May 2018
Relentlessly local coverage of Gilbert and our neighboring communities
Tiny Dancer
Alexa Valenzuela performs at the Gilbert Global Village Festival.
Gilbert gets new tenant for St. Xavier building BY WAYNE SCHUTSKY
More than a year after St. Xavier University vacated the $34 million, taxpayerfunded building it occupied in Gilbert, the town has found a new higher-education partner to fill a portion of the facility. At its April 5 meeting, the Gilbert Town Council approved a three-year lease with Missouri-based Park University. The nonprofit institution opened in 1875 and operates 42 locations in 22 states, including two schools in Arizona at Luke and Davis-Monthan air force bases. The university will lease 10,411 square
feet of administrative and classroom space on the first floor of the four-story, 87,000-square-foot building. Park University will pay $799,128 in rent over the course of the lease and will also be required to pay a $26,027.50 security deposit when the lease is signed. The lease includes two- and three-year lease extension options. Those payments will not completely replace the money the town lost when St. SEE
ST. XAVIER PAGE 6
Recovering addicts find new outlook at Volken ranch BY WAYNE SCHUTSKY
In southern Gilbert, where Val Vista Drive meets Hunt Highway and gives way to open desert, there sits a working ranch that can house nearly 150 horses for riders and owners from around the East Valley. While horse properties are a dime a dozen in the area, this one stands out from the crowd for one reason: it doubles as a recovery center for men fighting addiction. The John Volken Academy Ranch is a therapeutic community that provides job and life skills training to recovering addicts on the program’s 50-plus-acre prop-
erty. The John Volken Academy also runs therapeutic communities in Vancouver and Seattle. At the ranch, residents pay a one-time $5,000 intake fee and the program provides a grant for further expenses. Much of those expenses are offset by the work the students perform as part of their recovery. The program is not for everyone. The ranch only accepts male students between the ages of 18 and 32. Volken said
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Learn to Avoid 6 Common and Costly Mistakes When Buying a Larger Gilbert Home Gilbert - A new report has just been released which identifies the 6 most common and costly mistakes that homebuyers make when moving to a larger home. Unlike the experience of buying a first home, when you’re looking to move-up, and already own a home, there are certain factors that can complicate the situation. It’s very important for you to understand these issues before you list your home for sale. Not only is there the issue of financing to consider, but you also have to sell your present home at exactly the right time in order to avoid either the financial burden of owning two homes or, just as bad, the dilemma of having no place to live during the gap between closings.
In answer to this issue, Industry Insiders have prepared a FREE special report entitled “6 Mistakes to Avoid When Trading Up to a Larger Home.” These six strategies will help you make informed choices before you put your home on the market in anticipation of moving to a larger home. To hear a brief recorded message about how to order your FREE copy of this report call toll-free 1-800-303-3049 and enter 8007. You can call any time, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Get your free special report NOW to find out what you need to know to make your move-up to a larger home worry-free and without complication.
This report is courtesy of Realty Network Group @ Realty Executives. Not intended to solicit buyers or sellers currently under contract. Copyright © 2018
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Police situation forces Arete lockdown BY LYNETTE CARRINGTON
Archway Arete and Arete Preparatory Academy went on a 35-minute lockdown April 4 after a nearby officer-involved shooting. Proper lockdown procedures were followed, and everyone at the school was accounted for and unharmed, said Julia Gillingham, Arete Preparatory Academy headmaster. The lockdown occurred after the Mesa Police Department received a report that a man, Kelvin Baldwin, allegedly violated an order of protection, said MPD’s Nik Rasheta. “The day prior, he had allegedly contacted his estranged wife with certain demands stating he would shoot everyone if those demands weren’t met,” Rasheta said. The police located Baldwin at Circle K at Greenfield and Baseline roads. Baldwin briefly ran, encountered officers, drew a weapon and fired at least twice, he said. “One of our officers returned fire, striking him,” Rasheta said. Baldwin died from his injuries less than a day later. Gillingham said generally police advise the school if there is a nearby incident.
This time, it was the parents. “We went on lockdown because a parent heard ‘shots fired’,” Gillingham said. Parents were called via a robocall system, and then Arete followed up directly with the Mesa Police Department. Classrooms were locked within 30 seconds and the blinds were pulled. “By the time the announcement about
(Photo courtesy Arete Preparatory Academy)
Archway Arete and Archway Preparatory Academy locked down April 4 because of a nearby officer-involved shooting.
the lockdown was done, it was a ghost town,” Gillingham said. The school routinely conducts lockdown drills, and teachers have checklists in (Photo courtesy Arete Preparatory Academy)
Arete Preparatory Academy headmaster Julia Gillingham said the school was on lockdown within 30 seconds of hearing shots fired.
their classrooms. “I was really impressed with the faculty, staff and students in this situation,” Gillingham added. “Our system has an emergency capability versus just a call capability. Under the emergency capability, we’re able to text, call and email parents all at once.”
(Photos special to GSN)
ST. XAVIER
FROM PAGE 1
Xavier officially vacated the site in January 2017. Gilbert was relying on the university’s rent payments to pay back the roughly $36 million in debt it owed on the design and construction of the building. According to the original development agreement with St. Xavier, the university’s “lease payments shall be sufficient to cover the cost of the debt service.” The situation changed only nine months after the campus opened when St. Xavier announced in May 2016 it was closing the campus by the beginning of 2017 due to concerns about funding at its main campus in Illinois. St. Xavier signed a 15-year lease with the town.
The situation has been a black eye for the otherwise successful redevelopment of the downtown Heritage District the town has championed since at least 2014. The original development agreement leveled a potential $250,000 penalty against St. Xavier if Gilbert terminated the contract for breach of agreement within the first five years. However, the two sides came to an agreement in which the university would pay Gilbert $4 million, the equivalent of 18 months of rent. Those payments will cover the town’s debt service on the building through January 2019. The agreement also called for St. Xavier to pay $250,000 in liquidated damages and
more than $150,000 for future building maintenance and related expenses. Gilbert anticipated those payments would cover maintenance and operating costs through fiscal year 2017, and the town wrote the costs into the budget in fiscal year 2018, according to a council memo on the agreement. Gilbert spent $121,362 in operating expenses on the building in fiscal year 2017 and budgeted $266,413 for operating expenses in fiscal year 2018. According to the new lease agreement, Park University will enroll at least 300 stu-
dents over the course of the initial lease. The lease agreement between Gilbert and St. Xavier required the school to enroll 200 students within the first two years, though the school had only 25 students enrolled in Gilbert in June 2016 when it announced it would close. Park University will offer business, communications, criminal justice, wellness and education. It also plans to create a varsitylevel athletic program in its second year of operation using existing community athletic facilities.
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Global Village Festival Photos by Kimberly Carrillo The annual Gilbert Global Village Festival showcases culture, entertainment, education and more in a multicultural celebration. The annual event expands each year, highlighting traditional forms of dance, food, music, crafts and performances from around the world.
1. Zoe Lee paints at “Be an Artist.� 2. Asa Sherwood learns how to rope at the Gilbert Rodeo area.
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3. Arizona Martial Arts performs the lion dance. 4. Nolan Pearson plays a West African instrument. 5. Desert Sounds Youth wraps up a performance. 6. Jaide Lieberen, 6, shows off the painting she created by rolling a
marble in paint on a piece of paper. 7. The Parade of Nations begins. 8. The Rosewood Rascals perform on the Earth Stage. 9. Karla Montanez and Karina Montanez show off their dance dresses.
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New deputy town manager oversees innovation BY SRIANTHI PERERA
Laurie Buczek has been driving innovation in the workplace for many years. One of her earlier jobs was helping a company understand how to embrace the web in the early 1990s. Now, the former 17-year Intel employee is playing a similar role in Gilbert. Earlier this year, Buczek was hired as a deputy town manager to drive Gilbert’s innovation. She oversees human resources, information technology, digital government and the budget office, the “horizontal” departments that run across all town operations. Among her first tasks: defining what innovation means for Gilbert, setting a strategy and formulating a road map. The word innovation commonly recalls the word “technology.” “It’s not about the technology,” Buczek said. “It’s a lot of the other things and the technology is the means to the end.” It means thinking differently . (Photo courtesy the town of Gilbert) Deputy Town Manager Laurie Buczek said she believes to create value and deliver a innovation should become a fabric of how business is better service to the town’s resiconducted. dents, she said. As part of defining what innovation means in the town, Buczek “The neat thing about innovation is has created a diagram with four tenets that it’s not a program,” Buczek noted. that she deems necessary to drive it. “It should become a fabric of how we do They are: embracing new ideas; difbusiness. What you are going to see us do ferent models; and smart technology to is, yes, we’ve defined innovation, but after add value for the citizens now and in the that you’re not going to hear us talking future. Overlapping those is what she calls about it as a program.” “a sweet spot;” which is the culture to Buczek said the unifying factor is how drive innovation. to drive the culture for innovation. “The These are some of the pertinent questerm ‘innovation’ will not be this headtions on her mind: Do town employees liner or should fade away to talk about know what that means? Are they empowthe things that we’re doing to create that ered to think in different ways to innovate sweet spot,” she said. “If we shift that and deliver the kind of services residents mindset, the way that we behave then, want? Are we creating diversity and incluyou’re doing innovation without even sion into that process? Who are our resiknowing you are doing innovation.” dents, what are their touch points with us, In certain business startups, for exwhat do they need from us, what’s working ample, the innovation was good, but the and what are the opportunities? culture wasn’t in place, the deputy manInnovation doesn’t need to just happen ager said, and “the culture ate the innovawithin the four walls of the town office, tion for lunch.” the deputy manager said. “So are we creatThe continuous change in the world, ing space for that co-creation and pulling technological or otherwise, sooner or folks in from the outside?” she asked. later reaches local government. Examples Being connected and smart technology are Gilbert’s inevitable shift in the future are the next items that will make innovatoward more autonomous vehicles than tion whole. “What are we doing to be driver-based vehicles and the increasing citizen-centric and deliver connected and need to adapt to the expectations and the seamless services for citizens? What are we changing needs of the different generadoing to connect and collaborate with outside community and what are we doing to drive technology via smart city,” she said. SEE
TOWN MANAGER PAGE 17
May 2018
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said. “They constantly learn to interFROM PAGE 1 act with others.” “For me it is easy to say the right his residents typically come from “good things and act the right way, but befamilies,” so they “know there is a better cause the time is so long and there life out there.” is so much that goes into it – it’s not Students live and work on site and just therapy and it’s not just work… perform all jobs necessary to keep the you can’t act or (fake) your way operation running. They start out muckthrough that,” said Logan, a student ing stalls and then move onto other jobs, who works in the ranch’s call center. including putting injured horses through He added, “Eventually your true water therapy and running the feed self comes out. Good or bad, you store. There are also off-site jobs such as have to work on some things.” landscaping and maintaining a venue for Confronting those bad behaviors weddings and other events. is no easy task. “The reason we are able to stay here “It’s hard. It’s not easy, but that is is because we are bringing in money. We what makes this program different,” said are running a business,” said Traydon, a Zack, another student who works in the student at the ranch who asked not to call center. use his last name. The program lasts two years, though The work aspect of the program is an it can last longer if a student’s recovery important part of each student’s recovery, requires more time. because it gives them the skills they will “It’s a change-your-life program; it need to hold down a job in the real world. goes on however long it takes,” Volken “They learn social skills, leadership said. skills and work ethic; they build characThe program’s length is a key compoter,” founder John Volken said. nent to student success, because it gives He added that work is only one aspect them time to relearn healthy behaviors of the program, which also includes in a safe environment, Volken said. teaching students social skills and putting “I know they’re not choir boys when them through encounter groups where they come on board, and it takes time to students hold each other accountable for turn the ship around,” he added. correcting bad behaviors. The students agree. “All these little things add up,” Volken “One of the most important parts is the amount of time that we get to recover in a safe place and recover physically, mentally and emotionally from whatever addiction we are recovering from,” Redfern said. “A safe place to be for two years is huge,” he said. Despite the work and treatment schedule, there is time for recreation, too. Student Taylor Redfern, who has been in the program for just over two years, said he enjoys playing volleyball and going to the park. Students also make occasional visits to the movies or special events like Cavalia, the Cirque du Soleil-style horse show, thanks to donations from community members. Members of the treatment program work together on agriculture and “There are a lot of volunteers in gardening. the community that donate time and money for us to do different activities,” Redfern said.
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VOLKEN
(Photos by Melissa Fossum)
Top: Academy members use the therapy pool to help rehabilitate horses. Above: A horse keeping cool in the therapy pool area. Left: Dr. Brad Barrett, Director of Education, shares information about the school room.
Exterior view of the John Volken Academy Ranch.
Fresh eggs are sold in the ranch store.
Some academy members learn valuable skills by working in the ranch store.
McKay Tucker (L) offers guidance to Bryan Knudsen in the wood shop.
May 2018
www.GilbertSunNews.com Maricopa County Supervisor Denny Barney is poised to take the baton from John Lewis and head the East Valley Partnership on a part-time basis from June. Former Gilbert Mayor Lewis, who has headed the partnership since 2016, is planning to resign in May to take up a mission leader position for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Cambodia.
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Petersen assails on higher registration fees, traffic fines
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Arizona motorists could face a double whammy in the form of higher registration fees and a surcharge on fines for moving violations – and that does not sit well with Gilbert Sen. Warren Petersen. He railed against both measures as the Senate cleared the way for the governor to sign higher motor vehicle registration fees to be set by the Arizona Department of Transportation director and sent to the House a bill setting a traffic fines surcharge. On a 17-13 vote, the Senate gave final approval to allow the ADOT director to levy a fee on each vehicle. But HB 2261, already approved by the House, does not spell out how much that fee would be. Instead, it tells the agency chief to raise enough to fund the Highway Patrol and a little bit more for good margin. Legislative budget analysts say the amount ADOT needs to raise is $148.9 million. And that translates to $18.06 for every vehicle, beyond the registration fee. The measure, which now goes to the governor, also will mean a sharp hike in the fee imposed on those who purchase alternate fuel vehicles. Beginning in 2020, the levy will be based on the vehicle’s price, as it is now for fossil fuel vehicles. The legislation culminates a multi-year effort to find funds to build and repair roads. That’s supposed to be financed through the gasoline tax. But that 18-centa-gallon levy hasn’t been raised since 1991, when gasoline was around $1.20 per gallon. And while there are more vehicles on the road, they also are more fuel efficient, with the number of miles driven – and wear and tear on roads – increasing faster than new revenues. What’s made matters worse is that current and former governors and lawmakers, looking to balance the budget, have siphoned off some of those gas tax revenues to pay for the Highway Patrol. Sen. Bob Worsley, R-Mesa, said that has left fewer dollars for both urban and rural transportation needs. Given the unwillingness of lawmakers to hike the gas tax, Worsley said funding the Highway Patrol from a fee on all vehicles seems to be the most politically palatable. The method of raising the money drew catcalls from several lawmakers. The Arizona Constitution spells out that any increase in taxes and fees can be approved by only a two-thirds vote of both the House and Senate. And that margin is not there. So, the measure crafted by Worsley along with Rep. Noel Campbell, RPrescott, leaves the actual amount to be raised to the ADOT director. And a recent
Arizona Supreme Court ruling concluded that such agency-raised fees are not subject to that two-thirds vote. Petersen suggested to his colleagues that there’s something sneaky about that. “Don’t kid yourselves,’’ he said. “This is a tax increase… But, unfortunately, this is a nice little loophole to get around it, a loophole that should be closed.’’ Petersen called it “the worst kind of tax increase’’ because the levy will be determined by a governor-appointed official. “We’re going to tell an unelected bureaucrat to go ahead and raise these fees to whatever he wants to,’’ Petersen said. Petersen added there is no guarantee that once the new vehicle fee funds the Highway Patrol that the money saved will be used for transportation needs. “How is this happening?’’ he asked. Worsley presumes Gov. Doug Ducey will sign the measure, as the governor made a similar proposal several years earlier, albeit with a fee in the $7 to $8 range. Meanwhile, the Senate also agreed to tack a $4 penalty on all traffic fines to pay for new training equipment for police. But those who seek to avoid fines by going to defensive driving school won’t get off the hook. HB 2527 tacks that same surcharge onto payment for those classes. Mike Williams, who lobbies for the Arizona Police Association, said officers need access to the latest equipment to simulate situations they might find themselves in on the street. And that, he said, means more than just training to be sure that officers do not kill the wrong person. All that promotion still left some lawmakers cold to the idea of yet another fee. Petersen said he believes the state has plenty of revenues coming in now to meet its needs, including police training. Williams said the experience with the seven $300,000 interactive systems already set up across the state shows it works. The new simulation software isn’t the only thing on the law enforcement shopping list if they get more money. Williams said police departments and academies also want a “virtual shooting range,’’ where officers practice their skills without live fire. One issue, he said, is financial: A single bullet costs anywhere from 30 cents to $2. By contrast, the cost of operating one of these virtual ranges is in the neighborhood of a quarter cent per “trigger pull.’’ The $80,000 price tag for that, Williams said, pays for itself in five to six months. The Senate vote sends the measure to the House, which has never considered the issue.
May 2018
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CONGRATULATIONS The following sales associates of the Russ Lyon Sotheby’s International Realty Southeast Valley office are being recognized as a 2018 top producer for their contribution to a successful 2017
CONGRATULATIONS
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Community
May 2018
Lawmaker suggests more districts due to population growth
www.GilbertSunNews.com
BY HOWARD FISCHER CAPITOL MEDIA SERVICES
Arizona voters could soon decide if more is better – at least when it comes to state lawmakers. The House of Representatives is set to consider SCR 1010 which would have one legislative district for every 220,000 residents. Based on estimates from the state Office of Economic Opportunity, that would mean at least 33 senators and 66 representatives – there are two for each district – after the 2020 census. The Arizona Constitution has a hard and fast cap of 30 and 60, respectively. It is that cap that concerns Sen. Warren Petersen, R-Gilbert. The current 30 districts were created by voters in 1972. At that time the state’s population had just surpassed 2 million. What that meant is that lawmakers from each district had about 67,000 constituents. By the 2000 Census, the last time the lines were redrawn, that had grown to about 220,000. And that, Petersen contends, is just too much. “There is a principle of representing the people, being accessible, being close to the people,” he told colleagues when the measure was unveiled recently in the House Appropriations Committee. “As my district has exploded, I have felt that it can be harder to reach more people.” The sheer numbers are just part of the problem.
Rep. Regina Cobb, R-Kingman, pointed out her District 5 runs from Colorado City on the state’s Utah border down through her hometown, Lake Havasu City, Parker and Quartzite. She said it takes her eight hours to get from one end to the other. “And that’s the way I drive,” she quipped. But that’s nothing compared to District 7. It winds from Seligman and Peach Springs through part of Flagstaff, up to the state’s northeast corner, then down through Winslow and Springerville into the Fort Apache and San Carlos reservations. What Petersen proposes is to use that 220,000 figure, divide it into what the Census Bureau finds is the state’s population every 10 years, and come up with the number of districts. Petersen told colleagues he figured that would add one or two districts after the 2020 count. The Office of Economic Opportunity, however, figures Arizona will reach 7.35 million by the end of the decade. That math comes out to 33.4 districts, rounded down to 33. Using the same agency projections, Arizona would have 39 districts by 2030 and 44 by 2040, translating out 44 senators and 88 representatives. Rep. Ken Clark, D-Phoenix, said Petersen is on the right track. “It’s impossible to be able to have any amount of time to spend with anybody,” he said.
Gilbert resident honored by Goodwill
said Courtney Nelson, vice president of marketing and communications. “His combination of expert knowledge and genuine passion for the organization is what makes him a great leader.” The Goodwill Industries International Volunteer Board Leader of the Year Award honors outstanding leadership from volunteer board members who work to support and further the mission of Goodwill organizations. For more information about Goodwill services, visit goodwillaz.org.
BY GILBERT SUN NEWS STAFF
Dr. Ed Oxford, the chairman of the board at Goodwill of Central and Northern Arizona (GCNA), has been selected by Goodwill Industries International to receive its 2018 Volunteer Board Leader of the Year Award. Oxford, a Gilbert resident, has made workplace culture a focus of his work through organizationwide meetings between leadership, board members and local staff. Most recently, Oxford worked with Goodwill leadership to develop a long-term plan for the company through 2030 aimed at diversifying and growing revenue, encouraging innovation, and collaborating with other organizations. “Ed provided insight to GCNA that improved our culture and challenges us to be the best employer that we can be,”
But Clark thinks Petersen is being far too timid. “It’s not aggressive enough,” he said, suggesting an immediate increase to 60 districts – meaning 60 senators and 120 representatives. Clark conceded that he has an ulterior motive for the idea. “My goal here is to get enough members so we can tear down these old buildings,” he said. While the twin House Sen. Warren Petersen, R-Gilbert and Senate buildings are not old – they were constructed in Rep. Jill Norgaard, R-Phoenix, chided Pethe 1960s – they have been remodeled tersen for being in the position of increasinternally several times in efforts to make ing the size of government. Aside from their boxy designs more functional. additional lawmakers, each paid $24,000 a Clark also warned fellow legislators year plus benefits and per diem allowance, there are political implications to the that also means more people to act as expansion plan. staffers for them. He pointed out that the largest area Petersen, however, saw no conflict with of population growth has been Maricopa his general philosophy of smaller governCounty. ment. That is expected to continue. “I believe we should have more elected In 2010, for example, Maricopa County officials,” he said. “What I don’t believe in, was 59.7 percent of the state; by 2040 that what I’ve fought against, are expanding the will increase to more than 62 percent. growth of the bureaucracy and governWhat all that means, Clark said, is that ment.” those new additional districts – and the If the plan is approved by the full representation that comes with them – House it still needs review by the Senwill likely end up in Maricopa County, ate. And if it survives there, the measure further diluting rural political power. ultimately would go on the ballot, though Petersen, however, said the change still at this point it is not clear whether that could help rural lawmakers by shrinking would be this November or in 2020. their districts, at least geographically.
BRIEFS
Gilbert ranked the fourth safest city in Arizona SafeWise, an analytics company that focuses on safety and home security news, has released its annual list of the “20 Safest Cities in Arizona.” Gilbert ranked fourth, behind Buckeye, Oro Valley and
Florence, respectively. Rankings were based on the most recent FBI crime report. Gilbert, with more than 255,00 residents, had the third-lowest property crime rate among the top 20 safest cities in the state. Gilbert Police Chief Michael Soelberg attributed his city’s safety ranking to effective police operations that are “highly dependent on community involvement and communication,” as well as volunteer programs like Gilbert’s Police Cadet Program, Neighborhood Watch and the Citizen Police Academy. For more information and the complete list, visit safewise.com/blog/safest-citiesarizona.
Clinic offers free skin cancer screenings on May 7 The Center for Dermatology & Plastic
Surgery will offer free skin cancer screenings as part of Melanoma Monday on May 7, in cooperation with the American Academy of Dermatology. “Melanoma is the most common cancer for young adults ages 25 to 29 years old and the second most common form of cancer for adolescents and young adults 15 to 29,” according to the experts at The Center for Dermatology & Plastic Surgery. “When caught early, skin cancer – including melanoma – is highly treatable. Early detection through simple skin screening is essential for survival.” The free skin cancer screenings take place from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday, May 7, at The Center for Dermatology and Plastic Surgery, 3530 S. Val Vista Drive, Suite B109 and 110, Gilbert. No appointment is necessary. For more information, visit azskindoc. com.
www.GilbertSunNews.com
May 2018
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Community
May 2018
www.GilbertSunNews.com
Mixed reaction to Heritage District growth plans BY MCKAYLA HULL
A plan to redevelop Gilbert’s Heritage District is in the works, with the goals of relieving traffic congestion and adding retail and entertainment amenities. Don Arambula, project manager and lead planner/urban designer from Crandall Arambula, presented the plan to the community recently. It proposes a north anchor with potential office space, a hotel, conference area and multifamily housing. It would also include a portion called “Commons,” which will be the focus of nightlife with entertainment and dining venues. The district core may include office space as well. Inside the core would be the “Living Room Plaza,” for community events. A roadway to alleviate traffic, named “Vaughn Ventilator,” is also in the plan. The roadway would not cross the railroad tracks, but run alongside it and Neely Traditional Academy, up to Guadalupe Road, Arambula said. It also includes a park. The south anchor proposes a chain grocery store on the corner of Gilbert and Elliot roads, a parking structure and retail spaces with office above. Town officials are excited about the potential of the redevelopment plan, but others see pros and cons. Members of the business community
say they worry the plan will lead to too many new restaurants coming into the downtown core. They would like more diversity of businesses that would help bring people to the area during the day. Bergies Coffee Roast House owner Brian Bergeson said he doesn’t “want (the Heritage District) to just become a food court.” Terry Spanos, owner of Petersen’s Ice Cream and Cafe, said he would like to see the city encourage more family businesses in the district. “That’s kind of the feel of downtown Gilbert,” he said. Spanos wants more boutique-like stores, similar to the ones along the main streets of downtown Sedona and Flagstaff. He also suggests a bike rental store. Daytime traffic is something many business owners in the Heritage District said they’d like to encourage. Spanos said having more retail options would help bring people there during the day. Kayla Kolar, president and CEO of HD South, formerly the Gilbert Historical Museum, said she likes the idea of pedestrianfriendly walkways and retail. “I know there’s controversy about tall buildings and the sightline as it relates to the water tower, so keeping that visible from a distance (is important), because that’s our signature icon for the town and for the district,” Kolar said.
“Affordable office space to rent is key for down there,” she added. Kolar also would like to see more businesses south of the railroad tracks, as well as more arts and cultural activity east of the museum. Heritage District resi(Photo by Kimberly Carrillo) dent Sandra Business owners in the Heritage District would like to have more retail there in the future Reynolds said to encourage daytime traffic. she worries additional office Aimee Elliott Ghimire is a member of buildings will cause traffic congestion: “My the women-focused co-working space, biggest concern is (the town is) not being forthcoming with the citizens even though Thrive, which opened recently in the Heritage District. She likes the concepts of they say they’re open and transparent.” creating the Living Room Plaza and walking Reynolds sensed a disconnect between paths. She also would like to see karaoke the town and its residents. Residents are places, jazz bars, and other entertainmentbeing told by the town that access roads related places. Ghimire said adding those are off the table, she said. However, she would provide more of an experience to said the roads will have to be access roads downtown rather than just food. so traffic can get in and out of the district.
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FROM PAGE 9
tions in the workforce. Buczek’s former work experience has helped her transition seamlessly into this new position in the town. As the global director of customer experience and organization, which was her last role at Intel, she was responsible for understanding what customers wanted, making sure there was optimization of delivery of services and things that the customers needed across all channels. Previously, her roles have run the gamut from social media marketing to information technology and sales. She has also helped start external/internal social media and facilitated social collaboration. As Buczek puts herself in her customer’s shoes and works on improving the customer experience, it may help that she herself is a 14-year Gilbert resident. She lives with husband Michael, who owns a small business, and is the mother of Christopher, 11, and Nicholas, 13, who attend EduPrize. In Gilbert, unlike in her last role as a director of customer experience, Buczek can see firsthand the changes being made. If firefighters or public works employees do something differently, she’s connected to the outcomes. “I’m helping them to think differently and drive improvement so we can deliver even better outcomes for our citizens,” she said. “That’s what I love to do.”
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May 2018
Neighbors
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Nitro Live keeps Gilbert cool and educated BY MELODY BIRKETT
A Gilbert ice cream shop has the scoop on creating the treat within 90 seconds, thanks to a process involving liquid nitrogen. “The longest period is deciding which flavor and mix-ins you want,” said Felicia Vandermolen, CEO and founder of Nitro Live Icecreamery, near Warner and Cooper roads. “The freezing only takes about 30 to 35 seconds, but the ordering from start to finish takes a minute and a half.” Everything is made to order. At -321 degrees, liquid nitrogen freezes the ice cream as customers wait. “It’s not pre-made,” Vandermolen explained. “We have one of the smallest carbon footprints for an ice cream shop.” Making liquid nitrogen ice cream begins with one of seven cream bases – original, nonfat gelato, sugar free, lactose free, custard, vegan (made from coconut milk) and yogurt. Guests can mix and match any of the 30 flavors and the 30 mix-ins, and create their own concoctions. Vandermolen added they could pick from Nitro Live’s creations as well. Nitro Live’s menu also includes milkshakes, floats, ice cream smoothies, all-natural frazzles slushies, sundaes and a waffle bowl. Those with food allergies can visit the shop’s website to see the products’ ingredients. Vandermolen said she’s confident her stores can accommodate about 98 percent of dietary restrictions. “There’s a little spoon next to each one,” Vandermolen said about the online menu. “If you click on that spoon, it’ll tell you every ingredient for that flavor, mix-in or base.” Vandermolen reaches into the community as well. She’s passionate about nonprofits, and sits on the Dignity Health Foundation East Valley Board of Directors. Furthermore, Nitro Live gives $1 from sales of six flavors to designated charities: Against All Odds, chocolate with rainbow sprinkles and whipped cream topping;
(Special to GSN)
Dignity Health Foundation East Valley, cookie batter, with cookie dough mixed in and a graham cracker topping; HD South, prickly pear with mixed berries; Kurt Warner First Things First Foundation, sea salt caramel flavor with Heath bar mixed in and caramel sauce; Midwest Food Bank, cupcake flavor with brownie bites mixed in and caramel topping; and Treasure House, peanut butter with Oreos. The charity flavors will also be on the menus at the stores opening this year in Mesa (Gilbert and Baseline roads), southeast Gilbert (Higley and Chandler Heights roads) and San Tan Valley (Ironwood and Ocotillo roads). Vandermolen is also working with students in Gilbert. “We have a STEM curriculum,” she
explained. “Science teachers from Gilbert Public Schools came together to help us create the curriculum. We created different experiments that showcase state standards.” Encouraged by the schools, students visit the ice cream shop, perform three science experiments and then get free ice cream. On the business side, Nitro Live caters. “You don’t think of having ice cream on a golf course when it’s 122 degrees,” Vandermolen said. “We can cater weddings, birthday parties, bar mitzvahs. We do festivals around here. We do fundraisers for schools. We’ve been at football games and sold ice cream where we donate proceeds back to the school. We’ve done a lot for the town of
Felicia Vandermolen prepares ice cream at her business, Nitro Live. Everything is made to order. At -321 degrees, liquid nitrogen freezes the ice cream as customers wait.
Gilbert. We donate ice cream to every student of the month they honor at their Town Council meeting. So, that’s about 50 students a month. Each gets a free ice cream when they visit.” Vandermolen partners with Gilbert police and fire personnel, who give ice cream coupons to community members who perform good deeds. Nitro Live Icecreamery 884 W. Warner Road, Suite B9, Gilbert 480-214-3457, nitrolive.com
SnS Pharmacy delivers medications to reduce readmission BY MATT MCCLURE
SnS Pharmacy’s partner pharmacist Ashwin Waghray keeps an eye on trends within his industry and tries to take it a step further. The East Valley business is offering a prescription delivery program known as “meds to beds.” “We are slightly different from the usual setup of pharmacies because of the size – we are a smaller setup like an independent community pharmacy,” Waghray said. “What we do is something called hospital readmission prevention program. A lot of people, instead of getting
their medication, go back to the hospital. We prevent that readmission. We make sure the medication is delivered to their homes.” The method is easier on clients who are unable to leave their homes to retain their medication. Waghray said East Valley hospital readmission rates are exceptionally high at 17 percent. In other cities, like Baylor, Texas, readmission rates are as low as 3 percent. Waghray has experience with larger pharmacies, and what he saw inspired him to take action. “The insurance, the pharmacies, ev-
erybody gets penalized when they take a certain step, preventing the patient from coming back to the hospital,” Waghray said. “So there was an existential need, and having worked for a large pharmacy, I could see that nobody took the time, interest or inclination to take care of these patients.” In Gilbert, SnS is using a recently approved telepharmacy, or a satellite pharmacy. “We are setting up different locations inside larger medical offices,” Waghray said.
“They won’t have a pharmacist in that location. You just have patches around the channel. We would have a large patch of medical doctors close to a hospital and the pharmacist from the remote location would be monitoring that to the computer system.”
SnS Pharmacy 2080 N. Dobson Road, Suite 3, Chandler snsrx.com 480-812-3725 480-726-7340 (fax)
May 2018
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Neighbors
May 2018
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Prolonged winter no match for former Highland baseball star BY BRIAN BENESCH
Perhaps former Highland baseball star Austin Parent is on his way to becoming a snowbird. After all, the Gilbert native is enjoying the best season of his career in the bitter northeast. Parent is a junior on the University of Pitt-Bradford baseball team. And while the winter weather lingers deep into the spring, it hasn’t stopped Parent from putting up big numbers at the plate. “I’ve said all along that I actually enjoy the snow and the cold,” Parent said of making the transition from Arizona to Bradford, Pennsylvania. “My freshman year here was probably the biggest shock, but since then I’ve gotten used to it. It is weird playing games with snow in mid-April. This is probably the worst winter they have had in program history.” The treacherous weather has not slowed him down. In fact, the catcher is thriving in it. Recently, Parent received the Division III Player of the Week award. He earned the honor after hitting five home runs and 14 RBIs in just five games. For Parent, his big week was simply the result of endless preparation. “I put in a lot of hard work this past summer in the weight room and the cage,” he said. “I just tried to figure out who I am as a hitter. I used to be one of those guys who just swings as hard as he can. This past week, I just really calmed down and let my ability come to fruition.” Parent’s best stretch of baseball culminated in a memorable double header. On April 14, Parent connected on three homers, including a grand slam against Pitt-Greensburg. When asked if he had ever experienced a high like that on the diamond, he joked, “just in batting practice.” “That one game was probably the crazi-
est thing I’ve ever done,” Parent added. “The last time I had hit a grand slam was in little league. That whole double-header, I just kind of blacked out. That’s probably the best way I can describe it.” Despite Parent’s fuzzy recollection of the whirlwind week, he has been more locked-in than ever at the plate this
have a good year, you can’t just rest on your laurels,” said Parent, who graduated in 2015. “If you want to make it somewhere, you’ve got to keep pushing.” A single moment came to his mind when recalling his four years on the Hawks. “My junior year, we were playing Mesquite. The pitcher we were facing was having a really good game,” he said. “I looked at one of my teammates and said, five bucks says he’s going to throw me a fastball first pitch and I’m going to hit it hard somewhere. That was exactly what he did and I ended up hitting a walk-off home run.” To put it simply, Parent called his shot. And that shot was just the first of many memorable home runs to come during Par(Special to GSN) ent’s time playing ball at Austin Parent now plays baseball for the the high school and colUniversity of Pitt-Bradford in Pennsylvania. legiate levels. He recently received the Division III Player With Pitt-Bradford in of the Week award after hitting five home the postseason hunt, he is runs in five games. The Gilbert native gradufocused solely on winated from Highland High School in 2015. ning games this season. But as his college days wind down, he can’t help season. He currently leads the Panthers in but wonder about his next chapter in the every meaningful hitting category – batgame. ting average, home runs and RBIs. “I would love to continue playing,” he The budding star was quick to credit said. “It’s been a dream of mine since I was Highland High School’s coaching staff for two years old. Whether it’s at the pro level his progression as a player. or semi-pro level, I couldn’t care less as “Every coach there instilled in me a long as I’m playing baseball.” good work ethic and determination. If you
Spin and support the Gilbert economy BY ALEXANDRA WHITTEN
Cycle Ave and Liberty Market have come together for Bikes ‘n Bites on Tuesday, May 8. The event starts at Cycle Ave with a spin session, and then moves to Liberty Market’s patio for a round of free appetizers, plus discounts on wine and beer. “It’s important for businesses to support each other – we wanted to give our riders a chance to enjoy a fun event with one of our neighbors,” said Jeremy Jones, Cycle Ave co-owner. He sees the event as a win-win: New guests may be introduced to both businesses, all while promoting the local economy.
Located in Funktional Fitness, Cycle Ave surrounds riders with lights, beats and positive vibes. Jones said the studio is owned by “passionate fitness dudes,” who hire the best spin instructors to create a unique experience. Liberty Market is a community landmark dating back to 1935 and has deep connections with local farmers and suppliers. Chefs create cuisine that is recognized locally and nationally, and staff provides that home-like atmosphere. “We look for new ways to engage with our neighbors – both businesses and friends – and we think this collabo-
ration with Cycle Ave makes great sense for our community,” said Liberty Market chef and co-owner David Traina.
Bikes ‘n Bites When: 5:15 to 6 p.m. and 6:15 to 6:50 p.m. Tuesday, May 8 Where: Cycle Ave inside of Funktional Fitness, 213 N. Gilbert Road; and then to Liberty Market, 230 N. Gilbert Road. Cost: New cyclists can ride free with the code BikesNBites; prices vary otherwise Info: 480-290-7003 or 480-892-1900, libertymarket.com, cycle-ave.com
Neighbors
www.GilbertSunNews.com
May 2018
Three snowbirds rescued from mountain by team that includes Gilbert doctor
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BY JIM WALSH
Howard Larson, a snowbird from Nebraska, sat for hours on a rock along the Siphon Draw Trail in the Tonto National Forest near Apache Junction in February, waiting for his two friends to return from Flatiron, a scenic rock formation that offers hikers a panoramic view. But that view doesn’t come easy – not with a 5.8-mile roundtrip hike, a 2,781-foot elevation gain and a steep climb up a slick rock face. Hundreds of fit hikers navigate the hand-to-foot climb, but those with physical limitations, such as a bad knee, are warned to skip it. Larson, 70, was not in condition for much more than a nature walk when he tagged along on one of the East Valley’s most challenging hikes. He knew he was in trouble when the sun started going down. His friends made it to the top, but by the time they reunited with Larson about three-quarters of the way up the trail, one was hardly able to stand and had fallen 10-15 feet.
The group was in no condition to make it back to the trail head. A male nurse came to their aid while another hiker called 911 and reported some GPS coordinates. Luckily for Larson and his stranded Midwestern friends, Central Arizona Mountain Rescue and Pinal County Search and Rescue were there to help them. A group of dedicated volunteers who respond to emergencies all around Maricopa County, the Central Arizona crew included Russell Kemp of Ahwatukee, a systems analyst for Tempe, and Dr. John Nassar, an orthopedic surgeon with offices in Scottsdale and Gilbert. The two other intrepid crew members were Scott Hoffman and Chuck Wright. “Spending all night freezing, keeping someone alive, people don’t believe we do it for free,’’ Kemp said. “It’s my way to give back to the outdoor community.’’ SEE
RESCUE PAGE 25
(Photos special to Gilbert Sun News)
Central Arizona Mountain Rescue and Pinal County Search and Rescue came to the aid of lost and tired hikers.
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May 2018
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Mother’s Day events abound around Gilbert BY GSN STAFF
From painting classes to special brunch menus, Gilbert businesses are observing Mother’s Day in a variety of ways. Here are a handful of events happening around the neighborhood to help celebrate mom on and around her special day.
This event takes place at sandwich shop Even Stevens. Drinks, food and gratuity not included. $45. 7 to 9 p.m. Friday, May 11. Even Stevens, 384 N. Gilbert Road, Suite 104, Gilbert. Call 480-219-5299 or visit paintnite.com for more information.
East Valley Moms Meet Up:
Stroller Strides Celebration: This complimentary annual Mother’s Day workout and celebration features a group workout with crafts for kids and after-class snacks. There will also be a raffle; guests receive a raffle ticket on arrival, as well as at each workout station. People can receive additional tickets for bringing a guest. Hosted by FIT4MOM Chandler & Gilbert. Free. 9:15 to 10:15 a.m. Friday, May 11. Tumbleweed Park, 2250 S. McQueen Road, Chandler. Visit chandler. fit4mom.com for more information.
Mothers meet up at these events (held the second Friday of every month) to talk, share and offer support. Hosted by the Autism Society of Greater Phoenix, this event includes a parent mentor from the society to help facilitate conversation. 9:30 to 11 a.m. Friday, May 11. Panera Bread at 1907 E. Williams Field Road, Suite 101, Gilbert. Visit phxautism.org for more information.
Klimt, “Mother and Child”:
This edition of the Paint Nite series will teach participants how to create an imitation of artist Gustav Klimt’s painting, “Mother and Child.” Instructors will guide students through the creative process while they enjoy libations and laughter. All painting materials included.
Mom’s Afternoon Out:
Hosted by Board & Brush Gilbert, this event gives mothers the chance to work on an afternoon art project making a wood sign. The workshop is for participants age 16 or older. $15. 12:30 to 2 p.m.
Saturday, May 12. Board & Brush Gilbert, 538 S. Gilbert Road, Gilbert. Visit boardandbrush.com/gilbert/events/momsmorning-15/ to register.
Mother’s Day Parents’ Night Out:
Presented by ASA Now & Starbright Foundation, this event includes dinner for the children, play time, dessert and a movie. Dinner is pizza and fruit, with cookies for dessert. $20 for three hours, regardless of how many children parents have. Any proceeds from the event will go toward ASA Now’s Jacob’s Mission Community Center. 5 to 8 p.m. Saturday, May 12. Christ’s Greenfield Lutheran School, 425 N. Greenfield Road, Gilbert. Visit asanow.org for more information.
Brock’s Restaurant & Bar:
Held in the SanTan Elegante Ballroom at DoubleTree by Hilton Phoenix – Gilbert, this annual brunch buffet features such favorites as prime rib, snow crab legs, honey-glazed ham, made-to-order waffles and more. Sunday, May 13. $41.95, adults; $18.95 kids 4-12. Call 480-809-4250 for
more information.
Mother’s Day at TC2Go:
Thai Chili 2 Go honors moms by offering them a free meal with purchase of an additional entrée. 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday, May 13. Thai Chili 2 Go, 6510 S. Higley Road, Suite 105, Gilbert. Call 480565-4700 or visit thaichili2go.net for more information.
Zappone’s Italian Bistro:
Treat mom to bottomless Bellinis, mimosas and Bloody Marys at this neighborhood favorite, which is also offering a special Mother’s Day brunch menu. Specials for the holiday are mascarpone French toast ($11); a breakfast calzone with sausage, red peppers, scrambled eggs and mozzarella and ricotta cheeses ($13); crab cake scramble ($13); and Italian or Greek chopped salad ($12). 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, May 13 at Zappone’s Italian Bistro, 1652 N. Higley Road, Suite 103, Gilbert. Call 480-218-2338 or visit zapponesbistro. com for more information.
HD South encourages culture through events BY GSN STAFF
HD South offers a series of informative programs, led by artists, historians, storytellers, botanists and scientists. Many of these educational programs are free, while some come with a small charge to cover materials. To check out its upcoming programs, visit hdsouth.org/ calendar/ or call 480-926-1577. HD South is the home of the Gilbert Historical Museum, which opened as Gilbert Elementary School in 1913. The building is the oldest one in Gilbert and the sole facility on the National Register of Historical Places. Gilbert Museum is a repository of artifacts chronicling the town’s history, featuring newly remodeled exhibits and interactive displays. It is located at 10 S. Gilbert Road.
Ongoing events Weekly Yoga 7 to 8 p.m. Thursdays. Come experience a relaxing session of yoga that helps participants relieve stress while conditioning muscles. The program is open to participants of all levels, teens through adults. The program is free. Pre-
registration required online. Weekly Storytime 10 to 10:45 a.m. Tuesdays. Kids ages 3 to 5 can join museum volunteers for stories and activities. Register one ticket per child. The program is free; preregistration required online. The Art of Quilting Show 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. through May 28. The 13th Art of Quilting Show displays more than 100 quilts made by community members. The show is free with paid admission. Through the Needle’s Eye Exhibit 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday until May 12. The Embroiderers’ Guild of America (EGA) acknowledges the value of needlework in art and history with its exhibit. For more information about the guild, visit egausa.org. The show is free with paid admission.
May events Military Records for Genealogical Research 7 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, May 8. Online registration required. Memorial Day Service 9 a.m. to noon Monday, May 28. Every year, the Gilbert Historical Museum, along with American Legion Post 39, hosts Gilbert’s Memorial Day service on the museum’s front lawn, where monuments honor Gilbert residents who have served in our nation’s armed forces. The service begins at 9 a.m. and includes a flag ceremony, the laying of wreaths and recognition of veterans in attendance, as well as musical entertainment and speakers. Gilbert residents are encouraged to attend. Bring lawn chairs for the popular event. The museum will be open until noon.
Neighbors
www.GilbertSunNews.com
May 2018
Creamistry opens in downtown Gilbert BY BECKY BRACKEN
They say it’s where science and dessert collide. Creamistry – the madeto-order, liquid-nitrogen frozen ice cream shop – opened in downtown Gilbert last month, just in time to help residents cool down during scorching summer temps. It’s not like your mom’s ice cream shop, with scoops dunked into buckets to carve out a perfectly round serving. Creamistry is whole different experience. Here’s how it works: First, you pick your size: regular, large or Nitroshake. Then pick your ice cream base. There’s premium, organic, sorbet and coconut. The coconut is dairy-free for vegans and is also lactose-, gluten- and egg-free. The sorbet is also non-dairy, waterbased and used to create fruity flavors like NitroDole pineapple and pink grapefruit. The organic base is certified 100 percent organic and KSA Kosher. The premium is the signature, all-natural creamy base that works with any flavor. After you pick the base, all that’s left is choosing from a variety of flavors ranging from cereals like Cap’n Crunch
to fruit, coffee and tea flavors and of course, the classics like mint, chocolate and vanilla. From there, all that’s left to choose is your toppings from all sorts of candy, fruit, nuts and sauce options. Then it’s time for science to take over. Your ingredients are placed in a big metal mixing bowl and then under a standing mixer. Then liquid nitrogen is slowly added, creating a cloud of mist around the entire creation. It’s quite a show. The finished ice cream is creamier than any other you’ve probably ever had before. Creamistry’s area manager Sean Holian said that’s because the liquid nitrogen freezes the ice cream without introducintroduc ing any water crystals into the finished product. “The nitrogen freezing actually makes a big difference in the taste of our ice cream,” Holian explained. “It’s not just a gimmick.”
He says he hopes people understand that during busier times at Creamistry, it takes a little longer to get your ice cream, because it’s made to order. “If we’re really busy, it could take 10 to 15 minutes, but the wait is definitely worth it.”
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Neighbors
May 2018
Agritopia to host food and farm forum
www.GilbertSunNews.com
BY WAYNE SCHUTSKY
Agritopia in Gilbert has been at the forefront of the local food movement since entrepreneur Joe Johnston established the community on his family’s farmland in the town nearly two decades ago. Now, the community – complete with its urban farm, village-inspired residential housing, and restaurants — will provide the backdrop for Local First Arizona’s Food and Farm Forum, an event that promotes the use of locally sourced foods throughout the state. The event, now in its fifth year, is Tuesday, May 8, and Wednesday, May 9, at The Farm at Agritopia, the urban farm that sits at the center of the community. The Local First Arizona Foundation previously held the forum in Tucson, Phoenix and Clarkdale. “We have seen from the town of Gilbert and entities like the Johnston Family Foundation a real commitment to preserve the heritage of the outskirts of Phoenix and a commitment to preserving small scale farms,” said Kate Radosevic, local foods development coordinator for Local First Arizona. Katie Critchley, founding board member of The Johnston Family Foundation for Urban Agriculture, said Gilbert is a nice setting for the event because of the
town’s rich agricultural history. “I think Agritopia and The Johnston Family Foundation for Urban Agriculture are committed to bringing some of these agricultural problems and ideas to light, so if we can help in any way, that is our mission,” she said. This year’s event will feature more than 40 local and national speakers and presenters discussing a range of topics related to local food production, including food distribution logistics and how to integrate fresh local foods into government assistance programs. The forum is designed for food professionals in the public, private and nonprofit sectors who want to learn how to produce local foods or integrate more local produce into their organizations. The target audience for the event includes food producers, distributors, chefs, SNAP-Ed professionals and youth interested in pursuing those careers. “I think it is a good way to network, because agriculture is so spread out in Arizona,” Critchley said. “It is a good opportunity for local growers to put their heads together and solve some of their problems.” She said those problems include finding affordable distribution methods to
bring their goods throughout the state and learning more about loans and grant programs available to local growers. The forum will also include a “speed dating” networking session so the organizations in attendance – from schools and nonprofits to farmers markets and co-ops – can learn how to work together to promote local foods. “The Food and Farm Forum is trying to make those connections and change the way Arizona feeds itself,” Radosevic said. The forum will also include workshops providing learning opportunities like how to secure loans and funding for small farms and how to navigate the 2018 Farm Bill. Keynote speaker Deborah Frieze is a founding partner of the Boston Impact Initiative, an investment fund that focuses on social justice. Her address will speak to the relationship between investment and the way communities feed themselves. “(Frieze’s talk) would be of interest to anyone in economic impact and finance or impact investment,” Radosevic said. “It is about folks coming together who have a vested interest in social and environmental outcomes and changing the market of investing to help those outcomes.” Other presenters include Tim Colby,
farmer at The Farm at Agritopia; Chris Chappell, sustainability liaison for Arizona Wilderness Brewing Co.; Ashley Schimke, education program specialist at the Arizona Department of Education; and Dr. Carola Grebitus, assistant professor of food industry management in the Morrison School of Agribusiness at ASU. The full agenda and tickets for the event, which start at $20, can be found at localfirstazfoundation.org/azfoodforum.
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RESCUE
FROM PAGE 21
“Being a systems engineer just pays the bills,’’ he said. “I love the rescue stuff. Being on mountain rescue is my passion.’’ Larson, 70, said he was flabbergasted to learn such a volunteer organization exists, but he certainly is thankful and highly appreciative. He wrote them a thank you letter and made a financial contribution after their expert crew saved him and his friends, Randy Lanning, 70, and Rich Schuldt, 74. “My compliments go to Dr. John and his team,’’ Larson said. “We felt bad that they had to be up there. They said, ‘these things happen.’ They were really nice.’’ “You have four guys willing to spend the night sleeping on a rock with you,’’ Larson said. “I don’t know if we could have stayed warm enough. It would have been really bad if they didn’t get there.’’ Larson said he also was amazed that a medical specialist such as Dr. Nassar would participate in the team. He said he was having dinner two days later when Nassar called him to check in and ask if he was OK. “It was wonderful, it was all about taking care of us,’’ Larson said. “I have paid doctors who didn’t call to check up on me.’’ A Pinal County sheriff’s deputy walked the most experienced hiker, Lanning, down the trail to safety, while the Central Arizona Mountain Rescue crew helped the other two all night, covering them with blankets and getting them hydrated. It was a cold, miserable night. Technically, the team is a division of the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office Posse. The state Department of Public Safety’s helicopter dropped them off at a safer landing spot further up the mountain and the crew walked down to the stranded hikers. But it was too dark and too dangerous for the helicopter to operate safely at the hiker’s location. “We were not able to get them out. The best thing we could do is to keep them as warm as possible,’’ Kemp said. “We made this cocoon of blankets. Those two gentlemen were asleep in 20 minutes.’’ Larson readily acknowledges he was not in shape for such a difficult hike. He said he thought he was rested and could have possibly hiked down the trail, but he decided to take the “free ride’’ back in the morning.
Watch for the Best of Gilbert Voting for Best of Gilbert began Sunday, April 1 and continued through Monday, April 30. See who won readers’ choices for the best in food, work and fun in Gilbert. Voting for the East Valley Tribune’s
Neighbors
Kemp disagreed, however, saying it would have been foolish for Larson to attempt the hike that night. “The other two guys were not in shape to get off the mountain. They could not even stand up,’’ Kemp said, describing their legs as wobbling from exhaustion and dehydration. Kemp remembers spending the night rolled up in a fetal position, wearing his parka, not keeping a single blanket for himself. Kemp and Nassar, who specializes in foot surgeries, went to work the next day. For Kemp, who grew up in Colorado and has always been an avid outdoorsman, working on the rescue team is both a unique mission and a highly challenging hobby. “It’s the thrill of being part of this highly specialized rescue team,’’ Kemp said. “It’s an adventure for me. When we go through a dry spell, we get bored.’’ Kemp does not consider the Siphon Draw rescue his most challenging mission. That title probably is reserved for another near the Salt River, north of the Blue Point Bridge, when a rock-climber experienced a harrowing and painful fall in a remote box canyon. Kemp said the rock climber experienced some sort of mishap with his rope system as he was lowering himself down the canyon. At some point, the rope system, intended to protect the rock climber from a serious injury, failed. The rock climber fell 100 feet to the bottom, breaking both ankles. Suspended from a rope attached to a helicopter, Kemp was gradually lowered by members of his team to the bottom, where he assisted the injured rock climber. Kemp loaded the injured man into a basket. The team gradually pulled the injured man and Kemp, who was hanging onto the rope, up the canyon. Eventually, the helicopter flew the injured man and Kemp to safety, with Kemp dangling onto the rope for the entire four-mile journey in a memorable, maybe unforgettable, high-wire act. Kemp said the injured rock climber gave him a fist-pump after they landed. “It’s turning the drive for adventure into rescuing somebody,’’ Kemp said. “Nobody goes out into the wilderness hoping to get in trouble. He sent us a note, saying, ‘you completely saved my life.’”
annual Best of Gilbert took place online at eastvalleytribune.com. Best of Gilbert will feature more than 50 awards in categories including Dining & Entertainment, Business, Health, Medical and Education. The Best of Gilbert will be available on May 27.
May 2018
25
(Photos special to Gilbert Sun News)
Mountain rescue team members must meet demanding physical requirements for their jobs.
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May 2018
Zappones say ‘I do’ to the wedding industry BY MELODY BIRKETT
Dina Zappone has wanted to open a wedding venue for four years, but she couldn’t find the perfect location. When Cozy Wedding shut its doors, she knew it was hers. Zappone’s venue, The Cottage Wedding Venue, is slated to open six blocks south of downtown Gilbert in June. The space, which Zappone purchased in December, worked for her tastes. “I just really wanted that backyard glam look,” she said. She peppers The Cottage Wedding with custom-made whitewash tables and benches. “We gutted the ballroom, put in new floors,” she said. “Pretty much the whole property is beautiful Pinterest boards that we spent endless hours looking at and creating.” The Cottage Wedding will not only host weddings, but any celebration or meeting for which space is needed. The venue can accommodate between 120 to 150 guests outside, and 75 indoors. Highlights include a gazebo and misted covered patio outside, and dining space
and a ballroom inside. Zappone’s name might sound familiar, as she and her husband, Salvatore, own Zappone’s Italian Bistro and Zappone’s Catering in Gilbert, a town she loves to support. It was important as well to offer affordable pricing. “We’re in Gilbert, so I think we should have Gilbert pricing,” she explained. “We should have the average Millennial couple in mind. Nowadays, most couples pay for their own weddings. It’s not in the days where the bride’s parents paid for everything. Now, it seems like everyone pitches in. Bride and groom are taking a big chunk of it. Maybe mom or dad are pitching in for the DJ and things like that, but they’re very mindful of costs and they should be. I don’t think you should have to mortgage your house to have your dream wedding.” The venue offers all-inclusive packages. Clients can select the décor, as well as lawn games, flowers, photographers and food. “If they want to do a la carte and they want a DIY with their favorite ven-
(Photos by Santiago Almada Photography)
The Cottage Wedding Venue reflects Dina Zappone’s taste, with Pinterestready decorations.
dors, they’re allowed to do that, as well,” Zappone added. “We just want it to be this beautiful space where business meetings can happen, bar mitzvahs can happen, everything can happen.” Naturally, Zappone highly recommends using her restaurant’s catering service, which specializes in grazing stations and mac and cheese bars. Although the venue is farm themed, The Cottage Wedding Venue can carry a Western theme or even “Hollywood glam,” she said.
The Cottage Wedding Venue 535 S. Gilbert Road, Gilbert 480-747-0756, thecottageweddings.com info@thecottageweddings.com
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Business
May 2018
www.GilbertSunNews.com
Quirky Wildflower opens new location in Rivulon BY ERIC NEWMAN
With an open kitchen, funky wall decorations, a walk-up juice and tea bar and light casual music to accompany a meal, it is easy to see why Wildflower Bread Company has spread across Arizona, including Rivulon in Gilbert. Wildflower marketing director Allison Georgoulis said adding a restaurant in Gilbert was an easy decision. “Gilbert is an up-and-coming area because of the auto dealerships and all of the new residential areas that are being built up here,” said Georgoulis, whose company is based in Scottsdale. “The Rivulon complex is going to have a hotel and there are corporate offices, so there was really a demand to have a breakfast, lunch and dinner place here, and we fill that.” But Wildflower does more than that. Wildflower founder Louis J. Basile Jr. grew up in New Jersey and worked in his family’s restaurant business since he was five. Those experiences instilled in him the importance of family meals. With families paying more attention to technology than each other, Basile hopes Wildflower can encourage folks to come together and strengthen interpersonal bonds – at least for an hour or two. “We want people to be able to go out to eat and have that family experience of sharing a meal together, but not have it cost an arm and a leg,” he said. “That’s what Wildflower has always been about.” Wildflower may have a relaxed atmosphere, but it serves bistro-quality food and drinks at reasonable prices. Dishes like chorizo frittata with cheddar, potatoes, perfectly roasted red bell peppers, scallions, avocado, cilantro and salsa; an Alaskan salmon chopped salad; and a cavatappi homemade macaroni
(Photos courtesy Wildflower Bread Company)
The Rivulon Wildflower Bread Company location is quirky, with its fun and family-friendly artwork. Wildflower’s “breadheads” make the loaves fresh each morning.
and cheese sprinkle the menu in Gilbert, along with local beer and wine options. But if Wildflower hangs its hat anywhere, it is on its bread. Bakers, or “breadheads” as Basile calls them, do not just nuke premade loaves. Rather, breadheads go through an extensive, six-week baking course, and the loaves are baked fresh each morning. “All of our bread is baked here fresh
in the restaurant, and the huge ovens are used to bake it,” Georgoulis said. “And then the bread that doesn’t sell that day is donated at the end of the night.” With 15 locations, and even more in store, Basile said Wildflower has exceeded his expectations. His restaurantloving parents, who have since passed away, would be pleased. “I know they’d be incredibly proud of
what we’ve created here, and I wish they could see this restaurant, because this is the coolest restaurant we’ve built yet,” he said.
May 2018
www.GilbertSunNews.com
Jackie Alvarado 480-748-7779
Originally from NYC and Long Island, NY, Arizona became my home 20 years ago. I got my degree in Broadcast Journalism with a minor in business at the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism at Arizona State University in 2001. I am proud to be a Sun Devil! I have been in sales and marketing since 2004, when I started working for Scripps Media and ABC15 Television in Phoenix. I have been working not only with ad agencies, but also closely with business owners of various sizes, to help increase their awareness and ROI. I have done this by listening closely to their business’ needs and goals, which is what I am now also privileged to do for you! It is exciting for me to listen to what you want and help find your dream home. I’m also passionate about helping you sell your home, and utilizing my years of marketing experience.
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Business
May 2018
Board games growing in popularity
www.GilbertSunNews.com
BY COTY DOLORES MIRANDA
Jeff Caples describes his Gilbert game store, GamesU, as “Cheers, without the bar.” A comfortable place to go where everybody knows your name. His game store, opened 16 months ago at 1550 N. Stonehenge Drive, is a lifelong dream come true, as is much the same as for the owners of Mesa’s Gateway Games, founded by Les and Janice Tanzer in September 2017, and Mike Griffin of Desert Sky Games who opened his store in a larger Chandler location the same month. The three stores bustle with business. Visiting any one of them will typically showcase gamers of all ages perusing the shelves of games for sale, trying out board or card games in special stay-as-long-as-you’d like game rooms, or competing in regularly scheduled Role-Playing Games (RPG) like Dungeons & Dragons or various trading card games like Magic: The Gathering, itself containing several versions. Their calendars, posted on their webpages, are chockablock with activities with weeknight and weekend games including the parent-child popular Starwars Destiny and Pokemon, and other popular games like Pandemic, and Tal’dore with its specific characters based on the original Vox Machina cast. These aren’t the board games played on rainy days back home. But don’t discount the standards like Scrabble and Monopoly; they’re still around, but newer games like Catan – formerly Settlers of Catan, and Carcassone are all the rage for family game nights or adult competitive gatherings. And don’t look for the $9.99 specials, though there are trading cards that circle that price including the newly announced A Game of Thrones: The Card Game that sells for $14.95 a pack. Today’s games can cost you big bucks. “You’re talking games running more than $100,” said Gateway Games’ Janice
Tanzer. “Games are expensive. Gloomhaven is priced at $140 and we can’t even get it. I heard it’s being sold online for as much as $200.” Those prices are what prompted these game stores to make many of their board games available for rent (Gateway), or for play in-store (Gateway, GamesU, Desert Sky). Pick a game, find a private room or table, and experiment before handing over your credit card – or hard-earned allowance. So what’s up with this resurgence of board games and the popularity of game stores? It’s not just a local phenomenon. According to Euromonitor International, a global market research company, sales of games and puzzles grew by 15 percent in 2016, while industry news outlet ICv2 proclaimed sales in the United States and Canada that year surged by 21 percent. Pick your statistic, but both say more than 5,000 new board games were introduced in the United States alone in 2016. (To get an idea of the vast number of games available and/or coming available, a perusal of BoardGameGeek.com will be an eye-opener.) And the game store business is blossoming across the country. GamesU, Gateway Games – formerly QCB – and Desert Sky Games are reaping the results of this renaissance of tabletop games that provide a retro, real-time connection between people, so unlike most online games. And interestingly, for the owners of these area game stores, having these stores as their place of business is the culmination of years of dreaming. “I’ve been planning and dreaming this for a quarter of a century,” said Jeff Caples, 46, of GamesU that proclaims itself, “Smart Games for Smart People.” “I spent most of my adult life contemplating this. My first job, at age 17,
(Photo special to GSN)
Les and Janice Tanzer of Gateway Games
was in a game store in Diamond Bar, California. The owners basically taught me to run the business. By 18, I was actually running the business – hiring, ordering, operating it day-by-day.” Caples’ adult life was spent serving in the U.S. Army, attending a local police academy, returning to the Army, and then totally changing careers to teach math and social studies in Phoenix, and at Mesa’s Kino Junior High School. “As much as I loved teaching, and I absolutely loved being in the classroom and loved being with my students, this is something I wanted to do, needed to do, planned to do,” he said. GamesU in Gilbert opened with 4,200 square feet, an intimidating space for an inaugural store. “Honestly, I was afraid it was going to be a bit big, but it was a great location. Now I figure I could have another 1,000 square feet,” Caples said. “Part of our store is a retail environment but a little more than half is de-
voted to playing games. People play here anywhere from two or three or seven hours. It’s the kind of place where staff wants to hang out after working.” Today’s game stores are well lit, clean and welcoming. This may sound normal for a business, but until the recent resurgence of board and card games, many game stores were too often described as cave-like and well, “smelly.” “We try to be a step above,” said Janice Tanzer, Gateway Games’ co-owner with husband Les Tanzer, an electrical plans examiner for the city of Phoenix. “Our store is bright and clean, and we have three private rooms including a Dungeon & Dragons room that has a projector on the ceiling to project a detailed map.” And all have an extensive library of games to purchase, rent or tryout in the store. “We have a demo library of more than SEE
GAMES PAGE 31
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GAMES
FROM PAGE 30
120 games that people can sit down and play. If they don’t like one, they can pick out another one,” Janice Tanzer said. The couple purchased the former QCB Fun Store and rechristened it Gateway Games in September. The two were already avid gamers themselves. “We’ve both played games pretty much, all our lives; we have quite a selection at home,” she said. “I started playing the original Dungeons & Dragons in 1977 and continued until around 1986,” he said. His oldest son reignited the spark with the introduction of D&D to QCB, suggesting they start a game night. It blossomed from there. Their Mesa storefront at 2,100 square feet is a draw every day of the week, but particularly late afternoons, evenings and weekends. On Fridays and Saturdays, their store is open until 11 p.m. GamesU is open Friday and Saturdays until midnight. Besides D & D, Tanzer said Magic: The Gathering is a big pull, especially among high school and college students. “And we have families come and play games,” she asserted. “The Star Wars Destiny is scheduled every week and we
Business
have fathers and child sets that play that regularly.” Desert Sky Games at 3875 W. Ray Road in Chandler is owned by Mike Griffin, who operated his store at two other locations before moving into this 6,100-square-foot storefront. “It’s larger than our other two stores combined,” said Griffin of the previous locations in Tempe and Gilbert. “We had 104 people last Friday night in our game room.” Like the other owners, owning a game store has been a long percolating dream. “I’ve been wanting to do this since I was a teenager,” Griffin admitted. “I’m a software engineer and we have a physicist and electrical engineer here, so we have a pretty well-educated staff.” Desert Sky Games also has an inhouse arcade with eight machines, with more planned. Griffin agreed families are also among the regular customers, especially participating in “very-familyoriented” Pokemon competitions at 3 p.m. Sundays. A Monday Pokemon play tends to pull college students. As if to confirm the increasing popularity of neighborhood game stores, a recently released book may provide additional proliferation. Friendly Local Game Store: A Five Year Path to a Middle-Class
May 2018
31
(Photo special to GSN)
Board games are increasing in popularity.
Income by Gary L. Ray is already spurring interest nationwide.
Games U 1550 N. Stonehenge Drive, Suite 102. Gilbert 480-497-6003, gamesuaz.com
Gateway Games 8743 E. Pecos Road, Suite 108, Mesa 480-341-2299, gatewaygamesaz.com Desert Sky Games 3875 W. Ray Road, Suite 7, Chandler 602-615-5214, desertskygames.crystalcommerce.com
More tenants, buildings at Rivulon BY GSN STAFF
Rivulon, the master-planned, mixeduse development in Gilbert located at the corner of Gilbert Road and the Loop 202, has new tenants. Two new 60,000-square-foot, twostory, Class A office buildings located along Rivulon Boulevard are complete, according to Nationwide Realty Investors, its Columbus, Ohio-based developer. Morgan Stanley Smith Barney Financing, an affiliate of the global financial services company, will move in July. Additional leases, for the buildings at 111 and 161 E. Rivulon Boulevard, have been signed by Fairway Independent
Mortgage Corp., Security Title Agency and Miller Financial Group. “We are pleased to announce the completion of additional office buildings at Rivulon and this line-up of high-caliber tenants,” said Brian J. Ellis, president and COO of Nationwide Realty Investors. “The demand for space at Rivulon is very high. People want to be part of a best-in-class project in a highly visible location with proximity to great amenities.” Rivulon is a 250-acre mixed-use development, which, when fully complete, will offer a $750 million business district with 3 million square feet of office
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space, retail and restaurants. The company has also announced the development of The Commons at Rivulon, a multibuilding creative office neighborhood. The campus will have a main entryway off Rivulon Boulevard with easy access from Gilbert and Pecos roads. The first phase of development will include two highly customizable, twostory, 100,000 square-foot buildings with large, open floor plans. These multitenant buildings will cater to technology, creative and collaborative tenants seeking open and flexible space in an integrated campus environment.
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Customers unlock treasure trove at thrift store BY COLLEEN SPARKS
An Ahwatukee church has helped make an area nonprofit organization’s bustling thrift shop offer shoppers unusual riches and a chance to support struggling neighbors. Hidden Treasures Thrift Store on North Alma School Road just north of Galveston Street has seen donations quadruple over the last couple years, store manager Laura Cervi said. That’s largely because volunteers from Mountain View Lutheran Church have been partnering for 10 years with their counterparts from three other churches to run the store, which sells clean, reusable items donated by people and businesses. The organization took over another suite in the Waterfall Shopping Center to accommodate its donations. It now occupies four suites, though one is for just processing donated items. Hidden Treasures sells furniture, clothes, toys, antiques, kitchenware, electronics, craft supplies, jewelry, books, CDs, movies and many other items. “We needed more space,” Cervi said. “Our donations just keep growing. Our volunteer base keeps growing. We’re all headed in the right direction.” Proceeds from sales go to many local nonprofit organizations including Matthew’s Crossing Food Bank in Chandler, Pregnancy Care Center of Chandler, Tempe Community Action Agency and The Chandler CARE Center. The organizations that Hidden Treasures supports are located in the same areas where the four founding churches stand. The other churches are Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in Chandler, Light of Christ Lutheran Church in Gilbert and Desert Cross Lutheran Church in Tempe. Last December alone, the thrift store processed 2,341 sales, Cervi said. About 70 volunteers work in the store, usually for four-hour shifts once a week or twice a month.
“Many of them come in several times during the week,” Cervi said. “People manage departments and take an awesome amount of pride. We scrutinize all the clothing. We don’t put items (out) that are dirty or torn. They’re in good condition.” Customers can bid on silent auction items. If no one bids on an item, which is unusual, then the merchandise is moved to the floor for regular sales. Hidden Treasures also gives seniors a break. Every Wednesday is Senior Day, where people ages 55 and older get 25-percent off the original price of anything in the store. “There are customers who come here every day,” Cervi said. “We have a lot of loyal followers.” People can find a woman’s shirt for $4 in the store and buy scrapbooking sheets for 10-cents each. The combination of cleanliness, low prices and “variety of items” attract shoppers, Cervi said. “I was a previous customer,” she said. “I
(Photos by Celisse Jones)
Laura Cervi is the store manager at Hidden Treasures Thrift Store on North Alma School Road in Chandler.
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Jan Terhune, executive director of Matthew’s Crossing Food Bank, is thrilled and grateful for the support she gets from Hidden Treasures. “They give us a sizeable check twice a year,” Terhune said. “They also support us with books. The greatest partnerships are those that have longevity and/or are consistent and they’ve certainly been a partner that has recognized our neighbors in need are valuable to our community.
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started donating and buying here.” Cervi had worked in supply chain management for manufacturing companies for 40 years but said her job at Hidden Treasures is “fulfilling.” “All of our donations stay in our communities,” she said. “When you go home at the end of the day, you’re not working for Japan or Germany. What you do stays here.” Hidden Treasures generates about $285,000 a year, after discounts. The nonprofit gives checks to other organizations twice a year. Recently it donated $35,000 and in the fall it also usually provides about another $35,000 for nonprofits.
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Michael Hiatt named Times Media Group vice president GSN STAFF
Modern Luxury – Scottsdale, a Times Media Group (TMG), the locally based publisher of luxury lifestyle publication and 17 Valley publications, including a member of the Modern Luxury the Gilbert Sun News and the family of magazines, which East Valley Tribune, announced produces more than 80 titles April 3 that Michael Hiatt will across 24 major markets. join the company as its vice “The Times Media Group president and chief revenue represents an expanding officer. platform that is perfectly Hiatt is former group positioned for growth,” said publisher of Modern Luxury Hiatt. “The unique blend of Scottsdale Magazine and group longevity, demographic and publisher of Phoenix Magazine geographic targeting as well and Phoenix Home & Garden, as the desired reach of 17 both published by Cities West publications in a growing and Publishing. vibrant market is truly exciting. Hiatt has worked in the “Further, the combination of publishing industry in metro credibility, creativity, and quality Phoenix for over 30 years. He is products and people is inspiring. well known in the Southwest for The diversity of TMG’s printed his publishing creativity and his products, sophisticated digital ability to build revenue streams offering and unique events can by creating unique, effective galvanize local communities.” client-focused advertising A digital and print media platforms and marketing (Photo by Kimberly Carrillo/GSN) company operating in the solutions. Steve Strickbine, left, welcomed Michael Hiatt to the Times Media Group on April 3. Hiatt is the former publisher Phoenix and Tucson areas, TMG Hiatt’s hiring combines his of several magazines, including Phoenix Home & Garden. publishes the East Valley Tribune publishing experience with (EastValley.com), the Ahwatukee the more than two decades more important – there’s the high level both to the Tribune and to community Foothills News (Ahwatukee. that Times Media Group founder Steve journalism, which is something I’m com), the West Valley View, Nearby News Strickbine has spent building TMG from a of integrity Michael brings to work every day.” passionate about,” said Hiatt. “I’ve publications, the San Tan Sun News, the single eight-page community newspaper In his new role, Hiatt will guide all witnessed Steve grow Times Media Group Scottsdale Airpark News, the Gilbert Sun into the Valley’s leading community news operations related to revenue generation, into a formidable organization and I look News, the College Times, Lovin’ Life After source. a move designed to help TMG better forward to helping lead this talented 50, The Entertainer! Magazine, North “This is what I’d call a perfect match,” capitalize on its many media brands, team.” Valley Magazine, 85086 Magazine, 85085 said Strickbine, who will remain TMG’s Hiatt worked as the publisher, and later Magazine and the travel and information president. “I’ve always thought of Michael broad reach across the Valley and desirable demographics. group publisher, of Phoenix Magazine website Phoenix.org. TMG also owns and as a superstar in the news business for Hiatt started his professional career in and Phoenix Home & Garden from 2001 operates AZ Integrated Media, a media two reasons. One, he has grown some Arizona at the East Valley Tribune in 1985 to 2013, overseeing an unprecedented distribution and custom publishing terrific publications in terms of the as a staff correspondent. Times Media period of growth. company. stories they tell, the way they serve their Group acquired the Tribune in 2015. Beginning in 2013, Hiatt launched For more information on Times Media advertisers, and the way they serve their communities. Two – and this is even “This is an exciting homecoming for me, and then served as Group Publisher of Group: timespublications.com.
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May 2018
Veterans rev up on racetrack to speed PTSD recovery
Business
TREASURE
BY AMANDA SLEE CRONKITE NEWS
Jess Maney, 38, who served 16 years in the Army before returning home from his last deployment in 2015, realized he needed help recovering from posttraumatic stress disorder, or PTSD. He served in Iraq and Afghanistan and serves as a captain in the Arizona National Guard. A friend who’s also a veteran told Maney he only felt good when he was behind the wheel of a race car. So Maney tried off-roading. He felt a “positive adrenaline rush” that lifted his mood. And an organization was born. Vetdrenaline, a nonprofit advocacy group, puts veterans in passenger seats of drift cars to simulate the rush of adrenaline from combat. Veterans also race in dragsters and operate as codrivers in off-road races. “Through all the great things that the medical industry does for our veterans, there was always that piece I was missing,” said Maney, a Gilbert resident who now serves in the Arizona National Guard. “I found it through the adrenaline rush in
motorsports.” He founded Vetdrenaline in 2015 to share that therapeutic experience with other veterans. PTSD affects every branch of the military, ranging from 4 percent in the Air Force to as high as 13.5 percent in the Army according to a 2016 Rand Corp. study. PTSD can leave sufferers with a feeling of being on edge and attempts to avoid situations that remind them of trauma. Maney said the rush of battle, which is negative, can be duplicated in a controlled, positive way through racing. “What the racing does, is it kind of rewires the brain and lets them experience adrenaline in a positive nature in a safe, structured way,” Maney said. Vetdrenaline’s next event will be in an off-road race on Oct. 12 in Laughlin, Nevada. Veterans who want to get involved or fans who want to donate money or watch a race can reach out through the website.
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“The fact that they hang in there with us is important to us. We also share volunteers; many of our volunteers also volunteer there.” Matthew’s Crossing Food Bank provides emergency food boxes once a month to people struggling. The boxes on average provide enough food to relieve hunger for six to eight days, Terhune said. Because of Matthew’s Crossing’s Meals to Grow programs, students in elementary, junior and high schools receive backpacks on Fridays filled with food to eat for two breakfasts, two lunches and three dinners, as well as snacks for them to consume over the weekend. Meals to Grow also has food closets on high school and Chandler-Gilbert Community College campuses where students can get food during the week. A summer backpack Meals to Grow program offers food to help students get enough to eat over summer break. Terhune said Hidden Treasures typically donates about $6,000 a year to Matthew’s Crossing. It’s a big help given it costs about $3.80 to fill a backpack with food, she said. The thrift store is a great way to encourage people to help their neighbors, Terhune said. “I think it’s a brilliant business model,” she said. “It’s an example of how you provide innovative alternatives to providing resources to the community.” Another recipient of Hidden Treasures’ support, The Chandler Children’s Assistance, Resources & Education Center also targets youths in need. The Chandler Unified School District program was created in 1995 to address the needs of low-income students, said CARE Center director Katie Kahle.
www.GilbertSunNews.com The program offers no-cost medical and dental care to uninsured Chandler youth as well as a food bank and Family Resource Center programs that focus on language and literacy and parenting support. It also gives them access to behavioral health services, tax assistance, the Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) program and holiday needs. “Hidden Treasures has provided funding to the CARE Center for many years by donating a portion of their proceeds to our programs,” Kahle said. “The funding provided is intended to go directly into service provision to help children and families in need.” She added the CARE Center’s dental services are “provided in partnership with Chandler Regional Medical Center and St. Vincent de Paul, and cover everything from an exam and cleaning to restoration for dental diseases and decay.” “We love the concept of Hidden Treasures for so many reasons!” she said. “One, they provide an avenue for households to dispose of unwanted items that are in reusable condition by donating the items rather than the items ending up in the trash. “Many families love thrift shopping because they can find unique items and sometimes even items from a specific time period or a certain decorating aesthetic. Thrifted items are less expensive than new, and often make great ‘project’ pieces, such as furniture items that can be refinished or clothing that can become a child’s Halloween costume.” The Chandler CARE Center serves about 30,000 people a year. Hidden Treasures Thrift Store is located at 610 N. Alma School Road. It is open 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays. Information: treasuresthrift. com.
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Youth
Coyotes marching band heading to London
May 2018
35
BY ERIC NEWMAN
The Campo Verde High School marching band will kick off 2020 in style, marching in the London New Year’s Day Parade and Festival, the largest parade in the world. The Coyotes performed several songs for parade representatives, who traveled from England to the Gilbert school on April 12. The English organization formally invited the performers and band staff to take part in the event. American marching bands are among Britons’ favorite acts. “They come because they want to see you and your fantastic performances,” said Bob Bone, the executive director of the London New Year’s Day Parade and Festival. “The favorite thing – among those 670,000 people when we poll – is the marching bands from the United States of America. They love it because we just don’t have marching bands like you.” Crowds come out in full force to prove that. Bone said the parade draws nearly 8,000 participants and hundreds of thousands of attendees. More than 670 million people watched it on television in 2017.
Campo Verde band booster president Rene Nasluchacz said the musicians were stunned to receive the offer. It is the band’s greatest opportunity, next to the Coyotes’ appearance at Carnegie Hall in New York City in March, she said. “It’s probably the pinnacle in our band’s history,” she said. “The band grows every year, and it’s just an experience that makes them encapsulated in the music, but just takes them outside the city and community, and allows them to perform at the largest parade in the world.” The hard work begins now, as band director Matt Kozacek must prepare the Coyotes to ensure they put on a spectacular performance for the worldwide audience. The band typically does field shows and short routines during high school football
Band director Matt Kozacek
games. Kozacek will spend hours with the band to perfect parade marching, straight lines and conditioning to play for more than three hours in 2020’s parade. He is certain his students are up to the challenge. “They’re a great group. The program is growing like crazy,” he said. “When I started here four years ago, there were 30 kids in the marching band, and now we have next year about 110 kids. It’s taking off, and they’re dedicated so I think it will work great.” The upcoming trip is motivating potential Coyotes to join the band. For middle-schoolers, the prospect of traveling to one of the world’s greatest cities to perform is enough to pick up their instruments and continue practicing. “The seventh and eighth graders who are going to be coming to our school soon, they’re all super excited. I was explaining it to them, and it makes the kids want to raise funds and practice. It shows that there are rewards to the hard work they can put in,” Kozacek said. Presenting a parade-sponsored umbrella as a gesture to stave off rain when Campo Verde comes to Europe, former Lord Mayor of Westminster Steve Summers said the
Campo Verde principal Jim Humphreys
Former Lord Mayor of Westminster Steve Summers (Photos by Kimberly Carrillo/GSN)
entire city will be thankful for school’s effort. “I’ve seen many marching bands over many years and many parades, and I can see without a doubt that you’re going to be right up there with any of the best,” he said. “From all of us in London, we want to thank you for deciding to come out to play for us in 2020.”
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May 2018
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The Higley Unified School District Governing Board held a breakfast in April for the top seniors at Higley and Williams Field high schools. The seniors – all of whom have 4.0 GPAs and above – are planning their next steps across the country and the world. Williams Field High School student Katie Marqueling will attend NAU on several scholarships. She plans to study international affairs and minor in German. “Teachers gave me life lessons, as well as knowledge in my academic studies,” she said of her time at Williams Field High School. Fellow Black Hawk Lindsay O’Driscoll will attend ASU on a President’s Scholarship. She plans to study nursing. “I think just being involved in so many things in school and outside school have pre-
pared me with time management skills,” she said. Higley High senior Kaden Heywood will attend BYU following a mission with his church. “Where I’ve learned the most is doing my team sports (the Higley High swim team),” he said. “I’ve learned a lot of people skills with that. A lot of people on that team inspire me to be better.” Mason Walker, another Knight, will attend ASU following his church mission. “I really feel taking hard AP classes has prepared me the most,” he said. “I know it’s not the easiest route to take, but just with how rigorous and hard they are it taught me to study and work toward my goals.” Higley and Williams Field high school students will graduate on May 24.
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Youth
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Gilbert Girl Scouts earn Gold Awards
May 2018
BY NIKI D’ANDREA
Two Girl Scouts from Gilbert have earned Girl Scout Gold Awards from the Girl Scouts – Arizona-Cactus Pine Council. The award – the equivalent to becoming an Eagle Scout in the Boy Scouts – is the highest honor a Girl Scout can receive. It requires recipients to create a project that continues to help the community long after the Girl Scout moves on. Such projects can take as long as 18 to 24 months to complete and often involve asking for in-kind donations and seeking volunteers. Nationally, only about 1 million Girl Scouts in grades nine through 12 have earned the Gold Award since 1916. Girl Scouts Natalia Ramos and Kaitlyn Janssen received the Gold Award for their respective projects. Ramos’ project, Buena Vida Dance Community Outreach, established a free after-school dance program at Bologna Elementary for underprivileged kids. Children in the program learn about dance, meditation and nutritional eating. Ramos created an online video for fellow dancers to continue her leadership role. Janssen’s project, Be Kind and Recycle Your Line, focused on raising awareness around Gilbert about the destruction monofilament fishing lines cause to habitats. Janssen’s project included placing receptacles at local lakes for fishermen and fisherwomen to properly dispose of their fishing lines.
Ramos and Janssen were honored along with 20 other Girl Scout Gold Award recipients from around the Valley at a High Award Ceremony held at ASU on March 24. “Each and every year, our Gold Award Girl Scouts never cease to amaze me. They are living proof that empowering girls to lead is one of the greatest investments we can make,” said Tamara Woodbury, CEO of Girl Scouts – Arizona-Cactus Pine Council, “Girl Scouting is all about giving girls the support and guidance they need to step into impactful leadership roles.” “By earning the Gold Award, these young women are demonstrating incredible courage, confidence and character,” Woodbury continued, “and that they are ready to become tomorrow’s leaders – in our communities, our country and our world.” ” (Photos courtesy Girl Scouts – Arizona-Cactus Pine Council)
Left to Right: Kaitlyn Janssen was honored for her project, Be Kind and Recycle Your Line. Natalia Ramos received the Gold Award for her community dance project.
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May 2018
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May 2018
Recess law likely to have little impact on EV grade schools
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GILBERT SUN NEWS STAFF
A new state law aimed at helping Arizona’s youngest school children reduce their stress in class apparently won’t have too big an impact on East Valley elementary pupils. Area school districts for the most part appear to already meet – and even exceed in some cases – the minimum required by legislation mandating two recess periods a day for students in kindergarten through fifth grade. Youngsters in half-day kindergarten must get at least one break. The law allowed lunch break to be counted as one recess period if students are allowed to interact with others or engage in physical activity. It also does not specify a length for a recess period. The legislation culminates a decade-long effort by some lawmakers and education advocates who have argued that letting kids get up and move around will help their academic performance. Prior efforts were sidelined amid concerns that more time on the playground would mean less time for actual reading, writing and ’rithmetic. But Sen. Sylvia Allen, R-Snowflake, crafted the final version in a way to blunt some of their concerns. Allen, who chairs the Senate Education Committee, said she is convinced youngsters need a break. “Our children are very stressed,” she told
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colleagues earlier this year, blaming home life and the breakdown of the family as well as increased pressure on schools for academic performance. Allen said schools can’t have students under those kinds of stresses and then expect them to perform academically. “Recess is allowing kids to go out and let it go,” she said. In Mesa, the state’s largest district, board policy requires that elementary schools provide at least 15 minutes of recess before or after lunch and recommends an additional 15 minutes in the morning or afternoon. Recesses typically range from 15 to 20 minutes depending on the school. “Although an additional recess is not a requirement, the vast majority of our schools offer an additional 15-20 minutes of recess on top of the lunch recess,” said spokeswoman Heidi Hurst, adding that “periods of inactivity exceeding 55 minutes are discouraged.” She noted that 47 Mesa schools have been designated “America’s Healthiest
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Schools” by the Alliance for a Healthier Generation and that elementary teachers can include “brain breaks” into their classroom curriculum. Those are twice-daily five-minute physical activity breaks. Gilbert Public Schools spokeswoman Dawn Antestenis said the law will cost 5 minutes of daily instruction in fourth and fifth grades because they only have a 15-minute lunch recess. K-2 grades in GPS have lunch and an additional morning or afternoon recess, while recess in third grade “depends on the school and their daily schedule.” Chandler Unified schools provide K-3 with two recess periods currently, “so that
will not be a difficult adjustment,” said Frank Narducci, district assistant for elementary education. “The time provided to students to engage in unstructured yet monitored physical activity and social interaction with other pupils is healthy and for some children may help them focus when they are engaged in Core Instruction,” Narducci added, saying CUSD’s instructional time will not be affected. “Teachers are very good at observing behaviors that promote learning,” he said. “When they see that students need a ‘brain break,’ they usually will engage them in a movement activity in the room or during transitions between content areas to give students an opportunity to socialize and move within the classroom.” He also noted that “quality instructional strategies and methods include small group collaboration time” and that “students are not in desks for extended periods of time without movement or without engaging in creative discussions and Socratic groupings.” Narducci also said that dropping a recess requirement for grades above fifth grade “made the bill a bit more realistic and attainable.” Kyrene School District also said the bill SEE
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Youth
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Leading Edge captures girls basketball championship BY GILBERT SUN NEWS STAFF
Leading Edge Academy Gilbert Early College won the 2018 Canyon Athletic Association (CAA) Junior High Girls Basketball Division 1 State Championship on Saturday, April 28, in a 25-19 victory over Ville De Marie Academy. The Lady Spartans captured their first Junior High Girls Basketball state championship title with a season record of 11-4. This is the second girls’ basketball state title for the 2017-2018 school year for Leading Edge Academy. The high school varsity team won the Arizona Interscholastic Association 2A State Championship in February. Additionally, this is the school’s seventh girls’ basketball state championship in the past seven years. Eighth grader Talia Estrada led the team this season and was named the tournament’s
most outstanding player. Emily Carpenter, Sara Harris, Hannah Foarde, Haley Foster, and Victoria Salgado also made major contributions offensively and defensively throughout the tournament to contribute to the team’s success. Athletic Director Erik Gray was excited about the win and said, “I am so happy for our girls and our program to compete and win a state championship. I know many of these girls have seen the success that our girls’ basketball program has had over the years and have worked extremely hard to achieve this level of success. Their hard work paid off and they deserve to be called state champions.” Leading Edge Academy Gilbert Early College is located at 717 W. Ray Road, Gilbert.
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when the Department of Education divides up financial aid. That’s four hours a day over the normal 180-day school year. The measure drew some opposition before its approval by the State Legislature. Chris Kotterman, lobbyist for the Arizona School Boards Association, told lawmakers they should leave these decisions to locally elected school boards, saying they are looking out for their students. “School districts do not make purpose-
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would not affect all but two of its schools, which provide a dual-language curriculum that may need to be adjusted. The law spells out that schools need not extend the school day to make up for the lost class time. That is significant as state law requires students in grades 1 through 3 to have at least 712 hours of instruction a year to be counted
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(Photo courtesy Leading Edge Academy Gilbert Early College)
Leading Edge Academy Gilbert Early College’s winning basketball team is, back from left, Coach Junior Leon, Marleena Kuhel, Emma Jones, Hannah Foarde, Emilee Vuckovich, Sara Harris, Emily Carpenter, Cara Pond, Bianca Hornyak and Coach Joe Leon. Front, from left, is Aaliyah Estrada, Victoria Salgado, Talia Estrada, Kaylee Richardson and Hayley Foster.
ful decisions that harm children,” Kotterman said. Allen, however, cited testimony from parents who said they have approached both school superintendents and school boards seeking multiple recess periods, only to have their requests spurned. The senator said that’s why legislators needed to intercede. It wasn’t just parents urging lawmakers to mandate the dual recess periods. “There’s actually empirical evidence
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that this is effective in improving academic achievement and attention,” testified former state Health Director Will Humble, now working with the Arizona Public Health Association. And Scott Turner, founder of the newly formed Healthy Futures U.S. program, told lawmakers that the increased focus on academic performance at the expense of free time has resulted in a sharp increase in the number of children with diabetes.
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May 2018
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Youth
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GIRL SCOUTS NEWS
BY GSN STAFF
Excellent cookies sales
Girl Scouts–Arizona Cactus-Pine Council is celebrating a very successful cookie season. From January 22 to March 4, participating Girl Scouts across central and northern Arizona summoned their inner G.I.R.L. (Go-getter, Innovator, Risk-taker, Leader) as they sold nearly 3 million boxes of cookies, building entrepreneurial skills imperative to leadership and future success. How the cookies crumbled, by the numbers: 12,292 girls in central and northern Arizona sold 2,942,242 boxes of cookies during the six-week cookie program. That’s an average of 239 boxes for each girl. The top cookie seller sold 4,874 boxes of cookies. Thirty-nine girls sold more than 2,000 packages. 223,244 packages of cookies were sold online through Digital Cookie, a way for girls to market and sell their cookies to friends and family online via a website they created, thus allowing girls to learn ecommerce business skills. The most popular cookie? Thin Mints. 32 percent of sales went to this cookie, followed closely by Samoas at 20 percent. Girl Scouts staffed more than 20,000 booths thanks to Bashas’, Fry’s, Safeway, Goodwill, H&R Block, ASU, Walmart, Sam’s Club, Más Communications and other restaurants and businesses. The Girl Scout Cookie Program not only helps Girl Scouts earn money for fun, educational activities and community projects, but also plays an important role in helping girls learn essential life skills, like decision making, money management, people skills, business ethics and goal setting. All proceeds from the cookie program support Arizona’s Girl Scouts. For more information, visit girlscoutsaz.org.
Summer camps registration Registration for the Girl Scouts–Arizona Cactus Pine-Council summer camps is open for its four locations. Along with traditional camp activities, each location has special offerings to accommodate diverse interests. The camps’ purpose remains the same: to provide girls a safe and supportive place to have fun, make new friends, learn new skills and explore the outdoors. The camps, its program focus and associated open house dates are as follows: The Parsons Leadership Center, Phoenix: a new state-of-the-art urban camp with sessions for day and overnight campers. Programs include STEM-related activities, archery, swimming, arts and crafts and field trips. Open house: 4 to 8 p.m. Saturday, May 26, at 1611 E. Dobbins Road, Phoenix.
Willow Springs, Prescott: emphasizes artistic endeavors like ceramics, fashion and theater, as well as hiking, archery and aviation. Open house: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, June 2, at 775 Camp Willow Springs Road, Prescott.
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Shadow Rim Ranch, Payson: offers outdoor adventures such as hiking, canoeing, outdoor cooking, zip-lining and archery. Open house: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, May 27, at 530 N. Shadow Rim Road, Payson.
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Camp Maripai, Prescott: offers a traditional camp experience along with horsemanship programs for beginners through advanced riders. Open house: 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, June 2, at 201 E. Maripai Road, Prescott.
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(Photo courtesy Central Christian Church)
As part of Central Christian Church’s volunteer service to local schools, a young girl named Ella helps stock and organize books in a school library. As part of Teacher Appreciation Week this month, a massive volunteer group numbering in the thousands will be servicing 73 schools in the East Valley, including 22 in Gilbert.
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Spirituality
May 2018
Spiritual Connections The Bridge Church 645 N. Gilbert Road, Suite 180, Gilbert 480-294-7888 bridgechurchaz.org Service: 10 a.m. Sundays We exist to help people know God and become everything God created them to be. We do this by helping people begin a relationship with God, grow in that relationship to find freedom from the struggles they experience, discover the purpose for which God made them and live out their purpose to make a difference in the church and in the world. Central Christian Church-Gilbert 965 E. Germann Road, Gilbert centralaz.com Services: 4 and 5:30 p.m. Saturdays; 9 a.m., 10:30 a.m. and noon Sundays While the Bible itself is the church’s official document of faith, the website lists a variety of statements that fundamentally define the church. Please visit the website for more information. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints 3301 S. Greenfield Road, Gilbert 480-822-5000 lds.org
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First United Methodist Church of Gilbert 331 S. Cooper Road, Gilbert 480-892-9166 gilbertumc.org Services: 8 and 9:30 a.m. (traditional services) and 11 a.m. (contemporary service) Sundays The two traditional services feature the Chancel choir and traditional worship. The 11 a.m. service has a contemporary feel, with music from the Praise Band. The 9:30 a.m. service generally has the largest attendance. Gilbert Presbyterian Church 235 E. Guadalupe Road, Gilbert 480-892-6753 azgpc.org Services: 8:30 and 11 a.m. Sundays Gilbert Presbyterian Church is called to be a Christ-centered covenant family nurtured by the Holy Spirit to worship God and to share God’s love. The Lawrence Memorial AME Zion Church 1141 E. Guadalupe Road, Gilbert 480-772-3603 Services: 10:15 a.m. Sunday; Bible study is 6:30 p.m. Tuesday The Lawrence Memorial Church is a contemporary church. We are a multicultural church that is simply looking to reach the unreachable with love. Living Water United Methodist Fellowship Highland Park Elementary School 230 N. Cole Dr., Gilbert livingwaterum.org Services: 10 a.m. Sundays Living Water exists to bring people in to meet Christ, build people up to follow Christ and send people out to share Christ. Mission Community Church 4450 E. Elliot Road, Gilbert 480-545-4024 mission68.org Services: 4 and 6 p.m. Saturdays and
A Sermon Series on The Life and Ministry of Jesus in the Gospels
Sundays at 10:00 am 645 N Gilbert Rd, Suite 180 Gilbert, AZ 85234 (Southeast corner of Gilbert & Guadalupe, south of EVDI) Pastor Kent Bertrand 480.294.7888 www.bridgechurchaz.org
9, 10:30 and 11:59 a.m. Sundays The Bible is God’s word to all people. It was written by human authors under the supernatural guidance of the Holy Spirit. Because it is inspired by God, it is truth and without error in the original manuscripts. Redemption Gilbert 1820 W. Elliot Road, Gilbert 480-632-2220 gilbert.redemptionaz.com/about/ a-brief-overview/ Services: 8, 9:30 and 11 a.m. Sundays Gospel means good news, but it is truly the most profound and glorious truth ever revealed. It is not advice, nor is it a system or philosophy to add to the congregants’ lives. It is an exclusive truth claim, a holistic worldview, the true story of the whole world, which by its very nature must redefine and recolor everything else. Resurrection Episcopal Church Meets at Gilbert Community Center, 130 N. Oak St., Gilbert 480-719-5343 resurrectiongilbert.org Services: 10 a.m. Sundays Resurrection officials say the congregation is a church you can believe in because you belong. This means it welcomes and embraces all people because God already has. Come for worship, fellowship and Bible study on Sundays and join the group on a spiritual journey to better understand God’s plan for our lives.
E. Guadalupe Rd.
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Starting January 8th, 2017, San Tan Bible Church please join us as we work through1424 theS. Promenade Lane, Gilbert Phone number N/A Community Bible Experience together, santanbible.org as a church family!
Services: 8:30 a.m. (Bible hour); 9:30 a.m. (Café 2:42) and 10 a.m. worship service Sundays
The church believes the glory of God is the chief end of all we do. Two Rivers Church 326 E. Guadalupe Road, Gilbert 480-892-2435, 2riverschurch.org Services: 6 p.m. Saturdays; and 10 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. (Spanish) Sundays Two Rivers Church exists to help lead congregants into a growing relationship with Jesus Christ by encouraging and equipping them to love God intimately and serve others. It has a casual environment with a serious faith. Sun Valley Community Church 456 E. Ray Road, Gilbert 480-632-8920 sunvalleycc.com Services: 4 and 5:30 p.m. Saturdays and 9, 10:30 and 11:59 a.m. Sundays The atmosphere is casual and friendly at Sun Valley Community Church. It places high value on authentic Christian living and placing Christ at the center of all our teachings. The church also offers worship music that is current and uplifting, along with focused weekend sermons that break down the Bible in a way that makes it easy to connect the word of God with today’s busy life. Vineyard Community Church 601 S. Cooper Road, Gilbert 480-892-5828 vineyardaz.com Services: 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. Sundays Vineyard Community is a casual, friendly and inviting church. Its desire is to be a safe place where people’s lives are being transformed by Christ in community for the world. The diverse community of Christ-followers seeks the radical in-breaking of the kingdom of God here and now. Followers worship God with the intention of touching Heaven and changing Earth.
Spirituality
www.GilbertSunNews.com
May 2018
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St. Benedict’s parishioners glimpse ‘the Promised Land’ BY PAUL MARYNIAK
It was a most unusual site that awaited congregants of the Parish of St. Benedict in Ahwatukee after Mass on a recent weekend. Within a chalked diagram on the large lot outside the church on 48th Street, a baby wading pool lay where the baptismal font would be. The coat tree with the wedding gown signified the bridal waiting room that will also host crying infants. A toy piano and four folding chairs stood in an area where the choir would be. And behind a makeshift altar where plastic facsimile of a stain glass window hung from a fully upraised scissor lift, life-sized cardboard dummies of the pastor, Father Bob Binta, and the pope greeted all who inspected the site. “We wanted to have a carnival atmosphere,” explained parishioner MacGarret Becker. That atmosphere accompanied a serious purpose for the display, which members of Boy Scout Troop 77 guarded by camping overnight on the Saturday. After five years of intense planning, focus groups involving scores of their fellow congregants and many long meetings with architects and other professionals, Becker and a small group of parishioners took a big leap toward achieving their dream of a new church – which draws many of its members as far east as Gilbert, especially along the Santan Loop 202. They launched a fund drive to raise $3.5 million – half the estimated cost of the new building that they hope to open by Christmas 2019, less than 18 months from a planned groundbreaking this fall. To show their fellow parishioners what those five years had produced and what that money will yield, Becker, the fundraising campaign manager, and Eamonn Ahearne, the general campaign chairman along with his wife Karen, worked with their planning group to outline the footprint of the 20,000-squarefoot church and its components. The new church will replace the gymnasium-like building that St. Benedict’s 1,300 families have been using for worship for 13 years – 10 years longer than the congregation had planned on using it. Located only a few thousand feet from the recently completed Mountain Park Church, the new St. Benedict’s building is needed not just to house a growing congregation’s worship time but because its ministries need more room as well, Ahearne said. “We’re splitting at the seams,” he said. “Having the church will give us the space and the room to allow our ministries to grow.”
(Photos special to GSN) After five years of intense planning, focus groups and many long meetings with architects and other professionals, parishioners took a big leap toward achieving their dream of a new church.
The largest of St. Benedict’s vast array of ministries is its chapter of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, which operates a food pantry and helps poor families and individuals in other ways. The parish’s Knights of Columbus, which raises thousands of dollars annually for various charitable endeavors, needs more room – as do the monthly Red Cross blood drives that attract so many donors two mobile units are assigned to accommodate them. Meeting rooms inside two temporary barracks-style buildings behind the existing church are used to house homeless families for a week twice a year. Besides needing more meeting and storage space for these and a host of other groups and activities, however, parishioners want a church that …well, looks more like a church. “We have couples who are getting married and they say, ‘We love it here. We love the people. We love the masses. But we’d like something that looks a little more like a church for our wedding,” Ahearne said. Formed in 1985 in Chandler, the congregation has moved several times
– most recently in 2004 when it came to Ahwatukee. “Since our founding, we have been nomads, moving from one place to another for worship,” Binta states in a campaign brochure, recalling how one parishioner told him, “It is time for us to settle in the ‘Promised Land.’” The number of parish families has more than tripled in size since 1989, said Martin Ruggerio, honorary campaign chair along with wife Linda and Marcia and Jay Iole. And it draws families as far away as Gilbert and Maricopa, many living along the Santan Loop 202. When the existing church was built, Ruggerio said, it was originally conceived as a building that would be used for worship only three years and then become a gym for adjacent St. John Bosco Catholic School, which was already there when the congregation moved. In 2013, a group of parishioners decided it was time to start planning for “the Promised Land.” Three years of “having a lot of focus groups” produced a master plan for the next 25 years of the church campus’ development, Ahearne said, adding, “Then a building group worked for another two years.” “We were shocked by the number of people who said go forth and do,” Ahearne said. “Now we’ve got to get the
money to do it.” Working with the architectural firm of Orcutt Winslow, the group also assigned a retired executive from their parish, Bob Prezkop, to ride herd on planning for every detail of the new edifice while it also paid off a remaining $3 million mortgage in three years – eight years ahead of schedule. The campaign committee that has stepped up to get that money also includes special events chairs Marilyn and Bon Johnston as well as Julie and Parker Davis, Chettie and Hal Dodson, Carol and Don Engel, Holly and Dave Forseth, Chona Guang, Barb and John Phelps, Linda and Charlie Schifano, Karen and Chris Somers, Cathy and Mike Templeton and Jennie and Jim Tighe. Carol Lawless and Mary Jane Livens provide administrative support. While architectural renderings of the new church’s interior and exterior may not be exactly what the congregation ends up with, they nonetheless represent a pretty close idea of what planners and their fellow parishioners hope to end up with. The weekend’s display was aimed at giving them another glimpse at “the Promised Land” in the hopes of inspiring them to open their wallets. “We believe in the power of the personal appeal,” Ahearne said, describing St. Benedict as “a welcoming church.” “When you sit down across from a family and share your passion for St. Benedict and the benefits this new church will provide, the prospective donor comes to a true understanding of how our community will grow. And that’s wonderful news for all of us.”
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May 2018
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Arts
May 2018
Cash prizes to be awarded for student photos BY MELODY BIRKETT
Some fledgling photographers will win money for their work in Art Intersection’s Emerge 2018: Student Photography Exhibit. “We call it Emerge because we’re wanting to support the emerging art and the emerging photography of the artist,” said Alan Fitzgerald, Art Intersection executive director. The opening reception is from 5 to 8 p.m. Saturday, March 8, and this exhibition runs through Saturday, May 26. This year’s juror was Ashley Czajkowski, who selected the estimated 100 photographs to show out of 1,000 submissions. “Ashley has been critiqued in the presentation of her work, so she has an eye to look for photographs of good craft, good skill, good technique and good creativity,” Fitzgerald said. Students from high school to the university level could submit up to three photographs online. They could use any type of camera, ranging from a smartphone to a film camera. “The intention is to look at all of the work that was submitted by that person,” Fitzgerald said. “We wanted to see that there was care and consideration, some craft, skill and talent in the work.” For many students, this is the first time their work was printed, framed and displayed for the public. “A number of the people submitting have been in exhibitions,” Fitzgerald said. “Some of them have been in art galleries before. It’s always challenging to have your work shown in public.” Three cash prizes will be awarded. Best of Show: $250. Sponsored by
Through Each Other’s Eyes, a group that develops exchanges with photographers in other countries to document photographically a new culture from an outsider’s viewpoint. Best of High School: $100. Sponsored by Kelly and Dennis Collins, local artists, art patrons and Art Intersection members. Best of Post-High School: $100. Sponsored by Charlene Stand Engel, an artist who has shown her work at Art Intersection. “By the time we choose the Best of Show, Best of High School and Best PostHigh School, we have learned a little bit more about the photographer,” Fitzgerald said. “We are looking for talent and we’re looking for skill before we make an award.” Many students advance beyond Art Intersection after the exhibition. “Most of the work that is submitted are from students who are very serious about their work, and some of them are serious enough to make a career out of it,”
Fitzgerald said. Students who sell their work will be acknowledged, even if it’s purchased by a family member.
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“The majority of the work is for sale and so the student can make money out of the sale of their work if they find an interested buyer,” Fitzgerald. “That’s something we do encourage, but it’s not a requirement in this exhibition that the work be for sale.”
Emerge 2018: Student Photography Exhibit 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday through May 26; opening reception is 5 to 8 p.m. Saturday, May 5 Art Intersection, 207 N. Gilbert Road, Suite 201, Gilbert Free 480-361-1118, artintersection.com
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May 2018
Arts
www.GilbertSunNews.com
(Photo courtesy CRA)
Alea Davis said she hopes to reach others with her music and inspire people to follow their dreams.
Gilbert teen Alea Davis wins Be Heard! competition BY ALEXIS ANDREOPOULIS
Gilbert high school senior Alea Davis recently realized her dream of recording her music in a professional studio, thanks to an annual competition sponsored by the Conservatory of Recording Arts & Sciences (CRAS). The competition, called Be Heard!, was developed for local aspiring musicians who are attending high schools near CRAS’ Tempe and Gilbert campuses. “The competition is based on making contact with the high school counselors/ instructors and presenting them with the opportunity of engaging their musically gifted students to BE HEARD!” explained Kirt Hamm, CRAS administrator. Davis, 17, attends American Leadership Academy, and was introduced to the competition by J.R. Hamm, high school liaison for the CRAS. “He showed a video of what CRAS has
to offer, and I learned that CRAS wants to bring your vision to life,” Davis said. “When I heard about the Be Heard! competition, I was immediately excited.” As a result of winning, Davis participated in recording sessions of her own with the help of industry professionals in one of their world-class studios. “The producer allowed me to listen to my song multiple times and I was able to give my own input,” Davis said. “I found that to be very important and I loved that about the experience.” Davis hopes to reach others with her music and inspire people to follow their dreams. “My future goals in music are to put out uplifting, inspiring songs with a message within every one of them,” she said. “I want my audience to remember how they felt while listening to my music.”
Arts
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Hale Centre Theatre brings Broadway musical ‘Big Fish’ to the stage BY ALEXIS ANDREOPOULIS
Like father, like son? Maybe not in the Broadway musical Big Fish. Big Fish tells the story of 60-yearold Edward Bloom, a traveling salesman who claims to lead an extraordinary life according to the stories he tells his son, Will. However, as the years go on, Edward falls ill and Will, who is expecting to be a father, wonders if all the tales his father told him were true. The musical is based on the 2003 movie of the same name directed by Tim Burton. Hale Centre Theatre will be staging the production starting this month, and director Cambrian James says it’s the perfect tale to take in with family. “The reason I want Hale audiences to see it is because it is such a beautiful, well told story about the love of a father and son,” James said. “And when that son becomes a father, what he will do differently or exactly the same raising his own child.” James said it has been quite a process to get the show ready for opening night on May 17. “This is a huge show. It’s more like two or three shows. You have everything that happens in the present and you also have all the scenes in the past,” he said. “They all weave together beautifully to make a magical, heartwarming musical about life.” James added he’s very proud of the work the cast has put in and he’s excited for the opening day. “The music is beautiful, and the story will make you laugh and cry,” he said. “I haven’t been touched by a musical like this in a long time. I can’t wait for audiences to experience it.” Big Fish will be on stage at various times Wednesdays through Saturdays from May 17 through June 30 at Hale Centre Theatre, 50 W. Page Avenue, Gilbert. Tickets cost $20-$32. Details: 480-497-1181 or haletheatrearizona.com.
(Photo courtesy Hale Centre Theatre)
Laura Anne Kenney as Sandra Bloom and Chad Campbell as Edward Bloom in the Hale Centre Theatre production of Big Fish.
May 2018
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Tour Our Vibrant Growing Campus • Student-guided tours start every hour at the ARC, Monday – Saturday • Preview the state-of-the-art STEM building and high-tech labs, suite-style residence halls, GCU Stadium, Thunder Alley, Lopes Way and more!
• Explore more than 200 academic degree programs and discover the right major for you • Meet with an admissions counselor to discuss financial options and scholarship opportunities
PRIVATE. CHRISTIAN. AFFORDABLE. Visit gcu.edu/GoGCU for more info! For more information about our graduation rates, the median debt of students who completed the program and other important information, please visit our website at gcu.edu/disclosures. 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/). Important policy information is available in the University Policy Handbook at https://www.gcu.edu/academics/academic-policies.php GCU, while reserving its lawful rights in light of its Christian mission, is committed to maintaining an academic environment that is free from unlawful discrimination. Further detail on GCU’s Non-Discrimination policies can be found at gcu.edu/titleIX The information printed in this material is accurate as of February 2018. For the most up-to-date information about admission requirements, tuition, scholarships and more, visit gcu.edu ©2018 Grand Canyon University 18GTR0070
Opinion
www.GilbertSunNews.com
May 2018
Maricopa County can manage explosive growth
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BY DENNY BARNEY
In 2016-2017, Maricopa County added nearly 74,000 new residents, or a little more than 200 residents per day. Just think about what that means. You might picture tacking on the entire city of Flagstaff – with a population of about 72,000 – to one of our outer suburbs. Or you might imagine a sold-out Cardinals game at University of Phoenix Stadium – and then put an additional 10,000 fans on the field. Or maybe you can conjure an image of 50 families of four (and some pets), driving down the interstate in a long succession of moving vans on a single, sunny day, each headed for a different part of our county, hoping that this will be a good place to grow a life. However you picture it, we are the fastest-growing county in the nation and a significant amount of that growth is happening in the East Valley, where the tech, aerospace, and health industries are thriving, and neighbors often feel like extensions of family (and sometimes are family!). Our job as leaders is to ensure that we have the infrastructure, support systems, and business environment to move us forward, while not overextending our
resources in a way that will create problems for future generations. We can do this in several different ways. First, by being fiscally intelligent. We have worked hard to keep our budget balanced, our AAA credit rating intact, and our service costs well below our counterparts across the region. This year will be no different. Second, we need to create a pro-growth environment, and that means balancing our role Denny Barney as regulators with common sense policies that clear unnecessary red tape for businesses and individuals. I have led the charge to streamline the planning and permitting process for business folks, and we are now processing more plans than ever. The work isn’t done, though. We can do more. Third, we need to ensure that opportunity expands for everyone in our region, that our dramatic growth isn’t creating a larger economic divide. This has been a
guiding tenet for many of our agencies – from Human Services and Public Health, to the courts and law enforcement – that work with vulnerable populations. We are all trying to work together to ensure people have access to resources to improve their lives, whether those resources come from us or from our non-profit and community partners. Fourth, we need to make smart investments (Special to GSN) for future generations. This is the “dreaming” part of the job, where we get to envision what Maricopa County will look like 20-30 years down the road and then work with departments to design plans to get there. What kind of transportation do we need? What type of water management and flood protection? How can we ensure no drop off in public safety when we have such dramatic population growth? These are all questions we ask as we decide
where to spend money. Many people move to Maricopa County drawn to the intangibles – the weather, the open space, the independent spirit that says: yeah, sure, we can put down roots in the middle of a desert and not only survive, but thrive. Just 4.3 million of us standing tall, moving forward in the midst of a summer heat wave, otherwise known as April through October. What I want to do is ensure the essence of our great community – the stuff that’s always been there, the stuff we can’t control – isn’t overtaken by a government that tries to do too much, that gets involved in issues that are better handled locally, that becomes a hindrance and not a helping hand. I’m proud of the work we’ve done to ensure Maricopa County government is a partner to all – new residents and current ones – in this exciting time of expansion. Denny Barney is a Gilbert resident and a member of the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors.
Monthly Dementia Caregiver
Support Group
Often times, we hear caregivers say they are looking for support from people who “really understand because they’ve been there, too.” Our Dementia Caregiver Support Group is a safe place to do just that. • Exchange practical information on caregiving problems and possible solutions • Talk through challenges and ways of coping • Share feelings, needs and concerns Facilitator: Chaplin Bill, Savior Hospice
Meeting the 2nd Wednesday of Each Month 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. RSVP 24 hours in advance to (480) 900-6815. When you RSVP, please ask for accommodations for your loved one during our Support Group. info@SavannaHouseSeniorLiving.com | (480) 900-6815 | SavannaHouseSeniorLiving.com | 1415 North San Benito Drive | Gilbert, AZ 85234
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Opinion
May 2018
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Thriving in a gig economy easier with the internet BY MIKE HATHCOTE
Overall, the economy is recovering. This is a good thing, right? Some of us, through no fault of our own, can unfortunately still become victims of the dreaded D word, “downsizing.” In corporate America, when it comes to the bottom line, consolidating the workforce is a commonly used practice to cut costs. But this doesn’t have to be the nightmare that it seems to be. What do you like to do in your spare time? Write? Graphic design? Photography? Video editing? Turn that passion into a career and become a freelancer. In my case, one of my “side hustles” was doing voiceover work for commercials and narration. I had begun my career in the ’90s in radio, but after life took me elsewhere, I still had a knack for it and loved giving a voice to those who needed it. So, I continued to do side work where I could find it. Fast forward to 2017, when the tech company I worked for eliminated my position. They offered to keep me on in another role, but I felt that I wouldn’t be as happy, so I took the leap. I figured that this was the universe telling me that if I ever wanted to pursue a career as a fulltime voice talent, the time was now.
Water Features
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The internet has really changed the way people acquire services. There are many sites out there like upwork.com, freelancer.com, fiverr. com, etc. that are free to use and allow you make money providing a service that adds value. The trick is finding customers who can use your skills. For example, in the voiceover industry, any business can be a potential client. Maybe they need a professional voice for their voicemail greeting, or an explainer Mike Hathcote or marketing video for YouTube. If they’re producing radio or TV commercials, they’ll usually need a voice
for that too. The idea is to get in front of as many of these businesses as possible. The sites I mentioned earlier are just one way to enter the world of freelancing. Social media can be a huge way to reach out to potential clients. I use LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter religiously to introduce myself to prospective clients and let them know what I can do for them. I’ll give them a brief introduc(Special to GSN) tion and then a link to my website, mikehathcote.com, where they can hear my work. Another great way to target potential
The internet has really changed the way people acquire services. There are many sites out there... that are free to use and allow you to make money providing a service that adds value.
Experience the Difference
clients is to use Google to search for businesses that can use your services. If you’re a graphic designer, what businesses can use graphic design? Maybe a web designer, a signage company, a business that needs a new logo? The possibilities are endless. Just search for that category, visit their website and introduce yourself and your portfolio. Always position it as what you can do for them to grow their business and the value you bring to the table. Don’t make it all about you. Obviously, nobody wants to be in a position with a job loss. But you can start now by offering your services on a parttime basis and grow your business until you’re ready to take the leap. Although I’m not quite where I was financially, I’m well on my way and look forward to surpassing that very soon. Most importantly, I’m the happiest I’ve been in years. I wish you the best of luck in your journey. Mike Hathcote is a full-time voice talent with more than 20 years of experience providing voice services for commercial, narration, telephony and live events. He lives in Gilbert with his wife and two kids.
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Award-winning Arizona builder for 39 years. Blandford Homes specializes in building master planned environments with a variety of amenities and charm. Many offer resort-style amenities such as pools, spa, fitness, tennis, event lawns, and lifestyle activities, you’ll find the perfect community to fit your lifestyle. A Mountain Bridge 6 BRAND NEW REVOLUTIONARY MODEL HOMES!
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