Gilbert Sun News - 01.03.2021 by Times Media Group

Councilman’s lawsuit cost $74K

Winter sports delayed 2nd time

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An edition of the East Valley Tribune

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Sunday, January 3, 2021

For new mayor, Gilbert was love at first sight BY CECILIA CHAN GSN Managing Editor

NEWS................................ 8 Gilbert’s logo sparks criticism, derision.

COMMUNITY......... 14 Gilbert dog training center helps veterans.

f someone told her 25 years ago when she pulled into town that one day she would be its mayor, Brigette Peterson said she would have responded with “some expletives.” But the Massachusettstransplant will become Gilbert’s 33rd mayor on Jan. 12 when she takes the oath of office. “I never expected to be mayor,” said the 56-year-old Peterson, decked out in a purple top, her trademark color.

HD SOUTH offers big lineup of programs. COMMUNITY....................................... 14 BUSINESS..............................................17

SPORTS....................................... 18

GETOUT..................................................21 PUZZLE....................................... 23

CLASSIFIED..........................................24

(Pablo Robles/GSN Staff Photographer)

see MAYOR page 4

Mandatory COVID vaccine for teachers called possible BY CECILIA CHAN GSN Managing Editor

GETOUT.......................21

When Brigette Peterson becomes Gilbert’s new mayor this month, it will mark the beginning of a new stage of service in a long history of service to the town.

“It’s a very big role. It’s exciting, overwhelming, humbling.” Peterson recently reflected on her new role while seated in the kitchen of her home, then decorated in holiday cheer. “I decorate every holiday of the year,” said Peterson, who has a separate bin of decorations for each celebrated day – Easter, St. Patrick’s Day, Valentine’s, Thanksgiving. Peterson is handy with crafting and created a few of her holiday decorations as well. Last month, it was “Christmas light” at the house. In-

s teachers inch toward the head of the line to receive a COVID-19 vaccine, it begs the question: can school districts mandate inoculations? According to the Arizona School Risk Retention Trust, yes. “School districts may require employees to be vaccinated against COVID-19 as a condition of on-site work, subject to exemptions required by state and/or federal law,” reads a legal memo prepared for the nonprofit Trust and cirulated to districts last month. The Trust, which provides more than 250 school districts and community colleges with property and liability insurance, also advised

districts to consult with their own attorneys on legal issues related to any vaccine mandate. The first batches of the Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines arrived to Arizona in mid-December for dosing to those 16 and older. Healthcare workers and long-term care facility staff and residents are among the first to receive the vaccine, to be followed by teachers, law enforcement and other critical workers. Other groups of individuals are farther down the line. Sheila Uggetti, who sits on the Gilbert Public Schools Governing Board, said whether to make the vaccination mandatory for teachers has not been discussed at any level in the district and spokeswoman Dawn Antestenis said GPS at this time has no plans to make it

mandatory for staff. But Mesa Public Schools board member Marcie Hutchinson, a teacher for 26 years in MPS, said she thinks it’s a good idea to consider., saying, “I think I’d be strongly in favor of the innoculation of our employees just to keep our staff safe.” GPS, the fifth largest school district in the state, is a member of the Trust and Assistant Superintendent Bonnie Betz serves on the Trust’s Board of Directors. MPS also is a member and has an assistant superintendent on the board. “As with many issues going on right now, we are being asked to make decisions that I believe should be coming from the experts,” Uggetti said. “I am anxious to personally be

see VACCINE page 8

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GILBERT SUN NEWS | JANUARY 3, 2021

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NEWS

Hendrix lawsuit cost Gilbert $74K BY CECILIA CHAN GSN Managing Editor

ilbert taxpayers’ tab for defending against a lawsuit by new Councilman Laurin Hendrix ended up costing $74,000. Two weeks after the former state legislator won the Aug. 3 primary against Councilman Bill Spence, he sued to take office immediately, arguing the race was over because he was elected while Spence had been appointed in March to fill the seat vacated by Eddie Cook. Superior Court Judge Daniel Kiley in September saw merit in Hendrix’s claim and allowed him to be seated in November instead of waiting until January. Hendrix appealed the decision in hopes of joining the Council before November but was unsuccessful. Hendrix, however, was able to recoup a good portion of his attorney fees from the town, totaling $17,455. On top of that, Gilbert also had to pay its fees for outside counsel amounting to $56,596 for a total of $74,051. The final billing was received recently. Part of the $56,596 bill included $17,425 for Spence’s attorney. In the original suit, Spence was singled out as an individual and not a councilman and so he had to get his own attorney. Council in mid-August voted to cover Spence’s legal fees.

Laurin Hendrix Hendrix said because he believes in fiscal responsibility, the decision to sue was not taken lightly. “The Town Council was making decisions to spend millions of dollars unnecessarily and I wanted to do everything in my power to prevent this huge misuse of taxpayer money,” he told the Gilbert Sun News in an email. “Those decisions resulted in expenses that are many times greater than those incurred by the lawsuit. “This includes the decision for Gilbert to go into the ambulance business, which I would have voted against if I had been able to take office at the appropriate time. Mr. Spence voted to spend millions when many Gilbert citizens are trying to recover from the loss

of jobs and income. That should be the greatest concern to all of us.” Hendrix faulted his opponent and the town for incurring the lawsuit. “Everyone has a duty to follow the law, including municipalities and officials,” he said. “Appointed officials are expected to vacate an office when voters choose a different person to fill it.” Hendrix pointed to U.S. Sen. Martha McSally as just one example. Republican McSally lost in a special election in November against Democrat Mark Kelly, who was sworn in a month early on Dec. 2. McSally was appointed to the seat after the death of Sen. John McCain. “I am not sure why Mr. Spence chose not to follow the rule of law and to publicly announce that he would be remaining in office until Jan. 5 nor why the Town of Gilbert chose to support his foolish behavior,” Hendrix said. “Furthermore, I don’t know of a case where a municipality followed such poor legal advice in choosing to ignore the law. “ Spokeswoman Jennifer Harrison said the legal fees were not covered by the Town’s insurance. Instead the money came out of the General Fund through the general counsel budget, she said. Harrison did not provide a response regarding the use of taxpayer money to defend itself against Hendrix’s suit.

High court to decide lawmaker’s immunity with Mesnard suit BY HOWARD FISCHER Capitol Media Services

he Arizona Supreme Court has agreed to decide the scope of immunity for state lawmakers, using a case involving a senator whose district includes part of Gilbert. Without comment the justices last month agreed to hear arguments by former House Speaker J.D. Mesnard, now starting his second term as a senator in Legislative District 17, that he cannot be sued by ousted state Rep. Don Shooter because he released an

investigative report nearly three years ago concluding that the Yuma Republican was guilty of sexual harassment. Mesnard claims that falls “within the sphere of legitimate legislative activity’’ which generally immunizes legislators from legal action. The court also has agreed to decide whether that “sphere’’ covers the separate decision by Mesnard to issue a press release explaining his actions. Shooter contends that release falls outside any official legislative action. And that, he argues, allow him to sue Mesnard over alleged “false and mis-

leading statements.’’ about the report. The Supreme Court likely is Mesnard’s last remaining effort to have the lawsuit filed by Shooter dismissed. His attorney, Steve Tully, has made the same arguments to both a trial judge and the state Court of Appeals. But in both cases the courts declined to grant blanket immunity There is no specific provision in the Arizona Constitution granting broad immunity to state legislators. What there is, however, is a section saying that lawmakers are not liable “for words spoken in debate.’’

NEWS

GILBERT SUN NEWS | JANUARY 3, 2021

MAYOR from page 1

stead of three bauble-laden trees, she’s erected one little tree because of the latest addition to the household – an adopted brown tabby, 7-month-old Stanley. Trees are temptations for climbing felines. Peterson, who adopted Stanley in July, has other rescues, including Sven, a domestic shorthair cat; Snuggles, a lhasa apso; and Tami Jo, a golden retriever that flunked out of an assistant-dog program. An avowed animal lover, Peterson came under attack during the election by an informal cat group that posted signs around town accusing her of legalizing animal cruelty. At issue was a 2018 ordinance that Peterson as a councilwoman joined in approving that banned the feeding of homeless cats on public property. The group said the ban prevented people from baiting traps in places like parks to practice trap, neuter and return – a proven humane method for reducing the feral cat population. Some cat advocates were cited and one resident was arrested for violating the ban and went through a costly court battle to defend himself. Peterson said she is conferring with the Gilbert Feral Cat Association, which does TNR, and is willing to take another look at the ordinance and perhaps make changes, provided she can get Council’s support. Her cat, Stanley, she pointed out came from a litter where the mother was a “feral TNR.” Peterson’s path to the top-elected position in town began in 1996 while volunteering at her daughter’s elementary campus in Gilbert Public Schools. A year later she attended the town’s first Congress of Neighborhoods meeting, sharing a table with Kathy Tilque, then the CEO/president of the Gilbert Chamber of Commerce and now one of Town Council’s newer members. Right after that meeting, Peterson signed up to volunteer for the town and even though no one called her back, she continued to attend. She also became involved with the HOA board in her Wind Drift neighborhood and participated in the Chamber’s Gilbert Leadership program, which

Brigette Peterson on election night Nov. 3 saw an early lead emerge over challenger Matt Nielsen that she never lost as the long ballot count continued for days. (GSN file photo) is designed to help develop Gilbert’s current and future leaders. She later served on the program’s board and chaired it from 2017-18. At the Leadership classes, Peterson met a member of the town’s Planning Commission, who suggested she join. Peterson recalled telling the person that she had no idea what the commission did but was told, “You know Gilbert.” “I think one thing that stuck with me when I was on the Congress of Neighborhoods, becoming its co-chair, I heard was Gilbert had a growth problem,” said Peterson, who had been a Gilbert resident by then for five years and a town volunteer for three. “I didn’t want to be part of the problem. I wanted to be part of the solution.” Residents at the time were complaining that Gilbert was growing too fast, she recalled. When Peterson moved to Gilbert in 1995, the population was around 55,000. Today, it’s approximately 260,000 with another decade or so to go before reaching build-out with an estimated 330,000 residents. Peterson applied and was appointed in 2000 as the town’s first alternate to fill in when there was an absence on the seven-member Planning Commission. She served as an alternate for nine months until she was appointed to fill the remaining term of Linda Edwards, who stepped down to become

the town’s planning manager. Peterson quickly gained working knowledge of her role and ended up volunteering for 14 years, helping direct the town’s development. “I think we done a great job managing the growth in Gilbert,” she said. “I would love to explain to residents that we are still growing. “Many move here and want Gilbert to stop. We can’t do that. We need to realize we love it; other people will love it and people will continue to move here – ‘no more growth’ is not going to happen.” Peterson said she had no intention of running for elected office until she sat in on a discussion with then-Councilman Victor Petersen, who, she said, wanted to close down Freestone Recreation Center because the town was subsidizing its operations by 20 percent. He didn’t feel that was the proper role for government. That spurred Peterson to successfully run for a seat on Council in 2014. She was mid-way into her second, four-year term as a councilwoman when she decided to run for mayor after Jenn Daniels early last year announced she would not seek re-election. Peterson, who had to resign from the Council to run, said she felt the town needed someone who had a long history in town and knew how municipal government worked and could do the job from Day One without any training, especially during a pandemic.

She jumped into race with the full support of her husband. The hardest part for him was witnessing the “mean” mailers that targeted her, Peterson said. “He’s very proud of me,” she said of her win. She ran against two well-funded political newcomers – Lynne King Smith and Matt Nielsen in the August Primary. King Smith and Nielsen each raised over $100,000, nearly double Peterson’s campaign war chest. Peterson came in second in the Primary, trailing Nielsen by 166 votes, forcing the two into a showdown in the General Election. Although, she had the endorsements that included Daniels and other past mayors and the name recognition, Peterson said she left nothing to chance. “I was very confident but I didn’t want to assume anything,” she said. Unlike in her two past elections – when both times she was one of seven candidates vying for four seats and the odds were much better for winning a place on Council – only one person could be mayor, Peterson said, adding, “This time it was winner take all.” Peterson, as she did in her prior races, adeptly took to social media for her campaigning, a vital tool even more so with the virus that hampered gatherings. She ended up with 70,426 votes to Nielsen’s 53,121. Nielsen, a businessman with a master’s degree, tried to paint Peterson as lacking the professional and educational background needed to be mayor. He ran as a fiscal conservative – no new taxes and limited government. Peterson earned a diploma from Hudson Catholic High School and worked 10 years as a senior technical proposal typist for Raytheon Technologies in Massachusetts before she moved to Arizona. She met her husband, Mark, at Raytheon and the two probably would have remained in the Northeast had Peterson not been sent to Honolulu, Hawaii, for five weeks on a business trip. That trip, taken in the middle of a New England winter, was all the impetus needed to motivate Peterson to move to

see MAYOR page 6

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NEWS

MAYOR from page 4

some place warm. She began contacting the chambers of commerce in Arizona, Nevada and Texas for information packets. The couple finally chose Arizona, having been to the state a couple of times to visit Mark’s son in Prescott, Peterson said. She added her husband was open to a change and applied to be laid off at Raytheon so the family could make the move to a new life in the Southwest. Mark left first, arriving to the East Valley with no job, no leads and no friends but within five months, he was hired by Motorola in Chandler, according to Peterson. He now works for General Dynamics in Scottsdale. The young family settled in Gilbert, first living in an apartment and then moving into the Wind Drift neighborhood, where they were the fifth family to

GILBERT SUN NEWS | JANUARY 3, 2021

buy into the master-planned community, Peterson said. She still lives in the same house, which was remodeled in 2017. In 2001, Peterson began working part time as an administrative assistant at Banner Health in Mesa for nearly eight years. It was her last paid job in the private sector. As a councilwoman, she earned an annual salary of $21,012 and as mayor she will take home a yearly paycheck of $43,631. Peterson said she will keep her campaign promise to be a full-time mayor and expects to be at Town Hall most work days – which will be easy she said because she and her husband are empty nesters. Daughter Jenn married two years ago and now lives in Surprise, where she works for its local government. Peterson also will continue with the

work load she carried as a councilwoman. “I think because I took on so much, it best prepared me,” she said. During the election, she touted her top priorities if elected included transportation and working with local businesses to ensure economic recovery. Peterson recently said she also planned to focus on domestic-violence issues and work on inclusion in town. For months before the November election, the town was a weekly staging ground for police and Trump backers squaring off against Black Lives Matter supporters at Gilbert and Warner roads. That Peterson has embraced her adopted town is evident with her mementos of Gilbert – such as a metal replica of the iconic water tower downtown and locally crafted signs with the town’s name

on them displayed in her home. Peterson explained that after her second election, she began collecting the custom signs as a treat for herself. She has one on order that will hang in her new office at Town Hall. “She loves Gilbert tremendously,” said former Councilman Eddie Cook, now County Assessor who served alongside Peterson when she was on Council. “She is a big cheerleader for Gilbert, which is wonderful.” Cook still stays in contact with Peterson as she and her husband belong to the same informal off-road jeep club that meets for monthly jaunts exploring Arizona. Cook formed the club years ago as part of the town’s wellness program and as a

see MAYOR page 7

CUSD board member alarmed by district’s COVID response BY KEVIN REAGAN GSN Staff Writer

Chandler Unified School District board member struck out on her request late last month to hold a special meeting to discuss the district’s response to the surge in COVID-19 cases. After observing data metrics continue to worsen in Arizona, board member Lara Bruner said she requested an emergency board meeting on Dec. 23 to review the district’s instructional options as students prepare to return to school Jan. 5. The governing board last met Dec. 9 and is not scheduled to hold a regular meeting until Jan. 13. But Bruner told parents last week in an email that she became concerned when all three metrics for virus spread hit the “substantial” level on Dec. 17. The most recent available data prior to the SanTan Sun News’ deadline showed that while cases per 100,000 dropped from 710 to 573 – still nearly six times the threshold for substantial spread – positive new COVID-19 test results increased from 16 percent to 18 percent and hospital visits with COVID-like symptoms jumped from 10.2 to 12.6 percent. The threshold for

Lara Bruner substantial spread in those two latter categories is 10 percent. Bruner said she asked on Dec. 18 for the meeting to solely discuss the The state Department of Health Services released this graphic yesterday showing the availability of “instructional modality” for hospital beds across Arizona. (Special to GSN) students. District administration is allowing students to Bruner said, “The ostensible reason instruction, does not undermine district choose between online and in-classroom learning the first two weeks of January, given for the refusal was that a committee committee work that has not yet begun,” though the district also states on will be forming after break to discuss she told parents. “It is in fact our duty and responsibility its website that “providing quality COVID-19.” as a governing board to address this “I believe considering the most current instruction for students in-person will and reliable data, which includes the continue to be the primary focus for county recommendation to go to virtual classroom teachers.” see CUSD page 11

GILBERT SUN NEWS | JANUARY 3, 2021

MAYOR from page 6

way for employees to come together over a shared activity. Peterson noted during one of her four-wheeling runs in nature with her husband, she picked up a new hobby, digital photography. The club is open to both current and former town employees and their families. Mark, a big monster truck fan, now co-runs the club with Cook. Cook also called Peterson “very kind, very considerate,” and has attributes that will serve her well in office. “What Brigette brings is that she served many years on the Planning and Zoning Commission and that institutional knowledge is absolutely a key part being on the Council,” Cook said. “Many agenda items are related to that,” he continued. “With all the growth Gilbert has experienced over the last decade or so, Brigette was part of lot of those planning and zoning meetings.” Another big plus is Peterson’s connection with the Gilbert Chamber and its Gilbert Leadership program, he said. “That is a really valuable asset because

NEWS

we continually want to support all of our small businesses in Gilbert,” said Cook. “Small businesses generate jobs and profit-revenue streams through sales tax so I think she has a good network of folks and small businesses being part of that,” Cook said. “These are two very key attributes for her background, which would be valuable as a mayor.” Former Councilman Jordan Ray, who has known Peterson for a decade, said she’s a hard worker. “She spent a tremendous amount of time on town events, spending time with the community, with employees, with public safety,” said Ray, who left the Council in April for a justice of the peace job. “She really cares about the community and she is willing to put the time in required to be mayor.” Ray said Peterson’s forte is that she is a people-person who truly likes getting involved and “loves anything Gilbert-related.” “I’ve served with other council members, who are good, but they don’t love being in the community,” Ray said.

AFTER

“Brigette loves being in the community.” Even her detractors give Peterson kudos for her community engagement. “She’s definitely is in the community,” said Councilman Jared Taylor, who backed Nielsen in the election and is leaving office after the first Council meeting in January. “There is no question about that strength of hers,” Taylor said. “She is available at lots of events. She’s met lots of people with regard to the chamber, the schools (and) the town staff. That’s a big deal to be the face of the town, you need to be out and available and she does that and is willing to make that commitment to her credit.” Taylor, however, had doubts if Peterson will truly represent her constituents. “She is more interested in doing what the staff wants her to do than what the people want to do,” he said. “Her voting record shows that. There’s maybe one or two she didn’t vote with staff recommendation.” The most glaring example is Peterson voting with the majority to place a $65.3

million bond on the 2018 ballot to help pay for the soon-to-open $85-million public safety training facility, according to Taylor. He opposes the facility, contending it is much higher in cost than comparable buildings and that the town misled voters by saying there would be no tax rate increase if the bond passed. Town officials have said there would be no increase and that’s because old debt is paid down and the new debt would take its place. “I wanted someone that represented the people and I didn’t see that as strong in Brigette as I saw in Matt,” Taylor said. “I guess time will tell. I wish her the best.” However, those who voted for Peterson feel they would have a better shot at representation than with her opponent. “Gilbert needs a reasonable voice and one that listens and speaks for all its people,” wrote a woman on social media. And another said, “As an ally and mother of LGBTQAI+ children I feel good in my vote for Brigette and I believe that she will be willing to listen.”

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VACCINE from page 1

GILBERT SUN NEWS | JANUARY 3, 2021

able to get the vaccine.” That said, Uggetti added, “I believe that we should follow whatever is required by the department of health.” Any guidance from health officials, however, may be a long time coming. A Maricopa County spokesman said the issue isn’t on the agenda any time soon for the Board of Supervisors to consider. School districts generally have been following state and county COVID-19 health guidelines. “Local school boards generally have governing jurisdiction over their schools,” said Ron Coleman, adding the county was following guidelines set by the FDA and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Spokeswoman Heidi Vega of the Arizona School Boards Association, agreed it is up to individual districts to decide. “We believe currently it is a local district decision whether to require teachers and or staff be vaccinated as a condition of working, so long as exceptions are made for medical reasons and accommodations under the ADA,” Vega said. School districts that choose to require mandatory vaccinations must first create

a process where employees can apply for an exemption based on an ADA disability or a sincerely held religious belief, barring undue hardship to a district, according to the memo. Hutchinson said that would be fair, since parents can seek exemptions for their kids from a variety of mandated shots. But the Trust advised that if a district cannot exempt an employee or there are no possible reasonable accommodations – such as working from home for those with a disability or religious belief – “it would be lawful for the employer to exclude the employee from the workplace.” However, “this doesn’t mean the employer may automatically terminate the worker,” the memo stated. “Employers will need to determine if any other rights apply under the Equal Employment Opportunity laws or other federal, state and local authorities.” The December memo also weighed in on mandatory vaccination for students, advising that school districts should first seek guidance from the state before moving forward on that. “It is unclear whether a school district may require students to be vaccinated

against COVID-19 without specific authorization from ADHS or a local health department,” the memo said. “State law indicates that ADHS, in conjunction with the superintendent of public instruction, is responsible for developing documentary proof standards for evidence of vaccination.” The memo also noted that at this time, the state health department has indicated there were no plans to revise the regulations regarding required immunizations for students. And because none of the available vaccines are approved for children 16 and younger, it may be some time before schools would need to consider whether to require all students to be immunized, according to the memo. Asked if the state Health Services Department will make a COVID-19 vaccination mandatory for students once a vaccine becomes available for them, spokeswoman Holly Poynter said her department “will continue to monitor the recommendations issued by” the CDC. The Arizona Department of Education for now has no position on mandatory COVID-19 vaccination for students like

for measles and mumps before enrolling in school, according to spokesman Richie Taylor. “To my knowledge, the vaccines being administered now have not been approved for use in children,” he said, adding the department will await guidance from health officials. Until teachers receive the vaccine, many are concerned about their safety in the classroom as cases skyrocket in Arizona. Over 100 GPS teachers reportedly are calling in sick this week in protest as students return from winter break to hybrid learning for a week and then to fulltime in-person learning. Parents on social media said the district is ignoring health guidelines and planned on speaking at the Governing Board meeting scheduled at 6 p.m., Tuesday to voice their support for the teachers. The board noted COVID-19 cases are not rampant on campus as opposed to the community at large and that it is relying on the district dashboard to determine the learning model that takes place. “I fully support these teachers,” posted one parent. “I hope y’all stay out until the district makes the right choice.”

BY CECILIA CHAN GSN Managing Editor

“Looks like a PAC-MAN logo.” Leading the charge is former mayoral candidate Matt Nielsen, who posted on his Facebook page that “the logo is bad.” Nielsen in an email said he has talked with firefighters and family members of police officers who “don’t like the new logo.”

“I talked with several of these people who expressed that they would rather stay with the old logo or make another attempt at a redesign,” Nielsen said. “In fact, I have received anonymous emails from town employees asking me to speak out because they don’t want to wear this logo on uniforms, polos, etc. “I get the impression that no one wants to hurt anyone’s feelings by saying what they really think,” he continued. “But this isn’t a personal attack against the team that created it. I think everyone knows this isn’t the best we can come up with after two years of effort, however. We can do better.” Town staff worked on the new symbol for two years before presenting it to Council in October for approval. Staff originally intended for the logo to be approved earlier for debut at the town’s Centennial celebration in July

but the pandemic threw a wrench in the timeline. Weeks after voting 6-1 to adopt the logo, Town Council decided to send it back for retweaking after some internal opposition. In December, the full Council endorsed the revised symbol, which was slightly altered to look more like a “G” in Gilbert but still retained its vibrant color scheme. The town in December gave the community a sneak peak of the logo with new tagline “Shaping a new tomorrow, today.” A public launching of the logo was expected in the spring. It will replace the current logo, a circle with four swirls, likened to a toilet flush and shaped like a “G.” “It’s challenging to introduce a new

Gilbert’s new logo prompts jeers, cheers

ilbert’s newly minted logo is leaving some residents scratching their heads or posting some pretty derisive comments such as “Looks like it was designed by a 1st grader” or

ANSWERS TO PUZZLE AND SUDOKU on Page 23

see LOGO page 9

GILBERT SUN NEWS | JANUARY 3, 2021

NEWS

Gilbert’s new logo,. approved unanimously by Town Council last month, has been pilloried by some residents on social media.

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LOGO from page 8

brand for any organization or community,” said Town Manager Patrick Banger in a statement to the Gilbert Sun News. “And while some people may not be fans right now, we ask that you give us some time to show you how this brand and tagline of ‘shaping a new tomorrow, today’ will allow us to feature all of the incredible work that Team Gilbert, residents and businesses do every day to shape our community.” According to staff, “the new branding pays homage to Gilbert’s heritage while focusing on our commitment to progress and innovation.” But that’s not what Dan Biegler saw. “Time, money and collective brain power were put into this project,” Biegler said on Nielsen’s Facebook page. “Core values are supposed to be projected through this image. So, it is meant to say something. But when I look at it, I honestly cannot see what it’s trying to tell me.” And Russell Brown said the logo “doesn’t seem to have any principles of branding that would be applied by a proper professional. It’s amateur stuff.” Debbora Woods-Schmitt said she is a marketer and didn’t understand what the new logo is suppose to convey. “How much of our tax dollars went into this for the last two years,” she asked. Brian McAllister said he was not a fan of the new look and that it reminded him of the Google’s logo but more abstract. “I see no ‘old-town charm’ with this,” he said. Nielsen said he’s not a designer and wouldn’t assume that he could do better. “But, like many people I’ve talked with, I agree that the Gilbert logo should reflect Gilbert’s history and the things that make our town unique and attractive,” he said,

adding: “Having worked with artists and designers over the course of decades, I know that an attractive, tasteful, and modern logo that embodies the spirit of Gilbert can be designed. “It would be a shame for our town employees and first responders to have this logo on their shirts, cars, trucks, street signs and more for the 20 years. I hope the Town Council reconsiders this, even if only for the sake of our town employees.”

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CGCC enrollment still sliding into spring semester BY KEVIN REAGAN GSN Staff Writer

handler-Gilbert Community College is preparing to have 1,500 fewer students during its spring semester as it continues to grapple with the impacts of the pandemic. The college served 5,500 students in the spring of 2020 as the coronavirus started spreading and currently has about 4,000 students enrolled for the spring of 2021. CGCC started its fall semester with a 22-percent drop in enrollment and, like most other community colleges in Maricopa County, hasn’t seen much improvement over the last few months. “The narrative hasn’t changed,” said Maricopa Community Colleges Provost Karla Fisher, “what we’re seeing nationally is what we’re seeing at Maricopa.” National data shows enrollment at community colleges has declined by 10

percent since the pandemic started and students are holding off on pursuing their education plans at twice the rate of students attending four-year universities. About 33 percent of prospective community college students have cited the coronavirus as the primary reason they’re hesitant to continue, according to the Community College Research Center. As of early December, ChandlerGilbert had the biggest percentage drop in spring enrollment out of the 10 campuses in the Maricopa Community Colleges District. Only the Scottsdale, Gateway, and Rio Salado campuses have reported positive enrollment growth. Overall, the district’s seen a 15-percent decrease in enrollment and a 13-percent drop in the number of credit hours students plan to take in the spring. Fisher said the 10 colleges have collectively managed to narrow the

These are difficult times for everyone.

We find ourselves in uncharted waters while the demand for our serves continues to grow. In the midst of this pandemic, Chandler/Gilbert ARC continues to work diligently to maintain safe programs for the vulnerable people we support resulting in the service modifications to our group homes and program sights in order to keep fulfilling our mission, we need your help. We want to let you know about a key provision of the new CARES (Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security) Act. This new law is designed to help you, businesses, and nonprofits facing economic hardship during the coronavirus pandemic. The new law allows taxpayers to take a charitable deduction of $300 even if you do not itemize. For those of you who itemize their deductions, the new law allows for cash contributions to qualified charities such as ours to be deducted up to 100% of your adjusted gross income for the 2020 calendar year. *Contributions also qualify for a dollar-for-dollar tax credit on your AZ Tax Return. The maximum credit is $400 for a single head of the household or $800 for married taxpayers. Chandler/Gilbert Arc has been serving people with intellectual and developmental disabilities in the East Valley since 1975, providing community living, employment, and day treatment & training opportunities daily. We are so grateful for your generosity, which touches-and changes-so many lives.

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district’s enrollment gap by about nine percentage points through “herculean” marketing efforts deployed over the last couple months. The district could soon see another boost in enrollment, Fisher added, based on the 3-percent increase in applications for Federal Student Aid scholarships recently observed among the district’s prospective pupils. “Students that complete FAFSA are indicating to us they want to come to college and are seeking the resources to do so,” the provost said. In order to curtail the enrollment slide, the district plans to extend its deadline for dropping students from their classes for unpaid tuition fees. The district said this will allow students more time to sign up for a payment plan or seek additional financial aid. CGCC administrators hope the college’s enrollment will pick up as flex-start classes, which allow students to enroll at any time during a semester,

become more widely available. Felicia Ramirez-Perez, the college’s dean of enrollment, said ChandlerGilbert is attempting to be more accommodating and supportive to students who feel overwhelmed by the pandemic’s impacts. “We know 2020 has been particularly challenging and saw many of our students step away from their academic goals with us earlier this year,” she said. “We completely understand the importance of evaluating what works best for them in this new environment.” CGCC wants students to know the college wants to work with them on creating a schedule that fits with their current circumstances, Ramirez-Perez said. “Whether it is returning in spring, summer or fall, their next step might be one course rather than a full course load, and we are here to help them take that

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step,” she added. The majority of CGCC courses have shifted to online formats and only a handful are still being taught in-person. Some courses include a “live-online” option that allow students to interact with instructors and classmates virtually through applications like Zoom. According to surveys by the district, many students have indicated they’re waiting until in-person classes become available again before deciding to enroll or they don’t feel prepared to take an online course. Since the pandemic began, several new health protocols have been

implemented throughout the CGCC campus that require visitors to wear masks, greater utilization of bigger classrooms, and restrict access to empty buildings. Jenna Kahl, the college’s vice president of community relations, said CGCC wants the public to feel safe when they come to the campus and the college will continue to make adjustments in order to minimize the risk of contracting the virus. “We hope our students feel welcomed and safe as we continue to keep their safety and education at the forefront of all we do,” Kahl said.

in a timely manner. And as soon as community members and employees in direct contact with students present the committee recommendation, we will certainly revisit this issue to include their feedback.” She also suggested the board had a bigger role to play in deciding when campuses should reopen. “In addition, this is not a decision that should rest on the superintendent’s shoulders. Boards give direction; superintendents implement that direction. I have made my views on this clear in previous board meetings, but wanted to make sure you were aware in case you did not have the opportunity to watch the numerous hours of discussion on this topic,” she wrote. In a statement to SanTan Sun News, Bruner declined to elaborate on the claims made in her email nor explain who rejected her meeting idea. The board’s policies allow special meetings to be held whenever necessary as long as a public notice is published 24 hours before their start time. Board President Barbara Mozdzen, who was recently elected to another fouryear term, is in charge of presiding over board meetings. She did not respond to questions regarding Bruner’s request for a special meeting. Board member Lindsay Love, who’s been openly critical of CUSD’s handling of the pandemic, said she was disappointed Bruner’s request was denied -- especially

since Bruner is a teacher in the Tempe Union High School District, which has yet to allow five-day in-class learning this school year. Tempe Union had allowed students to be in classrooms two days a week beginning in mid-October, but shut down campuses a month later when metrics began trending upward. “It is concerning that a request for an emergency board meeting from the only board member who is closest to the situation as an educator, was denied,” Love said. “It sets a tone that we do not value the voices of our educators.” Bruner and Love have often sided with each other in arguing for a more cautious approach to reopening the district’s schools. Over the summer, they voted against allowing students back on campuses in September, when the metrics were considerably lower than they are now. During the board’s Dec. 9 meeting, Bruner said she was disheartened to not see CUSD “follow the science” by continuing to allow in-person instruction. “We know that we should be following the metrics of the county,” she said. “And we know that we are putting lots of people at risk.” Despite the district-wide virus data, active COVID-19 cases reported at individual CUSD campuses currently

CUSD

from page 6

see CUSD page 12

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GILBERT SUN NEWS | JANUARY 3, 2021

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from page 11

don’t meet the district’s threshold for triggering a temporary closure. Bruner said many CUSD families expected the district to take action when the metrics worsened and feels like the district is not responding to concerns she’s made multiple times. The district’s current position has not sat well with some parents. One parent wrote new board member Joel Wirth, a former CUSD administrator, that there are no signs the virus surge will ebb soon and told him how her fourth-grade daughter at a CUSD school had contracted COVID-19. She said she was concerned her son, a Casteel High student, risked infection if he returned to the campus but that keeping him home for online learning was not feasible. Because his sister had tested positive, she said, her son “has already been forced to quarantine and missed all his finals.” “I try not to worry about grades because it’s crazy right now, but if the rest of the school is carrying on as if we are not in the worst time of this pandemic yet, how is it fair that those of us actually exercising caution watch our kids fail?” she wrote. “Teachers cannot teach both virtual and in person with full classes. The current situation and options are totally unacceptable even by the low bar set by the county and state.”

She also said, “I personally know 4 infected families and a very ill infected teacher who is believed to have spread COVID to at least 1 confirmed student who then infected her family. This is first hand. Not a rumor I heard. “I don’t understand why an emergency board meeting has been blocked by your leadership, but it feels like an abdication of duty not to address this. If it’s true that one board member is blocking action, it’s time for new leadership.” Along with Wirth, Jason Olive, a parent and architect, also is joining the CUSD Governing Board this month. The two men are replacing Karen McGee and David Evans – who often teamed up with Mozdzen to make majority decisions that overrode the concerns of Bruner and Love. Yet it is not known how Wirth or Olive might vote on future matters involving school closures or virtual instruction. Wirth has previously said he felt CUSD was doing an “adequate” job handling the pandemic and Olive thought the district’s initial response “was not as good as it could have been.” Bruner has openly encouraged the public to contact Wirth and Olive with their pandemic concerns because she knows their arrival could dramatically shift the district’s approach.

BY HOWARD FISCHER Capitol Media Services

no reference to Carlton Woodruff whom Ducey tapped for director in September 2019 with a glowing endorsement of him as “a highly qualified, dedicated public servant.’’ Instead, only Woods was mentioned. “I’m grateful to Rob for stepping up to this important role during a challenging time for our state,’’ the governor said in his prepared statement. And what of Woodruff?

Ed tax position costs state revenue chief his job

he head of the state Department of Revenue was ousted last week, the apparent victim of taking a legal position on the new education tax that was contrary to that of Gov. Doug Ducey, his boss. In a press release, Ducey announced that Rob Woods, the agency’s deputy director, will serve as interim director. More telling is that the release makes

see ED TAX page 13

GILBERT SUN NEWS | JANUARY 3, 2021

ED TAX

from page 12

“We don’t comment on personnel matters,’’ said gubernatorial spokesman C.J. Karamargin. The action came less than 24 hours after Capitol Media Services reported that an attorney representing the agency and Woodruff mounted a vigorous defense of the legality of Proposition 208, the voter-approved levy on the richest Arizonans to raise money for K-12 education. “This does not reflect Gov. Ducey’s position on this issue,’’ Karamargin said. He later confirmed that Grant Nulle, another deputy director, also was fired on Tuesday. The governor actively opposed the Invest in Education initiative which imposes a 3.5 percent surcharge on incomes of individuals earning more than $250,000 a year and couples with adjusted incomes of more than $500,000. The levy, which does not affect anyone with earnings below that level, is expected to raise anywhere from $827 million to $940 million a year, depending on whose estimates are used. Despite that, it was approved by a margin of 51.7 percent. The business interests who unsuccessfully fought for its defeat are now in court arguing that the plan is unconstitutional and asking Maricopa County Superior Court Judge John Hannah to bar collection of those dollars until there can be a full trial on the issue,

Rob Woods something that could take months. Those arguments are getting a fight from initiative supporters. But the claims by foes that Proposition 208 is illegal also are being disputed by attorney Brian Bergin. Retained by the Attorney General’s Office, he represents both the Department of Revenue and the state as a whole, both of whom had to be named as defendants in any lawsuit challenging a statute, even one enacted by voters. Bergin did more than simply argue that statutes are presumed valid. “Proposition 208 apparently reflects the voters’ belief that the state’s educational system is underfunded and

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requires additional permanent funding that the legislature has been unable, or unwilling, to provide,’’ he wrote. “The people have spoken in approving Proposition 208,’’ Bergin continued. “Public policy heavily weighs against imposing injunctive relief.’’ That filing apparently came as a surprise to the governor. “The role of state agencies is not to take policy positions but to implement the law,’’ said Karamargin. “Courts will ultimately decide what the law is,’’ he continued. “And our expectation is that state agencies will follow the law.’’ Efforts to reach Woodruff were unsuccessful. Documents obtained by Capitol Media Services show that Bergin was appointed by the Attorney General’s Office, which normally defends the state in lawsuits, on Dec. 3 to represent the Department of Revenue and the state in the case. Ryan Anderson, a spokesman for the office, said he could not specify why the

decision was made to farm this case out. “Generally speaking, we assign outside counsel for a number of reasons such as conflicting matters within the office, insufficient resources or a lack of expertise on certain legal matters,’’ he said. Anderson said such decisions also are made on “agency client considerations.’’ Anderson said he could not comment on what instructions the Department of Revenue provided Bergin in the kind of defense of the law he was to provide, referring those questions to Bergin who did not immediately return a call seeking comment. Woodruff had become interim director of the agency in December 2018 after Ducey was reelected and David Briant, who was heading the department, announced he was retiring. The pick became permanent in September 2019, with the governor saying that Woodruff had made the department more efficient, effective and responsive.

COMMUNITY

Community

GilbertSunNews.com

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GILBERT SUN NEWS | JANUARY 3, 2021

For more community news visit gilbertsunnews.com

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Dogs4Vets does more than train service dogs BY CHRISTINA FUOCO-KARASINSKI GSN Staff Writer

erad and Debbie Claseman started Dogs4Vets in 2005 with the goal of helping a few veterans a year. They wanted to offer service dog training at no cost. Generally, the cost is high to train a service dog and it takes three to seven years to get a fully trained canine. Dogs4Vets has two training centers, one in Gilbert and the other in tiny Pinedale. The facilities resemble a home and is a residence, respectively, which allows for training dogs in a real-world environment. Due to the overwhelming demand for service dogs, the Clasemans quickly found they needed to expand the program and create a 501(c)(3). “We had a couple dogs in a garage at first,” Debbie said. “We now have had more than several thousand students. It got really out of control, so to speak, in a positive way. We love the idea of helping veterans train their own dogs to be service dogs.” The first step to the program is to ap-

Veterans have relocated from across the country to attend the Dogs4Vets program. Most of our trainers are disabled veterans or family members of disabled veterans. (Courtesy Dogs4Vets)

ply, which costs $25. During the first 20 weeks, the trainer focuses on teaching the service dog teams basic behavioral fundamentals. They work closely with students and their dogs to ensure they are a team. The next phase of the program involves

our trainers taking the service dog teams to various public venues. This phase of training helps to facilitate stability and confidence while interacting with the public. “We go out as a group and there are 15

people ranging in age from pre-teen to the mid-80s and is part of the “It Happened to Me Ultimate Teen Guide” series published by Rowman & Littlefield and available at Barnes & Noble bookstores and hardback and digital forms on a variety of book-sale websites. Now, Shreeves has embarked on a follow-up to that project. She is working on a book tentatively titled “Coping with Parental Death: Insights and Tips for Teenagers,” which will be a part of publishers Rowman & Littlefield “Empowering You” series. The series is aimed at helping young

adults deal with important issues that they or their friends might be facing, such as coming out, having a loved one with dementia, cyberbullying, depression, grief, volunteering and other topics. Each book features stories from teenagers themselves to provide personal perspectives to the issue. Shreeve is looking to connect with anyone 13 to 19 years old who has lost a parent. “I’m also looking for adults who lost their parents when they were between 13-19 as well who would like to share their story to help other teens navigate

to 20 veterans out for breakfast,” she said. “What they don’t know is what’s under the table. Others don’t realize the dogs are there. I don’t know any other program that can do that. We don’t allow shock collars and we have no age limit on the dog, either.” The final phase of training focuses on teaching the dogs tasks that are specific to their owners. These tasks could include mobility assistance, retrieval skills and PTSD, such as depression, anxiety, hypervigilance and night terrors. Dogs4Vets is one of the largest programs of its kind in the nation. “It’s due to the nature of our organization, which is pretty amazing,” she said. “Ours isn’t all about training dogs. It’s about healing hearts, souls and families. The bonus is they get a professionally trained lifeline to help them. “We invite their family. We have parties and celebrations—before COVID. We send birthday cards. It’s an amazing healing program. We put wholistic healing into it with meditation and mindfulness. It’s

see DOGS page 16

Gilbert writer seeks teens who lost a parent GSN NEWS STAFF

ime may heal some wounds but Michelle Shreeve knows their pain never fully goes away. She still remembers her mother’s death in December 1993 – when Shreeve was only 9. The Gilbert writer has channeled her lingering loss into helping children whose lives have been torn apart by the loss of a parent or other beloved adult. Several years ago, she published “Parental Death: The Ultimate Teen Guide.” It is based on her interviews with 90

this difficult situation,” she said. Although the publisher only wants teens’ voices in the book, Shreeve looks for adults who can add a perspective as she is crafting the new project. Teens can email her: writtenbymikey@ gmail.com, and she will send them a questionnaire that she will edit and send to her publisher while sending them a consent letter their parent or guardian can sign that allows their words to be published. There is an option for anonymity in the book.

see SHREEVE page 16

GILBERT SUN NEWS | JANUARY 3, 2021

Still time to honor veterans who passed away GSN NEWS STAFF

he holidays may be over but donations are still needed by Wreaths Across America, which honors dead veterans by placing wreaths on their graves at cemeteries across the country, including Chandler’s Valley of the Sun Mortuary and Cemetery. For every wreath sponsored during the campaign, which runs through Jan. 15, Wreaths Across America will match the number of wreaths sponsored. That means donors can honor twice as many veterans with their sponsorship. For example, a Family Pack of four wreaths will honor eight veterans while the Small Business Sponsorship of 10 wreaths will honor 20 veterans. “More than 1,800 veterans were honored at the Wreaths Across America event at the Valley of the Sun Mortuary and Cemetery on Dec. 19, but there

The effort to place holiday wreaths on the graves of veterans is a long-running national campaign. (Special to GSN) are more than 2,700 veterans interned at the cemetery,” said event coordinator Michael Whitaker of the Chandler

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$60 and a Small Business Sponsorship is $150 for 10 wreaths. Go to wreathsacrossamerica.org/AZ0084P. The Wreaths across America got its start in 1992, when the Worcester Wreath Company had a surplus of 5,000 wreaths and arranged for their placement at Arlington National Cemetery. It has since become a national project. Last year, 2.2 million veterans received wreaths at more than 2,500 locations nationwide and abroad. The Chandler Exchange Club, chartered in 2013, is part of a national network of community service clubs across the nation. The club’s name is derived from “exchanging” ideas to better serve the local community. Valley of the Sun Mortuary and Cemetery since 1963 has been serving the East Valley and has been hosting the Wreaths Across America event since 2015.

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DOGS from page 14

GILBERT SUN NEWS | JANUARY 3, 2021

a safe haven. We’ve created a safe haven for them to come to every week with their dog and train. They form friendships and renew their souls to overcome their anxiety. PTSD is a horrible, horrible thing.” The training center includes a full kitchen so they can train the veterans’ dogs to open and close a refrigerator door, a drawer or cabinet, or place items in a trash can. There are stairs, ramps and other obstacles available to train the dogs to safely assist disabled veterans with mobility. A washer and dryer are available to teach dogs how to retrieve the laundry. Besides being a training center for service dogs, the facility also is a place for our veterans to feel safe. If they need to talk or a shoulder to lean on, one of our trained

staff members will be there to listen. Veterans have relocated from across the country to attend the program. Most of our trainers are disabled veterans or family members of disabled veterans. “It takes a year and a half to two years to go through the program,” she said. “When they finish, they are legitimate service dogs. They learn now to call 911 and get medicine. They are valid lifelines.” Debbie said the inspiration for the program came from her husband, Gerad, who is a Vietnam-era Navy veteran. “We got the idea from him going to the VA hospital and such,” she said. “There’s not a lot of help for veterans in terms of recovering and transitioning into the real world.

“They’re trying to find their new normal. Their dog has their back. There are a lot of folks out there who are providing dogs, especially rescues. To me, that’s a volatile situation, for obvious reasons. You don’t know the dog. What if it’s a breed they don’t connect with? Our premise was to let them choose their own lifeline or buddy or dog they already have and work from there.” The next group of classes starts in January. The certification lasts a year, so veterans and their dogs must return to be retested. Before Dogs4Vets, Debbie taught early childhood education for a year. When they arrived at the idea of Dogs4Vets, Debbie earned a degree in animal behaviorism.

She requires all of the trainers to study animal behaviorism and have a background in medical and disability. “When my husband retired, we took some time off and traveled,” she said. “We had this dream, and we took this dream and put it all together. It’s more than I thought it would be. I look at it as very rewarding and what a gift.”

The last time Shreeve did this she received over 60 emails in 24 hours, so she advises that respondents should be patient because she will get back to them in the order their initial email is received. Her goal is “offer support, healthy coping mechanisms, advice from other teens who have experienced parental death and from adults looking back to when they lost one or both of their parents during their teen years.” “It will offer resources, organizations, support groups and more to help teens not feel alone who are facing a parental death situation,” Shreeve explained. “It will also list movies, books, and notable figures in society who grew up without one or both of their parents but still gave something positive back to the world.” Shreeve said her own mother’s death still pains her, especially on holidays and particularly on Mother’s Day. For a while, she said, “I would also watch comforting motherless daughter or mother-daughter movies to help make it through the day, not to mention talk to her and cry.” A 2003 graduate of Mountain Pointe High School, Shreeve holds two undergraduate degrees in psychology and two master’s degrees in English and creative writing. She has been a freelance writer since 2008, frequently writing about the topic of parental death. “I want to make sure kids, teens, young

be someone out there who lost a mother/parent like I did but was still able to make it. I knew that I couldn’t be the only person out there.” Before reaching out to people for her first book, she researched the topic of parent death and found “many notable people – Nobel Prize Laureates, actors, athletes, musicians, philosophers and more – who grew up to give something positive back Gilbert author Michelle Shreeve, who lost her mother at age 9, to the world but who has written one book about teens’ loss of a parent and is at work also lost a parent like on a follow-up book. (Special to GSN) I did.” “I thought if they adults and grieving families know that could make it through their childhood they’re not alone in this, and that there without one or both of their parents and are many others who have gone through still pursue their dreams or give someparental death or are currently going thing positive back to the world, then maybe I could make it too. And that gave through it like they are,” she said. “When I was young and going through me strength and motivation on my chalmy own personal loss, I used to get scared lenging days. I also used it as a therapeuand worried about my future,” Shreeve tic coping method.” She had not been prepared for the reexplained. “I would often think my life was in trouble because I didn’t have two sponses she received when she was seekparents to support me like most of my ing people for her first book. “Each and every one of the participeers did. “I would think to myself, there has to pants’ stories was heartbreaking, espe-

cially when realizing what they went through at such a young age,” Shreeve said. “There were many times when I had to walk away from the computer as my heart broke for each participant. … Let’s just say many tears were shed and went into this book that came from both the participants and myself.” “In the book, I tell children and teens there are two ways you can handle your loss throughout the rest of your life: You can either use it as a handicap and say you don’t know how to do this or that because your parent wasn’t there to teach you, OR you can learn things on your own, be there for yourself instead of dependent on others and teach yourself the things your late parent left off teaching you.” “Something I’ve noticed over coping with the death of my mother, helping others feels like the right thing to do.” She still thinks about her mom. “I try to act like she’s still here,” she explained. “I talk to people about her, I watch movies that I think she and I would have probably watched together, I look at old pictures and I even talk to her daily. I’ve learned a lot about myself, some things the hard way... but that is why I wanted to share this book with other kids and teens who might be struggling with parental death.” To order her first book: rowman.com/ ISBN/9781442270879/Parental-DeathThe-Ultimate-Teen-Guide

SHREEVE from page 14

Dogs4Vets 3249 S. Lindsay Road, Gilbert Mailing: P.O. Box 13525, Chandler, 85248 480-802-9339, info@dogs4vets.org, dogs4vets.org

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D1 Training opening 2nd location in Gilbert BY ZACH ALVIRA GSN Sports Editor

1 Training, which opened its first Arizona-based location in June in Scottsdale, has opened its second state-of-the-art facility in Gilbert. The facility, which caters to the needs of athletes and everyday fitness goers using a sports-based science, opened near the intersection of Power and Queen Creek roads in southeast Gilbert. “Owning a business that helps others achieve their goals and affect their lives for the better was extremely enticing to us,” said Steve Fisher, who co-owns D1 Training’s Gilbert location with his wife, Danelle. “Our space caters to everyone, whether you’re a parent looking to sneak a workout in or an ath-

D1 Training, which opened its first Arizona-based location in June in Scottsdale, has opened its second state-of-the-art facility in Gilbert. (Courtesy D1 Training) lete looking to hone in on skills. We have trainers, known as coaches at D1, that can help people at any level – making sure everyone feels welcome is our top priority.” Franchised by a slew of former and

Guest of honor

Brett and Maureen Grebe, owners of the Henhouse Cafe at 3244 E. Guadalupe Road, Gilbert, stand behind Sun Lakes resident Jack Holder, one of the few remaining survivors of the 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor, where he was stationed as a Navy aviator.The Grebes hosted Holder and family members and friends, from left, Nicholas Stevenson, Darlene Tryon and Thomas Baldrick last month as the war hero celebrated his 99th birthday. (Pablo Robles/GSN Staff Photographer)

current professional athletes, including former NFL quarterback Peyton Manning and Denver Broncos Super Bowl MVP linebacker Von Miller, D1 has long been one of the premier training facilities in the Midwest and southeast part of the United States. D1’s first location in Scottsdale was brought to the Valley by husband-andwife team Mike and Kristen Baker, who couldn’t pass up on the opportunity to franchise the 7,000-square-foot facility. D1 brings a new level of fitness training to the southeast Valley. Every training session at D1 is done in a group setting, lasting roughly 54 minutes. Coached by one of the gym’s certified trainers, many of whom have achieved the highest level of certification for trainers, every workout highlights the five key elements athletic-based training: dynamic warm-up, performance, strength, core and conditioning and cool down. The groups all vary by age. D1 caters to the “Rookie” (7-11), “Developmental” (12-14) and “Prep” (15-18). It also hosts boot camp and strength training groups for adults. D1’s coaches have the ability to not only provide general fitness for patrons, but some are able to provide sport-specific activities that can benefit athletes of all ages in any sport. The gym has already catered to as many as 20 professional athletes from a variety of different sports seeking a viable training option during the coronavirus pandemic. The facility itself is outfitted with several strength and cardio machines, as well as free weights, resistance bands and other equipment to fulfill a full body workout. There is also an area with artificial turf, allowing for cardio training that closely resembles the same surface most athletes train on during the season.

Feedback from D1’s Scottsdale location has been positive. “The feedback has been extremely positive,” Mike said in June. “To have such a big brand and to see the names involved, along with the new facility, the turf and all the equipment, everyone is enjoying it. It’s been very overwhelming and encouraging to see what has happened so far.” Seeking a career change, Steve and Danelle focused on their passion for sports and exercise. Steve previously worked in the technology manufacturing industry while Danelle developed an extensive professional background in the hospitality while working for major hotel brands. The two consulted with the D1 Training team and decided to franchise the Gilbert location. The two hired former All-American Tight End at Lewis & Clark College, Shawn Evans, as general manager of the branch. Evans previously worked as D1’s Boise, Idaho location as a personal trainer. While the Gilbert location just recently opened, Steve and Danelle are already looking toward the future. They plan to open another D1 Training facility in Chandler in the near future. “Steve and Danelle are the ideal candidates to bring the D1 Training experience to Gilbert,” said the D1 Training’s Chief Operating Officer, Dan Murphy. “We’re thrilled to welcome them to the D1 family and are confident in their ability to show the Gilbert community what they’ve been missing out on. D1 is a one-of-a-kind fitness experience that’s built around the individual and meant to help people meet their appropriate edge. “Our strong network of franchisees embodies our core values to bring the D1 Training vision to life, and we know the Fishers will do just that in Gilbert and its surrounding communities.”

Sports & Recreation 18

SPORTS

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AIA pushes back start of winter sports to Jan. 18 BY ZACH ALVIRA GSN Sports Editor

he Arizona Interscholastic Association has again delayed the start of winter sports, pushing it back two weeks to Jan. 18. The decision comes as COVID-19 continues to surge in Arizona, forcing many districts to delay the opening of classrooms for at least a week or longer.. “Our focus continues to be on keeping students in school and on the playing field safely,” Associate Executive Director Joe Paddock said in the release. “We believe this decision will help us preserve the winter sports season.” The AIA said the delay would also allow teams to practice for two weeks after students return from winter break. The same guidelines and recommendations from the AIA’s Sports Medicine Advisory Committee will remain in place once the season begins. With those recommendations, the winter sports season will not stop once it begins unless state health or government officials order all extracurricular activities to suspend operations. The recommendations, which were established in December, will allow teams to begin competition on Jan. 18 regardless of what key COVID-19 metrics are used to determine the start of fall sports show. The metrics will only be used to determine whether fans are able to attend competitions. At this time, the metrics call for empty stands. The AIA said conferences will be given the opportunity to decide the total number of weeks of competitions for winter teams. That decision will be made in the next couple of weeks, according to the AIA. The winter sports season will conclude on March 5, with the spring season beginning March 1. Conferences will have the ability to

Campo Verde soccer coach Drew Guarneri said the delay to winter sports didn’t come as much of a surprise to him or his team. (GSN File Photo) modify the length of the spring season. “These measures will allow us to start the season and I hope, that as we see hospitalizations go down, some of the restrictions regarding spectators, be lifted,” Executive Director David Hines said in the release. The AIA’s decision to once again delay the start of the winter sports season didn’t come as much of a surprise to several East Valley coaches. “I don’t want to say we expected the delay but it didn’t catch me by surprise,” Campo Verde soccer coach Drew Guarneri said. “We understand the difficult decisions that the AIA has to make, and we will continue to make sure we are prepared to play on Jan. 18 and hope it won’t get moved back again. I support what the AIA is doing to try and make sure these kids get to experience a full season of soccer.” Guarneri said his team took the week of Christmas off but returned to the field this past week to prepare for the season. Other teams took the same approach, especially in the Chandler Unified School

District. Chandler girls basketball coach Glenda Skalitzky said the district shut down team activities the week of Christmas as a result of the delay. All teams returned to the practice field Monday, however. Like Guarneri, Skalitzky didn’t find the delay as much of a surprise. “As coaches we know we have to be flexible, especially this year,” Skalitzky said. “I’m just thankful they’re trying to get us a season.” David DiDomenico, the longtime coach of the Mesa High School wrestling program, said the extra time also allowed for his athletes to focus on classes rather than juggle practice and schoolwork. “I was able to motivate my wrestlers to pass their classes to be eligible,” DiDomenico said, adding: “We got many wrestlers completing their schoolwork, succeeding in their finals and passing for the semester. It’s the greatest silver lining to the delay.” First-year Saguaro head boys basketball coach Lucas Ramirez said he and his program support the AIA’s decision to further delay the season.

He knows it is with the best interest of everyone in mind. “We are supportive of the AIA’s decision as we believe they have had our student-athletes best interest in mind from the beginning,” Ramirez said. “We will continue to practice as safe as possible as a program and look forward to any and all opportunities of a season.” Mountain Pointe basketball coach Kaimarr Price said he anticipated some sort of delay but thought at first it would only be for a week. Still, he accepts the two-week delay as long as it means the season will be able to get started at some point this winter. “We just need to focus on what we can control,” Price said. “Two more weeks of practice definitely won’t hurt us. It’s a time to bond and get better as a team. Whatever allows us to start and complete a season I’m on board with.” Mountain Pointe and Desert Vista’s basketball programs planned to continue practice during winter break. Especially for the Thunder, that allows for extra time to prepare for a team that has new co-head coaches this season in Bryant St. Cyr and Jordan Ballard. Like Price, St. Cyr thought a delay would eventually come, especially with rising metrics. “I wasn’t shocked, I’ve been keeping a close eye on the metrics,” St. Cyr said. “Just watching the numbers and seeing what they had us do to adjust, we just have to make sure we get our kids ready. But it’s definitely tough. “I know the kids were ready to get going on the 5th.”

Have a good sports story?

Contact Zach Alvira at zalvira@timespublications.com and follow him on Twitter @ZachAlvira.

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Hall of Flame one of area’s best-kept secrets BY CHRISTINA FUOCO-KARASINSKI GetOut Editor

hicago-area industrialist George F. Getz Jr. and his wife, Olive Atwater Getz, were driving through Wilmette, Illinois, when they saw a broken-down fire truck on the side of the road. George casually remarked he would like the 1924, Type 12 American La France fire engine. Considering the Globe Corp. chairman had everything, Olive surprised him with the old fire engine for Christmas in 1955. The gift led to a hobby on his part of collecting antique and historic firefighting equipment. This resulted in his creating the Hall of Flame Museum of Firefighting, now located in Phoenix, in 1961. It houses the world’s largest collection of firefighting equipment and memorabilia. “Somehow they kept it a secret from him,” said Mark Moorhead of the Hall of Flame Museum about George’s

Mack not only made semis, but firetrucks as well. (Courtesy Hall of Flame Museum) present. “It was really, basically, intended as a gag gift, but he went nuts. He loved it.

He gave the neighborhood kids rides in it. He just really became enamored of firetrucks. He started to collect more

the town’s rich history, featuring newly remodeled exhibits and interactive displays. The programs and events at HD SOUTH focus on six community pillars and are designed for all generations. These pillars include history, health & wellness, science, literature, art, and music. To register, visit hdsouth.org/calendar. Unless noted otherwise, programs are free but registration is required. All participants will be required to wear facial coverings and adhere to physical distancing guidelines. HD SOUTH is open 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.

hibit of photographs by image-makers from different cultures explores their dissimilar worlds. Two individuals from Arizona, and two from Guatemala, consecutively hosted their counterparts for ten days of road travel to capture iconic imagery of their respective lands. The photographs explore how cultural background informs a person’s unique vision. Gallery 4 admission is included in the price of Museum admission.

and more and more of them.” He organized the National Historical Fire Foundation as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization to promote the museum’s programs. The Hall of Flame Museum of Firefighting is one of the Valley’s best-kept secrets. After a stint in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, it opened its present building in Phoenix’s Papago Park in 1974. The hall has grown from its original single gallery to five exhibit galleries, the National Firefighting Hall of Heroes, the museum store, a theater, a restoration shop, a collection storage building, and administrative offices. In its 70,000-square-foot space are 130 wheeled pieces and thousands of smaller artifacts. “We’re the largest historical firefighting museum in the world,” Moorhead said. “There are around 200 firefighting museums in the United States and quite a few in other countries as well.

HD SOUTH hosts a variety of programs GSN NEWS STAFF

D SOUTH, home of the Gilbert Historical Museum and an arts, culture and history center, has a full lineup of programs for this month. The programs are led by artists, historians, storytellers, health and wellness specialists, botanists and scientists – experts in their field who share their knowledge and skills with our community. Originally opened as Gilbert Elementary School in 1913, HD SOUTH is the oldest building still standing in Gilbert and is the only one on the National Register of Historic Places. Gilbert Museum is a repository of artifacts chronicling

Guatemala Exchange

On display through Feb. 20, this ex-

The Power Of Intention

10 a.m.-noon Jan. 9 Instructor Marilynn Igleski will guide participants on the power of setting personal intentions using mindfulness and meditation. Igelski has a 600-hour yoga certification from the Southwest Insti-

see

FLAME page 22

tute of Healing Arts. She has been teaching yoga for over 10 years with a primary focus on the Yoga of Well Being. Open to all levels, teen through adult. Bring your own mat and water. Members: $5 Non-Members $8.

FamilySearch for Beginners

6:30-8 P.M. Jan. 12 Participants will learn how to use the powerful genealogy tool called FamilySearch. Jeanne Koniuszy, an expert in the field of genealogical research, will assist those who are new to exploring their ancestors, weed through the dead ends and pinpoint pertinent information. This is a program for those who are just

see

SOUTH page 22

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SOUTH from page 21

beginning the journey of tracing their family history.

See It Saturday

10:30 A.M.-Noon Jan. 16 Every month the museum will offer a chance for the public to come and see artifacts that are normally not available for public viewing. This month it is showcasing high school yearbooks from the years 1940-1950. Museum admission is required to see the display and an additional $1 donation covers the cost of archival gloves which must be worn by all those who wish to flip through the pages of time.

FLAME from page 21

We have items from all over the world, really, to trace the social and technological history of firefighting.” The museum tells the story from the bucket brigade to the 21st century. “It’s like you see in the Western movies, when the church is on fire, for example,” he said about the bucket brigade. “You have the famous bucket brigade, where they pass up and down the line and the last person gets as close as he can to the fire, which usually isn’t very close. He tries to throw the bucket of water on it. “It’s a terrible way to fight a fire, but it was all they had. As civilization developed and towns and cities got bigger, they had a lot of incentive to find a better way to fight fires in a more technological way.” The oldest piece in the museum is from 1725—seven years before George Washington was born. “This one is so old that it doesn’t have a good hose,” Moorhead said. “Instead of the last guy in line feebly throwing his bucket of water on the fire, he would pour it into a tub that held about 80 gallons of water. “You’d have the crew guys on either side pumping it out, up and down.” The water sprayed out of a rigid, brass pipe—a branch pipe—and it angled up so the firefighters didn’t have to get right on top of the fire. They could arc it through a front door or, perhaps, a porch window. They could also hose down trees, bushes and the neighbors’ houses.

GILBERT SUN NEWS | JANUARY 3, 2021

The Power of Acupuncture 6:30-8:30 P.M. Jan. 19 Acupuncture is the most well-known therapy within Chinese medicine and its use is on the rise in the United States. Jamie Fitzgerald MTCM LAC discusses the history of acupuncture, what it treats, how it works, and what to expect during and after an acupuncture treatment. She is the founder of East Valley Community Acupuncture and is currently serving on the state Acupuncture Board of Examiners.

Arizona’s Silver Belt

10:30 A.M.-Noon Silver was discovered in Globe in 1873

and within 3 years, numerous other silver mines were operating in Gila and Pinal counties. Silver mining in Arizona was a powerful stimulus for exploration and prospecting in the early days. Les Presmyk, mining engineer and geologist, will discuss the impact silver mining had on the state and how it progressed from a small discovery to the opening of a multitude of successful mines.

Cooking Up Good Health

6:30-8 P.M. Jan. 26 This healthy cooking program will be conducted by Rachel Thomas, who has hosted thousands of cooking demon-

The Granite Mountain Hotshots are remembered in the Hall of Flame Museum of Firefighting. They were killed in the Yarnell Hill Fire, the sixth-deadliest American firefighter disaster, and the state’s deadliest wildfire. The museum houses one buggy used to transport the hotshots on the last day of their lives. (Courtesy the Hall of Flame Museum of Firefighting) “It wasn’t just your house that would burn,” Moorhead said. “Three or four of your neighbors’ houses could burn, or the whole city block. Whole towns were known to burn. “It seems really primitive, but it was this huge leap forward over the bucket brigade. It’s essentially just a giant squirt gun, but it’s a pretty powerful squirt gun.” From the old news to recent news— the Granite Mountain Hotshots are

remembered in the museum. They were killed in the Yarnell Hill Fire, the sixth-deadliest American firefighter disaster, and the state’s deadliest wildfire. The museum houses one of two ambulances used to transport the hotshots on the last day of their lives. “This is one of the few pieces that’s here that we don’t own,” Moorhead said. “This one belongs to the Los Angeles County Fire Museum. The vice president of that museum’s son died

strations and has an extensive library of healthy recipes, some of which she will share and demonstrate during this workshop.

Valentine Card Making Workshop

10:30 A.M.-Noon Jan. 30 During this fun art workshop, participants will be able to make a variety of Valentine themed greeting cards to send to that special someone next month. The workshop will be led by acclaimed artist Peter Eobbi, a member of the Gilbert Visual Art League. Eobbi has an extensive background in design and makes art that celebrates life, Ages 6 and up.

(in Yarnell). “The vehicles sat in a city garage up in Prescott for a number of years. Then, they took them out to be in that movie (‘Only the Brave’). Finally, Prescott said they were going to sell it as surplus city property. This guy in LA didn’t want to see this stuff sold. “So, he got an anonymous donor, who turned out to be the actor Randolph Mantooth to donate $25,000. He put up a single bid of $25,000. We’ve had it for years and we’ll probably have it for years more. If they ever build a museum of a facility of some kind in Prescott that would accommodate this, they’ll probably get it.” Mantooth starred in the 1970s medical drama, “Emergency!” The Granite Mountain Hotshots exhibit is part of the National Firefighting Hall of Heroes, which opened in 1998. Other American firefighters who died in the line of duty are remembered, including those from 9/11. (Somber fact: “Saturday Night Live” comedian Pete Davidson’s father is pictured on a wall of 9/11 casualties.) “We think we’re a real world-class facility,” Moorhead said. “The building isn’t fancy at all. It’s just a big warehouse, really.” But what’s in it is worth the trip.

Hall of Flame Museum of Firefighting 6101 E. Van Buren St., Phoenix 602-275-3473, hallofflame.org

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480.287.4897

www.WhileYouAreAwayServices.com

Real Estate for Sale Homes For Sale Need More Houses to Sell! Call Pete! Call us for a FREE Consultation

Pete Find outMeier how Associate Broker, CRS, GRI low our interest 602-690-3361 rates are.

OLD

S Me! Contact

$275,000 PAM DIENERT

Much sought after townhome

SOLD

$285,000 2 split Master bedrooms, 2

Mortgage ba, 3c gar, glass enclosed in TuscanyLoan Courts in Originator Arizona room 16x16, great Ahwatukee 2br/2.5 Baths 2 NMLS #1402635 gar. Gently lived in. This is not room, fireplaces, low maint. landscaping. Near Multiin the 55+ neighborhood! (480)Near396-1284 Million $ Rec center, shopping. community pool.

SOLD $325,000 3br/2ba/2gar excellent location backing to lush greenbelt lot, 2,294 sq ft his and her home offices. Western décor. Mature landscaping. Near shopping and multi-million $ rec center, single level in 55+ community.

SOLD $335,000 55+ Popular Pueblo flr plan 3BR / 2BA / 2 GAR. Great location near Multi Mil $ Rec Center and Shopping. Mature citrus.

petemeier.com

1835ADS EastONLINE! Pecos Road • Gilbert, AZ 85295 MORE CLASSIFIED Call for a FREE Home Value Analysis (480) 497-9800 • unisonbank.com www.Ahwatukee.com

GILBERT SUN NEWS | JANUARY 3, 2021 Santan Fwy 202

PRICES VALID SUNDAY, JANUARY 3RD THRU SATURDAY, JANUARY 9TH, 2021

5.0 cu. ft. capacity gas range with Power Boil and Precise Simmer burners and extra large non-stick skillet

†

71999

SAVE $590

SAVINGS UP TO 25% OFF SELECT APPLIANCES

1699

REG. 2289.99

LEASE PER WEEK

7737/WK

LEASE PER WEEK

ﬁngerprint resistant

PLUS

25% OFF

10% OFF* APPLIANCES

$ 599† or more with qualifying Shop Your Way or Sears credit cards**

4.3 cu. ft. capacity washer with Triple Action® Impeller and StainBoost™ option

third rack stainless steel hub

18 MONTH FINANCING**

ITEM# 02625132

24-in. built-in dishwasher with PowerWave™ spray arm, sanitize rinse option, third rack and stainless steel tub ITEM# 02214573

7.0 cu. ft. capacity electric dryer with SmartDry Plus™ technology and Wrinkle Guard® option

4.3 cu. ft.

23% OFF SAVE $250

REG. 1049.99

3474/WK

LEASE PER WEEK

ON APPLIANCE PURCHASES $ 9991 OR MORE

with qualifying Shop Your Way or Sears credit cards*

ITEM# 02665132 Gas dryer priced higher

799

Dr.

FRESH

ITEM# 04675035

REG. 799.99

30 /WK

YEAR

25.5- cu ft.† capacity refrigerator with adjustable shelves, full width pantry drawer and gallon sized door bins

SAVE $8

2100 S Gilbert Rd Suite #7 SW Corner of Gilbert & Germann

NEW

25.5 cu. ft.

ITEM# 02289613/ JGBS66REKSS

E. Germann Rd. S. Gilbert Rd.

SHOWROOM

S. Stearman

HOME APPLIANCE

E. Germann Rd.

28% OFF

SAVE $480 ON THE PAIR $ 99 OR 26

599

EACH

REG. 839.99 EACH

25 /WK

LEASE PER WEEK

FREE DELIVERY ON APPLIANCE PURCHASES 4991 OR MORE

with qualifying Shop Your Way or Sears credit cards*

On all appliances: Colors, connectors, ice maker hook-up and installation extra. (1) Advertised savings range from 5%-25%. Exclusions apply. See The Details section. See store for additional exclusions. Offers good thru 1/9/21. (**) Exclusions apply. See The Details section. See store for additional exclusions. Offers good thru 1/9/21. For Shop Your Way members in participating locations. Local curbside delivery. Additional fees may apply. See store for details. ‡ Total capacity. *Subject to lease approval, total cost to lease for a 5-mo. lease agreement is $60 due at lease signing plus taxes, followed by 19 weekly payments of the per week amount shown by the item. For your options at the end of the 5-mo. agreement, see the “LEASING DETAILS” below. Lease prices shown are valid on the sale prices shown for the duration of this advertisement. **IMPORTANT DEFERRED INTEREST PROMOTIONAL DETAILS (when offered): No interest if paid in full within the promotional period. Interest will be charged to your account from the purchase date if the purchase balance is not paid in full within the promotional period. With credit approval, for qualifying purchases made on a Shop Your Way or Sears credit card (Sears Commercial One® accounts excluded). Sears Home Improvement AccountSM valid on installed sales only. Offer valid for consumer accounts in good standing and is subject to change without notice. May not be combined with any other promotional offer. Shop Your Way or Sears credit card: As of 10/01/2020, APR for purchases: Variable 7.24% -25.24% or non-variable 5.00% -26.49%. Minimum interest charge: up to $2. See card agreement for details, including the APRs and fees applicable to you. †Purchase requirement less coupons, discounts and reward certificates and does not include tax, installation, shipping or fees, and must be made in a single transaction. For online transactions you must select the Savings offer or Special Financing offer on the payment page in checkout. See store or sears.com for details. APPLIANCE OFFERS: (1,**,*) Bosch®, Whirlpool®, KitchenAid®, Maytag®, Amana®, LG®, Samsung®, Frigidaire and Electrolux appliances limited to 10% off. Offers exclude Hot Buys, Super Hot Buys, Special Purchases GE®, GE Profile™, GE Café™, clearance, closeouts, Home appliance & Floor Care Accessories, Gift Card and Everyday Great Price items. See store for additional exclusions. Offers good thru 1/9/21. *10% off select home appliance purchases of $599† or more with qualifying Shop Your Way or Sears credit card** OR NO INTEREST IF PAID IN FULL WITHIN 18 MONTHS** on select home appliance purchases of $999† or more with a qualifying Shop Your Way or Sears credit card*. Interest will be charged to your account from the purchase date if the purchase balance is not paid in full within 18 months. Offer valid thru 1/9/21. OR NO INTEREST IF PAID IN FULL WITHIN 12 MONTHS** On select sitewide* purchases of $299† or more with a qualifying Shop Your Way or Sears credit card. Interest will be charged to your account from the purchase date if the purchase balance is not paid in full within 12 months. Offer valid thru 1/29/2022. See above for Important Special Financing/Deferred Interest Details. LEASING DETAILS: This is a lease transaction. The lease has a 5-month minimum term [“Initial Term”]. Must be at least 18 years old and income requirements apply. Qualifying merchandise of at least $199 is required to enter into a lease at Sears Authorized Hometown Stores, LLC. Excludes non-durable goods. No security deposit required. Lease requires consumer to make first payment at lease signing, plus 19 weekly (offered online only) lease payments, 9 biweekly lease payments or 4 monthly lease payments. After fulfilling the Initial Term, you may: (1) continue to lease by making periodic payments in accordance with the terms of the lease agreement; (2) exercise a purchase option per the terms of the lease agreement (not available in NJ, VT, WI, or WV); or (3) return the leased items to WhyNotLeaseIt. For example, leased item(s) with lease amount of $600 with a weekly lease payment schedule (offered online only) would require $60 first lease payment followed by 19 weekly payments of approximately $25.26 plus tax, or a biweekly lease payment schedule would require $60 first lease payment followed by 9 biweekly payments of approximately $53.33 plus tax, or a monthly lease payment schedule would require $120 first lease payment followed by 4 monthly payments of approximately $105.00 plus tax, with total cost to lease the item(s) for the Initial Term of $540.00 plus tax. TEMPOE, LLC dba WhyNotLeaseIt® is an independent service provider of the LEASE IT program and not an affiliate or licensee of Sears Authorized Hometown Stores, LLC or its affiliates. Sears Home Appliance Showrooms may be independently operated by authorized franchisees of Sears Home Appliance Showrooms, LLC or by authorized dealers of Sears Authorized Hometown Stores, LLC. The SEARS mark is a service mark of Sears Brands, LLC.

GILBERT SUN NEWS | JANUARY 3, 2021

Announce

Obituaries

H E A D STO N E S

Obituaries Cecil Glenn Conrad, Jr.

Cecil Glenn Conrad, Jr., 64, passed away peacefully on December 12, 2020, at his home in Mesa, Arizona. A life-long resident of Mesa, Cecil was born on August 2, 1956 to Cecil G. Conrad and Mildred L. Getz, both of whom preceded him in death. In 2017, Cecil retired from the City of Phoenix, after 20 years, as a heavy equipment operator, a job he greatly enjoyed. Cecil spent his time doing many activities including camping and fishing at our local lakes, canoeing, and rebuilding vehicles of all types. He had a mischievous sense of humor (Holy cow!), a love for the outdoors, and a near constant twinkle in his bright, blue eyes. Cecil is survived by his daughter Chantel Ramirez (George) and grandchildren Cindy and Rick, his sisters Virginia Stodghill (Frank), Glenda Patrick (Jerry), Pamela Williams, and brother William Conrad (Jayne). Cecil’s sister, Cecilia A. Conrad, also preceded him in death. He leaves behind many nieces and nephews. As a remembrance, please consider making a donation, in Cecil’s name, to the Arizona Diabetes Foundation. Diabetes is ranked as the 6th highest disease related cause of premature death in Arizona. Due to Covid-19 restrictions, the family has chosen not to have a memorial service at this time. Cecil’s memory will be forever kept alive in the hearts of all who knew and loved him.

Your Ad can go ONLINE ANY Day! Call to place your ad online!! Classifieds 480-898-6465

ments

For Rent

Prayer Announcements

Apartments

Thank You St. Jude For Prayers Answered - JRH

Norma Jean Darden Norma Carter Wible Metcalf Darden passed from this life unto the next on 12/24/ 20. Norma was born in Fort Wayne Indiana to Paul and Helen (Deuell) Carter. She was the 2nd daughter of 3 that were born to the couple. Her sisters Marilyn and Sandra preceded her in death. Norma was married 3 times and she is survived by a daughter, a granddaughter and 2 great grandchildren. Sign the Guestbook at: obituaries.EastValleyTribune.com

Real Estate

EVERLASTING MONUMENT Co.

“Memories cut in Stone” • MONUMENTS • GRANITE & BRONZE • CEMETERY LETTERING • CUSTOM DESIGNS

480-969-0788 75 W. Baseline Rd. Ste. A-8 Gilbert, AZ 85233

www.everlastingmonumentco.com info@everlastingmonument.phxcoxmail.com

Make your choice Everlasting

Employment Employment General Mobile Drug/Alcohol tester, part time, 24/7 availability a must. Must have good vehicle, professionalism. Will train, paid mileage. Call 402-983-9590

Merch andise

Wanted to Buy Cash 4 Diabetic Strips! Best Prices in Town. Sealed and Unexpired. 480-652-1317 Diabetic Test Strips by the box, unused. Any type or brand. Will pay top dollar. Call Pat 480-323-8846

APACHE TRAIL & IRONWOOD Secluded Cute Studio, A/C $650/Month Bad Credit ok No Deposit. Water/Trash Inc. (602) 339-1555 ALMA SCH & MAIN 1b 1 bath duplex Income verified UTILITIES INCLUDED Bad Credit OK. No Deposit Close to Lightrail $700 (602) 339-1555

Sell Your Stuff! Call Classifieds Today!

480.898.6465

CLASS@TIMESPUBLICATIONS.COM

Real Estate for Sale Manufactured Homes

THE LINKS ESTATES Your newspaper. Your community. Your planet.

Why Rent The Lot When

YOU CAN OWN THE LAND And Own Your New Home

Please recycle me.

Employment General

MAAX Spas has immediate openings for swing shift production associates needed for a wide variety of positions. As one of the leading hot tub manufactures we are looking for motivated people to help us produce the best products in the industry. The swing shift operates from 2:00pm to 10:30pm 5 days a week, $31,000+, full benefits, 401K, vacation and sick time. Whether you’re looking for extra work, or someone who craves the freedom of maintaining a fabulous work–life balance, learn more about the opportunities that need you. Join the MAAX Spas Family today! Apply online at maaxspas.com or call 480-895-4575.

FROM THE UPPER 100’S

ASK US HOW YOUR $105,000 CASH INVESTMENT AND OUR SENIOR LOAN PROGRAM ENABLES QUALIFIED 62+ SENIORS MAKING THE LINKS THEIR PRIMARY RESIDENCE HAVE NO MORTGAGE PAYMENT & NO LOT RENT AS LONG AS YOU LIVE IN HOME.

Gawthorp & Associates Realty 40667 N Wedge Dr • San Tan Valley, AZ 85140

602-402-2213

www.linksestates.net

Air Conditioning/Heating

QUALITY, VALUE and a GREAT PRICE!

Lifetime Warranty on Workmanship Furnace / AC Tune Up - $69 New 3-Ton AC Units - now $3,995 New Trane Air Conditioners NO INTEREST FINANCING - 60 MONTHS!

‘A’ RATED AC REPAIR FREE ESTIMATE SAME DAY SERVICE

Bonded/Insured • ROC #289252

480-405-7588

ItsJustPlumbSmart.com Appliance Repairs

Appliance Repair Now

If It’s Broken, We Can Fix It! • Same Day Service • On-Site Repairs • Servicing All Major Brands • Quality Guaranteed

We Also Buy, Sell & Trade Used Appliances Working or Not

480-659-1400 Licensed & Insured Concrete & Masonry

Block Fence * Gates

602-789-6929 Roc #057163

MISSED THE DEADLINE?

Lowest Prices * 30 Yrs Exp Serving Entire Valley

Call us to place your ad online!

YOU’LL LIKE US - THE BEST!

480-898-6465

GILBERT SUN NEWS | JANUARY 3, 2021

Gilbert Sun News

1620 W. Fountainhead Parkway #219 • Tempe, AZ 85282 480.898.6465 class@timespublications.com

Deadlines

Classifieds: Thursday 11am for Sunday Life Events: Thursday 10am for Sunday

The Place “To Find” Everything You Need | GilbertSunNews.com Concrete & Masonry

Garage/Doors

DESERT ROCK

GARAGE DOOR SERVICE

C O N C RETE & MA S O N RY BLOCKWALL CONCRETE RETAINING WALL BLOCK FENCE PLANTER BBQ

FOUNDATION DRIVEWAY SIDEWALK PATIO

PAVER • CONCRETE REMOVAL • HARDSCAPE BONDED & INSURED • ROC#321648 SATISFACTION GUARANTEED! FREE ESTIMATES • 16 YEARS EXPERIENCE RESIDENTIAL CALL JOHN: 480.797.2985 COMMERCIAL

East Valley/ Ahwatukee

Broken Springs Replaced Nights/Weekends Bonded/Insured 480-251-8610

Not a licensed contractor

Handyman HANDYMAN 37 years experience. Drywall, framing, plumbing, painting, electrical, roofing and more. Stan, 602-434-6057

Handyman LLC

• Drywall Repair • Bathroom Remodeling • Home Renovations

• Electrical Repair • Plumbing Repair • Dry rot and termite damage repair

All Estimates are Free • Call:

480.266.4589 josedominguez0224@gmail.com Not a licensed contractor.

Electrical Services HONESTY • INTEGRITY • QUALITY

• Serving Arizona Since 2005 •

• Panel Changes and Repairs • Installation of Ceiling Fans • Switches/Outlets • Home Remodel

Licensed • Bonded • Insured • ROC118198

OVER 25 YEARS EXPERIENCE SERVICING & INSTALLING GARAGE DOORS AND OPERATORS

520.508.1420

• SERVING ALL OF METRO PHOENIX • HONEST AND REPUTABLE CUSTOMER SATISFACTION GUARANTEED

ANOZIRA DOOR SYSTEMS

www.GilbertSunNews.com

ACTION CONTRACTING INC.

Hauling

WE DO IT ALL!

Bath & Kitchen Remodels • Car-Port to Garage Conversion Drywall & Stucco Repairs • Plumbing • Electrical • Can Lights Windows • Doors • Cabinets • Painting • Block Fences Wrought Iron Gates • Remodeling • Additions • Patios Tenant Improvements

GLASS, MIRRORS, SHOWER DOORS

Family Owned with 50 years’ EXPERIENCE. Shower and tub enclosures, Framed, Frameless or Custom Doors, We also install insulated glass, mirrored closet doors, window glass, mirrors, patio doors, glass table pro-tectors. If it’s glass, we can help you. QUALITY SERVICE at Competitive Prices. FREE Estimates

East Valley

• Furniture • Appliances • Mattresses • Televisions • Garage Clean-Out • Construction Debris

• Old Paint & Chems. • Yard Waste • Concrete Slab • Remodeling Debris

Marks the Spot for ALL Your Handyman Needs! Painting • Flooring • Electrical Plumbing • Drywall • Carpentry Handyman Decks • Tile • More!

Marks the Spot for ALL Your Handyman Needs! for ALL•Your Handyman Needs! ✔ Painting Painting Flooring • Electrical ALL RESIDENTIAL Marks & the Spot “No Job Too ✔Small Flooring Painting • Flooring • Electrical Plumbing • Drywall • Carpentry Man!” COMMERCIAL ELECTRICAL Plumbing • Drywall • Carpentry ✔ Electrical Decks • Tile • More! 1999 e Sinc k Wor Quality Decks •Affo Tile • More! rdable, ✔ Plumbing 2010, 2011 Call Jim Endres 2012, 2013, 2014 Call Bruce at 602.670.7038 ✔ Drywall Ahwatukee Resident/ References/ Insured/ Not a Licensed Contractor Over 28 Years Experience • ROC #246019 Bonded/Insured “No Job ✔ Carpentry Too Small Marks the Spot for“No Job Too ALL Your Handyman Needs! ✔ Decks Painting • Flooring • Electrical Small Man!” Man!” “No Job Too Meetings/Events? ✔ Tile Plumbing • Drywall • Carpentry

480.282.7932

Get Free Small Man!” ✔ Kitchens Since 1999 noticesAffinordthe able, Quality Work ✔ Bathrooms BSMALLMAN@Q.COM 2010, 2011 9 199 ce rk Sin 2012, 2013, Affordable, Quality Wo And More! 2010, 2011 2014 Call Bruce at 602.670.7038 Classifieds! Call Bruce at 602.670.7038 2012, 2013, Decks • Tile • More!

“No Job Too Small Man!”

2010, 2011 2012, 2013, 2014

480-833-7353 - Office 480-430-7737 - Cell A+

-S

E NC

LIC/BONDED/INSURED Res/Comm’l ROC#218802

aaaActionContractingInc.com

• Old Tires

Irrigation

WESLEY’S GLASS & MIRROR wesleysglass.com SERVICING THE ENTIRE VALLEY Call 480-306-5113

Ahwatukee Resident/ References/ Insured/ Not a Licensed Contractor

All Remodeling, Additions, Kitchen, Bath, Patio Covers, Garage, Sheds, Windows, Doors, Drywall & Roofing Repairs, Painting, All Plumbing, Electrical, Concrete, Block, Stucco, Stack Stone, All Flooring, Wood, Tile, Carpet, Welding, Gates, Fences, All Repairs.

Free Estimates with Pride & Prompt Service!

Glass/Mirror

602.670.7038

Owner Does All Work, All Honey-Do Lists

Licensed, Bonded & Insured • ROC#317949

See MORE Ads Online!

NotResident a Licensed Contractor Since2014 1999 Ahwatukee / References Call Ahwatukee BruceResident/ at References/ Insured/ Affordable, Quality Work Ahwatukee Resident/ References/ Insured/ Not a Licensed Contractor Submit to ecota@timespublications.com Insured / Not aCall Licensed Contractor Bruce at 602.670.7038

One Call, We Do It All! 602-339-4766

www.husbands2go.com

QUICK RESPONSE TO YOUR CALL! 15 Years Experience • Free Estimates

General Contacting, Inc.

SERVING THE ENTIRE VALLEY

Garage/Doors

OPEN 24/7

JOSE DOMINGUEZ DRYWALL & PAINTING House Painting, Drywall, Intall Doors, Baseboards, Crown Molding Reliable, Dependable, Honest!

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 Please text or leave message Cell 602-628-9653 Wolfgang Construction Inc. Licensed & Bonded ROC 124934

GENERAL CONTRACTOR / HANDYMAN SERVICES

Ask me about FREE water testing!

Drywall

Home Improvement

TNT Exteriors LLC

Family owned & operated company specializing in: • Residential & Commercial Garage Doors • Rooﬁng • Rain Gutters

WE WILL MATCH OR BEAT ANY WRITTEN QUOTE FROM A LICENSED COMPANY! TNTExteriors2018@gmail.com CALL FOR A FREE ESTIMATE 480-532-5606 ROC# CR326937 #CR322178 #CR321443

• Sprinkler/Drip Repairs • New Installs Poly/PVC • Same Day Service

NTY

5-YEAR WARRA

480.654.5600 azirrigation.com Cutting Edge LLC • ROC 281671

MORE CLASSIFIED ADS ONLINE! www.GilbertSunNews.com

GILBERT SUN NEWS | JANUARY 3, 2021

Landscape/Maintenance

Irrigation Repair Services Inc. Licensed • Bonded • Insured Technician

Specializing in Controllers, Valves, Sprinklers, Landscape Lighting, P.V.C. & Poly Drip Systems

Call Lance White

480.721.4146 www.irsaz.com

ROC# 256752

Superstition Landscape Maintenance

Junk Removal PLUS House Cleaning

Painting

Insured/Bonded Free Estimates

Jose Dominguez Painting & Drywall SEE OUR AD IN DRYWALL! Quick Response to your Call! 15 Years Exp 480-266-4589

ALL Pro

T R E E

S E R V I C E

L L C

Prepare for Winter Season! LANDSCAPING, TREES & MAINTENANCE

FREE Estimates

Irrigation

PMB 435 • 2733 N. Power Rd. • Suite 102 • Mesa dennis@allprotrees.com

480-354-5802

ROC 3297740

Interior/Exterior Painting 30 YEARS EXPERIENCE

We Are State Licensed and Reliable!

Free Estimates • Senior Discounts

Repairs • Modifications • Installs

480-338-4011

ROC#309706

East Valley PAINTERS

10% OFF

We Beat Competitors Prices & Quality

• 20 Years Experience • 6 Year Warranty

Free Estimates! Home of the 10-Year Warranty!

480.345.1800

480-688-4770

www.eastvalleypainters.com Bonded/Insured • ROC#153131

Beat Any Price By 10% • Lifetime Warranty Water Heaters Installed - $799 Unclog Drains - $49 FREE RO UNIT w/Any WATER SOFTENER INSTALL NO INTEREST FINANCING - 60 Months!! ‘A’ RATED PLUMBING REPAIR Free Estimates • Same Day Service

480-405-7099 ItsJustPlumbSmart.com

Paint Interior & Exterior • Drywall Repair Light Carpentry • Power Washing • Textures Matched Popcorn Removal • Pool Deck Coatings Garage Floor Coatings • Color Consulting

Family Owned & Operated

PLUMBERS CHARGE TOO MUCH!

Bonded/Insured • ROC #223709

Voted #1

ROC 304267 • Licensed & Bonded

480-477-8842

20+ YEARS OF EXPERIENCE FAMILY OWNED & OPERATED LICENSED, BONDED & INSURED

HOME IMPROVEMENT & PAINTING

Now Accepting all major credit cards

Classifieds: 480-898-6465

Notice of guardianship/conservatorship hearing for Joan Holcomb on January 7, 2021 at 11:30am at Maricopa County Superior Court. For more information, inquire about Case #PB2020092387. Published: East Valley Tribune Dec 20, 28, 2020, Jan. 3 2021 / 35173

Roofing

HYDROJETTING

BOOK ONLINE! STATE48DRAINS.COM

Painting

Call for our 3 Month Trial Special!

Public Notices

Plumbing

SEWER CABLE COMPREHENSIVE, FULL-SERVICE PLUMBING COMPANY

Dunn Edwards Quality Paint Small Stucco/Drywall Repairs

Sprinkler & Drip Systems

Not a licensed contractor

Tree Trimming • Tree Removal Stump Grinding Storm Damage • Bushes/Shrubs Yard Clean-up Commercial and Residential

Call or Text Adrian 480•376•9803 or 480•925•1418

Honest & Reliable

Place YOUR Business HERE!

Landscape/Maintenance

Pool Service / Repair

Juan Hernandez Pavers • Concrete • Water Features • Sprinkler Repair

PPebbleOcracking, O L Plaster R Epeeling, P ARebar IR showing, Pool Light out? I CAN HELP!

FALL SPECIAL! $500 OFF COMPLETE REMODEL! 25 Years Experience • Dependable & Reliable

Call Juan at

480-720-3840 Not a licensed contractor.

Tiles, shingles, flat, repairs & new work Free Estimates • Ahwatukee Resident Over 30 yrs. Experience

480-706-1453

Licensed/Bonded/Insured • ROC #236099

Public Notices CITY OF MESA MESA, ARIZONA NOTICE OF VIRTUAL PUBLIC MEETING Harris Basin Park Project No. CP0934 Please join us for the live online Virtual Public Meeting to learn about the Harris Basin Park. The City of Mesa is developing plans to build a new playground at the Harris Basin located at 2421 N Harris Dr. Mesa, AZ 85203. To accommodate the new playground the City is developing plans to regrade the existing drainage basin to include a pad for the new playground while maintaining the basin’s ability to retain surface runoff. The playground will be designed with aim for children ages 2-12 and include ADA access. The project is being funded through 2018 General Obligation Parks Bonds. A short presentation will be given followed by a questions and answer session. Date: Thursday, January 14, 2021 Time: 6:00pm to 7:00pm Location: Virtual Public Meeting: online at mesaaz.gov/engineering If you have any questions or concerns regarding this project, please contact Curt Albright, Michele Arrollado, Lucy Lopez, or Juanita Gonzales with the City of Mesa Engineering Public Relations Department at (480) 644-3800. Si usted tiene preguntas de este proyecto, favor de llamar a Lucy Lopez, con la Ciudad de Mesa al (480) 644-4431. Published: East Valley Tribune, Jan. 3, 10, 2021 / 35347

GILBERT SUN NEWS | JANUARY 3, 2021

? r a e Y w e N

! e s a e l P s e Y

Your Residential and Commercial Roofing Contractor Has You Covered!  New Construction, Repairs, Recovers, Maintenance  Installation of Gutters  Shingles, Tile, Built Up Single Ply, Foam & Coatings, Metal, Shake

“Let Our Family Cover Yours” The Glendale

tar

We’re Here To Answer Your Questions. Give Us A Call!

www.JBSroofingAZ.com ROC #’s: 061127 - 287012 - 198009 - 082024 - 318282