Repairs & Re-Roofs Complimentary & Honest Estimates

623-873-1626 Free Estimates Monday through Saturday

480-699-2754 • info@monsoonroofinginc.com

Let Us Show Yo

$95/month

Licensed 2006 ROC 223367 Bonded Insured

PhillipsRoofing.org PhillipsRoofing@cox.net

Call our office today!

480-460-7602 Ask us about our discount for all Military and First Responders!

www.porterroofinginc.com

Licensed, Bonded, Insured ROC152111

CLASSIFIEDS

AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS | JUNE 1, 2022

Arizona’s Resort-Style Home Builder MASTER PLANNED CELEBRATED COMMUNITIES BY BLANDFORD HOMES

Award-winning Arizona builder for over 40 years. F BELL RD.

56TH ST.

Blandford Homes specializes in building master planned environments with a variety of amenities, parks, and charm. You’ll find the perfect community to fit your lifestyle. A STRATFORD NOW SELLING B C D E F G H

A Dramatic New Gated Community in Gilbert Vintage Collection • From the low $600’s • 480-895-2800 Craftsman Collection • From the mid $700’s • 480-988-2400 PALMA BRISA – In Ahwatukee Foothills NOW SELLING A Dramatic New Gated Community Vintage Collection • From the high $600’s • 480-641-1800 Craftsman Collection • From the low $800’s • 480-641-1800 BELMONT AT SOMERSET – Prime Gilbert Location CLOSEOUT Luxury estate homes and timeless architecture • From the low $1,000,000’s • 480-895-6300 MONTELUNA – Brand New Gated Community in the Foothills of Northeast Mesa NOW SELLING B McKellips Rd just east of the Red Mountain 202 Fwy • From the low $700’s RESERVE AT RED ROCK – New Upscale Resort Community in the Foothills of Northeast Mesa COMING IN 2022 Stunning views of Red Mountain • From the $600’s TALINN AT DESERT RIDGE – SALES BEGIN EARLY IN 2022 Spectacular location at Desert Ridge ESTATES AT MANDARIN GROVE – In the Citrus Groves of NE Mesa CLOSEOUT 11 luxury single-level estate homes with 3- to 6-car garages plus optional RV garages and carriage houses • From the mid $1,000,000’s • 480-750-3000 ESTATES AT HERMOSA RANCH – In the Citrus Groves of NE Mesa CLOSEOUT 12 single-level homes on extra large homesites with 5- to 6-car garages plus optional RV garages and carriage houses • From the mid $1,000,000’s • 480-750-3000

E H G

C GERMANN

BlandfordHomes.com Not all photos shown are representative of all communities. Terms and conditions subject to change without notice.

CLASSIFIEDS

AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS | JUNE 1, 2022

Ce rv 4 leb in 0 ra g Ye ti Th a ng e rs Va lle y!

BESTOF

2021

40 Years Serving the Central Valley

HERE IS SOMETHING TO CELEBRATE FREE INDOOR REME HALO® IN-DUCT AIR PURIFIER* OUR 40 YEARS IN BUSINESS

We are offering $ 40 OFF

our Brewer’s Deluxe 20 point Tune up

REG. $119

• Reduces common allergens from pollen, mold dander & dust • Eliminates pet, cooking and musty odors • Reduces airborne and surface bacteria & viruses, such as MRSA, e-coli, and Norwalk 99+%,

*With a qualified ac system purchase

YOUR HOMETOWN AIR CONDITIONING SPECIALIST

FREE www.BrewersAC.com SINCE 1982 ROC #C39-312643

480-725-7303

Service Call (with repair) Second Opinion A + Rating

We offer Big Savings and Great Financing!

Some restrictions apply. See website for additional information. Special rebates and financing offers are valid on qualifying equipment and pre-approved credit. Offers expire 12/31/2022.