AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS, OCTOBER 23, 2022

Early voters

BY PAUL MARYNIAK AFN Executive Editor

Ahefty Nov. 8 General Election ballot will be landing in early voters’ mail boxes this week and Ahwatukee voters will be making decisions on five contests that directly affect them and the community.

Three of those local elections guarantee that come January, new faces will be on the Kyrene and Tempe Union governing boards as well as the three-member Legislative District 12 delegation. The fourth race where a new face is assured is Phoenix City Council District 6

first look at

big election matters

because longtime Councilman Sal DiCiccio is termed-out. But the crowded field of hopefuls suggests that contest may end in a runoff be tween the top two vote-getters in March.

The fifth election will impact Ahwatukee property owners’ pocketbooks as it involves two override requests and a $100 million bond issue for Tempe Union.

Of course, that only captures a portion of the ballot that the County Recorder’s Office was scheduled to send out today.

Also awaiting voters’ choices are a U.S. Sen ate seat, a new governor, all statewide offices, a Congressional seat and 10 propositions that

to become

affect a wide range of issues such as the Legis lature’s power to change voter-approved ini tiatives, voting regulations, creation of a lieu tenant governor’s office and limits on medical debt interest rates.

Here’s a look at those ballot items of particu lar relevance to Ahwatukee.

CITY COUNCIL

The field of eight candidates for the Phoenix City Council District 6 offers a wide range of candidates – including two longtime Ahwatu

Veterans Hall of

BY COTY DOLORES MIRANDA AFN Contributor

After more than 32 years in the U.S. Marine Corps, both active duty and Re serves, longtime Ahwatukee resident Steven Weintraub retired in 2019, achieving the rank of colonel.

On Friday, Oct. 14, Weintraub will be induct ed into the Arizona Veterans Hall of Fame, an honor only 13 other veterans of all branches will receive this year.

Founded in 2001 by the Unified Arizona Vet erans, the Arizona Veterans Hall of Fame So ciety honors “outstanding state veterans who have made significant personal contributions to their community, state or nation.”

His service far exceeded that threshold.

During more than three decades of service,

Weintraub was deployed in the Middle East, Africa and far east Asia, earning the Legion of Merit, two Meritorious Service Medals, and the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal among other honors.

Since retiring, Weintraub has continued his service with his involvement in veteran’s orga nizations and initiatives throughout Arizona and nationwide.

He currently is chief strategy officer at the national Veteran Tickets Foundation, or Vet

U.S. Marine Col. Steve Weintraub, Ret., of Ahwatukee, pictured in his dress blues when he was honored

Frank Kush Field/Sun Devil Stadi

inducted Friday into the Arizona Veterans Hall

in 2016,

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Club West course owners assail Conservancy’s arguments

BY PAUL MARYNIAK AFN Executive Editor

Club

West Golf Course owner The Edge and Shea Homes last week re newed their request to a Superior Court judge to dismiss the Club West Con servancy’s effort to prevent houses from ever being built on the site.

The Conservancy contends that sales agreements signed with homeowners by UDC Homes, a previous homebuilder hShe acquired, promised an 18-hole champion ship course. The Conservancy, a group of homeowners opposed to homebuilding on the 162-acre site, also has alleged that UDC attracted buyers through advertising that touted the course.

In August, Superior Court Judge Timo thy Thomason tossed the Conservancy’s first revised complaint and suggested he’d reconsider further proceedings if it amended its complaint to include the names of its members. Shea and The Edge argued the Conservancy had no standing to sue on behalf of homeowners.

The judge at the time also refused to cut Shea Homes loose from the litigation and declined the Edge’s request for an out right dismissal of the suit.

While the Conservancy amended its complaint with a list of 50 homeowners, both The Edge and Shea last week told the judge the revisions were insufficient.

“The second amended complaint did not cure the legal deficiencies and further attempts to amend would be futile,” law yers for Shea wrote, renewing a request to be dismiss outright.

The Edge’s lawyers said that because CWC is neither a homeowner nor a party to the declaration that sets out the uses for the site, it does not have standing to sue their client and that it “cannot resolve those deficiencies.”

Attorneys Daniel Dowd and Cindy Al bracht-Cogan also told the judge that they met on Sept. 29 with the Conservancy and its lawyers and that “after the parties con ferred in good faith, they were unable to

MARK KELLY = OPEN BORDERS

Paid For By Citizens for Sanity forsanity.org

resolve the issues that are the subject of the motion” to dismiss the suit.

The Edge’s new response contains a lengthy list of arguments that aim to punch holes in the Conservancy’s assertions as well as buttress its argument against the legitimacy of the group to even sue.

It noted that while a 1989 Declaration of Covenants, Conditions and Restrictions governs the way the site can be used, “all Foothills homeowners agreed in the Mas ter CC&Rs that they had no ownership interest in the adjacent property and that they were not relying on any representa tion that a golf course would be operated.”

The homeowners association also is not a party to the course’s CC&Rs, according to another judge’s ruling last year.

The Edge noted that the course’s CC&Rs state, “the ownership, operation or con figuration of, or rights to use, any such golf course may change at any time and from time to time for reasons including, but not limited to: (a) the purchase or assumption of operation of any such golf course by an independent person.”

“No owner or occupant shall have any ownership interest in any such golf course by virtue of his, her or its membership in the Association; or his, her or its owner ship, use or occupancy of any lot, parcel or portion thereof,” the CC&Rs also state, ac cording to The Edge’s response.

In tracing the history of the course, The Edge’s lawyers also said that REA, the

original property owner, and UDC signed an agreement in 1993.

“REA and UDC agreed that development efforts of the Foothills (as opposed to fu ture Foothills homeowners) would be ‘en hanced’ if the Property was developed as a golf course.”

But that agreement also states that while the site should be used for golf, the owner of the land use rights governing the site “in its sole discretion can decide that portions of the Property or ‘all’ of the Property be released from that restriction,” The Edge says.

The agreement also said the declarant, or owner of the land use rights, “shall be entitled to release or cancel all or any por tion” of any agreement calling for its use as a golf course “at any time without the con sent or approval of any other party.”

The Edge’s lawyers also submitted evidence showing some early homebuy ers had signed an agreement that state “photographs of the adjacent golf course then being constructed were ‘conceptual only’ and all information, “including but not limited to land uses,” was ‘subject to change at any time without notice.’”

In challenging the Conservancy’s legal standing, The Edge notes that other courts in unrelated lawsuits have established that “to gain standing to bring an action, a plaintiff must allege a distinct and pal pable injury.”

“Because CWC is neither an owner of the

party or third party

Property Declaration, it lacks

standing,” The

asserts.

It also notes that the 50 homeown

list submitted in the amended

includes “at least 33” buyers purchased their houses long after Shea bought UDC in 1998 – meaning those owners could not have relied on UDC’s ads about the golf course in making their deci sion to buy.

The Edge claims that individual home owners who feel aggrieved by any change in the course’s use will have to file their own lawsuit rather than rely on The Con servancy because each owner’s situation will be different.

“The distinct and palpable injury suf

fered (if any) that is required to state a claim for declaratory judgment also dif fers vastly from member to member,” it states. “CWC makes a general allegation that its members paid a premium to pur chase golf-course lots on which to build their homes… but 10 of CWC’s 50 mem bers did not buy golf-course lots.”

It said seven other owners with lots on the course “will suffer no injury by the re moval of the golf-course restriction on the portion of land adjacent to their homes. Indeed, the golf course restriction was re moved from those parcels … over 28 years ago on July 28, 1994 by Irish Greens.

It also said 13 owners on the list bought their homes after the course after it had already withered into barren land and therefore can’t claim their property was damaged by the course’s closure. 

Mark & Alexis Breyer

Tentative deal reached to sell Foothills Golf Course

course was built in 1997 and completely overhauled in 2003.

Wilson

Gee and his partners have reached an agreement to sell the Foothills Golf Course.

Gee declined to discuss the sale, citing a nondisclosure agreement he has signed that remains in effect until a 45-day es crow period ends and pending a closing on the deal.

Gee had put the 166-acre course on the market earlier this year, along with The Duke, a course he and his partners own in Maricopa. The Foothills, built in 1988, was priced at $5 million and the sale included both the course and clubhouse.

Gee said he had taken the 137-acre Duke off the market because golf season is about to begin. That course had been priced at $8 million.

Multiple sources said that if the Foot hills deal goes through, it will be managed by Troon, the world’s largest golf course management company.

Troon also figured prominently in the sale earlier this month of the legendary Longbow Golf Club in Mesa for $8.95 mil lion to the Thompson Golf Group of Gilbert, which owns three courses, including on each in Gilbert, Cave Creek and Minnesota.

In announcing that deal, Thompson said Troon would continue managing Longbow, a 161.5-acre course with a nearly 3,000-square-foot clubhouse and 5,000-square-foot service garage. The

Longbow Golf Club is also the center piece of Daedalus Real Estate Advisors’ 330-acre mixed-use development at Hig ley and McDowell roads that includes apartments, homes, a hotel, light indus trial, commercial and “agritainment” proj ects.

The course was built by the McDonnell Douglas Aircraft company and was named to evoke a medieval archer’s distance and accuracy. The name also was adopted as the name of the Apache Longbow helicop ter, manufactured by McDonnell Douglas in the plant later purchased by The Boeing Company across the street from Longbow Business Park and Golf Club.

Gee still owns the Ahwatukee Lakes Golf Course, an 18-hole executive course that is scheduled to fully re-open before the end of this month and the Ahwatukee Country Club.

In an interview earlier this month, he told AFN that the Foothills and Ahwatukee County Club courses would remain used for golf. Gee also owned the Club West Golf Course, but closed it in 2016, saying he could not afford the high cost of city po table water to irrigate it.

He eventually sold the Club West course to The Edge, a group of four men who had tried to restore it for golf if they could sell

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

patients.

it to a homebuilder. The Edge has

its plans for that site be

of litigation that has lasted almost the entire time it has owned the property.

Designed by Tom Weiskoph and Jay Moorish, the Foothills Golf Course has been rated 4 stars by Golf Digest Places to Play and “meanders through a very up scale desert layout combined with a links flavor, minus the extreme carries that golf ers often associate with desert designs,” according to its listing on Loopnet.com.

The ad also touted the site’s “allure and challenge,” noting that the clubhouse in cludes a 160-seat theater, pro shop, room for restaurant outfitting and spacious pa tios and views of South Mountain “and an aesthetic quality that makes a round here memorable – as evidenced by the gor geous postcard quality backdrops behind the greens and tees.”

kee residents and a third whose residency here was challenged unsuccessfully.

The candidates are Harry Curtin, who describes himself as a businessman; Ah watukee resident and businessowner Joan Greene; Mark Moeremans, senior vice president of entrepreneurship and venture development with the Arizona Commerce Authority; Kevin Robinson, a former Phoenix assistant police chief; Moses Sanchez, a long-time Ahwatukee resident, Navy veteran and community leader; Juan Schoville, at 24 the youngest candidate and a security guard at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport; Sam Stone, DiCiccio’s former chief of staff and a political consultant; and Kellen Wilson, a labor leader in the food service industry.

Robinson, who owns a home with his wife in Scottsdale, moved into Ahwatukee in September 2021 and a judge in August rejected Sanchez’s assertions that his Pointe South Mountain house was only a “shadow home.”

In a forum last month, Curtin portrayed himself as an “entrepreneur all my life, solving problems” who is also “a futurist but I’m also old school.” He said the city

“has good bones” and that he could draw people from both parties” and “definitely be the peacemaker between both factions on city council.”

Noting her grandmother was the sec ond female to ever serve on Phoenix City Council, Greene promised to provide “a strong voice on the council” who would ensure “that your priorities are no longer ignored” and said those priorities includ ed “a safe city with strong public services” and a “city that protects our air, land, wa ter and wildlife.”

Moeremans noted that “Phoenix is changing rapidly” and said “if we don’t start acting on those challenges today, the future is uncertain and that’s why we need to act with urgency” on issues that include safe streets, “interesting retail and restau rant opportunities, housing affordability.”

Robinson called attention to his more than 36 years on the Phoenix police force who started at the South Mountain Pre cinct in 1987 and said working with vari ous groups and city departments as Ah watukee developed gave him experience in developing partnerships “to ensure that we have the things that make us a community.”

Sanchez said he is committed to “servant leadership” and stressed his 26 years as a

combat veteran and his four years as pres ident of the Ahwatukee Kiwanis Club and four years on the Tempe Union Govern ing Board. Stating “our next city council member must come from this community and be willing to fight for this community,” he promised “accessibility, transparency and accountability.”

Schoville noted he is an ordained min ister and an independent and said, “Dis trict 6 needs an anti-establishment voice who will address major problems such as homelessness, and our emergency servic es being underfunded.”

Stone vowed to attack City Hall’s insider politics, stating that he intends to be “the loudmouth who takes (an) issue to the public and brings attention to it because most of what the City of Phoenix does hap pens in the dark.”

As a mother of two, Wilson said she wants to “work to ensure that quality of life that we all moved here for” and that “my mission is to really understand the needs of the community and think about the future of my children and what our community looks like, what education looks like, what opportunity looks like.”

Mike Mendoza

Mountain Park Ranch Listed for $475,000

Move in ready 1,594 sf 3 bedroom, 2.5 bathroom home with north / south expo sure! 2014 roof with 12 year warranty, 2015 Milgard windows including the slid ing glass door to the back

LA CASA DE JUANA

DELIVERS A KNOCKOUT WITH ITS FRESH, AUTHENTIC AND MOUTHWATERING FOOD

Scottdale Springs – Old Town

Listed for $410,000

Beautifully updated 2 bedroom / 2 bathroom condo in the heart of Old Town Scottsdale!

Covered balcony looks out to the Continental Golf Course! Kitchen boasts trendy white cabinetry, granite countertops, stainless steel appliances, walk in pantry and breakfast bar. Refrigerator and washer/dryer convey! Tile flooring throughout; no carpet! 2021 HVAC UNIT! All new matte black door hardware. Both bathrooms updated in 2021 with new vanities, faucets and light fixtures. 2022 ceiling fans in bedrooms and family room. Community amenities include two pools, a work out facility and multiple, impeccably cared for common grass areas; pet friendly community! Close to Scottsdale Stadium, art galleries, restaurants, Civic Center, and Fashion Square.

Sun River Listed for $850,000

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,

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.

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!

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 floor plan! Wood - look 20 mil 7’’x 48’’ vinyl plank flooring throughout the home with carpet only in the bedrooms and on the staircase. Both bathrooms were remodeled with new white Shaker cabinets, honed granite vanity tops, designer mirrors, upgrad ed faucets, toilets, lights and fixtures. New 4” baseboards. New matte black interior door hardware. One car carport & one assigned parking space. Laundry room is on-site just off carport area. Heated community pool.

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

BALLOT READY

FOR THE NOVEMBER GENERAL ELECTION

An entire community of your friends and neighbors are working with the Maricopa County Elections Department to ensure a secure, transparent and accurate election. Visit BeBallotReady.Vote more and choose how and where you want to vote in the General Election. And remember to text “JOIN” to 628-683 to track your ballot.

Tix, a nonprofit that provides free event, concert and sports tickets to veterans and service members with the aim of reduc ing stress, strengthening family bonds and encouraging connections with local com munities.

His passion for ensuring that transition ing service members and veterans can connect with resources they need grows from his own experiences.

“When it comes to supporting our veter ans and their families, for me it’s a way to continue to give back to those who served. I don’t want others to endure the challeng es I experienced so I try to find a balanced approach to pay it forward,” he said.

His involvement with the Marines be gan while he was still a student at Arizo na State University, where he’d enrolled following graduation from Scottsdale’s Chaparral High School.

He had just completed his sophomore year at ASU when he enlisted in the Ma rine Corps Reserves in April 1987 and began training in San Diego on May 18 of that same year, graduating on Aug. 7.

“Although I enlisted in the Reserves while in college, my master plan included

enrolling in the Marine Officer program Platoon Leaders Course while at ASU, which I completed, to be commissioned

as a Marine officer upon graduation from ASU and completion of Marine Corps Of ficer Candidate School,” Weintraub wrote

in an email.

Entering the Corps, Weintraub planned to make it a long-term commitment, until U.S. economics intervened.

“I did intend to make it a 20-year career. However, after Operation Desert Storm, the Department of Defense incorporated a large-scale reduction of manpower across all branches,” he said.

“After my initial four-year contract of ser vice, I was able to extend for an additional year on active duty, however, I was not re tained on active duty due to the cutbacks. Therefore, I was separated from active duty in 1995 and joined the Marine Reserves.”

During his service in the Reserves, Weintraub was mobilized to active duty three times, two of which included combat tours in Iraq – including the 2003 Opera tion Iraqi Freedom.

It was during the ‘down time’ between deployments that Weintraub discovered how difficult it could be on veterans leaving active duty or between Reserves call-ups.

“When I was separated from active duty in 1995, there were hardly any veteran service organizations aside from the VFW

U.S. Marine Col. Steve Weintraub and his wife, Bijal Patel-Weintraub, enjoy a day at the beach with their son Zach, a sophomore at Arizona State University. (Special to AFN)

General

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

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E Baseline Rd., Suite 119

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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:

Worry

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

and American Legion – especially veteran service organizations focused on assist ing service members with their transition back to civilian life,” he said.

“My transition was very challenging, the economy wasn’t good and even with my leadership experience – including in combat environments and my university education – I struggled to find meaningful employment,” he said.

“Fellow veterans who had programs de signed to provide me with the tools and networks to connect me and my fellow vets with employers seeking my skill sets, willingly took my money but fell fantasti cally short of achieving their end of the agreement.”

When he finally found employment, it wasn’t in his skill set.

His first job was “removing and paint ing stripes and gluing reflectors on streets and highways throughout the state, quite often in triple-digit heat.”

Worse, his boss had been suspended by the company three times for failing drug tests that were mandated under their em ployer’s federal contract.

“It was a physical and mental challenge

to forge forward,” Weintraub recalled.

Yet, as a Leatherneck, “the Marine Corps instilled in me to persevere in the face of adversity.”

In 2000, as a major in the Reserves, Weintraub earned his masters degree in business administration, which he put to use in his volunteer work with Vet Tix and as a board member, and as a director with the Navajo Code Talkers. He also serves on the planning board for the Navajo Code Talkers Museum project.

Weintraub learned of his inclusion in the 2022 Arizona Veterans Hall of Fame in a voicemail message.

“I’d missed the call and the HOF mem ber who’d called wanted to let me know before the weekend as she was traveling out of town and wouldn’t have phone sig nal access,” he related. “When I heard the voicemail, I was in complete surprise. It took me a few moments for it to sink in.

“I did later receive an official letter in forming me of this honor.”

Weintraub is humbled by his selection.

“To be selected to be among such a fi nite number of accomplished veterans in Arizona that have achieved so much in the name of supporting veterans and their families is not something I thought

I’d ever be considered for,” he said, emo tionally. “Not only is it humbling, but also a responsibility to represent the AZHOF as an ambassador.”

The Arizona Veterans Hall of Fame has inducted fewer than 500 of the nearly 500,000 veterans living in the state.

Weintraub’s wife, Bijal Patel-Weintraub, said she, too, was moved to learn on the honor being bestowed on her husband.

“When Steve received the call, I was quite touched. I may have teared up a bit,” she recalled. “Steve has dedicated his en tire adult life to service to his country and moreover to helping those who served. To see his contributions recognized at this level is extraordinary. I am incredibly proud of him.”

The couple and their family will attend the induction ceremony of the 2022 Ari zona Hall of Fame Society held at Talking Stick Resort.

They have lived in Ahwatukee since 2009 and share their home with Steve Weintraub’s son and Bijal Patel-Wein traub’s stepson, Zach.

For more information on the Arizona Veterans Hall of Fame see AVHOF.org. To learn more about Vet Tix see Vettix.org 

TU OKs Yaqui language studies in its curriculum

BY BRIANNA LEE AFN Contributor

The Tempe Union High School Dis trict Governing Board has unani mously adopted the study of the Ya qui language into the district’s curriculum.

Board members approved adding the language to the course catalog for the 2023-2024 school year because they had seen the impact that not having the lan guage was having on the students from Guadalupe.

Adopting the Yaqui curriculum will significantly help those students, board member Sarah James said.

Guadalupe was founded by the Yaqui Tribe in 1975. A tiny community between Ahwatukee and Tempe that is less than a square mile, it has a rich history with tra ditions that often use the Yaqui language.

But James acknowledged many people have never heard of the tribe and that she herself had gone to school with many Gua dalupe residents and yet had no familiari ty with the community or those traditions.

“I grew up very close to Guadalupe,

Tempe Union officials say adopting the Yaqui language into the district’s curriculum not only acknowledges the unique history of the Guadalupe, but also the students from that community who attend district schools. (Special to AFN)

and it wasn’t until I was past my student teaching that I started learning about the cultures and what occurs during certain religious holidays,” James said.

She said that when she was student teaching, she would notice that certain children were missing on test days or were not prepared because they were so

involved with their indigenous communi ties. However, she never noticed or real ized that was the reason.

“They were doing something that was a part of their culture, and as a teacher, the more we know, the more we are enriched and the more understanding we have of other people’s lives.”

Nicole Miller said she has a special in terest in the Yaqui language and how she hopes the adoption of it in Tempe Union high schools will impact other Arizona school districts.

“I suppose just bringing visibility; we thought we heard one of the students talking about how she felt like their own culture was being lost, and so being able to make them feel seen is very important, and hopefully, other schools will under stand that too,” said Miller.

Board President Brian Garcia said he cared a lot about helping the community regain some of the pride he believed it has lost. Including Yaqui language studies in the district curriculum, he said, would be a good first step to helping restore that pride and preserving the community’s traditions.

“Representation matters, and I think that we are setting a good example for oth er unions that we, as a district, believe that representation matters, not only in our district but in all of Arizona,” said Miller.

Last year, both Kyrene and Tempe Union

Phoenix earmarks 150 vacant parcels for affordable homes

BY THOMAS FRANCE AFN Contributor

Vacant

city land may provide relief for Phoenix residents clamoring for affordable housing.

City Council recently approved a list of 150 parcels Phoenix already owns that can be used to build new affordable housing.

City staff already has plans to solicit proposals, with Deputy Housing Director Samantha Keating saying that “some de velopers have already expressed interest.”

The average cost of rent in Phoenix is $1,097, according to Housing and Urban Development’s Fair Market Rents.

Mayor Kate Gallego implemented the Housing Phoenix Plan to combat the rap id rise in rents by creating or preserving 50,000 homes by 2030.

“Ensuring that Phoenix has affordable housing options for all who desire to call our city home is a priority for the Phoenix City Council,” Gallego said when she an nounced the project.

Gallego noted during a council meeting last month that the private sector has also increased their own development, with multifamily permits being issued up 64%.

In a statement, the city noted that a sub

stantial part of the cost of a house is the price of the land.

However, it’s unclear how much lower the cost of building a home would be on city-owned land.

Experts say many factors affect the cost of land, including location, other ameni ties around it and topography.

Architect and interior designer Marie Gervais said that there are clear conve niences to using land owned by the city.

“It’s hard to find land in Phoenix, so they have a huge advantage in that sense,” she said. “It’s also hard to find land that’s the right type of land, something that’s zoned for residential development.”

A point-in-time survey of people living on the street in January of this year report ed 9,026 unsheltered individuals in Mari copa County. That number was 73% higher over the annual survey conducted in 2016.

Of the proposed 50,000 affordable homes Gallego hopes Phoenix can achieve by 2030, the city has created or preserved 22,683 so far.

Gallego added that making the vacant land available for homebuilding “brings us a step closer to becoming the city we all want for ourselves, our children, and our future.” 

ments that are read at public meetings and even included in official correspondence.

governing boards adopted a “land ac knowledgement” read at the beginning of its meetings that reminds the public that district facilities sit on the ancestral lands of two Native American tribes – the Akimel O’odham and Piipaash – the dominant tribes in the Gila River Indian Community.

Many government entities and organiza tions of all kinds adopt land acknowledge

Dr. Traci L. Morris, executive director of the American Indian Policy Institute at Arizona State University and a member of the Chickasaw Nation, told the AFN that such acknowledgements are “appropriate and respectful.”

She noted, “There are many Native Americans living in (the) district that will be honored by this acknowledgment.” 

LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT 12

Incumbent Democratic Rep. Mitzi Ep stein of Tempe is seeking the Senate seat that Sean Bowie decided not to seek again while two political newcomers from Ah watukee, retired City of Phoenix human services program manager Patty Contre ras, and scientist Stacey Travers, are the Democrats seeking the House seats.

Seeking to crack all-blue LD12 are Re publican Senate candidate David Richard son, also a scientist and entrepreneur in Ahwatukee, and Chandler residents Terry Roe and Jim Chaston, seeking the House seats. Chaston is a CPA who owns his own firm and Roe, a retired police officer, is winding up his second term on Chandler City Council.

During the Arizona Citizens Clean Elec tions Commission debate Sept. 1, the can didates split along party lines on abortion with all three Democrats insisting it is a woman’s right and Republicans favoring restrictions. The Republican candidates did not state they favored an outright ban on all abortions, and Roe said he might go along with allowing them when a fetus is less than 12 weeks old.

The debate can be viewed at youtube. com/watch?v=sBn6hwyog_o.

Abortion was not the only issue that showed differences between the two par ties’ candidates for the LD12 seats during the Clean Elections debate.

Richardson was particularly aggressive in challenging Epstein, asserting she had never sponsored a bill in her four years as

representative. She denied the allegation.

The debate focused extensively on pub lic school financing.

The Republicans all favored the expand ed voucher system, and Roe used the is sue to come out vehemently against voter initiatives, saying such measures gener ally pass because voters get confused by misleading messages.

Travers ripped into that assertion, stat ing Republicans were contending, “on the one hand, we’re too stupid enough to know what we’re signing. But on the other hand, we’re smart enough to be able to make educational choices for our chil dren. We can’t have it both ways.”

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Another education-related issue the candidates addressed involved the state Constitution’s Aggregate Expenditure Limit on school spending, which last school year could have provoked mas sive teacher and staff layoffs even though school districts had the money in the bank to pay them.

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

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

Richardson said, “I am part of a group of incoming potential lawmakers who are already ready to take meaningful steps for improving our education system.”

He said the plan would include a $10,000 pay raise for teachers – “of course, tied to others requiring financial transparency and some other things.”

Epstein said “funding is my bailiwick” and that the main reason teachers didn’t see the full pay raise is “because year after year, my Republican colleagues have given dollars to K- 12 with one hand and taken it away with two other hands.”

And her running mates for the House seats both contended that state fund ing for public education was woeful and vowed to fight for more resources for pub lic schools.

KYRENE SCHOOL DISTRICT

Governing Board President Kevin Walsh of Tempe is seeking a second term while two Ahwatukee educators, Triné Nelson and Kristi Ohman, are also on the ballot after the other incumbent Margaret Pratt opted against a second term.

Walsh, a father of two and a partner in the law firm of Quarles & Brady LLP, is a

volunteer in a number of organizations, including a member of the Phoenix One Foundation Board, a legal mentor for the small business organization Gangplank and an ambassador for the Greater Phoe nix Economic Council.

He is a member of the Volunteer Law yers Program, the Clemency Project 2014, Valley Interfaith Project and chair of Jobs For Arizona’s Graduates logo.

Walsh has said he believes he has gained “invaluable experience” on the board “that sets me apart from others” and said he regularly visits the district’s 26 schools.

“I am balanced and pragmatic, with a proven track record of achieving results. I’m proud of the great work accomplished during my term on the Kyrene Governing Board, including increasing teacher/staff pay by $10.5 million last school year, while still decreasing spending.”

Nelson has been in education for 18 years and is currently the curriculum de sign director for Arizona State Universi ty’s W.P. Carey School of Business.

She told AFN, “As a mom with children in the Kyrene district for the past nine years, I have spent extensive time volunteering in classrooms, serving on PTO boards, the Superintendent Community Council, and most recently as the co-chair for Keep Kyrene Strong, whose work for integral to the success 2021 M & O override continu ance election.

“As a governing board member, I will serve the community by collaborating with parents, educators, administration, and other community members to find solutions that best meet the needs of our children. I will work with other board members to build on the success Kyrene has experienced and make sure that we share progress and achievements with the community. “

Ohman, a mother of two, has been a teacher for both charter and public schools,

including Kyrene and said she is in the race “because I want to be an honest voice for Kyrene kids and truly listen to all parents, teachers, and community members.”

“I am proud to bring a current teacher and parent’s perspective to the Kyrene Board. I want Kyrene to be every parent’s first choice for their child. Kyrene is an amazing district and can reach its high est potential by focusing on education fundamentals, transparency, and account ability for all. The pandemic has left us in a severe academic slump and regression of social skills, work ethic, and behavior. We need to prioritize our Kyrene students and classrooms. The strength of our com munity relies on our public schools.”

TEMPE UNION

Tempe Union Governing Board also will see at least one new member after board President Brian Garcia decided against a second term. However, incumbent An dres Barraza of Tempe is seeking a second term while Ahwatukee resident Stephan Kinglsey and Amanda Steele of Chandler are wading into electoral politics for the first time.

The owner of a coffee and team import company bearing his name, Barraza is a former senior firefighter for the U.S. For est Service who often has talked about how he rose from an early life as a drug dealer to earn a bachelor of science de gree in economics from ASU.

He did not respond to the Arizonan’s candidate questionnaire or an invitation to write two Opinion Page columns on top ics of his choice. He also did not respond to a request for candidate statements from the Maricopa County Superintendent of Schools, according to its website.

Kingsley has been in education for over 15 years, and is listed as an English teach er at Corona del Sol High School.

He is now a doctoral candidate in in

dustrial and organizational psychology at Grand Canyon University. Stephan con sults and collaborates on diversity and inclusion initiatives with business, edu cation, and community leaders as well as researchers at the national and interna tional level, according to the LGBTQ Vic tory Institute website.

“I’m especially passionate about en suring vulnerable and minority student voices are represented. I’ve helped fight for teachers, and I’ve developed good re lationships with families and community members,” he wrote, adding that he is “a good listener” who uses “a strength-based approach to reach across the aisle to work with everyone.

Steele is a community activist and pa rental advocate for public schools and students with disabilities. She is a speech therapist and President and co-founder of EPIC Disability Advocacy.

“I am running for the students, for the teachers, and for the community,” she said.

“Today more students are showing delays and/or falling further behind in their academics, social emotional wellbeing and overall development. Teachers are struggling mentally and emotionally from the trauma consumed over the last several years.”

Steele said Tempe Union “would ben efit from the accessibility lens I bring as a mother to an autistic adult with an intel lectual disability, a neurodiverse woman herself, and an advocate wanting to listen to your voice.”

TEMPE UNION OVERRIDE, BOND

Approval of all three measures would equal a combined tax increase from .5924% this year to .7998% per $100 of assessed valuation in the fiscal year begin ning July 1, 2023 – raising taxes by about $52 a year on a house valued at $249,642,

Harry Curtin Joan Greene Kellen Wilson Mark Moeremans Kevin Robinson Moses Sanchez Juan Schoville Sam Stone

according to the district. Currently, that tax totals $148 a year.

The overrides include one for basic op erational spending that would be 15% for the first five years, then go down to 10% the sixth year and 5% the seventh. The other is a 10% 7-year override, or $8.7 million a year, for the District Additional Assistance budget that covers equipment not included in the regular capital spend ing or bond program.

That budget would include expenses for items like books and furniture.

The bond package would cover higherticket items that the District Additional Assistance budget doesn’t cover.

At the time the board approved the

measure, now-retired Assistant Superin tendent Diane Meulemans said some of the money could also fund some art room expenditures, updating auditoriums, re furbishing some cafeteria floors that need to be redone, curbs, some dugouts, fenc ing, locker room floors, restaurants, sci ence labs, tennis courts, weatherization, and lighting.

If approved, the district would split is suance of those bonds in two – selling $50 million next year and the other half three years later.

Projected expenses in that bond issue include $1.65 million for a construction manager “to assist (us) as we go through these projects” because “we found that

Meet some of the candidates

Voters have a chance to meet some of the candidates that are in some of the local elections tomorrow, Oct. 13, and next Wednesday.

Advance Placement government students at Mountain Pointe High School will conduct free forums open to the public at the school auditorium, 4201 E. Knox Road, Ahwatukee, at 6 p.m. tomorrow for the Tempe Union Governing Board candi dates and at 7 p.m. for the LD 12 candidates. Audience members will have a chance to write their own questions on cards the students will collect prior to each forum.

Even though the election of a new Phoenix councilman for the district that in cludes Ahwatukee is nonpartisan, only four candidates for District 6 will be at the monthly Democrats and Donuts breakfast at 8 a.m. Oct. 19 at Denny’s, 7400 W. Chandler Blvd., Chandler. Only Harry Curtin, Joan Greene, Mark Moeremans, and Kellen Wilson will be there and LD12 Democrats did not respond to an AFN ques tion about why the other four candidates – including Democrat Kevin Robinson – won’t be there.

People are asked to arrive a little earlier to get seated and put in their breakfast order in before 8 a.m.. The hosts will be there by 7:30 a.m. Information: Julia Flee man at juliafleeman@cox.net.

GRAND

Triné Nelson Kristi Ohrman

Kevin Walsh

Andres Barraza

Stephan Kingsley

Amanda Steele

Despite reforms, county pounds still under fire

BY CECILIA CHAN AFN Staff Writer

tion of Shelter Veterinarians,

Maricopa

County Animal Care and Control is facing a critical over load of dogs and is taking steps to alleviate the overcrowding.

But a petition circulating online con tends the county is not doing enough to protect the canines who are there.

The shelters in Phoenix and Mesa were housing a combined 855 animals in 755 kennels, which meant some dogs were sharing space in one kennel. MCACC also has added 50 temporary kennel spaces outside the West shelter facility in Phoe nix with evaporative coolers to make dogs as comfortable as possible.

“The two shelters have been at critical capacity for months,” said Kim Powell, shelter spokeswoman.

To address this, the county is waiving adoption fees on most animals, holding free adoption events through the rest of the year and increasing efforts to reunite owners with lost pets.

MCACC also has an Assistance Pro gram, which helps owners with financial difficulties keep their pets with subsi dized shelter fees, spay/neuter surgery, licensing, and rabies vaccinations. Since July 1, the program has helped return 149 animals to their owners and steril ized 102 animals.

“We cannot address this from within the shelter system alone,” said shelter Director Michael Mendel. “We need sup port directly from the community where animal homelessness begins, which is why we do everything we can to partner with the community.”

But retired school teacher and animal advocate Lorena Bader is circulating a petition on change.org demanding the county change its practices at the two shelters.

Bader complains that MCACC fails to provide proper medical and behavior care to animals, harbors a hostile work environment that has resulted in low mo rale and a high-turnover of staff.

Bader criticizes the county for ending the animal behavior team, pointing to a deadly consequence in June because of that action.

A veterinarian employed at the shelter for nine years was mauled by a dog “ex

hibiting signs of extreme kennel deterio ration,” according to Bader.

“As a result of the attack, both the vet who was attacked and another vet re signed immediately,” Bader said. “One of the vets had previously emailed HR about her safety concerns following the dissolu tion of the behavior team.”

The dog, Kronk, was taken to an office because “he was hyper-salivating, chasing his tail, and self-harming in his kennel,” ac cording to Bader.

Shelters are advised to use alternatives to traditional care housing such as a foster care, or office foster care for animals stay ing long term, according to the Associa

“Since this incident, we have adjusted our practices to ensure staff safety,” Pow ell said. “We are always trying to balance our desire to find good outcomes for all dogs with our public safety responsibility.”

Jennifer Bryan, founder and president of Alone No more Dog rescue, is another critic of the county shelter. The nonprofit, formed in 2020, pulls the dogs with be havioral issues off the county’s e-list.

Bryan said there’s a night-and-day dif ference now that the behavioral team no longer exists.

“I’ve overloaded my entire rescue be cause they are not doing their job,” she said. “So right now, the dogs aren’t being worked with and they are being scheduled to be euthanized when it’s unnecessary.

“These dogs are scheduled to be eutha nized because there is no behavioral team any more. None of these dogs have the chance to be pulled out alive.”

According to Bryan, the owner-surren dered dogs on the kill list are actually the easiest to work with.

“If you put a dog in a shelter, it would be cowering in the corner scared of ran dom people because it’s lived with you their whole life,” she said. “Those types of dogs are not adjusting to their environ ment. Those are the ones scheduled to be euthanized.”

According to county data, owners sur rendered 589 dogs in 2021.

Fewer euthanizations

Bryan further claimed that no one is left in the shelter who knows how to assess the behavior of a dog.

“People are coming in and applying for jobs whether they have experience or not,” Bryan said. “And there’s no one up at the top that is qualified to train these people.”

She pointed to the dogs her nonprofit rescued from euthanasia.

“I have people who are new that are able to take them out,” she said. “Why is that? Why can’t their staff not work with them? Yet, we give them a little time and they are perfect.”

When asked for the numbers for dogs euthanized for behavioral issues when the behavioral team was in place compared with after when the group was disband

A sign outside the Maricopa County East Valley Animal Care Center shows the capacity of the shelter in Mesa a few weeks ago. (David Minton/Staff Photographer)

Nonprofit rescues are trying to help the county alleviate crowding. Rescues also help when they can provide other services. For example, Gilbert-based Friends For Life Rescue held a chip-a-thon last weekend, during which Infinity Hill brought Kohana, who was scanned for chips by Tina Sexton. (David Minton/Staff Photographer)

has significantly helped the management of that additional work,” Meulemans said. It also includes a $1 million cost for actu ally selling the bonds.

The board’s approval of both overrides and the bond package also followed the recommendations of a 38-member citi zens advisory committee that studied Tempe Union’s obligations and future needs. The committee comprised differ ent stakeholders, from parents and com munity members to district staff.

Tempe Union’s current needs not fund ed by the District Additional Assistance budget would total $60.9 million over sev en years beginning July 1,2023, according to Meulemans.

She said failure to obtain voter ap proval for the operations override would

Important dates for the General Election

It is too late to register to vote Nov. 8.

Oct. 28: Last day to request a mail ballot.

Nov. 1: Last day to mail your ballot.

Nov. 4: Last day to vote at an early voting location.

Nov. 8: Polls open 6 a.m.-7 p.m.

Information: elections.maricopa. gov, votingmatters.org.

force the district to cut about $4.3 million in the 2023-24 school year and another $4.3 the following school year, when the current override finally expires. The dis trict ultimately would lose approximate ly $12.7 million in operations spending annually. 

ed, Powell responded, “Our save rate has been over 95% for the entire time.”

According to the most recent data, the shelter’s August save rate was 95.76%.

Of the 1,628 pets that entered the shel ter, 954 were adopted, 279 transferred to partner organizations and 171 returned to owners that month.

For August, the 2022 year-to-date save rate was 95.96%, the county said.

Overall, the number of dogs eu thanized in the county shelter is a marked improvement from 2016, when 4,211 dogs were euthanized. In 2021, 537 were euthanized.

“That in itself is a good number but it doesn’t tell the story behind the scene,” Bader said. “They use that number to ba sically cover for everything else – you’re warehousing dogs that go crazy because they are stuck in cages days on end.”

And, Bryan claimed the county’s high save rate is due to the efforts of her non profit and about 10 other rescues.

“My rescue and other rescues if you look at our numbers have exponentially increased because there are so many more dogs scheduled to be euthanized,”

Bryan said. “And we are doing our best to save them all.”

According to the county, the shelter in 2021 transferred 2,624 animals to part ner organizations, 3,634 in 2020 and 5,494 in 2019.

Year over year the county shelter’s save rate has been the same but “moving for ward their save rate is going to be dras tically different” because the nonprofit rescues are all full, Bryan predicted.

John Doherty, who’s been fighting for reforms at the shelter since Rodrigo Silva was the director, agreed that the nonprof its are doing all the heavy lifting.

“If not for the rescue units, those dogs would be put down constantly,” said Doherty, who started the Vets for Pets program.

Doherty, who said he is persona non grata at the county shelter but still has contacts there, insisted that botched sur geries are still going on.

He claimed that a dog recently bled out in a kennel after the sutures came undone.

Bader also in her petition provided exam ples of dogs that died after their surgical procedures, including one who “internally

bled out after surgery.”

“These claims are false,” Powell said. “Animals are receiving proper medical care from trained vets.”

County insists staffing is OK

The county also responded to criticism that the shelter is woefully understaffed and therefore unable to provide for all the care the animals need.

Powell said three veterinarians and nine veterinarian technicians are cur rently on staff. The county has job post ings for a chief veterinarian and a veteri narian, she said.

“There is a current job posting to at tract additional staff,” she said. “Our shel ter is not unique in this way. Many, if not all, local animal rescue organizations are struggling to find and hire veterinarians.”

Powell added that the department has worked with the Board of Supervisors to increase pay rates and with Human Resources to target veterinary schools to recruit more people to work in the county shelters.

“It is challenging, but our results for the past eight months tell the story,” Powell said. “We are finding positive outcomes for more than 95% of animals. This is despite the number of animals and lack of medical history when they enter the shelter.”

Powell noted that there are over 160 employees on staff, most of whom work with animals in some context.

And, there are a total of 405 volunteers at MCACC, she said.

A 2015 report by a county ad hoc task force recommended at the time the hir ing of six more veterinarians and six vet erinary technicians to supplement the then-current staffing of five veterinar ians and 14 vet techs. The report, how ever, pointed to industry standards of 13 vets and 45 vet techs for an operation the size of the county’s.

Other recommendations included measures to improve the overall medical treatment to animals and the quality of

behavioral assessments such as provid ing more education and instituting an in-kennel enrichment program to help offset behavioral deterioration from be ing in a shelter environment, which was in progress, according to the report.

Some of the recommendations were not implemented because they were not practical financially or from a staffing standpoint, Powell said.

But “many of the task force’s recom mendations were implemented success fully,” she said. “That’s how we were able to improve our live release rate from less than 70% to the current live release rate of 95%-plus.”

Hostile work environment

The shelter has trouble retaining em ployees, said detractors, attributing that partly to a hostile work environment.

“There are not enough people who want to work in that environment,” Bryan said. “It’s hostile. They feel upper management is disrespectful to them.

“So they work for other shelters and rescues and everyone keeps abandon ing Maricopa County. They ran out vol unteers and ran out staff members and I know that personally because people come to us and want to work with us.”

The fiscal year 2021 county data showed a 61% turnover rate for animal control officers, 67% for shelter technicians and 31% for animal health technicians.

Notes from shelter employee exit inter views in late 2021 included comments of feeling unappreciated, a stressful envi ronment and burnout.

Powell said she can’t speak to the man agement under the previous director.

“People leave jobs for many reasons,” Powell said. “Despite our increase in pay, some organizations pay more. Workers have many options for their skills in the current environment.”

She also discounted claims of a toxic work environment.

“We don’t agree with that assessment,” she said. “Some former staff members do not like that our leadership team now holds every staff member accountable,

including for disparaging remarks made on social media.

“Current leadership has an open-door policy to talk with staff. Additionally, staff members are also recognized for their hard work in emails and during the morning meeting.”

Bader said she started the petition to bring awareness to the public and insist ed that county superiors have turned a deaf ear to the issue.

County slams critic

County spokesman Fields Moseley said that over the past five years, Bader has had multiple meetings, phone calls and a significant volume of written correspon dence with high-level county officials.

Moseley painted Bader as a fired vol unteer determined on revenge, filing over 250 records requests since 2020 as a part of that effort.

“The points raised by Ms. Bader on change.org are not new,” he said. “Dur ing these years, her ideas and opinions about Animal Care and Control have not evolved, and the discussions have not been productive for the County or its residents.

“The correspondence increased after she was dismissed as a volunteer in Au gust 2019 for trying to disrupt Animal Care operations and denigrating employ ees on a social media platform.”

He said Bader filed a notice of claim in December 2019 with the intent to sue for $300,000 but that never materialized.

He also said that supervisors continu ally support improvements at Animal Care and Control and in August approved $1.4 million to help the organization con nect pet owners with other services that might prevent them from surrendering their dog or cat for financial reasons.

“Animal Care and Control has a difficult mission to treat and care for hundreds of dogs and cats on any given day while making every attempt to adopt those an imals into loving homes,” Moseley said.

Due to the current overcrowding, MCACC is asking the public to ex haust every option before making an

appointment to bring stray animals to its shelters.

It has been proven that the quickest owned pet reunions begin with in-neigh borhood methods such as posted paper flyers and local social media pages, ac cording to shelter officials.

The county also recommends:

• Take found stray animal to a local veterinarian for microchip scanning.

If the pet is chipped this will begin the reunion process.

• Add the pet to MCACC’s Lost & Found interactive pet map at https://www. maricopa.gov/162/Lost-Found-Pet.

• If the pet is not chipped, call 602506-PETS to make a stray surrender appointment.

• For those who want to help in per son, consider volunteering to work directly within the shelter with dedicated shelter teams.maricopa. gov/294/Volunteer.

•

If people have capacity in their homes to foster shelter animals, reach out to a reputable animal wel fare organization or to the MCACC atmaricopa.gov/296/Foster.

• Donate to any local animal welfare organization that provides free or low cost spay/neuter, microchip ping, and licensing activities to stop this issue where it starts.

New shelter offers hope

A big help for the overcrowding will be the new East Shelter currently under construction at Baseline Road and Lewis Drive in Mesa.

The Board of Supervisors in May 2021 voted to spend $36 million to build the shelter, expected to open in early 2024.

The new facility boasts 51,000 square feet of gross interior conditioned space with 369 kennels for dogs and 63 for cats, according to Powell.

The current East Valley shelter is 29,555 square feet while the West shelter is 62,350 square feet, she said.

What to do with the current east shelter when the new one opens hasn’t been de termined yet, according to Powell. 

Community

www.ahwatukee.com

Ahwatukee teen, 14, publishes a dystopian thriller on Amazon

BY PAUL MARYNIAK AFN Executive Editor

Karina Breyer sure didn’t let a glob al pandemic and a months-long school closure cast her into a funk.

The Ahwatukee teen used that time to finish a 300-page novel that she started at age 11.

Now 14 and a freshman at Desert Vista High School, Karina self-published a “A 300 Step Guide to Losing Yourself,” avail able on amazon.com.

She hopes to get it on brick-and-mortar bookshelves soon.

Her novel centers around a girl named Faye who has lived the last 13 years in an abusive family in a poor, dystopian coun try. One day she awakes to find herself in the custody of the country’s president as her captors demand what she knows about a secret “portal.”

She tries to tell them that she has no idea what they’re talking about. But, as she escapes her captors, Karina explained,

Karina Breyer started her novel “A 300 Step Guide to Losing Yourself,” when she was 11 and at age 14 has published it. (David Minton/AFN Staff Photographer)

“she discovers a side of herself she could have never fathomed – along with a little magic.”

As the book jacket notes, Faye didn’t

quite have all that in mind.

“The goal was to outlive my family, not find a new one. The hope was to stay in the shadows, not become one,” Karina’s hero ine says.

The daughter of Ahwatukee attorneys Mark and Alexis Breyer and the next-toyoungest of their eight children, Karina was just entering Kyrene Altadena Middle School when she started her book.

“There would be days that I would write for hours as well as months where I wouldn’t write at all,” she recalled. “My schedule is packed so the quarantine was when I got most of my writing done. Once written I edited it six times.”

That schedule has stayed busy in high school. She is on Desert Vista’s stu dent council and Speech and Debate team and off campus, she is part of the competi tion team at the Innerlight Dance Center.

Not surprisingly, her favorite subject is English, she said, “because I love to write.”

3 local Young Adult fiction authors to talk vampires

BY PAUL MARYNIAK AFN Executive Editor

Tis

the season to be scary and two popular Gilbert authors of young adult fiction are teaming up with an Ahwatukee counterpart this Friday to discuss one of the more – pardon the pun–immortal characters in the horror genre. Vampires.

All three have written novels around bloodsuckers, and Gilbert authors Su zanne Young and Kelly deVos will be mod erating a discussion with Erin Jade Lange, who just published her sixth and first vampire novel, “Mere Mortals.”

DeVos and Young also will discuss their forays into vampire lore for the under-21 set during the free session at 6 p.m. Friday, Oct. 14, at Changing Hands Bookstore, 6428 S. McClintock Drive on the south west corner of Guadalupe Road, Tempe.

Lange, the nom de plume used by Erin Helm, communications executive director for Kyrene School District and a former lo cal television journalist, wrote what’s ba

sically a coming-of-age novel with a twist.

Because her two main teen vampires in “Mere Mortals” broke “vampire law,” they are suddenly converted into normal hu

man beings who must navigate through the highs, lows and angst of high school

While Suzanne Collins is her favorite author “because of her use of character development, plot, and writing style is so intriguing and inspiring,” she was inspired by others in writing her first novel.

“While my imagination took over, Harry Potter and the Hunger Games inspired many aspects,” she said.

And, she added, “I didn’t have any direct help but my 2nd and 5th grade teachers are a huge reason why I am in love with

writing. I dedicated this book to them.”

As for who inspired her characters, it was a mixed bag.

“A few of the characters are inspired by my family,” said Karina. “These characters are introduced halfway into the novel and are slightly based on my family’s person alities and actions.

“My sister, Talia, has ocular histoplas mosis, a rare eye condition where she has to get shots in her eyes.

“At one point, the main character, Faye, gets a needle to her eye. I got the name for

“program” is used to combat an interna tional epidemic of teen suicides.

one character, Taylor Skye, when I put up a snapchat story asking for someone to respond to it with their name. Taylor and Skye were the first two people to do so.”

Karina also credits her first major liter ary foray to her family.

“My friends and family have been ex tremely supportive,” Karina said.

“I am so lucky to know all of these in credible people who have helped me through the process and who have in spired me to keep working hard.”

And she’s not nearly finished with her

years, the last 12 in Gilbert.

life as they try to figure a way to get back to their previous supernatural state.

Young and deVos also have dabbled in vampireology.

A Mesa native, deVos several months ago published “Go Hunt Me,” praised as a “spine-tingling thriller” about seven hor ror movie buffs and recent high school grads who travel to a remote Romanian castle reputed to be owned by ancestors of the granddaddy of vampires – Count Dracula. Although there are no actual vampires in the book, it doesn’t take long after their arrival for their trip to become a deadly venture.

Vampires take front and center stage in Young’s next novel, “In Nightfall.” Slated to be published next year, it has already been described as “’The Lost Boys’ meets ‘Buffy the Vampire Slayer,’” a movie and a TV series, respectively, that revolves around thirsty immortals.

Young and deVos also have penned young adult novels with dystopian themes.

A Utica, New York, native and mother who moved to Arizona to escape its bonechilling winters, Young authored the New York Times best-selling six-novel “The Program” series about young love in a fu turistic society where a memory-erasing

A 22-year Gilbert resident and mom, de Vos has written a two-novel series, “Day Zero” and “Day One,” about teens caught up in an apocalyptic society that emerges from an economic collapse.

DeVos also has written novels outside the horror-sci-fi orbit. Her “Fat Girl on a Plane” follows a teen fashion student be fore and after a major weight loss that she falsely believes will solve all her problems. It was named one of the “50 Best Summer Reads of All Time” by Reader’s Digest.

Explaining that she has “struggled with the way the world treats people of size for a lot of my life,” she got the idea for the book “after I was asked to buy a second seat on a flight to Salt Lake City.”

Young’s prodigious output of 22 books includes an award-winning trio of nov els with a dystopian edge about girls in a private school in the near future who rebel against men who want to control and groom them. The titles – “Girls with Sharp Sticks,” “Girls With Razor Hearts,” and “Girls with Rebel Souls” – should give you an idea that the heroines are no pushovers.

A creative writing major, Young said that when she moved to Arizona, “I was able to pursue my passion – teaching” and has taught English and creative writing for 17

“I started my writing career in middle school where I would write murder mys teries starring my friends and pass them around the class,” Young said, adding:

“Even so, it wasn’t until decades later that one of my stories became a published novel. Still, I think the motivation to write has always been there. The real struggle is finding the motivation to continue in the face of rejection and failure. … In the end, it’s about finding the resilience to keep putting your words out there and/or find ing a new way to tell your story.”

DeVos said she had always wanted to be an author but spent many years as a graph ic designer and art director in the fashion and professional beauty industries.

Though she was supposed to write a contemporary young adult novel after “Fat Girl on a Plane,” she said, “it was 2015 and the social and political climate in this country made it difficult to focus on upbeat writing. I wanted to change what I was doing. I wrote ‘Day Zero’ and ‘Day One’ which are near-future, quasi-dysto pian, political thrillers for teen readers.”

DeVos describes herself as “a massive fan of horror fiction and films” – so much so she used zombies as the primary vil lains in “Eat Your Heart Out” – a novel about teens visiting a fat farm only to find

page-turner tale.

“At the end of the book,” she explained, “there are many plot holes and myster ies that I’m excited to unfold. I have three more books planned out and am hoping to make this trilogy happen.”

Despite her age, Karina has an idea about what she wants to be when she reaches adulthood, though she conceded, “That’s a really hard question.”

“As of right now I would love to become an author and screenwriter as well as a dance teacher on the side.” 

it crawling with the undead.

She said Stephanie Meyer was her “sin gle biggest influence” but not just because she wrote the phenomenally successful “Twilight” series.

“She was a suburban mom who turned her dream of being a published writer into a reality,” deVos said. “When I decided to focus on getting my first book published, I was also a mom with a small child at home. Meyer made me feel like I should give publishing a shot too.”

Besides the perseverance that Young says writers should have in large doses, deVos also advises would-be writers to “read as much as you can,” and that “One of the best ways to learn how to be a great writer is by reading the work of other writers you admire.”

Like deVos, Young also is excited about the chance to talk vampires and horror fic tion Friday at Changing Hands Bookstore.

“Phoenix has a great cast of talented au thors,” Young said, “and those interested in writing professionally should try to attend local events. We show up for each other and offer support—and trust me, after hours alone writing at the computer, that support means the world.”

Information: authorsuzanneyoung. com and kellydevos.com and erinjadelange.com.

Ghost luster

Ahwatukee Women’s Social Club plans fundraiser, evening bash at Wild Horse

The Ahwatukee Women’s Social Club, open to women 16 and up has scheduled two big events for which tickets are now on sale.

The first is a family-friendly Chili for Charity Cook-off to benefit the Kyrene Family Resource Center. The BYOB event will be held noon-3 p.m. Nov. 5 at the Club West Community Center, 16400 S. 14th Ave.

Tickets are $10 per person or $25 for a family. Bring a non perishable food item and receive a raffle ticket. The family ticket includes four 50/50 raffle tickets, Fritos, hot dogs, cook ies, bottled water and a voting ticket.

Entertainment will be provided by Chris Donnelly. Tickets are available with cash, Venmo or Zelle. Information: Jean at djazpa@gmail.com or Lori at Lori.battista@gmail.com

The second event is Putting on the Ritz, a gal 6:30-10 p.m. Dev. 7 at Wild Horse Pass’ Palo Verde Ballroom, 5040 Wild Horse Pass Blvd.

Women ages 16 and up are invited to “get dolled up” and meet other women from Ahwatukee to celebrate a hear of socializing.

The $100 tickets include hors d’oeuvres, entertainment, dinner buffet, raffles and dancing. Cocktail attire is optional and there will be a cash bar. Tickets are available at https:// sendomatic.com/AWSCRITZ

Local organization is planning to mark caregivers month with various events

Care 4 the Caregivers, an Ahwatukee-based organization, is celebration November, Arizona Family Caregiver month, with events around the Valley specifically designed for people rais ing children with disabilities.

“Caring for a child with a disability can be a lonely endeav or and one that impacts every aspect of a person’s life,” said founder Michele Thorne of Ahwatukee. “These caregivers are regularly isolated, experience a loss of self-identity, and are unsure of their future and that of their children. They often feel unseen and unsupported.

Care 4 the Caregivers was created with one mission--to make sure that caregivers know they are both seen and sup ported.”

Her group has directly served over 500 families in Arizona with support groups, life coaching, parent-empowerment classes, and community events. The group also provides free online resources that include educational webinars, service roadmaps, visual tools, fitness programs, and guided medita tions.

The November events include two 100-person paint nights at the Arizona Opera Black Box Theater. A 100-seat celebration dinner at the Coronado Venue and a spa day experience at Modern Allo.

“Care 4 the Caregivers is hosting these events this Novem ber in honor of our hardworking community. Each experience is designed to build connections, allow families access to es sential self-care, and explore some of the supports Care 4 the Caregivers has to offer,” Thorne said.

Those interested in participating in these, or any, Caregiver events can join the mailing list or go to the events page of the website to register at care4thecaregivers.org/events.

Ahwatukee hunger walk registration is now open with aim of raising $25K Esperanza Lutheran Church members have organized the

Ahwatukee Foothills CROP Hunger Walk through Church World Services to raise $25,000. Participants can walk for 1 mile or 3.4 miles, the average round-trip distance women and children in the developing world walk for water.

The walk starts at 3 p.m. Nov. 13 at Desert Foothills Park, 1010 Marketplace SW, Ahwatukee.

Of the money collected, 75% will be used by CWS globally to respond to hunger, poverty, displacement and disaster. The remaining 25% will be donated to the Kyrene Family Resource Center through The Kyrene Foundation to help stock food shelves.

Businesses wanting to sign on as supporters – 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 questions can contact CROP.hunger.walk@myesperanza.org or call the church office at 480-759-1515.

McNeish revving up dance classes and planning Halloween party at Cactus Jack’s

Registration is open for Ahwatukee dance and fitness in structor Carrie McNeish’s fall line dancing and AZ Two Step Couples dance classes in both evening and daytime formats.

She’s also helping out with planning Cactus Jack’s annual Halloween party starting at 6:30 p.m. Oct. 26 at the bar on the southwest corner of 48th Street and Elliot Road.

The party will include line dancing lessons and open danc ing, treats, raffles and costumes. Information: dancemeetsfit ness.net, cmcneish@cox.net.

Tukee Trot organizers are lining up walkers for post-Thanksgiving event

The third annual Tukee Trot 5K is back on for 8:30 a.m. Nov. 25 with the course and venue hosted at Desert Vista High School and the walk chip-timed and USATF-sanction. The nonprofit event will benefit the Kyrene Foundation.

Early registration is now open at racerooster.com. There also is a 1-mile Kids Quail Fun Run around Vista Canyon Park.

Event sponsors and volunteers are sought. Contact: tuke etrot@cox.net.

Democrats and Donuts meeting set for next Wednesday in Chandler

Democrats & Donuts meets at 8 a.m. Oct. 19 at Denny’s, 7400 W. Chandler Blvd., Chandler. Look for interesting speak ers and great Bada Bing Raffle baskets by Judy Wade.

Guests are four Democratic candidates for Phoenix City Council District 6 – Harry Curtin, Joan Greene, Mark Moer emans, and Kellen Wilson; Kathy Hoffman, seeking re-election for Superintendent of Public Instruction; and Kyrene Govern ing Board candidates Kevin Walsh and Triné Nelson.

People are asked to arrive a little earlier to get seated and put in their breakfast order in before 8. The hosts will be there by 7:30. Information: Julia Fleeman at juliafleeman@cox.net.

Esperanza Lutheran planning two big free events in October

Esperanza Lutheran Church, 2601 E. Thunderhill Place, Ah watukee is hold 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

Ahwatukee resident Steve Powers is ready for folks to enjoy what is now a 40-minute con tinuous loop of Halloween music and, of course, his ever-growing assortment of familyfriendly goblins, ghosts and other creatures. Families can walk by his home and delight in his display at 2537 East Amberwood Drive, Ahwatukee, 7-9 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays through the end of this month. They also can pop over to Ahwatukee handyman Doug Maldonado’s home, decked out from the ground up in Halloween flair. His home, at 16210 S. 29th Ave. in Foothills Reserve, is in a gated community, but no worries: as long as you text - not call- 480-201-5013, he’ll let you in to ooh and ahh 6:30-9 p.m. Sun. through Thurs day and 6:30 p.m.-9:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday. (David Minton/AFN Staff Photographer)

BEAT INFLATION

SAVING

is invited but

Ahwatukee golf ladies league ready to start new season

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.

Ironwood Library offers free 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 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.

Sit, stay, read!

Young readers & listeners can sign up for reading time with a registered therapy dog/handler team. Read with Elsa on Tuesdays, 4-5 p.m. and Oct. 18. Read with Raven on Thursdays, Oct. 13 and Oct. 27, 3:30-4:30 pm.

Book Club

Adult readers 18+ can meet up with fellow bibliophiles the first Wednesday of each month, 5:00-5:45 p.m. 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.

Turning 65? Preparing for Retirement?

Workshops

or email today:

Enlarged prostates affect both men and women

be an indication of more serious condi tions, including prostate cancer, so it’s im portant to be evaluated by a physician.

A

n enlarged prostate takes over people’s lifestyles. While men are scouting out restrooms when they arrive at a function, planning how far they drive without stopping, and waking up several times a night, their partner is right there with them…Getting up when the bathroom light turns on, waiting for them to return to the party, worrying if a car trip will be too long.

What is it? Enlarged prostate is the

common name for benign prostatic hy perplasia (BPH) which occurs when the prostate gland increases in size. As it gets larger, it presses against the ure thra making it difficult for men to empty their bladder completely. Symptoms in clude weak, slow or interrupted urinary stream, frequency or urgency, difficulty starting or straining to urinate, and get ting up frequently at night to go to the bathroom.

The good news is that it’s not cancerous and does not raise the risk for prostate cancer. However, the same symptoms can

How is it treated? First line therapy starts with medication which can be very effective in reducing the symptoms but there are potential side effects like sexual dysfunction, fatigue, and male breasts. But many men can’t tolerate the side effects, or the medication doesn’t adequately con trol the symptoms. Surgeries like TURP are also an option but come with serious risks factors.

What’s the newest advancement in

treatment? PAE (prostate artery em bolization) is an exciting breakthrough for treating BPH. It’s done through a tiny nick in the skin in the upper thigh. Small beads are deposited in the artery that supplies blood to the prostate. This reduces the blood flow to the prostate, which causes it to shrink.

What does this mean to you? PAE can reduce the size of the prostate up to 40% which relieves pressure on the urethra and improves symptoms. There is less

MD joins award-winning dermatology practice

NEWS STAFF

Dr.

Mark Meyers has joined award-winning Ahwatukee Skin & Laser.

Meyers earned his medical degree at Chicago Medical School and has been practicing medicine for over 30 years.

He will be working alongside the grow ing team of surgeons and physician assis tants at the full-service general medical and cosmetic dermatology practice lo cated on Agave Road.

Founded in 2010, Ahwatukee Skin & Laser specializes in treating all disorders of the hair, skin, and nails, including acne, psoriasis, and rosacea, and is a leader in skin cancer surveillance and MOHS sur gery.

The practice also offers popular cos metic services including custom skincare regimens, dermal fillers, laser treatments and the innovative Femilift for women.

Ahwatukee Skin & Laser has been ranked “Best of Skincare” and “Best Med

PROSTATE

risk, reduced pain, no hospital visit, and a shorter recovery time than with tradition al procedures. In many cases, patients be gin to feel relief within a few weeks.

Are you a candidate for PAE? You may be a candidate for PAE if medication is not relieving your symptoms, you cannot tol erate the side effects of your medication,

ical Specialist” for multiple years in lo cal polls. It was recently voted #2 in the valley for Best Dermatology Practice by Loving Life After 50 Magazine.

Informmation: ahwatukeeskincare.

or you are concerned about the risks of traditional surgery.

Dr. Michael Switzer is an intervention al radiologist who uses imaging tech nology and techniques to care for med ical conditions that affect the nearly every organ system in the body. He can be reached at Comprehensive Integrate Care. 480-374-7354. 

Neuropathy Is Often Misdiagnosed

Muscle cramping, difficulty walk ing, burning, tingling, numbness, and pain in the legs or feet are symptoms of neuropathy people live with every day,” explains Dr. Kerry Zang, podi atric medical director of CIC Foot & Ankle. “The thing is PAD has very sim ilar symptoms. So similar that in many cases, people are told it’s neuropathy when it may not be.”

Medicine is often prescribed. “Pills aren’t a cure, they just suppress the symptoms,” says Zang. “If neuropathy

isn’t causing the symptoms, the real problem could get worse.”

It’s important to determine if PAD (pe ripheral artery disease) is causing the pain or making it worse. PAD is plaque in the arteries which causes poor circulation.

“Blood brings oxygen and nutrients to your feet which they need to stay healthy,” explains Zang, “When your feet aren’t get ting an adequate supply, they start send ing signals.” Those signals include pain, burning, tingling, numbness, or cramping.

The good news is PAD is treatable in

an office setting. Dr. Joel Rainwater, MD endovascular specialist explains,

“We go into the bloodstream to find the blockage using imaging guidance. Then with small tools that can go into the smallest arteries, remove the blockage, and restore blood flow.”

Getting the proper diagnosis is the first step to getting better. “It’s all about find ing out what’s causing the problem,” says Zang. “When your feet burn, tingle, or feel numb, it’s your body telling you it needs help, and you should listen.”

If your neuropathy medication is not working, your symptoms may be an indication of another condition.

Stiff Joints Interfere with Everyday Living

One in 40 people over the age of 50 may find themselves limiting their activi ty because of a condition called hallux rigidus. It’s a degenerative disease of the big toe joint. As it progresses, the pain in the joint increases and motion decreases.

Don’t wait for your feet to yell at you. If your feet hurt, they are talking to you. Our doctors can help tell you what they are saying.

Does foot pain prevent you from doing your favorite activity?

Do you have burning or tingling in your legs or feet?

Do you have leg or foot cramps with activity or at rest?

If you’ve answered “yes”

any of

“People don’t realize the impact their big toe has on their life. It plays a role in balance, shock absorption, and forward movement as you walk,” explains Dr. Daniel Schulman, of CiC Foot & Ankle. “When the joint is stiff, it’s not able to bend and rotate properly, and it changes how we walk without us even realizing it.” These changes can lead to back or knee pain as well as discomfort in other parts of the foot.

“It always concerns me to hear that someone is playing less golf or stay ing home because they’re in pain,” says Schulman. “There are ways to help.”

The goal is to protect your feet from the repetitive stress of everyday activities. “We have several treatment options to not only relieve foot pain but help im prove how your feet work. If we can help your feet function better, in many cases the need for surgery can be avoided or at the very least postponed,” says Schul man. “Patients are always happy to learn about ways to alleviate their symptoms.”

For golfers, a stiff big toe can make their game suffer.

Luna’s Paw Spa grooms pets with less stress

BY GERI KOEPPEL AFN Contributor

sets appointments so owners can leave a pet at a certain time and pick it up as soon as she’s finished.

Morgan

Bailey-Bonner named her Ahwatukee Foothills groom ing studio, Luna’s Paw Spa, after her anxious German Shepard mix, Luna, whom she describes as “a hot mess.”

She specializes in pets that many other groomers won’t take because they’re too fearful or have medical conditions.

“It’s a lot to do with the environment,” Bailey-Bonner said. “You have to talk sweet to them; you have to be calm. If you’re nervous, they sense it, too.”

Luna’s Paw Spa opened last spring in the Plaza@Mountainside, 4025 E. Chandler Blvd., near Trader Joe’s.

Bailey-Bonner offers full grooming ser vices, including bathing, coat cuts and nail trims, and sells high-quality, all-natural products such as dental treats, grooming items and supplements.

One way the shop handles agitated dogs is by not keeping them any longer than necessary. While many other groomers ask clients

to drop off dogs in the morning and pick them up later in the day, Luna’s Paw Spa

Also, Luna’s gives pets one-on-one at tention while they’re being groomed and doesn’t allow too many animals in the shop at once.

“We limit it so it’s not a bunch of dogs running around barking,” BaileyBonner said. “It’s not like we’re checking in everyone at 9 a.m. and have everyone in kennels.”

Another way to help reduce stress is to start grooming dogs when they’re young and get on a regular schedule.

Bailey-Bonner said ideally, the first visit is when a dog is a few months old, and she’ll do a bath and a “face and fanny tidyup” to get them used to the idea.

Dogs that are brought in once a year don’t understand what’s happening, Bai ley-Bonner noted. “It’s like an alien abduc tion,” she explained.

First indoor cornhole venue opens in EV

BY COTY DOLORES MIRANDA AFN Contributor

Twoweeks may not sound like a long time, but when Gilbert’s Hole 9 Yards owners had plans in place for a festive grand opening on Sept. 16, supply-chain issues delayed the permit ting process.

That scuttled a weekend when Ameri can Cornhole League pros from around the country planned to join local aficiona dos of the game for a celebration.

More delays ensued, but the big day fi nally arrived Sept. 30, when Dr. Todd Kis icki of Mesa and Queen Creek resident Nic Feinstein opened the 20,000-squarefoot venue at 868 N. Gilbert Road, where players have 26 lanes to play or watch others while sipping a beer and grabbing a burger from Hole 9 Yards’ full kitchen

and bar.

“We are excited that we are finally open after all the planning and prepa rations that have gone into the project,” Kisicki said.

Kisicki has been an enthusiastic fan of the sport, which began as an elevated form of the old bean bag tossing game and

Todd Kisicki of Mesa, left, and Nic Feinstein of Queen Creek have opened a new attraction for lovers of the hugely popular outdoor game cornhole by opening Hole 9 Yards, apparently the nation’s first indoor venue for the game. It took a long time coming for Kisicki, who with his wife has had a business for several years supplying cornhole equipment to organizers of festivals and other outdoor gatherings.

(David Minton/Staff Photographer)

Morgan Bailey-Bonner opened Luna’s Paw Spa in Ahwatukee last spring specializing in pets with anxiety or medical conditions. (Geri Koeppel/AN Contributor)

page 34

Erica McGrady of Ahwatukee took her 6-month-old Goldendoodle, Phoebe, in for her second visit recently.

“As pet owners, we would love to be able to take care of those things ourselves,” Mc Grady said of bathing and haircuts, “but that is a lot easier with people like Morgan who are professional.”

McGrady added that Phoebe enjoys swimming, which mats her curly coat, and doesn’t like to be brushed.

“I can only imagine what magical pow ers she uses in there, because [Phoebe] does not like it,” she remarked.

On a Thursday morning, Bailey-Bonner washed and dried Phoebe, cut her hair and nails, trimmed around her face and even cleaned up the hair in her ears with a minimum of protest.

She then took Phoebe’s photo against a backdrop of autumn leaves and pump kins—she changes out the scene season ally—and texted McGrady to let her know

CORNHOLE from page 34

has elevated into a sport that could one day be an Olympics event.

As the owner of KB Kornhole Games, a cornhole-centric business that hosted hundreds of events throughout the Val ley since its inception in 2015, Kisicki is well known throughout the state as he’s hosted the Arizona State Cornhole Cham pionships since 2016. Feinstein is an ACLsanctioned pro who is a leader in the sport.

Last year’s state championships at Me sa’s Bell Bank Park was organized by Kis icki and became the largest state champi onship cornhole event in the nation with an estimated 410 players, ages 8 to 80, competed in 15 different divisions.

Now national director for the American Cornhole League, Kisicki didn’t start out aiming to be one of cornhole’s most en thusiastic advocates.

He earned his doctorate at Arizona State University in education technology and taught there until he left to focus solely on his burgeoning KB Kornhole Games busi ness with his wife of 16 years, Erin.

This summer, he often was jetting around the country and around the world, hosting cornhole tournaments in Europe, Canada, as well as South Caro lina and California and overseeing more than 300 ACL directors nationwide.

He and Feinstein hatched their idea

Phoebe was ready.

Prices at Luna’s Paw Spa are competi tive, Bailey-Bonner says, and depend on the size of the pet and how much time it takes.

Luna’s Paw Spa mostly grooms dogs, but about one cat comes in each week, BaileyBonner said.

“Putting them in a bath is super stress ful for most cats that aren’t used to it,” she said. They can get haircuts, she added, but they’re sensitive, and unless there’s a pressing reason for it, it’s better not to bathe them.

Bailey-Bonner is so good with pets because she’s been around them her en tire life.

“We had every pet known to man growing up,” she said. “My mom is a suck er for rescuing.”

As an adult, Bailey-Bonner worked as a mobile vet tech and did grooming at a ma jor pet store chain.

“I decided to open my own place to offer that one-on-one [care] and better quality

products,” she said. “It’s better for their skin and coat and health.”

Also, Bailey-Bonner wanted to prioritize her time with her family; she now mainly works when her kids are in school. She and her husband, Cameron Bailey-Bonner, have two adopted children—Zaiden, 6, and Jay, 5—and are working on adopting Zaiden’s older brother, Marcus, 8.

Bailey-Bonner’s husband and sister, Taylor Gerdes, who’s a vet tech, help out on busy weekends, but on weekdays, she only sees five or six dogs a day and the shop is only open until 2 p.m.

Although Bailey-Bonner chose the lo cation for Luna’s Paw Spa because it had housed pet groomers since 1991 and had all the water hookups and outlets, she noted that it needed major renovations before she opened.

However, customers loaned her ladders and offered to help paint.

“I have a really nice customer base,” she said. “They were all really, really helpful.”

While most of her business has been

word-of-mouth, Bailey-Bonner said she’ll have a booth at the upcoming Ahwatukee Dog Show Oct. 30 at Ahwatukee Park giv ing dogs temporary tattoos with special chalk that washes out.

For people with persnickety pets that resist brushing at home, Bailey-Bonner said the key is “practice, practice, practice, and don’t give in when they do naughty things” because that rewards bad behav ior. “If they go to bite you, don’t just stop at that point,” she added. “Reassure them and keep going. We don’t want to rein force bad habits.”

Luna’s Paw Spa

Where: 4025 E. Chandler Blvd., No. 24, Ahwatukee

Hours: 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Monday-Friday; 7 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday; 7 a.m.-noon Sunday.

Contact: 602-350-8547; lunaspawspa.com

and not everyone was in a place in their lives to dedicate the time that was needed to make it successful,” he said.

“So I ran with it, slowly growing it to a point to where it was consuming a lot of my extra time and eventually taking some of my concentration away from my fulltime job.”

In December 2016, he recalled, “I decid ed to gamble on myself and jump all into the business, leaving the industry that I had spent the first 15 years of my adult life behind.”

Erin Kisicki left her full-time career as a director of training in behavioral health services, on Sept. 2 so both husband and wife can focus efforts on growing Hole 9 Yards, the national and international busi ness of cornhole, and their daughter, Kora.

for Hole 9 Yards (H9Y) in 2019 and their concept picked up momentum during the early days of the pandemic.

By the time they opened, they not only had added a bar and full-service res taurant to their plan but also a retail sec tion where people can buy cornhole gear and equipment.

They’re convinced they’re tapping into an activity that seems to have unlimited potential and will be making Hole 9 Yards available for league play at all skill levels,

private gatherings and open-lane rentals.

When he and his wife sponsored their first commercial cornhole event on April 11, 2015, they figured their business would be strictly a part-time, weekend gig.

“I had no idea KB Kornhole Games would ever evolve to where it is today,” Kisicki said.

“While it was initially meant to be some thing we could do as a family, I quickly realized that starting and running a busi ness required a lot of effort and sacrifice

“Erin started the KB Kornhole business with me in 2015 but with her full-time job, she wasn’t active in the day-to-day opera tions though she helped me run the events for the first two years,” explained Kisicki.

“After a while, her job, plus having a tod dler, and then me dragging her to events every weekend, took its toll and she stepped back from KB so that we didn’t have to ship our daughter off to family ev ery weekend.”

“Our daughter, Kora, is now 8 and wants me to give her a job at Hole 9 Yards,” he chuckled.

Players heave bags at Hole 9 Yards, a new indoor cornhole venue opened by a pair of the sport’s devotees, Dr. Todd Kisicki of Mesa and Nic Feinstein of Queen Creek. (David Minton/ Staff Photographer)

CORNHOLE

Kisicki partnered with Nic Feinstein of Queen Creek to lead the design, oversee the renovations and handle the business’s social media and marketing. Feinstein will help spread the word of cornhole, H9Y and industry news affecting Arizona.

“I never really needed to market with KB Kornhole Games with most of my events coming from referrals, but now with a large venue and most time slots to fill, Nic fills a void with his strong skill set that gives us a dedicated social media and marketing plan to attract new people to the sport,” said Kisicki.

As national director for the American Cornhole League, international expan sion is Kisicki’s focal point. A goal of that expansion is prepping the way as a future sport in the Olympics.

If that seems a reach, consider skate boarding, surfing, sport climbing and now breakdancing – all Olympic competi tive events.

It takes some doing to be included, said Kisicki.

“To be considered for involvement in the Olympics, a sport must be widely practiced by men in at least 75 countries

and on four continents, and by women in no fewer than 40 countries and on three continents.

To see that cornhole is established in other countries is a major task for Kisicki.

“One of my roles with the American Cornhole League is international de velopment, and working with cornhole leaders in other countries to develop competitive cornhole in their countries,” he said.

“My role with the ACL is to help de velop the competitive side of the sport in these countries. There’s also the WCO – the World Cornhole Organization – and they’re the ones who are responsible for getting the sport to the Olympics,” said Kisicki, currently a board member with the nonprofit WCO.

“Cornhole is a universal sport that any one can play,” said Kisicki. “The wonder ful part of the sport is that you can have young children, women, men and seniors all playing in the same event with no com petitive advantage.”

Televising cornhole has already proved a successful draw. ESPN and their related channels began broadcasting cornhole tournaments in 2017, and in early Sep tember, CBS covered an ACL Pro Shootout

Tournament during prime time.

Even with the success of competitive tournaments, Kisicki cleaves to the tagline he originated in 2015 for KB Kornhole: “Bringing people together, one kornhole at a time.”

He said he’s seen newcomers come to give the sport a try-out, then contin ue coming to events as they make new friends and become a part of a community of enthusiasts.

The H9Y owners hope the 26 lanes at their H9Y Gilbert venue will expand that community with people of all ages and skill levels.

Kevin

WALSH RE-ELECT

Kyrene School Board Keep Strong Schools in Our Community

I'm running for re election because it's so important to keep strong public schools in our Kyrene community.

I am the father of two children in Kyrene, with a third on the way. Kyrene is at the heart of our family. My children are second generation Kyrene kids. They come from a family of educators, and their grandma is entering her 24th year teaching in Kyrene. I've served with the PTO as a board trustee for many years, and I'm a regular Art Masterpiece volunteer in the classroom.

This is my 4th year on the Kyrene Governing Board and my 2nd year as Board President, which gives me invaluable experience that sets me apart from others. Students are my top priority with every decision. If re elected, I’ll focus on these issues:

Support Student 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 prioritized the health and safety of students and staff during the height of the pandemic, but I also recognize that, notwithstanding our amazing teachers’ best efforts, the data demonstrates what many of us already knew many students understandably experienced less academic growth over the last two years.

It’s now imperative that the Board supports putting targeted resources in the classroom that provide the individualized academic support that our students need. Prioritizing early literacy for our youngest learners is key. It's imperative that our students build a strong foundation in math and science and have relevant curriculum. We must continue to offer robust programs in music and the arts.

Keep The Best & Brightest Teachers

Arizona is seeing a mass exodus of teachers leaving the profession, and Kyrene is feeling the impact. Our teachers are amazing, and if we don’t keep skilled educators in the classroom, our students won’t reach their full potential.

Arizona has tried to address the teacher exodus by lowering teaching standards, but that solution isn’t best for students. It’s essential that we retain the best and brightest teachers in the classroom. Competitive salaries are key. I’m proud that our Board has increased teacher/staff pay by $10.5 Million in recent months. Kyrene spends its money wisely, and the Arizona Auditor General has consistently recognized Kyrene for being among the best at keeping dollars in the classroom. We must also respect and value educators as professionals.

Put Kids First

The pandemic disrupted many students’ social and emotional development, as they missed out on opportunities to interact in person with others. During the last school year, we saw a dramatic increase in students acting out, and we know that students who are emotionally deregulated are rarely able to focus in the classroom and succeed academically.

I commend Kyrene’s commitment to mental health. While I’ve served on the Board, we’ve funded counselors at every school. They provide immense support to students, but their caseloads are full. I support hiring more counselors to ensure that our children are thriving mentally, emotionally, and academically.

Paid for by Kevin Walsh for Kyrene School Board. Authorized by Kevin Walsh.

Share Your Thoughts:

Spare me the food snob, eatery chains just fine

BY DAVID LEIBOWITZ AFN Columnist

Of all the many sorts of snobbery that exist in the world today, surely the most an noying is dining snobbery. You, too, have that one friend, I imagine – the Certified Restaurant Adventurer©.

Ask The CRA© how his/her/their weekend was and the conversation turns into a Travel Channel monologue about the joys of eating fried calf testicles off a food truck in a Maryvale back alley.

My eyes glaze over during such tales –and not in a honey-glazed epicurean way – before I say something like, “That’s just nuts,” and wander off.

I’m an adventurous eater. I like steak, medium rare. I love cheesesteaks, cheese burgers, cheese fries, pizza, and caffeinat ed beverages ordered without substituting Italian numbers for sizes. Hold the cheese on the coffee, thanks. But only there.

In sum, I have always believed myself to be a typical American eater. Meaning I am not a gastronomic explorer, nor am I a big chain restaurant purveyor.

However, I don’t look down my nose at people who think Olive Garden is the best Italian food known to man. By the same token, I’m tired of hearing about Pizzeria Bianco and how it’s worth camping out for a week for a slice of Sonny Boy pizza, be cause, oh Lord, the soppressata is to die for! Salami is salami, people. They do a nice pepperoni pie at Pizza Hut, too. And they have 6,600 locations in the United States, which means less waiting.

That’s what chain restaurants are for: People who see meals not as opportu nities for reverie and humble bragging about their palate, but as fuel for the body and a chance to chat with loved ones, friends and colleagues.

Dining snobs will scoff, but there’s a reason that chain restaurants continue to be popular. They’re not the devil, or even Red Devil Pizza, with three locations in

the Valley and one in Pinetop.

Chains are thriving, and regular people must like them, because chain restaurants comprise the majority of dining options in the U.S., according to recent data from two scholars at Georgia Tech University’s Friendly Cities Lab.

Dr. Clio Andris and Ph.D. candidate Xiao fan Liang compiled statistics on more than 700,000 restaurants nationwide, includ ing nearly 400 chains of 50 locations or more. The most prolific restaurant in the study? Subway, with more than 24,000 lo cations in the U.S.

Restaurants with only one location com prised about 44 percent of the study, or about 310,000 locations total.

Liang told the Washington Post, “the foodscape is very political,” meaning the study’s big takeaway was that, “Places with a high percentage of Trump voters have a higher percentage of chains. We didn’t expect it.”

Yawn. Sounds like food snobbery to me. My big takeaway is that Arizona is not

the fast food capital of America, as many Valley food snobs would have you believe.

The most franchise-y state in the na tion? Kentucky, where 46 percent of res taurant options have 50 or more locations.

Arizona ranked 21st, with chains compris ing 35% of restaurant offerings – as com pared to Vermont, the least franchise-y state, where only 13 percent of restau rants had 50 or more locations.

As for metro Phoenix, it ranked 204th among more than 380 metropolitan areas, with chains comprising about 37 percent of restaurant options. So we’re not New York City, with 18 percent chains, nor are we An iston, Alabama, with 57 percent chains.

We’re right in between, not unlike the beef patty in a Cold Beer & Cheeseburg ers All American Burger. CB&C has 12 Ari zona locations, by the way, which makes them something of a local chain.

Regardless, they don’t serve pig cheeks, rattlesnake bites or other food snob fare, so I can’t recommend the place highly enough.

Seniors: Tell Congress to pass Minimum Distribution bill

On July 12, 2022 Ohio Representa tive Warren Davidson sponsored a bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to temporarily suspend Required Mini mum Distribution rules so seniors who have tax-sheltered accounts can choose not to take their Required Minimum Dis tribution in 2022.

The RMD was suspended for the year 2020 in the CARES ACT.

This bill H.R. 8331 (117th Congress) is sitting in the Ways and Means Committee.

Seniors (70+) who have tax-sheltered accounts and would prefer not to take this distribution this year should contact their representatives and encourage them to support this bill and get it out of the Ways and Means Committee and get it passed before it is too late.

Rep. Davidson proposed this bill be cause he received calls from American re tirees all over the country asking for Con gress to address this issue.

The amount to be distributed is calcu lated based on the account balance as of December 31 of the previous year. Since the market was nearly at an all-time high at the end of 2021, and it has dropped more than 20 percent since then, the dis tributions from 2022 are disproportion ately high.

Rep. Davidson introduced the bill to waive the RMD for 2022, much like Con gress did in 2020 in the Cares Act.

Seniors (70+): if you do not want to have to take your Required Minimum Distribution this year, I urge you to call your congressional representatives.

You can find your representative at: house.gov/representatives/find-your-

representative

You can check on the status of the H.R. 8331 (117th-congress) at this link: con gress.gov/bill/117th-congress/housebill/8331/text?r=84&s=1#:~:text=H.%20 R.%208331%20To%20amend%20 the%20Internal%20Revenue,referred%20 to%20the%20Committee%20on%20 Ways%20and%20Means

You can contact Rep. Davidson at david son.house.gov/email.

-Loretta Siwik

Let’s keep trees along Elliot Warner Loop well-trimmed

Now that the City has beautified the Elliot/Warner loop by cutting back foli age and removing dead trees it would be terrific if the home owners on this route cut back their foliage growing over their fences across public property and across

the sidewalks. There has been a dead tree doing just this at the intersection of Elliot/Warner loop and Lakeside Blvd. for years – plus others.

-Jane Emery 

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@AhwatukeeFN |

Sports & Recreation

Pride controlling own destiny in second half of season

BY ZACH ALVIRA AFN Sports Editor

Thisyear could be the turning point for the Mountain Pointe football program.

The Pride have talent spread out across every position on the field. Many have a year or more of varsity experience at Mountain Pointe. Others transferred in from high-caliber programs.

Mountain Pointe has spent the last five weeks piecing together the talent and how to utilize it all to be successful on the field. There were some hiccups, most notably in Las Vegas against Arbor View and in a matchup with Chaparral, but the Pride have now positioned themselves to make a run at the region championship and a potential top seed in the 6A Conference playoffs. The Open Division is also not off the table.

The Pride are in full control of their des tiny. Something this program hasn’t had in recent years.

“It’s interesting how your mind tries to justify things,” Mountain Pointe coach Eric Lauer said. “Last year it was, ‘If we lose our schedule will still get us in.’ But now, we control our destiny. It’s something we let our kids know.

“If you’re willing to put in the work, some good things will happen for you down the stretch.”

When Lauer took over in 2020, Moun tain Pointe was a program coming off a one-win season and in the middle of tur moil after a former assistant leaked game plans to opponents.

The program had no youth feeder teams and overall participation in the program had started to dwindle. Lauer, who had

Roan Martinez enjoying breakout year for Thunder

BY ZACH ALVIRA AFN Sports Editor

Roan Martinez was just another player trying to make his way up to Desert Vista’s varsity football ros ter last spring

He spent his sophomore season on the junior varsity team primarily playing de fense. When he entered the spring, his routes weren’t as crisp as he knew they had to be, he had decent size but knew he need ed to get faster and stronger. Overall, he knew he had work to do before his junior season if he wanted to make an impact.

So, he got to work.

Martinez ran track at Desert Vista and is just shy of a sub-11 100-meter time. His keystone event, however, is the 400. Thanks mostly to his soccer background and endurance that comes with it. He worked tirelessly to improve, and he was given the nod to be one of the Thunder’s starting wideouts this season.

It’s an opportunity he has taken in stride.

“I wanted to play receiver so with a new coaching staff I thought I could switch

over and prove something,” Martinez said. “So, that’s what I did. This opportunity is amazing. I’m always happy when I get the

chance to be out there.”

Martinez is currently in the middle of a breakout junior season at wideout. He’s quickly become one of the top targets for junior quarterback Braxton Thomas.

The two have connected 15 times this season for 408 yards and five touch downs. Martinez is currently averaging just over 80 yards per game. Against ri val Mountain Pointe in the Ahwatukee Bowl, he had six catches for 191 yards and three touchdowns.

It was a big-time performance for a play er that is quickly getting on the radar of colleges, major Division I programs includ ed. Desert Vista coach Nate Gill believes it’s only a matter of time before schools begin to pull the trigger and offer Martinez.

A strong showing on the track this spring will likely be the time his recruit ment blows up.

“He checks the box of having the physi

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Mountain Pointe’s football program, sitting at 3-2 on the year, has a favorable schedule that could have the Pride eyeing a top spot in the 6A Conference playoffs or Open Division at the end of the year. But they know they can’t become complacent down the stretch. (Dave Minton/AFN Staff)

Junior Roan Martinez is experiencing a breakout season at wide receiver for the Thunder despite this being his first season at the position and just his third year playing tackle football. (Dave Minton/AFN Staff)

spent years as an assistant during the program’s prime under Norris Vaughan, knew it wouldn’t be an overnight fix.

The Pride went 1-7 in 2020 with the lone win against rival Desert Vista at the end of the season. Lauer thought that might have been the turning point, and it appeared to be so in the early stages of the 2021 season. But mistakes on multiple oc casions hampered the Pride.

They lost to Desert Vista in overtime in Week 10 last year, which took away any remaining confidence the team had head ing into a first-round matchup with even tual champion Highland. Mountain Pointe was blown out in that game, and it set a new standard and mindset adopted by re turning players.

The mindset is one that centers around not folding under pressure, something the team has already shown in the first half of this season. They feel they’re still not quite playing their best football, but they’re close. Which makes them a dan gerous team.

“We just have to stay locked in,” sopho more tackle Kaleb Jones said. “This team wants it more than last year. We’re all still mad about what happened. We want it

more this year.”

Mountain Pointe currently boasts one of the top backfields in the state with se nior Jay’len Rushing and juniors Christian Clark and Randle Parker. All three have Division I potential, and they all showed it by rushing for more than 100 yards each against the Thunder.

The trio complement senior quarter back Chris Arviso, who has already bro ken his own record for most passing yards in a single game this season. Then there’s the offensive line, a group that consists of one senior starter in Kahoua Leha at left guard. Next to him is Jones, who already boasts offers from the likes of Oregon.

The Pride offense has become dynamic, especially with weapons like Matty Braun, Jaylen Johnson and Jaden Davis catching the ball.

There’s no drop off in talent wherever one looks on the field. And they’re only go ing to get stronger with a pair of transfer linemen that can play on both sides of the ball becoming eligible against Corona del Sol on Friday.

“It adds a lot more depth to the team and they’re all dogs,” Clark said. “They’ll all be on the field immediately.

Clark, a Desert Vista transfer who won his hardship to be immediately eligible, has been quick to adopt the mindset set by this year’s senior class after its loss to Highland last year.

The Pride play hard. They’re physical. And they have fun.

Their losses to Arbor View and Chap arral, especially in the fashion they oc curred, would have been detrimental in years past. But this group rallied around each other and stepped up at practice to enter the bye week with two wins in a row.

“After that loss to Chaparral we all came together as a team,” Clark said. “We’ve all got one goal and that’s to win state. We

cal frame,” Gill said. “The next box that needs to be checked is how well he can separate. His first year running track he goes 48 (seconds) in the 400. I expect him to go sub-11 in the 100. Once your tape matches your track time, that’s when things tend to take off.”

Martinez’s accolades this season come just two years after he started playing football. He played flag up until that point but was held out of full contact until his freshman season.

Even then, though, learning the wide receiver position was something he never did up until the end of his sopho more season.

His speed and endurance to continu ously run routes and become a deep threat came naturally with his years on the soccer field. But learning how to be explosive with and without the ball was an adjustment.

Then there’s the physical aspect. Soccer has become more physical over the years. But football is a different animal.

Against San Diego Madison to open

Desert Vista coach Nate Gill believes it’s only a matter of time before Martinez’s recruitment picks up. Especially when he is able to showcase how much he has improved on the track this spring, Gill believes major programs will come for him. (Dave Minton/AFN Staff)

the season, Martinez experienced for the first time how fast and physical varsity football players are. He said it was a bit of a shock, and he knew immediately that he had to expect to get hit every play to

be successful. His mindset changed and so did his game.

“I definitely noticed there is a big jump from JV to varsity,” Martinez said. “I wasn’t expecting that right away. I just

have to be ready for it. I’ve definitely adapted to it now. I feel like I’m supposed to be here.”

Martinez’s chemistry with Thomas was built in short order. The two hadn’t prac ticed together until last spring, when the Thunder joined other schools in annual spring practices. Even that, though, was limited with Martinez running track.

It took time for the relationship to de velop. It also took time for the two to get their timing down on certain routes. It fi nally started to click against Verrado the week before the Ahwatukee Bowl. He had four receptions in that game. In the three games prior, he had five total.

Thomas said having a wideout like Martinez with a 6-foot-2 frame who can catch anything in the vicinity makes his job easier.

“It’s been crazy, I didn’t really expect it,” Thomas said. “I didn’t really know him un til we started 7s. We started clicking from there. He was unguardable.

“He’s a natural route runner. I haven’t seen him drop a ball. He’s one of the most

Mountain Pointe coach Eric Lauer believes his team is turning a corner now in year three of his tenure. He tells them they control their own destiny this season and if they work hard, good things will come. (Dave Minton/AFN Staff)

Mountain Pointe comes out of its bye week Friday against an Aztecs team that is 4-1 and one of the toughest matchups remaining on the schedule this season.

they’re able to run the table the rest of the way, they will finish with the best reg ular season record since 2017. Mountain Pointe went to the semifinals that year.

Lauer believes his team is capable of do ing that, as he has constantly reminded them that they control how they season plays out from this point on. In his eyes, they’re poised to elevate the program back to relevancy in the state.

“This is year three, and usually that’s where people want to see some growth and change on and off the field,” Lauer said. “I think we’re kinda turning the cor ner in that regard. We’re doing some good things.”

to compete at that level.

sure-handed receivers I’ve played with.”

Just a year ago, Martinez would have never thought football would be his future after high school. Now, however, that has all changed.

He has his sights set on earning a schol arship to continue playing. But he knows he still has work to do before he is ready

For now, though, he’s focused on helping Desert Vista win games. He knows the individual accolades will come with wins.

“This is just the beginning,” Martinez said. “I have another year ahead of me. We’re still progressing. It’s definitely ex citing. It feels good knowing my work is starting

pay off.”

Have an interesting sports story?

Zach Alvira at zalvira@timeslocalmedia.com

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@ZachAlvira.

Home & Garden Show returns to Westworld

BY ALEX GALLAGHER GetOut Staff

Homeowners will find plenty of helpful displays and merchandise at the Maricopa County Home & Garden Show, the largest home show in the Southwest that is set to return to WestWorld of Scottsdale next weekend.

In addition to hundreds of home im provement vendors, holiday lighting, unique copper skillets and kitchen acces sories and seminars by local pros, the Tiny Homes Street of Dreams exhibit shows off the creative bounds one can explore with a downsized home.

“It’s always just a super popular feature and people love coming to tour the homes and learn more about the rules and regu lations, the area, how they can incorpo rate tiny living and even investments into tiny home businesses into their lives and their businesses,” said event coordinator Heather Fillipo.

Fillipo said she has seen a growing in terest in these homes as more guests go in and out of the 15 tiny homes on display.

“Part of it is just the ease and portability and a lot of them are on wheels, so you can have vacation homes wherever you like

Documentary looks at Tempe band from the 1990s

BY VINCENT ARRIETA GetOut Contributor

Unless you were there at the time, one might not realize how exciting it was to be a music lover in Tempe in the 90s.

From the breakthrough of the Meat Pup pets with their career-altering appear ance on Nirvana’s Unplugged special to Gin Blossoms’ jangle-pop brilliance, the national spotlight was shining brightly on the Valley’s musical riches.

One of the acts primed for breakout success has gone largely unnoticed – the Pistoleros.

Now, the band fronted by brothers Law rence and Mark Zubia is finally getting its due with a documentary chronicling the

band’s extraordinary story called Pistole ros: Death, Drugs and Rock ‘n’ Roll direct ed by Steven B. Esparza.

Filled with interviews from members of the band along with members of the Meat Puppets, Gin Blossoms, and other Tempe musical mainstays, the documen tary smartly focuses not specifically on the band’s rise and instead chronicles the tumultuous relationship between broth ers Lawrence and Mark, and how that re lationship both made – and nearly broke – the band.

The documentary is scheduled to have its premiere with a sold-out screening on Oct. 18 at the AMC Centerpoint theater in Tempe with more screenings to follow. The film will then be available to rent on Vimeo the same day and is scheduled to

because they are small,” she said.

“Even if they aren’t on wheels, as long as the rules and regulations of the area al low it, you can kind of put them wherever you’d like and I think that’s very appeal ing to people. The portable ones are also

very appealing for businesses since we have many mobile businesses popping up these days.”

The show will offer over 900 vendors and could attract anywhere from 25,000 to 30,000 people over its three-day run from Oct. 14-16.

“We have several large features in addi tion to our tiny homes,” Fillipo said. “We have our handmade headquarters where attendees can come in and make their craft to bring home with them. We have a lot of holiday-themed crafts. We have our Halloween-themed candles. We have mac ramé cactus ornaments for your tree and we have nice paintings that you can do.”

The show also provides special educa tional opportunities for guests.

“We also have our seminar stage, which is always great for education about home improvement products and that sort of thing,” Fillipo said.

arrive on DVD and streaming platforms in early November.

Whereas many rockumentaries these days either glorify the story of bands whose trajectories are similar or simply repackage information widely known

about a certain artist, Esparza and pro ducers Henry Eshelman and Jeff Freun dlich focus on the “madness” that comes when two artistic minds bound by blood

The Maricopa Home & Garden Show is set to return to WestWorld of Scottsdale beginning Friday, Oct. 14 through Sunday and will feature over 900 vendors as well as 15 tiny homes on display. (Special to AFN)

The Pistoleros were primed for breakout success in the 90s and a key component of the Valley’s music scene then. (Special to GetOut)

Scottsdale prepares for 2-day Italian festival

BY CHRISTINA FUOCO-KARASINSKI Progress Staff Writer

LastNovember, the Italian Association of Arizona longed to attract Italo philes to its Pizza and Wine Festival as COVID-19 was slowing.

“We didn’t know what to expect,” said Frank Guzzo, the association’s executive director.

“We wanted to test the waters with the Pizza and Wine Festival. It was one day, as we were still dealing with omicron. In hindsight, it could have been two.”

It was so successful, the partner to The Italian Festival of Arizona will reappear this coming weekend as the Scottsdale Taste of Italy and Music Festival on the Scottsdale Canal.

The two-day celebration features live music, hand-crafted Italian items, wine tastings, authentic Italian cuisine, pizza ovens and Italian food trucks.

Entertainers include Italian-born clas sical crossover tenor Michéal Castaldo and accordion player Cory Pesaturo. At tendees can enjoy traditional dances,

from page 45

“One that I’m excited about is our cabi net painting seminar hosted by one of our vendors Spray-Net. They’re going to show everyone the ease and benefits of spray painting versus brush and roller paint ing of your cabinets and how that can be much more efficient and sometimes even more long-lasting.”

PISTOLEROS from page 45

are tested by drug addiction, codepen dency and mental illness.

Make no mistake, though. The Pistole ros story is a triumphant one, albeit with a twist of sadness.

While it is difficult to discuss and write about the documentary without spoiling its fragile narrative, the man ner in which the brothers’ respective battles with themselves and one another is quite an enlightening one – especially Lawrence’s.

“The music is almost a gateway to fall ing in love with the story of these two brothers,” Freundlich said. “If you listen to the lyrics in the in the songs, you realize

opera singers, live performances on two stages all day and a spaghetti eating con test for kids. Those with a sweet tooth can indulge in a variety of authentic ge lato, cannoli and biscotti.

“In 2022, we planned our Italian festival to happen in Phoenix,” said Guzzo, who lives in Gilbert.

“We did that at (Phoenix’s) Heritage Square, and it was a huge success. We didn’t want to let go of Scottsdale, though. We re ally enjoy hosting an event in Scottsdale.

“Originally, we planned the Scottsdale Taste of Italy and Music Festival for No vember, but there wasn’t space available. So, we chose October and it’s now a twoday event. We thought, ‘Let’s make it a lit tle more encompassing and offer a variety of different food.’ The Scottsdale’s Taste of Italy and Music Festival was born.”

The City of Scottsdale gave the festival $66,000 from the Tourism Development Fund established for events and event development.

“The city of Scottsdale is one of our ma jor sponsors for the event,” Guzzo said. “They’ve really stepped up and helped

Fillipo also said the show offers is a good opportunity to look for holiday gifts or companies that can aid with home dec orating for the holidays.

“We are coming up on the holidays here and so we do have several vendors that are going to be great resources for that,” she said. “We’ve got Level 5 Lighting, which installs permanent holiday lighting, and you want to stop by and talk to them.

whether it’s consciously or subconscious ly, these guys are often singing about their firsthand experiences, quite frankly, with each other.

“Obviously, we don’t want spoilers, but, you know, love wins, right?”

In addition to highlighting the Zubia brothers’ literal brotherhood, the docu mentary spotlights the brotherhood be tween many of the other bands in the Tempe music scene.

One particularly heartfelt and bitter sweet stretch of the documentary depicts the Zubias and other talking about the late Gin Blossoms guitarist Doug Hopkins, whose death had a profound impact on not only his own band’s career trajectory, but on the Zubia brothers’ own struggles

us financially so we could stay here and make the event happen. We’re grateful to the city of Scottsdale. That’s why it’s called the Scottsdale Taste of Italy and Music Festival.”

For the event, guests will see entertain ment on two stages, along with pizza, pas ta and nonfood vendors.

“We’re doing our best to make it fun,” Guzzo said. “The food is lovely. Everybody loves Italian food – the pizza, pasta, pani nis, sandwiches, gelato, Italian ice, espres so. All those things are there.

“For other vendors, we have Italian women’s purses. I say that because I asked her for a men’s purse. In Italy, it’s part of the fashion. She usually sells out. We’ll have another gal who makes jewelry out of Italian coins. She’s going to be there with her products and jewelry.

“We have a variety of different things meant to get people engaged and in troduce to someone or something they haven’t seen before. We want them to be entertained for a few hours and enjoy the event. It’ll be busy. It’ll be fun.”

The festival marks the first time Castal

“We’ll also have vendors that offer great wreaths and garlands for the holidays and then we have great local artisans offering nice gifts and stocking stuffers like can dles, soaps, dog treats, jewelry, and tons of other items.”

Whether guests come away with gifts, pamphlets, business cards, or just new found knowledge, Fillipo hopes that guests enjoy themselves and make some

with mental health.

“Think about like the Haight-Ashbury scene in the 60s,” Freundlich says. “You had Janis Joplin living with the Grateful Dead, and Quicksilver Messenger Service living the same house, right? The Live Nudes’ [precursors to the Pistoleros] house was where all of these bands would party when they were done with their gigs.

“That’s the magic that happens when all these creative people are coming together. They’re not competing with each other, but they’re trying to lift each other up and look what happened.”

That sense of camaraderie runs throughout the documentary, from the Zu bia brothers themselves to their connec tion with their Mexican American roots

do has performed in Scottsdale.

“I’m looking forward to seeing many of my followers and fans who have been fol lowing me on Facebook in the Arizona/ Phoenix areas,” Castaldo said.

“I perform Italian music, done in a classi cal style in the vein of Andrea Bocelli, Josh Groban, Il Volo. It’s classical crossover and then I do songs with Italian flamenco gui tar. I’ve been doing that style of music for quite a few years.”

He said festivals are an important way of spreading the truth about Italian culture.

“It is important because the Italian ex perience in the U.S. specifically has been told through the lens of Hollywood and television,” he explained.

“Generally, it’s not been in a positive light. By doing festivals and telling stories in between my songs, I try to balance the negative stereotype that Hollywood has told for many, many years. I talk about food, music, who inspired me, the great inventors and the great navigators and the great geniuses, the great painters, the renaissance. That’s something all Italians are very, very proud of.” 

good connections.

“

A lot of our attendees come with spe cific projects in mind, so we want to be able to provide them with a large number of op tions to get those projects done,” she said.

“We are always hoping that people walk away feeling like they had a good time but also feeling more knowledgeable and that they’ve made good connections that they will carry out into the future.”

via playing in mariachi groups with their father as children.

“The brothers are Mexican American, our director is Mexican American, and our picture editor is Mexican American,” Freundlich says. “The story that Mark and Lawrence tell about playing in a mariachi band with their father and then realizing that those chords worked for Van Morri son and The Doors, the Rolling Stones –our editor said ‘that is the experience of so many Mexican-American kids and teenag ers that are embracing the culture of their family historically and then also assimilat ing fully into American culture.’

“For every Mexican-American kid or musician – that is going to resonate with them greatly.”

With JAN D’ATRI

Since

Blood Mary Shrimp Appetizer a worthy addition to your party menu

to a new career as a cooking

at Sweet Basil Culinary Center, my

repertoire has expanded considerably.

have the advantage of working with three tal ented chefs who bring decades of experience to the table, and I’m always the one asking them to share their tips, tricks and prized recipes. Once in a while,

sneak a peek into their classes and if I’m lucky, I get to sample some of what was being taught in class that day.

That brings me this dish. I absolutely went nuts over it! I loved absolutely everything about it; the simplicity of the recipe, the flavors and the reaction from folks when they bite into it. This Bloody Mary Shrimp Appetizer is the perfect addition to your holiday parties or any gathering. You won’t find a single person who doesn’t love it.

I wanted to share it with you now so you have perhaps a new dish for this year’s get-togethers!

By the way! Sweet Basil Culinary Center has moved to the La Mirada Shopping Center at the Northeast

• Ingredients For the tart shells:

• 24 wonton wrappers

• 2 tablespoons butter, melted

• For the shrimp:

• 1 tablespoon salt

• 2 teaspoons Old Bay Seasoning

• 24 medium shrimp, peeled and deveined

• 1 ½ cups celery ( 3-4 ribs), sliced thin

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

2.Place wonton wrappers on a work surface and brush one side of each with melted butter.

Place one wrapper, butter side up, into each of the 24 mini muffin cups, pressing lightly. Place the muffin pans in the preheated oven and bake for 5-7 minutes or until just golden brown. Remove from the oven and let cool.

Remove the tart shells from the pan.

3. Prepare the shrimp: Bring a large saucepan of water to a boil over high heat. Add 1 table spoon salt and the Old Bay seasoning. Add the shrimp. Remove the saucepan from the heat. Let

Corner of Pinnacle Peak and Pima Road, Scottsdale. Come visit soon and let’s get cooking together!

• 1 cup scallions, sliced thinly

• For the sauce:

• ½ cup ketchup

• ¼ cup vodka

• ¼ cup fresh lemon juice

• 2 tablespoons prepared horseradish

• 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce

• 1 teaspoon Tabasco sauce

the shrimp stand in the hot water until cooked through ( the shrimp will be pink) about 5 minutes. Drain in a colander and cool to room temperature.

4. Cut the shrimp into thirds and transfer to a large bowl with the celery and scallions.

5. Make the sauce. In a medium bowl, combine the ketchup, vodka, lemon juice, horseradish, Worcestershire sauce and Tabasco sauce.

6. Just before serving, stir the sauce into the shrimp mixture. Spoon 3 shrimp pieces with the vegetables and sauce into each wonton cup ( about a tablespoon per cup) and arrange on a platter.

Makes 24 wonton cup appetizers. 

Employment General

ENGINEER: Chandler,

Two Day Hiring Event

When: Friday, Oct. 14; 9am - 2pm

Oct. 15; 9am - 1pm

Where: CMC Steel Arizona

E Germann Rd. Mesa, AZ 85212

CMC Steel Arizona has proudly been making the steel that builds America since 2009. Come tour our facility and learn about our openings and potentially receive an on-thespot offer! At CMC, we offer great benefits and provide all necessary training and certifications.

Garage/Doors