By Christina Fuoco-Karasinski
Abrazo Buckeye hosting stroke risk screening
Abrazo Buckeye Emergency Center will hold a low-cost stroke and heart attack risk assessment event from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday, May 18.
AngioScreen checks the body’s circulatory system and provides information about an individual’s blood flow in the neck and leg arteries, heart rhythm, blood pressure and fitness following an exam that takes only about 10 minutes. Cost for the screening is $59 and includes a consultation to review results.
Participants get a confidential, color printout with exam results and photos of blood flow in the carotid arteries. A clinician provides a brief consultation to explain the results, and participants are encouraged to share with their personal physician for follow up.
“May is Stroke Month, and we are pleased to be offering this low-cost screening to the public. The AngioScreen information can be used by participants to share with their doctor examinations by their personal physician,” said Cindy Roberts, Abrazo outreach manager.
According to the CDC:
• Someone has a stroke every 40 seconds.
• Someone has a heart attack every 30 seconds.
• Every year, nearly 800,000 people in the United States have a stroke.
• Approximately 8.5 million people in the Unites States have peripheral artery disease.
• Heart disease is still the leading cause of death for men and women.
Abrazo Buckeye Emergency Center is located at 525 S. Watson Road in Buckeye; RSVP for the screening event by calling 1-844-721-4068.
Westernaires Chorus readying for rehearsals
The Westernaires Chorus of Sun City West will hold its first 2022 fall season rehearsal in Back 40 of the Stardust Theater at 8 p.m. Thursday, September 8.
One of the oldest chartered clubs, the 85-member mixed chorus is directed by Sylvia Collins, who invites residents to attend and, if interested, audition to perform in its December 2 to December 5 shows in the Stardust Theater.
For more information, contact President Ken Kunze, 402-366-7377, or visit westernaires.scwclubs.com.
Softball club hosts memorial service
The Sun Cities Senior Softball Club and the Angels in the Outfield hosted a memorial service on April 11 at Liberty Field in Sun City West in remembrance of players who have died.
Preceding the service, the community came together to enjoy a “golden oldies” softball game of players 75 years or older.
The memorial service included personal anecdotes about a few of the players who have died. They were not remembered in sadness but with love and laughs.
The service also honored the contributors of the original and former Angels in the Outfield, which support the softball community through awareness of support, prayer, encouragement and needs, including community fundraising.
The game and service were followed by fellowship and snacks. For more information about the group, visit
azsrsoftball.com.
Grant goes toward new computers
The Sun City West Broadcast Club applied for and received a $20,000 grant from the Tohono O’odham Gaming Enterprise (Desert Diamond Casino).
The funds will go toward 12 new Dell all-in-one touchscreen computers at the R.H. Johnson Library.
The computers were installed at the library in early April. All Sun City West members in good standing may use the computers for a variety of tasks simply by showing their rec card to the monitor. The computers have Microsoft Office and access to a printer, which can be used for a nominal fee.
AARP Arizona appoints new state president
AARP Arizona appointed Joseph Marquart as state president.
Marquart replaces Daniel Martinez, who left after a six-year term.
“The state president plays a leadership role within AARP Arizona’s volunteer network, and also works closely with staff in our office,” says Dana Marie Kennedy, AARP Arizona state director.
“We are thrilled to have Joe Marquart as our state president. Joe will bring new ideas that will help us achieve our goals through 2023 and beyond.”
Marquart’s health care career spanned 41 years with hospitals and health systems in Iowa, Illinois, Florida and Arizona.
The seasoned human resources executive brings a long history of volunteering and serving on the boards of numerous not-for-profit organizations.
Upon retirement, Marquart became active with AARP in 2014 as a member of the Iowa executive committee. He joined the AARP AZ executive committee in 2017.
Desert Foothills Book Festival scheduled
The first Desert Foothills Book Festival will introduce readers to more than 50 local authors.
Presented by The Holland Center and Desert Foothills Library, the event is from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, June 4, at The Holland Center in North Scottsdale. Admission is free.
Book purchases can be signed by authors who pen books in all genres — fiction, nonfiction, children’s books, romance, historical fiction and memoir.
Two award-winning authors, Karen Odden and Dan Baldwin, will discuss the the craft and skill of writing.
Odden will speak about the importance of setting for any novel, especially with historical fiction. Her passion is Victorian England, and she’ll share photographs of places in London that inspired her.
Baldwin will discuss his 20 years of experience with psychic detection and spirit communication, followed by how he structured his books to combine these realities with effective storytelling.
Info: desertfoothillsbookfestival.com
