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This Week

NEWS ................. 8

ADOT: ATV use on highway shoulders is illegal and unsafe

FEATURES ........ 18 Kuma’s Great Adventures lead to Water Wheel in Payson

FEATURES ........ 23 Ballet Arizona’s virtual book club returns for 2021-2022

OPINION ................... 10 BUSINESS ................. 16 FEATURES ................ 18 CLASSIFIEDS ............ 26 Zone I

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

Anthem Area Edition

Wednesday, September 1, 2021

Boulder Creek football kicks off Friday BY TYLER BUDGE Foothills Focus Staff Writer

oulder Creek football enters 2021 with one goal in mind: the state championship. This season, the Jaguars have the rare opportunity to play the team that bounced them in the semifinals a year ago in their first game, the Highland Hawks. “I’d like to get them back,” said Anthony Casarella, Boulder Creek football head coach, said about Highland High School in Gilbert. They defeated Boulder Creek 35-28. “For the last three years in a row now they’ve beat us. Like I said, not taking

see FOOTBALL page 5

Boulder Creek kicked off its season with a party on Aug. 28. (Photo by Kat Gray)

City filling 434 police department jobs BY PAUL MARYNIAK Foothills Focus Staff Writer

hoenix of�icials began offering handsome bonuses to recruits and even other city employees who make referrals in a desperate effort to �ill a growing number of police department vacancies. Police newbies or of�icers recruited from

other municipalities will get a signing bonus of up to $7,500 while other employees in other city departments who refer a recruit or a transfer from another police department can collect up to $2,500, according to a memo Assistant City Manager Jeffrey Barton sent last week to City Council. “The Employment Services Bureau is committed to aggressively marketing and recruit-

ing new police hires as well as lateral police of�icers,” Barton wrote of a team that includes three of�icers and a sergeant. He said that for the last 14 months, the team has marketed the Police Department through 131 live events, 75 cross-country online ads and another 77 virtual events across the coun-

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POLICE JOBS page 4

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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

THE FOOTHILLS FOCUS | THEFOOTHILLSFOCUS.COM | SEPTEMBER 1, 2021

POLICE JOBS �� page 1

try, TV advertising, �liers at colleges and universities and banners and billboards. “In the last 11 months, the Employment Services Bureau has heavily invested in social media resulting in an increased amount of traf�ic to the city’s websites,” he wrote, ticking off 91,762 new users and 131,227 page views at the recruiting website, JoinPHXPD.com; nearly 1.9 million views of one of nine Facebook ads; and 84,100 clicks on the website link from those Facebook ads. Yet, for all that effort, the Phoenix Police Department is confronting what Barton calls “increased challenges in recent years related to the hiring and retention of both sworn and civilian police positions.” Currently, the department has 224 empty sworn positions and 212 vacant civilian jobs — the latter including 75 new jobs created in the city’s 2021-22 budget to handle a variety of duties such as handling records requests, answering 911 calls and other functions. As of last month, Barton said, the department has 2,901 of�icers even though Coun-

cil has authorized 3,125. Barton said the city’s problem is not unique, noting “police departments across the country including Phoenix have seen signi�icant reductions in police recruit applications and new hires. He noted that in the last three �iscal years, Phoenix has hired 635 recruits and 32 lateral transfers. But Barton also indicated the city is looking down the road with some urgency because total attrition “has continued to climb during the last three �iscal years” and that “more of�icers are leaving the department for reasons other than �inishing their Deferred Retirement Option Plan.” The so-called DROP plan offers a way for an employee who would otherwise be eligible to retire to keep working but start earning some retirement bene�its, while the city gets to retain the employee’s services without further increasing that employee’s pension payout. According to Barton’s memo, of 573 of�icers who have left the department, 307 were due to DROP. Projected retirements through DROP for the next �ive years total 447, he said.

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Phoenix Assistant City Manager Jeffrey Barton told city council in a memo last week that the city has launched a bonus program to help fill empty officer and civilian positions in the police department. (Submitted photo) In all, 30% of the sworn personnel – 810 of�icers – are eligible for retirement after putting in their 20 years. Barton’s memo also states that “a concentrated focus has been placed on �illing critical needs of the department in relation to civilian positions.” During the city’s formulation of its current budget last spring, City Manager Ed Zeurcher noted that the police department has lost 375 civilian positions since the Great Recession. Of the new positions council created, 34 of the 75 new civilians are to help the department comply with data reporting to the National Incident-Based Reporting System, 22 would be used for the continuing civilianization of central booking; 15 to improve turnaround time for public records requests and four to manage the early identi�ication and intervention “to proactively identify trends and intervene prior to an employee’s adverse actions.” That last area mainly involves police of�icers who act in a troubling manner. Noting “many agencies around the country are experiencing the same challenges,” Barton did not indicate what other plans are being made to address the shortage of of�icers. Nor does he state how the empty positions currently are impacting the department. “We are committed to continuing to expand efforts to recruit, hire and retain employees,” he said.

NEWS

THE FOOTHILLS FOCUS | THEFOOTHILLSFOCUS.COM | SEPTEMBER 1, 2021

FOOTBALL �� page 1

anything away from them, they have a great program over there,” said Boulder Creek’s longtime head coach Anthony Casarella. After entering last season’s state tournament as top-seeded team, an exit in the semis left a bitter end to an otherwise great season. “The goal is to get where we were last year to be in that semifinal game, and obviously win the game this year,” Casarella said. “Last year’s loss was heartbreaking. We thought we had a great shot at getting to that championship game and competing against Chaparral,” Casarella said. Boulder Creek comes into the year as one of the state’s best returning teams, and the players did not hesitate when asked about their team goals for the season. “Get to the championship and win it. We got to get a step further than we did last year, be better than the team last year, and just keep build-

ing the program up and up,” said Jack McFarland, senior tight end. Boulder Creek is the favorite to repeat as Southwest champions but will have to get past Shadow Ridge High School Surprise and Phoenix’s Sandra Day O’Connor, two section rivals who made it into the condensed playoff field last season. “I don’t think you can take any team lightly,” Casarella said. “This is 6A football in the Southwest. These are good teams. I would never look past any team, especially in our division.” Another challenge Boulder Creek faces is having to play five road games this season. Last year, it was three. “We’re always prepared,” said Jaiden Clifford, senior quarterback. “It doesn’t matter where or when; we have a lot we do to prepare and actually have a lot of fun traveling. We always have a lot of fans who go to our road games. Our community is super strong up here in Anthem.” Boulder Creek’s scrimmages have

been on the road every year under coach Casarella. It’s a tradition that continued this season with an Aug. 25 scrimmage against Desert Vista. “When I take a scrimmage every year, I take the scrimmage away,” Casarella said. “I don’t ever take the home scrimmage. I want to make it like an extra road trip. We’re going to Desert Vista, which is the same ride as Highland.” Staying focused is the key this fall, and the seniors know that, especially if the team wants to eclipse last season. “Everyone needs to step up at all times,” Clifford said. “We’re really well rounded. As a team, and mentally we’re staying focused all the time. We focus on being strong and being there for one another.” In 2021, the 6A state tournament will return to its prior format of 16 teams, which will make the path to a state championship harder than last year. Boulder Creek’s first game is Friday, Sept. 3, on the road against Highland High School.

“I think it’s time for us to take that next step, and be one of the competitive teams in the state,” Casarella said. “Our goal is to be the strongest team in the weight room and the best team on the field. That’s always our goal and nothing’s changed this year.”

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Public can enter raffle for off-road vehicle, boat BY FOOTHILLS FOCUS STAFF

he State Employees Charitable Campaign annually provides Arizona state employees with an opportunity to voluntarily contribute monetary donations that support hundreds of nonprofit charities. The public can show its support for three of those 501(c)(3) nonprofits by purchasing raffle tickets for a chance to win from a wide selection of brand-name outdoors equipment, which includes the grand-prize winner’s choice of a 2021 Polaris Ranger Crew XP 1000 EPS or a 2021 Sea-Doo Fish Pro and trailer. Proceeds from the raffle will benefit Wildlife for Tomorrow and the Arizona Elk Society, both of which work closely with the Arizona Game and Fish Department. Together, the organizations provide needed support for habitat projects, water for wildlife, education and mentored activities

where traditional resources aren’t adequate. Special Olympics Arizona also will benefit to help assist more than 22,000 Arizona athletes who participate in the program. RideNow Powersports has donated a 2021 Polaris Ranger Crew XP 1000 EPS ($18,837 MSRP) and a 2021 SeaDoo Fish Pro with trailer ($16,199

MSRP) to be raffled as the grand prize. The Arizona Elk Society is hosting the fundraiser on behalf of the three charities and has donated six additional prizes to increase the number of winners — 55-quart Canyon coolers (second and third prizes), Vortex Diamondback 10x42 binoculars

(fourth and fifth prizes), and Canyon Nomad soft-sided coolers (sixth and seventh prizes). The raffle ends at 11:59 p.m. Nov. 28, with a live drawing scheduled for Dec. 11 at RideNow Powersports in Phoenix at 17202 N. Cave Creek Road. For more information, and to participate, visit https://aesraffles.org/.

BY FOOTHILLS FOCUS STAFF

personal property tax often charged in other states. The VLT funds transportation infrastructure in Arizona, including highways, bridges and local roads, and contributes to the general funds of cities/towns and counties. In 2019, the Legislature amended Arizona Revised Statute 28-5805. This implemented a phased-in approach for making the VLT formula

used for alternative fuel vehicles the same one used currently for traditional cars and trucks, bringing fairness to VLT assessments. The changes in the formula will take effect in January and be completely phased-in by 2023. The changes ensure that drivers of alternative fuel vehicles contribute to

Alternative fuel tax formula changing

hanges to state law mean that drivers who purchase alternative fuel vehicles will pay the same vehicle license tax (VLT) rate as other drivers by 2023. The change in VLT rates is phased-in, starting Jan. 1, 2022. The VLT is paid during vehicle registration and is assessed in place of a

see VEHICLE page 7

NEWS

THE FOOTHILLS FOCUS | THEFOOTHILLSFOCUS.COM | SEPTEMBER 1, 2021

VEHICLE �� page 6

the preservation and maintenance of the state’s 7,000-mile highway system at the same rate as drivers of traditional vehicles. Bringing parity to VLT assessments is especially important for the continued maintenance and expansion of Arizona’s infrastructure as alternative fuel vehicles continue to increase in popularity in Arizona. Under current state law, an alternative fuel vehicle registered before Jan. 1, will have its VLT calculated using 1% of the manufacturer’s base retail price of the vehicle. For an alternative fuel vehicle registered between Jan. 1 and Dec. 31, 2022, the VLT will be calculated using 20% of the manufacturer’s base retail price of the vehicle. After Dec. 31, 2022, the formula used to calculate VLT for alternative fuel vehicles will be the same one used for other vehicles, as determined by ARS 28-5801. What potential buyers of alterna-

September Specials

tive fuel vehicles need to know It’s important to note that the VLT formula attached to an alternative fuel vehicle is determined by vehicle registration date, which can be different from the purchase date. A temporary registration permit issued by a vehicle dealer qualifies as the registration date and must be issued before Jan. 1, 2022, for a vehicle to have its VLT calculated using the 1% formula. For private party sales, new title documentation must be processed by an MVD or an authorized third-party office before Jan. 1 for the alternative fuel vehicle to have its VLT calculated using the 1% formula. Arizona Department of Transportation Motor Vehicle Division offices will be closed Friday, Dec. 31, in observance of the New Year’s Day holiday. What current owners of alternative fuel vehicles need to know Owners of Arizona-registered alternative fuel vehicles who make

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no changes to their vehicle title will continue to have their car’s VLT calculated with the 1% formula. The VLT rate changes won’t affect these vehicles until a change is made to the vehicle title, triggering a new registration cycle. The VLT formula attached to the alternative fuel vehicle will be changed to the current formula in use if a new registration cycle is established. Examples of this include but are not limited to selling the car, transferring ownership, adding or removing an owner from the title, and a lease buyout. Paying off a vehicle loan and the lender’s name being removed from

the title will not trigger a new registration cycle. For more information about VLT for alternative fuel vehicles, visit azdot.gov/altfuel. Alternative fuel vehicles are defined as vehicles that are powered by electricity, hydrogen, solar or natural gas/compressed natural gas/liquefied petroleum gas. This does not apply to hybrid vehicles. Alternative fuel vehicles will continue to be issued the Alternative Fuel Vehicle special license plate, which allows access to HOV freeway lanes at any time, regardless of the number of passengers in the vehicle.

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ADOT: ATV use on highway shoulders illegal, unsafe BY FOOTHILLS FOCUS STAFF

along highways. The vehicles destroy vegetation and erode unpaved areas, which can cause steep drop-offs at the edge of pavement and at driveways. When enough damage occurs, ADOT maintenance crews are needlessly diverted from other important functions as they work to repair damage from off-road vehicles. The problem applies no matter where ATV riders are improperly using highway shoulders, but the issue is more pronounced in certain areas. This includes State Route 188 in the Tonto Basin, where curves and elevation changes only make the problem more pronounced. Also northwest of Wickenburg, heavy ATV use is an issue along SR 89 between US 93 and SR 71. ADOT reminds off-road vehicle operators they can be cited for illegal use of highway shoulders, including for damage to state or private land.

hile all-terrain vehicles are a popular way to explore off-road areas, the Arizona Department of Transportation reminds ATV riders it is illegal and unsafe to drive these vehicles along state roadways. The shoulders of state highways are only to be used for emergencies, not for joyrides. ATV users create many hazards when they drive on shoulders. At a minimum, they are a distraction to passenger and commercial traffic on the highway. At driveways and on sharp curves, they can surprise other drivers and lead to near-misses or crashes. And on unpaved shoulders, ATV riders can kick up dust that blinds drivers who are traveling at highway speeds. ATV use also damages the areas

Driving ATVs on illegal trails like this one along SR 188 in the Tonto Basin area can cause injuries. (Photo courtesy of Arizona Department of Transportation)

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OPINION

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AROUND THE BLUHMIN’ TOWN

Does ADOT mean ‘Arizona Demons of Traffic?’ BY JUDY BLUHM Foothills Focus Columnist

ime flies when you are having fun. Especially when you are stuck for four hours on I-17, on your way out of Phoenix. The hands of time move very slowly. One hot afternoon I was forced, with a few thousand other motorists, to finally discover what it means to be trapped liked a rat in a vehicle. Just north of Black Canyon City, a big RV tipped over, blocking the entire northbound lanes of I-17 and causing a backup for miles and miles.

These evil traffic snarls seem to happen every weekend. What is the hope here? You try to cope. One long minute at a time. People turn off their vehicles, start milling around, trying to make sense of what is happening, with a backdrop of laughter, small talk and friendly exchanges. That initial phase is replaced by an almost eerie sense of dismay and helplessness, as people begin to realize that sitting in 102 degrees on an uphill grade in a parked vehicle can be downright dangerous. It was the elderly lady in front of me who had a birthday cake in her back-

seat — a birthday surprise for a friend in Prescott — who started unraveling first. She became noticeably distraught and started crying after 45 minutes of no information. Well, she wasn’t alone. Sweltering heat, high humidity and threatening thunderstorms were only part of the misery. Not knowing what was happening was the worse part of the equation. One disgruntled trucker left his big rig and walked to the site of the accident to talk to the highway patrol officers. He was shaking his head, livid as he marched back to his truck. “What’s wrong?” dozens of motorists asked as

he walked by. He would tell the same sad tale again and again. It seems there is an effort to move the RV off the freeway, but it “takes time.” Does ADOT stand for “Arizona Demons of Traffic?” That was one trucker’s assessment. Yes, in a road closure, there are many victims. There are folks very low on water, many needing to use the bathroom, diabetics out of insulin, babies crying, people who began the roadtrip sick and who were getting sicker by the minute, and all types of dogs panting

see BLUHM page 13

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OPINION

THE FOOTHILLS FOCUS | THEFOOTHILLSFOCUS.COM | SEPTEMBER 1, 2021

Biden ‘finishing the job’ for his predecessor BY J.D. HAYWORTH Foothills Focus Columnist

arack Obama did not go gently into that good presidential retirement. While most of his predecessors departed once their “lease” at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue expired, Mr. Obama decided to remain. Now with his “No. 2” elevated to “No. 1,” the former president sticks around with an up-close view and an important role in Joe Biden “finishing the job,” as Mr. Obama put it in an interview with The New York Times. Sympathetic journalists take that to mean that the 46th president will work to complete the progressive policy goals envisioned by the 44th. Americans with a different political point of view fear the expression conveys a simpler and more sinister goal: the end of the USA as a democratic re-

public. While his immediate successor, Donald Trump, was widely viewed as “disruptor-in-chief,” it’s worth recalling that the Barack Obama of 2008 routinely pledged on the campaign trail to “fundamentally change America as we know it.” In many ways, he succeeded. From the enactment of Obamacare to the politicization of our military and intelligence apparatus, and on through the exploitation of racial disharmony, our 44th president lit long, slow fuses…now set to detonate. How does Mr. Obama avoid responsibility? Simple. He employs euphemisms and administers “verbal tranquilizers.” Though his mask may slip occasionally, such an occurrence is usually explained away by an infatuated press corps. A recent example of Obama speaking softly and sticking it to Republicans can be found in his remarks to the American

Library Association in late June. There, he was asked about his biggest concern for the future, and responded this way: “The degree to which misinformation is now disseminated at warp speed, in coordinated ways that we haven’t seen before.” The former president then expounded on his “concern” by quickly adding a political dimension: “And that the guardrails I thought were in place around many of our democratic institutions really depend upon the two parties agreeing to those ground rules, those guardrails. And that one of them right now doesn’t seem as connected to them.” Call it “accusation by insinuation and omission,” preceded by “indictment through redefinition.” All of it delivered in a calm, “thoughtful” manner. Translated into conservative context, Mr. Obama is basically saying this: “Let’s call investigative reports and assertions from therRight ‘misinformation’ so that they can be immediately discredited.”

“Moreover, Republicans need to know their place! They need to return to the passive, polite people they used to be, accepting election irregularities for the ‘greater good,’ which of course keeps our side in power.” The left has made it a priority to politicize the pandemic; that continues with the use of government funds following the “Obama Directive.” Check out this headline from the broadcasting trade journal Radio Ink in its Aug. 19 edition: “CPB Targets COVID Misinformation.” “The Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) is awarding $275,000 in emergency grants to public media stations to address COVID-19 misinformation in their communities,” reads the article’s lead sentence. While $275,000 is a pittance compared to the trillions the left intends to spend, it does speak volumes about the

see HAYWORTH page 13

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HAYWORTH from Page 12

way government-financed radio and TV stations take their cues from the Democrat playbook. Of course, 10 days before those gov-

BLUHM from Page 10

and getting anxious. The “tailgate” atmosphere quickly turned to despair and frustration. Finally, long after the lady’s cake was a melted mess, and all of the babies had cried themselves to sleep, and the dogs stopped barking, we got the blessed message to “start our engines.” Yes, it was true joy to finally feel our tires rolling on the road. Moral of the story? Dear readers, pack

ernment grants were announced, Barack Obama celebrated his 60th birthday with a lavish party on his $12 million, 29-acre Martha’s Vineyard Estate. Joe Biden was not invited; presumably, he was focused on ”finishing the job.”

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a bag with essentials before you leave home. Bring extra water, snacks, reading material, flashlight, medicine and anything else to make yourself comfortable during a long, treacherous wait. And if you must bring a birthday cake, be sure to have a supply of plates and forks, because eating it with strangers on the road is a lot more fun than watching it melt all over the back seat! Safe travels. Judy Bluhm is a writer and a local Realtor. Have a comment or a story? Email Judy at judy@judybluhm.com.

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Arizona’s most thankless job: school board member BY DAVID LEIBOWITZ Foothills Focus Columnist

ost of us like to believe we’re decent people. We give a few bucks to charity, we volunteer, maybe even help a friend move. But be real: There’s being a decent human and then there’s going above and beyond. Like by serving on your local school board. If there’s a volunteer role existent in Arizona today that I cannot wrap my head around, it’s that one. And the past year of headlines – full of protests, threats and extreme surliness – have only deepened my confusion. Our state has about 240 school boards and 1,200 board members. Each of them deserves a medal. Or our prayers. Because anyone who does that job for $0 a year deserves something in return. School board members begin their careers by running for election. You speak at public forums, knock on doors, stand in

front of Safeway, anywhere you can meet a few voters, most of whom pay attention for 14 seconds before pushing past you like you’re a human turnstile. Then, say you win. That earns you the privilege of going to 25 or 30 weeknight meetings annually, many of which last for hours and involve a “call to the public.” If you’ve never been to a school board or municipal council meeting, lucky you. I’ve attended many, and trust me: Most members of the public who answer this call do so because no sane human being has ever listened to them for three minutes straight without dialing 911. It’s like open mike at an insane asylum, minus the lithium. And that was before COVID, before anti-mask protests, and before machinations over Critical Race Theory. Nowadays, your average school board meeting frequently resembles Jan. 6 at the U.S. Capitol. Minus the gunfire – so far. Down south near Tucson, the April 27 meeting of the Vail governing board re-

quired sheriff’s deputies before the meeting even started. About 150 anti-maskers – some armed – stormed the meeting, pushing past school district employees, screaming and berating board members and refusing to wear masks, per Pima County’s mandate. “There was a handful of people – I don’t know exactly how many – who either don’t have kids in the school district, don’t live in the school district, don’t live in the county, who came with the express purpose of whipping up that group,” Supt. John Carruth told the Arizona Education News Service. Talk about needing more hobbies. The Litchfield Elementary School District has degenerated into chaos over the passage of an “equity statement” last December. Since then, the Arizona Attorney General’s Office has been involved and protests have become a regular feature of board meetings. Last week, Dr. Tara Armstead, the school board’s only Black member, re-

signed and scorched the 12,000-student district on her way out the door. “I will not say thank you for the time that I served here,” said Armstead, “or express any gratitude or appreciation because, for the five months I have been here, I have been treated like I’m not an expert in the field and have no idea what I’m talking about.” The Scottsdale Unified School District Governing Board has been equally protest-laden and chaotic. Last week, Board President Jann-Michael Greenburg lost his temper over the distribution of a neo Nazi comic book on some campuses. Greenburg stage whispered “Jesus (expletive) Christ” into a hot microphone. He later publicly apologized. “I’m very sorry about that,” Greenburg explained. “I have to admit it was done out of frustration in the moment.” The wonder is, more school board members don’t drop f-bombs. Or outright quit. Because there’s surely no more thankless job in this state.

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Anthem Activities

Anthem Community Council activities schedule BY FOOTHILLS FOCUS STAFF

rograms and activities are available at the Community Center and Civic Building for all ages. Learn more and register online at OnlineAtAnthem.com. Visit the “Residents” tab, then click on “Activity Registration.” Most programs and classes are available to nonresidents for an additional fee. With questions, contact the Community Center at 623-879-3011. Dolphins (Competitive) Swim Team Many levels to choose from. Email Paul Root at proot@anthemcouncil.com for more information

Saturdays, Sept. 11 to Oct. 16 • Sports Sampler for Teens Soccer, flag football, ultimate frisbee, pickleball, basketball, kickball 9 to 10:30 a.m. $75; Community Center and Community Park Friday, Sept. 17 • Parents’ Night Out, 6:30 to 10 p.m. $18; Community Center Saturday, Sept. 18 • Adult Basketball 3v3 Tournament Ages 17 and older, 4:30 to 9 p.m. $95 per team

Tuesday, Sept. 21 • Glass Coasters (18 years and older) 4 to 7 p.m. $50; Civic Building Saturday, Sept. 25 • Child & Babysitting Safety (11 to 15 years) 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. $70; Community Center

Saturday, Sept. 25 • Parent-Teen Fitness Certification (12 to 13 years, with an adult) 9:30 to 10:15 a.m. $30; Community Center

Sept. 25 to Oct. 30 • Anthem Tots Sports - Soccer 9:15 to 10 a.m. (ages 3 to 4 years) 10 to 11 a.m. (ages 5 to 6 years)

Also enjoy the indoor fitness floor, basketball gym, and rock wall. Fitness classes are held throughout the week, including yoga, pilates, kickboxing/boxology, core, shallow and deep water (in the pool) and more. Personal training is available; contact the Community Center for details. Cardio tennis is offered every Saturday morning; $10 drop-in fee (18 years and older).

Wednesdays or Thursdays through Oct. 28 • Creative Combo Dance, 4:45 to 5:30 p.m. (2.5 to 5 years) • Kinder Combo Dance, 5:30 to 6:15 p.m. (5 to 7 years) • Jazz/Tumbling Dance, 6:15 to 7 p.m. (8 to 12 years) $59 or $20 drop-in; Community Center Monday to Thursday (through November) • Adult Master Swim 5 to 6 a.m. $35; Community Center

Senior Activities (50 years and older) • Golden Go-Getters, 1 to 4 p.m. Mondays • Mexican Train Game: 12:30 to 4:30 p.m. Fridays Free; Civic Building Monday, Sept. 6, and Tuesday, Sept. 7 • Youth Day Camps 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. $90; Community Center Wednesday, Sept. 8 • Everyday Card Making 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. $27; Civic Building

Anthem Golf & Country Club schedule BY FOOTHILLS FOCUS STAFF

ue to the limited availability, Anthem Golf & Country Club is asking members to not register for back-to-back classes, so everyone has a chance to register. No shows are charged $10. Classes are held at Persimmon or Ironwood, 2708 W. Anthem Club Drive or 41551 N. Anthem Hills Drive, respectively. For more information, call 623-742-

6200 for Persimmon Clubhouse or 623465-3020 for Ironwood Clubhouse.

Wednesday, Sept. 8 • Far Niente Wine Dinner, 5:30 p.m.

Sunday, Sept. 5 • Labor Day Weekend Pool Party, noon

Sunday, Sept. 26 • Family Funday Sunday: Funny Magic for Kids and Fun for Adults, 1 p.m.

Saturday, Sept. 4 • Labor Day Weekend Pool Party, noon • Dive-in Movie Night, 6 p.m.

Monday, Sept. 6 • Labor Day Weekend Pool Party

Thursday, Sept. 9 • Trivia Night (include team name when registering), 7 p.m.

BUSINESS

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Entrepreneurs hope to raise customers’ self-esteem plumbers, it was so time consuming. We want to do well and make money and be comfortable, but not at the expense of spending time with our kids and families. “We have always been clean-cut men and putting these grooming kits together is right up our alley.” Zareef said CG Essentials’ products are rare in that men do not usually see grooming kits just for them. Products range from a $4.49 Dip’N Du-Rag to a $90 Boss Bundle, a collection of men’s grooming products on CG Essentials’ website. Perfume, edge control, beauty blenders and cuticle oil are among

BY CHRISTINA FUOCO-KARASINSKI Foothills Focus Executive Editor

orenzo Carson was working as a plumber when he met Taqee Zareef on a job in the Bay Area. Carson, of Avondale, wish he could spend more time at home with his family, as plumbing is a 24/7 job. He found Zareef felt the same. In February, the duo took a leap of faith and invested in CG Essentials, a self-care company that they say improves self-confidence. It launched in April. “We’re big on family,” Carson said. “Back when we were working as

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“It’s the same rush I used to get when I was plumbing,” Zareef said. Zareef and Carson would love to expand their business, but they’re happy with the success they’ve had so far. They are working on having CG Essentials products in Walmart, Target and beauty salons. “People are telling us how much they love it,” Carson added. “We do it all at home, which allows us to spend time with our family and kids. We’re going to their basketball games and practices. It opened a whole new world for us.” Zareef added, “It takes people years to be able to do it, to experi-

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Lorenzo Carson and Taqee Zareef founded CG Essentials so they could spend more time with their children. (Photo courtesy of CG Essentials) ence some of this stuff. In a couple months’ time, it’s been amazing. We’re still really humble about it.” Zareef and Carson are in CG Essentials for the long haul. “This is de�initely not a get-rich-quick

scheme,” Carson said. “It’s more for our families. It we were really worried about the money, we would have stayed in plumbing. It’s a fruitful job. But with time, you can’t get it back with your kids. That is our No. 1 priority.”

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KUMA’S GREAT ADVENTURES

Hiking Water Wheel in Payson TOLD BY KUMA AND WRITTEN BY LORRAINE BOSSÉ-SMITH Foothills Focus Contributing Writer

eesh. What is up with this humidity? We left Houston because we like a drier climate. Ugh! Guess that’s what we get with the monsoons. At least we are getting some rain this year. Boy, we could tell driving out to Payson this past weekend. The desert is definitely happy. I’m getting ahead of myself again. I just

get so excited. We decided to head north in hopes of cooler temperatures and chose the Water Wheel Trail in Payson. From North Phoenix, allow about two hours of driving time. Get on I-10 east until you reach the 87 north and follow that to Payson. You’ll turn right onto Houston Mesa and look for signs. There’s a decent-sized parking lot, but you do have to pay a $10 daily use fee or display your National Park

see KUMA page 19

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Kuma looks at the waterfall. (Photo courtesy of Lorraine Bossé-Smith)

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KUMA from page 18

pass, which we did. Dogs are welcome on leash, and it has a human restroom. Like I said, the hills were green, and the wildflowers were smiling like it was spring. We saw remains of the wildfires, but the rain is thankfully helping the Earth to recover. Mom found this hike and read that it was easy, but we quickly disagreed. With all the heavy rains and flooding, there was no trail. Normally, you would follow the creek shore, but it was totally overflowing. Trees were knocked down, and we had to hike through a ton of debris. The trail wasn’t as busy as we read it could be, and it wasn’t full of garbage like we were told. It was, however, a moderate to difficult climb up a bunch of boulders. Have I mentioned that I just love bouldering? Mom has a hard time keeping up with me as I bound up those rocks. In her defense, she only has two legs, and her ankle was bothering her again.

see KUMA page 20

Kuma and his dad inspect the Water Wheel. (Photo courtesy of Lorraine Bossé-Smith)

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KUMA from page 19

If your dog is small or has short legs, there will be places you will have to lift the dog up. Again, is this the normal trail or results of the monsoons? We don’t know, but it is definitely a pretty area. We love being in the forest. If you look up the Water Wheel Trail online, you will see pictures of crystal-clear streams, swimming holes, ponds and waterfalls. Well, today everything was chocolate brown. Now, I really felt like I was in Houston again. I always enjoy taking a dip into a stream, and dipped I got. I couldn’t see anything with the murky water and thought I’d walk in. Nope. I got dunked. I went completely under, freaking my mom out big time. She couldn’t see me, and she knows I hate getting my ears and tail wet. It’s a Shiba thing. Anyway, I came out of that water like I saw an alligator and did a major Shiba shake. We continued to scamper our way up to the first falls, which is about 1.5 miles.

see KUMA page 21

The ﬂooded river due to monsoons. (Photo courtesy of Lorraine Bossé-Smith)

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KUMA from page 20

It was really hard to tell. The water was flowing off of all the rocks, not just one specific waterfall, and the trail that allowed you to continue on to the Ellison Creek Cascades was flooded. With mom’s ankle bothering her, we opted to stay put and have a picnic. Other people braved the rapids to cross over and continue about 1/4 of a mile to see the cascading fall. Note: We discourage crossing rapids as you never know when the current will be too strong and can carry you away. We’ve already lost several people this year. Please be safe. I think, when it is dry, the Ellison Creek Cascades is a must. But when everything is a raging river and waterfall, we didn’t need to go further. Mom, once again, packed us a nice lunch, and we watched the water and people. We met some really nice people from Washington state and Tennessee. I’ve never been to either, have you?

This entire area is prone to flash flood, thus the mess we saw. We kept our eyes to the sky and noticed dark clouds moving in. That was our sign to hike our way out as the boulders would be very slick in the rain. We hope everyone else got out before the storm. Mom was surprised when I took another dip into the creek. This time, though, I made sure I could touch bottom. I swam all the way across and back, redeeming myself, thank you very much. Once you get past the rocks and in the trees again (just before the parking lot), you will see the old Water Wheel that gives the trail its name on the right. Lorraine Bossé-Smith is a motivational speaker, corporate trainer, executive recruiter, business consultant, coach, fitness expert and author of nine published books. More importantly, she’s the best doggy mom ever. Read about Kuma at https://bit.ly/ kuma0901 or @kumathedog on Facebook.

Kuma and his mom hiking the Water Wheel Trail. (Photo courtesy of Lorraine Bossé-Smith)

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North Valley Jews celebrate high holidays

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he North Valley Jewish Community Association will celebrate the high holidays with services led by Rabbi Robert Bonem. The Rosh Hashana evening service is Monday, Sept. 6, followed by the morning service on Tuesday, Sept. 7. Kol Nidre evening service is Wednesday, Sept. 15. Yom Kippur morning and Yiskor

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service is Thursday, Sept. 16. Annual membership, which includes the high holiday services, is $106. A traditional Break-the-Fast buffet dinner follows at the Anthem Country Club for an additional charge. For more information on the high holidays, Break-the-Fast or membership, contact Fran Kesselman 623322-0957 or fkesselman@cox.net. Location will be revealed with reservations.

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Ballet Arizona’s book club returns BY FOOTHILLS FOCUS STAFF

allet Arizona launched its 2021-2022 virtual book club with the mission of building community and appreciation for the incredible art form of dance. The club meets once per quarter via Zoom, and it started earlier this year. “We are so excited to welcome back this engaging and educational club,” said Alexandra Papazian, Ballet Arizona’s education and community engagement manager. “Experiencing this art in all of its different forms and reading about ballet and individual stories brings a greater appreciation and excitement to our season.” “Maria Tallchief: America’s Prima Ballerina” by Maria Tallchief and Laryy Kaplan Wednesday, Oct. 20

A self-portrait of the fairy-tale life of a woman who understood that a committed talent could transform the world around her. “Maria Tallchief and American ballet came of age in the same moment…. Her story will always be the story of ballet conquering America. It was and is an American romance.”-Arlene Croce, The New Yorker “Bunheads” by Sophie Flack Wednesday, Jan. 19

A vibrant and absorbing novel about the competitive world of professional ballet, written by a former New York City Ballet dancer. As a dancer with the ultra-prestigious Manhattan Ballet company, 19-yearold Hannah Ward juggles intense rehearsals, dazzling performances, and complicated backstage relationships. But when she meets a spontaneous

and irresistibly cute musician named Jacob, her universe begins to change. “Taking Flight: From War Orphan to Star Ballerina” by Michaela DePrince and Elaine DePrince Wednesday, April 20

Michaela DePrince was known as girl No. 27 at the orphanage, where she was abandoned at a young age and tormented as a “devil child” for a skin condition that makes her skin appear spotted. But it was at the orphanage that Michaela would find a picture of a beautiful ballerina en pointe that would help change the course of her life. At the age of 4, Michaela was adopted by an American family, who encouraged her love of dancing and enrolled her in classes. She went on to study at the Rock School for Dance Education in Philadelphia and the Jacqueline

Kennedy Onassis School at the American Ballet Theatre and at 17 Michaela performed with the Dance Theatre of Harlem professional company. The next year, she joined the Dutch National Junior Company as a second-year member and apprentice to the main company. Now at the age of 25, Michaela is ranked as a soloist at Dutch National Ballet. She has appeared in the ballet documentary “First Position,” as well as on “Dancing with the Stars,” “Good Morning America” and “Nightline.” In this engaging, moving and unforgettable memoir, Michaela shares her dramatic journey from an orphan in West Africa to becoming one of ballet’s most exciting rising stars. Preregistration is required to receive the Zoom meeting information. To register, read more and for links to purchase the books, visit balletaz.org/ ballet-arizona-book-club/.

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THE FOOTHILLS FOCUS | THEFOOTHILLSFOCUS.COM | SEPTEMBER 1, 2021

Please mind the expectations gap CHURCH COMMUNITY CONNECTION

Pastor Ed Delph Foothills Focus Columnist

ast week, we started a twopart series on what happens when we live our lives or base our success on the following equation: expectations minus reality equals happiness. So, when the reality of someone’s life is more than they had expected, they’re happy. But when their reality turns out to be less than their expectations, they’re unhappy. We discovered most people have a sizable gap between where they expected to be in life compared to the reality of where they are currently. They’ve applied themselves, worked hard, but somehow didn’t quite achieve what they believed they would. When this happens, many people either give up or give in to “unmagnificent” obsessions to medicate the hurt, discouragement and frustration. Let me give you an example of what I am addressing. I have been a pastor since 1980 in the Phoenix area. For the last 20 years, I have been pastoring pastors all over the world. The most common issue I address in pastors is their expectations. When pastors start their ministry, they expected to have a church of thousands of people, a large building and speaking worldwide. But 25 years later, they are pastoring a church with 100 people, with no hope of ever achieving their expectations, and they are exhausted. So, where do you go from there? Hopefully, this two-part series will give a realistic perspective to those who never quite reach fulfilling their dreams, goals and desires. So, let’s discover a new and much more accurate view about success and life. Let’s learn to, as they say in England, “Mind the gap.” If this con-

cept applies to you, please consider the following truths that have the power to unhandcuff you, freeing you up to enjoy and be content with life. First, leave the definition of real success to God. Don’t allow our shame-based, performance-driven society to determine the meaning of success that you are basing your happiness on. God’s definition of success is to be a person of peace with yourself, your family and others, whether in business, community or church. Here’s some ancient wisdom about peace and contentment. “But godliness actually is a means of great gain when accompanied by contentment. For we have brought nothing into the world, so we cannot take anything out of it either.” You see, peace brings release. We aren’t running a race against others, competing for trivial pursuits and unrealistic dreams. We are running an endurance race against ourselves. At the finish line is the trophy of contentment. Peace with yourself and with God leads to peace with others. Finish strong, not wrong. Third, find a shared vision with God and yourself. Don’t be afraid to believe or dream again. It’s OK to have big, hairy audacious goals, but don’t let those goals define you. Give it your all but remember, “Unless the Lord builds the house, they labor in vain who build it.” Don’t confuse who you are with what you do or have done. Goals give direction, dreams give motivation, but if you don’t reach where you expected to be, that’s OK. Some fulfill their expectations. Some don’t. It’s OK, not to be OK if you tried. Learn to integrate success with failure. If you back up and take a

second look, there are other areas in which you could be successful. Don’t let the world (shame, name, fame, or blame) squeeze you into its mold. You are God’s workmanship, and God “don’t” make no junk. Don’t put a question mark where God put a period. Our perspective about happiness and success needs upgrading. Think of life this way. “I was wrong in my definition of happiness; I’ve tried my hardest, I’ve lived my life faithfully, and it didn’t turn out. I’m not going to spend the rest of my life using precious energy asking why or beat-

ing myself up or others up because I didn’t reach my expectations. I’m not going to listen to the never-ending audio loop of “woulda” “shoulda” “coulda.” Maybe expectations should come from God’s voice, not ours or our culture’s voice. Fourth, get back into the game of life. It’s one thing to be wounded or lost on the battlefield. It’s another to be captured by the enemy or surrendered to the enemy. Realize God’s hall of fame was built by faithfulness rather than high attendance, sales figures or stereotypes. David was a man of small stature. Noah preached for 120 years and only had seven converts. But they both had peace. Many times, successful people in the world’s eyes paid for it in areas that we don’t see and ended up with no peace or contentment. That’s their reality gap — these successful idols would give anything to have the contentment you can have. Remember that God does His work and allows us to participate. Life is not our show. It’s God’s show. Peace with contentment is a deliberate adjustment of our lives to the will of God. All you want to hear when you finish your race is right out of the Bible. “Well done, good and faithful servant, you were faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.”

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