Gilbert Sun News: 08/13/2023

BY CECILIA CHAN GSN Managing Editor

The one-story, 26,000-square-foot Gilbert Family Advocacy Center has more than doubled in size – and so has the cost to build it – since it was pitched nearly four years ago.

Town Council on Tuesday, Aug. 15, will consider spending an additional $1.3 million for the project in change orders. e item is on the consent agenda and unless a council

member pulls it for discussion, it will be approved without comment.

e change orders include an additional $1 million for a total of $2.9 million for Dick & Fritsche Group Architecture and an additional $310,290 for a total payout of $1.3 million to Hill International for project management. Spokeswoman Jennnifer Harrison said the current budget for the project stood at $33.5 million as of July 1. e funding comprises $23 million from federal pandemic relief money and $11 million from the town’s Gen-

eral Fund.

“ is is a preliminary budget and is subject to change,” Harrison said. “At present, the project team is currently re ning the construction budget’s estimated projections.

“ is e ort stems from comprehensive research and evaluation of advocacy centers nationwide, all aimed at ensuring that our facility profoundly contributes to the realization of our desired outcomes.

Budding Olympians

BY CECILIA CHAN GSN Managing Editor

Ira Latham, who has four kids, came before Higley Unified School District Governing Board last week voicing concern that the district’s revised dress code policy was too vague.

Suggested policies on how staff should act with students, how staff should use social media and cell phone and how students should dress were on the board’s table Aug. 10.

“I remember how school was and I understand how dress codes are important

page 12 see

Dynamic duo leads Arete Prep football team.

Gilbert teen hooks scholarship with shing contest win.

Gilbert Parks and Recreation and Top Golf hosted 17 residents at TopGolf Gilbert Aug. 7 as the town preps for next year, when golf becomes an official Special Olympics sport. For the details, see page 18. (David Minton/Staff Photographer)

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Gas station OK’d amid Seville residents’ opposition

BY CECILIA CHAN GSN Managing Editor

Amaster-planned community of over 3,000 homes in Gilbert that boasts upscale comforts such as a champion-style golf course will soon have a nearby amenity it doesn’t want – a 24hour gas station.

QuikTrip plans to go up on a 4.35-acre vacant parcel at the northeast corner of Higley and Riggs roads within the Seville Golf and Country Club’s planned area of development. e Planning Commission Aug. 2 unanimously approved the project’s design.

“When we bought the house, we weren’t told that there was going to be a gas station,” resident Shari Smith said. “It’s a country club location.”

Smith claimed that studies have shown homes near gas stations drop in property value.

“ is is an a uent neighborhood,” she said. “We pay a lot of taxes and I don’t think that this is the best use of what we’ve been asking for, which is restaurants. ere’s not one restaurant between Gilbert and Power roads on Riggs, nothing.”

Smith also raised concerns with a gas station’s impacts to heath such as ozone problems, which she said have links to childhood leukemia and to asthma.

Resident Louis Scichilone said that his backyard fence abuts the project’s parcel and that there was no bu er between his home and the gas station.

“No amount of block wall, vegetation or trees will block the view from our second-story window,” Scichilone said. “We pay good money for our homes. ose are our investments where we raise our families (and) spend time with friends.

“We don’t want the noise and environmental pollution that comes with a gas station, let alone one that runs 24 hours a day literally outside our windows.”

Scichilone said he’s been a police o cer in the Valley for 23 years and gas stations and parking lots produce noise, garbage and noxious odors and “oftentimes become informal gathering places for criminal conduct and nefarious activity.”

All those objections were raised by residents in Ahwatukee three years ago when

Quik Trip announced plans to build a gas station right at the only entrance to a small subdivision.

One resident was a Phoenix Fire Department captain who produced reams of evidence related to the air pollution and re hazards posed by gas stations, but city ocials approved it anyway.

Scichilone also noted that a Fry’s gas station is about 1,000 feet down from the proposed location and that at least ve gas stations are located within a 1- to 4-mile radius.

According to town planner Sal Disanto, neighboring residents’ concerns also included increased tra c volume to the immediate vicinity, hours of operation and time of fuel and convenience delivery.

QuikTrip proposed 54 parking spots on one of three commercial pads within the Seville master plan. e gas station with convenient store is part of phase 1, which includes building an 8-foot cement block perimeter screen wall along the north and east property lines.

Phase 2 includes a Salad N’Go location and the remaining 5,000-square-foot pad is for future development.

“We’re not here asking for permission on the use; we’re allowed use by right in

this zoning district,” pointed out attorney Lauren Proper Potter, representing QuikTrip. “Not only are we an allowed use, it has been projected to be a commercial corner since the initial Seville PAD was passed in 2001.

“ ere’s no secret that this was always going to be a commercial use. What we’re here for tonight is the master site plan and design review of our store.”

at said, she noted that QuikTrip “always want to be a good neighbor.”

“As much as we like to think that people will go out of their way to come visit us the truth is that we serve the communities that are directly adjacent to where we put our stores,” she said. “A lot of thought goes into selecting those locations.”

She said QuikTrip’s gone out of its way working with town planners to make sure it was providing more than the adequate bu er.

“None of the setbacks are just the bare minimum,” she said. “Here everything is signi cantly enhanced and in fact the separation from the property line to the adjacent residential is 150 feet so it’s well beyond the requirement (of) maybe 20 or

The Gilbert Planning Commission gave its blessing to a QuikTrip gas station that will be located within the Seville Golf and Country Club’s planned area of development. (Town of Gilbert)

Chandler Uni ed enrollment faces 10-year slide

BY KEN SAIN GSN Sta Writer

It was not a surprise that enrollment dropped in the Chandler Uni ed School District when the COVID-19 pandemic began.

e district lost more than 2,000 students then.

What it is a surprise, however, is that those students did not return. And they did not go to charter schools either, according to a demographer’s presentation Aug. 9 to the Chandler Uni ed Governing Board.

“ ere was no bounce back, it’s just that enrollment continued to be down

QUIKTRIP from page 4

30 feet.”

Proper Potter said substantial landscaping also is proposed – large trees in 24-inch boxes, which will have upwards of a 12foot canopy to provide a “very good” bu er for the adjacent homes.

As for tra c, the QuikTrip is designed carefully to avoid con icts, she said, adding that the store won’t be selling diesel fuel, eliminating the possibility of commercial semis coming into the area.

“Yes, we intend to be a 24-hour use,” Proper Potter continued. “All of the QuikTrips are as much.

“We certainly don’t want to foreclose any opportunities for nurses getting o work late or starting early to come in and get a cup of co ee or grab some food at the end of a long day.”

She said QuikTrip can address some of

by 2,000 students,” said Rick Brammer of Applied Economics, the demographics expert who has worked with the district for more than two decades.

Brammer gave the bBoard an update on the district’s demographics and what its likely future enrollment trend looks like.

e main takeaway: enrollment is in decline and will continue to drop over the next decade.

at same trend is also apparent in Gilbert Public Schools and some of Chandler Uni ed’s other neighbors.

e only exception, he said, is Queen Creek Uni ed, where enrollment continues to grow.

the residents’ security concerns with constant surveillance.

“We always have employees on site,” she siad. “ ey walk the store. Our stores are designed (so) they’re elevated in the middle so that there’s always visual surveillance on the entire site and our employees are always making sure that they’re keeping an eye on what’s going on outside of the stores.”

Commissioner Lesley Davis asked that because QuikTrips have access on all sides, if it could close an entrance at night to better monitor the premises.

“We have three usable entrances,” Proper Potter responded, adding that the rear entrance is not accessible by the public. “It’s something that we could certainly look at doing if it becomes an issue. I’m not sure at this time that it’s something that we would want to get into in the hearing.”

Commissioner Brian Andersen, follow-

ere are a number of contributing factors to the enrollment decline in Chandler Uni ed and some also impact Gilbert:

• Birth rates are in decline. “Birth rates in Arizona fell by nearly 19% during the Great Recession, causing a 17% decline in the total number of births in the state,” Brammer said. “ e birth rate stabilized from 2011 to 2014 and then dropped another 16.5% through 2020; his resulted in 76,400 births, which was 11.9% fewer than in 2014.” Since 2020, they have slightly increased.

• Housing prices are steep, which means young families with children can’t a ord to live here. East Val-

ing up with a resident’s concern, asked if QuikTrip could move the trash enclosure away from the east, near a home in Seville.

Proper Potter said her client would be open to the idea but that it would be a challenge given it has to make sure that the solid waste requirements are met for pickup.

“I know a lot of times the trucks don’t like to back up,” she said. “But absolutely it’s something that we’re willing to look into. We don’t have a spot picked out right now so it’s certainly something we’d be willing to work with sta .”

Commissioner Charles Johnson, who lives in the Seville community, said the proposed use was right for the location.

“Riggs Road has a lot of tra c,” he said. “ e last gas station convenes as Ellsworth miles and miles away so westbound tra c would be able to turn into there and head north on Higley.

ley homeowners won’t give up their homes if they have low mortgage interest rates because they won’t nd comparable ones and that lack of turnover is keeping young families with children out of the market.

• Compounding the a ordability problem a ecting the housing market, Chandler is near build-out and has little space left to build single-family homes. What space Chandler does have is increasingly going toward high-end multifamily housing, which in general does not attract families with school-age children.

see ENROLL page 14

“I really like the site plan. I especially like the bu ers on the south and the west sides and I think it provides for an attractive commercial use not only for those who move along Riggs at a very heavy tra c volume but also for community residents.”

Commissioner Anthony Bianchi agreed with Andersen in moving the trash enclosure “as well anything to mitigate the impact to the neighbors.”

He said the project’s bu ers and setbacks have been met or far exceeded what’s required.

“ is was zoned over 20 years ago on a General Plan with regards to Seville,” Chairman Jan Simon said. “We don’t have the opportunity to say yes or no. It is byright.

“I don’t have any issue with this. I think that the QT has actually made great strides to be a class above just a typical gas station.”

Commission discusses storage facility plan

BY CECILIA CHAN GSN Managing Editor

Athree-story self-storage unit is seeking a conditional-use permit to set up shop near the northwest corner of Higley and Williams Fields road.

e 122,000-square-foot building is proposed on 2.4 vacant acres, according to details discussed during a Planning Commission study session Aug. 2.

e applicant last year held two neighborhood meetings in February and in December to present the project. Six people attended the rst meeting, according to sta .

“Some general feedback they heard from both meetings was to pay a little more attention to the landscape bu er along the west boundary,” planner Samantha Novotny said.

She said there also were concerns, including for site safety, transients along the nearby railroad tracks and lighting.

Commissioner Lesley Davis asked if the neighborhood concerns about landscaping had been addressed in the plan presented to the town.

Novotny said that sta felt the landscape bu er met code and in fact exceeded the 30-foot setback by an additional 5 feet.

“I like the direction the building’s going,” Davis said. “I think it’s a nice-looking building and the landscape did look like there was quite a bit there.”

Commissioner Anthony Bianchi asked if a lighting proposal was submitted and Novotny responded that the photometric plan “will be meeting our standards.”

Other than agreeing with sta ’s recommendation to break up the longer roof line of the building, Bianchi said the elevations looked “pretty decent.”

Commissioner Charles Johnson asked if the facility would be open 24 hours.

“Is there access of tra c in any time of day and are there any security issues

relating to that?” he said.

Novotny said she would ask about the hours of operation.

Chairman Jan Simon said he was perplexed by the placement of the main loading doors against residences to the east and not on the west side with Higley, the frontage road.

“We’ve got three stories of units with loading and unloading going into two doors that are basically facing the residential,” he said. “When I look at it in my head I think it feels like it should go the other way.

“Also, from an aesthetics perspective, it just looks like it’s facing an odd direction. I’m sure there’s probably been some study that’s happened with regards to why they did it that way.”

Novotny said she didn’t have a solid answer and would nd out.

“I’m not opposed to the project,” Simon said. “I think it’s a great project. I like the building, I think it’s a great use.”

Novotny told the commissioners that the applicant has gone through rst review and that the nal presentation and sta report will give more analysis.

Sta did not respond to a question about when the proposal will return to commissioners for formal action.

e commission also gave input on a master site plan for a proposed “family friendly” commercial development, including an Andy’s Frozen Custard, on 2.8 acres on the southwest corner of Lindsay and Baseline roads.

e Baseline Commercial proposal includes the 1,275-square-foot drive-thru custard shop in the center, an 1,880-square-foot Lube Xpress facility on the east and an 8,309-square-foot building housing a number of independent salon studios along the west portion of the site.

e developer is proposing 120 parking spots and an 8-foot perimeter block wall with a 40-foot landscape bu er along the south to block visibility of the site for the Porter Acres homes. e site is surrounded by a mix of commercial and residential uses.

Commissioner William Fay expressed concern with the site’s proposed tra c

The proposed three-story storage complex will be located at Higley and Williams Field roads. (Town of Gilbert)

PLANNING from page 8

con guration.

“My problem is that middle drive aisle not only is the backup for the drive-thru, it also lines up directly with the entrance onto Baseline,” Fay said.

“If you have a backup, it’s going to back up straight out onto the arterial roadway. It’s not OK. If that driveway were o set somewhere, it would mitigate that possibility of cars backing up onto the arterial.”

He asked sta to look into it.

“If it needs to be there, it probably meets standards by a little bit,” Fay said. “If there isn’t a strong reason and you were to o set, it would probably solve the problem.”

Planner Sal DiSanto responded that sta will look into the possibility to oset the access point o Baseline Road.

Fay added that he didn’t see a lot of discussion about tra c overall in regards to the project.

“ is intersection is under capacity,” he said. “It’s not a bad intersection but it’s also one that is notoriously understudied.”

He said di erent development ideas have come forward near the intersection with counts that did not trigger the need for a tra c impact study.

“I think there is if everything were to come in on this intersection and do what it’s supposed to do I think there would be a cumulative impact problem potentially and one that would slide un-

derneath all of our analysis,” Fay continued.

“Because each individual property seems to be close to but under the thresholds to drive a serious tra c impact analysis. at’s more of a just leit-away and if engineering is cool with it, I’m ne with it.”

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Some Planning Commission members liked the storage facility’s design. (Town of Gilbert)

“Anticipated cost estimates for the new scope of this comprehensive facility are anticipated to be ready in mid-fall.”

Included in the project’s cost was $700,000 to remove piles of dirt on the site but that gure could also change based on nal design and market conditions.

“Once the design is complete, the Town will determine how much dirt needs to be removed and the associated cost of site remediation,” Harrison said.

e 7-acre site is a vacant piece of town-owned land adjacent to the public safety building on Civic Center Drive.

e land was previously set aside for the nonpro t Operation Welcome Home’s veterans memorial park. Mounds of dirt were trucked onto the site but the project never materialized and the site sat dormant. Neighboring residents have called the fenced-o site an eyesore.

Harrison also said that the annual operating budget for the center hasn’t yet been determined.

“ e Town is still evaluating the optimal sta ng structure for the facility,

which will in turn inform the estimated annual operating budget,” she said. “One possibility under consideration is to contract with nonpro t partners to secure the provision of some of the services. Draft recommendations for the proposed annual operating budget should be available in early to mid-fall.”

According to Jack Gierak, CIP project supervisor, the recommended center will now be two stories and 60,000 square feet.

He said the additional 34,000 square feet came after the project team, stakeholders, advocates and users reconsidered the project and after touring similar centers in Texas, California and Tennessee.

Gierak also indicated a need to develop a master plan for the full build-out of the campus to ensure current and future uses can be accommodated through 2035.

Police Chief Michael Soelberg rst pitched the idea of the center with an estimated price tag of $16.4 million at a council spring retreat in 2019. e chief in fall 2021 told the council that project’s cost had ballooned to $24 million.

Currently, Gilbert police uses the advocacy centers in Mesa and Chandler and hospitals for victims’ forensic exams.

e center will house a multidisciplinary team that includes law enforcement, Department of Child Safety, the prosecutor’s o ce, mental health, victim advocates and counselors working collaboratively on a case.

Crimes that would be investigated through the advocacy center include sexual assault, sexual abuse, child abuse or neglect, strangulation, domestic violence and those involving vulnerable adults.

e center’s purpose is to save victims from have to retell their stories multiple times, further traumatizing them, and it would save detectives travel time from having to go to the advocacy centers in Mesa or Chandler so they can work on more cases. It also will provide short- and long-term support in one location.

e center’s intent was to o er help 24/7 to victims needing acute care. It will also connect victims to services provided by community partners such as local nonpro ts.

According to Gilbert Police, the town

from 2015-21 saw a 66.7% increase in sex crime-related o enses involving an adult victim and a 51.4% increase involving a child victim.

During the same timeframe, there was a 121.3% increase in domestic violence o enses involving a child victim and a 66.1% jump involving an adult victim, according to police.

And though Gilbert is continuously ranked in the top for having a safe community, it saw an uptick in violent crime from 2020 to 2021.

In 2021, police reported an 8% increase in violent crime, 125% increase in homicides, 8% increase in rapes and an 11% increase in aggravated assaults.

Town o cials also pointed out that a community needs assessment conducted in late 2019 ranked residents needing additional resources were victims of domestic violence, sexual assault and human tra cking.

e timeline for the project, subject to change, was to begin construction in fall 2024 and complete it by May 2026 with the doors opening in October of that year.

Gilbert Council may set short-term rentals fee

their properties for the rst time to rst notify nearby residences in writing.

Town Council will consider Tuesday imposing a $100 licensing fee and a $100 annual renewal fee for people who rent out their properties for vacation stays.

e fees would o set the cost to set up a program to regulate short-term rentals in Gilbert.

According to Sara Radbury, tax compliance manager, the fees will cover the cost of a vendor and the software to track and administer the registration database, provide a 24/7 hotline for questions and complaints and contain a portal for owners to manage their rental property.

If council approves the proposal, the fees go into e ect Sept. 5.

Earlier in June the council approved an ordinance allowing for the fees and requiring owners wanting to rent out

At the time, sta indicated additional regulations could come into play in the future once more data has been gathered.

e possible regulations included requiring license numbers be posted on advertisements of short-term rental property, requiring evidence of liability insurance and requiring completed background checks of owners and/or guests.

A new state law passed last year July gives municipalities more latitude in regulating residential property rented out for 29 consecutive days or less to protect against public nuisances such as noise and trash.

It also allows municipalities to recoup the actual cost of setting up the

GSN NEWS STAFF

with regards to the classroom setting, Latham said. “I understand the need to express yourself but that is not the right place to do it in the classroom with regards to dress and attire.

“As a business owner I think that we’re disservicing the children by not properly giving them the right expectations on what they are expected to do once they’ve left the school system.”

He added that he’s never been part of a business or an organization that didn’t have a stricter dress requirement than the one the board was considering.

“The recommended new policy does not give enough specifications on what should be covered,” Latham said. “It specifically just talks about the underwear areas and the private areas whereas the old policy specifically called out midriffs (and) modest chest coverings. I’m a little confused with the purpose of the dress code if it’s not setting children up for success for after school.”

He recommended that the board integrate parts of the old policy with the recommended one. About five other

speakers also spoke out against the proposed dress policy.

The current policy prohibits students from immodestly exposing the chest, abdomen, midriff, genital area or buttocks.

The proposed revision bans students from exposing undergarments or undergarment areas and requires covering private body parts. Clothing cannot be see-through and undergarment cannot be worn as clothing.

Three board members agreed with Latham.

“I can’t support this policy at this time because it’s too vague,” said member Kristina Reese, who owns a daycare and preschool. “I want an appropriate dress code that meets the needs of our students and the needs of the community where kids can express themselves and be comfortable but know the expectations and the expectations are clear.”

Most important for her was that enforcement would not be consistent under the revised policy because of its vagueness, Reese said, adding that middle- and high-school students change classes throughout a school day and could go through five classes without a problem but get “dress-cod-

Letters and animals

ed” in the 6th period.

“And so, I have a difficult time supporting this particular policy,” Reese said.

President Tiffany Shultz, however, said the proposed language wasn’t vague as it specifically prohibits the exposure of undergarments. She also said that she didn’t want to come up with a policy based on “my moral beliefs, my religious beliefs.”

Member Michelle Anderson said she did not support removing chest, midriff and buttocks from the policy as consistent enforcement would be “slim to none.”

She cited the importance of dressing for success and said that what people wear can affect their mental and physical performances.

“There is a time and place for style and specific attire,” Anderson said. “Our original policy does not mandate that students dress in suits and slack and body-length skirts, long-sleeved shirts or turtle necks. It 100 percent allows for current styles, comfortable clothes and comfortable shoes to be worn.”

Anderson, a teacher, said she looked up the dress code for the top 100 schools in the nation and found that 14 use uniforms and only three had language that called for students to dress appropriately.

Many of the other schools had dress codes that far exceeded HUSD’s expectations she said, adding that the language in the amended policy was counter-productive and would not work.

She asked how are teachers going to be able to determine if a crop tank top is an undergarment or a regular piece of clothing. She said the current dress code was appropriate.

“It reduces academic distractions for teachers,” Anderson said. “The current policy is clear on expectations and reduces subjective assessments and strives for consistency across classroom sites.”

Board member Anna Van Hoek said that students with an exposed midriff in the classroom distract other students and staff and she opposed removing the wording from the policy.

“No matter what career field it is, if you show up not dressed appropriately there’s a pretty good chance that you’re not going to be considered for that position,” Van Hoek said. “We have standards for our teachers. If our teachers showed up to interview dressed like some of our children in the district, I can guarantee you they wouldn’t be hired.

“So if we are prepping our children to be college and career ready they need to learn to be able to have self-respect and that doesn’t include showing off their body parts.”

She added that having a clear dress code in place also makes it easier for parents to enforce it at home.

Board member Amanda Wade, a former teacher, said if the policy gets overly specific, it could cause potential problems “because at the end of the day we can’t think of certain types of scenarios until they happen.”

She said that the lack of consistency in enforcement was due to different moral standards, noting the current policy was written in 2001 and over time society has changed.

“It’s important to recognize that the school our kids attend is very different than the school each of us at-

see HIGLEY page 13

Higley Unified parent Ira Latham complained that Higley Unified’s proposed revision of the dress code gives students little to no direction on appropriate attire, especially in the world of work. (YouTube)

The Pomeroy siblings – from left, Connor (7), Taylor (9) and Aria (5) – created animal artwork out of letters of the alphabet in The Dig Room at Southeast Regional Library on Aug. 9. To learn about other kid-friendly activities at the Gilbert library: mcldaz.org/ southeast. (David Minton/Staff Photographer)

tended as adults because things very much have changed and that’s part of social norms,” she said. “We constantly change as a society.

“I don’t think it’s fair for us to say that we as a school we need to help you parent because you’re having a hard time creating established boundaries within your home,” Wade said.

“I don’t think it’s fair to put education in that position because again your moral standards may differ than somebody else’s moral standards and we are constantly setting people up for failure essentially and I struggle with that.”

District counsel Jennifer MacLennan said if the board adopts the policy, the administration can get more specific in the regulations.

“You’re creating the policy statement for the district and staff will create the implementation that could include regulations,” she said.

Initially a motion was made to amend the proposed policy by adding that material must cover the entire midriff, front, back and sides.

But Reese said the policy was still not where it needs to be and suggested the attorney redraft the policy incorporating elements from the two.

The board agreed to table the issue and take formal action possibly at the Aug. 23 meeting.

The board, however, approved the policies regarding staff conduct with students and district employees’ use of social media and cell phones.

Prohibited behaviors in the newly

RENTALS from page 10

permit/license or a maximum of $250, whichever is less.

Although then-Gov. Doug Ducey in 2016 signed a law prohibiting municipalities from restricting short-term rentals, the state three years later eased up after complaints and allowed more regulatory authority such as collecting information on owners of short-term rentals and holding the owner accountable for verified violations with penalties.

adopted policy on staff conduct include no flirtatious communication, including commenting on a student’s attractiveness, appearance or dress, no banter, allusions, jokes or innuendos of a sexual nature, no giving a personal gift that singles out individual students, no confiding in a student on a personal and private matter and no socializing with a student outside of school or a school activity.

Staff also is prohibited from receiving personal gifts unless they are of nominal value such as plants, pens, mugs or gift cards of a small amount.

MacLennan said the policy resulted from a body of work created by two previous attorneys who defended HUSD in sexual molestation cases.

The policy, she explained, tries to outline behaviors the attorneys encountered in their experience when litigating those cases.

Regarding the policy on social media and cell phone use, teachers can only use school-controlled and approved technologies in communicating with students or parents. They are prohibited from using their personal devices to directly communicate with students unless it’s through school-controlled and approved technologies.

Teachers also must include a parent, another educator or a supervisor on any communication with students. Also, their communication with students must be about academics or extracurricular activities and they are to refrain from communication outside school and extracurricular scheduled hours. HIGLEY from

Town sta at one time estimated about 725 short-term rentals existed in Gilbert, up from the approximately 350 units in 2016.

A majority of the rentals are investor-owned, according to sta .

If you go:

What: Town Council public hearing on proposed short-term rental and renewal fee

When: 6:30 p.m., Tuesday Aug. 15

Where: Council chambers, 50 E. Civic Center Drive

Expires 8/31/23.

• Increased competition from charter and private schools, the latter bene tting from the expansion of Empowerment Scholarship Accounts, or school vouchers.

Brammer said that while charter schools are a challenge for the district, it’s not the biggest unknown. at would be school vouchers.

“In 2020-to-2023 charter schools only gained 8,000 and district schools went down a couple of thousand,” Brammer said. “We know the school-age population went up by a lot more than that. e number of ESAs went from 9,000 to 49,000.”

Lana Berry, CUSD chief nancial o cer, said the state is reporting 69,000 have applied and been granted ESAs this year.

“We have seen across the Valley … is that choice requires resources, it requires knowledge of the choice and it requires the ability to take advantage,” Brammer said. “What we saw was that in lower socio-economic districts, most of the students came back. And here (CUSD), Gilbert, Paradise Valley, they did not. Generally, it is the

same story in Scottsdale.”

Brammer said CUSD has 16,000 students living within its borders who are attending charter schools. e good news, he said, is that 6,000 students that live outside its borders commute to attend CUSD schools because of its reputation for quality instruction.

e uncertainty created by ESAs makes it di cult to project with con dence CUSD’s future enrollment, Brammer said. Still, he expects the district to lose close to 4,400 students over the next decade.

Berry said based on early enrollments this year, the district already has 800 fewer students than last year; Brammer expected a year ago that gure would be only 300.

e projection had at least one board member wondering why the district is building a new school. “Wait a second,” Kurt Rohrs said. “Galveston: We’re about to spend $30 million rebuilding that school to a capacity of 750, and we’re not getting above 500, and there’s absolutely no growth in that area.

“ ere is nothing to indicate we can ll

see ENROLL page 15

Hip hop hooray!

The Gilbert-based Elektro Elite hip hop team was one of two United States teams that advanced to the World Hip Hop Dance Championship Aug. 6 at the sold-out Mullet Arena at Arizona State University and ended garnering eighth place in the world as they competed against 70 teams in their age group and among 3,000 dancers. Elektro Elite, based at the Elektro Dance Academy in Gilbert comprises nine girls ages 14-17. They are, from left: Jaylynn George, Cate Giarrizzo, Addy Griffi n, Cylie Bunthanom, Bella Gonzalez, Sara

Hamadeh, Hana Ira, Sierra Shipman and Ella Mejia. (Courtesy of Jason and Chris Giarrizzo)

ENROLL from page 14

up that school. I’m really starting to wonder why we’re doing this.”

e actual cost will be closer to $35 million, said Tom Dunn, the district’s executive director of support services. And, he said, over $11 million has already been committed.

Rohrs unsuccessfully tried to delay approving the expense.

Brammer said there is little the district can do about its declining enrollment.

Parents with school-age children, are not moving to Chandler because the median price of a home is around $550,000, about $100,000 higher than the rest of the Valley.

Instead, they are moving to Queen

Creek, Maricopa and Buckeye.

“ e level of turnover in this district is very, very low, as is the … availability of a ordable housing. So those are going to continue to work against us.”

And he said the district does pretty well against charter schools, whose enrollments have also stagnated.

“In your district and in a lot of other established areas, they had kind of saturated themselves. If they’d opened another one, they were just cannibalizing themselves. So, we kind of had that under control.

“Now, the ESAs give us a whole other thing to get a handle on. How big is it going to get? Is it going to be capped? ose are the things that make projections so di cult to do, because we don’t know the environments that exist.”

Demographer Rick Brammer told the Chandler Unified Governing Board on Aug. 9 that the district’s enrollment will continue to slide for the next decade. (Applied Economics)

Enrollment at many of Chandler Unified’s neighboring districts – except Queen Creek – has been trending downward. (Applied Economics)

Gilbert elds Special Olympics golf team

BY ZACH ALVIRA GSN Sports Editor

Gilbert Parks and Recreation has long been a state leader for providing opportunities for residents with disabilities.

e town forms teams for various sports on annually – including basketball, cheer and bocce ball, among others.

is summer came a new opportunity for those residents.

Special Olympics had partnered with TopGolf across the nation to make the popular destination an o cial sport. is summer served as a dry run for the o cial competition beginning in 2024.

Upon learning about the partnership, Taryn Cantrell, a recreation specialist and head of the Gilbert Parks and Recreation Delegation, began formulating a plan to put together a team of 24 golfers to represent the town.

In just one week, all spots for the team were lled.

“It’s proved to be really successful, and our athletes love it,” Cantrell said. “When I put this online it lled up immediately. It really goes to show the bene t of new programming and people are always looking for new things to do.

“Seeing something brand new like this is a testament to our programs and our participants.”

e Gilbert TopGolf team began prac-

Taryn Cantrell, a recreation specialist and head of the Gilbert Parks and Recreation Delegation, advised golfers Aug. 7 on their hitting order. She put together the Gilbert Special Olympics TopGolf team, providing an outlet to those with disabilities.

ticing seven weeks ago. All costs have been covered by TopGolf for the golfers.

e golfers braved scorching temperatures for a common purpose: to make new friends and be more active.

e near two-month long practice time culminated with a competition day on Monday, Aug. 7 at the Gilbert TopGolf location. Each golfer was allowed to hit 20 balls and was scored on accuracy, how hard they hit the ball and distance.

eir scores were sent to Special Olympics, which compared them to other scores in the Four Peaks Delegation, which includes Gilbert, Chandler, Mesa and Tempe.

e golfers for Gilbert’s team were not competing against each other but rather their designated age group, which extends from young children to adults.

An award ceremony will be held at the Glendale TopGolf location at the end of August.

Dan Tiltges was one of the 24 golfers who signed up for the program. It was his rst time ever playing golf or competing in this type of setting.

He previously played basketball and bowling, but golf has become a new love.

“I liked golf, and I gured I would try it,” Tiltges said. “It’s been a lot of fun. It’s been great.”

Tiltges couldn’t recall some of his best scores but was aiming for at least 50 on competition day. He was all smiles as he watched some of his Gilbert teammates

take swings on the tee box.

Like Tiltges, Joey Ward had also never played golf before joining the Gilbert TopGolf team.

Her goal was to ultimately make new friends, something she was able to do with ease throughout the eight-week program.

She also was unable to recall some of her best scores from the practice sessions but wanted to make a splash during the competition day. She did just that by scoring a 91.

Joey’s parents, Jim and Glinda Ward, said signing her up for the TopGolf team was a no brainer. ey wanted her to become more active and be around people she could mesh well with on a friendship level.

Even though she wasn’t familiar with the game, they said Cantrell made it easy for her to become comfortable through technique training and most importantly, motivation.

“It’s really terri c,” Glinda said. “It’s really good the Special Olympics has something like this.”

Joey and Tiltges both said they appreciate the opportunity to be able to compete. Without the Special Olympics, resources and outlets for those with disabilities is severely limited.

But Gilbert, along with the partnership between TopGolf and Special Olympics, has opened the door for that to not be the case. Joey said she is now interested in other sports.

And Joey is just thankful for the opportunity.

“I like it, it’s fun,” Joey said. “ e rst time

I was nervous but then I nally got in the group and talked to people.”

Cantrell said beyond doing right by the town, she feels honored to be able to help lead a team such as Gilbert’s TopGolf one.

When people ask what she does for her job, she often says she “makes people happy.” She doesn’t seek recognition for her work and neither does the town. She simply wants to provide an opportunity for those who are limited.

Most importantly, she wants to make people happy.

“It’s incredibly rewarding,” Cantrell said. “ is is always such a fun and enriching group to be around. But when you have a chance to celebrate them through a competition or a party, that’s when it really is super exciting.”

e Gilbert Parks and Recreation TopGolf team will form again next summer for the o cial start of Special Olympics partnership with TopGolf.

e other 15 golfers who participated in the competition were Lauren Borror, Gabby Smith, Abigail Hart, Courtney Logan, Tim Smith, Corey Franklin, Cole Stewart, Ethan Finley, Jordan Willows, omas Norwood, Michael Fraley, Morgan Bellino, McKenna Dwyer, Peyton Hanks and Jack Seiter.

e town o ers several other sports throughout the year.

Information: gilbertaz.gov/departments/parks-and-recreation/recreation-centers-classes/gilbert-community-center/adaptive-recreation.

(David Minton/Staff Photographer)

Dan Tiltges is one of 24 people on the Gilbert Parks and Recreation Special Olympics TopGolf team. (David Minton/Staff Photographer)

2 young shermen hook a scholarship in contest

BY KEN SAIN GSN Sta Writer

The way Perry High School senior Dash Dawson tells the story, he and James Murphy were rivals who became friends, eventually leading to shing partners.

is summer the two placed 34th nationally at the Student Angler Federation National Championships but were among the top three bass shing teams from the western U.S. at latter ranking earned them a full-ride scholarship o er from Simpson University in Redding, California.

Dash,a Chandler resident, started competing early in high school.

But in just about every tournament he entered, he would lose to James Murphy, a senior at Gilbert Christian School who lives in Gilbert.

“I was jealous of him, because he was always winning,” Dash said. “I was like, ‘this guy has something that I don’t.’

“I didn’t really know him, but I hit him

up on Instagram and asked him to go shing with me. He didn’t know me and he kept aking on me.”

Dash said he eventually wore James down, explaining that he may have decided to nally go just to get him o his back.

But once they started shing together, he said, it was “an instant connection.”

James listened to a recap of that description.

“ at is a little harsh on his part,” James said.

James said he started shing competitively when he was in the seventh grade and quali ed for his rst national tournament when he was in eighth grade.

e two decided to become partners in team competitions after their sophomore year.

“It’s been a blast,” James said.

Dash said his previous partner preferred a di erent style of shing, wanting to stay in one space and try and entice a big sh to bite.

He said what makes him and James click is they both like the opposite style: they want to get in a boat and go, trying to cover as much of the water as they can during the time limit.

“If you’re in a lake, there’s a whole bunch of sh, but they’re not all going to want to eat at the same time. In a tournament, you only need ve sh.”

eir philosophy is the more sh they can get to, the better their chances of nd-

Gilbert woman garners workplace honors

BY ALISON BAILIN BATZ GSN Contributor

Gilbert resident Jolean Fleck is all smiles these days.

As the vice president of people and organizational development at Delta Dental of Arizona, the former chief talent o cer for the Town of Gilbert is charged with maintaining and constantly evolving the company culture of the largest dental insurer in the state.

“To give perspective on the enormity of this responsibility, back in my rural Tennessee hometown, there were barely 100 people in my entire graduating class,” said Fleck, who started caring for others at a young age after losing her father at age 10.

“I was the oldest of four girls, and my

mom was a night nurse, so I more or less took on the running of the household as our chief human resources o cer in elementary school, and the role just stuck,” Fleck explained.

Fleck worked her way through college as a hair stylist, determined even back then to work toward a degree in business administration from Austin Peay State University.

She moved to Arizona the day after her university graduation in 1997.

“I had the chance to visit the area while in college and while many people see cactus and desert, all I saw were these big buildings, lots of homes being constructed, and opportunity in every direction,” Fleck recalled.

“I got a job in HR within a month of moving, and here I am 25 years later still in love

with it.”

As she worked her way up in the HR world she gave birth to daughter Aslen and adopted daughter Brennan along with earning her master’s degree at Arizona State University. She also met her husband, Dan, who had two children, Keegan and Jackson, so together they are now a blended family.

In 2017, she became chief talent o cer for Gilbert, leading a team of 20 on issues related to compensation, bene ts, organizational development, recruiting, employee relations and process improvement.

Fleck stayed in that role for two years before joining Delta Dental.

She viewed that as an opportunity to

Perry High School senior Dash Dawson of Chandler, right, and his partner, Gilbert resident James Murphy, were named one of the top three “Best of the West” fishing teams at The Bass Federation Student Angler Federation National Championship in June. (Courtesy of AZFamily TV3)

During the pandemic, Jolean Fleck, vice president of people and organizational development for Delta Dental, read fairy tales to youngsters online. (YouTube)

FISHING from page 18

ing ve hungry ones.

James says the mental part of shing is what he likes about the sport.

“It’s probably the most complex puzzle someone can try to gure out,” James said. “Trying to base your career and performance on a living creature with a brain is not the easiest thing. It’s the hunt, it’s the chase.”

Dash and James were named Anglers of the Year by e Bass Federation Arizona series and chosen to represent the state at the national championships in Wisconsin.

ey have earned a high reputation and Dash says he knows everyone is rooting against them.

At one recent tournament, they were having boat problems and knew they probably had a winning bag already, but they just had to get back before the clock ran out.

Despite time running out, Dash suddenly felt some wind and got a feeling. He asked if he could cast one more time.

James’ dad, who was driving the boat, allowed only one cast.

Dash got a big one to bite, but trying to snag it while the boat was moving as fast

the Platinum Award.

create a larger culture strategy rooted in the belief that the workplace should help support workers’ growth as a person, family member, friend, and leader, not just an employee.

“ ey really got on board with the idea of focusing on providing more to our people than a paycheck and making training and development a part of our company culture. It seems obvious, but given we spend so much time at work, of course it should be enriching to other parts of your life in meaningful ways,” said Fleck.

“ ese two aspects of your life – work and home – should be co-existing, not competing.”

Fleck said the pandemic tested the concept of work-life harmony over work-life balance.

“You shouldn’t have to choose between being a good parent and being a good employee. What makes you great at one role should complement the other,” said Fleck.

“We jumped in head rst to see how we could better support our team and each other with this always at the forefront, giving employees meaningful ways to come together, bene ts support, and even access to volunteer opportunities,” said Fleck, who in her spare time sits on the board of Save the Family and is active with both the Delta Dental of Arizona Foundation and Gathering Humanity.

Last month, Healthy Arizona Worksites Program, a public health initiative developed through a partnership between the Arizona Department of Health Services and the Maricopa County Department of Public Health, honored Delta Dental with

“ e honor was extra special as our senior HR generalist, Carol Gonzalez, made it one of her goals over the past year,” said Fleck. “We won the Gold recognition six years prior, and she was determined to push us toward the highest ranking.”

e Platinum Award is only given to businesses making an impact both within and beyond their walls addressing one or more of the many health challenges impacting communities.

as it could and with time running out led to some drama.

He looked up and saw the other teams all watching them, then staring down at their phones to see how much time was left.

If they bagged the sh, they were condent they’d win. ey might have won even if they didn’t bag the sh.

However, if they didn’t get back in time, they would be disquali ed.

“We made it by 12 seconds,” Dash said. “Everybody went, ‘Oh no!’”

Dash said his favorite shing spot in Arizona is Saguaro Lake, which is closest to

“Delta Dental works to help the underserved and underinsured Arizonans improve their health and well-being by funding programs focused on dental disease prevention, oral health education, medical-dental integration and food insecurity,” said Fleck.

‘“Beyond this, Delta Dental employees volunteered 839 hours at 22 events in the past year. at means 66% of our employees are actively volunteering in the community compared to the national average

his home. He says most people don’t like it because it’s really hard to catch sh there.

However, those they do catch are bigger than the sh in other lakes. e largest he’s caught there so far was 9 pounds and 1 ounce.

He shes daily “unless I’m sick” and hopes to catch a 10-pounder. But with shing, you never know, he said.

One day could be a great day and the next very disappointing.

“ at’s the thing about it, is you’re always on your heels,” Dash said. “You can never you can never be comfortable with where you’re at.”

of 32%.”

Fleck is working toward her Certi cate of Management Excellence from Harvard Business School Executive Education and expanding the vision and mission of Delta Dental for future generations.

“Our mission has evolved into creating a path to better health and wellness ,” she said. “We see healthier lives for everyone by expanding access to care, advancing health equity through systemic change and building resilient communities.”

FLECK from page 18

Technology helps keep the dearly departed nearby

BY PAUL MARYNIAK GSN Executive Editor

For centuries, tombstones and mausoleums were about the only long-lasting tributes people could give their dearly departed.

ese days, however, technology and creativity have created new options for memorializing those who have passed on with an array of artifacts that keep the memory of a loved one close to the heart. Really close, as in tattoos with ink that’s been injected with cremains.

Much of this sea change in how loved ones can be memorialized has been triggered by the growing acceptance of cremation, according to Elisa Krcilek, vice president of Mountain View Funeral Home and Cemetery in Mesa.

“ e sky’s the limit when it comes to ways to hold and carry cremated remains with you,” said Krcilek, who has seen it –and delivered it – all in an industry where she’s worn many caps over 30 years as a

licensed funeral director, embalmer, cremationist, pre-need sales and cemetery specialist.

Converting the remains of mom, dad or whoever into stones that can be carried in a pocket or purse became a big thing not long ago.

A company called Parting Stone developed a method of compressing cremains into stones.

“People who carry comfort stones in their pocket use them as a technique of calming themselves,” Krcilek said. “Parting Stones are very smooth and soothing to the touch, people often carry them in their pocket, and hold or rub them for comfort.”

For a while, families could buy a stone for $795, but after the company got national exposure on the “Shark Tank” television show, the price nearly doubled.

“When the stones rst came out, they were very a ordable and people were really liking the idea,” Krcilek said. “Unfortunately, after they were featured on Shark Tank, the price doubled and families are not spending that kind of money.”

But other more a ordable options abound.

“Some families don’t choose cremation, but they love the idea of Parting Stone,” she explained. “We now have a coin that actually has a three-dimensional image of their loved one and they can carry that with them in lieu of cremated remains.”

ere also is “an entire biodegradable/natural/earth friendly” line of mementoes, Krcilek added.

“Some people choose to have the cremated remains go to a naturalistic

place, such as the ocean. erefore, we have salt biodegradable urns. Maybe they are taking them to the forest where they can place the cremated remains in a biodegradable earth-friendly urn or maybe they want to plant a tree in their backyard and we o er urns that accommodate the cremated remains and a tree.”

People can also opt for a necklace that contains a tiny piece of cremated remains “skillfully secured inside a beautiful pearl” with “100% accuracy ensured by having one technician handle an order from start to nish.” ose start at $195.

People can even have a cast made of their dearly departed’s hand or hands at a starting price of $595, “depending on how many hands are in the casting,” Krcilek added.

“Hand casts capture the physical essence of a person, preserving the unique contours, lines, and wrinkles that make

their hands so distinctive,” she explained. “ ese casts serve as tangible reminders of their touch, their warmth, and their presence.

“Hand casts can be displayed in a variety of ways, from standalone sculptures to framed artworks, o ering a personal and artistic tribute that conveys the individual’s essence.”

A related artifact is a loved one’s thumbprint on a bauble that “not only serves as a physical memento but also carries the emotional signi cance of the individual’s touch.

“ umbprint jewelry allows us to carry a tangible reminder of our loved one wherever we go, keeping them close to our hearts,” she said.

Even DNA can be stored “to preserve their genetic legacy for future generations,”

Elisa Krcilek, vice president of Mountain View Funeral Home and Cemetery in Mesa, said there are a variety of mementoes by which people can remember a departed loved one. (David Minton/Staff Photographer)

Memorial coins with the photo of the departed loved one also are available at Mountain View Funeral Home and Cemetery. (David Minton/Staff Photographer)

Krcilek added, noting that it provides “the opportunity to explore ancestry, trace genetic traits, or even recreate elements of their physical appearance.

“DNA storage bridges the gap between science and remembrance, enabling a lasting connection to the past.”

ere are almost endless options, Krcilek said.

“We o er every form of jewelry from a memorial glass piece where the cremated remains are blown into a beautiful piece of art, to pendants and pearls to blankets and pillows with your loved one’s picture on it. We o er hand castings, and everything in between. If people have seen it or heard of it, we gure out how to get it for them,” she continued, explaining:

“I am very involved with national associations of my profession, so I am always looking for new and better ways to help people memorialize.

“One thing I have learned over time is you cannot ask people if they want something, you have to show it to them and allow them to see and feel it to understand exactly what it is you’re o ering. People simply do not know what they don’t know, and when they see something that resonates with them, they will ask more questions.”

As for the last goodbye, those ceremonies also have evolved, Krcilek said.

“ emes are very popular,” she explained.

Some “memorializations” see guests wearing the deceased’s favorite color to the service, bringing that person’s favorite cookie or food for the reception.

“Other families have passed out a recipe card with the deceased most famous dish,” Krcilek said. “Some families have played a video of the deceased at their own funeral so people could see them and hear the voice.”

“I remember in my early years of being a funeral director families would actually ask me if it is OK to bring a picture of the deceased to put on display,” she continued.

“Today they will ll the entire chapel with pictures and memorabilia for everybody to see the wonderful life the person lived.”

Not surprisingly, even tombstones have caught up with the digital age.

People can have QR codes “incorporated into headstones, providing a gateway to a rich digital archive of memories and stories of the departed,” Krcilek said.

“By scanning the code with a smartphone, visitors can access photos, videos, written tributes, and anecdotes, fostering a deeper connection to the person being memorialized,” she explained. is modern twist on a traditional headstone allows for a multifaceted representation of the individual, keeping their legacy alive in the digital age.”

Yet, she has found that “many people really love the idea of the QR codes, but they require a lot of time, work and energy to upload stories, pictures and memories.

“While in fact, people like to go look at them, somebody needs to have the technical skills and time to put into getting them populated.”

In the long run, Krcilek advised, with all these options for wakes, funerals and mementoes, it’s best not to wait until they’re needed so they know how they want their loved one remembered – and how they want to remember them.

“I have a philosophy when a family

comes in to make arrangements for their loved one,” Krcilek said. “I ask myself three simple questions: is the inquiry legal, ethical, and feasible? If the answer

to all three is yes, we gure out a way to make it happen.”

Information: 480-351-4502, mountainviewfuneralhomeandcemetery.com

Ceramic casts of a departed love one’s hand or hands “capture the physical essence of a person,” Elisa Krcilek said. (David Minton/Staff Photographer)

Award-winning Mexican bar opens in Chandler

BY KEN SAIN GSN Sta Writer

It didn’t take long for the Buqui Bichi Brewing to make its mark in Mexico.

Two brothers started the brewery in 2016 in Hermosillo, Sonora, and by 2022 they were named Mexico’s best large craft brewers by Copa Cerveza.

e new guys rose quickly.

Now, they are expanding into the U.S. and their rst taproom on this side of the border is in Chandler. ey have ve taprooms in Mexico.

“ is is the rst Sonoran brewery,” said Abraham Guerrero, the bar manager at the Chandler location. “We’re trying to bring to the United States some excellent craft beers from Mexico.”

e Chandler location, which is south of Frye Road on Arizona Avenue, had its soft opening in July and scheduled its grand opening Aug. 11.

cos and tostados. He said seafood plays an important role in Sonoran food and that is re ected on Buqui Bichi’s menu.

Tacos de Fideo y Atún is smoked tuna and Tacos Volteados has sautéed shrimp. e taproom has a section of aguachiles, which is a Mexican ceviche with shrimp, tuna and pork.

“In Sonora, we use a lot of seafood,” Guerrero said. “In rural Mexico, they always say it’s the best meat in all of Mexi-

e brewery owners also plan to open another location in downtown Phoenix in September.

“I’m from Sonora, and we have some really good beers,” Guerrero said. “It’s going to be di erent, every single product.”

co. It’s really good. My favorite is the tuna aguachile, it’s really amazing.”

Guerrero said business has been good since the soft opening.

Buqui Bichi has 14 beers on tap, including ve year-round ales from their own brewery. All the beers are brewed in Hermosillo.

Sahuaripa is described as a desert IPA beer, high on hops and with strong aromas and avors from the desert. Banquetera is more subtle, with a touch of pilsner malt. Chúcata has a copper color that tries to nd the balance between avor and style.

Talega incorporates Mexican co ee and chocolate into a stout. And Bitachera is a fruity IPA.

e Chandler taproom also serves food that Guerrero said is typical of what you nd in most bars, but prepared Sonoran style.

ere are burgers and pizza, but also ta-

“Every day we get a boost here,” he said. “ ere’s a lot of people here who love our brewery. I know that there’s a lot of breweries right here in Chandler, and we kind of have the new place and everything.

“We’re not focusing just on the food, but we’re trying to expand with the food too. It’s a di erent experience.”

Abraham said the company has been using social media to get the work out and hope Chandler residents will stop by to experience an authentic taste of Sonoran food and beer.

“We’re going to start selling cans too, we’re just waiting on the license,” Guerrero said. “So then you can take our beers home.”

Abraham Guerrero, the bar manager at the Buqui Bichi Brewery from Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico, oversees its first American bar in downtown Chandler. (David Minton/Staff Photographer)

Football preview: Dynamic duo leading Arete Prep

BY ZACH ALVIRA GSN Sports Editor

Matthew Evans found himself in a bind before the 2022 high school football season.

His father had just taken a job in Alabama. Accustomed to 2A football and a rigorous curriculum at Arete Prep, he would’ve been making the transition to a school in Alabama that plays in one of the highest classi cations for sports in the state.

But he soon learned his class credits wouldn’t transfer. So, he needed an option. at’s when Arete Prep quarterback Prahlad Rattan and his family stepped in.

“I had to move back here and moved in with (Prahlad). Ever since then he’s been like a brother to me,” Evans said. “I think the fact that his family and he were so inviting, it made it really easy to transition and I’m glad I was able to stay at Arete.”

Evans and Rattan were already close friends. eir families were also close, living a few doors down from each other for years. So, familiarity wasn’t an issue. Neither was Rattan and his family welcoming Evans into their home to live last season.

e two were already best friends heading into the arrangement, but they quickly became brothers. Evans stayed in the guest room of Rattan’s house. ey ate together, hung out outside of school and most importantly, trained together. e living arrangement lasted throughout the season. Since then, Evans’ family has returned to Arizona. But the bond that he made with Rattan and his family is something he is thankful for. Now they plan to show that bond on the football eld.

“He’s my No. 1 receiver, love that guy to death,” Rattan said. “I love training with him and being competitive. Lots of deep bombs to him last year. It’s like having another brother. It’s great.”

Prahlad

to take over the offense on a full-time basis this season. He and senior wide receiver Matthew Evans lived together last season and built a strong bond that transitions well to the football field.

(Dave Minton/Staff Photographer)

Evans was the leading receiver for Arete Prep a year ago, when the Chargers went 4-6 under Head Coach Brandon Payne.

After the season, Payne informed his team he had accepted a Division I college football job at Hampton. e players were sad to see him go but knew the opportunity was one he couldn’t pass up. at’s when Mike Marino stepped in. At just 25 years old, Marino may very well be the youngest head coach in the AIA. But he uses that to his advantage to bond with players and relate to them on a personal level. He did it last year when he called Arete’s defense, and it’s carried over to now as the head coach.

“It shows them that you can be young and go after what you want,” Marino said. “I just played college ball three years ago, so I know what it takes to get recruited.

Letting these kids know if they want to get to the next level, I will help them get there.”

Arete’s players have bought into the culture Marino is instilling. Now, it’s all about putting it together on the eld. e Chargers hosted a three-team scrimmage Friday as the rst real test before the start of the season Aug. 18 against a Chandler Prep team that beat them convincingly last season.

Arete Prep has size up front and the dynamic duo in Evans and Rattan, not to mention other skill players returning from last year. But depth at key positions could become an issue.

Regardless, Rattan is ready to prove himself at the quarterback position for a see

Arete Prep senior quarterback

Rattan returns

First-year Head Coach Mike Marino believes his team is ready for the start of the season on Aug. 18. Now, it’s all about keeping kids healthy to avoid issues with depth. (Dave Minton/Staff Photographer)

full season. He feels Arete is poised for a special season.

“I think we’re ready,” Marino said. “It’s all about keeping kids healthy, keeping them ready to go and making sure everyone is ready to suit up next week. I’m excited for it.”

Gilbert Christian

San Tan Charter

One of the newest schools in Gilbert, San Tan Charter didn’t waste any time putting itself on the map under former Head Coach Kerry Taylor. An influx of talent helped the Roadrunner be competitive early on, and that has carried over to current Head Coach Chase Cartwright.

Gilbert Christian has a new head coach this year in John Carlson, who takes over after Danny Norris departed for Benjamin Franklin in Queen Creek. e Knights went 9-3 last season, losing in the quarter nals of the 2A Conference playo s to Scottsdale Christian.

e Knights return quarterback Tyler Burr, who passed for 948 yards and 10 touchdowns as a sophomore last year. Running back Sam Webb also returns after rushing for 1,988 yards and 20 touchdowns a year ago as a sophomore.

Now in 3A, Gilbert Christian gures to be a favorite to win the Metro Region. e Knights will kick o their season Aug. 18 against Florence.

San Tan went 7-4 last year, losing in the first round of the 2A Conference playoffs. The Roadrunners return Zayden Neill at quarterback, who will be in his fourth year leading the offense. Daniel Dippre, Neill’s top target, also returns to help bolster a high-scoring San Tan offense. The two have led the varsity team since they were freshman.

A slew of other talented players, including running back Cayne Ramirez on offense and Kaedin Long on defense, also return bringing some veteran leadership to a team looking to make a push toward the 2A title.

San Tan Charter begins its season on Thursday, Aug. 17 against Scottsdale Christian.

Stop PAD: The Silent Killer

“PAD is often called the silent killer because you may have it and not even know,” says Dr. Joel Rainwater, chief medical officer of Comprehensive Integrated Care (CiC). The reason it’s sometimes missed is because people dismiss the symptoms of this dangerous disease as ‘just a sign of getting older’. But it’s not. “It’s not normal to have difficulty walking to your mailbox, it’s not normal to have constant leg pain or cramping,” says Rainwater, “That’s not normal aging, it could be a sign of PAD.”

PAD (peripheral artery disease) is a circulation disorder and those with it are at a much higher risk of heart problems and death from heart attack or stroke. “If there’s poor blood flow to your legs and feet, you’ll have pain, cramping or wounds that won’t heal,” explains Rainwater. “If you ignore these signs, it may lead to an amputation. If you get an amputation because you have PAD, your life expectancy is worse than if you had breast cancer or lymphoma. PAD is no joke.”In some cases, people have been diagnosed with neuropathy. The symptoms of neuropathy and PAD are very similar and include difficulty walking without taking a break, burning, tingling, numbness and/or pain. “When I see a patient who has been told they have neuropathy and they’ve been maximized on medication that’s not working, I know there may be something else causing it and one of the big, notorious offenders in that scenario is PAD,” says Rainwater.

PAD is caused by the buildup of fatty material inside the arteries. This buildup occurs gradually over time and

Tell neuropathy pain, “later alligator.”

hardens into plaque inside the artery. This condition is known as atherosclerosis. Sometimes, it’s called “hardening of the arteries.” No matter what you call it, this plaque causes a narrowing of the passageway, restricting the amount of blood that flows throughout the body.

Without an adequate blood supply, your body can’t get the oxygen and nutrients it needs to maintain healthy legs, feet and toes. “This is something we can fix,” explains Rainwater. “The good news about PAD, is that there’s hope. There is treatment and it’s excellent, it’s been one of the biggest success stories in all of medicine.” Patients are able to get back on their feet and everyday living with almost no downtime, no stitches and no overnight hospital stay. Medicare as well as most insurance plans will cover treatment.

Dr. Rainwater’s focus is on teaching people to recognize PAD and take action. “I’m here to tell patients that there are options, all they have to do is ask. They might have to ask a different doctor, but they don’t have to live with the idea that they’re going to suffer for the rest of their life,” says Rainwater. His best advice, “Go look for answers.”

If traditional neuropathy treatments haven’t given you the pain relief you’ve been seeking, it’s time to start asking questions.

YES / NO

Could I have been misdiagnosed with neuropathy?

If I do have neuropathy, is poor circulation making my symptoms worse?

Is medication the only option to treat neuropathy pain?

If you don’t know the answer to these questions it’s time to start asking the doctors at CiC questions about how we can treat your symptoms in the comfort of one of our Valley wide locations.

Call CiC today to schedule an appointment with one of our specialists.

PAD is caused by the buildup of fatty material inside the arteries, limiting blood flow.

JOEL

Exhibit a tribute to iconic Buckhorn Baths

It started with a pretty understandable notion when one owns a piece of desert and wound up producing one of Mesa’s – and Arizona’s – most recognizable icons.

Little did Alice and Ted Sliger realize when they decided in 1939 to dig a well for drinking water for their gas station-store that they’d strike a different kind of liquid gold on the land they had purchased three years earlier just east of the Mesa city line.

Instead of drinking water, the couple discovered thermal mineral springs that inspired them to build the Buckhorn Mineral Baths and Wildlife Museum.

The 102-degree mineral springs became the anchor for a full resort complex frequented by sports and entertainment celebrities.

Now, the Mesa Historical Museum is opening an exhibit that recounts the colorful past of both the Buckhorn Baths and its original owners with never-before-seen artifacts from the site’s glorious Old West past.

“It just seemed like it was the right time to showcase the Buckhorn,” museum Executive Director Susan Ricci said of the exhibit, which opens Saturday, Aug. 19, and runs through next July.

“In the three-and-a-half years I’ve been here, probably one of our most popular questions is ‘What’s happening with the Buckhorn?’” she continued.

“So we thought, ‘Let’s just do an exhibit so we can talk about it.’”

There’s a lot to talk about – and to see – in the exhibit, especially now that the site at Main Street and Recker Road has been closed for nearly 25 years and is fenced off by the new owner, who plans to build an apartment complex surrounding it.

The site’s healing waters attracted

celebrities, especially professional athletes and specifically professional baseball players.

“Arguably, the Buckhorn was a principal influence on enticing Major League Baseball to begin annual spring training in Mesa and the Valley,” Ricci said.

The Wildlife Museum’s 400 pieces of taxidermy – now the property of Arizona State University’s School of Life Sciences – also was a tourist magnet.

And there were dozens of quirky artifacts, such as furniture made largely of horns from bulls, that added to the site’s allure.

Ricci cited less palpable but equally important aspects of the Buckhorn, which is on the National Register of Historic Places and has been so revered by locals that voters had authorized the city to buy it, though the sale never materialized.

“A lot of people drive by there and they see it, and they want to know what’s happening to it because the property has degraded,” she said. “They had community barbecues – and people still remember those old community barbecues because it was part of spring training.”

“The Buckhorn has also gifted us with quite a lot of artifacts and so that was another reason to do the exhibit. We have all this great art furniture and a lot of baseball memorabilia and tons and tons of pictures,” Ricci said.

“We also have a lot of Alice’s old ledgers that she kept. She kept really detailed notes on all the different guests that came to the Buckhorn.”

The Mesa Preservation Foundation owns those binders “and those are going to be interesting to go through and look at Alice’s notes and see some of the baseball players who signed in an came

Mesa Historical Museum Executive Director Susan Ricci shows of a leather jacket owned and worn by Buckhorn Baths owner Alice Sliger. (David Minton/Staff Photographer)

The Sligers were fond of specially made furniture sporting antlers and bull horns. (David Minton/Staff Photographer)

GSN NEWS STAFF

Act is over the moon about Pink Floyd album

BY CHRISTINA FUOCO-KARASINSKI Tribune Executive Editor

Pink Floyd’s “The Dark Side of the Moon” was released 50 years ago, and The Australian Pink Floyd Show is celebrating right along with it.

The tribute act is bringing its show to the Chandler Center for the Arts on Sunday, Aug. 20, and the Fox Tucson Theatre on Wednesday, Aug. 23.

Vocalist Chris Barnes said the gigs show the album’s wide reach.

“As I’ve stood on the stage, playing the album, you realize how much it means to so many people,” Barnes said. “It’s a masterpiece. It’s an honor to play it.”

The Australian Pink Floyd Show has sold more than 5 million tickets in 35 countries since it was founded in 1988 in Adelaide. Even Pink Floyd bassist David Gilmour believes: He recruited them to play his 50th birthday party.

Australian Pink Floyd also celebrated the 30th anniversary of “The Dark Side of the Moon” in 2003, when it added backing vocalists and a saxophonist. They performed the album in its entirety in 2003 and 2004, marking the first North American tour. A DVD of the Liverpool Summer Pops show was available.

Its resume also includes stops at Glastonbury Festival and London’s

BUCKHORN from page 26

through the Buckhorn,” Ricci said. “It was so famous and people from all over the United States would come and stay.”

The thermal springs gave the Sligers a rags-to-riches life.

They constructed a bathhouse capable of accommodating up to 75 visitors daily, along with charming Pueblo Revival cottages for overnight guests. The site evolved into a complex of various amenities, including a café and dining room, beauty parlor, gift shop, gas station, post office, wildlife museum, another museum of Native American relics and an 18-hole golf course.

Ted Sliger died in 1984 and Alice continued to live at the Buckhorn, overseeing the business. In 1999 at age 90, she reluctantly closed the business because its day-to-day operation of the business she and Ted ran for 65 years had become too much for her. She died at age 103 in 2010.

The artifacts from that business are varied and numerous, ranging from custom-made furniture to specially made Western clothing to ornate saddles.

“We also inherited tons of home movies that Alice took,” Ricci said, explaining the reels had been stored for decades in an old refrigerator.

“So I got a grant to digitize all these movies and we put together a montage

Wembley and O2 arenas. This year, the focus is on “The Dark Side of the Moon.”

“At our shows, we’re playing the album in its entirety, along with other aspects of Pink Floyd, including from the psychedelic ’60s to the big albums of the ’80s and ’90s. It’s literally all eras of Floyd. The main thing is we’re celebrating ‘The Dark Side of the Moon’s’ 50th anniversary.”

The Manchester, England, native discovered Pink Floyd through his brother, with whom he shared a room. He was captivated by the Pink Floyd album “Relics” at age 5. He was, admittedly, “absolutely terrified” of “Interstellar Overdrive.”

“As a teenager, I saw the Pompeii concert from 1971,” said Barnes, 46. “I heard ‘The Dark Side of the Moon’ age 15. I couldn’t believe it. It was this long, continual piece of music.

“I never heard anything like it. It was prog rock but not in the 500-notes-asecond way. Pink Floyd stands alone in its own little box.”

The Australian Pink Floyd Show: The Darkside 50 Tour

When: 7 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 20

Where: Chandler Center for the Arts, 250 N. Arizona Ave., Chandler

Cost: Tickets start at $68

Info: 480-782-2680, chandlercenter.org

of video clips,” she said, noting some movies record the Sligers’ trip to Japan as the Giants’ guests.

“There’s some baseball footage from the game of the Tokyo Giants playing our Giants,” Ricci said.

“There’s home movies of Alice and Ted dressed in kimonos and touring around Japan. We even have one of her cameras that we’re going to put on display.”

“One of my other favorite things is the actual massage table that came from the baths,” Ricci said.

“Many, many baseball players who came here for spring training have laid on that table and gotten massages and we have tons of pictures of them posing in their towels on the scale getting

weighed in.

“Horace Stoneman, who owned the Giants, he felt that that was the ideal place for his guys to lose a little excess winter weight. They exercised, could run around.”

Stoneman “really believed in the therapeutic benefits of the spa,” she added, “and those players came again and again, then ended up bringing their families.”

Visitors also can see other exhibits after inspecting the Buckhorn relics, including one on Spring Training as well as the Cactus League Hall of Fame, another featuring the mesmerizing art of the late Karen Kuykendall.

Information: mesahistoricalmuseum.com.

Manchester, England, native is the frontman for The Australian Pink Floyd Show. (Mark Gibson/Contributor)

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