The Breeze - October 2019 by Times Media Group

October 2019

Chuck McClure, owner of Chuck’s Butcher Block Meats. See more on page 26.

Fight brewing over Northeast Mesa police-fire site

Mesa makes changes to recycling programs

By Jim Walsh

Mesa considers 8 acres at Power and Brown roads the best site for a long-awaited police and fire facility targeted at reducing unacceptably long response times in Northeast Mesa. After negotiations to buy the property Disputed land Mesa hopes to use as new police/fire facility to cut down on emergency response times. (Photo by Dave Karasinski) went nowhere and the landowner spurned a $2.1 million was not happy to learn from the Nearoffer, the Mesa City Council voted by News his property had been selected unanimously recently to initiate emi- and questioned why the city could not nent domain proceedings, if necessary, choose a smaller, cheaper site instead. as “a matter of public necessity.’’ “I don’t like to make a lot of waves,’’ Site...continued on page 12 But attorney Paul Wetzel of Cornville

Faced with mounting losses in its 25-year-old recycling program, Mesa plans to restrict the items it collects and close three bulk recycling centers, but curbside recycling will continue. The drop-of f The City of Mesa closed three bulk recycling centers, including the one at Power Road and Adobe Street. (Photo by Dave Karasinski) centers at Dobson Ranch Park, Country Club and Juanita follow the City of Surprise’s lead and as well as the East Mesa Service Center, suspend recycling following a report at Power Road and Adobe Street, closed revealing the city is spending more on October 3. recycling than it does sending trash to Mayor John Giles rejected Council- the landfill. Recycling...continued on page 13 man Kevin Thompson’s suggestion to

The news around our neighborhood! Mailed to homes in Red Mountain Ranch, Mesa Desert Heights, Alta Mesa, Apache Wells and surrounding North Mesa.

NearbyNews

Mailed toYour Home Monthly

Local Postal Customer

PRSRT STD ECRWSS U.S. POSTAGE PAID PHOENIX PERMIT # 1333

Our family has been focused on " world-class steak for over 100 years…

GUARANTEED. Todd Simon & Bruce Simon, 5th Generation Family Owners, Running the Business Today

SAVE 75% GET 33 ITEMS! $237.90* separately 58390PVR $237.90

COMBO PRICE

5999

BURGERS TODAY!

The Family Gourmet Banquet 4 (5 oz.) Filet Mignons 4 (4 oz.) Boneless Pork Chops 4 Boneless Chicken Breasts (1 lb. pkg.) 4 (3 oz.) Kielbasa Sausages 4 (4 oz.) Omaha Steaks Burgers 4 (2.8 oz.) Potatoes au Gratin 4 (4 oz.) Caramel Apple Tartlets Signature Seasoning Packet

FREE

100% premium aged Omaha Steaks beef

ORDER NOW & SAVE! 1.855.408.9931 ask for 58390PVR | www.OmahaSteaks.com/family106 Omaha Steaks, America’s Original Butcher, is

STILL A FAMILY BUSINESS We’re the FIFTH generation of Omaha Steaks family owners, and we’re proud to deliver true quality and safety in these world-class steaks to YOUR family. Order with confidence today! *Savings shown over aggregated single item base price. Limit 2 Family Gourmet Banquet packages. Your 4 free burgers will be sent to each shipping address that includes (58390). Standard S&H will be added per address. Flat rate shipping and reward cards and codes cannot be used with this offer. Not valid with other offers. All purchases acknowledge acceptance of Omaha Steaks, Inc. Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Visit omahasteaks.com/terms-of-useOSI and omahasteaks.com/info/privacy-policy or call 1-800-228-9872 for a copy. Photos are exemplary of product advertised. Expires 10/31/19. ©2019 OCG | Omaha Steaks, Inc. 19M0566

Nearby News • For News Around Our Neighborhood

October 2019

CLEARANCE! 65" 4K HDTV SMART TV

• 3.4 Cubic • 700 RPM Spin Foot Tub Speed • Porcelain Tub

• 3 HDMI Inputs • USB Port • 120 Hz Refresh Rate

499

• 3.8 Cu. Ft. • 12 Wash Cycles • 2 Water Levels • 5 Temperature Options • Power Wash Agitator

FREE DELIVERY ON PAIR

MVWC416FW CLOSEOUT

30” RANGE TOP LOAD DRYER • Large 7.0 cu. ft. Capacity • Wrinkle Control Option • Heavy-Duty Motor

429

MEDC415EW CLOSEOUT

REFRIGERATOR

• 4.8 Cu. Ft. • Self Cleaning • Flex Heat Elements • Extra Large Oven Window WFE510S0AS CLOSEOUT

DISHWASHER

• Normal Wash Cycle • Heated Dry On/Off

STAINLESS STEEL DISHWASHER

12 MONTHS NO INTEREST**

5.2 CU. FT. SUPER CAPACITY WASHER • • •

Turbo Wash 12 Wash Programs 7.3 CU. FT. CAPACITY TrueBalance™ DRYER Plus • EasyLoad™ Door • NFC Tag On • TurboSteam® • ENERGY STAR® Technology Qualified • 14 Drying Programs WT7500CW DLEX7600WE

EACH

14.6 CU. FT. REFRIGERATOR

• Two Adjustable • Adjustable Humidity Shelves Drawers • Gallon Door Storage GTS15CTHRCC CLOSEOUT

• AccuSense® Soil Sensor • AnyWare™ Plus Silverware Basket • 1-Hour Wash Cycle WDF520PADM

DAY DELIVERY

1999 2049

$ 249

HDA1100FMCC

MONTHS

379 599

WFE515S0ES

EACH EACH

NO INTEREST**

“It’s Like Having a Friend In The Business”

NTW4500XQ CLOSEOUT • 25 Cubic Foot Capacity • Spill Proof Glass Shelves • Humidity Controlled Drawer • Energy Star Qualified WRS325FDAM CLOSEOUT

TOP LOAD WASHER

NEXT DAY DELIVERY

WASHER

• 2160 Resolution

65’’

You Won’t Find A Better Deal … We Guarantee It!

BUYS ALL 3 PIECES!

449

DAY DELIVERY

STAINLESS STEEL 23 CU. FT. SIDE BY SIDE • Deli Drawer • Crisper Shelves • LED Lighting

799

FFSS2314QS CLOSEOUT

** NO INTEREST IF PAID IN FULL IN 12 MONTHS. $799.00 Minimum Purchase Required Minimum Payments Required 30.79% APR If the promotional balance is not paid in full by the end for the promotional period or, to the extent permitted by law, if you make a late payment, interest will be imposed from the date of purchase at the APR noted above. This APR is as of 7/4/2019 and will vary with the market based on the Prime Rate. Your card agreement, the terms of the offer and applicable law govern this transaction including increasing APRs and fees and terminating the promotional period.

WWW.SPENCERSTV.COM See Website for Additional Store Locations

Arizona’s largest independent dealer! “It’s Like Having A Friend In The Business”

Come Visit Our New Mesa Clearance Center – 115 W. First Ave.

IN HOUSE S R E C N E SP PLANS PAYMENT BLE AVAILA

OPEN DAILY 9AM-9PM | SATURDAY 9AM-6PM | SUNDAY 11AM-5PM

October 2019

On the web at www.NearbyNews.com

COMMUNITY

Publisher .........................Steve T. Strickbine

Win prizes when you complete

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

Graphic Designer ....... Tonya Mildenberg

NearbyNews

Natalie Urquiza, Jim Walsh

The Breeze is published monthly and distributed to 10,000 residences and businesses within North Mesa. (Approx. 8,000 mailed directly to homes and 2,000 distributed on newsstands, via advertisers, schools & local businesses, etc.)

Contributing Writers

Distribution Area:

Administration ............ Courtney Oldham Staff Writers Jordan Houston, Octavio Serrano,

Jan D’Atri, Shannon Maki, Laurie Struna

your Scramblers puzzle! Successfully fill out this month’s Scramblers puzzle on Page 10 and you could win a gift certificate! We’ll select a lucky winner from among the correct entries received. Just mail your completed entry to us at:

PUZZLE EDITOR 1620 W. Fountainhead Parkway, Suite 219 Tempe, AZ 85282

Staff Photographer Kimberly Carrillo

OR, you may now submit by email by typing in your four words and Today’s Word with “Scramblers puzzle” in the message line. Send it to: christina@timespublications.com.

Contact the Nearby News at 480-641-4518 • Fax: 480-898-5606 Editor@NearbyNews.com

Watch for our announcement of the winner in next month’s edition. If you see your name, write or email us by November 15, 2019, at the above addresses or call 480-641-4518 to claim your prize. Good luck!

For more information visit our website at

NearbyNews.com

NearbyNews is distributed by AZ Integrated Media, a circulation service company owned by Times Media Group. The public is permitted one copy per reader. For further information regarding the circulation of this publication or others in the Times Media Group family of publications, and for subscription information, please contact AZ Integrated Media at circ@azintegratedmedia.com or 480-898-5641. For circulation services please contact Aaron Kolodny at aaron@azintegatedmedia.com.

The Breeze has made every effort to authenticate the information printed herein, however, we do not assume responsibility for any products or services advertised or information printed. Views expressed are representative of the author and not necessarily The Breeze.

Cover Photo by Pablo Robles

This month’s lucky winner is

JENNIFER OSHOP Here is the correct puzzle from last month:

TREASURY MARKET ACCOUNT

1.75%

apy*

Check Out The East Valley’s Newest Hotspot Eatery We will be starting breakfast from 8-12 Sat and Sun. starting first weekend of August Great Patio Seating. Happy Hour, 3-6 pm Monday-Friday

EARN MORE WITH YOUR SAVINGS.

11 MONTH CD

1.80%

apy**

480-807-7500 WESTERNBANKS.COM

Visit us in the Falcon View Plaza! 5901 E McKellips Rd, Suite 104 • Mesa Southwest corner of N Recker Rd and E McKellips Rd, next to Fry’s Food & Drug

2015 N Power Rd, Mesa, AZ 85215 • (480) 924 -4877 www.redmountainbarandgrillaz.com 4

*Annual Percentage Yield effective 9/25/19 & guaranteed for 12 months from account opening. $0-999.99: 0.00% APY; $1,000-9,999.99: 1.75% APY; $10,000-49,999.99: 1.75% APY; $50,000-99,999.99: 1.75% APY; $100,000-249,999.99: 1.75% APY; $250,000 & up: 1.75% APY. Rate may change after 12 months. Limit one per customer. New funds only. Personal & business accounts, no municipalities or institutional funds. Fees may affect earnings. Member FDIC. **Annual Percentage Yield effective 9/25/19. Personal & business accounts, no municipalities or institutional funds. Minimum $1,000 deposit required. Early withdrawal penalty may apply. Member FDIC.

Nearby News • For News Around Our Neighborhood

October 2019

On the web at www.NearbyNews.com

COMMUNITY

on the town

comm. spotlight

community spotlight diy

photo page

events calendar

By Haley Lorenzen law talk

hearsay

meet your neighbor

Red Mountain Choir to perform at Carnegie Hall classifieds

biz box

looking back

expensive homes

Red Mountain High School choir students will soon perform on the same stage as Tchaikovsky, Judy Garland and The Beatles—Carnegie Hall. The students will participate in “The Holiday Music of Eric Whitacre” at 2 p.m. Sunday, November 24, joining other ensembles from around the world. Whitacre is a Grammy Award-winning composer and conductor who has released many chart-topping albums. Tickets, $20 to $100, can be purchased at dciny.org. “It kind of feels like a trip with family, even though my actual family will be like 5,000 miles away,” said senior choir member Rhiannon Viersen. The choirs were invited to perform by Distinguished Concerts International New York, which produces concerts that bring together musicians from

around the world. Red Mountain choir teacher Lindsay Decoste said the group was invited last fall. “Oh my gosh, I was shocked—completely shocked,” she said. A second-year teacher, Decoste said this is the choir’s biggest event since she came on board. Under the previous director, the choir performed at Carnegie Hall several years before. The 40-member choir’s trip was open to any of the students, but they had to pay for it themselves. They have been prepping for the show since they were asked in November—even in the summer. Students were required to attend rehearsals during lunch and after school, and practice at home. Before students committed, Decoste said she explained to them, “You can’t go on this trip if you’re not going to do

Red Mountain High School choir students (above) will head to New York with teacher Lindsay Decoste, right. (Photos courtesy Red Mountain High School)

the work, because they have to go home, and they have to look at it on their own.” One of the pieces Decoste said the choir has been working on a 64-page rendition of “The Boy Who Laughed at Santa Claus.” “I’ve heard from Miss D that it’s really hilarious and I’m excited to learn it,” said senior Ty Cook. “We’ve kind of gone over little bits of it, but we haven’t gone over the whole thing.” Decoste said the students are excited about the trip and she’s teaching them how to settle their nerves. “I sang at Carnegie Hall my junior year of high school. What I see from them is very similar to what I had, where it was like I wasn’t even thinking about nerves, it was literally just that I get to sing at Carnegie Hall,” she said. The choir students will spend four days in New York City, where they will not only perform at Carnegie Hall, but experience the city’s history and culture. The same day as their concert, the students will see the “Radio City Music Hall Christmas Spectacular.” “Phantom of the Opera” and “Frozen” as well

Gilbert 2285 E Baseline Rd, #103 Gilbert, AZ 85234 (480) 892-1667

NearbyNews Get your copy today!

NothingBundtCakes.com 11/02/19

as visits to Times Square and the 9/11 Museum and Memorial are also on the itinerary. “I’m really excited for the rehearsals actually. I am a nerd about choir stuff,” said Eliza Blackhurst, a junior who has been in choir for the last three years. “We’re working with Eric Whitaker who’s a really big choral director, and his music is always super complicated and complex. So, I’m excited to see how he approaches things.” For many of the students, this will be their first time visiting New York City and being away from their families. “I’m so excited to see all these kids see New York for the first time. I’ve been to New York a lot of times,” Decoste said. “And there’s nothing like seeing New York City.”

Nearby News • For News Around Our Neighborhood

October 2019

Door OPEN. Door CLOSE.

Guaranteed. CALL TODAY!

480.635.8114 Free Phone Quotes! We Can Fix Anything!

FREE Service Call (with repair)

65 Value!

21-Point Safety Inspection

With coupon only. May not be combined with other offers. Exp: November 15, 2019

ArizonaGarageDoors.com ROC# 173822 October 2019

75 OFF

A Pair of Springs

Broken Spring REPAIR!

With coupon only. May not be combined with other offers. Exp: November 15, 2019

Garage Door Opener

329

On the web at www.NearbyNews.com

.95

+LABOR

COMMUNITY

Mesa schools win $100K for improving college aid access By Jordan Houston Mesa Public Schools has been awarded $100,000 for its efforts in boosting financial aid application completion rates among its graduating classes. The district is the winner of the 201819 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) Completion Challenge hosted by the National College Access Network, a nonprofit dedicated to sharing best practices for improving college access nationwide. Last summer, the network selected 25 U.S. cities—all of which had prior completion rates below the national average—to receive a grant of up to $40,000 each to increase their completion rates by at least 5 percentage points for the graduating high school class of 2019. With a goal of growing by 7%, MPS increased its completion rate from 38% to 48%. “We were just completely shocked,” said MPS Director of Opportunity and Achievement Michael Garcia. “Everyone was very excited—not just Mesa Public

Mesa Public Schools is the winner of the 2018-19 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) Completion Challenge hosted by the National College Access Network, a nonprofit dedicated to sharing best practices for improving college access nationwide. From left are Benjamin Fisher, college and career readiness coach; Michael Garcia, director of opportunity and achievement; and Dino Recla, direct prevention counselor. (Submitted photo)

Schools but the community. It has been a community effort.” Garcia and other district representatives traveled to the 2019 NCAN National Conference in Indianapolis last week NNM

Serving East Mesa for 20 Years

Dr. Paul Sandstrom, Dentist 480-396-8684

Dr. Paul Sandstrom

DO YOU HAVE LOWER DENTURES THAT DON’T FIT? MISSING TEETH? TALK TO US ABOUT IMPLANTS! NO APPOINTMENT NECESSARY

FREE EXAM & X-RAYS

Please bring this coupon at initial visit.

OFF

7448 E. Main Street, Mesa

Sun Valley Plaza • 1 Mile East of Power Rd. NW Corner of Sossaman & Main (Next to Wok In Restaurant)

480-396-8684 8

With coupon. Expires 10/31/19.

149

With coupon. Expires 10/31/19.

Dentures

100 OFF $ 50 OFF

$ • WALK-INS WELCOME • FULL SERVICE DENTURE LAB • IMPLANTS - Call for Consultation

OFF

Implants Denture Laboratory Reline

Crown, Bridge or Veneers With coupon. Expires 10/31/19.

Partial Denture With coupon. Expires 10/31/19.

$0 Interest Financing Available

to receive their grand prize, which will be used toward continuing their efforts. FAFSA can serve as the gateway to higher education for millions of students every academic year, the director told the Nearby News But because of the complex and extensive nature of the application, he continued, students oftentimes feel intimidated by the process. “From what we know from research, a student who completes FAFSA is 80% more likely to go to college,” he said. “If FAFSA leads to that, then FAFSA should be a priority.” Adding: “There are also larger economic factors that are at play here as well. We know that students who complete FAFSA and do go to college end up contributing more to the local economy and providing profess services is to our community.” To separate itself from the competition, Mesa got creative. The district used a three-pronged approach, Garcia explained. “Two of those were already existing parts of our completion rate process,” he said. “We’ve always had counselors hosting school FAFSA events and college readiness events.” “Then there was the district piece of that, in which they helped with our office by providing leadership and training and the overall promotion of FAFSA,” he added.

Nearby News • For News Around Our Neighborhood

But what really gave Mesa an extra edge was the use of its “peer coaches.” High school senior coaches were recruited to spread the word among their peers about FASFA completion, its importance and where to get help with the financial aid application process. They supported FAFSA completion events at their high schools, led information sessions at lunch and used social media to get the word out. “These were high school seniors who learned how to navigate the FAFSA process and then they promoted FAFSA among their peers on each of the six high school campuses,” said Garcia. Adding, “They supported students through consistent messages and provided them with resources when they got stuck.” When it came time to determine who the coaches would be, MPS decided to recruit students that they felt “matched” their student body and peers on campus, Garcia explained. He said the district really wanted the students to be “truly representative of their peers. As far as incentives, the coaches were provided an $800 base salary and were able to complete for $25 gift cards along the way. While the district is celebrating its success, Garcia told the Nearby News they need to find a more sustainable solution for the future. “We spent $40,000 on that effort, so that money came from somewhere,” Garcia said. “But long-term, this is something that needs to continue and it needs to be funded. That $100,000 will last a while, but it will run out so we’ll have to address that.” For the next year, Mesa hopes to increase its rates by another 7%, and is advocating for it by using the hashtag #Strive455 to spread awareness. October 2019

MESA SCHOOOLS ROUND 2 AD 1 alt B.qxp_Layout 1 9/16/19 9:42 AM Page 1

PROTECT OUR QUALITY OF LIFE

esa P Public bli SSchools h l currently has 23 A+ Schools of Excellence™, more than any other district in the state. Quality, competitive schools are a primary reason we enjoy such a safe, family-friendly community. e override would be used to:

✔ Attract and retain quality teachers ✔ Prepare students for college or the workforce ✔ Increase school safety and security ✔ Ensure smaller class sizes

““Mesa has “M h b been ssuccessful in aattracting tthousands of jjobs and m millions in eeconomic investment. It is no secret that one of the key components to our economic success has been the quality of our schools. ey make our city an attractive destination for companies and their families to locate and helps provide a ready workforce for companies to hire. We must keep up this positive momentum – which is why I support the Mesa Public Schools Budget Increase.” Mayor John Giles

“ override “e id iinvests in sstudent safety, ccampus ssecurity, and sschool ccounselors to ensure that our children are safe in school. It also invests in attracting quality teachers and technology for the classrooms. It’s a smart investment in our quality of life. Join the United Mesa Firefighters this November and vote YES on the budget increase.” Dale Crogan, United Mesa Fire Fighters

Supported by:

Mayor John Giles • Vice Mayor Mark Freeman • Councilmember David Luna Councilmember Francisco Heredia • Councilmember Jen Duﬀ • Councilmember Kevin ompson • Senator Tyler Pace Representative Michelle Udall • Former Senator Bob Worsley • Senator Sean Bowie • Representative Mitzi Epstein • Representative Jennifer Jermaine • United Mesa Fire Fighters • Sally Harrison, Mesa Chamber of Commerce Mesa Association of Hispanic Citizens • Mesa United Way • Former Mesa Governing Board President Mike Hughes Former Mayor Scott Smith • Lynn Burnham • Beth Coons • Rich Crandall • David K. Udall • Claudia Walters Steve West • Dr. Ben Whiting • Tom and Melissa Farnsworth • And many more…

ALL MAIL ELECTION – EARLY VOTING STARTS OCTOBER 9

Last Recommended Day to Mail Ballot: October 30

PAID FOR BY THE MESA ALLIANCE FOR EDUCATIONAL EXCELLENCE, NOT AUTHORIZED BY ANY CANDIDATE OR CANDIDATE COMMITTEE

October 2019

On the web at www.NearbyNews.com

COMMUNITY

comm. spotlight

"We restore full smiles with a professional and caring environment, where our patients become extended family."

law talk

classifieds

biz box

hearsay

looking back

looking back meet your neighbor

By Shannon Maki, Mesa Historical Society expensive homes

Is Mesa haunted?

Dr. C. Martin Farnsworth, DMD

EMERGENCIES SEEN SAME DAY A AY

Above: The Sunkist Factory is said to be one of the most haunted buildings in Arizona. Right: The Buckhorn Baths Motel is under new management, but the building still stands in its former glory at Recker Road and Main Street.

CALL TODAY!

(Photos courtesy Mesa Historical Museum)

A Leader in Full Service, High-Tech Dentistry Dentistry for the whole family | Now offering evening hours Cosmetic Veneers & Porcelain Crowns | Implants | Placements & Crowns Botox and Injection Fillers | Certified Invisalign Providers (480) 283-5854 | 2947 N. Power Rd #103 Dr. C. Martin Farnsworth, DMD Dr. Derek Farnsworth, DMD www.lassendasdentalhealth.com

Scramblers Puzzle Mail to: PUZZLE EDITOR, 1620 W. Fountainhead Parkway, Suite 219, Tempe, AZ 85282 or type your answers into an email with “Scramblers puzzle” in the message line and send to: editor@NearbyNews.com

When October rolls around, people want to know where they can see real haunts. Mesa is known for several supernatural encounters. One of the most talked about haunted locations in Mesa is the old Sunkist Factory. The citrus packing plant began operating in the 1930s, but has since been abandoned—or so we think. There have been reports of a shadowy figure in the basement and a bouncing red ball that disappears. The Buckhorn Baths Motel, started by Ted and Alice Sliger in 1939, is another rumored haunted spot in Mesa. The former caretakers have claimed to have experienced ghostly encounters, and people passing by the abandoned building have claimed to hear strange noises, screams and laughter. Many businesses along Mesa’s Main Street have reported supernatural phenomena like items flying off of shelves and unusual items showing up in the storage areas. Witnesses claim to have encountered ghosts in basements under Main Street, while others just have an uneasy feeling there. Interestingly, there are secret tunnels under Main Street that were built in the early 1900s. Their purpose is unknown, but it was rumored they were built for bootlegging alcohol during the Prohibition. Most of

Nearby News • For News Around Our Neighborhood

the tunnels no longer exist, but paranormal investigators have detected unusual readings in the ones that remain. The Landmark Restaurant, which closed nearly five years ago, was rumored to be haunted by a little girl who would leave handprints around the basement after moving things around. Another closed down restaurant, Inside the Bungalow, was also said to be haunted by a man and a young girl; possibly the Openshaw family who lived in the building from 1916-1952. Other ghostly sightings in Mesa include the ghost of a man who roams the halls of the Phoenix Mesa Gateway Airport (formerly Williams Air Force Base), a ghostly woman who moves around the trees at Jefferson Park, and even the ghost of a little boy who was killed trying to cross the road near Eighth Avenue and Extension Road. There have also been previous reports of the auditorium building at the Mesa Historical Museum, formerly the Old Lehi School, being haunted by a school caretaker who died in the projector room in the 1970s. While the auditorium is closed to the public, staff tends to spend as little time as possible in that building. October 2019

No Clipping Required. ON AVERAGE, AARP MEMBERS ENJOY

$449

SAVINGS

ON AUTO INSURANCE

when they switch from companies like

GEICO, State Farm and Allstate Your savings could be even more!

Call The Hartford 1-844-998-0817

The AARP® Auto Insurance Program from The Hartford.1 Saving is easy! With this policy, experienced drivers who switch save an average of $449* in the first year alone — and they get all the benefits and privileges you’d expect with the AARP Auto Insurance Program from The Hartford. Your own savings could actually be greater.

96%

of customers recommend The Hartford**

n n n n

24/7 claims service Lifetime renewability† Lock in your rate for a full 12 months New car replacement§§

The only national auto insurance program endorsed by AARP.

Call The Hartford now to request a FREE money-saving quote.

1-844-998-0817 No coupon necessary.

Not an AARP member? If you’re 50 or over, request a FREE quote and more information today!

FREE duffel bag when you request your free quote!*** * Savings amounts are averages based on information from The Hartford’s AARP Auto Insurance Program customers who became new auto insurance policyholders between 1/1/18 and 12/31/18 and provided data regarding their savings and prior carrier. Your savings may vary. ** Based on customer experience reviews shared online at www.thehartford.com/aarp as of April 2019. *** The gift offer is good for first time responders who provide a valid email address. Responders will be sent an email to confirm the gift. All responders in IA, IL, MA and RI who do not provide an email address are still eligible to receive the gift The gift offer is not available in GA, ND, NM or PA, but residents may still request a quote. The gift is available only as a limited time offer. Please allow 4-7 weeks for delivery. Bottle not included. † If you are age 50 or older, once you’re insured through this Program for ait least 60 days, you cannot be refused renewal as long as applicable premiums are paid when due. Also, you and other customary drivers of your vehicles must retain valid licenses, remain physically and mentally capable of operating an automobile (not applicable in MA), have no convictions for driving while intoxicated and must not have obtained your policy through material misrepresentation. Benefit currently not available in HI, MI, NH, NC and TX. §§ Limitations apply. AARP and its affliates are not insurers. Paid endorsement. The Hartford pays royalty fees to AARP for the use of its intellectual property. These fees are used for the general purposes of AARP. AARP membership is required for Program eligibility in most states. The AARP Automobile Insurance Program from The Hartford is underwritten by Hartford Fire Insurance Company and its affliates, One Hartford Plaza, Hartford, CT 06155. It is underwritten in CA by Hartford Underwriters Insurance Company; in WA, by Hartford Casualty Insurance Company; in MN, by Sentinel Insurance Company; and in MA, MI and PA, by Trumbull Insurance Company. Specific features, credits, and discounts may vary and may not be available in all states in accordance with state filings and applicable law. Applicants are individually underwritten and some may not qualify. The program is currently unavailable in Canada and U.S. Territories or possessions. 1 In Texas, the Auto Program is underwritten by Southern County Mutual Insurance Company, through Hartford Fire General Agency. Hartford Fire Insurance Company and its affiliates are not financially responsible for insurance products underwritten and issued by Southern County Mutual Insurance Company. 006131

October 2019

On the web at www.NearbyNews.com

COMMUNITY

Board of Supervisors looks to appoint new justice of the peace By Nearby News Staff

The Maricopa County Board of Supervisors is seeking applicants for Justice of the Peace in the North Mesa Judicial Precinct. Judge Cecil P. Ash, who has served in that position for six and a half years, retired effective September 30.

Site...continued from page 1 Wetzel said, adding that he tries to get along with everyone. But in this case, he has conveyed the land as a gift to a nonprofit, nondenominational Christian organization for another purpose. Wetzel declined to name the nonprofit, but he said he is a member of its board of directors. Although he received an offer from the city for the property in December, “I thought they had forgotten about it,’’ Wetzel said. Wetzel said the city needs only 2 acres for such a police and fire facility, not more than eight acres. “That’s why it doesn’t make sense to

Per state law, the appointee, like Ash, must be a Republican who lives in the North Mesa Precinct. This person must also be a registered Arizona voter. The Board of Supervisors will fill the vacancy in the coming weeks. The person selected will run for the office in the

2020 primary and general elections to complete the term, which lasts through 2022. Applicants should send their letters of interest along with a resume to the Office of the Clerk of the Board of Supervisors, 301 W. Jefferson, 10th Floor,

Phoenix, AZ 85003 or email it to ClerkBoard@maricopa.gov. All documents filed with the clerk’s office will become public records. Applicants are subject to a background check. Applications are due no later than 5 p.m. Friday, October 11.

me,’’ he said. But Kim Fallbeck, Mesa’s real estate administrator, disagrees, at least according to her explanation during a September 12 city council study session. She said she was looking for at least a 5-acre site for the Northeast Public Safety Facility in the right location so that it would enable a reduction in response times and offer the right shape for smooth operations. Fallbeck said she identified four such sites, but the other three did not have as many attributes as Wetzel’s property, which she described as Site D on a map. “Site D is our best option for Mesa police and fire operations,’’ she said. The Mesa police and fi re depart-

ments are hoping to correct a longstanding problem with response times created by growth and the location of the Southeast Police Division, at 2430 S. Ellsworth Road, which covers more than 70-square miles and already serves the fast-growing Southeast Mesa area. After the new Northeast Mesa public safety facility opens, the Superstition District would be reduced to 50.4-square miles and the new district would be 37.1-square miles. Fire Chief Mary Cameli said an analysis found that during the last five years, firefighters responded to 1,600 calls in northeast Mesa and arrived within 4 minutes on only 39% of those incidents. Throughout the city, firefighters responded within 4 minutes – the industry standard – on 65 percent of occasions. In cases such as drownings, when an ill person has stopped breathing, it is generally recognized that brain damage starts within four minutes. In Northeast Mesa, there are calls with extended response times of 8 to 9 minutes under the most extreme circumstances, fire officials said. Fire officials estimate the new northeast district will improve response times to four minutes or less on about 65% of calls, in line with the citywide average, according to a presentation made to the council. Mesa Mayor John Giles and Councilman Dave Luna, who represents Northeast Mesa, both said they are sold on Wetzel’s property as the perfect location for the northeast Mesa facility. “Please do proceed with this location. It seems obvious this is the right thing to do,’’ Giles said. “Let’s go through this process and pay them what’s fair and get this built as soon as possible.’’ Luna was more concerned with getting northeast Mesa residents the service they deserve than Wetzel’s objec-

tions. “There’s definitely data to indicate we need a public safety facility in that area,’’ Luna said. “It’s an ideal location. It’s right off Power Road and right on Brown Road.’’ He said one strong advantage is the proximity to Red Mountain High School and Fremont Junior High School, in the event of a major incident. “That’s a huge district,’’ Luna said. “The idea is that we will have police and fire personnel ready to respond to Las Sendas and Red Mountain Ranch’’ and other residential areas in Northeast Mesa. City attorney Jim Smith said that many condemnation proceedings end in mediation, with a mediator helping to set a reasonable price to avoid disputes that end up in lawsuits. “Many people believe that going through the process, you will get a higher resolution,’’ Smith said. Councilman Kevin Thompson said he is concerned the new police and fire positions, funded by a sales tax approved by voters, will not be adequate to staff the new Northeast Mesa Police and Fire Facility when it opens. “I want to make sure every district is covered adequately,’’ Thompson said. Police Chief Ramon Batista said the department is planning a statistical analysis of calls to achieve a better balance between west Mesa districts, which have high call volumes, and growing areas in northeast and Southeast Mesa. Mesa voters approved an $85 million bond issue last year to build police and fire facilities. City Manager Chris Brady said the city is working on a new fire station near the Eastmark master-planned community and the Northeast Police and Fire Facility is probably about three years away from completion.

NOV 23RD 1-6PM

20+ BREWERIES FULL POURS FOOD TRUCKS // FALL GAMES

$5 ADMISSION UNDER 21 FREE

LIVE MUSIC BY KYLE PHELAN, HOT HOUSE ORCHIDS, BLAINE LONG & ROSAS DEL REY, & J.A.M.

MESA AMPHITHEATRE DOWNTOWN MESA

@MESABREWFEST

Nearby News • For News Around Our Neighborhood

October 2019

New contracts with recycling providers are driving up the costs, along with lower prices paid for certain commodities, such as cardboard and paper, said Scott Bouchie, the city’s director of solid waste and sustainability. He said the new contracts include a processing fee per ton and payment to the city of a percentage of a commodity’s value. These contracts replaced flat fees per ton that were more favorable to cities. The cost of recycling is now $45 a ton, based upon two new contracts that were approved by the Mesa City Council on September 23, as opposed to the $27 a ton fee the city pays for shipping garbage to landfills, he said. The next steps in a recycling “rebranding,’’ expected to be announced later this month, include closing three recycling drop off areas scattered around the city and restricting the types still be accepted for recycling. Bouchie said the easiest way to look at it is that Mesa will accept all beverage containers—milk and water jugs, highly valuable aluminum beer and soda cans, far lesser value glass bottles, plastic juice bottles—along with paper and clean metal food cans. The goal is to reduce contamination, he said, and that’s why many other common, everyday items will no longer be accepted, such as plastic laundry detergent bottles and peanut butter jars. “I like the way Surprise rolled there’s out,’’ Thompson said, describing how the west Phoenix suburb suspended recycling while better financial solutions can be found to cut losses. Surprise also encouraged residents to continue putting recyclable items in blue bins, with the idea of preserving a good habit, even though the plastic bottles, aluminum cans and other items will be sent to the landfill while the program remains suspended. “We want to be good stewards of the land and the environment, but there is a cost,’’ Thompson said, adding that Mesa risks causing confusion by restricting which items it will accept in blue recycling barrels.

NearbyNews October 2019

Mesa City Council decided to close the facility on Power Road and Adobe Street. (Photo by Dave Karasinski)

“I think there needs to be a fee or we need to suspend recycling,’’ Thompson said. But Councilmembers. Jennifer Duff, Giles and Jerry Whittaker objected for a variety of reasons and Councilman David Luna suggested better education campaigns. “We, as a society, need to participate in recycling. Putting more into the landfill is not going to create a market,’’ Duff said. “It’s not going to accelerate what we need to do.’’ She said that even with recycling, there is too much plastic ending up in rivers and oceans, and that Mesa needs to play its part in protecting the environment. Consumers also need to play a role in not buying products that they will use once and throw away, such as bottles of water, Duff said. Consumers can avoid generating plastic bottles by using a refillable water bottles, she said “We need to push for people to make some more conscious choices to avoid these materials,’’ Duff said. Another everyday example often cited by recycling advocates is to turn down plastic bags at supermarkets and other stores and to use re-usable bags instead when possible. The plastic bags are considered the number one nemesis to recycling because they gum up machinery at recycling plants. Officials recommend recycling the bags by bringing them back to

Fry’s, Target, or wherever a consumer got them. Giles said he is concerned by the rising costs of recycling, but he is not ready to emulate Surprise by suspending the program. He said he supports the new restrictions to see if they will cut the city’s losses and re-evaluating the costs in about six months. In six months, the council will need to decide if it wants to increase garbage removal rates by 50 cents per month, per barrel, to compensate for the higher recycling fees, Giles said. “I am not a fan of the Surprise model. It seems disingenuous,’’ Giles said. “I think we need a new era of recycling. I think eliminating this program is not viable. I think our citizens will not stand for that,’’ because of concerns for the environment. Whittaker, who focuses many of his efforts on analyzing the city’s finances, said he does not object to the city paying $1.5 million in increased costs a year for recycling. He said it is important not to lose prospective when evaluating the higher recycling costs, noting that the three most profitable city services are water, solid waste and wastewater. Whittaker said Solid Waste, which includes recycling, returns about a 38% profit, despite the higher recycling cost. “I don’t think we should set the precedent that we should get rid of the program entirely,’’ Whittaker said. “Solid

Get your copy today! On the web at www.NearbyNews.com

waste is an extremely lucrative business.’’ While water bottles will remain recyclable in Mesa, despite the cutbacks, there are several other items will not be accepted when the program is “rebranded’’ in coming weeks. Bouchie prefers to focus more on educating the public on the items that still will be accepted, but some additional examples of those that no longer will be accepted include large plastic bottles used for olive oil and other cooking oils, peanut butter bottles that tend to be contaminated by food waste, yogurt containers and margarine and butter tubs. Another significant change officials are contemplating is to take blue barrels away immediately from customers who throw a large amount of contaminated waste inside the blue barrels, rather than the present three strikes and you’re out approach. Bouchie said 180 blue barrels have been seized from flagrant offenders and only six have asked for them back. Mesa generates 220,000 to 230,000 tons of solid waste a year that is sent to landfills and 32,000 tons sent to recycling plants, where about 30% of recyclable materials are either contaminated or lost through the process, Bouchie said. With the re-branding, another 10,000 to 15,000 tons of recycling may be lost by accepting less materials or optimizing the program’s operation in some ways, he said. But the tradeoff is that Bouchie anticipates a significant reduction in costs. He said that overall, the city’s contamination rate is fairly low, with tests ranging from 9.4% to 12.8%. The contamination rate is far higher, however, than the Chinese government’s standard of 0.5%, a standard local contractors say they cannot hit, removing China as a customer for recycling waste, he said. The three recycling centers, where anyone could drop off trash, had a higher rate of contamination than curbside pickup and tended to attract people who are not Mesa customers, Bouchie said.

NearbyNews 13

COMMUNITY

Recycling...continued from page 1

FAMILY TIME

Familytime

Arizona State Fair returns with The Cult and deep-fried Oreos By Samantha Molina The scent of mouthwatering fried foods, heart-stopping rides and concert performances by award-winning artists like rapper Lil’ Pump and country’s Trace Adkins. Visitors can experience these things and more at the Arizona State Fair from Friday, October 4, to Sunday, October 27. “We have some truly amazing things lined up for this year’s fair,” said Jen Yee, Arizona State Fair assistant executive director. “You’re not going to want to miss this.” Fair foodies can expect the classics like Indian fry bread, deep-fried Oreos and turkey legs along with additions like the doughnut tower stick and a 2-foot-long mega corndog. However, one of the most anticipated treats to be served this year is the Flaming Hot Cheetos pickle—a pickle hollowed out and stuffed with the fiery red snack. “I remember my family and I going to the fair every year, just for the food,” said Yee, who lives in Ahwatukee. “It was like having a Thanksgiving dinner every time we went.” Thrill-seekers will get their kicks with a new ride called The Titan, a pendulum-style ride deemed the “the largest portable aerial thrill ride in the United States.” Riders are propelled 180 feet at 60 miles per hour. Not an adrenaline junkie? Be sure to

IF YOU GO What: Arizona State Fair When: Noon to 9 p.m. Wednesdays and Thursdays, noon to 10 p.m. Fridays, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturdays and 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sundays, October 4 to October 27. Where: 1826 W. McDowell Road, Phoenix Cost: $12 general admission; $8 kids 5 to 13 and seniors 55 and older. Info: 602.252.6771, azstatefair.com

The Cult (Submitted photo)

Concerts A slew of great performers will be featured at this year’s Arizona State Fair, starting Friday, October 4. Showtime is 7 p.m. and reserved seating is $40 to $60, unless otherwise noted, and that includes fair admission, too. General admission seating is free with a fair ticket. Here’s who guests can look forward to seeing.

• Billy Currington, Friday, October 4 • The Cult (above), Saturday, October 5 • Stryper, Wednesday, October 9 • Pat Benatar and Neil Giraldo, Thursday, October 10 • Fiesta Friday, Friday, October 11

check out the all-new Esports Gaming World—a must visit for all gamers. The 18-day event is equipped with more than 100 gaming stations and will include virtual reality pods, tournaments, gaming demos, professional teams and celebrity streamers. Another new attraction to the fairground includes a retro arcade, stocked with ’80s classics such as Ms. Pac-Man and pinball. The “Monster Museum” will debut just in time for the Halloween season. Fair goers can take selfies with their favorite horror characters—Michael Myers, Chucky, Frankenstein and his Bride—for $5. The Arizona State Fair will continue to host crowd favorites like rodeos and monster truck. Livestock competitions take up a large portion of the space at the fairgrounds. Yee said spending time with animals like sheep, pigs and goats and has always been a favorite pastime among women and children. “While we are an urban fair, we still try to incorporate our agricultural roots throughout the grounds,” she said. Gate admission ranges from $12 for adults and $8 for children and seniors.

However, Yee mentions that there are quite a few ways to save when visiting the fair. For the first time, the fair will feature “College Day” on October 11. Students will receive free admission from noon to 6 p.m., with a valid school ID. Popular deals are “We Care Wednesdays,” when attendees can bring in cans of food in exchange for free admission, and “Free Fry’s Fridays,” when Fry’s customers can bring their grocery receipts showing purchases of more than $50 and get two free admission tickets. “The Taste of the Fair” package will return on Fridays. This offer includes $3 rides, games and select food favorites from noon to 6 p.m. “It is so important for the fair to be affordable for the community,” Yee said. “We want anyone and everyone to come here and enjoy themselves.” The Arizona State Fair is known for being inclusive to the community. Every fall, local artists and creators are showcased and judged as competitive entries, from almost every county in the state. This year, Yee said visitors can experience a multitude of contests from “best pie” and “best chalk art” to “best world carvings.”

Nearby News • For News Around Our Neighborhood

• Lee Brice, Saturday, October 12 • Matthew West and Zach Williams, Wednesday, October 16 • Trace Adkins, Thursday, October 17 • Becky G., Friday, October 18 • Lil Pump, Saturday, October 19 • Awolnation, Wednesday, October 23 • Chase Rice, Thursday, October 24 • MC Hammer’s House Party with C + C Music Factory Featuring Freedom Williams, Friday, October 25

“We even have an Arizona landscape photography contest,” Yee said. Yee stresses the community makes the state fair what it is today. “Seeing the locals come out every year to support one another and make memories together. That’s what makes the state fair different from anything else,” Yee said. “It’s more than just a carnival. It’s a great representation of our state.” October 2019

By Laurie Struna, Mesa Public Schools

Each child is unique and there isn’t a one-size-fits-all post-secondary path for every high school student. Mesa Public Schools provides comprehensive education and resources for students and families. Dr. Michael Garcia, director of opportunity and achievement, says the goal is to ensure students are life ready when they leave high school. “Life-ready students demonstrate skill sets that include self-management, responsible decision-making and the relationship skills necessary to live happy, healthy and productive lives,” he said.

Preparing students for college success Advancement Via Individual Determination, or AVID, helps teachers shift from delivering content to facilitating learning, resulting in an inquiry-based, student-centric classroom. AVID’s mission is to close the achievement gap by preparing all students for post-secondary education. Students set goals and work toward them, so they can attend

and succeed in college. “AVID is a different way of thinking,” Garcia said. “It is a belief that our students can achieve at high levels if we push them and support them.” The district initiative #cash4college was created to improve district completion rates for the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA. Research shows FAFSA completion directly correlates with students going to college. According to Garcia, the district saw a 45% increase in student college applications in 2018-19. The goal this school year is to increase the FAFSA completion rate to 55%.

Developing passions that turn into careers Career and Technical Education sets students on pathways to workforce success. Mesa Public Schools CTE offers 24 cutting-edge programs to prepare students for high-skill, in-demand careers, including biotechnology and engineering. According to Danny Fisher, direc-

tor of Career and Technical Education, national research shows that students who take CTE courses are more likely to graduate from high school and continue their post-secondary education. Students isolate DNA from plants during the summer fun CTE biotechnology camp. (Photo by Samantha Chow) “Last year, more than 16,700 Mesa Public Schools opment curriculum at East Valley Acadstudents enrolled in CTE programs,” emy and Mesa, Skyline, Superstition and Fisher said. “The graduation rate for our Westwood high schools. The program CTE concentrators is 97%.” also provides students the opportunity While culinary, welding and automo- to earn dual enrollment credits. Skyline tive are the most popular choices, all High School’s home health aide program programs are growing. Last year, two is flourishing because students enjoy the new programs were added, providing hands-on nature of the program. students the opportunity to preview No matter a student’s future path, what their future career might look like. Mesa Public Schools provides the eduIn collaboration with Mesa Community cation, skills and resources to succeed. College, the district piloted iOS Devel-

WE SPECIALIZE IN

KITCHEN & BATH REMODELS! 0% INTEREST Financing Available!

for 18 months

*Expires January 1, 2020 See store for details.

FREE

Let us take care of your home remodel!

STAINLESS STEEL KITCHEN SINK OR PORCELAIN BATHROOM SINK ($250 Value)

with Kitchen Cabinet Order Exp. 1/1/20

480-964-4000 Celebrating 20 Years!

Family Owned & Operated ROC#174129 October 2019

www.American-Interiors.com 1909 N. Power Road #107, Mesa, AZ 85205

On the web at www.NearbyNews.com

FAMILY TIME

Preparing students for college, career

FAMILY TIME

top 10 family events real estate

mom events cal.

October 2019 reel2real

mom section

Movies on Main biz spotlight

on the town

L UX U R Y E X E CUTIVE

O F F I C E SU I T ES

comm. spotlight

Available at AMBERWOOD PLAZA in Popular Northeast Mesa

classifieds

Fully Furnished! Beautiful Shared Lobby/Conference Room Kitchen/Bathrooms ALSO INCLUDES: Utilities Phone Wifi Internet Scanner/B/W-Color Copier (Per Page)

800 PER MONTH

AMBERWOOD PLAZA NW Corner of Greenfield/Brown Road 4320 E. Brown Road, #101 Mesa, AZ 85205

Please call Tina at the office at 480-832-8161 or Billy Johnson direct at 602-377-3128 16

Celebrate Halloween and the Day of the Dead a little early with a screening of “Coco,” featuring activities, food and drinks. When: 6 p.m. Friday, October 11 Where: The Silver Lot, 219 W. Main Street, Mesa Cost: Free Info: railmesa.org/moviesonmain/ financially speaking

diy

mom cents

photo page

pasta vixen

events calendar

Second Friday in Downtown Mesa hearsay

Mesa’s Second Friday brings thousands of people to Downtown Mesa to peruse 50 artists’ works, live bands, food vendors, contests and galleries. When: 6 to 10 p.m. Friday, October 8 Where: Downtown Mesa, 1 N. Macdonald, Mesa Cost: Free Info: 2ndfridaynightout.com law talk

biz box

looking back

meet your neighbor

expensive homes

Trick or Treat Main Street

Downtown Mesa’s seventh annual Trick or Treat provides a fun and safe family experience where kids will get candy from over 25 businesses. The fun doesn’t end once their candy bag is full. Children can take photos at the spooky photo booth and get their faces painted. When: 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thursday, October 31. Where: Downtown Mesa, 1 N. Macdonald, Mesa Cost: Free Info: downtownmesa.com/totms/

Monster Mash Storytime

Join us for a not-so-spooky edition of storytime with the library’s monster puppet, Blue. Enjoy silly stories and songs to get your family boogying around the room and design a monster of your own. When: 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. Saturday, October 12 Where: Red Mountain Branch Library, 635 N. Power Road, Mesa Cost: Free Info: mesalibrary.org

October Family First Sunday

Mesa’s First Church of the Nazarene hosts this meetup at Barro’s Pizza for area families. Enjoy a slice of pizza while sharing stories with fellow parents. When: 12:30 to 2 p.m. Sunday, October 6 Where: 1925 E. Brown Road, Mesa Cost: Free Info: bit.ly/2mTUfJQ

“Frozen, Jr.”

Get the kiddos and experience the tale of true love and acceptance between sisters with the showing presented by East Valley Children’s Theater. The show will feature beloved characters, magic, adventure and humor. When: various times through Sunday, October 6 Where: Mesa Arts Center’s Nesbitt/ Elliot Playhouse, 1 E. Street, Mesa Cost: $15 Info: mesaartscenter.com

Celebrate Mesa! Family Festival

Baby Shark Live

Dia De Los Muertos Festival

How to Start a YouTube Channel Camp

The free family event brings the community together and features games, carnival rides, live music, battle of the bands, a haunted bus and food trucks. Enjoy a meal from a favorite local vendor while the children play in the bounce houses. When: 5 to 9 p.m. Saturday, October 19 Where: Red Mountain Soccer Complex, 905 N. Sunvalley Boulevard, Mesa Cost: Free Info: mesaparks.com Celebrate the Day of the Dead with the Mesa Arts Center, whose staff has unveiled a slew of activities, including art, food and culture. The Mercado Marketplace boasts over 50 vendors and fun family activities like facepainting and flower-making. When: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, October 26 Where: Mesa Arts Center, 1 E. Main Street, Mesa Cost: Free Info: mesaartscenter.com

Nearby News • For News Around Our Neighborhood

Baby Shark will dance and sing songs that have taken over the world in the last couple years. Adventure into the work of Baby Shark as he joins his friends at the bottom of the sea. The kids will enjoy the dancing and singing of some of the new and classic songs. With an upgraded ticket, the kids will even get the chance to meet their favorite characters. When: 6 p.m. Friday, October 28 Where: Mesa Arts Center’s Ikeda Theater, 1 E. Mesa Street, Mesa Cost: $29.50-$55.50 Info: mesaartscenter.com

Becoming a popular YouTuber might seem out of reach, but not anymore. Kids will learn how to create and maintain a YouTube channel while picking up tips from guest programming host, Rick Fowler, MEd, from KJZZ’s SPOT 127’s Youth Media Center. When: 1 to 5 p.m. Tuesday, October 8, and Wednesday, October 9 Where: THINKspot at Main, 64 E. First Street, Mesa Cost: Free Info: 480-644-3100, mesalibrary.org

October 2019

On the web at www.NearbyNews.com

FOOD & DRINK

biz spotlight

on the town

on the town financially speaking

mom cents

pasta vixen

By Christina Fuoco-Karasinski diy

photo page

events calendar

French-inspired bakery, Piefection, is perfection comm. spotlight

law talk

hearsay

meet your neighbor

Cheryl Standage knew a quaint, Piefection is Standage’s second career; from-scratch bakery was in her future, her first was as in corporate human rebut was also aware the sources management. odds were against her. “I’m a corporate re“The statistics show tread, if you will,” she 99% of all new food said. “I left the corpobusinesses go under rate world and started within the first year,” the bakery. I had an Standage said. “It’s a amazing career and I tough business bebelieve that every sincause the margins are gle job I had in Corposo low, and the public rate America led to my is so critical.” success here at the pie Eight years after shop. Piefection is the second career for she opened Piefection owner Cheryl Standage, who was “Plus, I’m pretty at Power and Brown formerly a human resources man- stubborn.” roads, Standage is ager. (Photos by Kimberly Carrillo) Standage doesn’t preparing to open satellite locations in have a background in restaurants, but Scottsdale and Chandler. She’ll soon she is a foodie, she said. Her innate talfinalize the locations. ent goes far with Piefection. classifieds

biz box

looking back

expensive homes

Pies await their customers at Piefection, near the corner of Brown and Power roads.

“I’ve always loved to bake and cook,” so everybody doesn’t have to wait.” she said. “It’s always been my passion, Walk-in customers are welcome as but I could never take that jump be- well, but their transactions are made cause I knew it would be a pay cut. Then, separately from the prepays. I semi-retired and had the opportunity Piefection goes beyond sweet, fruity to start the pie shop and that’s what I and creamy pies. It offers pot pies, eidid.” ther frozen for baking at home, or Piefection is a fully cooked and scratch bakery ready to eat afthat sells whole ter 10:30 a.m. pies to go. They’re Standage sells made with real chicken ($6.50) Callebaut and turkey ($6.50); Guittard chocgreen chile pork olates, as well as ($7); Italian beef real cream and ($7.50); pizza ($7); butter, and freshly chicken enchilada ground nutmeg. ($7); and Philly Wild blueberries cheesesteak ($8) Strawberry rhubarb pie is one of the traditional and Michigan pies sold by Piefection. pot pies. cherries have Family pot pies found their way on to Piefection’s treats. that serve four to five are available in Standage showcases fruity (country chicken ($17) and green chile pork ($19). apple and Georgia peach, for example, Piefection’s lunch special is a pot pie, a $14-$19) and creamy (coconut cream slice of pie and a soda for $10. and chocolate cream, $14-$17). Standage recently returned from Her most popular flavor is the apple Paris, where she visited the French pie, which is “amazing,” she said. patisseries that inspired the décor of “We do a new pie every month,” Piefection. Standage said. “The pie of the month “We actually did a lot of research to for October is the spiced apple pecan find out what their architect looks like,” cheesecake.” she said. “We went this summer and we Standage is encouraging customers to kept saying, ‘Oh my gosh, all of these order Thanksgiving pies before Novem- little patisseries look just like ours. We ber 16. Each November, they sell about nailed it.” 8,000 Thanksgiving pies. Piefection “We have a very slick process,” she 6731 E. Brown Road, Suite 104, said. “In all honesty, we’ve timed people Mesa and the average time in line is about 5 to 480-218-7437, piefectionaz.com 7 minutes. We have all the pies prepaid,

Nearby News • For News Around Our Neighborhood

October 2019

By Jan D’Atri

Angel Food French Toast

Cameo Foundation’s 31st Annual MS. SENIOR ARIZONA

2020 PAGEANT

The First & Foremost Pageant to Honor the “Age of Elegance”

Forget being over the moon. This dish is downright heavenly! I guarantee it’s going to be one of your new favorites for breakfast or a fun dessert. Angel food cake has a lot of fans— from folks who love that it’s fat free and sometimes gluten free, to people who enjoy its light, fluff y texture and taste. I made a fantastic discovery when I decided to do a taste comparison of store-bought angel food cake to a boxed angel food cake. It wasn’t even close. The boxed cake is so far superior in taste and it doesn’t get any easier than simply adding water to the mix. That’s right, nothing but water, you mix it for only a minute and a half and you don’t even grease the pan. Now that I had

Angel Food French Toast Ingredients: - 1 angel food cake, store bought or boxed cake - 6 eggs, slightly beaten - 1-1/2 cups milk - 2 tablespoons sugar - 2 teaspoons vanilla - 2 tablespoon butter - Whipped cream or Cool Whip - Maple syrup, optional - Fresh strawberries, raspberries or boysenberries

my perfect angel food cake, I was ready to beat a few eggs, milk and vanilla and turn the cake into French toast. Why did I think this would be a good idea? I wasn’t sure, but the picture was so inviting. When I made the first test run, I knew it was going to be one of my go-to favorites forever. Served with a little powdered sugar and syrup, it makes a fabulous breakfast. Or, you can arrange the angel food french toast pieces on a platter with some fresh fruit and whipped cream or Cool Whip as a tasty dessert. I hope you get to make this for mom or for your family soon and when they ask you where you got the idea for angel food French toast, just tell them it was heaven sent! Directions: Slice the angel food cake into 10 to 12 1-inch thick wedges. In a shallow dish combine eggs, milk, sugar and vanilla. Soak wedges in egg mixture for 1 minute per side. In a nonstick skillet or on a nonstick griddle, melt butter over medium heat. Cook four wedges at a time and cook on all sides until golden brown. Repeat the process. Serve in slices with berries. Top with whipped cream or Cool Whip. Drizzle with maple syrup if desired. Serve immediately.

Watch my how-to video: jandatri.com/jans-recipe/one-minute-kitchen October 2019

Pageant MC Radio Personality

Danny Davis

Saturday, March 21, 2020 6:00 p.m. Valley Vista Performing Arts Center

15550 North Parkview Place Surprise, AZ 85374

Searching for Contestants For Contestant or Pageant Information

Call (602) 788-9556 msseniorarizona2004@cox.net www.cameofoundation.org www.msseniorarizona.com SPONSORED BY:

Times Media & Lovin Life After 50 John Wallick Jewelers Sierra Winds Senior Living Applause Productions Brookdale North Scottsdale Gartman Technical Services Heritage Tradition

60 years of age or older

Celebrating 31 Years!

On the web at www.NearbyNews.com

FOOD & DRINK

what’s cooking?

FOOD & DRINK

BE DEBT FREE in 24–48 months!

If you owe more than $10,000 in credit card or other debt, see how National Debt Relief can resolve your debt for a fraction of what you owe.

Call today:

1-866-696-2697

Venezia’s teaming up with The Fix coffee By Christina Fuoco-Karasinski Domenick Montanito the area, as Montanile is le merely wanted to throw bringing Tempe-based The his pie in the ring when he Fix Drive Thru Coffee to the opened his first Venezia’s Pizempty lot between Venezia’s zeria 21 years ago in Tempe. and the gas station. He had a feeling a shop so “We’ve been working on close to ASU would pay off this for two years,” Monta— and it did. nile said. “We’ll bring even Montanile now owns five more traffic to that area, with locations, including one us being there for pizza, and in Northeast Mesa at HigThe Fix for coffee.” ley and McKellips roads. The shop boasts more His business sense paid off. than the average coffee, with Opened in 2010, Venezia has Americanos, specialty cofthrived, especially with cusfees, smoothies, milk shakes, tomers from Boeing who take ice cold brew, snobowls, inadvantage of lunch specials. fused Redbull, Italian sodas, Domenick Montanile opened the first Venezia’s Pizzeria in Tempe “When I open stores, I foteas, hot chocolate and kid’s cus on industrial zones for 21 years ago. (Photo courtesy Venezia’s Pizzeria) items on the menu, too. our corporate orders and big catering have a location out that way.” orders,” Montanile said. “There, you Venezia’s serves classics like pizza, Venezia’s have Falcon Field and Boeing and they’re pasta, calzones, wings and sandwiches, 5057 E. McKellips Road, growing. From a residential standpoint, along with items such as Zero Crust PizSuite 2518, Mesa you have Las Sendas, Red Mountain za Bowls, and cauliflower crust pizza. 480-396-2000, venezias.com Ranch and Alta Mesa. It made sense to But his acumen is going to soon add

TOM’S BBQ FAMILY OWNED & OPERATED SINCE 1988

FREE

BBQ Sandwich with purchase of BBQ sandwich, side and a drink This is No Trick, Come enjoy this delicious Treat!

Hire TOM’S PIG RIG for all your catering events.

The Pig Rig is available for corporate catering, special events, motorcycle runs, bike races, church socials, neighborhood gatherings, little league, school fairs and more. Call for more information

(480) 464-0471

TWO MESA LOCATIONS: 5005 E McKellips Mesa, AZ 85215 (480) 924-6019

1140 S Country Club Dr Mesa, AZ 85210 (480) 464-0471

Nearby News • For News Around Our Neighborhood

$5 OFF FREE

$25 PURCHASE Cannot be combined with any other discounts. Exp. 10/31/19.

BBQ SANDWICH

With purchase of BBQ Sandwich, side and a drink.. Cannot be combined with any other discounts. Exp. 10/31/19.

October 2019

FINAL OPPORTUNITY

Trovita Norte Capstone Collection is in its “final opportunity” phase of selling. Once an active citrus farm in Mesa, this community still maintains the historical charm of the grove with surrounding trees. There are not too many communities left here for new homes, don’t miss out on this opportunity.

Priced from the mid $500’s 5 Floor plans Large home sites - All single story Gated community with park - Optional casita per plan

3,295 - 4,333 Square Feet

3-6 Bed

3-6

Garage

TrovitaNorteFinalOpportunity.com 480-405-3305 Sales office is located at 3648 E. Fargo Street, Mesa, AZ 85205. Located off of the southeast corner of Val Vista Drive and Brown Road.

*All information (including, but not limited to prices, views, availability, school assignments and ratings, incentives, floor plans, site plans, features, standards and options, assessments and fees, planned amenities, programs, conceptual artists’ renderings and community development plans) is not guaranteed and remains subject to change or delay without notice. Prices may reflect base prices only and may not include lot premiums, upgrades, and options depending on stage of construction. Maps and plans are not to scale and all dimensions are approximate. All homes subject to prior sale. Any reference to the Community’s current pending “closeout/final phase” status is defined to include homes that have either closed or are still under contract and such information on homes not yet closed remains subject to change daily. No binding offer to sell or lease may be made or accepted prior to the issuance of the final AZ Subdivision Public Report for the Community. A public report is available at the AZ Real Estate Department’s website. Not an offer to sell or lease where prohibited or otherwise restricted by law. Please see a Community Sales Manager for details or visit www.taylormorrison.com for additional disclaimers. Taylor Morrison/Arizona, Inc., ROC # 179178B. © October 2019, TM Homes of Arizona, Inc., AZ DRE # CO535669000. All rights reserved.

October 2019

On the web at www.NearbyNews.com

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

entertainment real estate

biz spotlight

October 25, 2019 Unathorized OZZY

mom events cal.

financially speaking

reel2real

By Laura Latzko mom section

Beer N Bones offers scientist visits and craft brews mom cents

pasta vixen

Must be 21 or older with ID

Halloween In the Conference Center Tickets $15.00 - tickets will be sold in the Gift Shop on the town

Doors open at 8 pm

diy

photo page

Must be 21 or older with valid ID law talk

After a day of exploring the High Country, hiking, Come play our newthe Slot Machines boating or fishing, come50 in from outdoors and play inincluding our 24-hourthe Casino on 800 plus “HOT” Walking Dead! slot machines including 50 new machines or try your hand at live Blackjack or Poker. Enjoy a meal from Indian Pines Restaurant and re-energize in the Timbers Lounge with live entertainment 6 days a week. After a fun filled day, relax in our heated outdoor pool or hot tub. Dream of your next adventure in one of our 128 oversized Hotel rooms. Bring your RV to the LARGEST RV Park in the White Mountains. Now with over 500 spaces. classifieds

biz box

After a day of exploring the High Country, hiking, boating or fishing, come in from the outdoors and play in our 24 hour Casino on 800 plus “HOT” slot machines or try your hand at live Blackjack or Poker. Enjoy a meal from Indian Pines Restaurant and re-energize in the Timbers Lounge with live entertainment 6 days a week. After a fun filled day, relax in our heated outdoor pool or hot tub. Dream of your next adventure in one of our 128 oversized Hotel rooms. Bring your RV to the LARGEST RV Park in the White Mountains. Now with over 500 spaces.

Stop in at the Ski and Outdoor Shop for all your Fall fishing needs or get a jump start on your Ski Season equipment.

On Friday September 28, 2018 Hon-Dah Resort Casino & Conference Center will host the The Run to the Pines pre-car show. There will be a parade of pre-1970 vehicles. In the evening there will be a BBQ dinner, entertainment and giveaways. Open to the public. The BBQ dinner is hosted by the Run to the Pines Car Club.

Located at 777 Highway 260, 3 miles south of Pinetop, Az Located at 777 Highway 260, 3 miles south of Pinetop, Az For moreinformation informationgogototo“Hon-Dah.com” “Hon-Dah.com” For more or call 800-Way Up Hi (800-929-8744) 928-369-0299 or call 800-Way (must beUp21Hior(800-929-8744) older with ID) 928-369-0299 22

hearsay

looking back

What: Beer N Bones When: 7 to 11 p.m. Friday, October 18 Where: Arizona Museum of Natural History, 53 N. Macdonald, Mesa Cost: Tickets start at $20 for general admission; $45 VIP. Food and beverage tickets are $4 or three for $10 Info: 480-644-2230, arizonamuseumofnaturalhistory.org

events calendar

Costume Contests - Cash Prizes

comm. spotlight

MORE INFO

meet your neighbor

expensive homes

A date night or outing with friends doesn’t have to consist of a conventional dinner at a restaurant or drinks at a neighborhood bar. At the Arizona Museum of Natural History in Downtown Mesa, adults can learn about and interact with different science disciplines while also having a night out with their significant others or friends. As part of Beer N Bones on Friday, October 18, the museum will have Speed Date a Scientist Q&A sessions, a beerology panel, animal encounters, science stations, artists selling dinosaur-themed work, chances to try different craft beers and cuisine from local food trucks. Alison Stoltman, the museum’s curator of education, said guests come to the museum when they are children or have young kids of their own. This event helps to attract new audiences of adults to the museum. “This is an opportunity for us to get a new demographic into the museum of young adults that don’t often come to the museum but are interested in science,” Stoltman said. Beer N Bones is the museum’s prima-

ry fundraiser. This year, proceeds from ticket and alcohol sales and a raffle will help the museum to fund a new gallery focused on Arizona 75 million years ago and the renovation of one centered around inquiry-based learning opportunities. As part of the raffle, the museum will give away a gift basket, a dinosaur quilt and a one-of-a-kind stamp set. In the past, the event has helped to raise money for Dinosaur Mountain and educational programs. Stoltman said Beer N Bones helps the museum expand. The event, she said, was designed for young professionals who are looking for more creative, interactive experiences. Besides the museum’s lecture series, Beer N Bones is the only event geared toward adults only. During the Speed Date a Scientist activity, scientists from different disciplines are introduced in a game showstyle manner, and attendees have a chance to ask them about what they do. When a gong is rung, the participants move to a different table with another scientist. Each year, the museum brings in scientists from different specialties, such as paleontology, archeology, zoology, chemistry, planetary geology and biomedical engineering. Stoltman said this activity is fun for the guests and the scientists.

Nearby News • For News Around Our Neighborhood

“They are looking for these opportunities to get their information out into the public. This is a really great medium to do that,” Stoltman said. As part of the beerology panel, scientists will discuss beer from different angles, including the evolution of the hop plant, microbial action during the fermentation process, the effects of alcohol on brain receptors, modern-day brewing techniques and alcohol use throughout history. Throughout the evening, guests can also interact with birds, tarantulas, snakes and lizards.

Partnering organizations will offer hands-on activities such as an escape room, a forensic table or a maker space. But it comes down to the beer. Attendees can try a variety of craft beers from local breweries, as well as specialty items such as alcoholic kombucha and craft cider. The alcoholic beverages are donated by local companies. General admission tickets come with two food and drink tickets. VIP tickets have added perks such as early access from 6 to 7 p.m., four food and drink tickets, a commemorative glass and a behind-the-scenes paleo lab tour. “People tend to think of museums as being heavily funded or supported,” Stoltman said. “It takes public support to fund a museum. Events like that this are really important to supporting our goals.” October 2019

Cassette Store Day presses rewind on analog format By Samantha Molina

Record Store Day’s sibling, Cassette Store Day, will sweep 100 music stores across the country, including three Arizona indie locales. Uncle Aldo’s Attic in Northeast Mesa, Stinkweeds in Phoenix and Weird Kid Records in Casa Grande will take part in the international celebration with countries like Japan, Germany and France. Founded in the United Kingdom in 2013, Cassette Store Day aims to increase awareness of the culture and to acknowledge the importance and impact of the vintage music format. Artists like the late Jay Reatard, the Michigan ska band Mustard Plug, Dr. Dog and Prince and the Revolution keyboardist Lisa Coleman will release exclusive cassettes for the event, Uncle Aldo’s Attic is celebrating for the first time this year. It has a wide selection of cassettes, including those by Prince and INXS. “It just kind of made sense to join in,” said store owner Desi Scarpone. “We already sell cassettes so why not get involved with the event. Because

this is our first year participating, I don’t know what to expect. But I am excited to see who this event will draw in.” According to Scarpone, the store tends to sell quite a few cassettes, especially heavy metal. Customers who are interested in the format tend to range in age from 16 to 40. “I think part of the appeal with cassettes is being able to physically hold your purchase in your hand as opposed to simply clicking a download button,” he said. Scarpone said the store plans to celebrate by offering a 25% discount on cassettes. Stinkweeds will also discount cassettes for the event and offer a limited-edition T-shirt. Despite a decline in popularity after the rise of CDs, cassette sales and other analog formats are slowly making their way back into music lovers’ collections, said Weird Kid Records co-owner Jeffery Law. “This comeback of vintage formats like records and cassette tapes isn’t just

a phase or a short-lived trend,” Law said. “They’ve always been around. We are just seeing more people realize the quality that modern formats like CDs and streaming services isn’t all it’s cracked up to be.” Law also said he feels that cassettes are a way for audiences to show their loyalty and appreciation. “By streaming music or downloading songs online, you aren’t giving your money to musicians,” Law said “Artists get pennies, nickels and dimes.” Music fans can properly support their favorites by “making a physical purchase, whether it’s a tape, T-shirt or poster.” Law co-owns Weird Kid Records with his wife, Jessika Sandrowski. They say the store has a line up of activities to celebrate Cassette Store Day, from raffles and giveaways to mixtape competitions and cassette exchanges.

“We plan on making the best of the event,” Law said. “We are most excited about getting people in here, hanging out with locals and supporting their favorite artists. I think that’s the goal for all the shops celebrating Cassette Store Day.”

Cassette Store Day Participants Uncle Aldo’s Attic 6016 E. McKellips Road, Mesa, 480.218.1415, unclealdosattic.com Stinkweeds 12 W. Camelback Road, Phoenix, 602.248.9461, stinkweeds.com Weird Kid Records 1377 E. Florence Boulevard, Suite 149, Casa Grande, 630.660.9166, weirdkidrecords.com

Celebrating 120 years of high school excellence!

ince 1899, Mesa’s high schools have graduated generations of successful community members and made our city what it is today. The district will be celebrating high school programming, arts, athletics and more throughout the school year. Rivalry week: Join us Oct. 18 at 7 pm for $1 admission at the following football games: • Skyline High at Dobson High, 1501 W. Guadalupe Rd., Mesa • Mesa High at Westwood High, 945 W. Rio Salado Pkwy, Mesa • Mountain View High at Red Mountain High, 7301 E. Brown Rd., Mesa

Learn more and get involved at mpsaz.org/120. mpsaz.org | 480.472.0000 | October 2019

@mpsaz

On the web at www.NearbyNews.com

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

biz spotlight

on the town

financially speaking

mom cents

pasta vixen

events calendar October 2019

diy

photo page

events calendar

Food Truck Fridays comm. spotlight

classifieds

law talk

biz box

hearsay

looking back

Enjoy more than a dozen food trucks, along with live music. When: 5 to 9 p.m. Friday, October 4 Where: Las Sendas Trailhead Parke, 7900 E. Eagle Crest Drive, Mesa Cost: Free admission Info: korproperties.com/ mesa-food-truck-fridays/ meet your neighbor

Red Mountain Farmers Market

REO Speedwagon w/The Fran Cosmo Band and The Bellwethers

Downtown Mesa Festival of the Arts

Justin Moore w/Blaine Long

expensive homes

Red Mountain Farmers Market’s new season starts October 5. More than 50 vendors sell local produce, meats and artisan product, and breakfast and lunch are available. When: 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturdays Where: Mesa Community College, Red Mountain, 2307 N. Power Road, Mesa Cost: Free admission Info: facebook.com/ RedMountainFarmersMarket

This volunteer-run event has works by new and established artists, locally sourced food, and music. When: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. October 5 and October 19 Where: Macdonald and Main streets, in Downtown Mesa Cost: Free admission Info: dtmesafest.com

Dennis DeYoung: The Grand Illusion 40th Anniversary Album Tour

A founding member of Styx, Dennis DeYoung will perform “The Grand Illusion” in its entirety plus eight Top 10 hits—“Lady,” “Babe,” “Come Sail Away,” “Too Much Time On My Hands,” “Best of Times,” “Mr. Roboto.” When: 8 p.m. Friday, October 11 Where: Mesa Arts Center’s Ikeda Theater, 1 E. Main Street, Mesa Cost: $43-$60 Info: 480-644-6500, mesaartscenter.com

The Spouse Whisperer: Mark Cordes

The comedian delivers his critically acclaimed one-man show that starts with “love at first sight” and ends with “‘til death do us part”—and everything in between. When: 7:30 p.m. Friday, October 11, and Saturday, October 12 Where: Mesa Arts Center’s Nesbitt/ Elliott Playhouse, 1 E. Main Street, Mesa Cost: $40 Info: 480-644-6500, mesaartscenter.com

An Evening with Richard Dawkins and Amber Heard

Join bestselling author and evolutionary biologist Richard Dawkins in conversation with actress and activist Amber Heard as they discuss science, secularism and current events. This 90-minute program features an audience Q&A and

a book signing. When: 7 p.m. Wednesday, October 16 Where: Mesa Arts Center’s Ikeda Theater, 1 E. Main Street, Mesa Cost: $28-$53; $253 for VIP; free for children 2 and younger Info: 480-644-6500, mesaartscenter.com

Nearby News • For News Around Our Neighborhood

REO Speedwagon brings its classic rock sound to the Mesa Amphitheater armed with hits like “Keep on Keep on Loving You” and “Take It on the Run.” The venue has a clear bag policy. When: 6 p.m. Wednesday, October 16 Where: Mesa Amphitheatre, 263 N. Center Street, Mesa Cost: $55 general admission lawn; $79 reserved seating; $179 VIP reserved seating Info: mesaamp.com Justin Moore has built a loyal fanbase over the past decade with his traditional country sound in songs like “You Look Like I Need a Drink” and “Somebody Else Will.” Tickets from the June 1 show will be honored. The venue has a clear bag policy. When: 7 p.m. Sunday, October 20 Where: Mesa Amphitheatre, 263 N. Center Street, Mesa Cost: $45-$62 Info: mesaamp.com

Lila Downs

Dia de Muertos: Al Chile featuring Lila Downs with Grandeza Mexicana Folk Ballet Company and Mariachi Feminil Flores Mexicanas come to the Mesa Arts Center. When: 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, October 22 Where: Mesa Arts Center’s Ikeda Theater, 1 E. Main Street, Mesa Cost: $30-$55 Info: 480-644-6500, mesaartscenter.com

“Macbeth”

Southwest Shakespeare Company’s rendition of Shakespeare’s timeless tragedy of blood and ambition, witchcraft and war. When: Various times Friday, October 25, to Saturday, November 9 Where: Mesa Arts Center’s Piper Repertory Theater, 1 E. Main Street, Mesa Cost: $38 and $48 Info: 480-644-6500, mesaartscenter.com

Cody Johnson and Friends

The Huntsville native returns to Mesa with his new album “Ain’t Nothin’ to It,” which debuted at No. 1 on Billboard’s Top Country Albums chart in January. The venue has a clear bag policy. When: 5:45 p.m. Saturday, October 26 Where: Mesa Amphitheatre, 263 N. Center Street, Mesa Cost: $30 general admission; $100 VIP Info: mesaamp.com

October 2019

SAME-DAY AIR CONDITIONING & PLUMBING SERVICE

Call us for quick, honest, reliable service 7 days a week!

Air Conditioning Tune Up & Safety Inspection Limited time offer. Restrictions may apply. Call for details. Expires 10/31/19.

FREE Air Conditioning Service Call

With Purchase of part/repair. Limited time offer. Restrictions may apply. Call for details. Expires 10/31/19.

480.345.COOL (2665) Water Heater Flush 3065 N. Norfolk. Mesa, AZ 85215 westernstateshomeservices.com LICENSED • BONDED • INSURED

SENIOR & VETERAN DISCOUNTS AVAILABLE!

Limited time offer. Restrictions may apply. Call for details. Expires 10/31/19.

NO Weekend Charges NO Overtime Charges

AZROC #253810 / #321722

October 2019

On the web at www.NearbyNews.com

LOCAL BUSINESS

real estate

biz spotlight

business spotlight mom events cal.

reel2real

mom section

By Christina Fuoco-Karasinski mom cents

financially speaking

pasta vixen

Longtime butcher beefs up the meat market in Mesa on the town

photo page

diy

classifieds

hearsay

law talk

biz box

looking back

meet your neighbor

expensive homes

Prime and Angus Choice grade meats with a minimum of 30 days aging. Their chicken and pork are all natural with no sodium nitrates or added solutions. Chuck’s has fresh sausage and Boar’s Head lunch meats and cheeses. “We focus on top-quality products, the best product I can get my hands on,” he said. “The beef is USDA prime from Omaha. We’re trying to stay away from the injected stuff. “The pork and chicken are all natural and they taste like chicken and pork. We get rave reviews of our chicken, pork and beef. I carry the best product in each line that I can provide.” Besides meat, McClure offers rubs, seasonings, salsa, spaghetti sauce, condiments and barbecue sauce. Freezers carry venison, gnocchi and other dinner items.

Nancy Haircut Blow Dry Curling Iron Perm Bleach Roller Set Color

$18.00 $18.00 $10.00 $60.00 $70.00 $18.00 $56.00

Remember me!

“We make our own hamburger patties,” he said. “We have some pasta items and frozen seafood, lamb, veal, venison, pork bellies and all the side products. We have dog bones and natural dog food, too.” McClure opened Chuck ’s Butcher Block Meats on the heels of 45 years in the corporate world. “I just got tired of it,” he said. “They wanted to make things so difficult. All I wanted to do was sell groceries, and a good product at a fair price.” He’s worked for butchers since he was 16 in small-town North Carolina. McClure worked his way up from meat cutter to meat manager to supervisor. He’s come full circle, working in the store again. “I love it,” he said. “I love the customers and the customer interaction and waiting on them. That’s what drove me

to own my own business—to have time to take care of them like I would like to.”

Chuck’s Butcher Block Meats 6606 E. McKellips Road, Suite 104, Mesa 480-590-5709, facebook.com

Mini Hi light 5 foil $25.50 Partial Hi Lite 6-15 foil $55.50 Full Hi Light 16 plus $75.50 Balayage, Ombre $150.00 Color Add-On $15.00 Toner or Fuller $15.00 *Long Hair Extra

% All Services! off Expires November 30, 2019. New clients only.

Call for appointment

Signature Salon Studios 5114 E. Southern Ave, Suite #103 26

(Photos by Pablo Robles)

events calendar

Chuck McClure has longed to open a butcher shop. Judging from the traffic in front of his new store, Chuck’s Butcher Block Meats, Northeast Mesa residents agree it was the right move. “I’ll be perfectly honest with you,” McClure said. “It’s grown faster than what I thought it would. We’re where I thought we would be three to four months down the road. It’s a pleasant surprise.” Chuck’s Butcher Block Meats is looking forward to Friday, October 18, when the Mesa Chamber of Commerce will host a ribbon-cutting ceremony from 3 to 4 p.m. Open since September, Chuck’s Butcher Block Meats is a family-owned and -operated traditional butcher shop providing meat from The Greater Omaha Packing Company, which has been in business since 1920. They carry USDA comm. spotlight

Chuck McClure, owner of Chuck’s Butcher Block Meats.

480.258.1176

Nearby News • For News Around Our Neighborhood

Chuck’s Butcher Block Meats has a wide assortment of meats, condiments and sauces.

October 2019

BOOK YOUR VACATION NOW – CALL FOR LIMITED-TIME SAVINGS FROM

1,549

FROM

1,299 *

2,349 *

2,099 *

FREE INTERNET

FREE BEVERAGE PACKAGE

GREECE & HER ISLANDS

HAWAIIAN ISLANDS CRUISE & TOUR

Athens • Mykonos • Santorini

Oahu • Maui • Hawaii • Kaui

10 days, departs March - September 2020

12 days, departs year-round

Go back in time for a 10-day trip through the heart of ancient Greece. Start with 3 fascinating days in Athens, where you will enjoy visits to the Parthenon, the Acropolis and Acropolis Museum, and more, after meeting your fellow travelers at a delicious welcome dinner. Then it’s on to 2 of the most popular Greek islands— striking Mykonos, famous for its windmills, whitewashed buildings and domed churches; and Santorini, named by numerous publications as the world’s top island. Return to Athens by ferry for your final night in Greece.

Discover Hawaii on this island-hopping cruise tour. Spend 7 nights aboard Norwegian Cruise Line’s renovated Pride of America and enjoy freestyle cruising at its finest. Experience the lush Iao Valley on Maui, the beauty and charm of Hilo, Kona’s coffee-rich “Gold Coast,” and Kauai’s spectacular Na Pali coast and Waimea Canyon. Your land tour includes Pearl Harbor and Honolulu city tours, and time to relax on world-famous Waikiki Beach. Guided on Oahu by our friendly Tour Directors—your local experts.

FROM

1,749

FROM

1,549 *

1,499 *

1,299 *

FREE ONBOARD CREDIT

GRAND ALASKAN CRUISE & TOUR

CRIMSON CANYONS & MESAS NATIONAL PARKS TOUR Las Vegas • Grand Canyon • Bryce Canyon • Zion • Arches • Capitol Reef National Park • and more! 10 days, departs May - September 2020 Prepare to be awed as you experience the stunningly red rocks of these 6 iconic southwestern national parks. Formed by the elements over countless centuries, these natural treasures are still grand enough to make our jaws drop. Experience several of the most popular National Parks in America, traveling through deserts, forests, mountains, and to the very edge of one of the natural wonders of the world.

Seattle • Vancouver • Ketchikan • Juneau • Skagway • Glacier Bay National Park • Anchorage • and more 12 days, departs May - September 2020 Enjoy a cruise & tour between Seattle and Alaska including 7 nights aboard Holland America Line’s ms Westerdam and 4 nights on land. You’ll cruise the Gulf of Alaska and the Inside Passage—a sea lane teeming with marine wildlife, where you’ll pass glaciers, mountains, and lush forests, with stops in Ketchikan, Skagway and magnificent Glacier Bay. On land, you’ll go deep into Denali National Park, tour Anchorage, and see the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center.

GUIDED TOUR EXPERTS – CALL FOR YOUR FREE BROCHURE TM

Promo code N7017

CALL 1-888-281-0325

*Prices are per person based on double occupancy plus up to $299 in taxes & fees. Cruise pricing based on lowest cabin category after Instant Rebate is applied. Single supplement and season surcharges may apply. Add-on airfare available. Onboard Credit requires purchase of Ocean View or Balcony Cabin. For Hawaiian Islands Cruise & Tour, Free Internet and Free Beverage Package offers vary based on cabin category purchased. Additional service charges are required and payable to YMT with final balance for select Set Sail offers. For full Set Sail terms and conditions ask your Travel Consultant. Offers apply to new bookings only made by 11/30/19. Other terms & conditions may apply.

October 2019

On the web at www.NearbyNews.com

LOCAL BUSINESS

Desert Dixie Boutique makes customers feel at home By Christina Fuoco-Karasinski

Britni Jones loves people. Walk into her shop, Desert Dixie Boutique at Power and McKellips roads, and she’ll prove it. Jones wants to get to know her clients. Those relationships have made her fledgling boutique a hit. “I love to talk,” Jones said. “My customers are part of my family. Hopefully, if it feels fun when customers come in here, they’ll come back.” Jones opened Desert Dixie Boutique on August 17 to bring “eye-catching style and affordability to the desert in sizes small to 3X.” “I just want everybody to be able to shop here,” Jones said. “I want any age range or any size to feel comfortable shopping here. “I want to carry most of the stuff all the

Desert Dixie Boutique 2025 N. Power Road, Suite 104, Mesa 480-600-2000, desertdixieboutique.com

Above: Fall clothing has made its way to Desert Dixie Boutique. Right: Britni Jones’ dream was to open a store like Desert Dixie Boutique. (Photos by Kimberly Carrillo)

way through—small through large—but some vendors just don’t do that. They do small to large. So, I try to bring in extra stuff for our plus sizes.” Jones has a keen eye for fashion. She researches trends and then visits fashion shows and boutique discussion pages to find what she thinks her customers

would like. “I follow the trends and watch for new things,” said Jones, a Skyline High School graduate. “I want to know what’s doing well in other shops, too.” Opening a boutique was a dream of hers and her late mother, Judy Fazio, who passed away seven years ago. Fazio

created and sold dancewear and wanted to expand into fashion. Their own line was to follow. Jones, who studied cosmetology and criminology after Skyline, looks to her boyfriend, Eric Varela, for inspiration. “He’s my everything,” she said. “This is what I want to do. It works with my life schedule of us having children. I can be here in the store and be my own boss. It’s been my dream.”

year! th 4 3 r u o in Now

! PO IS HERE X E G IN N N U LONGEST-R ’S A N O IZ R A

- 12pm m a 8 • h t ov. 13 N , y a d s e n ter Wed vention Cen Mesa Contreet | Mesa, AZ 85201

rS 201 N. Cente

! G N I K R A P E E R F Lots of Pr izes a n d ! G Y iv R eawa FREE ENT INCLUDIN ys G

9-1566 5 9 ) 0 0 8 ( • 500 m (480) 898-6 orexpos.co

www.seni

Nearby News • For News Around Our Neighborhood

$100 CAS H DRAWING

Ever y Ho ur!

October 2019

BUY ONE, GIVE ONE.

ASK HOW TO GET A BRILLIANT NEW iPHONE® ON US.

Skip the line and get your new phone today! Call now. Iv Support Holdings LLC

844-469-4540

www.freephonesnow.com/after50 Ltd time. Select devices. Each req’s min. $750 on installment. Req’s new line. iPhone XR 64GB free after credits over 30 months. Credits start w/in 3 bills. If svc cancelled, R device balance due. $30 Activation, add’l fees, taxes, other charges, & restr’s apply. © 2019 AT&T Intellectual Property. All rights reserved. AT&T and the Globe logo are registered trademarks of AT&T Intellectual Property. All other marks are the property of their respective owners. NRO SF T 0119 1191 E

October 2019

On the web at www.NearbyNews.com

Three easy ways to place an ad:

Call: 480-898-6465

Email:

Visit our website:

class@timespublications.com

www.nearbynews.com

Deadline: 16th of the month for the next publication

Why re-do when you can RE-NEW? YOUR #1 CABINET REFACING COMPANY IN THE VALLEY

39 Years of Masterful Craftsmanship

0% Down (OAC) Credit Union West INCLUDED IN EVERY PACKAGE: • New custom doors • New dovetail drawers • Soft-close hinges, tracks and more

FREE $1000 VISA CARD* FREE HARDWARE* FREE SINK & FAUCET* *ASK FOR DETAILS, MINIMUM REQUIRED. MUST PRESENT AD.

Visit Our Showroom!

LIZARDPOOLS

LLC

LOCAL BUSINESS

Biz Box

Weekly Services Netting • Brushing Emptying Baskets Equipment Check • Water Testing

Other Services Pump/Motor Repair & Replacement Sand/ Water Change • Repair • Acid Wash Handrails • Filter Cleaning & Repair Pool Tile Cleaning • Green Pool Clean Up

Owners: Angela Clark, Chelsea Clark & Homer Clark ROC 303766 | 480-489-0173 P.O. Box 32200, Mesa, AZ 85275

Lizard pools@outlook.com lizardpools.com

FREE In-Home Estimates

480-361-3121

Re-NewCabinets.com

6503 W Frye Rd, Suite 1 Chandler, AZ 85228 Licensed, Bonded, Insured - ROC#293053

Scorpions ~ Black Widows ~ Ticks ~ Termites Licensed • Bonded • Insured

A-1 PEST CONTROL. LLC Valley Wide Service Family owned & operated for over 33 years Leo Renello Mesa, AZ 85207 480-981-0666 Board Certified Entomologist

John’s Window Cleaning The Owners Clean Your Windows!

1-Story $145 2-Story $165

Inside & Out Up To 30 Panes

Screens Cleaned $3 each • Additional Panes $3 each

Power Washing Available

480.201.6471 we have the tools you need to reach your customers call 480-898-6465 to advertise in Biz Box!

Nearby News • For News Around Our Neighborhood

October 2019

Email: class@timespublications.com

Visit our website: www.nearbynews.com

Deadline: 16th of the month for the next publication

HOME IMPROVEMENT

HOME REMODELING

POOL SERVICES

HOME REMODELING REPAIRS & CUSTOM INTERIOR PAINTING Move a wall; turn a door into a window. From small jobs and repairs to room additions, I do it all. Precision interior painting, carpentry, drywall, tile, windows, doors, skylights, electrical, fans, plumbing and more. All trades done by hands-on General Contractor. Friendly, artistic, intelligent, honest and affordable. 40 years' experience. Call Ron Wolfgang Office 480-820-8515 Cell 602-628-9653 Wolfgang Construction Inc. Licensed & Bonded ROC 124934

A QUALITY POOL SERVICE THAT IS PRICELESS White build up on our pool's tile line? CALL US TODAY! CPO Technician ROC 303766 LizardPoolsLLC lizardpools.com 480-489-0713

THREE EASY WAYS TO PLACE AN AD: Call: 480-898-6465

WANTED TO BUY WANT TO PURCHASE Minerals and other oil & gas interests Send Details to: PO Box 13557 Denver, CO 80201

CLEANING SERVICES RED MOUNTAIN MAIDS Homes/Offices/Commercial Low prices. Serving the East Valley for over 10 years! Prompt, courteous service $16/hr using your supplies or $18/hr w/our cleaning supplies Call 480-354-7928 or 480-206-9998

MESA HOME MAINTENANCE & REPAIR Plumbing, electric, irrigation, garage doors, water heaters, tile and drywall repairs, carpentry, handyman lists and other services. Not a licensed contractor. All work guaranteed. Sean Sornberger 480-699-7990 MARK'S HOME IMPROVEMENT AND REPAIRS 30+ years exp. Specializing in Cabinetry: touch up, repair, modify, rollout drawers, reface & installs. Upgrade your drawers and glides to get more space and access 100% of the drawer. Soft close hinges and drawer glides. Create a trash recycle center. Replace the base cabinet shelves with roll out drawers for easier access. Plumbing, electrical, paint, drywall repairs, lights, fan, etc. Not a licensed contractor Mark Griffin 480-980-1445

EMPLOYMENT PROMOTERS WANTED!! AVG PAY $19.48 - $27.33 Large Home improvement company looking for people to work at Sam's Clubs, Malls (Arizona Mills Tempe & Superstition Center, Mesa) as well as home shows events. Must be able to approach people. * HOURLY PLUS COMMISSION (DEMO BONUS PLUS % OF SALE ) * PART TIME & FULL TIME * BENEFITS FOR FULL TIME * RETIRES WELCOME * MUST BE ABLE TO STAND ON YOUR FEET

To set up a interview call Steve at 480-298-3688 Today!!

HOME & BUSINESS REMODELING & REPAIRS BY MY FATHER'S TOOLBOX Honest, Dependable, Quality Workmanship Upgrade your plumbing or electrical fixtures. Carpentry, Drywall & Painting Concierge & Computer Services Available For free consultation call 480-600-0958 We accept Major Credit Cards ROC258814

PET SERVICES YOUR PAMPERED PETS Pet Sitting - Earning the trust of pet owners for 10 years. Professional, loving pet care services personalized to your specific needs. Daily visits, dog walking, mid-day visits/potty breaks, pet taxi, and more. Pet CPR/ First Aid Certified. Fully insured with Special Property Coverage. References proudly provided. Please call Kelly Roberts at 480-229-7596 to schedule your complimentary initial meeting or visit www.yourpamperedpetsaz.com

MISSED THE DEADLINE? Place your ad online! Call 480-898-6465 October 2019

Valley Nursery Directory

WINDOWS/ CLEANING

Looking for somewhere close to home for your fall gardening needs? From saplings and shovels to fertilizer and flower seeds, everything a greenthumb desires can be found at nurseries all around the Valley.

Phoenix All Season Wholesale Growers

6623 S. 32nd St. #4, Phoenix, 602-276-0230

Arcadia Color Garden Nursery

1828 N. 52nd St., Phoenix, 602-955-4500

Arid Solutions Nursery

3815 E. Southern Ave., Phoenix, 602-437-5194

Moon Valley Nurseries

14225 N. 7th St., Phoenix, 602-904-5792

Phoenix Desert Nursery

3525 E. Southern Ave., Phoenix, 602-243-7064

Plant Stand of Arizona

6420 S. 28th St., Phoenix, 602-304-0551

SummerWinds Nursery

DIRTY WINDOWS? Call Fish Window Cleaning @ 480-962-4688 and you will have the cleanest windows and screens on the block. Below is the list of services we offer: Windows-Interior & Exterior Screens-Sunscreens/Regular Tracks, Ceiling Fans, Light Fixtures Power Washing Your driveways, sidewalks & patios Follow us on InstaGram @FISH_WCEASTVALLEYAZ

17826 N. Tatum Blvd., Phoenix, 602-867-1822

REFLECTIONS WINDOW CLEANING Make your home sparkle with the cleanest windows you've ever seen! Instant 10% discount FREE estimates BONDED and INSURED. Member IWCA 480-892-1999

East Valley

Place your AD HERE!

Western Tree Co.

3401 E. Southern Ave., Phoenix, 602-243-6125

Whitfill Nursery

824 E. Glendale Ave., Phoenix, 602-944-8479 2647 E. Southern Ave., Phoenix, 602-268-9096

Scottsdale Harperâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Landscape Co. and Gardening Centre

2529 N. Hayden Rd., Scottsdale, 480-946-3481

Moon Valley Nurseries

18047 N. Tatum Blvd., Phoenix, 480-374-3964

A & P Nursery

6129 E. Brown Rd., Mesa, 480-396-8800 2601 E. Baseline Rd., Gilbert, 480-892-7939

Arbor Care

5235 S. Kyrene Rd., Tempe, 480-491-5123

Arizona Cactus Sales

1619 S. Arizona Ave., Chandler, 480-963-1061

Desert Horizon Nursery

19250 S. Ellsworth Rd., Queen Creek, 480-987-3308

Moon Valley Nurseries

3775 W. Chandler Blvd., Chandler, 480-648-2555 1875 S. Arizona Ave., Chandler, 480-648-0603

Treeland Nurseries, Inc.

2900 S. Country Club Dr., Mesa, 480-497- 2525

V&P Nurseries, Inc.

21919 E. Germann Rd., Queen Creek, 480-917-9847

Whitfill Nursery Classified line ads are $29/mo for 20 words! Biz Box ads are $120 to $150/mo Contact Us! class@times publications.com 480-898-6465

On the web at www.NearbyNews.com

820 N. Cooper Rd., Gilbert, 480-892-2712

West Valley A & P Nursery

2645 W. Baseline Rd., Mesa, AZ, 480-839-5362

Elgin Nursery & Tree Farm

8606 W. McDowell Rd., Phoenix, 623-936-1100

Moon Valley Nurseries

11320 W. Indian School Rd., Avondale, 623-242-0370

SummerWinds Nursery

6426 W. Bell Rd., Glendale, 623-979-5296 31

LOCAL BUSINESS

Classified Ads

WE BUILD THE BEST CUSTOM HOME FOR THE MONEY IN THE VALLEY! CELEBRATING 35 YEARS OF CUSTOM HOME BUILDING

Contact Billy Johnson directly at 602-377-3128 or billy.j@amberwoodhomes.com.

THE VALLEY’S PREMIER CUSTOM HOME BUILDER

“IF YOU CAN DREAM IT, WE CAN BUILD IT.” Master Builder Billy Johnson, Amberwood Homes

With 35 years of luxury custom home building experience in the Valley of the Sun, Amberwood Homes has built a solid reputation as one of the best custom home builders in Arizona, offering exceptional quality, innovative ideas, and a commitment to project details that is unparalleled. We believe that first and foremost, it is important to have an honest and collaborative relationship with our clients. From the first meeting through to the final walkthrough, we make you our priority.

Call us today for a complimentary lot evaluation or custom home building consultation.

602-377-3128

SPECIALIZING IN: • EXCEPTIONAL QUALITY CUSTOM CONSTRUCTION • VALUE ENGINEERED PLANNING AND DESIGN • COMPLEX HILLSIDE AND DESERT LOTS • CONSTRUCTION PACKAGES THAT KEEP PROJECTS ON BUDGET • 10 YEAR STRUCTURAL WARRANTY ROC# 267740

AMBERWOODHOMES.COM 32

Nearby News • For News Around Our Neighborhood

October 2019