As 2025 breathes its last gasps today, here in no special order are 25 people and occurrences that made the year memorable for Ahwatukee.
1. Kyrene closures
Almost the entire latter half of the year was dominated by the Kyrene School District’s plan to close campuses in order to consolidate students in a smaller number of campuses and concentrate resources in the face of an enrollment loss that’s left it with an enrollment of around 13,000 with a projected additional pupil loss of another 1,000 pupils in five years.
Parents and students jammed eight governing board hearings to protest the original proposal to close six elementary and two middle schools. The board earlier this month settled on closing four elementary and two middle schools – including Akimel A-al Middle School and Estrella and Colina elementary in Ahwatukee. The two elementary campuses will be shuttered in less than six months while Akimel won’t close until mid-2027.
2. Override passes
Despite widespread unhappiness and anger over the closures – particularly Akimel – Kyrene’s operating budget override passed by a wide margin, leaving intact its record of never having lost an operating budget override this century.
Apparently, even many unhappy parents heeded the warnings by some of their counterparts that voting against the override and the more than $14 million in additional funds it provides annually would put the district into even more dire fiscal straits.
3. Endless lawsuit
The lawsuit by the Club West Conservancy against golf course owner The Edge hit the four-year mark earlier this month with no end in sight. Though a judge released two Shea Homes entities as defendants – and an appeals court denied its demand for over $500,000 in attorney fees – Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Suzanne Pineda has yet to issue her verdict in the non-jury trial she presided over in August.
Meanwhile, post-trial filings showed what’s at stake in the Conservancy’s effort to stop The Edge from doing anything with the site except use it for golf: The Edge estimated the homes would generate between $121.9 million and almost $250 million in revenue for a homebuilder builder – resulting in a profit of between $28.4 million and $48.2 million for the builder and over $8 million for The Edge’s partners.
Even after Pineda issues her verdict, it’s likely the loser will appeal – meaning the site will remain barren for the unforeseeable future, as it has been for almost the entire past nine years.
4. Not all doom and gloom
Two notable Ahwatukee theatrical enterprises did their best to brighten the year, especially on the eve of the Christmas holidays. Kimberly Lewis presented her 26th annual rendition of the classic holiday ballet – rebranded as “The Arizona Nutcracker” from the “Ahwatukee Nutcracker.
Simultaneously, the Arizona Community Theatrical Company – itself rebranded from The Ahwatukee Children’s Theatre – debuted a new musical that replaced its original “A Christmas Carol” with “A Christmas Carol the Musical.” AZACT also earlier this year debuted an original musical by the company’s founder, Michele Rubino, titled “Olivia,” a parody of the popular musical “Oliver.”
5. Budget wizzardry
The City of Phoenix managed to keep services at current levels and balance its 2025-26 budget despite a $39 million deficit created largely by the loss of $90 million in residential rental tax revenue.
The state Legislature eliminated the tax, claiming it would make housing more affordable. In the absence of any data showing that happened, the city drew on its dwindling reserves and some other budgetary moves to avoid service cuts.
6. Still an honor
St. John Bosco Catholic School in June learned the U.S. Department of Education designated it a 2025 National Blue Ribbon School – only to be told a few months later the department terminated the program, which was instituted 43 years ago to recognize academic excellence.
Nonetheless, the coveted award still stands because the states now have the charge of administering it. St. John Bosco was the only private school in Arizona to earn the distinction.
7. Education kudos all around
Meanwhile, both Tempe Union and Kyrene celebrated achievements of their own.
Both districts saw multiple campuses designated A+ School of Excellence designations from the Arizona Educational Foundation. Tempe Union schools that earned the designation included Mountain Pointe, Desert Vista and Marcos de Niza. Kyrene’s were Mirada Leadership Academy, Brisas, Lomas and Monte Vista.
Additionally, five of Tempe Union’s six campuses earned an “A” in the state Board fo Education’s annual round of report cards – Mountain Pointe got a “B.” Kyrene had a mix of “A’ and “B” schools. Ahwatukee’s other major schools – BASIS Ahwatukee and Horizon Honors – also earned an “A.”
8. Unique anniversary
It’s unusual that a community Ahwatukee’s size has two Catholic parishes – especially located within about a mile of each other.
Even more unique was the fact that both St. Benedict’s and Corpus Christi Catholic churches marked their 40th anniversary in the same year.
As the Club West Conservancy’s lawsuit against golf course owner the Edge marked its fourth anniversary this month, the site itself is heading toward a decade of barren turf aside from a few months in late 2017 and early 2018.
(file photo)
9. Not the only ones
Several other Ahwatukee churches also marked their anniversaries. Leading the pack was Mountain View Lutheran Church, which marked a half century as Ahwatukee’s first church.
Indeed, Mountain View’s second pastor, the late Rev. Don Schneider, made it possible for other Ahwatukee churches, including Corpus Christi, to initially set up here by allowing them to hold services on its campuses.
Also marking significant anniversaries were Bridgeway Community, celebrating its 30th anniversary, and Esperanza Lutheran, marking 35 years of serving the community.
10. Enrollment anomaly
While its two feeder school districts struggle with an unending enrollment slide, Tempe Union celebrated something that no other East Valley school district north of Queen Creek could lay claim to – an increase in total pupil population.
The enrollment bump was modest: the district recorded 11,625 students instead of a projected 11,527. Still, Superintendent Dr. Stacia Wilson and the Governing Board celebrated what they called the result of sustained planning, new partnerships and a push “to tell the great stories of Tempe Union.”
11. Little League champs
The Ahwatukee Little League has had some memorable seasons over the years and 2025 was one of them for the 11U All Stars won the state championship for the first time since 2018.
12. Businessman mourned
Tragedy struck the Ahwatukee business community with the June passing of Neal Aitya Vardhan Kedia, owner of the Vardhan Brothers Dry Cleaner on Warner Road near 48th Street.
Stricken by a brain aneurism at age 41, he was celebrated for his countless thoughtful gestures, generosity and affable personality.
13. More golf litigation
Foothills Golf Course debuted its new clubhouse lounge, called The Bunker, but it also became the third of Ahwatukee’s four golf courses to find itself in court.
The California family that owns the course sued the legendary global golf course management company Troon and a subsidiary, AZ Management & Investments, alleging they made a mess of a golf course upgrade project in 2024.
The litigation has not been resolved, though course owner Enabbe Properties said the problems have been resolved. Troon and its codefendant deny allegations of shoddy work.
14. The granddaddy of golf suits
Ahwatukee Lakes residents held a town hall to complain of unfinished work at the course – the subject of litigation that began in 2014.
Their main beef involves the lack of a suitable club house that a judge ordered seven years ago. However, the partners who own the course say the hangup is with the City of Phoenix Planning and Development Department, which has yet to approve a permit for the facility.
15. School wars
Nine East Valley school districts, including Tempe Union, filed a lawsuit against the East Valley Institute of Technology over an impasse in a new intergovernmental agreement governing their on-campus Career and Technology Education programs.
EVIT wants more oversight over those programs and the districts claim it wants too much power – and too much of the millions in state reimbursements that EVIT doles out to the districts.
For now, the districts must pay for their programs from what EVIT says is their unspent millions in prior payments.
16. Unsolved killings
Homicide rates may be declining across the country, but Ahwatukee recorded three slayings across two unrelated incidents that remain unsolved.
On Nov. 22, two juveniles were fatally shot and Phoenix Police have yet to disclose their identities – and circumstances surrounding their killings. Also unsolved is the Dec. 12 shooting death of a 37-year-old man in the doorway of a unit at the Allegro Luxury Apartments complex at 44th Street and Chandler Boulevard.
Ahwatukee resident Shira James waged an 18-month campaign for new playground equipment at Desert Star Park before realizing her goal.
(David Minton / File Photo)
17. Grim ripple effect
The rippling effects of the Sept. 10 shooting death of national conservative leader Charlie Kirk on a Utah university campus had rippling effects in Ahwatukee.
Kirk co-founded Turning Point USA, which has its headquarters on Beverly Road in Ahwatukee, where a huge floral tribute sprung up within hours after his death.
A Phoenix civil rights leader petitioned the city to rename that stretch of Beverly Charlie Kirk Way, but the city begged off, noting it’s a privately owned thoroughfare.
18. The band plays on
The Lil’ Debbie Band, founded by Ahwatukee residents Debbie and Dennis Lambert, marked its 25th anniversary of keeping the music of Motown, blues and classic rock alive.
They formed the band shortly after moving to Ahwatukee from Chicago and also have started a second band, Contents May Shift.
19. Music maker
A different music scene in the Valley also saw an Ahwatukee resident about to make her mark.
Julie Desbordes was named music director and conductor of the Symphony of the Southwest, a venerable orchestra marking its 69th season.
20. Taking on city hall
Ahwatukee resident Shira James started the year by proving you can fight city hall and win.
She lobbied the Phoenix Parks & Recreation Department over 18 months for new playground equipment at Western Star Park and saw what she called “a really crazy undertaking” end in success.
21. Not everything is a fight
Sometimes, Phoenix City Hall doesn’t need a nudge to help out at a park in Ahwatukee.
As a result of Councilman Kevin Robinson’s intercession, the city quickly responded to restoring lights at Mountain Vista Park in time for the Ahwatukee Little League’s Opening Day ceremonies after thieves stole copper from 15 electrical boxes.
22. Taking on ICE
Fearing agents from U.S. Immigration and Enforcement would barge into schools, the Tempe Union Governing Board approved a resolution aimed at preventing unexpected intrusions.
Stating that the school district will “continue to welcome all students, staff and their families regardless of immigration status,” the resolution provides a broad list of staff directives and promises of support for all students.
The resolution also says the district will continue “not to collect information concerning its students’ immigration status.”
Under the resolution, staff will refer to the superintendent and legal counsel any ICE or other law enforcement personnel looking for access to a school or to review records. And they’ll have to have a court order to get much further than that.
23. Stepping off again
Hands-down, the longest running tradition in Ahwatukee is the Kiwanis Club of Ahwatukee Easter Parade. And for the 49th year, the parade and the rebranded Spring Festival that follows came off without a hitch.
24. Trump blowback
The Trump administration’s war on diversity, equity and inclusion policies touched Ahwatukee as state Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Horne took issue with Kyrene School District’s policy to ensure all staffers have “a sense of belonging.”
The policy included a reference to DEI and Horne warned it would cost the district $1.5 million, although nothing came of it.
However, Horne has now persuaded the state Board of Education to review teaching standards in Arizona. The standards under review include language about teaching “equitably,” being responsive to students’ “cultural background and differing perspectives,” and addressing their social, emotional, and cultural needs.
25. A legend retires
One of Ahwatukee’s pioneers called it quits. Rick Savagian, who built Mountainside Martial Arts into Ahwatukee’s oldest business under continuous ownership, retired.
Since moving to Ahwatukee in 1979, he taught thousands of students.