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Blandford’s $175.5M bid wins state land auction BY PAUL MARYNIAK AFN Executive Editor

@AhwatukeeFN |

fter spiriting bidding among four homebuilders, an affiliate of Blandford Homes won the auction of 373 acres of State Trust Land in Ahwatukee with a bid of $175.5 million– 67 percent above the appraised value of $105 million. Reserve 100 LLC, which is based at the Gilbert headquarters for Blandford Homes, beat out three competitors in the June 7 State Land Department auction of the parcel along Chandler Boulevard between 19th and 27th avenues. State Corporation Commission records for Reserve 100 list Jeff Blandford, presi-

Attorney rips 'seatof-the-pants' Lakes course restoration

dent of Blandford Homes, as a principal in the company. The auction did not disappoint the Land Department’s expectations for the property. Mark Edelman, the Land Department’s director of planning and engineering, told the Village Planning Committee in December 2019, “We have had a great deal of interest in this parcel from different parties, mostly home builders.” And small wonder why: the appraisal estimated that as many as 1,050 homes can be built on the land – which is already zoned for residential development. There also are small pieces of the land in the southeast corner that are zoned for apartments or condos and some retail. Evidencing the high interest in a prime piece

of real estate was the fact that there were 328 bids made by the four participants before Blandford came out on top. Ironically, this is the second consecutive bidding situation where some Ahwatukee land went to Blandford. The last parcel in Ahwatukee to be put up for bidding – though not in a live auction like the Trust Land parcel was – comprised 63 acrestthat Tempe Union High School District owned at Frye Road and Desert Foothills Parkway. Blandford paid $23 million for that parcel – well over the $12 million to $15 million that the district’s consultant felt it would sell for. Today, that parcel is home to the gated Pal-

Mission accomplished

see LAND page 9

BY PAUL MARYNIAK AFN Executive Editor

wner Wilson Gee plans to keep working to restore the Ahwatukee Lakes Golf Course despite a new blistering claim by two homeowners’ lawyer that he already is violating the court order to do it. Attorney Tim Barnes, who has waged the seven-year court fight with Gee on behalf of Linda Swain and Eileen Breslin, last week asked Superior Court Judge Theodore Campagnolo to levy a $500,000 penalty on Gee for failing to meet the first of three restoration

see LAKES page 4

Veronica Delgado, 14, picked up her certificate– as did 320 classmates – at a drive-thru promotion ceremony at Centennial Middle School in Ahwatukee. The PTO worked with the school on making the event memorable. For details, see page 3. (Pablo Robles/AFN Staff Photographer)

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AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS | JUNE 9, 2021

NEWS

AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS | JUNE 9, 2021

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

Times Media Group: 1620 W. Fountainhead Parkway, Suite 219 Tempe, Arizona, 85282 Main number: 480-898-6500 Advertising: 480-898-5624 Circulation service: 480-898-5641

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Natalie Tucker, an academic and behavior specialist at Centennial School in Ahwatukee, greeted eighth graders and their parents as they arrived for a drive-thru promotion ceremony June 3. (Pablo Robles/AFN Staff Photographer).

Aaron Kolodny 480-898-5641, customercare@ahwatukee.com

Centennial eighth graders’ promotions celebrated in style

NEWS STAFF

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hile the 2020-21 school year has been rough on students of all ages, it has been particularly challenging for those who are marking special transitions in their educational career. And while college and high school graduation ceremonies loosened up considerably from the all-virtual events held last year, that was often not the case in some districts for kindergarteners marking their move to grade school, fifth or sixth graders moving into junior high or middle schools and eighth graders celebrating their transition to high school. But the PTO board at Centennial Middle School in Ahwatukee wasn’t about to see their eighth graders off to the next stage in their journey without as live a ceremony as they were allowed to host. Board members put together a drive-thru promotion at the Centennial campus, where 321 soon-to-be high school freshmen not only picked up their certificates but also got a generous swag bag filled with donations from local merchants. Filling those swag bags required a month of hustle by Centennial PTO Board President Lisa Abeln, Vice President Beth Viquesney, Treasurer Ali Conyers, Secretary Gwen Hyder and advisory board members Nancy Diggs and Sarah Mann. But their work was rewarded by the willingness of merchants, mostly local, to rally to their cause. Each bag was filled with a $20 Amazon gift card as well as other gift cards, a certificate good for a free Peter Piper personal pizza, a gift certificate from Tropical Sno, a coupon for a free item from Chick-fil-A, hand

see PROMOTION page 6

NEWS

AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS | JUNE 9, 2021

LAKES from page 1

deadlines he set last fall. Barnes accused Gee of “only doing as little as possible to restore the golf course with a continued eye to wearing out the community in hopes of perhaps someday developing a portion of the golf.” “At every turn, plaintiffs’ have been met by Wilson Gee with a variation on the same theme – follow the path of doing as little as possible to meet the requirements of” the course’s land use regulations and court orders,” Barnes wrote, adding his "spend the bare minimum seat-of-thepants’ restoration of the Lakes Golf Course is on brazen display.” Under Campagnolo’s deadlines, Gee must have the 18-hole course open for business by September 2022. And while Gee has pledged to open it a year ahead of that deadline, Barnes last week accused him of violating Campagnolo’s order by “not planning to restore an 18-hole executive golf course, confirming with the City of Phoenix if it needs a grading permit and by not filling all lakes on the Lakes Golf Course.” Gee told AFN “I have no understanding whatsoever” of Barnes’ complaint and that he is continuing the work. No hearing date has been set yet on Barnes’ contempt request but Campagnolo set a date for a conference call later this month to discuss a hearing schedule with the lawyers. While Gee asserts the course will have 18 – and possibly 19 – holes, Barnes alleges that his plan does not meet the specifications of an executive golf course. The petition states that ALCR is approaching the restoration project with a “limited focus on the phrase ‘shall operate a golf course on the subject property’” and without considering “the context of what

While Ahwatukee Lakes Golf Course owner Wilson Gee said the course will be open for play this fall, Attorney Tim Barnes charges it is not being restored as it should be, noting the lake bed in the foreground won't be filled, he said. (Tom Sanfilippo/InsideOut Aerial) the CCR required.” The CCR, or covenants, conditions and restrictions, govern how the 101-acre site can be used – and specifically say it can only be used for golf. Gee in 2015 sold the course to a developer that tried to persuade just over half the Lake’s approximate 5,600 homeowners to change the CCR and allow construction of houses, a school and a farm. That effort failed and the land reverted back to ALCR. Throughout the long legal battle, Gee’s lawyers have argued that the restoration order by Superior Court Judge John Hannah never specified what kind of golf course had to be built on the site. And that assertion is likely to be a major – if not the major – issue for the judge to resolve. Barnes’s petition states that in a conversation, Gee “confirmed that ALCR had not hired a golf course architect or designer, is not working from any updated golf course design and has not hired a

general contractor to oversee restoration of the golf course. “Mr. Gee explained he did not need a new golf course design, but would be restoring to 90%-95% of the golf course to its original condition so those professionals were not needed,” it states. He said Gee told him “ALCR intended to restore a 9-hole golf course and use the remaining 9 holes for practice. “Mr. Gee disputed plaintiffs’ counsel’s statement that ALCR was required to restore an 18-hole golf course and Mr. Gee stated ALCR was only obligated to restore a golf course on the golf course.” “It is plain from ALCR’s restoration efforts to date that it is doing as little as possible to restore the golf course – based not on an updated golf course design, but ostensibly based on its original condition as best discerned by ALCR without the assistance of a professional golf course designer,” Barnes told the court. Gee previously has told AFN that some holes would be used for a golf training

academy that would be used when regular golf business was slow. Barnes also asserts that Gee has failed to apply for a city grading and drainage plan permit to expand the driving range by some 6,740 square feet that would double the previous 22 hitting areas. “We are laser-leveling and we’ve been laser leveling tees for the last 15 years – everybody does that,” Gee said after Barnes filed his petition. “You don’t need a grading permit for that and that’s not an issue. The golf course doesn’t need a permit. We checked on that quickly.” Barnes wrote that Gee is bypassing a permit to save money on professionals who would have to be involved in fashioning it and said the “grading issue is significant because the Lakes Golf Course is part of the flood control plan for that area of Ahwatukee.” Gee said his plan allows for adequate drainage in the event of heavy rains. Barnes also is taking issue with Gee’s plan to not fill the lakes on the west side of the course – which he alleges “will be taking away a portion of the basic amenities of the golf course and surrounding community.” “Because ALCR is not having to pay for the water, expense is not a reason for ALCR’s decision to not fill those two lakes,” Barnes states. “But, leaving the lakebeds empty is exposing the sore condition of the golf course in that area.” He said Gee is continuing his “original strategy of letting the golf course deteriorate so it could be developed, thereby enriching himself and his investors at the expense of the neighbors and other benefitted persons.” “In the meantime, ALCR wants to give the Ahwatukee community something less than what it had even before Mr. Gee closed the golf course in 2013,” Barnes wrote. 

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PROMOTION from page 3

AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS | JUNE 9, 2021

sanitizer from WAXIE Sanitary Supply, a certificate for a free cone from Dairy Queen and a coupon from Zzeeks Pizza & Wings. Zzeeks, a strong supporter of a wide number of charitable activities for schools and nonprofits, also hosted a fundraising dinner that night to benefit the PTO. On June 7, Centennial teachers stepped up to the plate with a Promotion Day celebration outdoors on the campus, where they arranged to have a DJ, snacks that included shaved ice from Bahama Bucks, other treats and a photo booth. All of this made their big transition more celebratory, considering the students “missed out on so many of their ‘end of the year’ events,” Abeln said. “It was such a fun way to celebrate our students as they transition into high school,” said Abeln. “It was fantastic! The

t o G ws? Ne

staff/teachers/PTO did an amazing job making every student feel so special. Our kiddos needed to end with a bang!” said Abeln, whose son Brady is a member of the Centennial Class of 2021. It’s been a rough year for the Centennial PTO and their counterparts in Kyrene and many other Valley districts as many of their normal fundraising events – which depend on crowds, in person – were canceled because of pandemicrelated restrictions. The Centennial PTO states on its Facebook page that it has one primary mission – as do, actually, just about every PTO in the Valley. “At every meeting we ask ourselves, ‘Will this benefit all the children at CMS?’” the CMS PTO states. But dedicated parents can only do so much when it comes to organizing big events like a promotion celebration for 321 kids.

That’s why, Abeln said, she and the rest of the CMS PTO are so grateful to be served by small businesses that give back. Meanwhile, Kyrene School District put a period on the 2020-21 school year with two half days for all students Monday and Tuesday. Normally, the school year ends a few weeks earlier than that but – much to some parents’ unhappiness – district administration and the school board had decided months ago to push the end date into June because the year began late – in mid-August. The move didn't sit well with some parents who complained ending the school year this late interrupted summer plans. “We said we would have 180 days total whether they were online or in person and so the only way to do that was to extend because we didn’t start prior to Aug. 17 with online,” Kyrene Superintendent Laura Toenjes explained.

“Like a lot of districts did, we held out (the start of the year) hoping that we would be able to go back in person and get more days in person,” she said. “The other reason that date’s going to become really important is that, depending on where the governor’s budget goes …there’s some negotiating going on around gap funding and that funding is going to become critical for Kyrene.” The gap funding covers the difference in state reimbursement between the number of days all students were forced to learn at home and the days when campuses were open. The per-pupil reimbursement rate is 5 percent less for online students. Toenjes said there has been some discussion around requiring 100 days of inclassroom learning and that “if they do that, we will make the cut off by extending the year to June 8, because we will have 101 in-person days.” 

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AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS | JUNE 9, 2021

LAND from page 1

ma Brisa community, where 197 homes ranging in size between 1,700 and 4,000 square feet are priced between $491,000 and $727,000. In winning the auction, Blandford bested Pulte Homes, DR Horton and First American Trust. While Pulte and Horton – like Blandford – are two of Arizona’s most prominent homebuilders, First American Trust is an investment management and commercial banking firm. Likely three factors fueled the intense bidding: the critically low inventory of homes for sale, particularly close to the core of the Phoenix Metro region; the parcel’s ideal location in a high-quality community abutting the South Mountain Freeway; and the zoning is already in place. The auction also gave a shot in the arm for public education in Arizona. All the money from the sale is earmarked for K-12 education, one of 13 beneficiaries that the state constitution sets forth for state land auctions. The imminent development already has sparked concern in adjacent Club West, where homes along that community’s

About 300 acres of the 373-acre parcel of State Trust Land in Ahwatukee that was auctioned Monday is zoned for single-family residential development. (Arizona State Land Department) western edge are certain to lose at least some of their clear views of pristine desert. And while there is considerable infrastructure work needed on the site in advance of actual homes going up, the appraisal found no geographical or topographical impediments to construction. “There do not appear to be any atypical or adverse soil conditions which would

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stretch of Chandler Boulevard – a cost the homebuilder usually pays – and the extension of Liberty Lane through the middle of the parcel. The sold parcel initially was part of 620 acres of State Trust Land. When that property was first put up for auction in the early 2000s, no one would bid because Tempe Union and Kyrene and then-Mayor Greg Stanton opposed the sale and developers were leery about being dragged into a prolonged legal battle. Stanton said at the time that he did not want any of that 620 acres developed. Instead, Councilman Sal DiCiccio and state lawmakers brokered a deal that allowed Phoenix to buy 240 acres on the north side of Chandler Boulevard for $18 million and set it aside as part of the South Mountain Preserve. In return, Phoenix dropped its opposition to the development of the 373 acres. City Council has virtually no say in the development of the land because it already is zoned residential. City officials say that all the developer will need is to follow the normal permitting processes. About 300 acres of the site are zoned for single-family homes while 44 acres zre zoned multi-family and 11 for retail. 

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prohibit single-family residential development on the subject,” the appraisal states. Land Department documents indicate it will cost the winner at least $5.2 million in infrastructure improvements for storm drains and related work as well as unspecified roadway projects. The development also will require the full widening of the now three-lane

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

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NEWS

AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS | JUNE 9, 2021

Ahwatukee leads, but stalled, in vaccination rates AFN NEWS STAFF

hwatukee leads the rest of Phoenix and the East Valley in the percentage of fully vaccinated residents but that rate has barely increased over the last few weeks, according to data released last week by the county health department. Among Ahwatukee’s three ZIP codes, the percentage of fully vaccinated people is the highest in 85045, with 59.3 percent. That’s followed by 53.1 percent in 85048 and 50.6 percent in 85044, according to the county. Those rates have barely moved in recent weeks. In Phoenix citywide, only 39.2 percent of residents are fully vaccinated – a few 10ths of a percentage point less than Mesa’s rate. Chandler’s fully vaccinated rate stands at 48 percent while Gilbert’s is at 43 percent and Tempe at 43.6 percent. The latest data comes amid suggestions by the state’s top health official that Arizona may not meet the president’s goal of getting 70 percent of residents vaccinated against the coronavirus by July 4. “Historically, Arizona has had pockets of vaccine hesitancy, even before COVID-19,’’ said Dr. Cara Christ. “That kind of sets a baseline.’’ At the same time, she said, there has been a sharp decline in the number of vaccines being administered. “A lot of Arizonans are independent,’’ Christ said. “They want to make these decisions on their own.’’ Her prime weapon, she said, is getting out information about the vaccines, how it’s safe, effective and free. And Christ said she still believes that Arizona can get to 70 percent eventually. Some of it, she said, are the “wait and see’’ crowd who are sitting on the sidelines, waiting for some specific reason to get inoculated and watching for reports of side effects. “But if there was an uptick in cases, maybe those wait-and-see would be, ‘All right, maybe I’m not going to wait and

A Bashas’ worker guided cars for vaccinations at a Basha’s warehouse near the I-10 and Chandler Boulevard in Chandler two months ago. (Travis Robertson/Cronkite News) see any more, I’m going to get vaccinated,’ ‘’ Christ said. That flagging interest in getting inoculated is reflected in the numbers. At its peak, the sites run by her agency was administering more than 169,000 doses a week. And on one of those days, Christ said, more than 12,000 shots were put into arms in a 24-hour period. By contrast, only 13,000 doses were given out all of last week at all the state sites. All that played into her decision earlier this week to shut down all the state-run mass vaccination sites, with the last shots in arms by June 28. Tempe Union will host Pfizer vaccination events for ages 12 and up at Desert Vista High School on June 24 for the first dose and July 13 for the second. To make an appointment, go to maricopa.gov and search "COVID." Arizonans are still getting ill from COVID-19. On Friday, the health department reported another 346 new cases and 20 additional deaths. And 5 percent of the tests for the virus came back positive. Newly released county data show one Ahwatukee ZIP code – for the first time since the pandemic began – recorded no positive new test results. ZIP code 85045

also showed only 12 cases per 100,000 – and indication of low transmission. ZIP code 85048 showed 25 cases per 100,000 and a 2.8 percent positivity rate – which puts it at an overall moderate transmission level – while 85044 had a moderate level of transmission as well 40 cases per 1000,000 and a 5.9 percent positivity rate. Christ said there will be a continued move to getting the vaccine into the community, ranging from its availability at pharmacies, including in grocery stores, to pop-up clinics and events. And she said that more than 260 doctors are taking advantage of their ability to get the vaccine directly, with close to 58,000 doses already ordered. But the health director said the decision to shutter those state-run sites is not permanent, especially if there is a new outbreak. And that, said Christ, remains a possibility. “We’re always watching for a potential surge in cases, given there’s so many unknowns about COVID-19 and potential variants,’’ she said. For the moment, though, Christ said there has been a “stabilization’’ in cases. “If there is another demand we can stand

these sites up relatively quickly,’’ she said, pointing out it took less than a week to get the site at State Farm Stadium operating. Separately, Christ is continuing to push for parents to get their teens, age 12 and up, vaccinated now that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved the Pfizer vaccine for that age group. But she said that requires parents paying attention to where they are making appointments, as not all sites have the Pfizer vaccine which has more stringent storage requirements than either the Moderna or Johnson & Johnson vaccines. Christ said Arizona continues to look at incentives to get people vaccinated, though nowhere near the million-dollar lotteries being operated by some states. The state vaccination sites were high volume for a particular demographic, “which was wealthy, white, and retired people who were able to go whenever they wanted to get an appointment and access technology,” said Will Humble, executive director of the Arizona Public Health Association. Humble pointed to challenges that have made it harder for lower-income residents to get vaccinated, including transportation, time off from work, a lack of access to technology and language barriers. “The state needs to give more money to county health departments so they can do more mobile vaccination events at people’s work, allowing them to get vaccinated on their lunch break,” Humble said. Humble said the state still needs to do more to reach underserved communities, by getting trusted members of the community to disseminate vaccine information, and to reach young adults, who have the lowest vaccination rates of any group. “There needs to be more creative and convenient opportunities for people in their 20s and 30s to get vaccinated,” he said, suggesting such “spontaneous” events like mobile pop-up events outside nightclubs and bars so young people do not have to go out of their way to get vaccinated. This story is based on reporting by Howard Fischer of Capitol Media Services, AFN and Cronkite News. 

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

AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS | JUNE 9, 2021

NEWS

AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS | JUNE 9, 2021

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career city employee whose first job was a recreation coordinator at Pecos Community center overseeing after-school programs now heads the Phoenix Parks & Recreation Department. Cynthia Aguilar, who was stationed at Pecos between 1999-2004, last week was appointed Parks & Rec director and overseer of the nation’s largest municipal parks system. Phoenix manages 41,000 acres, 185 parks and 200-plus miles of hiking trails with a budget of about $118 million and 1,500 full- and part-time employees. Aguilar had been acting director for several months. “This is an example of searching far and wide for the ideal candidate to fill one of the most demanding jobs in the city and finding her right here, already serving the residents of Phoenix at the highest level,” said City Manager Ed Zuercher.

“Cynthia has proven herself, in a variety of capacities, to be able to handle some of the biggest challenges in the fifth largest city in the nation, while being fiscally responsible, and always responsive to the needs of the community, our customers.” Aguilar worked in various city positions, including in the Planning and Development Department and City Manager’s Office, where she was instrumental in launching the Citywide Volunteer Program. She also took on special assignments with the Police Department and City Council before returning to Parks and Recreation as deputy director for the Downtown and Special Operations divisions. Those divisions include more than 100 parks and recreation facilities, golf courses, city pools, sports complexes and major league and college baseball facilities. She was promoted to assistant director with Parks and Recreation before being

see PARKS page 18

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NEWS

AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS | JUNE 9, 2021

Phoenix police keep tabs on social media BY NICOLE SADEK, LAURA KRAEGEL, JIMMY CLOUTIER AND MICHAEL MCDANIEL Special for Cronkite News

hoenix police don’t follow Fe’La iniko on social media, but he knows they’re watching. “They’re pretty hip to Instagram,” the racial justice activist said. “Sometimes they’ll pop up in my story views.” Iniko, whose given name is Milton Hasley, often uses social media to share fliers on upcoming protests or speak out against police violence. So, when officers surrounded his car last summer while he was leaving a demonstration against the killings of George Floyd and Dion Johnson, iniko worried he might have been targeted in advance for his views. As a handful of cop cars trained their spotlights on him, he was careful to keep his hands visible as he placed them on the steering wheel, a video he posted on Instagram shows. “Try not to look threatening,” he remembered thinking. Hours later, iniko was booked into jail and charged with two felonies and two misdemeanors, all of which were later dropped. He was one of hundreds of Phoenix protesters arrested during last year’s demonstrations against systemic racism and police brutality, which were met with an aggressive police presence and a number of controversial charges from prosecutors. Police reports and court records later revealed that police surveilled some of the protesters on their social media accounts during the summer and fall. This form of online policing has gained traction as a means of addressing the looming threat of domestic terrorism. But many agencies – including Phoenix Police – work under barebones guidelines when monitoring online activity. Privacy and civil liberties experts say the standards for conducting social media surveillance are riddled with policy gaps, paving the way for uneven treatment of different political opinions and leaving police with overly broad powers that can stifle free speech and encroach on the public’s privacy. Chip Gibbons of Defending Rights &

A protester approaches a line of police officers in downtown Phoenix on May 31, 2020, in one of several days of protests over the deaths of black men in police custody around the U.S. A statewide curfew was imposed that night. (Photo by Blake Benard/Special to Cronkite News) Dissent, a free-speech advocacy organization, described authorities’ unconstrained surveillance of social media as the “Wild West” of policing. “Looking at everyone’s Facebook to make sure no one is doing anything wrong is not acceptable,” Gibbons said. “The police should not go unregulated or unchecked on social media just because social media is public.” A review of more than 100 police and court documents and policy reports, and interviews with more than two dozen activists, policy experts and law enforcement officials revealed that the Phoenix Police policy, created in 2013, doesn’t include standards for approving the use of social media in investigations. It doesn’t specify which officers can work on social media surveillance, how they’re trained, or how they can flag, share and retain digital evidence. And it doesn’t detail any protections for civil liberties or accountability procedures. Phoenix police monitored the social media accounts of some Black Lives Matter activists ahead of protests last summer before there was any suspicion of wrongdoing. Activists across the political spectrum say they know or suspect their social media accounts are monitored by Phoe-

nix police either because their posts are identified in their case files or, like iniko, because they see the department’s official account in their Instagram Story views.

Many agencies monitor internet

Phoenix Police declined to be interviewed for this story, but they did respond to written questions via email. Asked whether police monitored protesters’ accounts in 2020, spokesperson Sgt. Andy Williams wrote, “The Phoenix Police Department continuously monitors activity within our state. We have a responsibility to vet any information about potential criminal activity to help ensure the safety of all community members.” Hundreds of police departments nationwide use social media to gather information. Of the more than 500 law enforcement agencies that responded to a 2016 survey by the Urban Institute and International Association of Chiefs of Police, 70 percent reported using social media for “intelligence gathering for investigations.” And 60 percent said they had contacted a social media company to obtain information to use as evidence. But experts who have studied the practice say not many departments have detailed guidelines on social media use.

The Phoenix Police Department created its 253-word policy in 2013 and hasn’t updated it since. It outlines six reasons for surveilling social media accounts: to find missing persons, to seek evidence on wanted persons, to locate gang members, to track down graffiti taggers, to capture online crimes such as cyber-stalking, and to gather evidence from photos or videos of crimes posted online. The policy is “very vague,” said Rachel Levinson-Waldman, deputy director of the Liberty & National Security Program at the Brennan Center for Justice. “If I were an officer that was looking to the policy to really give guidance about what I could and couldn’t do with social media, there wasn’t a lot of concrete information there,” she said. By contrast, Levinson-Waldman said the guidelines from the Austin Police Department in Texas are some of the strongest she’s reviewed. That policy specifies who can conduct surveillance, outlines First Amendment protections and describes appropriate uses of undercover accounts. To push more agencies to improve their policies, the Brennan Center is working with a member of Congress on federal legislation that would impose clear guidelines on how police departments that receive federal funding can surveil social media. Key features of such a bill would include: • Restrictions on monitoring First Amendment-protected activities like protests, as well as monitoring people based on protected classes like race. • Strict regulations for the use of undercover accounts, including warrant requirements. • Limits on social media monitoring for general public safety reasons. • Checks on how long police can keep information gathered via social media if it doesn’t relate to criminal activity. Dave Maass, director of investigations at the Electronic Frontier Foundation, a nonprofit digital privacy advocacy organization, is particularly concerned with data retention. “It’s not just a matter of (police) looking at it,” Maass said. “It’s a matter of them building profiles on people to target them

see POLICE page 18

NEWS

AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS | JUNE 9, 2021

Phoenix seeks nearly $6.9M in tribal grants AFN NEWS STAFF

hoenix city staff has asked City Council to authorize an application for nearly $6.9 million in grants from the Gila River Indian Community that would benefit scores of city-run and nonprofit-operated programs. The request was on Council’s June 2 meeting but was inexplicably rolled over to its June 16 session. If approved, the disbursement of those funds would be under the Gila River Indian Community’s direction, according to a staff memo, and some of the funds would be disbursed over two or three years. The Gila River Indian Community makes grants to non-profit agencies through cities, towns and county sponsorship under the gaming compact with the state. The money represents 12 percent of gaming proceeds. Specifically, the grants help underwrite “government services that benefit the general public, including public safety, mitigation of the impacts of gaming, or promotion of commerce and economic development,”

according to tribal documents. “There is no budgetary impact to the City of Phoenix and no general-purpose funds are required,” a city staff memo to Council states. “Entities that receive gaming grants are responsible for the management of those funds.” The community’s tribal government states the grants can range between $1,000 and $300,000 and the selection process won’t end until fall. Phoenix had issued a call for applications earlier this year and the deadline for making requests has passed. Most of the requests involve sums well under six figures for programs that target low-income people and families in different ways – such as $10,000 for a health literacy program for elderly Latinos, $30,000 to teach 100 low-income kids ballet and $50,000 for the Assistance League’s annual back-to-school new clothing program. But over a dozen nonprofits are seeking grants of at least $100,000 and as much as $500,000 while city agencies combined have their hand out for well over $1 million. For example, the city Office of Environ-

mental Programs wants $298,356 over three years for its Seeding Abundance and Growing Our Future project that would “provide equipment and training for consumers located in food deserts to grow their own food and develops new urban farmers.” The Office of Sustainability is looking for $192,000 over three years to implement “cooling strategies and vegetation to improve the public health of students.” While the Fire Department wants $76,189 to enhance emergency medical capabilities at large events, the Police Department is hoping to get $269,000 for night vision goggles and other protective equipment. The Public Transit Department wants close to $400,000 – the vast majority for bus shelter lighting. Staff also is seeking $237,000 for the 19 North Community Alliance’s transit development plan while the zoo is eyeing $150,000 over three years to develop “an immersive experience for guests featuring new, up-close animal viewing.”

Banner Health Foundation and the Arizona Humane Society each want $500,000 over two to three years. The Human Society wants to “transform Maricopa County from the second-worst place to be a homeless pet in the nation to the best” by replacing the run-down Sunnyslope campus with a medical complex for animals. Banner wants to create “the Center for Clinician Resiliency program, which will seek to build resiliency and reduce burnout in clinicians across their health care system” and “reduce the stigma of mental/ behavioral health concerns and build wellness into regular routines and work flows.” The Cihuapactli Collective wants $300,000 over three years to promote health and wellness among urban Indigenous populations. The Greater Phoenix Urban League also wants $300,000 over three years for a “summer youth empowerment program.” Children’s Museum of Phoenix also wants $300,000 over three years for its First Friday Nights program that allows the public to visit for free. 

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POLICE from page 16

for further investigation.” Asked whether Phoenix police keep files or dossiers on activists, Williams wrote that the department follows a federal regulation that prohibits law enforcement agencies from collecting or maintaining intelligence on anyone’s “political, religious or social views, associations, or activities” unless there is reasonable suspicion of criminal activity.

Activists feel targeted

Little is known about how Phoenix-area law enforcement prepared ahead of last summer’s protests. But police reports show glimpses of how officers monitored social media before there was suspicion of wrongdoing. Iniko, the activist who’s seen police view his Instagram stories, was identified through “social media, MVD (Motor Vehicle Division), open source, and other databases,” according to his Aug. 9 arrest report. The report refers to him by his legal name, Milton Hasley. Protesters Ricky Callan and Malyka Shively were also arrested that day. The police report shows Callan was identified using the same kind of intelligence as iniko, while Shively was identified using a “TLO database.” Terrorism liaison officers (TLOs) are police officers who monitor social media in partnership with the Arizona Counter Terrorism Information Center, one of dozens of fusion centers across the country that supports homeland security efforts. Black Lives Matter protesters aren’t the only ones who say they’ve been surveilled. Jennifer Harrison, a leader of the rightwing AZ Patriots group, said she knows local law enforcement uses online platforms to gather intelligence on protesters. The Southern Poverty Law Center has pegged Harrison’s organization as a “hate group.” Records show that police in Surprise monitored her accounts when she trav-

PARKS from page 14

named acting director in December 2020. “I’m excited for the opportunity to guide the talented and creative staff that make up the Phoenix Parks and Recreation De-

Phoenix police kept a watchful eye on protestors marching in June of last year downtown. (Fox 10) eled to protest in California, and she suspects that Phoenix police surveil her, too. “I know firsthand that they do use a bogus account that they create to monitor activists on all sides. They’re just doing their job, and I get that,” Harrison said. “But sometimes, you know, we feel like we’re being targets ourselves.” Lauri Stevens, a law enforcement strategist, said social media monitoring helps police avoid going into events blind. Stevens founded Social Media, the Internet and Law Enforcement (SMILE), an international conference that trains officers to use free, open-source software for investigations and community engagement. Phoenix police are frequent presenters at the annual conference, which will be held in Scottsdale later this year. “They’ve got to start from somewhere,” Stevens said. “Personally, I’m cool with that. I wish they would do that because they’d catch a whole lot of people that way.”

Without clear policies, bias creeps in

But civil liberties experts say police interpret social media posts without specific and transparent parameters, allowing bias to creep in. “What the police are doing is essen-

partment,” Aguilar said. “This is where I began my career with the city, and I have had many rewarding experiences since. As a native Phoenician, I know how important the programs and services are that we provide to the community and the

tially saying critics of police culture – police violence – need to be surveilled,” said Jared Keenan, a senior staff attorney at the American Civil Liberties Union of Arizona. “I think there’s just no demonstrable way to justify this sort of level of monitoring that’s going on here.” Even former Assistant Phoenix Police Chief Kevin Robinson agreed. “You can’t use that just because they don’t like the profession you happen to be in as a reason to start a criminal investigation,” said Robinson, who retired from the force in 2017 and is now a criminology instructor at Arizona State University. Robinson pointed to controversial gang charges that were dropped after damning news reports by ABC15 revealed that police and prosecutors had trumped up the charges against protesters. In the aftermath, eight citizens’ petitions were submitted to the Phoenix City Council, accusing police of engaging “in a widespread practice of politically motivated surveillance” and calling on Police Chief Jeri Williams to resign. The lead prosecutor for the gang charges has been placed on administrative leave amid an ongoing investigation. City Council has also hired 21CP Solutions, an external firm, to review the poimpact they can have on someone’s life. I look forward to leading a wonderful team and serving Phoenix residents.” Aguilar holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology and a master of public administration, both from Arizona State University.

lice department’s treatment of Black Lives Matter protesters. Robinson said that during his tenure with Phoenix police, officers monitored the social media accounts of white nationalists “with a great deal of regularity” and often created undercover accounts to infiltrate extremist groups. But that doesn’t reassure Chad Marlow, senior advocacy and policy counsel at the ACLU. “If you have someone who is Black or Muslim and is politically active on the far left or far right, they are probably going to be surveilled somewhat differently because you are working in different layers of bias,” he said.

Pushing for police accountability

To mitigate bias, one state lawmaker pushed for greater police accountability and regulation of online surveillance. State Sen. Juan Mendez, D-Tempe, is the sponsor of Senate Bill 1583, which would increase transparency for how police monitor social media. Mendez’s bill is effectively dead in the Republican-controlled Legislature, where two GOP lawmakers proposed bills that would create or increase felonies for protesters who engage in a “riot” or block a public thoroughfare – two common charges brought against protesters last year. Though his surveillance bill is unlikely to pass, Mendez said he hopes to raise awareness of an issue that’s not going away. “If it’s supposed to be keeping us safe, then we should know (more about it),” Mendez said of social media monitoring. “What’s the harm in letting us know what’s going on or what information is being collected and how it’s being used?” This article was produced by the Howard Center for Investigative Journalism at Arizona State University’s Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication, an initiative of the Scripps Howard Foundation in honor of the late news industry executive and pioneer Roy W. Howard. 

She is a graduate of Valley Leadership, Class 34, a member of the National Recreation and Parks Association and the Arizona Parks and Recreation Association, and was honored with Valle del Sol’s 40 Hispanic Leaders Under 40 Award. 

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

AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS | JUNE 9, 2021

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NEWS

AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS | JUNE 9, 2021

East Valley parents seek answers in son’s murder BY TOM SCANLON AFN Staff Writer

nlike those who mindlessly drift through high school, Joe Seibold was a young man with a plan. The tattoo he got when he turned 17 said it all: “DREAM PLAN CONQUER.” He was a junior at Desert Ridge High School, just north of Eastmark, then took classes online to get his GED and fasttrack to college and bigger things. His family says he was a hustler, always keeping busy with productive activities. Even though he already worked at the Apache Junction Safeway and was promoting his “vehicle detailing and headlight restoration” business on Instagram, he picked up another job knocking on doors to pitch residents about getting solar energy. “He was working for a guy we bought solar with right after we moved here from Milwaukee,” said Jeff Seibold, Joe’s father. “He was working on his schtick to get it down,” the father added, with a chuckle.

Joe Seibold gave a friend a ride to buy marijuana, a teenager selling the drugs shot Joe in the back of the head, killing him. (Special to AFN)

The night of Feb. 17, Joe sent his father a text with a map of the homes he “cold called” a few hours before. Two minutes after he sent the text, the vibrant life of Joe Seibold was pouring out of his body. Someone shot Joe twice in the back of his head. Joe was sitting in the Jeep Cherokee he recently bought near South Chestnut and East Third Drive, around the corner from South Gilbert and Broadway in central Mesa. A friend that was with Joe at first gave investigators the run-around, say Joe’s parents. The friend that the Seibolds wish Joe never met “lied to the cops for two weeks after Joe was killed,” said Marie Seibold, Joe’s mother. At first, the friend told police he and Joe were drivThe tattoo he got when Joe Seibold turned 17 said it all ing to a skate park and got about the young man with a big plan: “DREAM PLAN CON- lost; when they pulled over QUER.” He never had a chance to live his dreams, as Joe was to ask directions, they were murdered Feb. 17. (Special to AFN) rushed by young men with

shotguns who demanded money before shooting Joe. “Then he changed his story two weeks later,” Marie Seibold said. According to the Seibolds, Joe’s friend admitted to police he set up a marijuana buy on Snapchat and got Joe to drive him to the location. “As far as I’m concerned, he led our son to his death,” the mother said, her voice choked with anger. Details are murky, but apparently Joe pulled over at the location the friend had established to meet the drug sellers. The friend got out of the car to buy the weed – but something went wrong. “(The friend) comes back in the car and tells Joe, ‘Go! Go!,’” Joe’s father said. “But it’s not a fast car, and this guy shot him in the back of his head twice.” Mesa Police refuse to confirm or deny the Seibolds’ version of the murder. “It’s an ongoing investigation,” said Det. Brandi George, a Mesa police spokeswoman. “We can’t discuss details of the investigation.” Mesa Police did acknowledge they arrested one of three suspects involved in the shooting. Police refuse to give that suspect’s name, noting he is a juvenile. The Seibolds say the 15-year-old boy who was arrested was convicted in juvenile court. They are enraged that he will serve a sentence at a juvenile detention center, then be released when he becomes an adult. “All I got to say is ‘God help us all,’” Marie Seibold said, bouncing between tears of grief and screams of rage. “If you kill someone, you go to juvie for three years and get out at 18.”

Joe’s friend). “This suspect is described as a Hispanic male in his late teens with brown eyes,” the release stated. On May 14, the department released the suspect sketch on social media and via the press. No sketch of the other suspect was available. According to George, the publicity push produced “no updates as of yet.” Police ask anyone with information on who killed Joseph Seibold to call the Mesa Police Department at 480-644-2211 or Silent Witness at 480-W-I-T-N-E-S-S, 480948-6377, or 480-T-E-S-T-I-G-O for Spanish speaking.

The last text

Jeff Seibold was driving out of town for a business trip the night his son was shot. “At 10:37 (p.m.), Joe sent me his last text; he was shot at 10:39,” Jeff Seibold said. The casual tone of the text sticks with the father: “If he was worried about something, he wouldn’t be texting me about his day. We think (Joe’s friend) was a bad influence

see MURDER page 21

Search for two suspects

According to a Mesa Police Department press release, “Three suspects were seen fleeing the area of the shooting. One juvenile suspect was identified and charged, but the other two have not been identified and are still outstanding.” Police released a sketch of one of the suspects, using a description provided by a witness (likely

Mesa Police Department is searching for two suspects accused of killing 17-year-old Joseph Seibold. This is a sketch of one of the suspects. (Mesa Police Department)

NEWS

AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS | JUNE 9, 2021

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Joe celebrated his 17th birthday, which tragically turned out to be his last. (Special to AFN)

MURDER from page 20

and got Joe into a bad situation,” the father said. By giving his friend a ride, “Joe was just trying to be a good friend,” Jeff Seibold said, stressing his son was never in trouble. “All he did was work all the time and go out and sell solar. Or he was gaming. “The rest was all family.” The Seibolds also have a 15-year-old son and two adult daughters. The family moved to east Mesa from Wisconsin three years ago. “Joe was a good kid,” his father said. “The day he was shot, I told him we could go to Target and pick up a new pair of glasses. Then I had to go up to Nevada for business.” Eight hours after he last saw his son, Jeff Seibold was walking into a hotel room when his cell phone rang. It was a social worker at a hospital, telling him Joe was shot and in critical condition. Jeff Seibold called his wife and got back into his car. “I got to the hospital at 6 a.m.,” he said. “It was devastating, to look at Joe in his condition. I saw the images where the bullet ricocheted around his brain. The second bullet went in the same hole and lodged in the middle of his head.” “It’s unbelievably monstrous what that kid did,” Marie Seibold said. “Nobody knows what this is like – to lose a person this way,” the mother said, gasping for breath through tears. “It wasn’t an act

of God – it was an act of a violent person.” Though one of the killers is in custody, the parents feel the justice system is horribly flawed. “Nothing’s going to bring my son back. He’s with God. And I’ve had to come to reality every single day,” Marie Seibold said. “But what message has been sent out to the public to protect their children?” “The message being sent,” Jeff Seibold answered, “is if you kill someone you can do three years and then get out.” “There’s nothing good about this story,” Marie Seibold said, the bitterness coating her voice. “He was a sharp go-getter,” the mother said of a son she will never again see and hear. “We need a lot more Joe’s than what’s walking around the streets.” 

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JUNE 9, 2021 | AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS

Community

COMMUNITY

@AhwatukeeFN |

@AhwatukeeFN

www.ahwatukee.com

Ahwatukee salon rallies around stricken employee BY COTY DOLORES MIRANDA AFN Contributor

ynette Alm was a hairstylist in a Chicago suburb when she was prescribed an antibiotic to help with a sinus condition. That medication was to ruin her health and affect her well-being for the remainder of her life, or at least until now. Alm has been battling fluoroquinolone toxicity for 12 years. She is now pinning her hopes on a Minnesota physician-specialist in regenerative medicine who has treated others with the same issue – and that she can end the overall body pain and brain fuzz that she started to experience again after a short hiatus following her move to Arizona in 2018. A stylist and office manager at Ahwatukee’s ISH Salon, Alm said she’s received great encouragement during the recurrence of her illness from the salon owners and staff as well as her clients. “I work with the most amazing group of

Lynette Alm, a stylist and office manager at ISH Salon in Ahwatukee, is encouraged by efforts to help her ﬁnd an effective treatment for the pain she suffers as the result of an antibiotic she took 12 years ago. (Pablo Robles/AFN Staff Photographer) people. I’ve been working as a hair stylist for 31 years, and this is the best group I’ve worked with,” said Alm, 48.

“I also have the most wonderful and understanding clients. Everyone is so supportive.”

my bank. “But before he could do anything a lady behind me reached over and swiped her card and said “let me pay for it.’ I thanked her and asked her for her phone number so I could pay her back – and explained I had the money but it was just in a different account. She wouldn’t let me and said to pay it forward.” Hauser said she was particular embarrassed because she felt the tab was high. “I felt so guilty that I tried several times to convince her to let me pay her back,” she said. “I even followed her to her car. But she wouldn’t let me.” These days have been a little stressful for Hauser, who said she’s recovering from a broken hip and “my food budget is higher because I’m not cooking much yet because I can’t stand up for too long. So, I’m spending more money on items that

are easy to prepare. “I’m used to spending $20-$25 each time but now it’s closer to $50 and I’m still not used to it.” But Hauser wasn’t looking for sympathy. She just wanted “to share something positive.” “So, the bottom line and the reason for the post is to just share how sweet and kind someone was without hesitation,” Hauser wrote. “Especially after the year we’ve had with so much dissension in the world, it’s nice to have something positive and loving. “I realized later that I could have had my order transferred to the customer service desk and I could have gotten on my phone to transfer funds and then used my card. “So I bless the lady for her kind act - and I will find some way to ‘repay her’ thru an act of kindness myself,” she added.

Salon owners Frank Daly and David Leslie encouraged her to accept the crowdfunding GoFundMe platform to help offset the expenses of her Minnesota trip which she hopes to manage this month. She will be seeing specialist Dr. Ron Hanson of the OrthoCure Clinic in Mahtomedi, Minnesota, for two weeks of treatment. Alm will undergo stem cell therapy among other advanced cellular and regenerative therapies. Levaquin is one of six antibiotics that contain fluoroquinolones. The FDA issued a “Black Box Warning’’ for all of these, the strongest warning they place on any medications. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration website further explains the warnings while also reiterating that “the use of fluoroquinolones has a place in the treatment of serious bacterial infections”. It then explains its continued and amended warnings:

�ee ALM page 28

Act of kindness in Ahwatukee �ires up social media AFN NEWS STAFF

n Ahwatukee woman’s social media post about a welcomed but unnecessary favor done for her at a supermarket drew dozens of accolades last week. Sharon Hauser recounted how her debit card was rejected while buying groceries at Safeway and an anonymous woman behind her swooped in with her debit card and paid the $60 tab. Hauser confessed she was embarrassed because she had grabbed the wrong debit card and only needed to go to her car to get a working one. “It threw me as to what to do - I didn’t have my other debit card and I don’t carry much cash,” Hauser wrote. “I did find $13 in cash and gave it to him and figured the balance would be enough to take it out of

Scores of people who posted replies to Hauser’s account also were grateful for the good news she shared. “Thanks for sharing Sharon,” one posted. “Made my day.” Another wrote, “Please don’t ’t stop paying it forward in Starbucks or other coffee line....I had someone do that for me at McDonald’s and it gave me the most joyful day.” Said another: “Just think how wonderful the world would be if all who saw and responded did this kind of ‘pay it forward act’ over the next 3 days. Waking up Monday, the Ahwatukee neighborhood would feel incredible!” Still another wrote, “What an uplifting story! Once you are back up and ‘running,’ Sharon, you will eventually see a chance for an act of kindness for someone else

�ee FAVOR page 26

COMMUNITY

AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS | JUNE 9, 2021

Couple opening boutique to help their fundraising effort AFN NEWS STAFF

local couple trying to raise $6 million for the first of a series of unique shelter complexes for victims of domestic abuse is opening a boutique in Ahwatukee to help spur fundraising. Shante and Sheri Saulsberry of Ahwatukee are slating a grand opening 9 a.m.-6 p.m. June 19 of the Janice Vaincre Boutique at 4302 E. Ray Road, suite 107, and will be offering raffles, prizes, light refreshments and a selfie contest to mark the start of their venture. “I have decided that I need more of a stable donation drive coming in, especially when in kind donations do not come in or there’s no fundraisers going on. So, I decided to open a boutique in Ahwatukee,” explained Shante. Noting that she and Sheri also travel to other states to host women’s clothing drives, she said clothing donated to their nonprofit Janice’s Women’s Center will also be sold at the boutique. “The funds generated from the boutique will be sent to the nonprofit as a company donation monthly,” she added. “I’m excited, she said, noting the store is located next to two popular businesses, TruHit Fitness and The Buzz Goat. “Vaincre” is French for “overcome” and Shante 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.”

FAVOR from page 25

(maybe in Safeway checkout line).” Some were provoked to note how Hauser’s account stood in sharp contrast to things they’ve seen around them. “Great to see this,” one wrote. “Hopefully kindness always wins out! I saw the opposite in Costco the other day..... a woman 2 in front of me was so rude to the man directly in front of me all because his cart

Shante and Sheri Saulsberry of Ahwatukee are opening a boutique in Ahwatukee to help their ongoing fundraising efforts to build a shelter complex for abused and homeless women and children. (Special to AFN) The Saulsberrys are hoping to raise $6 million to buy land and build a secured complex of shipping container homes that would surround a center where homeless and abused women could find various services. 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 was ‘too close’ to hers. He backed away as she was loudly cursing, rolling her eyes, and basically bullying this older man who didn’t seem to understand what he was doing ‘wrong.’” But most of the dozens of comments on Hauser’s story simply expressed their joy. “Thank you for sharing,” one wrote. “We all need reminders that we’re not crazy, there are other people that try to make this crazy world a better place.”

lead to a productive independence with their children. Their vision is to ultimately have a number of these complexes throughout the Valley, but getting the first one located and built is their current mission. “We have our team now,” Shante said, that includes Erica Storck as construction manager, architect Brian Laubenthal and Realtor Jenifer Janniere. Shante has first-hand experience with

Another said she appreciated Hauser’s post “about wonderful neighbors in Ahwatukee that are kind and thoughtful because we all need to be reminded of how a little kindness makes a big impact” while another observed: “Kindness can even be free. At a store, restaurant, bank, etc, when your service was great, ask to see their supervisor. Tell the supervisor they have a gem of an employee. Give a nice compliment to the

the impact of homelessness. She recalls walking the streets of San Diego as a child with her sister with nowhere to go because her mother couldn’t find shelter. Some days they walked until their feet were raw, without food or even a bathroom, she said. The two girls ultimately were taken from their mother by the state, which put them in a series of foster homes, “subjected to violence and sexual assault from a young age.” Shante is now a family law legal assistant and author of an autobiography titled, “Dysfunctional Blessing” and her wife Sheri is a federal prison warden. They and a handful of volunteers have been involved for nearly a year networking and fundraising to achieve their dream. When he was chief of staff to Councilman Sal DiCiccio, Sam Stone, who has left that office to prepare a run to succeed his former boss, was impressed with the Saulsberrys’ idea. “What I’ve told them from day one on this is I think they have a really brilliant idea,” Stone told AFN. “I think they have the passion to do this and also frankly it’s an industry that needs new ideas and fresh thinking.” With Phoenix spending more than $50 million this fiscal year alone on homeless services, he noted, the need is still great. “Our volunteers are really helpful,” Saulsberry said. “We need lots and lots more volunteers.” Information: janiceswomenscenter. com.  supervisor in front of the employee. That will spread happiness to both of them. Supervisors usually only hear the bad.” And another wrote: “There are good people in the world and just sharing your story was very inspirational so I’m thinking you reminded and inspired many folks to be kind and to pay it forward. An act of kindness can make a huge difference in a person’s life and how they view the world.” 

The latest breaking news and top local stories in Ahwatukee!

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REAL ESTATE

Real Estate Guide Home inventory low, prices soar in Ahwatukee BY ALLEN HENDERSON AFN Guest Writer

he real estate markets in Ahwatukee Foothills and the rest of the Phoenix Metro region have been hot for months. Prices have climbed higher and higher and buyer demand has kept inventories of listed properties well below levels that met buyer demand. We have been experiencing a very strong and extended

seller’s market. Many have started to ask how long it could continue and many have predicted a slowing in the national and local real estate markets. Until recently, there have been no signs or reports of slowing in most markets. Recently, some reports have indicated that sales are slowing, inventories are rising and prices may be coming down. Despite these recent reports, our most recent Ahwatukee Foothills real estate up-

see HENDERSON page RE2

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re2

REAL ESTATE

AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS | JUNE 9, 2021

Big sales

The home on the left, on S. Honah Lee Court in Ahwatukee, sold recently for $2.57 million. The 7,164-square-foot house, built in 2002, has three levels and includes a guest house. Above, this 5,500-square-foot home on South 7th Street, also Ahwatukee, garnered $1.8 million. The single-level home, built in 1999, boasts interior stone pillars. (Special to AFN)

HENDERSON from page RE1

date tells a different story. The early June Ahwatukee home inventory is at historic lows. Active listings in Ahwatukee totaled 27 units as of late last week. More Ahwatukee homes were sold in May of this year than in May 2020 and prices are up dramatically, our analysis found. Despite reports of supply increasing and demand falling in the regional market, we are seeing the opposite in Ahwatukee. The June 1 real estate sales snapshot for Ahwatukee-Foothills shows that the May average sale price rose to $543,297 – up 38.8 percent over the average price in 2020 of $391,152. The number of units sold last month was up 37.3 percent with 184 units versus the 134 sold in May 2020. Buyers are continuing to step up with higher offers over the asking price to get prime properties. As a result, the number of May 2021 listings that required a price reduction to get an offer declined to 37

units – 20 percent of the closed listings. Historically, about 40 percent of properties require a price reduction to get a sale. Moving from the monthly snapshot to the bigger picture, in the Jan. 1-May 31 time frame, the year-to-date average Ahwatukee sale price was $406,531 – up 3.3 percent over the same period in 2020, when the average sale price was $393,249. The 787 units sold in the first five months of this year exceeded the 592 units sold in the first five months of last year – meaning that so far units sold has outpaced 2020 by 32.9 percent. Many frustrated buyers are looking for homes in Ahwatukee. The lack of listing inventory is pushing prices steadily upward as many, if not most buyers, make offers over the asking price, anticipating multiple offers on many properties. We always encourage home sellers to price their properties realistically. However, in the current market, we are seeing sellers price their properties above the comparable sales values and still receive multiple offers and offers over the asking price.

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In this market, it is reasonable and permissible to list a property over recent comparable sales to test the market. While not always our advice, it is a prudent consideration in this overheated market. Always keep in mind that the property will usually have to appraise if the buyer is applying for a loan. There were 37 sales over $1 million in Ahwatukee in the first five months of this year with an average sale price of $1,493,451. They were on the market an average of 101 days and 22 percent required a price reduction to get a sale. The high sale, at $3 million, was in Tapestry Canyon and it was on the market for 53 days. As of last week, there were eight active listings for seven-figure properties in Ahwatukee. Here are how sales performed in the first five months of this year in various price brackets: • $600,000-$999,999: 104 sales with an average sale price of $724,218 and an average 28 days on the market. • $500,000-$599,000: 37 sales at an average $557,814 and average marketing time of 31 days. • $400,000-$499,000: 210 sales at an average $451,438 and average 24 days on the market. • $300,000-$399,000: 211 sales at an average $363,894 and 22 days on the market. • Under $300,000: 117 sales at an average $246,388 and 22 days on the market. As expected, the number of days on the market increased as the price point increased. As we have previously reported, the local economic outlook continues to be strong.

Phoenix is ranked number three in the country in job creation. Interest rates are low. Intel announced in early March that they are constructing two new plants in Chandler. The plants are expected to create 3,000 new high-paying jobs. Demand is high and increasing, for homes in the Phoenix and Ahwatukee real estate market as the local economy expands. Metro Phoenix has always been a mecca for folks seeking the retirement lifestyle and now we are seeing a steady influx of people moving from California to enjoy the lower cost of living. Of course, the political situation is always a wild card as Washington’s policies spark social unrest and cause inflationary pressures. Lumber prices are at record highs. Supply chain pressures and disruptions threaten to upset the economic balance. But still, there has never been a better time to sell an Ahwatukee property for a great price and quickly. However, we have to acknowledge there are forces at play that have the potential to put downward pressure on property prices. In the short term, it is probable that rising real estate prices will be the single biggest factor in slowing down the real estate market. As prices increase, many buyers will be priced out of the market, demand will fall, supply will increase and prices will drop. We are not seeing this currently in the Ahwatukee real estate market but the potential exists. For a free professional consultation to help you determine what needs to be done to make your home shine and the best strategy to get it sold for top dollar: Henderson Real Estate , 480-392-2090, allen@homesahwatukee.com 

JUNE 9, 2021 | AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS

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ily move higher than today. Local buyers need to remember that to a buyer from California or Washington, Phoenix still looks like amazingly good value for money, even after another 20 percent price hike.” Realtor.com chief economist Danielle Hale observed that new data show “a ferociously competitive housing market is not making it easy for home buyers.” For those who are renting and think waiting might be a good strategy, the news is perhaps even more distressing. Cromford noted, “Rents continue to climb at a steep rate and are unlikely to stop rising.” “At least if you buy a pricey home today you will benefit from the price growth tomorrow in the form of home equity,” it said. “None of your rent payment will do that.” 

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pending extra time at home over the past year, many people in Arizona have engaged in home improvement – projects such as building a backyard casita, erecting a boundary fence around the perimeter of one’s property, installing a second story addition, constructing a garage workshop, remodeling an existing home – to name a few. While the motivations behind these home projects may be well-intentioned, if a homeowner is not careful, he or she can inadvertently run afoul of Arizona’s laws requiring a homeowner to preserve the natural drainage conditions in a neighborhood. Under Arizona law, it is generally un-

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Welcome to this exquisite private mountain top masterpiece custom estate in the luxurious gated community of Tapestry Canyon.

This breath-taking luxury all custom property is nestled on the mountain side in the highly coveted gated community of The Sanctuary.

Luxury Custom Estate nestled on a 40,000 square foot lot with amazing views!

14204 S Presario Trail

$3,000,000

$1,590,000

THE SANCTUARY

$1,799,000

15645 S. 7th St, Phoenix

TAPESTRY CANYON

1776 E Tapestry Heights, Phoenix

$3,000,000

EAGLE RIDGE

715 E Windmere Dr, Phoenix

Call For Pricing

5547 sqft, 4 bedrooms (+5), 5 bathrooms

7800 sqft, 4 bedrooms (+6), 6 bathrooms

4366 sqft, 4 bedrooms (+5), 3.5 bathrooms

Perched up at the top of the beautiful, gated Community of Eagle Ridge, this lot is one of the best in the Foothills!

Private mountaintop custom estate in the luxurious gated community of Tapestry Canyon.

Custom luxury home sits on over a half acre hillside lot in Eagle Ridge with stunning mountain and city light views.

www.LeadingLuxuryExperts.com Each Keller Williams Office is Independently Owned and Operated.

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years ago. If you are concerned your home may be forced to accept extra water during a large rainstorm due to a development your neighbor made to his or her property, you may want to speak with the appropriate governmental division within your local jurisdiction. For example, if you reside in the City of Phoenix, you could contact the City of Phoenix Planning and Development Department regarding your concerns and request that a City engineer come inspect your property. The City of Phoenix Ordinances, specifically City Code Chapter 32A, prohibit altering a natural drainage course. You could also hire your own water engineer or hydrologist to come out and inspect your property.

4504 sqft, 4 bedrooms, 4.5 bathrooms

EAGLE RIDGE

7213 sqft, 4 bedrooms (+5), 5.5 bathrooms

water flow to your property is unlawful under Arizona law. In a light rainstorm, the diversion of the stormwater in the above example may not be a big deal to some people. But, as most Arizonans know and have experienced, monsoon season can wreak havoc on neighborhoods with the intensity of the rainstorms that take place. Within the past 10 years, Arizona experienced several significant and intense rainstorms during monsoon seasons. Many people’s homes and properties were flooded from these storms. With monsoon season approaching, it is an important time to reevaluate whether projects completed by homeowners may have inadvertently changed the nearby drainage conditions. This can be the case even if you developed your property, or your neighbor engaged in a development, two or three

#1 AGENT IN AHWATUKEE CLOSED VOLUME 2020 TAPESTRY CANYON

SOLD

lawful to engage in a development of one’s property, without proper approval from the board of the applicable jurisdiction, that adversely changes the natural drainage conditions. A development includes altering the natural terrain or building an actual structure on the property. Other examples can include debris that accumulates in a manner that interferes with the natural drainage conditions. Here’s a basic example of how someone can violate the law. Assume that under natural conditions when it rains water flows across a wash in your neighborhood, transporting rainwater across your neighbor’s home. The neighbor then erects a wall around his or her property. Now when it rains, rainwater diverts off the wall, and flows towards your property. The re-directing of the natural

COMING SOON

for prices to rise as fast as they are.” It also suggested that buyers “may eventually opt to give up and wait, hoping the market will be less competitive. “That could throw cold water on the hot housing market,” it said. Cromford termed the 12 months since June 2020 “painful” and said many buyers “are likely to be feeling bruised and beaten up.” “It would not be surprising if demand weakened further because of this, but withdrawing from the market is unlikely to be wise from a financial perspective,” it added. “Prices still have a quite a lot of upward momentum and mortgage rates could eas-

SOLD

hile demand and supply in the Valley’s housing market is moderating, it’s not doing a thing for prices, according to the Phoenix metro’s leading residential real estate analysts. In fact, the Cromford Report has a gloomy description of where the housing market sits right now. “However you measure them, home prices are at nose-bleed levels and will continue to rise while supply remains dramatically below normal. It is 76 percent below normal at the moment,” Cromford said last week. “We are seeing appreciation rates of 38 percent if you use price per square foot or 33 percent if you use monthly medians.” Cromford said supply is rising “but not at a rate to help buyers very much.”

It noted that while new listings are being posted more quickly than normal, “most of them are getting offers in the first week and they do not last very long. The market remains very hot even though it has cooled since March.” Yet, while the market is hot, that apparently doesn’t mean a whole lot to sellers either. R e a l t o r. c o m recently noted a decline in pending sales – which it called “another sign that high home prices are making matters tough for home buyers.” “The market has continued to see record home-price gains – a reflection of the lengths that buyers are willing to go to in order to appeal to sellers,” the website stated. “With so many buyers in the market and so few homes to go around, it’s natural

Be wary of altering natural drainage around your home

SOLD

AFN NEWS STAFF

REAL ESTATE

JUNE 9, 2021 | AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS

COMING SOON

AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS | JUNE 9, 2021

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REAL ESTATE

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AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS | JUNE 9, 2021

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SPO OTLIGHT home

Circle G at Riggs Ranch

Estate living with refined tranquility in this exquisite setting. Meticulous stonework adorns entire exterior of this luxury home. Inviting entry opens to diagonally laid tile with granite inlays and dramatic wooden staircase. Formal dining room with stacked stone fireplace. Gourmet kitchen features granite countertops, large island, Subzero refrigerator, and Wolf gas cooktop with double ovens. Fireplace and wet bar in great room. Floor plan boasts seven bedrooms, playroom and large game room. Expansive master suite includes large sitting area with two-way fireplace, crown molding, separate walk-in closets and spacious bathroom. Three custom iron doors lead to massive covered patio with pavers, built-in barbeque, heated pool with waterfall and slide, gorgeous landscaping with fruit trees and koi pond. Large secondary bedrooms. Oversized laundry room with sink, granite countertops, cabinetry and room for a refrigerator. Additional upgrades throughout include 8’ solid core doors, speakers, surround sound in numerous locations, designer paint and exterior security cameras. Three masonry fireplaces. Anderson windows installed six years ago on entire first level. Four Trane a/c units with variable speed. Over-sized side entry four car garage. Availability to park an RV in the back as long as a garage is built for it. Over 7,000 square feet of stone on exterior. Almost acre-sized lot affords complete privacy.

Listed for $1,790,000

SOLD!

Mike Mendoza 480.706.7234 www.MendozaTeam.com

SONORAN LIVING

KELLER WILLIAMS® REALTY

14204 S PRESARIO TRAIL

Spectacular, one-of-a-kind, solid timber-framed Craftsman style home nestled against So. Mtn. Park. Unobstructed panoramic views of the valley. Property featured in ‘’Phoenix Home and Garden.’’ The Home was designed with Arts & Craft Era in mind. The talented team that created this masterpiece were experts in iron, stonework, woodcraft, cabinetry and glass art.

Sold for $3,000,000

Bonny Holland

SONORAN LIVING

KELLER WILLIAMS® REALTY

602.369.1085 • www.LeadingLuxuryExperts.com

AMAZING LOCATION IN AHWATUKEE GREAT STREET! SINGLE LEVEL, 4 BEDROOMS, 3 BATH, 3 CAR GARAGE WITH A POOL! GREAT CURB APPEAL • FORMAL LIVING & DINING • FAMILY ROOM W/FIREPLACE • KITCHEN INCLUDES: SLAB GRANITE COUNTERS, CUSTOM CABINETS, COOKTOP, ISLAND, RECESSED LIGHTING, & PANTRY • UPGRADED FIXTURES THROUGHOUT • PLANTATION SHUTTERS • PRIVATE MASTER SUITE • MASTER BATH W/DUAL VANITIES, HUGE GLASS SHOWER, & WALK-IN CLOSET • ALL SECONDARY BEDROOMS ARE LARGE • GUEST SUITE IS SPLIT WITH OWN BATH WHICH IS PERFECT FOR OFFICE, TEENS, OR INLAWS • UPGRADED BATHROOMS • LAUNDRY ROOM • TROPICAL PARADISE BACKYARD W/ COVERED PATIO, PEBBLETEC POOL W/BAJA STEP & WATERFALLS, PAVERS, AND GRASSY PLAY AREA • BACKYARD IS VERY PRIVATE AND BACKS TO THE WASH • THIS IS THE HOME YOUR BUYERS HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR! WILL NOT LAST!

Listed for $619,000

Geno Ross (602) 751-2121 www.GenoRoss.com

JUNE 9, 2021 | AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS

GOTTLIEB from page RE5

The engineer may advise on certain preventative measures on your property, for instance, which may protect your home from flooding in the event of a large rainstorm. In lieu of, or in addition to the foregoing, you should consult with a qualified attorney to determine your legal rights. In addition to City ordinances, state law also prohibits altering natural drainage conditions. Conversely, if you are concerned you may have made changes to your own property that have run afoul of Arizona law, you should have an engineer come out and inspect your property to determine the impact on the natural drainage conditions. Remedial action may be needed, depending on the situation. This may include reversing the developments, if feasible, and consulting with any neighboring property owners impacted by the developments. If you have questions, you can contact Ben Gottlieb at ben@mandglawgroup.com; or call 602- 533-2840. 

480-706-7234 ! LD O S

REAL ESTATE

Tempe brags of affordable housing initiative success AFN NEWS STAFF

empe Mayor Corey Woods says the city’s initiative to expand affordable and workforce housing is working. Called Hometown for All, the initiative “continues to be the driver for expanded housing options in Tempe,” he said in a release. The latest activity includes: the sale of city land that puts $2.6 million toward affordable housing; the purchase of a small lot for homeownership opportunities; and a developer’s pledge to donate funds to increase affordable housing. “I’m excited about the progress that we’ve been able to make since introducing Hometown for All in January of this year,” said Woods, noting: “This initiative isn’t about one particular project or one particular donation. It’s about a combination of efforts that build on each other, and occur over time, that allow the city to increase the avail-

ability of affordable and workforce housing instead of relying on the market.” Hometown for All provides a dedicated funding stream to grow the inventory of affordable and workforce housing. For every development project built in Tempe, 50 percent of certain permitting fees paid to the city goes to support the Tempe Coalition for Affordable Housing, a nonprofit corporation affiliated with the City of Tempe Public Housing Authority. The coalition is informally called The Affiliate. From there, the funds are used to buy and rehabilitate properties, buy land and request competitive offers from developers or nonprofit partners to build affordable or workforce units and develop cityowned land. Through the Hometown for All initiative, the city also updated its guidance for voluntary contributions from developers and others to fund affordable housing through The Affiliate. Suggested donations are based on the

Ahwatukee’s #1 Team for Over 30 Years 4 BR / 2.5 BA / 3,008 SQFT

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

! LD O S

Majestic Southwest contemporary estate on private hillside lot with stunning mountain and city light views.

Listed for $1,325,000

D! L SO

Stunning panoramic views from privately gated luxury retreat with casita on elevated preserve lot.

Call for Details

Sanctuary

Fox Crossing ! LD O S

Mountain Park Ranch

4 BR / 2.5 BA / 3,090 SQFT

Listed for $1,950,000

4 BR / 3.5 BA / 3,860 SQFT Superb single level with travertine patio and fenced Pebble Tec pool with water feature.

Candleridge singlelevel with 2018 roof replacement and A/C installation.

Listed for $675,000

Mike Mendoza MendozaTeam.com 5 BR / 5 BA / 6,455 SQFT

Beautifully remodeled throughout on terrific corner lot with Pebble pool and spa.

Listed for $1,790,000

5BR / 4.5 BA / 4,924 SQFT

Tapestry Canyon

expected amount of certain developerpaid permitting fees – 20 percent for residential and 10 percent for commercial/ office projects. In mid-May, The Affiliate purchased a small vacant lot for $145,000 to be used for permanently affordable homeownership opportunities, such as construction of two townhomes or one single-family home. The Affiliate will be seeking a developer and development plan in the coming months. The city is selling 3.5 acres at 945 W. Rio Salado Parkway for a mixed-use housing project by Hardy Rio Development Company. The sale price of $2.6 million will be used by The Affiliate to increase workforce housing, the city said. City Council will hold a final hearing on that plan June 10. The developer of the Rio East project at 98 S. River Drive announced a voluntary contribution equivalent to 40 percent of permit fees to support affordable housing efforts. 

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

7BR / 4.5 BA / 8,873 SQFT

Circle G at Riggs Ranch

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Call for Details

Monte Vista

AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS | JUNE 9, 2021

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Ahwatukee Custom Estates One of the most amazing view lots in

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

$2,099,000

SOLD!

SALE PENDING

Ahwatukee Custom Estates

Calabrea

$1,750,000

$1,339,000

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

SOLD!

Amazing Remodeled Custom Estate with mountain views located at the end of a cul-de-sac.Over 8000sqft of pure luxury finishes.6 Bedroom,5.5 Baths.Custom Kitchen.Elevator.Executive Office.Basement Media Room.Dance Studio.Huge Backyard with Pool, Jacuzzi, Turf, BBQ, Sportcourt.This Spectacular Estate has it all!!!

Summerhill $1,099,000

Calabrea $1,099,000

Cabrillo Canyon $689,000

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

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

SOLD!

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

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

www.GenoRoss.com Donna Leeds

�

TOP GRI, ABR REALTOR

949.310.5673

Stunning single-level custom estate gated summerhill on a 1/2 acre lot. beautiful mountain views. Gourmet Kitchen. Master Suite w/sitting area. Two master suites. Split floorplan. Executive office w/built-in cabinets. Tropical paradise backyard w/covered patio, gazebo, pebbletec pool, rock waterfall, built-in bbq, turf, & putting green. This estate has the perfect floorplan!!

lf"fl!

Geno Ross

602.751.2121

wwwBestAgentWUSA.com

Making Ahwatukee

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

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

Mountain Park Ranch

SOLD!

$320,000

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

Chandler Fox Crossing

$575,000

ingle level, 3 car garage! 2,511 sq ft. 4 Bedroom & 2 Bath with over 115K in upgrades since 2015! Spacious formal living/dining area, tile flooring in high traffic areas, plantation shutters, high ceilings, and an open concept family room enhanced with a charming fireplace. Kitchen equipped with Princeton off white cabinets, contrasting dark SS appliances, custom backsplash, speckled granite counters, and an island w/breakfast bar. Master bedroom has an immaculate ensuite with dual sinks, a glass shower, a separate tub, and a walk-in closet.

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

Ahwatukee

$365,000

SOLD!

Pristine Curb appeal in desirable Adult 55+ Golf Community of Ahwatukee. Open concept split floor plan with Vaulted ceilings. Many upgrades include remodeled and updated kitchen, tile floors, master bath, murphy bed, travertine deck and patio with misting system and a putting green. updated duel pane windows, Plantation shutters throughout, pebble-tech heated pool with a water feature, North South exposure and mountain views. Enjoy all the benefits that the ARC has to offer.

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

PENDING!

$420,000

Foothills Club West

$800,000

Coming Soon!

Breathtaking Mountain preserve lot with both views of South Mountain and Estrella mountains! 4 bedrooms, plus library, 3.5 bath property now for sale in gated Montana Vista of the Foothills! Split floor plan with huge kitchen opening to nice great room and fireplace. Overlooking amazing pebble tech pool with waterfall, and large covered patio for resort like outdoor living. Over-sized secondary bedroom, large living room and dining room. 5th room is Den/Office, Hand painted faux coffered ceilings in Dining room and Living room. Soaring ceilings throughout make this home feel bigger than the square footage

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

Foothills Paseo

Coventry Tempe

SOLD!

1,861 Sq Ft. 3 Bedrooms, 2 Baths. Split Floor plan. Beautiful Wood Flooring in Living, Dining and Bedrooms. Kitchen is Open to Spacious Family Room. Nice-Size Backyard W/ Covered Patio W/ Pavers. Garage Cabinets. In 2019 Exterior Painted & Roof Replaced. AC Replaced in 2015. Close to Shopping, Restaurants & New Bike Path. Easy Access to the 202.

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

Modern and spacious townhome just south of Arcadia! The Papago Point gated community is close to hiking & biking, golf, shopping, dining, Sky Harbor and more! . The first level features a 2 car garage, storage room and an entrance to your private patio! The second level has an open floor plan hardwood flooring and is filled with natural light from the oversized windows featuring the great room and a roomy kitchen with granite countertops. This is the perfect place for a low maintenance lifestyle!

Mountain Park Ranch

Gated Community! 3bedroom/2bath PLUS Den/Office with built in cabinets. Easy access to freeways 101, US60, I-10 and 202. This home is located within the Kyrene school district. Open floorplan with Bosch stainless kitchen appliances and granite countertops. Large master bedroom and bathroom. Nice backyard and raise garden with tomato plants, chili and egg plants. Ready to be harvested!

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

SOLD!

$329,900

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

RENTAL

$2,690 PM

Papago Point Townhomes

$495,000

PENDING!

3,250 sq ft. 5 bedroom, 3 baths! 3 car garage, short walk to the huge HOA pool and top-rated Kyrene Monte Vista. Large kitchen with multiple living areas, nice front/ afternoonshaded patio, in a family-friendly cul-de-sac. Plantation shutters, new plumbing, one newer AC on a split-system, newer interior paint and flooring.

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

JUNE 9, 2021 | AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS

Local business helps homeless

COMMUNITY

Nick Roen, personal account representative for the Monica Munoz State Farm Office at 4747 E. Elliot Road, Ahwatukee, last Friday was joined by some of his colleagues helping the nonproﬁt Cloud Covered Streets address the needs of homeless people at the St. Vincent DePaul dining room in Mesa. One of Roen’s colleagues at the Ahwatukee business, Lorraine Mada, is also a hair stylist on weekends and in the evenings and she gave haircuts to the men who showed up for the event. The rest of the Monica Munoz team helped with laundry, food and clothing for the homeless. The Monica Munoz State Farm office is holding a month-long drive to help Cloud Covered Streets, which operates a mobile van with a shower that travels to various spots in the Valley. People can drop off donations of new underwear and bottled water at the Munoz office in the Safeway Plaza at 48th Street and Elliot Road. In addition, for every person who calls or drops by for a free quote, Monica Munoz State Farm will donate $10 to Cloud Covered Streets. Information: 480-719-7814 (Pablo Robles/AFN Staff Photographer)

State GOP federation leader on the move AFN NEWS STAFF

s president of the Arizona Federation of Republican Women, Cindy Casaus of Ahwatukee was on the move recently. Casaus attended the National Federation of Republican Women board of directors meeting in Alexandria, Virginia, where she and the other members heard from some notable guest speakers like former U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, U.S. Sen. Rand Paul and one-time presidential candidate and businessman Steve Forbes. Casaus also accepted awards on behalf of Arizona GOP Federation members Far-

Esperanza Lutheran slates ‘Best Day Ever’ camp for kids tomorrow Area children should get ready for June 10 and the Best Day Ever Vacation Bible School at Esperanza Lutheran Church in Ahwatukee. The one-day event, which begins at 9 a.m. at Esperanza, 2601 E. Thunderhill Road, Ahwatukee, will offer music, skits and dance moves as kids throughout the day will learn about God’s superheroes through science, arts and crafts, Bible stories, music, games, and a service project for the heroes of 2021 – first responders. The Best Day Ever ends with a celebration at 2 p.m. The Best Day Ever! is an original program, with songs and stories written by local music teacher Dave Coste and former

hana Shifa and Mary Park. Shifa, a member of Ahwatukee Republican Women, received the award for most phone calls made during the 2020 election and Park, a member of Arrowhead Republican Women, received the award for the most doors knocked. Established in 1924, the Arizona Federation comprises 28 clubs statewide with over 2,400 members. For more information, contact Cindy at president@azfrw. com or 602-300-4185. Meanwhile, the Ahwatukee Republican Women will feature city Councilman Sal DiCiccio at its June meeting. The meeting on June 22 begins with net-

working at 6:30 p.m. followed by the program at 7 p.m. It will be held at Foothills Golf Club and a cash bar will be available. All registered Republicans are welcome. Information: ahwatukeerepublicanwomen.com or contact ARW President Judy Krahulec at judy.krahulec@gmail. com or 603-520-5082.

Ahwatukee resident Cindy Casaus displays the awards from the National Federation of Republican Women she picked up at a national meeting on behalf of two Valley women. (Special to AFN)

AROUND AHWATUKEE

pastor Steve Hammer. Families do not have to be a member of Esperanza to participate. Enrollment is for ages 3 through entering 5th grade at $20 per child. Each child will be asked to bring a sack lunch, a snack, and a mask. If COVID-19 infection rates rise, this event will be canceled. In that event, participating families will be notified before June 10. Information: myesperanza.org/education/vbs.

Ahwatukee women’s club slates 2 meetings this month

Meanwhile, AFFAN has two meetings set for this month – including its first in-person monthly meeting since the

pandemic. The first meeting, at 1 p.m. June 20, is a Zoom session with a program titled “Transition with Dignity for Seniors.” Carol Phillips, a senior real estate specialist and author of a book titled “Transitions with Dignity” will discuss how she equips, educates and inspires seniors and their families to make informed choices and empowered decisions concerning their future lifestyle goals. People in the planning stages or who need to make changes fast can seek her out to develop and implement a plan and a solution. Register at affanwomensgroup@gmail. com. An email will be sent the morning of the presentation with the Zoom link. At 11:30 a.m. June 28, the club will hold a Mexican buffet

with a program titled “Foraging the Desert” by Kelly Athena. Athena will demonstrate how she forages local plants for food from back yards. There will be samples of Sonoran Desert foods. Kelly also teaches a foraging class at the Desert Botanical Garden. Ost of the buffet is $18. Email affanwomensgroup@gmail.com for instructions on registration, location and payment.

Submit your releases to pmaryniak@ timespublications.com

COMMUNITY

ALM from page 25

AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS | JUNE 9, 2021

“The FDA first added a Boxed Warning to fluoroquinolones in July 2008 for the increased risk of tendinitis and tendon rupture. In February 2011, the risk of worsening symptoms for those with myasthenia gravis was added to the Boxed Warning. “In August 2013, the agency required updates to the labeling to describe the potential for irreversible peripheral neuropathy (serious nerve damage).” Alms is counting on the regenerative injections developed by Hanson to defeat the underlying reasons for her fluoroquinolone toxicity. The gofund.me site aims to help her cover the costs of her flight to Minnesota, the treatments as well as the housing and transportation expenses of the two weeks there while she is an outpatient. The treatments are not covered by insurance. It’s been a long journey for Alm, who started feeling side effects of the antibiotic while living and working in Chicago’s southwest suburbs. “For more than seven years, I didn’t know what was wrong with me; it was endless. It wasn’t until 2016 that the FDA started to

@generationaz

lay out the side effects. All the time I was sick, I never knew about the antibiotic’s side effects. There were way more antibiotics safer than I was getting,” she said. Alm started researching fluoroquinolone toxicity online and learned from fellow sufferers on various FaceBook groups that dryer climates helped. So, she tested the waters in Ahwatukee and decided to make the move. “I felt much better and did pretty good for three years, but the last six months I’ve started to go downhill again,” she admitted. “The biggest issue I deal with is widespread body pain. Sometimes, just trying to get out of a chair, I feel like I’m 800 pounds. And I feel like there’s an electrical current running through my body all the time.” Despite the pain, buzzing and other symptoms she deals with daily, she manages to maintain a cheerful spirit, greeting her clients and working as the office manager for ISH. “I believe I have a good spirit,” Alm said. “When your health has been seriously compromised, your perspective on life and what is truly important changes. Positivity absolutely can diminish pain. “I feel fortunate to be able to have re-

@genchurchaz

turned to my career in 2018 after being housebound for two years. This is my life’s passion, and I love what I do.” She offers counsel to others who may find themselves in the same boat. “My advice to anyone suffering from fluoroquinolone toxicity is to find a doctor who can help and to research it on their own. There are a lot of helpful support groups on Facebook,” Alm advised. “These drugs were intended to be the last course of treatment for a life-or-death situation. There are so many safer options out there to treat common infections. “And if you have taken it with no problem, still stay away. Your chances of the drug becoming toxic increases each time you take it,” she said. For now, Alm is working as much as she can to earn additional funds to add to the GoFundMe monies raised. Her bosses and ISH Salon owners Frank Daly and David Leslie, who founded ISH in 2005, are in support of her quest to end her pain. “Lynette is greatly appreciated for her ability to do what needs to be done before it is asked when working with her clients or colleagues,” said Daly, praising her as “efficient and effective.”

“She goes out of her way to be sure her clients feel valued and heard. She’s worked at ISH Salon for over two years and in that time, she’s brought a positive attitude and professional work ethic that has made the salon run more smoothly on a daily basis,” Daly said. “All of us at ISH Salon created this page to raise money to help our beloved salon manager, Lynette Alm,” he penned on the GoFundMe page created by the owners and staff of nine stylists. “She took a fluoroquinolone antibiotic (Levaquin) which became toxic in her system, and caused widespread pain and body damage. The damage this drug can do is at a cellular level. It also affects DNA, so damaged cells are replicated.” Added Alm: “Basically, I’ve been injured by drugs and have no recourse.” Of the donations already made on the GoFundMe account, she offered a broad smile while shaking her head. “I can’t believe all the good-hearted, giving people who are donating,” she said. To help Alm visit gofund.me/084822bb. The ISH Salon Facebook site also has a link to the page. ISH is located at 4025 E. Chandler Blvd. in the Ahwatukee Trader Joe’s complex. 

JUNE 9, 2021 | AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS

BUSINESS

Business 30

AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS | JUNE 9, 2021

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Valley could be heading for post-pandemic of�ice glut BY PAUL MARYNIAK AFN Executive Editor

s the pandemic appears to be giving way to a semblance of normality, the world of commercial office space is anything but normal. Just ask Jay S. Kramer, an experienced real estate and finance attorney. As Fennemore’s commercial transactions section director, Kramer has counseled numerous commercial and industrial developers, national and local homebuilders, planned community developers as well as financial institutions. These days, as companies recall workers from their home offices or look at what post-pandemic work sites might look like, Kramer sees many employers asking themselves, “What now?” Owners of big office complexes also are wondering the same thing. “What now?” is only the beginning of a cascade of questions reflecting the uncertainty of post-pandemic office life.

Attorney Jay Kramer of the Fennemore law firm said employers are asking a lot of questions as they ponder future office rental needs. (Courtesy of Fennemore) “I think we’re all kind of focused on the same type of issues,” Kramer said:

“How do you return to the office? Are we ever going to have 100 percent work from home? 100 percent at the office? Or some type of a hybrid approach. How do we retain and recruit employees in either a hybrid or work-from-home environment? How do we develop a sense of community, camaraderie or whatever kind of firm togetherness? “Those are the kind of large issues that everybody is grappling with,” he said. The pandemic brought a new sensibility to office workers that can’t be undone with a simple directive, Kramer suggested. Thanks to the virtual office environment, qualified employees often have more options since they can seek jobs at companies hundreds of miles away without ever thinking of moving. Kramer sees no one-size-fits-all answer to the myriad of issues that the pandemic has raised for employers who inhabit large swaths of office space in many parts of the Valley – and the country. For some employers, he said, the ques-

tions include: “How do you make offices places where people want to come?” and “How do we make the office more enticing?” Others are grappling with how they can provide a comfortable environment for workers who want to alternate work time between home and office. “One thing that we’ve been talking about for a long time is hoteling, where you have offices that you reserve,” Kramer explained. “But I think a lot of people feel their office is almost like a second home. They want to make it more personal. They’ve got papers all over the place and pictures of their family and what-have-you. “So the idea that every day you’ve got to pack up your stuff and either take it home with you or put it into a locker …that’s kind of disruptive.” Kramer said the fact that many employers discovered employees often are more

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Food delivery services settle with Arizona AG BY ALYSSA MARKSZ Cronkite News

ASHINGTON – Uber Eats, Postmates and DoorDash said they will no longer waive delivery fees for customers who order from Blackowned restaurants in Arizona, to settle charges by the state that the deals violated the Arizona Civil Rights Act. The agreement settles a claim by the Arizona Attorney General’s Office that waiving fees just for Black-owned businesses “unlawfully discriminated against non-Black owned restaurants and their patrons.” The companies “adamantly deny any wrongdoing” in the promotions, which were announced last summer at the height of the Black Lives Matter movement. The deals ended in December as sched-

uled, but the companies said they will continue working to support Black businesses through such efforts as identifying Black-owned restaurants in a separate category on the apps. “We’re proud to have supported Blackowned businesses and we’ll continue to make it a priority,” an Uber spokesperson said. “We have heard loud and clear from consumers that the ability to easily identify Black-owned restaurants on Uber Eats is a feature they want and appreciate.” The Attorney General’s Civil Rights Division notified Uber, Postmates and DoorDash in November that the promotions violated the civil rights law’s public accommodations section, which prohibits discrimination based on a person’s “race, color, religion, sex, national origin

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Arizona Attorney General Mark Brnovich contended that by waiving fees for customers ordering from Black-owned restaurants, food delivery services like Uber Eats violated civil rights laws. (Courtesy of Uber Eats)

BUSINESS

JUNE 9, 2021 | AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS

COMMERICAL from page 30

productive working at home complicates the issue. Some workers might actually yearn to shed the sweat pants and head into an office at least a few days a week. “It’s really the younger people who crave having that office experience, where they can be mentored and trained and have those interactions,” he explained, “while lot of the older people who already have their connections and relationships may never come back to the office.” To some degree, employers may find themselves caught between a rock and a harder place. On the one hand, some employers may find it beneficial for team spirit to have all their workers in one place. Yet, team spirit may have to defer to other considerations, Kramer said. “You spend a lot of money training them and getting them familiar with your systems and so you’ve got to retain them. It seems to be just extremely difficult to do and not just because it is an employee market,” Kramer said. “It’s a challenge and it’s going to be a challenge for quite some time,” he said. Kramer also said many employers that carried empty office space on their books realized some benefits of a home-based workforce, at least for a while, since they could cut as much as 20 percent of other expenses and they obtained increased productivity from workers and wound up with higher profits as a result. “I think short term is going to be a positive to the bottom line,” he said, noting that office expenses for supplies, food and even taking clients to lunch declined dramatically during the pandemic. But to lure employees back, Kramer said, employers and landlords may have some unexpected costs – like major remodeling. “I think everybody’s looking for flexibility. One of the issues with flexibility is what a company is to do about office space,” he said. “Do you assume that you’re going to have 50 percent occupancy from where you are today? “And then there’s one school of thought that even though they’re going to let people in the office, the type of space that they have might have to be different. “Instead of people being in cubicles or in small offices, they’re going to want a lot more open spaces, more immersive – what I call Zoom rooms.”

Big companies that bring hundreds of employees to a new complex they build, such as State Farm’s massive development along Tempe Town Lake, likely have fewer worries about filling office space than many other employers, Kramer said. (Special to AFN) Landlords also may face some tough bargaining positions from their office tenants over “the typical legal issues in terms of lease negotiations,” Kramer said, noting employers likely will seek to cut lease expenses for parking and maintenance if they have fewer employees on site. “We spend a ton of money on park-

ing but when there’s no reason to have a parking space for every employee, maybe you ask to take 50 percent or 40 percent of your spaces and save a lot of money,” he said. Overall, Kramer said, “companies are not going to want to give back some of those savings they saw in the pandemic.”

What all this means for the Valley’s pre-pandemic office building boom depends somewhat on geography and the tenant, Kramer said, though he predicted, “There’s going to be a glut over some period of time.” While more companies move to the Valley and those that are already here continue to grow, that will hopefully reduce the inventory of available office space, he said. But absent the large employers like State Farm and Nationwide that are moving hundreds and even thousands of employees into a large complex, Kramer said, “I think you’re going to see a lot of problem office development.” “I think maybe real estate brokers and commercial real estate people want to tell you that everything is going to be rosy and what have you, but it just seems that short term, everything I’m seeing is – all the discussion is about – how much space do we really need?” he said. “I don’t think there are going to be a lot of new projects that are going to start in the planning stage – ones that aren’t really saying they’re kind of ready to go. … We’re absolutely going to see a slowdown in office development.”

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Intel’s massive $20 billion expansion of its Ocotillo campus likely will keep many existing office complexes in the area busy, Kramer said. (AFN file photo)

BUSINESS

UBER EATS from page 30

or ancestry.” Attorney General Mark Brnovich did not respond to a request for comment, but in a prepared statement said his office took the action “to protect civil rights and ensure businesses offer their services and products based on equal and neutral criteria.” “Even with the best of intentions, corporations can do the wrong thing,” Brnovich’s statement said. “Altering the price of goods or services based on race is illegal.” But company officials defended the programs that they said came at a time of particular need for the Black community. “The ongoing health and economic crisis disproportionately devastated communities of color and highlighted disparities in opportunity for vulnerable populations,” DoorDash spokesperson Taylor Bennett said. “Furthering the long tradition of public and private sector efforts to break down barriers, DoorDash is proud to support Black-owned businesses and honored to do our part to lift up those who need it most,” Bennett said. A report released in April 2020 by

AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS | JUNE 9, 2021

the Federal Reserve Bank of New York showed that at the onset of the pandemic, 21 percent of Black-owned businesses were categorized as financially distressed, compared to 5 percent of white-owned businesses. Under the programs, people who ordered from Black-owned restaurants partnered with the three delivery apps would not be charged a delivery fee for their order. An employee who answered the phone Wednesday at Caribbean Palm, a Blackowned restaurant in Scottsdale that partners with DoorDash, said he believes the waived fees “did increase business.” Kiana Maria Sears, president of the East Valley NAACP, called that sort of support “critical” to Black businesses “because it will be the foundation of economic justice for the African-American community.” Ricardo Carlo, president of the Associated Minority Contractors of Arizona, said minority-owned businesses often struggle to compete on the open market because of erroneous preconceptions. “What happens is they (customers) see that they’re a minority firm and think that the quality is not there, when in reality the

quality is there and even better,” Carlo said. The settlement calls on the state to drop its charge against the delivery companies. In exchange, the companies agree that “all charges and/or discounts to any items, goods, and/or services offered … will be without regard to the race, color, religion, sex, national origin or ancestry” of the business owner. Both agreements – one with DoorDash and one with Uber Eats and Postmates – include explicit statements that the settlement does not constitute an admission by the companies that they did anything in violation of the public accommodations law. The agreements also say that no findings of fact were made, but the companies agreed to settle to avoid the costs of litigation. Bennett said that DoorDash is “ready to put this dispute behind us and return our focus to enabling equitable access to the merchants, Dashers, and customers we serve.” “We all have an obligation to elevate and support underrepresented communities, and we look forward to continuing to do so in Arizona and beyond,” he said. 

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He said Gilbert and Chandler may see modest office development as Intel ramps up its $20 billion Ocotillo campus expansion. “If you’re just looking at kind of speculative office construction for office workers – I don’t think you’re going to see much of that,” Kramer said. “But now, Scottsdale’s a good market, Tempe is a good market.” “I think the Camelback Corridor is still an area where people want to be, but even there, I think the rents are going to start dropping – the vacancy rates are going to go up there.” The bottom line, Kramer said: “When their leases are up, companies are going to downsize space and so that means we’ll have a lot of space available.” And downtown Phoenix, especially as a 4-year major overhaul of the Broadway Curve is looming in the near future? “I don’t know if people still want to be downtown,” Kramer replied. Information: fennemorelaw.com/ people/attorneys/k-n/kramer-jay-s 

JUNE 9, 2021 | AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS

OPINION

Opinion 34

AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS | JUNE 9, 2021

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There are ways to make up for pandemic’s learning loss BY ABIGAIL WOOL-BIRINGER AFN Guest Writer

uring this school year, many parents became more aware than ever before of their children’s dif�iculty with focus, follow-through, time management, motivation and other schoolrelated executive functioning skills. These same children may excel at home and in other areas of their life, but they become completely overwhelmed by all of the demands and expectations of school. Schooling from home during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic caused those two worlds to collide, with parents left facing the realization that they have a child who is really struggling with school, and likely experiencing learning loss. Students are often told to “try harder”. They are told that they are capable, they just need to apply themselves. They are told that they can, and should, do better. Please know that if your student could do better, he or she would.

Tempe Union’s enrollment bonuses over the top

Several weeks ago, the Ahwatukee Foothills News reported that over 1,000 students had quit the Tempe Union High School District in favor of in class instruction at other public schools, home schooling, Christian and Catholic open schools and the still-in-business charter schools. I waited for the expected response in the letters section from disgruntled parents. Not a peep. Tragically, another issue was �illed with questionable statistics attempting to show how this student decline was well underway well before COVID-19. That’s simply trying to perfume the pig. Tempe Union’s proposal to pay a “bonus for enrollment increases” was over the top

It always bene�its children (and adults) to meet expectations and excel across the board. If he is not living up to a teacher’s expectations, there is likely a skill that is lacking and creating a barrier to success. If it looks like she is lazy and not trying, that is a perfect time to dig deeper and �ind out what is really going on, rather than punish or continue to admonish to “just try.” Executive functioning skills are developed in the pre-frontal cortex of the frontal lobe part of the brain. They take up to 24 years to fully mature and develop. They are responsible for higher level problem solving, self-awareness, and planning and prioritizing. They are what we rely on to manage emotions and inhibit impulses, organize both material items and our thoughts, and manage our time wisely and independently. Executive functioning skills are what we need to begin and persist through challenging tasks, to learn from previously made mistakes, and to maintain focus when multiple things are competing for our attention.

The executive functioning skills begin developing in infancy, and they are shaped by experiences. Communication, social interactions, emotional experiences, and academic learning all contribute to how a child’s frontal lobe grows and develops until maturity. It is the parent’s job to be the substitute frontal lobe as a child grows, helping children learn to manage emotions, to problem solve, and to organize and plan. However, it’s not only nurture that contributes. Research shows that children who have ADHD or other neurodiverse diagnoses especially struggle with these skills, regardless of the support and efforts of their parents. The good news is that executive functioning skills can be strengthened at any age. This requires awareness of one’s weak areas, and a willingness to make some changes. I have found that kids and teens who struggle in some of these areas want to do better, but they do not know how. Instead of saying “try harder,” I would say, “try something different.”

We are not all wired the same way. We each have a unique combination of strengths and challenges in all areas of our lives. As the school year comes to an end, parents may feel overwhelmed by their student’s learning loss during what was for most a very challenging year. Fear not! The brain’s neuroplasticity allows it to be capable of catching up, �illing in the gaps, and strengthening lagging skills in an ongoing way. As a pediatric occupational therapist and ADHD coach, I work with kids and teens of all ages on executive functioning skills. I am holding online summer boot camps for middle school and high school age students so they can assess their own strengths and challenges in the areas of executive functioning skills, study skills, and personal development, such as goals and habits.

in not even mentioning the elephant in the room. Tempe Union management’s decision to close our schools of on-site teaching – even though many other schools with the proper protocols in place – remained open for business and if published statistics are to be believed – did so without any degradation of our children’s health. They have forced tax-paying parents to vote with their feet and enter their kids in a more reliable educational environment. Tempe Union has a high percentage of skilled and passionate teachers but no parent will trust Tempe Union’s management to keep our schools open if and when the virus reappears. I �irmly believe that our teachers are on board with full in-person instruction this fall. Even Randi Weingarten, president of the

American Federation of Teachers has completely reversed course after mandating that schools stay with remote learning. A commencement speech at Purdue University by Mitch Daniels – a former Indiana governor – quoted in the WSJ June 1st summed it up best. “He excoriated the timorous, risk-adverse mindset that captured much of the elite in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. In their caution and dif�idence, he told the graduates, they failed this fundamental test of leadership by refusing to balance risks and obligations. “Certainty is an illusion,” Mr. Daniels said. “Perfect safety is a mirage. Zero is always unattainable, except in the case of absolute zero where, as you remember, all motion and life itself stop.” I was in business for 45 years and can

guarantee you that if my company had lost over 1,000 “customers” in just a few months – there would be a blizzard of pink slips. -Terence P. Cunningham

Information: kidsempowered4life. com/upcoming-classes or kidsempowered4life@gmail.com and 602-7537441. 

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Liberty Wildlife tour is an eye-opening adventure

This morning my bride Patty was out for her morning walk in older Ahwatukee when she came across a baby quail in the roadway, feathered, but not ready to be on its own. So, we went into action and located Liberty Wildlife, a rehabilitation facility for all Arizona wildlife that needs human assistance to give them an opportunity to return to their natural settings. While we were at the facility this morning, we were among several people who

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LETTERS �� 34

were bringing wildlife to the facility for care. Among our group was a man and his son who found a baby bat in a city park. While we were there, we learned that in the summer months from 9-11 a.m. (closed for August for tours) Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays, the public can take a self-guided tour of the facility for $5 or you can donate to the nonpro�it 501c3 organization for the tour. We took the tour and what a tour it was. Besides having an unbelievable assortment of wildlife in the rehabilitation wing, they also support a permanent home for wildlife that cannot live on their own due to various concerns. Many of these animals are birds and a great number of them are eagles. The viewing of the eagles was an experience that for me was extraordinary as I have spent a great deal of my life in the great outdoors and rarely have I had such an upclose experience. Who knew that there were so many different types of eagles and owls in Arizona? Also, there is an interactive area and usually volunteers are present to allow visitors an

opportunity to see some of the permanent residences up close during the tour hours. The facility is located at 2600 E. Elwood, just south of the Salt River and Sky Harbor Airport east of 24th Street. Teachers: the volunteers have started a live Zoom style virtual program that has given students an opportunity to learn about Arizona wildlife even though not present at the facility with the animals. Do not pass up the opportunity to visit this facility! Children and adults will �lourish from the experience! Christopher Gentis

Ending �ilibuster could dramatically improve American life

I don’t want to name names, but there are a few Democratic senators in Congress who clearly care more about protecting the �ilibuster, an antiquated procedural norm that lets a minority of senators stop any bill, than making progress for the American people. It’s hard to understand why, especially when this is a once in a lifetime opportunity to pass bold, sweeping legislation that could dramatically change American life

ANSWERS TO PUZZLES AND SUDOKU from Page 44

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for the better. Without the �ilibuster, legislation like raising the minimum wage, comprehensive climate action, and voting rights actually has a chance of passing the Senate with Democrats in control of Congress and the White House. I hope that they see this moment for what it is – a rare opportunity to make government work for the American people – and act before it’s too late. What is power for if not to help people? I’m calling on the Senate to step up and get rid of the �ilibuster so lawmakers can do what they were elected to do: improve the lives of regular Americans. -Deborah Papaleo

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SPORTS

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Red Mtn alum ful�illing dream of working in sports BY ZACH ALVIRA AFN Sports Editor

icole Taylor has accomplished many sports-related feats since her pre-teen years. She became the �irst-ever junior high student to make the varsity girls’ basketball roster at Red Mountain High School. She’s helped manage the Arizona State women’s basketball program and coordinated a variety of events for the Phoenix Mercury, Suns and the NBA. She knew early on she wanted to dive into a career involving sports and more speci�ically, basketball. But even having after accomplished all she has so far in life, it still is a bit of a surprise when she re�lects on her experiences. “From the age of 5, I was very passionate about basketball,” Taylor said. “I didn’t know how I would end up working with it, but I knew it was something I always

wanted to get involved in and make a career out of it.” Taylor, 34, graduated from Red Mountain in 2005 as a four-year varsity basketball player. She began playing AAU competitive basketball when she began attending Shepherd Junior High in Mesa. Through various camps and club teams, then-Red Mountain girls’ basketball coach Martin Appel requested she join the varsity team earlier than most. She knew she would be attending Red Mountain and eventually playing basketball for the Mountain Lions. But it came as a surprise to her and her parents when she was asked to do so as she entered the ninth grade. At the time, Red Mountain served sophomores, juniors and seniors. Freshman still took classes at Shepherd. “It de�initely took some balance on mine and my parents’ part,” Taylor said. “My dad, who worked at Boeing in Mesa at the

Red Mountain alum Nicole Taylor has already accomplished several goals in her quest to make a career out of basketball. She’s worked for both the Phoenix Suns and Mercury, the NBA and now Position Sports in Mesa while raising her two kids with her husband and fellow Red Mountain alum, EJ. (Courtesy Nicole Taylor)

time, would have to end his day early to “I think it was really tough for my parpick me up from Shepherd and drive me ents when I stepped away from playing, over to Red Mountain for practice.” especially because of how much time and Taylor played four years for the Moun- money they put into it,” Taylor said. “But, tain Lions and went through the recruit- its cliché, but everything happens for a ing process her senior year to continue reason. Because of the avenue I took I was her career at the next level. However, her able to pursue this career in sports that academics also led her to receive a full ac- may not have come about otherwise.” ademic scholarship to Arizona State. While working for the NBA, Taylor reShe made the dif�icult decision to end kindled an old friendship with EJ Taylor, her basketball career to focus on earning a a former Red Mountain basketball player degree in communications at ASU. Just like �� TAYLOR �� 38 she did at Shepherd and Red Mountain, Taylor left her mark. Charli Turner Thorne, the head women’s basketball coach for the Sun Devils, knew Taylor from her AAU club team. She offered her a spot as a manager with the team. Taylor also helped create the Sports Business Association through the W.P. Carey School of Business, which she still serves on the advisory board. Her college years were also met with opportunities with the two local professional basketball franchises. She interned for the Phoenix Mercury and the Suns before she was one of six selected out of more than 2,000 applicants to be part of the NBA’s associate program. She worked in various departments at the NBA league of�ice in New York as part of the program and helped facilitate maTaylor became the first-ever junior high student to play at the jor events such as prevarsity level at a high school. At the time, ninth grade classes season games overseas, were still held at Shepherd Junior High and she drove to Red the draft and All-Star Mountain for practices and games during the season. (Courtesy games. Nicole Taylor)

SPORTS

AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS | JUNE 9, 2021

UArizona stadium to be wide open for football BY HENRY GREENSTEIN Cronkite News

rizona Stadium will host its full capacity of fans during the 2021 college football season, the University of Arizona athletic department announced last week. The school is among the �irst in the Pac12 to decide its plans for fall attendance. Pac-12 South foe Utah said on May 27 that it intends to �ill Rice-Eccles Stadium. Arizona State is working toward a decision later in the summer, Vice President for University Athletics Ray Anderson said. The Pac-12 Conference enforced a ban on fans at sporting events that persisted through the winter due to COVID-19 concerns. The Wildcats’ 50,782-seat facility in Tucson was closed to spectators – except for players’ families – throughout the 2020 season and the postseason Arizona Bowl. “Game days create an electric atmosphere in and around Arizona Stadium,” said Dave Heeke, the school’s athletic di-

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rector, in a statement, “and it’s exciting to plan for that dynamic energy (to) return to Southern Arizona this Fall.” The university’s decision comes on the heels of the Tucson Regional softball tournament at Hillebrand Stadium last month, the school’s �irst full-capacity event since the pandemic began. The school noted in its statement that attendees at football games this fall will still be bound by its current guidance on face coverings, which requires masks outdoors for unvaccinated individuals “where continuous physical distancing of at least 6 feet is dif�icult or impossible to maintain.” For its part, ASU opened its �inal spring practice at the end of March, as fans retook seats previously occupied by $50 personalized cardboard cutouts. But the school’s outlook for the fall is less clear. “We are not at a point where we are ready to announce a decision for fall, however based on the progress we’ve seen (from) our spring sports venues which operated at 50 percent capacity and the success of other venues around the Valley, we plan to keep progressing toward full capacity,” Anderson said. “We continue to work with university leadership and health experts and plan to make a

TAYLOR �� 37

who was a broadcaster at the time. The two eventually married and now have two kids. EJ now works as an accountant. Taylor ended her career with the NBA in 2011. She quickly realized her desire to settle down and have a family wouldn’t bode well with a job that required her to be on the road most of the time. She went back to work with the Phoenix Suns as a manager of activation, handling corporate sponsorships and coordinating player appearances around the Valley. But in 2015, she was presented an opportunity to help build a new sports public relations company based in Mesa. She now is the head of all media-related in-

�inal determination later this summer.” Currently playing in front of capacity crowds are the Arizona Diamondbacks, who reopened completely on May 25, and the Phoenix Suns, who also restored full capacity. Phoenix Rising FC will expand to full on Saturday, the Arizona Rattlers will pack Phoenix Suns Arena for their home opener on June 12, and the Phoenix Mercury will do the same beginning June 26. Stadiums continue to uphold mask-wearing requirements. As for Arizona’s out-of-season professional teams, the Coyotes closed their season playing at limited capacity. The Arizona Cardinals, who ended 2020 with State Farm Stadium empty, reportedly have the go-ahead to �ill it up in the fall, though they have not stated of�icial plans. By allowing the full complement of fans at Arizona Stadium, the University of Arizona also follows a diverse array of college teams around the country from Penn State to South Alabama. But across the Pac-12, attendance prospects for the 2021 season are uncertain. Competitors like Colorado and USC allowed limited fans at their spring showcases. However, despite previous plans to allow

quiries for Position Sports, which works with the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, which hosts the Hoophall West high school basketball tournament every year where several local teams participate, Nike, Jordan Brand, Red Bull, USA Basketball and several other highpro�ile sports entities. Taylor recently helped coordinate the most recent Basketball Hall of Fame induction ceremony for the 2021 class, which included Kobe Bryant. “It would have been amazing to work alongside Kobe Bryant,” Taylor said. “But we were thankful to have the opportunity to honor him and host his wife, Vanessa, his family and a lot of other deserving candidates.”

spectators, Oregon had to scrimmage behind closed doors after Lane County backslid into the state’s “extreme risk” category in late April. Oregon State, in Benton County, narrowly avoided the same outcome. This sort of instability means that few schools have made concrete projections for the start of the season, now just three months away (ASU opens the season by hosting Southern Utah on Sept. 2). Some are expressing signi�icant caution: in April, Mike Urban, a city administrator in Pullman, Washington, forecasted half capacity at Washington State’s Martin Stadium in 2021 and potentially only threequarters capacity in 2022. Arizona’s statement announcing its attendance plans exhorts fans to “support head coach Jedd Fisch and the Arizona Wildcats for their six home games this season.” During their last pandemic-shortened season, the Wildcats played just �ive games total. Fisch, a rookie head coach who was most recently quarterbacks coach for the New England Patriots in 2020, has expressed a desire to sell out the venue as the Wildcats look to bounce back. Their home opener is Sept. 11. 

Taylor aims to help Position Sports continue to grow in her hometown. But as she re�lects on all she has been able to accomplish in her career, it still can be unbelievable at times. She remains thankful for all of the opportunities that have come her way and hopes to continue making more great memories and create more opportunities for herself in the near future. “I always knew if I channeled that same passion and drive that I had for basketball into what I am doing now, I would continue to have success,” Taylor said. “I think everything I’ve done is a combination of hard work and relationships I’ve built. Looking back on it, I have certainly done a lot.” 

Have an interesting sports story?

Contact Zach Alvira at zalvira@timespublications.com and follow him on Twitter @ZachAlvira.

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Ahwatukee native helped craft the look of new Disney pic BY SYDNEY MACKIE GetOut Staff Writer

hwatukee native Michael Rutter has gone from Arizona’s deserts to the Italian coast with his animation work on Disney Pixar’s latest animated feature film, “Luca.” As the set-dressing lead on the film, Rutter was tasked with bringing the movie’s vibrant undersea and bustling cityscape environments to life. The film will start airing June 17 on Disney+ and will be in only one theater – in Hollywood. Rutter’s job required all the skills he developed while attending Arizona State University, Mesa Community College and the Ringling College of Art and Design to earn his bachelor’s degree in computer animation. The 2001 Desert Vista High School grad also used all the techniques he

Ahwatukee native Michael Rutter was the set-dressing lead for the new Disney Pixar film “Luca,” which airs on Disney+ and is bypassing theaters June 18. (Special to GetOut) learned while working on other collaborations with Disney. “I was a big fan of Disney movies grow-

ing up and when Toy Story came out in ’95,” Rutter said. “I was blown away by everything Pixar was doing, so that

er, dubbed ‘Cutthroat.’ “They’ve come to share their scary stories (with each other and the bookstore owner, Peter, who leads the group), but soon discover they’ve become the stars of a sick killer’s own twisted tale.” “Scare Us” was produced by Jason Wiechert, of Glendale, Robyn Sturgis, of Scottsdale, and Ryan Henry Johnston, former Phoenix resident. Johnston additionally directed and wrote segments of “Scare Us,” with directors Charlotte Lilt, of Glendale, Carl Jensen IV, of Flagstaff, Tom J. McCoy, of Mesa, and Ryan Kjolberg and Jordan Pillar, of Phoenix. Lilt also stars in the fright flick alongside Tom Sandoval, of Los Angeles, Ethan Drew, of Scottsdale, Michael Alvarez, of Glendale, and Michelle Palermo, of Gilbert. “Scare Us is a testament to what the Phoenix film industry family can do,” Palermo said. With the exception of Jeff Hare, Falling

Flame Pictures chief marketing officer, all other company lead executives are from the Phoenix area. Wiechert and Lilt are co-founders with Wiechert serving as CEO and Lilt as chief creative officer. Ed Riccio, of Chandler, is executive vice president. Shaun Clark, of Mesa, is chief financial officer. “We want to not only bolster Arizona film narratives, but also bring Hollywood to Arizona through our connections in Los Angeles,” Wiechert said. Wiechert and Lilt met on the set of one of Johnston’s short films in 2015 and eventually married in 2019. They say they created Falling Flame Pictures together to have more creative control over the stories they told. They want their films to bring more depth to the motion picture world while building upon the film community

was always the really lofty goal. I never thought it would be possible to work at either but it was the dream job.” “Then I went to art school and we were lucky enough to have a program that attracts a lot of studios to recruit.” Eventually after his graduation and a few applications, Disney brought Rutter aboard in 2010 and put him to work on films like “Cars 2,” “Finding Dory,” “Onward” and, one of his personal favorites, “Inside Out.” Rutter’s last two years, however, have been solely dedicated to the completion and perfection of “Luca”. The film is a coming-of-age story about a young boy’s unforgettable summer along the Riviera coast, filled with gelato, pasta and endless scooter rides. Luca shares these adventures with his newfound best friend, but all the fun is

see LUCA page 41

Horror �lick revels in Arizona settings BY ASHLYN ROBINETTE GetOut Staff Writer

new Phoenix production company hopes its debut horror anthology sheds light on all that the Arizona film community has to offer. After securing a distribution deal with Virgil Films & Entertainment, Falling Flame Pictures released “Scare Us,” on virtual cinema last month with an upcoming VOD and DVD release June 29. “We wanted to make a feature film that was very community driven and community based to showcase the talents that Arizona can bring to the table,” said Ryan Henry Johnston, “Scare Us” producer, cowriter, and co-director. The synopsis: “A chilling horror anthology comprising five short stories, penned by an unlikely group of aspiring writers, in Sugarton – a small town plagued by the apparent return of an infamous serial kill-

see SCARY page 42

“Scare Us” is an anthology of five horror short stories all set in Arizona. (Special to

GetOut)

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JUNE 9, 2021 | AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS

Medieval Times venue offers knights to remember BY CHRISTINA FUOCO-KARASINSKI GetOut Editor

dward Maciejczyk walks through Medieval Times Dinner & Tournament’s stables, petting and making conversation with horses with names like Jalapeno, Jaramillo and Donador. Medieval Times’ head knight treats them like they are his own, kissing up to them and making sure they’re OK. Like the other knights, he’s particularly close to the horses with whom he performs. “We have a tight bond,” he says. “When the horses retire, they head to a ranch in Cave Creek. We keep them close so we can visit them. It’s hard to let go. “It’s almost like, if you can imagine, having a dog and then giving your dog away after 10 years. We like to retire them anywhere around the age of 15 to 20. We want to do what makes them happy.” Medieval Times in Scottsdale is open at 50 percent capacity. Each show includes trumpeters who beckon the guests into the Grand Ceremonial Arena, where they are seated in one of six color-coded sections corresponding to the colors of the

LUCA from page 40

threatened by a deeply-held secret: sea monsters from another world lurk just below the water’s surface. As a member of the Disney sets department, Rutter was in charge of assembling the textures and assets provided to him by the modeling department effectively to immerse audiences in the scene on their screen. To make the transition between the habitats featured in the film seamless yet unmistakable, “It’s all about trying to make them look distinct in their language from one another but feel like they were crafted with the same set of tools and the same hand,” Rutter explained. The film’s animation style takes inspiration from not only classic Disney features but also the styles of the internationally successful Studio Ghibli. “You have characters like Luca, who is a very curious kid. He’s wide-eyed and very expressive, so I think the art department leaned into more cartoony shapes with his eyes and mouth,” Rutter said. He said director Enrico Casarosa “really loved the animation of Miyazaki films

Actors try to be as historically accurate as possible in staging the jousts and other fights at Medieval Times. (Special to AFN) knights. A four-course meal is served, and, in true Medieval style, silverware is not included. As the guests eat, the stage is set with Medieval pageantry and then the pace intensifies and trumpeters summon the knights for the Tournament Royal.

“We’re really fortunate in that when they designed this castle, they created ‘open stables,’” Maciejczyk says during a backstage tour of the Scottsdale castle. “They can see each other so that they get familiarized with each other. They can create their bonds and friendships.

“Luca” tells the story of a boy’s adventures along the Riviera coast. (Special to GetOut) and expressions in them like the peanut mouth, where it’s just this big peanut or bean-shaped mouth, “I know that we were also influenced a lot by the old Disney watercolor backgrounds so if you think like ‘Pinocchio’ or ‘Bambi’ or movies like that where it’s charming and illustrative, but hopefully works well with the characters.” Taking reference from his trips to

Rome, Florence and Venice, as well as the Disney team’s research trips to coastal Italian towns, Rutter hoped to capture all the aspects of a carefree and youthful summer by the sea in the film’s set dressings. “We tried to make it stay true to that region to make it authentic and having it feel like a really rich place you could go and visit, but also an idealized version

“We spend countless hours with the horses and develop a bond with them, too.” The horses and the knights look to each other for support during the performances, which, since the pandemic, have been decreased. The horses trust the knights when they’re unsure of themselves, which makes the show run smoothly. Even if guests try to spook the horses, they turn to the knights as well. Medieval Times, Maciejczyk explains, is “theatrical jousting,” which isn’t historically accurate. “We do everything, more or less, right,” he says. “That being said, it still can hurt when you’re hitting the lance against the shield. The pressure is there, and the contact is there.” Maciejczyk’s job is multifold. He trains the knights and the horses to perform the stunts safely. Anyone aged 18 and older can apply to become one of the queen’s knights. “Anyone who has an athletic background is perfect,” he says. “We train entirely within our castle.”

see MEDIEVAL page 42

of that, kind of like with your childhood memories where there’s the rose-colored glasses and you just remember how amazing everything felt,” Rutter said. “We tried to harken back to that by making stylized or simpler versions of things so it’s brighter colors and richer textures that feel hopefully like how you remember summer feeling as a kid.” Creating “Luca” entirely virtually due to global health concerns was a unique experience for the Disney team. While everyone will soon move on to new movies and shows, no one will forget the time they spent coping with the pandemic and its restrictions, Rutter said. “Working with each other and being in each other’s bedrooms, living rooms and kitchens, trusting each other to get it done,” Rutter reflected. Rutter encouraged aspiring animators to “keep at it and don’t lose faith in yourself.” “You will throw away more drawings than you think. And you’ll throw away far more than you’ll hang up on the wall. But those drawings you throw away are what gets you to where you wanna be.” 

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AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS | JUNE 9, 2021

SCARY from page 40

in Arizona. “Magic happens when you really believe in things,” Wiechert said. “The cast and crew really believed in this and it shows in the end product.” The concept of making a horror anthology was born around 2016 and evolved over time, Johnston said. Johnston and Wiechert say they had talked at length about wanting to do an anthology so that they could give opportunities to different small Arizona filmmakers to work together to make one movie that would increase storytelling in Arizona. Originally, the film revolved around stories being told around a campfire, Johnston said. However, the producers wanted to make stories that were more adult-driven. Each director brought three pitches to the table for different horror style films, the best ideas were chosen, then the short films were written around July and August of 2019, Johnston said. “We thought that we could take six upand-coming directors who may not have had an opportunity to be a part of a larger full feature film and allow each of them to focus on a specific segment of the overall anthology story,” Wiechert said, adding: “Each director wrote and directed their own segments within the overall story and the main story cohesively ties everything together nicely.” Principal photography began in early October 2019, Wiechert said. Luckily, filming wrapped in mid-December before the pandemic hit so that January through June of 2020 was dedicated to post production. The decision to go with horror specifically was inspired by the universal love of horror movies, its marketability and success with independent films, Johnston said. Johnston noted the success of “It Follows,” “Paranormal Activity,” and “The Blair Witch Project” as low-budget inde-

MEDIEVAL from page 41

Most folks who apply have “zero experience” with horses or Medieval Times’ style of riding, which is a hybrid of disciplines, Maciejczyk says. The head knight determines if applicants are a good fit and observes how comfortable they are with horses. Those who are hired begin as squires. The training program varies in difficulty. “Some people struggle with horse rid-

The concept for “Scare Us” was born in 2016 and evolved over time. It’s frightening enough to earn an R rating for violence. (Special to GetOut) pendent horror films with little starpower. He said they were successful because they focused on good storytelling, which is exactly what “Scare Us” aims to do. “Myself and Falling Flame wanted to make something that didn’t feel low-budget and looked at it as a challenge,” Johnston said. “We wanted an opportunity to showcase what Arizona could do and we knew that we had the team and the talent to make that happen.’’ “Scare Us” was filmed entirely in Arizona. The producers say they used actual locations rather than building sets because they wanted to keep Arizona’s authenticity and utilize the state’s versatile beauty. “There’s a massive amount of beauty in Arizona and I don’t think a lot of filmmakers take full advantage of all the amazing things Arizona has to offer,” Johnston said. “Scare Us” primarily takes place in a bookstore, so finding the perfect location for it was crucial. The moment Johnston and Wiechert stepped into Books on 7th Avenue, they knew that it was the one. This mom-and-pop used bookstore has been in business for over 30 years and has over 200,000 titles in stock, according to its website. Located in Phoenix’s Sunny-slope area at 9201 N. Seventh Avenue, thebookstore has been family operated since 1990.

ing, others with sword fighting,” he says. “Every individual has their shortcomings and strengths. We help them with whatever they struggle with. “Basically, we train people who have never touched a horse how to sit on them and, in 10 weeks of training, they learn how to ride a horse and how to do stunts safely. We don’t have an off season, but we do have busy seasons. We need to make sure everyone performs safely so they have a long career with us.”

Another noteworthy location is Parks in the Pines General Store. Built in 1906, Parks in the Pines General Store is over 100 years old and predates Route 66, according to its website. It is located on Old Route 66 and N. Spring Valley Road in Parks, Arizona. Because it is nestled among the largest Ponderosa Pine forest in the U.S., the store creates a very secluded, eerie feeling at night, Johnston said. This made it an ideal location to use as a gas station for the “Dead Ringer” segment of the film. Each lead character in “Scare Us” wrote a scary story to share with their writers’ group, which each became separate segments of the film. The five segments of “Scare Us” are as follows: “Night Haul,” “Untethered,” “Dead Ringer,” “The Resting,” and “After Hours.” Hare thought of the idea to have the main characters reading their stories also play their fictional characters. This was the first time any of the actors had to play two different characters within the same film. Drew experienced a lot of fun and goofiness on set and says that everyone in Falling Flame Pictures was so passionate because they were all brought from a smaller market to make something bigger that they all believed in.

Medieval Times began with two dinner/ entertainment complexes in Majorca and Benidorm, Spain. The first North American castle in Kissimmee, Florida, opened in December 1983. Medieval Times’ Castles have since entertained more than 60 million guests. “When we get guests from Europe, they’re surprised that we have something like this because the history of knights and everything is not present in American culture,” he says. 

“There was a huge sense of community and we all became a family by the time filming was done,” Drew said. “I remember having so many laughs with everyone.” In “The Resting” segment, Lilt was actually able to act with Wiechert because he played a supporting character. Lilt says that working with her husband was her favorite part. The cast all observed high levels of professionalism and say they were fortunate to have worked with everyone in Falling Flame Pictures. They also loved the way they bounced off one another on set and say that their bond translates on camera. “We all just kind of mesh organically,” Lilt said. “Nothing had to be forced and you can feel it. When you watch it, you’ll see.” The final segment of “Scare Us” is “After Hours,” which is told by Sandoval’s character, Peter. Peter is the owner of the bookstore and leader of the writers’ group who assigned the scary stories. Wiechert hopes that fans of Sandoval from “Vanderpump Rules” will watch “Scare Us” to see Sandoval do something very different from his previous work. Everyone from “Scare Us” still keeps in touch with one another as a family, Lilt said. When it was safe, Hare said they rented out the Harkins Theatres at Tempe Marketplace to have a cast and crew screening so that everyone could watch the film together. Riccio wants to do a sequel to “Scare Us,” but says they have to see how audiences respond to this film first. “I’m hoping that this helps the government in Arizona realize the potential and benefits there are to having films here in the Valley and in the state and what it can bring to the economy,” Palermo said. To watch the trailer or buy tickets for “Scare Us” or for more information about Falling Flame Pictures and their future films, go to fallingflamepictures. com. 

If You Go...

What: Medieval Times Dinner & Tournament Where: 9051 E. Via de Ventura, Scottsdale Cost: General admission is $45.95 for adults; $35.95 for children ages 12 and younger Info: 1.888.935.6878, medievaltimes. com

JUNE 9, 2021 | AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS

Conserving water around your home can reduce your water bill and helps preserve our most important resource for future generations. Remember these helpful tips: + Find and fix leaks all around your house + Design with water in mind and plan with xeriscape + Try the online Water Usage Calculator for optimal use + Sign up for our monthly water text alerts + Enroll in our virtual conservation workshops

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PUZZLES ANSWERS on page 35

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• BASE BOARDS • DRYWALL • ELECTRICAL • PAINTING • PLUMBING • BATHROOMS • WOOD FLOORING • FRAMING WALLS • FREE ESTIMATES • GRANITE FABRICATION & INSTALLATION • CARPET INSTALLATION • LANDSCAPING

• Call or Text for a Free Quote

kjelandscape.com • ROC#281191

Specials

Visit our website! Landlord and Homeowner Property Services

Licensed, Bonded & Insured • ROC#317949

www.Ahwatukee.com

Starting @ $60/Month!

. Maintenance

Jaden Sydney Associates.com

520.508.1420

See MORE Ads Online!

Complete Lawn Service & Weed Control

Text or Email Only

www.husbands2go.com

Ask me about FREE water testing!

Landscape/Maintenance

• Spring Hrs: M-F 8-4; Sat 9-2; • Summer Hrs: M-Sat 6-9 • You Pay Labor & Materials Only • ROC#312942 • David R Smith

Not a licensed contractor

SERVING THE ENTIRE VALLEY

All Estimates are Free • Call:

LANDSCAPING

NOT A LICENSED CONTRACTOR

480-215-3373

CALL DOUG

Landscape Design/Installation

480.295.2279 Referred out of Ewing Irrigation Not a licensed contractor.

25 years Experience & Insured Not a licensed contractor.

Arizona Specialty Landscape

New & Re-Do Design and Installation Affordable | Paver Specialists All phases of landscape installation. Plants, cacti, sod, sprinklers, granite, concrete, brick, Kool-deck, lighting and more!

Free Estimates 7 Days a Week! ROC# 186443 • BONDED

WORKMANSHIP GUARANTEED!

Meetings/Events? Get Free notices in the Classifieds! Submit to ecota@timespublications.com

480.844.9765

CLASSIFIEDS

AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS | JUNE 9, 2021

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

Juan Hernandez

JR’S LANDSCAPING

TREE

GRAVEL • PAVERS TRIM TREES ALL TYPES SPRINKLER SYSTEMS SYNTHETIC GRASS COMPLETE CLEAN UPS

TRIMMING

$25 per visit.

Install/Design We do it all!

25 Years exp (480) 720-3840

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

MISSED THE DEADLINE? Place your ad online!

Not a licensed contractor

Painting

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

HOME IMPROVEMENT & PAINTING

Not a licensed contractor

Interior/Exterior Painting 30 YEARS EXPERIENCE Dunn Edwards Quality Paint Small Stucco/Drywall Repairs

HIGH QUALITY RESULTS

Call 480-898-6465

WANT A GREEN LAWN?

Painting

Landscape/Maintenance

We Are State Licensed and Reliable!

Free Estimates • Senior Discounts

480.690.6081

480-338-4011

ROC#309706

“We get your house looking top notch!”

theplugman.com

Irrigation Repair Services Inc. Licensed • Bonded • Insured

FREE ORGANIC LAWN FERTILIZA ATION TREATMENT WITH CORE AE ERATION FERTILIZATION • SOIL AMENDMENTS • LAWN SOIL TESTING

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

ROC 282663 * BONDED * INSURED YOUR LAWN EXPERT SINCE 1995

CALL US TODAY!

480.721.4146 www.irsaz.com

ROC# 256752

See MORE Ads Online! www.Ahwatukee.com Painting

High Quality Results

Jose Martinez Not a licensed contractor.

602.515.2767

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

Irrigation Repair & New Installation Yard Clean-ups • Storm Damage • Palm & Tree Trimming Tree Removal • Landscape Lighting Installation & Repair Landscape Design

Responsible • 100% Guaranteed Ask for Ramon

Not a Licensed Contractor

480-217-0407

★ Epoxy Floors ★ Small Job Specialist

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

CONKLIN PAINTING

480-888-5895 ConklinPainting.com

www.ACP www.A CPpaintingllc.com paintingllc.com Licensed - Bonded - Insured ROC 290242

FREE ESTIMATES • CALL TODAY!

(480)785-6323

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

602.625.0599 ROC #155380 Family Owned • Free Estimates

Plumbing AHWATUKEE SPECIAL $

Off 40work done *Any

Lic/Bond/Ins ROC# 270450

Voted #1

Veteran Owned

INC.

Serving Ahwatukee Since 1987 Interior / Exterior

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

Proudly Serving Ahwatukee for 15 Years! Family Owned & Operated • Interior & Exterior • Professional Cabinet Reﬁnishing • Epoxy Floors & Concrete Coatings • In-Home Color Consultations “Professional, Punctual & Clean”

PAINTING

Free Estimate & Color Consultation

East Valley PAINTERS

Residential & Commercial Painting

SUN TECH

★ Elastomaric Roof Coating

Looking To Freshen Up Your Home? WE CAN HELP!

TRIM TREES ALL TYPES GRAVEL - PAVERS SPRINKLER SYSTEMS Complete Clean Ups

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

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

10% OFF

Affinity Plumbing LLC 480-487-5541 affinityplumber@gmail.com

www.affinityplumbingaz.com

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

We Beat Competitors Prices & Quality

Water Heaters

24/7

Free Estimates! Home of the 10-Year Warranty!

Inside & Out Leaks

Bonded

Toilets

Insured

Faucets

Estimates Availabler

480-688-4770

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

Now Accepting all major credit cards

Disposals

$35 off

Any Service

Not a licensed contractor

480-940-8196

CLASSIFIEDS

JUNE 9, 2021 | AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS

Pool Service / Repair

Plumbing

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

10% OFF

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

MARK’S POOL SERVICE Owner Operated - 20 Years

Play Pools start at

Filter Cleaning!

Ask About Filter Cleaning Specials!

Monthly Service & Repairs Available

with chemicals

Mark

602-799-0147 CPO#85-185793

Call Classifieds Today! 480.898.6465

Bonded/Insured • ROC #223709

480-405-7099

CLASS@TIMESPUBLICATIONS.COM

602-546-POOL 7 6 6 5

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

Rooﬁng Watch for Garage Sales in Classifieds!

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

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

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

480-446-7663

Pool Service / Repair

Ahwatukee’s Premier Tile, Shingle & Foam Roofer!

Juan Hernandez

Plumbing

Pavers • Concrete • Water Features • Sprinkler Repair

SERVICE • REPAIR • REPLACEMENT We offer personalized service for our customers. We use the best materials that we can find. Our services include: Sinks, Toilets, Faucets, Water Heaters, Garbage Disposal, Drain Cleaning, Pressure Reducing Valves, Pressure Vacuum Breakers, Hot Water Circulation Systems, Main Service Valves and Hose Taps.

(480)

$25 OFF

$85/month

Sell Your Stuff!

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

Pool Service / Repair

279-4155

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

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

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

ALL YOU NEED IS A PU

Call Juan at

480-720-3840 Not a licensed contractor.

480.898.6465 CLASS@TIMESPUBLICATIONS.COM

Rooﬁng

Licensed • Bonded • Insured • ROC 189848

Plumbing LICENSED | INSURED | BONDED | ROC #269218

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

PLUMBING $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)

Call for your FRE E roof evaluation today www.InExRooﬁn g.com | 602-938-7575

CLASSIFIEDS

AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS | JUNE 9, 2021

Rooﬁng

BOARD OF DIRECTOR NOMINATIONS

30 Years Roofing Experience

JILEK ROOFING, LLC

Tiles, shingles, flat, repairs & new work Free Estimates • Ahwatukee Resident Over 30 yrs. Experience

480-706-1453

Licensed/Bonded/Insured • ROC #236099

TILE ROOFING SPECIALISTS

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

480-699-2754 • info@monsoonroofinginc.com

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

New Roof Installation & Roof Repair Specialist

Cell: 480.417.3689 Office: 480.912.5014 Email: tomjilek60@gmail.com

MonsoonRooﬁngInc.com

Licensed & Insured • Bonded, Res/Com ROC 328854

Licensed – Bonded – Insured – ROC187561

Window Cleaning

Over 30 Years of Experience

Spencer 4 HIRE ROOFING

Published: Ahwatukee Foothills News, June 9, 2021 / 38721

Valley Wide Service

480-446-7663

Preparations are now underway for the Mountain Park Ranch Homeowners Association (MPRHOA) Annual Meeting scheduled for Tuesday, October 19, 2021. Three (3) of the five Board of Director positions will be voted on this year. Nominations are now being accepted in the MPR Office for the open positions up until July 9, 2021. Any Member interested in serving on the Board should contact Jim Welch, Executive Director, at the Mountain Park Ranch office at 480704-5000 or e-mail: jim@mtparkranch.org for further information. MPRHOA By-laws allow Board Members to serve two consecutive two year terms. Mountain Park Ranch Homeowners Association, 15425 S. 40th Place, Suite #4, Phoenix, AZ 85044 (FAX) 480.704.5005 Website: www.mtparkranch.org

Family Operated by 3 Generations of Roofers!

FREE ESTIMATES 602-736-3019

Ahwatukee Based Family Owned and Operated Insured • Free Estimates

See our reviews and schedule at:

www.cousinswindowcleaning.com

480-330-2649

10% OFF CLASSIFIEDS 480-898-6465 class@timespublications.com

Public Notices

Your newspaper. Your community. Your planet. Please recycle me.

SEEING DOUBLE-FIND 10 DIFFERENCES

with this ad

Ahwatukee’s Premier Tile, Shingle & Foam Roofer!

Family Owned & Operated for over 30 years

ROC #152111

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

Quality Repairs & Re-Roofs Complimentary & Honest Estimates

Call our office today!

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

You never know what you’ll find inside

www.porterroofinginc.com

Licensed, Bonded, Insured

ANSWERS: 1 and 2 Unicorn tail is smaller and has lost his horn; 3 and 4 Mouse costume missing tummy fur and ears are different colors. 5 and 6 Ballerina has lost her crown and is barefoot. 7. Frog eyes are crossed 8, 9 and 10 King has 4 spots on fur trim, no stripe down center, and he’s missing his glasses.

480.898.6465

class@timespublications.com

CLASSIFIEDS

JUNE 9, 2021 | AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS

palmabrisa.com

NOW SELLING

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

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

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

ERIC WILLIAMS

480-641-1800

TERRY LENTS

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

CLASSIFIEDS

AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS | JUNE 9, 2021

WAREHOUSE CLEARANCE!

Get To Spencers Today... Our Manufacturers Have Pulled Out All The Stops, We Haven’t Seen Deals Like This! If You Have Waited For The Right Deal... This Is It, Get To Spencers Today!

MONTHS N O INTEREST**

58” 4K UHD SMART TV 18 CU. FT. REFRIGERATOR • 2 HDMI Inputs • Airplay2 Built-In

WASHER

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

NTW4500XQ CLOSEOUT

1000’s OF ITEMS IN STOCK FOR FAST DELIVERY

449 • 4.8 Cubic Foot Capacity • Self Cleaning Oven • Smooth Top • Proudly Made in USA WFE505W0HS CLOSEOUT

299

12 MONTHS NO INTEREST**

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

2350

$339 10%

GRM183TW

RANGE

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

499 $499 UN58TU7000

DISHWASHER

• 2 Adjustable Glass Shelves • Fixed Gallon Door Shelves • Sealed Drawers with Glass Cover

FRONT LOAD WASHER

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

BUYS ALL 3 PIECES DRYER

• • 4.5 Cu. Ft. Capacity • • • 10 Wash Cycles • • Smart Care

7.5 Cu. Ft. Capacity 10 Cycles 9 Options Steam Sanitize

599 EACH

WF45T6200AW

REFRIGERATOR

DVE45T6200W

BFTF2716SS

NO MATTER WHERE YOU SEE IT, READ IT, OR HEAR ABOUT IT, SPENCERS IS GUARANTEED TO BE A LOWER PRICE!

STAINLESS STEEL 23 CU. FT. SIDE BY SIDE • Deli Drawer • Crisper Shelves

• LED Lighting

949

FFSS2314QS CLOSEOUT

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

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