Gilbert Sun News - 01.10.2021 by Times Media Group

Town boosts sick leave

New freeway crossing launches

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An edition of the East Valley Tribune

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This Week

COMMUNITY......... 14 Gilbert High alum in movie debut.

BUSINESS................. 16 Gilbert pizzeria-owning brothers are grateful.

SPORTS........................ 17

Fiesta Bowl reunites two EV competitors COMMUNITY....................................... 14 BUSINESS............................................. 16

SPORTS........................................17 GETOUT...................................... 18

PUZZLE.......................................20 CLASSIFIED..........................................20

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Sunday, January 10, 2021

GPS keeps classrooms only partly open BY CECILIA CHAN GSN Managing Editor

ilbert Public Schools students won’t be returning to classrooms fulltime this week as previously planned but will spend the month in hybrid learning. The Governing Board last week voted 3-2 for K-12 students to keep with hybrid instruction until Jan. 29, though that date could move up if vaccines become available for teachers sooner. The hybrid model is meant to slow the spread of the coronavirus that is pushing up case counts in the community. It involves dividing student bodies into two groups

that alternate between two and three days a week in classrooms. “My goal is to get us back as soon as possible,” said board member Reed Carr, who made the motion. “My understanding is that teachers should start receiving vaccines in approximately a week to two weeks.” Carr added that his personal preference was for fulltime in-person learning but he crafted his motion to be a compromise. The board earlier unanimously rejected board President Charles Santa Cruz’s motion that called for K-6 students doing hybrid for two weeks in the third quarter, followed by virtual learning for the remainder of January and for grades 7-12 to go virtual

Jan. 11-29. During the nearly six-hour meeting last Monday, the board heard from 68 speakers on both sides of the issue. At one point over 3,000 viewers tuned into the live feed of the meeting. Superintendent Shane McCord attended via telephone because he tested positive for the virus. Over half of the speakers urged the board to keep its Dec. 15 decision for students to do one week of hybrid when they returned from winter break on Jan. 5 and then go to in-person learning five days a week.

see SCHOOLS page 4

Coyotes plan tribute to late Gilbert superfan BY NICHOLAS BARKER GSN Contributor

s 2020 came to a close, the Arizona Coyotes suffered heartbreak as Leighton Accardo of Gilbert, a 9-year-old Coyotes superfan, died after battling stage four malignant germ cell cancer since May 2019. In 2020, about 606,520 people died of cancer in the United States, but when it takes a life of someone who is so loved and known, it hurts even more. Leighton played youth hockey for the Arizona Kachinas, which is run by the Arizona Coyotes, and signed a one-day contract with the ‘yotes before a game against the Calgary Flames. To honor her life and legacy, the Coyotes will host Skatin’ for Leighton, featuring Lyndsey Fry, the Arizona Kachinas Hockey Association president.

Before she passed away after a valiant battle with cancer last month, 9-year-old Leighton Accardo of Gilbert was a big Arizona Coyotes fan. The team will hold a special memorial to her this year. (Special to GSN)

During the event, Fry will rollerblade across the Valley, stopping at hockey rinks along the way. It’s 96 miles – in honor of the Coyotes coming to the Valley in 1996. “I’m going to start at Phoenix Children’s Hospital, then I’ll be going to AZ Ice Arca-

dia, Ice Den Chandler, AZ Ice Gilbert, Coyotes Community Ice Center, Oceanside in Tempe and then up to the Ice Den in Scottsdale, over to the Peoria rink and ending at Gila River

see LEIGHTON page 7

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GILBERT SUN NEWS | JANUARY 10, 2021

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BY KEVIN REAGAN GSN Staff Writer

handler Unified School District officials say they’re “disgusted” by community members who have been willfully violating COVID-19 protocols by attending large gatherings and not wearing masks – enough so that they decided to temporarily shut down campuses for two weeks. Days after a video showing students throwing a massive New Year’s Eve party at a Gilbert residence in Whitewing began circulating online, the CUSD Governing Board held a last-minute meeting Jan. 4 to cancel all in-classroom instruction until Jan. 19. The district’s 45,000 students – including 10,000 in Gilbert – must now learn virtually from home, just as they did at the start of last semester. The sudden decision angered some parents and relieved many others. But it was perceived as a quick remedy to prevent COVID-19 cases from increasing exponentially during a time when some local residents have not been following health guidelines. “The lack of regard for other individuals is very, very concerning,” said board President Barbara Mozdzen. “I am very discouraged with our whole community. It makes our jobs so much more difficult.” Mozdzen was referencing the videos and photos showing hordes of high school students partying indoors over the holiday break that had surfaced

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Chandler Unified Governing Board members were furious at a meeting last week over reckless disregard for COVID-19 protocols in the district. (Special to GSN)

Gilbert party fueled Chandler school closings

Aaron Kolodny | 480-898-5641 | customercare@evtrib.com Sports Editor: Zach Alvira | 480-898-5630 | zalvira@timespublications.com

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online days before the spring semester was scheduled to begin. The Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office observed hundreds of people at the Gilbert party and is reviewing whether to cite the homeowner who welcomed the large gathering. Mozdzen said the behavior exhibited in the partying videos, which depicted some attendees not wearing face masks, could be causing virus cases to rise and is now forcing the district to be extra cautious. “I am extremely disappointed that we have large parties in the community and that our community is not mitigating the spread so we can keep our kids in school,” she said. Though Mozdzen has routinely favored keeping schools open, she voted to revert the district back to virtual learning until Martin Luther King Day. Board members Lindsay Love and Jason Olive voted with her. Love, who’s regularly pushed for more virtual learning options during the pandemic, said she worries the two-week period may not be long enough to prevent a spike in new cases. That New Year’s Eve party was a “slap in the face” to all of the district’s teachers, Love said, and it was “disgusting” behavior that could have major impacts on the district’s operations. “I don’t really think our community is taking this seriously,” she added. Board member Lara Bruner notably voted against the district’s virtual plan and instead proposed letting CUSD fol-

low the guidance of the county Public Health Department. All three benchmarks used by the county as guidance for schools show substantial virus spread in Chandler Unified as well as Gilbert. Bruner suggested CUSD should let the county’s data dictate when campuses can reopen – an idea that didn’t sit well with her board colleagues. Mozdzen said it would be a “crime” to allow virtual learning to continue endlessly until the county’s metrics changed. “These kids are our future and we know our kids are not learning as much as they can during virtual,” Mozdzen said. “Virtual is not a substitute for being in-person.” Bruner, a teacher for the Tempe Union High School District, disputed the notion that virtual learning is subpar and inherently inferior to classroom instruction. “To minimize it is unfair to all the professionals out there who work their asses off for 10, 12, 14 hours a day to make virtual learning as best as they can,” she said. Bruner further objected to the stress Chandler’s in-classroom module is inadvertently putting on teachers due to the quarantined students they have to track online. The district requires students and staff to quarantine at home for two weeks after coming into contact with

see CUSD page 9

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GILBERT SUN NEWS | JANUARY 10, 2021

SCHOOLS from page 1

Many of the parents who attended the meeting showed up because of reports of a possible teacher walkout last week. “I want you to know that if you vote for our kids, you will not stand alone,” Justalyn Couser said. “We are here to help. If these teachers walk out, we will walk in. We will sub, we will volunteer, we will do whatever it takes to keep our kids in school.” Parents talked about the struggles their children are having with online learning and the toll on their mental health from being kept out of classrooms. Madison Judd, a fifth-grader at Mesquite Elementary, pleaded with the board to reopen campuses. She said students were following the district’s mitigation guidelines such as wearing masks. “We’re being safe and responsible,” she said. “We need to be in school. It’s not healthy to keep us out. We will do anything to be in-person.” Steve Walker, a dad of three kids, two of whom graduated from Desert Ridge High School, said his family made the decision to remove his daughter from GPS and enroll her at American Leadership Academy, a charter school where she is having a “fantastic experience.” “I’m disappointed in you,” Walker said. “I’m disappointed by the board. I’m disappointed that I have to be here again having this conversation over and over again. It is a bad version of ‘Groundhog Day’” – a reference to a movie about a man stuck reliving the same day for years. Walker told the board members it was their duty to ensure quality uninterrupted education and to follow the will of the people. “For those good teachers afraid of COVID and don’t want to teach in-person due to the risks of their job, the district should repurpose these teachers if there is an open position,” he said. “If not, they should let them go. “Those teachers that don’t want to teach in-person, that want to call a sickout, act like a union and claim that they are not, they need to quit. They need to go get a different job.” Jessica Peccia, a mom of two children,

Parents held a caravan to support closed campuses in Gilbert Public Schools before the GPS Governing Board met last week. (Pablo Robles/GSN Staff Photographer)

said families supported public education during the 2018 Red for Ed movement when teachers walked out to demand higher pay. “Why are you refusing to support us and our children?” she asked. “When did you stop caring?” Alli Troutman said she has six children attending GPS schools and wanted schools to reopen. “I stand here today to let you know that I will no longer let you guys destroy and break down my family and my kids’ education,” she said. “For those board members who don’t have kids in school, you guys have no skin in the game,” Troutman continued. “You personally do not know what it’s like for our children. My kids are not learning online or on hybrid. They are zombies by the end of the day.” She said for those advocating for virtual learning, she had better not see them at a Costco, Walmart, grocery stores or salons because they should be doing all of that virtually. Some parents noted that health care professionals, first responders and grocery workers show up to their jobs daily and so should teachers, who they said are essential workers. They also vowed that they will remove their children from GPS and enroll them

in a charter or private school if the board doesn’t reopen classrooms to in-person learning. Data released Jan. 7 by the Maricopa County health department showed substantial virus spread continues in GPS and the town. The data showed that cases per 100,000 people were at 653, down slightly from a week earlier. But positive test results jumped from 15.6 percent to 21 percent as the percentage of hospital visits with COVID-like symptoms also remained in the substantial range at 12.9 percent – virtually unchanged from the previous week. There have been no outbreaks at any of the district campuses, which have strict mitigation protocols in place. Teachers said they returned to the classroom because the board voted in August to follow the state and county health benchmarks in determining the learning model but abandoned that in its December decision. Carr said the board voted to adhere to county benchmarks before the board even knew what they were but now board members know much more about the virus. He noted that the district’s mitigation plan was such that county health Director Dr. Rebecca Sunenshine, the Centers

for Disease Control’s leading epidemiologist, deemed it was safe for GPS to hold in-person learning even with spread in the community. Speakers also said some older students were not adhering to the district’s protocol on campus such as wearing their masks and asked the board to follow Chandler Unified School District’s lead, which earlier that day voted to go with virtual learning for two weeks. A number of speakers such as Bonnie Hickman also referenced a New Year’s Eve party attended by hundreds of unmasked youths at a home in a county island in the Gilbert subdivision of Whitewing. Hickman, a 26-year teacher in the district, asked the board for at least two weeks of hybrid learning to cover the incubation period for the virus. “I know it’s going to be difficult to have in-person schooling if we end up with too many teachers in the hospital or actually not surviving COVID,” she said. Hickman also reminded the board there was no more federal pandemic relief money to provide employees up to 10 sick days should they contract the virus. “Hopefully, we will start getting the vaccine soon,” Hickman said. “I’ve prepared my classroom and myself as best I can. I have a top-notch air purifier in my room and I have a schedule, the kids wash their hands every hour and I have three weeks of sub plans ready. “My son is grown and my will is up to date. I know where I’m going after this world so I’m not worried. I’m not afraid.” Leda DeVlieger, a teacher and a parent of two kids, said her sister is an ICU nurse at a large Valley hospital and the beds in that unit are full. She added she’s seen photos of children and adult standing shoulder to shoulder without masks and viewed videos of kids partying and going to dances because their parents want some sort of normalcy for them. “The only reasonable thing is to return to virtual learning,” she said. Sophie Hammer, who attends Gilbert Classical Academy, said this was not the

see SCHOOLS page 6

GILBERT SUN NEWS | JANUARY 10, 2021

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GILBERT SUN NEWS | JANUARY 10, 2021

SCHOOLS from page 4

first time she has come to the board to talk about school safety, having spoken about the virus in August before the academic year started. “But here I am again begging my school district to take a pandemic and let me reiterate, a pandemic more seriously,” Hammer said. “I want to go back to school. As a senior I want to make this year count but not at the expense of my teachers and my peers. “Trust me I hear your concerns about mental health. I struggle with OCD and generalized anxiety myself. I take virtual counseling. I do think we need to emphasize mental health counseling more.” She went on to cite case numbers in Arizona and said under the health benchmarks, the district should be instituting virtual learning. “We’re not asking for virtual learning for long, minimum of two weeks,” she said. “We don’t want to see any more deaths and we do not want to see cases rise. We just want to know the school board cares about the health of our teachers and most importantly the

Bonnie Hickman

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health of students.” Special education teacher Carrah Dodd, speaking on behalf of the Gilbert Education Association, said GEA has not promoted a sickout due to the fluid situation brought on by the pandemic.

Dodd offered a number of recommendations for the board that included virtual learning for students after winter break until two of the three health metrics indicate minimal virus spread. She also suggested the district part-

ner with an agency to offer COVID-19 testing for employees and to update the district dashboard daily. Board members Lori Wood and Jill Humpherys supported Carr’s motion. Hunpherys saw it as a good compromise. Wood said the cases have been increasing even when students haven’t been in school during the break and questioned how staying out of school would keep the virus from spreading in the community. She said it was the district’s responsibility to educate the students and it should be looking for a mitigation strategy to keep teachers safe. She added other surrounding schools are opened for fulltime in-person learning and that the board’s decision would impact students and their learning. Board member Shelia Uggetti said the district was doing this backwards and should have virtual learning for two weeks and then look at going back full time. She and Santa Cruz voted against the motion.

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GILBERT SUN NEWS | JANUARY 10, 2021

LEIGHTON from page 1

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Arena,” Fry said. “It is probably going to take me about 11 or 12 hours, so I’m probably thinking I’m going to go from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.” The event’s date will be set after the NHL releases its official schedules for next season. Fry is hoping people will meet her along her journey across the Valley. The event was planned before the death of Leighton, whose parents are Jeremy, the New York Mets’ assistant pitching coach, and Carly Accardo “It was going to be more of a season kickoff and a small fundraising component in honor of Leighton, but when we found out how sick she really was and how little time she had left, it was like a full 180, we’re going all in on this,” Fry said. “I’m thankful that I am able to use my platform to make a difference and ensure that her legacy stays alive forever.” Leighton’s legacy includes her involvement in and her love for women’s sports, especially youth hockey. The youngster wore No. 49 for the

Arizona Kachinas, and the Coyotes are considering retiring the number. The Leighton Accardo Scholarship fund has also been introduced to help get young girls involved in and excited about hockey. “There’s been a lot of talk of growth in the sport, and how do we get young girls involved in hockey and trying it out,” said Fry. Fry is also the Coyotes’ director of external engagement and female hockey. The Coyotes are hoping to raise $49,000 for the scholarship fund, to honor the Leighton’s number. So far, almost $10,000 has been raised, and Fry expects to meet the goal. “I think we will continue to have waves of donations coming through,” Fry said. “I’ve had a number of people reach out to me who want to donate, but they just haven’t had the chance to yet. “I think we are also going to get corporate sponsors who are going to want to donate to this cause.” Information: nhl.com/coyotes/community/skatinforleighton.

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GILBERT SUN NEWS | JANUARY 10, 2021

Town Council extends COVID sick leave BY CECILIA CHAN GSN Managing Editor

ilbert’s police officers and firefighters have seen a 53 percent increase – or 68 new cases – in COVID-19 among their ranks in the past month for a total of 129 cases since April. With the number of cases expected to be on par with December or higher this month, Town Council last week unanimously voted to continue to provide employees up to 80 hours of paid sick leave for COVID-19 even though the federal mandate expired Dec. 31. The coverage was provided under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act, which took effect April 1. Congress did not take action to extend it into 2021. “Just like you are seeing in the state, just like what you are seeing in the county, just like what you are seeing across the country, we are seeing a significant increase in positive COVID cases,” said Nathan Williams, Gilbert’s chief people officer. “I’m highlighting public safety because

our first responders unfortunately are often times victims of this the most because of the nature of their work and the fact that they are out there in the field,” he said. “They’re working with sick individuals who are potentially infected individuals.” Overall, from April to Jan. 5, a total 170 town employees have been stricken by the virus, according to Williams. He added staff felt if the COVID leave was not extended, it might cause some infected or sick employees to come to work, putting the public and other employees at risk. And, because the town is self-insured, removal of the leave would lead to an increase in work comp claims due to atwork exposure, Williams said. Each claim costs the town $1,000 to initiate even if it is denied. He said Gilbert opted not to follow what many neighboring municipalities have done, which was to front-load the 80 hours of sick leave by depositing it into their employees’ leave banks. “We felt this was not the most conservative or fiscally responsible approach

because it puts you in the position of potentially have to pay out that leave in the case of retirement or potentially carry over that leave without intending to,” Williams explained. Under the town’s plan, employees will have to apply for the leave and provide documentation. Had the town front-loaded the hours, it would have come to 108,000 hours for 1,350 eligible employees, Williams said. To date, a total of 297 employees have used some COVID sick leave, amounting to 16,069 hours, less than 15 percent of the possible leave that would have been banked had the town gone with the front-loaded approach. Councilwoman Aimee Yentes asked if there was a sunset date for the policy. Williams said January was anticipated to be one of the worst in term of case number for the town but didn’t see the extension continuing to the end of the calendar year. “As soon as we start to see a wider deployment of the vaccine and a drop in positive cases especially amongst our personnel who are still working out in the

field, public safety, in particular, as well as parks and public works, we can then start to wind this program down and close it out,” Town Manager Patrick Banger said. Councilman Jared Taylor, who was attending his last Council meeting remotely because he was recovering from COVID-19, asked if the town’s available share of the CARES Act money can fund the sick leave and if so it would be an appropriate use. “Yes, it would be if the Council choses to,” Banger responded. “Initially the federal government had made funds available to reimburse employers who were required to provide this sick leave. They then changed that to they would not reimburse public-sector employers for that but we did receive COVID dollars through the governor’s office, which the CARES Act Subcommittee has allocated in various ways and this would be an expense that they could use some of those CARE Act dollars to reimburse for.” Yentes, who heads the subcommittee, said a meeting was to be scheduled soon and will present the issue for consideration.

knowledged that Burk contends that her registration was improperly canceled. The justices did not rule on that nor dispute her argument. But Brutinel said it doesn’t matter. “She admits that she was well aware before the election that she would not be able to vote in the general election,’’ the chief justice wrote. “There is nothing before the court to indicate that (Burk) timely contacted the appropriate authorities to correct any problems with her voter registration.’’ In her claim, Burk alleged widespread fraud and improper tallying by voting machines. She also claimed that someone had flown a batch of ballots into Phoenix’s Sky Harbor International Airport, some of which Burk said were taken to the Maricopa County ballot tabulation center. Burk never got a hearing on her claims

after her case was tossed last month by Pinal County Superior Court Judge Kevin White who also concluded she had no legal right to sue. White also found – and the Supreme Court on Tuesday agreed – that Burk, who represented herself, waited too long to file suit. Brutinel said the deadline to challenge the formal canvass of the election was Dec. 7. And while she did file legal papers that day, the chief justice said it was not a properly verified complaint. While Tuesday’s ruling wraps up all the election cases in state, there are technically two other cases that originated here which remain on appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court. One by Kelli Ward, who chairs the Arizona Republican Party, contends judges here did not give her enough time to examine ballots to prove her claim of elec-

tion irregularities. In that case, the judge cited deadlines for completing the state process and concluded that a random sample that was examined showed there were not enough errors to overturn the fact that Biden defeated Trump. The justices have given the defendants in that case the 11 electors pledged to Biden until Jan. 14 to respond. That is eight days after Congress convenes to review the electoral votes and formally declare the winner of the race. The second involves Ward and the other 10 would-be Republican electors who allege a series of problems in how the election was conducted, including fraud and “statistical improbability’’ that Biden could have won the race here. But a response to that is not due until Jan. 28, more than a week after the presidential inauguration.

Former GPS board member loses challenge to Biden win BY HOWARD FISCHER Capitol Media Services

former Gilbert Public Schools Governing Board member lost her challenge to President Trump’s defeat in Arizona. The Arizona Supreme Court last week threw out Staci Burk’s lawsuit – the last remaining legal challenge in state courts to the choice of voters here of Joe Biden for president. Chief Justice Robert Brutinel said only those people who are “qualified electors’’ have the right to sue to overturn a vote. But he said Burk, a board member from 2010-14 who now lives in Pinal County, had not been registered to vote in the 2020 race, meaning she lacked legal standing to file suit in the first place. Brutinel, writing for himself and three other justices who reviewed the case, ac-

GILBERT SUN NEWS | JANUARY 10, 2021

CUSD from page 3

someone infected with COVID-19. Teachers are expected to check-in with quarantined students and keep them included in classroom activities through video applications. But Bruner said the number of CUSD students who have already quarantined – which has exceeded 1,800 – has made this teaching model inefficient for both parties involved. “We have hundreds of quarantined students at the high schools and it’s unfair to the students to not have access to education during those 14 days,” Bruner said, “but at the same time, it’s unfair to the teachers to try to do a hybrid model when they don’t have the technology to do it.” Before the Jan. 4 meeting, Bruner attempted to have the board convene on Dec. 23 to discuss changing the district’s instructional modalities. By mid-December, the county’s data metrics showed Chandler had a “substantial” risk for spreading COVID-19 and Bruner tried to get CUSD to act before students returned to school for the

NEWS

spring semester. But she claims her request was denied in order to allow a district committee more time to gather feedback on how to respond to the pandemic. After the denial, many teachers and parents upped the pressure on CUSD to act by threatening to call out sick when classes resumed and organizing protests outside the district offices. The district eventually reversed its plan and rushed to hold a board meeting right before students were expected to return to school. Thousands of parents and teachers tuned into the Jan. 4 meeting to anxiously await the board’s decision for virtual learning and many did not appreciate the district’s slow response. Frank Pezzorello, a Hamilton High teacher, chastised the district for waiting until the last minute to decide whether to return to virtual learning. “The easy thing was to do nothing,” Pezzorello told the school board. “By delaying this meeting, we have not allowed parents to find childcare and we

will have to deal with this one way or another.” Some parents urged CUSD to continue in-person instruction at any means necessary. Armando Spataro, a local parent, said shifting back to virtual learning would be harmful to his children and questioned the board’s decision considering the low infection rates seen across Arizona’s schools. “I feel the districts will look back and see a trail of collateral damage created by denying our children their place in school,” Spataro said. As of Jan. 6, CUSD reported only six active virus cases among its 50,000 staff and students. The district has had another 836 cases get resolved after the infected individual was deemed safe to return to campus. CUSD has had an additional 600 cases of students contracting the virus while off campus – data that wasn’t previously being reported publicly until this month. The school board has recently voted

to revise its thresholds that would initiate a temporary school closure. Before the Jan. 4 meeting, CUSD had been following a protocol that obligates administrators to close elementary schools when the infection rate for active cases reaches 2 percent of the campus population. High schools would close with an infection rate of 1 percent. The board lowered the thresholds to 1.5 percent for elementary campuses, 1 percent for junior high schools, and .75 percent for high schools. Despite the recent changes, some district officials feel CUSD still is not doing enough to make sure campuses are as safe as they can be. Joel Wirth, one of the school board’s newest members, suggested reprimanding students and staff caught not wearing masks while on campus with some sort of sanction or penalty. “We have got to put some teeth into people wearing masks,” Wirth said. “We’ve gotten loose….We need to follow the rules.”

NEWS

GILBERT SUN NEWS | JANUARY 10, 2021

Sellers named county supervisor chair GSN NEWS STAFF

ormer Chandler City Council member Jack Sellers is now chairman of the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors. Sellers, who won election to his first full term last November, was unanimously picked as supervisor by his four fellow members. Sellers, who was first appointed to the board in 2019 and whose district includes Chandler, Gilbert and part of Ahwatukee, says he’s focused on building a brighter future for Maricopa County. “Over the last year, I have watched as our whole nation has been shaken to its core,” said Sellers. “The faster we as a county, a state and a nation can beat this virus, the faster we can secure a brighter future for all Americans.” Sellers said the first step is ending the COVID-19 pandemic by ensuring residents have accurate information about the spread of the virus and timely ac-

Jack Sellers addressed his colleagues and others after he was named chairman of the county Board of Supervisors. (Courtesy Maricopa County)

cess to vaccines. “My office will look to expand our efforts to educate on facts, especially when it comes to the safety and efficacy of COVID-19 vaccines. The critics are loud; we will be louder,” Sellers stated. “We will continue to lead based on science and common sense.” The next step is restoring trust in elections to the average voter, he said. “The Board of Supervisors welcomes good-faith efforts to make our elections the best they can be. That is why my colleagues and I support a full forensic audit of our election tabulation equipment once all litigation related to the 2020 General Election is over,” Sellers said. “I have full faith in our team and the integrity of our elections.” He noted that previous audits and hand counts have shown the 2020 elections were safe, secure, and accurate. Another top priority is crafting and getting voter approval for a regional transportation and infrastructure plan

to replace Prop 400. As the nation’s fastest-growing county, Sellers said a comprehensive transportation plan is essential to ensure that we continue to be an attractive destination for families and businesses. Sellers was on the State Transportation Board. “We cannot lose sight of planning for our future,” Sellers said. “As hard as it is to remember, the current crises are temporary. What we must focus on is how to sustain and improve quality of life in our region for the next 20 years. Extensive expansion of smart infrastructure will be the key to our future success.” “I truly hope that we, along with our cities/towns and the Maricopa County Association of Governments can put in the work and make the tough decisions necessary to assure the next generation has an opportunity to enjoy the quality of life available to our citizens today.”

Harrison said $10 million also was spent for construction of early relocates. The project was broken up into two phases and the early relocates refers to the initial phase that included the relocation of the Roosevelt Water Conservation District and Salt River Project facilities, she explained. Nintzel said the town and the Maricopa Association of Governments are the lead partner agencies on funding for the work.

“Sources are a combination of federal aid and regional transportation funds, with a local funding match,” he said. According to town officials, the project is needed as development pushes south bringing increased traffic from residents traveling to work, shop, learn and play. The lack of an interchange has created substantial traffic on both Gilbert Road

Ground broken for Lindsay-freeway interchange GSN NEWS STAFF

groundbreaking last week for an interchange at Lindsay Road and Loop 202 marked a ceremonial step toward a long-sought project that will help relieve traffic congestion in Gilbert’s Central Business District, including the 250-acre mixed-use Rivulon development. The town is partnering with Arizona Department of Transportation and the Federal Highway Administration on the project, which is scheduled to open to motorists in February 2022. Drivers should expect minimal restrictions at times along Loop 202 while the new ramps and a frontage road on the north side of the freeway are being built, said Doug Nintzel, spokesman for ADOT, which is managing the interchange construction. Restrictions also are expected along Lindsay Road as the project advances,

Nintzel said. He said ADOT and the town will provide updates on restrictions throughout the duration of the construction. Besides construction of the westbound frontage road between Lindsay and Gilbert roads there will be a widening of the Gilbert westbound off-ramp and the Val Vista Drive eastbound off-ramp. The work also consists of building a diamond traffic interchange at Lindsay Road and a fourth general-purpose freeway lane that will be constructed in the future, according to ADOT. Nintzel said ADOT’s portion of the project’s cost comes to $21.7 million. Gilbert’s cost to do the project was approximately $13 million, according to spokeswoman Jennifer Harrison. The breakdown included $2.5 million for the interchange’s design; $200,000 toward the construction of the interchange and $250,000 for the cost of the land for the interchange.

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GILBERT SUN NEWS | JANUARY 10, 2021

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GILBERT SUN NEWS | JANUARY 10, 2021

from page 10

and Val Vista Drive and also restricts development along the Loop 202 near Lindsay, according to the town. With the incoming interchange, Zanjero Park at the southeast corner of Lindsay and Loop 202 will see some changes in its parking layout and access, though on the whole officials don’t expect permanent impact to the site. Plans also called for building sidewalks and cross walks at the ramp intersections that will provide better connectivity from the transportation system to the park. Additionally, new traffic signals will be installed for the interchange ramp intersections at Lindsay Road just north of the park. The town has been prepping for the interchange by widening Lindsay Road between Pecos Road and Loop 202 to three lanes in each direction. Widening of Lindsay between 202 and Germann Road and Germann Road between Gilbert Road and Val Vista Drive to three lanes in each direction are expected to begin soon, according to officials. Both Gilbert Road and Val Vista Drive

ADOT State Engineer Dallas Hammit providing remarks during the Jan 4. groundbreaking. (Courtesy Town of Gilbert)

currently carry between 30,000 and 45,000 vehicles per day. Lindsay Road carries approximately 12,000, according to a 2014 report by Maricopa Association of Governments, the regional transporta-

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tion authority. Traffic projections for 2035 daily volumes on Gilbert Road and Val Vista Drive were anticipated to grow between 30 percent and 60 percent, respectively, ac-

cording to MAG. With the addition of the interchange at Lindsay Road, it’s expected to shift traffic from the Gilbert Road and Val Vista Drive interchanges to the Lindsay Road interchange. MAG predicted the traffic volume in 2035 on Gilbert Road and Val Vista Drive would decrease by 5,000 and 8,000 vehicles, respectively while volumes on Lindsay Road would increase by as much as 20,000 vehicles. Gilbert’s stretch of Loop 202 opened in 2006 and runs from Gilbert Road east to Power Road, where it turns north to Mesa. Six freeway interchanges currently provide access to Gilbert. The only other freeway that serves the town is U.S. 60, a half mile north of and parallel to Gilbert’s north border. The town’s General Plan includes intense office, retail, light industrial and employment uses along the 202 corridor and potential development within the project area could double the amount of office space that currently exists in Gilbert.

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Gilbert alum suits up in Clemson gear for movie BY ZACH ALVIRA GSN Staff Writer

lex A.J. Gardner sought a new path when he graduated from Gilbert High School in 2017. With an outgoing personality, he decided to try his hand at acting. He had never done it before but soon after found himself chasing a role in the movie, “Safety,” which released Friday, Dec. 11 on Disney Plus. The movie depicts the true story a former Clemson football player. Gardner played the role of one of the Clemson football players, appearing in practice and game scenes. It was special to him for a variety of reasons. But most importantly, it allowed the South Carolina native to fulfill a childhood dream. “Growing up in South Carolina, you’re either a (Clemson) Tiger or a (South Carolina) Gamecock,” Gardner said. “Putting on the jersey, it kind of left me speechless. I don’t think I was able to really grasp how big of a moment it was.” Gardner traveled to Clemson, South Carolina for the movie role. He spent several weeks there filming the various practice and game scenes. He was outfitted with official Clemson gear — from the helmet to the jersey, pants and even cleats Tiger players wear on game days. One scene was filmed during halftime of one of Clemson’s games in 2019. Gardner and the rest of the cast of players even replicated part of the team’s entrance. When Clemson enters Memorial Stadium for home games, it often brings chills to spectators both in person and watching on national TV. In 2013, when eighthranked Clemson hosted fifth-ranked Georgia in prime time, the ESPN cameras captured every moment of one of college football’s greatest traditions. The players were bussed from one end of the stadium up the hill to the other. One by one players filed out and entered the gates of the stadium to touch Howard’s Rock — Clemson’s good luck charm.

Gilbert High School alum Alex A.J. Gardner, a South Carolina native, fulfilled his dream of putting on a Clemson uniform during his role in the Disney movie, “Safety,” which was released on Disney Plus. (Courtesy Alex A.J. Gardner) real thing. Running down the hill was a dream. We did it in front of all the fans at half time, so it was pretty cool. We did a couple of football scenes like a kickoff. All of the fans got to be part of the movie.” Gardner and his family moved from South Carolina to Gilbert in 2015. He attended Gilbert High School where Gardner played the role of a football player at Clemson and he played football wore the No. 7 jersey in practice and game scenes, one of which and soccer for the Tiwas filmed at halftime of a Tigers’ game at Clemson Memorial gers. After a season Stadium in South Carolina. (Courtesy Alex A.J. Gardner) of soccer, he decided Then, they storm down a hill leading to to stick to football only. But his career was the field surrounded by fans. Brent Mus- quickly shortened after an injury that led berger, part of the national broadcast for to his hamstring muscle separating from ESPN that game, called it the “most excit- the bone. He remained with the team despite ing 25 seconds in college football.” Gardner agrees, stating “It felt like the his inability to play and began thinking

about his next step after high school. He was never involved in the school’s drama department or had interest in acting until after high school, but when he saw the role of being a Clemson football player, he knew it was one he had to go for. “I wanted to do something new and get out of my comfort zone,” Gardner said. “I didn’t really have an interest until this movie came about and it was about Clemson. I thought I would try it and I just ended up loving it.” Gardner was called several weeks later for casting, and soon after that was on a plane back home to South Carolina to film. The scenes he is in took a couple of weeks to film. The movie as a whole took a few months. “Safety” depicts the true-life events of former Clemson player Ray-Ray McElrathbey, who came to Clemson on a football scholarship in 2006. While there as a freshman, he received a call from his younger brother, Fahmarr, who was in a difficult situation due to their mother relapsing and father not at home. McElrathbey took Fahmarr in and had him stay with him at Clemson, ultimately putting his scholarship on the line. He was forced to move to off-campus housing but received support from the Clemson community. The movie is on Disney Plus. “I still haven’t really grasped the fact that I’m in a movie about Clemson,” Gardner said. “I think when I watch it, it’ll really hit. Who would’ve thought I would start my acting career in a Clemson movie? It’s kind of surreal.” Gardner said he has a few potential roles in upcoming productions lined up but doesn’t know when or if they will be finalized. For now, he plans to enjoy his first movie and see where his career leads him in the future. “The pandemic has made it hard, but I have a few things lined up,” he said. “But I’m not really trying to force it. If opportunities come to me then they come.”

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BUSINESS

GILBERT SUN NEWS | JANUARY 10, 2021

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Pizzeria owner-brothers grateful for workers, customers BY MELODY BIRKETT GSN Contributor

n business together since 1984 producing films, doing furniture retail and investing in real estate, Tony and Mike Casanova now co-own and run Casanova Bros. Pizza in Gilbert. “I learned from the old-timers, the old-school,” said Mike, who has worked in a pizzeria at age 16 in his native New York City. “We’d use deck ovens with the stone inside, which is a lot different than a lot of places now that have conveyor belt ovens. So, it’s the old-style way. The people who trained me were all oldschool cooks.” But he left the job after five years, explaining, “The food business is tough, the hours are hard and when you’re a young guy you like to have free time.” Growing up, the brothers always had a love for movies – and they eventually started making a living with them. “When I was younger, I had a movie projector in our basement,” recalled Mike. “We had a little movie theater. We still have those old movies. We used to charge kids money to watch movies. I would go out and buy and show more movies and that’s how we got into the movie business.” While the brothers continue to do independent films and produced four in 2020, they also were eventually lured back into the pizza business. They often had business meetings at Jake’s Pizza at Val Vista Drive and Guadalupe Road, the same shopping center where their pizzeria is now located, at 959 N. Val Vista Drive. Mike noticed the Bakers Pride ovens in the back at Jake’s and remembers thinking, “Those are the ovens that really make good pizza. I’d love to buy a little place like this just to have one.” After living here 10 years, they learned Jake’s Pizza was for sale. By January

Tony and Mike Casanova like watching and making movies as much as they like making pizza at their Gilbert shop. (Melody Birkett/GSN Contributor) 2008, they were owners of the shop. And when they became so popular they began looking for a bigger place, their landlord, John Patterson, helped them out, telling them “I really don’t want to see you guys go because you’re part of the community.” Tony said the Patterson family was “phenomenal and they made this possible for us because they didn’t want to see us go.” Mike has a succinct explanation for Casanova Bros. Pizza’s success. “Good food,” explained Mike. “Quality, consistency, customer service no matter what business you’re in.” “When you taste the food or if you look at the reviews, you see what people say,” Tony said. “We have people who travel long distances to come here. And they give us feedback and I tell them, ‘Everybody makes a different pie, lasagna, meatball. If you come here, we’re grateful but you’ll never hear us say anything bad about the competition. We’re very humble.’” “We do make everything in-house. We

like to make things from scratch. The recipes are actually recipes of our family. The sauce, the meatball, the eggplant. It’s a labor of love.” When it comes to pizza, the Casanova Special seems to be a favorite. “Tony recommended it because people would come in and order a white pie with fresh ricotta, butter and garlic-based, pizza cheese and a little bit of olive oil on it,” said Mike. “A lot of people like that. The most popular one with the white is with sausage and spinach. Then we have the red pie, the regular Neapolitan cheese pizza, where we have Boars head ham, homemade meatballs, sausage and pepperoni. And we call that one the New York Special.” In addition to pizza, the restaurant serves pastas, calzones and wings. What’s it like being brothers and running a business together? “We both have patience,” said Tony. “I’m a little bit pushier when it comes to certain things. But overall, people come in here all of the time and say, ‘You guys have a lot of respect and love for one

another.’ “It’s not an ego thing. That’s where a lot of brothers and family members have problems because they’re always using the measuring stick instead of saying, ‘Wait a minute, can we both do this together as a team so we can get there a lot quicker?’ People see that. I think that’s the magic of what we do. “We’ve been blessed but most importantly with us, for brothers, is how we were raised. We still continue that tradition of honesty, integrity, of hard work and respect and most importantly humility and giving back.” The pandemic hurt but the brothers have been pulling through. “All of the servers got paid even though they didn’t have tables to wait on…We gave them tips from carryout orders. It was hard for everyone during that time,” Mike said. Both brothers also were grateful for loyal customers. “You look at the support that was given to us,” said Mike. “That’s where the humility comes in. People were making choices as to who they wanted to support…” “We’ve got great workers,” said Tony. “But we don’t make great workers. Good workers come and we recognize those characteristics and we enhance those qualities. I don’t want people to be robots. Once that customer comes in they get that same feeling. If we’re not here, we get compliments…I have hundreds of customers who have my phone number who will give me a call and say, ‘Hey, Tony, the place is going good.’” Information: at casanovabrospizza. com, 480-539-6200.

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Former EV stars return home for Fiesta Bowl BY ZACH ALVIRA GSN Sports Editor

he 50th rendition of the Fiesta Bowl, the premier annual college football even in Arizona, provided the first-ever meeting between 11th ranked Iowa State of the Big 12 and No. 25 Oregon from the PAC-12. But while the programs weren’t familiar with one another, some of the players on each team knew their opponents all too well. It was a homecoming of sorts for several Oregon and Iowa State players who were once among the best at their position in high school football across the state. Headlined by the matchup between Perry alum and Iowa State quarterback Brock Purdy and Hamilton alum and Oregon quarterback Tyler Shough, the Cyclones capped off one of the best seasons in program history with a 34-17 win over the Ducks in the PlayStation Fiesta Bowl at State Farm Stadium in Glendale on Saturday afternoon. “Driving up to the stadium and seeing State Farm Stadium and walking out to the field, I felt like I was really home,” said Purdy, who was named Offensive Player of the Game. “I’ve had a bunch of ups and downs, some great games and some games where I had to learn from things. To be able to finish off a season like 2020 in this fashion, it was really everything to me. “Being able to look back at this is something I will remember for the rest of my life.” Purdy and Shough matched on four occasions throughout their prep careers, most of which ended in a high-scoring affair. The two seemed well on their way to another classic battle between the two former prep stars, but a tale of two halves in which the defense for both teams diminished the offensive output in the second half. Purdy finished 20-of-29 for 156 yards

Brock Purdy, a Perry High School aumnus, was back playing in the Valley Jan. 1 as Iowa State’s quarterback in the Fiesta Bowl.

Tyler Shough, a Hamilton High grad, led Oregon in its ill-fated Fiesta Bowl matchup with Iowa State.

and a touchdown through the air. He also added 39 yards on the ground – most of which came as he escaped pressure from the Oregon defense – and a touchdown. Shough, meanwhile, was part of a two-quarterback tandem with Anthony Brown. Oregon coach Mario Cristobal said at halftime of the Fiesta Bowl with the Ducks trailing both quarterbacks would rotate in. Even then, however, Shough was used sparingly. He finished the contest 7-of-9 for 79 yards. Brown finished 12-of-19 for 147 yards. He added two touchdowns on the ground. Both offenses started fast in the first quarter, with Purdy leading the Cyclones down the field on their first drive of 75 yards, which was capped off by a 1-yard rush by Hall. Oregon, led by Shough, answered. The former Hamilton star led the Ducks down the field but was replaced by Brown, who capped off the drive with a 6-yard touchdown. On Iowa State’s ensuing drive, Purdy again led the Cyclones down the field, connecting with tight end Charlie Kolar for a 14-yard touchdown. After a 16-yard

touchdown run by Brown for Oregon, Purdy and Hall both found the end zone to quickly build a two-score lead before the half. “I think each group had its moments throughout the football game,” Campbell said. “Offense got off to a great start in the first half. Our special teams came up with key turnovers. Defensively, we were elite in the second half of the game. I think that was about as complete as we played all season.” Purdy and Shough met near midfield after the game. From eighth grade baseball, to offseason workouts and games against each other in high school, the two have grown close. They also represent the start of a recent influx of talent coming out of Arizona. Some of which joined them at their respective schools. Former Chandler standout and Oregon wide receiver Johnny Johnson has made a significant impact in other trips back to Arizona while with Oregon. The senior caught four passes in the Fiesta Bowl for 41 yards. Former Saguaro standout tackle Jaylan Jeffers also made the trip with Oregon as a true freshman.

(GSN File Photo)

“Just the opportunity is such a blessing to come down here, play in front of your family,” Shough said. “The result is not what we wanted. Definitely hurts a lot.” Shough went on to reflect on the impact Johnson made on him from their days competing against one another in high school to now as teammates. “He’s probably had the greatest impact on me as far as anybody on this team because of our individual relationship and our work ethic together,” Shough said of Johnson. “He’s taught me what it is to be a true pro. I’m extremely thankful to him and I know whatever decision he’s going to make will be the best for him and I’m really proud of him.” Along with Purdy, Arizona is represented by former Deer Valley star and Iowa State starting left tackle Joey Ramos. Alec Hathcock, who played linebacker for his father, Jeremy, at Desert Ridge, is the starting long snapper for Iowa State. D’Shayne James, who started at wideout for Perry alongside Purdy, is a freshman wideout for Iowa State. Campbell highlighted Purdy’s accomplishments in three years as the starting quarterback at Iowa State. Whether or not it will be his last game remains to be seen, but Campbell credited the Gilbert native with the Cyclone’s success this season and in years past. “Brock Purdy, in every game he’s played, has given us a chance to be successful.” Campbell said. “Without Brock Purdy there’s no Fiesta Bowl, there’s no Iowa State, we are who we are because of the leadership and the character and the humility of Brock Purdy.”

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Brewers Guild selling coupon booklet to survive BY KRISTINE CANNON GetOut Staff Writer

he Arizona Craft Brewers Guild, which hosts popular signature events and supports local breweries, is in danger of closing because of the pandemic. To help keep the organization alive, brewery-goers can purchase the guild’s RECOUPON AZ Beers booklet for $35 and get $750 worth of coupons and discounts at 57 craft breweries throughout the state that and can be used anytime this year. Discounts range from free growler fills and buy-one-get-one free six packs, to free swag bags and $1 pints. Since Thanksgiving weekend, the guild has sold more than 2,000 booklets of their 3,000 goal and it will continue selling them through January. The money raised will go toward keeping both the guild, local breweries and their employees afloat. “The goal beyond it all is to have our breweries sell more beer,” said guild Executive Director Rob Fullmer. “Since the pandemic, all of our services have been directly to breweries and their survival.” In addition to raising about $20,000 via their virtual beer festival in April, the guild was also responsible for making to-go beer possible. “The guild is the backbone that supplied us all with updated info and worked with the governor’s office to allow us to do to-go on all beverages,” said O.H.S.O. Owner Jon Lane. “I am very grateful to our communities and our guild.” The guild hosts a slew of annual craft beer events throughout the state, including Arizona Strong Beer Festival and Arizona Beer Week, raising money that helps support the nearly 100 breweries and more than 1,200 workers. “Traditionally our organization has

The Arizona Craft Brewers Guild has already sold more than 2,000 of their RECOUPON AZ Beers booklet, which provides $750 worth of coupons and discounts at 57 Arizona breweries through Dec. 31. (Arizona Craft Brewers Guild) been fully funded. It is the main entree between the consumer and the brewery. It has been live events, beer festivals, educational pieces. We also have a conference. And those have all gone away,” Fullmer said. Without its in-person events, the guild has lost an estimated 85 percent of their revenue amid the pandemic. That has left the guild struggling to fulfill an important piece of their mission: to educate their members of legal and legislative issues relevant to the craft brewing industry and take action. “These events help us gain the financial piece to assist in changing laws, developing safety standards and educating our brewers through guild meeting, conferences and industry technical group meetings,” Lane said. Added Fullmer: “It’s the reason why we don’t take the statement that we are in jeopardy without that very lightly.” Lane said that without the guild, breweries would lose events, educational resources and funds, legislative

drive and assistance and communication resources. “It would immensely hurt our growth and stability as small businesses if we had no one watching our proverbial back,” he said. “Without them, we would not have had the information, drive or carry through to get the to-go beverage sales through the governor’s office [and] relay all the necessary info needed to all breweries to operate.” Fate Brewing Company has helped grow over the past eight years with the guild’s help. “It is extremely important to keep AZCBG alive as they support all local breweries with legislation and have been instrumental in providing us with necessary information during the pandemic,” said Fate Brewing spokeswoman Jessica Colby. Had it not been for the guild, many breweries would already have fallen to the pandemic, said Huss Brewing Company sales director Chip Mulala. “Rob and the Guild were our voice in

the rooms that counted when the big decisions were being made,” Mulala said. “We would have been left on the sidelines and potentially suffered the same fate as other hospitality sectors, which would have been devastating.” Currently, the guild is helping breweries expand Huss’ premises by extending its patios. “Traditionally, we do things at the state level: state laws, state policy. More and more, we’re doing things at the county level, the city level. We’re helping with zoning,” Fullmer said. One brewery that received the goahead last month to expand its patio, allowing for an additional 30 to 35 seats, is Arizona Wilderness Brewing Company. “We are grateful to have been lended the help from the Town of Gilbert to expand our patio at our Gilbert Brewpub,” said AZ Wilderness Company Coordinator Carly Jones. “Otherwise, we still feel the weight of the pandemic in sales versus last year’s holiday season and hope to see a more rewarding trend into the new year.” While Fullmer stresses that “all breweries are not the same,” all four breweries interviewed emphasized the importance of keeping the guild alive. “The guild is an integral part of keeping Arizona’s local breweries alive and our people employed,” Mulala said. “We believe it is important, more than ever now, to unify the support to all of us during these times of uncertainty and agree that this RECOUPON Booklet can be the key to our 2021 rejuvenation!” Jones added. For a list of 35 participating locations and/or to purchase the booklet: ChooseAZBrews.com. “If you want to attend another Arizona Strong Beer Festival; Real, Wild & Woody; or any of our other signature events when it is safe to do so, we need your support,” Fullmer said.

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King Crossword King Crossword

Obituaries

Family Dining Guide

ACROSS 1 5 8 12 13 14 15 16 18 20 21 22 23 26 30 31 32 33 36 38 39 40 43 47 49 50 51 52 53 54 55

Nile vipers Cistern Sprint Guitarist Atkins -- -de-France Formerly Antelope’s playmate Its days are numbered Degree of excellence Endures “Nova” airer Lass Regions Volcanic crater “Entourage” agent Branch Felon’s flight Trinidad music Fountain drinks Fine, at NASA Marry Dishonor Actor Rory Squid dish Big fair, for short “Oops!” Drench Peruse Facts and figures Guitar master Paul Tolkien creatures”

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4/29/1929 – 1/1/2021 Coralie Ulvang Mann, 91, passed away January 1st, 2021, after suffering a stroke at her home in Chandler, Arizona. Born in Duluth, MN, and known as Cree, a nickname from High School, Jeanne Marie Hayes Cree graduated from Stanbrook Hall and Jeanne Hayes then went on to Stephens College in passed away in Columbia, Mo., then Washington UniGilbert, AZ on versity in St. Louis, where she earned her Tuesday December 29, 2020. Jeanne Bachelor of Science degree in Retailing was born in Everett, in 1950. WA on April 15, There Cree met her lifelong love, Jim 1966 to Stuart Mann, an executive with Coca Cola. She Moyer and Kathryn and Jim moved to Atlanta, Georgia (Moyer) where she worked as a model and TV McWalters. She fashion show commentator. They also moved from Everett, WA to Gilbert, AZ in lived in Mt. View, California (San Fran2005 to continue raising her family with her husband, Vince. cisco Bay Area) for five years. There Vincent and Jeanne were married on Cree modeled for The Emporium, February 14, 1987 in New Almaden, CA Macy's, Merle Norman, Cadillac and sevWe’ve missed ourhave loyal customers Ahwatukee and look forward to seeing you again. and together they five children. in Alyssa eral other prominent retailers. Jim’s job (32), Kellie (27), Tyler (17), Christian (15) relocated them to the Los Angeles area and Joshua (12). She was also an amazing (Northridge) from 1975 to 1990. Nana to three grandchildren, Jaxson (8), Alyvia (6) and Liana (4). VOTE KEEGANS FOR BEST WINGS AND They retired to Santa Barbara in 1990, where she lost Jim to prostate cancer in Jeanne isBURGERS survived IN byTHE her BEST husband, Vince OF AHWATUKEE! and their five children. As well as her 2007. Cree was a well-known watercolor of a 2nd entree. Must include the purchase of two beverages. mother, Kathryn, her sister Julianne and artistNotwith invalidpurchase the Santa Barbara area, her home with social hour pricing, daily/weekly specials, or any other promotions, sister-in-law Tricia. Plus, her three discounts or specials. One coupon per table. Dine-in-ONLY at the Ahwatukee location. filled withEqualpaintings of local scenes. Cree or greater value, minimum $9.00. Expires 1/31/21. grandchildren and many nieces and was active in St. Andrews Presbyterian nephews. For mostDRINKS of her STARTING life, Jeanne AT was $3 aAND Church, and was a choir member. A very talented Cree played the piano and was a homemaker, caring for her family. She APPETIZERS STARTING AT $4 member of the Prime Time Band and loved to love on people and rarely had idle 2 PM - 6:30 purchase of a 2nd entree. Must include the purchase of two beverages. Street Buddies Dixieland bands. hands. She loved toDAILY cookFROM and worked so PM BasinNotwithvalid with social hour pricing, daily/weekly specials, or any other promotions, & 8 PM CLOSE or specials. One coupon per table. at the Ahwatukee location. hard to keep an immaculate house. ButTO with She discounts volunteered at Dine-in-ONLY the Santa Barbara Equal or greater value, minimum $12.00. Expires 1/31/21. SERVER FORtask; DETAILS a house full of ASK boys,YOUR that was a heavy Historical Museum, Santa Barbara Hisyet she always managed to get it done. torical Society, Santa Barbara Botanic Her lifeAHWATUKEE was a living example of one of Garden Everything and Braille Institute. Made her favorite EAST Bible verses; RAY Ephesians ROAD 4:32 4723 In 2019 Cree moved to the Enclave in "And be kind and compassionate to one from Scratch Daily Chandler, AZ, to be closer to her family. another,480-705-0505 forgive one another just as God Always active, she taught watercolor also forgave you in Christ." Please join us in celebrating her life on classes for the residents of the Enclave. January 22, 2021 at 6:00 pmaatpotential her homecatastrophe Saving a Life from 10 by MINUTES CreeEVERY is survived two sons, John church, Life Community, 717 W Ray Rd Douglas Mann of Phoenix and Bruce AnGilbert, Arizona 85233 drew Mann of Tucson, daughter Saralee A GoFundMe campaign has been started Mann of Phoenix and daughter-in-laws to help with the kids and expenses. gf.me/u/ Trixie Mann (Bruce) and Karen Mays zd4u9u (Doug). Also two grandchildren, Richard Sign the Guestbook at: Mann of Santa Cruz, California and obituaries.EastValleyTribune.com Tawni Mann of Phoenix. She was probut I’m never alone. ® ceeded in death by her husband, James have Life Alert. Need help writing Ian obituary? Ellis Mann. For assistance with Obituaries, Services will be held in Santa Barbara, In Memoriam or other Life Events, TVflowers, CA at a future date. In lieu of please call 480-898-6465 or visit donations may be made to Hospice of the For a FREE brochure call: obituaries.EastValleyTribune.com. Valley at hov.org/donate

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