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It's all about Community and supporting local businesses. It's about living joyfully and gratefully in Ahwatukee Foothills!
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Read all about your neighbors and friends!

05/28/2024

A new toddler environment is coming soon to in the Ahwatukee Foothills!

Led by Ms. Chelsei Winstead, the Hummingbirds toddler community promises a nurturing experience for the youngest Keystone students. Expressing her enthusiasm, Ms. Chelsei remarks, “Montessori education is about establishing values and traits including a love of learning, curiosity, independence, and socialization skills. I am looking forward to guiding the children with grace and courtesy and am filled with gratitude that I will be able to open another toddler community here at Keystone!”

The new addition to Keystone’s classrooms comes after a record number of waiting list applications held steady over the past two years. Keystone’s Head of School, Laura Hertzler, expresses her pride, stating, “Our community has been awaiting this day with great anticipation, and we are thrilled to announce this new environment. This expansion supports the needs of our growing school community and allows us to welcome new families to begin their Montessori journey at Keystone.”

05/24/2024

In his latest article for Stroll Ahwatukee Foothills magazine, pivots from to discuss physical health with his cardiologist, Dr. Robert Hurst.

Dr. Hurst cites a study that followed more than 36,000 adults for almost 14 years and found that those who followed these five healthy lifestyle choices had a 67% reduction in strokes:
• Don’t smoke
• Maintain a normal weight
• Be physically active
• Eat a nutritious diet
• Don’t overindulge in alcohol

Do you check all five? If not, challenge yourself to check them all. Staying on top of your heart health can lead to a completely different mindset.

Check out the May issue for more of ’s conversation with Dr. Hurst.

05/21/2024

Ready to say goodbye to pests? Introducing a family-owned pest control company committed to offering top-notch solutions. Founders Taylor and Billy take pride in their Arizona roots and passion for serving their local community.

Taylor, an alumnus of Horizon High School, and Billy, a Perry High School graduate, both continued their education at where they eventually crossed paths. Over the past five years, they have gained invaluable experience in the pest control industry. From sales to operations, their objective has always been to consistently improve and discover the most effective methods, treatments, and products to offer the highest quality service possible to their clients.
pest Solutions’ premium services include a full inspection of both the interior and exterior of your home to tailor a custom treatment plan using eco-friendly products that are safe and effective to successfully keep your home pest free. As a professional, local, and family-oriented business, Zona Pest Solutions looks forward to meeting your pest control needs and ensuring your satisfaction.

05/16/2024

The Stroll Ahwatukee Foothills Athlete of the Month is runner Ricky Garibay!

A member of the team, Ricky has been running for five years and continues to get faster. 🏃‍♂️💨 He says, “There’s something incredible about realizing that the results you see are the results you and you alone worked for. A coach can give you advice and a friend can cheer you on, but at the end of the day, you are the one that decides every day to push yourself a little further. I don’t think I have found anything more gratifying than the results of that effort.” 💪

Ricky looks forward to a strong senior year where he aspires to be part of a state championship cross country and/or track and field team. During the summer and fall, the team practices six days a week; five days starting at 5:30am. Daily workouts each have a purpose, covering speed, endurance, and recovery. Ricky says, “It’s seeing my teammates every day and all of us working hard together that gets me through the training. I’ve made some of my greatest friends through running. We have team breakfasts and team dinners and a camp in the summer. We never forget that although we are there to train and get better, the relationships we form are more important than that.” 🙌

05/13/2024

Currently in her 11th year of teaching, Sara Oaxaca of is the Stroll Ahwatukee Foothills Teacher of the Month for May! 🙌

When asked how she chose a career in education, Ms. Sara explains “My happiest memories in school are the ones I made when I was a Montessori kid. Once I completed my bachelor’s in psychology and was taking courses towards my master’s in educational psychology, I did some soul-searching and realized I wanted to contribute to the happy lives of children in Montessori schools today. So, here I am.” 👩‍🏫

Outside of the classroom, she is taking a course in professional development to become a Montessori Therapist. Outside of educational and professional responsibilities, Ms. Sara enjoys sewing 🪡, gardening 🪴 and, when the weather is right, hiking 🥾. She also enjoys traveling to beautiful places 🗺️, and she recently picked up pickleball.

Our community is so fortunate to have Ms. Sara leading groups of upper elementary school children right here in Ahwatukee! 👏

05/07/2024

May we introduce you to this month’s Family Spotlight? Say hi to the Gusso family! 👋

Scott and Jessica Gusso have known each other since they were four years old. Life took them in different directions, but fate brought them back together. 👫

They met in preschool in Long Island, New York and were the best of friends throughout elementary, middle, and high school before graduation sent them in different directions. Jessica stayed on the east coast at Springfield College in Massachusetts and Scott moved west for sunshine at . 😎

Fourteen years after college, the two reconnected on social media. They spent two
years reestablishing their relationship before becoming husband and wife in 2013. 🤵‍♂️👰‍♀️ The first four years of their marriage were long distance; Scott in Arizona and Jessica in Illinois. Scott recalls those years saying, “We would travel to see each other every other weekend no matter what. Technology helped us blend our families from across the country. I had three boys and Jessica had two young children. We would watch shows, eat dinner as a family, and sleep together on Facetime.” 📺🍝💤🤳

When it came time for the family to finally live in one place, Ahwatukee checked all the boxes with its great schools, small community feel, mountain views, and houses big enough to fit the seven-person family. 🏡

Scott and Jessica are soul mates and the best of friends. 👩‍❤️‍👨 They live their lives with passion and purpose and are proud of the strong and loving family they have created. ❤️

For more on the Gusso family, check out the May issue of Stroll Ahwatukee Foothills magazine.

04/30/2024

Earlier this school year, was crowned AIA Division I Girls State Champions under head coach Bowen Johnson, capturing ’s first girls’ swimming state title since 2016! 🏆

Coach Johnson was elated with his team’s performance, telling Stroll Ahwatukee Foothills, “This team is stacked with talent. Our swimmers have years of club and high school swim experience and great chemistry. The camaraderie makes everyone want to work hard. It’s fun to watch!” 🙌

The team was led by senior Clare Luken who has committed to the University of South Carolina to swim with after graduation. At the State Finals, Luken won the 200-yard freestyle and the 200-yard freestyle relay with sophomore teammates Ellie Kayser and Holland Stocker and freshman Victoria Nguyen. Kayser captured a first-place finish in the 500-yard freestyle. Luken, Kayser, Stocker and sophomore Myra Streit teamed up to place third in the 400-yard freestyle relay, while freshman Alexandra Volkova earned points for the Thunder with a fourth-place finish in the 100-yard breaststroke followed by senior Courtney Crawford who hit the wall in fifth place. 🏊‍♀️

The high finishes from freshman and sophomores on the Desert Vista roster are encouraging to Coach Johnson. He says, “I have an exceptional team with young talent which gives us a strong pipeline for another championship team over the next several years.” 📈

04/28/2024

The Stroll Ahwatukee Foothills Athlete of the Month for April is Secondary School junior, Kalyn McLeod! At the age of 17, she is already a winner in the fight against heart disease. 💪

At four-years old, Kalyn was diagnosed with a 2-1 AV heart block that caused fatigue, headaches and affected her ability to keep up with other kids her age. After numerous meetings with doctors and cardiologists, Kalyn underwent surgery at the age of six to receive a pacemaker that would regulate her heartbeat. The medical device completely changed her life. Kalyn tells Stroll Ahwatukee Foothills, “Before getting my pacemaker, all exercise was a huge challenge for me. I got tired easily and struggled to do basic sport-related activities. After my pacemaker, I had so much more energy! It was truly life-changing!”

Today, she competes as a member of her high school swim team 🏊‍♀️, qualifying for the AIA State Championship both her freshman and sophomore years. Kalyn also participated as an Xcel level gymnast 🤸‍♀️ through 2021 and was the Regional Bar Champion in the uneven bar event. Feats that would not have been possible without her pacemaker.

Kalyn was also one of six Arizona Teen of Impact Ambassadors chosen to represent the Association in a nine-week competition to raise awareness, implement good heart health habits across Ahwatukee, and raise money for life-saving research. Kalyn says, “Representing the American Heart Association is extremely important to me because I am living proof that the medical research funded by the American Heart Association saves lives.” ❤️

Her compassionate and determined nature makes her the perfect candidate to represent the American Heart Association as a 2024 Teen of Impact Ambassador. Your community is so proud of you, Kalyn! 🙌

04/25/2024

How many of you would like to return to Windows 98? That’s a question often asks his audience. In response, the room is generally silent. It’s an outdated operating system. Now we have new options.

New systems are faster, more efficient, and allow us to be more productive. When it comes to , it could be helpful to set down some old beliefs and step into a new, updated perspective on life.

To learn how to do this, listen to the 4-part series on , which you can find on the podcast, “Learn From People Who Lived It.” Dr. Fedrick helps us understand clearly why and, more importantly, how those things impact us. She also helps us understand that if we do the “work” on that relational programming and learn ways to reprogram, so to speak, we don’t have to fear much or at all moving forward.

Until 2021, was running on Windows 98, and when he upgraded his programming, the world started to look and feel completely different. Today, he wants to plant that seed with you. If your life isn’t making much sense, it could be time for an upgrade. While it might not be the easiest thing you ever do, it will be well worth it.

04/22/2024

From a sip of inspiration to valleywide success. 📈 Since its inception in 2017, .lemonade has established four stores, underscoring its commitment to providing a unique culinary experience. 🍋 Additionally, it has expanded its reach with four food trucks that traverse the Valley, participating in prominent events.

Engaging with the local community is paramount. In addition to being a regular fixture at the Arrowhead and Sage farmers markets, .lemonade showcases its diverse offerings every month at the Food Truck Festival. Don’t know about you, but some delicious lemonade sounds pretty good right about now. 🤤

04/18/2024

We have all heard of poverty and the devastating effects it has on a community. But have you heard of period poverty? Period poverty refers to the lack of access to over-the-counter products to manage menstrual bleeding. It causes physical, mental, and emotional challenges for women. The stigma that shrouds periods further prevents individuals from talking about it.

Kay Wright started Women4Women Tempe in 2016 when she learned that this basic female need was not being met in our community. Her nonprofit assists homeless and low-income women in “maintaining their dignity and health” by distributing feminine hygiene products to those in need.

In January, Wright shared the mission of with her 100+ Women Who Care Valley of the Sun group in Ahwatukee. The members were moved by her presentation and selected the charity to receive their quarterly donation of $15,525.

“We are absolutely thrilled to receive this donation,” shared Wright. Since the chapter’s inception in 2015, has donated over $1.2 million to local charities.

04/16/2024

Three years ago, Becci Domon began working at Kyrene de la Estrella. Initially, she intended to work in a self-contained setting, but when the position was filled right before her interview, she was hired for Resource. As it turns out, she was grateful because it gave her “a feel for Estrella as a whole.”

Instead of working in one classroom, she was in all grades, wherever she was needed. She got to know all of the staff and many students in that role, which is the reason she fell in love with Estrella.

She loves Estrella, too, because “we have a really diverse population of learners, so it always keeps things interesting. I love getting to watch the kids grow and mature over the years. It’s a really cool thing to witness! I love how inclusive Estrella is, and how much we focus on social emotional education.”

Outside of Estrella, Ms. Becci is also a full-time student working on her dual license for elementary education and special education. She loves hiking with her husband and four kids when they can. She explains, “Most of my weekends are full of my kids’ sporting events since I have one in hockey, one in softball, one in football and my littlest is starting soccer soon. It’s busy, but I love it!”

04/05/2024

Meet our Family Spotlight for April, Brent and Audrey Tregaskes and their beautiful children, Vivienne and Lowen! 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦

Brent is a 3rd generation Arizona native and a graduate of Mountain Pointe High School (). Audrey moved to Fountain Hills from Iowa in 8th grade. Both are proud alumni of . 😈 The couple met several years after college on Facebook, through a recommendation by a mutual friend, and have been happily married for 12 years. 👩‍❤️‍👨

The pair have always had an eye for spontaneity. Five-weeks after Brent proposed, he and Audrey threw an engagement party at the Montelucia Resort in Paradise Valley. To the surprise of everyone in attendance, the party kicked off with a wedding ceremony where Brent and Audrey walked down the aisle, exchanged vows, and became husband and wife! 🤵‍♂️👰‍♀️ 🫢❤️

Today, Brent is the Principal and Founder of an employee benefits advisory firm, Optimal Benefits Professionals, in Ahwatukee. Audrey works as a senior account executive for SAP and has been in the tech industry for 20 years.

Vivienne is 12 and a 6th grader at . She has been dancing 💃 at since she was two-years old. Eight-year-old Lowen is in 2nd grade at Cerritos Elementary School. He loves baseball ⚾️ and is in his third season at Ahwatukee Little League. Lowen also takes guitar 🎸 lessons at and is a member of their Division I Rock Band. 🤘

The Tregaskes enjoy mountain biking 🚵, road trips 🚙, a fun day at the park 🛝, hiking 🥾, restaurants 🍲, and hanging out with friends. Brent joins Audrey in saying, “Our hearts and family ties are in Arizona. We love it here and feel fortunate to raise our kids in this wonderful community.” 🫶

03/25/2024

The Stroll Ahwatukee Foothills Athlete of the Month for March is Ethan DeRubeis, a three-year varsity starter and the leading scorer for the boys soccer team. ⚽️

Ethan plays right wing, left wing and sometimes striker. He has keen awareness on the field and is a selfless, creative player with a strong mental game. He explains his style of play this way, “To be a great soccer player you need to have accuracy, you also need to know where your teammates are and be able to maneuver around opponents. You also can’t let a bad pass or play get in your head and always, always play as a team. No one player can win a soccer game. This must be the main focus.” 💯

Soccer has provided Ethan with some incredible memories. During the 2021-22 season, the Thunder went undefeated and won a state championship. 🏆 Ethan was a sophomore starter on the team. That same year, his club team, Brazas, also won a state championship. Then he was selected to represent the USA 🇺🇸 on a national team for Futsal in Paraguay. He recalls the experience saying, “It was so cool playing, meeting, and trading pins, jerseys, flags and other souvenirs with players from around the world.” 🌎

After his high school career, Ethan will finish up the second half of the club season with the Phoenix Rising ECNL. He then plans to play soccer in college. 🙌

Each of our Athletes of the Month receives a $20 gift card from our friends at .

03/19/2024

Are you struggling with a boss or co-worker? Maybe you are at your wits end with a spouse or child. The root of most of our problems or issues with people is our communication with them or lack thereof.

In his latest installment of , says he’s landed on three vital pieces for effective communication:
1. Word choice
2. Tone
3. Articulating your words to be understood.

Check out the March issue of Stroll Ahwatukee Foothills magazine to learn more about how to have better conversations.

03/15/2024

Last month, Stroll Ahwatukee Foothills readers were introduced to the vibrant and fun-loving Kelly Campbell, and this month readers get to learn more detailed information about this superstar educator. 🌟

For the last few years, Ms. Kelly has been working from sunup to sundown to become a certified Special Education teacher. 👩‍🏫 Currently, she works at Kyrene de la Estrella Elementary School as a beloved Instructional Aide in one classroom four days a week and as a student-teacher in a different class one day a week through an ASU certification program. She says, “I always look forward to the ‘Aha! moments’ when you see something click, even if a child is one-year old. I live for the aha!” 💡

Outside of teaching and studying, she spends a lot of time living the life of a sports parent. She says she and her family of six are often on the volleyball 🏐 court or the football 🏈 field. They also enjoy game nights 🎲 and family dates and they are looking forward to taking their new puppy 🐶 on walks!

Life is full of excitement for Kelly Campbell and those in her life, including her family, her colleagues, and her students. 😁

03/11/2024

Some of our friends and neighbors recently gathered at our local for a scrumptious buffet dinner prepared by Head Chef and Kitchen Manager, Lyndon Gonzalez. The dinner featured some of the most popular dishes off the restaurant’s Tex-Mex menu. 😋

Over the past few months, Z’Tejas has been expanding its menu and offering old and new items for the dining pleasure of its guests. Lyndon says, “We’ve been featuring monthly throwback items and we’re keeping the most popular ones.”

Lyndon, who has been with Z’Tejas for 5 ½ years and loves his job, concluded by saying, “We have a lot of loyal customers and are seeing many new faces. My goal is that each guest leaves happy and full. I love to cook. If a guest has a dietary restriction, whether it be an allergy, they are vegan, or they like their food extra spicy, just ask. I’ve been in this kitchen for a lot of years. Please know, I can make it happen and create a meal you’ll love.”

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