Gilbert Sun News - 01.17.2021 by Times Media Group

Unity Walk for MLK Day

CUSD reopens classrooms

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An edition of the East Valley Tribune

INSIDE

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BUSINESS................. 14 Gilbert couple serves up big eats at Chandler cafe.

Film Fest expands viewing options.

PUZZLE................................... RE 6 COMMUNITY.............................. 13 BUSINESS................................... 14 SPORTS....................................... 16 GETOUT.......................................17 CLASSIFIED................................ 18

Sunday, January 17, 2021

41-unit Gilbert rental project stirs angry opposition BY CECILIA CHAN GSN Managing Editor

bitter battle is raging between residents of Ashland Ranch and a developer over plans for a 41-unit rental community on the last undeveloped piece of land owned by the ancestors of one of Gilbert’s earliest settlers. The land was part of the pioneer Riggs Family homestead, founded more than 80 years ago. The developer, New Village Homes, is owned by Gilbert residents Reed Porter and his wife, who say their Lamb Lane develop-

ment at Ray Road and Val Vista Drive would feature units that look like single-family homes with their own backyards and garages and would offer another housing choice for Gilbert. Residents, however, say putting 41 units on a 5-acre infill lot adjacent to their community is too dense, would bring in more traffic and ruin the area’s small-town feel. The battle came to a head two weeks ago before the Gilbert Planning Commission and prompted the New Villages Homes attorney Taylor Earl to ask for a

Massive 400-acre project unfolding at Gateway Airport BY JIM WALSH GSN Staff Writer

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FREE ($1 OUTSIDE OF GILBERT) | GilbertSunNews.com

Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport’s conversion into an economic powerhouse as a major regional airport is coming into sharper focus. The latest huge piece, a 400acre office-retail development that ultimately will include a new terminal – was unveiled last week to Mesa City Council and at a promotional meeting as officials began fleshing out plans for Gateway’s now vacant east side. Although more details will emerge after a master developer

is chosen near the end of 2021, conceptual plans for the sprawling Gateway East project include a combination of first-class office development, upscale “corporate retail’’ shopping and restaurants and industrial facilities. A video released to promote the project shows Gateway East forming a semi-circle around a new terminal. Together, they will re-orientate the airport to facing east toward the new State Route 24 freeway that is slowly being built. While Gateway East will provide

see GATEWAY page 4

see RENTALS page 8

Deck the walls

Artist Leila Parniane, flanked by Price Goodman and Milenko Mladjenovic, is among those working on Gilbert’s expanding public mural scene. See: page 13. (Courtesy of Leila Parnian)

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two-month continuance so that his clients can meet with residents and address their concerns. The commission is now scheduled March 5 to vote on a recommendation to Council on New Village Homes’ request for a minor general plan amendment and rezone for Lamb Lane. The developer’s request calls for 8.2 dwelling units per acre – up from the cur-

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GILBERT SUN NEWS | JANUARY 17, 2021

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NEWS

Art replaces annual Unity Walk amid pandemic BY SRIANTHI PERERA GSN Contributor

n keeping with the pandemic’s restrictions, this year’s Regional Unity Walk has been revamped. Instead of gathering at Tempe Beach Park on a day in January to promote mutual respect and understanding of diverse groups, residents are directed to a showcasing of cultural arts, a Visual Journey of Diversity, Culture and Equity, in Mesa, Tempe, Chandler, Gilbert, Ahwatukee, Scottsdale and Guadalupe. “This year we definitely knew that most likely we won’t be able to be together, so we wanted to be able to plan something that would be really just as meaningful and symbolic of a regional effort,” said Andrea Alicoate, diversity administrator for City of Mesa. “More importantly, this is even more of an important time to celebrate the culture and equity among the different communities.” The cities have also worked to create an arts map to highlight sculptures, murals and other art spots that are easily accessible outdoors. In addition, each city chose to highlight things that are special to their own communities, Alicoate said. For example, Mesa has organized an art exhibition at the Mesa Contemporary Arts Museum and the Tempe Instagrammys photo competition. The museum, which will announce winners on Jan. 28, created a category for photos that represent unity in the city. With the arts, the idea is to encourage people to do a visual – either driving, biking or walking – tour through the different cities, cross city boundaries and give attention to some of the cultural art or artists in each of the cities, said Niki Tapia, community resources and diversity supervisor for the City of Chandler. “A lot of people are stuck at home. So, this is a way they can go for a drive with their family, go take some selfies, have some fun,” Tapia said. “Also, we’re trying to support businesses, restaurants run by people of color and we’re wanting to encourage people to go get some takeout and have a picnic. “It’s a way for people to get out of their house for a while and have an experience. People are really needing that right now, something safe, something that is

not too complicated, something educational and fun,” she added. Two signature events marking the day were canceled. Mesa’s MLK Day Parade, which was to mark its 25th anniversary this year, was scratched, as was the East Valley Unity Walk. The Unity Walk began 18 years ago as a way for these cities to come together to celebrate the Dr. Martin Luther King holiday. Arian Enriquez poses in front of her mural, “The Hum of the Participants from Desert,” at the San Marcos Resort in Chandler. (Special to GSN) the cities wore a different colored shirt and met in separate Hammons used the “I Have a Dream” spots, and then walked a mile throughout speech as her launching point and to the Tempe Bridge and ended the walk at have a conversation about Dr. King’s viTempe Beach Park. sion and the things that he witnessed in The intermingling would result in a society during his time, and also shows combining of the various splashes of col- how the artists convey that message and or. what they have observed. “It was a really beautiful, symbolic viCurator Tiffany Fairall said that it’s sual of all of us coming together,” Tapia a commentary on how though we may said. “Obviously, in the time of COVID, seem dissimilar on the surface, we have we cannot and wouldn’t want to have so commonalities and similar struggles. many people together.” “They are really topics that are disAlso, rather than select just one day, cussed in mainstream nowadays. You are the organizers stretched the celebration talking about people who are marginalover a few weeks, until Jan. 31, to enable ized in society’s mainstreams and trying more time to enjoy the art in various cit- to have a conversation about being seen,” ies. she said. “We’re hoping to stretch them to cross The museum has two other shows in their boundary lines if they’re not used its gallery spaces that also fall within the to but also more importantly the connec- topic of unity. tion comes with knowing that folks are Ann Morton responds to the current enjoying the same piece of art that you societal ills such as homelessness and are,” Alicoate said. the border issue with “History Repeats” The cities concede it’s difficult to make using fiber work, mixed media and coma connection when people are not physi- munity engagement programming. cally at the same location. Meanwhile, Harold Lohner hosts “For“But we felt that this was a different bidden Colors” and takes on male idenand more deeper connection by being tity and male love, and the beauty of the able to have some more thought-provok- male body with bright colored, striking ing education into viewing an experience monoprints. in art,” Alicoate said. For a full state of events, visit meThe Mesa Contemporary Arts Museum saaz.gov/government/diversity-office/ has done just that. regional-unity-artwalk. For an interIt invited a guest curator, Clottee Ham- active map of the Regional Unity Art mons of Emancipation Arts, who orga- Walk, visit storymaps.arcgis.com/stonized a special pop-up titled “Human ries/06a7d7600b1747f7a80d7bc248dContrasts” through Jan. 31. 7c89c

NEWS

GILBERT SUN NEWS | JANUARY 17, 2021

GATEWAY from page 1

more employment, entertainment and economic opportunities near the Loop 202 and the new State Route 24, a new terminal at the northwest corner of Ray and Hawes roads eventually would serve major new passenger airlines attracted by the addition of a new control tower now under construction. Its job generation also would benefit Gilbert, which is one of the airport authority members. Gateway CEO/Executive Director J. Brian O’Neill director, said the new terminal might not open for another 10 years, realizing the dream that leaders from Mesa, Gilbert, Phoenix, Queen Creek, Apache Junction and the Gila River Indian Community began envisioning in March 1994 when they took over the facility after the U.S Air Force decommissioned it a year earlier. O’Neill said the airport has reserved 200 acres for the new terminal and parking. The airport’s assets include three, 10,000-foot-long runaways originally built by the Air Force and improved over time.

Shea Joachim, the airport’s business development, said the site might also include a hotel and convention center. “We are definitely looking to expand the roster of airlines that serve the airport,’’ O’Neill said during a Zoom meeting intended to attract potential master developers. He said negotiations are underway with some potential passenger carriers that would establish expanded service to hubs around the country, linking travelers to a myriad of destinations. “We think it would be a game changer for the East Valley,’’ O’Neill said. He said the present terminal on the airport’s west side still has additional gates available, with budget-oriented Allegiant Airlines serving as the primary carrier. WestJet and Swoop serve the Canadian market. Additional demand from airlines would be required to justify the construction of the new terminal, with the present terminal likely re-purposed for general aviation, O’Neill said. Gateway’s passenger service at the moment is focused on leisure travelers using non-stop flights to visit friends,

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family and vacation destinations, he said. “It’s nice to see these pieces that were in the sky as priorities 25 years ago come into reality,’’ Mesa Mayor John Giles said. “I think it’s going to be a quality-of-life enhancement for all the people living out there.’’ “When the terminal is built on the east side, it will be a red-letter day,’’ Giles said, adding that two or three additional carriers are needed to realize that dream. “It’s setting the stage for that.’’ In the nearer term, “the quality of life of residents out there will take a giant step forward’’ when Gateway East opens, providing the dining and shopping residents have been craving and the city with much-needed additional sales tax revenue, Giles said. He said that many people who live in Eastmark and other residential developments in the Southeast Valley would love to have an office near their home, rather than driving an hour to get to work. “It’s a perfect piece of the puzzle,’’ said Mesa Councilman Kevin Thompson, who represents the area. “This is very important not only for the airport but for District 6 and the city as well. It’s going to be a huge generator of revenue. It will help make Gateway a destination location.’’ Prior to marketing Gateway East, the airport has attracted numerous aeronautical developments to the west side of the airport, with 500,000 square feet of space currently under construction, O’Neill said. SkyBridge, the highest profile of these

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projects, features a unique customs relationship between the U.S and Mexico that is intended to speed and simplify shipments of goods between the two countries. The airport generated 1.8 million passengers last year, but ridership is down about 30 percent – far less of a decline than many other airports that have experienced up to an 80 percent drop during the pandemic, O’Neill said. “This is an airport whose time has come,’’ O’Neill told the City Council. “The Phoenix East Valley is taking off, no pun intended, and the airport is going along with it.’’ With more people gradually getting vaccinated against COVID this year, “we’re really optimistic about the remainder of 2021,’’ O’Neill said. Ryan Smith, an airport spokesman, said the new terminal likely would be built in three phases, starting with 10-14 gates. O’Neill and Joachim emphasized that Gateway East is a non-aeronautical development, in contrast to the new terminal and aeronautical businesses on the west side. A bond issue approved by Mesa voters last year lays the foundation for Gateway East, creating a Williams Field Road exit off State Route 24 that will link up with the new development. An exit at Ray Road and the Loop 202 will eventually funnel traffic to the new terminal, minimizing local traffic, Smith said. Jack Sellers, chairman of the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors, said the extension of Proposition 400 would help supply the infrastructure needed to unlock the full potential of Gateway in the next decade. Proposition 400, a ½ cent sale tax, expires in 2025 and discussions are underway to create the best new funding source possible, with fuel sales dropping from the advent of electric and hybrid cars, he said. Maricopa County is committed to doing everything possible to assist in the airport’s evolution, Sellers said, as outdated county roads get replaced by much larger roads needed for growth. “I just really try to stay in tune with the infrastructure that impacts our economic viability,’’ he said. “State Route 24 is already being built. That’s going to make a significant difference.’’

GILBERT SUN NEWS | JANUARY 17, 2021

NEWS

GILBERT SUN NEWS | JANUARY 17, 2021

More work needed on retail site, panel says BY CECILIA CHAN GSN Managing Editor

property owner wants to put restaurants and retail on 5.4 vacant acres at the southwest corner of Greenfield and Queen Creek roads. Victory Plaza would include three drivethru eateries, one full-service restaurant and two stand-alone buildings for retail. However, the Planning Commission at a recent study session agreed with one of staff’s main concerns over the proposed traffic flow on the site and said that tweaks would need to be made on the project before it will send it to Town Council. According to planner Keith Newman, cars exiting from two pads would need to make an unsafe U-turn to get out onto Queen Creek Road or Greenfield Road. Those pads are planned for fast-food restaurants. “I think it would be short-sighted to image that somehow when they get out of that drive-thru that they’ll going to magically blend right in to all these other cars,” Commissioner Noah Mundt said. “Looking at these dueling drive-thrus around what would be the only ingress/ egress within this, there’s no way possible if you have people coming out, food, drink

Victory Plaza would be lovated in the center of this area, bordered in red, but the Planning Commission said more work needs to be done before it will send the project to Town Council.. (Town of Gilbert) all of that.” Mundt said if the parking lot were ever to be even remotely full, many cars would not be able to make the turns to exit the center. The project proposed 212 parking spaces around the buildings and 25

bicycle spaces near the front of each main entrance. “I understand that it looks like it’s according to code,” Mundt continued. “I have some serious doubts about the viability of having your only ingress/ egress being straddled by two drive-thrus

showed CUSD had a COVID-19 positivity rate of 17 percent – a rise from the 13 percent reported the week before. All three of the county’s health benchmarks for virus spread in the district have been at the “substantial” level for more than a month. While some students may fear coming back to school and catching the virus, others are relieved to see CUSD move back to classroom learning. Ella Choy, a sophomore at Casteel High, said she hoped schools would reopen because she has seen how campus closures have severely affected the mental health of her classmates. “It’s very important for us to be back in school and make those connections with our peers,” Choy said. The Governing Board’s 3-2 vote to reopen classrooms – with Lara Bruner

and Lindsay Love opposing – forces Chandler’s 44,000 students, including 10,000 in Gilbert, to choose between two options: return to in-person instruction or enroll in the Chandler Online Academy. But several parents complained that the Online Academy had a waiting list while others complained that the online platform is ineffective and lacks advanced courses for students. District administrators say the waiting list was a temporary measure put in place over the holiday break while staff was reassigned and logistics were figured out. But some district leaders are not pleased that the online academy is the district’s only alternative to in-class instruction. Love said she was disappointed CUSD had still not come up with a viable virtual option for students who don’t want to

that are going to have people coming in and out.” Commissioner Tyler Jones also saw a potential problem with the traffic configurations. “When I look at these traffic flows, to me it’s a mess,” Jones said. “It’s going to lead to a lot of problems, so I would strongly support redesigning this to have a better flow within the project.” Town Traffic Engineering recommended that the entrance and exits to these drivesthru lanes be reconfigured so safe turning movements can be accomplished. Vice Chairman Jan Simon suggested the islands for both pads be extended to prevent U-turns. “I do feel like they tried to cram a lot into this small space,” Simon said. “Maybe it’s not the matter of necessarily removing a building but combining two of the buildings, which would potentially give them more space to work with regards to the drive isles.” He also asked if staff was concerned there was no access for deliveries for the back side of the building proposed on another pad. Alternate Commissioner Anthony

see VICTORY page 11

Chandler returns to in-class teaching again BY KEVIN REAGAN GSN Staff Writer

fter a tumultuous couple of weeks, the Chandler Unified School District has changed course once again by allowing its campuses to reopen Jan. 19 and offer in-person learning. All the district’s 42 schools temporarily closed for the first two weeks of the spring semester in response to a substantial spread of COVID-19 in the community. But CUSD officials on Jan. 13 decided it can revert safely back to classroom instruction by continuing to have students wear masks and socially distance. The decision was met with a mix of joy and resentment by the community, which has been split over the question of opening campuses while rates for COVID-19 infections remain high. As of Jan. 14, the county’s health data

enroll in the online academy. “The community has been asking for it and I feel like we’ve had almost a year to work through some of those barriers,” Love said. “I was hoping after a year we would have something to offer families aside from these two options.” Bruner objected to the stress that Chandler’s in-class learning puts on teachers due to all the quarantined students they have to track online. The district requires students and staff to quarantine at home for two weeks after coming into contact with someone infected with COVID-19. Teachers are expected to check in with quarantined students and include them in classroom activities through video applications. But Bruner said the number of CUSD students who have already quarantined

see TEACHING page 11

GILBERT SUN NEWS | JANUARY 17, 2021

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GILBERT SUN NEWS | JANUARY 17, 2021

RENTALS from page 1

rent 2 to 3.5 units per acre. “What we are providing here is a very unique community with a great feel and function of a single-family community,” Earl told the commission. “We are really looking to do a high-quality build right out of the gate and maintain that quality over time. “What we are seeking and what New Village Homes is seeking is to be in the upper end of that rental market, to make this a premier community.” The proposed ungated development consists of four single-story buildings. Each unit would have a front porch, a backyard and an attached one-car garage. The units would range from one to three bedrooms and amenities included a tot lot, a dog park and walking trails. Earl said everything about the project is top-notch, from its architecture to its interior offerings such as granite countertops, raised ceilings and top-grade cabinetry. Each garage also would have a driveway to accommodate up to two parked cars. Earl said 8.2 dwelling units per acre was modest for a multi-family proposal and fairly low in density. He added that unlike a single-family community where some homes may not be kept up as nice as others, a “single owner has a vested interest in making sure that the community stays high-end over time.” “They want to be able to continue to get high-rent rates and so they are continually making sure it’s maintained, that it’s immaculate and that it’s maintained over time,” Taylor said. “Having one person in charge of everything you don’t have to worry what if that neighbor doesn’t maintain, what if that neighbor doesn’t maintain his yard.” He pointed out that the Porters have a reputation for first-rate developments. “Their desire is to build something of high quality and then own this over time,” Taylor said. “They will own this indefinitely and so they will be continually making sure it’s high quality in order to make sure rent rates are high.” Based on the developer’s similar 53-unit multi-family Brighton Place in Chandler, proposed monthly rents would run from a minimum $1,200 for a one-bedroom unit to as much as $2,000 for three bedrooms, according to Earl. He also countered comments that the

The apartment homes (below) that comprise the proposed Lamb Lane development may look like single-family residences, but nearby Ashland Ranch homeowners still oppose them. The development site is outlined in red in the top photo. (Town of Gilbert) project would pull down homeowners’ property values, saying their units should be compared with similar homes and that tenants would be renters by choice, have good credit scores and largely be seniors and single women. Earl said a Lamb Lane unit would work for someone like his mother, a recent widow who doesn’t need a lot of space and doesn’t want the hassle of maintenance. Ashland Ranch residents were unmoved. They complained that after the developer held a neighborhood meeting in May, they never received any updates and thought the project went away. “I don’t care if they’re renters, I don’t care if they’re owners,” said Joe Taylor. “I care about the fact that it’s for people or residents coming into this 5-acre property that backs up to my park where my kids want to go, where our neighbors’ kids want to go. We don’t know who these people are, renters or not.” Taylor said the reason why he and his wife moved to Ashland Ranch 20 years ago was because “driving down Ray Road, passing that property with horses on the pasture – that’s what Gilbert is. It’s supposed to be the Town of Gilbert, not the City of Gilbert.”

He said there already exists a variety in the town’s housing stock and pointed to the developer’s similar development, The Village at Hampton Court, that will open in September at Vista and Ray roads. Taylor also said traffic is already congested and the development would add a minimum 80 cars. Earl said a traffic study has been approved by the town and that during the morning hour peak traffic, between 1525 cars would exit Lamb Lane and 17-27 would enter. William MacArthur said the proposed project was too dense for the area and he was concerned the renters would use the neighborhood park that he and other residents paid for. A solid wall currently separates the community’s park from the site but access to the amenity can be gained from the sidewalk along Ray Road. The landowners, Rocky and Tina Riggs, said they were selling the land because they are older and can no longer maintain it. “We would love to have horses back on there but that’s too much work for us,” said Rocky Riggs. He said while residents complain the land change is too much, it was the same

for his wife’s family, which owned the land for nearly 80 years. “I guarantee you my father-in-law 40 years ago – whenever he sold that property and they started building all those houses around him – felt the same way,” he said. “That everybody was encroaching on him and what could he do. Change is coming. There isn’t anything we can do to stop it.” He said he and his wife want to stay in the area and so had great concerns about selling the land and what might be built on it. The couple spent about a year looking at the Brighton Place development before they felt comfortable selling, he said, adding the couple rejected another offer for the property because they were not happy with the proposed use. “We just feel it’s in the best interest of the neighborhood to sell this property,” Rocky Riggs said. “For the property, for the use of it, I think this fits it real well.” Tina Riggs said much has changed over the 62 years she has lived in Gilbert. “The land where Ashland Ranch is now (my father) farmed that for years and before that his father owned it,” she said, adding that the decision to sell took a lot of thought, consideration and prayers. “I love the design New Village Homes have,” she said. “The homes have a farmstyle look to them.” Wendy Fitzpatrick, who has lived in Ashland Ranch for 16 years, said she is astonished that so many units are being crammed onto the site. “I’m not against putting in more homes,” Fitzpatrick said. “But this just smacks of total greed. If they want to make it upscale and expensive than how about you take half those homes away? “The Riggs are really upset about selling this but I bet you their wallets aren’t upset,” she said. “Are they going to be living in such a cramped area? I guarantee the Riggs will probably move out to where they’re going to have property.” Ashland Ranch homes have plenty of space and wide streets – unlike what’s being proposed at Lamb Lane, she continued. “The houses aren’t crammed together, which drew me to this out of all the neighborhoods I looked at,” Fitzpatrick said. “This is nothing but greed …. These are nothing more than apartments with 4 feet of space. They’re row houses.

see RENTALS page 9

GILBERT SUN NEWS | JANUARY 17, 2021

RENTALS from page 8

“I hope the Riggs are happy, though. I hope that they can sleep with their fat wallets. And the same thing for the developers. It’s how many people can we slam into the smallest space to max out our money.” Lisa Mays said she didn’t buy Earl’s comment of “little old ladies living in these homes.” “No, there’s going to be families, there’s probably people who couldn’t afford to buy a home,” Mays said. “They’re going to be paying the upper-market in rent and their kids are going to be using our parks that we paid our monthly dues for.” Some of the commissioners also voiced concerns with the density and the absence of updates for residents. Earl said the developer met the town’s requirement for notices to properties within 300 feet of the site and HOAs within1,000 feet. He said the developer relied on a distribution list and it was never the intention to not send notifications to people. Commissioner Tyler Jones said he loved the concept but could not support it that night. “I think in terms of what else could be here, this is a great-looking product,” Jones said. “It’s a creative use of this infill space.” However, he still had concerns with the density and the parking. He didn’t think having 25 guest parking spots would work. “I like it but it needs further refining,” Jones said. “I think there’s some tweaks to be made.” Commissioner William Fay said the property is privately owned and that the Riggs have every right to sell it and whoever buys it has the right to develop it. He said he liked the small-house design better than apartments but thought the project was too dense and that parking needed another look. He also thought the developer was relying on adjacent open space in requesting to drop the common open space to 39.8 percent from the required 45 percent. He added he thought Ashland Ranch residents had a legitimate concern that the renters would be using their park because of the lack of open space in the project. Earl said the developer wasn’t reducing common open space but rather trans-

NEWS

ferring some of it into private backyards and that the parking requirement was 78 while the project was providing 109, not counting the two spaces available for each driveway, which would put it at over 150 spaces. “No one has a greater interest that parking works than us because we have to continue to be able to rent and if people can’t have a guest come over and have a place to park, that’s not good,” Earl said. “So, we built these based on what have been seen and studies and what we know to be the case and so we believe we are providing more than enough.” Vice Chairman Jan Simons said he was impressed by the project and that should it be rejected, homes on 6,000 or 7,000 square-foot lots might replace it. “If this property sells –whether it’s to this project or a different project – I envision this is going to have a minimum of 30 houses on it.” He said those homes could have multiple stories. Simon said he appreciated the Ashland Ranch residents’ feedback but that whenever there is a proposed development, there is pushback. “So, we have to look at what is best for the community,” Simon said. “I think this is a product that is probably is needed.” He did question the longevity of the project’s ownership, but said that this was not necessarily the commission’s concern. Alternate Commissioner Anthony Bianchi said he was cautiously optimistic about the project but found it difficult to support a large-density increase in this particular area. He said the re-zone request was asking for four times the current density. Commissioner Noah Mundt agreed the development was unique but “extremely dense.” For him, it came down to the residents coming out in opposition and not hearing from the developers beyond what was required. Chairman Carl Bloomfield said he was struggling with his decision but could go either way with his recommendation. “I believe that you put together a great product, Bloomfield said. “I do like the product: it is becoming more and more used in the town.” He said maybe the town should look at a zoning classification for this type of product so it doesn’t come in as a multi-family with a bunch of deviations.

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NEWS

AIA board reverses course, It’s official allows winter sports BY ZACH ALVIRA GSN Sports Editor

ust days after the Arizona Interscholastic Association Executive Board voted to cancel the winter sports season amid the surge in COVID-19, the board reversed its decisions Jan. 12. The 5-4 re-vote in favor of winter sports beginning on Jan. 18 followed an identical margin to cancel them. Jim Love, who represents the Flowing Wells Unified Arizona School Boards Association, changed his vote and joined proponents of the Jan. 18 start date. Love said his change of heart was largely due to his desire to give schools the choice whether to have sports on campus. “This has been a very difficult decision for the Executive Board,” AIA Executive Director David Hines said in a press release. “They have been weighing the concerns of the medical community, including the AIA Sports Medicine Advisory Committee, and the requests by our member schools. We all want winter sports to happen, but it must be done safely.” The AIA board’s initial decision to cancel winter sports was met with backlash from players, parents and coaches across the state. A small protest of athletes formed

outside AIA offices shortly after the initial Jan. 8 announcement to cancel winter sports. A group of athletes and parents returned Jan. 12. A petition calling for a re-vote was created by a North Canyon student and shared across several social media platforms. The petition was signed by over 30,000 people in just a few hours. Additionally, administrators and coaches immediately began brainstorming basketball, soccer and wrestling leagues independent of the Arizona Interscholastic Association. Several schools said they would explore options to give athletes an opportunity to compete at some capacity. In approving the winter sports season, new recommendations were also adopted. The board voted unanimously to allow two parents or guardians per player to attend. Each school will be required to complete the AIA COVID-19 Athlete and Coach Monitoring Form on the day of athletic events. Those forms must be exchanged with opposing teams and will be monitored by officials. If the forms are not exchanged, officials will be pulled from the contest. Additionally, masks must be worn at all times by coaches, officials and athletes, even those actively participating.

GILBERT SUN NEWS | JANUARY 17, 2021

With her husband Mark at her side, Mayor Brigette Peterson was sworn in last Tuesday by presiding Judge David Cutchen. Also taking their oaths of office in the special meeting were Councilwoman Kathy Tilque and Councilman Scott Anderson to four-year terms. Town Council also approved Councilwoman Yung Koprowski to remain in the role of vice mayor. (Pablo Robles/GSN Staff Photographer)

Hines said any school that violates the guidelines will lose access to officials. Todd Fazio, the head boys’ basketball coach at Highland, said he was pleased with the AIA’s decision to allow parents attend games. Especially in case of emergency, it is smart to have them there. “If parents wear masks, I do think it’s important that a guardian be at an event in case something were to happen to their son,” Fazio said. “I thought that was a really good decision. It passed 9-0 so it must have been an easier one to decide than the kids playing. “I think if you do two parents per kid in a big gymnasium, it shouldn’t be an issue at all. I’m glad parents get to watch their kid play.” Highland boys’ basketball coach Todd Fazio said he was pleased with the AIA’s decision to reinstate winter sports and allow two parents per player to attend games. (Courtesy Donna Mundy Photography)

ANSWERS TO PUZZLE AND SUDOKU on Page RE 6

The AIA Executive Board emphasized throughout Tuesday’s zoom meeting the need for schools, players, coaches and parents to abide by the new guidelines to ensure the safest possible environment for winter sports to continue. “This has been a very challenging situation. While we all desire to have our high school students in school and participate in interscholastic sports and activities, we feel it is imperative to consider the recommendations of medical professionals based on their expertise,” the board said in a joint statement. “Reinstating the winter season poses a risk to the healthcare system, which could impact students who may be injured. We believe that these additional modifications will serve to mitigate this risk as much as possible. Our member schools and families must understand how critical it is to adhere completely to all modifications.”

GILBERT SUN NEWS | JANUARY 17, 2021

VICTORY from page 6

Bianchi said the plan has pluses, such as parking was hidden from the street and enhanced setbacks. He said he was also OK in theory with the exit locations for the drive-thrus for the two pads. “I like the concept that the drive-thrus are adjacent to the entries and exits from the arterials because potentially that cuts down on the cut-through traffic,” Bianchi said. “But I understand the concerns. I understand the issue of traffic with the turning radius and that may require a change to reconfigure that site a little bit. “But I would rather have these vehicles exiting one at a time and not queueing up near the entrance and exit to the center. I do like that.” Chairman Carl Bloomfield commented “it’s an odd development,” in that the town normally doesn’t see an applicant proposing to build the site improvements like placing water and sewer lines and create pad spaces before a tenant buys the

TEACHING from page 6

– which has exceeded 1,800 – has made this teaching model inefficient for both parties. “We have hundreds of quarantined students at the high schools and it’s unfair to the students to not have access to education during those 14 days,” Bruner said earlier this month. “But at the same time, it’s unfair to the teachers to try to do a hybrid model when they don’t have the technology to do it.” During the two-week hiatus CUSD took at the start of this semester, students were instructed to learn virtually by connecting with their teachers online through Google Classrooms. But the district said this modality – which many parents hoped would remain in place – has made it increasingly difficult to keep track of enrollment and student engagement. Teachers have not been able to connect with at least 2,000 students over the last two weeks, according to CUSD. As of Jan. 14, CUSD reported 29 active cases of the virus among its 49,800 staff and students. The district has had another 858 cases get resolved after the infected individual was deemed safe to return to campus. CUSD has had an additional 760 cases of students contracting the virus while off campus – data previously not reported

NEWS

land and builds. But, he noted, it was USA Property Holdings’ land and risk to do so. According to Newman, the owner has received letters of interest for three pads and are in talks with a local sit-down restaurant. Once tenants for each pad are ready to develop, they will be required to seek town approval of the buildings’ design, landscaping, site walls, parking, grading and drainage, staff said. The item was expected to return to the commission for a public hearing at a later date, according to Newman. “We aren’t exactly sure yet as to when Victory Plaza will be presented to the Planning Commission for final approval as we still have some concerns they need to address,” Newman later said. The project site was originally zoned for residential until the Council in March approved a general plan amendment and rezone for community commercial use. until this month. Gov. Doug Ducey last week weighed into the long-running, statewide feud over open campuses in his annual State of the State address, saying he will not provide any additional cash to public schools with fewer children in classrooms due to the pandemic. Instead, the governor said he wants to get students “back where they belong.’’ “With every public health professional, from Dr. Fauci and the CDC on down, saying that the safest place for kids to be is in schools, we will not be funding empty seats or allowing schools to remain in a perpetual state of closure,’’ he said. “Children still need to learn, even in a pandemic.’’ After the speech, press aide C.J. Karamargin said his boss is not considering cutting off funds to schools that instruct students either in whole or in part online. He said Ducey supports virtual options for parents who want them. “When he references not funding ‘empty seats,’ he simply means that for parents who have chosen a new option for their kids, the money will follow that will follow that student to their new public school,’’ Karamargin said, options that include other traditional districts as well as charter schools.

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REAL ESTATE

GILBERT SUN NEWS | JANUARY 17, 2021

re1

Different year, same market conditions BY MINDY JONES NEVAREZ GSN Guest Writer

y ears are still ringing after the celebration that was New Year’s Eve in Gilbert – did you hear it? It was a mixture of fireworks, singing, yelling and probably a lot of general celebration for the end of one of the most unprecedented, unexpected, uncalled for years of immense loss, unanticipated challenges and unappreciated fear. What I woke to, however, was this amazing display of grit usually reserved for a toddler as they get back up after tumbling

to the ground - with determination, and focus and a unique energy that can only be manifested after a fall. There was this trend on social media of posting the best memories you had from 2020, which was this beautiful way of acknowledging that we all experienced a year like no other AND simultaneously we all experienced a year like no other. Taking a moment to reflect on the year that we had and how much had changed, it was nice to see how much had really stayed the same. The real estate market was a similar mirror of our experiences. The trends followed our patterns of anxiety and anticipation of the new year and while unexpected outcomes created new challenges for us to tackle in 2021, our

houses still remain one of the most important things to our families – and in some ways, more important now than ever. We started January 2021 with one of the lowest home inventories in history. After under-building in the Valley for over 10 years and continued population growth, the low interest rates of 2020 ensured that we would not be making any headway in closing the inventory gap with the new construction you see sprinkled across the Southeast Valley. Surprisingly, we actually had about the same number of new listings in Gilbert in

2020 as we did in 2019 – but with 35 percent more sales than your typical year. We still ended up with less than 100 single family homes in Gilbert without a contract. We’ve watched prices soar more than 17 percent annually in Gilbert with 65 percent less supply and homes selling on average for 100.13 percent of list – meaning that some are selling for WAY over list and others right about list price. We reached an all-time low of just seven days of inventory in the town – meaning

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REAL ESTATE

GILBERT SUN NEWS | JANUARY 17, 2021

MINDY from page re1

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that if we didn’t list another home after today, everything we had to sell would be gone by next week. Bought a home in 2019 for $300,000? You are probably ringing in the New Year with a sales price of $350,000-$400,000 if you were to call to get it listed today. That’s great you say, if I’m leaving Gilbert! But what if you want to stay? What if you WANT to ring in the next new year in this same beautiful place? The good news is that as long as interest rates remain low – one of the greatest unknown factors of our current housing market – you will always be buying low. As prices continue to climb at a rate even faster than we saw at the end of 2020, those interest rates are keeping monthly payments lower than they might ever be again. That’s good news for your primary purchase and for that rental you’ve always considered buying but didn’t want to wait a decade to make money off of. Any change in the interest rates will likely cause some emotional reaction with buyers, as well as prices that rise a little too quickly for them to stomach and monthly payments that become less and

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less appealing. It will take some time for this to happen, but it is possible that the rate of appreciation might temper by the second half of 2021 because of some of these very things. This is going to be a year of reflection and also of immense creation which will take fortitude, creativity, and exactly what I saw on New Year’s Day – grit. To break into the housing market, to move up, to move down, to leverage your equity – there are options but they might take a little out-of-the-box thinking and some suggestions from full-time professionals who are committed to your success. But the stories of people who’ve done it: the families who stayed in a short-term rental to ultimately ring in the new year in their new home; the first-time homebuyers who escaped the fate of a 30-day notice to get their family into a home that’s appreciated $60,000 in one year. The stories are plentiful. And we hope that your proverbial cup will be too. Mindy Jones Nevarez, a Gilbert Realtor and owner of the Amy Jones Group at Keller Williams Integrity First, can be reached at 480250-3857, Mindy@AmyJonesGroup.com or AmyJonesGroup.com

...a Tradition of Trust

REAL ESTATE

GILBERT SUN NEWS | JANUARY 17, 2021

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How COVID changed housing market BY GSN NEWS SERVICES

he pandemic has accelerated a shift to technological tools that make life easier for everyone involved in real estate transactions while home buyers have found that a lot of features have gone from the “nice to have” to the “essential” column. Here are all the changes that came to real estate in 2020 that are likely here to stay.

Big-city living loses its cool

This year completely changed the way we viewed our homes and what we wanted from them. It turns out that sheltering in place is a great way to find out if you really, really love your home and being able to work remotely means there are more options if you don’t. The biggest wake-up call this year was for city dwellers who had long justified the high expense of tiny apartments with the many perks of urban life – until

those suddenly became unavailable. Realtor.com chief economist Danielle Hale said people now “are looking for space and affordability” and the suburbs are where they can find it.” As the transplants settle in to their new surroundings, they’re likely to make their mark on the suburbs, as well. After all, why can’t they have their sin-

Gilbert Real Estate Snapshot Provided by the Amy Jones Group Your Local Real Estate Team (480) 250-3857 | www.amyjonesgroup.com

gle-family home with a yard and more options for dining and entertainment? If employers continue allowing eligible employees to work remotely, this suburban shift is here to stay.

Technology and house hunting

House hunting in the time of the coronavirus means relying on technology

7 YEARS BEST OF OUR VALLEY

more than ever. Cruising for home listings on sites such as realtor.com has been a basic first step for years. But this year, with orders declaring real estate work essential in some areas, and inessential for others for weeks at a time, folks were forced to move their home searches primarily online. Some folks ended up buying a home they’d never even seen in person. There are some things that are harder to perceive in a video tour – so you need to know what signs to look for. Other aspects of the home-buying process are now commonly facilitated by technology. There’s no need to sit in a mortgage broker’s office to discuss loan options, or sign piles of paperwork in a room at a title company. Remote mortgage pre-approvals, inspections, appraisals, and even closings are becoming the norm.

$700M+ SOLD REAL ESTATE

see MARKET page RE4

2,300+ SOLD HOMES

• Average Days on Market: 29 days Up from 28 Days Last Month

• Active Listings: 118 Down from 128 Listings Last Month

• Monthly Sales: 426 Down from 436 Sales Last Month

• Listings Under Contract: 330 Down from 507 Listings Under Contract Last Month

• Average Sales Price: $484,429 Up from $473,738 Last Month

• Monthly Supply of Inventory: 0.3 Same as 0.3 Monthly Supply Last Month

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REAL ESTATE

GILBERT SUN NEWS | JANUARY 17, 2021

MARKET from page re3 Buyers expect more from homes

2470 E Vermont Drive, Gilbert

– UNDER CONTRACT – 24 OFFERS RECEIVED Top 2 Reasons You Should Sell Now: 1. Interest rates are at record lows, creating buyer urgency to find a home. 2. The local housing inventory is also at record lows, making this a seller’s market. Ask us how we helped our recent sellers maximize their sale price. We would love to do the same for you!

Melanie Nemetz

480.221.3034 • www.fosteringre.com Each ofﬁce is independently owned and operated

Hopefully, we’ll all soon be able to go back to our gyms, send kids to school, and even, if we want, do our work on an ergonomic desk. But the lesson of 2020 is that you need to be prepared if those things aren’t possible. And that means buyers are paying close attention to homes with plenty of space for work, school, exercise and enjoying the fresh air. Millennials, many with young children, are now the largest group of home buyers and their preferences will shape home buying for years to come. That means savvy home sellers will have to get their homes in shape for a new generation’s expectations. These days, homes with a home office sell faster and for more money, than homes without one. Sanitary features have come into focus lately, too. Smart, touchless options for faucets, lights and locks are not only convenient, they also cut down on the transfer of germs.

Homeowners are becoming more self-reliant

DIY projects used to seem like something fun to do in your free time, but when you want to reduce exposure to additional people, making simple upgrades and performing basic home maintenance yourself is a necessity. And once you’ve developed those skills, you’re less likely to reach for the phone when you have something that needs fixing. Plus, homeowners have always known that doing things yourself is great for the bottom line, especially when you target projects that offer a good return on investment. “Self-reliant” doesn’t just mean keeping everything running, either. Many people discovered tending victory gardens this year was a way to enjoy fresh air and manage stress while ensuring a supply of fresh produce. As everyone knows, homegrown just tastes better – and once you’ve had it, it’s hard to go back. Realtor.com provided this report.

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GILBERT SUN NEWS | JANUARY 17, 2021

HASTINGS FARMS – CREEKSIDE

Queen Creek, AZ | Starting from the $300s

NOW SELLING! Hastings Farms Creekside Series (Parcel-B) is a Master Planned Community located in Queen Creek at the corner of Ellsworth Road and Chandler Heights. Hastings Farms Creekside Series features six distinctive floor plans offering 3 and 4 bedroom layouts with 2 and 3 car garages. These floor plans range from 1,638 square feet to 2,884 square feet. Come visit our new model homes at Hastings Farms; Queen Creek, AZ.

WE BUILD THE PLACES WHERE LIFE’S BEST MOMENTS CAN HAPPEN. Within each Cresleigh neighborhood, you’ll find new homes thoughtfully designed to suit the needs of any generation and any lifestyle, with energy efficiency and reliability at their core. Every Cresleigh team member is passionate about building a new home that you can rely on and a new home that helps you to focus on what truly matters: creating memories with the people you love.

Welcome to the neighborhood. 23440 S 210th Street, Queen Creek, AZ 85142 Phone: (480) 888-1025 www.cresleigh.com

SPO OTLIGHT home

UNDER CONTRACT first weekend on the market This move-in ready two-story 3 bedroom plus loft, 2.5 bathroom attached home sits on a premium cul-de-sac lot with an attached two car garage and fenced-in patio opening up to the community greenbelt. Nestled in the amenity packed Islands neighborhood of Gilbert this greatroom floorplan meticulously maintained by its original owners is within walking distance to the community pool and features new carpet in the upstairs bedrooms including the oversized master bedroom with ensuite bath and new interior paint throughout. Downstairs you’ll find a feature fireplace separating the living and dining area, a kitchen with breakfast bar seating, and a half bath for guests. Soaring ceilings, lots of natural light & the extra loft space upstairs make this a one of a kind find in Gilbert under $300K. Listed for $275,000 409 S Seawynds Blvd, Gilbert, AZ 85233

(480) 250-3857 www.AmyJonesGroup.com

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JANUARY 13, 2021 | AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS

GILBERT SUN NEWS | JANUARY 17, 2021

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Wan Used a broom Butter up the turkey Flightless birds

32 Compass pt. 34 Bruins’ sch. 35 Caesar’s “vidi”

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PUZZLES ANSWERSononpage page1021 PUZZLE ANSWERS

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GILBERT SUN NEWS | JANUARY 17, 2021

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Murals, other art bring color to downtown Gilbert BY SRIANTHI PERERA GSN Contributor

here’s a plethora of new public art in Gilbert, especially downtown, bringing an explosion of color that enhances pleasant surroundings to shop and dine. The Town of Gilbert wants its residents not just to take note, but to linger, discover and enjoy the murals, sculptures and other arts features in the open air. To that end, the town has digitally created the Gilbert Art Map highlighting 27 art pieces with information about each and digital links to the artists behind the work. “The Gilbert Art Map was created to highlight the beauty of Gilbert while also providing people the opportunity to go outside, explore, and learn more about their community,” said Melissa Cannon, the town’s data content strategist. Residents may use the map to plan routes while exploring the town, similar to how they use the Holiday Lights Map to plan driving routes. “I hope people use the map to learn more about their community and explore, while social distancing,” Cannon added. While some of the work is new, there are other older pieces that are just as attractive and meaningful. New among them are the brilliantly colored Desert Dream mural on the north side wall of The Porch Gilbert (next to Oreganos); the Zinburger Mural, a kaleidoscope of color on the south side of Zinburger restaurant; and the postcard-inspired O.H.S.O. Mural on the east wall of O.H.S.O. near the parking garage. Older features include the Kugel Ball at Water Tower Plaza on Page Avenue, a 9.5ton granite ball attached to a water feature that highlights the historical importance the water tower holds in the town and the American Legion Mural created by participants of the Gilbert Leadership Class XXI on the American Legion Merrill Mitchell Post 39 depicting the town in 1917. There also are two water features, titled Delivery Falls, on the east and west side of

The mural on the Zinburger restaurant wall, left, provides splotches of color to Gilbert Road. Galaxy Over Gilbert, above, is the title of the bench created by Rebecca Cameron of Bexx Fine Art as part of the Open Seating Public Art Project. (Photos by Srianthi Perera/GSN Contributor) Gilbert Road and the Western Powerline Trail that speak to Gilbert’s agricultural heritage. Beyond downtown, the offerings include the Gilbert’s 9/11 memorial – featuring an 8-foot steel girder beam from the North Tower of the World Trade Center in New York – at the Gilbert Civic Center and the Da Vinci Flying Machine sculpture at the Riparian Preserve at Water Ranch. Leila Parnian of Scottsdale, who does many murals around town, painted the Desert Dream mural on the wall of The Porch Gilbert, along with Price Goodman and Milenko Mladjenovic. The team was constantly getting stopped for pictures, and people commented positively, she said. “I was so happy to see how many people were taking pictures with the wall. It is a good feeling to see so many enjoy the fruits of your labor. We all really enjoyed working on this one,” she said. Parnian, whose mural is a bold and mainly an interpretation of the desert flora, said public art in a downtown becomes a focal point. “I believe it creates a sense of unity and a place for people to connect. When you bring beauty to a wall, all walks of life can have some sort of appreciation for it,” she

explained. Cannon said the inspiration to create the map came after she read the story behind muralist Edgar Fernandez, who created the “Gema” mural behind Flashback Antiques. Fernandez, an artist from Tolleson, used female figures that are important to his life journey and represented diversity in facial features and lifestyles. It was his first attempt at creating a realistic portrait mural and the results are striking. “I loved reading about his motivation and wanted to learn more about all of the murals in Gilbert,” Cannon said. By mapping the art pieces in Gilbert, she was also able to collect the data, such as addresses and the number of artists, to track how many art and cultural pieces are in the community. “Moving forward, we plan on continuing to build this map by adding new stories behind art pieces or design inspirations that come to Gilbert,” she said. The map, which is not available on paper, was built as an online tool to be interactive and mobile friendly. Google Map links are included for all the locations to navigate easily while walking or driving around the community. Also, a digital map allows updates as

needed, especially when new pieces are created in Gilbert. Cannon also oversees alex.gilbertaz.gov, Gilbert’s open data portal. She created the Holiday Lights Map a few years back, which has been a successful and innovative way to connect the community digitally. “I tell stories with data to maintain a strong two-way engagement with the community,” Cannon said. “For example, I help conduct public surveys and publish follow-up stories to illustrate for residents how their feedback was used to make decisions.” To create the arts map, Cannon worked with various departments in the organization, especially the economic development team, to locate the art and learn about the stories or inspiration behind them. She also researched online to help her write the descriptive text on the map’s locations. The Gilbert Art Map was launched on Dec. 8 and in two weeks, there were more than 1,000 views. If the community has any suggestions for public art in Gilbert, members may use the form under the “Stay Tuned” section of the map. Information: alex.gilbertaz.gov/stories.

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Gilbert couple finds sunshine with café’s success BY MELODY BIRKETT GSN Contributor

fter running a full-service restaurant in Chicago for 22 years, Sekia and Reggie Memishovski had their fill of cold weather and headed to the Valley of the Sun. This month, the Gilbert couple is celebrating the second anniversary of their Chandler breakfast-lunch eatery, the Blackberry Café at 2090 N. Dobson Road and don’t regret the move one bit. “Because we did work so hard in our Chicago restaurant 16 hour days, seven days a week, I was like, ‘ok, we’ll do it again but breakfast and lunch’ so we can have a little bit of quality time to enjoy the nice weather we have here,” said Sekia. “We have a huge menu even though we’re just breakfast and lunch,” Memishovski said. “We serve pancakes, homemade crepes. Everybody raves about our crepes. They say they’re the best crepes they’ve ever had. Even customers who’ve said they’ve been to France and Paris, they say our crepes are the best.” The many varieties include strawberry, fresh apple cinnamon, Nutella banana and berry special crepes

topped with vanilla yogurt and year, the COVID-19 pandemic granola crumbles. hit. As far as other popular “It has definitely been breakfast items, many hard,” Sekia said. “We’re only customers enjoy the omelettes. at 50-percent capacity. We’re “We’re one of the few taking all of the necessary restaurants that use extra-large precautions such as sanitizing eggs,” explained Sekia said. “So, masks and following all of the when you order an omelette, guidelines.” that three-egg omelette is going For customers uneasy about to look more like a five-egg indoor dining, Blackberry Café omelette. It’s going to be huge.” has a pet-friendly, outdoor The avocado, bacon and patio with tables spaced over tomato omelette is a favorite 6 feet apart. among customers, she added. “It’s very important to Skillets, sandwiches, burgers, support local family-owned wraps, biscuits and gravy, businesses,” Sekia added. salads, made from scratch soups “They’re the ones who need are also on the menu. the most support right now. For lunch, burgers are “There are a lot of businesses popular along with tuna salad. closing. It’s very sad because “Everyone who has had they’ve worked their whole a burger says, ‘It’s the best entire life to get this business Sekia and Reggie Memishovski fled the frigid Chicago winters for burger,’” Sekia said. “We use the warmth of Gilbert. (Special to GSN) going and to shut the doors is Angus beef, homemade tuna just heartbreaking. So we all salad with homemade chips.” “We only use the finest, quality try to support one another. She said portions are generous so ingredients,” said Sekia. “We do not It’ll keep everybody afloat during this customers can split. cut corners on anything. We use tough, trying time.” The café also serves up a special blend fresh, organic vegetables. We try She said about half their customers of coffee made just for them. to accommodate everybody’s food are regulars “who come in to support The couple tries to source local, too. allergies. We have a gluten-free menu. us because they care and we care about Everything is made to order so we can them.” customize.” “In this little short time, we have And they cater to vegetarians and regulars we know by their first name. vegans. We know their family. We treat them As she puts it, since they’re locally the way we want to be treated. There’s owned, they’re able to put “more love always a smiling face at the door to into each dish.” greet you. I’m always here because I Reggie is the chef and both husband want to ensure that everything goes the and wife are “here at 5 o’clock in the way I want it to. That everybody leaves morning,” Sekia said. “My husband’s satisfied.” cutting, preparing, making the soups. The Gilbert couple eventually would We open up at 7. He’s a hardworking like to open another location. guy. He takes pride in what he does.” “Basically, we’re just a local restaurant After being open for a little over a where people come in and enjoy great food, great service, in a family-friendly Generous portions and imaginative presen- neighborhood atmosphere.” Hours 7 a.m.-2 p.m., 7 days a week. tations are part of the Blackberry Cafe’s approach to breakfast and lunch. (Special to GSN) Information: blackberrycafeaz.com

GILBERT SUN NEWS | JANUARY 17, 2021

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Mesquite’s Ty Thompson wins ‘Arizona Heisman’ BY ZACH ALVIRA GSN Sports Editor

y Thompson, who led Mesquite to two consecutive 4A state championships, capped off his high school football career by winning the 2020 Ed Doherty Award. The award, often considered Arizona’s version of the Heisman, is awarded annually to a player who excels on the gridiron. Thompson joins the likes of twotime winners Bijan Robinson and Teddy Ruben, as well as former Perry quarterback Brock Purdy, who won the award in 2017. “It means the world to me, it’s a huge blessing, a huge honor,” Thompson said. “It’s a testament to everything my coaches and teammates have put in and the hard work they’ve done supporting me. I’m just really thankful.” Thompson thanked his family and others who supported during his acceptance speech, where he was joined on stage by Robinson, Purdy, the other finalists and Don Kile, the president of the Grand Canyon State Gridiron Club – which presents the Ed Doherty Award. “My family is definitely the number one people in my life right now,” Thompson said. “They supported me my whole life and have done nothing but make sacrifices to make sure I am as successful as I possibly can be. I’m very thankful for them.” Thompson, a five-star recruit who signed to play for Oregon next season, capped off a 2020 season filled with adversity by throwing for 3,431 yards and 34 touchdowns. His pro-style ability helped lead the Wildcats to a 10-1 season that was capped off by a 39-38 victory over Cactus in the title game. “He’s put so much work in. I know there’s so many guys with a lot of talent and Ty is a guy with a lot of talent, but really, he’s cultivated that talent,” Mesquite coach Scott Hare said. “Very few are going to understand the amount of time, the number of hours he’s spent wanting to be great. Not just as a thrower but as for

Ty Thompson whatever the school needs. “There’s so many other aspects to Ty than just being able to sling the football around the field. He’s really worked himself into this position and that’s what I respect more than anything else.” Thompson was one of five finalists for the award, chosen by a selection committee made up of members of the media from around the state. Chandler senior running back Eli Sanders, Boulder Creek senior running back Jacob Cisneros and Santa Cruz senior running back Hunter Ogle were three other finalists in attendance for the ceremony. Chandler quarterback Mikey Keene, the fifth finalist, was unable to attend after enrolling early at the University of Central Florida. Winning the Ed Doherty Award was yet another accomplishment for Thompson in his illustrious high school football career. Along with his two state titles and five-star rating, he was named to the All-American Bowl and named Offensive Player of the Year. He also received other All-American honors from Sports Illustrated and other outlets. He now plans to head to Oregon, where

do. I’m just thankful for everything.” Caden Calloway’s breakout junior season in 2019 for Campo Verde ended with a season-ending injury that kept him out of the 5A title game. He bounced back as a senior by rushing for 993 yards and 10 touchdowns to help send the Coyotes back to the 5A semifinals. Eric Lira Caden Calloway He cherished the he will enroll early and begin offseason opportunity to be among the 53 other workouts with the Ducks. players nominated for the Ed Doherty “I’m looking forward to the experience, Award, and was proud to cap off his high the acclimation,” Thompson said. “It will school career in that fashion. be a big change with big responsibilities. It “Just to be out here and be with everyone will be a whole lot of fun playing football else, there all these different people going with some good teammates. to big schools,” Calloway said. “I don’t think “Hopefully I can bring home the real I would want to play anywhere but Campo. Heisman for Arizona one day in the near I loved my teammates, I loved my coaches future.” and just the overall experience.” Eric Lira, a senior wide receiver at Mesquite who caught the state Gilbert athletes nominated championship-winning two-point for Ed Doherty Award: conversion pass from Thompson, was also • Caden Calloway, senior running back, one of 53 nominees for the award. Campo Verde Lira, who transferred from Central • Dane Christensen, senior quarterback, High School in Phoenix before the start of Casteel the season due to uncertainty within the district of whether fall sports would be • Carter Hancock, sophomore wide receiver, played, enjoyed a breakout season with the Higley Wildcats. He finished with 54 receptions • Max Davis, senior running back, Highland for 1,124 yards and 16 touchdowns. • Brock Dieu, senior offensive lineman, Arguably his most important catches Casteel of the season came in the 4A title game • Jace Feely, senior linebacker/kicker, against Cactus, where he caught a Gilbert Christian touchdown and two-point conversion • Eric Lira, senior wide receiver, Mesquite to secure the Wildcats’ second straight • Matt McClelland, junior quarterback, championship. Arete Prep “I know there’s a lot of student athletes • Kai Millner, senior quarterback, Higley that didn’t have a chance to showcase what • Ty Thompson, senior quarterback, Mesquite they had,” Lira said. “I’m just thankful I had the chance to do that and show what I could

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Chandler film fest expects growth amid pandemic BY KEVIN REAGAN GetOut Staff Writer

he pandemic has not been kind to the film industry this past year, yet Chandler International Film Festival organizers are refusing to let the health crisis prevent its attendees from celebrating the art of cinema. Starting Jan. 21, the four-day festival returns to Chandler’s theaters for the fifth consecutive year and will offer a slate of diverse films for local moviegoers to enjoy – albeit with a few changes. Pandemic guidelines will require theater capacity to be reduced to 30 percent and attendees will be expected to wear masks and socially distance. In response to the lack of theater space, the festival has expanded its services by allowing patrons to watch the festival’s 120 films in one of three locations: a theater, from home or from their car. Some films will be available to temporarily stream online and a couple movies will be screened in the parking lot of Chandler High School, where up to 100 cars can be in attendance. “It will be disconnected, yet connected,” said Dave Waltzer, the festival’s treasurer and board member. While audiences won’t be together under one roof, Waltzer said festival organizers are anticipating a boost in participation due to the added viewing options. “It’s different this year,” he noted. “It’s odd a little bit, but we’re actually getting more of the community involved in the festival.” Some local high school students will be showcasing their short films this year and participating in a symposium with professionals from the film industry. ICAN and AZCEND, two local nonprofits serving students and lowincome families, will be receiving a portion of the profits from the festival’s ticket sales. It was not immediately obvious

goal is to showcase diversity, innovation, “andOuruniqueness through the works of filmmakers from across the world in a local setting, our drive-in events and online options this year give us the ability to reach more people.

”

felt confident their event could be staged safely and responsibly. The red carpet and afterparty events during the festival will be scaled down, he added, and audience numbers will be regularly monitored to ensure compliance. Waltzer said it was important to prove organizers could still put on the festival amid the current circumstances and changes made this year may become a permanent fixture for Among the Chandler Film Festival offerings is a thriller about future festivals. nine people struggling with a pandemic. (Special to Get Out) “It’s always good to think out of the box,” whether the festival would return this he added “I think going forward, we may year since most entertainment venues extend that virtual option due to the have mostly sat empty for the last 10 response it’s getting. It may make sense months. to continue that.” While some theaters have reopened Chandler’s lineup of films include a during the pandemic, Hollywood has wide variety of documentaries, thrillers, not been releasing an abundant supply dramas, and familiar favorites. of films and studios have shifted toward The movies are made by filmmakers relying more on streaming platforms. from more than 30 countries and some Box office receipts have nationally were shot locally around Arizona. been on the decline and 2020 was the Mitesh Patel, the festival’s president, first year in more than a decade that said he wanted this year’s lineup to be didn’t have a film gross more than $1 stronger than in previous years and he billion. hopes they will have a broader reach Chandler’s organizers had discussed with local audiences. cancelling this year’s festival or going “Our goal is to showcase diversity, completely online, Waltzer said, but they innovation, and uniqueness through the

– Mitesh Patel

works of filmmakers from across the world in a local setting,” said Patel. “Our drive-in events and online options this year give us the ability to reach more people.” “The Unhealer,” a sci-fi film shot in Apache Junction, will be one of the festival’s first features screened on Jan. 21 at Harkins Theater and some of the film’s actors plan to be in attendance. “Danni and the Vampire,” scheduled to be screened Jan. 23, is a comedic take on old horror tropes about a madcap drifter and her undead friend. Other films are a timely reflection of the turmoil experienced collectively this past year and delve into subjects recognizable to most audiences. On Jan. 24, the festival will screen “House of Quarantine,” a thriller about nine people struggling to cope with the pandemic and fear getting sick after one of them contracts the coronavirus. A deadly contagion has ravaged the world in “The Cove,” a survival tale about two characters seeking sanctuary amidst a pandemic, and will be screened Jan. 22 at Harkins. “COVID-19 vs. Arizona” is a documentary that will be screened Jan. 24 and features stories from local leaders on how they have navigated the pandemic. The subject of climate change is examined in “Kiss the Ground,” a documentary screening Jan. 23 that reveals how the world’s ecosystems can be salvaged after decades of damage. More information on the festival can be found at chandlerfilmfestival.com.

GILBERT SUN NEWS | JANUARY 17, 2021

Obituaries

Laird Anderson Jr.

Obituaries Mary Catherine Speropulos Mary Speropulos, who inspired generations of junior high students in the classroom by capturing their attention with theatrical humor and charm, died peacefully at Ryan House/Hospice of the Valley in Phoenix on Jan. 9. She was 69. Cause of death was congestive heart failure, said her husband, Tom Speropulos. She taught for 20 years at Sirrine Elementary and Smith JHS where parents vied to get their children into her classes. She once said, “Oh, you know, teaching is just theater. Once you get their undivided attention, the rest is easy.” Her first career choice, in fact, had been acting. After a short stint at Arizona State University, Mary Cottam moved to Hollywood, hoping to break into pictures. She got a job as an assistant at Metromedia, the production company that produced such 1970s hit shows as “All in the Family” and “The Jeffersons,” but never realized her ambition to wind up in front of the camera herself. She did, however, cement the relationship of her life with Speropulos, then a video post-production editing staffer for the Merv Griffin Show and ABC-TV and later a professional photographer. The two eloped to Las Vegas in 1977. They exchanged their vows in what they thought was the wedding chapel where her mother and father had tied their marital knot decades earlier. Only later did Mary and Tom learn the right one was down the street. Their Hollywood time ended when Mary and Tom decided to move back to Arizona and pursue more stable careers. She enrolled again at Arizona State and eventually earned a Ph.D. in Education, with honors. After retiring from the classroom in 2011, Mary taught online for Grand Canyon University. Born in Kanab, Utah, on March 30, 1951, to Mason and Laurel Cottam and raised in the tiny Northern Arizona town of Fredonia, Mary was exposed to fallout from atomic bomb testing in Nevada, only 150 miles away. Her family came to believe that

led to medical complications later in life. The Cottams moved to Mesa in 1959, where Mary graduated from Westwood High School in 1969. When she wasn’t working, she loved to entertain her extended family. A favorite tradition was a huge water gun fight in the Speropulos backyard, held every year to celebrate the birthday of her brother John. Her warmth was matched by a sometimes wicked sense of humor. In a brief obituary she wrote for herself some years ago, she said, “Mary disliked nature and spent most of her time indoors, where she enjoyed napping and eating French fries. Her most notable excursion was to Las Vegas, where she eloped with a very handsome man. “She became a teacher later in life after a failed career in the tap dancing industry,” she continued. “She was known for constantly torturing her students with graphic details of her many facelifts.” With her flaming red hair, an infectious smile and wild laugh, her charm was irresistible. Once, lost with her mother in downtown Washington, DC, while visiting her sister Linda, she talked a Metrobus driver into veering miles off his route to deliver them to Linda’s home in Arlington, across the Potomac River. To the astonishment of Linda and a neighbor, the bus hissed to a stop late at night on the little suburban street, and Mary and her mother alighted as passengers called out cheerful farewells. The bus driver climbed down, posed for a photograph with mother and daughter, then proceeded back to the city. Mary is survived by her husband of 43 years; five siblings: John Cottam of Mesa; Linda Kauss (Clark Hoyt) of Great Falls, VA; Tom Cottam (Carolyn) of Mesa; Howard Cottam (Julie) of Escondido, CA; and James Christopher Cottam (Kristy) of Maricopa, AZ; 15 nieces and nephews and five great nieces and nephews. At Mary’s request, there will not be a formal funeral service. The family plans a celebration of her life at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations in her honor may be sent to Ryan House/Hospice of the Valley, 110 W. Muhammad Ali Way, Phoenix, AZ, 85013. Sign the Guestbook at: obituaries.EastValleyTribune.com

Laird Anderson Jr., a longtime resident of St. Paul, Minnesota, and a current resident of Scottsdale, Arizona, was a kind, gentle, quiet man who adored his wife of 42 years, Kathleen Anderson. Kathy was able to be with Laird when he died on Jan. 3, 2021, of the cruel, merciless, brutal COVID-19 virus. He was 75 years old. www.greenacresmortuary.net Sign the Guestbook at: obituaries.EastValleyTribune.com

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Obituaries H E A D STO N E S

EVERLASTING MONUMENT Co.

“Memories cut in Stone”

Jane Enniss Sheets Jane Enniss Sheets (90) passed away on December 28, 2020 in Rexburg, Idaho. She was born in Murray, Utah on May 5, 1930 to Willard Boulter and Annie Huff Enniss. She lived in Draper, Utah until she left home to attend the University of Utah's nursing program. Jane was in The U of U's first graduating class to receive a BS in nursing. After graduation, she worked in the psychiatric ward of the VA Hospital in Salt Lake City where she met her future husband, Robert N. Sheets. The summer before their marriage, Jane was able to spend a summer traveling in Europe with the University of Utah's Study Abroad. During her visit to Europe, the Berlin wall went up. This trip was a very fulfilling experience for her. After marrying, Jane and Robert lived in Colorado, Wisconsin, and Utah before finally making their home in Mesa, Arizona in 1969. Jane had three children: John (who died as an infant), Nathan, and Susan. Later in life, Jane worked at Poston Jr High in the Special Education Department and at Rockford Corporation. After she retired, she enjoyed spending time with her friends and visiting her children, beloved grandchildren, and extended family. Jane also loved reading, sewing, board games, chocolate, ice cream, and hamburgers. Jane is survived by her children Nathan (Kim) Sheets and Susan (Steven) Hunsaker; her grandchildren Allison, Camille (Alex), Sarah (Alex), Grant, David, Matthew, Ian, Eli, and Maren; and two great-grandchildren, Azie and Bennet. She is also survived by her siblings and extended family, whom she loved very much: Mary Baird, Noel Enniss, Bruce Enniss and many nieces and nephews. Jane was preceded in death by both of her parents, her son, John, and her brother, Leonard. She was laid to rest in Larkin Sunset Gardens in Sandy, Utah on January 2, 2021. Sign the Guestbook at: obituaries.EastValleyTribune.com

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GILBERT SUN NEWS | JANUARY 17, 2021

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