The Foothills Focus 102622 Zone 2

Council OKs Rare Earth Gallery plans

BY SAMANTHA REA Foothills Focus Contributing Writer

TheRare Earth Gallery in Cave Creek will soon be relocating its store to be east of Cave Creek Road and north of Surrey Road after the town council ap proved architect Greg Zimmerman’s appli cation Oct. 17.

The self-proclaimed “eighth wonder of the world” currently resides at 6401 E. Cave Creek Road. The gallery is a 10,000-square-

foot store open seven days from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

With pieces valued up to nearly $60,000, the store is the world’s largest mineral and landscape home décor gallery. The Cave Creek Town Council reviewed the new site plan and it was received well, with little but minor concern.

Brought to attention at the meeting by Vice Mayor David Smith, the location of the new site sits adjacent to residences, sepa rated by a wall and a 24-foot-wide public

alleyway on the east side of the building. Residents near the new location may ex pect small renovations to occur in the al leyway, as the site plans outline means of entrance and exit via the alley.

Smith voiced his concern for the reten tion of the wall to separate businesses from residences, but because the alleyway is a public street there are no building code vi olations by inserting an ingress and egress

Fine art festival celebrates 29 years

BY LEAH SCHWARTZ Foothills Focus Staff Writer

This fall, Thunderbird Artists will hold its 29th annual Carefree Fine Art & Wine Fes tival in Downtown Carefree, encompass ing Easy Street, Ho Hum Drive, and Hum Road.

The festival will include over 160 juried art ists from 18 states, with 60 of those artists from Arizona. Fine art collectors and wine enthusiasts will come in droves, estimating 30,000 to 40,000 festival goers.

Thunderbird Artists is a family enterprise run by Judi Combs and her daughter, Denise Colter — both accomplished artists. The fine art festi

Patrons mill around at the Carefree Fine Art & Wine Festival. (Thunderbird Artists/Submitted)

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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

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Main number: 623-465-5808 | Fax: 623-465-1363 Circulation: 480-898-5641

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Foundation awards $69K in grants

BY FOOTHILLS FOCUS STAFF

The Cave Creek Unified Education Foundation will award $69,000 in grants to all Cave Creek Uni fied School District schools at its annual Grant the District event on Nov. 7.

The schools are Desert Willow, Lone Mountain, Black Mountain and Horse shoe Trails elementary schools; Desert Sun Academy; Sonoran Trails Middle School and Cactus Shadows High School.

In 2009, the Cave Creek Unified Edu cation Foundation launched as a 501(c) (3) with the mission to support pro grams for learning in all CCUSD schools and to establish a partnership between

the educational community and local businesses.

The foundation has awarded more than $225,000 in grants over the last 10 years. The grants are applied to purchas ing materials that fall into one of the four pillars that CCUEF supports including resources, international learning, music and the arts, and health and wellness.

“This year is going to be the best Grant the District event yet,” said Heidi Brashear, president, Cave Creek Unified Education Foundation.

“We are tripling the normal grants awarded from previous years. I can’t wait to see the recipients’ faces when we hand them a big check. By deliver

ing $69,000 in grants, our hard-working teachers will have the ability to pur chase much needed supplies that will further enhance their classrooms as well as their students’ education.”

CCUSD Superintendent, Dr. Cort Mon roe, said, “With CCUEF’s key annual events including Run the District, Rock the District and now Golf the District, they have been able to raise significant funds for the Grant the District Program, which assists our classrooms. Partner ing with such a strong community orga nization is one of the ways that we are able to maintain our A+ school ratings and No. 1 school district ranking in the North Valley. One team.”

Museum to benefit from ‘spaghetti western’

BY FRAN BOOTH

Foothills Focus Contributing Writer

TheCave Creek Museum will host its eighth annual fundraiser, Spa ghetti Western: Dinner with a Side of History,” from 4 to 7 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 8, at Harold’s Cave Creek Corral.

According to Evelyn Johnson, Cave Creek Museum executive director, the fall fundraiser is the museum’s most family-friendly event.

“This year marks a rebranding of the organization’s previous named Spaghet ti Dinner,” Johnson said. “We believe the new name highlights the special rela tionship and shared history between

Cave Creek Museum and local landmark, Harold’s Corral.”

The November event also acts as a sea son opener for the 52-year-old museum. Its hours are seasonal, running October through May. The western-themed din ner, which began in 2014, will feature exciting new elements for a successful outcome. During the evening, Harold’s will serve its home-style spaghetti, salad, garlic bread and iced tea. Guests can sad dle up to the historic cash bar for adult beverages or other drinks of choice.

“In addition to the new name, mu sical tributes to the history and lore of the Cave Creek area, local trivia games, a well curated raffle and auction and

western selfie stations for a fun eve ning,” Johnson said. “Our guests should expect some new surprises at this year’s function.”

The cost is $24, $10 for children 5-11 and free for children younger than 5. Pur chase tickets online at cavecreekmuse um.org or call 480-488-2764. Proceeds from the event will fund the museum’s extensive multiage generational educa tion programming, academic research and engaging interpretive exhibits.

The Cave Creek Museum is located at 6140 E. Skyline Drive in Cave Creek. For more information, call 480-488-2764. Harold’s Cave Creek Corral is at 6895 E. Cave Creek Road, Cave Creek.

COUNCIL from page 1

where the wall is.

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A public comment by resident Dusty Rhodes also revealed concern about light pollution bleeding over said alley way wall as well as the establishment remaining dark skies compliant. As the new location will be two stories, Rhodes said he wants to verify that the second floor will not create light that shines over into the abutting residenc es, causing an annoyance.

ministrator Luke Kautzman reassured the council that the Rare Earth Gallery “is a 9-to-5 business” and said there is not an east-facing window on the sec ond floor.

Additionally, they have no plans to install any outdoor lighting structures.

“I don’t anticipate anything out of what the ordinance requires,” Kautz man said. Council took a vote after hav ing all of their questions heard and an swered by the planning director.

Helfand first came to Cave Creek with his Rare Earth Galley project and I re marked at the time this is a business model I thought he could have opened up in any part of the valley and it would have been a success,” Smith said. “I hold that opinion today, it’s the same busi ness model, he’s doing great. I’m in fa vor of it.”

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val provider has produced over 400 fine art events for over four decades and amassed countless awards. They are based in Foun tain Hills but have a venue, Thunderbird Art ists Gallery, in Carefree on the corner of Ho Hum Drive and Easy Street.

Colter recalled how her mother, who was an artist showing at the festival circuit her self, was recruited by her peers to begin or ganizing events.

“They all chose my mother, Judy Combs, to continue finding locations and being the lead to help produce these fine art shows,” she said.

“With that, she named it Thunderbird Art ists. And a couple of years later, we had our first festival, the Scottsdale Desert Fall Festi val at the pavilions.”

She continued to explain her own start in the business.

“As I grew up, I went to festivals with them to help and I couldn’t believe how much work was involved in producing an event like that. So, I said I’d help them from then on and that was 30 years ago,” she said.

Artists at the festival will sell a range of oils, acrylics, pastels, watercolors, pencil and

photography, as well as ink, gouache and charcoal drawings. In addition to 2D art, there will be sculptures for sale in bronze, metal, stone, wood, clay, gourds, and hand-blown glass. There will also be selected fine crafts

like handmade jewelry, pottery, batiks, and serigraph etchings. In total, there will be over 5,000 pieces of original artwork at the festival.

The festival will also include an extensive wine and spirits tasting section, the largest in Arizona, featuring domestic and import ed wines. This year’s wineries include re curring favorite, Schlossadler International from Oceanside, California, and newcomer, Paulden Black Mesa Cellars, an award-win ning winery famous for its Vino Fruttato, a blend of apples and homegrown apricot.

For festival attendees not looking for wine, there will be craft beer from a variety of dif ferent distilleries in attendance along with flavored vodka, tequila, rum and bourbon. In addition to beverages, the festival hosts food vendors, but patrons can also enjoy the many restaurants and cafes in Downtown Carefree. Unlike many other festivals with designated alcohol sections, the Carefree Fine Art & Wine Festival encourages patrons to sip and explore the art, creating a synthe sis of leisure and beauty.

This year’s featured artist is oil painter and award-winning illustrator, Danial James, who is based in South Dakota, and whose work is inspired by animals, motor vehicles, and stylized history. At the Sanderson Lin coln Pavilion, Vegas McGraw, a Tim McGraw tribute performer, will entertain as well as Vibhas Kendzia, a multi-instrumentalist who is known for his Native American and East Indian bamboo flute playing.

People from all walks of life turn up to the festival: seasoned collectors, emerging art ists, and curious community members, who want to enjoy the atmosphere and mountain views. There will be a range of sizes, prices and styles of work to ensure all who are in terested in art can find a piece they connect with and even take home.

“Emerging artists come to see the show and learn what they can do to get juried in,” Colter said.

“We do have kids come through the show, and I think it’s very educational for them, they can ask the artist on their technique and how they create their art.”

She said she’s looking forward to seeing her fellow artists.

“When you do events with a lot of the art ists over the years, they become part of the family in a way,” Colter said.

“And it’s like a big reunion. It’s just won derful to see all these talented people come back and it’s a blast. I enjoy it immensely.”

Carefree Fine Art & Wine Festival

WHEN: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday, Nov. 4 to Sunday, Nov. 6

WHERE: Downtown Carefree, Arizona, 101 Easy Street, Carefree COST: $4 for adults 18 and older (cash only); wine tasting ticket with souvenir glass $15 (cash preferred). Free parking INFO: thunderbirdartists.com

Danial James is the featured artist at the Carefree Fine Art & Wine Festival. (Danial James/Submitted)

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AROUND THE BLUHMIN’ TOWN

a very haunted

BY JUDY BLUHM Foothills Focus Columnist

Diade los Muertos is approaching. So is Halloween. In Mexico, the holiday is a time when families welcome back the souls of their deceased relatives for a brief reunion that includes food, drink and celebration.

At midnight Oct. 31, the gates of heaven are opened and spirits of children rejoin their families for 24 hours. The spirits of adults can do the same on Nov. 2.

It is a festive time of music, dance, and feasts, as deceased loved ones are hon

ored and welcomed back.

We Americans like to make things as scary as possible around Halloween and try to terrify each other with spooky witches and ghouls. Heck, we do not want any ghosts coming around us.

Actually, I prefer to focus on the candy aspect of Halloween. This year Americans will spend $2 billion on confection and another five billion on decorations.

You might see cute little kids in your neighborhood all dressed up in cos tumes. That tradition goes back to the medieval times, when poor adults and children went around in costumes

during “Hallowmas,” the Autumn holiday which included folks begging for food and money in exchange for prayers. This annual routine was called “souling” and was brought to America by the Irish ear ly in the 20th century.

The idea of walking around asking for candy completely went away during WWII when sugar was rationed, but by 1952 trick-or-treating was hugely popu lar again. And it has been ever since. Even with fears (mostly unfounded) about kids getting razor blades stuck in their candy, children going house-to-house asking complete strangers for candy, is one big

American tradition.

Doesn’t a Bloody Mary sound good? Oops, no I mean to talk about the ghost

Border policies spell ‘election erasure’ for Dems

BY J.D. HAYWORTH Foothills Focus Columnist

Efforts to erase our southern border are accelerating as Election Day approaches.

The timing is absurdly dangerous— first and foremost for the security of all American citizens— but also for the political prospects of the Democratic Party.

While the Left will likely pay a political price for this deliberate effort to shred our sovereignty and national security, the sheer brazenness of these latest ac tions should culminate with even larger Democrat losses in the midterms.

The latest initiative from the Biden Bunch is best described as “Americans Last.”

Alejandro Mayorkas, who has sur passed ex-Arizona Gov. Janet Napoli tano in the “Hall of Shame” as the worst Homeland Security Secretary of all time, has reportedly issued an “All Bureau crats Bulletin,” requesting volunteers from every government agency to de ploy to the border in support of the on going illegal invasion.

These “volunteers”—who would be paid for their efforts and reimbursed for travel expenses with our tax dollars during their 60 days of “service”—would essentially become personal assistants

to illegal aliens.

You read that right.

Their “volunteer duties” would in clude meal preparation, basic house keeping, and running errands for the “newcomers.”

So much for securing the border.

Actually, all of this began in April as an underreported—and therefore lit tle-noticed initiative—that at the time was focused exclusively on employees of Homeland Security.

What makes it news now, and even more of an election issue, is the effort to expand this peculiar type of “volun teerism” into every agency of the federal government.

It is bad enough that DHS workers are volunteering to destabilize the home land security they supposedly provide.

Now we could very well see person nel from the Departments of Defense and Justice take a two-month sabbatical from their jobs to undercut both nation al security and existing immigration law.

You can’t make this up.

But some back it up.

Predictably, many in Washington— whether holding a government post or a reporting job—have rationalized the policy outlined above as—wait for it— rational.

Among the D.C.-based press corps, there seems to be an indulgent attitude

of trusting the current crowd in charge.

That “trust-the-bureaucrats” outlook was on full display during CNN’s Oct. 16 telecast of “State of the Union.”

The aptly named Dana Bash hosted back-to-back interviews with Arizona’s Republican and Democrat nominees for governor.

When discussing border issues with GOP candidate Kari Lake, the CNN re porter cited a DHS statistic claiming that less than one percent of migrants en countered at the border have a criminal record.

The Republican nominee politely took issue, then pointed out: “We have a mil lion ‘gotaways’—these are people who are intentionally entering our country— mainly through the Tucson Sector—and we don’t know what their background is. There’s a reason to try to get in unno ticed. It’s because they have a criminal background.”

Viewers could not help but notice the on-camera reaction of Dana Bash, which

conveyed both frustration and irritation, amplified by her effort to counter the candidate’s assertion: “Let me just tell you that this stat—that this stat that I just cited comes from the Department of

Play POn! lay On!

BLUHM from page 8

of Bloody Mary. Evidently, on Oct. 31 each year, she will appear if you stare into a mirror in a darkened room by the light of thirteen candles and chant “Bloody Mary” 13 times. Don’t do it! The vengeful spirit might appear at your left shoulder and will either kill you or make you insane.

Have you decorated yet? About 70% of Americans will decorate their homes for Halloween with everything from pump kins to hanging skeletons from trees. You get the picture — lots of black cats, witch es, devils, demons, ghosts and jack-o-lan terns out there to set the mood. Our habit of lighting up pumpkins dates back centu ries when the thought was that ghouls and

ghosts hate light. So, a pumpkin placed at your door, with a candle flickering inside, would keep away any restless spirits fly ing around that might land at your house.

No wonder we like to eat candy on Hal loween! We must comfort ourselves in our fight against the witches, ghosts, and vengeful spirits that might come to our doorstep! So, get ready! Carve a pumpkin, light a candle, drink a Blood Mary (do not chant for her spirit), enjoy the decora tions, avoid demons and start eating can dy right now.

Boo! The scariest day of all is coming soon. Witching you a very haunted week.

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

Candidate’s hopes shrivel when caught red-handed

BY DAVID LEIBOWITZ Foothills Focus Columnist

Finally we have a definitive test about the ignorance of voters and the notion that when it comes to public relations, any story that builds more name recognition is a win.

That test is named Randy Kaufman and he’s a candidate for the Maricopa County Community College District atlarge seat.

His race appears on the front of your seemingly endless November ballot, in the middle column.

Kaufman’s opponent in the battle to help oversee the district’s 10 colleges and $763 million annual budget is Kelli Butler, a state legislator seeking to switch roles and potentially the luckiest candi date in the history of Arizona elections.

Caution: The rest of this column is not safe for work, dirtier than “50 Shades of Gray” and full of awful puns. You have been warned.

On Tuesday news broke – courtesy of Hank Stephenson, a reporter for the Arizona Agenda website – that on Oct. 4, candidate Kaufman had been arrested in the parking lot of Rio Salado College in Surprise.

Per the police report, Kaufman was in the midst of watching porn and plea suring himself in his Ford F-150 pickup truck when a police officer approached and, uh, caught him red-handed.

“Seriously?” the cop asked.

“I’m sorry,” Kaufman replied. Then, in the understatement of 2022 so far, he added: “I (expletive) up. I’m really stressed.”

Henceforth, I believe this will be known as both an interesting election strategy and a disgusting erection strat egy by serious journalists everywhere.

Not only was Kaufman fully visible in a busy parking lot, he also was within sight of a childcare center where little kids were outside playing.

Officer: “What brings you down here?”

Kaufman: “I live in Buckeye, but I

came out here to buy rebar nearby. I was stressed and just pulled into the lot.”

I myself have purchased rebar, com monly used to put up election signs. While I have not personally found buy ing hardware items super stressful, each of us tolerates Home Depot to varying degrees.

Also, like MCCCD says in its mission statement, I also “value and embrace an innovative and risk-taking approach” in the dogged pursuit of excellence.

To his credit, Kaufman requested to “say something off the record,” before name-dropping Jim Hill, president of the Maricopa County Colleges Police Officers Association, which endorsed Kaufman before his citation for public sexual indecency, a possible felony given his close proximity to the preschool.

By day’s end, Kaufman, running for the non-partisan seat as a MAGA conser vative complete with flag-draped head shots, had been spurned by the Arizona Republican Party.

Hours later, he released a statement suspending his campaign because “a per sonal legal matter has recently arisen.”

Yep, those things sometimes arise out of nowhere, am I right?

It should be noted that Kaufman wait ed to address the incident until after ear ly ballots had been mailed, thus allowing

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HAYWORTH from page 9

Homeland Security!”

Duly noted, Dana.

Of course, it should also be noted that there seems to be a profound disinter est on the part of many in the so-called “mainstream media” concerning the “factually challenged” assertions made by DHS personnel.

Where was the coverage concerning Secretary Mayorkas and the knowingly false statements he made about the al

leged “whipping” of illegals by border patrol agents on horseback?

How many reports appeared on CNN or the “alphabet networks” spelling out the details of late-night flights of illegals from the border to various locations around the country?

No matter. If the media won’t hold government officials accountable, voters will.

Prepare for the “electoral erasure” of several Democrat incumbents on Nov. 8.

LEIBOWITZ from page 11

people to vote for him with no knowl edge of his arrest.

I’ll also note that back in May, he post ed on Facebook that he was running to keep “our children protected (from) the progressive left.”

I’m assuming he meant the woke bri gade and not his left hand, but I guess only Kaufman knows for sure.

This race now stands as a perfect litmus test of voter education and PR

value. Until last week, perhaps a hand ful of voters had ever heard of Randy Kaufman, a former prison guard turned political wannabe.

He had a couple of political endorse ments and zero name ID. Now? His cam paign has been featured everywhere from the New York Post to the London tabloids. Being caught with your pants down can still make a candidate famous, even in 2022.

Now we’ll know for sure: Will people actually cast a vote for him?

How to get a letter published

E-mail: christina@timeslocalmedia.com

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Yoga Democracy wants what’s best for the planet

BY CHRISTINA FUOCO-KARASINSKI Foothills Focus Executive Editor

Travis Strote and Haley Byfield are saving the world, one pair of leg gings at a time.

The Scottsdale residents founded Yoga Democracy, the only zero-waste man ufacturers of active wear in the United States. They will showcase their new collection and their best sellers during Arizona Fashion Week 2022.

Yoga Democracy’s event is Friday, Nov. 4, at the Mix Center in Mesa.

“We are going to be showcasing a new collection as well as our bestsellers,” said Strote, a Navy veteran. “We are a lo cally made brand, seven years going. We manufacture everything in Carefree. We will showcase what we stand for: People and planet before profit.”

A Scottsdale resident, Strote said sev en years ago there wasn’t a company serving women who wanted to express themselves through yoga clothing. Most apparel firms offer plain, neutral colors.

“We are loud and unique and differ ent, and we were hoping women would embody that uniqueness,” he said. “And it worked. We’ve grown a bit over sev en years. We just finalized a production facility in Kenya so we can make a deep er impact for the people working for us there.”

The Carefree facility will be used for small batch runs and a sample house. It’s there that Yoga Democracy staff will do research and design for their products.

Yoga Democracy’s clothing are made with recycled water bottles and fishing nets. The excess fabric is collected and repurposed or recycled. It uses a no-wa ter dyeing process that cuts down on waste.

“We put our excess materials in dog beds and donate them to local shelters,”

he said.

“If you walk into an average dog shel ter, the dogs are sleeping on hard con crete. Therefore, they’re uncomfortable and it lessens the chance for adoption. The dog is already on edge. Our goal is to make the dog more comfortable.”

Strote and Byfield met in yoga class in Florida. They founded Yoga Democracy in New York. As Yoga Democracy grew, the partners started looking for sewing machines for sale. They found a small production company for sale in Carefree and they bought it five years ago.

“We moved out to Carefree, and we grew it from there,” he said. “It’s been born and raised here. Previously, we were cutting and sewing on the floor of her apartment in New York City.”

Byfield is the lead seamstress and creative captain, who begins the sewing

process on every single product Yoga Democracy produces.

The clothing is available on its web site, yogademocracy.com, or at its flag ship store in Old Town Scottsdale.

Along with showcasing Yoga Democ racy activewear, the Old Town location is a micro-production facility. Shoppers can peek in back and see seamstresses creating clothing. In addition to creating clothing, Yoga Democracy offers on-site hems and alterations. Transparency and honesty is key to Yoga Democracy, Strote said.

Strote comes from a family of entre preneurs. His mother and sister rescue former racehorses. He got the entre preneurial bug when he started his first company, Pit Dawg Hats.

“When I got out of the Navy, I wanted to continue my service for helping peo

ple,” he said. “I traveled all over the world with the Marine unit as their med ic. I was in the Navy but attached to a Marine unit. Coreman are the only Navy the Marines will put up with.”

Yoga Democracy Arizona Fashion Week

WHEN: Time TBA Friday, Nov. 4

WHERE: Media and Immersive Experience (MIX) Center at ASU at Mesa City Center, 50 N. Centennial Way, Mesa COST: See website for details INFO: azfw2022.com

Yoga Democracy 7146 E. Fifth Avenue, Scottsdale 917-769-9955

yvydscottsdale@yvydactive.com yogademocracy.com

For more Business News visit thefoothillsfocus.com

Travis Strote and Haley Byfield founded Yoga Democracy. They’re pictured here with Voodoo Mayhem, the “office guard dog.” (Yoga Democracy/Submitted)

to area

BY FOOTHILLS FOCUS STAFF

Ginny’s Kitchen moved into 32409 N.

Road, Suite 107, Scottsdale, meanwhile Celestial Artisan Meads re cently opened

100 Easy Street, Suite 100,

The

4705

Suite

Saxophone Ensemble brings Halloween to pavilion

BY LAURA LATZKO Foothills Focus Contributing Writer

Saxophone

ensembles are rare. The Desert Hill Community School of Music’s new ensemble brings to gether saxophone players of all ages, to play together, learn from each other and connect with other musicians.

The group will perform a Hallow een-themed concert on Sunday, Oct. 30, at the Sanderson Lincoln Pavilion.

They will pay the theme songs from “The Addams Family,” “The Munsters,” “Ghostbusters” and “Halloweentown,” as well as a version of Michael Jackson’s “Thriller.”

The group is affiliated with the music school, which is part of Desert Hills Pres byterian Church. It is directed by Jeffrey Anthony, who has been the church’s tra ditional music director for five years.

Anthony wanted to start a saxophone ensemble for years and had finally de cided to organize it.

“I play the saxophone,” he said. “That’s my instrument. I’ve played in quartets and small groups before, but I thought it would be fun to get together a whole bunch of saxophonists to play together.”

Anthony said the ensemble is un usual because most larger groups have different types of instruments. He said that having various sizes of saxophones

helps to create a full-band sound.

To prepare for concerts, members of the ensemble have met every other Sun day in September and October.

Group members are offered a free 45-minute saxophone lesson with the director. Anthony said a few of the mu sicians have taken advantage of this op portunity. Some of the younger ensem ble members have already taken lessons at the school, which just opened this year.

The school offers classes and private lessons on instruments such as the sax ophone, the clarinet, the piano and the guitar.

The ensemble brings in musicians

from around the Valley, including Scott sdale, Glendale and Fountain Hills, who range in age from 13 to their 80s.

“Since I play in some groups around here, I know saxophonists. I know peo ple who teach and play in some commu nity bands. So, just by word of mouth, people that I know, we just spread the word, and they passed it on to their stu dents and other people that they knew,” Anthony said.

The ensemble has attracted players from beginners to more advanced mu sicians.

“There are a couple of professional

1 Annual amount based on possible monthly or quarterly amounts. 2 Allowance amount does not carry over to the next quarter or the following year.

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The flight instructor and the control tower

CHURCH COMMUNITY CONNECTION Pastor Ed Delph Foothills Focus Columnist

Ilearnedhow to fly a pri vate airplane when I was 27 years old. I loved flying, and flying worked well for the business I owned then, Central Bind ery. I learned to fly in a small two-seat airplane — a Cessna 150.

At first, learning to fly was intimidat ing. Especially takeoffs and landings. I learned to fly at the old Glendale Air port between Olive and Grand avenues in Glendale. It was like landing on an aircraft carrier. Flying over the power lines on Grand Avenue made it espe cially exciting. However, after several months, piloting the Cessna became easier. Why? Piloting the airplane be came a habit. It became automatic. What was once unnatural to me be came natural. That’s the power of habit.

In a few years, I became a one-third owner of a much more complex airplane to fly. It was a six-passenger Piper Co manche 260. It had retractable landing gear, a variable speed propeller, wing flaps, exhaust gas temperature controls, fuel injection mixture controls, and hefty horsepower for the Comanche’s 200-mile-per-hour speed. This airplane had the same high-performance wing design as the P-51 Mustang from World War II. The Comanche could be a hand ful on a quick descent for landing.

I still remember taking off with my right foot on the floor, trying to keep the airplane straight. Why? The torque from the propeller wanted to turn the plane sideways. I never experienced that phe nomenon flying in the Cessna. Then, I had to listen to the tower tell me when to taxi, where to taxi, when to take off, what runway to use, and what the al timeter pressure was. After the takeoff, they even tell you the direction to fly.

The first time I flew a Comanche was with my flight instructor. I already knew how to fly from my Cessna flying days, but flying a Comanche was a new world. I went from kindergarten to uni versity.

At first, I was intimidat ed piloting the Comanche. So many new controls and things had consequences if I didn’t pilot the plane correctly. Flaps up, throttle back, back off on propeller speed, gear up, lean out the mixture, keep your airspeed up, take my right foot off the pedal, keep the nose up but not too far, listen to the tower, and try not to ignore my instructor and the air-control tower freaking out.

However, after flying the Comanche for a few weeks, everything became easier. I didn’t have to think about all the adjustments anymore. Taking off and landing the airplane became sec ond nature to me. Listening to the tower became second nature. After a month, I could carry on a conversa tion with the passenger in the front seat while I was taking off and landing. Why? Because the skills of what was necessary to fly the plane safely had be come habits. What was on the outside of me moved to the inside of me. If you make good habits for the right things, you can become efficient and effective at flying comfortably.

Passenger planes are designed to fly in two ways — through the pilot’s skill and the commands they receive from the control tower. So how does a pilot become skillful? Part of the answer is that expert pilots develop habits allow ing them to do what is necessary to fly the plane automatically. Hence, they have sufficient attention for the unex pected events that might happen while flying. In addition, they can multitask better when and where necessary.

Let’s review. Part of a pilot’s skill comes from the pilot building up an arsenal of effective habits. The other factor in flying passenger planes is lis tening to instructions from the control tower and obeying the tower’s prompt ings. The control tower is there to make order out of the chaos of every pilot doing what is right in their own eyes. Need I say that without direction and crucial promptings from someone or something which sees the big picture,

the pilots and the passengers with them, are going to underachieve? It’s not going to be pretty.

Let me say it this way. We are like pi lots, and God is the control tower. We need to listen to God, or else we will, sooner or later, get into danger. So, get in the habit of receiving your instruc tions from God, the Bible and God’s character to navigate life successfully. At first, it may seem hard. But after a while, you will be a beneficiary of com municating with God for His highest and your personal best. God’s control tower directs us in essential things. Sometimes by a small voice, sometimes by creative thought, sometimes by the peace, faith, and confidence that rises in us when the solution is God-inspired.

God’s control tower has two-way communication. Pilot: “Tower, flight 777 with you.” “Which runway should I land on today?” What do you have for me to do today?” “What solution do You have for my problem today?” “How

can I repair this broken relationship”

“Should I change careers?” God says to us, “Call on Me.” Listening to God’s control tower prepares and directs us, pilots, to fly the high-performance air planes of life.

In conclusion, if you make a great habit, the great habit will make you — especially when your instructor is both The Flight Instructor and the Control Tower.

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.

Catalyst, Convener, Champion

players. One girl just started last year. Some of the other high school and mid dle school kids have been playing for a while. Some of the adults have been playing their whole life but for fun,” An thony said.

There is no audition process. Anyone with a saxophone can join.

Anthony has already noticed some of the more experienced players mentor

ing the younger ones.

“That’s one of the points is to show the younger kids if you keep playing, you can advance. That’s one of the goals of the school too. If kids want to come here and take lessons on the saxophone, they can do that too,” Anthony said.

The ensemble offers a place where people can continue to play into adult hood and advance in their skill levels as musicians.

“The purpose of the ensemble is most

ly to get together, have fun and use the skills that you have developed so far. We want to help them learn to get a little bit better too and hopefully inspire them to want to get better… We hope the people who haven’t played for a long time, may be for 20 or 30 years, it will inspire them to get out their instrument out too.”

To make the music accessible, Anthony sometimes will rewrite parts for ensem ble members to fit with their skill levels.

The group practices for each concert separately. For the summer concert, it had around 19 saxophone players, most of whom have returned for the fall con cert. Anthony expects 15 to 20 saxo phonists for the fall concert.

The group was formed recently this summer. They performed their first con cert in June.

Despite being an outdoor concert in the middle of summer, it drew more than 80 audience members. Anthony plans to have three concerts each year in the fall, spring and summer.

The first concert featured a range of

music, including tracks from movies, tunes from The Beatles, Disney music, marches and patriotic songs like “The Star-Spangled Banner.”

Anthony expects that most concerts will be structured similarly to appeal to many audiences. The group also has plans to do Christmas performances this year.

“We are planning to send out smaller groups from within the larger group to play Christmas things out in random places around in the community,” Antho ny said. “We’re going to call those the ‘Se cret Saxophone Santas’ because they’re just going to show up. You’ll never know where you’re going to see them.”

The Desert Hills Community School of Music saxophone ensemble started this summer. (Photos by Susan Constance)

educates

BY ALLISON BROWN Foothills Focus Staff Writer

Prickly

pear cactus can be used in a va riety of ways—especially in food.

The Holland Center’s Desert Aware ness Committee is hosting its annual Prick ly Pear Fest on Saturday, Oct. 29, to highlight the plant.

Twelve stations will be dedicated to dif ferent parts of the process of using the fruit,

or tuna, and nopales, or pads.

Attendees can learn about harvesting, cleaning, processing and juicing techniques. There will also be stations centered around prickly pear flour, ways Native Americans used the whole prickly pear cactus and white scales on prickly pear called cochineal.

This year, as part of tastings, guests can rank their favorite salsas made with prick ly pear juice. There can also sample other foods and beverages made with prickly

pear juice, such as pudding, nut bread and lemonade.

Brenda Olive, a volunteer who has been working with the committee for the last 30 years, said this festival often gives guests a chance to try prickly pear for the first time.

“We want people to taste it with no fear, just go for it and see what they think,” Olive said.

It takes committee members a few months to prepare for the festival.

“Between the end of July and August, the tunas get ripe. We get out there, and we harvest. And then, we clean them, and we freeze them. A month later, we all get together, and we have a juicing party. And right before the festival, we get together again several different times and make tast ings,” Olive said.

Over the years, the committee members have found a method that works best.

“When you freeze the tunas and get them out whenever you need them, if you thaw them out before you put them in the juicer,

“They are thawed rather than being a hard fruit after you freshly harvest them. And they don’t heat up the juicers. You could only do it 3 to 4 minutes, and the juic er would get too hot.”

Along with the prickly pear event, the committee hosts an April “Walk, Talk, Taste in the Park” event at Desert Awareness Park, in which the public has a chance to tour Desert Awareness Park in Cave Creek, learn more about medicinal and edible des ert plants and try samples of foods made with them.

“The park has almost every plant in the Sonoran Desert. It’s a great place for us to show people the plants in nature,” Olive said.

The committee offers tours of the native park on the first Saturday of the month from October through April.

The committee also does talks for groups such as HOAs and retirement villages and hosts seminars and workshops on topics such as the ethnobotany of plants and me

dicinal plants.

Founded in 1974, the committee is made up of about 25 volunteers. Olive said they are committed to sharing the mission of educating others about desert plants.

“We like being together, sharing our passion for preserving the des ert and understanding the plants,” Olive said.

Olive said as area becomes more and more developed over the years, it is important for people to know why the desert should be protected.

Prior to their annual Prickly Pear Festival, members of the Holland Center’s Desert Awareness Committee get together to harvest, clean and juice prickly pear cactus.

“We are very vocal volunteers about what they should and shouldn’t do, like when they buy their land, blade it off and put non-native plants in,” Olive said.

“This is not good for our ecosystem here…Now, we are doing as much as we can to be out in the community, especially with our tours in the park, to really educate peo ple about the desert, how special it is and how we need to preserve it. Once you start disturbing the desert, it doesn’t automati cally come back…If they understand it, we

believe that they will want to help us pre serve it too.”

The committee raises money through do nations and through book sales.

During the festival, those who donate can take home ink drawings of desert plants and animals, which were left to them by a local artist. Two committee members, who are artists, have colored in and painted on the drawings to show how others can add to them.

This year, one of the artists on the com

During the Prickly Pear Festival, attendees can try foods and beverages made with prickly pear, including lemonade.

mittee will sell prickly pear earrings. Also for sale will be the “Taste of the Desert” cookbook featuring recipes made with des ert plants. The book also details how to har vest these plants.

Committee members worked on the book during the height of COVID-19. Olive said community members had been asking them to create a recipe book for years.

“Being with the committee so long, I had files of recipes that members had given me. Some of them are no longer with us. So, I

The Prickly Pear Festival offers chances to learn more about how prickly pear were used histor ically by Native Americans.

was like, we have got to put these some where…I got all of the recipes together, and I got more from others who were holding onto theirs,” Olive said.

Prickly Pear Fest

WHEN: 8 a.m. to noon Saturday, Oct. 29

WHERE: The Holland Center, 34250 N. 60th Street, Scottsdale

COST: Free admission

INFO: 480-488-1090, hollandcenter.org

The Foothills Focus publishes on Wednesday. The weekly calendar — a listing of entertainment events such as concerts, theatrical performances, events for schools, churches, county parks and nonprofit groups — runs every issue.

Events must be open to the public to be considered and generally must be held within the Foothills Focus coverage area. Events such as concerts and theatrical performances that fall outside the Foothills Focus cir culation area will be considered because there are no concert halls or theater venues within our boundaries. Weekly calendar items print on a space-available basis. The only way to guarantee that an item will print is to purchase an advertisement.

Submissions must reach our office by 4 p.m. Wednesday to be considered for the following Wednesday publication. Submissions must be in writing and may be emailed to Christina Fuoco-Karasinski, christina@ timespublications.com.

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. Schoolhouse 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 dif ferent types of stretching movements and then into 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, buffalochipsaloon.com

Live Music at Janey’s Coffeehouse

NIGHTLY

Come listen to live music every night at Janey’s Coffeehouse, performed by a variety of talented local artists. The venue has over a dozen unique performers each month, and for those looking to perform, new talent is encouraged to come by and sign up. This week, check out Rober Hoke, the Chris Kane Trio, Pandy Rayne, and Bill Dutcher.

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

Reiki Healing

OCT. 26

Explore a variety of healing methods through Reiki, an energy healing technique meant to reduce stress and anxiety through gentle touch. The class covers the use of the techniques, as well as how to better understand them.

Desert Foothills Library, 38443 N. Schoolhouse Road, Cave Creek, 1 to 2 p.m., $10 admission, 480-488-2286, dfla.org

Safety First Series: Stop the Bleed

OCT. 28

To help stop lethal bleeding, a 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. Schoolhouse 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. Schoolhouse Road, Cave Creek, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., free, 480-488-2286, dfla.org

Cave Creek Wicked

OCT. 29

The town of Cave Creek is celebrating Hallow een with the return of their Wicked Bar Crawl & Costume Contest beginning at 6 p.m. Guests can enjoy a spooktacular evening featuring drink specials and activities at participating bars and restaurants.

A complimentary party bus will be offered to take guests to and from each venue that include the Mountain View Pub at 6 p.m., Local Jonny’s at 7 p.m., Big Earl’s Greasy Eats at 8 p.m., The Hideaway at 9 p.m., Buffalo Chip Saloon at 10 p.m., Harold’s Cave Creek Corral at 11 p.m. and The Roadhouse at midnight.

Parking is available at Stagecoach Village, 7100 E. Cave Creek Road, Cave Creek, and the lower lot at Local Jonny’s, 6033 E. Cave Creek Road, Cave Creek.

Various restaurants and bars, 6 p.m. to 2 a.m., free admission, food and drink available for purchase, facebook.com/ CaveCreekWicked

Service Industry Night & Karaoke

OCT. 30

Celebrate the service industry and good company at the Cave Creek Corral, with karaoke from 9 p.m. to midnight. Enjoy inexpensive beers and priceless company.

Harold’s Cave Creek Corral 6895 E. Cave

Creek Road, Cave Creek, 8 p.m., free ad mission, 480-488-1906, haroldscorral.com

Death Café

NOV. 2

Death Café is a discussion about death and dying, meant as a way for people to come together and talk about a topic that is often seen as taboo. Rather than a support group, Death Café is meant as a way for anyone at any station to appreciate the time they have left. To date, over 12,000 Death Cafés have opened up worldwide in 78 different countries.

Desert Foothills Library, 38443 N. School house Road, Cave Creek, 12:30 to 2:30 p.m., free admission, 480-488-2286, dfla. org

Blitz Bingo

NOV. 3

Enjoy a night of football themed bingo and good drinks with friends at the bar, to be enjoyed by any one regardless of their love of sports. Special drink and food offers are available as well, with a $25 gift card for the winner.

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

Youth for Troops: Freedom Isn’t Free

NOV. 3

Available for all ages, residents are encouraged to support our troops across the world and help mitigate a critical supply shortage. Halloween candy and travel sized items are valuable items to a soldier right now, so spread the love when and where

possible by donating. The drive also includes special holiday projects and box decoration for craftier participants.

Desert Foothills Library, 38443 N. Schoolhouse Road, Cave Creek, 12:30 to 2:30 p.m., free admission, 480-488-2286, youthfortroops.org

Spaghetti Western: Dinner with a Side of History

NOV. 8

Enjoy a western-themed dinner with spaghetti, gar lic bread, salad and iced tea. Learn about the history of Cave Creek with a musical tribute to the area, and help fund the Cave Creek Museum all in one. The event also has a well curated raffle for people looking to win big, and Western selfie stations to help make memories of the event.

Harold’s Cave Creek Corral, 6895 E. Cave Creek Road, Cave Creek, 4 to 7 p.m., $24 for adults, $10 for children, cavecreekmu seum.org

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Kiwanis Club of New River revives trunk-or-treat

BY SUMMER AGUIRRE Foothills Focus Staff Writer

Halloween is creeping up, and the Kiwanis Club of New River is throwing its annual Spook Out Trunk-or-Treat to celebrate.

New River Kiwanis Park, managed by the Kiwanis Club, will be full of Hallow een fun for local families from 5 to 9 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 29. Only in its third year, the Spook Out has grown into one of the largest free Halloween events in the area, according to event organizer and spon sor Adam Johnson.

“If we’re going to do an event, we bet ter do it big or don’t do it at all,” he said. “So this is our way of giving back to the communities and the families — Not only the children, but the parents.”

The Spook Out Trunk-or-Treat dates back to around 30 to 40 years ago, hav ing faded away before experiencing a revival upon the occurrence of the pan demic. Organizers Sarah Bostdorff and Charlie Fisher brought it back to life for fear of local children missing out on the Halloween experience in 2020.

“First event, we didn’t realize that there would be such a huge turnout — We had about 2,000 people show up. It was pretty amazing, it was just a great,

great event,” said Johnson.

The second Spook Out in 2021 saw around 3,000 guests, so the organizers are projecting approximately 4,000 at tendees at the park this year.

To support the expected crowds, John son said they’re looking for volunteers for parking direction, bounce house su pervision and cleanup.

“We want to be successful,” he said. “Our top priority is the safety of the chil dren, so we need enough hands on site to make this a successful event.”

Across an expanse of New River Ki wanis Park’s desert landscape, hundreds of festively decorated cars will be pass ing out candies for families to trunk-ortreat in true Halloween spirit.

Alongside the trick-or-treating op portunities, the Spook Out is bringing back its haunted hayride, horse-drawn carriage rides, DJ, bounce houses, an assortment of food trucks, 50/50 raf fles, games and prizes. There will also be a costume contest for children and adults, in which the winners will re ceive gift cards.

New to the event’s lineup of activities is a tethered hot air balloon, as well as live music by Anthem-based band The Damn Kids.

Attendees will also have shopping

opportunities, as there will be a vendor alley of booths featuring approximately 25 businesses, in addition to an aisle of sponsor booths.

The Spook Out’s 20 sponsors, who ful ly fund the event, include title sponsor Proskill Services, Anthem’s Rosati’s Piz za and Doody Defense.

“We’re very grateful for all the spon sors and the businesses, because this wouldn’t be happening at all (without them),” said Johnson.

This year’s Spook Out will also partner with Foothills Food Bank. Since the event is free, organizers ask that attendees bring two cans of Thanksgiving food as a donation, such as corn or green beans.

“We want to make a difference in peo ple’s lives,” said Johnson. “There’s going to be people struggling for the holidays, and we want to be able to make that difference and help Foothills Food Bank be successful in blessing all the families through Thanksgiving.”

Proceeds made during the Spook Out will benefit the event, pediatric therapy agency Arizona Autism and New River Kiwanis Park as a thank-you for allowing the club to host community events.

New River Kiwanis Park is located at 48606 N. 17th Avenue. To sign up as a volunteer at the Spook Out or for more information about the event, visit ne wriverkiwanis.org.

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