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This Week

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

Veterans Day ceremony returns to Anthem memorial

FEATURES ........ 19 Josh West Trio takes on Slider Throwdown

YOUTH ............. 25 Superintendent reports on DVUSD for the community

OPINION ................... 14 BUSINESS ................. 18 FEATURES ................ 19 YOUTH ...................... 25 CLASSIFIEDS ............ 26 Zone I

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Wednesday, November 10, 2021

Retired admiral to honor veterans at Anthem memorial BY CONNOR DZIAWURA Foothills Focus Staff Writer

etired Adm. Tom Fargo has witnessed multiple generations of U.S. armed forces during his lifetime. The 73-year-old veteran, whose own decorated 35-year Navy career culminated in his role as commander of the U.S. Pacific Command, comes from a lineage of service. “I’ve seen certainly three, maybe four, generations of veterans, from my grandparents to my parents to my own service and then of course the current generation that I think are absolutely eye-watering,” said Fargo,

who is the keynote speaker for Anthem’s annual Veterans Day ceremony. “After watching them serve for 20 years in the Middle East and around the world, they have deployed longer and more frequently than even my generation.” He plans to honor those multiple generations at the upcoming ceremony, set for 10 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 11, at the Anthem Veterans Memorial in Anthem Community Park, 41703 N. Gavilan Peak Parkway. “There’s a common theme here, and that is that these men and women have stepped up to serve their country in very challenging times,” Fargo explained.

Family handles foster kids with care

BY KATY SPRINGER Foothills Focus Contributing Writer

nyone who knows Kathleen Skogen knows this: She is tireless in her work to serve children. As a foster care provider for medically fragile babies and toddlers, she has spent many sleepless nights attending to the needs of children in her care — like hourly feedings for very sick babies or treating the withdrawal symptoms of infants born addicted to drugs — but she doesn’t utter a word about being tired. “I have always seen this work as an opportunity to be Jesus’ hands and feet,” said the New

River special education teacher and mother of six. Eight years ago, Kathleen and her husband, Darren, began participating in the Safe Families for Children ministry program through their church, Christ’s Church of the Valley, Anthem. “It was such a gift to provide a home for kids whose parents were struggling,” Kathleen said. “At the same time, the ministry program was all about providing love, mentorship and support to those parents. Our whole goal was to bring families back together.” The Skogens’ service has since grown dramat-

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He will also address current national security threats and the challenges they pose, what can be done to ensure the community embraces veterans and their needs, as well as what veterans can do for their communities in return. “I think they’re unique in their ability to step up and contribute in lots of ways, volunteering being something that veterans have done for as long as we can remember,” Fargo said. Coming from a Navy family, Fargo recalls moving every two years during his child-

see ADMIRAL page 5

Noelle Skogen celebrates Halloween 2021. She was adopted on Jan. 11. (Photo courtesy of the Skogens)

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NEWS

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

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

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FOSTER KIDS from page 1

ically. While volunteering in the neonatal intensive care unit at Banner Thunderbird Medical Center in 2015, Kathleen was heartbroken to see so many babies born addicted to drugs. “I came home and told Darren, ‘We have to do something to help these babies,’” she said. “He agreed, and we began the process of getting our foster care license for medically fragile children.” The Skogens had four grown children — Zach, Cory, Mikayla and Dylan — and they knew they had more love to give and a home to share. Only 12 hours after receiving their license, they received a call from the Arizona Department of Child Safety about a newborn baby in the NICU suffering from withdrawal and in need of a medically fragile home. “We said yes, of course!” Kathleen said. The Skogens said this path has blessed them immensely. “We ended up adopting that sweet baby,” Kathleen said. “His name is Kayden, and he’s now 6 years old. We can’t imagine life without him.” Over the years, the family fostered nearly two dozen children. At one point, they were providing care for five medically fragile infants and young children ages 5 and younger. “Some of these babies were just so sick,” Kathleen said. “We truly felt blessed and honored that we had been chosen to love and care for them.” Through it all, Katheen prioritized communication with parents to ensure they continued to feel a part of their kids’ lives — and to make it clear she and Darren were rooting for the whole family. “We came alongside these parents as they worked to get their lives back together and get their babies back,” she said. “We sent photos and updates and made sure these parents knew we were doing our best for their children.” The goal of the Arizona Department of Child Safety (DCS) is to provide kids with a loving, stable foster home where they can learn and grow while their parents do the work that’s needed to create a safe home environment and reunify with their children. While everyone works hard for reunification, sometimes there are circumstances in which it simply cannot occur. That was the case for 22-month-old No-

The Skogen siblings: Dylan, holding Noelle, with his twin sister Mikayla, little brother Kayden, and big brother Cory. Not pictured, Zach Skogen. (Photo courtesy of the Skogens)

Darren and Kathleen Skogen with their 1-yearold son, Kayden, on his adoption day on May 23, 2016. (Photo courtesy of the Skogens)

elle, who came to the Skogens’ home as an infant with severe congenital heart defects. “As a foster parent, you have to balance the love you feel for these babies with your hope they can go home to their parents,” she said. “For Noelle, we loved her the moment we met her. It just didn’t work for her to go back to her mom.” The Skogens adopted Noelle in January, and Kathleen continues to keep Noelle’s birth mom close to her heart. “She is Noelle’s mom, too. I continue to stay in touch with her. She loves seeing the photos and hearing about Noelle’s growth and incredible personality.” Later this month, the near-2-year-old will undergo her third open-heart surgery. “We are praying constantly that everything goes well with the surgery. Her prognosis is very good. She is the most resilient, spiciest, toughest girl in the world, and I know she has an amazing future ahead of her.” For now, Noelle is getting an abundance of love from her family — and she’s giving it back in spades. “She gets so excited when Darren gets home from work,” Kathleen said. “And she absolutely adores her big brothers and sister, and they’re crazy about her. Six-yearold Kayden has become an awesome big brother.” Calls to DCS’ abuse and neglect hotline have spiked 25% in the last six months. At present, there are 13,790 youth in Arizona’s foster care system, but there are only 3,292 licensed foster homes. It’s the lowest number of licensed homes in DCS’ history.

“We are working urgently to recruit more foster care providers to bring safety and stability for Arizona’s most vulnerable children,” DCS Director Mike Faust said. “Many people in our community have wondered about foster care. They want to make a difference, but they’re not sure they’re a good fit or don’t not know where to start.” Adults ages 21 and older can become licensed to provide foster care. Many young professionals, empty nesters and everyone in between have homes to share and love to give. Kids enter foster care through no fault of their own. They are placed in care because their biological parents or legal guardians are unable to care for them safely. “All children need a safe place to learn from their mistakes and gain new skills to use in their future,” Faust said. “They need someone to ask about their school day, wish them a happy birthday and check up on their homework.” For children who are unable to reunite with their parents, DCS works to connect them with loving, adoptive families, as was the case with Noelle. Kathleen offered sage advice to families who have thought about foster care. “If you’ve ever considered it, just do it. It will bring you so much joy,” she said. “Fostering isn’t always easy and it’s not for the faint of heart, but it will fill your heart to give of yourself this way. You will get so much back in return.” For more information about foster care, call 1-877-543-7633 or visit AZDCS.gov/ foster.

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ADMIRAL from page 1

hood. But “that’s just the way it was as my father was assigned to different duty stations,” he added with a laugh. Tours of duty took his family to places like Sasebo, Japan, and Washington, D.C., with Coronado, California, near North Island Naval Air Station, serving as their “center of gravity.” “We saw a great deal of the country and a great deal of the world growing up, and I think that was helpful to us,” he recalled. Both his father, who he said was killed in a carrier accident, and his stepfather were also in the Navy, and his mother had been a Navy nurse during World War II. His brother went on to serve, too. Fargo ultimately found inspiration in his family, allowing him to forge his own path of service. “My father clearly loved what he was doing, and my mother and father had a great set of friends in the military … people that they had served with, people that they had met throughout their military lives, and it was clear to me

Retired Adm. Tom Fargo plans to honor multiple generations of veterans, as well as address how they can embrace and be embraced by their communities, at the Anthem Veterans Memorial on Thursday, Nov. 11. (Photo courtesy of

Anthem)

that they felt serving, and of course we were a Navy family, but serving was both tremendously rewarding and a lifestyle that they embraced — and so did I,” he said. A 1970 Naval Academy graduate, Fargo was trained in joint, naval and submarine commands, according to an archived Department of Defense webpage. Having served a variety of sea and shore assignments over his subsequent 35-year career, he views his rise through the ranks as taking things one assignment at a time. “What I learned was that the Navy kind of prepares you each step of the way,” he said. “In other words, you look at the next job and it seems pretty daunting when you’re a couple years away from it, but you learn and develop and gain experience, and before too long you say, ‘This is a big job, but I can do it.’ And that’s how you move along, pretty much. “I think it helped me to go to Washington, D.C., to gain some of the bigger picture, as to what would be important in a career in terms of development, but fun-

damentally, you have to do well in your assignments at sea.” The best job he ever had? “I think, for most of us, the clear goal is to command at sea,” he said. While working aboard a sub or ship, he said, “you know every one of those sailors, you know whether they’re having a good day or a bad day, and you have a tremendous ability to make an impact — make an impact in the performance of the ship and make an impact in the lives of those sailors.” According to the Department of Defense, his assignments included executive officer of the USS Plunger (SSN-595) and commanding officer of USS Salt Lake City (SSN-716). It was aboard the latter that he recalled welcoming actors Scott Glenn and Alec Baldwin during their preparation and training for the 1990 film “The Hunt for the Red October.” “He did a superb job of representing exactly how a captain and the crew come together on an operation,” Fargo said of Glenn.

see ADMIRAL page 6

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ADMIRAL from page 5

And from 1992 to 1993 he commanded Submarine Group 7, Task Force 74 and Task Force 157 in the Western Pacific, Indian Ocean and Persian Gulf, a period of time that he looks back on as challenging and demanding but also rewarding and exciting. “The pace of the operations during that period of time was very high, and we were stationed in Japan,” he recounted of his time in the Western Pacific. “And it provided my first real significant opportunity to understand how you coordinate operations between not only the submarine force but the aviation assets, during a period of time when anti-submarine warfare was very important, as well as the surface Navy.” He considers his command of the U.S. Fifth Fleet and Naval Forces of the Central Command — a position he held from July 1996 to July 1998, according to the Department of Defense — to be another interesting point in his career. “It was another stretch of time where there were continuing sets of Iraqi con-

THE FOOTHILLS FOCUS | THEFOOTHILLSFOCUS.COM | NOVEMBER 10, 2021

tingency operations kind of in between the first Gulf War and the second Gulf War,” he said. “But the culture is so unique, and the manner in which you operate in those areas was different than I’d seen before and it gave me a perspective on kind of geopolitical operations that I hadn’t had before.” Eventually, according to the Department of Defense, he reached the position of commander-in-chief of the U.S. Pacific Fleet from October 1999 until May 2002, when he assumed the role of commander of the U.S. Pacific Command — directing Army, Navy, Marine Corps and Air Force operations across more than 100 million square miles — until his retirement in 2005. During these years, he acknowledged “there were a number of very significant things that occurred,” among them being the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami that killed hundreds of thousands of people and for which he and a task force coordinated humanitarian relief to countries in the region. But even having carried out many assignments and received commenda-

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tions, Fargo is most proud of a different sort of accomplishment. “I’d say the achievement that I’m most proud of is the young officers that I had the pleasure to train and mentor that went on to command in their own right,” he said. “And I stay in touch with those officers today. A lot of them have completed their careers and retired also. But watching them learn and gain experience and become very confident leaders and operators and go on to command their own submarine, for example, is without a doubt the most rewarding part of my career.” Despite transitioning to the private sector post-Navy, working with

various organizations and serving on numerous boards of directors, Fargo finds hope in those who continue to serve the nation. “Make no mistake about the quality of the young Americans that are serving the country today,” Fargo said. “They’re bright, they’re hugely dedicated and they’re willing to sacrifice, as has been evidenced over the last 20 years. … It’s a great generation, and just like the ones that preceded them, they’re serving their country tremendously.” For more information on the Anthem Veterans Day ceremony, visit onlineatanthem.com or see the related story.

Celebrate veterans on ‘a remarkable day’ BY ALLISON BROWN Foothills Focus Staff Writer

nthem will gather for a heartwarming day of honoring and respecting service members and their families at its 10th annual Veterans Day ceremony Thursday, Nov. 11, at the Anthem Veterans Memorial. Prominent locals will speak, with patriotic performances delivered by Pro Musica and the Musical Theatre of Anthem. Luke Air Force Base will make history with a single flyover by four lieutenant colonel squadron commanders in F16s. In addition, of course, there is the solar spotlight on the Great Seal of the U.S. at exactly 11:11 a.m. from the angle of the sun shining through the pillars at the memorial. “It’s a remarkable day,” said Elizabeth Turner, co-chair of the ceremony and planning committee member. “I even get teared up about it. I’m the daughter of a Marine. When you see the sun go through that pillar and put that spotlight, it reminds you of all of the wars and military actions, operations and life efforts that our veterans have made for our country. It’s just a heartwarming day. It’s a day of honor and support and

remembrance. That’s what we do. We are saluting our veterans.” Retired Navy Adm. Thomas Fargo, who served as commander of the U.S. Pacific Command from 2002 to 2005, will serve as the keynote speaker. His 35-year career in the Navy included five commands in the Pacific and Indian oceans and the Middle East, in addition to six tours in Washington. He has been awarded the Vice Admiral James Bond Stockdale Award for Inspirational Leadership and received the Distinguished Service Medal, Defense Superior Service Medal and Legion of Merit more than once. Besides it being the 10th anniversary, this year’s event is also special because the flags will be rededicated and, for the first time, the Space Force flag will also be dedicated and added to the memorial. Tim Swindle, director of the Arizona Space Institute at the University of Arizona, will speak about the state’s hand in space exploration. “I’m actually talking about the history of space exploration in Arizona, and that’s

see VETERANS DAY page 8

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The 10th annual Veterans Day ceremony is set for 10 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 11, at the Anthem Veterans Memorial. (Photo courtesy of the Anthem Community Council)

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VETERANS DAY from page 6

in part because we now have another branch of the armed services, the Space Force. So there will be a commemoration for them. The message in regard to space exploration in Arizona is that we’ve got more history of space exploration than just about any other state,” Swindle said about his speech, adding, “I’m honored to be there and to be a part of that.” Lt. Col. Mark Clifford, who was in the Air Force for 20 years, will also speak. He started out as a supply officer and then became a logistics officer, where, as he put it, he did a little bit of everything. His military background goes a lot further back than that, though, as his dad was a major general. That is when Clifford was first welcomed into the “military family.” “The comradery that he felt with some of the folks that he served with became, to me, just family members, they were uncles and aunts,” he said. “It just kind of shows the commitment, the camaraderie, the family and the community that’s all part of the military family.” Clifford will speak about the important role families play in service mem-

bers’ lives and recognizing their support, sacrifices and commitment. There will be two large screens projecting the ceremony, so attendees can bring their lawn chairs or blankets and still have a good view wherever they sit. For those who arrive early to catch a spot up front, tribute videos will be played starting at 9 a.m. for entertainment. Turner said she strongly encourages people to carpool, walk or arrive early. The main parking lot by the memorial will be reserved for handicap, security and speaker parking. Turner suggested parking at the high school, the shopping mall across the street or by the soccer field to better facilitate the flow of traffic. She said 12,000 to 15,000 people are expected. Masks are strongly recommended. Veterans Day

WHEN: 10 to 11:15 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 11 WHERE: Anthem Veterans Memorial, 41703 N. Gavilan Peak Parkway COST: Free INFO: onlineatanthem.com/news_detail_ T15_R250.php

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Councilwoman, parks planner give updates on growth, development BY ALLISON BROWN Foothills Focus Staff Writer

rowth and development were the words of the day at the recent Daisy Mountain Representative Town Hall meeting. Speakers Ann O’Brien, Phoenix District 1 councilmember, and Eileen Baden, Maricopa County Parks & Recreation Department park and open space planner, led the informative session, held Nov. 5. “There is so much going on, not just in the city of Phoenix but in District 1,” O’Brien said. The district’s growth, both in commercial and residential, was a talking point for the councilmember, who explained how the city is preparing for it. Housing, traffic, water, jobs, emergency services and homelessness are among the considerations she acknowledged. “As you are probably aware, Phoenix is experiencing some severe growing pains in that we have a shortage in housing and so our housing prices have been going up,

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up, up,” O’Brien said. “We are seeing some exciting developments coming to District 1 so that we have the ability to provide housing for folks, because what’s key to the community is for people to be able to work, live and play in the area rather than having long commute times. I really believe that for good quality of life, it’s nice to have those things all together.” Kristi Northcutt, senior director of community relations for Anthem, noted that while new developments were coming to Anthem, they are for Phoenix residents, not those paying the Anthem assessments for private amenities. However, she said these new residents think they can use Anthem’s amenities, which is problematic, as the community is running out of space to expand for its own residents. An increase in development around west Anthem with no increase in emergency services was also cause for concern. “We are having discussions about how we can provide a police substation, a fire station and the additional staff that would

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be necessary to go with that,” O’Brien said in response to a submitted question asking if there were considerations to expand. “That is definitely high on my priority list to make sure that we have the additional infrastructure as well as staff.” Continuing on the subject of emergency services, O’Brien noted that she was recently appointed as the subcommittee chair for public safety and justice. The cause is “near and dear” to her heart, she said, adding that she has several family members involved in public service. One of the issues she is tackling in this new role is a major shortage of police officers. She said the police department and city manager are working together to find a solution moving forward. There is currently a $7,500 hiring incentive for Phoenix police officers. The Department of Justice’s investigation into the Phoenix Police Department was also addressed. O’Brien said community feedback is being sought, whether positive, negative or indifferent, to have a better understanding of what’s going on

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and how the department can improve. Changing focus to commercial development, O’Brien announced the district is welcoming the Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, which has already started construction along the west side of I-17. The company will start producing nano chips in 2024, which should help alleviate the supply issues that have come from the pandemic, and will also bring about 2,000 jobs to the district. “We are also working diligently with city staff regarding some of the homelessness and transient issues that are impacting our community,” O’Brien said. “We are appreciative of neighborhood services and our police departments and are working with our businesses and residents to find solutions and get services to those who need them.” “If you don’t know too much about the Maricopa Parks & Rec Department, we have 12 regional parks,” Baden explained, pivoting the discussion. “One is a new park

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TOWN HALL from page 9

that’s opening hopefully in a few years. It’s going to be out near Wickenburg and Thanksgiving is just a called Vulture Mountain Regional Park. few days away. But there’s We have over 122,000 acres, hundreds of services at the same levels that we have still the entirety 2021. This trendagoes back miles of trails, campgrounds, nature centimeofto provide BY ALLISON BROWN today. It recognizes the increased cost several years as well. ters, fishing and many opportunities.” Foothills Focus Staff Writer hearty meal and more of minimum labor wages. It recognizes The budget presented by Conley did not The new 2030 comprehensive plan was a homeless include an assessmentneighbor. increase for 2022 a focus for Baden, specifically relating he Anthem Community Council ap- changes in our organization and the grow- to proved a modified 2022 budget of ing need for programs other than what we but did have a caveat that there would to topics that affect parks such as open almost $10.8 million that includes were already providing. I feel really strong be an increase the following year. It was space, transportation, land use, economa $2 increase in assessments in a split 5-2 that the 2022 budget is a sound, workable agreed that an increase was inevitable. ic growth and the environment. The plan There has not been an increase in assess- sets guidelines, regulations and future vote at the regularly scheduled monthly instrument.” Your generous contribution Total net revenues are estimated to be ments since 2014, but there have been projects. She said the goal is to balance meeting Oct. 27. expenses estimatDoug Sutherland, treasurer for the An- $10,090,855, today with willtotal bring the joy of theseveral new amenities added during that economic growth and development while $10,776,989 9% increase fromby time. The construction and maintenance keeping the natural desert landscape that them Community Council, said there were ed atseason to a(asuffering soul budget). aAfter factoringmeal in in- of those, combined with unprecedented draws both visitors and residents. several factors that had to be considered for the 2021 providing delicious “Our mission is to, through responsible the budget. Sutherland said impacts from terest income and income taxes, the 2022 financial hits due to the pandemic and uncomplete with: the pandemic are still prevalent and unpre- budget has a deficit of $671,134. This is known circumstances ahead, motivated stewardship, provide quality parks, trails, councilmembers to consider ways of add- programs, services and experiences that dictable, which has to be taken into account $14,110 less than the 2021 budget. Turkey Paul Conley, senior director of finance, ing additional revenue. energize visitors and create lifelong users when looking at the 2022 budget. There Mashed potatoes were also factors such as the increase of who presented the budget, said it is imAfter debate and comments during the and advocates,” Baden said. “Our vision is & gravy minimum wage, the restructuring of exec- portant to note that these are projections meeting, Darrin Francom, vice chair of really to connect people to nature through utive staff, master plan projects and more. and the community has a history spend- the council, made a motion to add a $2 regional parks, trail programs and appreAll theoftraditional “I believe we have the best-thought-out ing less than budgeted. For example, as of increase in assessments to reduce the ciation for the Sonoran desert beauty and trimmings budget for the year 2022 that we can put September, there is only a $269,383 deficit natural open spaces and create lifelong Pie & coffee I want myfor blessings and feed hungry together,” Sutherland said. “It provides the out of the $685,244 that to wasshare planned see BUDGET page 12 positive memories.” people in our community. In order to fulfill that mission, Baden Enclosed is my gift: said a large part of the job is looking toward the future and ensuring parks and m $19.20 provides 10 meals & hope natural land remain protected. According Complete Meal — Just $1.92 m $30.72 provides 16 meals & hope Thanksgiving is just a few days to a 2020 survey of over 3,500 Arizona I want to share my blessings and feed hungry people in our community. YES, away. But there’s still time to m $51.84I want provides 27 meals & hopeand feed hungry Complete Just residents conducted by the Center for the to— share my$1.92 blessings YES, Iiswant to share my blessings and feed hungry Enclosed myMeal gift: provide a hearty meal and more m $105.60 provides 55 meals & hope people inin our community. people our community. Future of Arizona, 92% reported that preI want to share my hungry mYES, $19.20 provides 10blessings mealsand & feed hope to a homeless neighbor. people in our community. Enclosed is my gift: m $201.60 provides 105 meals & hope serving and protecting natural land was a Enclosed is my16 gift: mEnclosed $30.72 provides meals & hope is my gift: m $19.20 provides 10 meals & hope priority to them. That survey also found $________ where Mail: Return this slip with a check or $19.20 provides 10 meals hope m $19.20 provides 10 needed meals &most hope mmm $51.84 provides 27&meals & hope credit card donation m $30.72 provides 16 meals & hope Thanksgiving is just a few days that 59% of Arizona residents participate m $30.72 provides 16 meals & hope Thanksgiving is just a few days Phone: (602) 346-3336 m $30.72 provides 16 meals & hope contribution today will bring mmm $105.60 provides meals & hope hope Thanksgiving isthere’s just a still few days away. But there’s still to time to $51.84 provides 27 meals55 & hope Online: www.phoenixrescuemission.org/ away. But time $51.84 provides 27 meals & in outdoor recreation each year. Mail: Return this slip with a check or HolidayMeal provide a hearty meal and more $105.60 provides 55 meals & hope credit card donation there’s still time to more mmm $201.60 meals & m $51.84provides provides meals & hope Mail:105 Return this slip with a check or credit card donation provide a hearty meal and eason away. to a But suffering by $105.60 provides 5527 meals & hope hope to a soul homeless neighbor. In fact, Baden pointed out that parks Phone: (602) 346-3336 m $201.60 provides 105 meals & hope Amount $_________ Phone:most (602) 346-3336 Online: www.phoenixrescuemission.org/FHMeals toaa hearty homeless neighbor. meal and more mmm $_______ where most m $105.60 provides 55 meals & hope $________ where neededneeded $201.60 provides 105 meals & hope were deemed essential when the pancious provide meal complete with: Online: www.phoenixrescuemission.org/HolidayFeast m My check is enclosed m I’d like to pay by credit card Your generous contribution today will provide to a homeless neighbor. m where needed most m $________ $201.60 provides 105 meals & hope demic hit. Because so many residents Mail: Return this slip with a check or credit card donation so much more than a meal. This Thanksgiving, Card type ________________________________________ Phone: (602) 346-3336 generoushelp contribution today will bring Amount $_________ use these amenities, one of the goals for m $________ where needed most turn a life around forever. Online: www.phoenixrescuemission.org/HolidayFeast Mail: Returnmthis slip with a check or creditcard card donation y of the season to a suffering soul by Card number _____________________________________ m My check is enclosed I’d like to pay by credit the future is providing equal recreation Name us contribution today will bring Phone: (602) 346-3336 Card type ___________ Card number ________________________________________ ding a delicious meal complete with: opportunities to typically underserved Online: www.phoenixrescuemission.org/HolidayFeast Mail: Return this slip with a check or credit card donation e season to a suffering soul by Exp. ________ My phone number ( ______ ) _________ Exp. ________ My phone number ( ______ ) _________________________________ Address areas. She encouraged residents to visPhone: (602) 346-3336 Amount $_________ delicious meal complete with: Email address ____________________________________________________________ Online: www.phoenixrescuemission.org/HolidayFeast it maricopacountyparks.net/about-us/ m My check is enclosed m I’d like to pay by credit card Email address ____________________________________ Turkey City/State/Zip m Please send me email updates on the lives being changed at Phoenix Rescue Mission. Card type ___________ Card number ________________________________________ project-overview to sign up for updates, Mashed potatoes m Please send me email updates on the lives being Amount $_________ Exp. ________ My phone number ( ______ ) _________________________________ & gravy changed at Phoenix Rescue Mission. find project information or view a more m Myaddress check is enclosed Phoenix Rescue Mission m I’d like to pay by credit card Email ____________________________________________________________ Name Phoenix Rescue Mission All the traditional PO Box 6708 oes thorough look at the 2030 parks vision. trimmings Card type ___________ Cardonnumber m Please send me email updates the lives________________________________________ being changed at Phoenix Rescue Mission. PO Box 6708 You will receive a receipt. Thank you! Phoenix AZ 85005-6708 Thank you! Address Turkey Phoenix AZ 85005-6708 O’Brien encouraged residents to attend Pie & coffee Exp. ________ My phone number ( ______ ) _________________________________ Name City/State/Zip U865669643 KD9A7NU UUU A G1 KH X 5 Phoenix Rescue Mission the next district meeting at 6 p.m. Monshed potatoes Email address ____________________________________________________________ PO Box 6708 onal Address Phoenix AZ 85005-6708 & gravy day, Dec. 6, at the Shops at Norterra for m Please send me email updates on the lives being changed at Phoenix Rescue Mission. A G1 KH X 8 City/State/Zip U865669643 Thank you! KD9A4NU You will receive a receipt. UUU ythe traditional more updates or to have their questions Name Phoenix Rescue Mission etatoes trimmings Thank you! You will receive a receipt. answered. In addition, residents can read PO Box 6708 Address Pie or sign up for a newsletter at phoenix. U865669643 KE1B6NU G1 K H X 0 PhoenixA AZ 85005-6708 y & coffee U865669643 KD9A7NU UUU A UUU G1 KH X 5 City/State/Zip gov/district1. U865669643 KD9A7NU UUU A G1 KH X 5 itional

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THE FOOTHILLS FOCUS | THEFOOTHILLSFOCUS.COM | NOVEMBER 10, 2021

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NEWS

BUDGET from page 10

growing deficit. Residential assessments already bring in well over half of the community’s revenue, and that small increase brings in $245,000 yearly. Not all were in favor, however. Conley said while there was a deficit in the operating fund, there is a surplus in other areas. Another aspect of his budget plan was to reallocate approximately $400,000 from the reserve fund — which has a total of $17.8 million — to the operating fund. “Let me point out that we’re starting off 2022 with a cash balance over $3 million,” he explained. “The budget that we developed does show a deficit, but you offset that with the cash balance that we currently have. So, it’s not like we’re going down the hole. If we continue this years down the road we will be, but we are not in dire circumstances yet.” Regardless, Conley said there would have to be an increase in 2023; the only question was a matter of how much. Carolynn Hiron, secretary, said she agreed with implementing a small assessment increase instead of waiting to see how

THE FOOTHILLS FOCUS | THEFOOTHILLSFOCUS.COM | NOVEMBER 10, 2021

things go, as it is better to be proactive to ensure the community has secure financial stability in the future. “I wholeheartedly agree that we cannot put off making at least small steps to reduce that deficit,” Hiron said. “I am very much in favor of an increase. It doesn’t necessarily have to be $3. Maybe we can make it less than that, but we need to get started on this. Everything in the economy right now is pointing toward inflationary times and increases in prices, so I think we need to govern ourselves accordingly.” Francom said a $2 increase would not be a significant financial burden to community members. The money will be used to improve facilities, implement new projects, host public events, increase security, and provide general repairs and maintenance, things that improve the quality of life for residents. “I think a good thing for us to consider is if we asked our residents if they would applaud us for saving them a dollar a month and letting the assets go to a point where they’re not as usable or as up to the standards, I think that they would definitely say to spend the money,” Francom said.

Recycle event bene�its Foothills Food Bank BY FOOTHILLS FOCUS STAFF

he public is invited to participate in the eighth annual Reduce, Renew, Recycle event to benefit the Foothills Food Bank from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 13. Sponsored by United Healthcare and Hayden Electric, the shredding and recycling event will be held at 6061 E. Hidden Valley Road (public parking lot near the food bank) in Cave Creek. Donations of cash, checks and food for the food bank are appreciated. Items for donation or disposal are: • Document shredding. • Prescription/drug/medicine disposal. • Computer/hard drive disposal. • Used paper books. • Clothing donations. • Housewares. • Plastic. • Cardboard. • Small electronics. • Furniture, tires and hazardous materi-

als are not permitted. The food bank shred-a-thon’s other partners are the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office, Desert Foothills Library, Goldmine Thrift Shop, North Valley Custom Hauling, Farmers Insurance and Tech4 Life. The Foothills Food Bank and Resource Center provides emergency food, financial assistance and other life necessities and resources to individuals and families in the desert foothills, which encompasses a 180-square-mile area that includes Black Canyon City, Cave Creek, Carefree, Anthem, Desert Hills, New River, Mayer, Cordes Lakes, Spring Valley, North Scottsdale and North Phoenix. Visit Foothills Food Bank & Resource Center, at foothillsfoodbank.com or send an email to foothillsfoodbank@gmail. com. Foothills Food Bank & Resource Center is located at 6038 E. Hidden Valley Drive in Cave Creek. For more information, call 480-488-1145.

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THE FOOTHILLS FOCUS | THEFOOTHILLSFOCUS.COM | NOVEMBER 10, 2021

Phoenix Rescue Mission is ‘fed up’ BY FOOTHILLS FOCUS STAFF

hoenix Rescue Mission, a provider of Christ-centered, life-transforming solutions to persons facing hunger, homelessness, addiction and trauma, launched its annual “Fed Up! Hungry for Change” holiday campaign, which runs through Dec. 31. Phoenix Rescue Mission created the campaign in 2020 to start fixing how society has dealt with hunger in the past — primarily by treating the symptoms of hunger without addressing the root causes that stem from a lack of vocational development, education, counseling, mental health services and other resources. “The holiday season can be an especially challenging time for families facing food insecurity,” said Ken Brissa, chief executive officer. “We’re not only aiming to give community members in need warm meals and food boxes with pantry items but also equipping them with access to addiction recovery services, vocational development, job opportunities, counseling, case management and many other life-transforming resources.” The campaign relies on public support and makes it easy for Arizonans to help, either through volunteering, donating online or by bringing food and other needed items directly to Phoenix Rescue Mission. The campaign will feature several events, including community markets, the Frozen Turkey Saturday, a Thanksgiving outreach event, a Christmas parade and a gift drive. Donations made to the Fed Up! campaign will support the thousands of families served each month by Phoenix Rescue Mission’s various programs, including its Hope for Hunger Food Bank, Mobile Food Pantries, Hope Coach Street Outreach services and others designed to end the cycle of poverty. This year’s schedule is as follows: • Nov. 13: West Phoenix Community Market: Created to distribute food that is donated from sources including St. Mary’s Food Bank and the community. Food bags, hygiene items and cleaning supplies will be given to families while supplies last. The public can stop by from 9 to 11 a.m. at Ministerio Un Ejercito Para Cristo (4013 W. Maricopa Street). There is no cost to participate. ID is required. For questions,

contact Angie Hatcher at 602-346-3383 or ahatcher@phxmission.org. • Nov. 16 and Dec. 21: South Mountain Community Market: Created to distribute food and clothing items that are donated by individuals, businesses and churches in the community. Food bags, hygiene items and cleaning supplies will be given to families while supplies last. The public can stop by from 9 to 11 a.m. at the First New Life Church (1902 W. Roeser Road). There is no cost to participate. ID is required. • Nov. 13: Frozen Turkey Saturday: Phoenix Rescue Mission’s Frozen Turkey Saturday aims to collect more than 1,500 turkeys, which will be delivered directly to families in need during the mission’s Thanksgiving Outreach Event and at the Hope for Hunger Food Bank. The public can stop by the drive-thru event at the mission’s Hope for Hunger Food Bank (5605 N. 55th Avenue) and donate a frozen turkey from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Contact Catie Hammann at 602-346-3347 or gikhelp@

phxmission.org to start a nonperishable foods, turkey or gift drive. • Nov. 20: Public Thanksgiving Outreach Event: Phoenix Rescue Mission’s second drive-thru event at Sullivan Elementary School (2 N. 31st Avenue) will distribute turkeys and sides, food bags and hygiene kits. There is no registration required and first come are first served from 9 a.m. to noon or as long as supplies last. To volunteer at this event, sign up at phxmission.org/volunteer. • Dec. 2: West Phoenix Mobile Food Pantry: Created to decrease food insecurity and improve food accessibility across the Valley, Phoenix Rescue Mission’s Mobile Pantry initiative will visit the Murphy neighborhood to connect with disadvantaged families, provide them with nutritious meals and help them access the resources to end their cycle of poverty. The public is encouraged to stop by the event at Ministerio Un Ejercito Para Cristo, 4013 W. Maricopa Street, from 10 a.m. to noon,

or as long as supplies last. • Dec. 11: Hometown Christmas Parade: Beginning at 11 a.m. on Glendale Avenue in Downtown Glendale, the public can donate canned and nonperishable foods at the parade, which will go to the families served at the Hope for Hunger Food Bank this winter. • Dec. 18: Winter Wonderland Community Event (guests by preregistration only): The mission is partnering with local businesses, churches and individuals to collect new, unwrapped toys, nonperishable foods and toiletries. Gifts can be collected by hand or purchased on the mission’s Amazon Charity List at phxmission.org/christmaslist. The mission will then provide the gifts, food bags and toiletries to families in need via its annual Winter Wonderland event. To volunteer at this event, sign up at phxmission.org/ volunteer. For info on how to support Phoenix Rescue Mission’s “Fed Up! Hungry for Change” campaign, visit phoenixrescuemission.org.

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OPINION

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AROUND THE BLUHMIN’ TOWN

Honor those who once wore the uniform BY JUDY BLUHM Foothills Focus Columnist

ill you enjoy a Veterans Day parade? Nov. 11 is the one great day to honor our men and women who served, watch the bands, the flags and the display of pride as we are reminded just how much we owe those who wear and wore the uniform. The fighting of World War I ceased in 1918 when an armistice, or temporary cessation of hostilities, between the

Allied nations and Germany went into effect on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month. This was regarded as the end of “the war to end all wars.” President Wilson proclaimed Nov. 11 as the first commemoration of the Armistice Day in 1919. It was President Eisenhower in 1954 who changed the name to “Veterans Day.” More than 18 million living veterans served during at least one war as of 2020. Seven million veterans served during the Vietnam War, and 3 million have served in support of the War on Terrorism. As

of 2020, only 325,000 World War II veterans were still alive, but 16 million had served in that war. Every Veterans Day there is a ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery, which commences at exactly 11 a.m. with a wreath laying on the Tomb of the Unknowns. If you haven’t been to the Anthem Veterans Memorial, you are missing out. The memorial has five pillars that represent the five branches of the United States military. They are staggered in size, and the military seal placements on each pillar are based upon the Department of Defense-prescribed precedence. At precisely 11:11 a.m. on Veterans Day, Nov. 11, the sun’s rays will pass through each of the five pillars’ elliptical openings, with the shadows aligning precisely to illuminate a glass mosaic medallion of the Great Seal of the United States. For one thrilling minute, this monument can be seen in its full glory. My father served in World War II, my husband was in Vietnam and my grandson is in the Navy. When Pearl Harbor was bombed, my father, like tens of thousands of young men, joined the Army Air Forces immediately. Stationed

in England with the 450th Bomb Squadron of the 322nd Group, he recalls flying over France on a mission when the propeller fell off the plane. Land the plane in a farmer’s field, find some baling wire, have a French farmer and three airmen get the propeller back on the fuselage, and fasten it on with a wire used for hay. Take off and make it back to base. To fly again, fight again and try to save humanity from the clutches of evil. So goes the stories of war. Historians will analyze the effectiveness of wars we fought in, and our elected officials will decide on the new wars we will have to fight. But the “we” is really a group of devoted, loyal, highly trained, brave men and women who chose to join the military. Their commitment never ends, their work often underestimated and their experiences often unimaginable. Veterans Day exemplifies how thankful we are and how much we owe our men and women who fought, fight and serve. Judy Bluhm is writer and a local Realtor. Have a comment or a story? Email Judy at judy@judybluhm.com.

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OPINION

THE FOOTHILLS FOCUS | THEFOOTHILLSFOCUS.COM | NOVEMBER 10, 2021

Baseball, politics are our pastimes

BY J.D. HAYWORTH Foothills Focus Columnist

hoever thinks there is no divine sense of humor may want to reconsider — especially after the latest occurrence of “the first Tuesday following the first Monday in November.”

In other words, Election Day 2021 or, as it will forever be known in Atlanta, “World Champions Day.” With an ethereal sense of timing, politics and the national pastime again collided. And in this instance, the “Home of the Braves” prevailed. The inaugural iteration of this column

chronicled a rhetorical baseball “beaning” of the city of Atlanta and the state of Georgia, which left both seeing stars — but not all-stars. Opening Day brought a verbal brickbat, delivered by the current occupant of 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue via ESPN, which apparently now stands for Expect Sports Politicized Nonstop. Sure enough, Joe Biden — though old, slow and confused — apparently possessed enough verbal and muscle memory to use a “woke weapon.” During his ESPN interview, Joe attacked Georgia’s election reform law, calling it an “atrocity” and “Jim Crow on steroids.” He ignored the fact that the new statute expands early voting to 17 days statewide and gives counties the option to add two Sundays of voting for a total of 19 days of casting early ballots. Never mind that Biden’s home state of Delaware provides no days for early balloting — the fictitious flames, fanned by ESPN, other outlets within the partisan press and, of course, the White House, soon stoked a “woke fire.” Ol’ Joe then chimed in with his “remedy” of preference: Major League Baseball (MLB) should move the All-Star Game out of the Peach State. Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred — no “Mighty Manfred,” he — morphed into “Rollover Rob,” and hastily did Biden’s bidding, with the specious claim that moving the All-Star Game from Atlanta to Denver was the “best way to demonstrate our values as a sport.” If so, it was a curious way to demonstrate a commitment to racial justice. When the All-Star Game exited Atlanta, a city with a population that’s 51% Black and historically known as a center of Black commerce, the economic loss was estimated at $100 million. While MLB placed a higher value on virtue signaling than genuine support of a “majority minority city,” it’s worth noting that “corporate COVID” also infected Atlanta-based businesses. Both Coca-Cola and Delta Airlines succumbed to the virtue virus, denounced the Georgia election reforms and were apparently fine with the loss of the All-Star Game. But an interesting thing happened in At-

lanta. The Braves discovered a vaccine for virtue signaling: victory. Proving that the late, great catcher-turned-author-turned-broadcaster Joe Garagiola was right when he titled his book “Baseball is a Funny Game,” the Braves had the last laugh. Defying the odds, and their own winloss record, the Braves finally moved above .500 for good on Aug. 6, then finished the regular season with 88 wins and 73 defeats. In the post-season, Atlanta outmuscled Milwaukee, leaving the Brewers crying in their beer. They found unlikely star power to defeat the Dodgers and brought the Astros back to earth, winning the World Series four games to two. The series finale in Houston was especially impressive, as the Braves shut out the Astros, 7-0. “Shut out” also accurately describes the policy triumphs of the Biden administration in its first year. Simply stated, there are none. An illegal invasion. A shameful abandonment of Americans in Afghanistan. Runaway inflation. Crippled supply lines. Radical school boards and leftist politicians denying parental authority, replacing education with indoctrination. That last disturbing development prompted a political upset as unlikely as the Braves’ World Championship — and it occurred the same night. Deep-blue Virginia, dependably Democrat, elected a Republican governor. Glenn Youngkin, who went from underdog to governor-elect, described his victory as a triumph of everyday Virginians, based on fundamental principles — and a rejection of radicalism. With the congressional midterms and more gubernatorial elections slated for November 2022, Republican hopefuls are shouting, “Wait ’til next year!” Political aspirants, whatever their partisan label, would do well to remember that electioneering is not a game. But it is a competition, and with America poised to awaken from its “wokeness,” voters may be inspired by a spark of the “divine.” As in “The Divine Comedy.”

THE FOOTHILLS FOCUS | THEFOOTHILLSFOCUS.COM | NOVEMBER 10, 2021

Christmas tree returns

oliday cheer made a return Thursday, Nov. 4, as the tallest fresh-cut white fur Christmas tree in Arizona — standing 70 feet tall — made its way to the Outlets at Anthem. Santa Claus and Boulder Creek High School helped bring the spirit of Christmas to the joyful event. Photos by David Minton.

1. Santa Claus (James Chapman) helps direct Luke Etherton and Christian Etherton as they cut loose straps holding the branches of the 2021 Christmas tree after its arrival at the Outlets at Anthem. 2. Members of the Boulder Creek High School Jag Choir sing Christmas carols. 3. A firetruck leads the way as the truck carrying the 2021 Christmas tree arrives at the Outlets at Anthem. 4. Workers guide this year’s Christmas tree into its home. 5. A crowd of onlookers and news cameras watch as workers lift the Christmas tree. 6. Victor Serrao, owner of Victor’s Custom Christmas Trees in San Juan Capistrano, California, uses a sledgehammer to drive in the shims that hold the Christmas tree in place. 7. Victor Serrao unhooks a strap from the 2021 Christmas tree as a crane moves it into place. 8. The 2021 Christmas tree hangs from a crane as workers lift in into place.

4 3

BUSINESS

THE FOOTHILLS FOCUS | THEFOOTHILLSFOCUS.COM | NOVEMBER 10, 2021

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In�lation’s history in the U.S. is not very pretty BY DR. HAROLD WONG Foothills Focus Contributing Writer

ere are some recent headlines and key facts from recent articles: “Here’s why your food prices keep going up” by Laura Reiley and Alyssa Flowers in the Washington Post: “Compared to August, 2019, the Consumer Price Index for meat, poultry, fish and eggs has gone up 15.7%.” “Social Security cost-of-living increase will boost benefits 5.9% in 2022 as inflation spikes” by Paul Davidson in USA Today. “This is the biggest annual increase since 1982.” “A key measure of inflation surged

to a new 30-year high” by Anneken Tappe, CNN Business. “The price index tracking consumer spending — the PCE price index — was up 4.3% over the 12 months ending in August. That was a faster pace than July’s 4.2%. Inflation continued to run at the fastest pace since January 1991.” There are two consumer items that really hit home for the average American household: the price of bacon and the price of gasoline. When I stop at Fry’s grocery store, the price of one pound of bacon is $7 vs. $5 one year ago. When one looks at the gasprices.aaa. com/?state=AZ website, the average

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price (of all blends) was $3.467 on Oct. 26 vs. $2.250 a year ago. For premium gas, it’s $3.986 per gallon on Oct. 26 vs. $2.789 a year ago. A historical lesson if inflation continues to accelerate: In October 1973, Arab nations attacked Israel on Yom Kippur. They formed OPEC (Organization of Arab Petroleum Exporting Countries) and used an oil embargo as an economic weapon for the first time. Within six months, oil had gone up from $3 per barrel to $12 per barrel and caused inflation the rest of the 1970s. The 1979 oil crisis was the “second oil shock.” Because oil is used heavily to grow, transport and dry food, the price of food increased substantially. The price of soy beans quadrupled to over $13 a bushel. The U.S. experienced the worst of all worlds: “stagflation” — which is stagnating economic growth coupled with inflation. There was a three-year period where Social Security cost-ofliving annual increases totaled 35.4%, consisting of a 9.9% increase in 1979, 14.3% in 1980, and 11.2% in 1981. Federal Reserve Bank Chairman Paul Volcker raised interest rates to the highest level in U.S. history: federal funds rate of 20%, prime borrowing rate of 21.5%, and a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage on a house was 18%. It led to a serious recession with unemployment over 10%, the entire savings and loan industry going out of business, and hundreds of banks going bankrupt. There were cities in Texas where it took 10 years before housing values recovered to their previous levels.

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Why did Volcker do this? The inflation of the 1970s, started by the OPEC oil embargo of 1973, led to seriously high inflation that eroded the value of savings, and normal families struggled to buy necessities. Volcker saw this as a cancer on America. In normal cancer, the cure (surgery, chemotherapy and radiation) can be worse than the disease. The high interest rates did eventually stop inflation, but at the cost of millions of Americans suffering during a huge recession. Once inflation was wrung out of the economy, it did lead to an economic boom enjoyed by future presidents such as Bill Clinton and both Bush presidents. If inflation becomes hyperinflation, history has darker lessons. Hyperinflation destroys the middle class, which is the glue that keeps all countries stable. The hyperinflation of the 1930s led to the collapse of the German economy (a precursor to World War II) and the Communist Revolution in China. A future article will talk about how one protects one’s financial future if inflation lasts for years. Free information on tax savings, retirement planning and solar business investments can be found at drharoldwong.com or over at solarbusinessinvestments.com. To schedule your free consultation, contact Dr. Harold Wong at 480-706-0177 or harold_wong@hotmail.com. Dr. Harold Wong earned his Ph.D. in economics at University of California-Berkeley and has appeared on over 400 TV/radio programs.

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Josh West, father bring musical partnership to High Street BY MIA ANDREA Foothills Focus Staff Writer

lendale father-son duo Glen and Josh West have long shared their passion for music. Constantly surrounded by the other’s music taste and influence, the duo performs around the Valley as the Josh West Trio. Josh said he grew up listening to bands from the ’60s and ’70s, who created the foundation for today’s mass-appeal pop music. As he got older, he shared the ’90s grunge and alternative genres with his father, and the duo’s influence on one another is visible in their performances. The Josh West Trio band covers pop, rock and folk artists ranging from the

Beatles to Radiohead. The trio performs as part of the Slider Throwdown from noon to 3 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 14, in High Street, 5415 E. High Street, Phoenix. Glen has decades of guitar-playing experience under his belt, and as a teacher, it’s no surprise that his son is a well-respected student. “For me personally, I don’t want to do music with anyone else. It would just kind of feel weird,” Glen said. “We have a better relationship probably than most musicians,” Josh said. He compared the dynamic of working with his father to that of a band of brothers collaborating. Arguments are inevitable, but at the end of the day,

Josh and Glen know the disagreements are a natural part of the songwriting process. The two still have a strong bond that keeps them from taking work too seriously. Josh and Glen are frequently collaborating on music and sharing ideas for verses and choruses. They only use melodies or lyrics they feel a strong attachment to, taking the time to discard or tweak any sounds that don’t fit into the rest of the song. “When you spend that much time working with one person, you develop that kind of communication and a shared goal, shared style: your own musical language,” Josh said. “It’s just not something you want to give up.

We’re really protective of that.” After years of music lessons and mutual influence, the father and son took their careers to the next level. When Josh auditioned for and later found himself competing on NBC’s “The Voice,” Glen joked that the duo would no longer be performing at farmers markets. “When they contacted me, we switched into some kind of headspace where we were just focused and serious all the time,” Josh said. “I worked harder than I’d ever worked before to be ready for it.” Even through intensive hours of vo-

see JOSH WEST page 20

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JOSH WEST

America learned about Josh West’s wide-ranging vocals when he was a contestant on “The Voice.” (Photos courtesy of Josh West)

From page 19

cal training and performance rehearsals with coaches, Josh and his father kept their lighthearted spirits alive. Glen roamed around Universal Studios, taking in the backdrops of films such as “Back to the Future,” while Josh rehearsed. Josh said he joined recording in the studios that once hosted icons such as Paul McCartney and Tom Morello. Continuing to follow the path of his idols, he used Chris Martin of Coldplay’s favorite microphone. Josh was a contestant on “The Voice” at only 17 years old. Now in his early 20s, he reflected on the experience and said in retrospect that the hard work mostly paid off in ways unrelated to his music career. “I got a lot of discipline from it just because the stakes were so high,” he said. The two said their next single is on the way, and the lyrics resemble the opposite of the previous high-pressure experience from “The Voice,” according to Josh. The lyrics tell stories of the duo’s journeys to music, which includes

the frustrations or obstacles along the way. Rather than continuing the habit of being overly serious or leaving hidden messages in songs, they kept things fun and left the meaning purposefully straightforward. “It’s very tongue and cheek,” Glen said. “It’s very fun to just write a lighthearted, humorous lyric.”

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THE FOOTHILLS FOCUS | THEFOOTHILLSFOCUS.COM | NOVEMBER 10, 2021

KUMA’S GREAT ADVENTURES

Cameron Trading Post makes for a fun visit TOLD BY KUMA AND WRITTEN BY LORRAINE BOSSÉ-SMITH Foothills Focus Contributing Writer

hope you have been out enjoying our great weather. This is why we live in Arizona, right? My family opted to head north early on Friday morning in hopes of beating the traffic, and it worked! We sailed right up without any hiccups. I always know we are going a long way when we are on I-17 north and pass Prescott and then Sedona. On to Flagstaff we went to connect to 89 north, which was about two and a half hours from North Phoenix. About 30 minutes outside of Flagstaff is the Cameron Trading Post. We had lunch here and stretched our legs. Mom

see KUMA page 23

Kuma hotels it at Marble Canyon Lodge. (Photo by Lorraine Bossé-Smith)

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North Valley Jews celebrate Hanukkah BY FOOTHILLS FOCUS STAFF

Monday, January 24th 9am - 1pm Sundial Recreation Center

14801 North 103rd Ave., Sun City, AZ 85351

Wednesday, January 26th 9am - 1pm Mesa Convention Center

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he North Valley Jewish Community Association will celebrate Hanukkah at 5 p.m. Monday, Nov. 29, at the Ironwood Grille Room, Anthem Country Club. Cocktails, candle lighting ceremony and service will be followed by a traditional buffet dinner. A cash bar

will be available. Tickets are $33 for adults, $17.50 for children ages 3 to 10, and free for children 2 and younger. For reservations, call Fran Kesselman at 623-322-0957 or email fkesselman@ cox.net. Make check payable to NVJCA and mail to NVJCA, 39506 N. Daisy Mountain Drive, Suites 122-198, Anthem, AZ 85086. Reservations required by Monday, Nov. 22.

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KUMA

From Page 21

loves the gift shop (masks required) and bought Christmas presents. They don’t have a dog-friendly restaurant, but mom and dad say it has good food. They recommend it if you have the time and no dog with you. We walked around the pretty grounds for a while before heading to McAllister’s Pub. We were bummed to learn it is closed permanently, another victim of the COVID-19 shutdown. Burger King had an hourlong line inside because the drive-thru was only accepting cash, so that left us with the Conoco mart. We were pleasantly surprised with their selection of sub sandwiches and got a dandy lunch that we could eat while driving. We continued on 89 north until we saw signs for Horseshoe Bend in Page. Dad has visited without us; I know, how rude! He wanted to share it with us, so we paid the $10 parking fee. There are human restrooms available, and dogs are welcome on leash. The hike is just under a mile to the viewing area.

Kuma views Horseshoe Bend. (Photo by Lorraine Bossé-Smith)

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It is an easy walk, but don’t forget your water. Fall doesn’t bring cooler weather to parts of Arizona for a while. The walk was slow going for us, as we had to say hello to all the other dogs and several humans wanted to pet me. One gentleman from Long Island got his picture with me. That made his day. Happy to help! Hey, that’s where my mom is originally from. Small world! Know that there isn’t any shade other than two overhangs on the way to the overlook. Once you get there, your breath will be taken away with a 1,000foot drop down to the canyon floor, where the Colorado River has carved out a horseshoe in the rock. Way down there we could see kayakers. Apparently, that is a big thing and very popular. As for us, we stayed up top for the photo opportunities. We met lots of great people from all over the country. We got a little warm hiking back to the car and cranked up the AC for the remainder of the drive. We continued to follow 89 until Bitter Springs, where

see KUMA page 24

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THE FOOTHILLS FOCUS | THEFOOTHILLSFOCUS.COM | NOVEMBER 10, 2021 RIGOR, RELEVANCE & RELATIONSHIPS L L RIGOR, RELEVANCE & RELATIONSHIPS A RIGOR, RELEVANCE & RELATIONSHIPS M L S L A me plenty M of leftovers. Oh, how I love hu- tures, big and small. My mom is a motiva- lished books. More importantly, she’s the

LL 23 KUMASFrom MApage LASS C we hung a right onto ZES! 89A toward Marble Canyon. SI

We had driven through here before, and we always said we wanted to check it out. Well, we got a room right there at the Marble Canyon Lodge for a couple of nights. They are dog friendly, clean and extremely quiet. They have a fantastic store and restaurant on-site. Mom ordered a meal that would allow her to give

S ASS

L AIt’s Cfood. man SS!the best part of hoteling it. Llodge C E The offer lots of shade Z I ! S IZESSgrounds S places to sit in silence, admirand ample ing Mother Nature. Marble Canyon sits right at the base of the Vermillion Cliffs, and they change colors throughout the day. It’s in the middle of nowhere, but sometimes that is exactly what you need. Until next time. My mom, Lorraine Bossé-Smith, is kind enough to help me share my great adven-

tional speaker, corporate trainer, executive recruiter, business consultant, coach, �itness expert, and author of nine pub-

best doggy mom ever! Read about Kuma at https://bit.ly/kuma0901 or @kumathedog on Facebook.

RIGOR, RELEVANCE & RELATIONSHIPS There’s no shade on the Horseshoe Bend Trail. (Photo by Lorraine Bossé-Smith)

Kuma and his mom enjoy the shade at the Cameron Schedule Trading Post. (Photoacourtesy tour!of Lorraine Bossé-Smith)

Schedule a tour!

Call 623-551-5083 for K-5 Campus or 623-466-8187 for 6-12 Campus Call 623-551-5083 for K-5 Campus or 623-466-8187 6-12 Campus Call 623-551-5083 for K-5Visit Campus or 623-466-8187 for 6-12 Campus orfor schedule online. caurusacademy.org/schedule-a-tour or schedule online. Visit caurusacademy.org/schedule-a-tour or schedule online. Visit caurusacademy.org/schedule-a-tour

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DVUSD offers report to the community BY DR. CURTIS FINCH Deer Valley Uni�ied School District Superintendent

very year, the Deer Valley Uni�ied School District (DVUSD) sends a report to all households within the DVUSD boundaries. This award-winning report is available for review on the DVUSD website at dvusd.org/specialreport, if you missed it. The importance of this document is monumental. The report visually demonstrates �iscal responsibility and successful stewardship of taxpayer dollars from the voter-approved 2019 bond. DVUSD continues to be rated as one of the top districts in the state of Arizona and enjoys a long history of tremendous community support. When a public school district continues to score well academically, offers myriad opportunities for students, manages a limited budget well and cares for their facilities, it positively affects the surrounding neighborhoods. A successful DVUSD in�luences outside investments in the quality of life for corresponding neighborhoods, protecting property values and reducing crime job attraction by providing a welcoming and safe environment for new jobs and de-

velopment of a competitive workforce. DVUSD continues to address student growth within our boundaries as the Taiwan Semi-Conductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) and its ancillary companies begin their development within the boundaries of DVUSD. Elementary No. 32 is under construction as we speak, with talks continuing with theYOUTH Arizona State Land Department, city of Phoenix and surrounding developers for future school sites taking into consideration the next decade of growth. The complete magnitude and pace of the TSMC development is unknown until the project begins to build momentum. The report highlights some of the district projects. DVUSD used bond dollars to improve water conservation by turfing some of the athletic �ields and increase energy ef�iciency by updating aging school air-conditioning equipment. All 40 schools in DVUSD will eventually receive updates and ef�iciencies earmarked for our 33,000 students. Implementation of technological timelines in the 2019 bond were moved up because of the COVID-19 pandemic effects. DVUSD immediately implemented a one-to-one computer environment, featuring Canvas as the K-12 student management system. After a year of curriculum develop-

ment, we created our own DVUSD K-12 online academy, called Aspire, a quality program full of 100% certi�ied teachers aligned with the DVUSD curriculum. School enrollment has jumped to over 1,000 students in its �irst year as the parents and students appreciate the ability to seamlessly transfer credits inside the DVUSD system to secure the coveted DVUSD diploma. Bond dollars helped remodel a space for Aspire to call “home.” DVUSD continues to offer a traditional school, Spanish and Mandarin immersion schools, International Baccalaureate programs, career and technical programs, Advanced Placement and dual-enrollment classes.

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