The Foothills Focus - Zone 2 - 12.30.2020

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Wednesday, December 30, 2020

CCUSD superintendent retiring after 12 years

BY SARA EDWARDS Foothills Focus Contributing Writer

3 Deer Valley Unified schools given A+ ratings

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ave Creek Unified School District Superintendent Dr. Debbi Burdick is retiring after 12 years.

Burdick joined the district in 2004 as associate superintendent and became the interim superintendent in 2008 before she officially took the position.

“A humble thank you to the entire CCUSD community for working alongside me for

the benefit of our students,” she said. “I will miss working with the incredible CCUSD staff, parents and students, but I look forward to continuing to support our schools as a shareholder in our extraordinary CCUSD community.”

Burdick earned two master’s degrees from Eastern Illinois University and a bachelor’s degree at Western Illinois University. In 1995, she and her family moved to Arizona.

She earned her doctorate degree from ASU. Throughout her career, before her superin-

tendent position, Burdick has held teacher, principal and educational consultant positions. She was also an adjunct professor at Grand Canyon University and ASU. She’s been an educator for 47 years.

“It is special to have the opportunity to live and work in the same community, and I have been blessed with so many deep relationships and friendships,” Burdick said.

“The professionalism and skill of our edu-

��� CCUSD ���� 5

‘Blessing Squad’ gives gift cards to needy families

YOUTH ............19

Arizona Coyotes give back to Village Meadows students

YOUTH ...........20

Girl Scout cookie season returns

OPINION ................... 12 BUSINESS ................. 13 FEATURES ................ 15 YOUTH ...................... 18 CLASSIFIEDS ............ 21 Zone

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BY SARAH DONAHUE Foothills Focus Staff Writer

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here’s no question that many families are suffering financially and emotionally due to the unprecedented challenges that come with the COVID-19 pandemic.

This inspired Adam Johnson, CEO and founder of Doody Defense, a pet waste removal and odor control service, to team with other North Valley businesses to give two families $500 gift cards, assembling what he dubbed “The Blessing Squad.”

“I reached out to local businesses in Anthem and New River, and not a single one hesitated,” Johnson said. “Everybody

��� BLESSING ���� 4

Adam Johnson, founder and CEO of Doody Defense, shows off his festively decorated company car. Johnson teamed up with other North Valley business owners to assemble “The Blessing Squad” to give away two $500 gift cards to two struggling local families. (Photo by Sarah Donahue)

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THE FOOTHILLS FOCUS | THEFOOTHILLSFOCUS.COM | DECEMBER 30, 2020

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THE FOOTHILLS FOCUS | THEFOOTHILLSFOCUS.COM | DECEMBER 30, 2020

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NEWS

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

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

The content of any advertisements are the sole responsibility of the advertiser. The Foothills Focus assumes no responsibility for the claims of any advertisement. © 2020 Strickbine Publishing, Inc.

THE FOOTHILLS FOCUS | THEFOOTHILLSFOCUS.COM | DECEMBER 30, 2020

BLESSING ���� ���� 1

jumped on board.

“What blew me away was we bypassed the two $500 gift cards,” he said a couple of days before the winners were announced. “Now we’re able to bless more families.”

To join the giveaway, people were instructed to send their story to togetherwebless@gmail.com explaining why they should be chosen. Individuals were also given the option to nominate others by writing about another family’s experiences.

The deadline for entries was December 7, and winners of the giveaway were announced in a live video on Johnson’s Facebook page on December 13. Two families won $500 gift cards as promised, and three to four families were gifted with the extra money raised.

Johnson, a father of four and member of Daisy Mountain Veterans, provided those who entered the giveaway but were not chosen with information and resources on organizations that can provide help and support during the Christ-

mas season, he said.

“They’re all going to be taken care of,” he said. “They’re not left high and dry.”

While dressed as a Christmas elf, Johnson announced the giveaway in a video posted on his Facebook page on November 18, explaining how to enter and listing the sponsors.

More than 20 people entered or nominated others, Johnson said. The most difficult part of the process was reading all the stories detailing the struggles, he said.

“I shed a lot of tears with my wife reading them all,” he said. “It was very difficult to narrow down.”

Because of that, Johnson said he asked sponsors to help him choose the winners, also to prevent bias, as he knew some of the families who entered.

This is The Blessing Squad’s first year, and it was “a huge success,” Johnson said. “Now, every year going forward, we will continue this Christmas blessing.”

In the coming years, the giveaway packages will likely be slightly smaller to extend the outreach to even more families, Johnson said.

Many sponsors already voiced their

desire to be part of The Blessing Squad again next year, Johnson said. He added many other business owners reached out to him, asking how to help and if they can be a part of the action next year, too.

Going forward, Johnson anticipates that the sum of giveaway amounts will exceed $5,000 or even $10,000.

“Next year The Blessing Squad is going to continue to get bigger and bigger and help more and more people with all the sponsors and all the partners,” he said.

It feels “wonderful” to be able to help others during this time, Johnson said.

He explained how he was lucky enough to be virtually unaffected by the downfalls of COVID-19 with his business at Doody Defense.

This was the case for many of the other sponsors, too, which made the business owners that much more inclined to give back to those in need of support, he said.

Before he founded his business four years ago, however, he and his family were in need of help, so he understands what it’s like, he said.

“I’ve been on the other side, where we had to get blessed one year, and it was something I’ve never ever forgotten,” Johnson said.

“That’s why my mission today is to help as many people as possible through all the organizations I work with.”

The Blessing Squad sponsors include: R & R Pavers Construction Company, Tonya Stewart with Libertas Real Estate, Gates and More LLC, North Valley Agents at Corcoran Platinum Living, The Tractor Dude Team, MNS Plumbing, Doody Defense, Blind Bear LLC, The Market and Spa on 41st, Daisy Mountain Veterinary Hospital, Sonoran Valley Dental Center, AZ Royals, Robbie Hall Mortgage Professional, The Gremlin Garage, Ironman Pool Care and North Valley Custom Hauling.

To Advertise 480.898.5606

erict@timespublications.com

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THE FOOTHILLS FOCUS | THEFOOTHILLSFOCUS.COM | DECEMBER 30, 2020

CCUSD ���� ���� 1

cators is unprecedented, and it has been an honor to work with them.”

Burdick is a National Christa McAuliffe Fellow from the Department of Education and has received multiple awards throughout her time in school and as an educator. She earned the AZ School Administrator’s Education Doctoral Student of the Year while at ASU and was awarded the Outstanding Senior in Education at Western Illinois University. In 2017, she was the Arizona Superintendent of the Year for the National Superintendent program.

She serves as a board member for the Cave Creek Unified Educational Foundation, Carefree Cave Creek Chamber of Commerce, the AZ Musicfest Board, the Desert Foothills YMCA Advisory Board and the AASA National Superintendents Organization’s Governing Board.

Burdick’s work with the school district expanded in her time as superintendent. All schools received an A+ status while earning a top 10 ranking for high standardized testing scores. Horseshoe Trails Elementary School was also named a National Blue Ribbon School in September.

She helped establish the district’s first foundation, the Cave Creek Unified Education Foundation, in August 2008 to provide educational grants for teachers.

“It’s one of my proudest moments for our school district,” Burdick told North Valley Magazine, a sister publication to The Foothills Focus.

“It took two years to start the foundation, and since that time, we’ve raised

like to do,” she said.

Burdick plans to stay in Arizona during her retirement, going back and forth between her home here and in Illinois. She said she and her husband look forward to traveling and visiting with family without having to worry about meetings or appointments interrupting their time together.

“I really want to focus on my family because my family has been really gracious, especially my husband, in allowing me to do my educational work for 47 years. I’m really passionate about it,” Burdick said.

“We want to travel. We’re beach people, so we’re ready to be near the ocean.”

Burdick’s last day is December 31.

HAVE A NEWS STORY? Contact Christina Fuoco-Karasinski at 480-898-5631

Cave Creek Unified School District Superintendent Dr. Debbi Burdick is retiring after 12 years. Her last day is December 31. (Photo courtesy Cave Creek Unified School District) money every year to give teachers grants.”

Another one of Burdick’s accomplishments is creating the Superintendent’s Challenge, which pushed and encouraged students to volunteer in their communities. She said she loved seeing students get excited about volunteering and helping out until it became something the students do on a regular basis.

“I’m very proud of students who went way beyond their required hours because it just became part of what they

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NEWS

THE FOOTHILLS FOCUS | THEFOOTHILLSFOCUS.COM | DECEMBER 30, 2020

Library looking for memories of facility

BY FOOTHILLS FOCUS STAFF

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he Desert Foothills Library will recall its past, present and future this February in what the board of directors has coined “I Love My Library Stories Month.”

Residents are invited to participate in special programs and celebrations that highlight the library’s impact on the community for more than 67 years. During the month-long celebration, the library will share the treasured stories of patrons throughout the years.

Those who have a special memory of the library should email celebration@dfla.org or call 480-488-2286 and the library will include it in the festivities.

The highlight of the month-long celebration is the virtual celebration Saturday, February 13. The virtual celebration is a creative reimagining of the library’s annual gala.

Tickets start at $125 and include an artisanal charcuterie sampler, a bottle of champagne, a floral centerpiece, a commemorative library memento, a special “I Love My Library

Month” video, and access to a silent auction and raffle. Registration for silent auction, raffle and video is free. For more detailed information, visit dfla.org.

“Adversity inspires creativity,” said Anne Johnson, executive director of the Desert Foothills Library. “Our celebration committee has worked hard to create a unique event

that everyone can enjoy safely. The support of our community over the past year has been overwhelming. Our donors understand we are a nonprofit library that relies on their generous contributions. It is because of them that we have been able to significantly impact the lives of our users. They have ensured the Library is here for you today and

here for you tomorrow. We want to celebrate this sentiment all month long.”

The Desert Foothills Library is an independently funded 501(c)(3) nonprofit that serves the whole Desert Foothills community. For more information or to make a tax-deductible donation, visit dfla.org or call 480488-2286.

BY FOOTHILLS FOCUS STAFF

Kiwanis had made to assist with the renovations to their building. These funds supported Club 1117, which is known as the teen room in the library. Library Executive Director Anne Johnson accepted the donation and provided a detailed update on programs the library is offering with the COVID-19 restrictions. She also told of programs designed to attract young people to the library once it reopens.

Donnie Veal was the keynote speaker, telling the group about his history as an aspiring professional baseball player and a Major League scout.

He said his parents taught him and his brother to reach their scholastic goals before playing sports. He spoke in detail of the complications his fellow baseball rising star players experienced once they reached the professional ranks, in dealing with financial issues due to their new fame and earnings.

His parents taught him how to deal with his new-found wealth. To this day, when he is recruiting, he looks for young baseball talent who have had to encounter and overcome significant roadblocks in their progress up the baseball chain to the professional ranks.

Kiwanis welcomes Donnie Veal to meeting

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haired by President Kimberly Marie Jack, the Kiwanis Club of Carefree hosted an event at the Sanderson Ford Pavilion in Carefree.

Jack called upon Ted Dimon and his personal orchestra to lead a patriotic song and story. His story choice was the history of Arlington National Cemetery.

This was followed by a presentation to the Foothills Library of a major donation of $50,000 as the second part of a commitment

NEWS

THE FOOTHILLS FOCUS | THEFOOTHILLSFOCUS.COM | DECEMBER 30, 2020

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What to know about open carry gun laws in Arizona

BY AYANNA MUHAMMAD Cronkite News

mediate control of anyone in the vehicle. tion Arizona Concealed Carry. But a gun By 1994, Arizona passed its first law Firearms must be transported in a case, permit may be needed for people who allowing state-permitted gun owners holster, storage compartment, trunk or want to conceal their weapon on their to carry concealed weapons, according rizona has some of the least re- glove compartment. If the gun is in a hol- person. Without a permit, owners can’t to the same article. In 2009, the state strictive gun laws in the United ster, then it can be concealed anywhere conceal and carry in any other states. Ar- Legislature allowed Arizona residents to States, one of three countries that in the car. izona has a reciprocity agreement with carry concealed weapons into bars and consider gun ownership a constitutional “Arizona is considerably more permis- 37 states that allows concealed firearms restaurants that serve alcohol. right. sive than most states when it comes to with an Arizona permit. The states vary Gun ownership tends to happen earConsider this data: Americans own concealed carry,” said Adam Winkler, a depending on if you are an Arizona res- lier for people who grew up with guns. more than 390 million guns—with professor at the UCLA School of Law and ident or not.

A 2017 study by Pew Research Center 120.5 civilian firearms per 100 people, an expert on gun rights and civil liberties.

Arizona’s history of “open carry” and found that 67% of gun owners grew up according to a study by the World PopResidents who are at least 21 can le- “concealed carry” gun laws are inter- with guns in their households and 76% ulation Review. gally own or purchase a firearm, can car- twined. first fired a gun before they were 18.

In February, Arizona ranked seventh ry a gun loaded and concealed without When Arizona was still a territory, The study shows owners who grew up for the number of registered guns per any type of permit in their vehicle and some cities had stricter gun laws than with firearms received their first gun at state, at 204,000, according to a tele- around the state, according to Arizona’s those now in place. age 20 on average, while those who did phone survey conducted by CBS News concealed carry law. The measure, which “A place like Tombstone, back in the not got their first guns at age 26. and ranked by ThoughtCo. That number was established in July 2010, also elimi- 1880s, prohibited open carry of fireGun ownership varies based on demo19.11 MIS79170 PRM Tax Credit AD - SanTan Sun News 10 x 6. 6 is far from complete, however, because nated the need for a permit for those 21 arms,” Winkler said. graphics. Men are more likely to own a Arizona is one of 44 states that do not or older to carry a concealed firearm.

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THE FOOTHILLS FOCUS | THEFOOTHILLSFOCUS.COM | DECEMBER 30, 2020

2020’s gun background checks hit record

BY CALAH SCHLABACH Cronkite News

B

ackground checks for gun purchases in Arizona hit their highest level ever in 2020, driven by an unprecedented convergence of a pandemic, a summer of national unrest and a presidential election, experts said.

With a month left to go in the year, 610,911 background checks had been performed in the state through November, well over the 372,912 done in all of 2019, according to FBI data.

The Arizona spike is part of a nationwide increase, said Kelly Drane, research director at Giffords Law Center, a gun control advocacy group. She estimated that there was a nearly 90% increase in gun sales nationally from March to October this year compared to last year, with early data indicating “a substantial number of these purchases were made by new gun owners.”

Veerachart Murphy said that is what he has seen at Ammo AZ, the North Phoenix

gun store he owns, where there has been a “huge uptick in first-time buyers.”

“Between the election and COVID and shutdowns and riots, it was enough to get them off the couch and come in and actually make their first purchase,” Murphy said of “people that were kind of maybe on the fence” about buying a gun.

He said his biggest spike in sales came early this year as COVID-19 began dominating the news, with a 400% increase in sales from January to February. He attributes it to anxiety about a possible pandemic-related lockdown.

Sales remained relatively high, he said, until another spike in the summer, when clashes between police and protesters were in the headlines.

That experience tracks the FBI’s data, which shows that Arizona had the highest number of background checks in March, with nearly 83,000, followed by June and July, which had 74,000 and 60,000 background checks, respectively.

Murphy said he has seen similar spikes

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since he got into the gun business in 2013, usually after active-shooter incidents or mass shootings—and before the 2016 presidential election, when sales jumped in anticipation of a win

by Democrat Hillary Clinton. Sales tailed off then after gun-friendly President Donald Trump took office.

Sales through November 2020 were already 47% higher than in all of 2016, which had been the record for the state.

“It’s almost like the stock market, where something doesn’t actually have to happen to set off this market. It’s the threat of something, or the potential that something happens that will trigger this market,” Murphy said.

With President-elect Joe Biden set to be sworn in on January 20, Murphy expects gun sales to stay high, and he expects to double last year’s net sales.

“I think this is going to be it for the foreseeable future with Biden in office. We saw kind of the same thing with Obama in office,” said Murphy, who posted then-President Barack Obama’s picture in his store as employee of the month. “That should give you kind of an idea of how everybody reacts to … a Democratic-controlled presidency.”

During past gun-sale spikes, however, people were buying up AR-15s, thinking they would get taken away after mass shootings or by Democratic administrations. Now, Murphy said, “people are buying everything.”

“It doesn’t matter—whatever you can get your hands on. People are literally buying everything, handguns, rifles, shotguns,” he said.

“Everything is going.”

It’s a “hoarding mentality” he compared to stocking up on toilet paper and hand sanitizer at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic.

But guns are not toilet paper. Drane said increased gun sales have coincided with increased gun violence in U.S. cities and

more calls to domestic violence and suicide hotlines. Such correlations are well known from previous research, she said, but may be more dangerous during the pandemic— which is expected to worsen this winter.

“The risks posed by these new firearm purchases may be particularly severe when coupled with the risks for gun violence exacerbated by the pandemic, such as economic uncertainty, unemployment and social isolation,” Drane said. “These conditions have historically been associated with increased suicide attempts and deaths.”

Drane said 90% of suicide attempts with a firearm end in death, and domestic violence victims are five times more likely to be killed when their abuser has a gun. With more people stuck at home, she said, domestic violence victims may not have access to supportive services, and with more children at home, there is a greater risk of unintentional shootings with improperly stored guns.

“While the gun lobby uses fear to promote the panic-buying of guns, all Americans should be aware of the risks of having a gun in the home,” Drane said.

But Murphy said gun-buying he has seen has been a nonpartisan exercise, with liberals in his store for the first time. He said his neighbor in Scottsdale—who he called an “uber-liberal huge Biden supporter”— bought his first gun after the unrest there this summer.

Drane said the bottom line is, “if you do decide to purchase a gun, we encourage you to learn about and practice safe gun storage, which is a foundational part of being a responsible gun owner.”

NEWS

THE FOOTHILLS FOCUS | THEFOOTHILLSFOCUS.COM | DECEMBER 30, 2020

9

3 Deer Valley Uni�ied schools given A+ ratings

BY MONICA ALLREAD Foothills Focus Contributing Writer

C

anyon Springs STEM Academy, Desert Mountain School and Gavilan Peak School are among the Arizona Educational Foundation’s 2020 A+ Schools of Excellence in the Deer Valley Unified School District.

During the past two decades, AEF has recognized 20 DVUSD schools as A+ Schools of Excellence.

The A+ program provides schools with a comprehensive plan and evaluation that encourages self-assessment, planning and community engagement. Schools that earn the title of A+ School of Excellence go above and beyond the everyday expectations and share the following traits: • Models quality and equity.

• Demonstrates a strong commitment to academic excellence.

• Responds successfully to the changing environment of education.

• Cultivates learning-centered, safe school

Canyon Springs STEM Academy students are focused on science, technology, engineering and math (STEM). (Photo courtesy Deer Valley Unified

School District)

environments.

• Encourages innovative instruction by supporting teachers.

• Actively addresses students’ social, emotional, physical and intellectual needs.

• Demonstrates superior ability to go above and beyond the norm in providing services to children, families and the community.

Canyon Springs STEM Academy was recognized for encompassing a strong culture of collaboration.

Walking through the campus, the colorful hallways depict the theme of each grade level. This school is doing amazing things in the arena of STEM, and it is obvious there is buy-in from their families and the community. In addition, their special education program is doing wonderful things to add to the achievement of all students. The principal and assistant principal are proud of their school and take an active role in all that happens on their campus.

During the Desert Mountain School site visit, the AEF team observed fantastic programs. The student tour was excellent, and it was clear that the students know and love their school.

The students also have a great deal of pride in their school and each other. Students were actively engaged in learning at each level. Respect for all was evident, and the TIG—or teamwork, integrity and growth—concept was felt throughout the

school. Staff is dedicated to providing an outstanding learning environment for their hawks. Desert Mountain’s mission to “ensure all students achieve academic success and develop social skills needed to care, connect and collaborate throughout their lives” is what keeps staff focused on the needs of all students.

Gavilan Peak School boasts an impressive Mandarin Immersion Program along with a strong culture of acceptance and caring bolstered by the EQ Program. The school is invested in the PLC constructs and is working to strengthen data-driven instruction through the processes. The campus has an environment in which students are inspired to explore their limitless possibilities.

Teachers and administration collaborate to develop unique and engaging learning opportunities, data drives instruction, and the campus is immersed in Mandarin culture. In addition to striving for excellence in academics, Gavilan Peak also affords a safe and caring campus that promotes a positive learning environment for all.

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AROUND THE BLUHMIN’ TOWN

Strive for happiness in 2021

BY JUDY BLUHM Foothills Focus Columnist

I

s it safe to say “good riddance” to 2020? What a year!

Unimaginable how our world and lives have changed since the wrecking ball of a coronavirus arrived. Yet, we were able to end the year by witnessing the “Christmas Star,” a conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn that hasn’t been visible in about 800 years and won’t be again for another 60 years. One last brilliant light in the sky to lead us out of 2020 and into the hope of a peaceful and healthy year. Looking ahead,

shall we make a list of New Year’s resolutions?

My colleague has made a resolution to stop worrying (drastic). I have a friend who wants to train her Arabian for a 100-mile race (crazy). Can you imagine sitting in a saddle for 100 miles? Another colleague has a wife who claims she will not cook a meal for the entire year of 2021 so she can “rest” her culinary skills and “free” herself to “do more important things.”

Hmmm. In my house, not cooking translates to not eating.

I suppose this begs the question: Why bother making New Year’s resolutions? Aren’t they those impossi-

How to get a letter published E-mail: christina@timespublications.com

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

ble little statements of things we will do or goals we will achieve that only create disappointment? If we must make New Year’s resolutions, why not promise ourselves things that we can actually accomplish? Let’s be bold! Yes, we can gain 10 pounds in 2021! Oh, and let’s spend less time exercising and more time lounging around. And we should plan on procrastinating a little bit more. We will not declutter our closets! Dear readers, we can conquer 2021 with a more reasonable attitude!

This has been the year of COVID-19; killer hornets; elections; Zoom calls; and cancellations of weddings, parties, sports, school, meetings and vacations.

Just the fact that we survived is all we need to celebrate! So, sip a glass of bubbly and make a toast to better days ahead. Thankfully, 2021 is coming.

Still, if we must make resolutions, let’s dream big. My teenage niece wants to dye her hair red on her next birthday. She thinks “life will be better” as a redhead. And I have a client who wants to learn how to jump her horse.

I have always wanted to do this—but

must I be on him when he jumps? A colleague of mine who is turning 50 in 2021 wants to jump out of an airplane (with a parachute I imagine).

My brother is taking up French. Hmm. Maybe these resolutions are worthy because they help us create who we want to become. And the promise of a “better life” sounds pretty darn good.

Perhaps our lives have become too mundane. Take a chance!

So, in 2021, strive for happiness.

Do something different. You might see me around town with red hair and speaking French. Oh, we are so ready for this New Year! And as the French like to say … bonne année et bonne santé.

Judy Bluhm is a writer and a local Realtor who lives in Skull Valley. Have a story or a comment? Email Judy at judy@judybluhm.com.

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OPINION

THE FOOTHILLS FOCUS | THEFOOTHILLSFOCUS.COM | DECEMBER 30, 2020

My New Year’s wish: Cancel the party

BY DAVID LEIBOWITZ Foothills Focus Columnist

A

s we stare 2021 in the face, here’s hoping that our elected leaders take a stand against one of the most serious public health threats currently facing the state of Arizona.

New Year’s Eve. Which this year might as well be known as “The Planet’s Largest One-Night Superspreader Event.”

One of the things we have learned about COVID-19 this year is that the virus thrives on congregations and people spending time together unmasked and in close proximity.

That makes holidays especially dangerous in terms of community spread, as we saw a couple weeks after Thanksgiving, when positive case numbers spiked in Arizona and across the United States.

As someone who has urged a balance between social restrictions and the economic damage those restrictions create—

and as a human being who values family, spirituality and interpersonal connection—I was loath to suggest we legislate Hanukkah and Christmas out of existence this year.

But let’s be honest: New Year’s Eve has no such emotional or familial weight. It’s mostly just an excuse to tie one on for folks who are into that sort of thing.

Personally, if history is any indication, I’ll be asleep before the ball drops in Times Square in New York City—where they intend to have a televised celebration sans crowd in 2021.

As for the rest of you, you may not like this, but I’d be thrilled if our state’s governor, mayors and county supervisors took a page out of Tucson and Pima County’s book for one night only and declared a mandatory curfew beginning at 10 p.m. sharp and lasting until 5 in the morning.

We can exempt first responders, doctors, nurses and other health care professionals, essential workers and the homeless, along with anyone else headed to work or deal-

ing with a legitimate emergency.

In keeping with the Pima County measure, bars, restaurants, clubs and other businesses that help people defy the curfew—say, by serving champagne at midnight—would be subject to having their licenses or business permits revoked.

As for individual curfew breakers, I’d rather not tie up police officers writing citations as opposed to, say, tracking down New Year’s drunken drivers. But a stern warning wouldn’t bother me much.

For the past nine months, I’ve found myself repeatedly caught between two warring factions: people who think COVID-19 is fake and believe every mitigation measure is abysmally stupid and people who want to lock down the entire state “because if a lockdown would be enough to save even a single life, then that’s our responsibility.”

I have disagreed with both sides at every turn, arguing instead for two things these camps seem to have forgotten: personal responsibility and balance.

The notion of a New Year’s Eve curfew irks me, because it represents government depriving citizens of our freedom.

With that said, it’s not much of a deprivation: one night where we’d be forced to head home a few hours early. Balanced against avoiding the inevitable positive case spike, especially after the Christmas holidays, one night of curtailed fun seems a small price to pay.

With the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines already being distributed and an end to this nightmarish year—and potentially the pandemic—finally at hand, now seems like a lousy time to risk your health or the health of those you love.

Regardless, even a cursory scan of the event listings shows lots of nightclubs planning to host lots of New Year’s parties to welcome in 2021. Not to mention thousands of intimate gatherings that will happen in thousands of living rooms.

There oughta be a law. Because hoping people will display some common sense has failed all year long.

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BUSINESS

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Mom turns daughter’s vision into reality

BY SARAH DONAHUE Foothills Focus Staff Writer

P

atricia Brusha lost her 28-year-old daughter, Courtney Michaels, to alcoholism in June 2019, when she died of stage 4 cirrhosis of the liver. When her funeral came around, in lieu of �lowers, she asked guests to bring purses, which would be donated to people coming out of rehab.

This idea was inspired by Michaels’ personal experience with rehab, as she saw that rehab graduates were only given a plastic bag to carry their things into the world.

“I feel like I’m coming out of prison rather than doing something good for myself,” Michaels would say to her mother.

When Michaels thought she overcame her alcoholism, she decided to give back to the rehab community by collecting and donating purses so that they can make a good �irst impression on the outside.

Michaels and Brusha had started the process of collecting and donating purses until Michaels ultimately lost her battle with alcoholism, Brusha said.

But when funeral attendees donated 400 purses, Brusha realized she could still make her late daughter’s vision a reality. Brusha came out of retirement and created a nonpro�it 501(c)(3) called Purse Impressions, starting the operation in her home and later establishing a charity boutique in Cave Creek’s Mariachi Plaza in October.

In a year and a half, Purse Impressions has donated over 1,400 bags to rehab graduates, Brusha said. Purse Impression accepts donations in the form of new or gently used purses, as well as jewelry, accessories and cash.

Rehab centers with the Purse Impressions program set up a “little store” so “when somebody graduates after their 28- or 30day program, they actually go in and pick a purse that speaks to them,” Brusha said. She added that each person hears the story of Michaels when they choose their purse.

Men who graduate rehab are not left out, Brusha said, adding that Purse Impression donates backpacks as well as “murses,” or male purses.

Each donated bag is �illed with hygiene kits, sanitary products, and a handwritten note from Brusha.

When Brusha’s home was �illed to the brim with donated purses, she said she realized she needed more space and decided to open the charity boutique.

Opening the boutique has helped to provide the charity with sustainable funding and donations, Brusha said. Skechers donated socks and her dentist donated toothbrushes, she said, adding that she hopes to get corporate sponsors in the future to help

supply the hygiene kits.

The charity boutique is open 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday.

By selling some of the high-end donated purses in the boutique, she raises money to purchase supplies for the hygiene and sanitary kits. Brusha makes an effort to keep prices low, she said, adding that 100% of the proceeds go to Purse Impressions.

While Brusha was nervous about opening a shop in the midst of a pandemic, “The boutique has been working out really well, better than expected actually,” Brusha said.

“I think in this time of COVID, people want to do something where they feel like they’re doing something good,” she said, adding that the charity boutique provides that.

“One of the bonuses is I didn’t realize how happy people would be with their purses,” she said. When Brusha sells a purse, she often knows the person who donated it and has the chance to tell the customer a little bit about who it belonged to previously. “It’s like the sisterhood of the traveling purses.”

Tables with wallets and small purses sit outside the boutique, and as customers enter, their eyes are met with brightly colored walls and displays of purses, jewelry and scarves.

In the next room, where customers go to check out, there are photos hanging on the wall showing rehab graduates with their new purses. A framed portrait of Michaels

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BUSINESS

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PURSES From Page 13

sits upon the checkout desk.

“I say to people, ‘This started in memory of my daughter, Courtney, but it’s not a sad place—let’s talk purses.’ But I get that out that I’ve lost my daughter, because you just carry that with you. Always.”

Brusha said she was afraid that the boutique’s backstory would make people feel sad, but she’s found that the opposite holds true.

The boutique has become a “safe space” for Brusha to talk about her grief and for customers to talk about their stories as well, she said.

“What I have found is that everybody seems to be able to relate to either knowing somebody with an addiction problem or having lost somebody,” Brusha said.

“One thing I’ve learned is that addiction doesn’t discriminate,” Brusha said. No matter what race you are, what income you hold or what family you come from, it can happen to anyone, she said.

Brusha just recently achieved two years of sobriety, she said.

When Michaels was diagnosed with stage 4 cirrhosis of the liver, Brusha quit drink-

a healthy way to overcome her grief, she said.

“It’s saved my life,” Brusha said. “It’s given me a place to celebrate.

This is a happy place.”

Purse Impressions’ reach has extended beyond Cave Creek, Brusha said. There are now Purse Impression chapters run by Brusha’s friends and family in Florida; Colorado; WashPatricia Brusha, president of Purse Impressions, in the Purse Impres- ington, D.C.; as well as sions Charity Boutique. Brusha created the nonprofit in memory of Ontario, Canada. Purse her daughter, Courtney Michaels, who died at the age of 28 from Impressions partners stage 4 cirrhosis of the liver in June 2019. (Photo by Sarah Donahue) with 10 different rehab providers, she said.

Anyone can start a Purse Impressions ing, too, she said. Brusha explained that she thought it was “hypocritical” to drink when chapter anywhere, Brusha said. All one the doctors told Michaels she could never needs to do is start collecting purses in their area, get in touch with a nearby rehab drink again.

“She was my best friend,” Brusha said facility and tell them about the program. about Michaels, with tears in her eyes. “Un- Those who want to start a chapter must also reach out to Brusha so she can send fortunately, she just couldn’t stop drinking.”

Starting Purse Impressions and opening Purse Impression materials and hygiene up the boutique has provided Brusha with kits, she added.

Brusha operates the boutique on her own but has a dozen volunteers who help deliver the purses to the rehab facilities, she said.

“We’d love to get more people involved,” Brusha said, mentioning how she hopes to get student volunteers and rehab graduates volunteering in the future.

“We decided this is something people need,” she said, adding that people in recovery are a “forgotten demographic.”

There are charities dedicated to helping a wide range of groups, but people who are trying to overcome addiction are often overlooked, Brusha said.

“It’s great that we’re empowering the people who are in rehab,” Brusha said. “I feel like they’re all my kids. I don’t have my daughter physically anymore, but I have a whole world of kids that I feel like I’ve adopted.

“It’s a tough world out there for these people. I just want them to know that somebody is out there thinking about them.”

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FEATURES

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Ofrenda restaurant opens in Stagecoach Village

BY SARAH DONAHUE Foothills Focus Staff Writer

W

hile people may not be able to travel during the era of COVID-19, Stagecoach Village’s new Ofrenda restaurant allows guests to transcend into a Latin American sensory experience, offering “a place to taste and remember.”

From the moment guests walk through the doors, their eyes are met with colorful, Day of the Dead-inspired artwork, spectacular displays of Mexican hand-blown glass, and the pinnacle of the restaurant—an authentic, traditional altar decorated with lit candles, paper flowers and photos.

“Everything has been handmade and brought in with purpose and care,” Michael Stone said about the aesthetics of the restaurant. Stone co-owns Ofrenda and helms Phoenix’s Taco Guild.

The worldly, two-story Cave Creek restaurant officially opened its doors for guests on December 4. The restaurant “has been one year in the making for us,” Stone said, adding how excited they are to finally open their doors.

The name of the restaurant translates to “offering” and refers to the traditional altars made during Mexican Día de Los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, rituals with the purpose of honoring and celebrating the lives of those who have passed on.

While the atmosphere of the restaurant provides an experience in itself, what guests really come for is the food, of course.

“Everything on the menu here is very traditional-inspired dishes, not Mexican-American by any means,” said Carlos Marquez, chef and co-owner of Ofrenda, also a Cave Creek resident. “You’re going to see more of the interior of Mexico. This is the real Mexico.”

While designing the menu, Marquez said he took inspiration from cuisine reigning

The hand-made lighting fixtures are some of the many aesthetic showpieces at Ofrenda, Stagecoach Village’s newest Mexican Restaurant, which opened for guests on December 4. (Photos courtesy Ofrenda)

from Mexico City as well as Chihuahua.

The menu is made up of authentic dishes like seasonal ceviche and pork empanadas for starters, which start at $10. Guests can also enjoy a variety of salads as well as tacos. Main dishes start at $22 and go up to $38 with options like carne, chicken mole tacos and huarache nopales.

Dishes are prepared in an open-fire oven and served on handcrafted plates.

Guests can dine on tables made of Indian rosewood, which were all handcrafted and made in-house, Marquez said.

On weekdays, the 6,500-square-foot Ofrenda opens its doors at 3 p.m., and on the weekends, it offers a Latin-inspired brunch menu from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. It closes at 10 p.m. on weekdays and 11 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays.

The location was formerly leased under the name Indigo Crow, which was a contemporary American restaurant that Marquez owned and operated.

Marquez went through culinary training at Le Cordon Bleu and has been cooking professionally since 1999.

Marquez explained what makes Ofren-

da’s kitchen unique. Typically, other places refer to the kitchen and dining room as “the back of the house” and “the front of the house,” he said.

However, at Ofrenda, “our kitchen is the heart of the house,” he said. This philosophy comes from his traditions growing up in a Latin family where everything revolved around togetherness in the kitchen, Marquez said.

Ofrenda’s “heart of the house” features an open kitchen design where guests can see all the action.

Ofrenda has two bars, one on the ground floor as well as one upstairs, which offer a

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OUR OFFICE IS MOVING!

FEATURES

THE FOOTHILLS FOCUS | THEFOOTHILLSFOCUS.COM | DECEMBER 30, 2020

We might be changing locations, but we aren’t going anywhere. You can expect the same committed support, but with a new view.

Were you looking?

Did you see it?

John Kovach, Agent

OUR OFFICE IS MOVING!

We might be changing locations, but we aren’t We might be changing locations, going anywhere.

You can expect the samebut we aren’t going anywhere. You can expect the commited support, butsupport, with a newbut view. same committed with a new view.

Bus: (623) 551-7900 MOVING! jkovach@amfam.com g locations, but we aren’t going anywhere. You can expect the

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Foothills Focus Columnist

W John Kovach, Agent

ere you looking? Did you see it last Thursday night and Friport, but with a new view. day? You might be thinking, New Address as of August 3, 2020 “Looking for what?”

Looking for Christmas, of course. I might be changing locations, but we aren’t going anywhere. You can expect the 3715 W Anthem Way 112 mean, theSuite real Christmas.

Sometimes committed support, but with a new view. you can see something and not see it.

Anthem AZ 85086 Sometimes you can hear something and We might be changing locations, but we aren’t going anywhere. You can expect the not hear it. Sometimes you can know same committed support, but with a new view. something and not know it. These days we tend to glance at Jesus and gaze at the gala, missing the real Christmas.

E.B. White said, “To perceive Christmas through all its wrappings becomes We might be changing locations, but we aren’t going anywhere. You can expect the more difficult with each passing year.” same committed support, but with a new view.

Once a year, the real Christmas comes around again to jog our memories, open

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our eyes and remind us we need a savior. We need The Savior now, more than ever. Just look at the news. Can you sense the atmosphere filled with both fear and anger at the same time?

A man was looking for who he called “The consolation of Israel.” His name was Simeon. The Lord told him that he would not die until he saw the Savior.

I’m not sure if he was good looking, but I can tell this: He sure was good at looking. Simeon was aware, his eyes wide open, understanding that the time was coming when he would see His Savior.

He refused to close his ears or his eyes to a word from God. At the appointed time, God’s word became visible in Simeon’s world. Simeon saw His Savior because he was looking

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LOOKING from page 16

for His Savior. “Now Lord, let me depart in peace … for my eyes have seen Thy salvation” (Luke 2:30). He saw Christ.

Christ was the reason for Christmas. The first step for seeing is to be looking.

In the Christmas account in the Scripture, Elizabeth and Zacharias were looking for the real Christmas. Mary and Joseph were looking for the real Christmas. The shepherds were looking for the real Christmas. The wise men were looking for the real Christmas. Simeon was looking for the real Christmas. Anna was looking for the real Christmas. Christmas only begins “to look a lot like Christmas” if you’re looking a lot for Christmas.

It’s easy to look at the beauty of a Christmas gift. Shiny gold wrapping paper, under a tree, with a big red bow and your name is on it. The sound of Christmas carols, the smell of lunch or dinner, and getting a few days off from work causes us to overlook the real Christmas.

That kind of Christmas is shiny, glittery, tinselly and perhaps shallow or empty.

Many people see the shadows of Christmas but miss the substance of Christmas.

They focus more on form than function.

The birth of Jesus becomes the vehicle, and Christmas cheer becomes the driver, going where it wants to go, seeing only what it wants to see.

Be aware. There are heaps of Scrooges and Grinches out there, strutting and preening about, wanting us to gaze at them and glance at The Savior. When you do that, you miss Christmas. Herod (local and state government) missed Christmas. Matt 2:3. The priests (religion) missed Christmas. Matt 2:4. The scribes (education and media) missed

Christmas. Matt 2:4 The innkeeper (business) missed Christmas. Lk 2:7.

The Roman Empire and Caesar Augustus (federal government) missed Christmas. Lk 2:1. All of Jerusalem (people in a big city) missed Christmas. Matt 2:3.

The Roman soldiers (military) missed Christmas. Matt 2:16. Remember, seeing starts with looking.

Isn’t what is inside of the present the primary goal of a gift? But it’s so hard to see when my eyes are on me. The first Christmas didn’t have shiny wrapping and a red bow. There was no glitter or caroling in the stable that night. And a baby in a manger in swaddling clothes was not as exciting as the Patriots vs. the Seahawks.

Somehow, some looked beyond the outside of the present and found the real gift of Christmas on the inside of the present.

They discovered the best presents are

wrapped in heaven.

Those who were looking for Christmas, the first Christmas, didn’t just cognize Christmas. They “re-cognized” Christmas. Recognition is cognition on steroids.

Here’s an empowering takeaway for you: Whatever you don’t recognize, you don’t appreciate. Whatever you don’t appreciate, you don’t celebrate. Whatever you don’t celebrate may eventually exit your life. Hint: There could be something you are not seeing because you aren’t looking. And, it could be costing you dearly like our need for The Savior.

For those who saw the real Christmas this year, don’t be surprised if God takes you on a lengthy journey of inconvenience and repositions you into your destiny, just like Joseph and Mary. Don’t be surprised if a mysterious “star” appears to guide you to where you need to be to see what God wants you to

17 ••

see. Don’t be surprised if wise men come from afar with gifts, blessings and smiles.

Why? You are where God wanted you to be because you saw what God wanted you to see. You will be better for it.

Were you looking for Christmas last week? Did you see it? There’s still time.

When you recognize it, Christmas breaks through the fog, the chaos, the hopelessness and the confusion. Christmas brings clarity. And in today’s world, clarity is a rarity.

Ed Delph is a native of Phoenix who lives in the North Valley. Since 1980, he has pastored three churches in the Valley. He is a noted author of 10 books, weekly columnist in several local and worldwide newspapers, teacher, business owner and speaker. Delph has been to or ministered in over 100 countries. He is president of a worldwide ministry, NationStrategy.

To learn more about Pastor Ed Delph, the Church-Community Connection and Nation strategy, call 623-376-6757, e-mail nationstrategy@cs.com or visit nationstrategy.com.

To a bright 2021 We understand that 2020 has had many challenges for people both personally and professionally. Please don’t hesitate to let us know if there is anything we can do to help, we are here for you.

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ASU lands another talented and decorated golfer

BY NICHOLAS BARKER Foothills Focus Contributing Writer

A

SU has produced some of the best golfers in the world, including five-time major champion Phil Mickelson, three-time tournament winner Paul Casey, and Jon Rahm, who has already won five PGA tour events in his short career.

On the women’s side, countless Sun Devils have made it professionally, including three who have won Rookie of the Year in the Ladies European Tour, or the LPGA. The Sun Devils have just signed another talented golfer who is hoping to bring immediate success to an

already talented team.

Calynne Rosholt, a Cactus Shadows High School YOU junior, originally from Cedar Park, Texas, hasTO verbally BE committed to play golf at ASU starting in 2021. At Cactus Shadows, Calynne has blown away competition in her last few years attending.

This past year, Calynne played in nine events, winning four of them and placing no worse than sixth in each of the other five events. Calynne won her first event at the Thunderbird Invitation, where she was the only golfer to finish under par. She then went on to tie for first in the Willie Low Invitational and the Desert Mashie Championship. And her most recent win came at the Chandler City Ju-

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nior Golf Championship. Calynne knows it’s all about consistency.

“I practice a lot, and I just try to keep a steady mind,” Calynne said. “I just try to keep the same routine every time I go out and play a tournament. Whether it’s with eating or warming up, or what I eat for breakfast, I just try to keep it consistent throughout the three days.”

That consistency helped Calynne become one of the most consistent golfers in high school, and it made her one of the most wanted recruits in the country.

Each win under her belt only improved her confidence.

“Well, I feel good about the wins, but there are a lot of losses in golf, too,” Ca-

lynne said. “I try to move on from past tournaments and keep going and try to stay ready for the next thing coming.”

Calynne had a lot of great moments this past year, but there was one that stood out to her.

“Probably winning state, because I’ve only been on a high school golf team for two years,” Calynne said. “It felt really good to win a state tournament for a high school team.”

The Sun Devils will no doubt enjoy having Calynne on the team, and they will certainly need her to live up to her name if they want to continue having success on

�ee CALYNNE page 20

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19

Arizona Coyotes give back to Village Meadows students

BY ANNIKA TOMLIN Foothills Focus Staff Writer

F

or the past 13 years, Village Meadows Elementary second graders have been gifted a special lunch, a new bike and a visit from Santa and Mrs. Claus. The school normally partners with Midway Chevrolet to make this joyous event happen, but as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and trying to keep everyone safe, Midway pulled out of the December 18 event.

“We had the chance to talk to the boss (at Midway Chevrolet), and they said they were going to pass,” said Deer Valley Superintendent Dr. Curtis Finch. “We are really appreciative of them keeping the tradition alive, and this year they couldn’t, which is fine.”

Finch wanted to keep the tradition alive.

The Deer Valley Education Foundation helped raise money to buy the bikes and lunch but ended up $3,000 short. That is where the Arizona Coyotes came in.

Finch met Brittani Willett, executive director of the Foundation/Corporate and Community Impact for the Arizona Coyotes, a week prior as panelists for a WESTMARC event discussing a partnership with education and business. “(Brittani) said if you ever need any help, here is my card,” Finch said. “She shouldn’t have done that.”

He called Willett asking if they would help make up for the rest of the funds and

bring Coyotes mascot Howler along for the fun, and she agreed.

“What a perfect way to kick off our partnership, so we were excited to come in and help support,” Willett said. “We were able to provide some funding to be able to get 43 bikes for the second graders here and helmets to keep everyone safe, and then bring Howler out and some Coyotes goodies as well.”

The second graders walked into the cafeteria on one of the last days of school having been told prior that they were not going to be getting a bike like some of their older siblings had in years prior. Confusion was met with excitement once the children saw Howler run through the red and green paper, revealing the bikes behind.

Each second grader received a Coyotes drawstring bag filled with small goodies and a Howler coyote-shaped hat. Some kids asked around in amazement if each of them was going home with a bike and goodies or just a select few.

“This is what we are here to do—bring joy to the community and to provide things that people are needing,” Willett said.

“It is tough to be on the ice right now, but we still want to be out in the community. We want people, when they think about the Coyotes, to not just think winning on the ice but also winning off the ice and just to stay out there in the community and helping where we can.”

For Village Meadows Principal Melissa

Second graders at Village Meadows Elementary await a pizza lunch, bikes, helmets, and a visit from Arizona Coyotes mascot Howler. (Photo by Annika Tomlin)

Weinman, this was her ninth year helping with this event.

“I guess the best way to say how I feel is that this brings a little bit of normalcy to these kids’ lives in a world where nothing is normal right now—not even at school is normal,” Weinman said.

“Knowing that they’re getting a bike, for some it is their first bike that they’ll

ever get and for some this is their only Christmas gift. Know that I’m helping to provide a little bit of normalcy makes me feel good. Oftentimes kids have a hard time expressing themselves, but I know this means the world to these kids and I know it means the world to me know that they are so excited. It’s a good feeling to have right now.”

20

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THE FOOTHILLS FOCUS | THEFOOTHILLSFOCUS.COM | DECEMBER 30, 2020

Girl Scout cookie season returns

BY AUTUMN JARRETT Foothills Focus Contributing Writer

W

hen it comes to Girl Scouts, one can’t help but daydream about one of their favorite sweet treats: cookies. Well, Thin Mint, Samoa, Trefoil, Do-Si-Do, Tagalong, Lemon-Ups, Girl Scout S’mores and Toffee are coming back. It’s 2021 Girl Scout Cookie season.

For six weeks each year, more than 11,000 Arizona-Cactus Pine-Council Girl Scouts across central and northern Arizona participate in the most extensive girl-led entrepreneurial program in the world: The Girl Scout Cookie Program.

The Girl Scout Cookie Program is much more than a delicious treat. It provides girls with the opportunity to run their own cookie business, learning essential skills including goal setting, decision making, money management, people skills and business ethics. While practicing these skills, girls also build the confidence needed to be suc-

cessful women and leaders.

This season, the girls are learning a sixth skill: managing uncertainty.

After completing a successful 2020 cookie season before the onset of COVID-19 shutdowns in early March, 2021 is a big year for these cookie entrepreneurs. While COVID-19’s effects can’t be predicted, Girl Scouts are ready to tackle the challenge head-on. They are equipped with new strategies to sell cookies safely, including the Digital Cookie app, offering drive-thru options around the Valley, and increasing safety measures for girls and their customers.

The Digital Cookie app is a digital selling platform where girls build a custom website and invite friends and family to purchase cookies via email marketing, with the option of having cookies delivered through contactless pickup, drop-off or shipped directly to their personal contacts’ homes.

“Digital Cookie introduces lessons about online marketing, application use and eCom-

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There aren’t many Kylee Henry is an Individual Girl Member (IGM) on the Navajo Nation.

She donated cookies to first responders. (Photo courtesy the Girl Scouts-Arorganizations that izona Cactus-Pine Council) help girls learn key entrepreneurship stations for the Navajo Nation, making pet skills, but Girl Scouting does.

Not only do girls learn how to invest toys to donate to the AZ Humane Society in themselves and their troops, but they and donating thank-you gifts, goodies and learn the importance of investing in their treats to essential workers—yet again communities. proving why Girl Scouts are known for In 2020 alone, Girl Scouts sold over their resiliency and the impact they make 3 million cookies to Arizona custom- in their communities. ers, collectively donating more than In 2021, the girls are expected to do 81,000 packages of cookies to local the same, rising to the challenge, idenfood banks, first responders, military tifying issues in their communities, crepersonnel, hospitals and other non- ating solutions and seeing how they can profit organizations. use their cookie products and proceeds And after seeing the impact of COVID-19 for the greater good. on their communities, many troops took The 2021 cookie season for Girl Scouts– to the initiative to rework their initially Arizona Cactus-Pine Council continues planned service projects to be relevant to until February 28. Visit gscookiefinder. the needs of their communities, including com and enter your ZIP code to find a sewing masks and building hand-washing nearby cookie booth.

CALYNNE from page 18

the collegiate level. Calynne knew from day one that she wanted to play golf in Phoenix.

“ASU was always my dream school, but it became bigger when I got into high school,” Calynne said.

A few years ago, ASU’s successful golfers led the PGA in money earned with close to $20 million in tournament winnings. ASU calls Papago Golf Course home and has one of the best practice facilities in the country, thanks to Phil

Mickelson and other notable alumni. Calynne couldn’t be more excited to attend the school of her dreams and continue its great legacy.

“I am hoping it will just make me a better player and person,” Calynne said.

“Even if I don’t become pro, I hope I just come out of it a better person and player.”

Calynne will join the ASU women’s golf team next fall, and she will hope to lead the Sun Devils in capturing its first national championship in women’s golf for the first time since 2017.

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THE FOOTHILLS FOCUS | THEFOOTHILLSFOCUS.COM | DECEMBER 30, 2020

Students ‘Dream Big’ with photo contest

BY CRISTINA LADAS Foothills Focus Contributing Writer

A

group of world language students from Cactus Shadows High School found a way to celebrate the beautiful world we live in during this pandemic.

The Cactus Shadows High School Chinese National Honor Society hosted a global photo competition for students and staff that had more than 40 submissions.

The theme, “The World is Big so Dream Big!” resonated with many who have been without travel during this pandemic.

For those who didn’t have travel photos, there was a category to post a photo of a university in another country as a way to help students realize there are so many opportunities waiting. Principal Tony Vining and support staff celebrated the winners by having an awards ceremony.

“This was a great way to bring all of our world language students and staff together,” Vining said. “The murals made

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Offering Delivery, Install & Removal: Landscape Rock. Crushed Asphalt. Arena Sand Free Estimates & Scheduling Call 602-410-4153 Quality Service & Competitive Pricing *15 Ton Min. Required.

Family Owned & Operated

• Affordable Same Day Service • Dependable • Guaranteed • 12 Years Experience

No Job Too Big or Small

Residential & Commercial

602-330-6965

Call us to place your ad online!

480-898-6465

FREE ESTIMATES • 623-465-2546 • Custom Design • Water Feature • Container/Pot Gardens • Fireplaces & BBQs • Patio & Walls • Irrigation Specialists • Tree Trim/Removal • Bi-weekly/Monthly

Licensed, Bonded & Insured • ROC #166390

602.842.9948 SonoranScapes.com

• Synthetic Grass • Paver Installation • Travertine • Irrigation Systems

Landscape Maintenance • Monthly maintenance • As needed clean ups

• Tree Trimming • Residential & Commercial

602-743-3175

Local general practice law firm.

Free case evaluation for personal injury matters.

Experienced attorneys and effective representation.

623-551-9366

Solar Energy

REASONS TO GO SOLAR • Power When The Power Goes Out • Federal & AZ Tax Credits Available • Smaller Electric Bills • 0 Down Financing 2.99% or CASH Disount

Free Estimates & Inspections • Tile • Shingles Foam • Coatings • Modified Bitumen • New Roof Repairs • Reroofs

Questions on Solar?

Commerical & Residential

Call Paul

602-501-0787 Paul.M@Solar-AES.com

Your newspaper.

Your community.

Your planet.

PHILLIPS ROOFING LLC

Please recycle me.

Welding

Member of ABM

Licensed • Bonded • Insured ROC 223367

Valleywide

CR 42 DUAL

623-873-1626 All employees verified Free estimates on all roofs 36 Years experience in AZ Licensed contractor since 2006

Miscellaneous For Sale

Cave Creek Welding, Inc.

Electric • Acetylene • Heliarc Equipment • Fireplace Screens Repair • Blacksmithing Portable Equipment • Gates Fencing • Wrought Iron Work Home Accessories • Small Repairs & More!

480-488-3677

Specializing in Water Well Drilling and Pump Installation and Service

CONSIGNMENT

(including well inspections)

WE SELL NEW and GENTLY USED FURNITURE & HOME DECOR

42407 N. Vision Way – Anthem, AZ

623.551.4135

CaveCreekWelding.com

Well Drilling & Repairs

J&B Furniture BEST PRICES ON MATTRESS SETS Tuesday – Saturday 10am - 5pm Sunday & Monday Closed

LICENSED • BONDED • INSURED ROC - 268551

All Types of Roofing

Backhoe • Hammer Hoe • Grade Tractor 1,000 Gallon Water Wagon • Dump Trailer Septic Install & Repair (Lic. #276732) Tree Brush and Cactus Removal Road/Driveway Repair & Maintenance Utility Trenching & Plumbing Construction Cleanup Material Screening

PREMIER LANDSCAPING & GARDENING

Landscape Installation

Almeida Roofing Inc.

www.almeidaroofing.com

Landscape Design/Installation

• Design & Install • Planting • Lighting • Outdoor Audio

Public Notices

Roofing

Licensed • Bonded • Insured • ROC #215758

MISSED THE DEADLINE?

23

25+ Years in New River

phillipsroofingaz.com phillipsroofing@cox.net

623-465-9355 www.beemanbrothersdrilling.com

Add a Background Color to Your Ad! Classifieds 480-898-6465

Licensed, Bonded & Insured ROC 064267 Major Credit Cards Accepted

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THE FOOTHILLS FOCUS | THEFOOTHILLSFOCUS.COM | DECEMBER 30, 2020

Why Invest in a REME-Halo?

Installed Price:

Benefits Include:

• Whole home and building purification • Kills up to 99% of bacteria, mold and viruses • Reduces sneeze germs by 99% in the time a sneeze can reach 3 ft • Reduces airborne particulates (dust, dander, pollen, mold spores)

Learn more by Scanning Here

Schedule for a Furnace Safety Inspection

Membership Price:

Includes:

• • • •

Calibrate Gas Valve Clean Flame Sensor Electrical Component Test Check and Clean Gas Burner

$79.00 Normally

Call or Text to Schedule an Appointment

AIR

CONDITIONING

•

ELECTRICAL

•

PLUMBING

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WATER

TREATMENT