No eviction ban extension
Epicenter plans rolling forward
PAGE 13
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An edition of the East Valley Tribune
INSIDE
This Week
QC project roils Gilbert community.
COMMUNITY......... 16 Gilbert author pens children’s book.
Sunday, December 13, 2020
Failed Welcome Home group closes its books BY CECILIA CHAN GSN Managing Editor
NEWS. ...............................3
FREE ($1 OUTSIDE OF GILBERT) | GilbertSunNews.com
A
nonprofit that shut down after failing to build a veterans memorial park in Gilbert has finally closed its books after handing back nearly $100,000 to donors. Shortly after Operation Welcome Home announced in September 2019 it was folding, it cut cashier checks totaling $97,038 to individuals and veterans group that gave toward the $3-million project, according to Justin Yentes. Yentes sat on the board and responded to questions from Gilbert Sun News that were sent to his wife, Councilwoman Aimee
Yentes, who was the vice president of the nonprofit. The bulk of the returned donations went to the Roney Family Foundation, which received $49,539 of the $100,000 it donated, according to a copy of the check Yentes provided. “Mary Roney was a big donor with OWH and so we felt that it was best to send as much as we could to her foundation,” Justin Yentes said in an email. Other recipients, according to Justin Yentes, included the Vietnamese Community of Arizona, which received $26,618; Knights of Columbus Friar Adrian Assembly, $250; Knights of Columbus St. Anne’s Coun-
cil, $250 and Sons of the American Legion, $500. The Merrell Mitchell American Legion Post 39 received $1,250, according to Cmdr. Chris Ellis, who could did not know the amount of the original donation. Justin Yentes added that $10,000 went back to Southwest Gas Corp., which was confirmed by a company spokeswoman. The remainder of the funds went to individual donors, according to copies of cashier checks Justin Yentes provided the Gilbert Sun News. Others, however, didn’t see a penny of their
GPS loses nearly 4K Garden of calm students, millions in state funding
see WELCOME page 4
BY CECILIA CHAN GSN Managing Editor
SPORTS...................... 23 2 schools on verge of titles.
COMMUNITY....................................... 16
BUSINESS.............................................20 SPORTS....................................... 23 GETOUT.................................................26 PUZZLE....................................... 27
CLASSIFIED..........................................28
G
ilbert Public Schools has lost 3,883 students so far this academic year, which translates into a $26 million drop in state funding. The Governing Board in a special meeting Dec. 8 voted to amend the budget it adopted in June because of COVID19’s impact. “This is a tricky year when it comes to finances,” Superintendent Shane McCord said. GPS’ enrollment loss appears greater than the larger Mesa Public Schools district, where officials last week put their loss at 3,500 students at a cost nearly $28 million in
see GPS page 8
Micah Muaya, left, and Brayden Sams, both 9-year-old students at Oak Tree Elementary in Gilbert, worked with educators, Greenie’s Garden and Phoenix Children’s Center for Family Health staffers last week on a garden aimed at helping kids’ social-emotional well-being. The school is partnering with Phoenix Children’s to train educators in to deal with stressed kids through a program funded by Kohll’s Mindful Me Initiative. (Pablo Robles/GSN Staff)
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GILBERT SUN NEWS | DECEMBER 13, 2020
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GILBERT SUN NEWS | DECEMBER 13, 2020
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NEWS
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Huge residential project next to Gilbert advances BY CECILIA CHAN GSN Managing Editor
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landowner made concessions to get support for rezoning 147 acres in Queen Creek just across the street from Gilbert for a mixed-density community that would include more than 200 multi-family units and over 300 homes. Queen Creek Planning Commission last Wednesday voted 5-1 to recommend the Council approve Sossaman Holdings’ request Jan. 20. “This is an area of town known as a growth area,” said land-use attorney W. Ralph Pew, representing Sossaman Holdings. “The property is very unique. This property is surrounded by three different jurisdictions and five different land-use categories.” Sossaman Farms West proposes 18.36 acres for 240 multi-family units, about 118 acres for 338 single-family homes and 9 acres for commercial development. The two primary entrances are proposed at Power and at Ocotillo roads and an ancillary entrance along Brooks Farm Road east of 182nd Street. Pew said the proposal fits the town’s General Plan and that Chandler Unified School District has confirmed it can handle the anticipated students. Pew said the development would also bring more housing diversity to Queen Creek. He said the town’s housing stock includes just 5 percent of multi-family units and the rest single-family homes. He said 20 percent is the average for multi-family units in Maricopa County. “Sossaman Farms West has since 1999 been designated in the General Plan for medium-density residential,” Pew continued. “It was never, ever designated rural, low-density or very low-density.” The proposed zoning for Sossaman Farms West averages out to 3.9 dwelling units per acre for the entire development. And that is a bone of contention with surrounding neighbors, including those who live on the 1- to 5-acre lots along the western and southern boundaries of
Gilbert residents who live near Sossaman Holdings’ massive development at Power and Ocotillo Roads in Queen Creek, circled in red, are upset with the number of multi-family units and homes planned for the community. (Special to GSN)
the project site. Planner Steven Ester said staff received letters from 21 people and a petition with 154 signatures of residents in Gilbert, Queen Creek and unincorporated county islands opposing the rezoning. He added the concerns from three public meetings included the density of the multi-family development and its location, traffic and the size of the lots. The age-restricted Trilogy community in Gilbert to the north of Ocotillo Road also raised concerns that the proposed two-story homes would block their views. The homes in Trilogy are single level. Eight residents spoke at the meeting and 40 sent in comment cards. “It’s not compatible with our area,” said Heather Stevens, who lives south of the site in the Brook Farms neighborhood on a county island with a Gilbert address. She said the smaller lots would negatively affect the surrounding equestrian properties and their rural character and bring in more traffic especially along Brooks Farm Road, which leads to her
daughter’s school, Auxier Elementary, at the southeaster corner of the property. Stevens said her daughter while in 5th grade last year was almost ran over by a school bus. “My wife and I bought our place six years ago,” said Tyler Bennett, who lives in a county island in Gilbert. “We came out here for a reason. We have an equestrian community especially in Brooks Farm.” He said apartments were not compatible for the area as there are none within a mile of the site. He also raised safety concerns over increased traffic along Brooks Farm Road. He disagreed with Pew’s comment that most people would use the Power Road access instead. Sharon Coffini, who lives in Dorada Estates, a luxury gated community west of the site at the border of Gilbert and Queen Creek, said her home faces the property. “I’m a Realtor and the rest of my neighbors made me the spokesperson,” she said. “Our biggest concern is the me-
see LAND page 12
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WELCOME
NEWS
GILBERT SUN NEWS | DECEMBER 13, 2020
from page 1
donation, including Walmart Foundation, which gave $25,000; the Daughters of the American Revolution, $1,000; and the Arizona Department of Veteran Services, which awarded a $100,000 grant. The nonprofit also claimed it had $110,077 in assets at the end of 2018, according to the Form 990 filed for that year with the IRS. Justin Yentes said the assets were the cost of improvements made to the 7 acres it was leasing from the Town of Gilbert for $1 a year for 30 years. He explained that before he joined the board, a company named Terrascape Consulting provided $17,500 worth of surveying and site work in 2014 or 2015 and that the nonprofit’s accountant at the time considered the donation an asset the nonprofit owned. “Because that work was done in-kind, the accountant at the time considered that work an asset that OWH held and put it on the balance sheet as an asset,” Justin Yentes said. “I liken that to someone doing a custom paint job at a rental property. It may raise the value of the rental home, but the property still isn’t yours. The value increase would arguably be that of the owner/town’s asset.” The nonprofit apparently dropped that practice afterward, not listing further work on the site as an asset. R.A.P.I Ltd in Phoenix told GSN that it performed mass grading on the site but never completed the job after MT Builders suspended work on the project in February 2018, when the nonprofit provided no more funding. The Phoenix company’s work was an in-kind donation of $25,000, according to paperwork. In April 2018, the 3rd Platoon of the 258th Engineer Company of the Arizona National Guard stepped in and donated pre-construction earth and site work. Justin Yentes accounted for the remaining assets as $17,820 paid to MT Builders for a performance bond and $74,756 to Gilbert in December 2017 for a building permit. MT Builders was the general contractor for the project. Town spokeswoman Jennifer Harrison said the December fee for the permit was voided and refunded in May 2019 and a
When Operation Welcome Home announced it was abandoning the veterans memorial park, all that was left was a pile of dirt and a sign.
(GSN file photo)
new invoice for $66,123 was issued to Operation Welcome Home, which was paid. For its final year of operation in 2019, the tax-exempted nonprofit filed a Form 990-N, an electronic postcard for organizations with annual gross receipts of $50,000 and less. “Without the need for the public 990, we didn’t have to prep all the details but I can summarize most if not all of the 2019 costs,” Justin Yentes said. The nonprofit in 2019 paid out $51,356, which included a $30,000 salary for an administrative assistant, $5,000 to the landlord for the office space and $6,600 to the law firm that handled the dissolution, according to Justin Yentes. After news of its demise last year, former board member Les Presmyk told Gilbert Sun News said he’s asked the accountant and the board president at the time, Lisa Rigler, to see the books but was never given access. Rigler, who is Aimee Yentes’ mother, has never responded to the Gilbert Sun News’ numerous requests for comment about the nonprofit’s financial activities. Presmyk, a former town councilman for over a decade and co-founder of Operation Welcome Home, said he finally quit the board due to the lack of disclosure. Operation Welcome Home originally was a town program that honored veterans with a proclamation. When Rigler assumed control, she took it to nonprofit status. The group in March 2016 broke ground on the veterans memorial park at
the southeast corner of Gilbert Road and Civic Center Drive with the backing of the community, veterans organizations and elected leaders. The park was to include an education and resources center and a scaled-down version of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall. The town partnered with the nonprofit, agreeing to lease the land and to make off-site improvements such as building a bus bay, parking lot and bringing sewer and water lines to the property to the tune of $1.67 million. The town put safeguards in place, such as requiring the nonprofit to show it had come up with half of the $2.12 million cost for phase 1 before it would be granted a building permit. In November 2017, staff informed the Council it was shown proof that the nonprofit had met that with cash and written commitments of in-kind pledges. However, GSN found discrepancies with what the nonprofit reported for its revenue. In 2016, when Rigler applied for the $100,000 grant from the Arizona Department of Veteran Services, she claimed the nonprofit had $1.25 million in cash, which included $250,000 in grants, $250,000 in corporate contribution and $350,000 from individual donors. Rigler also claimed $600,000 for in-kind donations for a total of $1.8 million in revenue. But, in the Form 990 filed with the IRS for the year ending in 2016, the nonprofit claimed it had $153,586 in cash before expenses. In February 2018, grading was com-
pleted on the site, according to MT Builders, which was paid $284,487 to truck in dirt. Later that year in September, staff raised concerns as the town was nearing completion of the off-site improvements but hadn’t seen any active construction for several months, according to emails obtained by the Gilbert Sun News. It wasn’t until April 2019 that Annie Remsburg, who took over as president in late 2018/early 2019 after Rigler stepped down, received a letter from MT Builders stating that because it hasn’t received further funding, it was terminating its October 2017 contract and voiding the performance bond, which would have guaranteed the completion of the project. Remsburg later that September informed then Mayor-Jenn Daniels of the group’s dissolution, prompting the Council in October to cancel its lease agreement. Daniels co-founded the group and was on the board but never responded to Gilbert Sun News’ questions on the issue. Aimee and Justin Yentes in December 2019 told the Gilbert Sun News that with the in-kind donors dropping out and the competition for donors by other veterans’ groups, the project was at a standstill. The couple would not disclose the donors who withdrew their pledges. The Gilbert Sun News contacted a number of the in-kind donors at the time who either already donated their services or were waiting to be called on but never were. The town has not decided what to do with the 7 acres, which is fenced off and has an estimated 23,000 cubic yards of dirt – much more than the 4,000 cubic yards of fill material or dirt that was supposed to be on the site, according to project design documents. “It was heartbreaking to see the plan fail to materialize,” Justin Yentes said. “I hope that the new veteran’s committee at the town has much more long-lasting success with their USS Arizona endeavor.” The town created a Veterans and Military Advisory Board earlier this year and got the Council to agree to sponsor a new submarine named after the USS Arizona.
GILBERT SUN NEWS | DECEMBER 13, 2020
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NEWS
6
GILBERT SUN NEWS | DECEMBER 13, 2020
Chandler school superintendent to retire in June BY KEVIN REAGAN GSN Staff Writer
C
handler Unified School District Superintendent Camille Casteel will retire at the end of this school year, marking an end to a 50-year career in public education. Casteel, one of the district’s longest-serving superintendents, announced last week in a letter to families, “While this is one of the most difficult decisions I have had to make, after 50 years in CUSD, I feel the time is right.” Having started her teaching career at Erie Elementary in 1971, Casteel amassed decades of experience working in various schools across Chandler and gradually climbed up the administrative ranks until she reached the district’s top job in 1996. Her retirement comes in the middle of a tumultuous school year that has presented a slew of challenges that Casteel and her fellow superintendents and Chandler colleagues have never
had to face before as a result of the pandemic. Casteel predicted the district should begin to recover from the stress of those challenges over the next few months as COVID-19 vaccines become more widely available. She also expressed optimism at the prospect of leaving CUSD in a stable place for her successor. “We have a great deal to accomplish over the next several months – all while staying true to our core values,” she wrote. Casteel made her announcement the morning after a three-hour closed-door meeting of the district’s Governing Board. Casteel gave no public indication during Wednesday’s public board meeting that she was planning to retire. That meeting was dominated by a complicated debate over the district’s virtual instruction options. Students have had a choice between enrolling in the Chandler Online Acad-
Food for the needy
Cater Cook, 16, left, and Aubrey Ewing, 16, both of Gilbert, helped pack food for United Food Bank last week at Higley High School. United Food Bank is distributing holiday meal items and other food for families 7 a.m.-noon Friday, Dec. 18, at the Mesa Convention Center, 263 N. Center St., Mesa, for any families who need help. (Pablo Robles/GSN Staff Photographer)
Camille Casteel emy or learning in classrooms, but some parents have demanded a virtual model that would allow students to remotely participate in an in-person class through digital applications like Google Classrooms. On Wednesday, the board voted 4-0 to direct district staff to come up with a new plan that allows the district’s junior and high school students to learn from home virtually for the first two weeks of January. Permitting students to learn virtually for the whole spring semester was not considered sustainable due to the additional work it might generate for teachers. The decision was considered a temporary compromise between those students and parents concerned about a continuing surge in COVID-19 over the holidays and those who want uninterrupted in-person classes. Not all the details of this possible learning option were revealed Wednesday since the board only voted for administrators to come up with a plan. Board member David Evans said he saw a need for a third choice that allows some students to continue learning with their designated teacher and
classmates without anxiety over coming on campus. Board member Lindsay Love, who abstained from voting, said she wanted staff to present a full plan for virtual learning options. “Why even put this on the agenda if there was no plan?” Love asked. “I don’t know what we’re talking about.” Love said she expected more from CUSD especially since the district is about to recess for the holidays and two new members will be joining the board next month. “We don’t even really have a plan, it’s just us kicking the can down the road again,” she said. Casteel acknowledged the lack of consistency CUSD has demonstrated since the pandemic began, but argued her administration has had to rapidly adapt to circumstances that keep changing from week to week. The decisions made by CUSD have caused divisions within the district, Casteel said, and administrators have had varying opinions on how the district should respond to the pandemic. “We don’t all agree with each other,” the superintendent said. “There is not consensus but I know we’re all well intentioned.” Casteel apologized to any families angered by the district’s choices over the last few months and insisted the pandemic forced CUSD into a series of “nowin” predicaments. “I’m sorry that we’ve disappointed some of our staff and families,” Casteel said during Wednesday’s meeting. “It’s not like we wake up in the morning and say, ‘Well how can we upset people today?’” Casteel’s tenure at CUSD may be ending during one of the district’s more turbulent periods, but the superintendent has helped it navigate through many years of growth and expansion. When she was appointed superintendent in 1996, the district had about 15,000 students and 17 campuses. CUSD currently has over 44,000 students and recently opened its 47th campus this year.
GILBERT SUN NEWS | DECEMBER 13, 2020
First COVID vaccine doses expected here this week BY HOWARD FISCHER Capitol Media Services
A
rizonans in the highest priority categories of risk or need could get their first doses of COVID-19 vaccine this week. But they won’t be risk-free for weeks after that. And it won’t be until summer or early fall before everyone who wants to get inoculated will be able to do so. Pima and Maricopa counties will divide up Arizona’s first allocation of COVID-19 vaccines while rural areas will have to wait a little while longer. Steve Elliott, spokesman for the state Department of Health Services, said it’s not a question of deciding that urban residents are entitled to a higher priority. He said it’s a matter of practicality. The first vaccine set to arrive will be from Pfizer, which has to be kept at -70 degrees Celsius – or about 94 degrees below zero on the Fahrenheit scale. That requires access to special equipment. And then there’s the requirement that shipments come in minimum doses of 975. “The big lots and handling requirements of the Pfizer vaccine make it better suited to places where many people can be vaccinated in one place in a finite period,’’ Elliot said. Maricopa County will get 46,800 doses by the end of December, with 11,700 for Pima. The vaccine developed by Moderna needs to be kept only at minus 20 Celsius, or about minus 4 Fahrenheit, more like a regular freezer. Moderna will ship out the vaccine in lots of a minimum of just 100. State health officials report that 593 health care providers have completed the approval process and are certified to start administering the vaccine when it arrives. Another more than 1,200 are in the pipeline. They also reported that every skilled nursing facility in Arizona has opted to participate in a program by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to
provide vaccinations to all residents and staff. Both of the vaccines require a second dose, within 21 or 28 days, to be fully effective. Under the state plan, the top priority for immunization will be health care workers, particularly those working directly with patients. Also in the first group will be home health aides, nursing assistants and medical assistants. After them come residents of skilled nursing facilities and independent and assisted living centers. The second-priority people include adults with high-risk medical conditions living in shelters or other congregate living settings. Then there are the teachers, about 146,000 of them, along with police, corrections officers and other emergency response workers. This group also includes others who work at schools including bus drivers, cafeteria workers and front-office staff that deal with children. After that come workers for utility companies and then people in food industries including those at grocery stores and restaurants, transportation workers like those who drive trucks and buses as well as gas station employees. Also, in that second group are other “essential workers,� which the state says includes everything from financial services to funeral home employees. The next priority would be nearly 2.3 million Arizonans with underlying medical conditions like obesity, heart diseases and chronic lung disease. Then there are more than 1.2 million Arizonans older than 65 not in high-priority groups. This category also includes those confined to prisons and jails. But inmates who have underlying medical conditions may be moved into a higher category. That leaves everyone else as supplies become available – and as people choose to get vaccinated. State health director Dr. Cara Christ
see VACCINE page 14
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GPS from page 1
state reimbursement. That enrollment loss also is mirrored statewide. Mesa Assistant Superintendent Scott Thompson last week told his governing board that more than 40,000 students across Arizona have literally disappeared from enrollment rolls in both charter and public schools. “We’ve got kids all over the grade levels and all the grade spans who just aren’t in school and they’re not in charters and they’re not online because those numbers would still show up at the state level and the state would not be down,” Thompson said. “This is not the simple case of they’ve just gone somewhere else.” GPS Assistant Superintendent Bonnie Betz said the district is required to revise its budget because “our student counts were significantly less than what we projected in our adopted budget.” Betz said the district anticipated 32,801 students but at this time the enrollment is at 28,917. As a result, the district’s revenue control limit or spending limit has dropped
GILBERT SUN NEWS | DECEMBER 13, 2020
from $214 million to $188 million, she added. “So, note that the whole situation because of the pandemic, the governor signed an executive order during the summer indicating that school districts will be held harmless to 98 percent of the prior year’s weighed student count,” Betz said. In essence, Gov. Doug Ducey guaranteed that districts will have at least 98 percent of the state aid they were getting in the past school year. Betz said the district anticipated receiving $30 million from the governor’s Enrollment Stabilization Grant but instead got $14.3 million. That was far lower than the grant MPS received. It is getting roughly $25 million of the $28 million it expected. “We are anticipating still a shortfall because we did not receive the $30 million, we only received $14.3 (million),” Betz said. “So, we are anticipating a $15-million shortfall at this time.” Betz said GPS risks losing more state reimbursement as the result of hybrid and virtual learning because the state
per-pupil reimbursement is 5 percent lower than what districts receive for every student in a classroom. Compounding the financial worries for GPS and most other districts are higher costs as the result of special-education students still enrolling for inclass instruction. Their needs require more than what the state funds. Betz said there are opportunities for the district to make up the funding loss. They include asking legislators to provide more funding, scrutinizing vacant positions to see if they need to be filled and using unspent money from some departments – such as an anticipated drop in fuel costs for the transportation department. Board member Jill Humpherys commented those carry-overs of unspent fund would be important as the district wrestles with the drop in student enrollment for the 2021-22 budget. “This is huge loss,” Humpherys said of the enrollment figures. “We’ve had 1,500 students one year that we’ve lost. I’ve seen declines in our district before but this is probably twice as much or
more than I have ever seen.” She asked how much of the loss was due to students enrolled in virtual learning, which has seen a huge uptick, and how much was due to people who have chosen to go elsewhere. She added she’s heard that many parents have not enrolled their kindergarteners this year as they wait out the pandemic – a trend that is occurring across Arizona. “Depending on the day that we look at the enrollment, we are down in true enrollment between 1,000 and 1,200 students,” Betz replied. “So, the remaining loss of the average daily membership is because we have students that are now being educated purely online. “Keep in mind this is statewide, not just Gilbert,” Betz continued. “Statewide, there’s been a 40,000-student loss across the state. The pandemic has had a significant impact on enrollment statewide.” Betz said staff will return to the board in February for another anticipated budget revision.
State stabilization funds fall short for schools BY HOWARD FISCHER Capitol Media Services
A
promise by Gov. Doug Ducey to protect state aid for schools during the pandemic is coming up short – and in some cases, a lot short. Ducey announced in June he was setting aside $370 million in federal cash to cushion schools against budget shortfalls due to anticipated enrollment declines. “This will ensure budget stability, even with more students participating in distance learning, and provide dollars when students are learning in the traditional classroom setting,’’ the governor said in a press release of his program. Ducey said he recognized “the additional costs in-person learning will bring to districts this school year.’’ In essence, Ducey said his plan would guarantee that schools will have at least 98 percent of the state aid they were
Gov. Doug Ducey and state Superintendent of Public Instruction Kathy Hoffman discussed state stabilization funding earlier this year, before specifics of the grants were finalized by the governor’s office. (Capitol Media Services) getting this past school year. That is crucial for schools as the cash they get from the state is based on the number of students in attendance. And
even with schools being allowed to count children who are in online-only learning situations, the number is off sharply.
Last year, the regular “average daily membership’’ count was 1,117,521. This year, on Nov. 3, a benchmark for determining aid, the count was down by 3.7 percent. But the requests for cash from what was dubbed the Enrollment Stability Grant program exceeded the $370 million available. So, when the grants actually were made this past week, it left a lot of districts in the lurch. Chandler Unified School District wasn’t hit as hard, getting about $14.3 million out of the nearly $15.6 million it expected. Tempe Union’s $3.5 million fell $2 million short of what it expected, though a spokeswoman said the impact of the lower number would be minimal. Daniel Scarpinato, the governor’s chief of staff, conceded that schools are getting less than what they thought they
see STABILIZE page 10
GILBERT SUN NEWS | DECEMBER 13, 2020
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GILBERT SUN NEWS | DECEMBER 13, 2020
Higley board fumes over virus protocol violators evelations that a majority of the positive COVID-19 cases on Higley Unified School District campuses stems from staff and students ignoring safety protocols didn’t sit well with the Governing Board. “We created a COVID policy to try and protect our students and our staff,” Vice President Kristina Reese said. “I am very concerned with that amount, with that percentage not following our safety protocols.” The board viewed a video last Wednesday on how cases are tracked on the district dashboard and saw that between Sept. 8 and Nov. 30, there were 158 positive cases district-wide. Of that number, 37 involved staff, of which 72 percent was largely the result of coming to work sick, according to lead district nurse Jillian Fulton. Of the 121 student cases, 74 percent involved failures to follow protocols by participating in off-campus activities such as parties, sleepovers or attending events where preventative mea-
sures were not followed, Fulton said. A few cases involved students coming to school sick while waiting for their COVID-19 test results. “I know our staff definitely feels obligated,” Reese said. “They want to come to work but when they’re sick, they’re sick. If there is any concern they need to stay home. “Looking at the 74 percent not following our policy and procedures is concerning to me. I think this needs to be a topic of conversation between our district’s administration and our site administrations. Is there anything further we can do, what can we do? How can we handle it from the student’s side, how can we handle it from the staff’s side?” Of greater concern, Reese said, was the increasing positive active cases out in the community. “We’ve seen our numbers increase in our community,” Reese said. “We know kids are safer at school but when you have almost 75 percent of people not following what does keep us safe, we’re not going to be a safe place for long. Public education is a right and we are fortunate to be in-person and I don’t
want to lose that privilege right now because 75 percent can’t follow safety protocols.” The district’s dashboard is updated daily and last Thursday, it reported 26 active cases in HUSD. The Town of Gilbert’s dashboard showed a total of 12,321 confirmed cases last Thursday. Data released on Dec. 10 by the county health department showed that for the week of Nov. 29 – the latest available – two of the three benchmarks districts use as guidelines for keeping campuses open or closed showed substantial virus spread for the second consecutive week. For Higley, there were 488 cases per 100,000 people and 14.8 percent positive new test results – both indicative of substantial virus spread. Hospital visits with COVID-like symptoms were closing in on the substantial spread with 9.1 percent. Associate Superintendent Dawn Foley said virtually all administration meetings devote a significant amount of time to the management of the pandemic and she didn’t see that changing. She noted the district adopted a mask pol-
icy and has a mitigation plan in place. “I think on-going conversation, navigation of this as things continue to evolve and change is going to be part and process of this,” Foley said. “The more we learn, the more it impacts our behavior and how we move forward and so awareness is really important.” She said Fulton has visited each campus to educate staff about the dashboard and has seen improvement in staff behavior. “It’s so infuriating that so much of this is avoidable if people would just follow the advice of experts,” said board member Scott Glover at his last meeting before leaving office. “My rage meter is high.” Not to minimize the issue, Glover said the 72 percent of staff who didn’t follow policy amounted to 26 people compared with the thousands who come to work in the district and in the area. “If the folks would just adhere to what we are asking and what the rest of us are all sacrificing in doing, we’d be ahead of this thing,” he said, suggest-
would be receiving. But he said, in effect, that the schools should be pleased they’re getting anything at all, as governors in other states have not agreed to any supplemental funding and, in some cases, have cut K-12 dollars in the wake of the pandemic. Scarpinato said schools are getting less state aid because they just don’t have the same number of children they did before the virus. He said there are multiple reasons, suggesting some of these are the fault of districts themselves and the choices they make. “One of them is students transferring to schools that are offering in-person learning,’’ Scarpinato said. He also said there are “massive amounts of digital truancy’’ where students are not logging in and therefore not being counted for attendance. But Kathy Hoffman, the state super-
intendent of public instruction, said she believes schools are being shortchanged. Hoffman said schools made plans based on the promised dollars to fund everything from COVID-19 mitigation strategies to setting up distance learning programs. “Based on the allocations provided to schools last week, the state has broken that promise,’’ Hoffman said. Scarpinato said Arizona schools actually got $716 million from the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act. Everything above the $370 million was specifically earmarked for schools. But Scarpinato said Ducey made the decision to add that additional $370 million out of the state’s allocation to provide additional relief. Ducey has more federal cash at his
disposal. Of the nearly $1.9 billion appropriation directly to the governor, he sent $400 million to state agencies for their own operations, including salaries. They then used the federal infusion to give some of their budgeted dollars back to the state. Scarpinato is unapologetic about using those CARES funds for basic state government operations. “It’s really important for the education community and for public schools that we have budget stability,’’ he said. Without that, Scarpinato said, Arizona would be in the same position as other states whose economies have been buffeted by the COVID-19 outbreak and spending had to be cut, including on education. He also said that $370 million is more than the districts would have received
through the basic state aid formula. But the shortage of funds is only part of the issue. The additional aid was designed to go out on a per-student basis. Put simply, the amount of aid to get them back to that 98 percent level was linked to how many students they were short. But the governor’s office imposed a cap of $500 per student. So the districts with the biggest losses are not only not getting nowhere close to the 98 percent but are getting a smaller share than some other districts where the attendance losses have not been as great. Scarpinato said that $500 cap was based on guidance from the U.S. Treasury. He said if schools are dissatisfied, there is an option: “The best place for this discussion is in the Legislature.”
BY CECILIA CHAN GSN Managing Editor
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STABILIZE from page 8
see HIGLEY page 11
GILBERT SUN NEWS | DECEMBER 13, 2020
HIGLEY from page 10
NEWS
ing that people educate those who are “willfully ignorant� of the safety measures. “This country is still very divided on many, many things,� board President Amy Kaylor said. “Our community is divided on many different issues and this is an area where if your child is sick, please stay home. Stay home and also
go get a test.� She said if the younger children can keep their masks on the teenagers also need to be doing that in school. “This is not the time to be sending kids to school sick and playing some kind of Russian roulette game, I’ve seen it and heard teachers talk about it. We need to do better,� Kaylor said.
GSN NEWS STAFF
auction was made out of an abundance of caution to safeguard auction customers, sponsors, guests and employees from the current spike of coronavirus cases – the worst since the pandemic began – as well as the spike in the number of cases following the upcoming holidays that health authorities are predicting,� the company said in its announcement.
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signature Valley event has been delayed by the pandemic and another canceled outright. Barrett-Jackson announced last week it is rescheduling the January 2021 Scottsdale Auction to the week of March 22 at WestWorld of Scottsdale, with exact dates to be announced later. “The difficult decision to postpone the
see AUCTION page 12
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GILBERT SUN NEWS | DECEMBER 13, 2020
LAND from page 3
dium density, three-story apartments.” She asked the Commission to impose a two-story restriction on the multi-family units, which Pew indicated could also be condos or town homes. She also asked that the double row of homes at the west and south edges of the property be restricted to one story. Two rows of 15,000-square-foot lots are proposed on the southern and western boundaries to provide a gentle “step-down” from the larger lots adjacent to those boundaries, according to a staff report. Similarly, the smaller, 6,000-squarefoot lots are in the center of the subdivision and against the northern boundary, in keeping with the lot sizes in the Trilogy community to the north. Shawnalea Shelly, who lives in the Brooks Farm community, said her issues are with traffic and the multi-family units. She said there are already 500 cars that use Brooks Farm Road regularly. She wondered if apartments are in such demand, why aren’t they included in Sossaman’s other developments. The project is the latest in Sossaman Holdings’ development of the area, which includes Sossaman Estates, Sossaman 300 and Legado. She said putting an apartment in an area with no supportive services like public transit didn’t make sense. She said the major occupants of multi-family residences are those 1929 years old, who are less likely to have their own cars. Pew countered that if the residents in Trilogy thought they had a view over Mr.
AUCTION from page 11
The March event will include the return of the Barrett Jackson Cup Competition, featuring 50 vehicles from some of the nation’s top custom car and truck builders. “While every indication showed that our bidders, consignors and sponsors were behind our efforts to hold our auction next month, we decided it would be prudent at this time to safeguard everyone’s health,” said Craig Jackson chairman and CEO of Barrett-Jackson. Earlier last week, another annual Val-
This is the corner of Sossaman Holdings’ development in Queen Creek that has upset some nearby Gilbert residents. (Special to GSN) Sossaman’s property, “they should have dealt with Mr. Sossaman.” He said the project’s density was similar to Trilogy’s, although one resident pointed out that was an unfair comparison because Trilogy has so much more green space. He also said the county residents to the south and west of the site should have participated in the town’s General Plan if they didn’t like what is happening. He called into question resident comments that seemed to imply apartment dwellers would cause some kind of mischief. He said today’s renters include empty-nesters who choose that lifestyle and have the income and it’s wrong to think ley event was canceled outright for 2021 when the Renaissance Festival organizers said they won’t be back until 2022. “We are saddened this decision may result in further hardship for our valued renaissance community of artists and disappoint our patrons,” Renaissance Fest organizers said in a statement. Gov. Doug Ducey earlier this month issued an executive order prohibiting gath-
see AUCTION page 15
that the residents won’t have vehicles. Pew also said there is no evidence that multi-family housing degrades property values. Commissioner Troy Young said the town needs more multi-family development like condos. And, Commissioner Bill Smith said the commercial use on the corner made sense as well as the multi-family proposal. He also suggested as a compromise that signage allow only left-hand turns onto Brooks Farm Road to prevent traffic heading west into those neighborhoods. Commissioner Lea Spall said she raises goats and chickens on her property and was generally in favor of the project but was concerned with the three-story buildings. “I don’t think it will look good in a residential area,” she said. “But I do feel there is a demand for multi-family.” Commissioners Matt McWilliams and David Gillette both said there was a lack of clarity with the multi-family product. Gillette said he saw both sides of the issue, having called every apartment complex within a 5-mile radius of the site and all were at 96 to 99 percent capacity, which showed a need for more such housing. That, said, he asked if the multi-family buildings could be limited to one or two
stories. Chairman Alex Matheson reminded commissioners they were to decide on the proposed rezoning and not on the multi-family component although he, too, had concerns with three stories. He said an option for the Commission was to continue the issue and let the landowner go back and see if it can limit the multi-family buildings to two stories and the two rows of outlying homes to one story. Pew responded that they could agree on restricting one of the two rows of housing on the south and west boundaries to single story and limit the multi-family buildings to two levels. “We can agree to both if it’s helpful to the motion,” Pew said. Smith said it was a big improvement in his perspective and that the town can impose the restricted turns onto Brooks Farm Road at a later time if traffic proves to be a problem. Pew said further discussion with traffic impacts will occur during the pre and final plats for the project. A traffic impact analysis has been submitted and reviewed by staff. Matheson and Young said they were more comfortable with the project with the concessions. Gillette, however, asked Pew if he would consider keeping the multi-family to a single level. Pew said he would prefer having flexibility because they won’t know until his clients have a site plan if the project will be single or two-story. Gillette was the sole dissenter in the recommendation to the Council. Commissioner Steve Sossaman did not participate in the discussion of Sossaman Farms West. Tracey Hein, who lives in the Brooks Farm community and said Queen Creek is running out of land to develop larger-lot properties, was not placated with the concessions. “It still represents spot zoning,” she said, that did not match that of the surrounding communities. Pew disputed that. She and others are not giving up and plan to participate in the Jan. 20 Council meeting.
GILBERT SUN NEWS | DECEMBER 13, 2020
NEWS
Ducey plans no eviction ban extension BY HOWARD FISCHER Capitol Media Services
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ov. Doug Ducey won’t impose any new restrictions on individuals or businesses despite what appears to be a record number of daily COVID-19 cases and a trend that is pushing even higher. And he has are no plans to extend a moratorium on residential evictions once a federal ban on ousting tenants expires at the end of the month. The Department of Health Services on Tuesday reported 12,314 new cases – a figure that hasn’t been seen since the beginning of the pandemic. There also were 23 more deaths, bringing the Arizona total to 6,973. The numbers could include a spike in tests over the weekend. And with delays in those reports, the agency eventually sorts the tests based on the actual date the test is administered. But what cannot be denied is that even the department’s own day-by-day delayed analysis, after sorting the numbers by actual test dates, shows there were a record 7,645 cases actually reported for Nov. 30. That compares with the June 29 peak of 5,452, the day that the governor concluded he had made a mistake in allowing bars, gyms, water parks and movie theaters to reopen. Since that time, though, the governor has relaxed his restrictions, allowing businesses to operate, though some at reduced capacity and under certain health protocols. Those restrictions appear to not be working. Last week, 23 percent new tests were positive – up from 18 percent the previous week and 14 percent the week before. At last count there were 3,157 patients in Arizona hospitals with positive or suspected cases of COVID. The last time the figure was that high was July 17. There were 744 intensive care beds in use, also the highest since July. And while they represent just 43 percent of
The state Department of Health Services charted COVID-19 case trends in Arizona since the pandemic began in March.
ICU capacity, the number of available beds dropped as low as 143 – within 8 percent of total capacity. The Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation is predicting an average of 55 deaths a day by the end of the year, eventually reaching 73 by the third week of January. That’s even with a rapid rollout of vaccine to the highest risk individuals. In his latest forecast, Joe Gerald, a doctor at the Zuckerman College of Public Health at the University of Arizona, predicted dire problems with access to critical care due to shortages of space, personnel and critical supplies. “If not addressed within the next one to two weeks, this crisis will evolve into a humanitarian crisis leading to hundreds of preventable deaths,’’ he wrote. “At this point, only shelter-in-place restrictions are certain to quickly and sufficiently curtail viral transmission.’’ Even White House Coronavirus Task Force, one of the sources Ducey has said he has relied upon, urges Arizona to do more. “Mitigation efforts must increase,’’ the report says. That includes “no indoor gatherings outside of immediate households.’’ And Ducey’s reaction to all this? “It’s clear the numbers are
moving in the wrong direction and are having a tremendous impact on our health care system,’’ said press aide C.J.
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Karamargin. But he had no announcements of any changes in current regulations. Ducey does have other powers to deal with the pandemic above and beyond health precautions. In March he imposed a moratorium on evictions of renters affected by COVID-19, whether due to themselves or a family member with the virus or simply by virtue of having lost a job because of the outbreak. He said this is health related because keeping people in their homes helps prevent the spread of the virus. Ducey extended his order several times before allowing it to expire at the end of October. But the governor noted at that time there would be no immediate effect because the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention had imposed its own moratorium.
see DUCEY page 14
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GILBERT SUN NEWS | DECEMBER 13, 2020
DUCEY
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PERIPHERAL NEUROPATHY AND CHRONIC PAIN WARNING! Our clinic is taking every precaution and we follow strict CDC guidelines to ensure that our patients, clinic and staff are SAFE! Mesa, AZ — The most common method your doctor will recommend to treat your chronic pain and/or neuropathy is with prescription drugs that may temporarily reduce your symptoms. These drugs have names such as Gabapentin, Lyrica, Cymbalta, and Neurontin, and are primarily antidepressant or anti-seizure drugs. These drugs may cause you to feel uncomfortable and have a variety of harmful side effects. Chronic pain and/or peripheral neuropathy is a result of damage to the nerves often causing weakness, pain, numbness, tingling, and the most debilitating balance problems. This damage is commonly caused by a lack of blood flow to the nerves in the hands and feet which causes the nerves to begin to degenerate due to lack of nutrient flow.
determined after a detailed neurological and vascular evaluation. As long as you have not sustained at least 95% nerve damage there is hope!
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In addition, we use a state-of-the-art diagnostics like the TM Flow diagnostic unit to accurately determine the increase in blood flow and a small skin biopsy to accurately determine the increase in small nerve fibers! The Sanexas electric cell signaling system delivers energy to the affected area of your body at varying wavelengths, including both low-frequency and middle-frequency signals. It also uses amplitude modulated (AM) and frequency modulated (FM) signaling. During a treatment session, the Sanexas system automatically changes to simultaneously deliver AM and FM electric cell signal energy. THE GREAT NEWS IS THAT SANEXAS IS COVERED BY MEDICARE AND MOST INSURANCE! Depending on your coverage, your treatment could be little to no cost to you! The amount of treatment needed to allow the nerves to fully recover varies from person to person and can only be
That federal bar itself self-destructs at the end of this month. On Tuesday, citing the rise in COVID-19 cases and that Dec. 31 expiration, Democratic legislative leaders called on the governor to once again protect tenants from losing their homes and apartments. But Karamargin said the governor has no plans to step up, saying it’s a federal issue. Karamargin acknowledged that the governor did not wait for federal action earlier this year. But he said Ducey believes that this should be part of the discussion going on in Washington about the next step in federal coronavirus relief. Rep. Kirsten Engel, D-Tucson, said that makes no sense, given that the governor has advised people that the safest place to be is at home. “You can only stay home if you have a home,’’ she said. The most recent survey by the U.S.
Census Bureau shows about 14 percent of Arizonans said they were caught up on their rent. About 56,000 said they are very or somewhat likely to lose their homes or apartments in the next two months. It’s not just Ducey who won’t issue new mandates dictating what Arizona individuals and businesses should and should not do. “The number of cases added to the dashboard today is concerning but not unexpected,’’ said Health Director Dr. Cara Christ. She said the agency anticipated an increase two weeks after the Thanksgiving holiday, the normal incubation period for the virus, as families gathered in increased numbers. In anticipation of another spike after the December holidays, Christ is urging people to take additional precautions and limit contacts beyond their immediate families.
said that even with a public relations campaign aimed at those who appear most hesitant, she knows there will be those who refuse. All this assumes that the system of delivering and administering the vaccine works as planned. “So, it’s really important that everyone continue taking precautions even after being vaccinated to ensure that everyone is protected,’’ Christ said. She said procedures are being set up to ensure that people come back for the second dose. Even after everyone who wants to be inoculated is served, that doesn’t end the matter. “What we don’t know is how long that immunity lasts,’’ Christ said. She said it could end up being a sit-
uation like the flu, where people have to get revaccinated on a regular basis, or whether it will be like the measles where there is a need for a “booster’’ after a certain period of time. “Those kinds of studies will still be ongoing,’’ Christ said. Christ said the state has no plans to force the shots on anyone. But she said that employers, particularly those whose workers deal with the public – and especially those who are vulnerable – are free to impose such a requirement. The government is providing the vaccine without cost to those who agree to administer it. And she said that insurance companies have agreed to waive any out-of-network deductibles as to what providers charge for giving the shots.
VACCINE from page 7
3) Decrease brain-based pain
As you can see in Figure 2, as the blood vessels that surround the nerves become diseased they shrivel up which causes the nerves to not get the nutrients to continue to survive. When these nerves begin to “die” they cause you to have balance problems, pain, numbness, tingling, burning, and many additional symptoms.
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GILBERT SUN NEWS | DECEMBER 13, 2020
NEWS
Former referee hosting free football skills camp for kids
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former youth football referee and certified speed and agility coach is hosting a free skills and drills camp for young athletes to help improve their overall athletic ability on the field. Jacob Cabezudo, owner of CAB Training based in the East Valley, is holding the camp at Crossroads Park in Gilbert free to kids ages 6-19. The camp will focus on speed and agility drills, as well as others that are related to a variety of spe-
cific positions to improve fundamentals. “My job as a trainer is to improve the speed, agility, quickness and football skills of the players I train,” Cabezudo said. “I go a step further and impart motivation, teach lessons on sportsmanship, and increase an athlete’s love for the game. “So, with this camp, I’m trying to reach more young players in the East Valley who share the same passion for football as I do. I have a passion for training athletes and enhancing their athletic ability through speed, agility, and skills training.”
Cabezudo was previously a youth football referee and helped run East Valley Flag Football, a subsidiary of PrimeTime Athletics – one of the largest youth sports leagues in Arizona, New Mexico and Missouri. He also coaches and trains youth football players in speed, agility and overall fundamentals of the game for Elevated Sports. Along with training from Cabezudo, the camp will feature coaching from Ryan Colbert, a former freshman football coach at Williams Field High School who now runs track collegiately at Park
University in Missouri, Rimiere Blakey, a former Chandler High School wide receiver and Cabezudo’s little brother, Jerry, who also used to referee. “The goal for this camp is to introduce young players and their parents to CAB Training and to show them how much their athlete will improve by doing group or private sessions with me,” Cabezudo said. The camp will be held at Crossroads Park from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 19. Information: cabathletictraining.com/free-camp-sign-up.
erings of more than 50 unless local governments approve. Those governments must to have a written agreement with event organizers that they will require and enforce certain safety measures. But there was no indication that the order influenced Barrett-Jackson or the fest. Three counties – Yavapai, Apache and Navajo – last week were declared by the
state Department of Health Services to have entered the category of substantial COVID-19 spread. Ducey press aide C.J. Karamargin does not dispute the sharp hike in COVID infections. Dr. Cara Christ, the state’s health chief, said Thursday that the rate of infection in the entire state for the past week has reached 500 per 100,000.
But Karamagin said that the evidence shows the spike is coming not from businesses that the state can control but instead from things the state cannot, like family gatherings. He said Ducey believes it makes no sense to close down businesses because of rising infections. A separate state-by-state analysis looks
at what researchers call the “R-naught” number, essentially an indicator of how fast the virus is growing. Anything above 1.0 shows spread. On Thursday, Arizona hit 1.22, the highest in the nation and the highest for Arizona since the middle of May, before Ducey ordered many businesses to close their doors.
BY ZACH ALVIRA GSN Sports Editor
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AUCTION from page 12
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Gilbert school nurse pens children’s book BY SRIANTHI PERERA GSN Contributor
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hen Gilbert resident Mary Jantz lived in Wisconsin a few years ago, her three little boys loved story time at Barnes & Noble. “Every Thursday morning, we would go,” she recalled. “It was a time for them to sit and listen to another adult read a wonderful book, and I needed that as much as them.” As a newly published writer, Jantz is looking forward to reading her own picture book, “The Penny Book,” to audiences at local outlets of the bookstore. “I want to be able to do that for other families. I can’t wait to have that chance,” she said. Jantz, a former kindergarten teacher and now a school nurse at Bridges Elementary School, wrote about the life of a penny, from the year it was made and the first person to take ownership of it, to its last owner, who happens to be the same person. It talks about decades of adventures, both happy and sad, overcoming hard-
all have to belong and feel accepted, and what it really means to have a place to call home,” she said. “Through the penny, we learn that it does not matter where you live or have lived. Your loved ones are your true home. God has a plan to help us realize there is always hope in finding your true home.” The idea for the story came when her children were little. She was in nursEast Valley Children’s Theater hasn’t been able to present its ing school and had a colorful shows to live audiences for months. (Special to GSN) routine to put them into bed and study each night toward her nursing license. ship and adversity, and understanding However, the boys wanted her to tell her one’s purpose and place in life. “It is about being loved, the desire we own stories rather than read them from
a book. “I cherished that time before bed with my boys, where I could focus on them. I told them the story of the penny, and then decided to write it down because I thought it was cute and worth remembering,” she recalled. This was eight years ago. Jantz, who has a bachelor’s degree in education from the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh, taught kindergarten and preschool for five years after graduating. She loved teaching but struggled with keeping her work separate from home. When Cam was born, there were complications for both mom and baby and Jantz was struck by how the nurses helped them recover. After Ethan was born, she decided to go back to school to study nursing. Like the penny in her story – which had many adventures but ended up with its first owner – Jantz said it’s ironic that she’s back in a school setting. As “Nurse Mary” at Bridges Elemen-
the Holocaust and put together what is now her Holocaust Literature class. Then, in 2001, Klett’s Holocaust Literature class became only the second offered in a public high school in Arizona. Today, Klett is executive director of the Educator’s Institute for Human Rights and serves on the board and the education committee for the Phoenix Holocaust Association in Arizona. With all the opportunities and knowledge that she has gathered over the years, Klett makes sure to bring it all back to her students. Klett’s work fills a major gap in Arizo-
That criteria include “definitely” having heard about the Holocaust, knowing that six million Jews died and being able to name at least one concentration camp. The most distressing statistic was that 16 percent of respondents in Arizona and 15 percent nationally believe that Jews caused the Holocaust. “I have no clue of anything about the Holocaust,” said Vanessa Longoria, a 16-year-old Dobson High student. When told the number of victims, Lon-
see JANTZ page 18
EV teacher helps develop mandatory Holocaust class BY MAIRANY GARCIA GSN Contributor
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ack when Dobson High teacher Kim Klett was beginning her path to a doctoral degree in English, she decided to take a class which would impact the rest of her career: Holocaust Literature. “I don’t remember learning it in high school so I took the class,” Kim Klett says. “It was a real eye opener, and I thought, wow, this could be really powerful at the high school level.” She took another class on how to teach
na and the nation. The U.S. Millennial Holocaust Knowledge and Awareness Survey of 50 states concluded in September that “nationally, there is a clear lack of awareness of key historical facts” about the Holocaust among people under 39. In Arizona, 44 percent could not name a concentration camp or a ghetto and 67 percent did not know how many people died in the Holocaust. Arizona ranked 38th among states in Holocaust knowledge, with 23 percent of respondents meeting all three criteria for being “Holocaust knowledgeable.”
see HOLOCAUST page 18
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COMMUNITY
JANTZ from page 16
GILBERT SUN NEWS | DECEMBER 13, 2020
tary, she uses her teaching and nursing skills. Her husband Steve’s work as a general manager for a beverage company took them to Texas, and then to Arizona. Now, Cam is 13, Ethan is 11 and Bo is 8 and they have lived four years in Gilbert. Steve usually travels to New Mexico and Nevada for work but has been working from home since spring. The younger two boys attend Bridges Elementary while Cam attends Sossaman Middle School. The family is active and sporty. Jantz is an avid runner. At University of Wisconsin Oshkosh, Jantz competed in women’s cross country, as well as indoor and outdoor track and field. She ran on three national teams, helping her team win the NCAA Cross Country National Championship in 1996, as well as placing 17th in the nation for the women’s 5000 meters for
Track and Field in 2000. She has completed more than a dozen half marathons as well as nine full marathons, including running the Boston Marathon four times. Not surprisingly, her three sons play club baseball at Scottsdale Dirtbags. This entails practices four nights a week and tournaments during the weekends. Some weekends, all three boys play in different cities in Arizona, and they also travel across the country for the sport. As busy as she is, Jantz has a few more books slated for the future. “The Nickel Book,” a sequel to The Penny Book, is about friendship: Nickel and Penny meet during Penny’s adventures, and become best friends until they are separated one day. Nickel goes on his own adventures, but is always wondering and thinking about Penny. And then, after many years, fate and hope reunite them.
The story theme is how you can have a best friend in your life and even if life changes and causes you to go your separate ways, love and hope and faith will bring you back together when the time is right. It also speaks to those friendships where even after lots of time goes by without seeing each other, when you finally do, it’s as if no time has passed at all. Jantz has also written a descriptive picture book called “I Run” about a girl who runs, and depicts the passion a person can have for the incredibly difficult sport of running. She’s also coming to the end of writing a chapter book called “Defending the Title” geared toward late elementary to middle school age, about a boy who plays baseball. “That one was definitely inspired by watching my three boys play,” Jantz said.
“I actually take notes at all of their games, of different baseball plays, different baseball situations, things coaches say, things coaches yell, things parents yell.” “It’s about friendships, relationships, heartache, and success on and off the field. I can’t wait for the it to be done,” she added. Right now, Jantz’s mind is on The Penny Book. “My goal for this story is that it reaches out to all children, in all different walks of life,” she said. They include foster children, adopted children and those who may be struggling with anxiety, depression or self-esteem. “Or, even just the children who want to read a cute and fun-loving book with beautiful illustrations and a heartwarming theme,” she added. The Penny Book by Mary Jantz is available as a hardcover book at Amazon.com and Barnes & Noble for $24.95.
goria was surprised. “It just makes me think why weren’t we taught about this? Why didn’t we learn about this?” She asks, “Because this is a really important thing out of all of history, this is something that everybody should know.” Unlike Longoria, Jake Allen, a former student in Klett’s Holocaust class and now a history teacher at Dobson, said it was not surprising at all. Allen recalled that when he initially has brought up the death toll before his students, “I watched a lot of kids’ jaws drop and that seriously concerned me.” He said American history teachers in discussing World War II usually cover the causes of the war, American mobilization and related topics but that there are no standards to cover the Holocaust at all. Which is why, when he was planning to cover the Holocaust longer and more in depth – taking time out of other units – he remembered the profound impact that Klett’s class played in his life as a student and individual. He said her expertise helped him to
“The number one reason why you need to learn history is so you don’t let it happen again.” He says. “It’s important for individuals to recognize you’re not learning history just for the sake of a grade or you’re not learning history just for the sake of it.” “You’re learning so you can make sure Kim Klett, right, is a teacher who is working on the Holocaust you’re educated when education program that the state will require of all students you see things like before they can graduate. (Special to GSN) this come up again,” teach the Holocaust more effectively. he added. “Something as world-altering as the Longoria says she’d like to learn more Holocaust, just on a respect level, is an and also believes the information is vital, extremely important thing to get right.” especially for young people, stating: Allen said. “It should be known what has hap“It’s important for me as a teacher to pened before and what has happened to make sure that I do whatever topic I’m give people like my friends and Gen Z an doing at that time justice,” he said. idea that – if something like the Holocaust The reason behind all of his effort? happens – this is not okay and ask, ‘well
what can we do about it?’” Klett is now serving on an Arizona task force formed by university professors, other members of the Phoenix Holocaust Association and local historians to develop a Holocaust education plan that will be required in schools. Recently, the Arizona State Board of Education added mandatory instruction about the Holocaust at least once in junior high and teachings of the Holocaust and other genocides as a credit requirement for high school graduation. “A lot of times people read about the Holocaust and they think, ‘Oh well that was really sad. It was in the past. It’s a good thing we’re not like that anymore.’ And they just kind of move on,” she said. “They have to realize, No, this still hasn’t ended.” Seeing the Board of Education pass its mandate “feels very, very good,” said Sheryl Bronkesh, president of the Phoenix Holocaust Association. “But I’m going to only allow us to bask in that good feeling [for a short time],” she said, “because we have a lot of work to do.”
HOLOCAUST from page 16
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GILBERT SUN NEWS | DECEMBER 13, 2020
COMMUNITY
EV actor diverts from usual gangster role BY CHRISTINA FUOCO-KARASINSKI GSN Staff Writer
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esa multihyphenate entertainer Michael Saquella is thrilled about small things as well as easy laughs. “I’m excited that I got out of bed this morning,” Saquella says dead pan. High on his priority list, though, is “Dream Round,” in which he wrote, produced and stars. The film features Richard Grieco and premiered last month on streaming services. “It’s a great role for me,” said Saquella, who owns Cactus Blue Entertainment. “I normally play mobsters and gangsters. In this film, I play a real sweet, innocent gentleman who lost a family.” He and Grieco have known each other since 1991, when the two worked on the Burt Reynolds vehicle “Forget About It,” which was shot in Mesa. “We played a lot of golf,” he said. “We’re like brothers.” Saquella is also looking forward to the release of “Carolina’s Calling,” in which he appears alongside Antonio Sabato Jr. The indie film is “comedy with an alien twist,” he said. It was filmed in Arizona in mid-June, when the state reopened, and it wrapped principal shooting on July 3. The project continued in the Carolinas this summer. A major film studio is considering releasing it this winter. “It’s one of my better projects,” he said. “Besides Antonio Sabato Jr., it has Stacey Dash in it. We’re hoping to do a red carpet event at Harkins and make a big
ANSWERS TO PUZZLE AND SUDOKU on Page 27
After living in New York and LA, actor Michael Saquella now calls Mesa home. (Photo by Jay Curtis)
event out of it. We’ll open it up to the public and have paparazzi.” Saquella grew up in New York but moved to Arizona to attend ASU in 1977. After that, he relocated to Los Angeles. He has been entertaining for nearly four decades. His versatile acting skills have landed him roles in film, television, comedy and live entertainment. Saquella’s career began when he took to the stage as a standup comic, opening for notables such as, Charro, Tony Bennett and Rachel Welch. He showcased his talents when he wrote, starred in, and made his directorial debut in the horror film “Blue Lake Butcher.” As an actor he also starred in
the movies “Used Cars,” “O’Hara’s Wife,” “Assassin,” “Second Chance,” “Lady Blues,” “News Traveler” and “Desert Rose.” He directed and wrote the film “Ambush at Peck Canyon,” based on the true story of murdered Border Patrol Agent Brian Terry. A comedian and a blues singer, Saquella does impersonations of the late comedic talent John Belushi in live performances in “Legends in Concert” and “Legendary Superstars.” Saquella’s favorite role was in “Forget About It,” as he and Burt Reynolds have a long-standing relationship. As a boy, Saquella and his family drove from Los Angeles to La Jolla only to find the beach blocked off because Reynolds was filming “Lucky Lady.” He went through the yellow caution tape and walked up to Reynolds, who offered an autograph. “I said, ‘No, I want to know how I get started,’” he says with a laugh. “He said,
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‘Figure out what it is to make you want to do that and never quit.’” Saquella replied, “Mr. Reynolds, I’m going to work with you some day.” The two ran into each other frequently before they reunited for “Forget About It,” which was filmed at Sunrise Village on McKellips Road. “We were sitting under the orange trees talking,” he said. “Burt said, ‘I think I remember you.’ His son, Quinton, had the hots for my daughter, Samantha.” Saquella enjoys living in Arizona, though, because of the cactus and rocks. “People love the ocean,” he says. “I love the desert. I love Arizona. It’s like home. I’ve been here 43 years now and I absolutely love this place. I would definitely tell everybody to move here.”
INFO
Michael Saquella imdb.com/name/nm1130592/
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GILBERT SUN NEWS | DECEMBER 13, 2020
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Air Guitar, Epicenter move along in Agritopia GSN NEWS STAFF
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wners of a new market concept billed as a “fresh take on the traditional corner store” have broken ground in Agritopia. Restaurateurs and co-founders of Upward Projects, Craig and Kris DeMarco, and retail store gurus, Eric and Elissa Seitz of Bro Retail Group, broke ground for Air Guitar, with an opening slated next fall. “The groundbreaking marks the beginning of construction for one of the Valley’s highest profile new retail concepts, and brings together a dream team of local architects and builders in its mission to bring “Life’s Little Luxuries” under one stylish, convenient roof,” the owners said in a release. The market, sporting an unusual
“a grab-and-go stop (that) could be a meaningful part of your day, not just something on the way.” It sports an airy 5 , 0 0 0 - s q u a re - f o o t interior under a soaring 9,000-squarefoot canopy that floats and bathes the store in natural light. Bookended with dramatic floor-toAir Guitar in Epicenter will essentially be a high-end convenience ceiling glass walls that store and will look like no other similar establishment. (File photo) are protected from the design by debartolo architects, is located sun, the building is considered “desert on the northwest corner of Higley and sensitive yet highly technical” and aimed Ray roads next door to Epicenter at Agri- at giving customers “rapid arrival, effitopia. cient flow, self-service and high-conveThe owners describe Air Guitar as nience,” said architect Jack DeBartolo III.
“Most important, the timeless yet timely building offers generous exterior seating in a park-like setting featuring 60-plus trees, making the corner of this important intersection feel more like a park than a new building,” he added. Air Guitar will offer “healthy grab and go items with premium beer and wine and exceptional coffee and tea, all served up by an enhanced food and beverage-trained staff,” the owners said. It is being built separately but in parallel with the new Epicenter at Agritopia. Agritopia founder Joe Johnston worked with the DeMarcos & Seitzes to purchase and develop the corner parcel based on their experience creating best-in-class concepts that transform entire neighborhoods.
the community as a whole, so we made a very early decision to postpone our events.” The outdoor market in SanTan Village and Suvlette hopes to stage a comeback. “There is so much room and we felt that we could safely host this event and give our vendors a chance to showcase their products and sell and give the community a space that is fun and free and Made enjoyable to come out to,” she said. Amanda Archinuk of Kozy Knit Designs, who sells through the market, found some alternative ways of continuing to work and grow her business in the absence of in-person shopping. “I have a website, I’m on Etsy, Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest,” Archinuk said, adding the closure of nonessential
businesses earlier this year “did take a lot of opportunities away during the pandemic, but I’m still afloat.” Archinuk used to host in-person classes on the basics of knitting, which provided income in addition to selling her products. During the shutdown, she conducted them virtually. Jill Mancuso owns Modern Roots Kids Co., a line of home-sewn clothing for babies and children sold at the market. Mancuso said it’s a bit easier for her to stay optimistic about what the remainder of the year will bring now that small and local vendors are receiving more support from their communities and beyond. “Now that the season is ramping up again, I think vendors and customers are
see
GUITAR page 21
Gilbert market reopens at San Tan Village BY PATTY VICENTE and MILAN ANDRADE Cronkite News
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ine months since closing down because of COVID-19, the Made With Love Market is back and bringing much-needed exposure to small businesses in the Valley. Made With Love Market was born three years ago with the help of Maribeth Suvlette and her business partner, Cody Waltz, along with their shared love for supporting local small businesses. The market’s mission is to provide “a space for makers to come together, sell their gorgeous goods, connect with the people who come out to shop, and show the world what the small shop community is all about,” according to its website. Like many businesses and events,
Cody Waltz and Maribeth Suvlette founded With Love Market. (Facebook) Made With Love faced difficult decisions, but the owners ultimately put their events on hold until recently. “At the time in February, we felt like it was the right thing to do,” Suvlette said. “Not knowing what this was, not knowing the effects on children, on
see
LOVE page 21
BUSINESS
GILBERT SUN NEWS | DECEMBER 13, 2020
GUITAR from page 20
“We couldn’t be happier to have Air Guitar anchor one of the most significant intersection transformations in the state,” Johnston said. Epicenter is a mixed-used project that includes luxury loft-style residential units and ground-floor retail. During a Gilbert Planning Commission meeting in August, planner Ashlee MacDonald said the 16.5-feet-tall market will have a large covered patio and 32 parking spaces, more than the 21 required. Meanwhile, Johnston’s company said Epicenter “is progressing on schedule with construction since its groundbreaking in January” and expects resi-
dents by next fall as well. Epicenter will feature 320 apartment homes “that will appeal to a broad spectrum of residents seeking a walkable lifestyle,” it said in a release. Amenities will include co-working space and a conference room replicating a greenhouse; a resort-style pool with cabanas; a yoga lawn and fitness facility with live-streaming classes; and a dog park. Covered parking, garages with electric charging stations and elevator access for every building also will be provided, as will be package lockers and food storage and delivery lockers to eliminate
both eager to get back into the swing of things and show that small shop support,” Mancuso said. “One good thing that came from it (the pandemic) was it gave people more of an appreciation for small business and to support local in this community, which is what this market does,” Man-
cuso added. The market plans to remain open for the rest of 2020. Vendors are spaced 6 feet apart and aisles are 40-feet wide, though attendance is limited to 500 people at any time. The market is open Friday-Sunday.
LOVE from page 20
non-resident foot traffic beyond secured areas. Epicenter will also feature a fully secured bike storage and repair shop. “Capturing the magic of the Agritopia community when designing Epicenter was very important to our team,” said Greg Nadeau, StreetLights Residential’s vice president of development. The residences will include studio, one-, two- and three-bedroom living options and range from 504 square feet to 1,600 square feet. All units feature 10-feet ceilings, 8 -foot doors, granite countertops, undermount stainless steel sinks, upgraded GE stainless steel appli-
ances, walk-in closets, large exterior balconies, dimmable decorative lighting, under-cabinet lighting, urban mudrooms and two beautiful finish schemes. Epicenter will consist of some of the tallest buildings in Gilbert and its retail space will house Beer Barn, Matt’s Big Breakfast, Gadzooks, Peixoto Coffee, Bunky Boutique, Wylde Salon, Hooligan’s Barbershop, Vintage Home and The Fit Collective workout community. The project will complete Agritopia, which includes an 11.3-acre organic farm. Information: epicenteratagritopia. com.
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GILBERT SUN NEWS | DECEMBER 13, 2020
EV designer’s book aimed at peers, newbies GSN NEWS STAFF
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esa mom and U.S. Army veteran Tabitha Evans has been an interior designer for 13 years, the last eight as the owner of her own company. She has won accolades and awards for her work and she is now adding a new accent to that career as an author. The title shows the audience she has in mind: “Becoming a Designer of Distinction: What Interior Design School Won’t Teach You.” The book offers straightforward advice on how interior designers can either begin, or positively transform, their careers with insight on how to find mentors, gain valuable experience, connect with clients and maintain a positive outlook. “I have a lot of people ask me questions about how to run their businesses,” said Evans, married and the mother of three children.
Tabitha Evans “School doesn’t teach you everything you need to know so it fills the gap,” she added. “It’s filled with great reminders and practical tips that help you be the best version of you and how to find out what that is.”
got skin?
Evans, who holds a bachelor of arts degree in interior design, has the credentials one would expect of someone who gives advice to peers and colleagues in her line of work. With a bachelor’s degree in interior design, the owner of Tabitha Evans Design has worked for both residential and commercial clients, earning along the way the American Society of Interior Designers Design Excellence Awards as an emerging professional, first place for universal design and gold and silver awards, Emerging Professional 2nd & 3rd place, 1st place for Universal Design, and the National Association of Home Builders’ 55+ gold and silver awards. She also is a member and past president of the Arizona North Chapter of the American Society of Interior Design and an instructor at Scottsdale Community College. Evans said about her book, “It focuses on things like finding your strengths
and authenticity, the importance of contracts, having a mentor, what to look for in a school or job.” And from both reviews and the marketplace, reaction has been overwhelmingly positive, she said. “We sold a box right away and orders keep trickling in,” Evans said. “We are excited about the response.” One designer called the book “a reminder of best practices and a tool to energize a designer if they’ve suffered a failure or feel broken” while applauded how her “sensitivity and kindness for people come through in this book.” It took her a year to write the book, partly because she’s busy in her business and partly because she also has a family and volunteering to balance in the mix. But that hasn’t stopped her from contemplating another writing project. “I’ve already started making a list of topics,” she said. Information: tabithaevans.com.
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Sports & Recreation GILBERT SUN NEWS | DECEMBER 13, 2020
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Highland to play in first-ever championship game BY ZACH ALVIRA GSN Sports Editor
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he closest Highland High School’s football program has ever come to competing in a championship game was in 2004 and 2018, when the Hawks made it to the semifinals both seasons. Highland came close in 2018, when it was just a two-point conversion stop away from the title game when it lost to powerhouse Chandler in overtime. The Hawks’ semifinal matchup this year against Boulder Creek came just a few yards away from another potential overtime battle. However, Highland’s defense prevailed and secured the team’s first-ever trip to the 6A championship. “We are the first one, the first students ever,” Highland junior quarterback Gage Dayley said. “It’s a different feeling. I’m just excited we had one more week with each other. Only four 6A teams in the state had the chance to do that.”
they faced a fourth and goal situation with just seconds on the clock. Highland’s defense prevailed. The trip to the finals is nearly three decades in the making. Highland played its first season of football in 1993, playing a 10-game schedule against the likes of Coronado, Apache Junction and Chaparral – who the Hawks faced in the 6A championship on Saturday. When Farrel took over the program in 2017, he aimed to take it to a new For the first time in program history, Highland will play for the 6A championship against Chaparral on Sat- level. Previously an assisurday, Dec. 12 at Desert Vista High School. (Pablo Robles/GSN Staff) tant at Chandler under Shaun Aguano and head Highland and Boulder Creek traded a Boulder Creek punt near the midway coach at Shadow Mountain, Farrel knew touchdowns throughout the course of the point of the fourth quarter, which they it would take a new mentality surroundsemifinal matchup. Neither defense was took advantage of to take the one-score ing the program in how it was run as well able to stop the opposing offense. lead. But as they had all game long, the see HIGHLAND page 24 The Hawks managed to finally force Jaguars drove right down the field until
Mesquite football seeks back-to-back 4A championships
BY ZACH ALVIRA GSN Sports Editor
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esquite football players often credit the team’s success to the coaching staff. Head coach Scott Hare, however, drums it up to the work ethic of the players at every level. No matter the root cause of the Wildcats ability to win games Friday night, it’s working. For the second time in as many years, Mesquite will compete for the 4A Conference championship, which it won last year in dramatic fashion over favored Desert Edge. But make no mistakes about the 2020 season. Mesquite, led by five-star quarterback and Oregon commit Ty Thompson, has been the favorite all season to
repeat as 4A champions. Now back in the title game, it’s no longer a game of preparation but execution. “Once you taste success, you want more of it,” Hare said. “The guys last year did a good job showing what success feels like and this group has done a good job to be in position to have more of it. “Getting rings is fun. That’s probably one of the most fun you can have.” Mesquite’s trip to the finals was one met with little adversity. The Wildcats only loss this season came in a high-scoring affair to current 5A top seed Sunrise Mountain in Week 2. Mesquite entered the playoffs as the third-ranked team after Washington was forced to cancel its play-in game against the Wildcats, dropping them down from their previous
ranking as No. 1. The drop in ranking resulted in Mesquite having arguably the toughest draw in the quarterfinals, as it matched up with perennial 3A power Northwest Christian, who was moved up to 4A this season. Mesquite prevailed in a game that was closer than the scoreboard showed and moved on to face American Leadership Academy — Queen Creek — last year’s 3A champion — in the semifinals. The Wildcats’ matchup with the Patriots came down to a potential game-tying field goal that ended up missing the uprights, securing Mesquite’s spot in the finals. “I don’t think I was ever nervous,” Hare said of the field goal attempt by ALA. “I was more focused on getting my plays set
for overtime. I just wanted to make sure we were ready for anything.” Anywhere, any place at any time is a motto Hare lives by when it comes to coaching. He and his team refused to harp on the fact they dropped two spots in the rankings after not playing a game. At the end of the day, it made no difference. Hare is confident in his players, and for good reason. Along with Thompson, junior athlete Andrew Morris is one of the top playmakers in the state on both sides of the ball. Lavontae Trotter and Riales Hopper provide speed at wideout along with senior Eric Lira, who transferred from Central High School before the season after the Phoenix Union High
see
MESQUITE page 24
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GILBERT SUN NEWS | DECEMBER 13, 2020
MESQUITE from page 23
School District initially shut down fall sports. Since his arrival, Lira has provided an added spark to an already high-powered offense. His athleticism is displayed all over the field and allows Hare to open up the playbook for Thompson. “He’s dynamic,” Thompson said. “He can make plays along the sideline or in the middle of the field. He can make plays after he makes the catch, he’s just a dynamic player.” Lira’s transfer to Mesquite was made easier by the welcoming nature of the program. Hare and his staff, along with the players, knew he would be able to make an immediate impact on the team. Now at the end of the 2020 season, that couldn’t be clearer. Despite some games missed due to injury, Lira still managed to haul in 32 passes for 757 yards and more than a dozen touchdowns. He is second on the team in receptions and first in yards. Lira and Morris have combined for over 1,400 of Thompson’s 2,831 yards through the air. “It feels great knowing this is a good team and I can come in here and do my part to help make it to the state championship,” Lira said. “It was hard (to transfer), just because I was so attached to the coaches over there, but they wanted
what was best for me. “Playing in the championship means everything to me. Just to have a chance to go out with a bang and give it my all, I want to leave it all out on the field and
Mesquite senior quarterback Ty Thompson, an Oregon commit, aims to cap off his high school career with a second straight championship. (Zac BonDurant/GSN Contributor)
as buy-in from the players. With a 34-13 overall record heading into the championship game and four consecutive playoff trips since his arrival, it’s safe to say he got that from his team. “It started way back in March when we were quarantined. We had meetings twice a week and we were going over film but the kids put in their own time watching film,” Farrel said. “They did all the work in March so we could be in this position.” Unlike other programs, Highland isn’t led by standout, high-level recruits on either side of the ball. Farrel and his staff would argue many of his players are under recruited. But what the Hawks have is a group of athletes who play for each other and have faith in their teammate. Dayley and senior running back Max
Davis are two offensive players that are leaned upon by coaches and teammates. Trailing Boulder Creek in the semifinals, Dayley remained poised and calm in the pocket. He never forced any of his passes, and calmly escaped pressure on multiple occasions. On Highland’s final drive, Farrel and the offense rode the legs of Davis down the field for what turned out to be the game-winning touchdown. In the process, he became Highland’s alltime leading rusher — an honor he credited to his offensive line. “I just want to credit everything to my offensive line,” Davis said. “Without them, I’m nothing. This is really their award. This is something you dream about as a kid.” When Highland needed a stop to secure the win, the coaching staff looked to safety Ammon Allen and linebacker Kam
Cullimore. Both are the captains of a defensive unit that has consistently been one of the best in 6A this season. “We came up clutch the last two drives getting one three-and-out and then the last fourth down,” Cullimore said. Highland, the No. 4 seed in the playoffs, faced a seventh-ranked Chaparral team that at the beginning of the season appeared it wouldn’t be able to play the minimum number of games to qualify for the playoffs. Two positive cases of COVID-19 within the program forced the Firebirds to pause all team activities for two weeks, which canceled their season-opener against Saguaro and its next two games after. Chaparral didn’t run into any issues throughout the rest of the season and finished 3-2 overall to barely make the cut to qualify for the postseason and has since
HIGHLAND from page 23
Senior wide receiver Eric Lira has added a spark to Mesquite’s already high-powered offense this season after he transferred into the program from Central High School in Phoenix. (Pablo Robles/GSN Staff)
hopefully win a ring.” Mesquite’s matchup against No. 4 Cactus for the 4A title on Friday was a rematch of last year’s semifinals, in which Mesquite won after a goal-line stop as time expired. But the finale also signals the end of an era for Thompson, who is the highest recruit to ever come out of Mesquite and one of the highest in the state. He hopes to cap off his high school career with back-to-back championships. “Not many can say they can do that,” Thompson said. “There’s no other feeling than coming out on top in your very last high school game then going to a place like Oregon. It would mean the world.” Head to www.gilbertsunnews.com for updates on how Mesquite fared in the 4A championship against Cactus.
made it to the championship in convincing fashion. When Highland lines up to face Chaparral, it will be the first meeting between the two teams since 2015 in the first round of the playoffs – a game the Firebirds won. Beyond that, Farrel believes it’s a matchup of truly the two best teams in the 6A playoffs. “Us versus Chaparral, it’s going to be great football for the state of Arizona,” Farrel said. “I think when the Open is done and 6A is done, those matchups will be the best four teams available.” Highland will take on Chaparral in the 6A championship on Saturday, Dec. 12 at Desert Vista High School. Kickoff is scheduled for 12 p.m. Head to www.gilbertsunnews.com for updates on how Highland fared in the 6A championship against Chaparral.
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Marshall Shore is Arizona’s Hip Historian BY LAURA LATZKO GetOut Contributor
M
arshall Shore, the man known as “the Hip Historian,” has a thirst for acquiring new knowledge and sharing it with others. During the COVID-19 pandemic, he had to find new ways to do this, including hosting virtual happy hour. The Arizona History Happy Hours are accessible through the Marshall Shore, Hip Historian Facebook page and on Twitch at 7 p.m. Thursdays. Past shows are also available for view on Facebook and YouTube. Shore has partnered with AARP Arizona, which is helping to promote his virtual show statewide. The historian offers the show for free but is accepting donations. Like many others, he hasn’t been able to work due to venue closures and event cancelations during the pandemic. Along with his show, Shore has been working with Virtual Arizona Pride, hosting LGBTQ-themed happy hours on topics such as LGBTQ entertainers in Arizona for the organization’s Third Saturdays. During his time as a historian, Shore has hosted a range of different events, including themed tours, bingo nights and Arizona history talks. He started the virtual happy hours so he could connect with others. “I missed sharing stories with people and in return them sharing with you,” Shore said. Through in-person and virtual events, he has met folks with rich histories, such as a woman in Scottsdale whose dad worked for area resorts in the 1960s. Often during the virtual shows, audience members will use the chat feature to talk with each other and with the host.
Marshall Shore - Hip-Historian (Facebook) “People are having this other conversation as you are talking, asking questions and being able to give tidbits about their own experience,” Shore said. The virtual shows have a talk-show format, with his conversations fitting into different segments. For one segment, he shares facts about small towns in Arizona. “We have some really amazing little tiny places that are rich with history,” Shore said. “For me, that’s part of the fun. I pick a town, and I don’t even know the history. I know it’s an old mining town, but when did it start? What was there? How is it functioning now? Did it have a boon in the ’50s?”
Another segment touches on Arizona’s music history. “I get a chance to talk about some really cool voices that have come from Arizona and get a chance to highlight the diversity of that,” Shore said. Each week, Shore brings on guests with knowledge of the topics discussed, which so far have included Arizona’s Tiki history, Hohokam canals and the local R&B music scene of the 1950s and ’60s. During each virtual happy hour session, Shore provides cocktail recipes. “I’m looking at how to make it engaging because so many things virtual are just talking heads. I think for a lot of people, it’s easy to watch that and zone out,” Shore said. He has found that asking trivia questions helps to keep audiences engaged, especially when he goes more in-depth and creates discussion around the answers. “I’ve learned it’s more fun if you ask questions and at the end of that go through the answers and talk about why that’s the answer. That way, you empower people so when they walk away, they know more than when they came in,” Shore said.
During his career, Shore has built up a collection of goodies that he often shares with viewers. His collection includes a cocktail stirrer designed by sign maker Glen Guyette. Through his work, he has put a spotlight on people who have been part of Arizona’s history. This includes comedian and singer Rusty Warren of “Knockers Up” fame and Madge Copeland, who opened the first Black salon in Phoenix. Even when doing virtual shows, Shore continues to dress in his colorful signature style. He focuses on different items of clothing, such as his eyewear, because of the format but still continues to don clothing items such as his hand-painted Arizona jacket. Hailing from rural Indiana, Shore has a master’s degree in library science and worked as a librarian in New York and the Phoenix area before becoming a historian. He moved to Phoenix in 2000 and started on his current path in 2009, when he hosted his first event. He developed his nickname “the Hip Historian” during Arizona’s Centennial. He always had an interest in information, community building and theater, but there wasn’t a job that fit with those passions. This prompted him to create his own job. “When I first moved here, there was this prevailing thought that there’s no history here. As I was going out, I’d come across these amazing stories and realize people just haven’t taken that time to explore. It was like, ‘Let me do that,’” Shore said. He said his natural curiosity has always been part of his personality. “As friends back in New York would say, I would talk to a stump. I think everybody has a good story. You just need someone who’s willing to listen,” Shore said.
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Dale Morgan Porter, Jr., 77 of Chandler, AZ, went to be with his loved ones on November 30, 2020. Dale was born to Dale Morgan Porter Sr. and Violet Leah Porter on November 1, 1943 in Beloit, WI. He is survived by wife; Linda Ellen Porter, sisters; Patsy Leah Jones and Carol Marie Porter Floyd, daughters; Tamara Kay Zaleski, Angela Dawn Wood, sons; Aaron Joseph Porter and Dale M Porter III, as well 10 grandchildren and 3 great grandchildren. He is preceded in death by his Father, Dale Morgan Porter Sr., and Mother, Violet Leah Porter. Services to be held Thursday, December 17, 2020 at Mountain View Funeral Home and Cemetery, 7900 E Main St, Mesa AZ 85207. Visitation at 10 am with family prayer at 10:45/10:50. Funeral Service at 11 am. Mausoleum service to follow funeral, 12 noon.
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Kennard Eric Boice, 70 years old, died in Gilbert, Arizona, November 29, 2020 of complications of alcoholism. Kennard was born May 27, 1950 in Farmington, New Mexico. He is survived by his parents Delbert Ronald Boice and Nora Boice, his sister Roxanne Link, brother-in-law David Link, son Eric Boice, 3 grandchildren and 1 great-grandchild. Kennard served in the US Army from 19691971, during the Viet Nam War. He and his new wife Lola Lambeth Boice were stationed in Anchorage, Alaska and Colorado for most of his service. He will be laid to rest at the National Memorial Cemetery of Arizona in Phoenix, Arizona. Gilbert Memorial Park is handling the arrangements. In lieu of flowers, please consider a monetary donation to the Group Home that took care of him the past 13 months. Klara’s Adult Care Home. 1934 E. Smoke Tree Road, Gilbert, AZ 85296.
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Donna Briglovich (nee Merlene), age 86, of New Hope, MN and formerly of Ashtabula, OH passed away on December 6, 2020. Preceded in death by husband, William Clint; and grandson, Ryan Clint. Survived by children, Deborah (Vincent) LaCroix, Kevin Clint, Larry (Julie) Clint; and grandchildren, Renee & Michele LaCroix, and Blair Clint. A celebration of Donna’s life will take place in the summer of 2021
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GILBERT SUN NEWS | DECEMBER 13, 2020
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The Place “To Find” Everything You Need | GilbertSunNews.com
Employ ment Employment General IntraEdge has multiple openings for Software Engineer (SE) positions in Chandler, AZ. SE candidates req US Masters degree/foreign equiv or bachelors degree + 5 yrs exp, w/ skills in C,SQL,Oracle,J2EE,SA P,JAVA,JSP,UNIX to analyze/dsgn/dev/ implement/test systems & applics. Email resume to jobs@intraedge.com w/ ref no 2021-19 for SE directly on resume/cover & ref ad in EVT
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Quadriplegic Seeks personal care attendant for weekday 11a-3p and some weekend shifts 11a-3p and some overnight shifts. 12-18 hours per week. $15.75 P/Hr. Job involves running errands, care, transfers, Must be responsible and honest. Call Craig 480-966-2059 (leave a message, it's a land line) or email ernest99@ centurylink.net
IntraEdge has multiple openings for Sr. Programmer Analyst II in Chandler, AZ. Reqs US Bachelor degree/foreign (3 or 4 yr degree) equiv in Commerce/BusAdm/STEM field. Will accept combination of IT training/education/experience for equiv to ed req. Analyze/resolve/test/report on IT related projects using skills in EMC/MS/SQL/Excel/ Java/C. Email resume to jobs@intraedge.com w/ ref no 2021-25 directly on resume & ref ad in EVT
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Employment General Deloitte Consulting LLP seeks a Solution Specialist, Enterprise Performance, SAP in Gilbert, Arizona and various unanticipated Deloitte office locations and client sites nationally to provide SAP software advisory and implementation services. 15 % travel required nationally. Telecommuting permitted.? To apply visit https://jobs2.deloitte.com/us/en. Enter XBAL21FC1120GIL578 in “Search jobs” field. EOE, including disability/veterans. One Certified Public Accountant (CPA)Tempe, AZ. Qualified applicants must be of the Catholic Faith and have a BS in Accounting, Auditing or Finance, and experience as a CPA, with Canadian Tax Code and with Uniform Prudent Management of Industrial Funds Act. The Job will require you to oversee the yearly budget of the Catholic Community Foundation, maintain the records according to State and Federal Requirements and ensure timely filing of government reports, Advise clients and donors about their donation options and how the US or Canadian Tax Codes will affect them, Analyze accounting practices and advise on best practices to management, Oversee the Finance and Investment Committee and manage the investment policies of the foundation, make presentations as needed to clients, donors and management. Send Resume to James Carabajal, Catholic Community Foundation, 4500 Lakeshore Dr., Suite 650, Tempe, AZ 85252 or email jcarabajal@ccfphx.org
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• Electrical Repair • Plumbing Repair • Dry rot and termite damage repair
GENERAL CONTRACTOR / HANDYMAN SERVICES SERVING THE ENTIRE VALLEY
All Estimates are Free • Call:
520.508.1420
www.husbands2go.com
Licensed, Bonded & Insured • ROC#317949 Ask me about FREE water testing!
Meetings/Events?
Get Free notices in the Classifieds!
Submit to ecota@timespublications.com
Bath & Kitchen Remodels • Car-Port to Garage Conversion Drywall & Stucco Repairs • Plumbing • Electrical • Can Lights Windows • Doors • Cabinets • Painting • Block Fences Wrought Iron Gates • Remodeling • Additions • Patios Tenant Improvements
East Valley
480-833-7353 - Office 480-430-7737 - Cell A+
LIC/BONDED/INSURED Res/Comm’l ROC#218802
aaaActionContractingInc.com
-S
I
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19
78
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• 20 Years Experience • 6 Year Warranty
480.345.1800 ROC 304267 • Licensed & Bonded
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GILBERT SUN NEWS | DECEMBER 13, 2020
Landscape/Maintenance
Painting
Superstition Landscape Maintenance
Jose Dominguez Painting & Drywall SEE OUR AD IN DRYWALL! Quick Response to your Call! 15 Years Exp 480-266-4589
Junk Removal PLUS House Cleaning
Not a licensed contractor
Call or Text Adrian 480•376•9803 or 480•925•1418
Honest & Reliable
Plumbing
FREE Estimates
Public Notices
HYDROJETTING
480-477-8842
SEWER CABLE COMPREHENSIVE, FULL-SERVICE PLUMBING COMPANY
BOOK ONLINE! STATE48DRAINS.COM
East Valley PAINTERS
20+ YEARS OF EXPERIENCE FAMILY OWNED & OPERATED LICENSED, BONDED & INSURED ROC 3297740
Pool Service / Repair
Irrigation Repair Services Inc. Licensed • Bonded • Insured Technician
Paint Interior & Exterior • Drywall Repair Light Carpentry • Power Washing • Textures Matched Popcorn Removal • Pool Deck Coatings Garage Floor Coatings • Color Consulting
Specializing in Controllers, Valves, Sprinklers, Landscape Lighting, P.V.C. & Poly Drip Systems
10% OFF
Call Lance White
480.721.4146 www.irsaz.com
We Beat Competitors Prices & Quality
ROC# 256752 Insured/Bonded Free Estimates
ALL Pro
T R E E
S E R V I C E
Voted #1
L L C
Prepare for Winter Season! LANDSCAPING, TREES & MAINTENANCE
Tree Trimming • Tree Removal Stump Grinding Storm Damage • Bushes/Shrubs Yard Clean-up Commercial and Residential PMB 435 • 2733 N. Power Rd. • Suite 102 • Mesa dennis@allprotrees.com
480-354-5802 Painting
HOME IMPROVEMENT & PAINTING Interior/Exterior Painting 30 YEARS EXPERIENCE
Free Estimates! Home of the 10-Year Warranty!
480-338-4011
ROC#309706
showing, Pool Light out? I CAN HELP!
FALL SPECIAL! $500 OFF COMPLETE REMODEL! 25 Years Experience • Dependable & Reliable
Call Juan at
480-720-3840 Not a licensed contractor.
480-688-4770
Family Owned & Operated Bonded/Insured • ROC#153131
Misc. household goods, personal items, furniture, clothing, toys and/or business fixtures and items belonging to the following: Tenant Name Unit # Ceo Jr. Ray 200 Marcos Cortez 648 Christina Juarez 603 Louis Burgess 801 Maryorie Martinez 204 William Daley 704 Angel Ortiz 311 Monique Jenkins 204 Sale subject to cancellation in the event of settlement between owner and obligated party. Items sold “as is”, CASH ONLY, and Buyer must pay a security deposit and broom sweep/clean the unit. Go to www.storagetreasures.com to bid on unit(s). Published: East Valley Tribune, Dec. 13, 20, 2020 / 34992
NOTICE:
Most service advertisers have an ROC# or "Not a licensed contractor" in their ad, this is in accordance to the AZ state law.
Now Accepting all major credit cards
Plumbing
Arizona Registrar of Contractors (ROC): The advertising requirements of the statute does not prevent anyone from placing an ad in the yellow pages, on business cards, or on flyers.
PLUMBERS CHARGE TOO MUCH!
What it does require under A.R.S. §32-1121A14(c) <http://www.azleg.gov/ars/32/01165.htm> , is that the advertising party, if not properly licensed as a contractor, disclose that fact on any form of advertising to the public by including the words "not a licensed contractor" in the advertisement.
Beat Any Price By 10% • Lifetime Warranty Water Heaters Installed - $799 Unclog Drains - $49 FREE RO UNIT w/Any WATER SOFTENER INSTALL NO INTEREST FINANCING - 60 Months!! ‘A’ RATED PLUMBING REPAIR Free Estimates • Same Day Service
Again, this requirement is intended to make sure that the consumer is made aware of the unlicensed status of the individual or company.
Roofing
MORE CLASSIFIED ADS ONLINE! www.GilbertSunNews.com
Contractors who advertise and do not disclose their unlicensed status are not eligible for the handyman's exception. Reference: (http://www.azroc.gov/invest/licensed_by_law.html) As a consumer, being aware of the law is for your protection. You can check a businesses ROC status at: http://www.azroc.gov/
Bonded/Insured • ROC #223709
We Are State Licensed and Reliable!
Free Estimates • Senior Discounts
PPebbleOcracking, O L Plaster R Epeeling, P ARebar IR
www.eastvalleypainters.com
480-405-7099 ItsJustPlumbSmart.com
Dunn Edwards Quality Paint Small Stucco/Drywall Repairs
Juan Hernandez Pavers • Concrete • Water Features • Sprinkler Repair
Advertisement of Sale NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the undersigned intends to sell the personal property described below to enforce a lien imposed on said property pursuant to the Arizona Self-Service Storage Act, Arizona Statutes 33-1704, Section H, Enforcement of Lien. The Undersigned will sell at public sale by competitive bidding on or after December 23, 2020 at 9:00am using an online auction at www.storagetreasures.com, said property has been stored and located at US60 Self Storage, 1661 S Alma School Rd, Ste 105, Mesa, AZ 85210. Property to be sold as follows:
Tiles, shingles, flat, repairs & new work Free Estimates • Ahwatukee Resident Over 30 yrs. Experience
480-706-1453
Licensed/Bonded/Insured • ROC #236099
Honey Do List Too Long? Check out the Handyman Section!
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GILBERT SUN NEWS | DECEMBER 13, 2020
Join us for a holiday Sip & See! With every tour, we will be giving away a bottle of our LivGenerationsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; wine for you to enjoy!
LivGenerations Ahwatukee
LivGenerations Agritopia
15815 S. 50th Street | Phoenix, AZ 85048
2811 E. Agritopia Loop S. | Gilbert, AZ 85296
480-485-3000
480-485-2000
livgenerationsahwatukee.com
livgenerationsagritopia.com
I N D E P E N D E N T L I V I N G | A S S I S T E D L I V I N G | M E M O R Y C A R E | S I G N AT U R E S E R V I C E S