CSHS senior wins culinary scholarship

By Linda Bentley | June 18, 2008

sciSCOTTSDALE – Last month, Cactus Shadows High School senior Griffin Goldsmith won a $2,000 scholarship as third place winner in the Future Chefs of America Culinary Competition, which may be used at any one of the 14 affiliate campuses of Le Cordon Bleu Schools North America, including Scottsdale Culinary Institute (SCI).

SCI hosted the final phase of the competition where judges selected finalists from more than 33 applicants based on academic performance and an essay on their goals and professional aspirations in the culinary industry.

Competing students were given 90 minutes to prepare and present a creative two-course menu using only items from a list of ingredients provided prior to the event, including an entire chicken.

The panel of judges included chef instructors from SCI and industry experts.
Josh Bauer, a senior at Pinnacle High School in Phoenix took first place with a $5,000 scholarship and Adia Keeler, a senior from the New School for the Arts and Academics in Mesa came in second, winning a $3,000 scholarship.

SCI President Jake Elsen said, “Our school is always proud to host such remarkable talent at our campus. These aspiring chefs display exactly the kind of talent and passion that our students embody. When these qualities are combined with a solid Le Cordon Bleu education, there is simply nothing stopping them. We wish the finalists all the best and hope to perhaps see them at SCI very soon.”

Awards for all finalists included scholarships, gift certificates for books, monogrammed chef’s jackets and professional grade knives.

Le Cordon Bleu established its first culinary school in Paris in 1895 and Le Cordon Bleu Schools North America is the largest provider of culinary arts education in the United States.

Stephanie Izard, an alumnus from SCI, is currently a finalist on the hit Bravo TV show “Top Chef” that began its fourth season with 16 contestants vying for the ultimate prize of $100,000, a feature in Food & Wine magazine, a showcase at the Annual Food & Wine Classic in Aspen, and a gourmet's dream vacation to the French Alps.

Other SCI graduates include local Chef Kevin Binkley of Binkley's in Cave Creek and Café Bink in Carefree.

Visit their website at www.lecordonbleuschoolsusa.com for more information.

Photo caption: Cactus Shadows High School senior Griffin Goldsmith (second from left), who won third place and a $2,000 scholarship in the Future Chefs of America Competition, is pictured here with first place winner Josh Bauer (l), finalist Chris Diers and second place winner Adia Keeler (r).
Courtesy Photo

Rural Metro to beef up brush truck crews on Red Flag days

By Curtis Riggs | June 18, 2008

firemenCAVE CREEK – Firefighters at Rural Metro Station 825 will be prepared when the winds pick up on hot days this summer.

Rural Metro District Chief John Kraetz, who oversees both the Cave Creek and Carefree Rural Metro Fire Stations, has instituted a policy of having two firefighters on the brush truck this summer on Red Flag high-wind warning days.

The National Forest Service issues Red Flag warnings on days when winds are strong and temperatures are high. Low humidity and dew points also factor into the issuing of Red Flag warnings.

“As we transition into the fire season we will shift manpower to the brush truck,” Kraetz said about the four-wheel-drive pickup that carries 300 gallons of water and 1,200 feet of fire hose. “Three-hundred gallons works well since the fires won’t be as hot because of the light desert fuels.”

The firefighters can place water nozzles every couple hundred feet or closer on the hoses.

Three-man fire crews operate out of both the Cave Creek and Carefree Rural Metro firehouses. Firefighters in both stations are trained in wild-land fire suppression.

According to Kraetz, there will likely be many Red Flag days “from the back end of June until September or October” because of the hot, dry weather.

“If there is a fire it will have the potential to get real big real quick,” he said. He adds the brush truck functions better around Cave Creek because of the smaller, and often rougher, roads. “You can also run the brush truck across a field,” he said. “The brush truck can also get in quicker.”

Training exercises for firefighters will also be suspended on Red Flag days this summer so they will be rested and ready to go should a fire break out. They will concentrate on staying hydrated on these days in anticipation of a possible fire.

Photo Caption: Cave Creek Rural Metro firefighters Cliff Dahl, left, and Keith Bunce will be among the fire personnel who will transition to work on the brush truck on Red Flag high-wind days this summer.
Photo by Curtis Riggs


ARKids looking for auction donations


ARKids1CAVE CREEK – The next big Animal Rescue Kids Summer Club event is the July 4th party! If you weren't there last year, it was a blast – not too hot, wonderful homemade food, and fireworks from the best seats in town.

This year there will be more emphasis on the auction. A lot of things are still needed to help make it a success:
• A microphone
• Gift certificates to auction
• Services to auction
• Gifts/items to auction
• Enough tables (a couple more card tables should do it)
• Anything in red, white and blue décor to decorate or sell.

All proceeds collected this summer by the ARKids goes to the Foothills Animal Rescue, helping homeless dogs and cats. Keep an eye out for their coin collection jars in various locations around town.

ARKids2The tentative schedule for the July 4th party is:
• 7:15-8:15 – old-fashioned games for the kids and all-American potluck dinner
• 8:15-8:45 – auction and raffle items drawn by ARKids:
• 8:45-9:30 – sit back and enjoy the fireworks.

If you have something you would like to donate, or want more information, please call Monika or Niko at 480-595-6595.

Courtesy photos