Ahwatukee Foothills News - 6.23.2021 by Times Media Group

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Wednesday, June 23, 2021

. 21 BACK TO REALTY

new player has entered the discussion over the Club West Golf Course, adding new uncertainty to the site’s future. Shea Homes is in escrow to buy the beleaguered course from The Edge, a partnership of four Club West homeowners that bought the course from Wilson Gee early last year. Neither Shea nor the Edge would discuss the terms of the deal. But Edge partner Matt Shearer said, “I be-

lieve at this point, we would sell it to them.” Shea in the early 2000s obtained the golf course’s declarant rights, which give it some power over the site’s use. How much power could become a legal issue since a Superior Court commissioner's ruling appears to make conflicting statements about the declarant rights. The Edge unsuccessfully pitched a plan in early 2020 to sell three pieces of the course to Taylor Morrison for the construction of 162 houses that would finance a $6 million to $8 million reconstruction of the 18-hole golf course.

Up and running

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Gee closed the course five years ago this month and it deteriorated into desert wasteland except for a brief period in late 2017 and early 2018 when another buyer restored it but then ran out of money to maintain it. Shearer last week told AFN that he and his partners approached Shea about buying the course because they were exasperated by the Foothills Club West Association Board’s refusal to enter meaningful negotiations about the site’s development.

see WEST page 11

TU adopts broad mental-emotional health policy BY PAUL MARYNIAK AFN Executive Editor

ROUNDBALL DELIGHT

@AhwatukeeFN

Homebuilder eyes buying Club West Course BY PAUL MARYNIAK AFN Executive Editor

@AhwatukeeFN |

Just a little after two years since it triggered a storm of protest from a nearby residential community, the QuikTrip service station on 40th Street and the South Mountain Freeway opened last week. While the station itself had been built for several months, its corporate owners had to make some road improvements on Cottonwood Way to reduce traffic problems on Cottonwood Way, which intersects 40th and is the only way in or out for residents of the 180-home Foothills Paseo II subduivision. More traffic might be in store if plans for a new commercial neighbor next to the gas station materialize. See the story on page 12. (Tom Sanfilippo/Inside Out Aerial)

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early three years ago, then-Desert Vista High School senior Armando Montero asked the Tempe Union Governing Board to endorse a March for Our Lives demand that the state provide more support for students’ social, mental and emotional wellbeing. Last week, now Tempe Union Governing Board member Montero achieved a milestone in his years-long effort as he and fellow board members adopted a comprehensive policy for addressing students’ social, mental and emotional health that may be the first of its kind in the state. Montero chaired the committee – compris-

see SUICIDE page 4

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AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS | JUNE 23, 2021

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Phoenix takes steps to reduce $3.2B unfunded pension liability AFN NEWS STAFF

hoenix City Council last week took a step toward chipping away at a nearly $3.2 billion accrued pension liability for police and fire retirees with a plan that Ahwatukee Councilman Sal DiCiccio called “the least fiscally responsible plan I would support.” Mayor Kate Gallego refused to go along with part of that plan – a possible $1 billion pension liability bond issue – expressing reservations about investments that might be made by future politically appointed members of the Arizona Public Safety Personnel Retirement System Board. “I do have concerns in the future about some of the candidates for governor who are likely to succeed and who they might put in these seats,” Gallego said. Even DiCiccio, who frequently butts heads with the mayor, agreed with Gallego’s assessment of PSPRS and said he wishes police and fire pension could be put under the Arizona State Retirement System because it has a better track record with its investments. “You and I are totally in agreement on the status of the entity itself,” he said. “And I would love to find a way to get rid of it and move it into a more stable fund. But that’s not what’s in front of us. The only thing in front of us now is whether or not we want to pay down that debt.” DiCiccio also expressed concern that the city’s plan to pay down its debt assumes PSPRS will deliver on its projected investment returns of about 7.5 percent when it historically has achieved only around a 5 percent return, increasing the city's liability. Gallego concurred, stating “Some of the investments this pension fund made in the past, were unnecessarily risky and didn’t pay off. And that’s part of the reason for the current funding levels” required of the city. Without criticizing the PSPRS, the administration memo to Council noted that the city’s unfunded liability comes from “actual results (interest earnings, member mortality, disability rates, etc.) being different from the assumptions used in previous actuarial valuations.” “Most funds in PSPRS are significantly underfunded due to historical low returns on plan assets, people in general living longer and decreases in governmental workforces,” it said. The city’s total pension debt has nearly doubled in two years, increasing to $5.4 billion from $3.01 billion at the end of the 2018-19 fiscal year. Its funding ratio is hovering around 40 percent even though it should be twice that, City Manager Ed Zuercher and Chief Financial Officer Denise Olson said.

see PENSION page 9

NEWS

SUICIDE from page 1

ing 25 administrators, parents and students as well as outside experts – that produced the policy, first unveiled last month and then tweaked by board members in a subsequent hearing. The new policy sets out a broad range of objectives that prioritize “social emotional wellness as a critical component of improving school climate, safety, and learning.” It also establishes campus- and districtlevel systems to implement a variety of best practices for preventing suicide and fortifying students’ mental and emotional health at a time when the pandemic has added new pressures to teens. Even before anyone heard of COVID-19, experts and teens themselves were sounding the alarm about the pressures that already had made suicide the second leading cause of death among people ages 10-24. In the East Valley, more than 50 boys and girls have taken their lives since August 2018 – including several Tempe Union students. The pandemic and its disruptive and isolating impact has become another factor in a social-mental-emotional crisis that has been fueled for years by the pressure for good grades, social media, bullying, drug and alcohol abuse and problems at home. The Centers for Disease Control last week reported that in 2020, “the proportion of mental health–related emergency department visits among adolescents aged 12–17 years increased 31 percent compared with that during 2019. “In May 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, ED visits for suspected suicide attempts began to increase among adolescents aged 12–17 years, especially girls. During February 21–March 20, 2021, suspected suicide attempt ED visits were 50.6 percent higher among girls aged 12– 17 years than during the same period in 2019; among boys aged 12–17 years, suspected suicide attempt ED visits increased 3.7 percent,” the CDC continued. It went on to state, “Suicide prevention

AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS | JUNE 23, 2021

health and academic success also is cited, along with trying to match students with “an adult advocate who has similar lived experiences to advise and individualize the educational and school experience.” Besides coordinating with community agencies on students’ mental and Tempe Union Governing Board member Armando Montero, second from left, last week discussed the district’s emotional health, the policy also aims new policy for ensuring students’ mental, social and emotional health. (YouTube) for “scheduling and requires a comprehensive approach that noted that this committee has existed for student grouping practices that are flexis adapted during times of infrastructure nearly three years but suggested it lacked ible, meet each student’s needs, and endisruption, involves multisectoral part- much direction. He said the new policy “is sure successful academic growth and pernerships and implements evidence-based extraordinarily helpful in providing focus sonal development.” strategies to address the range of factors and priority” for that group. Ensuring teachers are trained to recogWhile suicide prevention is a major goal nize warning signs of suicide and know influencing suicide risk.” of the policy, it is only one of 16 goals. Tempe Union’s policy does just that. how to deal with them is another goal, alThe others include reducing the stigma though that already is a state law that apMontero, an Arizona State University junior who ran for election last year on a of mental health needs through “social plies to all school districts in Arizona. platform that stressed his commitment emotional learning strategies” in classes The new policy also details protocols for to improving students’ mental health, ex- as well as the campus environment; “us- preventing suicides and for steering camplained that the committee’s diverse coming trauma-informed practices aimed at pus reaction to a student’s suicide in ways position enabled “a lot of really in-depth helping students feel safe, connected and that will reduce “suicide contagion among discussion, both from a professional and equipped to learn.” vulnerable students.” Fostering peer-to-peer connections personal standpoint on what our teachMendivil noted that the implementation ers, and our students, our staff and com- among students, “restorative discipline of strategies to achieve all those goals will practices” that avoid over-reliance on be part of professional development for munity members really experienced.” He cited the “multi-tiered system of sup- suspensions and/or expulsions” and a teachers and other staff “and this is going port” that the new policy establishes to referral mechanism to link students with to be kind of an all-year-long kind of thing ensure its objectives are implemented and community and school intervention spe- as we grow and learn with this, and do that their progress is monitored through cialists also are among the goals. better by our students and one another.” Also included are “developing stratefeedback. Montero expressed his gratitude that At each high school, a broad-based gies to promote a positive school environ- the policy was adopted, recalling his owns team will address “academic growth and ment;” “maintaining models for school- struggles in each early school that includachievement and also the behavioral, based collaboration, coordination, a n d ed the loss of a friend to suicide. social and emotional needs of students consultation;” a protocol for addressing He called that “part of the reason why student safety concerns; and developing I’m so passionate about bringing some of through evidence-based strategies.” Those teams will comprise adminis- “adult/student interactions that convey these changes forward” and said Tempe trators, teachers, counselors and social mutual trust, support, and respect.” Union’s measures comprised “one of the “Modeling and promoting positive inter- most comprehensive mental health school workers, parents and other specialists. At the district level, a social and emo- personal and professional relationships district policies we have in the state.” tional wellness committee will collect among teachers, staff, and students” is anHe added that “to really show our comand deliver progress reports to the school other goal, as is keeping families and commitment to the whole student and making munity members engaged. board at least once a year. sure that we’re focusing on all of the needs Partnering with families on student of our students is huge.”  Superintendent Dr. Kevin Mendivil

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NEWS

AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS | JUNE 23, 2021

Kyrene, Tempe Union lift mask mandates

school year begins Aug. 2. Both districts will offer an online-only ace masks will be optional for all option to students, but will not offer a comTempe Union and Kyrene School Dis- bined virtual-classroom hybrid option. Masks have been mandatory for all trict students as of the first day of Kyrene and Tempe Union staff, visitors school on July 29. In a letter to parents June 16, Kyrene and students since the new school year Superintendent Laura Toenjes noted began last August. Toenjes acknowledged that Kyrene has that some families were awaiting an announcement on the district’s mask policy been waiting for updated guidance on before deciding “whether to enroll in an masks from the Centers for Disease Conin-person Kyrene school or in Kyrene Digi- trol. But since that guidance has not come, she said, “we are moving forward with tal Academy.” But she also noted that children involved planning for the new school year.” But Toenjes urged, “In continued alignin summer school and other programs inside Kyrene buildings this summer must ment with both the CDC and the Maricopa County Department of Public Health continue to wear masks. In those cases, Toenjes said, parents (MCDPH), Kyrene strongly recommends may have sent their kids to summer pro- face coverings for children under 12 and any other unvaccinated individual.” grams because masks were required. Masks had been mandatory for Kyrene “Out of respect for those families, current safety protocols will remain in place since the now-ended school year began in throughout the summer, including the use mid-August. district altered of face coverings indoors,” she wrote. xury ago, gs ~ La umonth uAbout Vinythe l ~ Cooptional on Area Rthat m policy by making them Tempe Union Superintendent Dr. Kevin o t unte Cusmasks rtop ers ~that Mendivil also announced will campus outside school buildings, leaving w o h S ~ s ood ~ Labemoptional inate when a full five-day-a-week Tempe Union the only district still requir-

HOURS ursday p.m urday p.m ment

AFN NEWS STAFF

Car pet

ing masks outside buildings but on campus. Toenjes also noted that since masks became optional in Arizona for local governments and businesses, “we have observed no increase in community spread in our Kyrene boundaries.” “In anticipation of that trend continuing through summer, we are confident that we can create safe learning environments with optional face coverings,” she wrote. Toenjes also noted that “many other organizations that bring children together for activities and sports outside of our Kyrene campuses are no longer enforcing masks.” “We recognize that face coverings in school will not have as much impact on reducing community spread as in the 202021 school year,” she said. “We have been so relieved to see the data hold steady as our community reopens.” Toenjes also stressed that the district supports families ad staff that still want to continue wearing masks, adding “It will be a top priority on every campus to create safe environments for students to flourish not only academically but also socially and emotionally.”

Toenjes also said her emergency management team “is finalizing plans for a twotiered structure for safety protocols, depending on the level of community spread.” Both districts’ governing boards have been the target of numerous complaints form both sides of the mask controversy, though in recent months more parents opposed to the mandatory mask policy have voiced their objections. At least a few parents also seemed unaware of the districts’ changes in mask policy. On June 16 at the Tempe Union Governing Board meeting – hours after Mendivil’s announcement – at least one parent in person condemned mandatory masks and threatened to serve “affidavits” on board members if it wasn’t changed. 

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PENSION from page 3

The unfunded part of that ratio equals $3.2 billion of a total $5.4 billion pension debt for fire and police retirees. The administration’s memo to Council noted that its three-pronged plan would “avoid a huge burden” down the road that would require “significantly decreasing services or an increase in taxes.” “This taxpayer burden must be balanced with being fiscally responsible and committed in providing pensions to retirees,” the memo said. They said the increased pension fund liabilities and costs already “have placed significant budgetary constraints on the City’s ability to provide employee wage and non-pension benefit increases, public services and infrastructure maintenance. “While currently manageable, this pressure will continue into the foreseeable future. Further, credit rating agencies and lenders place strong consideration on the funding plan and funding levels of the City’s pension systems when determining their view of the overall financial health of the City.” The plan includes three components that,

important infrastruct u r e needs. Another part of the plan involves taking 1.2 percent of the $5.6 million in expected n e w Assistant Phoenix Finance Director Katherine Gitkin and Chief Financial Officer revenue Denise Olson briefed City Council last week on the plan to reduce the city’s un- from recfunded pension liability. (Special to AFN) reational if successfully could erase the city’s pen- marijuana sales taxes. sion fund liability by 2038 or even 2036. The final component increases the One component involves possible fu- General Fund contribution to pension ture Council approval of a $1 billion pen- debt by $39.7 million this fiscal year for a sion bond issue if interest rates are be- total payment of $283.6 million. low 3.5 percent. Councilwoman Ann O’Brien asked Zuercher said he didn’t want to float any what would happen if “we do not pay more than $1 billion in bonds out of cau- our debts and go into an economic tion lest the city exhausted its borrowing downtown.” capacity and be rendered unable to pay for Olson replied, “If we do not make those

annual contribution payments, then that starts a sequence of events that (would be) detrimental to the city.” DiCiccio underscored the urgency behind the administration’s plan even though he felt the problem requires even stronger measures, stressing state law requires the debt be paid above any other expenses. “If we don’t handle these things in the way that they’ve presented – by putting these monies toward paying down the debt – we’re going to be screwed in the future as a city.” He said some cities have floated pension bonds successfully while “other cities have failed at it and they’ve lost really their rear ends on it and the reason why is that they did not set in place fiscal measures and fiscal ways of handling those additional dollars coming in: they started using it for everything else.” The city also established a Pension Reserve Fund “to ensure annual payment during downturns in the economy.” The administration stressed its plan maintains “the city’s legal commitment to employees and retirees by paying at least 100 percent of the annual required contribution.” 

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Beautifully remodeled single level home on the Foothills Golf Course! Open floor plan concept! Kitchen boasts trendy white cabinetry with ORB hardware (cabinets were professionally refinished in 2021!) Large island with stone accent and trendy overhead light fixture; Corian counter tops and pull out shelving in lower kitchen cabinets. Large great room with a cozy wood burning fireplace with ceiling to floor stone surrounds (2021.) Exit 2021 French doors to the resort–like southeast facing backyard with extended covered back patio, meticulously cared for landscape, artificial turf, sparkling pool with 2017 pebble tec finish, 2017 variable speed pool equipment, built- in BBQ, relaxing water feature, spa pad and gorgeous golf course and mountain views! Perfect for families and entertaining! 2021 upgraded laminate wood flooring. ORB hardware throughout. The master suite is a retreat you won’t want to leave with an enormous walk in shower with tile surrounds and custom glass door enclosure, dual vanities, large walk in closet and dry bar area with mini fridge. Master bedroom has its own exit to the covered back patio. Secondary bathroom was remodeled with tile surrounds in the shower, dual sinks, granite counter tops and vessel sinks with upgraded faucets. Powder room is upgraded with trendy shiplap accent. 2021 exterior and interior paint.

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$299,000

2021 construction! Home has never been lived in! 1,785 sf single level 4 bedroom 2 bathroom home with open kitchen – great room ﬂ oor plan. Four bedrooms and two bathrooms. Split master! Kitchen boasts espresso colored cabinets, granite counter tops, large center island / breakfast bar, Whirlpool stainless steel appliances and pantry. Upgraded rectangular porcelain tile throughout with carpet in bedrooms only. Smart home technology. Rain gutters. 14 seer HVAC unit. Large master suite with walk in closet, double sinks and walk in shower. North south exposure. Faux wood blinds throughout. Covered back patio and pool size back yard!

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Listed for $390,000

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$185,000 each

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NEWS

AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS | JUNE 23, 2021

The Edge, HOA board hardly see eye to eye BY PAUL MARYNIAK AFN Executive Editor

he Edge and the new Foothills Club West Association board have starkly different views on where the beleaguered golf course is headed. Edge partner Matt Shearer basically says it’s going nowhere and that the board has no viable plan to pay for whatever it wants the site to become. HOA Board President Julie Tyler says a couple different committees are studying various aspects of the issue and that the board is preparing a survey to find out what the majority of the community’s 2,600 homeowners want it to become. One goal of that survey is to get responses from more than the approximate 800 homeowners who responded to a survey by the Conservancy last year. Most of those respondents favored either a restoration of the golf course or a park, the group said. “The CWC has done a survey on what people want to see on the land and what their preferences are,” Tyler said. “So we’re going to take that to kind of a deeper

WEST from page 1

He said he and his three partners had made alternative plans to turn the site into a park, but once again stressed that a project like that would still cost hundreds of thousands of dollars in construction and recurring maintenance costs. That leaves the HOA with a choice, he said, between selling some land to a homebuilder or raising homeowners’ dues. The Conservancy and the HOA board dispute that contention, saying the site can be restored and operated successfully as a golf course. Shearer said he and his partners approached Shea Homes out of frustration. “We were busy working on the park plan for several months but after we finished that and given the fact that no one would talk to us, we just have been sitting here with a bunch of good plans for the land and no one to speak to.” He said, “We contacted Shea and said, ‘you’re the declarant, or title holder. We’re tired of looking at this dust bowl, tired of the vandalism. Let’s figure out something good for the community.’ That’s pretty much how it went.”

level on what’s their ideal preference.” She said the survey also would provide options with their potential costs to homeowners and that the board is looking at ways to increase the response rate. Nevertheless, she told AFN, “Nobody wants to see homes there. Nobody wants to see development. Everybody wants to see the space preserved as either a park or a golf course. Legally, it has to be a golf course.” During the HOA board’s monthly meeting June 16, Tyler said the golf course committee is “defining some strategies, different directions that the golf course property may go and based on those strategies, what can the golf course committee recommend to the HOA to help augment the restoration of course.” Tyler is married to Matthew Tyler, one of the founders of the Conservancy. He quit as president recently, telling AFN he wanted to avoid accusations of illegal collaboration between the Conservancy and the HOA. The new Conservancy president is former vice president Derik Herpfer, who

Club West Golf Course has been a wasteland since spring of 2018. (Tom Sanfilippo/Inside Out Aerial)

could not be reached by AFN for comment. In both an interview with AFN and during the HOA meeting last week, Tyler reiterated her contention that there are viable options for restoring the course profitably and that the former general manager of the old course said, “If you build it, they will come”

For those who don’t remember, the Club West Golf Course looked like this a few years ago. Between late October 2017 and February 2018, Richard Breuninger overseeded the course after he bought it from Wilson Gee with a $1.3 million note. Breuninger ran up a debt of more than $160,000 in unpaid water bills and eventually on his payments to Gee, who finally took back the course and sold it to The Edge in 2020 for $750,000. (AFN file photo) David Garcia, Shea vice president for land acquisitions, noted the deal is far from being done. “Right now, we are doing our due diligence,” he said. “We have 120 days and we’re only around our 30th day. At the end of that period, we will decide whether we want to buy it.”

He said if Shea buys the land, the company would be eager to work with the community, but added, “Our primary business is building homes.” A family-owned homebuilding business founded in Charlotte 27 years ago, Shea Homes earlier this year was acquired by Empire Communities of On-

“For this land to be attractive to an entrepreneur or a golf course owner, you gotta solve the water, probably got to solve the infrastructure problem….So from our perspective, how can we make it a more attractive property? How can we help

see THE EDGE page 17

tario, Canada. At the time that deal was announced, Empire said the acquisition would bolster its efforts to broaden its footprint in the U.S. “After years of slowly growing our footprint we can proudly say that we are in two countries, six regions, 90 communities and have built more than 28,000 homes over the past 25 years,” Empire said. “We’re building communities in Toronto, Ontario; Houston, Austin and San Antonio, Texas; Atlanta, Georgia; and Charlotte, North Carolina. By growing slowly, we have been able to maintain the familyowned-and-operated feel that’s grounded by our core values. As one of North America’s largest private homebuilders, our goal is to continue to grow, innovate and create some of the best communities to live in.” Shea Homes has built more than 100,000 houses in Arizona and has made part of its reputation with a series of golf course communities in the Valley under the Trilogy brand. Its declarant rights to the Club West Course have been central to a still unre-

see WEST page 17

NEWS

AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS | JUNE 23, 2021

Controversial QuikTrip may get a neighbor AFN NEWS STAFF

he controversial QuikTrip service station on 40th Street near the South Mountain Freeway opened last week and construction is already underway for a commercial next-door neighbor. Even as the gas station was being built last fall, city records show that Christian Brothers Automotive was beginning to go through the city planning permitting process for a major auto repair shop. “Once they get through the approval process, they will begin their work down there,” Planning Department spokeswoman Angie Holdsworth said.adding that no permits have yet been pulled. Christian Brothers is a decades-old auto repair chain with operations in 30 states. QuikTrip’s opening represents an anticlimax of sorts to a largely unsuccessful effort by residents of the 180-home Foothills Paseo II subdivision to stop it.

They first appeared before the Ahwatukee Foothills Village Planning Committee in March 2019 to oppose the gas station because it sits at the intersection of 40th Street and Cottonwood Lane. Two-lane Cottonwood is the only way in or out of the community. The HOA raised concerns about traffic volume and safety, noting that the gas station is the closest to the freeway for its entire 6-mile stretch through Ahwatukee. The Arizona Department of Transportation had similar concerns, but didn’t try to stop the station. Instead, ADOT bought more than 650 feet of 40th Street frontage north from the freeway, then prevented QuikTrip from building a driveway leading to and from the street. QuikTrip is about 300 feet from the freeway. ADOT’S move was made mainly because of safety concerns over westbound freeway traffic exiting onto 40th and running into any traffic entering or leaving the gas

station. But that means all traffic going in and out of the gas station will have to use Cottonwood. QuikTrip told Phoenix officials that the gas station would add nearly 3,700 vehicle trips a day to the area. But the October 2019 report by the engineering firm CivTech said only 886 of those trips would actually be “new” to the gas station. The other 2,800 trips would comprise “pass by” traffic, the firm said. There is no traffic count associated with the Christian Brothers service station, although customers will also have to use Cottonwood to enter and leave the site. Foothills Paseo residents also expressed concerned about hazardous chemical spills involving gas tankers servicing QuikTrip, although the city Fire Department said its plans for dealing with any incidents are sufficient to prevent any threat

to homeowners. The entire 3-acre home to both the gas station and repair shop has been zoned C-2 Commercial for two decades. That zoning category allows for a wide range of more than 100 different uses, including a gas station. Several parcels just north of that site also have the same zoning. While residents’ protests did prompt city planners to require QuikTrip to widen Cottonwood to include a right turn entry lane for traffic coming off 40th, both the Village Planning Committee and Planning Department said they were powerless to do much more because the zoning was in place. Foothills Paseo residents lamented the fact that there was no provision in city zoning law to change allowable uses, noting that the subdivision wasn’t built and developed until well after the land had been zoned C-2. 

Raingutter boaters Ahwatukee Cub Scout Pack 178 held an unusual event in Western Star Park last Saturday to introduce youngsters to its organization. Its Raingutter Regatta had boys and girls using recyclable materials to build boats. The 41-year-old pack is open to boys and girls in grades K-5 and anyone who missed the event but wants to join can email join178@azpack178.com. 1) Caleb Kuzila, 4, uses a fan to push his “bottle boat while 2) brother Zach Kuzila did the same with a boat made from an old container. 3) Jacob Longstreet, 9, used a glue gun to buiild his boat while 4) Emiliana Thorn, 10, left, and DeAnn Wadsworth, 9, grappled with tape to start setting up a boat made from a water jug. (Pablo Robles/AFN Staff Photographer)

AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS | JUNE 23, 2021

NEWS

AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS | JUNE 23, 2021

Key regional water resource back on line BY GARY NELSON AFN Contributor

ne of the Southeast Valley’s priceless water-storage facilities is up and running again after more than a year. Reactivation of the Granite Reef Underground Storage Project (GRUSP) comes just as Arizona braces for cutbacks in its supply of Colorado River water – the first time in history that such restrictions will have been imposed. GRUSP is owned by Salt River Project, which has supplied water and electricity to the region for more than a century, and by several cities – Chandler, Gilbert, Mesa and Tempe among them. The facility sits in the Salt River bed about four miles downstream from the Granite Reef Diversion dam. It is designed to channel water – mostly from the Colorado River via the Central Arizona Project – to large surface ponds. From there, the water trickles through porous materials to an aquifer for storage. The ponds went dry more than a year ago. Ironically, it was water that caused the problem when storms washed out the GRUSP delivery channel. With repairs complete, water began flowing to them again this month.

dry anytime soon. The bigger picture, encompassing the vast Colorado River system, is far grimmer. Lake Mead, the biggest reservoir on the Colorado, has been receding for 20-plus years. In in late May it contained only 37 percent of the water it was designed for. Mead is nearing the level at which Arizona would be forced to accept less Colorado River water than in the past. If the cuts come in 2022 as expected, the first to be affected would be agricultural customers, many of them in Pinal County. The anticipated cuts would see farmers lose half their CAP water in 2022, and all of it in 2023 and thereafter, if the Colorado River does not recover. Arizona water officials plan to deal with that by pumping groundwater. But because needed infrastructure is not in place, there’s a good chance that 20 to 30 percent of Pinal County farmland will go dry, according to some estimates. Southeast Valley cities are expected to receive their share of Colorado River water for at least the next several years. But as Western states’ populations continue to boom amid a megadrought that shows no signs of easing, that could change. Under agreements reached with the six other states that draw water from the Colorado, Arizona is first in line to suffer

cutbacks as needed. In such a case, the water now being saved at GRUSP and SRP’s other underground storage facilities could prove vital to the Southeast Valley. 

But Karamargin said there’s a good any vaccine. Instead, it singled out inoculation for COVID-19. reason for the difference. He said the vaccines for those three It also comes at a time of increasing diseases have full kickback by Republicans who not only approval of the federal Food and The vaccine works, and we won’t get vaccinated themselves Drug Administraencourage Arizonans to amid questions tion. By contrast, take it. But it is a choice the vaccines for about its safety but COVID-19 are and we need to keep it that have made a political issue of the available under way, public education is a virus, even insistwhat the FDA calls public right, and taxpayers ing that Anthony an Emergency Use are paying for it. Fauci, the nation’s Authorization. - Gov. Doug Ducey top infectious disAnd that, Karaease specialist, lied margin said, about the threat of makes it a different the virus to convince people to agree to situation. Ducey’s order earlier this week makes be inoculated. Karamargin said the distinction Ducey no reference to the formal FDA status of

is making between the shots for MMR and for COVID is not political. “Those vaccines are part of a schedule of vaccines that have gone through the full FDA approval process,’’ he said. “The COVID vaccines have not.’’ But Karamargin was careful with his wording. “This is not to say they are unsafe,’’ he said. “We believe they are safe.’’ It would be a surprise if the governor or his spokesman argued otherwise, and not just because both have received the vaccine. Dr. Cara Christ, the state health director, herself affirmed that to be true. More to the point, she said that EUA designation was largely meaningless.

GRUSP is one of the biggest water-recharging projects of its kind in the country. Completed in 1994, it has stored more than 1 million acre-feet of water from the CAP and SRP systems. That, according to an SRP press release, is 17 times the water that typically is stored in Saguaro Lake. The project was designed for just such an eventuality as now appears imminent in the Colorado River basin – a prolonged drought leading to reduced water allocations. The situation has been building for years. Although there have been occasional wet winters, climatologists say the West has been in a drought since around 2000. If anything, the situation has worsened over the past year. The hottest summer in Arizona history was followed by an anemic winter that brought little rain or snow. Almost all of Arizona, as well as portions of neighboring states, is currently listed as experiencing extreme or “exceptional” drought. As of late May, the Salt and Verde river reservoirs operated by SRP were 72 percent full, compared with 97 percent at the same time a year ago. Even so, that number represents more than 1.6 million acre-feet of water, which means the Valley is in no danger of going

GRUSP facts

Construction: Original four basins completed in 1994; additional basins completed in 1999, 2000 and 2005 Partners: Operated by SRP; owned by Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community, SRP, Chandler, Gilbert, Phoenix, Mesa, Scottsdale and Tempe. Water sources: Water from the Salt and Verde rivers, Central Arizona Project water via the South Canal, and reclaimed water via pipeline from Mesa water reclamation facility Number of basins: Seven Surface area (approximate): 197 acres Storage capacity: 93,000 acre-feet per year permitted Location: On Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community land, in the Salt River bed just west of SRP’s Granite Reef Diversion Dam Distinction: First major recharge facility in the state. -Source: SRP

Ducey bans college COVID vaccine rules BY HOWARD FISCHER Capitol Media Services

ov. Doug Ducey doesn’t plan to block state universities from requiring students to be vaccinated against at least some diseases despite a move this week to do just that over COVID-19. Press aide C.J. Karamargin told Capitol Media Services his boss is aware that the schools preclude students from registering unless they meet certain immunization requirements. Unlike the policy that Ducey overruled Tuesday on COVID vaccines, there is no work-around, like getting tested regularly and wearing a mask, to allow students to avoid getting inoculated for measles, mumps and rubella.

see DUCEY page 15

NEWS

AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS | JUNE 23, 2021

DUCEY from page 14

“These vaccines have been through the exact same clinical trials as all of the other vaccines,’’ Christ said. The EUA process, she said, simply cuts down on the “bureaucratic requirements.’’ Karamargin, however, said Ducey’s actions in eliminating any requirement for students to be vaccinated against COVID remain valid because “they fall under a different category.’’ But he would not answer whether Ducey will relent and rescind his order when the vaccines get full FDA approval. Pfizer applied for full authorization for its vaccine on May 7, with Moderna following suit on June 1. “That’s a hypothetical,’’ Karamargin said. He also brushed aside that, unlike the MMR vaccines, nothing in the now-overturned policies of the state universities actually required students to get inoculated against COVID.

At both the University of Arizona and Arizona State University, unvaccinated students and those who refused to disclose their status still had the right to attend classes provided they were tested at least once a week and agreed to wear face coverings. Northern Arizona University is requiring all students to wear masks. Karamargin noted the announcements by the three schools and the Arizona Board of Regents to scrap their policies. And he rejected the idea that the schools really had no choice, given the control the governor can exercise over their budgets. Ducey’s order barring the public universities and community colleges from requiring students to get a COVID-19 vaccine or submit their vaccination records drew mixed reviews by some ASU students and staff. The day before that order, Joanne Vogel, vice president of ASU Student Services, wrote students that if they “are unable to be vaccinated for any reason or

who do not agree to share their vaccination status will be required to participate in ongoing COVID-19 health management protocols,” including testing. Students who chose not to get vaccinated or refuse to share records, the email said, would have to wear masks, submit daily health checks and participate in COVID-19 testing twice a week. Ducey criticized ASU’s policy in a tweet, saying that unvaccinated students will not be required to wear masks or undergo weekly testing to attend classes. “The vaccine works, and we encourage Arizonans to take it. But it is a choice and we need to keep it that way,” Ducey said. “Public education is a public right, and taxpayers are paying for it. “We need to make our public universities available for students to return to learning. They have already missed out on too much learning. From K-12 to higher education, Arizona is supporting in-person learning.”

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

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Katie Paquet, media relations and strategic communications administrator for the university, said students never were required to be vaccinated. Paquet said ASU will do its best to provide resources for vaccinated and unvaccinated students that work within the parameters of the executive order. Some ASU students and staff are concerned about the health of other students, and the potential for more cases of COVID-19 on campus. “I think he is confused about the fact that ASU is not implementing a vaccine mandate, like at all,” said Gideon Kariuki, a junior. “There are people on campus, our friends, neighbors, co-workers, who are immunocompromised, who would be put more at risk if these extra measures for unvaccinated students were taken away. “His order does away with the idea that we live in a society where we are responsible for each other.” 

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NEWS

AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS | JUNE 23, 2021

WEST from page 11

solved lawsuit that the Club West Conservancy filed in spring 2020 against the HOA board. The declarant rights also fueled a bitterly fought election campaign that ended with the ouster of four longtime HOA board members by homeowners who either belonged to the Conservancy or shared its opposition to having any homes built on the course. The Conservancy’s lawsuit challenged the previous board’s acquisition of the declarant rights from Shea in 2010 and some subsequent amendments to those rights that the board passed in 1018. Since Superior Court Commissioner Andrew J. Russell last fall ruled that the

THE EDGE from page 11

with the water solution.” The course currently can be irrigated only with expensive city potable water. The infrastructure problem covers a wide range of issues, from the age of the irrigation system to reducing the amount of land that needs irrigation. During the HOA board meeting, Tyler also wondered if Blandford Homes might be interested in working with the Club West HOA to restore the golf course and make it an amenity for the projected 1,050 homes that could be built on the State Trust Land right next to Club West. Blandford recently won an auction for that 373-acre State Trust Land parcel along Chandler Boulevard between 19th and 29th avenues, ponying up a whopping $175.5 million for the site. Shearer savaged the board and the Conservancy during an interview last week with AFN, stating neither group can come up with a plan for a park or a restored golf

old board illegally acquired the declarant rights, does that mean the new board members are fighting the organization they supported only a year ago? Not at all, said HOA Board President Julie Tyler, stating the board needs clarity from Judge Joan Sinclair because “it’s a little vague the way he (Russell) ruled.” “Legally, we want to protect the community in any way we can,” Tyler said. “So that’s why, depending on how the court rules and how it writes up the final judgment, we just want to do what’s best for everybody in the community and everybody in the community wants the HOA to step in and protect the land and protect everybody in the community.” Sinclair must now issue a final order, apparently clearing up some confusion as to

course without either selling part of it to a homebuilder or imposing a huge increase in annual dues for homeowners. Shearer said The Edge has already studied alternatives for the land and the HOA board could benefit from its studies – if it would talk to him and his partners. “I find it ridiculous that they won’t talk to us about it,” he said. Tyler said the board believes the Conservancy’s lawsuit against it must be finally resolved before it can talk with The Edge. Shearer blames the Conservancy for blowing up what he said was an agreement to work together on a park plan that would enable he and his partners to recoup their investment in the property. “We were meeting with the board, we were meeting with the CWC,” he said. “We were all working together and then something changed and the CWC started this litigation and we were forced to end that cooperation and start a new group.” That group is the Edge subsidiary called

whether 75 percent of the homeowners is needed to assume the declarant rights. The Conservancy has twice obtained extensions for filing a response to the HOA board. Its next deadline is Friday. Tyler also said the reason the board has not met with The Edge is because the court case has not been resolved. “From a board perspective, we’ve heard from Shea, we’ve heard from The Edge,” she said. “But until we understand how the ruling is essentially defined and how the judge approves the final form of the judgment, we’re not really clear on what those rights are.” The Conservancy wants Sinclair to clearly state that the HOA board had no right to assume the declarant rights without the approval of 75 percent of Club

Community Land Solutions, which had been advancing a park plan though it never published any suggestions on how its implementation would be funded. Shearer also said it would be premature to assume Shea Homes can simply build houses if it does buy the course from him and his partners. “I don’t know what the lawyers would say but you have to go through the zoning proicess. I mean, you can’t even build an addition to your house without going through a process,” he said. “We still live on the property,” he said of himself and his partners. “We’re steadfast in our pursuit of a viable plan to mitigate the property. We want to improve property values and we want to restore the quality of life we had before. “But while the CWC was fighting to block votes, divide the community, ultimately strip any authority over the land, we were working on solutions.” As for the new board, which only shape three months ago, Shearer said its mem-

West’s 2,600 homeowners. Now that Shea is eyeing the purchase of the golf course, it’s unclear whether it can simply hold on to the declarant rights. “We can’t stop The Edge from selling the land,” Tyler said. “All we can do is enforce our legal rights. And we’re trying to figure out what those are.” Russell’s initial ruling notes that the course’s declarant rights require the owner to maintain the site for golf. In that same ruling, however, Russell noted that in another section of the declarant rights, the owner “shall be entitled to release or cancel all or any portion of the declaration with respect to all or any portion of the golf course property at any time without the consent or approval of any other party.” 

bers “haven’t made any progress on solutions” and that only have “regurgitated what we’ve been saying.” “Some people on that committee specifically said ‘we should consider some form of responsible development to finance the revitalization’ and the chair of that committee – who also is president of the HOA – said ‘absolutely not. We’re not going to consider any development even if homeowners on the committee recommend it.’” Shearer also predicted that in contrast to The Edge’s plan to sell some of the course to finance its restoration either for golf or as a park, the board will be forced to propose an increase in dues because there is no other way to finance the site’s restoration and continued maintenance. “We think that’s unethical, irresponsible and problematic – to tell someone who lives a couple miles away from the property 'you’ve got to pay for this person’s backyard.'” 

ANSWERS TO PUZZLES AND SUDOKU from Page 36

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Ziggy turns judges’ heads at prestigious gathering BY PAUL MARYNIAK AFN Executive Editor

he latest award winner in Ahwatukee weighs about 60 pounds, has many distant ancestors that worked hard in extremely cold temperatures and wears a blazing white fur coat even in these days of blazing hot temperatures. Meet Ziggy, a 4 ½-year-old Samoyed that came away from the prestigious Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show in New York State earlier this month with an Award of Merit – a prize the judges award at their discretion to only a few of the thousands of dogs that compete in the show and that haven’t won more coveted honors like Best of Breed or Best of Show. Not bad for his first time at perhaps the world’s most famous dog show, though he’s no stranger to competitions across the country. Indeed, by earning points at other shows, Ziggy caught the attention of West-

Ahwatukee residents Diana Thomas and Ziggy attended the 145th Westminster Dog Show in New York State earlier this month and found the experience unforgettable. (Special to AFN) minster Dog Show organizers, who invited Ziggy and his master, Diana Thomas of Ahwatukee, to the star-studded – and studstarred – event. “Westminster is a bunch of heavy-hit-

ters,” said Thomas, a semi-retired chief financial officer for a real estate company who moved from Ohio to Ahwatukee six years ago. “You pretty much have to be invited,”

playing the game for about a year and a half. It’s not just Pecos. The growing legion of pickleball players are swamping just about every court in the Valley as more players lean on municipalities to build more courts. McNeish said some HOAs in Ahwatukee have pickleball courts but they’re only open to residents. Ostendorp and McNeish have won the support of Councilman Sal DiCiccio, whose office is guiding them through the complex City Hall bureaucracy. Their first step is to get simple statements of interest from people so they can show city bureaucrats there’s community interest in pickleball courts at Desert Foothills Park. Besides turning to social media with their call for interested pickleballers, people also can send an expression of interest

to dfparkpb@gmail.com, a special email address Ostendorp and McNeish created just for their campaign. The two women also are reaching out to local clubs and the state pickleball association to help get the word out. “My family started playing right before the courts were built at Pecos Park about three years ago and we fell in love with it,” McNeish said. “We have since started play groups to play regularly several times a week and continue to introduce many folks to this fun sport.” “Jill and I play together often, were talking about how we would love to get courts installed at our neighborhood park – Desert Foothills Park. It has a lot of open space that has not been developed yet. Honestly, a lot of this open area at the park does not look so great.”

2 start pickleball court campaign here AFN NEWS STAFF

or the growing number of fans of the sport, you can’t get enough of pickleball – or pickleball courts. That’s why Ahwatukee residents Carrie McNeish and Jill Ostendorp have started a campaign to persuade the City of Phoenix to build some courts in Desert Foothills Park. It’s not just a matter of convenience for players who live in the western half of Ahwatukee, they say. The 3-year-old 16-court pickleball complex at Pecos Park is great, they say, but unfortunately, a lot of other pickleball players think so too; so getting time at that court can be a challenge, especially when the weather is more temperate than it is now. “The Pecos courts are always overwhelmed,” said Ostendorp, who has been

see PICKLE page 22

she said, explaining an invitation only is extended to dogs that have accumulated enough points at other shows throughout the year. Though Ziggy is her third Samoyed, he’s not like her previous two, which were rescues. Thomas said he seemed bound for glory at birth. “The other two weren’t puppies and I’d always wanted a puppy,” Thomas explained. “He originally was going to be a therapy dog because his personality was perfect for a therapy dog. But he also happened to be the pick of the litter, so its breeder got me into showing him.” Thomas has been showing Ziggy since he was seven or eight months old, taking him usually in an RV with her husband to various parts of the country. And this year, Ziggy earned enough

see ZIGGY page 22

Ahwatukee residents Carrie McNeish and Jill Ostendorp are starting a campaign to have the city build some pickleball courts at Desert Foothills Park. (Special to AFN)

COMMUNITY

AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS | JUNE 23, 2021

2 DV grads win Sisterhood scholarships AFN NEWS STAFF

wo new Desert Vista High School graduates have received $2,500 Star Scholarships from the P.E.O. Sisterhood. Shirley Wang was recommended by P.E.O. Chapter DV of Ahwatukee and Rhea Rungta was recommended by P.E.O. Chapter A of Phoenix, Arizona. The P.E.O. STAR Scholarship was established in 2009 for “exceptional high school senior women” and is based on excellence in leadership, academics, extracurricular activities, community service and potential for future success. Chapter DV has been a part of Ahwatukee since 1992 and Chapter A has been part of Phoenix since in 1912. Shirley served in various positions of leadership and was on the debate team, the Governor’s Youth Commission, Health and Occupation Students of America

ZIGGY from page 21

points to make him one of the top five Samoyeds in the United States. Earning points was no small feat since many dog shows were canceled because of the pandemic last year. So, Ziggy made up for that lost time by scoring enough points in shows the first three months of this year to qualify for a Westminster invite. When she got the invitation, Thomas recalled, “I just got really excited. It was really, really cool.” Her expectations were exceeded by the actual experience. “The atmosphere is just electrifying,” Thomas explained. “There are so many people there and it’s like the top dogs from all over. I mean there were dogs from Canada and other parts of the world, from all over the United States. “One of the dogs that Ziggy was competing against is the number one dog in the United States – no other dog, no other breed.” That Samoyed’s name is Stryker, a Canadian canine that won the Westminster medal in the herding group – beating Ziggy – but failed to win Best of Show by getting bested by Wasabi the Pekingese. “I guess you could call him Ziggy’s nemesis,” Thomas said of Stryker. Vying for Best of Show, she added, is

SHIRLEY WANG

(HOSA) club, Entrepreneurship Club, various honor societies. She plays the viola and is an avid origami folder. She taught origami to patients at the Phoenix Children’s Hospital and volunteered at the Iron Library, Leukemia and

Not many dogs among the thousands of entries at 145 Westminster Dog Show won an Award of Merit but Ahwatukee resident Ziggy was one of them. The award is given at the discretion of judges for an outstanding entry that does not win a Best of Breed or Best of Variety award. (Special to AFN) “where you can get really intense.” “People can spend literally hundreds of thousands of dollars on what they call campaigning a dog, which means you ad-

Lymphoma Society, among others. She will attend Duke University in California to pursue majors in computer science and economics. She plans to work at the intersection of finance and technology in the future. Rhea was on the speech and debate team, part of the peer tutoring club, helps less fortunate children in Arizona through the club Because We Can, and has continued the Phoenix CORD chapter established by supporting two girls in India for eight years through an involved fundraising plan. She has completed the Congressional Award and has received the highest medal given, gold. She will attend Rice University in Texas to study neuroscience. P.E.O. stands for Philanthropic Educational Organization and has been celebrating women helping women for more than 150 years. The nonprofit has helped more than 116,000 women pursue educational goals by providing over $383 million in grants,

vertise it, you go to a show every weekend, you have a top-notch handler.” In many ways, that kind of campaigning is identical to the campaigning that movie studios do at the beginning of every calendar year as they vie for an Academy Award nomination. “Stryker was on the front cover and the back cover of every dog magazine,” Thomas explained. Renown for a face that makes them look as if they are always smiling, Samoyeds trace their lineage to Siberia, where they were trained to work hard as herd dogs by reindeer farmers. They’re considered stubborn in many descriptions on the internet, though Thomas doesn’t agree with that characterization. “I wouldn’t say they’re stubborn,” she said. “They are very smart and you have to outsmart them. But the thing I’ve found out with the breed is they’re just so family-oriented. “It’s like bred into them,” Thomas continued, noting that their ancestors lived in bone-shattering cold and helped herd kids in the snow as well as reindeer. “They kind of had to keep track of everybody,” Thomas said. “So, I think they develop this relationship with people in a household and as long as you develop that relationship, then the stubbornness isn’t as bad. They want to please you because

RHEA RUNGTA

scholarships, awards and loans. It was started by seven women in Mount Pleasant, Iowa, and is now one of the oldest women’s organizations in North America with close to 6,000 chapters. Information: peointernational.org. 

Wasabi the Pekingese won the Best of Show Award at Westminster Dog Show earlier this month. (Special to AFN) they love you.” And while “he’s not clingy,” she said, “He wants to know where you are. If I’m in my office working, he has to be within eyeshot of me. And if my husband’s in the kitchen, he wants to know where you are at all times. But it’s not like in-your-face pestering you or anything like that. He just wants to know where you are and what you’re doing and that you’re around.” Being a champion, Ziggy doesn’t get table scraps and stays on a diet of kibble – for the most part. “He loves his peanut butter,” Thomas said. “He has to have peanut butter every

see ZIGGY page 23

REAL ESTATE

Real Estate Guide Contractors watchdog: shortages demand patience AFN NEWS STAFF

small inventory of available homes isn’t the only problem impacting the Valley’s housing industry. Building material shortages and an inadequate labor pool have become bad enough that the state watchdog for the contracting industry is urging building and remodeling companies and their customers to exercise patience, candor and understanding. And price increases over the past 12 months have raised an alarm by the Asso-

Bonny Holland

ciated General Contractors of America over the future solvency of many companies. Citing shortages in key materials such as wood as well as a need for workers, the Arizona Registrar of Contractors last week urged homeowners and contractors to have patience and keep open lines of communication regarding their projects. “From new home builds and pools to installing air conditioning units, both residential and commercial contractors alike have been struggling to get materials and

�ee CONTRACTORS page RE2

Beautiful custom home in the highly sought after Ahwatukee Custom Estates. Page SeeSee Page 66 Offered at $1,249,000

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See Page 6

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SeeSee Page Page6 6

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L SO

SO Sanctuary - Front

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Stunning panoramic views from privately gated luxury retreat adorned with vibrant imported Montana stone accents. Prime elevated preserve lot with casita. 5 br, 5 ba with 6,455 sq. ft. Resort-style backyard with negative edge pool, custom artwork, fireplace and built-in DCS bbq.

Majestic Southwest contemporary estate on elevated 1.24-acre hillside lot with stunning mountain and city light views. 5 br, 4.5 ba with 4,924 sq. ft. Resort-style backyard with slate patio, built-in Viking grill, pool, spa, koi pond and ultimate privacy.

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REAL ESTATE

AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS | JUNE 23, 2021

7-�igure beaut This 9,397-square-foot home on E. Kachina Drive in Ahwatukee recently sold for $2.2 million. Built in 2002, the eight-bedroom, nine-bath, three-story home has unobstructed mountai views from a meticulously developed backyard and a rooftop deck, a stunning entertainment space with custom built-ins and wet bar in the basement, a magnificent gourmet kitchen and numerous unique decorative accents throughout. (Special to AFN)

CONTRACTORS from page RE1

find enough workers to fulfill existing contracts and start new ones, according to a survey by the Associated General Contractors of America,” ROC noted in a release. Moreover, the contractors group last week released an analysis that concluded, “The cost of goods and services used in construction climbed by a record-setting 4.3 percent in May and 24.3 percent over

the past 12 months, jeopardizing contractors’ solvency and construction workers’ employment.” It cited a variety of products impacted by steep price increases ovet the last 12 months – including products made from wood, metals, plastics and gypsum. “The producer price index for lumber and plywood more than doubled – rocketing 111 percent from May 2020 to last month,” it said.

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“The index for steel mill products climbed 75.6 percent, while the index for copper and brass mill shapes rose 60.4 percent and the index for aluminum mill shapes increased 28.6 percent. The index for plastic construction products rose 17.5 percent. The index for gypsum products such as wallboard climbed 14.1 percent. Fuel costs, which contractors pay directly to operate their own trucks and off-road equipment, as well as through surcharges on freight deliveries, have also jumped.” Association officials said the Biden administration can provide immediate relief from some price pressures by ending tariffs on Canadian lumber, along with tariffs and quotas on steel and aluminum from numerous countries. But tariffs may not be the only issue impacting lumber prices, according to the financial website thehustle.com. It noted that lumber demand cratered in the U.S. when the housing market collapsed in 2008, forcing more than 30 large sawmills out of business. And Canada, which supplies a third of

American lumber, also has had its share of problems, including an infestation of bark-eating beetles in the early 2000s that wiped out 44 million acres of forest and 60 percent of British Columbia’s pine. Subsequently, wildfires in 2017 and 2018 devastated another 6.2 million acres of Canadian forest. Atop that, American lumber mills early last year reduced their production by 40 percent, expecting the pandemic to cut down demand. Instead, the opposite happened, The Hustle said. Building more mills is not an option, it added, citing the two-year construction time and $100 million cost of building a state-of-the-art mill. Moreover, The Hustle said, “Today’s mills rely on microprocessors and heavy machinery – markets that face their own shortages." The contractors group earlier this month offered a grim forecast for the immediate future. “Contractors are being told they must

�ee CONTRACTORS page RE5

JUNE 23, 2021 | AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS

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Leading Luxury Home Experts

wait nearly a year to receive shipments of steel and four to six months for roofing materials,” said Ken Simonson, the association’s chief economist. “These delays make it impossible to start some projects and to complete others, leaving contractors unable to keep workers employed. In addition, soaring prices for steel, lumber, and other materials are deterring owners from committing to going ahead with projects.” Simonson also noted that contractors are having considerable difficulty finding qualified workers “as some people remain reluctant to return to work while their children are learning from home, or they are collecting elevated unemployment supplements.” “Steadily worsening production and delivery delays have exceeded even the record cost increases for numerous materials as the biggest headache for many nonresidential contractors,” he said. “If they can’t get the materials, they can’t put

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before filing a complaint,” it said. “Homeowners should know 95 percent of licensed contractors never have a complaint filed against their license and the ones who do often work to resolve those complaints. If a homeowner is experiencing a problem, AZ ROC is always here to answer questions and to assist with resolving workmanship or abandonment issues if such issues arise.” The agency has a two-year jurisdiction from the date escrow closed or the date work was last performed. If work is not completed, the jurisdiction time does not toll. Homeowners who hire licensed contractors may have the additional protection of the Residential Recovery Fund, the agency said. To qualify, however, the homeowner must “allow the contractor the opportunity to correct any outstanding work or workmanship issues and to take part in the agency’s administrative process,” ROC said. 

4270 sqft, 5 bedrooms (+7), 4 baths

14602 S 20th Street

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munication lines between a contractor and the property owner.” “If the ongoing labor and supply shortages are going to impact a current project,” it said, contractors should “keep an open and honest dialogue with the homeowner about the status of the project and any expected or unexpected delays.” It also said contractors should discuss tell clients about the shortages before even making a bid or estimate on a project. “Contractors should not take on projects if they know they will not be able to fulfill them,” the agency also advised, warning it will investigate complaints about lessthan-forthcoming contractors who don’t discuss the shortage with clients until well after they’ve taken their money. On the other hand, ROC also advised clients to be patient when supply shortages delay completion times. “Disciplining a license or investigating a case will not make material shortages decrease and if possible, it’s always best to try to resolve issues with the contractor

SOLD

 What is a buyers’ market? A buyers’ market occurs when supply exceeds demand and is more favorable to buyers. Inventory is high, with plenty of homes for sale, but buyer demand is low. In this market, more inventory equates to lower prices, giving buyers more leverage over sellers. Sellers must compete with each other to attract buyers, causing home prices to drop. Typically, sellers will lower prices to attract buyers. And they are willing to negotiate in order to sell their home. The

 What Is a sellers’ market? A sellers’ market arises when there are a lot of buyers looking for homes, but inventory is low. As inventory is lower and there are fewer homes on the market, sellers are at an advantage. In a sellers’ market, homes sell much faster, sometimes in just a few days, and have multiple competing offers from buyers. Because of multiple offers, you will see prices start to rise, with many homes selling for over the original asking price – buyers become willing to spend more on a home than they would otherwise and have little room for negotiation. The power lies with the seller.

market during the summer months. But even with that slowing, we can count on staying in a sellers’ market for the foreseeable future. We do remain in a sellers’ market and this market will continue. That being said, moving forward, for at least the next year, the market will not be as dramatic as it has been. Currently, the median sales price for homes in Ahwatukee is up over 16 percent from last year and this growth is unsustainable. Look for more homes to hit in the market in the next couple of quarters, opening up more opportunities for buyers.

employees to work.” Associated General Contractors of America CEO Stephen E. Sandherr also took a swipe at the Biden Administration’s actions it will take to address supply-chain disruptions. “The President could provide immediate relief from soaring prices for lumber, steel and aluminum by removing harmful tariffs and quotas,” he said. “Unfortunately, the President’s recommendations ignore that quick and effective approach. “Instead, these proposals would limit the ability of workers and employers to fill needed construction positions. Imposing mandated hiring percentages from certain localities and training programs, dictating inflexible labor agreements, and setting artificially high pay rates will diminish the number of firms and workers available to carry out vital infrastructure and other construction programs.” Meanwhile, the Registrar of Contractors noted that one of the most common complaints it receives involve “broken com-

SOLD

nderstanding today’s housing market requires a little understanding of the difference between a buyers’ and a sellers’ market.

ers’ market and buyers must decide to whether to wait it out or jump into the competition that is a sellers’ market. To a lot of people, waiting it out seems to be the logical decision, but that is a fallacy. The misconception of waiting for a buyers’ market is this … Home values decline in a buyers’ market, because there is a larger inventory. Who wants to buy a home and then immediately watch its value start decreasing? Buying in a sellers’ market pretty much guarantees immediate appreciation, even as supply begins to slowly grow and the sellers’ market slows. In Phoenix, we have been in a very strong sellers’ market, but it appears that since spring, the market has been slowly losing strength. We do normally see a slowdown in the

CONTRACTOR from page RE2

JUST LISTED

BY BONNIE HOLLAND AFN Guest Writer

power lies with the buyer.

REAL ESTATE

JUNE 23, 2021 | AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS

SOLD

AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS | JUNE 23, 2021

SOLD

REAL ESTATE

SOLD

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AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS | JUNE 23, 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!

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SONORAN LIVING

KELLER WILLIAMS® REALTY

11640 S WARCLOUD COURT

AMAZING LOCATION IN AHWATUKEE Just Listed. 4270 sqft, 5 bedrooms (+7), 4 baths. Beautiful custom home in the highly sought after Ahwatukee Custom Estates. The home is located in a cul-de-sac lot with a hand-laid paver driveway that catches the eye. This 5bd / 4ba + loft house boasts beautiful high ceilings for a wide open feel, two great rooms, formal dining room, a second living room off the kitchen, a loft in the Master suite and a spacious back yard that is perfect for entertaining.

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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

REAL ESTATE

JUNE 23, 2021 | AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS

Top questions being asked of Realtors these days BY ELEAZAR MEDRANO AFN Guest Writer

he demand in the Phoenix market has left many homebuyers disappointed and confused on how to move forward. However, what many buyers are missing is an effective strategy. Here are the top questions I’m asked when creating a strategy with my clients.

Should I offer above asking price? With high demand comes high prices, so many of my clients want to know if their initial offer should be over asking price. The answer isn’t yes or no, but rather how can we create a competitive advantage in your offer when you’re competing with so many others. As a buyer you must ask yourself, “What is this home worth to me?” For example, if you pay over asking by $10,000 on a $400,000 home that’s a mere 2.5 percent increase, when home values are increasing in double digits over the course of a year.

480-706-7234 ! LD O S

If this is where you will call home, you should ask yourself if it’s worth paying more today when you will continue to see values increase to well over what you are paying.

Should I waive my home appraisal and inspection contingencies? While many buyers are waiving their home appraisal and inspection contingencies to make their offer more competitive, this is not a strategy for everyone. When you waive these contingencies,

the buyer is responsible for paying the difference in the home appraisal and what their offer is and for any repairs the home may need after closing. If you have a tight budget, I would not recommend this approach. Another strategy to consider is to drop your down payment to free up additional cash to pay over appraised value. How can I make my offer stand out? Simple, you come in with a strategy that wows the seller and shows how much you want to call this home. Going in with your best foot forward, coming in with your highest and best offer upfront, gives you an opportunity to compete. The days of countering back and forth are in the past. Today, sellers have so many options, your offer may be overlooked if it’s not competitive from the very

4 BR / 2.5 BA / 3,008 SQFT

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! LD O S

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D! L SO

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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

Should I wait to buy until the market cools down? Waiting till the market cools down is the worst thing you can do. The best time to buy or sell real estate is in a seller’s market. Sellers want to sell to take advantage of a market that gives them multiple options when it comes to offers. Buyers want to buy in a seller’s market to take advantage of a market that will create an asset out of their home worth more tomorrow than today. Waiting till the market “cools” to buy means you want to buy as prices are going down. This approach doesn’t make sense when buying an appreciating asset. The current demand of the real estate market can be intimidating, but it’s important not to get discouraged. With time and the right strategy in place, you’ll soon find a place to call home. Eleazar Medrano is a branch manager and co-founder of The Medrano Group with HomeSmart. Information: themedranogroup.com. 

Ahwatukee’s #1 Team for Over 30 Years 7BR / 4.5 BA / 8,873 SQFT

Circle G at Riggs Ranch

beginning.

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Call for Details

Monte Vista

AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS | JUNE 23, 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

�

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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

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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

COMMUNITY

JUNE 23, 2021 | AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS

PICKLE from page 21

And while the Pecos courts “are amazing,” she added, “I think the folks that leave near this park would love the convenience of having some so close by.” Besides, the Pecos complex has the most concentrated number of pickleball courts in the Valley and has become so popular that they often comprise the venue for tournaments as well as lessons. “I have some friends that drive up from Casa Grande” to play on them,” McNeish said. “People will tend to come to our courts rather than others, because there’s more of a chance that a court at Pecos will be available.” She said Zach Muncy, a city sustainabil-

ZIGGY from page 22

morning when we have our breakfast and he’s a fanatic for cheese.” “A lot of people are really into feeding (their dogs) raw and things like that. I just try to keep him on a well-balanced meal.” He gets a bath once a week and his fur is so thick that the process takes three hours of blow-drying and brushing. And when the weather is more tem-

@generationaz

ity officer/research analyst, thought it was a good idea and that the Parks and Rec Department needs to assess the degree of interest in the community for the courts. Parks and Rec spokesman Gregg Bach did not return a request for comment on how much interest City Hall bureaucrats need to start the ball rolling. But McNeish said, “It’s not a formal petition and the city didn’t ask for that. We just need to show a lot of people out here want some courts at Desert Foothills Park.” She added that the part of the park they think could accommodate pickleball courts is little used besides looking ratty. “I think the Boys Scouts use it to collect Christmas trees and that’s about it,” McNeish said. perate, Ziggy accompanies Thomas on 20-minute bike rides and occasional 5-mile hikes that include a pack on his back that has about 25 percent of his weight. He also enjoys accompanying Thomas or her husband on errands. He’s known to the folks at Ruggiero’s Ace Hardware Desert Foothills, were he often scores treats from the owners, Thomas said. Ziggy will one day be used for stud,

@genchurchaz

Carrie McNeish and Jill Ostendorp stand on an unkempt part of Desert Foothills Park that they believe could easily accommodate some pickleball courts.(Special to AFN) So the area could be of more use to a sport with seemingly limitless popularity.

though for now he has a lot of shows ahead of him as his master learns how to be an owner-handler. Though she can handle Ziggy outside the ring, the science of handling a dog in the ring at shows requires a higher level of training. Once she masters that training, Thomas and Ziggy will be able to enter different categories at dog shows where she is as much a competitor as Ziggy.

“The thing is,” she added, “it’s easier than tennis, so more people are doing it.”  He might go for another Westminster Dog Show. “He’s still got another good year or two,” Thomas said, explaining that the prime for larger dogs in shows is 4 to 6 years old. “This year he was really mature enough and ready to go” to Westminster, she added. “He could go next year if we qualify and maybe one more year after that. But he might not be as competitive as the young guns.” 

COMMUNITY

ARW Scholarship winner

Ahwatukee Republican Women presented its 11th annual 2021 Majorie Miner Scholarship to Ahwatukee resident Adam Stewart, a Desert Vista High School graduate who completed over 500 hours of service, volunteering at Banner Hospital and running the teen program at Ironwood Library. As a Boy Scout, Adam built furniture for Furnishing Dignity, reworked the trails at South Mountain and for his Eagle Project, led a project to ship soccer cleats and balls to Fields of Dream Uganda. He has already completed some pre-med courses at the University of Arizona College of Medicine and will be attending Arizona State University this fall to study cognitive science with the eventual goal of becoming a doctor. Society of America. He is an avid soccer player and also plays the bagpipes. With Adam are, from left, Ahwatukee Republican Women President Judy Krahulec and Scholarship Committee members Priscilla Poese, Sandy Money and Debbie Smith. (Special to AFN)

AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS | JUNE 23, 2021

AROUND AHWATUKEE

Local foundation for kids slates fundraiser gala next month

The second annual Armer Foundation for Kids Dancing with the Stars gala features a whole lot of dancing. Designed to promote community involvement and awareness, the event will feature continuous entertainment 6-10:30 p.m. July 23 at the Chateau Luxe 1175 E. Lone Cactus Drive, Phoenix. It will include a performance by the Ahwatukee Children’s Theatre and dancing by local business professionals paired with professional dancers at the Fred Astaire Dance Studios in Ahwatukee. Tickets are $150 and will benefit the Armer Foundation For Kids, which aims to reduce financial barriers for families so that they can care for their children with chronic or lifealtering diseases. When health insurance is not enough, the foundation assists with copays, premiums, deductibles, and out-of-pocket expenses. Its vision is to “ensure that no child should see their families stress due to a medical condition.” Tickets: armrerfoundation.org/dancin-with-the-stars or 480-257-3254.

Ahwatukee women’s club slates luncheon, guest speaker

Ahwatukee Foothills Friends and Neighbors women’s group at 11:30 a.m. June 28 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 Des-

ert Botanical Garden. Ost of the buffet is $18. Email affanwomensgroup@gmail.com for instructions on registration, location and payment.

Monica Munoz State Farm Office seeks bottled water donations

Staff at the the Monica Munoz State Farm Office at 4747 E. Elliot Road, Ahwatukee, 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

Whole lotta shakin’ will be goin’ on at Cactus Jacks July 7

The “Proud American Summer Dance Party” will be held July 7 at Cactus Jacks in the Safeway Plaza and Elliot Road and 48th Street, Ahwatukee. Line dancing and lessons start at 6:30 p.m. and open dancing will start at 8 p.m. Patrons are encouraged to wear red, white and blue or summer themed outfits. There will be treats and raffles and there is a $5 cover charge. Info: Contact Carrie at dancemeetsfitness.net, 480221-9090. 

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BUSINESS

Business 26

AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS | JUNE 23, 2021

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Familiar face joins Christie Ellis real estate team AFN NEWS STAFF

ddie Ellis didn’t have a very dif�icult job hunt when he decided recently to hang it up as an engineer for Intel after 23 years and re-enter the real estate business. The Ahwatukee man simple joined the seven-member real estate team led by someone he has known intimately since 2002 – his wife, Realtor Christie Ellis. The parents of 16-year-old twins and Desert Vista High School students Ashley and Lizzie, Christie, a New York native, and Eddie, who grew up in North Carolina, met through mutual coworkers. Besides the apparent “in” he had with the leader of the seven-member Christie Ellis Team, he also could point to his experience: he’s had his real estate license since 2006 and was involved in home transactions for the next two years. “I never really left it,” Eddie said. “We

have always had properties we own, for rentals and investments, and I have been involved from the beginning. My goal now is to �ind more of these opportunities.” “After 23 years in engineering I was ready for something new,” explained Eddie, 51. “I loved what I did at Intel …but the timing seemed right to try something else.” And the “something else” has changed a lot, he conceded. “So much has changed!” Eddie said, including just about everything in the real estate business – “contracts, prices, inventory, technology, lending practices and the process.” Eddie said that even though his wife is the team lead, she’s not exactly his boss “but de�initely someone I will rely on.” “Her years and success in the business will help me learn a lot as I try and decide what I want to get more involved

�� ELLIS �� 27

Realtor Eddie Ellis has joined the team run by his wife, Realtor Christie Ellis, after retiring from a 23-year engineering career at Intel. (Courtesy of the Ellis Family)

Restaurant conglomerate buys Ahwatukee site AFN NEWS STAFF

convenience store-gas station in Ahwatukee that sold in May for $1.8 million has landed in the hands of a giant restaurant conglomerate for $1.05 million. Scottsdale-based Uni�ied CRE Partners this month sold the site on the southeast corner of 48th Street and Chandler Boulevard to the Dhanani Group of Houston Texas less than �ive weeks after buying it from a Texas woman, according to data collected by the real estate tracker vizzda.com. The Dhanani Group is considered one of the world’s largest restaurant combines with hundreds of franchises for Burger King, Popeyes Fried Chicken and the la Madeleine Baker and Café concepts. The store and gas pumps at 48th and Chandler were erected in 1999 and cover 3,182 square feet of the 1.15-acre site. The sale price equaled $329.98 a square foot

This convenience store site on the southeast corner of 48th Street and Chandler Bouelvard is now owned by one of the world’s largest restaurant franchisees. (vizzda.com) Starting in the gas and convenience store business in 1976, the Dhanani Group entered the restaurant industry in

1994 by acquiring Houston’s �irst Burger King restaurant. Since then, it has become one of the big-

gest quick service restaurant franchises in the nation as owners of Burger King and Popeyes. It also has been growing a casual �ine-dining brand with the la Madeleine French Bakery & Café chain, which has two outlets in central Phoenix and another at Chandler Fashion Center. The Dhanani Group currently own and operates 275 restaurants throughout Minnesota, Illinois and Nebraska alone as well as 144 across Texas, according to the company’s website. “Today, we are the world’s largest QSR franchisee for Popeyes and own more than 150 restaurants in the United States,” it adds. The company says its Madeleine concept “gives us pro�itable exposure in the casual and �ine dining restaurant sector by celebrating the heritage and quality of French cuisine.” It has 41 Madeleine loca-

�� SALE �� 27

BUSINESS

JUNE 23, 2021 | AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS

West USA Realty Ahwatukee salutes 7 agents AFN NEWS STAFF

est USA Realty Ahwatukee Branch saluted seven agents as top producers for 2020. Five realtors were honored with the Top 1% award. They included Ryan Gipple, Kim Healy and David LaFountain. Also among that top �ive were Geno Ross, top producer for volume and Lisa

ELLIS �� 26

in,” he said. For her part, Christie said she “was excited for him” when Eddie broke the news that he wanted to return to his old career stomping ground. “He has worked super hard for as long as I have known him, rarely taking his foot off the brake,” she said. “I am glad he can choose what he wants to do every day and what projects he wants to work on.” And she said his presence on her team doesn’t represent a big change. “He has always been a part of it behind the scenes. Now he can spend more time on our properties and I can focus more on clients,” she said. “It works out well.” Christie got into real estate about a year after she and Eddie married. “We were buying investment properties and I saw more of them in our future,” said Christie, who was a social worker at the time. “I enjoyed what I did but I knew it wasn’t my forever career. An opportunity came up where it made sense for me to transition into real estate full time and

SALE �� 26

tions throughout Texas, Louisiana, and Oklahoma. According to the Houston Chronicle, Shoukat Dhanani, CEO of the Dhanani Group, owns 1,100 restaurants, 125 convenience stores, two multifamily developments and a wholesale fuel distributor. The company generates more than $2 bil-

Miguel, the top producer for number of units. Honored for their years of service were Regina Stewart, with 20 years of service is Regina Stewart. Saluted for 15 years of service were Osa Hemberg and Steve Ogle. Geno Ross, Jaylene Brugman, Abdul Al-Sayyed and Sara Wasserloos were recognized for 10 years of service each.

I went with it.” Eddie said he’ll be focusing much of his attention on the Ahwatukee market “because it is such a hotspot right now and where all of our current properties are.” “We use to do a lot in the historic districts in Phoenix and I enjoyed that as well so I am good to look anywhere,” he added, though he also noted, “I am enjoying a little down time �irst.” As for the state of today’s market in Ahwatukee and across the Valley, Christie has some advice for buyers and sellers. “This is a never-seen-before market,” she said. “I know it is hard for many buyers right now but I tell people to practice the 3 P’s - patience, persistence and prayers. There are de�initely ways for buyers to beat the demand, so I have been focusing on those strategies with my non-cash buyers. “For sellers, my advice is: yes this is a sellers’ market but buyers aren’t buying just anything. Price does still matter when it comes to the condition of the property.” Information: 480-201-3575 or christie@theChristieEllisTeam.com  lion in annual revenue. It rejects the description of itself as a fast food restaurant, preferring the term QSR, or quick service restaurant business. “We don’t use that term for a couple of reasons,” it says. “First, ‘fast food’ has a negative connotation to some people and we don’t think negatively about our franchises. Second, ‘fast food’ doesn’t quite

In all, those Realtors represent 140 combined years of experience. West USA Realty originated its �irst of�ice in Phoenix in 1986 and became one of the largest real estate �irms in Arizona and the nation. It has grown from one agent to over 3,000 serving the Valley. The Ahwatukee branch opened 32 years ago and is still in the same location with over 200 realtors.

The Ahwatukee branch also has gained a reputation for numerous charitable endeavors around the Valley, from water bottle drives to school supply collections to helping other nonpro�its with their efforts, such as Helen’s Hope Chest, Kyrene Family Resource Center and Ahwatukee Kiwanis Club’s support for foster youth. Information: westusa.com. 

Realtors Eddie and Christie Ellis, parents of twin 16-year-old daughters Ashley and Lizzie, are longtime Ahwatukee residents. The couple are now working together in real estate. (Courtesy of the Ellis Family)

capture all the different types of quick service restaurant franchises that we own and operate.” Noting a QSR franchise owner contracts with a restaurant business like Burger King to sell that company’s food products and eventually uses that company’s brand, the Dhanani Group boasts that it “is one of the largest and most successful QSR franchise owners in the world.”

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“We own and operate hundreds of QSR franchises across the United States. Our �irst franchise was a co-branded Burger King restaurant in Houston, Texas that we purchased in 1994. We haven’t stopped growing since. The reason why is simple: Everybody needs to eat, so there is a market for QSR franchises.” It did not return a call seeking comment on its land purchase in Ahwatukee. 

SEND YOUR BUSINESS NEWS TO PMARYNIAK@ TIMESPUBLICATIONS.COM

BUSINESS

AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS | JUNE 23, 2021

Even singles need to think about estate planning BY JOSEPH ORTIZ AFN Guest Writer

f you don’t have a spouse or children, you might think you don’t need to do much estate planning. But if you have any assets, any familial connections, any interest in supporting charitable groups – not to mention a desire to control your own future – you do need to establish an estate plan. In evaluating your needs for this type of planning, let’s start with what might happen if you die intestate – that is, without a last will and testament. In this scenario, your assets will likely have to go through the probate process, which means they’ll be distributed by the court according to your state’s intestate succession laws, essentially without regard to your wishes. Even if you don’t have children yourself, you may have nephews or nieces, or even

children of cousins or friends, to whom you would like to leave some of your assets, which can include not just money but also cars, collectibles, family memorabilia and so on. But if everything you own goes through probate, there’s no guarantee that these individuals will end up with what you wanted them to have. If you want to leave something to family members or close friends, you will need to indicate this in your last will and testament or other estate planning documents. But you also may want to provide support to one or more charitable organizations. Of course, you can simply name these charities in your will, but there may be options that could provide you with more bene�its. One such possibility is a charitable remainder trust. Under this arrangement, you’d transfer appreciated assets – such as stocks, mutual funds or other securities – into an irrevocable trust.

The trustee whom you’ve named – in fact, you could serve as trustee yourself – can then sell the assets at full market value, avoiding the capital gains taxes you’d have to pay if you sold them yourself, outside a trust. Plus, if you itemize, you may be able to claim a charitable deduction on your taxes. With the proceeds, the trust can purchase income-producing assets and provide you with an income stream for the rest of your life. Upon your death, the remaining trust assets will go the charities you’ve named. Aside from family members and charitable groups, there’s a third entity that’s central to your estate plans: yourself. Everyone should make arrangements to protect their interests, but, in the absence of an immediate family, you need to be especially vigilant about your �inancial and health care decisions. And that’s why, as part of your estate planning, you may want to include these

two documents: durable power of attorney and a health care proxy. A durable power of attorney lets you name someone to manage your �inances should you become incapacitated. This arrangement is especially important for anyone who doesn’t have a spouse to step in. And if you become incapacitated, your health care proxy – also known as a health care surrogate or medical power of attorney – lets you name another person to legally make health care decisions for you if you can’t do so yourself. Estate planning moves can be complex, so you’ll need help from a legal professional and possibly your tax and �inancial advisors. You may not have an immediate family, but you still need to take steps to protect your legacy.

Joseph Ortiz is a �inancial planner for Edward Jones. Reach him at 480-7537664 or joseph.ortiz@edwardjones. com 

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

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Free mental crisis help is just 3 digits away BY JUSTIN CHASE AFN Guest Writer

s the coronavirus pandemic lurches through its unwelcome second year and our state, country, and the world continue to suffer its effects, the mental health toll taken on individuals, families, and entire communities is undeniable. And that’s where the Resilient Arizona Crisis Counseling Program can help. Resilient Arizona provides 100 percent free and con�idential support and connections to resources for Arizonans impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. State residents can simply call 2-1-1 to connect with a Resilient Arizona crisis counseling provider or visit ResilientArizona.org. Services – including supportive crisis counseling, education, development of cop-

ing skills, and connection to appropriate resources – are provided at no cost and are available in English and Spanish to anyone who has been impacted by the pandemic. Services are available via telephone or video conferencing making them easily accessible to all parts of our state. Crisis counseling seeks to prevent the onset of diagnosable mental health disorders by helping individuals understand that they are experiencing common reactions to the extraordinary circumstances of the ongoing pandemic. Crisis counselors �ind opportunities to engage people, encourage them to talk about their experiences, and teach ways to manage stress. The Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System contracted Tempe-based Solari Crisis & Human Services (formerly Crisis Response Network) to oversee the Resilient Arizona program. Free crisis coun-

seling services are offered by six providers across our state through Dec. 2, 2021. As the CEO and President of Solari, I am humbled to note that Resilient Arizona has provided free crisis counseling services to more than 10,000 of our state’s residents since the program began in June of last year. Our organization is honored to help our fellow Arizonans during this time of great need in our own communities and across the world. In addition to connecting callers with crisis counseling service providers, 2-1-1 Arizona operators can also connect callers with other resources such as housing information/assistance, food insecurity assistance, utility assistance, and more. Callers can choose a self-serve option or the option to speak with a staff person for assistance. These staff members are equipped to provide information, resources, and referrals to help people

recover from the effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic. Live operators at 2-1-1 Arizona are available at all times, 24/7/365, to provide FREE assistance and connections to potentially lifesaving resources from local providers across our state. Live-answer service is available in English and Spanish, all day and all night, every day of the year. And help in other languages is also accessible via real-time interpretation assistance. For the Resilient Arizona Crisis Counseling Program and/or connections to other community resources, please call 2-1-1 Arizona at any time. Three simple digits, just dial 2-1-1. Justin Chase is the CEO and President of Solari Crisis & Human Services, which oversees the Resilient Arizona Crisis Counseling Program in partnership with AHCCCS. 

Full disclosure: In my day job as a public relations consultant, one of my clients is the Arizona Multihousing Association, a trade association representing the apartment industry. So yes, I am predisposed to say kind things about property owners. That doesn’t change the fact that beginning in March 2020, �irst the state and then the feds voided more than one million leases in Arizona, suspending the private property rights not only of big companies that own apartments but retirees supplementing their Social Security with a rental property or two. You think it’s tough having company stay a few nights too long? Imagine having residents stay 16 months with no rent while you pay the mortgage, property taxes, insurance and maintenance costs. We didn’t force grocery stores to give away free food or gas stations to pass out free unleaded. But enforce free rent for a year-plus? Yes, we did. One of the saddest parts of this story is the massive and underreported gov-

ernment snafu that has accompanied the eviction moratorium. To date, Arizona at the state, county, city and town level has received about $1 billion in federal eviction relief funding. Thus far, 16 months into the pandemic, the agencies charged with distributing these funds have managed to give out about $134 million – or 13 cents of every relief dollar. We can only wish government revenuers would be that inef�icient when it comes to collecting our tax dollars. These eviction relief programs, beset by red tape and overly complicated applications, have backlogs thousands of applications long. That’s tragic, because it never should have been this dif�icult to give away free money. Common sense should have dictated that everyone who quali�ied for the eviction moratorium – in other words every renter who lost work or suffered a pandemic-induced salary cut – also quali�ied for relief dollars. End of story. That ship has sailed, however. And the Centers for Disease Control order sus-

pending evictions is set to lapse on June 30. If it’s not extended again, tenant advocates say there will be a rush to the courthouse and a wave of evictions. No property owners I’ve met look forward to evicting people, especially anyone who has struggled during the lost yearplus that was 2020 and early 2021. At the same time, just as there are “slumlords” who give responsible property owners a bad name, there are also “bad apple” residents who used the moratorium as a vacation from responsibility. They failed to pursue relief and went silent on the property manager. Instead of taking their stimulus checks or enhanced unemployment bene�its and spending them on basics like rent, they decided responsibility could wait. Meanwhile, the back rent tab continues to rise. And wait thousands of property owners have done. For 16 months. Silently, amid frustration and the threat of bankruptcy, and without an iota of praise for their efforts. It seems like one kind column is the least we can do, no? 

Landlords are the forgotten pandemic heroes BY DAVID LEIBOWITZ Tribune Columnist

he COVID-19 pandemic has been full of quiet heroism, men and women sacri�icing to keep others healthy and safe. Doctors, nurses, �ire�ighters, paramedics, cops, grocery workers; all have done amazing work and all have been recognized for their efforts. But the owners of apartment complexes? The moms and pops who own duplexes or single-family rental homes? About them we have heard not a peep of praise despite their massive sacri�ice over the past 16 months, a time period when they have been forced by various state and federal eviction moratorium orders to provide free rent to thousands of residents across Arizona. I think it’s high time we do something many people �ind unthinkable: Say something nice about the good actors often known derisively as “landlords.”

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Local teams shine in Section 7 basketball experience BY ZACH ALVIRA AFN Sports Editor

t was the �irst time in well over a year East Valley and Ahwatukee basketball teams had the chance to play in front of college coaches. The NCAA set in place a recruiting dead period in March 2020, where coaches were unable to see athletes in person and no of�icial visits were able to take place. That dead period quickly turned into the longest ever due to the pandemic. It was �inally lifted June 1. “It’s a great opportunity for these young men to �inally come out and show what they are capable of in front of coaches,” Mountain Pointe head basketball coach Kaimarr Price said. “It’s amazing, it’s been a long time coming.” While the high school basketball season eventually got underway in Arizona last winter — albeit after two delays, a cancellation and reinstatement by the Arizona Interscholastic Association Executive Governing Board — teams were barred from competing in tournaments throughout the summer months as cases surged. That, however, is no longer the case. Nearly 200 teams, including Mountain Pointe, Desert Vista, several East Valley schools and many from out of state, descended upon Glendale for the Section 7 Team Camp June 18-20. More than 400 college coaches were in attendance at State Farm Stadium, the home of the Arizona Cardinals that was transformed into a basketball player’s heaven with 12 courts. Fans were in attendance for all games, which began at 8 a.m. each day and concluded around 11 p.m. For many players it was a new experience. Some, however, have competed in similar-sized spectacles. But the normal atmosphere was an overall welcomed site for everyone involved. “You walk in and see this, this is basketball heaven,” Desert Vista coach Jordan Ballard said. “You know your team is going to be excited and nervous because there’s a lot going on and all of the coaches walking around. This is a one-of-a-kind atmosphere.”

Desert Vista returns several starters from last year’s team, including Andrew King, a standout guard who was previously committed to Rice. Daylyn Martin, a senior guard who played lights out for the Thunder, is also among the returning leaders with forward Terrance Dixon Jr. King, who dabbled in prep school hoops beDesert Vista senior guard Andrew King said he was a bit surprised by the fore returning to atmosphere inside of State Farm Stadium but was overall excited to play Desert Vista bein front of coaches for the first time in over a year. (Zach Alvira/AFN Staff) fore the start of the 2021 season, Desert Vista shined in its bracket, de- has become accustomed to playing in front feating a tough Eastside Catholic (Wash.) of several college coaches. But the atmoto open the tournament on Friday. Ballard sphere felt at Section 7 was unmatched. said after his team’s opening matchup he “It’s amazing, really,” King said. “We �inalhad hoped for the opportunity to play on ly get to hoop as a team and with the live the tournament’s premier court, set up with period now back, it’s an opportunity for intimate seating for fans, a public address our whole team to be seen. It’s been a year announcer, large scoreboard and plenty of room for college coaches. The Thunder �inally got that chance against Orange Lutheran Saturday night, which they won to extend their tournament record to 3-0 and advance Mountain Pointe junior guard Mark Brown said the tournament was a unique to the cham- opportunity for him and his teammates to showcase their skills in front of p i o n s h i p college coaches and overall earn respect in the basketball community. (Zac BonDurant/AFN Contributor) game.

and a half since a big tournament like this has happened, so I was for sure nervous.” Mountain Pointe opened the tournament Friday night against California power Mater Dei. The Pride, runners-up two years in a row in 6A, also return a large majority of their roster. The Pride had already competed in several summer league tournaments in anticipation for being in one of the top brackets at Section 7. But they were pushed to overtime against the Monarchs, who wrapped up their delayed season in California just days prior. While Mountain Pointe lost its next two games Saturday, it was a unique opportunity to once again see where the Pride stack up against elite competition. Mark Brown, a junior guard, said it helped put his team in the right mindset as they continue on with summer ball. “We always want to win and that always feels good no matter who you’re playing against,” Brown said. “This tournament helps me get my name out there and everybody else on my team. We all want to be recognized and gain respect.” Along with the two Ahwatukee schools, several others represented the East Valley. Valley Christian used the tournament to break in three new players to the roster. Caleb and Luke Shaw, brothers who recently transferred from Phoenix Prep, are the sons of GCU assistant coach Casey Shaw. They are also the nephews of GCU head coach Bryce Drew and Baylor head coach Scott Drew. The Trojans also debuted Jaylyn Lee, a 6-foot-4 senior guard who transferred from Canada. Greg Haagsma, Valley Christian’s head coach, said Section 7 was the best place to debut a revamped roster. “I think, without a doubt, this is one of the best summer tournaments in the country,” Haagsma said. “I think what helps is this summer we are seeing a lot of coaches get out more because they weren’t able to do it the last several months. “I mean, you have teams from California who chose to come here instead of playing

�� SECTION 7 �� 33

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JUNE 23, 2021 | AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS

SECTION 7 �� 32

in their state tournaments. That tells you how big of a deal this is.” Perry, one of the top teams in the state, played in one of the toughest brackets. Head coach Sam Duane said it was a challenge for his team that was still getting to know some of the new players, including 6-foot-7 freshman Koa Peat. The tournament overall proved to be a steppingstone for every program involved, whether it be toward establishing chemistry of gauging where top Arizona teams stack up against those from around

the country. But along with the exposure to college coaches, Section 7 provided teams with the opportunity to jumpstart their offseason programs and play as many games as possible against top competition. “We knew this summer would be kind of like setting up for the state tournament,” Ballard said. “We played our 17 games and then our goal was to come out here and perform for four games, just like in the state tournament. We know in the season we will be better, but we wanted to play some of our best basketball here at Section 7.” 

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Mesa Arts Center reconnecting with the city BY ALLI CRIPE GetOut Contributor

fter more than a year, Mesa Arts Center is reconnecting with the community in person as masks become optional June 24 at all city buildings. The center recently released its lineup for its Fall 2021-Spring 2022 season that will include live audiences watching live performances on stage. And its staff has set up four neighborhood workshops to generate feedback for its annual Prototyping Project. Cindy Ornstein, Mesa arts director and the center’s executive director, said the pandemic forced her staff to turn to video productions and ingenuity to keep a cultural-artistic connection with residents. “One nice thing about being an organization that’s all about engaging people with creativity is that we have a lot of great creative people on staff,” said Ornstein.

The center turned a theater into a video production unit to develop digital content, not only for the center but also for the i.d.e.a. Museum and the Arizona Museum of Natural History. “We created a wide variety of digital programming,” said Ornstein. “Creating some hands-on activities and virtual tours of exhibitions that were now no longer open to the public so that people could still enjoy them.” Even while shut down, the arts center still offered online classes and its special engagement program for veterans. Arts center staff found they were reaching people they had never reached before

�ee MUSEUM page 35

One way the arts center tried to engage people during the pandemic was with its windowed exhibit called “Distanced but not Separated." (Courtesy of Kristin McLeod)

Chandler Arts Center prepares for comeback BY KEVIN REAGAN GetOut Staff Writer

fter more than a year of barring patrons from visiting its theater, the Chandler Center for the Arts is preparing to welcome back audiences for live, in-person performances. Since March 2020, the pandemic has prohibited theatergoers from buying tickets to the center’s 1,500seat auditorium and enjoying its season of touring musical acts. For the last year, audiences could only watch the center’s concerts online by streaming performances virtually. Much of that virtual content has also been free – a perk Michelle Mac Lennon, general manager of the Chandler Center that’s benefited the community, but for the Arts, is looking forward to seeing its 1,500-seat audito- has done little to raise the center’s rium packed after the long audience drought created by the revenues. pandemic. (Pablo Robles/GetOut Staff Photographer) Starting July 23, the center will

begin opening for big in-person events. “This is really our grand opening in many ways,” said Michelle Mac Lennan, the center’s general manager. An upcoming free summer concert series will allow up to 480 attendees to sit and watch the performance from inside the auditorium. The event will also be streamed live online. Mac Lennan said her staff intentionally reduced seating limits for the summer concerts in an effort to maintain some distance between attendees and to gradually ease the public back into full-capacity crowds. “It’s hard to go from zero to 1,500,” she said. “So, this is part of a strategy.” A Boz Scaggs concert on Sept. 24 will be the center’s first ticketed event at full capacity. Most of the

center’s following events for the rest of this year are expected to allow full audiences. The 2021-2022 season currently includes an evening with Amy Grant, a puppet parody of “The Golden Girls,” a Bruce Springsteen musical tribute, and a theatrical comedy about the life of Winston Churchill. Although the return to in-person events is a positive sign that the center is reverting back to its pre-pandemic routines, there’s still some uncertainty surrounding how the institution’s finances will hold up in the future. In a normal year, the center would be selling subscription packages to customers and generating a enough revenue to carry the theater through the whole season.

�ee ARTS CENTER page 35

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MUSEUM from page 34

– such as the homebound or and even people living out of state. “We got one email from an arts and services participant,” Ornstein said as her eyes teared up. “And I always get choked up because the subject line was, ‘Thank you for saving my life.’” The center didn’t stop there. It offered curbside pickups for family engagement projects and window-side exhibits. “We had space all along the entire theatre building,” Ornstein explained. “So, we asked Mesa Contemporary to mount an exhibition in the windows.” From September to January, ‘Distanced but not Separated’ was the title of this windowed exhibit with work by artists associated with the Mesa Arts Center’s studio programs. The exhibit was still display as the museums started to open. In October, the Arizona Museum of Natural History and i.d.e.a Museum opened with limited capacity and timed entries. In December, Mesa Contemporary Art Museum opened

ARTS CENTER from page 34

But the touring industry has been reluctant to fully commit to booking acts. Some theaters haven’t been able to offer a complete season of events to their subscribers. It’s going to be tough season for the center, Mac Lennan said, since it will have to mostly depend on single-ticket sales for its current lineup of fall shows. The center will be seeking out some grants to help cushion any shortfall, she added, but competition will be high for any relief funds distributed by the federal government. Earlier this year, new legislation passed by Congress allotted $16 billion to a grant program that would specifically aid theaters and musical venues impacted by the pandemic. To qualify for the program’s first tier of grant allocations, a theater needs to have lost at least 90 percent of its gross revenue during the pandemic. Theaters with smaller revenue losses must wait two weeks or longer before applying for grant funding. Even though Chandler’s theater lost the majority of its revenue last year, Mac Lennan said it’s still not enough to satisfy the

The Mesa Prototyping Festival features work developed by artists in response to neighborhood feedback during workshops held by Mesa Arts Center staff. (GetOut file photo) with the same guidelines. Classes opened in January and in September, the theatres will open again. This month, the Mesa Arts Center started reconnecting with the community in person through the Mesa Prototyping Project. “It’s based on the idea of trying to give communities the opportunity to experiment with ideas,” said Ornstein. “To make

government’s initial eligibility requirements. “We lost 85 percent of our revenues last year,” she said. “It’s just devastating.” The center had been in a comfortable financial position before the pandemic, which Mac Lennan believes will help the organization endure the unstable months ahead. Regular patrons have remained loyal to the center throughout the pandemic by making generous donations and quickly purchasing tickets to upcoming events once they became available. “The sales look encouraging,” Mac Lennan said. “I think people are really excited about coming back.” Located in the heart of downtown Chandler, the center has long been considered one of the city’s crown jewels. The theater was built about 30 years ago through a partnership between the city and the Chandler Unified School District. The facility was built large enough to be utilized by both students and adults. Programming is managed by a separate nonprofit entity led by Mac Lennan, but the city is still responsible for keeping up with the facility’s maintenance and capital expenses. Mac Lennan said this unique partner-

their neighborhoods more activated and more connected.” The goal is to get the ideas of the community for temporary art installations. This year, Mesa Arts Center will host group workshops in different Mesa neighborhoods before the Prototyping Festival on Nov. 13. The Mesa Prototyping Festival features

ship has proved to be beneficial to the center during the pandemic, since her nonprofit didn’t need to worry about a substantial amount of operational costs. The center has earned a reputation as an institution that has almost always operated in the black and kept its doors open for the community. During the darkest days of the Great Recession, the center still found a way to weather through the economic downturn and continue offering programming. Mac Lennan said her staff has learned during the pandemic what the center’s vulnerabilities are and will begin to rethink how they can be more adaptive to a business model that doesn’t rely solely on in-person programming. This year could be the beginning of a “hybrid” era for the performing arts, she said, that might include continued dependence on virtual platforms to deliver events to homebound patrons. There will always be a demand for live entertainment, Mac Lennan added, but the method in how theaters deliver entertainment may begin to look different in the future. “I don’t think anyone knows the longterm impact,” she said. “No one’s ever done this before.” 

temporary installations created in response to neighbor comments and feedback collected during community walks. The installations will be available for community interaction during the oneday festival in downtown neighborhoods southeast of Mesa Arts Center. The first workshop for getting feedback for the festival will be at 6 p.m. July 8 at the Catholic Charities Care Campus, 466 S. Bellview, Mesa. Others are 9 a.m. Aug. 15 at Que Chevere, 142 W. Main St.; 9 a.m. Sept. 19 at New Horizon School, 446 E. Broadway Road; and 6 p.m. Oct. 15, Mesa Urban Garden, 212 E. 1st Ave. Orstein is excited that staff can now reach out to people beyond a digital landscape and engage them in workshops that have food, drinks, local artists and music. “It helps people meet each other, see their neighbors, and feel more connected,” said Ornstein. “Empowering the people to have a voice and make the community better.” To sign up for a workshop: mesaartscenter.com/mesaprototyping. 

Let the show begin The celebratory concert series will begin July 23 and features bands of Motown, classic rock, jazz, blues and modern-day pop on the main stage at the Chandler Center for the Arts, 250. N. Arizona Ave., Chandler. Bands include Notes From Neptune (July 23), Kim Weston Jazz Quartet (Aug. 6), Sandra Basset Motown Review (Aug. 13), Big Pete Pearson (Aug. 20) and Marmalade Skies (Aug. 27). The Summer Concerts will have limited capacity so the public is encouraged to RSVP at chandlercenter. org/summer2021. All seats are free of charge with general seating on a firstcome, first-served basis. Doors open one hour prior to show time. For those who wish to have a frontrow experience from home, each concert will be live-streamed. RSVP for the fun at chandlercenter.org/summer2021. Each summer concert will feature exclusive flash ticket sales for upcoming performances and attendees can explore The Gallery at CCA to view Take a Hike, an exhibition inspired by Arizona’s incredible parks, trails and public lands. Exhibition runs through Aug. 14.

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WESLEY'S GLASS & MIRROR wesleysglass.com SERVICING THE ENTIRE VALLEY Call 480-306-5113

Ahwatukee Resident

two rooms

free hall

 Electric Car Chargers for ALL your  Fans electrical needs  Lighting 41 years  Troubleshooting  And much more experience

✔ pre-treatment ✔ deodorizer

ﬁve rooms

free hall

couch & loveseat

free chair

callusnow

480.773.4700 MySteamX.com

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

2008 through 2019

Drywall

ROC #158440 Bond/Insured

JOSE DOMINGUEZ DRYWALL & PAINTING House Painting, Drywall, Intall Doors, Baseboards, Crown Molding Reliable, Dependable, Honest!

www.readelectricaz.com

480-940-6400

QUICK RESPONSE TO YOUR CALL! 15 Years Experience • Free Estimates

480.266.4589 josedominguez0224@gmail.com Not a licensed contractor.

Residential Electrician

Call Sean Haley 602-574-3354 ROC#277978 • Licensed/Bonded/Insured

Concrete & Masonry

Electrical Services

Block Fence * Gates

HONESTY • INTEGRITY • QUALITY

602-789-6929 Roc #057163 Lowest Prices * 30 Yrs Exp Serving Entire Valley

YOU’LL LIKE US - THE BEST! www.Ahwatukee.com

East Valley/ Ahwatukee

C. READ & SON ELECTRIC

always included

If It’s Broken, We Can Fix It!

GLASS, MIRRORS, SHOWER DOORS

Electrical Services

Air Duct Cleaning

Appliance Repair Now

GARAGE DOOR SERVICE

Classifieds: 480-898-6465

480-405-7588

Appliance Repairs

Glass/Mirror

Call for our 3 Month Trial Special!

Contractors

(480) 912-0881 – Licensed & Insured

Garage/Doors

• Serving Arizona Since 2005 •

• Panel Changes and Repairs • Installation of Ceiling Fans • Switches/Outlets • Home Remodel

ALL RESIDENTIAL & COMMERCIAL ELECTRICAL Call Jim Endres 480.282.7932 Over 28 Years Experience • ROC #246019 Bonded/Insured

Flooring

ALL VALLEY FLOORS LLC CALL NOW FOR

SUMMER SPECIALS! 480-228-2500

sespericueta68@yahoo.com Specialize in Mexican tile restoration with 20 years experience in the Valley

• Grout Cleaning & Seal • Tile removal • Affordable Pricing • Free Estimates

CLASSIFIEDS

JUNE 23, 2021 | AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS

Home Improvement

Handyman

MALDONADO HOME REPAIR SERVICES CALL DOUG

480.201.5013

THE HANDYMAN THAT HANDLES SMALL JOBS THAT OTHERS DECLINE ✔ Painting ✔ Gate Restoration ✔ Lighting ✔ Plumbing Repairs ✔ Replace Cracked ✔ Sheetrock Roof Tiles Texturing Repairs ✔ & MUCH MORE!

Arizona Specialty Landscape

Plans / Additions, Patios New Doors, Windows Lowest Price in Town! R. Child Lic#216115, Class BO3 Bonded-Insured-Ref's

New & Re-Do Design and Installation

CASH OUT!

480-215-3373

• Electrical Repair • Plumbing Repair • Dry rot and termite damage repair

GENERAL CONTRACTOR / HANDYMAN SERVICES SERVING THE ENTIRE VALLEY

520.508.1420

Marks Spot• for ALL Your Handyman Needs! All Estimates arethe Free Call: Painting • Flooring • Electrical www.husbands2go.com

Plumbing • Drywall • Carpentry Licensed, Bonded & Insured Decks • Tile••ROC#317949 More!

Marks the Spot for ALL Your Handyman Ask me about FREE Needs! water testing! ks the Spot for ALL•Your Handyman Needs! ✔ Painting Painting Flooring • Electrical “No Job Too ✔Small Flooring Painting • Flooring • Electrical Plumbing • Drywall • Carpentry Man!” lumbing • Drywall • Carpentry ✔ Electrical Decks • Tile • More! Quality Work Since 1999 Decks •Affo Tile • More! rdable, ✔ Plumbing 2010, 2011 2012, 2013, 2014 Call Bruce at 602.670.7038 ✔ Drywall Ahwatukee Resident/ References/ Insured/ Not a Licensed Contractor “No Job ✔ Carpentry Too Small Marks the Spot for“No Job Too ALL Your Handyman Needs! ✔ Decks Painting • Flooring • Electrical Small Man!” “No Job Too Man!” ✔ Tile Plumbing • Drywall • Carpentry

Small Man!” Decks • Tile • More! ✔ Kitchens ✔ Bathrooms 2010, 2011 2012, “No 2013, Job Too And More! 2010, 2011 Small Man!” 2014 Call Bruce at 602.670.7038 2012, 2013, 2014 dent/ References/ Insured/ NotResident a Licensed Contractor 1999 Since Ahwatukee / References Work ty Affordable, Quali 2010, 2011 2012, 2013, ences/ Insured/ Not a Licensed Contractor Insured / Not aCall Licensed Contractor 2014 Bruce at 602.670.7038

Since 1999 dable, Quality Work BSMALLMAN@Q.COM 9 Quality Work Since 199

uce at 602.670.7038 t 602.670.7038

Ahwatukee Resident/ References/ Insured/ Not a Licensed Contractor

FREE Estimates! Plumbing Paint Tile

Able Handyman Service LLC

And Much, Much More!

Not a licensed contractor

Jim 480.593.0506 Ablehandyman2009@gmail.com

Call 480-898-6465

TRIM TREES ALL TYPES GRAVEL - PAVERS SPRINKLER SYSTEMS

480.898.6465

Jose Martinez

CLASS@TIMESPUBLICATIONS.COM

AND so much more!

Ahwatukee Resident

Not a licensed contractor.

Landscape Design/Installation

602.515.2767

Irrigation Systems & Outdoor Lighting Fountain Repair C - Caring alls Repairs & Instuse. D - Dedicated for long term S - Service No Yard

480.335.4180 Not a licensed contractor.

Home Improvement

LANDSCAPING

Home Remodeling

. 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

Text or Email Only

480-580-4419

david@swo-of-artworks.com

Irrigation Repair Services Inc. Licensed • Bonded • Insured

David Hernandez (602) 802 3600

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

daveshomerepair@yahoo.com • Se Habla Español

Irrigation

Electrical

MISSED THE DEADLINE? Place your ad online!

Complete Clean Ups

Repairs • Drywall • Painting • BINSR Items Trash Removal • HOA Compliance

No Job Too Small! Senior Discounts!

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

Visit our website! Landlord and Homeowner Property Services

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

25 Years exp (480) 720-3840

ALL YOU NEED IS A PU

NOT A LICENSED CONTRACTOR

• Drywall Repair • Bathroom Remodeling • Home Renovations

Install/Design We do it all!

High Quality Results

480.844.9765

Jaden Sydney Associates.com

TREE

Not a licensed contractor

ROC# 186443 • BONDED

*Not A Licensed Contractor

Juan Hernandez

TRIMMING

$25 per visit.

Free Estimates 7 Days a Week!

Handyman

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

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

Ahwatukee Resident, References Available, Insured

LLC

Landscape/Maintenance

REMODEL CONTRACTOR

Serving the Valley for over 28 years

CALL US TODAY!

480.721.4146

The Possibilities are Endless • Sprinkler/Drip Repairs • New Installs Poly/PVC • Same Day Service

NTY

5-YEAR WARRA

480.654.5600 azirrigation.com Cutting Edge LLC • ROC 281671

MORE CLASSIFIED ADS ONLINE! www.Ahwatukee.com

Custom Design and Renovation turning old to new Custom Built-ins, BBQs, Firepits, Fireplaces, Water Features, Re-Designing Pools, Masonry, Lighting, Tile, Flagstone, Pavers, Culture Stone & Travertine, Synthetic Turf, Sprinkler/Drip, Irrigation Systems, Clean ups & Hauling

Call for a FREE consultation and Estimate To learn more about us, view our photo gallery at: ShadeTreeLandscapes.com

480-730-1074

Bonded/Insured/Licensed • ROC #225923

www.irsaz.com

ROC# 256752

SPRINKLER DOCTOR Repairs - Installs - Modifications Timers/Valves/Sprinklers DRIP-PVC-COPPER Backflows & Regulators LANDSCAPE LIGHTING

25 years Experience & Insured Not a licensed contractor.

CLASSIFIEDS

AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS | JUNE 23, 2021

Landscape/Maintenance

Complete Lawn Service & Weed Control

WANT A GREEN LAWN?

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

kjelandscape.com • ROC#281191

Painting

SUN TECH

PAINTING 480-940-8196 theplugman.com

FREE ORGANIC LAWN FERTILIZA ATION TREATMENT WITH CORE AE ERATION FERTILIZATION • SOIL AMENDMENTS • LAWN SOIL TESTING ROC 282663 * BONDED * INSURED YOUR LAWN EXPERT SINCE 1995

480-586-8445

MD’S LANDSCAPING

Painting

INC.

Serving Ahwatukee Since 1987 Interior / Exterior

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

602.625.0599 ROC #155380 Family Owned • Free Estimates

FREE ESTIMATES! CALL 24 HOURS 25 Yrs Exp. I Do All My Own Work! Call Mark

480.295.2279 Referred out of Ewing Irrigation Not a licensed contractor.

WORKMANSHIP GUARANTEED!

ADD COLOR TO YOUR AD! Ask Us. Call Classifieds Today! 480.898.6465

Lawn Mowing Starts At $40 Full Service Starts At $70 15 Yrs Exp! All English Speaking Crew +

SONORAN LAWN

480-745-5230

HOME IMPROVEMENT & PAINTING “We get your house looking top notch!” ★ Interior/Exterior Painting ★ Drywall Repair & Installation ★ Popcorn Ceiling Removal

★ Elastomaric Roof Coating

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

Painting

★ Small Job Specialist

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

Looking To Freshen Up Your Home? WE CAN HELP!

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

Veteran Owned

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

FREE ESTIMATES • CALL TODAY!

(480)785-6323

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

Interior/Exterior Painting 30 YEARS EXPERIENCE

480-888-5895

Dunn Edwards Quality Paint Small Stucco/Drywall Repairs

★ Epoxy Floors

Get Your Lawn Ready For Spring!

RAMON LANDSCAPING SERVICES

MAKE A LOT!

Free Estimate & Color Consultation

CLASS@TIMESPUBLICATIONS.COM

Specials

SPEND A LITTLE…

CONKLIN PAINTING

Painting

Drip Systems Installed, Valves/Timer Repairs

Let’s get your Watering System working again! System Checks • Drip Checks

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

ConklinPainting.com

We Are State Licensed and Reliable!

Lic/Bond/Ins ROC# 270450

Free Estimates • Senior Discounts

480-338-4011

Plumbing

ROC#309706

East Valley PAINTERS

AHWATUKEE SPECIAL $

Off 40work done *Any

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

10% OFF

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

480-688-4770

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

Now Accepting all major credit cards

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

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

Bonded/Insured • ROC #223709

480-405-7099

CLASSIFIEDS

JUNE 23, 2021 | AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS

Plumbing

Pool Service / Repair

Affinity Plumbing LLC 480-487-5541

Juan Hernandez Pavers • Concrete • Water Features • Sprinkler Repair

PPebbleOcracking, O L Plaster R Epeeling, P ARebar IR

affinityplumber@gmail.com

www.affinityplumbingaz.com

showing, Pool Light out? I CAN HELP!

Your Ahwatukee Plumber & East Valley Neighbor

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

Anything Plumbing Same Day Service

Call Juan at

Water Heaters

24/7

Inside & Out Leaks

Bonded

Toilets

Insured

Faucets

Estimates Availabler

480-720-3840 Not a licensed contractor.

Not a licensed contractor

Disposals

Your newspaper. Your community. Your planet.

$35 off

Any Service

Please recycle me.

Watch for Garage Sales in Classifieds!

$25 OFF

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

Spencer 4 HIRE ROOFING

You will find them easy with their yellow background.

Filter Cleaning!

480-446-7663

To place an ad please call: 480-898-6465 class@times publications.com

10% OFF

Monthly Service & Repairs Available

602-546-POOL

Valley Wide Service

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

7 6 6 5

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

MARK’S POOL SERVICE Owner Operated - 20 Years

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.

279-4155

with this ad

Ahwatukee’s Premier Tile, Shingle & Foam Roofer! FREE Estimates • Credit Cards OK www.spencer4hirerooﬁng.com ROC#244850 | Insured | Bonded

$85/month

SERVICE • REPAIR • REPLACEMENT

(480)

Roofing

Play Pools start at

Plumbing

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

Pool Service / Repair

with chemicals

See MORE Ads Online!

Ask About Filter Cleaning Specials!

Mark

602-799-0147 CPO#85-185793

www.Ahwatukee.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 23, 2021

Roofing

Family Owned & Operated for over 30 years

480-706-1453

Licensed/Bonded/Insured • ROC #236099

Complimentary & Honest Estimates

Call our office today!

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

www.porterroofinginc.com 10% Discount for Ahwatukee Residents 100% NO Leak Guarantee Re-Roof & Roofing Repairs Tile, Shingles & Flat Roof Licensed – Bonded – Insured – ROC187561

30 Years Roofing Experience

JILEK ROOFING, LLC

New Roof Installation & Roof Repair Specialist

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

• • • •

FREE ESTIMATES

Tiles & Shingles sunlandroofingllc@gmail.com Installation Repair Re-Roofing

602-471-2346

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

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

Roofing

and every step of the way.

CLASSIFIEDS 480-898-6465 class@timespublications.com

Licensed, Bonded, Insured

Sell Your Stuff! Call Classifieds Today! 480.898.6465

CLASS@TIMESPUBLICATIONS.COM

PHILLIPS

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

ROOFING LLC COMMERCIAL AND RESIDENTIAL

Family Owned and Operated 43 Years Experience in Arizona

Serving All Types Clean, Prompt, Friendly and Professional Service of Roofing:

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

480-699-2754 • info@monsoonroofinginc.com

MonsoonRooﬁngInc.com

TILE ROOFING SPECIALISTS

desertsandscontracting.com

Quality Repairs & Re-Roofs

Over 30 yrs. Experience

Window Cleaning

Flat and Foam Roof Experts!

ROC #152111

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

Roofing

623-873-1626 Free Estimates Monday through Saturday

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

You never know what you’ll find inside

Licensed 2006 ROC 223367 Bonded Insured

PhillipsRoofing.org PhillipsRoofing@cox.net

480.898.6465

class@timespublications.com

SHARE WITH THE WORLD!

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

class@timespublications.com or call 480-898-6465

CLASSIFIEDS

JUNE 23, 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 23, 2021

WAREHOUSE CLEARANCE!

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299

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

2350

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499 $499 UN58TU7000

DISHWASHER

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

FRONT LOAD WASHER

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BUYS ALL 3 PIECES DRYER

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

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599 EACH

WF45T6200AW

REFRIGERATOR

DVE45T6200W

BFTF2716SS

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