The Foothills Focus 112422 Zone 2

Rodeo tickets going on sale Dec. 1

BY CHRISTINA FUOCO-KARASINSKI Foothills Focus Executive Editor

The tradition continues. Cave Creek Ro deo Days returns to its arena Thurs day, March 23, to Sunday, March 26, and tickets go on sale Thursday, Dec. 1, at cavecreekrodeo.com.

The Professional Rodeo Cowboys Associa tion-sanctioned rodeo’s prize money goes to the year-end total for a chance to compete at the national finals in Las Vegas, said board

treasurer Levi Schofield. The event is gov erned by the board of directors.

“It’s just such a great opportunity to show case the local talent we have for bull riding,” Schofield said.

“It’s also a great opportunity to bring out the bull riding fans. It has become a mar quee event across the nation. They have it at Desert Diamond Arena and Madison Square Garden now. This is an opportunity to take advantage and show everybody here what we have in Cave Creek.”

He chalked up rodeo’s popularity to “re ally, really good marketing” and fans’ pen chant for daredevil-type action.

“Bull riding definitely does that,” he add ed. “It’s also about as wholesome as it gets. The whole family can watch. As far as ath letes go, the rodeo cowboys are a step above the golfers in how well they treat their fans and how they behave around crowds and embrace people.

Stagecoach Village throws first Western Holidays

BY SUMMER AGUIRRE Foothills Focus Staff Writer

Cave Creek is the home of its own holiday celebration — Western Holidays — in ear ly December.

Sponsored by Sanderson Ford and Sanderson Lincoln, the festival will take over Stagecoach Village various times from Friday, Dec. 9 to Sun day, Dec. 11. Admission is free with a toy or food donation to Operation Santa Claus.

The Stagecoach Village Board of Directors tapped property and events manager Patty Poll now to organize a holiday celebration, as the town of Cave Creek did not have one. The result is a festive community get-together featuring a

Stagecoach VIllage is hosting its first Annual Western Holidays, the Cave Creek community’s first holiday event, from Dec. 9 to 11. (Stagecoach Village Submitted)

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wide array of activities, cuisine and shopping opportunities to kick off the holiday season.

“It’s going to be a very family-oriented holiday event. It has attractions for all ages, and I think it will be something fun for just everyone,” Pollnow said.

“Cave Creek is just really known for com munity and family, so that is what we want ed to put together at this event at Stagecoach Village — just focusing on the community and families.”

The highlight of Western Holidays is the Yuletide Artisan Market, which will feature local artists offering handcrafted goods for gift-giving.

Around 25 artisans are slated to host vendors across all three days of the event. Živel Natural Creations, Grandma Chickens Homemade Country Jam and Calico Whiskers are a few vendors guests will be able to shop.

A variety of restaurants from Stagecoach Village and around the community will also be present to provide festival food for market-goers.

“We have our restaurants that I like to focus on, which includes Ofrenda, Brugo’s Pizza Co. & Bistro, the Village Coffee & Crepery and Mountain View Pub,” Pollnow said.

Other local participating establishments include It’s A Divine Bakery, Mike’s Chicago Dogs, The City Creamery, Papa Murphy’s and Phat Turtle BBQ.

A beer and wine garden will be available to pair beverages with food.

Friday

Alongside the vendor alley, the first day of

the holiday celebration will welcome Santa Claus and Mrs. Claus on a Daisy Mountain fire truck at 5:30 p.m.

Following their arrival, there will be a tree lighting ceremony at 6 p.m. with Cave Creek Mayor Bob Morris and holiday carolers in at tendance to kick off the holiday season.

Saturday

The second day of Western Holidays will introduce activities for both adults and chil dren.

From 1 to 3 p.m., a kids’ corner will be open for young market-goers to enjoy blow ing bubbles, face painting, glitter tattoos, or nament making and jumping in bouncies.

“We have a group of mini horses coming in on Saturday afternoon, and I think ev erybody will enjoy seeing them and being around them,” Pollnow said.

Santa and Mrs. Claus will make anoth er appearance for photos and storytelling. There will be a giveaway for 450 books pro vided by Usborne Books.

Stagecoach Village’s Cowbells Western Interiors will also host its first Cowbells Cra zy Christmas Hat Contest from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. It will be held at the shop in suite 131. Winners will be announced at 7 p.m. the same day. Cash prizes of $100, $50 and $25

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“I feel like you rarely see in today’s major sports. They reach out to the less fortunate and children with disabilities. If you dig into the rodeo side, they do that to an extensive degree. They’re real ly trying to help kids with special needs. It’s a great opportunity and a great thing they do.”

Cave Creek Rodeo Days has added a new event “All Bulls, All Night” at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, March 23.

“This is the first time we’ve done it —

All Bulls, All Night,” Schofield said. “It’s just bull riding in the same facility with the same great atmosphere, as Cave Creek’s been known for for the last 40 years.”

Schofield knows best. He’s the only board member who was a PRCA mem ber.

“That was long before I was a board member,” he said.

It’s just something I truly love. The other thing I love is how much we support the community. We donate a large sum of money to nonprofits throughout the community each year.”

Cave Creek Rodeo Days

WHEN: Thursday, March 23, to Sunday, March 26

WHERE: Cave Creek Memorial Arena, 37201 N. 28th Street, Cave Creek COST: Various pricing

INFO: cavecreekrodeo.com

my daughters to learn.

“It’s something I’ve been doing since I was a little kid. I have 15- and 6-year-old daughters. I’m standing in the middle of the arena

helping

The festive gathering will feature a number of local vendors offering holiday shopping opportunities, alongside an array of activities, cuisine and entertainment for residents of all ages. (Stagecoach Village Submitted)

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The Travel ID will be required in 2023 at TSA

BY FOOTHILLS FOCUS STAFF

Less than six months before the federal deadline for domestic airline travelers to have a feder ally compliant form of ID, the Arizona Department of Transportation Motor Vehicle Division is urging people to consider getting the Arizona Travel ID. Beginning May 3, travelers will need a federally compliant credential — like the Arizona Travel ID — to get past TSA checkpoints at airports for domestic flights. For most people, the main reason to get the Arizona Travel ID is because it will make travel easier. Without the Arizona Travel ID or oth er form of federally compliant identi fication such as a valid U.S. passport, fliers risk missing an airline flight be cause the standard driver license will not be accepted at TSA checkpoints. This credential is distinguished by a star in the upper right corner and

is available to Arizona residents as a driver license or identification card.

Historically, the months of Novem ber and December see less traffic in

our MVD offices and that makes right now a great time to go to an MVD of fice and upgrade your driver license

STAGECOACH from page 4

will be awarded to first, second and third place, respectively.

At 5:30 p.m., the evening sky will be bright with the glow of two hot-air balloons. The balloon glow times are dependent on weath er conditions.

The Stagecoach Village gazebo will also be decorated with bright lights for its live enter tainment. The Cactus Shadows High School student band and choir will perform, as well as local band The Crown Kings jamming out from 5 to 9 p.m.

In true Western fashion, the Old West re enactment group Salt River Regulators can be found meandering the grounds and re enacting a gunfight on both Saturday and Sunday.

Sunday

To begin the final day of Western Holidays, there will be a highlight chili cook-off where individuals or teams can show off their cook ing skills and favorite chili recipes.

Participants should cook two to three gal lons of chili off-site and bring their creations to the event in a crock pot or other heat-re

to the Arizona Travel ID.

Travelers can walk-in to an office for this service, but we suggest sched uling an appointment. That can be done online at azmvdnow.gov. Even those who haven’t activated their AZ MVD NOW account can still schedule a Travel ID appointment.

Because the Arizona Travel ID is compliant with the federal standards, you will need to provide extra docu mentation. This includes:

Proof of identity: a birth certificate or U.S. passport

Social Security Number: just the number, not the card

Two documents proving Arizona resi dency: rental or bank statements, cred it card or cellphone bills in your name with your current Arizona address, etc.

More information and a full list of qualifying documents are available at azdot.gov/TravelID

taining container. Power will be provided.

It is required for participants to bring their own table, tasting cups and supplies. There is no cap on entries.

Set-up begins at 10 a.m., with the tasting beginning at 11 a.m. Voting will be conduct ed as a People›s Choice. Winners will be announced by 2 p.m., with prizes for first through fourth place.

The entry fee is $10. For questions, contact Sue Marshall at 602-570-4148 or sue.creek ercreations@gmail.com.

For entertainment on the event’s last day, there will be a classical music perfor mance by the Jubilate Conservatory of Mu sic at 1 p.m.

Western Holidays

WHEN: 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 9; 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 10; 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 11

WHERE: Stagecoach Village, 7100 E. Cave Creek Road, Cave Creek

COST: Free admission with a toy or food donation to Operation Santa Claus

INFO: 480-876-6108, stagecoachvillagecc.com

TSA won’t accept traditional driver licenses starting May 3. (Submitted photo)

Blood donors receive symphony tickets

BY FOOTHILLS FOCUS STAFF

Vitalant donors are “Hearing the Sweet Sound of Saving Lives” when they give blood through Nov. 30 at any donor center or blood drive across the Valley, com pliments of The Phoenix Symphony.

In appreciation for saving lives around Thanksgiving, all blood do nors will receive a voucher for one ticket to a Phoenix Symphony per formance. To make a blood dona tion appointment, call 877-25-VITAL (877-258-4825) or visit vitalant.org and enter your city or ZIP code.

The Phoenix Symphony’s part nership with Vitalant was inspired when their late maestro, Hermann Michael, was diagnosed with aplas tic anemia, a disease that affected his body’s ability to produce blood cells.

Doctors treated him with chemo therapy and blood transfusions ev

ery few days. Michael was grateful that blood was there for him when he needed it and shared his story with the public to inspire increased donations.

Since the Thanksgiving partner ship was established with The Phoe

nix Symphony in 2002, the annual campaign has grown to become one of Vitalant’s most popular and has inspired more than 86,500 people to donate blood.

“As we celebrate our health and well-being with family, it is import

ant to remember that patients are relying on a plentiful blood supply so that they can celebrate another holiday with their families as well,” said Sid Lewis, vice president of Vi talant’s Southwest Division.

• 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 20, St. Rose Catholic Community, Blood mobile at Building A, 2825 W. Rose Canyon Circle, Anthem

• 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 26, American Legion Post 107, Blood mobile, 20001 N. Cave Creek Road

• 7 a.m. to noon Tuesday, Nov. 29, HonorHealth-Sonoran Crossing, Ambulatory Multipurpose Room, 33400 N. 32nd Avenue

• 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 30, Focal Point Rejuvenation Center, Bloodmobile, 7025 E. Mayo Boule vard

• Noon to 4 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 30, Moon Valley Country Club, Ball room, 151 W. Moon Valley Drive

Old and new holiday traditions

BY JUDY BLUHM Foothills Focus Columnist

Football. Turkey. Family. Oh my, did I mention football? The first professional Thanksgiving Day football game was played in 1920. In 1939, Thanksgiving was moved to the third Thursday in November, because President Roosevelt wanted to add more Christmas shopping days to the holiday season. This really upset foot ball coaches because it was “disrupting the game schedule.” Football prevailed and Thanksgiving was moved back to

the fourth Thursday.

I do recall as a child my mother, aunts and grandmother working hard in the kitchen while the men stayed in the living room watching football. Every now and then, an uncle might wander haplessly into the kitchen and was met with shouts of, “Get out of here, we’ll let you know when dinner is ready.”

My grandmother liked to point out to the men huddled in the living room that all the women in the kitchen had sharp knives and wouldn’t put up with any shenanigans. I think she was kid ding, yet Thanksgiving cooking was

serious business back in the day. And women ruled the kitchen!

Times have changed. We welcome men into the kitchen. Cook the dinner! Now, our homes have great rooms with massive televisions, connected to our spacious kitchens outfitted with dou ble ovens, six-burner stoves, toaster ovens and Instapots. Everyone can be everywhere at the same time and not miss any action. Roast a turkey, watch a touchdown, grab a drink and the mir acle of modern appliances means that all of the food can stay hot while serv ing.

cook about 46 million turkeys during the holidays. And 68%

Americans

Questions surround Lake’s election loss

BY J.D. HAYWORTH Foothills Focus Columnist

Here in Arizona, conservatives find themselves at wit’s end.

As Republicans watched the 2022 Election degenerate into “2020, 2.0,” they developed enough doubt, dis belief and outright cynicism to fill a met aphorical Grand Canyon.

Joel Barry, managing editor of The Babylon Bee, may call Ohio home, but in temporarily abandoning satire to get se rious, he earned the status of “Honorary Arizonan” by succinctly describing the current state of affairs in the 48th state.

“It’s not Republican messaging. It’s not low-quality candidates. It’s not Trump. It’s not abortion. It’s mass mail-in/drop box voting. It’s as simple as that.”

Previous editions of this column have warned of the ways in which early mailin voting could easily be changed from an instrument of convenience into a tool of connivance.

In fact, a similar warning was issued a decade ago from a collaboration of interesting sources. “News 21” was a program funded by the Carnegie Corpo ration of New York and the Knight Foun dation.

The program was headquartered at ASU’s Walter Cronkite School of Jour nalism and Mass Communication, and it also included collaboration with NBC News, through the network’s investiga tive blog, “Open Channel.”

The headline from a Sept. 25, 2012, ar ticle tells you all you need to know: “The real vote-fraud opportunity has arrived: casting your ballot by mail.” nbcnews. com/news/investigations/real-votefraud-opportunity-has-arrived-castingyour-ballot-mail-flna1b6088606

It has not disappeared down a “mem ory hole” yet…though that could change.

What did change was the way in which the media reacted to vote-by-mail concerns about fraud when they were voiced again in the wake of COVID.

Simply stated, the press was not im pressed.

The 2022 campaign brought forth a former journalist, troubled by the dis missive coverage of concerns raised during the 2020 vote count in Arizona and the Orwellian newspeak that en shrined Democrat talking points as es tablished facts.

Kari Lake spent more than two de cades at the anchor desk on Channel 10, then walked away into the Republican race for governor.

Not only did she win the GOP pri mary in dramatic come-from-behind fashion, she also challenged her former colleagues in journalism to embrace ob jectivity in campaign coverage.

When they continued to dance to the Democrat tune, Lake held press con ferences during which she would offer on-the-spot refresher courses, and im mediate critiques to a largely hostile and partisan press corps.

Those performances established Lake as a “rising star” in the Republican Par ty, and that star continued to rise, as did her pre-election poll numbers, when Democrat nominee Katie Hobbs refused to debate her.

Lake had called for Hobbs to recuse herself from any involvement in over

Arizona knew Lake’s BS when they heard it

BY DAVID LEIBOWITZ Foothills Focus Columnist

You work close up to elections for 30 years, you have the chance to learn some things about candi dates and campaigns. The most import ant one is this: Many people vote with their gut, not their head.

In the end, that’s what did in one of the most arrogant candidates ever to grace an Arizona ballot, Republican governor hopeful Kari Lake.

Before her midlife conversion to poli tics, Lake spent two decades as a news anchor, a job whose main qualification is the ability to read aloud text prepared at a low high school level. This translat ed into high name identification, which Lake translated as ardor for her as a hu man being.

On the campaign trail, she spoke about “being in your living room” for decades, about how we knew her so well, about how much she loved Arizona and how much Arizona loved her back.

All I can say is, it looks like she got that half right.

In the end, it was Lake’s seething ha tred that sunk her campaign – moments like the Thursday before the election when, standing before a roomful of Re publicans, she again attacked the late Sen. John McCain, a politician whose skill

as an Arizona campaigner she could nev er touch.

“We don’t have any McCain Republi cans in here, do we?” Lake demanded. “All right, get the hell out,” she ordered. Then she added: “Boy, Arizona has deliv ered some losers, haven’t they?”

I guess we have, Kari. Except John Mc Cain never lost an election in this state, and you’re zero for a lifetime.

In the days before the election, a con servative consultant told me Lake could be the perfect vice president for Donald Trump’s 2024 presidential run – Robin to Trump’s red, white and blue Batman.

In retrospect, I get the enthusiasm: Lake is smooth with a microphone in her hand, polished delivering Trump’s talking points.

Put her in a crowd of 100 people and 35 will gobble up her act. Meanwhile, an other 35 will revile her.

The last 30 – the ones caught in be tween – will end up trusting our guts. And most of them will end up saying, “Boy, that Lake is really nasty.”

If the candidate herself read this col umn, she’d surely insult me right back, the way she told reporters, “I’m going to be your worst fricking nightmare for eight years,” or her closing night spiel to voters, where she crowed at the me dia, “the bastards back there don’t want us talking about stolen elections. Well it

doesn’t matter what they attempt tomor row because we’re going to show up like our lives depend on it.”

Republicans did show up by the hun dreds of thousands statewide in this election.

The GOP took six of nine Congressio nal races, and the party built majorities in both houses of the state Legislature.

But atop the ticket, the Trump-en dorsed statewide candidates mostly got beaten – Lake, Blake Masters, and total wingnut Mark Finchem.

As I write this, the attorney general race remains too close to call with only about 700 votes separating Abe Hama deh and the Dem, Kris Mayes.

The shining star for the GOP this cycle in Arizona? It was incumbent Treasurer Kimberly Yee, who easily won a second term by notching the most votes of any Arizona candidate in a competitive race.

Notably, Yee was not endorsed by Trump. She campaigned without an in cessant focus on the 2020 election and

Trump’s grievances. And Yee accepted her victory with grace, thanking Demo crat Martín Quezada “for running a pro fessional campaign.”

Lake, locked in her “war room,” where the toadies were reportedly beginning to flee, responded by tweet to news reports of her loss. “Arizonans,” she wrote, “know BS when they see it.”

Yes, we did, Kari. Yes, we certainly did.

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seeing the election, citing legitimate conflict of interest concerns that should supersede Katie’s role as secretary of state. Hobbs also said no to that request.

So, “with the fox guarding the hen house,” most Republicans eschewed mail-in voting, opting instead to cast their votes in the traditional way on Election Day. They reasoned that their personal presence at the polls might help prevent a repeat of the curious 2020 results.

Then a not-so-funny-thing happened. Thirty percent of the tabulation ma chines malfunctioned in the county with 60% of the total Arizona electorate.

Whether through incompetence or in

tentional neglect, the Maricopa County mess resulted in voter suppression of Republicans.

The refusal of a state judge to grant an emergency GOP request to extend vot ing hours to 10 p.m. helped seal the deal.

Next came six days of laborious vote counting “Kabuki Theatre,” culminating with the announcement of a narrow Hobbs victory.

Lake’s reaction was succinct: “Arizo nans know BS when they see it.”

Look for a legal challenge ahead.

Meantime, The Babylon Bee has re turned to satire. One of its recent head lines reads, “Katie Hobbs projected to win Arizona governor’s race with 108% of precincts reporting.”

There is truth in humor.

How to get a letter published

E-mail: christina@timespublications.com

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

HAYWORTH

of Americans really don’t care for Thanksgiving side dishes like green bean casserole, and most people are not crazy about turkey. An Instacart survey found that although folks would rather have something else for Thanks giving dinner, they eat “the usual” for the sake of tradition.

Did you know that Butterball has

had a Turkey Talk-Line open for over 40 years? The “turkey experts” answer about 100,000 questions each year. Do not thaw your turkey out in the bath tub! Do not place an outdoor turkey fryer next to your house! Never use water to put out a grease fire! Some fire departments have coined the slo gan, “Don’t turn your Butterball into a fireball!” Yikes, who knew that cooking a turkey could be so dangerous?

Evidently, a Thanksgiving “tradi tion” is that people get up on ladders. Be careful, dear readers, as each year there are about 165,000 emergency room ladder injuries that occur around the holidays. I just got up on a ladder and I am happy I lived to write about it. Breaking all of my own rules, I was home alone when I marched up three steps and grabbed a platter off of a shelf. Ladder accidents and holidays

go together like eggnog and rum. It’s all good, until it is not. So don’t drink and climb.

‘Tis the season to get the ladder, trim the tree, bake, cook, eat and watch football. Hang the holly with care. Need a ladder? Beware. Sip spiked eggnog if you dare. The holidays are here.

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

Think vaping is a safe alternative to cigarettes… think again

BY DR. SAGUN SHRESTHA Cancer Treatment Centers of America, Phoenix

In the past decade, vaping has reached epidemic levels and has become prevalent among middle and high schoolers across the country. In fact, a recent Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) survey found approximately 2.55 million U.S. middle and high school students are currently using e-cigarettes. This trend is alarming, especially when consider ing e-cigarettes can negatively impact adolescents’ developing bodies and brains, leading to possible nicotine ad diction, or worse, lung-related diseas es and other maladies.

Unfortunately, vaping is often viewed as a healthier alternative to cigarettes. As e-cigarettes do not contain high lev els of tobacco, but do include significant amounts of nicotine, many individuals use vaping as a transitional method to kick smoking habits. The myriad of enticing, flavored e-cigarette products further contribute to the popularity.

However, this misinformation that vaping is safe compared to ciga rettes is inaccurate and risky. Vaping is not safe for anyone. The combination of hazardous chemicals and the inha lation of potentially carcinogenic com pounds pose risks for all who partake.

Though e-cigarettes are believed by some to be less harmful than regular cigarettes, the negative effects are un deniable. The aerosol inhaled when va ping contains a mixture of nicotine, formaldehyde and acrolein, among other ingredients. Acrolein, which is commonly used as a weed killer, can cause irreversible lung damage. Form aldehyde has been associated with cer tain types of cancer.

Yet vaping does not just affect us ers. The surgeon general concluded those exposed to secondhand emis sions, including nicotine, ultrafine particles; flavorings such as diace tyl, a chemical linked to serious lung disease; volatile organic compounds such as benzene, found in car ex haust; and heavy metals, such as nickel, tin and lead, are at increased

risk of developing lung cancer.

Two studies published in the Ameri can Heart Association’s peer-reviewed journal Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis and Vascular Biology indicate vap ing products and traditional tobacco cigarettes affect cardiovascular sys tems similarly.

The combination was discovered to have extreme, severe negative effects on heart health. Other concerns with use of these products include airway irritation, and a reduced capacity of large blood vessels to supply sufficient blood to the heart, lungs and other ma jor organs.

In addition, vaping impacts middle and high schoolers to a greater de gree. According to the aforementioned CDC survey, e-cigarettes have become the most commonly used tobacco prod ucts among middle and high schoolers.

Though 23.6 million people in the United States have a nicotine depen dence according to the 2020 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NS DUH), adolescents are most vulnerable to adverse effects. Nicotine impacts parts of the brain which control atten tion, learning, mood and impulses, and has been linked to an increased risk of addiction to other drugs.

According to the U.S. Food & Drug Administration, long-term use of to bacco products is almost always estab lished during adolescence when the developing brain is most likely to suc cumb to addiction.

While we are still understanding exactly how dangerous vaping is, an other surgeon general’s report under

scores the point, noting that, if current rates of use continue among youth, 5.6 million are projected to die from tobac co related diseases.

Bottom line: The vaping epidemic must be taken seriously. I am calling for dedicated prevention and interven tional resources to be directed at mid dle and high school students, or even earlier at elementary schools to stop students before they start. As clinical providers, we also play an essential role in having conversations with our youth about the proven health risks tied to vaping. The health of young Ar izonans matters, and we must unite to protect this precious asset.

Dr. Sagun Shrestha is the medical on cology lead for CTCA Phoenix’s Lung Cancer Center and has a passion for public health education.

Desert Foothills Leadership Academy accepting applications

BY FOOTHILLS FOCUS STAFF

Founded in 2018 through an ex clusive partnership between the Carefree Cave Creek Chamber of Commerce and The Holland Commu nity Center, the Desert Foothills Lead ership Academy is a preeminent com munity-based leadership academy in Arizona.

Its focus is to build a thriving, healthy and sustainable Sonoran Desert Foot hills. The academy works in partnership with local governments and businesses to educate leaders on the various com ponents of the community such as first responders, commerce, education, gov ernment and the arts.

Each year, applicants from a variety of sources from around the region apply for a challenging and interactive experi ence taught by current and former exec utives, experts in leadership and leaders in the community.

The two entities recently announced that the next Desert Foothills Leader ship Academy (DFLA) Class will com mence on Thursday, Jan. 12, 2023.

“After a very successful 2022 class of 17 participants, we are excited to wel come Class III,” said Jennifer Rosvall, executive director of The Holland Cen ter. “The feedback and reviews from our previous class supported our mission to educate, energize and engage emerging leaders with a goal of enriching commu nity life while responsibly sustaining our natural resources for generations to come.

“All of this is done through a focus on strengthening participants’ under standing of the past, current, and future potential of the Sonoran Desert Foot hills.”

Class III for the 2023 academy will take place over a 10-month period that will include both on-site and “class

The Desert Foothills Leadership Academy is ac cepting applications for its 2023 class. It will be gin Thursday, Jan. 12. (Desert Foothills Leadership Academy/Submitted)

room” training incorporating subject matter expert presentations, on-site tours, panel discussions and hands-on training. Areas that will be covered in clude health care, tourism, technology, sustainability, innovation, education, land usage/growth, social services, arts, local issues, transportation, Maricopa Association of Governments (MAG), leadership training/styles and public safety.

Participants of the 2022 class recently graduated in October, and the program saw rave reviews.

Desert Foothills Leadership Acad emy is looking forward to welcoming applicants for the next class, encourag ing those who are seeking connections, confidence and knowledge to become effective and inspired community lead ers to apply.

For additional information or to apply for DFLA Class III, visit its website at desertfoothillsleaders.org

A happy Thanksgiving is a healthy Thanksgiving

CHURCH COMMUNITY CONNECTION

Pastor Ed Delph Foothills Focus Columnist

This quote by Robert Lintner sums up Thanksgiving perfectly. “Thanksgiving was never meant to be shut up in a single day,” said John F. Kennedy. “We must find time to stop and thank the people who make a dif ference in our lives.”

I have a challenge this Thanksgiving hol iday season that may be hard on our emo tions. With an attitude of gratitude, let’s thank our families, co-workers, friends, spouses, employees and employers for something special they have done for us.

Even the famous sprinter, Usain Bolt, found a way to thank his doubters. He wrote: “I’d like to say thanks to all my fans, thanks for the support. And to all my doubters, I’d like to thank you very much because you have pushed me to run faster.” Not bad! Dub Nance points out another thing we can all be very thankful for. “There’s one thing for which you can be thankful – only you and God have all the facts about yourself.” Yes, and Amen!

The Oxford Dictionary defines thank fulness as “the feeling of being happy or grateful because of something.” Here’s a story reported in the Los Angeles Times on Nov. 20, 1988, that illustrates our need for

Thanksgiving and thankful ness more than just one day a year.

A screaming woman trapped in a car dangling from a freeway transition road in east Los Angeles was rescued Saturday morning. The 19-year-old woman apparently fell asleep be hind the wheel at about 12:15 a.m. The car plunged through a guardrail and dangled by its left rear wheel.

A half dozen passing motorists stopped, grabbed some ropes from one of their vehi cles, tied the ropes to the back of the wom an’s car, and hung on until the fire units ar rived. The fire units extended a ladder from below to help stabilize the car while fire fighters tied the vehicle to tow trucks with cables and chains. It was quite an ordeal.

“Every time we would move the car,” said one of the rescuers. “She would yell and scream. She was in terrible pain.”

It took almost two and a half hours for the passers-by, police officers, tow truck drivers and firefighters — about 25 people — to secure the car and put the woman to safety. Throughout the episode, the woman contin ued talking, repeating a phrase repeated ly to the rescuers. It was kind of funny, the

fire captain recalled later. “She kept saying, ‘I’ll do it myself.’” Fortunately for the young woman, the rescuers didn’t listen to her. She sur vived the crash.

I don’t know about you, but if that had happened to me, I think I would have pro fusely thanked all involved in the rescue for taking the time and effort to rescue me from my precarious predicament. Perhaps she was in shock, but once she came out of shock and had her wits back, she might have gone back to thank the police and fire de partment.

Did you note what the girl kept saying, “I’ll do it myself”? Consider this Thanksgiving thought. Partnerships may feel least com fortable when it is most necessary. That was certainly the case on the first Thanksgiving. Both the Native Americans and the Pilgrims were in the same predicament. They worked together to survive a very rough winter. And they also celebrated the first Thanksgiving together after the crisis.

Richard Douglas enlightens about the idea of Thanksgiving and thankfulness. “The modern American seldom pauses to give thanks for life’s simple blessings. One reason is that we are used to having so much. We as

sume that we will have all the good things in life. Another reason is that it hurts our pride to be grateful. We do not want to admit that God is the Provider of all good things. We are His stewards. Being thankful requires hu mility and faith in God. When we have these things, we can be grateful.”

The lack of thankfulness in our lives has devastating consequences. It affects our at titude negatively when we are closed to the idea of thankfulness. We end up becoming judgmental and prideful. We tend to become selfish and self-sufficient. We end up under achieving, alone in our self-created unthank ful world, hanging by one wheel on a bridge saying, “I’ll do it myself.” Brene Brown says, “What separates privilege from entitlement is gratitude.”

Anyone who is a resident of the entitlement world should change addresses. Taking the time to thank God and others for everything we have is what Thanksgiving is all about. It’s giving thanks, not just taking thanks. Thank fulness gives you a different perspective on life, a healthy one that builds up a person, not tears them down. Thankfulness is an attitude of gratitude, elevating both the giver and the receiver in life-lifting ways.

A happy Thanksgiving is a healthy Thanks giving; a healthy Thanksgiving is a grateful Thanksgiving; a grateful Thanksgiving is a hopeful Thanksgiving.

Janey’s raising funds for museum, food bank

BY FOOTHILLS FOCUS STAFF

Jane’s Coffee Company will host a fund raiser to benefit the Cave Creek Muse um from 6:30 to 10:30 p.m. Wednes day, Nov. 23.

“This marks Janey’s second annual Turkey Palooza charity event — a 5050 fund-raiser split between Cave Creek

Museum and Foothills Food Bank,” said Evelyn Johnson, executive director for the museum.

“Janey’s will host an eight-artist musical event. Proceeds from the $10 cover charge go to the fundraiser. And 50% of Janey’s Thanksgiving morning coffee/tea sales do as well.”

The 52-year-old museum’s mission is

to preserve the artifacts of the prehisto ry, history, culture and legacy of the Cave Creek Mining District and the Cave Creek/ Carefree foothills area through education, research and interpretive exhibits.

The Cave Creek Museum at 6140 E. Sky line Drive in Cave Creek is open October to May. The museum can be reached at 480488-2764 or cavecreekmuseum.org.

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

PXG,

BY FOOTHILLS FOCUS STAFF

Renee Parsons and global pop super star and fellow golf aficionado, Nick Jonas, recently threw an intimate soiree, celebrating the launch of their PXG x Nick Jonas Capsule Collection. The VIP dinner was hosted at SONA, Priyanka Chopra’s New York City restaurant, where celebrities, athletes, fashion tastemakers and friends gathered to toast PXG’s first collaboration, as well as Jonas’ entry into the golf arena. PXG has a store at 2480 W. Happy Valley Road, Suite 1215, Phoe nix.

“Nick is part of the PXG Troops, and this collaboration is a celebration of our shared passions, creativity, and values,” said Renee Parsons, president and execu tive creative director of PXG Apparel.

“We partnered on this project to design something that we both felt was elevated

Jones celebrate collaboration

John Molner and his wife, renowned journalist Katie Couric, PXG’s Renee Parsons and pop singer Nick Jonas were among those celebrating the enter tainer’s collaboration with PXG. (Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images)

Harrison Vail, Vogue’s Eliseé Browchuk and Ian Malone attend the PXG x NJ Capsule Collection launch dinner.

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Selfies were frequent at the PXG-Nick Jonas dinner.

Renee Parsons was honored to throw the party.

Vogue’s Naomi Elizée stopped by.

Eric Rutherford and Colton Underwood helped Nick Jonas celebrate.

features 15 apparel styles and nine accessories that will be available at PXG.com and in PXG stores nationally. Invitees were welcomed for a cocktail hour by Parsons and Jonas, followed by dining on a selection of SONA’s refined Indian fare, including galouti kebabs, malvani prawn curry, tamarind barbecue lamb chops and kofta korma. Guests in cluded Zac Posen, Katie Couric, Colton Underwood, Bill Cowher, John Varvatos, Michael Park, Eric Rutherford, Alexander Roth, Patrick Janelle, Ken Downing, Ezra Williams, Landon Collins, J. Logan Horne, Andrew Gelwicks, Ian Malone, Elisee Browchuk, Charly Sturm, Eric McNeal, Harrison Vail, Jasmine Contomichalos, Landon Phillips, Naomi Elizee, MaryKate Boylan, Ray Mate, Blair Wheeler and Ian Rapoport.

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on

Zac Posen, Joyce Varvatos, John Varvatos and Ken Downing strike a pose for a photo during the dinner.

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Craft N Chat

MONDAYS

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

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

Yoga Fusion

THURSDAYS

Join Elizabeth Boisson in an intermediate-level course of Yoga Fusion at the Desert Foothills Library from noon to 1 p.m. Thursdays. The class will start with breathing exercises and then go through dif ferent types of stretching movements and then into

Vinyasa or flow yoga.

Desert Foothills Library, 38443 N. Schoolhouse 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 p.m. 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 Glade Wilson, Bill Dutcher, Walt Richardson, Scandalous Hands and Ed Skibbe.

Janey’s Coffeehouse, 6602 E. Cave Creek Road, Cave Creek, 7:30 to 9:30 p.m., free admission, cavecreeka zmusic.com

Duffy King Trio at Local Jonny’s Tavern & Cafe

NOV. 25

Listen to the musical stylings of Cave Creek’s Duffy King Trio as they play the day away at Local Jonny’s. Local Jonny’s Tavern & Cafe, 6033 E. Cave Creek Road, 6 to 9 p.m., free admission, 480-488-7473, localjonnys.com

Sauces and More! Chef Ador’s Grandma’s Salsa Recipe and Indigo Goddess Salsa

NOV. 26

Learn the secret strategies and techniques to make Chef Andor’s family salsa recipe, as well as all the important steps to make any good salsa or sauce.

Desert Foothills Library, 38443 N. School House Road, Cave Creek, noon., $30, 480-488-2286, dfla.org

Dynamite Draw at Mountain View Pub

NOV. 27

Listen to the premiere Phoenix country cover band, Dynamite Draw at the Mountain View Pub. Together, Dynamite Draw seeks to do away with country cliches and play songs more in the vein of how they were intended to be played. Join a local band and listen in with good friends and good company.

The Mountain View Pub, 7033 E. Cave Creek Road, Cave Creek, 2 p.m., free admission, 480-575-7782, mountainviewpub.pub

Gentle Chair Yoga

NOV. 28

Even when sitting, a person can do a lot towards improving their strength, flexibility, and well-be ing. This gentle and meditative class seeks to help

people improve from the comfort of their own seat, strengthening their heart, bones, balance and mental sharpness.

Desert Foothills Library, 38443 N. School House Road, Cave Creek, 11 a.m. 626-795-4331, dfla.org

Astrology for Teens

NOV. 29

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

Desert Foothills Library, 38443 N. School House Road, Cave Creek, 4:30 p.m., free admission, 480488-2286, dfla.org

Free Couples Dance Lessons

DEC. 1

Learn how to line dance to country music with significant others, friends or alone. Anyone from beginners to seasoned dancers are encouraged to swing by and learn the ropes.

Buffalo Chip Saloon and Steakhouse, 6823 E. Cave Creek Road, Cave Creek, 7 to 10 p.m., free, buffalo chipsaloon.com

Mrs. Claus Comes to Town

DEC. 2

Children aged 1 to 7 are encouraged to come meet the famous 500-year-old wife of St. Nick. She brings with her all kinds of special things, like stories, singalongs, magic, and all kinds of ways to get you and the kids into the holiday spirit.

Desert Foothills Library, 38443 N. Schoolhouse Road, Cave Creek, 10:30 to 11:30 a.m., 480-488-2286, dfla. org

Yappy Hour to Benefit Puppy Luv Animal Rescue

DEC. 2

With cocktails for humans and tasty treats for pups, Yappy Hour seeks to bring something for dogs and humans to enjoy. Bring a dog or cat along to enjoy a variety of treats such as canned chicken, tuna, sardines, salmon and canned pumpkin.

Desert Foothills Library, 38443 N. School House Road, Cave Creek, 3:30 to 4:30 p.m., 480-488-2286, dfla.org

TheFoothillsFocus.com

@TheFoothills.Focus /TheFoothillsFocus

Anthem charter school provides traditional, personable environment

BY SUMMER AGUIRRE Foothills Focus Staff Writer

For Anthem families searching for a personable educational experi ence with traditional opportunities, Caurus Academy charter school may be a good option.

Founded in 2004, the Anthem institu tion consists of an elementary and sec ondary school campus. The latter teaches students in sixth to 12th grades, and is a smaller-scale traditional school offering a more intimate learning environment for its student body.

“We like to think of ourselves as a school that offers a lot of things, like student council, National Honor Society, National Junior Honor Society, sports that participate in the CAA and clubs af ter school, but in a smaller community where every student is known and gets a personal experience,” said Dino Puccetti, principal of the secondary school.

Caurus Academy is a part of Edkey, a K-12 charter school chain that has been a leading provider of online education in Arizona since 1999. With transparency, integrity, communication and kindness at its core, Edkey has 19 schools and pro grams throughout the state that cater to a variety of student needs.

Out of Caurus Academy’s 600 students in total, 140 attend the secondary school. Puccetti is expecting to see the mid dle and high school student body grow through the second semester into next year.

Its classes range from 15 to 20 stu dents, creating an environment that helps the children feel encouraged and eager to attend school every day.

“When you’re not student No. 35, it’s really easy to get noticed if you’re not there,” Puccetti said. “What the teachers do is they create a welcoming environ ment where they let the students know

they are missed if they don’t show up.”

Every teacher participates in af ter-school tutoring each week to support the students and their academics.

“We do want to challenge them aca demically, but we also won’t challenge them without putting support in place,” said Puccetti. “So parents can rely on get ting extra help after school.”

Caurus’ secondary school emphasizes communication, something that Puccetti said he believes is often lost in larger in stitutions.

He said they pride themselves in the classroom for the strong communication that teachers maintain with parents via email, as well as practicing positive con tacts outside the classroom. This includes weekly letters to families and monthly meetings with the parent advisory.

“One of the things that we don’t do is shut out parents. We want them informed so they can make the best decisions for their kids,” Puccetti said. “As a family, we want them to decide that they want to be here, and we’re here to support them.”

The secondary school’s educators and staff, while being fairly new to the insti tution, are “really dedicated to the stu dents,” according to Puccetti.

“They show up every day and they have a lot of energy, and I think it’s contagious around here,” he said.

Puccetti, who began his role at Caurus academy in June 2022, has been working in education for a total of 26 years.

So far, he has spent six years in admin istration, having previously served as an assistant principal in the Roosevelt Ele mentary School District and a principal at another charter school.

His two decades of teaching experience includes positions as an assistant athletic director at a charter high school, varsity basketball coach and PE teacher.

“I like to think when I’m working with my staff, from the prism of if I was the

teacher, how would I be receiving this?” Puccetti said. “So I think I come with that mindset, which hopefully helps support the teachers even more than maybe someone who hasn’t spent that kind of time in the classroom that I have.”

Caurus Academy

Elementary School

41900 N. 42nd Avenue, Anthem 623-551-5083

Secondary School

44111 N. 43rd Avenue, Phoenix 623-466-8187

info@caurusacademy.org caurusacademy.org

Dino Puccetti is the principal of Caurus Acad emy’s secondary school in Anthem. (Cassandra Tomei/Submitted)