Foothills Focus 120722 Zone 1

I-17 closures continue for rock blasting

BY FOOTHILLS FOCUS STAFF

The I-17 will continue to be closed the weeknight overnight hours for con trolled rock blasting over the next eight months. The blasting is necessary work as part of the I-17 Improvement Proj ect from Anthem Way to Sunset Point.

The full closures will take place two to three times a week Mondays through Thurs days.

Generally, blasting will occur between 10 p.m. and 11 p.m. However, the window of

time for this work to occur is between 10 p.m. and 4 a.m. The start and end times of each closure could vary based on blast-site, weather and traffic conditions, or other un foreseen circumstances.

On weeknights when controlled rock blasting is scheduled, crews will begin narrowing I-17 to a single lane in both di rections at 7 p.m. and then fully close the highway after 10 p.m. Drivers should expect delays while crews set up traffic control, and use caution around construction personnel and equipment.

Motorists planning to travel on I-17 during the overnight hours should leave early or delay travel to avoid the closures entirely. Motorists who travel between 10 p.m. and 4 a.m. should expect to be impact ed by the closures on nights when blasting occurs. Safety is the No. 1 priority when con ducting controlled rock blasting operations. The roadway cannot be reopened until the operation is completed successfully and all debris is cleared from the roadway.

Fight for education funding is an ongoing debate

BY SAMANTHA REA Foothills Focus Staff Writer

Five years ago, Arizona teachers went on strike for eight days with the RedforEd movement to protest ongoing funding cuts and low salaries. In 2022, the strike ended but the fight continues.

Arizona’s educators make 5.5% less than the state’s average wage across many occupations, comparing 20202021 average wage data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, according to Business. org. While other states such as Pennsyl vania, which ranks first, have made little adjustments to their teacher pay in the last 10 years, their educators make up to

28.5% above the state’s average salary. Business.org reported the average teach er salary in Arizona for 2020-2021 to be $52,157.

There is a continuing debate over teacher compensation and whether state education funds are helping teachers or being diverted to other budgetary prior ities. Meanwhile, inadequate salaries for educators are cause for concern for Beth Lewis, director of Save Our Schools Ari zona, a nonprofit teacher advocacy orga nization. She said the biggest fear is the impact it will have on teachers and the education system as a whole.

“It is no surprise that we have a mas sive lack of teachers who are willing to

work for this pay and, under these work ing conditions, these numbers don’t sur prise me whatsoever,” Lewis said.

Educators made their dissatisfaction known in 2018 with the RedforEd move ment. Educators in Arizona and other states went on strike for anywhere from five to 10 days, fighting for better sala ries and fewer budget cuts. Following the walkouts, Gov. Doug Ducey passed the “20x2020” plan — a plan to increase Ari zona’s teacher salary by 20% by the year 2020.

While Business.org ranked Arizona No. 50 — the worst state in the United

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Overhead message signs alerting driv ers to the upcoming closures will be dis played ahead of the closure areas. These signs will also advise drivers to reduce speeds and prepare for stopped traffic. Here’s how drivers can plan ahead:

• Get real-time traffic conditions at AZ511.gov or by calling 511 (except while driving). You can also download the AZ511 app. Updates about the start of the closures and the reopening of the highway once the blasting and clear ing operations are complete will be communicated in real time via AZ511 so drivers know what to expect. Field crews will be coordinating closely with ADOT’s Traffic Operations Center.

• Drivers can also consult AZ511 if they wish to take an alternate route.

• To see the dates when controlled rock blasting is scheduled, visit the Traffic Alerts page on the project website, im provingi17.com.

FUNDING

from page 1

States for teacher pay — as reporting teacher pay has declined by 9.59% from 2010-2021. Matt Beienburg, di rector of education at the Goldwater Institute, said Business.org’s num bers don’t quite match up with data from the state Auditor General, how ever. Data from the Auditor General shows the average teacher salary was $56,349 in the 2021 fiscal year, June 2020 to June 2021.

Additionally, Beienburg disputes Business.org’s report and said there has actually been an increase in teach er salaries from 2010-2021, though a small one.

• Sign up for emailed traffic alerts via the pop-up box on the home page of im provingi17.com so you can plan your trips accordingly.

• Work crews will provide project in formation on work zone signage and overhead message boards along the I-17 project corridor. Once complete, the I-17 Improve ment Project will help alleviate con gestion and improve safety and traffic flow north of the metro Phoenix region. The 23 miles of improvements include 15 miles of roadway widening from Anthem Way to Black Canyon City. One travel lane will be added in each di rection along this stretch. In addition, an 8-mile flex lane system will be con structed from Black Canyon City to Sun set Point. Flex lanes are a new feature for Arizona’s highway system and are proven technology to help reduce con gestion on I-17 during peak travel times and allow for traffic movement during emergency situations.

The I-17 flex lanes will operate as a separate, two-lane roadway carrying one direction of traffic at a time depend ing on the greatest need along the steep, winding 8 miles between Black Canyon City and Sunset Point. For example, the flex lanes will be able to carry heavy northbound traffic on a Friday or heavy southbound traffic on a Sunday. Simi larly, ADOT will be able to open the flex lanes to accommodate traffic any time if a crash or other incident causes long delays.

The two flex lanes will be next to, but physically separated from southbound I-17 using concrete barriers. Access to the flex-lane entrances will be controlled by gates. Overhead message signs will alert drivers to the open direction of the flex lanes. The flex lanes will be opera tional seven days a week.

For more information about the I-17 Improvement Project, visit improvin gi17.com, call 1-877-476-1717 or email info@improvingi17.com.

creases, much of the money was ac tually being directed away from the pockets of the classroom teachers it was intended for.

“Before you get to a question about more or less, is what we’re spending even getting to the teachers?” Beien burg said. “That’s kind of the funda mental question.”

the Arizona Education Association, the state’s teachers’ union organi zation. She rejects the idea of funds being misused and said the idea is meant to conceive a public distrust for increased funding in public school systems.

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In Beienburg’s 2021 policy report, “The Truth About Teacher Pay in Ar izona: How Arizona School Districts Have Held Down Teacher Salaries, Blamed Lawmakers, and Continually Captured Public Sympathy,” he looks at the 20x2020 funds increase and what the distribution of that money looks like in the state’s school dis tricts.

Beienburg’s research indicates that while teachers were receiving pay in

Much of the teacher pay increases for Arizona’s education staff came from already existing funding dis tricts receive to offset inflation as well as pay increases. However, the funds from the 20x2020 plan were meant to provide a 20% increase on top of these already existing inflation funds. Even so, districts used less than half of the 20x2020 funds to ward pay increases, resulting in only an estimated $3,016 increase per teacher, instead of what was meant to be a $7,050 increase per teacher, according to the Goldwater Institute’s policy report.

So if school districts received fund ing intended to increase teachers’ salaries by 20%, where is the money being allocated within districts? Marisol Garcia is the president of

“The idea that districts are misus ing money is just an easy thing to say,” Garcia said. “It’s almost trying to find a reason to try to take away money.”

She said the funds aren’t being mis used, but that numbers can get con fusing, which may be the reason for the differing data reports. She said the terminology “classroom teachers” in funding discussions and reports of ten excludes other educators who fall behind the line of what is considered a “classroom teacher,” but maintain certifications and play essential roles in student lives.

“I would have students that are sig nificantly disabled…and so there’s a person there to help. They’re not con sidered classroom teachers,” Garcia said. “They’re paraprofessionals, who are highly qualified, really important

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people, but they’re not going to show up as a classroom teacher, right?”

While Tori Schroeder, president of Sunnyside Unified School District’s Education Association, said she thinks the money her district receives goes a long way, it still isn’t as much as some might think.

“There’s a really big disconnect… the assumption is that this amount of money is adequate, not understand ing what happens when you break that down,” Schroeder said.

She said that hundreds of certified ed ucators in her district are not labeled as “classroom teachers” and also received salary increases such as counselors, cafeteria staff and janitorial staff.

But even for districts said to be do ing well allocating funds back to all educators, the extra increases pro vided still aren’t enough for some to make ends meet. Lewis, Garcia and Schroeder all speak of their own ex periences witnessing colleagues leave the profession and struggle with mo

tivation to stay in their positions as educators because they can’t afford to live on their teacher salary.

Marisol Garcia with the AEA said the high turnover rate for teachers is a largely concerning stressor in al ready unstable schools and feels what is needed is less focus on teacher re cruitment and more focus on teach er retention. A focus on raising the teacher retention rate would be much easier to obtain with a better salary to offer, Garcia said.

“I’ve had tons of friends who came in and out two, three years in and left; three, five years and left, and they just couldn’t take it,” Garcia said. “When we start losing veteran educators — we’ve lost. If we don’t get them to stay, that instability is going to dis rupt even more.”

With low funding and salaries caus ing districts to lose educators, Schro eder also said she has noticed area districts and schools have become competitive, offering incentives like bonuses or higher wages.

“It’s very hard for districts, in gen

eral, to find especially math, science and special education positions just at all. Literally there’s no applicants for this position,” Schroeder said.

Lewis added that teaching is be coming a profession that many peo ple just can’t take on for economic reasons.

“I’ve been a teacher in Arizona for 12 years,” Lewis said. “I’ve seen it first hand and I have seen many, many teachers who are incredibly talented, amazing souls, who really serve kids

walk away because they not only ar en’t able to take care of their own families but also because they feel disrespected.”

“There are people who are running the math on, ‘Can I stay in this profes sion, can I do this thing and still make these bills?’” Schroeder said. “For some of them, it really is, ‘I can’t af ford to be in this profession.’”

With talk of more school funding in creases to come from Katie Hobbs, governor-elect, the debate goes on.

Brnovich issues holiday shopping tips

BY FOOTHILLS FOCUS STAFF

Arizona Attorney General Mark Brnovich is reminding Arizonans to watch out for possible scams while shopping this holiday season. “Scammers also see the holidays as a wonderful time of the year and you never want to be on their list,” Brnovich said.

“Make responsible purchases and maintain the joy of the season.” He offers the following tips:

Do your research

• Use a business/retailer that you know or trust.

• Beware of unsolicited texts or emails that appear to be from a legitimate busi ness but want you to click a link. Visit a website directly on your own and never from a link you have received.

• Always use trusted websites with reli able track records.

• Before making a purchase based on a social media ad or post, look into the company. Use a search engine to vis it the company’s actual website or to search the company’s name with “scam,” “complaint,” or “review” and see if the company has a track record of keeping its promises.

Pay a smart way

• Use a credit card for purchases, if pos

sible. Credit cards generally offer the most protection against fraud, includ ing the right to dispute charges if there are problems with your purchase.

• Money wire transfers, cash apps, cryp tocurrency and gift card payments should be considered the same as us ing cash. Once you send the funds, it is difficult, if not nearly impossible, to get your money back.

Remain vigilant

• Beware of delivery scams. These con artists pose as a delivery service and call or send a text message asking you to confirm your credit card number to pay for the delivery of a package.

• Beware of phishing attempts. Legiti mate businesses do not send emails claiming problems to lure consumers into revealing financial information. If you receive such an email, call the business directly by searching online for the business’ website and using the number listed there.

Those who believe they have been the victim of consumer fraud can file a con sumer complaint by visiting the attor ney general’s website, azag.gov

To receive a complaint form via mail, the attorney general’s office in Phoenix at 602-542-5763, in Tuc son at 520-628-6648, or outside the Phoenix and Tucson metro areas at 1-800-352-8431.

Anthem Activities

Anthem Golf & Country Club schedule

BY FOOTHILLS FOCUS STAFF

Due to the limited availability, An them Golf & Country Club is ask ing members to not register for back-to-back classes, so everyone has a chance to register.

No-shows are charged $10.

Classes are held at Persimmon or Iron wood, 2708 W. Anthem Club Drive or 41551 N. Anthem Hills Drive, respectively.

For more information, call 623-7426200 for Persimmon Clubhouse or 623465-3020 for Ironwood Clubhouse.

• Wednesday, Dec. 7

Ironwood: Cycle, 5:30 a.m.

Ironwood: Strength: 6:30 a.m.

Persimmon: Mixology: 7 a.m.

Persimmon: Cycle: 7:30 a.m.

Persimmon: Fun & Fit: 8:15 a.m.

Ironwood: Cardio/Core Strength: 8:30 a.m.

Persimmon: Slow Flow (Level 1): 9:30 a.m.

Persimmon: Water Fitness: 9:30 a.m.

Ironwood: Functional raining: 10:30 a.m.

New Member Mixer: 4 p.m.

Persimmon: Yoga Stretch: 4:15 p.m.

Ironwood: Cardio Kickboxing: 5:30 p.m.

Ironwood: Cycle: 6:30 p.m.

• Thursday, Dec. 8

Ironwood: Total Body: 5:30 a.m.

Ironwood: Muscle Mix: 8 a.m.

Persimmon: Mat Pilates: 8 a.m.

Ironwood: Boxology: 9 a.m.

Persimmon: Zumba: 9 a.m.

Persimmon: Water Fitness: 9:30 a.m.

Ironwood: Stretch: 10:45 a.m.

PWR! Moves: Fee Based: 1:15 p.m.

Ironwood: Tabata: 5:30 p.m.

Persimmon: Water Fitness: 5:30 p.m.

Ironwood: Tabata: 5:30 p.m.

Persimmon: Candlelight Yin: 6:30 p.m.

• Friday, Dec. 9

Ironwood: Cycle: 5:30 a.m.

Persimmon: Kickology Strong: 7 a.m.

Ironwood: Cycle: 7:30 a.m.

Persimmon: Fun & Fit: 8:15 a.m.

Ironwood: Cardio/Core Strength: 8:30 a.m.

Persimmon: Vinyassa Flow: 9:30 a.m.

Persimmon: Water Fitness: 9:30 a.m.

Ironwood: Functional Strength/ Balance: 9:45 a.m.

Cart Parade and Ugly Sweater Holiday Bash: 5 p.m.

• Saturday, Dec. 10

Ironwood: Cycle: 7:30 a.m.

Persimmon: Bootcamp: 8 a.m.

Persimmon: Chair Yoga: 9 a.m.

Ironwood: Zumba: 9 a.m.

Persimmon: Water Fitness: 9:30 a.m.

• Sunday, Dec. 11

Family FUNday Sunday: Holiday Theme: 2 p.m.

• Monday, Dec. 12

Ironwood: Cycle: 5:30 a.m.

Ironwood: Strength: 6:30 a.m.

Persimmon: Kickology Strong: 7 a.m.

Ironwood: Cycle: 7:30 a.m.

Persimmon: Fun &. Fit: 8:15 a.m.

Ironwood: Cardio/Core Strength: 8:30 a.m.

Persimmon: Vinyassa Flow: 9:30 a.m.

Ironwood: Power Strength/Stretch: 10:30 a.m.

Persimmon: Meditation & Chair: 4:15 p.m.

Ironwood: Cardio Kickboxing: 5:30 p.m.

Persimmon: Zumba: 5:30 p.m.

• Tuesday, Dec. 13

Ironwood: Total Body: 5:30 a.m.

Persimmon: Mat Pilates: 8 a.m.

Ironwood: HITT: 8 a.m.

Ironwood: Barre Fusion: 9 a.m.

Persimmon: Zumba: 9 a.m.

Persimmon: Water Fitness: 9:30 a.m.

Ironwood: Stretch: 10:45 a.m.

PWR! Moves: Fee-based: 1:15 p.m.

Ironwood: Muscle Mix: 5:30 p.m.

Persimmon: Water Fitness: 5:30 p.m.

Ironwood: Stretch & Sip Workshop:

5:30 p.m.

Persimmon: Candlelight Yin: 6:30 p.m.

•

Wednesday, Dec. 14

Ironwood: Cycle: 5:30 a.m.

Ironwood: Strength: 6:30 a.m.

Persimmon: Mixology: 7 a.m.

Ironwood: Cycle: 6:30 p.m.

Persimmon: Fun & Fit: 8:15 a.m.

Ironwood: Cardio/Core Strength: 8:30 a.m.

Persimmon: Water Fitness: 9:30 a.m.

Persimmon: Slow Flow: 9:30 a.m.

AnthemLife 101 Orientation: 10 a.m.

Ironwood: Functional Training: 10:30 a.m.

Persimmon: Yoga Strength: 4:15 p.m.

Ironwood: Cardio Kickboxing: 5:30 p.m. Ironwood: Cycle: 6:30 p.m.

• Thursday, Dec. 15

Ironwood: Total Body: 5:30 a.m.

Persimmon: Mat Pilates: 8 a.m.

Ironwood: Muscle Mix: 8 a.m.

Persimmon: Zumba: 9 a.m.

Ironwood: Boxology: 9 a.m.

Persimmon: Water Fitness: 9:30 a.m.

Ironwood Stretch: 10:45 a.m.

PWR! Moves-Fee Based: 1:15 p.m.

Persimmon: Water Fitness: 5:30 p.m.

Ironwood: Tabata: 5:30 p.m.

Persimmon: Candlelight Yin: 6:30 p.m.

Trivia Night: 7 p.m.

• Friday, Dec. 16

Ironwood: Cycle: 5:30 a.m.

Persimmon: Kickology Strong: 7 a.m.

Ironwood: Cycle: 7:30 a.m.

Persimmon: Fun & Fit: 8:15 a.m.

Ironwood: Cardio/Core Strength: 8:30 a.m.

Persimmon: Vinyassa Flow: 9:30 a.m.

Persimmon: Water Fitness: 9:30 a.m.

Ironwood: Functional Strength/ Balance: 9:45 a.m.

• Saturday, Dec. 17

Ironwood: Cycle: 7:30 a.m.

Persimmon: Bootcamp: 8 a.m.

Ironwood: Zumba: 9 a.m.

Persimmon: Chair Yoga: 9 a.m.

Persimmon: Water Fitness: 9:30 a.m.

• Monday, Dec. 19

Ironwood: Cycle: 5:30 a.m.

Ironwood: Strength: 6:30 a.m.

Persimmon: Kickology Strong: 7 a.m.

Ironwood: Cycle: 7:30 a.m.

Persimmon: Fun & Fit: 8:15 a.m.

Ironwood: Cardio/Core Strength: 8:30 a.m.

Persimmon: Vinyassa Flow: 9:30 a.m.

Persimmon: Water Fitness: 9:30 a.m.

Ironwood Power Strength/Stretch: 10:30 a.m.

Persimmon: Meditation & Chair: 4:15 p.m.

Persimmon: Zumba: 5:30 p.m.

Ironwood: Cardio Kickboxing: 5:30 p.m.

• Tuesday, Dec. 20

Ironwood: Total Body: 5:30 a.m.

Ironwood: HITT: 8 a.m.

Persimmon: Mat Pilates: 8 a.m.

Ironwood: Barre Fusion: 9 a.m.

Persimmon: Zumba: 9 a.m.

Persimmon: Water Fitness: 9:30 a.m.

Ironwood: Stretch: 10:45 a.m.

PWR! Moves-Fee Based: 1:15 p.m.

Ironwood: Muscle Mix: 5:30 p.m.

Persimmon: Water Fitness: 5:30 p.m.

Persimmon: Candlelight Yin: 6:30 p.m.

• Wednesday, Dec. 21

Ironwood: Cycle: 5:30 a.m.

Ironwood: Strength: 6:30 a.m.

Persimmon: Mixology: 7 a.m.

Ironwood: Cycle: 6:30 p.m.

Persimmon: Fun & Fit: 8:15 a.m.

Ironwood: Cardio/Core Strength: 8:30 a.m.

Persimmon: Slow Flow: 9:30 a.m.

Persimmon: Water Fitness: 9:30 a.m.

Ironwood: Functional Training: 10:30 a.m.

Persimmon: Yoga Stretch: 4:15 p.m.

Ironwood: Cardio Kickboxing: 5:30 p.m.

Ironwood: Cycle: 6:30 p.m.

• Thursday, Dec. 22

Ironwood: Total Body: 5:30 a.m.

Ironwood: Muscle Mix: 8 a.m.

Persimmon: Mat Pilates: 8 a.m.

Persimmon: Zumba: 9 a.m.

Ironwood: Boxology: 9 a.m.

Persimmon: Water Fitness: 9:30 a.m.

Anthem Activities

Ironwood: Stretch: 10:45 a.m.

PWR! Moves-Fee Based: 1:15 p.m.

Persimmon: Water Fitness: 5:30 p.m.

Ironwood: Tabata: 5:30 p.m.

Persimmon: Candlelight Yin: 6:30 p.m.

• Friday, Dec. 23

Ironwood: Cycle: 5:30 a.m.

Persimmon: Kickology Strong: 7 a.m.

Persimmon: Fun & Fit: 8:15 a.m.

Ironwood: Cardio/Core Strength: 8:30 a.m.

Persimmon: Vinyassa Flow: 9:30 a.m.

Persimmon: Water Fitness: 9:30 a.m.

Ironwood: Functional Strength/Bal ance: 9:45 a.m.

• Saturday, Dec. 24

Ironwood: Cycle: 6:30 p.m.

Persimmon: Bootcamp: 8 a.m.

Persimmon: Chair Yoga: 9 a.m.

Ironwood: Zumba: 9 a.m.

Persimmon: Water Fitness: 9:30 a.m.

• Monday, Dec. 26

Ironwood: Cycle: 5:30 a.m.

Ironwood: Strength: 6:30 a.m.

Persimmon: Kickology Strong: 7 a.m.

Ironwood: Cycle: 6:30 p.m.

Persimmon: Fun & Fit: 8:15 a.m.

Ironwood: Cardio/Core Strength: 8:30 a.m.

Persimmon: Water Fitness: 9:30 a.m.

Persimmon: Vinyassa Flow: 9:30 a.m.

Ironwood: Power Strength/Stretch: 10:30 a.m.

Persimmon: Meditation & Chair: 4:15 p.m.

Persimmon: Zumba: 5:30 p.m.

Ironwood: Cardio Kickboxing: 5:30 p.m.

• Tuesday, Dec. 27

Ironwood: Total Body: 5:30 a.m.

Persimmon: Mat Pilates: 8 a.m.

Ironwood: HITT: 8 a.m.

Persimmon: Zumba: 9 a.m.

Ironwood: Barre Fusion: 9 a.m.

Persimmon: Water Fitness: 9:30 a.m.

Ironwood: Cardio Blast: 10 a.m.

Ironwood: Stretch: 10:45 a.m.

PWR! Moves-Fee Based: 1:15 p.m.

Persimmon: Water Fitness: 5:30 p.m.

Ironwood: Muscle Mix: 5:30 p.m.

Persimmon: Candlelight Yin: 6:30 p.m.

• Wednesday, Dec. 28

Ironwood: Cycle: 5:30 a.m.

Ironwood: Strength: 6:30 a.m.

Persimmon: Mixology: 7 a.m.

Ironwood: Cycle: 6:30 p.m.

Persimmon: Fun & Fit: 8:15 a.m.

Ironwood: Cardio/Core Strength: 8:30 a.m.

Persimmon: Slow Flow: 9:30 a.m.

Persimmon: Water Fitness: 9:30 a.m.

Ironwood: Functional Training: 10:30 a.m.

Persimmon: Yoga Stretch: 4:15 p.m.

Ironwood: Cardio Kickboxing: 5:30 p.m.

Ironwood: Cycle: 6:30 p.m.

•

Thursday, Dec. 29

Ironwood: Total Body: 5:30 a.m.

Ironwood: Muscle Mix: 8 a.m.

Persimmon: Mat Pilates: 8 a.m.

Ironwood: Boxology: 9 a.m.

Persimmon: Zumba: 9 a.m.

Persimmon: Water Fitness: 9:30 a.m.

Ironwood: Stretch: 10:45 a.m.

Thanksgiving at Ironwood: 11 a.m.

PWR! Moves-Fee Based: 1:15 p.m.

Persimmon: Water Fitness: 5:30 p.m.

Ironwood: Tabata: 5:30 p.m.

Persimmon: Candlelight Yin: 6:30 p.m.

• Friday, Dec. 30

Ironwood: Cycle: 5:30 a.m.

Persimmon: Kickology Strong: 7 a.m.

Ironwood: Cycle: 6:30 p.m.

Persimmon: Fun & Fit: 8:15 a.m.

Ironwood: Cardio/Core Strength: 8:30 a.m.

Persimmon: Vinyassa Flow: 9:30 a.m.

Persimmon: Water Fitness: 9:30 a.m.

Ironwood: Functional Strength/Bal ance: 9:45 a.m.

•

Saturday, Dec. 31

Ironwood: Cycle: 7:30 a.m.

Persimmon: Bootcamp: 8 a.m.

Persimmon: Chair Yoga: 9 a.m.

Persimmon: Zumba: 9 a.m.

Persimmon: Water Fitness: 9:30 a.m. NYE Celebration: 8:30 p.m.

AROUND THE BLUHMIN’ TOWN

What’s with a Christmas tree anyway?

BY JUDY BLUHM Foothills Focus Columnist

To tree, or not to tree, that is the question. Oh Christmas Angel, please guide my decision, as I am contemplating not putting up a Christ mas tree this year. Yes, we decorated the house with holly, wreaths, poinsettias and other holiday trimmings, but the tree stands silently in a box in the ga rage, awaiting its fate.

Having coffee with my husband, Doug, one morning, I said that I think maybe we might just forget about putting up the tree this year. Doug stared at me for a few seconds, then started fist pumping as he joyfully yelled, “Yes!” Hey, this was not the response I had hoped for! What about thoughtful discussion of the pros and cons? Yikes, I thought he loved our Christmas tree!

When I mentioned this “tree situation” to my girlfriend, she said (in a very se rious tone), “Well, you know this is how old people think. Last month you wanted to buy flat dress shoes instead of heels, this month you are ditching the Christ mas tree. What’s next?” Ouch! It’s just a tree and has nothing to do with “getting old.” It’s all about convenience.

My daughter, Tammy, is holding Christmas at her house this year. The whole family will be gathered, includ

ing my grandson who serves in the Navy and has missed every Christmas for six years. So, it seems like a perfect time to “take a break” from decorating. Because I usually make all big meals for the holi days, Doug and I are looking forward to being guests instead of hosts. You know, show up late, eat well and leave early.

Getting back to the tree dilemma, I cannot recall not having a Christmas tree beautifully decorated gracing our home over the holidays. Old ornaments that the grandkids made, little silver bells with engraved birthdates of fami ly members, even my horses had orna ments made with their photos. The an gel we put on top was given to me from my parents about 30 years ago.

My niece says that when you break with traditions that you love it is because you are depressed (not really). My neighbor hasn’t put a tree up since her husband’s shoulder surgery, which was two years ago (good choice). A close friend claims that the tree is the one true symbol of Christmas and when that goes, so does the wonder of the holiday (nonsense).

O Tannenbaum, O Christmas tree, how lovely are thy branches. What exact ly does the Christmas tree symbolize? And how did it evolve into the most cel ebrated icon of the season? Going back to 16th century Germany, Christians began decorating trees, often placing

candles on the branches. The Christmas tree tradition was not widely embraced in America until the mid-1800s. Home made decorations of berries on strings and cookies hung on branches were an early custom. By the 1900s, Americans were buying shiny ornaments and tinsel.

There is more to the Christmas season than a tree! To the folks who are con vinced that not putting up a tree is “sad,” I say, “Don’t get your tinsel in a tangle.” There’s always mistletoe.

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

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.

AZ zip codes turn up gold for residents

“If you live in the state of Arizona you need to find the first three digits of your zip code listed in today’s newspaper announcement and call immediately,” said Laura A. Lynne, Director of Coin and Currency for National Mint and Treasury.

That’s because Arizona residents can really cash in for the next 48 hours. Here’s why. Non-state residents and those who miss the 48-hour deadline must pay $8 per coin, but Arizona residents who take the Vault Bricks cover just the $4 per coin state minimum. That means Arizona residents get all 125 coins with rare 24 Karat Gold Layering for just $500 which is a real steal since non-state residents must pay over $1,000 for each Vault Brick. And it gets even better for those claiming the Jumbo Gold Vault Bricks.

This is all happening because thousands of U.S. residents stand to miss the deadline to claim the gold. Now any resident who finds their zip code listed in today’s publication and calls to verify it gets to claim the Gold Vault Bricks for themselves and keep all the valuable gold found inside.

And here’s the best part. Arizona residents who find the first three digits of their zip code listed in today’s publication are getting Sealed Vault Bricks containing the only Arizona State Gold Bank Rolls known to exist with the exclusive State Restricted Design and each loaded with rarely seen U.S. Gov’t issued Buffalo Nickels layered in valuable 24 Karat Gold by National Mint and Treasury.

“As Director of Coin and Currency for National Mint and Treasury, one of my jobs is to deliver breaking news. And today’s announcement confirming the release of Sealed Gold Vault Bricks to residents of the state of Arizona is as big as it gets,” Lynne said.

“So my advice is this, anyone who gets an opportunity to get their hands on one of these Gold Vault Bricks full of coins issued by the U.S. Gov’t nearly 100 years ago with rare 24 Karat Gold layering from the National Mint and Treasury better jump at the chance while they still can,” Lynne said.

“These Gold Vault Bricks make the most impressive gifts for Christmas, birthdays, graduations, weddings, and any other occasion, especially for that hard-to-buy-for person,” Lynne said.

According to Ms. Lynne, since thousands of U.S. residents stand to miss the dead-

not everybody will. That’s

does is

exist for the lowest ever $4 per coin minimum set for

48 hour deadline must pay $8 per coin, if any remain.

RARELY SEEN: ISSUED BY THE U.S. GOV’T NEARLY 100 YEARS AGO

Contents inside sealed Vault Bricks reveal old U.S. coins with added 24 Karat Gold Layering minted nearly 100 years ago are actually being handed over to Arizona residents who find their zip code below; but only those who beat the 48 hour deadline are getting them at just state minimum

line to claim the gold, today and tomorrow are intended as a “special 48 hour release” for the benefit of Arizona residents. This gives them a fair chance to claim the Sealed Gold Vault Bricks and all the valuable gold loaded inside for themselves.

But, Ms. Lynne added, “The Sealed Gold Vault Bricks are only available as inventory permits during the special 48 hour release so please do not miss the deadline.” The director added, “We have no power to stop coin dealers, resellers or collectors buying up all the Gold Vault Bricks they can get their hands on,” Lynne said.

”We already know the phones will be ringing off the hook. That’s why hundreds of agents are standing by to answer the phones beginning at 8:30am this morning. We’re going to do our best, but with just 48 hours to answer all the calls it won’t be easy. So make sure to tell everyone to keep calling if all lines are busy. We’ll do our best to answer them all,” Lynne said.

“That’s why National Mint and Treasury set up the State Distribution Hotlines in order to make sure residents of Arizona can get them now,” Lynne said.

The only thing readers of today’s newspaper publication need to do is make sure they live in one of the zip codes listed and call the State Distribution Hotlines before the special 48 hour deadline ends midnight tomorrow. ■

Answering Your Questions

Q: How much are the Gold Vault Bricks worth?

A: It’s impossible to say, but these Buffalos date clear back to the early 1900’s and are not ordinary U.S. coins. That’s because only an extremely low percentage of Buffalos were then commissioned by National Mint and Treasury to be covered with rarely seen 24 Karat Gold Layering, then sealed and protected in brilliant collector condition inside special 25 count Arizona Bank Rolls. That’s why you better hurry if you want to get your hands on them. Collector values always fluctuate and there are never any guarantees. But we do know they are the only Arizona State Bank Rolls known to exist. So anyone lucky enough to get their hands on these sealed Vault Bricks should hold onto them because there’s no telling how much they could be worth in collector value someday.

Q: Why are so many Arizona residents calling to get them?

A: Because they are the only Arizona State Bank Rolls known to exist we’re bracing for the flood of calls. These are not ordinary Bank Rolls. These are full Bank Rolls containing 25 Buffalos dating clear back to the early 1900’s. Best of all each Buffalo is layered in 24 Karat Gold and the state minimum set by National Mint and Treasury is restricted to Arizona residents who find the first three digits of their zip code listed in today’s publication and beat the deadline only. That means Arizona residents cover only $4 per Buffalo when they claim the Gold Vault Bricks, which is just $500 for the next 2 days.

Q: How do I get the Gold Vault Bricks?

A: The only thing Arizona residents need to do is find the first three digits of their zip code in today’s publication and call the State Toll-Free Hotline at 1-800-280-4564 Ext. GNH1243 before the deadline ends. Everyone who does is getting the Bank Rolls for just the state minimum. That’s a sealed Gold Vault Brick containing the only Arizona State Bank Rolls known to exist each loaded with the rarely seen U.S. Gov’t issued Buffalo Nickels layered in valuable 24 Karat Gold for just the $4 per coin state minimum set by the National Mint and Treasury, which totals just $500 for the full sealed Gold Vault Brick. That’s a real steal because state residents and non-state residents who miss the deadline must pay $1,000 for each sealed Gold Vault Brick if any remain.

miss the 48-hour deadline must pay $8 per coin, but Arizona residents who take the Gold Vault Bricks pictured above cover just the $4 per coin state minimum. That means Arizona residents get all 125 coins with rare 24 Karat Gold Layering for just $500 which is a real steal since non-state residents must pay over $1,000 for each Gold Vault Brick. And it gets even better for those claiming the Jumbo Gold Vault Bricks.

NATIONAL MINT AND TREASURY, LLC IS NOT AFFILIATED WITH THE U.S. MINT, THE U.S. GOVERNMENT, A BANK OR ANY GOVERNMENT AGENCY. IF FOR ANY REASON WITHIN 30 DAYS FROM SHIPMENT YOU ARE DISSATISFIED, RETURN THE PRODUCT FOR A REFUND LESS RETURN POSTAGE. THIS SAME OFFER MAY BE MADE AVAILABLE AT A LATER DATE OR IN A DIFFERENT GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATION. OH RESIDENTS ADD 6.5% SALES TAX. NATIONAL MINT AND TREASURY, PO BOX 35609, CANTON, OH 44735 ©2022 NATIONAL MINT AND TREASURY.

■ FIRST LOOK INSIDE GOLD VAULT BRICKS: Shown above is a sneak peak inside the Gold Vault Bricks. The Gold Vault Bricks are loaded with Arizona State Gold Bank Rolls containing U.S. Buffalos each layered in 24 Karat Gold. The phone lines will be ringing off the hook beginning at precisely 8:30 am this morning. That’s because Arizona residents can really cash in for the next 48 hours. Here’s why. Non-state residents and those who

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County officials adopt grim comedy routine on election

BY J.D. HAYWORTH Foothills Focus Columnist

You can forget all about “Abbott and Costello…” ditto for “Martin and Lewis.” A new comedy team with a familiar name has suddenly emerged in Arizona.

These days, Maricopa County residents are treated to the escapades of a real-life “Mutt and Jeff.” And unlike the original com ic strip duo, this modern-day pair isn’t con fined to the funny papers.

Board of Supervisors Chairman Bill Gates and County Recorder Stephen Richer have made headlines in the aftermath of Election Day. Unfortunately for them, their act—or more accurately, their actions—are not re ceiving rave reviews.

Still, their “political performance art” played to a full house and a large internet audience during the supervisors’ “special meeting” Nov. 28.

Gates unwittingly affirmed the perfor mance emphasis in his opening remarks, referring to the meeting agenda as a “run of show.” And what a show!

As pure entertainment, it fell somewhere between the efforts of earnest amateur thes pians giving their all in a “community the ater” production and “open mic night” at a comedy club where most stand-up aspirants would be well-advised to remain seated.

The county’s lead players could be found in that latter category.

Our taxpayer-subsidized comedy team relies upon the maudlin schmaltz of mutual admiration.

With a presentation style reminiscent of “Mister Rogers,” Gates introduced Richter: “The Board is very grateful for your work, Ste phen, and thanks so much for addressing us,” Richer recited some specific numbers: 1.87 million ballots mailed to county vot ers; 1.3 million completed and returned, 290,000 of those dropped off at voting cen ters on Election Day and needing signature verification which was completed by Thurs day afternoon; then the processing of those ballots, done by Sunday afternoon.

In other words, those early ballots dropped off on Nov. 8 – a record number

for any election and almost 120,000 more than arrived on Election Day 2020—took until five days after Nov. 8 to be prepared for counting.

And left dangling in Richer’s account was this oratorical gem: “Over 100 people of all parties contributed to the signature verifica tion process.”

That sounds mighty inclusive, but it is devoid of a key detail: what was the parti san composition of that signature checking group?

After expressing his 100% confidence “in the integrity and character of the peo ple working the other half of the election operation,”— the Election Day balloting, so plagued with problems—Richer spread a heavy dose of verbal frosting on this slice of rhetorical flattery:

“That starts with Chairman Bill Gates, who has continued to lead, despite personally and probably going through personal hell.”

As for the majority of concerned citizens in attendance, Richer was disdainfully dis missive.

Saying the focus needed to be on “real is sues,” the recorder characterized the grass roots skepticism as “conspiracy theories promoted on social media by people who know nothing,” drawing a loud, angry reac tion from the crowd.

Once the recorder finished, the presid ing officer made a pronouncement that was shockingly premature: “This election was

Election

BY DAVID LEIBOWITZ Foothills Focus Columnist

We begin with the good news about the process of certifying Arizona’s November 2022 elec tion.

After all the conspiracy theories, death threats, and fact-deprived screaming about rigged results, only a few hundred protest ers showed up for the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors’ Nov. 28 special meet ing to certify the county’s results.

In a state of more than seven million peo ple – and in a county where 1,562,758 of us voted on Nov. 8 – a few hundred “nay screamers” amounts to a raindrop in a river.

The bad news? The people who did show up to scream at the five supervisors were bull goose loony.

Like election denier and podcaster Joe Oltman, who traveled from Castle Pines, Colorado, to lament the board’s lack of transparency – in a public meeting broad cast around the world online – and to ac cuse them of “gaslight(ing) the American people.”

That was tame compared to speakers who threw around terms like “evil,” “trai tors,” “crooked,” “clowns” and “violent rev olution.”

Heck, one lady from Wickenburg, Lydia Abril, used her two minutes to share “what God has to say to all elected officials,” cour tesy of the Book of Psalms. She thundered about “high and mighty politicians” and “giving justice in exchange for bribes,” be fore asking God to “break off their fangs” and “let them be as snails that dissolve into slime.”

That got quite the round of applause from her fellow zealots.

Later came my personal favorite speaker, failed Board of Supervisors candidate Gail Golec, a Trump-endorsed Scottsdale Re publican, who got pasted in the primary by Supervisor Tom Galvin. Golec demanded a halt to the certification “until we can get some more audits.”

Golec really hit it out of the park with her

finger-wagging tirade: “These machines have come into play and have taken over countries. South America right now is al most gone because of selections! Thank God for Brazil or we would lose a continent – a whole continent – to these machines!”

Lady, for heaven’s sake, please burn your collection of “Terminator” DVDs, pronto.

After four hours of this nonsense, the su pervisors – four Republicans and a Demo crat – voted to certify the county’s election results, as required by law. Fourteen out of Arizona’s 15 counties have done the same, with only tiny Cochise County, population 126,000, as the lone holdout.

So, Election 2022 continues to sputter to its conclusion, despite some national and local press coverage portraying Arizona and the Valley as something of a laugh ingstock, populated by nuts and dolts and those who see a conspiracy around every corner and every time a computer printer runs out of toner.

My assessment, which I previewed for you in a column several weeks ago, is this: The 2022 election was imperfect, in part because all elections are. But there were no hijinks afoot.

If it took two weeks to count the ballots,

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that’s because (a) it always takes long, and (b) a record number of voters listened to MAGA leaders who told them to hold onto their early ballots until Election Day, thus creating the very issue – slow counting –that they later lambasted.

Given the relatively few people who showed up to protest the supervisors – a far smaller crowd than your average JV football game – I’d suggest that 99% of us have moved on to bigger issues and real

problems.

You remember those, I’m guessing.

Inflation. Rising crime. Our troubled public school system. The lack of housing supply in our state. The fentanyl epidemic. Our porous border.

These were the issues would-be elected leaders used to campaign on, before they turned to false tales of stolen elections and machine takeovers.

I miss the old days, when the other 1 per cent – not the crazy 1% – got all the atten tion.

run extremely well, as you pointed out,” Gates told Richer.

Despite a parade of eyewitnesses recount ing mechanical problems with tabulators and printers, as well as a plethora of other Election Day problems, it was clear that this “public hearing” didn’t result in officials tru ly listening.

After 90-plus minutes of comments, con cerned citizen Michelle Dillard summed it up: “This election is not certifiable…it was targeted voter suppression by the County, including elected officials with glaring con flicts of interest.”

Among the elected officials with “glaring conflicts?” The recorder and the chairman.

Richer started a dark money political ac tion committee, “Democracy Republicans PAC,” targeting Trump-endorsed candidates; Gates spoke out publicly against those same GOP nominees, calling their primary victories a “catastrophe.” and telling Politico he hoped for Republican “humiliation at the ballot box.”

There’s humiliation all right, but it’s Gates and Richer who should be embarrassed –along with all the members of the Board of Supervisors, who voted unanimously to cer tify the 2022 election.

Mutt and Jeff may be smiling, but few vot ers in Maricopa County are laughing.

YC’s defies challenges to open new store

BY CHRISTINA FUOCO-KARASINSKI Foothills Focus Executive Editor

The pandemic was tough for restau rants, and Geoff Stanisic can attest to that.

The owner of build-your-own stir-fry concept YC’s Mongolian Grill says he is grateful that the industry has returned to some semblance of normalcy.

“We’re just very grateful,” Stanisic says.

“A lot of establishments didn’t make it out of COVID. We had some minor set backs, but we circled the wagons and we’re growing again.”

His “minor setback” was the bank ruptcy of the Scottsdale Pavilions lo cation near Salt River Fields. His other restaurants survived Gov. Doug Ducey’s pandemic-dictated closure of restau rants and buffet restaurants.

In October, he brought his flavorful bowls back to Scottsdale when he opened a new store at 14850 N. 87th Street, near Raintree Drive and Loop 101.

“People’s dining habits changed,” he says. “In Tempe, there were no students. In Chandler, there were no movie the ater patrons. Scottsdale was all enter tainment driven. We didn’t know what was going to happen with COVID. No body did. We had to shutter those. Now, when we reopened, we’re less reliant on any one type of demographic.

“We have to be able to draw in busi nesspeople and residential guests. This location is the perfect fit for all of them. In the last week, I’ve met so many peo ple at the Scottsdale store who said they had driven from Scottsdale all the way to (Gilbert/Mesa) for our food. I had no idea. I was awestruck by the amount of people who made the trek.”

YC’s Mongolian Grill Scottsdale fea tures the restaurant’s signature small, large and unlimited bowls with flavorful,

world-inspired sauces including Calcut ta curry, spicy Thai, curry-yaki and spicy black pepper. Guests are encouraged to pack their bowls full of fresh veggies, rice, noodles and sauces to customize their bowl experience. Each bowl is then stir-fried by a YC’s chef on the restau rant’s signature flat-top grill.

“What separates us are our noodles,” Stanisic says.

“You don’t know why you like our lo mein noodles, but we hand steam them. Most places, whether it’s Mongolian bar becue or others, will boil noodles. We steam. It’s much more time consuming and labor intensive.”

The noodles absorb the flavor from the sauce and the grill, while with boiled noodles, it just runs off.

“Our lo mein noodles don’t have the glisten of moisture, but that’s because they’re absorbing all the sauce,” he says. “They’re in that absorbent stage.”

YC’s Mongolian Grill has been a local ly owned and operated Valley staple for more than 30 years, opening its first lo cation in Tempe in 1991. He has already purchased space for his next location: Downtown Phoenix behind The Vig on Fifth Avenue.

“It’s a 1913 home that we’re going to keep historic in the front and we’ll put the kitchen in the back,” he says.

“It’s a new feel for us. It’s more of a neighborhood place. Folks near there, they don’t drive. They walk their dogs, ride their bikes. Kids take their scooters.”

A graduate of Catalina High School in

Tucson and NAU, Stanisic would love to expand throughout the state, but he has bigger priorities.

“I’m still a dad,” he says. “My kids are 14 and 15. My kids need a dad at home, more than they need a restaurant. Plus, opening this restaurant was not easy, es pecially during this supply-chain era.”

YC’s Mongolian Grill

14850 N. 87th Street, Suite 140, Scottsdale 480-590-5479

752 W. Elliot Road, Tempe 480-777-2929

4770 E. Ray Road, Suite 101, Gilbert 480-457-8681 ycs-mongoliangrill.com

Geoff Stanisic, owner of YC’s Mongolian Grill says he is grateful the industry has returned to some normalcy. He has opened a new store in Scottsdale. (YC’s Mongolian Grill/submitted)

Your presence is a present

CHURCH COMMUNITY CONNECTION

Pastor Ed Delph Foothills Focus Columnist

The San Francisco Chronicle report ed a story about a humpback whale on Dec. 14, 2005. On Dec. 11, 2005, a female humpback whale was entangled in a spider web of crab traps and lines. She had hundreds of pounds of crab traps and yards of lines wrapped around her body, her tail, her torso and even a line tugging in her mouth.

A fisherman spotted her east of the Far allon Islands, just outside the Golden Gate Bridge. He radioed for help. Within a few hours, the rescue team arrived and deter mined that she was so bad off that the only

way to save her was to dive in and untangle her. Talk about danger. One slap of a whale’s tail could kill a rescuer. They worked for hours with curved knives and eventually freed her.

When she was free, the divers said she swam in what seemed like joyous circles. She then returned to each diver and nudged them as if to thank them. The divers were stunned. The guy who cut the rope out of her mouth said her eye followed him the whole time and said he would never be the same.

I’m glad someone got involved and took the time, effort and courage to save the whale. You might say the group of divers was like Jesus. They set the ensnared whale

free from certain death. But, wouldn’t it be just as good, if not better, if someone was Jesus to those people caught in heavy traps and long lines of calamity, even if by their own doing? Wouldn’t it be fantastic if some one were Jesus to the lonely person in the nursing home who needs a visit from some one? Wouldn’t finding a need and meeting it be better than complaining about long store lines or judging others for their political cor rectness or the lack thereof?

Wouldn’t it be better to go outside your comfort zone and volunteer for a worthy cause in your community? You don’t get to experience what those whale-freeing divers experienced by just sending a check. When you give a check, something is withdrawn

from your bank account. When you get in volved, something is deposited in you. You

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and other Cigna marks are owned by Cigna Intellectual Property, Inc. Benefits, features and/or devices vary by plan/service area. Limitations, exclusions, and restrictions may apply. Contact the plan for more information. This information is not a complete description of

Theater to host holiday fundraising events

BY FOOTHILLS FOCUS STAFF

Desert Foothills Theater is raising funds — and sharing holiday fun and entertainment — with two special events on Saturday, Dec. 10, at The Holland Center at 34250 N. 60th Street in Scottsdale.

“We have been hard at work planning events that will bring the holidays to life for kids and adults while also raising much-needed funds for our theater,” said Sandi Carll, DFT’s producing artistic direc tor. “These fundraisers also give us a chance to show off the talent of our performers with an incredible lineup of live holiday musical numbers.”

From 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., the community theater company will present Oh What Fun! A Holiday Family Festival, an open-house style event featuring live musical numbers from DFT’s youth performers along with a full lineup of holiday-themed treats and ac tivities.

Kids and families can enjoy photo oppor

tunities, cold-weather snacks, a hot choc olate bar, holiday games and a make-andtake craft. Guests also are invited to bid on raffle baskets.

Tickets for the Holiday Family Festival are $25 each or $100 for a family five-pack. Children 3 and under are free.

Later that night, local actor Ken Gooden

berger will join New York City jazz vocalist Kimberly Woods to host Oh What Fun! Af ter Dark, A Holiday Cabaret. From 6:30 to 10 p.m., adults can enjoy a grown-up fund raiser featuring performances from Woods, who has sung in major venues nationwide, along with DFT’s teen and adult ensembles. Guests also can enjoy holiday crafted cock

tails, savory bites provided by the Creek Pa tio Grill, a dessert and espresso bar and a variety of silent auction items.

The After Dark event, recommended for adults 21 and up, is $75 per person or $125 per couple.

Desert Foothills Theater partners with Paradise Valley Unified School District and Grayhawk Elementary School for their after-school program featuring “101 Dalmatians.” (Desert Foothills Theater/Submitted)

Kids from across the Valley performed “Dear Edwina Jr.” last spring at Desert Foothills Theater. (Desert Foothills Theater/ Submitted)

give a Christmas present to yourself when you give your presence as a present to an other who needs it.

It’s interesting how everybody these days wants somebody or anybody to do some thing about the problems in the world or their community. This story illustrates my point.

that Everybody wouldn’t do it. So, it ended up that Everybody blamed Somebody when Nobody did what Anybody could have done.

We live in a world of specialists. In some respects, this is great. We all appreciate someone who specializes in a specific area, especially if we need the specialist’s special ty. But saying or thinking, “That’s not my de partment,” regarding a simple job that any one could do, is something else. That sounds like, “Ryan, you be Jesus.”

He stopped his journey, healing a Roman Centurion’s servant on the way to a family funeral. Unheard of, yet He did it. In doing this, Jesus reveals to us God’s nature. Jesus both presented God and represented God. God loves everyone. Everybody is Some body to God. The first Christmas, God gave us the present of his presence, “now in flesh appearing.”

Almost anybody could bless others by serving meals to the poor. But Nobody did it. Why? “That’s not my department.” “That’s not my job.” A servant leader will go where many specialists, professionals, politicians, academics and theologians won’t. Too many people look for a way out of serving others in real and tangible ways. Might I suggest that instead, you look for a “way in” to help others in real and tangible ways, not just an academic or philosophical way?

Here are some final thoughts about stop ping the Everybody-blamed-Somebodywhen-Nobody-did-what-Anybody-couldhave-done cycle. Be a ‘Solutionary.’ You might be one person to the world, but to one person, you might be the world. The more I look at things, the more I believe the willing ness to start is the littlest thing in life that makes the biggest difference.

RIGOR, RELEVANCE & RELATIONSHIPS

A mother was preparing breakfast for her sons, Kevin, age 5, and Ryan, age 3. The boys began to argue over who would get the first pancake. Their mother saw an opportuni ty for a moral lesson. “If Jesus were sitting here, He would say, ‘Let my brother have the first pancake. I can wait.’ Kevin turned to his younger brother and said, “Ryan, you be Je sus!” That was our home about 30 years ago. Have you heard the illustration about four people named Everybody, Somebody, Anybody, and Nobody? There was an im portant job to do, and Everybody was sure that Somebody would do it. Anybody could have done it, but Nobody did it. So, then, Somebody got angry about that because it was Everybody’s job. Everybody thought Anybody could do it, but Nobody realized

Look at Jesus in the Bible. Jesus val ued people. Jesus took time out for people in need that others could have done. He made time for the children. Jesus talked to the “loose” woman at the well when most men didn’t speak to that kind of woman.

Take a risk, get started, and contribute more than a protest. If you are going to point out a problem, be prepared to fix it. Don’t say, “Ryan, you be Jesus!” Who knows, you might untangle some person or family from the traps and lines that entangle them.

Maybe I could say it this way. Giving is liv ing, so why not live this Christmas by giving Christmas? After all, your presence is a pres ent.

All proceeds from the events will ben efit DFT. Funds will offset the huge array of costs the theater incurs to host classes and camps and produce stage productions. Guests who attend the events, bid on raffle items or make cash donations will help cov er a multitude of expenses, from costumes and set builds to teaching artists and schol arships for children and teens whose finan cial circumstances would otherwise pre clude them from participating in the arts.

“It takes a lot of hard work, dedicated people who are passionate about the arts, talented performers and support from our community to run a theater and stage quality productions, but we are here for the long haul,” Carll said. “With the help of our hardworking committee of DFT support ers, we know these fundraisers will give us a much-needed boost as we continue our 2022-23 ‘Season of Laughter’ and prepare for the months and years ahead.”

To purchase tickets for DFT’s holiday fundraisers or to learn about upcoming au ditions and stage productions, visit dfthe ater.org.

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