The Foothills Focus 072022 Zone 1 by Times Media Group

Pastor Ed Delph PAGE

TheFoothillsFocus.com

INSIDE

This Week

NEWS.................. 6

Veteran Mary Lou Spicer makes her mark

OPINION........... 10

Around the Bluhmin’ Town

FEATURES......... 14

ProMusica chorale, orchestra hosting auditions

Back to School Anthem Area Edition

FEATURES................. 14 BACK TO SCHOOL..... 18 CLASSIFIEDS............. 22 Zone I

Wednesday, July 20, 2022

Armed robbery suspects arrested in California BY CHRISTINA FUOCO-KARASINSKI Foothills Focus Executive Editor

wo suspects involved in an armed robbery at Andrew Z Diamonds & Fine Jewelry in Anthem were arrested in California on July 16, four days after the incident. The suspects were arrested by Huntington Beach police after a vehicle pursuit. The Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office later determined the suspects matched the description of those involved in the armed robbery. The suspects were later identified as Helen Simmons, 18, and Mathew Jones, 22. The two were booked on various felony charges. Jones is being held on a $1 million bond on the MCSO charges and Simmons is being held on a $500,000 bond. The armed robbery took place just after 6 p.m.

see BURGLARY page 4

Mathew Jones, 22, is being held on a $1 million bond. (Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office/Submitted)

Helen Simmons, 18, was one of the suspects and is being held on a $500,000 bond. (Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office/Submitted)

A breakdown of county’s $4.5B budget BY ALLISON BROWN Foothills Focus Staff Writer

OPINION.................... 10

PAGE

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

aricopa County Manager Joy Rich recently discussed the 2023 fiscal year budget of about $4.5 billion, which may result in a property tax reduction. The talk came during the July 8 Friends of Daisy Mountain Trails meeting. “I think you probably all know this, but Mar-

icopa County is the fastest-growing county in the country, and continues to have that fastest-growing county award every year,” said Rich, who has been manager since 2016. “We are a very large county with almost 4.5 million people. We’re the fourth largest county in the country, so this is really a large organization, and we have a budget that obviously reflects that.” This fiscal year’s budget is a 30% increase from the previous year. Expenditures are broken up

into six categories, with public safety accounting for 47% of the $4.5 billion budget. The other categories, in order of percentage of the total budget, include health, welfare and sanitation; general government, highways and streets; culture and recreation; and education. Rich said one of the budget highlights is it sets the tax rate at less than the truth-in-taxation rate.

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NEWS

An edition of the East Valley Tribune The Foothills Focus is published every Wednesday and distributed free of charge to homes and in single-copy locations throughout the North Valley. To find out where you can pick up a copy of The Foothills Focus, please visit www.thefoothillsfocus.com CONTACT INFORMATION Main number: 623-465-5808 | Fax: 623-465-1363 Circulation: 480-898-5641 Publisher: Steve T. Strickbine Vice President: Michael Hiatt 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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BURGLARY from page 1

Tuesday, July 12. Video footage of the jewelry store, provided by the MCSO, showed Jones and Simmons entering the store wearing all black, as well as motorcycle helmets. One individual carried a duffle bag while the other brandished a weapon toward those in the store. “One victim was found with a gunshot wound and transported to the hospital with possible life-threatening injuries,” said MCSO Sgt. Monica Bretado. The MCSO later reported the victim was in critical but stable condition. Andrew Z Diamonds & Fine Jewelry has been in Anthem for more than 15 years. Third-generation jeweler Scott Zychowski took over the business in 2019 and has been recognized for his work in the North Phoenix community. Andrew Z Diamonds & Fine Jewelry is a full-service store, performing watch repairs and selling engagement rings. “It’s so important for people who are local to shop here because it makes the community more vibrant,” Zychowski said in a 2020

BUDGET from page 1

That means, when considering the property tax rate and valuations, a reduction in property taxes is expected this fiscal year. Another big highlight of the budget is structural balance. “We don’t have more going out than we have coming in,” Rich explained. “We have two months of reserves in our general fund, in detention funds. That’s generally seen as a best practice.” The budget also includes funding for all retirement rate increases. Further, Rich said it sets aside about $500 million to address unfunded pension liabilities in the public safety pension fund. She equated this to paying down a mortgage, and, in this scenario, the county is essentially paying 75% of what it owes in liabilities. She said paying this off now will ultimately save the county tens of millions of dollars every year going forward. Maricopa County has also been allocated $560 million in American Rescue Plan Act funds for the 2023 fiscal year. This is the third year ARPA funds have been given out, and Rich said it takes a large group and an extensive process to decide how to break the mon-

interview with 85086 Magazine. “It adds another layer. People are making their living in the community. It’s a great place to live with a ton of character.” Anthem Community Council shared its well-wishes to the victims and their families after the “atrocious robbery,” in a July 14 statement. “Anthem Community Council condemns any type of criminal activity in our community. We are disgusted and shocked by the level of harm on innocent people and the damage done to the business,” it continued. “Like Anthem residents, we are proud of our community. We look out for each other, take care of each other, and strive to make this the best family-friendly neighborhood.” To raise money for the victim, the Anthem Rotary Club will host a car wash from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, July 30, at Legends Bar and Grill, 3655 W. Anthem Way, Anthem. The Rotary Club’s members will volunteer their time to wash anyone’s car for free in exchange for a charitable donation to the cause. At the car wash, Anthem Rotary will also sell “Anthem Strong” T-shirts to show support for the family.

ey up. “With these dollars comes a lot of responsibility,” she said. “We need to make sure that these dollars are used appropriately, but also create a legacy of improvement in our community. You’ll see some of that here.” The funds will be broken up into several different spending categories, with the largest two (accounting for nearly half the funds) being the COVID-19 public health response and housing. Other categories include workforce support, rent and mortgage assistance, behavioral health and addiction recovery, and food banks and adverse childhood services. According to Rich, about $450 million has been budgeted for capital improvements. That money is divided up into public safety (35%); highways and streets (29%); general government (18%); health, welfare and sanitation (13%); and culture and recreation (5%). The county has taken on a number of facilities projects and has set aside $57.1 million for those. Rich said some of the major projects include improving and renovating the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office substations and building a public health and human services building. Another big expense for facilities projects is technology improvements, for everyone from the courts to MCSO to even the

In addition to the funds directly raised from the T-shirt sale and car wash donations, Anthem Rotary will contribute to the family’s cause with an incremental cash donation of $2,500. In total, the club hopes to raise nearly $5,000 from these activities for the victim’s family’s fund. Also, on July 30 at the same location, Anthem Rotary will host a blood drive in support of the victim and others in need of blood. A Vitalant Bloodmobile will be on site in the parking lot of Andrew Z Diamonds & Fine Jewelry. “This is the kind of close-knit community we have in Anthem,” said Steve DeMar, president of Anthem Rotary Club. “When someone is in need, we step up to assist them. That’s the Anthem way and it’s the Anthem Rotary way.” In addition, a GoFundMe account has been established by the owners of Andrew Z Diamonds & Fine Jewelry so anyone may contribute to support the family in covering their extraordinary medical expenses. More details of the blood drive and car wash can be found at Anthem Rotary’s Facebook page.

election facilities. “I’m sure you realize there is a lot of focus on election technology and election security, so we’re renovating that facility for them, but that is a very complicated exercise and a very expensive exercise,” Rich said. The last part of the budget she discussed was the $1.8 million set aside for park improvements. “Finally, our beloved park system is getting some capital love as well,” Rich said. “We’re doing some fencing projects, a day use improvement project at Hassayampa Conservation Area — which is just lovely if you’ve never been out there — as well as at Usery Mountain and White Tank Mountain regional parks.” The budget was in effect starting July 1, 2022, and it runs through June 30, 2023. Rich acknowledged $4.5 billion is an extremely large budget, but it is necessary and was well thought out with taxpayers’ interests in mind. “I think the board really sharpened their pencils this year. They understand how much pressure the taxpayer is under and was able to drive down that tax rate to such a large degree, in spite of increasing valuations, that we are hopeful that most county taxpayers will see a break on their tax bill.”

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Veteran Mary Lou Spicer makes her mark The Foothills Focus, in partnership with the Anthem Veterans Memo rial, will honor a local veter an each month. This is th e story of Petty Officer 1st Class Mary Lou Spice r, a machinery repairman.

BY ELIZABETH TURNER Anthem Veterans Memorial

ntil 2010, women in the Navy were not permitted to serve on submarines. They could, however, work on them in port. Water has been part of Mary Lou Spicer’s soul, as she grew up in northern Wisconsin, just off Lake Superior. Her parents owned a small local restaurant where she took orders and delivered food on roller skates. But that

never stopped her from loving the beauty of the lake and all it offered. She saw the vast lake as she walked to school, played in the chilly snow drifts formed from winter storms, and rowed in Dragon Boat races. When she looked at the lake, she imagined what was on the other side of it. The lake became her inspiration. Unlike most young adults who enter the service sometime after high school or college, Mary Lou Spicer enlisted at age 35. “I had worked in a linen department of a hospital, collecting dirty linen and stocking them after they were cleaned,” Spicer said. “I worked in a nursing home kitchen. I had two former husbands who always wanted something and two children to support. I knew I had to get out of deadend jobs and do something with my life, something most women would not have done at that time in their lives.” She spoke with friends about their

small-town existence and one of them said, “Gosh, it’s too bad you are too old to join the military.” “That was the challenge I needed,” she recalled. “So, I went to Duluth to visit the recruiters. I started out with the Marines, but they said I was too old. Then I went to the Air Force office, but the recruiter wasn’t there that day. So, I went to the Navy recruiting officer. I walked in his office with early gray hair; fit, but definitely older than anyone he had seen walk into that office. We talked and when the recruiter realized I had not yet turned 35, their cutoff age, I was good to join them. It was meant to be that I left life in a small town next to Lake Superior for a career in the Navy. The water called me.” Age doesn’t matter Like all prospective enlisted soldiers, Mary Lou took the standardized Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery

Mary Lou Spicer Test (ASVAB), that reveals strengths in science, math and language. She scored well in machinery. She had no formal training, but this was appealing to the Navy as it could train her as it needed.

see VETERAN page 8

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VETERAN from page 6

Even with high test scores and eagerness to join the Navy, her recruiter tried to talk her out of the military. “I was old — or so they thought. “Even my mother told me she couldn’t believe I was going into the Navy because I didn’t take well to orders,” she said. “I figured at that time, what other job gives me a uniform, pay and opportunities outside that town. By the time I got to boot camp, I was 36. I liked the discipline and the routine and was made master of arms. I ensured everyone followed the rules. I like rules, I like to know what to expect, and rules give me that. I liked learning things I didn’t know how to do. At first glance, the others saw me as if I were their mother. However, over time, we all shared a mutual respect and common goal.” Spicer attended A-School for machinery repair and then was transferred to a submarine base in Connecticut, where she made and repaired parts for submarines.

Mary Lou Spicer, right, says she enjoyed the discipline and routine of boot camp as well as taking the younger women under her wing and teaching them how to deal with men who would tease them. “There weren’t many women in the machine shop, but I was older and wiser and didn’t mind working around men,” she said. “I took the younger women under my wing and helped guide them in dealing with men who spoke down, teased them about breaking a nail or told them to make and bring their coffee.” During her career, she went up and down the East Coast to work in machine

shops near submarines or on Navy ships in port. “I also worked on submarines after they limped back to port with some issue that needed fixing,” she said. “Now, computers generate these parts. But back then, we were charged with creating whatever parts were needed to solve the problem. Then, we went on the submarine to install the parts we made. We didn’t outsource parts or have a cat-

alog of fixes, we made them. To ensure a chain of accountability, every part we made had a signature of every part maker and inspector. Everyone was held accountable; that’s important in any job.” Working on nuclear submarines was challenging and interesting to Spicer; it wasn’t easy to tool and install tiny parts on a submarine in protective gear, gloves and a filtered air mask. “You can’t risk getting a glove torn on a part,” she said. “We wore dosimeters that read radioactive isotopes and, fortunately, I was never exposed. I remember thinking, ‘This is the only place I would ever be able to do this.’”

Joyful job It is easy to see the joy in Spicer’s eyes as she speaks about her Navy career. “I loved everything about my job. I especially loved working on the fast-attack subs,” she said. “They were tiny, and you could probably fit one of those inside a Trident,

see VETERAN page 9

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VETERAN from page 8

but they were challenging. There was one narrow passageway down the center of the sub. The aisle was so small that when I worked in the reactor compartment, someone had to stand in the aisle to ensure no one stepped on my air supply.” Spicer became a company commander and instilled the lessons of following orders, keeping fit and learning how to become good naval men and women. “I ensured their barracks were squared away, the men and women stayed on their respective floors at night and they worked their hardest in training exercises,” she said. Age meant nothing to Mary Lou. “I ran right next to them; I did pushups with them. What they did, I did. I remember this one kid, barely able to keep up, who looked at his buddy and said, ‘She is old enough to be my grandma. I can’t believe she is running with me.’ I reminded him that if he had spent less time on video games, he wouldn’t have been so tired.” She even inspired others. “I learned one young lady was from my hometown,” she said. “I never treated her any differently and worked her as hard as the next. After she graduated boot camp, her mother came up to me and thanked me. I guess she had been sent to boarding school

where they tried to get her to straighten up, but nothing worked. Her mother said because I believed in her and wouldn’t allow her to fail, she learned how to succeed. I guess I did make a difference.” Eventually, she was asked to be a recruiter. “I told them I looked too old to talk to high school kids about joining the Navy as I looked like their mother or, worse, their grandmother,” she said. “I tried, but after a few months, the Navy agreed and I took a transfer down to Panama Beach, Florida. The group in Florida were all senior divers with a lot of equipment. I worked in supply and made sure they always had what they needed and that everything worked as it was supposed to work. It was rewarding knowing they came up because I had ensured everything was squared up for them.” Keeping busy Spicer always kept busy, working parttime jobs while she was off duty. She met her husband when she was employed by a laundry. He came in one night “yelling” that his shirts didn’t meet his expectations. “I told him to bring them to me and I would make sure they were right,” she said. “I guess they were as we married.” The two traveled. He was a rigger and

worked in shipyards, which were often placed near bases. So, he transferred right along with her. “It came in handy when I needed a rigger on a ship where I worked,” she said. “He was a good one. If there wasn’t a shipyard near where I worked, he took security jobs. “I thought about re-enlisting, but my husband and I had plans to tour the country on our motorcycles. After I retired, we bought land and a house in Texas. Sadly, he died not too long after that, just before his 62nd birthday.” While Spicer was in the Navy, her children lived with their father or her parents. During the summer, they would stay with her. “I couldn’t take them to submarines, but I’d take them on Navy ships in port,” she said. “It wasn’t an easy life for them as I moved a lot and lived in an RV, but we made it work.” Spicer’s oldest son, Sean Farrell, joined the Navy after high school and served four years, deploying during Desert Storm. He and his wife and two

daughters live in Richmond, Virginia, where he works at an Army base. Her youngest child, Clifford Peterson Jr., and his wife are special needs nurses. They and their six children live in Anthem, as does Spicer. “I have time to enjoy life as a mother and grandmother now and get to share stories about how grandmother made parts for submarines,” she said. “I hope to teach them the lessons I learned in life, and I know they will grow up to be great adults.” In 2010, Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates lifted the ban for women to serve on submarines. One year later, the first female officers began reporting to Ohio-class ballistic missile submarines. Three years later, the plan to incorporate enlisted women was announced. There are more than 200 enlisted female sailors serving as part of eight crews. By 2030, the Navy plans to have 33 submarine crews with female officers. Fourteen crews will have female enlisted sailors. All classes of submarines will be integrated with female officers.

Sunset Point Rest Area staying open this summer BY FOOTHILLS FOCUS STAFF

fter announcing that Sunset Point Rest Area would close to the general public until spring, the Arizona Department of Transportation decided to keep it open through Labor Day. The rest area is approximately 10 miles south of Cordes Junction. The Sunset Point Rest Area rehabilitation project began July 11. The project team was able to phase the work to not impact the traveling public until after

the busy summer season, with the rest area closing to noncommercial traffic after Labor Day. The $7.5 million renovation project, located at milepost 252, will rehabilitate and upgrade the facility’s water and septic systems, ramadas, restrooms and vending buildings and will also make the rest area more accessible for persons with disabilities. For more information, visit the project webpage: azdot.gov/Sunset-Point-Rehabilitation.

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OPINION

THE FOOTHILLS FOCUS | THEFOOTHILLSFOCUS.COM | JULY 20, 2022

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AROUND THE BLUHMIN’ TOWN

Boredom doesn’t have to be unfulfilling BY JUDY BLUHM Foothills Focus Columnist

here are three phrases that let us know that summer is officially here: “There’s nothing to do,” “I’m bored,” and, “It’s too hot to do anything.” Yes, the children are home from school. After days crammed with structure, activities, schedules and a vast array of projects, the kids are trying to figure out ways to fill the void before their summer vacation ends. My grandkids like to get into as much mischief as possible. I think they aren’t alone.

July s l a i c e p S ! 2 2 0 2

On the topic of boredom, a group of Johns Hopkins researchers claim boredom is a major problem for people of all ages. It is the guiding force behind any number of “problem” behaviors in children, the cause of midlife crises in adults and depression in the elderly. Many people don’t realize their routines lack challenge, and they end up being “terminally” unfulfilled. Boredom sets in gradually, like a slow-moving storm. Evidently, this leads to all manner of “unhealthy behaviors,” from overeating to doing “crazy things” just for the heck of it.

One of my colleagues dyed her brown hair bright red (looks fabulous) and my neighbor purchased a Corvette (he regrets it), both claiming “boredom” was the reason. A bored housewife in China spent years falsifying Russian history on Wikipedia in one of the largest hoaxes on the open-source platform. She created an entire fictitious world millions believed till the scam was exposed last month. I guess we could say boredom could end up costing big bucks, substantially changing our looks or altering historical facts.

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THE FOOTHILLS FOCUS | THEFOOTHILLSFOCUS.COM | JULY 20, 2022

Will ‘Slow Joe’ ever face a ‘full-court press’

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BY J.D. HAYWORTH Foothills Focus Columnist

he romance between “The Gray Lady” and the gray-headed occupant at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue appears headed for the rocks. It was just one of those things. Actually, what The New York Times and Joe Biden had was more of a “courtship of convenience.” The newspaper — long in need of amending its slogan “All the news that’s fit to print,” to something more accurate, such as “All the news that fits our agenda” — discovered from its sources in Hollywood, on Wall Street and inside the Obama compound in the exclusive northwest Washington neighborhood of Kalorama there was a “clamor” for Joe Biden’s presidential candidacy. That’s at least as the Democrat “Demolition Derby” known as the 2020 primary campaign continued. Consequently, the reporters and editorialists at the Times transmogrified into press agents for the Biden presidential operation — not that such a transition was difficult. And The New York Times had plenty of company. Were it possible, much of the fourth estate would have to plead the Fifth when queried about the First Amendment. The alphabet networks, their “cable cousins,” and especially their Silicon Valley-based “shirttail relatives” in social media not only remained remarkably incurious about revelations of possible wrongdoing by Team Biden and “Big Joey’s” family, internet platforms sought to censor press outlets that actually committed “acts of journalism.” Consider the “Tale of Two ‘Posts.’” The Washington Post, credited with bringing down the Nixon presidency, has now become a “vanity possession” of Jeff Bezos, the mega-billionaire who collected his fortune by founding Am-

azon, and later the space exploration company Blue Origin. Blue Origin won’t have far to go when it searches for a black hole — just look to the WaPo newsroom. That must be where any investigative report on possible unethical or criminal Biden activity must have disappeared. And to think, Bezos and his bunch concocted this subheadline on the eve of Donald Trump’s inauguration, and still affixed to the WaPo masthead: “Democracy dies in Darkness.” Hey, Jeff, you or anybody at your newspaper have a light? Meantime, The New York Post brought considerable light to very troubling allegations against the Democratic nominee and those around him. Disturbing reports that Joe Biden’s son, Hunter, became a gatherer of millions abroad in exchange for access to his powerful Pop were uncovered by the newspaper founded by Alexander Hamilton. But today’s leftist elites prefer Hamilton “reimagined” as part of a “cast of color” appearing on the Broadway stage and belittle the newspaper he founded because it is now owned by News Corp., the organization that also owns Fox News.

see HAYWORTH page 13

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OPINION

THE FOOTHILLS FOCUS | THEFOOTHILLSFOCUS.COM | JULY 20, 2022

Wildfire starters deserve more harsh sentences BY DAVID LEIBOWITZ Foothills Focus Columnist

o the annals of stupid but lucky criminals, let us inscribe the name Matthew Riser, age 57 — and not the brightest star in the sky. Riser was pulled over by Coconino County Sheriff’s deputies on June 12 near the forest outside Flagstaff. Riser’s white pickup truck matched the description of a vehicle spotted fleeing the scene of the Pipeline Fire, which had sparked up that morning. Riser, nothing if not honest, admitted to deputies he’d camped overnight in the forest and relieved himself in the woods. He told the cops he had overlooked the numerous “no campfires” signs in the area and “had burned his (toilet) paper at noon yesterday and didn’t think it would smolder all night.” One can only imagine Riser’s surprise when he woke up to what arrest documents described as quite a scene: a “200

foot by 200 foot fire; everything was on fire including the pine trees.” The Pipeline Fire would consume nearly 27,000 acres of Arizona forest land over the next two weeks. More than 2,000 families were forced to evacuate. Gov. Doug Ducey declared a state of emergency in Coconino County, while 740 fire crews from across the country fought the blaze along with hundreds of hotshots, fire vehicles, bulldozers and air tankers. One week in, the cost of the Pipeline Fire was estimated at $11 million and rising. If Riser seems a tad unlucky thus far, he got a few breaks soon enough. Like at charging time, when the U.S. attorney’s office pressed forward with only three counts, all misdemeanors: use of prohibited fire, using federal lands as a residence, and possession of marijuana. The weed charge, a Class A misdemeanor under federal law, was later dropped. The other charges were Class B misdemeanors.

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Riser struck a plea deal on July 13: he pleaded guilty to the fire-starting charge and in return he got one year of probation and a special assessment of $10. Riser’s fine was waived because Judge Camille Bibles found he “does not have the ability to pay a fine.” And out of court and into infamy Mathew Riser walked. The whole episode calls to mind the Rodeo-Chediski Fire, which burned more than 460,000 acres back in 2002. That blaze, the second worst in Arizona history, was ignited by two idiots named Leonard Gregg and Valinda Jo Elliott. Gregg, a part-time wildland firefighter, set the Rodeo Fire on purpose because he needed the wages he’d earn fighting it. Elliott, riding a quad on the White Mountain Apache reservation, broke down and got lost in the woods. On her third day wandering, she spotted a news helicopter. The signal fire Elliott started to get the chopper pilot’s attention became the Chediski Fire. Gregg faced criminal prosecution for arson. He ended up serving nine years of a 10-year prison sentence. It’s safe to assume he’s still working on the $27.9 million restitution order by the court. Elliott escaped criminal prosecution because, like Riser, she didn’t intend to cause all that damage. Even so, the White Mountain Apache Tribe pursued Elliott in federal court for a decade.

Eventually, the Tribe’s court found Elliott owed $57 million in restitution, of which she has surely never paid a thin dime. Famously, Arizona has a “stupid motorist law” that forces morons who drive across flooded roads to pay the cost of their own rescue. I’d like to propose Matthew’s Law to hold stupid firestarters accountable for their havoc. I get Riser didn’t mean to burn down the forest, but come on. Should people who start forest fires be made to face serious consequences? Does a bear — and sometimes an idiot — s--- in the woods?

OPINION

THE FOOTHILLS FOCUS | THEFOOTHILLSFOCUS.COM | JULY 20, 2022

HAYWORTH from Page 11

And, since the revelations were reported in October 2020, three weeks before the election, it was time for the “Tech Titans” to do their thing — censor The New York Post and suppress access to it, giving the publication the same treatment as our 45th president. So now there’s a 46th president, making bad decisions that could “deep six” our nation. The media mob is reassessing its reportage, with an open southern border, closed domestic energy sources, runaway inflation and military leadership so “woke” it sleepwalks past the clear and present danger presented by China. Don’t misunderstand, this is not some sober self-reflection. Instead, it is predicated upon the partisan prejudices of the media kingpins. So, if a collective decision is made that “Joe must go,” it will be attributed to his senility instead of his deep dishonesty

BLUHM from Page 10

summer months, so he picked up his uncle’s guitar at 7 years old and started “strumming to fight off boredom.” The rest is history. Artists, inventors, writers and musicians often mastered their talents when faced with the prospect of having “nothing much to do.” Perhaps our kids need a few musical instruments lying around instead of video games. I have a friend whose husband of thirty-five years left her because he said he felt his life was getting “dull, routine and boring.” OK, so what’s that got to do with your wife? Isn’t boredom a personal problem? Psychologists claim adult boredom is a “mental state of mind” usually stemming from lack of purpose, not

and unwillingness “to take care that the laws be faithfully executed,” as our Constitution mandates. And look for his kid to also get the “kid glove treatment,” emphasizing Hunter’s addictions and salacious escapades as opposed to his suspected criminal behavior, seeking multimillion-dollar payoffs from Ukraine and China. Like his dad, he’ll be portrayed as a victim instead of a perpetrator. And look for The New York Times to make time with a certain Californian. No, not Kamala Harris — and certainly not Nancy Pelosi. Gov. Gavin Newsom. If he does for the USA what he’s done to the former Golden State, our goose is cooked — or, perhaps, prepared as Peking Duck. When “The Gray Lady” and the “Smiling Cobra” step out on the floor, they’ll dance to a Chinese beat, unless the midterm elections provide the promise of a better arrangement in 2024. lack of excitement. We can find plenty of boredom-busting things to do this summer. There are books to read, movies to watch, guitars to strum, volunteer jobs available, fences to paint, pets to pamper, fish to catch and new things to learn. It just takes a little effort to fight the “blahs.” With a little creativity, a challenge and something new to learn, kids and adults can conquer boredom and the summer doldrums. The good news for kids is school starts soon. We adults better deal with any “blahs” or face serious consequences. But if you ever see me driving around town in a Corvette with red hair, you will know I need help. Judy Bluhm is a writer and a local Realtor. Have a story or a comment? Email Judy at judy@judybluhm.com

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The Foothills Focus welcomes letters that express readers’ opinion on current topics. Letters must include the writer’s full name, address (including city) and telephone number. The Foothills Focus will print the writer’s name and city of residence only. Letters without the requisite identifying information will not be published. Letters are published in the order received, and they are subject to editing. The Foothills Focus will not publish consumer complaints, form letters, clippings from other publications or poetry. Letters’ authors, not the Foothills Focus, are responsible for the “facts” presented in letters.

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ProMusica chorale, orchestra hosting auditions BY FOOTHILLS FOCUS STAFF

roMusica Arizona Chorale and Orchestra is hosting auditions for singers and instrumentalists for the group’s 20th anniversary season. Auditions will be held 6:30 to 8:30

p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 16, at All Saints Lutheran Church, 15649 N. Seventh Street, Phoenix. Rehearsals will begin later in August, and the in-person concert season will kick off in October. Music reading ability is required for the chorale at intermediate level and

above. Playing level must be advanced intermediate and above for the Orchestra. Standard orchestral excerpts will be required for the audition. All auditions are by appointment only. For audition appointments and repertoire requirements, go to pmaz.org and

To Advertise 480.898.5606 erict@timespublications.com

click on the audition tab or contact Patti Graetz, artistic director, at pgraetz@ pmaz.org or 602-570-4458. Since its founding in 2003, ProMusica Arizona has become a leader in bringing live music to audiences primarily in the North Phoenix area. With almost 100 multigenerational singers and instrumentalists, the group has performed more than 275 times for over 134,000 people. ProMusica Arizona is a nonprofit organization and is supported by the Arizona Commission on the Arts, which receives support from the state of Arizona and the National Endowment for the Arts.

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When the tail wags the dog CHURCH COMMUNITY CONNECTION

Pastor Ed Delph Foothills Focus Columnist

he following testimony is by author and speaker Ty Bennett. What Mr. Bennett says in this short testimony is a life-lifting principle for those who put what he says into practice. What is the best advice you have ever received? For example, a coach told you, “When you quit, you fail.” Or maybe a friend said, “It’s OK to say no.” Or perhaps it was your mother who told you to wear clean underwear. In any case, advice from the right person at the right time can often change our perspective. That happened to me the first time I met Dr. Stephen Covey. At first, the advice he gave me seemed specific, but I have found his advice applies to almost everything and has shaped my mindset. When Stephen Covey found out I was writing a book, he said, “Make sure you write the book for the reader, not the writer.” Let that soak in. It’s excellent advice for a writer or speaker. I have thought about it often as I have written my four books. But the thought has more application when you think about it as a mindset. It’s not about you — it’s about the reader! An influencer’s focus is always on the audience. If you are a speaker, it’s about the people listening to you. If you are in sales, it’s about your customer or prospect. If you are a leader, it’s about the

people you lead. If you are a teacher, it’s about your students. If you are a parent, it’s about your children. Almost every influencer has this backward. They think being influential means they need to become polished or powerful. Influence, though, is all about the audience. Be it an audience of one or one thousand. A tremendous transformation takes place by thinking “out” instead of “in,” concentrating on others instead of on us. We go from inner-directed to outer-directed, from a taker to a giver, from self-centered to others-focused, from tightfisted to generous, from shortsighted to farsighted, and from selfish to selfless. We begin to see and act on behalf of others’ needs ahead of our own. Our thoughts become more “we” instead of “me.” That’s what Stephen Covey taught me with what seemed to be a simple piece of advice. Make sure you write the book for the reader, not the writer. Last October, I had the privilege of speaking at Primus University at its annual conference. I created a class for the university students entitled, “How to Write Your First Book So It Won’t Be Your Last Book.” The very first thought I presented was the following: People buy books for their sake, not your sake. They are the customer; you supply the product. Writing a book aims to communicate and add value to people’s lives. Connect the message with the audience. Don’t preach or show off your su-

percalifragilisticexpialidocious knowledge. Instead, aim for oneness with yourself and the writer. Ask yourself, “Am I communicating with my readers in heart, mind and soul?” Transformation starts with communication. My thought about writing is the same as Ty Bennett’s thought. You help yourself by helping others. You serve yourself by serving others. Using others to your end, especially as a writer, speaker, educator or public servant, is like the tail wagging the dog. You can’t turn people on if they want to turn you off. In John 17:26, Jesus is praying to the Father. “… and I have made Thy name known to them and will make it known.” Let me paraphrase what Jesus is saying here. “Father, I didn’t come to make myself known. I came to make you known. It’s not about me. It’s about you. I’m not serving myself; I’m serving you.” In Romans 1:1, Paul writes to the church in Rome, saying, “Paul, a bondservant of Christ Jesus, called as an apostle ...” Notice Paul says he was a servant of Christ and to others first before he was an apostle. So many in our culture today hide behind a title or office, serving themselves and their agendas first and the people they were elected, hired, appointed or called to serve second. They have uphill aspirations but downhill mindsets, agendas and habits. It’s a lose-lose for everyone. Here’s a reality that is unfortunate but true. Most people don’t lead their life. They accept their life. That’s why they

need trustworthy, truthful and caring servant leaders to inspire and lift them in business, church, government, media, entertainment, arts and education. So, you public or private servants of any type, consider the four questions people want to know beforehand for a trust relationship to form. Do you really like me? Can you help me? Can I trust you? Will you add value to my life? In other words, will the tail wag the dog, or the dog wag the tail? 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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BACK TO SCHOOL

THE FOOTHILLS FOCUS | THEFOOTHILLSFOCUS.COM | JULY 20, 2022

Back to School Imagine Schools strive for students to reach potential BY ALISON STANTON Foothills Focus Contributor

hen Imagine Schools opened its first campus in Arizona in 2002, they had one key goal in mind: for every student to develop their character as much as their comprehension of the curriculum. Twenty years later, Imagine Schools continues to embrace this core value at its 14 campuses throughout the state, including metropolitan locations in Phoenix, Mesa and as far west as Buckeye and southeast as Coolidge. As Frank Stirpe, director of operations and community development, noted, the approximately 8,000 pre-K

Children learn best when it’s interactive and fun. Here, children at Imagine Buckeye are learning science in an interactive, collaborative environment. (Imagine Schools/Submitted)

At the high school level, character development is often learned through extracurricular activities as seen here by students from Imagine Prep Superstition showcasing every sport offered at the school. (Imagine Schools/Submitted) through 12th graders who attend the nonprofit public charter school are taught much more than the traditional three R’s. “Students learn the ABCs and 123s, but we also focus on the whole child, so we also teach things like character development so that when they leave school, they will be productive members of our society,” he said. Everyone who works at Imagine Schools shares these values and are empowered to be part of this learning process, he added. Clara Thigpen, regional academic director, said in addition to using a standard based curriculum at the 13 brickand-mortar campuses and one online campus, each Imagine Schools campus

has autonomy to support individualized student learning, through various instructional approaches. This approach, Thigpen said, means each of the Imagine Schools campus is unique. However, all Imagine Schools across the country have common shared values. According to Thigpen, every campus shares several common threads, including a warm and welcoming atmosphere. “We also teach critical thinking, creative problem solving, and employ technology as learning tools on each campus,” Thigpen said, adding all students are encouraged to reflect and collaborate as they exchange ideas with their peers.

Because of Imagine Schools’ value-based culture, combined with its positive atmosphere, many families are eager to register all their children in Imagine Schools. “It’s extraordinary when families have all their siblings attend Imagine Schools because they want that family type of atmosphere. Parents, teachers and students alike remember our positive learning environment,” Thigpen said. With the 2022-2023 school year on the horizon, Thigpen said Imagine Schools is busy hosting open houses for prospective new families, as well as holding new teacher orientations. “Every year we formally welcome new teachers into our organization. I feel it is so important for them to know who we are as a network,” she said. “Educating students with integrity and accountability are what we are all about, and we empower our teachers to make decisions using our shared values.” Thigpen said she is thrilled to work for an organization that places such a strong emphasis on helping students to succeed academically and in character development. “I’m inspired every day working for Imagine Schools. I love the culture we’ve created — and the relationships nourished between students, educators, and parents. With almost 30 years in various schools across the country, I have not found any other organization that permeates such a strong family-centered culture,” she said. For more information about Imagine Schools, visit imagineschools.com

BACK TO SCHOOL

THE FOOTHILLS FOCUS | THEFOOTHILLSFOCUS.COM | JULY 20, 2022

DVUSD names 12 new principals BY FOOTHILLS FOCUS STAFF

everal Deer Valley Unified School District principals have retired or transferred to new positions within the organization, so a dozen new principals will soon start serving the Deer Valley community.

• Anthem School will welcome Tyson Kelly as its new principal. “In joining Anthem School, I look forward to working with another close-knit community,” Kelly said. “At one point, my wife and I were part of Arizona Hills Church that used Anthem School’s multipurpose room. While we were part of this community, we were definitely welcomed and felt part of the greater Anthem community, even though we did not live there. I look forward to reconnecting and being a part of the village that helps each child realize their potential and live their dreams. Together we will make a difference.” • Copper Creek Elementary School dean, Christina Myers, moves up to become the principal. “I am incredibly proud and honored to serve as the new principal of Copper Creek Elementary School,” Myers said.

“My history and connection with Copper Creek and this community are extensive, having served as a special education teacher, third grade teacher, and reading specialist before becoming dean at the school several years ago. In fact, I have two children — now 17 and 22 years old — who were both students at Copper Creek and received solid educational foundations. I look forward to strengthening existing relationships and developing new ones during the upcoming school year.”

• Desert Mountain School welcomes Molly Gillett to the Desert Hills community. “My family and I relocated to the great state of Arizona three years ago from Eugene, Oregon,” Gillett said. “I firmly believe that school leaders should support the community in which they live, and I am thrilled to say that Desert Mountain is just down the road from our home in Anthem. Working in a school with a supportive, family-first culture is so important and we love being involved in the local community. We love spending our time in the area surrounding Desert Mountain and can’t wait to be part of the Desert Mountain family.”

• Michelle Martin, former assistant principal at Mountain Ridge High School, will lead Desert Sky Middle School. • Greenbrier Elementary welcomes Ashley Kane to the “sidewinder” family. “I am excited to work with this community and bring everyone together around a common goal and vision,” Kane said. “I’m excited to re-energize all stakeholders and see some great student academic growth!” • Brad Brazell, former assistant principal at Sandra Day O’Connor High School, will lead Hillcrest Middle School. • Dr. JoAnn Schwarting, former Desert Mountain principal, moves over to Inspiration Mountain, DVUSD’s newest school.

all students are safe, happy, and achieving at high levels,” Milks said. “In order to achieve these goals, it is important to develop strong partnerships with our families through frequent communication and interactions. I am looking forward to meeting our Pirate families and working together to create a caring and connected community.” • Sunrise Elementary School welcomes Shari Labuwi, who recently served as assistant principal at Sierra Verde. • The Traditional Academy at Bellair welcomes its principal, Christine Fitzsimmons.

• Theresa Milks, former assistant principal at Stetson Hills, moves over to lead Norterra Canyon School. “As the principal of Norterra Canyon, I bring my passion for creating a professional learning community that ensures

• Ken Akeley joins the alternative, blended learning environment at Vista Peak School. “I am excited to lead alongside our incredible staff to support the success of all of our students,” Akeley said. “I was inspired to get into education because I was a student who struggled with behavior as a child, and I wanted to positively influence students who struggled as I did. I want to be an example that no matter the struggles that they have that they can be successful.”

external review and feedback, and our desire to be the best we can be on behalf of the students we serve.” To earn accreditation from Cognia, a school district or charter school support organization also must implement a continuous process of improvement and submit to internal and external reviews. School systems in good standing can maintain their accreditation for a five-year term. Dr. Mark A. Elgart, president and chief executive officer of Cognia, said, “Cognia System Accreditation is a rigorous process that focuses the entire school system and its community on the primary goal of preparing

lifelong learners in engaging environments where all students can flourish. The Edkey Family of K-12 Schools is to be commended for demonstrating that it has met high standards and is making progress on key indicators that impact student learning.” Cognia is the parent organization of the North Central Association Commission on Accreditation and School Improvement, Northwest Accreditation Commission, and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Council on Accreditation and School Improvement. Parents and interested community members can learn more about Cognia Accreditation at cognia.org.

• Mirage Elementary School welcomes Bobbi Cerro, former assistant principal of Union Park School.

Edkey Inc. earns Cognia system accreditation BY FOOTHILLS FOCUS STAFF

dkey Inc. Family of K-12 Schools, also known as Sequoia Schools, earned system accreditation by Cognia, a nonprofit that provides quality assurance for schools, school districts and education service providers. Cognia, formerly known as AdvancED, nationally recognizes districts and charter school support organizations that meet rigorous standards focusing on productive learning environments, equitable resource allocation that meet the needs of learners and effective leadership.

Earning accreditation from the Cognia Global Accreditation Commission means the system and all of its schools are accredited, and that Edkey is recognized across the nation as a school system that meets Cognia Standards of Quality and maintains a commitment to continuous improvement. “Systems accreditation as conferred by the Cognia Global Accreditation Commission provides Edkey and each of our schools a nationally recognized mark of quality,” said Mark Plitzuweit, Edkey chief executive officer andpresident. “It demonstrates to our communities our commitment to excellence, our openness to

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THE FOOTHILLS FOCUS | THEFOOTHILLSFOCUS.COM | JULY 20, 2022

Gifted education expanding in Deer Valley BY FOOTHILLS FOCUS STAFF

eer Valley Unified School District will continue to expand its educational opportunities by providing a robust continuum of schoolwide gifted services at Las Brisas Elementary School starting in August. These services will include Bright Beginnings, a pre-kindergarten through second-grade program, which provides hands-on learning opportunities for early childhood students, immersing them in a gifted classroom while engaging in an inquiry-based learning environment. In addition, Deer Valley is opening its third Renaissance Highly Gifted Academy in August for third- through sixthgrade students at Las Brisas Elementary School. Students will regularly engage in problem- and project-based learning in

RIGOR, RELEVANCEan advanced & RELATIONSHIPS and enriching curriculum. replacement for English language, arts All students in Renaissance can participate in physical education, music, art and band. Las Brisas offers additional options such as a gifted cluster model, content

and math, and Walk-Up to Math for third through sixth grade. In fact, all students at Las Brisas will benefit from the gifted approach to learning, as the teachers are certified

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THE FOOTHILLS FOCUS | THEFOOTHILLSFOCUS.COM | JULY 20, 2022

Arizona Girls State marks 75th session BY FOOTHILLS FOCUS STAFF

oulder Creek High School student Ainsley O’Connor was among the nearly 180 Arizona high school girls for the 75th session of Arizona Girls State. The opportunity is open to girls completing their junior year of high school that meet the necessary qualifications. The session ran from June 5 to June 11 at the University of Arizona. American Legion Auxiliary Arizona Girls State is a weeklong program designed to educate young women in the functions of their government and kindle the desire to actively participate in and responsibly fulfill their role as citizens.

“This is a week that shapes a lifetime,” said Penny Maklary, Girls State director. The girls were assigned to state of the art, eco-friendly instructional classrooms throughout the university. “Similar to past years, we have senior staff who work as city and county advisers, while junior counselors return from the previous year’s Girls State session to assist senior staff in the education — and fun — process,” Maklary said. American Legion Auxiliary Arizona Girls State comprises nine “cities” and three “counties.” There are 20 to 22 girls in each city and about 60 girls in each county. The girls are divided into two pseudo political parties called federalists

and nationalists. Precinct committeemen watch over all elections and assist political parties. Each city elected a mayor and council, wrote their own ordinances and resolutions, made a budget and a strategy for planning and zoning. Cities were assigned to a county and the educational process continued with campaigning and election to county and state positions. During the span of the week, they conducted regular city and party meetings, wrote and debated bills, received instruction from actual elected state and county officials and “learned by doing.” Midweek, they elected the prominent positions of governor and secretary of state. The girls elected to these

two positions will return to preside over the 76th session of American Legion Auxiliary Arizona Girls State. Culminating the week was the election of two delegates as senators to attend the prestigious American Legion Auxiliary Girls Nation held the following month in Washington, D.C. Girls Nation is an all-expense-paid week with other girls elected state senators from across the nation. They will debate federal issues they present as bills, visit the Pentagon, Arlington National Cemetery, the White House and other memorials. For more information on Girls State or the American Legion Auxiliary, contact the American Legion Auxiliary Department of Arizona at 602241-1080.

tain School for seven years. She then transferred to Desert Sky Middle School where she assumed the roles of instructional coach and assistant principal. Most recently, Schwarting spent the last six years leading Desert Mountain School as principal. Although it is bittersweet leaving her current school, Schwarting is up for the challenge and eager for the opportunity. “I am absolutely thrilled to be given the honor of serving this beautiful community. My goal is to nurture a school environment that is caring and connected. I believe partnerships are necessary when educating

our students, so I’m looking forward to developing strong family and community ties,” Schwarting said. After serving four years in the U.S. Navy, Dr. Schwarting earned a Bachelor of Arts in education from ASU, a Master of Arts in educational administration and supervision from NAU, and a doctorate in education leadership and innovation from ASU. When she is not actively involved in supporting the Deer Valley community, Schwarting enjoys spending time with her husband, her four sons, three daughters and five grand dogs. Read more about Schwarting at dvusd.org/inspirationmountain

Dr. Schwarting to serve at new Deer Valley school BY FOOTHILLS FOCUS STAFF

r. JoAnn Schwarting will serve as the principal of the newly constructed Inspiration Mountain School opening Aug. 3. Deer Valley Unified School District’s newest school is located at 5757 Inspiration Mountain Parkway near 57th Avenue and Happy Valley Road. The school will initially serve K-6 students with future expansion to a K-8 campus. The 2021 DVUSD Principal of the Year, Schwarting has served the Deer Valley Unified School District since 2005. She taught seventh-grade English language arts at Desert Moun-

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