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www.ahwatukee.com
Wednesday December 30, 2020
JENNIFER ARMER
SEAN BOWIE
ANYA CHAUDHRY
@AhwatukeeFN |
WILSON GEE
RAPHAEL ISAAC
@AhwatukeeFN
WANDA KOLOMYJEC
They are some of the people who made 2020 memorable BY PAUL MARYNIAK AFN Executive Editor
B
efore 2020 slips into the rearview mirror, here are 12 people who impacted Ahwatukee or represented a signi�icant development that touched the community. Jennifer Armer. As the founder of the Armer Foundation for Kids, which helps families who have a child or children suffering from a catastrophic medical condition, Jennifer Armer is one of countless Ahwatukee residents who make giving back individually or through an organization a mantra in their lives. This year, Armer also opened a thrift store at 9830 S. 51st St., Ahwatukee, to help raise funds for
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her charity. Sen. Sean Bowie. The vaunted “blue wave� this election cycle pretty much turned out to be a trickle, but Ahwatukee resident Sean Bowie handily won reelection to a third term. His and the victories of fellow Democratic Reps. Mitzi Epstein and Jennifer Jermaine suggest Legislative District 18 likely will remain a Democrat stronghold for some time to come. Anya Chaudhry. Anya Chaudry was not only Ahwatukee’s sole winner of a prestigious Flynn Scholarship, but she also is representative of thousands of high school seniors here and across the nation who lost proms and typical commencement exercises to the pandemic in May. One of several Thunder valedictorians in
JOELLE PRESTEGARD
the school’s virtual graduation this year, Anya was one of only 19 seniors in the state to win a Flynn. Wilson Gee. This hasn’t been a great year for Wilson Gee. With two of his four Ahwatukee golf courses closed, his woes in 2020 mounted after a judge held him in contempt of court and ordered him to have the long-dormant Ahwatukee Lakes Golf Course open for business in two years or pay $3.5 million in sanctions. While he has tentatively sold the Club West golf course, the buyers are running into their own problems with homeowners over a plan to build houses on part of the site.
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AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS | DECEMBER 30, 2020
NEWS
AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS | DECEMBER 30, 2020
The Ahwatukee Foothills News is published every Wednesday and distributed free of charge to homes and in single-copy locations throughout Ahwatukee Foothills.
Times Media Group: 1620 W. Fountainhead Parkway, Suite 219 Tempe, Arizona, 85282 Main number: 480-898-6500 Advertising: 480-898-5624 Circulation service: 480-898-5641
PUBLISHER Steve T. Strickbine
VICE PRESIDENT Michael Hiatt
ADVERTISING STAFF National Advertising Director Zac Reynolds 480-898-5603 zac@ahwatukee.com
Crystal McGaw of Ahwatukee is struggling to keep her Ahwatukee apartment after falling in arrears on her rent.
Advertising Sales Representatives:
(Special to AFN)
Classified:
Ahwatukee woman clings to hope as eviction tsunami threatens
Karen Mays, 480-898-7909, kmays@ahwatukee.com Laura Meehan, 480-898-7904, lmeehan@ahwatukee.com Elaine Cota, 480-898-7926, ecota@ahwatukee.com
Circulation Director:
Aaron Kolodny 480-898-5641, customercare@ahwatukee.com
NEWS STAFF Executive Editor:
Paul Maryniak, 480-898-5647, pmaryniak@ahwatukee..com
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Christina Fuoco-Karasinski, 480-641-4518, christina@timespublications.com
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Designer: Ruth Carlton - rcarlton@timespublications.com
Production Coordinator:
Courtney Oldham 480-898-5617 production@timespublications.com
Reporters:
Jim Walsh, 480-898-5639 jwalshe@ahwatukee.com Wayne Schutsky, 480-898-6533 wschutsky@timespublications.com Cecilia Chan. 480-898-5613, cchan@timespublications.com Ahwatukee Foothills News is distributed by AZ Integrated Media, a circulation service company owned by Times Media Group. The public is permitted one copy per reader. For further information regarding the circulation of this publication or others in the Times Media Group family of publications, please contact AZ Integrated Media at circ@ azintegratedmedia.com or 480-898-5641. For circulation services please contact Aaron Kolodny at aaron@ azintegatedmedia.com.
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The Ahwatukee Foothills News expresses its opinion. Opinions expressed in guest commentaries, perspectives, cartoons or letters to the editor are those of the author.
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BY PAUL MARYNIAK AFN Executive Editor
T
he President’s approval of the new pandemicrelief bill postpones for a month an expected slew of evictions in Arizona and the nation, but it still leaves Crystal McGaw worrying about the future. The Ahwatukee woman still could be caught in the tsunami of evictions as thousands of renters who lost their jobs struggle to make their rent. wwwwUntil the bill was signed Sunday night, the eviction ban was slated to end tomorrow, Dec. 31. Gov. Doug Ducey already has stated Congress has responsibility to address the problem. McGaw had been anxiously watching the political volleyball over the measure, which had been twisting in the wind in Congress for months. “I’m obsessively watching it,” she said the day before the bill was signed. “I wish that I could stop watching it but it’s just consumed my life because it’s such a big factor. It impacts a lot.” Out of work and dealing with a number of health problems, McGaw, a mother of a teen-aged boy, is three months in arrears on her apartment rent. She has been jumping through government hoops to get her back rent covered and was told she’d be getting a check covering the three delinquent months. That was two weeks ago. And though she has kept her landlord apprised of her communications with government agencies, McGaw noted, “I’m being charged $5 a day until they receive those funds – that adds up.” An Indiana native who moved to Ahwatukee in
see EVICTpage 6
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AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS | DECEMBER 30, 2020
Ahwatukee snowmen collection drawing a crowd AFN NEWS STAFF
E
d Doney feels discovered. After years of putting a legion of inflated snowmen of all sizes on the front lawn of his Ahwatukee home, he’s noticed this year more people coming by to view the sight. “I’m not accustomed to driving home and finding a dozen people wandering about our driveway posing for pictures with our snowmen,” said Doney, who started around 2004 or 2005 by add-
YEAR from page 1
Raphael Isaac. The pandemic literally washed away all of Ahwatukee’s treasured Christmas traditions except for an online presentation of the Ahwatukee Nutcracker and the million white lights display along Chandler Boulevard. The latter almost became a casualty in a longrunning dispute with city inspectors, but Festival of Lights Committee President Raphael Isaac worked with the city to postpone infrastructure repairs for the lights to next year. Wanda Kolomyjec. Wanda Kolomyjec was one of five candidates for three Kyrene Governing Board seats that made the field in this election unique: all five are educators. Her election ensured Ahwatukee will continue having two of the five board seats for the next two years, along with Margaret Pratt.
ing one snowman to a modest collect of Christmas ornaments. “The next year, we added one or two more,” he said. “And it just happened from there on.” His webpage, doney.net/snowmen, shows off the 37 snowmen he’s collected over the years, including 26 on blower units and three that are animated. He’s even given them individual and group names, like The First, Big & Big Hat families, the Snocrobats, Piggyback Guys, Bluemittens and Greeney.
Armando Montero. Armando Montero not only recaptured a seat for Ahwatukee on the Tempe Union High School District Governing Board but as a 2019 Desert Vista graduate, will be giving the board a unique perspective as a voice for students still in the district’s seven high schools. The ASU sophomore’s campaign championed more mental health services for students – a position for which he was a strong advocate as a Thunder student. Christian Nunez. Christian Nunez, a Mountain Pointe High senior, entered the fray over a proposal by some Tempe Union board members to eliminate funding for school resource officers at the district’s two Ahwatukee high schools. He urged the board not to pull the plug on SROs and so far, the district has not. Joelle Prestegard. Joelle Prestegard, 12, of Ahwatukee, is wearing a facemask – the iconic symbol of 2020 – for a unique
Doney said, “This year we’ve had more visitors than ever. “We’re not exactly sure why,” he continued. “We weren’t listed in any of the papers as far as I know. Maybe there’s a lack of socially distanced activities. In any event, we’ve had more visitors than ever.” He also doubts many have seen his webpage because it’s been up less than two weeks. Doney did have a little drive-by celebration for members of the Ahwatukee Recreation Center, where he belongs to several
reason: She was near the brink of death after contracting COVID-19 but managed to pull through with the help of doctors at a Texas hospital where she was initially diagnosed and the dedicated support of her mother, Marissa King. Lisa Thayer. Like other small business owners in Ahwatukee and throughout the Valley, Lisa Thayer has been weathering a pandemic that began just as she opened a business. Her Gordy’s Goodies Pet Food & Supplies at 15425 S. 48th St., like others who braved the coronavirus’ impact, is a testament to the fortitude and determination of small business owners throughout the country. Dr. Jan Vesely. Before announcing her retirement from Kyrene’s top executive post, Dr. Jan Vesely left an enduring legacy with the district in terms of student achievement and the development of more equitable treatment of non-white
of its many clubs and has chronicled their art work and creations with photographs every year. Regardless of why so many people have swung by his home, Doney is delighted to see them. He’s even encouraging people to stop and take a selfie with one of his snowmen, then email the picture to him. Doney said he’ll leave the snowmen up for the first week of January. People can find them on Coconino Street, just west of 36th Street.
students. She also navigated the district through the treacherous waters of COVID-19, becoming one of the first school superintendents to close campuses before Gov. Doug Ducey ordered them all shut down in March. She also carefully reopened campuses to five-day learning until the virus surge became too menacing. Ryan Whitaker. The nationwide controversy over police brutality came to Ahwatukee this year when a Phoenix police officer fatally shot Ryan Whitaker twice in the back in the doorway of his condominium, setting off internal criminal and disciplinary investigations that have yet to be concluded. Phoenix City Council already has conceded the officer’s actions were unjustified: it unanimously approved a $3 million settlement with Whitaker’s family, who have added their voices to concerns about the high number of shootings, many fatal, by Phoenix police.
GOT NEWS? Contact Paul Maryniak at 480-898-5647 or pmaryniak@timespublications.com
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AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS | DECEMBER 30, 2020
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EVICT from page 3
March 2019, hoping the Arizona climate would be beneficial for the severe asthma that she and her son share. She held a fulltime and a parttime job while struggling with other health issues. “I have a lot of health complications – nothing severe but when you cobble them all together, it’s quite challenging,” McGaw said. Six months after she moved to Ahwatukee, doctors found a brain tumor that, while not terminal, basically has left her blind in one eye. She also suffers from fibromyalgia, a chronic pain condition that has no cure. Early in the summer she also was in a car accident that left her with two herniated discs. The pandemic’s economic toll began closing in on McGaw in July, when she went on medical leave from her fulltime job because her asthma actually became worse, leaving her lung capacity half of what it should be. Not long afterward she also was furloughed from her parttime job and eventually was told the position was eliminated. She turned to the government for help and found herself caught up in a skein of
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government agencies and nonprofits that have been doling out millions in federal relief dollars. While she was directed to contact the Arizona Department of Housing to apply for rent relief, McGaw also contacted the City of Phoenix, hoping that two agencies working on her behalf would be more effective than one. “I went on their website.” She said, “and once I put in everything, I kind of got an error message stating that I would have to contact the Arizona Department of Housing.” McGaw is now pinning her hopes on the kindness of strangers. “The current pandemic has completely turned my world upside down financially,” she wrote on a gofundme.com page that she set up to help her meet her rent and other expenses. “With little to no support system, I’m left to seek aid via an alternative source,” she wrote, expressing anxiety that she will be ousted from her home once another month’s rent comes due. The page, which people can find by searching “Crystal McGaw” at gofundme. com, has so far garnered $2,395 of the $7,500 she hopes to raise. Even if the
check comes, the donations will be put to good use as she has other bills mounting as well, she said. She hasn’t started looking for a job yet because she and her 15-year-old son have too many doctors to see right now. “It would just be a setup for failure if I did (get a job) because I have so many appointments,” she said. “I would miss a lot of work and you know, that’s just not going to fly particularly as a new employee.” “I don’t know what I’m going to do,” McGaw said. “I started looking for something that will allow me to work from home. But like I said, just to go into something full time right now would be a bit of a set up because I have so many appointments and I have to get control of my health.” Asked what she will do if she loses her apartment, McGaw said, “I don’t know. I don’t have the answer for that.”
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AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS | DECEMBER 30, 2020
Bowie applauds mask rule that a colleague may defy BY HOWARD FISCHER Capitol Media Services
A
hwatukee state Sen. Sean Bowie last week applauded Senate President Karen Fann’s mask mandate but sidestepped comment on one of his newest colleague’s defiance of the order. Fann ordered that anyone coming into the building must wear a face mask to attend sessions – setting the stage for a confrontation with Mesa’s newly elected Republican Sen. Kelly Townsend, who is moving from the House and replacing retiring Sen. David Farnsworth. Fann said the directive is designed to ensure the safety of everyone conducting business at the Capitol, including people with preexisting conditions and those who care for vulnerable individuals. The Prescott Republican acknowledged that the issue of masks has become a political lightning rod, but said she hopes the rules will “eliminate some of the divisiveness we have encountered throughout this pandemic.’’
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Townsend told Capitol Media Services. “What are they going to do? Arrest me?’’ Bowie praised Fann’s directive, writing on Twitter, “A special thank you to Senate President Fann for her leadership in developing these COVID-19 protocols. Given the current volume of COVID cases in Arizona, the utmost caution is needed to protect members, staff and the general public in January.” Asked by AFN if he had any comment on Townsend’s defiance, Bowie indicated he would stand by his tweet. What can be done to Townsend, if the rules are followed when the session begins Jan. 11, is simply refuse her admittance to the building. “They’re going to physically block me from the building?’’ she asked. “Well, that’d be fun,’’ Townsend added, promising to invite a reporter there when she attempts entry. Townsend also is questioning Fann’s ability to enact what is formally being called a “protocol’’ as there has been no vote of lawmakers. But Fann believes she’s on solid ground,
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Cavalier Campus
Listed for $840,000
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
Twelve Oaks Listed for
$389,900
Beautifully updated 1,627 sf 3 bedroom 2 bathroom single level home. Open kitchen family room concept. The 2015 remodeled kitchen boasts granite slab counter tops, refinished cabinets with brushed nickel hardware, upgraded black appliances, pantry and eat-in kitchen dining area. 2019 garbage disposal. 2015 kitchen appliance package. All appliances convey including the refrigerators in the kitchen and garage and the 2018 front load washer and dryer. Formal combination living and dining rooms. Newer trendy gray tone porcelain tile throughout with carpet (2020) only in the bedrooms. Large master suite with walk in closet and double sinks and separate shower and Roman tub in the bathroom. 2017 upgraded front door makes a wonderful first impression! 2015 insulated garage door. Arcadia doors from the family room exit to the resort like east facing backyard with a sparking pool and expansive land and hardscape! Variable speed pool pump installed 2020. Pool was resurfaced with pebble sheen and new perimeter tile in 2018. 2019 front and back yard landscape, pavers and planter boxes. New sprinkler systems installed front and back in 2019.
San Tan Valley Land Listed for
$195,000
Great development opportunity or horse property! 8.35 acre parcel in San Tan Valley. Spectacular panoramic mountain views! No HOA. Property can be split (if desired) into five 1.67 acre parcels. Miles of state trust land all around. Owner is willing to facilitate a minor land division. In the country but has nearby emergency services, hospital, schools, and shopping.
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NEWS
AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS | DECEMBER 30, 2020
State likely to add new congressional seat BY HOWARD FISCHER Capitol Media Services
A
ll those folks fleeing from elsewhere to this state put Arizona on track for picking up a 10th seat in the U.S. House of Representatives beginning in 2022. And that’s going to result in some political jockeying among current and wouldbe federal lawmakers as current members of Congress weigh whether to seek reelection in their own redrawn district or run in another. There also is the potential for political musical chairs with not just an open race for governor but GOP lawmakers eyeing a chance to oust newly elected U.S. Senator Mark Kelly in 2022. All that is the result of new preliminary estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau showing the state’s population has increased by slightly more than a million since the 2010 Census – a growth rate of 16.1 percent, the fifth highest in the nation. By contrast, the entire country grew at just 6.7 percent. Only Utah, Texas, Idaho and Nevada had greater decade-over-decade growth. What makes that important is that the House has a fixed number of representatives at 435. If Arizona is growing so much faster than much of the rest of the country, it should get a bigger voice in that chamber. And states that haven’t grown as fast or whose populations have shrunk would lose. Only thing is, it’s not a matter of simple math. On paper, the current national population of nearly 329,500,000 would translate out neatly to individual congressional districts of about 757,434 people. But Kimball Brace, president of Election Data Services, which analyzes the data, pointed out that the U.S. Constitution requires that each state have at least one representative. That means Vermont gets one, as does Wyoming, North Dakota and Alaska. There’s also the fact that the population of the District of Columbia, estimated at about 713,000, effectively doesn’t count as it is not entitled to any representation at all. Factoring all that out, Brace figures Arizona with its growth since 2010 will get one more seat. There are even bigger gainers. The biggest is expected to be Texas – which
This map shows what states likely will lose or gain a member of the U.S. House of Representatives. (Special to AFN) more than 41,000 residents, according to the latest estimate, will drop at least one of its 27 seats in the House. He figures it actually could be a net loss of two. That’s due to the bid of the Trump administration to exclude from the count those people who are not lawfully present in the United States. The U.S. Supreme Court this month sidestepped the legality of that move, with the majority of the justices concluding the case was not ripe for review because the administration had not said which individuals it wanted to exclude from the count. That potentially paves the way for a future ruling. Brace figures if undocumented individuals are excluded, that likely would cost New York a second seat. And the winner in that scenario appears to be Alabama which might be able to hang on to all of its seven representatives. California also is likely to lose a representative, leaving it with just 52 members in the House. That still leaves it far ahead of anywhere else. Also declining would be This map shows the current congressional district Minnesota, Michigan, Illinois, boundaries in Arizona, which are likely to change. (Special Ohio, West Virginia, Pennsylto AFN) vania and Rhode Island.
Kimball figures will add three more seats, bringing its representation in the House up to 39. That’s based on adding more than 4.2 million new residents in the past decade. Florida also is likely to pick up two more seats, moving to 29 representatives. And along with Arizona, other states gaining a seat are Colorado, Montana, North Carolina and Oregon. Brace said New York, which actually lost
The analysis by Election Data Services of the newly released data shows that if Arizona gets 10 seats in the House, that means 10 districts each with about 742,000 residents to meet the legal mandate for equal population. But the fact is that all parts of the state haven’t grown equally fast in the past decade. The biggest growth rates have been in the Phoenix metro area, extending into parts of Pinal County. So, it’s likely that a new congressional seat would have to be carved into that area. That means even more clout for central Arizona: Six of the state’s nine congressional districts include parts of Maricopa County; add Pinal into the mix and now it’s seven. It ultimately will be up to the Independent Redistricting Commission to decide how to redivide the state. The bipartisan voter-created panel is required to consider a variety of factors, like respecting communities of interest and using county boundaries when possible. Commissioners also are required to create as many politically competitive districts as possible. That means there is a mandate of sort to take what have proven to be “safe’’ districts, like those occupied by Republican Andy Biggs and Democrat Raul Grijalva, and find ways to try to even them up by party registration. The new lines, by definition, won’t match the existing districts. So incumbents will have to decide whether to continue to run in the district where they live or another district as nothing in federal law requires a member of Congress to live in her or his district, though it usually is politically advisable. Complicating matters is what else is up for grabs in 2022. Kelly, elected this year to serve the last two years of the term of Sen. John McCain, will have to seek his own six-year term. And that could prove tempting to Republicans like Biggs and David Schweikert. On the Democrat side there is the chance that Greg Stanton might choose to run for governor -- it will be an open seat with Doug Ducey unable to serve a third term -- rather than seek another two years in Congress. And with Ducey out of the way, GOP members of Congress might eye that office.
AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS | DECEMBER 30, 2020
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NEWS
AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS | DECEMBER 30, 2020
Come Jan. 1, keep your hands on the wheel BY JIM WALSH Tribune Staff Writer
A
fter a long delay, it’s time for drivers to finally put down their cell phones unless they want to see red and blue flashing lights in their rear-view mirror. Arizona’s distracted driving law becomes effective on Jan. 1 and police officers throughout the East Valley and beyond are planning to write citations right away, trying to break motorists’ dangerous habits of texting or checking emails behind the wheel. The law originally was passed in 2019 after a driver struck and killed a Salt River-Pima Maricopa tribal officer along the Loop 101, but it included an 18-month educational window during which officers could only issue warnings. While officers will still have discretion to issue warnings after Jan. 1, their advice is simple: don’t count on it. The new law makes it illegal to touch a cell phone while driving – or even to rest it on your lap, another habit police have noted – with a call to 911 one notable exception.
Drivers are still allowed to use handsfree devices, such as Bluetooth, that are commonly built into the dashboards of most modern cars and trucks. The penalties are civil fines ranging from $75-$149 for the first offense, and $150-$250 for the second or subsequent offenses. And a violation is considered a “primary offense” – meaning that police can stop drivers for talking on the phone alone and do not need any additional violations to pull them over. The Arizona Department of Public Safety has issued 15,000 warnings, as directed by Gov. Doug Ducey, who signed the bill into law, said Bart Graves, a DPS spokesman. “The whole reason for the law is to keep people safe on our roads. The best thing we can do is keep them from being distracted,’’ he said. Traffic safety advocates say that distracted driving causes the same level of danger as an impaired driver with a .08 percent alcohol level, the minimum level at which Arizona drivers are presumed to be impaired under state law. Police in Scottsdale, Mesa, Gilbert and
Chandler all say they have been issuing warnings. Gilbert took a somewhat different approach, designating a series of six “hands free duty’’ days in which officers made traffic stops and issued warnings to drivers holding a cell phone in their hands, said Brenda Carrasco, a Gilbert Police spokeswoman. The last of these warning events is planned for this week. Carrasco said activity on the department’s social media pages indicates that some residents are irritated by distracted drivers and look forward to enforcement of the hands-free law. “I think it will depend upon the circumstances,’’ whether some are cited or warned for violations noted in the new year, she said. After issuing a long series of warnings, Mesa police traffic Officer Mike Kuntz is looking forward to issuing citations, saying that they tend to make a longer-lasting impact on the behavior of drivers. “I educate a lot of people. Every time I drive past a car and they are on the phone, I make them put down the phone,’’ he said. Kuntz said drivers have been backslid-
ing into their old habits during the educational campaign rather than improving their safety by putting down their phones. “A year ago, a lot of news agencies reported it. I would say that initially, it improved,’’ he said. But Kuntz said authorities now need to regain the momentum lost during the long delay in enforcing the law. “You drive down the road, we all see there are so many people on their phones. It’s ridiculous,’’ Kuntz said. “There will be no more warnings from me. There will only be citations. I have been waiting for 1 ½ years to give citations. “I need to gain compliance from you,’’ Kuntz said, adding he’s not buying excuses. “Just put it down. If you can’t put it down, put it in the trunk,’’ he said. Alberto Gutier, director of the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety, said he is planning a public service campaign to remind drivers that the state law takes effect on Jan. 1. Chandler and Gilbert police said they also are planning to post safety videos about the new law’s requirements
pieces, headphones or any type of device worn on a wrist to conduct voice communications. Vehicles with built-in interfaces with cell phones also are exempt as long as they can be operated with minimal interactions, meaning simply to press a button to active or deactivate. People also can “read’’ texts if these are translated into voice. And they also can send texts if done through voice commands. Phone maps and GPS also can be used if in a hands-free mode. What about other types of devices? The same restrictions on holding a cell phone also apply to any “stand-alone electronic device.’’ That means anything with stored audio or video. So no hanging on to the phone while listening to previously recorded podcasts or watching tapes of Game of Thrones. Is it OK to watch live TV? That already is illegal. But the new law clarifies that statute does not apply to
mapping services which update images. Nor does it apply to cars and trucks with built-in video screens that provide information about the vehicle. The legislation also adds a provision designed to protect people who have dash cams and similar devices that continuously record what’s going on, either in the vehicle or on the road. Are there other types of operations that are not subject to the law? Motorists can use a cell phone to “report illegal activity or summon emergency help.’’ Also not subject to new restrictions are licensed amateur radio operators and fleet drivers with commercial licenses communicating with a dispatcher. And for those who are still attached to their citizens ban radios, you can keep yakking away, good buddy. What about texting or talking when the vehicle is not moving? It depends on where. Motorists who are parked are exempt and can call and
text at will. Ditto if you’re at a stop light or waiting for a train to clear a railroad crossing. But a stop sign doesn’t count. Nor does being stopped for a school bus. What is the penalty? A first offense carries a minimum fine of $75, up to $149. Subsequent violations result in fines of at least $150 and no more than $250. But the offenses accumulate no points on a motorist’s license. There is an exception: Licenses can be suspended if someone is violating the new law and causes a serious injury or death. Do I have to give my cell phone to a police officer when stopped? No. There is an exception allowing police to seize a device for “when authorized by law,’’ but there is no definition. What about existing local regulations? Any city, town or county ordinance that has been in force before this is now repealed, whether it is more or less stringent than the state law.
see DISTRACTED page 15
Here are the ins and outs of the text-while-driving ban BY HOWARD FISCHER Capitol Media Services
H
ere’s what you need to know about the texting law: What is forbidden? The new law makes it illegal to “physically hold’’ or “support with any part of the body’’ any cell phone or other portable wireless communication device whole operating a motor vehicle. There was some debate – and no clear answer – on what constitutes “support’’ of a phone, whether that means in the lap, in the pocket or elsewhere. But from a practical standpoint, if it’s in a lap it is unlikely that a police officer would see it there and pull someone over. The law bans not only chatting on the phone but writing, sending and reading text messages, emails, instant messages or internet data. Are there exceptions? Drivers can make calls if they use ear-
NEWS
AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS | DECEMBER 30, 2020
DISTRACTED from page 14
on the social media as another method of reminding the public that it is becoming effective. “No one likes to be pulled over. Being pulled over is the best message for people who are driving distracted,’’ Gutier said. “I think the momentum will come right back.’’ Gutier said he believes the new law will save lives and that it represents a direct opportunity to improve public safety. “Even though we had more than a year of warnings, now it’s the real thing,’’ he said. “People need to put their phone down.’’ Sgt. Jason McClimans, a Chandler police spokesman, said it’s not realistic to think all drivers will suddenly put down their phones and pay attention to their driving on Jan. 1. “It’s going to continue to happen. It’s so ingrained in people’s heads,’’ McClimans said. The public needs to understand that driving is a complicated act requiring their full attention and that the vast majority of texts and messages can wait until they are parked, he said.
“We believe the number of distracted driving citations will increase dramatically,’’ McClimans said, adding that he thinks there are circumstances where a warning will suffice in changing someone’s behavior. “There are certain people out there who understand warnings. We feel they won’t do it again,’’ he said. Marc Lamber, a personal injury attorney, said he has represented many clients who have lost a loved one or have suffered serious injuries from distracted driving. He recalled a time when there was more tolerance for impaired driving before extensive public education campaigns changed people’s attitudes. Because almost any hazard can pop up suddenly while driving, “you need to have full attention with your hands and cognition with your brain,’’ Lamber said. “I see more and more accidents involving someone who is on the phone and distracted. Ninety-three percent of accidents are caused by human error,’’ he said. He also said that the law taking effect and Bluetooth being widely available, when it comes to motorists keeping their hands off their phone behind the wheel, “I hope it will become as automatic as wearing a seatbelt.”
Dentist COVID infection rates less than one percent
In terms of health benefits, In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, it seems maintaining oral health natural that dental patients might demonstrate helps to prevent the more hesitancy in scheduling visits. While Dr. onset of underlying health Rashmi Bhatnagar of Ahwatukee’s BellaVista Dental Care says she certainly understands patient conditions such as heart disease and diabetes. concerns — particularly those most vulnerable to the novel disease due to underlying health “Because the virus has the conditions — she advocates that patients not most severe impact on neglect their oral health during these times, and assures every safety measure is in place to prevent those with underlying conditions, it’s important transmission. Dr. Rashmi Bhatnagar to help protect against Bella Vista Dental Care those,” says Bhatnagar. “A new study by the ADA found that less than one percent of dentists nationwide have tested positive “The link between such conditions and poor oral health are well-documented, and we’re finding for COVID-19,” says Bhatnagar. that more and more people are coming in as a The study says the low infection rate is the result of result of monitoring their ongoing health.” precautionary policies in place at dental offices. Hopeful the vaccine will prove effective, Bhatnagar “We wear two masks, we have air purifiers, and we emphasizes taking steps to prevent transmission sterilize all surfaces and instruments between all and maintain health at home in the meantime. cleanings,” says Bhatnagar. Tooth polishers are “Watch your snacking, especially if you’re sedentary switched out in their entirety, and patients are at home, as this will cause buildup of acid in your given a temperature check and questionnaire to determine possible Covid exposures or symptoms. mouth, which leads to higher risk for decay. Do not share toothbrushes, and do not keep them next to “Most dentists I know, including our office, also each other. In a lot of cases, family members are have a system in place to allow patients to text getting the disease from other family members.” when they arrive if they don’t feel comfortable sitting in the waiting room,” says Bhatnagar. (480) 598-5900 l BellaVistaDentalCare.com
MASKS from page 9
or staffer. The House is expected to announce its own rules this coming week. They are expected to be similar, with Fann saying the Senate rules “were developed in collaboration with the House for uniformity and consistency for all within the Capitol community that participate in legislative proceedings.’’ The rules come as lawmakers grapple with how to conduct business amid the continued threat of infection from the coronavirus. It starts with the idea of limiting the chances that someone who is infected will even enter the building. Under the rules, anyone wishing entry, including lawmakers, staff and visitors, will be subject to temperature checks. Then there’s the requirement for masks. A legislator or staffer in his or her own individual closed office will be free to unmask. And there even are allowances for people who have their own dedicated work space, which can include a desk or cubicle. “However, if one person enters an-
15
other person’s dedicated work space, then everyone in that space must wear a mask or other appropriate face covering,’’ the rules read. “There are no exceptions.’’ And not just any mask or piece of cloth covering just part of the face. “Masks or other face covering must cover the nose and mouth and should fit snugly against the sides of the face,’’ according to the policy. There is a provision for those who are “medically unable’’ to wear a mask according to their doctor. They are required to wear a face shield that covers the mouth and nose. But that’s not a preferred solution, with the rules urging these people to work remotely. There is a separate rule for “social distancing’’ of six feet between individuals, along with no shaking hands or other physical contact. The rules also create a new duty for Senate pages, requiring them to disinfect hearing rooms and the caucus rooms after each meeting. And there will be free testing for staffers and lawmakers during certain hours of each day.
ANSWERS TO PUZZLES AND SUDOKU from Page 37
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NEWS
AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS | DECEMBER 30, 2020
A strong start, then the year crashed on us BY GARY NELSON AFN Contributor
I
t opened brightly enough, with the customary expectations of progress and prosperity that have marked each new year in the East Valley for the past decade. Construction began on an Arizona State University complex in downtown Mesa. Cranes loomed high over downtown Tempe while on the streets below, a new streetcar line was being born. Gilbert and Chandler sung to the tunes of hammers and saws creating square mile after square mile of homes and stores and factories. Ahwatukee was entering the new decade with the biggest problem involving the future of two of its four golf courses. As this election year dawned, candidates were crafting their sales pitches to voters who, for the most part, were only dimly beginning to contemplate another
march to the ballot box. The biggest point of uncertainty seemed to lie in a presidential impeachment then in play in Washington. But even that proved to be a melodrama without drama as Donald Trump’s Feb. 5 acquittal by a Republican Senate became a predictable anticlimax. Only the closest observer of international news could have suspected, in that January that now seems of another world, that 2020 would rip our lives apart in almost unfathomable ways. COVID-19 arrived early in the East Valley. In late January, when the United States reported only five total cases, an ASU student who had recently returned from China was among them. Whatever ripples of concern that may have caused, however, seemed to vanish as the student recovered and no new cases immediately emerged in our area. But by mid-March there was no longer
Paper products were in short supply for weeks when the pandemic broke in Arizona in March. (Special to AFN)
room for complacency. Suddenly, grocery store shelves were stripped bare of pasta, popcorn, canned goods and especially toilet paper as panicked East Valley residents hoarded essentials for what seemed like a long siege ahead. Churches and shopping malls closed their doors. Movie theaters followed suit, as did bars and restaurants. The Cactus League baseball season was aborted. School let out early for the year and kids had to rely on distance learning – in many cases without devices or internet connections. Proms and graduation ceremonies were scrapped. The question of when and how to return to school in the fall created no end of agony for administrators, teachers, parents and the students themselves and pitted parents against parents against school districts over the safety of in-class learning. To a large extent, that agony and strife continues in East Valley and other school districts. Thousands of Maricopa County residents succumbed to the coronavirus and far more needed hospitalization, many still at the mercy of lingering health problems. Weddings and funerals, business meetings and church services came by way of Zoom. Hugs and handshakes were things of the past. The economic price was steep as well. Some businesses could not survive their springtime closures, perhaps the most visible symbol of that being the now-vacant Nordstrom store at Chandler Fashion Center. But state and city finances did not fall off the cliff as initially feared. Buoyed by millions in federal relief money as well as surging online sales tax revenue, Phoenix and Arizona averted financial catastrophe, at least for now. And despite the agony shared by many small businesses, one area of the region’s economy that thrived in spite of the pandemic was – and continues to be – the housing market. Home values and prices saw doubledigit increases as a shrinking inventory of re-sale homes left frustrated buyers competing in bidding wars for houses. As rents also increased, other developers won approval for hundreds of new
units in luxury complexes across the East Valley. Meanwhile, Ahwatukee saw the opening of its newest community, Palma Brisa, on a 63-acre site on Desert Foothills Parkway that developer Blandford Homes bought two years ago from Tempe Union High School District. In the waning weeks of 2020, news came that an even larger residential development or developments is in Ahwatukee’s future on 370 acres of State Trust Land on Chandler Boulevard between 19th and 27th avenues. The state Land Department announced it will put the land up for bid with a starting auction price of $109 million. It must be advertised for 10 weeks prior to a live auction, when state officials are hoping for a robust turnout that will drive up the yield. Most of the land is zoned for singlefamily homes so its development will be virtually unstoppable once the sale is completed. Incredibly, the virus and the science involved in mitigating became politicized, so much so that wearing a mask – or not wearing one – became controversial. Anti-mask campaigners in the East Valley, following Trump’s lead, couched their rhetoric in terms of personal freedom even if that meant infecting someone else. Among the more prominent anti-maskers was U.S. Rep. Andy Biggs, a Republican who represents part of the East Valley. Biggs regularly parroted Trump’s dismissal of the COVID threat. As the year ends, it appears vaccines against COVID will be widely available in mid-2021. But until they have been sufficiently deployed, the disease seems likely to have a dire effect on Ahwatukee life well into the new year, especially where schools are concerned. Both Kyrene and Tempe Union hope to open classrooms next month, but that will depend on the coronavirus’ trajectory. Moreover, Tempe Union officials have given no indication when they will go beyond the hybrid learning format that has students in classrooms only two days a week.
see REVIEW page 17
NEWS
AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS | DECEMBER 30, 2020
REVIEW from page 16
Historic political year Maricopa County turned against the president it had supported in 2016, flipping its support to Democrat Joe Biden. In 2016 the county voted 49 percent for Trump and 46 percent for Hillary Clinton. This time out, Biden netted 50.3 percent of the county’s vote, and Trump 48.1. The swing helped Biden nail the state’s 11 electoral votes on his way to the White House, the first time since 1996 that a Democrat had carried Arizona. The East Valley’s two congressional districts voted in predictable fashion, but even here there was erosion in Trump’s support. Heavily Republican District 5 gave Biden 41.9 percent of its vote, as compared with 36.5 percent for Clinton in 2016. The more liberal Ninth District voted 60.8 percent for Biden compared with 54.7 for Clinton four years earlier. Some Republicans – with Trump in the lead – persisted in an unprecedented and baseless effort to overturn the results of a legitimate American election. Among them was State Rep. Kelly Townsend, R-Mesa, who urged the Legis-
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gestion that we violate current law to change the outcome of a certified election,” Bowers said. Overall, however, the East Valley’s political stripes did not change that much. Solidly red legislative districts reflected that in the candidates they sent to the Legislature and Republicans retained control of both houses in the Arizona Capitol. All county offices except for sheriff were won by Republicans, who even took back the County Recorder’s office from Democrat Adrian Fontes. The East Valley’s congressional representation remains the same, with Biggs winning re-election in Fifth District and Democrat Greg Stanton in the Ninth. And Phoenix elected Mayor Kate Gallego to her first full four-year term.
Gov. Doug Ducey and state health services director Dr. Cara Christ became a regular presence online and on TV with their updates on COVID-19 in Arizona. (AFN file photo) lature to ignore the will of the voters and direct that Arizona’s electoral votes be handed to Trump. The Republican speaker of the House,
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Rusty Bowers, also of Mesa, noted that acting on Townsend’s suggestion would be illegal. “I cannot and will not entertain a sug-
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AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS | DECEMBER 30, 2020
Legislator loses first round in vote data suit BY HOWARD FISCHER Capitol Media Services
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judge has refused to order Maricopa County supervisors to comply with a legislative subpoena demanding access to various voting records and equipment. In a ruling last week, Judge Randall Warner said he finds nothing in the Arizona Constitution that specifically allows him to enforce such a subpoena. He rejected arguments by attorney Kory Langhofer that lawmakers have “implicit’’ power to ask a court to enforce their demand. “Whatever implied power the Constitution might confer on the legislature, neither the federal cases cited, nor any provision of the Arizona Constitution cited, supports a grant of such implied power to individual legislators or legislative leadership,’’ Warner wrote. Board of Supervisors Chairman Clint Hickman immediately issued a press release saying that the decision backs the board’s decision to refuse to comply with the subpoenas “to protect both voter privacy and the integrity of our elections.’’ But Hickman’s victory statement may prove premature. While rejecting Langhofer’s arguments about the right of lawmakers to seek judicial intervention, the judge said another of
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his legal theories may have merit. Warner cited a separate state law that says when a public officer is authorized to issue a subpoena, that person can ask a judge to enforce. “This is a plausible argument,’’ the judge said. Only thing is that Langhofer never mentioned that statute in his legal pleadings, meaning Warner could not rule on it. But the judge told Langhofer he is free to file a new legal complaint, this time making that argument, at which point he will consider it – with no guarantee he will rule in his favor. The legal fight is over a pair of subpoenas issued by lame duck Sen. Eddie Farnsworth, R-Gilbert, who chairs the Senate Judiciary Committee which is looking into complaints about how the election was conducted in Maricopa County, whether the Dominion Voting Systems equipment used gave a proper count and whether there are any indications of fraud or misconduct. The Board of Supervisors voted 4-1 to challenge the subpoena in a vote that included three Republicans and the lone Democrat. Only Supervisor Steve Chucri voted “yes.” One subpoena seeks copies of all mail-in and absentee ballots and related 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 as well as the software used. There also 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. The supervisors balked, arguing that much, if not all, that information was confidential. Even if Warner subsequently says the Legislature can ask him to enforce a subpoena, that still doesn’t guarantee that he will agree to do it. That goes to another legal question: Who, exactly, can issue a subpoena? “It’s an absurd notion that any committee chair can seize all the documents they want,’’ attorney Steve Tully who represents the board, noting this isn’t just about producing records. “It’s that they allow some agent of theirs to go in and physically examine some of the machinery,’’ Tully said. “So, the idea that any chair, out of session, can demand this type of access and give it to whoever they want as an agent and then turn it over to whoever they want and then review it on their own is something that I’m quite certain that the
courts would soundly reject.’’ Langhofer countered that state laws allow the Legislature can issue subpoenas. In fact, he argued, that lawmakers don’t even need a specific reason and could go on a “fishing expedition.’’ “Like a grand jury, it can do that,’’ Langhofer said, though he said Farnsworth had reason based on calls of concern from constituents to inquire into the election process. And he said that lawmakers need to find out what, if anything, went wrong this year so they can craft changes to state election laws when the new session starts. But even if Warner agrees, he still has to decide if the statute dealing with refusing a legislative subpoena is as broad as Langhofer claims. It says if a someone does not comply, “the Senate or the House may, by resolution entered into the journal, commit him for contempt.’’ There is, however, no such resolution, with the Senate not in session, but only the permission to issue the subpoena granted to Farnsworth by Senate President Karen Fann, R-Prescott. The law also says that the sergeant at arms can arrest someone for refusing to obey. But here, too, the statute appears to require a signed Senate-passed resolution. Once Langhofer files the new legal papers Warner will schedule a new hearing.
one out of every 100 baby boys born this year in Arizona was named Liam. The same more-than-one-in-100 situation exists for girls, with Olivia standing out among names for newborns for yet another year. That is followed by Emma, Sophia and Mia. So, what’s with the popularity of Liam, an Irish variant on William? A decade ago, it didn’t even crack the Top 20. It could be the effect of movie and pop stars like Liam Neeson, Liam Hemsworth or even Liam Gallagher. Perhaps it’s just a sign of the COVID-19 times. But parents of newborn boys in Arizona are turning increasingly to the Bible when looking for names. How much? This past year, more than half of the top 30 names for boys can be found in
the Bible. That starts with No. 2 Noah, which a decade ago was 10th most popular name but nowhere in the top 20 for decades before that. But this year there’s also Mateo – which is a Latin version of Matthew – as well as Benjamin, Elijah, James, Daniel, Ezekiel and David in the top 20. Samuel, Luke, Isaac, Jacob and Joseph are among in the next 10. For girls, the picture is quite different. There’s a certain volatility over the decades among what parents name their daughters, perhaps affected by everything from literature to film. Consider Jessica, Ashley and Amanda: the top names for girls born in Arizona in 1990. Nowhere are they on the top 100 this year.
Oh, and spelling counts. The way the health department records the list is how the parents list it on a birth certificate. So, for example, Sophia comes in just third with 344 girls with that name in 2020. But add another 146 Sofias and 63 Sophies and you now have the No. 1 name for girls. There are other signs of volatility among names for girls. Consider Nevaeh. It’s “heaven’’ spelled backwards. And it appears to have taken off after Sonny Sandoval, frontman for the Christian rock group P.O.D. (Payable on Death) chose that name for his newborn daughter and took her on MTV in 2000. By 2007 it made it into Arizona’s top 20. And now? No better than 70th.
Liam, Olivia are top 2020 newborns’ names in state
BY HOWARD FISCHER Capitol Media Services
I
f you’re having a baby boy next year, don’t name him Liam or Noah unless you want him to just be another Tom, Dick or Harry. Not that there’s anything wrong with any of those names, old or new. It’s just that for yet another year Liam and Noah remain at the top of the chart for all baby boys born in Arizona in 2020. Sure, there were some Toms born in Arizona in 2020 – but just 91 of them, according to the Arizona Department of Health Services, which keeps track of such things. And there weren’t even enough Richards or Harrys to make the agency’s Top 100. By contrast, there were 442 children named Liam. That means that more than
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Ahwatukee man meets his lifesaver’s parents BY COTY DOLORES MIRANDA AFN Contributor
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t’s been near two years since Ed Kriesel said he’d received “the greatest Christmas gift ever.” Actually, the Ahwatukee man’s gift came in April 2019, when he received word that a donor had been found for a long-needed double-lung transplant. Kriesel had been diagnosed in 2008 with a genetic liver and lung disorder that had reduced him from an active athletic man to someone who relied on an oxygen tank to stay alive. “I’d wanted a transplant for several years because my quality of life wasn’t very good,” he said. “You have to be sick enough to meet certain criteria to be considered for transplant. “You get a score and are ranked accordingly; the higher the score the higher you are on the transplant list. Once lungs are
A year after his double-lung transplant, Ed Kriesel of Ahwatukee says, “Most people think that once you heal from a transplant operation your life goes back to normal which is far from the truth.” Yet, he also noted, “When the alternative is death, the decision becomes much easier.” (Pablo Robles/AFN Staff Photographer)
T
ime may heal some wounds but Michelle Shreeve knows their pain never fully goes away. She still remembers her mother’s death in December 1993 – when Shreeve was only 9. The Gilbert writer – who wrote columns for teens for several years in AFN while she lived in Ahwatukee – has channeled her lingering loss into helping children whose lives have been torn apart by the loss of a parent or other beloved adult. Several years ago, she published “Parental Death: The Ultimate Teen Guide.” It is based on her interviews with 90 people ranging in age from pre-teen to the mid-80s and is part of the “It Happened to Me Ultimate Teen Guide” series published
see TRANSPLANT page 23
available, they go through a matching
process and the first one on the list that
by Rowman & Littlefield and available at Barnes & Noble bookstores and hardback and digital forms on a variety of book-sale websites. Now, Shreeves has embarked on a follow-up to that project. She is working on a book tentatively titled “Coping with Parental Death: Insights and Tips for Teenagers,” which will be a part of publishers Rowman & Littlefield “Empowering You” series. The series is aimed at helping young adults deal with important issues that they or their friends might be facing, such as coming out, having a loved one with dementia, cyberbullying, depression, grief, volunteering and other topics. Each book features stories from teenag-
Former AFN columnist Michelle Shreeve is looking for teens who lost a parent for a new book she is writing. (Special to AFN)
Former AFN columnist seeks teens who lost a parent AFN NEWS STAFF
matches gets the call.” Friends throughout Ahwatukee held fundraisers to help him should the call come. And on April 19, 2019, his daughter Brianna’s birthday, he received his new lungs in a four-hour surgery. The lung transplant surgery was successful and by the end of 2019, Kriesel was able to climb a flight of stairs and ride his bike, a lifelong treasured pastime he had been unable to pursue as his lungs worsened. Last month, Kriesel met the parents of his donor, a 24-year-old Kason Rens of Peoria, who was struck down April 17, 2019, by a 21-year-old woman who was texting when she hit him. Kason Rens, an avid hiker who loved photography, had just completed a hike in Papago Park and was struck minutes after
see AUTHOR page 24
COMMUNITY
DECEMBER 30, 2020 | AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS
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TRANSPLANT from page 22
he shot a selfie of himself wearing a broad smile. Kason had years earlier signed up as an organ donor, prompting his mother Rhonda Rens to reflect on the youngest of her five children, “He was generous in death, as he was in life.” Due to transplant regulations, organ recipients rarely are told anything about their donor or survivors. But Kriesel, 59, connected with Kason’s family after writing a letter that a social worker at the hospital forwarded to them. “I couldn’t put any personal information in the letter, not even the hospital’s name,” Krisel said. “I received a letter back from my donor’s mom a couple of months later through the same process.” The only information Kriesel had at that time was that his donor was male. “Once letters are exchanged, you can reply with more personal information. I sent a letter back and told them I would really like to know more about him and to possibly talk on the phone or even meet in person. I left her my name and phone number.” Four months later, Kriesel had assumed the family would not be responding and he resigned himself to the fact it was “totally understandable.” One day, while at the gym, his cell phone buzzed and the screen indicated an unfamiliar number. “Normally I wouldn’t answer but for some reason, this time I did. The voice on the other end said ‘Is this Ed Kriesel?’ I said ‘Yes’ and he said ‘My name is Jeff Rens, I believe you received my son’s lungs.’ I was absolutely shocked,” he recalled. Though he said he’d long been thinking of what he’d say should the donor’s family contact him, he found himself nearly speechless. “At that moment, I couldn’t think of anything to say except how grateful I was to have received the gift of life,” Kriesel said. “We talked a while and he told me everything that happened, and more about his son. “It was a great conversation. I didn’t know it at the time but later found out that he had a very difficult time after we hung up because he said he could hear his son’s lungs every time I took a breath.” Kriesel and the family agreed to meet Nov. 5 at the Rens’ Peoria home. “That day was so emotional for me and
Ed Kriesel, second from left, and his daughter Bri recently met Jeff and Rhonda Rens, the Peoria parents of Kason Rens, whose lungs were donated to Kriesel after he was killed by a texting driver. (Courtesy Ed Kriesel) I’m sure for them. Thankfully my daughter Bri was able to go with me which was a big help. Here we were walking up to a home to meet complete strangers and at the same time feeling an amazing connection to them.” The emotional meeting lasted more than two hours and they relayed more about the circumstances surrounding their son’s death. “They shared so much about their son and family. There were hugs, tears, and some laughter. He had just finished hiking. He loved hiking and taking photos of saguaros and was crossing the street when a young woman driver struck him. I was told by the parents she admitted texting to the police officers and it was captured on their cam.” They said the young woman was charged with driving while distracted. Kriesel, who has two children – Blake, 28, and Brianna 24 – said he felt their pain. “This young man lost his life and just imagine what the family has gone through, and is still going through because of a senseless act. I’m sure those who have lost a child know exactly what I’m talking about,” he said. “And yet, at only 24, he had the forethought and unselfishness to become an organ donor. I believe he told his mom ‘If I don’t need them anymore, why shouldn’t someone else benefit from them.’
“He saved five lives with his generosity. I’m here today and am able to spend another Christmas with my kids because of him. I’m able to ride my bike which I never thought I’d be able to do again. I ride all over Ahwatukee and think of him every time.” Understandably, Kriesel is a strong advocate for organ transplant registration. “Organ donation is so important. An estimated 20 people die every day waiting for an organ,” he said. He confessed the transplant medications brought other health issues he hadn’t experienced before - including type 2 diabetes. “Most people think that once you heal from a transplant operation your life goes back to normal, which is far from the truth. The recovery and medications you have to take, are really tough on your body and can cause many other issues. You take steps forward and steps backwards,” said Kriesel. “You end up living a new normal.” “As the transplant team said prior to my transplant ‘You trade one set of problems for another!’ When the alternative is death, the decision becomes much easier,” he said. “Unless you’ve gone through an organ transplant or are close to someone who has, it’s really hard to understand the long term impact it has on your life.” Since his life-saving transplant, he’s living his life to the fullest he’s able, and that
includes going to the gym to continually strengthen his body, and once again, riding his bike around Ahwatukee. “I am immunocompromised now, and that’s because anti-rejection drugs suppress your immune system and that’s forever. So, I have to be very careful. And I’m being careful. But I’ve got a brand new set of lungs and I’m not going to just sit around,” he said, adding this past summer he visited his brother, other family and friends in Minnesota where he’d grown up. “There are times when it gets frustrating because of some of the limitations and not feeling that great a lot of the days and dealing with diabetes and acid reflux, mostly from all the medications. And I’m still having quite a bit of pain around the incision site,” he said. “Then I step back and think of the things I can do now that I couldn’t a year and a half ago, and think of what the donor has given me and what the donor’s family must be going through and then the pity party is over!! I’ve been given the greatest Christmas gift ever and feel really blessed to have a second chance!” Kriesel, as well as the Rens, have become a strong advocate for no texting while driving. “I’m sure we’ve all done it at some point but is texting while driving really worth the risk of taking someone’s life?” he asked. “I know for the Rens family it certainly is not!” Information on organ donations: OrganDonor.gov
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COMMUNITY
Ahwatukee girl appearing in unique online Broadway show AFN NEWS STAFF
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n Ahwatukee girl will perform in the world’s first live online Broadway musical production in which the cast will perform from different locations multiple times. Amber Chen, 11, was chosen from hundreds of submissions in a worldwide casting call for Actors Technique New York’s virtual production of “Disney’s Newsies” this Saturday and the following weekend. ATNY invented the methodology and technology for the show and has a provisional patent for the software. The production is also being watched by industry professionals because it could give theaters the opportunity
AUTHOR from page 22
to provide a virtual in-person run of a show. Tickets are available at actorstechniqueny.ticketleap.com/newsiesatny. Amber will appear in three of six shows – 6-9 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 3; 7-10 p.m. Jan. 9 and 2-5 p.m. Jan. 10. “Many livestreams being utilized for ‘Christmas Carol’ or ‘Nutcracker’ this holiday season are actually either a streamed taped performance, a livestream of a show being performed in a theatre, one-actor shows or are Zoom-type performances where the cast have rewritten the play to minimize choral work because Zoom and other videoconferencing software is horrible for choral singing due to lags,” explained Am-
ers themselves to provide personal perspectives to the issue. Shreeve is looking to connect with anyone 13 to 19 years old who has lost a parent. “I’m also looking for adults who lost their parents when they were between 13-19 as well who would like to share their story to help other teens navigate this difficult situation,” she said. Although the publisher only wants teens’ voices in the book, Shreeve looks for adults who can add a perspective as she is crafting the new project. Teens can email her at writtenbymikey@ gmail.com, she will send them a questionnaire that she will edit and send to her publisher while sending them a consent letter their parent or guardian can sign that allows their words to be published. There is an option for anonymity in the book. The last time Shreeve did this she received over 60 emails in 24 hours, so she advises that respondents should be patient because she will get back to them in the order their initial email is received. Her goal is to “offer support, healthy coping mechanisms, advice from other teens who have experienced parental death and from adults looking back to when they lost
AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS | DECEMBER 30, 2020
ber’s mother, Heather Sapp. Amber is no stranger to the theater, which she said she enjoys because “I like making people happy.” A fifth grader at Monte Vista Elementary School, she has been performing since she was 4, when she participated in her first dance recital. She also has played in three years of the Ahwatukee Nutcracker, starting in second grade playing the Mouse Budding Ahwatukee performer Amber Chen is appearing the next two weekends in a unique online Broadway musical. (Special to AFN)
one or both of their parents during their teen years.” “It will offer resources, organizations, support groups and more to help teens not feel alone who are facing a parental death situation,” Shreeve explained. “It will also list movies, books, and notable figures in society who grew up without one or both of their parents but still gave something positive back to the world.” Shreeve said her own mother’s death still pains her, especially on holidays and particularly on Mother’s Day. For a while, she said, “I would also watch comforting motherless daughter or mother-daughter movies to help make it through the day, not to mention talk to her and cry.” A 2003 graduate of Mountain Pointe High School, Shreeve holds two undergraduate degrees in psychology and two master’s degrees in English and creative writing. Between 2008-16, she wrote the Ask Mikey advice column for the Ahwatukee Foothills News and has been a freelance writer since 2008, frequently writing about the topic of parental death. “I want to make sure kids, teens, young adults and grieving families know that they’re not alone in this, and that there are many others who have gone through parental death or are currently going
see AMBER page 25
through it like they are,” she said. “When I was young and going through my own personal loss, I used to get scared and worried about my future,” Shreeve explained. “I would often think my life was in trouble because I didn’t have two parents to support me like most of my peers did. “I would think to myself, there has to be someone out there who lost a mother/ parent like I did but was still able to make it. I knew that I couldn’t be the only person out there.” Before reaching out to people for her first book, she researched the topic of parent death and found “many notable people – Nobel Prize Laureates, actors, athletes, musicians, philosophers and more – who grew up to give something positive back to the world but who also lost a parent like I did.” “I thought if they could make it through their childhood without one or both of their parents and still pursue their dreams or give something positive back to the world, then maybe I could make it too. And that gave me strength and motivation on my challenging days. I also used it as a therapeutic coping method.” She had not been prepared for the responses she received when she was seeking people for her first book. “Each and every one of the participants’ stories was heartbreaking, especially when
realizing what they went through at such a young age,” Shreeve said. “There were many times when I had to walk away from the computer as my heart broke for each participant. … Let’s just say many tears were shed and went into this book that came from both the participants and myself.” “In the book, I tell children and teens there are two ways you can handle your loss throughout the rest of your life: You can either use it as a handicap and say you don’t know how to do this or that because your parent wasn’t there to teach you, OR you can learn things on your own, be there for yourself instead of dependent on others and teach yourself the things your late parent left off teaching you.” “Something I’ve noticed over coping with the death of my mother, helping others feels like the right thing to do.” She still thinks about her mom. “I try to act like she’s still here,” she explained. “I talk to people about her, I watch movies that I think she and I would have probably watched together, I look at old pictures and I even talk to her daily. I’ve learned a lot about myself, some things the hard way... but that is why I wanted to share this book with other kids and teens who might be struggling with parental death.” To order her �irst book: rowman. com/ISBN/9781442270879/ParentalDeath-The-Ultimate-Teen-Guide
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DECEMBER 30, 2020 | AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS
AMBER from page 24
and an Angel, as well as Dance Studio 111’s summer productions of “Shrek Jr.” and “Frozen Jr.” and is hoping to play the title role of “Snow White” in the Ahwatukee Children’s Theatre’s spring production. Besides dancing, she also is a competitive figure skater and is a red belt in taekwondo. Sapp said her daughter is “getting the chance to live her Broadway dreams while not even leaving the desert” and perform in a production that will make it appear as if the cast is on stage together. Veteran Broadway performer and producer Carl Anthony Tramon built his own dedicated online server to accommodate the audiostream and will be feeding the music tracks into a secondary app in which the actors “will sing and speak.” “The voices will then be woven together in cyberspace and sent back to me, which I will then mix in a Digital Audio Workstation and feed into our proprietary broadcast software along with your individual video streams (chroma-keyed and extracted) as well as fresh stereo music tracks as the final audio,” Tramon explained. “I will manually adjust the millisec-
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onds on all three feeds so that they will all match up with each other and thus be synchronized, before sending it out to the Live audience streaming software. This will all happen live and in real time.” Amber will play Spot Conlon, the leader of the Brooklyn newsies in a production that was based on the 1899 Newsboys Strike in New York. “The entire experience has been amazing for her, getting to work with talented Broadway professionals,” Sapp said. Along with Tramon, who is producing “War of the Roses” for Broadway, “Newsies” is choreographed by Robert Taylor Jr, a former contestant on “So You Think You Can Dance” who was in the original Broadway cast of the Tony Award-winning “Spongebob the Musical” and is currently an instructor at Broadway Dance Center. Amber and the cast have been rehearsing for the production since September.
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BUSINESS
DECEMBER 30, 2020 | AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS
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East Valley couple teaches the art of cooking BY MONIQUE SELEEN AFN Contributor
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weet Moments Company is cooking up ways for people to gather virtually and learn how to prepare everything from gourmet meals to decadent desserts – all from the comfort of their own homes. Mesa couple Therese and Brent Ludwig, launched the company in 2019 with a desire to connect with people through hands-on cooking and learning. After years of owning and operating a bakery, Therese said she was ready for a change. “I was done with the crazy hours that came with running the bakery,” she said. “I love teaching and interacting with people, sharing the knowledge of food, and getting in the kitchen and having fun.” Sweet Moments began by offering inhome services. Therese, a trained pastry chef and culinary instructor, would conduct private cooking lessons from the person’s home. But with COVID-19, the Ludwigs knew they had to adapt the company to the changing times. Over the summer, they transitioned all their classes to virtual formats and started marketing their services in Eastmark, the master-planned community where they reside. Sweet Moments Company now offers a wide variety of virtual classes, including their Date Night option for couples wishing to prepare a more upscale dinner with items like seared lamb lollipops with herb couscous and red wine sauce. There are also several family-friendly classes to choose from including cookie decorating and cupcake-making, which
Theresa Ludwig of Mesa's Eastmark community and her husband Brent own the Sweet Moments Company, which teaches people the art of gourmet cooking. (Special to AFN) Therese said tend to be some of the most popular classes. The company also offers general cooking classes which explore common cooking techniques that aren’t quite as upscale as the Date Night option. In addition, they are launching a fourweek Intro to Cooking Course beginning in the new year that will cover topics such as knife skills, sauce making, soups, salads, and dressings. A complete dinner will follow each session. Once registered for a class, all ingredients are prepared and pre-measured in the company’s commercial kitchen, then either shipped or delivered to the participant’s front door the day before the class. Classes are then conducted via Zoom
and are taught in real-time by Therese from her home kitchen. “It was important to me that I teach out of my own kitchen to show a comfortable environment and that it can be done at home,” said Therese. “I want all the classes to have that warm and welcoming feeling.” Behind the scenes, Therese’s husband Brent, a full-time engineer by day, dedicates his spare time to helping with the technical side of the business, doing the camera work, filming and handling the finances. “He is the backbone of the company,” said Therese. Therese, who is a full-time culinary instructor at Scottsdale Community College, manages the company’s social media, responds to emails, han-
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dles all the class bookings, shops for the ingredients and prepares the ingredients for all the classes. With so many moving parts, Therese said it has been tough getting everything organized as the company continues to grow. “Time has been our biggest challenge,” she said, adding; “We’ve spent a lot of time developing our products, figuring out new packaging, and creating new methods to make it more efficient.” Therese said they have plans to expand and hope to eventually bring on more chefs and some help with the kitchen prep work and the portioning and shipping in the new year. While COVID-19 has taken a toll on several small businesses, Therese said Sweet Moments has thrived in its new virtual format. “It has had a positive impact on us and really helped kick-start our business,” she said. The company also offers private course bookings which Therese said have been a hit with large corporations. “A lot of companies are contacting us wanting to set up a virtual get together as a holiday gift to their employees or as a team building event,” said Therese. Bringing people together in the kitchen is exactly what inspired the name for the company. Therese, who said her love for cooking and baking was fostered by her mother, said she wanted to recreate those special memories for others. “It is so rewarding to see people interact and do something together,” said Therese. “It’s not just about cooking, it’s about bringing sweet moments to the kitchen.” Information: smcoaz.com.
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AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS | DECEMBER 30, 2020
Here are some lessons 2020 taught investors BY JOSEPH ORTIZ AFN Guest Writer
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s the year draws to a close, it’s fair to say that we’ve all learned something about the social, political, physical and environmental forces that have affected everyone. And, in some ways, our lives will be changed, perhaps permanently. But as an investor, what lessons can you learn from 2020? Here are some to consider: The markets look ahead. Here’s something many investors discovered in 2020: Investment prices don’t always move in the same direction as the overall economy. This might not have seemed apparent right after the COVID-19 pandemic struck in mid-February, as the overall economy and the stock market took big hits. But just about five weeks later, the markets began a rally that lasted several months. During this time, the economy also recovered somewhat, but still remains on weak footing. What can explain this discrepancy between the markets and economic activity? Essentially, economic numbers, such as the unemployment rate and gross domestic product (GDP), reflect what’s happening today, but the markets are always looking toward tomorrow, which means they are anticipating a stronger economic recovery and the results that come with it, such as greater corporate earnings in 2021. No one can say for sure what the future holds, but you can usually know the market’s opinion by its performance. Opportunities will always exist for investors. Although the coronavirus seems unprecedented, the equity markets have rebounded from many crises before it. From war to global financial meltdowns, the market has seen it all. But even at the
height of these events, when the markets might be most affected, individual segments or industries can do well. For example, in the current environment, when many people have been forced to work and shop from home, and get their entertainment online, it’s probably not surprising that some parts of the technology sector have seen their economic activity grow, along with their stock prices. Here’s the key point: Investment opportunities always exist, especially in times of market stress – and smart investors will find them and incorporate them into their portfolios in a way that’s appropriate for their goals and risk tolerance. Patience and discipline can pay dividends. As mentioned above, the stock market dropped sharply in the weeks immediately following the pandemic, but then gained steadily for months afterward. Investors who tried to “cut losses” and exited the market likely did so at the wrong time and missed out on the beginning of the upturn. Unfortunately, this is not uncommon – investors who overreact to market declines often find themselves on the investment sidelines just when a new rally begins. Rather than being reactive in this way, you may be better off sticking with a longterm investment strategy, and buying and selling investments only when it makes sense for your situation, such as when you need to diversify your portfolio. For many reasons, it’s unlikely that we’ll see anything exactly like 2020 again. But some of the investment lessons we learned are applicable in every year – so keep them in mind for 2021 and beyond.
Joseph Ortiz is a financial planner for Edward Jones. Reach him at 480-753-7664 or joseph.ortiz@edwardjones.com
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Challenging year taught us what matters BY MOSES SANCHEZ AFN Guest Writer
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month ago, community members and I had coffee and reflected on the year 2020. The conversation was emotional. We all had hopes and excitement as the year began and added local, state, and federal elections and 2020 would be a roller coaster ride. News started coming in about COVID in February, and we remember there was so much unknown. I finished the Black Canyon Ultra-Marathon in mid-February and then went to an international conference in San Diego at the end of February. That’s the first time I realized something was different. A gathering of typically 5,000 participants had about 1,800, and a presenter that sat next to me had his laptop open with the COVID tracking numbers on a global digital map. March shutdowns began in different parts of our country. Flatten the Curve. Local restaurants and small businesses were frustrated with the rules and regulations placed on them by local, state,
and guidelines coming in from federal officials. “They keep changing and they’re inconsistent,” said one business owner. Congress passed the Cares Act, and April came with the Paycheck Protection Program. Locally, our lives were flipped upside down as panic set in during the course of ordinary life events. My mother-in-law passed away due to pancreatic cancer. She passed in our home with her four kids, 10 grandchildren, their significant others and when the funeral happened, we had to pick 10 people to attend Mass at Corpus Christi. We are a traditional Hispanic family! That’s when we joined the millions of Americans this year using live video stream for a momentous occasion. The greatest economy on earth had shut down. The summer of fear was here. Furloughs and two-income households were suddenly hanging on to whatever income they had. Panic turned to fear and anxiety in our homes. Fear quickly turned to depression and
anger. A global pandemic turned political and longtime friendships and families would be tested. COVID and the election blended together and it became “Us versus Them,” said one coffee drinker. “We can’t agree to disagree anymore” and “The year the government helped the most was also the year it hurt the most.” By the end of the fall, families had torn apart. Decades-long relationships would break up due to opinions on COVID and politicians running for office. Election night came and we had newly elected leaders across the Valley. Our conversation wasn’t a pro or against a political person or issue but revolved around the vitriol and breakups between family and friends during a divisive election cycle. To many, this was the year of the “unfriend” button. With December came some hope. Usually, a typical vaccine would take years, if not a decade, to be created. Still, thanks to the deregulatory environment and a considerable funding push, this vaccine came about in a matter of months. Furthermore, this vaccine is
anything but typical. This mRNA vaccine advances medical technology forever. My wife, a local physician, received her first shot on Christmas Eve. After asking many locals what they learned from 2020, here’s what I came up with. I believe we learned What Matters Most. To some, family mattered most. To others, friends and relationships mattered most. For some, good health mattered most. Others, freedoms mattered most. For me, time mattered most. The cliché of buying time really hit home. I lost loved ones this year to life and lost close friends to COVID. I wish I had more time with them. Time with family and friends mattered most to me. As we move into 2021, there is still a lot of uncertainty in our community and our lives. Herd immunity? Our schools? Local businesses? But if we ponder what matters most to us and focus on that, I am hopeful that 2021 will be better than 2020. Ahwatukee business owner Moses Sanchez was the 2018 Republican candidate for Phoenix mayor.
limited legal use of marijuana for severe and specific medical conditions to include all responsible adult use. The intent was not just to restore civil rights and freedom of choice but more broadly to address major consequences of cannabis prohibition – prison overcrowding with nonviolent offenders, economic and social barriers stemming from a felony conviction, racial and economic disparities in the justice system, friction between our law enforcement and communities, disallowance of a safer alternative to alcohol and tobacco use and lacking resources for treatment of substance abuse. In this light, the phrase “recreational marijuana” use does not seem to do jus-
tice to this landmark moment in history and our aspirations. However, when you look deeper at the origins and uses of the word “recreation,” it starts to feel quite appropriate. The term “recreation” has its foundation in health and healing. Its uses have included restoration, curing of a person, to make anew, recovery from illness, to invigorate and to refresh. And now with Smart and Safe, industry and activists have found common ground in cannabis to address deep divisions and imbalances between our government, laws, communities and people with the promise of re-creation to restore unity, heal inequalities, invigorate economics and revitalize faith in democracy.
I have been on the front line of this reconciliation in Arizona, first with the 2010 Arizona Medical Marijuana Act and now with the 2020 Smart and Safe Arizona Act. As with many others, my family and my life have been deeply impacted by the war on drugs. Now, I am seeing a path to recovery. It is being built through cooperation, understanding, tolerance, unity, medicine, and recreation. I joined a start-up company in 2012, Harvest Health & Recreation. They asked me to share my knowledge of cannabis culture and botanical medicine and to serve as an advocate for patients, care-
Recreational marijuana a defining moment for Arizona BY DR. WILLIAM TROUTT AFN Guest Writer
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n Nov. 3, Arizona citizens voted in support of Prop 207, the Smart and Safe Arizona Act, which has been termed “recreational marijuana.” When we think of the term “recreation,” synonyms like “fun,” “enjoyment” and “pleasure” come to mind. However, Smart and Safe is much more profound, going beyond what the term recreational marijuana would suggest by focusing on the repair of community, political, social and economic issues. Smart and Safe expands the previously
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AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS | DECEMBER 30, 2020
TROUTT from page 29
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givers, and the communities we serve. As Harvest’s medical director for the last eight years, I have collaborated with industry leaders, government representatives, business stakeholders, and medical organizations to advance cannabis programs and assist patients and our communities in their quest for safe, informed cannabis access. Personally, I have witnessed medical success stories, courage, and unity, which have rejuvenated my hope and optimism for the future. For thousands of years, cannabis has been used for food, fuel, fiber, medicine, spirituality/religion, health and leisure. And now in Arizona we can appropriately call its use recreation. I, for one, believe that this expanded access to legal cannabis for responsible adult “recreational” use – by any definition – is healthy for our communities. Dr. William Troutt is director of medical education for Harvest Health & Recreation.
Sports & Recreation DECEMBER 30, 2020 | AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS
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Thunder basketball facing adversity before new season BY ZACH ALVIRA AFN Sports Editor
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esert Vista High School’s boys’ basketball program finished the 201920 season by capturing the 6A state championship and appeared to be in prime position to repeat the next year. Then, however, the coronavirus pandemic struck. Despite having already finished the season, the Thunder found themselves facing an uphill battle as recently as November. Starting forward Osasere Ighodaro graduated and went on to play at Marquette University. Desert Vista’s other forward, John Soloman, moved back to Florida unexpectedly after the season while guard Andrew King transferred to play for Phoenix Prep. When the Arizona Interscholastic Association announced in November the winter sports season would be delayed until Jan. 5, standout guard Dasean Lecque left the program to join Hillcrest Prep. Marcus Wady, the program’s other guard, moved
Caleb Harbertson, one of the few seniors on this season’s Desert Vista basketball team, is taking on a leadership role for the Thunder. (Pablo Robles/AFN Staff)
the eyes of many around the state. But in some ways, that’s what this year’s group prefers. “We are trying to teach them they can only control what they can control,” St. Cyr said. “If we want to be successful, it will take a lot of hard work. With this group, it has to be a 14, 15-man effort. It has to be a combination of effort from all of these guys. “But so far, they’ve showed they’re up for that challenge.” St. Cyr, a Desert Vista alum, took over the program as interim co-head coach with Mountain Pointe alum Jordan Ballard. The two stepped up to fill the vacant head coaching position just one month before the start of the season. An assistant coach with the varsity football program, St. Cyr has now experienced two regimen changes in just a few weeks. Longtime head football coach Dan Hinds announced his retirement in November after 19 years leading the Thunder program.
to Texas. On Dec. 3, head coach Gino Crump, who had been terminated last season after he attempted to stop an altercation then was reinstated, resigned and
took over the national team at Bella Vista Prep in Scottsdale. In a matter of months, Desert Vista went from contender to bottom feeder in
folds next season.” Wisdom coached several high schools in Nebraska and was the tight ends coach at the University of Nebraska, Omaha from 2006-08. He served as the offensive coordinator at Valley Vista before he was hired to take over the Horizon program in 2016, a year after the Huskies went 0-10 in Division I. Since then, he’s led the Huskies to a 31-18 record, which includes three playoff appearances. This past season Wisdom and the Huskies navigated through adversity brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic. At one point, Horizon was forced to play a game against Gilbert with less than 30 players and canceled its matchups against Saguaro and Maricopa due to additional cases within the program. As a result, Horizon finished 3-3 over-
Ty Wisdom, who coached the Horizon High School football program to the inaugural Open Division playoffs in 2019, has been hired to take over Desert Vista’s program. (Pablo Robles/AFN Staff)
�ee THUNDERpage 32
DV recommends Horizon’s Ty Wisdom as next head football coach
BY ZACH ALVIRA AFN Sports Editor
T
y Wisdom, who coached the Horizon High School football program to the inaugural Open Division playoffs in 2019, has been recommended to the Tempe Union High School District Governing Board to take over Desert Vista’s program. Desert Vista Athletic Director Tommy Eubanks announced Wisdom as the new head coach of the Thunder in a press release Tuesday morning. “There was a lot of interest in this position and I’m 150% confident that we selected the right man for the job,” Eubanks said in the release. “This is such an exciting time for DV Football, with the unveiling of our turf field, and now bringing someone of Ty’s caliber to our program. It’s going to be exciting to watch what un-
�ee WISDOM page 32
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AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS | DECEMBER 30, 2020
THUNDER from page 31
His ability to step into a head coaching role alongside Ballard came after he was one of the few coaches to remain with the program from Crump’s staff. St. Cyr’s knowledge of the players in the program and the game itself have blended well with Ballard’s expertise in basketball. It has created a positive environment so far for players who were thrust into a difficult situation. “I was called on a Friday and had to be to work on Monday,” Ballard said of the timeline when he was hired. “I didn’t know any of the players and they didn’t know me, but they were all willing to learn and wanted to get better. I knew it would be a learning curve, but we are getting there faster than I expected.” Desert Vista will be led by a small group of just three seniors this season. Despite their veteran status on the varsity roster, few had received considerable playing time in year’s past. Caleb Harbertson is the most experienced senior on this year’s team. He found himself on the receiving end of playing time during Desert Vista’s championship season last year. But he was
WISDOM from page 31
all and missed the 5A playoffs, which was decreased from 16 teams to eight due to the shortened season. Wisdom informed his team of his departure on Tuesday morning. “(Horizon) is the reason I have this opportunity at Desert Vista,” Wisdom said. “My coaches, the administration there that took a shot at a kid from Nebraska five years ago. They all bought into the vision there. It’s a better place now than where I found it. “Like I told them this morning, I’m their biggest fan. I want them to succeed and I know they will.” Wisdom takes over the Desert Vista program after former coach Dan Hinds announced his retirement following the 2020 season. Hinds led the Thunder for 19 years as head coach and was part of the program as an assistant under Jim Rattay when the school opened in 1997. Just as he did with Horizon in 2016, Wisdom will inherit a team coming off its worst season in history. The Thunder finished 0-6 this past season and had its share of COVID-related issues as well. Af-
Junior guard Daylyn Martin aims to establish himself as Desert Vista’s floor general this season as he steps into a starting role. (Pablo Robles/AFN Staff) never leaned upon by other players or coaches to take on a leadership role within the program, especially with Ighodaro leading the way in that position as the only senior last season. But this upcoming season, however, is different. Not only will the coaching staff lean upon him to be a leader on the court,
ter a positive test in Week 6, Desert Vista canceled its game against Chandler. Despite a winless season, Wisdom will have plenty of talent at his disposal. All three Desert Vista quarterbacks return next season, including sophomore starter Jackson Akins. Star running back Devon Grubbs, who battled injuries all season, will return for his senior year as the unsung captain of the offense and team. Sophomore running back Quinton Ivey, who took over in Grubbs’ absence, also returns along with do-it-all sophomore athlete Michael Allison, who played a key role in all facets of the game for Desert Vista. The Thunder also return most of their starting offensive line, which is key for Wisdom who takes pride in coaching that group. “I’m super excited,” Wisdom said. “I’m excited to meet the kids and talk about our vision together. It’s going to take everybody buying in to get back to competing for championships. That’s why I’m here, we need to be competing in the Open championship year in and year out.” Akins, who figures to once again be the starting quarterback under Wisdom next
but in the stat book as well. A 6-foot-2 guard, Harbertson has range and enough explosiveness to contend for rebounds on the glass. He knows he is stepping into an expanded role this season in a variety of different ways, and it’s a challenge he’s willing to face head on. “(Ighodaro) was a good example for me
season, was able to meet his new head coach Tuesday afternoon at Desert Vista along with offensive tackle Jai Rodriguez. Wisdom shared his vision for the program with the two key returning starters for the Thunder. “He brings a lot of revival to this program,” Akins said. “He flipped Horizon around from a team that was defeated all season to one that is in the playoffs. I feel like he can do that with us and I’m excited for next season.” Rodriguez enjoyed the thought of Wisdom helping out with the offensive line. He believes that will help him and the rest of his teammates in the trenches to build camaraderie with their new coach at a fast pace. “I’m looking forward to it,” Rodriguez said. “He’s a great coach who I’m sure can turn this program around. Nobody expected coach Hinds to leave but it’s something we have to roll with. It’ll be a different transition, but it’ll be a good one.” Wisdom was among more than 20 applicants that applied for the head coaching job at Desert Vista, according to a source familiar with the hiring process that involved interviews the week after the con-
coming up behind him through the program,” Harbertson said. “I’ve definitely seen myself have to step up. We’ve got a young team. But we are talented. It makes this season exciting.” Along with Harbertson, St. Cyr and Ballard will lean upon junior forward Tayan Thompson and guard Daylyn Martin. As a sophomore, Thompson saw considerable playing time on last year’s team, often coming off the bench for Ighodaro or Soloman. The 6-foot-5 forward averaged 5.5 points and 2.4 rebounds per game last season. Martin, meanwhile, also found himself coming off the bench last season. But he knows this year presents an opportunity for him to showcase his leadership ability and overall skill on the court. In many ways, he is aiming to use his lack of playing time last year as motivation. Overall, he wants to become Desert Vista’s next floor general and help lead the Thunder to success. Even if many other teams are already overlooking them. “A lot of us from last year will have to step up,” Martin said. “I just want to show people that I can be a leader. I can get my teammates going and bring their energy up. “We want to shock some people.”
clusion of the 2020 season. Wisdom said he will immediately begin building his coaching staff, which he hopes to have in place by the end of January. The head coaching job at Desert Vista peaked Wisdom’s interest from the time it was open. Especially when taking into consideration the program had just two head coaches in its history. Despite its struggles last season, he aims to return the program to a championship level and perhaps capture Desert Vista’s third-ever state title. “When you have two head coaches in history, that says something,” Wisdom said. “The expectations they have here and everything that goes along with it, it’s a premier job in the Valley. I want to make sure these kids know they’re valued in this program. Whether they’re a freshman or sophomore, I will know them. “It’ll take buy-in from all levels to build this program back to where it should be.”
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DECEMBER 30, 2020 | AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS
SPORTS
Coyotes building fan base among women, young people BY JAKE SANTO AND MICHAEL GUTNICK Cronkite News
F
rom “Rookie of the Year” to “Little Giants,” sports movies captivated kids growing up in the 1990s. One of those was a young girl from Chandler, who fell in love with an unlikely sport – hockey. As someone who found her love from the Mighty Ducks film franchise, the fast-paced, bone chilling drama of Coach Gordon Bombay and his group of misfits overcoming the odds resonated with Lyndsey Fry. These days, the Olympic silver medalist in women’s hockey is a key figure in the Arizona Coyotes’ movement to increase youth hockey participation in the state, especially in non-traditional markets. With various youth development programs and outreach efforts, the Coyotes are making an impact. “The youth hockey market and the growth (in Arizona) is phenomenal,” said Coyotes President and CEO Xavier A. Gutierrez. “Every youth hockey fan that you can identify and convert leads to 3.3 more fans.” Arizona ranks second among all U.S. NHL markets in total growth percentage over the past five years, according to a 2019 study by USA Hockey. In addition, Arizona ranked first in total percentage growth for female hockey players and first for total 8-and-under hockey participation percentage over the past five years. Fry leads the Coyotes’ female development program, the Arizona Kachinas, which looks to promote female youth participation within the Valley in a welcoming environment, while growing the outreach efforts of the Coyotes statewide. The NHL club is also reaching out to youth in the Hispanic community. Fry and the Arizona Coyotes have been instrumental leaders in growing the game. Girls hockey in Arizona has grown 53 percent over the last five years and 236 percent in the last decade, according to the Coyotes. The year before the organization relocated to Arizona from Winnipeg in 1996, just four female players were registered with USA Hockey, the governing body for amateur participation in the sport. In 2019, 779 females were registered in the state, including 91 players ages 6 and under. Since their arrival, the Coyotes have been
three different rinks. “To be able to have one core place … to know that we’re here I think is going to be a game changer with getting more girls involved.” When the Coyotes came to Arizona Lyndsey Fry, participating in a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the new Coyotes 24 years ago, Community Ice Center, is happy to have a home for the Arizona Kachinas, the organization’s female development program. (Michael Gutnick/Cronkite News) a new rink sprouted from proactive in their pursuit of getting more the ground in Chandler shortly after. Ever more inspired, Fry, now 28, laced up a pair kids involved with hockey in the desert. Gutierrez wants to continue the trend. of skates and took the ice for the first time. “It was pretty much lights out from there Within weeks of taking office, he and his team partnered with Eddie Hill, owner of for me,” Fry said. “I started playing at Polar the Arizona Made Ice Forum, completing Ice Chandler and I never looked back.” She overcame the adversity that accomthe ninth full-time rink in the state with panied competing with boys until high the Coyotes Community Ice Center. Located on Country Club Drive and First school. Back-and-forth trips to Colorado Street in Mesa, the Arizona Kachinas now followed before eventually competing for have a permanent home for the dozen an Olympic medal with Team USA. teams practicing and playing home games. And she wondered how she would uti“This is huge for the girls, not just for the lize her degree from Harvard. girls who are playing hockey now but for She soon realized she could give girls the the girls who are going to be playing for spark reminiscent of her childhood days. next 10, 15, 20 years. We’ve never had a “I honestly thought doing something in home that’s exclusively dedicated to girls hockey was a waste of my education, but I hockey,” Fry said. “Before, we were just came back, ran a couple clinics and saw the putting our programs where we could. We impact I could have on kids and give them were finding whatever ice time we could. what so many people gave to me,” she said. Sometimes one program would be across “To be able to give them this new rink and be a part of the team that brought this all together has been an absolute honor.” Coyotes forward Clayton Keller was reminded of his youth hockey days in St. Louis when a new rink opened up 10 minutes away from his home. “That was the Arizona Coyotes ownership wants to continue the growth of youth biggest thing for hockey. Arizona ranks second among all other U.S. NHL markets in total me growing up,” growth percentage over the past five years, according to a study by Keller said. “Back USA Hockey. (Jake Santos/Cronkite News)
33
when I started playing, the same thing kind of happened. A new rink opened up and I was just so excited to come play. It’s a huge part, having rinks and having somewhere you can call home.” On top of building rinks within the Valley, the Coyotes have made their presence felt in hard-to-reach communities. “I guarantee we make Coyotes fans because we were here,” Gutierrez said. “We introduced them to a sport most of them probably had not even known existed. No one had given them that stick and put it in their hand and said, ‘Here you go.’ This could be a part of their personal sports journey.” The Coyotes continue to grow its expanding fan base, appealing to a younger audience born in the state of Arizona. “It starts with the physical space, then you go to the clubs and the leagues while going to all of the young people who haven’t been exposed to it yet,” Gutierrez said. “First and foremost is how do all of these rinks get tied to us. It’s about building those relationships and becoming deeper and more engaged.” With the COVID-19 pandemic taking place, the Coyotes have instituted a new program to help kids experience hockey from a home environment. Earlier this fall, the team created the Coyotes Virtual Hockey School. All done remotely via instructional videos, the course helps students learn new hockey skills with daily workouts and institute new mindset goals for students. An important goal for Gutierrez is to raise more awareness in the Latino community to experience hockey. The Coyotes, seeking opportunity, launched three Spanish-language social media accounts in September. Seven percent of Hispanic men ages 18 to 49 in Phoenix had a Coyotes game in the preceding year, according to the 2015 DATOS report by the Arizona Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. “Somebody in this neighborhood is going to become an NHL player, simply by this ice sheet being created,” Armstrong said. “Some family will stroll in that are not hockey people, and the next thing you know, their kid just gravitates to it and the next thing you know there’s an ice hockey player that’s coming from Arizona that’s playing in the National Hockey League.”
34
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Documentarian shares fondness for revered resort BY CHRISTINA FUOCO-KARASINSKI GetOut Editor
K
ristin Atwell Ford knows Castle Hot Springs Resort well. Not only is Arizona’s �irst luxury resort a place of deep history in Arizona, it touches her family as well. “My mother (Sherri Chessen of ‘Romper Room’) was one of the �irst owners of the resort after ASU sold it in the 1980s. The resort was de�initely aged at that point,” said Ford, who runs Quantum Leap Productions in Scottsdale. “It wasn’t in the fully glory it is now. The Palm House, the main hotel, had burned down. It brought my family together because we would go out there and swim, hike, play tennis, sing on the porch and play guitars. My sister got married there.” A Scottsdale resident, Ford recalls the resort’s history in her 37-minute documentary “Castle Hot Springs: Oasis of Time,” which won the 2020 Rocky Mountain Emmy Award for Best Historical Documentary. It is now available on Apple TV and Amazon. During the research phase of her documentary, she learned other families have multigenerational connections to Castle Hot Springs, including Mike and Cindy Watts, who restored the resort to its grandeur. They reopened the Morristown resort in 2018. “There are places that echo through the years and places that hold our memory and imagination,” Ford said. “For me, and Arizonans and people around the world, Castle Hot Springs is one of those places. To see it come back after such utter loss – it was lost to the elements for the 46 years it was closed – shows good things can happen. “For those of us who were involved with the resort in its fallow period, it’s a miracle to see it come back to life. To me, person-
The restored Castle Hot Springs Resort in Arizona is the subject of a documentary by a Scottsdale filmmaker. (Special to AFN) ally, it’s like seeing my grandmother come back to life. It’s a place of deep nourishment and meaning. The job that the Watts family has done with it is exceptional. It feels the same.” Ford was born in Arizona to Chessen and Arcadia High School history teacher Bob Finkbine. She grew up performing in theaters and writing. “He would take us backpacking and river running,” she said. “My parents were polar opposites. He was lost in the world outside in the wilderness and my mom was into the theater, which is a world of arti�ice.” Her love of nature is echoed in the documentary, which tells the story of “taking the waters,” as the indigenous people of the land favored the area’s hot, therapeutic waters. As settlers came to the Arizona Terri-
tory, mining magnate Frank Murphy and his brother, Territorial Gov. Nathan Oakes Murphy, saw the seeds of a new economy born of water, sunshine and leisure travel drive the region toward statehood. The documentary features drone work by Bill Davis, director of photography, and narration by veteran Hollywood actor, Peter Coyote. The �ilm has a lively soundtrack by Dolan Ellis, Arizona’s of�icial state balladeer, and Pearl Django. Featured in the documentary is Cecil B. DeMille who �ilmed his �irst movie, “The Squaw Man,” in 1931 in the area. “It’s a horribly racist title at this point,” Ford adds. “He recognized this was a cinematic location. The winter of 1901, 1902, (American painter) Max�ield Parrish stayed at Castle Hot Springs for two reasons—he had TB and was seeking a
Contact Paul Maryniak at 480-898-5647 or pmaryniak@timespublications.com
mineral cure for his respiratory ailments. “Mineral cures were popular at the turn of the century for respiratory ailments. The Castle Hot Springs landscape is the blue skies he’s been known for. He discovered all that in Arizona.” Olaf Wieghorst, painter of the American west, was inspired by the area as well. Ford said there are plenty of reasons for making the documentary. Primarily, it’s because Castle Hot Springs played a signi�icant role in the state’s development. “When you look at Castle Hot Springs, it’s a microcosm of the history of the state,” she said. “The area was opened up when gold was discovered, the prospectors and then the settlers. The area had a lot of ranching; the men who originally developed the resort into a luxury property. It really established the tourism economy that’s been so crucial to our state.” Ford admits she didn’t fully appreciate the experiences she had at Castle Hot Springs when she was younger. “We had it when I was in high school,” she said. “I wish we had it in college. I would have perceived it a little differently. I would have realized earlier how special it was. “My memories there are just about the feeling of wonder.” She felt the same way when she returned to �ilm the documentary, for which she interviewed Steven Talley, whose parents owned the resort in the 1970s. They were also behind the Arizona Biltmore and the aerospace engineering �irm Talley Industries. On Dec. 11, 1976, a �ire destroyed the historical Palm House. Chessen purchased Castle Hot Springs in 1982. “He talks about rounding the corner and seeing the palm trees and the main
��� CASTLE ���� 36
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lodge with its yellow siding and red roof,” she recalls. “Certain places hold happy memories. Castle Hot Springs heightens the senses. There’s the wonder of water gushing out of the ground in the desert. When you immerse yourself in that water, it changes you. You’re more relaxed and energized. All of your senses are enlightened now that they have this amazing farm garden program.” She’s pleased she was awarded for sharing her feelings about Castle Hot Springs. “It’s such an honor to win the Rocky Mountain Emmy Award,” she said. “It’s the only award in TV judged by our peers. It’s Kristin Atwell Ford remembers well the Castle Hot Springs Realways a special award sort and has brought it to life in a new documentary. (Special to AFN) to win.”
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Serving Ahwatukee Since 1987 Interior / Exterior
Irrigation Repair Services Inc.
Serving the Valley for over 28 years
Licensed • Bonded • Insured Technician
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
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!
Free Estimates 7 Days a Week! ROC# 186443 • BONDED
480.844.9765
Specializing in Controllers, Valves, Sprinklers, Landscape Lighting, P.V.C. & Poly Drip Systems
• High Quality Materials & Workmanship • Customer Satisfaction Free Est imates • Countless References • Carpentry Services Now Available Visit us at Suntechpaintingaz.com or view our video promo at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GM5pbvpZJlg
602.625.0599 ROC #155380 Family Owned • Free Estimates
Call Lance White
480.721.4146 www.irsaz.com
ROC# 256752
“We get your house looking top notch!” ★ Interior/Exterior Painting ★ Drywall Repair & Installation ★ Popcorn Ceiling Removal
CLASSIFIEDS 480-898-6465 class@timespublications.com
★ Elastomaric Roof Coating ★ Epoxy Floors ★ Small Job Specialist
Scott Mewborn, Owner 480-818-1789 License #ROC 298736
CLASSIFIEDS
DECEMBER 30, 2020 | AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS
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
Looking To Freshen Up Your Home? WE CAN HELP!
HOME IMPROVEMENT & PAINTING
Affinity Plumbing LLC 480-487-5541 affinityplumber@gmail.com
Dunn Edwards Quality Paint Small Stucco/Drywall Repairs
We Are State Licensed and Reliable!
ROC#309706
Water Heaters
24/7
Inside & Out Leaks
Bonded
Toilets
Insured
Faucets
Estimates Availabler
$35 off
class@times publications.com
• Interior & Exterior • Professional Cabinet Refinishing • Epoxy Floors & Concrete Coatings • In-Home Color Consultations “Professional, Punctual & Clean”
Any Service
Plumbing
Veteran Owned
SERVICE • REPAIR • REPLACEMENT We offer personalized service for our customers. We use the best materials that we can find.
www.ACPpaintingllc.com Licensed - Bonded - Insured ROC 290242
FREE ESTIMATES • CALL TODAY!
(480)785-6323
East Valley PAINTERS
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)
Off 40work done
Your Ahwatukee Plumber & East Valley Neighbor
Disposals
CLASSIFIEDS 480-898-6465
Residential & Commercial Painting
$
Anything Plumbing Same Day Service
Free Estimates • Senior Discounts
480-338-4011
AHWATUKEE SPECIAL *Any
www.affinityplumbingaz.com
Interior/Exterior Painting 30 YEARS EXPERIENCE
Proudly Serving Ahwatukee for 15 Years! Family Owned & Operated
Plumbing
Plumbing
Not a licensed contractor
Painting
41
279-4155
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
Bonded/Insured • ROC #223709
480-405-7099 ItsJustPlumbSmart.com Pool Service / Repair
Licensed • Bonded • Insured • ROC 189848
Plumbing
Voted #1 Paint Interior & Exterior • Drywall Repair Light Carpentry • Power Washing • Textures Matched Popcorn Removal • Pool Deck Coatings Garage Floor Coatings • Color Consulting
PLUMBING
10% OFF
We Beat Competitors Prices & Quality Free Estimates! Home of the 10-Year Warranty!
480-688-4770
www.eastvalleypainters.com Family Owned & Operated Bonded/Insured • ROC#153131
Now Accepting all major credit cards
$35.00 Off Any Service Call Today!
A+ RATED
We Repair or Install ROC # 272721
AHWATUKEE’S #1 PLUMBER Licensed • Bonded • Insured
704.5422
(480)
1st Month of Service FREE For a limited time
Call Now!
Ahw Resident • Owner Operated Maintenance & Repair Professional and Superior Service
We maintain, repair and service all types of pools, equipment, filters, cleaning systems, fresh water and salt water systems
Call me, Howard:
480.231.9651
AZPoolExpert.com BBB Member Not a licensed contractor.
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CLASSIFIEDS Pool Service / Repair
$25 OFF
Filter Cleaning!
602-546-POOL 7 6 6 5
See our Before’s and After’s on Facebook Licensed, Bonded & Insured ROC# 272001
Roofing
Roofing Watch for Garage Sales in Classifieds!
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 To place an ad please call: 480-898-6465 class@times publications.com
Pool Service / Repair
Juan Hernandez Pavers • Concrete • Water Features • Sprinkler Repair
PPebbleOcracking, O L Plaster R Epeeling, P ARebar IR
and every step of the way.
602-938-7575 $ 1000 OFF
Call Juan at
480-720-3840 Not a licensed contractor.
Over 30 yrs. Experience
480-706-1453
Licensed/Bonded/Insured • ROC #236099
Let us show you the IN-EX Difference! Serving The Valley Since 1996
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
inexroofing.com Call for your FREE Roof Evaluation
480-446-7663 Ahwatukee’s Premier Tile, Shingle & Foam Roofer!
on qualifying complete roof replacements
FREE Estimates • Credit Cards OK www.spencer4hireroofing.com ROC#244850 | Insured | Bonded
Licensed – Bonded – Insured – ROC187561
30 Years Roofing Experience
JILEK ROOFING, LLC
Roofing
New Roof Installation & Roof Repair Specialist
Cell: 480.417.3689 Office: 480.912.5014 Email: tomjilek60@gmail.com
Over 30 Years of Experience Family Operated by 3 Generations of Roofers!
Spencer 4 HIRE ROOFING
Licensed & Insured • Bonded, Res/Com ROC 328854
Valley Wide Service
Family Owned & Operated for over 30 years
ROC #152111
Quality Repairs & Re-Roofs Complimentary & Honest Estimates
480-446-7663
10% OFF
Tiles, shingles, flat, repairs & new work Free Estimates • Ahwatukee Resident
when you show this ad
showing, Pool Light out? I CAN HELP!
FALL SPECIAL! $500 OFF COMPLETE REMODEL! 25 Years Experience • Dependable & Reliable
Roofing
Family Operated by 3 Generations of Roofers! We have a “Spencer” on every job
You will find them easy with their yellow background.
Monthly Service & Repairs Available www.barefootpoolman.com
AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS | DECEMBER 30, 2020
Call our office today!
480-460-7602 Ask us about our discount for all Military and First Responders! Licensed • Bonded • Insured ROC # 269218
www.porterroofinginc.com
with this ad
Ahwatukee’s Premier Tile, Shingle & Foam Roofer! FREE Estimates • Credit Cards OK www.spencer4hireroofing.com ROC#244850 | Insured | Bonded
MISSED THE DEADLINE? Call us to place your ad online!
480-898-6465
Licensed, Bonded, Insured
CLASSIFIEDS
DECEMBER 30, 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.
43
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AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS | DECEMBER 30, 2020
WINTER IS COMING,
DON’T GET CAUGHT IN THE COLD ** Get up to
3,899
$
in dealer Rebates
–and–
69
No interest if paid in full within 18 months on a qualifying trane purchase
Includes a 16-Point FALL Inspection. $ Interest will be charged to your account from the purchase date if the TUNE-UP LIMITED TIME ONLY purchase balance is not paid in full within the promotional period. RESIDENTIAL ONLY SPECIAL! REG. $99. YOUR HOMETOWN AIR CONDITIONING SPECIALIST Service Call Second Option Estimates
FREE
(WITH REPAIR)
SINCE 1982 ROC #C39-312643
480-725-7303 www.BrewersAC.com **See your independent dealer for complete program eligibility, dates, details and restrictions. Special financing offers valid on qualifying equipment only. Special rebates from $75 to $500. All sales must be to homeowners in the United States. Void where prohibited. The Wells Fargo Home Projects credit card is issued by Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., an Equal Housing Lender. Special terms apply to qualifying purchases charged with approved credit. The special terms APR will continue to apply until all qualifying purchases are paid in full. The monthly payment for this purchase will be the amount that will pay for the purchase in full in equal payments during the promotional (special terms) period. The APR for Purchases will apply to certain fees such as a late payment fee or if you use the card for other transactions. For new accounts, the APR for Purchases is 28.99%. If you are charged interest in any billing cycle, the minimum interest charge will be $1.00. This information is accurate as of 1/1/2020 and is subject to change. For current information, call us at 1-800-431-5921. The offer expires 12/31/2020.