Gilbert Sun News 120422

Group home’s location riles Gilbert neighbors

BY CECILIA CHAN GSN Managing Editor

James

DeVary said he used to bring his

two children, ages 2 and 4, to the Gilbert neighborhood park’s tot lot regularly –but nowadays they steer clear away from it.

“I’ve stopped going to the park because of this house and because of the tenants,” DeVary said. “We don’t want any issues with the residents. They leave the house, sit on

the picnic bench and hang out and drink.”

The house in question, on West Johnson Drive in Dave Brown Country Estates, is an adult behavioral health group home and sits next to the park. DeVary and his family live four houses away.

“I see a ton of police, at least once a month if not more,” DeVary said.

He backed up his claim with a Gilbert Po lice premise history search showing 25 calls for service to the location from April to Oc

Purple for Parents becoming school board force in EV

BY KEN SAIN GSN Staff Writer

arents’ rights advocates in Arizona are celebrating huge gains, both in the Legislature and at the ballot box for governing board members.

Purple for People, a conservative parental-rights organization, endorsed 38 candidates in November’s school board elections across Arizona and unofficial results show that 20 of them won seats – including two in Scottsdale, one each in Gilbert’s two main districts, one in Chandler and one in Mesa.

“We’re very happy,” said Michelle Dillard, president of Purple for Parents. “It’s great to have school board

,

tober.

The calls included aggravated assault, as sault and disorderly conduct. They also in clude calls of suspicious person, illegal park ing and suspicious vehicle.

The operator said the group home is legal and not breaking any laws.

Nonetheless, DeVary and two of his neigh bors int eh community near Ray and Cooper

A tree grows in Gilbert

Though the Gilbert Sister Cities Friendship Garden has been opened since, June it needed a formal unveiling that included Alderman Stephen Ross, the new west mayor of Antrim and Newtownabbey, Ireland. Ross, right, joined Gilbert Sister Cities President Greg Tilque and Mayor Brigette Peterson recently to plant a tree near the garden in Gilbert Regional Park. (David Minton/GSN Staff Photographer)

Gilbert Realtor couple becoming local pub owners.

Gilbert Sun News is published every Sunday and distributed free of charge to homes and in single-copy locations throughout Gilbert.

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Bobbi Buchli’s Gilbert Council victory confirmed

BY CECILIA CHAN GSN Managing Editor

It’s official – Bobbi Buchli is the newest member to take a seat at the council dais.

Gilbert Council at the Nov. 28 special meeting approved the official tally of the Nov. 8 General Election that saw political newcomer Buchli beat Bill Spence, who served eight months in 2020 as a council appointee, by over 1,000 votes.

Buchli, who received 40,393 votes compared with retired Navy veteran Spence’s 39,217, said it wasn’t just one thing that propelled her to victory.

“I think that part of it was that the town isn’t looking for the status quo anymore,” said Buchli, a real estate agent. “I think the residents wanted some new, fresh people in there.

“I had a bit of name recognition on my own, not in the political world but in town,” she said. “I grew up in Mesa and then I lived in Gilbert for over 20 some years. I knew quite a few people.”

Other factors that won her voters, according to Buchli, was a campaign platform that included no more highdensity apartments and fiscal-spending control, and her clean campaign.

“I don’t think I ever said anything against my opponent,” she said. “Other people did but that was not the type of campaign I wanted to run. That had a lot to do with it.”

And there was a lot of knocking on doors.

“I worked really super hard mainly because I knew what I was up against with my opponent because he did have the name recognition and he had served a few months on council,” Buchli said.

“I was out on a daily basis. No matter where I was or what I did I was talking to voters and residents, letting them know who I was and what my platform was. I

was out and about at every event I was invited to. I went to every meet-andgreet that people wanted to do for me. I didn’t hesitate for a minute. Sometimes there would be eight people but eight people spread out to many, many more people if they like you.

“It all came into play. Everything I did together resonated with residents and voters.”

When Buchli begins her four-year term in January, she said she’d like to roll up her sleeves on several things, including the “constant” re-zones of land to high-density apartments.

“That is where I kind of want to be involved in, the zoning and seeing why we continue to do that,” she said, adding that proposed changes to the voterapproved General Plan also will get scrutiny from her.

“I get it, we’re growing and we have lot of people here,” she said. “Many residents have talked to me about that, why even have a (General Plan) if you

continue to change that. It’s changed on a monthly basis practically.”

She also wants to see more effort with the town’s infrastructure.

“We have to maintain it better that what we are – not just roads but sidewalks and certain areas of town need to be cleaned,” Buchli said.

Although the council race was nonpartisan, conservative groups, including the state Republican Party, endorsed Buchli.

Registered Republicans outnumbered Democrats in Gilbert by nearly 2:1, according to the county. Republicans make up roughly 41.6% of the active voters in Town compared with 23.6% for Democrats and 33.7% for independents.

A total of 110,864 or 68.68% of Gilbert’s 161,431 registered voters cast a ballot in the Primary Election, according to the Town Clerk’s Office.

The final official results showed that 90,617 or 56.13% of voters cast their ballots early and 20,051 or 12.42% on Election Day. The county reported 196 or .12% provisional ballots, which are given to those at the polls whose eligibility to vote is uncertain.

Voter turnout at the General Election in 2020, a presidential race, was 85.45%, and turnout at the General Election in 2018 was 67.95%.

Other new faces coming on board in January are Jim Torgeson and Chuck Bongiovanni. Torgeson, Bongiovanni and Councilwoman Yung Koprowski won in the August Primary.

Leaving council are Aimee Yentes, Laurin Hendrix, who won a House seat in Legislative District 14, and Scott September, who didn’t make the cut in the Primary.

All four council seats are for four years each. The annual salary for the council job is $21,012.

Contact Cecilia Chan at 480-898-5613 or cchan@timeslocalmedia.com

Bobbi Buchli

Gilbert Sun News is distributed by AZ Integrated Media a circulation company owned and operated by Times Media Group. The public is limited to one copy per reader. For circulation services, please contact Aaron Kolodny at

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members elected that support parents’ rights and will promote academics in the classroom.”

The electoral victories followed suc cess last spring, when the state Legisla ture passed and Gov. Doug Ducey signed the Parental Rights Bill. It further en hances the Parental Bill of Rights passed in 2010.

The newer legislation gives parents the rights to all written and electronic school records about their child. That includes any counseling records, even notes taken during a conversation. Par ents can sue school districts if a teacher does not comply.

“I think that enforcement is going to be something that all parents are going to have to be keeping an eye out, we’re going to have to be very diligent and making sure that they actually follow the laws,” Dillard said.

She pointed to a school board meeting she watched where the board members changed the policy to comply with state law, but said repeatedly they were not happy to do so.

That was the case in Kyrene School District, where Governing Board mem bers in September lashed out at laws preventing any mandate requiring kids to get COVID or HPV shots, requiring greater parental access and longer re view policies for new library books, giv ing parents the right to get a list of all library books checked out by their chil dren.

But the Kyrene board members’ harsh est criticism involved a ban on boys join ing girls-only sports teams.

They initially planned to just amend the district’s policy on sports to say Kyrene conformed with Arizona law, un til a board member prevailed on her col leagues to include the specific citation for the statute so that parents could find it more readily.

Critics of the parental rights law say it will have a chilling impact on students. For example, critics contend, a gay teen who knows his family will not ac cept his or her sexual orientation will not be able to reach out to a trusted adult at school to talk about what they are going through because they risk their parents finding out and possibly kicked out of

their home or forced to go to conversion therapy.

There were similar concerns about students who are struggling with their gender identity.

Dillard said that is part of the prob lem: There’s too much sex in schools.

“We don’t want the sexualization of our children to be continuing on this, I mean, it’s accelerated this upward trend,” she said. “The left, who has had control of our schools, wants compre hensive sex education. And I think they call it like age-appropriate or whatever. Well, we have a disagreement with that.”

Purple for People started in 2018 as a reaction to the Red for Ed movement, in which teachers demanded higher sal aries and more funding for school dis tricts.

Forest Moriarty, a Mesa husband to a teacher and father to two special-needs students, is credited as the founder. He did not return a message seeking an in terview.

Dillard said Purple for Parents has no ties to Patriot Movement AZ, which has been identified as a far-right hate group and was ordered by a federal judge in 2019 to stop harassing churches across the Valley, including Chandler, that were offering clothing and food to newly bussed migrants awaiting transporta tion to other parts of the country.

Dillard said it is true that some of the founding members were also members

of PMAZ, but she rejected they were tied together.

“There were members of Purple for Parents that were in PMAZ,” Dillard said. “I mean, they’re parents, too. They have children in schools. And so you know, they were in the group, but they had no influence, nor did they found it. That’s been a blatant lie that local media has pushed from the beginning.”

Purple for People really picked up mo mentum in 2019 after Fox News’ Tucker Carlson highlighted the Chandler Uni fied School District’s attempt to improve its diversity training. Carlson criticized the Deep Equity program from the Cor win Co. as indoctrination.

Angry parents began showing up at school board meetings in the Chandler and Kyrene school districts.

Stephanie Ingersoll, the executive di rector of marketing and communications for CUSD, said the district no longer uses the Deep Equity program. Instead, the district developed an Equity Advisory Board, which comprises staff, students, parents and community members.

Purple for Parents advocates for school choice and parental rights, and wants to keep Critical Race Theory (CRT) out of schools. That theory is a law school class that is not taught at K-12 schools in Ar izona.

However, Dillard said it is used as a catchphrase for programs like Corwin’s Deep Equity because it’s a phrase people

know, having heard it from former Pres ident Trump.

She said issues like that made it easy to find candidates willing to run in the 2022 election.

“I witnessed parents trying to stand up for their parental rights in education to be later ridiculed for doing so,” Heath er Rooks wrote in an email about why she ran. She was elected to the Peoria Unified School District Governing Board.

“I heard from so many parents that their child was struggling and falling behind. I had heard from teachers who were afraid to speak up against the CRT ideology in the district,” Rooks said.

Parental rights issues were not the only reason for running.

“[I decided to run after] having wit nessed the steady decline in merit-based academics, with test scores tanking and teachers leaving the district in droves,” wrote newly elected Scottsdale Unified Governing Board member Carine Wer ner.

“Even the 8-year age gap between my oldest and youngest has revealed stark differences in how our children are edu cated,” Werner said. “I couldn’t sit on the sidelines any longer.”

Chad Thompson, newly elected mem ber of the Gilbert Public Schools Govern ing Board, wrote:

“As a father of multiple children that attend GPS schools, I was very concerned about the decisions made by our board over the last few years. As our race de veloped, I became even more concerned about where our schools are headed.”

He campaigned against social emo tional learning and any sex education in schools and said at a candidates’ town hall:

“I think we’ve let way too much stuff come into our school that are distrac tions from education. Parents are awake; they are seeing this stuff especially after the pandemic. It seems like our schools today want to teach just about every thing except for education, actual math, science and language.”

Thompson also said that students need to be taught accountability and re sponsibility.

Fox News host Tucker Carlson put his national focus on Chandler Unified School District’s Deep Equity program, which led to a number of protests at Governing Board meetings by parental-rights supporters. (Fox News)

Parental rights candidates won two seats in each of three districts, Cave Creek, Dysart, and Scottsdale. Still, even with this success they will likely be in the minority when they are seated.

“It’s going to be frustrating for them to have to endure being in the minority,” Dillard said. “But I do think that in all of these districts, there’s a great group of parents … that will also be supportive.

“I think that they will have a voice on the board and so while they may not get certain items passed, or the votes aren’t going to land their way, at least they’ll have a voice and they can let the pub lic and the community and the parents know that … it’s being voted on.”

Some candidates welcome the chal lenge of being in the minority on the board.

“School board members are nonparti san positions and parental rights are en shrined in state statute,” Anna Van Hoek wrote. She won election in the Higley Unified School District. “Politics should be set aside, and the law followed by all elected officials, administration and staff.”

“If I am in the minority, I will work to bring transparency on what is discussed and voted upon and perhaps why I am not in support or support of a motion,” wrote new Queen Creek Unified board member James Knox. “Too often, items

own caucus since there were multiple parental-rights candidates who wanted to run. She said each agreed to not run if they didn’t get enough support at the caucus.

Kurt Rohrs and Charlotte Golla end ed up with the most support, so others stood down. Rohrs ended up with the most votes in his election. Golla finished third and did not win.

Dillard said she would like to see school board races become partisan, so voters can determine their candidates in a primary election and give them a bet ter shot at winning in the general elec tion.

She said parental-rights board mem bers will want to put the focus back on academics when they take their seats. Equity and equality discussions in school districts across the country have spurred controversies. (File photo)

in QCUSD are put into the consent vote when they are not consenting items.”

Said Amy Carney, the other new Scott sdale Unified board member: “I plan to work alongside the other board mem bers to strengthen our school commu nities by supporting our students and educators and ensuring that parents feel heard and welcomed on our campuses.”

Purple for Parents was strategic in how its endorsed candidates ran for school board seats. Dillard said the

The parental rights group Purple for Parents endorsed 38 candidates for school boards in the 2022 general election across Arizona. Unofficial results show 20 won seats. They are:

Scott Brown and Jackie Ulmer, Cave Creek

Kurt Rohrs, Chandler

Paul Carver, Deer Valley

Dawn Densmore and Jennifer Drake, Dysart

Madicyn Reid and Libby Settle, Fountain Hills

Chad Thompson, Gilbert

Anna Van Hoek, Higley

Tom Carlson, Marana

Rachel Walden, Mesa

Sandra Christensen, Paradise Valley

Heather Rooks, Peoria

James Knox, Queen Creek

Raul Rodriguez, Sahuarita

Amy Carney and Carine Werner, Scottsdale

Thomas Trask, Tanque Verde Val Romero, Tucson

Political consultant angered by ejections by LD13 GOP

BY KEN SAIN GSN Staff Writer

The political in-fighting inside the Arizona Republican Party is now showing itself locally.

Brian Fox, a political consultant and lobbyist, changed his party registration from Independent to Republican in August. Since then, he has tried to attend three monthly meetings of the Legislative District 13 Republicans.

Each time, they threw him out.

Police reports confirm that Fox was asked to leave each of the meetings despite showing them proof he was registered as a Republican.

“I walked in,” Fox said of the first meeting he tried to attend in September. “There was a little bit of hubbub when they saw my face. Nobody approached me to ask me what I was doing or anything. I went in and sat down, and after sitting down for about two minutes.”

“I was on my phone looking at the

news. And I was approached … and told I had to leave. And I said, why? And they said, ‘because you’re not a Republican.’ I

said, ‘Yes, I am. Here’s my registration.’”

Fox works as a consultant for AZ Valley Consulting. As part of his job he has worked for both Democratic and Republican candidates.

Multiple messages sent over multiple days to LD13 Republican leadership seeking comment were not returned.

In the police reports, officers were told by those who evicted him that they believed Fox to be a Democrat who only recently changed his party and the group didn’t feel comfortable around him. They said they feel that way because Fox was the campaign manager for a Democrat running in a city council election.

Fox said he may have registered as a Democrat when he turned 18, but he wasn’t politically active then. He said he’s been an Independent ever since. He believes in low taxes – “Who doesn’t?” he said – and limited government.

However, he does not think the 2020 election was stolen. And he is increasingly concerned that the activists

who run the party on the district level are too extreme, pushing out more moderate voices. So, he said, that’s why he decided to start attending district meetings.

“If you’re an election denier, you’re an election denier,” Fox said. “You know, LD13 has been the tip of the spear when it comes to going after our county officials and anyone who certified the elections. They’ve been the tip of the spear with this nonsense.”

LD13 is changing, an Arizona political expert says.

Paul Bentz, senior vice president for Highground, Inc., a statewide political consulting group, said the east Chandler district is evolving in a similar pattern to what happened in west Chandler.

“It certainly appears like that will happen to LD13 as well,” Bentz said.

The current LD12 district includes northern and western Chandler, Ahwatukee and parts of Tempe and Mesa. It once was reliably Republican, but has it changed over time.

Now, all three of the representatives from that district are Democrats, who have kept the legislative delegation allblue since at least 2016.

In LD13 – which includes south Chandler, Sun Lakes and part of Gilbert –voters for the third consecutive election cycle elected Democrat Jennifer Pawlik to the state House, along with Republicans Rep-elect Liz Harris and incumbent Sen. J.D. Mesnard.

Bentz said it’s likely the district will trend more Democratic and moderate Republicans in the coming years.

But is there room for moderate or even Republicans at LD13 meetings? Or, as the Republican candidate for governor said during the campaign, should they “get the hell out?”

“Certainly, Kari Lake made that abundantly clear,” Bentz said. “It’s likely one of the main reasons she underperformed when you look at statewide results.”

Bentz said that Lake had 118,000 fewer votes than the Republican candidate for State Treasurer, Kimberly Yee. He said some Republicans look at that difference

Brian Fox

and suspect it must be fraud.

“They’re not interested in appealing to McCain Republicans, and that’s a notion that is shared by a significant portion of the electorate. However, that portion is not large enough to win elections,” Bentz said.

The political expert said the extreme elements are hurting the Republican Party at the ballot box.

“Maricopa County is still a Republican county,” Bentz said, pointing to the race for County Attorney, which was won by a Republican. “What’s the difference?

The Republicans who have been more mainstream win, but the MAGA-loving crowd, and election deniers, keep narrowing their votes.

“They appear to be blinded by their beliefs, and they don’t have room for anyone who doesn’t believe that. Everyone must believe the same as they do.”

First, he says LD13 Republicans aren’t following their own bylaws. He said, for example, they decided to have leadership elections before considering changes to the bylaws. It’s supposed to be the other way around.

Also, the chair of the district is not supposed to be a paid lobbyist. LouAnn Sedgwick was elected in November despite being the development director for the Arizona Free Enterprise Club. Fox said she declined the position.

But that’s not what’s driving him.

“This is an issue of extremism on both sides,” Fox said. “And while I do think one party is a little farther than the other one when it comes to extremists in power right now, I don’t want either party in the hands of extremists.

“And this, I think, is important for both parties to recognize before they go over the edge and come to a place in America where we’ve seen we’ve already come dangerously close to.” GENERAL from page 3

Fox said there’s a few reasons why he wants to attend the meetings.

the primary funding source for home visiting: the federal Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting funding stream,” Feehan said, noting it “serves families in a dozen counties through five different program models.

“Without reauthorization, over 2,000 Arizona families will lose access,” he added.

A recent report from the Council for a Strong America, the parent organization of Mission: Readiness, found that only 2,001 families – 2.3 percent of Arizona’s over 85,000 highest-priority families –receive home visiting services.

Hope is not lost,” Feehan said. “This bill is currently moving through Congress, but more work is needed to drive its passage.

“The Walorski Act would greatly

increase MIECHV funding over five years, with an increase for every state, including Arizona,” he said, adding the programs would allow programs to continue virtual home visits, guarantee at least one in-person visit a year. strengthen and retain the home visiting workforce and double the tribal setaside so Arizona’s tribes would have better access to home visiting programs.

“The Jackie Walorski Act is an inspirational example of Republicans and Democrats coming together on key issues to support America’s families,” Feehan said, adding that Americans’ support “will empower more children to achieve greatness, and help ensure America’s competitiveness, leadership, and national security into the future.”

University researchers team up to find Valley fever cure

BY KADEN KLEINSCHMIDT Cronkite News

Anew research program combining the efforts of Northern Arizona University and the University of Washington aims to create a vaccine for Valley fever, an infectious fungal disease that poses an increasing threat as the climate continues to warm and dry.

“There’s no such thing as a vaccine for any fungal disease out there, and so we’re really going into entirely new territory,” said Deborah Fuller, a microbiology professor and vaccine specialist at UW. “If we’re successful, this would be a huge breakthrough … not just for Valley fever but for fungal diseases in general.”

Valley fever, scientifically known as coccidioidomycosis, mainly affects people living in Southwestern states. Its spores thrive in the soils of hot, dry climates and are small enough to be inhaled by humans and animals alike, causing an infection of the lungs.

Symptoms include fatigue, headache, muscle aches and cough. But because

Researchers at Northern Arizona University and the University of Washington have teamed up to create a vaccine for Valley fever, a fungal disease that mainly affects people living in Southwestern states. Its spores thrive in the soils of hot, dry climates and are small enough to be inhaled by humans and animals alike, causing an infection of the lungs. (Courtesy of the CDC)

those symptoms are undiscerning, Valley fever can be misdiagnosed and incorrectly treated.

On average, some 200 coccidio-

idomycosis-associated deaths were reported each year from 1999 to 2019,

Growth + Quality of Life:

SRP Thought Leader Forum

3:30-6 p.m. l Thursday, Dec. 8 l Chandler Center for the Arts

SRP Thought Leader Forum

Keynote speaker Trevor Barger, founder and CEO of Espiritu Loci and principal of Arizona Strategies, will share success stories from other cities in the American West. Then, a panel of PHX East Valley leaders will address challenges and opportunities facing our burgeoning region. We will also honor two PHX East Valley powerhouses – Kevin Olson of Lewis Roca and The Boeing Company – with the 2022 Legacy Awards.

3:30-6 p.m. l Thursday, Dec. 8 l Chandler Center for the Arts

Tickets are $1,500 for a bundle of 10 or $150 each.

RSVP to Jessica Hubbard, 480-532-0641 or jhubbard@phxeastvalley.com

Keynote speaker Trevor Barger, founder and CEO of Espiritu Loci and principal of Arizona Strategies, will share success stories from other cities in the American West. Then, a panel of PHX East Valley leaders will address challenges and opportunities facing our burgeoning region. We will also honor two PHX East Valley powerhouses

Note: In the spirit of the Partnership’s founding 40 years ago, when new members were asked to bring $10 to cover the cost of food and refreshments, the Partnership will accept donations of $10 in advance or at the door, with all proceeds benefitting one of the organization’s nonprofit members.

roads, brought their concerns to Town Council now that a level-three sex of fender is living in the house.

“This is a group home that’s supposed to be sobering these individuals up –next to our children and a bus stop on top of the toddler’s playground and the park,” DeVary told the council on Nov. 15.

He reminded them of an 18-year-old fatally shot in a Phoenix group home in September and the fatal beating of a man in a Gilbert group home in April 2021. He said the town should do back ground checks of individuals living at these types of homes.

“My concern is this group home is go ing to have an incident where one of the tenants is going to have an issue with a child, a parent or a caregiver,” DeVary said. “There’s already been a caregiver (of an 8-year-old special needs child) verbally assaulted by one of these indi viduals living in this home.

“I’m asking the town for their leader ship to come to the community and have a conversation about how we can get the risk away from our kids and protect our communities.”

DeVary said there are other group homes where the residents are proper ly supervised and that when he lived in New York he was a board member of an organization that supported recovery homes.

But what was happening here is “we have businessmen or people that are taking advantage of our neighborhoods and our communities and we need to fix it now,” he said, adding that he raised the issue in January with the council when he learned of the home opening for busi ness. No one from the Town contacted him, he said.

Ben Bercham, dad of three children, also raised concerns with “a group re covery home moving in at the doorstep of the most widely used children’s play ground.”

He said Gilbert Public Schools relocat ed a bus stop because of the home. The district did not respond to Gilbert Sun News’ inquiry about the issue.

“There seem to be no regulations, rules or guidelines for these businesses to abide by given the sensitive nature of

running a business of this type in a res idential area as though they have diplo matic immunity and they are taking full advantage of it,” Bercham added, saying:

“I say this (because) we unfortunately have front row seats to a particular one and there seems to be zero care for the neighborhood with broken bottles con sistently at the front and patients roam ing the streets intoxicated.

“To me these seem like profit centers for the business owners running on the thinnest cost at the expense of the neighborhood and gain for their pocket.”

He asked if the Town has a threshold for police calls before a license is re voked

“The ask today is to find your city’s strict guidelines and enforce them,” Bercham said. “If you are giving them the privilege of running a business in a residential area, don’t point the finger at the (state) health department or federal. This is your city. If you do, you will weed out the poorly run profit-driven owners and reward those that do it properly and respect the community they have joined.

“If there’s an incident, the liability is on the city.”

Casey Kendel told Council that the same operator has another recovery house 3.7 miles away and the two com bined “have had 50-plus police interac tions.” He added that there are alcohol

bottles and drug paraphernalia littered throughout the park and the neighbor hood.

He said the Town only allows for five residents in a 2,800-square-foot house but the Johnson Drive house was gutted and now “has anywhere from 10 to 12 bedrooms.”

“Where is Code Enforcement?” he asked. “The Town signed off on a certif icate of occupancy for 10 people. Code says five. Who is enforcing the code?”

Kendel, who lives a block from the group home, told the Gilbert Sun News that graffiti recently popped up on the house’s block fence.

“I’ve lived here eight years and have never seen graffiti within a mile of this house,” he said, which he fears is an indi cation of things yet to come to the neigh borhood.

Kendal, vice chair of Gilbert’s Rede velopment Commission, said he, too, no longer brings his kids, 6 and 8 to the park.

“Nobody does,” he said. ‘Who would?” ` The homes are supervised around the clock with a therapist show ing up daily, according to Osam Hasas neh with The Blessings Trust, owner of the two group homes.

“There’s staff there 24/7,” Hasasneh said. “It’s accredited by the state and the city. It’s a legally opened facility.”

Hasasneh said the maximum occupan cy for the house in question is 10 but de clined to say how many residents were currently living there.

As for claims about broken bottles lit tering the area, Hasasneh said he didn’t know if it was from the group home resi dents or others in the neighborhood.

Hasasneh, however, acknowledged the police calls, saying, “We don’t deny them. They do relapse. These are people trying to better themselves but they do slip and they do fall back but nobody’s a saint.”

Hasasneh said residents are targeting the home because his clients are Native Americans.

He has a contract with the San Carlos Apache Tribe.

“They don’t like their skin color,” he claimed. “They’re picking on these cli ents because they are all brown color, all Native Americans.”

He claimed there is a white couple who regularly park their car at night at the park and have arguments and the woman “always ends up slamming” the car door.

“They are screaming at each other at least once a week, a white couple,” he said. “Nobody complains because they are white.”

Hasasneh said the residents launched their campaign of harassment early on.

“Before we had residents in there as we were remodeling the house last year they were coming knocking on doors,” he said. “We had residents that came to my office raising all this and trying to threaten us.

“We’ve been getting private calls threatening us. ‘Who do you think you are? We are going to show you if you think you can do that.’”

Hasasneh also addressed the com plaint of a registered sex offender living in the home.

“Within a half mile radius there are (two) sex offenders,” he said, question ing why the neighborhood wasn’t up in arms over them.

The offenses listed for the sex offend er at the group home are “sexual assault tribal code” and “failure to register as

The group home on West Johnson Drive in Gilbert’s Dave Brown Country Estates is located next to a tot lot. (David Minton/GSN Staff Photographer)

a sex offender.” The 35-year-old man is considered to have a high-risk of re-of fending.

The two sex offenders living within a half-mile radius of the group home is a level-3 offender and a level-2 offender. One is white and one is African Ameri can. Four other sex offenders, all white, live less than a 3-mile radius of the home.

“Our clients are Native Americans, they are ganging up on these clients, making them unwelcome,” Hasasneh said. “All they see is neighbors trying to kick them out. They are trying to do bet ter and these neighbors all they’ve been doing is knocking on doors, harassing us, threatening us and that is all we get from them.”

Neighbors said Hasasneh’s claim that racism is the driving force behind their opposition to the group home is un founded.

“My wife is Hispanic, and my children are Hispanic,” Kendel said. “My neigh bors for the last eight years are Hispan ic, African American, Native American, Chinese, Indian, and Pakistani to name

a few.

“I have a tremendous amount of re spect for the Native American Culture, so much so that I have a bachelor’s de gree from Northern Arizona University in Cultural Diversity with an Emphasis in Ancient Latin (Native) American His tory.

“This has nothing to do with race and everything to do with safety and cha os created in our neighborhood by the residents and owner of the house and accountability of our town and state to enforce the codes that currently exist.”

DeVary said his wife was born in Mex ico and is 100% Hispanic, his former brother-in-law is Native American and that the neighborhood is diverse.

“I understand people lapse,” DeVary said. “I know people are trying to bet ter themselves but things happen. In my opinion, these types of homes with highrisk people do not belong next to toddler playgrounds, schools, school-bus stop, or parks.”

DeVary said he knows there are other sex offenders living in the area but that

Hasasneh “is putting the highest level of offenders next to toddler parks.”

“To me this is like telling someone that wants to stop drinking to move next to a bar and I will keep them clean,” he add ed. “My goal is to eliminate this risk on my kids.

“I am not targeting anyone. As we can see based on the owner’s personal state ment about tenants lapsing and the po lice reports the community concerns are valid.”

Due to the residents’ comments, Coun cil plans to delve into group homes at a study session sometime next year after the new council members take office.

Town Manager Patrick Banger also di rected Police Chief Michael Soelberg to follow up with the speakers and for Code Enforcement to get involved as well. De Vary said the chief has contacted him to find out more about the residents’ con cerns.

As for Code Compliance, spokeswom an Kelsey Perry responded, “The Town is looking into the comments that were made at the council meeting and will

respond accordingly to the concerned residents.”

Police spokeswoman Brenda Carras co said the department also is working on the issue.

“We have pulled the calls for service for this location and we are current ly reviewing them to see if any further actions are needed by Gilbert Police De partment or Code Compliance,” she said Steve Elliot, spokesman for Arizona Department of Health Services, the reg ulatory agency, said there is a pending complaint with the group home and that the department doesn’t discuss ongoing investigations.

He added that there “are no state reg ulations regarding proximity to schools and playgrounds for this type of facility.”

“That is within the jurisdiction of the town, which issued the certificate of oc cupancy for this location,” he said.

Local governments can’t prohibit group homes under the Fair Housing Act, which bars discrimination based

on a person’s race, color, national origin, religion, sex, family status or mental or physical disability.

Impairment is considered a disability so individuals recovering from alcohol ism and drug addiction are protected.

Following the murder last year at Tilda Manor on Wildhorse Drive in Gil bert, the state yanked the operating li cense and the council instructed police and fire to track the number of calls for service at these types of facilities and re port problem homes to the AZDHS.

No one from the neighborhood of that group home, which also had state viola tions and a number of police calls, raised concerns at council meetings until after the murder had occurred.

Carrasco said the department does not report all group-home incidents to the state but “rather, with all criminal cases, if there are violations or concerns with a group home, we will then contact AZDHS.”

Group homes have been discussed by the Town before, the latest in 2017.

In February of that year, the coun cil amended Gilbert code, reducing the number of residents in group and so ber-homes to five from 10 and prohibit ing these types of facilities from locating less than 1,200 feet from each other.

For Kendel, it appears for now no one wants to take responsibility for what is happening in his neighborhood and oth er neighborhoods in town.

“The town of Gilbert boasts as being one of the safest towns in the country,” Kendel said. “With increased, unregu lated, formerly incarcerated criminals moving into quiet, perceivably safe neighborhoods, this boast by the Town of Gilbert will be a memory of the past.”

Check us out and like the Gilbert Sun News on Facebook and follow @gilbertsunnews on Twitter.

GLENDALE

Glendale

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from your Medicare

Benefits vary by plan. ‘Ohana Health Plan, a plan offered by Wellcare Health Insurance of Arizona, Inc. Wellcare is the Medicare brand for Centene Corporation, an HMO, PPO, PFFS, PDP plan with a Medicare contract and is an approved Part D Sponsor. Our D-SNP plans have a contract with the state Medicaid program. Enrollment in our plans depends on contract renewal. Washington residents: Health Net Life Insurance Company is contracted with Medicare for PPO plans. “Wellcare by Health Net” is issued by Health Net Life Insurance Company. Washington residents: “Wellcare” is issued by Wellcare of Washington, Inc. Washington residents: “Wellcare” is issued by Wellcare Health Insurance Company of Washington, Inc. Wellcare by Allwell (HMO and HMO SNP) includes products that are underwritten by Superior HealthPlan, Inc. and Superior HealthPlan Community Solutions, Inc. Wellcare (HMO and HMO SNP) includes products that are underwritten by Wellcare of Texas, Inc., Wellcare National Health Insurance Company, and SelectCare of Texas, Inc. Cosmetic procedures are not covered under this benefit. ©Wellcare 2022 NA3WCMADV90544E_0000

Shane & Adriane

Mesa couple in ‘Light Fight’ of their lives

BY JOSH IRTEGA GSN Staff Writer

It started with a single strand of Christmas lights 24 years ago, and now a Mesa couple’s holiday spirit will shine extra bright this year.

Tomorrow, Dec. 5, Mesa natives Mi chael and Shelley Pelky will appear on season 10 of ABC’s hit decorating compe tition series “The Great Christmas Light Fight,” competing against three other families from across the country that have festooned their houses with holiday lights displays.

But the Pelkys want their display to shines for more than just a cash prize and a funny light bulb trophy.

“It’s a birthday card to Jesus. It’s his birthday and that’s the reason why we do it,” Shelley Pelky said. “We do it for our military. We do it for those fighting cancer who won and lost and for everybody. We just do it for everybody.”

The Pelky’s appearance on the show has been in the works for more than two years after the show’s producers found the Pelkys’ display online.

For three days in December 2021, a team of producers and camera operators shot at their home at 1335 N. Papillon Circle in Mesa.

Some of that included the couple’s “lit tle love stories” about some of the pieces they gathered over the years, including a

set of eight reindeer that came from Sun shine Acres Children’s Home.

“I remember those reindeer hanging in Superstition Springs mall when I was 14

years old,” Shelley said.

Other pieces of the couple’s collection come from all over the world – like a 12foot deer, a snowman, an octopus, a 12foot tree, a desert scene that includes a camel with lights, a kangaroo from her cousin in Australia, a “Frozen” winter wonderland with Elsa and Olaf and two items Shelley acquired by chance back east.

Six years ago, on a flight to Maryland to visit her cousin just diagnosed with ALS, Shelley had met a couple and af ter some conversation offered to help check on their aging grandfather, who lived near her cousin.

Three months later, the grandfather passed away and the couple asked Shel ley to help go through some of his stuff.

Among the belongings, Shelley found a two-and-half-foot Santa and Nativity scene, both hand-painted, that she now has on full display for the world to see.

“It means so much to me because I met these people that are now friends of mine, and they gave me such a beautiful manger scene that I can now display,” Shelley said. “And it will be all over the world for the rest of their lives knowing that it was filmed.”

The trove of Christmas decorations all gets stored nine months out of the year in a 10’x10’ shed that a large Nativity scene sits on.

The entire collection takes the Pelkys approximately two-and-a-half months of daily work to set up.

The collection has changed over the years, depending on how long pieces last in the harsh desert sun.

“Well, it just depends on how long in our Arizona sun they last in the shed,” Shelley said.

The couple met in March 1998, mar

Michael and Shelley Pelky’s Mesa home will be starring in a featured role tomorrow, Dec. 5, on ABCTV’s popular competition series, “The Great Christmas Light Fight,” but they say the prizes pale in comparison to the joy they have sharing the brilliant display with the world. (David Minton/GSN Staff Photographer)

The Pelkys estimate that over the years, their display has cost a total $50,000, but they say it’s worth it.

(David Minton/GSN Staff Photographer)

ried in October of that year and started their lights tradition that December.

But it was Christmas 2017 when they realized just how special their collection means to those who visit it.

In November 2017, Michael had a bone marrow transplant due to a low white cell count and his weakened immune system at the time. So, the so ciable couple couldn’t have guests over their house.

Despite the social distanc ing, the couple became curious about who came to visit their display and started to “spy” on their visitors, and that’s when it hit them.

The look on people’s faces when they visit the display told the whole story: even if for a moment, they forget about all their worries of bills, health and family.

“They can enjoy and remem ber just happiness for a mo ment,” Shelley said. “They’re not thinking about anything except for that moment, and that literally changed us.”

The Pelkys also have an as sortment of pink items, includ ing an angel, gazelle and pig, in honor of those who fought cancer.

The cancer warriors in their family include Shelley’s dad, who survived several bouts with various cancers; Mi chael’s sister, who survived breast cancer; Michael’s mom, who lost her battle with can cer; and Shelley’s cousin, who died of ALS.

“We have that for all of those that know that we sup port them as well,” Shelley said. “So it’s really involved

The Pelkys have collected numerous items from around the world to incorporate in their stunning display. (David Minton/GSN Staff Photographer

into if you know us, if you’ve talked to us, you can pretty much figure out what we stand for.”

Five years later, the Pelkys have their health and their display is ready for the world to see.

This season, the show returns to take viewers to the most elaborate holiday displays across the country as they once again see four families face off in each one-hour episode to compete to win $50,000 and the coveted Light Fight Trophy.

This year’s series includes the help of celebrity judges and Christmas dé cor aficionados – lifestyle expert Carter Oosterhouse and interior designer Tani ya Nayak.

Despite the massive light display that impressed Oosterhouse, Shelley said watching the show in the past scares her today because of the impressive dis plays from other families.

“The Great Christmas Light Fight scares the tar out of me because I watched the show,” Shelley said. “And these people are, oh my gosh, it’s amaz ing these homes that they decorate.”

That said, Shelley estimates the cou ple has spent approximately $50,000 over their entire marriage on the col lection, which has more than 150,000 lights. Fortunately, Michael has some handyman skills that keeps them from having to replace a lot of the items.

For many years, the only Grinch that

spoiled the fun arrived in the form of the electric bill which cost a record $775 one year.

The couple spent three years switch ing from incandescent to LEDs light, and for the last decade has gotten their electric bill down to just over $200.

Fortunately, that sticker shock only starts after they put their display up in September and ends when they take it out down the second weekend January.

Even after the publicity from local TV stations, the Pelkys said they’ve started to see an increase in the number of vis itors.

Now, Shelley can only imagine if they win and how much attention that could grow a 200-person crowd into a line of cars around the block and down the street.

The Pratt Family from Scottsdale won this season’s premiere on Nov. 28, but no matter what happens when the Pelkys debut, Shelley said they just want peo ple to enjoy their display and appreciate the love from the community.

“I hope that people will find out how much we love our community,” Shelley said. “Because we just want people to be blessed by seeing our lights.”

GOT NEWS?

Contact Cecilia Chan at 480-898-5613 or cchan@timeslocalmedia.com

WARNING!

PERIPHERAL NEUROPATHY AND CHRONIC PAIN TREATMENTS

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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.

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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:

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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.

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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.

Bell Bank Park tapping reserves to avoid default

BY SCOTT SHUMAKER GSN Staff Writer

Bell Bank Park operator Legacy Cares received authorization last week to dip into its last $22 million in cash as it scrambles to find a way out of default on a $280 million loan and maintain operations during talks with prospective lenders who might take over its debt and give the park more time to become profitable.

The 320-acre family sports and enter tainment complex in southeast Mesa has struggled to generate sufficient revenue to cover loan repayments since opening in February, despite claims by Legacy that the complex has brought in nearly a million visitors and over 3 million visits so far.

The $22 million in question is in an ac count set aside and authorized currently only for loan payments.

The change approved by the Arizo na Industrial Development Authority

Though home to numerous sports organizations and sporting events as well as other gatherings, Bell Bank Park, marking a year next month, has not generated enough revenue (GSN file photo)

Board, which served as the issuer for the tax-exempt municipal bonds that funded the park, clears the way for Legacy Cares to use that money for operations, con sultants and other expenses associated

with its bid to raise additional capital.

“The reason we’re asking for this amendment is so that we can contin ue to do our work, so that if and when this board approves the new refunding

bonds … our audience, our clientele won’t miss a step. They can continue to have a good experience when they show up at Legacy Sports Park,” a representa tive for Legacy said at a Nov. 30 authori ty board meeting.

In October, Legacy Cares failed to make loan payments, and in an investor call later that month, the trustee for the bonds reported that the park has never generated enough monthly revenue to cover loan payments since the comple tion of construction.

Additionally, Bell Bank Park has racked up $30 million in liens filed by unpaid contractors who installed flooring, elec tricity, plumbing and other amenities at the facility. One of these contractors ini tiated foreclosure proceedings to force payment.

During the AZIDA meeting, Legacy CEO Doug Moss blamed the park’s woes primarily on the pandemic.

He said COVID-19 delayed the open ing park and supply chain issues meant the facility wasn’t fully open until May.

“So as a result of all those issues, we encountered various financial difficul ties with respect to paying vendors, the landlord, cashflow – a number of finan cial issues,” Moss said.

Currently, Legacy’s bondholders are working with the sports nonprofit to buy the project time and try to fix the mess.

They’ve extended “forbearance” on the loan payments to help the park con tinue operations and they are cooperat ing with Legacy on plans to restructure its debt.

Bell Bank Park’s major bondholders are institutional investors who manage investments for large organizations with retirement plans and other large funds.

One bondholder, Vanguard, manages $7 trillion in assets.

A representative for Legacy’s bond holders supported using the reserve funds because “looking at the cash flows, it was decided we need to be in position to write checks if we need to in order to continue propping up Cares,”

Tapping the $22 million reserve will buy Bell Bank Park some time to keep the lights on, and a court has given the project at least two months to work on paying its contractors.

On Nov. 23, a Superior Court judge granted a stay on litigation related to the contractors’ liens until Jan. 31, 2023.

One authorty board member asked Legacy how long the $22 million left in reserve would last at the current cash burn rate.

Before anyone could give a definite an

swer, an attorney on the call jumped in to say Legacy was still negotiating with the bondholders on how it would spend the money.

Authority Program Manager Pat Ray sought reassurance that Bell Bank Park could climb out of default and asked di rectly what was going wrong with the project.

“We don’t want to be associated with a default, particularly on a really large project like this,” Ray said, while also stating his belief that a default by Legacy couldn’t hurt the authority financially or reputationally.

“This may not be a totally fair ques tion, but I need to ask it anyway,” Ray continued. “Whenever we see a default on one of our conduit projects it’s be cause of something bad happening – it’s bad luck, maybe COVID, its bad manage ment, bad operations, bad underwriting, bad actors.”

“I don’t think there’s any nefarious stuff going on, but from the bondhold ers’ perspective, what is the issue here?”

In response, bond counsel for Legacy Cares Tim Stratton fell back on COVID, saying the project hit a “perfect storm” of pandemic-related hurdles, including supply chain and inflation issues.

“To the best of my knowledge, that’s the extent of the issues,” Stratton said.

Brian Barber, a representative for the majority of the bondholders, expressed optimism about the project and gave support for allowing Legacy to tap the $22 million in reserves and other mea sures designed to help fix the project.

“The holders have been very, very

FEVER from page 10

according to the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. Among those most at risk for severe problems are African Americans, Filipinos, people with a weakened immune system, and women during the third trimester of pregnancy.

Chelsea Henry, 28, who lived in the Phoenix area in high school, learned she had Valley fever after suffering five weeks of debilitating fatigue. Eventually, she recovered.

“I was sleeping like 22 hours a day for over a month,” Henry said. “I ended up failing a lot of my classes because of it.” It wasn’t until she got a chest scan

LEGACY from page 21

clear,” Barber said. “They want these bonds and they want them tax exempt. Also, they love the facility.”

“They have visited the facility, and they’re very excited about the success and community impact,” Barber con tinued. “What we want to do is prop up (Legacy) Cares, be supportive of sports,

for something unrelated that doctors found a calcification on her lungs and determined Valley fever was to blame for her exhaustion.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says Valley fever symptoms may become noticeable one to three weeks after a person inhales the spores, and they can last from a few weeks to several months.

Antifungal medications can control the fungus but sometimes don’t destroy it entirely. However, many people who have been infected develop a lifelong immunity to the fungus.

Bridget Barker, a biology professor

at NAU, says public education about the disease in regions where Valley fever is endemic is crucial to proper treatment.

“Even in Arizona, where we have a high burden of disease, the likelihood of getting your diagnosis in a timely fashion is actually pretty low,” Barker said.

At this point, no completely effective treatment exists for Valley fever, but Barker’s team is on the hunt for a vaccine.

In September, NAU and a team at the University of Washington received a $1.5 million grant from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, with the potential to receive $7.5 million over the next five years.

The project includes launching the Virulence, Immunological Response, and Vaccine-Coccidioidomycosis Cooperative Research Center. The effort was spurred by a congressional mandate that the National Institutes of Health develop a vaccine for Valley fever in 10 years.

Because climate change is expanding the viable range for coccidioides spores to spread and grow, the NIH has recognized Valley fever as an increasingly urgent public health concern.

“This is really an emerging infectious disease of climate change,” said Fuller

and learn how to best monetize what we consider to be a very significant amount of attendance.”

As Bell Bank Park’s financial troubles began to surface in the late summer, Leg acy Cares has put up a cheerful, optimis tic front, even as they nearing conditions of default.

Just before the authority board’s vote to authorize the use of the reserved funds, a representative with Legacy, con tinued to give a rosy outlook.

“We opened the park in a perfect storm in terms of supply chain, the infla tion, the COVID,” the representative said, “but at this point, the park has had over

3.6 million visitors and we expect that to hit probably 4 million by the end of the month.

“So this is the busy season and right now the park seems to be sustaining itself. So we’re on the right track, and I just wanted to add that the park is going full throttle, right now.”

Lawmakers demand session on school spending limit

BY HOWARD FISCHER Capitol Media Services

Abipartisan group of legislators last week called on Gov. Doug Ducey to live up to his promise to call a special session to address a school spending crunch before he –and some of them – leave office at the end of the year.

And hanging in the balance is whether schools are going to have to cut nearly 18% of their budgets before July 1.

Rep. Michelle Udall, R-Mesa, who chairs the House Education Committee, said lawmakers approved a $1 billion increase in funding this past session for K-12 education.

Only thing is, that new money bumps total state and local education funding against a 1980 voter-approved cap in school spending. Adjusted for inflation and student growth, that limit now is $6.4 billion.

But school districts already have prepared budgets and are on target to

spend nearly $7.8 billion this fiscal year based on the funding that lawmakers approved.

Lawmakers can waive the cap with a two-thirds vote. And they have in the past.

Udall said that Katie Ratlief, Ducey’s deputy chief of staff, said her boss com mitted to calling a special session only on two basic conditions.

First, a lawsuit challenging a voter-ap proved income tax hike for education needed to be resolved. That was done.

Second, said Udall, the governor want ed proof that there were the necessary 40 votes in the House and 20 in the Sen ate – two thirds of each chamber – to approve the override. And that list, she said, was presented to Ratlief in October.

To date, however, the governor has failed to act.

Sen. Sean Bowie, D-Tempe, said the bipartisan state budget Ducey wanted would not have gotten the necessary Democratic votes – there were holdouts

among the majority Republican caucus – without that promise.

Strictly speaking, lawmakers have un til the end of March to waive the cap by the necessary $1.4 billion.

But Michael Wright, superintendent of the Blue Ridge Unified School District, said that is leaving districts like his in a precarious situation.

He said if that waiver fails so close to the end of the school year that means having to cut total spending by 18% in just the last three months. And that, he said, will wreak havoc, with required layoffs of teachers and support staff and possible school closures.

The other risk of waiting is that there will be a fresh crop of legislative leaders in January. And that runs the risk that the spending cap won’t be a priority.

Risk aside, Udall said bumping the decision to the next legislative session would be inappropriate.

“This is the Legislature that approved the money,’’ she said.

Ducey press aide C.J. Karamargin said following the press conference that his boss wants to be sure that schools get –and can spend – those extra dollars. But the governor has yet to act or even com mit to act.

“We are having discussions with law makers,’’ is all that Karamargin would say about Ducey actually following through and using his constitutional powers to call lawmakers back to the Capitol.

Outgoing House Speaker Rusty Bow ers, R-Mesa, said he’s ready to bring law makers back to the Capitol to waive the spending cap on schools. He said there appears to be a coalition of Democrats and some Republicans who can provide the necessary votes for approval.

“Personally, I’m OK with it,’’ added Sen ate President Karen Fann, R-Prescott. But Fann told Capitol Media Services that she first needs to see the measure.

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Potentially more problematic, she said, is that some lawmakers argue that if there is to be a lame-duck special session they want other issues addressed, rang ing from adding some accountability for public schools to demands for changes in election laws.

Udall conceded that some of the peo

ple on the list she presented to the gov ernor’s office also have other ideas. But she insisted that each has committed to vote to waive the spending cap if that is the lone issue in the session.

What is causing the current problem is the convergence of several unusual fac tors.

First, the limit is always based on the prior year’s school numbers. Enrollment remains down due to COVID.

The bigger problem is actually due to one the legislature created in seeking to provide financial help.

FEVER from page 22

at UW. “Increased wildfires, increased dryness, heat and things like that are enabling greater spread of things in our soils.”

Fuller is one of the researchers responsible for spearheading the Valley fever project, bringing to the table her expertise in vaccine development. She has previously worked on HIV, influenza and even COVID-19, using nucleic acid vaccine technology.

In 2000, voters approved Proposition 301 to levy a 0.6-cent sales tax to fund education, including teacher salaries, for 20 years. Voters exempted those rev enues from the aggregate expenditure limit.

Facing expiration of that tax, lawmak ers agreed in 2018 to a new, identical levy to pick up when the old one expired. That would keep the money flowing through 2041 without interruption.

Only thing is, the Legislature never ex empted what the new levy would raise from the expenditure limit. Chuck Essigs,

lobbyist for the Arizona Association of School Business Officials, said that alone amounts to anywhere from $600 million to $800 million of the money now com ing into schools.

Moreover, to balance the budget last decade, lawmakers cut dollars from vari ous capital funding accounts.

With the state flush in revenues, those accounts are now fully funded. But the additional dollars that were restored to schools also helped to push total state wide expenditures above the constitu tional limit.

This project is a vast departure from her previous work, Fuller said, given it’s the first time she’s tried developing a vaccine for a fungal disease.

Because coccidioides spores have a multistage lifecycle, Fuller’s team must create a vaccine effective against all. To do that, researchers will use Barker’s pathogenetic research to look for ways to inhibit the spores from developing or replicating.

Barker has been studying Valley fever for 20 years. Her research is based primarily in genome sequencing and learning about the ecology of the fungus. Between her understanding of the organism itself and Fuller’s expertise on vaccines, Barker said, the team has a good shot at success.

“There’s still a lot to do,” Barker said. “But I really think that at the end of this five years, we will have a candidate

Higley schools get higher state grades than other EV districts

BY CECILIA CHAN GSN Managing Editor

Higley Unified School District outperformed its two counterparts that also serve students in Gilbert, according to the latest letter grades handed out by the state.

The updated grades for the 2021-22 school year were released in November following a two-year hiatus due to the pandemic’s disruption to learning and therefore are not as complete or reliable as previous years when making compar isons, the Arizona State Board of Educa tion cautioned.

“We’re the only district that didn’t have a ‘C’ or a ‘D’ school,” Marcus Berk shire, Research and Assessment direc tor, told the Higley Governing Board re cently. “A hundred percent of our schools earned an ‘A’ or ‘B.’”

The letter grades are based on five quantifiable factors – academic growth from year to year, proficiency on the statewide assessment, English language proficiency and growth, high school graduation rates and indicators showing if a student is accelerating and ready for success at the next level.

An “A” grade means excellent; “B,” highly performing; “C,” performing; “D,” minimally performing and “F,” failing.

For the 2021-22 school year, the state wide assessment shifted away from the Arizona Merit test in high school and grades 3-8, to the Arizona High School Achievement Test in the 11th grade and the Arizona’s Academic Standards As sessment test in grades 3-8.

Higley had eight schools that earned an “A” and five that earned a “B.”

The district for the 2018-19 school year saw 13 of its 14 campuses earn an “A.” The same letter grades were used for

the 2019-20 because of COVID-19.

Berkshire compared HUSD’s perfor mance to that of charter schools that students transferred to or are within the district’s boundaries.

“As you can see we are highly compet itive with these scores throughout all of our district schools,” he said.

He also compared HUSD with other East Valley districts.

“The percentage of schools within the districts that earned an “A,” “B,” “C” or “D,” these include traditional K-8 schools, traditional 9-12 and non-tradi tional hybrid schools,” he said. “We have the highest percentage of our schools in the East Valley with an “A” at 62%.”

“Our closest competitor there would be Scottsdale with 59% of their schools at an “A.”

Some of HUSD’s bragging rights in clude Bridges Elementary being one of 20 K-8 schools within the state to have the maximum 30 points for proficiency and Williams Field High School being ranked No. 12 overall in terms of the total percentage earned in the state for traditional high schools, according to Berkshire, who presented a deep-dive into the grades for each campus.

“We obviously have a lot to celebrate in the district,” Berkshire said. “Our let ter grades are very impressive.”

Board member Michelle Anderson applauded staff, parents and students for achieving the grades, calling it “phe nomenal, well done.”

Board President Amy Kaylor in com plimenting the efforts noted the state’s changes in the grading system.

“They’ve changed the standards, they’ve changed the tests, they’ve changed the whole calculation every year it seems,” Kaylor said. “So, it’s really hard for any school to get to this ‘A’ and so well done to Higley and to everybody

Gilbertareaschoolsgettheirgrades

TheArizonaStateBoardofEducationreleased the2021-2022lettergradesforallschoolson Nov.2.Schoolshavetherighttoappealbeforea finalgradeisissued.Herearetheinitialgrades forGilbertareaschools:

Legend

HigleyUnifiedschool GilbertPublicschool ChandlerUnifiedschool

AAshlandElementary;CanyonRimElementary;CampoVerdeHigh;Canyon ValleyHigh;CarolRaeElementary; CasteelHigh; BridgesElementary; CentennialElementary;ChaparralElementary; DesertRidgeHigh;FinelyFarms Elementary;GilbertClassicalAcademy;GilbertElementary;GilbertHigh; HighlandHigh;HighlandParkElementary; HigleyHigh;HigleyTraditional Academy; IslandsElementary;MeridianElementary;MesquiteElementary; NeelyTraditionalAcademy; PerryHigh; PowerRanchElementary; QuartzHill Elementary; SanTanElementary; SonomaRanchElementary;SouthValley Junior;SpectrumElementary;SuperstitionSpringsElementary;ValVistaLakes Elementary; WilliamsFieldHigh

BAugustaElementary;BurkeElementary; CooleyMiddle;CoronadoElementary; CortinaElementary;GatewayPointe; GPSGlobalAcademy;Greenfield Elementary;GreenfieldJunior;HarrisElementary;MesquiteHigh;OakTree Elementary;PattersonElementary;PioneerElementary;SettlersPointe Elementary; SossamanMiddle; TowneMeadowsElementary

CBoulderCreekElementary;DesertRidgeJunior;HighlandJunior;Mesquite Junior;PlayadelReyElementary

Source:ArizonaStateBoardofEducation

and anybody even with a ‘B’ I say well done because again there’s no standard in Arizona at this point so that’s just my personal opinion.”

Gilbert Public Schools Governing Board is expected to discuss the grades for its 39 campuses at the Dec. 6 work study.

According to the state, 22 GPS schools earned an “A,” 12 received a “B” and five got a “C.”

And in Chandler Unified School Dis trict, there were no schools earning be low a “C” grade.

Over half or 52% of CUSD campuses were awarded an “A,” 39% got a “B” and 9% got a “C.”

The last time CUSD had a “D” school was in the 2016-17 school year, when

CeciliaChan&KenSain/SunNews

two got that grade.

Of the more than 1,700 public district and charter schools across Arizona that received preliminary grades, about 27% were given “A;” 42% got “B;” 23% C; 5% D and 2% failed.

Statewide, public school districts out performed charter schools in many of the main categories. Districts had only 1% getting an “F” while 3% of charters flunked.

And 28% of district schools earned an “A” while 27% of charters got that grade. However, charters did better when it came to overall totals for a “B” grade. Among charters, 47% got a “B” com pared to 42% of district schools.

Staff writer Ken Sain contributed to this report.

‘Big trains’ rolling into region for holidays

BY JOSH ORTEGA GSN Staff Writer

Model trains remind many people of Christmas as a child and for one local organization, that nos talgia lasts year-round.

The Arizona Big Trains Operators will hold its annual Christmas Open House tour 4-8 p.m. Dec. 10 and 11 and Dec. 17 and 18 with 14 homes across the Valley firing up their festive layouts that help keep the history of locomotives alive and keeps these grown adults kids at heart.

While their pastime can be expen sive, the one thing these operators enjoy more than tinkering with the trains is the joy their displays bring to visitors.

“A lot of people still enjoy the history of railroads,” said Don Sorenson.

Sorenson joined the organization in 2006 but had an interest in trains long before that because his dad worked as a brakeman for Union-Pacific Railroad for five years.

He said some of the members have mechanical and engineering back grounds and this keeps their minds oc cupied with something familiar.

Amtrak said it has seen a 5% decrease in its Arizona station usage between fis cal year 2018 and 2019.

“People don’t ride the trains anymore,” ABTO President Darrell Woolfolk said. “There’s not many of the youth that have been on a train.”

WHERE TO VISIT:

Here are the East Valley locations people can visit 4-8 p.m. Dec. 10 and 11 and Dec. 17 and 18.

Roger Crooks

1708 W. Dixon Circle, Mesa

Terry and Adrienne Haas

1861 E. Fountain St., Mesa

That’s why sharing their hobby – es pecially with children – represents an integral part of the organization’s pur pose “to promote and advance the in terest in and educate the general public about Railroads and large-scale model railroading,” according to their bylaws.

Much to his surprise, Woolfolk said the nonprofit’s membership has seen an uptick in the last two years with 19 new members, bringing their Valley-wide to tal to 77.

Woolfolk joined the organization in 2013 and has served as its president for the last five years.

Jim and Joanne Gardner

1355 E. Glenview Circle, Mesa

Don Sorensen

6130 E. Colby St., Mesa

Pam and Craig Morris 7214 E. Avesta Circle, Mesa

Children will be fascinated and adults will be reminded of their own child hood when they visit Arizona Big Trains Operators member’s holiday displays the next two weekends. (Special to GSN)

He said that while only half of their members have layouts, they all meet to help each other collaborate and build “extremely elaborate” holiday villages.

“It’s not like setting up on a card table when you were a kid,” Woolfolk said.

The individual cars measure approx imately 4-1/2 inches tall by 24 inches long with a handful of cars connect ed that run on tracks up to 500 linear feet winding through a festive holiday village.

The villages can take up a person’s entire backyard and some include rail yards, tunnels, ponds, and functioning

lights on the buildings with the appear ance of snow throughout the setup for the holidays.

The layouts can have multiple zones and take anywhere from two to four weeks to get up and running, but prep work and layout begins as early as June.

The nonprofit holds seven public events throughout the year including one in the spring, but the Christmas Open House is the group’s biggest.

Besides the two open houses, ABTO maintains train layouts at Banner Chil dren’s at Desert and Hospice of the Val ley at Ryan House.

Woolfolk said those layouts remain restricted to patients at the medical fa cilities due to COVID-19 protocols, but members will still maintains the tracks weekly for the patient’s enjoyment.

“With COVID, everything’s been pretty much locked down,” he said.

Woolfolk said Christmas event draws hundreds of people per weekend to member’s backyards to watch the lay outs light up at night.

Woolfolk said trains have “gone by the wayside” with younger generations and the nonprofit helps rekindle that interest.

Sorenson said it’s an important part of our nation that young people should remember.

“I find that people are very enamored by railroad,” he said. “They’re part of our history.”

John and Janet Vogt

1341 E. Folley Place, Chandler

Danny and Amy Farrow

767 E. Ivanhoe St., Chandler

David Kitchin

9401 E. Jadecrest Drive, Sun Lakes

Steve and Judy Lewis

925 E. Saddelback Place, San Tan Valley

Wesley and Allison Schriver

1149 E. Saddleback Place, San Tan Valley

For closures due to weather and illness, or more info, visit: azbigtrains.org.

GilbertSunNews.com | @GilbertSunNews /GilbertSunNews

Dementia education comes to a doctor near you soon

BY LIN SUE FLOOD GSN Contributor

It’s staggering to think that 6.5 million Americans are living with Alzhei mer’s. You may even know a relative, friend or neighbor who has it.

With the highest growth rate for de mentia in the nation, Arizona is project ed to reach 200,000 cases by 2025.

Family members who are suddenly thrust into the “caregiver role” are des perate for support, unprepared to face a disease that lasts years and becomes more challenging as it progresses. The lack of healthcare professionals trained in dementia care affects us all.

Hospice of the Valley’s Dementia Care and Education Campus is launching an unprecedented education project aimed at training more than 3,000 health pro viders over the next 14 months to en hance dementia care for those with ear ly and moderate stages of the disease. The extensive campaign is being funded

by the Maricopa County Department of Public Health.

“Half of all primary care physicians feel the medical profession has little to no preparation for serving the bur geoning numbers of people living with dementia,” said Hospice of the Valley De mentia Program Director Maribeth Gal lagher, citing a recent Alzheimer’s Facts

and Figures Report.

“There is a tre mendous and critical need for de mentia care edu cation and training that will help pro viders deliver evi dence-based skillful and compassion ate care,” Gallagh er said. “And that need will only grow as the incidence of dementia rises each year.”

This education project covers a wide variety of topics, from assessing and di agnosing mild dementia to understand ing which medications help or harm de mentia patients.

The presentations also give doctors practical tools they can share with fam ily caregivers, such as the soothing ef fects of “Vitamin M” — music — or ways

to decode behaviors that express unmet needs like fear, anxiety or pain.

Hospice of the Valley already offers an in-home Supportive Care for Dementia program at no charge to family care givers who are caring for loved ones — from pre-diagnosis through the early and middle stages of dementia. This new initiative focuses exclusively on medi cal professionals, equipping them with tools to help their patients manage early and moderate stages of the disease with knowledge and dignity.

“We can educate providers — and through them, families — to improve quality of life for people living with all types and all stages of dementia,” said Supportive Care for Dementia Medical Director Gillian Hamilton.

Call 602-767-8300 or email educa tion@dementiacampus.org to schedule presentations for healthcare providers.

Lin Sue Flood is director of Communi ty Engagement at Hospice of the Valley. Visit hov.org.

1 Cigna will reduce your monthly Medicare Part B premium by $100.

2 Benefits, features and/or devices vary by plan/service area. Limitations, exclusions, and restrictions may apply. All Cigna products and services are provided exclusively by

Favorite songs engage and enliven people living with all stages of dementia. (Courtesy Hospice of the Valley)

GSN NEWS STAFF

Chandler artist, singer and novel ist Laurie Fagen has been busy on several fronts these days.

She’s just completed an audiobook, is prepping for a singing engagement to help a nonprofit and is busy making plans for a new weekly podcast that will debut next month.

Fagen, who lives in Fox Crossing, has just completed a third audiobook of the latest of her three crime fiction mystery novels in her “Behind the Mic” series.

“Bleeder,” which she wrote and nar rates, is available on Amazon and Au dible as well as a variety of other sites where audiobooks are sold.

It’s the continuing story of young ra dio reporter Lisa Powers, who covers the crime beat for her Chandler radio station; helps police solve cold cases; and who writes campy murder mystery podcasts in her spare time.

“The ‘podcast’ story in this book is called ‘Art of the Steal,’ about a dead gallery owner, a missing painting and plenty of suspects,” explained Fagen. “I brought five actors, including the come dic genius Dave Specht of Chandler, into my home studio this summer to record their voices for the audiobook.

“We had such a great time, and I think Dave voiced eight different characters.”

The print books are also available at d’Vine Gourmet in Chandler as well as Changing Hands in Tempe.

Fagen, a long-time jazz singer, will also perform holiday songs at the “Liv ing Legends of Broadcasting Holiday Concert,” a fundraiser for the nonprofit House of Broadcasting, Inc.

It will be held at 7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 9 at Central Methodist United Church, 1875 North Central Ave. in Phoenix. Fagen will take the stage with Mike Chamberlin, Al ice Tatum, Rita Davenport, Jan D’Atri, Pat McMahon, Buddy Owens, David Miller and Dave Munsey.

Tickets are $15 for adults, and chil dren under 12 are free. For tickets and

Laurie Fagen of Chandler has made an audiobook of her latest mystery novel and planning a weekly podcast series starting in January. (Special to GSN)

further information contact Mary Morri son at 602-944-1997or email pschu@q. com. For more details, visit www.hou seofbroadcasting.com.

“Murder in the Air Mystery Theatre” is the name of the weekly podcast Fagen is launching in January 2023. It will fea ture readings of short stories by mystery, suspense and thriller authors as well as episodes from the “podcast” portion of Fagen’s first two audiobooks, “Fade Out” and “Dead Air.”

The podcast will be available wherev er podcasts are heard, including Spotify, Amazon Music and others.

“Since I published my first book in 2016 with a ‘podcast’ story in it, most people thought I had a real podcast,” Fa gen said. “But it only lived in my protag onist’s story, until now. I’m excited to be launching an actual podcast.”

Fagen also is available to speak in per son or via Zoom to book clubs, service organizations, critique groups or whom ever wants to hear about her writing journey.

Topics include about writing myster ies, making the transition from jour nalist to novelist, writing strong female characters among other topics. Email her at Laurie@ReadLaurieFagen.com for her availability.

Information: ReadLaurieFagen.com.

Realtor couple tap into new Gilbert pub

BY JOSH ORTEGA GSN Staff Writer

After working in real estate in the East Valley for 27 years, Realtors Karen and Jesse Herfel felt it was time to diversify their investments with the recent influx of development in the area.

“There’s just nothing like this around here,” Karen said. “So we started looking into different concepts and we just fell in love with this [place] because of that.”

“This” is The Brass Tap, which the Her fels hope to be opening Dec. 12 at Verde at Cooley Station, 2442 S. Recker Road, Suite 101 – depending on supply chain issues that have slowed their construc tion timeable.

The Tampa-based craft beer bar and entertainment venue has become known

Gilbert Realtors Karen and Jesse Herfel are excited about the opening of their pub, The Brass Tap, at Cooley Station located at 2442 S. Recker Road. (David Minton/ GSN Staff Photographer)

for its extensive localized brewery offer ings, specialty cocktails and premium wines and the Herfels’ pub is its second in Arizona.

That’s what Karen said attracted her to such a brand, with a full list of wines, cocktails, food fare and “all the craft beer that you can possibly imagine.”

“Everybody can get what they want at The Brass Tap,” Karen said.

Verde at Cooley Station sits on the cor ner of Williams Field and Recker roads in a high-density area, Karen said, with over 30,000 residences within walking distance.

With a robust roster of restaurants, bars and retail in development, Jesse said Verde at Cooley Station “is going to be the place to be.”

Gilbert store teams up with police on holiday drive

Gilbert residents Bernard and Gi anne Francisco make giving back to the community part of their local store, Big Frog Custom T-Shirts & More.

And right now they’re helping the Gil bert Police Department give back too during its annual Blue Line of Love holi day campaign.

The shop at 2743 S. Market St. not only is a drop-off location for items being do nated to the drive, but the Francisos also are offering a $25 Big Frog gift certifi cate to anyone who brings in at least $10 worth of any item in three categories on the department’s wish list.

Requested items include: Gift cards to any retail, restaurant, or grocery store; new and unwrapped toys for boys and girls ages 13-17; and personal hygiene

(Special to GSN)

products such as laundry detergent, soap, shampoo, conditioner, toothpaste and toothbrushes.

The Franciscos opened Big Frog in 2016 as Bernard changed careers from ac countant to business owner and t-shirt designer.

Indeed, Bernard cus tom-designed t-shirts for this year’s Blue Line of Love holi day drive

The couple wouldn’t think of opening their store any where but the same commu nity where they live.

“Gilbert is such a great community,” Bernard said. “It has a small town feel where it’s common to run into the mayor at the market.”

The store touts its ability to be “in the forefront of our client’s important life events.”

“We are one of the first ones to know when someone is announcing a baby, preparing for a marriage proposal, start ing up their small business or a Fortune 500 company wanting to outfit their em ployees with swag,” Bernard said.

“We get such enjoyment seeing the excitement in our client’s faces when they see their completed order,” he con tinued. “Big Frog provides a fun creative environment where we collaborate with our clients.

“Most importantly, Big Frog provides a platform where we can give back to the community by way of free t-shirt pro grams for schools, toy drives and more. Without our community, there is no Big

GilbertSunNews.com

GSN NEWS STAFF

Bernard and Gianne Francisco, seen here with their baby, own Big Frog Custom T-Shirts & More in Gilbert.

EV woman creates multipurpose gift bags

fold into a small size for easy carrying in a purse,” she added.

Just because it’s ‘tis the season doesn’t mean people should ignore the accu mulation of wasted paper that usual-

ly comes with gift-giving.

With this in mind, Roopa Srinivas of Chandler has started a business making reusable gift bags out of old fabric that also can be folded into colorful decora tions.

“We want to save paper and not use plastic decorations which will go to waste, so we have designed these bags,” Srivinas explained.

Made in India, the multipurpose bags also can be used as backpacks, handbags and/or for gift-giving. “They also can

The bags come in only one size –17”x10”x5”– in red, gold and multicol ors. They also are reversible, increasing its use with garments of different colors.

Srivinas said she created their design after “seeing all the gift bags that were trashed after my twins’ birthday party.”

Costing $9, the bags can be purchased on Etsy and eBay by shopping under “GurlzBiz” or “multipurpose reusable fabric gift bags.”

Shipping in the U.S. is free and orders are processed in one or two days, Srivi nas said.

Information: roopasri9@gmail.com.

from page 30 FROG from page 30

She also pointed to an empty lot that will eventually become a two-story, 24,000-square-foot office building.

As owners of Keller Williams Integri ty First Real Estate franchise and Jesse Herfel Real Estate Group, the Herfels have an insider’s look at the local real estate market.

Increased mortgage interest rates have cut home sales by 35% year-overyear and prices have fallen only 4% in the last three months.

Both factors have caused homes to sit on the market longer, Jesse noted.

“However, unless you bought within the last 12 months here, the majority of homeowners have equity,” Jesse said. “So, it’s not a 2008-type scenario.”

With more than 3,500 units closed per year, the Herfels’ business is one of the top brokerages in the country.

Growing up on opposite sides of the Valley – Karen in Buckeye and Jesse in Queen Creek – the couple met through real estate business and have had three children during their 15 years of mar riage.

Jesse entered real estate to avoid cor porate America.explaining, “I loved real estate and the opportunities it provides, both in sales and a career, and then also from an investment standpoin.”

Karen didn’t want “a ceiling over my

head” nor tie her worth to an hourly wage, as was the advice she received growing up.

“People were always telling you what your worth per hour,” Karen said. “And it was a career that I could determine that for myself.”

After stumbling on the land in 2020 that would become Cooley Station, the Herfels said it was a “no-brainer.”

“We’ve always been interested in do ing a really kick ass bar,” Karen said. “And we’ve talked about it for years and then the timing just kind of worked out perfectly.”

Perhaps their timing wasn’t that per fect, considering they’ve had to wait nearly two years since signing their lease at the beginning of 2021, but the Herfels have the finish line to their dream in sight.

Tentatively, they plan to open on Dec. 12, but the couple remains flexible due to the recent supply and labor issues.

On Nov. 18, contractors were still hard at work installing the 60 draft taps and the 24 TVs planned for the wall re mained outstanding.

But the Herfels said they will do their best to have 146 seats ready for cus tomers to sit and enjoy a drink in the 3,100-square-foot 50/50 layout.

Large sliding doors divide the con

cept’s floorplan that takes advantage of the year-round Arizona sunshine so people can enjoy a drink inside the bar or outside on the patio.

Finding 45 employees to fill the posi tions for kitchen, servers and bartend ers, came a little easier than completing construction of the building.

“I think that the staff that we have hired is attracted to the concept,” Kar en said. “We’ve been really surprised at how well we’ve done with attracting staff here.”

With plans for 60 craft beers on tap at all times, a DJ playing music Thursday through Sunday and open seating, Kar en said she’d like the vibe to make The Brass Tap become “Cheers in Gilbert.”

“This is a place where you’re going to come and hang out three or four days a week and everybody’s going to know ev erybody,” Karen said. “This is going to be the spot.”

Frog, so we are eternally grateful.

Bernard has a long history of working with and providing support to first re sponders and, specifically, to the Gilbert Police Department.

The national chain also helps first re sponders and veterans get discounts on franchises.

The store touts fast turnarounds on custom t-shirts and a wide variety of colors and designs. Information: bigfrog. com/gilbert.

Roopa Srinivas’ gift bags can pull double duty as handbags. (Special to GSN) BRASS

Scottsdale native Kenny Dillingham introduced as ASU coach

BY ZACH ALVIRA GSN Sports Editor

Kenny Dillingham became emotion al after his two-word initial state ment Sunday, Nov. 27 at Sun Devil Stadium.

“I’m home. This is literally home. Home,” Dillingham said before taking a brief pause to gather himself. “So, I say that because this place is special. This state is special. The people in this room are special.

“Pretty emotional. That’s just who I am … I’m fired up to be here. Fired up to be a Sun Devil.”

Dillingham, an alum of Chaparral High School in Scottsdale, was introduced as the next head football coach at Arizona State. It was a search school Athletic Di rector Ray Anderson said months to per form.

It began in September when former coach Herm Edwards and the schools agreed to mutually part ways and opened the door for Anderson and university President Michael Crow to search for a candidate that they believed would truly love leading the Sun Devil program.

They believe they found that in Dilling ham.

“This was a coast-to-coast extensive search,” Anderson said. “We looked at multiple candidates at various points of their career of all varieties … This new head coach had to be in tune with and relatable to the new era student-athlete. Energetic, flexible, adaptable, collabo rative, innovative, great partner, great personality, great listener, great experi ences winning and learning from others, strong, passionate about this place.

“As young as he is, the multitude of accomplishments and successes Kenny Dillingham brought to the table was un deniable.”

Dillingham’s coaching career began as a senior in high school at Chaparral. An

injury derailed his playing career, but he stuck around under former coach and current Idaho State head coach Charlie Ragle.

He quickly moved up through the ranks at Chaparral and eventually became of fensive coordinator before he graduat ed from Arizona State in 2013. He then joined former ASU coach Todd Graham’s staff as a graduate assistant, where he re mained until 2015.

Dillingham’s coaching career then took him to several schools. He went to Memphis with Mike Norvell where he remained until 2018, where he eventu ally became the offensive coordinator. In 2019 he joined Gus Malzahn’s staff at Au burn before reconnecting with Norvell at Florida State.

He spent this past season as the offen sive coordinator at Oregon.

“I knew the best way to get this dream opportunity was to be the very best I could be every day,” Dillingham said.

“That’s who I am. You wake up every sin gle day and try to be the best version of yourself. It motivated me more to work.”

Dillingham’s ties to the Valley and state of Arizona run deep. He spent the last season actively recruiting the state for

Oregon and emphasized Sunday during his introductory press conference how important it is to keep talent in-state at Arizona State.

Part of that, Dillingham said, will have to do with who he has on staff. He announced former Chandler coach and running backs coach Shaun Aguano, who served as the interim head coach af ter Edwards’ departure and re-energized the program, would remain on staff. He said some of the rest of his staff would be put in place quickly while others will take time.

Dillingham said he aims to have a staff that is dedicated to Arizona and knows how important it is for Arizona State to be successful. He didn’t go into fur ther detail about who he is targeting for his staff, but rumors have swirled that it would involve current Arizona high school football coaches and some athlet ic directors.

“Our staff is going to be people who will build relationships in this Valley be cause they love this Valley,” Dillingham said. “We’re going to hire a staff that has roots and connections here in Arizona.”

Dillingham showed passion, humili ty and an overall love for Arizona State

during his press conference. He said coaching the Sun Devils is his “dream job,” and became emotional and animat ed on several occasions.

The 32-year-old is the youngest coach among Power Five schools. And while he comes in with no prior head coaching experience, he understands along with recruiting the state and hitting the trans fer portal that Name, Image and Likeness has to become a priority moving forward.

The Sun Angel Collective was estab lished by Sun Devil Athletics to assist athletes in NIL deals. It came with an ini tial million-dollar donation from boost ers. But on Sunday during Dillingham’s introduction, booster and ASU alum Nap Lawrence pledged another million to the 501 (c) (3) public charity.

Dillingham stood and applauded.

“We’re ready when everybody is ready,” Dillingham said of Arizona State’s readi ness level to compete from an NIL per spective. “We need everybody. We just got a million dollars. That’s unbelievable. He did that to inspire everybody else.”

Dillingham said his first initiative as head coach will be to meet the players and become involved within the Arizona State community.

His energy was infectious within the room. The overall reaction from the crowd was similar to the way Aguano won over media in September when he took over head coaching duties. From media to his family and friends he played Little League baseball with as a kid grow ing up in Scottsdale, many were pleased with Dillingham’s initial message.

Not only does he want to make Arizo na State

a championship

wants to do it with the support from those across the Valley and state.

“We need the Valley behind us. We need the state behind us,” Dillingham said. “We need butts in seats. We need everything this Valley has, all in. Because I am. All in.”

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

into

contender, he

Scottsdale native and Chaparral alum Kenny Dillingham was announced Sunday, Nov. 27 as the next head coach of Arizona State. He was introduced during a press conference at Sun Devil Stadium alongside Arizona State Deputy Athletics Director Jean Boyd, “left,” Athletic Director Ray Anderson and President Michael Crow. (Katelyn MacCrory/Sun Devil Athletics)

Annual cat show returns to Mesa next weekend

GETOUT STAFF

The cats are coming back.

No, fortunately it’s not the di sastrous movie rendition of the Broadway musical – or even a musical –but the real thing.

The 29th annual Cat Fanciers Asso ciation’s car show is coming back next Saturday and Sunday to the Mesa Con vention Center.

Arizona’s largest all breed cat show, dubbed “It’s Feline A Lot Like Christ mas,” is hosted by Phoenix Feline Fan ciers, a club of The Cat Fanciers’ Assoc. Inc., and will also include an adoption center sponsored by All About Animals AZ Rescue.

Over 40 distinct breeds of cats will be on hand for observers to watch, from the lean and swanky Siamese, the charm ingly “naked” Sphynx, the intoxicating Abyssinian, the giant Maine Coons, and

the extravagantly groomed Persians.

They also will be compet ing in eight judging rings for awards like Best in Show and Top Household Pet in Show.

The family-friendly event features both pedigreed and household pets.

For cat owners who aren’t in the com petition, a “supermarket” of cat supplies and gifts will be available from a myriad of vendors, including unique clothing, artifacts, jewelry, specialty foods and toys as well as top-of-the-line cat furni ture. There will be a raffle and book sale as well.

And contestants will be competing in a kitty costume contest and another for

Salt River Fields ‘Enchants’ with radiant display

BY ALEX GALLAGHER GetOut Staff

Patrons passing by Salt River Fields at Talking Stick off Loop 101 and Indian Bend at night may have noticed that the baseball field beckons with a sparkling holiday wonderland.

Enchant presented by Hallmark Chan nel, which touts itself as the world’s larg est holiday light display, has witnessed success with its Scottsdale debut since opening Nov. 25.

Because of that, Enchant manager Ryan Harris said his team thought the area would be perfect a display that daz zles.

“Our creative team and operations team source markets and venues that can accommodate such an extravagant

experience as this – where we take over 10 acres of space. So, what’s most important is space,” Harris said. “We also look for a city that loves Christmas and Scottsdale seemed like the perfect choice.”

The next task became finding a venue large enough to accommodate the colos sal lights festival.

“In years past at other ‘Enchants,’ we’ve discovered that a baseball stadi um lends itself perfectly to the type of events (we do),” Harris said. “It is com mon to find an Enchant that is laid out where we have the ice trail and the light maze on the field level.

“So when you walk over the overlook of the concourse and peer down into the

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Some cat owners and rescues decorate cages for the animals at the show. (Special to GetOut)

The Enchant presented by Hallmark Channel lights display at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick will dazzle guests. (David Minton/ Staff Photographer)

A broad array of cat breeds will be on hand at the Mesa Convention Center next week.

light maze, ice trail and some of our mar ket vendors, it looks like you’re peeking over into a Christmas Village.”

Because of that, the team selected Salt River Field at Talking Stick – the Arizona Diamondbacks spring training facility.

“There’s just something about de scending into what was once a baseball stadium that is now an all-encompassing atmosphere that looks like something that can be seen inside of a snow globe that is enchanting,” Harris said.

After locking in a site, a year of plan ning and months of assembly began.

“Our creative team and operations teams have been working all year since Enchant locations in 2021 closed and we began installing in Scottsdale right be fore Halloween since it’s about a monthlong process to build Enchant,” Harris said.

After arriving in late October, crews began 10- to 12-hour days hanging lights, erecting sets, and laying the foun dation for an expansive ice rink made of real ice.

Once finished, the expansive light fes tival covered 10 acres of the spring train ing facility filling the grounds with over four million sparkling lights, a 100-foottall holiday tree, and myriad entertain ment — including a place to visit Santa.

Harris says guests can expect plenty of fun for the entire family during their visit to Enchant.

“We keep everyone in mind,” Harris said. “For the little ones, we have a little elf play place where they can frolic and have Storytime with Mrs. Claus and they can also meet the big guy himself and take photos.

For adults, we have our Merry Lodge, Our Tipsy Tree Tavern, and a Polar Ice Bar – which is chilled at 14 degrees and guests can sample three different types of vodka at a bar where the inferior is made entirely of ice.”

With all the options for fun at their feet, Harris expects guests to enjoy themselves and make merry memo ries that will last a lifetime and hopes Enchant becomes a staple at Salt River

Field at Talking Stick moving forward.

“We know that the guests are going to enjoy themselves, they’re going to be overwhelmed by the 100-foot pine tree that’s completely made up with lights, they’re going to be overwhelmed by our RGB light tunnel as they walk through it, and I know that we’re going to see just lots of joy on faces of children of all ages, adults, grandparents,” Harris said.

“The whole family is just going to be filled with joy and making them happy is going to make us happy.”

IF YOU GO

Enchant at Salt River Field at Talking Stick

When: Through Jan. 1

Where: Salt River Field at Talking Stick, 7555 N. Pima Road

Cost: Tickets start at $34 Info: enchantchristmas.com/scottsdale-azsalt-river-fields

best decorated holiday cage.

All About Animals AZ Rescue has been the only rescue partner for 12 years with Phoenix Feline Fanciers to facili tate all adoptions of purebred cats that have completed their showing career. Adoption fees are from $30-$900 and all the proceeds go to the rescue. Over 50 cats and kittens will be up for adoption, including: Abyssinian, Oriental Short hair. Siamese, Persian, Ocicat, Manx and Savannah.

The show runs 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Satur day, Dec. 10 and 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Sunday at the convention center, 263 N. Center St. Building C, Mesa and parking is free.

Tickets are $12 adults; $10 seniors/ military; $7 for children 3-12 accompa nied by an adult, under 3 free,

A family pack is also available for two adults and two children under 12 for $28.

Family 4-pack $28 (2 adults, 2 chil dren 3-12). Information: phxfeline.com, which includes a $1 off coupon on adult admission.

Beautiful brioche. With its irresistible buttery, light and tender crumb, brioche has holiday written all over it. Breakfast, lunch or dinner always seems a bit more special when rich and slightly sweet bread is served.

If you have time to bake this holiday season, give it a try. If not, save the recipe for this Bub ble-Top Brioche, or “Brioche a Tete,” (12 serv ings) for a

Directions:

Combine warm water and warm milk in mixing bowl fitted with paddle attach ment. Sprinkle yeast over liquid and gen tly stir. Let stand until yeast dissolves.

Add flour and salt to yeast mixture. Blend at medium-low speed for 2 min utes scraping down sides of bowl. Add eggs, one at a time, beating until blended after each addition. Mix in sugar. Increase mixer speed to medium and beat until dough is smooth, about 3 minutes.

Reduce speed to low. Add butter, one tablespoon at a time, beating until blend ed after each addition, until dough is soft and silky, about 4 minutes.

Increase speed to medium-high and beat until dough pulls away from sides of bowl and climbs paddle. Lightly butter large bowl. Place dough into bowl and cover with plastic wrap. Let dough rise in warm area until doubled in volume, about 1 hour 30 minutes.

Lift dough around edges to deflate, then let dough fall back into bowl. Turn bowl and repeat. Cover bowl tightly with plastic wrap and chill. Re peat deflating process one or two more times during the next two hours while dough is still rising. Chill overnight.

When ready to bake, grease 12 fluted individ ual brioche molds (approx 3-inch) or large muf fin cups. Pat the chilled dough into a 12x6-inch rectangle. Cut dough into 12 equal portions.

From each remove a small piece and roll into 12 (1/2-inch balls.) Roll remaining portions into 12 larger balls; place in prepared pans. Using your fingers, make a deep indentation in the center of dough ball. Brush with water.

Press small balls into indentations. Cover; let rise in a warm place until double in size, about 45 minutes.

Position rack in center of oven and preheat to 400 degrees. Place muffin pan on rimmed baking sheet. Gently brush egg wash over risen dough, being careful that glaze does not drip between dough and pan.

Bake brioches until golden brown, about 20 minutes. (Cover with foil if browning too quick ly.) Transfer pan to cooling rack. Cool for about 10 minutes before removing brioches from pan. Serve warm or at room temperature.

Lights at the Farm illuminates Mesa

BY JOSH ORTEGA Get Out Guest Writer

An East Valley tradition that’s sure to brighten the holiday mood has once again opened in Mesa.

Daniel Dille, owner of Lights at the Farm, said his fifth year at Vertuccio Farms will be the first with a revamped color spectrum.

The display, which runs through Dec. 30, covers more than 10 acres at Ver tuccio Farm, on Power Road between Elliot and Warner roads. It has more than three million energy-efficient LED and RGB lights with over16 million color options in multiple themed section syn chronized to Christmas music.

“We also want to provide an experi ence that can be enjoyed by everyone from toddlers to grandparents,” Dille said. “Our displays offer something for everyone, no matter what their age is.”

The entire light setup will also have a “concert-level” audio system with 85 speakers throughout that will keep guests “fully-immersed” in the experi ence, Dille said.

“You’re not walking into a dead zone here at all,” Dille said. “You’ll always be in the audio field.”

Dille has worked in the lighting busi ness for 20 years creating residential, commercial and municipal shows across Arizona, Oregon and Washington.

Rather than a drive-thru event, Dille said this “complete walk-through” show allows people to spend more time with their families in a festive holiday setting.

“It’s a little bit more of an intimate

feeling for their family because they can spend the time that they want,” Dille said.

Along with the well-lit holiday cheer, Lights at the Farm offers a miniature golf course, pony rides, petting zoo, pallet maze, family games, a rotation of local food trucks and refreshment vendors selling treats such as cocoa, fudge, cook

ies, pancakes, and popcorn.

A holiday festival wouldn’t be com plete without skating on a synthetic NHL-grade ice-like surface.

Dille said the outdoor skating surface is made of “the world’s fastest synthetic panels” has garnered praise from former NHL players who use similar surfaces to train in the offseason.

An enhancer that allows the skate blade to keep traction to the surface as if you’re on ice, Dille said.

“That enhancer that’s built into the plastic when you’re skating around, that enables the blade to keep the traction that it needs to be able to push off and stop as you’re going.,” Dille said. “It’s a very, very hard plastic surface that we use, it all snaps together at the seams. You don’t have any gaps or any bumps in it anywhere.”

The 4,000-square-foot skating rink can hold approximately 70 skaters com

fortably and doesn’t require a Zamboni to resurface the ice.

Instead, Dille said they pressure-wash it initially and then use a rideable floor surface cleaner in between sessions.

In the five years of using this skating surface, Dille said they’ve never had to call the manufacturer for a problem and have only had an occasional complaint from people who’ve never ice skated be fore.

“If a skating rink was 10 out of 10, this is probably 8 out of 10,” Dille said. “You’re just not going to have that exact same feel as ice.”

Dille approached farm owner Cono Vertuccio five years ago to host the event at Vertuccio Farms and it seems to have paid off for them.

Dille estimated last year’s Lights at the Farm brought in more than 80,000 peo ple, with most of that coming from presale tickets.

Due to labor costs, Dille said he had to raise ticket prices $2, but he still es timates around 100,000 tickets sold this year.

That price increase comes from hav ing to hire people to update some props and displays to accommodate the full color-change equipment.

That change may prompt past frequent fliers of the show to say that there’s less displays but Dille insists it’s more of an efficient system they use now.

“If a light goes out in that now, all we have to do is cut one lamp and replace the lamp and we’re done rather than a whole string of 100 lights,” Dille said. “It changes the game completely.”

IF YOU GO

Lights at the Farm

Where: Vertuccio Farms

4011 S. Power Road, Mesa.

When: Through Dec. 3, 5:30- 9:30 p.m. Sunday-Thursday, and 5:30-10 p.m. Friday-Saturday. Food and beverages are not included in ticket prices. Parking is free.

Tickets: $18 Friday and Saturday, $15 Sunday-Thursday; Skating, $10. Information: LightsattheFarm.com.

Brightly lit snowglobes are part of the attraction at Vertuccio Farms in Mesa this season. (Special to GetOut)

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