COVID claims Seton Teacher
Gilbert home market strong
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An edition of the East Valley Tribune
Inside This Week REAL ESTATE
GILBERT SUN NEWS
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Sunday, December 19, 2021
re1
2020 | NOVEMBER 15,
s rise, but market
Building permit
remains tight
see supply and we will probably priced over slacken even further as listings get rea record 37 homes fall away it said. Octo- October, holiday season,” the latter part of moved for the $3 million sold. gan drying up in true during a even though Octothis still holds are soaring. Cromford said that ber while prices of new “Whether see. There is buyers also got we will have to us a healthy flow Budget-conscious “sky- ber “brought buyers are due for more pandemic of any weakness developing news: prices are still no sign listings,” many to fight home more sobering because “the demand in the market with buyers having rustrated disappointment have ward” bound. housing that comes below $300,000 d so much these buyers got some every scrap of “The size of the market the the chron- for lack of has strengthene at by affect to news good available.” shrinking fast, constrained last year’s done almost nothing for sale.” for the marbut it likely is of homes the fact that “Despite all expectations hotter, alsupply and by beginning of November, well ic shortage to Cromit keeps getting is now priced bluntly, according cool, smile. it to them put $270,000 ket at To make be to home won’t “Howpace,” Cromford can still expect Cromford said. that building permits though at a slower ford, home buyers The good news in over $300,000,” priced under $300,000 looking for needles in haystacks. construction soared page Re3 for new home there fact ever, any home MARKET ThanksgivIs the see to by get buyers. of we is tempered see hordes “By the time likely to the third quarter is in is likely to surge in pricing new listings is new construction ing, the flow of sign of the upward that most of that around Queen any a word - No.” Pinal County, especially Cromford Re- losing pace. In panregardless of the to the It also said that Creek, according the Greater Phoenix monitors the housdemic, prices in port, which closely rising.” Phoenix Metro region. “unlikely to stop ing market in the be all market are homes are seeing news likely will Even seven-figure And that good that in by some of Cromford’s surging demand, it said, noting squelched but benamely that listings other findings – BY PAUL MARYNIAK GSN Executive Editor
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Report clears Gilbert of biased hiring practices BY CECILIA CHAN GSN Managing Editor
A
n outside attorney’s investigation has concluded that the Town of Gilbert did not push a liberal agenda that discriminated in hiring first-responders or disciplining employees. The Town retained Mesa law firm Pierce Coleman on Oct. 14 following a public records request from the conservative nonprofit Judicial Watch. The Town did not respond by deadline with the cost for the investigation.
“None of the allegations or implications of biased decision-making by the Town are supported by the evidence,” according to Pierce Coleman, which combed through roughly 500 documents and eight hours of meeting video recordings going back a year and a half. The activist watchdog group disagreed with the findings. The 16-page investigative report noted that although Judicial Watch didn’t make an outright
allegation of unfair hiring practices, it was implied by its request for “documents related to decisions to lower the qualifying employment for hiring test scores to match the lowest scores of applicants who had been moved forward in the hiring process based upon
see HIRING page 8
Christmas command
Higley plans another bond vote next year BY CECILIA CHAN GSN Managing Editor
H
igley Unified School District officials plan to take another stab at a bond proposal in 2022 after voters rejected a $95-million measure in November. The district has not yet determined the amount for the proposed second bond as it polls voters on why they supported or opposed the one that failed.
“Since the November election, the district has been reviewing and revising several of the categories presented in the 2021 bond proposal,” CFO Tyler Moore told the Governing Board recently. He said the district hired a consulting agency to survey voters but that effort’s on hold for now after a few people complained
see HIGLEY page 6
U.S. Army recruiters based in Gilbert conducted their first-ever toy drive and dropped off more than $2,000 worth of gifts last week at Child Crisis Arizona’s Mesa center. To see how they did it, see page 3. (David Minton/GSN Staff Photographer)
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GILBERT SUN NEWS | DECEMBER 19, 2021
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Army recruiters in Gilbert organized toy drive GSN NEWS STAFF
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merrier Christmas is in store for some of the children who are helped by Child Crisis Arizona, thanks to the six soldiers who work at the U.S. Army recruitment station in Gilbert. Led by Staff Sgt. Deserae Bright, they collected $2,000 worth of toys and monetary donations and dropped them off at the nonprofit’s center in Mesa. “My kids actually inspired me,” said Bright, a mother of three. “We had gone to a restaurant and they messed up our order,” she explained. “And we just went back to get some more food or for them to fix up the order and I asked them what they were going to do with the food we brought back and they said they were going to throw it away. “And instead of that, my daughter said, “Let’s just give it to somebody who’s in need, let’s give it to somebody who is homeless. So since then, I just started doing stuff for the community. If I see a need in an organization or somebody that is homeless or in need of anything, I try to help.” Bright said her and her fellow recruiters pitched in to buy toys for ages ranging from 1 to 18 and that they also reached out to the community through personal contacts and on gofundme.com. For nearly half a century, Child Crisis Arizona has been helping the region’s most vulnerable children, youth and families with a mission “to provide children and youth in Arizona a safe environment, free from abuse and neglect, by creating strong and successful families.” Bright said she called the nonprofit to see what it needed and then focused mainly on educational and activity toys. A seven-year member of the Army, Bright has been at the Gilbert recruiting station for a year. SSG Tyler Yurkew, the Gilbert station commander, said she “has been a massive advocate for volunteering since she arrived to the station in November of 2020.”
U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Deserae Bright talks with Child Crisis Arizona CEO Torrie Taj as she and other recruiters drop off toys and a donation check to the nonprofit. (David Minton/GSN Staff Photographer)
“SSG Bright has volunteered at the Maricopa Food Pantry and organizied station volunteer program for the Midwest Food Bank for our entire station, for which she has been put in for a Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal. She …has always felt the need to give back to those less fortunate then her.” Yurkew said Bright designed a flyer to post in local businesses and “hand out to local community members to get some additional exposure outside of social media posts and word of mouth.” “We were able to place donation boxes in a couple of the small businesses in our
immediate area as well request donations from the local Walmart to purchase toys for the drive.” Yurkew said Bright’s efforts were, well, a bright light at a dark time. “With all the bad in the world it would be great to be able to show our local community something good,” he said. And it won’t be the only time he and his colleagues will be doing something good. “This is the first time that this station has ever done a toy drive like this,” he said, “and we look forward to continuing this tradition with other agencies in future years.”
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GILBERT SUN NEWS | DECEMBER 19, 2021
Town joins $10M Bartlett Dam study BY GSN NEWS STAFF
G
ilbert will kick in $50,000 in each of the next four fiscal years to help pay for a study looking to restore and increase water storage capacity on the Verde River. Town Council last Tuesday without comment approved the expenditure. A large portion of the town’s water supply portfolio comes from the Salt and Verde rivers. Over the past several years, sediment from upstream have been building up at Horseshoe Reservoir, the first major water-storage facility on the Verde River, reducing the capacity by an average of 1,000-acre feet annually, according to Salt River Project’s estimate. An acre foot of water is 325,851 gallons, roughly half the size of an Olympic swimming pool. SRP, which manages several dams and reservoirs on the river, has been working on a solution with the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation and came up with a promising option – raise the height of the 287-foot-tall Bartlett Dam by either 62 feet or by 97 feet, which would increase the capacity for Bartlett Reservoir. Bartlett Dam is roughly 20 miles south of Horseshoe Dam and 48 miles northeast of Phoenix. Raising the dam 62 feet would basically replace the lost capacity behind Horseshoe Dam while going to 97 feet would increase total supply to deal with future water needs. Also, increasing the capacity by that much would fill the canyons between Horseshoe and Bartlett dams completely and create one giant reservoir. The increase capacity would provide enough water to serve an additional 180,000 to 345,000 households in the Valley every year and reduce reliance on nonrenewable water supplies like groundwater, according to SRP. “We are on the cusp of the first-ever Colorado River shortage,” said Ron Klawitter, the principal of water system projects for SRP. “We need to look at
Sediment has been steadily building up in the Bartlett Reservoir, threatening part of Gilbert’s water supply. SRP is studying options but the costly study, partially covered by thhe federal government requires the town and other municipalities to help pay for it. (SRP)
alternative supplies.” Klawitter said climate change also factored into the need to do the study. “Climate change is a critical component to what we’re planning on,” he said. “Droughts and flood periods are going to increase and we have to prepare for that.” The Bartlett Modification Feasibility Study was anticipated to cost $10 million, half of which will be covered by the federal government. The other half will come from 14 municipalities, water companies and water districts in the
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Valley. Klawitter said other options that were looked at but dismissed included forest restoration to keep sediment from getting into the river, building a new dam and removing sediment from behind Horseshoe Dam. “Horseshoe Dam was built as part of the war-time effort,” Klawitter said. “It was built safely, but quickly. The goal was to keep mining copper for the war. It’s very effective capturing water, but, unfortunately, also sediment.”
Klawitter said dredging behind Horseshoe Dam would cost $1 billion and would only be a temporary fix, calling it a Band-Aid. Gilbert’s main goal in participating in the cost-sharing agreement is to keep its existing water supply resilient and whole and obtain a new renewable water supply, according to the town’s interim Water Resources Manager Lauren Hixson. Verde River water is considered a renewable supply and does not require replenishment. Gilbert’s payments will begin in fiscal year 2022 up through fiscal year 2025. The town’s cost share is based on a projected additional renewable water supply coming to Gilbert from the future modified dam. However, Hixson noted in a staff report, that sharing the cost of the fouryear study does not guarantee water for Gilbert if the dam is modified because the Arizona Department of Water Resources controls who gets the new conservation water. And, it’s not a guarantee the study will end up recommending the design and modification of Bartlett Dam, Hixson said. If the recommendation is to move forward with one of the two alternatives, the town’s estimated contribution for construction was $15 million, she added. The total cost of the infrastructure could be $1 billion. After the partners have signed the costsharing agreement, a steering committee of voting and non-voting members will be formed that will meet on an annual basis. The committee will develop the criteria that will help ADWR determine an entity’s need for the additional water. Following the completion of the study, which is expected to begin in early 2022, recommended modification of the dam will need approval from Congress. A modified Bartlett Dam could be completed between 2028 and 2035. Staff writer Ken Sain contributed to the story.
GILBERT SUN NEWS | DECEMBER 19, 2021
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GILBERT SUN NEWS | DECEMBER 19, 2021
GPS plans $50M bond sale for projects BY CECILIA CHAN GSN Managing Editor
G
ilbert Public Schools is going out to the bond market in February to sell $50 million in IOUs and fund capital projects like artificial turf, LED lighting and security cameras on campuses. The Governing Board Dec. 14 approved the second sale of the 2019 voterapproved $100-million bond. The district anticipated receiving the sale proceeds in March. “We’re just bringing this forward because the timing is right,” Superintendent Shane McCord said. “Interest rates and the quality of the market right now for bonds are excellent for us, which in the long run could help our community.” Bill Davis, managing director with Piper Sandler, a Phoenix finances company, also said the district’s bond fund had a balance of $7.7 million, indicating the need for another sale in order to meet ongoing capital needs. Bonnie Betts, assistant superintendent of Business Services, said the district planned to spend the bond proceeds over the next three to four years. Her breakdown showed: • $8 million on a classroom audio-visual project • $2.35 million for district-wide security cameras • $39.65 million for various facilities upgrades and renewals such as
HIGLEY from page 1
about it and its content. HUSD two weeks ago alerted district families of the telephone surveys asking for their opinions and feedback on the bond – “specifically what may have swayed voters to support to reject the proposed bond.” He added district staff was working with the agency to resolve the issues. “For clarification the survey is commonly done throughout the state,” Moore said. “The intention of that survey was to provide further guidance for our proposal that you’ll be reviewing.”
(Above) Gilbert Public Schools will spend some of the money by replacing shoddy grass areas with artificial turf. (Right) Board member Jill Humpherys voiced a concern with possible light pollution from the LEDs. (Courtesy Gilbert Public Schools)
restroom remodels, flooring, landscaping at four campuses and lighting upgrades at stadiums and varsity athletics fields at all five high schools. Betts said $13.8 million of the $39.65 still needed to be allocated. Betts said the lighting upgrade is more efficient and would save the district money. Currently, the district needs to rent equipment to change out lighting at the stadiums once or twice a year, she said. Operations Director Albert Dutchover added it cost the district close to $8,000 for a week’s rental of a flat-bed trailer to bring in lifts for the job. “So we’re renting the lifts and they go through and change all the light bulbs that they think they need to change and then
A couple of people on social media faulted the district for not having taken the pulse of voters before heading to the ballot box Nov. 2. “They should have done this before thinking about launching an election,” one woman wrote. “Elections like this are expensive and this one was a big waste of HUSD money.” The board’s first review of the proposed bond is scheduled for Jan. 12, followed by a second review on Feb. 9. Also at that February meeting, staff will give a first review of the 2022-23 capital outlay
the very next day a light bulb could go out and so it’s just they’re out of luck,” Betts said. “The LED light bulbs are supposed to last 20 years or more. But also as part of the project, they warranty the lights through 20 years so if they do fail, the provider will come out and replace the light bulb on their dime and their equipment as opposed to ours. So that’s a huge advantage throughout all of our major stadiums.
budget and discuss some of the implications of the bond not passing and a phase-down major project approach, Moore said. The board is then expected to act on a bond resolution March 9, giving ample time for a political action commission to sell it to the voters, according to Moore. If the board calls for an election, it would be held in November. The $95-million bond in November failed with 54.64 percent of voters or 6,614 ballots opposing it. The 23.3-percent turnout was low as expected for
see HIGLEY page 8
“The provider (also) indicated that we could see an annual savings of both maintenance as well as utilities of in excess of $450,000.” Board member Jill Humpherys voiced a concern with possible light pollution from the LEDs. “We’re working in Arizona to keep our skies dark for places like Flagstaff and Tucson that have the observatories,” she said. “So, what is the effect of these new lights? Is there some attempt to focus that light downward so it doesn’t contribute to light pollution?” GPS does follow the dark-sky ordinance, Dutchover said. “The good thing with LED is they are directional so you can capture more of that lighting into your focused area,” he said. “It won’t bleed out any further than what we have now.” Betts said other proposed projects included adding fake grass and installing a smart-irrigation system at campuses “that will tell us when watering does not need to occur because we had rain the night before” and could be controlled via a laptop. She said artificial turf placed in key areas at Mesquite and Desert Ridge high schools would improve the curb appeal. “It’s not just about improving the curb appeal,” she added. “It also is about not watering the parking lot. In many of our
see GPS page 10
Higley CFO Tyler Moore discussed the district’s plan to again seek voter approval of a bond issue next year. (Special to GSN)
GILBERT SUN NEWS | DECEMBER 19, 2021
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GILBERT SUN NEWS | DECEMBER 19, 2021
HIRING from page 1
personal gender and/or ethnicity in lieu of their test scores.” Pierce Coleman found that while Gilbert has goals to increase its workforce diversity, “there are no quotas, and qualifications remained the key focus in the Town’s hiring practices.” It said the Fire Department’s hiring practices in 2020 and 2021 were based strictly on merit, ability and capability and that there was no indication of unfair hiring practices based on race, gender, disability or any other distinct category. The report noted that the department in early 2020 went out for recruits and arrived at an applicant pool of 231 candidates using written test scores with a cut-off of 87 points out of a score of 100. However, Town management then lowered the cut-off test score to 80 points in order to get an interview pool that depicted the diverse makeup of Gilbert, Pierce Coleman said. “The investigating team found no correlation between the initial written assessment test scores and the final recruits,” the report said. “Out of the 28 candidates that were added in the initial round of interviews for diversity purposes, two of these candidates successfully
completed the Fire Academy.” The report pointed out that all recruits were held to the same standard at the academy and that the written test’s purpose was to create a manageable number of interviews and the scores were not used or evaluated in any phase of the recruitment process. Mark Spencer, the southwest projects coordinator in Phoenix for Judicial Watch, said the Town claimed it doesn’t consider factors such as race, color, sex and age in hiring, yet it lowered the test scores and expanded the interview pool in order to get more diversity in the firefighter applicants. According to data the town compiled identifying the ethnicity and gender of the firefighter applicants, those who scored 87 and higher were mostly white men and included 15 females and 46 people of color. Those who scored 86 to 80 points included 100 people of color and 26 females. In an email a fire captain sent to other firefighters to clarify the hiring process, he said the decision to adjust the list of candidates for interviews came from Human Resources and the fire department had no say in the decision. “The initial proposal was to remove
28 passing people and replace with a different 28,” he wrote. “I told (HR) we would prefer to expand the list by 28 instead and he agreed. We were never given the impression any of this was open for debate.” The report stated that the Town did not change the hiring process that was already in place for selecting applicants but rather it “analyzed the demographic data for the candidates who proceeded to inform future recruitment efforts.” The report also looked at how town officials treated four firefighters and one heavy-equipment operator whose social media postings were brought to their attention. Officials found that four did not violate town policy but that a fire engineer did by using town resources to create a political video depicting the flying of a “Thin Blue Line” flag on the back of a department fire truck, which he posted on social media with comments supporting the police and a song about “back the blue.” The Town also found that the employee violated its social media policy by expressing political opinions while representing himself as a Gilbert firefighter. The report also addressed Judicial
Watch’s concerns that the town and its chief digital officer Dana Mason Berchman used taxpayers’ funds to promote “the political Marxist agenda of Black Lives Matters as well as Democrat Party elected officials” on social media. Some of the examples Judicial Watch provided included screen grabs of Berchman’s Twitter account where she thanked Police Chief Mike Soelberg and posted a picture of him taking a knee with BLM supporters and the Town’s Twitter account promoting Blackout Tuesday in solidarity with the BLM movement. “While the Town’s Digital Team did make several positive posts to Black Lives Matter, the records showed that these messages were first approved by the Town leadership team,” the report said, adding: “The police and fire chiefs gave their written support to the Digital Team prior to the social media blackout, and provided context to police department employees,” Nonetheless, Spencer said the Town is able to promote BLM without repercussion but the firefighter who
an off-year election. The bond with interest would have cost property owners an estimated $137 million when paid off.
The district planned on spending the $95 million over five years to build and renovate school buildings, buy furniture and equipment and enhance safety and security on campuses. According to HUSD, it’s one of the
state’s fastest growing school districts, anticipated over the next five years to add 3,000 more students to its current count of 12,500. The need for more elbow room is currently being seen at Higley High School. At that Dec. 8 meeting, the board without comment approved hiring design firm DLR Group for $488,885 to add 20,000 square feet of classroom space at the campus to handle the current enrollment growth and a future projected increase in students. The district’s budget for the project was $7 million with a construction start date of summer 2022 and a completion date in summer 2023. The bulk of the failed bond, 33.7 percent or $32 million, however, was to retire one of two controversial and costly leases executed in 2012 under then-
Superintendent Denise Birdwell. At the time, the district was seeing explosive student growth and entered into the agreements where it leased two new buildings for 40 years from a nonprofit. The buildings currently house the Cooley and Sossaman campuses, the district’s first and only middle schools. The total cost of the two leases over their lifetime to the district is nearly $160 million, according to the state auditor general in July. An HUSD administrator has said the deal will end up costing the district three times more than what it would have cost for an outright purchase. The auditor general’s findings let to a grand jury indictment of Birdwell for allegedly engineering the leases by rigging the bids and taking payoffs. She also is accused of misusing public monies while at HUSD. She and three other codefendants face an April 7 trial date.
HIGLEY from page 6
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GILBERT SUN NEWS | DECEMBER 19, 2021
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NEWS
GILBERT SUN NEWS | DECEMBER 19, 2021
COVID claims life of beloved Seton teacher, 42 BY KEN SAIN GSN Staff Writer
L
ife was looking up for Vanessa Lopez Delgado. She had just bought a new home for her family and landed what she called her “dream job,” teaching dance at Seton Catholic Preparatory. The 42-year-old woman died on Dec. 9, one of more than 23,000 in Arizona to succumb to COVID-19. “Dance was a way for her to express herself,” said Jessica Morel, Delgado’s cousin. “She had a passion for dance for many, many, many years.” Morel said Delgado wanted to get the vaccine to protect herself, but was unable to because of a lung condition. That condition was made worse after she moved into a new home. After moving into the home and moving her refrigerator, she discovered mold that had not been disclosed during the purchase of the home. They checked with the previous occupants and owners and learned that they knew about the mold, but did not disclose it. “That aggravated her health condition,” Morel said. “It makes us frustrated and angry knowing it might have been a contributing factor.” Delgado began feeling sick a week before Thanksgiving. She checked into a hospital the Monday before Thanksgiving.
GPS from page 6
facilities we’re actually running sprinklers and they’re putting much of the water onto the parking lot or onto our fencing, causing damage to our fencing.” Artificial turf also was recommended to replace the grass in the front area of Gilbert Classical Academy. “As these projects come to us for approval, I’d really like to know what the water savings are,” Humpherys said. “We know water is just going to get more expensive and there’s going to be less of it.” Humpherys also asked if there was a statutory time limit for the district to spend the $50 million. “There is federal tax law that applies to the spending down of tax-exempt bond proceeds,” Davis said. “There’s really two levels. The first is the reasonable
Victor Serna, the principal at Seton Catholic. “We’re going through the mourning process and doing the best we can to support our students and staff. We pray for her soul and her family, especially her two young daughters.” Serna said they could tell Delgado was a special person right from Vanessa Lopez Delgrado, a teacher at Seton Catholic Prep who had the start. worked at Gilbert High, died from COVID-19 at age 42.. (File) “After a couple of interviews, we She went on a ventilator on Thanksgiving could tell that she would not only be a Day. great fine arts instructor for us, but also “That was the last time any of us talked a future leader on campus. That’s why we to her,” Morel said. made her a department chair. Delgado was in her first year at Seton “This is going to be a tremendous loss Catholic. Before that she had taught for the community and her family,” Serna English at Gilbert High School, where said. she had graduated from. Before that Delgado had a long-lasting impact she worked in the Tempe Union High in her time at Gilbert. She founded the School District. She also taught dance school’s hip-hop dancing team, The 1101. at Chandler-Gilbert Community College She also led the drive to change the name and was a graduate of Arizona State of the road next to the high school to University. Gilbert Tiger Drive. “Everyone’s still in shock,” said Delgado also started her own business, expectation that you’ll be able to spend it in three year. If three years down the road if more than 5 percent is still available you’ll have an additional two years so there’s a total of five. The goal is to try to spend it in three.” With the sale of the bond, Betts said the district will have a projected outstanding principal balance of $162 million, “which is still extraordinarily low in comparison to our peers.” “The administration has had the philosophy of trying to amortize the debt as quickly as possible and that’s why our outstanding general-obligation bond debt is so low,” she said. Davis added that the bond sale’s impact to the property tax rate will be less than previously anticipated. “Under current 2022, instead of $1.12 that we had estimated back in 2019 we’re
at $1.06,” he said. “That’s your actual tax rate even with the sale of this $50 million in early 2022. (For the subsequent years) the projected tax rate is going to be at or below 91 cents.” He said the tax rate was decreasing faster than projected because of the lowinterest rates “and the fact that there has been so much growth in the district.” “Your assessed valuation is growing faster than was projected,” he said. He said the strategy is to continue paying down debt as quickly as possible with a final payoff of the $50 million in 2031. “So really, it’s about less than 10 years,” Davis said. “This will enable the district should the need arise for a future bond election to go to the voters (and) illustrate that it’s not going to have a significant impact on their tax rate and you’ll be able
a graphic design company. Morel said they do not know how she contracted COVID, saying her cousin was always very careful. “As the oldest of seven siblings, she made sure everyone was taking this seriously,” Morel said. Delgado is survived by her two daughters, ages 13 and 11. A GoFundMe page has been set up by Morel to help with the funeral costs and create a trust fund for the two children. Her daughters are now living with their father in Gilbert. A celebration of Delgado’s life is planned for Dec. 27 in Mesa. Morel said Delgado loved to dance and tried to share that passion with others. She volunteered to work at senior centers, helping them get up and move. Delgado’s cousin said she was self-taught. That’s why it was important for her to make sure others had a chance to dance. “She thought it was an ageless way to express yourself,” Morel said.
How to help
A GoFundMe page has been set up for Vanessa Lopez Delgado’s two children. Visit GoFundMe.com and search for her name. to layer any potential new debt into that.” Davis also recommended the district sell off the remaining $18 million of the 2019 bond in 2024 to meet its capital needs. “I appreciate that we’re keeping our debt level low and keeping our tax rate low for our taxpayers,” Humpherys said. “One of the things I have mentioned several times is that it’s important that our students have pride that they go to a school that is well-cared for and is updated. “And I think it just makes us all proud when we see those schools and that they have curb appeal and that inside students are in a building that functions well, that has good heating and cooling and doesn’t leak. Board member Lori Wood was absent from the meeting.
GILBERT SUN NEWS | DECEMBER 19, 2021
HIRING from page 8
posted the Thin Blue Line flag on the fire truck was disciplined. The report pointed out that “a government entity has the right to speak for itself” and that the free speech clause of the First Amendment restricts government regulation of private speech and has no application if the government were engaging in its own expressive conduct. Town officials did not promote “the political Marxist agenda of Black Lives Matter” or promote the Democrat Party elected officials, the report said. Spencer said he disagreed with that statement, pointing to town posting of pictures showing the police chief kneeling at a BLM event and a meme of Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vermont, in the Heritage District. They were “all on Gilbert’s technology platform so they do promote it,” Spencer said. “They do promote it to the public at the public’s expense. “Now if the public, i.e. the taxpayers are happy with that that’s their decision. They’re capable of making the decision but don’t say you are not doing that.
NEWS
“Don’t tell me the Town didn’t approve or support BLM’s political or social agenda. Wasn’t that the chief of police at a BLM event? Are you telling me kneeling is not actively promoting or engaging? The picture says what it says. Do taxpayers and voters appreciate and approve of that?” The report said to the extent a Town’s official speech included a BLM-oriented message, there was substantial evidence to show that the official communications more substantially promoted pro-public safety, pro-veteran and pro-government employee messages as well. Pierce Coleman also did not find that Berchman used any town resources in expressing her personal political views and agenda. “Ms. Berchman’s speech on official Town media and communications was in fact the Town itself speaking,” the report said. “The investigating team didn’t find that the Town engaged in employment discrimination by enabling or allow disparate treatment of employees based on ‘conflicting political, personnel and policy issues within the Town of Gilbert.’”
year! th 5 3 r u o in w No
Pierce Coleman found that Gilbert applied standard and consistent procedures to its official speech and communications and there was no indication of one-sided messaging by the Town. “The Town has taken a balanced approach to its public messaging and gives thoughtful and careful consideration to how the public would receive its messages.” And, Pierce Coleman found no evidence that the town was unfair in its disciplinary actions against employees for potential violation of town policy and no evidence of unfair hiring practices. “The Town has a technology platform and that technology platform is run by technicians and they did indeed post BLM information on that platform,” Spencer said. “They are using technology and technicians funded by taxpayers to promote and endorse BLM, a Marxist agenda. “If they as the town leadership are fine with that they are fine with it.” But taxpayers should have a say when the Town is not only promoting BLM, but the 1619 Project – an ongoing New York
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Times Magazine initiative to reframe American history by focusing on the role of slavery and the contributions of black Americans – and other critical race theories to its employees internally, according to Spencer. “They talk about their right as a Town for First Amendment rights. They are absolutely correct they have every right to use town resources to promote BLM and its Marxist agenda but do taxpayers know this and approve of this. This is a point,” he said. Spencer said Judicial Watch’s next step is to wait for the Town’s response to its latest public records request sent Dec. 3. The group has sent four so far due to the Town not producing all of the requested documents, he said. The Town said it didn’t have the documents. “All I’m asking for was the information so others would know it’s taking place,” Spencer said. Judicial Watch has given Gilbert this week to respond and if it doesn’t comply by then, Spencer said, “Judicial Watch’s legal counsel will become actively involved.”
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GILBERT SUN NEWS | DECEMBER 19, 2021
Scholarships available for East Valley women BY GSN NEWS STAFF
Y
oung women who apply to colleges or universities and need help paying for tuition and related expenses might want to turn to the American Association of University Women of East Mesa Branch, which awards scholarships to deserving applicants. Violet Larney, the branch’s first president, endowed the group through her estate, providing money to fund women scholars from the Chandler, Gilbert, Mesa and Apache Junction to attend Arizona colleges within the Phoenix metropolitan area. “Starting with five scholars, we have now expanded our program to 12 scholars working on degrees with
majors ranging from elementary education and public policy to chemical and mechanical engineering,” a spokeswoman for AAUW said. Each scholar is matched with a mentor from the branch membership who advises, supports and guides each scholar throughout her college years. “This program has been highly successful with the majority of women completing their education and either transitioning into the workforce or going on to complete advanced degrees,” the spokeswoman said. Scholarships cover tuition, lab fees, books and other expenses. Some requirements for the scholarships: GPA of 2.5 or higher for associate degree students and high
school seniors; GPA of 3.0 or higher for four-year college students. Each scholar is required to have a mentor from the AAUW of East Mesa Branch. Each applicant must demonstrate a financial need, and new scholar applicants are required to be full-time students. Applicants may be graduating high school seniors, associate degree students, undergraduate students at a four-year college or adult re-entry students. Students who are active participants in school and community activities are preferred. The scholarships may be renewed annually if the criteria are met. Applications for the East Mesa AAUW scholarships are available at the Arizona Community Foundation website –
azfoundation.org/Scholarships – AAUW of East Mesa [AZ] Branch Scholarships Applications can be submitted from Jan. 1- March 31. “The ACF website provides excellent information and resources to guide students in the application process,” the spokeswoman said. Applicants are notified of the scholarship awards in April and need to respond to the Arizona Community Foundation by June 15. “We encourage women to apply for our scholarships, and look forward to getting to know women who will be successful future leaders,” the spokeswoman added. Information: ybbord13@icloud.com.
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Nonprofit helps women escape abusive men BY GSN NEWS STAFF
K
imberly Miner has lived through two abusive marriages – the first one was 27 years ago and the second is recent. As a survivor, Miner feels she can help others experiencing domestic abuse and 10 months ago she formed the Envision You Victory Over Violence Nonprofit Foundation. “I started it because I had a passion for it,” the Mesa woman said. “It’s taken me 25 years of finding my confidence and self-worth and self-esteem and I didn’t want any survivors to go through that time frame of finding it and moving forward with their lives. “I feel I made so many mistakes and wasted half of my adult life to be able to achieve things and move forward ahead with my career. With my first exhusband, it took me three times to file for divorce before I left him.” Miner said it’s important for survivors to make the first time they leave their abusive partner the last time. “The main reason a survivor is reluctant to leave an abusive relationship comes down to lack of confidence, selfworth, and self-esteem,” Miner said. “They have had a period of time that their abuser has ‘gaslighted’ them with thoughts such as who is going to believe
you? how are you going you make it – you’re so stupid, if you try and leave I’ll kill you, or they have stripped away cars, phones (and) proximity of neighbors. “It takes years to gain back or create a survivor’s confidence and self-worth.” Miner was still dealing with the aftermath of her recent divorce. She secured an order of protection against her second husband and is in the Arizona Address Confidentiality Program, which helps victims of domestic violence, sexual offenses, and/or stalking from being located by the perpetrator through public records. The program provides a substitute address and confidential mail forwarding services to individuals and families across the state. The nonprofit’s mission statement is to provide a road map for domestic violence survivors to face, find and move forward with their confidence, self-worth, and self-esteem intact. She counts among her supporters the Mesa Prosecutor’s Office, Phoenix Community Advocates, Maricopa County Prosecutor’s Office, the Scottsdale Prosecutor’s Office and the Scottsdale Police Department. Mesa Police recently teamed up with Miner’s organization because it has services to help survivors of domestic
violence, according to Shelly Ward, Victim’s Services administrator. The foundation’s programs and workshops help survivors move forward with their lives. “I have spent five and a half years working with women and survivors of domestic violence,” said Miner, who also had a career as a regional sales director in the packaging industry for almost 25 years. “Our mission is to provide a road map for survivors to face, find and move forward with their confidence and self-worth and self-esteem intact.” Miner said. “We work directly with survivors in groups but our programs were also created to be utilized in domestic violence centers, and universities or colleges.” For instance, The Envision Your Future Today Program is where survivors focus on the next five steps in moving forward after domestic violence, Miner said. “Each step requires them to take a look at sabotaging behaviors, positive attributes, purpose, ideas, loving
yellow, she traces the story in her quilt titled “From the Ashes.” “There was a lot of restoration to do,” McCurry said. “You could say from the ashes we rose and came back as strong as we could.” Stories such as this are what exhibit curator and judge Ellen M. Blalock sought when she was invited to assemble the City of Chandler’s annual art quilt show. Art Quilts XXVI: Stitching Stories, featuring
64 story quilts made by 53 artists from across the country, runs through Jan. 8 at Vision Gallery and CCA Gallery. A resident of Syracuse, New York, Blalock is passionate about story quilts. “I know that quilters work and artists work in all kinds of different ways and I wanted to be inclusive of a lot of people’s voices because not everybody does figurative work,” she noted. “What is also important to me is the
see
Kimberly Miner formed her nonprofit foundation to help others experiencing domestic abuse. (Submitted)
NONPROFIT page 16
Gilbert woman part of quilt exhibition BY SRIANTHI PERERA GSN Contributor
L
inda McCurry’s art quilt depicts adversity. Years ago, her Gilbert home caught fire around the chimney; the fire burnt downstairs near the fireplace and upstairs through the master bedroom. Her koi fish died in her pond due to firefighters putting a flame retardant in it. In flaming red, orange, brown and
story behind the quilt and not just a story the quilt is telling. Somebody may be having the story of why they made the quilt and or it could even be the process,” she added. Blalock herself is a narrative artist documentarian who works in photography, video, drawing and fiber. Most of her creations come in series form,
see
QUILTS page 16
GILBERT SUN NEWS | DECEMBER 19, 2021
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Aspen Medical will be offering this chronic pain and neuropathy severity examination from now until December 31, 2021. Call 480274-3157 to make an appointment to determine if your chronic pain and peripheral neuropathy can be successfully treated. Due to our very busy office schedule, we are limiting this FREE consultation offer to the first 15 callers. YOU DO NOT HAVE TO SUFFER ANOTHER MINUTE, CALL Call 480-274-3157 … NOW! We are extremely busy and if your call goes to our voicemail, please leave a message and we will get back to you asap.
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QUILTS from page 14
such as the 32-piece Family Quilt Project; Not Crazy, which looks at mental illness in the African American community; and the one on feminism. In addition to creating picturesque fabric art, Chandler artist-novelist Laurie Fagen often portrays causes important to her. For this show, Fagen chose to highlight a photograph her brother, a nurse practitioner, sent of himself: gowned, gloved and masked for work in the COVID ward. “I don’t typically manipulate photos in Photoshop for my fiber art, but this one I specifically did because it was the year of the pandemic, he was frazzled and
NONPROFIT from page 14
oneself maybe for the first time (and) setting goals,” she said. “These are areas most have lost about themselves or may have never seen in themselves.” Miner also said her foundation through its Domestic Violence Victim Focusing Training works with city government agencies, park rangers and
GILBERT SUN NEWS | DECEMBER 19, 2021
(From left) Linda McCurry’s “From the Ashes” depicts a story about her Gilbert home catching on fire. (Courtesy of Linda McCurry.) In her story quilt titled “Seeking Center/Finding Balance,” Shelly White creates a visual snapshot of her goal of “calm” as she navigates competing concerns, an overload of information and confusion. The layered colors of nature, repetitive patterns and topographic lines help chart a path to peace, order, and beauty,” she said. (Courtesy of Shelly White.) Laurie Fagen of Chandler created “Frazzled,” a story quilt portraying her nurse practitioner brother outfitted to work in the COVID ward. (Courtesy of Laurie Fagen.) Annemarie Comes of Mesa created her art quilt “Branching Out” by “weaving” into fabric a cyanotype of a photograph of tree trunks. (Courtesy of Annemarie Comes.) the world was frazzled,” she said. “So, I changed the colors, I left threads attached to it, I just made it as frazzled as possible.” Fagen, who also authors crime fiction novels and creates polymer clay jewelry, imparts texture and dimension to her work. Her recent line of fiber art involves taking photos, printing them on the fabric and thread painting with a few miles of thread. “I embellish the art quilt with thread, give it texture and dimension. That’s my basic technique that I’ve been doing recently. Oftentimes they’re embellished with other things – charms, yarn, ribbon, surface designs, foiling techniques and
first responders. “In our Victim Focusing Training we focus on several areas – what the victim wants you to know and how to get their story, when you notice a ‘flipped lid’ to get the victim to connect again, and victim history to domestic violence relationship and much more,” she said. “The more tools first responders are regularly updated, the more effective as a
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adding paint,” she said. “I love the tactile feel of the fabric and being able to take any fabric and work with them is always just something that’s very satisfying to me,” she said, adding “everything from the design to the creation to the actual manipulation of the fabric, I enjoy the whole process.” Annemarie Comes of Mesa works in a similar process to weave photography to fabric. Her quilt titled “Branching Out” is a cyanotype of one of her photographs. “My image was printed in my dark room in black and white, then turned into a large-scale transparency which was exposed overtop of chemically coated
community we can be to help in striving in making the numbers in domestic violence go down.” Miner noted that Arizona ranked No. 5 in the country in domestic violence cases. Since the start of 2020, an average of two Arizonans have died every week from causes directly related to domestic violence, according to the Arizona
fabric,” she said. “Our Arizona sun was then used to transfer the image onto the fabric.” “As an Arizona-based photographer, I try to capture special moments in time – a lot of sunsets – so others can enjoy the beauty, as well,” she added. After isolating for much of the past months due to the pandemic, Comes relishes the freedom to create art. “It was wonderful to revisit fabrics/ quilting and the cyanotype process in the past year. It’s so wonderful to allow others to enjoy my image in a quilted form once again,” she said. Details: visiongallery.org/event/artquilts-xxvi-stitching-stories/
Department of Health Services. This year was on track with 2020 that saw 102 people in Arizona die from domestic violence, the state agency said, adding that “nearly 22,000 people called domestic violence hotlines in Arizona to find help and options to stay safe between June 2020 and July 2021. To learn more about the nonprofit: envisionyouvictory.org.
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GILBERT SUN NEWS | DECEMBER 19, 2021
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GILBERT SUN NEWS | DECEMBER 19, 2021
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EV plumbing firm’s business plan includes charity BY MELODY BIRKETT GSN Contributor
S
ome people might think Wayne Decker’s business plan makes no sense. But Decker, president of PlumbSmart Heating and Air, says it not only makes sense but a lot of cents. “We charge less than the big players and we still do very well,” he said. “Our profit margins are still very good. Our guys have every benefit you can imagine and have high compensation. There’s no downside to having this philosophy. They all (other plumbing companies) could have it, but they choose not to because they want to have much greater margins.” To top it off, charity is a big part of Decker’s business plan: Since the pandemic began, his company has done at least 200 jobs for free for people in need. Decker started his residential repair plumbing business in 2006 and previously was in the service business, serving homeowners for more than 40 years. He started his company exactly for the reasons it lives by. “It was more of an answer to the prevailing attitude which exists today – that plumbing companies are just way too expensive and they charge too much.” For example, he said a lot of companies charge $400-$1,000 to unclog a toilet that takes about 20-30 minutes. “If you make $20 an hour, that’s going to be about a week’s take-home pay to unclog a toilet.” While costs have gone up for parts or items like hot water heaters, PlumbSmart hasn’t raised its labor prices. “We’re so confident about our prices that even if a customer doesn’t want to use us, they can still call us…and ask for a price,” said Decker. “A lot of companies will spend $50,000$100,000 sending you to a course to establish you as one of the finest sales people you can be. You know what to say.
Wayne Decker, president of PlumbSmart Heating and Air in Mesa, find his business plan of charity and lower prices has yielded growth and strong profit margins. (David Minton/Gilbert Sun) You know how to manipulate. You have financing available.’” “When you have that attitude, it’s not about what is normal profit because that’s hard to say,” explained Decker, who has about 50 employees. “It’s very subjective. It’s about how much profit do you want to make? PlumbSmart is very profitable at about half of what our bigname competitors charge.” Decker said his focus is on relationships with homeowners, not chasing dollars. “And the beauty of that is when you have the philosophy the more you give the more you get, your growth is almost unmanageable. You don’t have people who are upset, questioning you, or who have buyer’s remorse. You still grow and make more money.” During the pandemic, PlumbSmart grew 40 percent in 2020 and about another 40 percent in 2021. Its TV commercials told people the company would fix a plumbing or A/C emergency for free for those who’d fallen on tough financial times.
“A majority of companies would say, ‘You’re absolutely nuts. You’ll be inundated with customers calling to get something for free,’” said Decker. He said it’s one of the first premises they’re wrong about. “Approximately 3 percent of all customers may bend the rules to get something over on you. They may lie and cheat and try to get something for free. For those three percent, we can say, ‘God bless you. Give me a big hug. I hope you enjoyed cheating me.’ “And it would not make a difference on our business, our profitability and how we do business. Ninety-seven percent are honest people. When you think of that offer, the humility of having to call a company and take advantage of an offer like that, typically is going to mean they really do need it and they’ve humbled themselves to say, ‘Please come out and help us. We don’t have the money.’” It’s leads to an additional fringe benefit for his employees that money can’t buy, Decker added.
“Our guys were so blessed to have people crying, hugging them, thanking them, that I can’t put a value on what it meant to their lives, let alone the people we were serving,” said Decker. “For us to absorb a couple of hundred or more jobs to help people who really needed it, it was so worth it. Let alone the value – though not intended – of what the general public heard from those ads. “Our internet communication was blown up by people saying, ‘I don’t need anything for free but any company that has that kind of offer, I want you to be my plumber.’ It was tremendous. It goes along those lines of if you give more, whether you like it or not, you’re going to be blessed, you’re going to get more. When you chase dollars… in the big picture, I don’t think it helps you.” In fact, technicians are told by the company to look for “benevolent opportunities, opportunities of compassion to help people,” said Decker. He recalled getting a call about a woman with a medical disability who had had no hot water for months. A PlumbSmart technician determined she needed a new heater. “One of my techs took the initiative on understanding what her dire need was,” explained Decker. “This gentleman/tech, on his own, called our office and said, ‘Hey, I have a customer who can’t afford a water heater. She’s an elderly woman and disabled. Can we do this for her for free?’” Two days later, a tech installed a new hot water heater at no charge. “At PlumbSmart, that’s the way we do business,” said Decker, adding that techs are still paid for comp jobs. Information: itsjustplumbsmart.com 480-654-8865
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REAL ESTATE
GILBERT SUN NEWS | DECEMBER 19, 2021
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No end in sight for Gilbert’s homesellers’ market BY MINDY JONES NEVAREZ GSN Guest Writer
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he new year is fast approaching and we’ve finally got a chill in the air to celebrate. This year has been full of ups and downs and the cooler weather is a much-needed respite from the hot temperatures and hot topics that have taken over the airways this year. We hope that along with bringing out the jackets, we’ll see more news stories about kindness, a continued sense of community and a general feeling of joy as we celebrate family and friends this holiday season in the town we are so grateful to call home.
If there’s one thing we’ve learned this year, it’s that Gilbert is a hot commodity. Our not-so-little town is thriving and it seems that everyone wants to make Gilbert their home. Those of us who are natives have to blink twice when looking at the housing numbers. But it’s not surprising when you look at the businesses that have taken up shop in our town, the options for public, private, and charter schools, brand new recreation centers and parks going up before our very eyes and more that draw out-of-state visitors, second-home buyers and keep more of us natives here than any generation before. There have been so many residents who have been able to take advantage of the rising prices and lower interest rates that are indicative of a sellers’ market. But it has left many
2021
The Market is Changing in Gilbert!
Melanie Nemetz
Call Melanie (480) 221-3034
BESTOF
wondering when we will return to an easier market, a less appreciating market, a more “balanced” market. But, here’s the kicker: It is not really unusual that we are experiencing a seller’s market in the Valley. The majority of the last 20 years has been spent in an appreciating market where the number of people looking to buy far exceeded the number of homes available to them. Residents have enjoyed 5-9% appreciation on average in previous seller’s markets and many homes sold over asking in just two to three months’ time. The last 18 months have
challenged our definition of normalcy with an extreme seller’s market where homes were listed and closed in 30 days or less, asking prices were merely marketing tools to get 1020 offers with 60-70% selling over asking and more than 95% of homes listed were selling meaning that only 2-3% of them were seeing any kind of concessions given to the buyer. Returning to normalcy for a thriving market like the Valley means likely returning to a far less extreme sellers’ market. The fact that we’re headed into 2022 with less inventory than we had headed into 2021 means that in
see MINDY page RE4
SPO OTLIGHT home
Welcome to Juniper Place, located in the heart of Gilbert and within a 7-minute walk to downtown Gilbert!
See my Tips for 2022 on page 4
Amy Jones Group
SOLD for $395,000!
Our extensive, high quality marketing of your home combined with our thorough preparation of listing the home for sale, will help your home sell faster and for more money. Here is a sample of the marketing for our listings:
BESTOF
2021
◆ Home Staging Report by Interior Designer & Stager ◆ Professional video of home ◆ Professional photos of home ◆ Twilight photos ◆ Community photos ◆ Aerial drone video/photos ◆ 3D Interactive floor plan - Matterport www.fosteringre.com Each office is independently owned and operated ◆ Open house first weekend on the market
480.221.3034
See Page 5
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REAL ESTATE
GILBERT SUN NEWS | DECEMBER 19, 2021
Some tips for homebuyers aged 50 and over GSN NEWS SERVICES
O
nce you hit the half-century mark, you’ve likely accumulated a passel of belongings, some decent savings, and, quite possibly, some hard-earned real estate wisdom. But when it comes to buying a new home in your 50s, the process is quite different from any other time in your life precisely because you’re at a midpoint in homeownership. “When 50-somethings consider buying a house, they are usually looking at two transactions: selling what they have and purchasing a replacement home,” said Anthony Carr, an associate broker. Selling and buying real estate concurrently, all with an eye toward a new stage of your life, may bring a host of stressful challenges. Here are some tips on navigating the process with the top considerations for quinquagenarians (those aged 50 to 59) who are planning to buy a new home. Decide what to do with your existing home.
“Some of the concern with 50-somethings is timing. You want to make sure you can sell, find another house, get it under contract, and close on your next home on time,” said Carr. You can help control this timeline by adding a “home of choice clause” when you list your current property. This means that unless you find a house you want to buy before the sale closes on your current home, you can call off the deal, according to Carr. If you can afford it, you could purchase a new home before listing your existing property. Going this route gives you more flexibility, but you’ll have to make two mortgage payments until your old home sells. Another option? Keep your first home and turn it into a rental property to generate income. Think about downsizing Your 50s might be the perfect time to downsize. So thinking about what the next decade will look like for you and your family is crucial. If you have kids at home, try to parse out how much longer they’ll be living
with you. You may want a multigenerational-family residence to accommodate your adult children or aging parents. Or you might prefer a scaled-down dwelling such as a condo in a location where you plan to retire. “Approaching and planning for retirement might be a good financial reason to downsize,” said Trevor Halpern, founder of Halpern Residential at North&Co. in Phoenix. “Becoming an empty nester may also be a good reason.” A smaller, less expensive home can free up cash, which you could also use to fund college tuition or future health care costs. Keep in mind downsizing can be challenging. Carr’s seen several 50-something buyers think they’re ready to downsize only to find they aren’t ready to let go. “They become accustomed to a certain standard of living,” he saikd. “Some of the potential challenges and downsides to purchasing a home in your 50s are often financial,” said Halpern. “Although many people in their 50s have a
good handle on their finances, sometimes life throws a curveball at you.” Be sure to have a clear picture of what you can comfortably afford now – and down the line when your earning power may decrease. You’ll want to be able to maintain your new mortgage payments and home maintenance in case you face unexpected hardship. And factor your retirement goals into your decision. Consider using your current home’s equity If you’ve lived in your home for several years, you may be able to tap into some of that built-up equity through a cash-out refinance, says Halpern. A cash-out refinance enables you to borrow more than you owe on the mortgage and keep the difference. “Many lenders have loan programs where you can peel out some equity from your primary residence to purchase a second home for pre-retirement, investment, or even a vacation dwelling,” said Carr. The benefits of cashing in on your equi-
see TIPS page RE5
REAL ESTATE
GILBERT SUN NEWS | DECEMBER 19, 2021
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Significant changes in HOA rules involve a complex procedure BY PATRICK MACQUEEN GSN Guest Writer
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o you live in an HOA and want your neighborhood to be gated? What about short-term rentals – do you want to expand their use or stop them in your neighborhood? What about more (or less board members) serving on the Board for your HOA? Before any of these significant changes can be made, HOA documents must usually be amended. Amending CC&R’s (a/k/a Covenants, Conditions, and Restrictions) and bylaws is a time-consuming and often financially demanding process. How does the amendment process typically work?
1. A proposal to amend is submitted to the board for review.
Anyone seeking an amendment to
HOA documents, including CC&Rs or bylaws, must first submit the proposed changes to the board for review. The board will then discuss the proposed amendment at a board meeting. During this meeting, the Board must allow homeowners to voice their concerns or support for the amendment. In some situations, the board may conduct a special meeting to discuss the proposal.
3. Tabulating votes
Following the board discussions, homeowners will then have an opportunity to vote for or against the proposed amendment. If there are problems with voter turnout, the board may extend the voting period in some circumstances. Importantly, if a homeowner believes that the amendment to CC&Rs or bylaws is illegal or not permitted by the HOA’s existing documents, that homeowner usually must attempt to stop the vote before the vote occurs.
Once approved, amendments to CC&Rs must be recorded with the County Recorder’s Office. Amendments to bylaws do not need to be recorded. Amended bylaws become effective when notice of the changes are provided to homeowners. Typically, the documents that govern an HOA are established when the community is being developed. These documents are not written in stone and can be amended if neighborhood or community situations change.
2. Voting.
27 Days Up from 25 Days Last Month 436 Up from 374 Sales Last Month $611,959 Up from $591,657 Sales Last Month
The next step is counting the ballots. This should be done in an open meeting. Doing so ensures transparency. HOAs typically require a majority vote from the homeowners to approve an amendment. What constitutes a majority will depend on the language in your governing documents. Usually, this is twothirds or three-fourths of the homeowners to approve the amendment.
4. Recording the Changes
If your HOA is not following the correct guidelines to amend the governing documents, it may be a good time to review the documents and discuss them with a real estate attorney. Ahwatukee resident Patrick MacQueen and Chandler resident Benjamin Gottlieb are partners and founders of MacQueen & Gottlieb PLC, one of the state’s most prominent real estate law firms. Contact patrick@ mandglawgroup.com if you would like a sample set of CC&Rs, amendments, bylaws, or ballots or anything else HOA-related.
199 432 0.5 Down from 0.8 Monthly Supply Last Month
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REAL ESTATE
GILBERT SUN NEWS | DECEMBER 19, 2021
It’s not about the sale!
It’s all about the experience of selling and putting more money into your pocket to fund your next move. In a shifting market, our expert advice and resources help our clients sell faster and for more money. We offer: • A professional home staging report • Accurate hyperlocal market information for precise pricing • Professional photos & video -• Aerial drone video/photos of the home and community • Negotiation skills to protect your equity
3 Key Market Changes in Gilbert: • New FHA & Conventional loan limits in 2022 will create additional opportunity for first-time buyers • Home prices are up 30% over same time last year, but slowing in their month over month appreciation • Homes that are priced right and in great condition are selling above list price, in the first few days on market, while homes that are less updated/upgraded or priced too high are sitting on the market for longer.
Want guidance on what these changes mean to you and your future? Call us. 480.221.3034 BESTOF
Melanie Nemetz
2021
480.221.3034 • www.fosteringre.com Each office is independently owned and operated
MINDY from page re1
an entire year, we were unable to gain any net inventory despite all of that building you see going on around town. With new construction down year over year due to supply chain issues and labor shortages, we’ve struggled to inject enough new inventory into the market to combat the demand which now exceeds 23% of normal due in large part to institutional buyers pulling much of our single-family inventory into the rental market. With just 6,800 homes on the market and 29% annual appreciation under our belt, we’ll know pretty quickly after the turn of the new year if we’re going to be headed for another frenzy come March time. If we don’t start to add to the inventory bucket, expectations are that we could top 15% appreciation in the coming year – meaning the sooner you can make a move into something you love, the better. With skyrocketing rental prices, prospective landlords are being incentivized to purchase as much property as they can and its possible that we may get to a point where there are too many rentals on the market. That may shift the priorities of these companies to place their inventory back on the re-
sale side and make an impact in demand for our 2022 sellers. In the meantime, lenders are projecting rate increases of at least 1 percent in 2022, making the payment of an average priced home in Gilbert about $300 more expensive a year from now with projected appreciation and interest rate increases. Even in the mid of a global pandemic, endless amounts of political unrest and charged conversations nation-wide, Gilbert has risen to the top as one of the most desirable places to live, one of the safest, and aims to be one of the most inclusive with the new civic engagement task force launched by the town council. Now we’ve just got to figure out where all of Gilbert’s finest are going to live and continue to support the organizations who are working to ensure that no one is left behind like our friends at the Clothes Cabin, House of Refuge, Jacob’s Mission Community Center, ICAN and more. This holiday season, take stock of what matters most – your healthy, your family, your legacy and your community. Mindy Jones, a Gilbert Realtor and owner of the Amy Jones Group at Keller Williams Integrity First, can be reached at 480-2503857. Mindy@AmyJonesGroup.com or AmyJonesGroup.com.
Buying or Selling a Home? Call Erik First!
1850 E Northrop Blvd #170 | Chandler AZ 85286 480-206-5592 cell | www.ErikGeislerRealtor.com Join me in supporting my charity partner,
CULTIVATE GOODNESS
Cultivate Goodness is a nonprofit organization that focuses on helping with needs in our community. We invite members of our community to get involved and wrap arms around those that could use a lift. We believe if everyone puts in their piece, whatever the size, it adds up to be a mountain of good.
Go to http://cultivate-goodness.org
Serving the Valley, for over 15 Years!
Erik Geisler REALTOR® Your Real Estate Agent
REAL ESTATE
GILBERT SUN NEWS | DECEMBER 19, 2021
TIPS from page re2
®
5 Class
BRING YOUR VISION TO US
Any project, any style, any dream—bring your inspiration to Ferguson Bath, Kitchen & Lighting Gallery. Visit build.com/ferguson to schedule your personalized showroom experience today.
SPO OTLIGHT home
SOLD first weekend on the market!
Welcome to Juniper Place, located in the heart of Gilbert and within a 7-minute walk to downtown Gilbert! Wow, what an amazing location! This 3 bed, 2 bath home features an open layout, spacious kitchen with plethora of cabinet space, custom island, and granite countertops. Stepping in the front door, you’re welcomed into the family room, with sightlines into the dining room and kitchen. You’ll find 2 guest bedrooms, one with ample window seat storage, and a large master bedroom with en suite bathroom including a walk-in shower, soaker tub, two sinks, and a walk-in closet. Entertain family and friends in the open kitchen with breakfast nook, and formal dining, or open the French doors into the private backyard with no neighbors behind for the perfect indoor/outdoor living. Enjoy fruit from your orange and lemon trees, take a stroll to the neighborhood park or nearby local restaurants, shopping, and activities, such as Culinary Dropout, Postino, Studio223, and many more. Newer AC (2019), stove and dishwasher (2020). Leased solar panels provide ample energy to help save on summer electric costs. Don’t miss out on this Gilbert gem!
SOLD for $395,000
422 N Shaylee Lane, Gilbert, AZ 85234
(480) 250-3857 www.AmyJonesGroup.com
YOUR LOCAL SHOWROOM: MESA SCOTTSDALE
©2021 Ferguson Enterprises LLC 1221 2367404
ty is an individual decision based on many personal factors and goals. But it’s always a good idea to talk to a financial expert first. “It’s easy to get pulled into the idea of freeing up equity,” says Halpern. “But it’s of utmost importance to make sure it is the best long-term financial move for you.” Don’t rush to make a decision “By the time you hit the 50 zone, knowing what you want to buy, and how you’re going to make it happen, is a lot easier to absorb than on your first home purchase,” said Carr. This means you usually have time to find the home that’s the best fit for you. “I always recommend buyers in their 50s take their time,” said Halpern. “Line up all your ducks, and look at your situation holistically.” Most buyers in their 50s who purchased a new home in the past year did so either to be closer to family and friends, to live in a more desirable neighborhood, or because of a change in a family situation, according to the National Association of Realtors. So you may even want to consider taking the time to search in a different city or town. Realtor.com provided this report.
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OPINION
Opinion GilbertSunNews.com
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@Gilber tSunNews
GILBERT SUN NEWS | DECEMBER 19, 2021
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Companies’ competition for repairs hurts consumers BY DIANE E. BROWN GSN Guest Writer
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ot a lot of companies inspire the brand loyalty that Apple does. After all, the maker of Macs since 1984 and iPhones since 2007 did put the world in our pockets. But while Apple generally garners accolades, one of the company’s core business practices has been rotten to consumers. For years, Apple has monopolized product repair by withholding the parts and tools that customers and independent repair shops need to fix broken products. That’s finally changing. Recently, Apple announced that it will begin sharing with the public more than 200 parts and tools for its products, starting with the iPhone 12 and 13
Arizona lawmakers must do more to save water Recent stories have reported on water scarcity, focusing primarily on the challenge of protecting streams on our national forest lands in the face of widespread diversions to cities and agriculture and dwindling water supplies due to climate change. Almost every week, we see another story about water scarcity, especially in these times of ongoing drought and forest fires, or about water pollution, such as the frightening “forever chemicals.” We simply cannot live without sufficient clean water, and we must do more, not less, to protect our dwindling supply here in the desert. It is therefore something of a mystery why state Sen. J.D. Mesnard voted for two
lineups and its new Macs. This program will presumably grow to include newer smartphone models and Mac computers. This is a complete U-turn for one of America’s favorite gadget makers. For years, Apple’s lobbyists told lawmakers that sharing access to parts, service tools, and manuals would result in safety, security, and intellectual property risks. When an iPhone’s battery died, or its screen cracked, Apple insisted that only an Apple-authorized repairperson could fix it. But independent repair specialists knew that these “concerns” were overblown. In addition to the rising chorus of people who just wanted to fix their own stuff, or choose where to have it fixed, this fall, Apple faced pressure in the boardroom. And Apple, previously defiant and combative, made an about-
face, announcing newly minted support for independent repair. To be fair, Apple is far from the only company with a history of hostility toward competition in its repair market. John Deere won’t sell farmers the software tools they need to fix their tractors. Hospital repair technicians trying to focus on COVID-19 patient care say medical device manufacturers have created hurdles to them fixing equipment needed to save lives. A PIRG study from earlier in 2021 found that repairing more products and using them longer would save Americans $40 billion per year, or $330 per family. And repair not only helps consumers, but repair helps prevent waste. When people find it inconvenient to fix a product, they’re more likely to give up and buy a new one – especially when
it comes to continuously, incrementally updated products such as smartphones. Empowering more independent repair options would extend the lifespan of products, reducing the material drain of manufacturing, and reducing the electronic waste heading to landfills. The right to repair issue goes far beyond phones. Arizonans want to be able to fix their products but too often run into roadblocks erected by manufacturers who want to control the repair process. Companies should ensure that their products are built to be easy to fix – and, better yet, built to last. But if they don’t, policy makers should. Diane E. Brown is the executive director of the Arizona Public Interest Research Group (Arizona PIRG), a statewide public interest advocacy organization.
water bills this year that were opposed by the Sierra Club but signed into law by Governor Doug Ducey. These are HB2691 and SB1274. HB 2691 established a program for protection of certain waters in Arizona that were no longer covered under the federal Clean Water Act due to changes by the Trump administration that adopted a narrower definition of Waters of the United States. The power to regulate things like protection against pollutant dumping, dredging, and filling in water courses passed to state control. Unfortunately, HB2691 does little to protect our state’s waters and does nothing at all to protect our ephemeral washes, ones that flow only when there is precipitation. A heavy rainfall can pick up pollutants in an ephemeral wash and
carry it to larger waterways that people rely on for drinking and irrigation. The second bill, SB1274, removes regulatory constraints on developers by prohibiting the Arizona Department of Water Resources Director from reviewing the physical availability of water in certain Active Management Areas (AMAs), and it allows developers to increase the number of housing units associated with their permits. This is truly not sustainable. The smell of creosote after the rain. The sudden arrival of wildflowers in the spring. The yellow burst of blossoms on the palo verde trees. We all deserve to breathe clean air, drink clean water, and enjoy Arizona’s great natural beauty. Yet some lawmakers look the other way, protecting their corporate donors while they harm our environment and pollute our communities.
We need a new legislature that will hold corporations accountable and invest in clean energy, right here at home, to keep Arizona healthy and beautiful for all. We need to protect our families, our communities, and our livelihoods from the harmful impacts of pollution and climate change, now and in the future. -Rebecca Ong
Push back on Mesnard’s flat tax with Prop 307 We’re almost there! Tens of thousands of regular Arizonans stood in the scorching sun this summer, collecting signatures to support the 2020 outcome of Prop 208 and push bac,000 on Sen. J.D.
see
Send your letters to the editor, to pmaryniak@timespublications.com
LETTERS page 25
GILBERT SUN NEWS | DECEMBER 19, 2021
LETTERS from page 24
Mesnard’s flat tax, signed into law by Gov. Ducey. The flat tax would replace the current tax rates (2.59 percent on the first $53,000 of household income, then 3.34percent on $53,000 to $106,000, 4.17 percent on $106,000-318,000, and 4.5 percent on anything above $318,000), with a flat tax of 2.5 percent for everyone. If your taxable income is $50,000, the flat tax will save you $45 on your state taxes. However, if your taxable income is seven times greater, say, $350,000, the flat tax will save you a whopping $4,673. That’s more than 100 times the savings! Not flat and not very fair. If your taxable income is $30,000, you save $27. If it’s $20,000, you save just $18. Meanwhile, all those savings for wealthier Arizonans mean fewer social services for everyone. The loss of revenue would reduce the Arizona General Fund
by $2 million, with half of that coming out of education, even though Arizonans passed Prop 208 to send money to education. Senator Mesnard, why do you want to keep Arizona at 51st place in school funding and 50th place in teacher salaries? Why do you think wealthy Arizonans shouldn’t pay their fair share of state taxes? With our signatures, we demanded the right to delay any decision on the flat tax until all Arizonans could vote on it. A few legal hurdles remain, as Republicans continue to fight the push-back, but there’s hope. Watch for Prop 307 on the November 2022 ballot, and vote NO to the flat tax that guts our schools and reduces social services across the board. -Jan Johnson
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OPINION
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SPORTS
GilbertSunNews.com
GILBERT SUN NEWS | DECEMBER 19, 2021
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Highland makes school history in 6A title win BY DREW SCHOTT GSN Contributing Writer
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p 17-10 in the third quarter, Highland prepared to squib its upcoming kickoff to Chaparral. As kicker Crew Crockett’s leg swung towards the ball, he whiffed, sending the ball just a short distance. However, the Hawks’ special teams were prepared. As the Firebirds failed to react to what became an accidental onside kick, Highland’s Aidan Witthus sprinted forward and recovered the ball near midfield. “It was chaos on the sideline,” Highland coach Brock Farrell said. “As soon as we got it, I’m like, ‘Oh, this could seal it and put the nail in the coffin.’” Four plays later, quarterback Gage Dayley connected with wide receiver Hunter Stewart for a 31-yard touchdown and ensured Farrell’s prediction would come true. For the first time in school history, Highland won the 6A Conference championship, defeating Chaparral 31-10 at Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe to avenge its defeat to the Firebirds in the state title game last December. Dayley out-dueled Firebirds quarterback Brayten Silbor in his final high school game, completing 13 of his 14 passes for 234 yards and four touchdowns as the Hawks’ defense held the Firebirds to 212 yards. Five years ago, Farrell came to the Gilbert high school and has since revitalized Hawks football, taking the team to the playoffs in each of his seasons at the helm. Today, he and his team finally reached the pinnacle of one of the toughest divisions in Arizona, and knocked off a fierce rival in the process. “It feels like a storybook ending,” Dayley said. Despite the successful season so far from Dayley, Highland’s offense took to the ground early on. Every single play of the drive was a designed run except for a Dayley scramble when he couldn’t find an
(Above) Highland head coach Brock Farrel on the sidelines against Chaparral, in the AIA Conference 6A Football State Championship game, Saturday, December 11, 2021, at Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe, Arizona. (Right) Highland junior guard Caleb Lomu (76) celebrates with senior running back Steven Trujillo (44) after a touchdown against Chaparral, in the AIA Conference 6A Football State Championship game, Saturday, December 11, 2021, at Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe, Arizona. (David Minton/Staff Photographer) open receiver. The Hawks’ opening possession ended when an end-around was stuffed at the line of scrimmage, but they soon got the ball back when Silbor’s fourth-down pass was broken up by cornerback Kyle Wright. Dayley then showcased his ability to improvise under duress. On a third down in Hawks territory, Dayley weaved his way around the Firebirds’ defense and fired off a pass before being drilled by a Chaparral defensive lineman. His pass landed in the hands of Stewart for a 33yard gain. “It was in the sun and there was a guy coming,” Stewart, who finished with three catches for 68 yards, said. “The ball… it felt like it was in the air forever. I was just waiting for it. But Gage and I have been playing together since sixth grade and we just know what each other are thinking at all times.”
Highland’s running game led the Hawks to the red zone before Dayley connected with tight end Jace Patton from two yards out for the game’s first score. It looked like Highland would have a chance to extend its lead when free safety Joseph Allen intercepted Silbor. However, the play did not count due to defensive holding, beginning a stretch of five consecutive penalties between the teams. This stifled the Firebirds’ drive, who punted after facing a fourth-and-18. Highland sent the ball back to Chaparral after a quick drive, giving the Firebirds a chance to knot the game at seven before halftime. And they did. Silbor found tight end Lukas Garvey wide open across the middle, who shed a tackle before outrunning Hawks defenders for a 62-yard touchdown, the quarterback’s 43rd of the season. Yet a return to the 47-yard line and consecutive penalties got Highland just
outside the red zone seconds into its drive. The Hawks cashed in quickly, with Dayley finding running back Steven Trujillo for a 22-yard touchdown to take a 14-7 lead. Trujillo recognized Dayley’s confidence throughout the game. It enabled him to connect with the running back for two touchdowns. “He didn’t have the jitters,” Trujillo, who racked up 16 rushing yards and 28 receiving yards, said. “He got that out last year. He’s looking good.” Chaparral settled for a field goal heading into halftime after failing to score a touchdown deep in the red zone. Missed opportunities continued to plague the Firebirds in the second half, as a bobbled snap on their opening drive of the third quarter led to a fast three-and-out. After Aysa Hamid’s 32-yard field goal sailed wide left on the following possession,
see HIGHLAND page 28
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GILBERT SUN NEWS | DECEMBER 19, 2021
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SPORTS
GILBERT SUN NEWS | DECEMBER 19, 2021
Highland quarterback completes quest for state title BY ZACH ALVIRA GSN Sports Editor
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age Dayley has had the dream of becoming a championship quarterback at the high school level since he was younger watching his older brothers play at Desert Ridge. He came close in 2020, when he led the Highland Hawks to the 6A Conference state title game and faced Chaparral. The Hawks lost that game. Dayley vowed to return the next season as a senior and win Highland’s first-ever championship. On Saturday, Dec. 11 at Sun Devil Stadium, he did just that. And he had one of the best games of his career in the Hawks’ 31-10 win over Chaparral in the process. “Words can’t even describe it,” Dayley said. “I have the biggest smile on my face. I’m just so proud of all of our guys. We finally got it. First title in school history. “Of all the great players I’ve played with. To finally get one for all of us, it means everything.” Dayley completed 13 of his 14 pass attempts for 234 yards and four touchdowns in Highland’s win. His lone incompletion was a drop. He connected with three different wideouts for the scores. Steven Trujillo, Highland’s senior running back, caught two. It was the type of performance Dayley Vowed to have after he struggled in last year’s championship, when he went 14-
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all-time passing touchdown leader in the Hawks’ 11-3 campaign. He grew not only as a quarterback but as a leader of the offense and program as a whole. His father, Lee, an assistant coach at Highland who has also coached Dayley his entire life, said it’s been special for him to witness his son coming of age. And now with a championship, it’s even better. “I can’t even express how proud I am,” Lee said. “I coached him since he was 6. As a coach, I’m not surprised. As a dad, I’m just over the moon. I’m super proud.” Dayley credited Highland head coach Brock Farrel for his progression as the starting varsity quarterback the last three years. Entering spring ball Highland senior quarterback Gage Dayley (12) after his freshman season, he scrambles looking for a receiver against Chaparral, in was still timid and had trouble the AIA Conference 6A Football State Championship being vocal with older players game, Saturday, December 11, 2021, at Sun Devil Staaround him. dium in Tempe, Arizona. (David Minton/Staff Photographer) But his arm strength, accuracy of-22 for 139 yards a touchdown and an and overall talent spoke volume and helped interception. him earn the respect from upperclassmen His near perfect outing in 2021 in the program and recent alumni. He concluded a record-breaking year for began to seek advice from Tyler Johnson, Dayley in a Highland uniform. He became one of the best players to ever come out of the program’s all-time leading passer and Highland who went on to star at Arizona
HIGHLAND from page 26
Highland responded with a 40-yard field goal of their own. Then after the onside kick, Chaparral’s response was a turnover of downs on a drive marked by wide receiver Gavin Higley’s second drop of the game in the end zone. “We played some good defense,” Farrell said. “We changed the way we make front and coverage calls so that we can not always have to be in cover four. Last year, we were in a lot of cover four to the field, so (Silbor) was able to dink and dunk us all day.” The Hawks put the finishing touches on their dominant offense performance when Dayley connected with Trujillo for a 37-yard touchdown early in the fourth
quarter and sealed a loss for the Firebirds when Allen intercepted a downfield heave by Silbor. Farrell said Highland’s coverage forced Silbor to scramble since he didn’t have open receivers when he dropped back. This often led to Silbor — who finished with 209 yards, one touchdown and one interception — to throw the ball out of bounds. Meanwhile, the coach complemented Dayley’s decision-making, poise in the pocket and accuracy. As the minutes on the clock turned into seconds, reality set in for the Hawks and their fans. Highland rushed the field in celebration of their three-touchdown win, with an excited and loud student section clad in light blue cheering in the stands. Last year, the Hawks fell one game short of history. This year, they finally made it.
State and is likely to be picked in the upcoming NFL Draft. Johnson was there Saturday afternoon to congratulate Dayley. Dayley also matured mentally. Farrel’s offense, one that requires the quarterback to be in command at all times, came easy to him as he matured. “He played lights out,” Farrel said. “Big players make big plays in big games. He’s grown a lot as a man. I remember watching him at a youth game and people would ask me if I thought he could play at this level. Yeah, he can.” Despite being one of the top quarterbacks in the 2022 class, Dayley’s recruitment has ran dry. He has all but one tangible: his height. His 5-foot-10, 160-pound frame has been one of the main deterrents for college programs. Even as he demonstrates his toughness and ability to absorb blows – as he has done playing in the Premier Region the last two seasons. At summer camps, he has routinely been rated as the best passer in every category. Yet even then, offers haven’t come. He hopes that now, with a state title under his belt after the best performance of his career, a school will bite. But until then, he enjoys playing the underdog role. “If you can play, you can play. It doesn’t matter how big you are,” Dayley said. “I’m just so happy we could get this done for the whole community and the whole team.” “Nobody’s done it before,” Farrell said. “We had to build it. There’s something to be said about having to build something from the ground up.” Highland’s season isn’t quite over. The Hawks were selected to play in the Geico State Champions Bowl Series in Las Vegas on Friday, Dec. 17. They will face Chaminade-Madonna High School from Florida at Bishop Gorman High School. Kickoff is scheduled for 8:30 p.m.
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Contact Zach Alvira at zalvira@timespublications.com and follow him on Twitter @ZachAlvira.
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GILBERT SUN NEWS | DECEMBER 19, 2021
Perry’s Preston Jones announces retirement BY ZACH ALVIRA GSN Sports Editor
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reston Jones, who spent the last 15 years coaching the Perry High School football program, has announced his retirement, school Athletic Director Jennifer Burks announced in a press release Thursday morning. Jones said Thursday afternoon he had conversations with his family the last four or five years about when it would be time for him to hang up his whistle. They weighed the pros and cons and ultimately decided now is the right time. “I was very hesitant because if you want to be a head football coach, in my opinion, this is the best job in the state,” Jones said. “I was never going to leave here and go somewhere else.” Jones was hired to build the Perry program in 2007, when the school opened. One year later in 2008, the Pumas played their first season of football as an independent school outside of an official region or conference.
appearance in 2009, falling to Chaparral in the opening round. Jones went on to coach Perry to the postseason 10 more times, including backto-back trips to the 6A championship game in 2017-18 with Brock (2017) and Chubba (2018) Purdy at quarterback. In total, the Pumas went 90-57 under Jones. Jones helped 87 players go on to play at the next level, including Brock at Iowa State and Chubba at Florida State. Chubba is Preston Jones, who spent the last 15 years coaching the now in the transfer portal. Perry High School football program, has announced his reAs a result of his success on tirement, school Athletic Director Jennifer Burks announced the field, Jones was named in a press release Thursday morning. (GSN File Photo) Cardinals Coach of the Year But despite being new, it didn’t take twice in 2016-17. long for them to have success. He said he has received several The Pumas made their first playoff messages from his former players after
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news of his retirement broke. Some of them he said he hasn’t heard from in years. “There’s guys from way back when out of the blue reaching out,” Jones said. “That has made it real special.” Jones’ journey through football began as a player under his father, Jim, at Red Mountain High School. It was there Jones began to make a name for himself as a defensive back. He earned a scholarship offer to the University of TennesseeMartin where he went on to play safety. Upon graduating, he returned to the Valley and became an assistant coach at McClintock High School. In 2000, he became a graduate assistant at Missouri before landing his first head coaching gig at Highland two years later. Jones led the Hawks to the playoffs the last three years of his tenure, including the semifinals in 2004 where they fell to powerhouse Hamilton.
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JONES from page 30
While retired, Jones hasn’t completely closed the door on being an assistant football coach. He said on some occasions he has gone down to coach the lower-level offensive line group in the Perry football program. Five years ago, he coached the freshman for a few weeks. This past season he helped one day with the junior varsity program. Both times he said were the most fun he’s ever had coaching. “I don’t need to be a head coach anymore,” Jones said. “I’m going to sit out of football for a year and if I miss it tremendously, I’m going to see if someone will let me help them out as an assistant. Opening a new school was tough. I would never do it again, but I would highly recommend it to anybody.” Burks wrote in a release that the search for Perry’s new head football coach would begin immediately, and the position would be open until Dec. 31. She also went on to thank Jones for his 15 years
of dedication to the football program and school. “The Perry and CUSD administration would like to thank him for his service to the thousands of players who were fortunate to have learned under his guidance,” Burks wrote. “Coach Jones opened Perry High School in 2007 and has been our only head football coach. He has created traditions, held high expectations, and modeled his vision, passion, dignity, and integrity to his coaching staff and athletes throughout his career.” Jones said his year – or more – away from the game will involve him being there for his kids and his wife. “I’m going to be the best dance dad I can possibly be,” Jones said. “I’m going to really enjoy watching my other daughter play basketball as much as possible. I think my wife has a list about four pages long of things that need to be done as well. “I might decide to come back and be a head coach just so I don’t have to worry about the list anymore.”
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Gilbert mayor to judge Frenchie Pizza dog contest GET OUT STAFF
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ho let the dogs win? Frenchie Pizza, that’s who. And the Gilbert pizzeria now plans to let customers on Wednesday watch Mayor Brigette Peterson and a panel of Gilbert Chamber of Commerce members pick one of five French bulldogs as Top Dog for 2021. Since July, Frenchie Pizza has picked a French bulldog every month, hoping some would accompany customers who dine on its dog-friendly patio. Now the five Frenchie of the Month winners will return 5:30-6:30 p.m. Dec. 21 for the big decision. Owners Fabrice and Mairead Buschtetz, who are French and Irish respectively, named the restaurant after their family’s own French bulldog, Max, who belongs to their daughter, Laura. To pay further tribute to their
handsome pup, the restaurateurs had been seeking nominations of customers’ French bulldogs to be featured as Frenchie of the Month. Photos of the winners are showcased on a wall of the restaurant and on Frenchie Pizza’s social media pages each month. “We’re passionate about food and family,” says Mairead. “Max is our family, so the Frenchie Pageant is a playful way to honor him and have fun with our customers.” And yes, Max will be on hand to act as the official Frenchie mascot and welcome the competitors to the red carpet. The finalists will be judged for charisma, manners and “overall cuteness.” “A few tricks wouldn’t hurt their chances, either,” Mairead added. The winning canine will be awarded lots of congratulatory pats and treats,
and their humans will receive free Frenchie Pizza gear, a Flamme of the Month for each month of 2022, and bragging rights. A photo of the 2021 Frenchie of the Year will be prominently featured on the wall of the restaurant, as well as on the Frenchie Pizza Facebook and Instagram pages. Frenchie Pizza is at the southeast corner of Gilbert Road and the Loop 202 Santan Freeway. It is the fourth business in the Buschtetz Family Restaurant Group, which also owns B Gastrobar and Copper & Logs in Gilbert, as well as Cuisine & Wine Bistro in Chandler. Owners Fabrice and Máiréad Buschtetz, who moved to the Valley from France in 2013, bought the location in summer 2021 and opened in July. Chef Fabrice is the executive chef of Frenchie Pizza. Information: frenchiepizza.com.
Kobe is the Frenchie of December and one of the five finalists. The year-old dog is named after the late basketball star Kobe Bryant. (Facebook)
Bus drive lights up your holiday spirit BY ALLISON BROWN GetOut Contributor
C
ruising neighborhoods looking at Christmas lights is a tradition for many families, but sometimes the logistics do not work out. Kids complain because of the lack of lights, and/or parents miss the views because of they have to watch the road. Jarrod Riddle said this was the case for his family when he was a kid, and it inspired him to offer his own tour through Spirit of Arizona Tours “I thought, ‘What if I find a really good route where friends and family don’t have to worry about the route or driving, they can just hop on a tour and enjoy the lights how they were meant to be enjoyed?’ So, that’s where the idea came from, and it’s been a pretty successful one,” Riddle says.
“We get a lot of families that show up in ugly sweaters or dressed up or some bring Christmas cookies and it gets turned into a nice little family event.” The tours run at 6 p.m., 7:45 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. through Dec. 31 – except for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Each tour starts in Tempe near the 101 and Warner and goes through Tempe and Chandler. The 90-minute tours pass dozens of homes and stop twice for close-up looks. A longtime Valley resident and certified historian, Riddle has been a tour guide for 10 years. Using his insider information, Riddle plans a perfect route that is guaranteed to have great decorations and even avoids traffic delays for an entertaining ride from
see
LIGHTS page 33
Jarrod Riddle he has a five-star rating on Google,TripAdvisor and Yelp.The company earned those stars because, he says, he cares about the customer experience. (Special to GetOut)
GILBERT SUN NEWS | DECEMBER 19, 2021
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Archuleta brings holiday cheer to the Chandler Center BY MADISON PERALES GetOut Contributor
F
or “American Idol” alumnus David Archuleta, Christmas means spending time with family enjoying music. He’ll bring that feeling to the Chandler Center for the Arts at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 23, with “A Christmas with David Archuleta.” “One thing I love is with my family, music was a big part of the holidays for us,” Archuleta said. “Not just listening to it, but we would actually perform it and my mom would dress us up with the Santa Claus hats and go around and sing
LIGHTS from page 32
start to finish. “If I’m going to offer a Christmas light tour, it’s going to be above and beyond,” Riddle says. “It’s not just going to be random neighborhoods. I made sure to scout out several locations where each street keeps getting better.” Riddle says the tour hits every decoration imaginable, like musicsynchronized light shows, Santa Claus, nativity scenes and, in true Arizona fashion, illuminated cactus. The tour not only goes through some of the best displays in the state, but also the country. “Two of the streets on the tour compete for best Christmas light
Christmas carols to the neighbors.” Archuleta’s family is so into much that his mother taught them Jackson His family is very musically inclined, so much so that Archuleta’s mother decided to teach the family a couple of the Jackson 5 Christmas songs. “She taught us the choreography and everything,” Archuleta said. “We would perform those because there’s five of us siblings.” Singing Christmas songs wasn’t Archuleta’s only fond memory. He recalled one of his favorite holiday traditions – one that’s a little unique. “My mom carried out this tradition that my grandma started,” Archuleta said. “She would read ‘The Nativity’ with this fabric and she told little stories on it for kids.” Archuleta has been in the public eye since he was 16 years old, when he appeared on season seven of “American Idol.” His angelic vocals garnered 44 million votes to make him the runner up behind David Cook. Soon thereafter, he released his first single, “Crush,” which debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. Three months later, Archuleta’s self-titled album went gold, selling more than 750,000 copies in
displays in America, and one of those streets is basically like a street festival,” Riddle says. “They have food trucks and Santa Claus who the kids come and talk to. They do horse carriage rides. So, for that street, I actually let my guests get out and walk it if they want. I give them about 20 to 30 minutes to get out and actually walk the streets themselves. It’s a good, fun experience.” There is more to see than the classics, too. One of the unique displays on the tour is a giant, 25-foot-tall Christmas koala who takes up an entire front yard. Riddle says he spoke to the owner and found out the bear was originally from a storefront in Australia. Apparently, the family brought it with
the United States, and more than 900,000 copies worldwide. After the COVID-19 restrictions, Archuleta is pleased to be back on stage, helping his fans celebrate the holidays. He admitted the quarantine was hard on him. “At first I wondered, with pandemic life, what was going to happen,” Archuleta said. “It was kind of weird being home all the time, but because I live by myself, I felt like it was needed time of introspection. “I think I needed that time to look at myself and figure out what’s going on, particularly with all the therapy I was going through.” Even though Archuleta now has a busy schedule, he found time to publish a children book based on one of his songs. “My Little Prayer.” It was released in October by Bushel & Peck Books. “I always thought it would be cool to do a children’s book, I just never thought I would be able to do it,” Archuleta said. “But then my manager was like ‘Hey, why don’t you make ‘My Little Prayer’ a children’s book?’” Excited about the prospect of it, Archuleta was ready to connect with a younger audience. “I love reaching out to kids,” Archuleta said. “I love the way they see the world and their purity and curiosity. I thought it was a really cool opportunity to share that they can talk to God, be close with him and be able to teach them that with a visual like a book.”
them when they moved to the States and it was passed down to Phoenix residents. Riddle says that it is always a bit of a show-stopper and has a “Godzilla effect” on kids and adults. Families and friends are transported to each sight on a luxury bus which is even decorated inside with garland and lights. The bus has 14 captain’s chairs that have armrests and recline for a truly cozy and homey atmosphere. “They can bring whatever they want on the bus as far as drinks are concerned,” Riddle says. “Since I’m doing the driving, people like to bring hot cocoa for the kids and maybe some canned drinks for the grownups, which is totally fine by me. “I’ve had people bring little Christmas
Aside from that, he released the single “Beast,” which, he revealed, is about internal struggles. “I was finding that I didn’t have a healthy way of going about relationships,” Archuleta said. “It seems like every time I went through them, and got closer to someone, it felt like this monster would come out of me.” On top of Archuleta’s new single and children’s book, he is looking forward to 2022 and his six-week, North American “OK, All Right” tour. It supports his album “Therapy Sessions.” Although “OK, All Right” doesn’t hit Arizona, he’s looking forward to the holiday show. “The liveliness that Arizonans tend to have makes it a really nice experience,” Archuleta said. “Some venues are really beautiful, but in the end, what makes the show is the connection you feel and that you feel like the audience is connecting to what you’re giving them. It’s always been a really wonderful connection with the Arizona audiences.”
IF YOU GO
What: “A Christmas with David Archuleta” When: 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 23 Where: Chandler Center for the Arts, 250 N. Arizona Ave., Chandler Tickets: Tickets start at $39.90 Info: chandlercenter.org cookies and stuff like that, so basically they can make it like their own little holiday party.” This is the Spirit of Arizona’s third year offering the Christmas Lights Tour. Riddle estimates he has about 900 guests on average per year. He says the proof is in the pudding when it comes to his tours, as he has a five-star rating on Google, TripAdvisor and Yelp. The company earned those stars because, he says, he cares about the customer experience. “Don’t worry about the route, don’t worry about the driving,” Riddle says. “All you need to do is show up, sit back, relax and enjoy the lights.” Information: spiritofarizonatours. com.
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GILBERT SUN NEWS | DECEMBER 19, 2021
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78, of Mesa, AZ passed away Dec 10, 2021. Born May 25, 1943 in Prescott, AZ to Grant Lynwood Wakefield & Florene Mae Haave Wakefield. In 1961 Jana graduated from Williams High School in Williams, AZ. She married Jerry Rowley February 20, 1971. Jana received a Bachelor of Arts from Arizona State University (Cum Laude) in 1994, in Interpersonal Communication, & as a member of Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society. Highly intelligent with a great sense of humor, she was blessed with a lifelong love of learning. She resided on a one-acre Mesa homestead 40 years growing fruit & nut trees, keeping goats, turtles, cats & dogs, turkeys, cows, lambs, chickens, roosters, doves, pigeons and peacocks. An active member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, she was faithful to her convictions, loving & loyal to her friends and family, kind, generous, industrious, courageous, strong, facing all adversity with optimistic faith in Jesus Christ. Jana served as a Temple Worker in the Mesa Temple from 1994 to 2016 and in the Snowflake Temple 2017. She found great satisfaction serving two church Family History missions. She's famous for being in the top one percent of a million+ Family Search indexers. She was preceded in death by husband Jerry Allen Rowley (2010) and sister Debra Grace Chevalier (1975). She is survived by her sons Kyle Wakefield Rowley and Jeremy Wakefield Rowley; sister Verda LaRue; brothers Maurice Grant Wakefield & Marvin Gerald Wakefield; eight grandchildren, six great grandchildren. Grave side services Friday, Dec.17, 2021 at 11am. Taylor Cemetery, 400 Center St.,Taylor, AZ (Thru Wyman Burial Chapel, Mesa) Sign the Guestbook at: obituaries.EastValleyTribune.com
Obituaries - Death NOtices iN MeMOriaM We are here to make this difficult time easier for you. Our 24 hour online service is easy to use and will walk you through the steps of placing a paid obituary in the East Valley Tribune or a free death notice online. Visit: obituaries.EastValleyTribune.com
Patricia M. Kerr
10/24/1946 - 12/2/2021
Pat passed away peacefully in her home on Dec. 2nd. She was survived by her husband of 57 years, Will. Her son Bill(Tracie) & daughter Sandee(Scott) Cleary, 7 grandchildren and sister Joanie Miller. She was preceded in death by her parents, Josephine & Ed Wesolowski and brother Stanley. She was a loving wife, mother and grandmother. Who loved the Lord and serving him. She attended Calvary Baptist Church in Mesa for many years before retiring from Mesa Schools, where she worked for 23 years and moved to Overgaard. She will be greatly missed by all who knew her. A celebration of life will be held on Jan. 8th, 11:00 am at: First Southern Baptist Church 2727 Church Lane Overgaard, AZ 85933 In Lieu of flowers please send a donation to; First Baptist Church in Overgaard.
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GILBERT SUN NEWS | DECEMBER 19, 2021
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GILBERT SUN NEWS | DECEMBER 19, 2021
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Employment Employment General
Employment General PayPal, Inc. has the following positions available: In Scottsdale, AZ:
Join our experienced inside sales team! Do you have print media/digital advertising selling experience? We may be looking for you! The position is in Tempe (Broadway curve area) includes lots of outbound calls selling advertising all over Phoenix Metro and even Tucson! Our 20 local publications, newspapers, magazines and digital solutions fit pretty much every need! Great team environment Our small team wants to grow with you! Do you get excited when you sell? Do you talk louder when you are selling something you believe in? We get it - it's exciting to sell! Do you learn quickly, like to stay organized, multi-task, are you familiar with Gmail, Google Docs/Sheets/Voice, Word, Excel, internet browsing and other software programs? This is a full time job with benefits. 8:305pm Mon-Fri. If you think you are the missing puzzle piece, please apply! Wait, did I mention we are a FUN team? Send your resume with cover letter to Elaine ecota@timespublications.com EOE
OUR JOB BOARD HAS THE TALENT YOU’RE LOOKING FOR. FIND THE BEST TALENT. EASILY POST JOBS. COMPETITIVE PRICING AND EXPOSURE More info: 480-898-6465 or email jobposting@evtrib.com
Most jobs also appear on Indeed.com
J BS.EASTVALLEYTRIBUNE.COM
• Software Engineer 3 (Req.#: 20-7732): Design & implmnt CI/CD pipelines ensuring high lvls of quality. Req’s: MS(or equiv.)+3 yrs. exp. OR BS(or equiv.)+5 yrs. exp. • Senior Business Analyst AFI (Req.#: 19-7806): Mnge & support maintenance, config., reporting, and analytics data for the Finance organization. Req’s: MS(or equiv.)+2 yrs. exp. • Business Process Analyst 4 (Req.#: 20-5990): Mnge the functional & tchncl design, config., testing & maintenance of the P2P sys. Req’s: MS(or equiv.)+3 yrs. exp. OR BS(or equiv.)+5 yrs. exp. • Senior Product Manager 1- Technical (Req.#: 211123): Mnge proj. execution to ensure adhrenc to budget, schedule & scope. Req’s: MS(or equiv.)+3 yrs. exp. OR BS(or equiv.)+5 yrs. exp. In Chandler, AZ: • Senior Testing Associate (Req.#: 19-7125): Prfrm risk analysis, dvlp compliance testing plans & execute SLOD test plans. Req’s: MS(or equiv.)+1 yr. exp. • Compliance Analyst 3 (Req.#: 21-1107): Dvlp & implmnt effective policies, advncd analytics & thorough investigative processes that consider risks posed by PayPal's products, customers, trnsactn volumes & jurisdictions in which PayPal operates. Req’s: MS(or equiv.)+2 yrs. exp. • Data Engineer 3 (Req.#: 21-2959): Anlyz s/w product req’s & trnsfrm them into scalable tech. designs. Req’s: MS(or equiv.)+3 yrs. exp. OR BS(or equiv.)+5 yrs. exp. Bill Me Later, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of PayPal Inc., has the following position available in Scottsdale, AZ: • Software Engineer 2 (Req.#: 20-2625): Design & implmnt cmplx, multi-tier distributed s/w apps, using REST API, SOAP & ORM Hibernate. Req’s: MS(or equiv.)+2 yrs. exp. OR BS(or equiv.)+5 yrs. exp. Must be legally authorized to work in the U.S. w/o sponsorship. To apply, please send your resume w/references, specifying the Req. # w/your application, to: By email: paypaljobs@paypal.com; or by mail: ATTN: HR, Cube 10.3.561, PayPal, Inc. HQ, 2211 North First Street, San Jose, CA 95131. EOE
Meetings/Events?
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Submit to ecota@timespublications.com
Adult Care/ Assisted Living
Real Estate for Sale
Experienced Adult Care Compassionate, Reliable. Cooking, Cleaning, Bathing, Dressing & More 20 yrs exp. Ft/Pt $22hr. (Min. 4hrs/day 2 days/wk) "Strong, healthy 42 y/o, will take every precaution needed to ensure your safety or your loved one" Please call Erica at 480-518-1953
Manufactured Homes Motorhomes/ RVs 2006 River Canyon Bytravel Supreme 4 Slides, full size kitchen, washer/dryer. Furnished. MSRP 110K. $20k Call Raymond 520-252-2826
Merch
HIRING?
andise
People are looking at the Classifieds Every day!
Pets/Services/ Livestock
Email Your Job Post to: class@times publications.com or Call
480-898-6465
For Sale Yorkie Puppies. $1500. Just the right age for a Xmas present. 4 months old. 480-468-9695
THE LINKS ESTATES Why Rent The Lot When YOU CAN OWN THE LAND And Own Your New Home
FROM THE UPPER 200’s
ASK US HOW YOUR $150k-180k CASH INVESTMENT AND OUR SENIOR LOAN PROGRAM ENABLES QUALIFIED 62+ SENIORS MAKING THE LINKS THEIR PRIMARY RESIDENCE HAVE NO MORTGAGE PAYMENT & NO LOT RENT AS LONG AS YOU LIVE IN HOME.
Gawthorp & Associates
4046 N Green St. • San Tan Valley, AZ 85140
602-402-2213
www.linksestates.net
Employment General Deloitte Consulting LLP seeks a Consulting, Solution Specialist in Gilbert, Arizona & various unanticipated Deloitte office locations & client sites nationally to Perform software development and implementation services to address manufacturing, financial, human resources, customer relationship management, supply chain, and other business needs, utilizing SAP products. 15% travel required nationally. Telecommuting permitted. To apply visit apply.deloitte.com. Enter XBAL22FC1221GIL405 in “Search jobs” field. EOE, including disability/veterans. Region Technologies has openings for the following positions in Phoenix, AZ and/or client sites throughout the US. Must be willing to travel/relocate. IT Engineer reqs US Masters/foreign equiv or bachelors + 5 yrs exp to design/dev/test systems/apps using Java/J2EE/CSS/Net/Database/Data Analysis/Mainframe/Testing technologies on Linux/Unix/Windows/HTML. IT Analyst reqs US Bachelors/equiv (3 or 4 yr degree) to test/maintain/monitor systems/programs using Hadoop/Bigdata/Tableau/SQL/Selenium/QA on Linux/Unix/Windows. Send resume to careers@regiontechnologies.com with ref # 2022-19 for IT Eng; 2022-21 for IT Analyst & ref EVT ad
Air Conditioning/Heating
QUALITY, VALUE and a GREAT PRICE!
Lifetime Warranty on Workmanship New 3-Ton 14 SEER AC Systems Only $4,995 INSTALLED! New Trane Air Conditioners NO INTEREST FINANCING - 60 MONTHS!
Over 1,000 Five-Star Google Reviews ★★★★★
Bonded/Insured • ROC #289252
480-405-7588
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GILBERT SUN NEWS | DECEMBER 19, 2021
Air Conditioning/Heating
Carpet Cleaning
Garage/Doors GARAGE DOOR SERVICE
SOS MECHANICAL
East Valley/ Ahwatukee
Broken Springs Replaced
Installation and Maintenance of New Units Air Duct Cleaning and Dryer Vent Cleaning
Nights/Weekends Bonded/Insured 480-251-8610
49 MAINTENANCE*
$
*CALL FOR DETAILS
Not a licensed contractor
70 SERVICE FEE ON BROKEN UNITS
Place YOUR Business HERE! Call for our 3 Month Trial Special! Classifieds: 480-898-6465
$
$70 fee on broken units waived if repair is made by my company
Glass/Mirror
480-650-7087
GLASS, MIRRORS, SHOWER DOORS
M-F 8 TO 5 • SAT/SUN ON CALL • 24/7 EMERGENCY SERVICE Licensed, Bonded, Insured • ROC# 315986
Family Owned with 50 years' EXPERIENCE. Shower and tub enclosures, Framed, Frameless or Custom Doors, We also install insulated glass, mirrored closet doors, window glass, mirrors, patio doors, glass table protectors. If it’s glass, we can help you. QUALITY SERVICE at Competitive Prices. FREE Estimates
WESLEY'S GLASS & MIRROR Call 480-306-5113 wesleysglass.com SERVICING THE ENTIRE VALLEY
BESTOF
2021
FALL TUNE-UP SPECIAL!
69
$
REG. $99.
Includes a 16-Points Inspection. LIMITED TIME ONLY. RESIDENTIAL ONLY
FREE INDOOR REME HALO® IN-DUCT AIR PURIFIER*
Handyman LLC
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*With a qualified ac system purchase
YOUR HOMETOWN AIR CONDITIONING SPECIALIST FREE Service Call With Repair FREE Second Opinion ★ FREE Estimate
A + Rating
480-725-7303 www.BrewersAC.com SINCE 1982 ROC #C39-312643
We offer Big Savings and Great Financing!
Some restrictions apply. See website for additional information. Special rebates and financing offers are valid on qualifying equipment and pre-approved credit. Offers expire 12/31/2021.
Appliance Repairs
Appliance Repair Now
If It’s Broken, We Can Fix It! • Same Day Service • On-Site Repairs • Servicing All Major Brands • Quality Guaranteed
Concrete & Masonry
Your Ad can go ONLINE ANY Day! Call to place your ad online!! Classifieds 480-898-6465
• Electrical Repair • Plumbing Repair • Dry rot and termite damage repair
GENERAL CONTRACTOR / HANDYMAN SERVICES
Block Fence * Gates
602-789-6929 Roc #057163
Affordable, Quali
Ahwatukee Resident/ References/ Insured/ Not a Licensed Contractor Insured / Not aCall Licensed Contractor Bruce at 602.670.7038
• Serving Arizona Since 2005 •
ALL RESIDENTIAL & COMMERCIAL ELECTRICAL Call Jim Endres 480.282.7932 Over 28 Years Experience • ROC #246019 Bonded/Insured
480-898-6465 Email Your Ad: class@times publications.com
gilbertsunnews.com
Your newspaper. Your community. Your planet. Please recycle me.
Hauling
520.508.1420
Call Bruce at 602.670.7038 2012, 2013, ElectricalCall Services 2014 Ahwatukee References/ Insured/ NotResident a Licensed Contractor Ahwatukee / References BruceResident/ at 602.670.7038 ty Work Since 1999 • Panel Changes and Repairs • Installation of Ceiling Fans • Switches/Outlets • Home Remodel
Deadline: Thursday at 10am for Sunday
SERVING THE ENTIRE VALLEY
Small Man!” Decks • Tile • More! ✔ Kitchens 9 199 ce Sin rk Affordable, Quality Wo ✔ Bathrooms BSMALLMAN@Q.COM 2010, 2011 9 199 ce rk Sin 2012, “No 2013, Job Too Affordable, Quality Wo And More! 2010, 2011 Small Man!” 2014 Call Bruce at 602.670.7038
HONESTY • INTEGRITY • QUALITY
HOME REMODELING REPAIRS & CUSTOM INTERIOR PAINTING Move a wall; turn a door into a window. From small jobs and repairs to room additions, I do it all. Precision interior painting, carpentry, drywall, tile, windows, doors, skylights, electrical, fans, plumbing and more. All trades done by hands-on General Contractor. Friendly, artistic, intelligent, honest and affordable. 40 years' experience. Call Ron Wolfgang Pleas text or leave message Cell 602-628-9653 Wolfgang Construction Inc. Licensed & Bonded ROC 124934
CLASSIFIEDS and LEGALS
Marks Spot• for ALL Your Handyman Needs! All Estimates arethe Free Call: Painting • Flooring • Electrical www.husbands2go.com Plumbing • Drywall • Carpentry Licensed, Bonded & Insured Decks • Tile••ROC#317949 More!
Marks the Spot for ALL Your Handyman Ask me about FREE Needs! water testing! Marks the Spot for ALL•Your Handyman Needs! ✔ Painting Painting Flooring • Electrical “No Job Too Lowest Prices * 30 Yrs Exp ✔Small Flooring Painting • Flooring • Electrical Plumbing • Drywall • Carpentry Man!” Plumbing • Drywall • Carpentry ✔ Electrical Decks • Tile • More! Serving Entire Valley Quality Work Since 1999 Decks •Affo Tile • More! rdable, ✔ Plumbing 2010, 2011 2012, 2013, 2014 Call Bruce at 602.670.7038 ✔ Drywall Ahwatukee Resident/ References/ Insured/ Not a Licensed Contractor “No Job ✔ Carpentry YOU’LL LIKE US - THE BEST! Too Small Marks the Spot for“No Job Too ALL Your Handyman Needs! ✔ Decks Painting • Flooring • Electrical Small Man!” “No Job Too Man!” ✔ Tile Plumbing • Drywall • Carpentry
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Home Improvement
2010, 2011 2012, 2013, 2014
• Furniture • Appliances • Mattresses • Televisions • Garage Clean-Out • Construction Debris
• Old Paint & Chems. • Yard Waste • Concrete Slab • Remodeling Debris • Old Tires
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General Contracting, Inc. Licensed • Bonded • Insured • ROC118198
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Free Estimates with Pride & Prompt Service!
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GILBERT SUN NEWS | DECEMBER 19, 2021
Landscape/Maintenance Juan Hernandez
Plumbing
HOME IMPROVEMENT & PAINTING
Drain Cleaning Experts, water heaters, disposals, water & sewer lines repaired/replaced & remodels. Rapid Response. If water runs through it we do it! 602-663-8432
Juan Hernandez
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Drip/Install/Repair & Tune ups!
TRIMMING
Not a licensed contractor
25 Years exp (480) 720-3840
25 years exp. Call Now (480) 720-3840
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Irrigation
Car for Sale?
Painting
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Advertise It Here!
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Classifieds 480-898-6465
Plumbing
• Sprinkler/Drip Repairs • New Installs Poly/PVC • Same Day Service
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HYDROJETTING
Interior & Exterior Residential/Commercial Free Estimates Drywall Repairs Senior Discounts References Available
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Specializing in Controllers, Valves, Sprinklers, Landscape Lighting, P.V.C. & Poly Drip Systems
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ROC# 256752
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MonsoonRoofingInc.com
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PLUMBERS CHARGE TOO MUCH!
East Valley PAINTERS
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PHILLIPS
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ROOFING LLC
Bonded/Insured • ROC #223709
Family Owned and Operated 43 Years Experience in Arizona
COMMERCIAL AND RESIDENTIAL
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Pool Service / Repair
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Insured/Bonded Free Estimates
T R E E
S E R V I C E
L L C
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
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Family Owned & Operated Bonded/Insured • ROC#153131
Now Accepting all major credit cards
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Pavers • Concrete • Water Features • Sprinkler Repair
PPebbleOcracking, O L Plaster R Epeeling, P ARebar IR showing, Pool Light out? I CAN HELP!
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Call Juan at
480-720-3840 Not a licensed contractor.
Licensed 2006 ROC 223367 Bonded Insured
PhillipsRoofing.org PhillipsRoofing@cox.net
39
GILBERT SUN NEWS | DECEMBER 19, 2021
Public Notices Hearing Notice: A petition for guardianship and conservatorship was filed regarding Jeffrie Janoe. The hearing is scheduled for Monday, January 31, 2022 at 10:45 am MST with the Superior Court of Arizona in Maricopa County. This hearing is scheduled by be held virtually. For further information contact the Clerk of the Court. Published: Gilbert Sun News/East Valley Tribune Dec 19, 26, 2021 and Jan 2, 9, 2022 / 43480 It is understood that the Arizona Museum of Natural History (AzMNH) made an agreement with now deceased Mr. Richard Hupfer in Mesa, AZ to house archaeological material uncovered in the Riverview complex. The agreement was made in 2004 or 2005. It is the intent of AzMNH to claim title to these artifacts if no valid claims are made by Feb. 15, 2021. To make a claim or for further information, please contact Dr. Emily Early at emily.early@mesaaz.gov or (480)6445907. Published: East Valley Tribune, Dec 12, 19, 2021 / 43287
Public Notices
OUT WITH THE OLD, CHIP RETURN RETURN YOUR TABLE GAMES CASINO CHIPS AT HARRAH’S AK-CHIN BEFORE THEY EXPIRE! If you have Table Games Casino chips received before July 7, 2021, please redeem them at the Harrah’s Ak-Chin Casino cashier cage no later than March 31, 2022 for a full refund. Disclaimer: Any discontinued Table Games chips not returned by March 31, 2022 will be void and hold no cash value. Redemption must take place at the Harrah’s Ak-Chin Casino cashier cage in person. Harrah’s Ak-Chin Casino is not responsible for any unreturned Table Games chips.
MORE CLASSIFIED ADS ONLINE! www.GilbertSunNews.com
Roofing
aOver 30 Years of Experience
aFamily Operated by 3 Generations of Roofers! Premier Tile, Shingle & Foam Roofer!
Spencer 4 HIRE ROOFING
TO: Xavier Martinez, M.D. 2323 E. Flower #124-B Phoenix, AZ 85016 The State Medical Board of Ohio 30 E. Broad Street, 3 rd Floor Columbus, OH 43215-6127 In the Matter of: Xavier Martinez, M.D. Case No. 21-CRF-0045 On October 14, 2021, the State Medical Board of Ohio mailed an Order of Permanent Revocation to Xavier Martinez, M.D. via certified mail, return receipt requested, at his last known address of record, 2323 E. Flower #124-B, Phoenix, AZ 85016. The Notice was returned to the Board from the postal service marked “return to sender, not deliverable as addressed, unable to forward.” A copy of the order is available on the Board’s website at www.elicense.ohio.gov. Dr. Martinez may be entitled to an appeal. Such an appeal must be commenced by the filing of a Notice of Appeal with the State Medical Board and the Franklin County Court of Common Pleas. The Notice of Appeal must set forth the Order appealed from and state that the State Medical Board’s Order is not supported by reliable, probative, and substantive evidence and is not in accordance with law. The Notice of Appeal may, but is not required to, set forth the specific grounds of the appeal. Any such appeal must be filed within fifteen (15) days after the last date of publication in accordance with the requirements of Section 119.12, Ohio Revised Code. Please contact the undersigned to ascertain the last date of publication. Any questions or correspondence should be addressed to: Jackie Moore Case Control Office 30 E. Broad Street, 3 rd Floor Columbus, OH 43215-6127 Jackie.Moore@med.ohio.gov
Valley Wide Service
480-446-7663
Publication: East Valley Tribune, Dec 19, 26, 2021 / 43373
“
THE MAN WHO STOPS ADVERTISING TO SAVE MONEY IS THE MAN WHO STOPS THE CLOCK TO SAVE TIME. - UNKNOWN
“
CLASS@TIMESPUBLICATIONS.COM
480.898.6465
FREE Estimates • Credit Cards OK www.spencer4hireroofing.com ROC#244850 | Insured | Bonded
Oooh, MORE ads online! Check Our Online Classifieds Too!
ChandlerNews.com NOTICE TO READERS: Most service advertisers have an ROC# or "Not a licensed contractor" in their ad, this is in accordance to the AZ state law. 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. 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. Again, this requirement is intended to make sure that the consumer is made aware of the unlicensed status of the individual or company.
SHARE WITH THE WORLD! Place a Birth, Anniversary, Wedding Announcement, In Memoriam, Obituary or any life event in this paper today! Call us for details.
class@timespublications.com or call 480-898-6465
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/
40
GILBERT SUN NEWS | DECEMBER 19, 2021
E.D. MARSHALL JEWELERS Best Qualit y Best Selection Best Price
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