Gilbert Sun News 07/23/2023

Councilman seeks tighter conflict of interest rule

BY CECILIA CHAN GSN Managing Editor

Gilbert Councilman Jim Torgeson said he wants to stop people from making money off the town while sitting on the dais.

And Torgeson has the backing of two other council members to put his proposal on the study session agenda Aug. 1, the first meeting after the July hiatus.

“I’m bringing forward a policy that no council member can be a bidder, subcontractor or vendor for the town and maintain a seat at the same time,” Torgeson said. “If

they want to do business with the town, they must vacate their seat immediately.”

Torgeson, who owns a sign-making business in Mesa, said it would be hard for staff not to award work to council members based on the relationship.

“If I am of equal quality and deliver at a better price, if there is not an issue, why would you not?” he said. “Because it’s a conflict. I avoid all of it over the optics of conflict. The people deserve transparency.

“Not having my hand in the cookie jar is a good thing.

Videographer: Gilbert police put target on my back

BY CECILIA CHAN GSN Managing Editor

Self-described guerilla journalist Christopher Ruff says he has a target on his back, thanks to a Gilbert Police Department document calling him a “threat.”

The 33-year-old Mesa man, who calls himself a “First Amendment auditor,” is well known among Valley law enforcement for showing up at scenes with a camera in hand to record officers in action from a public space.

He’s also not above taunting them in

the videos, calling them “dumb asses” and “stupid” if he feels they’re overstepping their authority.

Ruff, who goes by the handle “Direct D,” uploads these videos on YouTube and other social media platforms. His YouTube channel has 233,000 subscribers.

This time, however, one of his videos landed him on a Gilbert Police “Officer Awareness Bulletin.”

“Mr. Ruff’s threatening statements directed at the law enforcement com-

There’s no way I’m putting my reputation on the line for a couple bucks. If you want to be a contractor or vendor, go to it, just don’t be

see

Not only cool

page 14

Scottsdale nurse Connie Wickstrom and Gilbert resident Curt Bruns don’t scuba dive in the Salt River just to stay cool. They’re also performing a mission of mercy for Mother Earth as part of a dedicated group that regularly scrapes the lower river’s bottom for a slew of junk – and valuables – that users toss or lose in droves. For the story, see page 4. (Courtesy of Salty Scuba Squad)

Mesquite

Gilbert thespians play a big role in the new Limelight musical.

Higley opens the new school year with interim district chief.

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Scuba group finds trash, treasure in lower Salt

BY CECILIA CHAN GSN Managing Editor

During the summer, the lower Salt River is a magnet for people kayaking, tubing and paddleboarding.

It’s also a magnet for trash and personal belongings that end up on the river bottom.

“iphones seem to be really resilient even being under water,” said Gilbert resident Curt Bruns. “We actually found one this season that was under water three years. It got dried off and returned to the owner in Nebraska.”

Bruns is a member of the Salty Scuba Squad, an all-volunteer nonprofit with a core group of 10 divers who go out to the popular hangout two to three times a week to scoop out bags of trash along with watches, cell phones, wallets, eyeglasses, wedding bands and such. The group also includes non-divers who help pick trash off the surface.

The group typically follows a roughly 9-mile path each time they go out to the river, starting from Water Users Recreation Site to the Phon D Sutton Recreation Area.

Bruns, a veteran diver, joined Salty Scuba Squad last year.

“I saw a post on Facebook of them pull-

ing phones out of the river and giving it back to people,” the software engineer recalled. “I thought that was super cool”

Brun met the group at the river and he not only got a chance to dive but to do some treasure hunting, finding an Apple watch and an iphone.

This season the group so far found 44 cell phones and was able to return about half, according to Brun.

If a found phone is not functioning, Brun would pull out its SIM card and plug it into a working phone to get the cell number. He’s then able to contact the phone owner because people generally keep their old cell numbers, according to Brun.

He said fellow diver John Michael has a favorite spot to dive at a location called Mud Cliffs, where people like to jump from into the river.

It’s a treasure trove.

“He came up with three watches on one dive,” Brun said. “He knows where

those watches pool after hitting the water.”

Brun noted the group found a total of five watches the week before and was able to return all five.

Some of the unusual items the group has found on the riverbed was a gun in a fanny pack and a car battery, he said.

For the items still unclaimed, Brun, who called himself the keeper of inventory, holds on to them in hopes of one day locating their owners.

Although finding and returning lost valuables is a bonus for the group, the real focus is removing the trash, according to group founder Connie Wickstrom.

“I’ve been a diver for 27 years and was looking for people who knew how to dive,” explained Wickstrom, a nurse living in Scottsdale.

She had recently discovered that people could dive in the Salt River and put the word out for other divers to join her in trying the water there.

“We started going out and lo and behold we found lots of cell phones, keys

Gilbert resident Curt Bruns belongs to the Salty Scuba Squad, an all-volunteer nonprofit that retrieves junk and valuables from the bottom of the lower Salt River. (Special to GSN)

This is just part of the haul retrieve by the Salty Scuba Squad form the bottom of the lower Salt River. (Special to GSN)

Heat or no heat, school days return here

Students attending schools in Gilbert head back from their summer break this week during a record-breaking heat wave.

First day of school is Monday, July 24, for Higley Unified School District and Tuesday, July 25, for Gilbert Public Schools.

“With the hot and dry summer ahead, the well-being and safety of our students remain a top priority for HUSD,” spokeswoman Teresa Joseph said. “We monitor the heat index and modify outdoor schedules accordingly.”

She said the district limits time spent outdoors and provides suitable indoors alternatives for recess, breaks and after-school activities. Also, activities such as practices are held during non-peak hot hours.

At GPS, physical education classes will be taught indoors during the first quarter of the school year, according to spokeswoman Dawn Antestenis

“If the heat becomes too high, then the

normal 15-20 minute recess is moved indoors doing a variety of activities in various open spaces throughout the school,” she said. “At the secondary level, our athletic directors and athletic sports trainers actively monitor and adjust team practices as needed. Schools have these plans set up for both heat and rainy days.

“Fortunately, the heat in the morning and even at noon is not at its highest point like it is in the late afternoon.”

Both Antestenis and Joseph said students are also reminded to regularly drink water throughout the day.

Joseph said HUSD this year is continuing with its priority of making sure students are safe on campuses.

“Our security guards have undergone advanced training to further bolster their effectiveness,” she said. “Furthermore, we have adopted Raptor Technologies to manage visitor and volunteer check-ins, ensuring a secure environment.”

Joseph said the district also has bolstered surveillance by increasing the num-

ber of security cameras on its properties.

And for efficient mass communication, HUSD is deploying InformaCast, she said.

According to the company, the single platform offers a number of benefits, including reaching every part of a school with text, audio and visual notifications sent to phones, speakers, desktop computers, digital signs and more.

“Moreover, we’ve made significant improvements to our two-way radio infrastructure, providing additional two-way radios for improved communication in critical situations,” Joseph said. “With these comprehensive safety initiatives in place, we aim to create a secure environment for learning and working within our district.”

GPS is continuing with the requirement that students in grades 7-12 wear their ID badges at all times on campus.

The district is installing security cameras and appropriate signs at all its campuses and district offices and is continuing to install secured entryways to schools without them.

Schools waiting for their secured entryways are temporarily outfitted with a video intercom buzzer system to screen visitors before allowing entry.

GPS, as in years past, starts the new school year with a shortage of bus drivers. The shortage has plagued districts around the country and in numerous East Valley districts.

“This year we will start 38 bus drivers down, similar to what we have experienced the past two years,” Antestenis said. “We have a number of initiatives in place to ensure our students are transported safely and on time to and from school, which we will continue to utilize.”

According to Antestenis, the initiatives include combining some routes for efficiency and using all fully trained, licensed drivers on staff during peak times.

“We are also seeing success in recruiting new bus drivers,” she added.

For those interested in driving a bus for

Higley starts new year with a new leader

BY CECILIA CHAN GSN Managing Editor

Higley Unified School District begins the new school year on Monday, July 24, with an interim superintendent at the helm.

Associate Superintendent Sherry Richards is overseeing operations while the district searches for a new head administrator.

Former HUSD Superintendent Dr. Dawn Foley abruptly resigned from her job and left the district June 30.

“The timeline is to hire a new superintendent for July 1, 2024, or sooner if possible,” said Teresa Joseph, Higley Unified spokeswoman.

Joseph said the district has not yet hired the head-hunting firm to do the search. see SCHOOLS page 17

see SUPERINTENDENT page 11

Associate Superintendent Sherry Richards is Higley Unified’s interim superintendent. (HUSD)

munity in the original June 24th video warranted the Gilbert Police Department to prepare an Officer Awareness Bulletin, which provides notification and awareness to the law enforcement community,” said department spokeswoman Brenda Carrasco in an emailed statement.

“The Officer Awareness Bulletin outlined the threatening statements directed at the law enforcement community, cautions the officers who may contact Mr. Ruff regarding his threatening statements, and provides that there was no probable cause to arrest Mr. Ruff, at that time, related to his June 24th video.”

Carrasco did not respond to questions such as how many other individuals had the department issued bulletins on, how widespread Ruff ’s bulletin was disseminated and how a person who is considered a “threat” handled during an encounter.

“That bulletin means you’re a threat,” Ruff said in an interview. “I’ve only ever documented them. I’ve never committed a crime. This is the beginning of the end of the First Amendment. Enjoy it while it lasts.”

Ruff said his purpose is to catch violations of his First Amendment rights and hold police accountable for following rules and procedures.

Gilbert Police said Ruff posted a video on June 24 “directing threats towards law enforcement.

“Christopher states in his thirteen- and half-minute-long video that he will ‘cut the heads off ’ of law enforcement officers and they will not survive an encounter with him,” the bulletin states. “Christopher also states at the end of his video he

three years.

is going to ‘smoke’ any cop that comes after him.”

The bulletin goes on to note that Ruff “has a history of posting degrading and defamatory comments towards law enforcement and court officials on his YouTube channel (Direct D) after having interactions with them.”

It cautioned officers that Ruff is not allowed to have weapons “but it is unknown at this time if he has access to any.”

Ruff served a 7-year prison sentence for armed robbery and kidnapping and was released in 2017. Since then his runins with the law, including jail time, have been over his filming and streaming.

In October 2022, a Mesa judge sentenced Ruff to five days in jail over videotaping four police incidents and walking into a restricted area in Mesa’s City Plaza Building after being told not to. Ruff also was ordered not to film police in Mesa for

The bulletin also warned officers to exercise “extreme caution when conducting enforcement or making an arrest” with Ruff given his recent threats of harm.

The bulletin stated that Ruff has posted the home addresses, phone numbers and private photos of law enforcement and court officials, and has invited viewers to “contact those individuals in a harassing manner.”

Ruff denied the claim

“I’ve never posted anyone’s home address,” he said. “I’ve never posted pictures that weren’t available on the internet for me to find. (And) I’ve never, not once directed anyone to call and harass anyone. This is all fabricated.”

As for the comments he made on the June 24 video, Ruff said it was in response to threats made against his life by four Mesa officers.

Ruff said in the video. “You think you’re badass but you just may not survive.

“Right now, any of you cops watching, you think you’re going pull some with me, I’m going to smoke you before you even get a chance to do it. Better hope that you’re doing what you’re doing legally because if you’re not, I’m not playing no more games with you.”

Ruff said his statements were not threats but “self-defense.”

“I didn’t threaten anybody at all,” he said. “All I said is I would defend myself.”

Carrasco said Ruff ’s July 17 video included “partial and edited clips” of that June video.

“The original June 24th video has been subsequently hidden from public viewing and is now listed as ‘private’ on YouTube,” she said.

Ruff ’s got close to 2,000 comments of support from viewers to that July video.

Steve Moreno, who’s watched at least 75 of Direct D’s videos, was “extremely disturbed” by the bulletin labeling Ruff a threat, that he’s written to Mayor Brigette Peterson, Police Chief Michael Soelberg and others at Town Hall.

He received the threat on Twitter and then “in the live stream the same person posted it again, prompting my responses,” Ruff said, adding, “I have hundreds of emailed threats saved as well as comments that get left out of videos. Some of them are real.”

In a recent video, Ruff commented on Gilbert’s threat assessment, playing a previous clip of a video that prompted it.

In that video, Ruff said that there were four Mesa cops that “like to talk about me and how they wish that they would catch me off duty and then they would do something and shoot me and then take me to some burying ground.”

“If you try to do anything to me just keep that in mind you may not survive,”

“I personally watched Mr. Ruff ’s video that spawned your memo,” Moreno wrote. “Nowhere, and I repeat, nowhere did Mr. Ruff threaten you or any other officer.  Mr. Ruff stated that if he was attacked illegally, he has a right to defend himself. Which he does.

“I’ve watched hundreds of his videos and other videos which clearly show the Gilbert Police Department and its officers see RUFF page 10

Christopher Ruff was arrested in Mesa last year for refusing an officer’s order to stop filming police in several incidents. He was convicted and sentenced to five days in jail but is appealing. (File photo)

Gilbert Police circulated this “risk assessment” bulleting about Ruff to all patrol officers. (Special to GSN)

Restrictions on filming police actions DOA

BY HOWARD FISCHER Capitol Media Services

Legislation to restrict the ability of individuals to videotape police is all but officially dead.

Attorney General Kris Mayes last week filed paperwork in federal court here agreeing with challengers that the law is unconstitutional. And Republican legislative leaders who were involved in getting the statute passed in 2022 have refused to defend it.

All that remains is for U.S. District Court Judge John Tuchi to sign the order permanently enjoining the state from enforcing it.

That order will come as no surprise.

Sen. John Kavanagh, who sponsored the law, acknowledged that even Mark Brnovich, Mayes’ Republican predecessor, did not show up in court last year when media outlets and the American Civil Liberties Union successfully asked Tuchi to issue a preliminary injunction.

The Scottsdale Republican acknowledged to Capitol Media Services that his efforts to have someone – anyone – defend the law have come up short.

“They just shipped a half-rotting corpse to Mayes,’’ he said of what is left of his 2022 legislation.

Still, the former police officer said he believes there is some merit in what he wants enacted. And he had hoped a full-blown trial would provide some guidance into what limits a federal judge believes are acceptable in curtailing the activities of others around active police

RUFF from page 8

are overreaching their authority on a far too frequent basis.”

Moreno, who is a father, homeowner and business owner, asked that Gilbert Police train its officers on the First, Fourth and Fifth amendments.

“Mr. Ruff and his fellow YouTubers are shining a light on what is a serious problem within your department and other police departments around this country,” Moreno continued.

Moreno, who will not disclose if he lives

situations.

Now, that won’t happen.

More to the point, the settlement language agreed to by the Attorney General’s Office pretty much shuts the door on any future efforts to limit taking videos of police activity.

Kavanagh has been trying since at least 2016 to enact some restrictions.

His original measure would have barred shooting video within 20 feet of any “law enforcement activity’’ unless the officer first gave permission. That didn’t fly even though Kavanagh said none of that would have affected anyone outside that limit.

The 2022 version that was approved cut the restricted zone down to just 8 feet.

Kavanagh insisted he wasn’t trying to shield police activity from public scrutiny. But he said there have to be limits.

“I have a hard time believing that there’s a total right of people, when cops are in the middle of dealing with a suicidal person or a criminal who’s going to resist arrest, that people have a right to stand one foot behind the cop, videotaping or not,’’ he said. “That’s insane.’’

And that, said Kavanagh, is just part of the problem.

“It’s not safe for the person standing there,’’ he said. “And it’s certainly not safe for the cop who doesn’t know who this person is.’’

But challengers said there are several problems with all that.

One of the biggest is that the legislation affected only situations where someone was using a cellphone or video camera to

in the Valley out of “fear of retaliation and or harassment from the police,” said no one from the Town has responded to his correspondence.

Moreno said he does not subscribe to Ruff ’s YouTube channel or have donated money to him.

“The first video I watched of his, he really lit up the cops and I was a bit taken back by how he spoke.  After watching many of his videos, I started to understand why he was speaking to them that way.

“Almost all of the auditors are silent until the police start barking orders and try

record events. That bothered Tuchi when he enjoined enforcement in September.

“HB 2319 prohibits only video recording and does not address audio recordings or photographs taken from the same distance or device,’’ the judge pointed out. “Nor does it address persons who may be using their mobile phones for other purposes, such as texting.’’

What that shows, Tuchi said, is that “the law’s purpose is not to prevent interference with law enforcement, but to prevent recording.’’

The settlement filed in federal court goes even further in pointing out the legal problems with pretty much anything Kavanagh could now craft to limit the activities of those with cameras and cell phones.

It starts by acknowledging that there is a “clearly established right to record law enforcement officer engaged in the exercise of their official duties.’’ Then there’s the fact it is “content-based restriction,’’ governing only the taping of activities of police but no one else.

And Mayes, in agreeing to the permanent injunction, said the law also fails to meet constitutional requirements because it is neither narrowly tailored nor necessary to prevent interference with police officers given other existing Arizona laws.

Kavanagh took particular issue with that finding, saying that laws prohibiting obstruction of police officers generally have been interpreted to apply only when someone is physically precluding an officer from doing his or her duty.

to control what they can do as bystanders.  That’s when things get heated.”

He added that in all the videos he’s viewed of Ruff ’s, “I’ve never heard him encourage viewers to harass law enforcement or public officials.

“He states often he supports police but his purpose is to shine a light on the bad ones,” Moreno said. “He promotes to viewers to follow the laws but don’t back down when your rights are being violated by ill-informed ego-driven officers.

“These auditors are exposing poor training, giant egos, and a do as I say atti-

But given the unwillingness of Republican legislative leaders to defend the law and Kavanagh’s inability to find someone to intercede, his objections are legally irrelevant to settling the case.

The issue of ordinary people making video recordings has been at the forefront of public reaction to several high-profile interactions where the people being arrested ended up dead.

There was the 2014 incident where police in New York City were attempting to arrest Eric Garner for illegally selling loose cigarettes. That incident, captured on video, shows an officer grabbing the 350-pound man from behind, putting him in a choke hold, pull him to the ground and roll him onto his stomach.

He can be heard saying, “I can’t breathe! I can’t breathe!’’ repeatedly. The medical examiner ruled his death a homicide.

More recently was the 2020 death of George Floyd, arrested by Minneapolis police on suspicion of passing a counterfeit $20 bill. The four officers involved were fired the following day after videos taken by witnesses showed Derek Chauvin kneeling on Floyd’s neck for more than nine minutes.

And the video played a key role in convicting officers of both state and federal charges.

The legal fight is going to cost taxpayers a bit of cash.

In agreeing to settle, Mayes has agreed to pay $46,000 in legal fees to the law firm representing the media outlets and another $23,000 to the ACLU of Arizona.

tude or you’ll go to jail behavior.”

Ruff said the bulletin basically puts every officer on the edge and will escalate any future encounter that he may have with police.

As such, Ruff, who became a father last year, is stepping away from being a citizen journalist for now.

“It’s already made me completely stop recording and interacting with the government, period,” he said. “My freedoms have been chilled completely.

“Christopher Ruff won’t be personally recording anything for a long time.”

Judge’s ruling not last word in transgender ban

BY HOWARD FISCHER Capitol Media Services

Though a judge is allowing two transgender girls to play on all-girls teams in Kyrene School District and a Tucson private school, the fight over a ban on biological boys competing with and against girls is far from over.

Not only did the ruling Thursday apply only to the two students but the judge also set an Aug. 4 deadline for further argument on a request by three parents, one a Higley Unified Governing Board member, to intervene and defend the ban.

In a 35-page order July 20, U.S. District Court Judge Jennifer Zipps rejected arguments by state schools chief Tom Horne that it would be unfair to allow those who were born as males to participate on allgirl teams and compete against females.

The judge said the evidence that Horne presented claiming that transgender girls

SUPERINTENDENT

from page 6

She added that the Higley Unified Governing Board has not decided on the format for the selection process, such as allowing a stakeholder group to weigh in.

Richards has been with HUSD for 12 years, hired in 2011 as a principal.

After six years in that role, she became executive director of elementary education in 2017 until 2021 when she was named associate superintendent.

Richards earned a superintendent certificate from Northern Arizona University, a bachelor’s degree from Texas Christian University and a master’s from West Texas A&M University, according to her LinkedIn account.

For taking on the added responsibilities, Richards will receive a monthly stipend of $4,161 on top of her salary of $150,067. Foley’s annual salary was $208,650.

As an associate superintendent, Richards also is eligible for performance pay of $6,500 and an annual supplemental pay of $9,500.

are stronger does not hold up under scrutiny.

Zipps also said that the 2022 law violates Title IX, a federal law that bars discrimination based on sex in educational opportunities. She said it deprives transgender girls “the benefits of sports programs and activities that their non-transgender classmates enjoy.’’

The judge said the two students otherwise would be participating this new school year in sports and would suffer irreparable harm.

Thursday’s order does not strike down the law but rather bars its enforcement as it applies to the two students.

But in her ruling, Zipps upheld the existing policy of the Arizona Interscholastic Association which, on a case-by-case basis, has allowed students to participate in sports based on the gender with which

see TRANSGENDER page 17

She has 26 paid vacation days, 15 days sick leave and a $250,000 life insurance policy.

She’s also entitled to “other fringe benefits” that are not spelled out in the contract.

Foley was appointed superintendent in July 2021 after she had been serving unofficially in that capacity since the year prior when then-Superintendent Michael Thomason unexpectedly announced his retirement.

The board had extended Foley’s original contract to June 30, 2025.

The board met for nearly five hours behind closed doors June 6 before reconvening in an open session to vote on accepting Foley’s resignation.

Board members and the district declined to say why Foley resigned or when she submitted her resignation. Foley also declined a request for an interview.

Foley is now working as a full-time research project manager at Arizona State University’s Helios Decision Center for Educational Excellence, according to her LinkedIn page.

ASU’s salary for a research project manager job at the high end ranges from $75,000 to $78,000, depending on experience.

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Desert Ridge community mourning loss of AD Jim Lavin

BY ZACH ALVIRA GSN Sports Editor

Desert Ridge Athletic Director Jim Lavin never let his health struggles keep him from serving the school’s athletics programs.

He was diagnosed with colon cancer in 2019 and had surgery to remove it. Spots were also found on his lungs. He beat it and had the entire Desert Ridge community rally around him in support.

But the cancer returned this past spring. This time in his brain. Head baseball coach Joseph Ponce remembers the day Lavin left school to take time off due to the cancer. He said Lavin didn’t want to leave because he had work to do.

The two remained in contact, talking about the Desert Ridge team and other various topics. Their last text exchange occurred on July 3, when Lavin told Ponce there was nothing else doctors could do.

Lavin passed away Thursday, July 13

while on hospice. He was 50 years old.

“He was the definition of a servant leader,” Ponce said. “He definitely put the athletes and the coaches above his own health. You could tell Desert Ridge meant a lot to him.”

Lavin went in for surgery to once again attempt to beat the cancer. But a blockage would have made another procedure fatal.

In 2019, when he was first diagnosed with cancer, the Desert Ridge baseball team put on a game benefitting him with all proceeds raised going to Lavin and his family. Lavin was adamant about not having the game in his honor, but eventually gave in.

When Ponce was hired later that summer, Lavin told him he didn’t need to have a game every year. Ponce obliged, instead purchasing gold shoelaces for his players to wear in honor of pediatric cancer awareness.

Ponce said he owes everything about his career to Lavin. Without him, he

New

Desert Ridge Athletic Director Jim Lavin, who was diagnosed with and beat colon cancer in 2019, passed away Thursday July 13 from brain cancer after it returned and spread. He was 50. He is survived by his wife Robyn, daughter, Hannah and son Connor. (Courtesy Arizona Football Coaches Association)

wouldn’t be the head baseball coach or teacher at Desert Ridge. For that, he is thankful.

“Without him there is probably no me at Desert Ridge,” Ponce said. “So, I’m always going to be grateful for the opportunity he gave me five years ago.”

Jeremy Hathcock became close with Lavin during their time together at Desert Ridge. Hathcock coached football there for 13 years before leaving to become athletic director and head football coach at Blue Ridge, his alma mater.

The two spoke constantly. Hathcock saw Lavin a week before his passing af-

ter he had been put in hospice. They watched baseball together. Hathcock said Lavin was in good spirits.

“He looked like he could live another month,” Hathcock said. “We watched the Diamondbacks game together. Just talked about good times.”

Hathcock recalled times where Lavin had to take time off work due to the cancer. His athletic secretary, Gale Elliott, didn’t hesitate to step in and run the show along with coaches.

That’s the type of impact Lavin had

SCUBA from page 4

and wallets,” said Wickstrom, who grew up in Gilbert and attended Gilbert High School. “And then we realized how much trash was there. We could not ignore the amount of trash down there anymore.”

Wickstrom, who goes by the social handle Salty Scuba Chick, said she then formed a larger team to focus on getting the trash out of the river. Since Jan. 1, the group’s pulled 4,000 to 5,000 pounds of trash out of the river, according to Brun.

Wickstrom said while there are other groups cleaning litter from the destination hot spot, her group is the only one that does under-water clean up.

“Unfortunately, every time we go out we find more trash,” she said, adding that she doesn’t think that people are intentionally throwing stuff into the river. “It’s a byproduct of people having fun and not being prepared and things dropping out.

“Part of what we are trying to do is spread the word, ‘Hey, when you come out, close down the cooler. Bring trash bags, lock all your stuff down.’”

According to the U.S. Forest Service, on summer weekends as many as 30,000 people look to cool off along the 12-mile stretch of the lower Salt River, from Water Users to Granite Reef Dam. The average temperature of the water is about 68 degrees year-round.

“Definitely being able to return people’s memories is really important for us,” Wickstrom said; “when you find phone pictures of family members that have passed or a message from a dad who’s passed away and there was no back up

of that.”

She said the team recently found a phone belonging to a mother who hadn’t uploaded three to four months worth of pictures of her baby to Cloud Storage.

“When we gave it back to her she thought she would never see it back,” Wickstrom said

All of the unclaimed items are uploaded on the group’s Facebook page in hopes their owners will come and collect them.

“Obviously picking trash off the bottom is rewarding,” Brun said. “But when you find phones, especially ones with lost memories that people through they would never see again, it’s just a joy in their faces.”

You can help

To donate to Salty Scuba Squad for equipment such as an extra air tank, the Venmo account is Connie Wickstrom@ saltyscubasquad

The group also is looking for divers to join. Contact Wickstrom on her Facebook page at facebook.com/profile. php?id=100083317999067

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• 2019 & 2020 NFL Play 60 Grant Recipient

• Before & After Care (YMCA Partnership)

• Gabriel’s Angels Pet Therapy & Reading Program

• BARK to Excellence PBIS Model

($500 / month)

• After-School Sports (Flag Football, Basketball & Soccer) & Clubs

• Community Events Every Month

Salty Scuba Squad founder and Gilbert native Connie Wickstrom surveys the river bottom. (Special to GSN)

a councilmember.”

Torgeson’s proposed policy comes on the heels of a citizen’s recent ethics violation complaint filed against Councilwoman Yung Koprowski.

Koprowski was appointed to council in April 2020 and won election last year to keep her seat.

Koprowski, who owns Y2K Engineering in Gilbert, submitted a bid in October 2020 to provide architectural/engineering services for a Town project and was awarded a $66,570 contract on Nov. 2, according to the July 13 complaint filed by Terri Naddy.

“Of that, $5,300 was for subdesigner Landcor, leaving $40,940 directly for Y2K,” Naddy said.

She said Koprowski in September 2022 submitted another proposal to the town to supplement an existing project created by Y2K in 2020, according to Naddy, who added that payment to the firm was not to exceed $10,000.

“I feel it is a conflict of interest, ethics violation, for a company owned by

appointment is less than 1% of the company’s gross client revenue during the same period, May 2020-June 2023,” Koprowski pointed out.

Koprowski declined to comment further on the complaint and she also declined to comment on a resident’s call for her to step down from office.

George Dottl, a regular council attendee, on his social media accounts said “council person Yung Koprowski should resign.”

“She has many contracts with the town that were not put out to public bidding,” he claimed. “They tried to justify this by having an internal investigation. This smells to high heavens, and if it’s not illegal, it is sure as heck wrong!”

a sitting councilmember, to have ongoing agreements that produce profit from the municipality they represent,” Naddy said.

She added that because of the low-dollar amount of the contract, it didn’t trigger the need for the council and town manager to sign off, leaving them unaware of the transaction.

Town spokeswoman Jennifer Harrison said Naddy’s complaint will be reviewed by Town Attorney Chris Payne this week.

Koprowski issued a statement in response to Naddy’s allegations.

“My role on the Gilbert Town Council prohibits me and my spouse from being contracted with the Town of Gilbert,” Koprowski said.

She confirmed that Y2K Engineering has been contracted two town projects since her appointment but said she was not directly involved in them.

The first was for the design of a traffic signal. Koprowski said there are a limited number of engineering firms with specific expertise required for this sort of project.

“While we have declined to design the same number of traffic signals that we used to, we agreed to undertake this project due to our specialized knowledge and experience in this area,” she explained.

“It is worth noting that all negotiations and contracts related to this proj-

ect were handled by other leadership within Y2K Engineering, ensuring that my involvement as a councilmember did not influence the process.”

According to Koprowski, the firm comprises over 20 designers and engineers.

The second project involved fixing data connections to a “Power BI motor vehicle crash dashboard, which Y2K Engineering had developed a few years ago” prior to her appointment, Koprowski said.

“As with the traffic signal project, all negotiations and contracts pertaining to this project were handled independently by other leaders within Y2K Engineering, thereby ensuring an impartial and fair process,” she said.

“These projects are complete, and I want to clarify that the only remaining project still open is a subconsultant role for roadway lighting design for the Vaughn Ventilator.

“It is important to note that this contract was initially established prior to my appointment to the council, and Y2K Engineering continues to fulfill its obligations in this capacity.”

Koprowski also provided a breakdown of the revenue her company has received from Gilbert – $217,709 before she was appointed to council and $43,378.84 afterwards.

“The share of Y2K Engineering’s revenue from the Town of Gilbert after my

Naddy called Koprowski’s explanation “garbage excuses.” She added that although Dottle provided the information to her for the complaint, she filed for herself and not Dottl.

According to the town, a conflict of interest exists if a public official or a relative has a pecuniary interest in a matter that may come before the public body during the public official’s term of office.

If such a conflict were to occur, the public official is to disclose the fact by filing a statement with the Town Clerk and refrain from participating in any manner as a public official on the matter.

The cities of Mesa and Chandler have a similar policy in place requiring council members to recuse themselves from discussing and voting on issues if they or a spouse may have a financial interest.

Councilman Chuck Bongiovanni said he and Councilwoman Bobbi Buchli are supporting Torgeson’s proposal.

“Sometimes something can be legal, but doesn’t pass the smell test,” Bongiovanni said. “This one simply stinks and as a business owner I wouldn’t have touched this behavior with a 100-foot pole.

“In my opinion, we can’t have sitting council members or appointed board or commission members receiving contracts and money from the town,” he continued. “They need to separate their personal business agendas from their political ones. It’s only fair to our citizens and competing businesses.”

Councilwoman Yung Koprowski said she was not involved in her firm’s dealings with the town on two projects. (YouTube)

Councilman Jim Torgeson wants Gilbert to have tougher conflict of interest regulations for Town Council members. (YouTube)

State checking on heat protection for workers

BY HOWARD FISCHER Capitol Media Services

With temperatures well into the triple digits, state inspectors are going to be out checking job sites to ensure that employers are protecting their workers against heat-related illness and injury.

A new program launched last week will have the Arizona Department of Occupational Safety and Health using its overall powers to require safe workplaces.

Inspectors will specifically ensure that workers have “adequate’’ access to water, shade and rest. Inspectors also will check to see if employers have the training to recognize and treat heat stress and injury.

Strictly speaking, there is no formal rule about what is considered adequate.

But there already are regulations that require companies to provide their workers with a place of employment that is “free from recognized hazards.’’

And that means employers can still find themselves in legal trouble if inspectors determine that employees are subject to conditions that the U.S. Department of Labor, which sets the standards for ADOSH to enforce, considers “heat-related hazards that are likely to cause death or serious harm.’’

Agency spokesman Trevor Laky said there is no hard-and-fast rule of what employers need to do to ensure compliance.

“When investigators go out there, they’ve got to do a comprehensive inspection on these things,’’ he said.

“They have to make sure that employers are providing water, rest, shade,’’ Laky said. “So it’s very cumulative. I can’t really identify one thing.’’

And it varies from job to job.

Take home building, where workers may be up on roofs.

“Obviously, putting shade on a roof, that’s perhaps unfeasible,’’ he said. “But we definitely want to see that if someone’s recuperating, especially if they’re

exhibiting signs of heat stress, that they can do so in a shaded environment.’’

But what it does not mean, Laky said, are state-specified rest periods for those working outside.

“Obviously, every work environment’s different,’’ he said. “And if the environment puts them in such a situation where they need rest or shade, then that’s definitely something they need to look into.’’

Still, what’s being called the “State Emphasis Program’’ is designed to help employers ensure that there is shade available to workers during their rest periods.

Ditto water.

According to the plan, inspectors will look to see that companies are providing “an adequate supply of cool potable drinking water to workers throughout the day.’’

That means promoting water breaks as needed and educating workers on the importance of staying hydrated.

That goes to another part of what’s new.

Laky said that employers are each going to have to develop and implement a written heat-stress program that addresses the issues specific to the jobs being performed.

That means not only dealing with water, rest and shade but also ensuring that workers and their supervisors recognize the signs and symptoms of heat stress.

While the targets are companies whose employees work outdoors, he said the focus on protecting workers from heat is not limited to those firms. Laky said the same concerns and rules can apply to situations like those working in hot kitchens or employees in a warehouse where the air conditioning has failed.

What is particularly significant about the new program, he said, is it goes beyond what the agency’s 33 inspectors normally do in ensuring that safety rules are being followed.

“This now opens up a new type of avenue that we can go and inspect heat-re-

see

WORK HEAT page 16

Expires 7/31/23.

lated conditions,’’ Laky said.

“Instead of having another reason to be there, they can target it just because it’s a high-heat working condition,’’ he explained. “That’s pretty big.’’

Those inspections, Laky said, can be unannounced.

“If we see people working out in an agricultural field, we can go out there because they’re working in a high-heat condition,’’ he said.

One piece of the new program involves gathering data on what companies are doing.

“There might be rules that come afterwards regarding any sort of heat-stress standards,’’ Laky said. “But, as of now, we need to get as much information as possible.’’

While ADOSH inspectors can cite employers after an inspection, the plan also includes the possibility of instead issuing a “letter of recommendation’’ of what the companies should do beyond water, shade and rest.

Some of it includes protective clothing

and equipment, like hats for working in the sun.

But the plan also includes “acclimatization.’’

For example, it suggests that new worker begin with 20% of the normal workload and time spent in the sun, gradually increasing for a period of up to 14 days.

Screening also is important, with the program saying that conditions like pregnancy, fever, gastrointestinal illness, heart disease and obesity may increase the risk of heat-related illness.

But documents produced by ADOSH warn that employers are not entitled to know whether workers have those conditions but only whether workers have any health conditions that limit their ability to perform their job duties.

The agency’s actions drew praise from Gov. Katie Hobbs.

“In the middle of a devastating heat wave, Arizona workers need relief,’’ she said in a prepared statement, calling this “a critical step in building an Arizona for everyone, where working people can go to their jobs every day knowing we have a plan to keep them safe.’’

LAVIN from page 12

on everyone at Desert Ridge and the community. In a time of need, people stepped up in droves to help him.

“He was surrounded by a bunch of good people that he led and that trusted him,” Hathcock said. “I don’t know how one could do it the way he did it. Our booster clubs rallied around him. The coaches rallied around him. The principals he had let him do his job and never had to worry.”

Lavin’s passing was announced on Twitter by Gilbert Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Shane McCord, who, like many, had become close with Ponce.

“We lost a very special person to cancer last night,” McCord wrote. Mr. Jim Lavin, AD at Desert Ridge High. There was no better father, husband, brother, son, friend, educator and administrator than Jim. We will miss you, brother. Love you!”

Desert Ridge Principal DJ Spetz said Lavin’s impact on the school was “immeasurable.”

“Jim was a great leader who cared about the Desert Ridge community,”

Spetz wrote in an email. “The impact he had on our campus is immeasurable. He will be greatly missed.”

Lavin is survived by his wife, Robyn, his daughter, Hannah and son, Connor. Robyn took to social media to thank those who reached out to her and her family in support.

“I want to thank all of you for the kind comments and stories,” she wrote. “I’ve tried to respond to individual messages, but it’s all been so overwhelming and hard to keep up with. Thank you all for your kindness and support.”

Hathcock said Lavin’s death hit him hard.

“It’s been a blow to me,” Hathcock said. “This whole entire deal. I’m sad and frustrated.”

A visitation for Lavin was held last week at the Queen of Heaven Cemetery Chapel in Mesa.

Robyn asked those who attend to wear a sports shirt of their favorite team to honor her husband’s love of sports.

A funeral was held the following day at St. Mary Magdalene Parish in Gilbert.

Realtors to the rescue

Gilbert Realtor Mindy Jones and her Amy Jones Group gathered at Jacob’s Mission in Mesa July 12 to pack scores of backpacks with school items for children in families experiencing homelessness. They haven’t stopped there, either, and have paired up with the nonprofit cultivate-goodness.org in the 1 TON Water Challenge, where people can donate bottled water for the homeless. To donate water, see a list of cooling stations at hrn.azmag.gov. (David Minton/Staff Photographer)

they identify.

And that paves the way for other transgender girls to seek similar relief.

The ruling is not the last word. It simply allows the two students to participate while the legality of the law gets a fullblown trial.

The ruling came on a lawsuit brought against Kyrene School District and a Tucson private school.

The Kyrene plaintiff is an 11-year-old student who was born male and has “lived her life as a girl’’ since age 5, according to the lawsuit.

Kyrene’s governing board last fall ripped the legislation banning boys on girls’ teams when it was forced to obey the state law and make it policy, as did all other boards in the state.

The district also declined to defend itself in the lawsuit, following the lead of the state attorney general, who also declined to put up a defense.

Several Republican legislative leaders, including Senate President Warren Petersen, R-Gilbert, and Horne hired lawyers to defend the ban.

Filing a request to join that defense are mothers from Maricopa and Yuma and Higley Governing Board member Anna Van Hoek, who wants to send one of her daughters to a Chandler Unified School to play softball.

Horne vowed to pursue the case, saying it ultimately will be decided by the justices

SCHOOLS from page 6

GPS, go to gilbertschools.bus.

Joseph said HUSD currently has enough drivers to effectively cover all the designated routes.

“However, we are actively seeking to expand our team with more bus drivers and we do need more bus aides,” she said.

The district is taking proactive steps by implementing a Transportation Bus Driver Referral and Recruitment Program, according to Joseph.

“This program encourages our existing employees to refer potential bus drivers to join the Transportation Department,” she said. “As a token of appreciation, any employee who successfully refers a bus driver will receive $500 once the new hire completes six consecutive months of em-

of the U.S. Supreme Court.

“And they will rule in our favor,’’ he said.

The fight is over a measure that requires public schools and any private schools that compete against them to designate their interscholastic or intramural sports strictly as male, female or coed.

It specifically says that teams designated for women or girls “may not be open to students of the male sex.’’

Supporters said it was based on the inherent physical advantages of biological males.

Horne said he presented peer-reviewed studies that show pre-pubescent boys –what he called the transgender girls – have an advantage of over girls in sports.

Zipps said the attorneys for the two students presented evidence that any differences between boys and girls in various athletic measurements prior to puberty “are minimal or nonexistent.’’

And she said that the physical characteristics of transgender girls in terms of height, weight and strength, overlap with those of other girls.

“In other words, some girls may be taller than average, and some transgender girls may be taller than average,’’ the judge wrote.

“The rationale for excluding transgender girls with above average physical characteristics is equally applicable to excluding taller than average girls,’’ she continued. “But height, weight, or strength factors are not used any any level of competition to protect girls or women athletes.’’

ployment.

“Additionally, the referred driver will be rewarded with $1,000 after completing six months of consecutive employment.”

GPS and HUSD are not only welcoming students back but teachers new to their districts as well.

As of July 22, GPS has hired 273 teachers.

“In the previous school year at this time, we had hired 281 teachers,” Antestenis said.

HUSD hired 75 new teachers, Joseph said, adding that 96 new teachers were hired the prior school year.

“We had less positions to fill this year, as fewer teachers left the district,” Jospeh noted. “The reduced turnover rate contributed to the lower number of new hires for the current school year.”

Nor was she swayed by claims the law physically protects girls.

Zipps pointed out while the 2022 specifically bars transgender girls from playing in girls’ sports, there is no similar bar to transgender boys – identified by Horne and other defenders of the law as “biological girls’’ – from playing in boys’ sports, presumably where they could be hurt.

The judge relied heavily on the concept that transgender girls are, in fact, girls.

She acknowledged that children are “assigned’’ a sex at birth which generally matches physiology. But the judge said that is different than “gender identity.’’

“For a transgender person, that initial designation does not match the person’s gender identity,’’ Zipps said. She also said that “gender dysphoria’’ – the distress due to incongruence between the person’s gender identity and assigned sex – is highly treatable.

“Attempts to ‘cure’ transgender individuals by forcing their gender identity into alignment with their birth sex are harmful and ineffective,’’ Zipps wrote.

What makes that important, according to the judge, is that efforts like this law to

deny transgender girls the opportunity to participate in sports with girls – and she does consider the plaintiffs to be girls – can be harmful, citing high rates of attempted suicide in the transgender community.

“For social transition to be clinically effective, it must be respected consistently across all aspects of a transgender individual’s life,’’ the judge wrote.

“It would be psychologically damaging for a transgender girl to be banned from playing school sports on equal terms with other girls.’’

She also noted that both girls already have been playing sports.

“For transgender girls who are already playing on girls’ teams, a law that requires them to be excluded from continued participation on girls’ teams would have a further negative impact on their health and well-being, causing them to feel isolated, rejected, and stigmatized, and thereby putting them at high risk for severe depression and/or anxiety.’’

And, to drive the point home, Zipps said that the girls’ “mental health is dependent on living as girls in all aspects of their lives.’’

Gilbert thespians presenting ‘Oliver’ at MAC

BY GINGER CHURCHILL GSN Contributor

Several budding Gilbert thespians will join their counterparts from throughout the East Valley in transporting audiences across the Atlantic to another century in Limelight Performing Arts’ production of “Oliver, Jr.”

Based on Charles Dickens’ literary classic “Oliver Twist,” the musical features well-loved, award-winning songs that punctuate the dramatic story of an orphaned boy struggling for survival in the underbelly of Victorian England. e musical will be presented Aug. 5-12 at Mesa Arts Center and tickets are available at mesaartscenter.com by searching “Limelight.”

“So often, I think that kids only know

modern shows and don’t have an interest in anything they could classify as old,” said director-choreographer Marie South of Queen Creek.

“Many of our performers have told me they knew nothing about ‘Oliver’ before this process, but they have really come to enjoy it,” she added.

Gilbert cast members include: Ava Chiappetta, 14, as Widow Corney and Mrs. Sowerberry; Ashton Churchill, 16, as Fagin; Lincoln Ickler, 17, as Bill Sikes; Kali Kappes, 8, as Nipper; Maeli Kemp, 12, as Bet; Farrah McArthur, 11, as Oliver; Dominic Montufar, 7, as Charlie Bates; Gabriela Montufar, 9, as Oliver; Ellie Nevels, 15, as Old Sally; Addison Roundy, 13, as Bet; Connelly Roundy, 15, as Mr. Brownlow and Mr. Sowerber-

Scholarship honors late Gilbert teen talent

GSN NEWS STAFF

By all accounts, a powerful voice was stilled forever in 2016 when Keli May Rutledge died in a head-on collision with a drunken driver not far from her Gilbert home.

Then 18, Keli seemed on her way to what might have been a brilliant singing career, although she also had been planning to enter Arizona State University to become a social worker.

Four years before her death, an East Valley Tribune story raved about how the then-Higley High sophomore “belted out” a soul-stirring version of the National Anthem.

Not long before she died, Keli had won the annual Proof is in the Pudding contest sponsored by the Alice Cooper Solid Rock Foundation.

“The first time I heard Keli Rutledge sing I was stunned by her gift and tal-

ent,” said Randy Spencer, who oversees the Proof is in the Pudding contest, when he posted a YouTube clip of her performance, one of many accolades she garnered in the Valley music scene.

“Everyone around me at Solid Rock was overwhelmingly impressed by her God-given ability to sing.”

For the third consecutive year, her parents, Warren and Cynthia Rutledge, are again offering a scholarship through the Keli May Foundation, which they founded in 2017 “in honor of their daughter’s memory and passion for loving people.”

“The foundation was created to honor her aspiration to help those aging out of the foster care system,” they say on the foundation’s website. “She lives on in our hearts and memory and is forever remembered by the community for her incredible spirit.”

The couple say their mission “is to intentionally connect to young people by loving them where they are and while helping them transition into adulthood.”

The Rutledges said they envision a

Gilbert cast members in Limelight Performing Arts’ production of “Oliver Jr.” include Ava Chiappetta, Ashton Churchill, Lincoln Ickler, Kali Kappes, Maeli Kemp, Farrah McArthur, Dominic Montufar, Gabriela Montufar, Ellie Nevels, Addison Roundy, Connelly Roundy, and Kaitlyn Woodward.(Sam Weid/Contributor)

Keli May Rutledge perished in a head-on collision near her Gilbert home in 2016. She was 18 and known for her powerful singing. (Special to GSN)

ry; and Kaitlyn Woodward, 17, as Nancy.

Despite living in a neglectful orphanage, Oliver courageously hopes for a home, a family and even a bit of actual love. When he asks for “more,” he is sold to an undertaker who mercilessly bullies him for having no mother.

Eventually, Oliver makes a daring escape to live on the streets.

Oliver is not the only homeless child trying to survive the streets of London. He is welcomed by the precocious Artful Dodger into a gang of young pickpockets run by the elderly, avaricious and charismatic Fagin.

When Oliver is accused of a crime he didn’t commit, he is rescued by a wealthy, kind-hearted gentleman.

Fagin’s partner fears Oliver will turn the gang over to authorities and convinces his girlfriend to bring Oliver back to the gang – with tragic results.

Emma England of Gilbert, Limelight’s artistic director who serves as the music director for “Oliver, Jr.,” said the cast loves the story, the music and the exciting scenes.

“ ere’s a big ght scene when Oliver escapes from the police while pickpocketing,” she said. “It reminds me of a silent movie. ere’s all this music but no dialogue or singing, so we’ve been very creative with our props and staging.”

Beyond the dozens of hours of rehearsals invested in this production, cast members come to the show with an outsized share of natural ability, South said.

SCHOLARSHIP from page 18

place where foster youth ages 17 to 21 “can receive temporary housing, experience the presence of Christ and develop a community of lasting relationships while preparing for independence.”

The music scholarships are a separate program run by the foundation in honor of Keli May’s talent.

“The music scholarship was created to support talented musicians in the Valley who are making a positive

“You’ll forget you’re watching youth theater,” said South. “ e kids work so hard to be as professional as possible.”

Added England, “It’s not always easy to nd so much professionalism, not to mention talent, in kids so young, but they are pulling it o incredibly well.”

England originally hales from Britain, so it has beenparticularly important to her the cast members have the proper accents for their time, location and social station. “We’ve really focused on strong diction, phrasing, and pronunciation,” said England.

South shared her excitement for these shows to open so her young performers can have an audience.

“ ese kids love spending time together at rehearsals,” she said. “You can

“You’ll forget you’re watching youth theater. The kids work so hard to be as professional as possible.”

tell they enjoy working with each other and that comes out in performances.”

With compelling storylines and so much dramatic action interspersed with well-loved songs and high-energy dancing, South expects audiences will love the show.

“I think everyone will walk away feeling good and singing the songs on the car ride home,” she said.

Tickets for “Oliver, Jr.” start at $21. e run includes both matinee and evening performances. Group discounts are available.

impact in their community through music in honor of Keli,” a foundation spokeswoman said.

Three recipients will receive a cash award intended to go towards music education and equipment costs. Interested parties have until July 29, Keli’s birthday, to enter at kelimayfoundation.org.

The couple also are seeking donation s of cash, bikes, furniture and gift cards for foster teens who are about to age out of the system – often with few resources of their own.

GilbertSunNews.com | @GilbertSunNews /GilbertSunNews

Another building going up in Spectrum complex

GSN NEWS STAFF

Construction is scheduled to begin this month on the sixth building in the Gilbert Spectrum, a multiphase industrial park at the southwest corner of McQueen and Elliot roads.

Developer SunCap Property Group said last week in a release that Building 3 will add 119,222 to the 64-acre complex.

Graycor Construction Company is the design-build contractor for the building, which is expected to be complete before the end of the year. It will span 9.8 acres at McQueen and Elliot roads, just west of Gilbert Spectrum Building 5.

Also built by Graycor, the 120,294-square-foot Building 5 was completed in 2020 and is occupied by global aerospace and defense company Northrop Grumman as part of its state-ofthe-art satellite manufacturing campus.

Last year, SunCap and Graycor also completed three other buildings in the complex that added a total 309,547 square feet of Class A industrial space and

are leased to tenants, including Northrop Grumman, S&M Moving Systems, Barner Industries and Varsity Brands.

“Building 3 continues our cohesive approach to the Gilbert Spectrum master plan, where we have delivered six buildings and more than 625,828 square feet of industrial and o ce space since 2016,” said Mike Orr, SunCap senior vice president.

Features of Gilbert Spectrum Building 3 include generous window lines

with 1” high-performance glass, modern workspaces, LED lighting, an outdoor employee amenity area, 5/1,000 parking and interconnectivity to the entire business park through a planned pedestrian system.

In addition to its existing and under-construction buildings, Gilbert Spectrum has one lot remaining for build-tosuit industrial development.

At build-out, the Gilbert Spectrum business park will include up to 850,000

square feet of o ce, ex industrial and technology-related buildings, SunCap said, stating it has received strong interest from potential tenants.

Town planner Noah Schumerth earlier this year told the Gilbert Planning Commission said the new building is “de nitely in line with some employment goals we have for the town.

“It’s an exciting project for the town,” he said of the project, which required a General Plan amendment and rezoning that Town Council approved in June.

“I will note that the goal is to accommodate the completion of the Gilbert Spectrum development, which is a lot of paved area and there’s still other pad sites to the south that still need to be lled in,” Schumerth said.

Commissioner Anthony Bianchi said at the panel’s hearing the developer “met or exceeded” all town regulations.

Chairman Jan Simon said, ““I think it’s in a great spot. Obviously Northrop is a great anchor in the community, so I appreciate what’s being done.”

Gilbert couple open 2nd Christian Brothers shop

GSN NEWS STAFF

Christian Brothers Automotive is expanding its automotive repair and maintenance operation in Gilbert.

Owners and local residents Randy and Gemma Maestre opened their second shop in the franchise last week at 763 N. McQueen Road near Guadalupe Road. A third shop not owned by the couple is in south Gilbert.

e Maestres o er a variety of professional automotive care services from simple upkeep and repairs to preventative maintenance.

“We have been incredibly fortunate to witness the profound positive impact of

our rst shop, and we are eagerly anticipating the opportunity to extend it with our second location,” Randy said.

e couple opened their rst shop at Higley and Baseline roads in 2018.

Both shops are closely associated with Matthew 22:39, a nonpro t dedicated to improving lives.

“As a veteran-owned and operated business, the new shop is built on integrity and ensures reliable automotive repair services to meet the growing demands in the Gilbert area,” said Donnie Carr, president/ CEO of Christian Brothers Automotive.

“Randy and his family have truly captured the spirit of our brand,” he said. “We are blessed to support their second shop in the area and look forward to watching

them carry out our mission to bring the Nice Di erence to the car repair industry.”

Joining more than 270 Christian Brothers Automotive locations across the nation, the McQueen and Guadalupe shop follows the guiding principle: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”

Built on the idea that having a car serviced should be easy, Christian Brothers Automotive o ers free shuttle service, educational estimates and complimentary courtesy inspections.

Founded in Mission Bend, Texas in 1982, Christian Brothers Automotive’s aim is to change auto care experience.

It was started by graphic arts salesman Mark Carr, who had just moved to Hous-

ton. Texas, and was looking for a new career.

According to the corporate website, “One night, feeling particularly discontent, Mark prayed and asked God to provide him a business. e very next day, while Mark was attending a Sunday school function through Spring Branch Bible Church, a gentleman from his class walked up, said that he was an automotive technician, and asked Mark to help him start an automotive repair shop.

“ e two men didn’t know what to call their new venture. ey were encouraged by their Sunday school class to call it Christian Brothers Automotive.”

Information: cbac.com/mcqueen-andguadalupe or 602-855-9007.

Construction is expected to begin this month and be finished before the end of the year on the sixth building in the Gilbert Spectrum complex at Elliot and McQueen roads. (SunCap Property Group)

There are periodicity limits on covered services. Cosmetic procedures are not covered under this benefit. ‘Ohana Health Plan, a plan offered by Wellcare Health Insurance of Arizona, Inc. Wellcare is the Medicare brand for Centene Corporation, an HMO, PPO, PFFS, PDP plan with a Medicare contract and is an approved Part D Sponsor. Our D-SNP plans have a contract with the state Medicaid program. Enrollment in our plans depends on contract renewal. Arizona D-SNP plans: Contract services are funded in part under contract with the State of Arizona. New Mexico (NM) Dual Eligible Special Needs Plan (D-SNP) Members: As a Wellcare by Allwell D-SNP member, you have coverage from both Medicare and Medicaid. Medicaid services are funded in part by the state of New Mexico. NM Medicaid benefits may be limited to payment of Medicare premiums for some members. Louisiana D-SNP prospective enrollees: For detailed information about Louisiana Medicaid benefits, please visit the Medicaid website at https://ldh.la.gov/medicaid. Notice: TennCare is not responsible for payment for these benefits, except for appropriate cost sharing amounts. TennCare is not responsible for guaranteeing the availability or quality of these benefits. Any benefits above and beyond traditional Medicare benefits are applicable to Wellcare Medicare Advantage only and do not indicate increased Medicaid benefits.” Indiana D-SNP prospective enrollees: For detailed information about Indiana Medicaid benefits, please visit the Medicaid website at https://www.in.gov/medicaid/. Wellcare by Allwell (HMO and HMO SNP) includes products that are underwritten by Superior HealthPlan, Inc. and Superior HealthPlan Community Solutions, Inc. Wellcare (HMO and HMO SNP) includes products that are underwritten by Wellcare of Texas, Inc., Wellcare National Health Insurance Company, and SelectCare of Texas,

NA3WCMADF90565E_M_ADNE

Mesquite players take on football camp experience

BY ZACH ALVIRA GSN Sports Editor

One by one players exited their respective buses into the cooler — yet still several digits above normal – northern Arizona temperatures. e destination for Mesquite, American Leadership Academy – Ironwood in Queen Creek and Marcos de Niza was American Youth’s BILT Camp Heber.

But for the three teams that arrived Friday, July 14, and the seven others in the days and week that followed, the summer tradition of going to football camp is more than just escaping the Valley temperatures. It’s about building a bond as teammates and pushing themselves to new limits before the start of the season.

“When I say grow up, I mean they can’t call mommy and daddy to come pick them up because they’re sore,” Mesquite Head Coach Vance Miller said. “ ey can’t oversleep because they didn’t set their alarm. Right now, they’re relying on each other and are responsible for each other in the dorms.

“We’re teaching them responsibility, and this is where we get to hammer it for 12 practices, three -and-a-half days.”

Mesquite began its camp with a practice shortly after arrival. A few hours later after each team piled into the cafeteria in a single le line, the Wildcats were back out on the eld, this time under the lights and temperatures nearing the mid-70s.

ere was some hooting and hollering about the cooler weather. Coaches explained to the players that they should enjoy it, despite the tough practice that was to come.

When it was all said and done, players went back to their dorm-style sleeping quarters, where up to six players shared a room in some circumstances. It’s a unique situation, but one senior quarterback PJ Jones is used to at this point. He knows the close quarters brings the team together as

a unit.

“People bring projectors or TVs, so we rearrange the room and watch movies or play basketball,” Jones said. “I’m just bonding with my team every chance I get.”

Mesquite’s Saturday and Sunday mirrored each other. e Wildcats began with a 6 a.m. practice and had three more throughout the day that extended to 8:30 at night. In between, they had free time to play basketball, corn hole, sand volleyball or simply rest — which became the most popular option by mid-day Sunday.

Once a night, Mesquite held a team meeting where the logistics of the game were discussed. One night was for the offense, the other the defense.

e Wildcats were forced to be on a tight schedule. Not only to work around the other two teams but to instill discipline.

“I really try to take accountability, but I know some guys aren’t great with that,” sophomore obi Lucero said. “But that’s part of being on a team. You encourage people to do things they aren’t used to.”

e camp experience wasn’t new for

players like Jones and Lucero. But it was for freshman Samari Mercado. At least in this type of setting.

He had been away from home before for various camps but this experience — rooming and sharing a bathroom with close to 50 kids — was relatively new. Yet, he knew what to expect through conversations he had prior to arriving.

at’s why he took what his coaches would say is the “smart route.” When given the opportunity to relax, he did. Even if some of his freshmen teammates didn’t.

“I didn’t think we had to practice this much,” Mercado said. “I didn’t expect it. Some of (his teammates) goof around too much but it’s good.”

e last full day of the camp is where Miller said his team turned the hypothetical corner, something he hopes to see every year when he takes his kids up to BILT Camp Heber. ings start clicking, whether it be on the eld with certain plays or formations or o it with their chemistry.

ey ght through how tired they are all throughout the nal day. Miller rec-

ognized that so he rewarded them. e nal night of camp for Mesquite involved a meeting under the outdoor ramada where skits were done that included coaches. Captains were also picked for the season.

en, the seniors were led to a bon re pit where coaches addressed them before leaving them to enjoy together.

“I’m going to miss my dudes, playing with them,” Jones said. “ ey’re my guys.”

Camp life wasn’t all about football in most cases. Players were taught discipline in the form of early wake-up calls.

ey were to clean up tables, sweep and most times mop after every meal. If silverware ended up in the trash, a camp sta member blew a loud whistle and the player then shed through the muck to get it out. at only occurred a few times as sta er whistles instilled fear.

But the bonds they created and the growing up they did mentally and physically was one of the biggest takeaways. at’s been the goal for Stephan since he founded American Youth and the BILT Foundation, which has sent more than 1,500 kids to camps for free.

“We now take over 3,000 kids to camp,” Stephan said. “Our coaches love it. It started as a favor, and it’s grown. We’re trying to build individuals, leaders and teams.”

Miller believes Mesquite left camp ready to take on the fall season.

e corner they turned on Sunday afternoon was what his coaches were looking for when they arrived Friday. He’s proud of his players for making it through a grueling schedule.

He challenged them both mentally and physically, and they rose to the occasion.

“We always say we want them to come back down a new person,” Miller said. “We want it to translate to the home, too. Football wise, we want to come back down the hill ready for a game.

“ is has been a fantastic week and we’re going to have a fantastic season.”

From left: Mesquite senior PJ Jones, freshman Samari Mercado and sophomore Thobi Lucero all took on the football camp experience with teammates July 14-17 at American Youth’s BILT Camp in Heber.They were taught to be disciplined and were on a tight schedule that consisted of four practices a day. But in the end, the Wildcats turned a corner and headed back to the Valley ready for the season. (Zach Alvira/Staff)

Hale Th eatre unveils 2023-24 season

GETOUT STAFF

The Hale Centre Theatre-Arizona in Gilbert has announced its 2023-24 season and patrons will want to pay attention because it begins next month.

Known for its professional family friendly Broadway musicals and comedies, Hale “is lining up one of its most incredible seasons yet and will provide something for everyone,” producer David Dietlein said.

“We want the guest experience to be exciting and memorable, and I think that’s what this season will bring,” he added.

General admission and season tickets are available at the Hale box office by calling 480-497-1181 or at HaleTheatreArizona.com. The Hale is located at 50 West Page Ave., across from Gilbert Water Tower Park.

Here’s a lineup. Check the website to find the days of the week when various shows are presented.

Something’s Afoot. This murder-mystery musical farce and takeoff on Agatha Christie involves 10 people stranded in an isolated house during a thunderstorm. One by one they’re picked off by cleverly fiendish devices. Aug. 25-Oct. 7.

Steel Magnolias. Experience the hustle and bustle of a small southern town where a beauty salon is offers hairdos, manicures and all kinds of unsolicited advice. Through witty banter and wisecracks, a hodgepodge group of women form strong bonds. Sept. 19-Nov. 2.

Fiddler on the Roof. This winner of nine Tony Awards touches the heart and funny bone as Tevye quotes “The Good Book” to his Maker and wrestles over his love for his daughters and their breaking of honored traditions. Oct.13-Nov. 25.

A Christmas Carol. This spectacular, heartwarming version of Charles Dickens’ timeless tale of redemption is a Gilbert tradition with staging that faithfully

Back by popular demand and a time-honored tradition in the Hale Centre Theatre’s lineup is “A Christmas Carol.” (Nick Woodward-Shaw/Contributor)

brings his delightful characters together to teach stingy, cantankerous Scrooge the errors of his ways. Complete with great performances, traditional carols, stunning costumes and magical special effects. Nov. 30-Dec. 23.

See How They Run. In a hilarious case of mistaken identity, an American actor, an escaped convict and two punctual vicars find themselves dressed as clergymen dashing about the vicarage in this riotous comedy. Dec. 29-Feb. 10.

Life Could Be A Dream. Take a ride back to the 60s with this jukebox musical as Denny and the Dreamers, a fledgling doo-wop group, prepares for a radio contest to realize their dreams of making it big. Favorite tunes include “Fools Fall in

Love,” “Tears on My Pillow,” “Runaround Sue,” and “Earth Angel.” Jan 16-March 5.

My Fair Lady. The classic musical tale of Eliza Doolittle and Professor Henry Higgins includes such songs as “I’m Getting Married in the Morning,” “On the Street Where You Live,” and “I Could Have Danced All Night.” Feb. 15-March 30.

Kiss and Tell. This 1940s romp finds 16-year-old Corliss Archer the only person in the know about her brother’s secret marriage. When her new sister-in-law finds she is going to have a baby, Corliss accompanies her to the doctor. A nosy neighbor sees them and spreads the word that Corliss is the mother-to-be! March 19-May 21.

Titanic the Musical. Winner of five Tony awards, this is a rendition of the 1912 ocean marvel that ended at the bottom of the sea. A Grammy Award-nominated accompanies unforgettable tales of the real-life heroes and bold romantics. April 4-May 11.

Disney’s Newsies. Based on a true story set in New York City, this musical looks at a band of street kids who dream of a better life far from the hardship of the streets. They take on the notorious publisher Joseph Pulitzer to get that life. May 16-June 29.

Cinderella. This Tony Award-winning musical is a hilarious and romantic theatrical rendition of the classic faitytale. July 5-Aug. 17.

Coloring contest reemerges at Butterfly Wonderland

BY ALEX GALLAGHER GetOut Arts Editor

Children ages 6 to 17 can score two free tickets to Butterfly Wonderland and a $50 gift card to use at its Treasures Gift Shop.

But to win this prize, they must first glam up a coloring sheet of either a butterfly, a chameleon or a caterpillar. There are four sheets to choose from and color in.

The contest is about more than staying inside the lines.

“It’s not necessarily about having it all within the lines. It’s also about the colors that the children choose and what they interpret that butterfly, caterpillar or chameleon to be and that’s what’s really awesome,” said Butterfly Wonderland Director of Education Adriane Grimaldi. “We’ve had some entries feature rainbows and additional butterflies.”

Children and teens also have their choice of utensils to decorate their reptile or insect.

“They can use pencils, crayons, mark-

ers, watercolors or whatever they choose. There really is a whole gamut,” Grimaldi said.

The contest began around four years ago, according to Grimaldi. In that time, she has seen some stellar entries.

“I’m always amazed every time we get together to judge the contests — which we break up into different age groups and skills at different levels,” Grimaldi said. “The one that impressed me the most was a girl named Sophia sent in a page and added things to the coloring template like a sky with clouds and a giant mushroom in the background. Her entry won that year.”

All entries will be judged on originality/ coloring skill by official Butterfly Wonderland representatives and every entry will be displayed in Butterfly Wonderland throughout August.

The first-, second- and third-place winners will have their work displayed in the lobby of Butterfly Wonderland for several months.

Entries will be accepted through Friday, July 28 and winners will be announced via

Butterfly Wonderland’s Facebook page on Aug. 1.

Grimaldi sees this as an opportunity to draw attention to the venue, which recently celebrated its 10th anniversary.

“Butterflies, nature and artwork kind of go hand in hand through lots of different things,” she said. “What’s awesome about Butterfly Wonderland is we have art woven into what Butterfly Wonderland is.

“In the conservatory, we have artwork from local artists. In the lobby, we have hand-carved gourds painted to look like Monarch and Blue Morpho butterflies and bowls made out of gourds in the Treasure Shop.”

Though there can only be a few winners, Grimaldi hopes the contest gives children a fun activity to occupy themselves during the summer.

“It’s an opportunity for them to do an activity with their parents, have their parents involved with them and talk about their favorite butterfly,” Grimaldi said.

She also sees this as an opportunity to have conversations about ways to conserve

the population of butterflies that are indigenous to the Grand Canyon state.

“While they’re coloring, they can talk about whether or not they see butterflies in their backyard or discuss planting a butterfly garden to attract butterflies in our community,” Grimaldi said.

“A lot of dialogue can be done as a parent during this coloring contest that they can incorporate while they’re coloring beyond conservation.

‘This could be a time to talk about what makes up the colors of the butterfly’s wings and the scales.”

Hoping these conversations create a love for butterflies, Grimaldi is looking forward to seeing this year’s entries.

Only one entry per child will be accepted.

Participants must visit butterflywonderland.com/special-events/#color to choose one of four coloring pages to download.

Submissions can be dropped off at the guest services desk at Butterfly Wonderland or mailed at 9500 E. Via de Ventura Scottsdale, AZ 85256.

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