Gilbert Sun News - 03.07.2021 by Times Media Group

Houston school changes likely

Homeowners rip Gilbert Council

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An edition of the East Valley Tribune

INSIDE

This Week

NEWS................................ 6 GPS planning for in-person graduations, proms.

COMMUNITY..........21 Gilbert’s annual quilt show beginning.

BUSINESS................ 24 Realtor couple venture into bar business.

COMMUNITY........................................21 BUSINESS.............................................24 OPINION.....................................28 SPORTS.......................................30 GETOUT......................................33 PUZZLE....................................... 35 CLASSIFIED.......................................... 35

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Sunday, March 7, 2021

Classrooms get most of district dollars in Gilbert BY CECILIA CHAN GSN Managing Editor

ilbert Public Schools saw its cost to bus students creep back up last academic year to where it was deemed “very high” – meaning less money for instructional spending, according to a state Auditor General’s annual report on Arizona districts’ spending released last week. That may be so but GPS’ instruction spending has been going up each year, according to Bonnie Betz, assistant superin-

tendent of business services. “We did increase our dollars in the classroom you know by 0.4 percent year over year, which is a positive result,” Betz told the Governing Board last week. “So, we’re up to 61.6 percent on instruction, which is really good.” Betz also informed the board that she will share the report’s findings at the March 30 meeting. The report covers spending in the 2019-20 school year. The report released showed both Higley Unified and GPS devote the lion’s share

Police protest duty cost Gilbert taxpayers $850K

of their money to student learning – well above most districts in the state. Districts that operate efficiently allocate more of their resources to instruction, the report said. GPS’ transportation costs were higher than in 2018-19 despite the district’s effort to rein in the expenses. “Transportation costs were higher for the 2019-20 school year due to a number of one-time costs incurred as part of a planned

see SPEND page 4

Taking the reins

BY CECILIA CHAN GSN Managing Editor

ilbert Police response to protests mostly at Gilbert and Warner roads last year cost taxpayers well over $800,000. After George Floyd, a Black man, died May 31 while in custody in Minnesota, protests against police brutality ignited across the country and Gilbert was no exception as racial justice and procop supporters squared off from opposite corners at the busy intersection. “From May 29 to Nov. 5, we responded to protests and rallies related to police reform, social justice issues, COVID-related issues and election-related issues,” said Brenda Carrasco, police spokeswoman in response to Gilbert Sun News’ requests for the protest duty

see PROTEST page 17

Denise Lopez has been named the new CEO/President of HD SOUTH, Home of the Gilbert Historical Museum. If she looks familiar, it’s because she has been an active assistant administrator of the revered institution for several years. She is looking forward to a role she actually has been filling on an interim basis since the year began, as you’ll read on page 3. (Pablo Robles/GSN Staff Photographer)

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NEWS

HD SOUTH names Denise Lopez new CEO BY SRIANTHI PERERA GSN Contributor

enise Lopez, the program director at HD SOUTH, Home of the Gilbert Historical Museum, has been named its new president and CEO. She will be taking over from former president Kayla Kolar, who left for a new position at the end of last year. “I feel elated,” said Lopez, a wife and a mother of four, a history lover and Gilbert resident since 2010. Lopez joined the nonprofit in May 2019 and has been its interim head the past two months. “When I started at HD South, it was a goal of mine to eventually be in this position, I just didn’t anticipate it happening so quickly. The best part is the potential of the organization and our campus and knowing that I will be an integral part in our success,” she said. Jim DoBrunz, Gilbert Historical Museum board chair and chair of the selection committee, said a national search for the replacement received more than 60 applications and “went very well.” “At the end of day, we narrowed the candidates down and interviewed a select group of highly qualified individuals,” he said. Lopez was selected for a variety of reasons – among them, for doing “a fantastic job of running the show,” he said. “When Kayla submitted her resignation in November, Denise stepped up without hesitation and continued the mission and day-to-day operations of HD South,” DoBrunz noted. Lopez joined HD South in 2019 as a museum assistant and in less

Denise Lopez takes on leadership of HD SOUTH at a crucial time as the Gilbert Historical Museum is poised to become a new hub of Gilbert as an arts and culture center. (Pablo Robles/GSN Staff Photographer)

than a year, also assumed the duties of programs director. “You would be hard-pressed to find anyone that is as passionate as Denise is about HD South,” DoBrunz said. “Denise’s love of HD South, coupled her experience, really made her stand out.” Kolar, who now works at House of Refuge in Mesa – a nonprofit that provides transitional housing and support programs to homeless families – said the board made the right choice. “Denise has the heart for the organization and will do an amazing job,” Kolar said. “I’m really excited for her.” Kolar noted that Lopez had been a longtime fan and supporter of the muse-

um-turned-art-center and when an opening came up, she jumped at the opportunity to become programs director. “She quickly rose to the top of the list of those who applied for that position. We were thrilled to add her to the team,” she said. During the past two years, Lopez wore many hats: she managed marketing, facility rentals, volunteers and special events. When the program coordinator retired at the beginning of the pandemic, she took over programs as well. “And it was an easy choice for the board to name her as the interim director when

see SOUTH page 9

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NEWS

CHANDLER

GILBERT SUN NEWS | MARCH 7, 2021

HIGLEY

GPS

These charts for the three main school districts serving Gilbert show how they spent their money in the 2019-20 school year in comparison with other districts their size and the statewide averages. (Arizona Auditor General)

SPEND from page 1

and strategic overhaul of the transportation department and service,” explained district spokeswoman Dawn Antestenis. “This project included the movement of boundaries, upgraded routing, field trip and fleet software, and a reorganization of department personnel, including the combining of the Power Base Transportation Depot into Gilbert Base.” Antestenis said this reorganization included a complete remodel of the Gilbert Base facility in order to house more drivers, monitors and mechanics. “It is expected that this one-time investment in transportation will result in ongoing savings and substantial operational improvements,” she said. “Already in the current year, the experience for our students and families has improved successfully delivering students to and from school safely and on time.” According to the report, GPS’ per mile and per rider costs were $5.33 and

$1,564, respectively. Peer districts, which included Tempe Union and Higley Unified, came in at $4.60 per mile and $1,301 per rider. The 13 peer districts all have the traveling mile per student rider at 241-310 miles. Antestenis noted, however, the district’s overall spending on transportation dropped in 2019-20 to 4.4 percent from 4.7 percent the prior year. And, the district has met the goal reflected in the report, she said. The Auditor General found that 61.6 percent of GPS’ operating budget was spent on instruction in 2019-20. That included salaries for teachers and related personnel like aides, supplies, textbooks and software and extracurricular activities such as athletics. The spending was an increase from the 61.2 percent for the previous year. GPS ranked No. 1 for its percentage in instructional spending compared with

nine districts of comparable enrollment size in the state. The 10 districts are among the largest in the state with GPS reporting a 33,360-student enrollment. GPS has consistently spent more than its peers in this area. “Gilbert Public Schools continues to prioritize classroom and instructional spending, as part of our strategic plan that puts student success at the center of all planning,” Antestenis said. Chandler Unified School District, which serves approximately 10,000 Gilbert households, ranked No. 2 for its instructional spending at 61.4 percent. And Higley Unified School District in southeast Gilbert was No. 1 for instructional spending among its 11 comparable size peers with 61.8 percent of its budget going to instruction. “Higley Unified was not surprised by the report from the Auditor General,”

said Tyler Moore, HUSD Finance director in a released statement. “The district is among the lowest in operational costs compared to our relative peer average. The report also shows a priority in classroom spending with 61.8 percent of the operational budget being allocated to instruction. “Overall, Higley Unified will continue to align its budget and spending to the district’s strategic plan and Governing Board priorities next school year.” Actually, when spending for student support, such as counselors, and instructional support, such as libraries, the three districts’ spending on learningg is even higher. GPS devoted 74.5 percent of its total 2019-20 budget to students, Chandler Unified spent 73.8 percent and Higley Unified 72.5 percent, the report shows.

see SPEND page 7

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NEWS

GILBERT SUN NEWS | MARCH 7, 2021

GPS planning on in-person graduations BY CECILIA CHAN GSN Managing Editor

ilbert Public Schools is looking to stage in-person graduation ceremonies at all seven of its high schools in May. Last year, the Class of 2020 got a virtual send-off instead because of the pandemic. “We know last year at this time we thought we’d be out for just a couple of weeks and then life would be back to normal and the saga continues,” Superintendent Shane McCord told the Governing Board last Tuesday. “My goal is to make sure we get students across the stage and I think we will be in a position to be able to do that.” Although last year’s virtual graduation went off with few snags, there are fewer hitches when it’s in-person, Mc-

Cord added. The recommendations for holding the 2021 graduation ceremonies included spacing graduates farther apart on the football field, requiring masks and limiting guests to four per graduate. The ceremonies also would be livestreamed. Higley Unified officials are planning similar rules, although they currently are thinking of limiting grads to only two guests. “All of the high school principals are really wanting to do whatever it takes to try to figure out what we need to do in order to hold a more traditional graduation ceremony at each of their campuses – like the community is used to,” said Marcie Taylor, Secondary Education executive director. All the high schools will host their own ceremonies on campus.

Mesquite and Desert Ridge high schools traditionally held their events at Wells Fargo Arena but Arizona State University is not taking reservations for its venue, according to Taylor. The two schools will instead have to do their own equipment rental, decorations, parking and security, which were previously handled by ASU, Taylor said. But this gives the two schools opportunity to create “really meaningful new traditions with their senior class this year,” she added. Taylor told the board that staff also considered limiting guests to two per graduate. “We’ve thrown a bunch of different numbers around,” she said. “Obviously the crowd or fans or guests would have to wear masks as well.” She presented the board with a chart showing what the ca-

pacity would be at each campus with two and with four guests. For example, Highland High, which has the largest senior class with 876 graduates, would be at 21 percent capacity with two guests and 49 percent with four guests. The average capacity of all campuses was 40 percent with four guests each graduate. “So, we’re looking at trying for the four,” Taylor said. “Obviously we want as many of our family members to be able to attend the graduation of their kids but those numbers of the spectators obviously would need to increase or decrease, depending on the pandemic conditions as we get closer to May.” Taylor said there’s also been discussion of what to do with other senior events such as Scholarship Night, prom

rienced declining enrollment while Neely’s has been steady and often has a waiting list for some grades, according to Martin. Houston enrollment for 2020-21 was 249; Burk, 261 and Neely, 614. It made sense for GPS to relocate the Neely campus to Houston, which has the largest campus in the western portion of the district.

Plans are to set aside an area on the Houston campus to showcase the school from 1987-2021. Staff has determined that Neely will need $3 million in renovations for its aging building over the next five years. The funds would not address expansion of Neely, which currently houses eight classrooms in four portables. If Neely moves, the Houston campus would be able to handle up to 940 students. “The questions from the community is what will you do with the Neely building,” Martin told the board. “Right now, we are studying different options for that site use.” The closing of Neely would save the district $1 million. Martin went on to say Burk has the capacity to add several hundred students from Houston, which would improve the quality of education for all of the students. “Currently Houston Elementary has one to two classes per grade level in

see GRADUATION page 10

GPS likely to relocate Neely to Houston campus BY CECILIA CHAN GSN Managing Editor

ouston Elementary School will likely close, forcing parents in April to decide where to send their children this fall. In a cost-saving move, Gilbert Public Schools Governing Board is scheduled March 30 to vote on the proposal to relocate Neely Traditional Academy to the Houston campus and expand Burk Elementary’s attendance boundary to take in displaced students. Houston students can choose to attend Neely or Burk. “The western region of our district has seen the largest decline over the last 15 to 20 years in enrollment,” said Jason Martin, Elementary Education executive director at last week’s work study with the board. “We know that budgets are always tight here in Arizona in a school district and with taxpayer money we want to be fiscally responsible and utilizing that money as wisely as possible,” Martin said. Both Burk and Houston have expe-

Houston Elementary’s campus is large enough to accomopdate the much larger Neely Traditional Academy student body, GPS officials say. (Special to GSN)

see HOUSTON page 11

GILBERT SUN NEWS | MARCH 7, 2021

SPEND from page 4

The report also shows that GPS spend a greater percentage on counselors and other student support than the other two districts. Student support consumed 9.2 percent of GPS’ budget while it cost Chandler Unified 7.7 percent and Higley 5.9 percent. Statewide, the per pupil spending and instructional spending percentage continued upward. The state average teacher salary increased to $54,814 – a 13.3 percent increase over 2017’s average but short of the 15-percent cumulative goal, the Arizona School District report stated. GPS’ average teacher salary was $55,594, HUSD’s was $53,607 and CUSD, $62,203. Higley Unified, the smaller of the two districts in Gilbert with 12,562 students, saw its spending drop from the previous year for transportation, food service and for administration cost per pupil, which was considered “high” by the auditor general in last year’s report. HUSD saw a decrease from $918 to $742. Overall, HUSD’s classroom spending

NEWS

increased to 72.5 percent from 70.2 percent in 2018-19 and non-classroom spending such as for administration and plant operations dropped to 27.5 percent from the 29.8 percent in Fiscal year 2019. CUSD with 44,939 students also increased its classroom spending to 61.4 percent from 60.9 percent the year before. The district also saw decreases in expenses for food service and transportation to where they were comparable unlike the prior year where the auditor general found the spending to be “high.” CUSD still saw a “very high” cost per square foot for its plant operations at $7.52. The statewide average was $6.55. In 2018-19, the district’s cost per square foot was $7.75. Although Arizona schools continue to increase the amount of each dollars spent on instruction, it’s still less than in 2001 when the state began to monitor this metric. The average school district was spending 54.9 percent of its cash on in-

struction last academic year, according to the report. By contrast, that figure dropped as low as 53.5 percent in the 2015-16 school years. At the other extreme, instructional spending was as high as 58.6 percent in the early 2000s. And it was 57.7 percent when the state first ran the report. That 54.9 percent figure, however, does not paint the whole picture. Student support, consisting of counselors, audiologists, speech pathologist, nurses, social workers and attendance services ate up another 8.7 percent. And there was 5.7 percent for instructional support, defined as librarians, teacher training, curriculum development and instruction-related technology services. All totaled, according to Auditor General Lindsey Perry, that makes total classroom spending 69.3 percent of every dollar received. Perry noted that the percentage of spending on instruction and students support, on average, has increased in the past five years. At the same time,

schools are spending less of each dollar on food services, plant operations and transportation. Administrative costs, however, as a percentage of total dollars, have remained the same over recent years. Perry found that overall, Arizona schools spend a lot less than the national average, at $9,136 per student this past school year compared with $12,652. That national figure actually is two years older but is what was available to state auditors. Howard Fischer from Capitol Media Services contributed to the story.

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GILBERT SUN NEWS | MARCH 7, 2021

Sewer meet further angers Gilbert homeowners BY CECILIA CHAN GSN Managing Editor

group of homeowners may be headed into a court battle with Gilbert over a land grab the town calls inevitable. Gilbert intends to acquire an existing easement running through the backyards of 24 homes along the Western Canal in order to repair a deteriorating sewer line that runs from Lindsay Road to 800 feet west of Burk Street. Six significantly corroded manholes between the 24 parcels also are in need of work. “I don’t think they will work with the neighbors,” resident Donna Lucchesi said. “They’ve already decided they are going to take our properties and do whatever they want to do and are not going to listen to what we have to say and look for better options. “We will probably retain attorneys and reach out to the community for support,” said Lucchesi, who would have to get rid of one of her two ponies because she won’t have enough land for two. “We supported the mayor, we supported the Town Council (in the election last year) and they are not showing any kind of support,” she added. Lucchesi’s comments came a day after Town Council held a special meeting Feb. 25 specifically to hear the residents’ concerns with the Concrete Pipe Gravity Sewer Rehab Project, referred to as Project No. WW1060. Residents were notified in December of the town’s intent and appraisals of their properties began in February. The aging pipeline, which collects 3 million gallons a day of wastewater from approximately 15,000 households in the north part of Gilbert, needs immediate rehabilitation, according to town staff. The town in 2017 identified the project following “some pretty significant failures” in its wastewater system. “There is a tremendous impact to the property owners here,” Town Engineer David Fabiano acknowledged at the twohour meeting. “We understand that, we know it,” he continued. “We would love to be able to

Homeowners in Gilbert who will lose some of their backyard to a town sewer project were not too happy with the way Town Council treated them last week at a meeting to discuss their issues. (Special to GSN) do something different. We just don’t know where we would be able to do something different.” When the sewer pipe was installed in 1986, there were no obstructions in the easement but 30 years later, many of the homes have extended their walls to the south, likely with permission, according to Jason Montgomery, town senior project manager. The town’s project team, including Entellus, a civil engineering firm, devised three solutions, all requiring varying degrees of land acquisition. Montgomery said the original intention was to relocate the 36-inch sewer pipe outside of the 24 parcels and onto U.S. Bureau of Reclamation land controlled by the Salt River Project. The utility company, which has electrical transmission towers on both sides of the canal, rejected that plan, he added. “Since we have existing easement for these pipelines, it was a difficult argument to justify a need to relocate it in the Western Canal,” Montgomery said. SRP “holds strict control of this corridor because it’s so congested with existing utilities,” he noted. “They’re very precautionary about what they place within the Western Canal.” The town also has a reclaimed water

line and a portable water line running adjacent to the sewer line along the Western Canal. A second solution called for acquiring seven parcels for the six manholes but that would only allow access to clean the sewer line and not to rehab it, said Montgomery. He added that the relining of the pipeline would take a considerable amount of land to do the work. “We’re not getting access to the sewer pipeline between the manholes nor do we have access to that 18-inch reclaimed water line that we know will need work in the near future,” he said. But the third solution of acquiring the easement from all 24 parcels, would ensure the town of unobstructed access and the ability to do expected rehab on the other two water pipes in the coming years, according to Montgomery. The solution chosen was based on six criteria, including improve infrastructure reliability, increase access, reduce present and future impact to landowners and best value for the town. Montgomery said the land acquisitions are expected to conclude by November with pipe rehabilitation to begin in 2022. Although residents said they don’t have a problem granting access to their

property and were willing to take down their block walls for the project, it was not seen as a practical option for the town. “It would be foolish from an engineering perspective to put the walls back up knowing that we’re going to take them down again 50 years in the future,” Fabiano said. “It’s more prudent to put those walls back up so that the easement area is protected and we have a dedicated utility corridor that can be operated and maintained in a more safe fashion so you won’t have a sinkhole show up in your backyard, you won’t have a 24-inch water line burst and start flooding your house,” he continued. “Those things would be removed because that’s going to be then outside of your property.” Resident Leslie Novak asked Council members when they became aware of the sewer-line project and was the 45-minute presentation by staff that night given to them before they voted in November to approve the land acquisitions. Mayor Brigette Peterson said the November vote was to award a $224,873 contract to Jacobs Engineering Group to do the land acquisitions and that no presentation was given. But Fabiano noted that there was a resolution on the same agenda approving the land purchases. “They were given a briefing,” he said. “That briefing was not as extensive as to what has been shared here tonight.” Fabiano added that the contract with Jacobs Engineering in November “was actually a different Council that approved that contract upon recommendation of staff.” However, the only new member since that November vote is Peterson, who took office in January. Fabiano also addressed a resident’s question why the gravity sewer pipe couldn’t be rerouted and be placed under the street. “We’re unable to reroute it is because (the water) falls by gravity,” he responded. “There isn’t enough elevation differ-

see SEWER page 10

GILBERT SUN NEWS | MARCH 7, 2021

SOUTH from page 3

I left at the end of December,” Kolar said, adding: “Denise is a very hard worker and will give the organization everything she has. She can always be counted on to get the job done. I’m sure HD South will thrive under her leadership.” Lopez takes the reigns at a crucial moment in HD SOUTH’s future as the Gilbert Historical Museum is poised to be a new hub of Gilbert as an arts and culture center. A $2-million capital campaign is in progress for renovations of the 100-yearold building, the construction of a new event facility and new infrastructure. This is in addition to being the safekeeper of the town’s historical records. Asked if there is a learning curve for her, Lopez said, “absolutely.” “If I already knew the job, that wouldn’t be much fun. Growth comes from learning and I am so thankful I have the opportunity to be at the helm during this exciting time,” she said. “I am excited to hit the ground running and assist in the final phase of fundraising,” Lopez added. “Kayla left a tremendous legacy at HD South. She accomplished so much during her 15 years as president and, lucky for me, the foundation she laid will be easy to build upon.” Originally from Colorado, Lopez grew up in New Mexico. After graduating from the University of Northern Colorado, she moved to Phoenix and eventually settled in Chandler. Lopez worked as a senior marketing analyst for JP Morgan Chase in Tempe before moving to North Carolina, then Pennsylvania and eventually back to Arizona. Now a resident of Gilbert, Lopez and her husband Anthony have four daughters ranging from 13 to 30 and a menagerie of rescue pets. Two children live at home. Beyond her career, Lopez enjoys cooking, entertaining, scrapbooking, thrifting and antiquing. She loves to learn about local history and revels in travels throughout the Southwest. It’s safe to add nonprofits to the list of what she’s interested in. Lopez was a member of Gilbert Leadership Class XXVIII, and participated in the class project of upgrading and beautifica-

tion of the Heritage Center, which houses the philanthropic operation, AZCEND. This year, she was accepted to the Executive Leadership Program at Arizona State University’s Lodestar Center for Philanthropy and Nonprofit Innovation. The six-month program culminates in a capstone course and project in October. The ASU Nonprofit Management Institute selects just 30 applicants to participate in the program each year. “Being a part of this organization for nearly two years has opened my eyes and expanded my view of a completely different facet of business,” she said. “I love the peer networking nonprofit leadership provides, and the simple fact that it allows me to be a change-making practitioner in the social sector.” If her plate seems full and life becomes extra stressful, Lopez has her ways of coping. “I have an amazing group of friends whom I rely on to keep me grounded,” she said. “I also do yoga, which helps me to remember to breathe.”

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GILBERT SUN NEWS | MARCH 7, 2021

GRADUATION from page 6

and the baccalaureate ceremony. Many of the campuses also are talking about holding Senior Awards and combining it with some sort of formal event, according to Taylor. For the prom, schools are looking at several adjustments to the end-of-theyear dance. “A lot of the venues required deposits that were non-refundable,” Taylor said. “We didn’t want our student councils to lose out on the money that would be lost if they weren’t going to be able to hold a prom, so they’re looking at alternatives to that such as holding these formal galas or red-carpet events. “Some of them are using their school colors to call it a blue-carpet event or a green-carpet event,” she continued “They have come up with a lot of really great ideas – art galleries where kids walk through and take a look at some of the senior photographs and memories of

GPS Superintendent Shane McCord explained developing plans for graduation during a board meeting last week. (Special to GSN)

SEWER from page 8

ence that exists between where it’s at and we can’t move it anywhere else… We’re stuck with that one in its location.” Wastewater Manager Ken Snow said the town was being protective before a serious problem occurs. “In some ways this conversation is great because we are ahead of the failure,” Snow said. “We are not standing in your backyard right now. We are not standing around a hole that is formed and we are not trying to set up a bypass pipe to bypass 3 million gallons a day of sewage past the Western Canal all the way down to the Neely Wastewater Reclamation facility. “We are here before it’s happened and that in itself is a good thing. We recognize that it is difficult to understand that (with a) pipeline that we can’t see.” Resident Brian Tussiny said if the town knew it had to fix the pipe in 2017, why wasn’t it disclosed when he purchased his house in 2019. “There was not a single mention of this,” Tussiny said. “They did mention that we had the easement, which we were totally fine with and we bought this wonderful piece of land with this giant backyard that our kids could run around

the year or the years that they were at the school. “They’ve talked about having their senior slideshow where these kids would still be able to dress up, get their pictures taken and then enjoy some sort of a dinner, possibly do an awards in combination with that as well.” Taylor said the schools also are looking at holding events like Power Puff Football, Mr. DRidge, Mr. Highland and Mr. Coyote events and Movie Night by limiting the number of people and

Homeowner Julia McCleve called the council meeting a “dog-and-pony show,” stating, “I don’t even know what you guys are talking about.” (Special to GSN) in. Now it’s literally going to get cut over half of what we thought we were buying.” Fabiano said that was a difficult question to answer but generally when the town undertakes a capital project of this nature, it begins as a study. He noted the original intention was to move the sewer line off the properties as much as possi-

ble. “The town has a utility infrastructure here that we don’t have a choice,” he said. “It has to remain functional today and into the future – 50, 100, 200 years. As long as the town remains a town, that infrastructure has to function because all of us want to be able to use our sanitary

spacing them apart. “They’re still trying to give all of our students as many memories as possible under the current circumstances,” she said. Board member Jill Humpherys said she appreciated the creative ways being devised and that graduation can take place in-person again. “I really think graduation is one of those times when you look across the field and you’re like, ‘look what we do.’ This is amazing, we have actually got these kids to this point and to me, I always feel it as a board member, that we’ve accomplished this for the community. It is really an amazing night.” Board member Lori Wood commented she was glad that the district can live-stream the ceremonies because “that gives that option for those who aren’t comfortable or aren’t able to be there with limited capacities or different things.” facilities inside of our homes.” A couple of residents voiced their displeasure at how the meeting was conducted, saying they’ve been asking for a face-to-face conversation with their elected leaders and not with staff. “I didn’t know it was going to be a dogand-pony show to tell us what we’ve heard and heard and heard again,” said Julia McCleve. “I love my backyard,” she said. “I don’t want to see it torn up. He’s giving us a dog-and-pony show and I don’t know if you guys even know what we’re talking about.” No action was taken at the meeting. “We heard all of your concerns and this is not an easy decision for any of us,” Peterson told the residents. “All I can say as your mayor now is …I’m planning for the next 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 100 years of this community.” She said “things have changed over time and we take everything that we do extremely seriously.” “We appreciate you coming out and hearing everything what we had to offer and we continue to look forward to

see SEWER page 11

GILBERT SUN NEWS | MARCH 7, 2021

HOUSTON from page 6

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K-6,” Martin said. “And one of the things that we see at Houston and many of our small schools, Burk included, is that when you get this small, you start to affect the educational accessibility of students.” He said part-time special area teachers and specialists would then be needed and that it would be difficult to cluster students appropriately and efficiently. “It also is harder if you don’t have sitebased special area teachers and specialists to help with some of those extracurricular clubs, programs and additional services that schools where they have full-time teachers might be able to pro-

vide,” Martin said. Should the board OK the proposal, Houston would need an additional drop-off/pick-up lane and more parking spaces, according to Martin. Buses would be available to current Houston families living over a mille away from Burk and crossing guards would be stationed at Burk Street and Guadalupe Road and Burk Street and Houston Avenue. Martin also said Neely and Houston parents have asked if the Houston campus would have a new name once Neely moves in. He said he and Superintendent Shane

McCord have talked about it briefly “but really haven’t had too many thoughts on that.” “One thing we know is Neely Traditional has a very strong name in the East Valley with the traditional for over 20 years,” Martin added. Board member Jill Humpherys asked if staff gave any thought to a process to for deciding a name. “I’m really not too in favor of making any name changes at this point,” Dr. McCord said. “At this point, I think there’re a lot of changes going on….If you as a board want to have that discussion by all means but I think the process is diffi-

cult enough for all involved.” Humpherys asked if the board could be provided with an estimated cost if it rebranded the campus. “I think that could be a helpful piece of information to people because when our budget is extremely tight, if this is an expensive thing to do, it might help people to be more understanding,” she said. Parents have until March 30 to comment on Gilbert Public School’s proposal that affects three campuses in the northwest corner of town. To give feedback, go to gilbertschools.net/campuschanges

working with you on this as we move forward as a community.” Residents said it seemed like a done deal. “Gosh, I think right now, we are recovering from that gut punch,” said resident Stacy Adams, who has lived at her home since 2012 with her husband, Randy.

“We thought it would be open communication, a roundtable discussion. “In fact, it was another presentation – like a filibuster of a presentation we’ve already seen from the project engineer. We learned it was the first time for Council to see the presentation, which makes us leery why the Council was voting on

an important item without full scope and review of the matter.” She added the Council was dead set on its plan and was “foolish with our tax dollars,” when the homeowners were willing to work with the town. The Adamses stand to lose 6,000 square feet of their property.

“We understand the vital importance of this huge 36-inch sewer main,” she said. “We knew that when we bought our property but we are willing to work with the town to keep the agreed easement in place and they’re not willing to honor that easement with us and that is why we are so frustrated.”

SEWER from page 10

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GILBERT SUN NEWS | MARCH 7, 2021

Heritage Square condemnation suit dragging on BY CECILIA CHAN GSN Managing Editor

land condemnation case involving a Heritage Square site is still tied up in court, nearly three years after a judge ruled in favor of the Town of Gilbert. At dispute is the appraised value of the property, which Gilbert took for a five-story garage project in the Heritage District. The 600-space structure opened in March 2019 near Gilbert Road and Vaughn Avenue. The Town offered businessman Marc Barlow $145,000 for the loss of his land but he rejected it. “The property next to us sold for $1.6 million,” said Barlow, who added his property was appraised for $670,000. A judge in October ruled in favor of Barlow’s request to use his appraisal figure, rejecting the town’s argument that the Aug. 18, 2018 date of the summons, used by its land appraiser, should be used for the valuation and not the Dec. 19, 2018 date of the Order of Immediate Possession. The judge acknowledged the importance of the difference in dates as the property value went up with the December date and noted Barlow was “entitled to the higher value” and did not consider it a “windfall” as the town characterized it. “Plaintiff further argues that in a case where the property increases in value during the gap in time between the date of the summons and the date of the Order of Immediate Possession, the property owner is not entitled to this increase in value when the property owner caused the delay by exercising the legal right to challenge the taking,” according to the ruling. “The Court does not agree with plaintiff. Until there is an Order of Immediate Possession signed by a court, the property owner is eligible for compensation for any increase in value just as the property owner is subject to any burdens and liabilities that arise during that gap in time.” The judge further stated that the town’s appraiser relied on the wrong

Gilbert businessman Marc Barlow shows the land the Town took in a condemnation action and how he has to post barricades in front of his property to keep cars from accidentally coming onto his property and risking an accident with traffic on the street. He says motorists think his property gives them a shortcut through the area or even a free place to park. (Cecilia Chan/GSN)

date for its appraiser of Barlow’s property. Gilbert, in turn, filed a motion for a reconsideration of the ruling, arguing in part that the purchase of the building next to Barlow’s was influenced by the town’s new garage and street improvements it made as part of the project. A hearing was scheduled for 9 a.m. March 8. Barlow said so far he’s spent about $100,000 on legal fees and related litigation costs. His attorney is on contingent. The town last week refused to disclose how much it has spent for its outside attorneys on the case. There’s been up to three attorneys from two firms representing Gilbert in this matter. In light of the current status of the lawsuit, the Town has concluded that it would be detrimental to the best interest of the Town to provide the documents and information at this time, according to a statement released by the

see BARLOW page 13

GILBERT SUN NEWS | MARCH 7, 2021

BARLOW from page 12

Town Attorney’s Office. When asked to cite state statute and provide explanation how it would hurt the Town’s case, there was no response by deadline. The land in question is a 755-squarefoot triangular piece from the northeast corner of Barlow’s 12,000-squarefoot vacant parcel in back of his existing building facing Gilbert Road. The town took it to build a roundabout at the garage entrance to accommodate emergency vehicles. But that caused accessibility issues for the vacant property, according to Barlow. Also, he said with the road improvements and the parking garage in back, the town “has turned this into a go-kart track” and disrupted the flow of his parking lot. Barlow says when drivers head north on Gilbert Road going to the adjacent Culinary Dropout restaurant, they immediately turn into his parking lot and realizing their mistake, they end up cutting through to get to Hearne Way

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leading to the parking garage. Because two people were almost hit in the parking lot, Barlow has had to put up A-Frame barricades to prevent access onto Hearne Way. This also has precluded clients coming to his building with other tenants from using the five parking spots that were there, according to Barlow, who lost half of his parking. “Hopefully the lawyers will be able to settle this,” Barlow said. “They’ve been at it for almost three years.”

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GILBERT SUN NEWS | MARCH 7, 2021

Lawmakers move to curb emergency powers BY HOWARD FISCHER Capitol Media Services

tate legislators voted last week on multiple fronts to curb the power of the governor – this one and future ones – to declare and maintain an emergency. With no discussion at all, the Senate gave preliminary approval to SCR 1001. If it gets final approval by the Senate and later by the House, it would immediately terminate the emergency that Gov. Doug Ducey declared nearly a year ago. The resolution, crafted by Sen. Michelle Ugenti-Rita, R-Scottsdale, states that the governor’s March 11 emergency order has interfered with individual rights. That specifically refers to the stay-at-home edicts he issued early in the COVID-19 pandemic. While those have been allowed to expire, Ugenti-Rita said other Ducey actions remain, including restrictions

on how some businesses can operate which she said have wreaked havoc on the economy. Ducey could terminate the emergency on his own. But he has repeatedly insisted the need for him to assume the special powers remains. This measure, which now needs a final roll-call vote in the Senate before going to the House, bypasses that using a constitutional provision which allows the Legislature, by a simple majority, to declare the emergency over. But Ducey could have the last word: A recent opinion by Attorney General Mark Brnovich said that, under the current constitutional provisions, the governor remains free to issue a new emergency order. That, in turn, goes to the separate legislative actions designed to keep that from happening – at least in the future. HCR 2037, approved by the House on a 31-28 party-line vote, would allow a simple majority of state lawmakers to

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“And that’s not what we had this last year,’’ she said. “We had one person and his advisers making decisions on behalf of the entire state,’’ Townsend said. “And I would challenge anyone to say that the state and the people in the state were satisfied with those decisions.’’ Kavanagh and Townsend both said nothing in the measure would stop the governor from declaring an emergency and issuing immediate orders. What it does is ensure the Legislature is in session and has a voice. “And that’s when we deliberate, maybe we negotiate, we do a log of things,’’ Kavanagh said. “And then we make a decision as to whether or not the governor acted wisely.’’ The whole concept of legislators second-guessing the governor bothered Rep. Randall Friese, D-Tucson. “In a pandemic, very specifically,

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GILBERT SUN NEWS | MARCH 7, 2021

GOP lawmakers move toward initiative curbs BY HOWARD FISCHER Capitol Media Services

epublican lawmakers acted last week to erect two new hurdles in the path of individuals and groups seeking to craft their own laws. With only Republicans in support, the House approved a constitutional amendment to preclude future initiatives from being enacted unless at least 55 percent of those who turned out voted in support. It would override the existing requirement for a simple majority. That proposal, at least, would require voters themselves to agree to the new hurdle. A constitutional change would have to be ratified in 2022. But another measure given preliminary approval by the Senate has no such voter buy-in. It would require that for all future initiatives a circulator would have to either read aloud the 100-word description on each ballot measure or give the person sufficient time to read it. More to the point, each signer would have to affirm that he or she has actually understood the description. And the signatures of anyone who does not read or hear the description would be struck. That requirement would exist – and signatures would be disallowed – even if the signer already was familiar with what the petition seeks. It could provide a new way for initiative foes to bring court challenges to keep measures off the ballot. The proposal for the super-majority margin for initiatives comes from Rep. Tim Dunn, R-Yuma. He said the higher hurdle is appropriate because a constitutional provision precludes lawmakers from repealing or altering anything once it’s approved at the ballot. The only exceptions are when the changes “further the purpose’’ of the original measure, and only with a threefourths vote. Rep. Athena Salman, D-Tempe, reminded him that the Voter Protection

Act exists is because state lawmakers voted in 1997 to override a 1996 initiative to legalize the medical use of marijuana. That led to a new initiative, approved by voters in 1998, to keep that from happening again. She said the reason individuals and groups go to the street with initiative drives is because the Republican-controlled Legislature has failed to act on things that people want. That most recent includes Proposition 208, the 2020 measure which imposes a 3.5 percent surcharge on incomes above $250,000 for individuals and $500,000 for couples. Opposed by the business community, it passed with 52.5% of the vote, a margin that, had HCR 2016 been in effect, would have resulted in its defeat. Legal challenges to that law continue, with the Arizona Supreme Court on Thursday agreeing to review a lower court ruling which said the tax can remain in effect while its constitutionality is being litigated. Salman also said Arizona has a minimum wage higher than the federal $7.25 an hour and guaranteed family leave – both also opposed by business interests –only because voters in 2006 and 2016 took the issue into their own hands. “The business community, specifically, does not like that they can’t control the will of the voters like they can control the will of previous state legislative bodies,’’ she said. The measure now goes to the Senate. SB 1531, which deals with initiative signatures, is being pushed by Sen. J.D. Mesnard, R-Chandler. He said it is designed to ensure that circulators accurately characterize the measures they are trying to get people to put on the ballot. “People, unfortunately, will just lie to you about what it is they’re suggesting the initiative is about,’’ Mesnard said.

see INITIATIVES page 16

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GILBERT SUN NEWS | MARCH 7, 2021

Gilbert nonprofit relocating to bigger space in town faith-based nonprofit that hands out food and clothes on a monthly basis to the working poor in Gilbert will have a new home April 5. Open Arms Care Center is relocating from Gilbert Road in the Heritage Center to the northwest part of town, at 925 N. McQueen Road. “We serve 700 to 800 Gilbert residents a month,” said Tiffny Dale, a founding director of the group. “We’ve been there for 21 years offering food and clothes to our clients.” The nonprofit’s clothing is stored and distributed upstairs in a separate suite and is not handicap accessible, according to Dale. Although that arrangement has worked for some time, the nonprofit a year ago began looking for a place that would better serve its clients under one roof, Dale said. The new location offers a flexible use of space, is single level and has handicap parking, she said. “It’s about 800 square feet bigger,” Dale added. “It’s much better suited for our needs.” The nonprofit anticipated seeing more

economic changes in the early 2000s, we started to see a huge increase of people coming in for food and clothing on a regular basis. Some may come half a dozen times and don’t come back, which is really our hope.” Some people use the clothing and food until they get back on their feet, she said. Although Open Arms focuses on serving Gilbert residents, its new location so close to the Mesa border that a few of that city’s ZIP codes may be included for help, Dale said. Open Arms works close with AZCEND’s Community Action Program and partners with a number of other nonprofits, including Midwest Food Bank and United Food Bank. Each month the group provides Cutline: Cooley Elementary School’s recent week-long food drive for Open Arms yield over 4,000 two food boxes, based on the famdonated items. The drive was organized by Jody Stott, Language Arts teacher and Student Council ily size, and three clothing items sponsor at the campus. [Courtesy Open Arms Care Center] per family member. The Open Arms Care Center people come for help as the pandemic ing about 10 clients a week, according to began as a ministry of Sun Valley continues to disrupt people’s incomes. Dale. Community Church in January 2000. When the group, run entirely by vol“Hardly anybody came,” she recalled. For more information or to donate to unteers, initially launched, it was help- “But when word got out and with the the nonprofit: openarmscc.com.

when decisions need to be made expeditiously to address rapid spread,” he said, “I think one person with the advice of experts, and the guidance of their agencies like the Department of Health Services, making those decisions is less problematic than 90 people.’’ And he asked if that wouldn’t slow the process down to the point of being ineffective. Friese said he agrees, in essence, with the idea of giving the Legislature a

voice in future emergencies. But he said that future emergencies could require rapid – and unilateral – action. “If there isn’t quick action, he said the impact on Arizona could be even more pronounced than it has been. “We will have businesses close for much longer, we will have hospitals at capacity,’’ Friese said. “We will have much more people sick and dying.’’

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EMERGENCY from page 14

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INITIATIVES from page 15

The proposal drew derision from Sen. Kirsten Engel, D-Tucson, who called the concept “paternalistic.’’ She pointed out that the Arizona Constitution specifically gives people the same status and the same right at the legislature to make laws. Yet the measure spells out that each initiative signer must avow they have read and understood the measure or their signatures are voided by the circulator. “Before we cast aspersions on voters on whether or not they understand what they’re voting on, let’s look at ourselves,’’ Engel said. “We pass bills in here that are 300 pages long,’’ she said. “Have we read every page of that bill?’’ Engel said perhaps voters should turn around and make lawmakers affirm

that you read every single line of that bill and you understood it.’’ Sen. Juan Mendez, D-Tempe, offered an amendment to apply the same standard to candidate nominating petitions. He said if Republicans are so interested in ensuring that voters know what they are signing, they should require circulators to tell signers where the candidate lives, which office the candidate seeks and in which district the candidate resides. Mendez said there is a bigger problem with those circulating those petitions who have no idea who they are trying to get on the ballot. Mesnard said that’s a different situation. This measure needs a final Senate vote before going to the House.

GILBERT SUN NEWS | MARCH 7, 2021

NEWS

PROTEST from page 1

costs. Police said those costs were finally calculated. “Our total expenses were $809,976 for personnel costs and $46,432 for equipment, resources and supplies. Our total expenses were $856,409.” Fire and information technology personnel costs made up a small fraction of the total. The bulk of the expenses was incurred by the police department, which deployed its traffic, bike and canine units – among other resources – to deal with the protests, according to a department spreadsheet. “We structured our response so that our regular patrol responses were not affected by our protest response,” Carrasco said. The other expenses included for outside staffing, food, beverages and equipment. Carrasco said from the May to November, police were called out on 29 different dates to deal with protestors, requiring the use of 2,502 town personnel, which also included fire, information technology and public works em-

Protestors for and against police kept Gilbert Police busy for most of the summer and fall at Warner and Gilbert roads. (GSN file photo) ployees. A department spreadsheet showed police responded to Gilbert and Warner on 15 of the 29 days. The other days

they went to other protest hotspots that included Guadalupe and Greenfield roads, and a Gilbert Public Schools Governing Board meeting, when 86 person-

nel were deployed. “The Aug. 11th district protest was when we had about 200 individuals out protesting schools going virtual so officers were out making sure everything remained peaceful,” Carrasco said. For five of the days in that time period, the department also deployed 421 officers, over half of them on May 31 and June 1 but not to respond to any protest. “May 31and June 1 was when officers were called in for precautionary measures, some were at our police department buildings, some were out by the SanTan shopping area and others patrolling the town,” Carrasco explained. “These two dates would have been immediately following when Scottsdale’s mall was broken into and looted.” Looters vandalizing the high-end mall in Scottsdale on May 31 and Phoenix was seeing its share of damage from protestors as well. Gilbert Police also relied on help from Chandler and Mesa police and Depart-

see PROTEST page 18

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GILBERT SUN NEWS | MARCH 7, 2021

Gilbert lawmaker joins anti-mask vote BY HOWARD FISCHER Capitol Media Services

first-term Scottsdale legislator convinced colleagues last week to let businesses ignore mask mandates to stem the spread of COVID by arguing that they weren’t needed decades ago to stop the spread of AIDS. On a 31-28 party-line vote, the House approved legislation that says business owners need not enforce any state, city, town or county requirement for people to wear a mask. Republican Rep. Joseph Chaplik, sponsor of HB 2770, said it would give businesses the choice of whether to enforce the mandates many communities already have adopted and that said consumers then would have the option of deciding if they want to do business there. Chaplik argued that the mandates are an overreaction and that society has managed to survive other viral outbreaks without masks. For example, he cited HIV “that was going to wipe our global destruction of human bodies with AIDS.’’ “We heard about that in the 80s,’’

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Chaplik said. “Yet no masks were required.’’ The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, cannot be spread by air. It is spread through exchange of bodily fluids, normally sexual transmission or sores from open wounds and also can be spread through sharing infected needles. “It’s about the individual rights of these business owners as Americans,’’ Chaplik argued. Rep. Travis Grantham, R-Gilbert, echoed that sentiment. “The bill doesn’t say ‘masks don’t work,’ ‘’ he said. “The bill gives business owners ... the right to make a decision.’’ The vote came over the objections of several lawmakers who said the measure ignores evidence of how masks, properly worn, help curb the spread of the disease that has so far killed half a million Americans, including more than 16,000 in Arizona. Rep. Randall Friese, D-Tucson, who is a physician, said masks are part of the “very basic, important tools,’’ along with hand washing and social distancing, to curb the spread.

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Chaplik went on to tell colleagues to look at what’s happening elsewhere to disprove the claims that masks help prevent the spread of the virus. “Nebraska never had a mask mandate,’’ he said. He said the same is true in places like Mississippi and Georgia. “I would think that based on these arguments these states would have dead people piled up all over their state because no one else would be living because no one has masks on,’’ Chaplik continued. Rep. Bret Roberts, R-Maricopa, expressed similar beliefs. Roberts said he’s heard a figure that something like 90% of the state is covered by some local mask mandate. “If they work, how are people still catching COVID?’’ he asked. Other Republicans who voted for the bill did not openly challenge the effectiveness of masks, properly worn, in preventing the spread of disease. Instead, they said the legislation is a matter of individual rights. Rep. John Kavanagh, R-Fountain Hills, had a slightly different take. “This bill is simply about not making 16-year-old waiters and waitresses po-

lice officers enforcing a criminal mask statute,’’ he said. Rep. Diego Rodriguez, D-Phoenix, said Chaplik is wrong in arguing that mask mandates are an example of government overreach. “Mask mandates are a textbook example of the government ensuring one of its fundamental purposes, which is guarding the public health and safety,’’ Rodriguez said. He said allowing people to ignore such an order sends a bad message. Rep. Joanne Osborne, R-Goodyear, who owns the jewelry store with the family name, told colleagues this is a difficult decision. She said her employees wear masks. Despite that, some did get sick, forcing the closure of the store. “I have had friends die of COVID,’’ Osborne said. Osborne also said there are other mandates on business that are accepted, like having sprinklers and fire extinguishers. But Osborne, who provided the crucial -- and required -- 31st vote for the measure, said she had to side with her colleagues. “I’m no communist,’’ she said..

ment of Public Safety, which sent a total of 151 officers from Aug. 20 to Sept. 17. “We had an estimated 4,295 (protestors) at all of our incidents,” Carrasco said. “Our initial response in June accounted for nearly half of our personnel expenses. During this timeframe our employees worked for 12 days in a row and most were on overtime for long durations.” What initially began as a peaceful protest organized by some Gilbert residents to show their support for police drew the attention of Black Lives Matter backers who also began showing up every Thursday at Gilbert and Warner. The pro-police side looked more like a campaign rally with MEGA-hat wearers and Trump 2020 flags. Members on both sides of the street carried firearms and shouting match-

es gave way to a physical confrontation between the two on Aug. 20, resulting in three arrests. Soon after, the town erected traffic barriers and officers lined both sides of Warner on Thursdays. “Throughout all of our police responses our goals were to always preserve the safety of our community, protect property and maintain safe access to our roadways and facilities,” Carrasco said. “Throughout all of these incidents, our officers never used force and they displayed professionalism and courtesy in all of their interactions.” Due to the civil unrest in the country, Gilbert in June held listening sessions with the community to get feedback on racism and police reform. The Council is now in the process of forming a task force to deal with diversity issues and other pressing social needs in town.

PROTEST from page 17

GILBERT SUN NEWS | MARCH 7, 2021

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Annual Gilbert Quilt Show starts Tuesday nity to be the highlight of the show. “This was not a typical year,” said member Bev Brower. “Our t’s the time of year for HD museum quilters have gathered SOUTH, Home of the Gilbert 75 of our own quilts to display, in Historical Museum, to hang an effort to keep the interest and up some cozy quilts and promote inspiration alive.” its members’ quilting skills to the The museum’s old-fashioned community. quilting bee has been in exisThe 16th annual Quilt Show tence since 2002 and meets every March 9-May 31 will display Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday about 75 quilts made by members in the Home Life Room. of the museum’s quilting group. Anyone of any skill level is welThere is no judging. The show is come to join. The current mema simple display to appreciate the bership stands at around 20 and creativity, celebrate the accomplishmany are winter visitors. ments and inspire others to take up The volunteers complete unfinneedle, thread, fabric and batting. ished quilt tops for the public This year’s special focus is on with all proceeds going to HD blue and white quilts. Each quilter The quilt show is popular with the community and also draws visitors from across the Valley. (HD South) SOUTH. The quilters can comwas challenged to create a quilt plete up to 20 quilts a year and of any size or pattern and use a fabric color. The ladies decided to pick a color who has been quilting with the group for receive quilt covers and orders in blue and white. More than 20 quilts this year and it’s all the different dimen- 11 years. sent from across the country. In a typical year, the group solicits and were submitted as part of the challenge. sions you can make with a simple, two“A lot of shows will pick a pattern or a color quilt,” said Kathy Lester of Gilbert, receives about 100 quilts from the commusee QUILTS page 22 BY SRIANTHI PERERA GSN Contributor

Terminally ill Gilbert man leaves legacy for grandkids BY CASEY FLANAGAN GSN Staff Writer

ilbert author Lyle Hilfigure Jr. may not be around to meet his future grandchildren, but his legacy lives on through his new book, “Grandfather’s Tales.” In 2018, Hilfigure was diagnosed with multiple system atrophy. MSA is a rare neurological disorder that affects involuntary functions like breathing and motor function, according to the Mayo Clinic. “With MSA, you know what’s gonna happen at the end. I know that it’s eventually going to take me, and I have time to take care of my family. I have time to make sure I’m not forgotten,” Hilfigure

Gilbert author Lyle Hilfigure Jr. has a terminal illness, so he wrote a book about true stories from his life so his family can remember him. (Special to GSN)

said. To make sure his current family and descendants have something to remember him by, Hilfigure set out to write “Grandfather’s Tales,” a collection of true stories from throughout his life. Hilfigure, 60, and his wife Robin have been married 33 years and have raised three children. “She’s been very supportive of what I need as far as physical things, wheelchairs and that kind of thing,” he said. Hilfigure said he has studied his own genealogy throughout his life and in the past few years found he “didn’t know my grandparents at all. I thought I did, I didn’t.” Hilfigure said he may never connect with his grandchildren like he would

have liked to with his own grandparents. He wrote “Grandfather’s Tales” to make sure they don’t “lose each other,” and he is not forgotten over time. Hilfigure said he wrote the book as a collection of short stories for a reason. “I’ve found that through life, sometimes we have the time, sometimes we don’t. So the stories are written so each one stands alone.” To edit the stories, Hilfigure enlisted the help of his oldest son, Chris Hilfigure, a fourth grade teacher at Power Ranch Elementary in Chandler. Chris Hilfigure said he came up with the idea to have his father record his stories to be transcribed later.

see AUTHOR page 22

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AUTHOR from page 21

He said it was “really cool to hear the stories,” and edit wording to “make it sound a little better, but still keep the message there.” Chris transcribed about a third of the stories in the book, he said. “He put a lot of heart into it,” Chris said. He said when they started the project, their goal was to “convey not just the story, but also have it written in the way that we would have told them. And I think that is what makes it so special.” When Lyle Hilfigure Jr.’s father and cousin read the book, they commented “it’s like sitting with you across the table, listening to you tell these stories,” he said. Lyle Hilfigure Jr. said if his future grandchildren learn anything from the book, he hopes they learn to “be yourself. Be the best you can be. That’s good enough for all of us.” “Grandfather’s Tales” was published by Dorrance Publishing Company and can be purchased either as a physical copy or an E-book for $12 on the publisher’s website.

GILBERT SUN NEWS | MARCH 7, 2021

QUILTS from page 21

Their quilting service is extremely popular and wait times can be lengthy, said museum Executive Director Denise Lopez. “If you have a quilt top that you just do not have the time or skills to finish, the volunteers will finish it for you at a price of just $7 per foot.” “They make tiny stitches, fastening the quilt tops to inner batting and backing to create beautiful bedspreads and wall hangings that are truly works of art,” she added. Two quilt frames are set up in “quilting bee” style, Lester said. “Typically, we complete 20 to 24 quilts per year. We have a waiting list of quilts to be done. “Our service is very popular so when a name is put on the list it takes approximately two years to get to that name, so it is a two-year waiting list.” Often, people put their name on the list when they start making a quilt top, in hopes they will be ready to work on it when their name comes to the top of the list. “Machine quilting is very popular now,

but some quilts just need to be done by hand,” Lester added. “Our most recent “new” quilters are women who bring in a family heirloom to be quilted. They sit for a while to watch the process and are “hooked.” Laurie Abdo is a good example. She visited the bee about two years ago with a Grandmother’s Flower Garden pattern quilt top that her mother had made many years ago. She was so enchanted by the serene atmosphere and the work being done there that she asked to become a quilter. “The experience of sewing with such a great group of ladies did “hook” me, and before we were finished with mom’s quilt, I knew that I wanted to continue with the group by contributing my time to work on quilts that others brought in,” she said. “It’s what I look forward to most Saturdays.” Lester learned quilting about 30 years ago but didn’t have time to pursue the pastime then because she was working fulltime and raising kids.

“And then the kids grew up and left home and there was a sign up at the museum one day saying ‘quilt show today.’ So, I went in and I’ve been back every Saturday for 11 years now,” she said. Now that she’s retired from the corporate world, she’s really into quilting. “For me, quilting is total relaxation. That, combined with quilting with the friends I have made at the museum, and what better way to spend the morning?” she said. “Each quilt is stretched out on the quilt frame, and when it is completed and you take it off the frame, it seems to come to life. All the stitches relax and become something beautiful.” Museum admission is required for one-time access to the quilt exhibit, running from March 9 to May 31. Admission is $6 adult; $5 senior, (ages 60 plus); $3 youth, (ages 5-12). Open 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. A Quilter’s Boutique and Gift Shop with handmade items is open year-round. Details: 480-926-1577 or hdsouth.org

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Gilbert Realtors venture into bar business BY PAUL MARYNIAK GSN Executive Editor

ou kind of expect seasoned real estate pros like Karen and Jesse Herfel of Gilbert to know the next big thing in locations. What you may not expect the Realtors to do is seize the moment and get into owning a bar. That’s what the Herfels will be doing late this year when their Brass Tap, a craft beer and entertainment venue opens. They’re opening it at Verde at Cooley Station in Gilbert, where at least a half dozen other restaurants and related establishments are slated to debut when it opens late this year. “This location will be the new go-to for Gilbert residents as well as surrounding communities,” predicted Karen. “There

Gilbert Realtors Karen and Jesse Herfel are adding “restaurateur” to their resumes after landing a franchise for a Brass Tap restaurant-bar in Gilbert’s new Verde at Cooley Station development. (Pablo Robles/GSN Staff Photographer)

is nothing like it around and that’s what drew us to The Verde. “The new location at the Verde has an outdoor central park gathering space called ‘the green’ that will allow for outdoor brew fests, concerts and other special events.” Verde at Cooley Station is a 23-acre commercial/residential project at Williams Field and Recker roads that could eventually see 2,000 new apartment units and 1,000 single-family homes as well as a variety of commercial enterprises. Born in Florida in 2008, The Brass Tap has 30 locations, mostly in the Southeast, although it is gradually expanding westward. It already has one location in Arizona and company officials think the state has the potential to host 20 more.

see

BRASS page 25

Gilbert esports center a modern arcade BY MELODY BIRKETT GSN Contributor

an Artt describes his Gilbert business as “the modern-day arcade.” Owner of Pure Esports, near Cooper and Baseline roads for a little more than two years, Artt says there is a big different between his arcade and those where skeeball and Pac-Man were the draws. “When you go to an arcade these days, the kids want to see high-power gaming PCs and the latest and greatest consoles,” he explained. “We offer gaming stations packed with the best technology for gamers and friends alike to come in and enjoy their favorite games together.” “These are online games so they’re putting up their skills against other skilled

players across the globe and with each other,” explained the Gilbert resident. “It’s not like an arcade machine where you’d have to be there with either your opponent or your buddy who’s playing. You can play with people all over the world, these days, on modern gaming PCs and consoles.” While average gamers may spend two or three hours at his arcade, Some customers at Pure Esports arrived at 10 a.m. and don’t some kids show up at leave till midnight, mesmerized by the adrenalin rush of compet10 a.m. and don’t leave ing with gamers around the world. (Special to GSN) until midnight. For five

hours of entertainment, the cost is $22. “I don’t know many places that’ll entertain you for $22 so I say it’s pretty reasonable,” said Artt. “Our space is kind of like an esports hub for gamers who want to learn. They want to learn from others. They want a chance to use real nice equipment. Maybe they don’t have that equipment at home. Some of this equipment costs thousands of dollars.” Besides, he noted, gaming at home can be lonely. “You’re gaming by yourself, in your room, your parents are wondering when you’re going to come up for air. Here at esports, it gives you a chance for more social activity.”

see ESPORTS page 26

BUSINESS

GILBERT SUN NEWS | MARCH 7, 2021

Farmer Boys opens 1st Arizona location in Gilbert California farm-fresh chain is the latest addition to Gilbert’s burgeoning restaurant scene. Farmer Boys, the Riverside fast casual concept, opened its first Arizona location in the new City Gate Marketplace located at 1535 W. Higley Road. The 40-year-old chain specializes

in “farm-fresh food,” serving breakfast, lunch and dinner with everything from pancakes and eggs to burgers and salads. Produce, locally sourced when available, is delivered fresh and whole to each restaurant every morning, meaning it doesn’t sit in a warehouse for weeks and can be enjoyed at its pinnacle of crispness and flavor.

“The fresher the food, the better it tastes,” said Omar Mawas, franchise owner of the Gilbert restaurant. “There’s a difference between fast food and farm fresh food found at Farmer Boys. “It is a privilege to introduce farm-totable food to Gilbert, Arizona and bring new jobs and support for local schools and organizations throughout the com-

munity.” The Gilbert location is open from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily. The restaurant will offer dine-in, drive-thru, phone, and take-out service. Farmer Boys offers a downloadable Very Important Farmer app with personalized offers, birthday treats and early alerts about new menu launches. Information: farmerboys.com.

Some locations feature almost 60 taps for craft beer, plus cocktails and a menu of elevated pub grub, such tempura-battered fish or chicken that uses local beer in the batter. As owners of the Keller Williams Integrity First Real Estate franchise and Jesse Herfel Real Estate Group in Gilbert, the Herfels are no strangers to running their own business. The couple, who have been married 14 years and have three children, say

running a restaurant business is really not that much different from running a real estate business in some crucial ways. “We have both spent our careers in the real estate market where you have to exceed in customer service, customer experience and customer appreciation,” said Jesse. “That more than prepares us for this new venture.” Realtors for 20 years, the Herfels’ addition of “restaurateur” to their

resumes came from a sense that Gilbert was underserved when it came to quality bars and breweries. And that’s why they say their venture is “not really a pivot but a way to add opportunity. We saw something that was lacking in our area and decided to bring it ourselves.” They’re excited about being able to bring 20-30 jobs to Gilbert and have plenty of outdoor and indoor space for customers.

“We found the perfect fit for an underserved community,” Karen said. “With 60 craft beers on tap, craft cocktails and an amazing wine selection, we have something for everyone.” The Herfels are now learning the trade, looking forward to pouring their first cold one for a customer. “We have submerged ourselves in the process,” Karen said, “and cannot wait to be the community’s go-to bar/restaurant.”

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ESPORTS from page 24

Artt’s business also is about event programming. “We’re known in Arizona for offering tournaments surrounding a lot of the hottest esports titles so this gives the gamer a chance to size up their skills against their peers and see how well they do,” he said “Why these games are so competitive is because there’s such a large skill gap between the average player and the professional player. It’s really incredible what can be done if you stick to a game and become an expert at it.” This was the first year Pure Esports hosted organized youth leagues with coaching, practice days and match days for video gamers. Pure Esports has over 50 gaming stations but since the pandemic, the business has been running at half capacity. “What we’re really looking forward to is getting back to our in-person programming,” Artt said. “We’ve put a pin in any in-person events. We don’t feel comfortable luring people to competition until everything is safe. During the pandemic,

Pure Esports owner Dan Artt of Gilbert and his wife Jessica have two children, Mackenzie, 10, and Riley, 5. (Special to GSN)

we’ve just been operating as a public gaming facility continuing our programming online.” Recently, he partnered with the Arizona State Fair and the Arizona Lottery to provide all-online tournaments to the Arizona community, allowing gamers to perform and compete from their own homes for great prizes. “The new game culture has really grown into something very competitive and something worthwhile watching just like any other sport,” Artt added. “Gamers watch other competitors or gamers on a platform called Twitch,” he said. “They either learn something or they’re entertained because maybe the specific streamer or the person playing this game on the internet is entertaining to watch.” A stream station is hooked up at Pure Esports with all of the cameras, lights and green screens, allowing the arcade to broadcast programming and provide a spot for gamers to stream to audiences. Pure Esports also provides a repair service.

“If you have something wrong with your console, instead of throwing it away and buying a new one for hundreds of dollars, we repair those things,” Artt said. After attending elementary school in Gilbert and then graduating from Arizona State University, Artt went straight into corporate sales and operations for 10 years. When he hit his 30’s, he decided, “I wanted to have a career or build something I enjoyed so it didn’t feel like work, something I’m passionate about.” He’s found it with serving gamers. “The thing with competitive video gaming is it’s truly an intellectual activity, an intellectual competitive sport. I can argue that because the amount of decisions these kids are making per second is absolutely amazing. It’s phenomenal. It’s uncanny. These guys are wizards. “The hand/eye coordination, the decision making, the strategy and tactic that’s all swirling in their mind within seconds is absolutely incredible to see and watch.” Information: pureesportsaz.com or 480-369-6730

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Should a billionaire run Arizona’s elections? BY SCOTT WALTER AND AIMEE YENTES GSN Guest WriterS

ow many Arizonans like the idea of one billionaire family manipulating the way Arizona county election offices operate? That’s an unpopular idea for people across the political spectrum, especially when the billionaire is Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg, whose controversial actions make him distrusted by Left and Right. Yet that’s what happened last November, in Arizona and dozens of other states. Zuckerberg and his wife gave $350 million to a supposedly “nonpartisan” nonprofit, the Center for Tech and

Civic Life, which in turn re-granted the money to thousands of local government election offices across America, including nine of Arizona’s 15 counties. Details aren’t easy to come by, because CTCL has refused to answer questions from the New York Times, the Associated Press, National Public Radio, and others. Despite CTCL declaring grants were meant to offset unforeseen expenses due to COVID-19, reports show that only a tiny fraction of the monies typically went to things like Personal Protective Equipment. CTCL cared much more about financing liberally placed drop boxes around each county and how many foreign lan-

These are difﬁcult times for everyone.

We find ourselves in uncharted waters while the demand for our services 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 service modifications to our group homes and program sights in order to keep fulfilling our mission. We need your help. The recent CARES (Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security) Act allows taxpayers to take a charitable deduction of $300, even if they do not itemize. And the more recently Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 extends and modifies the $300 charitable deduction for nonitemizers for 2021 and increases the maximum amount that may be deducted to $600 for married couples filing jointly. *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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guages ads would appear in. That’s because CTCL’s leaders are experts in every trick in the Left’s handbook of juicing turnout in the locales and demographics that help their preferred political party. CTCL’s founders all came from another group, now defunct: the New Organizing Institute. Unlike CTCL, which is a so-called 501(c)(3) charitable nonprofit that’s legally required to be nonpartisan, the New Organizing Institute was a 501(c)(4) nonprofit that allowed it more flexibility to meddle in politics. And meddle it did. The Washington Post bluntly called it, “the Democratic Party’s Hogwarts for digital wizardry,” because it spread that party’s state-ofthe-art voter turnout techniques. How similar are CTCL and the New Organizing Institute? So similar that the Capital Research Center posted a quiz with texts from both groups’ websites, to see if readers could tell one from the other. It’s a hard test, because the groups’ missions are essentially the same: turn out voters that will favor their preferred candidates. Did that happen in November? Yes. The Capital Research Center analyzed state after battleground state to see if there were partisan patterns in CTCL’s funding and the election returns. Again, CTCL’s failure to reveal its funding makes data incomplete, but most states, though apparently not Arizona, saw CTCL’s cash go disproportionately

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to big cities rich with Democratic votes, like Philadelphia. The near-universal effect of CTCL’s grantswas disproportionately greater turnout for one political party. Here’s how it broke down in Arizona, comparing the votes for president in 2020 versus 2016. All 15 counties increased their votes for both parties, but not at all equally. And both parties saw their votes increase even more in the nine counties CTCL funded than the six counties it did not. Here especially the results were unequal. For the Republicans, the funded counties’ votes increased by 46 percent more than the rate at which unfunded counties increased. For Democrats, funded counties’ votes skyrocketed upwards 81 percent more quickly than they rose in unfunded counties. That inequality in turnout translated into a lot of votes. Again, both parties had more 2020 votes in those nine CTCL-funded counties. But the additional votes Democrats received there gave them a margin over their opponents of 129,000 votes, or more than 10 times the Democrats’ state-wide margin of victory. The Arizona legislature is considering a bill that would ban private funding of county election offices, and we both testified on it. We understand why counties always like possible extra funds, but CTCL’s 2020 scheme raises the question whether Arizona’s elections will be fair if they’re controlled by billionaires instead of the people’s elected representatives. Scott Walter is president of the Capital Research Center and Aimee Yentes is vice president of the Arizona Free Enterprise Club and a Gilbert councilwoman.

GILBERT SUN NEWS | MARCH 7, 2021

Sports & Recreation 30

SPORTS

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Cody Williams making strides in Perry basketball BY ZACH ALVIRA GSN Sports Editor

ody Williams’ improvement both physically and mentally from his freshman to sophomore years has become one of the leading factors for the success Perry High School boys basketball team has had this season. At 6-foot-6, the Wing still handles the ball as well as any point guard and can shoot from virtually anywhere on the floor. His improvement, thanks to his offseason work in club basketball and private trainer Paul Suber, has allowed him to become one of the top recruits in the 2023 class. But more than that, he’s become one of Perry’s go-to players in late-game situations. “I love Cody,” Perry basketball coach Sam Duane Jr. said. “Cody earned his stripes last year as a freshman and now he is really starting to come into his own. His best basketball is ahead for him.” Trailing Mountain Pointe by six points late in the fourth quarter on Feb. 16, Williams took over. He willed his team back from the deficit and managed to help the Pumas secure a two-point advantage with just seconds remaining. A strong defensive play by Perry on the Pride’s ensuing possession led to a turnover. Williams’ ability to help lead his team back from a deficit and secure a win came while battling a back injury that occurred in the first quarter. As a result, he did not start the second half of the

and when someone was cutting the defense had to pay attention, which opened driving lanes. We were all a big part of that come back.” Williams’ love for basketball isn’t uncommon in his family. His older brother, Jalen, graduated from Perry in 2019 and went on to play for Santa Clara – which offered the younger Williams a scholarship as well. While different players, Duane Jr. sees some similarities between the two brothers. Mostly, it’s their ability to be coached and willingness to improve on a consistent basis. That was made apparent after sports were shut down last spring due to the coronavirus pandemic. Williams, 6-foot-2 at the time, Perry sophomore Cody Williams has turned into one of the Pumas’ go-to went to work. He trained players in late game situations and he has climbed the rankings as one of wherever he could with the top players in the 2023 class. (Zac BonDurant/Contributor) Suber before taking a break in the summer. When he returned, he game. He managed to fight through the was 6-foot-6. But with his growth came extra work. stiffness and pain to finish the game. “I had to improve my ballhandling,” “I knew I had to tough it out. I just want Williams said. “Even if you grow an inch, to win,” Williams said. “My teammates you kind of lose that touch. I had to keep spaced the floor. We got into our five-out

HAVE A GOOD SPORTS STORY? Contact Zach Alvira at zalvira@timespublications.com and follow him on Twitter @ZachAlvira.

up with that and I was able to extend my range. I’m a great shooter now. Those are the things I’ve improved on a lot.” Williams’ play this season has caught the eyes of Division I basketball schools. Along with Santa Clara, Murray State and UC-Santa Barbara have also extended scholarship offers to the sophomore. While obtaining scholarship offers is a milestone in itself, Williams remains focused on the season at hand. “I’m not really thinking about it right now,” he said. “I’m grateful and its motivating, but I’m just kind of playing basketball and focusing on winning a state championship right now.” At 10-1 heading into its matchup against Red Mountain on Tuesday, Feb. 23, Perry is in contention for the top overall seed in the upcoming 6A tournament. The Pumas were ranked second overall in the last rankings released by the Arizona Interscholastic Association but made a case for the No. 1 spot with a loss by previously unbeaten Sunnyslope and wins against Mountain Pointe, Queen Creek and top-five Basha the week prior. Perry is playing with a renewed sense of confidence as it is led by Williams, 7-foot junior Dylan Anderson and senior point guard Christian Tucker. Overall, the momentum they carry into each week continues to build. “Nobody is second guessing themselves anymore,” Williams said. “We go out and play great and then do it again the next night. Really, it’s boosted our confidence and our energy.”

GILBERT SUN NEWS | MARCH 7, 2021

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*Average tuition after scholarships is approximately $8,600. Scholarships may be awarded based on 6th semester transcripts. At the time in which final, official transcripts are received, GCU reserves the right to rescind or modify the scholarship if it is determined that eligibility was not achieved. GCU reserves the right to decline scholarship awards for any reason. If a student does not meet the minimum renewal criteria, their scholarship will be forfeited. GCU reserves the right to change scholarship awards at any time without notice. If a student does not meet the minimum renewal criteria, their scholarship will be forfeited. Prices based on 2019-20 rate and are subject to change. **GCU students graduate with less debt on average ($18,750 according to College Scorecard) than the average at public and private nonprofit universities ($28,650 according to 2017 data from the Institute for College Access and Success). Please note, not all GCU programs are available in all states and in all learning modalities. Program availability is contingent on student enrollment. Grand Canyon University is regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (800-621-7440; http://hlcommission.org/). Pre-licensure nursing students who begin or resume attendance in Fall 2020 and beyond will be ineligible to utilize most GCU institutional aid/scholarships for tuition and fees once accepted into the clinical portion of the program. Important policy information is available in the University Policy Handbook at https://www.gcu.edu/academics/ academic-policies.php. The information printed in this material is accurate as of FEBRUARY 2021. For the most upto-date information about admission requirements, tuition, scholarships and more, visit gcu.edu. ©2021 Grand Canyon University 21GTR0041

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East Valley’s Tatum Lynn is ready to let down her hair BY CHRISTINA FUOCO-KARASINSKI GetOut Editor

atum Lynn was writing songs as a student at Corona Del Sol, while her peers were planning to attend college. “I wanted to sing and keep writing songs,” she says. “I recorded the songs and put them on YouTube. Senior year is when everything clicked.” She figured correctly. Lynn is about to release her debut album, “Let Down Your Hair,” which features 14 songs, including the title track. It’s due out March 5. “I have a lot of stories to tell,” she says. “It’s not like other records, like Beyonce’s, who tells one story throughout. My goal for this record was to have a song for everyone. I’m really excited about that. It’s something I look for in other people’s albums. It’s not just all sad, not just all happy. It has a mix of everything.” Lynn contends she’s a lyrics person, admiring singer-songwriters like Julia Michaels and Selena Gomez.

“The messages I write are really important to me,” Lynn says. “‘Let Down Your Hair’ is important to me. They were words that I was prompted to share. They’re powerful to me. I’m excited to get that out for other people to hear. “Some of my messages, I feel, are a little bit deeper than usual music that’s played on the radio.” From the time she was 10, Lynn has yearned to be a pop star. At age 19, that commitment paid off as “Later Baby XO” broke into the Billboard Top 40. The youngest of five children, Lynn honed her vocal skills by singing at her LDS church with her two older sisters and their mom. As a third-grader, Lynn made her debut as a singerEast Valley singer Tatum Lynn is releasing her debut album Friday. (Special to GSN) songwriter at her oldest

sister’s wedding. “I always kept a journal, and would turn what I wrote into lyrics,” she says. “I wrote a song for my sister’s wedding, and it was the first time I felt confident enough in what I wrote to think it was worth sharing. I kept writing lyrics via my journal all throughout high school, and it really helped shape me as a lyricist.” Lynn posted videos on YouTube, although, she says, she didn’t have the confidence to share her voice then. Now she loves posting on YouTube and getting people’s feedback. At Corona Del Sol, she began singing the national anthem at the school’s basketball games. She moved on to a bigger stage when someone from the Arizona Cardinals heard her and asked her to perform at a game. “I was pretty young when I did that,” says Lynn, who also attended Chandler’s Kyrene Aprende Middle School. “It was pretty nerve wracking. I would still be

have survived decades mostly in private collections. “There’s a strong presence of baseball here in Mesa because of spring training and we felt it was the right thing to do, to bring it back to the museum and back to Mesa,” said Susan Ricci, museum executive director. Launched in 2009, the Play Ball exhibit has been displayed at various venues with parts of the Play Ball collection previously displayed at locations such as the Scottsdale Civic Center Library in 2017. Now, the museum, located at 2345 N Horne in Mesa, is the only current museum with the collection, some of

In Arizona, nearly 1.8 million baseball fans from around the country pour into 10 stadiums to watch their favorite teams practice one of America’s most renowned past-times. The games bring in nearly $644 million annually and support an estimated 6,400 jobs in the Valley, according to Gov. Doug Ducey in a 2019 press release. Arizona spring training started when two teams – the Cleveland Indians and New York Giants (now the San Francisco Giants since 1958) – began traveling to the desert to prepare for the general season and formed what is now called

see

TATUM page 34

Cactus baseball exhibit returns to Mesa BY KEVIN PIREHPOUR GetOut Staff

aseball is back in Arizona and so is one of Mesa’s most popular historical exhibits. After a long hiatus in Mesa, the “Play Ball: The Arizona Spring Training Experience,” is set to open Saturday, March 6, at 10 a.m. as a permanent exhibit at the Mesa Historical Museum. The exhibit takes museum-goers through decades of Spring Training history and the birth of the Cactus League – showcasing old uniforms, signed memorabilia, vintage video footage and other relics of the past that

which the Cactus League has sponsored. The exhibit is curated to “wow” people and teach the rich history of baseball in Mesa, said Anita Peters, board of directors chair at the Mesa Historical Museum. “I think that it’s really important that they know about [the history of spring training], and it’s a fun part of Mesa’s history,” Peters said. Once a storage room at the museum built within the historic Lehi Schoolhouse, which has a history dating back to the 1880s, the renovated space is set to be one of the museum’s largest exhibits showcasing hundreds of pieces from years past.

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TATUM from page 33

very nervous to do that today. It was so much fun, though. I remember one thing about it. I stood next to where the fire appears, near the inflatable tunnel. I could feel the heat. I thought I was going to be hit by the fire.”

The making of a debut

Lynn’s songs for “Let Down Your Hair” came from her journal, with the help of A-list talent. For the album, Lynn wrote with Lauren Christy (Avril Lavigne, Dua Lipa, Kelly Clarkson), who was part of the award-winning Matrix writing trio; writer/producer John Fields (Pink, Demi Lovato, Jonas Brothers) and Joey Barba,

MUSEUM from page 33 the Cactus League.

The opening of the exhibit is “just the beginning” of an evolving exhibit that will change on annually, Peters said. This year, the exhibit weaves in storyboards that depict the early days of Arizona spring training at Rendezvous

GILBERT SUN NEWS | MARCH 7, 2021

who is featured on the tongue-in-cheek track “Can’t Live Without You.” Working with Fields, Lynn says, was inspirational. She enjoyed hearing the tales of his career working with Gomez, Demi Lovato and Pink. “It was a blessing to work with him,” she adds. “I feel I learned a lot from him. He’s a perfectionist, which I see in myself as well. It was really nice to have him there, just helping me make the songs perfect.” The album is filled with gems. “Let Down Your Hair” is a pop masterpiece, while “Closer” has the snarl of Pink. “Now U See Me Now U Don’t” has a retro edge. Lynn doesn’t want to just help people

through her music. At Corona Del Sol, she founded Music as Therapy, a nonprofit dedicated to providing music therapy and instruments to kids in special education classrooms throughout Arizona. She has also devoted much time to suicide prevention after the teen suicide rate went up by 25% in Arizona. She started a school club focused on prevention, and teamed up with a group called Teen Lifeline, a suicide prevention hotline. The track “With Me” is about a rash of suicides at Corona Del Sol. “I started Music as Therapy when I was 15,” she says. “We provide musical instruments and therapists to other

nonprofits and schools that can’t afford to have music therapy and instruments. It’s been a blast. I’ve helped the kids I grew up with and became their best buddy.” She says between her nonprofit and her forthcoming album, she’s excited to continue her career. “I always say college will always be there,” she says. “I learned to trust my gut and to lean on family. I know the industry has its ups and downs. When I started, we didn’t know what we were doing. I just trusted my family and trusted our thoughts and what we wanted to do. It built a really good foundation for me. I just trust the process.”

Park – a recreational site that housed some of the state’s first spring training games in Mesa – and a documentary highlighting pivotal points of Arizona’s baseball tradition, Ricci said. As the collection grows, the exhibit will feature the storyboards depicting the role of Jim Crow-era segregation and

the Hohokam Nation had in bringing spring training to the Valley, Peters said. The exhibit will include Cactus League sponsored plaques of spring training Hall of Famers, which includes players and others who have played an integral part in the Arizona spring training experience.

Anyone interested in donating or loaning items related to spring training may contact the Mesa Historical Museum for future exhibits. The Mesa Historical Museum can be reached at: 480-835-2286. Information: mesahistoricalmuseum. com.

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Obituaries Joseph Miles Crackel

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Joseph Miles Crackel, 68 died unexpectedly February 8th, 2021 from heart failure. He was born March 23rd, 1952, in Kansas City, Kansas the son of Ernest Everett Crackel and Dora Veroqua (Ramsey) Crackel. Joe graduated from Mesa High School, class of 1970. A year after graduation he married his childhood sweetheart, Valorie Lynn Volcheck. They celebrated 49 years of marriage in August 2020. At the beginning of his career Joe was a carpenter that worked on various projects throughout the U.S. He then was involved in the building process of the Phoenician and Princess resorts in Scottsdale, as well as the Sperry Flight System Company. He later was an entrepreneur in the window industry and a licensed builder of residential custom homes throughout AZ. Joe believed in an honest work ethic, enjoyed quality time with family and friends with laughter, and liked the outdoor lifestyle of AZ. His hobbies were boating, water skiing, floating the Salt River, riding ATVs' and sand rails, hunting, fishing, bowling, playing soft ball, and riding bulls in his younger days. In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by his close friend, John Paul Wolfe. Surviving in addition to his wife, Valorie Lynn (Volcheck) Crackel, are his daughter, Jody Lynn Crackel Dean and her husband, Andrew, of Gilbert; son, Benjamin Miles Crackel, of Mesa; four grandchildren, Kayley Lyn Crackel, Cole Miles Crackel, Colin James Forbes Dean, and Ila Rose Forbes Dean; sister, Paulette Carol McCormick, of Phoenix; and best friend of 60 years, John Fred Taylor, of Casa Grande. A celebration of life ceremony will be done at a future date.

Need help writing an obituary? We have articles that will help guide you through the process. Deadline for obituaries is Wednesday at 5pm for Sunday. All obituaries will be approved by our staff prior to being activated. Be aware there may be early deadlines around holidays.

Call 480-898-6465 Mon-Fri 8:30-5 if you have questions. Visit: obituaries.EastValleyTribune.com

Obituaries Madison Paige Ryals

19, of Queen Creek, AZ, passed away on February 18, 2021 in Tempe, AZ. Miss Ryals was a full-time student at Grand Canyon University and was born in Mesa, AZ. Madison is survived by her fiancé, Yui Harrison; her parents, Andrew and Kerrie Ryals; her twin sister, Ashton Ryals; her brothers, Andrew and Joseph; and her grandparents, Barbara Allen, and William and Joanne Ryals. Services were held on March 6, 2021 at The Door Church of Chandler, 585 E. Frye Road, Chandler, AZ 85225.

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Employment Employment General Sr. IC Product Engineer, Medtronic, Inc., Tempe, AZ. Req. Bachelor’s in Electrical, Biomedical Engr. or related Engr. field & 5yrs. of product or design engr. exp. w/low-power digital, analog & memory integrated ICs;or Master’s in Electrical, Biomedical Engr. or related Engr. field & 2 yrs. of product or design engr. exp. w/low-power digital, analog & memory integrated ICs. Must possess 2 yrs. exp. w/each of the following: Semiconductor device physics; Technical writing for medical device, good documentation practices & FDA regulatory pathways & submissions; Utilizing data analysis software to incl. JMP, Minitab, Galaxy, Spotfire or PaceKeeper; Design of Experiment evaluation & change implementation related to Wafer fabrication process improvements; Transistor-level circuit design & programming for medical devices; Yield automation & scripting for C, C++ & JAVA; & IC testing, test requirements reviews, test methodology reviews, product improvements, & yield enhancement for mixed signal ICs. To apply, visit https://jobs.medtronic.com/, select Req 210005KY. No agencies or phone calls please. Medtronic is an equal opportunity employer committed to cultural diversity in the workplace. All individuals are encouraged to apply.

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Trusted Service for 18 Years

Marks the Spot for ALL Your Handyman Needs! Marks the Spot for ALL•Your Handyman Needs! ✔ Painting Painting Flooring • Electrical “No Job Too ✔Small Flooring East Valley/ Painting • Flooring • Electrical Plumbing • Drywall • Carpentry Man!” Ahwatukee Plumbing • Drywall • Carpentry ✔ Electrical Decks • Tile • More! Quality Work Since 1999 Tile • More! rdable, ✔ Plumbing Broken Springs Decks •Affo 2010, 2011 2012, 2013, 2014 Replaced Call Bruce at 602.670.7038 ✔ Drywall Ahwatukee Resident/ References/ Insured/ Not a Licensed Contractor “No Job Nights/Weekends ✔ Carpentry Bonded/Insured Too Small Marks the Spot for“No Job Too ALL Your Handyman Needs! ✔ Decks 480-251-8610 Painting • Flooring • Electrical Small Man!” “No Job Too Man!” Not a licensed contractor ✔ Tile Plumbing • Drywall • Carpentry GARAGE DOOR SERVICE

A+ Rated BBB • Complaint-Free Record

Air Conditioning/Heating Family Owned & Operated

AC/Heat Tune-Up Special 0% Easy Financing • Free Estimates New Units as low as $55/mo.

480-671-0833

www.3phasemech.com Sales, Service & Installation

NO TRIP CHARGE • NOT COMMISSION BASED ACCREDITED BUSINESS

ROC# 247803 Bonded • Insured

ROC# 197366

Three Phase Mechanical

GLASS, MIRRORS, SHOWER DOORS

Appliance Repairs

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 protectors. If it’s glass, we can help you. QUALITY SERVICE at Competitive Prices. FREE Estimates

Appliance Repair Now

QUALITY, VALUE and a GREAT PRICE!

• Same Day Service • On-Site Repairs • Servicing All Major Brands • Quality Guaranteed

‘A’ RATED AC REPAIR FREE ESTIMATE SAME DAY SERVICE

Call Bruce at 602.670.7038 Call Bruce at 602.670.7038

aircareaz.com

If It’s Broken, We Can Fix It!

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!

Small Man!” Decks • Tile • More! ✔ Kitchens ✔ Bathrooms 2010, 2011 2012, “No 2013, Job Too And More! 2010, 2011 Glass/Mirror Small Man!” 2014 Call Bruce at 602.670.7038 2012, 2013, 2014 Ahwatukee Resident/ References/ Insured/ NotResident a Licensed Contractor 1999 Since Ahwatukee / References Work ty Quali , Affordable 2010, 2011 2012, 2013, Ahwatukee Resident/ References/ Insured/ Not a Licensed Contractor Insured / Not aCall Licensed Contractor 2014 Bruce at 602.670.7038 rk Since 1999 Affordable, Quality Wo 1999 rk SinceBSMALLMAN@Q.COM Affordable, Quality Wo

480-977-6916

HEATING & AIR CONDITIONING

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

480-659-1400 Licensed & Insured See MORE Ads Online!

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

Garage/Doors

Sell Your Stuff! Call Classifieds Today!

480.898.6465

CLASS@TIMESPUBLICATIONS.COM

Ahwatukee Resident/ References/ Insured/ Not a Licensed Contractor

LLC

• Drywall Repair • Bathroom Remodeling • Home Renovations

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

GENERAL CONTRACTOR / HANDYMAN SERVICES SERVING THE ENTIRE VALLEY

All Estimates are Free • Call:

520.508.1420

www.husbands2go.com

Licensed, Bonded & Insured • ROC#317949 Ask me about FREE water testing!

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

Hauling

Concrete & Masonry Bonded/Insured • ROC #289252

480-405-7588

ItsJustPlumbSmart.com

www.GilbertSunNews.com

Air Conditioning/Heating

Block Fence * Gates

602-789-6929 Roc #057163 Lowest Prices * 30 Yrs Exp Serving Entire Valley

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

YOU’LL LIKE US - THE BEST!

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

• Yard Waste • Concrete Slab • Remodeling Debris • Old Tires

Home Improvement

DESERT ROCK

CO NC R E T E & MA S ON RY BLOCKWALL CONCRETE

• Old Paint & Chems.

ACTION CONTRACTING INC. 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

East Valley

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

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

aaaActionContractingInc.com

-S

E NC

GILBERT SUN NEWS | MARCH 7, 2021

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

Landscape/ Maintenance

Irrigation

Painting

Juan Hernandez

SPRINKLER Drip/Install/Repair & Tune ups! Not a licensed contractor

25 years exp. Call Now (480) 720-3840

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

NTY

5-YEAR WARRA

Juan Hernandez

480.654.5600

TREE

azirrigation.com

TRIMMING

Cutting Edge LLC • ROC 281671

25 Years exp (480) 720-3840

HIRING? People are looking at the Classifieds Every day!

Sprinkler & Drip Systems Repairs • Modifications • Installs

Email Your Job Post to: class@times publications.com 480-898-6465

Call Lance White

480.721.4146 www.irsaz.com

ROC# 256752

ALL Pro

T R E E

S E R V I C E

NOT A LICENSED CONTRACTOR

David Hernandez (602) 802 3600

480.345.1800

General Contacting, Inc. Licensed • Bonded • Insured • ROC118198

One Call, We Do It All! 602-339-4766 Owner Does All Work, All Honey-Do Lists 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.

ROC 304267 • Licensed & Bonded

Oooh, MORE ads online! Check Our Online Classifieds Too!

Free Estimates with Pride & Prompt Service!

LANDSCAPING, TREES & MAINTENANCE

We Are State Licensed and Reliable!

480-338-4011

East Valley PAINTERS Voted #1 Paint Interior & Exterior • Drywall Repair Light Carpentry • Power Washing • Textures Matched Popcorn Removal • Pool Deck Coatings Garage Floor Coatings • Color Consulting

10% OFF

We Beat Competitors Prices & Quality Free Estimates! Home of the 10-Year Warranty!

480-688-4770

Family Owned & Operated Bonded/Insured • ROC#153131

ROC#309706

Plumbing

HYDROJETTING

480-477-8842

SEWER CABLE COMPREHENSIVE, FULL-SERVICE PLUMBING COMPANY

BOOK ONLINE! STATE48DRAINS.COM 20+ YEARS OF EXPERIENCE FAMILY OWNED & OPERATED LICENSED, BONDED & INSURED ROC 3297740

PLUMBERS CHARGE TOO MUCH!

www.eastvalleypainters.com www.GilbertSunNews.com

Dunn Edwards Quality Paint Small Stucco/Drywall Repairs

Prepare for Spring Season!

Painting

daveshomerepair@yahoo.com • Se Habla Español

Interior/Exterior Painting 30 YEARS EXPERIENCE

L L C

480-354-5802

• 20 Years Experience • 6 Year Warranty

HOME IMPROVEMENT & PAINTING

Free Estimates • Senior Discounts

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

Home Remodeling

Add a Background Color to Your Ad! Classifieds 480-898-6465

Licensed • Bonded • Insured Technician

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

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

or Call

No Job Too Small! Senior Discounts!

Irrigation Repair Services Inc.

Insured/Bonded Free Estimates

Home Improvement

• BASE BOARDS • DRYWALL • ELECTRICAL • PAINTING • PLUMBING • BATHROOMS • WOOD FLOORING • FRAMING WALLS • FREE ESTIMATES • GRANITE FABRICATION & INSTALLATION • CARPET INSTALLATION • LANDSCAPING

Landscape/Maintenance

Now Accepting all major credit cards

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

Bonded/Insured • ROC #223709

480-405-7099 ItsJustPlumbSmart.com MISSED THE DEADLINE? Call us to place your ad online!

480-898-6465

GILBERT SUN NEWS | MARCH 7, 2021

Pool Service / Repair

Roofing

Professional service since 1995

PPebbleOcracking, O L Plaster R Epeeling, P ARebar IR

480-699-2754 • info@monsoonroofinginc.com

showing, Pool Light out? I CAN HELP!

10% Discount for Ahwatukee Residents 100% NO Leak Guarantee Re-Roof & Roofing Repairs Tile, Shingles & Flat Roof

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

480-720-3840

MonsoonRooﬁngInc.com

Not a licensed contractor.

Licensed – Bonded – Insured – ROC187561

Roofing

Window Cleaning

$120 - One Story $160 - Two Story

Includes in & out up to 30 Panes Sun Screens Cleaned $3 each Attention to detail and tidy in your home.

(480) 584-1643

Bonded & Insured

LLC

Call Juan at

Window Cleaning

COUNTS

Juan Hernandez

APPEARANCE

Pavers • Concrete • Water Features • Sprinkler Repair

Public Notices

Window Cleaning

ADD COLOR TO YOUR AD!

Ask Us. Call Classifieds Today!

480.898.6465 CLASS@TIMESPUBLICATIONS.COM

Keith Schram

keith@windowsrc.biz

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

Professional Window Cleaner

Hot water pressure washing, 3000 PSI

480-306-8543

480-706-1453

azvalleywindowcleaning.com

Licensed/Bonded/Insured • ROC #236099

Roofing

aOver 30 Years of Experience

aFamily Operated by 3 Generations of Roofers! Premier Tile, Shingle & Foam Roofer!

Spencer 4 HIRE ROOFING Valley Wide Service

480-446-7663 FREE Estimates • Credit Cards OK www.spencer4hireroofing.com ROC#244850 | Insured | Bonded

Public Notices TO: Stephens Triplett, DO 1034 S. 105th Place, Apt. 1091 Mesa, AZ 85209 The State Medical Board of Ohio 30 E. Broad Street, 3rd Floor Columbus, OH 43215-6127 In the Matter of: Stephens Triplett, DO 20-CRF-092 On January 14, 2021 the State Medical Board of Ohio mailed an Order of Revocation to Stephens Triplett, DO. The order was sent to Dr. Triplett via certified mail, return receipt requested, at his last known address of record, 1034 S. 105th Place, Apt. 1091, Mesa, AZ 85209. The Order was returned to the Board from the postal service marked “Return to Sender, Not Deliverable as Address, Unable to Forward”. Dr. Triplett may be entitled to an appeal. Such an appeal must be commenced by the filing of a Notice of Appeal with the State Medical Board and the Franklin County Court of Common Pleas. The Notice of Appeal must set forth the Order appealed from and state that the State Medical Board’s Order is not supported by reliable, probative, and substantive evidence and is not in accordance with law. The Notice of Appeal may, but is not required to, set forth the specific grounds of the appeal. Any such appeal must be filed within fifteen (15) days after the last date of publication in accordance with the requirements of Section 119.12, Ohio Revised Code. Please contact the undersigned to ascertain the last date of publication. Any questions or correspondence should be addressed to: Jackie Moore Case Control Office 30 E. Broad Street, 3rd Floor Columbus, OH 43215-6127 Jackie.moore@med.ohio.gov Published: East Valley Tribune, Mar. 7, 14, 21, 2021 / 36894

Advertisement of Sale NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the undersigned intends to sell the personal property described below to enforce a lien imposed on said property pursuant to the Arizona Self-Service Storage Act, Arizona Statutes 33-1704, Section H, Enforcement of Lien. The Undersigned will sell at public sale by competitive bidding on or after March 19, 2021 at 9:00am using an online auction at www.storagetreasures.com, said property has been stored and located at US 60 Self Storage, 1661 S. Alma School Rd., Suite 102, Mesa, AZ 85210. Property to be sold as follows: Misc. household goods, personal items, furniture, clothing, toys and/or business fixtures and items belonging to the following: Tenant Name Unit # Jennifer Eisenbise 203 Vanessa Jordan 309 Mike Bulatoich 342 Christina Carnes 408 Eric Cortez 610 Fernando Macias 628 Mark Czarniecki 743 Bril Powell 806 Tina Ferrari 835 Daniel White 2011 Sale subject to cancellation in the event of settlement between owner and obligated party. Items sold “as is”, CASH ONLY, and Buyer must pay a security deposit and broom sweep/clean the unit. Go to www.storagetreasures.com to bid on unit(s). Published: East Valley Tribune Mar. 7, 14, 2020 / 36622

TO: Brian James Stebbings 15801 S 48th St., Apt 1127 Phoenix, AZ 85048-0843 The State Medical Board of Ohio 30 E. Broad Street, 3 rd Floor Columbus, OH 43215-6127 In the Matter of: Brian James Stebbings Case No. 21-CRF-0018 On February 21, 2021, the Ohio Medical Board mailed a Notice of Opportunity for Hearing to Brian James Stebbings via certified mail, return receipt requested, at his last known address of record, 15801 S 48th St., Apt 1127, Phoenix, AZ 85048-0843. The Notice was returned to the Board from the postal service marked “return to sender, not deliverable as addressed, unable to forward.” The notice states that the Ohio Medical Board intends to consider denying his application to practice respiratory care in the state of Ohio. Mr. Stebbings is entitled to a hearing in this matter if such hearing is requested within thirty (30) days of the last date of publication of this notice. Mr. Stebbings may appear at such hearing in person, by his attorney, or by such other representative permitted to practice before this agency, or he may present his position, arguments or contentions in writing. At the hearing, Mr. Stebbings may present evidence and examine witnesses appearing for or against him. Please contact the undersigned to ascertain the last date of publication. Any questions or correspondence should be addressed to: Jackie Moore Case Control Office 30 E. Broad Street, 3 rd Floor Columbus, OH 43215-6127 Jackie.Moore@med.ohio.gov Published: East Valley Tribune, Mar. 7, 14, 21, 2021 / 36904

GILBERT SUN NEWS | MARCH 7, 2021

LUCKY YOU! SPRING SAVINGS!

Call to schedule your showroom tour and lunch to go! LivGenerations Ahwatukee

LivGenerations Agritopia

15815 S. 50th Street | Phoenix, AZ 85048

2811 E. Agritopia Loop S. | Gilbert, AZ 85296

480-485-3000

480-485-2000

livgenerationsahwatukee.com

livgenerationsagritopia.com

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