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This Week

NEWS.................. 8

Latin teacher relishes humanity in ancient text

FEATURES......... 16

North Valley Escape Room is a fun challenge for all ages

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

Valley students participate in summer surgical program

OPINION.................... 10 BUSINESS.................. 15 FEATURES................. 16 YOUTH....................... 20 CLASSIFIEDS............. 22 Zone I

Serving the communities of Anthem, Desert Hills, Norterra, Sonoran Foothills, Stetson Valley, Tramonto, New River, Desert Ridge and North Phoenix

Anthem Area Edition

PAGE

Wednesday, August 3, 2022

Anthem approves new facility projects BY ALLISON BROWN Foothills Focus Staff Writer

he Anthem Community Council passed a motion to accept the 2026 facilities master plan as presented, with eight projects approved for a total cost of over $4 million, at a July 27 meeting. The approved projects include implementing a walking museum; revitalizing tennis court No. 1; enhancing the north lawn; improving field and parking conditions at Hastings Field; adding new pickleball courts; enhancing Liberty Bell Park; putting in a Dog Park restroom; and constructing racquetball courts. These were selected out of 10 projects first submitted by community members in January. Doug Sutherland, treasurer of the Anthem

see PROJECTS page 4

The Anthem Community Council approved the facility master plan with eight projects costing a total of over $4 million, at a July 27 meeting. (Anthem Community Council/submitted)

ProMusica celebrates 20th anniversary with upcoming season BY ERYKA FORQUER Foothills Focus Staff Writer

he nonprofit organization ProMusica Arizona is commemorating its 20th performance year of its multigenerational chorale and orchestra with a three-part concert series during its 2022-2023 season. The upcoming season’s concerts feature the orchestra and choir where they will perform

sets including patriotic songs, familiar show tunes, holiday music and new tracks. Yvonne Dolby, the executive director of ProMusica Arizona, said there will be “a lot of variety” in the organization’s upcoming season. “There will be some pieces that are the chorale with an accompanist, and there’ll be some pieces with just the orchestra,” Dolby said. “Then there will be pieces that they do together.”

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This season, ProMusica Arizona consists of 50 to 60 choir members and nearly 40 orchestra members. The number of participants is far from the original count ProMusica Arizona started with when it was founded in 2003. “Seventeen singers got together and wanted to sing and form a choir,” Dolby said. “So, within a few months, there were 50 people in the

see PROMUSICA page 4

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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 ADVERTISING DEPARTMENT Display Advertising: 480-348-0343 Classifieds/Inside Sales: Elaine Cota | 480-898-7926 | ecota@timeslocalmedia.com TJ Higgins | 480-898-5902 | tjhiggins@timeslocalmedia.com Steve Insalaco | 480-898-5635 | sinsalaco@timeslocalmedia.com Advertising Office Manager: Tricia Simpson | 480-898-5624 tsimpson@timeslocalmedia.com Director of National Advertising Zac Reynolds | 480-898-5603 | zac@timeslocalmedia.com NEWS DEPARTMENT Executive Editor: Christina Fuoco-Karasinski | 480-898-5631 christina@timeslocalmedia.com Design: Nathalie Proulx | nproulx@timeslocalmedia.com Production Coordinator: Courtney Oldham | 480-898-5617 production@timeslocalmedia.com CIRCULATION : 623-535-8439 Circulation Director: Aaron Kolodny | aaron@phoenix.org Distribution Manager: Brian Juhl | brian@timeslocalmedia.com

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PROJECTS from page 1

Community Council and chair of the Facilities Master Plan Committee, explained the process of selecting which projects would be recommended to the board. “Over a year ago, I was asked to put together a group of people as a committee to take a look at the five-year new projects considered under a master facilities plan and to bring back the recommendations of the committee, to the board and to the community,” Sutherland said. “The committee met all together about just under 20 times, looking at all of these suggested projects, and after reviewing the projects and giving them better definition, as best we could, the committee made a recommendation to fund and to improve (these) projects.” The recommendation was originally presented to the council on May 25, but the council passed a motion to defer the decision and have a public workshop in June to hear from the public. That meeting was held June 29. Council, staff and residents were all given an open platform to discuss their thoughts, concerns, support or opposition for each proposed project. Based on the feedback, the facilities master plan committee went back to work tweaking and adding more detail to the project proposals. That adjusted plan was what the Anthem Community Council approved at the July 27 meeting. The projects will be broken up into six phases stretching from 2022 to 2026. Money for the projects will come out of the en-

hancement fund. Sutherland said at the end of 2026, after all the projects, it’s anticipated the enhancement fund will still have about $1.8 million. Projects slated to be started and/or completed in 2022 include the museum, tennis court No. 1 enhancement and north grass enhancement. The museum will be a walking museum with a collection of items and artifacts displayed in the Civic Building and Community Center to coincide with the 25th anniversary of Anthem. This project is expected to cost $40,000 for fixtures, cases, employee labor to set it up and ongoing maintenance. The tennis court No. 1 project, budgeted at $100,000, will include resurfacing, updating lighting and adding fencing around the court. The north grass enhancement refers to an underutilized area outside the Community Center, which will have artificial turf and shade covering added as well as seasonal updates at an approximate cost of $400,000. In 2023, Hastings Field will get an expansion as well as new parking and a restroom. The total cost of this project is anticipated to be $800,000. This proposal was submitted by Bobby St. Pierre, sports and fitness supervisor for the ACC, who said there currently aren’t enough fields to accommodate everyone. Then, starting in 2023 and expected to be completed in 2024, are the additional pickleball courts and a restroom to be constructed at the current Anthem Community Center location. Currently, it is expected that four courts will be placed, but the exact number and placement will be up to the project engineer. This project is expected to cost

$900,000. Gretchen Bender, who submitted the proposal and serves as the chair of the Anthem AZ Pickleball Club, spoke at the meeting to remind council the original proposal was for six courts and ask them to try to stick to that number if possible. Almost a dozen pickleball players showed up at nearly every public meeting held about the facilities proposals to show their support. Liberty Bell Park will be getting an enhancement in 2024 for a cost of $500,000. This will include updating the current splash pad as well as installing shade cover and areas for outdoor fitness, cardio, strength training and yoga or stretching to make it more usable year-round. In 2025, a restroom will be added to the dog park for $300,000. Then, in 2026, two indoor racquetball courts will be added to the Anthem Community Center for an expected cost of $1 million. These will be the first racquetball courts in Anthem and branded as multi-use to be used for other sports when needed. The goal of the facilities master plan is to identify and prioritize quality of life projects, and community engagement is a big part of that. Previous projects include the dog park, skate park and pickleball courts, which have been well-received by the community. “The whole idea is to not only talk to staff about ideas for physical improvements, but also people in our community and ask them what we are lacking and what we need to improve,” Sutherland said. More details about each of the projects can be found at onlineatanthem.com/facilities_master_plan.

choir, and then they added an orchestra the next year.” Dolby said the ages of the organization’s members range from mid-teens to early 80s. The choir and orchestra are mixed with college students, unpaid community volunteers and paid professionals who are actors and musicians. Although there is no maximum or minimum age to join the organization, Dolby said members are required to audition and perform a piece with the artistic director and concertmaster. “They need to have an intermediate skill level and ability to read music,” Dolby said. Members must also have an interme-

diate or advanced playing level to join the orchestra. The organization receives funding from grants, donors and ticket sales. ProMusica Arizona is also supported by the Arizona Commission on the Arts, which provides grants to help support the arts community and make it accessible to the public. “Most of our funding comes from individual donors, but we do get a lot of grants from government agencies,” Dolby said. “The Arizona Commission on the Arts gives us grants and we do get corporate sponsorships as well.” In addition to its concert series, Dolby said ProMusica Arizona also partakes in outreach performances with its women’s

ensemble, Women in Song. The ensemble is directed by Patti Graetz and performs at community events, retirement communities and different meetings. ProMusica Arizona has performed over 275 times for more than 134,000 people. Although its offices are based out of Anthem, the chorale and orchestra perform in Sun City and north Phoenix. Dolby said the organization was looking to expand and cover more of the North Valley when it stumbled upon the American Lutheran Church in Sun City. “It’s just a fabulous venue there,” Dolby said. “The acoustics are great, and all the

PROMUSICA from page 1

see PROMUSICA page 6

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PROMUSICA from page 4

equipment is great.” After uncovering the venue, ProMusica Arizona worked to build an audience and establish its presence in Sun City. “When we started with the first concert there, we only had 75 people show up,” Dolby said. “We had more people on stage than we did in the audience, and now we attract between 300 and 400 people every time we perform there.” The chorale and orchestra also perform at the All Saints Lutheran Church in North Phoenix. Each separate concert in its upcoming series will take place on two days, with one performance in North Phoenix and another performance in Sun City. The series will commence with “Favorites — Past and Present,” which features patriotic pieces including “America the Beautiful” and “God Bless America” during the first day. The second day’s repertoire will continue the theme of nostalgia with show tunes from “Oklahoma” and “The Sound of Music.” Performances for the first concert of the series will be held at 7 p.m. on Saturday,

The organization started out as a small group and has now grown to 50 to 60 choir members and nearly 40 orchestra members. (ProMusica Arizona/submitted) Oct. 15, in north Phoenix and 3:30 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 16, at 3:30 p.m. in Sun City. ProMusica Arizona’s holiday concert, “Christmas Through the Ages,” will occur at 7 p.m Saturday, Dec. 17, in north Phoenix and 3:30 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 18, in Sun City. Audience members can sing along to “Carol of the Bells” and other traditional Christmas songs at the holiday concert. “Christmas is typically the most well attended concert because people are in the mood to go to an event and celebrate the holidays,” Dolby said. “It will be music they recognize and then some special arrangements of other pieces.” The concert series will conclude with the

“20th Anniversary Celebration Concert,” which will include the debut of “Saguaro Song,” a suite of five songs created by Arizona composer Craig Bohmler. The songs feature texts from the Canadian author Marion Adler, who uses a saguaro cactus to depict the seasons of life. “We’ll also do a lot of music that we’ve performed over the years that audiences have really liked,” Dolby said. The last performances will be held at 7:00 p.m. Saturday, April 1, in north Phoenix and 3:30 p.m. Sunday, April 2, in Sun City. Dolby said the orchestra and choir have been rehearsing for the upcoming concert

ProMusica Arizona, a community nonprofit, is celebrating its 20th anniversary with the upcoming season. (ProMusica Arizona/submitted) series since August. The artistic director of ProMusica Arizona has also been working on the programming for several months. Dolby said the organization is particularly eager to see the performance of “Saguaro Song” during the series. “We’re really looking forward to doing that,” she said. “It’ll be the world premiere of that piece.” ProMusica Arizona 3701 W. Anthem Way 623-326-5172 pmaz.org

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Latin teacher relishes humanity in ancient text BY ALLISON BROWN Foothills Focus Staff Writer

oshua Anthony, a Great Hearts Archway Anthem Latin teacher, worked on translating a 12th century prayer book associated with St. Hildegard von Bingen at the University of Notre Dame over the summer. He said he has found profound wisdom and experienced incredible encounters with humanity from his studies. “My experience with (Latin) has really been across the centuries, across thousands and thousands of miles,” Anthony said. “It’s an encounter with the humanity of this person, and that is so invaluable.” As a Latin major at the University of Notre Dame, Anthony said he spent time working on the book while he was in school. However, he graduated in 2020, “the COVID year,” and was unable to finish. So, when his former professor

reached out to him and asked him to return to spend some more time working on it, he jumped at the chance. Anthony spent three weeks there working on the project over the summer and said it was “fabulous.” According to Anthony, the work was a lot more complex than just translating text from Latin to English. “This book is from the 12th century. It was written by hand in this really beautiful medieval handwriting and has got lots of abbreviations,” he explained. “So, the first step is just transcribing and getting the medieval writing into digital text in Latin, with all the abbreviations unpacked and expanded. Then, the second part is to translate it into English.” He described some of the “abbreviations” as a couple random letters with squiggles around them, and said it took a pretty deep understanding of Latin and the general text to be able to piece together what those meant. The book was written by St. Hilde-

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gard von Bingen, who Anthony said was a German nun who lived in the 12th century and was a prolific writer. She wrote about theology, which was rare and usually frowned upon for women at that time, as well as natural medicine, drama and music. Anthony said this text in particular was a prayer book, with an illustration of a biblical event on the left-hand side and a description of the scene in a way that makes it personal. “I was really taken by the lively faith that she expressed. Her faith was warm and personal,” he said about the pages he worked on. “I don’t come away from spending all Joshua Anthony, a Latin teacher, shares his passion for the day with this book feeling de- language with his students. (Great Hearts Archway Anpressed, I come away from it them/Submitted) really feeling revived and with this revitalizing warmth. It’s a really has been teaching Latin at Great Hearts beautiful text to read.” Archway Anthem for two years. He said He added that he felt he could per- he hopes to pass along his passion for sonally connect with this German nun the language to his students, and show who lived hundreds of years ago, some- them that even though it might not be thing he thinks is fairly unique to the a language one comes across everyday, Latin language. That connection is part there is still so much that can be done of what made him decide to learn in the with Latin. first place. As someone who didn’t have the opAnthony started teaching himself Lat- portunity to take Latin when he was in when he was a sophomore in high in school, Anthony said it’s great to be school, because his school didn’t offer able to offer this program to the kids the language as a course. He actual- in Anthem. He acknowledged it is defily started out taking French classes in nitely useful to learn a language like middle school, and said he found it so Spanish to be able to converse with the interesting that it spurred him to tackle people around us, but said we really already have a lot in common with them learning Latin on his own. “I got a much deeper understanding just from being alive at the same time. of English, just because so much of En- According to Anthony, Latin opens the glish comes from French,” Anthony ex- door to so much more. “With Latin, more so than any other plained. “So I thought if I wanted to get a deeper understanding of French, then language just because it has been so conI needed to go back one level further. I tinuously used for thousands of years, did get a much deeper understanding, you get this profound stretch of history but then also just from the section of Ro- that’s opened up,” he said. “You can learn man authors that were in my elementa- a lot in terms of information, understandry textbook, I was put into contact with ing and perspective, but for me, the fact their wisdom. I thought, ‘Whoa, this is that you can encounter someone’s humanity like this, across the centuries, is so remarkable, this is what I want to do.’” And he stuck with it. Now, Anthony heartfelt, personal and interesting.”

NEWS

THE FOOTHILLS FOCUS | THEFOOTHILLSFOCUS.COM | AUGUST 3, 2022

P.E.O. Sisterhood to host informational meeting in Anthem BY ABI CELAYA Foothills Focus Staff Writer

he Anthem chapter of the Philanthropic Educational Organization Sisterhood, a U.S. and Canadian nonprofit organization that helps women achieve their educational goals, is set to have a meeting in Anthem Thursday, Sept. 1, to discuss requirements for scholarships they offer and answer any questions. Each of the five scholarships offers something different. There are scholarships for women just graduating high school, international students, students who are coming back to school after taking a break and more. P.E.O. Sisterhood was started by seven female college students in Iowa in 1869. Now the organization has over 6,000 chapters in the U.S. and Canada and around 150 chapters just in the state of Arizona. When looking for ideal candidates, Lynn Caldwell, education committee member for chapter EV in Anthem, said the organization looks for women who are leaders in their communities. “She looks like a gal that’s going to make a difference in the future,” she said about what their ideal candidate would look like. P.E.O. owns and supports Cottey College in Nevada, Missouri, it is an all women’s college with around 350 students. Since the school has a small number of students, staff are able to provide a high quality learning experience and make sure each girl is getting the most out of her educational journey. Every year the chapters hope to send around 15 Arizona students to the school on scholarship. “The more I learn about Cottey, the more respect I have for Cottey,” Caldwell said. The college was founded by Virgina Cottey in the late 1800s. She founded

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the school with her own money and worked on the school throughout her lifetime. When she was ready to retire from her work with the college she approached P.E.O. and asked if they would be interested in taking on the college. The school started as a two-year program but is now a four-year institution, and as a part of the program girls get a week of international study. “Every year each chapter is assigned high schools in their area and we take Cottey informational packets to the counselors of these high schools so that when they are talking to a young girl that might fit the profile for Cottey … they give her the information,” Caldwell said. When describing the best parts of working for P.E.O., Caldwell says she enjoys the organization’s sisterhood and philanthropy, which have had a personal impact on her life. “When I lost my brother, my sisterin-law … interrupted her education when she was getting her bachelors and I helped her get in touch with the Missouri Chapter … and they got her $3,000 to help her continue her bachelors,” she said. In three words, Caldwell described P.E.O. Sisterhood as philanthropy, friendship and fun. Those interested in learning more about P.E.O. Sisterhood can attend the meeting on Thursday, Sept. 1, or contact a specific chapter to get involved. RSVP to attend the meeting by emailing peochapterevanthem@ gmail.com. P.E.O. Anthem Chapter Informational Meeting

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OPINION

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AROUND THE BLUHMIN’ TOWN

Love is known when experienced BY JUDY BLUHM Foothills Focus Columnist

colleague of mine just came back from a romantic trip to Italy and France with a new lady friend. I boldly asked him if he fell in love. He replied, “What is love?” Then he challenged me to describe love, because he couldn’t be sure if he would “know it when it happened.” I am no “love expert,” but my husband Doug and I have been happily married for 40 years. (Hmm … perhaps I am qualified to write about this topic.) Yet,

I also learned about love from my horses. Angel, at age 30, could still run like a filly (although stiff in the joints). She was beautiful, with a thick black mane, and had a sweet disposition. In her last year, Angel got an eye infection that would not heal, so she had to have her left eye removed. She had a cataract on her right eye, so this meant she was blind. The day we brought her back from the animal hospital, her stallmate, a large, white Arabian named Pegasus, was waiting for her. Once the horse trailer was parked and we got Angel out, Pegasus ran up to Angel and

carefully pressed his nose against her face. Then, he went to her left side and guided her back to the barn. That day, I watched while Pegasus walked a few paces in front of Angel, as they strolled around the arena, out to the pasture and back to the barn. Pegasus just took charge. Eventually, Angel was able to walk around the property by herself. She could even take off trotting, following Pegasus. But she got weaker. On a perfectly beautiful Saturday, Angel kept lying down and couldn’t get up without help. That day, two riders came to

help her up once. The next time she laid down, our neighbors helped. And then she laid down one last time. Pegasus went over to her, trying to nudge her up. But this time was different. No

see BLUHM page 12

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‘Human torch’ killing has received muted reaction BY DAVID LEIBOWITZ Foothills Focus Columnist

ou wake up before the sun rises and watch the video one more time, to be sure your eyes have not fooled you. The footage is grainy, shot by surveillance cameras, lit by street lamps. The hazy flash of fire takes your breath away. At 4:30 a.m. July 3, 2022, at a bus stop near 58th and Olive avenues in Glendale, a human being was doused in gasoline and set on fire by a man wielding a butane torch. Blake Angerer, age 30, can be seen on the video stumbling into a nearby Circle K, pants around his ankles, his shoulders, arm and lower body still ablaze. Witnesses douse Angerer with water. The video lasts just shy of four minutes. It ends with Angerer prone on the store’s grimy tile, smoke rising from his body. Angerer’s sister, Riquida, described him on the family’s GoFundMe page as “a son, a father, a brother,

a cousin, a friend, and all around a good looking and goofy charismatic man who really wanted to see the greatest parts of life.” Angerer was also a fighter. With third-degree burns charring over 70% of his body, he lasted more than three weeks in intensive care. Angerer died on the morning of July 26. In a gentler time, the deliberate barbecuing of a human being would draw more than a couple minutes on the news and a few headlines buried beside the furniture ads. But this is 2022, where you live amid mass shootings, double-digit inflation, monkeypox and COVID, political flame wars and an invasion of the U.S. Capitol by angry fools. Angerer’s killing and the arrest of 41-year-old Luciano Simmons drew little more than a blip, despite the sheer depravity of the crime. Per the police report, Simmons, the alleged firestarter, plunked down a buck at Circle K. Seconds later, “Luciano is on cam-

era filling up the water bottle with gasoline, and shortly after the victim and witness are observed running from the area of the bus stop to the entrance of the Circle K while the victim is on fire.” You stare at the frozen frame of the video for what feels like an hour. A wisp of smoke sits frozen on the screen. You contemplate not Simmons’ derangement, which you can only chalk up to mental illness or evil, but the response from the rest of us. A few stories, a few thousand clicks, some upset stomachs. Two hundred and twelve donations on the Angerer’s GoFundMe page, which currently totals $10,531 raised toward a goal of $100,000. Ten people in a Valley of 4.9 million have posted words of support and prayers. You dwell on the acronym used today to express disgust via text message. SMH. Shaking my head. Cold-blooded murder used to stop us. Neighbors would drop off dishes covered in foil. Strangers help defray the cost of medical treatment or the price of a coffin and a funeral. The name of the victim would become, at least for a few days, a top of mind presence in our collective consciousness. Not anymore. Now the news spends its precious space inventorying the

latest influencers and conspiracies, venomous political candidates and venal Hollywood celebs. The death of Angerer once would have made you look until you could no longer stand it, until one human being’s searing agony forced you to look away. Today, in 2022, we can barely be bothered to notice, to act. You start the video one final time, to be sure your eyes have not fooled you. And to be sure you still have a heart beating and aching in your chest. Because in the end, really, what else is there?

more strength; no more ways to get her to stand. That night, as Angel lay dying, Pegasus stood quietly over her. Just before she passed, he walked to her head, leaned down, and for at least two minutes he and Angel pressed lips together. That evening, Angel was laid to rest in the pasture. Later, I looked out my window at two in the morning and saw one majestic white horse standing vigil at her grave. For the next week, he stood by her grave for hours at a time. This is love. It is the heart pounding,

lump in the throat, and that “I can’t live without you” feeling. It can be heart shattering and a miracle — all at the same time. It gives you the courage to lead your partner through darkness and the strength to stand vigil during the night. And when you experience it, you will know it. So, to my colleague, I can’t say for certain love happens in a gondola in Venice or over a candlelit dinner in Paris. But I am absolutely certain it happened on a pasture and in my barn. Judy Bluhm is a writer and a local realtor. Have a story or a comment? Email her at judy@judybluhm.com.

BLUHM from Page 10

THE FOOTHILLS FOCUS | THEFOOTHILLSFOCUS.COM | AUGUST 3, 2022

Anthem Activities

Anthem Golf & Country Club schedule BY FOOTHILLS FOCUS STAFF

ue to the limited availability, Anthem Golf & Country Club is asking members to not register for back-to-back classes so everyone has a chance to register. No-shows are charged $10. Classes are held at Persimmon or Ironwood, 2708 W. Anthem Club Drive or 41551 N. Anthem Hills Drive, respectively. For more information, call 623-7426200 for Persimmon Clubhouse or 623465-3020 for Ironwood Clubhouse.

Wednesday, Aug. 3 Ironwood: Cycle, 5:30 a.m. Ironwood: Strength, 6:30 a.m. Persimmon: Mixology, 7 a.m. Ironwood: Cycle, 7:30 a.m. Persimmon: Fun & Fit, 8:15 a.m. Ironwood: Cardio/Core Strength, 8:30 a.m. Persimmon: Water Fitness, 8:30 a.m. Persimmon: Slow Flow, 9:30 a.m. Moms and Mimosas: Back-to-School Brunch, 9:30 a.m. Ironwood: Functional Training, 10:30 a.m. Persimmon: Gentle Chair Yoga, 4:15 p.m. Ironwood: Cardio Kickboxing, 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 4 Ironwood: Total Body, 5:30 a.m. Persimmon: Mat Pilates, 8 a.m. Ironwood: Muscle Mix, 8 a.m. Persimmon: Water Fitness, 8:30 a.m. Ironwood: Boxology, 9 a.m. Persimmon: Zumba, 9 a.m. Ironwood: Stretch, 10:45 a.m. PWR! Moves (fee based), 1:15 p.m. Ironwood: Tabata, 5:30 p.m. Persimmon: Water Fitness, 5:30 p.m. Persimmon: Candlelight Yin, 6:30 p.m. Trivia Night, 7 p.m.

Friday, Aug. 5 Ironwood: Cycle, 5:30 a.m. Persimmon: Kickology Strong, 7 a.m. Ironwood: Cycle, 7:30 a.m. Persimmon: Fun & Fit, 8:15 a.m. Ironwood: Cardio/Core Strength, 8:30 a.m. Persimmon: Water Fitness, 8:30 a.m. Persimmon: Vinyasa Flow, 9:30 a.m. Ironwood: Functional Strength/

Balance, 9:45 a.m.

Saturday, Aug. 6 Ironwood: Cycle, 7:30 a.m. Persimmon: Bootcamp, 8 a.m. Persimmon: Water Fitness, 8:30 a.m. Persimmon: Chair Yoga, 9 a.m. Ironwood: Zumba, 9 a.m.

Monday, Aug. 8 Ironwood: Cycle 5:30 a.m. Ironwood: Strength, 6:30 a.m. Persimmon: Kickology Strong, 7 a.m. Ironwood: Cycle, 7:30 a.m. Persimmon: Water Fitness, 8:30 a.m. Ironwood: Cardio/Core Strength, 8:30 a.m. Persimmon: Vinyasa Flow, 9:30 a.m. Ironwood: Functional Training, 10:30 a.m. Persimmon: Gentle Chair Yoga, 4:15 p.m. Persimmon: Zumba, 5:30 p.m. Ironwood: Cardio Kickboxing, 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 9 Ironwood: Total Body, 5:30 a.m. Persimmon: Mat Pilates, 8 a.m. Ironwood: HITT, 8 a.m. Persimmon: Water Fitness, 8:30 a.m. Persimmon: Zumba, 9 a.m. Ironwood: Barre Fusion, 9 a.m. Ironwood: Stretch, 10:45 a.m. PWR! Moves (fee based), 1:15 p.m. Ironwood: Muscle Mix, 5:30 p.m. Persimmon: Water Fitness, 5:30 p.m. Persimmon: Candlelight Yin, 6:30 p.m.

Wednesday, Aug. 10 Ironwood: Cycle, 5:30 a.m. Ironwood: Strength, 6:30 a.m. Persimmon: Mixology, 7 a.m. Ironwood: Cycle, 7:30 a.m. Persimmon: Fun & Fit, 8:15 a.m. Persimmon: Water Fitness, 8:30 a.m. Ironwood: Cardio/Core Strength, 8:30 a.m. Persimmon: Slow Flow, 9:30 a.m. Ironwood: Functional Training, 10:30 a.m. Persimmon: Gentle Chair Yoga, 4:15 p.m. Ironwood: Cardio Kickboxing, 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 11 Ironwood: Total Body, 5:30 a.m. Persimmon: Mat Pilates, 8 a.m. Ironwood: Muscle Mix, 8 a.m.

Persimmon: Water Fitness, 8:30 a.m. Persimmon: Zumba, 9 a.m. Ironwood: Boxology, 9 a.m. Ironwood: Stretch, 10:45 a.m. PWR! Moves (fee based), 1:15 p.m. Ironwood: Tabata, 5:30 p.m. Persimmon: Water Fitness, 5:30 p.m. Persimmon: Candlelight Yin, 6:30 p.m.

Friday, Aug. 12 Ironwood: Cycle, 5:30 a.m. Persimmon: Kickology Strong, 7 a.m. Ironwood: Cycle, 7:30 a.m. Persimmon: Fun & Fit, 8:15 a.m. Ironwood: Cardio/Core Strength, 8:30 a.m. Persimmon: Water Fitness, 8:30 a.m. Persimmon: Vinyasa Flow, 9:30 a.m. Ironwood: Functional Strength/Balance, 9:45 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 13 Ironwood: Cycle, 7:30 a.m. Persimmon: Bootcamp, 8 a.m. Persimmon: Water Fitness, 8:30 a.m. Persimmon: Chair Yoga, 9 a.m. Ironwood: Zumba, 9 a.m.

Monday, Aug. 15 Ironwood: Cycle 5:30 a.m. Ironwood: Strength, 6:30 a.m. Persimmon: Kickology Strong, 7 a.m. Ironwood: Cycle, 7:30 a.m. Persimmon: Water Fitness, 8:30 a.m. Ironwood: Cardio/Core Strength, 8:30 a.m. Persimmon: Vinyasa Flow 9:30 a.m. Ironwood: Functional Training, 10:30 a.m. Persimmon: Gentle Chair Yoga, 4:15 p.m. Ironwood: Cardio Kickboxing, 5:30 p.m. Persimmon: Zumba, 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 16 Ironwood: Total Body, 5:30 a.m. Persimmon: Mat Pilates, 8 a.m. Ironwood: HITT, 8 a.m. Persimmon: Water Fitness, 8:30 a.m. Persimmon: Zumba, 9 a.m. Ironwood: Barre Fusion, 9 a.m. Ironwood: Stretch, 10:45 a.m. PWR! Moves (fee based), 1:15 p.m. Ironwood: Muscle Mix, 5:30 p.m. Persimmon: Water Fitness, 5:30 p.m. Persimmon: Candlelight Yin, 6:30 p.m.

Wednesday, Aug. 17 Ironwood: Cycle, 5:30 a.m. Ironwood: Strength, 6:30 a.m. Persimmon: Mixology, 7 a.m. Ironwood: Cycle, 7:30 a.m. Persimmon: Fun & Fit, 8:15 a.m. Persimmon: Water Fitness, 8:30 a.m. Ironwood: Cardio/Core Strength, 8:30 a.m. Persimmon: Slow Flow, 9:30 a.m. AnthemLife 101 Orientation, 10 a.m. Ironwood: Functional Training, 10:30 a.m. Persimmon: Gentle Chair Yoga, 4:15 p.m. Ironwood: Cardio Kickboxing, 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 18 Ironwood: Total Body, 5:30 a.m. Persimmon: Mat Pilates, 8 a.m. Ironwood: Muscle Mix, 8 a.m. Persimmon: Water Fitness, 8:30 a.m. Persimmon: Zumba, 9 a.m. Ironwood: Boxology, 9 a.m. Ironwood: Stretch, 10:45 a.m. PWR! Moves (fee based), 1:15 p.m. Ironwood: Tabata, 5:30 p.m. Persimmon: Water Fitness, 5:30 p.m. Persimmon: Candlelight Yin, 6:30 p.m.

Friday, Aug. 19 Ironwood: Cycle, 5:30 a.m. Persimmon: Kickology Strong, 7 a.m. Ironwood: Cycle, 7:30 a.m. Persimmon: Fun & Fit, 8:15 a.m. Ironwood: Cardio/Core Strength, 8:30 a.m. Persimmon: Water Fitness, 8:30 a.m. Persimmon: Vinyasa Flow, 9:30 a.m. Ironwood: Functional Strength/Balance, 9:45 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 20 Ironwood: Cycle, 7:30 a.m. Persimmon: Bootcamp, 8 a.m. Persimmon: Water Fitness, 8:30 a.m. Persimmon: Chair Yoga, 9 a.m. Ironwood: Zumba, 9 a.m. Monday, Aug. 22 Ironwood: Cycle 5:30 a.m. Ironwood: Strength, 6:30 a.m. Persimmon: Kickology Strong, 7 a.m. Ironwood: Cycle, 7:30 a.m.

see COUNTRY CLUB page 14

COUNTRY CLUB from Page 13

Persimmon: Water Fitness, 8:30 a.m. Ironwood: Cardio/Core Strength, 8:30 a.m. Persimmon: Vinyasa Flow 9:30 a.m. Ironwood: Functional Training, 10:30 a.m. Persimmon: Gentle Chair Yoga, 4:15 p.m. Persimmon: Zumba, 5:30 p.m. Ironwood: Cardio Kickboxing, 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 23 Ironwood: Total Body, 5:30 a.m. Persimmon: Mat Pilates, 8 a.m. Ironwood: HITT, 8 a.m. Persimmon: Water Fitness, 8:30 a.m. Persimmon: Zumba, 9 a.m. Ironwood: Barre Fusion, 9 a.m. Ironwood: Stretch, 10:45 a.m. PWR! Moves (fee based), 1:15 p.m. Persimmon: Water Fitness, 5:30 p.m. Ironwood: Muscle Mix, 5:30 p.m. Persimmon: Candlelight Yin, 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 24 Ironwood: Cycle, 5:30 a.m. Ironwood: Strength, 6:30 a.m. Persimmon: Mixology, 7 a.m.

THE FOOTHILLS FOCUS | THEFOOTHILLSFOCUS.COM | AUGUST 3, 2022

Anthem Activities Ironwood: Cycle, 7:30 a.m. Persimmon: Fun & Fit, 8:15 a.m. Persimmon: Water Fitness, 8:30 a.m. Ironwood: Cardio/Core Strength, 8:30 a.m. Persimmon: Slow Flow, 9:30 a.m. AnthemLife 101 Orientation, 10 a.m. Ironwood: Functional Training, 10:30 a.m. Persimmon: Gentle Chair Yoga, 4:15 p.m. Ironwood: Cardio Kickboxing, 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 25 Ironwood: Total Body, 5:30 a.m. Persimmon: Mat Pilates, 8 a.m. Ironwood: Muscle Mix, 8 a.m. Persimmon: Water Fitness, 8:30 a.m. Persimmon: Zumba, 9 a.m. Ironwood: Boxology, 9 a.m. Ironwood: Stretch, 10:45 a.m. PWR! Moves (fee based), 1:15 p.m. Ironwood: Tabata, 5:30 p.m. Persimmon: Water Fitness, 5:30 p.m. Ironwood: Tabata, 5:30 p.m. Persimmon: Candlelight Yin, 6:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 26 Ironwood: Cycle, 5:30 a.m. Persimmon: Kickology Strong, 7 a.m.

Ironwood: Cycle, 7:30 a.m. Persimmon: Fun & Fit, 8:15 a.m. Ironwood: Cardio/Core Strength, 8:30 a.m. Persimmon: Water Fitness, 8:30 a.m. Persimmon: Vinyasa Flow, 9:30 a.m. Ironwood: Functional Strength/Balance, 9:45 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 27 Ironwood: Cycle, 7:30 a.m. Persimmon: Bootcamp, 8 a.m. Persimmon: Water Fitness, 8:30 a.m. Persimmon: Chair Yoga, 9 a.m. Ironwood: Zumba, 9 a.m.

Monday, Aug. 29 Ironwood: Cycle, 5:30 a.m. Ironwood: Strength, 6:30 a.m. Persimmon: Kickology Strong, 7 a.m. Ironwood: Cycle, 7:30 a.m. Ironwood: Cardio/Core Strength, 8:30 a.m. Persimmon: Water Fitness, 8:30 a.m. Persimmon: Vinyasa Flow, 9:30 a.m. Ironwood: Functional Training, 10:30 a.m. Persimmon: Gentle Chair yoga, 4:15 p.m. Ironwood: Cardio Kickboxing, 5:30 p.m. Persimmon: Zumba, 5:30 p.m.

Tuesday, Aug. 30 Ironwood: Total Body, 5:30 a.m. Ironwood: HITT, 8 a.m. Persimmon: Mat Pilates, 8 a.m. Persimmon: Water Fitness, 8:30 a.m. Persimmon: Zumba, 9 a.m. Ironwood: Barre Fusion, 9 a.m. Ironwood: Stretch, 10:45 a.m. PWR! Moves (fee based), 1:15 p.m. Ironwood: Muscle Mix, 5:30 p.m. Persimmon: Water Fitness, 5:30 p.m. Persimmon: Candlelight Yin, 6:30 p.m.

Wednesday, Aug. 31 Ironwood: Cycle, 5:30 a.m. Ironwood: Strength, 6:30 a.m. Persimmon: Mixology, 7 a.m. Ironwood: Cycle, 7:30 a.m. Persimmon: Fun & Fit, 8:15 a.m. Ironwood: Cardio/Core Strength, 8:30 a.m. Persimmon: Water Fitness, 8:30 a.m. Persimmon: Slow Flow, 9:30 a.m. Ironwood: Functional Training, 10:30 a.m. AnthemLife 101 Orientation, 4 p.m. Persimmon: Gentle Chair Yoga, 4:15 p.m. Ironwood: Cardio Kickboxing, 5:30 p.m.

Anthem Community Council activities

BY FOOTHILLS FOCUS STAFF

rograms and activities are available at the Community Center and Civic Building for all ages. Learn more and register online at onlineatanthem.com. Visit the ‘Residents’ tab, then click on ‘Activity Registration.’ Most programs and classes are available to nonresidents for an additional fee. With questions, contact the Community Center at 623-879-3011. Dolphins Swim Team Many levels to choose from Email Paul Root at proot@anthemcouncil.com for more information or to tryout Adult Master Swim 5 to 6 a.m. Monday to Thursday $35; Community Center

Wednesdays or Thursdays starting in August Creative Combo Dance: 4:45 to 5:30 p.m. (2 1/2 to 4 years old) Kinder Combo Dance: 5:30 to 6:15 p.m. (5 to 7 years old) Junior Combo: 6:30 to 7:15 p.m. (6 to 9 years old) Cheer 101: 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. (6 to 12 years old) Cheer 201: 5:45 to 6:45 p.m. (8 to 12 years old)

Senior Activities (50 years and older) Golden Go-Getters: 1 to 4 p.m. Mondays Mexican Train Game: 12:30 to 4:30 p.m. Fridays Free; Civic Building ongoing Parents’ Night Out 6:30 to 10 p.m. August 19 $20; Community Center

Tennis (Youth and Adult) Cardio Tennis is offered every Saturday morning; $10 drop-in fee (18 and older) Prices, times and dates vary; Community Center Anthem Tots Sports For ages 3 to 6 years old 9:15 to 11 a.m. Saturdays in August $80; Community Center

White Horses Child and Caregiver Music For ages 4 and under 9 to 9:30 a.m. Wednesdays from August 10 to November 16 $220; Civic Building Youth Recreational League Sports Volleyball, Pickleball, Indoor Floor Hockey, Soccer and Basketball For ages 5 to 13

Summer and Fall sessions $80; Community Center

Adult Softball Recreational League For ages 17 and older September 10 through November 12 $455 Team, $50 Free Agent; Community Center

Phoenix Rising North Valley Soccer Skills Camp For ages 5 to 14 September 5 $40

The indoor fitness floor, basketball gym and rock wall are open. Fitness classes are held throughout the week, including yoga, kickboxing, core, shallow and deep water (in the pool). Personal training is available; contact the Community Center for details.

BUSINESS

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NexGen Partner Strategies expands to Anthem BY ALLISON BROWN Foothills Focus Staff Writer

and business leaders from the Anthem area were present for the event, including several board members of the Anthem Area Chamber of Commerce and members of the Anthem Rotary Club. NexGen Partner Strategies is a growing provider of merchant services to Phoenix-area businesses, from restaurants to retailers to nonprofits across the Valley. The company provides a broad portfolio of business services including payment processing, payroll and HR services, insurance, working capital and telemedicine. “Our vision is to make our customers’ lives easier through our comprehensive business solutions, all under one roof, all through a single point of contact,” Verryden said. He added customers seem to be happy with the results, because they typically stay with the company for a long time. NexGen Partner Strategies offers complete solutions personalized service support, and the relationship it has with its customers is a big part of the company’s success. Verryden said the “Partner” in the company name is genuine. Established in 2003, NexGen Partner Strategies has helped thousands of Arizona restaurants, retailers and other businesses reduce their payment processing costs and efficiently manage their day-to-

exGen Partner Strategies, a Valley-based provider of merchant services to Phoenix-area businesses, has expanded to Anthem and plans to make it the company’s new home base. For the past several years, the NexGen headquarters were in north Scottsdale but the Anthem office is now the home base for the company’s future. Erik Verryden, CEO and founder of NexGen Partner Strategies, said Anthem’s close-knit and vibrant business community was an attractive draw for the company’s new office. “I have lived and worked in multiple areas of the Valley over the years, but since relocating our office to Anthem, our team really feels like this community is our home,” Verryden said. “We were attracted to Anthem because of the strong sense of community here, from businesses to associations to individuals. The North Valley is growing fast with many businesses opening, growing and expanding in this area. Overall, it’s a great environment for business and community.” The company had a grand opening for its new corporate offices, located at 42104 N. Venture Drive, on July 21. Community

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North Valley Escape Room is a fun challenge for all ages BY SUMMER AGUIRRE Foothills Focus Staff Writer

hether it’s breaking out of a genie’s lamp or fleeing a camping trip gone wrong, the North Valley Escape Room gives lovers of mystery and puzzle-based games an exciting way to spend time with family and friends. Located in the Friedman Center west of Interstate 17, the escape room center provides an interactive, puzzle-based entertainment experience for people of all ages. Owners Don Henson and Kristen Rensmeyer opened the center in 2015, when escape rooms first began to emerge. “We’ve been in Anthem, as business owners, for like 20 years with our own separate businesses,” said Henson, who owns FX Gymnastics & Cheer next door. “So we went to an escape room together, and I found out that what was out there was something that I thought we could do, and we could do better.” To set themselves apart from other escape rooms they had seen, Henson and Rensmeyer created a collection of highly-immersive games with engaging storylines to accompany the

North Valley Escape Room gives lovers of mystery and puzzle-based games an exciting way to spend time with family and friends. (North Valley Escape

Room/Submitted)

puzzles. Currently, the center features nine detailed escape rooms of various difficulties and themes, such as Egypt, FBI agents and horror. Two of the experiences are premium games. The most-recent addition, Arizona Steampunk Railway, is an hour-long, motion-enhanced room that transports participants back to the 1800s. The second room, Escape from Alcatraz, places participants in

nearly 2,000 square feet of puzzles and clues they must solve in 75 minutes to break out of imprisonment. The other seven rooms include The Great Outdoors, Slaycation, Big Top Circus, The Legend of the 7th Stone, Sabotage, The Dark Sector and The Genie’s Lamp. These experiences are all 60 minutes long. The center’s newer games are typically the most popular, however, horror-themed challenges are especially

The escape room center provides nine different experiences with a variety of difficulties and themes, including the two new rooms Arizona Steampunk Railway and Escape from Alcatraz. (North Valley Escape Room/Submitted)

well-received by guests. The Haunted Great Outdoors, a room available during the Halloween season, is so well-liked the owners have considered extending its stay for more than a few months. As some of their games get older and the industry changes, Henson and Rensmeyer are always looking at new ideas to implement in the future. “The most fun is when you do it (the rooms) for the first time,” Rensmeyer said. “So that’s definitely something that we, as business owners, have to keep up with, is being able to give our customers new experiences all the time and keep them coming back.” The North Valley Escape Room has had many diverse visitors over its seven years, from young grade school children, to a 100-year-old woman, to the San Diego Padres. Guests stop in for many occasions, as the center holds events for birth-

see ESCAPE ROOM page 17

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ESCAPE ROOM From Page 16

days, Christmas parties and team building. “Now that we’re coming into the fall, we’ll start seeing a lot more companies bring their staff out. We’ve had like 80 people come from one company at one time,” Rensmeyer said. “They’ll bus them in for events and they go through and do escape rooms together. It’s really great team building for corporate events and things like that.” Another big event Henson and Rensmeyer host is the Summer Escape Club. On Tuesdays and Thursdays during June and July, they have up to 35 children and teenagers stop in to participate in escape rooms, enjoy pizza and get a backstage pass to see how the games are run and help set up the rooms. “They get to go through with their friends and they meet other friends. Sometimes when they go through with adults, they don’t get to solve all the puzzles,” Rensmeyer said.

The Summer Escape Club allows up to 35 children and teenagers to get a backstage pass to see how the games are run and help set up the rooms for the next escape artists. (North Valley Escape Room/Submitted)

“So when they go through Summer Camp, they get to really do all the puzzles. They just really enjoy it. It’s just a great thing for that age and it keeps their brain going over the summer without them really realizing it.” Henson and Rensmeyer work hard to keep overall prices down for guests, as they try to cater to families and want to ensure it is affordable for people to participate. Sixty-minute games with one to three people cost $89 per room. For 4 to 10 participants, the cost is $24.95 per person. Premium experiences cost $29.95 per person with a minimum of four participants. All games consist of private parties. The center is open from 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday, 11:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday, 10:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday and 10:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday. It is closed Mondays. On-site hours apply to reservations only. It is requested to book online or call ahead for walk-ins. For more information, call (623) 551-3111 or visit northvalleyescaperoom.com.

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Self-control is just controlling yourself CHURCH COMMUNITY CONNECTION

Pastor Ed Delph Foothills Focus Columnist

he title of this article today is a definition of self-control. Self-control is just controlling yourself. Here’s an actual account of an event that happened in 1986. Self-control could and should have easily prevented this tragic occurrence. In the summer of 1986, two ships collided in the Black Sea off the coast of Russia. Hundreds of passengers died after being hurled into the icy water below. News of the disaster got worse when an investigation revealed the cause of the accident. It wasn’t a technical problem like radar malfunction or even thick fog. Instead, the cause was human stubbornness. Each captain knew the other ship’s presence, and both could have steered clear. But neither captain wanted to give way to the other because each was too proud to yield. By the time they came to their senses, it was too late. If you’re a tough-minded, strongwilled, make-it-happen person, think about what you just read. If by winning the argument, you lose the relationship, what have you gained? If you save face but break trust and lose the connection, you end up in the loss column. In my opinion, this accident wasn’t caused by stubbornness. A lack of self-control caused it. Each captain was stubborn, but they didn’t use their self-control to harness their

self-determination. Could it be the only thing worse than not using self-control is wishing you had? Everyone has triggers caused by either their nature or nurture. Self-control is what channels our triggers to a more positive outcome. Remember, when you have your finger on your personal trigger, listen, consider and yield to a constructive response. The Bible states in the last days, humankind will be “without self-control,” 2 Timothy 3:1-3. There is pressure from a thousand sources: media manipulation, out-of-control government spending, broken relationships, gun shootings, raunchier entertainment and social media influence. Yet, we are already half numb by the perpetual coarsening of the culture. The net effect is a culture full of rage and fears much more incendiary than “solutionary.” Many people devolve into what the Bible says the last days will be like: “Every person

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does that which is right in their own eyes.” Thus, the need for self-control benefits the person as well as society. When handling others, use your heart. When handling yourself, use your head. That’s called self-control. Could it be our boasted “progress” has landed us not in Paradise but pandemonium? Author and speaker Lance Wallnau says, “Self-control may be the greatest distinguishing mark between those who walk in the power of the Holy Spirit and wisdom and those controlled by their own appetites. Without self-control, humans are likened to a city without walls: “Whoever has no rule over his own spirit is like a city broken down without walls,” Proverbs 25:28. Wallnau says, “Imagine invisible walls protecting you, made from the substance of self-control. Self-control is the power that forms boundaries in your life. Self-control keeps in what you cherish and keeps out what is evil.” Proverbs 16:32 describes it this way: “He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty, and he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city.” By nature, some people are very disciplined, and others are not. Some people, like myself, are entrepreneurs by nature. They are hard-driving, stimulus-oriented people, but their work is driven more by passion than discipline. When the job gets boring, they move on to something else that engages them. These individuals often test low in self-control as an attribute. Here are some quotes that capture the essence of self-control. “Of all possible success attributes, which one is the most powerful? Self-control is the master aptitude, for you multiply all others with this one strength alone.” “Self-centeredness and happiness do not go hand in hand.” “How shall I be able to rule over others when I do not have full power and command over myself.” “Failure to hit the mark is never the fault of the target. To im-

prove your aim, improve yourself.” Did you know self-control is a gift from God to us? 2 Timothy 1:7 says, “For what the Spirit of God gives us does not make us timid but gives us power, love, and self-discipline.” As a Christian, you and I have a godly Spirit within us that operates in power, love and self-discipline, which is the essence of self-control. So, if you lack the aptitude for self-control, ask God for it. Self-control is one of the fruits of the Holy Spirit. “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control …” So, if you have the Spirit of God, you have self-control. Without self-control, there can be no love because God’s love loves the unlovable. That takes self-control. We can’t be joyful for long without self-control because we will suffer the consequences of our impulsive and foolish decisions. The same is true of peace. Without self-control, there can be no patience. The same is true for the other fruits of the Spirit. During my life, I have operated by Delph-control, which was a disaster. At this point in my life, I’m learning to use the fruit of self-control. The results are much better. Here’s your takeaway. Self-control is just controlling yourself (with the Holy Spirit’s help). So, my advice in this article is to listen, consider and yield. Ed Delph is a noted author of 10 books, as well as a pastor, teacher, former business owner and speaker. He has traveled extensively, having been to more than 100 countries. He is president of NationStrategy, a nonprofit organization involved in uplifting and transforming communities worldwide. For more information, see nationstrategy.com. He may be contacted at nationstrategy@cs.com.

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Fundraiser for shooting victim

he Anthem Rotary Club hosted a fundraising event Saturday, July 30 to support the victim shot in the recent Andrew Z Diamonds & Fine Jewelry robbery. The club organized a car wash, blood drive and “Anthem Strong” t-shirt sale outside the Legends Bar and Grill in Anthem. Volunteers came from the Anthem Rotary Club, Legends Bar and Grill, Andrew Z Diamonds & Fine Jewelry, Anthem Area Chamber of Commerce, Daisy Mountain Fire and Medical, Rain Man Roofing and Waterproofing Services, Boulder Creek High School student government and the Boulder Creek High School interact club. Andrew Z Diamonds & Fine Jewelry posted an update to their Facebook page with a message from the victim’s wife. “I wish I could thank each and every one of you personally. We are so blessed to be a part of this wonderful community. I feel everyone’s love, prayers and support. It has sustained me during this most difficult time. You are all amazing and I thank you from the bottom of my heart. I am touched beyond what my words can express.”

Photos by David Minton/Staff Photographer

1 - Volunteers and Anthem Rotarians wash cars and sell “Anthem Strong” shirts during a fundraiser for the victim of a shooting during a robbery, Saturday, July 30, 2022, in Anthem. 2 - Joe Alvarez, president-elect of the Rotary Club of Anthem, hands out bucket hats to volunteers. 3 Rich Kruse hoses down a car. 4 - Alisa Altman finds sizes of Anthem Strong shirts for Elaine and Joe Huley. 5 - Shelby Rasmussen waits as Judy Marburger towel dries her car. 6 - Philip Mazzio soaps up a car. 7 - Alisa Altman holds up an “Anthem Strong” t-shirt. 8 - A firetruck from Daisy Mountain Fire & Medical Station 142 sprays a stream from a nozzle on the roof as volunteers and Anthem Rotarians wash cars.

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Valley students participate in summer surgical program BY JORDAN ROGERS Foothills Focus Staff Writer

tudents from across the Valley spent their summers at Abrazo West Campus learning about health careers and helping in various hospital departments through the hospital’s summer program. Needing to meet a specific criterion to apply, more than 200 students between the ages of 15 to 19 applied for this inclusive program last spring. “It was really something to guide our kids in our community, since Abrazo West is a really big community hospital,” said Trisha Pollard, director of surgical services at the Goodyear hospital. “We

RIGOR, RELEVANCE & RELATIONSHIPS Out of 200 students who applied, only 42 were selected to participate in the summer surgical program at Abrazo. (Photo by Enrique Garcia/Contributor)

like to feed our community. … It’s really just the development of our kids and kind of growing them into this field.” Of the more than 200 who applied, just 42 students were selected to partake, coming from Anthem, Avondale, Buckeye, Glendale, Goodyear, Litchfield Park, Peoria, Scottsdale and other locales. Pollard said she was impressed with what she saw. “These are really driven students,” Pollard said. “When I was even just talking to him, they really knew what they wanted to do. They really had good questions to ask. You can tell they were really engaged.

PROGRAM page 21 Schedule aseetour! Schedule a tour! Schedule aCampus tour! Call 623-551-5083 for K-5 Campus or 623-466-8187 for 6-12

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treatment, as well as robot-assisted surgery. “I think as we build the program, a lot “They were really just engaged and happy to be here. So, it was really, really of people will know that they didn’t just come here and listen to speakers, beexciting.” Highlighting the program were one- cause what 14-year-old is going to listen hour “Lunch and Learn” sessions and to someone talk for an hour, right?” Polfour-hour workshops that offered lard said. “I think the fact that they got to hands-on activities and speakers rang- see so much, that it was hands on, that ing from hospital clinical staff to sur- they were chosen, that it wasn’t just like, ‘Hey, we’re going to take this kid, we’re geons and trauma physicians. Lunch and Learn topics included going to take this kid, but they had to careers in intensive care units; respi- show a true interest and prove it,’ I think ratory therapy career paths; radiol- that’s important.” Of the 42 students who participated in ogy and imaging careers; emergency management; careers in emergency the summer program were Alexis Olayo medicine and trauma medicine; phys- and Alana Roman, who recently graduical, occupational and speech therapy; ated from Canyon View High School in pathways to a career in surgery; and Waddell. Olayo, who will attend Phoenix Colhealth care administration careers, lege, is interested in a career in respiraamong others. Being able to put on this program for tory therapy. Roman, who is interested the community at such a large and rep- in a career as a trauma nurse, will attend utable hospital is gratifying for Pollard, the University of Portland. but it all feeds back into Abrazo West’s The two agreed they have seen and roots. learned more in the program than they “One of the things I love about this ever had in any internship. Abrazo hospital is it started as a community West’s program lived up to what they hospital, really just serving the West Val- thought it would be. ley years ago, but it’s really grown into a “We thought there would be really big trauma center,” she said. “Now we’re great experiences, which we were told,” advanced with complex robotics and Roman said. “With there being like 200 complex spine procedures and complex applicants, and only a few people were heart procedures. chosen, meant that it’s a great opportu“I think it can draw the attention that nity. It’s something that we just couldn’t kids really want, because there’s such a pass up.” wide variety of things to do here. I think Both students recommend the prowe’re really lucky being in this spot.” gram. They each said anyone interested Learning to apply various medical in the future should just take the leap skills from a hands-on perspective were and go for it. covered throughout the workshops as “They really don’t care about your well. Those included “stop the bleed” for school; they care about how you interact trauma emergencies, wound care and with people and like what you do outside of it,” Olayo said. “Write about yourself to get in here. The interview wasn’t too hard, but you just have to be a good people’s person.” “If you’re not sure, just take the risk, because what can go wrong?” Roman added. “You’re not going to get hurt, and it can only benefit you, and it’ll literally be an amazStudents experienced hands-on learning at the Abrazo ing experience.” Pollard said most rewardWest summer surgical program. (Photo by Enrique Garcia/ Contributor) ing part of being able to pass

on this knowledge to these students is getting to see the excitement on their faces. “Seeing just the interest that they spark, it was really exciting to see,” she said. “We don’t get a lot of new nurses or a lot of new grads here in the OR because it’s really more a critical kind of department where (nurses) need a lot of experience. “Just the different types of pieces of the puzzle to put it together for them

so it kind of all clicks and makes sense and the fact that this can actually impact their decision on what they want to do moving forward in their life is probably one of the biggest things.” After seeing success with the program this year, Pollard said the plan is to repeat it annually. “We’re hoping to do it every year just to get the kids a little bit more engaged in the field and get more interest in it,” Pollard said.

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