Culminating the first year of using a tool to evaluate its teaching staff, the Kyrene School District presented results that showed more than 800 teachers were rated as “highly effective.”

The Ahwatukee Foothills Chamber of Commerce is proud to announce the arrival of the Ahwatukee Community Resource Guide and Directory. Filled with color photographs, the publication is a glossy, full-color business directory featuring chamber members listed both alphabetically and by category. It also is a quick resource guide about the Ahwatukee area, including a map, demographics, history, economy, schools, health care, recreation and general community information.

A Phoenix Fire Department spokesperson said the reasons people get stuck on local mountains is failing to stay on the hiking path and not being prepared.

Whether you’re a parent or caregiver, we all want the best for our kids. Part of that is making sure they have the reading skills to succeed in school and in life.

Owners of The Lakes Golf Course have decided not to continue to fill a lake on Lakeside Boulevard in Ahwatukee now that the golf course has shut down for business. That is forcing the neighboring homeowners association’s pond to dry up and residents are scrambling to save stranded fish and turtles.

I received a postcard in the mail several weeks ago announcing a public hearing on May 21 to provide an opportunity for the public to provide comments on the Draft Environmental Impact Study on the proposed South Mountain Freeway. None of my neighbors received the same postcard when I talked to them. Why were some of the public left out of the mailing? They may not have been informed of this public hearing, but I have comments to make.

REALITY TIME is fast approaching on the conclusion of the public comment period on the proposed Loop 202 for the South Mountain Freeway, as we have just until July 24 to submit our opinions.

Michelle M. Lauer, attorney at business law firm Jaburg & Wilk, P.C., has been awarded Top Pro Bono Attorneys in Arizona from the Arizona Foundation for Legal Services & Education.

Every Sunday in Ahwatukee Foothills, residents can browse through a variety of cheeses, meats, fruits, vegetables, jellies, breads and other products all grown or produced within a 15-mile radius of the area at the Ahwatukee Farmer’s Market.

The Thunder Basketball Academy, featuring Desert Vista boy basketball coach Dave Williams, will host three sessions for third through eighth grade at Desert Vista, 16440 S. 32nd St.

Chandler-Gilbert Community College (CGCC) honored their 10th annual Teal & Silver award recipients during a breakfast event at the college’s Williams Campus on May 7 at the Student Pavilion Center. Nine winners were recognized for their efforts and support of CGCC students, employees, programs, services and the college community.

ICAN, a Chandler-based youth program, is introducing a new initiative to ensure that kids returning to school do so with shoes that are not worn and torn. Throughout the month of June, ICAN will be seeking donations for its Kicks for Kids shoe drive, including shoes and socks.

Active members of Protecting Arizona’s Resources and Children (PARC) in our Village of Ahwatukee and outlying residential areas aim to stop the South Mountain Freeway from being built on Pecos Road. Preventing the destruction of our community and South Mountain is the main goal of PARC, a 501 (c) 3 non-profit organization.

The state's more than 38,000 medical marijuana users are in no danger of losing their medication, at least not at the ballot box.

The Arizona Educational Foundation (AEF) is accepting applications from business leaders for its UnitED program designed to establish, build and sustain beneficial and meaningful relationships between schools and local businesses.
The program gives business leaders throughout Maricopa County a way to support local schools through available resources and expertise within the company.


How can those who argue for building the Loop 202 through Ahwatukee on the basis of easier commutes to the West Valley also feign concern about air quality. If you are concerned about air quality, move closer to your work and commute less. Don’t build a massive highway to carry thousands of carbon-polluting vehicles.
Unless of course, you are actually only worried about the pollution in YOUR backyard and care nothing for the families living in Ahwatukee.


When Ahwatukee Foothills News decided to start including a column in the newspaper, “‘Tukee Talk” seemed like a unique and clever name but the original Tukee Talks have been going on for years.

Our Declaration of Independence and our Constitution say the United States of America is a sovereign nation. Well, the UN and our progressive pols have other ideas.

Q: What can I do to get better battery life from my smartphone? It doesn’t even get me through the afternoon on most days. — Ed

City of Phoenix staff say they haven’t had the resources necessary to enforce the state’s ordinance regarding campaign signs but as candidates are putting them up earlier and earlier it’s something they will revisit.

Individuals for and against the Loop 202 freeway expansion trickled in and out of the Phoenix Convention Center Tuesday and offered passionate pleas to panel members as the Arizona Department of Transportation hosted a day-long public hearing on the South Mountain Freeway.

Dr. Steven R. Helfgot, Ed.D., president/CEO of the Maricopa Community Colleges Foundation, has been honored by the Victoria Foundation as a “Champion of Education.”

Hiking trails built in South Mountain won’t be destroyed by the South Mountain Freeway but many hikers fear they will never be the same.

As of the day I am writing this there are 130 active rental listings on the MLS in Ahwatukee and 416 have been rented in the past six months.