Page 28 August 2013 The U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in Koontz finally decided this issue in favor of developers. The court explained that developers seeking permits are especially vulnerable to “extortionate demands for money” by the government. Now, all government agencies (including state and local agencies here in Arizona) will have to carefully consider the amount and justification for any monetary conditions they try to impose on developers. Otherwise, they may be sued by developers alleging unconstitutional extortion based on the Koontz decision. Arcadia resident Jennifer A. Cranston is a shareholder at Gallagher & Kennedy, P.A. For more information go to www. gknet.com. *Sage facials incorporate local raw honey & organic goats milk yogurt for a blissful and holistic experience! 4636 North 32nd Street | 480.336.0042 info@sageorganicskincare.com | www.sageorganicskincare.com Dermaplaning Facial $60 Treat Yourself Pampering well deserved to some 4859 N. 20th Street s Phoenix (Town & Country Plaza - SE corner of 20th St & Camelback) Family Practice Specialists 4350 E. Camelback Rd., Suite F-100 Phoenix, AZ 85018 Member of International Society of Travel Medicine Phone: 602-955-8700 Certificate in Travel Health Medicine Recognized as one of Conde Nast Traveler Magazine’s Top US Travel Health Specialists Email: travelshots@cox.net Website: www.travelshots.net ARCADIA PHYSICIANS TRAVEL CLINIC Visit us before traveling so the only thing you bring home from vacation is souvenirs! Eileen Klecka, R.N. Medical Director: Karin O'Clair, D. O. Visit us before you travel so that the only thing you bring home is Souvenirs. Mention this ad and get $10 off your office visit. Creating Smiles for a Lifetime! Creating Smiles for a Lifetime! 4202 N. 32nd St., Ste E 602.955.8760 Dr. Stephen Conrad ~ Complete Dentistry ~ phoenixcaringdentist.com We offer sedation, CEREC® one-visit crowns & emergency care Complimentary Cosmetic Exam + Consultation WITH YOUR FIRST APPOINTMENT! Receive a complimentary cosmetic exam and consultation to find out if teeth whitening, tooth bonding or porcelain dental veneers are right for you! Mention this offer when scheduling your appointment. Not valid with any other offer. LOOK BETTER - FEEL BETTER C\klj_\cgpflXZ_`\m\XY\kk\ipfl Fe\$fe$fe\gi`mXk\G`cXk\j`ejkilZk`fe `e[`m`[lXccpkX`cfi\[kf]fZljfe pfli ^fXcj% DXb\X_\Xck_pYf[ppfligi`fi`kpXe[ZXcckf[Xp%  8cjff]]\i`e^dXkXe[KIOZcXjj\j 8I:8;@8JKL;@F ++))<%@e[`XeJZ_ffc ● -')$,*/$,-/- :<EKI8CG?F<E@OJKL;@F .+)<%>c\e[Xc\8m\% ● -')$)0-$+-+0 nnn%k_\g`cXk\jYf[pXq%Zfd lj _ _\cg pfl XZ_ C\k lj \cg pfl XZ_ The Pilates Body Court Continued from page 21 Quartet competes for title By Cristina Peralta Vocal Edition, the reigning 2013 Arizona Quartet Champions of the Barbershop Harmony Society, have returned from their latest international competition at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, where they sang alongside 49 of the world’s best quartets for the International Gold. The four-part harmony group placed 31st out of 49 of the world’s top-selected quartets, competing from the Far Western District that includes quartets from Arizona, Nevada and California. The group performed a two-song set of “Beautiful Dreamer” and “Driving Me Crazy.” “There’s a lot of the same stuff being judged that you see on ‘American Idol’ or ‘America’s Got Talent,” said Arcadian Eric Bjornsen, the group’s tenor. “They are very big on presentation and quality as a whole.” This year’s champions were the quartet Masterpiece, a group based out of the Los Angeles area and also a part of the Far Western District. More information is available at vocaleditionquartet.com.

By Amanda Goossen Teachers in Arcadia are working to make a physical and environmental difference, one child and activity at a time. For Mary Kay Notsch, after-school-care instructor and recess supervisor at Christ Lutheran School in Arcadia, physical fitness is a must for her students. As a result of running a monthly parent- student kickball game, Notsch found that bringing kids and their parents together for physical activities did more than just introduce exercise and sportsmanship to the players. “The kids love it because they get to spend time with their parents, and the parents enjoy the games because they’re with their kids and they also get to meet the other parents and talk to the teachers,” said Notsch. Each month a different grade, kindergarten through fifth, takes the field at recess. The children play against their parents and the teachers help serve lunch and make an event of it. “My favorite,” said Notsch, “was when one parent said, ‘Oh, I just love this, it’s hilarious.’ ” Kickball games aren’t the only way Notsch gets the kids moving. Using parent volunteers, Notsch sets up stations with hula hoops, jumping jacks and other activities. Working on the playground, she has learned the potential of small rewards. “The kids know I have stickers and other very small rewards. After they’ve walked a certain amount of laps or gone through the stations we set up, they can Teachers work toward health and wellness in our schools earn a prize,” Notsch said. Mrs. Shelly Rose, a fifth grade teacher at Tavan Elementary School, is adamant about keeping her kids healthy. Throughout the summer Rose sends regular emails to her incoming fifth graders which list a physical activity for the day, an academic achievement for the day and a random act of kindness. Rose lives near Tavan and is often seen riding her bike throughout the neighborhood. “The kids will tell me they saw me riding,” said Rose. “I like to be a good example.” Last year, Rose participated in the Tough Mudder, known to be “probably the toughest event on the planet” according to their website. An extremely difficult race that includes a series of obstacles meant to challenge physically, mentally and emotionally, the Tough Mudder is only completed by 78% of entrants. “The kids were really impressed,” Rose said. Each year Rose is one of four fifth grade teachers and numerous parent volunteers to take Tavan’s fifth grade students to Prescott for their annual outdoor education trip. Within this excursion, students work with a search and rescue team, go hiking and strengthen team building skills and academics. “We show the kids that some things are mental,” said Rose. “If you think you can do 15 pushups, you can do 15 pushups.” Mrs. Robin Perko is a second grade teacher at St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic School, but her day doesn’t start in the classroom. Perko’s day starts with a 5:45 a.m. spin class, which she teaches, at The Village Health Club in Phoenix. “I started teaching workout classes in Flagstaff when I was in college,” Perko said. “In 1995, I began teaching spin and just fell in love with it.” Inside her classroom, Perko uses numerous techniques to keep the kids from simply sitting at their desks. “Getting the body moving gets the brain going,” said Perko. “And I know I wouldn’t want to sit still in a chair that long.” The students enjoy many fitness-like activities. “We do math with jumping jacks, Perko-pushups, calisthenics and meditation,” Perko explains. “We do mental math workouts with subtraction and multiplication.” And the kids have even responded to a little yoga, learning to stand on one foot and balance. “It’s important to be cognitive, awake and alive in the classroom,” said Perko. Five years ago, the busy second grade teacher took on another program at St. Thomas, which means a lot to her. Running The Green Team, Perko works with a group of kids to keep the campus clean and committed to recycling. They’ve recently been working with Terra-Cycle and according to Perko, “it’s made a huge difference.” Terra- Cycle is a highly awarded, international A dad from Christ Lutheran boots the ball at the monthly parent-student kickball game put together by Mrs. Notsch. upcycling and recycling company that collects difficult-to-recycle packaging and products and repurposes the material into affordable, innovative products. Lays potato chip bags and Capri- Sun juice pouches are two of the items Terra-Cycle collects. Schools earn points depending on the amount of items recycled. “Using our points we’ve bought school supplies for kids in need, water for families without clean drinking water and made it possible to preserve a mile of wildlife land,” said Perko. Trash-free Tuesdays, Picnic for the Planet (an E-Drive), and composting are other ways The Green Team work to make St. Thomas a better place. “We try to show the kids that faith and stewardship have so much to do with caring for our planet,” said Perko. “It’s been a terrific lesson for the kids.” Mrs. Rose motivates her 5th grade students from Tavan Elementary School to do push-ups. Mrs. Perko’s Green Team prepares recycling bins for the St. Thomas the Apostle carnival.