The Foothills Focus 06-17-20 by Times Media Group

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ACC’s new CEO leads by example BY CHRISTINA FUOCO-KARASINSKI Foothills Focus Executive Editor

NEWS............................. 3 Summit Aesthetics names its scholarship winners

ENTERTAINMENT..... 10 Trixter’s Mark Gus Scott goes ‘power country’ with legacy hit

Wednesday, June 17, 2020

ohn Bowman has been excited about relocating to Arizona for some time. When he saw a job posting for the Anthem Community Council’s community executive officer, he knew he had to apply. “The last time I changed positions and came to Lake of the Pines (Nevada County, California), I had also interviewed at DC Ranch,” Bowman said. “My friend from San Jose ended up getting that position. I had my eye on it. I had visited Anthem during annual conferences and workshops that the industry has for manager of large communities. When I saw that posting came up, I thought, ‘I need to put my name up for that.’”

John Bowman (Photo by Pablo Robles)

Bowman started his job as CEO on May 26 and will work alongside CEO Neal Searer until he retires on June 30. Bowman comes to Anthem with 30 years of comprehensive and diverse experience in general management of large-scale community associations in Northern California. Most recently, Bowman has served as the general manager of Lake of the Pines, a 2,000-home, private community that provides extensive amenities including: a 230acre private lake and marina; an 18-hole golf course; two full-service restaurants and bars; seven neighborhood parks; a swimming pool; tennis and pickleball courts; bocce ball; 20 miles of private roads; and a year‑round recreation program.

T-shirts raise more than $10K for Ocotillo Fire victims BY KAMALA KIRK Foothills Focus Contributing Writer

FEATURES..................12

Nothing simple about Norterra’s new Italian eatery, Osteria Mia

OPINION.................................5 BUSINESS...............................7 ARTS........................................ 9 ENTERTAINMENT.......... 10 FEATURES...........................12 CLASSIFIEDS..................... 14

see ACC page 2

hile driving through Canyon Creek on the Saturday of the Ocotillo Fire, Carefree resident Jane Spicer noticed horse trailers lined up on the road. She was immediately overcome with emotion. “I’d been sad about our country and the way that people had been treating each other,” Spicer said. “But on this day, I saw people coming together to help each other. It brought tears

Jane Spicer, above, and her staff at Daphne’s Headcovers created a design for T-shirts to support the Cave Creek community. (Photo by Pablo Robles)

to my eyes.” Two days later, she read on Facebook that Black Mountain Feed Store in Cave Creek had burned down. Spicer, who founded Daphne’s Headcovers when she was 16, knew she had to help those who had been affected by the fires. She began thinking about ways she could pitch in. “I just knew I wouldn’t be at peace with myself until I had done something to help,” she said. “I can’t put out fires, but I know how to make and

see T-SHIRTS page 3

ACC

NEWS

THE FOOTHILLS FOCUS | JUNE 17, 2020

from page 1

He has a strong background in community maintenance, and his experience includes extensive involvement overseeing an architectural control process with a high-end custom and production homes development. Several environmental projects have taken place under his guidance, including the development of the first private Oak Tree Preservation program in Sacramento County, and the first community to dual-plumb more than 3,000 properties using recycled water for full-yard irrigation. “I’ve been in the HOA industry for pretty much all my career,” Bowman said. “I started in the maintenance department of a large HOA and managed their maintenance for eight years. That was Rancho Murieta in Sacramento County. While in that position, I was offered the GM spot of a brand-new community called Serrano El Dorado. It had 5,000 homes. They hired me when they sold the first lot.” Bowman was looking for a change when he interviewed in DC Ranch in Scottsdale. Lake of the Pines was attractive, as it was 8 miles from his home. He started working there in 2016. Bowman earned a Bachelor of Science

degree in business administration and is a professional community association manager. He and his wife, Cheryl, volunteer with Living Water International, leading an annual team of volunteers to drill fresh-water wells in rural villages of Central America and Haiti.

“We have a blended family,” he added about he and Cheryl. “We have nine grandkids and four children. They’re all in the general area we’re leaving. Half of the family is relocating toward Montana. We’re going to be spread out—here, Sacramento, Montana and Arizona.”

sell stuff. I called my staff, asked them to help me find a screen printer, and we started discussing T-shirt designs. By the end of the day I approved a design and we had 250 shirts made.” On the front of the shirt, the words “Cave Creek Strong” were featured above the state of Arizona, while the

back had the same words over the state flag, which was transformed into the shape of a heart. “Seeing everyone band together to help one another is what inspired ‘Cave Creek Strong,’” Spicer pointed out. “Arizona’s flag is beautiful, so I made it into a heart to represent the collective out-

pouring of love from the community.” Spicer reached out to a firefighter friend in Cave Creek who knew the owner of Big Earl’s Greasy Eats, and two days later, she was selling the T-shirts she’d made at a June 3 fundraising event at the restaurant. The shirts were a hit and, in less than two hours, Spicer sold all 250 of them at the cost of a $20 donation each, raising over $5,000. “We donated 100% of the proceeds from the shirts to benefit families that were affected by the fire,” Spicer said. “Big Earl’s was super kind and donated 50% of all their sales to the same cause. Their owner, Brooke Dallas, is a dynamic and lovely person. The feedback was great, and everybody loved the shirts. People were very gracious and thanked me. My heart was starting to feel better.” A few days later on June 6, Spicer

T-SHIRTS from page 1

ACC’s new community executive officer, John Bowman, enjoys golfing in his free time and volunteering for Living Water International. (Photo by Pablo Robles)

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Bowman enjoys golfing, however, he didn’t play as frequently as he liked when he was managing a golf course. “We also like to travel,” he added. “We like to drive a fifth wheel around. I play most of my golf when I’m traveling.” The national search for the new CEO drew more than 80 applicants. “After dozens of telephone and in-person interviews, the ACC Board was able to select John as our top candidate with a unanimous vote,” said Terry Mullarkey, ACC Board of Directors president. “I am personally very pleased with the extensive experience and community management credentials that John brings to Anthem.” Bowman said during his tenure at ACC, he will lead by example, “When I started at Serrano, it was a one-person show,” he said. “It was a brand-new organization with no homeowners, I built that up from one person to 110 people when I left there. During that process, I’ve done basically every position that a large HOA would have. “I like to be involved and lead by example. I also like to be the coach of the team. In a large organization like Anthem, you have a core team that I’ll be working closely with. The management team is important.” had more shirts made and participated in “Creekers Helping Creekers—Fire Fundraiser” hosted by Local Jonny’s Eatery and Drinkery. The free event included dinner and drinks, as well as booths selling merchandise. Spicer sold another 250 shirts and raised an additional $5,000 to help community members displaced by the fire. The event included an ongoing silent auction put on by Cool Cats Rescue with all proceeds going to the relief effort. “The original idea was just to host a free takeout dinner for anyone who was displaced from their homes and anyone who volunteered their time and money to the relief effort,” said Lauren VanWinkle, who owns Local Jonny’s with her husband, Jon Oughterson. “After coming up with the original

see T-SHIRTS page 4

NEWS

THE FOOTHILLS FOCUS | JUNE 17, 2020

Walmart opens COVID-19 testing sites in Anthem The Foothills Focus is published every Wednesday.

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BY CHRISTINA FUOCO-KARASINSKI Foothills Focus Executive Editor

COVID-19 drive-thru testing site is open in the Walmart parking lot at 4435 W. Anthem Way in Anthem. This site is supported by Walmart, eTrueNorth and state and local officials to test anyone who meets CDC and state and local guidelines on who should be tested, including first responders, health care providers and others with symptoms of COVID-19 and those in high-risk groups without symptoms. Those interested in being tested need to visit DoINeedaCOVID19test.com to see if they are eligible for testing and to make an appointment. “Walmart is part of the community, and we are proud to help support the

expansion of COVID-19 testing in both Anthem and Buckeye during this unprecedented time,” said Philip Serghini, Walmart public affairs director for Arizona. “We are grateful to our associates who keep our stores running, our pharmacists who support these testing sites, and to eTrueNorth and local officials as we work together to open the site and help our community.” The site is open 7 to 9 a.m. Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays weekly, weather permitting. Appointments must be made through eTrueNorth’s online portal at DoINeedaCOVID19test.com, which will screen individuals to ensure they meet CDC eligibility for testing. For questions regarding testing, call 1-800-635-8611. Those being tested will need to wear

as mask and stay in their cars for verification of eligibility criteria, ID check and self-administered test. For the safety of all those on-site, the test site is not available to those who walk up. The site will use a self-administered nasal swab test that will allow those being tested to swab their own nose onsite while in their vehicles, observed by a trained medical volunteer to ensure the sample is taken correctly, and then dropped in the sealed sample into a container on their way out of the drive-thru site. eTrueNorth will handle processing test samples and communicating results to those tested and applicable Departments of Health. The site will be staffed by Walmart health care professionals. Testing is not available inside Walmart stores.

Summit Aesthetics names scholarship winners BY CHRISTINA FUOCO-KARASINSKI Foothills Focus Executive Editor

ummit Aesthetics Maxillofacial, Oral Surgery & Medical Spa has named its seven scholarship recipients for the class of 2020 from Cactus Shadows High School (CSHS). Students were selected based not only on academic merit, but on their community and school involvement. Each student was awarded $500 to help them with their education this fall. The selected recipients are Adam Busbee, Kylie Coop, Lauren Geiselhofer, Grace Fitzmaurice, Lauren Jankowski, Abigail Nosan and Jessica Simon. “Thank you, Summit Aesthetics, for providing me with a greater opportunity to further my education,” said Simon, who will study social and behavioral sciences at ASU this fall. “I will not let it go to waste.” Summit Aesthetics representatives joined the graduating class of CSHS during late May as the medical team and main sponsor for the event. President Dr. Thomas Kuerschner and Vice President Stefanie Kuer-

Summit Aesthetics Maxillofacial, Oral Surgery & Medical Spa and its scholarship winners celebrate the recognition. (Photo courtesy Summit Aesthetics Maxillofacial, Oral Surgery & Medical Spa)

schner also attended all 11 graduation ceremonies and supplied the precautionary medical supplies. “It was immensely rewarding the PTO, led by Cristi Harris, and all of the volunteers including the local police and firefighters came together to put

on an unforgettable celebration for the graduates,” Thomas said. “To watch them all take in this last moment together as the class of 2020 during these trying times was incredible.” Info: summit-aesthetics.com or 480787-0701.

NEWS

THE FOOTHILLS FOCUS | JUNE 17, 2020

Peoria Unified School District working on reopening plans he Peoria Unified School District is readying a plan to restart school after the Arizona Department of Education released its own Roadmap for Reopening Schools. “Peoria Unified has been working for months on our own plans, which take into account multiple variables for a safe start to the new school year,” according to district literature. “Depending on data from state and local health agencies, our start may include: a normal schedule with increased sanitation and cleanliness measures; a modified schedule so

fewer students are present on campus each day; or an online remote learning schedule with grading and assessment that mirrors the traditional classroom expectations.” According to PUSD, flexibility will be crucial with whatever plan moves ahead. “For now, we want parents to know that we want nothing more than to have our students safely back in school on August 5, learning in an environment that is most conducive to their individ-

ual needs. We are doing all that we can to ensure our campuses are clean, our staff are trained and comfortable with new sanitation procedures, and that we are developing a school model that can sustainably protect the safety of our students and staff.” The district said it will submit a CARES Act application, “as well as other reimbursable grants, that will allow us to secure funding for increased safety measures, like masks, hand sanitizer, sneeze guards and machines that deep clean our facilities.” The district office was scheduled to reopen last week, with visits by appoint-

idea, many people reached out to offer help, and the simple dinner snowballed into a huge fundraising effort. We love Cave Creek and all our neighbors. The day of the Ocotillo Fire was devastating to so many, and it was heartbreaking seeing our friends and family suffer

loss and uncertainty. We are grateful for the support we received during the COVID-19 shutdown, and we were honored to be able to give back somehow by hosting this very special event.” When Spicer sold out of her T-shirts at the event, people began buying them

off each other’s backs for $100 each, which they then donated to the fundraiser. Spicer is planning on making one more round of T-shirts, which will be available for sale at Local Jonny’s soon to raise more money for the victims of the fire.

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“My heart feels better for sure,” Spicer said. “During these times, we all need to hold hands and lift each other up—not fight and hurt one another. I’m just a neighbor who needed to do something kind and support the people around me, so I did.”

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OPINION

THE FOOTHILLS FOCUS | JUNE 17, 2020

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AROUND THE BLUHMIN’ TOWN

Friendship matters the most in these times BY JUDY BLUHM Foothills Focus Guest Columnist

riendship. They can start at any moment and span a lifetime. Sometimes friendships form, mysteriously, against all odds. A 12-yearold boy with autism, Jake, was asked by his 80-yearold neighbor, Mr. Brown, if he could help by doing some odd jobs. What started out as a few mundane weekly chores like pulling the garbage can in and out, gradually grew to something else. Jake did not talk much, had few friends and

often slapped himself repeatedly in the head. He lived with his single mom and was an only child. Mr. Brown was a widower and loved to play chess. Eventually, Mr. Brown got Jake interested in the game and life changed for both of them. After school, Jake would go over to Mr. Brown’s house. Together they played chess and talked. Jake eventually learned how to sit still, stop slapping himself and hold a conversation. Mr. Brown found a kind and curious companion and Jake found a best buddy. Friendship has no age restrictions. When my horse, Sedona, became gravely ill and was on stall rest, two large ravens often sat on her fence rail. I

was surprised at the antics of these two huge birds, wondering what they were up to. They would sit for long periods of time, shoulder to shoulder on the rail, while Sedona was lying down. Were these birds my horse’s new friend? Every day the two ravens spent hours with Sedona. Sometimes I saw the ravens pick up little bits of apple that had fallen from our tree and fly over the barn, dropping them into Sedona’s stall! They were bringing my horse a treat! Friends fly to any heights to comfort us. A woman hiking alone on a trail, heard a whimpering sound in a bush. When she went to investigate, she found a dog

covered with blood lying on the ground. The dog, a 50-pound mixed breed, was bleeding from the neck. The woman scooped up the dog and carried him 1 mile back to the car. She rushed him to the vet to find the dog had been shot. That was two years ago, and “Hope” is now healthy, happy and the woman’s best friend. Jake is in college now and says Mr. Brown saw something more in him than just autism, but the man he might become. Jake saw Mr. Brown not as elderly, but as a friend. After Sedona died, two ravens sat on her fence rails,

see

BLUHM page 6

OPINION

THE FOOTHILLS FOCUS | JUNE 17, 2020

I miss the days of roundball with friends BY DAVID LEIBOWITZ Foothills Focus Columnist

here was a beauty to the games, something artistic that maybe I cannot convey in words: The thud of the ball against the gym floor; the riotous squeaks and squeals of hightops on lacquered hardwood; the dim light, the frayed nets hanging from the rims. This was the downtown Phoenix YMCA through the 1990s and the beginning of this decade, a lunchtime basketball game that I rarely missed for a dozen years running. It was the best hour of my day for years, a time of sweat and trash talk, of hard-headed competition, and of men (and the occasional woman) of all backgrounds, all cultures and colors, all degrees of education, all walks of life, content to play five on five to 11 by ones. I miss those days and the people

that populated them the way I miss my youth. Down to the marrow of my bones. The old downtown Y basketball game bears mention now because I wonder if such a gathering could still exist today, in 2020, amid our time of infinite points of division. Is it possible for a gym in this Valley to draw together human beings so utterly different to play pickup basketball without an argument, a fistfight or a riot breaking out? If there is such a game, I’d love to hear about it. Back then, it wasn’t just possible— basketball at lunch was an absolute. I’d plan my day around it, as would 20 or 30 other guys, men between the ages of 18 and 60-plus, guys who’d played in high school and college, guys who could drain jumpshots from 27 feet and guys who could barely make a layup. Friday was the big day, when everyone showed up. Frank, built solid as a hunk of stone, a deadly outside shot

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who’d played quarterback in college. Ricky D., the TV cameraman who’d played at Grand Canyon and had unlimited range. Austin, whose drives to the basket ended one of two ways—with him scoring or him calling a foul because someone had breathed in his direction. Can you tell maybe I held a grudge? There was Adrian, slender as a tree branch, his hair often in tight cornrows, his speed and handle with the ball something few could match. And Ralph, a 20-something, loud, profane, a baller. The last I’d heard, he’d become a boxing ring announcer, which seems like a perfect match of braggadocio and professional skill. Reporters from the Republic would play, like John the martial artist and Craig in his Oregon Ducks T-shirts. So would Paul the prosecutor and Bob and Pete, the defense lawyers, and Manny and Michael, a father and son team, and Danny, the Samoan NFL nose

BLUHM

FROM Page 6

screeching “caw, caw, caw” over and over again. A woman can carry a dying dog for a mile and never realize he is heavy. Time and attention are the currency of friendship. And like love, it is a treasure bestowed upon us that makes life worth living. Witnessing love, is as joyful as watching a raven communicate with a horse and as sorrowful as hear-

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guard, and Jaime, my buddy from Hell’s Kitchen, and a guy everyone –himself included—called Fat Mike. If it sounds like a random crowd, it was. Which is my point exactly and the beauty of disorganized sports back in the day. These games weren’t about making a cultural point, which is itself a cultural point: It is possible to connect with other human beings, to get to know them, to play with them and against them, and to learn respect for one another, in settings besides a classroom or work. So much of what I know about people who look nothing like me came in these unguarded moments, when they quite literally guarded me. We played. We won and lost. We argued. We sat on the sidelines and waited to have the next. We spoke, we learned. I lived it myself once, for real, in a gym downtown. I wrote it down so maybe you’d believe I’m not making it up.

ing his plaintive call when she is gone. It is as special as watching an old man see the future potential in a young boy. Or as powerful as carrying the wounded through hardship. Today, more than ever, it is friendship that matters. Judy Bluhm is a writer and a local Realtor. Have a comment or a story? Email Bluhm at judy@judybluhm.com.

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THE FOOTHILLS FOCUS | JUNE 17, 2020

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Dustin Holm says volunteer efforts make ‘small difference’ BY CHRISTINA FUOCO-KARASINSKI Foothills Focus Executive Editor

nthem-based North Valley Custom Hauling is about more than taking bulk items from customers’ homes. Dustin Holm and his staff are looking out for the beauty of the North Valley and its environment. “The illegal dumping problem is out of control,” says the Sacramento-born Holm. “It’s kind of sad, but my crew and I team up with local businesses to coordinate community events. We clean up the desert at our own expense. One of the biggest cleanups we had was in March. We hauled away four to five 12foot to 14-foot trailers filled with junk and debris from the North Valley desert. Colten Winter, Kyle Harris, Elizabeth Holm, Kailey Holm and Dustin Holm are North Valley Custom Hauling, which The next weekend, someone went to the helps clean the desert and clients’ homes. (Photos by Pablo Robles) same spot and threw a load of drywall. I side and meeting new people,” Holm has gone as far as Flagstaff. His compapicked it up again.” Holm calls it a great way to network says. “I consider my customers my em- ny consists of him; his wife, Elizabeth; with the community, but the task comes ployers. Word of mouth can make or daughter Kailey, who’s studying prebreak a business. When they’re satisfied, med at University of Phoenix; and Colten with its own set of risks. “Twice we were pulled over by the they spread the good word.” Winter, who attends Glendale CommuniThe 3-year-old North Valley Custom ty College; and Kyle Harris, who plays police, who thought we were dumping when we were actually cleaning the des- Hauling serves 85086, 85085, North basketball for Phoenix College. Harris Scottsdale and all along the Carefree and Winter are Boulder Mountain High ert,” Holm says. “We document every cleanup with corridor. Holm goes Valleywide, and School students. videos and photos. One time, Holm says he primarily we picked up a hot tub from works with real estate agents, Cave Creek Boulevard and who must clean out homes bethe police thought it was fore they’re moved into; local the craziest thing to pick businesses; and those who are up a hot tub in the desert. I moving. was pulled over by a sheriff North Valley Custom Haulfor a sofa I had in the trailer, ing doesn’t move trash or but he could see it was full of chemicals. His definition of cactus. He knew we weren’t “trash” is anything one would dumping.” throw in a trash can. All of that aside, Holm says “We move large items like he doesn’t own the most furniture, hot tubs, sectionals glamorous company, but it’s and refrigerators,” he says. certainly necessary. “We’re on-demand, bulk pick“I really enjoy getting out- North Valley Custom Hauling helps clean illegally dumped trash from the desert. up. If someone’s moving and

they have a pile of what they don’t need to take, we’ll take it.” Owning North Valley Custom Hauling is appropriate for Holm. In his early 20s, he was in the furniture business. His resume also includes stints in construction, commercial truck driving and home loans. They all provided Holm with experience to accomplish his tasks. “The furniture business correlated to moving furniture out of people’s homes,” he says. “We have to be safe with houses. I’ve been in construction. That knowledge helps with tearing down sheds, small garden walls or fountains. “For a short period of time, I was a commercial truck driver. I have a truck and a trailer now. All these past experiences tie in with the junk removal business.” Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, North Valley Custom Hauling has remained busy. His business is unique in that most customers are new. “We have several repeat customers, but we don’t have a whole lot of residual business, like landscapers would,” he says. Holm loves his business, but he finds caring for the community even more enjoyable, yet frustrating. “Dumping clothes and bags of garbage is just senseless,” he says. “Education is the key. The cities and towns need to educate the public on where to take these items. If it was easier for people, it would be less of a problem. “It just feels good to clean up the desert. I take my guys with me. They help out and volunteer, too. I tell them we’re making a difference. It’s a small difference, but every little bit helps.” North Valley Custom Hauling 623-469-5623, info@northvalleycustomhauling.com northvalleycustomhauling.com

BUSINESS

THE FOOTHILLS FOCUS | JUNE 17, 2020

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Mountainside Fitness helping employees affected by COVID-19 BY FOOTHILLS FOCUS STAFF

any Arizona businesses are working hard to get their stores back to business after a challenging few months. Since its reopening on May 18, Mountainside Fitness has expressed appreciation for its employees. As a way of saying “thank you” to them and to relieve the financial burden the pandemic caused, Mountainside Fitness and Tom Hatten, CEO and founder, and Robyn Klawitter, senior vice president of human resources, established the new “Firebird” Fund Employee Assistance Program. The program will be used to assist any Mountainside Fitness employee with a need in one of five categories including financial, medical, meals, paidtime off or child care. Every employee is eligible to request assistance. The program is overseen and governed by nine board members coming from the fitness clubs. No corporate office employee will be eligible to serve on the board. This committee will determine disbursement of funds to employee request as well as oversee fundraisers. To help jump-start the program, Hatten donated $10,000 to the fund. Mountainside Fitness employees can contribute to the fund either by donating one to two days of personal time off or monetary contributions that can be deducted from future paychecks that

will go directly into the fund. “As we continue to face the unprecedented COVID-19 situation, we are grateful for our tremendous employees that work hard to ensure our guests are safe and our fitness centers remain healthy and happy,” Hatten said. “Taking care of our valuable team is important to Mountainside Fitness and we are fortunate to be able to provide assistance during these uncertain times and moving forward. It will be an addition to our culture.”

Mountainside Fitness Locations Happy Valley Towne Center 2501 W. Happy Valley Road, Suite 30, Phoenix 602-601-4747 North Phoenix 2655 W. Carefree Highway, Phoenix 623-587-9977 North Scottsdale (Ice Den) 9375 E. Bell Road, Scottsdale 480-502-2096 Phoenix (Desert Ridge) 4355 E. Irma Lane, Phoenix 623-266-3111

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Joanne L. Gallery: Enchantment in art BY SHEA STANFIELD Foothills Focus Contributing Writer

hakespeare wrote, “Art is enchantment, artists have the right of spells.” Phoenix artist Joanne L. Gallery has developed a spellbinding painting technique, with the use of acrylics and inks so brilliantly applied that viewers cannot take their eyes off them. Her goal is, “To create artistic images that bring brightness, joy and fun into my world. I enjoy experimenting with color, textures and paint. I want to surprise the viewer and take them on a visual journey.” Gallery began her own magical mystery tour in life in New York City. By the time she was 3, her parents relocated to Tucson, then to Phoenix, where she grew up. Creative from the beginning, Gallery developed a healthy respect for modern art and Georgia O’Keefe, specifically. O’Keefe’s technique of illustrating the landscapes around Santa Fe echoed the possibilities Gallery saw in Arizona’s deserts. Gallery attended Scottsdale Community College, where she met professor/mentor Robert You. He opened a whole new world of using color for maximum impact. This inspiration, along with interacting with other gifted young artists in the program, inspired Gallery to think beyond painting on canvas. She ultimately developed her

Artist Joanne Gallery “reimagined” the outside of a refrigerator for SRP. (Photos courtesy Joanne Gallery)

This canine’s name is Mahala.

own panting methods. Gallery transferred to ASU to earn a Bachelor of Science in business, before turning her attention to interior design. She relocated to Los Angeles to attend UCLA for interior design training for three years. In the years since, she raised two sons in LA and lived in New Zealand and Philadelphia before returning to Arizona. Today, Gallery is a full-time artist and personal trainer. Her home studio has opportunities for her to work on several pieces at a time. Since 2001, Gallery has steadily grown in notice and success in the art world. In 2010, her painting Mahala won the cover of art publication the Vortex. She then won a commission from Salt River Project (SRP) to “reimagine” the outside of an old refrigerator. This brought attention to her. The refrigerator traveled to Country Thunder, where musicians signed it, then on to a TV commercial before traveling the science museum circuit.

Gallery is a member of the Sonoran Arts League and also exhibits with the Hidden in the Hills Studio Tour, the last two weekends of November each year. She is attending a class at Scottsdale Community on web design to update her website to showcase her vibrant and diverse collection of work. In the meantime, Gallery’s work may be viewed at jlgallery.com, or on instagram.com/joemaxartist. Contact Gallery at joannegallery@yahoo.com. Contact arts columnist Shea Stanfield at flowingquill@yahoo.com.

This horse, Apollo, was created using Joanne Gallery’s unique painting methods.

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Trixter’s Mark Gus Scott turns hit into ‘power country’ song BY CHRISTINA FUOCO-KARASINSKI Foothills Focus Executive Editor

usic fans worldwide have heard songs by the ’80s hair metal band Trixter. The “One in a Million” act’s drummer, Mark Gus Scott, hopes those listeners migrate to his songs. The 85085 resident recently re-recorded the 1991 Trixter hit “Give It to Me Good” as a “power country” song—with him on vocals—in honor of its 30th anniversary. “I just want people to hear it,” Scott said. “Whenever I have something come out, I want fans to go to my website and check it out. The whole industry is upside down. If you want to buy it, I’m not going to stop you. God bless you. I just wanted to do this song so bad. I hope people like it and then share it. That’s what I think this is really about.” “Give It to Me Good” is important to Scott, as the song changed his life. It was a Top 50 hit on Billboard’s Top 100 singles chart, No. 1 on MTV and led to a five-month North American tour with the Scorpions. “Not sharing it is a crime,” he said about the song. “I’m bringing it to new markets—‘power country.’ It’s got a country twist and transcends generations. My son is sharing it with his friends and they’re going crazy. “The idea that it’s carrying on and people are embracing it is great.” Scott said he coined the term “power country” after attending several country shows and seeing a tie between that genre and metal. “I’ve gone to several country shows— Eric Church, Toby Keith, Brad Paisley,” he said. “All these guys come out playing heavy metal. The crowds are going crazy. There’s a connection between today’s country and heavy metal rock. “I would love for those audiences to

Mark Gus Scott is streaming his new single, a “power country” rendition of Trixter’s “Give It to Me Good,” on his website. (Photo by Pablo Robles)

bridge the gap. That’s where I came up with ‘power country.’ It’s basically country with a kick in the (butt). When you come from New Jersey, you think country music is ‘down south’ and old people listen to it. In the Southwest, there’s a different flavor to it. It’s a little more aggressive.” The demographic is younger, he said. “They still have life,” Scott added. “Country needs a kick in the butt, and I want to give it to them.” His musical ally, Lou Piccadaci, co-produced the song, which takes the listener on a musical journey from country sixstring acoustic to a rockin’ powerhouse hoedown. Piccadaci, who lives in Surprise, defines his value not only as an engineer, but with his superior guitar performance throughout the track. “For the past few years, I got away from rock ‘n roll and made a lot of music that

touched my heart,” Scott said. “But one thing is for sure, I miss rocking and nothing is better than playing music that truly drives you and an audience to throw your hands in the air and dance.” Scott first dabbled with vocals on “With You,” which combines an ’80s-style power ballad piano riff, symphonic orchestration and powerful melodic hooks—a big surprise for one of rock’s most wellknown drummers. “I’ve never sang before,” he said. “I’m not playing just drums. I play all the instruments on the cut, except guitar. I’m a horrible guitar player. “I wanted it done right and I wanted what’s best for the song. That’s more important than me playing all the instruments. I’ve never felt so strongly about putting words down on paper. I was trying to be emotional. I always thought I sucked as a songwriter, but something

clicked, and I felt passionate about it. This one’s right on target.” Both songs are available through Apple iTunes, Amazon Music, Google Music and CD Baby. Autographed CDs can be purchased at MarkGusScott.com. He previously released “Christmas Miracle,” a holiday album that included his version of “Ave Maria.” The video features Scott performing among iconic Washington, D.C., landmarks like the World War II Memorial. He frequently supports veterans by playing taps at cemeteries in New York City and the Valley to honor fallen heroes during Veterans Day and Memorial Day. “The Christmas album was a real deal, adult contemporary Christmas record,” he said. “I thought I should be opening for Bing Crosby. The band was doing ancillary projects. Now I had a focus and I knocked it out of the park. I love the way it came out.” “I’ve done a lot of music, but this power country is sticking with me,” he said. “‘Give It to Me Good’ is the perfect song to show people what I’m really all about. I feel this is going to define the direction I’m going to go on. It’s kind of old gospel or bluegrass with a heavy metal kick to it. I’m bringing it somewhere it hasn’t gone before.”

The parade drum

Scott’s family knew he would be a musician when he was about 7, after his grandmother bought a “big parade drum.” At the same time, his mother gave him his first album, “Elvis’ Golden Hits.” “I turned ‘Hound Dog’ on and I beat the living crap out of that parade drum,” he said with a laugh. “It made me feel wonderful. I broke the drumhead, and I thought, ‘What am I going to do?’ So, I flipped it over and started pounding the other side.”

see SONG page 11

THE FOOTHILLS FOCUS | JUNE 17, 2020 ENTERTAINMENT

SONG from page 10

His first concert was Foreigner on its “Foreigner 4” tour in 1981 at age 13. Immediately, he knew his calling. “When that bass drum busted the waves of the room, I said, ‘OK. I know exactly what I want to do in life.’” As a sophomore in high school, Scott received the NAJE Special Citation for Musical Excellence and was granted admission to the University of Hartford Hartt School of Music. He attended three summers studying piano, drums, trumpet and a curriculum that included jazz, classical, chamber music, rock, music theory and composition. He also put his knowledge to use as a musician/songwriter, and toured high schools and colleges throughout the country as a guest lecturer, teaching and promoting music, DARE and his drum instructional video/teaching method, “Rock Solid.” With Trixter, Scott sold more than 3 million albums worldwide, had three No. 1 videos on MTV, four Top 20 adult-oriented rock hits and hit No. 26 on Billboard album charts. Trixter toured extensively in the United States, Canada and Japan in support of its five major-label releases. They shared stages with Kiss, The Scorpions, Bret Michaels, Poison, Ted Nugent, Night Ranger, Cinderella, Twisted Sister, Dokken, Warrant, Great White and Firehouse. Trixter is on hiatus, which is why this was the perfect time for Scott’s singles. “Some people don’t make the band a priority any longer,” he said. “In any business with four guys, if you all don’t agree on what you’re going to do with the business, the business suffers.” Perhaps Trixter’s most well-known tour was 1991’s “Blood, Sweat and Beers” with Warrant and Firehouse. Next year is the 30th anniversary and Scott is hoping Trixter reunites for it. “It was more successful than we ever thought it would be,” he said. “Warrant had ‘Cherry Pie.’ We had three No. 1 videos on MTV. Firehouse’s ‘Love of a Lifetime’ was just about to break. We just packed them in. Why shouldn’t we celebrate the 30th anniversary? We’re all here. What the hell? Fans ask about it. To not celebrate that, that would be a crime.”

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Moving to Arizona

Scott considers Arizona his home, after living throughout the United States in and out of suitcases on tour. “I was going through a divorce and was very unhappy,” he said. A friend asked him to consider moving to the Valley. “My first day of exploration, I was sold before lunchtime,” Scott explained. “I literally went to breakfast, saw mountains, went over there and knew I was sold. I’ve been here four years and I can’t tell you how much I truly embrace the area. “I can get anywhere in 20 minutes. I’m outside the circle of the 101. It’s more rural. I’m not in the thick of the madness of Phoenix. I look outside every morning and I can breathe. Everything comes alive. It’s quiet—until I make some fricking noise (with music).” Scott has friends in the area, including rock drummer “Wild” Mick Brown, who played with Dokken and Ted Nugent. The two spend their weekends riding motorcycles around Cave Creek. “There’s something very comfortable about doing that just about every weekend,” Scott said. “We do it 52 weeks. It may sound repetitive, but there’s something comfortable about it. We have a special gang of five members. We’re a tight-knit group. It’s a wonderful brotherhood and the motorcycle riding here is the best in the country—there are no potholes.” Scott and Trixter singer Pete Loran record music for video games and movies. “The whole thing started when we were doing sound effects for a video game and I started getting punchy,” Scott said with a laugh. “I pulled out the trumpet from the back of my car and it sounded really good.” First and foremost, Scott is excited for the world to hear his music. “I’ve never felt so strongly about my music,” he said. “I hope fans enjoy it as well.”

Mark Gus Scott markgusscott.com

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‘Simple’ doesn’t define Norterra’s new Italian restaurant BY CHRISTINA FUOCO-KARASINSKI Foothills Focus Executive Editor

ario Rana has high hopes about his new modern Italian restaurant/wine bar, Osteria Mia, in Norterra. But first, he and his wife, Kayla, had to survive the turbulent early 2020. “I didn’t expect it to open during a pandemic,” said the classically trained chef, who specializes in Italian food. “I had to call a lot of audibles and pretty much change everything. I had to change the game plan to survive during this.” The menu was one of the notable changes. Osteria Mia opened during a time when restaurants could only offer take out. Rana had to offer dishes that would stand up when it arrives to a guest’s home. “There are raviolis and pastas that, if people eat them 15, 20 minutes after they get them, they’re going to be soggy,” Rana said. “We had to change to make (heartier) items that will be good for takeout. “Now that we’re open, we’re slowly starting to incorporate things.” The Ranas are focusing on new-school handmade pastas and wood-fired pizzas—with a slight Arizona flair to it. “You will see Southwestern flavors in our food,” Rana said. “We’re doing a lot of the classics, like the bucatini, and just a lot of Italian regional items. We’re doing stuff all the way from Northern Italy down to Sicily. So, we’re not just focusing on one area. We have influences from other regions.” Osteria Mia will serve small plates as well as a build-your-own charcuterie and bruschetta board, and a rotating menu of hand-made pasta and select dried pasta. Vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options are on the docket. It offers daily

Osteria Mia’s Chase Walker prepares a Diablo Pizza. (Photo by Pablo Robles)

pizzas in America,” Rana said. “I mean, that’s a bold statement because there’s some great pizza out here. I think ours is up there. “We make the mozzarella fresh in house. We use high-quality tomatoes and our family’s pizza dough recipe. We actually use beer in our pizza dough because Arizona’s water is gross, and the beer is super filtered.” Rana also enjoys the orecchiette—ear-shaped semolina pasta in a garOsteria Mia’s Mario and Kayla Rana are looking forward to the days when lic parmigiano sauce with Norterra is bustling again. (Photo by Pablo Robles) broccolini, Italian sausage, chilis and oven-roasted toentrée specials such as whole roast- matoes ($16). ed fish, duroc pork chops, wood-fired “That’s definitely my favorite dish,” whole chicken and wine-braised short said Rana, who simply enjoys grilling ribs. pork chops and steaks at home. He calls his signature dish his pizzas, Other pastas on the menu include which range from $14-$17. lupara, red wine-infused rigatoni pas“I think we have some of the best ta; squid ink bucatini; creste di gallo;

tortellini; and gnocci alla Norma, which range from $14-$23. Rana is just doing what he loves. His family, who immigrated from Southern Italy in the 1950s, has opened Italian restaurants and pizzerias in New York City since then. His grandparents moved to Arizona in the 1980s to open Phoenix-based Angelo’s Italian Ice and Gelato. They have dined at Osteria Mia, a visit that wasn’t exactly comfortable. “I was pretty nervous for my grandfather to eat here,” said Rana, whose family owns State 48 Brewery. “He is a little discerning and picky, but actually he loved everything. My parents critiqued the food and I worked on them. It helped me improve the menu.”

Meeting of the minds

Rana said his cooking career was an accident. He moved to the Valley from New York City just before he entered Desert Mountain High School. After graduating, he tried to go to Scottsdale Community College, with the hopes of transferring to ASU, and get out of family business, but it didn’t work. “I did it to pay for college,” he said. “I did it more and more and then I started getting better at it. Once I started actually holding my own, it was OK. I really like doing this. I have a passion for it. I’m the type of person who, whatever I do, I’m going to try to be the best at it.” “I kept on asking her to hang out and she was ignoring me,” he said with a smile. “I ended up hanging out with her and then we ended up getting married a couple of years later. “She has just as much experience as I have. She started working in restaurants when she was 15 also.” Kayla, who brings front-of-house experience, took a break from working when she gave birth to their daughter,

see RESTAURANT page 13

THE FOOTHILLS FOCUS | JUNE 17, 2020

RESTAURANT from page 12

Mia, after whom the eatery is named. (“Osteria” means an Italian restaurant, typically a simple or inexpensive one.) Rana admits it was hard to keep his passion for the restaurant business during the pandemic. “There were times I just wanted to give up and say, ‘Screw it,’” said Rana, who doesn’t require his staff to wear masks. “But I decided to just pivot and do what I can to survive. It was almost a blessing in disguise because we got to start off slower. It was one giant soft opening for the most part. It was a good way to work out the kinks.” The pandemic seems to have softened the moods of the public, too. Rana noticed guests were more lenient and forgiving if an item was running late. “There’s no way to be normal again,” he said. “But when people do start going out a lot more, we’ll be ready. “However, there are still the Karens out there who can get mad over everything. There’s nothing you can do about those people, though.”

The right atmosphere

Rana said his spot in Norterra, near the Harkins Theater, was a good choice. “It’s a great demographic just for what we’re trying to do,” he said. “As far as the wine, we went for a more casual atmosphere. This area is surrounded by chain restaurants and sports bars. What we’re doing is a slightly elevated cuisine and a higher-end atmosphere. We like to open restaurants in areas where there’s not a lot of competition. “You want to be around restaurants or a destination spot. Plus, somebody might be going to Pita Jungle and then see our sign, look at the menu and say, ‘Oh, next time, I want to check out that place.’ We chose this area because we’re right next to the movie theater. This whole corridor is going to have four restaurants—State 48, Pita Jungle, Buffalo Wild Wings and us.” Rana hopes in the fall society will return to its new normal, with people walking around, heading to the movies and to his neighbors’ restaurants.

More than entrées

Osteria Mia also features fresh pasta with which to take home and create dishes. “The dry pasta, we make it with the pasta extruder and then we dry them and bag them so people can take them home to cook,” Rana said. “We teach people how to cook them at home. A lot of people have been buying the pastas, taking pictures of what they made and tagging us on social media.” Even though the pasta is dried, he said it’s super fresh. “I like bringing people joy,” he said about what Osteria Mia offers. “I’m not a narcissist. I just like the fact that they enjoyed something I created. It’s my art form. It’s my art on a plate and people enjoy it. “Plus, I like creating a fun atmosphere. Some of my best friends I’ve met at restaurants. I met my wife at a restaurant. I enjoy being at restaurants. It’s something I like to do. I don’t know what else I would do. I wake up every

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morning and I’m excited to go to work, to try new specials and new ways to do things.” Osteria Mia’s bar boasts an extensive Italian wine selection as well as Arizona wines and varietals from around the world. Happy hour features half-priced glasses of wine, and all day, guests can enjoy wine flights. Looking around at his restaurant, Rana is pleased that so far North Phoenix seems to enjoy it, too. “When we opened the doors, families were coming in. Senior citizens were coming in. Everyone came in and seemed excited to just be out at a restaurant. We’ve been working on this for more than a year and it got pushed back. It’s just nice to see people in here who have already become regulars.” Osteria Mia 2530 W. Happy Valley Road, Phoenix 623-434-4604, osteriamia.com

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Fantasticós adds drive-thru and online ordering BY CONNOR DZIAWURA Foothills Focus Staff Writer

ith the stay-at-home order over and many restaurants trying to return to some semblance of normalcy, while still maintaining safe practices during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, one local establishment is aiming to increase convenience for its customers. Cave Creek’s Fantasticós Mexican Food, which joined the community last year, is doing so with the addition of drive-thru and online ordering. The drive-thru is open from 4 to 10 p.m. daily. Normal restaurant hours are 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. Sundays through Thursdays and 6 a.m. to midnight Fridays and Saturdays. Asked about the decision to incorporate the new features at the family-owned eatery, co-owner Noe Rodriguez said customers have been asking for a drive-thru “since day one.” “It’s how you give a better service to the customers. It’s convenient,” he explained. “Online ordering is very convenient, and a lot of people do it now; it’s very common. And a drive-thru is always more convenient, too. “It’s better for us when we handle more business. Bottom line we’re looking to get more sales.” The drive-thru and online capabilities arguably come at the right time, as many people may still be wary about going out following the end of Gov. Doug Ducey’s stay-at-home order. Though Fantasticós can seat people on-site—albeit 6 feet apart to maintain social distancing—some customers may perhaps prefer more-convenient ordering and pickup methods. “We’ve been really lucky, because in that area where we are, there’s a lot of restaurants that shut down,” Rodriguez said of the pandemic. “So we ended up being one of the few restaurants that were open.” Aside from modifications to ordering, Rodriguez plans to launch some

new seafood items in the near future. While he was quick to dish out some hints of the new offerings, the details are still being worked out—though he said items could launch within the week. “We have a lot of seafood items already, but we’re going to add more cocktails, more ceviche and aguachile, which are seafood dishes that are cool, because a lot of people in summertime, they look for cool things to eat, like shrimp and cocktails and shaved ice and salads,” he explained. “That becomes a big hit.” Rodriguez said he “learned the trade” when he was just 12, assisting his uncle with a chain of Mexican restaurants in San Diego. Since then, he continued on his own journey into restaurant ownership, running joints everywhere from California to Salt Lake City; Las Vegas; and Pocatello, Idaho. Currently, there’s another Fantasticós in Sun Lakes—which Rodriguez noted had success with a drive-thru window. Two more locations tentatively will open next month—one in Wickenburg and one in Fallbrook, California. “What I’ve learned through the years is I try to stay away from the competition so we don’t have to fight for the customers,” Rodriguez said of opening in Cave Creek last year. “So when I noticed that there was no taco shop in town, I go, ‘Man, this is it.’ “There was this big sit-down place, which I don’t compete with; they have full service. Mine is a fast-food joint; people get in-and-out quick service. And that’s how when I saw Cave Creek, I immediately fell in love with it, because there was nothing similar to what we do.” Fantasticós Mexican Food 6554 E. Cave Creek Road, Cave Creek 480-488-255 fantasticosmexican.com

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ARTICLES OF ORGANIZATION HAVE BEEN FILED IN THE OFFICE OF THE ARIZONA CORPORATION COMMISSION FOR I Name: WHAT TUNES YOU ON LLC II The address of the registered office is: 41731 N Rolling Green Way, ANTHEM, AZ, 85086 The name of the Statutory Agent is: United States Corporation Agents, Inc. III Management of the Limited Liability Company is vested in a manager or managers. The names of each person who is a manager and each member who owns a twenty percent or greater interest in the capital or profits of the limited liability company are: MEMBERS: Dana Marie Fossand AND Darryn Gene Fossand, 41731 N Rolling Green Way, ANTHEM, AZ, 85086 Published Foothills Focus, Jun 17, 24, July 1, 2020 / 31275

(including well inspections)

25+ Years in New River

623-465-9355

Mobile

602.319.1089 Licensed • Bonded • Insured COMMERCIAL/RESIDENTIAL

www.beemanbrothersdrilling.com

480-488-3677

CaveCreekWelding.com

Licensed, Bonded & Insured ROC 064267 Major Credit Cards Accepted

Foothills Focus

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No Job Too Big or Small

Residential & Commercial

602-330-6965 NOW TAKING CLASSIFIED ADS OVER THE PHONE! or email: class@timespublications.com Call 480-898-6465 Monday-Friday 8a-5pm

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480-898-6465

Public Notices ARTICLES OF ORGANIZATION HAVE BEEN FILED IN THE OFFICE OF THE ARIZONA CORPORATION COMMISSION FOR I Name: VIGILANT BIM & CONSTRUCTION CONSULTANTS II The address of the registered office is: 606 W Los Corrales Dr, PHOENIX, AZ, 85086 The name of the Statutory Agent is: United States Corporation Agents, Inc. III Management of the Limited Liability Company is vested in a manager or managers. The names of each person who is a manager and each member who owns a twenty percent or greater interest in the capital or profits of the limited liability company are: MEMBER: Nathan Yon Vigil, 606 W Los Corrales Dr, PHOENIX, AZ, 85086. Published Foothills Focus, Jun 10, 17, 24, 2020 / 31144

LIFEGUARD

YOUR CHILD

The more layers of protection you have around water, the safer your child is.

AZCAN

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THE FOOTHILLS FOCUS | JUNE 17, 2020

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N E P O

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Covered RV and Boat Storage Air Conditioned Storage Gated Access Drive-Up Access All Ground Floor storage Individually Alarmed Units Security Camera Surveillance Managers live on site

www.AzStorage.com

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North Valley Assembly of God Church Like an Oasis in the Desert!

Anointed Preaching by

Pastor Scott Thurber Transportation is available to and from church services call 602-521-2568 ASL available for non-hearing during both Sunday Services

Sunday 10:00AM Sunday 6:00PM Wednesday 7:00PM Gospel, Praise and Worship 28660 N Black Canyon Rd. Phoenix AZ 85083 480.280.4631 NorthValleyAG.com Like us on Facebook!

For waters shall burst forth in the wilderness, and streams in the desert. The parched ground shall become a pool, and the thirsty land springs of water. Isaiah 65:6,7