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Ahwatukee’s last bit of state land heading to auction
Merry Christmas
BY PAUL MARYNIAK AFN Executive Editor
AFN.pdf 4 12/1/2020 8:59:46 AM C
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ne of the last large tracts of undeveloped land in Ahwatukee – and the only remaining parcel of State Trust Land here – is headed for the auction block as early as spring. The State Land Department is anticipating auctioning 373 acres of State Trust Land along the south side of Chandler Boulevard between 19th and 27th avenues and extending south to the South Mountain Freeway. Home builders already are priming for the auction, which likely will begin within 10 to 12 weeks with a sale completed by mid-summer. The starting price for the land has already
been set at $105 million, according to Mark Edelman, the Land Department’s director of planning and Engineering for the Arizona state land Department. “We have had a great deal of interest in this parcel from different parties, mostly home builders,� Edelman told the Ahwatukee Foothills Village Planning Committee in a briefing last week. Land across Chandler Boulevard from the parcel is owned by the city and part of the South Mountain Preserve. Across 19th Avenue from the state parcel are the Arizona Greens and Foothills Club West communities. People who might have thought the vacant state land was protected from development are due for disappointment on two fronts.
For one thing, Adelman explained, Trust Land exists for one reason: to be sold to the highest bidder “for the sole purpose� of providing money for 13 public service beneficiaries. The largest beneficiary is K-12 public education but others include state universities and even the Department of Corrections. “State Trust Land is not public land,� Edelman reminded the planning panel. “It is land held in trust and the land really belongs to our beneficiaries. The state Land Department was created to act in their stead to manage this land. So, we are very different from public lands and we really need to be thought of more like private land.�
Property crimes Light magicians drop, homicides soar in Phoenix
see LAND page 4
AFN NEWS STAFF
P
roperty crimes and rapes decreased in the first 11 months of 2020 compared to last year but homicides – especially those involving domestic violence – soared, according to a report Phoenix Police provided City Council last week. Stating the statistics show “Phoenix experiencing a trend happening across the country,� the report says that while homicides increased, “Phoenix is performing better than the national average when it comes to solving homicides.�
see SAFE page 9
This is part of the warehouse for Christmas Lights Decorator, which has been responsible for the Festival of Lights installation along Chandler Boulevard for years. The company does a lot more this time of year, as you’ll see in the story on page 30. (Special to AFN)
16233 South 48th st. Phoenix, AZ 85048
Serving students in grades K-12
2
AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS | DECEMBER 23, 2020
NEWS
AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS | DECEMBER 23, 2020
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Gov. Doug Ducey and state schools chief Kathy Hoffman discussed school funding earlier this year. (Special to AFN)
Kyrene takes $4.4M revenue hit amid lower state funding
If you thought you have been to a Mexican restaurant lately you probably need to reconsider and visit La Casa De Juana in Ahwatukee. The fare is authentic Mexican, and when we say authentic we mean it, unlike many of the restaurant chains that call themselves Mexican. Upon entering 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 $2 beer domestic and imports and $3 margaritas this place is a must. In conclusion The flavorful 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 / corner Chandler & 40th /W h St) St 3941 E. Chandler Blvd. (S/W
to make your next reservation call 480-823-2834
www.juanashouse.com
BY PAUL MARYNIAK AFN Executive Editor
M
idway through the current school year, Tempe Union High School District’s budget so far appears to be weathering the pandemic storm better than Kyrene or most other school districts. Last week Kyrene Chief Financial Officer Chris Hermann told the Governing Board the district will not be seeing $4.4 million in revenue that it had expected when the board approved a 2020-21 operating budget six months ago. Two weeks ago, Tempe Union Finance Director Roland Carranza told the board that while the district is losing $2.7 million in state per-pupil reimbursement, unspent funds carried over from 2019-20 exceeded that amount and has left the district with $58,000 more than it had expected when its budget was passed in July. Hermann said the shortfall reflects several factors, including an enrollment decline that has impacted almost all districts in Arizona – leaving educators wondering what has happened to some 40,000 students statewide who do not appear either on public or charter pupil rolls. It also reflects the lower rate of per pupil reimbursement districts receive for students learning online. The state pays districts 5 percent less for every pupil learning virtually than it does for students who are in classrooms fulltime. Gov. Doug Ducey in June set aside $260 million for
see SCHOOLS page 15
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NEWS
AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS | DECEMBER 23, 2020
Dumping on state parcel continues with impunity AFN NEWS STAFF
C
ontractors and landscapers are using the State Trust Land parcel in Ahwatukee as a dumping ground. The Foothills Reserve homeowners association and some private homeowners have reported the dumping to the state Land Department, but it’s unclear what’s being done about it. Neighbors said that after one excavation company, Brock Excavation, dumped a load of concrete debris, other contractors and even landscapers have followed suit. Galen Schliem, HOA board president of nearby Foothills Reserve, said he complained to the department on behalf of the community. “We need these dumping activities to stop, Schleim told AFN. “There are so many volunteers in our community, that have worked countless hours to make it whole and beautiful again after the housing crisis and the construction of Loop
LAND from page 1
Secondly, the City of Phoenix will have almost no authority to stop development if and when a developer wins the auction. The parcel – dubbed “The South Mountain 370” by the department – already is zoned mostly for homes and apartments. According to a breakdown by the Land Department, 321 acres is zoned for various kinds of single-family housing development. A total 44 acres fronted by 19th Avenue and the freeway is zoned for apartment and/or condominium development. Of that total, 33 acres is zoned R-2, allowing for apartment or condo buildings with a maximum height of two stories; the remaining 11 acres has a R-3A zoning classification, which allows higher density complexes of up to four stories. Another 11 acres around 19th Avenue and the freeway is zoned C-2 – which provides for an almost unlimited variety of commercial uses. However, Edelman said most of the land zoned R-3A and C-2 is “now under the freeway – so may be not much use for that property anymore.” “But those others are still very desirable zoning districts,” he added.
This truck was caught in the act dumping tons of concrete and debris on the State Trust Land parcel in Ahwatukee. (Special to AFN) 202, that it’s a bit depressing that we’re literally now next to a quasi-dump – one that every resident, living in seven different neighborhoods, must drive by in order to leave and return to their homes. Schleim said he was told “an investigation would be opened and that the State
will prosecute companies, or individuals, that participate in illegal dumping on State land. I was also informed that the State will often start cleanup activities, in a case such as this one. We shall see.” Though he said the dumping is “brazenly being committed in broad daylight,” a
spokesman for the Land Department said his agency “does not have law enforcement (certified peace officers) to investigate unlawful activities.” “We rely solely on local law enforcement agencies and judicial jurisdictions to cite or prosecute suspected or known unlawful actions.” The spokesman said the department’s Natural Resources Division “coordinates mitigation efforts based upon public, law enforcement and lessee tips and complaints regarding unlawful activities,” but added, “Sometimes issues are discovered quite late; and identifying a culpable party is virtually impossible. “Once we receive a report of illegal dumping, ASLD conducts a site visit to assess the extent of the dumping and the scope of the cleanup necessary,” he added. Dumping on state land is a Class 2 misdemeanor and carries a maximum $15,000 fine for every dumping incident an individual is convicted of – that is, if and when they get caught.
The map on the left shows the State Trust Land parcel in Ahwatukee that likely will soon become home to hundreds of new homes after a builder makes the winning bid in an auction likely to be held by early spring. The map on the left shows various zoning for the parcel. Most of the land is zoned for single-home construction. (State Land Department) The auction comes at a time when land is commanding almost unprecedented prices in the Valley, thanks to a continuing influx of new residents that the pandemic has barely dented. Those prices make it even more appealing to the state to take advantage of the market on behalf of the beneficiaries the land is supposed to help.
Indeed, Edelman noted that while the Land Department sometimes waits for a developer to specifically make an offer to buy or lease the land, the Ahwatukee parcel is being prepared for a “Per Commissioner’s Initiative Sale.” “Rather than having an applicant do all the leg work to bring a parcel to auction,” he said, “we are doing it in-house. We have
conducted an infrastructure study on this parcel.” Moreover, the Ahwatukee parcel – the last piece of State Trust Land in the community – would likely be extremely attractive to homebuilders because of its proximity to the freeway system.
see LAND page 6
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NEWS
AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS | DECEMBER 23, 2020
LAND from page 4
Thanks to the currently unquenchable demand for homes – fueled by low interest rates, a shrinking inventory of re-sale homes and the Valley’s rising population – construction of new homes and apartment complexes has seen a major resurgence in recent years. That resurgence likely will continue, experts say, pointing to record numbers of building permits issued in the past year. The Land Department’s Board of Appeals, a panel of five experts appointed by the governor that determines approves appraisals of Trust Land parcels, met Dec. 10 to approve the appraisal for the South Mountain 370. Although Edelman told the panel that South Mountain runoff impacts part of the parcel significantly, it is not known how that factored into the appraisal. Land Department spokesman Dave Cherry told AFN that appraisals cannot be released until the land is posted for auction. No date has yet been set for the auction but Edelman told the Planning Committee he expects that to happen within the next
This map shows the many different federal and state agencies that control the land surfaces in Arizona. (State Land Department) 10 to 12 weeks. Developers then have 10 weeks to submit bids. Edelman told the Village Planning Committee the appraisal is good for six months,
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so it appears the state hopes to complete the process by mid-summer. And he is hoping the land goes for a higher amount than the minimum bid.
“We could have one bid and be finished or we could have many people getting in the room – as we have had on some of our recent auctions,” Edelman said. “I would certainly hope for the latter and that we could have a very active auction.” That the land would eventually be developed has been no secret and it factored into a fight between the Planning Committee and the city Street Transportation Department four years ago. Back in the fall of 2016, the city proposed completing Chandler Boulevard by building a 1.2 mile segment between 27th and 19th avenues called the Chandler Boulevard Extension. Then Planning Committee Chairman Chad Blostone was alarmed by the plan because the city wanted to build only two lanes that would be connecting two fourlane segments. Under pressure from Blostone and Councilman Sal DiCiccio, the city relented and agreed to include a third turning lane. During planning committee hearings on the project, city officials also said that once the state land would be developed, a fourth lane would be added – likely at the developer’s expense, they said.
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AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS | DECEMBER 23, 2020
SAFE from page 1
The 52 percent increase in murders – fueled by a 175 percent increase in domestic violence homicides – also mirrors a national trend, according to the report, which noted murders are up 20 percent this year over last. Phoenix’s increase in homicides was higher than increases recorded in Chicago, New York City and Los Angeles. Nearly three-quarters of all homicides in Phoenix involved a firearm, the report adds. But the report also notes that Phoenix PD has a homicide clearance rate of 72 percent – 10 percent higher than the national average for solving murder cases. “Along with combating domestic violence,” the report states, “the department’s Homicide Unit put a hyper focus on intelligence-driven information, yielding positive results in closing homicide investigations.” It attributes the high clearance rate in homicides to “focusing resources not on flooding a high-crime area with officers but instead using critical pieces of evidence to pinpoint specific suspects.” A key role in that approach is played by
detectives working with the city crime lab as part of the Crime Gun Liaison Program, which includes a database of firearms used in crimes across the country. The huge increase in domestic violence – representing 44 of 187 killings so far this year – has triggered multiple responses from city agencies that began shortly after the onset of the pandemic. Phoenix City Council used some of its federal pandemic-relief funds to set up computers at various locations throughout the city so victims could file for protective orders from abusive mates without their knowledge. The Phoenix Family Advocacy Center also has remained open, “providing comprehensive victim advocacy services to domestic violence victims,” the report states. The report also notes that despite the homicide increase, “Phoenix is not experiencing the type of record-breaking homicide cases our community saw in mid-2000. “The peak hit in 2003 when our community lost a record 247 lives at the hands of another person,” the report notes. “Our city population has grown more than 20 percent since that time.” The report said that from the first 11
months of 2019 to January-November 2020, burglaries plummeted 23 percent, rapes dipped 5 percent and thefts plunged 11 percent “Burglaries being down is no surprise at all,” said Councilman Sal DiCiccio. “Most people are home now and quite a few people have armed themselves as well. A burglar would be a real fool if they broke into a home given the circumstances today.” The Phoenix report comes on the heels of a survey of 182 cities that found Phoenix as the 104th safest city in the nation. WalletHub, a personal finance website that frequently ranks cities for various quality-of-life factors, rated Gilbert as the safest in Arizona and the 10th safest in the nation. For other area cities, the rankings are Chandler, 17; Scottsdale, 20; Mesa, 31 and Tempe, 40. For Mesa, Tempe and Phoenix, those rankings actually represent improvement from a year ago, when WalletHub pegged them at 34, 45 and 118, respectively. But the highest-scoring cities from a year ago all slipped in the rankings. Gilbert was ranked No. 4 nationally for safety in 2019, Chandler had been No. 9, and
9
Scottsdale No. 12. It appears the COVID-19 pandemic is a big reason for the slippage in a year when, frankly, everyone is less safe than when 2019 came to a close. COVID-19 has affected mortality to such an extent that WalletHub factored it into this year’s safety rankings. “The methodology has been updated this year to include the number of COVID-19 cases,” Jill Gonzalez, a WalletHub statistical analyst who worked on the survey, told AFN. “This is an area where Arizona cities don’t rank very well.” “Other factors where Chandler, Gilbert, Mesa and Tempe rank low include the number of active firefighters, EMTs and paramedics per capita, the low share of sheltered homeless, and the high number of drug poisoning deaths and traffic fatalities per capita,” Gonzalez said. WalletHub’s safety rankings go beyond the obvious life-and-death issues such as crime and our driving habits. Our bank accounts also come into play in WalletHub’s analysis. “In terms of financial safety,” Gonza-
see SAFE page 12
10
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Ocotillo Listed for
$875,000
Single level 3,735 sf home with 4 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms on over a 1/3rd acre lot. Sprawling golf course and lake views! The remodeled kitchen boasts dark wood cabinetry, extended kitchen island with quartz counter and stainless steel appliances; gas cooking! The luxurious resort style back yard overlooks the prestigious Ocotillo Golf Course! Sparkling pebble tec pool and beautifully landscaped; perfect for families and entertaining. Large theater room with wet bar, beverage fridge, buffet, two built in work stations, projector and movie screen. Shutters, updated fixtures, 4 year old roof with 10 year warranty.
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Complete 2017 remodel! 2017 roof and HVAC unit. All new electrical, new 200amp service panel and LED lighting throughout (2017.) All new Pella windows and doors. Solid core interior doors throughout. Kitchen boasts a commercial Dacor appliance package. 18’’ dual zone wine and beverage center built in to the 13.5’ island with Italian stone waterfall countertop. Quartz kitchen countertops. Deluxe cabinet package with soft closers, full extension rollouts, auto led interior cabinet lighting, 110 electric inside island cabinets for hidden appliances. Extravagant wet bar with undermount sink, beverage refrigerator, custom cabinetry with glass display and LED interior lighting. 60” x 18” open face gas fireplace in family room with full wall stone surrounds. Extensive millwork throughout. All exterior and interior windows and doors are cased and moulded. Wainscotting throughout the interior. Smooth plaster wall finish throughout. Four bedrooms and three bathrooms. Two master bathrooms. Second master makes a great guest suite. Master 2 has a large sitting area / living room with French doors to the exterior. Both master suites exit to the back yard. Master bedrooms are new construction (2017.) Bathrooms are finished in Carerra marble, top grade Kohler sinks and toilets, custom glass shower door enclosures; Danze plumbing fixtures throughout. The resort style back yard has expansive trex style decking, a sparkling 2018 pool finished entirely in ceramic penny tile. Deluxe low maintenance landscape. R - 48 attic insulation. The detached, side entry garage is new construction (2017.) Driveway in the front and a two car driveway at the garage. Check out the photos at https://bit.ly/2TEHrDK
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AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS | DECEMBER 23, 2020
Pandemic fuels record firearms sales in Arizona BY CALAH SCHLABACH Cronkite News
W
ASHINGTON – Background checks for gun purchases in Arizona hit their highest level ever in 2020, driven by an unprecedented convergence of a pandemic, a summer of national unrest and a presidential election, experts said. With a month left to go in the year, 610,911 background checks had been performed in the state through November, well over the 372,912 done in all of 2019, according to FBI data. The Arizona spike is part of a nationwide increase, said Kelly Drane, research director at Giffords Law Center, a gun control advocacy group. She estimated that there was a nearly 90 percent increase in gun sales nationally from March to October this year compared to last year, with early data indicating “a substantial number of these purchases were made by new gun owners.” Veerachart Murphy said that is what he has seen at Ammo AZ, the Phoenix gun store he owns, where there has been a “huge uptick in first-time buyers.” “Between the election and COVID and shutdowns and riots – it was enough to get them off the couch and come in and actually make their first purchase,” Murphy said of “people that were kind of maybe on the fence” about buying a gun.
SAFE from page 9
lez said, “these Arizona cities registered a large number of fraud complaints and personal bankruptcy filings per capita, and a low rate of access to and participation in retirement plans. “However,” she said, “even considering all these factors, the cities still rank in the top 25 percent safest in the country.” The WalletHub survey ranked communities in three broad categories – “home and community,” natural disasters and financial safety. In general, it is the region’s rankings for natural disasters and financial safety that account for its overall high ratings
He said his biggest spike in sales came early this year as COVID-19 began dominating the news, with a 400 percent increase in sales from January to February. He attributes it to anxiety about a possible pandemic-related lockdown. Sales remained relatively high, he said, until another spike in the summer, when clashes between police and protesters were in the headlines. That experience tracks the FBI’s data, which shows that Arizona had the highest number of background checks in March, with nearly 83,000, followed by June and July, which had 74,000 and 60,000 background checks, respectively. Murphy said he has seen similar spikes since he got into the gun business in 2013, usually after active-shooter incidents or mass shootings – and before the 2016 presidential election when sales jumped in anticipation of a win by Democrat Hillary Clinton. Sales tailed off then after gun-friendly President Donald Trump took office. Sales through November 2020 were already 47% higher than in all of 2016, which had been the record for the state. “It’s almost like the stock market, where something doesn’t actually have to happen to set off this market. It’s the threat of something, or the potential that something happens that will trigger this market,” Murphy said. With President-elect Joe Biden set to be
nationally. In the “home and security” category, which includes crime and traffic safety, the region did not score as well – Tempe, for example, coming in at No. 78 and Phoenix at No. 139 nationally. Chandler, with its booming high-tech industry, led the region in financial safety, ranking No. 10 nationally in that category. Fast-growing Gilbert outscored wealthy Scottsdale, ranking No. 16 as opposed to Scottsdale at No. 18. The rankings for Tempe, Mesa and Phoenix in that area were 39, 40 and 65, respectively. Even Tucson, listed at No. 146 nationally for safety overall, scored in the top third of
sworn in on Jan. 20, Murphy expects gun sales to stay high and to double last year’s net sales. “I think this is going to be it for the foreseeable future with Biden in office. We saw kind of the same thing with Obama in office,” said Murphy, who posted thenPresident Barack Obama’s picture in his store as Employee of the Month. “That should give you kind of an idea of, of how everybody reacts to … a Democratic-controlled presidency.” During past gun-sale spikes, however, people were buying up AR-15s, thinking they would get taken away after mass shootings or by Democratic administrations. Now, Murphy said, “people are buying everything.” “It doesn’t matter – whatever you can get your hands on. People are literally buying everything, handguns, rifles, shotguns,” he said. “Everything is going.” It’s a “hoarding mentality” he compared to stocking up on toilet paper and hand sanitizer at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. But guns are not toilet paper. Drane said increased gun sales have coincided with increased gun violence in U.S. cities and more calls to domestic violence and suicide hotlines. Such correlations are well known from previous research, she said, but may be more dangerous during the pandemic – which is expected to worsen this winter.
cities economically, at No. 54. Predictably, the region was seen as among the safest in the country from natural disasters. Historically the biggest natural threat here has been extreme heat, which has steadily become more deadly in recent years. According to the Maricopa County Public Health Department, 197 heat-related deaths were reported in 2019, compared with 21 in 2001. Many of those deaths were attributed at least in part to non-functioning air-conditioners and to substance abuse. Homelessness also was a major factor. The county did not provide a city-bycity breakdown of heat-related deaths.
“The risks posed by these new firearm purchases may be particularly severe when coupled with the risks for gun violence exacerbated by the pandemic, such as economic uncertainty, unemployment, and social isolation,” Drane said. “These conditions have historically been associated with increased suicide attempts and deaths.” Drane said 90 percent of suicide attempts with a firearm end in death, and domestic violence victims are five times more likely to be killed when their abuser has a gun. With more people stuck at home, she said, domestic violence victims may not have access to supportive services, and with more children at home, there is a greater risk of unintentional shootings with improperly stored guns. “While the gun lobby uses fear to promote the panic-buying of guns, all Americans should be aware of the risks of having a gun in the home,” Drane said. But Murphy said gun-buying he has seen has been a nonpartisan exercise, with liberals in his store for the first time. He said his neighbor in Scottsdale – who he called an “uber-liberal huge Biden supporter” – bought his first gun after the unrest there this summer. Drane said the bottom line is, “if you do decide to purchase a gun, we encourage you to learn about and practice safe gun storage, which is a foundational part of being a responsible gun owner.” Despite a high number of homeless people in Phoenix, the city ranked 25 for natural disasters. The other natural disasters that frequently affect Arizona – wildfires and flooding – can touch the East Valley to some extent, but fatal incidents in recent years have most often occurred in rural areas. If the East Valley isn’t safe enough for you, Columbia, Maryland, has led the list for several years as the nation’s safest city. And of the 182 places surveyed, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, came in dead last. The full WalletHub survey is available at: wallethub.com/edu/safest-cities-in-america/41926.
GOT NEWS? Contact Paul Maryniak at 480-898-5647 or pmaryniak@timespublications.com
AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS | DECEMBER 23, 2020
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AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS | DECEMBER 23, 2020
AIA pushes back start of winter sports to Jan. 18
BY ZACH ALVIRA AFN Sports Editor
T
he Arizona Interscholastic Association announced Friday the winter sports season, initially scheduled to start Jan. 5, has been pushed back two weeks to Jan. 18. The decision comes amid a continuing surge in COVID-19 cases in Arizona. “Our focus continues to be on keeping students in school and on the playing field safely,” Associate Executive Director Joe Paddock said in the release. “We believe this decision will help us preserve the winter sports season.” The AIA said the delay would also allow teams to practice for two weeks after students return from winter break, although school districts are setting different dates for a return to classrooms as several of the state’s largest districts have set virtual learning for all students when the second semester begins the first week of January. The same guidelines and recommenda-
SCHOOLS from page 3
enrollment stabilization grants that were supposed to help school districts make up for the difference in that reimbursement rate since so many campuses were closed in response to the pandemic. But that total turned out to be woefully short of the need. In Kyrene’s case, Hermann said the district’s stabilization grant of nearly $5 million was $2 million less than the state Department of Education had determined Kyrene deserved to compensate for the difference between online and in-class reimbursement rates. The shortfall has forced Kyrene to adjust its spending, although key services to students have not been impacted. “The district has already taken actions to reduce expenditures earlier this year,” Hermann said, “and it’s continuing to look for further expenditure reduction opportunities in the event our grant funding from the state is not adjusted.” “I should say to offset the impact from our reduced state funding, these areas would include freezing vacant positions or possibly reducing other discretionary expenditures that are related to closures or activities that have been limited by COVID-19 areas.”
tions from the AIA’s Sports Medicine Advisory Committee will remain in place once the winter sports season begins. Once it begins it will not stop unless public health and government officials suspend all extracurricular activities. Teams will be allowed to begin competition on Jan. 18 regardless of what the level of virus spread. The metrics measuring spread will only be used to determine whether fans are able to attend competitions. At this time, the metrics call for empty stands. The AIA said conferences will be given the opportunity to decide the total number of weeks of competitions for winter teams. That decision will be made in the next couple of weeks, according to the AIA. The winter sports season will conclude on March 5, with the spring season beginning March 1. Conferences will have the ability to modify the length of the spring season. “These measures will allow us to start the season and I hope, that as we see
Kyrene has lost roughly 867 students this year, mostly at the kindergarten level. Kathy Hoffman, state superintendent of public instruction, earlier this year said enrollment was down across Arizona by about 3-5 percent at each grade level except kindergarten, where the falloff is around 10 percent. Many educators believe parents of kindergarten children kept them out of school because of COVID-19 and are hoping they return next school year. Tempe Union has been struggling with declining enrollment for a number of years, but district spokeswoman said its decline of 334 students this year from last could be the result of many factors, not just COVID-19. Daniel Scarpinato, the governor’s chief of staff, conceded that schools’ enrollment stabilization grants are less than what they thought they would be receiving. But he said, in effect, that the schools should be pleased they’re getting anything at all, as governors in other states have not agreed to any supplemental funding and in some cases have cut K-12 dollars in the wake of the pandemic. Scarpinato said schools are getting less state aid because they just don’t have the
hospitalizations go down, some of the restrictions regarding spectators, be lifted,” Executive Director David Hines said in the release. The delay to the season didn’t come as much of a surprise to Desert Vista and Mountain Pointe coaches. Pride basketball coach Kaimarr Price said he anticipated some sort of delay but thought at first it would only be an additional week. Still, he accepts the two-week delay as long as it means the season will be able to get started at some point this winter. “We just need to focus on what we can control,” Price said. “Two more weeks of practice definitely won’t hurt us. It’s a time to bond and get better as a team. Whatever allows us to start and complete a season I’m on board with.” Mountain Pointe and Desert Vista’s basketball programs will continue to practice during winter break, taking Christmas Eve, Christmas and New Year’s Day off. Especially for the Thunder, that allows for
same number of children they did before the virus. He said there are multiple reasons, suggesting some of these are the fault of districts themselves and the choices they make. “One of them is students transferring to schools that are offering in-person learning,’’ Scarpinato said. He also said there are “massive amounts of digital truancy’’ where students are not logging in and therefore not being counted for attendance. But Hoffman said she believes schools are being shortchanged. Hoffman said schools made plans based on the promised dollars to fund everything from COVID-19 mitigation strategies to setting up distance learning programs. “Based on the allocations provided to schools last week, the state has broken that promise,’’ Hoffman said. Scarpinato said the $370 million in stabilization funding is more than what the districts would have received through the basic state aid formula. The governor’s office also imposed a cap of $500 per student in stabilization funding – which Scarpinato was based on guidance from the U.S. Treasury. In response to complaints by school of-
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extra time to prepare for a team that has new co-head coaches this season in Bryant St. Cyr and Jordan Ballard. Like Price, St. Cyr thought a delay would eventually come. “I wasn’t shocked, I’ve been keeping a close eye on the metrics,” St. Cyr said. “Just watching the numbers and seeing what they had us do to adjust, we just have to make sure we get our kids ready. But it’s definitely tough. I know the kids were ready to get going on the 5th.” Both St. Cyr and Ballard look at the delay as somewhat of a blessing in disguise as it allows them to become more accustomed to the players on their roster. “We’re going to prepare as if we are going to play on the 18th,” Ballard said. “We know everything they’re doing is for the greater good and for the health of people in general. It gives us a chance to get to know each other a little more. “It’s a small shakeup but it’s only two weeks. We’ve waited this long, we can wait a few more days.”
ficials across Arizona that that amount is insufficient, the governor’s spokesman said that if schools are dissatisfied, “The best place for this discussion is in the Legislature.” Right now it’s unclear how much attention schools’ struggles with the pandemic will be getting from the Legislature. With the session not scheduled to begin until Jan. 11, most of the concerns by at least some lawmakers appear focused on trying to undo the results of the Presidential election in Arizona. State Sen. Sean Bowie said he expects school district’s financial challenges to get attention and that he already has personally conveyed to the governor the concerns he has been hearing about the disparity in state reimbursement rates between in-class and online students. That issue is particularly significant since many districts, including Kyrene and Tempe Union, will be starting the new semester next month with virtual learning. Both districts have set no hard date for reopening campus, likely because no one knows that the impact of holiday gatherings will be on the already surging virus. But the longer classrooms are closed means the more money districts will be losing.
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AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS | DECEMBER 23, 2020
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Gov. Doug Ducey and state health director Dr. Cara Christ spoke last week at a COVID-19 vaccination center set up on the State Fairgrounds. (Capitol Media Services)
State health official admits virus standards changed BY HOWARD FISCHER Capitol Media Services
T
he state’s top health official admitted Friday she has altered the standards governing business operations during the COVID-19 outbreak to the point that none will ever have to close – no matter how serious the infection rate gets. The reason, said Dr. Cara Christ, is that she does not believe businesses are a major source of the coronavirus infections that currently have nearly 4,000 people in Arizona hospitals and the number of intensive care beds available in the entire state down to 128, just 7 percent of capacity. She also said the implications of shutting down a business are greater than leaving them open. Christ does not foresee a situation where the spread of infection from business will get to a point where she would change her mind. Christ acknowledged that she effectively has scrapped the “substantial risk of spread’’ category from the benchmarks she adopted earlier this year. Now, no county can be classified as having more than a “moderate’’ risk. What makes that significant is that, us-
ing Christ’s own standards, certain businesses, including bars, movie theaters and gyms are not allowed to operate when a county is placed in the substantial category. That is based on more than 100 cases per 100,000 residents, more than 10 percent of people testing coming back positive, and more than 10 percent of people showing up at hospitals having COVIDlike illness. All but Greenlee County have all three indicators above that level according to the agency’s own data, some by quite substantial margins. Ahwatukee’s three ZIP codes are far above the thresholds for all three indicators of virus spread, according to data released by the county health department on Dec. 17. Cases per 100,000 people were at 502 in 85045, 488 in 85248 and 394 in 850244. Hospital visits with COVID-like symptoms were at 10.2 percent in all three Ahwatukee ZIP codes while positive test results ranged from 12.4 percent in 85044 to 14.5 percent in 85048 to 19.6 percent in 85045.
see VIRUS page 17
NEWS
AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS | DECEMBER 23, 2020
Phoenix Open will be aiming for fewer fans BY WAYNE SCHUTSKY AFN Staff Writer
F
or the Waste Management Phoenix Open, the show must go on, but the typically crowded golf tournament will have a very different feel in 2021 as organizers implement safety protocols and drastically cut back admissions due to COVID-19. The event has still drawn criticism, though, for hosting in-person crowds as case numbers and hospitalizations continue to surge across the state. The tournament, scheduled Feb. 1-7, will scale back admissions by as much as 96 percent, according to estimates from the Phoenix Thunderbirds, the Valley charitable organization that runs the event. “The numbers are still fluid based on conversations with the PGA Tour and the City of Scottsdale, but I think ultimately if we could land at a range between 5,000 to 8,000 fans a day total for the tournament, that would be a home run for our organization and in turn local charities,” tournament Chairman Scott Jenkins said. That’s a significant decrease from a typical year, when the tournament can draw over 200,000 fans in a single day, with 16,000 of those at the popular 16th hole alone. Tickets are already on sale for packages for the 16th hole and the organizers will announce a decision on the availability of general admission tickets in the coming weeks. The Thunderbirds have scaled down the 16th hole as well. This year it will feature a single-story, open-air venue instead of the larger, in-
VIRUS from page 16
With the change in definition, Christ conceded, there is no longer any risk of any business in any county getting shuttered. Christ said the benchmarks were designed to show when businesses that had been closed early in the pandemic because they were in areas of substantial risk of spread could reopen, specifically, when the levels of infection reached moderate levels. She said it doesn’t work the same in reverse. She said there are now mitigation strategies’ in place to reduce the risk, such as
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“So, you can say there’s masks required, but then you say ‘Oh, unless you’re having a beer,” Humble said. “That’s like saying ‘no masks.’” In a press release announcing the event’s new structure, the Thunderbirds emphasized the drasticallyreduced admissions, scaled-back 16th hole and noted the “192-acre layout of TPC Scottsdale and the outdoor nature of the tournament is conducive to social distancing.” Humble acknowlThe Waste Management Phoenix Open can draw over 200,000 fans in a single day in a typical year, but organizers edged that an outdoor are expecting to host just 5,000 to 8,000 attendees daily at the February 2021 event due to COVID-19. (AFN file photo) event like the Phoenix door structures that usually surround you’re actively eating and drinking, then Open is safer than at any indoor venues. it’s tough to do with a mask.” the hole “Outdoors is always better than indoors, “We’re working with them on a new That part of the plan caused concern for that’s for sure; in fact, it’s 17 times safer floor plan and making sure we have the Will Humble, executive director of the Ari- than indoors,” he said. square footage, so we can socially distance zona Public Health Association, because of But Humble said, even with outdoor people and have everybody have a bunch the Open’s reputation as a party hub. events, the devil is in the details and it of room,” Jenkins said. He questioned how the typical atmo- will be up to event organizers and the The event, which partnered with Mayo sphere at the tournament could impact city to ensure fans are abiding by reClinic, has also implemented mitigation compliance with safety rules. strictions. protocols to combat virus spread, JenThe Phoenix Open is famous for its parHe said there is low risk if people are kins said. ty-like atmosphere and the alcohol-fueled walking hole to hole but that changes if a Temperatures will be taken upon en- behavior of some attendees. glut of fans flock to the 16th hole and entry, and all event goers will be required In 2018, sports website SB Nation la- gage in high-risk activities like yelling and to wear masks unless they are consuming beled the Phoenix Open “golf’s most dem- cheering. food or drinks. ocratic and obscene event.” “Let’s say the 16th hole is going to be “It’s very similar to what we’re all expeHumble said that based on that past be- 3,000 out of the 8,000 people, and they’re riencing in restaurants,” Jenkins said. “If havior, he is not confident compliance will see OPEN page 19 you’re moving, you’re wearing a mask; if be high. requirements for restaurants and bars that operate like restaurants -- no dancing, staying at the table -- to be limited to 50 percent occupancy. Christ said it’s not like these businesses are a major source of infections. Her department says information from “contact tracing’’ of people who have come down with the disease found that just 14 percent said they might have gotten it by attending large group settings outside their homes. That, the agency said points “to spread occurring in households and small gatherings.’’ But the numbers may be higher than
that. The most recent contact tracing data from Pima County, for example, finds that 26 percent of those questioned say they had recently been to a bar or restaurant. Christ was not impressed. “So that would mean than 74 percent of those individuals that they interviewed did not say they were at a restaurant or bar,’’ she said. Christ said those businesses are supposed to be operating under mitigation strategies enacted this past summer, like masks when not eating and drinking and limited indoor seating. “We also have to take a look at the whole
health of the community,’’ she said. “Housing and food access and health insurance and access to a job all play a role in the overall health and long-term outcome of our community.’’ Christ said there are ripple effects. “If I close down a restaurant, these are individuals that are now going to find a job somewhere else because they have to work,’’ she said. And Christ said it’s potentially even more harmful. “Losing a house or income has a significant impact on their overall health,’’ she said. “So we are taking all that into account.’’
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NEWS
AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS | DECEMBER 23, 2020
County defies legislator’s vote data subpoena BY HOWARD FISCHER Capitol Media Services
M
aricopa County supervisors voted Friday to refuse to comply with subpoenas issued by the head of the Senate Judiciary Committee. The 4-1 vote followed a nearly threehour executive session with attorneys amid concerns that at least some of what is being demanded by Sen. Eddie Farnsworth, R-Gilbert, would expose private information about voters. There also were questions about whether the county even has the legal right to give that information to outsiders. Instead, board members supporting the motion – three Republicans and one Democrat – voted to file suit and have a judge determine whether the subpoenas are legally valid. Among the majority was Republican Jack Sellers, whose district covers Ahwatukee. Attorney Steve Tully, a former legislator hired by the county, said legislative panels can subpoena people to testify. Farnsworth’s seeks actual materials. More significant, Tully said the subpoenas “serve no valid legislative purpose.’’ “There is no legislative authority to audit election results,’’ he said. Nor is there authority to examine ballots or conduct forensic audits of election equipment.
OPEN from page 17
all crammed together; even though it’s outside that’s a potential, super spreader event even though it’s outside, because you’re not moving around.” Jenkins said the Open did not currently have a specific percentage of the daily attendees that would be admitted to the 16th hole, explaining, “We’re just not there yet.” But tournament organizers expressed confidence in their ability to “mitigate risks” for players, fans and volunteers. Ultimately, if the decision is made by local health officials to allow spectators, it
That paves the way for what could be a legal showdown over the rights of state lawmakers to make such demands and the rights of the supervisors, who have the information they want, to refuse. Board Chairman Clint Hickman also took a shot at Farnsworth – whose term is up in a week – and the lawmakers who are demanding a laundry list of data and access to voting equipment. Hickman suggested they are not really interested in hearing about how the election was conducted. Hickman pointed out that he, county Elections Director Scott Jarrett and deputy Maricopa County Attorney Tom Liddy testified at the Judiciary Committee earlier last week for about six hours, answering all the questions from panel members. That, he said, included queries about the machinery and the software. Supervisor Steve Chucri cast the lone dissenting vote. But Chucri said it wasn’t that he believes the information should be surrendered. Instead, he wanted the refusal to be tied to an immediate vote by his colleagues to conduct their own audit. Hickman said there will be such a review but not until all the three outstanding lawsuits challenging the election are resolved. One subpoena seeks copies of all mailin and absentee ballots in multiple digital
will be a small fraction of the normal capacity at TPC Scottsdale and not any different from what many other professional sports are currently allowing across the country,” according to the Thunderbirds’ release. “The health and safety of fans is our top priority.” Unless something changes in the coming months, it appears state and local regulators will allow events to continue. In December, the governor stipulated that cities must post any approved event’s safety plans publicly and dedicate resources to ensure they are enforced. The safety plan for the Phoenix Open has not yet been posted to the City of
formats along with various reports and logs and tapes of the ballot scanning and tabulation equipment. The other demands that the county give access to a yet-to-be-chosen analyst to the ballot tabulation equipment from both the individual voting centers and the central counting system as well as the software used. Farnsworth also wants a report on rejected ballots, audit trail logs, usernames and passwords of anyone who has access to the system and anyone from Dominion Voting Systems who could get into the system. And then there is a command for the county to turn over daily and cumulative voter records which include the name, address and date of birth of each voter, where and when they voted, their party affiliation and any information about when they requested an early ballot, when it was sent, when it was voted and, if applicable, when it was canceled. All that angered Supervisor Bill Gates. “Let’s be clear: These subpoenas that have been issued and are before this body are truly extraordinary in the breadth of information that they’re looking for,’’ he said. “As a conservative, I feel strongly about individual private information, of individuals, of voters,’’ Gates said. “I’m going to fight to protect that information before we turn it over.’’
Scottsdale’s website. Scottsdale has continued to allow large events and youth sports tournaments in line with the Governor’s orders, with few cancellations. The Barrett-Jackson collector car auction, the city’s other signature winter event, pushed its 2021 auction from January to March. Right now, a voluntary rescheduling appears off the table for the Phoenix Open due to scheduling issues with the PGA Tour, according to city staff. “That date is set for TV and sponsorship. Barrett Jackson was able to move because we had (a) slot open in March that could
GOT NEWS?
19
But that, he said, is only part of his concern about surrendering all sorts of information to Farnsworth and his committee. “I don’t know what they’re going to do with it,’’ Gates said. Farnsworth told Capitol Media Services none of this information will be made public but is simply part of providing what an outside auditor needs to verify the results. “So, this isn’t something that’s going to be handed out and put out on YouTube or out on any social media sites,’’ he said. “I mean, that’s just an absurdity.’’ Tully is arguing the subpoenas’ purpose is “to provide the information for counsel for the losing candidate so that he might attempt to use it to overturn the election results.’’ Farnsworth denied that. “This has nothing to do with the Trump campaign,’’ he said. “This has to do with the concern by the Legislature that there are enough allegations of inappropriateness or not being able to engage in the process or anomalies that exist.’’ “I don’t know why that’s so difficult for people to understand,’’ he said. Supervisor Steve Gallardo, who called the subpoenas “a sideshow coming from the Legislature’’ and a “circus.’’ The lone Democrat on the county board, he said the county conducted in a bipartisan manner.
accommodate this event, the Thunderbirds have only this one slot. Their charities benefit from the tournament and that involves Scottsdale charities,” a Scottsdale official said. Jenkins said the Open – which raised $14 million last year for area charities – was a reason why the organization decided to move forward with in-person attendance. “With the reduced attendance and the COVID environment, we’re not going to hit that $14 million number, but that’s why we made the decision to try to have fans, because that’s how we raise the money that we do,” Jenkins said.
Contact Paul Maryniak at 480-898-5647 or pmaryniak@ timespublications.com
20
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Community
COMMUNITY
DECEMBER 23, 2020 | AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS
21
@AhwatukeeFN @AhwatukeeFN
www.ahwatukee.com
100+ Women helps A New Life help others AFN NEWS STAFF
A
worldwide pandemic could not stop the members of 100+ Women Who Care Valley of the Sun from coming together in April. Every quarter, women from around Ahwatukee meet to learn about local charities and, ultimately, support one with their donations. The group could not meet in person due to the stay-at-home orders, so they met virtually via Zoom. “It would have been easy to cancel our giving circles, but we felt called to do our part during this crisis,” stated Kim Tarnopolski, chief community officer. “So many charities had to cancel their main fundraising events due to COVID. We knew our $10,000+ would go a long way in helping a local nonprofit.” Members of the 100+ Women Who Care chapter bring the local causes to the group. Diane Hughes, Darlene Pany, Judy
Tapscott and Zita Johnson nominated A New Leaf. The nonprofit provides resources that include homeless and domestic violence shelters with services, affordable housing solutions, youth services, foster care, counseling, financial literacy, neighborhood economic development, workforce support, and community services. “The nominating members were specifically drawn to A New Leaf’s DVSTOP program that is committed to protecting domestic violence victims and empowering individuals to break the cycle of abuse,” Tarnopolski said. With more people working from home during the COVID pandemic, there is concern that many people are in potentially deadly situations sheltering in a home with an abuser. In 2018, there were 38,674 domestic violence-related calls for help made to
see CARE page 22
Two leaders of A New Leaf, Joe Dulin, chief philanthropy officer, and Laura Bode, director of community and civic engagement, were delighted with the contribution from 100+ Women Who Care Valley of the Sun. (Kim Tarnopolski)
Many options for local residents to volunteer BY STACI HAUK AFN Contributor
D
uring the holiday season, many Mesa residents seek to give their time to worthy organizations in the community. While COVID-19 has posed challenges in that arena, many local nonprofits have adjusted to offer volunteer opportunities fit for the times. Here are five options.
Branching Out Family Services
Counselor Cherrie Vierra-Lonkar founded Branching Out, along with her husband, psychologist and professor Dr. Brian Lonkar. Her dream was to create a new approach to supporting families just like theirs. In addition to being behavioral health professionals, the Lonkars are both special
Sunshine Acres Children’s Home in Mesa can always use volunteers, given that its sprawling campus has multiple venues that need tending to. (Special to AFN) needs and adoptive parents. Branching Out Family Services offers a
variety of programs and services to help foster and adoptive parents meet their
goals while connecting them to other families like theirs. In addition to counseling, coaching and referrals, they now offer therapeutic recreation programs, self-care and other services. “I am both a foster/adoptive parent and a special needs parent,” Cherrie said. “When I was diagnosed with breast cancer, I promised myself that if I survived, I would spend the rest of my days making the world a kinder and more supportive place for Arizona’s most vulnerable children.” Lonkar has been actively involved in advocacy and education within the foster care and special needs communities as both an educator and a counselor in the Chandler/Gilbert area. She encourages involvement as a volun-
see VOLUNTEERS page 24
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COMMUNITY
AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS | DECEMBER 23, 2020
Summit student collects 500 pounds of food AFN NEWS STAFF
A
National Junior Honor Society member at Summit School Ahwatukee found a way to help address the growing problem of hunger in the community. Seventh grader Teagan Martinez was looking for a way to make a difference this holiday season and after consulting with his teacher, Meredith Mayefske, decided to conduct a neighborhood food drive in support of St. Mary’s Food Bank. Teagan sent an email to the 36 homes in his neighborhood which read, in part: “It’s been a tough year, and I think a lot of people have fallen on hard times, so I thought donating food to St. Mary’s Food Bank would be a great way to support people in need. I’m al-
ways hungry, so I can’t imagine not being able to have enough food to eat.” Teagan went on to list the food bank’s most needed items, and he let his neighbors know that they could leave their donations on their porches, and he would come around to pick them up. “Teagan’s neighbors were incredibly supportive,” a Summit School spokeswoman said. “He ended up collecting and donating a truckload of food weighing nearly 500 pounds.”
Summit School Ahwatukee seventh grader Teagan Martinez collected nearly 500 pounds of food for the needy. (Special to AFN)
AROUND AHWATUKEE
Still time to donate to annual Blankets & Bears Drive
The deadline for donating to the Ahwatukee Women’s Golf Association is again conducting its 21st annual Blankets & Bears Drive is close at hand but people still have about 10 days to help. This year the drive benefits Cardon Children’s Hospital at Banner Desert Hospital. The drive started in 1999 and has generated blankets and stuffed bears in the thousands to Phoenix Fire Station #38; Cardon Children’s Hospital; Mesa Fire and the Child Crisis Center. New knitted, crocheted and fleece blankets of all kinds are needed. Crib size or smaller is preferred. Stuffed animals need to be new. Dolls or stuffed animals should be soft and cuddly and something that a child can hold and carry.
CARE from page 21
hotlines in Arizona, 252,806 nights of emergency shelter were provided for victims and 22,293 victims received mobile or community-based services. A New Leaf answered 19,732 of those calls for help, provided 26,785 nights of shelter, including nearly 500 nights through our overflow shelter program when no other shelter was
Couple offers free treatments in their Ahwatukee pool
The Junior Golf Association of Arizona is taking reservations now for its annual Itty Bitty Open on Jan. 16 in Ahwatukee and other nearby communities. The free event is for kids 3-5 years old with clinics at each location at 9, 10 and 11 a.m. where they and their parents will learn the basics skills of golf taught by qualified PGA and LPGA professionals.
After the clinics, the kids will then participate in fun-filled, non-competitive golf games and tournaments. Each golfer will receive a set of plastic golf clubs (right-handed only), balls, a bag and a visor. Participants are asked to leave their own clubs at home. An adult “caddie” must accompany each golfer. A special contest with prizes will be held at each session for the “Best Dressed Golfer and Caddie Team.” Anything goes: classic golf fashion; contemporary golf fashion; or any unique golf duds that may come to mind. All winners will receive a trophy. Space is limited, sign up before Jan. 11. Information: 602-944-6168. Register at jgaa.bluegolf.com/ bluegolf/jgaa20/seminar/board/index.htm? Sites include: Espee Park, 450 E. Knox Road, Chandler; McQueen Park, 510 N. Horne St., Gilbert; Jefferson Park, 306 S. Jefferson Ave., Mesa; and Pecos Park, 17010 S. 48th St., Ahwatukee.
available, and provided legal help for 570 individuals. “It’s easy to forget that people are suffering in domestic violence situations, but the truth is, it’s happening all around us,” A New Leaf CEO Michael Hughes said. “A New Leaf has developed a continuum of crisis intervention and support services, from our crisis hotline, to emergency shelter, to court advocacy. DVSTOP
was established to make sure there is always a safe place and support for someone escaping a domestic violence situation, even when all other shelters in our community are full.” But Hughes noted, “Despite how important this program is, we struggle to secure adequate funding to support it. “We are so grateful to 100+ Women Who Care Valley of the Sun for choosing to support DVSTOP. This support is truly
life changing, if not lifesaving, for people who are desperate for a way out.” 100+ Women Who Care Valley of the Sun donated $11,150 to A New Leaf.
Because of COVID-19, blankets and bears need to be small enough to fit into plastic bags (approximate size of 15” by 13”). Donations without bags will be bagged by volunteers. Donations are accepted at the dining room of Ahwatukee Country Club, 48th Street and Warner Road. Information: Joyce Blobner at 480-381-4195.
Golf for tykes event next month
An Ahwatukee couple is offering free “Waterathon” exercise program sessions for men and women 7:308:10 a.m. Monday-Thursday beginning Nov. 23. Pool temperature is set between 96 to 98 degrees and an optional hydrotherapy in an oversized spa is available. Space is limited to eight people to insure social distancing and reservations are required at waterfeel. club.
Submit your releases to pmaryniak@ timespublications.com
To learn more about A New Leaf: TurnANewLeaf.org. 100+ Women Who Care Valley of the Sun meets quarterly and always welcomes guests who have a heart for giving. Learn more at 100WWCValleyoftheSun.org.
COMMUNITY
DECEMBER 23, 2020 | AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS
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Chandler woman becomes a ‘dementia whisperer’ BY KEVIN REAGAN AFN Staff Writer
W
hen Laura Wayman’s father started showing signs of dementia, her mother tried to downplay his symptoms to friends and relatives. Her parents had already retired and were spending their days traveling the country in a recreational vehicle. But then Wayman’s father started to become increasingly forgetful and confused. Wayman’s mother turned down offers from her children to help look after him and tried to manage the situation on her own. But her father’s condition became blatantly apparent after a tragedy struck the family. Her mother suffered a heart attack and Wayman’s father couldn’t comprehend what was happening to his wife, so he didn’t call 911. “(His) reactions to this emergency were slowed by his dementia, which was far more advanced than anyone had realized,” Wayman recalled. By the time a neighbor called for help, Wayman’s mother had died. Wayman feels her mother might have survived had she informed others of her husband’s deteriorating condition. “She was just doing what she had always done, believing she could do it alone,” Wayman said. “It ended up taking her life.” Wayman, who recently relocated to Chandler, is now on a mission to prevent another family from enduring the same tragedy she’s experienced. “My vision is to bring light into the darkness of dementia through education, awareness, support, encouragement and hope,” she said. She has written books, consulted caregivers and held lectures on the complexities of treating someone with dementia. Her knowledge and expertise have prompted her to call herself the “dementia whisperer” because she teaches caregivers non-verbal tools. Adults with dementia communicate on the basis of emotions, Wayman said, and need caregivers who can adapt their body language and facial expressions. “My years of observations and interactions have taught me that communicating with the dementia-challenged person involve much more than the words coming out of your mouth,” she said.
Laura Wayman of Chandler teaches caregivers and others non-verbal tools for them to more effectively relate with people who suffer from dementia. (Pablo Robles/Staff Photographer) Wayman has trained nurses, police officers and family members on how to positively interact with someone showing dementia symptoms. As more of the general population continues to reach retirement age, Wayman hopes society will begin to shift its perspective on cognitive disorders like dementia and eliminate the stigmas associated with them. There’s a tendency to ignore the severity of a relative’s disease, Wayman said, and that’s because there is not enough awareness in the community on the intricacies of dementia. “Denial will make the dementia care journey much more treacherous,” she added. “Dementia-denial causes a caregiver to go along with the person’s insistence that he or she is fine.” The pandemic has understandably interfered with Wayman’s mission to spread awareness around Chandler over the last few months. She transitioned to training sessions on
Zoom and continues trying to connect digitally with Chandler’s elderly communities. “My work is all online and virtual right now due to COVID restrictions and I can continue raising dementia-awareness from anywhere,” she said. There are ways to ease the burden dementia can afflict on a patient and their fam-
ily, Wayman added, but there are not always enough resources publicly available to navigate this complex disease. “Every dementia care journey is unique— and you can also expect that the landscape will be constantly changing,” she said. Information: laurawayman.com.
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COMMUNITY
VOLUNTEERS from page 21
teer with Branching Out now and at any time of year. “Branching Out’s volunteers are the best,” she said. “They are the key to our success. …Our volunteers do everything from assembling goodie bags to doing administrative work, to wearing an inflatable dinosaur costume to bring joy to the children we serve. We are all about joyful childhood memories for these kids so we have a lot of fun.” Monetary donations are the ideal way to give back for some and Branching Out’s Good Works Project qualifies donors for a state tax credit. Information: info@branchingoutfamilyservices.com, 480-757-1002 or branchingoutfamilyservices.com.
Humane Animal Rescue and Trapping Team
AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS | DECEMBER 23, 2020
homeless dog brings huge reward, Naumann said. “The holidays are a great time to become a volunteer, as we all feel the spirit of giving, and it’s extremely rewarding to give your time and efforts to bring lost or homeless pets to safety,” Naumann said. “Lost dog searches are outdoor activities done in very small groups, and fostering happens in your own home - both very COVID-19 safe options.” Information: azhartt.org/volunteer.
Scholl’s Helping Hands for the Homeless
Seven years ago, a group of women on Facebook were collecting donations to deliver to the homeless population in the Love Connection Dog Rescue volunteer Alyssa Bentley has Chandler/Gilbert community her hands full. (Special to AFN) and they didn’t have a drop off location. “I went out with them and it was devasEnter the kindness of a stranger, Diane tating to see – there was a huge need and Scholl, who allowed them to use her ad- I decided then and there to start Scholl’s dress if she also could be involved in help- Helping Hands for the Homeless.” ing deal directly with homeless people. All her work is done outdoors or from
The Humane Animal Rescue and Trapping Team was founded by Cheryl Naumann, who has more than 20 years of animal welfare experience and served as the former CEO of Arizona Humane Society. She has led efforts to trap lost animals in Maricopa County since 2012. Cheryl recognized that there was a great need for the skill, equipment and patience required to rescue shy, skittish and injured animals in the field and founded HARTT to meet this underserved need. “HARTT volunteers are those special people who see a lost dog and have to pull over and try to help,” she said. “They enjoy being in the outdoors and getting some exercise and are able to strategize on search areas and hang flyers in neighborhoods. “Needs tend to arise on short notice but searches and flyer hanging can be done at any time of the day or night. We also always need foster homes, especially for our shy and older dogs.” During these times of uncertainty and stress, pets bring comfort and Volunteers with Scholl’s Helping Hands for the Homeless last year handed out clothing to needy people. (Special to the AFN) joy – and rescuing a
the comfort of home, making it a safe and family-friendly way to give back this holiday season. Needs range from donating items for holiday meals and pre-packaging hygiene kits for those living on the streets to donating gently used clothes, shoes, backpacks and even dog items. Scholl even hosts volunteer days where homeless people can come and collect items or food they may need. “Volunteers are extra special because I couldn’t do this alone. They go to the streets with me, make food, package hygiene kits – whatever is needed. COVID-19 has slowed us down some, but I have met some amazing groups and make sure our donations go out to those who are still hitting the streets on a regular basis.” Information: facebook.com/schollshelpinghands1 or 602-619-5952
Sunshine Acres Children’s Home
Sunshine Acres Children’s Home, founded in 1954 and located in Mesa, can always use help. “We are so blessed to have an amazing community that wants to either give their time through volunteering or through helping financially,” said Assistant Executive Director Shara Markwell. “We love our volunteers and the many duties that they help with on our campus.” On the 109-acre site is a learning center where volunteers can help children with their homework; a dining hall where volunteers can help wash dishes or keep everything clean; a horse program and 4H Club where volunteers can help with animal care; a donation center where help with intake is appreciated and a greenhouse where volunteers can help grow produce. Markwell noted that a listening ear or a smiling face plants a seed within these children’s hearts and can potentially change their lives. “I received a letter in the mail from a former Sunshine Acres resident who lived here with his siblings in the late 1950s. His brother had passed and he was reflecting on his life. “He believes that the compassion and love that his brother exhibited in his life was due to the time he was at Sunshine Acres. Before he passed, they had many talks about how thankful they both were. That is the Sunshine Acres way.”
see VOLUNTEERS page 27
REAL ESTATE
Real Estate Guide Market trends show no sign of improving for homebuyers AFN NEWS STAFF
H
ow tight is the availability of affordable homes in the Valley? The Cromford Report, which closely monitors the Phoenix Metro, recently shared a couple stark facts. Stark Fact 1: “The huge suburban sprawl that is Queen Creek and San Tan Valley has only 42 re-sale single-family homes at $400,000 or less. Not so long ago there were a couple of thousand under $200,000 to choose from.” Stark Fact 2: “In March 2009 the average asking price in Queen Creek and San
Tan Valley was under $207,000. Today it is over $613,000.” And Stark Fact 3: Among the 7,159 active listings in the Phoenix Metro market a week ago, only 1,554 homes were priced below $400,000. And of those 1,554 homes, Phoenix, Mesa and Sun City were hosts to 455, 132 and 112 of them, respectively. To no one’s surprise, the Valley’s housing is wrapping up 2020 pretty much as it began – except that supply is getting tighter and prices are getting higher. “Despite a seasonal slackening in de-
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REAL ESTATE
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mand, most cities are seeing supply drop alarmingly as we approach the holiday season,” Cromford said last week. Of 17 Valley municipalities that Cromford Report keeps under its magnifying glass, only two were “moving a little in favor of buyers and the movement is trivial.” “Many of the remaining 15 cities are moving dramatically in favor of sellers,” it said, stating that it is especially the case in Cave Creek, Queen Creek, Peoria, Gilbert, Glendale, Chandler, Scottsdale, Buckeye and Mesa. “It has never been this easy to sell a home,” Cromford said. “It is now almost certain that (first quarter) 2021 will see substantial price rises as demand grows once more after the holidays.” Observing that “supply is collapsing at a jaw-dropping rate across large areas of the Valley, especially those mid-price suburbs,” Cromford said that while “supply has been a problem for many years,” the tiny number of listings available right now is even lower than almost anyone imagined possible just a few months ago.” About the only part of the Valley where
STEVE WERNER, REALTOR®
AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS | DECEMBER 23, 2020
supply was a tad better, it added, was the west side. Cromford also noted that the percentage of active listings that are outside the immediate Phoenix area – in places like Wickenburg and SanTan Valley – is growing and that the percent of new-builds also is growing. Nearly three-quarters of active listings in Coolidge, for example, were new builds a week ago. Supply is so dire that the total active listings in Greater Phoenix – 3,964 – was less than total listings in Scottsdale only just 11 years ago. Despite that sobering dose of reality, Cromford suggested buyers should try to persevere. It noted that CoreLogic reports that owners with mortgages in the U.S. gained $1 trillion in home equity during the twelve months ending September 2020. “This is an average of $17,000 per homeowner, a rise of 10.8 percent,” it said. “During the same period, homes with negative equity fell 18.3 percent from 2 million to 1.6 million.” “If you want a good reason to buy rather than rent, “ it added, “this is a pretty good one.”
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This home on East Deer Creek Road in Ahwatukee’s new Palma Brisa gated community recently sold for $638,000. The two-story Blandford Homes new-build has just under 3,000 square feet with five bedrooms and four bathrooms. (Special to AFN)
Average home sale price in Ahwatukee rose 20 percent BY ALLEN HENDERSON AFN Guest Writer
T
he November real estate sales snapshot for Ahwatukee indicates that the average sale price rose to $454,864 – up 20.1 percent over the same period in 2019, when the average home value was $378,725. Yes, I did check these number three times! The November number of units sold was up 16 percent with 136 units sold in November 2020 versus 117 units for the same period in 2019. Homes sold faster in 2020 with average days on market dropping to 40 days versus 55 days in 2019. Buyers are continuing to step up with higher offers to get prime properties. We are still seeing that buyers are not willing to overpay to get a property. The number of November listings that required a price reduction to get an offer declined to 38 units – 28 percent of the closed listings. Prices and the number of units sold are up while the number of listings requiring a price reduction to get an offer is declining. Moving from the monthly snapshot of
the market to the bigger picture, in the first 11 months of 2020, the year-to-date average Ahwatukee sale price was $416,433. This is up 11.1 percent over the same period in 2019, when the average sale price was $374,745. The number of units sold is down about 3 percent for the same with 1,506 units sold in 2020 versus 1,525 units sold in 2019. This market is still hot. The Ahwatukee listing inventory is hovering around 100 units and many buyers are frustrated with the lack inventory and the number of homes for sale. Many sellers are still insisting on pricing their properties up to 10 percent over the listing price of comparable sales. Even in a hot seller’s market, buyers are letting sellers know that they are not going to overpay to get a property. Buyers will offer a few points above what the comparable sale data would indicate but they are not going to overpay even in this hot market. Even if they did, it would still have to appraise. Appraisers will come up a few points over comparable sales values, but they will not appraise property at a price that is unreasonable and unsupportable.
see HENDERSON page 7
DECEMBER 23, 2020 | AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS
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Happy Holidays
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REAL ESTATE
AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS | DECEMBER 23, 2020
REAL ESTATE
DECEMBER 23, 2020 | AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS
How COVID changed the housing market
Lennar pivots sales strategy, touts ‘home within home’
AFN NEWS SERVICES
AFN NEWS STAFF
Realtor.com provided this report.
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Luxury resort style living in this stunning 6200asf custom built basement home on a shy half acre in the exclusive gated community of Tierra Linda.
THE SANCTUARY
$1,399,900
This stunning home, located in the sought after hillside gated community of Summerhill Estates memis a dream! This custom property sits on over an acre of land and has stunning South Mountain views.
2067 Teakwood Place ✔ 6200 sqft, 6 bedrooms (+8), 3.5 bathrooms
PRISTINE TW Lewis, Single Level Home in the Gated Marbella Neighborhood in Chandler!
14613 S Presario Trail
TIERRA LINDA
SOLD!
MARBELLA AT VALENCIA
SOLD!
#1 Agent in Ahwatukee Closed Volume 2019
2016 & 2017 BREA Award for Most Sales in Ahwatukee!
SUMMERHILL ESTATES
L
home offices, gyms and even a classroom that helps kids keep engaged if they are learning virtually. Next Gen homes also provide a completely separate suite with their own entrances and some models even have their own garages. Citing consulting firm Global Workplace Analytics’ estimates that more than a quarter of the workforce is working from home at least several days a week and that employees can save thousands of dollars a year in workrelated expenses, Lennar sees a lot of opportunity. As for gyms, it notes that there have been more than 20 million gym cancellations nationwide while gym equipment sales have This is one of a number of different floor plans Lennar Homes has developed for its Next Gen models, aimed risen more than 50 percent since at providing privacy for multigenerational families livthe pandemic began. ing under the same roof. (Lennar Homes) “We are proud to offer what current homebuyers are looking for. Between space many families need, Lennar is hitthe autonomous home touring features ting the mark, looking to the future and and the Next Gen model offering the extra our sales show it,” said Jones.
SOLD!
Leading Luxury Home Experts
Homeowners are becoming more self-reliant - DIY projects used to seem like something fun to do in your free time, but when you want to reduce exposure to additional people, making simple upgrades and performing basic home maintenance yourself is a necessity. And once you’ve developed those skills, you’re less likely to reach for the phone when you have something that needs fixing. Plus, homeowners have always known that doing things yourself is great for the bottom line, especially when you target projects that offer a good return on investment. “Self-reliant” doesn’t just mean keeping everything running, either. Many people discovered tending victory gardens this year as a way to enjoy fresh air and manage stress while ensuring a supply of fresh produce. As everyone knows, homegrown just tastes better – and once you’ve had it, it’s hard to go back.
ennar Homes has implemented a sales strategy that the nation’s largest homebuilder believes will become the new normal in homebuying in the Phoenix area and the nation” selfguided home tours. It also is touting its Next Gen model, that offers a “home within a home” to accommodate multigenerational living. Lennar said its internet sales team has nearly doubled in size since May 2020 and that that team’s leads and calls also have doubled. Since the pandemic began, Lennar has also seen a surge in their self-guided home tours so that buyers can check out a property and then make an appointment with a sales rep. “The growth in these numbers shows just how important the internet and selfguided tours have become to the home sales process,” the company said in a release, adding that 70 percent of home tours at Lennar are self-guided. “Recent trends show that more than 30
percent of all current Lennar home sales have come from these self-guided tours,” the builder added. Alan Jones, president of the Arizona market for Lennar, said sales are up despite the pandemic. “In April 2020, we saw a reduction in home sales,” he said. “But since that time, we’ve actually seen an increase. We pivoted and it’s working.” Meanwhile, Lennar believes its Next Gen model will be the home of the future because it offers separate living space to people with older children living at home or are caring for their older parents. “Arizona families are also moving to this Next Gen solution as they navigate teaching their children from home, as well as creating new home offices and gyms,” the company said. “In the past six months, Lennar has seen increasing interest in the sales of their Next Gen flexible suite homes, as the new realities of social distancing, remote learning and work from home mandates have taken hold.” Lennar is now offering floor plans with
SOLD!
Technology and house hunting - House hunting in the time of the coronavirus means relying on technology more than ever. Cruising for home listings on sites such as realtor.com has been a basic first step for years. But this year, with orders declaring real estate work essential in some areas, and inessential for others for weeks at a time, folks were forced to move their home searches primarily online. Some folks ended up buying a home they’d never even seen in person. There are some things that are harder to perceive in a video tour – so you need to know what signs to look for. Other aspects of the home-buying process are now commonly facilitated by
Buyers expect more from homes - Hopefully, we’ll all soon be able to go back to our gyms, send kids to school, and even, if we want, do our work on an ergonomic desk. But the lesson of 2020 is that you need to be prepared if those things aren’t possible. And that means buyers are paying close attention to homes with plenty of space for work, school, exercise and enjoying the fresh air. Millennials, many with young children, are now the largest group of home buyers and their preferences will shape home buying for years to come. That means savvy home sellers will have to get their homes in shape for a new generation’s expectations. These days, homes with a home office sell faster and for more money, than homes without one. Sanitary features have come into focus
lately, too. Smart, touchless options for faucets, lights and locks are not only convenient, they also cut down on the transfer of germs.
SOLD OVER LIST
Big-city living loses its cool - This year completely changed the way we viewed our homes and what we wanted from them. It turns out that sheltering in place is a great way to find out if you really, really love your home and being able to work remotely means there are more options if you don’t. The biggest wake-up call this year was for city dwellers who had long justified the high expense of tiny apartments with the many perks of urban life – until those suddenly became unavailable. Realtor.com chief economist Danielle Hale said people now “are looking for space and affordability” and the suburbs are where they can find it.”
technology. There’s no need to sit in a mortgage broker’s office to discuss loan options, or sign piles of paperwork in a room at a title company. Remote mortgage pre-approvals, inspections, appraisals, and even closings are becoming the norm.
SOLD!
T
he pandemic has accelerated a shift to technological tools that make life easier for everyone involved in real estate transactions while home buyers have found that a lot of features have gone from the “nice to have” to the “essential” column. Here are all the changes that came to real estate in 2020 that are likely here to stay.
As the transplants settle in to their new surroundings, they’re likely to make their mark on the suburbs, as well. After all, why can’t they have their single-family home with a yard and more options for dining and entertainment? If employers continue allowing eligible employees to work remotely, this suburban shift is here to stay.
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110 E Desert Wind Drive ✔ 3850 sqft, 4 bedrooms (+5), 3.5 bathrooms
$905,000
This outstanding private cul-de-sac property in Whistling Rock is a true dream! One of the largest usable lots in this beautiful gated community.
AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS | DECEMBER 23, 2020
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SPOTLIGHT TLIGHT home TAPESTRY CANYON
Majestic Southwest contemporary estate on elevated 1.24-acre hillside lot. Stunning, panoramic mountain and city light views in exclusive Tapestry Canyon. Open gourmet kitchen with view windows boasts Gaggenau appliances, wok cook system, granite countertops and island and birds-eye maple Chilean cabinetry. Master suite features spectacular corner view window and arcadia door to patio. Additional amenities include theater room, office, wine cellar, sound system throughout, auto alarm and control system, automatic solar shades plus outside awning. Large hobby room adjacent to laundry room. Travertine and marble flooring throughout. Oversized 3-car garage. Resort-style backyard with slate patio, built-in Viking grill, pool and spa, koi pond and ultimate privacy on coveted mountain preserve lot. Extraordinary view from every room with abundant natural light. Premium location. Two water features. One is micro biotic koi pond ecologically sustained with minimum maintenance. New 2019 exterior paint. New 2019 energy star hot water heater with Wi-Fi control. New 2019 soft water system. New 2019 partial air conditioning. Home theater room screen and equipment to convey. Family room in-wall led TV to convey. New 2020 front automatic awning. Smart house with app controlling doors, water heater, softener and temperature.
Listed for $1,325,000 Mike Mendoza 480.706.7234 www.MendozaTeam.com
kw
®
SONORAN LIVING
KELLER WILLIAMS® REALTY
CALABREA
3043 W Briarwood Terrace Stunning 5 bed / 5.5 bath custom basement home w/ 4 car garage in Ahwatukee Foothills’ prestigious gated community of Calabrea. Gorgeous curb appeal w/ stacked stonework, front courtyard & paver driveway. Highly upgraded with amazing architectural design throughout the home including custom wood beam, arched, tiled & coffered ceilings. Bright & open with huge windows letting in the natural sunlight. The spacious living room has full wall of sliders that open to back patio. Dream kitchen offers top of the line SS appliances (including 6 burner gas range w/ pot filler & multiple ovens), pristine staggered cabinetry, granite counters, pantry & large island w/ sink & bar top seating, as well as built-in desk/workstation in the breakfast area. Formal dining room & wine cellar perfectly located for entertaining. Sprawling master suite w/ double door entry & private exit doors to outside has wet bar w/ mini fridge & fireplace w/ mantel. Master bathroom has two vanities w/ seated area, large soaking tub, huge walk-in tile shower w/ bench & multiple shower heads, & enormous closet w/ custom organization. Finished basement offers huge family room w/ wet bar & mini fridge, perfect room for home theatre if desired, additional bedroom & full bath. Spectacular backyard w/ no neighbors behind or to one side is a true sanctuary w/ its large covered patio, breathtaking pool (waterfall feature & negative edge side), spa, built-in bbq, perfectly placed desert landscaping, scenic fencing & of course the hillside views. This is a MUST SEE home in Calabrea. Easy access to freeway & all Ahwatukee has to offer including shopping, dining, hiking/biking trails, golfing & plenty of other entertainment choices. Schedule your showing today! LISTED AT $1,450,000
PRISTINE & CLASSY GATED CALABREA ESTATE! PRISTINE & CLASSY GATED ESTATE ON A PREMIUM 2/3 ACRE HILLSIDE LOT • PRIVATE CUL-DE-SAC • 6 BEDROOMS, 4.5 BATHS, 5200 SQFT OF PURE LUXURY FINISHES • STUNNING VIEWS IN EVERY DIRECTION • IRON DOOR • BUTTED GLASS WINDOWS IN ENTRY & KITCHEN • CUSTOM WINDOW TREATMENTS • DECORATOR PAINT • DOME CEILING FOYER & GROIN VAULTED CEILINGS IN LIVING ROOM • TRAVERTINE & HARDWOOD FLOORS THROUGHOUT • 7-INCH BASEBOARDS • MEDIA ROOM • DREAM KITCHEN INCLUDES S/S APPLIANCES,SLAB GRANITE COUNTERS, ALDER CABINETS,HUGE ISLAND,WALK IN PANTRY • LARGE MASTER SUITE W/STONE FIREPLACE • MASTER BATH W/JACUZZI TUB,3 VANITIES & SNAIL SHOWER • PARADISE BACKYARD W/TRAVERTINE IN VERSAILLES PATTERN,TURF GRASS,PEBBLETEC POOL/ JACUZZI,4 WATER FEATURES,LARGE COVERED PATIO,STACKED STONE BBQ • 4 CAR GARAGE W/EPOXY & STORAGE! YOUR DREAM ESTATE AWAITS!!
Listed for $1,339,000
Rachael Richards
480.270.5782 • rhouserealty.com
Geno Ross (602) 751-2121 www.GenoRoss.com
REAL ESTATE
DECEMBER 23, 2020 | AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS
HENDERSON from page RE2
Sellers, even in this market, would be better served by asking for no more than 5 percent over the list price indicated by comparable sales. To list higher, will extend marketing time and in many cases the property will sell for less than if it had been listed more accurately from day one, when the buyer’s interest was at a peak. Always price it right the first time to get it sold faster and for more. There are 97 active listings in the Ahwatukee market today. We are averaging 137 closed sales per month in 2020. With 137 units selling per month, the 97 active listings will be depleted in less than 22 days. The Ahwatukee market remains a very strong seller’s market. With the holidays upon us, we anticipate that the listing inventory will go down as potential sellers wait for the new year to list. The market may slow in December but the prospects for a strong Janu-
ary market are high as home buyers and home sellers enjoy this unusually strong market. There were only three sales of properties over $1 million in November. Today there are 13 active listings for seven-figure properties. There have been 28 sales of million-dollar-plus properties in Ahwatukee in 2020. They were on the market an average of 166 days and 39 percent required a price reduction to get a sale. In the $600,000-$999,999 price range, there have been 134 sales in 2020 with an average sale price of $702,355 and an average marketing time of 62 days. In the $500,000-$599,000 range, there have been 156 sales at an average price of $546,023 and 60-day average marketing time. In the $400,000-$499,000 range, there have been 277 sales at an average price of $438,593 in 2020 with marketing time an average 40 days. In the $300,000-$399,000 range, there
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have been 545 sales at an average price of $347,204 and 37 days on the market. In the under-$299,000 market, there have been 298 sales at an average price of $237,278 and marketing time of 33 days. So far this year, 1,276 sold homes – 83 percent of the total sales in Ahwatukee – were properties under $500,000. The economic outlook continues to be strong. Demand is high and increasing for homes in the Phoenix and Ahwatukee real estate market. Interest rates are low and the Federal Reserve has indicated they are not anticipating interest rate increases in the short term. All in all, there has never been a better time to sell an Ahwatukee property for a great price and quickly. If you have any questions or if you need a free professional consultation, Ahwatukee Realtor Allen Henderson can be reached at 480-392-2090.
GOT NEWS? Contact Paul Maryniak at 480-898-5647 or pmaryniak@timespublications.com
480-706-7234
Ahwatukee’s #1 Team for Over 30 Years 3 BR / 2 BA / 2,182 SQFT
7BR / 4.5 BA / 8,873 SQFT
Rare opportunity for superb Scottsdale Villa with amazing amenities. Largest floor plan with a full third bedroom.
Estate living with refined tranquility in exquisite setting. Meticulous stonework adorns entire exterior of home..
Circle G at Riggs Ranch
Call for Details
Winfield
New interior paint and flooring. Master suite downstairs with loft and Jack and Jill bathroom upstairs. Close to community pool.
Majestic Southwest contemporary estate on private hillside lot with stunning mountain and city light views.
Tapestry Canyon
Listed for $1,325,000
Listed for $589,000
3BR / 2.5 BA / 1,689 SQFT
5BR / 4.5 BA / 4,924 SQFT
Keystone
! LD O S
Listed for $349,900
Mike Mendoza MendozaTeam.com 5 BR / 5 BA / 6,455 SQFT Stunning panoramic views from privately gated luxury retreat with casita on elevated preserve lot.
Sanctuary ! LD O S
Listed for $1,950,000
3 BR / 2 BA / 1,769 SQFT New flooring, paint, stainless steel appliances, A/C and bath updates. Great central Phoenix location.
Listed for $399,000
Aztec Park
Tapestry Canyon
AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS | DECEMBER 23, 2020
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Ahwatukee Custom Estates One of the most amazing view lots in
$2,099,000
SOLD!
all of AZ. Custom home with everythingl 10,000 sq. ft., 3/4 acre prserve lot, 6 bedrooms, 6 bathes, Executive Office Suite, Master Suite with Sitting Room, Master Bath with Jacuzzi, Theater Room, Exercise Room, Loft, Guest House, Grand Foyer, Gourmet Kitchen, Resort Backyard with Pebbletec Diving Pool, Watertalls, slide, Volcano, firepit, Spa, Sport Court, Grassy Play Areas, & Outdoor Kitchen, 4-car A/C Garage. A true masterpiece!!!
Calabrea
Ahwatukee Custom Estates
$1,339,000
$1,750,000
Pristine & Classy Gated Estate On A Premium 2/3 Acre Hillside Lot, Private Cul-De-Sac, 6 Bedrooms, 4.5 Baths, 5200 Sqft Of Pure Luxury Finishes, Stunning Views In Every Direction, Iron Door, Butted Glass Windows In Entry & Kitchen, Custom Window Treatments, Decorator Paint, Dome Ceiling Foyer & Groin Vaulted Ceilings In Living Room, Travertine & Hardwood Floors Throughout, 7-Inch Baseboards, Media Room, Dream Kitchen Includes S/S Appliances, Slab Granite Counters, Alder Cabinets, Huge Island, Walk In Pantry, Large Master Suite W/Stone Fireplace, Master Bath W/Jacuzzi Tub, 3 Vanities & Snail Shower, Paradise Backyard W/Travertine In Versailles Pattern, Turf Grass, Pebbletec Pool/Jacuzzi, 4 Water Features, Large Covered Patio, Stacked Stone Bbq, 4 Car Garage W/Epoxy & Storage! Your Dream Estate Awaits!!
PENDING!
Calabrea $1,099,000
Cabrillo Canyon $689,000
Amazing Remodeled Custom Estate with mountain views located at the end of a cul-de-sac.Over 8000sqft of pure luxury finishes.6 Bedroom,5.5 Baths.Custom Kitchen.Elevator.Executive Office.Basement Media Room.Dance Studio.Huge Backyard with Pool, Jacuzzi, Turf, BBQ, Sportcourt.This Spectacular Estate has it all!!!
Summerhill $1,099,000
5 bedroom / 3 bath, 3,506 SqFt, Cul-de-sac location with huge backyard, sports court, built-in BBQ, mature shade trees, very private backing to wash. Good size SOLD! bedrooms, master downstai5. Features a large office with balcony, plus office/loft with built-in bookcase and 3 full baths. Th� home is perfect for family gatherings BEST NEAR THE LOOP 202 in gated withand stunning mountain only. views. andLOCATION entertaining. CanNEW be previewed with 24Calabrea hour notice appointment
SOLD! Stunning Single Level Custom Remodel on a huge corner lot in a cul-de-sac! *4 Bedroom, 2.5 Bath *The highest quality custom finishes throughout *Grand foyer *Formal living & dining room *Familt room w/fireplace *Wetbar *Designer kitchen includes: quartzsite counters & island, s/s appliances, custom cabinetry, walk-in pantry *Recessed LED lights throughout *Plantation shutters *Large master suite *Master bath w/walk-in shower, free standing tub, & walk-in closet *Laundry room w/sink *Wood flooring *Custom fixtures *Trane A/C’s *Private backyard w/covered patio, pebbletec pool, turf, & RV gate with tons of room to park the toys *3 Car garage with epoxy *The lot is very private *The house shows like a new build *Do not miss your opportunity to own this amazing Cabrillo Canyon Estate!
Complete with the highest quality build and finishes. Gourmet kitchen includes slab granite counters, alder cabinets, and stainless steel appliances. This estate also features a media/ theater room with 105 inch screen. The basement includes a full wet bar, family room & 2 bedrooms. Resort Backyard with pool. A perfect 10!
www.GenoRoss.com Donna Leeds
�
TOP GRI, ABR REALTOR
®
949.310.5673
lf"fl!
SOLD!
Geno Ross
Stunning single-level custom estate gated summerhill on a 1/2 acre lot. beautiful mountain views. Gourmet Kitchen. Master Suite w/sitting area. Two master suites. Split floorplan. Executive office w/built-in cabinets. Tropical paradise backyard w/covered patio, gazebo, pebbletec pool, rock waterfall, built-in bbq, turf, & putting green. This estate has the perfect floorplan!!
602.751.2121
wwwBestAgentWUSA.com
Making Ahwatukee
Home Dreams Come True Since 1986 www.WestUSA.com I 480.893.0600
4505 E. Chandler Boulevard, Suite 170, Phoenix, AZ 85048
Pecos North
Foothills
Dobbins Ranch
The Sanctuary
$535,000
$555,000
Well maintained 3 bed 2 bath home, light and bright, with soaring vaulted and cathedral ceilings in the great room w/wood-burning FP. Roof replaced 2018, interior and exterior recently painted, neutral tile in main living spaces, bedrooms carpeted. Upstairs master suite with loft area and French doors to balcony. One Year 2-10 Home Warranty paid by Seller. Front yard landscaping maintained by HOA, community pool and heated spa, volleyball court and wonderful green space to enjoy.
Need a BIGGER HOUSE? Traditional Elegance! Downstairs has a living room, 2 bedrooms, 1.5 bath, kitchen, Dining & Family room downstairs, Upstairs features a huge loft, Spacious Master bedroom + 4 bedrooms and 3 baths. Total of 7 bedrooms & 4.5 baths. 4 car garage w/plenty of storage for all your toys, RV gate on E & W side of house & a big yard to enjoy. Submit your offer!
Well Maintained and Updated two-story 5 bedrooms, 3.5 bathrooms with unobstructed views. Light & Bright two story home boasts vaulted ceilings, large picture windows, formal living and dining room, New Carpet throughout. Gourmet Kitchen has granite counters, elongated island w/ bar seating, espresso cabinetry, SS appliances, breakfast nook and opens to spacious family room with custom built-ins. Private backyard w/covered patio, sparkling pebble-tech pool, mature trees & grassy area.
Ahwatukee
Chandler
$325,500
SOLD!
Randy Stopher 480-270-9130 Randy@ListWithRandy.com
SOLD! 4 bedroom, 3 bath, 3252 Sq Ft. This gorgeous family home with it’s backyard oasis combines the best of indoor and outdoor living . The remodeled kitchen overlooks the dining/family room with gas fireplace and offers granite counter tops, stainless appliances, duel ovens, wet bar and large pantry. Recently repainted inside & out and re-carpeted in 2019.
Troy Royston 480-435-3461 troyston61@gmail.com
SOLD!
Jill Ostendorp 480-678-7308 jillo@homesbyjillo.com
Jenifer Bulfer 480-297-6968 jbulfer@westusa.com
Chipperwood Chandler
$459,900
$459,900
Desirable Single Level 4 Bedroom 3 Bath Home with No HOA on Almost A 1/4 Acre Lot! Split Floorplan, Two Master Bedrooms. Beautiful Backyard with Pool. RV Gate and Parking!!
Fully and beautifully remodeled home located in a cul-de-sac lot in the HEART of Tempe. This open and bright floor plan with 3 bedroom, 2 bath, 2 car garage and over sized yard( room for RV gate). The kitchen offers all new white cabinets, stainless steel appliances and Quartz counters. Enormous family room with fireplace and vaulted ceilings. Beautiful neutral palette. New a/c unit, water heater , roof, windows and doors Easy access to Freeways and lots of shopping and restaurants.
Geri Thompson 480-239-7589 gerithompson@westusa.com
TEMPORARY OFF THE MARKET
Kelly Quek, M.B.A. 480-734-9808 kellyquek8@gmail.com
$1,250.00
SOLD!
Gorgeous Custom Forte single level home spared no expense w/ breathtaking mountain views & a 2000 sq foot 8 car Garage. Situated on over ¾ of an acre N/S hillside lot features 5 bedrooms, 4 ½ baths, & spacious living/entertaining areas throughout. As you enter the home with custom seating areas, you will marvel at the expanse of the Living and Dining Rooms which opens to a custom walk-in wet bar with wine fridge and Family room with indoor/outdoor Cantera stone fireplace.
Jill Ostendorp 480-678-7308 jillo@homesbyjillo.com
Desert Foothills Villas
Reduced $190K
PENDING!
Rare find! Ground floor 2 bedroom 2 bath. New paint and carpet. Granit counter tops and close to pool in gated community. Walking distance to shopping and restaurants and fifteen minutes to Sky Harbor Airport.
Beth Cooke 520-635-3727 beth@bethrealaz.com
DECEMBER 23, 2020 | AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS
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St. James
Episcopal Church
Holiday Worship Services
Christmas Eve 6:00pm Family candlelight service with
Come, Lord Jesus, Come! A Godly Play Christmas
9:00pm
Traditional candlelight service
Christmas Day ~ 11:00am
Christmas Eve
4:30-5:45pm Communion ‘to go’ in the south parking lot
Come, Lord Jesus, 6:00pm Family Service with aCome! Godly Play Christmas
The Rev. Susan E. Wilmot The service will be live streamed on Facebook and 975 E. Warner Rd | Tempe, AZ 85284
YouTube. You can find us at https://stjamestempe.org. 480-345-2686 www.stjamestempe.org th
Sunday, December 27
9:30 am Pre-recorded Festival
of Christmas Lessons & Music
For information about how to access our services via our Facebook or YouTube pages, please contact the church office.
The Rev. Andrea L. Wright 975 E. Warner Rd | Tempe, AZ 85284 480-345-2686 Visit us on www.stjamestempe.org facebook
26
AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS | DECEMBER 23, 2020
Lamb of God Lutheran Church Phoenix (Ahwatukee Foothills), AZ
December 24 - Christmas Eve Candlelight Services 4:00 PM & 6:00 PM Livestream: MyLambOfGod.org/connect/watch-live From home or in person, be our guest this Christmas as we remember when God sent his Son to be the savior of the world! Our worship will feature an inspiring message, favorite Christmas carols, and a place to find God’s greatest gift.
Everyone is welcome! Questions? Call (480) 283-8329 599 E. Chandler Blvd. Phoenix, AZ 85048
Celebrate Christmas Eve with us!
THURSDAY, DEC. 24TH
10:00 am | Traditional Service of Holy Communion 3:00 pm | Children’s Worship Service (Birthday Party for Jesus) 5:00 pm | Contemporary Worship Service with Candlelight 7:00 & 9:00 pm | Traditional Candlelight Services with Holy Communion *Childcare available at all services except 9:00 pm www.mvlutheran.org 480-893-2579 11002 S. 48th Street Phoenix, AZ 85044
48th St. South of Elliot Rd.
COMMUNITY
DECEMBER 23, 2020 | AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS
VOLUNTEERS from page 24
Information: sunshineacres.org.
Love Connection Dog Rescue
Love Connection Dog Rescue founders Jodie Maggio and Kristen McCown have been rescuing animals for quite some time. For Jodie, it was about starting her own rescue one day, so when the opportunity arose, she jumped in wholeheartedly. Kristen always had a special place in her heart for animal rescue and made for a passionate partner. Love Connection started in November 2019, but in that short time, over 500 dogs have been adopted through the rescue, including behavioral, medical and senior pups. Home checks and meet-and-greets are essential at Love Connection, so there is an assurance that each dog will go to a loving home. If snuggling dogs is the ideal image of volunteering for someone, then Love Connection delivers this season. “Our volunteers are so special to us because we are a foster based rescue, so without them, we wouldn’t be able to
help dogs,” said volunteer Alyssa Bentley. “They are the heart and soul of the rescue.” Duties include providing a safe environment while the rescue searches for forever homes. “We also need fosters sitting in x-pens at events, walking dogs at events, setting up and breaking down at events, administrative work – the list goes on. The more volunteers we have the more dogs we can save,” she said. She stressed that without fosters, the rescue would be unable to pull dogs from shelters and the streets.
Bentley recalls her favorite rescue story. “We rescued a momma and three pups. One pup had Parvo and spent months at the emergency vet fighting for his life at only 6 weeks old. “We never lost hope and finally got the message from the vet saying that he’s thriving, taking his liquids very well, eating, running around and playing – when we all saw that message, we put our phones down and cried, ‘Our baby was going to make it.’ Now he is adopted by one of the vets who took care of him.” Information: com.
loveconnectiondogrescue.
Inspire The World Publish Your Book Today
Your book made available at all major secular and specialty Christian bookstores including: Amazon, iTunes, Barnes & Noble, and many more.
Christmas Eve Services Christmas Eve Under the Stars
5:00 PM or 7:00 PM Drive-In at the Church Parking lot Come in your car and tune in to our FM station for Christmas Eve. Carols, Bells, Glowsticks, luminaries, communion. Please wear a mask.
Christmas Eve Online All Day at www.DesertFoothills.org Gather your family in the comfort of your home and enjoy a Christmas Eve Service any time on December 24th! Carols, Candles, and Communion. 2156 E. Liberty Lane, Phoenix
Call today for your Free Publishing Kit!
480-378-8183
(480) 460-1025 www.desertfoothills.org
You are cordially invited to celebrate Christmas in Ahwatukee. F O O T H I L L S B A P T I S T C H U R C H — C H A N D L E R B LV D & 2 1 S T S T .
Christmas in Ahwatukee D EC 24
3:00, 4:15, 5:30
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AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS | DECEMBER 23, 2020
An interactive chocolate making experience!
WE ARE HERE TO HELP BRING GOOD CHEER
By golly be jolly
It’s almost 2021 5345 W. Glendale Ave, Glendale, AZ, 85301
(623) 930-9000
DECEMBER 23, 2020 | AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS
29
Ahwatukee’s Premier Tile, Shingle & Foam Roofer! aFamily Operated by 3 Generations of Roofers! aWe have a “Spencer” on every job and every step of the way.
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BUSINESS
Business 30
AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS | DECEMBER 23, 2020
@AhwatukeeFN |
@AhwatukeeFN
www.ahwatukee.com
Pandemic failed to darken holiday lights �irm BY COTY DOLORES MIRANDA AFN Contributor
S
ome of Santa’s busiest elves this year used cherry pickers along Chandler Boulevard in Ahwatukee. Those elves are the employees of family-owned Christmas Light Decorators in Mesa and include 25 full-time and 70 seasonal workers hired to add festivity to a multiplicity of municipalities, shopping centers and private homes in Arizona and beyond. Owners Doug and Marcy Topham are the directors of decorating that begins as early as July. Contemplating holiday decor in the heat of summer takes discipline and desire. This year, the pandemic had its effect on Christmas Light Decorators, especially during the initial shutdown. As the COVID-19 restrictions loosened, municipalities and retail businesses jumped back into the holiday spirit. “COVID-19 definitely affected our busi-
In addition to stringing a million lights along Chandler Boulevard, Christmas Lights Decorators decks the halls for businesses and other entities, including this high-end shopping center in Seattle. (Special to AFN) ness. We had some retailers, especially, who decreased the amount they deco-
rate as they weren’t sure the government would allow them to be open. Others
decorated more since they wanted to try to increase traffic at this important time of the year,” said Doug Topham. In Ahwatukee’s case, there was an additional problem with erecting the million white lights for the community’s traditional Festival of Lights along Chandler Boulevard between 24th Street and Desert Foothills Parkway. City of Phoenix inspectors deemed the infrastructure in the medians needed to be repaired before they would sign off on the 25th annual lights presentation. But after a year of negotiating led by Festival of Lights Committee President Raphael Isaac, the city relented and allowed this year’s display to go forward – as long as the infrastructure is repaired next year. Christmas Light Decorators CEO, Aaron Farrelly, who has been with the company 11 years, said COVID-19 “made things interesting.”
�ee LIGHTS page 31
Ahwatukee homeowners eligible for solar co-op AFN NEWS STAFF
A
hwatukee home and business owners have until Dec. 31 to join a cooperative that promises to secure rooftop solar panels at one of the cheapest – if not the cheapest – rate possible. Residents can join South Mountain Solar Co-Op free without any obligation and decide whether they want to buy into the co-op’s deal once it’s been set. The co-op is open only to homeowners and business owners in Ahwatukee, South Tempe, South Phoenix and Laveen and has attracted 14 members so far, with room for 26 more. Members of the solar co-op will receive a group discount on their system installation, as well as guidance throughout the process from Solar United Neighbors, the nonprofit group behind the co-op.
Bret Fanshaw is the Arizona program director for Solar United Neighbors. (Special to AFN) “Solar is widely popular in Arizona, but the many solar installers and options available can be overwhelming,” said Bret Fanshaw, Arizona program director for
SUN. “By joining a co-op, South Mountain area residents who want to go solar can rest assured that they are getting the best value from a trusted company.” Although there is no obligation to join the co-op, the reason for the Dec. 31 deadline is the length of time between arranging a bid, sealing the deal and installing the panels. The federal solar tax credit slated to end after 2021 and systems must be in operation by the end of next December to qualify for the credit. After a competitive bidding process facilitated by SUN, co-op members will together select a single company to complete their installations. Members will have the option to individually purchase panels and electric vehicle chargers based on the installer’s group rate. Additionally, throughout the process,
Solar United Neighbors hosts online webinars as well as virtual site visits. “The health of the people and our environment in Arizona is affected by what kind of energy we use to protect it. That’s why we support clean, safe solar energy so strongly,” said Dr. Barbara Warren, Arizona chapter director of Physicians for Social Responsibility, a partner on the co-op. “More solar panels on our roofs will mean more clean, safe, renewable energy and better health for residents of the South Mountain area.” Solar United Neighbors has hosted five solar co-ops in Arizona since 2019, including one in north Phoenix. Membership is limited in each case to a relatively small number of communities. “We’re working closely with neighbor-
�ee SOLAR page 31
BUSINESS
DECEMBER 23, 2020 | AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS
LIGHTS from page 30
“We were unsure how it would affect our industry but in the end our clients all wanted to decorate. I think the desire to have Christmas cheer is higher than ever. I think the spirit of Christmas is something people are craving. This seems to have translated into our clients’ desire to keep their properties decorated; and in some cases, even more so than a normal year,” said Farrelly. In 2016, CLD had 360 projects from Flagstaff to Yuma and with stellar and wellknown projects like Glendale Glitters (the company’s first project in 2004 uses more than 1.2 million lights) and Prescott’s Courthouse Plaza (the city that now holds the title “Arizona’s Christmas City”). This year, the business had 425 projects in six states, including municipalities and a new extravagant one in a high-end Bellevue, Washington shopping center, The Shops at the Bravern. “I wouldn’t measure our growth so much based on the number of projects but the average size of our projects – and that’s increased,” explained Farrelly. “You have to think about it this way: It would take 30 HOA communities to equal the amount of work we do for one city. We do fewer HOA’s now but more cities.” As happens with city and shopping center displays like Scottsdale’s Quarter’s Holiday Lights, another long-term customer, most work must be done after the stores have closed. That means decorating begins after 9 p.m. and continues throughout the night. At Scottsdale Quarter, besides the expansive and magical light display, CLD installs three 30-foot circlets, each steel frame weighing a ton.
SOLAR from page 30
hood volunteers and determined for this co-op it made sense to limit its geographic scope. Our co-ops are always based on geographic region. Since we were approached by volunteers in this area, we thought it would be appropriate to limit the co-op to around South Mountain to help encourage more neighbors to join in a local effort,” explained SUN spokeswoman Denise Robbins. According to the group’s estimates, the
sating to holiday music. The Sugarland display also includes the 12-foot-long candy sleigh that seats four people – a sold-out offering on CLD’s “Commercial Christmas Catalog,” a business CLD purchased 16 years ago that allows Topham and crew to ensure quality products for clients while staying apprised of the industry’s latest trends. The decorating of municipalities, shopping centers and even private homes is not a task for the faint of heart but then, Doug Topham hasn’t ever been accused of that. From 1984 through 1991, Topham was Christmas Lights Decorator has been stringing the Chandler Bouactive in the U.S. Air levard medians with lights for years. (Kelly Athena/Special to AFN) Force as a jet pilot. A new display this year was commisFrom there, he entered the corporate sioned in Chandler in conjunction with world working in sales for industry githe Downtown Chandler Community ants including General Electric. Partnership and R&D Designs. But the urge to own his own company “Sugarland” is an interactive display grew stronger and in 2003, the Tophams of holiday decorations in the Dr. A.J. staked their house and savings to purChandler Park West that continues chase the then-small local business through Jan. 3. Christmas Light Decorators. As night descends, the Sugarland disWith tenacity and the sales acumen play showcases CLD’s “Sugarland’s Canal he’d gleaned working with corporations, of Lights,” a walkway over the Common- the business has grown to be one of the wealth Canal on Commonwealth Avenue largest holiday lighting and decor comwith more than 500 colorful lights pul- panies in the southwestern U.S. 95 homes and businesses that now have solar panels in Arizona because of co-ops represent 670 kW of solar power, $1.8 million in local solar spending, and more than 26 million pounds of lifetime carbon offsets. Robbins said the cost of installation and the savings on energy bills depends on various factors. “The price to go solar varies based on the size of the system a homeowner opts for and their energy usage,” she said. “A typical installation could run $12,000. This is before the federal solar tax credit
and any local incentives that may be available.” But she added, “Homeowners will see a monthly saving on their electric bills because they are able to use the electricity their system generates rather than buying electricity from their utility.” Solar United Neighbors is a nonprofit that works nationwide to represent the needs and interests of solar owners and supporters. Solar co-ops are part of the organization’s mission to create a new energy system with rooftop solar at the
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Last year, the company moved from their 10,000 square foot warehouse to a new 44,000-square-foot office and warehouse at 3414 N. Higley Road. There, CLD stores more than 10 million lights and other decor used not only during the Christmas holidays but for others, including Hanukkah (menorahs up to 9 feet tall), Halloween, Valentine’s Day, awareness months and various yearround fiberglass props and photo pods for businesses’ promotions. Topham and his wife Marcy have six children, three in college. One might think with the stress over the growing number of holiday displays – the installation of some that begins in late spring or early summer – Topham might tend to be Scrooge-like this time of year. It isn’t the case. “I love the holidays and the spirit of the holidays,” he said. “It’s a fun, magical time, especially for children, and I enjoy seeing the faces of everyone when the lights are up and lit.” Marcy Topham said the family tradition includes tours of the local holiday displays put in place by Christmas Light Decorators. “We usually don’t do a lot of decorating for Christmas. We spend a lot of time going to our projects to check on the lights, and so we consider those our Christmas decorations,” she laughed. Farrelly, who has two children ages 9 and 6, said he and his family also tour the local finished projects. “We work hard all year to make preparations for the season and it always pays off when I see the final product and the faces on people who enjoy our work throughout the state,” he said.
cornerstone. But the group also holds events and education programs to increase awareness of the benefits of solar investment. If someone doesn’t want to be part of a co-op but is interested in becoming a solar customer, the group also will help that person with any question they might have. To join the co-op: coops.solarunitedneighbors.org/coops/south-mountain-solar-co-op. Information: Bret Fanshaw, Arizona Program Director, 480-269-2589 or bfanshaw@solarunitedneighbors.org.
GOT NEWS? Contact Paul Maryniak at 480-898-5647 or pmaryniak@timespublications.com
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AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS | DECEMBER 23, 2020
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OPINION
Opinion DECEMBER 23, 2020 | AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS
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Here are eight dimensions to your self-care BY SHANE WATSON AFN Guest Writer
A
s parents, our natural instinct is to put our kids �irst. We often sacri�ice our own wellbeing and set aside our basic needs for our kids. However, it can be counterproductive. This year has been dif�icult for many and self-care is more important than ever. According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, there are eight primary dimensions to optimize an individual’s overall holistic wellness and the more pieces of this framework that we can put into place correctly and consistently for ourselves, the healthier we will be for our families. Emotional wellness is the ability to cope with stress, express emotions in a healthy way, respect the feelings of others and feel positive about yourself. Practice gratitude, identify and recognize your own emotional triggers, establish clear and healthy personal boundar-
Gatherings just don’t make sense right now
As I read through the articles in the Ahwatukee Foothills Dec. 16 edition, the juxtaposition of the stories is perfectly resonant of the current moment in our country. On one hand, Dr. Joe Gerald of the Arizona College of Public Health warns of “dire problems with access to critical care in our hospitals” which will result in a “humanitarian crisis leading to hundreds of preventable deaths” in Arizona. On the other hand, we have long time business leader Kimberly Lewis lamenting the children just “want to have a show” as the prospects of the beloved annual tradition of her studio’s Nutcracker Ballet falters under the reality of a pandemic raging through our country. It is small consolation that cancelling a
ies and being conscious of your emotions and your self-talk. Spiritual wellness is �inding a sense of meaning and purpose in life, de�ining your own core values, beliefs and awareness regarding the world around you. If you’re a person of faith, self-care can involve prayer, reading sacred texts, fellowship with those who share your faith and intentional connection with your higher power. It can also include meditation, time spent unplugged from life’s distractions and outdoors. Intellectual wellness involves expanding knowledge and skills, opening the mind to new ideas, and engaging in creative and mentally stimulating activities. Reading books, playing a challenging game, learning a new language, listening to intellectually engaging podcasts, learning how to play a musical instrument, or working to pick up a new skill. Physical wellness includes exercise, nutrition, hydration, and adequate sleep. Eat healthy, exercise at least 30 minutes a day, get adequate sleep (including ending
electronics use at least two hours before bedtime), spend time outdoors and reduce exposure to stressful situations. Environmental wellness is understanding how various environments (natural, built, social) can affect your health and wellbeing. Try organizing and decluttering your living and work spaces, improving the air quality in your environment with potted plants, adjusting lighting, reducing unnecessary noise and distraction in your environment and taking periodic breaks from your work environment to get outside. Financial wellness involves managing your resources to live within your means and feel satisfaction with your current and future �inancial situations. To maintain �inancial wellness set realistic �inancial goals and budgets, plan for short- and long-term needs, make informed �inancial decisions, don’t compare your �inancial situation to others, and ask for professional help with sorting out challenges. Occupational or vocational wellness requires participating in work that provides personal satisfaction and enrich-
ment that align with your values, goals and lifestyle. Finding a career that allows you to be occupationally healthy is crucial. Try to �ind meaningful and rewarding work, a supportive and healthy environment where you can create connections with your coworkers/supervisors and maintain a healthy work/life balance. Social wellness involves connections with others to truly thrive and maintain overall wellness. Ways to achieve this include creating and maintaining healthy friendships, seeking to make at least one new social connection daily, seeking advice, joining a book club or other group, doing random kind things for others, allowing others to do kind things for you and knowing when to end a particular social connection to maintain your personal boundaries and health. Shane Watson is a prevention specialist for notMYkid, a nonpro�it that helps kids by providing life-saving prevention, early intervention, behavioral health treatment, and peer support. Information: notMYkid.org.
ballet is in good company with cancelled graduation celebrations, weddings, birthdays, football games and other important life events. Heartbreakingly, added to the list of lost moments is the inability of hundreds of thousands of people to say good-bye to their loved ones as they gasp for their last breath in a hospital surrounded by medical personnel who more closely resemble aliens than humans. One can’t blame Ms. Lewis for trying to maintain a business during this dif�icult time, and if our tax dollars truly went to supporting small businesses, she wouldn’t be placed in this impossible position. But is it only when the two worlds of wishing for normalcy and human tragedy collide that we realize the gravity of the moment we are in? Must we wait until we personally experi-
ence this scourge before we come to grips with the gravity of this moment we �ind ourselves in? Grieving the loss of traditions and celebrations must occur, but stubbornly carrying on in the face of a building humanitarian crisis by insisting dance recitals, football games and in-class school instruction endure is untenable. And ultimately, for many more Americans, it will be a death sentence. -Wanda Kolomyjec
despite the numerous actions that determined legality and despite the Electoral College vote. That 70 percent is too large to give credibility to the Republican Party today, the party that I once was able to read and listen to what they had to say. In the meantime, I seek the 30 percent rational Republicans to come to the fore with reality. Where are you? -CJ Briggle
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Looking for those 30 percent of Republicans
70 percent. Really? 70 percent? A recent Brookings Institute poll of over 30,000 random Republicans nationwide revealed that 70 percent believe the 2020 general election results are bogus and that President Joe Biden stole the election,
Share Your Thoughts: Send your letters on local issues to: pmaryniak@ timespublications.com
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AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS | DECEMBER 23, 2020
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East Valley athletes overcome adversity to sign with colleges BY ZACH ALVIRA AFN Sports Editor
T
he coronavirus pandemic took its toll on the entire high school sports landscape this year, forcing cancellations, team quarantines and a shortened fall season. The pandemic also took its toll on recruiting as players who would normally visit college campuses on weekend trips were forced to do so virtually. Division I and II college coaches, who would typically be seen on sidelines in the fall and making home visits to prospective players haven’t been able to do so since March. Division III coaches just recently started making their rounds to Arizona schools. Nonetheless, East Valley senior athletes once again overcame another bout with adversity this year to sign their National Letter of Intent. “It was dif�icult to get a feel for the program and school when you can’t really see that in person,” said Mountain Pointe senior defensive back Jaden Crockett, who signed with South Dakota State on Wednesday. “But just being there when I could, it felt great. The coaches were great to me on FaceTime. I’m excited.” Crockett had to get creative with his recruitment. He received his scholarship offer from South Dakota State on Friday, Oct. 9 shortly after the Pride played Centennial. The next weekend, he and his parents visited the campus in Brookings. They walked around on their own without the help of a guide or any of the coaches. They visited athletic facilities and saw as much as they could. It wasn’t a traditional visit by any means, but it still made a signi�icant impact on Crockett. He knew it was where he wanted to be. His teammate, offensive tackle Zereoue Williams, based most of his college decision on academic programs. An aspiring software engineer, Williams decided to pursue his degree and continue his football career at the University of Utah. Similar to most of the other athletes,
year scholarships from Fresno State, Army, Princeton and Air Force, Branham kept his decision under wraps from everyone, his parents included. With all the traditional aspects of recruiting forced to go virtual because of the NCAA’s decision to extend the dead period through December, it made making Mountain Pointe senior defensive back Jaden Crockett signed his a decision more difNational Letter of Intent to play for South Dakota State University. �icult for players like (Courtesy Jaden Crockett) Branham. “It was extremely dif�icult,” Branham Williams wasn’t able to visit campus before Signing Day. But he met several times said. “Going on visits is the biggest part to with coaches and players via Zoom and get a feel for the atmosphere. A lot of it this knew it was the right �it for him both ath- year was all word of mouth, but I think I made the right decision. It was down to letically and academically. “Utah has a lot of opportunities for me,” the last �ive until the �inal night, really. Williams said. “They have a great coaching I wanted it to be a surprise for everyone staff and programs I want to study. I guess and I think I made the right decision.” Chandler senior quarterback Mikey I wasn’t as immersed in the feeling of being recruited because I wasn’t face-to-face. Keene dealt with the same adversity as But I still felt like I belonged at Utah.” While most athletes already made their college decisions before the start of the early signing period, Skyline senior defensive back Zeke Branham took a slightly different approach. Branham announced his college destination Wednesday in Skyline’s gymnasium. Mountain Pointe senior offensive tackle Zereoue Williams, “middle,” Choosing between was joined by his brother, Eriq, and his parents, Richard and Kimberly, a preferred walk-on when he signed his National Letter of Intent with Utah during the early at Oregon and four- signing period. (Courtesy Zereoue Williams)
Branham surrounding his recruitment. In September, when the outlook on having a 2020 prep football season in Arizona was still uncertain, Keene announced his commitment to the University of Central Florida. In some ways, Keene is taking a blind leap of faith having not been able to visit campus. But he’s con�ident it’ll make for a good home the next four years. Keene will join the knights for offseason workouts in Orlando in January. “I can’t wait at this point,” Keene said. “I’ve been waiting for this moment my entire life, just to be able to get to the next step. I cherish what I had here at Chandler High School but it’s time for me to move on and for the next quarterback to step in. I’m excited to see what happens for myself at Central Florida.” Higley senior quarterback Kai Millner is among those athletes who were lucky enough to visit college campuses before the pandemic hit. Millner, who signed with the University of California — Berkeley on Wednesday, had his mind set on the Bears in April. He was able to take most of his of�icial visits during and shortly after his junior season and while he wasn’t able to visit other schools that offered after the pandemic had hit, he said it wouldn’t have altered his decision. “We had a lot more visits planned but I feel like at the end of the day I felt like I didn’t really need all of that. I was fully committed to Cal,” Millner said. “It really is a dream come true. I’ve been working at it for as long as I can remember. For the day to �inally come, to �inally sign and make it of�icial, it’s an amazing feeling.” While not easy by any means, the group of early signees found ways to make it work. They faced adversity all year to just play the game they love and continue to overcome everything in their way. “Everybody had to go through this process,” Crockett said. “For the 2021 class, adversity is nothing new. Everything changes. Personally, I know I made the right decision. I’m ready to ball.”
36
AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS | DECEMBER 23, 2020
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DECEMBER 23, 2020 | AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS
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West Mesa cluster offers a gastronomic tour BY SARAH NGUYEN GetOut Contributor
I
n West Mesa, the Asian District, a 2-mile stretch of over 70 Asian-themed and Asian American-owned businesses, proudly stands. With the highest number of Asian businesses in one cluster in the state, the district allows Arizonans to have a taste of Asia without leaving the Valley. The centerpiece is Mekong Plaza, where visitors can witness the best of Asia. Down the street is the Korean restaurant HoDoRi, a mainstay in Mesa for 18 years. The short rib barbecue and kimchi chigae, a kimchi and pork stew, are favorites of regulars. Owner Sean Kim is meticulous about the freshness of his ingredients. “Side dishes change daily,” Kim said. “It depends on what is fresh in the markets.” As a perk, all side dishes are free as long
AZInternational Marketplace’s Miss Dessert offers tasty treats like those above. At right, Hue Gourmet serves scrumptious combos. (Special to GetOut) as the customer orders rice and an entrée. For those who are new to Korean food, Kim recommends any of the barbecue menu items like bulgogi, a ribeye beef barbecue.
Satisfy your sweet tooth at AZ International Marketplace’s Miss Dessert, which blends Chinese, Vietnamese and Malaysian in�luences to create a taste completely of its own.
Owner Harry Yu, who opened his �irst Miss Dessert in 2013 in Houston, offers treats and drinks that serve as a reprieve from the unrelenting Arizona heat. “If you want something refreshing to drink, I would recommend the mega fruit tea or peach smash with crystal boba,” said Yu, who will soon open a Gilbert location. Complement the choice of drink with decadent desserts like durian pancakes, a �luffy dish infused with a tropical Asian fruit.
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Fiddler’s Dream offers virtual open stages BY LAURA LATZKO GetOut Contributor
F
iddler’s Dream Coffeehouse has long offered a space for musicians to perform. Although the Glendale nonpro�it cannot offer the same opportunities during the COVID-19 pandemic because of social distancing guidelines, the organization has been providing a Virtual Open Stage platform for musicians looking for a space to play. The virtual performance nights start at 6:30 p.m. Thursdays via Zoom and Facebook. Fiddler’s Dream started the Virtual Open Stage nights in March, almost immediately after it was forced to temporarily close its performance space. It’s open to musicians of various ages and levels and they are given the chance to perform multiple songs. Phoenix singer-songwriter Glen Gardner, who has performed at Fiddler’s Dream
The Virtual Open Nights program on Thursdays gives Fiddler’s Dream Coffeehouse a chance to introduce online some of the best musicians in the Valley. (Special to GetOut) for the last two years, has been moderating the Virtual Open Stage. A member of Jif and the Choosy Mothers, Gardner performs as well. “It’s all about the music at that venue,”
Gardner said about Fiddler’s Dream. “People are there to watch and to listen. At Fiddler’s Dream, the music is at the foreground. That is the focus, and that’s unusual in this day and age.”
Gardner said the virtual performance nights have attracted musicians from around the United States, including those who are just starting out. The virtual shows are available to listeners around the world. Audience members have a chance to show their appreciation between songs, when Gardner unmutes viewers so they can clap for performers. There is also time before the performances for social interaction. Gardner said the virtual nights have been important for musicians who aren’t able to tour and can’t �ind places to play their music locally during COVID-19. “We get a lot of feedback that it’s the high point of the week for a lot of people,” he said. “We all very much miss the physical location, but we’re glad we’ve �igured out a way that we can still do it right now.” Gardner said the virtual events have also helped to create community.
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Due to the pandemic, Miss Dessert only offers delivery and to-go options for customers. Have a taste of Hue, a region in Vietnam known for its distinctive dishes, at Mekong Plaza’s Hue Gourmet. “Our most popular menu items include No. 202 and No. 301,” said owner Dung Van. Banh Canh Cua is No. 202. It’s a soup with hand-cut noodles, crab meat and shrimp. No. 301 is Cha Gio—four crispy shrimp eggrolls. For those that are new to the cuisine of Vietnam, Van recommends No. 303, Banh Xeo, a Vietnamese pancake served with shrimp topping, vegetables and dipping sauce. While dining in is still possible, tables and seating have been spaced due to the pandemic for social distancing. A relatively new addition to the Asian District and Mekong Plaza is Happy Bao’s, which opened in March 2019 and specializes in the Chinese bao. “For those who have never tried bao, I would best describe it as a hand-wrapped
FIDDLER’S ���� ���� 37
“There are so many people who are adrift because their normal routines, their job even, everything has been upended. We just wanted to cast a lifeline out there and say this small aspect of what you used to do is still there,” Gardner said. “A lot of the people that come are people that we used to face-to-face with. It’s great to see them every week.” Adapting to Zoom took some time. The musicians had to invest in equipment such as USB audio interfaces and microphones. They also had to learn how to adjust app settings meant to reduce noise. “There were certain things we had to �igure out so that music would work on the platform,” Gardner said. “That was part of the challenge early on, �iguring out what type of equipment you needed, what kind of settings in Zoom worked better, could you do it on just a phone, did you need a mixer. There were all of those things that had to get �igured out in a hurry.”
AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS | DECEMBER 23, 2020
bun,” said owner Matthew Ma. According to Ma, the most popular menu item is xiao long bao, a dish of eight pork and scallion dumplings served in chicken broth. The restaurant reopened in August, and allows customers to dine in. Vicente Reid, the chief executive of�icer of the Arizona Asian Chamber of Commerce, played a large role in the development of the district. “It’s a way for us as a community to gather in one area of the city to be proud of and really help promote,” Reid said. “It’s a true microcosm of what it is to be Asian Paci�ic American.” HoDoRi, 1116 S. Dobson Road, Mesa, 480-668-7979, hodoriaz.com. Miss Dessert, 1832 W. Broadway Road, Mesa, 480-912-3585, missdessertus.com. Hue Gourmet, 66 S. Dobson Road, Mesa, 480-251-7429, huegourmetmesa.com. Happy Bao’s, 66 S. Dobson Road, Mesa, 480-912-1207, happybaosmesa.com.
Gardner hopes through the virtual shows to help to keep continuity within the organization and make sure that it stays around for years to come. He said with the way that bars and restaurants have been hit �inancially by COVID-19, musicians will need other types of performance spaces. “It’s going to be important on the other side of this that a place like Fiddler’s Dream exists, so that musicians have a place to play outside of a restaurant, bar or commercial venue,” Gardner said. The virtual performances are meant to serve a similar purpose as the in-person venue in giving local and touring artists a space for expression. Nia Maxwell, a board member since August 1996, said for musicians, Fiddler’s Dream offers a spot to perform different styles of acoustic music, including bluegrass, folk, light jazz, Celtic and blues. The organization has often spotlighted performers from other countries, such as the United Kingdom, Canada, Denmark, Portugal and Brazil.
Happy Bao’s serves a wide array of Vietnamese delicacies. (Special to GetOut) It has also hosted special �lamenco music and dance and western drama and music performances. Maxwell said Fiddler’s Dream is an ideal space for young people to start out. “It’s a great place to gain stage presence and learn with a friendly, responsive audience,” said Maxwell, who books the bands at Fiddler’s Dream. Music education is an important component of the organization. It regularly hosts workshops on topics such as songwriting or guitar playing, as well other events such as poetry readings. “We try to offer things that will be of interest and of value to the community,” Maxwell said. Located on the grounds of the Phoenix Friends Meeting, Fiddler’s Dream’s physical location is also used in other ways. Local music organizations, such as the Phoenix chapter of the Nashville Songwriters Association International, uses it for meetings. Many of the same audience members attend events each week at Fiddler’s Dream.
Contact Paul Maryniak at 480-898-5647 or pmaryniak@timespublications.com
Maxwell became acquaintances with regular patrons over the years. “It’s about community and relationships, as well as fabulous music and really good coffee,” Maxwell said. Maxwell �irst attended a show at the venue with a friend and later got more involved. One of her most memorable moments occurred when she met her husband, Larry Hill, at the venue. Hill, a guitarist and banjo player, has been performing at Fiddler’s Dream since the 1980s and has been a board member since 1995. The organization’s president, Hill moderates the in-person Open Stages and takes part in the Virtual Open Stage nights. “His music and his songwriting just really drew me in. I thought who is this person? When I found out that they were his original songs, I had to get to know this man better,” Maxwell said.
Fiddler’s Dream Coffeehouse facebook.com/fiddlersdream
DECEMBER 23, 2020 | AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS
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King Crossword ACROSS 1 4 8 12 13 14 15 17 18 19 20 22 24 25 29 30 31 32 34 35 36 37 40 41 42 46 47 48 49 50 51
Doctrine Commotions Mid-May honorees Cattle call “Arrivederci” “So be it” Wordplay specialists Hindu royal Locate Piece of cheesecake? Subsequently Reedy Concoct Good news for bargain hunters Bard’s “always” Unrefined Id counterpart Ruins Touch Cincinnati team Gets up -- Valley (California ski resort) Family member Cather’s “One of --” Expensive seafood Platter Between jobs Carnival city Remain Ball-bearing items Agent
36 37 38 39 40
Strategic tricks Turfs Resign -- Major Competent
42 43 44 45
Sudoku
DOWN 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 16 19 20 21 22 23 25 26 27 28 30 33 34
Illuminated Rhyming tribute Tear Tofu base
Mischievous tyke Old French coin 2001 movie, “--, Inc.” Thespian Regimen Scull tool “Mayday!” Leatherneck Mideast nation Options list Use scissors Gush forth Snapshots Sleeping, perhaps Release Cafeteria stack Greet the villain Motivate “-- Dictionary” Chills and fever Deteriorates Staff In poor taste “-- She Sweet?”
PUZZLES ANSWERS on page 32
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Thank You
AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS | DECEMBER 23, 2020
to our loyal customers for supporting our business for the last 28 years.
Due to economic conditions and financial hardships caused by COVID-19, we have decided to close our store as of November 30th. We are doing alterations from our home. If you have clothes to pick up please call for details and more information at 480.759.9224. All the best to the wonderful community of Ahwatukee.
Kimberly and John
PRACTICING SINCE 1998
Elizabeth Estes
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DECEMBER 23, 2020 | AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS
Classifieds
The Place “To Find” Everything You Need | Ahwatukee.com Click on Marketplace
Obituaries Clarice "Rusti" Rohrer
Clarice "Rusti" Rohrer, age 89 died September 7th, 2020 at her home in Gilbert, AZ of natural causes. Rusti was born August 26, 1931 in Lincoln, Illinois to Theresa & Virgil French. She went to St. Mary's of Notre Dame in South Bend, Indiana and earned a degree in Mathematics. She married John Rohrer on May 4, 1957. They moved out west in 1965 where they raised their 8 children along the Colorado River in Willow Beach, AZ. Rusti said the best days of her life were raising her 8 children. She was a homemaker until the youngest went to school and she started teaching. She taught school for the next 20 years and was revered as an excellent and caring educator. After retirement, Rusti and John traveled together to visit their children across the country. Rusti moved to Phoenix after her husband passed in 1999. She was very involved in her church and serving those in need through St. Vincent de Paul. She also had a love of nature, gardening, and music. She was a Godly woman who taught her children, "To thine own self be true." She's survived by her 8 children; 15 grandchildren and 6 great grandchildren. "This is the day the Lord has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it." Psalm 118:24 In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to St. Vincent de Paul @ St. Benedict Catholic Church in Phoenix, AZ in memory of Clarice Rohrer. Sign the Guestbook at: obituaries.ahwatukee.com
Need help writing an obituary? We have articles that will help guide you through the process. Deadline for obituaries is Friday at 5pm for Wednesday. All obituaries will be approved by our staff prior to being activated. Be aware there may be early deadlines around holidays.
Call 480-898-6465 Mon-Fri 8:30-5 if you have questions. Visit: obituaries.Ahwatukee.com
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Employ ment Employment General Sr. System Engineer Tools & Automation w/ PetSmart, Inc. (Phoenix, AZ). Dvlp, create, & modify automtn sftwre & tools. Suprvse 4 emplyees. Req’s Bach. + 5 yrs. prog. post-Bach. exp. or Master’s + 3 yrs. exp. See full req’s: bit.ly/PTSMssetaMKV. Resumes: Steve Gilbert, 19601 N. 27th Ave., Phoenix, AZ 85027.
Employment General Sr. EIM Engineer, MicroStrategy w/ PetSmart, Inc. (Phoenix, AZ): Dvlp, create, & modify EIM applctns sftwr, creating sustainable reprtng, analytic, & data soltns using MicroStrategy, Informatica, & Big Data. Req’s Bach + 3 yrs. exp. See r e q ’ s : f u l l bit.ly/PTSMseemALC. Resumes: Steve Gilbert, 19601 N. 27th Ave., Phoenix, AZ 85027. YOUR CLASSIFIED SOURCE
480.898.6465
CLASS@TIMESPUBLICATIONS.COM
Senior Report Developer – (Scottsdale, AZ) InEight, Inc.: Determine, recmmnd, and dvlp new reports using SSRS or PowerBI. Reqs: Bach deg (or foreign equiv) in comp sci, mis or rel’d. 2 yrs exp as a developer, BI Analyst or rel’d must incl: Using tsql exp to create stored procedures, user defined functions, views and triggers. SQL server reporting services (SSRS) reporting, including: tabular forms, matrix form, conditional, list items, charts and sub reports. Implementing SQL server integration services (SSIS). Utilizing microsoft power bi building models and reports. *emp will accpt 4 yrs exp, incl the skills listed above, in lieu of a bach deg & 2 yrs exp. Mail resume to Paige Ulozas: InEight, Req #1912 - 3555 Farnam St, Omaha, NE 68131
EARN EXTRA INCOME!
Gannett Publishing Services wants to contract you to deliver newspapers and magazine products in the early morning hours in the Phoenix metro area. Gannett Publishing Services (GPS), a division of Gannett Co. and a recognized leader in the publishing industry, operates printing & packaging facilities throughout the country.
Earn an extra $180-$300 per week. All routes are 7 days a week.
Work just 2-3 hours a day between 12:00AM – 6:00AM. Routes available now in your area (East Valley, West Valley, North Phoenix). Current Arizona driver's license, insurance and access to a vehicle are required. Visit deliveryopportunities.gannett.com or call 602-444-4243. Job Type: Contract Pay: $180.00 - $300.00 per week ***MUST INCLUDE HOME ZIP CODE AND PHONE NUMBER WHEN APPLYING.***
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Ahwatukee Foothills News
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Classifieds: Friday 3pm for Wednesday Life Events: Friday 10am for Wednesday
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We Also Buy, Sell & Trade Used Appliances Working or Not
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Meetings/Events? Get Free notices in the Classifieds! Submit to ecota@timespublications.com
42
CLASSIFIEDS Automotive Services
AHWATUKEE MOBILE CAR DETAIL
MOBILE DETAIL SERVICE TO YOUR LOCATION IN GREATER PHOENIX
AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS | DECEMBER 23, 2020
Concrete & Masonry
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Not a licensed contractor
Residential Electrician
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Call Sean Haley 602-574-3354 ROC#277978 • Licensed/Bonded/Insured
HONESTY • INTEGRITY • QUALITY
Carpet Cleaning
Contractors
• Serving Arizona Since 2005 •
Family owned and proudly serving Ahwatukee for over 20 years.
• Panel Changes and Repairs • Installation of Ceiling Fans • Switches/Outlets • Home Remodel
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ALL RESIDENTIAL & COMMERCIAL ELECTRICAL Call Jim Endres 480.282.7932
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class@times publications.com
Concrete & Masonry
CONCRETE MASONRY Block Walls • Concrete • Pavers BBQ & Fireplaces • Stucco Cool Deck • Imitation Flagstone Call Garcia 602-515-6627 Free Estimates
Cell Cell
Not a licensed contractor
Small Jobs Welcome!
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CONCRETE & MASONRY CONCRETE BLOCKWALL RETAINING WALL BLOCK FENCE PLANTER BBQ
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Glass/Mirror
GLASS, MIRRORS, SHOWER DOORS
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Block Fence * Gates
Lowest Prices * 30 Yrs Exp Serving Entire Valley
QUALITY WORK, AFFORDABLE PRICING DISCOUNT RATES FOR: SPECIAL EVENTS • FLEETS • COMPANY CAR WASH DAYS
Garage/Doors
Electrical Services
Drywall
People are looking at the Classifieds Every day! Email Your Job Post to: class@times publications.com or Call
480-898-6465
Family Owned with 50 years' EXPERIENCE. Shower and tub enclosures, Framed, Frameless or Custom Doors, We also install insulated glass, mirrored closet doors, window glass, mirrors, patio doors, glass table protectors. If it’s glass, we can help you. QUALITY SERVICE at Competitive Prices. FREE Estimates
WESLEY'S GLASS & MIRROR wesleysglass.com SERVICING THE ENTIRE VALLEY Call 480-306-5113
Garage/Doors OVER 25 YEARS EXPERIENCE SERVICING & INSTALLING GARAGE DOORS AND OPERATORS
OPEN 24/7 • SERVING ALL OF METRO PHOENIX • HONEST AND REPUTABLE CUSTOMER SATISFACTION GUARANTEED
ANOZIRA DOOR SYSTEMS
Electrical Services
JOSE DOMINGUEZ DRYWALL & PAINTING House Painting, Drywall, Intall Doors, Baseboards, Crown Molding Reliable, Dependable, Honest!
C. READ & SON ELECTRIC Ahwatukee Resident
QUICK RESPONSE TO YOUR CALL! 15 Years Experience • Free Estimates
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Electric Car Chargers for ALL your Fans electrical needs Lighting 41 years Troubleshooting And much more experience 2008 through 2019
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Marks the Spot for ALL Your Handyman Needs! Marks the Spot for ALL•Your Handyman Needs! ✔ Painting Painting Flooring • Electrical “No Job Too ✔Small Flooring Painting • Flooring • Electrical Plumbing • Drywall • Carpentry Man!” Plumbing • Drywall • Carpentry ✔ Electrical Decks • Tile • More! Quality Work Since 1999 Decks •Affo Tile • More! rdable, ✔ Plumbing 2010, 2011 2012, 2013, 2014 Call Bruce at 602.670.7038 ✔ Drywall Ahwatukee Resident/ References/ Insured/ Not a Licensed Contractor “No Job Same Day Service ✔ Carpentry Too Small Marks the Spot for“No Job Too ALL Your Handyman Needs! Repair/Install All Major Brands ✔ Decks Painting • Flooring • Electrical Small Man!” “No Job Too Man!” ✔ Tile Plumbing • Drywall • Carpentry
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Call Bruce at 602.670.7038 480-893-8091 Call Bruce at 602.670.7038 ROC#126694
Bonded/Insured
Ahwatukee Resident/ References/ Insured/ Not a Licensed Contractor
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Not a licensed contractor
Jim 480.593.0506 Ablehandyman2009@gmail.com
Irrigation
Ahwatukee Resident
480.335.4180
Home Improvement
Landscape/ Maintenance
REMODEL CONTRACTOR
Foothills Touch Landscapes LLC Lawn care/Maint.
Plans / Additions, Patios New Doors, Windows Lowest Price in Town! R. Child Lic#216115, Class BO3 Bonded-Insured-Ref's
480-215-3373
Classifieds 480-898-6465
Juan Hernandez
SPRINKLER Drip/Install/Repair & Tune ups!
Starting as low as
Not a licensed contractor
$25 per visit.
25 years exp. Call Now (480) 720-3840
Install/Design We do it all!
Not a licensed contractor
Ahw. Res - 30 yrs Exp Free Estimates. Call Pat (480) 343-0562
No Job Too Small! Senior Discounts!
David Hernandez (602) 802 3600
daveshomerepair@yahoo.com • Se Habla Español
THE HANDYMAN THAT HANDLES SMALL JOBS THAT OTHERS DECLINE ✔ Painting ✔ Gate Restoration ✔ Lighting ✔ Plumbing Repairs ✔ Replace Cracked ✔ Sheetrock Roof Tiles Texturing Repairs ✔ & MUCH MORE!
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azirrigation.com Cutting Edge LLC • ROC 281671
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RAMON LANDSCAPING SERVICES I could help you have your palm trees and other trees trimmed by giving you a reasonable and better price than the others.
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NTY
*Not A Licensed Contractor
GENERAL CONTRACTOR / HANDYMAN SERVICES
Not a licensed contractor.
5-YEAR WARRA
Ahwatukee Resident, References Available, Insured
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TRIM TREES ALL TYPES GRAVEL - PAVERS SPRINKLER SYSTEMS
Not a Licensed Contractor
HOME REPAIR SERVICES
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25 Years exp (480) 720-3840
Jose Martinez
MALDONADO CALL DOUG
TREE
TRIMMING
Complete Clean Ups
Irrigation
Not a licensed contractor.
Juan Hernandez
High Quality Results
Home Improvement
• BASE BOARDS • DRYWALL • ELECTRICAL • PAINTING • PLUMBING • BATHROOMS • WOOD FLOORING • FRAMING WALLS • FREE ESTIMATES • GRANITE FABRICATION & INSTALLATION • CARPET INSTALLATION • LANDSCAPING
43
Landscape/Maintenance
Home Remodeling
Plumbing
Jaden Sydney Associates.com
CLASSIFIEDS
NOT A LICENSED CONTRACTOR
DECEMBER 23, 2020 | AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS
• 20 Years Experience • 6 Year Warranty
480.345.1800 ROC 304267 • Licensed & Bonded
480-940-8196 theplugman.com
FREE WEED CONTROL FERTILIZER TREATMENT WITH LAWN AERATION SOIL AMENDMENTS * SOIL TESTING * LAWN SERVICES
ROC 282663 * BONDED * INSURED YOUR LAWN EXPERT SINCE 1995
Serving the Valley for over 28 years
The Possibilities are Endless
Custom Design and Renovation turning old to new Custom Built-ins, BBQs, Firepits, Fireplaces, Water Features, Re-Designing Pools, Masonry, Lighting, Tile, Flagstone, Pavers, Culture Stone & Travertine, Synthetic Turf, Sprinkler/Drip, Irrigation Systems, Clean ups & Hauling
Call for a FREE consultation and Estimate To learn more about us, view our photo gallery at: ShadeTreeLandscapes.com
480-730-1074
Bonded/Insured/Licensed • ROC #225923
CLASSIFIEDS
44
Landscape/Maintenance
AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS | DECEMBER 23, 2020
Painting
Landscape/Maintenance
SYNTHETIC TURF & PUTTING GREENS
Starting at $5.25/sq.ft. Installed
Made in the USA
480.643.9772
Painting
Jose Dominguez Painting & Drywall SEE OUR AD IN DRYWALL! Quick Response to your Call! 15 Years Exp 480-266-4589 Not a licensed contractor
PROFESSIONAL PAINTING Interior, Exterior House Painting. Stucco Patching. Gate/Front Door Refinishing. Quality work/Materials Free Estimate Ignacio 480-961-5093 602-571-9015 ROC #189850 Bond/Ins'd
SPEND A LITTLE…
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Arizona Specialty Landscape
New & Re-Do Design and Installation Affordable | Paver Specialists All phases of landscape installation. Plants, cacti, sod, sprinklers, granite, concrete, brick, Kool-deck, lighting and more!
Complete Lawn Service & Weed Control Starting @ $60/Month! • One Month Free Service • Licensed, Bonded Insured for your protection.
Free Estimates 7 Days a Week! ROC# 186443 • BONDED
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Irrigation Repair Services Inc. Licensed • Bonded • Insured Technician
Specializing in Controllers, Valves, Sprinklers, Landscape Lighting, P.V.C. & Poly Drip Systems
Call Lance White
480.721.4146 www.irsaz.com
ROC# 256752
SPRINKLER DOCTOR
• Call or Text for a Free Quote
Not a licensed contractor.
See MORE Ads Online! www.Ahwatukee.com
• Interior & Exterior • Professional Cabinet Refinishing • Epoxy Floors & Concrete Coatings • In-Home Color Consultations “Professional, Punctual & Clean”
Veteran Owned
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602.625.0599 ROC #155380 Family Owned • Free Estimates
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Specials
Lawn Mowing Starts At $40 Full Service Starts At $70 15 + Yrs Exp! All English Speaking Crew
SONORAN LAWN
480-745-5230
Schedule your holiday cleanup with SONORAN LAWN. Painting
LANDSCAPE LIGHTING
25 years Experience & Insured
Residential & Commercial Painting
SUN TECH
PAINTING
kjelandscape.com • ROC#281191
Repairs - Installs - Modifications Timers/Valves/Sprinklers DRIP-PVC-COPPER Backflows & Regulators
Proudly Serving Ahwatukee for 15 Years! Family Owned & Operated
www.ACPpaintingllc.com Licensed - Bonded - Insured ROC 290242
FREE ESTIMATES • CALL TODAY!
(480)785-6323
East Valley PAINTERS
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★ Elastomaric Roof Coating ★ Epoxy Floors ★ Small Job Specialist
Scott Mewborn, Owner 480-818-1789 License #ROC 298736
Interior/Exterior Painting 30 YEARS EXPERIENCE Dunn Edwards Quality Paint Small Stucco/Drywall Repairs
We Are State Licensed and Reliable!
Free Estimates • Senior Discounts
480-338-4011
Paint Interior & Exterior • Drywall Repair Light Carpentry • Power Washing • Textures Matched Popcorn Removal • Pool Deck Coatings Garage Floor Coatings • Color Consulting
We Beat Competitors Prices & Quality Free Estimates! Home of the 10-Year Warranty!
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www.eastvalleypainters.com Family Owned & Operated Bonded/Insured • ROC#153131
ROC#309706
MORE CLASSIFIED ADS ONLINE! www.Ahwatukee.com
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Plumbing
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CLASSIFIEDS
DECEMBER 23, 2020 | AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS
Plumbing
Plumbing
Affinity Plumbing LLC 480-487-5541 affinityplumber@gmail.com
PLUMBERS CHARGE TOO MUCH! Beat Any Price By 10% • Lifetime Warranty Water Heaters Installed - $799 Unclog Drains - $49 FREE RO UNIT w/Any WATER SOFTENER INSTALL NO INTEREST FINANCING - 60 Months!! ‘A’ RATED PLUMBING REPAIR Free Estimates • Same Day Service
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Your Ahwatukee Plumber & East Valley Neighbor Anything Plumbing Same Day Service Water Heaters
24/7
Inside & Out Leaks
Bonded
Toilets
Insured
Faucets
Estimates Availabler Not a licensed contractor
Disposals
$35 off
Any Service
Pool Service / Repair
480-405-7099 ItsJustPlumbSmart.com
Plumbing
Roofing Watch for Garage Sales in Classifieds!
$25 OFF
Filter Cleaning! Monthly Service & Repairs Available
602-546-POOL 7 6 6 5
www.barefootpoolman.com See our Before’s and After’s on Facebook
Bonded/Insured • ROC #223709
Licensed, Bonded & Insured ROC# 272001
You will find them easy with their yellow background. Garage Sale Fri & Sat 7a-11am Household, clothes, kitchen items, furniture, electronics, mason jars, kid items, DVDs, MORE 555 W. Lane Dr Mesa
Only $27.50 includes 1 week online
Pool Service / Repair
For a limited time
We offer personalized service for our customers. We use the best materials that we can find.
Owned and Operated by Rod Lampert Ahwatukee Resident Serving Ahwatukee for over 25 years
Our services include: Sinks, Toilets, Faucets, Water Heaters, Garbage Disposal, Drain Cleaning, Pressure Reducing Valves, Pressure Vacuum Breakers, Hot Water Circulation Systems, Main Service Valves and Hose Taps.
(480)
279-4155
Licensed • Bonded • Insured • ROC 189848
Plumbing
Call Now!
Ahw Resident • Owner Operated Maintenance & Repair Professional and Superior Service
We Repair or Install ROC # 272721
AHWATUKEE’S #1 PLUMBER Licensed • Bonded • Insured
704.5422
(480)
480-699-2754 • info@monsoonroofinginc.com
10% Discount for Ahwatukee Residents 100% NO Leak Guarantee Re-Roof & Roofing Repairs Tile, Shingles & Flat Roof
MonsoonRoofingInc.com Licensed – Bonded – Insured – ROC187561
Call me, Howard:
AZPoolExpert.com BBB Member Not a licensed contractor.
Juan Hernandez
Pavers • Concrete • Water Features • Sprinkler Repair
PPebbleOcracking, O L Plaster R Epeeling, P ARebar IR Call Juan at
$35.00 Off Any Service Call Today!
480-706-1453
Licensed/Bonded/Insured • ROC #236099
480.231.9651
FALL SPECIAL! $500 OFF COMPLETE REMODEL! 25 Years Experience • Dependable & Reliable
A+ RATED
Over 30 yrs. Experience
We maintain, repair and service all types of pools, equipment, filters, cleaning systems, fresh water and salt water systems
showing, Pool Light out? I CAN HELP!
PLUMBING
Tiles, shingles, flat, repairs & new work Free Estimates • Ahwatukee Resident
To place an ad please call: 480-898-6465 class@times publications.com
1st Month of Service FREE
SERVICE • REPAIR • REPLACEMENT
45
480-720-3840
Over 30 Years of Experience Family Operated by 3 Generations of Roofers!
Spencer 4 HIRE ROOFING Valley Wide Service
480-446-7663
Not a licensed contractor.
10% OFF with this ad
Ahwatukee’s Premier Tile, Shingle & Foam Roofer! FREE Estimates • Credit Cards OK www.spencer4hireroofing.com ROC#244850 | Insured | Bonded
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CLASSIFIEDS
AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS | DECEMBER 23, 2020
Roofing
Roofing
Roofing
TILE ROOFING SPECIALISTS
Family Operated by 3 Generations of Roofers! We have a “Spencer” on every job and every step of the way.
Flat and Foam Roof Experts! desertsandscontracting.com FLAT ROOFS | SHINGLES | TEAR OFFS | NEW ROOFS | REPAIRS TILE UNDERLAYMENT | TILE REPAIR | LEADERS | COPPER ALUMINUM COATINGS | GUTTERS | SKYLIGHTS
602-938-7575 $ 1000 OFF when you show this ad
on qualifying complete roof replacements
Let us show you the IN-EX Difference! Serving The Valley Since 1996
10% OFF COMPLETE UNDERLAYMENT Commercial & Residential Family Owned & Operated AZROC #283571 | CONTRACTOR LIC. AZROC #312804 CLASS CR4 | FULLY INSURED
FREE ESTIMATES 602-736-3019 30 Years Roofing Experience
Call for your FREE Roof Evaluation
Place a Birth, Anniversary, Wedding Announcement, In Memoriam, Obituary or any life event in this paper today! Call us for details.
480-446-7663
class@timespublications.com or call 480-898-6465
FREE Estimates • Credit Cards OK www.spencer4hireroofing.com ROC#244850 | Insured | Bonded
Ahwatukee’s Premier Tile, Shingle & Foam Roofer!
JILEK ROOFING, LLC
New Roof Installation & Roof Repair Specialist
Cell: 480.417.3689 Office: 480.912.5014 Email: tomjilek60@gmail.com Licensed & Insured • Bonded, Res/Com ROC 328854
inexroofing.com
SHARE WITH THE WORLD!
Puzzle
Family Owned & Operated for over 30 years
ROC #152111
Quality Repairs & Re-Roofs Complimentary & Honest Estimates
Call our office today!
480-460-7602 Ask us about our discount for all Military and First Responders!
www.porterroofinginc.com
WORD SEARCH: Words ‘n Words #1 Find six 5-letter words, ending in “ER” and only using these letters:
REINDEER E R E R
E R E R E R
E R #2 Find fours animals using only these letters:
GINGERBREAD Licensed • Bonded • Insured ROC # 269218
Licensed, Bonded, Insured
MISSED THE DEADLINE?
480-898-6465
Did you know? An eider CB is a northern sea duck.
#1 Answers: drier, direr, diner, rider, ender, eider #2 Answers: badger, eider, deer, bear
Call us to place your ad online!
CLASSIFIEDS
DECEMBER 23, 2020 | AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS
palmabrisa.com
NOW SELLING
A new gated resort community is coming soon in the Ahwatukee Foothills with a dramatically different style. It feels exclusive, but also lively and exciting — and it's called Palma Brisa. • Modern resort-style gated community with stately palms
• Diverse architecture: Modern Bungalow, Urban Farmhouse, Italian Cottage, Andalusian, Modern Craftsman, French Country, and Spanish Mission • Four amenity areas connected by expansive lawns
• Homes from 1,700 sq. ft. to 4,000 sq. ft. from the $400’s
ERIC WILLIAMS
480-641-1800
TERRY LENTS
© Copyright 2019 Blandford Homes, LLC. No offer to sell or lease may be made prior to issuance of Final Arizona Subdivision Public Report. Offer, terms, and availability subject to change without prior notice. Renderings are artist’s conceptions and remain subject to modification without notice.
47
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AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS | DECEMBER 23, 2020
LAST MINUTE
12 √
√
MONTHS
No Matter Where You See It, Read It, Or Hear It, Spencers Will Beat It. If We Aren’t Already Lower, Just Let Us Know, Because We Guarantee A Lower Price! 58” 4K UHD SMART TV COUNTER DEPTH • 2 HDMI Inputs • Airplay2 Built-In
NO INTEREST**
BEST PRICES
BEST SERVICE
1.6 CU. FT. OVER-THE-RANGE MICROWAVE
WASHER
• 3.5 Cu. Ft. • Porcelain Tub • 700 RPM Spin Speed NTW4516FW
$
449
WMH1162XVQ CLOSEOUT
• Adjustable Glass Shelves • 2 Crisper Drawers • LED Lighting
899
FRSG1915AV
$ NO INTEREST**
• 950 Watts of Power • 10 Levels of Power • Sunken Glass Turntable
199
$
SIDE BY SIDE COUNTER DEPTH REFRIGERATOR
12 MONTHS
• Active Blue Light Technology • NeoFrost Dual Cooling Technology
449 $549 UN58TU7000
$
BEST SELECTION
√
REFRIGERATOR
DISHWASHER
BFTF2716WH BEKO
REFRIGERATOR DISHWASHER • Integrated Control Styling • Premium Nylon Racks • In Door Silverware Basket • Energy Star Qualified WDF520PADM
• 25 Cubic Foot Capacity • Spill Proof Glass Shelves • Humidity Controlled Drawers • Energy Star Qualified WRS325SDHZ
RANGE • 4.8 Cubic Foot Capacity • Self Cleaning Oven • Smooth Top • Proudly Made in USA WFE505W0HS CLOSEOUT
• Normal Wash Cycle (on dial) • Heated Dry On/Off (on rocker) • Standard Upper Rack
299 2199
HDA1100FWH
$
$
BUYS ALL 3 PIECES
** NO INTEREST IF PAID IN FULL IN 12 MONTHS. $799.00 Minimum Purchase Required Minimum Payments Required 30.79% APR If the promotional balance is not paid in full by the end for the promotional period or, to the extent permitted by law, if you make a late payment, interest will be imposed from the date of purchase at the APR noted above. This APR is as of 7/4/2019 and will vary with the market based on the Prime Rate. Your card agreement, the terms of the offer and applicable law govern this transaction including increasing APRs and fees and terminating the promotional period.
MESA SHOWROOM & CLEARANCE CENTER 115 W. First Ave. | 480-833-3072 AHWATUKEE 4601 E. Ray Rd. | Phoenix | 480-777-7103 ARROWHEAD RANCH 7346 W. Bell Road | 623-487-7700 GILBERT Santan Village | 2711 S. Santan Village Pkwy | 480-366-3900 GLENDALE 10220 N. 43rd Ave | (602) 504-2122 GOODYEAR 1707 N. Litchfield Rd | 623-930-0770 RECONDITION CENTER 160 EAST BROADWAY | 480-615-1763 SCOTTSDALE 14202 N. Scottsdale Rd. | 480-991-7200 SCOTTSDALE/PHOENIX 13820 N. Tatum Blvd. | (602) 494-0100 NOW OPEN - MESA 5141 S. Power Rd. | 480-988-1917
Arizona’s largest independent dealer! “It’s Like Having A Friend In The Business” Check Out Our Website
WWW.SPENCERSTV.COM OPEN DAILY 9AM-9PM | SATURDAY 9AM-6PM | SUNDAY 11AM-5PM
HOUSE IN S R E C SPEN PLANS PAYMENT BLE AVAILA Due to current circumstances, some items may be out of stock.