The Foothills Focus - Zone 2 - 9.15.2021 by Times Media Group

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This Week

Cave Creek - Carefree Area Edition

Wednesday, September 15, 2021

Horny Toad celebrates 45 years of food, fun BY ALLISON BROWN Foothills Focus Staff Writer

NEWS ................. 6 New bowls added to Foothills Empty Bowls Art Auction

FEATURES ........ 16 Junk in the Trunk Vintage Market celebrates 10 years

YOUTH ............. 21 Youth redeﬁne the ‘status quo’ with ‘High School Musical Jr.’

OPINION ......................7 BUSINESS ................. 15 FEATURES ................ 16 YOUTH ...................... 21 CLASSIFIEDS ............ 22 Zone

PAGE

Serving the communities of Cave Creek and Carefree

he Horny Toad, as quirky as its sounds, has become a staple of Cave Creek since its inception as the oldest original restaurant in town. Celebrating its 45th anniversary Friday, Sept. 17, to Sunday, Sept. 19, The Horny Toad will offer music, prizes, T-shirt giveaways and discounts on fried chicken dinners and beer. Founded by “Crazy” Ed Chilleen in 1976, the eatery is named after the area’s desert-dwelling horned toads. It was then passed on to the Price family, who operated it until Nichole Morris took it over in 2017. While the ownership may have changed, the restaurant remains almost entirely the same.

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The quirky restaurant has become a staple in Cave Creek in its 45 years of business. (Photos courtesy of The Horny Toad)

Residents oppose neighborhood, staff defends it BY ALLISON BROWN Foothills Focus Staff Writer

ave Creek residents petitioned and submitted a formal letter of opposition to the town council in response to the recommendation of approval for six exception requests to the subdivision ordinance for the development of a subdivision

in the Hidden Valley area. Some of the six exceptions are regarding �lag lots, private roads, grading and draining guidelines, street blocks and cul-de-sac streets. Under the current subdivision ordinance, �lag lots and private roads are prohibited. The property is generally located west of North Cave Creek Road between East Surrey Drive and East Skyline Drive. It was pur-

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chased in 2014 by an undisclosed California resident, spans 76 acres and is set to become a housing development with 48 units. Nearby residents like Anna Marsolo are not only concerned about the impact of these exceptions but also upset that the subdivision ordinance approved by voters just three months ago is

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NEWS

An edition of the East Valley Tribune The Foothills Focus is published every Wednesday and distributed free of charge to homes and in single-copy locations throughout the North Valley. To find out where you can pick up a copy of The Foothills Focus, please visit www.thefoothillsfocus.com CONTACT INFORMATION Main number: 623-465-5808 | Fax: 623-465-1363 Circulation: 480-898-5641 Publisher: Steve T. Strickbine Vice President: Michael Hiatt Associate Publisher: Eric Twohey | 480-898-5634 | erict@thefoothillsfocus.com ADVERTISING DEPARTMENT Display Advertising: 623-465-5808 Classifieds/Inside Sales: Elaine Cota | 480-898-7926 | ecota@timespublications.com TJ Higgins | 480-898-5902 | tjhiggins@timespublications.com Steve Insalaco | 480-898-5635 | sinsalaco@timespublications.com Advertising Office Manager: Lori Dionisio | 480-898-6309 | ldionisio@timespublications.com Director of National Advertising Zac Reynolds | 480-898-5603 | zac@thefoothillsfocus.com NEWS DEPARTMENT Executive Editor: Christina Fuoco-Karasinski | 480-898-5631 christina@timespublications.com Photographer: Pablo Robles | probles@timespublications.com Design: Veronica Thurman | vthurman@timespublications.com Production Coordinator: Courtney Oldham | 480-898-5617 production@timespublications.com Circulation Director: Aaron Kolodny | 480-898-5641 | customercare@evtrib.com Proud member of :

The Foothills Focus 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@azintegratedmedia.com

THE FOOTHILLS FOCUS | THEFOOTHILLSFOCUS.COM | SEPTEMBER 15, 2021

OPPOSITION �� 1

being ignored. “It’s disappointing that staff would recommend approval considering the 2-to-1 citizen vote in favor of the general plan, which incorporates the subdivision ordinance,” Marsolo said. After hearing that these requests were being recommended for approval, Marsolo and several others took action. She drafted a formal letter of opposition that was posted publicly online and later submitted to city hall. In addition, she and four other women collected signatures from Cave Creek residents who agreed with the opposition latter. Marsolo had 74 signatures as of Sept. 9 and said she was hoping with everyone combined they could get over 150. The town will have a planning commission hearing at 7 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 16, at the Cave Creek Town Hall to inform the town of the development plans as well as take public comments and recommendations. Besides the general disappointment in the planning department, residents have concerns about �ire safety, keeping their mountain views, protecting natural resources, a domino effect and the invalidity of the requests. “Setting a precedent of gutting our subdivision ordinance would create such a slippery slope. Subsequent applications will use this case to seek their own adjustments, opening up our whole town to subdivisions largely swallowed up by exceptions,” Marsolo said. Planning Director Luke Kautzman said the majority of the requests are due to the nature of the rocky, mountainous terrain of the land that makes it dif�icult to develop. However, Marsolo said the buyer bought the land years ago, under the same zoning and restrictions that are in place today. Therefore, she said complaints about the terrain are illegitimate, because, essentially, the buyer should have recognized this beforehand. “He can put fewer homes on what land he has, without these exceptions, make them high-end homes with maybe more square footage, amenities and leaving the whole top part of that beautiful mountain intact would be a great incentive for a buyer. But, he just wants to make a killing instead of a nice, handsome pro�it.”

Anna Marsolo lives across the street from the proposed development and has taken action to ensure the general plan and subdivision ordinance are upheld. (Submitted photo) However, Kautzman said there is a signi�icant misunderstanding of the requests and a lot of misinformation as well. Firstly, Kautzman emphasized that all property owners have the right to due process, meaning they can request whatever they want. Secondly, he said negotiations about

developing these 76 acres have taken place since 2007, and the new plan being discussed is an improvement and the best-case scenario, contrary to public belief. One of the complaints addressed in

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NEWS

THE FOOTHILLS FOCUS | THEFOOTHILLSFOCUS.COM | SEPTEMBER 15, 2021

TOAD �� 1

years old, you can have it again when “We have older people who’ve been you’re 40,” Morris coming in here since it opened,” Morris added. said. Besides its fa“Some people say they have their birthmous fried chickday dinner here every year. We’ll get en, other menu people who come in and haven’t been favorites include in since they were kids and they used fried cod (16.99), to come in with their grandparents or barbecue ($12.99 something. It’s kind of nostalgic for a lot to $28.99 deof people. They’ll walk in and say, ‘Oh, pending on menu my gosh, I can’t believe this is still here,’ choice) and strawor recognize some decoration or picture berry shortcake The Horny Toad has won awards for its famous fried chicken, which is made that’s hanging on the wall.” ($5.99 for half). from scratch and broasted in a pressure cooker and will offer $4.50 off full Morris said consistency is the secret to fried chicken meals as part of its 45th anniversary celebration. According to Morlong-standing success. People may come ris, the restaurant for the silly name or quirky building, but to Morris. also makes its own they return for the comfort food. The restaurant has stayed true to its barbecue sauce and cooks everything on The Horny Toad is perhaps best known roots, keeping the recipes and even some a mesquite charcoal grill. The �lavor has for its fried chicken dinner ($12.99 for a of the staff since it opened 45 years ago. earned it several different awards for its half chicken), which is made from scratch, “Back then in Cave Creek, there weren’t food, sauce and dessert. “plucked and fresh, never frozen” and a lot of restaurants,” Morris said. “So, it’s The Horny Toad has a line of merbroasted in a pressure cooker, according had the same name, most of the same chandise with its logo on items like hats, menu and the same T-shirts and shot glasses. Customers can recipes. We have one also pick up a bottle of Horny Toad’s chef still here from award-winning hot sauce or barbecue 1981, Carmelo. One of sauce. Another creative move is the Cave the server bartenders, Creek Christmas Company store inside Misty, has been here the restaurant, the Maricopa County’s for over 30 years. So, only year-round Christmas store. It has it’s got a kooky name everything from cactus ornaments to ASU and people like it be- nutcrackers. With desert temperatures, cause it’s a family tourists and locals frequent the shop to restaurant and most lift their spirits. of the food is made in While it’s safe to say The Horny Toad house. We don’t have offers a full family-friendly (or pet-frienda lot of premade items. ly, thanks to its outside patio) excursion, “If you came in and it makes sure to cater to the adult crowd. had fried chicken The restaurant has an all-day happy hour Horny Toad’s strawberry shortcake ($5.99) is a fan favorite. when you were 8 for beer Monday to Friday, half-priced

OPPOSITION �� 4

the opposition letter was the 63 homes on the property, but Kautzman said that was a previous plan that has since been changed to 48 homes. “This land was entitled with 63 lots back in 2007,” he said. “So, they’re actually reducing the amount of land that they’re asking to have divided because of the terrain. They could do 63 lots and develop that land with even more densely populated development and not ask for any exceptions. The general plan allows a density range of one dwelling unit per 1.24 acres,

and what they’re asking for is almost half a dwelling unit per acre, well below what they’re entitled to, based on the general plan, the land and the zoning.” As for the �lag lots and private roads, Kautzman said the proposed plan would preserve more of the natural land by decreasing the number of paved roads and keep trails accessible to the community. The 2007 plan did not have any public open space, and the new plan will dedicate 27 acres for public space. In terms of �ire safety, the proposed private streets would have extra wide cul-de-sacs to allow emer-

gency vehicles adequate turnaround and space for a �ire apparatus. Kautzman said all the department heads, utilities manager, town engineer, building and �ire safety of�icials, and trails coordinator have been involved in this project, ensuring it is completed in the best way for the town. “We’ve been looking at this property for close to 20 years, and I think this plan is probably the best iteration that we’ve seen as far as sensitivity to the desert, the terrain and also giving public access for trails and other things. So, I’m not quite sure what the alarm is.”

wine bottles every Wednesday, and a $15 bucket of �ive domestic beers Tuesdays and Thursdays. The Horny Toad is known as Cave Creek’s of�icial Vikings bar, with food and drink specials on game nights. The restaurant boasts two big screens and 11 televisions. The food, decor and �lair aren’t the only things that have remained consistent, though. Morris said The Horny Toad stuck it out and stayed open — even during COVID-19. “No matter what, The Horny Toad has been open and been there,” Morris said. “We’re only closed two days a year, Thanksgiving and Christmas, and I think things like that make it successful.” Horny Toad Anniversary Celebration

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NEWS

THE FOOTHILLS FOCUS | THEFOOTHILLSFOCUS.COM | SEPTEMBER 15, 2021

Empty Bowls introduces handmade, wood turned bowls BY FOOTHILLS FOCUS STAFF

ood turned bowls have been added to the 2021 Foothills Empty Bowls Art Auction. “Members of the Arizona Woodturners Association are excited to be part of the Empty Bowls project and to support the Foothills Food Bank,” said Brian Lensink, president of the Arizona Woodturners Association. “This is a dif�icult time for Arizonans who need food support, and we are happy to assist. We enjoy turning bowls using the wood that comes from the urban forest that makes up the greater Phoenix area. Having these bowls go to a worthy cause makes our enjoyment even greater. We also have challenged our members by offering prizes to those who can make the most bowls. Wood is a great material for bowls and will be added to the array of items made by artists using other mediums.”

The 22nd annual event is Friday, Oct. 15, at Harold’s Cave Creek Corral from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Proceeds bene�it Foothills Food Bank & Resource Center. The online auction runs through 1 p.m. Friday, Oct. 15, which is World Hunger Day. Bowls purchased in advance can be selected during the Empty Bowls lunch, or guests can Wood turned bowls are the latest addichoose to pay for their tion to the 2021 Foothills Empty Bowls bowls at the event. A pas- Art Auction. (Photo by Fran Booth) ta lunch, donated by Harold’s, will be served in the bowls, and guests can keep the bowls as a reminder of empty bowls throughout the year. Winners of the art auction can pick up their art pieces after 1 p.m at Harold’s Corral as well.

MCSO arrests suspects in animal cruelty case

the video could not identify the two people. The case was turned over to animal crimes detectives, who aricopa County gathered more informaSheriff’s Of�ice tion and evidence. Meananimal crimes while, the owners of the detectives arrested and horses started a social mecharged 20-year-old dia campaign sharing the Lawrence Weinhart and video in hopes of identify16-year-old Alexander ing the two individuals. Halbisen for one count Because of the social meof burglary in the third dia campaign, detectives degree and two counts of received multiple tips and animal cruelty. leads on the incident, ultiThe arrests stem from mately identifying the two a Sept. 2 incident during individuals in the video. which two people were The men were taken into seen on surveillance video Lawrence Weinhart was one of custody without incident. throwing rocks at and hit- two men arrested and charged “This is just another for throwing rocks at and punchting two horses multiple ing two horses. (Photo courtesy of great example of commutimes within 30 minutes. nity members working Maricopa County Sheriff ’s Office) Initially, deputies rewith law enforcement on sponded to the call for service the morning solving crimes,” Sheriff Paul Penzone said. after the incident and were shown video of “Tips from our communities are always an the abuse. In the video, deputies could see asset to our investigators when solving the abuse but because of the poor quality of crimes.”

BY CHRISTINA FUOCO-KARASINSKI Foothills Focus Executive Editor

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OPINION

THE FOOTHILLS FOCUS | THEFOOTHILLSFOCUS.COM | SEPTEMBER 15, 2021

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AROUND THE BLUHMIN’ TOWN

Processed foods are still mighty tasty BY JUDY BLUHM Foothills Focus Columnist

ow long will you live? Hmm, maybe you would prefer not to know. While there are many medical claims on how to prolong our lives, there also seems to be “predictions” on how to shave off a few minutes here or there by simply eating. Mischief or medicine? Can we rely on a health strategy that tells us eating one beef hot dog lops off 36 minutes off our lifespan? Please say it’s not true.

A new study from the University of Michigan School of Public health ranked foods based on how many minutes you might gain or lose off your healthy life by eating them. Hot dogs, in particular, are robbing us of 36 minutes! That’s if you believe that a grilled wiener on a bun, with all the fixings, can be detrimental due to “processed ingredients” that we are risking a shorter lifespan by eating! Sure, no one would consider a hot dog a “health food,” but come on, why spoil a good old treat at a ballgame or barbecue? Hey, Joey Chestnut, not sure how to

break the news to you, but you are a dead man walking! Yes, Mr. Chestnut is the world record holder because he can eat 76 hot dogs in 10 minutes! Should we accept the premise that competitive eating is a sport? If so, Joey Chestnut should be in the Olympics. This 37-year-old man is a true champion, with the annual competition usually held to a packed crowd in Coney Island at a baseball field. A celebrity eater? Last contest, he was introduced by a Major League Baseball announcer proclaiming to the cheering crowd that “the roar of Chestnut’s assault will sun-

der the dome of heaven to reach the ear of God himself.” Hey, champ, those 76 hotdogs could take 45 hours off your life! Stop it. You might get to that “dome of heaven” sooner than you’d like. OK, so many of us don’t eat hot dogs. But now the research claims that chicken wings and sugary beverages can also wipe a minute or two off of our lifespan. Why worry? A few enjoyable treats might not be so bad in the big scheme of things.

see BLUHM page 8

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OPINION

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THE FOOTHILLS FOCUS | THEFOOTHILLSFOCUS.COM | SEPTEMBER 15, 2021

READERS’ VIEWPOINTS LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Response to Judy Bluhm Editor: In response to your recent column, “Does ADOT mean ‘Arizona Demons of Traffic,’” I want to point out that the characterization of ADOT as “demons” while eye-catching, is grossly unfair to the hard-working men and women of ADOT who spend countless hours every day of the year — including weekends and holidays — to keep our roads safe. We do understand the frustration that comes with being stuck on a highway for hours at a time. That frustration is understandable, and it is shared. Shared not just by the drivers that are stuck but also by the ADOT maintenance crews that have been called away from their homes and families to help

clear a crash in 100-plus degree weather and ensure the highway is safe to reopen. When there is a crash, law enforcement takes the lead, but ADOT crews are there to work with officers to make sure crash victims are removed safely and that any debris is cleared to avoid another incident. Crews help reopen the road when law enforcement has completed its investigation and it is safe to do so. We cannot and will not shortchange safety for the sake of convenience. I do appreciate the columnist’s list of how drivers can be prepared. In just this year alone, ADOT has sent 26 news releases and countless social media posts reminding drivers of the same kind of tips to have emergency kits, extra food and water, and other needed items in case drivers find themselves stuck for a period of time. Leaving prepared is a

constant theme we push to help reach ADOT’s true north of “Safely Home.” We also urge drivers to download our AZ 511 and ADOT Alerts apps on their devices so they can receive push notifications when crashes and road closures occur. Our Twitter feed is also updated constantly with road condition information. If we are demons, it is for our radical commitment to public safety on the roads. John Halikowski ADOT Director

Responding to J.D. Hayworth Editor: This is my opinion in response to the piece by J.D. Hayworth titled “Finishing

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the job for his predecessor.” I have been an avid political junkie for about three decades. It’s important to study our past to understand how we got to this twisted present where up is down and lies are accepted as truth depending on one’s own version of reality. Reading Mr. Hayworth’s piece, I find the typical distorted, veiled right-wing projection fantasy regarding President Obama’s intentions and what progressive policies stand for. Republicans really need to stop demonizing the opposition. Nobody is gunning for the end of democracy. If there is any evidence of that, it’s coming from today’s Republican Party. When it comes to elections, Republicans were never nice and accepting of anything, Mr. Hayworth. The endless partisan audit we are witnessing now

see LETTERS page 12

BLUHM from page 7

We could, of course, start eating more peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, because they have the amazing effect of adding about 33 minutes onto our life. I am not good at math, but I do know how to use a calculator. So maybe the “formula” for longevity is how to add and subtract minutes based on what you eat. Have an urge for a hot dog on the grill? Go for it! Just be sure to back it up with a peanut butter and jelly sandwich and you are back in the “neutral” zone. The research looked at 5,800 foods and ranked them by their “nutritional disease burden.” Eat fruit, vegetables, nuts, legumes and seafood and you can add about an hour a day to your lifespan. The even better news is that one slice of apple pie can add one delicious minute onto your life. Let’s get healthy 1 minute (slice) at a time. Judy Bluhm is a writer and a local Realtor. Have a story or a comment? Email her at judy@judybluhm.com.

OPINION

THE FOOTHILLS FOCUS | THEFOOTHILLSFOCUS.COM | SEPTEMBER 15, 2021

Time stopped, eternity beckoned on Sept. 11 BY J.D. HAYWORTH Foothills Focus Columnist

wenty years. Two decades. About 7,300

days. Time enough to encompass a youthful lifespan. Time enough to grow up, grow tired, grow old. Many of us have done all three. For 2,977 victims on Sept. 11, 2001, time stopped and eternity beckoned. For the 19 terrorist hijackers who thought they would become martyrs, history now regards them as murderers. For the paradise they thought they were promised, there is instead perdition. For the “masterminds,” there has been manipulation of our justice system. Pre-trial hearings for Khalid Sheikh Mohammad and four other alleged Sept. 11 plotters just opened at Guantanamo Bay on Sept. 7 of this year. For the elites who offered legal aid to the “masterminds,” there is an insistence on constitutional rights for enemy combatants but an unwillingness to extend the same to lawful citizens. For “sophisticates” at the alphabet networks, there was a refusal to wear American flag lapel pins on camera in the days and months following the Sept. 11 attacks, because it would suggest “favoritism.” For common-sense Americans, there was no confusion between patriotism and favoritism, nor between survival or suicide. For George W. Bush, it was a shock that he put in historical context: “The Pearl Harbor of the 21st century took place today,” he dictated into the White House daily log, upon his return to 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. For the Bush administration, clarity

of purpose was modified by the muddle of multiculturalism; thus the “war on terror,” rather the “the war on Islamic terror.” For “official Washington,” there was an initial imperative to remember the first role of government: protection of its citizens. Sadly, it didn’t last. For “bureaucratic Washington,” a subsequent, unfortunate imperative: expanding the role of government — more agencies, more spending, more bureaucrats — leading to less protection of citizens. For “political Washington,” initial unity — soon sacrificed on the altar of ambition. In its place, a strange type of unanimity. At the behest of major financial institutions, agribusiness and multinational corporations, “establishment” officeholders basked in media adulation by claiming that we could not stem the flow of illegals across our southern border and that we had to allow illegal aliens from Mexico to open bank accounts using a matricula consular — a form of ID issued by the Mexican consulate. These same officeholders still use the poll-tested phrase, “We must secure the border!” But the fact that such sloganeering endures while definitive action has come in fits, starts, and now a full stop, simply reinforces the reality that elected officials view this as a political problem to be managed — instead of a national security threat to be removed. And what of our national security apparatus — the Pentagon, intelligence agencies and the Department of State? Apparently influenced by politics and culture, it seems that the notion of “victory” has been replaced by “virtue signaling.” From the outset of our military involvement in Iraq and Afghanistan, we tried to achieve two very different goals at the same time:

see HAYWORTH page 11

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OPINION

THE FOOTHILLS FOCUS | THEFOOTHILLSFOCUS.COM | SEPTEMBER 15, 2021

20 years later, the �ight for our freedom continues As a boy in New York, those twin towers were perpetually present, forever jutting 1,300 feet into the sky. As a young man, I rode the elevator to the 106th floor for dinner at Windows on the World. I was wearing a borrowed sport coat too short in the sleeves, but still I felt like a million bucks eating off the white linen tablecloths. Human beings have a limited capacity to pay attention: We catalogue things in the background of our consciousness, taking them for granted until they’re uprooted from their customary place. It’s one way terrorists shake us: They carve out a hunk of the ordinary, stealing something we may not notice every day, but that’s no less a part of us. Striking the Twin Towers was a subtraction like that: If they could knock down skyscrapers before our very eyes, strike at the heart of the world’s financial markets, what else could they do? America’s response to the attack revealed the best of us and the worst.

BY DAVID LEIBOWITZ Foothills Focus Columnist

he first plane, American Airlines Flight 11, hit the North Tower at 5:46 a.m. our time. I was at my desk, sifting through topics for a radio talk show that would never air. Seventeen minutes later, United Airlines Flight 175 cored the South Tower. By 7:30, the World Trade Center was a pile of rubble, twisted steel and lost humanity. On the radio and in public conversations, there would be no other topic for months. Somehow, 20 years have passed since Sept. 11, 2001. This anniversary was a day for remembrance and a day to inventory all we have lost. It was also a day that begs a question: If al-Qaida delivered this evil in an attempt to defeat a mortal enemy, to claim victory over us, did they in fact win?

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Flags flew everywhere, people stood in line for hours to donate blood. The Phoenix Fire Department sent the best urban search and rescue team in the world to comb the wreckage. Partisan politics gave way to national unity, a heartening respite that felt like it should last forever but didn’t. As for the worst, four days after the attacks, Frank Roque took his .380 pistol to the Mesa Chevron station owned by Balbir Singh Sodhi, an immigrant from Punjab, India. Roque had been ranting for days that he wanted to “shoot some towel-heads.” Sodhi wore a turban and beard in keeping with his Sikh religion. Roque, primed to shoot anyone whom he adjudged Muslim, killed Sodhi with five bullets in the first hate crime of the 9/11 era. Roque’s death sentence was later commuted to life. In what I can only brand a shame, Roque is still with us, living out his days at the Lewis prison in

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Buckeye. His disciplinary record shows 36 violations during his time incarcerated, everything from disorderly conduct to assaulting staffers to manufacturing a weapon. Some people never learn. Maybe we haven’t learned either. The terrorists lured us into a 20-year war that we exited disastrously only weeks ago. American unity has never seemed like more of an oxymoron, the Civil War excepted. We killed Osama Bin Laden, but new enemies of freedom are minted every day in far-off places like Iran, Syria and Afghanistan. The terrorists stole some valuable things from us on 9/11, including almost 3,000 sons and daughters, firefighters and would-be rescuers. Even so, I would estimate we have fought them to a draw in the 20 years since. This remains the most free nation on earth. The fight to defend those freedoms continues.

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THE FOOTHILLS FOCUS | THEFOOTHILLSFOCUS.COM | SEPTEMBER 15, 2021

HAYWORTH from Page 9

destruction and reconstruction. Because the terror threat was not eliminated, our military shifted its focus to force protection. As we took up occupation of both countries, that changed our military posture from offensive to defensive, putting targets on the backs of our warriors and ensuring stalemate in the best of situations. As just witnessed, the occupation of Afghanistan ended in calamity. Joe

Biden ordered our military to leave, and left Americans behind in the process. Now, that same Joe Biden has spoken at Sept. 11 ceremonies in New York City, Shanksville, Pennsylvania and at the Pentagon. It is problematic that the commander-in-chief who ordered us to flee tried to extol the virtues of our “land of the free.” It all but ensures that his successor — or that Mr. Biden himself — will one day say, “The 9/11 of the 2020s took place today.” If Joe can remember it.

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A column by David Leibowitz about school boards erroneously stated that at an August meeting of the Scottsdale Unified Governing Board, a mother had falsely accused a district employee of distributing a neo-Nazi comic book on some campuses. The mother did not make such an accusation.

Nanette McClelland-Miller, Agent nanettemiller.com

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How to get a letter published E-mail: christina@timespublications.com The Foothills Focus welcomes letters that express readers’ opinion on current topics. Letters must include the writer’s full name, address (including city) and telephone number. The Foothills Focus will print the writer’s name and city of residence only. Letters without the requisite identifying information will not be published. Letters are published in the order received, and they are subject to editing. The Foothills Focus will not publish consumer complaints, form letters, clippings from other publications or poetry. Letters’ authors, not the Foothills Focus, are responsible for the “facts” presented in letters.

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OPINION

LETTERS from Page 8

is more than enough proof of that. Also, if anyone has been politicizing the pandemic, it’s the right and its campaign to actually shame people into not wearing a mask or getting vaccinated. Also, why are Republicans so obsessed with President Obama. It’s like you people lost your minds when he was elected. You blame him for divisiveness when, in actuality, it was the right’s inability to accept him as president. Let’s talk about the Republicans and their polarizing tactics for a moment now. As your piece aptly demonstrates, the Republican Party has been lying and demonizing Democrats for decades. The reality is Republicans have no choice but to lie. I mean you’re not going to win elections telling working people that your big plan is to just cut taxes on rich people and privatize everything your wealthy constituents see no value in subsidizing. Then, once you raise the national debt due to repeated deficits as a re-

THE FOOTHILLS FOCUS | THEFOOTHILLSFOCUS.COM | SEPTEMBER 15, 2021

sult of a lack of revenue, you cry conservative mantra against spending and raising taxes. Of course, these cries only show up when the Democrats get elected to clean up the mess. So, your party lies and pushes propaganda focused on cultural trigger issues and blaming everyone but the wealthy, who pull your strings when you’re in office. Most of us get it. Your brainwashed voters are easily manipulated and triggered but in the minority, and now you seek ways to continue to win. This is born out in the fact that all your recent presidential wins have lost the popular vote. It appears now your party is seeking ways to obstruct the ability for people to easily vote, gerrymander districts and pass laws to circumvent the will of the voters if need be, all under the guise of voter security and concerns of fraud. Republicans have been doing this for decades, crying voter fraud and dead people voting. Of course, nothing of substance has ever come to light. It’s more lies to give your party the edge

for minority rule. It’s a strategy you’re playing out now in Arizona with that wacky partisan hack audit. It’s a strategy your party conveniently appropriated after Trump screamed “cheaters” because he lost his election. Trump’s childish sore loser rant went to the limits of treason, culminating in large group of his brainwashed supporters attempting what amounts to a coup on his behalf. Minority rule is undemocratic, and we live in a democratic republic. Republicans love to say it’s a republic like it doesn’t involve democracy. It does, though, so that’s another Republican lie, aka talking point, to try to validate their need to rule in the minority. The reality is your party sees the writing on the wall for its demise. This nation is rapidly becoming a diverse majority of Democrat-leaning voters. We understand that your party’s new march to authoritarianism is the only way to maintain power and control. My question is this: How many of you actually believe the nonsense you push, and how many of you know your pedal-

www.stevansaz.com

ing lies? Do you include yourself in the opinion that Americans with different political points of view fear the end of the USA as a democratic republic if progressive policies were put in place? Those are the same policies we had from the 1930s to 1980 that yielded the largest middle class the country ever had, much to the chagrin of the Republicans and their rich benefactors. If you do share this fear, I feel sorry for you, as have been conned just like your constituents. This isn’t hard to believe, because I know many who were young adults in the Reagan era and have this distorted view of how this country should be run. I see these Republicans as the first generation to be conned. Before them, the country knew what Republicans stood for. Before them, the voting public has gone through the great republican depression. Yes, it was actually called that back in the day. They had your party’s number and knew what your party was about, which

see LETTERS page 14

THE FOOTHILLS FOCUS | THEFOOTHILLSFOCUS.COM | SEPTEMBER 15, 2021

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OPINION

LETTERS from Page 12

is limiting democracy by reducing the middle class to nothing. They and you, for a certain period of your life, benefited from the progressive policies Democrats put in place in the 1930s to return the country to prosperity. Those policies you now claim limit democracy actually grew it to a size your wealthy benefactors grew uncomfortable with. Those voters knew the mess your party made, and for that your party didn’t take the house until the 1990s. Your party had to basically wait for all of those citizens that lived in the era of the depression to die off. The Republican Party has never passed any significant legislation that benefits working- and middle-class voters. Your party has no ability or desire to govern. Your party likes the way things are run now, where the rich have it all and the rest of the country has to beg and borrow on credit and work multiple jobs to survive. Wages have stagnated since Reaganomics was implemented. Your party is

THE FOOTHILLS FOCUS | THEFOOTHILLSFOCUS.COM | SEPTEMBER 15, 2021

primarily responsible for the destruction of our manufacturing-based economy and the conversion of the country to a Wall Street-dominated society that generates most of its profits moving money while the middle class toils in low-wage service jobs. Your rich masters gorge themselves on the wealth your party transfers to them in the form of massive tax breaks allowing them to play gambling games with their surplus in the financial markets. Your party has succeeded in removing all the guardrails put in place to keep the wealthy from abusing the workers. Your party has pushed through deregulation of our financial sector, allowing banks to gamble in the markets where they used to be restricted to just providing savings accounts and lending money. This alone causes violent ups and downs in the market, due to speculators causing booms and busts that you give them a pass on while making the poor working stiffs pay more to bail out the mess.

Your Republican-majority Supreme Court paved the way for the rich to buy off the GOP legislators with their decision that corporations are people and money is speech. Your party removed the fairness doctrine, allowing your vast right-wing lie machine to broadcast 24/7 and pretend it’s news. So, why do millions vote for your party? A massive media machine that feeds them lies daily, that’s why. President Obama is actually correct regarding the right and its pension to push disinformation and nonsense. That is because you and yours have fed your voters a load of lies for decades on talk radio, print and television. Your party’s faux patriotism ideology where you wrap yourself in the American flag and push a narrative that only the conservatives are worthy to be called “Americans” is in exact opposition to what the founders intended the soul of this nation to be. Progressives see an inclusive nation of everyone working not only for their own benefit but for the benefit of all.

Republicans are believers in an exclusive nation that only benefits those who are among the fortunate. Your sad attempt at making the GOP and its voters into victims doesn’t hold water here either. Your party always plays the victim card. Your comment that Obama is actually telling the GOP to know its place is laughable. Your party was never that timid. Republicans consistently push the bounds of legality, ethics and common decency in the name of strategic victory. And now your party is pushing anti-vax and anti-mask propaganda, essentially killing your own to make Biden look bad. Your party is made up of monsters who actively seek the destruction of democracy and the implementation of an autocratic ruler to preserve your rapidly fading dominance in a country that becomes more diverse and progressive by the day. My hope is your party is stopped sooner rather than later. Robert Lukacs

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Opening its doors Pinnacle Fitness at 21811 N. Scottsdale Road, Suite 125, Scottsdale, was created for people who are intimidated by regular gyms, according to management. The team empowers its members with its community. For more information, call 480-306-7187 or visit pinnaclefitnessaz.com. Above, Pinnacle Fitness representatives and dignitaries help cut the ribbon on Sept. 2 in a ceremony hosted by the Carefree Cave Creek Chamber of Commerce. (Photo courtesy of Carefree Cave Creek Chamber of Commerce)

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FEATURES

THE FOOTHILLS FOCUS | THEFOOTHILLSFOCUS.COM | SEPTEMBER 15, 2021

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Junk in the Trunk Vintage Market celebrates 10 years BY FOOTHILLS FOCUS STAFF

he semiannual Junk in the Trunk Vintage Market returns to WestWorld in Scottsdale Friday, Sept. 17, to Sunday Sept. 19. In its 10th year of business, the market offers vintage, local and handmade items. The September market will host more than 130 vintage curators and handmade artisans from across the country. “This is our 10th year of hosting Junk in the Trunk Vintage Market, and it’s amazing to see how the market has evolved,” said Lindsey Holt, co-founder of Junk in the Trunk Vintage Market.

“Each market brings fun and fabulous finds but also a community of vintage and home décor lovers that make the event truly special.” While shopping is the main attraction, the market provides fun for the whole family, with games for the kids, food trucks, and live music. “We continually strive to make each market unique and enjoyable for everyone who attends,” said Coley Arnold, Junk in the Trunk Vintage Market co-founder and owner. “The market offers a place to shop for those one-ofa-kind items you can’t find anywhere else, in a fun and entertaining environment. It’s a place everyone can enjoy.”

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623-582-1443 | 301 W. DEER VALLEY RD. #10 250 ft. east of emissions station

1720 E DEER VALLEY RD., #104 Saddlecreek Coffee operating partners Heather Evanoff, left, and Rachael Cebalt explained that the Cave Creek company advocates for quality ingredients and community-driven initiatives. (Photo courtesy of Alyssa Machin)

Shop champions coffee and community service BY JORDAN HOUSTON Foothills Focus Staff Writer

wo words come to mind when describing locally owned Saddlecreek Coffee Company — community and coffee. Saddlecreek, located at 28212 N. Tatum Boulevard, Suite D6, Cave Creek, strives to offer more than just a quality blend of locally sourced coffee beans. The popular spot, largely owned by entrepreneurs Jim and Julie Prendergast, champions giving back, Saddlecreek Coffee operating partner Heather Evanoff said. “Saddlecreek, on its simplest level, is a community-based organization designed to cater to the community, support the community and be a place to gather for the community,” explained Evanoff, who manages the day-to-day

operations with fellow operating partner Rachael Cebalt. “That’s what was always intended.” The coffee shop exists to “serve (our) community” and is branded as a “social enterprise focused on making people feel great and giving back to those in need.” The company has partnered with numerous nonprofits, as well as other mission-driven local businesses. Saddlecreek has donated to the Cave Creek American Legion silent auctions, volunteered at the Horses Help annual fundraiser and hosted a backpack drive for AZ Helping Hands. “We’ve worked with schools. We’ve worked with churches and other nonprofit organizations,” Evanoff said. “We always try and be there any time some-

see SADDLECREEK page 18

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FEATURES

THE FOOTHILLS FOCUS | THEFOOTHILLSFOCUS.COM | SEPTEMBER 15, 2021

Mirage mirrors Fleetwood Mac’s talents

BY CHRISTINA FUOCO-KARASINSKI Foothills Focus Executive Editor

ichelle Tyler of the Fleetwood Mac tribute act Mirage has heard the words many long to hear: Stevie Nicks would like to meet you. Tyler, who was playing in the Nicks-only band Belladonna, was performing acoustically with her husband when a woman approached her backup musicians backstage. She said her husband was Steve Real, Nicks’ vocal coach, and she was so impressed that she was hoping to get Tyler on the phone with the legendary singer. Unable to get to Tyler, she recorded Belladonna with her phone and sent it to Nicks. “They flew my husband and I up to Reno and we went backstage during a

see CONCERT page 20

SADDLECREEK from page 17

one needs something. We allow our space to be rented out for small-business owners who need a place to gather.” Community efforts aside, Saddlecreek’s menu is equally a crowd pleaser. The coffee shop boasts tasty treats from breakfast items, including omelets, Nutella crepes, burritos, pressed paninis and bagel sandwiches, to lunch dishes featuring cobb salads, herb marinated chicken wraps, lunch burritos and turkey bacon sandwiches. Saddlecreek, of course, also serves espresso, coffee and tea. In April, North Valley Magazine — the Foothills Focus’ sister publication — voted Saddlecreek the Best Coffee Shop in the North Valley, describing it as a go-to spot to snag a “caffeine boost, breakfast to start your day, or lunch.” Evanoff’s counterpart and close friend, Cebalt, added that Saddlecreek strives to source local and organic ingredients. “We try to source as much local and

Mirage is, from left, Bob Weitz as John McVie, Keith Foelsch as Lindsey Buckingham, Annie Boxell as Christine McVie, Richard Graham as Mick Fleetwood and, seated, Michelle Tyler as Stevie Nicks. (Photo by Tyler Weitz)

organic products in terms of our food service,” Cebalt said. She noted that Saddlecreek’s emphasis on hospitality is also what sets itself apart from the competition. The coffee shop’s staff prides itself on getting to know customers on a personal level, Cebalt continued. “Like 75% to 85% of people — we know their names and their life story,” the operating partner said. “We know what they drink and where their kids go to school — not in a creepy way. It’s about personal relationships — that’s what makes us stand out.” Evanoff echoed her partner’s sentiments, saying their employees “learn about your life, (we) cheer you on when there is something to celebrate.” Both operating partners’ morals and eagerness to connect stem from their backgrounds as front-house servers, they explained. “Rachael and I both have hospitality backgrounds,” Evanoff said. “We knew what made our jobs enjoyable. It’s when you get to know somebody. It’s

fun to take care of someone. We call it a ‘server’s heart.’ “When you take care of people, the profit will follow.” The company was established around 2013. Jim and Julie Prendergast purchased the coffee shop in 2014 before donating it to their church, the Scottsdale Bible: North Ridge Campus. When the church could no longer dedicate the time and resources to run Saddlecreek, the Prendergasts repurchased it and recruited Evanoff as a manager. “I genuinely just had that gut feeling,” Evanoff said of her decision to work with Saddlecreek. Cebalt, who was working a “9-to-5 desk job” at the time, shortly followed suit. “I missed being on my feet, talking to people and seeing people face to face,” Cebalt said. “I wanted to be a part of it in seeing the growth, so I asked to become a partner and here we are.” Despite the economic downturn brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, the operating partners agreed Saddlecreek came out on top.

“It’s been showing so much growth over the last four or five years,” Evanoff said. “It has been received so well. We worked our butts off. We’re not perfect, but we try to respond perfectly — that matters.” Saddlecreek recently launched a wine, beer and cocktail menu, expanding the company’s credits as a multidimensional coffeehouse. The new menu items were a result of the “demand” from community members, Evanoff explained. “As a coffee shop that operates at a deficit without a drive thru, we have to be a little more creative,” she said. Saddlecreek is offering a list of four beers, four wines and four cocktails. Although the beverages have not yet been added to the menu, the company is beginning to campaign the products on social media. Saddlecreek Coffee is open 6 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Mondays to Fridays; and 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. For more information, visit saddlecreekcoffee.com.

FEATURES

THE FOOTHILLS FOCUS | THEFOOTHILLSFOCUS.COM | SEPTEMBER 15, 2021

19 ••

Arizona Restaurant Week returns with in-person, takeout options BY CONNOR DZIAWURA Foothills Focus Staff Writer

rizona Restaurant Association President and CEO Steve Chucri has seen the broadening of local palates and growth of the food scene firsthand. “I always had this kind of running joke that I was born and raised here and for me we had two kinds of food — we had Mexican food and then a different type of Mexican food,” said Chucri, an Arizona native. “Now we have all of these culinary options that really, if you look, Arizona — in many ways because so many people are transplants here — is kind of a melting pot, which you see across the country.” The Arizona Restaurant Association highlights that diversity with its Fall Arizona Restaurant Week, which returns from Friday, Sept. 17, to Sunday, Sept. 26, with a panoply of restaurants spanning the state — including Cave Creek — showcasing special menus.

As part of the 10-day event, many local restaurants will introduce threecourse prix fixe menus at price points of $33, $44 or $55, the latter a new tier. Each restaurant’s specifics vary, with some offering individual meals and others crafting selections for couples or groups. Some restaurants may offer wine pairing selections at an additional cost. Standard menus won’t be affected. “Some of your favorite and most wellknown restaurants are on sale here in Arizona for 10 days,” Chucri explained. “And it gives people the opportunity to try a restaurant they may not have tried. It creates this enthusiasm about the culinary opportunities here and throughout the Valley that, you know, is exciting to have happen twice a year.” More than 120 restaurants have signed on so far, with the event’s website allowing patrons to search menus by categories such as cuisine type, location and price, even accounting for vegetarian/gluten-free options and takeout.

Among the choices is the Tonto Bar & Grill in Cave Creek, which is offering a $44 dine-in-only package. Taxes and gratuity are not included. The menu includes a choice of three appetizers: cup of golden corn chowder with Applewood bacon, pulled chicken, fresh thyme and Yukon gold potatoes; tortilla-crusted crab cake with fresh jicama and roasted chile slaw and smoked ancho chile aioli; or compressed arugula salad with manchego, candied Arizona pecans, sun-dried cherries, tart green apple and pistachio vinaigrette. The entrée choices are Mediterranean grilled salmon with tzatziki sauce and pickled red onions, Israeli couscous tossed with sauteed spinach, cherry tomatoes, mint and basil; coffee and port braised boneless short rib with brown butter whipped white yams, heirloom carrots and shallots, parsley and a port wine jus lie; or the manana veggie nosh with roesti potato cake, roasted heirloom cauliflower, charred broccolini,

sauteed patty pan squash and housemade tomato jam. Dessert features chocolate fudge brownie cake or lemon lime prickly pear meringue tart with an almond graham crust, lemon lime curd filling, prickly pear Italian meringue, lime coulis, lemon curd, almond Florentine twist and fondant bumble bee. “Arizona is becoming more and more of a foodie-type place and venue, and I think what the restaurant week does is try to trumpet that to our guests and patrons around the state,” Chucri said. Since it was founded 14 years ago, Arizona Restaurant Week has grown from a once-yearly event every fall to a biannual event also hosted in the spring, increasing along the way from roughly two dozen restaurants in its first year to now well over 100 per event. New this year, the Arizona Restaurant Association is raising funds for the HonorHealth Desert Mission endowment

see RESTAURANT page 20

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FEATURES

CONCERT from page 18

meet and greet,” Tyler recalled. “I said, ‘Hi, Stevie. I’m Michelle Tyler. I think you heard me on a phone call?’ She put her hands on my shoulders and said, ‘We tried so hard to get that call through. It was great to hear somebody doing a good job with my music.’ She then leaned in and said, ‘I’ll tell you what. Anytime you want to take over, you just let me know. I’ve about had it.’” The two shared a laugh, and that was the first of a handful of meetings. “She’s been very supportive, and her backup singers have said imitation is the sincerest form of flattery,” she said. “That’s the only endorsement that Stevie would give anybody. They’re not a band that goes around and does that. Saying I could take over at any time, that was a pretty good pat on the back.” Fans can see what Nicks admires when California-based Mirage plays a number of shows in the area: Saturday, Sept. 18, at Harold’s Cave Creek Corral; Sunday, Sept. 19, at PebbleCreek in

THE FOOTHILLS FOCUS | THEFOOTHILLSFOCUS.COM | SEPTEMBER 15, 2021

Goodyear; and Wednesday, Sept. 22, at Anthem Golf and Country Club. Mirage sticks with the “Rumours” era of Fleetwood Mac. “We’re very authentic,” she said. “Everyone plays an actual role. We play the very biggest hits, the best of Fleetwood Mac. We have a lot of visuals going on. “If the venue permits, we have a synced multimedia show. Otherwise, we still do a 90-minute show with a lot of costume changes. It’s a high-energy show. We like to get the audience involved. It’s good for all ages and families.” Before Mirage, Tyler helmed Belladonna, which focused on Nicks’ solo career. After 15 years, Tyler and her musicians transitioned into Mirage. “I’ve been playing Stevie Nicks for almost 20 years,” she said. “In Belladonna, I was the only one dressing up and portraying a character. Belladonna is still on our books. It’s a big show. It’s an eight-piece band with backup singers and two guitar players. It’s hard to take on the road. It’s more expensive.

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“But we focus on Mirage now.” Her husband, Bob Weitz, plays the role of John McVie and music director. His day gig is as a Warner Bros. engineer who won an Academy Award for designing equipment. They started their career playing the bar and nightclub circuit but evolved into tribute acts. “Becoming a famous rock star is like winning the lottery,” she said. “There are so many talented people out there on any given day, at any club in LA. There are singer-songwriter showcases, and you can hear phenomenal people. You’re wondering why they play there for no money. “It’s luck, timing and talent in that order. Talent is the last thing. Anyway, I was asking myself, ‘Am I going to be a rock star?’ Eventually, it became a career.” Tyler explained she does not ever tire of the music. She loves her job and the music. Plus, meeting Nicks is a bonus. “When you meet somebody — whether they’re a movie star or rock

RESTAURANT from page 19

to support those who are underprivileged, experiencing homelessness or affected by the pandemic. Billed as the “Dine In. Help Out.” program, Arizona Restaurant Week is accepting donations through its website and QR codes provided with bills at participating restaurants. Funds will benefit Desert Mission programs and services, such as its food bank, early childhood learning center and adult day program. “It’s a really unique event that diners have just come to love, and that’s what makes it worthwhile for us,” Chucri explained of the growth of Arizona Restaurant Week. Due to the pandemic, Chucri acknowledged that the Arizona Restaurant Association was forced to quickly adapt. Moving to takeout options last year is one such way, though the event is now allowing in-person and takeout options. However, this varies from restaurant to restaurant. “Restaurateurs, fortunately we’re

Mirage

WHEN: 7 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 18 WHERE: Harold’s Cave Creek Corral, 6895 E. Cave Creek Road, Cave Creek COST: $55 to $450 INFO: haroldscorral.com WHEN: 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 19 WHERE: PebbleCreek’s Renaissance Theater, 16666 Clubhouse Drive, Goodyear COST: $30 INFO: pebblecreekhoa.org WHEN: 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 22 WHERE: Anthem Golf and Country Club, 2708 W. Anthem Club Drive, Phoenix COST: Call for info INFO: 623-742-6200

star — you have a certain perception. None of us really know these people. We only know what we see. “You hope they’re nice people. They’re warm. I’ve met strangers and a lot of people. She was actually warm and friendly and down-to-earth. She made me feel like I was the one who was the star. She sent me to make me calm.”

getting back into our regular cycle, which is a good thing,” Chucri noted. “People have missed restaurants, which we’ll always be grateful for, and so we have seen our places fill up quite more than we expected them to. “And so, you know, we’re still trying to help people — those who still aren’t comfortable to go into a restaurant — to still be able to take out, but at the same time, I think we’ll probably, come next year, we’ll likely just go back to our original platform, which is just dine in the restaurant.” But first, Chucri has high hopes for this year’s fall event. He recommends people plan ahead and seek out reservations when possible, as demand tends to increase with restaurant week. “The Spring Restaurant Week went well, actually,” he recalled. “We had a great turnout. … And so we’re optimistic. I mean, we’re getting more and more restaurants every day participating, and I anticipate that to continue.” For more information, go to arizonarestaurantweek.com.

YOUTH

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Youth TheFoothillsFocus.com

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Youth ‘bop to the top’ at Desert Foothills BY CHRISTINA FUOCO-KARASINSKI Foothills Focus Executive Editor

esert Foothills Theatre just snagged 31 ariZoni nominations for its 2020-21 season — but the best is yet to come. On Friday, Sept. 17, the theater company will open its new season with “Disney’s High School Musical Jr.” at Cactus Shadows Fine Arts Center. The production, based on the Disney Channel’s smash-hit movie musical, features two distinct casts — and more than 70 young actors — performing on consecutive weekends. The White cast, composed of youth ages 7 to 14, will open with performances starting at 7 p.m. Sept. 17. The Red cast, featuring high school students ages 14 to 18, will jump on stage the following week with shows starting at 7 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 23. “I was blown away by the number of kids who signed up for auditions,” said Terry Temple, DFT’s managing director. “I said we would consider having two casts for ‘High School Musical’ if we had enough talent, but the response was beyond my expectations.” “Choreographing for two casts has its challenges,” added the show’s choreographer, Emily Temple. “The number of performers in each cast is different, and we have kids from elementary school through high school. The choreography vision for each cast is similar but distinct based on these variables. These kids bring everything they have to the stage — and that makes my challenge fun.” “High School Musical Jr.” tells the story of Troy, Gabriella and the students of East High as they confront issues of love, friendship and family while balancing their classes and extracurricular activities.

YOUTH

Keagan Smith, 16, and Alaina Lish, 15, rehearse “Disney’s High School Musical Jr.” (Photo by Pablo Robles)

Abby Springer, 14, and Braiden Lee, 16, work on choreography. (Photo by Pablo Robles) DFT brings these themes to life with a high-energy production featuring show-stopping dancing and beloved musical numbers — like “We’re All in This Together” and “Breaking Free” — while giving performers a chance to do what they love most.

“It’s been so much fun acting, singing and dancing in ‘High School Musical,’” said Brady Molitor, 10, of Cave Creek, a jock in the White cast. “I have learned so much and made so many friends along the way in this show and in other things I have done with DFT.” The friendships among performers are one of many special aspects of this show. Music director Kent Campbell said he can’t wait for the casts to show off the work they’ve done. “One of my favorite aspects of teaching music to so many talented kids at once is the ‘wall of sound’ in front of me as I direct them,” said Kent Campbell, music director. “There’s no better feeling than hearing this music sung so well and so passionately right in front of me.” Performers are also working hard to perfect their characters for the show. Said 14-year-old Abby Springer, of Mesa, who plays Sharpay in the Red cast, “This has been a real challenge be-

cause there are so many sides to Sharpay’s personality. It’s really taking me out of my comfort zone, but I’m working hard to portray the kiss-up, the rich girl, the bully and even the insecure girl underneath it all.” Six weeks since the cast list was posted, DFT is ready for the White cast’s opening this weekend. “We have a younger cast and an older cast, but audiences will not be seeing the ‘cute little ones’ in the younger cast,” Terry said. “They will see top performances from both groups. I couldn’t be prouder.” Added Campbell, “This show and its music really are timeless. It will be enjoyed by audiences both young and old. I hope everyone reading this treats themselves and buys a ticket.” Eight-year-old Hannah DeMeo, of Cave Creek, a cheerleader in the White cast, can’t wait for “High School Musical” to open — in part because she loves the applause of live theater. “Clapping is one of my favorite sounds, so that’s what got me into theater,” she said. “It’s been kind of a challenge to have rehearsal and school, because now I’m in third grade and I have way more homework, but I’m still doing it because it’s the thing I love.” Considering the challenges of the past year and a half, Terry said, “Our kids not only are ready to get back on stage, but they need the social interactions, friendships and creative challenge.” “High School Musical Jr.”

WHEN: Various times Friday, Sept. 17, to Sunday, Sept. 26 WHERE: Cactus Shadows Fine Arts Center, 33606 N. 60th Street, Scottsdale COST: $25 INFO: dftheater.org

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