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TheFoothillsFocus.com
INSIDE
This Week
Cave Creek - Carefree Area Edition
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Wednesday, September 8, 2021
Cave Creek Museum set to open for season BY CHRISTINA FUOCO-KARASINSKI Foothills Focus Executive Editor
NEWS ................. 8 Big Earl’s Greasy Eats awarded landmark plaque
BUSINESS ......... 14 Rare Earth Gallery is Cave Creek’s ‘wonder of the world’
FEATURES ........ 18 Patrick O’Brien lights up clients’ lives
OPINION ......................9 BUSINESS ................. 14 FEATURES ................ 16 CLASSIFIEDS ............ 22 Zone
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Serving the communities of Cave Creek and Carefree
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he Cave Creek Museum will open for the 2021-2022 season on Oct. 1. The new season will feature exhibits, newly acquired collections and educational special events. The artifact collection Meal of Rock showcasing the Cave Creek area’s prehistoric history debuts in the Archeology Wing. Novel projections in the museum’s History Wing bring the town’s history to life. In addition, the museum will debut the area’s Desert Defender, who brought environmental activism to the foothills area. Programming includes an evening with the ghost hunters of Cave Creek; literary
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The Cave Creek Museum will reopen for the 2021-2022 season on Oct. 1, featuring new collections including the Meal of Rock artifact collection and the Desert Defender. (Photo courtesy of the Cave Creek Museum)
Horses at risk of slaughter offer healing at sanctuary BY ALLISON BROWN Foothills Focus Staff Writer
L
ocal author Alexis Ferri experienced a rough awakening at 17 when volunteering at the Tierra Madre Horse Sanctuary in Cave Creek for community service hours: The abused and abandoned horses that ended up at the sanctuary were
the lucky ones. Many horses in that situation end up being sold for slaughter. Horse slaughter has been illegal in the United States for several years, but that doesn’t stop the inhumane act. It was dispersed to Canada and Mexico, where it is still very prevalent. “I learned, 12 years ago (when volunteering), that horses with nowhere else to go
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were rounded up by people called ‘kill buyers,’ who buy them from unsuspecting people or people who just want to get rid of their horses and don’t care, and ship them over the borders,” Ferri said. “So, that was my awakening to the fact that it is very real, and it’s a very rampant problem here in the U.S.”
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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
THE FOOTHILLS FOCUS | THEFOOTHILLSFOCUS.COM | SEPTEMBER 8, 2021
MUSEUM ���� ���� 1
evenings with popular local authors; entertainment by the Desert Foothills Theater; children’s interactive programming; and the arrival of Southwest Santa. The museum’s �ine art collection, which depicts the legacy of Cave Creek’s Southwest Fine Arts heritage, will make an appearance, for the �irst time in years, in the main atrium of the Cave Creek Museum. Other one-of-a-kind exhibits include a discovery trip through the newly remodeled museum store, where inspirational and educational gifts can be found. Some of the museum’s most popular exhibits will again open, including the Tubercular Cabin; the �irst Cave Creek church; and Arizona’s only fully operational 10-stamp ore crushing mill. Guests can watch the 10 1,000-pound stamps slam down in synchronized precision, and hear the pounding echo against the desert foothills, just as it did 100 years ago. The facility’s new website, cavecreekmuseum.org, features events, programs, special tours and stories from the characters and objects that led to the Cave Creek Mining District.
One of the staple features at the Cave Creek Museum is the Gold Panning attraction. (Photo courtesy of Cave Creek Museum)
The 2021-2022 season runs from Oct. 1 to May 31. The 51-year-old museum’s mission is to preserve the artifacts of the prehistory, history, culture and legacy of the Cave Creek Mining District and the Cave
Creek/Carefree foothills area through education, research and interpretive exhibits. The Cave Creek Museum is located at 6140 E. Skyline Drive in Cave Creek. For more information, call 480-488-2764 or visit cavecreekmuseum.org.
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 content of any advertisements are the sole responsibility of the advertiser. The Foothills Focus assumes no responsibility for the claims of any advertisement. © 2020 Strickbine Publishing, Inc.
The 10-stamp ore crushing mill is also fully operational and guests can hear the pounding echo of the machine against the desert foothills. (Photo courtesy of Cave Creek Museum)
NEWS
THE FOOTHILLS FOCUS | THEFOOTHILLSFOCUS.COM | SEPTEMBER 8, 2021
HORSE ���� ���� 1
Ferri said she was always a horse girl, and was so impacted by her time volunteering, that she stayed with the sanctuary and eventually became executive director of the nonpro�it. Her memoir, “Toward Sunrise,” tells a touching story of her work advocating to stop horse slaughter, the day-to-day chaos of a working ranch, caring for abused horses and how the horses ended up saving her as much as she saved them. “I walked in there severely depressed, 17 years old, not wanting to be alive anymore. I looked around and saw these horses who had been through hell, too, and saw they still live with hope and wanted to be alive and wanted to live in the moment. So, I thought, if they can do that, I guess I can, too.” The organization was founded by Jim Gath in 2005. It was initially a boarding facility, but when people could no longer take care of their horses (especially during the 2008 recession), they would call Gath and ask him to take ownership. Thus, the Tierra Madre Horse Sanctuary was born. The idea was to offer a safe place for senior, ill, injured, abused or neglected horses. Unlike a rescue or rehabilitation center, the horses that come to the sanctuary are there to stay for life. However, the organization recently changed their name to “Tierra Madre Horse and Human Sanctuary” after seeing the positive impact the horses had on volunteers and visitors. “Over the years, volunteers came up to us saying, ‘This place saved my life.’ We’ve started welcoming groups to the organization and we’ve worked really closely with the Southwest Autism Resource center,” Ferri said. “One of our volunteers was a teacher for a special ed class, so she started bringing her students and we realized the horses were healing people and making a difference in so many people’s lives. We realized it was a circle of healing, where we’re healing the horses and they’re healing the humans too.” It wasn’t just the volunteers and visitors who were helped by the horses. Ferri’s experience with one of the rescues changed her life, and is why she credits
The cover art for “Toward Sunrise” features author Alexis Ferri with the horse she credits for healing her heart after emotional and sexual abuse. (Photo courtesy of Alexis Ferri) the horses for saving her just as much, or even more, than she has helped save them. “We had a horse who was severely abused, and he was so horrifically abused by humans that he attacked everybody who came through. He was just so terrified of people,” Ferri said. “In interacting with him, I saw so much of my own experience. I’m an emotional abuse survivor and a sexual assault survivor. I saw the walls he put up around him and I just saw my own. That sense of understanding and seeing my own struggles of a horse really helped me heal. I don’t know if I helped to heal his heart, but he definitely healed mine.” Seeing the level of connection and emotional understanding horses have with humans makes the threat of horse slaughter even more appalling. For one, it’s simply inhumane, Ferri said. Buyers acquire the horses, bring them to Canada or Mexico, where slaughter is legal, and make money off them by selling them for their meat. Horse meat is considered a delicacy in Asia, Eastern Europe and Mexico. But more than just being inhumane, Ferri said another problem is that horses aren’t raised for
human consumption. Bute, a common medicine given to horses, can stay in the
5
muscle tissue for years and is toxic to humans. According to Ferri, most people have no idea horse slaughter is still a problem, and she hopes “Toward Sunrise” will help draw awareness to the issue and show that people have options if they can no longer take care of their horse. However, as much as Tierra Madre wants to help, the number of horses they can take in is limited by �inances. As a nonpro�it, it relies on donations, about 90% of which come from individual donors, according to Ferri. They also receive donations from larger organizations and community partners. During the economic uncertainty of COVID-19, Ferri said the sanctuary saw an increase in folks wanting to turn over their horses. In the last year, during the pandemic, the sanctuary could only take in three. Visit their website at bit.ly/tierramadredonations to donate funds or sponsor a horse. Additionally, when the book is purchased from her website alexisroecknerferri.com, 10% of pro�its will go toward the sanctuary.
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NEWS
THE FOOTHILLS FOCUS | THEFOOTHILLSFOCUS.COM | SEPTEMBER 8, 2021
Great Debate Wars hits the ground running
BY ALLISON BROWN Foothills Focus Staff Writer
Everyone has hard opinions on things, and MyWay Projects is giving people the chance to settle the debate with their Great Debate Wars event starting in January.
The Great Debate Wars is a virtual walk/run where participants can settle long-time disagreements such as creamy or crunchy peanut butter, hot or cold pizza by selecting their opinion when signing up for either a 1 mile, 5K, 10K or half marathon. At the conclusion of the event, the opinion with
the most participants’ votes will win. “When people sign up for a walk/ run, part of the registration is choosing a team: team creamy, team crunchy, team hot, team cold, etc.,” said Shilo Lusson, event organizer and owner of Cave Creek’s MyWay Projects. “As more people sign up, I will be able to see which percentage is voting for which teams, and start debate discussions on our Facebook page that I am hoping people will join in and really defend why they feel their choice is right.” The run/walk is virtual and each one is spread out over a few days to give more people the chance to participate. The winning category is determined by the number of votes and not time. Lusson said the goal was to create a fun event that promoted physical activity. “The benefits of physical activity range from weight management to lowering blood pressure to building stronger bones and muscles,” Lusson said. “Many studies also show that physical activity changes the levels of serotonin, endorphins and stress hormones, which help reduce depression and provide a more positive self-image.” On top of that, Lusson is supporting a national charity, the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America. Every dollar will be donated to the organization, to support “saving lives and reducing the burden of disease for people with asthma and allergies through support, education for families, advocacy for patient rights, assistance with online communities and research.”
The Foothills Focus Online at www.TheFoothillsFocus.com
There will be a different debate each month of the year. • Jan. 17 to Jan. 24: creamy or crunchy peanut butter • Feb. 2 to Feb. 9: hot or cold pizza • March 7 to March 14: potato or tortilla chips • April 19 to April 26: stick or twisted pretzels • May 18 to May 25: red or white wine • May 27 to June 3: round or long john donuts • July to July 13: curly or regular French fries • Aug. 19 to Aug. 26: over or under toilet paper • Sept. 6 to Sept. 13: milk chocolate or dark chocolate • Oct. 7 to Oct. 14: scrambled or over easy eggs • Oct. 27 to Nov. 3: diagonal or straightcut sandwich • Dec. 1 to Dec. 8: edge or center piece brownies Lusson said she had a few different ideas for the categories, but it was her own family debate that ended up inspiring the topics. “I threw around a few themes and decided I really liked the idea of participants battling it out over personal options after my kids and I started arguing over creamy or crunchy peanut butter — crunchy is the better choice, by the way,” Lusson said. “I did some research and realized that some people have really strong opinions. Then I ran across National Peanut Butter Day being Jan. 24, so I started looking up other national holidays and figured out a way to use these celebrations as the end dates for 12 different debates.” Early bird registration, which goes until Nov. 7 for the first event, is $25, with the option to purchase a themed shirt for $12 to $15. Events can be bundled, too. Those on the winning team will get a $5 off promo code for the next year’s event. To sign up, fight for your opinion or find more information, visit facebook. com/GreatDebateWars.
NEWS
THE FOOTHILLS FOCUS | THEFOOTHILLSFOCUS.COM | SEPTEMBER 8, 2021
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Attorney general warns of Hurricane Ida scams BY FOOTHILLS FOCUS STAFF
A
ttorney General Mark Brnovich is warning Arizonans to watch out for Hurricane Ida charity scams. There are already reports of fake organizations popping up asking people for money to help victims in Louisiana. “It’s disgusting how fraudsters waste no time after a natural disaster to capitalize on people’s goodwill,” Brnovich said. “Arizonans are very generous, and I want to make sure they are donating to a legitimate charity that has experience helping victims quickly.” Hurricane Ida hit Louisiana on Aug. 29 and has caused widespread catastrophic damage. While many are eager to help those in need, Brnovich wants consumers to do their homework before donating. Brnovich offers the following tips to avoid scams: Never give on impulse. Don’t give in to high-pressure requests for contribu-
tions or donations. Legitimate charities will not pressure you for an immediate donation and are happy to provide information about their charity for you to review. Do your research about the organization and ask questions. For example, how will the funds reach those in need? Obtain written information (including annual reports) about a charity before you donate. Always know how much of your donation will actually go to the charity itself versus administrative costs. You can �ind out more about a charity through Charity Navigator’s website or the Better Business Bureau’s give.org. Do not give donations in cash or by wire transfer. Make contributions directly to known organizations rather than relying on a third party. Watch out for charities with names that sound similar to well-known organizations. Oftentimes, these sound-alike
names are scams. Be cautious of individuals representing themselves as surviving victims of a disaster or as government of�icials asking for donations. Do not give unsolicited callers your credit card number or bank account information over the phone, even if the call appears to be legitimate. Do not click on links in unsolicited emails and text messages asking you to donate. Even if a message seems legitimate, it could be a phishing attempt. If
you want to donate, contact the charity at a website or phone number you know to be valid. Be cautious when donating to a GoFundMe fundraiser. It is common for scammers to set up GoFundMe fundraisers after highly publicized events and then disappear with the money. If you believe you have been a victim of consumer fraud, please contact the Arizona Attorney General’s Of�ice in Phoenix at 602-542-5763. Bilingual consumer protection staff is available to assist.
Your news 24/7 www.TheFoothillsFocus.com
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NEWS
THE FOOTHILLS FOCUS | THEFOOTHILLSFOCUS.COM | SEPTEMBER 8, 2021
Big Earl’s Greasy Eats honored Big Earl’s Greasy Eats became the sixth Cave Creek business to receive a landmark brass plaque during an Aug. 23 ceremony hosted by town officials. Cave Creek Inn, Oregano’s, Carpenter’s Trading Post, Dairy Queen, The Hideaway and Harold’s Cave Creek Corral have also been honored. The plaques interact with storytelling map. This map hosts destinations across Cave Creek for the public to explore virtually and physically through the storytelling of Cave Creek’s pioneers and their descendants. Guests at the Aug. 23 ceremony included, from left, Mayor Ernie Bunch, Lisa DeGroot, Councilmember Thomas McGuire, Big Earl’s owners Brooke Dallas and Collin Dallas, Councilmember Kathryn Royer, Councilmember Ron Sova and Cave Creek Town Manager Carrie Dyrek. (Photo courtesy of
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OPINION
THE FOOTHILLS FOCUS | THEFOOTHILLSFOCUS.COM | SEPTEMBER 8, 2021
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OPINION
THE FOOTHILLS FOCUS | THEFOOTHILLSFOCUS.COM | SEPTEMBER 8, 2021
More kids die from other causes than COVID-19 you believe the hype. Maybe don’t rush to Amazon quite yet and purchase that kid-sized plastic bubble for your youngest family members. Maybe it’s even safe to send the kids off to school, though in-person learning would create more risk for older principals, teachers and school staffers. Arizona’s Department of Health Services has publicly made available the full range of pandemic: Cases, hospitalizations, deaths and vaccination levels down to the ZIP code. For me, the numbers produce perspective, food for thought, and a sense of calm. I like to know what we’re up against so I can apportion my concern appropriately. How risky is COVID-19 for anyone under the age of 20? Not very, according to the numbers. Our state is home to 1.84 million girls and boys under age 20, according to ADHS. So far, one in 10 have tested
BY DAVID LEIBOWITZ Foothills Focus Columnist
I
f you go back to the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, January of last year, you discover that in this state so far, we have lost 36 young people to this stinking virus. Three dozen in 20 months. Every loss like this is tragic, but such losses also demand perspective. Meaning: As serial killers go, COVID-19 has a deeply ingrained taste for older adults. In all, 90 percent of Arizonans killed by the virus so far are age 55 or older. I make this comparison because of late we are hearing about what headline writers and TV news types love to call “a spike” in COVID among Arizona children. These stories teem with fear, because when it comes to kids, the news adores the specter of the Grim Reaper. My point: Maybe dig a little before
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positive for COVID-19. Of the 182,351 positive cases in that demographic, about 1.4% have required hospitalization. That’s 2,633 young heads in hospital beds – compared to more than 31,000 people hospitalized age 65 or older. I’ll say it again: COVID preys on the old and the infirm, especially when they’re unvaccinated. Keep in mind, vaccines have not yet been administered to those under the age of 12, and to only 19% of kids under age 20. They’re doing just fine without it, at least so far, thank you very much. And while we’re on the subject of developing perspective, let me add this. Every year, the state does an extensive review of fatalities among minors. It’s sad reading, but edifying. In 2019, pre-pandemic, 777 children died in Arizona, down from 843 deaths the year before.
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What kills our kids with the greatest frequency? Car crashes. Murder. Suffocation. Parents high on drugs. Prematurity. Cancer. Each of these causes kills more Arizona children in a given year than has COVID-19. The state divides child deaths into two groups – preventable and natural. Among deaths deemed accidental, reckless driving took 61 kids in 2019. Substance abuse by parents contributed to 54 deaths, while unsafe sleep environments killed 52 kids. There were 59 homicides that year among minors, with blunt force claiming 29 lives and guns taking 24 more. When an Arizona child dies a natural death, it’s almost always one of three causes: Prematurity took 170 infants in 2019; birth defects took 99 children; and cancer took 54 kids from their parents that year. My hope is not to sound hard-boiled, indifferent to the suffering of children and their loved ones. Rather, my goal is to offer some context. COVID-19 may indeed be spiking among the young, but that surge is mostly numerical, nothing worse than your average case of the flu. There are spikes, is what I’m saying, and then there’s a deadly spike through the heart. For kids, COVID-19 is absolutely not that.
OPINION
THE FOOTHILLS FOCUS | THEFOOTHILLSFOCUS.COM | SEPTEMBER 8, 2021
HAYWORTH from Page 9
turned to anger during her encounter with Joe Biden. Shana Chappell later posted this on Facebook: “[Y]ou tried to interrupt me and give me your own sob story and [I] had to tell you, ‘This isn’t about you so don’t make it about you!!!’” Ms. Chappell’s post subsequently became more passionate, pointed, and profane. “You do not have the right to tell me how I feel! U then rolled your (expletive) eyes in your head like you were annoyed with me…” Facebook officials were certainly annoyed with Shana; they censored that post and others on Instagram, which is owned by Facebook. Subsequent press inquiries prompted the social media sites to restore Ms. Chappell’s accounts to full functionality. The full functionality of the Biden administration is AWOL and has been since inauguration day. The chief executive is cognitively impaired; the vice president laughs often and at inopportune times. But the incompetence has been brought into sharp focus by the debacle in Afghanistan.
The secretary of defense is all for diversity and inclusion — except for Caucasian conservatives. The chairman of the joint chiefs fancies himself an intellectual warrior — but in reality is neither; and Secretary of State Blinken is at least well-named, as he often blinks at the first sign of confrontation. It would be comic were it not so tragic. A departure so disorderly that Americans are left stranded, while unvetted Afghans will soon be coming to a neighborhood near you. A plan so poorly formulated that it leaves billions of dollars of sophisticated weaponry and aircraft in the hands of savage warriors who will couple their 6th century sensibilities with 21st century lethality. A strategy so senseless that it introduces a protective force — not to find and protect American citizens — but to spend its time in force protection in a place so indefensible that it attracts a terror attack in which 13 Americans are killed. The Communist Chinese “president” doesn’t have to worry about debates…or elections. When he checks his watch, he may say about the USA, “Time’s up!”
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OPINION
THE FOOTHILLS FOCUS | THEFOOTHILLSFOCUS.COM | SEPTEMBER 8, 2021
AROUND THE BLUHMIN’ TOWN
God bless the fallen troops BY JUDY BLUHM Foothills Focus Columnist
A
re you there, God? Just checking. We have troubles from the Afghanistan war. It’s hard to read about, much less comprehend what just happened. If you are an immediate family
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member of a soldier or sailor who dies in combat, war knocks at your door. When the two military officers and chaplain in full dress uniform come to your house and ring the doorbell, that is the moment your life changes. War enters your home. And the grief begins. Our country has lost too many men and women who stood for our flag and stood up to our enemies. One of the most important military duties is to provide death notification to the deceased’s next of kin. The goal is that the family is notified within eight hours of the casualty incident. Upon arrival at the home of the next of kin, the notification officer will ask for permission to enter. “I am an American fighting in the forces which guard my country and our way of life. I am prepared to give
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my life in their defense.” Article one of the code of conduct for members of the armed forces of the United States. The solemn duty to inform loved ones that their son, daughter, wife or husband is not returning home is heart-wrenching and handled with the utmost respect and dignity. Once in front of the next of kin, an officer will articulate, the following: “The commandant of the Marines Corps (or other service branch) has entrusted me to express his deep regret that your son (or daughter) was killed in action in (place of incident) on (date and time). The commandant extends his deepest sympathy to you and your family in your loss.” The notification team must be prepared for any type of response. When my friend’s son was killed in Iraq, she opened her door, screamed at the officers standing in front of her and slammed the door in their faces. They stood for several hours in her courtyard until she was able to collect herself and let them inside. The sorrow that our child, parent or spouse died in some far-away place, in a violent manner is simply too much to grasp. Did he or she die instantly? When will I receive the remains? How did this happen? Who did this? Was there suffering? The questions come fast and furious, while the answers may lag far be-
hind. The officers may stay with the next of kin, until other family members can arrive. They do not like to leave the grieving person alone. More than 2,400 Americans died in Afghanistan. Many of the last 13 soldiers were not even born when the war started. Over 20,000 soldiers were seriously wounded in the war. Estimates suggest almost $1 trillion was spent on this “conflict.” Let the finger pointing begin, there is plenty of blame to go around and, perhaps, there will be lessons learned. A war has ended; the pain endures. Now, we honor the fallen and support their families. Their sacrifices were not in vain. Those who died did so on the altar of democracy, in service of our country. God bless them eternally. 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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‘Eighth Wonder of the World’ in Cave Creek BY ALLISON BROWN Foothills Focus Staff Writer
T
here’s no need to travel to the Great Wall of China or Machu Picchu. Cave Creek has its own “wonder of the world,” at Rare Earth Gallery. “Our sign outside says, ‘Rare Earth Gallery, Eighth Wonder of the World,’” said Wayne Helfand, owner and purveyor of the store. “We tell people who come (to Arizona) there’s two things that are a must-see: the Grand Canyon and Rare Earth Gallery. If you come in, you’ll be awestruck. A lot of times when people come in, I tell them, ‘If you’re not impressed, I’ll give you anything you want from the gallery.’” But visitors are always impressed by the 10,000-square-foot collection of minerals, gems, fossils, pieces of jewelry and home decor at Rare Earth Gallery. Helfand said the store is a mixture of a rock shop and a home decor store, with everything coming from the earth. The store has 180 million-year-old Arizona petri�ied wood, and pieces literally out of this world — from space. On top of that, they have rare fossils and a large crystal collection comprised of amethyst, �luorite, moldavite and smoky quartz. Rare Earth Gallery’s vice president, Chad Brandfrass, said when people come into the store they are blown away and awestruck. Even if you don’t plan on buying anything, Brandfrass said to stop in and enjoy it. “I don’t care if they buy anything,” Brandfrass said. “Just the fact that they were able to come in and see these amazing pieces that we have procured from around the world and to be inspired by them, appreciate them, understand them better, have a higher level of regard and respect for them is a lot. “Obviously we’re a retail store, so, you
Just a few of the “wow pieces” at Rare Earth Gallery in Cave Creek. (Photo courtesy of Rare Earth Gallery)
know, we do need to sell things, but for the most part, when people come in, they’re not pressured to buy. It’s more of an educational experience. Our staff is very well-trained in talking about these items, they’re knowledgeable about them and we create an experience for people.” For Helfand, that experience started at 19, when he worked in an opal mine in Australia. When he returned to Los Angeles, he said he sold a sock full of rocks for $5,000, which, of course, piqued his interest. As he started looking into stones and crystals, He�land said he became mesmerized by the natural beauty. By his mid-20s, He�land was an international gem trader, traveling to or trading with people in places like Madagascar, Brazil, Spain, China, Portugal, Russia and Peru.
In 1990, He�land moved to Arizona and opened his �irst store. Fifty years later, he is still traveling the world to �ind rare pieces, and hand picks the items that go to the store. Helfand tried to explain the beauty and his fascination, but said words weren’t enough to paint a full picture. “It’s like trying to describe a beautiful Arizona sunset, with the reds and oranges twirling around in the sky,” He�land said. “But then you see it yourself and go, ‘Whoa, that’s really beautiful.’ Words fail me to some degree and seeing is believing.” While they have plenty of “wow pieces,” Brandfrass said they have something for everyone, regardless of price. The items in the store sell anywhere from 99 cents to $99,000. Inventory includes a
gemstone chart for kids to over 6-foottall gem centerpieces. “There is not one piece in the gallery that was not hand-picked and brought in,” Brandfrass said. “Nothing here is purchased in mass amounts, every single item in here was individually picked, and every single one of them is beautiful. (It) just depends on the space that you want to �ill. What’s your goal? Are you buying a specimen? Are you buying a home decor piece? Do you want an entryway piece? You want to �ill a niche? Depending on your goals, we’ll determine what the price point is going to need to be, to ful�ill your goal.” The shop opened in Cave Creek in 2012, and while it has moved locations a few times, Helfand said he wouldn’t want to be anywhere else. “I did not want to leave Cave Creek,” Helfand said. “It’s the last fashion of old western Arizona, beside the sixth largest city in the country. Sooner or later, everyone comes to Cave Creek. It’s just a wonderful little funky town.” Brandfrass said the location gives the story its charm. “People have been to rock shops here and there, they’ve been to galleries here and there, but to come into something like this, it’s unlike anything else in the United States. And a lot of that is due to the topography of where we’re at. You know, there are warehouse spaces and there’s urban city spaces that (are similar), but within Cave Creek, having the building, having one acre of grounds to walk around and with Black Mountain in the backdrop… it’s profound.” Rare Earth Gallery
6401 E. Cave Creek Road, Cave Creek 480-575-4360 rareearthgallerycc.com
BUSINESS
THE FOOTHILLS FOCUS | THEFOOTHILLSFOCUS.COM | SEPTEMBER 8, 2021
15
Southwestern Eye expands practice in Anthem BY CHRISTINA FUOCO-KARASINSKI Foothills Focus Executive Editor
O
phthalmologist Dr. Charles Schaffer has worked in Anthem for about eight years. He has something to celebrate, however. He recently opened the doors to a new of�ice at 3654 W. Anthem Way, Suite B114. Schaffer has been with Southwestern Eye Center for about a year and a half, but it was time to expand his practice. The building is about six times larger than the former of�ice on North Venture Drive East. “The of�ice was just too small,” he said. “When I started up here, I did not know how busy we would be. Now we have an optometrist and an optical shop.” The optometrist is Dr. Cody Frank, who provides comprehensive medical and refractive eye care with a special interest in managing glaucoma, macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy and pre- and post- operative care. He has extensive training in contact lens fittings, low-vision rehabilitation and
pediatric care. Raised in Aroostook County, Maine, Frank earned a bachelor’s degree in medical biology from the University of New England, graduating magna cum laude. He worked in eye care for two years before pursuing his professional degree at Midwestern University Arizona College of Optometry, graduating as a Doctor of Optometry with honors of clinical excellence in primary care optometry and low vision rehabilitation. As for Schaffer, he stays up to date on advancements in ophthalmology to provide the most current treatment options. “I recognize that my patients are unique individuals who have placed a great deal of trust in me and my team,” he said. “That is just one reason why I value each and every patient relationship.” Schaffer graduated summa cum laude from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, prior to completing his medical degree at the Albany Medical College in New York, where he was elected to the Alpha Omega Alpha Medical Honor Society. He
is one of a select group of eye physicians that has also completed a residency in internal medicine, providing a �irm background in the medical conditions underlying many eye disorders. A veteran of the uniformed services, Schaffer began practicing ophthalmology in the Valley in 1994. He focuses on comprehensive ophthalmology, with an
emphasis on premium cataract surgery. “We have the full gamut of surgical procedures, like cataracts, eye lid surgery, macular degeneration treatment as needed with the home base being the Anthem office,” said Schaffer, who works out of the Sun City West office, too. “We send people into the city as needed.”
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Mesquite Fresh Street Mex moves into Happy Valley BY CHRISTINA FUOCO-KARASINSKI Foothills Focus Executive Editor
M
esquite Fresh Street Mex’s partners have had their eye on their just-opened Happy Valley location for five years. It came to fruition at 10:30 a.m. Aug. 28 when it opened its doors at 1730 W. Happy Valley Road. “We signed the least about five years ago,” said Ahmad Alatrash, co-founder of Mesquite Fresh Street Mex, formerly known as Mr. Mesquite. “It was a piece of land at the time. We signed into future development. Our partner (Will Abdallah) grew up in the
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As your Congressman in the U.S. House of Representatives, I have the privilege of nominating a limited number of students for appointments to attend a U.S. Service Academy each year. The honor of attending an academy comes with a great obligation and commitment to serving our country for a minimum of five years upon graduation. Please visit my website, Schweikert.House.Gov, to learn more about the application process. If you have any questions, please contact Lydia Macias at my District Office in Scottsdale for assistance. 14500 N. Northsight Blvd. Suite 221 Scottsdale, AZ 85260 The deadline to submit a completed application is Friday, October 8, 2021 at 5:00pm to my District Office.
FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION CONTACT MY DISTRICT OFFICE STAFF AT 480-946-2411
Mesquite Fresh Street Mex specializes in street tacos, burritos, protein bowls, quesadillas and frescas. (Photos courtesy of Mesquite Fresh Street Mex)
area and he wanted a store out there. He knows everything and everyone in the community.” At Mesquite Fresh Street Mex’s celebration of its eighth store, the first 200 guests scored a free taco a week for the next six months. “It’s been crazy out there,” he said with a laugh. “Everybody’s loving it. The community is excited. You can tell.” Mesquite Fresh Street Mex is on an aggressive growth path opening four new locations in the last year with more on the horizon, including Gilbert at Val Vista and Queen Creek roads. The restaurant chain was founded by brothers Naser and Ahmad Alatrash after they visited Rocky Point, Mexico, and
see MESQUITE page 17
FEATURES
THE FOOTHILLS FOCUS | THEFOOTHILLSFOCUS.COM | SEPTEMBER 8, 2021
MESQUITE from page 16
saw taco carts on the corners. The 1,930-square-foot Happy Valley location boasts a spacious dining room with ample seating and a drive-thru. The signature custom-built mesquite grill
featured at all Mesquite Fresh Street Mex locations uses real mesquite wood chips giving the fresh meat a smoky flavor. The cuisine is focused on incorporating the highest-quality ingredients prepared fresh daily into every dish. The
menu features authentic street tacos, burritos, protein bowls, quesadillas, frescas and family meal kits. Mesquite Fresh Street Mex has also become the go-to spot for Taco Tuesdays across the Valley with mesquite-grilled tacos starting at $2.19. “We specialize in street tacos,” Alatrash said. “That’s how we built our concept. Our Old Town Scottsdale location is only a small kitchen, a walk-up, and it’s quick paced and we only serve street tacos. “In our other locations, we serve burritos, quesadillas and bowls. The menu is short and simple so we can perfect what we’re serving. It’s good food and good quality. We don’t have freezers, so everything is fresh. We get shipments of food three to four times a week.” Alatrash said the pandemic has thrown a wrench in the business. It has upped the price of the ingredients the cooks use in the entrees. However, Mesquite Fresh Street Mex had a minimal increase in pricing. “It’s a disaster in the meat market or the ‘everything’ market,” Alatrash said.
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“On our end, we’re keeping our prices the same. We’re taking a hit. Steak is triple the cost of pre-pandemic. Our prices only went up slightly from then. “It’s a stressful business. I’m not going to lie to you. It’s stressful but rewarding at the end of the day. I get to meet all these wonderful people and get into the communities we love. Our goal is to bring our brand to every city in Arizona.” Mesquite Fresh Street Mex
1730 W. Happy Valley Road, Phoenix eatmesquite.com
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THE FOOTHILLS FOCUS | THEFOOTHILLSFOCUS.COM | SEPTEMBER 8, 2021
Patrick O’Brien lights up clients’ lives BY SHEA STANFIELD Foothills Focus Contibutor
A “Cool Vibes” by Patrick O’Brien.
rtist Patrick O’Brien is doing his part to save the Earth. Growing up in Southern California, he didn’t think his parents were particularly artistic. However, his teachers thought he was. “The message was, ‘That’s great, now push it to the next level,’” he said. “I always loved art classes. Although I have had no formal training in the fine arts, I did take art classes all through high school. That introduced me to a variety of possibilities.” O’Brien admitted he was always mechanically inclined and that led to his career as a professional electrician. “Electrical work has always been something I’ve really en-
joyed doing, day in and day out without getting bored,” he said. In June 2012, O’Brien moved to Phoenix and enrolled in the HD Program with the Harley Davidson Motorcycle Mechanics Institute (MMI). MMI provides Harley-Davidson dealerships, across the country, with trained technicians. O’Brien graduated as a certified HD tech and landed his dream job with a local dealership. Unfortunately, a few years later, he was let go during an economic downturn. At that point O’Brien decided to make the Valley his permanent home to take advantage of its vibrant art scene. He set up his home as a studio and went
see O’BRIEN page 21
“Got the Blues” by Patrick O’Brien.
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Desert Ridge Marketplace’s Copper Blues Live is hosting Yappy Hour for dogs and their owners from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 16, on its patio. For every drink purchased at Copper Blues Live’s outdoor bar, $1 will be donated to The Arizona Humane Society. Pup cups will be available from Copper Blues Live’s outdoor bar, with donation benefiting the Humane Society, too. Desert Ridge Marketplace is a dog-friendly property, with off-leash puppy play zones near H&M and in the Barnes & Noble Courtyard. The Arizona Humane Society will be there with adoptable puppies in the Cuddle Bunch Zone. Dog owners can grab a goodie bag from PetSmart while supplies last. Space is limited. To reserve a spot visit https://bit.ly/ YappyHourDRM. (Photo courtesy of Desert Ridge Marketplace)
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THE FOOTHILLS FOCUS | THEFOOTHILLSFOCUS.COM | SEPTEMBER 8, 2021
We are not isolated islands CHURCH COMMUNITY CONNECTION
Pastor Ed Delph Foothills Focus Columnist
E
very morning in Africa, a gazelle awakes. It knows that it must run faster than the fastest cheetah or it will be killed. Likewise, every morning a cheetah awakes. It knows that it must outrun the slowest gazelle, or it will starve to death. So, it doesn’t matter whether you are a cheetah or a gazelle — when the sun comes up, you better be running. This intriguing snippet makes us aware of two worlds — the cheetahs and the gazelles. Both worlds are equally valid yet come from entirely different perspectives. These two worlds are not “either/or” but “both/and.” It would be unwise for the gazelle to live by a “my-world-is-the-only-world” philosophy. The gazelle who ignores the reality of the cheetah’s world produces what the cheetah wants: gazelle-burgers. Someone might want to write a book entitled, “Gazelles are from Venus; Cheetahs are from Mars,” but the reality is cheetahs and gazelles are from Earth. So, they better learn to deal with it. Each must wake up running with awareness of the other’s world. After all, their worlds do intersect. Jesus presented more of a “both/and” world than an “either/or” world to us. Yes, there were absolutes, especially in what it takes to be a believer, but the absolutes were always in crucial areas and generally made clear. I’m not talking about a compromise of the absolutes. I’m talking about having a larger perspective that comes from having the mind of Christ. There is a spiritual world, and there is a natural world. Both intersect. To ignore the reality of the Creator will affect the creation. Pretending there is no God, ignoring God or dissing God is like the gazelle who pretends there is no cheetah, ignores the cheetah or disdains the cheetah. That could have a bad ending for the gazelle and a fantastic meal for the cheetah. Here’s an example of the “both/and” perspective. Jesus is called the lion and the lamb. Now there is a paradox for you. How can Jesus be strong and weak, ferocious and gentle, a fighter and a flee-er at the same time?
Well, He is. Jesus could go from one extreme to another depending on what God told him was appropriate for the situation. Both the lamb and the lion are in God’s world. God is multifaceted; “I heard the voice of many waters.” (Revelation 1:15). God is Spirit (John 4:24). God is Light (I John 1:5). God is Love (I John 4:16). God is Elohim— Three in One, The Father, The Son, and the Holy Spirit. Friends, that’s a paradox. God’s world and our world have seven continents, not just one. There are seven days in a week, seven colors in a rainbow, and seven notes in the musical scale. There were 12 tribes, not just one tribe, that made the nation of Israel. God created the world to reveal the genius of the “both/and” mindset. God integrates seemingly opposite viewpoints that reveal the complexity and wonder of God. Those who embrace an “either/or” way of thinking or dualism struggle with this. Dualism views most everything adversarial: us/ them, win/lose, right/wrong, either/or, “Me Tarzan, you Jane;” or in today’s world, “Me Jane, you Tarzan.” But that’s not what the mind of Christ is all about. Let me explain. Years ago, I rented a 15-person van to take our junior high children on a ministry trip. As we were traveling, I looked in the back seats and noticed all the junior high kids had earphones on with their favorite CDs blasting in their ears. No one was talking. Each junior higher was on the bus but listening to their favorite tunes with eyes glazed over and heads straight forward. That incident reminds me of these current times. Just like those junior high kids, all of us are on a journey together, but polarized, listening to our tunes, themes, social causes, emphasis, etc. There’s nothing wrong with a cause or issue if we understand that our “thing” will never be everything. You may be correct, but you’re partially right, and you are out of balance. Other things and other themes around us affect what you want to do that you need to consider. Let’s put our concept of the genius of the “both/and” into current issues in our world. Here are a few of the hundreds of examples in Scripture from God’s perspective of the “both/and” concept. God created and
loved both the Jew and the Gentile. (Romans 1:16); God loves both women and men (Galatians 3:28); God created the value of both young and old (Acts 2:17); God loves both the rich and poor (Ephesians 6:5-9); God gives us both grace and truth (John 1:14); God created both heaven and earth (1 Corinthians 15:40); God has appointed times for both the mortal and immortal. (1 Corinthians 15:53). God loves all races, not just one race. (Revelation 5:9). These seemingly contradictory opposite viewpoints complement and complete one another. Opposites attract. If they are smart, they negotiate the differences. Think of it, our differences don’t go away, but our hostilities can. The rough edge of another person may be the very tool that sharpens you. You can’t sink someone else’s end of the boat and keep your end afloat. Let’s rise from the scarcity of “either/or” paradigm and ascend to the abundance of “both/and” paradigm. The way is yours, take it.
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Ed Delph is a noted author of 10 books, as well as a pastor, teacher, former business owner and speaker. Ed has traveled extensively, having been to more than 100 countries. He is president of NationStrategy, a nonprofit organization involved in uplifting and transforming communities worldwide. For more information, see nationstrategy. com. Ed may be contacted at nationstrategy@cs.com.
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Cal Vander Kooi: Designing from the trees BY SHEA STANFIELD Foothills Focus Contibutor
I
t’s been said “an artist who works with his hands, his head, and his heart at the same time creates a masterpiece.” In the world of wood turning, the combination is evident in Cal Vander Kooi’s work. Born and raised on a dairy farm in Worthington, Minnesota, Vander Kooi finds it’s second nature to work with his hands. He utilizes those skills as a collision repair technician for 46 years. The combination of hands-on work, keen eye for detail and commitment to precision work made him a highly sought-after craftsman. In 1985, the Vander Kooi family left the frozen landscapes of Minnesota winters for the sun, warmth and natural terrain of the Arizona desert. “I am at the top of an enormous
Cal Vander Kooi’s bowl of acacia. (Photo courtesy of Cal Vander Kooi) family tree, with three children, eight grandchildren, and six great grandchildren,” Vander Kooi said. He began is journey into woodworking during the 2009 Christmas season. “It was Christmas of 2009 when I
received my first equipment to begin turning wood,” he said. He was inspired by his brother-inlaw, Mark Wachal, who took a wood-
see DESIGN page 21
Buckeye burl wooden bowl by Cal Vander Kooi. (Photo courtesy of Cal Vander Kooi)
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DESIGN from page 20
turning class in Colorado. Vander Kooi is considered a “natural.” He gifted one of his first bowls to his wife for Valentine’s Day. “We no longer have a pile of firewood,” he said. “Instead, I see each piece of raw material as a piece of art waiting to be created.” Vander Kooi lets his creative energies take him where they may. “I view each piece as an individual, sometimes, pieces of wood will just sit in my workshop for days or weeks before I hear what should be made from it,” he said. For this reason, each finished piece
O’BRIEN from page 18
to work combining his talents in design, mechanics, electronics and photography. Reilluminated Lamps was born, where his creativity and handy work come together. He recycles items to “bring in the light.” O’Brien’s inaugural project was a lamp
“Lights, Camera, Action” by Patrick O’Brien.
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is unique. Even his sets of wine goblets are not an exact match. Membership in the American Association of Woodturners and the Arizona Woodturners Association has given Vander Kooi a deeper understanding in technique. A Mesa resident, Vander Kooi works in his home studio/workshop and has set up a gallery there as well. For an appointment, call 480-5600137. Vander Kooi’s public presence is with On The Edge Gallery in Scottsdale and the Fountain Hills Artists Gallery. For more information, email calvanderkooi@hotmail.com or visit calvanderkooi.com. constructed from his 1922 Kodak A1 Camera. “We live in a throw away society,” O’Brien said. “Things just are not made like they use to be to last for many years. So, the items I use now have a second life to inspire others to reconsider, repurposing items into useful objects.” His career change paid off. O’Brien won first place as “Best Creative Reuse” at the Tempe Arts Festival in the fall of 2019 and his lamps have been in high demand since. Unfortunately, the COVID-19 lockdown put the arts and performances on lockdown. As a result, O’Brien has not participated in his usual large shows. He is still represented by two area galleries that have remained open to the public with precautions—On the Edge in Scottsdale and Fountain Hills Artists Gallery. His work can also be viewed on his website, reilluminatedlamps.com. He accepts commissions, so don’t throw or give away gear boxes, wheels with broken sprockets, broken bicycle chains or old cameras. For more information, email him at reilluminated.life@gmail. com.
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Mystery wood with walnut finish by Cal Vander Kooi. (Photo courtesy of Cal Vander Kooi)
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