Gilbert Sun News February 2018 by Times Media Group

February 2018

Relentlessly local coverage of Gilbert and our neighboring communities

Flourish of fun

Suhani Mistri, 7, gets her face decorated by Deb Gary during a Kite Festival at Crossroads Park in Gilbert.

Matthew’s Crossing addresses student The Lewises look forward to a hunger in East Valley Cambodian mission BY SRIANTHI PERERA

BY SRIANTHI PERERA

Not every child in Gilbert looks forward to the weekend as a time for fun and frivolity. Some approach it with a dread because they may go hungry. That’s why Chandler-based Matthew’s Crossing Food Bank began a weekend backpack food program in area schools. “Meals to Grow” provides a backpack filled with five pounds of snacks and meals for those students and their families. The program began in fall 2015 with delivery of 80 weekly backpacks to

schools. Due to demand, the number has now increased to 300 and shows every sign of increasing. The backpacks are provided at the beginning of the school year; subsequent food donations come in grocery bags and students use the backpacks to transport the food home. About eight to 12 volunteers show up to pack, transport and organize everything, but more are necessary. “We’ve been shocked at how fast it’s see

FOOD PACKS page 8

John and LaCinda Lewis knew since November that they were probably going on a three-year mission to serve the Church of Jesus Christ of Latterday Saints as a mission president and companion. They alluded to it in their Christmas card to friends and family. The question was, where were they going? In November, they had already faced an exploratory interview with a member of the Quorum of the 12 (one of the 12 Apostles of the LDS church), who had

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Community Neighbors Business Youth

told them he feels “very good about the two of you serving.” A mission president is a priesthood leadership position, where the appointee oversees a mission and its missionaries, consisting mostly of 18-25-year-olds and some senior-age couples. The appointee and his spouse leave their loved ones behind for three years to spread their faith to communities in America or abroad. The former Mayor of Gilbert and see

45 Spirituality 47 Arts 52 Opinion

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February 2018

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February 2018

#LifeInGilbert

Photos by Cheryl Haselhorst

The 2018 Digital State of the Town was themed on “Life in Gilbert” and presented at Harkins Theatre in SanTan Village. The video camera followed Gilbert Mayor Jenn Daniels, Town Manager Patrick Banger, council members and a few residents for a casual, slice-of-life portrayal. Among the glimpses were how the wheels of government turn, the Gilbert Days Parade, SPARK App League coding competition, Operation Welcome Home gathering of veterans and the re-branding of Gilbert Historical Museum to HD South. Gilbert is “just getting started, and there are so many things that we have to look forward to in the town,” Daniels indicated in a brief speech. The documentary is available to view at gilbertaz.gov.

1. Gilbert businessman Warde Nichols and his son Grant, 10, pose for a photo with Mayor Daniels. 2. Attendees, who included mayors and city council members from surrounding cities, mill about after the presentation. In keeping with the venue, everyone was treated to popcorn and a drink. 3. Susanna Struble, assistant town engineer, with Mayor Daniels 4. Mayor Daniels goes over details of her introductory speech one last time with Amy Arguilez. 5. Dr. Chung Trinh of Lighthouse Psychiatry in a scene from the film. 6. Mayor Daniels and Jolean Fleck, chief talent officer for Gilbert

February 2018 MISSION from page 1 the executive director of the East Valley Partnership and his wife were deemed by the church to be free of challenging family matters that would make it hard for them to be away from home. Six of their children – three daughters and five sons – are married, and they have 16 grandchildren with two more on the way. John’s parents are deceased and so is LaCinda’s mom. Her father lives in Utah. So during a second phone call in early December, the mission opportunity was extended to them. But they still didn’t know where it would be. “125 places around the world were available,” LaCinda said. “The children started guessing,” John added. The couple was visiting their daughter in Texas when the package arrived at their Gilbert home and a neighbor called. “We were expecting the call to come and arranged the whole family to be on a Google chat,” John said. The neighbor opened the package and put it up against the computer screen so everyone could see. “You will be serving a Cambodia, Phnom Penh mission,” it stated. “And you will be learning a Cambodian language.” Their daughter knew a woman who lived nearby who had spent a mission there. They quickly summoned her. “I was very surprised,” John said. “I hadn’t expected Cambodia, and then, as they talked to us that afternoon, it started to sound like a wonderful place.” The Southeast Asian country was warravaged in the 1970s when the radical communist party, Khmer Rouge, was in power. About 2 million died during the ensuing chaos, and the country became known for its burial sites called the Killing Fields. Nowadays, there’s stability in the predominantly Buddhist country with burgeoning tourism and a thriving textile industry. Tourists come to the Angkor Wat, a temple complex in Cambodia built in the 12th century. It is a world recognized heritage site and the largest religious monument in the world. For the Lewises, who will exchange the Valley of the Sun’s searing summer heat for incessant tropical rains coupled with humidity and the desert scenery with fertile rice paddies, it will be a world removed. “It does seem like it would be an adventure and a chance to go to a place that we probably would never get a chance to go, and meet some wonderful people,” John said. LaCinda, who teaches fashion design and merchandizing at Mesa Community College, said she was interested to know about the textile industry there. “Not that I’ll be necessarily part of that, but I’ll like to visit, and I’ll like to get to know some of the textile workers,” she

Community

(GSN photo by Kimberly Carrillo)

John and LaCinda Lewis, former mayor of Gilbert and his wife, will serve an LDS mission in Cambodia for three years starting July 1. This will be John’s second mission after serving one in Japan when he was 19 years old.

said. This is not John’s first foray into mission work in Asia. When he was 19, he served the church for two years in Japan. LaCinda hasn’t done one, but she has traveled widely, engaged in nonprofit work in Mozambique and is “familiar and comfortable with Third World country situations,” in her words. She also speaks French, which is spoken in Cambodia, which was a French colony in the 19th century. Their family has also served in missions extensively: Their twin sons Ben and Doug have served in Londrina and Fortaleza, Brazil from 2002-2004; son CJ served in Cape Coast, Ghana from 2008-2010; daughter Jennie served in Birmingham, Alabama from 2012-2014; son Ed served in Novosibirsk, Russia from 2015-2017; and son Kelvin is serving in Lisbon, Portugal from 2017-2019. Some of the time, they had to learn new languages. Ed learned Russian. John learned Japanese (it took him eight months). According to John, about half of the 70,000 missionaries serving around the world learn a language to perform their work. Some of them are immersed with native speakers to hasten the learning. That’s not true for a mission president and companion, who have to labor on their own. John and LaCinda have six months to learn Khmer, or Kamai, which is rooted in ancient Asian languages Sanskrit and Pali, and have 80 characters. “Each has two different sounds depending on its position in the word. I took a look at the Book of Mormon in Kamai and, of course, it’s foreign and a teeny bit frightening,” LaCinda said. “But I think with some faith and some hard work and I think actually hitting the ground and mixing…”

Each night and during the weekend, the couple spends time with the manuals sent by the church and connecting via Skype with a trainer. “They are giving us six months to figure this out and just have a teeny bit of a foundation before so that you understand the characters and the letters and the script and the sounds that they make,” LaCinda said. How has it been so far? The characters are a challenge. “It will not be a race; it will be very methodical,” LaCinda said. The couple is also learning the cultural nuances of the land. When meeting a person, hugging should be replaced by a handshake or a traditional palm-on-palm greeting; a man putting a foot on the knee is taboo, and pointing is rude. In Cambodia, John will oversee 20 of its 30 congregations, which have a total membership approaching 14,000. There are 95 missionaries between the ages of 18-25, and six senior missionary couples. Every six weeks, 10 missionaries are transferred and 10 others will take their place. John will assign them their new positions, train and guide them. The couple will travel to meet the congregations around the country and offer assistance where necessary. They will also assist in humanitarian projects, and not be above donning a pair of denims and a t-shirt to extend a helping hand. LaCinda, the mission companion or “mission mom,” has a special role in its medical program – if someone’s sick, she’ll be the first to learn of it and ensure adequate medical help is provided. The Lewises have heard from the current mission president in Cambodia. “They’re very busy, every day. They’re going at a very fast pace,” John noted. This does not mean the couple won’t have time for each other. Weekly

www.GilbertSunNews.com preparation days allot time to prepare for events and also to perhaps catch up on reading or meet someone. As a former mayor, John is also interested in meeting the mayors in Cambodian cities. “It’s a very dedicated service opportunity, but in the same time, in life, to continue on the marathon, you need to have breaks,” John said. “So I’m sure that’ll happen. And sometimes the break will be as simple as reading something that lifts you up.” Unlike young missionaries, who leave their families for two years and are only allowed to write weekly emails and call home on Christmas and Mother’s Day, the Lewises will have more communication with their extended family in the United States. Family members can visit, too. “We’ll be rolling out the red carpet for grands and guests,” LaCinda said. “And we’ll be recruiting volunteers. We can request senior couples to come and serve with you. We hope that some will be willing to do that. It is a sacrifice.” As for her, LaCinda may be able to return to Arizona for something special, such as a wedding, but John has to stay put. “Mission president and companion are the top leaders and therefore, there’s a lot of flexibility. If there’s a child in need, I would address whatever concern they have,” she added. The Lewises have to assume their new role by July 1; this is also the day that their son, Doug, will assume a new job in the East Valley. He and his family plans to occupy the Lewis home for the three years. “I’m trying to balance learning a new language with packing up a home and studying as well,” LaCinda said. She’s enrolled in Northern Arizona University’s doctoral program in educational leadership for higher education and may have to postpone her last three classes, which are due this summer. When they return, the Lewises may receive other leadership positions within the church. They may just as well be assigned to a nursery to work with babies. “In this church we belong to, you grow up in a culture where you love to serve and there are all sorts of assignments,” John said. “There should be no expectation that something special is going to happen,” LaCinda added. As time goes on, their thoughts may wander to the East Valley and the lives they left behind. “We also realize that, at the end of three years, we’ll be having these emotions of ‘we don’t want to leave this beautiful country, we don’t want to leave the people,’” John said. “That’s part of life. We understand that, and we look forward to contributing best we can and then coming back and contributing here again.”

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FOOD PACKS

from page 1

wanting to grow,” said Kim Corder, Meals to Grow coordinator. “We just have some parameters that’s holding us back from growing bigger. I feel like it’s going to be 1,500 backpacks a week in a couple of years.” In addition, Matthew’s Crossing has established food closets at the Pecos and Williams campuses of Chandler-Gilbert Community College, Canyon Valley High in Gilbert Public Schools, Westwood High in Mesa Public Schools and Hamilton High in Chandler Unified School District. The nonprofit is also in the process of establishing food closets at Williams Field High in the Higley Unified School District and Tempe High. Plans call for setting up at least five more in East Valley high schools during the year, Corder said. The food closets typically stock dry goods and staples such as pasta, bread, beans, rice, peanut butter and nutrition bars. They are made available to students with no questions asked. “Matthews Crossing provides the weekend food for families,” said Aaron Harris, Higley schools director of program compliance. “They don’t have to qualify for free or reduced lunch, meaning falling under the poverty lines. As long as they express the need, then we’ll make the request to the food bank and they’ll deliver the food to us.” According to East Valley Partnership, the East Valley’s median annual household income is $62,587, and 36 percent of its residents have a college degree. Data USA, the free platform of government data, reports that the median household income in Gilbert is $82,424, and the income for Chandler is $75,562. Nineteen percent – or one out of five – of the 12,523 Higley students’ families qualify for the federal lunch program, and an average of 57

Community

backpacks are being requested weekly, according to Harris. “Affluent families who may have experienced a loss of job, loss of income, could contact the school office and say we’d like additional support, we’d like a backpack for the weekend,” he said. “That’s kind of the beauty of it; it’s there for all.” The stories are similar at Gilbert Public Schools. Susan Cardena has been coordinating student services for 14 years, working with students in transition and providing outreach and assistance to the school’s families. The district, which has 36,000 students, receives about 130 backpacks each week from Matthew’s Crossing, in addition to food from other charities. A total of 547 GPS students of all ages received food assistance from the Chandler food bank during the second quarter of this school year; some are identified as homeless students or students in need. But homeless students are not the only ones needing help with food and nutrition, Cardena said. “In any neighborhood, there are many families that struggle to keep up with everything,” she said. “Unfortunately, sometimes those families are hit the hardest in providing the basic needs for their children and themselves. In more affluent communities, that oftentimes will get overseen, but the need is still there, no matter the community.” There are pockets of need “in pretty much every school,” said Jan Terhune, executive director of Matthew’s Crossing. A teacher in Hamilton High School, located in Chandler’s affluent Ocotillo neighborhood, reportedly told the food bank that she receives about 30 requests a day for food, water bottles or a granola bar. “It can be lack of time or parents didn’t have see

FOOD PACKS page 10

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How you can help

• Fundraise. The 2018 Night to Fight Hunger, organized by Matthew’s Crossing Food Bank, takes place 6 p.m. March 1 at Bella Rose Estate, 1380 S. Price Road, Chandler. It features a cocktail reception and dinner, silent auction, award ceremony and entertainment. Tickets are $100 per person. Details: matthewscrossing.org/night_to_fight_hunger_fiesta_ • Donate. Matthew’s Crossing is eligible for the Arizona Charitable Tax Credit, a dollar-for-dollar tax credit for charitable contributions. Donors receive a state tax credit up to $400 if filing single or $800 if filing a joint return, on your state income taxes. The 2017 contributions may be made/credit claimed by April 17. Details: matthewscrossing.org/tax_credit • Volunteer. The Meals to Grow program is badly in need of packers and drivers. Write to Kim Corder at kimc@ matthewscrossing.org”

Prevalence of Food Insecurity

The HOPE Lab measured food insecurity – being without reliable access to a sufficient quantity of affordable, nutritious food — among students. According to the USDA-recommended measurement, each respondent was scored based on the total number of affirmative answers. Those who reported low and very low food security are referred to as food insecure. The graph shows food security scores and categories across the three samples: CGCC, Regional and National.

CGCC High security (score = 0) 38% Marginal security (score = 1) 13% Low security (score = 2-4) 22% Very low security (score = 5-6) 27%

Regional 30% 11% 23% 36%

National 33% 12% 23% 33%

Chandler-Gilbert Community College, Report from Fall 2016 Survey of Student Basic Needs, Wisconsin HOPE Lab.

(Special to GSN)

Maria Amador administers the Coyote Cupboard program at the Pecos Campus of Chandler-Gilbert Community College. In addition to food staples, toiletries and paper products are available to students, supplied by the Matthew’s Crossing Food Bank.

(GSN photo by Srianthi Perera)

Kim Corder, Meals to Grow coordinator at Matthew’s Crossing Food Bank, inspects a package of meat from one of the charity’s commercial-size refrigerators.

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Community

Town may change approach to noise control violations BY WAYNE SCHUTSKY

The Gilbert Town Council is considering an ordinance that will modify the town code to change its approach to noise control violations and increase penalties for first-time offenders. The ordinance would shift the town’s policies away from decibel-based regulations toward “reasonable person standards.” Reasonable person standards rely on observations made by law enforcement and other witnesses rather than specific noise levels measured using a decibel meter. The town is considering the change because decibel-based standards are difficult to enforce. They require the time-consuming collection of decibel levels, and often the source of the complaint has ceased making noise by the time officers begin collecting measurements, Assistant Town Attorney Nancy Davidson said. The current code relies heavily on decibel-based standards while allowing for limited reasonable person standards as it relates to observations made by law enforcement, Davidson said. The new code would still include some decibel-level standards while broadening the scope of reasonable person standards to include evidence from citizens such as video of a violation recorded on a cellphone. The new ordinance would also change enforcement rules for noise violations in Gilbert. Under the current code, violators must be habitual offenders – with three or more civil citations within a 24-month period – in order to receive a criminal citation. “(With the new ordinance), officers,

depending on several factors, have more discretion to fight for a criminal citation on first offense,” Davidson said. That would allow police to charge some first-time offenders with a Class 1 criminal misdemeanor that carries a potential six-month jail sentence and/or fines of up to $2,500. Civil violations carry a fine of between $100 and $500. Critics argue that reasonable person standards are more subjective than decibel-based standards, because they rely on police officer observations and citizen complaints rather than a standardized rule. Davidson acknowledged this but noted that Gilbert modeled its proposed ordinance on regulations supported by National League of Cities and Towns and League of Oregon Cities. “Whenever you are dealing with a subjective standard, you have to be very careful,” Davidson said. She added that Gilbert’s proposed ordinance is based on “what has been found to be constitutional.” The ordinance, if adopted, could save the town money, as it does not rely on the use of specialized decibel reading equipment, according to the council communication document prepared by Davidson. If the ordinance is passed, Gilbert Police officers will be undergoing additional training to ensure proper enforcement of the new rules. “In light of the subjective nature of enforcement, police officer training regarding the new ordinance will be critical,” according to the document. The council initially took up the ordinance at its regular meeting January 11 but ultimately decided to move the vote to its meeting on February 15 in order to address some issues concerning how the ordinance would affect local businesses. The ordinance is designed to deal with residential issues, and the council wanted more time to ensure that regulations would not be harmful to businesses. Town representatives met with Gilbert Chamber of Commerce, homeowners associations, Police Chief Michael Soelberg and other interested parties on January 25. The town could use feedback from that meeting to tweak the proposed ordinance before the council meeting on February 15, Davidson said. “Basically, we want to back up a little and address concerns of residents and the business community,” she said.

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February 2018

FOOD PACKSfrom page 8

food to provide,” Terhune said. “It can be both.” A social worker in Gilbert had related the story of a family that moved here from another state and lived in their car until the father got a job and could secure an apartment. The social worker enrolled the two children in the backpack meals program and that fed them during the weekends. “There are a lot of stories out there that we’re hearing, and working with the schools has been really eye-opening,” Corder said. “These liaisons… go above and beyond to try and provide things for their students in need.” Matthew’s Crossing Food Bank in Chandler was established by Saint Matthew’s Episcopal Church in 2001, grew to capacity and became independent of the church in 2005. Today, with help from about 90 weekly volunteers, it provides food assistance to 6,000 individuals in the East Valley each month. Besides Meals to Grow, it also runs emergency food box and holiday food box programs and the Read to Grow book distribution program. The food bank is only one of many organizations that provide food to area schools. United Food Bank, AZ Brain Food, Produce on Wheels Without Waste and Central Christian Church also help with various donations. For some time, Chandler-Gilbert Community College worked with St.

Community

Mary’s Food Bank in Phoenix and Produce on Wheels. “But then we wanted to do more, because we knew that there was a need,” said Michael Greene, director of student life and leadership. “Not just a one-time produce distribution. We realized that more and more students are hungry. “We know that they’re not going to be as successful at school if they are hungry and they can’t reach their basic needs.” Greene said the community college was made aware of a survey of basic student needs by Wisconsin HOPE Lab at the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 2016. The effort built on a similar survey of 10 community colleges during the 20142015 academic year; in all, 70 institutions from 24 states participated. One of the colleges surveyed was CGCC, where 44 percent of students answered “yes” to the statement “The food that I bought just didn’t last and I didn’t have enough money to get more;” 58 percent said “I couldn’t afford to eat balanced meals;” and 43 percent stated “yes” when asked if they ever cut the size of meals or skip them because there wasn’t enough money for food. Asked whether he was surprised by the results, Greene said, “Some people assume that because we’re in Chandler, Gilbert, Arizona that there’s not that much need as, for example, Central Phoenix. But if you were to meet with, and talk to, our officers on financial aid, they’ll tell you that there’s a huge need. “They’re giving out lots of money to students who are struggling to come to college,” he added.

The HOPE Lab had found that 27 percent of students reported very low food security at the college. “This means they were hungry within the last 30 days,” Greene noted. Despite the high need, Greene reported that it has been slow to get students to overcome pride and use the service. Last October, 14 students used supplies from the Coyote Cupboard, while 39 students and 23 students utilized it in November and December, respectively. Students are asked for identification only to track numbers and share them with Matthew’s Crossing, he said. Matthew’s Crossing writes grants each year in its never-ending quest to stock its shelves. Last year, it received $5,000 from the town of Gilbert and is in the process of applying for more. While the donation was welcome, the food bank said the town’s assistance was not in keeping with the demand. Each May, the town spearheads a food drive for United Food Bank called Gilbert Feeding Families. In 2017, the drive yielded donations to provide nearly 38,000 meals. Food assistance is also provided by the Open Arms Care Center and Azcend, which is mostly geared toward seniors. More recently, Midwest Food Bank established its Arizona division in Gilbert; it serves more than 100 food pantries in the area. In 2015, a social services survey declared that the town had just one homeless person. “Gilbert is desperately trying to hang on to this innocence, the small town,

www.GilbertSunNews.com wealthy labels,” Corder said. “What that equates to is a lack of resources for food assistance.” Corder and Terhune want to promote awareness of what they have learned about student hunger. “The fact that more children go to bed hungry in Arizona (1 in 4), than adults (1 in 5) or seniors (1 in 7), got us thinking about developing a four-week, social awareness campaign/curriculum that is focused on nutrition and hunger and its direct impact on a student’s ability to learn,” Corder said. Harris is thankful to the food bank for mitigating and alleviating the Higley school community’s needs. “When they are hungry, what are they thinking about? Where is the next meal coming from? They are not thinking about the academics,” he said. Not only are students now receiving breakfast and lunch at the school, they return home on Fridays with a wellbalanced meal in the bag, he added. The program director doesn’t see an end in sight to the situation, however. “I actually see it expanding,” he said. Neither do the food bank staffers, who plan to publicize their findings with presentations at East Valley schools. “We believe this will further our effort to unite our community in the fight against hunger,” Corder said.

Matthew’s Crossing Food Bank is at 1368 N. Arizona Ave., Unit 112, Chandler. Details: 480857-2296

BRIEFS Art league events

The Gilbert Visual Art League will hold its 15th annual juried fine art show and sale from Saturday, February 24 to Saturday, March 24 in the gallery at HD South (formerly the Gilbert Historical Museum), at 10 S. Gilbert Road. Regional artists are invited to submit their two- and three-dimensional work by February 11. The call for entries’ prospectus and entry forms are available at gval.org. The art show’s opening reception will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. on Saturday, February 24. Thereafter, it will be open for viewing during museum hours, Tuesday to Saturday 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The show is free to view with museum admission. Details: 480-926-1577 or hdsouth.org.

East Valley Mayors’ breakfast

The 2018 annual East Valley Mayors’ Prayer Breakfast will be held from 7 to 9 a.m. on Wednesday, March 7 in the Aviation Hangar Building at the Williams Campus of Chandler-Gilbert Community College in Mesa. It will be hosted by the town of Queen Creek.

sectors. This year’s theme, “Serving One Another,” focuses on military families and first responders, nonprofits and their volunteers, foster families, and youth (Photo Special to GSN) programs/ Laurinda Olsen of New York, a participant at a previous Art of the services. Masters workshop, with her work-in-progress of “Prayer, 1878,” by the Leaders French artist William-Adolphe Bouguereau. from different faiths will offer words of inspiration on the areas of focus. Its purpose is to bring together Attendees will discuss best practices community leaders to discuss how to and share resources on ways to support meet the needs of their communities in and better serve the areas within their government, business, faith and nonprofit

communities. Details: evmpb.org

Art Masters workshop

The Art of the Masters Workshop, presented by Karen Schmeiser and Marsha Gilliam, carry on maestro Frank Covino’s painting legacy. It takes place 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. February 19-23 at Schmeiser’s home in Gilbert. Copying masters like Bouguereau, Vermeer, Titian, Caravaggio, Rubens, Rembrandt, Godward and Alma-Tadema have led to the best success at the workshop. Participants may be new to oil painting or experienced; all levels of skills are welcome to join. The cost is $489. For details, write to marshagilliam@hotmail. com.

Grants for women/children

The Arizona Women’s Partnership, a volunteer philanthropic nonprofit, is planning to award more than $30,000 in grants this year and has made available its application at azwp.org. Applications must see

BRIEFS page 11

February 2018

www.GilbertSunNews.com

BRIEFS

from page 10

be postmarked by March 31; awards will be distributed mid-year. Applicants must be 501 (c)(3) organizations with an operating budget of less than $450,000; be in good financial standing; non-sectarian; non-partisan; non-school affiliated; non-disease specific; and reflect the mission of assisting under-served women and/or children in Arizona. Since 2003, the group has donated more than $380,000 to about 55 charities, according to founder Paula Cullison. Grant recipients address issues such as domestic violence, child abuse, adult literacy, youth at risk, foster children, refugees, homelessness and hunger. Funds are generated through donations and fundraisers, among them is a $25,000 donation from the Violet M. Johnson Family Foundation. Details: email azwpinc@aol.com.

STEM grants

APS and the Phoenix Suns are teaming to help teachers bring STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) learning to 6,000-plus students through financial grants totaling $50,000. The grants were recently awarded to 25 elementary and high school teachers across the state, among them Gilbert’s Burk Elementary School and Neely Traditional Academy. The Burk Elementary Community Garden Grant of $2,500 will be used to develop a community garden. Students will research which fruit/vegetables to plant, track growth and development and share their harvest with peers. Neely Traditional Academy will use the $2,500 grant for Coding and Robotics Using Vex IQProjects Accessible for English Language Learners. VEX IQ will be used to introduce second-grade students to coding and robotics. It will require students to become problem solvers while collaborating with peers.

Student contributes to Valley Metro calendar

The 13th Annual Valley Metro Cool Transit STUFF 3rd Grade Art Contest received entries from 600 students across the Valley who designed artwork to showcase the theme Valley Metro Connecting People to Places. The contest is part of a program that educates youth about safely riding public transportation. The winning art, used on Valley Metro’s 2018 calendar cover, was created by Harshita Rajesh, a Basis Peoria Primary student. Anabel Bergman from Neely Traditional Academy in Gilbert is one of the winners, and her artwork is used on the calendar’s April page. View the calendar at Valleymetro.org/ cool-transit-stuff-art-contest

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Healthy by Hilary helps clients through nutrition, health coaching BY CHRISTINA FUOCO-KARASINSKI

Hilary Rank knows the benefits of exercise and nutrition. Having been diagnosed with hypothyroidism, hormone imbalance and an autoimmune disorder, she wanted to take control of her health. Now she wants to improve the lives of others. Healthy by Hilary offers a range of services such as semiprivate and private workout sessions, nutrition coaching and online training. She trains in her home gym in Gilbert and a private facility in Chandler. “I worked in higher education for about 15 years,” Rank said. “I had a leadership position managing a team at University of Phoenix. “I have been always passionate about fitness and nutrition. I competed in bodybuilding competitions in the bikini division.” With a master’s degree in organizational management, Rank had an epiphany and did some soul searching. She left her career and created Healthy by Hilary. She is certified by the National Association of Sports Management for personal training. Rank is midway through her program to become a health coach via the Institute of Integrated Nutrition. “Nutrition is critical in increasing your health and to help manage and prevent disease,” Rank said. “I think a lot of people take for granted being young and having youth on their side.

As we’re moving into our 40s, we have to take the time and pay attention to nutrition and health or we won’t have vitality in the years to come.” Hilary is committed to helping other moms reach their health and fitness goals. As a married, full- time working mom of two boys, she understands the time constraints and responsibilities. “I want to show other women it is possible to carve out time for themselves while juggling work and home life.” The online nutrition coaching and personal training are perfect for busy moms short on time. “It’s cost-effective and a convenient way to get help understanding nutrition and if you don’t have time to get to the gym,” she said. “I create personalized nutrition plans based on what works best for you and your family. I take my clients step by step through the basics of clean eating and how to prepare healthy meals for the whole family. In addition, I customize fitness plans for at home or the gym based on your preference.” A critical component of online nutrition and training is accountability and goal setting. “Through my own experience, I have found that having someone to coach and hold you accountable through lifestyle

changes increases chances of success,” she said. For those who would like one- on- one interaction, she offers private and semiprivate personal training which include a nutrition plan. Instead of by session, she charges monthly. Prices range from $299 to $399, respectively. “If you have a friend or spouse you would like to train with I can conduct a semiprivate session,” said Rank, who was raised in Nebraska. “However, I tailor the workout to each individual’s goals and fitness level. It’s not one size fits all.” “Nutrition coaching is even more important than exercise,” she said. Eating right amounts to 70 percent of fat-loss results. “Exercise alone is not going to improve a person’s health,” she said. “If they don’t change their diet, they’re not going to the physique results they desire. In addition, food is medicine. Good nutrition can improve or eradicate most health issues.” “My message to others is you can take baby steps and it is achievable.” For more information, visit https://healthybyhilary.com/.

February 2018

www.GilbertSunNews.com

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Neighbors

February 2018

www.GilbertSunNews.com

What’s on tap? New brewery owners spill out BY GSN STAFF

Since Arizona Wilderness Brewing Company opened its doors in 2013 and gained worldwide renown, home-grown breweries have been hopping over to Gilbert to open up shop, according to town staffers. In 2016, Gilbert welcomed 12 West Brewing Company to Barnone in Agritopia. In a few weeks, Gilbert will be home to four new craft beer establishments. Here’s what the owners shared:

Jessie Rowe III of The Brass Tap

Concept: An American craft beer bar and restaurant. Who will own it? J. Rowe Enterprises: Individual owners are Jessie Rowe III, Jessie Rowe IV, Jason Rowe, and Don Byus. Jason will be the general manager and Byus will be around the bar. On tap: Sixty-five rotating beers on tap, mainly concentrating on American craft beer with an emphasis on local craft beers. Additionally, on draft will be root beer, cold-pressed coffee, three wines, and a traditional and mango margarita. The food menu will pair well with beer and offer weekly specials. Why Gilbert? Gilbert is one of the fastest growing towns in the U.S. and the Downtown Heritage District is a hip, thriving and growing location. Other tidbits to share: Jessie Rowe III is retired from the United States Air Force. His sons Jessie IV and Jason served four years each in the Air Force and Navy, respectively. Byus worked at Santa Fe Brewing as a sales representative. The Brass Tap supports charities such as the Special Operations Warrior Foundation and the Southwest Autism Research & Resource Center, and organizes events such as the Beer Mile, Autism Fundraising Golf Tournament, trivia nights, live music Fridays and Saturdays, beer schools, and Hosting New Brewery. The Brass Tap’s original location opened in 2014 in Mesa Riverview. Details: 313 N. Gilbert Road, Suite 100. brasstapbeerbar.com.

Sara Cotton of Flying Basset Brewing

Concept: The seating area will have a game room with cornhole, shuffleboard and ping pong, a dog-friendly patio and brew area. Other features include a full bar and kitchen. The menu offers burgers, sandwiches, salads and appetizers such as nachos, poutine, tots and wings. Who will own it? Husband and wife team Robert Gagnon and Sara Cotton. Gagnon has been a commercial airline pilot for the past 15 years and took off a couple years to learn the brewing industry first-hand as a brewer for BJ’s in Chandler. Sara has been an ICU nurse for the past 15 years and an assistant garage brewer for the past seven. On tap: Twenty-two taps filled with the current Great American Beer Festival medal winners and one of their own. Other tidbits to share: Their pet Basset Hounds, Lt. Dan and Angela Basset

Hound, inspired the brewery’s name. Details: 720 W. Ray Road. flyingbassetbrewing.com.

Jonathan Lane of O.H.S.O. Brewery

Concept: A family-friendly restaurant partial to dogs, bikes and oriented toward the community. On top of providing a good meal, beer, glass of wine or cocktail, it promises to create a comfortable space for a day out, business meeting or large party. Who will own it? Jonathan Lane of Frosty Gilbert will run it with the guidance of business partner Brian Roehrich. The building is owned by David Beckham’s company, Beckham Gumbin Ventures. Lane’s restaurateur wife, Carri Gardner, owns The Covenant in Phoenix. On tap: The two-story brewery will make 20 half-barrel kegs at a time and focus on lagers, IPAs and big-barrel aged

Sommer Decker of Desert Monks Brewing Co.

(Photos Special to GSN)

Jason Rowe at The Brass Tap in Mesa Riverview; he is a partner and general manager of The Brass Tap in Gilbert.

Flying Basset Brewing is named after a pair of Basset Hounds owned by owners Robert Gagnon and Sara Cotton.

beers. Of the 36 taps of beer, roughly 50 percent will be made in-house, 30 percent will be made in Arizona, and the rest will rotate with ciders, national and international beers. Why Gilbert? “Gilbert is the first place I lived in the Valley. I moved here in 1990, and we have been interested in the area since we started to expand in 2013.” Other tidbits to share: “I met my wonderful wife at our original O.H.S.O. location, and we are expecting a baby right before we open.” The brewery plans to open by April. Details: 335 N. Gilbert Road. ohsobrewery.com.

Concept: Tap room and brewery. A place to spend an afternoon or evening with a beverage for the perfectly imperfect. In European beer-garden style, the brewery will be a “family-friendly” place to enjoy a great local beer or craft soda, play a game, read a book or make a new friend. It aims to have beer styles on tap for any beer drinker, light or dark, hoppy or not. No intention to be the “hippest” place in town, just the most enjoyable. A rotation of food trucks will come by to encourage guests to purchase food. Who will own it? Partners Arturo Ruiz, Daniel Rosales-Yeomans, Jose Hinojosa, John Decker and Sommer Decker. On tap: It’s still being determined, but likely will include a hop-forward Belgianstyle blonde ale, chocolate porter, cherry kolsch-style ale that has won over wine enthusiasts, solid and smooth Belgianstyle Tripel, Smoked Hefeweizen (tastes a bit like bacon), rounded out with seasonal and experimental small-batch brews and a few tap handles shared with local craft brewers. The craft soda taps will likely include a honey vanilla cream soda, brown sugar root beer and ginger ale. Why Gilbert? “We love the growth and forward thinking of the town. The area is family- and professional-friendly, with a palpable energy. It’s also an area that is just starting to see craft breweries come to the market.” Other tidbits to share: The brewery plans to open doors in late March or early April. Details: 1094 S. Gilbert Road, Suite 1094. 480-525-7444 or desertmonksbrewing.com.

Neighbors

www.GilbertSunNews.com

February 2018

Goat yoga moms butt heads in ‘The Amazing Race’

BY MELODY BIRKETT

April Gould of Gilbert, known as the “Goat Whisperer,” and her best friend, Sarah Williams of Mesa, known as the “Goat Yogi,” participated in the 30th season of The Amazing Race on CBS TV. The reality television game show showcases about 11 teams of two who race around the world in various modes of transportation including cars, planes, hot air balloons, taxis and bicycles. The goal is to arrive first at “Pit Stops” after each leg of the race. Whichever team comes in last usually gets eliminated or at least suffers a huge disadvantage in the following leg. The final leg of the race is run by the three remaining teams to determine who wins the grand prize of $1 million. The original series has aired in the United States since 2001 and is hosted by New Zealand TV personality Phil Keoghan. All aspects of the show must be kept confidential while filming. This season of The Amazing Race was made up of semi-famous people or people who are the best in their field. “And we’re the best at goat yoga,” Gould said. “I think that helped us get on Amazing Race, along with our stellar personalities,”

Williams added. who must scout The friends have out locations, the only goat yoga design tasks, select business in Arizona, teams and plan but they’re popping logistics for the up around the course. It’s also country. challenging for the “We inspire camera crews to other people to keep up with the open their own teams and host as goat yoga,” Gould they race around. said. “It’s a very Team Goat Yoga stressful wasn’t able to bring environment, and any of their goats you’re constantly with them on the doing challenges show that aired in and racing to January, and there the next thing,” was no opportunity Williams said. to talk about their To have their particular brand of goats in spirit, the (Photo special to GSN) exercise, either. pair had a stuffed Sara Williams (left) and April Gould had a tricky Contestants time competing in The Amazing Race on CBS TV. goat attached to get from one their backpacks. destination to the “We left in next through clues given in each leg. October, and we put on our website that Sometimes, teams must perform a task the goats were on maternity leave because or participate in a challenge that’s usually we couldn’t tell anyone where we were related to the country they’re in. or we’d have to give CBS $10 million,” said It’s definitely a challenge for producers, Williams.

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Twenty-one shows were filmed in 12 days. The first episode started in Washington Square Park in New York City. It ended with Team Goat Yoga breathing down the back of the boxing models team as they raced through the streets of Reykjavik, Iceland. “That’s been one of my dreams to go to Iceland, so it was a really cool experience,” said Williams. “But it was cloudy, so we couldn’t see the Northern Lights.” The race was so close video had to be used to determine which team advanced to the next round. Gould and Williams squeaked by. “It was really fun to just meet the different people,” said Williams. “Watching Phil on TV is so cool, and then to meet him in person. The whole experience is way harder than you’d think it would be when you watch on TV.” Gould said: “When you watch on TV you’re always yelling at it: ‘Why didn’t you go there? The clues are so obvious!’ But in real life, it is a lot harder, and you just don’t know where you are in position or what place you’re at. So, it’s pretty see

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Neighbors

February 2018

www.GilbertSunNews.com

Have a thick accent? The Accent Expert can help BY SRIANTHI PERERA

Barbara Taft has an unusual occupation. She teaches foreign-born individuals to drop their native accent and acquire another, usually with about 12 hours of coaching. The Accent Expert, as she calls her Mesa-based business, helps individuals to speak American English without an accent, which can block someone from achieving a promotion at work or cultivating friends. “Americans listen for certain things, and if you’re not doing those things, you don’t sound like an American, and they have difficulty understanding,” Taft said. “That’s my job when I work on accent improvement.” Taft travels to people’s homes in the East Valley for individual or group lessons. She said that Americans love accents as long as they can understand the speaker. “The minute they can’t, they get very upset,” she said. “Part of it is they feel guilty that they can’t understand you, and part of it is because they want to accuse you because you haven’t learned to speak the way they do.” Her task may sound daunting to someone unfamiliar with it. But there are proven methods to change the way someone speaks, as long as they practice it. It helps that Taft is well-traveled – in

59 countries that are proto be exact – nounced in 15 speaks eight different ways, languages and and students is familiar with make lists of the cultural words that heritage and stretch each of linguistic roots the vowels and of most contihave difficult nents. consonants. “I think a lot She differentiof other teachates the two ers aren’t pa“th” sounds, tient with them the r’s and the when they are l’s, the “ch” and foreign-born. the “sh,” the p They feel comand the f and (GSN photo by Srianthi Perera) fortable with Barbara Taft’s accent improvement classes are as much cul- the v and the me,” Taft said. “I tural assimilation as learning to speak like an American. w. After word know somelists, they make thing about sentences and their countries and their cultures.” paragraphs, and then it proceeds to gramTaft’s teaching is personalized. After all, mar. her current students – including a Roman Some of the books used are rich comCatholic priest from Nigeria, Intel employ- pendiums of American culture, such as the ees from Korea and China, an exchange Book of American Folklore. Others, such student from Taiwan, and a high school as 504 Absolutely Essential Words, add student from Bangladesh – don’t speak vocabulary. the same way or have the same pronuncia“It’s cultural assimilation as well as lantion issues. guage. Probably one of the main reasons She teaches intonation, the five vowels I love to do this is because I have friends

from all over the world because I’ve traveled so much,” Taft said. “I was treated very well everywhere that I was. People wanted me to understand their world, and so when people are here in my world, I want them to be able to feel comfortable to understand what’s going on around them.” Sahar Eshani, from Iran, said she “loved” Taft’s classes because she is friendly, corrects the mistakes in an encouraging way and pays attention to the students’ interests. Eshani has been in the U.S. for eight years and has been taking her classes for three months. “In order to progress further in my career, I’d like to improve my American accent to be better understood and speak even more clearly,” she said, adding, “Barbara’s classes are very effective, for both improving the accent as well as learning about American culture and idioms.” Eshani is planning to enroll her mom in the class as well, and has recommended the teacher to several others. Sometimes, Taft comes across students that are extraordinarily challenged to change their accents. A case in point is a Ukrainian who had lived here for 30 years see

ACCENT

page 26

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stressful, but it was also an amazing experience to get to travel around and… meet all the people we’ve been watching on TV.” “They did a lot of new stuff on this season that they’ve never done before,” Williams added. “So, there was stuff we weren’t prepared for.” “What’s kind of neat, though, is Phil at the end of every location has some pretty girl, either like Miss Iceland or someone that very much represents that country. So the goal of the show is to teach people about the countries that we visit,” she said. The goat yoga moms traveled to Belgium for the second episode, where the pair did “challenges that involved a lot of thinking.” One member of each team had to climb a 100-foot rope ladder to grab their next clue. Then it was on to an oldfashioned printing press where teams had to create a printing press template to replicate their next clue, which had to do with diamond appraising. Then it was off to the determining race where one person from each team dressed up in a frites (French fries) costume had to wheel a dolly piled with eight large sacks of frites around a track. Gould went up against Henry from Team Yale and came last to the Pit Stop mat. Team Yoga was eliminated. This wasn’t the first brush with fame for the goat yoga moms. They’ve made appearances on American Ninja Warrior in 2013, 2015 and 2017. So, just how did they get into goat yoga? Williams taught paddleboard yoga, which was not popular in the winter. So she had an idea to do goat yoga. “We put together the goats and the yoga, and we put a little video on Facebook, and all of the news stations started picking it up, and it’s just been crazy ever since,” she said. “It was just a no-brainer since Sarah was doing yoga, and I was already training with my goats for American Ninja Warrior,” said Gould. “I put them on my back, do squats and push-ups with them, so they were already trained to jump on our backs, so there was a pretty easy transition for them.” The pair has been teaching it for one and a half years. Their goats are emotional support animals, so the class combines animal therapy with yoga. Classes are held at the Welcome Home Ranch in Gilbert. It’s $15 a class, and a session lasts about two hours. Typically there are about 100 people per class with 25 goats jumping around. “There are no mirrors,” said Gould. “It’s just a relaxed environment. Goats don’t judge, goats just love.” Details: goatyoga.com.

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Neighbors

February 2018

Soaring Fun

Photos by Kimberly Carrillo

Crossroads Park was a patchwork of color on a recent lazy Saturday afternoon when Goshala, a nonprofit that protects cows, organized a Festival of Kites. The fluttery objects were only part of the fun, though, because young participants also painted their faces, colored with crayons and played on bounce houses. They were also able to get up close to cows.

1. Olivia Van Slyke, 10, prepares to fly her kite. 2. Kite flying is always a draw for kids and teens. 3. Lily McPeek, 6, shows off her unicorn face paint. 4. Deby Gary of Paint On Me creates bubbles, to the amazement of the kids. 5. Joey La Russa, 3, feeds some hay to the cow. 6. Kites were available for purchase.

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February 2018

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Neighbors

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February 2018

Australia and New Zealand: beautiful scenery and friendly people STORY AND PHOTOS BY PAULA G. CULLISON

Visiting Australia and New Zealand had been on my radar screen for quite some time. Our month-long trip was all too short. There is no doubt that, like us, you will fall in love with Sydney, Australia, one of the world’s greatest cities, with a population of 4.5 million. Walk across the Harbour Bridge for a lovely view of the Sydney skyline, which includes the famous Sydney Opera House. Walking along Cockle Bay wharf in Darling Harbor and Circular Quay, one notices the selection of outdoor cafes and restaurants. Close by is an area called The Rocks. Originally inhabited by the first Aboriginal people (Gadigal), it became home to the convicts who worked on building the city. Walk through Hyde Park to the Queen Victoria Building, home to many upscale shops and several cafes. The Art Gallery of New South Wales, located within the Royal Gardens, a beautiful 74-acre park, has an extensive collection that consists of Australian, European, Asian and Aboriginal art. Not to be missed are the ferry rides to Manly, where surfers abound; Bondi Beach for a lovely coastal walk; and Watson’s Bay for more beautiful scenery, where the blue sky merges with blue water. Take a day trip to the Blue Mountains, a UNESCO World Heritage site near Sydney. There you will find intriguing sandstone formations, including The Three Sisters, and descend at a 52-degree angle to the base of the Jamison Valley via the world’s steepest ‘Scenic Railway’ in glass-roofed cars. Take a leisurely hike through this Jurassic rainforest, and then return to the top via the Katoomba Scenic Skyway cable car for a most memorable day of experiences. On the return to Sydney, visit Ferndale Wildlife Park to see native animals such as koalas, kangaroos, wombats and indigenous birds; and stop by the Waradah Aboriginal

Center in Katoomba to hear legends, songs and music of the didgeridoo. All of this is available through several tour operators offering day-long trips at reasonable rates. You may also take a trip to the Hunter Valley for wine tasting. With more than 150 cellar doors from which to choose, our one-day tour stopped at three fine boutique vineyards, one vodka distillery and a gourmet chocolate company. After a most enjoyable 11-night stay in Sydney, we flew to Queenstown, New Zealand (South Island), known for attracting extreme sports enthusiasts, as well as skiers and snowboarders. New Zealand is composed of two islands, with 75 percent of the population living in the North Island. All totaled, there are 4.5 million inhabitants (1.5 million in Auckland) and 30 million sheep. Queenstown is also the gateway to the beautiful Milford Sound and the areas used to film many award-winning movies. “The Lord of the Rings” tour proved to be most interesting because the scenery is stunning. At the Visitor’s Center, we found information on a Milford Sound cruise. The tourists onboard were an international mix; we heard Spanish, German, French, Swedish and Chinese spoken as we cruised on the Sound. We enjoyed seeing waterfalls, mountains (including Mitre Peak), fjords and surrounding rainforest, as well as penguins and seals. Back in town, the Queenstown Skyline Gondola ride to the top of Bob’s Peak was absolutely awe-inspiring. From there one can look across Lake Wakatipu to the Remarkables Mountains, Cecil Peak and Walter Peak. The mountain range was so named because they are indeed remarkable. While in Queenstown, we took a ride on the SS Earnslaw, a coal-powered steamboat built in 1912. The trip on Lake Wakatipu included a visit to the

Walter Peak High Country Farm to observe sheep shearing and herding. We flew from Queenstown to Auckland, where we visited friends and took two interesting boat trips: to Waiheke Island (charming) and Rangitoto Island (volcanic). We visited Rotorua via a tour coach bus, as it includes a boat ride through the Glowworm Caves at Waitomo, where thousands of tiny creatures (larvae of gnats) light up the cave roof; it’s like seeing a starstudded sky. The impressive Mitai Maori Cultural Show in Rotorua included traditional folklore, dances, singing, a canoe ceremony on the sacred spring, a bush walk to see glowworms and a dinner feast. Another “must see” is the Te Puia Maori Cultural Center, home to the world-famous Pohutu Geyser, which erupts a few times each hour, shooting water and steam to heights of about 90 feet. The whole area is filled with geothermal wonders, including mud pools, and is home to the New Zealand Maori Arts and Culture Institute. The Polynesian Spa, one of the top 10 spas in the world, will beckon you, as it did me. Set adjacent to Lake Rotorua, the spa offers numerous soaking pools, each with a lake view. We enjoyed our visit to Napier, a city devastated by an earthquake in 1931 and rebuilt in the Art Deco style. Napier is a gateway to the Hawke’s Bay wine producing area. Like Australia, New Zealand prides itself on the high quality of its boutique vineyards. After a few days in Napier with walks along the beach, we returned to Auckland. I end with a popular Maori greeting, which I used several times a day on the trip: Kia Ora (hello/be well/be healthy/all the best). It always brought a smile.

Paula G. Cullison, a freelance travel writer/photographer in Phoenix, recalls a recent visit to stunning Australia and New Zealand. (Read more about her at paulacullison.com.) For a chance to feature your travel in the next column, write a 500-word description and email it with a photo or two to srianthi@ timespublications.com by February 15.

Skyline with Sydney Opera House

Maori Culture Show in Rotorua, New Zealand

A few of the 30 million sheep in New Zealand

Neighbors

February 2018

www.GilbertSunNews.com

Girl Scouts cookie season evident in East Valley BY COLLEEN SPARKS

It’s time to buy Girl Scout cookies again. Girl Scouts in Arizona will take part in the Girl Scout Cookie Program through March 4. During that time, more than 13,000 girls in central and northern Arizona will walk around neighborhoods and set up booths to sell cookies in front of area stores. They are learning entrepreneurial skills in the large, girl-led business. The icing on the cookie season is that the Girl Scouts-Arizona Cactus-Pine Council is almost done with its five-year, $18-million Campaign for Girls in Arizona. GSACPC serves about 75,000 square miles, or two-thirds of Arizona, offering programs for girls in more than 90 communities including Indian Reservations and military installations in the central and northern areas of the state. Girl Scout Troop Number 1553 leader Sabrina Smith in Chandler said the cookie program teaches valuable lessons. “Girl Scout cookie season is important to me because it teaches girls so many basic and essential lessons,” Smith said. “It teaches them to manage money, interact with their customers and how to run an

ad campaign. Most importantly, though, it teaches them self-confidence.” Popular Girl Scouts cookies are coming back this year. The Girl Scout S’mores cookie that was introduced last year is returning. It has a crunchy graham sandwich cookie with a marshmallow and chocolate filling. Thin Mints, Samoas, Tagalongs, Trefoils, Do-si-dos and Savannah Smiles will also be available to buy again. For the third consecutive year, some Girl Scouts will be selling a limited amount of gluten-free Toffee-tastics. The cookies the members of the Arizona Cactus-Pine Council are selling cost $5 per box, except for Toffee-tastics and Girl Scout S’mores, which will be $6 a box. Girls will get to engage with their communities on Walkabout Wednesdays. Every Wednesday during cookie season will be called Walkabout Wednesday, and

Girl Scouts are urged to walk around their neighborhoods, with an adult supervising them, selling cookies door-to-door in residential areas. They will also be urged to visit customers who have bought cookies in the past. Girl Scouts and their customers are invited to post pictures of their walkabout cookie sales on Twitter, Facebook or Instagram using the hashtag WalkaboutWednesday and the tag @GSACPC. Each Wednesday during cookie season, GSACPC will do a drawing of the social media posts and give a winner a $25 gift card to a restaurant. Girl Scouts will get online business experience with Digital Cookie, an educational, web-based platform that lets girls operate and manage their Girl Scout Cookie business online. In its fourth year, the Digital Cookie platform continues to help Girl Scouts

stay current with relevant programming, giving them the chance to enhance their technological and entrepreneurial skills. The goal is to prepare them to be leaders in the 21st century. This season, GSACPC has kicked off a new local partnership with rideshare company Lyft to help promote sales of Girl Scout cookies. More than 100 full-time Lyft drivers will publicize the Cookie Finder app on big branded magnets on their vehicles and on business cards they will give to passengers when they drive around. “To add to the fun, Lyft plans to purchase nearly 250 boxes of cookies for their drivers to serve customers during National Girl Scout Cookie Weekend, which is February 23 to 25,” GSACPC director of development Christina Spicer said. Once again, GSACPC will team up with Fry’s, Bashas’ and Safeway grocery stores, which will provide local troops with the opportunity to sell cookies this season. To find a booth at an area grocery store, visit girlscoutsaz.org/cookiefinder.

Upcoming events at HD SOUTH BY GSN STAFF

A Night at the Museum

HD SOUTH, home of the Gilbert Historical Museum and Society, is holding its sixth annual “A Night at the Museum” on Saturday, March 3 in the decorated museum courtyard amid rustic farm equipment. Building on last year’s sold-out event, the fundraiser supports the preservation of the Gilbert Historical Museum building, its artifacts and the vision of merging Gilbert’s heritage with arts and culture. It features dinner catered by Brio Tuscan Grille and dessert by Nothing Bundt Cakes, entertainment provided by “Dueling Pianos,” and silent and live auctions of a variety of items. When: 6 to 11 p.m. Saturday, March 3. Where: HD SOUTH at 10 S. Gilbert Road. Tickets: $75 per person includes access to the museum displays, quilt show and Gilbert Visual Art League’s show. Available online at hdsouth.org/events/a-night-atthe-museum/ Details: 480-926-1577.

Quilt Show

The 13th annual Art of Quilting Show takes place Tuesday, February 27 through Monday, May 28 at HD SOUTH, displaying more than 100 quilts from the community. Applications for quilts (any size, from any

era and style, machine or hand-stitched) will be accepted through Saturday, February 17. Visit hdsouth.org/event/art-quilting-show/2018-02-28/ for more details. When: 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Tuesday to Saturday. Tickets: Museum admission applies. Special event: A national traveling exhibit from the Embroiderers’ Guild of America called “Through the Needle’s Eye” makes a stop at HD SOUTH from Tuesday, April 3 to Saturday, May 12. It acknowledges the value of needlework in art and history.

Art Show

The Gilbert Visual Art League holds its 15th annual spring Juried Fine Art Show and Sale 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday February 24 through Saturday, March 24. Local artists will showcase their work. Opening reception: 3-5 p.m. Saturday, February 24; closing reception: 5 p.m. Saturday, March 24. Details: gval.org.

Weekly programming

Chair Yoga: 10-11 a.m. Thursdays. This program will lead people who would like to benefit from yoga but have limited range of movement. Non-members $15, members $10. Yoga: 7-8 p.m. Thursdays. Experience

a relaxing session of yoga that will help reduce stress while conditioning muscles. Open to those with all levels of yoga experience, teens through adults. Nonmembers $15, members $10. Storytime: 10-10:45 a.m. Tuesdays. Join museum volunteers for stories and activities. Ages 3-5. Register one ticket per child, free with paid admission.

February events

Neil Miller’s Dirty Dozen exhibit: Through Saturday, February 10. Photographer Miller showcases his efforts about the Dirty Dozen Motorcycle Club. Science Café: Getting Your Spring Garden Ready: 7-8 p.m. Thursday, February 8. Spring season is a great time to plant edibles in the Sonoran Desert. Discussions will be held around varieties of springappropriate seeds for arid lands such as greens, beans, chiles, tomatoes, squash and herbs. Science Saturday Workshop for Inquisitive Minds – Superhero Robotics: 1012 p.m. Saturday, February 10 led by STEM Revolution. Open to 1st to 4th grade. $35. Bluegrass Jam: 1-2:30 p.m. Saturday, February 10 and Saturday February 24.

Enjoy the sound of bluegrass? Come for music and fun activities for the whole family. Pickers and grinners welcome. No amplified instruments. History Café: Michigan Genealogy: 7-8 p.m. Tuesday, February 13. How to navigate Michigan genealogy records. Art Workshop: Chinese Calligraphy: 10 a.m.-12 p.m. Saturday, February 17. Dr. Pu Chen will lead the Year of the Dog calligraphy workshop. Non-members $10, members $5. Myth or fact? Discover the Truth About Long Term Care: 7-8 p.m. Tuesday, February 20. Cathy-Jo Vohnoutka of Ensign Financial Partners will present the ins and outs of long-term care. Children’s Storytelling Workshop: 10 a.m.-12 p.m. Saturday, February 24. This storytelling workshop about farming will focus on for children ages 3 to 7, but everyone is welcome. Non-members $10, members $5. Many of the educational programs are free, while some require a small charge to cover materials. All events are at 10 S. Gilbert Road, Gilbert. Details: hdsouth. org/calendar/.

February 2018

www.GilbertSunNews.com

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Neighbors

February 2018

www.GilbertSunNews.com

Off The Dirt Road showcases vintage décor in vogue BY INDRAKSHI WANGU

Gilbert resident Amanda Kolski has opened a store just south of the Heritage District to share her skills and one-of-akind finds. Among them are a century-old oil lantern from a ship, a Moroccan cage used for livestock, Indian tea tables called bajot, and German porcelain dolls. The rustic and vintage home décor business, called Off The Dirt Road, started as a hobby and slowly grew into a successful venture. “It literally started off in a cabinet in my dining room, selling things on Facebook groups, to doing events,” Kolski said. Once the small home-based business took off, and loyal followers were established online, she set about creating a boutique storefront. Her booth of unique finds has also been number one at Junk In The Trunk, a vintage marketplace that makes its way to Arizona twice a year. After gaining popularity and momentum through online forums and trade shows, Kolski wanted to give her business a home and a go-to spot to shop for sought-after vintage home décor items. “A store is a smile and a handshake,

Kolski said: “When you have an opportunity to come in and see the way it is styled, you get inspiration for your home. We don’t want to just sell items but to also inspire and educate people.” With an aim to inspire and educate, Kolski and Samsal have a dedicated space to conduct arts and crafts classes. Kolski will teach paint classes, and Samsal will teach jewelrymaking and mixed media paper classes. The space is open to all ages, and it also can be rented by anyone interested in sharing skills. “We will always have

(Photos by Indrakshi Wangu)

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Vintage items and collectibles displayed at Off The Dirt Road.

and people are also buying into you and your personality. You don’t get that online,” Kolski said. Apart from her collection of chic décor items, Off The Dirt Road also sells metalwork pieces handmade by her military veteran husband, Alex. After serving in the army for 20 years, Alex retired due to a brain injury caused by exposure to explosives. What started as an art therapy for him quickly garnered the attention of art lovers. His work has a permanent spot in the shop. Kolski’s military friends from all over the world also play an important part in her business. They help her locate and ship unique items in their areas, which finally make their way to the shop. Off the Dirt Road shares its space with Tricia Samsal’s Vintage Bliss, which carries vintage and handmade jewelry and t-shirts. Partnering with Vintage Bliss has enabled both owners to offer a wider variety of vintage items and offbeat goods.

something fresh and fun going on back there. Different instructors will come in,” Kolski said. Kolski is curating her shop to stay in vogue. Hence, she will feature Bohoinspired home décor items as the trend is moving toward a cozy and lived-in look. A tip to create a beautiful home? Make it personal, she said. “When you buy what you love, you are going to love your environment. Don’t define your home in one style. Mix it up with things you love and create something beautiful.” Off The Dirt Road will be open for business at 323 S. Gilbert Road, Suite 107, Gilbert from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Wednesdays and one weekend a month. Details: Off the Dirt Road at facebook. com/offthedirtroadaz.

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February 2018

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February 2018

Neighbors

Elderly resident gets a final wish answered SUBMITTED BY CLASSIC CARS

One of Patrick McKay’s final wishes was to take a ride in his 1956 Nash Ambassador. With the help of his family and ClassicCars.com, the Gilbert resident, who passed recently, got his wish. Classic cars are more than just driving machines, they’re time machines. Family road trips. First dates. Weddings. Funerals. Chances are the cars associated with those events can be easily recalled. At least that was the case with McKay. An Irish immigrant who realized the American dream during the 1950s, McKay was a full-time bus driver, business owner and adventurer. When he wasn’t driving buses, McKay wanted to ride in style. This led him to purchase an ultra-stylish 1956 Nash Ambassador. The Nash was the focal point of McKay’s life as a young adult. He impressed his wife on their first date with that car. They drove it on their honeymoon. It became the touring vehicle for his family’s many adventures. The Nash was the beginning of a legacy. But when an employee of McKay’s was in need of a vehicle, McKay agreed to sell it to him for $75. That employee later per-

Patrick McKay rides in a 1956 Nash Ambassador with his family.

ished in a collision, along with the Nash. Even 50 years after losing his precious Nash Ambassador, McKay considered that car “the one that got away.” As his health began to fail, and his mind succumbed to the effects of dementia, McKay’s conversations would often drift

(Photo special to GSN)

back to the Nash and the fond memories it provided. One of his final wishes was to take one last ride in a blue 1956 Nash Ambassador. With the help of his family and ClassicCars.com, McKay got his wish.

www.GilbertSunNews.com

ACCENT

from page 16

and didn’t recognize her voice when it was recorded and played back. Most such students plod on, but sometimes, they give up. Taft began accent improvement in 1985, when she worked for someone in Silicon Valley. The woman later sold the business to Taft, who also had ESL and adult education experience, and spent several years growing the business. In 2002, she moved to the Valley to retire, but resumed it because she missed it. Taft was always good at picking up languages. She knows four alphabets and has varying degrees of proficiency in Spanish, English, French, Italian, Greek, Russian, Arabic and Farsi. Her mother was born in Greece. Her father was a Ukrainian Jew, and his family spoke Ukrainian, Hebrew and Russian. Her first husband was from Iran, so she learned Farsi. Taft lapped up the languages of her youth, but it’s not easy to master a lingo plus its accent, she concedes. She often introduces humor into the class so they don’t give up. “It can be laborious for some,” she said. Barbara Taft conducts classes on accent improvement for $25/hour. Details: theaccentexpert.com or via email at beejayssite@yahoo.com.

Neighbors

www.GilbertSunNews.com

February 2018

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Business

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Gilbert-born Creative Home Engineering builds secret doors STORY AND PHOTOS BY SRIANTHI PERERA

A thriving Gilbert business credits its inspiration to Hollywood’s spy movies. Creative Home Engineering founder Steve Humble creates customized secret doors disguised as bookcases, armoires, mirrors and stairs that disguise rooms, allow hiding for safes or create a grand entrance, among other uses. The mechanical engineer found a niche market for his intriguing products and ships them worldwide. To date, his most expensive customized door cost $200,000. On the other end of the scale, he offers standardized products that are priced at a mere $1,500. Think Pierce Brosnan as James Bond scanning his iris to rotate a secret fireplace, Val Kilmer as The Saint demonstrating special powers at a moment of danger or author J.K. Rowling’s famous wand-waving fictional protégée, Harry Potter. These maneuverings were made possible by a secret switch. “A secret switch in any movie, I guarantee I’ve made that for a client before,” said Humble, who moved into a commodious 10,400-square-foot building in northwest Gilbert recently to accommodate his booming business. Humble’s clients have included a Middle Eastern king (secrecy was paramount here), a few in the entertainment industry and some commercial establishments, but 95 percent consists of homeowners. Out of those, about 75 percent are high-security applications: “They want a secret door for a panic room or a vault room, a place to go if someone breaks into their house,” he said. “Even an expensive safe attracts attention from a burglar; they’re not that tough to break into, and you can use a tool to get into it,” he added. The balance percentage of orders is leisure- or fun-oriented, such as movie rooms, smoking rooms and kids’ play rooms. “A lot of people want it for fun, and

Steve Humble, founder of Creative Home Engineering, in the workshop of his new premises in Gilbert

(Far left) This bookcase has a switch hidden in a Harry Potter book. (Left) This Shakespeare bust contains a secret switch that opens a passageway.

that’s reason enough for them,” Humble said. They also add to the resale value of a home, he noted. Humble’s Gilbert home, which he shares with his wife, Krystal, and three kids ages 6, 4 and 1, features a secret play area. It had to have one, he said, because his children think that secret passageways “are something totally normal.” Play the James Bond theme song on the family piano, and it opens a secret door to a playroom, but it works only if the notes are correct. So it doubles as an incentive to learn the piano. “My 6-year-old daughter has learnt how to play the introduction to James Bond; she plays the notes,” Humble said. “My kids are always in there.”

In 2004, the Mountain View High School, Mesa and Arizona State University graduate began his career designing robotic parts for medical equipment. “I was working in a cubicle, as most people do, and I just wasn’t cut out for it. I was stir crazy,” he said. At the time, he was renting a large home with a few others. One day, he watched a movie that featured a secret door and was inspired to build one in one of the unoccupied rooms. Online research revealed that there weren’t many businesses offering secret doors. He floated the idea with architects and builders and got positive feedback. “Maybe there’s a niche for me,” he thought at the time.

Humble gave notice to his company, moved in with his parents and began constructing secret doors in the garage. “It just naturally grew. Once I got a website, there were people who were looking for doors, and they found me,” he said. Nowadays, Creative Home Engineering employs 10 and averages 50 customized doors and six times as many standardized doors annually. The founder said it had its best year in 2017. “We are doing so much business that we had to buy this building,” he said. The new office has an extensive, highceilinged workshop. The new space also enables him to purchase high-end equipment such as a plasma torch to cut material precisely. Most high-precision jobs had been outsourced until then for lack of space and insufficient volume to justify the expense of buying the equipment. Humble introduced a standardized line of secret doors to reduce the pricing and attract more customers. With a standard design, a machine can cut pieces more economically. For custom orders, he has to spend hours on the phone with the builder, architect, interior designer and customer and exchange multiple revisions of drawings. “It’s a very, very time-consuming process to make one secret door for somebody. But if it’s a standard design, they go onto our website, click, click, click and hit buy,” he said. “We never have to talk to them, and by doing that, we can offer them big savings.”

Details: Contact Creative Home Engineering at hiddendoorstore.com (for standard doors) and hiddenpassageways. com (for custom work) .

Resident part of Project CENTRL leadership program BY GSN CONTRIBUTOR

Gilbert resident and East Valley businessman Keith Waltemeyer is participating in Class XXVI of Project CENTRL, The Center for Rural Leadership. Project CENTRL is a competitively selected, tuition-free, 12-month leadership development program for 16 individuals connected to rural Arizona. Waltemeyer is a third generation Arizonan who has worked for his family’s business, Mesa-based Treeland Nurseries, his entire life. Established in 1965 by

Keith’s grandfather, Treeland has grown to additional locations in Gilbert and Chandler. As part of the curriculum, the leadership class did a study tour in Ciudad Obregon, Sonora, Mexico in October. The tour, held to better understand the economic and political resources shared between Arizona and Sonora, was hosted by local university Instituto de Tecnologio de Sonora. Highlights included learning about

the entire cycle of produce production from planting, harvesting and packing to getting the produce to consumers in U.S. grocery stores. Visits were arranged to vegetable farms, a shrimp farm, citrus plantation, greenhouses, produce packing plants, the Yaqui Valley Irrigation District Headquarters and the CIANO Agricultural Experiment Station. The class also visited a community center that had been revitalized by a few motivated community members after an

outbreak of crime. Since beginning in 1983, Project CENTRL has graduated more than 600, and its impact on rural Arizona may be measured by its participants holding many public leadership positions and serving on non-profit and school boards around the state. To apply for the program, visit centrl. org; applications are due March 15 for Class XXVII.

Business

www.GilbertSunNews.com

February 2018

Good Night Pediatrics offers overnight urgent care for kids

BY ALISON STANTON

As most parents know quite well, it can be very worrisome when children are ill with a cold, flu, earache or other health issue. It is even more difficult when a child is having symptoms like a high fever, vomiting or aches and pains in the middle of the night, long after their usual pediatricians have closed for the day. This knowledge inspired Dr. Michael McQueen to open Good Night Pediatrics, which provides urgent care to kids between the hours of 5 p.m. and 5 a.m. The first of four Good Night Pediatrics clinics opened in the Valley in November 2004, and a location has been open in Gilbert since October 2006. “After talking to families, pediatricians and staff at emergency rooms, I discovered the critical need for nonemergency, nighttime pediatric medical care,” McQueen said, adding that the clinic’s mission is to offer a “nighttime supplement” to regular pediatricians’ practices, not a competitor. “After all, no child should have to go to the emergency room unless it’s an emergency. Good Night Pediatrics was a solution to that problem,” he added. Dr. Sunday Bankole, a pediatrician at the clinic in Gilbert, said they are able to diagnose and treat a wide range of common childhood conditions there, including fevers, ear infections, strep throat, pneumonia, flu, vomiting and diarrhea and skin rashes. The clinic also treats minor surgical procedures such as suturing of simple lacerations, incision and drainage of abscesses, reduction of common limb dislocations and evaluation, diagnosis and splinting of common fractures. As Bankole noted, there are a number

(Photo special to GSN)

Good Night Pediatrics has been open in Gilbert since October 2006.

of benefits to using an overnight pediatric urgent care as opposed to taking an ill child to the emergency room or maybe trying to tough it out until morning, when the regular pediatrician is open. “Our Nighttime Pediatric Urgent Care model offers several advantages compared to the Emergency Department and other urgent cares,” he said, adding that they are devoted to offering a family-centered and friendly service, which makes the experience as pleasant as possible for kids. “We have experienced pediatric specialty providers seeing the sick kids, and we offer shorter waiting times. Also, our services are by far more cost effective, and we accept all insurance plans, including all AHCCCS plans,” he added. Good Night Pediatrics also has X-ray equipment on site, which is managed by qualified radiology technologists and is read at the time of service by the pediatric provider before being reviewed by a radiologist the following day. “Also, we maintain electronic health

records with electronic prescriptions as needed,” Bankole said. “Visit records are sent electronically to the child’s primary care providers in a timely manner, to ensure appropriate follow up and continuity with the PCP management.” Good Night Pediatrics also offers an innovative and convenient eVisit application, which provides “telehealth” visits. The program is available at 5 p.m. when the clinics open. Telehealth visits allow patients to skip the line and get direct access to treatment virtually from anywhere in the state. While the eVisit is very similar to using Facetime and Skype, Bankole said the application includes a few extra features that make the system HIPAA compliant and help keep medical information safe and up-to-date. “To participate in a telehealth visit, all that’s needed is a computer, smartphone, or tablet with a strong and secure internet connection and a built-in microphone and webcam,” Bankole said. The clinic is open every day of the year including on special holidays

Wedding venue to open business took off and they participated in the local bridal expo and worked with bridal vendors. This included the Cozy Weddings, so when the property went on the market, the Zappones knew they wanted to make it their own. Now The Cottage is set to become a full-scale event venue with a fully equipped commercial kitchen – not only for weddings but also for social and corporate events, of any size or capacity. The Cottage also has an audio/visual room for corporate gatherings. With planning coordinators and local vendor partnerships from hair and make-up to photography and flowers, it offers complete packages and á la carte services.

Good Night Pediatrics is located at 861 N. Higley Road, Suite B101 in Gilbert. Details: 480-813-9600 or goodnightpeds.com.

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Salvatore and Dina Zappone, owners and operators of Zappone’s Italian Bistro in Gilbert, have taken their business to the next level with a full-scale event venue. The Cottage Wedding Venue, located at 535 S. Gilbert Road, is offering tours this month, and will be available for weddings in March. “We’re so excited to see this next chapter of our dream come to life,” said Dina Zappone. “We’ve taken a bare shell and incorporated all the best parts of what we’ve learned in our restaurant and catering businesses over the years. We hope to make our clients’ special day magical at The Cottage.” The Zappones’ dream for The Cottage began to take form as their catering

like Thanksgiving and Christmas Day. According to Bankole, a large pool of established patients routinely return for services, and the clinic also treats several new patients on a daily basis. Angela Smith is a parent who appreciates having Good Night Pediatrics as an option. The Gilbert mom of four – 5-year-old Isabelle Smith and 17-year-old triplets Nicholas, Noah and Miranda McGill – has taken both Isabelle and Miranda to the Gilbert location for care. “The first visit for Isabelle was due to a high fever of 103.5 around 11 p.m., and for the second visit, she woke up screaming in the middle of the night complaining about itchiness and pain,” Smith said, adding that she took Miranda in once at 10 p.m. when she had chest congestion and a fever. “The office was able to give Miranda a breathing treatment and prescribe the medicine needed to allow both of us the peace of mind to get some sleep,” Smith said. She said it is “a great idea” to have an urgent care that specializes in the care of children and that operates after hours. “I wish there had been a place like Good Night Pediatrics when my triplets were younger. The care there was exceptional, and it was so nice to take them into an office that didn’t have a three-hour wait with a doctor’s office environment and friendly staff that genuinely cares about each and every patient,” she said.

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Business

February 2018

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Cups and Cakes: The sweetest perfection BY CHRISTINA FUOCO-KARASINSKI

Ty and Madi Tabile have a sweet tooth and, thanks to their weakness, so does Northeast Mesa. The young Gilbert couple opened Red Mountain Promenade’s Cups and Cakes last June. The intoxicating smell of batter in the mom-and-pop shop nearly sells the products without even eyeing the colorful showcases. Options are aplenty, with lemon coconut, German chocolate, Oreo and eggnog among the flavors. “The eggnog is to die for,” Madi said enthusiastically. “We sold out of those. I love the caramel spice, too, and the chocolate peanut butter. Oh my gosh, I could take a bath in that frosting.” Cupcakes are $3, or $2.50 for customers who order 12 or more. Cups and Cakes also creates custom cakes for birthdays, weddings and other events. Madi grew up in Orange County, California, but moved to Gilbert for her father’s job. The 22-year-old Williams Field High School graduate and her 26-year-old husband, who grew up in Layton, Utah, attended Chandler-Gilbert Community College. A recent CGCC graduate, Ty will soon begin studying business and finance at ASU.

The idea for Cups and Cakes was sparked when Madi became addicted to Cupcake Wars while the couple was living in North Carolina for three years. “We moved back here, and I got a job at The Sweet Tooth Fairy in Gilbert, which is where I learned everything,” said Madi. “I got my degree in criminal justice and worked for the Mesa Police Department.

(Above) Williams Field High School alum Madi Tabile shows her wares at Cups and Cakes. They are selling like hot cake at the Mesa store.

But I quickly learned I didn’t want to be a police officer, and the end goal was my husband wanted to own a business. This opportunity came up, and here we are.” Owning a business has been challenging for the Tabiles. “I feel like my brain is going a million miles an hour and in a million different directions,” she said with a laugh. “Some days I’ll be jumping for joy because of all the customers and the love we receive. Other days, it’s super hard. We’ve learned a lot about dealing with customers and the community. But we love it here.” The most valuable lesson she’s learned? “I think the more good you put out, the more good comes back to you,” she said. “I love working with people. Hard work pays off.”

Cups and Cakes is at Red Mountain Promenade, 6727 E. McDowell Road, Suite 104, Mesa.

(Right) German chocolate, Oreo and lemon are among the flavors.

Details: 480-396-7080 or cupsandcakesaz. com.

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February 2018

Business

February 2018

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BRIEFS New doctors at Gilbert Hospital

Gilbert Hospital, a wholly owned subsidiary of hospital management company New Vision Health, has partnered with Zion Medical Group. “Our relationship with Zion Medical Group reflects our mission, vision and values, and will have a positive impact on the surrounding communities and the individuals we serve,” said Dennis Rutherford, CEO of New Vision Health. Dr. Obinna Egbo, CEO of Zion Medical Group, said: “At Zion, we can leverage our footprint in the Acute and Post-Acute settings to deliver consistent quality of care through the healthcare continuum. “Zion has also joined the existing partnership between the hospital, the police department, the fire department, and other related public service organizations that participate in the coordination of care delivery,” he added. Gilbert Hospital, an acute-care general hospital with around-the-clock services, is at 5656 S. Power Road, Gilbert. Details: gilberter.com

Low cost health insurance

Low cost health insurance professional A.J. Sagman, of Healthcare Solutions Corporation, has opened an office in Gilbert to

assist health insurance buyers in the state. The ever-changing health insurance field has left numerous people without health insurance because of industry confusion, tax penalty inconsistency and the shortened term to purchase Obamacare each year. Sagman’s goal is to provide correct and constant industry information changes, inexpensive insurance for people with preexisting conditions and current price quotes at no charge. Details: 480-482-9949 or discounthealthinsurance.info.

Growth at Gateway Airport

The 2017 holiday travel season was a busy one for Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport, as 125,070 passengers passed through the checkpoints in December. That number is an increase of 9 percent over last December, making it the second busiest December in the airport’s history. With more people choosing the convenience of Gateway Airport, and 11 new destinations launched throughout the year, 2017 finished as the second busiest year on record, the airport said. “Gateway Airport continues to be the beneficiary of a strong and growing Arizona economy and the state’s status as a top vacation destination for sun-seeking travelers

escaping the cold,” said PMGAA executive director/CEO J. Brian O’Neill. “With eight new routes beginning in the last quarter of 2017, we anticipate a very busy and successful year ahead.” The latest passenger numbers come on the heels of an announcement made by Arizona Governor Doug Ducey that Gateway Airport will be the site of SkyBridge Arizona, the nation’s first inland airport with a Unified Cargo Processing Facility to pre-clear cargo en route to Mexico. It’s projected to create thousands of jobs for the region and significant business opportunities throughout the Southwest. For information about Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport, visit gatewayairport.com.

Marbella Vineyards employs FirstService Residential FirstService Residential, a community management company, was selected to provide management services for Marbella Vineyards Homeowners Association in Gilbert. The company assumed management responsibilities at the beginning of the year. In addition, the company will provide Marbella Vineyards with access to FirstService Residential Connect, its proprietary community association technology platform. The technology will enable them to

manage property owner records, billing and fee collections. “Marbella Vineyards needed personalized attention and a robust support network incorporating today’s innovative technologies and services in order to fully execute its strategic community plan,” said Rich Orduno, vice president of FirstService Residential Arizona. “Our market expertise, hands-on support, industry-leading technology and genuinely helpful service provides the foundation they need to reach their goals and ultimately enhance property values and improve resident lifestyles.” The single-family home community includes 638 houses and features several walking paths along with a seven-acre park. Recreational amenities are located within three separate areas in the community and include playgrounds, basketball courts, sandlot volleyball, picnic tables, and barbeque areas and grills.

Art of Chocolate A’fair moves to Gilbert

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BRIEFS from page 32

that the Art of Chocolate A’fair has moved from Carefree to Gilbert. “Frankly, we outgrew Carefree in a number of ways,” said Roberta ToombsRechlin, a founder of Magic Bird Festivals, which produces the event. “We were looking for a new, larger location, and the flourishing, hip vibe in Gilbert and its close proximity were attractive.” The festival will feature hundreds of chocolates, art, music by Flagstaff’s Mother Road Trio on Saturday and Sedona’s Darius Lux on Sunday, and food trucks. Of course it celebrates the romance and decadence of chocolate in its many incarnations. Admission is free. Toombs-Rechlin, who founded the company with Lester Rechlin, visited the Gilbert Heritage District many times and has seen the area grow exponentially. It seemed to be the perfect spot for the Art of Chocolate A’fair. “We have all the chocolatiers who were with us in Carefree, and we’ve added few more,” noted Toombs-Rechlin, a selfprofessed lover of dark chocolate. New Mexico’s Elixir Boutique Chocolates is the featured chocolatier this year, after receiving rave reviews last year. Other participating confectioners include XO Confections, Lilly Lang Treats, Mr. Fudge and San Francisco Chocolate Factory. Seventy fine arts exhibitors will set

February 2018

Chocolate, art and music will tempt visitors at a festival coming up at Gilbert Civic Center.

up shop at the Art of Chocolate A’fair, including artists who create jewelry, paintings, clothing and wood crafts. The featured artist is Andria Boat of AB Photography. Magic Bird Festivals’ Art of Chocolate A’fair is from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday, February 2, to Sunday, February 4 at Gilbert Civic Center, 50 E. Civic Center Drive. Free admission. Details: magicbirdfestivals.com.

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February 2018

New technology helps golfers improve their swings BY GREG MACAFEE

In today’s world, technology is advancing all walks of life – and sports are no exception. Technology is giving athletes better opportunities to improve their talents in several ways. Portable devices are tracking players’ movements on the soccer field. Other technology is allowing professional athletes in many sports to increase the length of their careers. One recent advancement in athletic technology has now made its way to the Trilogy Golf Club at Power Ranch in Gilbert. Mike Schlund, PGA director of instruction at The Golf Academy at Power Ranch, has brought a new training device to the golf course that provides a valuable experience for players looking to improve their game or start off with good habits if they are new to the sport. His new facility, a 900-square-foot building with two separate bays, is a climate-controlled indoor golf range. While it can be used as a fully indoor facility with nets that can be drawn to stop balls in motion, the building also has a door that can open, allowing players to hit balls onto the driving range. But the indoor facility is more than just a driving range. The building is also

(GSN photo by Kimberly Carrillo.)

Mike Schlund, PGA director of instruction at The Golf Academy at Power Ranch, says the video equipment allows the golfer to make adjustments in real time.

equipped with video equipment and a launch monitor that opens up a whole new way of teaching. With two simultaneous video feeds, the technology allows golfers to adjust their swing at certain positions, while receiving immediate visual and sensory feedback. “It’s live-feed video, so to me that is a perfect way to learn something because you are able to watch something and feel it at the same time,” Schlund said. “That type of feedback is kind of invaluable, and it helps me get my point across as a trainer.”

Not only does the video equipment allow the golfer to make adjustments in real time; it also allows them to see how the adjustments affect the results of their swing. Along with the two simultaneous video feeds, Schlund uses a FlightScope, which tracks many different aspects of a golfer’s swing, along with the end results. “FlightScope reads the impact position, and it gives not only how far did the ball fly, but how high it went, the curvature of the ball, the club speed, the ball’s spin rate, and even shows you the angle of the clubface on impact,”

Schlund said. “So, as we train, they can see how those numbers change with the adjustments they make.” While the building provides state of the art technology that allows golfers to improve on a daily basis, it also allows both Schlund and his customers a chance to beat the heat and avoid any other weather restrictions they have faced in the past. Some of those include rain, frost delays and, of course, the intense Arizona heat in the summertime. “If I give four or five lessons a day, I get a headache at the end of the day, and the sun just beats on you,” Schlund said. “So the main purpose was climate controlled summer instruction, and we can even do it with the door opened in the summer as well because of the air conditioning.” With the indoor facility, Schlund is able to use up less driving range space while still being able to maximize his time at the course. Right now, Schlund is teaching fivehour days on the weekend and from about 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. during the week.

To learn more: mikeschlundgolf.com.

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February 2018

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February 2018

HIGLEY HAPPENINGS Job fair

SUBMITTED BY MICHELLE REESE

Higley Unified School District will host a job fair from 4-7 p.m. Feb. 8 at Williams Field High School, 2076 S. Higley Road. On-site interviews will be available. The district is hiring in the following areas for the 2018/19 school year: teaching, health, custodial, classified, community education and transportation. More about the job fair at husd.org/ jobfair. More about employment in the district at husd.org/employment.

DECA winners

Distributive Education Clubs of America, or DECA, students from Williams Field High School and Higley High School participated in January in the district competition and returned with top honors. DECA high school programs provide students an opportunity to learn about business, marketing, finance, hospitality, management and entrepreneurship. During competitions throughout the year, they put their skills to the test through role plays, written events and online competitions. The event, held at ASU Polytechnic campus, included competitions in business administration, finance, hospitality and marketing.

Higley High students qualify for game

Three teams of Higley High students qualified for the DECA International Career Development Conference in Atlanta,

Georgia, in the Stock Market Game. DECA high school programs provide students an opportunity to learn about business, marketing, finance, hospitality, management and entrepreneurship. To qualify for the Stock Market Game, teams must place in the top 25 in the region through planning fictitious buying and selling of real stocks. The region includes Arizona, California, Colorado and Washington. Of the regional schools that qualified, seven are from Arizona. The only Gilbert teams to qualify are those from Higley. The winning team comprised Jaden Pierce, Giuliano Nardulli, Christopher Wagner, Dante Esposito, Dino Esposito and Michael Vallecillos.

Many Williams Field High School students placed in the top three in their events at the DECA District competition held in January. They are (from left) Ben Udall, Julia Janette, Cooper Jensen, Jaxson Billie, Alex Rusaw, Heber Ciminski, Ruth Nyagaka, Kate Koneiczny, Amanda Gomez and Fernando Robles.

Higley, Sossaman students win Mandarin awards

Higley High School and Sossaman Middle School Mandarin classes received four out of eight awards from the Arizona State University Confucius Institute Video Competition. The winners were: Jarod Huynh and Jake Burton (12th grade): Best Production and Film Editing/ Best Selected Video candidate; Khiyara Gassaway and Shelby Seipert (12th grade): Best Original Screenplay/Best Selected Video candidate; Dane Shillingburg and Kylie Erwin (9th grade): Best Production and Film Editing; Brenden Martinez and Joshua Transtrum (10th grade): Outstanding Video; Mathias Beaty (8th grade): Best Animation. Higley offers Mandarin instruction to

Higley High Knights (pictured) represented their school during recent DECA competition at ASU Polytechnic. Alex DeMartino, Dante Esposito, Jordan Heath, Sharai Highley, Kailey Kruse, Kyle McGowen, Brittany McKinney, Alexander Orth, Jessica Pickens, Bryce Remer, Jerryd Short and Michael Vallecillos won medals.

students in preschool through high school. The award ceremony is slated for February 3 at the ASU Memorial Union;

there will be a final vote held for the best overall video.

New elementary in Queen Creek named CONTRIBUTED BY STEPHANIE INGERSOLL

Elementary school number six in the Queen Creek Unified School District has been named Faith Mather Sossaman Elementary. The school, located near 226th Street and Ocotillo Road in the William Lyon Homes subdivision, will be completed in time for the start of the 2018-19 school year. Faith Mather Sossaman lived in, or was associated with, the area that became the community and town of Queen Creek for 82 years. Sossaman started teaching at Queen Creek Elementary School in 1932. She had a special skill and compassion for teaching farm migrant children who moved often with the crop harvest seasons. Although she was not fluent in

Spanish, Sossaman was able to teach her students English and their other subjects. Sossaman’s son, James J. Sossaman, attended Queen Creek Elementary School and served on its board for 15 years. Her grandchildren also attended Queen Creek Elementary, and her grandson, Stephen Sossaman, served several years on the school district board as well. “On behalf of the QCUSD Governing Board and staff, we are honored to name this school after Faith Mather Sossaman,” said Dr. Perry Berry, QCUSD superintendent. “Her family has helped shape Queen Creek as we know it today. Naming our newest school after Mrs. Sossaman honors the great care and

commitment the Sossamans have given to our community.” The elementary will offer STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math) curriculum opportunities and help meet the school district’s growing student population. It includes a media center, combined cafeteria and gymnasium space with rooms for music and band, 22 classrooms ranging from pre-K to 5th Grade, as well as a Maker’s Space Lab and Computer Lab. In addition to playground areas and an outdoor learning space, the site will have baseball and soccer fields. see

SCHOOL NAMED page 39

(Courtesy of San Tan Historical Society)

Faith Mather Sossaman

February 2018

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www.GilbertSunNews.com

February 2018

(Courtesy of McCarthy Building Companies.)

The Sossaman family (from left): Chris Sossaman, Steve Sossaman, Kim Sossaman, Sue Sossaman, James Sossaman, Roger Nash (husband of Kim), Lisa (Scott’s wife) and Scott Sossaman.

Sherry Towns will be principal of Faith Mather Sossaman Elementary.

SCHOOL NAMED from page 38 Sherry Towns named principal Dr. Perry Berry, superintendent of Queen Creek Unified School District, announced Sherry Towns as the principal of the new Faith Mather Sossaman Elementary, starting with the 2018-2019 school year. Towns is currently part of the QCUSD

administration team; she has been the principal of Frances Brandon-Pickett Elementary for seven years. Towns has more than two decades of experience in education – a Bachelor’s degree in elementary education and a Master’s degree in curriculum, as well as a Master’s degree in instruction and educational leadership. Her career in education started as a classroom teacher for grades K-3. She

has also been an instructional specialist, dean of students, and a student service coordinator for special education. Prior to joining Queen Creek, Towns was in the Chandler Unified School District. When she is not working, Sherry enjoys spending time with her family and reading a good book. She and her husband have been together 38 years. They have two adult children and a dog named KnickKnack.

“It is my belief all students are capable of learning and achieving high standards when provided with instruction that meets their needs,” said Towns. “School should be an exciting and enjoyable place where students look forward to learning. My desire is to be a leader who promotes quality education and collaboration with students, staff, and parents; together as a team, we will help our children reach their potential.”

The flipside of cheerleading: catastrophic injuries BY BRITTANY BOWYER CRONKITE NEWS

After Lisa Caiazzo’s daughter, Alexa, suffered a third concussion, the Gilbert resident was terrified. “She was talking funny. She didn’t make sense. She just wanted to sleep,” she said of Alexa. “Oh God. Her eyes were like… It was like she couldn’t even see you.” It was then Lisa decided to pull her daughters out of cheer. They tumble, they fly, and they do it all with smiles on their faces. But behind the big bows and the sparkly pompoms of the sport, another truth emerges: Cheerleading is dangerous, too. The sport was responsible for 65 percent of direct catastrophic injuries to female high school athletes during a 27-year period, according to a 2012 study by the American Academy of Pediatrics. This supported a 2009 report from the National Center for Catastrophic Sports Injury Research at the University of North Carolina that concluded cheerleading accounted for 65.2 percent of all catastrophic injuries in youth sports. The risk connected to cheerleading continues to rise as the difficulty of skills performed increases. During his 31 years of practice, Phoenix orthopedic surgeon Douglas Hartzler has treated numerous cheerleaders for injuries. “I would agree that cheerleading on a percentage basis… probably has a higher frequency than most sporting activities,” Hartzler said.

Alexa Caiazzo, a former cheerleader at USA Starz in Gilbert, suffered three concussions in approximately six weeks. She began cheering when she was 9 and was hooked immediately. “I was there four to six days a week for almost eight years. I loved it with everything,” Alexa said. After suffering her three concussions, Alexa missed two weeks of school because of her symptoms. She had extreme light and sound sensitivity and slept almost day and night. When she returned to school, the lights in the classroom and the sounds were overwhelming for her. The concussions caused her to have issues with schoolwork. Not only did it put her behind, but it also made it difficult to remember things like math formulas. She also struggled with writing, forgetting how to spell simple words, and would confuse letters like “b” and “d.” The look that Lisa described on the day she picked Alexa up after the third concussion was a look that haunted her for months “That blank stare. That not understanding,” Lisa said. “You know somebody with Alzheimer’s? That’s what I felt (Special to GSN) like she was like. She just had no clue.” Today, although she is about 75 percent healed, Alexa The Caiazzo family of Gilbert (from right), Alexa, Lisa, Bri and Tommy, poses after a cheer competition. still has problems with comprehension. Part of the reason so many cheerleaders suffer serious injuries is because of what is required, Hartzler said. They do gymnastics skills on hard surfaces and rely on other see page 43

CHEERLEADING

Youth

February 2018

www.GilbertSunNews.com

Prom to give special-needs teens royal treatment BY COLLEEN SPARKS

Special-needs teens and adults will get the star treatment and have a chance to dance the night away at a novel event in Chandler and around the world next week. Compass Christian Church on South Alma School Road will hold a Night to Shine, a prom-type experience for anyone with special needs ages 14 and older, on Feb. 9. The Tim Tebow Foundation sponsors these dances in all 50 states and 16 countries around the world. The participants will have an opportunity to walk on a red carpet where teens emulating paparazzi will applaud and greet them. They can also ride in a limousine and party bus, receive complimentary hair and makeup services, eat a catered dinner, dance, sing karaoke and receive prom crowns and tiaras, among other pampering treatments. Compass teamed up with Discovery Community Church in Gilbert to hold the Night to Shine last year at Discovery. This year, Compass will host the big night on its own, said Marie Jobe, who is co-chairwoman of the Night to Shine at Compass, as well as the wife of Compass Senior Pastor Brian Jobe. Lori Marsh is

the other co-chairwoman of the Night to Shine dance at Compass. The Night to Shine at Discovery was a big hit last year, Marie said. “It went great,” she said. “It was just one of those adrenaline rushing, you’re trying to hold back the tears. As soon as they step up onto the curb they’re just beaming, they’re so excited to be there. “They’re just honored and cherished. Our society has come a long way. Just to have something specifically for them where they’re cherished the whole evening, it’s such a blessing.” The teens and adults who participate in the occasion have a variety of special needs including Down syndrome, autism and visual impairments, Marie said. Compass has a Caring Hearts Ministry to help people who have disabilities and their families. More than 600 volunteers are expected to aid in Night to Shine, and 300 guests with special needs plan to attend, Marie said. “Buddies,” or volunteers, will accompany the specialneeds prom attendees to help them feel comfortable and ensure they have everything they need. Rooms with quieter activities will be

(Photo by Traci Robb)

Morgan Klein, a graduate of Mesquite High School, walks on the red carpet at Night to Shine, a prom for special-needs teens and adults, held last year at Discovery Community Church in Gilbert. Klein plans to attend this year’s event on Feb. 9.

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available for anyone who needs a break from the sounds and lights in the main dance area. Volunteers will hang out with parents, who will also get a full meal and can get chair massages and caricature drawings. Traci Robb of Gilbert brought her daughter, Morgan Klein, now 22, to the Night to Shine at Discovery the last two years, and they plan to return this month. Klein has mild autism, cerebral palsy and a seizure disorder, but she had a blast dancing and socializing at last year’s event, Robb said. “It’s a really amazing experience for them because these are kids that very rarely get to participate in those kinds of events in a high school setting,” she said. “My daughter absolutely loved it.” Robb said Klein went to a traditional prom at Mesquite High School, from which she graduated last year, but she believes Klein had more fun at this event as she saw many of her friends there. “It’s like a little reunion for her,” Robb said. see

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February 2018

Family to pay it forward with a tandem bike

CONTRIBUTED BY STEPHANIE INGERSOLL

Hundreds of runners took part in the Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon in Phoenix recently. Among them was Louise Hendersen, who came to Arizona all the way from England to run in honor of a very special Queen Creek student named Kylie Laflamme. Kylie has a mitochondrial disease called Leigh-like syndrome. It’s a severe neurological disorder that usually becomes apparent in the first year of life. This condition is characterized by progressive loss of mental abilities and movement, but – as Louise soon found out – Kylie is a fighter. Louise is an avid runner, and the thought of dedicating her runs to someone really appealed to her. She joined a Facebook Group called ‘Irun4Michael’ or IR4. The IR4 family is made up of thousands of athletes; the dedicated run movement has a waiting list of runners wanting to be matched with someone they can carry in heart and spirit as they compete. Louise was matched with Kylie in March 2015; since then, Kylie has been her inspiration to be the best runner possible. This year, Louise sent Kylie a very (Photo special to GSN) special gift: a tandem bicycle so Kylie, Kylie Laflamme and her brother Dylan ride the tandem bike that Louise Hendersen raised funds who’s in a wheelchair, can experience to buy. the sensation you get from riding a bike.

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Kylie’s classmates at Newell Barney Middle School in Queen Creek even helped raise funds for the special set of wheels by running laps in P.E. class. Since being connected, Kylie and her mom have stayed in touch with Louise via Facebook, but Louise believed that she would one day meet her running inspiration. Prior to the marathon race, Louise met Kylie and her family for the first time in person. During their time together, the friends talked, laughed, even rode together on Kylie’s special bike. The emotional meetup was just the inspiration Louise needed to run the grueling 26.2 miles, and waiting for her at the finish line were Kylie and her family. In a way, Louise’s kindness has also started a movement. Kylie’s family now wants to “pay it forward” and purchase a bike for another student with special needs in the Queen Creek community. To help fundraise for the bicycle, visit gofundme.com/krmghs-special-bikespaying-it-forward. Or donate in person at ACE Performance Auto (APA), which is owned by Kylie’s family. The APA store is located at 1730 W. Sunrise Blvd., Gilbert.

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Cavinder twins take competitiveness to next level BY ERIC NEWMAN

As early as six years prior, Gilbert High School girls basketball coach Kyle Pedersen knew he had something special with the Cavinder twins. As mere middle-schoolers, Hanna and Haley Cavinder, now juniors at Gilbert, were already on track for greatness, playing with skills far above what was expected for players their age by Pedersen’s club team. “When they tried out for our club, they were trying out for the eighth-grade team as sixth-graders, and I was watching their court. And they’re doing euro steps and behind-the-back passes and things to eighth-graders who could barely catch the ball,” he said. Since that point, Pedersen said he has seen significant growth from the two sisters, who now not only are able to score and play well with each other, but know how to push the ball in transition, getting their teammates involved and playing quality basketball as well. “They’ve learned a lot about how to be good leaders, how to get the best out of everyone around them, and how they keep composed on the court,” he said. Now, Haley and Hanna have become Gilbert’s top-producing players, both scoring over 20 points and dishing out over six assists on average through 20 games. Having played their whole basketball careers alongside one another, with endless conversations on and off the court about their games and desires, the twins already have an upper hand on their opponent. “We have that advantage, because

(Photo special to GSN)

Hanna and Haley Cavinder excel in basketball.

every single game we have played together, it’s never been us against each other on different teams. So, we know each other’s games, like she knows my next move, I know hers. It’s very natural,” Haley said. Beside knowing how to play together, the Cavinder twins attribute much of their success to their competitive nature, both on the court and off. “Even when our family plays board games, it gets ridiculously intense, and we have to stop before we get mad at each other,” Hanna said. “We’re competitive, and just like to win at whatever.” But the most important competition the two partake in is their spirited games of one-on-one that the twins have played since they could pick up a ball.

Asked if they take their games of one-on-one very seriously, both responded an emphatic “yes,” without hesitation. They use their games of one-on-one as an outlet to satisfy their need for competition and to improve their individual skill sets, but Hanna and Haley also use their games to settle debates around the house, as

well. “If we have to do laundry or something, we’ll go play one-on-one, and whoever loses has to do whatever chore it is,” Haley said. And playing against one another forces both twins to play outside their comfort zones, improving on the few flaws still present in their games. “She brings the best out of me, and knows my strengths and weaknesses, so when we play one-on-one, she makes me do what I need to work on,” Hanna said. As seriously as both players take the game of basketball, coach Pedersen, who described the two as “definitely a little goofy,” said neither has a problem putting on a smile and having some fun with their teammates, which further bolsters team

chemistry. In an attempt to get the Gilbert girls mentally ready for December’s Nike Tournament of Champions, one of the nation’s most-prestigious high school basketball competitions, which saw the Tigers walk away as champions, Haley and Hanna not only dominated the court but the bus rides as well. “On the bus ride there, they were trying to get the team amped up, so they’d ask the bus driver for the aux cable, and they’d start DJ’ing on the bus, and just get the whole team hyped, challenging each other’s dance moves and keeping a great, relaxed air,” he said. As juniors, both Cavinder girls have more than a year before they graduate from Gilbert, but the pair have already begun the college recruiting process, and want to stick together for the foreseeable future. “We’re definitely going as a package to colleges,” Hanna said. “That’s always been our dream, to go play basketball together, so hopefully that’s the plan.” For now, though, the focus is on trying to bring Gilbert, which boasts an 18-2 record, a state championship. “State is our main goal, and that’s what we focus on every single practice,” Haley said. “I think we have the team to do it.” And, as coach Pedersen sees it, with two of Arizona’s top young talents filling two spots in a quality roster, the Tigers could be hard to beat down the stretch. “They’re tenacious. They play with a chip on their shoulder, and they will literally do anything they can to win.”

Future Kiddie helps preschoolers get ‘techy’ BY GSN CONTRIBUTOR

Preschoolers in Gilbert are getting hands-on computer experience at Wilkins Learning Center. An innovative program by Future Kiddie, a technology curriculum provider based in Chandler, is teaching little ones how to type, navigate a computer and other basic to advanced skills using specially designed software and laptops. Future Kiddie was founded in 2010 by computer instructors Ken and Linda Chan. The brother and sister team, who call themselves “computer geeks,” wanted to create a program to teach young children how to use technology properly that would also introduce them to S.T.E.M (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) concepts. The classes average 30-40 minutes in length, and each child has access to their own mini laptop to learn basic to advanced technology skills. Lessons

include an introduction to math, science, letter and number recognition, and problem solving through a combination of word games and other exercises. Using Puterbugs software designed by Discovery Kids, each class starts with an interactive lesson overview followed by computer time. The program teaches students everything from how to use a mouse and keyboard to advanced concepts such as networks, wireless technology and how to use email and the Internet. In order to help kids memorize the keys on a keyboard, the Chans have developed special hand bands and stickers corresponding to letters on the keyboard. “What is unique about our program is that we focus on keyboarding. Our students learn to type and to navigate a keyboard,” Linda Chan said. “These are essential skills they will use all their lives.

It can also help prepare them for online testing later on in school.” The weekly or bi-weekly classes are currently embedded into preschool curriculums in Tempe, Ahwatukee, (Photo special to GSN) Chandler, Ken Chan, co-owner of Future Kiddie, teaches a class at Wilkins Learning Center Gilbert, in Gilbert. Mesa and Scottsdale. New locations are being Details: futurekiddie.com added for the fall program.

www.GilbertSunNews.com

CHEERLEADING

from page 39

people for safety, which can sometimes be unreliable. “The most common [injuries] are the shoulder, elbow, ankle, and foot, and occasionally the knee, as well,” he said. “Most of it involves tumbling. Tumbling involves the upper extremities… the shoulder, the elbow, and also the foot and ankle takes a pounding.” Hartzler is no stranger to the dangers that come with cheerleading. “I can speak from my own experience that my daughter sustained a fracture dislocation of her ankle in doing a tumbling maneuver,” he said. Guidelines have been in place for high school cheer to try to combat injuries, yet none of these safety measures can completely eliminate the risk.

Gilbert Christian High Fundraiser Gilbert Christian High School Concert Choir of 52 students needs to raise funds for its “Faith to New York” mission trip to serve the homeless, work in shelters, create food boxes and perform at Carnegie Hall in March. Through community service and worship in churches, the students are planning to achieve their goal of $60,000. About 70 percent of the students are not able to travel without a major sponsor or

Youth

One common measure nationally calls for cheerleaders doing stunts to have a padded mat below them if they are on a hard surface besides grass. In Arizona, coaches also have to pass certification courses. Following Alexa’s injuries, Lisa pulled her younger daughter Bri out of cheer as well. Bri’s only injury in cheer was a hairline fracture. Lisa said that if Alexa had suffered broken bones, she would still let her and Bri cheer. “With the brain, it’s a totally different way of thinking about it,” Lisa said. “The brain is the brain. A break, you can fix. It can heal. You can have surgery. That’s not catastrophic. That’s not toying with your mind, or your memory, or your speech, comprehension, or how you live day to day.”

fundraising and there are many fundraising limitations because the school is a private institution. This is the first major tour since the group’s beginnings in 1996. Herbert Washington, director of High School Choral and Drama Activities, said: “None are more talented, spiritual, and passionate about music than these young people.” For more, visit classy.org/campaign/ gilbert-christian-concert-choir-faith-tonew-york-tour-campaign/c149703.

PROM

February 2018

from page 40

Morgan’s sister, Jessie Klein, 26, who is a neurological pediatric physical therapist, volunteered as a “buddy” at last year’s event, and Traci’s husband, Wes Robb, also helped out there, as did Traci. “You spend a night with this group of individuals, and you see what they have to struggle with every day, and you walk away much more grateful than you did when you got there,” Traci said. “They’re still a person, and they still want to be loved and have fun, and that’s not always available to them.” The Tim Tebow Foundation, founded by the professional athlete, gives every host church holding the dance a planning manual and prom kit that has decorations and gifts for the guests. The churches organizing the event also get support and guidance from a Tim Tebow Foundation staff member. The Tim Tebow Foundation has pledged more than $3.5 million to aid hundreds of churches that need help hosting the parties. The foundation’s mission is to “bring faith, hope and love to those needing a brighter day in their darkest hour of need,” according to its website. Tebow played for a New York Mets Minor League team and was invited to the Mets’ spring training this year. Previously, the Heisman Trophy winner played in the

NFL for the Denver Broncos, New York Jets and New England Patriots. His foundation focuses on several outreach areas that help children, including the W15H program that fulfills dreams of children who have lifethreatening illnesses, as well as supporting orphans’ care in other countries and providing financial help to those who want to adopt special-needs children from other countries. Tebow grew up in the Philippines, where his parents served as missionaries. “Night to Shine is my favorite night of the year!” Tebow said. “It’s also a favorite night for thousands and thousands of kings and queens all over the world that we crown at the end of this prom. “Every town, every village, every state, and every country needs to host a Night to Shine for their special-needs community. It’s a time in which people can work together and be a part of something significant and life-changing – and be blessed in the process. It’s about being a part of one team, God’s team.” Night to Shine kicked off in 2015 with 44 churches hosting the prom and 15,000 volunteers working to celebrate more than 7,000 special-needs participants. Do you have a story idea you’d like to share? We want to hear from you! Email ndandrea@timespublications.com with the letters “GSN” in the subject field. Story ideas must pertain to Gilbert.

February 2018

Spirituality

www.GilbertSunNews.com

Spiritual Connections The Bridge Church 645 N. Gilbert Road, Suite 180, Gilbert 480-294-7888 bridgechurchaz.org Service: 10 a.m. Sundays We exist to help people know God and become everything God created them to be. We do this by helping people begin a relationship with God, grow in that relationship to find freedom from the struggles they experience, discover the purpose for which God made them and live out their purpose to make a difference in the church and in the world. Central Christian Church-Gilbert 965 E. Germann Road, Gilbert centralaz.com Services: 4 and 5:30 p.m. Saturdays; 9 a.m., 10:30 a.m. and noon Sundays While the Bible itself is the church’s official document of faith, the website lists a variety of statements that fundamentally define the church. Please visit the website for more information. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints 3301 S. Greenfield Road, Gilbert 480-822-5000 lds.org

Gilbert Presbyterian Church 235 E. Guadalupe Road, Gilbert 480-892-6753

February 2018

The Lawrence Memorial AME Zion Church 1141 E. Guadalupe Road, Gilbert 480-772-3603 Services: 10:15 a.m. Sunday; Bible study is 6:30 p.m. Tuesday The Lawrence Memorial Church is a contemporary church. We are a multicultural church that is simply looking to reach the unreachable with love. Living Water United Methodist Fellowship Highland Park Elementary School 230 N. Cole Dr., Gilbert livingwaterum.org Services: 10 a.m. Sundays Living Water exists to bring people in to meet Christ, build people up to follow Christ and send people out to share Christ. Mission Community Church 4450 E. Elliot Road, Gilbert 480-545-4024 mission68.org Services: 4 and 6 p.m. Saturdays and 9, 10:30 and 11:59 a.m. Sundays The Bible is God’s word to all people. It was written by human authors under the supernatural guidance of the Holy Spirit. Because it is inspired by God, it is truth and without error in the original manuscripts. Redemption Gilbert 1820 W. Elliot Road, Gilbert 480-632-2220 gilbert.redemptionaz.com/about/ a-brief-overview/ Services: 8, 9:30 and 11 a.m. Sundays Gospel means good news, but it is truly the most profound and glorious truth ever revealed. It is not advice, nor is it a system or philosophy to add to the congregants’ lives. It is an exclusive truth claim, a holistic worldview, the true story of the whole world, which by its very nature must redefine and recolor everything else. Resurrection Episcopal Church Meets at Gilbert Community Center, 130 N. Oak St., Gilbert 480-719-5343 resurrectiongilbert.org Services: 10 a.m. Sundays Resurrection officials say the congregation is a church you can believe in because you belong. This means it welcomes and embraces all people because God already has. Come for worship, fellowship and Bible study on Sundays and join the group on a

spiritual journey to better understand God’s plan for our lives. San Tan Bible Church 1424 S. Promenade Lane, Gilbert Phone number N/A. santanbible.org Services: 8:30 a.m. (Bible hour); 9:30 a.m. (Café 2:42) and 10 a.m. worship service Sundays The church believes the glory of God is the chief end of all we do. Two Rivers Church 326 E. Guadalupe Road, Gilbert 85234 480-892-2435, 2riverschurch.org Services: 6 p.m. Saturdays; and 10 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. (Spanish) Sundays Two Rivers Church exists to help lead congregants into a growing relationship with Jesus Christ by encouraging and equipping them to love God intimately and serve others. It has a casual environment with a serious faith. Sun Valley Community Church 456 E. Ray Road, Gilbert 480-632-8920 sunvalleycc.com

Services: 4 and 5:30 p.m. Saturdays and 9, 10:30 and 11:59 a.m. Sundays The atmosphere is casual and friendly at Sun Valley Community Church. It places high value on authentic Christian living and placing Christ at the center of all our teachings. The church also offers worship music that is current and uplifting, along with focused weekend sermons that break down the Bible in a way that makes it easy to connect the word of God with today’s busy life. Vineyard Community Church 601 S. Cooper Road, Gilbert 85233 480-892-5828 vineyardaz.com Services: 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. Sundays Vineyard Community is a casual, friendly and inviting church. Its desire is to be a safe place where people’s lives are being transformed by Christ in community for the world. T he diverse community of Christ-followers seeks the radical in-breaking of the kingdom of God here and now. Followers worship God with the intention of touching heaven and changing earth.

New$Sermon$Series$begins$ February$4th,$2018

Sundays at 10:00 am New Location 645 N Gilbert Rd, Suite 180 Gilbert, AZ 85234 (Southeast corner of Gilbert & Guadalupe, south of EVDI) Pastor Kent Bertrand 480.294.7888 www.bridgechurchaz.org E. Guadalupe Rd.

Starting January 8th, 2017, please join us as we work through th Community Bible Experience togethe as a church family! N. Gilbert Rd.

First United Methodist Church of Gilbert 331 S. Cooper Road, Gilbert 480-892-9166 gilbertumc.org Services: 8 and 9:30 a.m. (traditional services) and 11 a.m. (contemporary service) Sundays The two traditional services feature the Chancel choir and traditional worship. The 11 a.m. service has a contemporary feel, with music from the Praise Band. The 9:30 a.m. service generally has the largest attendance.

Spirituality

azgpc.org Services: 8:30 and 11 a.m. Sundays Gilbert Presbyterian Church is called to be a Christ-centered covenant family nurtured by the Holy Spirit to worship God and to share God’s love.

February 2018

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February 2018

Kate Breakey’s ‘Flora’ at Art Intersection

BY GSN CONTRIBUTOR

Art Intersection presents the work of Arizona artist Kate Breakey through February 24 in an exhibition highlighting her large-scale, hand-colored flora prints from her “Small Deaths” series and several of her still life orotones. Breakey is internationally known for her work, which has appeared in more than 100 one-person exhibitions and in more than 50 group exhibitions in the U.S., France, Japan, Australia, China and New Zealand. Her application of colors and gold

leaf to the photographs brings depth and beauty to the images. In the 19th century, color tinting was applied to early blackand-white prints to make them more closely resemble reality. Today, applying color presents a way for photographers to alter their images so that they become something else — something more compelling and unique. Breakey will instruct a workshop on her hand-coloring techniques March

15-18. As old as photography itself, handcolored photographs elevate black and white photographic prints into another realm of interpretive artistic expression. She believes that only imagination limits the possibilities in the ‘hands on’ aspect of applying pigments to photography.

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Events

Rosa Hybrid Tea Rose (Photos courtesy of Kate Breakey)

Palmers Mallow

Exhibition: Through February 24. Opening reception: 6 to 8 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 3. Lecture at Phoenix Art Museum: 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 21. Hand-Coloring Photographs Workshop: 9 a.m. to 5 p. m. Thursday, March 15 to Sunday, March 18. Art Intersection is at 207 N. Gilbert Road, Suite 4, Gilbert Details: 480-361-118 or theartgallery4.com

Rosa Hybrid Tea Rose VI

‘Beauty and the Computer Geek’ ushers ‘Sleeping Beauty’ to present day BY GSN CONTRIBUTOR

East Valley Children’s Theatre presents the “Beauty and the Computer Geek” February 15-25 at Mesa Arts Center. The original work is by Susan C. Hunter and Tom Shelton, winners of EVCT’s 2017 Aspiring Playwrights contest. The work is based on the classic tale of “Sleeping Beauty,” but with a Prince Charming from the 21st century who is more computer nerd than dashing hero. Rooben, an oddball scientist, accidentally activates his latest invention — a time machine. Charles, a socially awkward teenager, his younger sister Jinx, and Clyde, the family dog, are swept along with him to the kingdom of Dormir, a magical land of fairies and talking animals. An evil sorceress has placed a curse on Princess Crystalline to be fulfilled on her sixteenth birthday. The time travelers arrive on the very day the curse will come to pass, and it’s up to Charles to save the princess and break the spell. Instead, his bungling ways backfire, putting the safety of the entire modern world at risk. Directed by Karen Rolston, the 36-member cast consists of youth ages 8-18 from across the Valley. “Beauty and the Computer Geek” runs February 15-25; at 7 p.m. Thursdays and Fridays, 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. Saturdays and 2 p.m. Sundays at

Mesa Arts Center, 1 E. Center St. Tickets are 15 for adults, $11 for children age 17 and under. Details: 480-644-6500 or evct.org. The playwrights reside in Whittier, California, and will lead a workshop for young, aspiring playwrights as part of EVCT’s first annual Student Playwriting Festival during the week of Feb. 19. An evening featuring staged readings of student plays, awards and reception will take place 6 to 9 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 20. Tickets for the festival can be purchased at the door for $10. Details: 480-756-3828

(Photo courtesy of Penrod Photography)

Suzy Olson as Crystalline, Patricia Dawson as Jinx, Harrison Graham as Charles and Connor Besemer as Rooben in the East Valley Children’s Theatre presentation of “Beauty and the Computer Geek” in February.

Arts

February 2018

www.GilbertSunNews.com

Humperdinck’s new album dedicated to Alzheimer’s-stricken wife BY CHRISTINA FUOCO-KARASINSKI

Engelbert Humperdinck wants to be a supportive husband to his wife of 53 years, Patricia. For the last decade, she has suffered from Alzheimer’s Disease. To inspire her and to show his love for her, Humperdinck released the album The Man I Want to Be on November 24. He covers topics like self-realization (“The Man I Want to Be,” “I Followed My Heart,” “Absolute Beginner”), remorse (“How Can You Live,” “Prodigal Son”) and melancholic nostalgia (“Photograph,” “I’m Glad I Danced with You”). His 9-year-old granddaughter, Olivia, duets with him on “I’m Glad I Danced with You.” There are two unexpected covers as well – Bruno Mars’ “Just the Way You Are” and Ed Sheeran’s “Photograph.” A fan of The Voice and America’s Got Talent, Humperdinck admits The Man I Want to Be is a hard project to speak about and perform. “Until we get a cure, it’s going to tug at my heart strings,” he said. “It’s not a question of having you, you have to do what you have to do. I enjoy being on stage and singing so much. This was a great release valve. The work I’ve done in the studio, it does release a little bit of tension.” Humperdinck is pleased with the treatment that Patricia has received. After not speaking for two years, she has recently said a few words. “She’s starting to recognize statements and

answering intelligently,” he said. “She answers a question that she understands with a yes or no, or I think so. Sometimes it takes her a while to answer. Her brain is a little slow in processing things. “I will, at night, say, ‘Goodnight, my darling.’ Every once in a while she’ll look at me and say, ‘Goodnight.’ It’s amazing. She’s very loving and she smiles a lot. It’s wonderful to see her progress.” Humperdinck will perform some of those songs on Saturday, February 17, at Wild Horse Pass Hotel and Casino’s Ovations Live Showroom in Chandler. “There are many songs on my new album that I will be singing,” Humperdinck said. “I do have to sing the standards people have come to know me by. I will be doing my standards like ‘Release Me,’ ‘There Goes My Everything’ and ‘After the Lovin’’ – songs that people recognize immediately. “It’s a tried and tested show that’s been around the world. I don’t keep it the same every year. Last year it was my 50th anniversary in the business. It’s received great reports for the whole year. I intend to keep that up.” Engelbert Humperdinck will perform at 8 p.m. Saturday, February 17 at Wild Horse Pass Hotel and Casino’s Ovations Live Showroom, 5040 Wild Horse Pass Boulevard, Chandler. Tickets are $49-$79.

Engelbert Humperdinck called his new album, The Man I Want to Be, a “release valve.”

Details: 800-946-4452 or wingilariver.com.

Sonoran Safari at i.d.e.a. Museum highlights desert beauty BY GSN CONTRIBUTOR

Mesa-based i.d.e.a. Museum’s new exhibit, Sonoran Safari, lets visitors explore the artistic landscape of the world’s 11th largest desert through art and hands-on activities. The exhibition, running February 9 to May 27, features 25 Arizona and national artists, as well as an artist from the Czech Republic. Artworks include digital photography, bronze and steel sculptures, ceramics, paintings and mixed media. Artists from Arizona are Margarethe Brummerman, Tucson; “Heat of the Night” by Margit Kagerer, Carefree.

Daniel Buckley, Tucson; Jake Case, Peoria; Linda HarrisonParsons, Scottsdale; Kathy Falla Howard, Scottsdale; Mark Klett, Tempe; Margit Kagerer, Carefree; William Lesch, Tucson; Monica Aissa Martinez, Phoenix; Ed Mell, Phoenix; Deborah O’Rourke, Green Valley; Peggy Orbon, Phoenix; Paul Orzech, Tucson; Christy Puetz, Phoenix; Mark Rossi, Tucson; Mary Shindell, Phoenix; and Jeff Zischke, Scottsdale. Hands-on activities in the exhibition aim to engage the entire family. Among them are: • Investigating the inside of a cactus in the Interactive Saguaro activity; • Exploring the wildlife research camp site, inside the blacklight room, focused on the desert at night; • Learning about differences and similarities of the deserts around the world; • Writing desert poetry inspired by artist Ed Mell; and • Creating “reflection” paintings, animal footprints and desert sky art.

“Desert Royalty,” oil on canvas by Ed Mell, Phoenix.

i.d.e.a. Museum is at 150 W. Pepper Place, Mesa. Admission is $9 for ages 1 and up; free for museum members. Details: ideaMuseum.org.

“Prickly Pear” by Deborah O’Rourk, Green Valley.

February 2018

www.GilbertSunNews.com

February 24 - March 4, 2018

Join filmmakers, celebrities, industry guests and film buffs from all around the world as Sedona takes center stage with its biggest celebration of film yet!

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Arts

February 2018

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Artist creates digital picture of political woes BY COLLEEN SPARKS

People often express their deepest, most personal feelings on the pages of a journal, but a local artist is making his voice heard through his digital collages. “Safwat Saleem: Concerned, but Powerless” runs through March 2 at Vision Gallery in Chandler. Saleem, who was born in Pakistan but grew up in the United Arab Emirates, said the artwork is “mostly mixed media.” He sketches his images first and then composites them on the computer before printing and assembling them. He earned a master’s degree in graphic information

technology from Arizona State University and a bachelor’s degree in computer science from the University of Southern Mississippi. While the work is “political,” Saleem said it is “very, very personal.” “I’m not calling anybody out,” he said. “I’m just like, all right, the past two years in America, this is what I’ve felt like. It’s pretty much journal entries I’ve made into art.”

(Photos special to GSN)

The art exhibit “Safwat Saleem: Concerned, but Powerless” at Vision Gallery in Chandler shows digital collages that use repurposed vintage imagery to create soliloquies expressing inner struggles.

Saleem, 37, who moved to the Valley in 2002 to attend graduate school, said he began working on the idea for this exhibit about two years ago because he felt a “sense of isolation.” “I felt like nobody is speaking on my behalf,” Saleem said. “It started from a place of concern. I’m (Photo courtesy of Audrey Iffert) an immigrant from a Safwat Saleem says his work is “very, very personal.” Muslim background. Just the mood in about. America in general, the mood in the “When you first look at Safwat’s work, world over is generally anti-immigrant it seems nostalgic because of the vintage right now and anti-Islam and that’s where images. But after reading the captions, we’re at. I’m only expressing my opinions. you realize they are not as innocent as This exhibit in particular is very personal.” they originally appear. They are clever Peter Bugg, visual arts coordinator for responses to the current state of affairs.” the City of Chandler, said Saleem is an “experienced artist” who shows his sense of humor and expertise in graphic design in his work. Vision Gallery is at 10 E. Chicago St., Chandler. Saleem’s work is available for “Everything that he does is just really purchase at society6.com. beautiful,” Bugg said. “He has a very selfDetails: safwatsaleem.com. deprecating sense of humor. He brings up a lot of issues that are important to talk

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February 2018

Opinion

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County a ‘second chance employer’ to former criminals BY DENNY BARNEY

Imagine you’ve been convicted of a crime. You’ve done your time. You want to start over. One of the first things you need to do is get a job. The reality is, you have an uphill battle. And it starts with the job application. Many employers ask up front about an applicant’s criminal past. Often, people have to check a box if they’ve been convicted of a crime. That checkmark can scare off potential employers. Denny Barney According to the Arizona Governor’s Office, men with criminal records account for more than a third of healthy men ages 25-54 who are unemployed. And a crime on your record means you’re about 50 percent less likely to get a call back for a job interview. Maricopa County, following the lead of Governor Doug Ducey, is taking a different approach. Starting in January, we changed our hiring policy so that we do not ask about a person’s criminal record on initial job applications. We want to free up managers to consider the most qualified candidate from the very start, without being influenced by their previous mistakes.

Research shows that people who have jobs are less likely to go back to jail. In fact, employment is one of the most significant factors in reducing recidivism. Cutting back on the number of repeat offenders coming through our jails is one of my main priorities because it lowers jail costs and makes our community safer and stronger. Now, we certainly don’t (Special to GSN) want to put the county and employees at risk, so we will still run criminal background checks further in the process, prior to hire. Our hiring managers can then weigh all factors in deciding whether or not to hire someone. This new policy is simply a way to provide a foot in the door for members of our community who are used to having the door slammed in their faces. Some county departments, primarily those dealing with law enforcement, have more stringent rules and some must comply with federal or state statutes related to the criminal history of employees. These departments will continue to

include criminal background questions on employment applications. There are now seven million people living in Arizona — more than 60 percent of them in Maricopa County — and an estimated 1.5 million of them have arrests or criminal convictions on their record. That is a staggering number to me, and it shows just how important it is for leaders in the public and private sectors to think about how we integrate these folks back into society once they’ve served their time. Not everyone who gets out of jail is ready to start contributing positively to our community. Some will continue to commit crimes. But I believe most have bigger and better plans. They want to support their families or be self-sufficient, but they end up discouraged by all the roadblocks. By becoming a “Second Chance Employer,” we hope to communicate to everyone that we welcome their applying to Maricopa County. We do not believe individuals are defined solely by their past. We believe in what they can do, moving forward. Denny Barney is a Gilbert resident and a member of the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors.

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East Valley booming for business

Opinion

February 2018

BY CHRIS CALL

And the winner is….Gilbert, Arizona. This attractive East Valley community has earned dozens of accolades, from being a top city for under-35 home ownership to one of the best cities for raising a family and even one of the happiest places to live, according to the town’s website. Gilbert’s much admired quality of life is just one of the reasons that the community continues to grow in businesses and employment. This is certainly in line with the state’s business outlook: When Alliance Bank of Arizona surveyed more than 500 local business leaders about the state of doing business in Arizona, 33 percent indicated they plan to expand their business in 2017. The East Valley is currently home to 42 percent of the entire workforce in the Phoenix metro area and is projected to have more than 1.4 million residents by 2020, making the region a prime location for companies looking to expand and relocate, according to the East Valley Partnership. As a member of the Gilbert business community, I have had the opportunity to help a number of companies expand in the region, including EVO Aquatics, Backyard Taco and Desert Sky Dermatology. In the last 12 months alone, we’ve seen more development activity in the area than we

d a n I’m a

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(Special to GSN)

Chris Call

have seen in previous years. My own organization, Alliance Bank of Arizona, recently opened a new branch in Gilbert to help support the growth we see on the horizon. Looking ahead, heat maps for residential growth show the bulk of new residential building in the Phoenix metro area is happening in the Southeast Valley. With this indicator in place, we can expect to see more service-type businesses, including retail and medical, continue to seek out this very attractive region. Chris Call is senior vice president and manager of Alliance Bank of Arizona’s Gilbert branch.

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Raising the Barre

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BY SRIANTHI PERERA

The Gilbert Historical Museum is a link to the town’s past. But in the future, the museum will be known as HD South. The center, which is run by the Gilbert Historical Society, has been transforming itself during the past few years from a mere repository of the town’s historic treasures to a vibrant arts, culture and history hub under a “communities for all ages” model. To better reflect its new mission, it came up with the name. HD South also

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hints to its location, at the southern gateway to the Heritage District. “We are very excited about the rebranding of our organization. Not only does it give us a new direction and focus, but the development of our programming and the overall elevation of arts and culture in the community will benefit residents and tourists alike,” said Kayla Kolar, the center’s executive director. “As the southern gateway to the Heritage

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Gilbert’s stormy relationship with Big League Dreams has been headed for a nasty divorce since July, when the town unilaterally closed the sports park amid safety concerns about the integrity of outfield fences and faux grandstands. Gilbert considers the divorce final now that the Town Council has terminated a memorandum of understanding with Big League Dreams, citing a lack of confidence in the company’s ability to operate the facility without damaging it after page 6 $14 million in repairs are completed.

5 Community 20 Neighbors 32 Business 44 Youth

But the operators of Big League Dreams say they are not ready to pack up their bats and balls and leave forever. They are appealing the case in court, attempting to get a permanent injunction that would force Gilbert to reopen the popular, yet much-maligned, sports facility. “We have terminated the marriage and we don’t want to make up,” said Robert Grasso, an attorney representing Gilbert in the lawsuits related to the sports see

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