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This Week

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

With budgets, lawmakers made modest asks

FEATURES ........ 20 Varsity Sports Show spotlights the good in Summer Series

YOUTH ............. 24 Musical Theatre of Anthem hosts auditions for ‘Once on this Island Jr.’

Z-Trip Anthem Area Edition

BUSINESS ................. 16 FEATURES ................ 17 YOUTH ...................... 24 CLASSIFIEDS ............ 25 Zone I

Wednesday, August 18, 2021

Tourney helps ease abused children’s pain BY CHRISTINA FUOCO-KARASINSKI Foothills Focus Executive Editor

ean Reavie is continuing his mission to help ease the pain of abused children. He’s raising money to do so with his third Superhero Golf Scramble, presented by Dr. Bill Elrey and NeXus Rehab + Spine, on Saturday, Sept. 25. “The �irst year, we sold out everything,” said Reavie, a North Phoenix resident. “We did fantastic. Numbers. Last year, we all got ‘2020’d.’ We had to cut the �ield in half. We still sold out, but we didn’t get near the sponsors we had. We still did it though. “To me, it was important to keep the continuity going. This year, we’re back to a full �ield. We sold as many tickets as last year’s amount. The

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A group of golfers has a good time at a previous Superhero Golf Scramble. The third one, which benefits Put on the Cape: A Foundation for Hope, is set for Saturday, Sept. 25. (Photo courtesy of Sean Reavie)

U.S. Treasury high-�ives Phoenix rental help BY FOOTHILLS FOCUS STAFF

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

PAGE

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he U.S. Treasury Department gave Phoenix a high-five recently for effectively using experienced community representatives in its rental assistance program. Although Phoenix has yet to spend close to $25 million in $52 million of federally

funded rental relief money, the Treasury Department cited Phoenix in a brief look at how implementation of the Emergency Rental Assistance Program can be made more effective by “continuous improvement and nimble outreach strategies.” “Sensitivity to the challenges faced by the locality’s ERA applicants can allow grantees to pivot to more effective strat-

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egies,” the Treasury Department said, citing areas such as “landlord engagement,” eviction diversion, utility assistance and “making the application process simple and user friendly.” The Treasury Department said Phoenix’s use of “experienced local community action

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U.S. TREASURY �� 4

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NEWS

An edition of the East Valley Tribune The Foothills Focus is published every Wednesday and distributed free of charge to homes and in single-copy locations throughout the North Valley. To find out where you can pick up a copy of The Foothills Focus, please visit www.thefoothillsfocus.com CONTACT INFORMATION Main number: 623-465-5808 | Fax: 623-465-1363 Circulation: 480-898-5641 Publisher: Steve T. Strickbine Vice President: Michael Hiatt Associate Publisher: Eric Twohey | 480-898-5634 | erict@thefoothillsfocus.com ADVERTISING DEPARTMENT Display Advertising: 623-465-5808 Classifieds/Inside Sales: Elaine Cota | 480-898-7926 | ecota@timespublications.com TJ Higgins | 480-898-5902 | tjhiggins@timespublications.com Steve Insalaco | 480-898-5635 | sinsalaco@timespublications.com Advertising Office Manager: Lori Dionisio | 480-898-6309 | ldionisio@timespublications.com Director of National Advertising Zac Reynolds | 480-898-5603 | zac@thefoothillsfocus.com NEWS DEPARTMENT Executive Editor: Christina Fuoco-Karasinski | 480-898-5631 christina@timespublications.com Photographer: Pablo Robles | probles@timespublications.com Design: Nathalie Proulx | nproulx@timespublications.com Production Coordinator: Courtney Oldham | 480-898-5617 production@timespublications.com Circulation Director: Aaron Kolodny | 480-898-5641 | customercare@evtrib.com Proud member of :

The Foothills Focus is distributed by AZ Integrated Media, a circulation service company owned by Times Media Group. The public is permitted one copy per reader. For further information regarding the circulation of this publication or others in the Times Media Group family of publications, please contact AZ Integrated Media at circ@azintegratedmedia.com or 480-898-5641. For circulation services please contact Aaron Kolodny at aaron@azintegratedmedia.com

THE FOOTHILLS FOCUS | THEFOOTHILLSFOCUS.COM | AUGUST 18, 2021

U.S. TREASURY �� 1

representatives into the oversight of the application process has been critical to raising application completion rates.” “Program administrators commented that these representatives are sensitive to the challenges of the local populations and have allowed the program to better problem solve application challenges and improve training of line staff. “Recognizing that residents may not realize that various rental assistance programs offered through other funding streams have different eligibility requirements,” it added that Phoenix launched a “’re-education’” campaign on social media … to reach potential applicants who may have been discouraged from seeking help due to past experiences of ineligibility for other similar-sounding programs.” Phoenix provides rental assistance to any city resident “regardless of citizenship or immigration status and Social Security number, according to the city website.

Qualifying households must have an annual income below 80% of $63,200 for a family of four and have “quali�ied for unemployment bene�its or experienced a reduction in income or experiencing other �inancial hardship due to COVID-19.” Applicants also must demonstrate a risk of homelessness or housing instability as a result of unpaid rent and utility bills since March 2020. In a memo to city council last week, Housing Services Director Marchelle Franklin reported that the city has spent $26.7 million on rental and utility assistance since March. That equates to 58% of total funds available and represents an average $7,600 per household. As of Aug. 4, her report showed, a total 8,699 residents in 3,503 households were helped. Another 668 applicants were ruled ineligible for assistance. Franklin said that the city has doled out at least $1.9 million a week for four consecutive weeks and credited the use of experienced community representatives with getting money faster to

needy households. “Staff continues to work weekends to assist residents facing eviction,” she wrote. “This includes targeted outreach to persons scheduled for a lockout from their home or eviction proceeding as referred by the landlord-tenant law �irm.” She said on one recent Saturday, city staffers “contacted 279 residents and 14 households were served, totaling $102,106 in �inancial services.” The city is also working with Phoenix Library and IT personnel to set up a document center at Burton Barr Library that she said “will greatly expedite the ability of staff to assist residents.” “This team’s focus will be to verify that each application is �inalized for caseworkers and ready for the last steps of disbursement,” she said, noting that document preparation consumes 78% “of the time required to serve each applicant.” Meanwhile, delinquent water accounts in Phoenix total more than $10.2 million in unpaid bills and involve 17,789 accounts. Of these, only 340 are commercial customers and another 748 involve residential water theft cases. The city report shows that 9,943 individual water account holders have deferred payment arrangements to pay down their debt. Balances owed average $530, it said, but the total arrearage is $5.3 million. Another 6,758 delinquent water customers owing an average $386 have not made deferred payment plan arrangements, the report shows. Their debt totals more than $2.6 million, according to the report. The current total delinquency is more than three times what it was just two years ago, according to the report. It showed that in August 2019, delinquencies totaled $3.2 million and nearly $1 million of that involved theft. The report also showed that 9,140 city water customers have received some kind of assistance to pay down their debt. The report said just under $4 million has been used to help delinquent customers. Of that, the single largest program involved the use of $2 million in federal pandemic relief to credit the accounts of 3,657 customers.

NEWS

THE FOOTHILLS FOCUS | THEFOOTHILLSFOCUS.COM | AUGUST 18, 2021

TOURNEY �� 1

sponsorship is through the roof. People are excited to come out and play.” The tourney bene�its Reavie’s nonpro�it, Put on the Cape: A Foundation for Hope. In October, he disburses the funds to advocacy centers throughout the Valley. In two years, he’s raised more than $40,000 to comfort and empower abused children seeking help in greater Phoenix child advocacy centers. “The Southwest Family Advocacy Center will have tables at the event to hand out information to the golfers as nearly all are parents,” Reavie said.

Superhero friends Put on the Cape started in 2015, when he eyed a classic Batman poster and thought he should use posters and comic books to ease the fears of the kids he met as a child crimes detective. He soon found out it worked. Reavie was speaking to an abused child and, on a whim, he asked him about superheroes. The child’s demeanor changed, and the two discussed “Avengers” and his love of Iron Man. Reavie soon made the connection between superheroes and adversity. Spider-Man lost Uncle Ben and was bullied and an orphan. Batman saw his parents die, and Iron Man had shrapnel in the chest. “I’m a comic book nerd from a small town with 2,000 people,” said Reavie, a Michigan native. “I kept myself believing in the hope of superhero mythology, because it did so much for me when I was bullied constantly. “Hope is stronger than fear, and to see the look in the eyes of a little boy or girl when they see their heroes come to life is remarkable. The change is so electric, everyone gets chills.” Reavie uses superhero conversations and analogies to empower victims who end up at the centers. After a handful of successful fundraisers, Reavie was granted nonpro�it status for Put on the Cape: A Foundation for Hope in 2019. Reavie recently opened a chapter in Houghton Lake, Michigan. “We’re doing a 5K and a superhero fun run with kids during the halftime of the homecoming game in Houghton Lake,” he said. “We’re in negotiations to go into �ive other states at the end of the year.”

Raising funds The golf tournament is Put on the Cape: A Foundation for Hope’s signature fundraiser. Bang energy drink and the Hooters team will hand out goodies to the 144 golfers. “A big part of what our foundation does is empower, encourage and educate,” he said. “This is the top fundraiser for the foundation, and it makes me so happy to see such an outpouring of support. We are raf�ling foursomes at the Legacy, The Raven and Talking Stick.” Awards will be given to champion golfers and second- and third-place teams. The Superman Long Drive Award is up for grabs on the men’s side, and the ladies vie for the Wonder Woman Long Drive Award. “People don’t even have to golf that well,” Reavie said. The event is a scramble, which means four players contribute to the score, rather than one individual. “Three guys can shank it into the woods,” he said. “The next guy can hit it onto the fairway, and it’s great. “We just want people to embrace these centers all around the Valley. People don’t know what goes on there. Their locations are secret. You don’t want people to �ind the children who were taken there because they were abused. “These centers do not have a budget for action �igures or T-shirts or even diapers and clothing. That’s why we’ve branched out.” A school resource of�icer now, Reavie �inds his volunteer mission humbling. “I’m just a comic book nerd who had an idea that resonated with so many people,” Reavie said. “Another child crimes detective came up to me and was talking in a high voice. He said, ‘I can’t believe I’m meeting you. You’re doing everything we all wish we could.’ “We only have them for this small window. They tell us the worst story and then we never see them again. This is something I can do to improve everyone’s lives.” He’s adding child advocacy centers as he goes. The nice thing about that? “People have heard of me,” he said. “I don’t have to go through the elevator speech. They usually say, ‘Oh, my gosh. We’ve seen you on TV. We’ve heard about your events.’” Another time, he stopped by FX Tactical in Peoria to pick up uniforms. The wom-

an behind the counter, he said, looked like a young Gal Gadot, the actress who plays Wonder Woman. “I handed her my card and said she’d be the perfect Wonder Woman for one of my events,” he said. “Six hours later, I received an email from her mother. She said, ‘You met my daughter today. I work for the Glendale chief of police. You guys are legendary. I’m so proud that you would think my daughter would do something with you.’ “Back to the tournament, it’s going to be

phenomenal. We have half the �ield to �ill. Come have a blast with us.” The third Superhero Golf Scramble, Presented by NeXus Rehab + Spine WHEN: 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 25 WHERE: Legacy Golf Resort, 6808 S. 32nd Street, Phoenix COST: $125 INFO: eventbrite.com or putonthecape.org

NEWS

THE FOOTHILLS FOCUS | THEFOOTHILLSFOCUS.COM | AUGUST 18, 2021

With budgets, Arizona lawmakers made modest asks BY BROOKE NEWMAN Cronkite News

hen Congress restored budget earmarks this year after a decadelong ban, more than 300 House members rushed in with $7.1 billion in special requests for congressional funding of local projects. Arizona lawmakers were part of that rush, but with requests that were relatively modest: None of the state’s four Republican members asked for earmarks, and while all �ive Democrats did, they were all in or near the bottom half of the amounts requested. Critics have long claimed earmarks are wasteful and open the door to corruption, but backers say they let elected of�icials push for smaller, needed projects that might otherwise get overlooked by federal bureaucrats. And that appears to be working for some of the projects, with Arizona lawmakers touting preliminary approval for millions of their $45.2 million in requests before the House began its August recess.

“I support community project funding,” said Rep. Greg Stanton, D-Phoenix, who got most of the $9.7 million in earmarks he requested, including funds for minority entrepreneurship and advanced water metering projects, among others. He said he asked for funding for “very important projects for cities in my district and for the community.” But to Tom Schatz, president of Citizens Against Government Waste, “community project funding is just the latest attempt to cover up earmarks.” “They’re still earmarks,” Schatz said. “And they’re still funds for projects that are outside of the normal review and approval process.” Those concerns led the then-Republican-controlled House to ban earmarks beginning in 2011 — a move that critics said would eliminate one of the few opportunities for members to work together in a fractured Congress. But that ban held until this year, when Democrats restored earmarks, but with strict new safeguards to prevent a repeat of what critics said were requests in past ses-

sions for projects like an “indoor rainforest” and a “teapot museum.” Under the rules, members are limited to 10 requests and the total from all members cannot account for more than 1% of discretionary spending in the federal budget. Lawmakers have to post their earmark request on their websites with a justi�ication for the project and a statement that they or their associates will not bene�it from the project. Democrats made up the bulk of the requesters, accounting for 224 of the 332 lawmakers who put in earmark requests. All of the Democrats asked for the maximum number of earmarks, with the median request from each Democratic of�ice totaling $11.4 million. While Republicans were more reluctant to ask, they were not shy when they did so: The median request from the 108 GOP House members totaled $18.2 million, and the total dollar amount they asked for actually exceeded the Democrats’ total, with Republican requests totaling $3.6 billion to Democrats’ $3.5 billion. Those totals were skewed by the $725

million requested by Rep. Brian Mast, R-Fla., for an Everglades restoration project, the biggest request by far. The smallest single earmark request came from Rep. Carol Miller, R-W.Va., who requested $2,200 for a hydraulic vehicle lift for the Huntington Police Department. The $45.2 million in requests from Arizona lawmakers ranged from a low of $48,000 for a senior center in Somerton to $4.1 million for a creek preservation project in Saguaro National Park. They also included requests to fund a new animal shelter, water projects, health care expansions, affordable housing, economic development and more. Rep. Ann Kirkpatrick, D-Tucson, asked for the most among the state’s lawmakers, but her $13.7 million in earmarks still ranked her just 148th of the 332 lawmakers. Stanton ranked 197th, while Rep. Ruben Gallego, D-Phoenix, was in 232nd place with his $8.6 million in earmarks. Rep. Tom O’Halleran, D-Sedona, was 274th with a $6.7 mil-

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THE FOOTHILLS FOCUS | THEFOOTHILLSFOCUS.COM | AUGUST 18, 2021

BUDGETS �� 6

lion request, and Rep. Raul Grijalva, D-Tucson, was 276th with his $6.4 million ask. No Arizona Republicans �iled earmark requests, a move that experts wish more GOP members had stuck to. “The Republicans who are saying no are at least sticking to their principles of small government and more �iscal responsibility,” Schatz said. Despite the safeguards put in place this year, Schatz said there is always room for corruption when Congress is directing funding. To Andrew Lautz, the bigger concern is that spending on earmarks is “wasteful” and adds to the burden on taxpayers. “Earmarks are death by a thousand cuts to taxpayers,” said Lautz, director of federal policy for the National Taxpayers Union. “It adds to taxpayers’ tab at a time where we’re at record debt and de�icit levels in the country,” he said. “We need to think about reducing spending.” Matt Dickerson, director of the Grover M. Hermann Center for the federal budget at the Heritage Foundation, agreed with Lautz, saying that, “Lawmakers should reject the

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munity project funding” allows for a more ef�icient use of federal money, by letting members of Congress, who know their communities best, to direct spending where it is most needed. That actually lets Congress appropriate money in a way that is “more in line” with constitutional spending, he said. “The principle behind it is that members of Congress know our districts better than, say, a large bureaucracy based in Washington, D.C.,” he said. For more stories from Cronkite News, visit cronkitenews.azpbs.org. The $7.1 billion in earmark, or “community project funding,” requests from House members included everything from infrastructure to workforce training and police equipment. Arizona lawmakers’ requests were relatively modest compared to the rest of the House. (File photo by Jenna Miller/Cronkite News)

lure of earmarks.” “Congress should be focused on the nation’s priorities,” Dickerson said. “Earmarks directing taxpayer dollars for special interest projects are a gateway to corruption and wasteful spending.” But Stanton said that what he calls “com-

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THE FOOTHILLS FOCUS | THEFOOTHILLSFOCUS.COM | AUGUST 18, 2021

State superintendent addresses back-to-school concerns BY ALLISON BROWN Foothills Focus Staff Writer

tate Superintendent Kathy Hoffman spoke at a Friends of Daisy Mountain Trails monthly town hall meeting Friday, Aug. 13, to address health and safety concerns and share new programs and initiatives to mitigate last year’s setbacks. “I’m sure you’re all aware over the last few weeks students across Arizona have returned to school, and I could not be more excited,” Hoffman said during the Zoom presentation. “While we ended the last school year with a lot of optimism that this school year would finally be a normal year, unfortunately, COVID-19 has made other plans for us. “Regardless, our schools and the Arizona Department of Education have put so much work into planning to prepare our students, teachers and families for this new school year, hopefully one with

fewer disruptions and a commitment to providing more resources to our classrooms and everyone aiming to have as much in-person teaching and learning as possible.” For the past two weeks, Hoffman has visited schools throughout the state to celebrate the first day of school. She said she saw so much joy and excitement from students and teachers to be back. However, there is a level of caution, with students voluntarily wearing masks, and staff trying to develop effective mitigation strategies. With the Delta variant being more contagious, and children younger than 12 still ineligible for the vaccine, schools are working with the Arizona Department of Health Services and CDC guidelines to navigate the right course of action. All counties in Arizona are ranked at a high transmission rate according to data from the Department of Health Services, with Maricopa County reporting 285 cases per 100,000

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individuals the week of Aug. 1. “We’ve already seen outbreaks in classrooms and schools,” Hoffman said. “It becomes very operationally challenging for the school to even remain open. One example is up in Ash Fork, in northern Arizona. It’s a small rural school district, and they had a couple of educators and bus drivers test positive, so they had to completely close their schools for a couple of days until they were able to have the staffing to maintain and get back to inperson learning.” Health is a top priority, and part of that consideration is the mental, emotional and social well-being of students. Besides abrupt life changes like wearing masks, social distancing, adjusting to learning at home, and losing social interaction, some students have also had traumatic experiences with the loss of a loved one or financial instability. To prioritize mental health, Hoffman said the Department of Education allocated $21.3 million in federal recovery dollars to fund the placement of school counselors and social workers in 140 schools across the state, including Anthem. It also developed a free and confidential peer support program where educators can speak with a trained crisis counselor. Another investment the Department of Education made in response to COVID-19 was creating a task force to evaluate technology access and the effectiveness of online learning. Students simply lived in rural areas where they didn’t have access to reliable internet — students in the Navajo nation received academic material through paper packets — and some could not afford the technology needed to participate. They initiated the final mile project, which will bring reliable, high-speed internet to increase the capability for online learning. “The pandemic really exposed how our schools and communities lack the technology for our students to stay connected in a world that increasingly relies on the internet and technological devices. What I saw as I spoke with

communities across the state over the past year and a half is that the digital divide impacts both our rural and urban communities,” Hoffman said. “The digital divide is truly an issue that has been a challenge across the entire state, even right here in the Valley. So, this is why I commissioned the technology taskforce to look at the complexities of Arizona’s digital divides and to help propose solutions and resources for our school communities.” This digital divide caused some students to essentially lose an entire year of learning, putting them behind their classmates and state standards. Hoffman said this is a concern that they already have steps in place to correct. The Department of Education has partnered with Discovery Education and ASU to provide high-quality online learning platforms and is using federal relief dollars to ensure teachers and students statewide have access. Hoffman concluded her talk by encouraging everyone who is eligible to get vaccinated. She said there are children who are ineligible for the vaccine that are at a greater risk of complications due to health conditions, and it is ultimately up to the community to step up and help protect these kids. “Our students are so excited to be back in the classroom, and we have a communal responsibility to protect inperson learning,” Hoffman said. “I hope everyone in this community has had a chance to get their vaccine, and please encourage those in your community who have not yet done so to make sure they get vaccinated as a way to help us protect in-person learning and make sure that we continue having a very strong school year.” For further information, resources and guidance or to sign up for email notifications about the 2021-22 school year, visit azed.gov/SY21-22. The Arizona Department of Health Services has a regularly updated dashboard of COVID-19 numbers both statewide and per county that can be found at https:// bit.ly/3AL0nnT.

THE FOOTHILLS FOCUS | THEFOOTHILLSFOCUS.COM | AUGUST 18, 2021

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OPINION

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AROUND THE BLUHMIN’ TOWN

The Olympics were quirky fun this summer BY JUDY BLUHM Foothills Focus Columnist

h, those Olympics. Inspiring, incredible, heartbreaking, fun and heartwarming. No other sporting event on Earth can produce so many plots, twists, turns and moments to enjoy and ponder as the summer games. The athletes pushed their bodies to try and capture bronze, silver or gold, leaving us “ordinary” folks to ask, “How did they do that?” Many pundits focused harshly on Simone Biles or liked to use the term “woke” when an athlete or team struggled

to perform to the usual “gold standard.” Hey, have you done a backflip lately? Hmm, didn’t think so. I did a handstand once many years ago, and it didn’t end well. Let’s leave flippant remarks to those who can flip (in the air). Oh, that devil of a horse name Saint Boy really messed up the gold medal dreams of the German rider Annika Schleu. Schleu was first in points to medal in the modern pentathlon until she mounted the uncooperative “saint.” This is a sport that includes equestrian show jumping, fencing, swimming, cross-country running and laser pistol

shooting. Riders must use horses they have not trained or bonded with prior to the competition. Well, Saint Boy reminded me of my old horse Baxter, a very handsome gelding who would do anything you asked and go anywhere you wanted him to go. Unless he had other plans. Those other plans often meant standing, grazing, walking slowly, or simply refusing to follow the simplest commands. Saint Baxter is what I should have called him. But when a coach punched Saint Boy in the rear end, it didn’t help matters. Schleu cried her way to finish last on a horse that just wasn’t going to jump. Sev-

eral other horses in the event acted less than saintly, bucking or throwing their riders off in a stunning show of bad manners. Do you need a nice winter wool sweater? How about having Great Britain’s gold medalist diver, Tom Daley, knit you a little something? While Daley was in between dives, he could be seen knitting away. Evidently, it gets boring waiting poolside, so knitting has become a therapeutic way for the champion to “relax and unwind.” His true “masterpiece” is the little pouch he made

see BLUHM page 13

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OPINION

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‘Biggy Rat’ departs the political rat race BY J.D. HAYWORTH Foothills Focus Columnist

ewton H. Minow, chairman of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) under John F. Kennedy, denounced television as a “vast wasteland” in 1961. But at that same time, the nation’s children viewed the flickering images inside the electronic box as a “vast wonderland” — especially on Saturday mornings. With parents and children freed from the routines of work and school for the weekend, mom and dad would sleep in, while the kids would pour bowls of sugar-infused breakfast cereal and plant themselves in front of the television for the morning’s animated fare. Comedy, action and even morality play came into the nation’s homes, courtesy of cartoons. It didn’t take long for the kids to distinguish the “good guys” and “bad guys,” as the contrast was as stark as the black and white in which it was televised. One dastardly duo of that era’s animation

— Biggy Rat and Itchy Brother — came roaring back into the collective consciousness of baby boomers last year in the real-life personas of Andrew and Chris Cuomo. The governor of New York and his younger sibling, a hectoring, lecturing cable news host, were ushered into American homes on a regular basis with repartee that the low-IQ brain trust at CNN apparently regarded as the epitome of “infotainment.” As they basked in their self-imagined, refracted fraternal glory, it became apparent within a nanosecond that the Cuomo brothers would never be confused with the Smothers Brothers, though Chris and Andrew did their own variation of the “mom always liked you best” routine. It was also painfully obvious that neither Cuomo boy grew into the man their father was. In the age of Reagan, Gov. Mario Cuomo emerged as the “Great Democrat Hope,” especially following his keynote address at the 1984 San Francisco Convention. No less a Republican than Richard Nixon

praised the elder Cuomo’s speech for its eloquence and effectiveness. But New York’s first Gov. Cuomo earned the unflattering nickname “Hamlet on the Hudson” for his indecisiveness and ultimate refusal to run for president. In late December 1991, a chartered plane was poised to fly him to New Hampshire 90 minutes prior to that state closing filing for its first in the nation presidential primary in February 1992. Mario Cuomo said no; another Democrat governor, Bill Clinton of Arkansas, became the 42nd president of the United States. The second Gov. Cuomo was ultimately discovered to possess hungers and habits that can only be described as “Clintonesque.” But prior to those revelations, Andrew found another vehicle to raise his profile. Like so many other Democrats in 2020, he decided to politicize the pandemic; but unlike the rest of his leftist cohorts, he took a page out of his younger brother’s career handbook — daily television. By making his “Live from Albany” daily

telecasts available to CNN and every other conceivable video outlet, Andrew Cuomo was able to feast on the political equivalent of Manna — free media. It was a political masterstroke. Given the constant demand for COVID-19 news, and the media’s decided leftist tilt, Gov. Andrew Cuomo filled the vacuum and earned predictable plaudits. Reporter Shannon Fisher’s account from April 2020 is typical of the praise-filled prose: “The novel coronavirus pandemic thrust him into a white-hot spotlight. A challenge like that can really test a leader’s mettle, and Cuomo’s pragmatic, empathetic leadership … earned high marks.” It also earned him a Daytime Emmy Award for his TV performances and over $5 million for his book, titled “American Crisis: Leadership Lessons from the COVID-19 Pandemic.” The aforementioned “white-hot spotlight” and the partisan predilections of most in

see HAYWORTH page 13

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OPINION

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HAYWORTH from Page 12

the press corps combined to slow scrutiny of the failures of Gov. Cuomo’s leadership. But eventually they were exposed. No less a progressive publication than the New York Times proved it wasn’t fooling around on April Fool’s Day of this year, when it reported that the governor’s staff lowered the number of COVID-19 nursing home fatalities appearing in a July 2020 report from 9,844 to 6,432. The practice of treating elderly patients with COVID-19 in hospital and then prematurely readmitting them to rest homes put other seniors at risk and undoubtedly led to additional deaths. Strange, then, that the nursing home scandal did not prompt Andrew Cuomo’s resignation as governor. Instead, subsequent charges of sexual harassment proved the catalyst that forced the “Luv Guv” to call it quits.

BLUHM from Page 10

to keep his gold medal. He left the competitors in stitches. Some of the weird images of the Tokyo Olympics included a six-legged runner. Yes, a cockroach was given “moments of stardom” when a cameraman decided to focus his lens on a cockroach during the final minutes of the Spain-Argentina women’s field hockey match. Geez, Mr. Cameraman, you have one job! This is the Olympics! Why must you shoot an insect making its way along a ledge at

Why? Curious observers would do well to remember the political environment that exists in today’s Democratic Party. There are allegations of similar nursing home fatalities in Pennsylvania and Michigan, and both those states hold gubernatorial elections next year. Had Cuomo departed Albany because of the nursing home scandal, Tom Wolf and Gretchen Whitmer could have faced a similar fate in Harrisburg and Lansing, respectively. Instead, New York’s female lieutenant governor, Kathy Hochul, becomes the Empire State’s first female governor, giving NY Dems the chance to “turn the page” prior to their own 2022 gubernatorial election. What’s next for Andrew Cuomo? It would seem a “vast wasteland.” While some predict a political comeback, it would be wise for him to wait until 2032… the Year of the Rat.

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the side of the stadium? One announcer from Spain screamed “la cucaracha!” in disbelief. There were some unsettling things that happened in Tokyo. We couldn’t escape controversy. But there were also records that were smashed and a feast of sporting events that thrilled. We had the chance to observe greatness. Our athletes were on fire. And for a few weeks, we could bask in their glory. Yea for Team USA! 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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OPINION

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READER’S VIEWPOINTS LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Response to J.D. Hayworth Editor: J.D. Hayworth’s cute parable in the July 28 Foothills Focus is in desperate need of a careful reality-checking update. It tells of a happy family on a summer road trip in their station wagon to Washington, D.C., circa 1960-65, for the kids to become “better acquainted with their country.” The eldest 11-year-old is the most animated and enthralled at the approach and sight of the “Capitol Dome” in the distance. Then the “Washington whirlwind” of sightseeing sweeps them up. The parents intertwine events of “personal, familial and national history,” as they tour D.C., to stimulate the reflections of the children with significant timelines increasing the relevance of the experience by connecting them to Pearl Harbor, FDR’s death, the resistance to allowing FDR, or “King Franklin” a third term (he died in his fourth term). Because

of WWII, the parents explained that press and the presidency had spoken minimally about his faltering health. The critical update to the sweet parable follows, demonstrating the horrific realities and starkly different national climate we U.S. citizens have tolerated during and after the Trump years. This New Year holiday, winter road trip in the family crossover vehicle to visit D.C., is the focus of this current parable set at the beginning of January. The parents explain, as they enter D.C. on Jan. 6, that this was a good time to take the trip, because the kids are doing school online due to the rampant U.S. cases of COVID-19. Upon entering the wide venues of D.C., the family is surprised by the demonstrating masses, while seeing the soon-to-be former president shouting from a podium. The eldest son curiously asks, “Why are so many people in the streets carrying flags” promoting Donald Trump, QAnon,

Thin Blue Line, the Confederacy, etc., while wearing military garb and body armor. The boy asks, “Why are they carrying bats, bars and other things that are dangerous?” Furthermore, he exclaims incredulously, “I thought Donald Trump was not going to be president anymore.” The parents attempt to integrate the last several decades of U.S. history to clarify the present events beginning with Sept. 11, 2001, witnessed by both parents 20 years ago. They tell how that day the Twin Towers collapsed and the Pentagon survived a direct jet hit. The eldest son pursues this threatening storyline asking, “Is that why the National Guard is erecting Jersey Barriers and real high fencing around the Capitol?” The parents tread delicately, describing a pattern of poor national governance over the previous four years of Trumpism leading to a severance of the unity in national confidence or “e pluribus unum.” The will

of the mob or the loudest voices, rather than the wisest, were now dominating the national discourse. They explain how the Trump years have overwhelmed the populace by his multiple-times-per-day “tweet tantrums” threatening the stability of the world in service to his childish whims. The parents then connect Trump’s denial of the scourge of COVID-19, which he has advised will “just disappear … like a miracle.” They mention how he pushed the citizenry to consider taking hydrochloroquine and/or swallowing disinfectant to treat COVID-19; how his administration blocked the press investigation about COVID-19, unless they catered/bowed to his will; and how he resisted attending press conferences. These controlling behaviors made it apparent that he did not have a clue about what was happening to the cohesiveness of the country due to his obvious ignorance and oblivious emotions concerning the more than 600,000 U.S.

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deaths in less than a year. The parents did not want to scare the children even more by telling them the truth about how Trump, a terribly obese man in questionable health, got infected with COVID-19. The parents were reluctant to say he contracted COVID-19 because he was unhealthy, almost like the lack of public conversation around FDR’s faulty health in WWII. Rather, they tried to interject some humor, saying, “After all, he only sits around and eat burgers and fast food.” The eldest son, not getting the joke, seemed perplexed at the suggestion of Trump’s lack of exercise, responding, “But I thought he played more golf than any other president.” Again, trying to relieve the distress of the oldest, the father answered, “Well, he only drives golf carts around, gets out and hits a ball.” They then realized the kid was still troubled, so they described how Trump was able to be nursed back to health with remdesivir and Regeneron’s monoclonal antibodies — treatments unavailable to the public until after he left office. Meanwhile, the parents again try to inject levity for the kids by telling the story of how

Trump said he would win an election, even if his competitors were Washington and Lincoln. This finally drew a loud laugh from the eldest at the thought of such absurdity that could only come from a narcissistic megalomaniac. Near the end of his parable, Hayworth jumps to the present, referencing memory weaknesses of Joe Biden to suggest he will not survive his term of office and Kamala Harris will replace him. Ironically, Hayworth forgets that the United States stood in the sights of utter destruction during the Jan. 6 insurrection. Of course, Hayworth and his conspiracy plots probably are sympathetic to these violent mobs, believing that those insurrectionists are now “political prisoners.” Finally, can you imagine the weak Mike Pence being elevated into the presidency if Trump had expired due to his COVID-19? That is, if the Trump supporters didn’t hang him first for not breaking the law and refusing to certify the state’s electoral votes. Fortunately, Kamala Harris is no Mike Pence. Art Veves North Valley

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Pigtails & Crewcuts offers hassle-free haircuts BY ALLISON BROWN Foothills Focus Staff Writer

igtails & Crewcuts offers a fun and comfortable environment for children — or the whole family — to get haircuts, styling, washing and more in Happy Valley. The salon, owned by local husband and wife Yvette and Michael Stumpf, is specifically designed for children, who often find it difficult to sit still or are scared and uncomfortable when getting a haircut. With crafts; toys; Disney movies; a reward from the treasure chest; and even salon chairs shaped like an airplane, firetruck or police car, kids and parents will be able to relax in the hands of

these salon professionals. “We just want to give other families what we thought was necessary, especially for kids, which is a place where kids could go and be comfortable enough and where the stylists are patient enough to give them a haircut,” Yvette said. The couple are parents and had the idea in 2018 when they lived in New Orleans, after taking their son to a “kid-centric” dentist’s office and seeing how helpful the environment was for the kids. With Yvette being a stay-at-home mom who was eager to get back to work and Michael having grown up spending his afternoons at a hair salon his mother owned, they immediately thought, “We could do this,” and found the Pigtails &

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Pigtails & Crewcuts is designed specifically for kids to make sure they are happy and comfortable when getting their hair cut. (Photo courtesy of Pigtails & Crewcuts) Crewcuts franchise. They jumped on board and were looking to find a building in Louisiana when Michael’s dad unexpectedly died in 2018. The Stumpfs returned to Michael’s hometown in Phoenix to be closer to family. They told the franchise director they were moving to Phoenix, and, to their surprise, he said, “We would love for you to be in Phoenix. We don’t have any locations (there).” They signed on for three locations. After moving, settling in and looking at multiple locations, the Stumpfs secured a building in Happy Valley in April 2019. They spent the rest of the year sorting out permits, zoning and contracting for turning an old day care into a salon. Then COVID-19 hit, which further delayed the remodeling and opening. Through financial stress and self doubts, they didn’t give up. It finally came together, and the salon opened May 25. “It was 100% worth the wait,” Michael said. “We love this community and look forward to serving the children and their families for many years to come.” Yvette said that while the pandemic was hard, their business offers a service that is impossible to get online. Even though it is kid-centered, Pigtails & Crewcuts also offers

haircuts for the parents — they can even get a lollipop, too. It’s a convenient one-stop shop where the kids are taken care of and entertained, and parents get a bit of stress relief and down time. “When you go into a generic salon, it’s not really fun for kids,” she said. “They see it as a chore, and they’re not going to want to go. We want them to go and actually have fun. We also want to make sure it’s something that’s relaxing for the parents and where the parents know these are people who know kids, treat kids well and want to make sure they’re OK.” Pigtails & Crewcuts offers cuts for boys, girls and adults, as well as styling, braiding, washing, “fairy hair,” and fingernail and toenail polish. It also has a special “first haircut package,” during which staff takes before and after photos, prints a certificate, and keeps a lock of hair preserved in a bag. Pigtails & Crewcuts is located at 1730 W. Happy Valley Road, Suite 105, Phoenix. Hours are 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturdays, and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sundays. Appointments can be made online at bit.ly/pigtailsandcrewcuts or through the mobile app. Walk-ins are also welcome.

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NVSO unveils the forthcoming concert season BY FOOTHILLS FOCUS STAFF

orth Valley Symphony Orchestra will celebrate its 10th anniversary season by bringing affordable concert experiences to the community. The 2021-22 season includes four musical performances, beginning with “Reopening Overtures” at 7 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 16, in the North Canyon High School auditorium, 1700 E. Union Hills Drive. The concert will feature performances by full orchestra, brass, winds and strings. The music will include Copland’s Fanfare for the Common Man, Rossini’s Overture to “The Barber of Seville,” Barber’s Adagio for Strings, Holst’s St. Paul Suite, Strauss’s Overture to “Die Fledermaus,” and Raff’s Sinfo-

nietta for Winds. The season also includes: • 7 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 18, “Musical Gifts for Christmas”: NVSO is bringing its gift of music to the Phoenix North Valley for the holiday season. This family-friendly event will include a visit from Santa and Mrs. Claus, as well as a medley of Christmas favorites and a singalong. Music will include arrangements from Trans-Siberian Orchestra, Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker Suite, Anderson’s Sleigh Ride and Balamage’s Festive Fanfare. This concert is sponsored by Dr. Howard Robinson of I-Med. • 7 p.m. Saturday, March 12, 2022, “Women in Music”: After having to cancel this concert in 2020 due to the pandemic, NVSO will recognize the 100th anniversary of women’s

August 6-22, 2021

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suffrage by performing music composed by women, including award-winning composer Joan Tower’s Sixth Fanfare for the Uncommon Woman. This concert is sponsored by CASCO Financial. • 7 p.m. Saturday, May 21, 2022, “Across America”: NVSO closes its 10th season with a celebration of America’s places and people. Enjoy music inspired by America, including Daugherty’s Route 66, music by American Indian composer Jerod Tate, and Dvořák’s beloved New World Symphony. This performance will also include the world premiere of a commissioned work by James DeMars, professor emeritus of composition at ASU. Tickets are $5 for each concert, or $15 for a season pass. To buy tickets, call 623-9804628 or visit northvalleysymphony.org. Con-

cert and season sponsorships are available for businesses or individuals who would like to support NVSO’s live performances. “The effects of the pandemic have been devastating for the performing arts around the globe,” said Liz Galpin, NVSO board president and cellist. “I am so proud of our NVSO student and adult musicians for what they accomplished in the past year. We are very excited to be offering the opportunity for live, in-person performances during our 10th concert season. Our musicians have missed performing for our community, and we can’t wait to welcome you back to hear some exceptional orchestral music.” NVSO is partially funded by the Phoenix Office of Arts and Culture through appropriations from the Phoenix City Council.

THE FOOTHILLS FOCUS | THEFOOTHILLSFOCUS.COM | AUGUST 18, 2021

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ed Bank Rolls are being offered up we won’t be surprised if thousands of Arizona residents claim the maximum limit allowed of 4 Bank Rolls per resident before they’re all gone,” said Lynne. “That’s because after the Bank Rolls were loaded with 15 rarely seen Silver Walking Liberties, each verified to meet a minimum collector grade of very good or above, the dates and mint marks of the U.S. Gov’t issued Silver Walking Liberty Half Dollars sealed away inside the State of Arizona Restricted Bank Rolls have never been searched. But, we do know that some of these coins date clear back to the early 1900’s and are worth up to 100 times their face value, so there is no telling what Arizona residents will find until they sort through all the coins,” Lynne went on to say. And here’s the best part. If you are a resident of the state of Arizona you cover only the $39 per coin state minimum set by the National Mint and Treasury, that’s fifteen rarely seen U.S. Gov’t issued Silver Walking Liberties worth up to 100 times their face value for just $585 which is a real steal because non state residents must pay $118 per coin which totals $1,770 if any coins remain after the 2-day deadline. The only thing Arizona residents need to do is call the State Toll-Free Hotlines printed in today’s newspaper publication before the 2-day order deadline ends. “Rarely seen U.S. Gov’t issued silver coins like these are highly sought after, but we’ve never seen anything like this before. According to The Official Red Book, a Guide Book of United States Coins many Silver Walking Liberty Half Dollars are now worth $40 $825 each in collector value,” Lynne said. “We’re guessing thousands of Arizona residents will be taking the maximum limit of 4 Bank Rolls because they make such amazing gifts for any occasion for children, parents, grandparents, friends and loved ones,” Lynne continued. “We know the phones will be ringing off the hook. That’s why hundreds of Hotline Operators are standing by to answer the phones beginning at 8:30 am this morning. We’re going to do our best, but with just 2 days to answer all the calls it won’t be easy. So make sure to tell everyone to keep calling if all lines are busy. We’ll do our best to answer them all.” Lynne said. The only thing readers of today’s newspaper publication need to do is make sure they are a resident of the state of Arizona and call the National Toll-Free Hotlines before the 2-day deadline ends midnight tomorrow. ■

HOW TO CLAIM THE LAST STATE RESTRICTED BANK ROLLS FACTS:

If you are a Arizona State Resident read the important information below about claiming the State Silver Bank Rolls, then call the State Toll-Free Hotline at 8:30 am: 1-800-979-3771 EXT: RWB1784

Are these Silver Walking Liberties worth more than other half dollars:

Yes. These U.S. Gov’t issued Silver Walking Liberties were minted in the early 1900’s and will never be minted again. That makes them extremely collectible. The vast majority of half dollars minted after 1970 have no silver content at all and these Walking Liberties were one of the last silver coins minted for circulation. That’s why many of them now command hundreds in collector value so there’s no telling how much they could be worth in collector value someday.

How much are State Restricted Walking Liberty Silver Bank Rolls worth:

It’s impossible to say, but some of these U.S Gov’t issued Walking Liberties dating back to the early 1900’s are worth up to 100 times the face value and there are 15 in each Bank Roll so you better hurry if you want to get your hands on them. Collector values always fluctuate and there are never any guarantees. But we do know they are the only Arizona State Silver Bank Rolls known to exist and Walking Liberties are highly collectible so anyone lucky enough to get their hands on these Silver Bank Rolls should hold onto them because there’s no telling how much they could be worth in collector value someday.

Why are so many Arizona residents claiming them:

Because they are the only State Restricted Walking Liberty Silver Bank Rolls known to exist and everyone wants their share. Each Bank Roll contains a whopping 15 Silver Walking Liberties dating back to the early 1900’s some worth up to 100 times their face value. Best of all Arizona residents are guaranteed to get them for the state minimum set by the National Mint and Treasury of just $39 per Silver Walking Liberty for the next two days.

How do I get the State Restricted Walking Liberty Silver Bank Rolls:

Arizona residents are authorized to claim up to the limit of 4 State Restricted Walking Liberty Silver Bank Rolls by calling the State Toll Free Hotline at 1-800-979-3771 Ext. RWB1784 starting at precisely 8:30 am this morning. Everyone who does is getting the only State Restricted Walking Liberty Silver Bank Rolls known to exist. That’s a full Bank Roll containing 15 Silver Walking Liberties from the early 1900’s some worth up to 100 times their face value for just the state minimum set by the National Mint and Treasury of just $39 per Silver Walking Liberty, which is just $585 for the full Bank Rolls and that’s a real steal because non state residents are not permitted to call before 5 pm tomorrow and must pay $1,770 for each Arizona State Restricted Walking Liberty Silver Bank Roll if any remain. R1043R-2

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Sports radio show spotlights the good BY ALLISON BROWN Foothills Focus Staff Writer

he Varsity Sports Show, produced by longtime Carefree resident and current town councilmember Vince D’Aliesio, took a break from its regular sports broadcasting coverage for a Summer Spotlight Series to shed light on good things when the world seemed full of negatives. “We’re a sports radio show. We cover youth, high school, college and activities in the community,” D’Aliesio said. “This summer, we pivoted away from covering sports as much, because schools have been out. We wanted to get out in the community and spotlight a lot of positive things going on when there’s so much negativity out there. We wanted to present more of a positive spin on things and not so much view the world through rose-colored glasses but just try to keep it positive within the community and show that there are great things out there that

are happening.” The Summer Spotlight Series started May 29 and has hosted a variety of special guests and organizations. Their first guest of the series, a favorite for D’Aliesio, was Dick Stockton, a well-known sports broadcaster. He and D’Aliesio counted down his top five favorite broadcasting moments from his 55-year career. D’Aliesio said the goal was just to highlight people who made a difference in the community. However, they featured organizations that work to make a positive impact. D’Aliesio said he felt one of the most impactful shows featured the suicide prevention hotline, Teen Lifeline. They addressed mental health issues and promoted the resource. “There was a tragic event that occurred with a young high school football player that took his own life,” he said. “So, that week (on July 26) we did our show from

see VARSITY page 22

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Z-Trip helms the turntables, mixing genres BY CHRISTINA FUOCO-KARASINSKI Foothills Focus Executive Editor

or Zach Sciacca, touring with Atmosphere and Cypress Hill is like a family reunion. “We’re all friends,” said Sciacca, a DJ known as Z-Trip. “We’ve been on tour four or five times. We’re all family. To be the first hip-hop tour out the gate with those squads, it’s like the best possible music scenario for me to be a part of. I think we’re all super excited to get back out on the road.” The trio performed at the Mesa Amphitheater on Aug. 15. Hailing from New River, Sciacca finds hometown shows fun. “It’s great to come back to Arizona any time,” he said. “There are people who still think of me playing at Nita’s Hideaway, the Green Room or Bobby McGee’s — all the weird places I’ve played over the years. Some people still know me as that. If you’ve followed my career, I’ve opened for the Rolling Stones, played Coachella four times

and Lollapalooza three. I feel like it’s good for the people who have me in their memory, but it’s nice for people to see the growth and the fact that I’ve never stopped.” Sciacca admitted he does enjoy playing a small room when he’s in the Valley. “I enjoy playing for friends of mine and connecting those dots,” he said. “Playing a small little something is always fun. It’s nice to be able to do a big event as well. To play with Linkin Park and LL Cool J is cool, but it’s nice to be able to come back and balance it out with a small club in Scottsdale. I love that versatility.” For the last year, however, his gigs “dissolved and postponed” due to the pandemic. It was the first time Sciacca took a break for more than two weeks during his 30-year career. “Maybe a month, max,” he retreated. “When I broke my collarbone, I was out for about a month. To be home for that long on the front end of this was really a complete mind scramble for me. I needed a little time to process it.

“In doing that, I felt I really needed to do something musically. It’s like having a train stop on a dime. All the cars are backing up. It just keeps hitting. There was a moment where I needed to get out of that headspace. I started streaming on Twitch for fans and my own sanity. That turned into such a huge thing for me.” Not only was there a pandemic, but social issues reigned — the George Floyd

protests and Trump controversies. “With all this tension, people were having a hard time finding a way to release,” he said. “These streams became huge. I did my first show in Tampa in June. There were people who flew out to see me from North Carolina and Maine. “I didn’t set out to gain more fans or to

see Z-TRIP page 22

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Z-TRIP from page 21

up my visibility. I was looking for a place to get some music off my chest and have a feeling of normal. All these people received it really well.” On the livestreams, he wasn’t locked into playing popular club tracks. He could dig into his musical bag of house, drum and bass, reggae and chill. “I was able to take people on this musical journey,” he said. “I revisited some of my old mixes.” The “old mixes” hark back to his early days in the Valley, where his mother and sister still reside. The entertainer was born in New York but spent his teenage years in Arizona attending Barry Goldwater and Deer Valley high schools. He lived in New River before part of it became Anthem, and he moved around the Valley, residing in North Phoenix, Tempe, Scottsdale and Mesa. He is now based in San Diego. His career has been fruitful. Besides releasing his own albums, Z-Trip has remixed songs by Bob Marley, Daft Punk, Missy Elliott, Beastie Boys, Jackson 5 and Rush, as

Former New River resident Zach Sciacca is currently on tour with Atmosphere and Cypress Hill. (Photo courtesy of Z-Trip) well as served as producer for tracks by LL Cool J, Beck and Meat Beat Manifesto. He’s been dubbed the “pioneer of the mashup movement,” a moniker Z-Trip is iffy about. The mashup scene, as it were, goes back to Afrika Bambaataa and Grandmaster Flash, who chopped songs and put them through their filters. “I’m happy to wear the badge, but I actually drew inspiration from the people

who were dabbling in that stuff before me,” he said. “I think I was the guy who made it palatable and got branded as the ‘pioneer.’ My whole thing is it’s about how hip-hop is in general. I’m a cog in a much bigger wheel or machine. “If you really boil it down, mashing up is really mixing things. Isn’t that what DJs are supposed to be doing anyway? Mixing? If you say you’re a mashup DJ, it’s a bit of a redundancy. I think I identify with extreme remixing. That’s a better term for it.” His last Phoenix gig was part of a Phoenix Suns halftime show. “Being a guy who started out DJing in bars to 100 people, to the coliseum Downtown and the Mesa Amphitheatre, it gives me the ability to play a big event and the small event. “If I come out there for Christmas or Thanksgiving, someone will inevitably find out I’m in town and want me to play their party. It’s nice to keep one foot deeply rooted in where it started and one foot spreading out to conquer new territory. It’s nice to have that stance — especially in Arizona.

VARSITY from page 20

a Teen Lifeline office and really emphasized the need to reach out or talk to somebody if you need help. We reached a lot of young people that particular week.” But D’Aliesio doesn’t just talk about change. During another broadcast on Aug. 7, he accompanied Jon Linton, founder of the I Have a Name Project, on a run to deliver food and water to homeless people. “That one in particular really touched me, because these people are sleeping in tents, literally a stone throw away from the state Capitol,” D’Aliesio said. “While we’re not a political show, it was impactful. With the shelters being so full and the heat being what it is, there are people in tents on the sidewalk, and they were so grateful.” He stressed that the show stays away from politics. He said he wants to focus on organizations in “our backyard” that need help, resources, time and awareness. Also featured have been Hospice of the Valley, Tiger Mountain Foundation, Arizona Humane Society, Harvest Compassion Center, Cosanti Foundation and Homeless Youth Connection, as well as a spotlight on Mike Valadez, who was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer yet still coaches high school football. The summer series will close out Saturday, Aug. 21, at the Carefree Veteran’s Memorial with Carefree resident Bob Jenkins. “He is a big part of an organization called the Marine Corps Law Enforcement Foundation,” D’Aliesio said. “They provide funds to families of veterans that have fallen. It’s a good organization and a good cause, and that will end our series for the summer.” With the close of the Summer Spotlight Series, the Varsity Sports Show will return to sports coverage. D’Aliesio said the summer series will likely continue, in light of the immense support and positive feedback he has received. To catch the final show of the series, tune in to KDUS AM 1060 from 9 to 10 a.m. Saturday Aug. 21, listen online at bit.ly/ KDUSVSS or attend in person at the Veterans Memorial. Previous episodes can be streamed online as well. For more information, visit varsitysportsshow.com.

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MTA hosts auditions for ‘Once on This Island Jr.’ BY FOOTHILLS FOCUS STAFF

usical Theatre of Anthem will hold auditions for “Once on This Island Jr.,” a story with a catchy Caribbean-flavored score. “Once on This Island Jr.” is a theatrical adaptation of Hans Christian Andersen’s popular fairy tale “The Little Mermaid” and the Tony-nominated Broadway musical by the legendary writing team Ahrens and Flaherty. The musical tells the story of Ti Moune, a peasant girl who rescues and falls in love with Daniel, a wealthy boy from the other side of her island. When Daniel is returned to his peo-

ple, the fantastical gods who rule the island guide Ti Moune on a quest that will test the strength of her love against the powerful forces of prejudice, hatred and death. Auditions will be held Saturday, Oct. 9, at the theater, 42201 N. 41st Drive, Suite B100, Anthem. • 10:30 a.m. general auditions. • 9 a.m. Auditions for workshop participants (A to L). • 9:45 a.m. Auditions for workshop participants (M to Z). • Dance call one: 9 a.m. Sunday, Oct. 10. • Dance call two: 9:45 a.m. Sunday, Oct. 10. • Callbacks: 10:30 a.m. Sunday, Oct. 10.

The cost is $325 for ages 6 to 18; 10% sibling discount; scholarships available. Those who wish to audition should bring a musical theater song (or any song they are comfortable with), 16 to 32 bars or 1 minute in length. Bring an accompaniment with CD or iPod to sing with. They may also sing a cappella if needed. Have the registration materials completed before coming to the audition. For more info or to reserve a spot, visit musicaltheatreofanthem.org. Audition prep workshop Audition preparation workshops will be held at MTA from 4:30 to 6 p.m. and

from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 7, as well as from 4:30 to 6 p.m. Friday, Oct. 8. During these 90-minute sessions, participants will be instructed on cold reads, acting technique and characterization. Workshop participants can audition prior to the general audition time. Cost is $35, and space is limited to 18 participants per session. There is a 10% sibling discount. For more information and to reserve a spot, visit musicaltheatreofanthem. org. The performances are 7 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 2; 7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 3; 3 p.m., 5:30 p.m. and 8 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 4; and 3 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 5.

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YOUTH