AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS, SEPTEMBER 7, 2022 by Times Media Group

BY PAUL MARYNIAK AFN Executive Editor

As the nation approaches the 21st anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon and on an airliner that crashed in Pennsylvania, local volunteers are pre paring a somber memorial at Tempe Beach Park while numerous nonprofits are scheduling service projects throughout this week. For details, see page 25. (Special to AFN)

R esidents of three far-west Ahwatukee communities scored a victory last week as the developers of the massive Upper Canyon subdivision dropped their efforts to avoid widening South Chandler Boulevard to five lanes.

And it means that builders Blandford Homes, D.R. Horton and Reserve 100 LLC likely can stay on their timetable to start construction late this year or early next with an eye to hit ting the market by 2024.

The two Ahwatukee scientists in the race to represent Legis lative District 12 last week fu eled a lively 90-minute debate spon sored by the Arizona Citizens Clean Elections Commission. In what likely will be the only de bate for the district that covers Ah watukee as well as northern and west Chandler and parts of Tempe and Mesa, Senate Republican hope ful David Richardson and House Democratic candidate Stacey Trav ers stood out to a degree with sting ing attacks on their opponents. That’s not to say the others sat by passively.

The surprise announcement at the Phoenix Planning Commission’s Sept. 1 monthly meet ing means homeowners in Calabria, Prom ontory and Foothills Reserve can expect that portion of the boulevard will eventually be widened.

Developers already have the zoning in place to build 1,050 mostly single-story houses, 150 build-to-rent townhouses and 329 apartments on the 373-acre former State Trust Land par cel along Chandler Boulevard between 19th and 27th avenues. But they needed City Council approval of a proposal to leave S. Chandler Boulevard three lanes and downgrade the classification of S. 27th Avenue between the boulevard and South Mountain Freeway. The commission did approve changing 27th Avenue’s designation to “local street.”

Neighbors score Upper Canyon win for Chandler Boulevard BUSINESS..................30 Korean cuisine now offered in Ahwatukee. ThisINSIDEWeek GETOUT 41 Ahwatukee restaurant gets head start on Oktoberfest. see CANYON page 12 The latest breaking news and top local stories in Ahwatukee! www.Ahwatukee.com .com JUSTAWAYCLICKA Scientists make for lively LD12 candidate debate SPORTS 36 Pride crushes Monsoons in season opener. COMMUNITY ...................... 24 BUSINESS .......................... 30 OPINION .............................. 34 SPORTS ............................... 36 GETOUT ............................... 41 CLASSIFIEDS ...................... 47 Wednesday, September 7, 2022 Lest we forget ...

The 27th Avenue request still needs council approval and it is unclear when that will occur. The agenda for council’s meeting today, Sept. 7, did not list it. In August, several Planning Commission. members delayed action on Blandford’s re

www.ahwatukee.com@AhwatukeeFN | @AhwatukeeFN SUBSCRIPTIONFREE School answercandidatesquestions/ P. 16

House Republican hopefuls and Chandler residents Jim Chaston and Terry Roe, Democratic Senate con tender Rep. Mitzi Epstein of Tempe and House Democratic candidate Patty Contreras of Ahwatukee also weighed in on issues that included education funding, future water needs, local control over short-term rentals and abortion.seeDEBATE page 7

Under the street classification system the city approved in 2009, a roadway with that designation “provides for short-distance traf fic movement with less than 1,000 average vehicle trips a day and “primarily functions to provide direct access to abutting land and for traffic movement within neighborhoods.” Such roadways remain at one lane in each di rection and relatively few in the city have that designation, according to the city zoning laws.

2 AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS | SEPTEMBER 7, 2022

ADVERTISING CONTENT

3AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS | SEPTEMBER 7, 2022 NEWS FREE Estimates • Credit Cards www.spencer4hireroofing.com ROC#244850 | Insured | Bonded 480-446-7663 Spencer4HIREROOFING Valley Wide Service aFamily Operated by 3 Generations of Roofers! aWe have a “Spencer” on every job Ahwatukee’sPremierTileRoofer! 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: 1900 W. Broadway Road, Tempe, Arizona, 85282 Main number: 480-898-6500 Advertising: 480-898-5624 Circulation service: 480-898-5641 PUBLISHER Steve T. Strickbine VICE PRESIDENT Michael Hiatt ADVERTISING STAFF National Advertising Director Zac Reynolds 480-898-5603 zac@ahwatukee.com Advertising Sales Representatives: Laura Meehan, 480-898-7904, | lmeehan@ahwatukee.com Katie Mueller, 480-898-7909 kmueller@TimesLocalMedia.com Classified: Elaine Cota, 480-898-7926 | ecota@ahwatukee.com NEWS STAFF Executive Editor: Paul Maryniak, 480-898-5647 pmaryniak@ahwatukee..com GetOut Editor: Christina Fuoco-Karasinski, christina@TimesLocalMedia.com480-641-4518 Sports Editor: Zach Alvira 480-898-5630 | zalvira@TimesLocalMedia.com Designer: Ruth Carlton | rcarlton@TimesLocalMedia.com Photographer: David Minton | dminton@TimesLocalMedia.com Production Coordinator: Courtney Oldham production@@TimesLocalMedia.com480-898-5617

They say western Ahwatukee is poorly underserved as far as city recreational fa cilities are concerned, noting that Desert Foothills Park has never been finished even though it’s the closest city rec facility for some 1,500 households.

Reporters: Cecilia Chan. 480-898-5613 | cchan@@TimesLocalMedia.com Circulation Director: Aaron Kolodny 480-898-5641 | aaron@phoenix.org Distribution Manager Brian Juhl brian@TimesLocalMedia.com

To submit a letter, please include your full name. Our policy is not to run anonymous letters. Please keep the length to 300 words. Letters will be run on a space-available basis. Please send your contributions to pmaryniak@ahwatukee.com.

EDITORIAL CONTENT

Those arguments have not been ac cepted by city parks officials, who con

BY PAUL MARYNIAK AFN Executive Editor

The content and claims of any advertisement are the sole responsibility of the advertiser. The Ahwatukee Foothills News assumes no responsibility for the claims or content of any advertisement.

Moreover, as ardent pickleball players, the two women also say that the Pecos Park complex of 16 courts is not only an inconvenient drive for western Ahwatu kee players – it’s often completely booked, mostly by non-residents.

Deputy Recreation Department Director Todd J Shackelford told them the project will involve two different contractors and four phases that will start in December.

Ostendorp and McNeish have been drumming up public support for their ef fort to get 16 pickleball-only courts built at the park since June 2021.

Hope comes in bits and pieces over extended periods of time for the two Ahwatukee women who have been campaigning for more than a year for pickleball courts at never-finished Desert Foothills Park.

The Ahwatukee Foothills News expresses its opinion. Opinions expressed in guest commentaries, perspectives, cartoons or letters to the editor are those of the author.

WRITE A LETTER

But hope does come largely out of the relentlessness that Jill Ostendorp and Carrie McNeish have brought to the table. Recently, they were encouraged by an other bit of good news when they were told the city Parks and Recreation Depart ment hopes to start the six-week conver sion of Desert Foothills’ existing tennis courts into use by both pickleball and ten nis players.

© 2022 Strickbine Publishing, Inc. see PICKLEBALL page 14 Ahwatukee Foothills News is distributed by AZ Integrated Media, a circulation service company owned by Times Media Group. The public is limited to one copy per reader. For circulation services please contact Aaron Kolodny at aaron@phoenix.org.. To start or stop delivery of the paper, please https://timespublications.com/phoenix/visit:orcall 480-898-7901 To get your free online editiona subscription, please visit: https://www.ahwatukee.com/e-subscribe/

Ahwatukee pair’s pickleball campaign sees more progress

“The plan is to remove all fencing, do the court resurfacing and install new courts, and install new fencing,” McNeish said, adding she is waiting for some ad ditional details.

In addition, she said. Councilman Sal DiCiccio “committed to us that he will meet with us again in the September 2022 timeframe to look at the larger project of adding dedicated pickleball courts. We are trying to set up that follow up meet ing now.”

Your Real Estate Partners in The Valley TheSantistevanGroup.com ©2022 BHH Affiliates, LLC. An independently owned and operated franchisee of BHH Affiliates, LLC. Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices and the Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices symbol are registered service marks of HomeServices of America, Inc.® Equal Housing Opportunity. Information not verified or guaranteed. If your home is currently listed with a Broker, this (480) 933-1570

Few parents so far applying for private school vouchers

C.J. Karamargin, press aide to Gov. Doug Ducey, who signed the massive expansion of the program into law, would not an swer questions about whether his boss is disturbed by the fact that the vouchers are being sought by children already attend ing these schools, presumably using avail able family resources. Instead, he said too much should not be read into the report.

Council

“It is just getting started.’’ But what it already does show is more than $34 million of public funds would replace those private dollars, assuming an average voucher of $7,000.

BY HOWARD FISCHER Capitol Media Services Nearly 6,500 Arizona children have applied for the new universal vouchers to attend private and pa rochial schools at taxpayer expense.

“These numbers are an early indication of the popularity of this program,’’ he said.

The forum will be held at the Ahwatukee Community Swim, Tennis & Event Center, 4700 E. Warner Road in Ahwatukee and because seating is limited, attendees are asked to register at ahwatukeechamber. com/calendar. The forum will be broad cast live on the Chamber’s Facebook page. Vying on Nov. 8 to succeed termed-out Councilman Sal DiCiccio on the seat that represents Ahwatukee are: Joanne Greene, Kevin Robinson, Mark Moeremans, Moses Sanchez, Juan Schoville, Sam Stone and Kellen Wilson. The event will begin with a 15-minute opportunity to meet the candidates in formally. The forum will start at 5:15 p.m. and last no longer than 6:30 p.m. It will be moderated by Chamber CEO Andy Hayes and AFN Executive Editor Paul Maryniak. Candidates will have the opportunity to give introductions and closing remarks. Hayes said the Chamber organized the forum because “in Ahwatukee, our local elections have the most impact in our lives, far more so than state and national elections.“Ourlocal officials have direct influence on the quality of life in Ahwatukee and our city.” Hayes added, “We are partner ing with SRP and the Ahwatukee Foothills News to provide a platform that allows people to gather information about the candidates and their positions. Having the forum in the community is a win-win for Ahwatukee and the City of Phoenix.” Both the Ahwatukee Chamber and SRP have a long history of sponsoring local candidate forums. 

The legislation approved earlier this year was billed by supporters as provid ing more choices to students stuck in neighborhood public schools. But the state Department of Education says 75% of those applications are from children not in public schools. That is drawing concern from the state superintendent of public instruction. “The ESA program was intended to pro vide more options for children with spe cial needs or unique circumstances, like military families,’’ said Kathy Hoffman. “With the current status of applicants, it is not achieving those goals,’’ she contin ued. “Instead, it is just a taxpayer funded coupon for the wealthy.’’

5AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS | SEPTEMBER 7, 2022 NEWS ♦Trusts ♦ Wills ♦ Probate ♦ Family Law ♦ Divorce Southwest Business Center 4500 S. Lakeshore Dr. Ste 300 Tempe, AZ 85282 (SE Rural & Lakeshore) Kathleen A. Nielsen 480.730.6469 kathleen@kathleennielsenlaw.com Serving Ahwatukee for 35 Years! BESTOF 2020 ATTORNEY AT L AW BESTOF 2021 Pam AssociateRealtyEaganExecutivesBroker ONLYPamEagan@gmail.com602-390-5740ANEIGHBORHOODEXPERTCAN NET YOU MORE PamYourEagan 36-Year Neighborhood Resale EXPERT see VOUCHERS page 8

AFN NEWS STAFF A ll seven candidates for the Phoenix Council District 6 seat are sched uled to participate in a candidate forum at 5 p.m. next Tuesday, Sept. 13, that is being sponsored by The Ahwatukee Foothills Chamber of Commerce, Salt River Project and the Ahwatukee Foothills News.

“This is really early in this process,’’ Kar amargin said.

Tuesday

City hopefuls in Ahwatukee forum

Those numbers should come as no surprise.

And it appears the vast majority are youngsters whose parents already are paying for them to go there.

TimesLocalMedia.compmaryniak@or

Subcommittees will receive presenta tions about proposed projects from city departments, hear from the public, then rank in priority order projects to be rec ommended to the executive committee, which will then make project recommen dations to City Council will then decide if a GO Bond Program will go to the voters. If approved by Council, voters will ultimate ly choose whether or not to adopt the GO Bond Program in November 2023. Council would then begin to consider those recommendations with an eye to fi nalizing a package for the November 2023 ballot, which likely would be an all-mail election.Thepackage is the city’s first general obligation bond package since 2006, when voters approved an $878.5 million bond program that brought to $4.6 billion the total amount of such bond issues vot ers have approved over the last 65 years. Since 2016, City Manager Jeffrey Bar ton told City Council at a hearing earlier this month, “Our population and the de mand for city services – like public safety, library, parks, and streets, to name a few, have greatly intensified. Committee meetings began in August and are currently scheduled to continue through November 2022.

Residents can speak in person or virtu ally at phoenix.gov/bond/meetings. Span ish interpretation services will also be available. “The additional meeting will be for pub lic comment only and the Executive Com mittee will not be discussing or taking ac tion on projects currently being discussed among the eight subcommittees,” it said. Those committees involve: arts and culture, economic development and edu cation, environment and sustainability, housing, human services & homelessness, neighborhoods & city services, parks and recreation, public safety, and streets and storm drainage.

Phoenix Council taking citizen requests for $500M bond issue

AFN NEWS STAFF

Residents can also engage with the City on social media by using the #GOPHX2023, or by using the interactive GOPHXTOOL, an online tool available in English and Spanish that allows residents to tell the GO Bond Committee which proj ects they would like to see recommended to City Council. Residents may also call or submit comments electronically.

“As a best practice, a well-oiled and wellpositioned city should have a recurring bond program every five to seven years,” Barton said. “It’s been long a dream of mine since my days in Budget and Re search to restore the city back to a place where we had that reoccurring bond pro grams every five to seven years. And I’m excited to be here today to present to you with a plan that gets us just there.” Barton said the city is positioned to have a recurring bond program in that five-to-sev en-year time frame “that can fit within the existing footprint of the existing tax rate.” Meetings are open to the public for com ment. For more information visit the GO Bond Program website at Phoenix.gov/ bond. 

GOT NEWS?

6 AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS | SEPTEMBER 7, 2022NEWS Traci Tartaglio Owner 480.598.9811 15215 S 48th St, Ste 185 Phoenix, AZ 85044 ahwatukeecarpets.com SHOWROOM HOURS Mon-Thurs: 10 am - 6 pm Fri & Sat: 10 am - 5 pm or by appointment Licensed • Bonded • Insured Offer expires 10/31/2022 WE PAY YOUR Sales tax! TraciOwnerTartaglio SHOWROOM HOURS Monday to Thursday 10 a.m to 6 p.m Friday to Saturday 10 a.m to 5 p.m or by appointment Carpet ~ Tile ~ Wood ~ Laminate ~ Showers ~ Custom Area Rugs ~ Luxury Vinyl ~ Countertops 15215480.598.9811S.48thSt.,Ste 185 Phoenix, AZ 85044 TraciOwnerTartaglio SHOWROOM HOURS Monday to Thursday 10 a.m to 6 p.m Friday to Saturday 10 a.m to 5 p.m or by appointment Carpet ~ Tile ~ Wood ~ Laminate ~ Showers ~ Custom Area Rugs ~ Luxury Vinyl ~ Countertops 15215480.598.9811S.48thSt.,Ste 185 Phoenix, AZ 85044 ahwatukeecarpets.com AZ ROC 128091 & 210945 TraciOwnerTartaglio m Area Rugs ~ Luxury Vinyl ~ Countertops 15215480.598.9811S.48thSt.,Ste 185 Phoenix, AZ 85044 overCelebrating30years! Retirement solutions fo r you and your employees . ed ward jo nes .com MAKING SENSE OF INVESTING Joseph B Ortiz, AAMS ® , CRPS ® Financial Adviso r 8950 S 52nd St Suite 20 9 Tempe, AZ 8528 4 480-753-766 4 Looking for direction in this volatile market?

A hwatukee residents have another chance next week to tell Phoenix City Council what they want to see in a possible $500 million bond issue that could go on the ballot next year. The 2023 General Obligation Bond Executive Committee said it will hold a meeting at 6 p.m. next Wednesday, Sept. 14, at City Council Chambers “specifically dedicated to public comment” that will also be streamed on YouTube and PHXTV (Cox cable channel 11).

Contact Paul Maryniak at 480-898-5647

“I’m not sure whether they completely understood the entire issue because some of the marketing that happened with that initiative,” Chaston said, adding parents told him “they didn’t understand what that bill really was” and that the recently enacted measure was different from the one rejected by voters anyway.

Starting with his opening remarks, Rich ardson kept hammering at Epstein’s re cord during six years in the House, stating, “she has not passed a single bill” in her six years in the House. Epstein demanded a chance to rebut Richardson’s opening slam but after mod erator/Arizona Agenda co-founder Hank Stevenson declined, she offered counter arguments to her opponent’s jabs. In her closing statement, she said: “I’m very proud to run on my record of standing up for consumers; for making sure we have a balance between the own ers, the workers and the consumers in our economy; and making sure that we are looking out for small businesses, as well as making sure that our large businesses have room to innovate.” Travers took to the offensive as the three Republicans candidates expressed support for the Legislature’s expansion of the school vouchers, or Empowerment Scholarship Accounts (ESA), to include all parents even though voters four years ago overwhelmingly rejected a similar mea sure in a referendum. While the Democrats said the expansion drained state funding for public schools in favor of private schools and homeschooling with far less oversight than school districts, the Republican hopefuls touted the pro gram’s benefits for parents and children.

But as all six candidates vied for likes in a district dominated by voters who are not registered with either of their parties, Richardson and Travers were particularly outspoken. The debate can be viewed in its entirety at: youtu.be/sBn6hwyog_o

“Innovation and competition are really going to give our kids the best chance for education,” Roe said, adding: “I didn’t get the vote for this, but I would vote for it. It is for our kids K through 12. I’m all for it.” Added Chaston: “You don’t have to sac rifice public education for ESA. There’s room for both. But it’s very important for parents and having the parental rights and the transparency that they can pick the best education for their child…ESAs are incredibly important for parents to be able to do that and healthy competition in a free market system. It breeds innovation.”

All three Republicans also downplayed the 2018 referendum in which 65% of voters statewide rejected an expanded voucher system.

“I do not like voter initiatives …Peo ple will sign anything if you’re compel ling and you go out and say, ‘Hey, would you sign this?’ and they’ll give you your signature and address and then you gather the signatures, ends up on the ballot. It’s somewhat of a murky issue at times, many times, and that gets passed. Then there’s nothing that can be done with it. It can’t be altered ….then locks in finance.”

Roe tore into initiatives generally, saying:

7AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS | SEPTEMBER 7, 2022 NEWS Kevin Houston Top 1% Ahwatukee Realtor Year after Year! RatingA+ Call Kevin directly at 602-370-8106 www.SearchAhwatukeeHomes.com kw® SONORAN LIVING KELLERWILLIAMS REALTY Each office independently owned and operated. $560,000Ahwatukee The Foothills 3 bed, 2 Bath 1880 SF, 3 car garage, single story $579,000Ahwatukee The 1816FoothillsSF3Bed, 2 bath SOLD!SOLD! $575,000Ahwatukee Mountain Park Ranch 1628 SF, 3 Bedroom, 2.5 bath, Beautiful Pool & Spa $529,000Ahwatukee 4Lakewoodbed,3Bath 2,121 SFSOLDGORGEOUSLOT&POOLINAUGUST! $419,000Ahwatukee 55+ Retirement 2 bed, 2 Bath 1,406 SF with large lot COMINGSOON! DEBATE from page 1 Mark & Alexis Breyer 480.471.8850 HusbandAndWifeLawTeam.com

Travers got personal in arguing that in stead of widening ESA eligibility, the Leg islature should have increased their worth for the students who were covered under the old system – kids in foster care or those with disabilities, children of active military and in schools classified as “D” and “F” schools. page 9

see DEBATE

There’s also the question of account ability.Anearly version of the legislation would have required that students in private and parochial schools using these vouchers of state funds to take some standardized tests, similar to those already adminis tered in public schools.

INNOVATIVE TEACHING. EXPERT EDUCATORS. THRIVING STUDENTS. 4515 E. Muirwood Dr. Phoenix, Arizona Admissions@summitschoolaz.org85048 www.SummitSchoolAZ.org 480-403-9506

The results, as in the case of public schools, would have been reported on an aggregate basis. That requirement was removed from the final version by Rep. Jake Hoffman, RQueen Creek, who said what’s happening at private schools is none of the govern ment’s business. But voucher foes like Rep. Kelli Butler, D-Paradise Valley, said the fact that tax dollars will be flowing to those schools is precisely what gives the state an interest.

Arizona lawmakers approved the first vouchers in 2011. State and federal courts ruled that providing money as vouchers for the parents to use does not violate state constitutional provisions forbidding the state from giving money to private and parochial schools.

Since that time, there has been an incre mental expansion of eligibility to the point where vouchers are now available to fos ter children, children of military families, reservation residents and students in schools rated D or F. The new law scraps all preconditions, potentially allowing vouchers to go to all 1.1 million youngsters now in public schools.Proponents have defended the change as providing more options for parents be yond neighborhood schools. That includes former state schools chief Tom Horne, a Republican running against Hoffman to get his old job back.

“We will not know if students are us ing our tax dollars – $7,000 is the typical award – if they’re using that money to learn anything,’’ she said. Horne said he is not concerned about the fact that so many of the requests for vouchers are coming from families whose kids already are in private and parochial schools. “All of these people already pay taxes,’’ he said. Anyway, Horne said, the alter native could be some of these children moving to public schools which get more per-student state aid than the typical voucher, meaning a higher cost to tax payers.Allthis presumes the new law will take effect as scheduled on Sept. 24. Foes of expansion, led by Save Our Schools Arizona, are circulating petitions to delay implementation until voters get the last word. If they get 118,823 valid signatures by Sept. 23 the law could not take effect until after the 2024 election. The record suggests antipathy toward moreLawmakersvouchers.approved a vast expan sion of the program in 2017, only to have the measure referred to the 2018 bal lot where it was rejected by a margin of close to 2 to 1. Beth Lewis, the group’s executive di rector, said she is “optimistic’’ there will be enough signatures collected to sur vive any challenge. 

VOUCHERS at timeslocalmedia.compmaryniak@or

from page 5 GOT NEWS? Contact Paul Maryniak

480-898-5647

“My view is competition always makes everybody better,’’ he said. “That’s why the United States is prosperous and the Soviet Union was not.”

Even before HB 2853 became law, legis lative budget analysts estimated the firstyear cost of providing vouchers to those already in private schools or those being homeschooled would approach $30 mil lion. That doesn’t count another $2.2 mil lion in new administrative costs.

8 AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS | SEPTEMBER 7, 2022NEWS

Horne said he saw the same thing dur ing his 24 years on the Paradise Valley Unified School District Governing Board, saying the advent and expansion of char ter schools “made us better.’’ Opponents said such comparisons with private schools are not valid because they can accept only the students they want.

And by the third year, the report said, the price tag for paying for kids picking up vouchers versus paying their own way will approach $120 million. That is above and beyond the $176 mil lion the state is now paying for vouchers for students who have been eligible under prior standards.

“The entire school-funding system is almost 50 years old,” Chaston said. “We need to revamp the way our education funding is created.”

9AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS | SEPTEMBER 7, 2022 NEWS

“If I’m an underserved community with my $7,000 and tuition is $20,000,” she asked, “where am I going to come up with that other $13,000?” She also ripped the argument against voter initiatives, stating Republicans were contending, “on the one hand, we’re too stupid enough to know what we’re sign ing. But on the other hand, we’re smart enough to be able to make educational choices for our children. We can’t have it both ways.”

He said he favored a mechanism that paid teachers well but that would also “stimulate innovation.”

“Who’s actually applied and had an ESA voucher for their children?” she asked. Only her hand went up. Travers then ex plained how her daughter, who has a de velopmental disability, was not doing well with online instruction during the campus shutdown caused by the pandemic. “So I went ahead and pulled her out and I got my ESA money. You know how much I got? I got $3,000,” she said, underscoring that it was less than half the $7,000 per student the new voucher system provides.

Chaston also favored asking voters to re peal the limit, but went further by arguing for a total revamping of the school system.

Another education-related issue the candidates addressed was the state con stitution’s Aggregate Spending Limit on school spending, which last school year could have provoked massive teacher and staff layoffs even though school districts had the money in the bank to pay them.

The Legislature at the last minute lifted the cap, but did not address the perma nent elimination of the measure, which was passed in 1980. It also did not ad dress raising the spending cap or funding measures that would effectively have neu tralized it.

Contreras said Republicans in the Leg islature last spring used the cap as a bar gaining chip in budget negotiations and said, “We need to override it right away and refer it back to the voters.”

Richardson said, “I am part of a group of incoming potential lawmakers who are already ready to take meaningful steps for improving our education system.” He said the plan would include a $10,000 pay raise for teachers – “of course, tied to others requiring financial transparency and some other things.”

SemperFiHeatingCooling.com ROC#309388 ROC#320048 Check us out on 10 -Year Parts & Labor Warranty Included on Two-Stage ManufacturedEquipmentinTexas Call 24/7 • 602-641-2960 ExpertTrusted,Service! SystemsNew as low as mo.per$79 LABOR DAY SPECIALS ALL MONTH LONG $80 Value Tune Up Includes Full Unit Inspection, Light Coil Cleaning & a written report of findings. Not valid with any other offers or coupons. $17.75 DUCT CLEANING $192 (with military discount) *8 vents and 1 return included. Not valid with any other offers or coupons. CALL FOR DETAILS Special Offer $240* 18 Months No Interest NoNewPaymentsforAllUnits PROPRIETARY LINE AMERICAN-MADEHVACEQUIPMENTOF see DEBATE page 21 DEBATE from page 7 Arizona

Education spending

The transparency remark appeared to refer to the fact that only fewer than half of all K-12 teachers in Arizona saw their pay increase by 20% as Gov. Doug Ducey promised in 2018. Agenda co-founder Hank Stevenson, bottom, moderated the Citizens Clean Elec tions Commission debate among the LD 12 candidates on Sept. 1. They included, all three Democratic candidates (top row) and the three Republicans (middle row) in the race. They are, top from left, Senate candidate and current Rep. Mitzi Epstein and House hopefuls Patty Contreras and Stacey Travers; middle: Senate candidate David Richardson and House hopefuls Jim Chaston and Terry Roe. The debate can be found at youtu.be/sBn6hwyog_o. (YouTube)

Sun River Listed for $889,000

10 AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS | SEPTEMBER 7, 2022 Extraordinary Real Estate Services Lisa Miguel Top 1% in Sales 480-444-6058 • www.Lisamiguel.com The difference between ordinary and extraordinary is that little extra! Call me for a FREE Home Value Report!

Beautifully remodeled 2 bedroom 1.5 bathroom condo! Walk out your ground level front door to a sprawling common grass area! The covered patio also faces the wide - open grass area! Kitchen was remodeled in June of 2022 with honed granite counter tops, upgraded Samsung stainless steel appliances, extra large single basin sink, upgraded matte black faucet and trendy LED track lighting. Kitchen also has a breakfast bar, pantry and eatin dining area. Open kitchen - great room floor plan! Wood - look 20 mil 7’’x 48’’ vinyl plank flooring throughout the home with carpet only in the bedrooms and on the staircase. Both bathrooms were remodeled with new white Shaker cabinets, honed granite vanity tops, designer mirrors, upgrad ed faucets, toilets, lights and fixtures. New 4” baseboards. New matte black interior door hardware. One car carport & one assigned parking space. Laundry room is on-site just off carport area. Heated community pool.

Beautifully updated 4,247 sf home with 5 bedrooms, office, finished basement and four full bathrooms! Nearly a ¼ acre with a north facing back yard. One bedroom and one bathroom downstairs. Kitchen boasts rich, dark finish cabinetry, 2022 Quartz counter tops, center island, pantry, large eat-in casual dining area. All flooring replaced in November 2021; wood look vinyl plank flooring throughout with upgraded carpet in bedrooms and on staircase. 2021 baseboards throughout. 2022 interior and exterior paint. Master suite has a large walk in closet, dual sinks, separate walk in shower and Roman soaking tub. Large secondary bedrooms; one of the secondary bedrooms upstairs is enormous and would also make a great game room. All secondary bedroom closets have Classy Closet build outs. The large laundry room, with overhead cabinets for extra storage, is also built out as a mud room. The private back yard setting has a covered patio in addition to the elevated patio area off the kitchen, a large grass area, extensive hardscape, fire pit, and a sparkling pebble tec pool.

Fountain Hills Call for pricing Beautiful custom home on over an acre with a northeast facing backyard! This sprawling estate is surrounded by natural arroyo with breathtaking McDowell Mountain and Red Mountain views and city lights! Truly a rare find, this home has five bedrooms (one down) plus office plus a large guest quarters with its own entrance from the exterior. The guest quarters has a large family room, dining area, and a separate bedroom. Guest quarters is attached so it also makes a great bonus game/room. The kitchen boasts granite counter tops, a center island, pantry and an eat-in dining nook. Family room has a cozy wood burning fireplace and a large wet bar adjacent to it; a great set up for parties! The family room exits to the resort style backyard with an extended covered patio, sparkling heated pool and spa and a large grass area; perfect for families and entertaining! Large storage room in the garage. Enjoy the serenity of desert living while being just minutes from golf, restaurants and shopping!

Mountain Park Ranch Listed for $490,000 Move in ready 1,594 sf 3 bedroom, 2.5 bathroom home with north / south exposure! 2014 roof with 12 year warranty, 2015 Milgard windows including the sliding glass door to the back patio, and 2015 Therma - Tru front door. 2018 water heater. Motor on the 15 seer HVAC unit was replaced in 2020. Kitchen has a large eat – in dining area with bay window, breakfast bar and pantry. All appliances convey including the refrigerator and front load washer / dryer. The spacious great room has soaring vaulted ceilings and a cozy wood – burning fireplace with brick surrounds. Enormous storage closet under stairwell. Wood blinds and ceiling fans throughout. Ceiling fan in the secondary bedroom, that is currently being used as an office, was installed in 2022. Large master suite! Walk in closet in the master suite. Master bathroom has dual sinks and a walk in shower with a 2022 glass door enclosure. Both secondary bedrooms have gorgeous views of South Mountain! Pool size back yard! Low maintenance desert landscape in front and back. Slab in back pre-wired for a hot tub. Large side yard with storage shed. 2.5 car garage with work bench and built in cabinets.

Gila Buttes Listed for $399,900 2022 construction! Home has never been lived in! Single level home with open kitch en – great room floor plan. FIVE bedrooms and THREE bathrooms. 1998 sf. Kitchen boasts espresso colored cabinets, granite counter tops, large center island / breakfast bar, Whirlpool stainless steel appliances and pantry. 20x20 porcelain tile throughout with carpet in bedrooms only! Smart home technology. 14 seer HVAC unit. Large mas ter suite with walk in closet, double sinks and walk in shower. Two of the secondary bedrooms also have walk in closets. Faux wood blinds throughout. Covered back patio. NORTH FACING BACK YARD! Low maintenance front and backyard landscaping.

The Villages Listed for $289,000

SELLER WILLING TO PARTICIPATE IN A RATE BUY DOWN! SELLER WILLING TO PARTICIPATE IN A RATE BUY DOWN! CLINIC SERVICES • CEREC Same Day Crowns • Cosmetic Dentistry • Invisalign • Teeth Whitening • Dental Restorationsimplant At Ahwatukee Dental Health, Dr. Amy Nordquist and her team are dedicated to providing each and every patient with the care and attention they need in the most comfortable way possible. Her time spent with you will always be thorough and focused on your dental concerns. Our team values personalized attention and long-term relationships with all of our patients. We can’t wait to meet you! Let Us Care For Your Teeth So You Can Smile More! 15215 S 48th St, #190, Phoenix, AZ 85044 Call today or visit us online! (480) FREEahwatukeedentalhealth.com893-2474Second Opinion & Invisalign Consultations *For patients without dental insurance; in the absence of periodontal disease. New Patient Promotion $79* Comprehensive Exam, X-Rays & CleaningPreventive

11AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS | SEPTEMBER 7, 2022 AVAILABLEDELIVERYNEXTDAY NO GUARANTEEDWHEREMATTERYOUSEEIT,READIT,ORHEARABOUTIT,SPENCERSISTOBEALOWERPRICE! 58” 4K UHD SMART TV UN58TU7000•2HDMIInputs•Airplay2Built-In $ 219 • 1.8 Cu. Ft. Capacity • 2 Speed 300 CFM Exhaust • Digital Display • FFMV1846VWTimer CLOSEOUT Arizona’s independentlargestdealer! “It’s Like Having A Friend In The Business” Check Out Our Website WWW.SPENCERSTV.COM MESA SHOWROOM & CLEARANCE CENTER 115 W. First Ave. | 480-833-3072 AHWATUKEE 4601 E. Ray Rd. | Phoenix | 480-777-7103 ARROWHEAD RANCH 7346 W. Bell Road | 623-487-7700 GILBERT Santan Village | 2711 S. Santan Village Pkwy | 480-366-3900 GLENDALE 10220 N. 43rd Ave | (602) 504-2122 GOODYEAR 1707 N. Litchfield Rd | 623-930-0770 RECONDITION CENTER 160 EAST BROADWAY | 480-615-1763 SCOTTSDALE 14202 N. Scottsdale Rd. | 480-991-7200 SCOTTSDALE/PHOENIX 13820 N. Tatum Blvd. | (602) 494-0100 NOW OPEN - MESA 5141 S. Power Rd. | 480-988-1917 OPEN DAILY 9AM-9PM | SATURDAY 9AM-6PM | SUNDAY 11AM-5PM some items may be out of stock. NO NEEDED,CREDITOPTIONSAVAILABLE $ 319 •Normal Wash Cycle •Heated Dry On/Off •Standard Upper Rack HDA2000TWW CLOSEOUT WASHERDISHWASHER • 3.4 Cu. Ft. Capacity • 8 Wash Cycles • 3 Temperature Settings • Dual Action Agitator NTW450IXQ CLOSEOUT DRYER • Super Capacity • Multiple Drying Cycles • Automatic Dryness Control NED4500VQ CLOSEOUT $47999 58” *See store for details. *** NO INTEREST IF PAID IN FULL IN 12 MONTHS. $799.00 Minimum Purchase Required Minimum Payments Required 30.79% APR If the promotional balance is not paid in full by the end for the promotional period or, to the extent permitted by law, if you make a late payment, interest will be imposed from the date of purchase at the APR noted above. This APR is as of 2/26/22 and will vary with the market based on the Prime Rate. Your card agreement, the terms of the offer and applicable law govern this transaction including increasing APRs and fees and terminating the promotional period. MICROWAVEOVER-THE-RANGEREFRIGERATOR • 25 Cubic Foot Capacity • Spill Proof Glass Shelves • Humidity Controlled Drawers WRS325SDHZ DISHWASHER • ControlIntegratedStyling • Premium Nylon Racks • In SilverwareDoor Basket • Energy Star Qualified WDF520PADM CLOSEOUT RANGE • 4.8 Cubic Foot Capacity • Self Cleaning Oven • Smooth Top • Proudly Made in USA WFE505W0HS CLOSEOUT BUYS ALL 3 PIECES$2410 $ 429EACH FRONT WASHERLOAD 4.5 Cu. Ft. Capacity 10 Wash Cycles Smart WF45T6200AWCare DRYER • 7.5 Cu. Ft.Capacity • 10 Cycles • 9 Options • Steam DVE45T6200WSanitize EACH ••• $ 699 $ 1299 12 MONTHS INTEREST**NO Spencers has been a family owned, and operated business for over 50 years. A business you can count on for better prices, better selection, knowledgeable sales people and extraordinary service. At Spencers you get the products you need, at the prices you desire. 1000’s of people have made the wise choice by buying at Spencers - It’s like having a friend in the business! END OF MONTH FRENCH DOOR REFRIGERATOR •28.2 Cu. Ft. •5 Glass Shelves •Crisper Drawer • Gallon Door Bin •RF28T5001SRFingerprintResistantStainlessSteel “It’s Like Having a Friend In The Business” OPEN DAILY 9AM - 9PM • SATURDAY 9AM - 6PM • SUNDAY 11AM - 5PM www.spencerstv.com MESA SHOWROOM | 115 W. First Ave. | 480-833-3072 AHWATUKEE | 4601 E. Ray Rd. | Phoenix | 480-777-7103 ARROWHEAD RANCH | 7346 W. Bell Road | 623-487-7700 GILBERT Santan Village | 2711 S. Santan Village Pkwy | 480-366-3900 GLENDALE | 10220 N. 43rd Ave | 602 504-2122 GOODYEAR | 1707 N. Litchfield Rd | 623-930-0770 RECONDITION CENTER | 160 East Broadway | 480-615-1763 SCOTTSDALE | 14202 N. Scottsdale Rd. | 480-991-7200 SCOTTSDALE/PHOENIX | 13820 N. Tatum Blvd. | 602 494-0100 MESA CLEARANCE CENTER | 115 W. First Ave. | 480-833-3072 NOW OPEN - MESA | 5141 S. Power Rd. | 480-988-1917 WE ARE OVERSTOCKED… CLEARANCE Spencers has been saving you money for over 50 Years. We provide the Best Products, at the Lowest Prices and Our Customer Service is Terrific! We are locally owned and operated. When you shop Spencers your hard earned cash stays in OUR COMMUNITY! By The Leading Consumer Magazine 91% of Consumers Would Rather BUY From An Independent Dealer.* *According to the leading Consumer Magazine. • 2InputsHDMI •UN58TU70002AirplayBuilt-In 58” 4K UHD SMART TV $449 DISHWASHER • Normal Wash Cycle Heated Dry On/Off Standard Upper Rack HDA1100FWH $299 12 MONTHSNOINTEREST WASHER58" •3.4 Cu. Ft. Capacity •8 Wash Cycles •3 Temperature Settings •Dual Action Agitator NTW4501XQCLOSEOUT DRYER •Super •MultipleCapacityDrying Cycles •Automatic Dryness CLOSEOUTNED4500VQControl EACH $649 $1599 •2 Glass •5•HumidityShelvesCrispersDoorBinsART318FFDM •LED Lighting •5 Shelves •2 Crisper Bins • Glass RF28T5001SRShelves 18.2 CU. STAINLESSREFRIGERATORFT.STEEL 28 CU. REFRIGERATORFRENCHFT.DOOR SIDE23STEELSTAINLESSCU.FT.BYSIDE •Deli •LED•CrisperDrawerShelvesLightingFFSS2314QSCLOSEOUT $949 30” RANGEELECTRIC •Even Baking Technology • High/Low Broil Options FCRC3005AW DISHWASHER • 12 Place Setting Capacity FDPC4221AW 18 CU. FT. FROST FREE REFRIGERATOR • Store-More™ Crisper Drawers CLOSEOUTFFTR1814TW ALL 3 PAYMENTMONTHLY$60**BUYS ALL 3 PIECES $1698$429Ifyou hasSpencersthinkthelowerprices... Spencers has been saving you money for over 50 Years. We provide the Best Products, at the Lowest Prices and Our Customer Service is Terrific! We are locally owned and operated. When you shop Spencers your hard earned cash stays in OUR COMMUNITY!

quest after expressing confusion over why the developers wanted to downgrade South Chandler’s designation, which would likely have saved them millions on the thoroughfare’s widening. Commission member Lisa Perez also was sympathetic to residents who con tended that the city has long promised that an additional lane would be added in each direction.

cynthiaworley@worleyteam.com480-330-7035|worleyteam.com

Alan Beaudoin of Norris Design, zoning consultant for Blandford Homes, started last week’s meeting with his surprise an nouncement – which prompted resident Nancy Bailey to remark, “My blood pres sure has dropped significantly.” Beaudoin said that while Blandford was dropping the downgrading, “We still think it’s an excess but we are prepared to do 64 feet of pavement as called for in the street classification map.” He also said bike lanes would be provid ed along that stretch, although it is unclear if they will be the protected lanes the de velopers originally pitched in seeking the

CYNTHIA WORLEY, AHWATUKEE EXPERT CEO and Founder of Stella Realty Group Keller Williams Realty East Valley THREE REASONS TO SELL sellingmeans for less down the road. to realize equity windfalls and right size to the home that best A market peak is the best time to get the highest price for your home. CALL TODAY! cynthiaworley@worleyteam.com480-330-7035|worleyteam.com CYNTHIA WORLEY, AHWATUKEE CEO and Founder of Stella Realty Group Keller Williams Realty East Valley THREE REASONS TO SELL the road. home that best ﬁts their needs. CALL TODAY! cynthiaworley@worleyteam.com480-330-7035|worleyteam.com CYNTHIA WORLEY, AHWATUKEE EXPERT CEO and Founder of Stella Realty Group Keller Williams Realty East Valley THREE REASONS TO SELL A sellingmeanscorrectionmarketfor Today familiesmanycan sell to realize equity windfalls and A market peak is the best time to get the highest price 11061 E Adobe Road • $886,000 14213 S 32nd Place • $1,150,000 JUST SOLD Prestigious Hillside • Over 400k Remodel • Master on Main Level Gorgeous Backyard • 5 BR • 3.5 BA • 3 Car Garage • 3,887 SF 3149 E Desert Broom Way • $1,075,000 2322 E Desert Trumpet Road • $534,900 2545 E Cathedral Rock Drive • $729,900 STUNNING HILLSIDE Backyard Oasis • Upgraded Interior • Mountain Park Ranch 5 BR • 3 BA • 3 Car Garage • 3,683 SF 3137 E Desert Broom Way • $879,000 JUST SOLD Hillside Property • Mountain Park Ranch • Single Story Split Floor Plan • 4 BR • 2 BA • 3 Car Garage • 2,617 SF JUST LISTED Huge Lot • Beautiful Pool • Mature Landscaping Single Story • 4 BR • 2.5 BA • 4 Car Garage • 2,604 SF PRICE ADJUSTMENT Resort Backyard • Single Story • Remodel Kitchen & Master Bath Ofﬁce + Media Room • 3 BR • 2 BA • 3 Car Garage • 2,592 SF SINGLE STORY Fresh Interior Paint • Remodeled Kitchen Mountain Park Ranch • 4 BR • 2 BA • 2 Car Garage • 1,817 SF see CANYON page 14 CANYON from page 1 The Upper Canyon development would bring 1,050 houses, 150 townhouses and over 350 apartments to 373 acres along Chandler Blvd. in Ahwatukee but developers Blandford Homes and Reserve 100 LLC do not want to widen South Chandler Boulevard. (AFN file photo)

EACH OFFICE IS INDEPENDENTLY OWNED AND OPERATED

“This requested reclassification does NOT benefit the community and only allows the land developers utilization of more land for their own use,” Koenen wrote.

“While the developer suggests this change is acceptable due to the changes to South Mountain Freeway, documents in dicate that as far back as 2006 when this agreement and specification was made, the plan was no different than using 17th Street as the access point.” “We have already had a number of times when this entire street has been blocked creating a safety issue,” Koenen continued, adding:“Consider that our emergency response times are already delayed in west Ahwatu kee. Increasing the number of homes and population without increasing accessibil ity, commercial access and most impor tantly emergency services will result in greater time to respond. More lanes al low for a greater chance that should those services required in time of need,” they would be available.

12 AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS | SEPTEMBER 7, 2022NEWS

A few days before the commission meet ing last week, resident Larry Koenen wrote the panel to protest any elimination of the widening – which the Ahwatukee Foothills Village Planning Committee narrowly ap proved several months ago.

13AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS | SEPTEMBER 7, 2022 livbest.life/ever • 15815 South 50th Street Phoenix, AZ 85048 Call us today! 480-660-0817 INDEPENDENT LIVING | ASSISTED LIVING | MEMORY CARE livbest.life/ever • 15815 South 50th Street Phoenix, AZ 85048 THE HOUSING MARKET IS AT AN ALL-TIME HIGH! Are you ready to sell or rent your home, avoid the summer maintenance hassle and enjoy a worryfree lifestyle with all that Liv has to offer? PERIPHERALWARNING!NEUROPATHY AND CHRONIC PAIN TREATMENTS NOT WORKING!!

appointment Due

c allers. YOU DO NOT HAVE TO SUFFER ANOTHER MINUTE, CALL (480

2 Call

THE GREAT NEWS IS THAT THIS TREATMENT IS COVERED BY MEDICARE, MEDICAID, AND INSURANCES!!MOST Depending on your coverage, your peripheral neuropathy treatment could cost almost nothing – or be absolutely free. The number of treatments required varies from patient to patient, and can only be determined following an in-depth neurological and vascular examination. As long as you have less than 95% nerve damage, there is hope! Aspen Medical begins by analyzing the extent of the nerve damage –a complimentary service for your friends and family. Each exam comprises a detailed sensory evaluation, extensive peripheral vascular testing, and comprehensive analysis of neuropathy findings. Aspen Medical will be offering this free chronic pain and neuropathy severity evaluation will be available until October 31st 202 (480) 274 3157 to make an to our very busy office schedule, we are limiting this offer to the first 10 ) so

274 3157 WNOW!!eare extremely busy,

we are unavailable, please leave a voice message and we will get back to you as soon as possible. Aspen Medical 4540 E. Baseline Rd., Suite 119 Mesa, AZ, 85206 *(480) 274-3157* *this is a paid advertisement* 480-274-3157 4540 E Baseline Rd., Suite 119 Mesa Az 85206

Mesa, AZ – When it comes to chronic pain and/ or neuropathy, the most common doctor-prescribed treatment is drugs like Gabapentin, Lyrica, Cymbalta, and Neurontin. The problem with antidepressants or anti-seizure medications like these is that they offer purely symptomatic relief, as opposed to targeting and treating the root of the problem. Worse, these drugs often trigger an onset of uncomfortable, painful, and sometimes harmful side Theeffects.only way to effectively treat chronic pain and/or peripheral neuropathy is by targeting the source, which is the result of nerve damage owing to inadequate blood flow to the nerves in the hands and feet. This often causes weakness, numbness,balance problems. A lack of nutrients causes the nerves degenerate – an insidious As displayed in figure 1 above, the nerves are surrounded by diseased, withered blood vessels. A lack of sufficient nutrients means the nerves cannot survive, and thus, slowly die. This leads to those painful and frustrating consequences we were talking about earlier, like weakness, numbness, tingling, balance issues, and perhaps even a burning sensation. The drugs your doctor might prescribe will temporarily conceal the problems, putting a “Band-Aid” over a situation that will only continue to deteriorate without further Thankfully,action.

Mesa is the birthplace of a brandnew facility that sheds new light on this pressing problem of peripheral neuropathy and chronic pain. The company is trailblazing the medical industry by replacing outdated drugs and symptomatic reprieves with an advanced machine that targets the root of the problem at hand. Effective neuropathy treatment relies on the following three factors: 1. Finding the underlying cause 2. Determining the extent of the nerve damage (above 95% nerve loss is rarely treatable) 3. The amount of treatment required for the patient’s unique condition Aspen Medical in Mesa, AZ uses a state-of-the-art electric cell signaling systems worth $100,000.00. Th is ground-breaking treatment is engineered to achieve the following, accompanied by advanced diagnostics and a basic skin biopsy to accurately analyze results: 1. Increases blood flow 2. Stimulates and strengthens small fiber nerves 3. Improves brain-based pain The treatment works by delivering energy to the affected area(s) at varying wavelengths, from low- to middle-frequency signals, while also using Amplitude Modulated (AM) and Frequency Modulated (FM) signaling It’s completely painless!

CANYON from page 12 PICKLEBALL from page 3

“It is not expected that a signal will be warranted at this intersection,” the re port said. “This intersection is anticipated to operate with acceptable delays as an unsignalized intersection by buildout of the development and is therefore recom mended to be unsignalized.”

And looming over the project is the big gest issue that emerged during public dis cussions of the development – and over which Blandford has no control: The ab sence of a firm city plan for a fire station that’s closer to all the communities in the far west portion of Ahwatukee.

While Norris Design told the Village Planning Committee that Blandford hopes to start construction soon with an eye to ward selling homes by 2024, it’s unclear if those plans have been affected by the cur rent housing market.

There was some confusion over Bland ford’s announcement that it provide 64 feet of pavement along that portion of Chandler Boulevard that abuts Upper Can yon’s western boundary, but that it was up to the Street Transportation Department to stripe the thoroughfare in a way that al lows for two lanes in each direction with a center turn lane. Noting that the other side of the bou levard abuts South Mountain Preserve land, residents won dered if 64 feet was enough to provide for that widening. But a commission member assured residents “that’s more than enough for five lanes.”

The developers plan to extend Liberty Lane as a two-lane thoroughfare diago nally cutting through Upper Canyon from 17th Avenue to Chandler Boulevard. Their traffic study, prepared by KimleyHorn, said that the Liberty Lane-17th Avenue intersection – a notoriously acci dent-prone crossing – “is expected to ex perience delays for eastbound left turns during the PM peak hour and westbound left turns during both peak hours.” But it said it doesn’t need a signal, at least in the short-term.”

Last week’s meeting saw little to no men tion of those unresolved matters – which weren’t in the panel’s purview anyway – as commission members praised the devel oper for responding to residents’ concerns and dropping plans for the boulevard reclassification. Residents near Upper Canyon who were prepared to express their opposition to Blandford’s original request were ecstatic.

this is the only street to get there,” said Tim Berger.

Right now, McNeish and Ostendorp are focusing their attention on getting some relatively minimal enhancements at the Desert Foothills Park dual-use courts, in cluding new fencing, lighting that would allow longer use every day, new signage and things like court color schemes and some fencing around the courts. “We really need this as you end up spending a lot of time chasing balls with out the separation,” McNeish said of the court fencing. 

The Cromford Report, the Valley‘s lead ing analyst of the Phoenix metro housing market, said last month that recent data from municipalities throughout the re gion showed fewer permits for new home construction have been issued in recent months as demand for homes slows amid rising mortgage rates.

National real estate experts also re ported a similar trend across most of the country  tend that in the past five years they have added 27 pickleball courts to the Phoenix park system for a total of 38 dedicated outdoor courts and two shared tennispickleball courts at Western Star Park in Ahwatukee. Officials noted most of the additions have been at the $1 million Pe cos Park complex. But McNeish and Ostendorp contend that in the world of pickleball – which counts thousands of enthusiastic players of all ages throughout the city and the Val ley – Phoenix is behind the curve, noting that both Scottsdale and Chandler have more public pickleball courts per 100,000 residents than Phoenix.

“We are very grateful to you listening to our concerns, reworking the plan here,” he told Blandford representa tives, including homebuilder D.R. Horton. But Fisher voiced concern about one of the issues that were not on the Planning Commission agenda and that remain with the city Street Transportation Department to resolve when he said: “We’re going to need your help at the Liberty Lane and 17th Avenue intersec tion down the road.”

It would cost at least an estimated $800,000 for a 16-court pickleball com plex at Desert Foothills Park, which bears scars of neglect and incompletion. Significant portions of the land have never been developed and some of what is there shows signs of wear and tear, includ ing inadequate lighting, frayed and broken fencing and inadequate parking and shade structures. But even though their long-range goal involves a significant upgrade in the park’s amenities, McNeish and Ostendorp have been slowly chipping away at City Hall re sistance by aim ing for smaller victories, one step at a time. For example, while DiCiccio initially balked, he eventually came over to their side as they pressed for a piece of the city’s $154.8 million surplus in its $1.8 billion General FundParksbudget.officials also seemed ini tially cool to the proposal. But the two women contacted and met with every member of City Council, in cluding a representative for the mayor.

14 AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS | SEPTEMBER 7, 2022NEWS downgraded road classification. “The type or style of bike lanes would be determined in the future for the portion of the road that was not reclassified,” Street Transportation spokeswoman Heather Murphy told AFN.

Also unresolved is a plan for parallel parking at the Preserve trailhead – which some critics say could pose a danger for drivers as they open their door to oncom ing traffic.

Both those assurances and Blandford’s decision earned a ringing endorsement from Darin Fisher, a Village Plan ning Committee member and founder of Vision Community Management, the manage ment company for the three westernmost HOAs as well as others nearby.

“I think that’s a great move and many of my neighbors will be supportive (be cause) the nearest fire station to our de velopment is six to seven miles away and

The duo eventually saw $21,000 allot ted to converting the tennis courts into dual-use. “We are working together to look at different avenues of funding,” McNeish said, explaining they have been knocking on state Sen. Sean Bowie’s door for state funding after discovering Arizona has in the past made funding available for city recreation facility development. So far, however, no state funding has materialized and it likely will be a cam paign the two women will have to pick up next year, when Ahwatukee has a new delegation to a new Legislature that will be working with a new governor.

Realtor Jill Ostendorp, left, and Carrie McNeish have been putting on a relentless 15-month campaign for pickleball courts at Desert Foothills Park. (AFN file photo) While Blandford Homes dropped its bid to keep South Chandler Boulevard at three lanes, it won Planning Com mission approval for downgrading S. 27th Avenue’s desig nation as a “local street.” (Google maps)

15AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS | SEPTEMBER 7, 2022 YOUR MORTGAGETRUSTEDSOURCE better LENDERS better LOANS Your local community direct lender. We live and work in Ahwatukee, so we understand the local market! We know and love our community. (602) 757-2171 LSMwww.erickinnemanloans.com10429South51stStSte255Phoenix,AZ85044NMLS#212062|AZLicense#L0-0911709NMLS#4474|LSMAZLicense#090838

The Ahwatukee Foothills News invited all three candidates for the two seats on the Kyrene School District Governing Board in the Nov. 8 election to respond to a question naire it prepared.

Number of children in Kyrene Schools: 1 Number of children who “graduated” from Kyrene schools: 1

What policy change do you most want to address in your first year on the board? In May, the board adopted policy ACB, outlining Kyrene’s commitment to students and staff learning, and working, in an environment that is fair and equi table. I would work with other members of the board, along with district adminis tration, to unpack that policy and what it looks like in action. Why are you running for the board? To foster continuous improvement in a variety of areas like student achievement, educator support, and sound administra tive practices. I will serve the community

TRINÉ NELSON

Prior public office, if any: NA

Community involvement: Last year, I served as the co-chair for the Mainte nance and Operation override continuous election. Kyrene involvement: I’ve served in a variety of roles within the district. I’ve vol unteered in classrooms, as a PTO commit tee chair, and as a PTO board member of my local elementary and middle schools. I’ve also been a member of the Kyrene Superintendent Community Council for three years. Number of Kyrene Governing Board meetings you’ve attended in person or online in the 12 months prior to Aug. 15: I’ve been attending/watching board meetings regularly since 2018. In the past year, I’ve attended or watched every board meeting. The pandemic aside, of the major ac tions taken by the board in the last 12 months, which one do you most agree with and which do you most disagree with? Why? In July, the board approved the allocation of new funds to invest in Kyrene employees. 4% for all teachers and administration and a $2.00 an hour in crease for support staff and other critical employees, in addition to the increases, approved earlier this spring. Kyrene has proven repeatedly that it values employ ees by making compensation a top pri ority, which is important when dealing with the staffing problems facing schools across Arizona.

KRISTI OHMAN

Occupation: Public Educator Education: Bachelor’s De gree in Elementa ry Education and Master’s Degree in Art of Teaching Number of children: 2 Number of children in Kyrene Schools: 2 Number of children who “graduated” from Kyrene schools: 0 Prior public office, if any: N/A Community involvement: I have been an involved educator and parent. I am proud to have given my time to coaching, tutoring, and attending community events with my family. Kyrene involvement: I have been teach ing within the Kyrene School District for nine years. Through that time, I have been able to participate on multiple committees, lead an after-school STEM Camp, coach, and tutor some amazing Kyrene Kids! Number of Kyrene Governing Board meetings you’ve attended in person or online in the 12 months prior to Aug. 15: 9 meetings

WALSH page 21

I want to be an honest voice for Kyrene kids and truly listen to all parents, teach ers, and community members. I am proud to bring a current teacher and parent’s perspective to the Kyrene Board. I want Kyrene to be every parent’s first choice for their child. Kyrene is an amaz ing district and can reach its highest po tential by focusing on education funda see NELSON page 20 see OHMAN page 20 see

Number of children: 2 (with a 3rd ar riving in December!)

16 AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS | SEPTEMBER 7, 2022NEWS

The Board puts students first with all de cisions. I’m especially proud of the Board’s actions to (1) prioritize mental health and fund counselors at every school, (2) adopt an equity and inclusion policy supporting all students, and (3) invest meaningfully in teacher and staff compensation while keeping dollars in the classroom. Other than state funding, what has been your biggest disappointment as a board member? The pandemic and remote-learning disrupted our classrooms and Kyrene’s work supporting students. Focusing on

Occupation: Business attor ney and educa tion non-profit chairman Education: University of Notre Dame (B.A.), Villanova University School of Law (J.D.), Villanova University (M.B.A.)

Meet the candidates for Kyrene Governing Board

KEVIN WALSH

Occupation: Assistant Direc tor of DesignCurriculum Education: ME.d in Learn ing Design and Technology from Arizona State University Number of children: 2

Number of children in Kyrene Schools: 2. My children are second-generation Kyrene kids, and their grandma is in her 24th year teaching in Kyrene.

Community involvement: Chairman of JAG Arizona, a non-profit that has pro vided resources to engage disconnected students and facilitate academic improve ments in Arizona for over 40 years. Board member of Phoenix One Foundation, an organization dedicated to providing stu dents with technology, sports, and arts programs. Active member of Kiwanis. Vol unteer classroom instructor for students in Junior Achievement. Kyrene involvement: Kyrene is at the heart of our family. I have served with the PTO as a board trustee for many years, and I’m a regular Art Masterpiece volun teer in the classroom. I’m also active in the Kyrene Business Alliance and frequently help with donations to the Kyrene Family Resource Center. What three actions as a board mem ber are you proudest of?

The pandemic aside, of the major ac tions taken by the board in the last 12 months, which one do you most agree with, and which do you most disagree with? Why? In the past 5 years, Kyrene along with board approval has prioritized technology needs within the classroom along with assessment plat-forms to bet ter gauge how students are functioning academically. Utilizing the ESSER funding to compensate teachers was also a major win for the district. I disagree with the choices made regard ing bus routes and the distance a child is expected to walk. These changes have put parents and children that live in the com munity in a tough situation. What policy change do you most want to address in your first year on the board? I am looking forward to speak ing about the dress code, es-pecially on middle school campuses. I would like to see consistent expectations and account ability in that area. There are already too many distractions and dress that is not re spectful should not be added to that list. Why are you running for the board?

Number of children who “graduated” from Kyrene schools: Both of my children are currently in Kyrene, as a 3rd grader and a 5th grader. Prior public office, if any: I currently serve on the Kyrene School Board, having been elected for a 4-year term in 2018. I’ve been president of the board for the last 2 years.

The candidates were advised that answers to individual questions that significantly went beyond 50 words would be edited in print for space but would run in their entirety at Ahwatukee.com.

Meet the candidates for Tempe Union’s Governing Board

Occupation: Speech Therapist (SLPA) & Direc tor of DisabilitycationsCommuniforEPICAdvocacy

Tempe Union involvement: I am a product of Tempe Union, attending Tempe High School in the 90’s. My involvement as an adult with Tempe Union started at my son’s campus, Moun tain Pointe. I helped with the formation of the Mountain Pointe Special Education Parent Pride Council, the district brought in Raising Special Kids to help us form the council committee. I was invited to con versations while they developed Success University and continue to provide my support when asked to collaborate.

My family is involved with the Special Olympics and the Law Enforcement Torch Run, having volunteered at numerous events and have participated in state and national level Olympic games with my son as an athlete and my husband as a coach. I previously served on the leadership coun cil with Girl Scouts and have received na tional recognition for my volunteer work.

What policy change do you most want to address in your first year on the board? I want to focus on the data collec tion for the new discipline resolution. All policies should be a result of listening to students, teachers, administration, staff, families, community members (including SRO’s), and the executive team. I want to make sure all perspectives are represent ed in the discussion before writing policy.

I am not satisfied with the overall aca demic performance scores, but the gap is now harder to measure. COVID has nega tively impacted students’ social skills and mental health. As for academics, I would focus on improving the structure and de velopment of relevant curriculum, not just using student or teacher performance. What 3 specific actions should the district take to compete with charter and private schools?

17AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS | SEPTEMBER 7, 2022 NEWS

The Ahwatukee Foothills News invited the three candidates for two seats on the Tempe Union High School District Governing Board to answer a questionnaire. They were advised that answers longer than 50 words could be edited for space in print but would be published in their entirety at Ahwatukee.com. Incumbent board member Andres Barraza did not respond by the deadline and if his is submitted at a later date, it will appear at Ahwatukee.com.

STEPHAN KINGSLEY Occupation: Current PhD stu dent. E ducation: BA University;ArizonaEducationElementaryfromStateMS Educational Lead ership from Ar kansas State University; Current candidate for PhD from Grand Canyon University.

AMANDA STEELE

Number of children in Tempe Union schools: 0 Number of children who graduated from TU schools: 1

Prior public office, if any: 0 Community/ Tempe Union involve ment: Tempe Secondary Education Asso ciation representative for Corona del Sol; After school tutoring for English Language learners; Worked with parents and com munity members on different school im provement committees; Served on multiple District committees with different commu nity stakeholders; Some involvement with Corona del Sol student clubs on campus, and worked student sporting events.

Number of children: 0

Number of Tempe Union Governing Board meetings you’ve attended in person or online in the 12 months pri or to Aug. 15: I have attended less than 5 in person meetings in the last 12 months. However, I do watch them online. (January through May 2022, I was in a class every Wednesday evening and unable to attend any in-person meetings.)

The pandemic aside, of the major ac tions taken by the board in the last 12 months, which one do you most agree with and which do you most disagree with? Why? The social emotional wellness policy was completed just over a year ago. I was proud to serve and share my perspective and contributions to the development of policy J-L and resolution JL-R with an em phasis on all students... Seeing the founda tional work this past year and the effort the committee built into the language in the documents that support inclusive op portunities when considering the mental health needs of all students. This past fall confusion on how the dis trict intended to remove SRO officers off campus without an effective, data backed, and a community-supported plan in place proved to be detrimental and controver sial. I am grateful for the community’s em phasis on collaborative communication and thoughtful planning prior to making any move that can have repercussions when not properly planned, organized, and implemented. What policy change do you most want to address in your first year on the board? Diversity, equity, and inclusion; behav ior intervention; and discipline.

I am a co-founder and currently serve as the President and Director of Communications of EPIC Disability Advo cacy whose mission is to educate, advo cate, and create connections to empower the disability community. I am currently on the Executive Committee as the Secre tary of the YES Support Our Schools Politi cal Action Committee.

member’s job is to be a voice that repre sents students, their communities, fami lies, and community members. A board member has the opportunity to work with the school superintendent to ensure school policy and budget priorities reflect the input given by students, families, their communities, and community members.

Prior public office, if any: N/A Community involvement: I am a speech therapist serving several families within the district and surrounding com munities.

As a former teacher for the district I offer multiple perspectives to amplify voices for students, teachers, and community members. I’m especially passionate about ensuring vulnerable and minority student voices are represented. I’ve helped fight for teachers, and I’ve developed good re lationships with families and community members.Everyperspective matters.

First, each school should implement a see STEELE page 19 see KINGSLEY

Number of Tempe Union Governing Board meetings you’ve attended in per son or online in the 12 months prior to Aug. 15: Since October 2021 I have at tended almost all of the board meetings either in person or online. The pandemic aside, of the major actions taken by the board in the last 12 months, which one do you most agree with and which do you most disagree with? Why? I agree with the board prioritizing student safety and mental health. The resolution passed to protect LGBTQ students was historic. I’m glad the resolution for equitable disci pline was re-written because it needed more time and input before a vote. Both resolutions have actionable steps for the next board to execute.

page 19

Education: B.S. Speech Language Sciences and Technology Number of children: 1 (I fostered 7 youth, 5 of which attended Tempe Union schools at varying campuses and pro grams in previous years).

Why are you running for the board?

I am a 2019 graduate of AZ Partners in Leadership, our class successfully advo cated for #DignifiedChanges. My son and I host a monthly social group for teens and young adults in the community (since 2015) on the last Sunday of the month.

What three personal qualities and or experiences qualify you for office? I’ve been an educator for more than a decade, working with middle or high school stu dents. I believe equitable decisions are made after discussions with people who agree and disagree with me. I’m a good listener and use a strength-based ap proach to reach across the aisle to work with everyone. Define your vision of a governing board member’s job? A governing board

Are you satisfied with overall aca demic performance scores of Tempe Union students? What gaps concern you and how should they be addressed?

Showroom Hours: Mon - Thu 8:30-5:00 | Fri 8:30-4:00 Saturday and evenings by appointment: 602.508.0800 | liwindow.com

Trade in your old windows & doors!

Showroom Hours: Mon - Thu 8:30-5:00 | Fri 8:30-4:00

If you’ve been looking for a contemporary vinyl window, the new Trinsic Series is for you. The frame proﬁle is so narrow, you’ll hardly know it’s there. With the maximum available viewable glass area, you’ll enjoy amazing views outside.

Act Now and Call for a FREE (602)508-0800Estimate! Must order by 01/01/2022. Max discount $1500 Buy Local and SAVE up to $1500 Great views and contemporary style.

Trade in your old windows & doors!

Act Now and Call for a FREE (602)508-0800Estimate! Must order by 01/01/2022. Max discount $1500

Saturday and evenings by appointment: 602.508.0800 | liwindow.com

Milgard Trinsic™ V300 Series Vinyl Windows & Doors.

Buy 5 or more Milgard Trinsic™ windows or doors and receive $50 per window and $150 per door unit instant discount.

Trinsic Series vinyl windows and doors are available from the dealers listed below. Available from Lasting Impressions. Stop by our design showroom. 4454. E. Thomas Road, Phoenix, AZ 85018

Great views and contemporary style.

Milgard Trinsic™ V300 Series Vinyl Windows & Doors.

Trinsic Series vinyl windows and doors are available from the dealers listed below. Available from Lasting Impressions. Stop by our design showroom. 4454. E. Thomas Road, Phoenix, AZ 85018

Here’s the deal. These rates are great, surprisingly great.

What 3 specific actions should the district take to compete with charter and private schools? Meet the diverse needs of their learners, take ESA pay ments (from previously eligible students) at a per class fee to regain the students placement full time, a stringent focus on restorative practice and principles that guide how discipline is handled.

I’m here with surprisingly great Auto and Renters rates for everyone. So call me to combine Auto and Renters and see how much you can save. You might be surprised. Like a good neighbor, State Farm is there.®

Sam Winter InsAgcy Inc Sam Winter, Agent 3636 E. Ray Road (Ray Rd. Fry’s and Melting Pot Phoenix,Center)AZ 85044 Bus. 480-704-2004 Individual premiums will vary by customer. All applicants subject to State Farm® underwriting requirements.

State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company State Farm Indemnity Company State Farm Fire and Casualty Company State Farm General Insurance Company Bloomington, IL | State Farm County Mutual Insurance Company of Texas | State Farm Lloyds Richardson, TX State Farm Florida Insurance Company Winter Haven, FL Contact Paul Maryniak at 480-898-5647 or pmaryniak@TimesLocalMedia.com

Today more students are showing de lays and/or falling further behind in their academics, social emotional well-being and overall development. Teachers are struggling mentally and emotionally from the trauma consumed over the last several years. What three personal qualities and/ or experiences qualify you for office?

Are you satisfied with the overall aca demic performance scores of Tempe Union students? What gaps concern you and how should they be addressed? No, our students are disportionately be ing served. It is time to address the equity concerns ensuring the resources are avail able and the teachers are supported to meet the diverse needs of all learners.

Are you satisfied with security mea sures now in place at Tempe Union schools? Why or why not? No, not all students feel safe.

Sam Winter Ins Agcy Inc Sam Winter, Agent 3636 E Ray Road Phoenix, AZ 85044 Bus: Mon-Thurs480-704-20048:00amto6:00pmFriday8:00amto5:00pmSaturday9:00amto12:00pm

GOT NEWS?

STEELE from page 17 clear process for establishing values and behavior expectations for students. Sec ond, we need more school programs that excel in career and technical education. When schools have specialized programs, it attracts students. Third, help more stu dents through the process of applying for college and scholarships. Are you satisfied with security mea sures now in place at Tempe Union schools? Why or why not? I’ve only worked at Corona, so I can’t comment on all of Tempe Union. However, the height ened awareness of gun violence and real ity of suicide demands conversation and action to ensure student safety.

I am running for the students, for the teachers, and for the community. Eight years ago, I was a mom on a mission to support my son. I built collaborative re lationships and initiated conversations which led me to participate on commit tees at the school and district level. I saw the needle moving in the right direction, but realized there was much more work to do, so here I am.

Yes or no: Do you support the time limits on cit izens who address the board? Yes. Do you favor uniformed school re sources officers on campuses? This is a complicated topic and needs more than a yes or no response. 

onThat’sAnyAnywhere.Anytime.day...whenyoucancountStateFarm

Define your vision of a governing board member’s job? I am running to strengthen collaboration amongst each individual site, further develop commu nity partnerships, better prepare students for after high school be it employment, workforce training or higher education.

The district would benefit from the acces sibility lens I bring as a mother to a child with autism and an intellectual disability, a neurodiverse woman herself, and an ad vocate wanting to listen to your voice. I’m a passionate community leader here to in spire impactful change; igniting conversa tions that shift mindsets to include all.

Why are you running for the board?

I believe the job of a board member is to review existing policy, question what is not working, and strengthen policy to im prove outcomes.

Tempe Union needs to be presented as a school district that people want to send their students to. Offering programs that are boasted not by those selling it, by those receiving the opportunity. By their family members seeing the outcomes of success. We need to think better, do bet ter, be better, and have the community share that we are better. Give a letter grade to Superintendent Dr. Kevin Mendivil’s performance and explain your answer: Coming from a trauma trained perspective, letter grades are harmful and demeaning. … If elected, I look forward to working alongside him as we focus on the future and the inno vative opportunities that will support all students. I do also look forward to possi bly sitting on the board that hires the new Superintendent when Dr. Mendivil’s con tract expires.

sources officers on campuses?

know life doesn’t come with a schedule. That’s why at State Farm you can always count on me for whatever you need – 24/7, 365. GET TO A BETTER STATE CALL ME TODAY.

Every security measure should be eval uated: door locks, security staff, SRO’s, evacuation and lockdown procedures, etc. What is the biggest problem fac ing Tempe Union currently and how would you address it? The biggest problem is the mental health and wellbeing of students and teachers. Teachers and students are drained and burned out. We need policies supporting men tal health, incorporating student social skills and positive behavior with cur riculum, while increasing salaries for teachers, stipends to recruit and retain, and reducing class sizes. How should the district address de clining enrollment? Improve the wellbeing of students and teachers by ad dressing the climate and culture of each leadership team and campus. Improve communication between the district of fice to administrators and school sites, and administrators to teachers, staff, and students. Offer exceptional school programs that intentionally attract students. All of these increase enrollment. Give a letter grade to Superinten dent Dr. Kevin Mendivil’s performance and explain your answer: Based on the question wording I would give a “U” for undecided. As a board member I’d have to use an evaluation rubric to determine Dr. Mendivil’s effectiveness and see the big ger picture. However, Spiderman reminds us that “With great power comes great responsibility” which definitely applies to school superintendents. Yes or no: Do you support the time limits on citizens who address the board? Yes. Do you favor uniformed school re Yes. STATE CALL ME TODAY. Anywhere.Anytime. 1101198.1 State Farm, Home Office, Bloomington, IL

 KINGSLEY from page 17 Stacey Zittel, DDS, PC “Gentle Dental Care...Our Specialty” 480-598-5510 4530 E Ray Road, Suite 180 | Ahwatukee (Located in the Foothills Health Center) Gental Care and Beautiful Smiles Is Our Job...Confidence In That Smile Is Your Reward COMPLETE FAMILY DENTISTRY New patients welcome | Monday through Friday Hours Available • Emergencies Welcome • Cleaning & Gum Treatment • Implant Placement & Restorations • Dentures & Partial Dentures • Relines & Repairs • Insurance Processed For You • Teeth whitening • Digital Impressions Sam Winter Ins Agcy Inc Sam sam@samwinter.net3636Winter,AgentE.RayRoad 480-704-2004 Mon-Thurs 8:00am to 6:00pm Friday 8:00 to 5:00pm Saturday 9:00am to 12:00pm know life doesn’t come with a schedule. That’s why at State Farm you can always count on me for whatever you need – 24/7, 365. GET TO A BETTER

1101198.1 State Farm, Home Office, Bloomington, IL

19AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS | SEPTEMBER 7, 2022 NEWS

What is the biggest problem facing Tempe Union currently and how would you address it? Equity, involving stake holders set to improve outcomes, provide innovative solutions and ensure excel lence in learning for all students. How should the district address de clining enrollment? Improve outcomes and provide innovative opportunities.

Sam Winter Ins Agcy Inc Sam Winter, Agent 3636 E Ray Road Phoenix, AZ 85044 Bus: Mon-Thurs480-704-20048:00amto6:00pmFriday8:00amto5:00pmSaturday9:00amto12:00pm

The district has made a significant invest ment in mental health resources for stu dents. One addition I would advocate for would be having a full-time counselor at every elementary site in the district. Cur rently, several sites share this resource. Are you satisfied with overall aca demic performance scores of Kyrene students? What gaps concern you and how should they be addressed? As a dis trict, Kyrene students perform at a higher level than the state average. One area that concerns me is the success of our students with IEPs and 504s. In order to address these gaps, we need to make focus on hir ing additional special education staff. What 3 specific actions should the district take to compete with charter and private schools? First, continue to promote various choice programs throughout the community. Second, build greater opportunities for the community to provide feedback on district initiatives. Finally, continue to prioritize attracting highly qualified teachers and support staff. Are you satisfied with security measures now in place at Kyrene schools?

Yes or no: Do you support the time limits on citizens who address the board? Yes, however, we should look at extend ing that time. Do you favor uniformed school resource officers on campuses? Yes.  by collaborating with parents, educators, administrators, and others to find solu tions that meet the needs of our children while working with other board members to build on the success Kyrene has expe rienced.

What three personal qualities and or experiences qualify you for office? I take a balanced approach to decisionmaking. I look at all of the information to determine an appropriate solution. I am collaborative and goal-oriented. Through out my career, I’ve been able to iden tify priorities and successfully work with large groups who have diverse viewpoints to build consensus and achieve goals. Define your vision of a governing board member’s job? The governing board works as a body to set the tone and priorities for the district. As an individual member, it’s important to participate in activities throughout the district to under stand the needs of different school sites. Board members should also take the op portunity to communicate with concerned community members.

Are you satisfied with the overall aca demic performance scores of Kyrene students? What gaps concern you and how should they be addressed? The pan demic and choices made during that time have left Kyrene in an academic slump. These gaps need to be addressed with higher expectations and accountability. What 3 specific actions should the district take to compete with charter and private schools? We need to focus on the fundamentals, address behaviors, and have consistency. Are you satisfied with the securi ty measures now in place at Kyrene schools? Why or why not? I think Kyrene has taken steps to address security on campuses, however, it can always be im proved upon.

I am a proud educator; however, I am a parent first. I am ready to fight for our Kyrene kids in both capacities. I want Kyrene to be every parent’s and educa tor’s first choice because they know that there is transparency, high expectations, accountability, and decisions that affect their students are not being decided be hind their back.

mentals, transparency, and accountability for all. The pandemic has left us in a se vere academic slump and regression of social skills, work ethic, and behavior. We need to prioritize our Kyrene students and classrooms. The strength of our com munity relies on our public schools. What three personal qualities and or experiences qualify you for office?

The focus should be on serving the stu dents and community. What more should Kyrene be doing to address students’ mental health? The American school counselor association recommends school counselors have a ra tio of 1:250. The nation’s average is 1:477.

What is the biggest problem facing Kyrene currently and how would you address it? The top three issues facing the district today in my opinion are be haviors and distractions in the classroom, accountability, and retention of students and teachers. How should the district address de clining enrollment? To address declining enrollment Kyrene needs to bring back trust within the community. Many parents and community members feel like their parental rights have been taken away and children are not learning the fundamen tals in the classroom. This is not due to poor teaching, Kyrene has amazing educators. There are too many distractions, a lack of transparency, and a lack of accountability. While in the classroom, students should be focused on one thing and that is their learning within core subjects. Parents need to trust that this is happening and that everyone is held to the highest standards. Give a letter grade to Superintendent Laura Toenjes’ performance and ex plain your answer. Honestly, instead of grading one person on their performance, I would want to work and communicate with everyone involved in making deci sions for kids. It is not fair to put every thing on one person and grade them on it. It is a group effort and I would want to stand alongside the superintendent and fight for what is right for our kids openly and honestly.

What is the biggest problem facing Kyrene currently and how would you address it? The decreasing pipeline of educators and support staff. Attracting and retaining teachers and support staff is, unfortunately, a common issue around the state. There are a few things govern ing boards can do to combat this. The first is continuing to prioritize directing ad ditional funds for educators and support staff when possible. The second is to cre ate a working environment where educa tors feel valued and supported as profes sionals

NELSON from page 16 OHMAN from page 16 GOT NEWS? Contact Paul Maryniak at 480-898-5647 or TimesLocalMedia.compmaryniak@

How should the district address de clining enrollment? Declining enroll ment is a problem facing many of our peer school districts. Working to evaluate the needs of the community and creating programs that meet those needs will con tinue to bolster enrollment within Kyrene. Examples of this include the expansion of Kyrene Traditional Academy and our dual language academies. Give a letter grade to Superinten dent Laura Toenjes’ performance and explain your answer. A solid A-. Super intendent Toenjes has done great work during the past two years, with only a few missteps. She has a great vision for the district and I look forward to seeing her continued growth in this role in the com ing year! Do you support the time limits on citizens who address the board? Yes- Many districts have time limits attached to the number of speakers who wish to address the board. This allows those who want to address the board the opportunity to ex press their views while still being able to address the business of the district in a timely manner. Do you favor uniformed school re sources officers on campuses? Kyrene’s existing emergency response plan has done an excellent job at addressing the safety of our students for a myriad of is sues, which included uniformed officers. I will continue to support this plan as it shifts and adjusts to keep all of our stu dents safe. 

This takes the ability to listen and lead with grace and truth. I take pride in having these qualities. Define your vision of a governing board member’s job? I believe a gov erning board member should learn how to interpret the budget and bring fiscal accountability to the district. A member of the board should be prepared to par ticipate in meaningful conversations and work cooperatively with the superinten dent and other board members at all costs.

Why or why not? Yes. Kyrene has a robust emergency response plan that is reviewed annually with local law enforcement as acting partners. Kyrene has been proac tive in making sure all campuses have secure front lobbies, badge-controlled access for exterior doors, mental health support strategies, and more. In addition, the Kyrene Support and Response Team, a group of community volunteers, provided a variety of security and safety services for the district as needed.

20 AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS | SEPTEMBER 7, 2022NEWS

What more should Kyrene be doing to address students’ mental health?

Arizona ranks worst in the country. I know that many counselor’s ratios in Kyrene can be as high as 1:900. It would be great if Kyrene could bring that ratio down so students who truly need mental health re sources can receive them.

Are you satisfied with overall aca demic performance scores of Kyrene students? What gaps concern you and how should they be addressed? I’ll never be satisfied until all students are reaching their full potential. Many students saw less growth during the pandemic, so we need targeted resources in the classroom that provide individualized academic support. Focusing on early literacy for our young est learners is key. Assessments help teachers identify gaps, but student success must be defined by more than test scores. What 3 specific actions should the district take to compete with charter and private schools? (1) Continue pro viding the best education in our commu nity by always doing what’s best for all stu dents and their growth. (2) Offer learning environments and programs that meet the diverse needs of our families. (3) Retain the best and brightest teachers. Are you satisfied with security mea sures now in place at Kyrene schools? Why or why not? Kyrene must continu ally assess and optimize its security mea sures, which are among the most advanced in Arizona. They include controlled cam pus access, video monitoring, and partner ships with law enforcement. Efforts to eliminate bullying, support student mental health, and identify early warning signs should continue. Safety must be a top priority. What is the biggest problem facing Kyrene currently and how would you address it? Arizona is seeing a mass ex odus of teachers leaving the profession, and Kyrene is feeling the impact. Arizona has lowered teaching standards, but that solution isn’t best for students. We need to keep our experienced teachers in the classroom. Competitive salaries are key, and we must respect and value educators as professionals.

“We really can’t take anything off the table at this point – whether it’s desalinization plants, whether it’s piping water, certainly conservation efforts…We can’t necessar ily pick one of those out easily across the board and equally distribute across the board,” Chaston said. “We all need to take responsibility in our water’s future.” Stating “it will take a lot of work and a lot of cooperation,” Contreras, like Ep stein, questioned the cost of building a desalination plant in the Sea of Cortez and pumping the water to the Valley.

Roe said, “We’ve got smart people work ing on it and we need to keep our ear open and pay attention, see what comes next.” Travers concurred, noting “it’s not an easy question to answer.”

The Democratic candidates all favored giving regulation of short-term rentals back to municipalities, and Republicans stressed the need to balance the right of neighborhoods to be free of so-called “nuisance houses” and homeowners from page 9 see

Short-term Rental Controls

WALSH

Richardson likened the cost of making it potable to the cost of sequencing the hu man genome: It was once extremely high and now can be done for $100.

I’m grateful for Kyrene prioritizing the health and safety of students and staff, and we have now renewed our focus on normal operations, instead of crisis management.

Why are you running for the board?

“I am running because I’m very worried about our water,” he said. “I’m also excited about innovation that I know we’ll have to use. As a state we use less water now than we did in the 50s. “Private industry did that, not govern ment regulations. Regulation has a place (but) government is not going to inno vate…There are a lot of ways we can in centivize innovation without over-regu lating and killing industries.” In response to Richardson’s assertion she had done nothing about water, Ep stein said she and her fellow Democrats in the last session “worked very hard on making sure (the $1 billion water bill) was a far more transparent and account able proposal than what the governor first brought.”Shealso said she was deeply involved in what became bipartisan measures and referred to a quote that says, “You can get an awful lot done if you don’t care about whose name is on it.” But Richardson shot back, “But every thing that has passed, respectfully, does not have your name on it.” Stating other Democratic leaders do have their name on bills, he added, “One of the reasons I am running is I would like to see real bold leadership for our district, representing it the way deserves to be represented.”

DEBATE page 22

How should the district address de clining enrollment? Kyrene’s declining enrollment is attributable to our aging demographics, as residents remain long after their children “graduate” from Kyrene. Kyrene should set itself apart by continuing to offer the best neighbor hood schools with robust academics, music, and arts. Kyrene can also expand preschool programs to ensure buildings are fully utilized. Give a letter grade to Superintendent Laura Tonejes’ performance and explain your answer: A+. Superintendent Toenjes assumed her role in challenging times during the pandemic. Under her leadership, Kyrene kept schools open for safe in-person learn ing all last year. As a lifelong educator, she always does what she believes is best for students. She listens to our community and leads with integrity. Yes or no: Do you support the time limits on citi zens who address the board? Yes. Public comment is essential, and the Board must be accountable and accessible to our community. Keeping the existing 3-minute time limit in place, as well as the opportunity to submit comments online, ensures that all community members have an opportunity to be heard. Do you favor uniformed school resources officers on campuses? Yes. I support keeping SROs on our middle school campuses, where they work closely with our counselors and social workers. I have children in Kyrene, and their mom is a police officer and former SRO, so I see how SROs can create positive interactions with law enforcement. Providing SROs with training in de-escalation and preven tion is crucial.  from page 16 Epstein said “funding is my bailiwick” and that the main reason teachers didn’t see the full pay raise is “because year after year, my Republican colleagues have given dollars to K- 12 with one hand and taken it away with two other hands.” Epstein also asserted her opponent “had the governor’s ear on the budget and yet there was no signing onto the educators’ budget.”Richardson retorted, “Her legacy has been to say and do nothing for six years re garding education funding. And in this last session... about $960 million or so is going towards education. That is not going to be completely funneled away. They’re not butchering the budgets for schools.” “What I’m saying respectfully,” he con tinued “is that our district needs leader ship that will take steps in the right direc tion.”Epstein retorted, “I couldn’t have been more supportive for education funding. I am there on the floor, speaking up for our children nearly every day about the legis lative session.”

21AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS | SEPTEMBER 7, 2022 NEWS students’ immediate needs correctly took precedence over many initiatives.

Water While all the candidates agreed that en suring a sufficient supply of water in Ari zona is an important issue awaiting more action by the Legislature, they differed on what should be done.

Richardson said opponents were too pessimistic, stating, “I am excited about innovation that I know we’ll have to use.” Adding “there’s actually a lot of water in Arizona” but that a lot of it is brackish.

What three personal qualities and or experiences qualify you for office? (1) I am balanced and pragmatic; I lis ten to all sides and work to find the best solutions for our students. (2) As an exist ing board member, I have the experience and proven leadership. (3) I regularly visit each of Kyrene’s 26 schools and meet with educators, families, and students, which gives me valuable insight into their needs.

I’m running because it’s so important to keep strong public schools in our Kyrene community. My children are thriving in Kyrene, and I want to help ensure that ev ery child in Kyrene receives a quality edu cation. I’m proud of the great work accom plished during my term on the Board, and there is always more we can do to support students.

Define your vision of a governing board member’s job? Board members must work together to oversee the su perintendent, policies, and budget of the district. We have a duty to ensure that Kyrene’s resources are being properly spent to produce the best outcomes for our students. It’s essential to serve with out ego and listen to all voices in the com munity. What more should Kyrene be doing to address students’ mental health? I commend Kyrene’s ongoing commitment to mental health. While I’ve served on the board, we’ve funded counselors at every school. They provide amazing support to students, but their caseloads are full. I sup port hiring more counselors to ensure that our children are thriving mentally, emo tionally, and academically.

DEBATE

INSIDE: COMMUNITY AROUND AF OPINION P.X BUSINESS P. |HEALTH WELLNESS P. GETOUT P. SPORTS P. CLASSIFIED X PAUL AFNThe Phoenix Planning Commission on dealt 30-daysetbacktothedevelopers’ timetable for the massive Upper Canyon development in Ahwatukee after expressing confusion over their request and questioning city staff’s analysis of related trafficstudy. Blandford Homes and subsidiary Reserve 100LLChave zoningtobuild mostly single-story houses, 150 build-to-rent townhouses and 329 apartments on the 373-acre formerStateTrustLandparcelalongChandler between 27thavenues. ButtheyneedCityCouncilapprovalof proposal to leave South Chandler Boulevard at three lanes and downgrade the classification 27th between Boulevard and South Mountain Freeway from “arterial” to “collector”hadhoped getPlanningCommission approvalduringlastweek’svirtualhearing timeforCityCounciltoacton firstpostsummer-vacation meeting Sept. Blandford andReserve100 startsellinghousesby But their timetable was thrown off by at least 30 days after the Commission directed them to more clearly explain the impact so manyhomesontrafficandroadsafety light their opposition widening South Boulevard.commission members also plained Blandford’s reasoning confused themwhile residents who opposed the plan said wantstoavoid roadwideningandhavemorelandformorehouses. Residents fear the ability of emergency vehicles access only Upper Canyon three communities of there hillsReserve,Promontory Calabria. Among those expressing concern was John Barton, one developers of three communities.Stressingthat he supported the Upper yondevelopment,Bartonneverthelessripped Blandford’s request, noting the nearest fire station six miles away and city has no immediate plans to build one western Ahwatukee. Wednesday, August 10, 2022 COMMUNITY 23 BUSINESS 29 OPINION P. 31 SPORTS P. 33 |GETOUT |CLASSIFIEDS P. 40 CANYON ELECTIONS page Traffic concerns snarl Upper Canyon’s bid for city approval SPORTS 33 frosh Everest Leydecker already champ. BUSINESS 29 Local man’s supply company hits milestone. ThisINSIDEWeek

SPORTS 38 Vista football cementing his NEWS 3 Lovebird deaths pose danger local residents, warn.

22 AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS | SEPTEMBER 7, 2022NEWS property rights. “I think that we need to work with a League of Cities and Towns and have a long discussion about this,” Roe said while Chaston said, “We need to be careful about how much government gets involved in regulating different industries and caus ing problems for the free market.” Contreras said, “The power to regulate this should go back to the cities” and not ed how Sedona virtually has no affordable housing for the legion of service workers there because owners are using their homes for vacation rentals. Travers and her party colleagues also stressed that the short-term rental issue inevitably tied back to the issue of home affordability.“We’vegot what I feel is the product of predatory wholesale buying…Sometimes they’re not doing it as a single-family resi dence. Obviously they’re doing it so that they can make money with short-term rentals,” she said, adding: “How do we sustain our housing un less we start trying to find these guide lines and guardrails that allow residents who are here already to be able to live sustainably in housing and then be able to accommodate the people that do want to live here and don’t just want to make a quick buck?”

 SPECIALIZING IN TILE ROOF UNDERLAYMENT REPLACEMENTS AND REPAIRS We Also Do: • Shingle Roofs • Flat Roofs • Foam Roofs • ReflectiveElastomeric/HeatCoatings 10% OFF FULL REPLACEMENT with this ad SERVING THE EAST AND WEST VALLEYS hornandsonsroofing.com George Horn, Owner • hornandsonsroofing@gmail.com Credit cards accepted • Licensed, Bonded, Insured • Over 50 years experience • Family owned and operated ROC #334716 VALLEYEAST 602.432.0713 VALLEYWEST 623.688.0127 BEFORE AFTER ESTIMATESFREE SENIOR DISCOUNTSMILITARY& INSPECTIONSROOF DEBATE from page 21 www.ahwatukee.com Subscribehere Receive your digital ﬂip-thru edition every week in your e-mail box! www.ahwatukee.com @AhwatukeeFN @AhwatukeeFN

INSIDE: COMMUNITY 28 BUSINESS P. 33 |OPINION P. 36 |SPORTS P. GETOUT CLASSIFIED 44 CENTENARIAN Local man to lead 100th birthday tribute to his WWII dad School, owners deny fault in student’s sexual abuse COMMUNITY 28 Festival supportersLightsrevupfundraisingcampaign.

Republicans did not directly disagree with the healthcare argument, and instead focused on the fetus’ life as something missing in the Democrats’ equation.

With Democrats asked what limits, if any, they would find acceptable on abor tion and Republicans asked under what circumstances they would allow abor tions, Travers turned her focus initially on the“Thatmoderator.isaquestion that would definitely come from a man because quite honestly, abortion is healthcare,” she remarked, joining Epstein and Contreras in the same argument that abortion is among a wom an’s healthcare options and that govern ment should not intrude on it.

Abortion

PAUL AFN Editor H ispartof rapidlydiminishingbreed men, member Greatest Generation,thoughwhenyou himwhat thoughtcomes mindwhenhelooksbackon his days as telegraph operator in the EuropeantheaterduringWorldWarII.FloydCasey withouthesitationsays: “Theweather.”weather was so damn recalled Floyd, who becomes centenarian July 20 and already the oldest resident at the Sunof Chandler assisted living community. “You couldn’t think every time you went out the wintertime summertime wassohot couldn’tbreathe.” ButFloydsurvivednotjusttheweatherbut everybulletand theGermanscouldfling against his units in WWII clashes like Battle of the Ardennes, Battle of Central Europe, and the Battle Rhineland all MARYNIAK ExecutiveEditor AprivateAhwatukeeschooland owners have denied they or the school shareanyblame the19-monthsexual relationship their son had with an underagestudentwhilehetaughtthere. Responding lawsuitbrought now 18-year-old victim, attorneys for James and ShetalWalters,owners DesertGarden tessoriSchool,andlawyers theschoolsaid neitherthecouplenor schoolbearanyresponsibilityfortheactions theirson,Justin The Walters’ attorneys in the Eliza-

Euro “The weather private esponding bethFitchandCraigMcCarthy,saidthatwhile gir must prove damage she suffered resulted from their actions, “any and all dam agessufferedbytheplaintiff theresultof Injury La on 27 the same day Justin Walters, 29, of Tempe, was sentenced years in prison and lifetime probation for his www.ahwatukee.com @AhwatukeeFN @AhwatukeeFN

Epstein assailed Richardson’s language, saying, “These are political terms. These are not medical terms” and that he was not representing what most medical pro fessionals are saying about a difference between a D&C operation and an abortion. Adding that Roe v. Wade “was working for all of us,” she said, “We need to think about clarifying that.”

Whether new home renovating existing one, your open when comes beautifully designed doors. Strong, lasting and durable. windows and patio doors with stunning architectural superior performance. secure your industry leading, Warranty that includes labor.Milgard offers beautiful, comfortable, energy efficient vinyl windows and doors for your home 4454 Thomas Rd. Phoenix 602-508-0800 liwindow.com Mon-Thurs 8:30-5pm 8:30-4pm Sat 9-2pm ROC#179513 LD 12 appearcontestsset,GOP senate race tight NEWS 3 Court fight continues over candidate’s residency. GET OUT 37 Company offers marijuanaflavored cocktails. This scene from what out to be the 22nd and last presentation ”The Ahwatukee Foothills Nutcracker.” No, community Christmas tradition one of Ahwatukee’s oldest isn’t going away but rather been rebranded “The Arizona Nutcracker.” And where this scene from may surprise too, you’ll read page 23. (Tubitv.com) ‘Nutcracker’ made new MARYNIAK TExecutive General for the three legislative seats representing Ahwatukee appears be battle sexes sorts as an all-male Republican slate threeDemocraticwomen. The two Ahwatukee women running five-wayrace twoDemocraticHousenomi nations in Legislative District 12 topped and the all-Ahwatukee contest Republican Senate nomination appeared won

Travers shot back, “What about the life of the mother?” Richardson said he would favor a ban af ter 12 or 13 weeks but he also said “there’s been a lot of false information spread” that confuses abortions and “miscarriage management” and that “while making an exception for the life of the mother is ab solutely important , it’s probably legally irrelevant because that’s also not consid ered abortion.”

Easy-To-Read Digital Edition

ThisINSIDEWeek HEALTH WELLNESS Premier Bring the Outdoors In with our Moving Glass Wall Systems Thomas Phoenix 602-508-0800 liwindow.com Mon-Thurs 8:30-5pm 8:30-4pm Sat ROC#179513

Roe said, “If I had to hold my nose and vote for 12 weeks, then I could support that.” That was a reference to outlaw ing abortions after the first 12 weeks of pregnancy.Contreras contended that the U.S. Su preme Court had upended what was “set tled law for the last 50 years” and that “we just need to make sure that we can keep abortion safe for everyone.”

The denials by and McCarthy attorneys Sean and Gina Battoszek filed June 30 Superior Court Judge Peter Thompson in response lawsuit filed by Chase Rasmussen of Rasmussen Wednesday, July 13, 2022

Chaston said he agreed with Contreras on not allowing government interference but said, “There’s another life involved and I want to stand up and represent –and the government should represent –that other life and that’s why I’m pro-life.”

23AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS | SEPTEMBER 7, 2022 Thermal Broken Frame, Low E Glass, Argon Gas. Custom Sizes Available ARIZONA’S TRUSTED WINDOW & DOOR COMPANY MANUFACTURED EXCLUSIVELY FOR ARIZONA IN ARIZONA! 5 WINDOWSPECIAL $3,250 MaxInstalledSize30Sq. Ft. per Window • PREMIUM WINDOWS • REVOLUTIONARY GLASS • MAXIMUM HEAT REFLECTION • EXTREME DUST CONTROL • HIGHEST POSSIBLE QUALITY FACTORY DIRECT INSTALLERS LICENSED GENERAL CONTRACTOR Factory Showroom Open MON - FRI 9AM - 5PM 330 S. 75th Ave • Phoenix • 602-777-3835 OPEN MON. - FRI. 7AM - 5PM, CLOSED SAT-SUN ROC# 310824 EnergyShieldWindowsAndDoors.com Se Habla Espanol 0% INTEREST OAC • ROC#310824 NOW OFFERING • Exterior picture of your home • Exterior pictures of your window or doors • Width & Height of each window needed quotes@energyshieldwd.com SCHEDULE YOUR FREE IN-HOME ESTIMATE 602-777-3835 CONTRACTORSSUBAFFORDABLE MULTI SLIDE DOOR SYSTEMS

On Sept. 30 all the donations will be de livered to Mountainside Martial Arts dojo and everything will be tallied up.

• Mountainside Martial Arts Center, 3173 E. Chandler Blvd. 480-759-4540.

• Ahwatukee Foothills Chamber of Commerce 1345 E. Chandler Blvd. 480-753-7676

• Print Smart, 4142 E. Chandler Blvd., 480-917-7360.

• Ahwatukee Foothills News, 1900 W. Broadway Road, just west of Priest Road, Tempe. 480-898-7900. To learn more about Lost Our Home Pet Rescue, visit LostOurHome.org, or call 602-445-7387. 

Lost Our Home Pet Rescue says it has saved over 28,900 pets, reunited more than 1,750 pets with families through its Tem porary Care Program and fed 17,000 pets through their PetFood Bank Program. (Special to AFN)

www.ahwatukee.com

• Ahwatukee Carpets, 15215 S. 48th St. 480-598-9811.

24 COMMUNITY AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS | SEPTEMBER 7, 2022 @AhwatukeeFN | @AhwatukeeFNCommunity

Finlinson, the blood drive coordina tor for the Chandler West Stake and the Groups plan service projects to honor 9/11 victims

AFN

Organizers of the Interfaith 9/11 Memorial Blood Drive include, from left, Shahzad Amjad, president of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community of Phoenix, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Chandler West Stake President Dan Shkapich, East Valley JCC CEO Rabbi Michael Beyo and Imam Ahmad Salman of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community of Phoenix. (David Minton/AFN Staff Photographer) NEWS STAFF The Ahwatukee Chamber of Commerce, and the Ahwatukee Foothills News have joined with some 40 oth er local businesses in a month-long drive to restock the Lost our Home Pet Rescue pet food pantry. People can drop off their pet food, blan kets, and pet toys at various locations, listed below, and donors should call in ad vance to make sure someone is there.

Bloodshed united the nation as it mourned the victims of the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks in New York City and Pennsylvania and on the Pentagon.

see INTERFAITH page 28

Local businesses launch rescue’s pet pantry drive

Since 2015, the interfaith group has held the drive as a unifying tool for the commu nity despite doctrinal differences. “We’re all trying to help humanity in some way,” said Robin Finlinson of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Chandler West Stake. “And saving lives lit erally by donating blood is a great way to doThethat.”drive is among a number of activi ties organized under the umbrella of two groups, JustService and 9/11 Day, to en courage a day of service during the week leading up to Sept. 11 to honor those who were killed, injured or responded to the 9/11“Thisattacks.dayof service is also intended to invite people to unify and rekindle the extraordinary spirit of togetherness and compassion that arose in the immediate aftermath of the 9/11 tragedy,” said Jen nifer Wheeler a spokeswoman for the LDS Church. In Arizona and across the country, Just Serve is inviting non-profits, government, individuals, families, co-workers, congre gations, schools and businesses to volun teer for these projects. Local projects can be found at justserve.org/az911day.

On Sept. 9, leaders of the Interfaith 9/11 Memorial Blood Drive hope to unite peo pleTheagain.blood drive will bring together the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community of Phoe nix, the East Valley Jewish Community Center, and the Chandler West Stake of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.Blood drives closer to Ahwatukee have also been scheduled by the Church of Je sus Christ of Latter-day Saints 8 a.m. and 1 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 10. In Ahwatukee, the drive will be held at 2955 Frye Road. To sign up for either that one or the one at the Tempe Stake: tinyurl.com/BloodDriv eTempe or tinyurl.com/BloodDriveAHW.

On Oct. 1, Rick Savagian, owner of Moun tainside Martial Arts, will hold a self-de fense class for the Women in Business who participated in the donation drive. The class will take place at the Mountainside Martial Arts dojo, located at 3173 E. Chan dler Blvd., Ahwatukee.

Women must register in advance to participate. Call 480-759-4540 for details. Lost our Home’s Pet Food Bank feeds approximately 1,000 pets a year. Families can get help through the pet food bank by applying petssponsefoundedpet-food-bank-program.lostourhome.org/get-help/atLostOurHomewasin2008inretothethousandsofinneedasaresultoftheeconomicdownturningeneral,andthePhoenixarea foreclosure crisis in particular. It is the only shelter in Maricopa County dedicated to rescuing pets abandoned or at risk of homelessness due to pet parents’ life crises: eviction, domestic violence, job loss, and illness. Lost Our Home also has a partnership with the Sojourner Domestic Violence Center to operate a pet shelter on its cam pus to provide trained, daily care for pets so that women escaping domestic vio lence can have their pet with them. Donations can be dropped off at the fol lowing locations. Call for information.

“We’re so honored that the Ahwatukee business community is coming together to support us,” said Jodi Polanski, executive director of Lost Our Home Pet Rescue. “Their goal is to collect enough food and supplies to fill the shelves for our food bank, as well as for those pets in the shel ter who are looking for a home.”

memorial that captures the horror that America witnessed 21 years ago will return to Tempe Beach Park this week.

The event costs approximately $30,000 annually to put up and store the threefoot-by-five-foot US flags, Bastian said. In years past, the impressive feat be gins with hundreds of volunteers show ing up at 6 a.m. the first day of the event and within an hour-and-a-half, a sea of green grass becomes a sea of flags. It might look like clockwork repeated year-after-year, but Bastian said the orga nization puts a lot of work into the mas sive“Thereundertaking.really is a lot of moving parts and we put a lot of hours into it,” BastianFifteensaid.years ago, Bastian said he started out as a volunteer putting up flags and eventually returned the next couple years. After a few years, Bastian joined The Tempe Exchange Club. He’s served as the event chairman for the past three years. This year’s event located at 80 W. Rio Salado Parkway in Tempe will begin on Friday, Sept. 9, at 6 a.m. with “Stand Up

“Some of the emotion that I’ve seen and felt, you really can’t describe it,” Bas tian said. “We just want to make sure that people don’t ever forget what happened that day.” In 2001, Bastian was living in Mesa and working as a residential Realtor when he woke up to a surreal moment on TV.

For the past 20 years, Bastian said peo ple from all over the world have attended the Healing Fields memorial.

The 21st annual Tempe Healing Field tribute will be held Sept. 9-11 for what Chairman Nick Bastian said is an effort to not only memorialize victims of the Sept. 11, 2001 terror attacks but capture the unity that immediately followed.

The Tempe Healing Field at Tempe Beach Park is a sobering re minder of the thousands of lives lost in the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks. (Special to the Tribune) FIELD page 26

25COMMUNITYAHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS | SEPTEMBER 7, 2022

Healing Fields in Tempe a unique memorial

“It really just felt like our country came together as Americans,” Bastian said. “And that’s something that I’ll certainly never forget and I hope other people don’t.”

BY JOSH ORTEGA AFN Staff Writer

Like millions of Americans on that Tues day morning, Bastian watched United Airlines Flight 175 crash into the South Tower of the World Trade Center in New YorkBastianCity. said that moment still lives with him to this day and why he wants to re mind people what happened, not just on that day, but in the days following, espe cially for those not born at the time – like his three teenage sons.

see

The Tempe Exchange Club will plant one flag for each person that was killed that day – nearly 3,000, according to the National September 11 Memorial and Museum in New York City. “If you have a loved one that was lost that day, we can actually show you where that person’s flag is,” Bastian said. Past events have shown flags fill the crescent- shaped grass field at the heart of the Tempe Beach Park. That area pri marily commemorates the victims inside the Twin Towers. Smaller areas around the large field commemorates victims inside the Pen tagon and inside the airliner that was crashed into a field in Pennsylvania.

Bastian said he’s served as the chair for the Healing Fields Committee for the past three years and it’s the largest event the Tempe Exchange Club puts on.

Fuchsiawww.fuchsiaspa.comSpaAhwatukee•480-534-73504025 E Chandler Blvd, Suite 3 • Phoenix, AZ 85048 Offer expires September 30, 2022. New guests only. FacialCustom $79ONLY Call within 24 hours and receive a FREE SKIN CARE GIFTTREAT YOURSELF! with Microdermabrasion plus LED light treatment

“At our last meeting we had an activity and discussion about how long items take to decompose,” Gavin explained. “Did you know a plastic beverage bottle takes 450 years to decompose?” Being a “nature kid,” Gavin camps with the troop at least once a month. “I always look forward to it,” he said. “My favorite type of camping is backpack ing. My most favorite backpacking trip with Scouts was in Aravaipa Canyon, it was stunning. We hiked for two days and cooked our meals on a JetBoil.” The lessons Gavin is learning don’t just stay with the Scouts. “I have always been concerned about the environment,” he said, “but most recently, I have been active in eliminating as much single-use plastics in my home as I can.”

 FIELD from page 25OFFICES | MEETING ROOMS | COWORKING Your dream workspace awaits. Tour today! 1 MONTH FREE ON A PRIVATE OFFICE 480.613.9248 4435 E. Chandler Blvd. | Suite 200 | Phoenix, AZ 85048 OﬃceEvolution.com/locations/phoenix

Gavin Flusche unabashedly admits to being a “nature kid.” So it’s not surprising that the 13-yearold son of Ahwatukee residents Paul and Jann Flusche is also concerned about doing his part to protect the environment.

For more information, call Nick Bastian at 602-803-6425 or visit TempeHealingField.org.

“I love being outdoors and I am very passionate about preserving the envi ronment,” said Gavin, an Horizon Honors Secondary School eighth grader who also is the Outdoor Ethics Guide for Boy Scout Troop 278, which is based at the school and led by Scoutmaster Randy Derr. “My troop camps at least once a month, Gavin explained. “As the Outdoor Ethics Guide I remind the troop to follow the Out door Code, Tread Lightly Principles, Leave No Trace Principles, and overall have re spect for nature and the environment.” Now he’s leading the troop in a quest for the Boys Scouts of America Outdoor Ethics Awareness Award, which honors Scouts who show an “ever-deeper appreciation of the richness of the land and how we fit into it, according to the organization.

26 COMMUNITY AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS | SEPTEMBER 7, 2022

AFN NEWS STAFF

“If you are prepared to venture down the path of really becoming aware of your sur roundings, of building the skills that will allow you to leave no trace on the land, then the Outdoor Ethics Awareness and Action Awards are for you,” it tells Scouts.

Part of the preparation for the award involves online classes and videos as well as discussions and activities built around themes reflecting the BSA’s principles for protecting the environment.”

The event officially ends with a “Stand Down the Field” on Monday, Sept. 12, at 6 a.m., when volunteers are again needed to help in taking down the flags.

Troop 278 currently has a little over 20 boys “and we are rapidly growing,” he added.Histroop meets at Horizon Secondary at 7 p.m. Mondays and anyone from sixth grade to age 17 interested in joining, can go to troop278.net. 

Flags” setup and volunteers are greatly welcomed.OnSaturday, Sept. 10, the event contin ues with the Tunnel to Towers Founda tion 5k Run/Walk at the Tempe Beach Park at 8 Visitorsa.m.arewelcome to visit throughout the day and on Saturday, the event will end the day with a Freedom Concert from 6:30-9 p.m.

The Healing Field Tribute will include a candlelight vigil at 7 p.m. Sunday. The public is welcome to join in reading the names towards the end of the ceremony.

Ahwatukee Scout aims for Outdoor Ethics AwardGAVINFLUSCHEOffering Virtual or In-Person Appointments and Medicare 101 Workshops • Wondering about your Medicare plan options? • What’s new for 2022? Let me help YOU find a plan that’s right for YOU Debbie Stovall Licensed Independent Medicare Broker Turning 65? Preparing for Retirement? debbie@wecaremedicareaz.com • www.wecaremedicareaz.com Call or email today: 602-954-9143 (TTY:711) A welcoming community proclaiming the love of God and fostering a personal relationship with Jesus Christ through Scripture, Sacraments and Service. 3550 E. Knox Rd., Phoenix AZ 85044 www.corpuschristiphx.org480.893.8770 Daily Mass | Mon-Sat • 8:15am Tuesday Mass | 6:00pm Saturday Mass | 4:00pm Sunday Mass 7:00, 8:30, 10:30am, 5:00pm SERVING AHWATUKEE, MOUNTAIN PARK RANCH, LAKEWOOD, THE FOOTHILLS AND SURROUNDING AREAS * Sunday 8:30am Mass is live-streamed to our website, Facebook, and YouTube pages.

stone accents. Prime elevated

say see MARKET page RE2

Resort-style backyard with negative edge pool, custom artwork, fireplace and built-in DCS bbq. Listed for $1,950,000 SOLD! SOLD! ONE OF THE MOST AMAZING LOTS AVAILABLE IN AHWATUKEE!! 5 Acre Lot /Listed for $499,000 See Page 6Geno Ross Sellers, buyers

BY PAUL MARYNIAK Executive Editor R ecent reports from the leading an alyst of the Phoenix Metro hous ing market as well as national housing experts suggest that homebuy ers and sellers are facing a volatile fall. Neither Cromford Report nor analysts of national mortgage trends last week painted much of a rosy picture for either group.Onthe plus side for sellers, the Crom ford Report said, the average square foot list price per square foot for homes sold increased over August. While that increase was only from $285 per square foot to $289, the Crom ford Report said, “This is not consistent with the idea that the market is crash ing.”On the other hand, the report said sale prices have dropped below final list pric es, prompting it to warn this “confirms that sellers’ negotiation power is far weaker than it has been in many years.”

AFN

REAL ESTATE See Page 6Mike Mendoza Enjoy superb mountain views from custom single-level luxury home in gated Summerhill Estates. Listed for $1,450,000 SOLD SPOTLIGHT home Real Estate Guide See Page 6Bonny Holland Offered at $1,299,000 Beautiful custom Forte Home located in the prestigious gated community of Calabrea in Ahwatukee Offered at $1,399,000 Ahwatukee’s #1 Team for Over 30 Years 480-706-7234 www.MendozaTeam.com

with

Tapestry gated Montana preserve lot casita. 6,455 sq. ft. still face volatility, experts

5 br, 5 ba with

Canyon - Front Tapestry Canyon - Back Majestic Southwest contemporary estate on elevated 1.24-acre hillside lot with stunning mountain and city light views. 5 br, 4.5 ba with 4,924 sq. ft. Resort-style backyard with slate patio, built-in Viking grill, pool, spa, koi pond and ultimate privacy. Listed for $1,325,00 Mike Mendoza Sanctuary - Front Sanctuary - Back Stunning panoramic views from privately

luxury retreat adorned with vibrant imported

• 92% of sellers accepted some buyerfriendly terms. Some buyer-friendly terms that sellers are now more willing to entertain include

This three-bedroom,2 ½-bath house on W. Mountain Sky Avenue, 85045, sold for $902,000. The 2,682-square-foot home is located on a hillside lot. (Special to AFN)

It also noted the four-week trend last month showed square-foot prices for listings under contract had steadily fallen.The Cromford Report also noted that the trend in successful rates de clined to 70.4% in August – “the lowest we have seen for late August since the year“Mind2010.you, in 2010 the reading was a dismal 58.1% thanks to all the short sales and pre-foreclosures crowding the market at the time,” it said, but added: “Any new sellers need to be realistic: 30% of listings fail to sell these days. At the end of March, the percentage was less than 8%. Listing agents now need to focus on marketing instead of worrying about how to handle the deluge of offers in the first few days.” It also saw a decline in the number of “coming soon” listings, prompting it to note, “It is no longer a matter of great ex citement that your home is shortly to be listed for sale.”

re2 AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS | SEPTEMBER 7, 2022REAL ESTATE

 Be Smart. Choose LendSmart. When you support your local Community businesses, we are all winners, making our Community stronger one closing at a time. Contact Eric Kinneman for your mortgage needs 602-757-2171. Eric Kinneman, Branch Manager - Ahwatukee Branch. NMLS #212062 | AZ License 0911709 O: 480.477.8464 | D: 602.757.2171 | F: 602.445.0913 | ekinneman@lendsmartmortgate.com | www.erickkinnemanloans.com MARKET from page RE1

AFN NEWS SERVICES W

In large part of the last two years, buy ers asked for concessions at the risk of los ing the home to others who were willing to forgo term changes or contingencies.

This model of a five-bedroom, 4 ½-bath house on E. Deer Creek Road, 85048, that garnered a sale price of just under $959,000. Still under construction, it is the last two-story home to be built in the Palma Brisas community and will offer 2,936 square feet of space. (Special to AFN) Of the top-selling homes in each of Ahwatukee’s three ZIP codes in the last three weeks, this 4,362-square-foot house on S. 34th Way, 85044, commanded the highest price – $1.5 million. The four-bed room, 3 ½-bath home, built in 2000, is situated on 1.5 acres at the end of a cul de sac and boasted custom wall coverings and window treatments, upgraded lighting, four fireplaces (one outside) and a host of other amenities. (Special to AFN) see SELLERS page RE3

“That’s just not happening anymore,” Realtor.com said. The survey showed: • 31% of buyers in July paid below ask ing price. Research shows that almost one third of sellers in the last month actually dropped their prices below “Risingasking.inventory is motivating more of them to resort to price cuts in order to suc cessfully close transactions,” said Ratiu. • 32% of sellers dropped the price be cause the home didn’t meet appraisal.

Mortgage News Daily seemed to take issue with Freddie Mac, re porting on the same day, “To be clear, the reality is 6.23%. It is de rived from the ac tual rate sets as opposed to Fred die Mac’s survey responses, most of which were received Monday (Aug. ing.industryofviceersMortgageingactivity,”homemandrefinancingcantlydown22-yearuedplicationsplicationonpulltheytainty”economichigher“spookedsaidMarketwatch29).”buyersarebyratesanduncerandthat“continuetoback,basedmortgageapdata.”“Mortgageapcontintoremainatalow,heldbysignifireduceddeandweakpurchaseaccordtoJoelKan,BankAssociationpresidenteconomicandforecast

The Cromford Report also noted that supply “is only rising slowly and even falling in a few areas,” prompting it to re mark, “Overall, the picture is less gloomy at the start of September than we expect ed at the beginning of August.” But it cautioned that while “demand re mains weak,” it also “remains sensitive to interest rate changes” and whatever in crease in demand some areas of the Val ley has seen in recent weeks “could easily peter out if rates jump higher again.”

Freddie Mac reported on Sept. 1 that the U.S. 30-year fixed-rate mortgage averaged 5.66% – an 11-basis-point in crease over the previous week. “The market’s renewed perception of a more aggressive monetary-policy stance has driven mortgage rates up to almost double what they were a year ago,” Sam Khater, chief economist at Freddie Mac, said in a “Sellersstatement.arerecalibrating their pricing due to lower purchase demand, likely re sulting in continued price growth deceler ation,” he added, noting the rate increase was coming at “a particularly vulnerable time for the housing market as sellers are recalibrating their pricing due to lower purchase demand, likely resulting in con tinued price growth deceleration.”

“Meeting appraisal” means lending in stitution determines if an appraisal shows the house is worth what someone offered forTheit. fact that almost a third of sellers today are dropping their prices to accom modate the appraisal “is a very good sign indeed for buyers,” the researchers said.

Sellers losing advantages, survey states hile homebuyers haven’t had much – or any – room to haggle amid the seller’s market of the past two years, a new report indicates those days “are officially over,” Realtor. com said last week. A recent survey by Realtor.com and HarrisX of 449 Americans who sold their home in the past 12 months revealed that sellers “are giving into buyers’ requests on a number of things that might have seemed unthinkable just months ago.” “Our survey shows that the overheated housing market of the past two years— which predominantly favored sellers—is beginning to regain a sense of normalcy, which is welcome news for homebuyers,” said George Ratiu, manager of economic research at Realtor.com."

• 95% of sellers who sold in the past month reported that the buyer re quested a home inspection. That’s up from 82% of those who sold six to 12 months ago. “That shows that buyers are growing bolder, and they wouldn’t ask if they didn’t have some ex pectation of a seller accepting their re quests,” Realtor.com said.



A professional home inspection is al ways a good idea for homebuyers, but during the housing market’s peak, many waived this important step in order to be competitive with their offer.

According to Mark Stapp, Fred E. Taylor Professor in Real Estate and director of the MRED program, the program is a nondegree, non-credit curriculum maintained by“TheASU. program’s primary mission is to supplement ASU’s successful real estate programs and to expand upon the Real tors existing programs for its members,” he said. “In addition to providing learning and career opportunities for our students, the program will foster dialogue between industry professionals, academics and students wanting to advance their knowl edge and expertise about real estate.”

“Mentorship is an important part of growth in the real estate field, and our REALTOR® professionals are dedicated to providing ASU students with the tools and experience for success,” says Michelle Lind, of counsel for the Arizona Realtors.

GOT NEWS?

Contact Paul Maryniak at 480-898-5647 or @timespublications.compmaryniak

• 100% of sellers offered to make at least some repairs when asked A little over two-thirds, or 67% of buyers, asked for repairs, usually after the inspection came in and found the home lacking in some way. Only 31% of buyers dared to ask for repairs six to 12 months ago. The average amount that recent sell ers spent on repairs prior to listing was $14,163, according to the survey. But Realtor.com said sellers still have some“Despiteadvantages.thisgradual shift in buyers’ fa vor, there’s still a degree of good news for sellers– such as some homes continuing to sell at lightning speed," it said.

The survey reports that 22% of people who sold within the past month said their home went under contract in less than a week. That is up from 14% of the people who sold six-to-12 months ago. “At the same time, it’s worth noting that the majority of recent sellers are still satisfied with the outcome of their home sale,” Ratiu added. 

The Arizona Association of Realtors represents more than 57,000 members who hold active real estate licenses and subscribe to a strict Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice established by the National Association of Realtors.

A Scottsdale man has purchased Marketplace Square in Ahwatukee. Barron Abboud paid $6.7 mil lion for the 3.6-acre strip mall at 1420 E. Chandler Blvd. at Desert Foothills Parkway late last month, according to Valley real estate tracker vizzda.com. Built in 2000, the mall was last sold in 2019 for $5.2 million, according to vizzda data.

AFN NEWS STAFF

Marketplace Square sold for $6.7M

AFN NEWS STAFF

This first-of-its-kind program will help ASU students who are pursuing a minor in real estate or a Master of Real Estate De velopment (MRED) learn more about the licensed real estate profession by increas ing their professional skills while advanc ing their careers in real estate. Made up of two components, classroom education and mentoring, the program will support the professional develop ment of students by providing them with advice, assistance and guidance during the 2022-23 school year.

It includes about 30,000 square feet of retail space across two buildings and is anchored by a Safeway. Abboud bought the mall through Ponderosa LLC with a $2.1 million downpayment, vizzda reported. The sale price equaled just over $221 per square foot, according to vizzda.

Starting next week, 12 students will participate in the 90-minute monthly edu cational sessions hosted by members of the Arizona Association of Realtors. Top ics will include market research and local area knowledge, ethics and legal frame work when representing clients, presen tation skills and professional conduct and negotiation skills, among others.

SELLERS from page RE2 sellers agreeing to contingencies in the contract, such as the appraisal, home in spection, home sale, and financing. Sell ers are also increasingly paying for some or all of the buyer’s closing costs; and are more flexible on the timeline for closing.

AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS | SEPTEMBER 7, 2022 re3REAL ESTATE

The Arizona Association of Real tors, the largest trade association in Arizona, has teamed up with the Division of Real Estate at Arizona State University’s W. P. Carey School of Business to launch the ASU/Arizona Association of Realtors Professional Salesperson Men toring Program.

“We are thrilled to work with ASU on this professional development program and to support our future leaders.”

In addition, each student will pair with an experienced Realtor mentor who will help them identify career interests and provide valuable mentoring activities such as practice interviews, job shadow ing, resume review and more. Both men tors and students must follow a list of re sponsibilities and expectations to ensure a successful professional relationship.

ASU’s W. P. Carey School of Business is one of the top-ranked business schools in the United States. The school is inter nationally regarded for its research pro ductivity and its distinguished faculty members, including a Nobel Prize winner. Students come from more than 100 coun tries and W. P. Carey is represented by alumni in over 160 countries.

Realtors, ASU Carey school start agent mentoring program

But recent increases in interest rates to fight inflation are impacting the housing market and may affect redevelopment projects like the Sears proposal.

According to site plans submitted to the city, the apartment complex would be detached from the main mall build ing, but there would be a mall entrance facing the residential complex. Superstition Springs management did not respond to a request for comment. Neighboring property owners will have the opportunity to weigh in on the project as it makes its way through the city’s review process. In its project narrative, Seritage sug gested the residential complex would harmonize with the rest of the mall, writing it “has been designed to main tain necessary mall circulation adjacent to the mall in addition to preservation of the ring road (Superstition Springs Mall Circle).”Seritage has also included plans for a retail zone across from the complex on the west side of Superstition Spring Mall Circle. Many once-popular malls are currently in the process of redevelopment. In an interview with the Tribune last year, Mesa’s Economic Development Manager Bill Jabjiniak said, “The days of the old mall have come and gone, but that’s just Bill’s opinion.” Two prominent Valley malls that have closed – Metrocenter Mall and Paradise Valley Mall – are being reimagined as mixed-use developments featuring a combination of residential, dining, enter tainment and retail.

MALL

A plan to build a seven-building com plex with 254 apart ments in the site that used to house a Sears store at Su perstition Springs Center has yet to go through Mesa’s review process. (City of Mesa)

Last year, Jabjiniak said “residential is white hot, so is industrial.”

The current owners are reportedly working on redevelopment plans, but nothing has been announced publicly.  see page re5

Sears, a fixture on the American retail landscape for over 100 years, had seen declining sales amid challenges from on line shopping and changes to consumer buying habits, including declining foot traffic at malls. Its building is attached to the rest of the indoor mall, which still has anchor stores JCPenny, Macy’s and Dillards.

BY SCOTT SHUMAKER Tribune Staff Writer

Sears closed its Superstition Springs location in late 2018 as part of a nation wide result of the historic department store chain’s filing for bankruptcy. Inventory liquidation began at the Su perstition Springs location soon after, and the store has been vacant since.

Contact Paul Maryniak at @timespublications.comor480-898-5647pmaryniak

Thompson expressed particular inter est in protecting the Superstition Spring Center from decline in a July study ses sion, when the council heard plans for the city to purchase a hotel near the for mer Sears and convert it into a homeless shelter. He came out strongly against the plan saying that the city shouldn’t do anything that might negatively impact the mall, causing it to go the way of Mesa’s Fiesta Mall, which shuttered in 2017 and has remained vacant since.

It’s an open question whether the transformation of the old Sears into mul tifamily housing will garner the Council man Kevin Thompson’s support. Thomp son, who did not return a request for comment, represents the district where the mall is located.

GOT NEWS?

Seritage’s decision to go with a mostly multifamily residential plan to redevelop the Superstition Springs Sears may not be surprising given current market con ditions.

In the past he has been a strong ad vocate for protecting commercial zones and employment centers from residen tial encroachment. But proponents of the plan may argue that residential complex could add vital ity to the mall.

The owner of the now-shuttered Sears department store at Super stition Springs Center mall in east Mesa is proposing to knock the building down for 254 garden-style apartment units spread across seven three-story buildings.Seritage Growth Properties, which formed in 2015 to manage real estate ac quired from Sears Holdings, has submit ted preliminary paperwork with Mesa’s Planning Department for the redevelop ment plan. The unit breakdown has not been fi nalized but “is anticipated to include a mix of studio, one-, two-, and three-bed room units,” Seritage wrote the city.

re4 AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS SEPTEMBER 7, 2022 AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS SEPTEMBER 7, 2022REAL ESTATE re5REAL ESTATE 4082 sqft 5 bedrooms, 4 baths This home is on 1/3 acre lot in one of the best and most sought after locations in the Foothills at the base of South Mountain.Leading Luxury Home Experts #1 TEAM IN CLOSED VOLUME FOR 2021 IN AHWATUKEE 15013 S. 6th Pl., Phoenix $1,495,000 4649 sqft, 6 bedrooms, 4.5 baths Custom luxury home in Black Rock Canyon with stunning front and back mountain views. BLACK 14222CANYONROCKS.Canyon Dr, Phoenix $1,999,000 5169 sqft, 5 bedrooms, 4.5 baths Custom Home located in the beautiful, gated community of Canyon Reserve, nestled into the mountain and boasts stunning views all around CANYON RESERVE NEW LISTING 3049 W. Cottonwood Ln., Phoenix $1,399,000 4212 SqFt, 4 bedrooms, 3 ½ baths Beautiful custom Forte Home located in the prestigious gated community of Calabrea in Ahwatukee 1024CALABREAEFryeRd #1087, Phoenix 1448 sqft, 2 bedrooms and 2.5 baths Immaculate 2-bedroom 2 1/2 bath condominium in the beautiful, gated community of StoneCliffe Condominiums in the Foothills of Ahwatukee STONECLIFFE JUST LISTED $436,900 $1,249,0001117 E. Thunderhill Pl., Phoenix 3245 sqft, 3 bedrooms, 2.5 baths Uniquely Beautiful Mountain Top Home, located in the quaint 12 home gated community of Candlewood Views CANDLEWOOD VIEWS NEW LISTING 725 W. Wildwood, Phoenix 2850 sqft, 3 bedrooms and 2.5 baths SIERRA CANYON NEW LISTING $879,900 www.LeadingLuxuryExperts.com Each Keller Williams Oﬃce is Independently Owned and Operated.2016 & 2017 BREA Award for Most Sales in Ahwatukee! 4083 Sqft, 4 (+5) bedrooms, 3.5 baths This incredibly well maintained, and gently lived-in home is located in Whistling Rock, a sought after gated community in the Foothills Club West 14210 S. 5th St, $1,399,000Phoenix WHISTLING ROCK 602.369.1085 Bonny@LeadingLuxuryExperts.com BONNY HOLLAND Ahwatukee Resident and Realtor since 1995 Dave Meghann@LeadingLuxuryExperts.comDave@LeadingLuxuryExperts.comCox:509-869-0358TeamLeaderMeghannHolland:480-241-4976Realtor® FAMILY RUN TEAM FEATURED LISTING NEW LISTING This beautiful golf course lot home is in Club West with soaring vaulted ceilings, large bedrooms and a spacious Great Room NEW LISTING MALL from page re4E. Mesa Sears site could house 254 apartments

re6 AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS | SEPTEMBER 7, 2022 Geno Ross (602) www.GenoRoss.com751-2121 ONE OF THE MOST AMAZING AHWATUKEE!!AVAILABLELOTSIN LOCATED IN FOOTHILLS MOUNTAIN RANCH ESTATES!! OVER 5 ACRE HILLSIDE LOT WITH STUNNING MOUNTAIN VIEWS FROM EVERY DIRECTION*BUILD YOUR DREAM CUSTOM ESTATE OR BUILD MULTIPLE HOMES ON THIS SIGHT*ZONED R3*THE POSSIBILITIES ARE ENDLESS ON THIS RARE OPPORTUNITY*THERE IS NOT ANOTHER PIECE OF LAND IN AHWATUKEE THAT OFFERS THIS MANY BUILDABLE ACRES*NO HOA*LOCATED AT THE END OF A CUL-DESAC*BE THE KING OF THE HILL WITH VIEWS ALL THE WAY TO FOUR PEAKS*PLANS AVAILABLE AND OTHER CUSTOM HOME OPTIONS AVAILABLE FROM A WELL KNOW AHWATUKEE CUSTOM HOME BUILDER*DO NOT MISS THIS AMAZING HILLSIDE LOT IN AN AMAZING LOCATION!!!! 5 Acre Lot Listed for $499,000 Bonny 3049602.369.1085Holland•www.LeadingLuxuryExperts.comWCOTTONWOODLN,PHOENIX85045CALABREA Featured Listing 4212 sqft, 4 bedrooms, 3.5 baths Beautiful custom Forte Home located in the prestigious gated community of Calabrea in Ahwatukee Offered at $1,399,000 kw® SONORAN LIV ING KELLER WILLIAMS® REALTY SPOOTLIGHT home SUMMERHILL ESTATES Mike www.MendozaTeam.com480.706.7234Mendoza kw® SONORAN LIVING KELLER WILLIAMS® REALTY Enjoy superb mountain views from custom single-level luxury home in gated Summerhill. Exquisite courtyard entry opens to spectacular foyer and gorgeous travertine flooring throughout. Spacious gourmet kitchen boasts large island with bar top, stainless viking appliances, granite countertops, custom alder cabinetry, walk-in pantry, desk and breakfast room. Stacked-stone fireplace in family room. Theatre room with components and recliner seating. Master suite features two-way fireplace, sitting room with wet bar, patio access and connected office. Meticulously maintained and move-in ready with 2022 interior paint. Trane hvac units replaced in 2018 and 2019. Backyard amenities include extended covered patio with pavers, built-in bbq, fireplace, plus pebble tec pool with waterfall and spa. Floor plan includes both a formal living and dining room. Exquisite touches throughout include 24” polished travertine flooring, plantation shutters, emerson ceiling fans, surround sound speakers, crown molding and solid core 8’ doors. Master bathroom features include granite counters, stone tub and shower surrounds, large walk-in shower with two shower heads including rain head, Jacuzzi tub, raised-panel alder cabinetry and large walk-in closet. Two secondary bedrooms feature ensuite baths. Third secondary bedroom with built-in cabinetry. Fifth bedroom is a den with no closet off of the master suite. Secondary bathrooms all feature stone counters and shower surrounds. Huge laundry room with extra cabinetry, stone counters and sink. Extended outdoor living space from large covered patio with gorgeous pavers throughout. 3-Car-garage with Tesla charging station. Reduced energy costs from existing solar panels. Listed for $1,450,000 SOLD

How to choose an elder care facility

Consumers should also know that a resident’s tenancy can be terminated for non-payment or failure to abide by the residency agreement with 14 days’ no tice or immediately if the resident poses a threat to health and safety. In the al ternative, residency may be terminated for any reason upon 30 days’ notice. The termination letter must include a copy of the resident’s current service plan and information on the refund policy. Unlike most leases, though, a residency agreement may be terminated if the resi dent requires a higher level of care than the facility may be able to provide.

Second, the agreement should con tain certain information that is required by law. Legally, Arizona Administrative Code Section R9-10-807 dictates the ba sic requirements for a residency agree ment for an assisted living facility.

Third, the manager of the facility must sign and date the agreement and, be fore move-in, provide the resident with a copy of the resident’s bill of rights and information on how the facility handles healthcare directives. In exchange, and before moving in, the resident must provide proof that they are free of tuberculosis and a document indi cating the level of care that the resident will need along with a signed statement by a medical provider approving the level of care. From there, the facility should create a written service plan for the resi dent’s stay.

Finally, consumers should understand resident rights. Per the Arizona Adminis trative Code, residents should be treated with dignity and respect. The complaint process should be clear ly delineated so that residents can raise concerns. Consumers should make sure that the facility that they choose has poli cies and procedures in place to report abuse and neglect and to ensure that resi dents’ rights are protected. Consumers who are armed with this information, and know what to look for in a residency agreement, will be able to make an informed choice.

Fourth, many agreements also detail how the facility will charge the resident. Legally, facilities may only raise prices once per year and with notice to resi dents, so consumers should be aware of this. Consumers should also ask ques tions about how the facility will interface with Medicare, Medicaid and/or insur ance plans.

AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS | SEPTEMBER 7, 2022 re7REAL ESTATE Ahwatukee’s #1 Team for Over 30 Years480-706-7234 Summerhill Estates Mike Mendoza Crimson Ridge 4BR / 2 BA / 1,824 SQFT Enjoy remodeled kitchen, baths, flooring and much more in the heart of Ahwatukee. Listed $575,000for 3BR / 3 BA / 2,166 SQFT Split master suite plus secondary bedroom could be a separate guest suite. 2015 kitchen remodel and AC. Listed For $749,500Ahwatukee Custom Estates 5 BR / 4.5 BA / 4,405 SQFT Superb mountain views from single-level custom with 2022 interior paint and 2019 HVAC. Listed $1,450,000for Circle G at Riggs Ranch 7BR / 4.5 BA / 8,873 SQFT Estate living with refined tranquility in exquisite setting. Meticulous stonework adorns entire exterior of home. Listed $1,790,000for MendozaTeam.com Ahwatukee Custom Estates 5 BR / 4.5 BA / 4,820 SQFT Custom home in the heart of Ahwatukee with ensuite bathrooms and 2021 exterior paint. Listed $1,395,000for Sanctuary 5 BR / 5 BA / 6,455 SQFT Stunning panoramic views from privately gated luxury retreat with casita on elevated preserve lot. Listed $1,950,000for SOLD!SOLD! SOLD! SOLD!SOLD! BY HEATHER MACRE AFN Guest Writer When choosing an elder care facil ity, the options can be overwhelming. Then, once you have made a choice, you have to review a contract that is similar to a lease but has a medical component asThewell.first step in evaluating a residency agreement is to determine if the facility can provide the appropriate level of care. Assisted living facilities are licensed by the Arizona Department of Health Ser vices (ADHS). As part of the licensure and survey process, ADHS ensures that the facility can offer certain levels of care. There are three major levels of care – su pervisory, personal and directed. Supervisory care is the least stringent; it means that caregivers can help with daily activities, meal preparation and chores, but no hands-on assistance is needed.Personal care is a higher level. Those in need of personal care require handson assistance with daily activities, meal preparation, support for basic hygiene, medication management, and assistance with mobility and transferring.

Finally, directed care is the most strin gent; it generally consists of full assis tance with activities of daily living, meal preparation, hygiene, medication man agement, and assistance with mobility and transferring. Memory care is typi cally included with directed care. The facility should be able to tell you the levels of care it is licensed to provide and this information should be included in the residency agreement. Consumers can also check this via ADHS’ database.

Heather Macre is an attorney with Fennemore where she is the Healthcare Practice Group leader. 

$1,750,000 Amazing Remodeled Cus tom Estate with mountain views located at the end of a cul-de-sac.Over 8000sqft of pure luxury finishes.6 Bedroom,5.5 Kitchen.Elevator.ExecutiveBaths.Custom Office.Basement Media Room.Dance Studio.Huge Backyard with Pool, Jacuzzi, Turf, BBQ, SpectacularSportcourt.ThisEstatehasitall!!!

$580,000

ScottsdaleTroon

City Fantastic opportunity to own a home in the heart of Sun City right by the newly renovated fairway recreation center and Sun City South Golf Course. 2BD/2BTH provides an excellent retirement opportunity. Home includes leased solar, 12x32 screened in back porch, huge backyard with citrus trees and your very own putting green.

One of the most amazing lots available in ahwatukee!! Located in foothills mountain ranch estates!! Over 5 acre hillside lot with stunning mountain views from every direction*build your dream custom estate or build multiple homes on this sight*zoned r3*the possibilities are endless on this rare opportunity*there is not another piece of land in ahwatukee that offers this many buildable acres*no hoa*located at the end of a cul-de-sac*be the king of the hill with views all the way to four peaks*plans available and other custom home options available from a well know ahwatukee cus tom home builder*do not miss this amazing hillside lot in an amazing location!!!!

Skye Top at Troon! Beautiful interior boasts earthy palette, Saltillo tile, soaring plank ceilings, beautiful light fixtures, plantation shutters throughout, & a bright living room w/a cladding stone fireplace that opens to the back patio merging the indoor living with the outdoors. Kitchen features designer paint, upgraded cabinets, granite countertops, stainless steel appliances, recessed lighting, and a breakfast nook. The primary bedroom offers soft carpet, tons of natural light, a walk-through closet, and a lavish ensuite w/a dual sinks vanity & a soaking tub. Breathtaking mountain views from the private balcony! Marty Griffin 602-692-7653 martygriffin@q.com

Foothills Reserve

SOLD! SOLD!SOLD! Tempe Royal Palms Village Charming single level 3 bedroom, two bath home in Tempe. Awesome lot! Property sides and backs to common area situated in a cul de sac across from the community pool. Spa and Tennis courts. Geri 480-239-7589Thompson thompson_geralyn@yahoo.com Ahwatukee Retirement Community Home backs up the 8th Fairway of the Ahwatukee Country Club with great view of South Mountain. Close to Golf, Restaurants, Shopping, the I-10 and Medical Facilities. Sit on your extended covered patio and watch the sun set. Enjoy all the amenities of the Ahwatukee Recreation Center with a large outdoor pool, heated indoor saltwater pool, Sauna, Spa, Gym, woodworking shop and more! Troy 480-435-3461Royston troyston61@gmail.com $440,000 $429,900$457,500 # 1 AgentAhwatukee2020 bedroom 3 bath, 3,506 SqFt, Cul-de-sac location with huge backyard, sports court, built-in BBQ, mature shade trees, very private backing to wash. Good size bedrooms, master downstai5. Features a large office with balcony, plus office/loft with built-in bookcase and 3 full baths. Th� home is perfect for family gatherings and entertaining. Can be previewed with 24 hour notice and appointment only. Donna Leeds � GRI, ABR lf"fl!949.310.5673 wwwBestAgentWUSA.com AhwatukeeComeTrue1986 bedroom 3 bath, 3,506 SqFt, Cul-de-sac location with huge backyard, sports court, built-in BBQ, mature shade trees, very private backing to wash. Good size bedrooms, master downstai5. Features a large office with balcony, plus office/loft with built-in bookcase and 3 full baths. Th� home is perfect for family gatherings and entertaining. Can be previewed with 24 hour notice and appointment only. Donna Leeds � GRI, ABR lf"fl!949.310.5673 wwwBestAgentWUSA.com SOLD! SOLD!

Highly updated Single Story Home in Circle Cross Ranch with POOL situated on an Oversized (9,517) Cul-de-sac/Corner Lot. Enter into the Spacious Living Room/Dining Room which leads to light/bright Kitchen/Family Room with Walk-in Pantry, Granite Countertops, Newer Appliances & Built-in dining area. Large Primary Ensuite Bedroom features Spa-like Shower, Dual Sinks and Patio/Pool Access. Two Large additional Bedrooms with a Full Second Bath. R/V Gate for additional Storage. Huge Backyard with Gorgeous Kidney Shaped Pool, Covered Patio Backyard, FirePit and Lawn Area. Plus Leased Solar for Extra Savings. Close to Restaurants, Shopping, Theaters, great Schools & Parks. Jill 480-678-7308Ostendorp jillo@homesbyjillo.com

Thunderbird Farms South Custom home on flat 3.3 acres with horse arena and room to roam. City water! Custom Santa Fe style 4 bedroom with tons of upgrades. Travertine tile galore, family room and other bedrooms also have tile. Kitchen has been upgraded with quartz counter tops, white cabinets and all stainless steel appliances convey. Custom doors and woodwork throughout home. Also, lots of tile work in bathrooms and other upgrades. Over $30,000 spent on upgraded doors and windows. Carlos 480-751-8866Martinez teammartinez11@gmail.com

Sun New carpet in both bedrooms and living room. Wine pantry. Fresh paint inside. Age restriction is 55+ Marty Griffin 602-692-7653 martygriffin@q.com $325.00

Ahwatukee Custom Estates

re8 AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS | SEPTEMBER 7, 2022 Making Ahwatukee Home Dreams Come True Since 1986 www.WestUSA.com I 480.893.0600 4505 E. Chandler Boulevard, Suite 170, Phoenix, AZ 85048 $1,339,000Calabrea Pristine & Classy Gated Estate On A Premium 2/3 Acre Hillside Lot, Private Cul-De-Sac, 6 Bedrooms, 4.5 Baths, 5200 Sqft Of Pure Luxury Finishes, Stunning Views In Every Direction, Iron Door, Butted Glass Windows In Entry & Kitchen, Custom Window Treatments, Decorator Paint, Dome Ceiling Foyer & Groin Vaulted Ceilings In Living Room, Travertine & Hardwood Floors Throughout, 7-Inch Baseboards, Media Room, Dream Kitchen Includes S/S Appliances, Slab Granite Counters, Alder Cabinets, Huge Island, Walk In Pantry, Large Master Suite W/Stone Fireplace, Master Bath W/Jacuzzi Tub, 3 Vanities & Snail Shower, Paradise Backyard W/Travertine In Versailles Pattern, Turf Grass, Pebbletec Pool/Jacuzzi, 4 Water Features, Large Covered Patio, Stacked Stone Bbq, 4 Car Garage W/Epoxy & Storage! Your Dream Estate Awaits!! Ahwatukee Custom Estates $1,375,000 Pristine & classy single-level gated tuscan estate! stunning curb appeal w/amazing south mountain views. Grand foyer, entertainment room w/full wetbar & scotsman icemaker, formal dining, family room w/canterra fireplace, kitchen incs :slab granite,alder cabinets,s/s wolf appliances,gas cooktop,miele dishwasher,copper sinks,island, & subzero, most amazing custom stonework ever seen in ahwatukee consisting of marble,canter ra,travertine, & granite, large master ste w/sitting area & 2 separate full baths, his/her alder & cedar lined closets, guest suite-2nd master w/ensuite bath & courtyard, extremely private backyard w/covered patio, pebbletec pool w/waterfalls, firepots, firepit, grassy play area, & fully equipped outdoor kitchen, fruit trees inc: apple, orange, lemon, & lime, this dream estate has it all! Canyon$899,000Verde Mountain Park $679,000Ranch The best view lot in all of club west!!! this stunning custom gated estate in canyon verde has the best privacy & views you will find in ahwatukee*grand foyer*formal living & dining room*executive office*kitchen includes: custom cabinets w/ antiquing, s/s appliances, cooktop, island, breakfast bar, pendant lighting, & walk-in pantry*butler’s pantry w/wine fridge*family room w/fireplace*upgraded fixtures throughout*large master suite w/sitting area*master bath w/jetted tub, snail shower, & spacious closet*guest suite w/separate entrance*all secondary bedrooms are large*paradise perfect backyard w/covered patio, pebbletec pool & spa, firepit, built-in bbq, flagstone, and putting green*oversized garage w/epoxy & built-in cabinets*this custom estate is a dream opportunity! welcome to paradise!! This one is a show stopper!!! over 4200sqft of luxury on a preserve hillside lot in a cul-de-sac, 5 bedroom, 3.5 bath with a bonus room, formal living & dining room w/soaring ceilings, family room w/fireplace, kitchen includes:s/s appliances, slab granite, island, & recessed led lights, breakfast nook, gigantic master bedroom with the most amazing preserve views, custom master bath w/walk-in shower, freestanding tub, his/her vanities, & large walk-in closet, all bedrooms are extremely large with walk-in closets, views from every room, laundry room w/built-in cabinets & sink, extended length 3 car garage w/ epoxy, guest bedroom downstairs, paradise backyard w/covered patio, grassy play area, firepit, & custom new pool & jacuzzi 2020, this amazing home is truly stunning and checks all of the boxes!! 5 bedroom / 3 bath, 3,506 SqFt, Cul-de-sac location with huge backyard, sports court, built-in BBQ, mature shade trees, very private backing to wash. Good size bedrooms, master downstai5. Features a large office with balcony, plus office/loft with built-in bookcase and 3 full baths. Th� home is perfect for family gatherings entertaining. Can be previewed with 24 hour notice and appointment only. Donna Leeds � GRI, ABR lf"fl!949.310.5673 wwwBestAgentWUSA.com www.GenoRoss.com TOP REALTOR® Geno Ross 602.751.2121 SOLD! SOLD!SOLD! Foothills Reserve GORGEOUS HOME!! 3 bedroom 2.5 baths 2,469 sq ft. Soaring ceilings as you enter the Formal Living and Dining Area. Kitchen is a Cook’s delight-upgraded staggered Oak Cabinets with Crown molding and Corian Countertops with Island, Gas Stove. Bright Breakfast Nook overlooking beautifully maintained Backyard and Views of Preserve. Nice Loft upstairs and Tons of Natural Light and Mountain Views from Upstairs Bedrooms. Upgraded Ceiling Fans, Sparkling Play Pool with Rock Water Features highlights the amazing Lot position with no rear neighbors and a beautiful backdrop of Desert Preserve! Jenifer 480-297-6968Bulfer jbulfer@westusa.com $629,500

$699,000

Beautiful move-in-ready 4 bed, 2.5 bath. 3,002 sq ft. Upgraded kitchen with lots of counters! SS appliances, granite, upgraded cabinetry overlook a highly upgraded pool. Master bedroom deck has INCREDIBLE vistas East, incl. South Mountain. Formal living and dining rooms, upgraded paint and flooring are just part of the fun of this home. A new TESLA solar/ battery system saves tons of $$. Nearby NEW Phoenix city park for hiking and biking, easy access off the 202. Link 602-989-7221Paffenbarger linkpaff@gmail.com

$499,000Foothills

San Tan Valley

For more information: phoenixpubliclibrary.org.

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. Download registration and sponsorship forms at .kofc10062.org.

27AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS | SEPTEMBER 7, 2022 STODDARD LEGAL SOLUTIONS www.stoddardpllc.comPLLCProviding peace of mind through compassionate estate planning SCHEDULE A FREE INITIAL 480-210-6444CONSULTATION AHWATUKEE EXECUTIVE OFFICES 5010 E. Warner Rd., Suite 109 • Phoenix, AZ 85044 RACHEL STODDARD, ESQ. Local Ahwatukee Resident 10+ Years Litigation Experience • Wills & Trusts • Estate Administration • Business Services Making the tough decisions now ensures that, should the unthinkable occur, you will be able to control what happens to you and your assets. Getting your plan in order in advance will also save your family from having to struggle with those choices in the future. The Firm honors those who selflessly serve our community. Ask about our discounts for military, law enforcement, first responders and teachers. Family managed since 1981 NOT ALL POTTERY IS CREATED EQUAL Delivery Available Open Daily 9am-5pm TUES.CLOSED&WED. LOWER PRICES, LARGEST SELECTION! HUGE SELECTION OF OVERSIZED POTTERY! PET Southern480-802-1309FRIENDLY!Chandler 23843 S. Cooper Rd. • Fountains • Benches • Bird Baths • Ceramics • Stoneware • Wrought Iron • Oversized Pottery • Metal Wall Decor • Indoor/Outdoor Decor and Much More!

The foundation needs a wide variety of silent auc tion items, from restaurant and services prizes to jewel ry, tickets and event tickets to jewelry and memorabilia. There also will be a live auction. Donors can either email suzanne.rinker@kyrene foundation.org or submit information e.givesmart. com/events/rDx/donateNewItem.Ticketsfortheeventareonsale for $95 at kyrene foundation.org. Tables are $1,250, and there are spon sorships available.

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 competi tion. If you are interested, email Marsha Morris at marshacmorris@gmail.com.

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

Summit School slates ‘wagon parade’ to celebrate fall on Sept. 21

The Blue Star Memorial, a joint project of the Des ert Pointe Garden Club and the Ahwatukee Board of Management.

AFFAN slates September luncheon and games, seeking new members 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.

Preschoolers at Summit School will be celebrating fall with a wagon parade at 8:25 a.m. Sept. 21 at the school, 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 mid dle school students, parents, community members, and businesses.”

Semiannual blood drive benefitting Ahwatukee girl, 6, scheduled It’s time to reserve a spot for Matt and Kami Trout man’s semiannual blood drive in Ahwatukee held in gratitude for the help their 6-year-old daughter re ceives every month to live. Adelyn Troutman Addy has required a blood trans fusion every month since birth because her body is incapable of producing red blood cells.

Ironwood Library offers free activities for all ages Ironwood Library, 4333 E. Chandler Blvd., Ahwatu kee, presents a variety of programs for children, teens and adults. Unless otherwise noted, free tickets are re quired and available 30 minutes before programs’ start times at the library’s information desk.

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 op portunities Sept. 1-30. Required online applications can be completed by going to volunteer.phoenix.gov, and under “Search by Department,” choosing “Library Dept-Ironwood.”Applicantswill hear back from the library volunteer coordinator by Oct. 5.  Submit your releases pmaryniak@timeslocalmedia.comto

AROUND AHWATUKEE Foundation seeking silent auction items for Night for Kyrene

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.

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.

The Kyrene Foundation is asking businesses and in dividuals 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 foun dation’s signature fundraising event to provide re sources and support “that can transform a child’s life with basic sustenance, enriched educational program ming, and recreational outlets.”

Blue Star Memorial pavers offered in Ahwatukee this month

Ahwatukee golf ladies league ready to start new season

Desert Pointe Garden Club is offering people a chance to have an engraved commemorative paver placed at the Ahwatukee Blue Star Memorial as “the perfect way to honor a friend or family member who served, or is currently serving, in the U.S. Military. Orders are being accepted until the first week in October for memorial pavers to be placed in time for Veteran’s Day. Pavers cost $60 with the military logo of your choice, or $50 without military logo. Pick up order forms at the Ahwatukee Board of Management office, 4700 E. War ner Road or download at ahwatukeehoa.com/blue-starmemorial.html. Leave completed forms and payment at the ABM office. Information: mltiede@hotmail.com.

“It doesn’t matter what faith group or if they are people of faith if they’re willing to give up their blood to help save that per son in a time of need,” Finlinson said.

Eventually, like many that day, he watched the second plane hit the second tower on TV and it personally shook him to his core, considering he stood inside the towers exactly one week before that day. “If I would have been there just a week later or the terrorist who would have de cided to do this a week earlier, I might not be here,” Beyo said.

Beyo said he has a “strong belief” that most Americans want to keep the unity and hold values that won’t allow extrem ist of any kind to tear us apart, and events like this remain a positive sign that we can work together despite our differences. Chandler West Stake President Dan Shkapich has led the stake for nearly three years and said it’s a thrill to continue this partnership with the other two faith groups.

“I wasn’t offended by those who did, but I felt like I just couldn’t because I knew what happened,” Finlinson said.

faith groups behind the blood drive have worked together for similar events but this year is one the few times all three of

He said he lived in Israel in September 2001 and remembers receiving a call from his father about the initial reports of a small plane crashing into the Twin Towers.

“It’s a great blessing for us to come to gether in different faiths to have a com bined focus to help one another,” Shkapich said.Shkapich said watching the news that morning of Sept. 11 and “We have to come together to be able to heal, and to persevere and ultimately to get stronger going forward,” Shkapich said. “So in an interesting way, these kinds of events really make us stronger, and unite us more than ever before.”

Beyo became a U.S. citizen about four years ago but said back then, it didn’t mat ter what nationality you identified with.

 BEATINFLATION · Tax Advisor/Financial Educator/Author · 40+ Years Experience DR. HAROLD WONG WHEN/WHERE Saturday, September 24, 2022 10am - 12pm Seminar / 12:15pm - 1:30 FREE Lunch Hyatt Place Chandler 3535 W Chandler Blvd / Chandler 85226 RESERVE YOUR SEAT TODAY! ONLINE AT: FREEDRHAROLDWONG.COM/EVENTSSEMINARRISING INFLATION IS THE “TOP PROBLEM” FACING AMERICANS TODAY. Increasing food costs, pain at the gas pump and poor investment returns are causing panic and depression for many. Stop feeling helpless to do anything about it. This seminar will deliver important and effective options for reducing your taxes and fighting back against the rising costs draining your budget. Learn about: • Why Inflation is American's #1 concern • How continued high inflation can kill your retirement • Ways to Double your Social Security and retirement income • Tax saving strategies that can help you retire 5-15+ years earlier • Which solar business leasing program returns 10-14% income for 10 years • Why solar powered reefers are today’s most powerful tax-savings strategy • How the solar reefer leasing program is safer than stocks or real estate BY INCOMETAXESSAVING&INCREASING DrHaroldWong.com | 480.706.0177 | harold_wong@hotmail.com INTERFAITH from page 24

The same passage, he said, also states that if someone saves a life, it’s as if he’s saved all of humanity.

Finlinson said she knows people of Mus lim faith who seek to actively help people and these blood drives help drive their reputation in a positive light.

COMMUNITY AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS | SEPTEMBER 7, 2022

Rabbi Michael Beyo, CEO of the East Val ley Jewish Community Center, has lived in Arizona since 2015 and has been a rabbi for nearly 30 years.

Imam Ahmad Salman, who recently moved here from Puerto Rico, said the drive offers a great opportunity to show these faiths have more in common than different.

“I think that everybody felt that this is an attack against democracy, against peace, against peace-loving people,” Beyo said.

Salman was born in Pakistan but at tended high school in Canada and said he remembers watching the terror attacks unfold on TV.

“We welcome this opportunity to work together for a great cause, to raise aware ness, and at the same time save lives, re gardless of color and creed,” Salman said.

“We need to have these events to culti vate the understanding that, although we may seem divided, we have a lot more in common,” Salman said.

“Whenever possible, we get all three groups together,” Finlinson said. Along with remembering the attacks of 9/11, Finlinson said this project is one of her favorite traditions because it brings together people of different faiths and helps those in need. It also comes at a time when there is a nationwide blood

While attending a former roommate’s wedding in Washington, D.C., in December 2001, Finlinson said she drove up to New York City and witnessed the destruction at site of the World Trade Center firsthand. Finlinson held back tears as she recalled experiencing such “a sacred place” that held so much death and destruction and said she couldn’t bear herself to even take a photo.

After 9/11, Salman said the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community was the first Muslim community ever to launch a Muslims For Life campaign. In working with American Red Cross, the community has helped do nate about 120,000 pints of blood across theSalmancountrysaid that although the events of 9/11 were committed in the name of Is lam, the true teachings of the religion and the Quran emphasize that if someone kills a person to cause disorder in the land, it’s as if he’s killed all of humanity.

“I just love seeing that act of kindness amplified when people get together, be cause more people are helped when we ogether,” Finlinson said.

Information: Chandra Hansen, 480329-7350, chandra.hansen@gmail. com; Marni Fuhriman, 480-580-4807, marni411@gmail.com.

29AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS | SEPTEMBER 7, 2022 $25OFFREPAIRFREESERVICECALL ROC #223709 ROC #289252 | ItsJustPlumbSmart.com 480-405-7099 VOTE PLUMBSMART BEST OF THE BEST! Over 1,000+ Five-Star Reviews PLUMBING & HVAC SERVICES • $99 Sewer Camera Inspection • $49 Seasonal A/C Tune-up! • 10% OFF Tankless Water Heaters • 3 Ton Trane A/C Unit only $5,995 • FREE Slab Leak Detection w/Repair • $500 OFF any Whole House Repipe Best Plumber BESTOF 2022 BESTOF 2022

There, the “dog days of summer” general ly end on Labor Day, “but not in Gilbert, Ari zona,” he said. Here, the dog days of sum mer and warm weather continue and “hot dogs are warm-weather fare,” he noted. The specials, made with local Schrein er’s sausages and all-beef dogs, have run almost every September for roughly a de cade, Peelen said. This year’s menu includes seven dogs not on the regular menu, including three all-new creations: the Banh Mi Dog, Loco Moco Dog and Reu ben Dog. All dogs are $13 or $19 for two, which includes a side, and you can mix and“Thismatch.iswhat I do: I dream about food,” Peelen said. “And I dream about comfort food. And I am al ways trying porkdallionser’serations.”combinationsdifferentanditTheBanhMiDogwasinspiredbyPeelen’sloveofstreetfood.It’smadewithslicedSchreinBockwurstme(mildveal-sausage),fresh

house-pickled carrot, daikon, cucumber, serrano pepper and cilantro layered on a toasted French roll with mayo and herb liver paté spread. “That’s the one I’m really, really curious about this year to see how people receive that,” Peelen said. “It’s a lot of fun; it’s deli cious; it’s a little lighter than the others.”

Euijong “John” Chung and Sun Ok Kim display Korean bento boxes at their new restaurant, Gogi&, on West Ray Road near South 50th Street. The eatery also features bibimbap, Korean fried chicken and a variety of other Asian dishes. (Geri Koeppel/AFN Contributor )

30 BUSINESS AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS | SEPTEMBER 7, 2022 Business www.ahwatukee.com @AhwatukeeFN | @AhwatukeeFN

ow an annual tradition, the Hot Dog Days of Summer have returned through the end of September at Joe’s Farm Grill in Gilbert, featuring nine wiener-based gourmet sandwiches show casing flavors inspired from around the globe, from Hawaii to Vietnam and Mexico to co-owner of Joe’s Farm Grill, came up with the idea based on his up bringing in the Midwest.

It uses a chicken liver paté recipe from a restaurant where he worked in college.

BY GERI KOEPPEL AFN NContributor

AFN AContributorhwatukee

Hot Dog Days return to Joe’s Farm Grill see HOT

The Reuben Dog has hand-sliced corned Joe Johnston, co-owner of Joe’s Farm Grill, shows off the Carolina Blue Dog and Sonoran Dog, two of the Hot Dog Days of Summer specials that are on the regular menu as well. (Courtesy of Joe’s Farm Grill)

Peelen said he devised the Loco Moco Dog after two trips to Hawaii in the past year. It riffs on the classic Hawaiian comfort food using an open-face but tered grilled bun, sticky rice, burger pat ty, split grilled hot dog and homemade brown gravy, topped with a fried sunnyside up egg. “We make a scratch brown gravy with beef bones and marrow and make our own stock,” Peelen explained. “We go all out to make it authentic and make it really delicious. No corners cut on ingredients.”

DOGS page 31

Foothills now has its first Korean restaurant: Gogi&, a spinoff of Gogi restaurant in Chandler’s Dobson Park Plaza. It quietly opened Aug. 17 and is planning a grand opening in late this month. Gogi&, in the Ahwatukee Foothills Towne Center on Ray Road, is next to Snowtime, a Korean shaved ice and softserve dessert shop. That’s no coincidence: Euijong “John” Chung, who owns Gogi& with his wife, Sun Ok Kim, is the brother of Snowtime owner Jin Chung. The original Gogi, near Lee Lee Interna tional Supermarket, opened in 2014. “After eight years of trial and error with Gogi, we found the quickest and easiest way to serve Korean food,” Jon Chung said through his daughter, Amy Chung, who translated the in terview for her parents.Headded that this location will concentrate on the most popular items from Gogi, including bibim bap ($15-16), ben to boxes ($15-17) and Korean fried chicken ($15). “These are the top three sellers at the Gogi restau rant that will be brought here,” Jon ChungBibimbapnoted.is a mix of rice, vegetables, fried egg and meat served in a sizzling hot stone pot, and Kim said it can be cus tomized to leave out anything a customer doesn’t like. The bento boxes—which include meat, kimchi, cabbage salad, rice, dumpling and shrimp tempura—are meant to be a quick takeout meal. “The idea was mainly driven by the change of consumers’ preference due to COVID and all that happened in the past two years,” Jon Chung said. Unlike Gogi in Chandler, Gogi& doesn’t serve sushi, but features a variety of oth er Asian dishes—such as orange chicken ($15), pad Thai ($16), and yakisoba ($13) and udon noodles ($15). That’s why they added the “&” to the name.Italso serves appetizers including sal ads, dumplings, edamame and freshly made wings in six types of sauces. Kim said the menu might change once it’s open a while and they determine cus tomers’ preferences, but the meat-focused see GOGI& page 31

TimMichigan.Peelen,

New eatery Gogi& brings Korean cuisine here

BY GERI KOEPPEL

Although the bento boxes are mainly meat-based, she added, the bibimbap and noodle dishes can be made vegetarian.

The Big Fat Greek Dog, a smoked Greekseasoned pork sausage topped with tzatziki sauce and Greek fries piled with garlic sauce, feta, tomatoes, kalamata ol ives and fresh herbs.

HOT DOGS from page 30

“There were a lot of customers saying we have to drive all the way to Chandler from Ahwatukee,” Kim said.

Ahwatukee pizzeria offers ‘inflation buster’ meal beef brisket, melted Swiss and fresh sau erkraut piled on a grilled split hot dog with house-made Russian dressing on a caraway-seed bun. “You can’t really tell where the hot dog stops and the corned beef starts,” Peelen stated. “It all works together quite nicely.”

Information: 480-590-3639 or ghettoyopizza.com. 

Chung and Kim immigrated to the United States in 2004, and Kim had taken many cooking classes in her home country and always had an interest in food, Amy Chung said.

The Inflation Buster Combo Deal is offered daily from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. and available in the restaurant or online via Ghetto Yo Pizza’s website for pick-up or delivery.Guests can add Pepperoni for 50 cents or other toppings for 75 cents each.

The BBQ Bacon Blue O-Ring Dog, a ba con-wrapped hot dog dipped in barbecue sauce and threaded through three onions rings nestled on blue cheese.

“It’s a very delicious and healthy food,” Kim said, adding that nothing is too strong for the typical American palate.

The Cheddar Coney Dog, a grilled hot dog smothered with homemade Michigan Coney chili sauce, diced white onions and yellow mustard and piled with a mound of fine-shredded Tillamook cheddar.

People look forward to the Hot Dog Days of Summer every year, Peelen said. “It’s a difficult thing to put together op erationally to do all of these at the same time,” Peelen explained. “And just doing them for a month, there’s so many new ingredients; things we normally don’t have in house: making the gravy and pick ling all the vegetables and bringing in the corned beef to slice.” However, the staff enjoys the challenge.

Byoungdae Kim is the manager of the new Gogi& Korean restaurant in Ahwatukee.



The Dog Days of Summer always fea tures a spicy dog, and this year it’s the Dy namite Dog, with Schreiner’s spicy pork hot link, scorpion pepper and habanero cream cheese topped with hand-breaded fried chilito peppers and sweet-hot pep per jelly. Other specials include:

The couple operated a teppanyaki res taurant in Chandler for six years prior to opening the original Gogi. They chose this location for Gogi& be cause there were no other Korean restau rants in the area.

Two dogs also on the regular menu are:

GOGI& from page 30 AFN NEWS STAFF A

“It has a lot of seasoning, a lot of flavor, but also healthy, with a lot of vegetables and rice.”  n Ahwatukee pizzeria is offering what it calls an “inflation buster Ghettocombo.”YoPizza, 4747 E Elliot Road, is offering a cheese slice of its New Yorkstyle pizza and a soda for a price equiva lent to the average price of a gallon of gas in Arizona, based on data by AAA Arizona listed every Sunday and apply ing to purchases for that week.

Beer and soju, a clear, neutral-tasting spirit that is the world’s best-selling li quor by volume, are available, along with fountain drinks.

The owners of Gogi& hope to appeal to a wide demographic, including office workers looking for a quick lunch, people working from home who want to pick up takeout, and patrons of the nearby AMC Theaters. Patrons can grab a full dinner before a movie or fried chicken and a beer afterward; the restaurant is open until 9 p.m. weekdays and 10 p.m. weekends.

The Caroline Blue Dog, a grilled dog topped with Joe’s famous barbecued pulled pork, tangy crumbled bleu cheese and hand-cut sweet coleslaw and drizzled with Joe’s Real BBQ sauce and homemade ranch dressing.

Peelen has done exhaustive research to honor the food traditions that inspired the dogs. For the Cheddar Coney Dog, for example, he went to several Detroit coney dog restaurants to sample the goods and develop his own chili. “The [recipe] I settled on, I love it,” Peel en said. “There’s no beans or anything in it. A few secret ingredients.”

31BUSINESSAHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS | SEPTEMBER 7, 2022

“They know it’s great fun for customers,” Peelen said, adding, “It’s really the only time we pull out all the stops and really go for it. It’s a lot of fun for everyone.”

Korean dishes are mainstays. “Gogi means ‘meat’ in Korean,” Amy Chung explained, saying any type of meat includes the word: “Cow gogi; chicken gogi.” (Gogi is pronounced with hard G’s.)

All the special dogs are piled so high that they’re meant to be eaten with a knife and fork, Peelen noted – “although it’s fun to see guys pick them up and try to eat them with their hands,” he added.

The Sonoran Dog, a jalapeño-stuffed bacon-wrapped fried hot dog with home made pinto beans, cotija cheese and pico de gallo topped with a yellow mustard and sour cream-mayo drizzle.

A spokesman for the 2-yearold eatery said it “is do ing its part to help ease inflation and prices at the pump” with the special.Recently, for exam ple, the combo was $4, a 33% saving on Ghetto Yo’s normal price for a slice and a “Inflationsoda.and the price of gas have had a huge impact on everyone which has forced people to cut back on spending including go ing out or ordering from restaurants,” said Wally Ansari, owner of Ghetto Yo Pizza. “We wanted to do something to let our guests know ‘we feel your pain’ so that families can en joy going out to a restaurant that won’t break the bank.”

Although Bap & Chicken, a Korean fastcasual restaurant, opened in late 2021 just across the I-10 freeway in Chandler, Kim remarked it’s different from their cuisine with more American influences.

(Geri Koeppel/AFN Contributor )

Depending on whether one is a “pas sive” or “material participation” investor, one can deduct the $59,500 immediately in the year of purchase or take accelerated depreciation over 5 years. The tax benefits are huge and the most powerful way of reducing federal income tax in today’s tax code.

What the Inflation Reduction Act means for you

The first is allowing Medicare to negoti ate prices with drugmakers and limit outof-pocket expenses to seniors on Medi care to $2,000 per year. The second is a 15% corporate mini mum tax on companies with at least $1 billion or more in annual profits. The third is the hiring of up to 87,000 new IRS employees at a cost of $80 billion.

32 BUSINESS AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS | SEPTEMBER 7, 2022

The fourth part is providing $369 billion to fund energy and climate projects with the goal of reducing carbon emissions by 40% by 2030. This article will focus on the fourth part. The Energy Policy Act of 2005 intro duced the 30% solar tax credit for resi dential or business solar installations. In 2020, 2021, and 2022, this dropped to a 26% solar tax credit. With the recently passed IRA, the tax credit goes back to 30% from 2022 through 2032, before dropping to 26% in 2033 and 22% in 2034.

Note that the Energy Policy Act of 2005 allows one to take excess solar tax benefits generated in 2022 back one year and for ward 20 years. The IRA seems to increase the carryback to 3 years and the carryfor ward to 22 years. The investor will receive a 7% an nual return of $34,300 from large food companies for 10 years and will sell the equipment for $490,000 (to recoup the original purchase price) at the end of the 10-year lease. The typical client who buys a $70,000 solar reefer saves $35,000 in to tal federal and state income tax. Free seminar and lunch: 10 a.m. Sept. 24 at Hyatt Place, 3535 W. Chandler Blvd., Chandler, with lunch at 12:15 p.m. Topic is “Beat Inflation by Saving Lots of Tax and Increasing Cash Flow!” To RSVP or schedule a free consultation, contact Dr. Harold Wong at 480-706-0177 or harold_wong@hotmail.com. His web site is drharoldwong.com. Dr. Harold Wong earned his Ph.D. in economics at University of California/ Berkeley and has appeared on over 400 TV/radio programs. 

The investor who buys one gets a 30% solar tax credit of $21,000 and has a depreciable basis of $59,500.

This solar tax credit can have 10% “ad ders” that can bring the total solar tax credit to at least 50%.

The IRS will need six-12 months to spell out the rules for these “adders” and undoubtedly there will be many test courtHowever,cases.one can clearly count on the 30% solar tax credit for residential and business solar projects.

Example: A Mesa company produces solar-powered refrigeration units (known as reefers) that replace the diesel-pow ered reefers that attach to refrigerated food trailers. These units cost $70,000 and are leased for 10 years to large grocery chains and food distribution companies at a 7% an nual return.

Investor Example: An individual buys seven solar reefers and eliminates all the federal tax on $280,000 of 2022 tax able income and recovers most of the $250,000 tax owed on $850,000 of 2021 taxable income.

he Inflation Reduc tion Act (IRA) was recently passed and signed by President Joe Biden and according to Wikipedia, these are the main parts.

The eligibility depends on: whether the solar project pays “prevailing wag es”; whether there is a certain minimum amount of domestically produced iron and steel; whether the project is located in a Native American land; whether the proj ect was built on a site that was formerly a closed coal plant; whether the project is in an “economically disadvantaged” area.

BY HAROLD WONG AFN Guest Writer T

The credit will expire after 2034. For any solar projects done in 2022, even if started before the IRA was signed into law on Aug. 16, the solar tax credit is 30%.

The antidote for adult diaper anxiety.

Try Men’s Liberty™ — the Medicare-covered healthier alternative that helps end embarrassment and fear of an “accident”. Patient-tested... “Men’s Liberty is terric. I can keep doing what I want to do, without having to worry about running to the bathroom or changing my clothes. It’s a Godsend.”

Live your life on your own terms — not in diapers!

Call today at no obligation: 1-888-778-0189 www.MensLiberty.com/news

33AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS | SEPTEMBER 7, 2022

For men of all ages with urinary incontinence

Keeps you dry 24/7? YES Can be worn comfortably, cleanly and securely for up to 24 hours NO Must be changed regularly when they ll up or overow — often every few hours

COVERED PAID ADVERTISEMENT PAID ADVERTISEMENT 329781_10.5_x_10.5.indd 1 8/30/22 9:55 AM

— John, Men’s Liberty user in Michigan

Directs urine away from the skin? YES Completely external design collects uid into a discreet pouch — leak-free NO Traps moisture which stays in contact with skin causing discomfort or infection Reduces the risk of infections? YES More than 5 million Men’s Liberty units have been used, with ZERO attributable UTIs or serious skin injuries NO High incidence of diaper rash, sores, yeast infections and dermatitis Invisible clothing?under YES Men’s Liberty is unnoticeable — only you know it’s there NO Awkward diapers can be ill-tting, bulky and uncomfortable Little to cost?out-of-pocketno YES Covered by Medicare, most Medicaid plans, many private insurance plans, workers compensation and VA/Tricare NO Adult diapers are not covered by Medicare, costing users up to $300 a month *30 days supply or more ** Standard co-pays and deductibles apply

No guy ever plans for urinary incontinence. It’s degrading, uncomfortable and inconvenient. Regardless of the cause, chances are you (or a loved one) were told to wear adult diapers to manage the condition. But you soon discovered that the hassles of diapers disrupt everyday life: they’re unsanitary ... expensive ... and humiliating. Now diapers don’t have to get in your way. Men’s Liberty is the simple, non-invasive option for male urinary incontinence that helps keep you secure, dry and leak-free for up to 24 hours. Made of a safe, skin-friendly material called hydrocolloid, this patented external collection device easily attaches to the tip of a man’s anatomy. It softly stretches and exes as you move, directing urine away from the skin. Unlike diapers, Men’s Liberty effectively reduces the risk of skin and urinary tract infections. Best of all, it’s discreet, dependable and dignied. Stop spending a fortune on adult diapers. You could continue to shell out as much as $300 a month on diapers. Or you could switch to Men’s Liberty and pay little to no out-of-pocket cost** if you qualify for coverage by Medicare, most Medicaid plans, private insurance, workers compensation and VA/Tricare. This could save you thousands of dollars a year!

COMMITMENT100%STAYDRY

MEN’S LIBERTYADULT DIAPERS

FREE INFORMATION. FREE BONUS OFFER. Find out how to receive Men’s Liberty at little or no cost to you. Plus receive a FREE Bonus week’s supply with your order*.

Knows who he’s voting for in today’s Foothills elections

O ne of my dear friends, a men tor throughout my adult life, shocked me a few days ago with a confession. He is in his seventies now, among the wisest humans I know, an oracle of smart advice people pay vast sums to hear. The subject of one of his books arose – a self-help title that is on my bookshelf in a place of honor – and his face grew sullen. “I wish I had never written it,” he told us. “I wish I had never told that story.” The story concerns his being shot in Vietnam. He was 19 years old, 9,000 miles from home with his guts exposed, courtesy of three enemy bullets.

“We need to let go of what’s bothering us and move on,” I wrote in my notebook.

34 AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS | SEPTEMBER 7, 2022OPINION Opinion www.ahwatukee.com @AhwatukeeFN | @AhwatukeeFN Share Your Thoughts: Send your letters on local issues pmaryniak@timespublications.comto:

Vote for Rob Doherty, I will. -George

“Will you let challenges steal all the joy from you? Or will you let go, get over it and move on?” Chances are good, dear reader, that you and I will never cross paths in the world. You know me only from my columns, which I assure you is a distorted view of who I am. On this page, I offer some opinions, a few tales, but not much at all about the kind of man I am. Which, frankly, suits me fine. Because the truth is, I have shamed myself many times in my life, because I have failed to do right in moments that were difficult. These failures are things I have carried with me no less tangibly than my wallet and car keys – and they’re much harder toAnlose.example: Not a day goes by that I don’t think about my father, who died in March last year in a strange hospice bed. I was 2,000 miles away when he passed, not there to hold his hand, not there to tell him one more time that I loved him. His mind was gone by then, and his body, too, addled by dementia, wracked with Parkinson’s disease. Did I do enough for him? Did he under stand in those final moments how much I cared, how proud I was to be his son? These questions still gnaw at me 18 months later, weighing down like heavy stones. This is the way I have come to de fine myself – as a bad son, selfish, broken in some profound way. My friend’s life was shaped by his great grandma, who in the days before her death exhorted him to get over her loss immediately and not one moment later. How long will you mourn me, she de manded? Three weeks, he suggested –because what do you say to such a ques tion? She scoffed. “Life is for the living,” his great grand ma insisted. “Life is for the living.” Somewhere out there, one of you is carrying the Sisyphean weight of shame. Take it from someone who knows: Let it go, move on. We are never who we were once forev er. Stories define us until they no longer do. Life is for the living, so live. 

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR to let

LemleyNow Providing Orthodontics! www.jungleroots.comPhoenix,4232480-759-1119E.ChandlerBlvd.#10,AZ84048 Honoring all who served. Military and Veterans discount. We Welcome New Smiles! Dr, John Culp and the Jungle Roots Team offering pediatric dentistry and orthodontics Share Your Thoughts: Send your letters on local issues pmaryniak@timeslocalmedia.comto:

it go

BY DAVID LEIBOWITZ Tribune Columnist

His message to us was simple, but su premely wise – which is why I am pass ing it along to you.

In so doing, I have learned that he quiet ly puts in untold hours doing background research, for example, on the hard drive he found which is full of past HOA events. He has been able to establish a history of post decisions and positions to present the best path forward. So, if you want someone who is knowl edgeable, polite to a fault and leads with a desire to improve and maintain our HOA, I would choose him over anyone.

Once, that tale was a pillar of his story telling arsenal, a testament to his ability to survive whatever life threw at him.

No matter how hard it is, learn

Rather than set down that story for the world to chew over, he wished instead he had made peace with the moment and moved on, as he has made peace with every tribulation ever since, including a stroke that has made walking difficult.

Now, almost 60 years later, he had a dif ferent perspective: He was no longer that person, and had not been for decades, almost since the moment he was shot.

The Foothills Community Assn HOA Annual Volunteers for Board of Direc tors meeting is coming today, Sept. 7, at 6 p.m. Residents should have a link to the GoToMeeting in your email inbox or Junk folder. I will be the moderator and we have nine homeowners vying for four posi tions. Let me first say I am thrilled to see this number of volunteers. Many of our Homeowners have little contact with the HOA Board and don’t follow the changes that are put in place. I have been on the board for one year working closely with Rob Doherty.

35AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS | SEPTEMBER 7, 2022

36 AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS | SEPTEMBER 7, 2022 www.ahwatukee.com Sports & Recreation Check us out and like the Ahwatukee Foothills News on Facebook@AhwatukeeFN | @AhwatukeeFN SPORTS

downpours might have stayed away from the West Valley Friday night, but Mountain Pointe brought plenty of lightning to its game against Valley Vista with a 49-14 route. The Pride struck quickly, then went a bit dormant until a massive second quarter propelled them over the hosting Monsoon inPrideSurprise.quarterback Chris Arviso II led his offense to a score on their opening drive, culminating with a punch-in dive from in short by running back Jay‘len Rushing. The Monsoon answered when Mikel Hen derson caught a pass on the ensuing drive and just seconds in took it to the end zone to tie things up at 6-6 with just minutes elapsed off the game clock. For a team with such high expectations, a slow start wasn’t exactly what head coach Eric Lauer had in mind but his team found its groove eventually. He called it a bit of first-game jitters go ing up against a similar program like Val ley Vista that is trying to turn the corner into contention. It’s just one game, but the Pride look like team on the curve. “We were a little rusty early,” Lauer said. “We are very rhythm oriented. … As we got through the second quarter, we started picking things up and being who we hope to be. Some little jitters, kinda. We haven’t played a big game yet. … Today was defi nitely one step forward opening Week One with a win.” The Pride broke the game open in the second quarter, getting off a 6-6 tie after the first, with a 29-8 advantage in the sec ond alone. From there it was mostly easy going for the Pride: Arviso finished with four pass ing TDs, Rushing had one rushing score, Jayden Davis and Jaylen Johnson had one receiving touchdown each, while Chris tian Clark found the end zone three times — two rushing and one receiving — as part of a massive debut for the Pride. “He is multi-dimensional; he can run the ball, catch the ball and just adds an other layer for us for our offense,” Lauer said of Clark. On the defensive side of things, Kahoua

“We didn’t execute our game plan.” Desert Vista’s offense on three occa sions — twice in the first half and once in the second — found momentum and marched down the field. Whether it was Thomas connecting with wideouts Roan Martinez, Traven Vigenser or Michael Al lison on long pass plays, or Thomas doing the work himself by evading pressure and scrambling down field. But just as fast as the momentum would begin to build, it quickly fell. False start and holding penalties stalled drives in side the Madison red zone. Each time they faced a fourth down inside the 20, they went for it. No tries were successful. And it fed more energy into a Madison defense that Desert Vista coach Nate Gill said may have shocked some of his players with their speed. The Thunder were held to 47 yards on the ground. Forty of those came from Thomas. He also finished 12-of-24 through the air for 134 yards and an in terception — one of two turnovers on the day for the Thunder.

see PRIDE page 38

Madison High School in San Diego simply had Desert Vista’s num ber Saturday afternoon in the Honor Bowl. They were faster on defense. They were more physical up front and overall domi nated in nearly every facet of the game. The 35-0 loss for Desert Vista was one coaches and players would like to soon for get about. But it also presents an opportu nity for the young team with new pieces all over the field to learn from their mistakes. And there were plenty. “We shot ourselves in the foot when we got into the red zone,” junior quarter back Braxton Thomas said. “We had third and one, second and four then we had an offsides or unsportsmanlike. It just kills our drive.

BY LANCE HARTZLER AFN MContributoronsoon

Mountain Pointe junior running back Christian Clark cruises into the end zone for a touch down against Valley Vista, in a 6A non-conference football game Sept. 2 at Valley Vista High School in Surprise. (David Minton/AFN Staff Photographer)

Desert Vista falls in San Diego

BY ZACH ALVIRA AFN Sports Editor

Pride cruise to win, look ahead to Vegas

see THUNDER page 38

Desert Vista quarterback Braxton Thomas passed for 134 yards Saturday in a frustrating outing against Madison High School of San Diego in the 2022 Honor Bowl. (Josh DaFoe/AFN Contributor)

Have an sportsinterestingstory? Contact Zach Alvira zalvira@timeslocalmedia.comat and follow him on Twitter @ZachAlvira.

Just like she did when she was initially cleared, she flew around the court and dove for balls. After each point, whether it went to Desert Vista or not, the smile returned to her face as she continued to motivate her team through high fives and words of Slemmerencouragement.saidGouldhas the same mind set in practice. Which is a major reason why her teammates voted her a captain thisSimplyseason.put, she’s the ultimate team player.“She is such an energetic person like, you see her anytime on the court, on the bench, walking around campus, she always has a smile on her face and her energy is contagious,” senior Gabbi LeB lanc said. “She’s relentless. She’s diving into walls and always gets up with a smile. It’s inspiring to play with some one like that.” Desert Vista’s team this season is young with just six seniors on the roster. Most of the key contributors from last year’s team graduated.TheThunder were looking for stand out players who can take over as a lead er for the program. They found that in Gould. And it’s a role that she has come to love, along with the Desert Vista pro gram as a Slemmerwhole.gaveher an opportunity. The entire volleyball community has started to embrace her for her passion, infectious positive attitude and her eye-opening skill. It’s exactly what she had hoped would happen when she moved from Chicago.

SPORTS 37AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS | SEPTEMBER 7, 2022

A llison Gould was determined to make a good first impression at Desert Vista when she and her family moved to Arizona from Chicago last year, just before her junior season. She didn’t waste any time introducing herself to first-year coach Audra Slemmer during the Thunder’s first summer open gym session. Slemmer joked Gould barely let her walk through the gym doors before she was greeted with a wide smile, out reached hand and an infectious personality. But that’s how Gould is, no matter the circumstance. And that’s why despite her having to take on the role of team man ager last year due to a torn meniscus that left her unable to compete, she embraced the opportunity. She knew her time would come. Slemmer, the other coaches and her teammates did, too. “I was like, ‘Next year will be your year,’” Gould said. “I knew if I just kept coming day in, day out it would pay off. Thinking back, I’m grateful to my past self for push ing through it.” Gould was excited for her move to Ari zona. She was excited about the opportu nity to make new friends and experience volleyball outside of Illinois and Chicago. But shortly before her move, she suffered the torn Thoughtsmeniscus.ofdespair immediately ran through her head. She felt volleyball was the only way she would make friends at Desert Vista. She thought the team wouldn’t accept her because she was in jured. She was on a good path heading into her junior season as she saw improve ment in her game. Then, she felt the pop. “When I first felt the pop, I thought to myself, ‘This isn’t happen ing,’” Gould said. “I actually kicked my leg and put it back into place and played for a couple of weeks and basically tore it “(Rehab)again.was long. It was a struggle.”Evenwhen Gould wasn’t able to play, she became a vocal leader. Her teammates fell in love with her positive attitude and relentless push for them to be the best versions of them selves on the court. It’s what she wanted for herself, too. Her personality became in fectious among the team. Her teammates began to root hard for her return, and she fed off that energy. So much so that when she was cleared by doc tors, Slemmer and the staff had to dial her back during open gym training sessions. “We were like, ‘Okay, you need to relax here,’” Slem mer said. “She tried out for club, she made a ones team at Storm and played for them. She came back in open gym, and we were like, ‘Holy cow, we did not expect this.’

“She’s that kid that you love telling the story because she’s that servant leader ship for the whole season and she just car ried her team with energy off the bench. Now she gets to be rewarded on the court.”

Desert Vista coach Audra Slemmer said Gould made a first good impression right away. They didn’t know what to expect initially, but when she was cleared to play, they realized they had a special player on their hands. (Dave Minton/AFN Staff)

BY ZACH ALVIRA AFN Sports Editor

Since her return, Gould has ditched the knee brace and is back to 100%. Her posi tive attitude on the bench last season has transitioned well to the court, where she helped lead Desert Vista to a win in its season opener against Mesa at libero on Wednesday, Aug. 31.

Allison Gould embracing opportunity with DV Volleyball

“If you guys hadn’t welcomed me and loved me like you did, I probably wouldn’t have come back here,” Gould said to Slem mer. “They welcomed me with open arms, and I am really thankful for that. This is what I wanted.”  Allison Gould moved from Chicago to Arizona with a torn meniscus before her junior season. She took on the role of manager for the Thunder volleyball team where her teammates fell in love with her positive attitude. Now healthy, she’s a captain on the team and someone every one looks up to. (Dave Minton/AFN staff)

38 AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS | SEPTEMBER 7, 2022SPORTS Leha had a pair of clutch defensive stops and Gary Tucker picked off a pass as the Pride kept the Monsoon to just one offen sive touchdown. The lone score came after a long return leading to a short field, so the score was as much on the special teams. As great as the offense was, the Pride de fense was as much dominant in keeping the Monsoon from getting any sort of groove. The Pride have a chance they haven’t gotten since 2013: a game at powerhouse Bishop Gorman (NV). Sure, the Pride aren’t actually playing the power, instead drawing Arbor View at Gorman’s field, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t any less big for Mountain Pointe. Arbor View is still a top-four team in Nevada. Arbor View is 2-0 with wins over Snow Canyon (UT) - 7-0 - in its opener and Shadow Ridge (NV) - 38-6 - last week. “We are hoping we can play with them a little bit and keep on embracing the chase,” Lauer said.

Desert Vista wide receiver Traven Vigenser was one of Thomas’ top wideouts as he helped move the ball down the field at times. However, mistake kept the Thunder out of the end zone in their season opener. (Josh DaFoe/AFN Contributor) from 36

Mountain Pointe senior quarterback Christopher Arviso II scrambles from the pocket pursued by Valley Vista senior linebacker Jonah Flowers. (David Minton/AFN Staff Photographer) from page 36

Please donate food, toys, blankets or pet related items September 1st through October 1st.

see THUNDER page 39

The last time the Pride played at Bishop Gorman in 2013, they won and eventu ally went on to win the state title that same season - Lauer of course was on that coaching staff. “I think it’s 5,000 but the bleachers are almost straight up,” Lauer said. “The crowd just sounds much larger. … We are excited about being there and they are al ways a real good host.” Plus, playing at Gorman itself is an ex perience Lauer wants his players to soak in. The vibes are unlike anything found in Arizona with the vertical stands towering above the field. Just as important as the game itself though, the team gets the chance to bond, take a true road trip as a group. The team hasn’t had that opportunity due to the COVID-19-related restrictions they were in place the past two seasons. “It’s going to be good,” Arviso said. “It’s going to be kinda like camp, how it’s a business trip and just straight business and I feel like that’s next level stuff.” Even last season, a closer to normal year of sorts in some ways, Lauer felt his team now is closer with the pandemic restric tions further in the review. “They already kinda care about each other on another level that last year didn’t,” he said. “I think that was still COV ID residual but this year we have been ful ly out, getting after it in the weight room and hone in on our skills.”  “We knew coming in they played re ally hard. Defensively, they rallied to the ball like crazy,” Gill said. “The speed they play with on defense was a little bit of a surprise. It probably shocked our guys a little bit. That’s a well-disciplined team that flies to the football and I think that disrupted some of our timing a little bit.” The energy from the Warhawk defense spilled over to the offense. Quarterback Reggie Johnson was elu sive when pressured and his wideouts helped him out on broken plays by finding open holes within Desert Vista’s second ary. When he had time, the senior gouged the Thunder. Johnson finished 21-of-28 for 288 yards and four touchdowns. Two of those went to Frankie Giovinetti, the other to Dylan McFeely. Madison’s first touchdown of the day came on the ground, a 4-yard plunge by James Tivao. McFeely finished with seven receptions for 71 yards. Giovinetti had four catches for 59 yards. Jake Jackson, Madison’s 6-foot-5 wideout, caught six passes for 66 yards. While Desert Vista struggled against the pass, it had success in limiting Madison’s stable of backs to 68 total yards. “We knew they were a good football team. We just wanted to play our style of football,” Madison coach Rick Jackson said. “We’ve struggled a little bit with our RPO game, and they did a good job of tak ing our run away and making us throw. “We’re very similar teams, style wise. It was almost like practicing against ourselves. I think our defense is one of the strengths

PRIDE

THUNDER

Say Yes To Pets and help out Lost Our Home Pet Rescue Drop off is available at any of these locations and many others locations around Ahwatukee. Look for our Yes To Pets collection boxes in local businesses. Also go to Yestopets.org for additional drop off locations and information.

page

SPORTS 39AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS | SEPTEMBER 7, 2022 OFFER EXPIRES SEPT 14TH, 2022 AND CANNOT BE COMBINED WITH OTHER OFFERS  200 S KYRENE RD, CHANDLER 85226  602-458-9800  STONECREEKFURNITURE.COM  AZ ROC 208075 & 279455 Foothills Dollar+ 1241 E Chandler Blvd • Suite 110 Phoenix 480-590-0732 SAVE of our team and if we keep building around that we’re going to be pretty good.” Desert Vista didn’t make excuses for its mediocre performances. The Thunder knew going into the Honor Bowl the War hawks had already played two games prior and had a chance to work out some kinks. Gill said his team simply ran into one of the new top dogs in San Diego and per haps, southern California. Now, it’s back to the drawing board with one less day of rest before facing Perry on Friday. “The big one for us was blown assign ments,” Gill said. “We have to do a better job in that regard. I understand it’s a holi day but when you play a Saturday then have a Friday game against an opponent you’ve played some tough ones in the past, we have to go back to work on Monday. “We’ve got work to do.” THUNDER from page 38 Have an interesting sports story?

Hi Everyone, Just a friendly reminder that if your toilet water supply has a thin white plastic nut, you should consider changing it to a steel braided, steel-tipped supply line. We have been seeing these plastic ones crack at the ﬁtting and they can do a large amount of ﬂood damage to your house, especially if you’re not home when it happens. If you are unsure if yours should be changed, please give us a call.

Thank you! — Matt PLUMBING WeorRepairInstall Licensed(480)(48704.5422•Bonded•Insured $3500 OFF Any Service Call Today! ROC # 272721 AHWATUKEE’S #1 PLUMBER Call us today with your question! Matt Tobias General Manager MattAsk

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

Following

our

issues.

PRESENTED Midterms are approaching and Arizona is a state to watch. At this event, you’ll get unfiltered and nonpartisan insights on the state of politics in Arizona from Ron Brownstein, senior editor of The Atlantic, contributing editor for National Journal and a senior political analyst for CNN. Part jour nalist, part historian, and all shrewd political observer, Brownstein will de liver sharp analysis on politics, policy, the electorate, media and the range of issues informed by his strong sense of American political and national history. the keynote address, hear from candidates in key races share their plans for building on economic momentum addressing communities’ most pressing

40 AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS | SEPTEMBER 7, 2022 PHX EAST VALLEY PARTNERSHIP APS STATESPERSONS’ LUNCHEON Keynote Speaker Ron Brownstein: All About the Midterms: A Look at Arizona’s Political Landscape 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 14 Doubletree by Hilton Phoenix-Mesa • (1011 W. Holmes, Mesa) Register today. Tables of 8: $1,000/Individual Tickets: $125 480.532.0641 or jhubbard@phxeastvalley.com A Zoom option may be available.

BY: The

you’ll

Arizona’s

while

The celebration began in 1810 to mark the wedding of the crown prince of Bavar ia, who later became King Ludwig I, to Prin cess Therese of Saxony-Hildburghausen.

WCKD’s brewmaster and co-owner Zach Schroeder created the rich and malty Ok toberfest lager, which has a clean hop bit terness with flavors of toasted bread, bis cuits and caramel. It’s $6 for a 16-ounce stein or $9 for a 22-ounce stein, and will be available until it’s sold out.

“We went to a German restaurant and tried everything on the entire menu to make sure we were going to have the best items possible for it,” Mahoney said.

If You Go...

Schroeder, who has German ancestry, spearheaded the idea of hosting an Okto berfest to showcase traditional German culture, Mahoney said.

BY GERI KOEPPEL GetOut Contributor

The ingredients change monthly through out the year; the Oktoberfest charcuterie board ($24) includes German sausages, cheese, grapes, nuts, olives and locally baked German bread served with housemade applesauce and Dijon mustard.

Music by high-energy country duo Abby & Luke will start at 7 p.m. and include the traditional German song “Ein Prosit,” which ends with a rousing chant of “eins, zwei, drei, g’suffa!” It means, “One, two, three,Guestsguzzle!”areexpected to stand up, raise their glasses, sing along and join in on a toast, so check the internet for pronuncia tions if you’re not familiar with the lyrics. “We want everyone to feel like they’re in Munich,” Mahoney said.  www.ahwatukee.com

www.ahwatukee.com

Who: WCKD Brewery’s second annual Oktoberfest Where: Wicked Brews, Bites & Spirits, 4921 E. Ray Road, Ahwatukee. When: Starting at 3 p.m. Sept. 14 Info: 480- 999-0096; wicked-bbs.com Contact Paul Maryniak at 480-898-5647 or pmaryniak @ timeslocalmedia.com

There’s no need to travel to Bavaria for traditional German food and beer this month for Oktoberfest: WCKD Brewery is hosting its second an nual shindig in Ahwatukee Foothills, start ing at 3 p.m. Sept. 14 and featuring a lager release and German-inspired menu. “We’re going to have another big party this year to introduce the Oktoberfest [beer] again, and everyone’s going to dress up” in lederhosen and dirndls,” said WCKD Brewery co-owner Chip Mahoney. Last year, WCKD Brewery’s restaurant and bar, Wicked Brews, Bites & Spirits, unveiled new German menu items each week for a month, but this year, they’re of fering one set menu from mid-September intoChefOctober.Creighton Gee and the team at Wicked worked on researching and creat ing the cuisine for weeks.

The special menu includes two new items: A sausage trio dinner ($16) with currywurst and Bavarian and spicy sau sages with pickled red cabbage and Ger man potato dumpling, and schweinshaxe ($25), a roasted pork knuckle on a bed of pickled red cabbage with potato dumpling and“Notgravy.many people are going to attempt to do a pork knuckle,” Mahoney said. “It’s hard to execute at a restaurant level, and I believe we’re going to do an excellent job withTheit.”gravy is made with their Oktober fest beer, he added. Also, Mahoney said, “We’re bringing back the Oktoberfest charcuterie board. It was such a big hit, we put it straight on the menu and carry it all the time.”

41AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS | SEPTEMBER 7, 2022 GET OUT @AhwatukeeFN@AhwatukeeFN

Other dishes include schnitzel, a crispy breaded pork cutlet ($9) with brown gra vy and red cabbage; and apple sausage hash ($11) with Brussels sprouts, onions, walnuts and Dijon apple cider vinaigrette.

German food, beer on tap at WCKD Oktoberfest

ABOVE: Wicked Brews, Bites & Spirits in Ahwatukee will be tapping the WCKD Brewery Oktoberfest lager on Sept. 14 and pouring it until it’s sold out this fall. RIGHT: The German sausage charcuterie platter, one of the most popular items at last year’s Oktoberfest at Wicked Brews, Bites & Spirits, will return this year. (Special to GetOut)

The Brewja brat ($12.50) also is avail able from the regular menu. The brat wurst in this dish is custom made for the restaurant, Mahoney said, using their red ale, Rosebud Red. “We give that to the meat company and they make a special sausage for us with that infused in it,” he noted.

The original festivities at Theresienwi ese in Munich typically run from mid-Sep tember to the first Sunday in October. Because Wicked’s Oktoberfest is on a Wednesday, all of the usual happy hour food and drink specials are available all day.

42 AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS | SEPTEMBER 7, 2022 RESIZING AND CUSTOMIZING INSTRUCTIONS A clear zone of 1/2 the height of the logo must be maintained as shown below. No text or graphic elements can appear in this clear zone. Logo and tagline may not be stretched or manipulated in any way. SlickAdGWPFall22 7")x(6-7/16"7"xcolumns3system:S.A.U.Inc.CosmeticsNormanMerle2022© complementsEYEComplementarytrial-sizedeyecare&colortrio* FREE with the purchase of two or more Merle Norman cosmetic products. Cosmetic accessories not included. Offer valid while supplies last at participating Merle Norman Cosmetic Studios beginning September 1, 2022. Limit one per customer. We reserve the right to substitute individual components.StudioAddressName Phone BusinessNumberHours Merle Norman Cosmetic Studios have been independently owned and operated since 1931. ASKPURCHASEWITHABOUTYOURFREE* Ahwatukee Connie Desrochers, Owner 480-893-6947 • 4855 E. Warner Rd Phoenixmerlenorman@merlenormanstudio.com#17merlenormanstudio.com/AZ/Phoenix/mn-5999/ Protectordeodorizerandavailable CLEANING INCLUDES: Pre-Treating • Most Furniture Moved • Carpet Groomed Service,CleaningHomeDesertInc. •••GROUTTILEUPHOLSTERY,CARPET,&OWNEROPERATED39YEARSEXPERIENCETRUCKMOUNTEDEQUIPMENT CARPETSPECIALCLEANING Only $20 Per Room 2 room minimum Combined living area and/or area over 300 sq.ft. considered separate rooms NO HIDDEN CHARGES 480.759.3361 Find Any Hidden Charges and the Cleaning is FREE!

43AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS | SEPTEMBER 7, 2022 2022 30% TAX CREDIT CONSULTATION.FREE JUST PASSED – 2022 30% TAX CREDIT YEAR END 2022 SAVINGS: REEIS.COM ROC# B - 318364, C-39 – 318363 Schedule a beforeTakeCONSULTATION.FREEadvantageyearend. ClimateBillPassed! JUST PASSED – 2022 30% TAX CREDIT YEAR END 2022 SAVINGS: REEIS.COM ROC# B - 318364, C-39 – 318363 Schedule a beforeTakeCONSULTATION.FREEadvantageyearend. JUST PASSED – 2022 30% YEAR END 2022 SAVINGS: REEIS.COM ROC# B - 318364, C-39 – 318363 Schedule a beforeTakeCONSULTATION.FREEadvantageyearend. 480-696-1768 BRAND NEW TAX CREDIT. . . . . . . .up to $2,000 Manufactures rebates. . . . . . . . . . up to $1,400 SRP A/C rebates. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .up to $900 SRP Insulation & duct rebate. . . . . up to $1,000 REEIS APS/SRP rebate match. . . . . .up to $900 Total Potential . . . . . . . . . . . . . . up to $6,200

44 AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS | SEPTEMBER 7, 2022GET OUT ACROSS 1 Milan’s La -6 Mops the deck 11 First game of the season 12 Fortune-telling decks 14 Gift giver’s words 15 Not level 16 Italian “three” 17 Trombone part 19 Coach Parseghian 20 Coup d’-22 Summer on the Seine 23 Not kosher 24 Hose material 26 1955 Platters hit 28 -- -di-dah 30 Pinnacle 31 “Pretty please?” 35 From the area 39 Writer Kingsley 40 Highland hat 42 “Elephant Boy” actor 43 UV ray-blocking stat 44 James -- Garfield 46 Stanley Cup org. 47 Spill the beans 49 “Psst!” 51 Dodged 52 Knight suits 53 Basilica areas 54 Inclines DOWN 1 Stylish 2 Breakfast bowlful 3 Whatever amount 4 Late July babies 5 As -- (usually) 6 Pupil 7 Diminish 8 “Right you --!” 9 Emma of fiction 10 Sound system 11 Frequently 13 Major mix-up 18 “Am -- blame?” 21 Bridge fees 23 Printing errors 25 Aye undoer 27 Texter’s chuckle 29 Sites of rapid growth 31 Squander 32 Chevy model 33 Boost 34 Eg. and Syr., once 36 Big gorge 37 Loathes 38 Humdingers 41 Taj -44 Out of the storm 45 Simple 48 Pro Bowl stats 50 Singer Sumac Sudoku King Crossword PUZZLES ANSWERS on page 46 Live amongst friends. Reserve your new home today! couplesIndependentcanenjoyacare-freetwobedroom,twobathhomefrom$2900.

45AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS | SEPTEMBER 7, 2022 Thank you for voting us an Ahwatukee’s “Best Of” Pool Service Company 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 & 2018, 2019, 2020! Ahwatukee Owned & Operated Licensed, Bonded & Insured ROC# 272001 602-546-POOL www.barefootpoolman.com(7665) 384 W Cullumber Ave, Gilbert, AZ 85233 Pool Resurfacing Experts Specializing in POOL SERVICE, MAINTENANCE & REPAIR Is Your Pool In Need of a Makeover? We’re the Pool Resurfacing Experts! Vote for us! for Best Pool & Best Spa Services BRING IN A FORSAMPLEWATERAFREEANALYSIS Ahwatukee! Ahwatukee! BESTOF 2019 BESTOF 2022 TILESPECIALISTSROOFING Flat and Foam Roof Experts! FREE ESTIMATES 602-736-3019 desertsandscontracting.com FLAT ROOFS | SHINGLES | TEAR OFFS | NEW ROOFS | REPAIRS TILE UNDERLAYMENT | TILE REPAIR | LEADERS | COPPER ALUMINUM COATINGS | GUTTERS | SKYLIGHTS Commercial & Residential | Family Owned & Operated AZROC #283571 | CONTRACTOR LIC. AZROC #312804 CLASS CR4 FULLY INSURED 10% OFF COMPLETE UNDERLAYMENTOFF COMPLETE Now in our 38th year! ARIZONA’S LONGEST-RUNNING EXPO IS HERE! Healthcare | Retirement Living | Financial Leisure | Home Repair | Education Casinos | Tour & Travel and More... (480) 898-6500 • (480) www.seniorexpos.com959-1566 Lots of PrizesandEveryINCLUDINGGiveawaysa$100CASHDRAWINGHour! Entertainment by MS. SENIOR ARIZONA FREE PARKING! FREE ENTRY! Wednesday, November 2nd 8am - 12pm Mesa Convention Center 201 N. Center Street, Mesa, AZ 85201 Entertainment Sponsor Bag Sponsor

X GETOUT SPORTS CLASSIFIED X TExecutivehe

$20$5OFFORMORE App/Online

2BOWLS In-Shop Code: 2216 Offer applies only to combinations of JR. or REG.-Sized Chicken Teriyaki, Spicy Chicken or Spicy Tofu Teriyaki. Cannot be combined with any other offers or discounts. Limit one use per person. No photocopies accepted. No cash value. Some substitutions or modifications are available for an extra cost. Valid with call-ahead/ takeout/dine-in orders only. EXPIRES: 9/30/2022

AROUND OPINION BUSINESS |HEALTH WELLNESS Planning Commission 30-daysetback velopers’timetable massiveUpCanyon development Ahwatukee after expressing over their request questioning staff’s analysis study. Blandford Homes subsidiary Reserve 100LLC build1,050 single-story houses, 150 build-to-rent 329 apartments 373-acre formerStateTrust alongChandler and CityCouncil proleave South Boulevard three lanes downgrade the classification MountainbetweenFreeway “arterial” “collector”Theyhad PlanningCommission approval lastweek’svirtual Council firstpostsummer-vacation or more. Can only be used once and cannot be combined with any other offers or discounts. No photocopies accepted. No cash value. Valid in-app, online or in shop. EXPIRES: 9/30/2022 Code: DM5off20 In-Shop Code: 1727 Valid for $5 off your pre-taxed purchase of $20 or more. Can only be used once and cannot be combined with any other offers or discounts. No photocopies accepted. No cash value. Valid in-app, online or in shop. EXPIRES: 9/30/2022

$100$15OFFORMORECATERING App/Online Code: DM15off100 In-Shop Code: 2205 Valid for $15 off your pre-taxed purchase of $100 or more. Cannot be combined with any other offers or discounts. Limit one use per coupon code. No photocopies accepted. No cash value. Not valid for delivery or online orders. EXPIRES: 9/30/2022 ONLINE, APP, OR IN-SHOP ONLINE, APP, OR IN-SHOP IN-SHOP COUPON ONLY ONLINE, APP/CODE OR IN-SHOP FOR $16 GRAND RE-OPENING in the Target Plaza 4722 E. Ray Rd., teriyakimadness.com480-256-1093AhwatukeeOpen11amto9pmdaily Quality Healthcare Beginswith Us! PHOENICIAN MEDICAL480-963-1853CENTER PHOENICIAN MEDICAL CENTER WALK FREEWELCOMEINSVITALSCHECK 16515 S. 40th St., Suite #139 • Ahwatukee, AZ 85048 275 E. Cottonwood Lane, Suite #3 • Casa Grande, AZ 85122 www.pmchealth.care • Primary Care • Preventive Care • Chronic Care Mgmt • Regular Check Up • Wellness Screening • Diabetic Management • Physical Examinations • Vaccinations/Immunizations • Hospital Follow Ups • Flu Shots for Elderly • Urgent Care Visits Rapid molecular COVID tests and ﬂu tests with results within 20 min Same day new patient appt available Nancy Day, FNP • Ira Snider, DO Emil Slovak, MD Join us in welcoming our newest doctor. We are excited to welcome our new provider to Phoenician Medical. Now accepting new patients!Emil Slovak, MD INTRODUCING OUR NEW PROVIDER EMIL SLOVAK, MD (INTERNAL MEDICINE)

CK'SOWNERNEW 23 PROLIFICAUTHOR 18 New constable ready

46 AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS | SEPTEMBER 7, 2022 ANSWERS TO PUZZLES AND SUDOKU from Page 44 Subscribe here www.ahwatukee.com Receive your digital ﬂip-thru edition every week in your e-mail box! www.ahwatukee.com @AhwatukeeFN WExecutive throughherdiverse livesand interjects, interestinglife, hasnothing black and 40-year Ahwatukee which pressed CountyBoard visors two that they unanimously thevacant KyreneJustice Asonlythe amongthe ty’s Bellavignawill hand-delivering writs, protectionfrom evictionnotices.She executingcourt-ordered seizures property satisfy whennecessary, overtenevictions.

COMMUNITY 18 BUSINESS 23 OPINION SPORTS GETOUT CLASSIFIED Study looks at arts enrollment in local schools CONQUERINGADVERSITY 30 FORWARDMOVING 3 The

Digital Edition

Blandford andReserve startselling timetable 30 days Commission directed themto explaintheimpact many trafficandroad light opposition to South ChanBoulevard. members Blandford’sreasoning them residents the plan said the ening moreland fear for the emergency vehiclestoaccess UpperCanyon west hills Promontoryand those expressing was John Barton, one of of those three supported Candevelopment,Barton ripped Blandford’s request, that the nearest firestation awayand plans build western Ahwatukee. Wednesday, August 10, 2022 23 29 OPINION P. 31 SPORTS 33 |GETOUT |CLASSIFIEDS 40 CANYON ELECTIONS page Traffic concerns snarl Upper Canyon’s bid for city approval 33 frosh Everestchamp. BUSINESS Local man’shits milestone. ThisINSIDEWeek home yourchoices selecting windowsand longlasting patio architectural performance. investment LifetimeWarranty Milgard beautiful, comfortable, energy efficient windows and doors your home Thomas Rd. 602-508-0800 liwindow.com Mon-Thurs 8:30-4pm ROC#179513 LD 12 appearcontestsset,GOP senate race tight NEWS fight continuesresidency. GET OUT 37 marijuanaflavored This what turns out 22nd and last presentation ”The Ahwatukee Nutcracker.” community Christmas one Ahwatukee’s isn’t going has been rebranded Arizona Nutcracker.” where this scene may surprise read on page ‘Nutcracker’ made new The Election three representing appears to be anall-male slate with women. The two women running five-way Democratic Legislative District the and contest Republican nominationappeared $1520%OFFORMORE App/Online Code: DM20per15 In-Shop Code: 2215 Valid for 20% off your pre-taxed purchase of $15

job Astatewide

www.Ahwatukee.com

Bellavigna constableposition time ordersissued justicecourtsare afandfederal haltedthem becauseNow rentssuspensionsare Vallandlords droves justice courts apartments, homes Wednesday, March 23, 2022 latest breaking news and top local stories in Ahwatukee! .com to take on a tough released last disparity classesamong two districtsservingAhwatukee. Data compiled Quadrant Research the Department Education arts-related organizations that 2020-21, 80% students were instruction 60% while arts enrollment classes fell thepandemic classroomlearning, data. The study was commissioned the Education consortium Department, the Education Directors the Arizona and enrollment visual washigh,with 8,500students enrolled class while classes exceeded artseducationprogram. The music and mirrors the whichthe Estrella Elementary kindergarteners Ciara Haro, Stojak, last coloring worksheet class. (David Photographer)

Easy-To-Read Val www.ahwatukee.com

Clarivate Analytics (US) LLC seeks Senior Salesforce Administrator in Chandler, AZ to administer various Salesforce modules including but not limited to Sales cloud, Service cloud, Community cloud, CPQ, Apttus CLM and various AppExchange modules. Telecommuting permitted. Apply at jobpostingtoday.com Ref: 59056

Dialog Semiconductor Inc. has opening for Analog Design Engineer in Chandler, AZ. Provide analog design, verification & simulation of integrated circuit development projects. Email resume to resumes@diasemi.com Attn: Sharon Paul with reference #156. Nordstrom, Inc. seeks Technical Program Manager Sr. II in Chandler, AZ to manage programs of high impact, risk, and complexity while building and executing integrated plans across multiple teams. Telecommuting permitted. Apply at www.jobpostingtoday.com, Ref #95410. Employment General Carvana, LLC seeks Engineer II in Tempe, AZ. Design, develop, maintain, and deploy complex back end solutions. Telecommuting available. Apply @ www.jobpostingtoday.com #32205

Pets/Services/Livestock www.WhileYourAwayService.com Voted one of the “Best of Ahwatukee” 10 Years Running! Call Eleanor Today! 480.287.4897 Reasonable Rates Special Pricing on Extended Service Licensed/Bonded/InsuredAhwatukeeResident Pet, Home & Property Checks While Your’ Away Services Lifetime Warranty on Workmanship New 3-Ton 14 SEER AC Systems Only $5,995 INSTALLED! New Trane Air Conditioners NO INTEREST FINANCING - 60 MONTHS! QUALITY, VALUE and a GREAT PRICE! Bonded/Insured • ROC #289252 480-405-7588 Plumbing Heating & Air PlumbSmart $49 Seasonal A/C Tune-up! Air Conditioning/Heating www.BrewersAC.com Service Call (with repair) • Second OpinionFREEFREE 480-725-7303 SINCE 1982 ROC #C39-312643 40 Serving the Central Valley Years We are offering $40 OFF our Brewer’s Deluxe 20 point Tune up HERE IS SOMETHING TO CELEBRATE OUR 40 YEARS IN BUSINESS REG. $119 Air Duct Cleaning Air Duct Cleaning & Dryer Vents BY JOHN (480) 912-0881 – Licensed & Insured ★ 30+ Years ExperienceHVAC ★ Disinfected & Sanitized With Every Job Appliance Repairs Appliance Repair Now • Same Day Service • On-Site Repairs • Servicing All Major Brands • Quality Guaranteed 480-659-1400 Licensed & Insured We Also Buy, Sell & Trade Used WorkingAppliancesorNot If It’s Broken,We Can Fix It! Appliances Carpet Cleaning Family owned and proudly serving Ahwatukee for over 20 years. Powerful Truck Mounted Soft Hot Water Extractions. Carpets, Tile & Grout, Upholstery, Pet Stain/Odor Treatment Residential/Commercial www.extractioncleaning.com 100% Satisfaction Guarantee! 480.460.5030 Cleaning Services Miss Spotless House Cleaning miss.spotlesshousecleaning06@gmail.comKitchen•Bedrooms•Bathrooms•DustingBaseboards•Garage•Vacuuming You name it, we clean it! Free Estimates! • Weekly, Bi-Weekly, Monthly Phone: (602) 341-2530 Wanted to Buy WANT PURCHASETO Minerals and other oil & gas interests Send Details to: PO Box 13557 Denver, CO 80201 Concrete & Masonry Block Fence * 602-789-6929Gates Roc #057163 Lowest Prices * 30 Yrs Exp Serving Entire Valley YOU’LL LIKE US - THE BEST! Contractors Air Conditioning/Heating SPEND A LITTLE… MAKE A LOT! Post your open positions! 480-898-6465 or Email: class@TimesLocalMedia com Jobs.Phoenix.Org

47AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS | SEPTEMBER 7, 2022 CLASSIFIEDS MerchandiseEmployment Ahwatukee Chandler Gilbert Glendale Mesa North Valley Peoria Phoenix SanTan Scottsdale Queen Creek West Valley To Advertise Call: 480-898-6465 or email Class@TimesLocalMedia.com CLASSIFIEDS.PHOENIX.ORG

48 AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS | SEPTEMBER 7, 2022CLASSIFIEDS C. READ & SON ELECTRIC for ALL your electrical 480-940-6400www.readelectricaz.comneeds 41 experienceyears Ahwatukee Resident ROC Bond/Insured#158440  Electric Car Chargers  Fans  Lighting  Troubleshooting  And much more 2008 through 2021 Electrical Services • Panel Changes and Repairs • Installation of Ceiling Fans • Switches/Outlets • Home Remodel HONESTY • INTEGRITY • QUALITY ALL RESIDENTIAL & COMMERCIAL ELECTRICAL Call Jim Endres 480.282.7932 Over 28 Years Experience • ROC #246019 Bonded/Insured • Serving Arizona Since 2005 • Flooring • Interior & Exterior Concrete Surface Solutions • Garages, Pool Decks, Patios & More! • Same Day Polyaspartic Coating Installations • Fast Dry Time, Ready to Park on in 24 hours “Professional, Punctual & Clean” VeteranOwned Licensed - Bonded - Insured ROC 290242 FREE ESTIMATES • CALL TODAY! WWW.AZEPOXYCOATINGS.COM • 480-764-3556 1-Day Epoxy for Garages, Patios, Pool Decks & More! Flooring Honest & Affordable Floor Covering A family founded business that specializes in tile,vinyl plank, laminate, hardwood & more! FREE ESTIMATES! 5-Star Reviews on Google 20+ Years Experience Showers, back splash, fireplaces, baseboards & stairs Best Flooring Company in the valley now in Ahwatukee! Call or Text honestandaffordableflooring.com480-527-6274Licensed,Bonded&Insured 10%OFF ON INSTALL when you mention this ad Garage/Doors GARAGE DOOR SERVICE East AhwatukeeValley/ BrokenReplacedSprings Nights/WeekendsBonded/Insured 480-251-8610 Not a licensed contractor Garage/Doors GARAGE DOOR SPRINGS REPLACED Licensed • Bonded • Insured SERVICE | INSTALLATIONS | REPAIRS 623-853-3311 ROC # 336907 Handyman ✔ Painting ✔ HeatersWater ✔ Electrical ✔ Plumbing ✔ Drywall ✔ Carpentry ✔ Decks ✔ Tile ✔ Kitchens ✔ Bathrooms And More! Marks the Spot for ALL Your Handyman Needs! “No Job Too Small Man!” Call Bruce at 602.670.7038 Ahwatukee Resident/ References/ Insured/ Not a Licensed Contractor Affordable, Quality Work Since 1999 2010, 2011 2012,20142013, Painting • Flooring • Electrical Plumbing • Drywall • Carpentry Decks • Tile • More! Marks the Spot for ALL Your Handyman Needs! “No Job Too Small Man!” Call Bruce at 602.670.7038 Ahwatukee Resident/ References/ Insured/ Not a Licensed Contractor Affordable, Quality Work Since 1999 2010, 2011 2012,20142013, Painting • Flooring • Electrical Plumbing • Drywall • Carpentry Decks • Tile • More! Marks the Spot for ALL Your Handyman Needs! “No Job Too Small Man!” Call Bruce at 602.670.7038 Ahwatukee Resident/ References/ Insured/ Not a Licensed Contractor Affordable, Quality Work Since 1999 2010, 2011 2012,20142013, Painting • Flooring • Electrical Plumbing • Drywall • Carpentry Decks • Tile • More! Marks the Spot for ALL Your Handyman Needs! “No Job Too Small Man!” Call Bruce at 602.670.7038 Ahwatukee Resident/ References/ Insured/ Not a Licensed Contractor Affordable, Quality Work Since 1999 2010, 2011 2012,20142013, Painting • Flooring • Electrical Plumbing • Drywall • Carpentry Decks • Tile • More! “No Job TooMan!”Small BSMALLMAN@Q.COM Call Bruce at 602.670.7038 Ahwatukee Resident / References Insured / Not a Licensed Contractor Glass/Mirror GLASS, MIRRORS, SHOWER DOORS Family Owned with 50 years' EXPERIENCE. Shower and tub enclosures, Framed, Frameless or Custom Doors, We also install insulated glass, mirrored closet doors, window glass, mirrors, patio doors, glass table protectors. If it’s glass, we can help you. QUALITY SERVICE at Competitive Prices. FREE Estimates WESLEY'S GLASS & MIRROR Call 480-306-5113 wesleysglass.com SERVICING THE ENTIRE VALLEY Jaden Associates.comSydney Visit our website! Landlord and Homeowner Property Services Repairs • Drywall • Painting • BINSR Items Plumbing • Electrical • HOA Compliance AND so much more! Ahwatukee Resident 480.335.4180 Not a licensed contractor. Hauling • Furniture • Appliances • Mattresses • Televisions • Garage Clean-Out • Construction Debris • Old Paint & Chems. • Yard Waste • Concrete Slab • Remodeling Debris • Old Tires Home Improvement KHOMESERVICES “For all your Home Exterior Needs” • Leaky Roof Repairs • Tile Repairs • Painting • Flat Roof Coating • Wood Repair • Doors & Windows Roger rogerkretz@yahoo.com480.233.0336Kretz 25+ Years of Customer Services • BASE BOARDS • DRYWALL • ELECTRICAL • PAINTING • PLUMBING • BATHROOMS • WOOD FLOORING • FRAMING WALLS • FREE ESTIMATES • GRANITE FABRICATION & INSTALLATION • CARPET INSTALLATION • LANDSCAPING Home Remodeling No Job Too Discounts!SeniorSmall! David Hernandez (602) 802 3600 daveshomerepair@yahoo.com • Se Habla Español CONTRACTORLICENSEDANOT ImprovementHome REMODEL PlansCONTRACTOR/Additions,PatiosNewDoors,Windows Lowest Price in Town! R. Lic#216115,ChildClass Bonded-Insured-Ref'sBO34802153373 Meetings/Events? Get Free notices in Classifieds!the Submit to ecota@TimesLocalMedia.com CALLCLASSIFIEDS 480-898-6465 We'llGetYourPhonetoRing! WeAccept: Place YOUR Business HERE! in the Service Directory Call for our 3 Month Special! Starting at $145/month Classifieds: 480-898-6465

49AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS | SEPTEMBER 7, 2022 CLASSIFIEDS 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 • Interior & PaintingExterior • Professional Cabinet Refinishing • In-Home ConsultationsColor Punctual“Professional,&Clean” www.A CP paintingllc.com Licensed - Bonded - Insured ROC 290242 FREE ESTIMATES • CALL TODAY! 480-785-6323 Veteran Owned 1-Day Epoxy for Garages, Patios, Pool Decks & More! Painting PLUMBERS CHARGE TOO MUCH! FREE Service Calls + FREE Estimates Water Heaters Installed - $999 Unclog Drains - $49 10% OFF All Water Puri cation Systems Voted #1 Plumber 3 Years In A Row OVER 1,000 5-STAR REVIEWS Bonded/Insured • ROC #223709 480-405-7099 Plumbing Affinity Plumbing LLC affi480-487-5541nityplumber@gmail.com $35 off AnyYourServiceAhwatukee Plumber & East Valley Neighbor DisposalsFaucetsToiletsInsideWaterAnythingwww.affinityplumbingaz.comPlumbingHeaters&OutLeaksSameDayService24/7BondedInsuredEstimatesAvailablerNotalicensedcontractor Plumbing PLUMBING (480)704.5422 AHWATUKEE’S#1PLUMBER Licensed • Bonded • Insured A+ RATED We RepairorInstall $35.00 Off Any Service Call Today! ROC 272721# 602.625.0599 Family Owned Suntechpaintingaz.com • High Quality Materials & Workmanship • Customer Satisfaction • Countless References • Free Estimates ROC #155380 ServingSinceAhwatukee1987 In Best of Ahwatukee Year After Year Painting ★ Interior/Exterior Painting ★ Drywall Repair & Installation ★ Popcorn Ceiling Removal ★ Elastomaric Roof Coating ★ Epoxy Floors ★ Small Job Specialist “We get your house looking top notch!” Scott Mewborn, Owner 480-818-1789 License #ROC 298736 PAINTING Interior & ReferencesSeniorDrywallFreeResidential/CommercialExteriorEstimatesRepairsDiscountsAvailable (602) 502-1655 — Call Jason — Drain Cleaning Experts, water heaters, disposals, water & sewer lines reRapidpaired/replaced&remodels.Response. If water runs through it we do 602-663-8432it! Pool Service / Repair Ahwatukee! BESTOF 2019 Monthly Service & Repairs Available Licensed, Bonded & www.barefootpoolman.comROC#272001InsuredSeeourBeforesandAftersonFacebook7665 Call Juan 480-720-3840at Not a licensed contractor. 25 Years Experience • Dependable & Reliable POOL REPAIR Pebble cracking, Plaster peeling, Rebar showing, Pool Light out? I CAN HELP! Juan Hernandez Pavers • Concrete • Water Features • Sprinkler Repair SPECIAL! $500 OFF COMPLETE REMODEL! Roofing Over 30 Years of Experience Family Operated by 3 Generations of Roofers! FREE Estimates • Credit Cards OK www.spencer4hireroofing.com ROC#244850 | Insured | Bonded Spencer4HIREROOFING Valley Wide Service 10% OFF with this ad Ahwatukee’s Premier Tile, Shingle & Foam Roofer! 480-446-7663 Watch for Garage Sales in easyYouClassifieds!willfindthemwiththeiryellowbackground.Only$2 7.50 includes 1 week online To place an ad please call:class480-898-6465 @TimesLocal Media.com Garage Sale Fri & Sat masonfurniture,Household,7a-11amclothes,kitchenitems,electronics,jars,kiditems,DVDs,MORE555W.LaneDrMesa CLASSIFIEDS 480-898-6465 We'llGetYour PhonetoRing! WeAccept: 480-898-6465CLASSIFIEDSclass@ Times LocalMedia.com

50 AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS | SEPTEMBER 7, 2022CLASSIFIEDS 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 • Interior & PaintingExterior • Professional Cabinet Refinishing • In-Home ConsultationsColor Punctual“Professional,&Clean” www.A CP paintingllc.com Licensed - Bonded - Insured ROC 290242 FREE ESTIMATES • CALL TODAY! 480-785-6323 Veteran Owned 1-Day Epoxy for Garages, Patios, Pool Decks & More! Painting PLUMBERS CHARGE TOO MUCH! FREE Service Calls + FREE Estimates Water Heaters Installed - $999 Unclog Drains - $49 10% OFF All Water Puri cation Systems Voted #1 Plumber 3 Years In A Row OVER 1,000 5-STAR REVIEWS Bonded/Insured • ROC #223709 480-405-7099 Plumbing Affinity Plumbing LLC affi480-487-5541nityplumber@gmail.com $35 off AnyYourServiceAhwatukee Plumber & East Valley Neighbor DisposalsFaucetsToiletsInsideWaterAnythingwww.affinityplumbingaz.comPlumbingHeaters&OutLeaksSameDayService24/7BondedInsuredEstimatesAvailablerNotalicensedcontractor Plumbing PLUMBING (480)704.5422 AHWATUKEE’S#1PLUMBER Licensed • Bonded • Insured A+ RATED We RepairorInstall $35.00 Off Any Service Call Today! ROC 272721# 602.625.0599 Family Owned Suntechpaintingaz.com • High Quality Materials & Workmanship • Customer Satisfaction • Countless References • Free Estimates ROC #155380 ServingSinceAhwatukee1987 In Best of Ahwatukee Year After Year Painting ★ Interior/Exterior Painting ★ Drywall Repair & Installation ★ Popcorn Ceiling Removal ★ Elastomaric Roof Coating ★ Epoxy Floors ★ Small Job Specialist “We get your house looking top notch!” Scott Mewborn, Owner 480-818-1789 License #ROC 298736 PAINTING Interior & ReferencesSeniorDrywallFreeResidential/CommercialExteriorEstimatesRepairsDiscountsAvailable (602) 502-1655 — Call Jason — Drain Cleaning Experts, water heaters, disposals, water & sewer lines reRapidpaired/replaced&remodels.Response. If water runs through it we do 602-663-8432it! Pool Service / Repair BESTOF 2019 Monthly Service & Repairs Available Licensed, Bonded & www.barefootpoolman.comROC#272001InsuredSeeourBeforesandAftersonFacebook7665 Call Juan 480-720-3840at Not a licensed contractor. 25 Years Experience • Dependable & Reliable POOL REPAIR Pebble cracking, Plaster peeling, Rebar showing, Pool Light out? I CAN HELP! Juan Hernandez Pavers • Concrete • Water Features • Sprinkler Repair SPECIAL! $500 OFF COMPLETE REMODEL! Roofing Over 30 Years of Experience Family Operated by 3 Generations of Roofers! FREE Estimates • Credit Cards OK www.spencer4hireroofing.com ROC#244850 | Insured | Bonded Spencer4HIREROOFING Valley Wide Service 10% OFF with this ad Ahwatukee’s Premier Tile, Shingle & Foam Roofer! 480-446-7663 Watch for Garage Sales in easyYouClassifieds!willfindthemwiththeiryellowbackground.Only$2 7.50 includes 1 week online To place an ad please call:class480-898-6465 @TimesLocal Media.com Garage Sale Fri & Sat masonfurniture,Household,7a-11amclothes,kitchenitems,electronics,jars,kiditems,DVDs,MORE555W.LaneDrMesa CLASSIFIEDS 480-898-6465 We'llGetYour PhonetoRing! WeAccept: 480-898-6465CLASSIFIEDSclass@ Times LocalMedia.com

51AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS | SEPTEMBER 7, 2022 CLASSIFIEDS HOME FOR RENT? Place it here! 81% of our readers, read the Classifieds! Call Classifieds 480 898 6465 Roofing MonsoonRoofingInc.com Licensed – Bonded – Insured – ROC187561 10% Discount for Ahwatukee Residents 100% NO Leak Guarantee Re-Roof & Roofing Repairs Tile, Shingles & Flat Roof 480-699-2754 • info@monsoonroofinginc.com Public Notices Atlas Tower 1, LLC proposes the construction of a 8 5 ft. Self Supporting communications tower (89 f t with appeturances) located at 6240 SUNBIRD Blvd C handler AZ 85249 at latitude 33°12'45.036” N (NAD83) and longitude 111°48'39.168”W (NAD83) T he proposed tower will not require lighting fo r F AA aviation safety. The proposed tower can b e i dentified by FCC Form 854 File Numbe r A 1221431. Interested persons may review the ap plication by going to www.fcc.gov/asr/application s a nd entering the FCC Form 854 File Numbe r A 1221431. Interested persons may raise environ mental concerns about the proposed structure by fil i ng a Request for Environmental Review with th e Federal Communications Commission. The Federal Communications Commission strongly encourages interested parties to file Requests for Environmental Review online; instructions for making such filings can be found at www.fcc.gov/asr/environmentalre quest. The mailing address for interested parties tha t would prefer to file a Request for Environmental Re view by paper copy: FCC Requests for Environment al Review, Attn: Ramon Williams, 445 12th Street SW, Washington, DC 20554. Published: Ahwatukee Foothills News, Sept. 7, 2022 / 49019 Serving All Types of Roofing: • Tiles & Shingles • Installation • Repair • Re-Roofing FREE ESTIMATES sunlandroofingllc@gmail.com 602-471-2346 Clean, Prompt, Friendly and Professional Service Not a contractorlicensed Tiles, shingles, flat, repairs & new work Free Estimates • Ahwatukee Resident Over 30 yrs. Experience 480-706-1453 Licensed/Bonded/Insured • ROC #236099 AZROC #283571 | CONTRACTOR LIC. AZROC #312804 CLASS CR4 FULLY INSURED TILESPECIALISTSROOFING 10% OFF UNDERLAYMENTCOMPLETE desertsandscontracting.comFlatandFoamRoofExperts! FREE ESTIMATES 602-736-3019 FLAT ROOFS | SHINGLES | TEAR OFFS | NEW ROOFS | REPAIRS TILE UNDERLAYMENT | TILE REPAIR | LEADERS | COPPER ALUMINUM COATINGS | GUTTERS | SKYLIGHTS Commercial & Residential Family Owned & Operated Roofing DesertRoofingMountain ROC #148089 Serving Awatukee for 22 years Tile, shingle and flat roofs Leak Repair Specialist (480) 703-8034 Roofing LICENSED | BONDED | INSURED | ROC #269218 $1000 OFF when you show this ad *on qualifying complete roof replacements Let Us Show You The IN-EX Difference! www.InExRoofing. c om 602-938-7575CallforyourFREE Roof Evaluation Today! PhillipsRoofing@cox.netPhillipsRoofing.org PHILLIPS ROOFING LLC Family Owned and Operated 43 Years Experience in Arizona COMMERCIAL AND RESIDENTIAL Licensed 2006 ROC InsuredBonded223367 623-873-1626 Free Estimates Monday through Saturday Roofing Family Operated by 3 Generations of Roofers! We have a “Spencer” on every job and every step of the way. FREE Estimates • Credit Cards OK www.spencer4hireroofing.com ROC#244850 | Insured | Bonded Ahwatukee’s Premier Tile, Shingle & Foam Roofer! 480-446-7663 Quality Repairs & Re-Roofs Call our office today! 480-460-7602 Family Owned & Operated for over 30 years Complimentary & Honest Estimates ROC #152111 Ask us about our discount for all Military and First Responders! Licensed,www.porterroofinginc.comBonded,Insured ROC152111 See MORE www.Ahwatukee.comOnline!Ads CALL CLASSIFIEDS 480-898-6465 We'llGetYourPhonetoRing!

52 AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS | SEPTEMBER 7, 2022CLASSIFIEDS A + Rating 480-725-7303 Some restrictions apply. See website for additional information. Special rebates and nancing o ers are valid on qualifying equipment and pre-approved credit. O ers expire 12/31/2022. www.BrewersAC.com SINCE 1982 ROC #C39-312643 Service Call (with repair) Second OpinionFREEFREE We offer Big Savings and Great Financing! YOUR HOMETOWN AIR CONDITIONING SPECIALIST ServingCelebrating40YearsTheValley! We are offering $40 OFF our Brewer’s Deluxe 20 point Tune up DOG DAYS OF SUMMER ARE HERE! Ask about our INDOOR REME HALO ® IN-DUCT AIR PURIFIER! Just in time for Haboob SeasonOFF BESTOF 2021 40 Serving the Central Valley Years

AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS, SEPTEMBER 7, 2022

Articles inside

SPORTS

OPINION

BUSINESS