Gilbert Sun News 101622

Residents push back at Rivulon apartment project.

Homeowners braced for Ocotillo Road fight

BY CECILIA CHAN GSN Managing Editor

After months of looking for a compro mise that will satisfy residents, town officials are back to their original plan to take land from 46 property own ers for the widening of Ocotillo Road from 148th Street to Greenfield Road.

But they’ll have a fight on their hands.

Gilbert staff sat down last week with the affected homeowners to explain why it need ed 130 feet of right-of-way – 65 feet on each

side of Ocotillo Road from its center. This will allow the town to upgrade the two-lane road way into four travel lanes and a center-turn lane.

“The Town of Gilbert is following all the rules and we’re doing it by the books,” said Town Engineer David Fabiano. “We’re not here to hurt or harm anybody.”

Nine of the properties are in Gilbert’s juris diction and 37 are in Maricopa County.

Fabiano said Ocotillo Road has been planned as a minor arterial for a couple of decades and without the improvement, con

Cyclist files $800K claim against town, county over mishap

BY CECILIA CHAN GSN Managing Editor

Abicyclist wants $800,000 in damages from Gilbert and the county, claiming their closure of a bike lane for a road proj ect led to his accident.

Curt Shumway filed a notice of claim Sept. 8 for $400,000 with Gilbert and another $400,000 with Maricopa County, a partnering jurisdiction on the road construction on East Riggs Road near Key Biscayne Drive, where the accident occurred.

“This claim is still under review,” said town spokeswoman Jenni

gestion will only get worse.

Although Ocotillo Road currently dead -ends at Greenfield and at Higley roads, Gil bert plans to rectify that with a 545-foot-long bridge with four travel lanes.

The “signature bridge” over the future phase of Gilbert Regional Park will not only provide direct access to the public amenity but a straight east-west travel corridor be tween Queen Creek and Chandler.

About 4,200 cars per day now travel on

Strike up the band!

Nathan Benitez, right, Gilbert High Orchestra teacher and Marching Band Tech gives some tips to Tacen Asay during the Gilbert Tiger Pride Marching Band’s appearance at a regional tournament at Basha High. Now the band needs the community’s help to get to the London New Year’s Day Parade. The band is holding a fundraiser Friday, as you’ll read

page

Gilbert lands at bottom of national green survey

energy efficiency programs.

Gilbert landed dead last on a list of 100 largest U.S. cities when it comes to promoting a green life style, according to WalletHub.

Other East Valley cities didn’t fare much better with Scottsdale ranked at 53, Chandler, 95, and Mesa, 98 on 2022’s Greenest Cities in America report. Phoe nix was No. 72 on the list while San Di ego, CA achieved an overall No. 1 rank ing.

“Cities should invest in going green,” said James Van Nostrand, director for West Virginia University’s Center for En ergy & Sustainable Development. “The primary benefits are cost savings, which will provide financial benefits to cities and their taxpayers.”

Van Nostrand said a good example is investing in energy-efficiency measures for city-owned buildings and adopting policies that encourage businesses and residents to take advantage of available

“Cities’ investments in energy-effi ciency measures in government build ings will produce immediate benefits for taxpayers, in the form of lower energy bills and freeing up financial resources to provide other essential city services,” he said.

The personal-financial website com pared the municipalities across four key areas – environment, transportation, energy sources and lifestyle and policy – using 28 relevant metrics.

Under environment, Gilbert was rat ed on factors such as air-quality index, greenhouse-gas emissions per capi ta and green space and had an overall ranking at 99.

The town received an overall ranking of 92 for transportation that took into consideration its share of commuters who drive alone, walk score, and acces sibility of jobs by public transit.

Gilbert did better for energy sources that included share of electricity from

renewable sources with an overall rank ing of 76.

And under lifestyle and policy, which included farmers markets and number of smart-energy policies, Gilbert’s over all ranking was 68.

Gilbert, however, has several projects and initiatives in place aimed at making the community more sustainable, said town spokeswoman Kelsey Perry.

She ticked off a list of examples, in cluding the town’s investments in re newable energy sources like hydropow er and solar power, the implementation of a dust-control program and chemical scrubbers at its water treatment plants to reduce air pollution and improve air quality and a Household Hazardous Waste Facility that helps prevent haz ardous waste from reaching the landfills.

Perry said the town also does inspec tions and proper cleanup of 100% of illicit discharges on its streets to pre vent surface water contamination, has installed smart-irrigation controllers at

all Gilbert parks and recently launched a smart irrigation controller rebate pro gram for residents and business owners to encourage a reduction in outdoor wa ter use.

Gilbert recycles and reuses 100% of the community’s wastewater for land scapes to recharge its aquifers and has an “award-winning Landscape Water Budget Program that reduces water us age for large landscapes like HOAs or commercial properties,” she said.

And, the reconstruction of the North Water Treatment Plant will allow Gil bert to fully utilize its renewable wa ter resources and protect groundwater supplies while implementing new treat ment processes that will make it easier to adapt and address water-quality chal lenges, Perry said.

She also pointed to the town’s Shade and Streetscape Master Plan, which was

Spence isn’t new to the Gilbert Town Council. I actually paid for his advertisement in this very paper before I realized he’s the same Bill who in 2020, rubber-stamped for our current Mayor who loves apartments, big developers, and had 9 ethics complaints filed against her and at least one open meeting law violation and now I hear somebody is processing a civil rights action against her.

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Gilbert High band seeks help to get to London

The Gilbert Tiger Pride Marching

Band has a fundraiser on Oct. 21 to help raise money for a trip to London to perform in the New Year Day’s parade.

The annual parade, with over 10,000 performers, touts itself as “the largest event of its kind in the world” that at tracts 500 million global viewers and 650,000 street spectators.

The band’s most recent fundraiser was a car show on Sept. 24 that netted close to $1,800. The largest fundraiser coming up is the London Dinner and Auction this Friday, which will help pay for extras for the Dec. 27-Jan. 3 trip.

Elise Gould, public relations chair of the Gilbert High Band Boosters, ex plained the fundraiser and the trip for the Gilbert Sun News.

Share some details of the upcoming fundraiser.

It is a semi-formal dinner that is ca tered by one of our former band moms,

who is a professional caterer. We will serve a menu of Tuscan grilled chicken, rice pilaf, broccoli salad, tossed garden salad, rolls, assorted lemonade, flavored water and dessert. There will be music and entertainment. The band will per form their parade tune, as well as some

of their other favorite tunes. We will have a silent, dollar and live auction, as well as several raffle gifts to win.

How many band members are going on the trip?

A total of 95 at the moment. We have almost 60 students going and over 30 family members, chaperones and staff –our band director, our Drumline Caption Head and one of our Color Guard instruc tors are going to London with the band.

Is Gilbert Public Schools helping fund the trip?

The district does not help fund the trip with their budget.

What is the fundraising goal and will that cover all the costs for the band?

Our fundraising goal is $30,000 to cover the extras of the trip. The cost of the trip is $3,500 per person, which has stayed the same for the past two years, as we were promised they would not in crease our cost from when the band was going in 2021.

Students must come up with the $3,500 by fundraising, getting tax cred its or other donations. The boosters are fundraising to pay for any extra costs. The band has opted to add more to the schedule to give the students more of an opportunity to experience the best Lon don has to offer.

The content of any advertisements are the sole responsibility of the advertiser. Gilbert Sun News assumes no responsibility for the claims of any advertisement.

These experiences include visiting Stonehenge, riding the London Eye and attending “The Phantom of the Op

The Gilbert Tiger Pride Marching Band performed in the Basha AZMBA Invitational Band Tournament at Basha High School Oct. 1. (Greg Skinner/Gilbert Tiger Pride Marching Band)

era.” All our fundraisers help pay for these additional expenses, as well as umbrellas, heavy/waterproof uniform, jackets, warmers and whatever other ex penses we might incur.

How else can the public help?

The community can help our kids on this trip by:

• Donate items for our London Dinner and Auction. The Gilbert Band Boost ers is a 501c3 tax-exempt organiza tion and can take tax-deductible do nations (see your tax advisor). Please contact GTPBigTrips@gmail.com to donate.

• Buy tickets to our London Dinner and Auction. Cost is $25 a ticket and in cludes the meal and entertainment. Please email GBBTreasurer@gmail. com for information on how to pur chase tickets.

• Donate your Arizona School Tax Credit to “Gilbert High School/ tax credit-Band/ London Trip” through the online community donation on the Gilbertschools.net website and az-gilbert-lite.intouchreceipting.

com/

• You can also donate online through the district website or print a form and take to the District or Gilbert High. On the form, choose Gilbert High School/Tax Credit-Band, then put in “London Trip.”

If we get enough donations, we would love to take all the students who could go.

How many times has the band per

formed in the London parade?

The Gilbert Tiger Pride Marching Band has a tradition of going on a “big trip” every three years for at least the past 30 years.

In 1993 they marched in the Tourna ment of Roses, 1996 -The Portland Rose Festival, 1998- the Florida Citrus Parade and Walt Disney World, 2001-The Inau gural Parade in Washington, DC and then later that year, Bands of America in In

dianapolis, 2004-05 Citrus Parade and WDW again, 2008 - St. Patrick’s Day Pa rade in Ireland, 2012- National Indepen dence Day Parade, Washington DC, 2015 - London New Years Day Parade (LNYDP) and 2018- Waikiki Memorial Parade, Ha waii.

The band was invited to attend the LNYDP for 2021, but had to postpone our plans due to COVID. We had to cancel because of COVID again for the LNYDP 2022. Finally, we get to go for the LNYDP in 2023!

What did prior students get from performing in the parade?

Having been on several trips with these amazing high school students, it amazes me to learn how many have never even been out of Arizona.

Many of them experience their first airplane trip. Some of these students will not have the opportunity to travel outside the states again.

The amount of education a student re ceives from being able to travel cannot be

The Gilbert Tiger Pride Marching Band hopes the community will help the students bring their musical mastery to London. (Greg Skinner/Gilbert Tiger Pride Marching Band)

Rivulon apartment plan gets pushback

BY CECILIA CHAN

Managing Editor

A

to put 352 apartment units at Rivulon, considered a key employment center in town, re cently got some public pushback.

The Planning Commission is sched uled Nov. 2 to vote on a recommendation to Town Council on a rezone and minor General Plan amendment on the 10.31 acres near the southwest corner of Lind say and Pecos roads. The land is current ly zoned Business Park.

“I’m a Gilbert native,” said Bret Ryan at the Oct. 5 Planning Commission meet ing. “I’ve lived here since 1978 and seen a lot of changes in town and I’m kind of done with the multifamily.

“There’s a lot of multifamily going up and I think we just need to take a step back at this point and evaluate that this is in the Rivulon area.”

Ryan said the mixed-used 280-acre Rivulon development, home to Fortune

500 companies such as Deloitte and Morgan Stanley and restaurants, is a great area to bike and walk through.

“The landscaping is great,” he said.

“We enjoy it. We work out there at the club (Esporta). But this does not fit Riv ulon – the five stories, the added height.

I’ve seen the elevations (and) I don’t care if you’re on the third floor, fourth floor

Community

or fifth floor, you’re going to look right down into $800,000 homes’ backyards.”

He said the design for Stillwater Riv ulon needs more work and that more parking is needed than what is being proposed.

The apartments are required to have 536 parking spaces but the proposal is to provide 485 parking spaces – 234

covered and 90 garages. To make up for the shortage of 51 overflow guest spots, parking would be shared with an adja cent office building.

“They’re trying to put 20 acres on a 10-acre site,” Ryan continued. “That’s evident from the reduced parking di mensions, the reduced setbacks and the reduced landscaping that they’re asking for. There’re a lot of things that could be worked on in this proposal.”

Lora Ruiz asked when the last stud ies were done on the project to show its impact on schools, traffic and public re sources.

“How did they address the financial and academic performance implications that a project of this size would have on the local schools?” Ruiz asked. “Our cur rent schools both elementary and high schools were based and built upon the current zoning and density regulations.”

She claimed that the apartment proj

FOR THE DEMENTIA CAREGIVER

FOR THE

Rivulon wants to add buildings with 352 apartments to its massive office complex in Gilbert. (Town of Gilbert)

fer Harrison. The county did not respond to a request for comment.

Shumway, a Chandler business owner, referred all questions to his attorney Bob Boatman.

Boatman declined to go beyond what was stated in the notice of claim but did say his client plans to sue if his claims are denied. Boatman won a $1.9 million set tlement for the family of a woman slain at a pharmacy drive-thru by a Chandler cop in 2002. That high-profile case saw a jury eventually acquit then-officer Daniel Lovelace of second-degree murder.

According to the claim, Shumway was pedaling in the bike lane on East Riggs Road in March, heading west towards Key Biscayne Drive, when he noticed the lane was closed due to construction on the road.

His claim says he was forced to merge from the bike lane to the No. 2 lane and that there was no barricaded bike lane to use and turning around was not a safe option as he would be facing oncoming drivers.

While in the No. 2 lane, a motorist merged into his lane from the No. 1 lane and attempted to pass him, sideswiping him instead, Shumway said. He claimed the driver kept repeating, “’I didn’t even see him.’”

Shumway said he was in the middle of the road and attempted to roll over and get up but he couldn’t move his left arm.

He said as he reached for help with his right hand to a few construction work ers who had rushed over, he realized his hand was broken. The workers eventual ly moved Shumway off the road and as he tried to breathe, he “felt like he was suf focating.” He later learned he had a col lapsed lung.

According to the claim, paramedics had to cut Shumway’s shirt off as “his ribs were broken and sticking out, and his clavicle was broken and sticking out 4 inches from where it should sit.”

Shumway said he told the police officer at the scene that he was not in the bike lane because it was cut off by construc tion but that he was as far right as he could in the No. 2 lane.

A CT scan, an MRI and multiple x-rays at Chandler Regional Medical Center re vealed that Shumway had a broken clav

icle, six broken ribs on his left side, a col lapsed left lung, a broken shoulder on the front and back of his shoulder, a broken thumb and a broken hand, the claim stat ed.

Shumway said he “had to spend days in the hospital in pain before he was tak en into surgery to have his shoulder put back together.”

When he was discharged, he had to go to a specialist for surgery on his right hand, which was broken where the ten don attaches.

The surgeon had to cut open Shum way’s hand, break it, realign it and then put in three 3-inch pins to hold every thing in place for six weeks.

Shumway said his left arm was in a sling for seven weeks and his right arm was in a cast for weeks, making it nearly impossible for him to be self-sufficient.

After the surgeries, he underwent months of physical therapy.

“On top of the physical injuries claim ant has had to endure, the mental and emotional toll has been extreme as well,” the claim said.

“He cannot sleep, he could not eat and the medication he was on made him suf fer severe constipation,” it further stated. “Overall, claimant has been suffering in side and out since the accident occurred.”

Before the accident, Shumway was an avid bicyclist, having participated last year in the 102-mile El Tour de Tucson bike race.

“Cycling was claimant’s life and a huge part of his identity,” the claim said. “Now, claimant is unsure if he will ever be able to ride again The anxiety from even thinking of getting on his bike is so high, he does not see how he will be able to ride again in the future, if ever at all.”

And, because he has been unable to exercise or bike, Shumway said “he is finding himself suffering emotionally and mentally” and has severe anxiety because he is trapped at home. Doctors have told him his broken ribs could take a year to heal.

Attorney Boatman blamed the town and the county for Shumway’s physical and mental injuries.

Boatman in the claim said both ju risdictions have the duty to keep their streets and sidewalks reasonably safe for

travel by the public.

“According to the Traffic Barricade Manual, the Town of Gilbert and Maricopa County should have created a temporary accessible, safe, and clearly defined route when the construction work encroached into the bike lane,” Boatman said.

He said both failed to do so when they forced Shumway into the “shared road way with no safety measures in place for bicyclists that have to merge with parallel traffic traveling at higher rates of speed.”

Shumway “was using the safety mea sures (bike lane) put in place by the Town of Gilbert to keep him safe, when sudden ly, those safety measures were removed while claimant was riding his bike,” Boat man argued. And “the Town of Gilbert and Maricopa County failed to give ade quate warning to bicyclists and motorists alike that a lane closure would be coming.

“Instead, because of the lack of advance warnings, claimant was unable to ade quately perceive, react, and respond to the unexpected land closure while he was on the road leaving him with no option

but to merge with traffic.”

Boatman said the town and the county could have taken reasonable steps to en sure the safety of cyclists during the con struction with measures such as creating a temporary bike lane with a barrier or post signs alerting the public of the bikelane closure. That would have allowed Shumway enough time to find a safety al ternative route, the lawyer said.

Boatman citing standard practice said when a lane is closed for construction two advanced warnings need to be in place with the first sign 1,500 feet from the site and the second warning, 500 to 1,000 feet.

“Here, there were no signs indicating lane closure, allowing and creating a dan gerous situation in which an accident is likely to occur,” Boatman said.

He said Boatman, who still suffered pain, has incurred $188,152 in medical bills.

The town and county each have 180 days from receipt of the claim to accept or reject it.

EV state legislator wants to pull funds from PBS

BY HOWARD FISCHER Capitol Media Services

es these debates.

AScottsdale

legislator who also heads the House Appropriations Committee wants to pull all state funds from Arizona PBS over what he said is the station’s mishandling of the gubernatorial debate.

Republican Rep. John Kavanagh ac knowledged that KAET-TV has the right to air what it wants. And that includes what station officials say is its obligation to provide equal time to Democrat Katie Hobbs after Republican Kari Lake was go ing to get 30 minutes of airtime.

But Kavanagh told Capitol Media Ser vices last week that the station, which is part of the Cronkite School of Journalism at Arizona State University, has had an ongoing relationship with the Citizens Clean Elections Commission that arrang

“The rules for years were if a candidate refuses to debate, they don’t get time,’’ he said.

That was the case here, with the com mission agreeing to provide a 30-minute interview for Lake with host Ted Simons after Hobbs refused to share the stage.

On Wednesday, though, the station decided on its own it would provide the same opportunity for Hobbs on its nightly Horizon show this coming week despite the fact the commission had rejected her request for separate interviews. And Lake’s interview, originally scheduled for Wednesday, would immediately follow.

“It smacks of partisan politics,’’ Kavana gh said of the decision of Arizona PBS to allow Hobbs an opportunity despite her spurning commission rules.

“They’re reneging on a commitment they made to Clean Elections to go by the rules that promote Clean Elections de bates,’’ Kavanagh said. “And that’s why it’s a problem.’’

He also said giving Hobbs an interview even after she refused to debate will en courage future candidates to do the same, without fear of forfeiting airtime on the Phoenix PBS affiliate.

Kavanagh was not the only Republican lashing out at the station for its decision.

“It just seems wrong,’’ Gov. Doug Ducey told KTAR talk show host Mike Broom head on Thursday. “And I think PBS needs

GetConnected

to fix it.’’

What that means, the governor said, is the station going back to its original arrangement with Clean Elections. That means either Hobbs shows up for an ac tual debate “or Kari Lake can have that time.’’

“They made a mistake here,’’ Ducey said of Arizona PBS. “They should just rip the Band-Aid off and fix it.’’

But Ducey press aide C.J. Karamargin said his boss would not comment on Ka vanagh’s bid to defund the station.

The university, for its part, continues to defend its decision.

ASU Vice President Jay Thorne said it was the “custom and responsibility of Horizon as a news agency’’ to provide time to all candidates. And he said that decision to offer both of them time on the news show -- separate and apart from any commission-sponsored event -- did not violate any agreement Arizona PBS had with the commission.

“The failure of the candidates to come to an agreement on a debate format ren dered it dead,’’ Thorne said. “And, lacking

that forum, Arizona PBS and Horizon are advancing as they would under any other circumstance in providing time for each candidate.’’

That’s not exactly true.

In 2018, when Ducey refused to debate Secretary of State Ken Bennett ahead of the Republican gubernatorial primary, the station gave Bennett airtime on his own. And just this year former Nogales Mayor Marco Lopez, seeking the Demo cratic nomination for governor, got a halfhour interview with Simons after Hobbs refused to debate him.

Similar arrangements have been made in other races lower on the ticket.

“I’ve given you the comment I’m going to give you on that,’’ Thorne responded.

Whether there will be back-to-back ap pearances as proposed this coming Tues day remains to be seen.

Lake said Wednesday, after Arizona PBS announced its decision to give time to Hobbs, that she would appear on the air at the station only if allowed to actual ly debate her, as was the original arrange ment.

“I will agree to appear with Katie Hobbs next Tuesday, on the stage, together,’’ Lake said.”And if she doesn’t appear with me, they should kick her out and say she can’t be on the airwaves of PBS.”

On Thursday, Lake press aide Ross Trumble said he won’t speculate on what the GOP nominee would do until the com mission makes further comments.

But Tom Collins, the commission’s ex ecutive director, said the only thing being considered now is whether another sta tion would give Lake time on her own, as was the arrangement with Arizona PBS after Hobbs backed out of the debate.

Eliminating state funding would have an effect.

The most recent figures show that just $488,652 of the station’s $20.2 million annual budget comes directly from ASU, with the largest share, about $7.3 million, in subscription and membership income. But the university provides nearly $2.1 million in “indirect administrative sup port,’’ which likely includes space and utilities in the Cronkite School in down town Phoenix..”

Buchli answers second round of questions

Editor’s note: Realtor Bobbi Buchli and re tired Navy of fice Bill Spence are in the Nov. 8 General Elec tion for the final open seat on Gil bert Town Coun cil. The Gilbert Sun News last week published Spence’s answers to a sec ond candidate questionnaire it prepared for the two candidates. Candidates were advised their answers would be edited for length in print if they exceeded 50 words. The answers run in full, along with the previous questionnaires and their previ ous columns, at gilbertsunnews.com un der the Election 2022 button on the home page.

What are two of the biggest needs for government help among small busi nesses in Gilbert and how would you address them?

Capital – Provide information on the available funds through loans and/or grants or SBA loans, contract work Resources to help growth - Provide sources and avenues for Economic De velopment Programs, possible tax incen tives, tech support, grant programs

Every municipality, including Gil bert, is struggling with the recruit ment and retention of police officers. Other than throwing money at this crisis, what can Council do to help?

Council should make our first re sponders a top priority. The retention and recruitment problems can be solved by taking care of those that ensure the safety of our town. It has long been known that if you take care of your em ployees, they perform better, and reten tion is extended greatly.

Increase their salary, benefits, health and mental health benefits and the resources they need to do their jobs. Purchase more vehicles, equipment, increased training, and more vacation time are all a good beginning. Do you support encouraging afford

able housing in Gilbert for those who work in lower-income jobs such as the service industry and for recent grads in their entry-level jobs who want to stay in their hometown? If no, why not? If yes, how would the town go about doing that?

I feel the Town has made great strides and is providing sufficient entry lev el “affordable” housing with the large number of high-density/high-rise ‘af fordable” housing complexes. Additional zoning changes recently for additional complexes, one with the potential of ap proximately 862 units is being consid ered.

I am not in favor of anymore higher/ density high/rise apartment complex es as I feel there are enough. We have enough.

If you had to reduce spending by town government, where would you cut and why?

I would start with the Cactus Park (Yards). It needs to be sold and cut our losses. Gilbert Digital should be com pletely revamped, and the cost cut in half.

Do you support building Ocotillo Bridge as a “show stopper” or should the town opt for a more practical and less expensive span?

I support a more practical and less expensive span and stopping the over spending.

Does Council have a “trust problem” with the public? If so, what would you do to try and fix it?

There is general distrust due to lack of transparency and the lack of respect shown to the residents by the council

This can be improved by providing more truth and transparency early in any project inception and enacting a bet ter and more transparent notification system of upcoming projects.

Do you think the Town is doing enough to save water? Would you be willing to call for a building moratori um in Gilbert should the water crisis deepen. And if so, at what point? If not, why not?

Gilbert has always been proactive for water conservation and has a good in

teractive program for residents to track their residential water use and advo cates residents take water saving mea sures.

I don’t believe I would call for a build ing moratorium on residential as this could have a domino effect on many other financial and economic circum stances. However, the water uses for a residential development vs a high/den sity high/rise apartment complex on the

same acreage would have very different and higher usage.

I would give very serious consider ation, if the water crisis deepens, to call ing for a moratorium on high/density apartments.

Give the current council a letter grade and explain your answer.

I don’t believe letter grades are appro

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Ocotillo but the Maricopa Association of Governments has projected that to in crease to 22,000 cars per day by 2050, according to Fabiano.

He said a side benefit of connecting Ocotillo will be better response times for Fire Station No. 9, which sits on Ocotillo before it stops at Higley Road.

Currently the response time is seven minutes but the Ocotillo connection will bring that down to the optimal time of four minutes or even less, he said.

What’s driving the design is not the trees and sidewalks but everything un der the roadway, such as public utilities and water pipelines, according to Assis tant Town Manager Leah Rhineheimer.

She said staff explored in depth, try ing to keep the rights-of-way to 55 feet on both sides of the road as residents wanted but it was not possible due to the easements the public utilities required. According to Fabiano, the Town’s threedecade-old standards for a minor arteri al is a 65-foot right-of-way for each half of a road.

Fabiano explained that SRP on the south side of Ocotillo required a 10-foot easement, which would have increased the right-of-way to 75 feet and the water district on the north side needed a 20foot easement, which would have meant an 85-foot right-of-way.

The water district, however, has agreed to reduce its easement to 14 feet and have it inside the 65-foot right-of way. SRP agreed to keep its 10-foot easement also inside the 65-foot right-of-way, leav ing the town with 51 feet on the north side and 55 feet on the south, Fabiano said.

“It’s not ideal but it’s something we

BAND from page 5

measured.

In 2015, I loved watching their eyes light up when they see Stonehenge or stand in front of Westminster Cathedral.

This time they will spend a whole day in Windsor, exploring the town and vis iting the castle, where they just laid the beloved Queen Elizabeth II to rest.

can work with,” he said, adding that both utilities indicated that if the rightsof-way aren’t kept at 65 feet than they would not be interested.

“They didn’t have to do it,” Rhine heimer noted. “They did it at the Town of Gilbert’s request.”

Fabiano and Rhineheimer also said that a right-of-way of less than 65 feet would compromise the ability of resi dents to see the road as they back out of their driveways.

As it is, there are already way too many conflict points on Ocotillo Road with seven intersections and 21 driveways, which “creates and causes a lot of chal lenges,” Fabiano said.

Town renderings showed the view of Ocotillo from a driveway lessening as the right-of-way decreases.

Fabiano said part of the widening proj ect includes buying two vacant parcels and putting in sub-regional retention

HOW TO HELP

What: London Dinner and Auction fundraiser

When: Friday, Oct. 21, 6-7 p.m. is dinner and 7-9 p.m. is the auction and entertainment.

Where: Gilbert High School cafeteria, 1101 E. Elliot Road.

Cost: $25 ticket includes the meal and entertainment

“We are losing six 50-year-old produc ing pecan trees that front our property as well as a 40-foot-tall Aleppo pine,” Rob ertson said.

“That is what will be cut down within the 20 feet across the whole front of our property and instead, we get a five-lane road of traffic at 45 mph. How can we safely pull in our four-horse trailer?”

Robertson also said residents have been left in the dark about the project both by Gilbert and the county, which is taking the lead in acquiring the proper ties.

“We are the ones affected but we have no clue what, when or how,” she said. “We are beyond frustrated and angry. The town has not been transparent or honest about anything.”

basins at an estimated cost of $2 million.

Currently all the drainage from the roadway goes onto the adjacent private properties, which are responsible for re ceiving, retaining and disposing of it but with the basins, that responsibility will go to the Town, he said.

Fabiano said appraisals on the re maining 36 properties are expected to resume shortly.

Ten properties were appraised before Council in June directed staff to look for options with less impact. Two appraisals have closed and two are in the process, according to Fabiano.

The Town anticipated it would take 2.5 years to complete the appraisals and widen Ocotillo Road.

But it may take longer as some of the residents are gearing up for a showdown in court.

“Yes, we have already retained an at torney,” said Stephanie Robertson, who stands to lose 20 feet across the front of her property.

“Initially, when we bought 20 years ago, we were told about the 10-foot ease ment and that the road would be wid ened to 55 feet,” she said. “Then Gilbert comes along six months ago and tells us it would be a 65-foot road.”

Fabiano said the 55-foot standard is Maricopa County’s. He blamed the coun ty for not informing county island resi dents that Ocotillo Road was in Gilbert’s planning area and would fall under the Town’s standards.

Robertson said she won’t be able to sell her property because “sales fall out of escrow when people find out about the road widening.”

Terri Naddy, who’s been the spokes woman for her neighbors with town staff and at council meetings, said she is plan ning to retain a lawyer.

She advocated for a three-lane road way with a center-turn lane and disput ed much of the town’s information on the project, including the need for a 65-foot right-of-way.

She said she’s provided a number of examples to the Town where it deviated from its standard and went with a 55foot easement.

And, Naddy said it doesn’t matter what Gilbert’s standards are because the homes on Ocotillo Road were legal ly constructed under the standards that existed at the time. Her residence sits on nearly 2.5 acres.

Although the Town will compensate property owners for their loss, Naddy said, “It’s not the point. It doesn’t matter. It’s not a monetary thing for me.”

She said many of her neighbors’ homes are one 1-acre lots and if Gilbert takes part of their land, they will have less than an acre, which will forever reduce their property value.

“They cannot have my property,” said Naddy, who will lose over 4,000 square feet of land. “I will not sell it to them. They will have to take it from me via em inent domain.”

A four-lane bridge spanning Gilbert Regional Park will connect Ocotillo Road under the town’s plan, giving emergency vehicles quicker access and Queen Creek residents a new route west through the Southeast Valley. (Town of Gilbert)

model plane

BY JOSH ORTEGA GSN Staff Writer

In the far reaches of East Mesa, planes buzz overhead but on a smaller scale.

The Arizona Model Aviators flies out of the Superstition Air Park located at Levee Drive in Mesa. Tim Dickey, board member for the Arizona Model Aviators, said the club represents a lifelong inter est for everyone involved in building and flying into the wild, blue yonder.

“It’s been an evolution for me since childhood off and on,” Dickey said. “I got back into it approximately 12 years ago, and I really liked the modeling aspect of it in the shop.”

From Oct. 20-23, the club will host the 41st annual U.S. Scale Masters Associa tion National Championships that will draw more than 50 pilots from around the country and more than 400 specta tors per day.

in 2002.

“It’s actually the largest event that we’ll be having this year,” Dickey said. “It’s a very big event for us.”

Model aviation has sev eral disciplines, with this event focusing on scale fly ing and each aircraft’s re semblance to an existing full-scale plane, including World War I biplanes, World War II P-51 Mustangs and fighter jets flown in Korea and Vietnam.

Judges review aircraft based on scale documenta tion, as well as how well it flies compared to the real thing.

Tim Dickey walks his 1/4 scale Boeing-Stearman N2S-5 back to the workbench as members of the Arizona Model Aviators radio control model club fly at Superstition Airpark in Mesa. (David Minton/GSN Staff Photographer)

Pilots also stage aircraft on the tarmac so planes can be judged for craftsman ship, color, markings and outline.

It can take at least two years to build an “accurate, high-quality scale model,” Dickey said.

“I came into it more from the stand point of enjoying modeling things in gen

eral,” Dickey said. “And that really comes from my desire to be in the shop and to build things with my hands from scratch.”

Dickey said “scratch-building” – build ing the models by hand – has dwindled with the advent of ready-to-fly kits.

“It’s becoming a lost art because now you’re able to purchase these models that have been fully built, and just need to be assembled,” Dickey said.

Most models’ parts consist of a light wood such as balsa or composite plastic and the planes go down to the smallest detail, including decals and rivets.

Starter kits can begin at $400 for a foam battery-operated plane and remote control and go as high as $20,000 for a quarter-scale, gas-powered Beechcraft King Air utility aircraft.

The club has existed for more than 40 years and counts more than 260 mem bers ranging in age from 8 to 80.

The club uses the Superstition Air Park

Treat

Yourself!!

priate or relevant in the corporate and business world.

I believe the council is performing in a sub-par manner regarding overspend ing, the approval of many high-density apartments within a short period of time – not smart growth, transparency to the residents, the bias against certain resi dents and other issues.

Many in the community say they want Gilbert to retain its “small-town” feel. What can council do to ensure that when the town at build-out hits 330,000 residents?

Manage the growth!

Very serious thought and planning for the remainder of the land in Gilbert must begin immediately. With just under 5,000 acres left, we must act now, not later, so our Town can sustain itself after we are built out.

Given that the town allocates far

less land to such development on a percentage basis than any other East Valley municipality, where do you stand on such development in gener al? How would the town maintain an adequate tax base without this kind of development. Please be specific.

I believe the current government is not properly controlling the growth. The number of apartment complexes is Gil bert has added in the past year a are to many, too fast for smart growth. ..

I think industrial and commercial de velopment is good for Gilbert and the jobs and tax revenue and are needed for long term sustainability, but they must again be managed for smarter growth. ..

Another solid source of tax revenue for Gilbert would be enacting an impact fee for builders on a per project, per home or per apartment basis and they should be paid at the beginning.

RIVULON from page 6

ect would bring in up to 2,000 renters.

“If half of those individuals or stu dents maybe a mother, father and two kids living in an apartment – that could translate into a thousand additional stu dents for the elementary and high school schools both Quartz Hill and Campo Verde,” said Ruiz, who added that both her children went to the two schools.

“Quartz Hill has a max student capac ity of 546 so if half of those addition al thousand students or young people were to go to Quartz Hill that would be a 200% increase,” Ruiz added. “Quartz Hill is already over-populated likewise with Campo Verde it’s also overpopulated. An additional 500 students could translate into 10 or more additional portables at the high school.”

Ruiz said the student-to-teacher ratios are already high at the two campuses and that current test scores at Quartz Hill and Camp Verde “are already declin ing and additional students infiltrating these schools will further impact that.

“We will continue to have reduced test scores and a less educated workforce in the future,” she said.

Commissioner William Fay said a dis

proportionate number of people have claimed that they were not notified about the proposed project and he asked staff about it.

“Because this area is quite a dis tance from those other communities and instead into the center of that Rivulon development, there is a lim ited number of people that were no tified but the requirement was met,” Planner Ashlee MacDonald said.

The commissioners did not respond to the two speakers as they postponed ac tion on the proposal until next month.

Under the proposal, Stillwater Rivulon would be five stories tall with 28 studios, 228 one-bedroom units, 82 two-bed room units and 14 three-bedroom units. Amenities would include a pool, open courtyard, co-working space and an in door fitness area.

A number of deviations requested in clude increasing the building height to 65 feet from 55 feet.

According to staff, a virtual neighbor hood meeting was held on the proposal on March 28 but no one from the public attended.

because it offers an 850-foot-long paved runway and bays for staging aircraft.

“It’s one of the nicest, if not the nicest runway facility, certainly in Arizona, and maybe even in the west,” Dickey said.

Lt. Col. (Ret) Larry Wagy enjoys teach ing flight instruction to other members, something he did while serving in the U.S. Air Force for 24 years.

Wagy said interest in the hobby has waned and fears the hobby he’s en joyed since he was 7 will eventually crash and burn because “the health of the club depends on bringing in younger people.”

Rodger Hoover, who will compete in the national championship and spent more than 35 years working for Douglas

Aircraft in the manufacturing and repair sector, agreed.

Hoover said younger generations are always welcome, adding, “There’s always someone to teach you how to fly.”

IF YOU GO

What: 2022 U.S. Scale Masters National Championships

Where: Superstition Air Park, Levee Drive, Mesa.

When: October 20-23 starting at 9 a.m. Information: azmodelaviators.com

For free flying lessons, call Jim Compton at 480-818-1658.

developed to create a” healthier, more livable community through the strategic investment in maintenance and growth of an urban forest and engineered shade.”

There are also the Green Gilbert and Water Wise Gilbert programs, which promote water conservation, pollution prevention and waste reduction in the local business community, HOAs and other organizations, according to Perry.

In August, Gilbert adopted an updated Transportation Master Plan that focuses on reducing vehicle congestion, expand ing the Town’s bicycle network, improv ing walkability and enhancing access to transit, she said.

Residents also can do their part, ac cording to Michael Russo, professor of sustainable management at University of Oregon.

“Conserving energy is the easiest winwin, and the collective efforts of house holds have made a big difference,” Russo said. “Walking instead of using the car saves money, reduces carbon footprints, and has salutary health effects.

“Even growing a few of one’s own veg etables is fun and educational for chil dren. Anyone could start by completing one of those online personal carbon footprint calculators.”

According to WalletHub, clean ener gy and other “green” practices, such as

recycling programs and urban agricul ture, help create jobs and benefit both the environment and public health, all of which contribute to America’s bottom line.

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The Stagecoach Village Art Festival kicks off Arizona’s Festival season with a unique gathering of local and regional artists and craftsmen exhibiting throughout the open-air plaza. Patrons enjoy patio dining and live music, while strolling through the Village - A place where Art meets the West.

Teens learn to ‘Aspire’ to public safety jobs

BY JOSH ORTEGA GSN Staff Writer

tive,” Scott said, “That it is very difficult.”

The

seventh annual Aspire Academy continued to give high school girls an opportunity to see what a career in public safety looks like.

The girls spent four days, three nights at the Mesa Public Safety Training Facility on N. 40th Street, experiencing some of what goes into a career as a first responder.

Mesa Fire & Medical Department Deputy Chief Michelle Denton and Mesa Police Department Lt. Kim Scott started the program seven years ago to give high school girls a glimpse into the field before they enter it.

Scott said the mission lies in the name of the program.

“We’re trying to inspire them,” Scott said. “So, ‘aspire’ to do whatever it is you want to do.”

More than 30 girls from around the East Valley received hands-on instruction and learned how to use the same equip ment that police and fire use every day.

“If this is a career that they want to

Quincy Webb and Hannah Kerber look to Mesa Police Department instructor Garrett Wig gins as they run a scenario in the VirTra firearm training simulator during Aspire Academy, a hands-on resident camp for high school girls that provides an opportunity for them to experience firefighting, emergency operations techniques and law enforcement operations at the Mesa Public Safety Training Facility. (David Minton/GSN Staff Photographer)

pursue, we wanted to let them know that they can,” Scott said.

Some of that instruction included trying their hand at Mesa Police’s VirTra

firearm training simulator and strapping on Mesa Fire’s Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus/turnout gear.

“I think they get a different perspec

Denton has spent 18 years as a fire fighter and said the “humbling” expe rience helps give the girls a new appre ciation for what police officers and fire fighters endure.

But that experience also gives the girls a heaping dose of confidence in their ability to work in a male-dominated profession – something Denton said she learned the hard way.

“It’s always going to be challenging because it is a very male-dominated career in general,” Denton said. “But I think you know, that getting into it.”

The girls got to sit in a Crown Victoria as a tactical driving instructor squealed the tires and whips the cruiser around the driving course and overcome any fear of heights as they rappelled down a sev en-story tower.

But Scott, Denton and the rest of the academy staff also want to instill in them social awareness, confidence, conduct, professionalism, and teamwork that it takes to not only become a police officer

Gilbert theater troupe to present Sondheim hit

many incredible performers and we’re so excited to get this show to the stage.”

Gilbert’s

newest theater com pany this month is presenting a modern fairy tale that became a big Broadway hit.

INSPIRE Theatre Co. will present “Into the Woods” Oct. 20-22 and Oct. 27-29 at East Valley High School, 7420 E Main St., Mesa. Performances are 7:30 p.m. nightly with a Saturday matinee at 3 p.m. Tickets can be purchased online at inspirethe atre.org.

Spokesman Eric Sackett said INSPIRE “is building an ecosystem of performers

who seek to use their gifts and talents to lift and entertain others” and has chosen the late composer/playwright Steven Sondheim’s musical twist on the Brothers Grimm fairy tales.

Working with a related performing arts studio, INSPIRE Entertainment, the theater group promises a “dynamic cast of talented performers who are eager to take the stage and showcase their tal ents,” he added.

“I was honestly amazed to see the cast that came together for this production,” said Mitchell Glass, a local arts teacher who is directing the project. “We have so

INSPIRE’s newly appointed artist director, Heather Woodman, added, “I believe in the arts and want to see everyone at the theater to enjoy this pro duction.”

“There is nothing that can take the place of live, in-person theater,” she said. “It’s magical and it’s wonderful.”

These productions are the beginning of what INSPIRE hopes will become a legacy theater company. It is currently raising funds to build a new state-of-the-art the ater in Gilbert.

“Into the Woods” follows Cinderella, Little Red Riding Hood, Rapunzel and Jack of Beanstalk fame through a dark forest on a journey of discovery and magic.

The cast includes: Kevin Woodman, Stephen Thomas, Elizabeth Bridge water, Noah Manumaleuga, Danica Hill, Grace Davis, Landon Kalin, Jane Thomas, Karissa Anderson, Daniel Gallacher;

Also, Bear Jordan, Britt Powell, Megan Gardner, Alexis Totty, EJ Freed, Heather Woodman, Tyler Saccoman, Alisha Niec, Arden Good, Brenna Keck and Emily Bingham.

or firefighter, but a good person.

Denton said the program encourages the girls to have self-confidence and ignore the naysayers that try to detract them from their goals.

“They have to believe in themselves,” Denton said. “They can’t listen to what other people tell them they can or cannot do.”

Scott said she also wants the girls to walk away with a sense of responsibility in their actions and that everything they do has consequences.

“The decisions that you make everyday matter,” Scott said. “Even if it seems like a small decision; all those decisions matter.”

Scott has spent more than 20 years in law enforcement and said she had men tors growing up but none in public safety.

“We offer ourselves as mentors for these girls as they move on,” Scott said.

“It’s something I never had as a high school-aged kid.”

Denton said the first couple years of the program they had to recruit participants.

New year, same mission

But program has grown in popularity over the years for both participants and the staff on site, with many students wanting to return and become instruc tors the following year.

In March 2020, Denton said they almost didn’t have an academy with talks of businesses shutting down due to the pandemic.

“We actually got that camp in right before everything in the country shut down,” Denton said. “A week later, we would not have had it.”

With precautions in place including washing hands and wearing masks, Denton said nobody got sick.

This year the academy had 53 appli cants but only accepted 40 and only 33 arrived on the first day. That’s something Denton said she’s come expect with the timing of the event.

The academy brought in personnel from 25 departments across the Valley as well as the FBI, ATF and Border Patrol on a variety of topics including wellness and nutrition, fire prevention, drug safety, social media, and human trafficking.

For Tempe Police Det. Natalie Barela, this year’s academy served as “valida tion” for why she chose this profession.

Barela has served with Tempe PD for more than seven years, including as the school resource officer at McClintock High School.

In 2017, Barela helped student Ange liese Khoury attend the course to show her own true potential.

Five years later, Khoury returned to the academy as a Uniform Crime Report coding specialist with Phoenix Police.

Khoury said the academy challenged her physically and mentally as well as opened her eyes to what she’s truly pas sionate about: helping the community.

“The only reason I found my love for data research and things like that was through this academy,” Khoury said.

Now, Khoury attends Arizona State University, where she’s studying to earn her bachelor’s in criminology and crim inal justice.

Khoury said she realized that police work means more than just the phys

The Gilbert Kiwanis Club recently started its 2022-23 year of serve by installing new officers. From left, front: Vice President Irene Miles, Treasurer Nola Gear, past president Doug Gear. Top: Directors Molly Alcantara and Debra Nussbaum, Division 18 Lt. Gov. Bob Breidenbach, Secretary Leo Huppert, President Stephen Morrison and Director William Nussbaum. The club invites new members and interested persons. It meets the first and third Tuesday of the month at The Biscuit House, 1235 N. Gilbert Road, Gilbert. Infor mation: gilbertkiwanisclub.org.

Mesa Cemetery tour tickets available now

TheMesa Historical Museum is offering folks a chance to mix Hal loween and history.

The annual tour of the city’s historic cemetery will be held 8-10 a.m. next Saturday, Oct. 22, and tickets are on sale at the museum’s website, mesahistor icalmuseum.com or by emailing info@ mesamuseum.org.

Mayor John Giles and Councilman Mark Freeman will be among the guests narra tors at a selection of grave sites during the self-guided walking tour.

“This year we are featuring Waylon Jennings and Vans Auditorium founder John Vance as a complement to our Early Entertainment in Mesa exhibit we just opened in August,” museum Executive Director Susan Ricci said. “We are also honoring the first African-American councilman Jerry Boyd, Pedro Guerrero and Susie Sato to name a few.”

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at 1212 N. Center St. is the final resting place for a number of well-known Mesa and Valley celebrities and historical fig ures among the 38,000 interments.

Among the most visited gravesites is that of Waylon Jennings, the legendary musician who pioneered the outlaw

movement in country music.

Jennings’ black stone grave marker, with a picture of his smiling face, stands out from the others in its row. It’s larger, and one of the more decorated ones in the row.

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Ob uaries

Beverly Luhrs Straight

Beverly Luhrs

Straight was born

ical when she realized the critical work behind the scenes.

Julie Shill passed away peacefully on Oc tober 9, 2022 at the age of 56 with her children and husband. A lifelong advocate of service, Ju lie found ways to help others as a daughter, sister, mother, physical therapist, and cancer patient.

Julie was born to her parents LaRene and Wynn and is the oldest sister among her siblings Ron, Cherie, and David. She partici pated in many activities in high school such as cheerleading, diving, and choir. During that time, she also became an All-American gymnast.

Julie always valued education. She got her BS in psychology from BYU in 1988 and her MS in physical therapy from TWU in 1998. Julie began getting her PhD in physi cal therapy in 2014 before her cancer diag nosis and chose to finish her program while also going through cancer treatment. She graduated with her PhD in December 2019.

Julie worked as a physical therapist with many different age ranges. She worked with children at Plano ISD, adults while working at various home health compa nies, and with babies at Cranial Technol ogies. Julie treasured the connections she had with the people she worked with and celebrated their successes every step of the way.

While going through her cancer treatment, she found great value in finding simple joys

every single day. She treasured all the con nections she made along the way like doc tors, volunteers, and her peers in her cancer support group. Julie was an active support er of other cancer patients around the world and connected with them online. She found joy and support through helping others on their own journeys.

Of all the things she has been involved in, the role she is most proud of is as a wife, mother, and grandmother. She married her husband Curt Shill in 1987 and became a mother a few years later to Ryan and Chris tie. She celebrated when her son Ryan married his wife Melissalyn and became a grandmother to Oliver and Aurora.

Last, but certainly not least, Julie loved her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, walked with the guidance of the Holy Spirit, and spilled that unconditional love to everyone she met.

A funeral service was held Saturday, October 15, 2022 at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 2401 Legacy Drive, Plano, Texas 75023. Following the service, a procession made its way to Rid geview Memorial Park, 2525 Central Ex pressway North, Allen, Texas 75013 for a committal service.

The family received family and friends during a visitation on Friday evening. at the Turrentine-Jackson-Morrow Funeral Home Chapel, 2525 Central Expressway North, Allen, Texas 75013.

January 14, 1931 in MO, and died in Mesa, AZ, Oct. 1, 2022. She was preceded in death by her parents, Emma Viets Luhrs and Otis

Luhrs, and her husband, Donald Straight, Sr. She is survived by her children Debbie Stevenson and Don Straight, Jr., both residing in TX. Her surviving siblings include Eva Lambrecht, Marilyn Howell, and Barb Heitman. She lovingly enriched the lives of her 8 grandchildren, 12 great-grandchildren, and seven great-great-grandchildren.

Bev graduated from Northwest Missouri State University and worked in the social services field for over 30 years, influencing the lives of many people. She was a very active member of Victory Lutheran Church, serving as a Stephen minister sponsor and caregiver. Bev was a special person with a loving heart and will be missed by many! Services will be held at Victory Lutheran Church, Mesa AZ Saturday, Oct. 22, 2022

Though the physical differences make police work male dominated, Khoury said mentally she can do the same work as the men and her only barrier remained her own mind.

“You’re only setting limits on your own mind,” Khoury said. “No one else is set ting them.”

Now, that realization looks to continue this year with the next group of girls.

Gizzelle Sells, a junior at McClintock High School in Tempe, said she originally wanted to be a real estate agent but will now consider a career in public safety.

“They look really cool and I want to be them,” Gizzelle said.

Gizzelle said she initially didn’t want to attend but recommends any girl who’s interested to do so, regardless of their peers.

“I didn’t want to do it unless someone else is going to do it,” Sells said. “So, I just took a leap of faith and did it.”

Jazz Kraus, a sophomore at American Leadership Academy Ironwood in Queen Creek, said she wanted to learn about becoming a firefighter and others should revel in opportunities like this, regard less of the fear.

“I would say if you had the opportu nity for anything, even though you were scared to do it, I would still go because this has been a turnout,” Jazz said.

Need help writing an obituary?

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Quincy Webb, a sophomore at Casteel High School in Queen Creek, said she has learned some stuff about the career from her stepdad, who works at the Gil bert Fire Department, and she now sees the ladies as role models and forces to be reckoned with.

“You don’t want to mess with them,” Quincy said. “They’re cool.”

She added that said she learned that teens shouldn’t let fear hold them back from their dreams

“If you want to do something, try it out,” she said.

Julie Shill

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Gilbert man makes gun education his business

BY BIRGEN GRUESKIN GSN Contributor

Afterthree years as an Army mil itary police officer and 30 years as a SWAT team member, Steve Branch moved to Arizona hoping to avoid a large gun culture.

When the Gilbert resident arrived, he was shocked by what he saw and so he decided to start teaching people about the safety of firearms with a business called Mindset Survival.

“I started looking around and I saw everyone was carrying guns,” Branch re called of his first few months in Arizona.

“I started asking them what kind of education and training they had that al lowed them to do that,” he said.

When they typically responded “none, we don’t need it,” Branch said, “I knew that was a big problem.”

“As much as I believe in the right to car

ry a firearm, I believe there needs to be mandatory education,” he explained. Those people Branch talked to are

legally correct. Ari zonans 21 and older are allowed to carry a concealed weap on without a permit, background check, or a training class, according to Arizona Concealed Carry.

But the necessity of education is what Branch is pushing for.

He and his wife Pam Branch created Mindset Survival to educate people on safety and threats whether they use firearms or not.

They offer class es on how to survive an active shooter, situational awareness, unarmed self-de fense, less lethal weapon self-defense, in

troduction to firearms, conceal and carry classes, and advanced firearm tactics.

Valley nurse Niko Ferguson – who of fers concierge services that require her to travel to clients’ homes– has taken classes from Mindset Survival and car ries one of the company’s tasers to help her feel safer when she travels alone to different environments.

“I never know what I’m walking into and I believe I’m responsible for my own protection. I turn on the news and see there are shootings and awful things happening all the time so I want to be smart about my safety,” Ferguson said.

Branch has years of experience teach ing soldiers in Afghanistan how to be come cops. He also has taught in different police departments as well as in schools as a resource officer.

But he was unsure at the start of his

Area firm memorializes Beatles with coin

BY ALEX GALLAGHER GSN Staff Writer

When The Beatles unveiled their 1968 animated film, “Yel low Submarine” the film was quickly immortalized with art, toy ver sions of the submarine and now, near ly five and a half decades later, a limit ed-edition coin.

Scottsdale-based The Crown Mint — an independent firm that develops products and packaging for the collect ibles industry — recently announced it is selling 24kt pure gold or .999 silver coins shaped like the iconic yellow sub marine in four weights and sizes. The coins are currently available for pre-sale on crownmint.com

“The Beatles are probably the most

influential band in the history of rock and roll so it was a pretty ob vious choice,” Crown Mint princi pal Steven Harris said.

“There are a lot of coin compa nies from around the world that went after that license for a long time and at one point, we were in direct competition with the Royal Mint — the company that produc es circulating coins in the UK,” Har ris said. “So, it’s a pretty big deal to have gotten that license over ev erybody else that’s been after it.”

It was also something of a dream come true for him.

Harris remembers sifting through pocket change alongside his fa ther, looking for silver dimes and quar ters. He started The Crown Mint in 2008,

looking for ways to re-introduce younger people to coin collecting.

“These days, people don’t carry a lot of

pocket change, so there isn’t that touch stone,” Harris said. “My thought was, ‘This is a really neat hobby, how do we get it and direct it towards a younger au dience?’ I then thought pop culture is a good tool that could work and so far, it has.”

The first coins rolled out in 2013 and were authentic, legal tender coins based on the Star Wars films. With them, the Crown Mint became the first company in the world to produce a legal tender coin that featured a major Hollywood proper ty.

Since then, The Crown Mint has pro duced coins in conjunction with Coca-Co la, Marvel and The Rolling Stones before venturing into a yellow submarine and

Gilbert resident Steve Branch and his wife Pam say their Gilbert business, Mindset Survival, is “on a mission to normalize self-de fense and firearms training for everyone.” (Facebook)

Crown Mint Principal Steven Harris holds up his company’s new collectible coin that honors The Beatles’ Yellow Submarine. (David Minton/GSN Staff Photographer)

business venture what information he should teach.

“We spent a lot of time throwing things against the wall to see what would work and we ended up with situational awareness,” Branch said.

He explained he teaches “that before you can deal with a problem, you have to recognize that there is a threat. This is the cornerstone of most of our train ing.”

The Branches make it known that firearm educa tion is not a simple and quick class that you can take once and say firearm owners should practice consis tently to be responsible.

“We have so many clients that say ‘oh I took train ing years ago’ but that’s not enough. It is not one and done, Steve always says it’s a perishable skill and you have to train and think about it all the time,” Pam Branch said.

The CDC reported Arizona is ranked #12 in the country for firearm deaths, and the Arizona Child Fatality Review Program’s annual report shared that 73% of firearm injury deaths occurred in children ages 15 to 17.

The Child Fatality Review report also notes that 100% of firearm injury deaths were proven to be preventable.

That is one of the biggest reasons why Mindset Sur vival is working to educate the public.

“We teach active shooter classes for free to give back to the community. We try to do it twice a month at different locations and invite the public. I talk about the history of active shootings and how to survive an active shooter,” Steve Branch said.

Pam Branch added that education in gun safety is critical.

“We can wish that it wasn’t the case and it wasn’t needed, and it makes me angry to hear about things that are happening,” she said. “But just because I’m angry does not mean it’s going to go away, so we have to be real about it.”

Mindset Survival has been operating for nearly two years now and the Branches hope to grow it into a national brand.

“We want to show people that it doesn’t matter where you live, your age, or even how you feel about guns, [our classes] are for everybody and we want to make it more accessible and normalized,” Steve said.

“We want self-defense and firearms to be normal, like going to your yoga class or exercising, it’s just something you do.”

The Branches travel around the Valley to their cli ent’s houses, and to different nearby shooting ranges. They also teach the free active shooter classes at dif ferent locations each time.

For information: mindsetsurvival.com.

BEATLES from page 20

taking on the world of The Beatles this year.

“Ideally, we’re trying to get a younger group into collect ing coins but in reality, we’re trying to get anybody into collecting coins,” Harris said. “So, you have to look at things that people are passionate about and one of those things certainly is music.”

When Harris began targeting music fans, there were two bands he eyed: The Rolling Stones and The Beatles.

“If you ask people, ‘What are the two biggest rock and roll bands ever?’ I think the Beatles would certainly come up and I believe the Rolling Stones would also come up. So those were two groups that we targeted,” he explained.

However, The Beatles turned out to be more of a chal lenge than he anticipated.

The Crown Mint had to partner with Apple Corps Ltd. –the conglomerate company created by the band in1968 that controls The Beatles Property and is still owned by Paul Mc Cartney and Ringo Starr to this day.

With the project given the go-ahead, The Crown Mint got to work producing submarine-shaped coins out of either 24k pure gold or .999 silver embossed with a golden yel low submarine that looks identical to the one featured in the film.

The coins come in four options and sell for $129.95 on crownmint.com.

Information: Crownmint.com

Housing market is now in a healthy re-set

BY MINDY JONES GSN Columnist

The rapid pace at which the real estate market in Arizona has changed course in the last six months has added whiplash to the list of emo tional injuries Valley residents have sus tained from one of the most profitable real estate markets in the country.

Still recovering from the PTSD caused by the financial crisis of 2008, Valley residents are shell shocked by the esca lation of pricing in the last 36 months, the swing in interest rates from 2.5% to 7% in that same time period, and the change brought by a global pandemic, a major national election, and countless other domestic and international devel opments.

While there is plenty of opportunity in the current market, it is no surprise that demand continues to fall as Valley resi dents attempt to decipher what is nor mal and what their expectations should be of the market.

They have experienced a record-break ing 40% appreciation on their homes in the last 24 months followed by a 130%

increase in inventory in that same time period.

Unlike 2008, Arizona has the employ ment diversification to sustain current inventory levels, most homeowners have a significant amount of equity in their home, and rental rates are not plummeting – an indication that we have the population growth to support the building we are doing from the Loop 303 to State Route 24.

While it’s difficult for your average consumer to decipher a hot market from a cold one, there are reliable trends that indicate our current market is neither hot nor cold, but rather quite in balance.

After years of off-the-chart readings of some of the most important statistics to follow when determining the market cli mate – including how many listed homes actually sell, how many listings are un der contract at any given time, how many months or weeks it would take to sell all the homes currently on the market if no new ones were added, what is the gap between current inventory and demand levels, and the ratio of how many listings are under contract as compared to how many are available to purchase – each of these has returned to a more normal range in the last six months.

In the absence of the data, however,

consumers can only feel the fall from the frenzy versus the return to normalcy and that is greatly impacting consumer sentiment.

While current interest rates certainly provide a challenge for buyers, they are neither record-breaking nor prohibitive.

The higher interest rate is the trade-off for the better purchasing conditions.

Current buyers have more negotiating power, the opportunity to get closing costs and rate buy-downs covered by their sellers, and are not forced to waive inspection, appraisal, or buyer contin gencies.

For many, selling their home is a nec essary component of qualifying to buy

a home and if the purchase is contin gent on the proceeds, it can be difficult to know how much you will sell your home for and how long it will take in a balanced market.

That is why first-time homebuyers, renters and anyone not dependent on a sale should be flocking towards the cur rent market.

The key to understanding our market is to look at the volume of transactions.

A market can balance with a very high number of transactions or a very low number and ours is currently of the lat ter.

Navigating a volatile time for mortgage rates

BY SHAWNA WARNER GSN Guest Writer

a notable cooling off to what was once a searing hot housing market.

pricing their home.

Mortgage

rates took another sub stantial jump last week, with the 30-year fixed mortgage rate averaging 6.70%, according to Freddie Mac.

Rates have increased by over 1.5 per centage points over the last six weeks. Overall, the 30-year rate has more than doubled since the first of the year, with the increase in mortgage rates bringing

With mortgage rates on the rise, the higher prices may keep some potential buyers on the sidelines.

Those looking to make a lateral move, may be more likely to stay in their cur rent home for the time-being. First-time buyers, in particular, may reach their threshold of affordability and decide to wait just a little bit to see how things shake out.

However, for many buyers, the current mortgage rate is inconvenient, but won’t keep them from buying, particularly if their work necessitates a move or they need to get out of a rental.

While the market may seem uncertain right now, it may still be the right time for buyers who are well-prepared finan cially to take on homeownership.

We may be headed toward a buyers market as inventory increases and pric es begin to decline. We advise sellers to be strategic and well-informed when

Catching up to rapid price decreases and utilizing recent comparables will allow buyers who have been shut out of the purchasing process for the past 18 months to potentially put an offer down.

To identify the sweet spot in the pric ing of a home, it is important to articu late a figure that is reflective of a home’s fair market value based on floor plan, size, and condition.

Your agent will share comps to deter mine how much your home is worth in the current market.

Higher mortgage rates are having a huge impact on the housing market.

After a brief increase, the volume of mortgage applications decreased by al most 4% for the week ending Sept, 23, according to the Mortgage Bankers As sociation.

Current data reflects that applica tions for new purchases and refinances declined last week as mortgage rates increased to multi-year highs following

substantial measures from the Federal Reserve to help decrease inflation.

Some effective tips for home buyers this fall include seeking education on the market and fluctuating realities, finding out about any financial assistance or programs you may qualify for, getting pre-approved for your home loan and leaning on resources and agents you can trust.

Expert tips for sellers this fall season include helping your home stand out by making sure the exterior is clean and pristine. Embrace the fall season with light autumn décor, good lighting and cozy staging.

We advise working with a trusted agent when it comes to market research, pricing strategies and bidding negotia tions.

As a founding partner at RETSY, one of the fastest growing technology-based real estate brokerages in Arizona, Shaw na Warner provides strategic marketing and transaction management.

Top seller

This 6,258-square-foot house on E. Fruitvale Avenue in Gilbert, recently sold for $2.91 million. Built in 2008, the five-bedroom, 4 ½-bath custom home boasted a luxurious kitchen with quartz countertops, Thermidor appliances that include two refrigerators, Italian Calacatta marble in the master bath, cus tom closets, a full solar system and numerous other amenities. (Special to GSN)

MINDY fRom page Re1

If a market balances with a very low num ber of transactions, its overall health will likely feel more negative to a consumer than it really is and many will forfeit the op portunity that real estate investment brings because of it.

If we look at investing in real estate like the planting of a tree, once the seed is plant ed it will continue to grow over time. Arizonans are notorious for wanting to move every two or three years because con

sistent positive equity gain has allowed it.

But if you look at real estate like a longterm investment, the current balanced mar ket is nothing more than a healthy re-set for buyers and sellers.

Mindy Jones, a Gilbert Realtor and owner of the Amy Jones Group brokered by EXP Real ty, can be reached at 480-250-3857, Mindy@ AmyJonesGroup.com or AmyJonesGroup.com.

Higher mortgage rates crimping home market

Higherrates are dashing the American dream of homeownership for many, causing sellers to pull their homes off the market and home sales to fall.

Mortgage rates surged to their highest levels in 20 years, hitting an average of 6.92% in the week ending Oct. 13 for 30year fixed-rate loans, according to Freddie Mac. Rates more than doubled from Octo ber of last year.

In a blow to homebuyers, rates have the

potential to keep notching up. The Fed is expected to continue aggressively hiking its rates.

At today’s rates and home prices, buyers who purchase a home are paying about 80% more for the same house than if they had bought at the same time last year.

“It seems inevitable that the higher mortgage rates have to crimp sales over time,” said Laurie Goodman, a fellow at the Housing Finance Policy Center at the Urban Institute, a think tank.

Realtor.com provided this report.

ALA Gilbert girls’ golf teeing off in the right way

BY EDUARDO MORALES GSN Contributing Writer

Apush

for women’s equal rights in sports has gained massive mo mentum in recent years.

Girls’ flag football has started to ex plode across the state, as the Arizona In terscholastic Association identified it as an emerging sport. That opens the door for it to become officially sanctioned by the AIA as early as next fall.

It’s the same path beach volleyball took years ago, which gave girls yet an other outlet to compete and represent their respective teams.

Now, American Leadership Academy Gilbert North is beginning to aid the equal rights and opportunities move ment once again.

For the first time in the school’s histo ry, the charter school that has begun to grow in popularity will have a women’s golf team. For the entirety of the golf pro gram’s history, there had only been one coed team, with few female golfers.

“Last year with it being all coed, [the girls] were kind of neglected, I was the only girl last year that played, it’s defi nitely a nice change of pace that we are like one,” said the senior captain of the women’s golf team Natalie Smith.

Being the only female golfer on the team the previous year Smith expressed her joy now that the women have their own team.

“I kind of always felt we are a minority, but now that we are a girl team I feel like we are empowered,” she said.

Smith was not the only one to show her content now that the women have their own team. Head coach of the wom en’s golf team, Reilly Keele, and soph omore Brynlee Maine joined in on the enthusiasm as well.

“I love [that the women] have their own team,” said Keele, “I think it’s been a long time coming and we are really excit

American Leadership Academy - Gilbert North girls’ golf coach Reilly Keele is building the program from the ground up this year with the help of senior captain Natalie Smith, “left,” and sophomore Brynlee Maine.

ed for the future.”

All three of the women were happy with the formation of the new team, as they could finally stand out from the boys and be given more coaching and attention.

“It’s a lot more exciting and motivating to play because when you play with the boys you’re always getting pushed to the back or not playing as well as you can. Nobody sees your potential,” said Maine.

ALA Gilbert has provided these wom en with an opportunity to stand out and shine, something they plan to take ad vantage of. This is something that can be reflected throughout the rest of the team.

While female participation in golf for the school was minimal the year prior, this season was different. According to Keele, there was a lot of interest, and plenty of girls showed up to try out for the team.

“In this particular sport, it’s better for

Senior Natalie Smith is happy ALA Gilbert finally has its own girls’ golf program. In year’s past, the school only provided a co-ed team for girls to participate on. But now, she is helping build the program for the future.

(Photos Eduardo Morales/GSN Contributor)

everybody to have separate teams, espe cially because there is always an increase in golfers,” said Keele. “Women want to golf, men still want to golf and so there are more golfers, and this way everybody gets an opportunity to golf.”

Despite being a new team, the women have come focused and ready to com pete. They are currently ranked in the top 20 out of 57 schools. A monumen tal feat for the program competing with well-established ones from around the state.

However, Keele, Smith, and Maine are looking forward to setting higher goals for the team overall. Maine states that the goal is to try and always make it to state, while her personal goal is to stay in the top 15 of their section. Smith claims that she looks forward to improving as a team and proving the people who doubt them wrong.

“They’ve already exceeded any wild

expectations I have had, they’re just phenomenal, and they inspire me,” said Keele about the team.

No matter what the outcome is for the ongoing season one thing is for certain, this change has provided a little more equality for women in sports at ALA Gil bert.

Just as Keele and Smith emphasized, the sport, along with the team, helped them feel empowered. Despite being a high school team, the number of oppor tunities it has, and will continue to give, to young women in the sport of golf is truly something spectacular. Golf isn’t just made specifically for men, or for women, everyone should have an equal opportunity to play the sport.

“Golf is a sport that you can go with your grandma, grandpa, brother, or sis ter,” said Keele. “Everybody can go and golf. You can be any size, you can weigh anything, and anybody can play.”

Check us out and like Gilbert Sun News on Facebook and follow @GilbertSunNews on Twitter

Free taco week

October 17-23

Neuropathy Is Often Misdiagnosed

Muscle cramping, difficulty walk ing, burning, tingling, numbness, and pain in the legs or feet are symptoms of neuropathy people live with every day,” explains Dr. Kerry Zang, podi atric medical director of CIC Foot & Ankle. “The thing is PAD has very sim ilar symptoms. So similar that in many cases, people are told it’s neuropathy when it may not be.”

Medicine is often prescribed. “Pills aren’t a cure, they just suppress the symptoms,” says Zang. “If neuropathy

isn’t causing the symptoms, the real problem could get worse.”

It’s important to determine if PAD (pe ripheral artery disease) is causing the pain or making it worse. PAD is plaque in the arteries which causes poor circulation.

“Blood brings oxygen and nutrients to your feet which they need to stay healthy,” explains Zang, “When your feet aren’t get ting an adequate supply, they start send ing signals.” Those signals include pain, burning, tingling, numbness, or cramping.

The good news is PAD is treatable in

an office setting. Dr. Joel Rainwater, MD endovascular specialist explains, “We go into the bloodstream to find the blockage using imaging guidance. Then with small tools that can go into the smallest arteries, remove the blockage, and restore blood flow.”

Getting the proper diagnosis is the first step to getting better. “It’s all about find ing out what’s causing the problem,” says Zang. “When your feet burn, tingle, or feel numb, it’s your body telling you it needs help, and you should listen.”

If your neuropathy medication is not working, your symptoms may be an indication of another condition.

HELP!

Don’t wait for your feet to yell at you. If your feet hurt, they are talking to you. Our doctors can help tell you what they are saying.

Does foot pain prevent you from doing your favorite activity?

Do you have burning or tingling in your legs or feet?

Do you have leg or foot cramps with activity or at rest?

Stiff Joints Interfere with Everyday Living

One in 40 people over the age of 50 may find themselves limiting their activi ty because of a condition called hallux rigidus. It’s a degenerative disease of the big toe joint. As it progresses, the pain in the joint increases and motion decreases.

The goal is to protect your feet from the repetitive stress of everyday activities. “We have several treatment options to not only relieve foot pain but help im prove how your feet work. If we can help your feet function better, in many cases the need for surgery can be avoided or at the very least postponed,” says Schul man. “Patients are always happy to learn about ways to alleviate their symptoms.”

If you’ve answered “yes”

any of these questions, call

“People don’t realize the impact their big toe has on their life. It plays a role in balance, shock absorption, and forward movement as you walk,” explains Dr. Daniel Schulman, of CiC Foot & Ankle. “When the joint is stiff, it’s not able to bend and rotate properly, and it changes how we walk without us even realizing it.” These changes can lead to back or knee pain as well as discomfort in other parts of the foot.

“It always concerns me to hear that someone is playing less golf or stay ing home because they’re in pain,” says Schulman. “There are ways to help.”

For golfers, a stiff big toe can make their game suffer.

Underground Railroad musical to debut here

BY SRIANTHI PERERA GSN Contributor

SouthernCalifornia creative Ashli St. Armant had a plan to write a musi cal about the Underground Railroad. She had not found the setting for it until she visited Oak Alley Plantation in Vacherie, Louisiana, where some of her ancestors worked as slaves in the 1700s.

Two rows of magnificent oak trees create a grandiose front pathway and the tour guide remarked, “Can you imag ine what these trees have seen and wit nessed?”

“That was it for me,” St. Armant said. “My ancestors walked in, and they were like ‘we got this!’”

Her ancestors will possibly be ap peased when the Chandler Center for the Arts premiers “North, The Musical” in early November.

Chandler joined three other cities na tionwide to commission St. Armant’s

theatrical debut, which she created and directed and sis produced by actor Isaiah Johnson of “Hamilton” and “The Color Purple”

But St. Armant has set her sights on Broadway.

A composer, musician, jazz vocalist, musical theater playwright, author and youth educator among other skills and talents, St. Armant began her career as a pre-school music teacher and soon start ed writing content for young audiences.

A rambunctious only child, she grew up with many children around because her mother ran a home daycare center. Musical instruments, make-believe and children’s entertainment were part of the culture of her home.

She could not escape the influences of her childhood.

As a teen, she wanted to be a star on Broadway. She still feels it is within her reach, although the path has been circu itous, with a lot of distractions.

“I feel like Dorothy: she has these dis coveries and makes new friends along the way, she has distractions, and feels it a waste of time, but at the end she real

izes that was really the point of the jour ney,” she said.

“That’s how I feel about my journey to wards Broadway, too. I believe it’s going to happen. I’ve had these extremely fruit ful and fulfilling experiences along the way,” she added.

St. Armant is buoyed by the response to “North” so far. She drew on her multi faceted aptitudes and her creative com munity to assemble it and rates it as her biggest accomplishment yet.

“It’s been the biggest feat even to get it to this point,” she said. “It’s the biggest team I’ve had to build, the most mon ey I’ve had to raise, the biggest reach in terms of the audience we’re trying to reach across the country, and also trying to get into Broadway and making those connections.”

Justifiably, she is also proud of it.

“I’m proud of everything I do, but this,

Jimmy Eat World, The Maine plan concert

BY ALEX GALLAGHER GetOut Staff

Thelast time The Maine crossed paths with Jimmy Eat World, it was at a chilly 2010 outdoor show on New Year’s Eve in Tempe that saw The Maine play much earlier than Jimmy Eat World.

This time around, the two bands will co-headline for a special one-night-only hometown show Oct. 28, at the Arizona Financial Theatre.

“We’re both playing a festival in Las Vegas in October and when we wanted to do another show in the market, Phoenix seemed sensible,” said Jimmy Eat World drummer Zach Lind at a press confer ence.

The Phoenix alt rockers find this show exciting because they’re sharing a stage with a band that’s been around nearly twice as long as them. The Maine recently celebrated its 15th anniversary; Jimmy Eat World will mark 30 years in 2023.

“I think, for us to be asked to play with them, there is a sense of validation, but also we feel like there’s an accomplish ment that comes with it in that we get to share the stage with someone that we look up to,” said vocalist John O’Callaghan.

“It’s also a show that our friends have texted us about nonstop, which is I guess what happens when you’re on a bill with a band like Jimmy Eat World,” said bassist Garrett Nickelsen.

“In terms of the support we’ve been shown from the city and the Valley in general, I feel like there’s an emotional at

tachment to it because It’s not just a place that we’re playing for the night and then leaving the next day. There’s an inward sort of pride that comes with it,” added O’Callaghan, an alumnus of Mountain Pointe High School.

The Maine promises a set filled with songs that die-hard fans will cherish and newer fans will hum along to.

“There’s always a level of excitement that comes with songs that more people come collectively together and say, we all like this,” O’Callaghan said. “We’ve been very fortunate to have a wide variety of songs that resonate with our fan base.

The Maine drummer Pat Kirch also teased that the band could collaborate with opening act and Phoenix-based sing er/songwriter Sydney Sprague on a song she is featured titled “Into Your Arms.”

However, The Maine said that fans can almost certainly expect authenticity from their performance and some entertain ment.

“Hopefully (fans) experience some au thenticity and hopefully it’s entertaining,” said O’Callaghan. “Even if it’s not their bag of music, then hopefully they can come away and feel like they saw some thing relatively unique and something that they can only see when they see our band play.”

Jimmy Eat World

It’s been seven years since Mesa alt-rockers graced an Arizona state, as their last hometown performance came during an 18-song setlist during 2015’s

Ashli St. Armant has used her multi-talents, creative community and personal drive to present “North, The Musical,” which comes to the Chandler Center for the Arts in November. (Steve Lorentzen.)

for sure, is the most personal thing I’ve ever created,” she said. “To see so many people get something out of it, to appre ciate it already, and it hasn’t even really even gotten into the stage.”

How did Chandler, which is not on the path of the Underground Railroad, get in volved in premiering the musical?

Michelle Mac Lennan, general manager of Chandler Center for the Arts, said that she became acquainted with St. Armant after she performed a virtual concert through the Dandelion Artists agency during the pandemic. For the concert, St. Armant was wearing the hats of child hood education specialist and artist, working as Jazzy Ash & the Leaping Liz ards.

“We fell in love with her voice, immense talent, joy and energy,” Mac Lennon said. Post-pandemic, the center met with the Dandelion Artists producer Sarah McCarthy.

“She shared Ashli’s new project and the rest, as they say, is history,” Mac Len nan said.

The Chandler Center for the Arts com missioned the musical along with the Lied Center of Kansas in Lawrence, Kan sas, Segerstrom Center for the Arts in Costa Mesa, California, and Playhouse Square in Cleveland, Ohio.

The Chandler Center’s agreement in cluded an initial investment of $40,000, Mac Lellan said. In turn, the CCA will host the Arizona premiere on Nov. 4 and have rights to return the production in the 2023-24 season as part of the national tour.

“North’s” original score features jazz and Black roots music and an uplifting story set against the backdrop of the Un derground Railroad, a historical network that helped slaves flee to Canada in the years before the Civil War.

The musical’s characters, Lawrence and his mother, Minnie, escape the Deep South and travel North to find freedom. They travel through Louisiana’s bayous, bustling New Orleans, and the young town of Lawrence, Kansas. The story re flects the optimism, bravery, wonder and suspense of freedom seekers.

“North” absorbs St. Armant’s personal family stories.

She learned about the community of Maroons, people who escaped slavery but instead of traveling north, hid in the bayous of the forests. An acquaintance sent her a book, “Slavery’s Exiles,” that contained a passage about a man named Tam, a community leader who was called “the brave one.” He would work for nonslave owning plantation owners and be

brave enough to collect money.

“The passage said he was enslaved on the same plantation that my family mem bers were enslaved in, in an account from 1780. He’d run away from the St. Ar mand Plantation,” she said. “It was pretty shocking to read that.”

Tam became a primary character in the show.

There’s also the coincidence of her name. She had changed her name to re flect the maternal line of her family, Ar mand. The change was done before she read the book. The slaves took the names of their masters, but were denied the “Saint” on their name.

“I learned my last name was Armand. I changed it to St. Armant, the original last name from France,” she said, reflect ing the French Saint Armand, the patron saint of beer, wine making and hospital ity.

Because of these and various other chance occurrences, St. Armant feels a spiritual connection to the show she is creating.

“I don’t think it’s by accident that this information came to me, that he (Tam) was also enslaved in a plantation that my family members were also enslaved on,” she said. “And because of the nature of our history here in the States, we really

don’t know our family lineage past four or five generations max because our his tory was erased for us, our last names were taken, and all that.”

“I can’t know for sure, but I think I know,” she continued. “At the very least, he shares an experience that my ances tors have also experienced on the same land.”

IF YOU GO

What: “North: The Musical”

When: 7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 4 and 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. Nov. 5.

Where: Chandler Center for the Arts, 250 N. Arizona Ave., Chandler.

Tickets: $32 and $42, $15 for youth.

Information/sales: chandlercenter.org/north or 480-782-2680.

Connected Events:

10 a.m. Oct. 22 at Chandler Public Library:

“The Underground and Overground Railroad” presented by Dr. Tamika Sanders. Nov. 4 I the Gallery of the Chandler Center for the Arts, opening night cast reception after show for ticketholders.

Nov. 5 at CCA: “North: The Musical Talk Backs,” following both the Saturday performances.

Summer Ends Festival at Tempe Beach Park.

Although the band has kept busy, vo calist/guitarist Jim Adkins said he always wanted to do something special for his hometown.

“We’ve always been saving a hometown show for some reason or another and we didn’t want to just do something just to do something, we wanted it to be special,” said Adkins, who graduated from Moun tain View High School alongside Lind.

“But then other opportunities come up and that ate into our hometown gig.”

With this show, Jimmy Eat World will

treat fans to live renditions of the band’s newest tracks, including the single “Something Loud”

“I think we’re most excited about your newest thing,” Adkins said. “I’m excited to play our song ‘Something Loud’ in front of people in our hometown. It’s been getting good reactions everywhere else we’ve played it, so we’re pumped on it.”

IF YOU GO

What: Jimmy Eat World and The Maine w/ PVRIS, Thursday and Sydney Sprague

When: 7 p.m. Friday, October 28

Where: Arizona Financial Theatre, 400 W. Washington Street, Phoenix Cost: Tickets start at $43 Info: jimmyeatworld.com, themaineband. com and livenation.com

The song is also exciting as it discusses the band’s formative years, according to bassist Rick Burch

“It talks about being young and excit ed and discovering playing music with friends,” said Burch, who went to West wood High School.

Aside from a set that spans three de

cades, Jimmy Eat World aims to show off the community of rockers in the state.

“I want people to walk away from it feeling like they participated in a commu nity,” Adkins said. “There are three local bands on the show so hopefully everyone will feel like they’re a part of a communi ty.”

With JAN D’ATRI GetOut Contributor

This recipe gives salmon the kick that’s been missing

If you love salmon filets, I’m kind of jeal ous. I’ve tried to love salmon all of my life. But if it’s not done well, I tend to get a little bored half way through the meal. I’m that way with chicken, too. I’ll bet you can relate.

So I’m always on the lookout for a great new way to prepare salmon. Recently, I’ve found one, and I’m filled to the gills with joy!

This dish is sensational. It starts with a beautiful fresh (emphasizing fresh here) piece of salmon, pan grilled simply with salt and pepper. The real flavor bomb comes with the sauce.

It’s a tasty mixture of sundried tomatoes, garlic, artichoke hearts, capers, smoked pa prika and baby spinach made ever so rich with heavy cream.The cooked salmon gets to go swimming in this saporous pool of savory sauce before it’s served on a bed of rice or pasta.

You may want to forego the starch and serve it with charred Italian bread slices because there will be some amazing sauce to mop up.

By the way, I mention that fresh fish is better. If you purchase “previously frozen” fish, here’s what happens:

Since fish contains a lot of water, when it freezes, it expands. When it thaws, it contracts and that rips apart the fibers of the fish, allowing moisture to leak out. Have you ever noticed a lot of water in the package of a piece of frozen fish after it’s been defrosted?

Also, previously frozen can create a mushy flesh, so opt for fresh if available. Give this Creamy Tuscan Salmon Skillet a try You just might get hooked.

Ingredients

1 tablespoon olive oil

1 lb salmon fillets (or 4 salmon fillets)

1 teaspoon salt

3 cloves garlic, minced

¼ cup sun-dried tomatoes, chopped fine

1 cup artichoke hearts, chopped

2 tablespoons capers, drained

5 oz fresh baby spinach

WARNING! PERIPHERAL NEUROPATHY AND CHRONIC PAIN TREATMENTS NOT WORKING!!

1 cup heavy cream

¼ teaspoon smoked paprika

Directions

1. Heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a large skil let on medium-high heat.

2. Season salmon fillets with salt.

3. When the oil is hot, add salmon fillets flesh side down (skin side up). Sear for about 3-4 min utes. Reduce heat to medium. Flip the salmon fillets to the other side (skin side down). Sear for another 3-4 minutes on medium heat. Remove salmon from the skillet. Place on a plate and tent with foil.

4. To the same skillet, add chopped sun-dried tomatoes, minced garlic, chopped artichokes and capers. Cook, stirring, for 1 minute.

5. Add fresh spinach, and continue cooking un til the spinach wilts, about 2 minutes.

6. Add the cup of heavy cream and paprika. Bring to simmer, cooking for about 1 minute, stir ring constantly.

7. Add salmon back into the skillet with the cream sauce.

Spoon the sauce over the salmon, and simmer until the salmon is warmed and cooked through.

Season with more salt, if desired. Serve with rice, pasta or crusty bread. Serves 4.

Mesa

, AZ – When it comes to chronic pain and/ or neuropathy, the most common doctor-prescribed treatment is drugs like Gabapentin, Lyrica, Cymbalta, and Neurontin. The problem with antidepressants or anti-seizure medications like these is that they offer purely symptomatic relief, as opposed to targeting and treating the root of the problem. Worse, these drugs often trigger an onset of uncomfortable, painful, and sometimes harmful side effects.

The only way to effectively treat chronic pain and/or peripheral neuropathy is by targeting the source, which is the result of nerve damage owing to inadequate blood flow to the nerves in the hands and feet. This often causes weakness, numbness, balance

problems. A lack of nutrients causes the nerves degenerate – an insidious

cannot survive, and thus, slowly die. This leads to those painful and frustrating consequences we were talking about earlier, like weakness, numbness, tingling, balance issues, and perhaps even a burning sensation.

The drugs your doctor might prescribe will temporarily conceal the problems, putting a “Band-Aid” over a situation that will only continue to deteriorate without further action.

Thankfully, Mesa is the birthplace of a brandnew facility that sheds new light on this pressing problem of peripheral neuropathy and chronic pain. The company is trailblazing the medical industry by replacing outdated drugs and symptomatic reprieves with an advanced machine that targets the root of the problem at hand.

1. Finding the underlying cause

2. Determining the extent of the nerve damage (above 95% nerve loss is rarely treatable)

3. The amount of treatment required for the patient’s unique condition

Aspen Medical in Mesa, AZ uses a state-of-the-art electric cell signaling systems worth $100,000.00.

Th is ground-breaking treatment is engineered to achieve the following, accompanied by advanced diagnostics and a basic skin biopsy to accurately analyze results:

1. Increases blood flow

2. Stimulates and strengthens small fiber nerves

3. Improves brain-based pain

The treatment works by delivering energy to the affected area(s) at varying wavelengths, from low- to middle-frequency signals, while also using Amplitude Modulated (AM) and Frequency Modulated (FM) signaling

It’s completely painless!

THE GREAT NEWS IS THAT THIS TREATMENT IS COVERED BY MEDICARE, MEDICAID, AND MOST INSURANCES!!

The number of treatments required varies from patient to patient, and can only be determined following an in-depth neurological and vascular examination. As long as you have less than 95% nerve damage, there is hope!

Aspen Medical begins by analyzing the extent of the nerve damage –a complimentary service for your friends and family. Each exam comprises a detailed sensory evaluation, extensive peripheral vascular testing, and comprehensive analysis of neuropathy findings.

Aspen Medical will be offering this free chronic pain and neuropathy severity evaluation will be available until October 31st 2022 Call (480) 274 3157 to make an appointment

Due to our very busy office schedule, we are limiting this offer to the first 10 c allers. YOU DO NOT HAVE TO SUFFER ANOTHER MINUTE, CALL (480) 274 3157 NOW!!

We are extremely busy, so we are unavailable, please leave a voice message and we will get back to you as soon as possible.

Aspen Medical 4540 E. Baseline Rd., Suite 119 Mesa, AZ, 85206

As displayed in figure 1 above, the nerves are surrounded by diseased, withered blood vessels. A lack of sufficient nutrients means the nerves

Effective neuropathy treatment relies on the following three factors:

Depending on your coverage, your peripheral neuropathy treatment could cost almost nothing – or be absolutely free.

SEEKERS

Find a Job at a Career Fair

Career fairs are a time-honored way of bringing many employers and job seekers together at once.

Whether sponsored by colleges, government job agencies or professional organizations, career fairs are an opportunity to meet with employers, learn about job openings and companies, schedule interviews and maybe even go home with a job.

PREPARING FOR A CAREER FAIR

The first thing you need to do is decide what you want from the fair. Are you merely collecting information? Are you hoping to get a job while there? Are you planning to market yourself?

Dress for the job you want. If you’re going to a career fair that is hiring for a manufacturing job, it may be acceptable to wear clean jeans and a shirt. For a professional job, a business suit is more appropriate. It is always better to be overdressed than underdressed. While a career fair for artistic/design and creative jobs might allow for more leeway, generally you want to dress conservatively.

Get a list of who will be at the career fair and research them. This helps you plan who you want to see. This also lets you spend your limited time with each recruiter talking about your qualifications rather than having to learn their basic information.

Prepare questions to ask about a job opening — but avoid such things as pay rate or benefits. What are some good questions? Ask things like the average tenure of employees at the organization, what sort of attributes are essential to success in the organization, or what accomplishments are valued and rewarded in the organization.

Prepare your elevator speech or commercial. Introduce yourself in 30 seconds and communicate what you are looking for and why you are interested

in a job provider. Practice before you go. The ASHA Career Portal recommends including who you are, what your passion is, what your purpose is and the skills you have to achieve it, and what your something “extra” is.

PACKING FOR A FAIR

Print several copies of the strongest version you have of your resume, one designed to appeal to the type of companies that will be at the career fair. Other things to take include a pen, notepad and breath mints. Don’t chew gum. Carry a portfolio or a briefcase.

AT THE FAIR

Always behave professionally— whether you are in the restroom, the elevator or standing in front of a booth.

You never know who is going to see or hear you.

Project confidence. Use a strong handshake, make eye contact and speak in a clear and natural voice. Be aware of your body language and project the image of a professional.

AFTER THE FAIR

Send thank-you letters to those employers that you have a high amount of interest in, especially if you gave them a resume. Identify the jobs you are interested in and if you didn’t give them a resume at the fair, follow up with a cover letter and resume, mentioning

that you met a representative. Update your resume with anything you learned that better reflects your qualifications.

Now Hiring in Mesa!

Steel Arizona has proudly been making

steel that builds America since 2009.

hiring immediately for all skilled operator positions to be part of building

new, state of the art micro mill from the ground

Employment General

Healthy Living/

Garage Sales/ Bazaars

Wanted to Buy

Employment General

Deca Technologies, Inc. seeks a Director Software Engineering - Production Systems in Tempe, AZ. Manage development, implementation and maintenance of Adaptive Patterning (AP) Engine and Factory Automation systems. Telecommuting permitted. Apply at https://www.jobpostingtoday.com/ Ref# 99358

SOFTWARE ENGINEER: Chandler, AZ & various unanticipated locations throughout US.: Dvlp, create tech soln to data convs. Dsgn & write data conv routines & code. Prep new datasets frm raw data files usng imprt techniques. Modfy extg datasets usng set, merge, sort, updt, func & condtn statements. Prfm in dpndt cmplx analysis, suprt sevrl data convs. Extct, trnf, load data. Prfrm unit test & fix issues. Skills req'd: SAS Enterprise Guide, Unix, Metadata, Putty, WinSCP, Oracle, & SQL Server. Masters in Sci, Tech, or Engg (any) w/1 yr of exp in job offrd or rltd occup. Mail resume: Sierra Business Solution LLC, 6909 W Ray Rd, Ste 15-137, Chandler, AZ 85226.

WEB SERVICES, INC., an Amazon.com company – Tempe, AZ:

BI Engineer III: Design, develop, implement, test, document, & oper ate large-scale, high-volume, high-performance data structures for BI analytics. (AMZ5935978).

Enterprise Account Engineer II: Design, develop & s upport global & enterprise companies runnin g cloud-based mission-critical apps, systs, servs & fea t ures. Domestic travel required up to 15% ( AMZ6062261).

M ultiple job openings. Apply online : www.amazon.jobs – search by AMZ job #(s). EOE.

HUGE COMUNITY SALE!

Peralta Canyon –10893 E. Peralta Canyon Dr – Gold Canyon AZ

Oct. 21, 22 & 23 7am-3pm

Pets/Services/ Livestock

HUGE COMUNITY SALE!

Entrada Del Oro 18437

- Gold

Oct 21, 22 & 23 7am-3pm Miscellaneous For Sale

CAR OR BOAT STORAGE

WANT TO PURCHASE

Apartments

Crismon/Superstition

furbished,

DEPOSIT /BAD CREDIT

602-339-1555

Delaware/Superstition.

2 bed/1

month.

bished,

DEPOSIT/BAD CREDIT

Industrial

Employment General

Deloitte Consulting LLP seeks a Consulting, Solution Specialist in Gilbert, AZ & various unanticipated Deloitte office locations & client sites nationally to create innovative and transformative solutions that address supply chain needs. 15% travel required nationally. Telecommuting permitted. To apply visit apply.deloitte.com. Enter XBAL23FC0922GIL2733 in “Search jobs” field. EOE, including disability/veterans.

Plumbing

Notice of Request

ESTRELLA NORTH, LLC REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL (RFP)

EMR HILLSIDE NORTH TRAFFIC SIGNALS & ASSOCIATED IMPROVEMENTS

This Public Bid RFP consists of material, equipment an d labor for the turnkey installation of the Estrella Mountai n Ranch (EMR) Hillside North Traffic Signals and Associated Improvements (concrete, signing, striping, etc). The projec t is located within the EMR community in Goodyear, AZ. A copy of the plans, specifications and bid documents will be available for pickup at the Silver Fern office on and afte r October 17, 2022. Bid packages can also be requested to be emailed by contacting jmeyers@silverferncompanies.com or jpederson@silverferncompanies.com. Deliver sealed bid for the above referenced project to Estrella North, LLC c/o Sil ver Fern Companies, 1048 N. 44 th St., Suite 150, Phoenix, AZ 85008 no later than November 18, 2022 @ 3:00 p.m ( Arizona Time). Submit each bid in a sealed envelop e clearly marked stating the name of the bidder and the name of the project. Late bids will be returned unopened. Bids will be opened and publically read aloud immediately after the specified bid closing time. Owner reserves the right to reject any or all bids or to withhold the award for any reason the Owner determines. The contract will be awarded within 10 working days unless all bids are rejected. All required bid assurances must accompany all bids. All work is to be com pleted in accordance with MAG, ADOT and City of Goo dyear specifications. The Owner anticipates that after con struction has been completed, portions of the project may be acquired by either a Community Facilities District or the City of Goodyear or, collectively, the Public Entities. The Public Entities are not responsible for or liable for any oblig ations of the Owner, including any of the Owner’s obliga tions under the Contract for construction of this project.

Published: East Valley Tribune, Oct 16, 2022/ 49803

Public Notices

STATE OF NEW MEXICO COUNTY OF LUNA

S IXTH JUDICIAL DISTRICT IN THE CHIL

Public Notices

CITY OF MESA MESA, ARIZONA

Judge Jarod

DREN’S COURT In the Matter of the Adoption Pe tition of Leann Moreno and Raul Fernando Moreno, Petitioners. No. D-619-SA-2022-00002

K. Hofacket Notice of Petition for adoption The state of new mexico to the following named or designated persons: Mario Vonne Newton Notice is hereby giv en that a Petition for Adoption has been filed by Peti tioners in the aboveentitled cause on April 7, 2022 Please be further notified that, pursuant to NMS A 1978, Section 32A527(E), you are required to file a written response to the Petition within twenty (20) days from the date of this notice if you intend to con test the request for an adoption decree of the pro s pective adoptee with the Sixth Judicial Distric t Court, 855 S. Platinum, Deming, NM 88030. Failure t o file a written response with the court shall b e treated as a default and your consent to the adoption s hall not be required. The Petitioner’s counsel i s B enting Law Firm, LLC, 115 E. Ash St. Deming , NM 88030, (575) 546-6300. WITNESS my hand and seal of the District Court of Luna County, New Mex ico, on this 19th day of September, 2022. Clerk of the District Court By Miriam Davila, Deputy. Pub lished: East Valley Tribune, Oct 16, 23, 30, 2022 / 49726

NOTICE OF VIRTUAL PUBLIC MEETING Val Vista Drive Improvements, US60 to Pueblo Avenue

Project No. CP0062

The City of Mesa plans to reconstruct Val Vista Drive from the US60 Freeway to Pueblo Avenue and the intersection of Val Vista Drive and Southern Avenue. These improvements will provide three through lanes on Val Vista Drive from US60 to Enid Avenue. Improvements include paveme nt reconstruction, raised center medians, bike lanes, adding drainage structures and facilities, landscaping and traffic signal modifications. Other improvements include overhead to underground electric, gas facilities, replacement of curb, gutter, sidewalk, and ADA-compliant ramps and driveways in various locations. Design is underway with construction anticipated to begin Fall 2023.

We invite you to join us for a short presentation followed by a questions and answer session! Date: Tuesday, October 18, 2022

Time: 6:00pm to 7:00pm

Location: Virtual Public Meeting: Register online at mesaaz.gov/engineering

If you have any questions or concerns regarding this project, please contact Curt Albright, Michele Arrollado, or Dory Kalich with the City of Mesa Engineering Public Relations Department at (480) 644-3800.

Si usted tiene preguntas de este proyecto, favor de llamar a Maggie Smith, con la Ciudad de Mesa al (480) 644-5672.

Published: East Valley Tribune, Oct. 9, 16, 2022 / 49649

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Blandford Homes specializes in building master planned environments with a variety of amenities, parks, and charm. You’ll find the perfect community to fit your lifestyle.

A STRATFORD – NOW SELLING

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B PALMA BRISA – In Ahwatukee Foothills CLOSEOUT

A Dramatic Gated Community From the $800’s • 480-641-1800

C BELMONT AT SOMERSET – Prime Gilbert Location SOLD OUT Luxury estate homes and timeless architecture 480-750-3000

D MONTELUNA – Brand New Gated Community in the Foothills of Northeast Mesa NOW SELLING McKellips Rd just east of the Red Mountain 202 Fwy From the $700’s • 480-750-3000

E RESERVE AT RED ROCK – NOW SELLING

New Upscale Resort Community In the Foothills of Northeast Mesa with Stunning View of Red Mountain Vintage Collection • From the low $700’s • 480-641-1800 Craftsman Collection • From the high $800’s • 480-988-2400 Artisan Collection • From the $900’s • 480-641-1800

F TALINN AT DESERT RIDGE – NOW SELLING Spectacular gated community in Desert Ridge • 480-733-9000