The Foothills Focus 092822 Zone 2

Abrazo Scottsdale adds new cath lab for cardiac services

BY ALLISON BROWN Foothills Focus Staff Writer

Abrazo Scottsdale Campus recent ly dedicated its new cardiac cath eterization lab with a ribbon cut ting to introduce the hospital’s state-ofthe-art cardiology equipment on Sept. 8 and began treating patients there short ly after.

Abrazo Scottsdale physicians and ad ministrators welcomed first responders, community leaders and hospital staff to

tour the new facility, which offers a wide array of services to diagnose and treat heart problems.

“Our Northeast Valley residents will continue to receive excellent care in cardiology now with a wider range of services available using the most ad vanced techniques and equipment,” said Dr. James Carty, chief of staff at Abrazo Scottsdale Campus.

Congratulating the Abrazo team that planned and opened the new cath lab, cardiologist Dr. Christian Lopez said,

“We couldn’t have done it without all the people here. I’m really excited, I’m happy to be here and really enthusiastic about where the hospital is heading.”

Abrazo Scottsdale Campus CEO Brian Elisco said the new cath lab is available 24/7 and uses the latest technology for both diagnostic and interventional car diac procedures such as balloon angio plasty, stents and rhythm device place ment. These can be scheduled proce

Arts at the Rocks concert series aims to ‘inspire’ community

BY ALLISON BROWN Foothills Focus Staff Writer

Desert

Hills Presbyterian Church is launching its fifth season of “Arts at the Rocks,” a free concert series open to the community, with a classical perfor mance by the Urban Nocturnes sextet Satur day, Oct. 8.

“Our fifth season has all the elements to be our best season yet,” said Melissa Masles, elder of the Music and Arts Ministry, which puts together the concert series, at Desert Hills Presbyterian Church. “We have a wide variety of performances offering the oppor tunity for extraordinary audience experienc

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Arts at the Rocks is a free annual concert series located at and sponsored by Desert Hills Presbyte rian Church. (DHPC/Submitted)

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CATH

dures or emergency services.

Located at Bell Road and State Route 51, the cath lab at the Scott sdale Campus will benefit those in Cave Creek and Carefree, too.

“It’s a really exciting day and I’m really pleased to be able to intro duce the community to our brand new state-of-the-art cath lab. Our planning considered the patient journey from the moment they enter our doors for advanced care with an excellent patient experience,” Elisco said.

He added that Abrazo Scottsdale continually invests in its hospital with the goal of providing focused, state-of-the-art services. Opening the new cath lab symbolizes the ded ication hospital team members have for their patients, as well as Abrazo Scottsdale’s investment in providing advanced care with talented physi cians and staff.

“This is a huge contribution to our Scottsdale and North Phoenix

community, and we can’t be more thrilled with what our hospital staff have done with this program,” said

Miriam Hayenga, chair of the Abra zo Scottsdale Campus Board of Gov ernors. “On behalf of the board, we can’t thank you enough and we are so proud of Abrazo Scottsdale.”

Once the ribbon cutting ceremony concluded, physicians went right to work treating patients in the new cath lab. Elisco said the hospital has already seen 10 patients in the cath lab since the Sept. 8 opening, and anticipates treating hundreds of pa tients in the community each year.

For more information on Abrazo Scottsdale Campus, located at 3929 E. Bell Road, visit AbrazoHealth.com.

© Strickbine

Physicians began treating patients in the new cardiac catheterization lab at Abrazo Scottsdale Cam pus shortly after its dedication on Sept. 9.

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CONCERT from page 1

es in this coming season.”

Urban Nocturnes is a modular cham ber music ensemble made up of six pro fessional classical musicians, all based in Phoenix. Their programming encompass es a wide variety of combinations of their instruments, and their aim is to present diverse programming in a manner that appeals to seasoned music-lovers and newcomers alike. By devising programs that are aesthetically balanced, thought provoking and emotionally stirring, Ur ban Nocturnes seeks to share their love of artistic ingenuity and collaboration and to demonstrate music’s universal power to engage and enliven the mind and soul.

The Oct. 8 concert will feature a per formance of music for strings and flute, including the rhapsodic fantasy “A Night Piece” by late-Romantic American com poser Arthur Foote and the “Weihnacht” Quintet by Dutch-Austrian Jan BrandtsBuys, a work that depicts and explores a Biblical quotation from the Christmas story with each of its four movements. Also in the program are the String Quar tet in D Minor by Italian violin virtuoso Niccolò Paganini and Beethoven’s Duet “with Two Obligato Eyeglasses” for viola and cello.

The performance will feature Urban Nocturnes’s violinist Karen Sinclair, vi olist Christopher McKay, cellist Melita Hunsinger, and flutist Viviana Cumplido Wilson, along with guest violinist Trista Wong. Then, following their performance, the musicians will have a question and answer session with the audience.

Darla Gilchrist, one of the event orga nizers, said there are also performances scheduled for December, January, March and April. All concerts are held at the church. The December event is the only one that is charged, and Gilchrist said that’s only because they will be serving a five course meal as part of that event.

There’s a wide range of performances, with Urban Nocturne’s classical music, a Renaissance themed dinner with sere nades in between courses in December, a one-woman show by a New York City actress in January, the Grammy-award winning Phoenix Boys Choir of 50 to 55 boys ages 7 to adult in March, and the Val

ley Chamber Chorale celebrating its 35th anniversary in April.

Gilchrist said while the primary moti vation for the performances comes from a love of music, the goal is to make it a full experience for the community. With that in mind, Arts at the Rocks tries to do things like question and answer ses sions and workshops. In fact, Gilchrist said she’s really excited about a work shop they are holding after the January one-woman show, which is about Hedy Lamarr and her contribution to STEM.

“The next day after that performance, we’re going to have a workshop for wom en and girls, middle school and above, that will feature fun activities in sci ence, technology, engineering and math,” Gilchrist said.

“We’re going to have the Arizona Sci ence Center do activities for an hour and then we’re going to have ASU do a panel discussion with women faculty who spe cialize in STEM. We felt like we needed to do something to encourage women and girls to pursue those fields because it’s mainly men and it’s really hard for them to get in there.”

While it’s not part of the Arts at the Rocks concert series, the DHPC Music and Arts committee is also enrolling students for fall classes in their newly founded Des ert Hills Community School of Music. The school offers world-class instruction in piano, strings and woodwinds from some

of the most sought-after teachers in the Phoenix area. To meet the full breadth of students’ musical goals, DHCSM has two divisions — conservatory and communi ty. The two divisions work cooperatively, with different missions.

The conservatory division is the perfor mance-oriented side of the school. Led by professional pianists Vitaly Serebriakov and Svetlana Obregon, conservatory in structors are internationally recognized artists whose passion is to perform and teach. The community division of DHCSM emphasizes recreational music-making and outreach into the local community. Community division instructors Heath er Baldwin (piano) and Jeffrey Antho ny (woodwinds) were selected for their ability to balance the nurturing of musi cal excellence with an understanding that most community division students enroll to learn an instrument for their personal enjoyment.

The school’s saxophone ensemble and chancel choir will have separate perfor mances Sunday, Oct. 30.

According to Gilchrist, the commu nity’s response to the school and espe cially Arts at the Rocks over the past few years’ events has been “fantastic.” Now in its fifth season, she said people have gotten to know about Arts at the Rocks and remember to mark their calendars for it. She said there are typically about 200 people at each concert and the

church usually gives little gift bags to newcomers.

Arts at the Rocks is entirely funded by DHPC. Gilchrist said the event was kick started with $10,000 from a foundation at the church that supports things that aren’t typically in the budget. Once it got going, though, Gilchrist said the congre gation stepped up to donate and make it happen.

While drawing people to the church is certainly part of the goal, Gilchrist said it really isn’t the main reason they offer Arts at the Rocks. It’s more about giving back to the community.

“There are many people in the com munity that maybe don’t have money to go pay for tickets that cost $30, but they can still really benefit from the ex perience — classical music, whatever it is that they might have a passion for,” Gilchrist said.

“For young people, when they attend a concert like that it can inspire them to take their life in that direction, with mu sic. That’s what it’s meant to be, to pro vide high quality artists and musicians to give people the experience that they might not otherwise have.”

Masles said DHPC’s music and arts committee is always looking for volun teers to help serve as greeters and ush ers at the events. In addition to the Music and Arts Committee, she said there are other ways people can get involved at the church, such as choir, Bible studies or or ganizations like Neighbors in Need and Boy Scouts.

In-person Sunday School classes for pre-school and grades K through 5 are held during the 9 a.m. Sunday worship service. All lessons featuring Orange Cur riculum are posted each week on DHPC’s YouTube page. The Hangout youth minis try for grades 6 through 12 provides fel lowship opportunities both inside and outside the church walls from 4 to 5 p.m. Sunday afternoons.

Arts at the Rocks — Urban Nocturnes

WHEN: 4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 8

WHERE: Desert Hills Presbyterian Church, 34605 N. Tom Darlington Road, Scottsdale

COST: Free

INFO: deserthills.org

This year’s Arts at the Rocks series kicks off at 4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 8 with a classical music perfor mance by the Urban Nocturnes. (DHPC/Submitted)

Arizona 2.5 years in 2020

BY RYAN KNAPPENBERGER Cronkite News

Arizonalife expectancy fell by 2.5 years in 2020, posting one of the steepest drops in a nation that saw the sharpest declines in lifespans since World War II, according to a new report.

An August report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said life expectancy in Arizona fell from 78.8 years in 2019 to 76.3 in 2020. Average life expectancy across the U.S. in the same period fell by 1.8 years, from 78.8 years to 77, putting Arizona lifespans below the national average for the first time since 2006.

“It just is extraordinary to see that kind of drop in life expectancy,” said Will Humble, executive director of the Arizo na Public Health Association.

A CDC official said COVID-19 played a large role in the national drop of 1.8 years, but heart disease, Alzheimer’s dis ease and overdoses also played a part.

Driven in large part by COVID-19, life expectancy in the U.S. fell by 1.8 years in 2020, down from 78.8 years in 2019 to 77 years, the sharpest decline since World War II. Arizona’s drop was even steeper, falling from 78.8 to 76.3 years, one of the biggest declines in the nation. (Nick Wicksman/Cronkite News)

All 50 states and the District of Colum bia saw some decrease in life expectancy in 2020, ranging from New York’s drop of 3 years to Hawaii, which saw a de crease of 0.2 years.

Arizona’s drop was fifth-highest in the nation, according to the report, trailing only New York, the District, Louisiana and New Jersey. Even though it fell be low the national average in 2020, Ar izona’s life expectancy was still good enough to rank 32nd among states, tied with Wyoming and Nevada.

Overall, the U.S. decrease of 1.8 years was the “biggest drop in life expectancy since World War II,” said Bob Anderson, chief of mortality statistics at the CDC.

Anderson stressed that while COVID-19 played a large role, it was not the sole cause of the drop. But he also said that COVID-19 may have pre vented many Americans from getting treatment for illnesses like cardiovas cular disease, Alzheimer’s disease, de mentia and opioid overdoses, among others.

In Arizona, COVID-19 has been one of the leading causes of death, along with heart disease and cancer, according to CDC data. The Arizona Public Health As sociation said coronavirus was the lead ing cause of death in the state between March 2020 and March 2022.

While he recognized the gravity in the numbers, Humble said he was not sur prised by the CDC’s findings. He said that while other factors like opioid over doses, diabetes and traffic deaths were all up in 2020, they were not the driving

force for the decline in life expectancy.

“That is not the reason for this,” Hum ble said. “It’s flat out COVID-19.”

Dr. Joe K. Gerald, an associate profes sor of public health at the University of Arizona, blamed the steep drop on two things: What he called the state’s lax COVID-19 rules combined with health disparities in the state.

“I think it’s the combination of our poor policy response and some unique vulnerabilities that exist in Arizona,” Gerald said. “So poverty, inequality, high proportions of disadvantaged groups.”

Gerald pointed specifically to Native American and Latino populations, two groups that he said have been heavily affected by the pandemic in Arizona and across the country.

“They were heavily exposed because they were often frontline workers and so they bore the brunt of the infections and oftentimes lacked access to medical care,” Gerald said.

According to the CDC, three states along the U.S.-Mexico border — Arizo na, New Mexico and Texas — had the largest decrease in life expectancy by re gion. New Mexico had the seventh-high est and Texas the ninth-highest drops among states.

Anderson said it was unclear what ex actly was behind the regional trend and suggested that it would require further study specifically into the conditions in those states to find a clear answer.

National life expectancy estimates from 2021 are not expected to be re leased until early next year, but Ander son warned that there will likely be an other large decrease, although it may not be as big as the 2019-2020 drop.

Humble said he also expects 2021 numbers to be grim for Arizona. The state experienced multiple waves of COVID-19 caused by the delta and omi cron variants in 2021 and saw some of the highest case counts and death rates in the country.

Even though the 2021 drop could be smaller, Anderson said it should not be taken lightly.

“It won’t be trivial,” he said.

For more stories from Cronkite News, visit cronkitenews.azpbs.org.

Back the Badge bull riding and benevolence

BY ALLISON BROWN Foothills Focus Staff Writer

The Back the Badge annual fund raising event offers an evening of entertainment Saturday, Oct. 8, with bull riding, music and a live auction at the Roadrunner Restaurant and Saloon while helping raise money to support Arizona first responders and their families at the same time.

“It’s basically a full bull riding event/concert/family friendly event and all of the money that we raise goes to the 100 Club of Arizona,” said Mike Glover, founder of Back the Badge and a Phoenix firefighter. “They’re a really great organization and they support first responders and their families.”

The doors open at 5 p.m., where guests can eat, drink and socialize before things really kick off at 8 p.m. with a live performance from Holly

wood Yates, a country singer who grew up here in the North Val ley.

After Holly wood Yates has the crowd’s energy buzz ing with his opening per formance, the bull riding starts and takes the excitement to the next level.

“It’s not like people from the crowd are riding, these are all professionals. These guys come in and they ride in other rodeos and so it’s definitely a competition,” Glover said.

“They all pay an entry fee, and then at the end of the night, the winner

Back the Badge is a nonprofit organization that raises money and works closely with the 100 Club of Arizona to provide support to first responders and their families. (Back the Badge/Submitted)BADGE page 10

gets that money. Then Jen and Jeff, the owners of the Roadrunner, usual ly add money to the pot, and we have a Back the Badge bull rider buckle that we have made every year to give to the winner as well.”

There will be two rounds of bull riding at the Back the Badge event, one at 8:30 p.m. and one at 10 p.m.

Then, to close the night out, there will be a live performance from na tional recording artists Micky and the Motorcars. Micky and the Motorcars is a Red Dirt country band based in Austin, Texas with nine albums, in cluding two live albums.

During the evening, Back the Badge will also have a live auction. Glover said the two big auction items are a guitar signed by performers Micky and the Motorcars and Hollywood Yates and a ride-along in the Phoenix police department helicopter.

This will be the eighth year Back the Badge has had its fundraising event, which was really the sole purpose of the organization. In fact, it all started out because Glover was just looking for a way to help during a rough time.

“It was shortly after the Granite Mountain 19, the Hotshots, passed away,” he said, referencing the 19 firefighters who died fighting the Yar nell Hill Fire in 2013.

“Also, I worked for Phoenix Fire and we had a guy who was killed, and then on the same night, Phoenix PD had an officer that was killed. And the 100 Club helped everybody in those situations, so I just thought it would be really cool if I can give something or help them in any way.”

Glover said he is good friends with the owners of the Roadrunner, and they jumped on the idea when he pre

sented it to them. The Back the Badge 501c3 was founded as a way to make sure everything is handled properly and the funds go to the 100 Club.

“I didn’t want it to be just about the fire department, I wanted it to be about all first responders in the state of Arizona,” Glover added. “So that’s why I picked the 100 Club, because they support fire, PD, paramedics, EMTs — all of that. It encompasses everybody and isn’t exclusive to just one first responder.”

Being a first responder himself, Glover said he personally knows a few of the people who have been sup ported by the 100 Club and they are incredibly grateful. One woman was supported after her husband, a police officer, died and Glover said she has come to every Back the Badge fund raising event since then to show her appreciation and support.

In 2021 alone, Back the Badge raised over $10,000 for first respond ers in need. Glover said their goal for the bull riding event is to reach $10,000, which he thinks is doable given that they usually see 1,500 to 2,000 people at the event each year.

The event is open to all ages, al though those under 21 must be out by midnight. No registration is re quired, tickets can be purchased at the door for $10. For those who wish to contribute but are unable to at tend, direct donations can be made to Back the Badge online.

Back the Badge Bull Riding Fundraiser

WHEN: 5 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 8

WHERE: Roadrunner Restaurant and Saloon 47801 N. Black Canyon Highway, New River COST: $10, kids under 10 free INFO: backthebadgeaz.org

CBS closed its ubiquitous eye with Biden interview

BY JD HAYWORTH Foothills Focus Columnist

Few corporate logos have proven as icon ic or enduring as the “CBS Eye,” which will turn 71 this October.

From its genesis in TV’s monochromatic age, the “Eye” has remained. It was “col orized,” as was most of television by the mid-to-late 1960’s, and eventually “uni versalized” – adopted by all the corporate divisions of CBS, though well-modulated grumbling was heard from the studios of CBS Radio.

But the real static came as CBS continued to grow in the 1970s, commensurate with the growth of television’s influence.

Author Robert Metz wrote “CBS: Reflec tions in a Bloodshot Eye,” a no-holds-barred “unofficial” history of the communications colossus in 1975. He described CBS “a rest less 24-hour-a-day mover and shaker of the national consciousness, irritating and pleas ing, enlightening and vulgarizing by turns.”

While most Americans feel right at home with both computer screens and TV screens in residence, estimates for this year put the number of “television households” in excess of 122 million. Any way you look at it, that adds up to a lot of eyes still gazing at the fa miliar “one-eyed monster.”

But as channel choices have expanded well beyond the three major commercial networks, ratings have contracted for those “legacy telecasters.”

Gone are the astronomical numbers and the high regard Cronkite enjoyed during his nearly two decades as anchor of “The CBS Evening News.” Like Johnny Carson, his contemporary counterpart in another type of TV on another network, “Uncle Wal ter’s” instincts to foster a perception of fair ness were comparable to the “King of Late Night’s” efforts to ensure that he was an “equal opportunity comic,” making politi cians of both parties the target of his topical humor.

Both Cronkite and Carson leaned left politically, but only after leaving their high ly rated, highly compensated positions as “television stars” did they champion polit ical causes and advocate for their favorite candidates.

Four decades have passed since Cronkite said “That’s the way it is,” for the last time, and six men and three women have ascend ed to the role of anchor (or co-anchor) of “The CBS Evening News.”

While the job is still considered as one of the most prestigious in television news, Scott Pelley, who manned the anchor desk for six years, returned full-time to his role as

a reporter on “60 Minutes,” and it is Pelley who embodies the new trend of so-called “advocacy journalism.”

Perhaps that’s why Pelley was picked to interview Joe Biden — appearing on “60 Minutes” for the first time since he moved into the White House — as the broadcast began its 55th season.

Pelley said the interview would “ignite a few controversies,” and that’s true – but not the portions Scott intended. Certainly, Pelley asked about important subjects — inflation, Ukraine, China, and COVID among them — and did so with a “gentle touch.” His fol low-ups were perfunctory; no real challenge was offered to any of Joe’s more “factually challenged” utterances.

Remarkably, but not unexpectedly, Pel ley proffered a defense and endorsement of Biden, described as a theory: “Joe Biden is among the longest-serving politicians in Washington. If there is less bounce in the step than there once was, if the words don’t flow like they used to, maybe there’s some thing to be said for knowhow—five decades on the Hill and in the Oval.”

Oh. So being a senile Washington “lifer” is an asset for leadership?

Pelley’s voice quivered with emotion and affection, as he said to Biden, “You were elected to the Senate in 1972. You were 29

2 Tempe incidents illustrate anti-cop bias

BY DAVID LEIBOWITZ Foothills Focus Columnist

Tworecent news stories illustrate how wretched it is to serve as a police officer in the 21st century, a time of rampant negativity, social media virality and naked hostility toward law enforcement.

Both stories occurred in Tempe, along Town Lake. Both involve men who en tered that lake of their own accord.

One story ended in tragedy. The other ended in a save. You can guess which one you likely never heard about.

First, a disclaimer. By day, I am a public relations consultant. Among my clients: The Tempe Officers Association. I repre sent a number of other public safety or ganizations, so I am absolutely biased in favor of the cops.

With that said, my clients have not paid me to write this. I’m doing so because I believe it needs to be said.

The tragedy centers on Sean Bickings, 34, a longtime presence in Tempe nick named “Madrox.” Bickings by all accounts was a “big teddy bear,” joking, friendly, even as he and his wife struggled to find shelter on a consistent basis.

On May 28, Tempe police received a 911 call reporting a disturbance between the couple. Body camera footage shows a long conversation between Bickings, his

years old. And in those days, it seemed the parties worked together to move the coun try forward.

And I think many Americans feel that that no longer happens, and in fact, may be im possible now.”

Apparently, it was impossible to include any discussion of Joe’s Philadelphia speech, where Biden attacked “Donald Trump and the MAGA Republicans” as “threats to our Republic.” Viewers had to seek that out on line at “60 Minutes Overtime.”

Those calling the shots at the “CBS Eye” wanted fewer eyes to see that.

Just one question: Why?

wife and the officers. Then Bickings de cides to climb over a four-foot fence and enter Town Lake.

One of the officers tells Bickings, “Okay, I’m not jumping in after you.” Bickings is encouraged to swim to safety, but he can’t. He disappears beneath the water — gone. What I know in my heart is that no per son on earth wanted this story so awfully, including the officers on scene.

I also know that the cops followed their

training, which did not include water res cue, and city policy, which was not to en ter the lake, but instead to get the Tempe police boat (check) and summon Tempe Fire (check).

Even so, the story became a national sensation, covered by the networks and splashed across social media, with many commenters noting that Bickings was Black and accusing the cops of racism.

I’m a realist, a guy who has spent 30 years covering news professionally. I un derstand why this story got the coverage

and commentary it did.

Still, I wish the hubbub had also includ ed some vital context — about police pol icy, training and the fact that the officers had not been provided with equipment to save potential drowning victims.

The city has changed all of that in the past few weeks, providing training and throw bags to officers. That’s a good thing, as the events of Sept. 20 prove.

This story didn’t go national, nor did it make a ripple on Twitter or TikTok.

It began as an indecent exposure call. Police arrived and found a naked man in the lake. Officers threw him a water res cue device multiple times, but he refused to grab it.

“He was pulled into the police boat without incident and turned over to (Tempe Fire),” KTAR radio reported. “He

was transported to a hospital for evalua tion.”

All told, three news outlets covered this story, a few hundred words total.

Again, I’m a realist. News involves con flict, mayhem and gotcha moments. Hap py endings aren’t the stuff of headlines and clicks.

But I wonder how the rest of us would feel working in a job where to do good is to be invisible while to make a mistake is to be damned? A job where you’re expect ed to risk your life for people who despise you, and where you’d best be perfect, be cause keyboard warriors are lying in wait to pass judgment.

That’s policing in 2022. I mourn that fact just as I feel for the loved ones of Sean Bickings. Everyone loses in stories like this.

How to get a letter published

E-mail: christina@timeslocalmedia.com

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

READER’S VIEWPOINTS

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Vote ‘yes’ on the Cave Creek Unified School District override

Editor:

District schools are not just buildings or data spreadsheets — schools are about who occupies these buildings and, most impor tantly, the kids. Take one step inside and you will understand why we fight for what is best for kids. If we value our kids, then we must value the people, the teachers and staff, who educate and “care for” our kids. Yes, when I recently served in Cave Creek Unified (CCUSD) for seven years, I considered your kids to be in “my care.” Whether it was only for a day as a substitute or on a team of pro fessionals in a self-contained special educa tion classroom, I cared for your kids, felt re sponsible for their learning, as well as their happiness and their safety — and it was easy to care. Whether you coach your kid’s/ grandkid’s soccer team, serve as your kid’s/ grandkid’s homeroom parent, volunteer with the school’s PTO or substitute in your district school, you never stop caring, worry ing or wanting what is best for the kids you work with everyday.

Why do I vote for overrides? The answer is simple — because it is in our kids’ best in terests.

Passing CCUSD’s override most of all re wards the kids, but not just kids will benefit. Passing the override rewards the parents and families who give of their time and sup port our PTOs. Passing the override rewards the community members for supporting our schools, like local businesses and organiza tions such as Kiwanis, Harolds, Brix Wines, Hansen’s Cowboy BBQ, Cave Creek Cowboy Co., Big Earls Greasy Eats, The Hideaway Grill, Mountain View Pub, Indian Village, and Cave Creek Car Wash to name a few. And passing the override rewards you because a strong, successful school district rewards everyone in the community — from higher, more stable property values and a well-educated work force, to stronger community relationships.

A no vote on CCUSD’s override means our kids will ultimately suffer. Our teachers and staff won’t be properly compensated and will remain in the bottom 15% in the state for salaries. Simply, CCUSD cannot continue to compete with surrounding school dis

tricts and will continue to struggle to retain our experienced teachers and staff. These amazing teachers and staff have been doing more with less for at least 15 years, while still keeping CCUSD as one of the top 10 school districts in Arizona, academically. With ris ing inflation (among other things), CCUSD needs to have the resources to support our teachers’ abilities and experience, or we will lose this talent to neighboring districts. An override is the funding mechanism the Ar izona Legislature has provided to expand school budgets for salaries. Our kids deserve to have the best teachers CCUSD can retain and attract, and our communities deserve to move forward into the future, not to remain in a state of crisis.

Some who oppose this override claim CCUSD does not deserve it due to misman agement. The weight of the evidence points to the contrary. For example, CCUSD led the way in September 2020 by opening the schools after COVID, when surrounding dis tricts remained closed, some stayed closed through March 2021. Keeping schools open was not mismanagement by CCUSD — that was courage. We all shared a very clear pur pose — to get the kids safely back in school so we could continue to foster their educa tion and to provide them with normalcy and a transition back to life before the pandemic. To teach, learn and most of all, let the kids play and feel that a sense of normalcy has re turned. Opening our schools let our parents get back to work and it further supported our community to return to the life we all needed. It was time to move forward, protect the vulnerable, prevent as much learning loss in our kids as possible, and seek to mit igate the psychological harms. Schools are meant to be open.

When my daughter started Kindergar ten, we lived within CCUSD’s boundaries. A few years later, we built and moved into our current home on the west side of Cave Creek, two streets west of the CCUSD bound ary, placing us in another school district. In 2019, when this neighboring district sought an M&O Override, I voted for this override — even though my daughter attended 6th grade at Black Mountain Elementary School in CCUSD and I worked at the same school. When my daughter is off to college and my

husband and I are empty nesters, I will still vote for school overrides. Why? Because it is in the kids’ best interests — no matter where they live.

Facts regarding state land in Carefree

Editor:

Recently, the future of a vacant 40-acre parcel owned by the Arizona State Land De partment has been a topic of discussion. This parcel of land is located adjacent to Cave Creek Road and immediately south of Sky Ranch airport as shown in the below map. To clarify misunderstandings surrounding this property, please consider the following factual information.

• State Trust land is not considered pub lic lands similar to a park or national for est. State Trust lands were conveyed to the state by the federal government upon statehood and must be held in a trust and sold for no less than appraised fair market value to generate revenue for its beneficia ries such as the state’s education system. The State Land Department recently in tended to conduct an auction of this parcel, but this auction has now been canceled.

• Over 22 years ago, the town sought the possibility to purchase this land to create a town park. The current town’s general plan recognizes this past effort and states the following within the town’s open space ele ment of the general plan: “One of the tracts of land recommended for preservation was the approximately 40-acres parcel owned by the Arizona State Land Department, lo cated at the southeast corner of Mule Train Road and Cave Creek Road. As a result of high land costs and reduced State and Fed eral grant funding, acquisition of this plot of land is now improbable. The property is currently zoned for single-family residen tial units, yet there are various strategies that may be used to preserve portions of this property for open space during the subdivision process,” page 50, open space element, general plan 2030.

• At a recent town council meeting, the Desert Foothills Land Trust gave a com prehensive presentation regarding their mission to preserve environmentally sen sitive lands and their strategic approach to

accomplish this mission. From a scale of 0 to 5, with 0 being the least and 5 being the highest land preservation values, the local Desert Foothills Land Trust rated the State Trust Land. In accordance with this rating scale the majority of this property received the lowest possible score with the excep tion of a wash located on the southeast cor ner of the parcel.

• The lands within Carefree with the highest land preservation values are located on the far north side of town. It is these locations where both the town and the Desert Foot hills Land Trust have and continue to part ner to build a meaningful open space pre serve for the Carefree community which protects significant archeological resourc es, migration routes of local wildlife, stands of hundreds of saguaros and significant ri parian areas. To date, 150 acres have been acquired. Through property acquisition, donations and easements, the vision is to create a Spur Cross-like preservation area in the northern reaches of Carefree.

• The price attributed to acquisition of the State Trust land (about $7 million) could purchase hundreds of the highly environ mentally sensitive areas in the north side of Carefree and create a meaning desert pre serve within the Carefree community rath er than 40-acres south of an airport and adjacent to an arterial street which does not contain significant preservation value.

Given these facts, as the current general plan states and noted above, through the subdivision process of this low-density res identially zoned (Rural-70, which would allow for one home per 1.6 acres) parcel of State Trust land, there is still the possibility of the town receiving dedicated open space during the subdivision platting process while at the same time focusing limited fi nancial resources to those properties that have the highest preservation values with in the community. The use of such an open space will depend on the collective wishes of the community, such as a park with support ing amenities.

If you would like more information re garding desert land preservation efforts, please review the Desert Foothills Land Trust website: dflt.org. Or please contact me at vicemayor@carefree.org.

John Crane Mayor Elect Desert Foothills Land Trust Boardmember

Nicole Cantelme

Cave Creek resident and former CCUSD teacher

Rusty’s Resale Boutique triumphantly returns

BY ALLISON BROWN Foothills Focus Staff Writer

After having to briefly close the doors and fear of closing for good, Rusty’s Resale Boutique is having a grand reopening with an all-volunteer staff just in time for the store’s third anniversary Wednes day, Oct. 5.

“We are so excited,” said Emilee Spear, owner. “Our three-year anni versary is Oct. 5 so be sure to stop in and show your support of our little thrift store… we cannot wait to see your smiling faces.”

Rusty’s Resale Boutique is an up

scale thrift store that was opened in 2019 to help raise funds for Rusty’s An gels Sanctuary, a nonprofit shelter in New River that is dedicated to providing a safe and caring environment for senior and special needs ca nines. Through rescue, foster, adoption, education and hos pice, it creates secure nurtur ing homes for these dogs to live out their twilight years, whether in a forever home or there at the sanctuary.

Spear, who is also the founding president of Rusty’s

Angels Sanctuary, said people were so supportive of the sanctuary that she actually had a surplus of dona tions, which is where the idea to open Rusty’s Resale Boutique came from.

The store has been closed since mid-August, after the manager re signed and there was no one there to run the store. Spear said at that point, she had to consider a few factors to decide what was best for the store and the sanctuary. Some of those factors include the lack of staff, the store’s lease ending in Oc tober and there wasn’t enough reve

Rusty’s Resale Boutique is an upscale thrift store that was opened to help raise funds for a senior dog sanctuary. (Emilee Spear/Submitted)

nue going back to the sanctuary.

However, thanks to a strong show of support from the community, those issues have been alleviated.

The first good sign was that the landlord agreed to let Spear rent month-to-month, which she said was a huge relief to not be locked in a year-long contract. Then, enough people volunteered to help run the store without a payroll, alleviating the issue of both staff and revenue. Spear said she even had someone do nate funds to cover the rent and util ities of the store for the entire month of September.

One of those volunteers is Cindy lou Cummins, who said she jumped at the chance to help.

“I am first and foremost a shop per, so I was very sad when I heard Emily was going to have to close the store,” Cummins said. “When she put a shoutout on Facebook looking for volunteers, I thought, ‘Oh my gosh, we have to keep Rusty’s open, and if this is the way to do it then I’m all in.’”

And apparently others felt the same way, because Spear now has a crew of 30 volunteers to keep the store running. They have been train ing over the past few weeks, and, to help ease into things, the store will have a soft opening Wednesday, Sept. 28. Then, starting at 9 a.m. Wednes day, Oct. 5, Rusty’s Resale Boutique will launch a full grand reopening in conjunction with its third anniver sary in a celebration that will last through Saturday, Oct. 8.

For the celebration, the store will be providing treats from Sweethearts Donuts and have a few adoptable dogs from the sanctuary there for people to meet and enjoy. The store will even have an Instagram influ encer there for the event — Cricket.

“Cricket is a special needs dog that I adopted when she first came to the sanctuary,” Spear explained.

“She has a condition called short spine syndrome which is a very rare congenital disease that affects the way their spine grows in the womb.

The instagram-famous dog Cricket, who has a condition called short spine syndrome, will be at Rusty’s Resale Boutique’s grand reopening event Wednesday, Oct. 5. (Emilee Spear/Submitted)

She has her own instagram and has over 6,700 followers so there will be many people who will come out just to meet her.”

The store’s new hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesdays through Sat urdays for both shopping and dona tions, and Cummins said it’s a great place to do both.

“I hope everybody comes out and they see what a great place it is not only to donate your stuff but to shop as well,” she said. “Because it doesn’t feel like a typical thrift store, and that’s why it’s called a boutique be cause it definitely has that boutique feel.”

Cummins said the only other thrift store immediately in the area is Goodwill, and she said “they do not know the definition of good will.” She said Rusty’s Resale Boutique, how ever, has quality items that are well taken care of and fairly priced — not to mention that the funds are going to a great cause.

With a background in vintage clothing and furnishing, Cummins’ role as a volunteer is to help with the pricing to figure out what items are authentic or antique and may be worth a bit more. She said she’s more than happy to be able to use her ex perience to help.

“I see this for the long term. I don’t see this just being a thing for a few months,” Cummins said. “I jumped in

with both feet and when I do some thing, I do it big or I go home. So, I like to do things really big and grand. I expect to be with them for a long time.”

Spear is hoping others will join in and help as well. The more volun teers she has to help run the store, the more likely its chance of success. Those interested in volunteering can apply online.

Donations can also be made online,

and Spear said she is currently look ing for assistance paying for the rent and utility costs for October.

Rusty’s Resale Boutique

Open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesdays through Saturdays

42407 N. Vision Way, Anthem 480-250-0251

rustysangelssanctuary.org/rustysresale, facebook.com/rustysresaleboutique

BY ALLISON BROWN Foothills Focus Staff Writer

Withthe polo season ramping up and the Bentley Scottsdale Polo Championships return ing to WestWorld of Scottsdale on Sat urday, Nov. 5, the Arizona Polo Club is launching its new Scottsdale Polo Acad emy starting Thursday, Sept. 29.

Offering an opportunity to all ages, the academy will be servicing the Valley of the Sun providing professional polo instructors who can teach and help ad vance the sport of polo in Arizona.

The Scottsdale Polo Academy will be held in the Cactus equestrian corridor at SandSpur Ranch located at 12302

As interest surges, the Arizona Polo Club is launching a Scottsdale Polo Academy Thursday, Sept. 29, to allow others to learn the sport in a safe and fun way. (Arizona Polo Club/Submitted)

N. 93rd Street in Scottsdale. Additional locations may open with the growing demand. The mission of the academy is to give those interested in the sport a chance to learn polo in a safe and enjoy

The Scottsdale Polo Academy is open to every one — whether they have never ridden a horse before or have a little experience already. (Arizo na Polo Club/Submitted)

able environment.

Instructors with the Scottsdale Polo Academy will represent the Arizona Club Polo when it takes on the Women’s All-Star Polo Team at Scottsdale’s Polo Party on Saturday, Nov. 5. Polo enthusi asts are also encouraged to attend the event to see the club’s biggest stars An dres Camacho, Diego Florez, Martin Rin con and Natalie Camacho in action.

“Being a life-long horse enthusiast, I am thrilled to be a part of this dynamic new group that is championing the ex citing, international sport of polo in our area,” said Janet Salas, a member of the Scottsdale Polo Academy. “I am looking forward to participating in my first sea son of polo this fall.”

The Scottsdale Polo Academy will offi cially kick off the fall season at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 29 and continue every Thursday through Dec. 15.

The academy is meant for everyone, whether they have ridden before in a different discipline, have never been on

a horse, or have some polo experience already. No experience is necessary to sign up, and riders do not have to bring their own horse. In fact, the academy provides all equipment with the excep tion of riding boots.

To make sure every rider gets the most out of the academy, there will be an ini tial horseback riding evaluation to gauge skill level, and lessons will then be cus tomized to the rider based on that evalu ation. Members of the academy will learn through lessons, instructions, drills and practice games and have the opportunity to move up to a faster level of play once they successfully complete the program.

The goal of the academy is for students to learn safety, key riding and polo skills, all while having fun at the same time.

“This is an incredible opportunity to get good practical, hands-on polo instruction right here in Scottsdale,” said Martin Rincon, a Polo instructor at Scottsdale Polo Academy who has been playing the sport for more than 10 years. “We promise to make it fun, easy and en joyable for those who have always want ed to learn how to play.”

Those interested in joining the Scotts dale Polo Academy can reserve a spot by calling or texting 480-201-4530. Space is limited. Participants will need to sign a release form and waiver before start ing lessons.

Also, tickets and tables to the Satur day, Nov. 5 Bentley Scottsdale Polo Championships at WestWorld can be found at ThePoloParty.com. Scottsdale Polo Academy opens as interest surges

Scottsdale Polo Academy

When : 6 p.m. Thursdays from Sept. 29 through Dec. 15

Where : Sandspur Ranch, 12302 N. 93rd Street, Scottsdale

Cost : $1,800

Info : scottsdalepolo.com, 480-201-4530

Discover the power of calm

Pastor Ed Delph Foothills Focus Columnist

Here’s

a short story today for your consideration and application.

One day a biologist observed an ant carrying a piece of straw which seemed to be an enormous burden for it. The ant came to a crack in the earth that was too wide for it to cross. The ant stood for a time as though pondering the situation. Then the ant put the straw across the crack and walked across it as a span. “What a lesson for us!” the im pressed biologist said. “The burden can become the bridge for progress.”

Years ago, while visiting a high school friend at his company’s warehouse, I noticed one of his employees wearing a shirt with “The Power of Calm” printed on it. I started thinking about this con cept, “The Power of Calm.” So here are some thoughts on when calm thinking and living could direct us to the best ac tion. Which would you rather embrace, the calmness of a plan of attack or the chaos of a panic attack?

There is power in remaining calm, especially when the situation requires it. The ability to find calm in the cha os upgrades your life. In chaotic times, we don’t need to control our impulsive thoughts. Instead, we need to stop letting impulsive thoughts control us. Here’s an example of “The Power of Calm.”

There were two men shipwrecked on an island. One started screaming and yelling. “We’re going to die! We’re going to die! There’s no food. There’s no wa ter! We’re going to die!” The second man was propped up against a palm tree, so calm it drove the first man crazy. “Don’t you understand? We’re shipwrecked on an island. No food. No water. We’re going to die!” The second man replied, “You don’t understand. I make one hundred thousand dollars a week.”

The first man looked at him quite dumbfounded and asked, “What differ ence does that make? We’re on an island with no food and no water. We’re going to die!” The second man answered, “You

just don’t get it. I make one hundred thousand dollars a week and tithe on those one hundred thousand dollars a week. My pastor will find me!” That’s real calm in the chaos.

There is a cost in losing your calm and cool. Moses couldn’t cross into the Promised Land because of losing his calm when the people of Israel were be ing, dare I say, the people of Israel. Awk ward!

Look at Peter and Jesus on the night Jesus was betrayed. Peter had a panic attack and cut off the soldier’s ear. Jesus had a plan of attack and calmly healed the soldier’s ear, good as new, amid the chaos of a betrayal.

The story of the prodigal son shows us the contrast between the power of impulse and the power of calm. The prodigal son wanted his inheritance be fore he died. He was an instant person, wanting instant things instantly. The fa ther gave the son his inheritance. Soon the son was living in squalor and chaos. His money was gone, his identity shat tered, his friends abandoned him and he lived on a diet of leftover pig fodder. Where was his father? He was sitting on the porch of his house, waiting for him. The father discovered calm in the chaos. His father missed him but possessed hope the son would come back. The prodigal’s father had more faith in his son than the son had in his father. That’s not to say the father wasn’t concerned. But the father would not let his thoughts control him as his son did. Perhaps the father was like that saying by Michael Caine: “Be like a duck, calm on the sur face but paddling like the dickens under neath.”

Jesus calms storms on the outside of people, and He calms storms inside peo ple, too. It takes real God-power to calm both.

Here are some “calm in the chaos” thoughts for you. Brené Brown once said, “I can always tell about the health of a culture and of an organization by how much gossiping is happening.” Kar en Salmansohn states, “When you can’t control what’s happening, challenge

yourself to control the way you respond to what’s happening. That’s where true power is.” David Allen says, “Patience is the calm acceptance that things can hap pen in a different order than the one you have in mind.” One more quote on calm by Mason Cooley for you: “Romance is tempestuous. Love is calm.”

Calm down the non-stop chatter in your head. God has a plan of attack, while we generally have a panic attack. Train your mind to act intellectually, not emo tionally react. A calm mind begets clear thinking. Take a deep breath, close your eyes, and count to three. Someone out there reading needed this article today.

Remember, God’s not in the strong wind, earthquake, or fire. Instead, God most often is in the sound of a gentle breeze — 1 Kings 19:11-2. In other words, God whispers because God is close — and calm. And trusting God is a real bridge over troubled waters for per sonal progress. COMMUNITY CONNECTION

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.

CAVE CREEK

The Foothills Focus publishes on Wednesday. The weekly calendar — a listing of entertainment events such as concerts, theatrical performances, events for schools, churches, county parks and nonprofit groups — runs every issue.

Events must be open to the public to be considered and generally must be held within the Foothills Focus coverage area. Events such as concerts and theatrical performances that fall outside the Foothills Focus cir culation area will be considered because there are no concert halls or theater venues within our boundaries.

Weekly calendar items print on a space-available basis. The only way to guarantee that an item will print is to purchase an advertisement.

Submissions must reach our office by 4 p.m. Wednesday to be considered for the following Wednesday publication. Submissions must be in writing and may be emailed to Christina Fuoco-Karasinski, christina@ timespublications.com.

Craft N Chat

MONDAYS

Those who knit or crochet are invited to the Desert Foothills Library for Craft N Chat. New and experi enced crafters are welcome to join.

Desert Foothills Library, 38443 N. School house Road, Cave Creek, 1 to 3 p.m., free, dfla.org

Death Café

WEDNESDAYS

Death Café is a discussion about death and dying, meant as a way for people to come together and talk about a topic that is often seen as taboo. Rather than a support group, Death Café is meant as a way for anyone at any station to appreciate

the time they have left. To date, over 12,000 Death Cafés have opened up worldwide in 78 different countries.

Desert Foothills Library, 38443 N. School house Road, Cave Creek, 12:30 to 2:30 p.m., free admission, 480-488-2286, dfla. org

Yoga Fusion

THURSDAYS

Join Elizabeth Boisson in an intermediate-level course of Yoga Fusion at the Desert Foothills Library from noon to 1 p.m. Thursdays. The class will start with breathing exercises and then go through dif ferent types of stretching movements and then into Vinyasa or flow yoga.

Desert Foothills Library, 38443 N. School

house Road, Cave Creek, noon to 1 p.m., $10 cash per class, dfla.org

Friday Night Bull Riding & Mutton Bustin’

FRIDAYS

Come watch riders rodeo on the back of a mighty bull. For children ages 3 to 6, sheep are available to ride alongside them.

Buffalo Chip Saloon and Steakhouse, 6823 E. Cave Creek Road, Cave Creek, 8 to 11:45 p.m., $10 tickets $20 to ride a bull, buffalochipsaloon.com

Crafternoon – Unsupervised FRIDAYS

Kids from the ages of 2 to 18 can craft to their heart’s content in the Imagination Lab. With no staff to act as supervision, all kids must be accompanied by an adult.

Desert Foothills Library, 38443 N. School house Road, Cave Creek, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., free admission, 480-488-2286, dfla.org

Live Music at Janey’s Coffeehouse

NIGHTLY

Come listen to live music every night at Janey’s Coffeehouse, performed by a variety of talented local artists. The venue has over a dozen unique performers each month, and for those looking to perform, new talent is encouraged to come by and sign up. This week, check out Glade Wilson, Pop Top, Jay Allan, Tres Burros, and Uncle Bears Brewery. Janey’s Coffeehouse, 6602 E. Cave Creek Road, Cave Creek, 7:30 to 9:30 p.m., ca vecreekazmusic.com

Live Music Wednesday with Jeremy Graham at Harold’s Corral

SEPT. 28

Every Wednesday, Harold’s Corral features live music and happy hour specials. Come by with the family to enjoy rib dinners and good drinks.

Harold’s Cave Creek Corral, 6895 E. Cave Creek Road, Cave Creek, 6 p.m., free admission, 480-488-1906, haroldscorral.com

Reiki Healing

SEPT. 28

Explore a variety of healing methods through Reiki, an energy healing technique meant to reduce stress and anxiety through gentle touch. The class covers

the use of the techniques, as well as how to better understand them.

Desert Foothills Library, 38443 N. School house Road, Cave Creek, 1 to 2 p.m., $10 admission, 480-488-2286, dfla.org

Puzzle Exchange

SEPT. 30

Find new and interesting puzzles to solve, and help others find something for themselves. Drop off gently used puzzles and come exchange the old for the new all day at the library.

Desert Foothills Library, 38443 N. School house Road, Cave Creek, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., 480-488-2286, dfla.org

Cave Creek Car Show

OCT. 1

Fourteen Cave Creek businesses are showing their colors at the start of the month for “Octoberfest.” Come by any of them for special discounts, music from the 60s to the 90s, numerous prize raffles and displays of all kinds of fun cars, trucks and even tractors.

6300-7300 E. Cave Creek Road, Cave Creek, 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., free, ridescol lective.com/events/cave-creek-car-showoctoberfest/

Caring for the Caregiver

OCT. 2

Taking care of loved ones is important, but to do so, a caregiver must also take care of themselves. Join hospice worker Judy Peters and openly share your feelings with other caregivers, discovering new tools to navigate the difficult journey ahead.

Desert Foothills Library, 38443 N. School house Road, Cave Creek, 10 to 11:30 a.m., free, 480-488-2286, dfla.org

eBook and Online Database Help

OCT. 4

Downloading and using eBooks can be a confusing process at first, but is easy to figure out after a little practice. For those with questions, the Desert Foot hills Library has an informal drop-in class for anyone who is confused about Libby, Cloud Library or any other apps the library offers.

Desert Foothills Library, 38443 N. Schoolhouse Road, Cave Creek, 11 a.m. to noon, free, 480-488-2286, dfla.org, mindbody focusqi.com

Cave Creek student awarded for contribution to community

BY LAURA LATZKO Foothills Focus Contributing Writer

Whenher older brother Lukas Karlsson sustained a traumatic brain injury in 2016, Liz Karls son’s life was changed forever. Now, she and her brother are trying to help other survivors and their families through their 501c3 nonprofit, the Hug Your Head Foun dation Inc.

Liz was recently honored for her work with the foundation and for her other char itable endeavors with the National Soci ety of High School Scholars’ 18 Under 18 Award. The organization gave out $1,000 scholarships to students who have given back to their communities in a positive way.

Liz, who grew up in Scottsdale and later moved to Cave Creek during high school, submitted a video and an essay discuss ing why she deserved the award and what her plans were for the future. She said the organization has offered her numerous leadership and growth opportunities. She is currently looking into internship oppor tunities offered through the honor society.

“When you are a part of the honor so ciety, you get connected with a ton of re sources that will help you in the future,” Liz said.

Liz is currently a freshman at ASU in Bar rett, the Honors College. She is majoring in biomedicine and has plans to pursue a pre-med program. She ultimately hopes to become an anesthesiologist.

She said that the nurses and doctors who helped her brother in his recovery inspired her to want to go into medicine.

“That’s the main reason I want to be premed is to be able to help a family like my brother’s doctors helped our family,” Liz said.

In high school, Liz excelled as a student, leader and athlete. Liz attended Notre Dame Preparatory High School in Scott sdale, where she was on the varsity swim and lacrosse teams for four years. Her senior year, she received the Jackie Pitts Award, given to athletes that go above and beyond in serving their teams, schools and communities.

Liz was part of her school’s house sys tem, which is similar to a student council.

She was on the house system’s executive committee and was in charge of a house with around 200 people.

In high school, Liz went on several church mission trips to places such as Mexico. She remembers one trip during her freshman year where she helped to build a house for a family in need. She also participated in the Kairos religious retreat program. During her senior year, she was chosen as one of the student leaders for the retreat.

During high school, she was part of the St. Jude Leadership Society and Hugh O’Brien Youth Leadership program. Through these organizations, she was able to further de velop her leadership skills and help others.

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Liz said serving her community has al ways been important in her life, just as her faith has been as a Catholic. Through church and school, she learned the impor tance of giving back.

“I love helping others, and I would never turn down an opportunity to give back to those who need it,” Liz said.

At the moment, Liz’s focus is on growing and spreading the word on Hug Your Head. It has taken Liz and Lukas around two years to get the nonprofit established.

Their work in creating awareness about brain injuries has already started. Last year during Brain Injury Awareness Month in March, they spoke with Liz’s lacrosse and swim teams about traumatic brain injuries.

Liz said she hopes through the nonprofit to educate others and help those who are going through a similar experience as her family.

“The whole point of the foundation is to bring awareness and to give traumat ic brain injury survivors the support they need,” Liz said.

The organization will offer a sibling sup port group and help survivors and families with medical costs.

Lukas sustained a brain injury during a motorcycle accident in 2016. He woke up from a coma with impaired mental and physical capabilities and memory loss, and he had to relearn skills such as walking and eating. His family, including Liz, were there to support him through his journey to re covery. He is now working full-time and is in college pursuing a degree in marketing.

Liz, 18, said that her brother, 25, has been a major source of inspiration and an influence in her life.

Through his story, he has already been connecting with others.

“My brother has gotten a lot of messag es from people who are struggling through the same thing,” Liz said.

She added that it also would have helped her to have someone to turn to for more personal advice on how to support her brother. She hopes to offer assistance to other family members and friends who are part of their loved ones’ recovery teams.

“It’s really difficult to be a sibling of a traumatic brain injury survivor, especially when they are in the hospital, or they’ve just come home or are still going through

Liz Karlsson, a Cave Creek student, received the National Society of High School Scholars’ 18 Under 18 Award for her work in head injury prevention. (Liz Karlsson/Submitted)

rehab. People think that it’s only the patient that goes through that, but it’s really the en tire family that goes through so much. We just want to show our support for those families,” Liz said.

“My job would be to help the siblings of the patients, just be there for them, if they want to talk, or give them ways that they can help their siblings.”

When her brother was in recovery, Liz would play Gin Rummy with him as a way to bond and also help him with his mobility, cognitive reasoning and math skills. They continue to play cards together to this day.

Liz said going through the experience brought them even closer.

“Me and my brother were close before. Almost losing him, it really showed me how much I love him,” Liz said.

Along with designing the website for the organization, Lukas will also be involved in helping traumatic brain injury survivors.

“He can connect with other patients and tell them it’s going to be okay, help them to relax and tell them what he needed to hear when he was a patient because he’s gone through it,” Liz said.

The siblings hope by next March to do a wellness retreat for survivors and fami ly members. The event would offer yoga, meditation, hiking and support groups.

Liz said that going to the hospital regu larly and getting treatments can be drain ing to patients and family members. She hopes the retreat will offer them a space to relax, recharge and connect with others.

More information about the Hug Your Head Foundation Inc. can be found at hugyourhead.org.

JOB SEEKERS

Here are some popular trades and the training required to being your career.

Electricians

Job opportunities in the trades are wide and varied. Many people become skilled at trades in high school, where they learn the basics of auto repair and woodworking. Some enter apprenticeships directly after graduating, while others attend trade or technical schools for advanced training. Either way, trades offer a rewarding, in-demand and profit able career for many interested in working with theirs hands and possess the aptitude to diagnose and repair complicated machinery in fields such as heating and air conditioning, welding, masonry and more.

High school graduates and those with a GED can enter train ing at a technical school for elec tricians. These diploma programs provide training in the fundamen tals of an electrical trade and enables students to become profi cient in areas such as areas as electrical wiring and programma ble logic controllers used in resi dential, commercial and industrial applications. After completing four semesters of training, new electricians enter the workforce through an apprenticeship as they work toward their license, which is required by many states.

Plumbers

Like electricians, plumbing technicians first attend at least two semesters of training at a technical school before beginning an apprenticeship and earning a license. Modern plumbers have the opportunity to work at a vari ety of job sites and install or repair new technologies, such as tankless water heaters, WiFi leak detectors and smart appliances. This trade skill is extremely valuable and sees con stant job demand.

Construction technology

This relatively new, rapidly expanding trade directly taps into the fast-paced digital world, creating and installing the systems homes and

businesses have com to rely upon. Smart-enabled and security sys tems are examples of fields that form the digital footprint of many modern workplaces and homes. In high-demand, technologists in this field are trained for 2-3 years and obtain a certificate before working on-site and completing a paid apprenticeship.

Veterans in transition

Many people enter the armed forces to take advantage of mili tary benefits, such as funding for a college education, while also per forming their duties around the world after attending vocational

training for a particular field. After completing their service, veterans with valuable trade skills can often enter the workforce directly or take advantage of veterans ben efits that provide them further training to adapt military occupa tions to a civilian career.

No matter what trade you pur sue, the training you receive can almost guarantee a life-long posi tion, many with substantial pay that sometimes reaches into six figures. And even if you never pursue a trade professionally, the skills you learn can be applied in your everyday life, as well as a ful filling hobby.