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Wednesday, March 31, 2021

Anthem Days seeking vendors for distanced event BY SARAH DONAHUE Foothills Focus Staff Writer

Firearm training hellps women ‘refuse to be a victim’

hough this year’s Anthem Days will require more social distancing, it will still serve its original intended purpose of bringing the community together. Last year’s Anthem Days was one of the many events residents had to cross off their calendars when COVID-19 hit, leading to restrictions on large gatherings. But with things taking a turn for the positive and more distance being placed between car-

nival rides, vendor booths and crowds, the event shall prevail for its 21st year. The public, all-ages event will be held at Anthem Community Park on May 1 and May 2, and the Frazier Shows Carnival will be in town from April 29 until May 2. Enhanced COVID-19 protocols will be in place, and attendees must wear masks. This year’s event will look similar to past Anthem Days, as attendees can expect to see a variety of carnival rides, food trucks, vendors, and live DJ entertainment. After all, with the complications of COVID-19,

it wasn’t the time to make any “sweeping changes,” said Kristi Northcutt, Anthem Community Council senior director of community relations. “We’re just trying to get back in front of the community this year,” Northcutt said. “We’re trying to make it as traditional as possible, because we know that everyone really enjoys it, and without having it last year, we know people just want to get back to it.”

see ANTHEM DAYS page 5

Hall of Flame Museum prevails through pandemic

FEATURES.........20

Anthem photographer finds balance in his images

YOUTH .............25

Love endures through letters sent to elders worldwide

OPINION.................... 10 BUSINESS.................. 13 FEATURES................. 17 YOUTH....................... 25 CLASSIFIEDS............. 29 Zone

BY JAKARIA ROSS Foothills Focus Staff Writer

s the education curator for the Hall of Flame Museum in Phoenix, Mark Moorhead and his dedication go beyond the facility’s four walls. He shares his knowledge with community groups like the Friends of Daisy Mountain Trails. He’ll speak, via Zoom, at their representative town meeting on April 9 about updates to the museum. “We’re the largest historical firefighting museum in the world,” Moorhead

see MUSEUM page 4

Mark Moorhead shows a piece from an antique fire-fighting apparatus at the Hall of Flame Museum. (Photo courtesy Mark Moorhead)

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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 :

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MUSEUM from page 1

said. “There are around 200 firefighting museums in the United States and quite a few in other countries as well. We have items from all over the world, really, to trace the social and technological history of firefighting.” Moorhead’s speaking engagements have been limited, as he contracted COVID-19 and it has lingered. “I had COVID-19 and I was in the hospital for eight days,” he said. “After a week of it getting tougher and tougher to breathe, I finally called (first responders). Every one of the responders, it was about four of them, said they all had had [COVID-19].” Those experiences strengthened his bond with firefighters and emergency technicians, roles, Moorhead said, do not get a lot of recognition.

After all, many of their calls are related to COVID-19, Moorhead said. “Of course, in a pandemic, a large number of those calls of those medically oriented kinds of calls are going to be COVID-19 related,” Moorhead said. “There’s more of a chance of exposure to it there for them probably than for most people. I have to say that in the circumstance it was very comforting to me to know that these guys did have it and got over it.” According to Moorhead, the museum is doing surprisingly well despite the social distancing mandate. “We do require, of course, masks, hand sanitizer and social distancing from people who aren’t in your party,” Moorhead said. “It’s a big building, so it’s a good option if you want to go somewhere.” The museum continues to offer

many events other than the showing of antique and special equipment. “We had a blood drive, and it was supposed to be a competition between the police and firefighters,” said Moorhead, who also works as a journalist. “There is always that rivalry between the police and firefighters and there was a police officer who got COVID-19 and came really close to dying. He did recover and Vitalant, the company who did the blood drive wanted him particularly for the antibodies in his blood.”

of hand, so we had to repair it immediately, and by doing so, we were able to keep it offline just for a short amount of time and then get people right back on the courts.” Pickleball courts five to 10 were closest to the construction area and were temporarily “offline” while the repairs were being performed, Northcutt said. Most of the construction took place from March 15 to March 18, however, as of March 23, all the pickleball courts are open for resident use once again. “The pickleball players are happy,” she said. “They were very accommodating during the repairs, shifting their court play to other courts and they’re very hap-

py that everything’s back in business.” Northcutt goes to the Anthem Community Center quite frequently and sees that “the courts are busy all day, every day. I know that to be true,” she said with a laugh. “It doesn’t matter what time of the day I’m there, the courts are busy,” she added. Pickleball is cited as America’s fastest-growing sport. The game was invented in the 1960s and combines elements of tennis, table tennis as well as badminton. Addressing these repairs immediately was important to the ACC, as the award-winning pickleball courts are “highly utilized” by residents and are one of the community’s newest amenities, she said. Anthem’s pickleball courts were named “Outdoor Pickleball Facility of the Year” by the American Sports Builder Association in 2019. These courts were completed in 2019, one of four projects included in ACC’s Facilities Master Plan. —Staff writer Sarah Donahue can be reached at sdonahue@timespublications.com

Mark Moorhead

9 a.m. Friday, April 9 Zoom call with Friends of Daisy Mountain Trails For more information, visit daisymountain.org

Anthem repairs pickleball courts BY SARAH DONAHUE Foothills Focus Staff Writer

he Anthem community’s pickleball courts are fully up and running after undergoing repairs. A leak was discovered in an under-slab pipe, which could have caused some lifting of the sidewalks that sit adjacent to the courts, according to Kristi Northcutt, Anthem Community Council’s senior director of community relations. However, the leak was noticed and addressed before it reached that level that would cause any lifting of those nearby sidewalks, she added. “We didn’t want the leaks to get out

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ANTHEM DAYS from page 1

That said, more crafts vendors will be featured than usual. One hundred vendors set up shop at the outdoor event each year, but with this year’s annual Autumnfest canceled, the Anthem Community Council wanted to make it up to them by offering space at Anthem Days. The Anthem Community Council is currently seeking participants. “We’ve had a great response so far,” Northcutt said. “We’re getting some sponsors lined up and we have a good start to the registration.” The call for vendors is open through April 9, and businesses, nonprofits as well as crafts vendors can register to take part at onlineatanthem.com. An-

them Area Chamber of Commerce members who are in good standing get a discount, Northcutt said. “People are excited to get back out in the community and enjoy our special events, and we’re looking forward to offering it to the community,” she explained. Attendees may notice a slight change of season, as the event normally takes place at the end of March. Temperatures may be a bit warmer in May, but the Anthem Community Council wanted that extra time to ensure it could follow all COVID-19 regulations and protocols, Northcutt explained. “We wanted to be sure that we could get the green light and make it an event that everyone could enjoy,” she added. COVID-19 protocols may affect which

Job fairs set for Abrazo Cave Creek Hospital BY FOOTHILLS FOCUS STAFF

ecruiting is underway for nursing and other positions at the new Abrazo Cave Creek Hospital, whic h is expected to open in mid-2021. Job fairs are planned for March 31 and April 14 at the hospital, located at 5227 E. Carefree Highway. The hospital will include a 13-bed emergency department, an operating room and eight inpatient rooms, along with diagnostic imaging, laboratory and other services to meet patient needs. “We’re hiring ED RNs, telemetry RNs, EVS, respiratory, physical therapists, occupational therapists, radiology and lab professionals. We offer rewarding careers in a positive, technology-driven environment, and generous sign-on bonuses are available for eligible positions,” Recruiting Di-

rector Amy Huff said. Although building construction is nearly complete, Abrazo Cave Creek Hospital must still complete equipment and supply delivery and setup, as well as multiple certifications, hiring and training events before opening. Abrazo Cave Creek Hospital will be capable of caring for patients of all ages. It is designed with an emphasis on convenience, patient safety, surgical and emergency services. “We are excited to expand Abrazo’s services in the North Valley,” said Sarah Bird, RN, BSN, administrative director. “Patients prefer to receive care closer to home, and Abrazo Cave Creek Hospital will be the community’s hospital for emergency care, low-acuity surgical services and related care.” For more information on Abrazo Cave Creek Hospital, visit AbrazoHealth.com.

Job fairs at Abrazo Cave Creek Hospital

• 2 to 6 p.m. Wednesday, March 31, at 5227 E. Carefree Highway, Cave Creek • 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday, April 14, at 5227 E. Carefree Highway, Cave Creek To register for an event, email Larisa Milam at larisa.milam@tenethealth.com.

carnival rides will be a part of the event, but the Anthem Community Council hopes to feature the same traditional rides always offered. Carnival attractions in the past have included funhouses, slides, a Ferris wheel, as well as mini coasters and rides for the little ones, like a carousel as well as a little car train ride. But it’s the large swings that are usually the main attraction, Northcutt said. The popular ride raises people up to great heights, giving them a “beautiful” 360-degree aerial view of the entire park as well as Daisy Mountain. This attraction as well as the Ferris wheel are crowd favorites because “people love getting to the top and being able to look out over the whole park,” she said. “I love Anthem Days because it really gives the opportunity for Anthem businesses to showcase themselves to the community,” said Northcutt, who has attended these events for the past seven years that she’s been with Anthem. In fact, this was its original purpose when it first started in 1999, Northcutt

noted. Pulte/Del Webb wanted to “mesh the commercial areas with the residential areas and have it be this unified community,” she explained. “It’s just really important for people to have the chance to interact with our businesses, and to have them all in one place is really cool,” she said. “Anthem’s not big, but if you wanted to see every business, it takes you a little while,” she said. To have many of the area businesses altogether in the park on the same day makes for a “really fun experience.” As businesses aren’t able to interact with each other all the time, this gives vendors a chance to build those connections. “That’s a pretty neat aspect of living in a community like ours,” she said. More details on Anthem Days will be released as the event gets closer. Food trucks looking to be a part of this year’s event can contact the Anthem Community Council’s special events manager, Debbie Pulido, at dpulido@anthemcouncil.com. —Staff writer Sarah Donahue can be reached at sdonahue@timespublications.com

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THE FOOTHILLS FOCUS | THEFOOTHILLSFOCUS.COM | MARCH 31, 2021

Anthem brings back Go Green recycling event BY CHRISTINA FUOCO-KARASINSKI Foothills Focus Executive Editor

he Anthem Community Council is hosting its drive-thru Go Green event from 8 to 11 a.m. Saturday, April 17, at the Community Park lower parking lot, 41703 N. Gavilan Peak Parkway. Participants must provide one form of Anthem residency identification before recycling items. Enter from Whitman Drive and exit onto Gavilan Peak Parkway to assist with traffic flow. Residents must be in line by 10:45 a.m. Republic Services, with assistance from Pro-Shred, Safety Kleen, Westech, Lighting Resources LLC, MCSO and other community partners, make the event possible for residents to recycle items. Approved materials include, but are not limited to, electronics, bulk materials, cardboard, personal documents, paint, and prescription and nonprescription drugs. A summarized list of acceptable items includes (subject to change):

• Computer equipment: PCs, laptops, modems, hubs and routers, storage devices, main frames, servers, power supplies and cords, printers, wires and cabling, mice, keyboards, hard drives, DVD and CD drives • Point-of-sale equipment: Credit card machines, printers and scanners • Telecom equipment: Telephones, cellphones, switches and answering systems • Printing Equipment: Printers, fax machines, copiers, calculators, typewriters and cartridges • A/V equipment: TVs, stereos, radios, amplifiers, projectors, satellite and cable equipment, video equipment, VCRs, CD players, video game equipment, surveillance equipment and cameras • Batteries: alkaline, nickel cadmium, lead acid, lithium, etc. • Electronic components: Capacitors, diodes, resistors, transistors and integrated circuits • Other electronic items: Test, lab and medical equipment (no radioactivity), cables and wire, connectors, ballasts, batteries,

power strips, etc. • Household appliances: Toasters, blenders, mixers, etc. Items containing Freon will not be accepted. • Paint: All kinds; there is no limit to amount being disposed of (residential only; not commercial). • Paper: Household sensitive materials including bank statements, check stubs and credit card offers (limit five banker boxes per car). The following items will not be accepted for shredding: business documents, metal, CDs, tapes, discs, binder clips and threering binders. Household Hazardous Waste: Lacquers, thinners, wood preservatives and stains, solvents, paint removers, gasoline, diesel fuel, lighter fluid, waste oil, pesticides, fertilizers, drain/oven cleaners, adhesives, pool chemicals, aerosol cans, etc. Prescription and nonprescription drugs: Pills only; no liquids. St. Vincent de Paul will be on site at the event collecting nonperishable food items,

clothing, new undergarments and socks, new or gently used shoes, toothbrushes/ toothpaste, diapers, books, luggage (rolling and duffle bags), new toiletries, new or gently used blankets, reusable water bottles, empty prescription bottles, gently used toys and new school supplies. The event is free, and all Anthem residents are invited to take part (even those who are serviced by the city of Phoenix on the west side of I-17). For more information and a complete list of acceptable items (as well as those that will not be accepted), visit OnlineAtAnthem.com/go-green. Due to continued community spread and to offer the safest event possible, enhanced protocol will be in place for the event. If mandatory mask policies are still in place within Maricopa County, staff and vendors will be wearing face coverings/ masks. Residents also will be required to wear face coverings/masks as they drive through Go Green, as there is face-to-face interaction between residents and staff working at the event.

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Asian Americans frightened, frustrated by continued hate crimes BY SAMANTHA MOLINA Cronkite News

tlanta police say it’s too early to say whether the March 16 shooting rampage, which left six women of Asian descent dead, was a hate crime. But there’s no question that hate is on the rise for many Asian Americans, who are frightened but not surprised by such attacks. The incident — authorities say a 21-year-old white man from Georgia shot and killed eight people at three Asian-owned businesses — is the latest in an alarming spate of violence against Asian Americans from coast to coast, from elderly Asians in San Francisco to stabbings in New York City, over the past year. Leaders of Arizona’s Asian American community are worried. “I am frustrated for my community, my parents, my children. This was an act of domestic terrorism, and too many leaders have been silent about the atrocities that have happened to our community,” said Vicente Reid, CEO of the Arizona Asian Chamber of Commerce. “We cannot ignore the significance of this act and others in recent weeks.” Reports of discrimination extend to the beginning of the pandemic, when the former president began mocking and vilifying Asians by describing COVID-19 as “kung flu” or “the China virus,” but they have worsened in 2021. Across the country, advocates for the Asian American Pacific Islander community say the number of attacks against them have been on the rise. From March 19, 2020, to Feb. 28 of this year, 3,795 incidents of verbal or online harassment, assaults and civil rights violations targeting Asian Americans were reported to Stop AAPI Hate, a coalition formed to address anti-Asian discrimination during the COVID-19 pandemic. Of that number, 503 incidents took place in the first two months of 2021 alone. In Arizona, the group tallied 43 incidents of discrimination targeting people of Asian descent since the pandemic

Across the country, advocates for the Asian American Pacific Islander community say the number of attacks against them have been on the rise. People gather at the state Capitol on March 19 to mourn and show their support for the community. (Photo by Rachel Stapholz/Cronkite News) was declared in March 2020. Stop AAPI Hate found that Chinese are the largest ethnic group (42.2%) to say they’ve experienced hate, followed by Koreans (14.8%), Vietnamese (8.5%) and Filipinos (7.9%). Verbal harassment (68.1%) and shunning (20.5%), which entails the “deliberate avoidance of Asian Americans,” are the top types of discrimination reported. Those types of discrimination are rarely reported to police, and the Phoenix Police Department said that in 2020, officers investigated three incidents involving bias crimes against people of Asian descent, up from two the year before. In addition to the department’s Bias Crimes Unit, a detective from the Community Response Squad is assigned as a liaison to the Asian community, Sgt. Ann E. Justus recently wrote in an email. “Throughout 2020, that detective has been a direct line of communication for leaders in the Asian community,” Justus said. “No concerns about their safety were relayed to the detective.” Recently, she said, the detective proactively reached out to those community leaders to start a dialog for future meetings and share safety tips. Both hate incidents and hate crimes

crimes is due to a lack of federal and state leadership. “Words matter. Unfortunately, we have had a previous administration who felt the perverse desire to blame their failures on others,” he said. “Unfortunately, we have plenty of local leaders who allow such heinous acts to continue through either inaction, silence or just blatant disregard for their constituents.” The Asian American Journalists Association notes that Asian women in particular face “a long history of hypersexualization … that is rooted in Westernized and colonial perceptions of Asia.” Linda Keo, senior adviser of ASU’s Southeast Asian American Student Association, points to abuse during World War II when Japanese soldiers forced Korean women into sexual slavery as

likely are underreported, according to Aggie Yellow Horse, assistant professor of Asian Pacific American studies at Arizona State University and research director for Stop AAPI Hate. “Not only because some victims do not report their experiences but also because their reports can also be not taken seriously by the authorities,” she said. Other reasons victims may choose not to report hate crimes, Yellow Horse said, include feeling too overwhelmed to formally report, not knowing where and how to report, language barriers, Shela Yu, an organizer of the March 19 candlelight vigil at the lack of transportation access, state Capitol, decorates tables with flowers in remembrance of victims of anti-Asian hate crimes. (Photo by Rachel Stapholz/ and distrust of law enforce- Cronkite News) ment. In Phoenix, the Arizona Asian Chamber of Commerce regularly “comfort women” as a key to underprovides resources to businesses, and it standing some of the unique violence plans to reach out to elderly Asian Amer- and fetishization faced by Asian women. icans. On March 19, the chamber hosted “A lot of people say the (Atlanta) a candlelight vigil at the Arizona Capitol shooting was a hate crime,” Keo said. to honor the eight people slain in Atlan- “But I think people need to look at this ta. Reid feels the recent increase in hate see ASIAN page 9

THE FOOTHILLS FOCUS | THEFOOTHILLSFOCUS.COM | MARCH 31, 2021

ASIAN from page 8

even deeper and realize that it was a hate crime against Asian women specifically. It’s because of the deep-rooted stereotype that Asian women are there for pleasure.” Now more than ever, ASU students are taking the initiative in conversations about the racism they experience. Yellow Horse said her students are making the connections to how they are tied to their own experiences or observations of anti-Asian hate and bias during this time. “I observe that students are really responding to each other’s stories with more care and appreciation,” she said, continuing, “and although increased anti-Asian hate and bias have increased stress for many, they also have been creating more opportunities for students to talk about the importance of care, collaboration and solidarity.” Yellow Horse warns against the idea that more police will result in more safety. “Without understanding the histor-

ical contexts and engaging in difficult conversations within and across communities, I do not think there is a simple and quick ‘fix all’ solution to what is happening. I can’t stress enough that the solution to end these incidents is not more policing and surveillance in our own communities.” Instead, Yellow Horse looks to cities such as San Francisco, where community members organized a response to the violence by offering foot patrols instead of increased policing. Many of the volunteers were Black, Indigenous and other people of color in the community. For the younger generation, Keo said, the Asian community too often is overlooked. “When COVID-19 hit a year ago, no one really took racism (against Asians) seriously,” she said. “Why do we have to wait till lives are lost to begin taking action?” Incidents of discrimination can be reported at STOP AAPI Hate. For more stories from Cronkite News, visit cronkitenews.azpbs.org.

Law enforcement career fair scheduled BY CHRISTINA FUOCO-KARASINSKI Foothills Focus Executive Editor

indom Security Strategies Today is partnering with several local law enforcement agencies and community organizations to host the Pathway to Law Enforcement Career Fair, which will give those interested in a law enforcement career the ability to speak with several recruiters and learn more about a career in private security. Current law enforcement officers are invited to attend and will be provided with welcome gifts, food and beverages by local nonprofits Mission2Alpha and ThankYouAZBlue. The Pathway to Law Enforcement

Career Fair is from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, April 3, at 5.11 Tactical, 2036 E. Thomas Road, Unit 8, Phoenix. The Pathway to Law Enforcement Career Fair has also partnered with HealthyVerify to ensure a safe and comfortable event amidst the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Among those slated to appear: Windom Security Strategies Today, Maricopa County Sheriff ’s Office, Phoenix Police Department/ Phoenix PD 9-11, Mesa Police Department, Chandler Police Department, Tempe Police Department, Glendale Police Department, Arizona Department of Corrections and Arizona Department of Public Safety. Participation is free. To register, visit eventbrite.com.

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AROUND THE BLUHMIN’ TOWN

‘What’s For Dinner?’: Sometimes the answer isn’t so easy BY JUDY BLUHM Foothills Focus Columnist

hen my husband asked me what was for dinner last night, I wondered how many times in one day those three precious (evil) words are spoken. Worldwide, might these words be recited over a billion times? And in my own life, how many times have I heard children, grandkids and husbands innocently (and hopefully) question what will soon be served. It’s not that I don’t like cooking — I actually love it! — but there are days when

that YOUdrudgery of mixing, beating, dipping, tossing, frying, baking, boiling or TO BE simmering just seems like another exercise that I have repeated too many times. The truth is that I have no idea what to make for dinner some nights! Psychologists claim that doing routine chores creates “comforting habits” that serve as anchors in our turbulent lives. The habits we repeat offer us some sort of reassurance that life is still going along in a steady manner, even if stress, a pandemic or conflicts exist. There’s nothing like baking a chicken to provide a sense of routine and normal-

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ity into our busy lives. Ha! Well, I don’t have to believe it just because a psychologist says it. Some days are the “wrong days” to be doing routine chores. And aren’t “anchors” those heavy weights that drag us down? My friend Marsha sat down and started figuring out the number of meals she has cooked in her lifetime. With a calculator in hand, the final numbers were staggering! Then she suggested that I do the same so I could “take an inventory” of how I have spent my life. Yikes, I refuse to do this! Dear readers, stay strong and do not count the number of tedious tasks that you do, because it might not paint a pretty picture. In fact, it is a terrifying thought! So, back to that simple (and frequent) question that my husband posed, “What’s for dinner?” Today, I am throwing in the towel, letting the pots and pans sit silently, allowing the spices and sauces to rest idly in their allotted corners, waiting to ambush me tomorrow, no doubt. Today, I am liberating myself from the mundane task of cooking, seeking greater fulfillment in some other activity. (Not sure yet what that might be). When I told Doug that I did not feel like cooking tonight, he just stared at me like I have two heads. Inquiring if I was ill (no) and looking confused, he then

wondered if I wanted to go out to dinner (not really). He looked confused. In other words, the wheels have fallen off the chuckwagon! Mercury must be in retrograde and casting a dark shadow on the planet (and in my kitchen)! Life as we know it must be in jeopardy! Why? Because the one question asked billions of times a day and in hundreds of different languages cannot always be answered! So when you hear those three little words — “What’s for dinner?” — try answering with my three little words: “I don’t know!” Tomorrow is another day to explore the joys of cooking. Until then, bon appétit. Judy Bluhm is a writer and a local realtor. Have a story or a comment? Email Judy at judy@judybluhm.com.

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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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Leibowitz isn’t interested in the law BY KEVIN HEADE President Death Penalty Alternatives for Arizona

he death penalty brings out the worst parts of people and our society. If I were to ask any person I meet on the street if killing is wrong, I’d expect nearly everyone to say, “Yes.” But if I ask someone whether they support the death penalty, about half the time the answer is, “Yes.” Why the disconnect? Why do half of the people in this state think that it makes sense to kill people to teach others that killing is wrong? A recent op-ed submitted by David Leibowitz offers some insight into this phenomenon of moral crisis. Mr. Leibowitz does not view the people on death row as human beings. Instead, he refers to them as “scumbags” who are unworthy of the dignity of a last meal. It makes sense that a proponent of the death penalty views others as less than human. How else could someone support killing another human being with a legalized form of torture? Never mind that death penalty proponents like Mr. Leibowitz don’t seem to understand the broken legal fictions that allow for a small number of murderers to be sentenced to death. Or that of those who are sentenced to death, the race of the defendant or victim, political ideology of the prosecutor or legislature, or financial resources of the jurisdiction where the crimes are committed

have more to do with obtaining a death sentence than the facts of the crime. Mr. Leibowitz isn’t interested in facts, process or law. He and others are more concerned with the emotional vindication associated with killing a killer with drugs which are clandestinely obtained via procedures that are largely cloaked from public view and scrutiny. If Arizona resumes its experiment with death seven years after it tortured Joseph Wood to death with a botched lethal injection that lasted an hour and 57 minutes, will you take solace knowing that you, too, can kill and torture someone in the name of justice? Justice is trending toward the abolition of the death penalty. Virginia is poised to become the 23rd state to abolish it. The United States routinely joins authoritarian countries such as China, North Korea, Saudi Arabia and Iran on lists of countries that killed the most people via execution in a single year whereas 70% of the world refuses to kill for justice. If Arizona proceeds with the plan to inject prisoners with pentobarbital, a drug that causes “extreme pain” and creates a “a virtual medical certainty, that most, if not all, prisoners will experience excruciating suffering, including sensations of drowning and suffocation” I know that I will not rejoice at such horror being inflicted on another human being in my name. If the prospect of such torture elates you, that sense of elation terrifies me. Please join me in exploring alternatives to state-sponsored torture and murder. I am confident that once you become informed of the process, the failure of death ideology to reduce crime, and the prospect for meaningful and effective reform, you, too will take pause and question whether any human being is a “scumbag” deserving of such a cruel and inhumane death.

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Firearm training helps women ‘refuse to be a victim’ BY SARAH DONAHUE Foothills Focus Staff Writer

arin Johnson always longed to create a place for women to connect, interact and grow with each

other. “Who knew that it was going to be the firing range,” she said with a laugh. Karin is the gun range safety officer, operations manager and wife of Oz Johnson, founder of Desert Hills-based Johnson Group Tactical gun range, which has offered firearms training classes for around five months and also offers courses exclusively for women, called Well Armed Women.

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Oz and Karin Johnson met in the U.S. Air Force and opened Johnson Group Tactical five months ago. It offers firearms training courses for beginners, experts and anyone in between. (Photo by

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FIREARM From Page 13

She always carries her .357 Magnum whenever she goes horseback riding and has previous training experience in escape innovation as well as survival from her time serving in the U.S. Air Force. Karin wants women to know the gun range provides a safe space where women can be educated, trained and encouraged to handle firearms and defend themselves. Well Armed Women’s slogan is “Refuse to be a Victim,” and Karin’s instruction helps people who were once afraid to even hold a firearm, walk away from the range feeling comfortable. She trains girls as young as 14 as well as women in their mid-70s, which she said, is “so refreshing to see.” Many women tell her they have a gun in their house but wouldn’t know how to use it if they ever needed it, she said. Karin and her husband realized “we needed to really help women and young girls to feel confident in handling and manipulating their firearms.” She mentioned an Annie Oakley quote that says, “I would like to see every woman know how to handle fire-

arms as naturally as they know how to handle babies.” This quote is also posted as a mantra throughout the Well Armed Women website and Facebook page. In the five months Johnson Group Tactical has been in business, 168 students have come to training courses and approximately two thirds of its students are women, she said. She emphasized “all of this could never have been created without my husband being the lead instructor.” Oz “has an incredible depth of knowledge” and uses his experience from his 10 years in the U.S. military and 20 years in law enforcement to instruct his students. “He has got a very natural gift of teaching, not a lot of people have that” Karin said, who met Oz while serving in the Air Force. Oz is getting National Rifle Association (NRA) certification for classes so students can get their concealed weapons permit if they wish to do so, she said. These classes will likely be available by the end of April, she said. Johnson Group Tactical has also re-

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Johnson Group Tactical welcomes girls and women of all ages to be a part of its Well Armed Women classes to learn how to safely handle and manipulate firearms at Ben Avery Shooting Range. (Photo by Karin Johnson)

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cently partnered with the United States Concealed Carry Association (USCCA), an industry leader in firearms education and resources to “tap into that and pass that along to our students.” She added that the USCCA has a self-defense liability insurance that covers anyone in a self-defense situation, whether it’s a handgun, dog, baseball bat, a fight, “a frying pan, anything that you use in self-defense, this low liability insurance protects you and covers you.” There are also two new courses on the horizon. The Dry Fire Training class is a shorter two-hour class, (most classes are three hours) with no ammunition required, as it has become quite expensive and hard to come across, she said. This course will provide a way for students to take the knowledge and continue practicing at home. The Defensive Pistol class gives students real-life scenarios and teaches them how to shoot around obstacles and use firearms in these situations. Students who take this class should already feel comfortable with their guns first before they sign up, as it’s a

more intermediate level course. Johnson Group Tactical has a referral program, which grants people a free membership to its shooters club after they take their first class, and $15 off each time they take another class. It also offers 15% off to first responders and donates 10% of profits each month to local animal rescues, she said. Karin said it’s been empowering to see women overcome their fear of handling firearms and wants women to realize that “we’re really here to serve them.” “It comes from our heart,” she said. She’s seen women feel incredibly nervous about signing up for classes but reassures each one that “we’re going to meet you at your level where you’re at.” “If you pick up the gun and put it down and that’s all you do–you’ve accomplished something.” “That’s what I really want more than anything is for women to realize this is truly a safe place for them to really feel comfortable.” —Staff writer Sarah Donahue can be reached at sdonahue@timespublications.com

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Artist finds solace in creating pet portraits BY CHRISTINA FUOCO-KARASINSKI Foothills Focus Executive Editor

s a pet portrait artist, Linda Hogg has translated to canvas dogs, cats and horses. One request was pretty unusual. “Someone asked me if I would do a portrait of a 20-foot boa constrictor,” the Anthem resident said with a laugh. “I said, ‘No.’ He said, ‘Why?’ I said, ‘Because you shouldn’t have that.’” The owner’s response? “Well, it’s only tried to kill me once.” Hogg gives all of the money she makes to charities that spend 5% or less on administrative fees. The minimum do-

Linda Hogg spends about a month creating one pet portrait. (Photos courtesy of Linda Hogg)

nation for an 8-inch by 10-inch is $300 plus lab fees. She started creating art as a child, and picked it up again after she retired 10 years ago. “I felt I needed to be more productive and give back,” she said. “When I picked up my art again, I started doing pets and it just took off.” Her goal is to create one portrait for someone in every country. Ambitious, sure. However, she’s already crossed the United States, Turkey, Germany and a good chunk of Europe off her map. “People take photos and send them to me online,” Hogg said. “I very seldom meet the pet. I’m really excited about it. I’ve met so many nice people through

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this. My husband, unbeknownst to me, shared what I’ve been through on Nextdoor and I receive requests for portraits from there.” Hogg is referring to the beginning of a rough patch in her life. Then living in California, she was healthy, teaching yoga and into sports, golf, hiking and swimming. One night at 3 a.m., she keeled over from an aneurysm. “I don’t remember anything about it,” she said. “I just remember standing and that’s it. My husband, Peter, called the ambulance. They weren’t going to take me in because I was conversing with him.”

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‘One Yellow Brick’ is paved with advice BY SRIANTHI PERERA Foothills Focus Contributing Writer

ome 20 years ago when she began as a marketing executive, Melissa Swader believed she could achieve anything she set her mind to. Now, as a nationally respected marketing influencer, she is poised to help others on the same path. Swader’s debut book, “One Yellow Brick: Wizardly tips to empower building your empire,” distills her decades of experience as an entrepreneur. “I started at a very young age and I went through a lot of these trials and tribulations — cliché as it sounds — as a woman in business trying to get her foot in the door and facing those challenges in a really competitive market,” she recalled. “I thought this is the perfect time for me to release a book. Because, after 20 years of being a woman entrepreneur, I know that there are so many students, young entrepreneurs like me, who’re probably going through the same thing.” She comes across many during her mentoring in the entrepreneur program at ASU’s W.P. Carey School of Business. She also meets them during her work in marketing and public relations for her company, Ruby Red Media. “I was really excited to get the book out because I know there are business industry professionals out there that are struggling, and so it felt so liberating,” she said. “It was so wonderful.” Despite its fairytale imagery from the classic story set in Kansas, “One Yellow Brick” isn’t fanciful. Swader gives away plenty of concrete instructions on marketing strategies and guidelines to succeed as well as on how to build confidence and believe in yourself. “‘One Yellow Brick’ is about all your ‘one yellow bricks’ that you have to get through, that you have to take along your journey,” she said. “There are a lot of unexpected things that happen in your life, that pull you away. It’s all these ‘one yellow bricks’ that really build your empire. “You just have to do it one yellow brick at a time,” she added. “So, it’s very telling.”

Melissa Swader’s debut book, “One Yellow Brick: Wizardly tips to empower building your empire,” offers inspiration for entrepreneurs.

(Photos courtesy of Melissa Swader)

The book’s ideal reader, according to the author, is “anyone who’s looking for the marketing strategies necessary to reach their business goals, a student or young entrepreneur or anyone looking to build their business.” Even though the pandemic robbed it of a formal presentation to a gathering, the book is selling well. That’s because Swader wears many hats, and each one helps her promote it. Swader works as a writer in the commercial real estate industry and knows many of its major players and the associated national media. The book contains

relevant conversations to commercial real estate because of her long association in the industry. Hence, she counts on a “huge support system.” “I owe a lot of gratitude to the commercial real estate industry for that kind of media support and really pushing out my book as a writer, as a marketing media personality in general,” she said. The Phoenix native has an international following. She maintains a dozen social media pages on various platforms, presents podcasts and programs via Zoom, publishes blogs, posts images, and constantly promotes her book. This has helped create a buzz since the soft launch in October and it’s still trending. Swader said she feels honored to be named “2020 Influencers in Marketing” by the GlobeSt./Real Estate Forum Magazine in New York City. How does one become a social media influencer? “I talk a lot,” she replied. “People are being influenced to try something when I say it.” Social media is her main platform., as it is “such a universal tool of communication, so I capitalize on having my confidence level where I believe in what I’m saying. When you do things with conviction, people believe you,” she said. On Mondays, she publishes a blog, #Marketing with Melissa, which is a two-minute video clip at a business loca-

tion in the Valley, where she talks about marketing the business and offers tips. “They are valuable, useful to them; people listen, they utilize it,” she said. Soon, she will also open an Amazon Influencer Store called “Fabulous Finds Online” that will feature items that will bring value to a home or business. Swader said she built her brand by staying true to who she is as a professional. “I’ve built my individual brand by being honest, bringing valuable new information and bringing valuable tips and marketing strategies to help people grow their business,” she said. “That’s how everyone knows me in business.” In the book, she stresses the importance of community support and for people to be advocates for each other to help people stay positive during the inevitable difficulties that arise. Referring to her own community of the North Valley, she said: “We can come together as a community, or as a professional, unified organization if we start really putting together ideas and thoughts. We really can make a difference and that could be on a personal level or on a community level.” Swader also emphasizes the importance of women supporting women and men supporting women in business. One forum that she created on Facebook called “Women in Commercial Real Estate” has more than 400 members, some of whom are top names in the industry around the world. “They are asking questions and supporting each other and trying to find buyers, trying to sell. They’re doing it as this cohesive group of women trying to help each other and supporting each other on a day-to-day basis,” she said. “I love that. That epitomizes why I’m in marketing and why I love business.” Melissa Swader’s “One Yellow Brick

Wizardly tips to empower building your empire” is available on amazon.com (paperback $19.99/ebook $9.99). For more information, visit melissaswader.com.

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Anthem photographer finds balance in his images

BY SHEA STANFIELD Foothills Focus Contributing Writer

hough pharmacy and photography hardly go together, Anthem resident and photographer Robert Elenbaas shares a link between the two. Born and raised in Southern California, Elenbaas moved to the Bay Area in 1968 to attend pharmacy school at the University of California-San Francisco. It was there he met his wife, Julia, also a pharmacist. They married in 1972, and by 1974 the couple relocated to the Kansas City area following the completion of their residencies. The experience was the beginning of Elenbaas’ interest in fine art photography. “My interest in photography began while I was in pharmacy school in San Francisco,” Elenbaas explained of his initiation to landscape and nature photography. “The parks and recreation

Robert Elenbaas captures photographs in the wild. (Photo courtesy of Robert Elenbaas)

department offered a photography center that had a huge darkroom for making black-and-white prints. I took advantage of the facility to learn basic darkroom techniques.” Beginning their careers in Kansas City, Elenbaas and his wife found work and family life would claim top priority. But the camera was never far away. “Although not trained formally as an artist, I did learn some elements of graphic design in high school as a member of the yearbook staff,” Elenbaas explained. “I was also introduced to aspects of color theory during one of the fine art electives required at the time, but I was focused on science during my early formal education.” The science took hold in his career as a clinical pharmacist with the Emergency Department

at Truman Medical Center and as a faculty member of the University of Missouri-Kansas City Schools of Pharmacy and Medicine. Elenbaas is recognized as being the first clinical pharmacist in the country to practice full-time emergency medicine. He became one of the members of the American College of Clinical Pharmacy, eventually assuming the role of its first executive director. It was 15 years ago when the Elenbaas family relocated back to the western United States. With their careers winding down, they began their research — and landed on Anthem. There, they found, boasted many benefits: easy access to their families in Southern California, a vibrant golf community, and the endless beauty of the Valley’s high desert. A renewed interest in photography started with joining friends on wilderness backpacking trips into the mountains of Wyoming, Montana, Utah,

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PET PORTRAIT from page 17

Hogg ended up going to the hospital and the staff escorted her via helicopter to UC Irvine when they couldn’t stop the bleeding. Doctors coiled the aneurysm, which was caused by arteriovenous malformation (AVM). With AVM, the arteries and veins in an arteriovenous malformation can rupture, causing bleeding into the brain or spinal cord. During surgery, the doctors removed tiny veins from her brain without touching it. They told Peter that Linda would die if the veins weren’t removed, but the surgery could have killed her as well. “I thought I was dead when I woke up,” she recalled. “I was under this light and 12 to 20 young boys with white robes were there and there was a ring from the light. It was a teaching hospital, and the doctor takes children 12 and up to teach them about medicine. They were so cute.” Calling Peter her “rock,” Hogg said she was doing great six months after surgery. She walked her dog without her

Linda Hogg has an art studio in her Anthem home. (Photo courtesy of Linda Hogg) wheelchair, walker or cane. However, while she was out, someone threw a ten-

nis ball and she fell and crushed her left ankle, leaving her in a wheelchair.

“To this day, I’m still not able to play golf because of my ankle,” she said. “My portraits give me a great pleasure. I pour my heart into them. I like the fact that people really love them.” The Hoggs moved to Anthem in January 2020, just before the lockdown, from Rancho Mirage, California. Because of her health history, she has to be mindful of COVID-19. Hogg has a service dog who barks when she’s “in trouble.” The pup takes care of Hogg, and has also made appearances with her at hospitals, nursing homes and schools before the pandemic. “We miss our work together,” she said. “We talked to kids from preschool to third grade and taught dog safety classes. It’s a 30-minute class and they love it. I get letters from kids and teachers saying they didn’t know all that stuff. They love her tricks, and they giggle and adore her.” Linda Hogg

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THE FOOTHILLS FOCUS | THEFOOTHILLSFOCUS.COM | MARCH 31, 2021

What to do when obvious isn’t so obvious CHURCH COMMUNITY CONNECTION

Pastor Ed Delph Foothills Focus Columnist

ometimes we struggle to embrace what should be obvious. Here are some original, amusing headlines in respected newspapers and magazines that illustrate this point. Here’s an example from the Los Angeles Times: “Larger Kangaroos Leap Further, Researchers Find.” The Hartford Courant reports, “Alcohol Ads Promote Drinking.” The Cornell Daily Sun reports: “Study Finds Sex, Pregnancy Link.” Here’s one from the New York Times: “Survey Finds Dirtier Subways after Cleaning Jobs Were Cut.” The Saint Augustine Record headline says: “Bible Church’s Focus is on the Bible.” The Journal of Commerce proclaims: “Court Rules Boxer Shorts Are Indeed Underwear.” Finally, The Columbus Dispatch reports: “Lack of Brains Hinders

Research.” Obviously, obvious is not always obvious. Here is some wisdom that should be obvious to most of us. “Being rejected because of who you are is better than being accepted because of who you pretend to be.” Somebody needed that quote today. How about this thought? “The biggest lie I tell myself is, ‘I don’t need to write that down. I’ll remember it.’” Well, yeah! Here’s another thought for you that should or will be obvious in the future. “Yesterday I was clever, so I wanted to change the world. Today I am wise, so I am changing myself.” How about this obvious brain twister

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for you: Take your age and add 5 to it; that will be your age in 5 years. One final example for you about our trouble with embracing the obvious is by an unknown author. “The other day, I was hanging out with a friend. This friend is a Christian but doesn’t always act like one. Some days she is in line with God’s word, and some days life’s struggles get the best of her. “Our eyes meeting, I wanted to say something about this but decided to let the Lord speak to her. I knew nothing I could say would have the same impact as her Father’s words. So, I prayed with her. After a few minutes, I winked at her and walked away from the mirror.” It’s interesting to me why some people struggle in believing in God. The Scriptures say God has made it evident that there is the one, true, living God and life after death. How did God make it obvious? God wrote a book about it. Ecclesiastes 3:11 states that God has set eternity into every person’s heart. The thoughts we have all had about God, eternity and heaven are programmed into us by God to lead us to God. When people are walking in the dark about the reality of God, God guides them. Paul’s letter to the Romans informs us about three bright “lights,” given to us, that light the way to God. Chapter 1 talks about the light of nature. Chapter 2 talks about the light of conscience. Chapter 3 talks about the light of the Gospel. What does the light of nature mean? Romans Chapter 1 says, “God’s invisible attributes, His eternal power, and divine nature have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that all men are without excuse.” In other words, God has made Himself known by what we can see. Have you ever looked at the multitude of stars on a clear night? Overwhelming, isn’t it? Have you ever looked at nature, the ocean or the fantastic living things God has made? God created nature, the earth and the heavens to show us the Creator who created the creation. Nature and created things are not God but point the way to God.

What is the light of our conscience in Romans Chapter 2? Our conscience is that unseen part of us, telling us what is right and wrong. All people instinctively know they should do what is moral and best for everyone. When we don’t listen to our conscience, we feel convicted, even uncomfortable. Conscience is a God thing meant to show us there is a God and lead us to Him. What is the light of the Gospel in Roman’s Three? The Bible says that all have broken God’s law and fall short of the glory of God. Because God is righteous, He requires righteousness. The light of the Gospel is God giving us His righteousness. How? Jesus came to pay the penalty for our shortcomings and release us from sin’s prison. Our acceptance of what Christ did on the cross made it just as if we had never sinned. The Gospel means the good news about Jesus, God’s Son, coming in the flesh, revealing to us the exact nature of God. In Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross, God poured all our badness into Jesus and then poured all of Jesus’ goodness into us. When Jesus died, our sin died. When Jesus arose, we arose. That makes us citizens of heaven for eternity. Have a glorious Easter/Resurrection Day! Your mirror is talking to you. The three lights are showing you. God made Himself known through nature, through our conscience and the Gospel. Embrace the obvious. After all, you have eternity in your heart. 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 Nation strategy, call 623-376-6757, e-mail nationstrategy@cs.com or visit nationstrategy.com.

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THE FOOTHILLS FOCUS | THEFOOTHILLSFOCUS.COM | MARCH 31, 2021

ELENBAAS from page 20

Colorado and Idaho, places so fascinating and beautiful they defied words. But Elenbaas found he could convey the moments and stories in his images. “The advent of digital cameras and the digital darkroom were major factors in facilitating this evolution,” he said. “There was a chance to apply classical darkroom techniques, with the more specific digital darkroom techniques when creating my images.” Professional photographers Elenbaas credits with his growth in the medium are Guy Tal, Michael Frye, Charlotte Gibb and Sean Bagshaw. All have uniquely different styles, subject matter and developing techniques. Asked from where he derives his inspiration, Elenbaas answered, “Our natural world amazes me, be it grand vistas or intimate details one sees only on close inspection. I seek to communicate aspects of our world that people may not normally appreciate. “I include the Japanese kanji ‘wa’ as part of my logo, which translates as ‘har-

mony’ and ‘peace’ — as in being in harmony with one’s environment and in a peaceful state of mind.” Elenbaas considers his photography to be an expressive art form, using his images as visual metaphors for the emotions he felt when he was making the photograph. “I am frequently amazed and awed by things I find in nature, its peace and tranquility occasionally contrasted with it to the rage and fury,” he summarized of his inspiration. He is a member of the Sonoran Arts League and is one of the volunteer gallery managers. He participates in the annual Hidden in the Hills Studio Tour each November and occasionally does pop-up shows with the league during the year. To view a selection of his spectacular images or to contact him, visit relenbaasphoto.com. Contact arts columnist Shea Stanfield on flowingquill@yahoo.com. “Elemental Bonsai” by Bob Elenbaas with infrared photography. (Photo courtesy of Robert Elenbaas)

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Scottsdale artist helps consumers wear a conversation starter BY SHEA STANFIELD Foothills Focus Contributing Writer

hen it comes to custom jewelry, it’s said the best pieces are conversation starters. No doubt you will be the conversation starter wearing jewelry designed by Scottsdale artist Julie Weeks.

Her inspiration, borrowed from nature herself, is organic, graceful, colorful, brilliant and eye-catching. Weeks’ design sensibility has made her one-of-a-kind pieces highly sought-after collector items. “Growing up with a mom that could create anything was a huge advantage for considering the possibilities in creative beauty,” stated Weeks, who hails from a

Julie Weeks works in her studio. (Photo courtesy of Julie Weeks)

small town in Texas that she feels nurtured her artistic sense from the beginning. She remembers many who influenced her in her life, from Calder, Winston and Fabergé to Norman Rockwell, and over into the music scene with Charlie Pride, Patsy Cline, Stevie Ray Vaughn and Stevie Nicks, all who expressed a unique texture in style. But when it came time to make a living on her own, Weeks turned to a career in cosmetology, where she could direct her creative energy into hair and makeup design. By 1997 she decided to branch into a pool maintenance and repair business as well as real estate sales, both experiences that provided a foundation for running her own business. Eventually, when her son and daughter left home, Weeks decided to sell it all and relocate from Texas to Arizona. The move to Arizona proved to be just the thing Weeks needed to engage her design sensibilities in the area of jewelry design. “In the beginning, I attended two-hour workshops at a local bead store. Once I learned the fundamentals, I attended advanced workshops at the Tucson Gem Show and classes through the city of Scottsdale’s recreation department,” she recalled. From there, Weeks began traveling throughout the country attending various gem shows and studying with the masters of the craft. Weeks draws her inspiration from the objects in the environment that interest

her, textures on buildings, the shape of plants, the movement of wildlife, and even people. Her free-spirited, organically inspired designs incorporate various gems and stones with argentium sterling silver Julie Weeks as her metal medium. necklace. (PhoShe occasionally incorpoto courtesy of rates other metals, such Julie Weeks) as sterling silver, gold, titanium, copper and jeweler’s brass for accent or embellishment. Weeks freely admits she leans to the contemporary, but each piece has an organic natural feel. For a little action she loves making jewelry with movement; therefore, many of her pieces have hinges or a jump ring suspension. In very short order her work has caught the attention of individuals looking for that one-of-a-kind statement piece for themselves or to give as a gift. “Recently one of my artist friends described my work as ‘Southwest Boho,’” she said. She constantly attends workshops to ensure continuous growth in design and updating of techniques. Today her work is available in two local galleries, On the Edge in Scottsdale, ontheedgegallery.com, and the Fountain Hills Artist Gallery in Fountain Hills, fountainhillsartistgallery.com. Each year Weeks participates in two shows in November: one at the beginning of the month with the Camelback Studio Tour, camelbackstudiotour.com, located in the Sherwood Heights neighborhood in Scottsdale, and the other the last two weekends of the month in the Carefree-Cave Creek area, Hidden in the Hills Studio Tour, sonoranartsleague.org. To view a selection of Weeks’ designs, visit the websites of the galleries that represent her or a peek at her website, juliegilbertjewelry.com, which will also provide contact information for commissioning an original piece or purchasing an existing design. Contact arts columnist Shea Stanfield on flowingquill@yahoo.com.

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THE FOOTHILLS FOCUS | THEFOOTHILLSFOCUS.COM | MARCH 31, 2021

Youth TheFoothillsFocus.com

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Love endures through letters to elders BY ANNIKA TOMLIN Foothills Focus Staff Writer

acob Cramer saw firsthand the loneliness felt by the older generation at the local senior living community at which he volunteered. Visiting residents one-onone, he quickly came to realize that he was often the only person to visit several of the occupants in the community. Cramer took it upon himself to start writing letters for the people in the community in which he volunteered, a passion that eventually grew into the 501(c)(3) charity Love For Our Elders. Founded by Cramer in 2013, the organization accepts letters from people from around the country and even internationally and then mails them to elders at senior living communities around the world.

Anthem resident Emma Suttell helped Love For Our Elders send out 90,000 letters to elders in senior living communities in 2020 alone. (Photo courtesy of Olivia Crommett)

In 2018, Anthem resident Emma Suttell joined the organization. “My sophomore year of high school I was selected to be one of 50 reporters for Lady Gaga’s Born This Way Foundation, and so I was flown out to New York for a training. And when I was there, I met this kid Jacob Cramer, and we hit off and became friends on this trip,” Suttell recalled. “He told me YOUTH about his charity Love For Our Elders, which was formerly Love for the Elderly.” Months later, while looking at the charity’s Twitter account, Suttell saw an opportunity for a communications and social media intern position and applied. After being chosen by the board, she began her internship. “I started as his intern, and I was supposed to only be involved for about six months running the social media channels, and it just went passed that,” Suttell explained. “In October 2019, after about a year, he called me and asked me if I would consider a permanent role on the team.” Cramer, currently a junior at Yale, added Suttell and Adi Breitman to permanent roles within the donation-funded charity. “I was super into journalism and was writing for 85086 Magazine, so I said, ‘Yeah, why not,’” Suttell said. “I helped found a part of the charity called Senior Storybook, which I am now the director of and have been for quite a while now. “The purpose of Senior Storybook is we collect guest contributions to our website from elders worldwide and publish them. Basically, my role is doing the outreach for that, collecting those stories, editing them and publishing them on our website.” In 550 to 800 words, people can tell the story, or part of one, about an elder in their life — paired with a photo — for publication and eventual posting on the charity’s website and social media accounts. Suttell, who plans on attending University of Florida in the fall, was excited for the opportunity to be a part of the charity to

“have some more experience in a communications-based role,” because she plans on majoring in public relations in college. “The real drive behind (being a part of the charity) was I have always loved volunteering my entire life, especially volunteering with organizations that are very people-based and very focused on helping others within my community and not necessarily just local organizations,” Suttell said. She also was the president of a chapter of the Veterans Heritage Project at her high school, “which is a very similar concept where we interview veterans, write their stories and publish it in a book every year. “I just loved getting involved with people, and I think it’s just cool to hear stories, espe-

cially from people who are much older and always wiser than me,” Suttell said. Within the last year, the charity grew to a membership of 12 people, and it had the ability to send out 90,000 letters in 2020 alone. “I think in 2021 so far there has been a little over 15,000 letters sent already, and it’s crazy that so many people responded to this call to action,” Suttell said, noting that there is even a role for someone who just manages requests to receive letters from senior living facilities. “It really is a fullscale operation now.” On Feb. 26, the organization held “Letter

see SUTTELL page 27

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THE FOOTHILLS FOCUS | THEFOOTHILLSFOCUS.COM | MARCH 31, 2021

NVCA wins state 1A hoops title in team’s third year BY ETHAN GRENI Foothills Focus Staff Writer

and so I’d be starting the program with him. So, one thing led to another, he came to school here and they hired me as the basketball coach, and we started the program four years ago.” The program’s rapid rise to success began last year, when it reached the 1A state championship in its second varsity season. Although they lost that game to Fort Thomas 62-46, Walker said his players were determined to get a second chance at a title. “Walking off the floor, there was a lot of disappointment, but also a determination to get back to that game,” Walker said. “There was a bitter taste in our mouths, that we didn’t feel like we had played our best game. “Within the next few days after that game, guys were back in the gym… we didn’t do anything as a team because we couldn’t (due to COVID-19), but guys were working out individually. Braeden Roberts, who was the MVP of our team, was getting up at 3:30 in the

APRIL

North Valley Christian Academy in Phoenix didn’t have a basketball program until four years ago. The school didn’t even have a varsity team until three years ago. Now, the Lions are 1A state champions, having defeated Mohave Accelerated Learning Center in the March 16 title game. “The original group four years ago had six kids. I think we went 3-7,” coach Randy Walker said. “We played not only smaller schools, but bigger schools’ JV teams, and so it’s developed.” One of those original players, senior Kai Marusteri, said he never expected to win a state title at NVCA when he joined the fledgling program as a freshman. “To me, this is a blessing from God, because coming to that school,” Marusteri said.

“I didn’t know what that year was going to look like, especially because we weren’t a varsity program yet. The second year, we started to get more guys in, and as they came in, that drastically changed the whole game for us. Seeing all that perseverance and hard work pay off, even when you don’t think there’s hope, that was definitely a blessing.” Walker, who coached at Cactus Shadows from 1996 to 2001, was ready to give up coaching after his mother’s death, when his son told him his new school needed a coach for its new basketball program. “My mom got cancer and passed away, so my wife and I left teaching and bought the family business,” Walker said. “I thought I was done teaching and coaching, and then my son, Josh, who is on the team, asked, when he came to NVCA, if I would be interested in coaching the team. “NVCA didn’t have a team at the time,

morning to go work out, so they made that sacrifice. They didn’t pout that they had lost, they wanted to find a way to get back to that game and be more successful.” NVCA got its second chance, but it didn’t come easily. Despite having lost only once all season, the Lions were down early in the championship game. “(Mohave Accelerated) could score inside and out, they were a physical team, they were an excellent rebounding team, so there were some concerns about whether we could be physical enough with rebounding,” Walker said. “They went on a 9-0 run in the first quarter where they just pounded us on the offensive glass, I think they had seven of those nine points on offensive rebounds.” Marusteri added, “We weren’t hitting all of our shots. They weren’t all falling. The nerves were starting to get there

see NVCA page 27

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THE FOOTHILLS FOCUS | THEFOOTHILLSFOCUS.COM | MARCH 31, 2021

SUTTELL from page 25

to an Elder Day,” consisting of a Zoom call of 200 participants who wrote letters to elders. “Love For Our Elders because of COVID, I want to say was actually lucky to receive a boost,” Suttell said. “The charity has always been focused on helping seniors feel less alone, because senior facilities can often be a little isolating because sometimes they don’t have family members visiting them very often and they are kind of just surrounded by each other.” Suttell said their mission was “10 times more important” during this past year, as several senior living facilities closed their doors for visitors during lockdown. The charity currently has a public relations intern who has been sending out press releases to spread the word, resulting in the organization being published “in just about every media format this year,” according to Suttell.

NVCA from page 26

a little bit. The ball movement could’ve been better. We could’ve taken our time a little bit more on certain plays, but we still won in the end, we grinded it out, in the third quarter especially.” For Walker, the win is special for multiple reasons. Seeing a program grow from six players to a state champion in four years is incredible on its own, but to do it alongside his son makes it even more memorable. “It’s awesome. As time progresses, it becomes more and more special, I appreciate it more,” Walker said. “It’s something that can never be taken

Anthem resident Emma Suttell began as a social media intern for Love For Our Elders before becoming the director of Senior Storybook. (Photo courtesy of Olivia Crommett)

“The pandemic has really made us go into overdrive with what we do, and we are very lucky to say that we’ve been prosperous during this time, because a lot of nonprofits haven’t seen that happen for them,” Suttell said. “But when people went into lockdown

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and they were looking for things to do, especially children, high school students and college students who are looking for some academic stimulation or something to do, writing a letter to someone you don’t know — kind of this one-way pen pal avenue — became a really viable option and a really exciting option for people.” Letters are sent to a P.O. box in Ohio, where Cramer’s father sorts through thousands of letters that need to be read and distributed to participating senior facilities. When Suttell attends the University of Florida in the fall, she said she will be “happy to provide and happy to volunteer” for the organization as long as there is a need for her. Over the years she has worked her way from being a social media intern to “interim director of the entire charity when Jacob studied abroad in Spain for two months” and eventually back to director of Senior Storybook. “It’s just been a wild ride,” Suttell said. “I love what I do, and I wouldn’t have it any

other way.” The charity’s next project is an effort to collect 31 stories that will be published each day in May, National Historic Month. “Usually we publish about eight to 10 stories a month, so I’m shooting for the full 31,” Suttell said. “We have a social media following of about 30,000 across all platforms, so people’s stories will be read. “I’ve had middle school and high school students write incredible stories about seniors in their lives, and I’ve had published authors write incredible stories. That really is open to everyone, and I think it’s so fun and a way to document the life of a senior in your life or just a particular instance in their lives. People love reading them, and we get so many emails of people just being inspired by that.” For more information about the charity and how and where to send letters, go to loveforourelders.org or follow on Facebook and Instagram @loveforourelders and Twitter @love4ourelders.

away from us, and to experience that, it’s more and more special and humbling at the same time, because you realize how many people would love to have that opportunity. “For us to share that is a very special moment and humbling to be able to do that together. Every coach who has a son on their

basketball team dreams of winning a state championship together, and that came true for us, so we’re very blessed and gracious at the same time.” Marusteri, who is committed to Arizona Christian University, said he believes NVCA isn’t a flash in the pan, and will only continue to climb in the future. “I have a lot of faith in these guys, I think they have all the potential, they have the perfect framework,” Marusteri said. “Keeping what we have set in foundation there and continuing that, I have a lot of faith that they can carry that torch and bring it to the next level, each and every year.”

Senior Kai Marusteri said he believes North Valley Christian Academy isn’t a flash in the pan. (Photo by Tim Gast/NVCA)

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THE FOOTHILLS FOCUS | THEFOOTHILLSFOCUS.COM | MARCH 31, 2021

PHX Martial Arts is more than a membership BY ETHAN GRENI Foothills Focus Staff Writer

artial arts can be a violent sport. In MMA fights, even the victor is often left bloody and

swollen. But for 11-year army veteran Jason Jonas, martial arts, specifically taekwondo, was a way of healing. “When I got out (of the military), I had multiple injuries and I didn’t think I could do martial arts anymore,” he said. “I had a couple friends that were martial artists that were getting married, and they talked me into coming back and trying out a class, and as soon as I came back, I got re-addicted, and then ironically, what I thought I couldn’t do because of my physical limitations ended up helping my injuries quite a bit.” He and his wife, Bianca, own PHX Martial Arts in Anthem. The school’s

primary discipline is taekwondo, but it teaches a variety of martial arts. “Our main focus is taekwondo. We do offer Krav Maga and a mixed martial arts program called Warrior Martial Arts, and it kind of goes off kickboxing, boxing, muay thai, things like that,” Bianca said. “It is more than just a martial arts school,” she said. “What it really focuses on is the perseverance and the leadership skills for all ages.” “The most common things that people end up enrolling for and receiving are self-confidence, discipline, structure and leadership,” Jason added. “Those would be followed pretty closely by physical fitness and self-defense.” With summer not far off, PHX is preparing an augmented summer camp schedule due to COVID-19 concerns. “Normally, for summers, we like to offer a summer camp for every single week,” Jason said. “But, with the pan-

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(Photo courtesy PHX Martial Arts)

demic over the last year, we know that numbers are going to be limited.” “We thought for this summer, we would offer three different weeks of camps.” “We’re starting out this summer with a couple of rank-advancement camps with a competition-building theme,” Bianca said. “It allows students to get a competitive edge as an athlete, whether they’re in martial arts or any other sport, and get trained as such.” Children as young as 3 can enroll at PHX, which has programs for every age group, including adults. “Obviously, adults have a lot of stress that gets put into their lives, whether it’s from work, from parenting, just from life in general, from a pandemic, so it allows a physical outlet,” Jason said. “That way, you’re able to go workout, get some of that stress out of your body, and then also help fight off injury and dementia with mental training, physical acuity and then mobility training.” As someone who began martial arts in her 30s, Bianca understands the challenges that a late beginner faces.

“It was an experience, for sure. I’ve always been pretty athletic, I’ve been an athlete my whole life, but martial arts is just something that you don’t quite prepare your body for until you actually do it,” Bianca said. “The flexibility and the discipline that goes into maintaining a sport like that was a lot more than I thought it was going to be. So, that was the first challenge.” According to Jason, martial arts is a growing sport in Arizona, with major tournaments eyeing the Valley as a host. “Phoenix is actually kind of one of the martial arts hotbeds, as far as all the major cities in America,” Jason said. “There’s a few different styles of taekwondo, and one of them is actually hosting their world championships here in Phoenix this summer, and one of the other ones is looking at having their national championships here. “I think there are four different major styles of taekwondo: One of them has over 20 locations in the Valley, one has a few, and then the other ones have multiple affiliates here,” Jason continued. “Jiu-jitsu is one of the fastest-growing ones around town, and there’s a few MMA gyms that have national notoriety.” Regardless of discipline or experience level, Bianca said PHX offers something most schools don’t. “We have a family environment that I think is hard to find at most other martial arts schools. It’s difficult to find staff and people with the same thought process,” Bianca said. “Once you’re a member here, we’re never going to turn our back on you. Whether you continue with us or not, we’ll always be an open door for you to come to us if you need anything, so it’s more than a membership, it’s a family.” PHX Martial Arts

4235 West Opportunity Way, Unit 100, Phoenix 602-321-5487 phx-ma.com

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