28 APRIL 2018 By Elaina Verhoff Orange blossoms! Bike rides! Glorious weather! Picnics! Forgive all the exclamation points, but it’s easy to get a little giddy when spring has sprung. This brief window of 80-degree weather is like having the heavens open up and embrace us in a big Arizona- style hug. What better time to pack up the basket and enjoy a picnic? Here are a few of our favorite spots around town to dine al fresco. CAMELBACK MOUNTAIN Can’t decide between a hike or a picnic? How about both? Load up a backpack and make your way up the Echo Canyon or Cholla trails to the top of Camelback Mountain. Once you make it up, you’ll be ready to enjoy your picnic with an unbeatable view. Just be sure to make it a light bite, because you won’t want to be weighed down with a full belly as you scramble back down the mountain. ARCADIA PARK Let the kids work off their energy on the playground or the bike and scooter paths of Arcadia Park, located at 56 th Street and Indian School. Then convene at a picnic table, bench, or blanket on the hill for a bite to eat. Pack your own or grab some sandwiches from the nearby 56 th Street Deli. Zoyo, Smoothie King, and Starbucks are all walking distance if you want to stroll over for something sweet to finish off your meal. KACHINA PARK A neighborhood favorite of the little tykes, Kachina Park, located at Campbell and 42 nd Street, has plenty of room to fly a kite, play frisbee, or monkey around on the play equipment. Pack a picnic or grab takeout from nearby LGO or Ingo’s and enjoy some fun in the sun. Kachina Park has plenty of picnic tables and shaded areas, but plan ahead, because this park has no bathrooms. POSTINO Nobody said a picnic had to take place at a park! If your favorite picnic table happens to be on the patio of your favorite neighborhood wine bar, who are we to judge? We can think of no better place to enjoy an upscale picnic, complete with bubbly, a bruschetta board and family and friends. THE FARM AT SOUTH MOUNTAIN Well worth the 20-minute drive, the Farm at South Mountain is located on a 5-acre pecan grove at 6106 S. 32nd St., Phoenix, AZ 85042 (map it because 32nd Street doesn’t go all the way through). Check its online calendar and combine your picnic with Saturday family yoga, or an arts and crafts or cooking class. Bring a picnic, or enjoy a delicious sandwich, fresh soup, seasonal salads and homemade baked good from The Farm Kitchen – served up in a picnic basket.           The Farm at South Mountain in Phoenix. ALWAYS STUNNING SCOTTSDALE | 480.850.7777 | TALKINGSTICKRESORT.COM Online reservations available. Locally owned and caringly operated by the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community. Dine in style with world-class entrées and wines, live entertainment and unparalleled views of the McDowell Mountains. CELEBRATING 24 YEARS! 6.38-D • by Esteban Flores-Barron • 48” X 60” X 1.5” • mixed media on canvas Representing students of Arizona universities, community colleges and high schools, as well as other emerging Arizona artists since 1993.           

29 APRIL 2018 By Laura Cafiso In this day and age, medical bills for our pets can sometimes exceed even our own. Lifelong Arcadia resident Nancy Silver, who co-owns The Paper Place in Old Town Scottsdale, witnessed that firsthand while her dogs were getting treated at the vet. “I’d see people walk in with their sick dogs, and the veterinarians would just list everything that they’re going to do to your dog before they even touch them,” Silver said. “Then these poor people had to turn around and take their sick dog home.” For many, the costs to treat their animals are beyond what they can afford. Treating common ailments such as cruciate joint ailments in dogs can cost around $3,480, while owners faced with a furry friend that swallowed something it wasn’t supposed to can expect to spend an average of $1,755, according to Petplan, a provider of veterinary health insurance In December 2016, Silver decided to step up and do something about this stark reality. She created Two Pups Wellness Fund (TPWF) to help local animals who need life- saving medical care, as a tribute to her beloved dogs, Mr. P and Miss Lacie, who were part of her family for more than 10 years. “We ended up going to the Arizona Community Foundation...they hold the 501c3,” Silver said. Founded in 1977, The Arizona Community Foundation’s mission is to lead, serve and collaborate, to mobilize enduring philanthropy for a better Arizona. The organization manages many local component funds and acts as the liaison between the Fund and recipients of donations. The Fund’s managing committee aka “The Pack” is all in the family: Nancy Silver is “The Pups Mom.” Her sister Betsy, who co-owns The Paper Place with Nancy, is “The Guard Dog” and her brother and sister-in-law, Sara and Bob Silver, are “The Breeders.” The “Head of the Pack” or Executive Director, is Bip Haley. Two Pups has helped treat 140 pets since its inception, along with 125 pets and 101 strays that it helped saved from being put down. Most recently, they stepped in to help Maricopa County Animal Care and Control. “I got a call on a Friday night at 9:30 p.m. telling me that the Eastside Shelter had a couple of dogs with “strep zoo” and it can run rampant,” Nancy said, remembering shelter director Mary Martin’s emotional plea in January 2018. Streptococcus zooepidemicus or “strep zoo,” is a severe upper respiratory infection, that can be fatal if left untreated The Maricopa County Board of Supervisors officially accepted a $25,000 donation from TPWF to cover the cost of antibiotics to treat an outbreak of a potentially fatal transmittable disease at MCAC’s East Shelter. “There were 330 dogs and one cat,” Nancy said. “We only lost four,” Betsy added, considering the shelter could have lost 10 percent of the animals if they had not been treated. When asked what she’s most proud of, Nancy says, “We save a dog a day.” “Booze and a Band for the Bowwows and the Meows” is the Fund’s upcoming fundraiser at The Arizona Science Center on Friday May 11. For more: twopups.org or 480-490-7136. How ‘Two Pups’ saves countless animals By Mallory Gleich Many schools have claims to fame, but not everyone can brag about having Steven Spielberg and Lynda Carter as former students. Arcadia High School is celebrating its 60 th anniversary, and those six decades have provided a host of memorable kids, teachers and moments. The school was opened in 1958 and housed around 40 teachers and 750 students. The central point of the school was a circular structure in the courtyard called Mount Olympus, which rose to the second story of the school and still stands today. The original campus was designed by Ron Henscheid of Taliesin West and was thought to be “futuristic and unique.” In 2005, the school was approved for a massive rebuild, with construction starting almost immediately. The campus remained open during the construction, which was completed in 2008. Mount Olympus is the only structure remaining from the original construction, which was initially used as a library and is now the location for teacher meeting rooms. Some say Mount Olympus was the inspiration for the spaceship in Spielberg’s “Close Encounters of the Third Kind.” In 1982, there was major backlash in Scottsdale Unified School District because of the rumored closing of Scottsdale High School. After the opening of Coronado High, it was decided that either Scottsdale High or Arcadia High needed to close. In the end, the prevailing vote was for Arcadia to remain open, so Scottsdale High closed in May of 1983. Today, Arcadia High School welcomes 1,750 students and 83 teachers. “Arcadia is a very diverse school, and we embrace and celebrate our diversity. Our Student Advisory Board puts a great deal of effort each year into planning activities that promote a positive and accepting school culture.” said Arcadia High math teacher Jen Dukelow. “The community feel here is very unique for a high school.” Arcadia has twice won the Anti-Defamation League’s “No Place for Hate Award.” The school also won the Skills USA Graphic Design Contest and since 2010, has put on the Arcadia Film Festival featuring student- created films. “The best part is, without a doubt, the community-feel of the school,” said librarian Shawn Huffman. “This comes from the teachers, students and amazing community support that we receive as faculty at Arcadia. It truly is a wonderful place.” The school also earned international attention during its more recent history for two “promposals” from students to a famous actress and a famous singer. Jacob Staudenmaier sang his YouTube promposal to actress Emma Stone, based on her movie “La La Land.” Matt Peterson, who met Miley Cyrus in 2009, asked her to be his prom date. Unfortunately, neither of the girls could make it to prom, but Matt and Jacob’s videos reached fame on networks like CNN and E! News. Arcadia boasts 18 sports programs and 50-60 clubs, some of which have earned awards of their own, including state championships. “I love Arcadia because there is so much to do,” said senior Matt Schlenker. “I’m involved on the varsity swim team and as a student ambassador.” “It’s great that there is so much to get involved in on our campus,” said sophomore Grace Schlenker, who also swims on the varsity swim team. Some of the school’s longest serving teachers include Diana Cure from Advertising Art (who started in 1990), Dave Peterson in English (since 1995) and Dena Tufarelli in English Immersion Studies (since 1997). Teachers who have been at one school for this long have seen numerous students achieve incredible accomplishments. They’ve also seen some of the most memorable pranks in school history. Perhaps the most infamous was the time students hoisted a live cow onto the roof of the old library. There was also a VW Bug pushed onto the ramp of the old library as well. “One time, the students placed a ‘borrowed’ Bob’s Big Boy statue on the roof of the old library. Unfortunately, Big Boy did not make it back down to ground in one piece, but his legend lives on,” Peterson said. “I think Arcadia is special for so many reasons, but the tight-knit community-feel here is what truly sets it apart. Arcadia feels like my home, and the people here are like my family.” Dukelow said. “I cannot imagine going anywhere else for work each day.”      Arcadia High School has its share of famous alumni, including Steven Spielberg and Lynda Carter. Mr. P and Miss Lacie were the inspiration for Two Pups Wellness Fund, which assists people with paying for expensive veterinarian bills.