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Wednesday, February 3, 2021

Dispensaries OK’d to sell recreational pot BY SARAH DONAHUE Foothills Focus Staff Writer

NEWS .........................7

Retired teacher to host community street cleanup

BUSINESS ........18

StretchLab studio to open at Desert Ridge

YOUTH ............31

Homie, Girl Scouts partner for ‘cookie castle’

OPINION ................... 15 BUSINESS ................. 18 FEATURES ................ 21 YOUTH ...................... 31 CLASSIFIEDS ............ 33 Zone

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rizona residents and dispensary owners assumed it would take months for the state to approve licenses for businesses to sell recreational marijuana. Many medical marijuana dispensaries applied for dual licenses to sell recreational marijuana on Jan. 19, the day the Arizona Department of Health Services (ADHS) started accepting early applications. Most didn’t expect to receive approval until spring. However, it took the ADHS only three days. This means anyone 21 and older can purchase recreational marijuana from state-approved dispensaries. This comes after Arizona voters

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The interior of Arizona Natural Concepts. On Jan. 22, the medical marijuana dispensary received approval from the Arizona Department of Health Services to sell recreational marijuana to adults ages 21 and older. (Photo courtesy Arizona Natural Concepts)

Restaurant discontinues Prop 208 surcharge BY SARAH DONAHUE Foothills Focus Staff Writer

he Creek Patio Grill has removed its Proposition 208 surcharge after a customer took to social media to complain about it. Restaurant management sent The Foothills Focus an email with the announcement, without commenting beyond that. The guest, Tarry Bates, said her check

listed a “surprise fee” labeled “Prop 208” in January. After Bates shared a photo of her bill with the Proposition 208 surcharge, she said, “All hell broke loose.” Bates and many others left negative reviews on the Cave Creek restaurant’s Yelp page to the point where page reviews were temporarily suspended due to what the website described as “unusual activity.” Arizona Proposition 208 appeared on the state’s 2020 ballot and imposes an income

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tax surcharge on the state’s top earners, redirecting monies to fund public education. In a close vote, the state ultimately approved the initiative, which imposes a 3.5% tax surcharge on individual earnings above $250,000 and on married couples making over $500,000 collectively. Social media posts and reviews from angry community members questioned whether

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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: Nathalie Proulx | nproulx@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

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DISPENSARIES from page 1

approved Proposition 207, which legalizes the recreational use, sale and possession of marijuana for adults. There are some differences between the laws attached to medical marijuana versus the laws that come with consuming cannabis recreationally. Medical marijuana cardholders are able to purchase up to two and a half ounces of marijuana in a 14-day period and can legally possess the same amount, according to state law. Recreational buyers, however, may only purchase up to an ounce of cannabis and are considered guilty of a “petty offense” if they possess over 2 1/2 ounces. Medical marijuana cardholders also forgo the 16% excise tax that recreational users must pay. However, as of now, most medical and recreational marijuana buyers will purchase products at the same dispensaries. The state continues to update its growing list of approved dispensaries, but as of Jan. 27, six dispensaries in The Foothills Focus’ North Valley circulation area have been approved. Many eager buyers, as well as dispensaries, were surprised by the state’s considerably prompt license approval turnaround. Two North Valley dispensaries shared their experiences after receiving the go-ahead to sell recreational marijuana. Cave Creek Cannabis Cave Creek Cannabis opened for recreational business on Jan. 22 just two hours after receiving state approval, said Alex Lane, the dispensary’s president. The dispensary applied for its license the first day applications opened, he said. Since then, the phones have been ringing “constantly” and the flow of customers is “nonstop,” with lines forming out of the door, he said. The demand was so “huge” that Lane had to drive down to Tempe and Tucson to get more supply, he said. The dispensary’s hours will be expanded, and additional staff will be hired to help accommodate the demand, he said. Arizona’s “super-duper” fast approval time was “a very pleasant and happy surprise for us and also for the people that want to purchase marijuana,” he said. “Hats off to the department of health ser-

Arizona Natural Concepts received state approval to sell recreational marijuana just three days after submitting its application to the Arizona Department of Public Health. Sales of recreational marijuana will begin at Arizona Natural Concepts on March 1. (Photo courtesy Arizona Natural Concepts) vices and the governor’s office for getting this approved much earlier than anticipated,” Lane said. The state’s health department did a “marvelous job” being clear as to the regulations required to sell recreational marijuana in an “extremely short period of time,” he said. Lane said he’s always believed marijuana should be legal and said it “certainly enhanced my life” as a medical marijuana patient. Lane resides in Phoenix and has been practicing as a lawyer for 20 years at Lane, Hupp and Crowley, a criminal justice law firm downtown. His favorite part about working in cannabis is that he gets to provide something that impacts people’s health in a positive way, he said. Lane mentioned how 60% of the state voted to legalize Proposition 207, calling it a “really decisive expression of what the voters wanted in Arizona.” “It was just very clear for the people that it’s time to stop criminalizing the possession of this,” he said. Lane makes an effort to warn new marijuana users that “This is not your father’s Oldsmobile,” he said, explaining how products today are much more potent than they used to be. “You can always take a little bit more, but you can’t take less,” Lane said. “We want everybody to have a great experience.” The family-owned dispensary opened for business in Mohave County in 2015, later moving its operations to Cave Creek in 2016. Lane’s 80-year-old mother is the dispensary’s vice president. Located in the heart of the Cave Creek town core, the dispensary is sandwiched between The Roadhouse and The Hideaway.

The Roadhouse’s owner offered to display a billboard on its building with a “big red arrow pointed in our direction,” Lane said. “They’ve been so friendly. “I think we really do add to the community here,” he said, adding that the dispensary’s staff encourages its customers to dine at the town’s local restaurants. “Cave Creek is such a marvelous little town,” Lane said. “We’ve been so welcomed here.”

Arizona Natural Concepts While it’s “great” news that Arizona Natural Concepts has the ability to sell recreational marijuana, “the rollout the state offered us was not so good,” said Lori Hicks, one of the dispensary’s four owners. The dispensary submitted their application the first day they were able to, she said, adding, “We’ve only been waiting for it for years.” Arizona Natural Concepts was given the goahead to sell recreational marijuana on Jan. 22, but the dispensary didn’t have enough time to adhere to the state’s regulations, she said. Some of these regulations it has yet to implement include child-resistant bags, employee certification cards, as well as a system to collect the extra 16% tax on recreational marijuana sales. The dispensary will not begin recreational sales until March 1, Hicks said. “I’m happy, I’m excited for the community overall, but I’m frustrated,” she said, adding that the state requires dispensaries to foot the bill for extra licensing. Arizona Natural Concepts will “soft serve” recreational marijuana once it meets all necessary legal requirements and will make a formal announcement once it has “all our ducks in a row,” Hicks said. Eight new employees were recently hired, and the dispensary will double its staff to help with the anticipated high demand. Sales are expected to double, she said. The dispensary’s staff are both “very excited and intimidated” about the commencement of recreational marijuana sales. The dispensary is a “little family type of business,” Hicks explained, adding, “When you take your family from 25 to 50, it chang-

see DISPENSARIES page 5

NEWS

THE FOOTHILLS FOCUS | THEFOOTHILLSFOCUS.COM | FEBRUARY 3, 2021

SURCHARGE from page 1

the restaurant’s owners and managers earn a high enough income to be affected by this surcharge. People also questioned whether or not the restaurant’s surprise fee is legal. “I’m updating my review because I find it pretty lame that they are passing on prop 208 to their customers,” Bates wrote on the restaurant’s Yelp page on Jan. 12. She posted her original review in 2019 praising the restaurant’s menu items. “It seems illegal since this is an income tax,” she wrote. “I love the shrimp, but I don’t like it that much to sneak fees into the bill. Maybe let the customer know beforehand.” Katie Conner, spokeswoman for the attorney general’s office, said she couldn’t offer legal analysis on the situation. However, she did provide general information about the legality of surcharges implemented by business owners.

DISPENSARIES from page 4

es the dynamic of things.” The dispensary takes pride in how it serves its medical patients in the area, she said. Hicks said she has seen marijuana help people with cancer, anxiety as well as those with opioid and heroin addictions. “I have seen so many incredible things,” she said, adding, “We want people to know that we have a passion for the patient and the plant.” People have shown a mixed reaction to the beginning of recreational marijuana sales, she said, explaining how at many dispensaries, the “recreational patients are taking priority.” “It’s very crucial to us that our medical patients take priority,” she said. Hicks explained that there will be a different checkin process for medical marijuana patients where they will be able to cut to the front of the line ahead of recreational buyers. “We want to make sure that the medical patient is not standing in a line with 25 recreational users when they’re on their walker.” Arizona Natural Concepts is located on the border of North Phoenix and Cave Creek on East Carefree Highway. It recently celebrated its three-year opening date anniversary. “The owner in me is excited because of the

“It depends on what businesses are/ aren’t disclosing,” Conner said. “Each situation would be fact-specific but, generally speaking, surcharges can be legal, as long as they are properly disclosed.” Bates emphasized this surcharge was a surprise. “There wasn’t anything around the restaurant that said that they were passing along that charge to the customer,” she said. Even if the restaurant had properly disclosed this fee, Bates said she “probably” would have left the restaurant “just for spite of the whole thing.” “They’re just passing this fee to the people who are supporting their company,” she said. The Creek Patio Grill is an American restaurant and bar located in The Shops at Dynamite Creek. Established in 2016, The Creek Patio Grill offers entrees like steak, seafood, pizzas, burgers and pasta. A North Scottsdale resident, Bates brought her family, her parents and a money,” she said. However, what she’s really excited about is the potential for marijuana’s negative stigma to “fall away” with its recreational legalization in the state. She added that she is excited about the fact that the approval of Proposition 207 will also expunge the records of those who were previously convicted of marijuana charges. “There are lots of good things that are coming with this. People are realizing that marijuana is a good thing — it’s not a bad thing.” Current list of state-approved North Valley Dispensaries as of Jan. 27: • Arizona Natural Concepts 1039 E. Carefree Highway, Phoenix • Desert Rose 24905 N. Seventh Avenue, Phoenix • Zen Dispensary/JARS 46639 N. Black Canyon Highway, Suites 1 and 2, New River • Arizona Natural Remedies 22041 N. 23rd Avenue, Phoenix • The Giving Tree Dispensary 701 W. Union Hills Drive, Phoenix • Cave Creek Cannabis 6812 E. Cave Creek Road, Suite 3, Cave Creek —Staff writer Sarah Donahue can be reached at sdonahue@timespublications.com

friend to dine at The Creek Patio Grill to support local businesses during the time of COVID-19, she said. The number of people in the group was “more people than I normally would have ever invited,” she added. Bates ordered her go-to shrimp appetizer for her meal, also getting some wine, she said, adding that “the service was great.” “It’s a great restaurant,” she said, adding she feels bad offering criticism. “They seem to be nice and honest, but it just seems a little shady that they were passing that (surcharge) along to us.” When Bates saw the surcharge on the bill, she said she thought it was “weird” but was too “shocked” to say anything to the restaurant’s employees at the time. “It didn’t register to me until after we had left,” Bates explained. She expressed her frustration on her Facebook and Instagram pages, posting the receipt and writing, “This is for those of you who voted yes on this ridiculous proposition,” she said. “I didn’t vote for (Proposition 208), even though I have kids in the school

system,” she said. Bates works in sales and added that her household doesn’t make enough to be affected by the tax surcharge. “I generally vote yes for all the school props, except for this year I happened not to because of the situation that we’re in right now,” she said. “My kids haven’t been to school since March, so I don’t want to fund any other things for the school system that is just going to the wayside.” Bates said she doesn’t want to return to The Creek Patio Grill after her experience, she said. Now that the restaurant discontinued this fee, however, she stated that she will dine there again but will be “more skeptical” and “keep an eye on my bill a little bit closer than I normally do.” “It’s great that they’re actually listening to some of the people that have said it’s ridiculous to pass this along to the people who are keeping your business afloat.” —Staff writer Sarah Donahue can be reached at sdonahue@timespublications.com

NEWS

THE FOOTHILLS FOCUS | THEFOOTHILLSFOCUS.COM | FEBRUARY 3, 2021

Cave Creek grieves the death of homeless man BY SARAH DONAHUE Foothills Focus Staff Writer

any Cave Creek residents remember Joshua Barger as the friendly homeless man smiling upon their arrival at Circle K. A number of residents shared conversations and developed a rapport with Barger over the years. Many knew him on a first-name basis. People who knew Barger are reflecting on just how much those interactions meant after hearing news of his death. On the afternoon of Jan. 3, a resident

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discovered a dead body along the edge of a desert wash, just north of Rancho Manana. The body was later identified as Barger, according to Calbert Gillet, public information officer for the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office. “There were no signs of foul play and the investigation is ongoing,” he said, adding Barger’s mother was notified of his death. Most residents were notified of Barger’s death from a public Cave Creek community Facebook group status that was posted on Jan. 5. The post garnered over 100 comments with people expressing their grief and appreciation for the smiles and conversations they shared with Barger. “Rest in Peace, Joshua. You were one of kindest people I have ever met. Fly high with the angels,” Teresa Engebretson said in a Facebook comment. Several years ago, Barger started coming into the Desert Foothills Library, of which Engebretson has been the manag-

er for eight years. Barger came to the library several times a week, often using the computers. Over time, everyone who worked and volunteered at the library got to know Barger, she said. She described him as “this big gentle giant,” mentioning how he told her that his mother named him after the Joshua tree. “He has always had a really special place with me,” she said, holding back tears. “He was just so kind. He really touched my heart. “I wish there were more people like him out there,” she said. “It’s just so sad that he was in the situation that he was in.” Caitlin Decker also works at the library and said he was always “super friendly and very respectful.” Even though he may have been going through a lot, he always took the time to check in with her and ask how she’s doing, she said. Decker said she remembers hearing the faint sound of heavy metal rock music

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coming from his tangled headphones and the sight of him in his big jacket, sandals and hat sitting at one of the library’s computers. “He really loved music,” she said. “I think that’s what his escape was.” Both Decker and Engebretson said if Barger didn’t come in for a while, they’d ask around the library to see if anyone had seen him. “He was definitely beloved here,” she said. Decker found out about Barger’s death from the post in the community Facebook group as well, saying that it was “devastating.” “It just doesn’t seem fair,” she said. Decker said she wants Barger to know that he was loved, appreciated and made a difference in people’s lives. “Joshua was a perfect example of ‘Don’t judge a book by its cover.”’ —Staff writer Sarah Donahue can be reached at sdonahue@timespublications.com

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Retired teacher to host community street cleanup BY SARAH DONAHUE Foothills Focus Staff Writer

iane Graziano was driving in her car when she laid eyes on the sight of scattered garbage and debris accumulating on the side of Cave Creek Road. Her distain for the unsightly piles of trash on the side of the road grew with each passing day. “This is disgusting,” Graziano said. “Cave Creek just looked like a dump.” The longtime Cave Creek resident and retired schoolteacher decided she just couldn’t take it anymore. Graziano decided to adopt the street. She is inviting anyone from the community to join her for a street cleanup event she is hosting on at 9 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 6, on Cave Creek Road. Attendees will meet up on the east side of Cave Creek Road by the Reach 11 Recreation Area and will pick up trash from Deer Valley to Pinnacle Peak roads.

Diane Graziano and a group of her friends, fellow teachers and former students pose with the piles of trash they collected during the “Adopt-a-Street Clean Up” event she hosted on Nov. 21. (Photo courtesy Diane Graziano)

COVID-19 precautions will be followed as attendees are asked to wear masks and will be provided with hand sanitizer as well as gloves and other garbage collecting supplies, according to the event’s Facebook page, http://bit.ly/3iU08PM.

Participants are also instructed to social distance to mitigate the potential spread of COVID-19 and to wear brightly colored clothing to ensure driver visibility. This will be the second community

street cleanup Graziano has hosted. Her idea to apply for the city’s “Adopt A Street” program was inspired by members of a running group she is part of, Graziano said. The running group’s members began hosting street cleanup events in October, and they prompted her to join their efforts and adopt a street shortly thereafter, she said. The city’s “Adopt A Street” program offers communities, organizations, businesses and individuals the chance to volunteer and participate in enhancing the overall appearance of Phoenix streets. Residents can adopt certain major and collector streets in one-mile segments based on what’s available. By adopting a street, one assumes the responsibility and commitment to pick up trash and debris on both sides of the road for a period of two years. The city requires a minimum of four cleanups per

see CLEANUP page 8

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CLEANUP from page 7

year, at least one every three months. Graziano applied online and was impressed that she was approved just days later, she said. Graziano organized her first street cleanup right away in November, she said. She explained how she is planning her events strategically to avoid picking up trash in the “dead of summer.” During the first cleanup, Graziano and a team of around 15 of her friends, fellow teachers and former students finished picking up trash on her adopted street segment in three hours, she said. The cleanup event provided a way for Graziano to reunite with her former elementary students, many of whom are in high school now, she said. Graziano served as a Paradise Valley Unified School District educator for 30 years. She recently retired after her father passed away from COVID-19 in July, she said. During her career, she taught at Eagle Ridge, Cactus View and Quail Run elementary schools. “I missed the kids terribly, and I was so

THE FOOTHILLS FOCUS | THEFOOTHILLSFOCUS.COM | FEBRUARY 3, 2021

psyched to see the parents and the kids come out,” Graziano said. The health of our environment depends on teaching our children the importance of proper trash disposal, Graziano said. She added how pleased she was to see parents getting their kids involved in community cleanup events. While it’s important to instill values into the younger generation, it’s even more important to “lead by example,” she said. Graziano and other street-cleaning participants have picked up a wide variYOU ety of garbage and debris during cleanTO BE up events. These items include things like plastic bottles, Styrofoam as well as cigarette butts, which “multiply like rabbits,” she said. On average, she said she picks up 700 cigarettes each time she collects trash. “I love animals, I love the desert and it’s just heartbreaking to see the trash,” she said. The group of trash-collector volunteers even disposed of an entire queensize mattress that was laying on the side of the road, Graziano said, adding that

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she discovered a “really cute” little field mouse underneath. Already, the conjoined efforts of the running group’s members have made a noticeable difference in the appearance of Cave Creek’s roads, Graziano said. “It almost reminded me of a thirdworld country with all the trash that was on the side of the road,” she said. “It looks so much better.” Graziano usually picks up garbage on the street once a week, “even if I’m not coordinating anything,” she said. She added that her friend in the running group picks up trash at least twice a week while she’s out hiking. Because so many of the running groups’ members have adopted streets and hold cleanup events, they have to coordinate so their times don’t overlap, Graziano said. The group members support each other by attending each other’s events as often as they can, she added. “Our passion is kind of weird,” Graziano said, laughing. “But if you’re going to be outside and you’re enjoying nature anyways, you might as well. “My husband calls me the crazy trash lady,” she said with a chuckle. Each time Graziano finishes picking up trash, she said she feels a “sense of accomplishment” and togetherness with the community.

People from all different neighborhoods partake in the cleanup events, she said, adding that other members of the community have shown their appreciation by waving or honking their horns from their cars as they pass by. After the February cleanup, Graziano will host another one on May 1, which is also open to the public. Graziano’s next goal is to find a business to sponsor her, she said. As of now, Graziano borrows her trash-collecting supplies, like gloves, buckets and grabbers, from her friends in the running group, she said. With a business sponsor, she hopes to receive either donations or trash-collecting supplies so that she won’t have to foot the bill by herself. Graziano has been a Cave Creek resident for 10 years and has lived in Arizona for almost 50 years. She said she loves the Cave Creek community and hopes that more people join her for her upcoming event. “You don’t want to leave this planet looking worse than it did when you came in,” Graziano said. “I want to pass on a beautiful earth, and I also want to pass on a good habit.” —Staff writer Sarah Donahue can be reached at sdonahue@timespublications.com

BY CHRISTINA FUOCO-KARASINSKI Foothills Focus Executive Editor

blood drives canceled due to COVID-19 school and business closures. The blood donations will replenish supplies and can help save a surgery patient, accident victim, child with cancer or COVID-19 patient. To make an appointment, call 1-877-25-VITAL or visit vitalant.org. In Cave Creek, Scottsdale Bible ChurchNorth Ridge, 6363 E. Dynamite Boulevard, is hosting a blood drive from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 13; and Total Sports Therapy, 4730 E. Lone Mountain Road, has one from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 27. —Executive Editor Christina Fuoco-Karasinski can be reached at christina@timespublications.com

Vitalant teams with athletes for blood drive challenge

rizona patients require more blood transfusions in the winter months than during any other time of the year, according to Vitalant. Residents can help make a lifesaving assist for patients in need by giving blood or convalescent plasma. Visit vitalant.org/ sportschallenge to pledge a donation in the name of your favorite sports team and make a donation appointment at any Vitalant donor center or blood drive in Arizona. Since the beginning of the pandemic, more than 25,000 Arizona blood donations have gone uncollected because of

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Bus: (623) 551-7900aricopa County Department of MOVING! Transportation Director Jennifer jkovach@amfam.com Toth will be the guest speaker at g locations, but we aren’t going anywhere. You can expect the

the Friends of Daisy Mountain Trails and the Anthem Community Council Representative port, but with a new view. Town meeting3, at2020 9 a.m. Friday, Feb. 12. New Address as ofHall August Toth brings more than 18 years of experience in transportation engineering to her might be changing locations, but we aren’t going anywhere. You can expect the 3715 W Anthem SuiteCounty, 112 one of the largest roleWay in Maricopa committed support, but with a new view. counties in the United States. Anthem AZ 85086 “I speak to this particular group every We might be changing locations, but we aren’t going anywhere. You can expect the year,” she said. “It’s become an annual tradisame committed support, but with a new view. tion. It’s a good opportunity to give the community an overview of upcoming projects and to find out what’s on their mind in terms of transportation and MCDOT, in particular.” Recently, MCDOT finished a dust mitigaWe might be changing locations, but we aren’t going anywhere. You can expect the tion project on Fig Springs Road in the New same committed support, but with a new view. River area. “I’ll be providing the community with an overview of upcoming projects,” Toth said. “I’ll talk about a little bit about new things happening within MCDOT, new New Address as of August 3, 2020 American Family Mutual Insurance Company, S.I. and its Operating Companies, things on the horizon and really trying to American Family Insurance Company, 6000 American Parkway, Madison, WI 53783 New Address as of August 3, 2020 dig into any questions or concerns that the 014472 – 1/18 ©2018 – 12539633 3715 W Anthem Way Suite 112 resident raise. Anthem AZ 85086 “I love going out to community groups 3715 W Anthem Way Suite 112 and hearing what’s on their mind and seeing Anthem AZ 85086 what we can do to improve connections.” Toth earned a Bachelor of Science degree New Addressinas of engineering August 3, from 2020the University of civil Houston and a Master of Science degree in

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civil engineering from the University of New Mexico. She brings to MCDOT a passion for public service and meeting the transportation needs of the residents of Maricopa County, she said. In her free time, Toth enjoys hiking on many of the county’s parks system trails. “Before I came to the county, I didn’t know there’s an amazing amount of parks that Maricopa County has and the trail systems within those,” said Toth, who is married with four children. “That’s been a real eye opener for me.” Before joining MCDOT in 2014, Toth served as state engineer and deputy director of the Arizona Department of Transportation with responsibility for planning, designing, constructing, maintaining and operating more than 6,000 miles of interstate and state highways in Arizona. She has also worked in the private sector as a transportation consultant. “We have 2,500 miles of roadway within Maricopa County that are arterial street networks, local roads and residential roadway,” she said. “I think the challenging part is being able to stretch our dollars we can continue to maintain our roads and build capacity we need on the arterial network. Making sure we preserve what we have is a critical aspect.” —Executive Editor Christina Fuoco-Karasinski can be reached at christina@timespublications.com

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Anthem Country Club Anthem Golf & Country Club schedule BY CHRISTINA FUOCO-KARASINSKI Foothills Focus Executive Editor

ue to the limited availability, Anthem Golf & Country Club is asking members to not register for back-to-back classes so everyone has a chance to register. No-shows are charged $10. Classes are held at Persimmon or Ironwood, 2708 W. Anthem Club Drive or 41551 N. Anthem Hills Drive, respectively. For more information, call 623-7426200 for Persimmon Clubhouse or 623465-3020 for Ironwood Clubhouse. Wednesday, Feb. 3 Mixology, 7:15 a.m. Cycle, 8 a.m. Cardio/Strength Circuit, 8:30 a.m. Stretch, 8:30 a.m. Water Fitness, 9:30 a.m. Vinyassa Flow, 9:45 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 4 Night of Mentalism, 8 a.m., 5 p.m. Trivia Night, 7 p.m.

Saturday, Feb. 6 Date Night Under the Stars, 5 p.m. Monday, Feb. 8 Cycle, 5:30 a.m. Kickology Strong, 7:15 a.m. Cycle, 8 a.m. Cardio/Strength Circuit, 8:30 a.m.

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Tuesday, Feb. 9 Total Body, 5:30 a.m. Tabata, 8:30 a.m. Mat Pilates, 8:30 a.m. Boxology, 9 a.m. Water Fitness, 9:30 a.m., 5:30 p.m. Clublife 101 Orientation, 5 p.m. Boxing, 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 10 Mixology, 7:15 a.m. Cycle, 8 a.m.

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Tuesday, Feb. 16 Total Body, 5:30 a.m. Tabata, 8:30 a.m. Mat Pilates, 8:30 a.m. Boxology, 9 a.m. Water Fitness, 9:30 a.m., 5:30 p.m. Clublife 101 Orientation, 10 a.m. Boxing, 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 17 Mixology, 7:15 a.m. Cycle, 8 a.m. Cardio/Strength Circuit, 8:30 a.m.

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Tuesday, Feb. 23 Total Body, 5:30 a.m. Tabata, 8:30 a.m. Mat Pilates, 8:30 a.m. Boxology, 9 a.m. Water Fitness, 9:30 a.m., 5:30 p.m. Clublife Orientation, 5 p.m. Boxing, 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 24 Mixology, 7:15 a.m. Cycle, 8 a.m. Cardio/Strength Circuit, 8:30 a.m. Stretch, 8:30 a.m. Water Fitness, 9:30 a.m. Vinyassa Flow, 9:45 a.m.

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AROUND THE BLUHMIN’ TOWN

Let it graupel! Let it graupel! BY JUDY BLUHM Foothills Focus Columnist

et it snow! There is beauty in a white landscape, snowflakes looking like crystals falling from an opaque sky, the pleasure of total silence while walking, and cardinals perched in snow-laden trees like glimmering red ornaments. A blizzard also makes us appreciate getting cozy inside our abodes. Fireplaces were designed for storms like this. So was hot chocolate. A good day to read a book, make something in a crockpot,

clean a closet or write a column. Then, there is a certain reality that sets in, like the horror of driving (I-17 was a nightmare) and simple tasks, like getting mail, walking to the car, navigating steps, making it up the driveway, become something out of a “Mission Impossible” movie. Let’s get a cabin in Flagstaff for the weekend. It would be fun, they said! So lovely to play in the snow. Grandkids will go sledding. We can make a snowman. Oh yeah, it is all good, if you like shoveling, freezing, sliding and driving in zero visibility. Hey, snowstorms are dangerous!

Snowplows, where art thou? Why stay so hidden when we are buried in drifts of heavy snow? Yes, I know, the Prescott area is a mile-high community, and with plenty of steep driveways, roads and ditches, it is a monumental task to clean the streets. One foot of snow and here comes Armageddon. We are battling for our survival! Folks shoveling and then veering off the driveways and landing in culverts. People unable to control their vehicles as they slide down roads barreling toward Highway 69. Hospital emergency rooms fill up with folks breaking hips and legs. My

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see BLUHM page 15

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READER’S VIEWPOINTS LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Thank you for the recommendation Editor: We are Aadi and Noor Saini, the kids who helped the Foothills Food Bank over winter break. My sister (Noor) is

BLUHM from page 14

stuck in a snowbank in her pen and had to be “unstuck.” A few folks found themselves unable to open their front doors or dig themselves out of the mess called “snow.” All types of rescues occur during a storm like this. Yet, we are so happy to get the moisture! Better weather is in the Valley of the Sun. But wait, there were rivers of rain and even a dusting of snow in Wickenburg, Anthem and New River. OK, not really snow. It’s called graupel, which is granular snow pellets, also called soft hail. Well, it sure looks like snow! Beauty is a hillside of saguaros that are all

a fifth grader at BASIS Primary Phoenix, and I am a seventh grader at BASIS Phoenix. We always travel somewhere during our winter break, but this year, due to COVID-19, we couldn’t travel anywhere, so we decided to do something more meaningful which would white. Breathtaking and weird. When snow (graupel) comes to the Valley, it is more like a celebration. Kids and dogs out playing in it. People of all ages grabbing handfuls of the white stuff to throw at a friend (usually melting before it lands). It’s sort of comical to see folks walking around in Phoenix in boots, coats and mittens! Hey, we can all be part of the Bernie Sanders meme. Heavy jacket, face mask and knitted mittens are the new fashion statement! So, let’s not graupel about a few inches or feet of snow. Just stay safe out there. Judy Bluhm is a writer and a local Realtor. Have a story or a comment? Email Judy at judy@judybluhm.com.

CLARIFICATION In the story about Spur Cross’ appraisal in the Jan. 27 issue of The Foothills Focus, it should have said Harmony Hollow Ranch was on the market for over a year for $1.7 million. The price recently dropped to $1.5 million.

help our community. Christina Fuoco told us about Foothills Food Bank. My mom searched on their site and reached out to Tom Kilwein, who is the food drive organizer. He was very happy that we wanted to help this holiday season. We decided to do this food drive in our neighborhood. We made a very nice flier, which we posted on Nextdoor app and took the flier door to door asking people to donate. We raised a whopping 775 pounds of food and donations over winter break — two weeks! Oh, my gosh! We went around our neighborhood asking if people would like to donate. Some people gave items on the spot, some people gave us cash because they didn’t have items (we would go to the grocery store to get some more items with that money), and some took the fliers to drop off later.

We had three crates outside of our house by the entrance, so people use to drop off bags and bags of food and other items there. It was one of the best experiences we have ever had, because it was so fun and it felt so good that we were helping all those people in need. This was our second drive that we did. In October, we both did “Tent Drive for Homeless.” We were able to collect 16 brand-new tents to donate. We love giving back to our community. This is helping us see and understand how not to be selfish and always be on the giving side. We feel blessed that we got the opportunities to do these great drives for great causes. We wish to continue to do this as long as we can. Aadi and Noor Saini

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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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Hank Aaron was more than a hero on the diamond BY DAVID LEIBOWITZ Foothills Focus Columnist

t was a Monday night in April and my parents let me stay up past bedtime to watch the Atlanta Braves play the Los Angeles Dodgers. It was a special occasion: Hank Aaron trying to smack his 715th home run to pass Babe Ruth and become the greatest home run hitter in baseball history. I was 9, sports obsessed, and Aaron ranked high on my personal list of baseball diamond gods. The thickest book in my possession was a copy of “The Baseball Encyclopedia,” 1,500 pages of statistics through which I could wander for hours. Aaron’s metronomic consistency with the bat kept me riveted. He never hit 50 homers in any season, but across two decades Aaron never hit fewer than 20. His was a sustained excellence, year upon year. And he

was never greater than at 9:07 p.m. on April 8, 1974. The pitch from Al Downing that became No. 715 was a high fastball Aaron arced into the left field bullpen. Aaron began his stiff-legged trot around the bases as madness descended. As he rounded second base, he was joined by two white teenagers jogging beside him like maniacs. Years later, I would learn that one of Aaron’s two bodyguards, Atlanta Police Detective Calvin Wardlaw, had to make a conscious decision not to grab his service weapon out of his binoculars case. As Wardlaw told the New York Daily News in 2007: “My instinct was at that moment that even if I could have gotten out there, my man was not in danger. And I tell (people who ask) something else: What if I had decided to shoot my two-barreled .38 at those two boys, if I thought he was in a life-threatening situation, and had

hit Hank Aaron instead, on the night he hit No. 715?” Wardlaw had witnessed firsthand what the rest of us learned about only on the sports pages and TV news: The vicious hatred Hank Aaron received for approaching Ruth’s record. Aaron got so much mail the U.S. Postal Service gave him an award for receiving more letters than any other American. Many of them were racist death threats Wardlaw would forward to the local office of the FBI. In his autobiography, Aaron shook his head at this exposure to the worst of humanity: “The Ruth chase should have been the greatest period of my life, and it was the worst,” he wrote. “I couldn’t believe there was so much hatred in people. It’s something I’m still trying to get over, and maybe I never will.” Almost a half century later, this country seems no closer to getting

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over our collection of hatreds. Back then, when I was 9, I had no concept of what Hank Aaron had been through as the first Black baseball superstar in the deep South. To me, Aaron was many things — a Gold Glover, an All-Star, a cleanup hitter, No. 44 — but none of what he meant to me involved the color of his skin. In some ways, those were gentler times. A kid in Queens, New York, could grow up thinking there were two kinds of people in the world: evil racists who mailed Hank Aaron letters warning him they would kill him if he hit one home run too many, and the rest of us. Aaron passed away at 86 on Jan. 22. Many of us continued to worship his excellence long after his baseball career ended. We did so because Aaron, in his persistence, his fight for equality, and his refusal to be intimidated by hatred, was even more heroic off the baseball field than he was on it.

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StretchLab studio to open at Desert Ridge BY ANNIKA TOMLIN Foothills Focus Staff Writer

ennifer Gage was visiting California during a summer trip when she was introduced to StretchLab. “I play tennis, and I suffered a shoulder injury playing tennis (in California),” Gage said. “A girlfriend of mine had taken me to her Pilates class, and the Pilates instructor asked if anyone there had heard of the new StrechLab that just opened.” After the class, Gage immediately walked to the StretchLab and booked a session before coming back to Arizona. Now, Gage is the franchise owner of

StretchLab studios in Arcadia, Gainey Village and Grayhawk. A Desert Ridge Marketplace studio will open this quarter. To celebrate the grand opening, StretchLab will offer complimentary 15-minute teaser stretches and discounted presale membership packages. She hopes to open six additional locations in the next four years. “We are thrilled to be expanding StretchLab in Arizona,” Gage said. “Stretching caters to everyone from professional athletes to those recovering from injury or those experiencing stiffness from working at home. It’s meant for all ages and body types.

“Our clients can expect a fully customized routine catered to their mobility and goals that will leave them feeling refreshed and reenergized.” Founded in 2015, StretchLab offers a one-on-one assisted stretching service for clients of all types in a fun and energetic environment to gain a wider range of motion and flexibility. Gage brought the California-based company to Arizona in 2018. StretchLab is taking all the necessary precautions to ensure the health and safety of its guests. All staff and clients are required to wear face masks, the number of studio benches have been reduced and spread apart, and guests can

opt to be stretched outside or schedule a time to be treated alone in the studio. “I felt so much relief from that single stretch that I had that when I got home, I looked up StretchLab and there wasn’t one in Phoenix,” Gage said. “I’m the founder of GiGi’s Playhouse Down Syndrome Achievement Center in Phoenix, and I had been in the nonprofit space for the last seven years. I thought the next natural progression would be something in business, and I love the concept (of StretchLab). I believed in it because I was a customer first.” StretchLab offers a variety of pro-

see STRETCHLAB page 20

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grams. The standard 50-minute stretch is a deep and extensive full-body stretch that focuses on all major muscle groups and extremities. The maintenance 25-minute stretch concentrates only on major muscle groups and can help alleviate muscle tightness. In group settings, a “flexologist” guides the class on how to use stretch tools like

THE FOOTHILLS FOCUS | THEFOOTHILLSFOCUS.COM | FEBRUARY 3, 2021

stretch straps and foam rollers. “It’s different than massage,” Gage said. “Massage is a wonderful modality, and it is very needed, and I think it gives you a sense of immediate relief. “Stretch is a little bit different because it lasts throughout the week. If you come in once a week for a stretch, you feel it throughout the rest of the week and it allows you to do the things. Whether you like to play tennis or if you sit at a computer all day, it just really gives our

StretchLab offers 25-minute one-on-one targeted stretches or a 50-minute all-body stretch. (Photo courtesy StretchLab)

members the ability to be more flexible and feel better.” To become a “flexologist,” trainers must complete 60- to 70-plus hours of theory and hands-on training. Flexologists use the proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) method in one-on-one sessions to increase range of motion for maximum benefits. “I really like helping people, and I think when I’m in the studio and I hear a conversation between the ‘flexologist’

and our members, our members feel so much better. They’re making those connections and they’re getting help,” Gage said. “I feel partly responsible for that as far as bringing it here.” —Staff writer Annika Tomlin can be reached at atomlin@timespublications.com StretchLab

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Hanging upside down from a telephone pole? CHURCH COMMUNITY CONNECTION

Pastor Ed Delph Foothills Focus Columnist

o you know what I have learned over the years? There’s nothing that will improve your walk with God and your prayer life more than a big crisis in your life. Let me illustrate. A priest, a minister and a guru sat discussing the best prayer positions, while a telephone repairman worked nearby. “Kneeling is the best way to pray,” the priest said. “No,” said the minister. “I get the best results standing with my hands outstretched to

heaven.” “You’re both wrong,” the guru said. “The most effective prayer position is lying down on the floor.” The repairman could not contain himself any longer after listening to their conversation. “Hey, fellas,” he interrupted. “The best praying

that I ever did was when I was hanging upside down from a telephone pole.” Someone once said, “When you find yourself at the end of a rope, you will find out God lives there.” We’ve been there, at the end of our rope, haven’t we? The farther we slide

down the rope, the higher the anxiety. Generally, sliding down the rope causes more stress than when you reach the end of the rope. Hanging upside down from a telephone pole would catch my attention, how about yours? But God lives at the end of the rope. There you will be, a bit battered and bruised but alive. He will come and save you for a higher purpose. You will then, and only then, see the reason, perhaps even a divine reason, for your struggle. You will have grown. It’s not what you become, but what you overcome, that matters. Most of the time,

see DELPH page 24

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Make a date for romance at these spots BY ALISON BAILIN BATZ Foothills Focus Contributing Writer

ove isn’t just in the air — it is on the plates, in the glasses and served tableside at these oh-so-romantic restaurants all month long. Here are some of them.

ZuZu This historic spot combines iconic architecture with contemporary design elements. The latest redesign includes a colorful feature wall, neon ZuZu sign, midcentury-inspired screens and cozy booths. For the ultimate date night, reserve The Rosie Room — a private, hidden dining room with pink walls and a sound system guests can tap into and play their favorite songs. Inventive dishes from chef Russell LaCasce include grilled spiced Scottish salmon with local kale and rock shrimp and pesto

fettucine with Thai basil.

Bourbon & Bones This upscale boutique chophouse features a modern and innovative menu in a hip, sexy atmosphere. From the finest wet and dry-aged cuts of beef, veal and pork, both on the bone and off, to fresh seafood, appetizers, sides and desserts, it offers the best ingredients and puts them together in delicious ways. The aroma of the kitchen and bustling bar scene is set to the sounds of up-tempo music lending itself to a romantic fine dining experience. Marcellino Ristorante The love between the owners, chef Marcellino and his wife, Sima, is the foundation upon which this passionate restaurant was born. The sultry warmth of Marcellino Ristorante’s ambiance is designed as the canvas, and

the authentic, handcrafted cuisine and exclusively Italian wine list, is the work of art that creates a most romantic culinary experience. Every morsel, from the chef’s infused pastas, grilled lamb chops cloaked in a luxurious balsamic reduction to Atlantic salmon sautéed with leeks and porcini mushrooms, has made many swoon.

Hearth ’61 Nothing beats the view from the patio of this restaurant at Mountain Shadows. Admire Camelback Mountain at sunset while enjoying seasonal dishes from veteran chef Charles Wiley, including ahi tartare with housemade puffed rice and Niman Ranch short rib with roasted garlic polenta. Choose the perfect pairing with a bottle from its award-winning wine selection. Enjoy the restaurant’s chic and sleek atmosphere, rounding out the evening at the oval-shaped bar. For the ultimate

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Lon’s at the Hermosa Lon’s at the Hermosa offers many romantic settings for an intimate dinner experience: an outdoor dining patio featuring gorgeous flora and fauna, a trickling fountain and a massive fireplace; a ruggedly handsome indoor dining room illuminated by candlelight; and an underground wine cellar for private dining that offers seating for 12 people, perfect for a date night with your favorite friends. Locally sourced ingredients power Lon’s dinner menu, featuring classic and seasonal dishes that reflect both the adventurous spirit and the sophisticated artistry of its namesake, cowboy artist Lon Megargee.

see ROMANCE page 30

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Local Jonny’s struggles but has no plans to close BY SARAH DONAHUE Foothills Focus Staff Writer

hile Local Jonny’s Tavern & Café may appear busy and bustling with patrons, the restaurant is doing everything in its ability to keep the doors open. The Cave Creek restaurant is located in the town core and opened six years ago, previously operating as a quick-service food establishment. Considering the long lines of people Local Jonny’s typically attracted as a quick-service restaurant, co-owner Lauren VanWinkle said she realized there was no way it could safely reopen in this manner during a pandemic. “We just didn’t feel comfortable operating in the same way that we were operating before,” she said. To mitigate crowds, Local Jonny’s expanded its square footage to transition into a full-service traditional restaurant,

Jonny Oughterson and Lauren VanWinkle co-own Local Jonny’s Tavern & Café. (Photo by Pablo Robles)

acquiring the space next door and assuming the lease on the building. The restaurant also doubled its number of staff to accommodate the extra square footage.

“It was something that we hadn’t done before,” she said about the restaurant’s transition. “It was a whole new way of doing business in the middle of a pandemic.”

While the staff and community “rallied around us” and went the “extra mile” to keep the restaurant going, “Our labor costs have almost doubled from what it was,” VanWinkle said. She added that the restaurant incurred significant costs from purchasing COVID-19 mitigation supplies. Local Jonny’s has used its social media to ask the community for its continued support. VanWinkle runs the Local Jonny’s social media accounts and wants to communicate that even if the restaurant looks lively and full of people, its owners are working tirelessly to keep things going, she said. She mentioned how the restaurant had to take out an Economic Injury Disaster Loan. However, it’s hard to ask for support when other restaurants have had to shut their doors, VanWinkle said.

see JONNY page 26

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DELPH from page 21

everything works out in the end. If it hasn’t worked out, it’s not the end. So far, you have survived 100% of your worst days. You might be thinking, “Ed, Mr. Rogers did not adequately prepare me for the people in my neighborhood.” Yep, that’s right. God wants us to grow up before we grow old. If you caused the struggle, remember God has more “good” things for you in your future than you have ever done “bad” in your past. God redeems and then lifts us. God knows we learn more from our trials than our victories. A mistake that makes you humble is better than an achievement that makes you arrogant. God’s grace humbles us without degrading us and exalts us without inflating us. Many people in the Bible journeyed through severe trials they didn’t even cause. When they went through their difficulties, they couldn’t understand why it was happening to them. They saw things from their understanding. That’s like trying to describe an

THE FOOTHILLS FOCUS | THEFOOTHILLSFOCUS.COM | FEBRUARY 3, 2021

elephant by only looking at its trunk. A partial picture, the trunk, is not the whole picture, an elephant. We miss the “but wait, there’s more” part. Kimberly Henderson of Prov. 31 Ministries (proverbs31.org) enlightens us about the “but wait, there’s more” aspect of their stories. (God speaking) “I would have pulled Joseph out. Out of that pit. Out of that prison. Out of that pain. And I would have cheated nations out of the one leader God would use to deliver them from famine. “I would have pulled David out. Out of Saul’s spear-throwing presence. Out of the caves he hid in. Out of the pain of rejection. And I would have cheated Israel out of a God-hearted king. “I would have pulled Esther out. Out of being snatched from her only family. Out of being placed in a position she never asked for. Out of the path of a vicious, power-hungry foe. And I would have cheated a people out of the woman God would use to save their very lives. “And I would have pulled Jesus off. Off the cross. Off the road that led to

suffering and pain. Off the path that would mean nakedness and beatings, nails and thorns. And I would have cheated the entire world out of a Savior. Out of salvation. Out of an eternity filled with no more suffering and no more pain.” (Kimberly speaking). “Oh, friend. I want to pull you out. I want to change your path. I want to stop your pain. But right now, I know I would be wrong. I would be out of line. I would be cheating you and cheating the world out of so much good. God knows the good this pain will produce. God knows the beauty this ‘hard’ will grow in you. He’s watching over you. He promises you that you can trust Him, even when it feels like more than you can bear. “So instead of trying to pull you out, I’m lifting you. I’m kneeling before the Father, and I’m asking Him to give you strength and hope. I’m asking Him to protect you and to move you when the time is right. I believe God is going to use your life in powerful and beautiful ways. Ways that will leave your heart both grateful and thankful for the road

you’ve been on.” Someone special needed this article today. There’s an elephant (bigger picture) attached to the elephant trunk (smaller picture) of your current dilemma. Like, Joseph, David, Esther or Jesus, just you wait until you see the big picture. Could it be that your present distress is for your best, redemptively crafted into a bigger picture by a Father who knows best? Welcome to a bigger world. You’ve got mail! Psalm 27:13-14. Ed Delph is a native of Phoenix who lives in the North Valley. Since 1980, he has pastored three churches in the Valley. He is a noted author of 10 books, weekly columnist in several local and worldwide newspapers, teacher, business owner and speaker. Delph has been to or ministered in over 100 countries. He is president of a worldwide ministry, NationStrategy. To learn more about Pastor Ed Delph, the Church-Community Connection and NationStrategy, call 623-376-6757, e-mail nationstrategy@cs.com or visit nationstrategy.com.

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Crystal Bowl Healing Concerts support nonprofits BY CHRISTINA FUOCO-KARASINSKI Foothills Focus Executive Editor

reasure Milinovich is hoping to help others find inner peace during the pandemic by hosting the Second Sunday Sound Healing Concerts at Local Jonny’s Patio, 6033 E. Cave Creek Road, from 4 to 6 p.m. With the $25 admission, guests can partake in a one-hour guided meditation and sound healing experience, followed by happy hour. Upcoming dates include February 14, March 14 and April 11, and will continue throughout 2021. “We’re really excited about the concerts,” said Milinovich, the founder of The Space Healing Center at 37608 N. Cave Creek Road, Cave Creek. “I’ve lived in Cave Creek for about 19 years, and I’ve been a regular at Local Jonny’s since they opened. It’s a natural partnership. We just wanted to offer something to the community that could be outside.”

These concerts will benefit various philanthropic causes, with February’s proceeds donating to Mindfulness First. Local Jonny’s co-owner Lauren VanWinkle hadn’t hosted a sound healing before and went into it “completely on faith,” Milinovich said. “She loved it the first time,” Milinovich added. “The first one, in December, was a great success. It’s basically a two-hour event. The actual sound portion is one hour and included a little bit of guided meditation, and then we go into the sound for the majority of the time. “We use lots of different tools, crystal bowls, gongs, chimes, whatever the particular sound healing is called to use.” The December event was capped at 25 people. Going forward, only 20 tickets will be available. Milinovich called the experience “mind blowing.” “A lot of people have tried to meditate, and they say, ‘It doesn’t work for

see CRYSTAL BOWL page 29

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Treasure Milinovich founded The Space Healing Center at 37608 N. Cave Creek Road, Cave Creek. (Photo courtesy Treasure Milinovich)

JONNY from page 23

“It’s been a whirlwind, but we’re still here,” she said. “I think we made it through some of the hardest parts, which is amazing in itself. I could not be more proud of our team.” VanWinkle said she is trying to stay positive so her staff doesn’t carry the weight the owners are feeling. She and her husband, Jonny Oughterson, own the restaurant together and do everything they can to make sure that everyone is paid on time and that their checks clear, she said. “Not only is it our livelihood, but now we have about 35 employees who depend on us to pay their rent,” she explained. VanWinkle and Oughterson have worked in the restaurant industry for a long time and noticed a culture where its employees are not taken care of, she said, adding that they often get taken advantage of. When they opened Local Jonny’s, they were excited to have the chance to create an atmosphere where everyone is cared for and looked after, she said. However, once they got in the thick of it, they realized “it’s not as simple as we thought.” However, Local Jonny’s has built a “family culture,” VanWinkle said, adding

that her favorite part of co-owning the restaurant is the ability to “influence people in their lives.” She explained how many of the Local Jonny’s employees are just out of high school and college and don’t have the best support system, adding how rewarding it is that “I get to really be there for them.” “It’s really special to get to be a part of somebody’s life in a capacity like that.” All things considered, VanWinkle said she believes everything the restaurant had to do to stay in business during COVID-19 will be a “blessing” in the long run. Not only is it a big feat to expand the restaurant’s square footage, but it also proves “how strong we are,” she said. She added that it has never been a consideration to close Local Jonny’s doors for good. VanWinkle said she is the “most optimistic” she’s been in around six months, adding, “The systems that we’ve put in place are only going to benefit us in the long run.” “If we’ve pushed through this long with it being this difficult, then we just need to hold on a little bit longer.” —Staff writer Sarah Donahue can be reached at sdonahue@timespublications.com

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Painting in transitioning light BY SHEA STANFIELD Foothills Focus Contributing Writer

any years ago, an art instructor said, “The artist’s job is to witness to their time in

history.” In Cave Creek, artist Charlotte Loetz is recording the everyday events that make up the story of our lives. “I always loved to draw, especially people,” said Loetz, who was born in Wauseon, Ohio. “I attended a county school in Ohio where the art teacher would come by once a month to give art lessons to the class, but that wasn’t enough for me. I am fortunate my parents encouraged my creativity.” Loetz took art classes when she enrolled at Bowling Green State University in Bowling Green, Ohio. She minored in art education and majored in French and Spanish. Soon after

graduation, Loetz took a job teaching junior high school art for five years before moving to high school as a foreign language instructor. Loetz took time away from the classroom to raise five children as a stay-at-home mom. Busy with family activities, Loetz put her painting aside. Once the children were at an age they didn’t need as much of her attention, she returned to teaching and retired in 2008. With time to commit to acrylic and oil painting, Loetz joined the Black Swamp Art Guild in Bryan, Ohio, where she met Nora Sallows, who soon became her mentor. Not long after meeting Sallows, Loetz dropped the acrylics and focused on oils as her painting medium. Sallows also introduced Loetz to plein air painting, which she grew to love. Soon, she showed her art at

see PAINTING page 28

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Charlotte Loetz at the Desert Foothills Land Trust show. (Photo courtesy Charlotte Loetz)

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PAINTING from page 27

studio but keeps herself available to step into nature for plein air painting when possible. She enjoys the challenge of capturing the desert’s changing tones and shadows in a transitioning light environment. Loetz is scheduled to participate in a “Women Painting Women” exhibition planned for Desert Foothills Library, when it reopens in 2021. To view Charlotte Loetz’s work, visit fineartamerica.com/charlotte-loetz. She can also be contacted by email at char.loetz@gmail.com.

the Black Swamp Art Guild in Bryan and the Black Swamp Arts League in Archbold, Ohio. She was offered a one-woman show at Napoleon, Ohio’s The Armory. During this time, she was also a member of the Toledo Artists’ Club, exhibiting in its annual portrait show for several years and earning honorable mentions. In Arizona, Loetz joined the Sonoran Arts League, exhibiting in several of its events, and she participates in Desert Foothills Land Trust’s fundraising art exhibits. To refresh her skill set, Loetz attended workshops with the Scottsdale Artists’ School in Scottsdale, where she enjoys its open studio opportunities to draw and paint from live models. She has also attended workshops at Ciolem Gallery in Carefree. Loetz typically paints from photographs in her Cave Creek home

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“Three Riders at the P.A. Seitts Preserve” in Cave Creek. (Photo courtesy Charlotte Loetz)

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CRYSTAL BOWL from page 26

me’ or ‘I can’t turn off my mind,’” she recalled. “The sound is beautiful. It’s an automatic meditation. It gives the mind something to focus on. The mind starts to slow down and quiet without much conscious attention from the practitioner. They’re able to relax without trying to relax. Subconsciously, a lot is happening in the body to facilitate a deep feeling of relaxation and peace.” Milinovich began as a yoga teacher about 20 years ago. Over those years, she slowly expanded into other fields. She’s been a life coach and slowly rolled in the healing component. “Sound was a natural extension of me to include into my personal work I do with clients,” she said. “There are some people who are sound healers and that’s all they do; they have a lot of different bowls and gongs and just focus on the sound. Sound is one of the tools in my toolbox. At Local Jonny’s, I want to invite sound healers to facilitate.”

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She’s passing on her talent, too. Her daughter teaches mindfulness in school. Milinovich said she believes in allowing “people to blossom in the way they’re meant to blossom.” “I don’t push anything on my kids,” she said. “Hopefully, they’re able to pick up a few tools along the way to find peace. That’s what really everyone craves in some peace, especially in today’s world. “Everything is so loud, and we’re constantly being bombarded with so much noise. It’s challenging for people to start meditation, but sound is a wonderful beginners’ tool that gives people the opportunity to drop in. Something then opens within them that says, ‘I want to explore a little more.’” —Executive Editor Christina Fuoco-Karasinski an be reached at christina@timespublications.com.

Sound healing, Treasure Milinovich said, is beautiful and an automatic meditation. (Special to The Foothills Focus)

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The adjacent Lon’s Last Drop bar and patio is the ideal spot to begin or end a romantic evening, with its five fireplaces and handcrafted cocktails. Rusconi’s American Kitchen Rusconi’s American Kitchen’s convenient-yet-unassuming location makes it one of the Valley’s best-kept secrets.

THE FOOTHILLS FOCUS | THEFOOTHILLSFOCUS.COM | FEBRUARY 3, 2021

With an elegant, “neighborhood” feel, Rusconi’s makes for a comfortable and welcoming experience from the moment guests walk in the door. Featuring a cozy patio, bar-side dining area and traditional dining room with visibility into the active kitchen, there are plenty of options for date-nighters to select their preferred seating a deux. Whether choosing from the excellent wine list or one of the restaurant’s

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specialty cocktails (The Original Rusconi is a must), romance begins with the first sip. Couples can then canoodle over a shared plate such as the artisan cheese plate or kitchen board. Mains like the braised boneless beef short ribs, grilled loin of Opal Valley lamb and natural sea scallops with garnet yam puree are all artfully prepared and presented so diners can’t go wrong.

Kasai Japanese Steakhouse This hotspot is the perfect date night for two. The built-in dinner-tainment will wow guests as the charismatic chefs put on a show complete with fun and flames at one of the 14 teppan tables. It’s not just a meal — it’s an event! Start with items like the wagyu beef sliders made with sweet sake caramelized onions, cheese, pickle and radish aioli. Prepare to be impressed when the teppan tables heat up and the show begins. Each teppan entrée comes served with fried or coconut rice, broccolini and ends with Kasai’s signature Dole Whip frozen pineapple dessert. Cooper’s Hawk Though you cannot tell from the outside, the newly opened Cooper’s Hawk Restaurant and Winery in North Scottsdale features a full-scale wine tasting room and wine shop in addition to full-service restaurant, ample bar, and outdoor patio space inside. The inspired setup allows guests to start the evening in the tasting room, where there are flights of red, white, sparkling and rose wines made from grapes sourced specifically for Cooper’s Hawk from across California and the Pacific Northwest. After a tasting, guests are whisked to a transitional area where barrel samples of wine are offered, all before being seated for a multi-course dinner. The Craftsman Cocktails + Kitchen Effortlessly comfortable and intimate, The Craftsman Cocktails + Kitchen was inspired by a loving and hardworking farmer who cared for his family, the land and working with his hands. Diners experience that same energy, love and come-as-you-are attitude as they enter it doors. Hand-crafted cocktails

and creative tastes are their specialty, featuring in-house distilled spirits and unique American dishes. The innovative menu strikes the perfect balance between quality and creativity, courtesy of chef Christopher Nicosia, an Arizona Culinary Hall of Fame Inductee and culinary craftsman.

Sel This intimate dining experience offers progressive American cuisine by candlelight from acclaimed chef Branden Levine, the former executive chef of Café Monarch also known for his appearances on the Food Network’s “Chef Wanted” with Anne Burrell and “Beat Bobby Flay.” Offering an á la carte menu as well as traditional and vegetarian prix fixe menus, expect offerings to change with the season but to always deliver big bold flavors. Ocean 44 Sexy, sophisticated and seductive from the moment one walks in the door, Ocean 44 is among the top seeand-be-seen spots in Scottsdale, especially if you have someone special on your arm. Dress to impress at this Valley gem, which is a commanding 12,000 square and boasts an elaborate glass expo kitchen, an expansive bar and multiple vibrant dining rooms, which almost have a coastal feel thanks to light colors and accents throughout.

The Americano Chic and striking in appearance and culinary offerings, The Americano is a true Italian steakhouse in the vein of The Palm, blending the European style of highly personalized, tableside service with contemporary Italian-inspired dining and American imagination when it comes to mixology. Though open less than a year, it has already earned a place in the hearts and minds of local diners. And now that Scott Conant is at the helm — acquiring the brand in October — The Americano is poised to make an even bigger mark, especially on the heels of Conant releasing his first menu in recent weeks, full of recognizable dishes that have helped define his career.

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Homie, Girl Scouts partner for ‘cookie castle’ BY CHRISTINA FUOCO-KARASINSKI Foothills Focus Executive Editor

hoenix Girl Scout Maija Kaprosy received a quick lesson in architecture and business when she and her father, Jay, built a 13-foot-by-13-foot-by-9-foot castle made mostly out of Girl Scout cookie boxes. This was the focal point to the Cactus-Pine Council’s cookie-selling space at The Shops at Norterra, 2450 W. Happy Valley Road, Phoenix, starting Feb. 7. Cookies will be available every Sunday in February at Norterra, which donated the space. “First, I was a little confused by the idea. I never heard of it before,” said

12-year-old Maija. Quickly, however, Maija was into it. “My first few ideas were just a house,” she said. “We thought that was too generic. We looked at landmarks in Arizona. Then, we thought, little girls like to be princesses, so I started on a castle. I got some emotional support and ideas from my friends, I should add.” YOUTH The annual cookies sale is a major fundraiser for Girl Scouts in Arizona, supporting opportunities for girls to learn, grow and enjoy new experiences. The Cactus-Pine Council’s goal is to sell 2.1 million packages of cookies this year. Homie, a real estate brokerage, donated $15,000 to support cookie sales, foster

creativity, engineering and entrepreneurial skills among Girl Scouts through its philanthropic arm, Homie Helps. “At Homie, we applaud innovation and embrace making smart, creative changes, which is why we wanted to support and encourage the Girl Scouts-Cactus Pine Council’s cookie-selling efforts this year,” said Joshua Miller, Homie Arizona’s general manager. “When we learned they were forced to shift gears we wanted to support the fundraising efforts and life skills by aiding in the building of the cookie castle.” Arizona Cactus-Pine Council CEO Tamara Woodbury said the pandemic forced her organization to consider new options for

selling cookies this year. “When Homie stepped in to help promote a new cookie booth location, they provided a unique way to showcase what Girl Scouting is all about — perseverance, creativity, entrepreneurial and teamwork skills,” Woodbury said. “We are excited to debut the cookie castle and hope the community is as impressed and amazed by it as we are.” Homie has been working with the Girl Scouts in a lesser capacity, Miller said. The two organizations reconnected and brainstormed on how they could partner. “We thought it would be interesting for

see GIRL SCOUT page 32

2750 W. Dove Valley Rd, Suite 150, Phoenix, AZ 85085 (623) 594-7466 • www.PetWellnessaz.com

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GIRL SCOUT �� page 31

the community to create a cookie castle,” Miller said. “It’s been really great to see the enthusiasm with the girls and see that we can contribute to their cause as well. “COVID affected people, but different organizations as well. The Girl Scouts had been struggling with how they’re going to distribute their cookies this year with the state of the climate right now. We jumped at the opportunity to help.” Miller said Homie wants to empower the next generation of leaders and entrepreneurs. “We’ve been in discussions to have this potentially be an annual event, where multiple Girl Scout troops will build a house,” he said. “We’re exploring it now and will be looking at ways to partner with the organization in the future. It’s not a complex partnership. We just had this girl (Maija) who was so excited, and we thought it would be great to do that.” Maija is looking forward to Feb. 7, as it’s been a labor of love. “We’ve been up there building, even at night,” said Maija, who has been a Girl Scout for

Maija Kaprosy and her dad, Jay Kaprosy, combined their skills to build a Girl Scout cookie castle, which is on display at The Shops at Norterra starting Feb. 7. (Photo courtesy Evolve Public Relations and Marketing)

three and a half years. “Someone was walking by every few minutes looking at the castle. “I love cookie selling. You get to learn about money management and time management and learn about the community from going door to door. I’ve been learning new things by being with other girls my age. We do fun things, too, like volunteering with charities.” Her dad Jay, mom Elli, and the brother, Bremer, are impressed with her handiwork. Jay helped her with the castle, as did Kaia Maroney, the daughter of Jim and Andrea Maroney. “It’s been incredible,” he said. “It’s a oncein-a-lifetime opportunity for young women like her. It’s something to look forward to and keep busy with during the pandemic. “She always impresses. She jumped at the opportunity with very little hesitation. She’s fearless that way. She loves to do things that are creative. She came up with different versions of the castle and was thinking it all through. She has this slideshow of what she was putting together with the different boxes. It was interesting and a lot of fun to watch her walk through the design and the logistics.”

Chris Gonzalez

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STUDENT CHRONICLES

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Know a student doing something remarkable? Tell us about it! Email christina@timespublications.com. BY CHRISTINA FUOCO-KARASINSKI Foothills Focus Executive Editor

Eva Klein of Buckeye was named to the dean’s list at the University of Wisconsin-Madison for the fall semester of the 2020-21 academic years. She is in the school of education. Students who achieve at a high level academically are recognized by the dean at the close of each semester. To be eligible for the dean’s list, students must complete a minimum of 12 graded degree credits in that semester. Each university school or college sets its own GPA requirements for students to be eligible to receive the distinction.

Kolten Christenson of Phoenix and John Ross of Anthem were named to the McKendree University dean’s list for earning a grade-point average of 3.60 or higher for the fall 2020 semester. Founded in 1828, the historic Lebanon, Illinois, campus is 25 miles from St. Louis, Missouri. McKendree also has a campus in Radcliff, Kentucky, and offers programs online and at nearby Scott Air Force Base, Illinois. Erin Cooney, Chapin Gray, Ashley Lau, Tanner Mendenhall, Teagan Scott, Emily Cardellini, Mary Long, Sarah Miceli, Dillon Shipley and Regan Shipley, all of Phoenix, earned placement on the Gonzaga University president’s list for the fall semester. Students must earn a 3.85 to 4.0 grade-point average to be listed. Gonzaga University is a humanistic, private Catholic University providing a Jesuit education to more than 7,500 students. Situated along the Spokane River near Downtown Spokane, Washington, Gonzaga offers 75 fields of study, 23 master’s degrees, four doctoral degrees in one college and six schools. The University of Utah named more than 9,700 stu-

dents to the fall 2020 dean’s list. To qualify, students must earn a GPA of 3.5 or higher in at least 12 graded credit hours during any one term. Among those named: Isabella Perrino of Phoenix, whose major is games/bachelor of science; Kelsie Lee of Anthem, whose majors are peace and conflict/ bachelor of science and international studies/bachelor of science; Rachel Curnutt of Cave Creek, whose majors are games/bachelor of science and Japanese/bachelor of arts; Kyra Nidds of Cave Creek, whose major is health and kinesiology/bachelor of science and Mason Setto of Phoenix, whose major is undeclared. The University of Utah, located in Salt Lake City in the foothills of the Wasatch Mountains, is the flagship institution of higher learning in Utah. With over 100 major subjects at the undergraduate level and more than 90 major fields of study at the graduate level, including law and medicine, the university prepares students to live and compete in the global workplace. Lauren Anderson of Phoenix was named to the Eastern New Mexico University’s dean’s list for the fall 2020 semester. To be eligible for the dean’s list, a student must complete a minimum of 15 credit hours with a GPA of 3.25 or greater.

Alyssa Johnson of Phoenix was named to the dean’s list for the fall 2020 semester at Carson-Newman Univer-

sity in Jefferson City, Tennessee. The university awards dean’s list honors to students earning a grade point average of 3.5 or higher while taking 12 or more credit hours. Founded in 1851, Carson-Newman is a Christian liberal arts-based university affiliated with the Tennessee Baptist Convention. The university is located in Jefferson City, Tennessee, among the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains and has over 2,700 students. Carson-Newman offers 50 undergraduate majors, as well as associate, bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees.

Emiley Lynch of Phoenix earned dean’s list honors for the fall 2020 semester at Mount St. Mary’s University in Emmitsburg, Maryland. The university is private, liberal arts, Catholic university in the Catoctin Mountains, with a satellite campus in Frederick, Maryland. The university offers more than 70 majors, minors, concentrations and special programs for traditional undergraduate students, and more than 20 adult undergraduate- and graduate-level programs. The Mount includes Mount St. Mary’s Seminary, the second oldest in the United States, and the National Shrine Grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes, an idyllic shrine for spiritual reflection located on the hill above the university.

Amith Dsilva of Phoenix earned a Master of Science in computer science from the Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta. Dsilva was among approximately 3,800 undergraduate and graduate students who earned their degrees during the fall 2020 semester and were recognized during the institute’s 259th commencement exercises Dec. 11 and Dec. 12 at Bobby Dodd Stadium. Know of a student doing something remarkable? Tell us about it! Email christina@ timespublications.com.

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