The Foothills Focus 101922 Zone 2

Opioid

grants

Legion to honor Vietnam veterans

BY FRAN BOOTH Foothills Focus Contributing Writer

As part of American Legion Post 34’s 75th anniversary, Faces of Free dom is producing a day-long event honoring Vietnam veterans on Saturday, Oct. 22.

The festivities are open to the public at American Legion Post 34, 6272 E. Cave Creek Road, Cave Creek.

Doors open at 10:30 a.m., when a con

tingent of Legion Riders from area posts will arrive to celebrate and welcome home Vietnam veterans. Pinning ceremo nies will be held throughout the day.

At noon, Post 34 will offer a four-hour Mexican buffet meal, accompanied by “Good Morning, Vietnam” shows at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m., featuring the nine-piece The Tributaries playing popular music from the 1950s to 1975. Linda Ronstadt’s niece, Mindy Ronstadt, and the Manhattan Dolls will both perform as well. Tickets for the

“Good Morning, Vietnam” shows are $20 and can be purchased at Post 34.

The nostalgic band Flashback will per form from 4 to 8 p.m. In addition, a 1953 Willys Jeep M38A1 used during Vietnam will be on display. Raffle tickets for a cus tom guitar created by Black Mountain Guitar Co. in Cave Creek and artist Chaz Lee will be sold.

“This will be another great event to

Abrazo to celebrate 1-year anniversary

BY FOOTHILLS FOCUS STAFF

Abrazo

Cave Creek Hospital is hosting a one-year anniversary open house from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Friday, Oct. 21, at 5227 E. Carefree Highway.

The public can enjoy refreshments and join the Abrazo team, town officials, local health care providers and EMS for guided tours of the facility.

Abrazo Cave Creek Hospital opened in mid2021, offering care closer to home for Cave Creek, Carefree and North Valley residents. The neighborhood hospital serves patients of all ages and includes a 13-bed emergency de partment, on-site imaging and eight inpatient

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Staff at Abrazo Cave Creek Hospital invite the public to an open house from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Friday, Oct. 21, to celebrate the neighborhood hospital’s one-year anniversary. Abrazo Cave Creek Hospital is located at 5227 E. Carefree Highway. (Abrazo/Submitted)

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“Abrazo Cave Creek Hospital is in an ideal location for ease of access and was planned with an emphasis on quality medical care and efficiency,” said Administrator Ashley Mitchel, RN. “The hospital has been em braced by the community as we are able to offer 24/7 emergency coverage with short er ER wait times.”

The staff has developed strong relation ships with local EMS providers and work side-by-side with first responders every day, said Mitchel.

“We treat patients from all over the north Valley. Being in Cave Creek, the hospital has seen its share of horseback riding- and outdoor activity-related injuries in the ER. Winter visitors also seek us out when our population goes up during the cooler months. The feedback we get is that pa tients appreciate the friendly atmosphere and faster service without long ER wait times,” Mitchel said.

Abrazo Cave Creek Hospital is smaller in scale than a typical acute care hospital, yet offers a full emergency department, inpa tient care, ultrasound, X-ray and CT scan,

Patients at Abrazo Cave Creek Hospital appreciate the friendly atmosphere and faster service with out long ER wait times. Abrazo is inviting the public to attend the hospital’s one-year anniversary celebration from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Friday, Oct. 21, at 5227 E. Carefree Highway. (Abrazo/Submitted)

minor procedures, laboratory, pharmacy and other services, she noted.

“A lot of our staff live around here and take pride in working for a local hospital that serves their friends and neighbors. Our unique, smaller size lends itself to a fami ly environment and people like working here,” Mitchel said.

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Brnovich giving $4M in grants for opioid crisis

BY FOOTHILLS FOCUS STAFF

AttorneyGeneral Mark Brnovich’s of fice is making $4 million available in grants to help fight the opioid crisis. The money comes from attorney general office settlements with four pharmaceutical companies for their roles in the opioid crisis.

“While opioids have not recently received as much media attention as other public health issues, we can never forget those that have been devastated by this epidemic,” Br novich said. “The distribution of these grants should greatly assist many Arizonans on the road to recovery and well-being.”

Applicants will be able to apply for one or all three programs, which include:

• $2 million in total grant funding for rural counties (Apache, Cochise, Coconino, Gila, Graham, Greenlee, La Paz, Mohave, Nava jo, Pinal, Santa Cruz, Yavapai and Yuma counties).

• $1 million in total grant funding for large

counties (Maricopa and Pima).

• $1 million in total grant funding statewide for “medically underserved” populations.

Grant funding may be used for several pur poses, including:

• Treatment of opioid use disorder.

• Support for people in treatment and recovery.

• Addressing the needs of persons involved in or at risk of becoming involved in the criminal justice system.

• Addressing the needs of pregnant or par enting women and preventing the misuse of opioids.

In July, Brnovich secured consent judg ments with Cardinal, McKesson and Amer isourceBergen — the nation’s three major pharmaceutical distributors — and Johnson & Johnson, which manufactured and mar keted opioids. Arizona and its political sub divisions will receive more than $540 mil lion over the next 18 years from the consent judgments for opioid treatment, prevention and education.

The money will be dispersed according to the One Arizona Memorandum of Under standing (One Arizona Plan), an agreement with 90 Arizona cities and towns and all 15 counties to distribute funds from opioid set tlements expeditiously.

As part of the One Arizona Plan, the Arizo na Legislature appropriated a portion of the settlement to the AGO during the 2022 leg islative session to provide funding for grant programs to address and alleviate opioid abuse across the state.

Applicants will have until 11:59 p.m. Mon day, Nov. 28, to apply for grants. Nonprofits, for-profit organizations, faith-based organi zations and community coalitions are eligi ble. Government entities are not eligible to apply for this round of funding and will be ad dressed in future disbursements by local and state governments per the One Arizona Plan.

Interested applicants may apply for AGO opioid abatement grant funding at https:// bit.ly/AZOpioidAbatement.

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honor the many men and women who served in Vietnam between 1955 and 1975,” said Brian Fernandez, Post 34 Legion commander.

“Our largest group of veterans fought during this era in one of the worst wars ever. Adhering to the theme ‘Welcome Home,’ we will bring honor, patriotism and recognition to this incredible group of patriots who were never properly welcomed home.”

Chartered in 1947, American Legion Post 34 supports and advocates on be

pening in the war zone. I mean get in a helicopter and head to where the war is and take some pictures of what is happening, including ground activity and site operations.’”

Beaulieu didn’t think he was a good photographer, but he learned fast. He will never forget witnessing soldiers’ deaths on the battlefield and the hor rible human atrocities. Some still sear his memory.

“I took photos from 1965-67,” Beau lieu said.

“I loved the country and the peo ple, but they didn’t care for us much because sometimes the government didn’t treat them well. The fact is, we had no business being there and as time went on, more and more soldiers agreed with that sentiment.”

It is hard for Beaulieu to pick up a camera now.

“I saw so much, and photog raphy takes me back to a bad place,” he added. He’s constant ly reminded of his experiences, triggered by certain smells like trash burning and decay.

still fighting the war.

“Talking about that trauma is very helpful,” Beaulieu said. “Af ter a while, you put the uni form away and move on. For a long time, I couldn’t sleep in a bed but rather pre ferred the floor. College was difficult, so I went to bar ber school and really loved sharing time talking with customers.”

This wisdom-filled man said the Lord was always with him and carried him through his many incredible expe riences.

“You may put away the uniform but moving forward is a daily battle,” Beaulieu said.

Pratt Ashworth

American Legion Post 34 Vietnam War veteran Ashworth discovered that his F-4 assignment was sending him to Europe.

the United States when and wherever you can,” Ashworth added. “The old adage ‘freedom is not free,’ still rings true today.”

Larry Binkowski

Post 34 member Binkowski, a Mid west native, was young and naïve when he signed up for a six-year stint in the U.S. Army with his best friend. They didn’t know what would unfold in Vietnam.

half of veterans, active military and their families.

Sharing memories

Daniel ‘Boogie’ Beaulieu

Beaulieu, an American Legion Post 34 member, joined the Army in 1964 and went to basic training at Fort Knox, Kentucky.

Little did he know that after his ad vanced training as a photo lab techni cian, he would get orders to join the second military intelligence unit in Germany. He then volunteered for a “little war” he had heard about in Viet nam, a place he was unfamiliar with.

He figured service in a combat zone would look good in his jacket. After he was accepted, he headed to Saigon, where he was attached to the MAC-V Military Assistance as a photo lab technician.

The unit was headed by a major — unusual for a platoon — who ap proached Beaulieu with a camera.

“He said, ‘See those helicopters out there?’” Beaulieu recalled.

“‘Go out and document what’s hap

Beaulieu returned to the states in 1967, making it to Oakland, California, and Travis Air Force Base.

“I was at the airport getting some thing to eat and saw people stand up and move away from me,” Beaulieu aid. “I didn’t understand it. Everything seemed different. The experiences I went through in Vietnam were deep. It would have been nice to have some one welcome me home.”

Today, the Army veteran shares his experiences with others, tries not to sweat the small stuff and focuses on his wife, children and grandchildren. Fifty years later, he said he feels he’s

However, he also learned there was a shortage of fighter-qualified forward air controllers (FACs) in Vietnam. In his late twenties, the airman decided it was his patriotic duty to volunteer as an FAC and thus began his experi ences flying in B-52 bombers.

Ashworth flew 500 combat missions in the Vietnam War during 1968 and 1969 as a FAC in the U.S. Air Force. During his service, he received sever al combat medals including the Silver Star, Distinguished Flying Cross (two) and air medals (18). His primary mis sions included identifying enemy tar gets and directing fighter attacks in support of U.S. troops.

“My most positive events includ ed successfully defending U.S. troops and their assigned areas,” Ashworth said. “Those events gave me strength to continue, even during very difficult times. My most negative memories are those events where friend ly forces could not be saved and when, on two different oc casions, friends who took my place for missions were killed while flying those missions.” Ashworth said that stays with him.

“Please remember to support

“We took our basic training at Fort Bliss, Texas, then went to Fort Gordon in Georgia for advanced infantry train ing,” Binkowski said.

“We then headed to Fort Benning for jump school. My friend broke his an kle there, so I ended up being shipped off to Vietnam just shy of the Fourth of July.”

Binkowski was assigned to the Ninth Infantry Division, a special recon and force unit responsible for night am bush and insurgency missions.

“We would get dropped off in the middle of the night by helicopter, walk a couple of miles in and ambush the enemy,” Binkowski said.

“After the first six months, we lost quite a few of our troops. We were am bushed.”

Afterward, within the same unit, Binkowski and his peers were reas signed to smaller seven-man longrange reconnaissance units.

“We would go out for anywhere from a week to a month,” Binkowski said. “After a time, I knew the Twin Sisters mountains as well as the Viet Cong. Gen. Westmoreland issued a commendation for our unit. It was in recognition for excellent night insur

gency missions.”

Binkowski said during his second night mission, the Viet Cong hit the unit as it approached.

“It was the first time I ever saw death,” Binkowski said. “My gunner was hit. I was helping a medic when he died in my arms. I was just a kid and I had never seen anything like that be fore. That moment brought reality to the forefront that the situation was real, yet they were shocked by what it really was.”

Night vision equipment became sec ond nature as the unit moved cautious ly in the dark. They were understand ing the realities of war. He served the unit for almost a year then agreed to another six months. Binkowski stayed with the long-range reconnaissance portion and saved prisoners.

“They were scary as hell,” he remem bered. “You’re walking into an enemy camp at night. We were actually able to rescue four prisoners. That felt re ally good.”

Binkowski was more calloused by the day.

“The hardest thing, and one of the things that still haunts me today, was putting someone in my sights, pulling the trigger and know that I was taking their life,” he said.

“It still bothers me. However, it was one of those things; if you didn’t hit them, they were going to hit you. Af ter a while, you weren’t there to save you…you were there to protect your brothers. If I could protect a member of my team, I knew I was covered. Af ter some time, you become a bit obliv ious to the world.”

Coming home in 1970 was one of the hardest things.

Binkowski recalled people said horrible things like, “Well, you were in Vietnam, you baby killer.” He trav eled from base to base and, after three years, he was stationed as security at the Titan Missile site in California due to his extensive infantry experience and security clearances. After three years, he took an early out and went to school to study architectural engi neering.

“I then went from school to school, job to job, marriage to marriage and just couldn’t settle in,” Binkowski added. “I didn’t realize it until about 10 years later that I was suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). I still go to a support group. There are people you can talk to about certain things. After time with strong support and good friends, I am getting back to life again.”

Binkowski said being involved in American Legion Post 34 and working with veterans helps him.

“If I can help somebody, it helps me,” Binkowski said. “When you have someone die in your arms and there is nothing you can do, or when you have to kill a person, it’s tough. Being able to save people was the high point of my career. Out of our unit of 27, only 15 survived.”

After he returned, he wondered what happened to the country.

“Why don’t people respect the flag,” said Binkowski, who works security for the federal government.

“A lot of people fought to their deaths, yet, even those who were wounded said they would serve their country again. I signed an oath when I went into the service that had no expi ration date.

“To this day, I will always defend our country. Politics has distorted the Unit ed States and many of our leaders have turned against this country. They would rather talk about turning six graders toward transgender issues but not by teaching the story of our country and its Constitution. We have the greatest country in the world. People don’t un derstand what they have in this coun try. Please, please appreciate it.”

Robert McGuire

Robert McGuire of Post 34 has seen his share of military action, law en forcement and Department of Home land Security work since his career began in January 1973.

McGuire began his extensive mili tary service in the Army as a M60A1 armor tank crewman. He got involved in the Vietnam War toward the with drawal. At the time, the M60A1 “Pat ton Main Battle Tank” was considered

the most modern battle tank.

“Our government wanted to bring all of the M60A1s back to the United States,” McGuire said. “I was part of a group that worked to withdraw them from the theater. There were tanks everywhere. The team worked day in and out to remove ammo, conduct re pairs, replace tracks, etc. We complet ed the task in under one month, then I was sent to the states with a new as signment.”

He returned to Fort Knox and oth er bases where he trained to conduct prisoner vetting and interrogations. McGuire attended intelligence train ing at Fort Huachuca and Sierra Vista to learn detailed intelligence tech niques.

“I became a human intelligence gatherer moving around to do my job and later working with a Special Forc es groups as their 18F.”

During his career, McGuire also was a recruiter for the Army, did one cycle as a drill sergeant and another as a survival instructor and helped estab lish the training for survival, evasion, resistance and escape, known today as SEAE.

McGuire expanded his experience spending 18 years in law enforcement working as a criminal investigator for the office of the attorney general in Washington state.

He served on multiagency taskforc es, working on international crimes, finally working internal affairs as signed the executive ethics board.

In the 13 years prior to retirement, McGuire worked at the Department of Homeland Security in counterterror ism assessments as a subject matter expert for everything that moved on

the surface and in maritime.

The secretary of homeland security awarded him the United States of America Meritorious Service award for Team Excellence for his efforts including working with Congress and the White House in developing many of the guidelines used today for cyber security and critical infrastruc ture security.

McGuire’s commitment to coun try included vetting prisoners from around the world and settling them within the United States.

“I had to deal with vetting and inter rogating Viet Cong as well as Middle East freedom fighters and just plain overall bad guys,” McGuire said.

McGuire said, looking back, in the early 1970s, he couldn’t wait for his 17th birthday so he could enlist.

“I wanted to be a helicopter pilot but with a surplus of trained pilots all that was available was armor, so I took it to get in,” he said.

He said he didn’t care much for tanks and his hometown recruiter said he could move him to intelligence.

“It took a year to prepare myself for the job,” he said.

“Even with all my experience, my de sire was to get into the fight. The jobs I did were always the most important thing in my life. I was always prepar ing for the next day.”

McGuire reflected.

“I never regretted anything or felt like I had done anything wrong I my three careers,” McGuire said.

“When I went from the military to law enforcement, I believed the peo ple in this country should have the will and interest to help protect Amer ica. All my fellow veterans are dealing with the same problems in different ways, but it is interesting to see our similar perspectives. My service did leave me with issues I must contend with now. I always tell people I went to a lot of awful places but never any where where I felt lost or out of my element. I was always proud of my ac complishments. However, for war vet erans, we are forever changed and must face our respective challenges every day.”

Christmas program hits its 20th anniversary

BY KAILA MELLOS Foothills Focus Staff Writer

The Foothills Food Bank and Resource Center are gather ing donors and donations for its annual Adopt-A-Family Christmas program.

The donor program is now in high demand.

“We are all aware of the rising food and gas prices, but our neighbors are especially feeling the financial strain,” said Leigh Zydonik, Foothills Food Bank executive director.

“The food bank has experienced a 51% increase in visits over the same period in 2021.”

The Adopt-A-Family program gave back to 1,185 individuals and approx imately 450 families in 2021. With that 51% increase in demand, they are now looking to serve around 600 individual families this year.

“The Adopt-A-Family is a gift-giving program,” Zydonik said.

“We have families, and our seniors as well, that we have two different parties for. One party is at the Hol land Center, that services the Cave Creek area, and then we have one up in Black Canyon City that services the Black Canyon City area and New River area.”

The food bank hosts two parties

during Thanksgiving and Christmas to distribute the Adopt-A-Family gifts and bring the holiday spirit.

“We even have meal preparation stuff for fun family activities during the event and to take home for togeth er time with the family,” she said.

“These prep kits include things like baking cookies, frosting them, hot co coa, popcorn, some of those types of fun family holiday event foods. We also have a Santa who comes in for the party. It’s just a fun event for the fami ly and our seniors to come and get the holiday spirit.”

The Foothills Food Bank lists on its website the recommended gifts to do nate to the program.

Foothills Food Bank is accepting donations of the gift cards to help families. It also is asking for board games, adult brainteaser books, and new throws or small lap blankets for the seniors this winter. All gift cards and gifts must be dropped off at the Holland Center, 34250 N. 60th Street, Scottsdale, between Sunday, Dec. 4, and Thursday, Dec. 8.

The food bank is also always looking for volunteers for its two locations. If in terested, contact the Foothills Food Bank.

Donors can register to adopt a fami ly through Wednesday, Nov. 30 at foot hillsfoodbank.com.

Founded in 1988, the Foothills Food Bank and Resource Center provides food for neighbors experiencing food insecurity as well as resources for other support services available in North Maricopa and southern Yavapai counties.

The Cave Creek food bank is at 6038 E. Hidden Valley Drive, Cave Creek, 480-4881145.

Volunteers wait at the check-in table to get Adopt-A-Fam ily ready to go thru the drive-thru style collection for the 2021 event. (Foothills Food Bank/Submitted)

The Black Canyon City pantry is at 34550 S. Black Canyon Highway, Black Can yon City, 623-374-9441.

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AROUND THE BLUHMIN’ TOWN

Hold the spice this fall season

BY JUDY BLUHM Foothills Focus Columnist

Cinnamon.

Ginger. Nutmeg. Allspice. The holy grail of spices. The pump kin spice season has arrived! How did this “autumn flavor” gain so much popularity in America that it practically formed its own culture?

Look at coffee shops with the lines of people sitting in their vehicles, eagerly ordering pumpkin spice lattes.

The coffee flavor was experimented with by Starbucks in the 1990s, then

launching the now-famous latte in 2003, setting off a pumpkin spice craze. Yep, 20 million of these “pumpkin lattes,” loving ly called PSL, are sold each year, at just about every coffee joint in America.

They can barely keep up with the de mand. But wait, it gets weirder. Amer icans spend about half a billion bucks on pumpkin spice products every year.

Pumpkin-scented candles, lattes, trash bags, beer, bagels, popcorn and pies are but a few of the ways that consumers show the “pumpkin love.” But why?

Teams of psychologists claim that the

aroma of pumpkin conjures up pleas ant memories (or fantasies) of cooler weather, cozy kitchens, leaves falling to the ground and the approach of holidays. Somehow, pumpkin spice can make folks feel nostalgic, improving moods, and pro viding comfort through our senses. Can a flavor really do this? While the “experts” keep investigating our “national obses sion” with pumpkin spice, we just keep sipping the lattes. Oh yeah, Americans love a change of seasons and a cup of spiced-up java.

The history of pumpkin spice goes back to cookbooks written as early as 1796 and Indigenous people were making a baked pumpkin concoction long before that. Mc Cormick first came out with pumpkin pie spice in 1934 just before Thanksgiving, and a star spice was born. It flew off the shelves, cementing the flavors that seem to represent Americana. So here we are.

A nation divided on about everything, except our deep devotion to pumpkin spice. In everything. Even SPAM. Yes, the little can of versatility can be purchased in, you guessed it, pumpkin spice flavor. A terrifying thought.

Actually, very little pumpkin, if any, ex ists in most of these “spiced” products. But we Americans also love our pump kins. Oh, give us a round orange ball to proudly display on porches, steps, patios

and walkways and let the season begin. There is much more to the fruit (yes, it’s a fruit) than a latte or pie.

More than 800 million pumpkins are produced and sold, each year in the Unit ed States. And they all ripen in October. No wonder our grocery stores are filled with bins of gorgeous gourds. Well, not only do people enjoy pumpkins, so do ja velinas.

I think javelinas love to devour a tasty decorative pumpkin as much as people seem addicted to lattes. I found this out when I happily (stupidly) placed about eight pumpkins around my front walk way. When I woke up to a ruckus one night, I looked out to see a family of six big javelinas with orange gooey faces de stroying my autumn display with great enthusiasm.

Oh my gourd, forgive me for what I am about to say. Forget about pumpkins! Hold the spice.

Judy Bluhm is a writer and a local Real tor. Have a story or a comment? Email Judy at judy@judybluhm.com.

How to get a letter published

E-mail: christina@timeslocalmedia.com

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

For more opinions visit thefoothillsfocus.com

Stagecoach Village Art Festival kicks off Arizona’s Festival season with a unique gathering of local and regional artists and craftsmen exhibiting throughout the open-air plaza.

enjoy patio dining and live music, while strolling through the Village - A place where Art meets the West.

Hear Ye? Maybe his records, but not his speech

BY DAVID LEIBOWITZ Foothills Focus Columnist

My mother often cautioned us on the value of silence. She mostly spoke her mind and expected her kids to as well, unless we had no clue what we were talking about. Then she advocated holding your tongue.

“It’s one thing to be an idiot,” she would say, “but another thing to con stantly open your mouth and prove it to everyone.”

Which brings me to the rapper/cloth ing designer/cultural icon Kanye West, who goes by the one-word appellation “Ye.”

Ye, who has rapped beautifully about his late mother, Donda, has spent several weeks proving my mother exactly right, and teaching us a valuable lesson besides.

It is possible to be prodigiously tal ented, wealthy and famous and still be a blithering idiot.

Ye’s recent turn in the media grind er began in Paris during Fashion Week, when he sported an oversize T-shirt with a picture of Pope John Paul II on the front and the slogan “White Lives Matter” on the back.

While I agree with Ye that the state ment is “obvious,” there‘s no deny ing those three words carry a highly charged context: The Anti-Defamation League calls the phrase “a hate slogan,” seized upon by the Aryan Nation and Ku Klux Klan as “a staple among white supremacist mantras.”

In other words, this wasn’t fashion. It was like dressing up as a Nazi for Hal loween and calling it “just a costume.”

Speaking of Judaism, Ye turned his at tention there in an appearance on Fox News’ Tucker Carlson show and on so cial media. His interview with Carlson was a rambling two-hour mess even be fore the really anti-Semitic comments –edited out for TV – leaked to the media.

Among Ye’s greatest hits: “I prefer my kids knew Hanukkah than Kwanzaa. At least it will come with some financial

engineering.”

Because, you know, Jews control the world’s money and all.

Not content with claiming to “have vi sions that God gives me, just over and over, on community building,” Ye went on a social media rant that got him banned from Instagram and Twitter: “I’m a bit sleepy tonight but when I wake up I’m going death con 3 on Jewish peo ple. The funny thing is I actually can’t be Anti-Semitic because Black people are actually Jew also. You guys have toyed with me and tried to Black ball anyone whoever opposes your agenda.”

Can I get an “Oy vey?”

The woke left, from Rep. Alexandra Ocasio Cortez to singer John Legend, lined up on cue to cancel Ye. Others sug gested that Ye, who has spoken often of his battle with bipolar disorder, might be off his meds and should seek help.

Meanwhile, the business community, from Adidas to JPMorgan Chase, moved to distance themselves, either suspend ing doing business with Ye outright or announcing the relationship was “un der review.”

Keep in mind, this is the same guy

has costly implications

BY J.D. HAYWORTH Foothills Focus Columnist

The old joke is perhaps more in sulting than amusing – and cer tainly burns the ears of educa tors and athletic department personnel alike.

Maybe you’ve heard it: “Those who can’t do, teach… and those who can’t teach, teach gym.”

But now, it appears some “former gym teachers”—also known as coach es— are getting the last laugh in the form of huge deposits into their check ing accounts.

The first high-profile “personnel ca sualty” in the National Football League during the 2022 season took place in the aftermath of week five, when the Carolina Panthers parted company with Head Coach Matt Rhule.

Good thing for Matt that an updated “Golden Rhule” was in effect because he signed a seven-year, $62 million contract that was fully guaranteed back in 2020.

He will have to make do with $834,000 per month over the next 48 months to just “hang around the house” – or per haps build several new ones.

Maybe Matt will “go back to school,” and return to coaching in the collegiate ranks.

That would certainly please the Pan thers, who would see that remaining $40 million “investment” offset by any future head coaching wages paid to Rhule.

Despite losing twice as many games as he won as an NFL coach, Rhule re mains a “hot commodity” in the eyes of

big-time college football headhunters. Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network claims that Matt will “have his choice of covet ed college jobs” once this season ends.

Nowhere is a winning coach more needed now than at Nebraska.

The Cornhuskers have suffered through a “football famine” for more than two decades, having last won a share of the National Championship in 1997. That’s why Nebraska named the starting quarterback from that title year, Scott Frost, as the Huskers head coach in late 2018. Frost was “on fire” at the time, having just coached UCF to an undefeated season.

But once he returned home to Lincoln, Frost led Nebraska into a football “deep freeze,” suffering through four straight losing seasons and recording only one win and two defeats through the first three weeks of the 2022 campaign.

By firing Frost in September, Athletic Director Trev Alberts was actually doing the hard-luck Nebraska alumnus a favor.

Had the Huskers handed Frost his walking papers in October, the buyout on Scott’s contract would have been re duced by 50%.

So, the September dismissal paid him a generous $15 million, which will keep

Frost and his family warm this winter –and during many more winters to come. Closer to home, the “Winter of Discon tent” for Arizona State with Head Coach

Herm Edwards was likewise concluded in September with what looks like an other multimillion-dollar payout. One estimate puts the total at $10.8 million. Or maybe not.

Because there’s been no apparent res olution to the NCAA investigation of the Sun Devil football program, it is conceiv able that Edwards could wind up with no severance pay, and would perhaps have to pay $75,000 from his own pock et should the collegiate sports govern ing body determine that he was directly involved in rule violations.

But other observers believe a big pay day is in Herm’s future, based in part on

LEIBOWITZ

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who said in 2018: “When you hear about slavery for 400 years … For 400 years? That sounds like a choice.”

Only now you’re reviewing his wis dom?

My take on Ye: He belongs on the Mount Rushmore of rap, alongside gi ants like Dre and Eminem. His talent has brought him wealth and fame, but like so many icons, he holds no special claim on intellect.

the “official language” used to announce his departure by ASU Athletic Director Ray Anderson.

“Herm did not resign, he was not dis missed. We agreed to a mutual relin quishment of duties,” Anderson said.

“We’ll have to work through what all of that means at the end of the day… Agents are out there and attorneys are out there, both from the institutional point of view and the agents and client.”

Ray Anderson should know.

He was Herm’s agent back during Ed

“Stronger,” “Golddigger,” and “Jesus Walks” are tunes I’ll spin until I die. But watch two hours of Kanye pontificate on kinetic energy or wear his atrocious chunky moonboots? Hell no.

The rich and famous might try keep ing their mouths shut more often. As for Ye, he would be wise to heed a line from his classic, “Hey Mama.”

“I know I act a fool,” he vowed to Donda, “but I promise you, I’m goin’ back to school.”

When Ye, when?

wards’ playing days in the NFL.

The recent intrigue at ASU has prompted a joke that’s not very funny to the Sun Devil faithful.

“There are two types of athletic direc tors. Those who hire and fire coaches…

and those who hire and then fire their ex-clients.”

Ears are burning in Tempe and a big chunk of cash will burn a hole through the ASU athletic budget right into the pocket of Herm Edwards.

Annual amount based on possible monthly or quarterly amounts. 2 Allowance amount does not carry over to the next quarter or the following year. All Cigna products and services are provided exclusively by or through operating subsidiaries of Cigna Corporation. The Cigna name, logos, and other Cigna marks are owned by Cigna Intellectual Property, Inc. Benefits, features and/or devices vary by plan/service area. Limitations, exclusions, and restrictions may apply. Contact the plan for more information. This information is not a complete description of benefits, which vary by individual plan. You must live in the plan’s service area. Call 1-888-284-0268 (TTY 711) for more information. Cigna is contracted with Medicare for PDP plans, HMO and PPO plans in select states, and with select State Medicaid programs. Enrollment in Cigna depends on contract renewal. © 2022 Cigna Some content provided under license.

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Robert Clarfield combines real estate and flying

BY CHRISTINA FUOCO-KARASINSKI Foothills Focus Executive Editor

As a child, Robert Clarfield watched planes soar at New York air shows with his father, and he found his life long passion.

Now, the former tech project manager is known as “The Flying Realtor,” with the ARRT of Real Estate, embarking from Scott sdale Airport.

“I’m not looking to move on to the air lines like younger pilots,” said Clarfield, a former volunteer search-and-rescue pilot for the Civil Air Patrol.

“I’m 53 years old. It’s about building it into my business. Having the ability to scan Arizona with an eagle’s perspective is a huge advantage for home searchers — particularly those not as fa miliar with the areas. With all the migration into the Grand Canyon State from the West Coast and elsewhere, that’s an incredible plus.”

Clarfield is a partner in the ARRT of Real Estate, which has nine agents. The boutique firm hopes to graduate to 20.

“We really want to stay bou tique because we want to concentrate on helping all of our agents succeed,” he said. “We don’t advertise a lot. We go by refer rals.”

Clarfield specializes in finding homes in Sedona or in Prescott, especially for clients who would like a second home in the cool pines, away from the hot weather. He’s laser focused on Payson, which is an hour and a half by car, and less than 60 minutes by air. It’s not as pricey as Prescott or Flagstaff.

Nestled just under the Mogollon Rim, Payson is a short hop to mountain lakes, the Tonto Natural Bridge, and scores of hiking trails. Payson is an outdoor playground for

those who like nature, cooler temperatures, cabin retreats, or small-town comfort.

“But to find — and then acquire — the perfect home or retreat in this tree-lined paradise requires not only knowing where and how to look but an understanding of the details of the acquisition and the deal,” he said.

That comes from his project manager years, during which time he worked in real estate part time. Two years ago, his real es tate career took off, when he put his heart into it.

“One of my dreams was always to fly,” he adds. “I wanted to be a pilot, but it was ob

viously a very expensive hobby to get into. My wife and I talked about it, and she said to go for it; just get my pilot’s license. So, I got it, and I was able to take my dad flying. It was awesome.

“I thought, ‘Wouldn’t it be cool if I could combine my love and passion for flying with my love and passion for real estate?’ In Phoenix, most Realtors concentrate on the properties in Phoenix, Scottsdale, Mesa, Tempe, Chandler, the Valley. I was thinking I could expand that and include Payson, Prescott, Flagstaff and Sedona.”

By the end of the year, he’ll have his in strument rating, which allows him to fly through clouds, and then his commercial rating. Right now, he can fly clients, but he cannot charge them.

“I’m perfectly fine with that,” he said. “I can’t charge them until I get a commercial license. Then, I can look at the parameters for charging people, but I wanted to get my instrument rating first. If you just go from

private pilot to a commercial pilot, you can only fly passengers within a 50-nau tical-mile radius. That’s not going to be enough. So, I’ll get my instrument rating and then I can fly them wherever they want to go.

“If they’re looking in Sedona, for example, we’ll take off from Scottsdale and fly out to Sedona. I’ll have a car service waiting for them — a nice Town Car or something — and go to showings. Have some lunch, get back in the car that takes us back to Sedona airport and fly back to Scottsdale. Right now, I’ve been renting a plane, but I’m going to be purchasing my own plane. It’s going to be fun.”

ARRT of Real Estate / Robert Clarfield

5635 N. Scottsdale Road, Suite 170, Scottsdale 480-239-7793, arrtofrealestate.com robert@arrtofrealestate.com

For more Business News visit thefoothillsfocus.com

Robert Clarfield will have his instrument rating and commercial rating by the end of the year. (Dennis Murphy/Contributor)

Robert Clarfield discovered a lifelong passion for flying as a child attending New York air shows.

@TheFoothills.Focus /TheFoothillsFocus

Gallery hosts art showcase reception

BY FOOTHILLS FOCUS STAFF

Arizona’s largest and lon gest-running artist studio tour, Hidden in the Hills, is a month away, and Desert Foothills Gallery is giving the public a chance to preview some of the art that will be exhibited during the event.

The Hidden in the Hills Showcase features diverse, original pieces of fine art by 39 of the 174 Hidden in the Hills participating artists. An artist reception is 4 to 5:30 p.m. Sat urday, Oct. 22, followed by an edu cational presentation from 4 to 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 3 that will fea ture five juried artists.

The Desert Foothills Gallery is a permanent gallery inside the Desert Foothills Library, at 38443 N. School House Road, Cave Creek. The gallery features artists of the nonprofit So noran Arts League and the state of Arizona.

“Many people don’t realize that we

exhibit art in a true gallery space,” said painter Judy Bruce, chair of the Desert Foothills Gallery committee and a studio host during the tour.

“We change out the wall mount ed exhibits several times a year, en abling the library to feature a contin uous rotation of work by local juried artists.”

This year’s showcase was juried by Kathy Duley, an arts advocate who spent more than 25 years curating shows as a director for several fine art galleries.

“It’s a spectacular show, and our reception on Saturday provides a chance to meet the artists and view beautiful art, all while enjoying wine and refreshments,” Bruce said.

For more inspiration, the public is invited to an educational art talk and demonstration featuring five tal ented Hidden in the Hills artists on Thursday, Nov. 3. The presentation features:

Scottsdale artist Carol Brook works with a variety of leathers and fiber to design her artwork. Her pas sion is sculpted free-form leather bowls that are made from vegeta

ble-tanned leather.

Tracy Laasch, of Phoenix, is a sculptural fiber artist who is pas sionate about needle felting. She cre ates whimsical, nostalgic, story book style animal sculptures that tell their tales in 3D form.

Fiber artist Kristin Kleyer Mang um, of Scottsdale, creates her art works with hand selected pure

wools, cottons and precious finds from all over the world — collected while studying, living and traveling internationally.

Scarlett Fiona Reed, of Carefree, is a mixed-media ceramicist and a new studio host on the tour. She is a min imalist who cares deeply about the environment. Her kiln is powered by solar energy.

Phil Webster, of Chandler, a mixed-media/wood artist whose creations lie at the intersections of mathematical patterns and shapes, historical design traditions, sacred geometry, and modern technology.

The Hidden in the Hills Showcase will be on display at the Desert Foot hills Gallery through Jan. 11. All art displayed in the gallery is for sale, with 20% of the sales benefitting the Desert Foothills Library and 5% go ing to the Sonoran Arts League.

This year’s 26th annual Hidden in the Hills Artist Studio Tour is Nov. 18 to Nov. 20, and Nov. 25 to Nov. 27. Co ordinated by the nonprofit Sonoran Arts League, the free, self-guided tour features 174 artists at 47 stu dios throughout Cave Creek, Care free and North Scottsdale.

For more details, visit dfla.org or sonoranartsleague.org.

For more features visit thefoothillsfocus.com

“Autumn Glory” by leather artist Carol Brook. (Sonoran Arts League/Submitted)

“Le Blues” by fiber artist Kristin Kleyer Mangum. (Sonoran Arts League/Submitted)

“Le Blues” by fiber artist Kristin Kleyer Mangum. (Sonoran Arts League/Submitted)

“Stargazing in the Desert” by fiber artist Tracy Laasch. (Sonoran Arts League/Submitted)

“Le Blues” by fiber artist Kristin Kleyer Mangum. (Sonoran Arts League/Submitted)

BY CHRISTINA FUOCO-KARASINSKI Foothills Focus Executive Editor

BlueOctober singer Justin Furstenfeld is big on communication.

Whether it’s sharing stories or songs with his fans, or romancing an actress in a music video, he needs to make his mes sage clear.

Take, for example, Blue October’s latest video, “Spinning the Truth Around,” the title track to a collection the band released on Oct. 14.

“I learned it’s better to communicate with an actress if you’re going to kiss her,” Furstenfeld said slyly.

“I brought a plethora of different gum. When I first met her, I walked up to her and said, ‘Hi. I’m Justin. What gum would you like me to chew today?’ She said, ‘What?’

“I said, ‘I’m going to be kissing you all fric king day. What flavor of gum would you like me to chew?’”

They mutually agreed upon Big Red.

“The crazier you’re going to get with an actress physically, it’s best to start right off with open communication,” Furstenfeld re iterated.

“It’s such a crazy conversation: ‘I’m liter ally going to kiss you now. I’m going to kiss the edge of your lips for a little bit and ease into it.’”

The “Spinning the Truth Around” video was inspired by the movies “True Romance” and “Wild at Heart.” Directed by Zach Mer ck, it was filmed in the desert outside of Los Angeles.

“I love both of those films because love is taken to the absolute limits,” Furstenfeld said.

“Most people don’t even believe romance exists anymore.”

The song will be on the setlist, along with all of Blue October’s radio hits, when the band plays the Van Buren on Saturday, Oct. 29.

Blue October frontman Justin Furstenfeld, seated, appears in the film “Section 8.” (Rachel Ziegler/Contributor) see BLUE OCTOBER

“We’ll do three or four songs off the new album,” Furstenfeld said. “It’s so exciting to be back on stage. Everybody’s in such good shape, good spirits and good moods. We want to create and be one with our sup porters. We’re looking forward to everyone leaving on the highest of highs.”

Recorded throughout 2020 and 2021 at Furstenfeld’s Up/Down Studios, Blue Oc tober’s 11th album, “Spinning the Truth Around,” will be a double: part one is out, while its companion piece is set for early 2023.

“I wrote 80 songs during COVID,” he said. “I wasn’t going to sit around and do nothing. Every day, I’d go out there (studio) and un leash on songs. Everybody has their prob lems. I choose to write about them all. It’s nice to go out there and just express myself. Plus, I’m a music fanatic. I’m trying different things.”

That goes for his medium as well. Fursten feld made his feature film debut on Sept. 23 as a villain in the action movie “Section 8” with Dolph Lundgren, Mickey Rourke, Der mot Mulroney and Ryan Kwaten.

“Section 8” is the story of a former soldier who, after avenging the murder of his fam ily, is sprung from prison and recruited by a shadowy govern ment agency. Furstenfeld has also wrapped the film “Lights Out,” co-starring Frank Grillo, Mekhi Phifer, Scott Adkins and Mulroney.

Now celebrating 10 years of sobriety, Furstenfeld is the subject of the biographical doc umentary “Get Back Up,” with the mission of offering hope. It’s streaming on Amazon Prime and iTunes.

Formed in 1995, Blue Octo ber has amassed over a billion streams, and has charted 16 hits over 10 albums.

Blue October

WHEN: 8 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 29

WHERE: The Van Buren, 401 W. Van Buren Street, Phoenix COST: Sold out; tickets may be released closer to the show INFO: thevanburenphx.com

Blue October frontman Justin Furstenfeld, second from left, wrote 80 songs during the pandemic quarantine. Some of them are on the new album, “Spinning the Truth Around Part One.” (Rachel Ziegler/Contributor)

Washing dirty windows

CHURCH COMMUNITY CONNECTION Pastor Ed Delph Foothills Focus Columnist

One of the British national newspapers has been asking for comments about what it means to be British. So here is a statement from a chap in Switzer land who lived in Britain for twelve years.

“Being British is about driving in a German car to an Irish pub for a Belgian beer and then traveling home, grabbing an Indian curry or a Turkish kebab on the way, to sit on Swedish furniture and watch Ameri can Shows on a Japanese TV. And the most British thing of all? Suspicion of anything foreign!”

Like the story above, we often see things the way we are rather than the way they are. We see things through our experiences, political views, biases, prejudices, national ities, affiliations, and the like. But what happens when we think we are seeing is not what we are see ing? What happens when we look at someone or something through those rose-colored glasses we all tend to have?

Let me illustrate. A young couple moves into a new neighborhood. The following day while they are eating breakfast, the young woman sees her neighbor hanging the wash outside. “That laundry is not very clean,” she said. “She doesn’t know how to wash correctly. Perhaps she needs better laundry soap.” Ev ery time her neighbor would hang her wash to dry, the young woman would make the same comments.

About a month later, the woman

was surprised to see a nice clean wash on the line and said to her hus band, “Look, she has learned how to wash correctly. I wonder who taught her this?” The husband said, “I got up early this morning and cleaned our windows.”

It’s easy to turn a molehill into a mountain when our eye windows are dirty. It’s much easier to try and change everyone else when we are the ones that need changing. The problem with dirty windows is that we can become cynical and jaded. H. L. Mencken said, “A cynic is a man who, when he smells flowers, looks around for a coffin.” Dirty mental or emotional windows often end up hurting the critic more than the cri tiqued.

This illustration doesn’t mean that we throw away discernment or that everything we see is dirty. However, let’s examine ourselves first and ensure that the windows

of our soul are clean enough to see others and our experiences clearly and non-judgmentally.

The Bible gives us wisdom on this. “To the pure, all things are pure; but to those who are defiled and unbe lieving, nothing is pure, but both their mind and conscience are de filed.” Titus 1:15. In other words, to the pure, everything is pure. To the impure, everything is impure. Her bert Samuel says, “The world is like a mirror. Frown at it, and it frowns at you. Smile at it, and it smiles too.” We rarely see what we are not look ing for.

So, here’s a question for you. When you open your eyes, what do you see? Here’s what one writer wrote. Maybe it could be you.

“You only need to open your eyes to see the handiwork of God. I don’t worship the stars, but they stir me to worship God. So likewise, I don’t worship humanity. But when I look around me at the people in my life, I am in awe of their vast array of gifts and talents. Seeing these people is so incredible that it provokes me to thank the Creator of Life.

I look around and see beauty in one place and deep sadness and grief in another. This causes me to stop and give thanks for my life, a life filled with hope, purpose, and security when in pain. And my faith compels me to believe there is a fu ture and a hope because the feeling of life and creation that I am sur rounded by is not here by mistake but by glorious design.”

the world. That person hasn’t expe rienced what I have. That person is sitting there doing nothing about all the problems we have in our world. They are so heavenly-minded that they are not earthly good.”

The Bible says Jesus knew what was in human beings, but he wouldn’t let human stuff give him a dirty window to look through. Why? He had his Father’s eyes. He saw people and events the way God sees people and events. Jesus could sep arate the person from their issues and behaviors. Jesus’ perspective was, “Yes, it’s real, it’s messy, but that is why I came to earth. Let’s re deem it.”

Jesus understood the idea that, to the pure, all things are pure. If Je sus saw life through the dirty win dow of ‘wounded, bitter, or cynical,’ he wouldn’t have gone about doing good and helping all who were in need. A fruitful life sees the dirty window but is not paralyzed by the dirty window. I guarantee you will help more people, solve more prob lems, and transform evil into good with an outlook like the writer in this article has. God designed heav enly good to make us earthly good.

When you open your eyes today, what do you see? Maybe it’s time to look at life like Jesus did, through grace-healed eyes. Then you will say, “Yes, I see the mess, but with God’s help, let’s turn the mess into a message.

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

Let me guess what many of us are thinking. “That writer is not dealing with reality. There’s so much hurt in life. There’s so much injustice in

CAVE CREEK

The Foothills Focus publishes on Wednesday. The weekly calendar — a listing of entertainment events such as concerts,

runs every

Events must be

for

and

within

It’s never too early to get a refresher to smart driving on the road. This course teaches older drivers the skills they need to adjust to any age-related changes, as well as refreshes on important modern road skills so that drivers can live independently. Bring a sack lunch.

Desert Foothills Library, 38443 N. School House Road, Cave Creek, 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., free admission, 480-488-2286, dfla. org

Sauces and More! Pink Lady Ginger de Gallo

OCT. 22

Submissions

Craft N Chat

MONDAYS

Those who knit or crochet are invited to the Desert Foothills Library for Craft N Chat. New and experi enced crafters are welcome to join.

Desert Foothills Library, 38443 N. School House Road, Cave Creek, 1 to 3 p.m., free, dfla.org

Yoga Fusion

THURSDAYS

Join Elizabeth Boisson in an intermediate-level course of yoga fusion at the Desert Foothills Library from noon to 1 p.m. Thursdays. The class will start with breathing exercises and then go through stretching movements and Vinyasa or flow yoga.

Desert Foothills Library, 38443 N. School House Road, Cave Creek, noon to 1 p.m., $10 cash per class, dfla. org

Friday Night Bull Riding & Mutton Bustin’

FRIDAYS

Come watch riders rodeo on the back of a mighty bull. For children 3 to 6, sheep are available to ride alongside them.

Buffalo Chip Saloon and Steakhouse, 6823 E. Cave Creek Road, Cave Creek, 8 to 11:45 p.m., $10 tickets $20 to ride a bull, buffalo chipsaloon.com

Live Music at Janey’s Coffeehouse

NIGHTLY

Listen to live music every night at Janey’s Coffee

house, performed by a variety of talented local artists. The venue has over a dozen unique perform ers each month, and for those looking to perform, new talent is encouraged to come by and sign up.

This week, check out Sugar Thieves, Tim Brady, Audio Farm, Down with the Shine, and Steve Howes.

Janey’s Coffeehouse, 6602 E. Cave Creek Road, Cave Creek, 7:30 to 9:30 p.m., ca vecreekazmusic.com

Live Music Wednesday with Jeremy Graham

OCT. 19

Come listen to Jeremy Graham and his sweet guitar skills for good music and good food at Harold’s Cave Creek Corral.

Harold’s Cave Creek Corral 6895 E. Cave Creek Road, Cave Creek, 5 p.m., free admis sion, 480-488-1906, haroldscorral.com

Literary Salon: Not Your Typical Book Club

OCT. 20

Join an informal discussion of books during Not Your Typical Book Club. Instead of discussing a specific piece of media, talk about all of your own favorites in an unguided discussion on a single theme.

Desert Foothills Library, 38443 N. School House Road, Cave Creek, 10 a.m. to noon, free admission, 480-488-2286, dfla.org

AARP Smart Driver Program: A Re fresher Course in Safety and Skills OCT. 22

Learn how to make pico de gallo. This class teaches proper knife skills to help chefs stay safe in the kitch en, and techniques to help make the cooking process go much more smoothly.

Desert Foothills Library, 38443 N. School House Road, Cave Creek, 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., $30, 480-488-2286, dfla.org

The Healing Pathway

OCT. 24

Grief is a universal feeling among all humans, regard less of who they are and where they’ve come from. This group seeks to bring comfort to those who have lost someone important to them, and helps partic ipants cope through mutual interaction, supportive conversation, and practical tools.

Desert Foothills Library, 38443 N. School House Road, Cave Creek, 9:30 to 11 a.m., free admission, 480-488-2286, dfla.org

Astrology for Teens

OCT. 25

Astrology has become a worldwide phenomenon over the years, and those looking to dive into the cosmos have become more numerous than ever. Learn more about the secrets in the stars and your birth sign with TikTok phenomenon Faith Rosky. This month, learn about what each planet means, how sign compatibili ty works, and what “the houses” means.

Desert Foothills Library, 38443 N. School House Road, Cave Creek, 4:30 p.m., free admission, 480-488-2286, dfla.org

Safety First Series: Stop the Bleed OCT. 28

To help stop lethal bleeding, a real trauma services paramedic will take community members through the important step by step methods of identifying and treating potentially deadly wounds.

Desert Foothills Library, 38443 N. School House Road, Cave Creek, 1 to 3 p.m., free admission, 480-488-2286, dfla.org

Puzzle Exchange

OCT. 28

Find new and interesting puzzles to solve, and help others find something for themselves. Drop off gently used puzzles and come exchange the old for the new all day at the library.

Desert Foothills Library, 38443 N. School House Road, Cave Creek, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., 480-488-2286, dfla.org

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