The Breeze - December 2019 by Times Media Group

December 2019

Mark Kleinman as Ebenezer Scrooge in Silver Star Theater’s production of “A Christmas Carol.” See more on page 24.

Mesa schools superintendent resigns, leaving mystery

Man shares love of skateboarding with Sunshine Acres

By Jordan Houston

By Christina Fuoco-Karasinski Mesa Public Schools Superintendent Ember Conley has officially resigned, leaving in her wake questions about her initial suspension and how much money the district will be paying her. Following a three-hour executive session to discuss her employment, the school board voted 4-1 during a special meeting December 2 to approve Conley’s resignation—18 months after she was hired. Conley resigned nearly two weeks after the board abruptly placed her on paid administrative leave, sparking speculation and unanswered questions among the community and district employees.

Ember Conley’s resignation was accepted on December 2. (Submitted photo)

Superintendent...continued on page 13

Omar Guerrero of Cracker & Co. is a longtime skateboarder who raised funds to buy boards for kids at Sunshine Acres Children’s Home. (Photos by Pablo Robles)

Omar Guerrero always saw skateboarding as more than just a recreational activity. The sport was something that soothed his mind and made the world better. For the last five years, Guerrero has been bringing his skills to Sunshine Acres Children’s Home in Northeast Mesa. This year, he carried with him 30 skateboards for the kids at the home on Higley Road. “In that facility, they have a little skate park, but they don’t have anyone to skate with or show them how to do stuff,” Guerrero said. “These kids, they don’t really get any outside exposure from

Skateboarding...continued on page 13

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Few Valley musicians have shaped music fans’ experiences the way Organ Stop Pizza organist Charlie Balogh did during his tenure with the Mesa restaurant. He not only made organ music relevant by performing modern music and mixing in digital samples but also charmed patrons with his humble and personable demeanor. Balogh, an iconic figure in the theater organ scene, died November 21 at age 68 of complications from a stroke. He is survived by his brother David, his wife Carolyn and his sister Joyce. Balogh worked for Organ Stop Pizza on Southern Avenue in Mesa since returning to Arizona in the ’90s. During his time working there, he often inspired and worked closely with other organists. The pizza shop employed two full-time musicians at a time

and others to fill in when needed. Organ Stop Pizza plans to honor Balogh at a later date with a special concert featuring organists who worked with him over the years. In January, world-renowned organist Brett Valliant will relocate from Kansas to Arizona to become a regular organ player at the pizza shop, splitting time with organist Lew Williams. Valliant has been a substitute organist for the pizza shop for over a decade. Like all of the organists who work at Organ Stop Pizza, Balogh created an atmosphere inside the restaurant with his music. He also helped bring in a more diverse crowd and grow the business by playing modern music. “It brought just a light-hearted and optimistic tone to the restaurant. Everything he played was very upbeat,” Organ Stop Pizza co-owner Jack Barz said. “His NNM

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Charlie Balogh developed a reputation as one of the premiere theater pipe organists in the world. (Photos courtesy Organ Stop Pizza)

goal was just to make people happy. He wanted them to hear the music and be able to feel it.” Barz said Balogh was beloved by patrons for his music and his demeanor. “In addition to being a fantastic musician, he was just a very likeable and personable person,” Barz said. “He would always talk to people during his breaks. People just absolutely seemed to love him and flock toward him. … He definitely developed a cult-like following of customers, fans and groupies.” The people that know him best will always remember his laugh. “He had a maniacal laugh. When he started laughing, it was contagious. You’d be on the floor with him. Everybody knew that laugh,” his brother David said. Along with music, Balogh was also passionate about meditation, astronomy and extraterritorial investigation. During his time at the Mesa restaurant, he performed a wide variety of music, including modern pieces by composers John Williams, Hans Zimmer and Jerry Goldsmith. He loved playing standards and classical Disney tunes such as “When You Wish Upon a Star.” Barz especially remembers his renditions of the theme song from “Hawaii Five-O,” music from “The Phantom of the Opera,” Michael Jackson’s “Thriller,” Queen’s “Bohemian Rhapsody,” and “O Holy Night.” “He’s certainly going to be missed around here. He was a pioneer in creating a whole new version of theater pipe

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organ that nobody before him has really done before,” Barz said. David says he had a wide range and could play almost anything, including classical, rock ‘n’ roll, Broadway, big band, jazz and top 40 pieces. “He was one of the organists that out of all of the requests that they get, he could play a better part of all of them,” David said. His work in creating modern arrangements started with his adaptation of Miklos Rozsa’s music for “Ben-Hur.” When he and Balogh were children, they saw the film at Radio City Music Hall, which was then a movie theater. David says Balogh was fascinated with recreating the voices of an orchestra, which led him to his work with digital enhancements. “He was able to map out all by himself the additional voices that the theater organ and his fingers couldn’t play,” David said. He would often incorporate his own original music into his digital samples. He also recorded a number of albums during his career. Over the years, Organ Stop Pizza purchased equipment such as speaker systems and digital converters, which allowed him to take his music to the next level. When he played, he didn’t have sheet music. It all came from his memory. “If there’s one musician in the United States that could claim all of the music that Charlie had in his head, I’d like to meet him or her,” David said. Charlie was part of designing and

Organist...continued on page 12 December 2019

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Officials: Opioid addiction doesn’t discriminate By Alyssa Avila When Mesa Police detective Aaron Raine responded to a drug overdose call in 2009, he didn’t expect what he saw. A 16-year-old straight-A student lying unconscious in a Denny’s parking lot, barely breathing with almost no pulse. Her friends were nowhere to be found. He was shocked they abandoned the girl. “It was two completely different worlds,” Raine said. “It was the polar opposite from what you expect of an overdose.” Raine’s story and others like it show anyone can become addicted to opioids. Although the addiction numbers increase every year, more programs and actions are trying to slow that rate. Mesa Fire and Medical Department data reveals that overdoses in the city more than doubled across all age groups and genders since 2017. Natalia Chimbo-Andrade, president of Community Bridges’ community education and outreach department, says addiction and opioid addiction doesn’t discriminate. “It can be anyone from any walk of life,” she said.

According to Mesa Fire, opioid overdoses kill more people than car crashes and murder combined. This year, 188 people have fallen victim. “That is mind-bending because of how much we spend on trying to reduce gun violence, trying to reduce traffic collisions and trying to reduce drinking and driving,” Raine said. The Arizona Department of Health Services reported benzodiazepine, fentanyl, heroin and oxycodone are causing the most overdoses. One drug that rapidly increased in popularity since 2017

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is fentanyl, a pain reliever drug that’s 50 to 100 times stronger than morphine. It’s normally given to cancer patients to relieve pain. Dr. Daniel Brooks with Banner Health’s Poison and Drug Information Center chalked up the rise of fentanyl to stricter prescription regulations. Brooks is concerned because people are turning to illegal versions of fentanyl. It’s like playing a game of Russian roulette. “They often don’t know what they’re taking and don’t know the dose they’re getting,” Brooks said. “Illicit drug

Opioids...continued on page 9 December 2019

makers don’t accurately measure it and they don’t do quality assurance. They just put the drug in the pill and sell it.” Fentanyl is the country’s most dangerous drug because it’s measured in micrograms, making it easier for people to accidentally take large doses, said Stephanie Siete, Community Bridges public information officer. Additionally, Raine is seeing an increasing number of illegally dealt fentanyl. “Drugs like fentanyl are taking overdoses to a whole new level,” he said. Programs under Mesa Police Department, Banner Health and Community Bridges are examples of community efforts that have been established since Gov. Doug Ducey’s emergency public health declaration. As part of Ducey’s plan for combating opioids, Mesa Fire staff received Naloxone, a treatment that reverses opioid overdoses. Since 2017, more than 60,000 Naloxone doses have been dispensed. Data from Mesa Fire and Raine confirm the use of Naloxone has saved more than 400 lives. Raine called the treatment “truly remarkable.” He said Naloxone acts as a sponge as it sucks the opiates out of the body’s system. The person then goes into immediate withdraw, vomiting and angry, but alive. “It’s just like astonishing how quickly it just brings them back from the brink of death,” he said. “They can go from two or three respirations a minute, then within 30 seconds they’re talking to you, awake.” Raine said when the fire department arrived at the Denny’s parking lot, they used Naloxone to save the 16-year-old girl’s life. Another part of the governor’s plan for the opioid crisis was the Arizona Angel Initiative program, where local police departments help connect opioid addicts to treatment. The Mesa Police Department adopted this program earlier this year and established drop-off stations for people to return their opioid prescriptions without December 2019

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legal consequences. However, Raine reported the Angel Initiative can’t be used often because the initiative only allows a person of no more than three drug-related arrests to qualify. “Traditionally a person who’s addicted to opioids, they’ve blown past that three arrests,” he said. “The bottom is racing up at them by the time they’re like, ‘OK, I need some help.’” The Arizona Opioid Assistance Referral Line at Banner Health assists with the initial phone call and follows up. “Our nurses and pharmacists will pick up the phone and answer it and help them in real time,” Brooks said. “This is the first one of its kind in the country, and we’re just hoping to expand it.” As part of the Community Education and Outreach Program, Chimbo-Andrade has worked closely with Mesa Public Schools. “We’ve been talking to them about the dangers of substances and make sure prevention efforts are strong in the school district,” she said. “It’s really important because that’s going to help combat this crisis.” As the opioid crisis continues nationwide, Brooks and Siete agree the best way to stop the crisis from worsening is changing people’s attitude of the “magic pill.” “It’s a unique thing in the U.S. that we look for magic pills for everything,” Brooks said. “We want things quickly; we want to move on to the next thing. That’s not how it works.” Siete agreed. “I think we need to find alternative ways to solve our problems,” Siete said.

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Jiro “Zedo” Ishikawa’s credo of “Carry On” is familiar throughout Mesa. It was a mantra for not only Mesa High School, but Mesa as a whole. Zedo was the only son of Japanese immigrants Kurataro and Hatsune Ishikawa, one of the earliest Japanese families to settle in Lehi and become local farmers. As a teenager, he was a star football quarterback at Mesa High School and an active Boy Scout. On the evening of September 21, 1932, at the age of 17, Zedo was returning home from a Boy Scout meeting when he found two dogs fighting on the family farm. Dog fights were common, and he did what he would normally do—grabbed a shotgun and fired a warning shot to scare away the dogs. These dogs, however, were especially relentless, so Zedo resorted to using the butt of his gun to try and break up the fight. The gun discharged and the bullet hit Zedo in the chest.

He was rushed to the hospital, and he realized the extent of his injury. Mesa High was set to play its rival, Gilbert, the following day. Zedo told his father, “I don’t think I’ll be able to make it to the Gilbert game tomorrow night, so tell Coach Coutchie and the boys to carry on.” Zedo died the next morning, and the football team lost to Gilbert. However, Zedo’s last words became a rallying cry, and the team won the Arizona football championship the next year. Mesa High School also adopted the motto, making it an integral part of the school. In 1933, the music and English teachers used the phrase to write the school song. “Carry On” is used in the school song, at sporting events and in yearbooks, and is plastered around Mesa High School. Every year, the Mesa High football players clean the city of Mesa Cemetery in honor of Zedo, who is buried there. There is also an Ishikawa Elementary School in Mesa in honor of him. Eighty-seven years later, Zedo continues inspire Mesa High students and the entire community. Kurataro Ishikawa and son Zedo in 1918.

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Charlie Balogh played jazz, rock, top 40, classical and other genres on the theater pipe organ during his time at Organ Stop Pizza.

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building the shop’s Mighty Wurlitzer Organ. He also helped David, a retired band director, to perform maintenance on and tune the organ. David said he and his brother learned from each other because they approached music slightly differently. “He listened with different ears than I did. I was for the most part the orchestral musician, listening to the difficulty of the players, the woodwinds, the strings or percussion. He listened to the melodic development,” David said. In 2000, Balogh was recognized for his role in shaping theater pipe organ music with the American Theatre Organ Society’s Organist of the Year Award. Before his long tenure at the Mesa location, he did theater organ music at the Roaring ’20s restaurant—later Good Time Charley’s—in Grand Rapids, Michigan, for 14 years, and worked at other Organ Stop Pizza locations in the 1970s. Originally from New Jersey, Charlie had the chance to play all over the United States and in Greenland, England and Australia. “He was very sought after because of his unique arrangements,” David said. “There are other organists who tap into it, but not on the level that Charlie did. That was because his waking hours were spent doing that.” Early in his career, Balogh played the organ at the family’s Hungarian reformed church for about four years before he began gigging in Philadelphia and New York. “He played all by himself with whatev-

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er Hammond organ they had, in smokefilled rooms. …He had to endure some really hard playing hours because most of these places would allow him to practice, but only at 1 or 2 in the morning,” David said. He also played in rock and jazz groups in high school and dabbled in the accordion, performing Hungarian folk music compositions called csardas for local festivals and events. He studied classical organ formally at Trenton State College. Balogh started playing music at age 11. He and his siblings grew up in a musical household, with a mother who played the piano and organ. Her father and brother were violinists. “There was a piano in the house. There was an organ in the house, plus all of my instruments, plus all the relatives’ that came over,” David said. Their mother taught them to appreciate jazz standards from composers such as George Gershwin. David said she taught both of them to have high standards for their playing. “You had to be on your toes when my mom was around. We really couldn’t skip anything. She was the one if there was a wrong note, she was right on you. I always remember him getting upset, but he knew she was right,” David said. With Balogh’s sudden passing, his family has incurred medical, funeral and other expenses. Friends, family and fans can share their stories and help give back to Charlie’s family through a GoFundMe account established by David. Go to gofundme.com/f/charlie-balogh. December 2019

skateboarding. “I’m a strong believer that skateboarding can save lives. A lot of people see it as just board and wheels. But I know how therapeutic that can be when you come from tough situations and need a release other than drugs and violence.” He learned about Sunshine Acres from a Grand Canyon University employee at a skateboarding event. The employee, whose name Guerrero didn’t recall, asked him if he wanted to bring his skills to Sunshine Acres. “I saw all these skaters, and it inspired me to do better,” Guerrero said. “I’m helping pass on the tradition or inspire someone else who wants to be greater than me. When this came about, I said I would go there and demo and skate with the kids.” He was hooked. Guerrero asked his employer, Crackers and Co. on Greenfield and Brown roads in Northeast Mesa, if the staff would help him in his efforts to collect money for skateboards. The owners, Steve and Veronika Luko, sold a chimichanga special throughout September. Through it, they raised $1,400. “Veronika and Steve were amazing to do this for me,” he said. “We were able to raise enough money to purchase 30 complete skateboards.” Steve Luko is proud of his employee. “Omar is very active with Sunshine Acres and he’s always trying to reach out to the kids through this medium, which is skateboarding,” Luko said. “He

Omar Guerrero of Crackers & Co. performs a trick on his skateboard.

asked us if we would be willing to support the cause, and of course we did. “He bought 30 skateboards and he customized each one of those skateboards himself. He put a lot of labor and love into them. They’re all decked out with graphic designs on the boards. He wanted each child to have a unique one.”

Skateboard lifestyle When Guerrero was growing up, it took him a while to realize he doesn’t need anybody to skate with him. “Once I realized that, I hit the parks hard or the streets by myself,” said Guerrero, who lives in Phoenix. “I was sad and depressed and lonely. If my girlfriend left me or I lost my job, I would go skateboard until I felt better. “I’ve gone to Mexico City for a while and I didn’t know anyone. I listened

to the skateboard’s wheels. The next thing I knew, I ran into a group of skaters. They showed me around the city, the plaza, the parks, and took me to parties. I was out there with these kids from noon to midnight.” He wants the kids at Sunshine Acres to have a similar love affair with skateboarding. Along with Crackers and Co., Guerrero recruited Cowtown Skateboards and Uncle Skate. Guerrero was a little short financially, so Cowtown threw in an extra $300 so he could have 30. “They were really amazing,” Guerrero said. “They ordered the boards, and all of them were the same. So, I sat down at Cowtown and put different colored grip tape with different patterns on them.” Trent Martin, who owns Cowtown Skateboards in Tempe, Phoenix, Goodyear and Glendale, said he admires Guerrero’s work. The two are longtime friends. “It’s a quality complete (set) that the

Nancy

Superintendent...continued from page 1 The board at the time only said her suspension was nondisciplinary. “The district is looking forward to getting accurate information out,” said board President Elaine Miner December 2. “We look forward to moving forward.” “We care about this district and we believe we are doing what is right,” she continued. Board member Kiana Sears cast the lone vote against the resignation, saying only that she disagreed with the “financial provision” of the district’s departure agreement. The board said it would make the terms of its departure agreement with Conley available soon, but gave no indication when. Conley’s original contract stated that December 2019

she could receive hundreds of thousands of dollars in payouts if she were ever to be fired, but because she resigned, it is unclear what the district might pay her. Retired Mesa Associate Superintendent Peter Lesar will fill in as the interim superintendent for the time being. Lesar, who worked in the district for 32 years, said he is looking forward to stepping up to the plate. “I’m inspired by the dedication and commitment of our leaders, teachers and support staff and look forward to working side by side with all of you,” Lesar said. “I am hopeful that my experience, established relationships and familiarity with the district will add stability during this transitional time,” he added.

kids received,” he said. “Sunshine Acres is awesome for the kids. Skateboarding at the park is a great outlet for them. “It’s something you can do on your own. You don’t need a team—just a skateboard and time. I’m sure it really helps some of these kids and gives them something as an outlet. It’s rad what Omar is doing.” Martin is hosting additional fundraisers through the end of the year to raise money for additional skateboards for Sunshine Acres and other nonprofits throughout the Valley. Visit cowtownskateboards.com for more information. Shamrock Foods then came on board to bring four cases of chocolate and regular milk for the kids when Guerrero brought the skateboards to Sunshine Acres. DJ Not Goth provided the music. “He donated his time and came out to the event,” he said. “The kids were swarming him. They had never seen a DJ set up in real life. They were pushing the buttons, asking him how to mix and how to change tracks. They were having a great time out there. “Skateboarding is not just a toy. It’s more than that. It’s a community.”

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Zoppe: An Italian Family Circus also hosts a circus school for children. (Photo courtesy Chandler Center for the Arts)

Females throw their hats in the ring at new Zoppe Family Circus show By Laura Latzko For families like the Zoppes, the circus isn’t just a way to make a living. It is part of their identities. The Zoppe family’s circus, in its 177th year, will make its annual visit to Chandler from Thursday, December 26, to Sunday, January 5. Seven generations of the family have been part of Zoppe: An Italian Family Circus. The family circus was started in Italy in 1842 by French clown Napoline and Hungarian equestrian ballerina Ermenegilda and was moved to the United States by equestrian Alberto Zoppe in the 1940s. Throughout the circus’ history, matriarchs have played a strong role in keeping the family tradition alive. Emma Zoppe was especially instrumental in making sure the circus survived through tough times of famine and war. In honor of Emma Zoppe, the family circus will present a new show entitled “La Nonna,” a term used for a grandmother in Italian. Giovanni Zoppe, a sixth-generation circus performer and the family circus’ director, said the new show is centered around and showcases the talent of female performers. Around 80% of the cast is made up of female performers from around the globe. In each generation, one family member has really taken the reigns of leading the family circus. Emma was this person from the 1920s to the 1940s, and her son, Alberto, took over after her. “This truly is a celebration of her life. This show is about the strength, power and beauty of all women—the Zoppe women in particular,” Giovanni said. Giovanni hopes the show will empower women and promote tolerance of others and equal treatment of people from different backgrounds. “The circus has always been an 14

equal-opportunity employer because we’ve always accepted everybody,” he said. “No matter what country you are from, what color you are, what race you are, what religion you are, everybody’s always accepted.” Giovanni said Emma endured a lot in her life, but remained dedicated to the circus. When the circus was bombed, she watched helplessly as the animals died. “My grandmother was in tears, on her knees crawling back to the show,” Giovanni said. “Our animals are our lives for circus people. It’s what we live for—our animals.” Giovanni said she is a testament to the strength of the Zoppe family’s strong women. “The show collapsed multiple times, and she would always bring it back,” Giovanni said. Like men in the show, female performers have always taken on different roles, including helping to set up and take down the tent. “The women don’t just walk in a ring and take a bow. They also drive the stakes, put the tent up, help to drive. The women do everything on our show,” Giovanni said. Now, Giovanni; his sisters, Tosca and Carla; and their spouses have been upholding the family tradition with clown, equestrian and dog acts, respectively. During the shows, Giovanni plays an Auguste-style clown named Nino. Within this role, he showcases his circus skills that includes trying to take the attention away from other performers. “You’re not supposed to play with other people’s props in the circus—that’s rule No. 1—but I always did,” Giovanni said. This year, he will be play opposite a Russian-inspired babushka character named Natasha Vodkavitch, portrayed by ringmistress Aimee Klein. Giovanni brings a Venetian comedic

style of clowning known as Commedia dell’arte, and Klein plays the more serious clown to his fool. This is the first time the family circus has had a ringmistress. The show will also break new ground with female-centered acts developed or reworked specifically for the show. Audiences will have a chance to see the Zingara Riders, an all-female group of Cossack trick riders. This Russian style of riding is fast-paced and dangerous. “These women are jumping on and off and doing incredible feats and going underneath the belly of a horse,” Giovanni said. The circus will also showcase an all-female group of ﬂyers from the Santos family, another multigenerational circus family. For the first time, 6-year-old twin sisters Alice and Elise Santos will perform the Perch Pole Act. The show will have performances of Mongolian contortionism and an aerial act with two sisters performing on a lyra apparatus. It took some time to find the right performers and develop new acts for this show. Giovanni’s daughter, Chiara,16, played a key role in writing and directing the show. Giovanni hopes she and her brother, Julien, a 10-year-old clown, will continue the family’s circus tradition, but he isn’t pressuring them. “If the next generation wants it. I don’t want to force any generation to do it, but if they really like to do it,” Giovanni said. “My daughter is really showing a lot of promise. …I have a strong feeling she’s going to be a huge part of what we are doing here in the future.” The show will have a similar intimate

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feel as others presented by the family circus. The audiences are no more than 20 feet from the action, and their senses are all engaged, especially when the horses are running around the ring. Giovanni, his sisters, their spouses and his children are part of an extended circus family that includes the other performers. Each year in Chandler, they set up and fill stockings and hold a Christmas dinner inside the ring. Giovanni grew up learning bareback riding, clowning, juggling and trapeze arts from his father and other performers from the time that he was young. He can’t imagine another life than the one he lives. “I don’t know what a stationary life is. Normal life to me is what I am doing,” Giovanni said. During the Chandler engagement, members of the circus will do a threeday circus camp from Monday, December 30, to Thursday, January 2, where children ages 7 to 13 can learn low-wire performing, balancing, clowning and jugging. Giovanni said that the circus school not only teaches children circus skills but helps instill confidence in them. “When they are in that ring that last day, they just really shine like crazy,” Giovanni said.

IF YOU GO What: Zoppe: An Italian Family Circus When: Various times Thursday, December 26, to Sunday, January 5 Where: Chandler Center for the Arts, 250 N. Arizona Avenue, Chandler Cost: $15-$40 Info: 480-782-2680, chandlercenter.org

December 2019

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Movies on Main

Get ready to watch Santa come to town along with his trusty helper, Buddy, in the family classic “Elf.” Activities, food and drinks are also featured. When: 6 p.m. Friday, December 13 Where: The Silver Lot, 219 W. Main Street, Mesa Cost: Free Info: railmesa.org/moviesonmain financially speaking

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Second Friday in Downtown Mesa

Mesa’s Second Friday brings thousands of people to Downtown Mesa to peruse 50 artists’ works, live bands, food vendors, contests and galleries. This month’s theme is “Art Attack.” When: 6 to 10 p.m. Friday, December 13 Where: Downtown Mesa, 1 Macdonald, Mesa Cost: Free Info: 2ndfridaynightout.com law talk

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Family Craft Extravaganza

Head to the library for a holiday craft extravaganza! It will have stations set up for you to create awesome winter goodies, and THINKspot will be full of cheer and holiday-themed STEAM activities. Take a breather from the holidays and enjoy an afternoon of crafting with the whole family. When: 4 to 6 p.m. Tuesday, December 10 Where: Mesa Main Library, 64 E. First Street, Mesa Cost: Free Info: 480-644-3100, mesalibrary.org

Downtown Mesa Festival of the Arts

This festival features the work of established and emerging artists, including woodworking, metal crafts, food items, jewelry, art, photography, handmade soaps, and holiday gift items. Over 60 vendors, food and live music will be in attendance. When: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturdays December 7 and December 21 Where: Downtown Mesa, S. Macdonald Street and Main, Mesa Cost: Free Info: dtmesafest.com

Mesa Arts Festival

This festival is the best place to kickstart your holiday spirit and finish off your shopping list. Snack on culinary delights as you stroll through the wide array of handmade offerings from local, regional and national artists. Bring the family for free hands-on activities and enjoy music performances throughout the event. When: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday December 14 & Sunday December 15 Where: Mesa Arts Center, 1 E. Main Street, Mesa Cost: Free Info: mesaartscenter.com

“Yes, Virginia, There is a Santa Claus”

Get ready to watch two compelling stories come together in this heartwarming play inspired by the famous editorial by

December 2019

Francis P. Church, “Yes, Virginia, There is a Santa Claus.” On Christmas Eve, 1897, in New York City, 8-year-old Virginia is left pondering whether or not Santa really exists after a series of unhappy events. Meanwhile, a young newspaper editor also struggles against tough holiday times, as he is faced with losing his job if he can’t find his writer’s voice by morning. The spirit of Christmas is about to bring these people together, creating in the process an unforgettable and cherished part of classic Christmas folklore. A great holiday show for the entire family. When: Various times Thursday, December 5, to Sunday December 15 Where: Mesa Arts Center, 1 E. Main Street, Mesa Cost: $15 Info: mesaartscenter.com

Merry Main Street

An evening full of music, food and ice skating to get the entire family pumped for Christmas. When: 5 to 9 p.m. Monday through Friday, noon to 10 p.m. Saturday and Sunday Where: Winter Wonderland Ice Rink, 20 E. Main Street, Mesa Cost: $8-$10 Info: merrymainst.com

Lights at the Farm

The tradition of wholesome family fun continues this holiday season as Vertuccio Farms presents over 2 million dazzling lights—stretching over 10 acres—all of which are synchronized to a variety of Christmas classics. It is a spectacular walk-through, interactive journey. When: 5:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday to Thursday, 5:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday Where: Vertuccio Farms, 4011 S. Power Road, Mesa Cost: $10-$12 Info: vertucciofarms.com

“Scrooge: A Classic Tale”

Come see this Gospel adaptation of the classic Dickens story. This theatrical production is a Living Word Christmas tradition for the entire family. Join before and after the event for cookies and cocoa, and enjoy an evening of Christmas spirit. When: 7 p.m. Saturday December 7 Where: Living Word Mesa, 3520 E. Brown Road, Mesa Cost: Free Info: eventbrite.com

“Live Nativity: Celebrate Christmas”

Be sure to bring your children and grandchildren to enjoy the story of the birth of Jesus. There will be hot dogs, hot cocoa, cookies, hayrides, crafts and games for all ages. When: 6 to 8:30 p.m. Saturday, December 14, and Sunday December 15 Where: Boulder Mountain Community Church, 9390 E. McLellan Road, Mesa Cost: Free Info: bmcchurch.org

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Ages 2-12. Limit of two (2) kids tickets with purchase of a full-priced adult ticket. Restrictions, exclusions and additional charges may apply. Subject to availability. Purchase tickets at venue box office or ticketmaster.com.

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Mesa Public Schools builds an educational workforce By Laurie Struna Mesa Public Schools is not only the largest school district in Arizona, but also the largest employer in Mesa. The district continues to develop a strong educational workforce by investing in their employees through building a positive culture, professional development and growth. Shaun Holmes, associate superintendent of human and capital resources, said great employees stay at jobs for a variety of reasons, including a belief in leadership, encouragement, feeling valued, meaningful Dr. Walt Temme, orchestra teacher at Mountain work and mentorship. Competitive View High, demonstrates proper technique during wages are also key for retaining and class. (Photos by Tim Hacker/Mesa Public Schools) Holmes shares that with a 10% emattracting quality staff. “The 15%, community-approved bud- ployee participation rate, this year disget increase allows Mesa Public Schools trict participants will save a total of $7.8 to maintain our efforts to provide com- million in debt payoff and savings. petitive pay for our teachers and staff and continue to improve school safety Supporting teachers’ while we prepare students for college impact in the classroom In the classroom, resources such as and career,” Holmes said. professional learning, instructional Providing employee benefits coaches and mentor programs are anMesa Public Schools provides unique other benefit. value-added benefits for employees, “If a teacher needs direct support including Dave Ramsey’s SmartDollar regarding managing behaviors in the program. This year, the district rolled classroom, there are 14 instructional out the financial wellness program so coaches and 15 professional learning all benefits-eligible employees may par- staff members at a one-trainer-perticipate. 2.5-school ratio dedicated to providing “If an employee is stressed out about teacher support,” Holmes said. finances, then they are coming to work Mesa Public Schools partners with Arfatigued by the strain,” Holmes said. “If izona State University’s Mary Lou Fulwe can empower employees to get out of ton Teachers College to provide associdebt and save money, they will be hap- ate teaching opportunities. Currently, 87 pier and more productive.” teacher interns participate in a unique paid internship opportunity at 17 district schools. The experience provides layers of support for partnering interns, including mentor teachers, collaborative teams and an ASU program adviser. “The teacher intern program is an excellent opportunity for someone to get their foot in the door,” shared Michelle Guanell, professional learning department specialist. “Young teachers get to know and fall in love with Mesa Public Schools, and when they see what we offer, they choose to stay.”

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Salk Elementary fourth-grade teacher Soumalee McNamara participates in professional development with her team.

December 2019

Mesa’s Vertuccio Farms lights it up for the holidays By Haley Lorenzen Over 2 million Christmas lights, 85,000 feet of electrical wire and 10,000 hours of planning came together to create Arizona’s largest walk-through synchronized light show in Mesa this holiday season. Vertuccio Farms, 4011 S. Power Road near Elliot Road, is hosting the second Lights at the Farm, which combines 21 classic holiday songs and dazzling light displays with plenty of other family-friendly activities. “I enjoyed putting this up, but it’s always nice to just walk around and listen to what people are saying and look at the reactions on their face. The children, their eyes light up, and you know, it takes you back to when you were a child,” said Daniel Dille, the director of Lights at the Farm. Dille has been in the Christmas lights industry for over 16 years, creating his first show in Oregon, which is still running. However, Dille said the one thing that sets Lights at the Farm apart from most other Christmas light shows is the fact that visitors can go at their own pace. Unlike many other shows where attendees ride a train or a wagon while viewing lights, individuals at Lights at the Farm can walk where they choose. “If you get on the train, you’re set to a time,” Dille said. “And then you’re done. This, they could come in and spend two hours and go through it and they don’t have to feel like, ‘Hey, I’m constrained to where I can go.’” Vertuccio Farms was established in 1979 by Joe and Maria Vertuccio, who had immigrated from Italy. Originally, the Vertuccios planted watermelon and citrus, and later added other crops and the option for customers to pick their own produce. Their son, Cono Vertuccio, now runs the farm with his family. Although they still grow plenty of produce, Cono said they now focus more on the “agri-tainment” side of things. Although this is only the second year of Lights at the Farm, Vertuccio Farms has held a fall festival for over two decades. “It’s a perfect collaboration. We’ve always, for over 20 years, dealt with famDecember 2019

Above, More than 2 million Christmas lights and 85,000 feet of electrical wire went into Lights at the Farm. Right, Cono Vertuccio, left, owner of Vertuccio Farms in Mesa, and Daniel Dille, director of the Lights at the Farm holiday light show, think they have the perfect collaboration. (Submitted photos)

ilies for our fall festival and other events. Danny is more of a technical guy and he had the knowledge and the ability to build a show like this, and we just put two and two together and it just works,” Vertuccio said. Dille and Vertuccio were first inspired to start a Christmas light show a few years ago, after Dille took him to a friend’s Christmas light show in Alabama. “It kind of sparked the ideas of how this would all come together,” Vertuccio said. Dille also explained that since Vertuccio Farms holds a fall festival, it is much easier to set up for the light show, as most similar light shows take place in vacant lots where everything has to be hauled in.

Thankfully, he said, having the light show at the farm saves his team a lot of time for set up. The light show itself takes about an hour to walk through if you want to hear every song, Dille said. “It’ll be an hour before you’re gonna hear the same song again. And by then, you’re gonna be so high on hot chocolate that it doesn’t matter anyway,” Vertuccio added. With a team of around 10 workers, the lights only take around two weeks to set up. However, it took six months to program each song by the millisecond to the lights.

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“The lighting and song process are done through sequencing software. What you do is you take a dimmer pack—which everything is connected to a dimmer pack—that dimmer pack receives a command, and the command says turn this on in red, turn this on in white, and it sends those commands down the line,” he explained. The 2 million Christmas lights are made up of a mixture of LED strands and RGB full-color strands, with over 98% of them lit with LEDs. The lights are connected with other equipment with over 14 miles of cable. “One guy worked every day for six months for six to seven hours a day programming this show. It’s very intricate and very tedious work,” Dille added. This year, along with the traditional holiday songs, there will also be a special section of the light show dedicated to veterans, Dille said. Not only can families check out the Christmas light show, there’s a wide array of activities for children and adults alike. After grabbing some hot chocolate and making some s’mores, visitors can go ice skating, play Ping-Pong or get lost in the pallet maze, while children can take photos with Santa or meet Anna and Elsa from “Frozen.” “You know, we feel like we’re giving back to the community. We feel like we’re actually doing something really good for people to come out and enjoy,” Vertuccio said. Dille added, “You don’t know what impact you’re making for that parent. It may be the only thing they get to do for Christmas, and it was something they could afford to do. Maybe they don’t get to go anywhere else, but at least they came in here and walked out with a smile on their face.”

IF YOU GO What: Lights at the Farm When: 5:30 to 10 p.m. Sunday to Thursday; 5:30 to 10:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday; closed December 24, December 25 and December 31 Where: Vertuccio Farms, 4011 S. Power Road near Elliot Road, Mesa Cost: Tickets start at $10 online Info: vertucciofarms.com/ christmas-light-show

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2 Red Mountain High School runners find success after injuries By Alyssa Avila Two Red Mountain High School student runners overcame self-doubt and old injuries to break new ground at this year’s Arizona Interscholastic Association State Cross Country Championship on November 16. When Red Mountain High School junior Thomas Sowell crossed the finished line as the leading runner for his team, he couldn’t be more thrilled and tired. “My goal was to be in the top 15 runners,” Sowell said. “I really just wanted to get myself there after having been injured this year.” Despite having a strained calf muscle for most of the season, Sowell placed 12th with a time of 16:04.8, a new personal and course record, winning him a medal, the first medal the high school has seen in 10 years. The boys’ team itself placed sixth overall in division one for the state with a score of 173. Red Mountain senior Niki Hemmerlin placed eighth with a time of 18:49.5, setting a new course record and earning a medal for the girls’ division one team.

Red Mountain High School junior Thomas Sowell and senior Niki Hemmerlin. (Submitted photos)

The girls’ team placed fourth place in its division. Hemmerlin, who suffered from a hip injury most of the season, couldn’t compete until the second half of the season. According to head coach Steven Selby, this was the best finish Red Mountain High School has seen in over 25 years. “They all ran a smart race,” he said. “I’ve been the head coach for seven years

and I’ve seen a lot of growth from them.” The 5,000-meter track at Cave Creek Golf Course had three hills around 10 feet steep. “I was going for placement, not speed, in this race,” Sowell said. “I relaxed at the first mile then started to pop up my knees to make it through those hills.” Hemmerlin said the last mile was rough, but she forged through it. The last

mile contained a slight uphill and then a downhill slope for the last 200 meters. “But it was worth it,” she said. “It now feels so amazing and uplifting.” Sowell’s teammate, Masen Hofmann, says Sowell is hard working and can see he wants to be great cross-country runner. “He’s one of a kind, always busting his butt,” Hofmann said. “He’s already training like a professional runner. He takes his diet and training with his personal trainer very seriously.” Sowell said he avoids sugar and, for the most part, red meat. He focuses on white meat, greens and fruit. “Fruit is my best friend instead of ice cream,” Sowell said. Sowell’s personal trainer, Terrance Johnson, said he admires his mental will. “He has a gift, because he used every bit of his body to accomplish what he did,” Johnson said. Hemmerlin aims to be the best runner, too, and is set to prove female athletes

Runners...continues on page 19

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

ONLY RECYCLE ITEMS FROM THESE CATEGORIES

Beverage Bottles, Jugs and Cans Empty, Clean and Dry

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

Metal Food Cans

Corrugated Cardboard

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

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

Empty, Clean and Dry

Remove ALL Packaging

Paper

Office Paper, Newspaper, Magazines and Mail

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

For recycling information, visit mesarecycles.org No Longer Accepted 18

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

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December 2019

By Alyssa Avila In her days as a Scottsdale Community College student, Soumalee McNamara wasn’t sure which career she wanted to pursue. However, she always had a love for learning and felt a great sense of joy when working with kids. She realized her passion while volunteering at the Center of Native and Urban Wildlife. Kids visited the center on school field trips and their faces lit up. “I loved the questions they asked,” she recalled, smiling. “I loved getting them to think critically, think about what’s happening and what’s going on around them—all of it.” She was also inspired by her father, Jack McNamara, a 34-year Gilbert High School social studies teacher. He was supportive during her unsure moments. “As my wife had always said about kids, ‘You gotta let them ﬂutter and fall down sometimes,’” he said. “But I’d always encouraged her to follow her heart.” Now 35 years old and in her sixth year as a fourth-grade teacher at Salk Elementary School, McNamara is pursuing a master’s degree in educational leadership in principal certification. McNamara’s teaching style radiates with passion, as it focuses on building students’ inner leadership and creating meaningful relationships. In the process, she has become an award-winning teacher for Mesa Public Schools. She won the Excellence in Education Teacher of the Year Award from 99.9 KEZ, thanks to a student’s nomination. She received a $5,000 grant from the Fiesta Bowl organization recently. Arizona State Rep. Andy Biggs shared the news of her KEZ prize on his Facebook page. “Congratulations to Soumalee McNamara,” he wrote. “The East Valley is fortunate to have a teacher of your

munity. Students share successes, celebrations or something fun they did over the weekend. Soft sounds of classical music can be heard from her teacher’s desk in the corner of the light-green classroom. To build relationships with parents, McNamara uses ClassDojo to share videos and pictures of what her students are doing that day. ClassDojo is an app teachers use to communicate with their students’ parents. She usually sends up to four positive notes to Salk Elementary School teacher Soumalee McNamara grew up in Gilbert and attended school through the Gilbert Public each student’s parents to School system. (Photo by Alyssa Avila) build that relationship. caliber instilling knowledge into our “If you treat the student like they are children.” your superstar, A-plus student, even With these awards under her belt, though you know that they struggle, McNamara can’t help but feel validated. they’re going to rise to that expectation,” “There’s a lot of doubt that comes with McNamara said. teaching, because you are always wonMcNamara’s colleague and mentor dering if you’re doing a good enough for six years at Salk Elementary, Amy job,” McNamara said. “But when you get Schaumburg, said her passionate teachthat validation it’s like, ‘Oh, OK. You’re ing style brings out her students’ inner on the right track. You’re doing some- leadership. thing great.’” For example, Schaumburg said, McMcNamara said she believes she won Namara had to take a day off for her the Teacher of the Year Award because master’s class, and it didn’t go well with she focuses on meaningful relationships the substitute teacher. McNamara didn’t with her students and parents. yell or take her students’ recess away. As students walk into her classroom Instead, she had the class create a list at 7:25 a.m., McNamara greets each one of five ways they could improve their with a hug, handshake or high five as a behavior with a substitute teacher. The sort of mental check-in. next time there was a substitute teacher, “Not only to build their social skills the poster list went up on the wall and but also to see where they are emotion- the class continued learning. Now, one ally for the day,” she said. of her classroom walls is dedicated to Then the class eats breakfast as a com- these lists. Each one reminds students

of seven habits, including be proactive, begin with the end in mind, put first things first, think win-win, synergize and sharpen the saw. “I think just being willing to talk something through and giving them the time to figure out what they need to work on is one of her greatest strengths,” Schaumburg said. Feeling confident from her Teacher of the Year win, McNamara applied for Fiesta Bowl’s Wishes for Teachers contest in September. Two hundred Arizona teachers were randomly chosen to win $5,000 for their classroom. “What is your $5,000 wish?” it asks on the Fiesta Bowl website. McNamara’s wish was simple and clear: to supply her students with classroom supplies and resources for social-emotional learning, math and STEM enhancement. Salk Elementary School Principal Vicki Hester’s daughter had McNamara as a teacher. The two had a mini celebration in the living room when McNamara won. “I couldn’t be happier for her,” Hester said. “I can’t wait to see the tools she’ll purchase to support her mission to provide the best learning environment for her kids.” Mesa Public Schools Public Information Oﬃcer Heidi Hurst said, “McNamara is a phenomenal teacher and great example of the high quality of educators who can be found on all of our campuses throughout Mesa Public Schools.” McNamara will continue to grow her passion for teaching and learning, as she’s expected to earn her master’s degree in December with Schaumburg at Northern Arizona University. “Soumalee brings the sunshine in the room with her,” Schaumburg said.

Runners...continued from page 18

team,” Johnson said. “He was on his own,” Johnson added, referring to Sowell’s speed. Sowell also embraced his nerves. “One thing my trainer said to me was that if ‘you’re not nervous, you’re not ready,’” he said. Hemmerlin’s mom, Michele, said she possibly put undue pressure on her daughter and that led to anxiety.

Sowell and Hemmerlin want to run for college cross-country teams. Sowell hopes to attend Brigham Young University in Utah and run for its division one team. Hemmerlin is leaning toward NAU. Selby said he’s confident they will be successful at the next level. “But, it’s their choice, not mine to call,” Selby said.

are a force to be reckoned with. “They don’t realize how tough girls can be in sports,” Hemmerlin said. Hemmerlin and Sowell get nervous before races, but have overcome their anxiety and self-doubt. In Sowell’s case, Johnson helped him overcome his fear of failure. “He had to be the driving force in his

December 2019

“I think it was because of me. I’m always the one pushing her to do better,” Michele said. “Now I’ve calmed down because she does her best when she knows she’s having fun.” Hemmerlin eased her own nerves by focusing on the positive. “Having confidence in myself was the key to all of it,” Hemmerlin said. Looking ahead in the future, both

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FAMILY TIME

Salk’s Soumalee McNamara finds her calling with teaching

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By Christina Fuoco-Karasinski diy

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Rancho de Tia Rosa makes grand return to Northeast Mesa comm. spotlight

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Cory Lucas likes to say he just fell into the restaurant business. Perhaps he’s making a bigger impact than he thinks. Lucas revived Rancho de Tia Rosa after his family purchased it in bankruptcy court and recently reopened the restaurant on McKellips Road. “We purchased it from the bankruptcy court about four years ago,” he said. “It was gone. It wasn’t here. We had friends in the community tell us, ‘Hey, don’t let this go away.’ “So, my family, we went to the court classifieds

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proceedings. The courts closed it and I thought, ‘This is an Arizona icon. This can’t happen.’” Banners marking its return to the Mesa location were hung near McKellips Road until it opened with much fanfare. Since it opened a few months ago, the 8,000-square-foot hacienda-style eatery has attracted diners with its healthful take on Mexican grub. It mixes elements of Baja-Coastal-style cuisines. Lucas said it’s hard to pinpoint a signature dish at the restaurant. “We’re Baja Coastal,” he said. “It’s sweet with flavors of papaya, mango and pineapple.” The “tried and true” is the chicken enchilada with green sauce ($3.99), which Lucas describes as “not hot and spicy but sweet coastal.” The grilled salmon steak ($18.99) is another favorite, but the shrimp tacos—or the shrimp and salmon tacos ($4.49)—are popular. “We also have our award-winning chile relleno,” said Lucas about the dish that sells for $16.99. “It’s not your normal relleCory Lucas recently reopened Rancho de Tia Rosa on East McKellips Road, Northeast Mesa. He also owns the location on North Higley Road in Gilbert. (Photos by Chris Mortenson)

Rancho de Tia Rosa on East McKellips Road’s interior design and architecture will induce the feeling of beautiful cities in South-Central Guanajuato Mexico such as San Miguel de Allende and Cuernavaca. Bright colors and natural light fill the dining room.

no. It’s not deep fried. It is filled with delicious pork picadillo and has a beautiful presentation.” For meat and potato lovers, there’s the ribeye steak ($26.99). “It’s aged 28 days and we hand cut it right before grilling it to perfection,” Lucas said. “It’s our most expensive dish, so people initially think we’re just trying to sell them something expensive until they take their first bite. It’s USDA prime and amazing. “We’re a Mexican food restaurant, but we also have wonderful chipotle mashed potatoes that are very good.” The interior design and architecture will induce the feeling of beautiful cities in South-Central Guanajuato, Mexico, such as San Miguel de Allende and Cuernavaca. Bright colors and natural light fill the dining room. “There literally are no other restaurants that come anywhere near this amazing look and ambiance,” Lucas said. “We have all this detail, all the hand-made Mexican tiles and the cus-

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tom chairs and tables. We hand carved the chairs to celebrate the ones that were here when Tia Rosa originally opened here years ago. “We specifically designed and decorated to bring back the original Tia Rosa everyone has come to know and love. You don’t see properties built like this. It has so much detail. You walk around here for hours admiring it.” The patio doors offer a sneak peek into a plot that was a garden that Lucas is considering resurrecting. Greenhouses pepper the backyard. The massive parking lot, he said, would be perfect for a future farmers market. “The community support is amazing,” he said. “People are so excited that we’re back. I see this as continuing to be the Arizona icon it has always been. The future is bright.”

Rancho de Tia Rosa 3129 E. McKellips Road, Mesa 480-659-8787, ranchodetiarosa.com

December 2019

M&M’s Christmas Cookie Bars

By Jan D’Atri

Holiday Cookie Platters

Does your holiday cookie platter need a makeover? Are you looking to add a couple of delightful holiday treats to your cookie exchange? You can’t go wrong with either one of these! The M&M’s Christmas Cook-

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what’s cooking?

ie Bars was determined by Taste of Home magazine to be the most popular cookie in America this year with nearly 400,000 pins and online shares. It’s really easy and so very festive looking! If you love Snickerdoodles, this one has loads of flavor. Happy baking!

Ingredients: - 2 sticks of butter, room temperature - 1 cup sugar - 1 cup firmly packed golden brown sugar - 3 large eggs - 2 teaspoons of pure vanilla extract - 3 cups all-purpose flour - 3/4 teaspoon of baking soda - 3/4 teaspoon of salt - 1-1/2 cups of Christmas M&M’s plus more for topping - 1 cup of mini chocolate chips plus more for topping - 1/2 cup of white chocolate chips

spray. With an electric mixer, beat butter, sugar and brown sugar together until fluffy. Add in eggs and vanilla extract. Mix well. Lower speed and add flour, baking soda and salt. Mix until combined. Add M&M’s and mini chocolate chips and give a final stir, reserving some M&M’s, mini chocolate chips and white chocolate chips for topping cookie bars. Transfer cookie dough to prepared baking dish. Press additional M&M’s, mini chocolate chips and white chocolate chips into top of cookie dough. Bake 35 to 40 minutes on oven rack in lower third of oven to prevent over browning. Let cool completely and cut.

Directions: Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a 9x13 baking dish with foil or parchment paper; leave some overhang to make removal easier. Spray foil with nonstick cooking

Watch my How-To Video for Christmas Cookies: jandatri.com/recipe/christmas-cookie-bars/

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After a bus crash, The Duttons are preparing to return to Mesa mom cents

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The Duttons will soon return to Mesa to play their winter shows, ending a year wrought with heartbreak and celebrations. After being invited to tape a nationally televised series for Nickelodeon, the family of musicians was involved in a serious accident when its tour bus flipped on its side while the driver was negotiating a dangerous section of an Ohio highway. All 23 family performers were on board, as well as instruments, equipment and costumes. The bus was totaled. Two performers had to be extricated and all the performers were transported to several nearby hospitals. “I have seen way too many of these cases, and they don’t have happy endings,” said Sgt. Joe Curmode of the Columbus Police Department. “But this was a happy ending.” None of the family members sustained serious injuries. photo page

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The Duttons will perform in Mesa from Thursday, January 19, to Saturday, March 28. (Photo courtesy The Duttons)

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“We will never quit thanking God for his protection,” said Dean Dutton, the family’s patriarch. “It is our joyous priv-

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ilege to continue doing the work which we started almost 30 years ago.” Two days after the accident, the family headed to a cruise where it was scheduled to perform. “We looked terrible,” said Abby Dutton, violinist and singer. “The right side of my face and my eye were black and blue. The left side of Amy’s face was also black and blue; she was on crutches; she had a broken nose; and a broken toe. We were pieced together with staples, stitches and bandages. We were a mess.” Singer Judith Dutton, who also plays keyboards and dances, was kept in the hospital the longest, with damaged veins on her neck, leaving her susceptible to a serious stroke. But, she too was released from the hospital in time to meet the cruise ship. “Our fans lovingly wrapped their arms around us and supported us as our injuries began to heal during the next week,” Sheila said. “But it wasn’t easy.” Months before the accident, a casting company in Los Angeles contacted The Duttons, asking them to appear on “America’s Most Musical Family,” a new show on Nickelodeon. In addition to maintaining their regular performance schedule at their theater in Branson, Missouri, they went through

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rounds of interviews; studio recording sessions; submitting new songs; and performing live with the show’s writers and producers. Then, only one month after the accident, The Duttons were informed that they had risen to the top of hundreds of family acts to become one of the show’s finalists. In spite of a near-tragedy that could have claimed their lives, The Dutton “younger generation” set an example of fortitude and positivity. “It was an incredible summer,” Selena said. “We spent the whole summer practicing instruments and learning new songs and dances. We loved going to Los Angeles and being on national television. And, it was fun to discover that the studio where we filmed the new show was the same studio where our parents filmed ‘America’s Got Talent,’ and where they were named a top-10 finalist” For The Duttons, the saying “the show must go on” has taken on new meaning, as they experienced, in one summer, a devastating tour bus accident; the exciting honor of being a finalist on Nickelodon’s new show; and the fulfillment of sold-out shows in their Branson theater. As they bring their shows back to Arizona, beginning January 19, they are excited to share a fresh, new look with Arizona audiences. “Every night in Branson, audience members are amazed at how much the grandchildren have grown in their talents and how our performances are truly like whole new shows,” Amy said. “We know that’s how our Arizona audiences will feel, as well.” The Duttons will open their 2020 Arizona schedule at the Dutton Theater in Mesa on Thursday, January 19. The series runs through March 28. Eight different guest artists will appear with them on selected weeks. For more information, call 480-8406874 or visit theduttons.com/arizona. December 2019

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December 2019 events calendar

Merry Main Street

Enjoy the holiday season with music, food and fun for everyone. Guests can spend the evening strolling through Downtown Mesa enjoying the sights and sounds of the holiday season. When: Various times until Friday, January 3 Where: Downtown Mesa, Main Street and Macdonald Cost: Free admission Info: merrymainst.com meet your neighbor

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Red Mountain Farmers Market

Check out what local artists have to offer at this market that brings a variety of products like sweets, meats and pizza—all in the name of the community. When: 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturdays Where: Mesa Community College Red Mountain, 2307 N. Power Road, Mesa Cost: Free admission Info: redmountainfarmersmarket.com

Mesa Feastival Forest

The Mesa Feastival Forest hosts 10 gourmet food trucks, live music and fun every Saturday. When: 5:30 to 9 p.m. Saturdays Where: Pioneer Park, 526 E. Main Street, Mesa Cost: Free admission Info: mesaaz.gov

Moon Viewing with Lowell Observatory

Are you fascinated by the stars? Presenters from the Lowell Observatory will lead an educational moon viewing program.

When: 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, December 10 Where: Dobson Ranch Branch Mesa Library, 2425 S. Dobson Road, Mesa Cost: Free Info: mesalibrary.org

Second Friday Night Out: Word on the Street

Celebrate all things art in Downtown Mesa. Make and take crafts and test your knowledge in the art trivia contest. In addition, more than 50 artists will showcase their original artwork. When: 6 to 10 p.m. Friday, December 13 Where: Main and Center streets, Downtown Mesa Cost: Free admission Info: 2ndfridaynightout.com

Meditation for Beginners

Carolyn Aligada will teach the basics of meditation with simple yet powerful techniques that will help you deal with stress wherever you are. We will be seated in chairs, so you do not need a mat. You may wish to bring a pillow or cushion for your comfort. When: 3 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Saturday, December 14 Where: Red Mountain Mesa Library, 635 N. Power Road, Mesa Cost: Free Info: mesalibrary.org

CycloMesa WinterFest 2019

Join the Bike & Pedestrian Program for 20 tons of snow play, a mechanical snowboard,

bounce houses, food trucks and more reindeer games as well as a holiday helmet safety message and concussion education. When: 2:30 to 5 p.m. Saturday, December 14 Where: Alta Mesa Park, 1910 N. Alta Mesa Drive, Mesa Cost: Free admission Info: mesaaz.gov

Holiday Flutes

Enjoy your holiday favorites with a new sound as Vickie Koernig and Larry Rybka play the Native American-style flute. When: 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, December 14 Where: Red Mountain Mesa Library, 635 N. Power Road, Mesa Cost: Free Info: mesalibrary.org

Cost: Free admission Info: 480-644-6607, mesaartscenter.com

Ladies Pamper Night

This monthly event aims to connect women from all walks of life who deal with stress daily. It’s a life-changing event that gives women the opportunity to relax, renew, network, share, uplift, educate, motivate, and build new friendships. When: Noon to 4 p.m. Sunday, December 22 Where: Holiday Inn & Suites Phoenix-Mesa/Chandler, 1600 S. Country Club Drive, Mesa Cost: $20-$100 Info: 312-885-0701, relazatlpn@gmail.com

Mannheim Steamroller Christmas

This 14-and-older event includes getting crafty and making winter for the home and fun gift toppers. When: 6 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday, December 19 Where: Dobson Ranch Branch Mesa Library, 2425 S. Dobson Road, Mesa Cost: Free Info: mesalibrary.org

A Mesa Arts Center holiday favorite returns! In 1984, Mannheim Steamroller released “Mannheim Steamroller Christmas,” and it resulted in a runaway hit. The group’s Christmas tour has become a holiday tradition right along with decorating the tree. When: 3 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Thursday, December 26 Where: Mesa Arts Center, 1 E. Main Street, Mesa Cost: $36-$81 Info: 480-644-6607, mesaartscenter.com

Spark at Dark

New Year’s Eve Dinner

Craft Night: Winter Decor and Gift Toppers

Fade the lights and turn up the music. Every third Saturday from October to May, MAC’s campus will be taken over by a new artist with a unique, crazy-fun theme— complete with live art, live music, great eats, tasty adult drinks and much more. When: 7 to 10 p.m. Saturday, December 21 Where: Mesa Arts Center, 1 E. Main Street, Mesa

Dress up is your best outfit and get ready to feast on a delectable four-course meal by yourself or with that special someone. When: 5 to 10:30 p.m. Tuesday, December 31 Where: Board & Batten-A Modern Bistro, 4012 E. Palm Street, Mesa Cost: $85-$150 Info: bbdining.com

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mpsaz.org | 480.472.0000 |

December 2019

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There’s nothing cold hearted about actor Mark Kleinman By Christina Fuoco-Karasinski Mark Kleinman and Christmas are synonymous in the Valley. Playing Ebenezer Scrooge in the Hale Centre Theatre’s production of “A Christmas Carol” for seven years, Kleinman moved to the Silver Star Theater in Northeast Mesa two years ago. Kleinman has plenty of reasons why he enjoys portraying Scrooge, a cold-hearted miser who despises Christmas. He brings his best characteristics to Silver Star’s “A Christmas Carol: A Musical.” “No. 1, the story has always intrigued me,” he said. “Even when I was a teenager, I enjoyed reading the story and always loved it. Then I got to play Scrooge’s nephew, Fred, in New York. They stuck really close to the book. I loved it. “A few years ago, when I started getting into that age range of being able to do Scrooge, the Hale opened that door to me and I tried it. I just love his arc and the transition he makes. I love the story of repentance, too. We can always look to better ourselves and make amends and become a better person.”

There’s nothing cold hearted about “Scrooged” actor Mark Kleinman. (Photo by Pablo Robles)

Kleinman—whose “A Christmas Carol” at the Silver Star Theater runs through Saturday, December 28—is inspired by the other actors who are hired for the shows each year.

“Scrooge is the same character and the same lines, but I’m dealing with different people,” he said. “And so, doing it with different people is fun for me. I enjoy the process of reacting and being touched by others and how they play the role.” The dinner theater is a multimillion-dollar facility that rivals its Las Vegas counterparts. The custom-designed showroom features tiered seating with unobstructed views and state-of-theart sound and lighting. It has ample parking for cars and buses, and hosts 18 different shows. Kleinman is well versed in all things theater. He’s a multiple AriZoni Award winner with prizes presented for best actor and best supporting actor. In addition to Kleinman’s performing acumen, he brings more than 20 years of business management, including tour manager for Des Moines Metro Opera for five years. As a member of the Silver Star’s executive management team, he helps it provide top audience experiences in the Southwest. He said it’s challenging to balance Silver Star’s multiple shows; sometimes two different shows are staged in the same day.

Mesa ties Kleinman’s family helped found Mesa.

He and his parents moved to Casa Grande early on so his father could take a basketball coaching job there. He attended the University of Arizona and studied vocal performance. From there, he sang in various opera companies around the world, including those in New York, Des Moines and Orlando. Kleinman returned to Arizona when touring became too arduous. Kleinman is enjoying his role as Silver Star’s general manager and resident actor. He and the staff have big plans for the theater, including possible summer shows to help get year-round residents out of the house and into Silver Star’s “great air conditioning,” Kleinman said. “They can watch a good family show and bring the kids and grandkids,” he said. Silver Star is owned by Mike Todd, who also has the Desert Star Playhouse in Utah. “He’s a great owner,” Kleinman said. “He understands theater inside, outside, backward and forward. It’s good to have a boss who knows what’s going on. “He wants us to put our best foot forward at all times and makes sure it looks professional and we act professionally.”

MORE INFO What: “A Christmas Carol: A Musical” When: Various times to Saturday, December 28 Where: Silver Star Theater, Alta Mesa Plaza, 5247 E. Brown Road, Mesa Cost: Tickets start at $37.85 Info: 480-288-0300, silverstartheater.com

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Myron Sommerfeld thanks one person for his musical stylings By Christina Fuoco-Karasinski Myron Sommerfeld was driving a tractor in his home state of North Dakota when he had a thought. “I looked up and said, ‘God, if you get me off this tractor and let me do something else, I’d sure appreciate it,’” recalled Sommerfeld, the then-teenage son of musician-farmers. Since that time, Sommerfeld has been on a musical journey that has explored rock ‘n’ roll and big-band music with his various acts. Now living in East Mesa, Sommerfeld is preparing to host two special shows. From 2:30 to 3:30 p.m. Sunday, January 5, Sommerfeld will perform at Fountain of the Sun, 540 S. 80th Street, Mesa, as a benefit for the United Food Bank. The show is free with a nonperishable food item, but tickets are required. Call 480-357-9128. The show is in partnership with the FOS Lions Club. “It’s a show and dance. We’re going to set up chairs in front of the stage and

Big-band leader Myron Sommerfeld has two Mesa shows that will feature his favorite songs. (Photo by Pablo Robles)

have room in the back for those who want to do a little dancing,” Sommerfeld said. The other gig is a free, Out to Lunch

Concert at the Mesa Arts Center, 1 E. Main Street, Mesa, from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. Thursday, February 13. Call 480-644-6500 or visit mesaartscenter.com for more information. “We’re doing more concerts than we are dances these days,” he said. “A lot of our dancing friends have lost their spouse or have problems with their legs. People still like the music, though. “The Out to Lunch series does a really good job with sound and set up. They have chairs and I bring the whole band.” Sommerfeld, a retired schoolteacher,

plays a variety of big-band standards— Gershwin, Cole Porter, Irving Berlin— as well as patriotic songs. “We concentrate on the ‘Great American Songbook,’” he said. “They stand the test of time. Most songs like that never die. What people call ‘music’ today will not stand the test of time. “However, Garth Brooks, Trisha Yearwood and Bob Dylan all have something in common: They all love the ‘Great American Songbook.’ They’ve recorded it and performed it. Frank Sinatra is their favorite singer.” At 81 years old, Sommerfeld remains inspired, thanks to God. “God keeps giving me the gift of writing music,’ he said. “I keep arranging music. My vocals aren’t as good as they were. I have to lower the key. But I feel like I have to continue for the love of music. “People enjoy it—no matter what age. God has blessed me.”

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Estate Sale Outlet in Apache Junction was recently damaged during the late-November rains, but owner Anna Marie Stone hopes to have regular hours again soon. (Photo by Pablo Robles)

Northeast Mesa resident Anna Marie Stone has done plenty in her life. She’s owned a cleaning business in Atlanta, worked with the likes of Don Williams and Mickey Gilley on fundraisers and staged homes for sale. Now she’s hosting customers at Estate Sale Outlet in Apache Junction, selling items on consignment from sales she organized. “We had so much overflow from the estate sales. We had people say, ‘Can you take this on consignment?’ Finally, it clicked. “I said, ‘Let’s just see if we can open a store because there are so many nice things here.’ I have a lot of leftover items because I don’t have long to sell it—two to three days max.” Stone’s store is charming, filled with a fun collection of memorabilia, furniture, vintage lamps and china, and artwork. Recently, her store was damaged from the late-November rains, but she hopes to have regular business hours soon. Stone got her eye for design and collectibles from her 90-year-old mother, Marjorie Cassella, who lives in Georgia but visits frequently. “Everybody knows my mom,” Stone said with a laugh. “I have a lot of close relationships with my customers. When they come into my store, they always get a hug.

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“I had three Italian girls come in and they are a hoot. We’re always laughing and we hug. I’m Italian, and Italian people are amazing.” Estate sales are just associated with people who have passed. One of Stone’s clients was downsizing so he could move into an RV and travel. “We get a lot of people who are maybe in their 50s or early 60s, and they’re just selling everything and going into RVs,” she said. “One of our clients had these huge columns, probably 12 feet high. I ended up buying them for my house. He had the nicest stuff there.” Stone also owns Staging Pays Off LLC, a professional home staging, interior design, organization and photography business. Hosting estate sales was a natural progression from staging. Because of the sales she continues to conduct throughout the Valley, the Estate Sale Outlet store’s inventory changes regularly. “I find real gems, and it’s a pleasure to share them through Estate Sale Outlet,” she said.

Estate Sale Outlet 2114 W. Apache Trail, Apache Junction 480-383-3823, stagingpaysoff@aol.com, stagingpaysoff.com, facebook.com/estatesalesaz December 2019

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