#MediaMonday – Cathryn Creno

Each Monday, we are posting a blog to help our readers get to know the media just a little bit better.
With a TWIST!
No, we aren’t posting story pitch tips or media lists, but instead great stories from the media themselves about their lives, their work and other little known facts! Think of it as your first “networking” opportunity of the week!
Today’s #MediaMonday comes to us from Cathryn Creno, Ahwatukee writer for The Arizona Republic.
So, Cathryn, time to share!
What do you want to tell the blogosphere about yourself today?
I’ve lived in the Ahwatukee Foothills since 1981 – before the community became an incorporated part of Phoenix. So covering the Foothills for The Arizona Republic is a great assignment for me. I write about news and business issues in a part of town where I was one of the “first settlers.”
It constantly amazes me how much news comes out of this somewhat isolated part of Phoenix: The debate over the planned South Mountain Freeway, the impact of Phoenix budget cuts on programs for youth and seniors, construction of one of the newest city parks, HOA fights … and schools that produce students who win one award after another after another.
Ahwatukee’s business community also is alive and vibrant. I have not seen numbers from this year yet, but last year’s commercial real estate vacancies were about half of the Valley average.
I am always looking for people to feature in a weekly series called Ahwatukee Life. I send a questionnaire by e-mail once a week to someone who lives and/or works in the village. It doesn’t matter whether the person is a mover or shaker in the community or simply someone who lives there and wants to make observations about their personal Ahwatukee life. I welcome suggestions for this series!
I also welcome story pitches of any kind. Please keep in mind that I only write about people and events in ZIP codes 85044, 85045 and 85048. South Phoenix, west Chandler and west Tempe are close to Ahwatukee – but not close enough for me to write about!