Queen Creek Tribune 07/16/2023

Report says Queen Creek water

BY HALEY BEYER Tribune Contributing Writer

The Queen Creek Water Services’ 2022 Consumer Confidence Report shows the town met and exceeded the standards for water quality as set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and state of Arizona.

“The Consumer Confidence Report pro-

BY HOWARD FISCHER Capitol Media Services

Queen Creek Unified and Chandler Unified are taking a wait-and-see approach to two recent executive orders by Gov. Katie Hobbs that declare public schools across Arizona will be inspected regularly to make sure they meet minimum educational standards and keep kids safe.

The governor formed a committee to update safety standards to 2023 levels to ensure the schools have what it takes to help protect students during a campus shooting.

Those are things the state already had been required to do more than

vides an overview of how water quality standards are being met (or exceeded),” said Paul Gardner, the town’s water resources director.

“The report is submitted to the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality each year by July 1 for the previous calendar year. The report provides an opportunity for customers to have a better understanding of their water source and compliance with applicable regulations. This is one more opportunity to pro-

two decades ago after losing a series of lawsuits.

Until now, however, compliance has been spotty at best. And that meant that projects ranging from roof repairs to upgrading security with fences and doors that lock from the inside got done only in school districts that had the resources.

Both of the governor’s orders could help Chandler, Queen Creek and other school districts grapple with maintenance and other capital costs – especially those related to safety. However, most school officials want to know more – especially about whether they could hope for

vide transparency to our customers.”

The water division took thousands of water samples throughout the year to determine the presence and levels of microbiological and various contaminants. Federal law requires the tests.

The report shows there were more than 33,000 active connections, credited to the

CUSD going artificial with 5 football fields

BY KEN SAIN Tribute Staff Writer

Chandler Unified School District officials say they want to do their part in reducing water use so they’re planning to convert five of their six high school football fields to artificial turf by the time the 2024 prep football season starts.

The CUSD Governing Board on June 28 approved spending nearly $2.9 million to convert Basha High School’s field from natural to artificial turf. That school and Casteel High School will be the first two to see the conversion after the end of the 2023 football season.

The district plans to convert the football fields at Chandler, Hamilton and Perry high schools once work wraps up at Basha and Casteel, likely in late April, said Tom Dunn, the district’s executive director of support services.

Dunn said Arizona College Prep High School is not getting an artificial turf at this time because it’s a relatively new school, only 2 years old, and its field is in great shape. He said that before they can make the

Mesa’s Mountain View High School began playing on a new artificial turf field last year. Chandler Unified School District plans to convert the fields at five of their six high schools before the start of the 2024 prep football season. (David Minton/Staff)

conversion there, the district first needs to secure the funding.

Before the governing board voted, member Joel Wirth said he was unsure how to vote on this issue.

“I’m kind of struggling with this one because there’s a bit of a movement out there to eliminate this and go back to grass,” Wirth said. “The fields are extremely hot.”

Superintendent Frank Narducci persuaded Wirth to support the measure.

“We are doing our effort at conserving,” Narducci said, noting the city of Chandler is “moving some of their parks to synthetic fields as well to try to do their part also.”

“With the realization that water is an issue here in our fields take a lot of resources with water use,” the superintendent said.

Narducci and Dunn argued there are other benefits to the conversion.

For one, other sports besides football use the fields, which are usually dead during soccer season. They also can’t open the parks up for community use because they need to repair the damage done during football season.

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additional funding.

“Currently, we are waiting on more direction from the governor’s office and state Legislature,” CUSD spokeswoman Stephanie Ingersoll said.

QCUSD spokeswoman Jessica Bautista had basically the same reaction.

“Providing a safe and healthy learning environment is QCUSD’s top priority. Our facilities incorporate state-of-the-art technology, collaborative learning spaces, and security features to ensure a safe educational environment,” Bautista said in a statement after the Tribune asked for the district’s reaction to Hobbs’ orders.

“The district will welcome any and all inspections and recommendations from the state,” she added.

Additional state support for often costly school repairs would be welcome in Queen Creek and other East Valley school districts. Some districts in the region have had to send as much as $11 million for one roof on a sprawling high school building.

Queen Creek for the third consecutive year is seeking voter approval of a bond to help pay for maintenance and repair as well as additional room for its rapidly

growing enrollment.

An attorney representing school districts and education advocates said Hobbs’ two orders won’t end the lawsuit they filed against the state in 2017 for failing to comply with a series of Arizona Supreme Court rulings that requires the state to provide a “general and uniform’’ school facility funding system.

Danny Adelman of the Arizona Center for Law in the Public Interest said the Republican-controlled Legislature has to actually allocate what he said are hundreds of millions of dollars necessary to fund both existing standards and the new ones that will be crafted in the Hobbs-ordered committee to bring them up to what is acceptable in 2023.

Lawmakers have, for years, fought all efforts to have a court tell them what are their constitutional obligations.

Just last year, Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Daniel Martin rejected claims that he has no right to rule on the legality of the formula they decide to use to finance funding new schools and repairs for existing ones.

The case is now set for trial next year.

Hanging in the balance is what is the legally required minimum to keep students

in Arizona not only safe but in conditions suitable for learning.

Some of what’s at issue is basic, like ensuring schools have the money to fix minor problems like leaky roofs before they become expensive major repairs. But Adelman said some standards that were considered acceptable 20 years ago are now outdated.

Exhibit No. 1 are the safety and security guidelines.

“It’s things like single point of entry, decent fencing, cameras in some instances, a door that prevents people from outside the campus getting directly to children without having to get buzzed through,’’ Adelman said.

Only thing is, Adelman said, “they didn’t put any of these in the guidelines.’’

The issue of the state’s role dates back to 1994.

Under the system in place at that time, school districts raised and borrowed money for all new construction and repairs through local property taxes.

That year the high court said it created illegal disparities between rich districts and poor ones and told lawmakers to come up with a cure.

In 1996, the Legislature put $100 million into a special fund that could be tapped by poor districts for construction needs. Lawmakers also agreed to provide another $30 million a year for nine more years.

The Supreme Court found that plan flawed, too.

Lawmakers eventually created the School Facilities Board which was supposed to pick up every district’s construction and repair needs.

Only thing is, legislators never came up with a new source of revenue to fund the potential $300 million annual price tag, instead absorbing the cost into the General Fund.

When the Great Recession hit and state tax collections tanked, one of the casualties was money for the board.

The result has been that local districts that need schools or major repairs but can’t wait for a state grant once again have to turn to their local voters for bond approval.

That led to the 2017 lawsuit. And even with that pending, Adelman said, lawmakers this year provided only $200 million of the $350 million in needs identified by the School Facilities Board.

An edition of the East Valley Tribune Queen Creek Tribune is published every Sunday and distributed free of charge to homes and in

CUSD starts new year with a new budget

BY KEN SAIN Tribune Staff Writer

The Chandler Unified Governing Board has approved a spending plan for the new school year just as students are planning to return for the first day of school Wednesday, June 19.

The board approved the budget at its July 12 meeting, though officials noted that it will undergo some revisions throughout the school year as actual numbers, especially for those impacting state revenue amounts, are determined.

There won’t be as many pupils filling the seats as last year.

District Chief Financial Officer Lana Berry is projecting at least 200 fewer students for this coming school year, which

means about $1 million less from the state.

“Overall, 200 to 400 students is what we’re thinking,” Berry said. “We’re thinking through that process that there is $982,000 there.”

Fewer students mean fewer state dollars, although actual amounts are based on a formula involving “average daily membership,” or ADM, and using the 100th day of the school year as a point in time for a headcount.

According to the Arizona Auditor General report, Chandler Unified had an ADM of 41,945 for the recent school year. Its high was 44,501 in the 2019-2020 school year before the pandemic began.

CUSD’s enrollment has been in decline since and it could fall behind Tucson Unified to become the third largest district in Arizona this year. Mesa Public Schools is the state’s largest district.

The district has started an aggressive marketing campaign to try and convince families within its boundaries, and the ones who live near it, to send their children to CUSD schools in an effort to minimize the drop in attendance.

But besides a projected enrollment decline, spending decisions also will be challenged by the pending end of the cash the federal government handed out to get the nation through the pandemic.

“Our overall total aggregate expenditure limit … has actually dropped by approximately $9 million,” said Berry.

“The majority of that we’re going to talk about is related to the federal dollars … that’s going to be where the major reduction of our overall budget capacity is. Our M&O (maintenance and operations) has gone up and so has our capital, but federal programs have gone down.”

This year’s total aggregate school district budget is $455,022,884. Last year’s was $465,951,058.

The good news for district workers is salaries are going up.

CUSD bases its aggregate budget on three separate funds.

The largest is maintenance and operations, which totals $373.9 million, fol

component comprising federal dollars, which total $37.9 million.

Because of the higher salaries, M&O spending is up about $6.2 million while the unrestrictive capital has increased about $1.1 million. However, the federal project money decreased by $18.3 million.

Much of the increase in salaries are coming in the form of stipends, Berry said.

The CUSD Governing Board gave classified staff $2,000 each and certified administrative staff $1,000.

For the second-largest district in Arizona that cost a total of just over $7 million, Berry said.

Berry said the largest increases in the capital budget are for technology upgrades. The district has been purchasing laptops and tablets to ensure students can

Chandler Unified School District offered this information July 12 on how

(CUSD)

Chandler Unified Chief Financial Officer Lana Berry projects an enrollment decline of

(YouTube)

WATER from page 1

new single-family home and commercial growth. Queen Creek’s population is estimated to reach beyond 100,000 by the end of the year, the report shows.

According to the report, found at bit. ly/QCWater, contaminants did not cross into the maximum contaminant level. To continually monitor water, the town additionally participates in the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality Monitoring Assistance Program (MAP) to perform regular sampling and testing of all system wells for radioactive, inorganic, volatile organic and synthetic organic contaminants.

Queen Creek’s drinking water comes from a combination of sources including groundwater and recovered effluent and recovered CAP water.

“Our staff is committed to delivering quality water to our customers,” Gardner said.

“We maintain more than 30 wells, storage facilities and water lines to ensure our customers are serviced today and into the future.”

Some water is pumped directly into the system but there is a supply in a water storage tank for future use.

To better serve the growing community, the water division has made improvements in several areas of water conservation and storage.

The upgrades made to seven wells and the design and installation of 24 miles of new water lines will increase the water system functionality, improve infrastructure lifespan and allow the system itself to work more efficiently.

The Barney Farms 3-million-gallon reservoir and Harvest 2-million-gallon reservoir construction are almost complete.

Three wells are completed with four more set to be finished in 2024.

There is also a focus on water meters that are tested regularly and replaced when needed. Using geographic information systems and technology, staff can access them remotely and enable faster responses, work order completions and mitigate in emergencies. Work is also being done to ease the process and accessibility to billing and scheduling for customers.

Water sources near gas stations, landfills, dry cleaners, agricultural fields, wastewater treatment plants and mining activities have a higher chance of producing unsafe drinking water are considered.

According to the report, due to disease-causing microorganisms, chlori-

nation is highly beneficial. Disinfecting the water is a chemical process and the most important step in drinking water treatment.

Drinking water chlorination and filtration have helped to almost eliminate these diseases completely in the United States.

Chlorination reduces potent germicides and any tastes or odors. It also eliminates biological growth and removes hydrogen sulfide, ammonia, nitrogenous compounds, iron and manganese.

Small amounts of chlorine are at entry points throughout the distribution system to disinfect water as it travels through and maintain federal drinking water standards.

Monitoring the water quality is completed by licensed system operators with longterm on-the-job training and knowledge on a variety of topics including mathematics, biology, chemistry and physics.

These system operators are charged with operating and maintaining equipment to produce and store water, monitoring and inspecting machinery (including meters gauges, and operating conditions), conducting tests and inspections, evaluating the results of the tests, maintaining optimal water chemistry, applying data to formulas to deter-

What residents can do to help

In Arizona, up to 70% of water is used outside for tasks like watering plants, filling swimming pools and washing cars. For more information, visit queencreekaz.gov/reducetheuse.

To help Queen Creek conserve water, consider the following:

• Learn how much water your landscape actually needs and how often to water it

• Learn how to read your water meter

• Attend free landscape workshops (seven in-person available)

• Hire professionals to plan, plant, and care for your landscape

• Learn how to stop evaporation from your pool and/or spa and how to properly maintain them

• Use low-water plants

• Use plants that attract hummingbirds and butterflies in your yard to add that pop of color, texture and wildlife to your desert themed landscape.

Some other ways to save water:

• Don’t let the water run while doing dishes or brushing your teeth

• Only run your washing machine and dishwasher with full loads

• Take short showers

• Check for leaks around the inside and outside of your home

• Choose water-saving models of appliances when possible

• Install water-saving showerheads.

Common substances

There are substances that commonly end up in water because of the surfaces the water travels over to eventually be sourced for human use. These substances include:

• Microbial contaminants (viruses or bacteria from sewage plants, septic systems, livestock and wildlife)

mine the correct treatment of the water (flow and concentration levels), and documenting/reporting the results.

Queen Creek officials encourage the community to conserve water.

“Residents can be mindful of how they are using and really try to embrace the philosophy that every drop counts,” Gardner said.

“The town has implemented smart meters to help provide more insights into water use. The town is working to implement a program where customers will be notified of water leaks through their utility system. The Town also offers a robust water conservation program including free water-smart workshops on a variety of topics, water savings tips, home water audits and landscaping guides.”

Take note of town conservation efforts such as Partners with Water, using a residential water budget calculator, contracts with Waterfluence (monitoring programs and healthy relationships with the homeowner’s association), and the interactive water conservation floor graphic design at the Queen Creek Library (in conjunction with the library’s summer reading program).

This design encourages children to conserve water. 

• Pesticides

• Herbicides

• Radioactive contaminants

• Organic chemical contaminants (synthetic and volatile) such as byproducts of industrial processes, gas stations, storm run-off and septic systems

Lead, which makes its way into water because of materials and components associated with service lines and home plumbing, can be harmful to young children or pregnant individuals. 

• Inorganic contaminants (salts and metals from storm run-off, wastewater discharge, oil and gas production, mining and farming)

“In modern classrooms it’s just different than when everybody had a little desk and the textbooks were all in the desk,’’ Adelman said. That means different space requirements.

The last time a committee met to look at what’s needed, he said, one finding was there should be a computer for each student.

“The problem is, they didn’t provide any funding along with that,’’ he said. And Adelman said while some schools were

from page 3

“Soccer is played, for example, in dirt and mud with conditions that become almost a safety issue,” Narducci said.

The district expects the conversion will likely save money as well, though that is hard to calculate.

It will lower the water use and maintenance time. The district will also not need to spend money on the chemicals its uses on the fields now.

Dunn said artificial turf has about a 10-year lifespan before it needs to be replaced.

However, he said that most of the high cost is in the initial installation, making sure there’s a solid foundation and irrigation below. Replacement costs after 10 years are then significantly lower, he said.

As far as the safety of artificial vs. natural turf is concerned, Dunn said he and his team have looked at all the recent studies in engineering their fields.

He said the NFL has done a number of studies of the same issue.

Pointing to favorable studies on both sides of the issue, Dunn suggested that

able to use federal COVID relief dollars, “none of that is permanent.’’

He said what’s needed – and what lawmakers originally promised more than two decades ago – are regular payments to districts to use for basic maintenance on things like roofs and air conditioning systems.

“Because of the system that exists right now, we are spending at the worst possible time at the highest possible cost,’’ he said.

Paul Maryniak contributed to this report.

any study has to be considered in the context of who’s paying for it and what their agenda is.

As far as the high heat, he said the district plans to use cork as its infill, which should retain water and release it similar to how an evaporator cooling system works.

Artificial turf can still get hot, he said, but has improved from the early days of fake grass.

CUSD Chief Financial Officer Lana Berry said the district would be using bond dollars to pay for the conversions and that will help lower its maintenance and operations budget.

She said the district expects to see a return on its investment in eight years.

Wirth also was concerned that some of the fields might have wacky colors, similar to Boise State University’s blue field.

“Mr. Wirth, they’ll be green,” Narducci said. “There will be marching bands on green grass. There’ll be highlights, we’ve seen some versions of what the logos look like and the highlights will have school colors in them, but the grass itself will be green.” 

TURF

Two out-of-state firms pay $11M for parcel

TRIBUNE NEWS STAFF

One of the nation’s largest venture capital funds and a Michigan real estate development company have teamed up to buy nearly 23 acres of land in Queen Creek, possibly for a data center.

Lakeshore Ventures of Chicago, and Crown Enterprises of Warren, Michigan, paid $11 million for the land along Meridian Road near Cipriano Road, according to Valley real estate tracker vizzda.com.

Vizzda indicated the land will be developed for a data center, but neither buyer responded by the Tribune’s deadline to questions about their plans for the land.

The parcel is part of 47.1 acres that have been on the market for several years, according to a sales brochure vizzda included in its report of the transaction.

That brochure touted the ongoing improvements along Meridian and its link to SR 24, among other features.

Lakeshore Ventures is the venture capital fund of alumni from the University of

Chicago and part of a larger venture capital enterprise called Alumni Ventures.

That umbrella group bills itself on its website as “the #1 active venture firm in the U.S.” and “America’s largest investor firm for individual investors.”

Alumni Ventures counts over 600,000 “members of our community” as the source of “our capital, deal flow, and value-add services to our portfolio companies.”

That portfolio includes 32 alumni associations that include some of the nation’s most prestigious schools, including Yale, Stanford, Notre Dame, Harvard and Georgetown.

Part of its portfolio allows investors to target any of eight specific growth categories, including AII, blockchain, “deep tech,” and health-related technology. Its website indicates that Alumni Ventures not only is bullish about artificial intelligence but also about technological applications to green projects and healthcare.

Crown Enterprises is a family-owned, 50-year-old real estate management and development company that started as just

a part of a logistics and trucking company. Its website boasts of owning hundreds of industrial, manufacturing and retail properties in 45 states, though one of them are in Arizona and only two are west of the Mississippi, both in California.

The company specializes in buildto-suit developments that it then owns in landlord-tenant relationships with clients. 

Queen

CUSD board adds $2.5M for 3 traffic-related projects

BY KEN SAIN Tribune Staff Writer

For the most part, the Governing Board of Chandler Unified School District has very little control over how much money is coming in. Those decisions are primarily left to state legislators and voters.

The one exception is a slice of the property tax that funds the district’s adjacent ways fund. That is used to improve traffic infrastructure around campuses.

CUSD from page 5

be productive at home.

They’ve also been upgrading their own technology as needed.

“Our technology budget is $30 million,” Berry said. “There’s infrastructure related to network drops, WiFi and hubs. If you think you have to replace laptops about … one in every four years, there’s going to be

The Chandler Unified Governing Board approved adding $2.5 million to the primary property tax levy to fund three of those infrastructure projects this fiscal year. That is about the same amount collected a year ago, so property owners will not see an increase because of it.

“We try really hard to keep that tax flat because it only gets paid off in one year,” said Lana Berry, the district’s chief financial officer. “We try to maintain that instead of having a huge spike with a whole bunch in one year.”

in the 50,000 between staff and students needing replacing every four years. We also have security cameras that are a part of that.”

So far, the district has not been forced to lay off any staff because of the drop in attendance and state funds.

Berry said the district prefers to handle the need for fewer teachers by not replacing some retiring employees when a new

If the board had rejected the increase, there would have been a noticeable drop from $6.75 per $100,000 valuation, down to 28 cents per $100,000 valuation. The 28 cents is for dropout prevention that has been grandfathered in so it does not need approval every year.

The three projects the tax will fund are:

• Moving overhead powerlines at Galveston Elementary underground as part of that school’s rebuild.

• Installing a traffic signal at Rice Elementary.

school year begins. There are 15 fewer teachers across the district this school year than there were a year ago.

In addition to state funds, the district gets some of its money from property taxes.

Most homeowners will be paying more in property tax because the assessed value of their homes will be increasing 5%, the maximum Arizona law allows. The district is lowering its portion of the primary prop-

• Adding a road for the district’s new transportation facility, a joint project with the City of Chandler with each paying half of the cost.

Berry said the district plans out the projects it needs to fund so that the tax remains essentially the same from year to year. All of the money must be spent in this fiscal year, she said.

“Ultimately, there’s a lot of oversight not only on how we collect the tax, how the board approves it, but then how we can spend those dollars for the future,” Berry said. 

erty tax from 3.5274 to 3.4093.

The secondary property tax rate is increasing slightly, from 2.3938 to 2.3945. Those are due to the override and sale of bonds approved by voters.

That’s the rate for every $100 of assessed value to the property. In addition to schools, which get the most of each tax dollar, the county and city also get a slice. 

Back to School

10 JROTC cadets win BBB scholarships

BY TRIBUNE STAFF

Ten East Valley residents are among 12 Valley high school students who received scholarships from the Better Business Bureau for their performance in JROTC programs at their schools.

The bureau’s Ethical Cadet Scholarship Program, which also is supported by Salt River Project and the Phoenix Military and Veterans Commission Foundation, honored the cadets’ “leadership, character, commitment to service and actions that go beyond the call of duty.”

In its fifth year, the scholarship program has now awarded $100,000 to local high school JROTC participants.

Scholarship winners included Jake Johnson of Skyline High School; Basha High students Lorilynn Kehaulani Nixon, Kristina Lynn Mountz, Kate Sackett, Ryan Terrell, Lillian Sackett and Taylani Tran; Hamilton High student Ryann Terrell and Jayden Anthony Weingarten of Queen Creek High.

Arizona high school students who are enrolled in a JROTC program within SRP’s service area and maintain a GPA of at least 2.75 are eligible for the scholarship.

In addition to the recipients getting $1,000, their JROTC program receives a matching amount.

Applications will open in August at cadet.bbbcommunity.org. 

Must-have

essentials for back-to-school season

BY FAMILY FEATURES

With school bells ringing for students of all ages, it’s important to make sure your student has all the necessities to be successful this year.

While that often means running from store to store in search of supplies, stylish clothes and other essentials, these top picks for securing valuables, decorating dorm rooms, planning out schedules, getting necessary nutrition and staying hydrated can help ensure your student

is geared up for success in the classroom and beyond.

Find more back-to-school essentials and tips for success in the classroom at elivingtoday.com.

Protect new purchases on campus

A new school year brings plenty of excitement, but it can also be stressful for students moving away from home who need to safeguard valuables like tablets, smartphones, passports, or an emergen-

Photo courtesy of Getty Images

cy credit card. To help alleviate backto-school worries, SentrySafe, a leading name in fire-resistant and security storage for more than 90 years, offers solutions to provide peace of mind for parents and students.

An affordable, convenient, and fireproof option, the 1200 fire chest protects items against fires up to 1,500 F for 30 minutes. It also features a built-in key lock and convenient handle for added security and simplified transport. Find more back-to-school security solutions at sentrysafe.com.

Quick and easy meals

Keeping weeknight dinners and school lunches simple means more time for family and less stress during the week. Cook up quick and easy weeknight dinners, school lunches or on-the-go snacks with Minute Rice Cups. Ready in only 1 minute, the BPA-free cups are available in a variety of flavors such as chicken and herb, cilantro and lime and jalapeno.

Visit minuterice.com for more information.

Make organization personal

Help your student keep notes, study times and test dates organized with a quality planner that also showcases his

or her personality. Available in a myriad of trendy colors and patterns — like polka dots, stripes or chevron — as well as various calendar layouts like daily, weekly or monthly, the right planner can help students of all ages stay on track, achieve goals and preserve memories in one stylish and organized place.

Sleep in style

Where a student sleeps may be one of the last things on his or her mind when thinking about the excitement that awaits in college but getting plenty of sleep is key to success. Amp the appeal of the dorm-issue mattress with stylish and comfy bedding that reflects your personality. Look for quality threads you can snuggle into, and coordinate with pillows to make your bed a cozy place to sit and study by day.

Take H2O on the go

A durable reusable water bottle can make your back-to-school routine even easier. With a variety of sizes and styles available in a multitude of colors and designs, there’s almost certain to be an option for students of all ages and activity levels. Look for durable, leak-proof stainless steel or hard plastic options that offer different lid styles, including wide-opening or those with retractable straws, to make hydrating on the walk between classes a breeze. 

Photo

How to prepare for CUSD kindergarten

BY QUEEN CREEK TRIBUNE STAFF

With the first day of school in Chandler Unified slated for Wednesday, July 19, some CUSD kindergarten teachers have advice for parents of incoming kindergartners as the start their education journey.

Parents who haven’t enroll their child can go to cusd80.com/KRT. Children who turn 5 between Sept. 1 and Dec. 31 of this year are eligible to participate in a testing session to assess child readiness for early entrance into kindergarten. Children who are 5 by Aug. 31 are eligible to enroll without testing.

“Just help your kiddos get excited for the start of the new school year,” said Jodie Hawthorne at Haley Elementary School.

“I know it brings up a lot of emotions for them and you as parents as well. Have fun picking out a backpack, a lunchbox. Just really support those kiddos to help them get excited for kindergarten.”

Andrea Bartelt at Fulton Elementary advises parents “to start encouraging routines and responsibilities with your little one, starting at home – simple things like getting themselves dressed in the morning, helping them pack their backpacks, practicing opening food items like Goldfish snack packs, setting a bedtime routine.

“As the year gets started, emotions are little rollercoasters,” Bartelt said. “Some days, our little ones are so excited to come to school. They wake up with big, bright smiles. And some days are a little bit rougher. We have some frowns, maybe a little tears. Just let them know that we’re so happy that they’re here.

“Once they’re in our room, they’re safe. They’re loved. Their teachers are going to treasure them beyond belief this school year. And we’re so excited to celebrate and enjoy 180 days with you and your kindergartner next year.”

Jean Willey at Rice Elementary School said parents should work with their children to develop “self-help skills.”

“Make sure your child can button and

zip their clothing. Make sure they can take their shoes on and off and if they can tie their shoes, even better,” Willey said.

“The more they learn to do on their own, the better they feel and the more confidence they get. And that’s what kindergarten is about; that’s all they’re doing is just learning to be their own little person.”

Jacqui Hughes at Santan Elementary School said parents should remind their incoming kindergartners of “all the fun things they will get to do in kindergarten,” like meeting new friends, painting, playing on the playground, building, and reading stories.

“Focusing on the fun will help with the unknown,” she said, advocating for the establishment of routines like “a consistent bedtime with a bath and a story” and brushing their teeth.

“Our kindergarten students are used to grazing and eating slowly, so practice a lunch routine where they eat a healthy lunch in about 20 minutes,” Hughes added.

Beth Padilla at Andersen Elementary encourages parents to have their child “practice writing their name and tying their shoes.” while Stephanie Moore at Auxier Elementary urged parents to “fos-

ter independence in your children.

“We will partner with you using the seven habits with ‘Leader in Me’ to create in-dependent leaders and learners who are excited about their academic future,” Moore said.

Conley Elementary teacher Katie Tompkins said parents should help their children “with social interactions and how to act around their peers” while Sandra Lubian at Frye Elementary suggested parents should help their child grow motor skills.

“Play with Play-Doh, pinch things with clothes pins, and use tweezers to pick items up,” Lubian said. “This is going to really help your students hold a pencil at the beginning of kindergarten.” -

As a mother of three CUSD students as well as a teacher, Delores Perez at Hartford Sylvia Encinas Elementary said parents should remind their child “They’re always safe. We love them. We love having them.”

Michelle Yirku at Jacobson Elementary urged parents “to help develop responsibility within your child to get them ready for kindergarten by picking their own snacks and practicing opening and closing those snacks” because this “will help them develop their independent skills that will

help them in their classroom when they begin kindergarten.”

Monica Harvey at Bologna Elementary suggested parents “practice sounds as you’re driving down the road. Ask your child ‘Can you tell me the first sound in this word? Can you tell me the last sound of this word?’”

Likewise, Courtney Geil at San Marcos Elementary said parents should help their child learn how to write their name and count to 10 while Tiffany Guerra at Shumway Leadership Academy said parents can encourage their child to answer their questions in full sentences because “this will help with their reading and writing skills.”

“Try to have your child build experiences in public restrooms,” Guerra added. “This will make our bathroom breaks a lot easier if your child knows what to do in the restrooms.”

And Carolyn Hernandez at CTA Independence said:

“Read daily. Not just read daily books, but if you’re in the grocery store, point out signs. Have your children say what the letters are, maybe a word here and there. Environmental print is a key component of learning how to read.”

ANDREA BARTLET

COURTNEY GEIL

SANDRA LUBIAN

Back-to-school shopping on a budget

BY FAMILY FEATURES

Between navigating store aisles and online sales for everything from clothes and shoes to supplies and sports equipment, back-to-school shopping can be a time-consuming — and expensive — endeavor.

To help stay on budget while still getting everything you need, consider these tips from Vitaly Pecharsky, head of deals for Slickdeals, an online community of shoppers working together to shop smarter and save more.

Take stock of current inventory

Before you hit the stores, take inventory of items you already have at home or in the office to see what you truly need. Knowing what you already have on hand can help you avoid the temptation of stocking up on items you may not even need just because they were on sale. That 50-cent pack of crayons may be a good deal, but too many of those can add up, especially if you realize later you had the same item sitting unused in a closet or drawer at home.

Check with teachers

Don’t be afraid to email your children’s teachers before classes start to find out what supplies are absolutely necessary. Sometimes a school will put out a list, but the teachers may not require you to have all the items on the list, particularly if students may be sharing and supplies may need to be restocked later in the school year.

Tap into technology

Shopping online is a quick and easy way to compare products, services and prices, but it can be overwhelming trying to determine if you’re really getting the best option. Before making a final decision on everything from laptops to markers, visiting a site like Slickdeals can help you find the best products at the best prices. With 12 million users who vet and vote on deals from top retailers, you can feel comfortable knowing you’re getting the best value. You can also set deal alerts to be notified via email when a deal that matches your criteria gets posted.

Buy pre-owned

From uniforms and sporting equipment to clothing and more, not everything needs to be new each school year. Visiting online consignment shops can help you find big savings on like new, often brand name clothing, accessories and more.

Avoid buying equipment for extracurricular activities all at once

If your children are trying new sports, clubs or extracurricular activities for the first time, consider waiting to purchase all the necessary equipment. Oftentimes, you may be able to borrow or buy pre-

owned items from other parents whose kids have outgrown the equipment or no longer participate. If your children end up deciding a sport or activity isn’t for them, you’re not stuck with things that may end up collecting dust in the garage or basement.

Shop without your kids

Leaving the kids at home when shopping may help save money, according to a survey commissioned by Slickdeals and conducted by OnePoll. The study of 2,000 parents in the United States found 2 out of 3 respondents believe shopping with their kids tends to be more expensive than shopping by themselves with solo ventures costing an average of $133 compared to $179 when taking children along.

Take advantage of student discounts

If you have children in college, you may be able to use their student ID cards to your advantage to save even more money. Before making purchases on big-ticket items like tablets or laptops, be sure to inquire about discounts available only for students. Some companies even offer student-only memberships for discounted services, such as shipping, video and music.

Find deals on supplies and gear for back-to-school season at slickdeals.com.

Photos courtesy of Getty Images 

4 top tech devices to enhance education

BY FAMILY FEATURES

Gone are the days of paper and pencil being the necessities for learning. Schoolwork has gone digital, meaning it’s time to gear up your students for success with the top tech that keeps them connected in the classroom and beyond.

From kid-friendly smartphones and earbuds to connected wearables and devices that keep learning fun, consider these on-trend solutions as your kids head back to school.

Find more schooltime tech by visiting qualcomm.com/snapdragonbts.

Power at-home productivity

Students (and parents, too) can accomplish more after school like homework, studying and socializing with the Dell Inspiron 14 laptop powered by the Snapdragon 8cx Gen 2 Compute Platform.

Equipped with the Qualcomm AI Engine, this processor enhances audio and visual experiences. Effortlessly multitask

and shift between apps without sacrificing speed or battery life, given the power-efficient processor that helps deliver long battery life even in thin, light and quiet designs that don’t require a loud, hot fan.

Listen and learn

Whether students are listening to prerecorded lessons, immersing themselves

in audiobooks or simply enjoying some favorite music while completing schoolwork, high-quality earbuds can help block out noise for maximum productivity. For example, the Moto Buds 600 ANC Wireless Earbuds feature Snapdragon Sound technology that delivers advanced wireless audio quality. A game changer for wireless audio, it eliminates the gap between wireless and wired connections for high-resolution music and synced entertainment.

Opt for kid-friendly wearables

If a smartphone is a bit too advanced for your little learners, an age-appropri-

ate smartwatch that keeps them connected may be a better fit. Empower kids to be kids with an option like the Snapdragon Wear 4100-powered Verizon Gizmo Watch 3 with a range of benefits from 4G LTE cellular connectivity to games and GPS-safe zones. This smartwatch is designed with safety and fun in mind without the distractions of a smartphone so you can have some peace of mind while keeping students focused in the classroom.

Keep in touch during schooldays

Hectic schedules during schooldays and workdays can leave parents feeling out of the loop. When your children are ready for a ride home or a practice, game or activity gets canceled, ensure you can be the first to know by keeping them connected with the OnePlus 11 5G powered by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 Mobile Platform. It combines power with effortless elegance and is driven by extreme hardware with Dolby Atmos Speakers, Dolby Vision, 80W SUPERVOOC Charging and 3rd Gen Hasselblad Camera for Mobile. 

Send kids back to school with sandwiches

BY FAMILY FEATURES

Back-to-school season brings change to routines and often makes each day slightly more hectic, especially for families with little ones. This year, despite the hustle and bustle, you can make quick and easy lunches for your kids (and yourself) that are both simple and better for you. These sandwich suggestions can brighten busy school days with a taste of home.

Brighten your children’s day with a fun, colorful Caterpillar Sandwich inspired by the experts at Nature’s Own. This tasty snack calls for ham, lettuce, cheese, tomato, cucumber and fresh, soft, fluffy bread before using a cookie cutter to cut out sandwich rounds and shape them into a creepy-crawly (yet delicious) “caterpillar.”

For an even simpler lunch you can enjoy at home, grab to go or send off with your little one to savor in the cafeteria, this Fluffernutter Sandwich calls for just three simple ingredients. Spread peanut butter and marshmallow fluff on two slices of bread then enjoy for a flavorful break from

the office or classroom.

Both lunchtime favorites are made using Nature’s Own Butterbread, baked with a simple buttery flavor to take sandwiches to new heights. Plus, it’s made with no artificial preservatives, colors or flavors; no high-fructose corn syrup; and 0 grams of trans fat.

Find more inventive sandwich ideas at naturesownbread.com/recipes.

Caterpillar Sandwich

Total time: 25 minutes

Servings: 6

4 Nature’s Own Butterbread slices

4 ham slices

2 lettuce leaves

4 American cheese slices

1 cherry tomato

1 green onion

2 Roma tomato slices

6 cucumber slices

toothpicks

mayonnaise or cream cheese

Using bread, ham, lettuce and cheese, make two ham and cheese sandwiches and two lettuce and cheese sandwiches.

Cut cherry tomato in half. Cut green onion into circles.

Using small biscuit or cookie cutter, punch out two rounds from each sandwich.

Arrange sandwich rounds on sides, alternating slice of cucumber and tomato between each. Use toothpick to secure.

Place halved cherry tomato on each end. Using small amount of mayonnaise or cream cheese, “glue” green onion rounds to cherry tomato for eyes.

Fluffernutter Sandwich

Total time: 10 minutes

Servings: 1

2 tablespoons peanut butter

2 Nature’s Own Butterbread slices

2 tablespoons marshmallow fluff

Spread peanut butter on one bread slice. Spread marshmallow fluff on second slice. Put two bread slices together to form sandwich. 

Photo courtesy of Getty Images

Learn to navigate the world of student loans

BY STATEPOINT

More American families are borrowing for college. At the same time, merit aid and the use of personal income and savings is falling.

That’s according to an annual College Ave Student Loans survey of college students at four-year universities, conducted with Barnes & Noble College Insights.

The survey also found college affordability is top-of-mind for the majority of students (57%). Despite financial concerns, 81% of students report that a college degree is crucial for their future.

“The mix of methods that families use to pay for college has shifted, however one thing remains consistent: students and families value the investment in higher education,” says Angela Colatriano, chief marketing officer of College Ave.

To borrow smart for college this fall, consider these tips and insights:

Exhaust all options. Before turning to private student loans, first exhaust other sources of financial aid. Complete and submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid to be considered for grants, scholarships, work-study programs and federal student loans.

If your selected school is one of the 400 institutions that requires the CSS profile, submit that too to qualify for institutional aid.

Finally, search for private scholarships offered by companies and nonprofits. One easy one to apply for is the College Ave $1,000 monthly scholarship sweepstakes.

If you do need to borrow, turn to federal student loans in the student’s name first, which generally offer the lowest rates and come with additional benefits. They don’t depend on credit scores, and

Parents should work closely with their children on getting all the information they can about student loans. (Fabio Camandona/iStock via Getty Images Plus)

offer longer deferments and forbearances, income-driven repayment plans and student loan forgiveness.

Private loans. Federal student loans have annual and aggregate loan limits. If you find yourself needing to borrow parent or private loans to cover remaining costs, consider these factors:

• Costs: Compare costs of different loans by looking at the actual interest rate you’ll be charged, not the lowest advertised rate. Understand the difference between variable and fixed interest rates, and be aware of any fees and available discounts, such as those offered for using autopay.

• Cosigners: A creditworthy cosigner doesn’t just increase the odds of loan approval, even if the student can qualify on their own, cosigning may yield a lower interest rate, reducing the overall cost of the loan.

• Total debt: Borrow only what you

need. With private loans, you can usually borrow up to the total cost of attendance. However, borrowing less than the maximum can help you save over time.

A simple rule of thumb you can use to determine how much student loan debt

you can afford: If total student loan debt at graduation, including federal and private loans, is less than the student’s annual starting salary, you can likely repay the loans in 10 years or less.

• Repayment: Look for repayment flexibility to match your needs.

For example, College Ave Student Loans offers five-, eight-, 10- and 15year repayment options, along with the choice of deferring payments until after graduation or beginning payments right away. No matter what option you select, understand the terms.

For more resources, including an online student loan calculator, and to learn more about paying for college, visit CollegeAve. com.

Private loans for college can play an important role in financing your education. By researching your financial aid options, applying for scholarships and comparing private student loan options, you can minimize college costs, so you can better manage your finances after you graduate.

BY TRIBUNE STAFF

QC boy’s love of marine life leads to art contest win

BY HALEY BEYER Tribune Contributing Writer

Sam Roman Guerrero is passionate about marine life.

The 6-year-old’s obsession led to a win in the Conservation Crafts Competition at OdySea Aquarium.

All 587 entrants received a complimentary child’s general admission ticket to the aquarium. Sam was one of five to be voted as a top submission for his manta ray.

As a winner, Sam and his immediate family were invited back to OdySea Aquarium for a celebration in the aquarium’s VIP Room, honoring his outstanding artistic contributions.

“He liked it so much when he was done with it that it hurt a little to know that he had to leave it in the aquarium after we delivered it,” said his mom, Angie Guerrero.

The Conservation Art Challenge asks children ages 12 and younger to create a work of art in the form of an animal, preferably an endangered species, from recycled materials to celebrate World Endangered Species Day and World Oceans Day.

The purpose of the project is to encourage young artists to join the “Party for the Planet,” in partnership with the Association of Zoos and Aquarium.

For Sam’s project, he decided on a giant oceanic manta ray, whose scientific name is mobula birostris, although his favorite marine animal is a shark. He used packing materials, paint and foam pool noodles to create his manta ray.

Angie said her son spent a few days finding the right materials first and then worked for two days to finish the project. Sam did all the work himself, including painting, watching videos for information, learning how to stain material and where

to place the eyes and tail. His mother cut the pieces with scissors.

This was the perfect challenge for Sam, Angie said, as he loves books, TV shows, stuffed animals and toys related to marine life.

“Because of his fascination and because he loved the idea of making a craft for this, he was excited about the idea and we really appreciate the opportunity given to the children to be involved in these beautiful experiences,” Angie said.

Jess Tammen, OdySea’s dive operations and conservations manager, said this contest is important.

“They are the present and future of the entire planet, not only of marine life, but of our entire beautiful planet,” Tammen said.

“Unfortunately, at present, a large part of children is focused on another type of

digital interest, they are not passionate or involved with living beings, with nature, it seems too boring, I really celebrate that Sam and children in general are interested in life and nature, and whenever I can, I will support it to keep it that way.”

Representatives from each aquarium department judge the pieces based on the artwork and an educational worksheet paired with each project. They are displayed in the facility.

The judges listed their top five favorites. Sam’s understanding of the importance of conservation was as impressive to the judges as they knew his purpose was more than just winning the challenge.

His intent spreads far wider into preserving wildlife, specifically marine life, and protecting the existing ecosystems.

Sam is living this lifestyle because his family has made this commitment as well.

“There is a lot of awareness and education at home about recycling,” Angie said.

“We set an example for them and have many talks about the good deeds we can do. We have attended events about Earth Day. We have books on the Earth about how it has been contaminated by bad habits of humans. We never buy bottled water. We take great care of our purchases and prefer products that do not come in plastic, and we always separate our waste into garbage or recycle.”

Angie said this contest was important to Sam, too, as he wants to “have a company that would clean the entire sea… using a huge ship and that he was going to clean the sea with.”

Children like Sam fulfill the motivation of the challenge.

“At OdySea Aquarium, we aim to engage, inspire and empower others to help make a positive impact on our planet,” Tammen said.

“By creating fun ways to encourage youth to learn about conservation, we hope to develop awareness of environmental issues and set up future generations for success. My favorite part of the Conservation Art Challenge is the guest interactions I have had during the competition… having kids run up to you to point out their artwork and tell you about the animal they chose, and seeing how proud their parents, grandparents, guardians and friends are of them is incredibly special and personally rewarding to me. Those moments show how impactful the event can be.”

Angie said Sam was thrilled with the prize.

“Sam’s true prize was going to the aquarium… but he did feel super happy, excited, proud and nervous, too,” she said. “We let him know how much we admire all the effort he put in, too.” 

Sam Roman Guerrero of Queen Creek recently won a trip to the OdySea Aquarium for his manta ray. (OdySea Aquarium/Submitted)

Jesus

like the laws of the lighthouse

PASTOR ED DELPH Tribune Columnist

Have there been moments in your workplace or personal life when you thought you were right and did not see the need to change, only to face a big disaster? Many of you have heard of the following anecdote, which illustrates the perils of stubbornness and the need to change.

In U.S. Naval Institute Proceedings, the magazine of the Naval Institute, Frank Koch illustrates the importance of obeying the Laws of the Lighthouse.

Two battleships assigned to the training squadron had been at sea on maneuvers in heavy weather for several days. I served on the lead battleship and was on watch on the bridge as night fell. The visibility was poor with patchy fog, so the captain remained on the bridge, monitoring all activities.

Shortly after dark, the lookout on the wing reported, “Light, bearing on the starboard bow. Is it steady or moving astern?” the captain called out. The lookout replied, “Steady, Captain,” which meant we were on a dangerous collision course with that ship.

The captain called the signalman, say-

ing, “Signal that ship: We are on a collision course. Advise you change course 20 degrees.” Back came the signal, “Advisable for you to change course 20 degrees.” The captain replied, “I am a captain. Change course 20 degrees.” “I’m a seaman second-class,” came the reply. “You had better change course 20 degrees.”

By that time, the captain was furious. He spat out, “I’m a battleship. Change your course 20 degrees.” Back came the flashing light, “I’m a lighthouse.” We changed course.

Wise decision, huh? I like the title, The Laws of the Lighthouse. We don’t break lighthouse laws; lighthouse laws break us. Our hubris, determination, blind vision, selfish search for significance, stubbornness or ignorance, running full speed ahead in our battleship of life, is no match for the solid rock the lighthouse sits on.

Author Max Lucado says: “The Laws of the Lighthouse contain immutable, immovable truths. Real lighthouses have four characteristics: They warn you of potential danger. They signal safe harbor. They are stronger than the storm. They shine brightest in the fog.

“The problem is there’s no problem until there’s a problem. Let me explain. Consider the scenario of not changing course.

Five seconds before the battleship hit the rocks, there was no problem. Five seconds later, the battleship, the captain and everyone else on the ship had a big problem.”

Sound familiar?

He continues, “The Laws of the Lighthouse contain more than good ideas, personal preferences, quests and honest opinions. They are God-given, time-tested truths defining how we should navigate our lives. Observe them and enjoy secure passage. Ignore them and crash against the ragged rocks of reality. The wise captain shifts the direction of his craft according to the lighthouse’s signal. A wise person does the same.”

Yes, there are immovable, immutable truths in life we all need to know. Choices do have consequences. The truth often makes us miserable at first, then saves our lives second. Someone once said, “You don’t break The Ten Commandments — The Ten Commandments break you.”

That’s hard on our hubris and current pop thinking, right? Many of us were raised with the attitude of: ‘I know everything, and what I don’t know won’t hurt me.’ This attitude sounds like that of the battleship captain. Be mindful that whatever hits the fan will not be evenly distributed.

Once, I posted a saying on Facebook, “I’m not young enough to know every-

thing.” Like cell phone flashlights at a Rolling Stones concert, the likes lit up my page.”

Here are some personal questions for us to consider concerning the Law of the Lighthouse from life coach HT Lee. “What could represent the battleship and lighthouse in my life or workplace? What would or could happen if nothing is changed/moved? What cannot be changed/moved? What can be changed/ moved? Where do I need to be more open to unknown possibilities? How can I cultivate more wisdom and flexibility to steer skillfully out of danger?”

That’s excellent advice. Be teachable, not offended.

Remember, God sent Jesus so we could arrive in the safe harbor of eternal life. Jesus warns us of potential danger. Jesus signals that safe harbor. Jesus is stronger than the storm. And Jesus shines brightest in the fog. Remember what was said before in this article? The wise captain shifts the direction of his craft according to the lighthouse’s signal. A wise person does the same.

Please don’t get upset with me for writing this article. All I’m trying to do is put us in a position to succeed. And remember, the only thing worse than adjusting your course is wishing you had.

America dangerously toys with China

BY JD HAYWORTH Tribune Columnist

You can forget all about “Babes in Toyland.”

There is nothing infantile about the manufacturing, marketing and merchandising of toys.

Instead, the economic stakes are so high — profits in excess of $100 billion a year — that American industry executives tie themselves in knots, contorting themselves in a fashion demanded when playing the Milton Bradley game, “Twister.”

But the modern contortion is prompted by a market distortion.

As is the case with so many manufactured goods, 80% of the toys sold in the USA are made in China.

Yes, Virginia, there may be a Santa Claus,

but panicked American companies have not only deprived Santa’s elves of their annual assignments — they have eliminated U.S. jobs and given a gift to themselves cheap Chinese labor.

In return, the Chinese have “gifted” our nation with something even worse than fewer and lower paying American jobs. They have declared a “People’s War” on the United States.

And even before the “bumbling” of the Biden Administration — which appears at this point to be something far more sinister than mere incompetence — the Chinese Dragon was breathing fire on the tails of the “imperialist running dogs,” in the parlance of Chairman Mao.

American industrialists have been indulgent of imperious behavior by the Chinese for quite some time. In 2007, after recalling 21 million toys made in China,

toy maker Mattel actually apologized to the PRC.

The reason for the recall? Excessive levels of lead paint found in Mattel toys manufactured in China.

Amazingly, Thomas Debrowski, then Mattel’s executive vice president for worldwide operations, put the blame squarely on his company, not the Chinese.

“Mattel takes full responsibility for these recalls and apologizes personally to you, the Chinese people and all of our customers who received the toys.”

Who was the “you” to whom Debrowski directed his apology? That would be the PRC’s product safety chief at the time, Li Changjiang — notwithstanding the fact that Li was probably more familiar with a Stalin’s “Five-Year Plan” than with a free market.

Li’s response made it clear that his mis-

sion was that of a Communist Chinese political “hack.”

“You cannot recall 10,000 products just because one is substandard. That is unacceptable.”

Oh, really?

Li’s argument might have carried more weight if that same year of 2007 had not brought us recalls of other Chinese products. Specifically, a month earlier, there was a recall of toothpaste for containing a chemical used to make antifreeze for automobiles; and even earlier that year — in March — there was a recall of dog food.

More recently, a popular blood pressure medicine made in China was recalled. In 2018, the generic drug, Valsartin, faced scrutiny after the FDA said it might be contaminated by NDMA, a

see HAYWORTH page 26

Scalding heat is the price Arizonans must pay

BY DAVID LEIBOWITZ Tribune Columnist

Exactly 29 Julys ago, I landed in Phoenix for the first time, to interview for a columnist gig at this very newspaper. To this day, I can recall the airport’s automatic doors whizzing open and being hit head on by a blast of hot air not unlike standing in front of a billion-watt hair dryer.

“We don’t need to do an interview,” I told the newspaper’s then-editor, Phil Boas. “There’s no possible way this weather can sustain human life.”

As I know now — in the midst of one of the most brutal heat waves in state history — it is possible to thrive under such conditions. My personal rule is a simple one. I don’t complain about the heat until it gets to 110 degrees. Past that, all bets are off.

Given that the National Weather Service indicates it has been above 110 de-

grees virtually every day this July, you can imagine how much complaining I’ve done this summer.

On the bright side — pun intended — at least most of us weren’t here in June 1974, when Phoenix logged a record 18 straight days of temperatures at or above 110 degrees.

My first summer here, the high temperature hit 121 on July 28, 1995. That’s the second-hottest day in Phoenix history, only surpassed by June 26, 1990, when the high was 122.

That day in 1995 was also the first time I ever wanted to punch Royal Norman, the longtime weatherman at Channel 3. It’s a personal issue I’ve since solved by refusing to watch local weather forecasts between the months of June and September.

My mom was right, it turns out. What you don’t know will still hurt you, but at least it will be a surprise.

Usually it’s about this time of year when I again ask myself the question that con-

fronts every Arizonan who has lived here for any length of time: Is this place really worth the misery the dog days of summer deliver on an annual basis?

What’s worse: An average of 21 days a year of temperatures above 110 degrees or having to own a snow shovel and being stuck for two hours behind a plow train on your commute home?

Keep in mind, I grew up in New York. Before coming here, I lived in garden spots like Philadelphia and Trenton.

If you’ve never been to Trenton, it’s a lot like visiting Tijuana or another third world city, except the stickup men speak marginally better English. Also, Trenton is surrounded by the rest of New Jersey, which is a consolation prize not unlike Kari Lake losing the governor’s race, only to turn around and run for more offices.

Just when you think it’s over, the pain keeps on coming.

Even so, I believe the Valley represents a pretty solid return on investment for those

of us who live here.

You suffer for 100 or so days, only to have 265 days of pristine sunshine, with no need to own a shovel, rock salt or tire chains.

Unlike Florida, there’s no humidity here to drench you, and unlike California, there’s comparatively few Californians to ruin the place, though they seem to keep showing up in growing numbers.

Luckily, we have weather forecasts like what’s in store for the middle week of July to frighten them off: Highs of 117 on the weekend, followed by a cooling trend — down to 107 — as this miserable month continues to fry everything in sight. I could complain, but what is there to say? If every day in the Valley was a balmy 98 degrees with no humidity and rarely a cloud, the population of Arizona would be 70 million instead of 7 million. Scalding heat is the price we pay to keep this state livable the other nine months of the year. 

AROUND THE BLUHMIN’ TOWN

Summertime is a period of great hope

BY JUDY BLUHM Tribune Columnist

The heat is on. Welcome to the “dog days of summer.”

This phrase was originated in ancient Roman times, used to describe the intense heat of summer. The term has been widely used ever since.

The ancient astronomers noted that Sirius, the Dog Star, rose and set with the sun during July and August. It was then concluded that Dog Star and the sun’s heat combined, caused the hottest weeks of the year. Hence, we are in those “dog days.”

Doggone it, I thought this saying had something to do with feeling like sitting around and panting like a dog when it is an inferno outside. My neighbor has a poodle named Chloe who refuses to go outside when it is too hot, which could be any time between now and September. A slight

problem. Many of us can relate to Chloe. My girlfriend asked if I wanted to go hiking. No, I prefer not to go walking around in a pizza oven so that I might spontaneously combust. A local firefighter says human spontaneous combustion is “not a real thing.” Perhaps. But trail walking in this heat seems like a recipe for me to go up in smoke.

A woman in Phoenix emailed me to say that while walking in a grocery store parking lot, her rubber flip-flop sandals started to disintegrate on the pavement. Yikes, this is how people end up in the burn unit at the hospital. Walk carefully, friends, with sturdy footwear.

I hate to complain, after all, at least we aren’t living in Death Valley. A woman who just moved to Arizona, emailed me to say that she is trying to “learn to appreciate the oppressive heat.” She is keeping a watchful eye for all things “special” about blazing, hot days and has encouraged all

her friends and neighbors to do the same. Hmm, I did see a massive yellow wall of dust moving my way last week, as I was driving in Phoenix. Does a haboob qualify as “special?”

Is there anything good about the “dog days” of summer? Actually, it’s a time of great hope. Everyone I talk to is looking forward to something different or “hoping” to go someplace else. We dream of cooler days. Folks are traveling to exotic places. The beaches are beckoning. Family road-trips await. Camping in the pines sounds pretty thrilling. And the monsoons might be arriving soon. The Hopi claim that the monsoons are “magic.” Arizona seems to be getting hotter. Tri-

HAYWORTH from page 25

possible carcinogen.

Now, five years after the antihypertensive medication scare, the PRC is looking for more favorable treatment worldwide. Specifically, on the silver screen.

Warner Brothers, the studio behind “Barbie,” the live-action motion picture about the All-American doll and female “ideal,” finds itself embroiled in a lessthan-ideal controversy. The concern is focused on a map that appears behind Margot Robbie, who plays Barbie, and which depicts the “nine-dash-line,” which Beijing draws more than a thousand miles off its coast, claiming the vast majority of the South China Sea as its territory.

Would it surprise you to learn that Bar-

ple digits in Phoenix are always routine, but Prescott has been seeing 100 degrees! Ouch! It’s as though we make it through a hot spell in some sort of collective trance, just waiting for a break in the weather or a change of scenery. Survive the summer any way you can. Sit in a pool. Head to the beach. Think like Chloe and stay inside. Hurry and do something to cool off, before the smoke you smell is your own! Look up. Clouds are forming. We could use a little magic, or monsoons right now.

Judy Bluhm is a writer and a local Realtor. Have a story or a comment? Contact Bluhm at judy@judybluhm.com or at www.aroundthebluhmintown.com. 

bie dolls are made in four foreign factories — two in China — and nowhere in the USA?

A Warner Brothers spokesman sought to belittle any American concerns, saying “The map in Barbie Land is a child-like crayon drawing… It was not intended to make any type of statement.”

Meantime, Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen made a point that spoke loudly and clearly without words. Visiting Beijing, Yellen bowed to her Chinese counterpart, Vice Premier He Lifeng, three times. Yellen looked like “Dippy Bird,” the toy that dips its beak into a cup of water again and again.

So, Janet Yellen was an appeaser in a Communist land.

No “Babe in Toyland,” just a septuagenarian in “Fantasyland.” 

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Women athletes in Valley fight for equality

BY TAYLYN HADLEY Cronkite News

The world of athletics can pose formidable challenges for women as their pursuit is often met by inequalities on many levels between male and female athletes.

The women’s team of Phoenix Women’s Rugby aims to change that.

“We’re going to fight for a seat at the table, we’re going to stay at the table,” said Jillian Sowell, who founded the women’s club of Phoenix Rugby. “We’re here. We’re not going anywhere. So pay us fairly.”

Although rugby as we know it today has been around since the 1800s as an Olympic sport for men, women were not allowed to participate until its removal in 1924 and reapplication for the 2016 Games.

Olympic recognition came almost two decades after the first women’s rugby world cup, held in 1991 in Wales, where USA beat England to be crowned champions.

As rugby is quickly becoming one of the most popular rising sports in America, more females are joining and creating teams.

However, funding opportunities are still not as available for women as they are for men. Women spend more time fundraising in creative ways to keep their programs afloat.

Of the 58 colleges with varsity rugby programs in the United States, there are 43 women’s teams to 35 men’s. Despite this, scholarships for women’s teams equal $1,000 less per team than men’s teams.

“In college, there was a lot of discrepancy with the funding between the men’s side and the women’s side,” said Jessica Carpenter, a player for Phoenix Women’s Rugby and University of Arizona Alumni. “Even though we were both (in) exactly (the) same sport, same club, under the same leadership.”

The Lingerie League opened its inaugural season in 2009 after a controversial halftime performance at the 2004 Super Bowl.

Later rebranded the Legacy League, the women ditched football pants and jerseys for underwear and bras and laid each other out on the field in front of the crowd and TV viewers.

However, lingerie football was not what it appeared to be.

“From first glance, I thought it was all about exploitation. You know, sex sells, so the less you’re wearing, the better it was going to be,” said Sareli Utley, a player for the Ahwatukee-based women’s tackle football team, Arizona Outkast. “After hearing (a former Lingerie League player’s) perspective, they do that because they felt (like) that was the only way of

getting seen.”

Women also experience various forms of body shaming. Whether appearing too big, too small, too skinny or too large, women are rarely accepted as athletes independent of their image.

“‘You don’t look like a rugby player,’” is just a part of what what Phoenix Women’s Rugby’s Payleigh Behan hears.

Arizona OutKast player Stacey Maydahl said she hears things like, “Women are fragile.” “They can’t do those types of things.” “They’re not as athletically built as men.”

To that, Maydahl, argues: “Women are built different, but we are 10 times stron-

ger than men because we can give birth and they cannot.”

Women’s football has a long history and dates back to 1926, when women scrimmaged during halftime games of NFL teams such as the Frankford Yellow Jackets, Dayton Triangles and the Columbus Panhandles.

The 2000s marked the development of the Women’s Football Alliance (WFA), United States Women’s Football League (USWSFL) and Independent Women’s Football League (IWFL) as the only three 11-on-11 women’s tackle football leagues.

The WFA played its first season in 2009, hosting 30 teams around the nation in tackle football. WSFL and IWFL have seen massive decreases in production, further minimizing the opportunities for women’s football programs.

“Women, we have to work 10 times harder to do relatively anything when it comes to equality,” Utley said. “You know, we’re still fighting for that mark.”

Arizona Outkast operates under the WFA as part of its Division 3 program, which is home to 29 other teams and hosts 122 teams nationally. Players are composed of long-time football fans that never got the chance to play during their high school or college years.

“We could probably do it (athletics) better (than men),” Maydahl said. “Have you ever watched women’s basketball or women’s soccer? We are way more competitive and way more brutal than these men.”

As flag football grows in the Valley among high school girls after the Arizona Interscholastic Association sanctioned it last year, Arizona Outkast believes women’s football is here to stay and that the next 10 years will create monumental shifts in the sport.

“There’s nothing that girls or women can’t do. We can do a lot of things that men and boys can do,” said Chan Ellis, another player for Arizona Outkast. “When it comes to sports, we can do all the sports just as well as they can do (them).”

Phoenix Rugby Club player Jessica Carpenter has played on the women’s team since it was formed in 2019. (Courtesy of Phoenix Rugby Club)

‘Sun’ shines on 3 Doors Down’s new tour

BY CHRISTINA FUOCO-KARASINSKI GetOut Editor

The rock band 3 Doors Down is rarely associated with the tranquility of gardening.

But singer Brad Arnold does his best work while he’s pulling weeds, mowing the lawn or planting flowers.

“It sounds silly, but I’ve done a lot of yardwork this year and that’s where I write,” he said with a laugh.

“When we were writing our first record, I was driving a tractor or forklift. I’ve been telling people forever, and you’re only going to get a limited number of songs. I’ve never been a guy who can sit down in a room with a stranger and sit down at 2 p.m. on a Thursday and write a song. I can do it, but it’ll sound like a nursery rhyme.

“I write my best out in my yard, mowing grass, pulling weeds, letting my mind

wander a bit. Those are my most clear moments.”

He’s taking a break from yardwork to embark on 3 Doors Down’s tour with Can-

A Higher Purpose Richie Evans is taking on the rap world

BY CHRISTINA FUOCO-KARASINSKI GetOut Editor

Rapper Richie Evans wants the Valley to be respected for its music — and he’s laser focused on doing his part.

“I’m on this journey of trying to bring a platinum plaque to the city,” said Evans, who lives in Chandler.

“We’re not as big as LA, Chicago or New York, but I think we’re starting to have the infrastructure. There’s a lot of talent in the city and, nationwide, people need to take heed.”

The prolific Evans recently released the EP “Highly Favored,” the precursor to his debut full-length album, “The Purpose,” due out this fall.

Landing at No. 25 on iTunes chart, “Highly Favored” includes the song “Pressure,” featuring Los Angeles rappers Jay Rock and EastSide K-Boy. Over hard-hitting

Track PROS production, the three MCs deliver fierce verses about loyalty, respect and taking an oath to the streets.

“‘Pressure’ came about because I felt like I needed something for the streets following my R&B-inspired single “For You” featuring Vedo,” Evans explained.

“I wanted a record that would be respected for its lyrical content, but still solid enough to catch a mainstream vibe. I tapped into the homies EastSide K-Boy and Jay Rock from TDE (Top Dawg Entertainment) because I knew they could embody a classic West Coast sound with both raw lyrics and clever wordplay.”

Earlier this year, Evans released “For You,” featuring platinum vocalist Vedo and produced by The Olympicks (Rick Ross, Lil Wayne, Kendrick Lamar). The song gained Urban Radio airplay across the country includ-

dlebox. The jaunt comes to Arizona Financial Theatre on Tuesday, July 18. The tour celebrates the belated 20th anniversary of 3 Doors Down’s sophomore effort, “Away from the Sun.”

“Away from the Sun” features “Here Without You,” which reached No. 5 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart; as well as the lead single, “When I’m Gone,” which landed at No. 4 on the same chart.

Arnold looks back fondly on the record.

“I’m very happy with it,” Arnold said. “As with any record, I go back and listen to it and hear all of the little mess-ups in it and this and that. They used to bother the fire out of me. Now they remind me of the time the record was recorded. Nobody hears the ‘mistakes’ anyway. Nobody hears the difference. They’re good little memories.”

3 Doors Down performs Tuesday, July 18, at Arizona Financial Theatre. (David “Doc” Abbott/Contributor)

Richie Evans performs at the Stratus Event Center in Phoenix. (James Patrick/Contributor)

He called “Away from the Sun” 3 Doors Down’s first record as a “professional band.” The debut record, 2000’s “The Better Life,” was penned over the course of a lifetime. For “Away from the Sun,” the musicians had about a year.

“We weren’t intimidated by it,” he said. “‘When I’m Gone’ was written by ‘The Better Life’ tour and it had proven itself live. That gave us a little confidence to go in there and not be so overwhelmed by the success of the first record.

“We weren’t cocky about it. We figured

if we didn’t have anything else, we had ‘When I’m Gone.’ We came out with ‘Away from the Sun’ and it’s my favorite record we’ve ever done.”

In celebration of the anniversary of “Away from the Sun,” 3 Doors Down released the original video treatment for “When I’m Gone,” which has been buried in the band’s archives for the last two decades.

The original video treatment filmed for “When I’m Gone” was abandoned initially in favor of an opportunity with the U.S. military to perform on the USS George Washington.

The video from that collaboration garnered more than 160 million views while showcasing the band’s live performance intertwined with poignant military reunions.

The newly unearthed video, directed by Marc Klasfeld, is set against the backdrop of rural Mississippi. It is a journey through a funeral procession and burial, paired with 3 Doors Down’s live performance. The story leads to an unexpected twist.

“Although we faced numerous challenges while making that video, nothing could compare to the overwhelming feeling we experienced the first time we saw the mili-

tary version,” Arnold said.

“What started as a military tour became something extraordinary that we’ll always treasure. But it was meant to be.”

“When I’m Gone” is most certainly on the setlist for the current tour, which has lived up to Arnold’s expectations. The band is performing songs from “Away from the Sun” and all the hits sprinkled throughout the set.

“Our plan is going perfect,” Arnold said. “Our plan was to go out there and play some shows and leave fans with smiles on their faces. That’s the most important thing.”

ing DJ Self at Power 105 in New York, V103 and Hot 107.9 in Atlanta and Power 92 in Chicago. The song also landed on music blogs AllHipHop, ThisIs50, RESPECT, HipHopSince1987 and Hype Off Life, who said Evans has “undeniable lyricism.” The “For You” official music video was broadcasted on MTV and BET also gaining hundreds of thousands of plays on YouTube.

In “For You,” Evans puts his woman on a pedestal, proclaiming his love for her and highlighting the positive things she’s brought to his life. The song’s lyrics represent that Evans views women as essential members of his movement.

Evans is hosting a hometown show with Jim Jones and Juelz Santana at 9 p.m. Friday, July 21, at Stratus Event Center in Phoenix.

“It’s going to be a sold-out show, hands down,” he said. “It’s going to be a lot of fun, with alcohol flowing, good energy and a lot of champagne. The city’s been waiting for me to come home and do something.”

Born in Philadelphia, Evans is the only child of Norma Jean Mitchell and Richard Evans Sr. during their 12-year marriage. (His dad later had another child, Diante Blue Evans.) His father was in the U.S. Air Force, so the family lived around the world — including New Mexico, Germany, Italy and then Luke Air Force Base — inspiring Evans’ pursuits.

The Evans family lived in Maryvale, with Evans attending Luke Elementary

School in Glendale; Sunset Elementary School in Glendale; Estrella Middle School in Phoenix; and Trevor G. Browne High School in Phoenix. After his first year at Browne, Evans relocated with his family to New Mexico.

In his mid-teens, upon his return to the States from Germany, Evans started writing poetry. The likes of Ice Cube and Nas heavily influenced his craft as well.

“I started taking it seriously,” said Evans, who played basketball at Eastern Arizona College. “I was working on fine tuning my craft and planning to do this as a lifelong profession.”

His parents had a hand in his career, too, as they played “so much music growing up.” His father’s favorites included Phil Collins, Anita Baker, Kenny G, The Gap Band, New Edition and The Isley Brothers.

“My uncle got me into hip-hop,” he added about Charles Thomas. “He moved from Philly to Phoenix with us. He was kind of like an older brother to me. He played Ice Cube, Public Enemy and Nas. That really piqued my interest in rap.”

He studied under multiplatinum rapper The Game, after meeting in a Phoenix nightclub. A few years into their relationship, Evans — who rapped under the moniker Juice at the time — decided to strike out on his own. The Game gave Evans his blessing, so he adopted his given name in 2016 and started rebranding himself.

Evans landed a major deal with Nike. He was endorsed by Vitaminwater. He did all that on his own, without the help of a ma-

jor label deal and sans the backdrop of a major rap city.

“If you take a little bit of The Game, mix a little bit of Fabolous with a little bit of Nas, sprinkle a little bit of Ice Cube and wrap it all up, that’s what you get from me,” Evans said.

“I think charting at No. 25 is a big step into where we’re headed. It gives us a lot of credibility and validation in the world. It shows my vision is not crazy. It’s right on task.”

Richie Evans w/Jim Jones and Juelz Santana

WHEN: 9 p.m. Friday, July 21

WHERE: Stratus Event Center, 4344 N. Indian School Road, Phoenix

COST: Tickets start at $30 INFO: 480-395-5115, maturecrowdpromotions.com

RICHIE EVANS from page 28

IWith JAN D’ATRI GetOut Columnist

A delicious legacy from a famed cooking duo

t was the 1920’s. The place, Chicago, Illinois. Francois and Antoinette Pope made they mark on the culinary scene first with the Antoinette Pope School of Fancy Cookery.

Then came the television show hosted by the couple. Finally, their cookbook, “The Antoinette Pope School Cookbook.”

I would never have known any of this had one of the Pope family members not presented me with a copy of the cookbook.

The more I read about the Popes, the more fascinated I became with their story.

Online there are even blogs about the cooking duo with comments by the many people who graduated from their school or who have called the cookbook their “go-to” cooking bible.

The crunchy top butter cake is one of the many delightful recipes from an American heritage cookbook that elevated the art of cooking to “fancy cookery.” 

Ingredients:

• Crunchy top ingredients

• 1/3 cup butter, room temperature

• 1/3 cup granulated sugar

• ½ teaspoon cinnamon

• 1 ½ cups pecans or walnuts, chopped fine

• Cake ingredients

• ½ cup butter room temperature

• 1 cup granulated sugar

• 2 large eggs, room temperature

• 2 teaspoons vanilla bean paste

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Coat a 9” x 9” baking pan (glass preferred) with cooking spray. Line the coated pan with parchment paper, leaving a 2-3 inch overhang for easy lift out. Lightly spray the parchment paper.

2. Make the crunchy top. In a bowl, combine the butter, sugar, cinnamon and nuts. Using a pastry blender or fork, cut the ingredients together to the consistency of course meal. Spoon the crunchy top mixture into the prepared baking pan and spread evenly over the bottom.

• 1 cup milk or buttermilk

• 2 cups cake flour

• 1 tablespoon baking powder

• ½ teaspoon salt

• Icing ingredients

• 1 cup brown sugar, firmly packed

• ½ cup half and half or heavy cream

• 1 tablespoon butter

• ½ teaspoon salt

• 1 teaspoon vanilla bean paste

• 2 cups powdered sugar

3. Make the cake. In the bowl of a stand mixer, or using electric beaters, mix together the butter and sugar and beat until light and fluffy. Add vanilla, milk or buttermilk and mix well. Add the cake flour, baking powder and salt and mix for about 3-4 minutes.

4. Pour batter evenly over the crunchy top. Bake for 45-50 minutes or until a toothpick comes up clean.

5. While cake is baking, make the caramel icing. In a medium saucepot, combing the brown sugar, half and half or heavy cream, butter and salt. Stir well and cook until mixture begins to boil, stirring often.

6. Pour into a large bowl. Add vanilla and powdered sugar, and mix by hand or with electric beaters. (Consistency should be thick but pourable. If too thick, add a small amount of cream. If too runny, add more powdered sugar.)

7. When cake is done, let cool for 10 minutes and then drizzle caramel icing over top.