To help neighbors in need, Anthem Giving Circle is collecting purses for its largest annual fundraiser, Purses for a Purpose.
This year’s Wonderland-themed gathering is from 5 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 7, at the Ironwood Country Club at Anthem.
“We’re very excited. This is our 13th year of holding Purses for a Purpose
Phoenix City Council on a 7-1 vote advanced the city’s proposed $500 million General Obligation bond toward the November 2023 ballot last week as Councilwoman Ann O’Brien hailed its “large investment in public safety spending,” especially the replace -
ment of the Cactus Park Police Precinct Station.
Councilman Tom Waring voted against the measure after complaining earlier in the Dec. 13 meeting that his District 2 constituents “are getting an unequal share of the pie” comprising about $52 million for fixing streets he said will be mainly around light rail routes and leaving little for others.
Councilman Sal DiCiccio did not vote, apparently leaving the meeting he had joined by phone after criticizing the allocation of $50.4 million for arts and culture programs – mostly for just two projects – and not including a new fire station in an area of Ahwatukee where response times from the existing two sta-
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here in Anthem,” said AGC co-chair Diane Steenman.
“This is our No. 1 fundraiser, so without it, we could not support the community in the way that we do. We support hundreds of families every year,” she added.
Tickets to the event are $50, which includes a drink and heavy hors d’oeuvres.
Attendees can participate in raffles and live and silent auctions for 150 new or gently used designer purses by the likes of Prada, Coach, Kate Spade and Michael Kors.
The star raffle purse is a Christian Louboutin black studded clutch bag with the brand’s signature red completing the interior, valued at over $1,000.
Even those who are not interested in purses can participate. The winner of the Louboutin will receive its tags and receipts if he or she wants to exchange it for full store credit at Nordstrom.
“New this year, we will also have several other raffle purse opportunities,” Steenman said. “All of our raffle purses are new.”
Except for the Louboutin, which was purchased by AGC, all purses are
donated
“Coming to the event and buying raffle tickets, making donations and things of that nature, they’re (attendees) giving back to the community, too, since 99% of all our money goes back into the community,” Steenman said. “It’s a way to help your community and have fun.”
WHEN: 5 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, Feb.
Ironwood Country Club, 41551 N. Anthem Hills Drive, Phoenix COST: $50
anthemgivingcircle@yahoo.com or anthemgivingcircle.com
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tions exceed the national standard.
But Mayor Kate Gallego praised the city administration and the executive committee that crafted the bond package for addressing a sizeable portion of what they called the city’s “most urgent needs” amid $1.2 billion in infrastructure and facility additions and improvements that had been identified after months of study. Indeed, the $500 million package leaves about $147 million worth of “the most urgent needs identified by staff” untouched.
T2050 Mobility plan and $22 million for pavement maintenance.
“To touch on districts where you put light rail,” Waring said. “I think you tear up the streets and then you build all new ones, so those people who have light rail are also kind of getting a twofer. They’re getting a lot of infrastructure.”
O’Brien focused on the fact that public safety projects get the lion’s share of the $500 million divvied up among seven major spending categories.
“This investment is more than any other department in the bond proposal and shows our commitment to reducing response times in underserved communities,” O’Brien said, calling the Cactus Park Precinct rebuild “something my residents have been begging for years.”
improvements while ensuring no additional taxes.”
Some of the council members who voted for the project and also approved the spending targets were nonetheless unhappy about some omissions.
Vice Mayor Laura Pastor lamented the absence of any projects for the LGBTQ community as well as military veterans and she, like others who saw no funding for their pet projects, said they’ll be pressing for future funding.
That was the main reason DiCiccio ripped the bond package, questioning why the city was allocating $50.4 million for arts and culture. Of that sum, $21.6 million of that earmarked for a new Latino Cultural Center and $14 million for the Valley Youth Theatre.
And Waring condemned the light rail tilt in the appropriation of $17 million for the city’s Vision Zero road safety initiative, $12.5 million for its
The package provides $132.5 million for public safety, including new fire stations at 51st Avenue and SR 303, Seventh Street and Hatcher Road, 44th Street and Thomas Road and 45th Avenue and Camelback Road. Also included is a $9 million renovation of the police property management warehouse, nearly $3 million to renovate the Maryvale Police Station and $37.3 million to replace the Cactus Park Police Precinct. The warehouse stores more than eight million pieces of evidence and other items.
She said the current station, built in 1982, “is the oldest standing precinct – so much so that it still has ashtrays in the bathroom” that “was built in a different era and not built for how we are today. That means there’s no women’s locker room. We’ve come a long way since that station was built so it is time to replace it and tear down.”
The precinct will be relocated to a still undecided 10-acre site that may also ultimately house the city’s civilian mental health unit that will assist in calls for service in cases where an armed officer is deemed unnecessary.
O’Brien also stressed the fact that if approved, “the bond package will not result in any property tax increase” so that “we invest in much-needed
The GO bond is the city’s first since 2006 and the city administration said it hopes it will be the first of $500 million bond proposals it will put before voters every five years in an effort to keep Phoenix on a stable fiscal footing.
Council and the administration will work on ballot language for the bond measure for a formal vote by June that will call for the November election. They also will be mapping out an intensive marketing campaign to inform and persuade voters to approve it.
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Steenman said the organization is still accepting purses to raffle. They will pick them up. To donate, send a note to anthemgivingcircle@yahoo. com before Tuesday, Jan. 10.
Purses with a Purpose not only supports those in Anthem, but Desert Hills and New River, too. AGC also recently added Black Canyon City to its service areas, which Steenman noted is an important development due to the community’s needs.
“We’re the only Anthem-oriented charity in Anthem that actually services outside of itself,” she said. “That’s been significant because increasing the surface area means that when somebody is in need, if they are from Black Canyon City, New River, they will be considered by Anthem Giving Circle.”
With funds raised by Purses with a Purpose, AGC assists families with medical expenses, rent and other bills; provides yearly stipends to the Foothills Food Bank and St. Rose
Food Pantry; and hosts an annual bra drive for St. Vincent de Paul’s women’s program.
AGC also has a school expansion program, through which they support elementary and secondary schools by providing scholarships for senior students and gift cards for clothing and supplies.
This past year, Steenman said that AGC donated several $1,000 scholarships to students, in addition to $400 to $500 gift cards to 13 local elementary and middle schools.
“We had one of our members delivering the gift cards this fall, and at both schools the person who accepted them burst into tears. They were so thankful,” Steenman said. “It really gets your heart. These are administrators, nurses and (other professionals), and they said, ‘We are in such dire need.’”
“We couldn’t do that without this (Purses with a Purpose). That’s why this is so important for the community,” she added.
AGC was founded in 2007 by a
small group of women who wanted to give back to their community.
After donating to causes with their own money for a few years, its members launched Purses with a Purpose in 2010. The event was originally a luncheon with only 25 purses up for bidding, held at a tiny restaurant in Anthem that no longer exists.
Since then, the organization and its fundraiser have both experienced notable growth. At last year’s event, AGC’s 20-plus members had 230 guests come out to support those in need.
“Last year was so successful that we were able to really increase our giving to the community, which meant a lot to us,” Steenman said. “Because of the generosity of the people that attended, we saw purses with the highest rate ever and our auction purses were quite successful, so it was really, really good.”
She said they saw a 25% increase in the amount of funds raised in comparison to the previous year, which in turn allowed for an increase in
their giving to the community.
AGC’s members don’t have a fundraising goal this year due to the state of the economy, but Steenman expressed that they would be “very happy” to raise the same amount of funding as the last Purses with a Purpose.
It comes down to the organization doing what it can to support the community, so going forward, its members aim to expand its reach and continue helping their neighbors in need.
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The Anthem Area Chamber of Commerce continued the 19-year tradition of honoring outstanding local businesses and business leaders with its awards gala on Dec. 3 at Chateau Luxe Event Center.
The board of directors reviewed the awards and the process and shifted to focus on the many businesses that serve Anthem.
A few of the awards added were Small Business of the Year, Large Business of the Year and Home-Based Business of the year. Award nominations were accepted from the local community and the award selection committee considered all nominations to arrive at the top nominees in each category.
The nominations were sent out to the chamber members and winners were chosen by their peers.
The gala began at 5 p.m. with a cocktail hour featuring a champagne wall and butler-passed hors d’oeuvres, followed by a three-course dinner and the business awards ceremony.
The event was presented by Nova Home Loans, and sponsors included TNT Cyber Solutions, Chateau Luxe, The Venue at Chilleens, Edkey/Caurus Academy, Better Vision Eyecare, Independent Insurance Broker, Diane “Dee” Lee, DL Jones Home Team, Rotary Club of Anthem, Nanette McClelland Miller Agency - State Farm Insurance, ProSkill Services, Matthew Word Agency - Country Financial, Copper State Pavement, Anthem Community Council, D&E Insurance, Genesis Fitness, Legends Bar & Grill, Rusty’s Angels Sanctuary, Mike Spinelli Photography, Amy’s Little Plant Company, Leo Productions Company and Champagne Walls Phx.
The winners are:
• Small Business of the Year: North Valley Water Solutions
The Small Business of the Year award recognizes successful business leadership and outstanding involvement
among Anthem-area businesses with a brick and mortar and less than 15 employees. Nominees were David Coleman and Jeanine Coleman, Precise Pest Solutions; Chuck Finzer, Desert Elite Group Berkshire Hathaway; Dave Newham, North Valley Water Solutions. The winner was Newham and North Valley Water Solutions.
• Home-Based Business of the Year: Work Hard Play Hard Marketing
The Home-Based Business of the Year award recognizes successful business leadership and outstanding involvement among Anthem-area businesses without a brick and mortar. From left, nominees Mary Ellen and Eric Twohey, Uncorked Media Group; Chamber President Matt Word; Manny Chazan, Word Hard Play Hard Marketing; and Chamber Treasurer Chuck Finzer.
• Large Business of the Year: Legends Bar & Grill
The Large Business of the Year award recognizes successful business leadership and outstanding involvement among Anthem-area businesses with a brick and mortar, more than 15 employees. The nominees were Tyler Ringe, ProSkill Services; Aleah Chilleen, The Venue at Chilleens; Cliff and Clay Boop, Legends Bar and Grill.
• Nonprofit of the Year: Rusty’s Angels Sanctuary
The Nonprofit of the Year award recognizes the valuable, mission-driven contributions made through service
and leadership among Anthem-area nonprofits. Nominees were Steve DeMar, Rotary Club of Anthem; Emilee Spear, Rusty’s Angels Sanctuary; Malcolm Smith, ProMusica Arizona; and Mike Tapp, Daisy Mountain Veterans.
• Public Servant of the Year: Joe Alvarez
The Public Servant of the Year award recognizes a local public servant whose contributions and selfless services to the community have made a significant and lasting impact. Nominees were Joe Alvarez, Boston Market; Dustin Holm, North Valley Junk Removal; and David Coleman, Precise Pest Solutions.
• Economic Impact of the Year: Merrill Gardens at Anthem
The Economic Impact award recognizes a business or organization that has made a significant contribution to the economic vitality of the Anthem area through community investment, job creation, industry growth and business leadership. Nominees were Merrill Gardens at Anthem, The Bearded Barber, and L’Entrata.
• Leadership in Action: Ann Hutchinson, Black Canyon Heritage Park
The Leadership in Action award recognizes demonstrated leadership in action among Anthem Area Leadership Academy.
• Spirit of the Chamber Award: Chuck Finzer, Desert Elite Group Berkshire Hathaway
The Spirit of the Chamber Award is based on number of events attended during the year for Chamber mem-
bers. It encompasses ribbon cuttings, meetings, member events and chamber events.
• Top Gun: Matt Word, Country Financial
The executive director gives the Top Gun award to a member who has shown selfless dedication and service behind the scenes to support the chamber and fellow chamber members. Matt Word has faced many obstacles in 2022 and he has never once abandoned his duties of leading the Anthem Area Chamber of Commerce as the president.
The Anthem Area Chamber of Commerce serves the North Phoenix communities along the I-17 corridor north of highway 303 — ZIP codes 85085, 85086 and 85087. In addition to advocacy, business support, marketing and promotional support, the chamber operates a visitor information center and professional office co-op for other small businesses.
The office co-op affords small businesses a professional office space at an economically sustainable price-point while they scale up their business.
The chamber hosts several meetings and events monthly, including Morning Meeting on the second Thursday of each month and Business After Hours on the fourth Thursday of each month. Visit anthemareachamber.org for information on membership and upcoming events.
The Anthem Area Chamber of Commerce is located at 3715 W. Anthem Way, Suite 110, Anthem.
Oh, dearest Santa, are you for real?
My parents won’t tell me, my friends say, “just chill.”
I have made out my list and do not want a toy.
Can you help all the people who are needing some joy?
My granddad is sick – he does not know my name.
Can you bring him his memories in-
stead of a game?
My neighbor is lonely and always seems sad.
Can you give her a smile so she knows life’s not bad?
There are dogs, cats and people who go hungry at night.
Can you give them some food to make Christmas right?
For every kid that is bullied, can you brighten their day?
And stop all the bullies from the mean things they say.
Okay, I am sorry, this letter is long. Tell me Santa, are my requests wrong?
My letter was sent to the North Pole. And Santa’s response touched my heart and my soul.
Dear child of God, I am as real as your heart.
But of Christmas, Santa is just a small part.
Never stop caring – the world needs more you.
You are the spirit of Christmas –please know this is true.
And remember, Christmas is never defined by a toy
Remember Bob Smith?
Jefferson Smith, he wasn’t… but to be fair, only one man was.
That man was Jimmy Stewart, who portrayed Jefferson Smith in Frank Capra’s classic 1939 film, “Mr. Smith Goes to Washington,” one of the first 25 motion pictures selected for the National Film Registry in 1989.
A year later, the Bob Smith was elected by the people of New Hampshire to the U.S. Senate and in 1996, he narrowly won re-election.
Like so many of his Senate brethren, he decided to set his sights higher.
That’s when any resemblance of Bob Smith to Jefferson Smith became purely coincidental.
In early 1999, Smith announced that he was running for President. Unfortunately, the reaction of Republican voters was as cold and bitter as a New
month later he left the Taxpayers Party, declaring himself an Independent.
By early November, Smith had returned to the Republican Party, prompted by the passing of his Senate colleague, John Chafee. Chafee’s death had created a vacancy atop the Committee on Environment and Public Works. The GOP Senate Leadership rewarded Smith with the committee chairmanship, but it wasn’t enough to rescue him from Republicans in his own state.
In 2002, he lost the New Hampshire primary to Rep. John Sununu.
Bob Smith’s “profile in convenience” came to mind upon learning of Sen. Kyrsten Sinema’s departure from the Democratic Party.
ly announced independent status is an effort to “put the best face on things” politically.
Unlike Smith and McCain, Sinema harbors no White House ambitions – at least not yet. Instead, she possesses a genuine interest in remaining part of the “world’s most exclusive club.”
Her “departure from the Democratic Party is political performance art, most accurately described as a “detour” around Arizona Democrats.
As an independent, Sinema avoids a potentially bruising primary in 2024 and can concentrate on garnering petition signatures for the General Election ballot – not to mention campaign checks for her burgeoning campaign war chest.
Hampshire winter. So in July, Smith announced he was leaving the GOP to join the Taxpayers Party.
Sadly for Bob, the Taxpayers were also unwilling to donate money or time to his presidential campaign, so one
Certainly there was “Hollywood-style hyperventilation” on the part of some in the Washington Press Corps, and Sinema herself employed her own “flair for the cinematic,” treating the media opportunities for heralding her Democrat defection like opening night for a major motion picture.
After all, a “My Turn” column in The Arizona Republic and an “exclusive interview” with Jake Tapper on ratings-challenged CNN doesn’t exactly prompt a major tremor in Tinseltown, but an “aspiring actress” has to take advantage of any opportunities that come her way.
The late Senator John McCain (R-Arizona), who made a cameo appearance in the forgettable comedy, “Wedding Crashers,” once offered an unforgettable observation about Washington, D.C. and the people who work there: “Hollywood for the cosmetically challenged.”
Readers of this column can make their own assessments of Sinema’s wardrobe selections and sense of deportment in the Senate, but when it comes to remaining there, it is clear that her new-
The “giveaway” on all of this came with Sen. Sinema’s request of Democrat leader Sen. Chuck Schumer to keep her committee assignments.
While much has been made of reports that she will not caucus with the Democrats nor conference with the GOP, and that she’s even unsure of where her desk will be placed in the Senate chamber. Sinema has clearly signaled her role as a “stealth Democrat” by entrusting her committee seats to the Senate Democratic leadership.
She is working feverishly on Democrat-friendly legislation to grant amnesty to illegal aliens, which could get done before the Christmas recess.
Politically, the prospect of a three-way race for an Arizona Senate seat in 2024 is intriguing but still a long way off.
For now, get your popcorn ready and watch “Mr. Smith goes to Washington.” Or, given the fact that Christmas is rapidly approaching, watch Stewart’s performance in, “It’s a Wonderful Life.”
As for former Sen. Bob Smith, now living in Florida, his Christmas plans are unannounced.
Come year’s end, newspaper columnists traditionally look backward, chewing over the past 365 days.
“Year in review” columns bore me, because they’re too easy. Here, we look ahead, reviewing the year that has not yet happened. And 2023 promises to be an epic affair. How so?
Jan. 5, 2023 - In an attempt to upstage the swearing-in of new Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs, the Cochise County Board of Supervisors votes 2-1 on a proclamation to install Kari Lake as “Governor of Cochise County.”
Afterwards, Supervisor Tom Crosby calls the vote “a unanimous victory for truth.” Lake’s swearing-in, held at the Thirsty Lizard Bar & Grill in McNeal, is drowned out by Karaoke Night.
Feb. 11 - On the Saturday before Super Bowl LVII, the City of Glendale, home to State Farm Stadium, hosts the single pregame event that’s actually in Glendale.
“Hangin’ With Joyce,” a wienie roast in Councilwoman Joyce Clark’s backyard, draws a star-studded crowd of 11 people, including Mayor Jerry Weiers and the long snapper for the Scottsdale Community College Artichokes football team.
April 1 - Losing Arizona Secretary of State candidate Mark Finchem is the victim of a nasty April Fool’s Day prank when a “Commie pinko” Amazon driver substitutes black boot polish for Finchem’s favorite “MAGA Trump Tone™” self-tanner.
Finchem immediately sends out a fundraising request asking donors to contribute money “to help him overturn this sham election and become the first African American Secretary of State in Arizona history.”
May 16 - The Arizona Coyotes lose the public vote to build an arena in Tempe despite offering city residents “free seats for life” at all home games.
The team, which struggled to sell out 5,000-seat Mullett Arena on the ASU campus last season, announces its intentions to move to AZ Ice Peoria. Coy-
otes President Xavier Gutierrez promises not to disrupt the facility’s weekday morning public skate sessions, “because as a valued public partner and a fan of ice, our organization embraces a diversity of ice skaters, even if I myself cannot ice skate.”
July 4 - Columnist J.D. Hayworth celebrates Independence Day in style, writing his 1,776 consecutive column maligning “liberals,” “Ol’ Joe” Biden,” and the “partisan press.”
Hayworth is honored with the first-ever “Paul Gosar Freedom Fighter Award,” bestowed by the Arizona News Columnist Association. “I literally don’t know how he does it,” says ANCA President David Leibowitz. “Every week, I think he might mention his pet cat or his favorite chicken wing restaurant, but nope – politics every single time. The guy’s a machine.”
Sept. 19 - The Arizona Diamondbacks, out of the pennant chase since May, play a Tuesday night home game against the
equally wretched San Francisco Giants.
Despite the game being promoted as “Queen Creek Mayor Julia Wheatley Bobblehead Night,” the announced attendance is only 374 fans. The Diamondbacks win the five-hour affair 1-0 in 14 very slow innings.
Nov. 8 - One year after Election Day 2022, Cochise County Gov. Kari Lake files her 74th legal challenge to the results, in the World Court in The Hague, Netherlands.
Lake announces the lawsuit in a video filmed at Chuckleheads Bar in Bisbee, the official sponsor of Lake’s new podcast, “Sue Angry: America Fights Back.” Says Lake: “Donate to my legal fund today! Mama needs new shoes.”
Dec. 31 - Scouting for column material in advance of New Year’s, David Leibowitz realizes 2024 will be an election year that may yet again pit Joe Biden vs. Donald Trump and will also feature new Independent Sen. Kyrsten Sinema on the statewide ballot versus a Democrat and
a Republican.
Leibowitz invests his life savings in Xanax and plots to turn off his TV for the year ahead.
Now, my friends, we begin the long wait.
When I preside over jury trials, I instruct the jury members that they “should not decide any issue merely by counting the number of witnesses who have testified on opposing sides. The testimony of one witness, which you believe, is sufficient to prove any fact.”
The well-known Christmas narrative of wise men travelling to meet Jesus as a child is barely referenced in the Bible. Although I personally like the language of the Christmas story in Luke better, the account in Matthew is the only gospel that mentions wise men.
In spite of a well-known hymn, we do not actually know whether there were three wise men or kings that traversed afar. We do know, however, they brought gifts consisting of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
I do not recall anyone saying, “Hey, this wise men thing might not be true because it’s only in the book of Matthew.” Sometimes one witness statement is enough.
The origin of Christmas or “Christ’s Mass” is somewhat obscure. It became part of the liturgical calendar by tradition and St. Francis of Assisi allegedly introduced the nativity scene as a symbolic representation of the birth of Jesus. While Jesus Christ clearly commanded his followers to remember his death and to celebrate His resurrection, to the best of my knowledge, He did not request we commemorate His birth.
Perhaps for this reason, celebrating
Christmas has been controversial. In 1659, the General Court of the Massachusetts Bay Colony actually made it a crime to celebrate Christmas. Although Alabama declared Christmas as a legal holiday in 1836, as did Louisiana in 1838, Christmas was not an official federal holiday until President Ulysses S. Grant signed legislation making it so in 1870. He viewed Christmas as a way to bond people from both the North and the South over a common holiday.
While Christmas is now a “legal” holiday, hopefully no part of your Christmas season will involve lawyers, judges, pleadings, or courtrooms. Whether you celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, or all three, stay safe and have fun.
Judge Gerald A. Williams is the justice of the peace for the North Valley Justice Court. That court’s jurisdiction includes Glendale, Phoenix, Anthem and Desert Hills.
one last thought:
That the true joy of Christmas can never be bought.
Judy Bluhm is a writer and a local Realtor. Have a comment or a story? Email Judy at judy@judybluhm.com.
Brooke Dallas strives to host family-friendly events at her eatery, Big Earl’s Greasy Eats.
So, it was a natural fit to open a candy shop next door. Earl’s Old Time Candy opened Dec. 1 and, Dallas said, the response has been overwhelming.
“We’re having the time of our life,” Dallas said. “It’s not hard to be in a good mood when we’re selling happiness, sugar and memories.”
Brooke and her husband, Collin, purchased the building next door three years ago to store walk-in coolers and freezers for Big Earl’s.
“When we purchased it, we still had Blue Coyote Gallery in there,” she said. “We were going to open a tiki bar, but the town wanted $200,000 to even open the doors with a liquor license. Then, we thought about an indoor Wild and Carefree Kids playroom.”
The COVID-19 pandemic killed that
idea, as “parents weren’t going to want their kids playing in an indoor space. We could never get it clean enough,” she said.
During the pandemic, Big Earl’s hosted free drive-in movies and, to go with the films, the Dallas family sold candy.
“My husband said, ‘Why don’t we open a candy shop?’” she recalled.
Once permits were acquired, The Dallas family worked from Oct. 1 to Dec. 1 to upgrade the building and stock it full of 250 treats like Zotz, Black Jack chewing gum, candy dots, wax bottles and wax lips.
“It’s just so fun hearing our customers come in and say, ‘Oh my gosh. This used to be a penny,’” she recalled.
Buying candy for the shop was fun, but Dallas said, she had to consider candy for all age groups, ranging from spicy Skittles to Bit-o-Honey.
“Candy that’s old for me is different
than candy that’s old for a 54-yearold,” she said. “That’s why we have a huge variety. We have to cover everybody. The first day, we sold out of Big League Chew and pop rocks. The town is incredible. They couldn’t support us more. We have big barrels down the middle with Cerreta Candy Company treats. On Sunday night, we were empty. We sold out of Bazooka, wax lips, wax bottles. We have Cave Creek-designed logo products.
“We also have our own line of lemonade — original, strawberry and prickly pear,” Dallas said. “We partnered with a local company. We took it off our machine at Big Earl’s.”
She hopes to start hosting kids’ birthday parties at Big Earl’s and the guest of honor will receive a token for candy.
“We have a bunch of games out front for kids,” she added. “We have blocks,
puzzles — anything to get the kids attracted to the shop. Every small town has a candy store. The fact that we didn’t was crazy.”
Dallas sees Earl’s Old Time Candy as a partnership between her family and the public.
“The weekend we opened, we asked people if there was anything we’re missing,” she said. “We had a huge list and we purchased everything we could.”
Dallas was born and raised in Cave Creek, graduating from Cactus Shadows High School in 2008. Dallas and
Collin have two children, Navy, 4, and Calvin, 2. She started working at Big Earl’s at age 21 and bought it seven years ago.
“Kim wanted to sell, and she said she wanted to sell it to me,” she recalled. “That’s when I was 24. I didn’t think I was going to buy a restaurant. I started working at an insurance company. I loved their family, but I’m not really cut out for a Monday through Friday job. So, I told Kim yes and I worked 60 hours a week and saved every penny I made. The next year, I bought Big Earl’s. We’ve more than doubled the business and now we’ve started another business.”
Dallas’ goal is to expand Big Earl’s across the Valley and have a candy shop attached to each one. She’s hoping to broaden the menu and open another family-friendly business.
“We’re just looking for the right property,” Dallas said. “We have kids and Cave Creek is awesome. We do the drive-in movies, and have pavers with games. Our kids want to be here with us, not because they have to be. Cave Creek is the best town, and we have the best customers who support our family so much. It’s been such a blessing to our family.
“The candy shop is Collin’s little baby. My daughter, Navy, asked if she could come down on opening day. I
told her I was going to be there for a while and she said, ‘I can do an eighthour shift, no problem.’ I brought my laptop, DVDs, blanket and pillows. But she wasn’t laying down. She was greeting customers, telling people how the bulk candy works. I gave her $2. That’s all she’s been talking about. But we’re not afraid of the economy. We’re going to keep doing what we want to do and make the town a better place.”
Earl’s Old Time Candy
6141 E. Cave Creek Road, Cave Creek 480-488-7920
10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sundays to Thursdays
10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays
Ihope you are feeling well and not exhausted or frustrated from the past year or current events. However, if you are tired or frustrated, this short article may bring a little crispness and happy new cheer this holiday season. Let me give a few examples of people looking at real-life situations who may be worn down and need to refocus.
Here’s someone projecting what they would feel about Mary after the birth of Jesus. “Mary, exhausted, having just gotten Jesus to sleep, is approached by a young man who thinks to himself, ‘What this girl needs is a drum solo.’ Here’s a frustrated person. ‘Speaking of drum solos, did you hear about the longest drum solo? Well, here it is. The longest drum solo was 10 hours and 26 minutes and was performed by the child sitting behind me on Delta 963 from Los Angeles to Tokyo.’” Enough said.
This example came from a post on FaceBook. “I need to rehome a dog. It’s a small terrier and tends to bark a lot. If you’re interested, let me know, and I’ll jump over my neighbor’s fence and get it for you.” Been there, done that and got the T-shirt.
This person is frustrated with themselves. “It’s perfectly OK to talk to yourself. But it’s totally sad that you must repeat what you said because you weren’t listening.”
Here’s a frustrated Hallmark viewer. “Men will say they don’t watch Hallmark Christmas movies because they’re unrealistic, but then watch a Godzilla movie about a giant lizard that breathes fire.” Hmm, I’ve got to
think about that one.
And here’s what to say to the English major who thinks they know everything. “Don’t use a big word when a singularly unloquacious and diminutive linguistic expression will satisfactorily accomplish the contemporary necessity.” Impressive, most impressive!
There now, wasn’t that refreshing? Those who are currently tired, frustrated, weary or angry often miss the crispness of Christmas. They are like, “Whatever.” They have no energy, margin, desire or mental energy for Christmas. This year, don’t let “whatever” rob you or your family of Christmas. Christmas is not about stuff or being stuffed. It’s about “whoever.” Christmas is about God showing humanity who God is and what God does. Earth wasn’t going to heaven, so heaven in the form of Jesus came to earth to reveal what God looks like and does.
Corrie Ten Boom captures the essence of Christmas for us. “Who can add to Christmas? The perfect motive is that God so loved the world. The perfect gift is that He gave His only Son. The only requirement is to believe in Him. The reward of faith is that you shall have everlasting life.”
Most people today are searching for the meaning of Christmas. They know something special is happening, but they can’t find it. It’s like the Christmas song that starts with an honest question, “Where are you Christmas? Why can’t I find you?” So, let me share with you what Christmas is about through the Christmas songs you have heard.
God made a way in the manger for us to get back to God, and that’s a joy to the world. On that first Noel, Christ
came upon a midnight clear to the little town of Bethlehem. He came with radiant beams from thy holy face, with the dawn of redeeming grace. So, God rest ye merry gentlemen, let nothing you dismay; remember Christ our savior was born on Christmas Day. So come all ye faithful, joyful and triumphant, and come let us adore Him, Christ the Lord.
When you understand who Christ is and why Christ was born, you deck the halls with boughs of holly, go riding in a one-horse open sleigh, dream of a white Christmas, have some figgy pudding, and come on, ring those bells. You shift from what child is this to what child this is. Christ is the Word of the Father, now in flesh appearing. He made a way in the manger for the way to the cross. He was born to raise the sons of Earth, born to give them a second birth. That’s not a wish dream. That’s reality.
I hope you are awakening, “There you are, Christmas! I couldn’t find you because I didn’t know the reason for the season.” God uses Christmas to help us wake up, shake up and put on our makeup. The powerful memories of family, traditions, the holiday seasons, songs and presents under the tree are only vehicles to bring to our remembrance the most extraordinary Christmas Gift of all, God’s son.
God uses Christmas like the star that led the three wise men to Christ. Why? God knows we need a star to guide us. We need bright light to lead us through the dark nights that we all have. The Magi understood this. Even though they were rich, educated rulers and possessed every available comfort, they were wise enough to know they needed a guide to fol-
low that star required wisdom, humility, and an honest appraisal of their lives.
Do you know what? Wise people still seek him. Discerning seekers want to know the real meaning of Christmas. And God treats us the same way as Magi following yonder stars. God is gently leading, still proceeding, guiding us to His perfect light on that O Holy Night.
It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas. So have yourself a Merry little Christmas now.
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.
Musical Theatre of Anthem will hold auditions for “The SpongeBob Musical” on Saturday, Feb. 3, for ages 6 through adult.
All youth ages 6 to 19 are cast. The performances are April 27 to May 14.
In “The SpongeBob Musical,” SpongeBob and all of Bikini Bottom face the total annihilation of their undersea world. Just when al hope seems lost, an unexpected hero rises up and takes center stage. The power of optimism saves the world.
The SpongeBob Musical is based on the beloved animated series created by Stephen Hillenburg and features a book by Kyle Jarrow, with original songs by Yolanda Adams, Steven Tyler and Joe Perry of Aerosmith, Sara Bareilles,
Jonathan Coulton, Alexander Ebert of Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros, The Flaming Lips, Lady A, Cyndi Lauper, John Legend, Panic! At the Disco, Plain White T’s, They Might Be Giants and T.I., and songs by David Bowie, Tom Kenny and Andy Paley.
Additional lyrics are by Jonathan Coulton, with additional music by Tom Kitt. The musical production was conceived by Tina Landau.
Auditions: Saturday, Feb. 4:
• 9 a.m.: Auditions for workshop participants (A-L)
• 9:45 a.m.: Auditions for workshop participants (M-Z)
• 10:30 a.m.: General Auditions
• Dance Call 1: 9 a.m. Sunday, Feb. 5
• Dance Call 2: 9:45 a.m. Sunday, Feb. 5
• Callbacks: 10:30 a.m. Sunday, Feb. 5
The auditions will be held at the performance space at 42201 N. 41st Drive, Suite B100, Anthem.
The tuition and costume fee for this production is $325 for youth ages 6 to 19, 10% sibling discount. Sibling discount on second registration will be refunded via PayPal within 24 hours of payment received. Scholarships available.
Those auditioning should bring a musical theater song (or any song they are comfortable with), 16 to 32 bars or 1 minute in length. Bring an accompaniment with CD or mobile device to sing with.
They may sing a cappella, if needed. Have your registration materials completed prior to coming to the audition. For materials and additional information and to reserve your spot, visit MTA’s
website musicaltheatreofanthem.org.
Audition Preparation Workshops will be held at MTA:
• 4:30 to 6 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 2, for ages 6-12
• 6:30 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 2, for ages 13 and older
• 6:30 to 8 p.m. Friday, Feb. 3, for ages 13 and older
During these 90-minute session, participants will be instructed on cold reads, acting technique and characterization. Participants of the workshops will get to audition prior to the general audition time. Cost is just $35, and space is limited. There is a 10% sibling discount. For more information and to reserve a spot, visit musicaltheatreofanthem.org.
Heart attacks increase in December and January, according to several studies. Whether it’s holiday stress or overindulgence, holiday heart troubles are real. Don’t be a victim of the “Christmas coronary” or “Hanukkah heart attack.”
Doctors from Abrazo Health say it’s important to know the warning signs of heart attack. Coronary death rates in December and January were some 33% higher than during summer months, said study results published in Circulation.
“The classic heart attack comes on
suddenly, but many start slowly with mild pain and discomfort. If you or someone you know is experiencing anxiety or stress accompanied by chest discomfort during the holidays, take that as a sign to slow down a bit. Overindulgence also plays a role in holiday health issues. Don’t overeat and limit your alcohol consumption,” said Dr. Sharon Sadeghinia, a cardiologist on the medical staff at Abrazo Arrowhead Campus and Abrazo West Campus.
Moderate daily exercise and a healthy diet help reduce your risk for heart disease, Sadeghinia said. “If possible, stay away from soft drinks and foods high in carbohydrates and starches. Portion
control and eating more vegetables and greens are important, too.”
Dr. Katie Duncan, medical director of Obesity Medicine at Abrazo Scottsdale Campus, offers a few healthy eating tips for the holidays. “Eat a light meal high in protein before you go to the party. If you arrive hungry, you’re more likely to make poor food decisions,” Duncan said.
“When you’re snacking, use a small plate to encourage smaller portion sizes. Small portions mean you are less likely feel deprived.”
Stress and anxiety are known to contribute to numerous health problems, so it’s important to know the risks and ways to reduce the likelihood of experiencing a heart attack and heart disease.
“Anxiety, becoming emotionally upset or angry can raise blood pressure and heart rate, which changes blood flow and reduces blood supply to the heart. This can lead to a heart attack or other cardiovascular problems,” said Dr. Gopi Cherukuri, an interventional cardiologist at Abrazo Arizona Heart Hospital.
More than 18.2 million adults over age 20 have coronary heart disease, and each year about 805,000 people in the United States have a heart attack, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Signs of heart attack include:
• Chest tightness
• Shortness of breath
• Pain between the shoulder blades or in the arm, jaw, chest or upper abdomen
• Dizziness or fatigue
• Clammy skin or cold sweat
• Indigestion or nausea and vomiting
Call 911 right away if you or someone else has any of these symptoms.
“The holidays are a time of celebration, but for some it can also be overwhelming. Know your limits and listen to our body. If you experience tightness in your chest or any of the classic signs of a heart attack, don’t delay seeking care,” Cherukuri said.
For more information about Abrazo Health hospitals, take a free health risk assessment or to find a doctor, visit abrazohealth.com.
Classless Act frontman Derek Day bounces with energy first thing in the morning.
He’s feeling great and strives to always have fun, whether it’s on or off the stage. Day said he’s here to make people happy.
“We like to have fun,” said the Eagle Rock, California, resident, calling from snowy Syracuse, New York. “That’s pretty much all we do.”
Fans can get a taste of it themselves when Classless Act plays Valley Bar on Thursday, Dec. 29.
“It’s rock ‘n’ roll,” he said. “You’ll hear a little bit of something fresh going on. If you hate every single song on our album, you might like a 2-second piece of music. That’s what I tell people: we have 2 seconds for everyone. When you see the live show, you’ll get it. The vibe is always great on stage.”
Day honed his skills busking on the Third Street Promenade in Santa Monica, California. He admitted it was a little daunting at first, but when he loosened up, he found his calling.
“The first year or so was really tricky,” he said. “But it was something I was looking at since I was a kid. I would go visit there. At 13, I already had so many ideas. It was hard to break out of my shell, but that’s how I learned to break out of my shell.”
Influenced by Queen, Led Zeppelin, The Beatles, Guns N’ Roses and Bowie, the LA-based five-piece Classless Act brings a fresh, young take on a golden age of music.
“I have a little disco in my blood, too,” Day said. “My mom bumped disco in our living room. That got me into my true passion, which is melodies and what makes a song really groove and sing.”
They’ve been applauded by the likes of Jane’s Addiction and only released its debut single, “Give It to Me,” in 2021.
“It’s humbling,” Day said about the compliments. “You just want to make these guys proud. We’ve had the chance to work with some of these people like (Metallica producer) Bob Rock and (The Darkness singer/guitarist) Justin Hawkins, who’s a real clever dude; very artistic and awesome. At the end of the day, you can only speak with your work.”
Classless Act’s debut, “Welcome to the Show,” quickly racked up 2 million streams, which led them to The Stadium Tour with Motley Crue, Def Leppard, Joan Jett and Poison. Motley Crue’s Vince Neil appears on Classless Act’s album.
While the music tells its own story, so do the members of the band, hailing from around the globe. The band — which also features guitarists Dane Pieper and Griffin Tucker, bassist Franco Gravante and drummer Chuck McKissock — formed in 2018 when they met through friends via social media.
They quickly bonded over anthemic
rhythms, shreddy guitars, soaring vocals and clever arrangements. For Day, writing lyrics wasn’t the easiest thing at first. “Lyrics are daunting,” he said with a laugh. “It has to sound good. It has to have voice. It has to sound fresh. You don’t want to write about what other people are writing. Now, I really love lyrics. Once you start journaling for yourself, it’s not bad.”
Before joining Classless Act, Day recorded a few EPs and one full length by his first year of community college. After releasing his first solo-experimental EP in the summer of 2016, he opened for Steve Vai’s 25th anniversary tour of the “Passion and Warfare” album.
From there, he hit up NAMM and then opening slots for Ted Nugent for his “Rockin’ America Again” jaunt. His resume also includes stints with Living Colour’s Vernon Reid and Corey Glover for the Chuck Berry tribute at the Lincoln Center. The Fender-endorsed musician joined Living Colour on its “Shade in the USA” tour, and Steel Panther in Fort Lauderdale.
In 2018, he and Reid collaborated on music and that March, Classless Act asked him to join. Their sixth show as a band was a gig opening for Slash featuring Myles Kennedy and The Conspirators at the Palladium.
Classless Act is filled with young veterans, if the two words can be used to -
gether. Day said he’s been in the business for 15 years and everyone has released records.
“We’re all in love with each other. We’re all brothers,” he said. “It’s crazy to say our first album dropped this year. It’s like, ‘Whoa. This is crazy.’ This weird social media thing has been intertwined with beautiful synchronicity and good timing. We went through different members. They had two other singers before me. Once we got this right combination, it was like the Power Rangers.”
When he’s home in Eagle Rock, he writes music and works around town as a session artist. He loves his German shepherd, Stella, to death, even though she’s the “clumsiest thing ever.”
He’s looking forward to his hometown show.
“It’s just the most electrifying kick ass, you can’t take your eyes off it spectacle,” he said with a laugh. “We love to have so much fun on stage. I learned how to move around from the streets, from busking. I love having a good old time. We’re a little funny, a little jokey, a little classless — it’s all in the name.”
Classless Act w/special guests
WHEN: 7 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 29
WHERE: Valley Bar, 130 N. Central Ave, Phoenix COST: $12.50 in advance, $15 at the door; 16 and older
INFO: valleybarphx.com
Lisa Jurmu of Phoenix has been named to the summer 2022 quarter dean’s list at Palmer College of Chiropractic’s Florida Campus in Port Orange, Florida.
Palmer College of Chiropractic, the first and largest college in the chiropractic profession, has campuses in Davenport, Iowa; San Jose, California; and Port Orange, Florida.
Approximately 1,600 students were named to the dean’s list at Biola University in La Mirada, California, for the spring 2022 semester. Biola students are placed on the dean’s list to honor those with a GPA of 3.6 or higher while enrolled in 12 or more credits and whose cumulative GPA is at least 3.2.
The following local students were recognized on the dean’s list:
Megan Gauharou of Phoenix, majoring in human biology
Noah Hendricks of Phoenix, majoring in psychology
Gabriella Jenkins of Anthem, majoring in biological science
Miranda Payne of Cave Creek, majoring in nursing
“Inclusion in Biola University’s Dean’s List is reserved for students who demonstrate exceptional performance in their academic studies,” said Tamara Anderson, associate provost of academic effectiveness and administration.
“This honor signifies hard work, engagement and investment in scholarship. These attributes are the building blocks of continued success, not only in the classroom, but in the workplace and in the students’ personal lives. We celebrate these students and their achievement, looking forward to their future accomplishments.”
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