Ahwatukee Foothills News - 7.14.2021 by Times Media Group

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ADOT to begin preparing motorists for a helluva ride BY PAUL MARYNIAK AFN Executive Editor

@AhwatukeeFN |

tarting next week, billboards, social media and television and print media will carry messages urging thousands of motorists, especially in Ahwatukee and the East Valley, to prepare for four years of disruptions in their driving routines. It’s not exactly Armageddon that the Arizona Department of Transportation will be heralding. But it won’t be a walk in the park, especially for car and truck traffic on I-10. And even if you don’t use I-10, you can expect significant increases in traffic along all the freeways in the East Valley and even major arterials as motorists try to evade the inevitable tie-ups that

will be caused by the I-10 Broadway Curve Improvement Project. “There’s no way to sugarcoat it,” said ADOT spokeswoman Kim Noetzel, who as an Ahwatukee resident herself is bracing for the project. “It’s going to be impactful.” Seven years in the planning, the work is ready to begin as crews scrape the asphalt along 11 miles of Interstate 10 between the junction of the San Tan and South Mountain freeways and I-17 near Phoenix

see ADOT page 3

This chart illustrates the components of the I-10 Broadway Curve Improvement Project, a four-year effort to improve safety and efficiency for tens of thousands of Valley motorists. (ADOT)

Ahwatukee’s signature holiday party unlikely to ever return . 35

COOL DOWN

. 38

BY PAUL MARYNIAK AFN Executive Editor

hwatukee families that enjoyed the annual Festival of Lights Kick-Off Party the Saturday after Thanksgiving and its row of dozens of vendors, two stages of holiday entertainment, bounce houses and Santa, the lighted motorcycle parade and other activities should cherish their memories. There won’t be another. For the second consecutive year, the FOL Kick-Off Party is canceled altogether. And if it ever returns, it won’t be anywhere near the grand day-long event that had be-

come a centerpiece of the long holiday weekend in Ahwatukee for 24 years and attracted as many as 20,000 people. Rising costs – mainly in the form of city permits and regulations – and the daunting task of assembling 500 volunteers have taken their toll, forcing the all-volunteer Festival of Lights Committee to pretty much punt on the holiday extravaganza. In fact, the whole reason for even having the party – paying for the million holiday lights display along the medians of Chandler Boulevard between 24th Street and Desert Foothills Parkway – won’t even be the FOL Committee’s responsibility anymore. It’s turned the opera-

tion – and cost – of the display over to the Foothills HOA. In some ways, the reasons for the Kick-Off Party’s demise echoes some of the reasons why another decades-long tradition in the community – the Ahwatukee Foothills Chamber of Commerce’s Independence Day party and fireworks display – disappeared after 2016. “Fundraising was becoming harder and harder with pushback from places like the city and the state making requirements and guidelines harder and harder to comply with,” said FOL Committee President Raphael Isaac,

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see LIGHTS page 4

AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS | JULY 14, 2021

NEWS

AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS | JULY 14, 2021

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

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

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The Broadway Curve looked a lot different in the early 1970s. (ADOT)

ADOT from page 1

Sky Harbor International Airport. The project also will involve work on about a mile of east- and westbound US 60 between I-10 and Hardy Drive and a mile of north- and southbound State Route 143 between I-10 and the southern end of the SR 143 bridge over the Salt River. Motorists will start feeling the impact later this year as work picks up steam on a project aimed at preventing virtually round-the-clock rush hour gridlock on I-10 in the heart of Maricopa County. “When the first phase of construction begins this summer,” ADOT spokeswoman Alexandra Albert said in a virtual briefing last week for Tempe residents, “drivers should prepare for weekend closures on I-10 and US 60. And the reason for that is over the weekends, they’ll be closing down to remove the rubberized asphalt that exists on the roadway today on all of the travel lanes.” With even more significant disruptions a certainty over the next four years, ADOT already wants commuters to prepare by studying and then taking different routes – especially if they work in downtown Phoenix. The highway agency is going to unprecedented lengths to help them do that. “We very much want to do everything that we can so that motorists, visitors, businesses can plan in advance to lessen the impacts,” Noetzel said. “We’re doing things with this project that we’ve never done before.” Albert put it another way last week: “ADOT is doing some really significantly different things than they have in the past and it’s because of the size and the scope and the location of this project.” For the first time, ADOT has developed a project-specific mobile app. It has prepared an advertising blitz on TV, radio and in newspapers. It’s ordered up billboards and is even putting warnings and reminders on gas pumps. It has created a home page for the project at i10broadwaycurve.com where people can stay up to date and get the mobile app. ADOT representatives have been briefing dozens of chambers of commerce and other economic development organizations from Glendale to Gilbert, holding

see ADOT page 9

NEWS

AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS | JULY 14, 2021

Festival of Lights future in the hands of Foothills HOA members BY PAUL MARYNIAK AFN Executive Editor

hile the Festival of Lights KickOff Party may largely be relegated to the past, its reason for being will continue – at least for now. Only instead of being the responsibility of the FOL Committee, the set-up and teardown of the million-lights display in the medians of Chandler Boulevard between 24th Street and Desert Foothills Parkway will be in the hands of the Foothills Community Association – and ultimately, possibly the 4,200 homeowners and businesses that belong to it. The HOA Board on March 10 voted to assume responsibility for setting up, tearing down and paying the electric bill for the display, which costs about $120,000 annually. That bill does not include some $6,000 in payments for barricades that have to be set up to manage traffic on the boulevard while the Christmas lights company sets up and tears down the display. Before the board vote, its members had to do a lot of homework.

LIGHTS from page 1

owner of South Mountain Films. “And then we need like 400 or 500 volunteers to do the Kick-Off Party.” Isaac is no stranger to the effort that was required to organize the event, which had been led by Janyce Hazlett, one of the party’s founders, until she moved to Mesa. “People love it but they have no idea what goes into planning that,” he said, recalling how in the transition year to his leadership he accompanied Hazlett from one city office to the next. “There’s all these moving parts but that requires a lot of meetings down at the city. Janyce and I would go from the highway department where the police usually showed up for that one and then we would literally just walk around the corner to the Fire Department there on Washington Street and then have another meeting with them. It’s all day.” “Four months before any of these events and it’s meetings with the city. You have to go to the Fire Department, the Police Department, the Street Transportation Department, the Parks Department just to fill out all the permits. Then you have the liquor authority on the state level because

The million white lights that are hung on tress and bushes on the medians of Chandler Boulevard between 24th Street and Desert Foothills Parkway has been a tradition in Ahwatukee for a quarter century. (AFN file photo) Talking about “the mechanics of the transaction,” Foothills HOA Board Treasure Rob Doherty said, “Before the March

10 meeting, we talked to our legal and accounting people just to make sure we weren’t going to have any tax conse-

Ahwatukee’s Festival of Lights Kick-Off Party, held for 24 years on the Saturday after Thanksgiving, drew as many as 20,000 people to the day-long event. (Special to AFN) you’re putting a tavern up in a city park. “And all of these have to be signed off roughly at the same time because the Fire Department wants to know what the Police Department is doing, the Police Department wants to know what the Fire Department’s doing.” There are also food trucks to line up and

the Fire Marshall’s office had “to sign off on every electric generator – and, I mean, there were just so many of them,” he added. Then there’s the call for volunteers – which for years was a tough sell and getting tougher every year. Organizers usually would start putting out the call for volunteers in October,

quences, making sure we could accept donations and all that. And all that was cleared for setting up a separate bank account within the HOA.” The Foothills HOA has traditionally picked up a significant portion of that tab because the entire stretch of Chandler Boulevard that hosts the lights is within its boundaries. Along with the Foothills’ $50,000 annual contribution to the FOL Committee, the Foothills Club West Association kicked in $25,000 and the remainder of the cost was covered by proceeds from the Kickoff Party and Beer and Wine Tasting Festival as well as donations from individuals and businesses. When the display was born in the 1980s, all those costs were handled by Del Webb, one of Ahwatukee’s pioneer homebuilders, which came up with the idea for the lights as a way to advertise its new homes. By the early 1990s, the homebuilder got the results it wanted and abandoned the lights. After a couple years of darkness,

see LIGHTS HOA page 6

and began panicking by mid-November because they didn’t have anywhere near the number needed to maintain order at rides and bounce houses, serve patrons of the beer garden, keep a watchful eye on kids as well as adults and tend to a myriad number of other responsibilities – including set-up and tear-down. All of that occurred, of course, during one of the biggest holidays of the year. “That was also a problem,” Isaac said. “We found it harder and harder that weekend to get people because a lot of the students that we relied on – from ASU or Desert Vista or Mountain Pointe – they’d be away with family. I mean Janyce and (her husband) Bill would come back from a family vacation early just to be there that Saturday.” The pandemic hastened the Kick-Off Party’s demise. Last year, the city canceled all large gatherings in parks, putting the traditional venue of Desert Foothills Park out of commission just as Isaac and a group of enthusiastic local small business owners had come together as the new FOL Committee. Though the city loosened restrictions on

see LIGHTS page 6

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LIGHTS from page 4

AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS | JULY 14, 2021

crowds at parks, it was unclear for months whether an event that drew thousands would be allowed, Isaac said. That uncertainty also forced the committee to cancel its only other big fundraiser of the year – the Beer and Wine Festival. Planning for that event, usually held in April, had to begin in January and for the first

LIGHTS HOA from page 4

two months of this year, both city and state officials were unsure of everything from allowing hundreds of people to gather in one place to approving liquor permits. Currently, the FOL Committee is working on plans to become a different kind of nonprofit that would support Ahwatukee in different ways. Exactly what that nonprofit will look like and what kind of fundraisers it would

With that mission accomplished, FOL Committee President Raphael Isaac said a group of residents led by former resi- the time was right to hand the ball over to dent Janyce Hazlett formed the Festival of the Foothills HOA. Lights Committee to bring back holiday Now, the FOL Committee is studying a cheer to the boulevard. new mission that could involve setting up But whether the display will be as big a nonprofit to benefit various Ahwatukee as it has been – with an estimated million charities – including the lights. lights adorning the medians of Chandler “Maybe we turn around and write a Boulevard – is one of many questions check to the HOA for the lights,” Isaac said. looming beyond this year. “But maybe we could also donate monies This year, the FOL Committee virtually to other local charities that are in need.” turned over its bank account to the FootIndeed, the committee historically gave hills HOA after shelling out around $50,000 annual grants of around $3,000-$5,000 to for electrical infrastructure repairs that several local charities, such as the Kiwanis the city insisted be made. Although the city Club of Ahwatukee. But that was a reward s ~ Luxdozens ury Viofnyvolunteers ugfielding owns the medians where the lights areAset rea Rfor l ~ Co to help m o t unte s up, it said responsibility for those repairs u run the Kick-Off Party. C ~ rtop s er w o h S rested with the committee. ~ s Doherty said there are a number of ood ~ Laminate

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sponsor are issues to be worked out. Isaac said he’d like to see some kind of smaller version of the Kick-Off Party. “I don’t know if it would be that weekend,” Isaac said. “Maybe it would be the weekend before, maybe the weekend after. But I do think a holiday kickoff in the park with instead of having 100 vendors, maybe we do 50 vendors. Maybe we could scale it back to where it’s more manageable.”

questions the board will be wrestling with as it ponders the future beyond this year. One question involves Club West’s donation, which neither Doherty nor Isaac consider a sure thing. Last month, Club West HOA Board president Julie Tyler declined to answer AFN’s question about the future of its $25,000 annual contribution. Instead, she had the board put that on its agenda of future issues to study and resolve. “I don’t know about future years because they seem to have their own issues over there now,” Isaac said, referring to the board’s knotty – and expensive – issue of determining the fate of the closed golf course. Stating the board has asked its management company to contact Club West’s

Besides, the whole goal of the party to begin with – raising money for the lights that burned bright from the end of November till the beginning of January – never really was accomplished, according to Isaac. “Having thousands of people in the park,” Isaac said. “We’d spend $50,000, $60,000 to make $15,000 or $20,000. The barricade permit this year alone was going to cost $10,000.” ■

management firm, Doherty added, “I don’t think neither Rafi nor I can probably predict what they’re going to do in 2022.” Doherty acknowledged that while most Foothills members seem to like the idea of preserving the display, “there are vocal minorities voicing their opinions” about continuing the HOA’s support. To hold down costs, the board is likely to tone down the display, relying more on wrapping lights around the trunks of trees and abandoning the high clusters of lights farther up the trees. No matter what the board decides, Doherty stressed, HOA members won’t be kept in the dark, so to speak.

see LIGHTS HOA page 9

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AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS | JULY 14, 2021

LIGHTS HOA from page 6

Doherty was one of the board members elected last year in a movement he and resident Dave Randolph started in 2019 to bring more accountability and transparency to the board’s activities. And he said those principles of trans-

ADOT from page 3

town halls and planning to open a field office for the general public at 2157 E. Elwood St. in Phoenix where anyone will be able to drop by Monday through Fridays just to chat about the work. All this, Noetzel explained, is being done “to create that awareness and make sure that people know where to get resources.” Indeed, ADOT has spent two years talking with people about the project, she said, because “one of the underlying tenets of our communications approach in this is no surprises.”

A first and significant scope

ADOT calls the Broadway Curve project “the first major urban freeway reconstruction project in Maricopa County.” Its major components include:

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parency and accountability likely will determine the future of the Festival of Lights. He said the board has a fund separate from the HOA’s general fund and may appeal to the broader Ahwatukee community for donations to pay for the lights. “There’s no plan at the current time to raise membership dues,” Doherty said.

• Widening I-10 to six general purpose lanes and two high-occupancy-vehicle, or HOV, lanes in each direction between US 60 and I-17 and adding a fourth general purpose lane in each direction between Ray Road and US 60. • Adding collector-distributor roads that parallel I-10 between Baseline Road and 40th Street to separate through-traffic on I-10 from local traffic entering or exiting the highway. Unlike frontage roads along portions of the existing freeway system, these CD roads will not intersect with perpendicular roads. • Rebuilding the I-10 interchange with SR 143 to improve traffic flow and create direct connections to and from SR 143 for drivers in the I-10 HOV lanes. This part of the project will reduce lane changes and often hair-raising weaving between Interstate 10 in the Broadway Curve and on

”First of all, we want to see how well this year goes. Will we be able to fund it through donations? We’re not. Will we be able to light up the same length of the median as was previously done or not? I think we’re going to learn a lot this year.” “Based on that learning, I think again, it’s a representative Democratic process

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• Building sound and retaining walls where warranted. The project’s environmental assessment shows ADOT anticipates seven sound barriers ranging between 14-18 feet, with two along I-10 from the US 60 to Ray Road and the others north of US 60. • Installing a wrong-way driver detection system with thermal cameras, flashing signs and other specialized equipment that ties into ADOT’s intelligent transportation system. • ADOT's environmental impact study says the project also will extend the Highline Lateral Canal Multi-Use Path east of I-10 across the freeway and eventually into Mountain Vista Park in Ahwatukee. “Connecting the trail across the freeway would create pedestrian and bicycle ac-

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State Route 143 at University Drive. When work is completed, drivers on westbound I-10 will exit I-10 near Baseline Road and use the CD roads to access northbound SR 143 and reach the airport. The entire SR 143 and I-10 interchange will be replaced by ramps that make a direct connection for drivers from the general and HOV lanes and eliminates the existing cloverleaf ramp that connects southbound SR 143 with eastbound I-10. • Razing and replacing the Broadway Road bridge over I-10; • Replacing the 48th Street bridges over I-10 and widening the I-10 bridges over the Salt River; • Building two bridges for pedestrians and bicyclists over I-10 between Baseline and Broadway roads (at Alameda Drive and the Western Canal) and improving the Sun Circle Trail crossing at Guadalupe Road;

in our HOA,” he continued. “So that if the members start saying, ‘hey, we’d like to pay more in our dues in order to ensure that we get more of the lights or whatever, then we can do that.” Regardless of what the future holds, he said, it will be up to Foothills Association members. ■

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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.

Markwood North Listed for

$715,000

3,807 sf home with 5 bedrooms + loft and 3 bathrooms! Open kitchen family room floor plan! Rick dark wood cabinetry with granite slab counter tops, extended island, extra deep stainless steel sink and upgraded faucet, eat-in kitchen area, pantry and stainless steel appliances. Gas cooking! Soaring ceilings! Plantation shutters throughout. Hardwood flooring, porcelain tile and upgraded carpet. The enormous master suite is a retreat you won’t want to leave with his and hers vanities, large walk – in shower with custom glass door enclosure, Roman soaking tub and enormous walk – in closet. Large secondary bedrooms! Two bedrooms and one full bathroom downstairs. 2021 exterior paint. Staircase bannister was painted in 2021. Exit the family room to the covered back patio and pool size back yard! Gas hook up in back for a BBQ. R/O and soft water systems. 220v outlet in garage. Nest thermostats and Ring doorbell. 2018 water heater. Dryer has gas and electric hook up.

Foothills Reserve Listed for

$590,000

Beautifully updated 5 bedroom + den /3.5bathroom home featuring 2 master suites; one upstairs and one downstairs. 3,125 sf. Open kitchen family room floor plan, 20’ soaring ceilings! Kitchen was remodeled in 2019 with professionally refinished cabinetry in a trendy white color with crown molding, backsplash, Silestone counter tops and large center island refinished in a gray accent color. 2019 porcelain tile on the main level. 2021 carpet on staircase and in upstairs master bedroom and 2021 laminate flooring on upper level. 2021 tile flooring in upstairs hall bathroom. Original loft has been enclosed and a contemporary armoire added (armoire conveys;)....makes a great bedroom! Sparkling pool (2014,) extended covered back patio and low maintenance hardscape in back yard. East facing back yard! 2021 vanities in upstairs hall bathroom. 2019 vanities in downstairs bathrooms. 2019 toilets. Bathrooms are upgraded with designer mirrors, trendy light fixtures and sinks. 2019 exterior and interior paint. This remarkably remodeled home boats the perfect variety of color and textures throughout! 2021 insulated garage door. Two Nest thermostats (installed 2019.) Large laundry room with storage space. Upgraded staircase with wrought iron railing leads to second master suite with access to balcony. Epoxy floor in garage. Plantation shutters in the formal living and dining rooms. The upgrades are endless!

Tartesso

Listed for $410,000

2021 construction! Home has never been lived in! 2,024 sf 4 bedroom 3 bathroom single level home with open kitchen – great room floor plan. Four bedrooms plus office and three bathrooms. Split master floor plan! Kitchen boasts espresso colored cabinets, granite counter tops, large center island / breakfast bar, Whirlpool stainless steel appliances (gas cooking!) and pantry. Porcelain tile throughout with carpet in bedrooms only. Smart home technology. 14 seer HVAC unit. Large master suite with walk in closet, double sinks and walk in shower. Faux wood blinds throughout. Oversized premium lot with east facing back yard! Backs to a common area; no neighbors immediately behind! Covered back patio and pool size back yard! Low maintenance front and backyard landscaping.

Heartland Ranch Listed for

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AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS | JULY 14, 2021

Pandemic cut traffic congestion in Phoenix area BY BROOKE NEWMAN Cronkite News

hoenix area commuters got 36 hours of their lives back last year. That’s the amount of time Valley residents did not have to spend sitting in traffic, as the COVID-19 pandemic led to sharp drops in commuting and subsequent declines in traffic congestion, according to a new national report. Cities across Arizona, and across the U.S., saw drops of 50 percent or more in the number of hours and dollars they wasted sitting in traffic, as well as a reduction in gasoline burned while idling in a traffic jam, said the report last week by the Transportation Institute at Texas A&M University. “Peak or rush hour traffic aren’t quite as bad as they were,” said Eric Anderson, executive director at Maricopa Association of Governments. “What that means is we have more people not commuting during rush hour as we did prior to the pandemic which reflects the fact that a lot of people are still working from home.” But experts say drivers should enjoy it while they can, as numbers have already started to creep back up toward previous levels. While it may not immediately reach the levels of 2019, the report said that 2021 “will see faster congestion growth than any time since 1982.” But in 2020, the time people spent stuck in traffic was at the lowest level since 1988, when a typical U.S. commuter spent an extra 26 hours behind the wheel. Last year, the number fell to 27 hours, a

ADOT from page 9

cess to Mountain Vista Park and improve bike and pedestrian circulation in the area. Both results enhance the trail’s recreational purpose,” the study states. Warning there may be temporary construction impacts at the existing trail while the extension is built, the study says work “would not impact the public’s ability to use the existing trail during construction.” The study also says ADA-compliant curb ramps will be improved at South Pointe Parkway on the west and Calle Sahuaro in Guadalupe and that where necessary, the gravel path will be paved with concrete. The bridge over I-10 will accommodate

50 percent drop from the 54 hours stuck commuting in 2019, according to the 2021 Urban Mobility Report. Luke Albert, associate research engineer with the Transportation Institute, attributed the drop to the number of people teleworking, which spread the number of cars and trucks on the highway out over the course of the day. As the report put it, while cities were “focused on ‘flattening the curve’ to address the pandemic health emergency, they also flattened the travel-delay curve.” For example, the report said that commuters in the Phoenix-Mesa region who drove to work between 6 and 10 a.m. and drove home between 3 and 7 p.m. spent 36 fewer hours stuck in traffic in 2020 than they did in 2019, a 59 percent drop. The numbers were similar in Tucson, where the 21 hours spent stuck in traffic last year was down 58 percent from the year before. While smaller cities across the state had shorter commutes, they all saw similar declines in delays from 2019. In AvondaleGoodyear, commuting delays fell from a total of 23 hours to 14 hours last year, while commuters in Flagstaff and Prescott “wasted eight hours sitting in traffic in 2020,” according to the report. Every city in the state saw at least a onethird decline in hours spent in traffic congestions. It was not just time that was saved. Nationally, the report said commuters burned an extra 3.5 billion gallons of gas in 2019 from traffic that was not moving at “free-flow speeds,” but that number fell

This chart breaks down the pandemic’s overall impact on Valley traffic. (Transportation In-

stitute at Texas A&M University)

to 1.7 billion gallons last year. Congestioncaused greenhouse gas emissions fell from 36 million tons to 18 million tons. The cost of all that sitting adds up: The report said traffic congestion cost Americans $190 billion of extra fuel and lost time in 2019, compared to $101 billion last year. That’s a drop in per-commuter expenses from $1,170 to $605. Anderson said he expects “higher telecommuting” that started during the pandemic to continue into the future, as many employers and employees have found they can work remotely. Encouraging people to take up alternative work schedules by working remotely – partially or fully – would “take vehicles off the system and help our (Arizona’s)

trian circulation in the area. “The detour would be determined in final design; however, it would use existing paths,” the study states. Of the project’s total $776.6 milThis photo of a highway in the vicinity of Toronto, Canada, illustrates how I-10 will look once the two collector-distributor lanes on either side of lion cost – less than half the I-10 are completed. (ADOT) cost of the South the improved trail, the study says, and a Mountain Freeway – $676.6 million will be “detour would be provided during con- spent on construction, with $615.6 million struction to maintain bicycle and pedes- going to the developer, a joint venture of

congestion levels,” he said. Additionally, many people commute downtown from the West Valley for work every day. Creating more job opportunities in the West Valley would “reduce longdistance commuting patterns and take pressure off the system,” Anderson said. That is one way the state can prepare for the “return of congestion problems” predicted in the report. But while experts see traffic congestion returning, Albert said it is not likely to reach pre-pandemic levels – right away. “We definitely have noticed and expect increases in 2021,” Albert said. But “we don’t expect it to be all the way back to 2019” because it’s unclear how many people will continue to work remotely, he said. ■

Pulice Construction, FNF Construction and Flatiron Constructors that goes under the name of Broadway Curve Constructors. The remainder of the project’s total cost covers the intelligent transportation system signal upgrades, right-of-way acquisition and paid advertising aimed at motorists. As a “design-build” project by a publicprivate partnership similar to one that produced the South Mountain Freeway, teams have one contract with ADOT for design and construction services. The project designers are T.Y. Lin International Group, Stanley Consultants and Aztec Engineering.

see ADOT page 13

NEWS

AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS | JULY 14, 2021

ADOT from page 12

“Design-build” also means that the contractors are “encouraged to use innovation and develop alternative concepts to reduce project time and impacts to the traveling public and community while construction is underway,” ADOT notes.

Better now than later

The Broadway Curve project covers roughly a third of the 31-mile I-10-/I-17 corridor that the Maricopa Association of Governments – the Valley’s major highway planning group – and ADOT call “The Spine” because it handles 40 percent of all Valley traffic daily. The Spine comprises 37 access points, 40 bridges, 26 pump stations and 25 arterial streets that become snarled as a result of traffic jams on I-10 and I-17. Combined daily east and westbound traffic already comes close to 300,000 vehicles through the Broadway Curve daily, and that number is expected to increase as the Valley’s population steadily grows. ADOT Director John Halikowski at one point noted, “Interstate 10 is a key commerce corridor that supports Arizona’s efforts to succeed in the global trade market and a vital transportation route for millions of people who live in, work in and visit our state every year. Improving safety and reducing congestion will truly benefit everyone who relies on our highway system, as well as thousands of businesses along the I-10 corridor. We are proud to deliver a project that will improve quality of life for so many people throughout the region.” Though the pandemic significantly reduced traffic volume, no one expects that to remain the case. And those so-called "traffic crawls" are creating a phenomenon called “peak

spreading,” which basically means rush hours get longer. If nothing is done, one ADOT study warns, by 2040, “congestion will spread to other times of the day, and in some portions of the corridor will extend to more than 12 hours.” The 2018 study estimated it would cost at least $2.5 billion to cover all the improvements it recommends along the entire 31 miles of the Spine Corridor. If nothing was done with the Broadway Curve, ADOT’s environmental impact study notes, it “would result in increased traffic congestion in the area as growth and development continue. This could impede travel to and from destinations and make it difficult to attract or retain businesses in and around the study area.” “The level of congestion is anticipated to be more severe in various segments of the corridor if no improvements were implemented," it adds. "There is a need for improvements to maintain the functionality and mobility in this corridor." The study predicts: “By year 2040, the traffic operations along the I-10 and interchanges in the study area would further degrade with the growth indicators forecasted for the foreseeable future. Without major improvements, the I-10 in the study area (the area covered by the Broadway Curve project) would suffer degraded traffic conditions, travel delays, and challenging mobility for moving goods, services, and people through the study area.” By doing something now, the study notes, “improved mobility and access along the corridor could foster economic development by attracting new business development and more attractive housing options and support social connectivity between

see ADOT page 14

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AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS | JULY 14, 2021

ADOT from page 13

neighborhoods and areas within the study area. This would represent a minor, positive, permanent secondary impact.” It also says the widened I-10 would have a negligible impact on the communities it runs through, adding, “Changes in community character or property values would likely be minor and permanent, although they could be positive, neutral or negative." Moreover, it says the project’s “improved mobility and access… could also foster economic development in” the numerous low-income and minority population neighborhoods that exist along I-10 in the project zone. And the environmental study projects “no change or disruption to the character of neighborhoods.” “There would be no full residential acquisitions, and the few businesses planned to be relocated do not contribute to neighborhood cohesion.” In all, ADOT acquired 17.4 acres of land that included 13 partial property acquisitions, four full property acquisitions and several temporary or permanent easements.

The gain after pain

After the project’s pain comes what ADOT sees as a gain – not just for the 1,200 construction jobs it will create but also for the future of more than 4,600 businesses, including 50 of the region’s largest employers. Noting that I-10 “is part of a key commerce corridor that connects ports in California with markets in Texas and beyond,” ADOT’s environmental study states, “The improvements will make I-10 a more favorable route for commercial truckers whose travels through the region support our local businesses.” ADOT envisions the project will accommodate current and planned system linkages for bus services using I-10, facilitating more ridesharing and rapid transit use. It also promises to make driving safer by reducing lane changes. “Building CD roads for local traffic between Baseline Road and 40th Street will eliminate the need for drivers to change lanes where US 60 joins I-10,” it says, and the HOV lane on I-10 to northbound SR 143 “means carpoolers bound for Sky Harbor International Airport will no longer need to cross several lanes of traffic to get from the HOV lane

This chart illustrates daily vehicle trip projections on I-10 in the Broadway Curve project area. (ADOT) into the SR 143 on-ramps.” Then there is the project’s overall impact on traffic, which ADOT describes thusly: “With the addition of new travel lanes, HOV lanes and the CD roads, capacity on I-10 will increase by 60 percent. This will better accommodate existing traffic and increased traffic as the region continues to grow. “Adding capacity to I-10 will reduce congestion and travel times. Greater efficiency means drivers can get to and from the places they need to be in less time. According to an economic evaluation conducted by MAG in 2020, the improvements will save motorists 2.5 million hours annually otherwise spent in traffic – totaling $130 million a year in time savings. These savings are due to quicker commutes made possible by the improvements vs. slower travel times without them.” For motorists whose stomach knots in traffic, the study puts it another way: “The current average speed on eastbound I-10 between I-17 and US 60 during afternoon rush hour is 32 mph. The average speed is projected to increase to 40 mph by 2025 with the improvements. Without improvements that speed limit is projected to decrease to 29 mph by 2025.”

But first, the pain

The environmental study says that while motorists can expect “temporary delays and slower speeds,” access to businesses and neighborhoods in the area “would be maintained at all times. “Traffic delays and slower speeds would be experienced equally by everyone who lives or passes through the study area; therefore, all population segments, including low-income and minority populations,

would be affected to the same degree by construction,” it says “Traffic operations would remain challenged, and congestion would become more prominent, particularly in the peak periods,” the environmental study anticipates, adding, “Construction could also affect local arterial streets in the study area. In addition to temporary traffic disruptions (closures and detours), construction traffic would be noticeable on area roadways and could occasionally contribute to localized congestion.” During her briefing last week for Tempe residents, Albert said US 60 will be closed on weekends between the I-10 and Hardy Drive but only in one direction at a time in the near future so that asphalt can be removed. “This project will impact all of us, everyone who lives, works or drives to the project area,” Albert said. “In addition to the numerous freeway and ramp closures, there will also be significant overnight work that could be noisy. There will be temporary impacts on business access. There will be detours that increase driving distance and time. There will be slower traffic and will be delays. “Unfortunately, there is no other way to deliver a project like this without having that kind of a construction.” ADOT anticipates the I-10 will be shut down in both directions in the project area at least 50 times over the next four years. Most of these closures will occur on weekends though some also will occur during the work week. Citing the replacement of the entire I-10/SR 143 interchange, ADOT spokesman Tom Hermann said, “That’s going to be for people who work downtown a

headache.” Nor will work day commuters be spared entirely. “We try to time our closures and lane restrictions and that kind of stuff to nights and weekends,” Hermann said. “But when you’re taking out a bridge over I-10, then that can’t always be possible.” ADOT is particularly concerned about how those closures and lane restrictions will not only impact other freeways but also arterials and even side streets in communities – particularly Mesa, Tempe and Chandler. Motorists throughout the southern half of the East Valley and even those heading to or from the West Valley will be encouraged to use the SanTan Loop 202/South Mountain freeway corridor. “You’ve got that bypass that is available to you as an alternate route because one of the things we’re working on right now with the cities of Tempe, Chandler and Phoenix and the town of Guadalupe is detour routes that aren’t going to dump interstate traffic on the local streets,” Noetzel said in an interview in June. Indeed, when asked whether motorists might logically bail and head for local streets, Noetzel replied, “They will but we won’t tell them to.” “One of the detours that we’re looking at actually would have them use the 101 and then back onto the 202,” she said. “So, those are times when we want people to know that. If you have to drive this section of the project area, you’re going to have to allow yourself maybe an extra 20 or 30 minutes because you’ve got this detour.” But the detours, closures and lane restrictions the project will generate explain why ADOT hopes even occasional users of the freeways and byways impacted by the project will download the mobile app and pay attention to the other channels of communication it is deploying for the duration of the work. That’s especially true for people driving to or from Sky Harbor. Noetzel said ADOT and its construction partners have been talking with airport officials for more than year – and not just about the impending impact of the project itself. “We need to start talking now about educational campaigns on getting people to the airport once construction is complete,” she said, though she stressed, “Our first goal is to get them to the airport while construction is going on.” ■

NEWS

AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS | JULY 14, 2021

Phoenix found good, bad, ugly in legislative session BY PAUL MARYNIAK AFN Executive Editor

t could have been worse. That appears to be the Phoenix city administration’s overall evaluation of the State Legislature’s recently concluded 2021 session. Noting that the session, which lasted 171 days, saw passage of 473 of 1,774 introduced pieces of legislation and the governor’s signature on 412 of them, a detailed memo by the Phoenix Office of Governmental Relations to City Council came up with a scorecard on how some of them impact the city. “The City faced a significant number of challenging legislative issues covering a broad array of subject matter, and it was a successful year,” the city office stated. It found 10 bills benefit the city, eight are considered “harmful” and 21 more were successfully opposed by the city. Of another 26 bills that were “monitored,” the city took no position. Of those 26 pieces of legislation, 10 were signed by the governor and the remainder failed to

win passage in one chamber or the other. The biggest threat the city sees is the big income tax cut the Legislature approved in the session's waning hours. The city fought that tax break – which largely favors the wealthiest Arizonans. On the one hand, the city memo applauded a 3 percent increase in state shared revenue that Phoenix will get. That increase was implemented by tax cut proponents in the Republican-dominated Legislature because they needed every GOP vote to secure passage of $1.3 billion – and possibly $1.8 billion – in permanent tax cuts and the $12.8 billion spending plan for the 2021-22 fiscal year. While Phoenix governmental relations officials said the shared state revenue increase “will help the City of Phoenix meet its revenue projections,” it warned that the income tax cut “will reduce our share of state revenue.” In explaining its approach to evaluating the Legislature’s activities, the Office of Government Relations says it is “guided by the principles endorsed by the mayor and Council.”

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and final rulings, procedures and administrative announcements.” The city also likes SB 1056, which extends to 25 years the maximum length of a contract between a county or municipality and an energy or water company to pay for the incremental cost of energy or water savings measures. SB 1420 was applauded because it requires counties and municipalities to accept a consular identification card issued by a foreign government as a valid form of identification if the foreign government uses “biometric identity verification techniques.” Also winning plaudits from the city was SB 1533, which increases the penalties for street racing; SB 1720, which regulates “peer-to-peer car sharing;” SB 1848, which provided $5 million for shelter beds in western Maricopa County. Bills the city beat back Among the bills the city successfully opposed because they threatened local jurisdictions’ authority to make their own

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rules was a measure that would have prevented municipalities from setting a minimum wage for businesses. Another reason the city opposed some bills was their threat to local revenue – such as one that would have prevented municipalities from imposing a fee on cable companies that bury their lines in publicly owned rights of way. Phoenix officials also were pleased with the defeat of a bill preventing businesses from establishing COVID-19 vaccination incentive programs, three measures prohibiting reductions in police budgets from one year to the next, a bill that would cut funding for cities’ programs aiding the homeless, and a measure that would have created “temporary building permits.” The city also beat back a measure that would have prohibited municipalities from fingerprinting food truck operators and imposing fees for their licenses as well as one that repealed aircraft registration fees license taxes and thereby eliminating revenue for airport improvements. Other measures that went down in flames, partly as a result of Phoenix’s op-

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position, was a bill that reduced municipalities’ ability to regulate the sale of tobacco and vaping products and another that prevented governments from using social media for any official purpose.

Losing efforts There were eight successful pieces of legislation that Phoenix fought unsuccessfully, because they cost the city money. One such measure authorizes county treasurers to waive penalties and interest on delinquent tax bills. The city also lost its fight against a measure requiring members of civilian police review boards to complete a community college policy academy and have at least 20 hours of virtual law enforcement training as well as one requiring that two thirds of any review board comprise members of the department it oversees. A related bill the city fought unsuccessfully is one allowing any legislator to request a state Attorney General investigation of any municipal measure that the lawmaker feels is a violation of state law. The city also lost against a bill that weakens water quality standards and limits regulation of surface water quality .■

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Ahwatukee infant needs community’s help BY COTY DOLORES MIRANDA AFN Contributor

uby Anne Murphy is only 3 months old and has spent most of that time in Phoenix Children’s Hospital. The infant daughter of Kevin and Jessica Murphy of Ahwatukee was born on April 14 with hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS); the left half of her heart is missing. The congenital birth defect was discovered during an ultrasound at week 20 into the pregnancy. Though it was a shock, the Murphys say in some respects it was a blessing as it gave them time to assimilate how plans they had for their first daughter, and for their family’s future, would differ wildly from those of their dreams. It would affect not only their own future, but that of their 20-month-old son, Teddy, who had been the focus of his stay-at-home mother and

his father. Now, the new parents’ reality comprises days and nights at their daughter’s bedside, most recently in the ICU. Besides the medical costs, the couple also lost income when Kevin needed to scale back his hours as a nurse at Banner Behavioral Health Hospital in Scottsdale. Enter Ahwatukee-based nonprofit Armer Foundation, which is trying to help the couple with their expenses through its website, ArmerFoundation.org. The foundation’s mission is to help families like the Murphys with medical costs when a child faces a major illness.

�ee RUBY page 22

Only 3 months old, Ruby Anne Murphy of Ahwatukee has spent most of her life in Phoenix Children’s Hospital. (Facebook)

Local nurse practitioner will now be a click away BY COTY DOLORES MIRANDA AFN Contributor

Agnes Oblas, an adult primary care nurse practitioner, said her new effort can help people navigate complicated medical issues. (Pablo Robles/AFN Staff Photographer)

wo years after retiring from her business, New Paths to Healthcare, that she owned and operated in Ahwatukee for 18 years, Agnes Oblas has come out of retirement. She enjoyed the time knitting and crocheting hobbies – which she pursued partly through two groups, Ahwatukee Knitters and Crocheters Anonymous – but missed interacting with her patients and practicing primary care medicine. Consult with Nurse Practitioner Oblas is strictly online. “Throughout these past couple of years, I’ve thought often of the people

who were my patients and I’ve often wondered how they were doing, especially during COVID,” Oblas said. “I asked myself, ‘Where do people go to get answers to their specific medical questions about themselves during these rough times?’ I mean, not just answers about the virus, but answers to their concerns regarding their own personal health in general and/or in relation to COVID,” she said. She saw a need for explaining why she felt the business would be of help to Arizona residents. “Too often, patients will get home from a medical provider’s office visit and think

�ee OBLAS page 21

COMMUNITY

JULY 14, 2021 | AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS

AROUND AHWATUKEE

Registration for Ahwatukee PONY League underway

Registration for the Ahwatukee PONY League Baseball Fall season is underway and open until July 24. Late registration will run July 25-31 but a $50 late fee is incurred. The season starts in August. To register: ponybaseballaz.com. Players must be ages 3 and up and no experience is necessary. Kids can play in competitive, recreational and champions divisions. PONY Baseball is dedicated to creating a safety first-fundamentally sound and challenging experience for children of all ages and skill levels, progressing towards Major League Baseball rules. Questions: email secretary@ponybaseball.com.

Ahwatukee women’s group slates two events in July

Ahwatukee Foothills Friends and Neighbors will offer Zoom presentation of “The Fascinating Lives of America’s First Ladies” by Dr. Robert Watson of Lynn University at 1 p.m. July 29. Watson will look at some of the women who have served as First Lady and discuss their contributions.

OBLAS from page 20

of one or two more questions they wish they’d asked. Or, the explanations they received about their diagnosis or test results were confusing, or simply led to more unanswered questions,” said Oblas. She said her patients can “get valid information, one-on-one, with an experienced healthcare provider” with going on the internet and “sometimes risking conflicting information and even misinformation.” Oblas, an advanced nurse practitioner, got her bachelor’s degree in 1969 from the University of Minnesota and launched her career at Beth Israel Hospital and Massachusetts General in Boston, eventually earning master’s degrees in medicalsurgical nursing from Boston University in 1972 and in adult primary care from Simmons College, also in Boston. She is board certified as an adult primary care nurse practitioner. Nurse practitioners are licensed by the State Board of Nursing to practice independently in an expanded role where they can examine, assess and treat patients. No physician oversight is required in Arizona. Oblas who was born in Hungary and immigrated with her parents to the U.S. after World War II, said that even during her two years of retirement, she kept apprised of what was happening in her field. “I’ve kept up with new medical trends

Register at affanwomensgroup@gmail.com. An email will be sent the morning of the presentation with the link. Registration closes July 18. AFFAN also will hold a meeting and luncheon at Voodoo Daddy’s Steam Kitchen in Tempe at 11:30 a.m. July 18. Cost is $17 prepaid. Email affanwomensgroup@gmail.com to register.

a complex where domestic violence victims not only can find services but also a place to live. Information: janiceswomenscenter.com. Saul’s book is available on amazon.com.

July or August. The school also is hiring 10 new staff members for the new location. Whiz Kids Preschool has existing locations in Scottsdale, Phoenix and Mesa. Information: whizkidzpreschool.com.

Whiz Kidz Preschool opening location in Ahwatukee

Local JP slates signing for her first book

Locally owned and operated Whiz Kidz Preschool will open its fourth Valley location in Ahwatukee next month and is offering year-round enrollment starting now. Located at 1442 E Chandler Blvd., the new Whiz Kidz Preschool will take over space previously occupied by the Foothills Preschool & Enrichment Center. The facility was designed with young children in mind with large open playgrounds and classrooms as well as a secure entrance providing confidence for families. The school can accommodate up to 170 kids. “As our city continues to grow, the demand for quality childcare increases,” said founder/CEO Martha Picciao. “We are very excited to serve the Ahwatukee Foothills community and are looking forward to building community relationships.” The new preschool will be running a special giving families three months free for an enrollment and start date of

Support for Desert Foothills Park pickleball sought

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. Ostendorp and McNeish have won the support of Councilman Sal DiCiccio, whose office is guiding them through the complex City Hall process. Their first step is to get simple statements of interest from people so they can show city officials there’s community interest in pickleball courts at Desert Foothills Park. People can express their interest by emailing dfparkpb@ gmail.com.

on 30 of the most common medical and health-related topics in primary care medicine. The first printing has sold out, and a reprint is in the works. Excerpts from her book will be fea-

tured monthly on her new website.

Kyrene Justice of the Peace Sharron Sauls has recently published a book title “Judge Me Not” and will be holding a book signing at a new Ahwatukee boutique opened by two local women who are raising funds for a shelter for domestic violence victims. “My book tells the story of a young domestic violence victim who triumphantly overcomes,” Sauls said, describing the book as “a quick read that takes you into the world of a domestic violence victim then brings you out into a survivor’s success story.” The signing will be held 10 a.m.-noon and 2-4 p.m. July 24 at Janice Vaincre’s Boutique, 4302 E. Ray Road, Ahwatukee. The boutique was recently opened by Shante and Sheri Saulsberry of Ahwatukee, who are trying to raise money for

and developments through professional journal reading, and on-line continuing education offerings,” she said. People can go to her website, ConsultWithNursePractitionerOblas.com and submit questions and schedule a virtual appointment and submit a payment for either a full-hour or a 30-minute consultation. “In turn, I will send you a one-time link to Doxy.me which is a user-friendly, secure, HIPAA compliant audio-video platform where the two of us can discuss your issues in depth, confidentially. Because it will be an all-virtual endeavor, I will not have a physical office location,” she said. “My goal is to help people understand their medical diagnosis, offer advice, and educate. To that end, I will not prescribe medications or treatment plans that differ from what their providers already have in place. I will, however, communicate with the patient’s provider if the patient requests this,” she explained. Oblas said her semi-retired husband, Barry Oblas, a mental health therapist, has been supportive of her new business. “He’s 100 percent supportive and encouraging and creative, giving me ideas,” she said. The couple is celebrating their 35th wedding anniversary in August. Oblas has also authored a book, “The Patient’s Resource and Almanac of Primary Care Medicine,” which she describes as an easy-to-read compilation of essays

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RUBY from page 20

Kevin Murphy had earned his bachelor’s degree in nursing last February and had been working hard to complete his degree prior to Ruby’s birth. He has had to take multiple days off outside of his family and medical leave, all unpaid. He continues to work Friday through Sunday in 12-hour shifts. The couple, both 29, met in 2010 when Kevin was a Desert Vista High School senior and married in 2015. The Murphys had made plans to buy a house; Jessica was pursuing a career as a birth doula and childbirth educator. Now, even a trip to visit Jessica’s family in Kentucky has taken a backseat to helping their daughter through this trying time. “Our entire life basically flipped on its head the day she was born, and yet we wouldn’t trade her for the world, even with this broken little heart of hers,” said Jessica. “We would choose her a million times over, and we pray every single day that we get to keep her a little longer, that we won’t have to say goodbye too soon.” Ruby Anne had open heart surgery five days after she was born. More recently, she underwent abdominal surgery to insert a gastrostomy tube to help feed her and eliminate the need for a feeding tube inserted into her mouth and nose. “She’s very stubborn and opinionated and she was very adamant about not wanting anything by her nose and mouth. She’d do her darndest to get it out,” said Jessica. “She’s a good baby and smiles when she’s not in pain,” added her father. He explained his daughter’s name, Ruby Anne, is an amalgamation of two of her great grandmothers’ names. Currently, the couple continues spending the night bedside in the ICU, a position they say they’re thankful for as “some hospitals don’t allow it”. “Spending nights in the hospital is incredibly difficult, but not for the reasons you might think,” said Jessica. “Sure, the couch/chair isn’t comfortable, and the nurses coming in every two to three hours around-the-clock is annoying, but you learn to deal with that. Somehow you even learn to tune out some of the alarms as they beep for various reasons though the first few nights of that were incredibly hard because we didn’t know what the alarms meant, only that they were connected to our baby,” she said. “But the hardest part is having my heart

AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS | JULY 14, 2021

best for them, into each day, not knowing what the next following your 24-hours hold, said Jessica. gut about “When we got her diagnosis at 20 weeks, things, even it felt like we were free falling in darkness when it goes with nothing to hold onto. We just knew against what it was some horrid nightmare that if we doctors might could just wake up, things would be norbe recom- mal again. It was like that for a good week mending. It’s or two, and then somehow, in that freetough.” falling heartbreak, I found comfort in my “It takes so faith,” she confessed. much of our “I spent more time in prayer in the 20 energy, and weeks between anatomy scan and birth most nights than I ever had before. I wept tears of we fall into anguish as I cried out to God to fix my bed (or the baby. And somewhere along the way, even hospital chair though the answer to my prayers was not as is the case what I wanted it to be, I settled into a deep may be) just peace,” she said. Jennifer Armer, left, and her daughter Rebecca McElyea opened the drained men“I get asked all the time, how I manage. Armer Foundation’s Buying for Charity Thrift Store in Ahwatukee in tally and emo- I get told that I’m so strong or so brave March. (AFN file photo) tionally. And for this. But the truth is, I’m not strong or in two places. Having my toddler at home then we get up the next morning and we brave. I would give anything, including my in his bed, and my baby in the hospital … do it all again. We know our child best, own life, to fix my daughter’s heart so that hooked up to tubes and wires, both need- we care for her 24-hours a day, every day, this isn’t our life anymore. But every day I wake up and God gives me strength anew ing their mama but only being able to be since the day she was born.” with one of them, that’s the hardest part,” Though she said they know Ruby’s to tackle that day. And I know that He’ll do she said. “smiles and her cries” and “what makes the same thing tomorrow.” Kevin Murphy said connecting with the Until Ruby Anne was born, their son her happy and what doesn’t,” advocating “had never spent more than a few hours for her in some ways “is one of the hardest Armer Foundation was serendipitous. “We heard about the Armer Foundaaway from his mama, much less over- things we’ve ever done,” Jessica said. night,” Jessica explained. “We want nothing more than to bring our tion for Kids from my mother’s A/C guy,” “I was there for every bedtime, night daughter home, to show her that there is he said. “He happened to be fixing their time waking, every good morning kiss. And more to life than hospital beds, tubes and air conditioner during Ruby’s most recent then suddenly I was just gone more than wires. She has spent more than 2/3 of her hospital stay, and during the conversaI was home, and he’s still struggling with life in a hospital room, and what time she tion about why she was in the hospital, he that, even three months later, because I’m spent at home wasn’t even consecutive. mentioned Armer Foundation’s work to still gone more than I’m home most days,” “We try to put on a brave face for our her and she reached out to them and then she said. “Every day I ask myself ‘which son and for the rest of our family, but passed the information along to us.” child needs me more today’, and nine times it’s beyond hard. There are moments of Donations via ArmerFoundation.org can out of ten, it’s Ruby, but that doesn’t mean light that pierce the darkness though, the specify Ruby Anne and her family. Monies that Teddy doesn’t need me.” brightest of which being her smile.” will be used for outstanding and ongoing Teddy is being cared for by his paternal Faith is necessary to continue to move medical bills, hospital food and gas. ■ grandparents, Ahwatukee residents Christine and Sean Murphy. “We had Kevin late in life, he’s the youngest of four and I had him at age 40. This is a busy time for the Armer Foundation, founded as a nonprofit in 2019 by Matt and Jennifer Armer We’re going to be 69 this year. We can’t of Ahwatukee. Their Buying for Charity Thrift Store, located at 9830 S. 51st Street, Suite 128, earmarks all help them financially as much as we’d like proceeds for families that have children with extreme medical needs. because we’re both retired, but we can Their fundraising gala, Ahwatukee Dancing with the Stars Black Tie Gala, will be held at 6 p.m. July 23 at support them by taking care of Teddy,” exthe Chateau Luxe, 175 E Lone Cactus Drive, north Phoenix. The ballroom opens at 7 p.m. where a threeplained Christine Murphy, who with her course meal will be served before the evening’s entertainment. Tickets are at armerfoundation.org. husband has lived in Ahwatukee 22 years. From 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. this Friday, July 16, the Armer Foundation is sponsoring a #Team Drew Blood Drive at “And we remain positive for Ruby Anne.” CK’s Tavern and Grill, 4142 E. Chandler Blvd. to benefit Drew Pinkston. The parents decided to have Ruby Anne’s Sept. 26 will mark the launch of a new community event and fundraiser as two-person teams compete in feeding tube inserted through her stomach. Ahwatukee’s Amazing Race to benefit the foundation. It wasn’t easy, Jessica said, “Trying to Teams will be given 12 tasks starting with their first clue at the Armer Foundation for Kids office at 9830 advocate for your child, doing what’s best S. 51st Street. Registration has just opened online. for them when you honestly have little to Information: 480-257-3254. no idea about their condition or what is

Busy time for Armer Foundation

JULY 14, 2021 | AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS

AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS | JULY 14, 2021

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HEALTH

WELLNESS

Summer 2021

Your Local Guide to Better Living

How dental of�ices make visits safe BY DR. RASHMI BHATNAGAR AFN Guest Writer

lthough Arizona has “opened up” in terms of eliminating mask requirements and social distancing in public places, many people are still hesitant to visit the dentist. However, practicing precautions is not unusual in dentistry. Since the era of HIV, the incorporation of wearing gloves, masks, and protective clothing has been standard of care within the field.

The practice of dentistry and the increased regulations by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) have improved the safety of the patient and the practitioner. The new technology in the digital world has reduced the need for in person consultations. What would one expect to see as precautionary measures in a modern-day dental office? Hand washing between patients is standard. Even though hand washing has always been a part of OSHA standard, practitioners are making efforts to wash their hands in front of the patients for patients’

peace of mind. Another change involves use of air purifiers chair side or within the dental practices to reduce the aerosol admissions from dental handpieces and ultrasonics. All dental equipment has traditionally been sterilized or sanitized between patients, but since COVID-19, the Centers of Disease Control (CDC) has mandated more vigorous sterilization procedures. Although COVID-19 and its variants are still prevalent in society, people who have gotten the COVID-19 vaccine are more protected than those who have not. Dental offices continue to do their best

to prevent cross-contamination and the spread of disease amongst patients, but getting the vaccine has been documented to further reduce the risk. The American Dental Associate continues to recommend a professional dental cleaning and exam every 6 months to reduce the occurrence of dental decay and gum disease. If you are concerned about the COVID-19 precautions in your dentist’s office, please call the office and review their precautions in place. For further information, feel free to contact “Dr. B” at BellaVista DentalCare 480598-5900 or email rushdmd@gmail.com. ■

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Summer 2021

Heel Pain Is on The Rise Restaurants are busy, baseball stadiums are welcoming fans, and this summer is slated to be one of the busiest travel seasons ever. “Getting back to a normal lifestyle can be a shock to your feet,” says Dr. Kerry Zang, podiatric medical director of CiC Foot & Ankle. More than two million Americans suffer from plantar fasciitis, a sharp, stabbing, sometimes burning pain in the heel or arch of the foot. It’s anticipated this number will rise as activity levels increase. It typically hurts when first getting up, may lessen after a few steps but always returns. In the past, a cortisone injection was given. “Cortisone manages the pain, but it doesn’t address what’s causing the pain,” says Zang. Now, new treatment options focus on resolving the condition, not just the treating the symptoms. “Regenerative medicine is one of the most promising ways to deal with pain, because it triggers the body to heal,” he explains. “One form is prolotherapy, which tricks the body into thinking it was injured and starts the healing process.” The FDA recently approved cold laser therapy for plantar fasciitis. “Laser treatment helps reduce pain, increase circulation and attracts the patient’s own growth factors to the area, all of which promote healing,” says Zang. If left untreated pain can become chronic, but the good news is there are still options. “Growth factor therapy jump starts and maintains regeneration of new tissues,” says Zang. “It’s all about healing.”

Summer 2021

Health & Wellness

Regenerative medicine can help foot pain BY GREER BANKS Tribune Guest Writer

ust because you’re on your feet all day or are getting older, doesn’t mean your feet should hurt. “I hate to hear that foot pain is keeping someone from their everyday life,” says Dr. Kerry Zang, podiatric medical director of CiC Foot & Ankle. Another big reason why people live with chronic foot pain, they didn’t get relief from

prior treatment and don’t know where to turn. “The thing that excites me most about being a doctor is finding new ways to help my patients. Regenerative medicine is one of the most effective breakthroughs I’ve seen in a long time. One of the biggest benefits is that it can treat so many different conditions,” says Zang. “It doesn’t matter if you are suffering from arthritis, an old injury, Achilles tendonitis, heel pain or plantar fasciitis, pain

after surgery, the list goes on and on. Regenerative medicine may be able to help.” Regenerative injection therapy uses growth factors to help repair and restore tissue, ligaments, and joints. Until recently, anti-inflammatory medication and steroid injections, like cortisone offered the best chance for relief. But these options just reduced the symptoms. “While cortisone stops the swelling and pain, it can also interfere with the healing process and more damage can occur,”

Pritchette Therapy treats clients like family BY PRITCHETTE PHYSICAL THERAPY

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We have consistently been rated a Best of Ahwatukee for Physical Therapy by Ahwatukee Foothills News. Pritchette Physical Therapy’s mission is to provide exceptional care that goes above and beyond expectations. We want to create an environment that is warm, welcoming, and friendly; one which provides a level of customer service that is no longer commonplace in today’s world. We want every person who steps

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explains Zang. N o w , doctors are able to deal with the underlying problem that is causing the pain. RIT helps the body initiate its own healing response, where the body replaces, repairs, reprograms and renews diseased or injured cells. “Sometimes the body just needs a little boost to encourage the regenerative process. The growth factors in RIT do that,” says Zang. Zang recognizes that patients are skeptical. But notes, “RIT has great potential to offer relief.” One of his patients had been suffering for three years and surgery was not an option. After RIT, the patient reported no pain. “This is an unbelievable outcome…I thought this could never happen.” ■

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Record Store Day keeps heads spinning BY ALEX GALLAGHER AFNt Staff Writer

ia Records’ Mary Papenhausen knows the appeal of Record Store Days. She sees customers come in and out of the stalwart stores. She purchases records, too. “The beautiful thing about Record Store Day is that you can look at the list a million times and when you get to the store and see things, you’ll realize you’ll end up wanting more,” said Papenhausen, the chain’s director of marketing. Fans who shopped on the June 12 Record Store Day, have a second chance on July 17. The event was split into two days, due to the pandemic. With one Record Store Day in the books, shops like Uncle Aldo’s Attic in Northeast Mesa and Zia Records are gearing up to see large crowds from the moment doors open once again.

Owner Desi Scarpone helps customer Justin Killoran ﬁnd a record at Uncle Aldo’s Record. (Pab-

lo Robles/AFN Staff Photographer)

“Things are becoming a bit safer, and it seems that more and more people are getting out and want to do things,” Papenhau-

sen said. Uncle Aldo’s Attic’s owner Desi Scarpone said Record Store Day was slightly

daunting. “We always have a line outside our store and this year we had a long one, which is a little scary for a small store like ours,” Scarpone said. Both stores have put capacity limits in place to give shoppers more room to peruse the specials, and to keep everyone safe. “With the smaller crowds, it’s more manageable,” Papenhausen said. “People have more space. People can see the records a bit clearer and it’s easier, in terms of stress, for customers and employees.” Besides capping capacity, the stores are limiting what customers can buy. “When we open, we let people in one at a time and they get to choose up to three of the Record Store Day things,” Scarpone said. “We do this until the line is gone and then we let people come and

�ee RECORDS page 30

More vehicle owners are going electric in Arizona BY BROOKE NEWMAN Cronkite News

or a seemingly red state, Arizona has a lot of blue-state company when it comes to states ranked by electric vehicle ownership, according to recent government data. Arizona had 28,770 registered electric vehicles as of June, according to the U.S. Department of Energy’s Alternative Fuels Data Center, the seventh-highest number among states. When ownership is measured per 1,000 residents, Arizona inches up a notch to sixth place, with just over four electric vehicles per 1,000 people. That rate put Arizona just behind Oregon and Colorado and just ahead of Nevada and Vermont. California was in the lead by far, with 425,300 registered electric vehicles, or one for every 10.7 residents. Arizona EV enthusiasts welcomed the

ranking, which they said they have seen reflected in steady increases in group membership, but said the state can do better. “Arizona is growing by leaps and bounds in major areas, but still struggling out there in the hinterlands,” said Jerry Asher, vice president of the Tucson Electric Vehicle Association. He and others said the biggest challenge

in Arizona, as in much of the country, is the lack of readily available charging stations for electric vehicles. Currently, there are 385 public fastcharging plugs and 1,448 non-fast-charging plugs in the state, said Diane Brown, executive director with the Arizona Public Interest Research Group Education Fund. And many of those “are not available 24

hours a day, often making EV charging less convenient to the public,” she said. According to the website plugshare. com, Maricopa County has 1,103 charging stations and Ahwatukee has at least three. Phoenix City Council recently authorized the purchase of additional dual-port charging stations for public use that will be installed at 11 parks and libraries citywide – although it is unclear if Ahwatukee will be getting one. The installations are possible because of an incentive rebate program Salt River Project made available to cities. Total cost to purchase and install these charging stations is an estimated $224,000. The SRP rebate brings the city’s cost down to less than half of the cost associated with installing the charging stations. “SRP’s EV-related incentives promote improved electric vehicle infrastructure

�ee ELECTRIC page 30

BUSINESS

AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS | JULY 14, 2021

RECORDS from page 29

go as they please.” Zia Records will allow 15 people in at a time, all of whom can only purchase one record per title. “If there’s 22 titles out there, you can get 22 different titles but not 22 of one title,” Papenhausen said. She explains Zia makes it an easy shopping experience. “We make it so that it’s extremely easy to shop at the store,” she explains. “We give people enough space. We put the records in alphabetical order. We have people directing people over to the sections and helping them with what they may need.” At Uncle Aldo’s Attic, a staff member will search the inventory for the pieces customers would like to purchase. “We will sometimes check with people in line to see what they want and, if we’re running low on inventory, we will tell them they may be better off elsewhere,” Scarpone said. Scarpone has tried to combat this by purchasing a fair amount of Record Store Day exclusive vinyl for his store. “This is the most Record Store Day records that I’ve ever bought because so often I’ll have customers ask me for stuff that we don’t have,” Scarpone said. “I went wild and ordered stuff that I don’t usually get.” For customers who missed out on a

ELECTRIC from page 29

across the Valley which supports our EV drivers and increases EV adoption,” said Kelly Barr, Chief Strategy, Corporate Services and Sustainability executive at SRP. “SRP is thrilled the city of Phoenix recognizes the value associated with adding more EV charging stations and helping remove barriers for residents driving electric. The reward is lower carbon emissions and improved air quality for years to come.” And in order for the state to hit 10% EV ownership by 2030, one scenario outlined by Arizona PIRG, the number of charging stations would need to grow significantly. “According to the Arizona PIRG Education Fund, to support a future in which 10 percent of Arizona’s vehicles are EVs – a conservative target for 2030 – Arizona will need more than 1,098 fast-charging plugs and 14,888 Level 2 plugs,” Brown said.

Record Store Day

Zia Records Stores open at 7 a.m. Saturday, July 17 Tempe: 3021 S. Mill Avenue. Camelback: 1850 W. Camelback Road Chandler: 3029 N. Alma School Road Thunderbird: 2510 W. Thunderbird Road Mesa: 1302 S. Gilbert Road Online records go on sale at 10 a.m. ziarecords.com

Sheryl Sheppard searches for records at Uncle Aldo’s Record store. (Pablo Robles/AFN Staff

Photographer)

few of the first Record Store Day releases, Uncle Aldo’s Attic still has several titles remaining. This time, the most anticipated releases are “Remixes,” Amy Winehouse; “Live in 1972,” Aretha Franklin; “Aglio E Olio,” Beastie Boys; “Czar Noir,” Czarface; “Lose You Now,” Lindsey Stirling; “Fallen Torches,” Mastodon; “Missing Links Vol. 1, 2 and 3,” The Monkees; “Lean Into It,” Mr. Big; and “Mechanical Resonance,” Tesla. Several compilation records will hit shelves, too. Zia Records opens at 7 a.m. but for shoppers who are not yet comfortable with

This will require local, state and federal policies to make “EV charging accessible, affordable, and easy,” she said. But advocates said there are several things working in their favor. Jim Stack, president of the Phoenix Electric Auto Association, said many of the current plug-ins charging stations are at stores and libraries, places “where you would stop anyway.” “We have a good charging infrastructure and it keeps getting better,” Stack said. One way Asher said Arizona could be more EV-friendly would be to add charging stations at hotels, RV parks and shopping centers. In Tucson, he said, the Culinary Dropout and Jersey Mike’s restaurants have already begun offering free electric vehicle charging to customers, Asher said. While they push for more charging infrastructure, advocates said improving technology and lower vehicle expenses are on their side, helping to sway more

going to stores, leftover Record Store Day exclusives will be sold online beginning at 10 a.m. Saturday, July 17. Exclusive records will not be the only thing on sale that day. Uncle Aldo’s Attic offers 10% off all non-Record Store Day exclusives in the store. Zia Records will sell exclusive branded merchandise. The chain hasn’t released the merchandise designs yet, but last time it was a slip mat and an exclusive T-shirt. Record Store Day is an exciting day not just for customers but for the stores’ staff. “It’s a really exciting day,” Papenhausen said. “You can expect energy right off the

Arizonans to purchase an electric vehicle in recent years. “The batteries are getting better and lower in cost as well as longer-lasting,” Stack said. He said an EV uses about 50 cents of electricity to cover the same number of miles a gas-burning car gets from a gallon of gas – currently selling for $3.12 a gallon in Arizona, according to AAA. In addition, the state is offering incentives to electric vehicle buyers. “In Arizona we get reduced registration on electric vehicles,” Stack said. “It’s about $15 a year compared to $300-700 a year for gas and diesel cars.” Electric vehicle owners also “get 24/7 access to HOV lanes, even with one person,” he said. Stack also noted that Arizona is now home to three electric vehicle manufacturers: Lucid, which makes cars in Casa Grande, Nikola, which will make trucks in

Uncle Aldo’s Attic Store opens at 10 a.m. Saturday, July 17 6016 E. McKellips Road, Northeast Mesa 480.218.1415, unclealdosattic.com For the full list of Record Store Day releases, visit recordstoreday.com bat both from in-store shoppers and the people waiting in line.” She has a bit of advice for shoppers attending their first Record Store Day. “I’d recommend getting there early, staying hydrated and looking at the list before you come in,” Papenhausen said. She reminds shoppers, too, that Record Store Day isn’t just about musicians and stores making a profit. “The thing about supporting record stores on record store day is that you will find the fairest price on that day,” Papenhausen said. “We want as many people to get as many records as possible at a fair price.” ■

Phoenix and Coolidge, and Electra Meccanica, which plans to build the threewheeled SOLO commuter in Mesa. In addition, a start-up last week announced plans to build a factory in Mesa. Phoenix also established an electric vehicle committee that will review existing charging infrastructure and “develop list of recommended locations for additional charging infrastructure to ensure comprehensive coverage and equitable access,” according to a memo from Mayor Kate Gallego. The committee will “develop strategies to facilitate EV adoption city-wide, with special consideration of affordability, accessibility, and equity;” goals for the electrification of city vehicles and a public charging infrastructure; and examine other issues related to a broader implementation of electric vehicles in both the public and private sectors. AFN contributed to this report. ■

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

JULY 14, 2021 | AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS

Don’t let your investments go on vacation BY JOSEPH ORTIZ AFN Guest Writer

ow that we’ve gained at least some space from the COVID-19 pandemic, summer travel is heating up. But while you might be eager to hit the road, you won’t want your investments to take a vacation – you need them to work hard for you consistently. But how can you make this happen? Here are some ideas: Know your destination. “If you don’t know where you want to go, then it doesn’t matter which path you take.” This bit of wisdom, paraphrased from the classic children’s book, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, may be appropriate for, say, hikers exploring a new landscape. But as an investor, it matters a great deal which path you take. If you only dabble in investing, occasionally putting some money into one investment or another, it will be difficult to build a port-

folio that’s consistently working in your best interest. It’s important to create a long-term investment strategy based on where you want to go in life – that is, how long you plan to work, what sort of retirement lifestyle you envision, and so on. Match goals with investments. Some investments are designed to achieve certain goals. To illustrate: When you contribute to an IRA and a 401(k) or similar employer-sponsored plan, you’re investing for one specific, long-term goal: a comfortable retirement. While you can tap into these accounts for other purposes – though doing so might incur immediate taxes and penalties – they are designed to provide you with income during your retirement years. Similarly, you may have other investments for other purposes, such as a 529 education savings plan. Here’s the key point: Goals-based investing, by its nature, can help ensure your portfolio is always working on your behalf, in the way you intended. Invest for growth. Ideally, hard work

produces results, and one of the main results you want from your investments is growth – that is, you want your investments to appreciate in value so they can eventually help you meet your goals. But if you are overconcentrated in vehicles such as certificates of deposit (CDs) and government securities, you may end up lowering your growth potential. That’s not to say that CDs and Treasury bills are in some sense “lazy.” They can provide you with income and help you reduce the impact of market volatility on your portfolio. But to achieve most of your goals, you’ll need a reasonable number of growth-oriented

investments working for you, with the exact percentage based on your needs and life stages. Check your progress. How else can you ensure your investments aren’t just taking it easy? By checking up on them. If you follow a buy-and-hold strategy, your portfolio shouldn’t require many changes if it already reflects your goals, risk tolerance and time horizon. Too much buying and selling could jeopardize your ability to follow a consistent, long-term strategy. However, “buy and hold” doesn’t mean “buy and forget.” By reviewing your portfolio at least once a year, you can determine if your investments are performing as they should. If they’re not working for you as you’d like, you may need to make some changes. If you’re traveling this summer, relax and enjoy yourself – but keep those investments working hard. Joseph Ortiz is a �inancial planner for Edward Jones. Reach him at 480753-7664 or joseph.ortiz@edwardjones.com ■

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There are no bad dogs, just bad owners BY DAVID LEIBOWITZ AFN Columnist

er name was Maria Eliza Sebastian Ruiz, 77 years old. She was married 60 years, a mother of �ive, a grandmother. She died early July 6 on her front porch in Phoenix, mauled by a pack of four hulking Staffordshire terrier mixes. Pit bulls, to use the common parlance. The dogs’ owner, Alejandro Hernandez, 33, is in jail charged with negligent homicide. It’s a Class Four felony that carries a minimum one year behind bars and 3-year-9-months max. Personally, I hope Hernandez serves every last day, because the police report details negligence in the extreme. “(Hernandez) stated the dogs belong to him and are known to escape from his backyard,” the investigator wrote. “Def. admitted to multiple occasions where his dogs escaped from his back-

yard and would wander around the neighborhood. “Def. admitted to prior incidents of the dogs biting other people at least two times. Def. knew the gate from which the dogs escaped from was faulty and needed to be repaired or reinforced in order to prevent the dogs from escaping. Def. stated he did not make any changes to the gate because he did not have time.” He’ll have plenty of time now. Hernandez’s pit bulls immediately were put down by Maricopa County Animal Control. Their euthanizing was a no-brainer. But the story of Maria Eliza’s killing raises a larger question: Should Arizona cities and towns allow people to own pit bulls at all? In 2016, the state Legislature passed Senate Bill 1248, which forbids breed-speci�ic legislation like the pit-bull bans passed by more than 900 cities nationwide. This could easily be reconsidered, in light of Maria Eliza’s death and the fact that in 2019 pit bulls accounted for 33 kill-

ings – 69 percent of the 48 dog bite fatalities reported nationwide. No other dog bites or kills so frequently. No other dog �ills Maricopa County’s animal shelters to over�lowing. No other dog makes headlines so often. In February, a loose pit bull attacked three Gilbert residents, including a 16-year-old girl and a 70-year-old man. On Christmas Day 2020, a pit bull turned on its 39-year-old owner in Phoenix, tearing up her face and hands and leaving her in critical condition. Last summer in Casa Grande, Lorenzo Hidalgo, 42, went to check on his grandmother, but was met instead by three loose pit bulls. The dogs reportedly lunged at his neck. Hidalgo was airlifted to a Valley hospital, where he was �illed with stitches and staples. I could go on, but you get the idea: There’s a long roll call of the maimed and the dead. Yet on the other side of the argument stands canine experts like the ASPCA, who argue for nurture ahead of nature.

“All dogs, including pit bulls, are individuals,” reads the of�icial ASPCA position. “Treating them as such, providing them with the care, training and supervision they require, and judging them by their actions and not by their DNA or their physical appearance is the best way to ensure that dogs and people can continue to share safe and happy lives together.” Late into their sixties, my parents adopted a pit bull from the pound: Jake, a brindle behemoth who followed my mother everywhere. She was the dog’s big love in life, up there with dropped food and lying on “his couch.” Jake outlived my mom and my dad, and now resides with my brother. He’s a sweet boy, raised in a house full of love, treated with respect and care. It’s been 10 years and I’ve never heard Jake so much as growl. I view him as proof that Alejandro Hernandez deserves prison time. Because there are no inherently bad dogs, only bad owners. ■

year, which would allow wealthier taxpayers to avoid paying the 3.5 percent surcharge. It will result in hundreds of millions of dollars a year less in dollars that would have gone to our public schools. The one part of the budget that I did like, and ultimately voted for, was the commitment to higher education. As you know, I have talked for years about the need for more investments for our state’s universities and community colleges, after a decade plus of cuts. The �inal budget included over $100 million for our state’s three universities through their New Economy Initiative, and also included the creation of a new promise scholarship program for low-income students. I’ve run a similar version of this program

as a bill for several years, and am very happy that the state has now created a permanent program designed to increase need-based �inancial aid for Arizona college students. That’s why I voted yes for the higher education part of the budget (the budget is split up into about a dozen different bills, each relating to a different policy area). This was the third year that I voted for the higher education section of the budget, after voting yes in both 2017 and 2020 (I also voted for the K-12 section of the budget in 2018). With the session drawing to a close last week, we also stopped some bills that I thought were misguided for the state, including bills to allow loaded guns in school parking lots and further changes to our state’s elections systems.

Another piece of good news: our bill to ensure that mental health is included in K-12 health curriculums �inally passed the House last week, with strong bipartisan support. It is currently on the governor’s desk, and I hope he will sign it. This would be the second bill of mine signed this year, and the sixth bill signed in just the last four years. So now that session has concluded, what’s next? I am taking some muchneeded time to rest and recover from a very long legislative session, and spending a lot of time thinking about what’s next.

Bowie re�lects on very long legislative session

BY SEN. SEAN BOWIE AFN Guest Writer

e of�icially adjourned our legislative session last week, and at 171 days, it was the third longest session ever (if we had stayed in session a couple of more days, we would have set the record for longest in Arizona history. So close!). As you know by now, we passed a state budget, and while it had some good elements to it, it included many bad ones as well, including an enormous tax cut that will ultimately cost $1.8 billion a year if certain economic triggers are hit over the next couple of years. The Legislature also passed a law that is a direct run around to the voter approved Proposition 208 that was approved last

Ahwatukee resident Sen. Sean Bowie represents Legislative 18, which includes Ahwatukee and parts of Chandler, Mesa and Tempe. ■

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Return of passing leagues provide outlet for East Valley football teams By Drew Schott AFN Staff Writer

s Higley High School opened its 2020 campaign with a 26-18 win over Mountain Pointe, it marked an abrupt end of play for Aidan Garcia. The wide receiver suffered a broken ankle in the game, which sidelined him for the remainder of the regular season. For three months, Garcia was unable to walk without crutches or a walking boot. But now, the rising senior is back to full speed ahead of his final season for the Knights. Garcia was able to showcase his skills, highlighted by a 40-yard touchdown on a post route, Thursday night as ten high schools participated in a seven-on-seven competition at Higley’s campus in Gilbert. “It’s awesome,” Higley head coach Eddy Zubey said. “A lot of guys, this is their first time doing it because they didn’t get to do it last year. It’s good to see the kids come

Mountain Pointe head coach Eric Lauer, in his second year, is using 7-on-7 to identify the strengths of his players, an opportunity lost last summer due to the pandemic. (Zach Alvira/

AFN Staff)

together and build that camaraderie.” Seven-on-seven competitions, a way for

teams to practice against other schools and assess position battles, were canceled

last season due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Now that it is safe enough to resume play, Zubey holds the Higley Varsity Passing League every Tuesday night in June for schools across the East Valley. While the format is similar to that of a non-padded practice — two-hand touch marks a tackle and no score is recorded — the return of seven-on-sevens are enabling players to strengthen bonds on the field ahead of the regular season. For Devin Sparks, a senior wide receiver at Mountain Pointe, competing under the Arizona sunsets is a familiar feeling. He took part in the Pride’s offseason sevenon-seven practices as a sophomore. Approaching his final year of high school football, Sparks and his teammates are looking to use these scrimmages as a way to improve mechanics and speed. Additionally, he is focusing on acclimat-

�ee PASSING page 36

Ahwatukee coach leads women’s football to a game for the title By Drew Schott AFN Staff Writer

n 2018, Joe Griffin was at work in his store, Heads Up Helmets, when Tabitha McBride walked in. The Ahwatukee resident, who has coached football for more than 20 years and was an assistant under legendary Mountain Pointe Coach Norris Vaughan, soon learned McBride owned the Phoenix Phantomz — a Women’s Football Alliance franchise. When McBride found out about Griffin’s football experience, she asked him to come on as a coach. “She was like, ‘they just need help,’” Griffin recalled. “‘The ladies are committed and we just need coaches to come and actually believe in them and coach them.’’” After visiting a few practices, Griffin, who was involved with youth football programs and a Mountain Pointe gig, declined initially but after the end of the season, took her offer.

The AZ Outkast is just a game away from capturing a division title in the Women’s Football Alliance, thanks to Ahwatukee coach Joe Griffin. (Special to AFN)

It was a decision that has helped put the Phantomz, now called the AZ Outkast, on the doorstep of a championship. On July 23, the Outkast will look to defeat the Derby City Dynamite for the WFA

Division III title at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in Canton, Ohio. Created in 2009, the WFA is the largest women’s tackle football league globally, with 66 teams across three divisions

and broadcasting partnerships including ESPN3 and Root Sports. Additionally, the league has sent coaches and scouts to the National Football League such as Katie Sowers of the Kansas City Chiefs and Jennifer King of the Washington Football Team, the first African American female coach in the NFL. The WFA also provides an opportunity for women to play a game they are passionate about at a high level. With a 7-1 record and 10 WFA All Americans, Griffin’s squad has succeeded on the field. And off-field, the tenets of hard work, camaraderie and a family-like atmosphere have built the foundation for the Outkast’s chance to make WFA history. “There’s not one person on the team that isn’t at a high caliber,” running back Jazmyne Reining said. “They just really pushed me to be better. I wanted to not

�ee OUTKAST page 36

SPORTS

AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS | JULY 14, 2021

PASSING from page 35

ing new players to the fast and physical environment of 6A Division varsity football. “It’s about making chemistry with my teammates better,” Sparks said. “It’s about getting the younger guys out here, getting them to compete and getting better as a team. And just make sure everyone is doing their job.” The weekly event includes 10 6A squads from localities such as Chandler, Gilbert, Mesa, Ahwatukee and Queen Creek. Each team played six 20-minute games at the Knights’ stadium or their practice field. Even though wins and losses were not the main focus of the two-and-a-half period, competition was still fierce between some of the Valley’s top high school programs, as well as within the teams themselves. Despite only running 15 percent of its offense, Red Mountain head coach Mike Peterson appreciated the ability to work with his players in a seven-on-seven environment for the first time in two years. He watched closely as the Mountain Lions’ quarterbacks practiced dropping back to pass during games, since run plays, screens, and play action passes are not utilized during sevens. The Passing League also offered the fourth-year head coach a prime opportunity to evaluate his team’s up-and-coming talent like rising junior wideout Ja’kobi Lane. Against teams such as Basha and Mountain View, Peterson said receivers practiced running crisp and consistent routes and how to read opposing defens-

OUTKAST from page 35

only be better for myself, but I wanted to be better for the team. If I can do what I need to execute and the team does the same thing, we can win.” When Griffin took over as head coach ahead of the 2019 season, he said it would take two seasons of competing together “to get you where you want.” He encouraged the Outkast to trust in a process of team development and the gradual implementation of a new system. His prediction came true. After two years – a 3-3 campaign and a canceled one due to the pandemic – the Outkast are on the door to a championship. Reining has over 1,800 rushing yards and finished the regular season with 21 touchdowns, the most in the WFA.

Desert Vista head coach Ty Wisdom, in his first season with the Thunder, said having summer activities again has given him the opportunity to grow closer with his players while installing new schemes. (Zach Alvira/AFN Staff) es. He also worked with Red Mountain’s defense and linemen. Coming off a 1-7 season, Mountain Pointe head coach Eric Lauer complimented his player’s trust in one another and their coaches. Ahead of the 2021 season, he is using seven-on-sevens to pay close attention to the strengths of his players. “Is he a defensive player versus an offens(ive) because he doesn’t catch the ball quite as well versus another guy that he’s battling with on offense?” Lauer said. “You want to try to identify who those guys are. Those game-changing guys that you gotta have on both sides of the ball, you start to find who they are as well.”

Fellow 1st Team All American JB Goodlow has 350 receiving yards and 325 return yards. On the other side of the ball, cornerback Torii Davis tops the WFA with nine pass deflections. The Outkast are one of the top scoring teams in the WFA, averaging more than 47 points per game. “They love football and are just as good as some of the guys out there as far as their commitment level and skill level,” Griffin said. When Reining, who ran track at Fort Lewis College and Colorado Mesa University, moved to Arizona from Colorado, she missed the competitive nature of sports. Her uncle then recommended she try out for the then Phantomz. “I was like ‘Well, I don’t want to be in the Lingerie League,’” Reining said. “He’s like ‘No, no, no, you should look one up

From under the bright afternoon sky to under the floodlights, position battles were on display for multiple teams. In the case of Higley, Zubey is looking to find a quarterback to succeed Kai Millner, a three-star recruit who signed with the University of California, Berkeley. The competition is between junior Cash Merrell and freshman Jamar Malone, who moved to the Valley from Carson, California. According to Zubey, the Knights were not as affected by the loss of sevens as other teams due to Millner — who finished his career with 4,564 passing yards and 46 touchdowns — returning as an experienced starter in 2020. But in 2021, seven-

because there’s actually women’s football.’ So I was like ‘Why not?’” At first, Reining was placed as wide receiver, but after coaches saw her speed, she was moved to running back and started learning the plays and tools for the position. Now, she is a WFA All American. The Outkast attacked this last offseason, from training and eating right to attending workouts. Griffin said players used the 8 a.m. Sunday training at Tumbleweed Park in Chandler to not only improve, but also create workout pods by position group. “Some of the ladies are just like ‘I’ve never been this close to a championship’ and some of them have been playing 13, 14 years,” Griffin said. “For them, it’s like ‘Hey, this is what I’ve worked all these years to achieve.’” That long-time goal of a title can final-

on-seven competition has provided the signal callers the environment to not only compete, but also face different coverages from teams other than Higley. “Coming in junior (year), first time being on Varsity, the guys got a faster speed than JV,” Merrell said. “Just getting familiar with the guys and getting better. Kai’s a great quarterback and it’s gonna be a lot to live up to him.” Other teams, like Desert Vista, already have their signal caller locked in for next season. Junior quarterback Jackson Akins will return for his second consecutive season under center for the Thunder, who are looking to rebound from a 0-6 season that included cancelled games due to COVID-19 protocols. Even though Desert Vista primarily runs the triple option, Akins felt that playing from the shotgun during sevens helped improve his ability to make reads and look off the safeties. First-year coach Ty Wisdom, who came to the Thunder from Horizon High School in Scottsdale, shared that the team worked on the triple option all spring and that the offensive strategy will be ready for use during the season. Wisdom emphasized how it is important to keep in perspective that “it’s seven on seven.” However, he is thrilled at yet another opportunity to evaluate the team and watch his players connect on the gridiron. “It’s obviously great having summer stuff,” Wisdom said. “This being my first year at Desert Vista, just getting to know the guys and building those relationships is the most important to me.” ■ ly be reached on an upcoming Friday in northeast Ohio. The Outkast defeated the Iowa Phoenix 29-8 — the game was called at halftime due to inclement weather — and will face the Derby City Dynamite from Louisville, Ky. Reining recalled the celebration in the locker room as “absolutely amazing.” Throughout her time with the AZ Outkast, Reining has built a special “sisterhood” with her teammates, one so strong that during a surprise birthday party for a player, Reining said more members of the team attended than the player’s family. It is also a group that knows they have not reached their final objective yet. A franchise-defining moment is still at stake. “We don’t ever want to be that team that comes out cocky,” Reining said. “We’re just gonna stay low, stay focused and do what we do best.” ■

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A cool Ahwatukee guide to Flagstaff BY ANDY LENARTZ GetOut Contributor

Phoenix summer tradition is escaping the desert inferno for the cooler climate of Flagstaff, 150 miles and 6,000 feet above Phoenix with the temperature consistently 25 degrees cooler. As a former resident of Minnesota, I can attest that the midwestern winters would be far more tolerable if you could reach 70-degree weather in those freezing January days with a short drive. To make the most of these brief weekend escapes, here is a Flagstaff travel guide.

Getting there

The drive from Flagstaff takes only about 2.5 hours from Phoenix. Heading up the I-17 is the only direct route to the mountains, there are a couple of detours possible, but these add hours to the trip. The highway gets crowded causing substantial delays. The traf�ic is busiest on Friday afternoons headed north and Sunday afternoons headed south. If pos-

sible, try departing on different days and times, or be prepared for a potentially lengthy delay. Another issue to be aware of is road closures on the I-17 due to brush �ires or accidents. Both of these occur on a regular basis and can lead to the highway being entirely closed in one or both directions for hours. Make sure to check the traf�ic in advance to avoid getting stuck on a highway that has been shut down. And make sure to bring extra water on this drive, just in case of a road closure or car trouble. It will be sweltering hot until you reach Flagstaff.

What to do

Visit the Grand Canyon. People spend tens of thousands of dollars and travel across the world to visit the Grand Canyon. But you can do so on a day trip from Flagstaff, one of the amazing things about living in Arizona. Hiking to the bottom is not advised during the summer, as the temperature will be similar to the Phoenix weather that you left behind. The temperature on the rim, however, is generally lovely. The Grand

Flagstaff offers an array of outdoor activities that you can actually do outside in an Arizona summer. (Special to GetOut) Canyon’s weather is similar to that of Flagstaff, which means it is typically perfect in the summer.

Explore Wupatki/Sunset Crater

A two-for-one National Monument experience allows you to visit the site of a (relatively) recent volcanic eruption as well as an archeological site containing numerous pueblos. The road between the two serves as a popular scenic drive or bike ride.

Check out Walnut Canyon

Walnut Canyon National Monument combines archeological sites with a magni�icent canyon view.

Hikes

Downtown Flagstaff has a diverse assortment of bars and restaurants that will appeal to most any foodie. (Special to GetOut)

Buffalo Park. Located just outside downtown Flagstaff, Buffalo Park is great for running, hiking, and teaching kids to ride bikes on dirt. You can access many miles of hiking trails from here, making

it a good place to kick off anything from a quick stroll to a multiple day adventure. Abineau-Bear Jaw Loop. A 7-mile loop on the north side of the San Francisco Peaks, this is a tough hike with a big climb. Well worth the exertion though, it is a beautiful, fun trail with great views. Bear encounters are possible on this trail, it is a good idea to bring either bear spray or a friend who’s slower than you. Fisher Point. Part of the Arizona National Scenic Trail, the Fisher Point area provides hikes in Walnut Canyon and caves for exploration. Snowbowl. The wintertime ski resort also serves as a summer playground with hikes for every level. Those interested in an easy hike can try the 4-mile Aspen Nature Loop, a great place to see wild�lowers. Starting at 9,000 feet, the elevation does provide a bit of a challenge, but the hike is not dif�icult.

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For an intermediate level hike at Snowbowl, try the Kachina Trail, a 10-mile round trip hike providing spectacular views, some of the best in Flagstaff. Stepping up to an advanced level of hiking takes you on the challenging Humphreys Trail, a 10-mile round trip hike that goes from 9,000 feet to 12,633 feet.

Where to stay

Mountain biking

Flagstaff Urban Trail System. A citywide system of paved and dirt trails making it possible and accessible to bike anywhere in the city. One of the things making Flagstaff truly special, the FUTS connects downtown Flagstaff with endless miles of mountain bike trails. Maps are available for free at the Flagstaff Visitor Center. Fort Tuthill Recreation Area. Home to a dirt bike park containing �low trails for all levels of riders, and mountain bike trails connecting to the full Flagstaff trail system. Campbell Mesa. Easy, mostly �lat looping trails totaling approximately 9 miles. This area provides beautiful scenery for a ride and is perfect for riders without much experience.

Eating and drinking

Flagstaff is serious about their beer! My personal favorite is Dark Sky Brewing, located in the middle of downtown with a constantly rotating selection of innovative beers, served alongside food from Pizzicletta. Historic Brewing Company and Wanderlust Brewing Company also have a frequently changing list of taps, ensuring you will be able to try something new. Beaver Street Brewery, Lumberyard Brewing Company and Mother’s Road Brewing Company are all well-established favorites with a solid lineup of beers. For those not interested in beer, the newly opened downtown Drinking Horn Mead Hall provides a welcome alternative. If you plan on checking out multiple breweries during your trip, pick up a Flagstaff Brewery Trail passport and earn a prize.

For coffee, Macy’s European Coffeehouse and Bakery is an institution, a key stop for many visitors. Late for the Train is a local favorite serving coffee by the cup or beans by the bag. Downtown Flagstaff eateries are frequently opening, closing, and changing, so don’t be afraid to try something new!

Trails for hiking and mountain biking offer gorgeous scenery in the Flagstaff area. (Special

to GetOut)

Flagstaff takes its food almost as seriously as the beer. Most renowned for pizza, the three-block section south of Route 66 known as the pizza triangle contains Pizzicletta, NiMarco’s and Fratelli Pizza. My personal favorite spot is Bandoleros 66 (formerly Bandura), serving a range of creative and tasty tacos and BBQ alongside some of the best guacamole you’re

going to �ind. Flagstaff also is home to two excellent sushi places, Lotus Lounge and Kanye West’s favorite, Karma Sushi. The Tourist Home Café and Toasted Owl Café both serve tasty breakfast items all day and have expansive patios to take full advantage of the perfect weather during your Flagstaff visit.

Owner-rented properties through sites such as Airbnb are thriving and plentiful in Flagstaff and hotels are opening rapidly. Despite this, there remains a shortage of places to stay. Summer weekends and holidays in particular will create a challenge in �inding a place to rent unless you book in advance. Rooms and houses will tend to be expensive this time of year as well, somewhere around the February-March rates you’d expect to pay to vacation in Scottsdale. If you plan on spending time downtown, stay in or near downtown as driving and parking is an expensive hassle in Flagstaff. For alternative lodging, consider camping. There are developed campsites at Fort Tuthill, Lake Mary, and private campgrounds such as the KOA, along with yurts at the Arizona Nordic Village. For the best value, dispersed camping is available in the National Forest around Flagstaff and by the lakes outside Williams. Camping in the National Forest requires no permit, fee, or reservation. And the whole point of the trip was to experience that cooler Flagstaff weather, right? Whichever type of Flagstaff vacation you choose, enjoy your time away in the cool pines of the Coconino Forest. Ahwatukee resident Andy Lenartz is an avid hiker and mountain biker. ■

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Strawberry Rhubarb cobbler a neighborly treat

here are two things I absolutely love – a great recipe and great neighbors. When the two come together, life is pretty awesome! It happened this week when my sweet neighbor, Deborah Alyea saw me pull up to the driveway, and scurried over with a beautiful baking dish of bountiful goodness right out of the oven. “I wanted you to have it while it’s still piping hot and bubbling.” Deborah had just baked the most amazing strawberry rhubarb cobbler and I was the lucky recipient. I’m not sure I should admit this, but I texted her a picture of her baking dish just several hours later. It was scraped clean except for maybe one more serving. Yes, it was that good. I’m not sure who came up with the combination of strawberries and rhubarb, but thank you, whoever you are! Rhubarb season is incredibly short and right now is the peak of it, so I’m so happy to pass along this delicious dish to you right now, while you can still find those long red stalks. The filling is wonderful with either a pie crust top-

ping or cobbler, and I was ecstatic that Deborah chose the latter. I love that rich crumble topping with the sweet fruit below. And if you have a neighbor as wonderful as Deborah Alyea, maybe make an extra and make someone’s day. ■

Ingredients: 4 cups fresh strawberries, sliced in half 4 cups (4-5 large stalks) fresh rhubarb cut into 1-inch pieces 1-1/4 cups granulated sugar, divided 2 teaspoons grated orange zest 1 tablespoon cornstarch 1/2 cup freshly squeezed orange juice

1 cup all-purpose flour 1/2 cup light brown sugar, packed 1 teaspoon kosher salt 1 cup oatmeal (quick cooking, but not instant) 1-½ sticks (12 tablespoons) butter, diced and chilled Whipped cream, Cool Whip or vanilla ice cream for topping

Directions Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. For the fruit, toss the rhubarb, strawberries, 3/4 cup of the granulated sugar and the orange zest together in a large bowl. In a measuring cup, dissolve the cornstarch in the orange juice and then mix it into the fruit. Pour the mixture into an 8-by-11-inch baking dish and place it on a sheet pan lined with parchment paper. (That’s to catch any spills from the dish.) For the topping, in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted

with the paddle attachment, combine the flour, the remaining 1/2 cup granulated sugar, the brown sugar, salt and oatmeal. With the mixer on low speed, add the butter and mix until the dry ingredients are moist and the mixture is in crumbles. Sprinkle the topping over the fruit, covering it completely, and bake for 1 hour, until the fruit is bubbling and the topping is golden brown.

For more great recipe ideas and videos, visit jandatri.com.

JULY 14, 2021 | AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS

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Family Owned with 50 years' EXPERIENCE. Shower and tub enclosures, Framed, FrameVisit our website! less or Custom Doors, Landlord and Homeowner Property Services We also install insuRepairs • Drywall • Painting • BINSR Items lated glass, mirrored Trash Removal • HOA Compliance closet doors, window AND so much more! glass, mirrors, patio Marks the Spot for ALL Your Handyman Needs! Ahwatukee Resident doors, glass table proPainting • Flooring • Electrical tectors. If it’s glass, we Plumbing • Drywall • Carpentry can help you. QUALNot a licensed contractor.Decks • Tile • More! ITY SERVICE at ComMarks the Spot for ALL Your Handyman Needs! petitive Prices. Marks the Spot for ALL•Your Handyman Needs! ✔ Painting Painting Flooring • Electrical FREE Estimates “No Job Too ✔Small Flooring Painting • Flooring • Electrical Plumbing • Drywall • Carpentry Man!” WESLEY'S GLASSPlumbing & MIRROR • Drywall • Carpentry ✔ Electrical Decks • Tile • More! Quality Work Since 1999 wesleysglass.com Decks •Affo Tile • More! rdable, ✔ Plumbing 2010, 2011 2012, 2013, 2014 SERVICING THE Call Bruce at 602.670.7038 ✔ Drywall Ahwatukee Resident/ References/ Insured/ Not a Licensed Contractor “No Job ✔ Carpentry ENTIRE VALLEY Too Small Marks the Spot for“No Job Too ALL Your Handyman Needs! ✔ Decks Call 480-306-5113 Painting • Flooring • Electrical Small Man!” “No Job Too Man!” ✔ Tile Plumbing • Drywall • Carpentry Small Man!” Decks • Tile • More! ✔ Kitchens rk Since 1999 Wo y alit Qu e, abl ord Aff ✔ Bathrooms BSMALLMAN@Q.COM 2010, 2011 9 199 ce Services rk Sin 2012, “No 2013, Job Too Affordable, Quality Wo And More! 2010, 2011 Small Man!” 2014 Call Bruce at 602.670.7038

Please recycle me.

Electrical

Call Bruce at 602.670.7038 References/ Insured/ NotResident a Licensed Contractor Ahwatukee / References Call Ahwatukee BruceResident/ at 602.670.7038

C. READ & SON ELECTRIC Ahwatukee Resident

 Electric Car Chargers for ALL your  Fans electrical needs  Lighting 41 years  Troubleshooting  And much more experience 2008 through 2019

ROC #158440 Bond/Insured

www.readelectricaz.com

480-940-6400

2010, 2011 2012, 2013, 2014

Ahwatukee Resident/ References/ Insured/ Not a Licensed Contractor

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! Ahwatukee Resident, References Available, Insured

*Not A Licensed Contractor

HONESTY • INTEGRITY • QUALITY

josedominguez0224@gmail.com Not a licensed contractor.

• Serving Arizona Since 2005 •

Electrical Services

2012, 2013, 2014

Since 1999 Affordable, Quality Work

Ahwatukee Resident/ References/ Insured/ Not a Licensed Contractor Insured / Not aCall Licensed Contractor Bruce at 602.670.7038

480.266.4589

• 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

LLC

• Drywall Repair • Bathroom Remodeling • Home Renovations

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

GENERAL CONTRACTOR / HANDYMAN SERVICES SERVING THE ENTIRE VALLEY

All Estimates are Free • Call:

520.508.1420

www.husbands2go.com

Licensed, Bonded & Insured • ROC#317949 Ask me about FREE water testing!

Small Jobs Welcome!

Your newspaper. Your community. Your planet.

CASH OUT!

★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Call Garcia Cell Cell 602-515-6627 Free Estimates

Not a licensed contractor

Handyman

480.335.4180

always included ✔ free estimates ✔ furniture moving

SHARE WITH THE WORLD!

Residential Electrician

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

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

AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS | JULY 14, 2021

HIRING?

Home Improvement

Landscape/ Maintenance

If someone Needs a Job, They Look Every Day!

REMODEL CONTRACTOR

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

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

For a Quote email: class@times publications.com

480-215-3373

480-898-6465

Hauling

Not a licensed contractor

Garage Sale Fri & Sat 7a-11am Household, clothes, kitchen items, furniture, electronics, mason jars, kid items, DVDs, MORE 555 W. Lane Dr Mesa

• One Month Free Service

Install/Design We do it all!

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

25 Years exp (480) 720-3840

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

Landscape Design/Installation

• Old Tires

Irrigation Systems & Outdoor Lighting Fountain Repair alls C - Caring Repairs & Instuse. rm te ng D - Dedicated lo for S - Service No Yard .

LANDSCAPING

Home Remodeling

David Hernandez (602) 802 3600

Text or Email Only

480-580-4419

NOT A LICENSED CONTRACTOR

No Job Too Small! Senior Discounts!

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

Home Improvement

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

Only $27.50 includes 1 week online

• Old Paint & Chems.

• Remodeling Debris

david@swo-of-artworks.com www.swo-of-artworks.com

The Possibilities are Endless

480.654.5600 azirrigation.com Cutting Edge LLC • ROC 281671

kjelandscape.com • ROC#281191

480-586-8445

MD’S LANDSCAPING Drip Systems Installed, Valves/Timer Repairs

Responsible • 100% Guaranteed Ask for Ramon

480-217-0407

Not a Licensed Contractor

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

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

LANDSCAPE LIGHTING

25 years Experience & Insured Not a licensed contractor.

Specials

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

SONORAN LAWN

WANT A GREEN LAWN?

Irrigation

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 or Text for a Free Quote

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

Get Your Lawn Ready For Spring!

Serving the Valley for over 28 years

NT 5-YEAR WARRA

• Licensed, Bonded Insured for your protection.

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

480-745-5230

daveshomerepair@yahoo.com • Se Habla Español

• Sprinkler/Drip Repairs • New Installs Poly/PVC • Same Day Service

RAMON LANDSCAPING SERVICES

Starting @ $60/Month!

TREE

• Concrete Slab

Complete Lawn Service & Weed Control

You will find them easy with their yellow background.

Juan Hernandez

• Yard Waste

Landscape/Maintenance

$25 per visit.

TRIMMING

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

Watch for Garage Sales in Classifieds!

Landscape/Maintenance

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

Irrigation Repair Services Inc. Licensed • Bonded • Insured

480-940-8196

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

theplugman.com

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

CALL US TODAY!

480.721.4146

ROC 282663 * BONDED * INSURED YOUR LAWN EXPERT SINCE 1995

www.irsaz.com

ROC# 256752

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

CLASSIFIEDS

JULY 14, 2021 | AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS

Arizona Specialty Landscape

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

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

480.844.9765

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

★ Elastomaric Roof Coating ★ Epoxy Floors ★ Small Job Specialist

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

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

Interior/Exterior Painting 30 YEARS EXPERIENCE

We Are State Licensed and Reliable!

Free Estimates • Senior Discounts

480-338-4011

ROC#309706

MISSED THE DEADLINE?

SUN TECH

Call us to place your ad online!

INC.

480-898-6465

PAINTING Serving Ahwatukee Since 1987 Interior / Exterior

602.625.0599 ROC #155380 Family Owned • Free Estimates

CONKLIN PAINTING Free Estimate & Color Consultation

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

480-888-5895 ConklinPainting.com Lic/Bond/Ins ROC# 270450

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

affinityplumber@gmail.com

SPEND A LITTLE…

www.affinityplumbingaz.com

MAKE A LOT!

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

24/7

Inside & Out Leaks

Bonded

Toilets

Insured

Faucets

Estimates Availabler

Disposals

$35 off

Any Service

Proudly Serving Ahwatukee for 15 Years! Family Owned & Operated

Dunn Edwards Quality Paint Small Stucco/Drywall Repairs

(602) 502-1655

Visit us at Suntechpaintingaz.com or view our video promo at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GM5pbvpZJlg

Affinity Plumbing LLC 480-487-5541

HOME IMPROVEMENT & PAINTING

Call Jay

• High Quality Materials & Workmanship • Customer Satisfaction Free Est imates • Countless References • Carpentry Services Now Available

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

Looking To Freshen Up Your Home? WE CAN HELP!

Painting

RWB PAINTING

Plumbing

Painting

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!

East Valley PAINTERS

(480)785-6323

Plumbing

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

PLUMBING

10% OFF

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

480-688-4770

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

Now Accepting all major credit cards

$35.00 Off Any Service Call Today!

A+ RATED

We Repair or Install ROC # 272721

AHWATUKEE’S #1 PLUMBER Licensed • Bonded • Insured

704.5422

(480)

Not a licensed contractor

Painting

Landscape/Maintenance

CLASSIFIEDS

AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS | JULY 14, 2021

Plumbing

AHWATUKEE SPECIAL $

Roofing

Pool Service / Repair

$25 OFF

Off 40work done *Any

Filter Cleaning!

BEST PLACE TO MAKE

7 6 6 5

www.barefootpoolman.com

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

Licensed, Bonded & Insured ROC# 272001

Juan Hernandez

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

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

Call Juan at

480-720-3840 Not a licensed contractor.

Bonded/Insured • ROC #223709

480-405-7099 See MORE Ads Online!

Clean, Prompt, Friendly and Professional Service

FREE ESTIMATES

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

602-471-2346

MARK’S POOL SERVICE Owner Operated - 20 Years

Play Pools start at

$85/month with chemicals

www.Ahwatukee.com

602-799-0147 CPO#85-185793

Plumbing

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

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

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

(480)

279-4155

Licensed • Bonded • Insured • ROC 189848

Call our office today!

480-460-7602

www.porterroofinginc.com 480-699-2754 • info@monsoonroofinginc.com

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

MonsoonRooﬁngInc.com Licensed – Bonded – Insured – ROC187561

Licensed, Bonded, Insured

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

Spencer 4 HIRE ROOFING Valley Wide Service

480-446-7663

Ask About Filter Cleaning Specials!

Mark

Quality Repairs & Re-Roofs Complimentary & Honest Estimates

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

CLASS@ TIMESPUBLICATIONS. COM

Pavers • Concrete • Water Features • Sprinkler Repair

10% OFF

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

ROC #152111

• • • •

602-546-POOL See our Before’s and After’s on Facebook

Family Owned & Operated for over 30 years

Serving All Types of Roofing:

Monthly Service & Repairs Available

Roofing

Your leaks stop here!

10% OFF with this ad

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

Honey Do List Too Long? Check out the Handyman Section!

New Roofs, Repairs, Coatings, Flat Roof, Hot Mopping & Patching & Total Rubber Roof Systems

FREE ESTIMATES & MONSOON SPECIALS

SAME DAY SERVICE 30 Years Experience References Available

Licensed Bonded Insured ROC 286561

Senior & Military Discounts

623-522-9322

CLASSIFIEDS

JULY 14, 2021 | AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS

Roofing

Window Cleaning

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

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

480-706-1453

Licensed/Bonded/Insured • ROC #236099

TILE ROOFING SPECIALISTS

Ahwatukee Based Family Owned and Operated Insured • Free Estimates

See our reviews and schedule at:

LICENSED | BONDED | INSURED | ROC #269218

www.cousinswindowcleaning.com

480-330-2649

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

Flat and Foam Roof Experts! desertsandscontracting.com

Oooh, MORE ads online!

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

Check Our Online Classifieds Too!

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

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

FREE ESTIMATES 602-736-3019

class@times publications.com

PHILLIPS

ROOFING LLC COMMERCIAL AND RESIDENTIAL

Family Owned and Operated 43 Years Experience in Arizona

u Th

e IN

Call

www.Ahwatukee.com

-EX D i ﬀe r e n c e

Let Us Show Yo

WORD CROSS And now, a few words from the cat...

602-938-7575

for your FREE Roof Evaluation Today! www.InExRo

oﬁn

g.c o m

623-873-1626

Across: 3. Me, when I was younger and smaller, but still ever as cute

Free Estimates Monday through Saturday

7. Licensed 2006 ROC 223367 Bonded Insured

PhillipsRoofing.org PhillipsRoofing@cox.net

Unnecessary confinement of my neck

8. Despite the language barrier, you seem to understand this word

See MORE Ads Online! www.Ahwatukee.com

10. Indoor furry tree Down: 1. Place to view the outside world when I’m trapped inside 2. Just the mere utterance of this word makes me run and hide.

4. Crunchy tidbits I want all the time, especially after you’ve said “no more” 5. Flying meals to me 6. Although some felines enjoy the quiet solitude of this enclosure for quality naps, I myself am terrified of where I’ll end up if I’m ever put in one of these. 9. Sound I make when I’m pleased ANSWERS - Across: 3. Kitten, 7. Collar, 8. Meow, 10. Scratching Post Down: 1. Window, 2. Vet, 4. Treats, 5. Birds, 6. Carrier, 9. Purr

CLASSIFIEDS 480-898-6465

CLASSIFIEDS

AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS | JULY 14, 2021

INVENTORY REDUCTION

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