The Foothills Focus is Arizona 's fastest growing weekly newspaper. We are your source for community news in Anthem, Black Canyon City, Carefree, Cave Creek, Desert Hills, New River, North Phoenix, and North Scottsdale.

Local football programs address safety The NFL draft is in the rear view mirror. And the first game of the season won’t take place until early September, but the NFL has been in the news for its growing problem regarding concussions.

Tire fire ignites for 2nd time west of Anthem A tire fire at a cement plant west of Anthem Way, brought Daisy Mountain Fire Department out to the facility for the second time in less than 24 hours on Friday.

Volunteers needed to chart Agua Fria River
The Friends of Agua Fria National Monument (Friends) and the U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM) call for volunteers for the 5th annual Wet/Dry Mapping of the Upper Agua Fria River on, June 16.

Input sought for new Black Canyon Recreation trailhead
The U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM) seeks public involvement and will hold an open house at 6:30 p.m., on May 24 at the Mayer Fire Station, for an Environmental Assessment on the Big Bug Trailhead located along State Route 69. 

Cactus Shadows offers series of summer baseball camps
Cactus Shadows varsity coach Gaetano Gianni will be leading a host of baseball camps throughout the month of June at Cactus Shadows High School.

Class of 2012 set for commencement
The class of 2012 at Cactus Shadows High School and Boulder Creek High School will celebrate graduation with commencement ceremonies on Thursday and Friday respectively.

Outlets highlight search for missing kids
For the third straight year, the Outlets at Anthem will participate in the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children’s (NCMEC) national Take 25 child safety campaign. 

ProMusica closes season at Boulder Creek Saturday
For its final production of the 2011-2012 season, ProMusica Arizona (PMAZ) will present Aesop and Other Musical Tales with a pair of performances at both 1 and 4 p.m., Saturday at Boulder Creek High School Performing Arts Center.

MOVIE REVIEW ~ Avengers team up for brilliance
While waiting at the concession stand I heard someone say, “I’ve waited for The Avengers for so long, what if it’s terrible?” From anyone else this probably wouldn’t have meant anything at all, but when it comes from costumed Captain America one should take note.

Beauty and the Beast comes to Cactus Shadows Desert Foothills Theater’s final show of the season, Beauty and the Beast, Jr., debuts at 7:30 p.m., May 18 on the main stage of Cactus Shadows Fine Arts Center.

Starlight’s run of Once Upon a Mattress continues Everyone in Starlight Theater’s rendition of Once Upon a Mattress is losing sleep over the lack of a love life for the Prince.

MOVIE REVIEW ~ The Raven swoons in the theater
Edgar Allen Poe crafted tales with elements of the macabre woven into stories of mystery, which made Poe’s work an undeniable influence on literature and film.

Musical Theatre of Anthem offers pair of workshops
Musical Theatre of Anthem (MTA) announces two summer workshops for performers ages 6 – 19:  the Summer Performing Arts Institute and the new Triple Threat Performer Intensive Workshop.

Desert Foothills Theater invites public to Picnic
Desert Foothills Theater continues its season with Picnic, performing April 12 - 22 in the intimate Black Box Theater of Cactus Shadows Fine Arts Center.