AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS, SEPTEMBER 28, 2022

BY PAUL MARYNIAK AFN Executive Editor

SylviaCharbonneau has been lucky for the 15 years she has lived on the east side of 48th Street just north of Elliot Road.

While Ahwatukee residents for at least six years have complained of reckless motorists zooming along the 40 m.p.h. street at freeway speeds, Charbonneau said she hasn’t seen any around her.

Her luck ran out on Sept. 18.

Three days later, it ran out again.

And if you count what happened to her neighbor three doors down on Sept. 18, three

accidents occurred at or near Charbonneau’s home in a four-day span last week.

While no one died or even sustained seri ous injuries in those three accidents, accumu lated they further fueled Ahwatukee residents’ alarm over careless and often lawless motor ists creating havoc on their roads.

Phoenix City Council earlier this month signed off on a plan to target millions of dol lars to address an alarming increase in motor vehicle accidents – including fatal crashes.

But the “Road Safety Action Plan: Moving to Vision Zero” doesn’t pay much attention to Ahwatukee.

For example, of 42 intersections targeted for

the first five years of the plan because they are part of what the city calls the “High Injury Net work,” only one is in Ahwatukee – 48th Street and Chandler Boulevard. The next closest in tersection included in that network is 48th Street and Baseline Road.

The data presented in the plan covers 20152019, so it doesn’t cover the alarming number of accidents at 17th Avenue and Liberty Lane – which City Council candidate Moses San chez of Ahwatukee discussed at an Ahwatukee Foothills Chamber of Commerce election fo rum Sept. 13.

BY ZACH ALVIRA AFN Sports Editor

Gill was familiar with the Ahwatu kee Bowl before he was hired to take over Desert Vista in January. He knew 26th rendition of the Ahwatukee Mountain Pointe and Desert Vista new face leading the Thunder, Nate Gill was hired last January to take over. Senior linebacker Antonio Delgado has been in his ear about what this game means, while Mountain Pointe coach Eric Lauer senior running back Jay’len Rushing are well aware. (Dave Minton/AFN Photographer)

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

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Kiwanis baby shower helps desperate moms

AFN NEWS STAFF

Overthe past few years, the Kiwanis Club of Ahwatukee’s baby shower for teen foster moms and moms-tobe has become a community effort, involv ing volunteers and donors ranging from high school students to senior citizens.

No matter their age, they share a com mon goal: helping desperate teens who have little to no hope of help, say Andi Pettyjohn and Annlouise Ferguson, two of the Kiwanians who help organize the do nation drive and actual event.

Ferguson recalled that after one shower, she visited the Phoenix Dream Center, a nonprofit that works with fos ter kids as a part of its mission to fight human trafficking.

While a center worker helped Fergu son unload laundry baskets full of baby gear, Ferguson recalled, “He asked, ‘Why do you do this? These girls expect judge ment, not generosity.’”

That’s why, Ferguson said, the baby shower has become a mission “about do ing the unexpected.”

“Honestly, these girls have nothing and most have no family support,” she ex plained. “They come to the baby shower tentative and some fearful but they leave with a lighter attitude.”

Pettyjohn talks of a foster care case manager who phoned her after the baby shower and thanked her because after the baby shower a foster teen mom got excited and committed to her decision to keep her baby.

“Our volunteers, when requested, help the moms think about clothing seasonally appropriate for their baby as they grow,” Ferguson said.

“This gently used clothing and baby gear comes from the generous people in Ahwatukee. The moms often focus only on the present and have a difficult time thinking ahead. I think that’s a product of their maturity and the crisis lifestyle most have experienced growing up.”

For some teens, the mission touches on their personal lives, she added.

WARNING!

PERIPHERAL NEUROPATHY AND CHRONIC PAIN TREATMENTS

NOT WORKING!!

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 effects.

The 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

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 action.

Thankfully, 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.

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!

THE GREAT NEWS IS THAT THIS TREATMENT IS COVERED BY MEDICARE, MEDICAID, AND MOST INSURANCES!!

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, 2022. Call (480) 274 3157 to make an appointment

Due to our very busy office schedule, we are limiting this offer to the first 10 c allers Y OU DO NOT HAVE TO SUFFER ANOTHER MINUTE, CALL (480) 274 3157 NOW!!

We are extremely busy, so we are unavailable, please leave a voice message and we will get back to you as soon as possible.

LA CASA DE JUANA

DELIVERS A KNOCKOUT WITH ITS FRESH, AUTHENTIC AND MOUTHWATERING FOOD

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

Don’t hesitate to stop by the Ahwatukee location 3941 E. Chandler Blvd. (S/W corner Chandler & 40th St) to make your next reservation call 480-823-2834 www.juanashouse.com

As displayed in figure 1 above, the nerves are surrounded by diseased, withered blood vessels. A lack of sufficient nutrients means the nerves

Effective neuropathy treatment relies on the following three factors:

Depending on your coverage, your peripheral neuropathy treatment could cost almost nothing – or be absolutely free.

Aspen Medical 4540 E Baseline Rd., Suite 119 Mesa AZ 85206 *(480) 274-3157* E Mesa Az

“When we called for volunteers,” Fergu son said, one student told her “‘that hap pened to someone I know. I want to give back.’”

That kind of response prompts Fergu son to declare, “The philanthropic future of Ahwatukee is rich.”

Among community volunteers who have donated numerous hours to orga nizing and conducting the baby shower are Melissa Marchetta, Stacy Rasmussen, Carl Tolleson, Ellie Webb, Horizon Honors Key Club, the staff at the Ahwatukee Event Center, Mountain View Lutheran Church, Primrose School, Vision Community Man agement.

Also devoting countless hours with Pet tyjohn and Ferguson is the rest of the Ah watukee Kiwanis Planning Team: Carrie Chipman, Linda Jochim, Debbie Sullivan and Margie Walton.

Pettyjohn said the volunteers all recog nize the typical teen foster mom’s plight.

“A teen in foster care is alone herself and now she has or is expecting a baby that is not covered financially by the foster sys tem because the baby is not a foster child,” she said.

“These young women are alone in their pregnancy and parenting experience with out family and friends to support them. They can use our help to make it easier for them to ‘beat the odds’ in this hard life.”

Teen moms in foster care will be given a “baby shower experience” complete with refreshments and gifts for their babies.

They are invited to “shop” for free from the gently used clothing and necessities for their babies.

Leftover donations will be given to other agencies that help moms in crisis. Foster teens who have recently aged out of foster care and foster parents who are fostering babies will also benefit from the donations.

There are multiple ways that people can help – including volunteering their time to help set up the shower on Sept. 29 and 30.

New baby clothing and necessities that are needed include disposable diapers, baby wipes, baby bottles and sippy cups, bibs, pacifiers, clothes for infants to size 4T, diaper backpacks and receiving blankets.

Items can be dropped off at the follow ing locations: Ahwatukee Event Center, 4700 E. Warner Road; Mountain View Lutheran Church, 11002 S. 48th St.; Prim rose, 3922 E. Chandler Blvd.; and Vision Community Management, 16625 S. Desert Foothills Pkwy.

The club also has a baby registry on a link at amazon.com, which enable people to place an order for shipment to a Kiwan is volunteer. That directory is at amazon. com/baby-reg/kiwanisclubofahwatu kee-communitybabyshower-october2022-phoenix/O6U8QSPFASK0.

Monetary donations can be made on our Kiwanis website ahwatukeekiwanis.org or mailed to Ahwatukee Kiwanis, PO Box 50596, Phx., AZ 85076

People who have questions can contact Annlouise at 480-221-1051 or info@ahwatukeekiwanis.org. 

BY JOSH ORTEGA Tribune Staff Writer

As fentanyl overdoses rise, a new study found nearly half of Arizona teenagers never heard of the drug.

The biennial 2022 Arizona Youth Sur vey found 47% of 8th graders had never heard of fentanyl, compared with 33% of 10th graders and 25% of 12th graders.

“There’s this very large gap between information and understanding about this dangerous drug in our youth,” said Andrew LeFevre, executive director of the Arizona Criminal Justice Commission, which conducted the biennial survey.

Survey finds teens unaware of fentanyl danger Criminal Justice Commission Execu tive Director Andrew Lefevre said the sur vey shows a disturbing lack of knowledge about fentanyl’s dangers among Arizona teens. (David Minton/AFN Staff Photographer)

LeFevre said this is the first year the commission asked specific question about fentanyl and already it’s a troubling stat about the “number one threat” in the state.

Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid prescribed for pain that’s 50 to 100 times more po tent than morphine.

From 2017 to 2021, over 1,100 people under the age of 24 died of an opioid over dose, according to the Arizona Depart ment of Health Services.

Over 70% of the fentanyl seized com ing into the U.S. enters through Arizona, LeFevre said. “We are the main highway for fentanyl pills,” LeFevre said.

The survey gathered input from 50,000 students from every county in Arizona.

More than 300 schools participated in the survey and LeFevre said each one will receive an individualized report.

The results of the survey were present ed in conjunction with the fifth annual Arizona Drug Summit hosted by Arizona High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Ex ecutive Director Dawn Mertz and Yavapai County Attorney Sheila Polk.

HIDTA facilitates, supports and en hances collaborative efforts for drug control efforts among law enforcement and community-based organizations in the state.

Largely, the survey revealed a decline in overall substance use over the last six years.

Of 12th graders reported in the study, the most commonly abused substance in a 30-day period is alcohol at 23%, mari juana at 18%, e-cigarettes at 15%, and marijuana concentrates at 14%.

The youth survey is mandated by state law and helps school administrators and planners at the city, county and state-level determine how to best help students with issues that directly pertain to them.

The survey helps examine significant community issues, modify or redesign existing projects or policies, as well as se cure funding, and design and implement new projects or policies.

Outside of law enforcement, Lefevre said education remains the first and foremost thing people can do to help young people and parents understand the drug's dangers.

Shari Dukes helped speak on this matter from a parent’s perspective.

Dukes’ son Ethan died in 2019 from an overdose with one pill laced with Fentanyl, a fact she only found out after his autopsy.

Dukes, who for more than 40 years was a school administrator with the J.O. Combs Unified School District, Dukes said she had conversations with her son about drugs.

But Dukes said when she read that drug on the autopsy report, it shocked her.

“I didn’t even know how to spell it,” Dukes said.

At 16 years old Ethan lived as “a very active young man” involved in advanced classes and sports, his mother said.

Though he battled depression in the year leading up to this death, Dukes said

this one “misguided” decision impacted her son’s entire life.

Dukes said the “one pill can kill” routine doesn’t work for her, and that’s why she said it’s her mission to inform the public about the dangers of fentanyl.

“One pill killed my son,” Dukes said. “And that’s what I want people to know.”

Like most parents, Dukes said she be lieved her child wouldn’t die, much less before her.

“He is always going to be gone, and I will always love him,” Dukes said. “But we as parents need to make sure that this does not happen to anyone else by talking to our kids.”

Dukes said the problem permeates our entire society and threatens youth from all classes and all areas.

“There’s not a few kids, it’s not ‘those kids,’” Dukes said. “It’s all our kids that we need to make sure that we are addressing, we are supporting, we are loving, we are nurturing, we are showing up for.”

In order to start the conversation, Dukes said parents should be open and speak with their kids as if it’s the last conversa tion they have with them.

Dukes still remembers exchanging “I love yous and the last “I’ll see in the morn ing, mom” Ethan said on that fateful Fri day night in February 2019.

Dukes would find Ethan still in his bed that Saturday morning and said she lives with the grim reality every day: There are no more mornings.

“I just plead with parents to please talk to your child, no matter how difficult,” Dukes said. “It is much easier than stand ing right here talking to you about my child who has died.”

The AYS looked at other issues be yond substance use including adverse

San Tan Valley mom Shari Dukes talked about her 16-year-old son’s death from a Fentanyl overdose. (David Minton/AFN Staff Photographer)

childhood experiences, risk and protec tive factors, handgun use and violence exposure, dangerous driving, and gang involvement.

More than 60% of students reported at least one adverse childhood experience.

The most frequent reported include if their parents ever separated or divorced (40%), living with adults who insulted or put them down (32%), or living with an alcoholic (30%).

According to the American Journal of Preventive Medicine, research has estab lished a link between early childhood ex periences of abuse or neglect and negative outcomes later in life.

The study also asked students about risk and preventive factors.

Only 31% of students reported they had a high risk “of engaging in problem behaviors.”

Approximately 61% of students report ed they had a high protection among their

City finds little cheer in bigger budget surplus

TheCity of Phoenix saw a bigger bud get surplus from the 2021-22 fiscal year than officials expected.

City Manager Jeff Barton told City Coun cil in a memo last week that General Fund revenues of $224.4 million exceeded the original estimate by $39 million and that the extra money will become part of the 2023-24 spending plan.

Actually, total revenue of nearly $1.5 bil lion exceeded estimates by $45.8 million, Barton said, but $7.3 million had to be transferred to the city’s self-insurance re serve and workmen’s compensation fund to meet legal obligations, he said.

Barton said the primary reason why revenue exceeded estimates “is primar ily due to more-than-estimated (job) va cancy savings.”

But Barton wasn’t celebrating that fact.

“City departments are having a very dif ficult time recruiting and retaining em ployees due to the competitive labor mar ket,” he wrote.

But Barton offered other reasons why the unexpected surplus offered no reason for cheer as he painted an overall forecast for 2023-24 that is fraught with uncertainties.

He noted that the past two budget cycles have made revenue forecasting “extreme ly difficult in part due to the COVID-19 pandemic and more recently increased economic uncertainty.”

He said federal pandemic relief created “a remarkable, unprecedented” windfall and that high inflation pushed sales tax revenue well beyond what the city expected.

But that all will change, he said.

“The recent geopolitical crisis in Europe, market volatility and concerns of reces sion by economic professionals have all contributed to uncertainty about the di rection of the economy,” Barton wrote.

He said city budget staff “has taken a

community, family, school, and peer and individual environment.

Some of those include opportunities for prosocial involvement in school (69%), opportunities for prosocial involvement with family (57%), and belief in the Moral

cautious approach to estimating revenue and will continue to do so in order to en sure revenues are not projected too ag gressively in an uncertain economy.”

“The higher than anticipated ending fund balance is good news and will be beneficial as we move forward,” he said. “However, the City faces many fiscal chal lenges in the years ahead which will re quire strategic decision making to opti mize resources.”

Among those challenges will be the need to raise city employees’ salaries to compete in the job market, an increasing pressure to address aging infrastructure and city equipment and vehicles, cybersecurity enhancements, the impact of any U.S. Justice Department sanctions on Phoenix Police, diminishing tax revenue as the result of a recession and “potential reduction in state and federal funding or new unfunded state or federal man dates, including environmental require ments and attempts by the legislature to reduce taxes.”

Together with rising costs and the de mand for expanded city services, Barton said, all these budget items “add signifi cant pressure and uncertainty to the Gen eral Fund operating budget and creates challenges estimating City revenues and expenditures.”

On top of that, the city is anticipating higher police and fire pension costs – es pecially when it comes to paying down a more than $3.4 billion unfunded liability to the Public Safety Personnel Retire ment System – the largest pension debt of any governmental entity covered by the system.

Phoenix’s debt accounts for nearly half the $8.84 billion of the plan’s unfunded liability that existed at the close of the 2021-22 fiscal year on June 30.

Order (56%).

“Kids listen to parents,” LeFevre said. So, we need to have those conversations.”

For more information about the fentanyl crisis, visit the Substance Abuse Coalition Leaders of Arizona Toolkit at saclaz.org/toolkit.

AFN

SURVEY

Barton’s predecessor several years ago warned Phoenix City Council that the pen sion liability is a legal obligation and that it could impact what the city has to fund basic services if it was not addressed.

Former Phoenix City Manager Ed Zuercher in June 2021 outlined those consequences as he pushed to borrow $1 billion at a fixed-interest rate of about 3% to pay down part of the city’s total $5.4 billion pension debt – which includes other plans besides the $3.4 billion PSPRS debt. It pays a 7% rate on its back pay ments to PSPRS.

While expressing enthusiasm for Zu ercher’s proposal, Council never acted on it and interest rates on loans likely no lon ger make the plan feasible.

In his memo last week, Barton also outlined the schedule for presenting the 2023-24 budget, which will start with the release of an inventory of programs for that fiscal year on Feb. 2 followed three weeks later by a 5-year General Fund forecast.

Barton will release a trial budget on March 21, leading to hearings for several weeks in April. 

Legion Post 64 officers

Ahwatukee American Legion Post 64 conducted an Installation of new officers recently and included Roddy Charlton as adju tant and, in the group photo from left: Brenda Smull. First Vice Commander; Rebecca Schmidt, Chaplain; and Commander Peter Meier. Open to all men and women who served in the Armed Forces, Post 64 meets 4-5 p.m. every third Wednesday of the month at the Ahwatukee Rec Center, 5001 E. Cheyenne Drive, Ahwatukee. Information: Americanlegionpost64.com or 480-3264656. (Steve Smull/Special to AFN)

Lisa Miguel

Mountain Park Ranch Listed for $475,000

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 WILLING TO PARTICIPATE IN A RATE BUY DOWN!

Sun River

Call for Pricing!

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!

Gila Buttes

Listed for $389,000

2022 construction! Home has never been lived in! Single level home with open kitchen – 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 master 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

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 fl oor plan! Wood - look 20 mil 7’’x 48’’ vinyl plank fl ooring 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, upgraded faucets, toilets, lights and fi xtures. 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.

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!

SELLER WILLING TO PARTICIPATE IN A RATE BUY DOWN!

sistant before he was hired to take over in 2020, is also aware of its meaning.

But on the first time Gill witnesses the Ahwatukee Bowl as the Thunder head coach, he has the opportunity to see the game from a different perspective.

It’s an opportunity that excites him.

“Ever since I got here, everyone has wanted to talk about the ‘Tukee Bowl,” Gill said. “It’s a long-standing rivalry and one that is going to be highly competitive no matter what. It means just a little bit more and there’s been a huge point of emphasis ever since I got here on this game.”

Even with his excitement level elevated, Gill remains certain that his team has to treat it like any other game. Lauer shared the same sentiment.

But the Ahwatukee Bowl is far from just another game on the two teams’ schedule.

This game has seen it all. From blowouts to overtime bouts to close matchups that come down to the wire. The Ahwatukee Bowl has seen every possible outcome — including a post game brawl in Mountain Pointe’s parking lot between fans.

Last year, it took a game-winning sack from linebacker Antonio Delgado in over time for the Thunder to win. That also set the stage for playoff seedlings, dropping the Pride to No. 16 in the 6A Conference tournament and elevating the Thunder to No. 8, where they hosted a playoff game. Records don’t matter. What transpired in prior weeks doesn’t matter. All bets are

off when it comes to this game because of the environment.

“There’s nothing like it. Even with some of the crowd numbers down, some of these players may never play in front of a bigger crowd,” Lauer said. “It’s always been real cool to play in the ‘Tukee Bowl.

To be one of the biggest rivalries in the state, we have to encourage it and keep it going.

“Execution in that type of environment is going to be huge.”

This will be the first ‘Tukee Bowl game for Gill. He was hired last January after Desert Vista parted ways with former coach Ty Wisdom, who led the Thunder for a year.

Gill was previously at Sierra Linda, where he turned that program around. The Bulldogs had rivals, of course. Just like every other high school. But Gill knew the game between Desert Vista and Moun tain Pointe was different. He and Delgado frequently talked about his game-winning sack last year.

The close relationship between the two have also led to other conversations about the rivalry, including how much it would mean to Delgado and all the others to re tain the trophy.

“He’s been in college football, and he’s been coaching high school for years, so he knows what rivalries are like,” Delgado said. “But I don’t think he knows how big the ‘Tukee Bowl really is. It’ll be cool to see him find that out.

“Hopefully his first one and my last one are going to be good for us.”

While Delgado informed Gill on what to expect from this game, senior running back Jay’len Rushing heard all about it from Lauer.

Rushing, who used to live in Ahwatukee, has some knowledge of the game. But it

wasn’t until his first year on varsity as a sophomore that he really was made aware of what the game means at that level.

The message from Lauer has always been simple, as he tells his players to not become too emotional in a high-stakes game. But Rushing knows this is one that is circled on everyone’s calendars.

“We can’t let the hype get to us,” Rushing said. “The hype and everything is mostly for the fans. But, at the same time, you don’t want to lose to the other school in your community.

“My excitement is high because of what it is. But I feel like we’re really focused and it’s going to be a good game.”

When the 26th Ahwatukee Bowl kicks off on Thursday, Sept. 29 at Karl Kiefer Field at Mountain Pointe, it will be anoth er notch in the storied rivalry.

It’ll be exciting for both coaches, and maybe a whirlwind of a moment for Gill being the new face in the rivalry. He isn’t one to give dramatic pre-game speeches. And he won’t for this game, either.

But he knows his team will be fired up at the chance to once again have bragging rights. He already is.

“Everyone has a school they look for ward to competing against,” Gill said. “But the difference between that and a rivalry is having something that goes back and forth. This is undoubtedly one of the best rivalries in the state.

“I get excited to play in big games in gen eral. And for this to mean a little more to the community is more fun.” 

The 26th Ahwatukee Bowl will be played at Mountain Pointe. Desert Vista won it last year in overtime to take a 13-12 series lead. (Dave Minton/AFN Staff Photographer)

Mountain Pointe fans last year jammed the bleachers to root for the Pride during the 25th annual Ahwatukee Bowl. (Dave Minton/AFN Staff Photographer)

Desert Vista fans unfurled a huge American flag as they cheered on the Thunder in last year’s Ahwatukee Bowl. (Dave Minton/AFN Staff Photographer)

Summit School of Ahwatukee welcomed autumn last Wednesday with a wagon parade in which middle school students helped preschoolers before stepping off for a small procession. (1) Preschooler Bella Pensyl, 3, reaches out to high-five second grader Brooklyn Zuran, 7; (2) From left: eighth-graders Markus Wolownik, Wade Vankirk and Brady Hayes help preschooler Jimmy Peloso, 3, practice waving to the crowd; (3) Pre-K student Lily Preston reaches to give high-fives as she rides with Pre-K student Piper Evans and preschooler Shoshi Silver; (4) Pre-K students Margo Fuehrmeyer and Duke Dvorak wave at parents across the street/ (David Minton/AFN Staff Photographer)

BY HOWARD FISCHER Capitol Media Services

Aruling Friday by a Pima County Su perior Court judge over Arizona’s abortion restrictions is unlikely to resolve the issue.

And the legal fights to come could be not over what Kellie Johnson wrote in her 8-page ruling but what she didn’t say.

The judge made it clear she believes the June decision by the U.S. Supreme Court overturning its historic 1973 Roe v. Wade means states are now free to have their own abortion laws. And in the case of Arizona, Johnson said that means a ter ritorial-era law outlawing most abortions, never repealed after the 1973 ruling but enjoined since then, is now once again en forceable.

Only thing is, the judge never ruled in the legality of a measure approved earlier this year that allows women to terminate a pregnancy through the 15th week of gestation. All she said, in essence, is that the newer law does not supersede or re place provisions in the older one.

And as far as Gov. Doug Ducey is con cerned, the 15-week law he signed earlier this year took effect as scheduled on Sat urday, meaning there will be two abortion laws on the books -- and no clear answer as to which is enforceable.

He isn’t the only one pointing out the is sue – and the need to get clarification, if not from Johnson, then from an appellate level court.

“This decision to lift the injunction on the previously enjoined abortion ban, without clarifying how Arizona’s other existing laws interact with it, has created chaos and confusion’’ said a statement from Planned Parenthood of Arizona.

But Brittany Fonteno, the organization’s president, said that isn’t the only legal issue she believes is not settled despite Johnson’s ruling.

“Let me be clear, this is not the end of the fight,’’ she said. “This harmful ban has no place in Arizona and we will persist until that is achieved.’’

The fight is over a law that traces its roots back to 1864 which makes it a crime to perform an abortion except to save the

life of the mother. The statute, which car ries a penalty of up at least tow and as many as five years in state prison, has no exceptions for rape or incest.

About the only change in the last 158 years was a 2021 vote by lawmak ers to exempt the pregnant woman from any penalty.

Lawmakers never repealed the mea sure even after the Supreme Court voided abortion restrictions in 1973 and even af ter the state Court of Appeals, citing that ruling, enjoined its enforcement.

That left Arizona law allowing abortions up until fetal viability, something that gen erally is thought to occur between weeks 22 and 24, a restriction that Roe and sub sequent high court rulings allowed the state to enforce.

All that changed in June when the jus tices overturned Roe, returning the power to regulate or ban abortions outright. And Johnson, ruling on a request by Attorney General Mark Brnovich, decided that de cision required her to dissolve that injunc tion, bringing the law back to life.

She rejected arguments by attorneys from Planned Parenthood that abortion restrictions passed since 1973 effectively legalized the procedure and repealed the 1864 law. And Johnson specifically said that includes SB 1164, the 15-week ban approved by Arizona lawmakers earlier this year on the belief the justices would uphold a similar Mississippi law but leave Roe untouched.

Nor was she willing to accept a legal theory offered by Planned Parenthood that the ban on performing abortions applies only to non-medical personnel, with doctors subject to the laxer 15week limit.

But nothing in her ruling addresses whether that 15-week law also is legal, as Ducey contends.

Johnson acknowledged her Friday rul ing was designed solely to deal with whether to dissolve that 1973 injunction.

“While there may be legal questions the

parties seek to resolve regarding Arizona statutes on abortion, those questions are not for this court to decide here,’’ the judge wrote.

Aside from the 15-week law, there’s also the issue of the constitutionality of the near total ban.

There have been arguments advanced that the statute runs afoul of the privacy provision of the Arizona Constitution. In fact, Kris Mayes, the Democrat candidate for attorney general, has advanced that theory and promised not to enforce the law if elected.

Johnson’s ruling drew criticism from a variety of sources.

Much of that came from Democrats run ning for office, including gubernatorial hopefil Katie Hobbs and Kris Mayes who wants to be attorney general. Both have sought to use the issue -- and their foes support for outlawing abortion -- to gen erate votes in what could be close general election contests.

Politics also figured into the condemna tion of the ruling by the Committee to Pro tect Health Care, an association of doctors.

“Physicians are outraged by this court decision and the fact that (Republican candidate for governor) Kari Lake has indicated she would work to enforce this cruel law as governor,’’ said Dr. Cadey Harrel, a Tucson family physician and the committee’s Arizona state lead.

“This dangerous and archaic ban will take away Arizonans’ autonomy over their own bodies and livelihood, and put them at risk of severe health issues and even death,’’ she said in her statement. “When complications arise during pregnancy, doctors need to be able to provide the full range of treatment options, including abortion, to ensure the best outcomes for our patients.’’

Lake, who previously called abortion “the execution of the baby in the moth er’s womb,’’ neither issued a statement on the ruling nor responded to a request for comment.  have two abortion laws

“We’ve had 15 accidents on that corner – more than 15 and one that was fatal – in less than a year,” Sanchez said. “When you call the City of Phoenix and you say ‘Hey, can we do something about this?’ You know what they say? They say, ‘The devel oper is building … out there. Don’t worry, they’ll put a stoplight out there.’ When you call the developer, the developer says the City of Phoenix is going to take care of it.”

“This is how city leaders have been treating Ahwatukee for years,” Sanchez continued. “I’ve been calling on them ev ery time: ‘Can we get a stoplight? A stop sign? A roundabout? Anything?’ And it’s not just 17th Avenue and Liberty. It’s 17th Avenue and Chandler. It’s 48th Street and Ray. You go through all of our community, you can find speedsters….This is horrible. We need to fix that.”

Also not mentioned in the plan are west Ahwatukee residents’ frequent complaints about speeding along Chandler Boulevard, especially in Foothills Reserve/

Last week, a resident posted a photo of a pickup truck zipping along the turn lane on Chandler Boulevard.

Scary series of crashes

The first accident around Charbon neau’s house occurred about 4:30 a.m. Sept. 18, when a car slammed through the concrete wall of her neighbor two doors down and ended up in the backyard pool.

Less than eight hours later, around 12:45 p.m., Charbonneau was driving home when “I saw all these different cars – and then I saw a gaping hole in my back wall.”

After he had slammed through her wall, the 70-year-old driver – who was unli censed and uninsured – tried walking away until neighbors stopped him.

Charbonneau had barely begun trying

to figure out how she will pay the $1,000 deductible from her home insurance to cover an estimated $6,574.11 worth of damage to her wall when she got a phone call on Sept. 21.

A neighbor called to tell her the driver of a pickup truck punctured another part of her wall. She was told the driver fell asleep and lost control, though police took him into custody.

Though he was insured, Charbonneau still must cough up another $1,000 for the damage he caused while her home insurer fights with his insurance company to re imburse her out-of-pocket costs not only for repairing the wall, but also personal belongings and a shed. Debris landed in her pool and she had not yet found out if it damaged her pool.

Charbonneau is well aware of the nu merous complaints that have been made about speeding motorists along 48th Street, though she added, “It just seems weird that there’ve been three accidents in four days.

“This is my opinion but I think it’s hap pening due to the construction on the (I10) freeway. The way they’ve narrowed the lanes, people don’t want to hassle, so they take 48th Street as a shortcut. On the weekend, they’ve actually blocked off part of the freeway and they direct people to use 48th,” she said.

But complaints about 48th Street speed ing long pre-date the massive I-10 Broad way Curve project.

During community meetings that were called “Tukee Talks” more than four years

ago, speeding along 48th Street was con sistently brought up.

During several sessions in 2017 and early 2018, officers from Phoenix Police Department’s South Mountain Precinct, which covers Ahwatukee, promised to beef up patrols.

Whether they did is unclear. The de partment discontinued Tukee Talks in August 2018.

Road safety plan

On Sept. 7, City Council unanimously ap proved the Street Transportation Depart ment’s Road Safety Action Plan, which promised “a data-driven, decision-making process to identify and prioritize safety improvements with a ‘Five E’s’ approach – Evaluation, Education Engineering, En forcement and Equity.”

It is allocating $10 million a year to im plement the plan with a combination of city, local and federal funding.

The plan said that “unofficial data in dicates that 231 people died on Phoenix streets in 2021, which is an increase of 25% from 2020.”

It also noted that as of July 31, 137 fa talities have occurred in Phoenix this year and that at that rate, 2022 will be an even deadlier year than 2021 – the deadliest for traffic fatalities in Phoenix’s history.

The plan aims for zero traffic deaths by 2050, starting with a 25% reduction in 2027 and a 65% cut by 2035.

Currently, the plan states, Phoenix sees 83 crashes a day and a fatality every other day.

While City Council on Sept. 7 enthusi astically endorsed the plan, some resi dents and council members expressed some concerns.

“There’s still a sense of anxiety among

the different groups that have been in volved in road safety,” said Ryan Boyd of the Urban Phoenix Project, expressing concern that city officials would end up fo cusing all their attention on education and enforcement and little on infrastructure improvements to improve traffic safety in the city.

Councilwoman Yassamin Ansari noted that Phoenix now ranks third in the na tion for traffic fatalities and said the safety plan’s planned spending means the city will be spending $5 per resident annually to save lives and reduce crashes.

But Councilman Carlos Garcia expressed concern about spending too much money and attention on traffic enforcement and said he wants the city to focus on engi neering and equity.

That won’t be a problem, according to Street Transportation Director Kini Knud son, who said, “It will take a lot more coor dination to work through the enforcement ones.”

Councilman Sal DiCiccio said the city needs to address “low hanging fruit” like improved lighting along blocks between street crossings, which he said might curb

mid-block jaywalking accidents, and lon ger yellow lights for signals.

Knudson also noted that the High Injury Network is not a static document but rath er captures data at intersections at one point in time and the city will continually gather data to “see where our worst areas are to make sure we’re investing our re sources there.”

Several council members also ex pressed concern that enough attention wasn’t being paid by the Road Safety Ac tion Plan to dangerous thoroughfares in their district.

To allay those concerns, Knudson said, “Even if they are not on the High Injury Network…it doesn’t mean we don’t have other programs within our department that are able to do roadway improvements or HAWK intersection improvements that aren’t necessarily related to the spending of the Road Safety Action Plan monies.”

And after the vote, Mayor Kate Gallego declared, “We are on the roadway to im provement. We’re going to work hard to make sure this is a great city for pedestri ans, bicyclists, people who travel by car. I’m also hoping that with our timing, we will have a very safe Super Bowl coming up as well. So very exciting.” 

Speeding motorists on Phoenix streets have injured hundreds of people and killed scores. City officials say attacking the problem requires education, engineering and enforcement. (City of Phoenix)

GOP elections chief candidate defends riot attendance

BY HOWARD FISCHER Capitol Media Services

TheRepublican candidate for sec retary of state defended his atten dance at the Jan. 6, 2021 riot, say ing his presence there did not make him a participant.

“The last time I checked, being at a place where something’s happening is not ille gal,’’ said Mark Finchem.

During a half-hour televised debate Sept. 22, Finchem said he went to Wash ington to deliver a “book of evidence’’ to federal lawmakers about claimed irregu larities in the 2020 vote in Arizona – ma terial that came out of a hearing in Phoe nix involving attorney Rudy Giuliani and other Trump supporters.

Democrat Adrian Fontes said he does not buy that explanation. And he said it shows that Finchem was not interested in following the legal procedures to contest the election results.

“What he did is engage in a violent in surrection and try to overturn the very Constitution that holds this nation togeth er,’’ Fontes said.

Finchem responded, “For him to assert that I was part of a criminal uprising is ab surd and frankly, it is a lie.”

There is no evidence Finchem entered the Capitol as Congress was certifying the Electoral College win for Joe Biden. He was, however, part of the crowd just outside. He posted a photo on Twitter of the rioters, saying this is “what happens when people feel they have been ignored, and Congress refuses to acknowledge ram pant fraud.’’

Some of the debate focused on Finchem’s continued insistence the 2020 election was stolen from Trump.

Finchem previously said he would not have certified the results. But on Thurs day, he dodged the issue.

“There are too many hypotheticals to really answer that question because we didn’t know what we knew after the elec tion until after certification of the canvass occurred,’’ Finchem said. “But knowing what we know today, there are certain counties that should have been set aside as irredeemably compromised,’’ he said, specifically naming Maricopa and Yuma counties.

“We’ve got the evidence,’’ Finchem said.

“The media has just refused to look at it.’’

For example, he said there are more than 140,000 ballot images out of Marico pa County that were “allegedly scanned by Dominion equipment’’ that have no audit head stamp. And he pointed out that three people have pleaded guilty in Yuma Coun ty to “ballot harvesting,’’ including filling out and casting ballots for others.

Finchem, however, provided no answer of what he believes should have been done at the time.

“I’m not talking about overturning an election,’’ he said. But he said there needs to be some remedy when an election is “mismanaged,’’ especially if there is evi dence it altered the outcome.

Fontes said he sees something else be hind the conspiracy theories about the 2020 vote.

“What we now have is an entire set of fiction that has somehow managed to make a lot of money for some people out side of the regular norms that we expect,’’ he said. “This is a chaotic way of redress ing a political loss.’’

But much of the discussion was about who was fit to be not only the state’s chief election officer but also first in the line of succession if the governor leaves office.

“You can decide between community building and stability or conspiracy theories and cantankerousness,’’ Fontes said. And he said the “conspiracy theo

ries and lies’’ advanced by Finchem “end up eroding the faith we have in each oth er as citizens.’’

Finchem, for his part, pointed out that Fontes, then the Maricopa County re corder, had to be stopped by a judge from pursuing his plan in the 2020 presidential preference primary to send ballots to all voters, regardless of whether or not they had asked for an early ballot.

Fontes, for his part, was unapologetic. He said he was trying to address the fact that there were people who, due to the COVID outbreak, were afraid to leave their homes.

Finchem also cited problems in the Au gust 2018 primary where some polling places did not open on time.

“In fact, people stood in line for hours,’’ said Finchem. “He was fired by the taxpay ers,’’ noting Fontes’ loss in his 2020 bid for reelection.

Finchem also took a shot at Katie Hobbs, the current holder of the office.

“I am running for secretary of state to restore honor, to restore integrity, to re store security to the secretary of state’s office,’’ he said. And Finchem said the per son in that position should not be making law but following the laws approved by the legislature.

He used that to dodge questions about whether he wants to kill early voting, a system that has proven wildly popular, what with close to nine out of every 10

ballots cast in 2020 sent early to voters.

“That is up to the legislature,’’ he said.

“But you’ve called for that,’’ Fontes in terjected.

“What I want doesn’t matter,’’ Finchem responded.

Fontes said if Finchem got his way, the only way to vote would be on Election Day, standing in line at an assigned poll ing place.

“What if you’re one of Arizona’s hun dreds of thousands older voters, or a dis abled veteran?’’ Fontes asked.

Finchem called that a “false choice,’’ saying he supports “absentee votes,’’ like in Tennessee. That state allows ballots to be mailed, but only to people who meet certain conditions like being 60 or older, being outside the county on Elec tion Day, or being hospitalized or physi cally disabled.

That is similar to the system Arizona had prior to 1991 when the Republicancontrolled legislature enacted the current “no excuse’’ early voting. A lawsuit by the Arizona Republican Party to scrap that law was dismissed earlier this year. 

Mark Finchem, left, the Republican candidate for Arizona secretary of state, and his Democratic opponent, former Maricopa County Recorder Adrian Fontes, debated election security and other issues. (Arizona Citizens Clean Elections Commission)

BY PAUL MARYNIAK AFN Executive Editor

By day, Erin Helm of Ahwatu kee is a pretty busy woman as executive director of Kyrene School District’s marketing, com munications and strategic partner ship development.

By night, the married mother of 6-year-old twin daughters also is a pretty busy woman who goes by the name of Erin Jade Lange.

As Lange, she penned five young adult novels, including her first, “Butter,” which became a motion picture that played in hundreds of multiplexes across the country ear lier this year, is streaming on mul tiple platforms like Vudu and Starz.

And as of yesterday, June 27, Lange’s sixth novel hit brick-andmortar and online bookshelves, rid ing the wave of a genre that – par don the pun – never seems to get old: vampires.

“Mere Mortals” tells the story of two vampire siblings, Charlotte and Reginald Drake, who have been teenagers for centuries.

But because they broke “vam pire law,” Lange explained, they are transformed into mere mortals.

Figuring out the plot’s broad out line is a no-brainer, given the novel’s tagline: “Even vampires deserve a coming-of-age story.”

What ensues after their fall from immortality, Erin said, is that while they try to get their vampire back

on, “they’re having to navigate high school and going through all the things that any human teen ager goes through, which is making friends and falling in love and trying to figure out where you fit in.”

“Mere Mortals” is not aimed at vampire fiction fans who prefer the creepy and bloody atmospherics of Bram Stoker or Anne Rice.

Ahwatukee YA novelist’s new book turns vampire theme on its head Esperanza Lutheran takes lead in major hunger walk

Rather, it explores themes that have made young adult fiction a thriving subset of the literary mar ket – and one where “Butter” be came a hit, resonating among teens with its themes of bullying, social media’s power and the desire to be long. Indeed, over the last 10 years, Ahwatukee novelist Erin Jade Lange, known in real life as Erin Helm, and her husband Matt Helm have 6-year-old twin daugh ters, Harper and Grace. (David Minton/AFN Staff Photographer)see LANGE

across the nation.

As Asia and Europe struggled to re cover from World War II, 17 Chris tian organizations in 1947 banded together to form a global nonprofit called Church World Service that still comes to the aid of people around the world.

That effort has evolved into a num ber of different campaigns that include a series of walks to support the Chris tian Rural Overseas Program, or CROP, which CWS says began in 1947 to help Midwest farmers share grain with needy people abroad.

But the CROP Walk for Hunger really propelled its way to the national scene in 1969, when a Pennsylvania Lutheran minister heard about that effort and de cided to try and get young people to join the effort.

That fueled an exponential growth of the hunger walks, which now are held in more than 2,000 communities annually

This year, members of Esperanza Lu theran Church are adding Ahwatukee to that list of CROP Hunger Walks, whose goal is “ending hunger one step at a time” both in America and around the world.

Esperanza members Beth Leaf, Mi chelle Tinsley, Randy Wright, Peggy Han son, Craig Peck, Chris Armfield and Larry Hanson have organized the Ahwatukee Foothills CROP Hunger Walk to raise money with a 1-mile or 3.4-mile walk that will begin at 3:30 p.m. Nov. 13 at Desert Foothills Park, 1010 Marketplace SW, Ahwatukee.

The organizers hope to raise $25,000, of which 75% will go to Church World Ser vice to support its global mission and the remaining 25% donated to Kyrene Family Resource Center, which provides food and

Esperanza Lutheran Church members are organizing the Ahwatukee Foothills CROP Hunger Walk Nov. 13. From left, members are Beth Leaf, Michelle Tinsley, Randy Wright, Peggy Han son, Craig Peck, Chris Armfield and Larry Hanson. (David Minton/AFN Staff Photographer)

Lange said, some schools have adopted “Butter” as part of its curriculum.

“I write a lot of contemporary young adult literature but I primarily read fanta sy and paranormal, but it’s actually more in line with my reading taste than what in the past had been my writing taste,” Lange said of the new book.

“Truly, they spend so much of the book as humans navigating high school that it feels very much in my same kind of genre,” she continued. “But the world-building was different. There’s a lot involved in try ing to come up with what is vampire lore and how do they fit into the world as we know it. And so that was challenging and really fun to do.”

Lange said that while she likes the gritti er vampire works, “Mere Mortals” is more influenced by the TV hit of a quarter cen tury ago, “Buffy the Vampire Slayer,” which won a huge following for its campy horror, sci fi and young adult themes.

Her novel took some time to come to fruition.

“Everybody’s heard a story of the human turned into a vampire and figuring out their new immortality,” Lange explained. “I was struck one day with the question, ‘well, what if a vampire was turned back into a human and had to struggle with their new mortality?’

“And that question kind of cracked open this idea for a book,” she continued.

“The first time I had the idea for it was like a good eight, nine years ago. And at that time, vampires had still been such a glut in the market that a lot of publish ers weren’t interested in seeing new vampire books from people who weren’t already established paranormal authors. So, I kind of tucked it away for a while, published a couple other books in the meantime, and just worked on it in fits

livestock to help families become selfsustaining.

and starts whenever I was between proj ects, until I finally was like, ‘I’m going to finish this now.’

“And so it took me about a year off and on writing to finish it. And then I thought, ‘No body’s going to probably buy it. Because I don’t know if vampires are back…But I’ll just see what happens.’ And sure enough, it

sold and it found a really good home with HarperCollins. And I’m so excited. I hon estly wrote this one for fun for me.”

Believing that the pandemic has altered the nature of book launches, Lange has planned a different kind of public celebra tion of her latest effort.

At 6 p.m. Oct. 14 at Changing Hands Bookstore in the Tempe Square Shop ping Center, 6428 S. McClintock Drive on the southwest corner of McClintock and Guadalupe Road, Tempe, she’ll be joined by two other powerhouse young adult authors from Gilbert – New York Times best-selling novelist Suzanne Young and acclaimed author Kelly deVos (Go Hunt Me).

Just in time for Halloween, the three young adult authors will discuss how their latest books provide a contemporary take on classic vampire tales.

“Guests should brush up on their vampire trivia and prepare for fun and games,” Changing Hands advises and Lange said she and the other two authors will be devoting their talk pretty much exclusively to the fiction world’s legend ary bloodsuckers.

Meantime, “Mere Mortals” is available in hardback and audiobook formats. 

other assistance to needy families in the school district.

Hansen said that besides raising funds, the group also wants to raise awareness of hunger.

While the 1-mile walk is made for sup porters who may not have the stamina for the longer walk, the Esperanza Lutheran team notes that 3.4 miles “is the average round-trip distance women and children in the developing world walk for water.”

The national CROP Hunger Walk group says that in some countries, the walk for food and water can extend nearly twice as long.

Hence, they say, the walk “shows soli darity with the millions who walk miles every day in search of food and water.”

The national effort raises more than $6 million annually that funds a variety of efforts, including helping communi ties increase access to safe drinking wa ter, providing tools, training and even

Money has helped families get seedlings to build community nurseries and even beekeeper suits for people to tend hives and collect honey.

While the walk is still more than six weeks away, Hansen said it’s not too early to line up walkers as well as sponsors.

So far, businesses that have signed up in support of the walk include Craig Peck REMAX Foothills Trusted Broker, PostNet, Wagner Eyecare Associates, Dental by De sign and Hanson Consulting Engineers.

Businesses wanting to sign on as sup porters – as well as walkers and people who simply want to donate to the cause – can go to events.crophungerwalk.org/2022/ event/phoenixaz.

The team said people can register as individuals or a group. Esperanza Pastor Annemarie Burke said people with ques tions can contact CROP.hunger.walk@my esperanza.org or call the church office at 480-759-1515.

“Mere Mortals,” which Erin Jade Lange just released yesterday, is about two teenage vam pires who lose their immortality. (David Minton/AFN Staff Photographer)

Pet pantry drive in Ahwatukee winding up this week

AFN NEWS STAFF

Onlya few days remain to help the Ahwatukee Foothills Cham ber of Commerce and some 40 local businesses restock the pet pantry at the nonprofit Lost Our Home Animal Pet Rescue.

People can drop off their pet food, blankets, and pet toys at various loca tions through Friday, Sept. 30, though donors should call in advance to make sure arrangements are available to ac cept donations. More information is at yestopets.org.

Founded in 2022 by a group of Ahwatu kee business and pet owners, “Yes To Pets”

Planting for hummingbirds next Desert ointe Garden Club topic next Monday

Corey Lycopolus of the Nina Mason Pulliam Rio Salado Audubon Center will discuss planting to help hummingbirds at Desert Pointe Garden Club’s meeting at 1:15 p.m. Oct. 3 at the Ahwatukee Recreation Center, 5001 E. Cheyenne Drive, Ahwatukee.

Anyone who would like to join a garden club is invited to the meeting. “The club plans many interesting meetings this year with ample opportunities to learn about gardening in the desert,” a spokeswoman said.

Blue Star Memorial pavers offered in Ahwatukee in time for Veterans Day

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 Ahwatu kee Board of Management office, 4700 E. Warner Road or download at ahwatukeehoa.com/blue-star-memorial.html. Leave completed forms and payment at the ABM office.

Information: mltiede@hotmail.com.

The Blue Star Memorial, is a joint project of the Desert Pointe Garden Club & the Ahwatukee Board of Management.

LD 12 Dems holding online candidate forums

LD12 Democrats are hosting a series of virtual candidate forums called TUKEE Talks through early October. At 7 p.m. to morrow, Sept. 29, Secretary of State candidate Adrian Fontes and two hopefuls for the Central Arizona Water Conservation District board, Alexandra Arboleda and James Pederson, will speak.

At 7 p.m. Oct. 4, Julie Gunnigle, candidate for Maricopa County Attorney, will speak, as will Ylenia Aguilar De Martinez and Ben Graff, two other candidates for the Central Arizona Water Conservation District board.

At 7 p.m. Oct. 6, Thursday, Kathy Hoffman, seeking re-elec

aims to help support pet shelters with pet food, toys, blankets, leashes, collars and any other usable items for Lost our Home Pet Rescue.

The donations will be delivered to Mountainside Martial Arts dojo and ev erything will be tallied up on Sept. 30.

On Oct. 1, Rick Savagian, owner of Mountainside Martial Arts, will hold a selfdefense class for the Women in Business who participated in the donation drive. The class will take place at the Mountain side Martial Arts dojo, located at 3173 E. Chandler Blvd., Ahwatukee.

Women must register in advance to par ticipate. 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 at lostourhome.org/get-help/ pet-food-bank-program. It was founded in 2008 in response to the thousands of pets in need as a result of the economic down turn in general, and the Phoenix-area fore closure crisis in particular.

To learn more about Lost Our Home Pet Rescue, visit LostOurHome.org, or call 602-445-7387.

Donations can be dropped off at the fol lowing locations:

• Music Maker Workshops, 3233 E. Chandler Blvd., 480-706-1224

• Ahwatukee Foothills Chamber of

AROUND AHWATUKEE

tion for Superintendent of Public Instruction, and two Kyrene Governing Board candidates, Kevin Walsh and Triné Nelson. will speak.

Register: azld12dems.org/calendar.

Contact LD12AhwatukeeDems@gmail with questions.

Esperanza Lutheran planning free concert and fall festival in October

Esperanza Lutheran Church, 2601 E. Thunderhill Place, Ah watukee is holding a jazz night 6:30-7:30 p.m. Oct. 17 and the free concert requires no registration.

Meanwhile, another free event is Oktoberfest at Esperanza 6-9 p.m. Oct. 29. The public is invited but asked to register by calling 480-759-1515.

Ahwatukee golf ladies league ready to start new season at Foothills Golf Course

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

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

Ahwatukee professor planning 2022 ‘Hacks for Humanities’

Ahwatukee resident and Arizona State University Founda tion Professor of English Dr. Neal Lester is planning Project Humanities’ ninth annual “Hacks for Humanity: Hacking for the Social Good,” a unique event that invites national and international participation, volunteering and mentoring in virtual and in-person formats at SkySong, the ASU Scottsdale Innovation Center.

This global 36-hour intergenerational, multi-professional, interdisciplinary, entrepreneurial marathon Oct. 7-9 chal lenges participants to create technical solutions for the social good. Participants are randomly placed in small teams that are tasked to create a product that addresses various social, eco nomic, and political issues within a limited time span.

While most hack-a-thons focus primarily on computer programming and software development skills, “Hacks for Hu manity” is different. It welcomes individuals with a wide range

of skill sets and from diverse backgrounds; including activists, artists, entrepreneurs, educators, scientists, and social workers.

Lester noted it also “is a chance to network and collabo rate with others from diverse backgrounds and perspectives to produce innovative results.”

In addition to teams competing for cash prizes totaling $10,000, participants will learn mindfulness strategies, under stand the importance of entrepreneurship and storytelling, build websites, create pitches and business models, consider biases in

This year’s “Hacks for Humanity” challenges teams to con centrate on one out of three designated topics: aging and wellbeing, civic engagement, and environmental justice. Re sulting team products must include a clear connection to at least three of the seven principles which Project Humanities has trademarked as Humanity 101: kindness, compassion, integ rity, respect, empathy, forgiveness, and self-reflection.

This free hybrid event is open to individuals ranging from 16 and older to retirees.

Information: hacksforhumanity.io

For more information on Project humanities: projecthuman ities.asu.edu, 480-727-7030, or projecthumanities@asu.edu.

Ironwood Library offers free and engaging activities for people of all ages

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

For more information: phoenixpubliclibrary.org.

Babytimes

Babies ages birth to 23 months, accompanied by a favor ite adult, will enjoy songs, rhymes, books, and interactive fun every Tuesday, 10:30-11:10 a.m. Space is limited to 12 families.

Toddlertimes

Toddlers ages 24-36 months, accompanied by a favorite adult, will enjoy songs, rhymes, books, and interactive fun every Thursday, 10:30-11:10 a.m. Space is limited to 12 families.

Full STEAM ahead for kids

Children ages 5-11 can explore hands-on creative ways to design, experiment, and invent every Saturday, 2-3 p.m., in this Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math (STEAM) pro

Commerce, 1345 E. Chandler Blvd., 480-753-7676

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

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

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

• Ahwatukee Foothills News, 1900 W. Broadway Road, just west of Priest Road, Tempe. 480-898-7900. 

gram. Space is limited to 10 families. It will not be held Oct. 18.

Next Chapter Book Club

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

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

Book Club

Adult readers 18+ can meet up with fellow bibliophiles the first Wednesday of each month, 5:00-5:45 p.m. On Oct. 5 The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman will be discussed. On Nov. 2, “My Family and Other Animals” by Gerald Durrell will be discussed.

Escape Room

Sleuths from age 12 on up can flex their mystery-solving skills during one of the library’s escape room sessions on Oct. 22. Sessions can accommodate up to 12 people. Teams and solo players are welcome. Sessions are 2-2:30 p.m., 2:45-3:15 p.m. and 3:30-4:00 p.m.

Red Cross blood drive

People ages 16+ can give blood in the American Red Cross Blood Mobile in the library’s parking lot Oct. 27, 10 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Appointment times can be found by going to redcross blood.org and selecting the “Donating Blood” option. Masks are optional.

Tempe VFW Auxiliary seeks help to send Christmas boxes to troops

VFW Auxiliary 3632, based at 2125 S. Industrial Park Ave., Tempe, is seeking donations for 100 boxes of Christmas gifts to troops abroad. Items can be dropped off at the post or ordered at a.co./byQfOpB for delivery to the post.

Needed items include energy mix packets and other wa ter enhancers, instant coffee and Kool Aid, dryer sheets and Febreeze, any high protein snacks except tuna, and personal care items.

Ahwatukee YMCA seniors spotlight their volunteers

BY JUNE TESDALL AFN Guest Writer

Ahwatukee Foothills YMCA hosts social gatherings and functional assistance for area seniors who live independently, but need a little help getting out and around.

The volunteer community that sup ports this initiative is the proverbial “vil lage” that keeps the Outreach Program for Ahwatukee Seniors running and one new volunteer, Steven Levy, now helps make their days brighter.

“We could not function without our wonderful volunteers,” said Brenda Nichols, YOPAS associate director.

Levy is particularly appreciated for an swering a recent call for more help. He saw a YOPAS poster at the Foothills Bis cuits restaurant that mentioned a need to increase volunteers.

“We [also] appreciate Erika Stewart,” said Nichols of the restaurant owner. “Without her willingness to post our sign, Levy might not have made the con nection. So, a big thanks!”

Levy moved to Ahwatukee from Long

Island, N.Y., several years ago. He already helps his own senior parents, but decid ed he had a few extra hours to contribute to helping more clients of YOPAS.

On his experience so far, he has shared: “I love helping people and it is a great way to meet people in my community.”

YOPAS is a no-cost community out reach program that offers services for Ahwatukee seniors. Volunteers help clients with transportation for appoint ments and shopping.

Other volunteers coordinate social events each month, that help Seniors meet new friends and stay in connection with their existing friends. The mission of this program is to provide necessary accommodations for independent and socially active seniors.

Would you like to help seniors in your community? Or is this a program that you might want to join?

Clients and volunteers do not need to be a member of the YMCA to participate.

Services are free to seniors aged sixtytwo and up. To learn more about this program, call Brenda Nichols at the YO PAS office at 602-212-6088. 

Please help us raise awareness and funding for families with childhood cancer by purchasing your 50/50 raffle tickets now! The raffle will be open through September 30, 2022. To purchase tickets online, you must be 18 years or older. The winner receives 50 percent of the total 50/50 ticket sales, while the remaining 50 percent will g o to Armer Foundation For Kids.

Biscuits owner Erika Stewart poses with Y OPAS volunteer Steven Levy near the poster he responded to. (June Tesdall/Guest Writer)

State’s only table tennis venue opens in EV

Table

Tennis and More, the only venue in the state dedicated exclusively for the sport, has opened its doors in Gilbert.

Owner Matthew Winkler, the state’s No. 1 table tennis player, relocated his club from Phoenix partly because “lots of my students were coming from Gilbert.”

Winkler also took into consideration that he and his wife had a baby this year, noting, “The neighborhoods in Gilbert are so much nicer than in Phoenix so I wanted to move my family for the nicer parks and better schools.”

For the uninitiated, table tennis is the correct name for the game as Ping Pong is a trademark.

Winkler, one of a handful of USA Table Tennis Association-certified national coaches in the country, has operated Table Tennis and More, or TT&M, since 2015 in a 1,800-square-foot building behind his home in Phoenix. The club was started by his father, Len, in 1997.

Winkler’s new venue is 6,000 square feet and houses 10 tables, up from the four in his old digs.

“There’s not a lot of full-time clubs, we’re the only one in Arizona,” he said, noting that the other clubs in the state are using senior centers and community centers.

Although Winkler currently coaches about 25-30 students ranging in age from 7 to 80, he also wants Table Tennis and More to be a place for players of all skill levels.

“I want people to have fun,” he said, adding that the venue is for “people who want to do it for exercise, people who want to play in a tournament and people exercising to get better but not pay in

tournaments.

“I eventually want to take a team to the U.S. Nationals and U.S. Open around the country and play.”

Winkler began playing the sport when he was 8 and won his first State Championship in 2009.

With nine more state championships and other titles he’s garnered, he took to coaching and running tournaments for the past 20 years.

The facility is opened six days a week and offers open play, group training, private lessons, leagues and tournaments.

TT&M also sells professional equipment such as tables, Ping Pong robots, paddles and blades with brand names like including Butterfly, Xiom, Donic and Gambler.

The business also stages corporate tournaments, birthday parties with a table-tennis theme, charity table tennis

fundraisers or any other related events, bringing the tables, paddles, balls and table tennis knowledge.

Although pickleball has been growing in popularity with courts found throughout Gilbert and the Valley, table tennis actually ranks No. 8 in the world with an estimated 300 million people playing it, according to Topend Sports.

To learn more: tabletennisandmore. com/phx/tabletennisandmore.

Matthew Winkler, the state’s top table tennis champ, recently opened a Gilbert venue Arizona’s only place dedicated to the sport. (David Minton/AFN Staff Photographer)

Alzheimer’s disease poses financial challenges

BY JOSEPH ORTIZ AFN Guest Writer

If you have a family member who has been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease, or is starting to show symptoms, you will face some real challenges.

Navigating the Alzheimer’s experience involves a long journey, and there’s no easy answer for how you can cope with your emotions.

But you can at least address some of the financial issues involved to help give yourself a greater sense of control.

Here are some moves to consider:

• Plan for care costs and identify in surance coverage. The list of Alzheim er’s-related medical expenses is long and includes ongoing medical treatment, medical equipment, home safety modifi cations, prescription drugs and personal care supplies.

As a caregiver, you’ll want to know the

extent of your loved one’s health insur ance: Medicare, supplemental policies, veteran’s benefits if applicable, and so on.

One big question is how much cover age they might have for adult day care services, in-home care services and fulltime residential care services, and other long-term care options. Long-term care is one of the largest health care costs not covered by Medicare, so you’ll want to determine if your loved one has a longterm care policy or another insurance policy with a long-term care rider.

• Identify assets and debts. You’ll need to know your family member’s fi nancial position, both what they own – bank accounts, investments, property, etc. – and what they owe, such as credit card debt, a mortgage, lines of credit, etc.

This knowledge will be essential if you’re granted power of attorney to take over your loved one’s finances.

• Look for tax breaks available to caregivers. If you’re a caregiver, you may have to pay for some care costs out of

pocket. Consequently, you could receive some tax credits and deductions. These benefits vary by state, so you’ll want to consult with your tax advisor to deter mine your eligibility.

• Ensure necessary legal documents are in place. As a caregiver, you may need to ensure some legal documents are in place, such as a durable power of at torney for finances, which lets you make financial decisions for your loved one with Alzheimer’s, and a durable power of attorney for health care, which lets you make health care and medical decisions on their behalf.

It’s important to have these and other necessary documents drawn up before someone is diagnosed with Alzheimer’s or when they’re just starting to exhibit the earliest signs of the disease, so they can understand what documents they are signing.

If you wait until they no longer have this cognitive ability, things will get much more challenging.

You could apply to become a conserva tor, which grants decision-making abili ties similar to a power of attorney, but the conservatorship process takes time and could involve court procedures.

To avoid this potential difficulty, work with your tax and legal professionals to ensure all the relevant legal documents are in-force and updated.

Finally, you don’t have to go it alone. To help deal with the emotional challenges of caregiving, you can find local Alzheim er’s support groups that can offer practi cal suggestions for coping.

As for the financial issues, consider working with a financial professional who can look at your family’s overall situation and recommend appropriate actions.

A diagnosis of Alzheimer’s will change the lives of everyone in your family. But as a caregiver, you can help ease the burden.

Joseph Ortiz is a longtime Ahwatu kee resident and a financial advisor for Edward Jones. Reach him at 480-7537664. 

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Kyrene board candidates address some of the issues

Nelson: Many ways to keep ‘Kyrene Strong’

BY TRINÉ NELSON Guest Writer

InKyrene, we use the phrase, “Kyrene Strong” when we talk about our community.

This means dif ferent things to different people: keeping our community safe by providing quality public education, recruiting and hiring qualified educators and support staff, striving to reduce class sizes, and making sure that our school buildings are well maintained.

Our public schools have long served as the core of a strong and safe community, and we are Kyrene Strong because of the

dedicated work of educators, parents, and community members.

In 2021, the governing board called for the override continuance to go to the bal lot. I served as co-chair for the Keep Kyrene Strong Committee to promote the ballot measure that allowed for approximately $13.8 million to remain in the district.

This money, according to Kyrene’s website “is used to reduce class sizes by funding the equivalent of 200 additional teacher positions, to fund special area in struction in art, music, foreign language, and PE, and to provide student support services such as counselors, psycholo gists, academic and behavior support, and other necessary student services.”

The Keep Kyrene Strong committee is made up of teachers, parents, and many

community stakeholders. I was honored to lead this talented and dedicated group of individuals as we worked tirelessly to educate the community about the impor tance of maintaining the Maintenance and Operations dollars.

Throughout my work with the Keep Kyrene Strong Committee, I was amazed by the volunteers who sacrificed time on the weekends canvassing their neighbor hoods, Kyrene Business Alliance partners who assisted with sign placement after work, and elected officials who champi oned our efforts.

The Kyrene community has repeatedly demonstrated that they value quality education, and the 2021 election was no different.

Strong community support is a key

driver of Kyrene’s reputation as a highperforming district. Ensuring we main tain quality educators and critical support services is paramount through appropri ate funding; but, there are other ways we keep Kyrene strong.

This includes electing individuals that support public education to the school board and state legislature, volunteering to be a “Watch Dog”, mentoring students in the “Boys to Men” Program, being in volved in a school’s PTO, or volunteering your time at the Kyrene Family Resource Center, just to name a few.

With the 2022-23 academic year in full swing, the volunteer opportunities are plentiful!

see NELSON

Walsh: Students must be the center of all Kyrene decisions

BY KEVIN WALSH Guest Writer

InKyrene, we know that stu dents must be at the center of all decisions.

Too often throughout the country, school board meetings have devolved into chaos and politicking, and districts become paralyzed by dys functional leadership. In the end, it’s the students who lose.

I know that the best way to bring our community together is to prioritize our students and their achievement.

My son was in kindergarten when the pandemic upended his education, and his

classroom moved to virtual learning. To say it was difficult would be an understatement (try learning handwriting over Zoom).

I’m grateful that Kyrene properly priori tized the health and safety of students and staff during the height of the pandemic, but I also recognize that, notwithstand ing our amazing teachers’ best efforts, the data demonstrates what many of us al ready knew - many students understand ably experienced less academic growth over the last two years.

It’s now imperative that the board sup ports putting targeted resources in the classroom that provide the individualized academic support that our students need.

As current president of the Kyrene School Board, I’ve challenged us to re-think what we mean by “student achievement.”

Certainly, it must include academic suc

cess, with a focus on literacy and founda tional math and science skills. Testing helps our teachers identify gaps to be addressed, but “achievement” should be defined by more than standardized test scores.

Kyrene leads in educating the whole child. I believe that student achievement must be defined by holistic growth and development.

As a current board member, I was ex cited to recently approve the “Portrait of a Kyrene Kid”, which reflects our commu nity’s collective vision of the skills, traits, and competencies each of our students should exemplify by the time they com plete 8th grade. These attributes include critical thinker, community contributor, and self-advocate.

I firmly believe that when our students “promote” from 8th Grade, they leave with

a strong foundation prepared to succeed not just in high school but also in life.

Every student deserves access to a qual ity education. However, our own data shows that many Kyrene students are not succeeding. The data collected from our students last year shows in stark contrast the gaps that exist in Kyrene.

That same data also shows that when resources are equitably allocated to where they are most needed, students achieve greater growth.

We must do more.

If re-elected, I’ll continue working with Kyrene leadership to implement datainformed strategies that promote fair and equitable practices for all students.

Student achievement also means that

Send your letters on local issues to: pmaryniak@timespublications.com

Editor’s note The Ahwatukee Foothills News invited the three candidates for the two seats on Kyrene School District’s governing board to write two Opinion Page essays on a topic of their choice. This is the second round from the candidates who chose to respond. Earlier Op Ed pieces and questionnaire responses can be found under the Election 2022 link at Ahwatukee.com.

2 Tempe incidents illustrate anti-police bias

BY DAVID LEIBOWITZ Tribune Columnist

Tworecent news stories illustrate how wretched it is to serve as a police officer in the 21st century, a time of rampant negativity, social media virality and naked hostility toward law enforcement.

Both stories occurred in Tempe, along Town Lake. Both involve men who en tered that lake of their own accord.

One story ended in tragedy. The other ended in a save. You can guess which one you likely never heard about.

First, a disclaimer. By day, I am a public relations consultant. Among my clients: The Tempe Officers Association. I repre sent a number of other public safety or ganizations, so I am absolutely biased in favor of the cops.

With that said, my clients have not paid me to write this. I’m doing so because I believe it needs to be said.

The tragedy centers on Sean Bick

ings, 34, a longtime presence in Tempe nicknamed “Madrox.” Bickings by all accounts was a “big teddy bear,” joking, friendly, even as he and his wife strug gled to find shelter on a consistent basis.

On May 28, Tempe police received a 911 call reporting a disturbance between the couple. Body camera footage shows a long conversation between Bickings, his wife and the officers. Then Bickings de cides to climb over a four-foot fence and enter Town Lake.

One of the officers tells Bickings, “Okay, I’m not jumping in after you.” Bickings is encouraged to swim to safe ty, but he can’t. He disappears beneath the water, gone.

What I know in my heart is that no per son on earth wanted this story to end so awfully, including the officers on scene.

I also know that the cops followed their training, which did not include water rescue, and city policy, which was not to enter the lake, but instead to get the Tempe police boat (check) and

summon Tempe Fire (check).

Even so, the story became a national sensation, covered by the networks and splashed across social media, with many commenters noting that Bickings was Black and accusing the cops of racism.

I’m a realist, a guy who has spent 30 years covering news professionally. I un derstand why this story got the coverage and commentary it did.

Still, I wish the hubbub had also included some vital context – about police policy, training, and the fact that the officers had not been provided with equipment to save potential drowning victims.

The city has changed all of that in the past few weeks, providing training and throw bags to officers. That’s a good thing, as the events of Sept. 20 prove.

This story didn’t go national, nor did it make a ripple on Twitter or TikTok.

It began as an indecent exposure call. Police arrived and found a naked man in the lake. Officers threw him a water res

cue device multiple times, but he refused to grab it.

“He was pulled into the police boat without incident and turned over to (Tempe Fire),” KTAR radio reported. “He was transported to a hospital for evaluation.”

All told, three news outlets covered this story, a few hundred words total. Again, I’m a realist. News involves con flict, mayhem and gotcha moments. Hap py endings aren’t the stuff of headlines and clicks.

But I wonder how the rest of us would feel working in a job where to do good is to be invisible while to make a mistake is to be damned? A job where you’re ex pected to risk your life for people who despise you, and where you’d best be perfect, because keyboard warriors are lying in wait to pass judgment.

That’s policing in 2022. I mourn that fact just as I feel for the loved ones of Sean Bickings. Everyone loses in stories like this. 

ONLINE, OR students feel supported and safe. We must be vigilant in combating bullying in schools and continue Kyrene’s commit ment to students’ mental health.

As a Kyrene parent and a current board member, I have the experience, insight, and motivation to get the job done.

Our counselors help students immense ly, but their caseloads are full. I support more counselors to ensure that our are thriving mentally, emotion academically. families count on Kyrene to help their students learn, grow, and achieve.

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Sports & Recreation

www.ahwatukee.com

Pride rolls past Campo Verde in win

BY ANDREW LWOWSKI AFN Contributing Writer

Justlike fans in attendance, the Moun tain Pointe Pride roared as they ran through the Campo Verde Coyotes on homecoming night, 42-29.

However, the game was not as close as the final score would indicate as the Pride were in firm control at half, up 28.

Led by senior quarterback Chris Ar viso’s six total touchdowns, the Pride of fense sliced through the Coyote defense. Arviso said the game plan coming in was “to take what the defense gave them.”

And the Coyotes gave them plenty. Ar viso threw for 312 yards, with five touch downs through the air and one on the ground. Three of Arviso’s scores were to Matty Braun in the first half.

“They just kept playing off of him (Braun),” Arviso said. “And when he (Braun) gets space, he’s dangerous.”

Braun exploded for eight receptions for 126 yards on top of his three scores.

Although, the Prides’ success wasn’t all through the air. The three-headed mon

ster in the backfield, led by senior back Jay’len Rushing, kept the Coyote defense

honest. Rushing took the bulk of the car ries over Christian Clark and Randle Park er, finishing with 119 yards off 25 carries and a score.

Arviso, with help from Rushing and company, methodically moved the ball up and down the field during the first half. A handful of the Prides drives came with short field position from turnovers or forced errors on Campo’s end.

The second half was a different story, however. The Coyote defense showed grit and fought back with three turnovers while the offense put up 22 points. Both Rushing and Arviso acknowledged that the team needs to focus on finishing games.

“It’s not just two quarter games, it’s four quarters,” Arviso said. “We got to come for all four quarters.”

Rushing added that the young offen sive line needs to adjust mentally for long games. But with veteran experience, Rush ing said words of encouragement can go a

Thunder cruise to first win over Verrado

BY AARON HEALY

AFN Contributing Writer

After three long weeks, first-year Desert Vista coach Nate Gill final ly tasted victory Friday night as the Thunder cruised to a 34-9 win over Verrado.

The win also marked the first win for Desert Vista this season. And it came at the best time.

“It seems like it took forever, we had three opportunities prior and couldn’t get it done, but we came out prepared today and finally got that win,” Gill said.

The Thunder offense managed to find a rhythm and put several points on the board for the first time this season. But they started slow.

Verrado struck first thanks to a 29-yard screen pass to running back Julian Virgen.

It was a gut punch to the Thunder defense, but they responded with two first-quarter interceptions by cornerback Jacob Carter. That gave Desert Vista momentum.

After Carter’s second interception of the game, Desert Vista running back Michael Allison scampered through the offensive line for a 1-yard touchdown, his first of the game.

Allison dominated the running game and added two more touchdowns on the night. It motivated the defense, some thing senior linebacker Antonio Del

see THUNDER page 36

Desert Vista senior wide receiver Michael Al lison celebrates after a Thunder touchdown against Verrado Friday, Sept. 23 at Thunder Stadium in Ahwatukee. (David Minton/Staff Photographer)

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Mountain Pointe senior quarterback Christopher Arviso throws against Campo Verde Friday, Sept. 23, 2022 at Karl Kiefer Stadium in Ahwatukee. (David Minton/Staff Photographer)

Impact players for the 26th Ahwatukee Bowl

BY ZACH ALVIRA AFN Sports Editor

The

time has come.

It’s the one game a year that is a must-win for Mountain Pointe and Desert Vista high schools in Ahwatukee. The Ahwatukee Bowl.

This year’s game comes after an over time bout last season that ended in favor of the Thunder. Several key contributors return on both sides to help lead their teams to victory, along with some new faces.

Here’s a look at some impact players to watch in the 26th annual Ahwatukee Bowl on Thursday, Sept. 29.

Mountain Pointe

The three-headed monster at running back has been successful so far for the Pride. Led by senior Jay’len Rushing, Mountain Pointe has been able to quickly establish dominance up front and on the ground. Juniors Randle Parker and Chris tian Clark, a Desert Vista transfer, have also played pivotal roles. Clark has also started on defense for the Pride at safety.

Kaleb Jones and Kahoua Leha

This is senior quarterback Chris Arvi so’s third Ahwatukee Bowl game leading Mountain Pointe. He led the Pride to a win as a sophomore and fell just short as a ju nior. This year, however, he’s already set new records for Mountain Pointe with sin gle game passing yards and aims to con tinue his hot streak against Desert Vista.

Jay’len Rushing, Christian Clark and Randle Parker

Senior Kahoua Leha and sophomore Kaleb Jones may be one of the best duos for offensive and defensive line in the state. On defense, the pair can dominate the line of scrimmage. On offense, they combine to open massive running lanes for Mountain Pointe’s rushing attack. They’re the leaders in the trenches for the Pride this season.

Izaac Patterson

Junior quarterback Braxton Thomas was key in this game last year when the Thun der won in overtime. He’s hoping to rep licate that performance this season. The 6-foot-3, 210-pounder hasn’t run as much this season, instead settling in the pocket to show off his arm strength. But he can be a dual threat player when needed and can change the outcome of a game.

Traven Vigenser and Roan Martinez

There may not be a player on the field Thursday night that has as much passion for Desert Vista as senior linebacker An tonio Delgado has. He watched his older brother Armando help lead the Thunder to victory in this game. Last year, he had the game-winning sack. He’s taken his off-season seriously and despite a rough start as a team, he has been one of the most consistent players and leaders on the Thunder defense so far.

Jaden Humphrey

Izaac Patterson’s growth this off-sea son was monumental. He became big ger, faster and stronger heading into his senior season and it showed in his play on the field. At linebacker he has the abil ity to single-handedly stop the run. His speed also makes him a threat on offense for the Pride.

Senior wide receiver Traven Vigenser will play in his first Ahwatukee Bowl, while ju nior wideout Roan Martinez will play in his second but first as a starter. Both have been key this season for the Thunder. They’re the top two targets for Thomas so far and complement senior Michael Allison, who can play any position for the Thunder. Both Martinez and Vigenser hope to replicate the success they had against Campo Verde on Thursday against Mountain Pointe.

Senior linebacker Jaden Humphrey was sidelined due to injury the first two games of the season. But since his return, he’s made an impact alongside Delgado on the defense. The two complement each other well, and Humphrey’s progression has him still due for a breakout performance. He hopes it comes against Mountain Pointe, the biggest game of the year. 

Chris Arviso

Desert Vista Braxton Thomas

Antonio Delgado

Ahwatukee Bowl more than just a game for seniors

BY ZACH ALVIRA AFN

There’s

something special about high school football.

It’s the sound of the band wel coming the team onto the field. The cheers from students and parents that echo throughout nearby neighborhoods. And it’s the passion with which players have for their schools and teams.

Those things are there every Friday night in the fall. But they get turned up a notch for one week every season: Rivalry week.

It’s the one night a year where brag ging rights mean a little more. It’s the one night a year neighbors are no longer friendly. And for seniors especially, it’s the one game that means a little bit more than the rest.

“Words can’t explain how much I want this win,” Desert Vista senior linebacker Antonio Delgado said. “I’m pretty sure Mountain Pointe is going to be the best team we play. So, this could set up a lot

more for the rest of the season.

“But being my senior year, no one wants to lose their rivalry game, it’s something they can’t get back.”

The stakes are always higher when Mountain Pointe and Desert Vista meet. That remains true for this year, the 26th

Desert Vista senior wide receiver Traven Vigenser will play in his first Ahwatukee Bowl since trans ferring from Sierra Linda when his dad joined new head coach Nate Gill’s staff. He knows what is at stake for this game and plans to do what he can to help his team win. (Dave Minton/AFN Staff)

Delgado, who got the game winning sack, and his teammates haven’t forgot ten what that moment felt like for them. Mountain Pointe players also haven’t for gotten. The dramatics of last year’s game have set up this year’s meeting to be one riddled with emotions. But that’s the way seniors like it.

“This is a big game, the ‘Tukee Bowl,” Mountain Pointe senior quarterback Chris Arviso said. “Big atmosphere, big environ ment. Everyone in Ahwatukee is involved, it shows how big the game is. We just have to leave it all out on the field.

“It’s a bigger deal this year. Especially because it’s my last one.”

There are several key components to this year’s game.

iteration of the game.

Emotions are higher, too, and the sense of pride for either school north and south of Chandler Boulevard is at an all-time high. Last year’s game needed overtime to decide a winner. The Thunder came out victorious.

Desert Vista is coming off its first win of the season against Verrado. Finally, that is out of the way for first-year coach Nate Gill.

After starting the season strong, Moun tain Pointe lost two straight before getting back into the win column against Campo

Lightning lacrosse providing opportunities for youth

BY ZACH ALVIRA AFN Sports Editor

Ahwatukee has a long history of suc cess with lacrosse in youth sports.

The Desert Vista High School club team, which merges Thunder ath letes with those from Mountain Pointe, has won or been a part of state title games in year’s past. Several players that feed into that team come from the Ahwatu kee Lightning, a youth organization that aimed to provide an opportunity for play ers of all skill levels to dabble in lacrosse.

Now, Chad Littell, the president of the Ahwatukee Lightning and coach of the program’s 10U team, is taking another step to ensure players have access to equipment and reduced fees in order to explore the game.

“The challenge I saw before me was new families to lacrosse that didn’t know what to buy,” Littell said. “So, I thought, ‘What if we do a free equipment rental. So, if they need anything, it’s there.’ We eliminate any of the confusion.”

Littell’s love for lacrosse in Ahwatukee dates back to the late 1990s when he, as

a player, won a state championship with the high school team. He went on to play at Arizona State and got involved with the

Lightning years later when his own kids became interested in the sport.

Every year the program sends athletes to the high school club team and contin ues to expose the sport to more youth in the community. This year, however, he’s taking it a step further by implementing the equipment rental service as part of the program for players who can’t afford their own.

Players can check out equipment for free, including helmets, pads and sticks. Some of the equipment offered with the program is lightly used from players who have grown out of it. Other pieces of equip ment are acquired from equipment stores.

Littell has also looked into scholarships for players who can’t afford to pay fees. So far, 8-year-old players are able to play for free this season.

He hopes to extend this to some extent for other younger age groups. For now, he stresses that lacrosse is “economically at tractive” compared to other sports. Espe cially when eliminating equipment costs.

“We’re really making an effort to sim plify the process,” Littell said. “Our prima ry goal is to spread the sport of lacrosse.

We’re much more focused on building culture and leadership qualities than win ning percentage.”

Building strong character qualities has been at the forefront for all Lightning coaches. Winning is great, and they under stand parents may be concerned about how competitive a team may be.

But Littell and others believe setting kids up to be successful human beings takes precedence. And lacrosse, given the amount of work and discipline needed to play the sport, is one that helps shape a kid’s character. Winning comes with dis cipline.

“If your kid is not better as a human be ing after leaving our program, we’re not doing our job,” Littell said. “My boys have been a part of programs where all they want is to get the ‘W.’ There’s coaches yelling, swearing and going crazy. That doesn’t fly.

“The No. 1 priority (for the Lightning) is we teach and reward character and lead ership development.”

The Ahwatukee Lightning is currently

Ahwatukee Lightning President Chad Littell hopes to expand the lacrosse programs reach in the community. Their main focus is to build strong leadership and character qualities with their players rather than focus on wins. (Dave Minton/AFN Staff)

long way.

“Give them props when they make a good play,” he said, adding, “you got to teach them young, so it becomes the norm.” Encouraging good plays will pro

mote stronger play and a better team.

Coach Eric Lauer said the team stuck to the game plan and showed cohesiveness.

“I thought we executed really well in the first half in doing the things that we thought would be there,” he said. “We’re not excited about how we finished – we

it was up to the defense to keep the lead for the Thunder.

exhaled a little too early. But we got the win and that’s what matters.”

Lauer challenged his team to play hard so everyone could get reps, but ultimately his team failed. “Take nothing from them, they did not give up or let down,” Lauer said. “We told them that they wouldn’t,

which puts a smile on everybody’s face,” Delgado said.

that’s not their kind of program so hats off to them.”

Now on a short week, the Pride (2-2) will look to turn around and fix their mis takes as they host their Ahwatukee rival Desert Vista Thunder (1-3) on Thursday, Sept. 29.

gado was happy to see after three rough weeks prior.

“I love seeing my guys on offense do a great job and making big plays; Michael had a great game. This was his first game playing as a real running back,” Delgado said.

After the scoring parade in the first half,

SENIORS from page 35

Verde last Friday. Both teams seemed to be clicking in every facet of the game, with dominant defensive per formances that led to high-powered displays from the offense. That has put them on a collision course that could dictate how the rest of the sea son unfolds the rest of the way.

Desert Vista hopes to win two in a row to solidify a streak under Gill. Mountain Pointe, which had high ex pectations heading into the season with a slew of talent transferring into the program, is out to prove it can contend for a title this season.

But the Ahwatukee Bowl comes first. And it’s a game every senior has circled.

“It means a lot,” Desert Vista senior wide Receiver Traven Vigenser said. “It’s the battle for Ahwatukee. Just

After giving up the first-quarter touch down Desert Vista shut down the Verrado offense. Along with the two interceptions the defense managed to sack Vipers quar terback Erick Santiago three times.

“On defense we played great, we even had some backups get in and they got to really experience Friday night lights,

talking to the guys, they expect it to be packed. I didn’t really have a rival like this at my old school.

“I’ve got people over there I know. I’m ready to go to war, for sure.”

This is Vigenser’s first Ahwatukee Bowl game. But it’s a rivalry he has become familiar with since transfer ring to Desert Vista from Sierra Lin da when his dad joined Gill’s coach ing staff.

He’s been taught all he needs to know about the Ahwatukee Bowl and the significance for the Thun der program and the community. He’s adopted a desire to keep the trophy in the school’s case, and he is going to do what it takes to make that happen.

The passion seniors feel for Ah watukee Bowl has also spread to younger players, including Mountain Pointe junior safety Javier Jones. He

The win gives Desert Vista momen tum heading into a showdown with rival Mountain Pointe in the annual Ahwatu kee Bowl. A game that has been circled for Gill.

“I think it’s going to be great for our kids’ confidence for one,” Gill said. “Winning is contagious, everybody wants to continue

learned all about the game from se niors and those who came before him.

He saw how heartbroken the over time loss in the rivalry game was for last year’s class. Now one of the leaders on the Pride defense, Jones aims to do what he can to ensure his senior teammates don’t have the same outcome.

Not only would a win be key for se niors, but it would also build momen tum toward next year – when he will be in their shoes.

Overall, Jones aims to help give his teammates the right to say, ‘We run ‘Tukee.’

“We have to hit hard and be able to take the hits,” Jones said. “It means a lot (to play in this game). I have a big opportunity to help my team win, to put my name out there. “When you see how invested everyone is in this game, it’s crazy to me.” 

to get it done and figure out how to do so and that’s put together a full four quarters, a full 48 minutes. Just build off of that and go and try to get this next one.”

“I feel like the energy, especially hav ing the first win of the season, the energy is going to be really high going into this next week especially going into the Ah watukee Bowl, a Thursday night game,” Delgado added. 

going through an eight-week training camp for 10U and below. Players in the 12U and 14U age groups begin fall ball on Oct. 18. All players start at the same level and even tually graduate to scrimmages. Littell be lieves this makes it easy for kids who have never played to feel more comfortable with the game.

In the spring, the Lightning will play their official season.

Littell finds joy in being able to further build the youth team he once played for. He finds more joy in helping build charac ter and leadership skills in young Ahwatu kee residents. Overall, he believes lacrosse can provide a special experience for all.

“I look at athletics as a way to shape young men and women,” Littell said. “We’re shaping the community around us, and we get to see young men rally around each other and form a brotherhood, a friend ship and a bond. We try to empower these young guys to be high character leaders.”

For more information about the Ah watukee Lightning, visit Ahwatukeelax.com or contact Littell at 480-7037953.

Part of Littell’s efforts to grow the game and welcome more athletes is implementing a free equipment rental service for those who may not know what to buy to play. He also aims to provide scholarships for players to minimize other costs. (Dave Minton/AFN Staff)

Mountain Pointe senior quarterback Chris Arviso was on the receiving end of a sack that ended last year’s Ahwatukee Bowl in favor of Desert Vista. But this is a new year, and he is confi dent and excited for Thursday’s game. (Dave Minton/AFN Staff)

A roundup of area Oktoberfest events next month

BY ALLISON BROWN GetOut Staff Writer

It’stime to pull on the lederhosen, lace up the dirndl and throw back a pint be cause Oktoberfest season is just around the corner.

According to census data, more than 40 million Americans claim German ancestry — that’s roughly 16% of the U.S. popula tion. And, while there aren’t any hard sta tistics on the subject, it’s safe to bet that at least a few million Americans also just love a good beer. Maybe that’s why the United States is the country ranked fourth for the most Oktoberfest celebrations, with Germany obviously taking first place.

Here are a few of the Oktoberfest events happening across the state this year.

Downtown Chandler Oktoberfest

Oct. 1

For the first time, Pedal Haus Brewery

and SanTan Brewing Company are joining together to host an epic Oktoberfest event in downtown Chandler Saturday, Oct. 1. Julian Wright, CEO and founder of Pedal

Haus Brewery, said both of the Downtown Chandler companies decided to collabo rate instead of competing.

The Downtown Chandler Oktoberfest will

feature beer and food from both SanTan and Pedal Haus breweries plus canned craft cocktails. The breweries will serve a range of beers including German-style Oktober fests. German fare, including Bavarian-style soft pretzels and brats, will be served.

In addition to the food and drinks, there will be a variety of classic Oktoberfest games and contests, including stein hold ing, wiener toss and sausage-eating con tests. And, in keeping with the theme, a full lineup of live music is scheduled, in cluding a German polka band.

“We are stoked to be joining forces with our friends at SanTan to throw one of the best Oktoberfest events in the Valley this year,” Wright said. “I’ll be emceeing the stein holding and sausage-eating compe titions, so grab your friends and lederho sen, this is going to be a fun event.”

Dr. A.J. Chandler Park, 3 S. Arizona Ave., Chandler, 480-656-1639, pedalhausbrew

Schnepf Farms busily prepares for Pumpkin Party

BY MARK MORAN AFN Staff Writer

strip here on the farm,” he said. “My mom flew as well.”

Hillbilly

Bob’s Pig Races? Yes, Hillbilly Bob is a real guy, and they really do race pigs – which are said to enjoy the experience but like the Oreo cookies they get at the end even more.

The pigs, Swingin’ Lady Bugz, hayrides, a petting zoo, the Stuntmasters dog show and a brand-new ropes course, are just a few of the more high-profile attractions that Schnepf Farms is working frantically to ready for its 26th annual Pumpkin and Chili Party that starts next Saturday, Oct. 1.

The Flying Farmers ride is almost ready to take flight, too, as it joins other attrac tions like the classic Honeybee Adventure ride and a rock-climbing wall.

Some of the attractions harken to farm owner Mark Schnepf’s family legacy.

“My dad had an airplane. We had an air

To honor what was once a big part of the Farm’s way of doing business, a carousel ride with scaled down and freshly painted airplanes, each with a local farm family name emblazoned across the tail, sits in the middle of that gone but not forgotten 3,000-foot dirt airstrip.

It will run beneath strands of replica, vintage light bulbs that have to be checked one by one to be sure they are ready to twinkle on opening night.

The logistics behind the Pumpkin and Chili Party are almost as dizzying as the thrilling, 52-foot-high amusement ride called the Hyper Loop, which will take you up, turn you in all directions, including up side down, and whip you around before bringing you gently to rest in front of one of the concessions stands on the farm.

You’re advised to eat the signature meat,

veggie or succotash chili after you take that ride, though.

“It’s the kind of ride that you gotta have

a strong stomach if you’re gonna ride that

For the first time, Pedal Haus Brewery and SanTan Brewing Company are joining together to host an epic Oktoberfest event in downtown Chandler Saturday, Oct. 1. (Special to GetOut)

Mark Schnepf stands on a path of one of the two corn mazes he’s prepared for Schnepf Farms’ annual Pumpkin & Chili Party, which begins Oct. 1. (David Minton/AFN Staff Photographer)

OKTOBERFEST from page 38

ery.com, 3-11 p.m., $15-$25.

Litchfield Park Oktoberfest at The Wigwam

Oct. 1

In partnership with the city of Litch field Park, The Wigwam is celebrating Oktoberfest with live music, lawn games, German-inspired cuisine and, of course, beer. Those who preorder tickets through Eventbrite will receive a commemorative Oktoberfest glass. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. This event is for ages 21 and older.

The Wigwam Front Lawn, 300 E. Wig wam Blvd., Litchfield Park, 866-976-6894, wigwamarizona.com/events, 6-9 p.m., ticket price TBD.

Flagstaff Oktoberfest

Oct 1

Flagstaff will host its 13th annual Ok toberfest this year, complete with drinks, food, live music, contests and even bounce houses for the kids. Beer will be aplenty, as will other typical Oktoberfest eats such as pretzels and bratwurst.

Beer may take the center stage, but Jen nifer Grogan, event producer, said the con tests are “hilarious,” which is why a side stage is set up for five events throughout

SCHNEPF from page 38

ride,” Schnepf said. “They actually suggest that you wait about 20 minutes between rides.”

It takes the 20 regular staff plus an ad ditional 150 seasonal folks thousands of hours to make the 50-acre “park” area in the middle of the farm ready for what Schnepf says will be about 100,000 visi tors next month.

“We start preparing for the Pumpkin and Chili Party in July when we plant the corn for the corn mazes. We have two gi ant corn mazes we do here on the farm,” Schnepf said.

One is about 4 acres. The other is 10. The smaller one is designed for visitors to pass through quickly.

The larger one is known as the celeb rity maze in which the likeness of a wellknown person is carved into the corn field.

Past celebrities include Phoenix sports legends Luis Gonzalez and Steve Nash.

Others have included news icon Larry King and boxing champion Mohammed Ali, all of whom have been present when

the day.

First up is the wiener man race, where people put on hot dog costumes and race to navigate through an obstacle course. New this year is the chicken dance contest. There is also a brat-eating contest, which Grogan said is both a “fan favorite and absolutely disgusting.” Then there is the traditional Bavarian stein contest for men and women, separately. In this contest, participants hold a liter of beer in a heavyduty glass with their arms in front of them.

The last competition of the day is the frozen T-shirt contest. Grogan said T-shirts are folded, tied and frozen, and teams of two compete to try to be the first to get the shirt undone and on a body. She adds that, because this is the last competition of the day, participants are usually “feeling the alcohol… so it’s pretty funny.”

Wheeler Park, 212 W. Aspen Ave., Flagstaff, 928-606-7600, flagstaffokto berfest.com, 11 a.m.-8 p.m., $5-$7, kids under 12 free.

Haus Murphy’s

All October

Haus Murphy is a German restau rant that offers beer, brats, pretzels and Polka year-round. But during October, it ramps up.

The restaurant has been serving Ger

man food for 26 years, so while the Okto berfest fan favorites of soft pretzels and bratwursts are available, there is a whole menu of authentic German cuisine to try.

Limited seating is available, and spots tend to fill up fast, so advance reservations are strongly recommended.

Haus Murphy’s, 5739 W. Glendale Ave., Glendale, 623-939-2480, hausmurphys. com, 5-9 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays throughout October.

Four Peaks Oktoberfest

Oct. 7-9

The Four Peak Oktoberfest in Tempe is the largest in the state, drawing 75,000 to 100,000 people over the three-day period.

Food is provided by Denmark Foods, with the featured menu item being a Kilt Lifter Brat in partnership with Four Peaks. New this year, there will also be vegetar ian empanadas.

The festival has a carnival with 15 to 20 rides and games. Live music will be played each night, including a performance from a German polka band. There will also be classic Oktoberfest competitions, such as stein holding, brat eating, a wiener dog race and a wiener dog fashion show — which features dog and owner in costume.

Tempe Beach Park, 80 W. Rio Salado Pkwy., Tempe, 60-.625-3493, fourpeak

soktoberfest.com, various times Oct.7-9, $20, Sunday free.

Gilbert Oktoberfest Oct. 15

In its third year, the Gilbert Oktoberfest is ramping things up “100%,” according to event director Mike O’Donnell. He said there will be more beer, more food and more entertainment.

The event is teaming with breweries in the East Valley, which will create some thing completely new.

“They’re creating a collaborative beer for this event, where each one of the brew masters has been sitting together and they all come up with their own recipe,” O’Donnell said. “We will have that avail able at every outlet at the event and it will only be available there at the event.”

The event also features the selfproclaimed “Queen of Oktoberfest,” and her band “The Oktoburlesques.” They perform traditional polka blended with today’s hits.

In true Oktoberfest spirit, there will also be a brat-eating contest and stein holding contest. There’s also a kid’s zone and chil dren can enter for free.

Gilbert Regional Park, 3005 E. Queen Creek Road, Gilbert, gilbertoktoberfest. com, 2-9 p.m., ticket price TBD. 

about 6 inches tall,” Schnepf said. “They use their handheld GPS system to spray the pattern into the corn so that the corn dies and the rest of the corn grows to be about 8 feet tall.”

Carving the corn mazes and tidying up the pathways that go through them … check that off the list.

Sprucing up and cleaning the restored, historic 1950’s era buildings that dot the farm, check.

Shining up the amusement rides and checking them for operational and safety issues, check.

Chili, pizza, Italian Ice and other festival food on order, check.

Putting out trash cans and getting the bathrooms cleaned and prepared – that’s just about done too.

their likeness is unveiled.

“What we usually do is charter a helicop ter for him or her and fly them out so they can see their image in the maze from up above because if you’re just looking at the corn you can’t see what’s there.”

This year’s honoree remains a secret.

While corn mazes are an historic tradi

tion in the fall, getting them carved into the corn is a decidedly modern and high-tech process.

Schnepf hires a company to create the celebrity likeness with a computer pro gram which then assigns GPS coordinates in the cornfield.

“Then they come out when the corn is

There is also a new field of sunflowers this year, designed to inspire selfies among the partygoers, according to Schnepf.

And what would a fall festival be with out big, luscious, bright orange pumpkins peeking out from their thick green patch,

Jaime Alaniz adds a fresh coat of paint to a hydraulic cylinder on The Honeybee Adventure ride as Schnepf Farms prepares for their annual Pumpkin & Chili Party. (David Minton/AFN Staff Photographer)

waiting to be picked and carved into JackO-Lanterns for Halloween?

And … what about the light frost that settles on the pumpkin patch at night as temperatures dip, creating that chilly Au tumn vibe this time of year?

“This is a little bit of Schnepf Farms mag ic.” Schnepf said. “Not everyone knows this but in Arizona it’s so warm here in this area, you can grow pumpkins but they don’t turn orange until November because they need cold weather to turn orange.

“And so, we ship in our pumpkins from colder climates. We get them from Colora do. We might get them from Utah. We don’t advertise that.”

The pumpkin patches on either side of the bumpy dirt road wending through the farm stand empty – save for the rogue weed patches still waiting for attention from the farmhands.

“We have this beautiful field of blackeyed peas that we plant and those pump kins magically appear each night in that field of black-eyed peas and people come out to the pumpkin patch and are able to get their pumpkins,” Schnepf said.

Warm Arizona weather isn’t the only challenge that Schnepf faces.

Like other events, The Pumpkin and Chili Party was devastated by the COVID-19 pan demic and the shutdown that ensued, a slug gish economy as things started to return to normal, and supply chain problems, which, Schnepf said, are still a problem today.

“We have lots of equipment here with the rides and things, so we have to make sure that we have extra parts for the rides,” he said. “When a ride goes down you want to make sure you’re able to repair it in an hour or two instead of a day or two.”

For Schnepf, managing the supply chain problems, as is also the case with other businesses, comes down to looking as far as possible into the future and predicting what he will or may need and hoping he guesses right, which can often be difficult when he’s operating vintage equipment on the farm.

“The train is particularly important to us,” Schnepf said. “People love taking the train ride around the farm and at night time it becomes the spooky train ride and we hire high school kids to dress up in cos tumes and scare people.”

The same holds true for the aging but spruced up Flying Farmers ride, Ferris wheel, roller coaster, carousel, the tractors for the hayrides and dozens of other attrac

tions designed to show families a good time.

Beyond the supply chain issues, Schnepf is feeling other effects of an economy that has now gone from stagnant to superheated.

“It’s becoming more difficult to staff an event like this because it’s a short-term event for a month,” Schnepf said. “As the economy gets better it’s harder to find em ployees so we employ young people.

“It might be their first-time job so we do a lot of training. But we’re always looking for adults who want to have a part time job, a second job, a seasonal job, whatever the case may be because staffing is super important,” he said.

So is timing.

The maze corn that workers planted in July takes a lot of tending. It has to be watered at just the right time and dry by a certain time so that workers can get a trac tor into the field to carve the mazes, the corn from which is eventually used to feed the farm animals.

Amid the crushing pace of growth in Queen Creek, this protected, little area of town on Schnepf Farms really has kept a slice of Arizona’s agricultural history alive and thriving.

“We’ve been doing this for so many years now,” Schnepf said, “people that came here as little kids are now all grown up and they’re bringing their little kids. We are into the third generation of people com ing to the Pumpkin and Chili Party, and it’s truly a family tradition.”

Beneath hundreds of the farm’s peach trees (Schnepf is the largest peach produc er in the state) walking through this part of the 81-year-old farm is like stepping back in time, onto an old movie set.

“That’s what we’re going for,” Schnepf said. “Kind of a 1950’s farm experience.”

Even though The Pumpkin and Chili Party takes center stage in October, the rest of the activity on the working farm does not slow down.

Crops are being tended. Animals must be looked after and Schnepf Farms is also a wedding venue.

The farm has been re-zoned to agrit ainment; a designation designed to allow farming to take place while also serving as an entertainment venue with a nod to wards keeping Queen Creek’s agricultural history alive.

“Doing the agritainment helps us pre serve the farm,” Schnepf said. “Because if it was just a farm, where we were just growing crops, we probably couldn’t stay in business.” 

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