It was a massive rowhouse fire on a tight street in Trenton, New Jersey, a block of older houses connected by a common attic and burning like kindling, that taught me a cardinal rule of journalism. This was 23 years ago, so some nuances have faded, but I remember word-for-word the question from our newspaper’s hard-ass publisher.

The neurosurgeon speaking about the glioblastoma assailing Sen. John McCain described this form of brain tumor using terms like “aggressive” and “relentless,” a warrior force that can be slowed down, stymied for the time being, but never defeated.

Many Ahwatukee residents now believe that not only is the South Mountain Freeway a “done deal” but also that the lawsuit contesting it is over.

Two tales teeming with cruelty happened side by side last week, as if to present an object lesson in human beings’ nearly endless capacity to act without thinking. The second story, the more tragic of the two, filled Wednesday’s newscasts.

If there is one topic that unites Ahwatukee Foothills, it's education – our great schools and how to support them. 

When I was a young man growing up in Ahwatukee, I made the typical mistakes young people do.

It’s tough this time of year to get one’s head around an election.

When the Hollywood studio execs phone to inquire about when and why a lifelong movie freak would permanently give up on their product, the days after Fourth of July 2017 will figure prominently. That was when my personal breaking point finally occurred, along about the millionth time I thought, “Gee, maybe there’s a decent movie playing,” only to be reminded once again that the movie industry has completely run out of ideas.

It has become an almost daily occurrence. Whether we are at Frys or Basha’s, the hiking trail or the library, someone has a problem and needs help from my husband, City Councilman Sal DiCiccio.

My name is Kevin Patterson and I am a husband, a father to two beautiful young girls, and now a candidate for Phoenix City Council District 6 . I was raised in Ahwatukee, as my family chose this wonderful community specifically for the beautiful golf courses and quality of life it had to off…