The View - January 2020 by Times Media Group

January 2020

Nathan Sanborn, 3, plays in a city bus at the CycloMesa Winterfest. See more on page 12.

Burger King to reopen in first quarter of 2020

Mesa drops rent to fire up new start-ups

By Christina Fuoco-Karasinski

By Jim Walsh

A Burger King spokesman said the fast-food restaurant near McKellips and Recker roads is slated to open in the first quarter of 2020. A 3 a.m. kitchen fire at the then-newly renovated Burger King was fast-moving, but Mesa firefighters saved most The cause of the fire at Burger King is still under investigation. (Photo by Dave Karasinski) of the structure. The July fire was contained to the kitchen area, which presented challenges to the fire crews on scene, according to a fire department spokesman. The fire spokesman said any remodeling can alter the basic floorplan or materials that firefighters would expect to find in the building and change the way they attack the fire. No one was injured in the fire and the cause was undetermined because the structure partially collapsed.

Benedictine Universityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Mesa campus will receive a significant rent reduction to help it grow, while the city also spends up to $2 million to add 10,000 square feet of office space to accommodate a new entrepreneurship program. Benedictine and Benedictine Universityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Mesa campus will spend up to $2 milCo+Hoots, a major lion to add 10,000 square feet of office space to accommodate a new entrepreneurship program. (File photo) Phoenix co-working and business incubation company, will Benedictine, an Illinois-based Cathlaunch the new Co+Hoots Institute for olic University, opened in Mesa in 2013 Entrepreneurship at Benedictine Uni- and rents a city building at 225 W. Main Benedictine...continued on page 13 versity this year.

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Vice President........................ Michael Hiatt Executive Editor............................ Christina Fuoco-Karasinski

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Renowned organist joins Organ Stop Pizza staff classifieds

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Organ Stop Pizza, home to the Mighty Wurlitzer Organ in Mesa, welcomed organist Brett Valliant to the staff. He comes to the Valley of the Sun from Wichita to take on a larger role in a regular playing schedule. He is replacing longtime organist Charlie Balogh, who died in November. Valliant realized his love of music at an early age and began piano studies at age 4, continuing through organ instruction at Wichita State University. His professional career began at age 11, and four years later he was playing concerts around the United States. Since then he has appeared in Europe, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. Additionally, in the United States, Valliant has performed for the American Film Institute as well as conventions of the American Theatre Organ Society

and the American Guild of Organists. “Brett has been a key substitute here for more than a decade and is known as a top talent in the theater organ world,” said Brad Bishop, co-owner. “We are very confident Brett will continue the tradition of excellence in entertainment that our customers have come to expect at Organ Stop.” Because of the complexities to master the uniqueness of the Mighty Wurlitzer, there are only a small group of organists qualified to play the instrument. Valliant perform on a regular schedule along with organist Lew Williams. The complete organist schedule can be found on organstoppizza.com. Balogh will be remembered during a Saturday, January 18, tribute lunch at the restaurant. Scheduled to play are several organists who have performed at Organ Stop Pizza. NNM

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New Organ Stop Pizza performer Brett Valliant will play during a tribute to the late Charlie Balogh, who was the longtime organist. (Photo courtesy Organ Stop Pizza)

All proceeds from the lunch are being donated to Balogh’s wife to help with the ICU expenses from before her husband died. Tickets are on sale on the website or at the restaurant during normal business hours. Advance tickets, $12.50, are required for the tribute, which is set for 11 a.m.

to 1 p.m. They include an all-you-caneat pizza buffet and salad, plus unlimited soft drinks. Beer, wine and ice cream will be available for purchase at an additional cost. Organ Stop Pizza is located at 1149 E. Southern Avenue, Mesa. For more information, call 480-813-5700.

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Tonto National Forest management plan open for public comment By Christopher Boan The future of 2.9 million acres of national park land in southeast Maricopa County will become clearer in the coming months. The land in question is the Tonto National Forest, which released its draft land management plan for public comment in December. The plan in question is expected to generate 3,300 local jobs and $174 million in annual income, with revenue coming from mining, livestock grazing, forest products and sustainable recreation, according to the Department of Agriculture. A major portion of the draft plan is the blueprint for mitigating and managing the forest so it can withstand drought, flooding, insects and disease. The plan, which is open for public comment for 90 days, from early January through March 12, seeks to lay out a sustainable future for the public land, according to Forest Supervisor Neil Bosworth.

“The Tonto is a classic example of a multiple-use forest,” Bosworth said. “Mining, timber, grazing and recreation all play an important role in how the Tonto is managed as a whole.” A major part of the forthcoming plan is to cement an “all-lands” approach to the forest, so all parties involved can help sustain its long-term health as an ecosystem. The proposed plan will be in effect for the next 10 to 15 years, according to the department, reflecting the wishes and desires of elected officials, tribes, community members and other interested parties. Bosworth said he believes the park’s newest plan is well-timed, coming some 35 years after the last master plan was approved in 1985. The park supervisor believes the newest plan is thorough and necessary, reflecting the aspects that community members have sought after for years. “The Tonto National Forest has spent

the last five years listening to and working with our neighbors and partners to understand how important the forest is to the communities,” Bosworth said. “We are striving to balance the need for drinking water, emergency communications and quality recreation opportunities for communities with the health and enjoyment of nature.” Bosworth’s team will hold a series of public meetings over the next two months to go over the master plan, to ensure the public is well-informed about the changes coming to the space. The first meeting is 5 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, January 8, in Mesa, at Franklin Junior High School, followed by meetings at Payson’s Julia Randall Elementary School at the same time on Thursday, January 9, and Wednesday, January 22. There will be meetings in Cave Creek (5 to 8 p.m. Friday, January 10, and Wednesday, February 5, Desert Foothills Library); as well as Phoenix (9 a.m. to 4

p.m. Thursday, January 16; Wednesday, January 29; and Tuesday, February 25, at the 24th Street Conference Center). Interested participants can also leave written comments at Tonto Basin Public Library, Apache Junction Public Library, Red Mountain Library, Desert Foothills Library and Fountain Hills Library. All written comments will be accepted through March 12. Electronic comments can also be submitted online, at fs.usda.gov/goto/ tontoplan. Boswell said he believes the public meetings and comments will ensure that everyone in the community is heard and that the will of the public is met by the public agency. “These meetings will allow the public to ask questions and learn more about management of the Tonto National Forest into the future,” Boswell said. For more information on the Tonto National Forest plan, visit the park’s website at fs.usda.gov/main/tonto/landmanagement/planning.

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Mesa residents to honor art teachers for work with veterans By Connor Dziawura Artist and Mesa Arts Center teacher Agustin Vargas feels the venue’s Arts in Service program can do a great deal of good for the veterans who take its classes. “I think this is an opportunity for some of them to have something in their lives, to have some happiness,” explained Vargas, who heads the drawing, painting and printmaking department. “Sometimes they are depressed, and they can put all this sadness or depression in a piece of art or something to pull their mind out of the regular daily environment.” Launched just two years ago, the program provides a variety of free arts classes to U.S. Armed Forces veterans and service members who present a DD214 or veteran-designated driver’s license. In December, Northeast Mesa residents and artists Susan Paige and husband Lt. Col. Barry Rosenblatt launched “Luminescence,” an exhibit that honors the work Vargas and lead metal sculpture instructor Matt Smith have done with veterans. The free exhibit at Downtown Mesa’s OneOhOne art gallery showcases the works of Vargas and Smith, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursdays through Saturdays through January. According to Paige, who along with her husband has studio space at the OneOhOne gallery, Smith created a large installation as a centerpiece to the exhibit, with the surrounding walls adorned by Vargas’ artwork. The idea came from Paige’s and Rosenblatt’s past experiences learning from the two teachers. Rosenblatt has taken classes taught by Smith; Paige took painting classes from Vargas, albeit separate from Mesa Arts Center’s Arts in Service program. Though she feels that her husband—a stroke survivor and retired veteran with 20 years of service—is a positive person, Paige said the classes have brightened his life. “We just wanted to give back (to Vargas and Smith) because they put so much effort and they’re so kind and patient with all the veterans,” Paige said. “That was the inspiration—to honor them for all January 2020

Mesa Arts Center’s Arts in Service program features a variety of free classes targeted at veterans, including belly dance, beadmaking, ceramics, printmaking and photography. Northeast Mesa residents Susan Paige and husband Lt. Col. Barry Rosenblatt are honoring two of the teachers—Agustin Vargas and Matt Smith—with an exhibit to showcase their works. (Photos courtesy Mesa Arts Center)

they do for the community.” Though Vargas admitted he was hesitant to participate in the exhibition when first asked by Paige—because he likes to be selective of where he displays his works—he ultimately gave in due to the importance he feels his work with veterans holds. “To see these guys completely happy and proud, that’s amazing. It’s a great, great experience,” Vargas said of instructing veterans, many of whom he said enroll in his classes with zero painting experience. Launched just two years ago, the Arts in Service program is supported by The Boeing Company, the Arizona Department of Veteran Services and the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community. “We knew that there is a significant military population in Arizona, and our longtime partner The Boeing Company in Arizona shared with us that one of their priorities was to serve veterans and support programs that assist with veterans and service members reintegrating post-service,” explained Laura Wilde, studios manager and program leader. “Mesa Arts Center created Arts in Service to address this need and support the population, as arts classes can provide an opportunity to build work-relat-

ed skills, stress-relief benefits and social connection. … The more we learned through the program, the more we realized the critical value of arts experiences and programs like this to service members and their families.” Vargas and Smith are just two of many teachers who support the program at the Mesa Arts Center. Subjects have included belly dance, beadmaking, ceramics, printmaking, photography and more. Sessions vary in length. At the end of each season, the Mesa Arts Center holds a celebratory exhibit featuring Arts in Service participants’ work. The recent one was December 19 in the arts center’s drawing and painting studios. “Every time we finish the session of these classes, we collect all the art and we organize this big exhibition for all the students. It’s really, really nice,” Vargas said. “They really love it. They are waiting during the season to finish and have all their work ready to be exhibited. They feel so proud to be there.” For more information about the Mesa Arts Center’s Arts in Service program, visit mesaartscenter.com/artsinservice. For more information about OneOhOne, visit oneohone101.com. For more information about “Luminescence,” email susanpaigeomc@yahoo.com.

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Mesa Historical Museum hires new executive director comm. spotlight

By Christina Fuoco-Karasinski Susan Ricci has been named the new executive director of the Mesa Historical Museum, replacing Leon Natker, who relocated to New Mexico in November. Ricci served as founder and executive director of the Museum of the American Bison at Crazy Horse Memorial in South Dakota. She has been providing lectures on bison restoration and Native American buffalo culture at schools, conferences, museums and community events across the country for the past 15 years. She co-produced a historic documentary, “Return of the Native,” for the Intertribal Buffalo Council and has written several historic preservation projects for tribes in the Midwest. Ricci earned a bachelor’s degree in history from Black Hills State University. Ricci said she is honored to be the Mesa Historical Museum’s new director. “This is such an amazing opportunity,” she said.

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“We have so many exciting projects coming up at the museum. Right now, we are finalizing plans for our ‘Hallelujah Hats’ show in February and we are adding a Spring Training baseball exhibit this month. “We are also finishing plans for our brand new kids’ activity room, featuring Sunny Saguaro, where children can dress up in period costumes, participate in hands-on activities and view slides through an antique stereopticon. We will be conducting field trips and educational lectures throughout the year to utilize our one-room adobe schoolhouse and we will continue to feature craft demonstrations on select Saturdays. There is a lot happening at the museum.” The Mesa Historical Museum is open year-round from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday to Saturday. For more information on museum programs, go to its website at mesahistoricalmuseum.com or visit its Facebook page.

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The East Valley’s first hospital Surprisingly, Mesa didn’t have a hospital for its first few decades. Aside from a few mediocre tuberculosis homes, the only hospital in the Salt River Valley was the original St. Joseph’s Hospital in Phoenix. In Mesa, Dr. Ralph Palmer began operating out of a small rented house off of Center Street in 1910. Two years later, Dr. Palmer expanded his small clinic into a larger building, which had an operating room, a room for 10 private patients, an X-ray department, a laboratory and general treatment rooms.

The LeSueur home became Southside District Hospital in 1923. (Photos courtesy Mesa Historical Museum)

stead was converted into a temporary hospital, with plans to raise money for a larger, more permanent facility on the 2-acre homestead. However, the cotton crash of the early 1920s stalled the efforts. The LeSueur home wasn’t the most functionable space for a hospital. The spiral staircase resulted in doctors having to carry their patients up to the second-floor surgical suites. Ultimately, they stuck with it for another decade. The old LeSueur home was torn Nurses working at Southside Hospital in 1942. down in 1934 with the creation of a more permanent hospital By the end of WWI, there was a that was built with the aid of the PWA need and an opportunity for a larger and WPA. hospital. For starters, the Spanish InIn the 1950s, the Southside District fluenza had just ravaged the world and Hospital was the only fully equipped Mesa didn’t have the necessary facili- hospital for the East Valley includties to treat the influx of sick patients. ing Mesa, Tempe, Chandler, Higley, The economy just after the war was Lehi and Queen Creek. The hospital booming and the time seemed ripe to included 100 beds, an X-ray departdevelop a community hospital. Repre- ment, a laboratory and obstetrical and sentatives from Mesa, Chandler and pediatric wards. By the 1970s, this Tempe developed a Southside Com- hospital had become outdated and a munity Hospital Board to attempt to new state-of-the-art hospital was built develop and fund the hospital. on the other side of town. The old The board successfully raised Southside District Hospital building $25,000 and purchased the LeSueur became the Maricopa County Health homestead off the corner of Main and Center. It was recently remodeled and Hibbert. The 12-room LeSueur home- is now Benedictine University. The new Southside District Hospital was dedicated in 1935.

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Five-year consolidated plan meetings set for two locations By Christina Fuoco-Karasinski The city of Mesa is hosting two meetings to provide information and get public input about the proposed 20202024 five-year consolidated plan and a proposed annual action plan for fiscal year 20/21 regarding community needs and funding priorities. The meetings will be held Thursday, January 9, at Catholic Charities Care Campus, 466 S. Bellview, Mesa 85204 and Monday, January 13, at Mesa Fire Department Station 220, 32 S. 58th Street, Mesa 85206. Both meetings will begin at 6 p.m. The city is required to submit a multiyear consolidated plan and annual action plan to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to receive funds from the following programs: Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), Home Investment Partnerships (HOME), Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG) and Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS (HOPWA). The consolidated plan is a comprehensive planning document that identifies the city’s overall needs in housing and community development for lowand moderate-income residents and outlines a five-year strategy to address those needs. The annual action plan contains the city’s short-term goals and strategies, including specific activities recommended for funding under the CDBG, HOME, ESG and HOPWA programs. The funds are used to help qualifying

residents and assist in the prevention or elimination of slum or blighting influences. The meeting will also allow for comment on the analysis of impediments, a review of impediments or barriers that affect the rights of fair housing choice. The analysis is required by HUD as a condition to receive funds from the CDBG program. Those who cannot attend either meeting may submit written comments to Housing and Revitalization Administrator Ray Th imesch at ray. thimesch@mesaaz.gov. Written comments should be submitted to: City of Mesa, Housing and Community Development MS 9870, P.O. Box 1466, Mesa, AZ 85211-1466. Comments may also be emailed to neighbor.info@mesaaz.gov. The city of Mesa has participated in the CDBG program for 44 years, the ESG program for 32 years and the HOME program for 28 years. During this time, Mesa has allocated more than $100 million for a variety of activities, including capital improvements, housing, economic development, public services, homeless assistance, emergency shelter and neighborhood improvements within qualified census tracts. The city of Mesa is committed to making its public meetings accessible. For special accommodations, contact the Diversity Office at 480-644-5034 or AzRelay 7-1-1 at least 48 hours in advance of the meeting.

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Photos by Pablo Robles events calendar

CycloMesa WinterFest CycloMesa WinterFest brought 20 tons of snow to Alta Mesa Park to help increase helmet safety awareness for winter snow sports and biking. Kids were invited to play in the snow, ride a mechanical snowboard, learn proper helmet fitting techniques and receive basic concussion education. Food trucks, bounce houses and more reindeer games were also added to the snow play. hearsay

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1. Red Mountain Carolers entertained the crowds at Alta Mesa Park. 2. Four-year-old twins Jordan Steimle, left, and Haydin Steimle play in the snow. 3. Lauren Gonzales, 8, adds her artwork to a board. 4. Teddy Fry, 2, enjoyed his time on the Mesa bus. 5. Joselin Kleinman, 17, performs with the Red Mountain Carolers. 6. Chase Koprowski, 7, and Charlotte Koprowski, 5, enoyed their time in the snow. 7. Brooks Amundsen, 6, plays on a snowboard ride. 8. From left, Joselin Kleinman, 17, Christian Krager, 16, and Eliza Blackhurst, 17, get in the holiday spirit. 9. Nathan Sanborn, 3, plays in a city bus. 10. Amber Looper, 18, left, and Zackary Cruse, 17, celebrated the holidays at CycloMesa.

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January 2020

Street, across from city hall. The Mesa campus has an enrollment of 586 students, according to a city council report. The council voted 7-0 to approve the lease amendment on Monday and welcomed Co+Hoots owners Odeen Domingo and his wife, Jenny Poon, to Mesa. The entrepreneurship program— launched through a partnership between Co+Hoots and Benedictine—is expected to include classes and mentoring, matching students with entrepreneurs who can guide them in the creation of startup businesses. Benedictine’s lease with Mesa was extended from 15 to 25 years. A graduated series of rent reductions peak between this month and July 31, 2022, with a 70% reduction—from $666,600 annually to $199,998. After that, the lease reductions decline to 50% between 2022 and 2025 and 30% from 2025 to 2028. Jeff McVay, Mesa’s downtown transformation manager, views the entrepreneurship program as a critical element of Mesa’s much-talked-about Innovation District. The concept, first recommended by the Brookings Institution think tank in Washington, D.C., involves the encouragement of collaboration that eventually turns new ideas into new companies based in Mesa. “We are trying to create an entrepreneurship ecosystem,’’ McVay said. “The overarching goal is that Benedictine will have more space,’’ making it possible for them to expand, attracting more students and hiring more staff. The break on the lease comes with some strings attached, he said.

“Every year, Benedictine will have to say, ‘This is what we accomplished with the savings’ from the lease reduction,” McVay said, with the city hoping that Benedictine will build another 10,000 square feet on its own. “Their size is limited by the amount of faculty they have onboard and the space.’’ After the entrepreneurship program opens and students start interacting with mentors, McVay said the city is hoping that new, innovative businesses will sprout. “By the time they are done with the program, we hope they will open a business and that they will do it in Downtown Mesa,’’ he said. He said he is convinced that Co+Hoots is the perfect partner, an opinion echoed by several council members. He said Co+Hoots is ranked as the No. 1 coworking space in metro Phoenix because of its combination of facilities and expertise in launching businesses. Kevin Broeckling, president of Benedictine’s Mesa campus, said Benedictine has grown from a budget of $2 million to $10 million in six years and has awarded $4.5 million in scholarships. He said Benedictine’s partnership with Co+Hoots will serve as “the perfect complement’’ to Mesa’s Innovation District. “We owe it to other people and to the community we serve to do good for others,’’ Broeckling said. Among the businesses that used space at Co+Hoots is Uber, the ubiquitous ride sharing company. Uber used Co+Hoots as an office when it first entered the Arizona market and later opened a Southwest headquarters. Co+Hoots rents office space, but it also helps entrepreneurs obtain the

skills they need to become successful, through workshops, incubation services and a speaker series. Domingo said the entrepreneurship program includes skills that would help students in the business world, whether they start their own business or not. Those skills include critical thinking, team building, problem solving, leadership and public speaking. Co+Hoots describes the program on its web site as “an intensive entrepreneur immersion program to nurture, improve and accelerate students’ entrepreneurial traits and skills.’’ Domingo said 60% of Benedictine students are the first person in their family to attend college and that Co+Hoots started a nonprofit in Phoenix aimed at helping developing the untapped talents of the community in 2013. “We hope to bring this program to other schools as well. This is a pilot program,’’ Domingo said. “The best thing you can do for an entrepreneur is to expose them to a network, introducing them to someone who can help them.’’ He said the program will start with 20 students and gradually grow by another

20 students per year. “We can create an impact on their lives and also on the local economy,’’ Domingo said. “This aligns exactly with our values.’’ He said the lease signed by the council “represents a strategic partnership between Mesa and Benedictine University,’’ as well as an opportunity for Co+Hoots to expand. “We believe in Mesa and what is happening in Downtown Mesa,’’ Domingo said. “We will help these students create their own job.’’ Mesa Councilman Jeremy Whittaker said he sought out Co+Hoots shortly after his election because part of his campaign centered on stimulating the creation of entrepreneurial businesses in Mesa. He said he was very impressed by Co+Hoots and ended up joining Domingo and his wife in a charitable endeavor, building homes in Mexico. “It was part of my goal to support small business and entrepreneurship,’’ Whittaker said. “Everyone points to Co+Hoots as a shinning example of what you can do for entrepreneurs.’’

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SpongeBob and friends face a natural disaster By Christina Fuoco-Karasinski Cody Cooley understands the attraction to SpongeBob SquarePants—the jokes (“What’s better than 24? 25!”), the brightly colored sea life and the strong friendship between SpongeBob and Squidward. When Cooley auditioned for Squidward for “The SpongeBob Musical,” he knew he had to land it. “I saw the show on Broadway in March 2018,” he said. “I admit I wasn’t so optimistic, but I loved it. I wanted to be a part of it.” Cooley was acting in Arizona Broadway Theatre’s “Guys and Dolls,” but quickly sent in tapes. “They asked me if I wanted to do it and I said, ‘Absolutely,’” he said. “I absolutely wanted to do it.” Staging at the Orpheum Theatre Friday, January 31, to Sunday, February 2, “The SpongeBob Musical” features songs by the likes of Steven Tyler and Joe Perry of Aerosmith, Sara Bareilles, The Flaming Lips, Lady Antebellum, Cyndi Lauper & Rob Hyman (The Hooters), 14

John Legend, Panic! At the Disco, Plain White T’s, They Might Be Giants and David Bowie. The storyline shares impending doom during the 2-hour and 15-minute show, without intermission. “It’s based on the things you know from the show, but they created an original storyline where in the first 5 minutes of the show a natural disaster is about to happen,” Cooley said. “It shares how the characters deal with it and how the different groups of people blame each other, how the community comes together and how things can fall apart. It’s interesting seeing how people react to this impending doom.” “It’s definitely a show that kids will love because there’s so much color and so much choreography,” said Cooley, who appeared in ABT’s “American in Paris,” “Catch Me If You Can” and “Showboat” as well. “The characters are reminiscent of what they are on the screen. It’s not like an amusement park musical, but the

characters are based on what you see on the TV show.” “SpongeBob SquarePants” launched on July 17, 1999, and has reigned as the No. 1 kids’ animated series on TV for the last 17 years, generating a universe of characters, catchphrases and memes. “SpongeBob SquarePants” has been seen in more than 208 countries and territories, translated to 55-plus languages, and averaged more than 100 million viewers every quarter. The character-driven cartoon chronicles the nautical and sometimes nonsensical adventures of SpongeBob, an incurable optimist and earnest sea sponge, and his undersea friends. The show appeals to adults, thanks to its clever humor. Kids and adults alike get a kick out of Cooley’s number when he tap dances with four legs. “That’s very alluring for an actor—doing something I wouldn’t normally do or ever do again,” Cooley said. “It was challenging, but honestly, we did it so much I quickly had my sea legs.”

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The company of “The SpongeBob Musical.” (Photo by Jeremy Daniel)

Cooley said the biggest challenge is balancing realism and the flavor of the cartoon. The actors take bits from the cartoon and mesh those traits with their own personalities. “That’s where the humanity comes out, the realism comes out,” he says. “I hope people get joy out of this show. That’s our mission—to spread as much joy as possible. I think the show really does that. “That’s what we hear from the responses from the people at the stage door or the people we see on the street. There’s a lot of joy and I hope kids and adults gain a love of theater.”

IF YOU GO What: “The SpongeBob Musical” When: 8 p.m. Friday, January 31; 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. Saturday, February 1; 1 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. Sunday, February 2 Where: The Orpheum, 203 W. Adams Street, Phoenix Cost: Tickets start at $42.25 Info: 602-262-7272, broadwayorpheum.com

January 2020

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ZooLights: Glow Wild

ZooLights is on until January 19, allowing families one (or more) opportunity to enjoy the city’s zoo with the illumination of millions of lights, giving an added dimension to the festivities. The yearly fixture also includes a 200-foot polar slide. When: 5:30 to 10:30 p.m. to January 19 Where: Phoenix Zoo, 455 N. Galvin Parkway, Phoenix Cost: $13.95-$19.95 Info: 602-286-3800, phoenixzoo.org financially speaking

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Lights at the Farm

The tradition of wholesome family fun continues this holiday season as Vertuccio Farms present over 2 million dazzling lights that stretch over 10 acres. All the lights are synchronized to a variety of Christmas classics, providing a spectacular walk-through, interactive journey. When: 5:30 to 10 p.m. Sunday to Thursday, 5:30 to 10:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday to January 10 Where: Vertuccio Farms, 4011 S. Power Road, Mesa Cost: $10-$12 Info: vertucciofarms.com law talk

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Downtown Mesa Festival of the Arts

The Downtown Mesa Festival of the Arts features the work of established and emerging artists, including those who create woodwork, metal crafts, food items, jewelry, art, photography, handmade soaps and gifts. Macdonald is closed to traffic, but parking is available throughout Downtown Mesa. Festivals are the first and third Saturdays of the month from October to April. When: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturdays January 4 and January 18 Where: On Macdonald, off of Main Street, in Downtown Mesa Cost: Free admission Info: dtmesafest.com

Disney On Ice presents “Mickey’s Search Party”

Join Mickey Mouse and his friends at Disney On Ice’s “Mickey’s Search Party,” a new adventure filled with world-class skating, high-flying acrobatics and unexpected stunts. Help them follow Capt. Hook’s treasure map and look for clues in the search for Tinker Bell in immersive, fantastic worlds. Explore the colorful spirit realm of “Coco” in Miguel’s Disney On Ice debut, sail away with Moana as she bravely saves her island, see Belle in the sky above you as the enchanted chandelier comes to life, and sing along with Elsa in the icy world of “Frozen.” When: Various times Thursday, January 16, to Sunday, January 19 Where: Talking Stick Resort Arena, 201 E. Jefferson Street, Phoenix Cost: Tickets start at $20 Info: 602-379-7800, talkingstickresortarena.com

Youth Fine Arts Courses

Mesa Arts Center is hosting an eight-week youth arts course on Saturdays, from January 18 to March 7. The class, which aims to teach artistic skills and knowledge through fun and challenging art classes, allows students to use a wide variety of art materials, including painting, drawings, paintmaking, mixed media and sculpture. When: 8 to 9:30 a.m. January 18 to March 7 Where: Mesa Arts Center, 1 E. Main Street, Mesa Cost: $93 Info: 480-644-6560, mesaartscenter.com

January 2020

Bad Art Party

The Red Mountain Library invites kids ages 8 to 12 to try their hand at making something truly unique—at the Bad Art Party. When: 3 to 4 p.m. Saturday, January 18 Where: Red Mountain Library, 635 N. Power Road, Mesa Cost: Free admission Info: 480-644-3100, mesalibrary.org

Brownie Race Car Design Badge Workshop

The Arizona Science Center is inviting Arizonans in second and third grade to design and build their own race cars, giving children an up-close and personal lesson on how engineering design processes work. Members of the Girls Scouts of America get discounted entrance to the event, which runs from 10 a.m. to noon. When: 10 a.m. to noon Saturday, January 25 Where: Arizona Science Center, 600 E. Washington Street, Phoenix Cost: $17 Brownie and Girl Scouts, $5 chaperones Info: 602-716-2000, azscience.org

Las Sendas Snow Day

Come down to Trailhead Parke for 20 tons of real snow and sled to your heart’s content—or until the snow melts. Register in advance to avoid paying day-of pricing. When: 10 a.m. to noon Saturday, January 25 Where: Las Sendas Trailhead Parke, 7900 E. Eagle Crest Drive, Mesa Cost: Visit website for more information Info: thetrailhead.org/event-registration

Elephant & Piggie’s “We are in a Play!”

The Herberger Theater is hosting a children’s series on its stage west, focused around Gerald the Elephant and Piggie. The two, who are best friends, have a lot of fun together but face a series of comically difficult questions, including whether they should share their favorite ice cream or if they are willing and able to play with just one toy. The play, which debuts on January 26 and runs weekends through March 1, is an hour long and is intended for ages 3 and older. The runtime on the play is one hour, with a post-show Q&A session following the performance. When: 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. Sunday, January 26, to Sunday, March 1 Where: Herberger Theater, 222 E. Monroe Street, Phoenix Cost: $12-$35 Info: 602-252-8497, herbergertheater.org

Friendly Pines Camp Information Night

Friendly Pines Camp in Prescott is holding an information night about its sleepaway camp. Parents and children are invited to attend and learn about the experience. They’re open to all new and returning campers. The featured speakers will be camp directors Kevin Nissen and Megan May, who will offer a fun, informative presentation and discuss the emotional and physical benefits that children experience when they attend a camp like this. A raffle features a $500 discount on camp tuition. When: 7 to 8:30 p.m. Wednesday, January 29 Where: Courtyard Marriott Salt River, 5201 N. Pima Road, Scottsdale Cost: Free admission Info: 928-445-2128, friendlypines.com

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Babette Haynie, a kindergarten teacher at Falcon Hill, works closely with her young students. (Photo by Tim Hacker)

Kindergarten at Mesa Public Schools is the perfect jumpstart for early learning. With kindergarten registration just around the corner, schools and parents are preparing young learners for the big day. Kindergarten is a time of great discovery and growth, and a big transition for parents and children. Rachelle Sears teaches kindergarten at Las Sendas Elementary School and shared that the rigor in kindergarten is higher than it was 10 years ago. “Today, children are more likely to attend full-day kindergarten,” Sears said. “There is a heavier focus on reading and math. The rigor of writing has shifted away from scribbling and random letters to more phonetic spelling.” Sears incorporates whole body movements and music, making lessons fun for students to help them retain information. For example, when teaching students letters, they learn the sound, how to sign it and sing songs that incorporate the letter they are learning.

Preparing students for a successful year Over the last few years, the district has been taking a closer look at social and emotional lessons to help students develop the self-awareness, self-control and interpersonal skills vital for school, work and life. People with strong social and emotional skills are better able to cope with everyday challenges.

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“Giving students a preview of kindergarten by visiting campus and attending events before school starts helps students be at ease on their first day,” Sears said. Preparing emotional kindergarten parents is just as important. Research shows that if parents are engaged in their children’s school lives, it builds stronger connections and creates a positive learning environment.

Building a better future Teachers meet every child where they are to help them achieve. Falcon Hill Elementary kindergarten teacher Babette Haynie uses a variety of resources to ensure students succeed, including researching new strategies, incorporating technology, and observing and collaborating with other master teachers. “Helping students learn new concepts, and watching and cultivating a passion for learning is what teachers do every day,” Haynie said. Kindergarten registration begins Monday, January 27, with evening registration on Wednesday, January 29. If you’re unsure about your child’s kindergarten readiness, have a milestones discussion with their preschool teacher or pediatrician. Consider speaking with the principal or a kindergarten teacher at your child’s future school, and explore the school’s website for helpful information. Learn more at mpsaz.org/kindergarten. January 2020

FAMILY TIME

Historical writing and video contest for Mesa students By Christina Fuoco-Karasinski The Mesa Historic Preservation Board is sponsoring a writing contest for all fourth-, fifth- and sixth-grade students and a video contest for sixthgrade through 12th-grade students living in the city of Mesa. The contests are open to students regardless whether the school is public, private, charter or home. It will provide students the opportunity to learn more about Mesa’s history and practice their writing

or video skills as they create either a fictional story around a historic event in the city or an oral history of someone who is interviewed. The contest is open until March 27. This year, students may choose from one of three topics: How did water help Mesa grow? What role did water play in the growth of the city of Mesa? How did the Air Force bases help Mesa in WWII? What role did the Air Force bases play? Mesa’s first: schools, families, grocery stores, hardware stores or post office (choose two). Or, students may choose to conduct an oral history interview of a Mesa citizen aged 60 or older who grew up in Mesa and recount his or her story. Each essay or video must reflect the student’s own re-

search, original thinking and writing or video skills. Entry forms and essays or videos can be sent to Arianna Urban, Historic Preservation Coordinator, City of Mesa, P.O. Box 1466, Mesa, AZ 85211-1466. Essays or videos must be postmarked on or before the contest deadline of March 27. They will not be returned to the author as they become property of the Mesa Historic Preservation Board. They can also be sent by email to arianna.urban@mesaaz.gov. Every contestant will receive a certificate of participation. There will be cash awards given to the first ($50), second ($30) and third ($20) place contest winners in each category. The top three essay writers and video creators will be recognized at a Mesa City Council meeting. For more information and to obtain an entry form, visit mesaaz.gov/ residents/historic-preservation.

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Cap’n Ron’s Fish and Chips brings seafood delights to Mesa comm. spotlight

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Ron and Donna Thornton retired from a five-decade run of operating 18-wheeled trucks and can’t-miss culinary institutions, only to find themselves mindlessly bored. The solution to that conundrum came when the Thorntons saw a piece of property near their Mesa home hit the market. The couple, who moved to the Valley 45 years ago, decided to dip their toes into the food industry once more, opening Cap’n Ron’s Fish and Chips at 6144 E. Main Street, Suite 106, in October. The endeavor was Ron’s brainchild, which explains the restaurant’s name. The restaurant has been an instant success in the East Valley, with a 4.5-star rating on Yelp to its name. Ron said the pair’s latest culinary sensation, which comes on the heels classifieds

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of other institutions that they once owned and operated, like Corner Café and Grandma’s Kitchen in Mesa, speaks to the area’s love of seafood done right. “There wasn’t a fish and chips place around this particular area, so we figured it might be a good one to open up,” Ron says. “It’s been a boomer ever since.” The 78-year-old Michigan expat says he and Donna have been humbled by the community’s response to their newest restaurant. He calls the fish and chips joint the realization of a lifelong dream and an opportunity for the couple to stay in the public limelight, on the heels of their other successful ventures. “We love just being in the public and we’re happy to be here,” he said. “We retired and couldn’t stand retirement. We’re both in our 70s, and we couldn’t

Fish and chips is always a crowd pleaser. (Photo courtesy of Yelp)

stand retirement.” er frozen, we cut it and it’s all made to A main draw for both members of the order,” Donna said. “We dip our own Thornton family was the ability to em- batter; we make our own coleslaw and ployee their kids and grandchildren at our sauces. their newest restaurant. Donna said having a We love just being in the completely family-run restaurant, while difficult public and we’re happy to at times, makes their efbe here. We retired and forts all the more worthcouldn’t stand retirement. while. “Most restaurants - Ron Thornton that you operate with kids, they’re not always successful because the kids, they fight “It’s all good stuff. Better than these and don’t get along,” Donna said. “So, frozen patties at other places.” I’m pretty much the main organizer to Ron circled back to the family aspect make sure that doesn’t happen here. of the couple’s newest restaurant, highThey work, they get paid, they do their lighting how important it is to keep the job and I make sure that the work gets business within the Thornton clan indone and they don’t get treated any dif- definitely. ferent from anybody else.” The former truck driver deadpanned Donna believes the success of Cap’n the reason their kids and grandchilRon’s stems from their ability to source dren keep coming back, day after day, fresh fish on an almost daily basis. to handle the minutiae of day-to-day That freshness allows Ron and Don- operation. na to offer a product that’s head and “It’s nice to know that we hired them,” shoulders above the competition, in he says. “They scream and they throw a her opinion, which helps explain their fit but they keep coming back.” dedicated following from members of Cap’n Ron’s Fish and Chips the community. 6144 E. Main Street, Suite 106, “We buy fresh fish, it’s brought in four Mesa days a week, it’s battered on site, it’s nev480-832-4134

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January 2020

By Jan D’Atri

Shrimp, Avocado and Roasted Corn Salad

Salads. Lots of us are craving them right now as we’re still coming off of a holiday eating frenzy. But, if you’re going to have a salad as a main meal, it had better be a darn good one, right? I discovered the appeal of great main dish salads when I had my restaurants. One of the most popular items on the menu was our garbage salad. Believe me, it was fully loaded with meats, cheeses, caramelized vegetables and oh, yes, somewhere in there was romaine. Well, I just stumbled upon another loaded-with-flavor salad that inspired me enough to write about and share with you! It’s a shrimp, avocado, tomato and roasted corn salad with a creamy, dreamy pesto mayonnaise dressing. (You can substitute yogurt for the mayo!)

Buttermilk Pesto Dressing Ingredients: - 1/2 cup buttermilk (*See below for homemade buttermilk) - 1/2 cup mayonnaise or plain Greek yogurt - 1/2 cup pesto, homemade or store bought - 1 small shallot, minced - 1 tablespoon lemon juice - Pinch of salt and pepper, to taste

This salad checks all the boxes for me. It’s got a little crunch; a smooth, creamy dressing; and when you add jumbo shrimp, charred corn, ripe avocado, crisp bacon and sweet cherry tomatoes, you’ve got a winner all the way around! It’s kind of the salad version of a onepot wonder, because you use the same pan to char the corn, brown the bacon and cook the shrimp! The pesto dressing puts it over the top. With salads like this, we can make it through another year until sugar cookie platters and eggnog coax us into submission!

Salad Directions: Heat a skillet over high heat. Add the corn kernels and let them dry roast, stirring until their edges begin to brown and caramelize. Transfer the corn to a plate to set aside. Reduce heat to medium-high. In the same skillet, add the bacon and cook until crispy. Remove the bacon with a slotted spoon, leaving the grease in the skillet. Add the shrimp and sauté until cooked and pink, about 2 minutes per side (depending on the size of your shrimp). Remove shrimp and set aside to cool. Make salad dressing. Assemble your salad by tossing together the lettuce, corn, bacon, shrimp, tomatoes, avocado and cheese. Drizzle with dressing and serve. Dressing Directions: Whisk together all ingredients until blended. Season with salt and pepper. *For homemade buttermilk, combine 1/2 cup milk and 1 tablespoon lemon juice. Stir to thicken.

Watch my how-to video here: jandatri.com/recipe/shrimp-avocado-tomato-roasted-corn-salad January 2020

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Shrimp, Avocado, Tomato & Roasted Corn Salad Salad Ingredients: - 2 ears of fresh corn, shaved off the cob - 6 strips of bacon, cooked crisp and rough chopped - 1 pint cherry or grape tomatoes cut in half - 1 lb. large raw shrimp, peeled with tails off - 4 cups chopped iceberg or romaine lettuce - 1 avocado, diced - 1/2 cup grated parmesan, pecorino or Romano cheese - Buttermilk pesto dressing

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Mesa artist Jordan Byrd uses the egg as a palette mom cents

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Jordan Byrd’s Mesa loft and studio are filled with eggs—but not the cooking kind. Instead, the 29-year-old artist and owner of Inside the Byrd’s Nest, is one just a few artists in the United States who regularly practices, sells and teaches the method of egg decorating called “Pysanky.” Pysanky, also known as Ukrainian Easter Eggs or Batik-style eggs, originated in Ukraine and Poland close to 5,000 years ago. Byrd not only helps keeps this ancient art form alive with her traditional eggs, but she opens up the art to a whole new audience through her nontraditional eggs and jewelry. Now, she’ll share her passion with a broader audience as one of nearly 100 artists at the Arizona Fine Art Expo in Scottsdale. The fine art show begins Friday, January 10, and runs daily from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. through Sunday, March 22, under the “festive white tents” at 26540 N. Scottsdale Road, on the southwest corner of Scottsdale and Jomax roads, next to MacDonald’s Ranch. The 10-week event provides guests with a rare chance to meet the artists, see them in action, and learn about their passion, inspiration and techniques. photo page

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During the Arizona Fine Art Expo, Jordan Byrd will demonstrate her batik process, known as “Pysanky,” on large eggs, above and at right.

Mesa artist Jordan Byrd is keeping the ancient art of “Pysanky” alive. She works on close to 3,000 eggs per year, ranging in size from tiny to large. (Photos by Jesse Paulk)

Demonstrating the Batik process This is Byrd’s first year participating in the Arizona Fine Art Expo, and she’s looking forward to demonstrating her Batik process on large eggs, such as rhea, emu and ostrich eggs, which when finished, are displayed on beautiful ceramic and glass stands. “I love to show and explain the process of Pysanky,” Byrd said. “Batik eggs are dyed using a wax resist process—there’s no painting, which I think surprises people. While my geometric designs are intricate, if I do sketch on the egg, it’s lightly in pencil and freehand. I don’t use stencils or machine-made patterns or appliques. The eggs take on a life of their own, and the designs and colors present themselves based on the shape of the egg and shell composition.” Using a tiny funnel attached to a stick, Byrd applies melted beeswax to a real egg. The wax adheres to the egg preserving the natural eggshell. The egg is then dyed. More wax is applied on top of the new color, preserving it. The process is repeated until the entire pattern has been encased in wax on the egg. The wax is then melted off to uncover every

color used to create the unique designs. Byrd estimates she works on close to 3,000 eggs per year, ranging in size from tiny to large. She sources her eggs from a California ornithologist who raises the birds with great care and then cleans out and sanitizes the eggs before shipping them. Stating that she can be “nerdy” about the process, Byrd loves the challenge of creating new Batik egg works of art. “It’s a fascinating process because it is backwards from what painters do in terms of color scheme. I have to have a good idea of what the design will be before I get started, because I work from light to dark, with black as the final color,” she said, adding that she found a way to jump around when working with colors. “I still have to work front to back, so whatever will be in the foreground needs to be applied first, with the background of the egg being applied last.” Working with the beeswax can also be challenging. “I love the smell of beeswax and I find the process to be meditative, but because the wax is black, it’s easy to lose track of a pattern I’ve already completed. I have to remember what’s underneath the wax so that my lines and colors match,” she said.

“I remember telling my parents that I wanted to learn more, and they said, ‘There are some eggs in the fridge—have fun!’” A self-taught artist who grew up in San Francisco, she finally found some other Pysanky artists to learn from, and now she enjoys sharing her knowledge with others. “I have had some amazing mentors, and several of us meet for ‘Egg Play Dates’ around the world. Last June, we met at the Ukrainian Museum of Canada in Toronto, and I’ve also traveled to Europe,” she said. Like most artists, she also loves to experiment, and she has big dreams for the future. “I would love to work on a rare, large egg, like a Cassowary egg. The Cassowary is said to be the most dangerous bird in the world because of its dagger-like claws, and their eggs are bright green. They’re found in northeastern Australia, New Guinea and a few other areas,” she said. Season passes for the Arizona Fine Art EXPO cost $10; season passes for seniors and military are $8; and children younger than 12 are free. Parking is free. For details, call 480-837-7163 or visit arizonafineartexpo.com.

Her career takes flight As art careers go, some might think Byrd is just getting started, but in fact, she has been creating Batik eggs since she learned the Pysanky process at age 12. “I took at class through my local 4-H club, and I fell in love with it,” she said.

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January 2020

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January 2020 events calendar

Movies on Main: “Detective Pikachu”

Bring your chairs, blankets and Pokémon pals for a special presentation of “Detective Pikachu” as part of Downtown Mesa’s Second Friday Night Out. The hilarious family flick follows Pikachu, voiced by Ryan Reynolds, as he partners with 21-year-old Tim to track down his father—and possibly save the Pokémon race in the process. There may even be a lure or two for the trainers-in-the-making still playing “Pokémon Go.” When: 6 p.m. Friday, January 10 Where: Silver Lot, 219 W. Main Street, Mesa Cost: Free admission Info: 602-318-5689, 2ndfridaynightout.com meet your neighbor

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Mandy Patinkin

Mandy Patinkin’s “Diaries” is a marriage of his favorite Broadway and classic American tunes, along with selections from his newest recordings. From Randy Newman to Stephen Sondheim, from Harry Chapin to Rufus Wainwright, Mandy Patinkin takes you on a dazzling musical journey you’ll never forget. When: 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, January 15 Where: Mesa Arts Center’s Ikeda Theater, 1 E. Main Street, Mesa Cost: $45-$85 Info: 480-644-6500, mesaartscenter.com

“Legally Blonde: The Musical”

Elle Woods’ world of fashion and fun comes alive in an entirely different way with “Legally Blonde: The Musical,” based on the hit Reese Witherspoon film. Tackling stereotypes, scandals, the bend and snap and Harvard Law—what, like it’s hard?—the musical is a faithful adaptation of the film with the flash and fun of theater. When: Various times Wednesday, January 15, to Sunday, January 19 Where: Mesa Arts Center, 1 E. Main Street, Mesa Cost: $18 Info: 480-644-6500, mesaartscenter.com

“Napoleon Dynamite” Live

This special screening is BYOT—bring your own tots. It’s been nearly 15 years since “Napoleon Dynamite” came out, and introduced us to a quirky high schooler with some wicked dance moves and enduring catchphrases. Following the film, original cast members Jon Heder (Napoleon), Efren Ramirez (Pedro) and John Gries (Uncle Rico) will take the stage for a freewheeling discussion. When: 8 p.m. Friday, January 17 Where: Orpheum Theater, 203 W. Adams Street, Phoenix Cost: $25-$75 Info: 602-262-6225, phoenixconventioncenter.com

This comedy show for conservative thinkers features Terrence Williams, Steve “Mudflap” McGrew, Tomi Lahren, Brandon Tatum and Benny Johnson. Blending comedy and observational humor, they’re marching toward 2020 unleashing the conservative mindset, and unabashedly melting liberals while celebrating the American Dream. When: 7:30 p.m. Friday, January 17 Where: Mesa Arts Center’s Ikeda Theater, 1 E. Main Street, Mesa Cost: $47.50-$136.25 Info: 480-644-6500, mesaartscenter.com

Stanley Clarke Trio

Grammy Award winner Stanley Clarke has attained “living legend” status during his over 40-year career as a bass virtuoso. He is the first bassist to double on acoustic and electric bass with equal ferocity and the first jazz-fusion bassist to headline tours, selling out shows worldwide. His trio also features keyboardist Cameron Graves, and Sadar Nader on tablas. When: 7:30 p.m. Friday, January 17 Where: Mesa Arts Center’s Piper Repertory Theater, 1 E. Main Street, Mesa Cost: $50 Info: 480-644-6500, mesartscenter.com

The Fab Four

This Beatles tribute group is dedicated to recreating the legendary group’s performance, down to every nuanced detail. Their uncanny renditions of classics like “Can’t Buy Me Love,” “A Day in the Life,” “Here Comes the Sun” and “Hey Jude” will have you dancing down the aisle as they

traverse through costume changes, eras and bops. When: 8 p.m. Friday, January 24 Where: Mesa Arts Center, 1 E. Main Street, Mesa Cost: $29.50-$62.50 Info: 480-644-6500, mesaartscenter.com

“Lisa Lampanelli’s Losin’ It”

Lisa Lampanelli has lost and gained more than 372 pounds over the course of her life. She has curated her own show, “Lisa Lampanelli’s Losin’ It,” full of professional actors, storytellers and special guests who have all dealt with the problem of weight and body-image issues. When: 7:30 p.m. Friday, January 24; 3 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Saturday, January 25 Where: Mesa Arts Center’s Piper Repertory Theater, 1 E. Main Street, Mesa Cost: $50 Info: 480-644-6500, mesaartscenter.com

“Mystery Science Theater 3000 Live:” The Great Cheesy Movie Circus Tour

“Mystery Science Theater 3000” has joked its way into the hearts of millions of TV audiences and found a new life on Netflix. The satirical laugh fest comes to life in a live show with creator and original host Joel Hodgson, as well as movie-riffing robots Tom Servo, Crow and Gypsy. Embark on a wild rollercoaster ride through some of the cheesiest films ever made with plenty of comments from the peanut gallery. When: 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, January 29 Where: Mesa Arts Center, 1 E. Main Street, Mesa Cost: $37.50-$78 Info: 480-644-6500, mesaartscenter.com

Mesa’s “NEW” Recycling Program To maintain the sustainability of Mesa’s recycling program, the list of accepted items has been reduced and simplified.

ONLY RECYCLE ITEMS FROM THESE CATEGORIES

Beverage Bottles, Jugs and Cans Empty, Clean and Dry

E.g. - Water bottles, milk jugs, soda bottles, soda cans, beer bottles, wine bottles, juice bottles, etc.

Metal Food Cans

Corrugated Cardboard

E.g. - Vegetable, canned fruit, tuna, pet food, tomato sauce, soup, etc.

HOW TO TELL IF IT IS CORRUGATED: Tear a small piece. If you see a flat top and bottom layer with a wavy middle layer, it is accepted.

Empty, Clean and Dry

Remove ALL Packaging

Paper

Office Paper, Newspaper, Magazines and Mail

All Other Items NOT Accepted When In Doubt, Keep It Out.

For recycling information, visit mesarecycles.org No Longer Accepted January 2020

• PAPERBOARD BOXES (cake mix, cereal, tissue, detergent, soda case, cracker, frozen food packaging, etc.) • NON-BEVERAGE PLASTIC OR GLASS BOTTLES, JUGS, JARS & CONTAINERS (laundry, shampoo, household cleaners, yogurt, margarine, jelly, salad dressing, fresh berry • PLASTIC & PAPER CUPS containers, other food products, etc.) • MILK, JUICE & ICE CREAM PAPER CARTONS

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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

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The Fab Four brings Beatles concert experience to the MAC By Laura Latzko Capturing the sound and stage presence of the Beatles is no easy task. For members of the Fab Four Beatles tribute band, impersonating the group’s four iconic musicians is a continuous growth process. The band has continued to evolve over the years with the addition of new members, but it has always been dedicated to honoring the Beatles’ legacy in a reverent and respectful way. The group will bring the experience of a live Beatles concert to the Mesa Arts Center on Friday, January 24. The Fab Four is considered one of the top Beatles tribute bands in the world because of its close attention to detail in the presentation of their music. The group won an Emmy Award in 2013 for its PBS special “The Fab Four: The Ultimate Tribute.” The performers all try to get as close as possible to the sound, look and movements of John Lennon, Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr and George Harrison. Having toured the world, The Fab Four recently performed in Liverpool. The group was founded in 1997 by Ron McNeil, a Lennon impersonator and the president of the Fab Four Corp. The group has expanded over the years to include multiple casts. This started with a Las Vegas residency from 2005 to 2008, when the group did shows six nights a week. During its shows, the group often

The Fab Four Beatles tribute band recreates the Beatles concert experience for longtime and new fans. (Photos by Robert Kern)

performs a mixture of hits and lesser-known Beatles songs. The Beatles are best known for songs such as “Hey Jude,” “I Wanna Hold Your Hand,” “She Loves You,” “A Hard Day’s Night,” “Let It Be” and “Can’t Buy Me Love.” The group’s most common lineup consists of Adam Hastings as Lennon, Ardavan Sarraf as McCartney, Bologna as Ringo Starr and Gavin Pring as Harrison. Before starting to perform as Harrison with the Fab Four in 2006, Pring impersonated the musician as part of his show George Harry’s Son. Pring has an added responsibility to uphold the Beatles’ legacy, as he is the lone member of the band from Liverpool. He said capturing Harrison’s essence was natural for him. “Being brought up in Liverpool, growing up with a similar sense of humor, that part came easy,” Pring said. He has of ten In the Fab Four Beatles tribute band, Gavin Pring portrays George Harrison.

coached other members on their pronunciation of certain words so that they sound more English. Growing up, others always told Pring he looked like Harrison, whom he’s been a fan of since he was young. “Any time I ever saw any video or pictures of the Beatles, my eyes always went to George, always watched what he was doing. I was looking at his moves, even from an early age, trying to mimic them,” Pring said. For the show, he learned to play the ukulele and sitar. He played the drums as a kid and guitar starting at age 20, but he found the sitar especially difficult. “The sitar has 28 strings, so it was difficult to tune the thing. Once you started to get used to it, it made more sense. My fingers bled first playing it because you use the flats of your fingers and not the ends like you do for a guitar,” Pring said. Pring said when playing music, it is important to adhere to the Beatles style. “What they played is your Bible. You’ve

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got to learn exactly what they did. We try to get as close as possible,” Pring said. “I think all of us in the Fab Four are doing a good job of representing the Beatles quite well, with respect.” The group performs the record versions of the songs. “Our mantra is to try to get a sound like when the needle hit the vinyl the first time,” Pring said. Pring has played certain songs thousands of times but still enjoys performing them. “Here Comes the Sun” has special meaning because it was one of the first songs he ever played on the guitar. “It takes me back every time I play it to the first time I picked up a guitar,” Pring said. Like other members of the group, Pring has watched countless videos to improve upon his performance. Over the years, his style has changed as he has started to rely more on smaller movements and gestures. “When I was younger, I think I was eager, and some of the moves were very fast,” he said.

“As I’ve grown up a little bit more, I’ve found that subtlety is better. George had a habit of raising his lip outward because he had an extra tooth quite high up. Just doing little moves, like a lip raise instead of trying to make obvious big moves, is actually better.”

MORE INFO What: The Fab Four: The Ultimate Beatles Tribute When: 8 p.m. Friday, January 24 Where: Mesa Arts Center’ Ikeda Theatre, 1 E. Main Street, Mesa Cost: $29.50-$62.50 Info: 480-644-6500, mesaartscenter.com

January 2020

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

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LOCAL BUSINESS

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‘Koalaty’ Care

Sue Sinclair-Rutledge and her koalas call it a career on the town

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In Sue Sinclair-Rutledge’s 60 years in the travel industry, she has been on more than 190 cruises. She helped thousands schedule their dream vacations. But she and her husband, Frank, agree: It’s about time for her to retire. CEO Sheri Slaybaugh will take over Sue Sinclair Travel Center. “I’ve traveled almost all over the world,” Sinclair-Rutledge said. “I’ve sailed on more than 190 cruises and met many interesting people in my travels.” One notable meeting was with fitness instructor Jack LaLanne, who drank two Bloody Marys at noon each day. Sinclair-Rutledge weathered the changes in her industry. When a move appeared to bring her business down, she just went in a new direction. For example, in the early 1990s, US Airlines decided to stop paying commissions to travel agencies. She spun it into a new segment of her business: a motorcoach tour division trekking clients through Arizona, California and New Mexico. Air travel has changed for the worse,” she said. “Back in the ’50s, people dressed up to travel. Now, people wear just about anything when traveling. You now pay for services that were once free. “There are charges for luggage and hand carries. Curbside check-in is now at an additional cost. The airlines are now talking about charging for soft drinks, pillows, blankets and can you believe you will someday have to pay to visit the toilet? We all know about big changes to airline security.” On the other end, cruise lines have changed for the better. In the beginning of her career, cruise ship cabins were small—the tiniest being 90 square feet for two people. Now, ships are built for comfort. “They have improved amenities, sercomm. spotlight

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Sue Sinclair Travel Center CEO Sheri Slaybaugh, left, has helmed the business since Sue Sinclair-Rutledge retired at the end of 2019. (Photo by Chris Mortenson)

vices, on-board activities,” she said. “Because of lower prices, cruises are available for just about everyone. In the past, only the more affluent people took cruises. In 1972, less than 1% of the population took cruises. Now it is over 25%.” Walking into her office, it’s clear which country is her favorite—Australia. Koalas are peppered throughout the desks, ledges and walls. “I have a collection of more than 1,300 koalas in my office,” said Sinclair-Rutledge, who lives in Leisure World with

her husband, Frank. “Some clients think it’s a toy store.” During her career, Sinclair-Rutledge has been a member of Beta Signa Phi Sorority, the Soroptimists, Kiwanis, American Businesswomen’s Association and the Mesa and Apache Junction chambers of commerce. Sinclair Travel injects fun into its events. “Mystery Trips” are planned for Thursday, January 23, and Tuesday, February 18, for $99. It’s also offering trips to Laughlin, Tubac Festival of the Arts, Turf Paradise, Heard Museum, Cerre-

ta Fine Chocolates, Kartchner Caverns, casinos, Rock Springs Café, Phoenix Art Museum, Copper Canyon and lunch at Cheddar’s Scratch Kitchen. The business offers trips outside of the continental United States as well, including Ireland from March 14 to March 23 for $4,439, single.

Sinclair Travel 6134 E. Main Street, Suite 106, Mesa 480-981-3795, sinclairtravelcenter.com

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EoS Fitness opens new gym in Northeast Mesa By Octavio Serrano EoS Fitness has flexed its competition muscle by opening a 53,000-squarefoot gym in Northeast Mesa on Gilbert and McKellips roads. With 70 employees, EoS Fitness is equipped with an array of amenities like its own cardio cinema, basketball courts, group classes and an aquatic area. Memberships range from $9 to $24. “It’s huge,” said Katlyn O’Neil, senior area operations manager. “We have a ton of amenities. People can watch TV

January 2020

while they do cardio. We have a full turf area. We have personal trainers. We have exercise and we have something

called Fitness Unchained.” She’s referring to an instructor-led intense group workout class. Members who are part of this group are provided with a heart rate monitor. “Anybody who is a training client, they actually get a heart rate monitor and they can go in there and work out,” O’Neil said. “You can watch your heart rate monitor on the screen.” The cardio cinema is O’Neil’s favorite feature. The room is dark and has several pieces of cardio equipment and a projector that plays a different movie every day. “We play a movie on a reel all day long, so you can go in there and get on a piece of cardio equipment and you can watch TV,” O’Neil said. If members would like guidance during their workouts, EoS Fitness offers an array of group fitness classes, with over 60 options that

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include Zumba, yoga and cycling. New members are also given a free session to warm up their muscles for what EoS Fitness has to offer. “We offer a free one-on-one session with anybody who comes in and just joins the gym to introduce them to everything we have on the floor,” she said. For further help, EoS Fitness has personal trainers who are trained to work with people with disabilities and injuries. They are all nationally accredited. “One of the new things we offer in this location is we have not only a fitness manager, but a PT manager,” O’Neil said. The PT manager helps continually educate the trainers. EoS Fitness features an open-floor workout area that includes “The Yard,” a green turf functional training area with battle ropes and weighted sled workouts, and “The Backyard,” an outdoor workout space. A pool and Jacuzzi are available for use. “The thing I love about this gym is we have two workout floors, so sometimes it may look like it’s crowded but it’s not,” O’Neil said. EoS Fitness brings innovative concepts to the fitness culture, and its latest location in Mesa has set the standard for future gyms. It is also a place that welcomes anyone, despite their fitness level or challenges. “Everyone can work out at EoS,” O’Neil said. “That’s the great thing about us. Regardless of workout style or goals, anybody can work out here. Our core purpose is to create loyal lifelong fans and exercise practitioners.”

EoS Fitness 1954 E. McKellips Road, Mesa 480-651-8272, eosfitness.com 25

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