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AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS | AUGUST 31, 2022

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Ahwatukee foundation is a lifesaver for family

BY COTY DOLORES MIRANDA

AFN Contributor

For the past 12 years, Andrew and Kellie Burkhart have paid all medical expenses for their son, Andrew, Jr., as he battles cerebral palsy. The couple estimate monthly expenses run more than $1,000, and out-of-state treatments – suspended for now due to budgetary constraints – easily hit $20,000 annually. Andrew Sr. (Drew) teaches math at Hamilton High School and part-time daily at Bogle Junior High School; he formerly taught at Kyrene Akimel A-al in Ahwatukee. All costs for treatments have been outof-pocket since Andrew, who will soon turn 16, was diagnosed with cerebral palsy a month before his 4th birthday. The Burkharts had grown frustrated with traditional medical care after repeated diagnoses brought few answers. And so Andrew and Kellie Burkhart rely on God and homeopathic medicine to help their son, Andrew Jr., who has cerebral palsy. (Courtesy of the Burkhart Family) they opted to try homeopathic medicine. It meant they were on their own as only 11% of major healthcare insurers cover homeopathy treatments; most homeo-

pathic physicians do not accept insurance. Along with Drew Burkhart’s salary, the couple’s ability to pay for Andrew Jr.’s care depends on tax-deductible donations through two area nonprofits. It was on their first visit that the homeopathic doctor diagnosed cerebral palsy. The diagnosis shocked the couple, especially Kellie Burkhart who had worked as a former mental health therapist and social worker. After pondering the out-of-pocket cost, they decided to commit to Homeopathic treatments. Within months, they saw visible progress in their son’s ability to walk and speak. They knew the path would be costly but felt it was the only, and best, alternative. Drew Burkhart said. “The homeopathic path was, in reality, the only path,” he said. “So many wellseeBURKHART page 21

Psychologist’s nonprofit addresses teen suicide

BY KEN SAIN AFN Staff Writer

Aperiod represents the end of a sentence, a paragraph or perhaps a book. A semicolon, however, means there is more to come. It has become a symbol for suicide awareness. Younger Americans are getting semicolon tattoos if they know someone who has considered suicide and for whatever reason is moving forward. They have not reached their end yet. Dr. Paula McCall started the Semicolon Society in June to address the growing teen mental health crisis the nation is facing. It became an official nonprofit in early August. The Arizona Department of Health reported that 219 people 24 and younger took their lives in 2019, the most recent data posted. Teen suicide has become a top issue in the city and region after three Chandler other CUSD student took her life about two weeks into this school year. The Department of Health said there were 1,540 suicides in Arizona in 2019, and nearly 46,000 Americans killed themselves in 2020 according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “I started working in the school districts on things like suicide, risk assessments and prevention,” said McCall, a licensed psychologist. “And then I shifted that as I moved into my private practice, I started shifting into wanting to reach out to the community. I live in Chandler, my practice is in Chandler, my kids go to school in Chandler, so Chandler is my home.” McCall said the rise in teen suicides began in 2007, but the reasons behind it are not easy to pinpoint. Certainly the rise of social media plays a role, but she points out most young people have lived with social media all their lives, and they don’t know a world without it.

Chandler psychologist Dr. Paula McCall is the founder of The Semicolon Society, a nonprofit to help offer mental health education and suicide prevention. (David Minton/Staff

Photographer) She noted data indicating a considerable drop in suicides was recorded in the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic. “That’s an interesting thing to consider because there’s lots of pieces there,” she said. “There wasn’t the stress of in-person school, but there was the stress of online school and trying to figure that out. If you think about it from a family system perspective, you had families that were in general, not across the board, but there were many families that ended up much closer, proximity wise with each other, being around each other, just connecting in a physical sense more often. “So a lot of experience of parents and kids being around each other more and not in a rushed way. It was ‘we’re home, we can’t really go anywhere. We’re here.’” A lot of what the Semicolon Society seeSEMICOLON page 21

AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS | AUGUST 31, 2022

Constable Corner: Constables’ duties vary but evictions top list

BY BRIDGET BELLAVIGNA

AFN Guest Writer

Iam the constable serving all of Ahwatukee as well as parts of Tempe and Guadalupe. I serve the Kyrene Justice Precinct with Justice of the Peace Sharron Sauls. Constables are elected peace officers who enforce civil/criminal court orders arising out of justice court action, as well as other courts and government agencies. We serve summonses, subpoenas, orders of protection, notices, injunctions against harassment, writs of restitution (evictions), warrants, and more. The tasks we are charged with most often are the writ of restitution (an eviction order), summonses and orders of protection. Over this series columns, I will refer mostly to evictions since that is the bulk of the orders coming from Kyrene Justice Court. I can receive upwards of 50 or more a week. I also receive considerable summonses from numerous courts as well as orders of protection. There are many reasons for evictions, such as non-payment of rent, health and safety, threatening behavior, and orders of protection where one party must leave a home. Each scenario is as diverse as the individuals I encounter. The tenant has already vacated a significant percentage of evictions. I arrive and the unit is empty. These evictions are unfortunate and unnecessary in that the tenant could have avoided the eviction if they had just turned the keys back into management and given up possession of the property. The judgment would remain, but the eviction would be avoided. A judgment can be paid off anytime; an eviction stays with a person for seven long years. Anyone who finds themselves in this troubled situation should turn in the keys. If there is one important thing I could stress, it would be that. Numerous evictions show signs that people still live in the house, but are not home when I arrive with maintenance staff to enforce the writ and change the locks. These situations are undoubtedly stressful for the tenants. They get home to find the key does not work and they must contact property management to get access to their belongings. If the office is closed for the day, they must wait until the next day. I am very aware of pets that get caught up in the eviction process. I always document the presence of pets and ensure they have food and water. I also confirm management is aware and that animal control is called within 24 hours if the tenant has not come back for them. The hardest evictions are when the tenant is home. Harder still with children, pets, and no car. Children and pets are the double whammy, as both are innocent casualties in a situation that threatens their very safety. I work with property management in these situations to find a win-win solution. I always have resources to hand to the tenants and will call for case management from the pertinent cities as conditions dictate. In my next column, I will discuss health and safety evictions as well as evictions that come with orders of protection. As we move forward, I will include different situations that I come across while serving as your Constable.

I will be at The Nosh at Warner Road and 48th Street at 9 a.m. Sept. 3 and at 9 a.m. Sept. 10 at Brick Road Coffee at Rural Road and the US 60. I also will have Save Our School petitions to sign.

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Foundation seeking silent auction items for Night for Kyrene

The Kyrene Foundation is asking businesses and individuals to consider donating an item for the silent auction held during the annual Night for Kyrene 6-10 p.m. Sept. 24 at the Arizona Grand Resort & Spa.

Formerly called A Taste of Kyrene, this is the foundation’s signature fundraising event to support the children, families, and educators in the community. Proceeds fuel its mission to provide resources and support “that can transform a child’s life with basic sustenance, enriched educational programming, and recreational outlets.”

The foundation needs a wide variety of silent auction items, from restaurant and services prizes to jewelry, tickets and event tickets to jewelry and memorabilia.

There also will be a live auction.

Donors can either email suzanne.rinker@kyrenefoundation.org or submit information e.givesmart.com/ events/rDx/donateNewItem/

Tickets for the event are on sale for $95 at kyrenefoundation.org. Tables are $1,250, and there are sponsorships available.

Ahwatukee golf ladies league ready to start new season

The Foothills Golf Course Ladies League is ready to start up again with a soft opening Sept. 13 in advance of a formal opening Nov. 1.

The league plays 18 holes of handicap golf every Tuesday morning from September through May. Play includes weekly games, prizes and friendly competition. If you are interested, email Marsha Morris at marshacmorris@gmail.com.

Summit School slates ‘wagon parade’ to celebrate fall

4515 E. Muirwood Drive, Ahwatukee.

A spokesman said the kids “work with our middle schoolers to decorate their ‘mobile transportation vehicles’ and it allows time for our older kids to be role models and mentors to our younger students. They then use the wagons to transport preschoolers through the parade lined with elementary and middle school students, parents, community members, and businesses.”

AROUND AHWATUKEE

AFFAN slates September luncheon, new members sought

Ahwatukee Foothills Friends and Neighbors will hold its monthly luncheon and social 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Sept. 26 at Vero Chicago Pizza. The group will play a team trivia game. A prepaid reservation must be made by Sept. 18 by emailing affanwomensgroup@gmail.com .The cost of the lunch is $18.

AFFAN is a local women’s club serving Ahwatukee since 2001. It offers women dining, card playing, games, gardening, books, exploring Arizona day trips, and other activities. Information: affanwomensgroup.org/public

Corpus Christi Church Knights slates annual memorial golf tourney

Golfers are encouraged to mark 7:30 a.m. Sept. 10 on their calendar for the annual Corpus Christi Knights of Columbus Council 10062 Memorial Golf Tournament. This year’s tournament is in honor of Jim McGrath.

This is the tourney’s 31st year and proceeds benefit Knights’ Charities, the K of C Ukraine Solidarity Fund and Arizona Firefighters via the 100 Club of Arizona. Tickets are $100 for a full round of golf, beverages, cart prizes and lunch at the Foothills Golf Club in Ahwatukee. Sponsors are also needed. Three sponsorship levels are available with each carrying a variety of benefits. Knights of Columbus 10062 Charities, Inc. is a registered nonprofit. Download registration and sponsorship forms at www.kofc10062.org.

Semiannual blood drive on Ahwatukee girl’s behalf set

It’s time to reserve a spot for Matt and Kami Troutman’s semiannual blood drive in Ahwatukee held in gratitude for the help their 6-year-old daughter receives every month to live.

Adelyn Troutman (Addy) has required a blood transfusion every month since birth because her body is incapable of producing red blood cells.

To spread awareness of the need for blood, the Troutmans have held a blood drive every spring and fall at Desert Foothills United Methodist Church.

This fall’s drive is 8 a.m.-1 p.m. Sept. 24 at the church, 2156 E. Liberty Lane.

To reserve a spot, go to bit.ly/3oLwlwf.

Ironwood Library offers free activities for all ages

Ironwood Library, 4333 E. Chandler Blvd., Ahwatukee, presents a variety of programs for children, teens and adults. Unless otherwise noted, free tickets are required and available 30 minutes before programs’ start times at the library’s information desk.

For more information: phoenixpubliclibrary.org.

Babytimes

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

Toddlertimes

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

Library teen volunteers needed

Teens ages 12-17 can apply for library volunteer opportunities Sept. 1-30. Required online applications can be completed by going to volunteer.phoenix.gov, and under “Search by Department,” choosing “Library DeptIronwood.”

Applicants will hear back from the library volunteer coordinator by Oct. 5.

Next Chapter Book Club

This inclusive community-based book club is designed for people ages 12+ with intellectual and developmental disabilities who have a desire to make friends, explore their community, and read (regardless of current reading ability).

This weekly gathering is free and occurs every Wednesday, beginning Sept. 7, from 3-4 p.m. Registration required in the library or online in the calendar section of the library’s website.

Book Club

Adult readers 18+ can meet up with fellow bibliophiles the first Wednesday of each month, 5:00-5:45 p.m. On Sept. 7, The End of Your Life Book Club by Will Schwalbe will be discussed and on Oct. 5 The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman.

Backyard Gardening

Using Master Gardener techniques, anyone 18 or older can learn the basics of gardening, watering, reading a planting calendar specifically for the Valley, and about additional desert landscaping resources. Presented by Keep Phoenix Beautiful on Sept. 10, 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

Local American Legion Post always seeking new members

Men and women who served in the Armed Forces are always invited to join Ahwatukee American Legion Post 64, which meets 4-5 p.m. every third Wednesday of the month at the Ahwatukee Rec Center, 5001 E. Cheyenne Drive, Ahwatukee.

The post’s mission is to “enhance the well-being of America’s veterans, their families, our military and our communities by devotion to mutual helpfulness.”

Information: Americanlegionpost64.com or 480-3264656. 

meaning professionals crushing my hopes with well-intended phrases: ‘Your son will never talk; Your son’s calf muscles will need Botox; he will never’ ... fill in the blank. I am sure the idea was to get me to face facts and gain perspective about a new family path. So I chose one, I chose a new family path. “In reality my wife deserves the credit for our direction,” Burkhart continued. “We had a friend with stage 4 cancer that was already years past his quoted life expectancy and going strong. His doctor became our doctor and a world of hope opened – a very expensive world of hope. “So we jumped in head first. To tell the truth, I do not know which of the natural remedies helped but I did know something was working.” Many times, the Burkharts were unsure how everything could be paid. Time after time, as documented since December, 2010 in Kellie’s blog, PrayforAndrew.Wordpress.com, she recounts how medical needs were often “miraculously” covered due to the donations of friends, strangers and even local businesses. “Andrew has taught us to live far beyond our comfort zone,” she said. “It is a financially suffocating path, but our child has improved. Yes, our bills are extensive and expensive, yet when people ask how we do it, I answer ‘by the grace of God.’” “When we get to the end of our rope, we just call out to God. I used to be scared, but the miracles have happened time and time again,” she said. “Financially it’s still a mountain but we are rich in so many ways,” said her husband. “We have faith that our path is the right one.” Kellie has been fundraising to help pay for her son’s healing. She started by conAndrew Burkhart Jr. is the sweetest soul,” his mother said. “Even before he could speak, he was always making friends.”(Courtesy of

the Burkhart Family) tacting businesses and was not deterred when only two out of 200 responded. Now she encourages businesses to donate to help Andrew using the charities who provide tax-deductible avenues. Several years ago they were made aware of the Cerebral Palsy Hope Foundation, which accepts donations specifically for Andrew’s medical needs, making the donations tax deductible. Andrew became one of the newest ‘Armer Kids’ at the Ahwatukee-based nonprofit The Armer Foundation. His story can be found, along with the other children the foundation helps support, at ArmerFoundation.org. Among the more costly of Andrew’s procedures in the past years were a series of stem cell and hyperbaric oxygen treatments that the parents say allowed their son to experience “significant improvements” within days. “I believe the most powerful man-made remedy was the adult stem cells as An-

SEMICOLON from page 19

is doing is parental education, helping moms and dads know the signs of suicidal thoughts. McCall said in her ideal world, children are growing up learning about suicides, LGBTQ+, sex and other issues that are uncomfortable for some parents. “The thing is, as parents, we don’t have to go into these conversations and give a narrative and give a research paper and give you all the answers to all the world,” McCall said. “We can say, ‘Hey, I realized that someone died by suicide in your school this week, and I wanted to talk to you about that. And, I want to know if you’ve ever had thoughts about suicide, and I want to know your feelings about what’s going on.’ We need to listen to our kids.” McCall wants CUSD and other school districts to work more with local nonprofits, saying they cannot address the problem alone. She said some of the nonprofits have expertise that can help, say in addressing suicides by LGBTQ+ students, or African American males, which are both higher than other segments. The one thing she said parents and school districts need to do is to talk about drew’s life changed dramatically after the first four stem cell treatments,” said Drew Burkhart. Kellie Burkhart recalled a 2012 ‘60 Minutes’ program that outed online-sales of ‘bogus’ stem cell treatments. The child who was to be treated with four procedures at $5,000 a piece, had cerebral palsy. She took to her blog to tell her readers that while she lauded 60 Minutes for exposing the charlatans, her child had benefited from the umbilical cord stem cell treatments he’d received. “He has maintained all areas of progress with no negative side effects. I can only tell others with great certainty that it did help our child.” “Andrew is the sweetest soul. Even before he could speak, he was always making friends,” she said. “He loves people.” For the Burkhart family, faith is a key to keeping on. “My friend stopped me in the parking lot at work about a month into our new journey,” Drew Burkhart shared in an email. “I bet you pray for healing,” the friend wrote. “I told him, ‘Every night.’” The friend replied, “You do not want that. You want the path that builds faith. You want the struggle. You want the blessing that can only be appreciated at the end of years of growth and perspective.” Drew said, “I’ve thought of that conversation often. In truth, I may not be completely on board with the years of struggle; it’s hard. I am getting there. I do think God placed us on a road we were meant to walk. We need to be faithful to our purpose. My life is much richer because of this life and the blessing that is my son.” To learn more about Andrew and his family’s journey see the blog, PrayforAndrew.wordpress.com and Facebook under AndrewsAngels123.

To help: ArmerFoundation.org.  suicides. “I think there’s still a fear there… that if we talk about it too much it spreads too much,” she said. “And we have to keep it contained on this campus. But the thing is that our kids talk. When I talked to my own son, he’s 15. I asked him about … ‘what do you think about this idea that if I talk to you about suicide, you know, that you’re gonna think about attempting suicide?’ He’s like, ‘I already know about suicide, like it’s out there. You’re talking about it, don’t give yourself that much credit.’”

Information: semicolonsociety.org 

Ob uaries

JoseFranciscoMendoza

JoséFrancisco Mendoza "Papa Joe"passedaway Saturday,June18, 2022.Hewas92 years old. Born April5,1930in Los Angeles, California, Joe wasthesonofimmigrantsandafirst-generationAmerican.

Attheageof18,Joeenlistedinthe UnitedStatesMarineCorpswherehe earnedtherankofGunnerySergeant.He servedhiscountrybravelyduringthe Korean War and earned numerous medals.HeremainedaproudMarinehis entirelife.

OnFebruary20,1954,Joemarriedthe loveofhislife,MarilynRoseNagle. Theyhadtwochildren,asonanda daughter,whomtheyraisedinCaliforniaandArizona.Theyweremarried,untilhisdeath,for68years.

AfternineyearsintheMarines,Joe spenthisadultlifeworkingforthe WrigleyCompany,climbingtheladder toeventuallybecomeaRegionalManager.Hewasafavoriteamongsthis grandchildrenandtheirfriendsforalwayshavingaboxofguminhistrunk. HeretiredfromWrigleyin1989,spendingover26yearswiththecompany. Uponretiring,Joelovedworkingforhis son'srealestatecompany,TheMendoza Team.

JoeMendozaissurvivedindeathby hiswifeMarilyn,theirchildrenMichael Mendoza(Judith)andStephanieScott, theirgrandchildrenJoshuaMendoza (Mary), McKenna Mendoza, Faye Quintana(Robert)andHayleyScott, theirtwogreat-grandchildren,Abigail MendozaandAndersonMendoza,as wellasnumerouscousins,niecesand nephews.Hewasalightintheirlives.A genuinelykind,caringmanwithagentle demeanorandasmileforeveryone.He willbegreatlymissed.

Joe'sfinalrestingplacewillbeRiversideNationalCemetery.Aservicehonoringhislifeandmilitaryservicewillbe heldat10:00AM,September23,2022 atSt.MarthaCatholicChurch,37200 WhitewoodRoad,Murrieta,CA.