Ahwatukee Foothills News

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  Young Ahwatukee green thumbs, community garden benefit from 2 grants

  The little green thumbs at Children of Hope Preschool/Child Development Center and Kyrene de los Cerritos Elementary in Ahwatukee reaped grants for their gardens last week.Both schools received a $500 grant from Jamba Juice and KidsGardening.org to help them with their projects.Additionally, the Garden of Eatin,’on which the Children of Hope do the growing, has received an unrelated $1,500 grant from the National Association of Realtors through the Southeast Valley Regional Association of Realtors.The nonprofit community garden is a project of Esperanza Lutheran Church on Thunderhill Place, Ahwatukee. The church also runs the pre-school.Children of Hope Director Lynn Hockenberger said the grant is a welcome help for her and her students.“As a small non-profit school we do not have a large budget,” she said. “One of our volunteer parents, Dale Howell, who helps the children each month with the gardening activities, found this grant opportunity for us and we had to give it a shot.”

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  City plans renovations, more amenities at South Mountain trailheads

  Ahwatukee hikers who enjoy South Mountain can look forward to major improvements over the next two years in parking, restroom accommodations and other amenities at three well-used trailheads.The city has scheduled projects at Foothills Trailhead in Ahwatukee as well as the Beverly Canyon and Pima Canyon trailheads while improvements at a fourth, the 19th Avenue South Trailhead, are still being planned.“It’s all about the open space and giving people access to it,” said Sal DiCiccio as he looked out at South Mountain from the Foothills Trailhead off Desert Foothills Parkway, which last underwent transformation in 2009.“Every city that has a great park makes visitors feel like they want to live there, and that’s what these improvements help to do for South Mountain and Phoenix,” he added.The projects for the three trailheads, planned for next year and 2018, are aimed at hikers and nearby neighborhoods alike, DiCiccio noted.Replacing portable toilets with permanent restrooms alone can make a big difference.

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  Ahwatukee stand-by Keegan’s Grill doing grand after reopening

  Reopening an established restaurant after even a short period of renovation can be a challenge.Just ask Steve Johnson, the owner of Keegan’s Grill in Ahwatukee since 2015.He decided the 20-year-old neighborhood favorite needed a facelift and scheduled the closing for July 11-25.The contractor offered a three-week contract to gut the space, and install new flooring, walls, tables, chairs and booths, and art.Johnson had other ideas.“The contractor said it was going to take three weeks. I told him it was going to take two,” Johnson said.

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  Movies on Screen

  Bridget Jones’s Baby – Opens Friday, September 16After breaking up with Mark Darcy, Bridget Jones's "happily ever after" hasn't quite gone according to plan. Forty something and single again, she decides to focus on her job as top news producer and surround herself with old friends and new. For once, Bridget has everything completely under control. What could possibly go wrong?Then her love life takes a turn and Bridget meets a dashing American named Jack, the suitor who is everything Mr. Darcy is not. In an unlikely twist she finds herself pregnant, but with one hitch - she can only be fifty percent sure of the identity of her baby's father.Rated RBlair Witch – Opens Friday, September 16A group of college students venture into the Black Hills Forest in Maryland to uncover the mysteries surrounding the disappearance of James' sister who many believe is connected to the legend of the Blair Witch. At first the group is hopeful, especially when a pair of locals offer to act as guides through the dark and winding woods, but as the endless night wears on, the group is visited by a menacing presence. Slowly, they begin to realize the legend is all too real and more sinister than they could have imagined.

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  Demi Lovato and Nick Jonas bring close friendship to the stage

  Demi Lovato and Nick Jonas have grown personally and professionally since their days on “Camp Rock.” But appearing together in the Disney movie meant much more than just hanging out.“Not only was it a great friendship with lots of differences in our personality, but also on creative and artistic levels, I think we were a big support,” Jonas said.The two are still supporting each other, as this summer they’re touring as part of the “Future Now” jaunt which comes to Talking Stick Resort Arena at 7 p.m. Sept. 16.While touring may sound glamorous, Lovato admits that it isn’t always that way. Moments of loneliness are quelled by Jonas’ company.“Getting homesick is rough, but that’s why I’m excited to tour with Nick because it’s going to be amazing having one of your best friends on the road with you whenever you do get homesick or you’re having a rough time.” she said.For Jonas, touring has become awkward as well. A few years ago, he broke free from the Jonas Brothers to launch what would be a very successful solo career. Touring without them has been a stumbling block.

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  Oktoberfest celebrations carry on German traditions

  For a little over two weeks in September and the start of October, the city of Munich — the one in Bavaria, Germany — sees a flood of 6 million visitors who want to celebrate beer, bratwurst, pretzels, polka and lederhosen (or dirndl for the ladies). Yes, we just described the famous Oktoberfest festival.If you can’t make it to Munich, however, don’t despair. Arizona hosts plenty of Oktoberfest festivals that include all of the above and more. While they typically only last a few days, they take place from mid-September to early November, which means means you can enjoy Oktoberfest for almost two months, if you’re so inclined.Before we tell you when and where those festivals happen, however, take a look at some fun facts about Oktoberfest, courtesy of oktoberfest.deand oktoberfestbeerfestivals.com:Oktoberfest originally began on October 12, 1810, as a marriage celebration of Bavaria’s Crown Prince Ludwig to Princess Therese Charlotte Luise of Saxony-Hildburghausen.Oktoberfest eventually moved to September to take advantage of the warmer evening weather.The Munich Oktoberfest always takes place at Theresienwiese (“Therese’s meadow”), which is the same meadow where the original marriage ceremony happened. After the wedding, they renamed the meadow in honor of Princess (later Queen) Therese.Locals shorten Theresienwiese to “Wiesn” and refer to Oktoberfest as “die Wiesn.”The Wiesn “meadow” covers 4.5 million square feet, or 103 acres. In size that puts it between the Arizona State Fairgrounds at 80 acres and the 140-acre Salt River Fields at Talking Stick.In 2015, Oktoberfest revelers consumed 7.3 million liters of beer (almost 2 million gallons), which would fill nearly three Olympic swimming pools or around 40,000 bathtubs.Officially, Oktoberfest lasts for 16 days and ends the first weekend in October. However, if the final day falls before October 3 (aka German Unity Day), then one or two extra days are added. This year, the festival will last 17 days.Now with your appetite whetted, here are Arizona’s Oktoberfest festivals. We will add more as we find them.Litchfield Park 12th Annual Oktoberfest