The Foothills Focus - Zone 2 - 03.31.2021 by Times Media Group

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Wednesday, March 31, 2021

Walk brings awareness to human trafficking BY CONNOR DZIAWURA Foothills Focus Staff Writer

NEWS................. 9 Abrazo Cave Creek Hospital set to host two job fairs

early 40 million estimated global victims. Considered the world’s third-largest criminal activity. But only 1 out of every 100 victims will be rescued. These statistics from the Dream City Foundation show the scale at which human trafficking operates and the challenges of cracking down on it. To generate awareness of the issue and raise funds for rescue and rehabilitation programs, local nonprofit Dream City Founda-

see TRAFFICKING page 4

The Stop Traffic Walk generates awareness of human trafficking and raises funds for rescue and rehabilitation programs. (Photos courtesy of Serendipit Consulting)

BUSINESS..........13

Cave Creek declares intent to qualify for automatic aid

FEATURES .........16

BY SARAH DONAHUE Foothills Focus Staff Writer

Totally Rolled Ice Cream truck serves smiles

Scottsdale artist helps consumers wear a conversation starter

OPINION.................... 10 BUSINESS.................. 13 FEATURES................. 14 YOUTH....................... 20 CLASSIFIEDS............. 21 Zone

he days of Cave Creek’s limited fire service protection will soon be a distant memory. The Cave Creek Town Council took its first official steps to qualify as a member of the Regional Automatic Aid System, which will provide the town and its residents with extensive emergency fire and medical service coverage. The Cave Creek Town Council voted unanimously to declare its intent to qualify as a member of the automatic aid system during a public meeting on March 15.

The declaration will be sent to fire departments and agencies in the surrounding community to “show the commitment that the town council and staff has into moving forward into the automatic aid system,” according to Cave Creek’s town manager Carrie Dyrek. This approved motion will allow the town’s staff to begin taking the necessary steps with policy direction and guidance from the council to work on agreements so the town may qualify to become a member of the automatic aid system, she explained. It also allows the town staff to designate funds in future budgets for this purpose, however, there are no upfront costs associated

with this action item, she stated. Fire agencies across the Valley have voiced major concerns about Cave Creek’s limited fire protection after crews from neighboring municipalities extinguished the recent East Desert and Ocotillo fires. Cave Creek had to pay a six-figure bill to cover these expenses, and the departments stated it won’t be able to respond in this manner again unless the town took steps to establish its own fire protection services. The council voiced its desire to become a member of the automatic aid system after

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NEWS

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

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

TRAFFICKING from page 1

tion will host its second Stop Traffic Walk from 5 to 8 p.m. Saturday, April 10, at Dream City Church Phoenix. The foundation supports the Phoenix Dream Center, StreetLightUSA and Colorado City Dream Center, prominent organizations in the fight against human trafficking. “Our Dream Center here and StreetLightUSA, and now Colorado City, those three campuses make us the largest human trafficking rescue and rehabilitation program in the nation — and just beds away from being the No. 1 in the world,” explained Kristie Barnett Sexton, chairperson of the Stop Traffic Walk. “When we were calculating all this and realizing the impact that we were having nationwide with human trafficking, we realized that we wanted to do more to raise awareness about trafficking, because the reality is that everybody cares about trafficking but a lot of times people don’t know what to do with it. They don’t understand it.” The issue of trafficking is not a partisan one; rather, it’s a human issue, Sexton ex-

Though human trafficking is a heavy topic, Dream City Foundation’s annual Stop Traffic Walk features a variety of family-friendly activities, including a rock climbing wall. (Photos

courtesy of Serendipit Consulting)

plained. Therefore, everyone is invited — adults and children. Standard registration is free, while full registration — including a T-shirt, lighted wristband and meal ticket — costs $99, signifying the statistic that 99 out of 100 trafficking victims go unrescued. “For the first couple of hours, it’s the time for the community to come together and just enjoy themselves,” Sexton said, detailing the inclusion of food trucks, bouncy houses, face painting, rock climb-

ing walls and music. “And we know that it’s a heavy topic, so we’re not making light of it,” she clarified. “After the food and the festivities are over, we come together and we have a ceremony and we talk about human trafficking and we talk about that our organization has a 97% success rate, that if an individual goes through our program, they will come out living a thriving, productive life in the community.” A survivor, dubbed a hero, is also honored each year, and the walk itself culminates in a dance party to celebrate “that some of these survivors today have come out of slavery into freedom,” Sexton said. First held in January 2020 in conjunction with National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month, last year’s efforts were a success, garnering a strong showing of close to 4,000 attendees and over $250,000 raised, Sexton said. Shortly after, however, COVID-19 and the resulting shutdowns hit, and this year the walk had to be pushed back. “Due to COVID now again this year, we’re hoping that we have the same success or better, but it’s kind of unknown this year,” Sexton admitted. The idea when launching the Stop Traffic Walk, Sexton said, was ultimately to create a community event that could go nationwide, one where people far and wide could take a day to walk for the same cause. This year the hope is to add 30 more beds to take care of people, as the reality is that some have to be turned away from programs daily because of limited space. And if 10,000 people were to pay the full-registration fee, the foundation would roughly meet its $1 million goal to increase facilities for trafficking survivors. “We’re doing the walk in hopes that people won’t just come out for the awareness part, but they’ll get behind raising funds,” Sexton said. The fight against human trafficking goes beyond just the walk, though. Sexton noted that the foundation hopes to create awareness through conversation — with institutions, parents and kids alike. With COVID-19 confining people to their homes, in turn leading to more time spent

see TRAFFICKING page 7

NEWS

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

AID from page 1

Scottsdale’s deputy chief and fire marshal Jim Ford presented various fire service options to the town council and corresponding costs during a meeting last month. Ford played an integral part in creating the Scottsdale Fire Department and has been working for the town “on loan” to help its staff explore ways of establishing contemporary fire services. An intergovernmental agreement signed by the town and the city of Scottsdale in November allows Ford to work directly for the town in exchange for his current benefits and salary. He said the automatic aid system is designed to respond to emergencies as quickly as possible. It is made up of around 30 jurisdictions in the surrounding area that participate as members, and when an emergency happens, dispatch centers assign the closest appropriate unit to respond to the scene, regardless of original jurisdiction, he said. There were five public comments made about the motion during the March 15 meeting, most of which consisted of questions, concerns and recommendations. Fire Chief Brian Tobin with Daisy Mountain Fire and Medical began his public comment with an overview of the devastation brought forth from the East Desert and Ocotillo Fires. The East Desert Fire broke out within the western boundary of Cave Creek, “quickly becoming a threat to the central core of the town,” and “consumed 1,492 acres over the span of six days,” he said. The Ocotillo Fire burned through 980 acres, destroying eight homes and 12 structures, and “required the evacuation of approximately 860 people as well as numerous livestock before it was contained.” Tobin stated these events highlight the “extensive command and control” that is necessary between a number of agencies and members within the automatic aid system. He also said he “strongly” believes the town should prioritize public safety and make decisions that protect the community’s future. The other comments included questions about long-term funding, coverage and the kinds of services that are provided by automatic aid. A comment also asked

how this will affect Rural Metro Fire’s current coverage of around 40% to 50% of Cave Creek residents. Ford answered the questions in a comprehensive statement, explaining the automatic aid system will be a “total overall service” that will provide emergency fire and medical services to the entirety of Cave Creek. The associated costs will be the responsibility of the entire town, regardless of the Rural Metro Fire subscriptions held by residents, he added. Ford also explained that the automatic aid system’s advanced life services are performed by paramedics in fire trucks, who secure the scene, stabilize the patient and call for a transfer unit like an ambulance or helicopter if necessary. The automatic aid system allows the town to use various sources of revenue, rather than a required property tax, according to Ford. Financing options will be introduced to the council at a later date, Dyrek said. Councilmembers Ron Sova and Robert Morris voiced their desire to keep the public informed about these costs as the information becomes available. “We have to embark on a leadership mission of educating and making sure that people understand” the potential costs and impacts on residents, Morris said. The council also unanimously approved a motion to enter into a cooperative intergovernmental agreement with the Arizona State Forester for protection of forests, wildlands, citizens and property. This state service has cooperative agreements with almost every fire department in the Valley, Ford said. This agreement will allow the state to assist the town with major fires in wildland forest areas, agricultural land as well as rural structures upon request, Ford said. In the event of a major incident, the state can assist with incident command and can dispatch air tankers to extinguish fires, he said. Ford added that only state officials are authorized to deploy air tankers. The intergovernmental agreement also allows the town to receive funding set aside by the state for assistance in major wildland incidents, he added. There is a series of documents with a checklist and operational guidelines cov-

ering what must be followed to issue a “declaration of need,” which can be activated by the town manager, Ford said. There was one public comment with financing and clarification questions subsequently answered by Ford. Before the vote, Sova reiterated the importance of communicating the associated costs of establishing these fire services so residents have a clear understanding. He also stated that the town council needs to proceed with this “as expeditiously as we can.”

Other council news The town council unanimously approved two bids from Okanogan Trail Construction Company to build three short paths to provide hikers, bikers and horseback riders with more connectivity between neighborhoods and other trails. Okanagan Trail Construction Company was the only respondent to the town’s RFP for construction of these trails. The first approved bid covers the expenses for the 52nd Street Trail and the Cave Creek South 40 Connector Trail. The town will pay the construction company

an amount not to exceed $25,114.52, the action item stated. The 52nd Street Trail will begin at the intersection of New River Road and 52nd Street, leading people east until they reach its end at East Carefree Highway. This trail intersects with the Cave Creek South 40 Connector trail a little less than halfway through, which leads people to another exit point on East Carefree Highway. The second unanimously approved bid of $43,696.55 covers the costs of constructing the Surrey Drive Road Trail, which will be located within the town’s right-of-way along the north side of Surrey Drive. The trail will begin at Conestoga Trail Road and lead people west until it ends at a cul-de-sac on Surrey Drive. Cave Creek’s trail fund will finance the construction of these trails, said Cave Creek’s Mayor Ernie Bunch. The construction of these connecting paths will likely finish this summer. —Staff writer Sarah Donahue can be reached at sdonahue@timespublications.com

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NEWS

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

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 Asianowned 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 atroc-

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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) ities 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 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%)

tively reached out to those community leaders to start a dialog for future meetings and share safety tips. Both hate incidents and hate crimes 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, lack of transportation access, and distrust of law enforcement. In Phoenix, the Arizona Asian Cham-

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 Shela Yu, an organizer of the March 19 candlelight vigil at the state crimes against people Capitol, decorates tables with flowers in remembrance of victims of anti-Asian hate crimes. (Photo by Rachel Stapholz/Cronkite News) of Asian descent, up from two the year before. ber of Commerce regularly provides In addition to the department’s Bias resources to businesses, and it plans to Crimes Unit, a detective from the Com- reach out to elderly Asian Americans. On munity Response Squad is assigned as a March 19, the chamber hosted a candleliaison to the Asian community, Sgt. Ann light vigil at the Arizona Capitol to honor the eight people slain in Atlanta. E. Justus recently wrote in an email. Reid feels the recent increase in hate “Throughout 2020, that detective has been a direct line of communication for crimes is due to a lack of federal and leaders in the Asian community,” Justus state leadership. “Words matter. Unfortunately, we have said. “No concerns about their safety were relayed to the detective.” Recently, she said, the detective proacsee ASIAN page 7

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

TRAFFICKING from page 4

online, Sexton said the “alert system for trafficking” has been heightened. “Well, the traffickers are online, and this is the No. 1 way that they find children, is through the internet,” Sexton cautioned, adding that she recently discussed educating parents with Banner Thunderbird staff. “It’s not just about raising the funds. It’s about getting the word out — like we need to know what your kids are looking at, what they’re listening to, how much time they’re on the internet — because if a trafficker can see a kid with low selfworth and low self-esteem or (who’s) isolated, they can come in and manipulate

and start to groom these kids.” Sexton said perception toward human trafficking is changing. Whereas in the past people assumed it was something that could happen in foreign countries or in areas with poverty and crime, people are now realizing that’s not the case. In reality, Sexton said, it’s happening as close as Scottsdale and Desert Ridge. “On my social media pages, I encourage people to share, to get the word out. If you see something, say something. If something doesn’t feel right, it’s probably not right,” Sexton said. “And I think that because the media has kind of turned a blind eye to it, I feel like we’ve taken on that role as parents to be vocal about it.

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 “comfort women” as a key to understanding some of the unique violence and fetishization faced by Asian women. “A lot of people say the (Atlanta) shooting was a hate crime,” Keo said. “But I think people need to look at this 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 historical 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.

ASIAN from page 6

And, I’m seeing more and more people talk to their children.” Though it’s a lofty idea, Sexton feels human trafficking can be curbed. “This isn’t going away without a fight, and it’s not going to be something that’s going to be easy to tackle whatsoever,” Sexton said. “But I do believe that the more that we are talking about it and the more that we are aware of it and the more that we are watching what our kids are doing … and I think the more that we tell

the parents and educate them, they will be alert.” Stop Traffic Walk

When: 5 to 8 p.m. Saturday, April 10 Where: Dream City Church Phoenix, 13613 N. Cave Creek Road Cost: Registration is free; full registration is $99 and includes a T-shirt, lighted wristband and meal ticket Info: stoptrafficwalk.org

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NEWS

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

County seeks volunteers for parks program BY TARA ALATORRE Foothills Focus Contributing Writer

he Maricopa County Parks and Recreation Department is looking for volunteers to help with its strategic invasive species removal as part of its upcoming Desert Defenders Workshops, which include Cave Creek Regional Park and the Spur Cross Ranch Conservation Area. According to the county, one of the biggest threats to the parks’ ecosystems are invasive species that are dominating the region. The Desert Defenders Workshop will teach volunteers how to become citizen scientists by training them to identify, locate, map and properly remove non-native species. Events will take place over the next month across Maricopa County’s regional parks utilizing an app. Staff and volunteers from Maricopa County use GIS mapping information to

analyze non-native species at its parks across the Valley as part of its strategy to eradicate invasive plants. Maricopa County Parks and Recreation Department’s natural resource specialist, Juanita Armstrong, has been leading mapping and removal efforts of invasive species over the last two years. The county, along with its partner, Central Arizona Conservation Alliance (CAZCA), are working to increase citizen engagement and awareness about the risks associated with invasive plants at the workshops. “Invasives out-compete native plants and increase the magnitude of fire, and so we need an approach to mitigate,” Armstrong said. Maricopa Parks is particularly focused on training citizens how to use its newly launched GIS mapping tool that is built into an app. It easily allows users to precisely tag the location of invasive plant species, which can be monitored by the

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Pictured is an image of stinknet, which has been identified as one of the most dominant invasive species in the Cave Creek area. (Photo courtesy of Maricopa County Parks and Recreation Department) parks department. A password from Maricopa Parks is required to use it that can be obtained at a Desert Defenders Workshop. “It is really important to attend one of these trainings before anyone starts doing any removal in our parks,” Armstrong said. She emphasized that well-intentioned people can easily cause harm if they are not trained properly. “You can’t just really go out on your own and do this.” In the beginning of 2020 the parks department had enough mapped information to begin removal efforts, but the COVID-19 pandemic delayed plans. Now, the department has the information and protocols it needs to facilitate removal events safely, which includes using masks and ensuring social distancing. Based on the park’s recently mapped information, Red Brome (foxtail) and Mediterranean grass are the most abundant invasive species in the Cave Creek area. However, stinknet (globe chamomile) is the most dominant invasive species being mapped in the local area. “Stinknet is coming out really strong in the last few years, but the grasses have been around for so long that they are starting to naturalize and it makes it extremely difficult if not impossible to remove,” Armstrong said. She added that the Malta star thistle is an invasive plant that the department

noticed to be almost exclusive to the Cave Creek area. “The Malta Star Thistle isn’t known to be a documented problem in any other area but Spur Cross and Cave Creek Regional, so it would be nice to stop that one from spreading to any of the other parks,” she said. She also noted there are native thistle species and citizens will learn how to properly identify between them at the workshop. During the removal events, volunteers and staff will focus on pulling invasive plants along trails and riparian corridors, creating buffers that range from 30 to 100 feet, which also serve as fire breaks. “Many invasives cause fire magnitude to increase because they provide fine fire fuels,” she said. “Fine fuels from grasses and invasives are filling in areas that were normally bare and rocky, and now instead you have fire fuel.” In addition to engaging citizen volunteers to help with invasive species, Maricopa Parks Department received a grant from the Arizona Department of Fire and Forestry Management that will be used to fund plant removals by professional contractors sometime this year. At the upcoming events, staff, contractors and volunteers will focus on

see PROGRAM page 9

NEWS

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

Job fairs set for Abrazo Law enforcement career fair set for April 3 Cave Creek Hospital BY FOOTHILLS FOCUS STAFF

ecruiting is underway for nursing and other positions at the new Abrazo Cave Creek Hospital 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.

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, as well as 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.

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.

PROGRAM from page 8

portions of the Overton, Go John, Jasper, Slate and Clay Mine trails at the Cave Creek Regional Park. The Metate and parts of Spur Cross and Elephant Mountain trails will be the focus at Spur Cross Conservation Area. “Maricopa County Parks and Recreation Department is scheduled to hire contractors to treat invasive species along many of the other trails sometime this year,” Armstrong said. The Central Arizona Conservation Alliance has been partnering with the county on the workshops and is developing a Firewise program that will be included as part of the Desert Defenders program soon. The upcoming Desert Defender events

happening in Cave Creek are on the mornings of Thursday, April 1, and Friday, April 9, at Cave Creek Regional Park. The Spur Cross Ranch Conservation Area workshop will be held Tuesday, April 6. The department is asking volunteers to bring their own mask, screwdriver, gloves, water and snack for the events. “We are looking with the program to inspire people to become stewards of the land in the long-term, where they want to help lead,” she said. “It would be really nice to get volunteers that want to become leaders, or that want to even run some of these, and we can train them to do that.” Anyone interested can find more information at maricopacountyparks.net or by going to @MC-Parks on Facebook. Volunteers must register for the Desert Defender workshops at signup.com.

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OPINION

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

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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 husband 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

drudgery of mixing, beating, dipping, tossing, frying, baking, boiling or 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.

OPINION

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

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.

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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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BUSINESS

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The scoop: New ice cream truck serves smiles BY AYANNA MUHAMMAD Foothills Focus Staff Writer

teve Frazer brought his Totally Rolled Ice Cream to Arizona with the hopes that it would keep him occupied while he and his family lived here in the winter. It became more than that. It’s now a full-time job. “A lot of my friends out here had never had my homemade ice cream,” said Frazer, who lives in Iowa during the summer. His truck has become so popular he’s looking for someone to run it in the summer. Introduced to the Valley in June 2019, Totally Rolled Ice Cream offered homemade treats based on Frazer’s recipes. Customers can choose from 10 flavors or create their own with an assortment of fruits, cereals and sweets. Frazer’s brick and mortar in Iowa has more than 100 mixing options. The ice cream starts out as a vanilla liquid base, which is then moved to a freezing mix plate to mix everything together, then freezes within a minute. Through trial and error, Frazer came up with a homemade recipe that continues to satisfy. Once frozen, it is

Customers can choose from 10 flavors of handmade ice cream rolls or create their own with an assortment of fruits, cereals and sweets. (Photos courtesy of Steve Frazer) rolled, then served to the customer. “Everybody’s always asking how I created it, but probably the best part is all my customers say it’s the best-tasting ice cream they’ve had in their life,”

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Frazer said. “It makes me feel good. My wife says ‘You’re always selling smiles, not ice cream.’” Cookie dough is one of his most

popular flavors, along with the Dana Delight, which is named after his wife, and is mixed with fresh strawberries. Frazer drives to Iowa to use its ice cream because the state’s ice cream has better consistency. He recently returned from a drive there to stock up for orders through April. Despite the COVID-19 restrictions, Frazer’s business has been able to thrive because he is privately booked to appear at parties, events or neighborhoods. “Every weekend beginning April 20 until the end of October is almost 75% booked already,” Frazer said. Because his schedule is so busy, Frazer isn’t always available to serve the public. He posts his Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday public appearances — which are heavily in Desert Hills, Anthem and Cave Creek — on social media pages. “It’ll be the best ice cream you’ve had in your life I guarantee it,” Frazer said. Totally Rolled Ice Cream facebook.com/sfrazer8805 instagram.com/totallyrolled totallyrolledicecream.com

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FEATURES

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

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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. “I really wanted to focus on creating that connection for women within Johnson Group TAC,”

she said. “I love that essence when women get together and really support one another.” Well Armed Women evolved into what it is today around a month after Johnson Group Tactical started its operations. Oz wanted to offer more tactical training classes in the beginning, but the courses weren’t filling up. However, “all of the beginner classes were filling,” and it was women signing up because “they were the ones who really wanted the training.” Knowing how to use and handle a firearm is a vital skill for women to have under their belt, as women are much more likely to be victimized than their male counterparts, she said. “We are the only ones that can really protect ourselves,” she said. “The only other op-

tion is to wait for help, so I really wanted to empower women. Karin started videotaping and photographing the classes, posting them online to the Johnson Group Tactical website as well as its Facebook page, “and I just started labeling them Well Armed Women, because that’s what they were.” The Well Armed Women courses are focused on education as well as training with safety first. “We never overshadow safety.” Karin didn’t originally intend on being an instructor for the courses, however, her role started to transform into its range safety officer while keeping her role as its operations manager. Her husband has a “natural gift of teaching,” but as a woman, “I can really relate to

their fears and their insecurities.” It can be more challenging for women to manipulate weapons, and she said she’s sensitive to that and meets each student where they are. She always carries her .38 Special 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

see FIREARM page 15

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FIREARM from page 14

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 80s, 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 firearms 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 recently

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 Pablo Robles)

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 inter-

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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)

mediate 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.” For more information, call 602-448-8283 or visit johnsongrouptac.com. —Staff writer Sarah Donahue can be reached at sdonahue@timespublications.com

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FEATURES

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

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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 small town in Texas that she feels nurtured her artistic sense from the beginning. She remembers many who have influenced her in her life, from Calder, Winston and Fabergé to Norman Rockwell,

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

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 as her metal medium. She occasionally incorporates other metals, such as sterling silver, gold, titanium, cop-

see ARTIST page 17

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

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 fol-

ARTIST from page 16

lowing 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 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

per 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 Julie Weeks necklace. (Photo ensure continuous courtesy of Julie Weeks) growth in design and updating of techniques. the last two weekends of Today her work is Julie Weeks bracelet. (Photo the month in the Careavailable in two local courtesy of Julie Weeks) free-Cave Creek area, Hidgalleries, On the Edge den in the Hills Studio Tour, in Scottsdale, onthsonoranartsleague.org. eedgegallery.com, and the Fountain Hills To view a selection of Weeks’ deArtist Gallery in Fountain Hills, fountain- signs, visit the websites of the galhillsartistgallery.com. leries that represent her or a peek at Each year Weeks participates in two her website, juliegilbertjewelry.com, shows in November: one at the begin- which will also provide contact inforning of the month with the Camelback mation for commissioning an original Studio Tour, camelbackstudiotour.com, piece or purchasing an existing design. located in the Sherwood Heights neighContact arts columnist Shea Stanfield borhood in Scottsdale, and the other on flowingquill@yahoo.com.

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

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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, 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.

see ELENBAAS page 19

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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 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

see OBVIOUS page 19

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OBVIOUS from page 18

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.

ELENBAAS from page 17

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 ‘harmony’ 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

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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.

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Youth TheFoothillsFocus.com

For more Youth News visit thefoothillsfocus.com @TheFoothills.Focus

/TheFoothillsFocus

STUDENT CHRONICLES

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Online at www.TheFoothillsFocus.com

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

Emily Knape of Cave Creek made the dean’s list at Rochester Institute of Technology for the 2020 fall semester. She is in the media arts and technology program. Undergraduate students are eligible for dean’s list if their GPA is greater than or equal to 3.40 for nine credit hours of traditionally graded coursework; they do not have any grades of incomplete, NE, D, or F; and they have registered for, and completed, at least 12 credit hours. Rochester Institute of Technology is home to leading creators, entrepreneurs, innova-

tors and researchers. Founded in 1829, RIT enrolls about 18,600 students in more than 200 career-oriented and professional programs, making it among the largest private universities in the United States. The university is internationally recognized and ranked for academic leadership in business, computing, engineering, imaging science, liberal arts, sustainability and fine and applied arts. RIT also offers support services for deaf and hard-of-hearing students. The cooperative education program is one of the oldest and largest in the nation. Global partnerships include campuses in China, Croatia, Dubai and Kosovo.

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