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Around the Bluhmin’ Town PAGE

TheFoothillsFocus.com

INSIDE

This Week

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

New Great Hearts Anthem offers more for students

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

John Postgate is Anthem’s partner in grime

YOUTH.............. 18

Preteen cleaning up with soap products

OPINION.......................9 BUSINESS.................. 13 FEATURES................. 16 YOUTH....................... 18 CLASSIFIEDS............. 20 Zone I

Judge Gerald A. Williams PAGE

Serving the communities of Anthem, Desert Hills, Norterra, Sonoran Foothills, Stetson Valley, Tramonto, New River, Desert Ridge and North Phoenix

Anthem Area Edition

Wednesday, June 29, 2022

Anthem celebrates Independence Day BY ALLISON BROWN Foothills Focus Staff Writer

he Anthem Community Council is hosting its 22nd annual free Independence Day celebration Sunday, July 3, at the Community Park with fun, food, dancing and, of course, fireworks. Debbie Pulido, special events manager for the Anthem Community Council, said the event kicks off at 5:30 p.m. and concludes at 9:30. Upon arrival, guests can enjoy wet and dry rides, inflatables, a food court, beer garden, as well as music and dancing with a DJ. There will also be a glitter tattoo station, a glow vendor and roaming entertainers at the event. Wristbands are required for all rides and can be purchased for $20. The wristbands will be available on-site, but Pulido said they will also be available in advance at the community center

or civic building in order to save time and limit lines. “They’re good for all-you-can-ride dry inflatables and wet ride inflatables,” Pulido said. “They can ride them as much as they want, so the earlier the kids get there, the more time they have to ride. And we do like to remind people not to forget their bathing suits, because a lot of people show up and want to ride the rides and they’re in normal street clothes, so it kind of helps to have some attire they can wear in the water.” For those looking for a little more relaxation and less action, they can take advantage of the full food court that will be available on Softball Field No. 4. “We’ll have our typical festival food like barbecue and hot dogs and hamburgers,” Pulido said. “We’ll have frybread, tacos, Mexican —

see CELEBRATIONS page 4

A DJ will provide music for entertainment and dancing. (Anthem Community Council/Submitted)

“The American Heart Association is sort of the national gold standard as far as cardiac care,” said Assistant Chief Dan Jarrett, who is responsible for the Medical Services Division of the Daisy Mountain Fire District. “They develop proper CPR certifications and cardiac treatment certifications and protocols for EMS care that we refer to and use. … We’ve received this award now for six years straight and so we’re at the Gold Plus level now, which

is the highest award that American Heart issues as far as EMS standards as it pertains to cardiac care.” Each year, more than 250,000 people experience a type of heart attack known as an ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), caused by a blockage of blood flow to the heart that requires timely treatment. To pre-

Daisy Mountain Fire & Medical nationally recognized

BY ALLISON BROWN Foothills Focus Staff Writer

aisy Mountain Fire & Medical has received the American Heart Association’s Mission: Lifeline EMS Gold Plus achievement award for its commitment to offering rapid, research-based care to people experiencing a heart attack, ultimately saving lives.

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NEWS

THE FOOTHILLS FOCUS | THEFOOTHILLSFOCUS.COM | JUNE 29, 2022

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 ADVERTISING DEPARTMENT Display Advertising: 480-348-0343 Classifieds/Inside Sales: Elaine Cota | 480-898-7926 | ecota@timeslocalmedia.com TJ Higgins | 480-898-5902 | tjhiggins@timeslocalmedia.com Steve Insalaco | 480-898-5635 | sinsalaco@timeslocalmedia.com Advertising Office Manager: Tricia Simpson | 480-898-5624 tsimpson@timeslocalmedia.com Director of National Advertising Zac Reynolds | 480-898-5603 | zac@timeslocalmedia.com NEWS DEPARTMENT Executive Editor: Christina Fuoco-Karasinski | 480-898-5631 christina@timeslocalmedia.com Design: Nathalie Proulx | nproulx@timeslocalmedia.com Production Coordinator: Courtney Oldham | 480-898-5617 production@timeslocalmedia.com Circulation Director: Aaron Kolodny | 480-898-5641 customercare@timeslocalmedia.com

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The event will have numerous slides, inflatables and wet and dry rides. (Anthem Community Council/Submitted)

CELEBRATIONS from page 1

we’ll just have a whole variety of things, including dessert. … Then we also have the Rotary Beer Garden that will be there selling beer and margaritas.” Guests are also welcome to bring their own food and nonalcoholic beverages to the park, with the exception of the fenced field areas. Pulido said it is recommended that everyone bring their own chairs and blankets as well. Starting at 9 p.m., the fireworks show will immediately follow the singing of the national anthem by Carisa Frisby, an Anthem resident who won a contest to be this year’s singer. Pulido said the fireworks display is about 20 minutes long. According to Pulido, about 15,000 people attend the Independence Day celebration, making it the largest annual event in the Anthem Community Park. In order for everything to run smoothly, the Anthem Community Council works closely with local law

Fireworks will start after the national anthem is sung at 9 p.m. Sunday, July 3. (Nate Decker/Submitted)

enforcement, the Daisy Mountain Fire & Medical and the Maricopa County Department of Transportation. The fireworks are strictly overseen by the fire department and launched by a professional pyrotechnician to ensure safety. “We do encourage people to come and join the community event and come see the fireworks, either at the park or watch them from home, being that this is high fire season or right now,” Pulido said. “It is a pull on our fire department, so if everybody were to just focus on the community fireworks, rather than doing them at home, that might be a safer way to enjoy the Fourth of July.” Event parking is available in the upper and lower parking lots at the community park, but Pulido said those spots tend to fill up quickly. For overflow parking, guests can go to Boulder Creek High School. The community center parking lot will be closed, as that is where the fireworks will be launched. In addition, a traffic control plan will be in

place that closes off Freedom Way from Anthem Way to Whitman Drive to vehicles and pedestrians as early as 2 p.m. because that is in the fallout zone for the fireworks. Some amenities such as the skate park, community center lap pool, diving well, Big Splash Water Park and pickleball courts will close at 2 p.m. the day of the event. A full list of closures and restrictions can be found on the Anthem Community Council’s website. This year’s Independence Day celebration is sponsored by Judge Gerald Williams, state Rep. Joseph Chaplik, Republic Services, Renewal by Anderson, AZ Family Dentists and DLC Resources. Anthem Independence Day Celebration

WHEN: 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. Sunday, July 3 WHERE: Community Park, 41703 N. Gavilan Peak Parkway COST: Free INFO: onlineatanthem.com

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NEWS

RECONGNITION from page 1

vent death, it is critical to restore blood flow as quickly as possible by either mechanically opening the blocked vessel or using clot-busting medication. That’s where EMS teams come in. “Every minute that a patient’s heart is not receiving oxygen is causing permanent damage to the heart,” Jarrett said. “There’s a saying in cardiology that time is a muscle — the sooner we can get that heart vessel opened up and get the heart muscle reperfused, we’re saving that muscle and hopefully keeping the patient from having congestive heart failure down the road.” Mission: Lifeline is the American Heart Association’s national initiative to advance the system of care for patients with highrisk, time-sensitive disease states, such as severe heart attacks. The program aims to help reduce barriers to prompt treatment for heart attacks — starting from when 911 is called to EMS transport and continuing through hospital treatment and discharge. Jarrett explained the step-by-step pro-

THE FOOTHILLS FOCUS | THEFOOTHILLSFOCUS.COM | JUNE 29, 2022

cess of Daisy Mountain Fire & Medical’s response when someone calls 911 with chest pain. A fire truck is sent to every EMS call, because all of the trucks at Daisy Mountain are ALS units, meaning that at least two of the four crew members are parademics. When the crew arrives, they will put a 12lead EKG on the patient. The EKG provides 12 different views of the heart, measures electrical signals produced by the heartbeat and reflects those signals in a waveform. The paramedics have to be able to read and interpret the EKG to detect if the patient is having an acute heart attack. “Then, that triggers a number of things to happen. And that’s part of what American Heart is measuring as far as their data collection is: Do our crews recognize someone that’s having chest pain, do they put on a 12-lead EKG and do they do that 12 lead within a five-minute window of getting on the scene?” Jarrett explained. “From there, if the patient is actually having a ST-segment heart attack, then we do an early notification to the hospital that allows the hospital to get ready to receive the patient, call in the team and fire up their cath lab.”

Daisy Mountain Fire Department Assistant Chief Dan Jarrett said it is a huge honor to receive the Gold Plus award from the American Heart Association. (Daisy Mountain Fire District/Submitted) He added that communication is critical in these situations. The paramedics can actually call the hospital straight from the EKG machine to alert them, and then it’s “lights and sirens” to get the patient there as soon as possible. Where the patient is taken is an important factor, too. A patient having a STEMI needs to be taken to the closest cardiac

center, which, for Daisy Mountain, is usually HonorHealth Deer Valley. According to Jarrett, Daisy Mountain Fire & Medical has been working with that cardiac center for so long that they have an excellent and efficient working relationship. He said the doctors trust that Daisy Mountain paramedics have correctly read the EKG, so the paramedics are able to put the patient on the gurney, wheel them past the emergency room and straight into the cath lab. “Because of that process that we’ve established over time, these patients are able to walk out of the hospital versus being in a wheelchair the rest of their life or being on oxygen the rest of their life or even just surviving the event when otherwise they wouldn’t have,” Jarrett said. About 85% of all emergency calls are actually for medical issues, according to Jarrett , which is why crews are continually training to make sure they understand the protocols and benchmark times. Jarrett said it is an honor to receive this award from the American Heart Association, and it shows the community that Daisy Mountain Fire and Medical is on the cutting edge of cardiac care.

NEWS

THE FOOTHILLS FOCUS | THEFOOTHILLSFOCUS.COM | JUNE 29, 2022

New Great Hearts Anthem offers more for students BY ALLISON BROWN Foothills Focus Staff Writer

he walls are up and floors are down for the Great Hearts Anthem school, which will have new amenities and more space to serve approximately 1,000 K-12 students. The new school is located at 3950 W. Arroyo Norte Drive. The groundup build will be larger than the previous building at approximately 82,000 square feet. Upon completion, Great Hearts will move the students from the current Anthem Prep Academy to its new location on 10 acres of land. The new Anthem site is approximately 2 miles from the school’s current location, and it just needs the finishing touches to be ready in time for the first day of school Tuesday, Aug. 16. Zackary Withers, headmaster of Anthem Prep grades 6-12, and Teresa Clark, headmaster of Archway Classi-

The new Great Hearts Anthem location will allow for about 250 more students as well as new and improved amenities. (Great Hearts/Submitted) cal grades K-5, said they are thrilled with the progress and can’t wait for the school year to get underway. “It’s so exciting. It’s the best thing ever,” Clark said during her first walkthrough of the nearly completed building. “We’ve been looking over the plans for so long, and now we don’t have to just use our imagina-

Zackary Withers, headmaster of Anthem Prep grades 6-12, and Teresa Clark, headmaster of Archway Classical grades K-5 see their new office space for the first time. (Great Hearts/Submitted)

tion. We’ve got actual walls, and it’s all coming together.” Great Hearts Archway Classical Academy Anthem has 344 students in K-5, and Great Hearts Anthem Preparatory Academy has nearly 450 students in grades 6-12. The new building will allow for about 250 more students. The new two-story school building includes a large gym, football/soccer field, lab rooms, special education classrooms, two libraries, additional classrooms and increased office space for staff. “What’s so exciting is that we’ll have more space to serve more students and then more amenities to better serve those students,” Withers said. “That’s kind of the big picture, and then that comes out in various ways. We have a bigger multi-purpose room so we can have more performances here and we don’t have all the conflicts like we did at the old location, and we can also have more student body in here for assemblies and so on.” The new building will also have some amenities that the old building didn’t have at all, like a football/soccer field, libraries and a separate space for the drama stage, which Withers said will be a huge advantage. He said having their own field means that teams can actually play home games at home for the first time. As for libraries, Withers said they just had to make do with bookshelves in the classrooms. While the old school did have a drama stage, it was located in the gym, which creat-

ed numerous scheduling conflicts. “In the gym we just fight for space,” Withers said about the old school. “The church is in there primarily, so the church has their altar set up on the stage all the time. Then that’s also where we have PE and that’s where we have all our practices. So, to shift it in here, there will be so many fewer conflicts with our arts department, which is great.” The old Great Hearts Anthem location was never meant to be a permanent home, and as the school continued to grow, it became clear that it needed to find a larger facility to better accommodate students. Withers said things were getting cramped there and added that one of the things he is most excited about in the new building is just having a little more breathing room. “I know for both students and faculty, they’re really excited about the bigger hallways,” he said. “It sounds like a small thing, but right now, when you walk down the hallway (in the old building) you’re just stuck there for a few minutes as it gets going because it’s only 7 feet from locker to locker. Now we have 2 more feet to work with, so even just that is great.” Great Hearts is a nonprofit network of tuition-free public charter schools dedicated to improving education nationwide through classical preparatory K-12 academies with a focus on the liberal arts. Its motto is “verum, pulchrum, bonum,” which means “truth, goodness and beauty.” Great Hearts operates 22 academies across the Phoenix metro area, has an online schooling option, and is opening a new location in Buckeye this year as well. Clark said Great Hearts Anthem is still accepting applications for new students, though spots are currently filled. “Enrollment goes through the summer,” Clark said. “People are getting put on the waitlist at this point, but we still encourage them because there’s sometimes movement throughout the summer.” For more information, go to anthemprep.greatheartsamerica.org.

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THE FOOTHILLS FOCUS | THEFOOTHILLSFOCUS.COM | JUNE 29, 2022

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OPINION

THE FOOTHILLS FOCUS | THEFOOTHILLSFOCUS.COM | JUNE 29, 2022

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AROUND THE BLUHMIN’ TOWN

Shopping has become a scavenger hunt BY JUDY BLUHM Foothills Focus Columnist

hortages. Our new reality. If we could only figure out what is next to be delayed, out of stock or unavailable, it might help us plan our lives. Instead, we have entered the chaotic world of uncertainty. Just yesterday we were hunting for toilet paper. We couldn’t find a noodle or bean anywhere. Fast forward, and now parents are desperate for baby formula. Appliances are on back

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order. Cement? Try to get it. And products like eggs and certain coffee creamers are hard to find. Our convenient lifestyle has been replaced by shopping scavenger hunts and long delays. Supply chain madness? China shutting down factories? Our own manufacturing mess-ups? What the heck is happening? It is hard to believe that the airlines canceled or delayed about 10,000 flights in one weekend because of weather, staffing shortages and lack of pilots. Well, weather is

one thing. But where are the TSA agents? Pilots, please come back because we need you! The passengers face not only inconvenience, long lines and missed connections, but heartbreaking disappointment. The daughter that cannot get to her father’s bedside before he passes; the grandparents that miss their granddaughter’s wedding; the honeymoon that is postponed; the cruise ship that is missed; the family that can’t make it to their parent’s golden anniversary party. People’s lives have been

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The pods of summer can drive you crazy BY J.D. HAYWORTH Foothills Focus Columnist

rizona and Ancient Greece are separated by thousands of years and thousands of miles, but there is one task that makes Greek mythology an Arizona reality in this modern age and season. It is found in an annual duty that takes many new desert dwellers by surprise, fresh from their boasts to friends who remain in colder winter climes. Be honest… how many times have you taunted friends still living in Chicago, Minneapolis or Omaha with this articulation of the obvious: “We don’t have to shovel sunshine when it’s wintertime in the desert!” True enough, but another seasonal assertion fails the credibility test. It goes something like this: “And another thing… we don’t need rakes in

the desert because there are no falling autumn leaves.” But many newcomers soon discover that they need at least one rake… and maybe a few more. Fall may not bring falling leaves, but summer certainly brings falling pods… at least for homeowners who choose to plant mesquite trees on their property. And because of that fateful decision, those property owners soon discover that they have sentenced themselves to seemingly ceaseless summer days with rake-in-hand, gathering pods-onground. Age and circumstance provide an interesting paradox in the human condition. School kids, when engaged in the routine of academic pursuits, find themselves gazing out classroom windows, imagining their post-educational “classroom-free” future. Adults, engaged in age-appropriate “respon-

sible-but-not-enjoyable” tasks, find themselves recalling lessons from their school days, freeing their minds from the physical drudgery in which they’re involved. Personal experience, amidst the picking-up-of-the-pods, prompted a recollection of the fate of Sisyphus. If you’re in need of a brief refresher on this particular figure in Greek mythology, here ’tis: Sisyphus was a king and because he cheated death twice, Zeus punished him by forcing Sisyphus to roll a huge boulder up a hill — only to see it roll down each time it neared the top — and to repeat that action for all eternity. Okay, okay, so picking up mesquite pods isn’t an eternal fate… it only seems that way. Visitors, be advised: in the Arizona desert, those “lazy, hazy crazy days of summer” aren’t lazy or hazy… but if you have mesquite trees, they will

drive you a little crazy. The above is offered as a “public service” for those considering a move here. But in research conducted exclusively for this column, a constructive

see HAYWORTH page 12

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OPINION

THE FOOTHILLS FOCUS | THEFOOTHILLSFOCUS.COM | JUNE 29, 2022

State lawmakers’ drag queen obsession is a drag

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e live in dangerous times for children in Arizona. In 2020, 838 children died in our state, including 53 kids murdered and 49 lost to suicide. Firearms were to blame in 51 of these fatalities. Fentanyl claimed 57 young lives. In all, substance use was indicated in 157 child deaths. Have no fear, though. Last week, Arizona Senate Republicans trumpeted their decision to join “several other states by working on legislation that would prohibit minors from attending drag shows.” A snippet from their press release’s money quote: “One of the reasons why we were elected as lawmakers by our constituents was to protect family values. … We will be damned if we won’t fight like hell to protect the most innocent from these horrifying and disturbing trends that are spreading across the nation now that extremist Democrats are currently in control of our federal government.” Guess I missed the press conference where President Biden glammed up as Joy Riden and ushered in America’s Great 21st Century Drag Age. At the risk of injecting some reality into a story that reads like a lousy “Footloose” knockoff, there are in fact a tiny handful of events where children, accompanied by their parents, might be exposed to drag queens doing “horrifying and disturbing” stuff like reading aloud from Maurice Sendak’s “Where The Wild Things Are.” There’s Drag Story Hour Arizona, a nonprofit that promotes monthly “children’s story hours,” where “we generally read 3-5 stories, sing/dance to music, and end our time with a clean craft for kids to take home. All of our performers and volunteers are background checked and anyone reading to children goes through specialized literacy training.” There also was a June 3 event at the Heard Museum — the museum’s first

Native American drag show — where indigenous performers with names like Pyraddictionn and Tomahawk Martini performed before a crowd that apparently included some kids and parents. And in May a Tucson high school held a drag show featuring students from the school’s LGBTQ+ student club. It all sounds relatively tame to me. And like an attendance decision best left to parents and kids, the way we do with things like R-rated movies, which kids can stream alongside porn on those cell phones they seem to get at about age seven these days. Even so, the rise of the drag queens had gubernatorial candidate Kari Lake screeching on Twitter about an omnipotent evil “they,” as in, “They kicked God out of schools and welcomed the Drag Queens.” Hilariously, Lake made national news a day later, when she was outed as a drag queen bestie by her former pal, Phoenix drag icon Barbara Seville. Seville accused Lake of hypocrisy not only for attending multiple drag shows, but for hosting Seville at her house to perform at parties, including with Lake’s young daughter in attendance. It all made for great amateur theater,

see LEIBOWITZ page 12

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OPINION

BLUHM from Page 9

THE FOOTHILLS FOCUS | THEFOOTHILLSFOCUS.COM | JUNE 29, 2022

in droves. We seem to be continually short of food workers. Half of all public pools are closed due to lack of lifeguards. Where is everybody? We have inflation, maybe heading toward a recession, so the argument that people just don’t want to work cannot be true! There is an exodus of essential workers, like police officers, teachers and health care providers. Some complain of rough working conditions, lack of the public’s support, low wages and high stress. Their mass departure would result in a much bigger problem than not being able to find our favorite brand of coffee creamer. Oh, mighty potato, a staple in American pantries, where art thou? We miss your golden goodness. Please come back soon. Sriracha sauce? Look forward to a dull, mild summer since the Huy Fong Co. said there is a failed chili pepper harvest. Yikes, ladies, there is tampon

shortage, and this is barely fit to print! What now? The options are daunting. Some things you just cannot substitute. As for eggs, chickens and turkeys, we might consider getting a few backyard critters to see us through these weird times. If you are living in a HOA, this might be tricky though. I went to the store to buy a jar of sweet pickles. Why would something so ordinary (but necessary in potato salad) be completely missing from the shelves? Maybe I will get my favorite salad dressing. Nope. Out of stock. An elderly lady started crying in the grocery store aisle when she couldn’t find one bottle of distilled water, required for her husband’s C PAP breathing machine. Traveling or shopping? Try to stay strong. Please don’t cry. Judy Bluhm is a writer and a local Realtor. Have a comment or a story? Email Judy at judy@judybluhm.com.

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use for mesquite pods has been discovered, which may strike you as a bit cra…ahem…different. An October 2009 article from the Associated Press, still found on the website of “The Christian Science Monitor,” heralds the culinary value of mesquite pods, saying that in the Southwest, they’re a “tasty treat.” It goes on to claim that they are “now being added to smoothies, breads and pancakes.” Prominently mentioned in the 2009 AP story is the Tucson-based group, “Desert Harvesters,” or DH, as the organization calls itself. A visit to the DH website reveals updated language that is certainly palatable to the “politically correct.” While acknowledging the help of area tribes and thanking them for access to traditional homelands, Desert Harvesters also “acknowledges our on-going commitment to un-learn and help change colonial behaviors.” But apparently no serious effort has

been made to “un-learn” the colonial behavior of promoting commerce. A link to the DH virtual store promotes a cookbook for the “pre-order special price” of $35, and also invites the seriously committed to take one-hour “group walks” for up to a dozen people and costing $150. There are discounts for “nonprofit organizations and indigenous people purchasing for educational purposes.” The noble purposes of the Desert Harvesters, despite a rhetorical seasoning that is heavily “woke,” may soon receive wider circulation. If supply lines continue to slow and food shortages become a reality in this country, mesquite pods may soon find a use in a kitchen near you. But if you believe that argument can be advanced while the pods are still falling and store shelves remain fairly well-stocked, you might as well look for beachfront property in Yuma — roll a heavy boulder up a steep hill time and again in truly Sisyphean fashion.

not unlike a drag show. But that’s our politics now: our elected Neros fiddling and tweeting away while all around them the state, the economy and the culture go up like the Pipeline Fire on a windy afternoon. Nothing I’ve witnessed at a drag show — yup, I’ve been — or on “Rupaul’s Drag Race: Untucked” is any more risque than your average trip to the apartment

complex swimming pool or the beach in Rocky Point or Coronado. And I’ll guarantee you every weekend exponentially more Arizona kids go to the movies or stream violent, over-sexualized Hollywood crap than will witness Tess Ticular read “Hop On Pop” between now and the end of time. Meanwhile, those we elect are busy creating solutions in search of problems. At least it’s entertaining. Otherwise, it would be a total … drag.

LEIBOWITZ from Page 11

How to get a letter published E-mail: christina@TimesLocalMedia.com

The Foothills Focus welcomes letters that express readers’ opinion on current topics. Letters must include the writer’s full name, address (including city) and telephone number. The Foothills Focus will print the writer’s name and city of residence only. Letters without the requisite identifying information will not be published. Letters are published in the order received, and they are subject to editing. The

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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.

BUSINESS

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John Postgate is Anthem’s partner in grime BY CHRISTINA FUOCO-KARASINSKI Foothills Focus Executive Editor

ohn Postgate was walking through his Anthem neighborhood when he and his daughter smelled something unpleasant. “We were walking one afternoon after trash day and everyone’s bins were out,” Postgate said. “It smelled awful. I started looking in the bins to see if they were empty and they were. They were just gross.” So, he quit his job and eight months ago co-founded, with ven-

John Postgate’s Anthem Bin Cleaners saves water, time and the environment. (Cassandra Tomei/ Submitted)

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ture capitalist Bruce Hogan, Anthem Bin Cleaners. The business cleans trash and recycle bins, driveways and sidewalls and pool decks. “This kind of business is really starting to grow — especially in the hotter states,” said Postgate, who moved to Anthem four years ago. “It’s very popular in Texas and Florida. There are a few other companies here in town, but nobody is servicing our area.” Anthem Bin Cleaners covers New River, Happy Valley, Anthem, North Phoenix and Cave Creek.

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S LASS C “We’re stillEpretty S! new, but it’s SIsoZ far,” gone well he said. “Nobody

knows this really exists, but it’s a great service to have. Once people get their bins cleaned, they want to continue the service. It gets rid of germs, too.” The company offers several packages for up to two bin — $25 a month; $30 every other month; $45 quarterly or $65 for a one-time service. He recommends the monthly service for families larger than four who also have dogs. Deodorizing services are available, too. Postgate usually performs the service the day after trash pickup when the bins are empty. The company also uses 90% less water than customers who choose to clean the bins with a hose. “If you want to do it yourself, you’re going to spend two hours doing it, use 100 gallons of water and pour a bunch of chemicals into the

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“We’re much more efficient. We’re not dumping a bunch of chemicals, either. It’s all self-contained in the trailer. We’re a green business. With water being scarce, this is great.” Postgate has only lived in Anthem for a handful of years, his family relocated there after he graduated Shadow Mountain High School. He attended NAU but graduated from ASU with a degree in biology. Postgate and his wife, Chanelle, have two children, Aisley, 10, and Remington, 2. “I love everything that makes Anthem Anthem,” he said. “It’s nice to be accepted in the community. I know I’m doing a weird thing, but people like it. I’m known as the ‘trash guy’ and that’s fine with me.”

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Our Declaration of Independence remains relevant BY JUDGE GERALD A. WILLIAMS North Valley Justice of the Peace

atural law refers to a belief that legal and moral principles come, not from governments, but instead from ethical standards, that are often divinely inspired, as to what is right and as to what is wrong. Perhaps the best statement of natural law is contained within the most familiar passages of our Declaration of Independence: “When in the course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to

assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the laws of nature and of nature’s God entitle them … We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness — that to secure these rights, governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed …” This was and remains a fairly radical statement. It means that there are certain undisputed truths. These include a truth that everyone is created equal and has certain rights that no government

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can take away. Instead, governments exist to support those rights. Just as important, our government only has authority in areas where people have given it that authority. Still, there is an obvious problem. It is impossible to reconcile the principles of Jeffersonian democracy with slavery. Nevertheless, despite this perpetual contradiction, any argument that our nation was founded on slavery is not well grounded. The United States was founded on principles of liberty and self-rule. We failed to enforce those principles uniformly then. Sometimes we do so now, but the principles remain noble. Historical events seldom take an obvious path. When, in retrospect, there appears to have been obvious actions to take, those actions are frequently unseen by the people actually living through the events at the time. In his Fourth of July radio address in 1983, President Ronald Reagan noted the miracle that is the United States. “It’s easy to forget just what a revolution these Americans made. It’s easy to forget how they amazed the world and how many hopes they raised. “All over the world, millions and mil-

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Likability is an asset we must access CHURCH COMMUNITY CONNECTION

Pastor Ed Delph Foothills Focus Columnist

ave you noticed that some people are naturally likable? They find it easy. Other people may not possess the intangible of likability, but with a bit of work can be just as likable as those who find it easy. Consider the story below. “I ran short of money while visiting my brother and borrowed $50 from him. After returning home, I wrote him a short letter every few weeks, enclosing a $5 check in each one. He called me and told me how much he enjoyed the letters, regardless of the money; I had never written regularly before. Eventually, I sent off a letter and the last $5 dollar check. In my mailbox the next week, I found an envelope from my brother. Inside the envelope was another $50.” Likability can be as simple as that. I understand not everyone likes to be likable, which isn’t very likable. But this article is for those who want to grow in likability. Let’s increase your probability of likeability. Our whole world could use a dose of likeability right now. Likeability is contagious. Be a carrier and a courier. When I say likability, I’m not talking about an ego-driven, dominant person wanting to control others or some needy, self-absorbed person searching for significance by manipulation. That type of behavior repels people unless they wish to use these types of people for their agendas. Instead, I’m talking about likability with honor. That is where people like and respect you for just being you. Likability is centered on others, not ourselves. Here are some excerpts of suggestions about likability from life coach Jonathan Wells. There’s nothing new about these suggestions. It’s applying the suggestions that

unleash likeability. Watch your life transform once these suggestions turn into habits. Habits are the only servants that will work for you for nothing. The first suggestion that unleashes likeability is learning to say “please” and “thank you.” The Bible says love is not rude. People turn off rude people. So, when you want something, say “please.” When someone does something nice for you, say “thank you.” You can’t turn people on if they want to turn you off. Second, follow the golden rule. Jesus said it: treat others the way you want to be treated. There would be no murder, no gossip, no backbiting or stealing if everyone applied this. Then people can spend time going forward rather than unpacking emotional baggage from being treated wrongly. Peter DeVries said, “We are not primarily put on this earth to see through one another but to see one another through.” Third, work and cooperate with others toward a common goal or the common good. “Help someone… just because.” That means no agenda. Make it easier for others at the grocery store by getting your cart out of the aisle. Work with them, not against them. So many people in today’s world are like two peeves in a pod. William Ward says, “Raised voices lower esteem. Hot tempers cool friendships. Loose tongues stretch truth. Swelled heads shrink influence. Sharp words dull respect.” The fourth suggestion is to smile often. Smiling elevates your mood and lifts the spirits of those people at whom you smile. If you don’t believe me, try this little experiment. Before you say a word to anyone for an entire day, smile first; notice their reaction. Most will smile back. Another smile starts most smiles. Smiling also increases your face value. It’s like a free facelift. The fifth suggestion is saying, “I’m

sorry.” If you wrong someone, make a mistake or hurt another person (intentionally or unintentionally), apologize for it. Don’t justify or play the blame game. Don’t allow your shame to cause you to blame. Please cancel the subscription of your issues to others. It’s better for you and them. Accept the blame but not the shame. The sixth suggestion to be more likable is to be a good listener. It’s not always easy, but listening tells others that you are genuinely interested in them as a person, and who doesn’t like that? Skillfully listening is the best remedy for loneliness, loquaciousness (too talkative) and laryngitis. Complimenting others is the seventh suggestion for likeability. Have you ever received an unexpected compliment? A sincere compliment can be very encouraging in a world that tends to be overly critical. Arthur Fettig said, “It takes courage to speak a sincere compliment. It is easy to complain and criticize because you are upset and your anger motivates you, but stand up and call a good job a good job. You cannot possibly make another person as happy as you are by complimenting another.” My final suggestion for likeability is to laugh. Laughing releases endorphins that make you feel happy and relaxed. When you laugh, you will also be encouraging laughter from others. When you contribute to the happiness of others, they can’t help but like you. W. Grant Lee said, “Shared laughter creates a bond of friendship. When people laugh together, they cease to be young and old, master and pupils, worker and employer. Instead, they become a single group of human beings, enjoying their existence. There you go. Likeability is a positive, God-given life skill that unleashes and uplifts other people’s day and your day. Likeability is yours; take it.

Ed Delph is a noted author of 10 books, as well as a pastor, teacher, former business owner and speaker. He has traveled extensively, having been to more than 100 countries. He is president of NationStrategy, a nonprofit organization involved in uplifting and transforming communities worldwide. For more information, see nationstrategy.com. He may be contacted at nationstrategy@cs.com.

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YOUTH

Youth TheFoothillsFocus.com

THE FOOTHILLS FOCUS | THEFOOTHILLSFOCUS.COM | JUNE 29, 2022

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

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Preteen cleaning up with soap products BY CHRISTINA FUOCO-KARASINSKI Foothills Focus Executive Editor

hen the pandemic forced Stevie Gillies to attend school virtually, her father thought it would be fun to experiment with creating soap. “My friends and family liked it and they encouraged us to sell it,” said Stevie, an 11-year-old Anthem Prep student who lives in Cave Creek. With the help of her parents, Steve and Teri Gillies, Stevie caught the entrepreneurial bug and together they founded Stevie’s Handmade LLC.

She has been selling her handcrafted, artisan soaps at local farmers markets and fairs for two years. Some of her signature scenes are apple shea butter; marshmallow and vanilla latte; charcoal and shaved cedar; juniper and sage; orange crush; shaved cedar; coffee bar; pink lady apple; birch and juniper; lavender; strawberry; mango and papaya and coconut lime. Terri said her daughter’s shyness has abided some since she started her business. “The best thing has been watching

see SOAP page 19

Stevie Gillies started making soaps after having to swtich to virtual school during the pandemic. (David Minton/Staff Photographer)

Stevie’s Handmade soaps can be found at local farmers markets and fairs. (David Minton/Staff Photographer)

THE FOOTHILLS FOCUS | THEFOOTHILLSFOCUS.COM | JUNE 29, 2022

YOUTH

Stevie Gillies’s parents said she has done everything herself and they are proud of what she’s accomplished. (David Minton/Staff Photographer)

Stevie Gillies is an 11-year-old entrepreneur who, with the help of her parents, Steve and Teri Gillies, founded Stevie’s Handmade L.L.C. (David Minton/Staff Photographer)

SOAP from page 18

her confidence take off,” said Terri, an analyst at PXG. “She loves the farmers markets. Everybody’s been so supportive. Her confidence has grown, and she’s come out of her shell a little bit. She loves doing it. It’s fun for her and it’s been great overall.” Stevie’s Handmade LLC has also taught the preteen practical math skills, and the value of money and being creative.

“She lights up talking about her soap,” said Steve, a motorcycle mechanic. “She loves telling people about it, her favorite scents and the soap that moisturizes best. This is all her. If she wants to stop tomorrow, we’re done. But we’re proud of her.” Stevie’s Handmade

stevieshandmade@gmail.com Facebook: @stevieshandmade

STUDENT CHRONICLES

Know a student doing something remarkable? Tell us about it! Email christina@TimesLocalMedia.com. BY FOOTHILLS FOCUS STAFF

Megan Zapp of Phoenix was named to the spring dean’s list at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in Lincoln, Nebraska. Zapp is a freshman majoring in psychology. More than 6,200 students at Nebraska were named to the dean’s list for the spring semester. Madeline Begalke of Anthem was named to the president’s list at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio. Miami University students who are ranked in the top three percent of undergraduate students within each division for the spring

semester 2021-22 have been named to the president’s list recognizing academic excellence. She is earning a Bachelor of Science in business degree in information systems and analytics, supply chain and operations management.

Faith Chadwick of Phoenix made the dean’s list at DeSales University in Center Valley, Pennsylvania. She is majoring in medical studies. To qualify for dean’s list, a student must have a minimum 3.50 GPA on no fewer than 12 credit hours. DeSales University is a private, coeducational, four-year liberal arts Salesian, Catholic university, under the leadership of the Oblates of St. Francis de Sales.

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How to Practice Interviewing employment fate. They’re likely to ask you about previous experience in the field, what brought you to this job opening, and things you’d like to accomplish were you to get the job. Determine what your answers will be in advance, and make sure you’re ready to put your best foot forward.

REFINE YOUR ANSWERS

Your answers should be limited to a few sentences for each question so that the interview can proceed. Rehearsing alone is a good place to start, but nothing beats personal interaction. Ask a friend to sit in for a mock interview, with a provided list of talking points. This will help you further refine your answers, as they

Interviewing can be stressful, in particular if you’re worried about misspeaking. The good news is that there are often standard questions involved with these discussions, meaning you have an opportunity to refine your answers before going face-to-face with someone who will decide your

TRY A MOCK INTERVIEW

ask follow up questions. You can also work on eye contact.

than having an upbeat point of view.

FOCUS ON ATTITUDE

There is more than one interviewing style, so it’s important to be nimble. Some hiring managers are interested in thoughtful, more detailed conversations, while others may be cut and dry. They’ll only ask a few general questions, then move on to the next person. The most successful candidates can “read the room,” quickly ascertaining what’s required. You’ll need to craft your answers according to these expectations in real time. No matter the interviewing style, remember to make your responses short and to the point. You can chat more after you’re hired.

There’s an old saying: “You never get a second chance to make a first impression.” Looking the part and meeting the job requirements won’t secure the job if you don’t have the right attitude. Job recruiters are looking for enthusiastic, collaborative candidates, in particular if you are going to be in a public-facing position or placed in a leadership role. Don’t disparage your last boss, or talk dismissively of previous tasks you’ve been charged with. Sometimes the difference between getting hired and getting overlooked is nothing more

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THE FOOTHILLS FOCUS | THEFOOTHILLSFOCUS.COM | JUNE 29, 2022

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