Gilbert Sun News 08/27/2023

Higley student test scores beat state averages

BY CECILIA CHAN GSN Managing Editor

When it comes to math, English and science skills, Highly Unified School District students on average are more proficient than their peers in the state.

And students in grades, 3, 4, 6 and 8 in 2022-23 showed improvement in Arizo-

Gilbert cop writes to close literacy gap

BY CECILIA CHAN GSN Managing Editor

AGilbert cop is penning books in an effort to close the literacy gap for elementary school students who come from homes where Spanish is primarily spoken.

O cer Levi Leyba has written eight bilingual children’s ction books portraying as youngsters historical gures such as Amelia Earhart and Benjamin Franklin.

“ e reason why I started writing the books is I’ve learned that early literacy when children know how to read is tied to parental involvement,” said the Mesa resident.

see LEYBA page 10

na’s Academic Standards Assessment, or AASA, in English compared to the previous school year. The exceptions were fifth and seventh graders.

“In both of those grades the state also saw decline in proficiency so we pretty much mirror the state in terms of our performance,” Marcus Berkshire, director of assessment and student information told the HUSD Governing Board Aug. 23.

“But you can see consistently our schools outperformed the state average.”

In the math portion of the AASA, only grade 6 dropped its score from the prior year.

HUSD “outperformed the state pretty consistently across the board again increases in proficiency in all grade levels

Gilbert mayor hit with another ethics complaint.

Elia helps Madelyn, age 2 ½, get her shoes off before hopping into a bounce house last week during a “Playdate on the Green” event held by Verde at Cooley Station in Gilbert periodically for kids. The Aug. 22 playdate’s activities were tied to popular “Toy Story” series of animated films. (David Minton/Staff Photographer)

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Gilbert Fire has grown with town, technology

BY SRIANTHI PERERA GSN Contributor

From a tank on wheels to robotics and drones used to evaluate a burning site, the Gilbert Fire & Rescue Department has come a long way.

is year marks its 100th year of service to the community that began with a group of individuals who volunteered to keep the town safe.

Today, Fire Chief Rob Duggan leads a force of over 250 professional reghters and oversees 11 re stations, a budget over $46 million and a state-ofthe-art regional training center. e department’s 15-minute response time of yore has been reduced to four minutes.

“I’m extremely proud to work in an organization that doesn’t rest on historical achievements. We are constantly looking at what next year is going to challenge us with and how do we best protect our citizens,” said Bob Badgett, assistant re chief.

Technology has emerged as a huge factor in every aspect of the service.

“ e introduction of robotics and drones to help create a secure environment for the public as well as employees, the re ghters. at’s pretty enormous,” Badgett said.

e hazmat team’s robot o ers readings on factors such as the chemicals and atmospheric conditions and reports to command outside of the threat area.

As a result, re ghters go into the scene with a better understanding of what lies ahead.

Drones are used on house and commercial res to get an overhead view of the site, providing far better information than the front window a ords.

“ e drones do have infrared, so we can see people on the exterior, we can see and locate the re inside the building based on where the signatures are

and it gives the commander a holistic view of the event that’s going on in the front of them,” Badgett said.

A story on a Higley Uni ed Governing Board meeting that appeared in

the Aug. 13 edition should have more clearly characterized the origin of a policy on sta conduct with children.

e policy evolved from a body of

A 1929 REO Speed Wagon re truck, now parked in front of the museum, functioned as the town’s main retruck

see FIRE page 9

e re service had humble beginnings, as attested by the town’s record-keeper, HD SOUTH: Home fo the Gilbert Museum, which is displaying early re paraphernalia through mid-October.

work two lawyers have done in defending school districts generally, not Higley, in sexual misconduct cases. e district had not made that clear.

The 1928 REO Speed Wagon has a long history with Gilbert and is on display at HD South. (Courtesy of HD South)

Gilbert’s volunteer fire department in 1958. (Courtesy of HD South)

except for 6th grade,” Berkshire added.

“Again we mirrored what happened at the state level in terms of those increases and decreases.”

HUSD’s test scores in AASA for both English and math were generally lower than the district’s pre-COVID results.

HUSD also outperformed the state average in the ACT Aspire tests of proficiency in English, reading, science and math given to all 9th graders.

Those results show how ready they are to reach the benchmark on the ACT tests in their junior year, according to Berkshire.

“Basically, what you are seeing here is 62% of our kids are predicted at benchmark,” he said. “These are good numbers looking forward to these kids as 11th graders.”

This year’s ACT average scores for HUSD 11th graders also were higher than the state’s averages.

However, in three subject areas with benchmarks, HUSD fell short in math, science and reading but surpassed in English.

Berkshire said that the cut scores for proficiency are lower than the benchmark scores that ACT puts out “because not all our kids are going to college.”

According to ACT, benchmarks are scores on subject-area tests that represent the level of achievement required for students to have a 50% chance of obtaining a B or higher – or about a 75% chance of obtaining a C or higher –in corresponding courses in their freshman year in college.

“So, we are very close in most of those subject areas, including English, where we are above that benchmark level,” Berkshire said, calling that “truly a testament to our students and our staff.”

He added that three students this year earned perfect scores of 36. (see a related story on page 19)

The state calculates the scores from ACT and three other standardized tests to determine its annual A-F letter grades for individual schools. The grades are expected to be released no later than Nov. 1

although HUSD’s scores were higher than the state’s, for her they didn’t match with the graduation rate.

She questioned the seeming disparity between graduation and proficiency rates.

“Our numbers are higher but at 60%, if you equated that to a grade, it’s still a ‘D,’” she said. “So how is our graduation rate so high when we are only at 60% in those areas?

“Is everything kind of watered down to push these kids through to increase our graduation rates?”

Berkshire said that state tests are “very rigorous.”

“It is very hard to equate a standardized test a child takes one time a year to a collection of evidence that goes into a student’s grade,” he explained.

“There are a lot of factors that could impact besides the rigor of the test on that student’s one day of taking the class. They could have had a cold, been sniffing the entire time, headache and just weren’t able to engage in the test like we know they could.

“They could have gotten off the bus that morning tripped and fell, lots of different things that could have happened to impact their scores on that test,” he continued, adding:

“What the state test results do is give us a snapshot of where our kids are. They allow us at a district level to look at trends and identify maybe we have some gaps in our curriculum and in our instruction that we could address.

Board member Amanda Wade, a former teacher, agreed that standardized tests put pressure on students.

“The kids feel the weight of it,” she said. “There is a weight of stress.”

HUSD also did well in the state’s AZSCI test, given to 5th, 8th and 11th graders.

“Here again we are consistently above the state’s,” Berkshire said.

HUSD also shined when it came to its graduation rate of 96% in 2022, said Berkshire, citing the Arizona Auditor General.

“That puts us as the highest graduation rate of any district in Maricopa County,” he said.

He said only three districts, all smaller than Higley Unified, boast-

ed higher graduation rates. They are Hayden-Winkelman Unified in Gila County, Duncan Unified in Greenlee County and Thatcher Unified in Graham County

Berkshire said HUSD’s dropout rate of 1% also was “huge” compared with the state’s average of 5%.

“These numbers are amazing, they are so good,” Board President Tiffany Shultz said. “It’s a testament to our teachers and our students. I’m super excited to see these numbers.”

Board member Anna Van Hoek said

She said it’s often hard to persuade students that the state tests are just like any other they take in school.

“I think it’s important to keep in mind when we look at these tests and why there is such a big difference is because of the nature of standardized tests,” Wade said.

“All of us in education, who are not pro ting o of these tests, recognize that these tests are not a measure of intelligence or capabilities, which is why our graduation rate tend to be what it is in comparison with these numbers.”

This chart shows the percentage of last school year’s juniors in the Higley Unified School District who were highly proficient (HP), proficient (P), partially proficient (PP) and minimally proficient (MP) in the ACT math and English Language Arts tests. (HUSD)

This chart shows how high school freshmen last school year fared in terms of their college readiness in math, English and science in comparison with the state averages for those subjects. (HUSD)

until 1967 before it was relegated to a parade oat.

e town’s rst apparatus, purchased in 1922, was a tank on wheels. e rst town budget in 1923 included $250 for the re department, headed by Chief Lester Johnson.

A horn was used starting in the 1950s, and the model used towards the end of the decade had three tones that could be heard for up to 6 miles away.

e rst paid re chief was Jim Harl, appointed in 1974 with a salary of around $26,000. e 15 volunteers received $10 per re, insurance and a pension,

In the 1980s, pagers were issued and a dedicated volunteer elded phone calls and paged volunteers, according to Benny Ruiz, who retired recently as a re ghter after three decades in Gilbert. “As soon as we had two people in the re truck, we responded,” he said.

Ruiz related how he joined the volunteer force after his best friend asked him to come along to a “Monday night re drill.”

A few days later, Ruiz visited the re chief’s o ce and told him that he would like to join the force. Asked why, he replied that he “wanted to help people.” at got him in the door.

In 1982, after Rural Metro established a reserve program in Gilbert, formal re ghter training became a state requirement. In 1985, Gilbert signed a contract with Rural Metro and employed two paid re ghters.

Still, the force was mainly volunteer driven and the res it tackled numbered few.

A municipal re department was established in 1993.

Gilbert Fire & Rescue Department made progress in tandem with population growth.

Collin DeWitt became Gilbert’s second re chief in 1999 and led the opening of at least seven re stations. Jim Jobusch became the town’s third re chief in 2013. After he retired in 2022, Duggan took over.

During the last 50 or so years, the biggest transition that has occurred is handling medical calls, which comprise about 80% of the department’s total responses.

“ at’s an enormous percentage of the responses that we go on. It really is the main line of service provided by the re service today, especially for most Maricopa County re agencies,” Badgett said.

“We have absolutely top of the line equipment that not only provides the safest and better outcomes for our patients as well as the safety of our crews that respond to these calls.”

Another high point was the establishment of the Gilbert Public Safety Training Facility, an asset used by both re and police departments. e facility’s training areas include an indoor shooting range and a driving track to train both police and re personnel on the safe operation of vehicles. Props emulate a strip mall, a multi-story apartment, home with basement and a big box building.

“Not only does it allow us to hone our skills individually but it also provides the opportunity for police and re to practice working together,” Badgett said.

is year, the department is also acquiring its rst electric re truck, which will be quieter than the diesel vehicles.

e department has created a division named Emerging Technologies.

“Its focus is to ensure we stay proactive and that we are utilizing the technology that’s coming available to help improve our service levels,” Badgett said.

“ ere’s kind of a close relationship between juveniles who are in our juvenile court system and whether they know how to read – 85% of juveniles facing the court system are functionally illiterate. ere’s a huge relationship between literacy and crime.”

Illiteracy also leads to behavioral problems, dropping out of school and a higher teen pregnancy rate, according to Leyba.

“It boils down to knowing how to read and being con dent in yourself,” he said. “We want to provide that ability for these children to be con dent and be successful where they are contributing to society.”

Adults with low literacy skills are far more likely to be under- or unemployed and therefore more likely to turn to criminal activities for nancial survival, according to EveryLibrary Institute, a nonpro t that supports public funding for libraries.

Leyba is well-schooled on the impact of early childhood literacy and its relationship to educational and economic success. It was the subject of his nal research paper for his master’s degree in business admin-

istration when he graduated from Wilkes University in Mesa seven years ago.

He didn’t join the police force until age 41.

Prior to that, he was an entrepreneur with a couple of businesses – providing consultation for businesses and nonpro ts and digital communication and graphic design services.

His rst book, “142 Small Businesses You Can Start on the Weekend or On Your Spare Time,” led to a teaching gig at Red Mountain Community College.

He did that for a couple of quarters until he decided on a career change.

“Law enforcement has always been something that interested me while growing up in a Los Angeles suburb,” Leyba explained.

“It got to the point when I asked myself, ‘If you don’t do it now, you won’t.’”

He said that he only applied to Gilbert Police and was hired in 2019.

“It’s managed very well, not only from the town’s side but our chief, assistant chiefs and commanders really understand

Gilbert Police Officer Levi Leyba greeted Oak Tree Elementary students before he, Mayor Brigette Peterson and Gilbert Assistant Police Chief Mike Angstead read portions of his book, “Young Benjamin Franklin: Curious Benjamin” on Aug. 22. (David Minton/Staff Photographer)

LEYBA from page 1

see LEYBA page 11

the community’s needs,” he said.

rough his thesis research, Leyba said he learned that children from poor households had lower literacy rates than those in middle- to upper-income neighborhoods.

“When you do the research it comes down to books inside the home,” Leyba said.

According to Levba, for low-income children it’s one book for every 300 children compared with 13 books per child in upper-income families across the country.

Dual-language, age-appropriate books are Leyba’s answer to the problem.

His sons, ages 7 and 11, act as his sounding boards, giving reactions to his story lines.

e books have two di erent languages on the same page – English on top and Spanish underneath so parents can read along with their children.

According to Leyba, research has found that adult English-language learners would check out children’s book from the library to learn English.

Leyba also illustrated his books but for

the translation to Spanish, relied on a couple who grew up in Mexico City.

He explained that his Spanish-speaking parents as children encountered problems in schools and decided when they have kids that they would only be taught English.

He is in the process of learning the Spanish lauguage.

His books are: “Young Rosa Parks: Speak Up,” “Young Andrew Carnegie: Giving Back,” “Young Frida Kahlo: Positive Ener-

gy,” “Young Benjamin Franklin: Curious Benjamin,” “Young Abraham Lincoln: Birthday Wishes,” “Young John D. Rockefeller: Smart Saver,” “Young Susan B. Anthony: Sel ess Acts” and “Young Amelia Earhart: No Limits.

e paperbacks average 30 pages and arer $10.95 on Amazon.

“My whole goal when I did this is I wanted to do four historical males and four female gures of the past and once I did that I

would promote them in Title 1 elementary schools,” Leyba said.

And that’s what happened last week.

Leyba through an Amazon grant distributed 375 free copies of his books to English language learners at three Gilbert Public Schools Title 1 elementary campuses –Harris, Oak Tree and Burk.

Leyba has been providing books to schools that serve a high percentage of low-income students since 2012, when he started Guardian Angel Council. e nonpro t helps to provide bilingual books to Title 1 elementary schools.

Students at the three schools also were treated to a reading by Mayor Brigette Peterson, who read in English, and Assistant Chief Michael Angstead, who read in Spanish.

bae added that the events show students “this is what the police looks like and what your mayor looks like.”

“I always wanted to bring more books to Title 1 schools and help with the literacy e ort,” he said. “It creates a domino e ect where kids can succeed in education and life if they know how to read by third and fourth grades.”

Gilbert Mayor Brigette Peterson and Gilbert Police officer Levi Leyba handed out copies of his books to students. (David Minton/Staff Photographer)

Mayor accused of targeting colleague

BY CECILIA CHAN GSN Managing Editor

Gilbert Mayor Brigette Peterson is being accused of arranging a meeting where it was suggested that her council nemesis be removed from an ethics subcommittee.

e allegation is the latest amendment to an ethics violation complaint Councilman Chuck Bongiovanni led against the mayor in July. Bongiovanni’s original complaint is already under review by an outside investigator.

Peterson did not respond to a request for comment.

Bongiovanni’s complaint states that around the week of July 23, Peterson organized a meeting with former council member Bill Spence and Councilman Scott Anderson to discuss Spence’s issues and concerns with the Council’s June 20 adoption of a new ethics handbook.

Anderson chairs the Council Subcommittee on Code of Ethics.

“During that meeting, it was suggested that Councilmember Jim Torgeson be replaced on the ethics subcommittee,” the complaint claims.

Bongiovanni questions why the mayor was involved in a meeting – which he said should have remained between Anderson and Spence, a private citizen.

“ e mayor’s presence in the meeting is suspicious to begin with,” Bongiovanni says. “Mr. Spence could have and should have organized this meeting by himself, and the mayor did not need to attend it.”

He wrote that Peterson’s presence was “inappropriate,” and questions the propriety of suggesting that Torgeson be removed from the subcommittee.

Bongiovanni says if the mayor had an issue with Torgeson’s ability to perform his duties on the subcommittee, she should have privately approached Anderson or Councilwoman Kathy Tilque, the other member on the subcommittee.

“Why include a Gilbert resident who is a political foe of Councilmember Torgeson in the discussion?” Bongiovanni wrote.

Torgeson successfully ran in the 2022 council election against candidates who included Spence.

“ is behavior is not conducive of a team approach of supporting a fellow councilmember,” Bongiovanni’s complaint states. “It is a splitting behavior in its very appearance.

“Even if Mr. Spence felt that Councilmember Togeson shouldn’t be on the subcommittee, having the discussion

with the mayor present indicates that she agreed with Mr. Spence,” he added.

Anderson last week said that there was “no direct conversation to remove Jim” at the meeting.

“Bill Spence’s most recent ethics policy complaint against the entire council did contain some language that there should possibly be consideration of a change on the committee,” Anderson said in an email. “No names were mentioned, but the intent was pretty clear.”

In his complaint, Spence alleged that Torgeson “has the means to in uence the development of the Code of Ethics and complaint process, and that he intended to in uence the development of a policy that would e ectively eliminate current complaints made against him.”

At the Aug. 16 subcommittee meeting, Spence presented his concerns the handbook to the three members.

Anderson added that he has no issues with Torgeson serving on the subcommittee as “he has provided appropriate and valuable input.”

Bongiovanni also alleged that the meeting of the three supported his “overall belief that the mayor has been working behind the scene against members of the council with a Gilbert resident who is wanting to run for council

Mayor Brigette Peterson Bill Spence Councilman Chuck Bongiovani

Two of the three residents ejected from a Gilbert Town Council meeting last September have filed ethics complaints against Mayor Brigette Peterson for kicking them out. (File photo)

2 elected Gilbert citizens le complaint

BY CECILIA CHAN GSN Managing Editor

Two of the three Gilbert residents tossed out of a council meeting by the mayor for holding “Stop Lying” signs have led an ethics violation complaint against her.

Dr. Brandon Ry and Ryan Handelsman also have a state lawsuit and Ry has a federal lawsuit against Mayor Brigette Peterson for her actions last September.

Although county island resident Terri Naddy led an ethics complaint against Peterson the day after she ordered police to remove Ry , Handelsman and Joanne Terry from the room, a town-hired investigator found no wrongdoing. Phoenix attorney William Sims agreed with Peterson that she was trying to maintain decorum.

“ e mayor’s continued antics suggest she still hasn’t learned her lesson,” said Ry in an Aug. 19 email to the council, town attorney and town manager, with the attached complaint. Peterson did not respond to a request for comment.

Ry cited the “mayor’s extreme display of arrogance” at the Aug. 1 special meeting when the council opted not to cast a vote of no con dence against Peterson in lieu of mediation.

“It was the nal straw that made me feel like this should move forward,” Ry continued. “She had a room full of angry people, a council completely torn apart and all she could say was no comment and that she didn’t understand why they were even there.”

e complaint alleges that Peterson violated a number of provisions in the town’s ethics policy, including fairness and respect, compliance with the state’s open meeting law, disclosure of con dential information and loyalty.

As Ry and Terry stood quietly at the back of the room holding their signs still and Handelsman was seated in the back row with his sign, “Peterson was angered, particularly by the message of ‘Stop Lying,’” the complaint states.

It adds that the mayor ejected the residents with the signs more critical of her but allowed others to remain in the room that were carrying similar-sized signs that read “Don’t Mesa My Gilbert.”

e complaint claims that the removal was a vindictive move by Peterson because she recognized Ry and Handelsman, who both previously led an ethics violation complaint against her and have been openly critical of her leadership.

e complaint challenges Peterson’s statements to Sims in the investigation report, including her comment that she had a duty to ensure that town meetings are not disrupted and that decorum is maintained.

“My request for removal was due to the continued and repeated disruption and to preserve meeting decorum, not due to what was on the sign nor who was holding the signs,” Peterson said.

e mayor claimed that she was unaware that Ry was even in the room “let

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Disabled Gilbert man assails

Valley Metro paratransit

BY CECILIA CHAN GSN Managing Editor

Wayne Lougee was diagnosed with early onset Parkinson’s disease when he was 48 and the progressive neurological disorder has taken its toll on the now 66-year-old Gilbert man’s body.

“I stopped driving about three or four years ago,” he said. “My family took my keys away and sold my car. And I can’t walk anymore; I’m pretty much very disabled. I use a walker, I’m an extreme fall risk.”

Twice a week Lougee would take Valley Metro’s paratransit bus to Banner Neuro Wellness on Gilbert Road, north of Elliot Road in the Heritage District. e center has a gym that o ers exercise for those with neurological movement and degenerative disorders.

Valley Metro’s paratransit is a door-todoor, shared-ride public transportation service for people unable to use the local bus due to a disability. In Gilbert, this service is only available to ADA-certi ed riders for a $4 one-way fare.

Lougee said he began having issues with paratransit picking him up from the gym.

e problem became acute for Lougee on a Tuesday in July when the tempera-

ture hit a scorching 115 degrees.

“I was waiting for my scheduled 4-4:30 p.m. ride home,” the retired government analyst said. “I get out of my gym at 3:30 p.m. and they refuse to give me a 3:30-4 p.m. window.”

Lougee said that his ride on Tuesdays had been coming late – one time he waited until 7 p.m. for a scheduled 4-4:30 p.m. pick-up. e Banner gym closes at 4 p.m.

On that hot July day, he said, Valley Metro failed to alert him that his ride wasn’t coming at all.

He said he waited outside in the heat until 6 p.m., when he nally phoned Valley Metro and was hastily told that a taxi would be scheduled to pick him up.

According to Valley Metro, ADA Paratransit services primarily uses dedicated, accessible paratransit vehicles for approximately 70% of the service. e remaining 30% comprise associated taxi providers.

e taxi driver showed up nearly two hours past the 30-minute pick-up window, according to a quality assurance manager in an email to Lougee.

e manager said an investigation showed the cab dispatcher “missed the call” and that a driver returning to town was to pick up Lougee. e driver arrived at 6:22 p.m.

Expires 8/31/23.

Wayne Lougee of Gilbert, who has Parkinson’s disease, said he has been stranded a number of times by Valley Metro’s paratransit service for disabled people. (David Minton/Staff Photographer)

METRO from page 14

“Dispatch claims that there were no available drivers to pick up the member at the assigned time or within the window,” the quality assurance manager wrote Lougee. “ e supervisor has been asked to investigate to determine if maybe a driver could have been re-routed to accommodate the request in a timelier manner.”

Lougee said when he got home that day, he experienced painful spasms in his heart.

“My body doesn’t feel heat or cold (so) I didn’t know that I had heat stroke until I got home,” he said.

He said he could no longer stand and ended up staying in bed for a week.

“I don’t have the gym to go back into,” Lougee said. “I could have gone into a restaurant and ordered something (but) I was waiting for that bus and I wasn’t going to try anything else because the bus was supposed to be there.”

A driver will give a rider a 30-minute pick-up window, which starts from the scheduled pick-up time, but the maximum time that drivers are required to wait for customers after arriving at the pick-up location is ve minutes.

MAYOR from page 12

for a third time after Gilbert residents rejected Mr. Spence two times before in prior elections.”

“Councilmember Bongiovanni’s conspiratorial obsession with the mayor is unhealthy,” Spence said last week. “And his latest amendment is yet another attempt to intimidate whistleblowers, manipulate public sentiment and divert attention from the real ethical violation that he wants to avoid investigating: one or more councilmembers threatened a Gilbert landowner, and we must nd out the truth.”

Bongiovanni also pointed to Spence’s ethics complaint led July 27 as evidence of his working with Peterson.

In that complaint, Spence states that one or more members may have known that an ethics violation occurred but failed to report it as required and that Torgeson recused himself from a vote for reasons not allowed under town code.

Spence also suggested possible mis-

Lougee said he contacted Valley Metro with his concerns but they’ve yielded little beyond apologies.

“I’ve written them and complained and every time I get this letter, ‘we’re sorry,’” he said. “I don’t care for a letter saying you’re sorry. I want assurances that this won’t happen again.”

Spokeswoman Susan Tierney in an email said that safe transportation for all customers is a priority for Valley Metro.

“We apologize for any issues that may have occurred with this particular rider,” said Tierney, who added she would need more information to research what happened. “We take every trip seriously and are always looking for ways to better serve our customers.”

She added that riders are encouraged to contact customer service so issues can be reviewed and addressed promptly.

According to Tierney, the average monthly paratransit trips in Gilbert totaled 2,149 in the scal year that ended June 30.

She did not respond to a question asking how often in a month riders don’t get picked up within the wait window.

Tierney did say that Valley Metro Paratransit tries to maintain clear communi-

conduct in that one or more members “allegedly made threats” against developer Je Cooley. According to Spence, he obtained “thousands of documents,” including emails, phone logs, text logs, visitor logs an audio and video recordings through a public records request.

Cooley in an April email to the mayor claimed some council members threatened not to support his mixed-use development that included 612 apartment units unless he agreed “not to sue the Town if commuter rail is not part of Cooley Station,” a master-planned community. Cooley also sent an email to Anderson on the issue.

Since then, Spence has led an amendment to his complaint, stating that he has discovered “public records that show two council members disparaging and making false claims about me, one of who appears to be assembling a dossier about me, and a third council member implying potential legal action against me.”

His latest complaint included a charge

cation with its riders at all times.

“We utilize an automated system that is designed to contact passengers 30 minutes prior to the anticipated arrival of the vehicle,” she said. “Customers are noti ed via phone, text or email, depending on the option requested by the customer.”

Lougee said an automated system calls or texts 10 minutes before the bus is supposed to arrive for a pick up.

“But that automated system is not connected to the driver or the bus,” he said. “It seems to be connected to the rider via the rider’s scheduled ride but is not used as a signal that someone has been stranded.

“I have received the automated call that the bus is 10 minutes away as I was actually already riding on the bus. e driver had no connection to that automated signal and just laughed because as he said, ‘I guess we are going to pick you up in 10 minutes.’”

According to Lougee, if a bus misses the pick-up window, the rider doesn’t get an automated call.

“If the bus is two or three hours late, the 10-minute call will happen at the later time,” he said. “ e bus company never tries to let a rider know if a bus is late or just not coming.

that the Aug. 1 special meeting to consider a vote of no con dence against the mayor violated the town’s code of ethics.

“I have evidence that suggests that this special meeting was retaliatory, diversionary in nature, and may not have been scheduled or conducted in good faith,” said Spence.

He added that he remained unclear the rationale for the vote of no condence after reading all the relevant documents he received from the town.

Spence said he’s asked Bongiovanni, Torgeson and Councilwoman Bobbi Buchli to provide their reasoning behind putting the vote of no con dence on the Aug. 1 agenda but they declined.

“ ese three council members suggest that one of the desired outcomes of these meetings was to garner support in dismissing all ethics complaints.”

Among the six ethics violation complaints led since July, the mayor has led against Torgeson and resident Maureen Hoppe has led against Torgeson and Buchli.

“I do not believe that the bus company computer system warns the bus people that a rider is stranded. e rider only gets service in these situations if the rider complains he or she is still waiting.”

Lougee said he isn’t the only rider left stranded by the paratransit service and that he wants to improve the service for the disabled community.

“I know that there are a lot of people, especially at Banner Neuro Wellness,” he said. “People there used to take Valley Metro and no longer take it because it’s no longer reliable.

“I know others who take it and they don’t have the mental capacity to deal with their problems and so they just sit there and wait and no one cares what happens. ere are disabled persons at risk.”

Lougee said that he doesn’t blame the drivers.

“A driver was told at 6:30 to pick up a customer at Queen Creek and one at north Mesa,” he said. “Drivers can’t perform miracles but (Valley Metro) blames the drivers.”

see METRO page 16

New program aims to reduce youths’ suicide attempts

BY SOPHIA BIAZUS Cronkite News

Teen Lifeline, a local nonprofit dedicated to preventing teen suicide, has introduced a local initiative with a goal of reducing repeated suicide attempts.

Modeled after the Caring Contacts program for adults, volunteer teen peer counselors will reach out to teens who have been discharged from the hospital following a suicide attempt with supportive phone calls, texts, handwritten notes and care packages.

Caring Contacts is an intervention program used throughout the U.S. where patients released from the hospital after a suicide attempt are sent brief expressions of care and concern from someone who has interacted with the patient.

The support continues for about a year.

Jennifer Connor, Caring Contacts’ local intake specialist, said in an email that their own studies have shown the program reduced suicide

deaths and decreased future hospitalizations among adult participants.

“We believe this incredible program will have a similarly positive impact

among Arizona’s teens because it reaches high-risk patients that do not stay in therapeutic care,” she said.

Connor said the youth initiative is based on the belief that teens are generally more willing to confide in their peers.

“It really focuses on the connectedness and having that peer connection,” she said. “They are able to relate to our peer volunteers since they are the same age. Overall, anyone reaching out for help is very brave and they’re encouraged to reach out.”

Teen Lifeline expects to help more than 600 teens in Maricopa County during the yearlong program underwritten by Mercy Care, the not-forprofit health plan that offers care for children, adults and seniors eligible for benefits from the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System.

All 83 trained volunteer peer coun-

see SUICIDE page 17

METRO from page 15

Lougee said that Valley Metro receives its funding from member municipalities such as Gilbert and should be held accountable “for what they are doing to the disabled community, which they are supposed to be servicing.”

Gilbert’s contract with Valley Metro for paratransit services in the current scal year will cost $2.3 million, according to town spokeswoman Jennifer Harrison.

“ e Town monitors the ridership information we receive from Valley Metro each month to ensure the system is providing a high level of service,” Harrison said.

For now, Lougee said he’s stopped going to the Banner gym.

“I told them that I won’t take the bus again until someone in management assures me that it won’t happen again,” he said. “ ere’s no assurance that they will take care of me. I want a phone call if a bus is not going to get me.

“I want them to recognize that someone in medical need is on the sidewalk waiting for hours.”

Counselors receive messages from teenagers who have called to express their gratitude. Teen Lifeline keeps the messages and hangs them in their hotline room. (Courtesy of Teen Lifeline)

selors are allowed to reach out to participants in Caring Contacts, Connor said.

For youth patients, participation is optional. Parents receive a form to fill out in the hospital before their teenage child is discharged, Connor said. They can opt in to Caring Contacts by completing the form and returning it to their nurse prior to the teen’s hospital discharge. The hospital then provides the patient’s contact information to Teen Lifeline

Peer volunteers do not receive details about the suicide attempt. Connor said the volunteers reach out to patients within 24 to 48 hours of their discharge from the hospital to reduce feelings of isolation, increase connectedness and provide resources.

In Maricopa County, Aurora Behavioral Health, Banner Health and Southwest Behavioral and Health Services have signed up to refer teen patients to Caring Contacts.

Connor said she expects additional

ETHICS from page 13

alone one of the people involved with the disruptive behavior.”

Ry submitted his cell phone video of that meeting showing no noise can be heard from where he, Handelsman and Terry were positioned when Peterson called for their removal.

e complaint requests that an investigator look at the video and interview witnesses, including former council members Laurin Hendrix and Aimee Yentes and current members Chuck Bongiovanni, Jim Torgeson, Bobbi Buchli and Scott Anderson. Bongiovanni, Torgeson and Buchli were not on council in 2022.

e complaint also alleges Peterson “absolutely recognized” Ry and Handelsman and could read the signs.

Ry wants an investigator to determine if Peterson overstepped her authority and if she violated the three individuals’ First Amendment Right to free speech. It also seeks an investigation into an allegation that Peterson leaked information from an executive session.

According to the complaint, Ry ap-

hospitals and behavioral health services to participate in the future.

Dani, a junior studying social work at Arizona State University, started volunteering as a peer counselor during her senior year in high school after she lost a friend to suicide.

Dani’s last name has been withheld to protect her anonymity as a peer counselor.

“I didn’t know what to do or how to help,” she said. “I decided if I started volunteering (at Teen Lifeline) I could learn what to do and how to be more helpful in the situation.”

Teen Lifeline volunteer peer counselors are between 15 and 18 years old. All must undergo a minimum of 72 hours of training where they learn how to communicate and how to be an effective listener before they start taking texts and calls.

“After volunteering, I learned that one of the biggest things that you can do is to just be a listening ear and a person that they know they can turn to who will just listen,” Dani said.

She said that her training has

proached Torgeson about a story he heard that “the mayor got one up on him.”

“Councilmember Torgeson abruptly asked Dr. Ry what the heck he was talking about, to which he responded that he thought Jim got his wrist slapped because of a story the mayor made up,” the claim states.

It also says, the story involved an allegation “he was extorting a developer. Jim indicated that he did no such thing, and that the mayor’s false claims were condential information she must have leaked from an executive session meeting.”

e complaint also questioned the validity of Sims’ investigation because he did not interview Ry , Handelsman or Terry.

According to Ry , there would have been a di erent outcome had the mayor acknowledged a problem and promised to be a better mayor.

“ e mayor simply refuses to ever admit she’s made a mistake – no remorse for her actions, ever,” Ry said, adding that it’s “that kind of pomposity from a so-called public servant” that prompted him to submit the complaint.

helped her treat everyone with no judgment and to be there for them, whether it’s in her personal life or on the hotline.

Teen Lifeline started in 1986 as a hot-line for teens considering suicide, and volunteers have answered more than 315,000 calls and texts since its beginning.

In 2022, volunteer peer counselors answered more than 43,000 calls and texts from teenagers struggling with ideas of suicide. It has expanded to offer life skills training for volunteer and prevention education in schools.

The demand for services like Teen Lifeline is increasing. The organization received a 50% increase in annual calls and texts since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.

In 2020, suicide was the second leading cause of death for Arizonans ages 10-24, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The Arizona Department of Health Services reported 694 deaths among people under 24 from 2020 to 2023.

In 2020, suicide was the 10th leading overall cause of death in Arizona, with 1,363 certified deaths attributed to suicide for all ages. Arizona’s rate of suicide per 100,000 of population was 35% higher than that of the U.S.

Finding help

Arizona youths dealing with thoughts of suicide, depression, trouble at school, fights with a significant other, family issues or who just need to talk, can call the Teen Lifeline hotline at 602-2488336 (TEEN) or 800-248-8336.

Peer counselors ages 15 to 18 answer the hotline from 3 to 9 p.m. daily, including holidays. Adult counselors take over the rest of the time 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Teens can text the hotline from noon to 9 p.m. weekdays and 3 to 9 p.m. weekends.

For additional help, dial 988 for the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-8255 (TALK) or the local Crisis Response Network at 602-222-9444.

Valley Christian names new head of school

The educator who has led Valley Christian Schools almost since their inception is retiring and being replaced by an alumnus.

Dan Kuiper is capping his 41 years as Valley Christian’s rst and only Head of School and will be replaced next school year by Tory elen, who graduated from its highs school in Chandler in 2003. Valley Christian’s elementary school is in Tempe.

elen will become Valley Christian’s 10th overall leader and only its second Head of School when both men make the transition next June 30. Kuiper will remain on the school’s board.

Established in 1982, VCS has a current enrollment of 1,147 and prides itself on a “distinctly Christian education with excellent academics, championship athletics, award-winning ne arts, cutting-edge STEM programs, and a supporting community.”

elen has held the title Assistant Head of School since 2020 and is credited with leading seven consecutive fundraising campaigns. He had bene director of development for six years prior to becoming Kuiper’s right-hand man.

During interviews with stakeholders and community members, the school said in a release, “Mr. elen received staunch support as the next Head of School from every group that provided feedback, including current school leadership, department directors, teachers, parents, alumni, donors, and more.”

“Troy elen is a bold and visionary leader who combines high emotional intelligence and careful listening with a strong desire for accountability, and the courage to push for positive change,” VCS Board President Scott Crouch stated.

“Valley Christian seeks to equip culture changers for Christ, and Troy is the right leader at the right time for Valley Christian Schools.”

Dan Kuiper

Kuiper’s retirement was no surprise to the board since he advised it of his plans two years ago.

“To countless members of our community, Dan Kuiper is Valley Christian Schools,” Crouch said. “In fact, there is not a single graduate of Valley Christian Schools that has passed through our school without Dan Kuiper on campus teaching, coaching, or somehow serving each of our more than 2,700 alumni and more than 1,100 current students. What an incredible legacy Dan is leaving at Valley Christian.”

Kuiper, who began his career at Valley Christian Schools in 1983 as the school began its second year. served the school in numerous capacities, including biology teacher, anatomy teacher, science department head, academic team chair, head coach for boys and girls track and eld and principal. Under his leadership, Valley Christian launched junior high levels in 2018 and the elementary school the following year.

Kuiper received his bachelor's in biology from Dordt College in 1982 and his master's in educational leadership from Northern Arizona University in 1997. As the high school principal from 19951999, he led a successful development campaign to raise funds for the permanent Chandler campus, which opened in 1997.

He has also managed the school’s

Troy Thelen

In fact, there is not a single graduate of Valley Christian Schools that has passed through our school without Dan Kuiper on campus teaching, coaching, or somehow serving each of our more than 2,700 alumni and more than 1,100 current students. What an incredible legacy Dan is leaving at Valley Christian.

successful NCA accreditation, has led multiple strategic planning e orts, and has twice been named as the National Track Coach of the Year.

Kuiper also is board chair for the Arizona Christian Education Coalition.

In his message to the Valley Christian community, Kuiper praised elen, stating, “ ere is no question in my mind that Troy leads, publicly and privately, with Christ at the center. Troy seeks feedback continuously. He is willing to hear di cult news, and he is willing to deliver di cult news with love, respect and professionalism.”

elen is married to a 2005 graduate of Valley Christian and the couple have three children currently attending VCS.

“ ere is no story of my life I can tell you that doesn’t feature, prominently, Valley Christian Schools,” he told the VCS community in a letter.

Spend meaningful time with patients and earn scholarships, fun swag and gift cards

State honors Gilbert birder’s volunteer work 2nd HUSD student got perfect ACT score

AGilbert woman who is president of the Desert Rivers Audubon Society has been name Volunteer of the Year by the Arizona Parks and Recreation Association.

eona Vyvial was nominated for the prestigious award by the Gilbert Parks and Recreation Department.

“We’re excited because the parks department cited her work with Audubon in addition to her volunteer service to the town in nominating her for the award,” said Elizabeth Farquhar, a Desert Rivers spokeswoman. “ is woman works tirelessly on behalf of birds and the environment – and still nds time to volunteer at the senior center.”

“She’s an excellent bird guide, especially for people who can’t tell a bird from a dragon y,” Farquhar aid.

Vyvial is a longtime volunteer at AZCEND, the town’s senior center located in the Gilbert Community Center.

“When looking at the impressive list of eona’s successes as a volunteer with the Desert Rivers Audubon Society, it is impossible not to acknowledge the incredible impacts of her ideas, love for conservationism, and educating her community on local bird species and bird safety,” said Tyler Smith, Gilbert’s recreation supervisor.

Longtime Desert Rivers member Gwen Grace said that “working with eona has broadened my view to support the environment and birds by collaborating with other Audubon chapters, educating businesses and even bringing these issues to

state representatives.”

Vyvial retired from her professional job managing histocompatibility and immunogenetics labs for Phoenix-area transplant programs in 2013.

ose last processed samples determine good tissue matches for organ donors. Vyvial also was an amateur paleontologist.

She started participating in activities at the Gilbert Senior Center, eventually volunteering in the lunch program twice a week and driving a 12-seat van taking seniors on eld trips.

By the time public programs shut down

Higley High senior Cutter Renowden has achieved a rare academic accomplishment, but he’s more interested in helping his schoolmates than brag about it.

Cutter, 17, recently learned that he scored a perfect 36 in the ACT test administered to high school juniors last school year – a rarity among over 1 million students who take the test annually to assess their pro ciency in English Language Arts, math and science.

e son of Brenda and Robin Renowden, Cutter also is president/founder of Higley High’s photography club and he’s concerned about the students who can’t a ord equipment to be part of it.

“I’m hoping for the club to get donations of either equipment or money that can be used to purchase equipment so that members can borrow the equipment to explore their passions and to participate in the club.” he said, adding interested donors can email him at cutterrenowdenschool@gmail.com.

“I am very ambitious for this club,” he said. “I want a lot of people to join who are passionate for photography and to create a tight-knit community where we can talk and go on eld trips.”

Besides the photography club, Cutter also is co-president of Higley High’s National Honor Society chapter,

Cutter is the second Higley Uni ed student with a perfect score that over a million juniors took in 2022-23 – which also is a rarity because not many students get a perfect 36 on the ACT test.

In 2022, the latest available data show less than 1% of all juniors who took the test that year got a perfect score, according to ACT spokeswoman

Allie Ciaramella. at translated into a mere 3,376 out of 1.34 million juniors across the country and only 56 in Arizona in 2022, she said.

Asked his reaction to his score, Cutter said, “I was pleasantly surprised. I didn’t make any silly mistakes which I had done in the past.”

“I prepared for a couple weeks specifically for the test, but taking accelerated classes throughout my education provided the foundation I needed to succeed,” he added.

As an example of those accelerated classes, Cutter, whose favorite subject is math, took multivariable calculus and di erential equations.

He also spent part of his summer break

Gilbert resident Theona Vyvial, president of the Gilbertbased Desert Rivers Audubon Society, was named Arizona Parks and Recreation Association’s Volunteer of the Year. (Special to GSN)

Higley High senior Cutter Renowden got a perfect score on this year’s ACT test –something few of over 1 million students who take the academic proficiency test attain. (Special to GSN)

GSN NEWS STAFF

GSN NEWS STAFF

due to the pandemic, she was giving more than 100 hours per year, and after COVID restrictions were lifted she resumed.

“I love being involved with AZCEND, its sta and other seniors,” Vyvialsaid.

Desert Rivers Audubon Society has been headquartered in Gilbert since its founding in 2006.

Vyvial’s interest in birds grew out of her hobby as an amateur paleontologist. at hobby led her to participate in a dig at Egg Mountain in Choteau, Montana, where fossils of dinosaur nests and juveniles provided the  rst strong evidence that dinosaurs exhibited complex behaviors such as feeding and caring for their young.

From that experience she became intrigued with the link between dinosaurs and birds.

Vyvial has also spearheaded a new conservation e ort aimed at reducing the number of birds that die after ying into windows. Her enthusiasm led Desert Rivers to become the rst chapter in the Valley to join the international Global Bird Rescue project, which annually collects data on bird strike deaths involving high rise buildings.

e following year the other metro Phoenix chapters joined in, forming a coalition that participated in the fall 2022 count. Desert Rivers teams are now organizing for this year’s GBR.

Knowing that 60% of bird strike deaths occur at low-rise buildings, the chapter also runs do-it-yourself workshops for residents to make attractive, inexpensive widow treatments that deter birds.

480-963-1853

Vyvial was soon an active Audubon Society member and bird walk leader. She served as Desert Rivers’ membership director, starting in 2017 before her election to president in 2021.

At the same time the chapter has continued to o er its free family bird walks at Gilbert Riparian Preserve and Veterans Oasis Park in Chandler and maintains a hummingbird habitat in Chandler.

ese and other programs focus on the chapter’s mission to educate and inspire the community to protect birds, wildlife and their habitats.

e chapter has also grown because Vyvial actively seeks input.

Under her leadership, the chapter has expanded its programs and has committed to hands-on conservation projects. At the start of her term the chapter transitioned its speaker series from eight monthly events per year to 12. At the same time, the chapter responded to the COVID crises by moving speakers to Zoom.

is broadened the chapter’s reach for both audience and speakers, and the Zoom meetings remain popular even though in-person programs have resumed at the Southeast Regional Library.

In an e ort to nurture friendships among members, the chapter launched Birds & Brew Co ee Break, a monthly mid-week eld trip to the Gilbert Riparian Preserve followed by co ee and a speaker at Co ee Rush on Val Vista Road.

“ eona is a great listener and always open to hear new ideas,” said member Carlota orne. “She is always inspiring and regardless of the tasks at hand never gives up or gives in.”

Smith added: “ eona has created an accessible way for community members to learn about nature and get involved. Her conservation e orts have helped promote Gilbert’s crown jewel for animal conservation, recreation, and Arizona ecology – e Riparian Preserve at Water Ranch.”

“It’s been a real challenge for me, but I enjoy it,” Vyvial said of her activities. “I like using my energy to get things done.”

Cutter is just sorting through his post-secondary education choices and is applying to a number fo schools, including Arizona State University and the

sachusetts Institute of Technology.

At Yale, he said, “I

“I am undecided on what I want to have a career in,” he said, “but I have

it down to something STEM-related. I

thinking computer science, nance,

aerospace engineering.”

Gilbert Sister Cities has concluded the 21st Youth Ambassador exchange program and is planning an information. night for students and their parents interested in joining the program next year.

In June, Kyaira Carter (Higley High School), Jagoda Gliniak (Gilbert Classical Academy), Amara Manning (Higley High) and David Wang (Gilbert Classical Academy) hosted Northern Ireland students students Lucia McIlroy, Natalia Dzieciatko, Niamh McAllister, and Matthew Byrne for two weeks.

e Gilbert teens then traveled to Northern Ireland to experience Antrim-Newtownabbey.

e Irish students participated in a tour of the Gilbert Public Safety Training Facility and Town Hall and attended a barbecue with Gilbert Sister Cities board members.

In Ireland, the Gilbert teens volunteered with Parkrun in various locations around the borough and attended a barbecue hosted by local o cials.

“ e Gilbert Sister Cities Youth Ambassador Program is so rewarding for the students and the adults involved as well,” said said Lori Schuermann, Gilbert Sister Cities board member and chair of the Youth Ambassador program.

“When you talk about the program with parents of former youth ambassadors, resoundingly, they mention how much stronger their child’s interpersonal skills are. ey also gained valuable essay writing and interviewing skills, and, most im-

Gilbert and Northern Ireland participants in the 2023 Sister Cities Exchange Program wrapped up another successful partnership. They included, from left: Niamh McAllister, Matthew Byrne, Amara Manning, Lucia McIlroy, Kyaira Carter, David Wang, Natalia Dzieciatko, and Jagoda Gliniak. Jagoda and David are Gilbert Classical Academy students while Amara and Kyaira

portantly, made lifelong friendships with their fellow ambassadors and exchange partners.”

She said the four Gilbert teens “did a tremendous job representing Gilbert at home and abroad.”

“We look forward to seeing what they will accomplish throughout the next year

and how they will mentor our new applicants as well,” Schuermann added.

Gilbert Sister Cities will host an infor-

mation night for the 2024 Youth Ambassador Program at 7 p.m. Sept. 14 at Sonoma Ranch Elementary, 601 N. Key Biscayne Drive, Gilbert. Applications are due Sept. 18.

Gilbert Sister Cities will also host an Essay Clinic, open to all juniors who may need help with college, scholarships, or Gilbert Sister Cities application essays, on Sept. 21.

Any junior living in Gilbert or attending a Gilbert or Higley school can apply.

Established in 1998 as a community-supported nonpro t, Gilbert Sister Cities “brings the world together through cultural, educational and sports programs that promote international and intercultural knowledge and understanding,” according to its mission statement.

Gilbert has two sister cities: Antrim-Newtownabbey, Northern Ireland (1998) and Leshan, China (2002). Over 60 Gilbert high school students have traveled abroad over the course of the exchange program.

Information: gilbertsistercities.org.

attend Higley High. (Special to GSN)

Local library packs September with programs

Southeast Regional Library o ers free programs for people of all ages. For a complete list of o erings visit mcldaz.org/southeast.

Southeast Regional Library is located at 775 N. Green eld Road, Gilbert, and is open to the public Monday- ursday from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., Friday and Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday 1 to 5 p.m.

e Giving Club, 6-6:15 p.m., Sept. 5. Join Caroline on the rst Tuesday of the month on projects that give back to the community. Supplies are provided.

One-on-One Digital Assistance, 1010:45 a.m., Sept. 6, 13, 20, 27. Learn to download digital eBooks or audio books to a reading device. Assistance is limited and will not address speci c technical questions about each device. Attendees should already know basic use of their eReader device. Limited to three people per class.

Book Birthday: “Rosie Revere Engineer,” 3:30-4:15 p.m. Sept. 6. “Rosie Revere, Engineer” by Andrea Beaty was published on Sept. 3, 2013. is story time is followed by a STEAM craft.

What is Dementia Anyway? 11 a.m.noon, Sept. 7. Learn more about dementia with Hospice of the Valley.

Crochet baby blankets for adults, 2-3:30 p.m. Sept. 7 and 25. Learn to double crochet while making a baby blanket that we will donate to Project Linus. Materials are provided, but bring your own yarn and hook.

Teen Listening Club. 5:30-6:30 p.m., Sept. 7. Teens can listen to and discuss a di erent album while working on a craft.

Toddler Playtime. 10 a.m. Sept. 8. Kids 18-36 months can enjoy toys and music will be provided and socializing is encouraged.

Curl up with Canines, 10-11 a.m. Sept. 9. Meet some new dogs. Show up

early to get a 15-minute time slot. First come rst serve.

Ancestry, 2-3 p.m. Sept. 12. Learn to use ancestry.com.

Teen crafts, 6-7 p.m. Sept. 13. Crafting with a calming atmosphere. All supplies included.

Interactive cat craft, 3-4 p.m. Sept. 14. Make a cat out of paper plates with moving eyes. Materials provided.

ursday Night Film Club, 6-8 p.m. Sept. 14. is month’s movie is “ e ree Lives of omasina” (1964).

Storytime Saturday, 10:15 a.m. Children 2 to 5 can discover letters, numbers, colors, and more with stories, songs, rhymes, and movement activities. Children and adults must register.

Science Fiction Club, 2-3 p.m. Sept. 18. is month’s book is “Foundation” by Isaac Asimov.

Phoenix Art Museum, 2-3 p.m. Sept. 20. Phoenix Art Museum presentation.

Preschool Playtime, 10-10:45 a.m. Sept. 21. Preschooles ages 3-5 (can play with toys and listen to music in free play.

Family Mario Kart Party, 5:30-6:30 p.m. Sept. 21. Play as your favorite Nintendo characters in a competitive race.

Historical Fiction Book Club, 2-3 p.m. Sept. 26. This months’ book is “Woman’s Daughter” by Kim Michele Richardson.

GSN NEWS STAFF

The Southeast Regional Library in Gilbert offers an array of programs for kids and adults of all ages. (Facebook)

Plenty to do and see at HD SOUTH next month

HD SOUTH will o er two exhibits and a. series of informative programs for people of all ages in November.

Programs are led by artists, historians, storytellers, botanists and scientists; experts in their eld who share their knowledge and skills with the community.

Home of the Gilbert Historical Museum and located in the heart of the heritage district at Gilbert and Elliot roads, the building opened as Gilbert Elementary School in 1913. It is the oldest building in Gilbert and is the only one on the National Register of Historical Places.

Gilbert Museum is a repository of artifacts chronicling the town’s rich history, featuring newly remodeled exhibits and interactive displays.

Unless indicated, programs are always free for members and registration n is required for everyone. Information: hdsouth.org/calendar.

EXHIBITS

Picturing resistance. On exhibit in Gallery 4 Aug. 7-Sept. 29.

Antique tools from Gilbert. On display until Sept. 18, this collection includes pieces donated by many of Gilbert’s founding families. From saws to wrenches to drill bits these artifacts are sure to invoke a sense of appreciation for when e ort, elbow grease, and grit were vital to getting things done.

SPECIAL ACTIVITIES

Teacher supply drive. HD SOUTH has partnered with For Our Town Gilbert to collect wish list items for teachers in the Gilbert and Higley school districts. Items include, backpacks, headphones, Expo dry erase markers, pocket folders, disinfecting wipes, glue sticks, #2 pencils, wide-rule composition books and Crayola crayons (24). Between Sept. 1-21, drop o donations at HD SOUTH anytime from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Tuesdays, ursdays, Fridays or Saturdays.

American Red Cross Blood Drive. From 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Sept. 27, HD SOUTH will host a blood drive in partnership with the American Red Cross. Sign up at redcross.org.

PROGRAMS

Yoga, 7-8 p.m. Mondays. 6-7 p.m. Sept. 11, 18 and 25. Instructor Darien Pruitt, the Mobile Yogi, guides participants through a hatha ow class. Pruitt has practiced yoga since 2010 and recently completed her 200-hour yoga instructor training. Ages 16 and up. Bring your own mat. Attendance is limited. Non-members $5.

Yoga, 1:30-2:30 p.m. Sept. 7.14.21 and 28. Sara Nakai, of Batch of Sky Yoga, has been practicing yoga for over 20 years and has over 200 hours of yoga instructor training. She leads a class for those seeking slower and more introspective yoga practice. Ages 16 and up. Bring your own mat. Attendance is limited. Non-members $5.

Paint & Sip, 6:30-8 p.m. Sept. 14. Local artist Jeanne Smith leads a class where participants can bring a beverage of choice and learn artistic techniques to make their own personal art projects. Ages 21 and up. All supplies are provided. Non-members: $5.

Stem Saturday, 10:30 a.m.-noon, Sept. 16. Local teachers, professors and STEM enthusiasts guide participants through experiments and a science project attendees can take home. is month’s project involves pizza box solar oven smores. Ages 6-12. All supplies provided. Attendance limited.

Setting Boundaries, 6:30-8:30p.m. Sept. 19. is workshop will focus on increasing interpersonal e ectiveness through understanding how to establish good boundaries with others. Focus will be given on how to enforce boundaries with consistency and compassion so others will learn how to respect them.

Facilitated by Paul Gibson, a licensed

Phone and Internet Discounts

Available to CenturyLink Customers

The Arizona Corporation Commission designated CenturyLink as an Eligible Telecommunications Carrier within its service area for universal service purposes. CenturyLink’s basic local service rates for residential voice lines are $18.47 per month and business services are $35.00 per month. Specific rates will be provided upon request.

CenturyLink participates in the Lifeline program, which makes residential telephone or qualifying broadband service more affordable to eligible low-income individuals and families. Eligible customers may qualify for Lifeline discounts of $5.25/ month for voice or bundled voice service or $9.25/month for qualifying broadband or broadband bundles. Residents who live on federally recognized Tribal Lands may qualify for additional Tribal benefits if they participate in certain additional federal eligibility programs. The Lifeline discount is available for only one telephone or qualifying broadband service per household, which can be either a wireline or wireless service. Broadband speeds must be at least 25 Mbps download and 3 Mbps upload to qualify.

CenturyLink also participates in the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP), which provides eligible households with a discount on broadband service. The ACP provides a discount of up to $30 per month toward broadband service for eligible households and up to $75 per month for households on qualifying Tribal lands.

For both programs, a household is defined as any individual or group of individuals who live together at the same address and share income and expenses. Services are not transferable, and only eligible consumers may enroll in these programs. Consumers who willfully make false statements to obtain these discounts can be punished by fine or imprisonment and can be barred from these programs.

If you live in a CenturyLink service area, visit https://www. centurylink.com/aboutus/community/community-development/ lifeline.html for additional information about applying for these programs or call 1-800-201-4099 with questions.

SOUTH from page 23

marriage and family therapist with over 20 years of experience who is clinical director of Ellie Mental Health in Tempe.

Ages 16 and up.

Author visit, 10:30 a.m.-noon, Sept. 23. Michael Ivery, children’s book author, illustrator and creator of Tubba and Friends. Ivory will share his new book, “ e Big Music Jamboree,” and invite participants to accompany Tubba Bear’s rhyming adventure with her pink guitar.

Ages 1-6. Registration is required.

Line dancing at HD SOUTH, 6:30-8 p.m. Sept. 26. Dance instructor Laina Lee will lead participant. Ages 10 & up. Attendance is limited.

Sound Meditation 6:30-8 p.m. Sept. 28. Stuart Preston, certified sound practitioner, will lead a “sound healing” session designed specifically for those grieving a loss.  Participants must bring a yoga mat, one or two blankets and a pillow and wear comfortable clothing, arriving 10 minutes early. Ages 16 and up. Space is limited. $5 per person. Learn more: LaoStu.com.

Cookie decorating. 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Sept. 30. Vickie from Mae’s Cookie Jar leads the class. Attendees will take home their creations. All supplies are provided. Cost: $22 per person and includes instruction, three cookies, icing and sprinkles.

Gilbert shop o ers healthy makeup products, services

BY GRACE BERRY GSN Sta Writer

For Tracey Trellis Flores, a professional makeup artist and skin therapist who owns a Gilbert beauty shop and salon, makeup is just not a daily routine but a lifestyle.

Her CLEAN(er) Beauty Shop just doesn’t make a mission out of having clients look their best but also focuses on healthy ingredients.

Trellis Flores opened her first storefronts in Raleigh and Apex, North Carolina, in 2018 and in June opened her first southwest store in Gilbert.

Her focus on ensuring that healthy ingredients are contained in anything clients put on their face derives from her 20-plus years in the cosmetic industry, which she said lacks ingredient regulations and transparency.

She also took note of the rampant use of forever chemicals in many beauty products, creating a threat to the health of people and the planet.

“The industry really had no regulation and because there was no protection, brands could put anything into

their products,” said Trellis Flores.

“A third of the contents of U.S. landfills are personal care products,” she noted. “So many chemicals could be in

a product that you would not necessarily know about. Let’s say you don’t use all of your face cream. When you throw it away, it inevitably ends up sitting in a landfill.

“The chemicals in that cream can damage the environment and have a trickle effect. They can go through our water systems and negatively affect ecosystems.”

To bypass the few existing regulations, beauty product manufacturers mis-categorize ingredients to keep consumers in the dark, according to Trellis Flores.

The Food and Drug Administration requires that brands disclose their ingredients in an “ingredient declaration” on a product’s packaging.

But Trellis Flores said, “If a brand wants their product to feel a certain way, the manufacturer can mark it as a ‘trade secret’ and simply list the ingre-

GM Innovation center closing stuns Chandler

BY PAUL MARYNIAK GSN Executive Editor

Chandler o cials and the community are reeling from General Motors’ surprise announcement last week that it’s closing the Arizona IT Innovation Center and giving a pink slip to 940 workers at the end of October.

e announcement stunned city ocials, who apparently will try to help the a ected salaried employees while waiting to see what auto giant will do with the 170,000-square-foot facility on West Geronimo Place in the Price Corridor.

“Today’s announcement that GM plans to close its Arizona IT Innovation Center came as a complete surprise,” city Development Director Micah Mi-

randa said Aug. 23 after the announcement by Stacy Lynett, GM vice president of information and Digital technology.

“We’ve recently been working with their local team about higher education partnerships, mentoring, and a promotional video highlighting Chandler’s Price Corridor,” Miranda said.

“With this unfortunate news, we plan to work closely with our workforce development partners to assist with employment opportunities for those impacted.”

Workers were also surprised.

“It was a complete surprise to literally everyone,” one posted on Facebook. “I called my manager immediately afterwards who is based in Michigan and even she didn’t know it was coming..”

A city spokeswoman said she was not aware what plans GM has for the site although added that it is leased.

Innovation Centers tackle solutions and services rede ning GM’s products as the company moves toward an all-electric future.

e Chandler jobs cover a wide range of professionals, including software developers, software developers in-test, data analysts, business analysts, product managers, project/scrum managers and software architects.

Lynette told GM employees company-wide, “This decision was not an easy one, but it will help to optimize our innovation center footprint and gain the efficiencies and effectiveness we need to have to continue to support

the company.”

“As we continue reshaping the organization, we will be working with individual leaders on a plan to transition the work and knowledge,” Lynett wrote. e website autonews.com said it was told by a GM spokesman the closing was part of an e ort “to rebalance our engineering resources to better align with our growth strategy.

“This will require a small number of engineers to move to other parts of the organization over the next several months. We will work with those who are affected and provide them with an opportunity to apply for open positions.”

Tracy Trellis Flores, owner of CLEAN(er) Beauty in Gilbert, said her 20-plus years in the cosmetic industry has shown her the lack of makeup regulation and ingredient transparency. (The Know Women)

e website also linked the “realignment” to some $2 billion in cost reductions GM plans by the end of next year, reporting that thousands of salaried workers have taken voluntary buyouts and reduced the prospects of layo s.

But GM spokesman Kevin Kelly was quoted by various news media as saying the Chandler facility closing had nothing to do with cutting costs and everything to do with streamlining.

He said that in examining the Chandler and three other IT Innovation Centers in the United States, GM found “some redundancies” as it began “rationalizing the number of” such facilities it had been maintaining.

GM opened the Chandler site in 2014, saying on its website that it would support the manufacturer’s “IT needs including web technologies, end-user applications, dealer and factory systems and vehicle technology.”

Over time it virtually doubled the size of its workforce after starting out with 500 workers – a quarter of whom were college graduates.

e Detroit automaker also around the same time opened information technology innovation centers at its Warren Tech Center, in Austin, Texas, and Roswell, Ga., as part of its information technology overhaul.

“GM is in-sourcing about 90 percent of its 10,000information technology workforce to boost innovation capabilities while also trimming costs,” the

CLEAN from page 25

dient as a fragrance on the ingredient list.”

The composition of a ‘trade secret’ ingredient does not have to be disclosed publicly, meaning only the manufacturing company and the FDA truly know what is in it.

“In reality, a trade secret fragrance could be a blend of 10,000 elements that combine to make the desired texture a company is looking for,” Trellis Flores explained.

“Just because something is documented as a trade secret fragrance does not necessarily mean it is used to create a smell. The fragrance could

company said at the time of an initiative that had begun in 2012.

It said it had hired 7,700 information technology workers, including 4,600 at innovation centers. “We have made signi cant progress transforming GM IT over the past 20 months,” said Randy Mott, GM’s senior vice president of global information technology and chief information o cer.

e company announced in 2013 that it was building the Price Corridor facility, a year after it had established a temporary operation in the area. It put the cost of building the permanent facility at $21 million.

Last year, GM announced it was beefing up its Chandler facility, prompting jubilant reaction from city o cials.

“We are excited to see GM continue to grow its Chandler IT Innovation Center as part of its technology transforma-

instead be a diverse medley of ingredients meant to concoct a unique consistency.”

Also, she added, “these ingredients haven’t necessarily been tested for human health safety.”

After discovering how the industry is riddled with harmful chemicals and secrecy, Trellis Flores catapulted into learning more about “clean beauty.”

She dove deep into understanding terms like “organic,” “vegan” and “non-toxic” in the context of cosmetics.

“Around 2015, customers were beginning to ask for cleaner, more natural products, and unless you were in a big city like New York, Chicago, or Los Angeles, these products were virtually

tion,” said Mayor Kevin Hartke.

“ ese jobs created by GM are highwage, high-skill and provide tremendous employment opportunities for our residents. We appreciate GM’s signicant investment in Chandler and look forward to being a partner in their continued growth.”

Hartke could not be reached immediately for comment on the closure.

In the wake of GM’s announcement last year, the city put out a release that said, “GM selected Chandler in part for its strong local workforce when it opened the site in 2014, and the company has found success recruiting from area universities, as many of the available positions are entry level.”

Umesh Murthy, director at the Arizona IT Innovation Center in Chandler added, “As GM transforms from automaker to platform innovator, our IT In-

inaccessible to the average consumer,” said Trellis Flores.

Trellis Flores dreamed of bringing clean beauty to the suburbs in an effort to promote ingredient transparency and environmentally sustainable products among average, middle-class consumers.

It was with this vision that CLEAN(er) beauty was born.

She describes the business as an education-based retailer and service provider first.”

“We want you to leave our shop feeling empowered with more knowledge about the importance of skin health, feeling good about yourself,” she tells people on her website, adding “our

novation Center in Chandler plays an integral role for the future.

“On top of the region’s deep existing pool of talent, Chandler o ers a wonderful quality of life and strong community to newcomers. ose who join GM here will have an opportunity to pursue their passions and contribute to GM’s purpose.”

e company also said, “GM aspires to be the most inclusive company in the world, and in 2021, nearly one-third of all GM’s new hires in the U.S. were women, while 42% were from underrepresented groups.

“In addition, where the work permits, GM’s Work Appropriately philosophy o ers employees the exibility to work where they can have the greatest impact on achieving their goals.”

is is not the rst time GM has walloped the East Valley with a facility closure.

In 2009, the lights went out at the GM Proving Ground in East Mesa as it shut down a facility that for 56 years tested various parts of its brands for their ability to survive the harsh weather conditions that come with Arizona summers.

e 5,000-acre top-secret facility, surrounded by barbed wire and tall earthen berms, “played a much larger role in a lot of things that GM did than many people realize,” said then-Chandler city Councilman Jack Sellers and current county supervisor.

e site has since given way to largely industrial building development.

brands are carefully curated by our team of field experts and tested before hitting our shelves.”

In addition to products, CLEAN(er) Beauty also boasts a beauty steam bar with three types of treatments, an acne boot camp, wax bar and facial treatment bar.

It also offers makeovers and makeup lessons and can arrange a special program for private parties.

CLEAN(er) Beauty Shop

1661 S. Val Vista Drive, Unit 105

Gilbert 480-825-1130

info@cleanerbeautyshop.com

cleanerbeautyshop.com

General Motors has not said what it will do with the 170,000-square-foot innovation center in the Price Corridor that it built in 2014 at a cost of $21 million. (Courtesy of General Motors)

1520

1520 SOUTH LONGMORE, MESA

From city hall and the statehouse (and Senate) to corporate offices and boardrooms, women are making a remarkable difference in our community.

From city hall and the statehouse (and Senate) to corporate offices and boardrooms, women

From city hall and the statehouse (and Senate) to corporate offices and boardrooms, women are making a remarkable difference in our community.

On September 20, join us as we recognize women leaders at the PHX East Valley Partnership’s annual Statespersons’ Event.

On

On September 20, join us as we recognize women leaders at the PHX East Valley Partnership’s annual Statespersons’ Event.

Keynote Speaker

Keynote Speaker

Keynote Speaker

Anna Maria Chávez, president and CEO of the Arizona Community Foundation and one of the world’s top experts on women’s leadership

Anna Maria Chávez, president

Panel Discussion: Propelling More Women into Leadership Roles

Panel Discussion: Propelling More Women into Leadership Roles

Moderator: Stacy Derstine, APS

Moderator: Stacy Derstine, APS

Anna Maria Chávez, president and CEO of the Arizona Community Foundation and one of the world’s top experts on women’s leadership

Panel Discussion: Propelling More Women into Leadership Roles

Moderator: Stacy Derstine, APS

Panelists:

Panelists:

Panelists:

• Toni Broberg, state president, Arizona and New Mexico, AT&T

• Toni Broberg, state president, Arizona and New Mexico, AT&T

• Jenn Daniels, CEO, Horizon Strategies

• Toni Broberg, state president, Arizona and New Mexico, AT&T

• Jenn Daniels, CEO, Horizon Strategies

• Rosa Inchausti, city manager, City of Tempe

• Jenn Daniels, CEO, Horizon Strategies

From city hall and the statehouse (and Senate) to corporate offices and boardrooms, women are making a remarkable difference in our community.

• Rosa Inchausti, city manager, City of Tempe

• Dr. Tammy Robinson, president, Mesa Community College

• Rosa Inchausti, city manager, City of Tempe

• Dr. Tammy Robinson, president, Mesa Community College

• Sarah Watts, president/CEO, Gilbert Chamber of Commerce

On September 20, join us as we recognize women leaders at the PHX East Valley Partnership’s annual Statespersons’ Event.

• Sarah Watts, president/CEO, Gilbert Chamber of Commerce

• Dr. Tammy Robinson, president, Mesa Community College

Keynote Speaker

RSVP

RSVP

RSVP

• Sarah Watts, president/CEO, Gilbert Chamber of Commerce

Anna Maria Chávez, president and CEO of the Arizona Community Foundation and one of the world’s top experts on women’s leadership

Ticket packages of 10 are $1,000 and individual tickets are $100. For more information, visit www.phxeastvalley.com or contact Jessica Hubbard at 480-532-0641 or jhubbard@phxeastvalley.com.

Ticket packages of 10 are $1,000 and individual tickets are $100. For more information, visit www.phxeastvalley.com or contact Jessica Hubbard at 480-532-0641 or jhubbard@phxeastvalley.com.

Panel Discussion: Propelling More Women into Leadership Roles

Ticket packages of 10 are $1,000 and individual tickets are $100. For more information, visit www.phxeastvalley.com or contact Jessica Hubbard at 480-532-0641 or jhubbard@phxeastvalley.com.

Moderator: Stacy Derstine, APS

Panelists:

• Toni Broberg, state president, Arizona and New Mexico, AT&T

• Jenn Daniels, CEO, Horizon Strategies

• Rosa Inchausti, city manager, City of Tempe

• Dr. Tammy Robinson, president, Mesa Community College

• Sarah Watts, president/CEO, Gilbert Chamber of Commerce

RSVP

Ticket packages of 10 are $1,000 and individual tickets are $100. For more information, visit www.phxeastvalley.com or contact Jessica Hubbard at 480-532-0641 or jhubbard@phxeastvalley.com.

Deonce Elliott nding new passion in coaching

BY ZACH ALVIRA GSN Sports Editor

Deonce Elliott was living out his high school football dream in 2019 as the starting running back for Red Mountain High School.

He and the Mountain Lions were one of the top teams in the 6A Conference, narrowly missing the inaugural Open Division playo s. Instead, Red Mountain was the top seed in the 6A tournament, a good consolation after nishing the regular season 9-1.

e quarter nal round that year was personal for Elliott. e Mountain Lions were facing Desert Ridge, a nearby rival and his former team. e Mountain Lions won and advanced, but it did so without Elliott, who su ered a torn ACL during the game.

at broke him.

“It overwhelms me thinking about it,” Elliott said. “It sucks I never got the opportunity because I know how gifted I am.”

Elliott watched from the sideline on a scooter as Red Mountain went on to lose the 6A championship in heartbreak fashion, 34-28 in overtime to Liberty.

He went on to rehab his knee and signed with Arizona State as a preferred walkon. Despite the injury, he had ful lled his dream of becoming a Division I football player. But that was short lived as more injuries piled up.

Elliott su ered from a severe hernia with the Sun Devils before their summer workout program last year. After surgery and months of rehab, he was cleared. He thought his days of battling injuries were over as he returned to his natural form, beating teammates in races and going through rigorous workouts with ease.

But in December he su ered another hernia, which required surgery. He was cleared after two months but felt pain while lifting in the weight room. at’s when he made the di cult decision to walk away from football for the time being to let his

(Dave Minton/Staff Photographer)

body heal.

He admits he felt lost when he made the decision. But Arete Prep senior quarterback Prahlad Rattan found a path for him to take.

“When I hit up coach Marino and told him coach (Elliott) would be a good addition to the coaching sta , it was a fast transition,” Rattan said. “Everyone could see without even knowing how good of a coach and athlete he is and how much he helps us out. He’s like a big brother.”

e two had been trained by Elliott’s father when he was at Red Mountain. Rattan was still in elementary school at the time.

But the two remained in contact over the years. When Elliott decided to leave the ASU program, he asked if Rattan wanted to train again. Little did he know it would help him see a clear path after college football, something he was foggy about despite being content with his decision to walk away.

Elliott immediately t the mold of what Arete Head Coach Mike Marino was looking for in an assistant coach.

Elliott landed at Arete Prep thanks to senior quarterback Prahlad Rattan, who he trained with when he was in high school and has kept in contact with. Rattan said it was an easy decision for Head Coach Mike Marino to bring Elliott on the staff. (Dave Minton/Staff Photographer)

He was knowledgeable of the game but most importantly, he was able to relate to the players on a personal level. Every practice he walks through the Chargers warm up line and greets each player. In individu-

al groups he’s teaching running backs how to be patient and hit open running lanes while also helping the o ensive line be more explosive out of their stances.

He’s also become the defensive coordinator for Arete, which is new for Elliott but with his background as a running back he feels he can excel. Marino thinks so, too.

“He’s been invaluable for us,” Marino said. “Kids love him, and it goes into the excitement of telling your team you have a guy that played at ASU. ey feed into that. at’s the guy they want to go to battle for and work hard for.”

To some extent, Elliott is a local legend to current high school players. At least that’s how the Arete Prep team treats him.

Many of them desire to be like him, a 1,000-yard rusher as a senior before his injury. He made it to the highest level of college football before making the di cult decision to walk away.

But Elliott believes it was for the good, even though he admits he felt lost without football. at’s a feeling he still has to this day. At 21 years old he still has plenty of years ahead of him should his body allow it. He hopes there’s another opportunity down the road for him to reset his career.

“I’ve worked at (football) since I was 4 years old, so it means a lot to me,” Elliott said while ghting back tears. “Football means a lot to me.

“I hope if God allows me to and an opportunity opens up, I will go back and play.”

Whether an opportunity presents itself remains to be seen. For now, Elliott is focused on letting his body heal properly while giving back to the kids at Arete Prep. ey appreciate him for it, and he appreciates them for allowing him to nd happiness during a dark time. For that, he will forever be thankful.

“When kids tell me they look up to me and are calling me coach, it takes me back,” Elliott said. “It’s the little things. It made me appreciate the extra suicides we had to do because I do miss it.”

Arete Prep assistant coach and former Red Mountain running back Deonce Elliott found happiness again after injuries forced him to walk away from his career at Arizona State to let his body heal. He found happiness after a dark time helping lead the Chargers this season.

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

Protests, child labor subjects of HD SOUTH show

BY SRIANTHI PERERA GSN Contributor

Athought-provoking photography exhibition at Gallery 4 in HD South in Gilbert, which runs through Sept. 29, examines child labor and social resistance.

“With ese Hands” is a collection of 24 photos of migrant labor in the United States by Ken Light, a documentary photographer and professor at the University of California at Berkeley Graduate School of Journalism.

“Picturing Resistance” displays 58 images from 23 photographers around the country depicting marches, protests, rallies and demonstrations.

“ e show is powerful,” said Gilbert creative Elaine Kessler, whose daughter Elise’s poster on the “Black Lives Matter” movement is among the juried items on display.

“What’s really interesting is that photographers are expressing themselves by capturing other people expressing themselves. It was really interesting to see what people’s eyes gravitated toward, what they were able to capture, and some of the images are so striking,” added Kessler, a photographer herself who juried the show.

e exhibit includes Emily Sims’s photograph of Arizona’s Jacob Chansely who wore the now-familiar horn headdress during the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol insurrection; Robert Virga’s picture from a protest against the Cuba blockade; and Stephen Bean’s depiction of a diminutive, masked woman named Rosa who wants to “Stop Femicide and All Gender Violence.”

Light’s photography books with the same titles – “Picturing Resistance” (co-authored by Melanie Light) and “With ese Hands” – inspired the show, said Alan Fitzgerald of Art Intersection and the curator of Gallery 4, whose mission is to stimulate dialogue.

Recently, when e Washington Post published an investigative story on child labor of migrant children, Light revisited

thinking about how the viewer sees the photograph.

“Since I’m not there to explain it, you have to have something visually compelling to draw the viewer in to see and try to understand what I’m trying to do as a photographer,” Light said.

With child labor photos, the question hanging in the air is why young children are working in the elds and not attending school.

He expects the viewer to have the same experience that he had when he came upon them in the eld.

“A lost childhood is something that can never regained; children who work in these oppressive conditions need witnesses and ones who are willing to ght on their behalf,” he said.

in Arizona and to other states showed the same reliance on young migrant hands.

his image archive spanning ve decades and published an opinion piece of his work in the newspaper.

Starting in 1979, Light traveled across the country to photograph agricultural workers. During the rst trip to Rio Grande Valley in Texas, he noted that many of the fruit and vegetable pickers were children.

“ ere were children working everywhere,” he said. “I was really, really surprised.”

Subsequent trips to the Salt River Valley

As a photographer, gaining access to the orchards was tricky, he said. He had to be cautious and explain to the farmers that he was interested in harvest pictures because most people shopping in the supermarkets had no idea how the produce got there.

When in the elds, Light did not photograph children at rst.

“Someone will glance up to you with a smile and I would go to those people and begin to photograph,” he said. “Everyone would be watching me; they would pretend that they were not.

“Once I made that initial connection, from there people were very comfortable. After doing that for twenty minutes, I would begin to photograph the children and no one thought anything about it.”

As a rule, he spends considerable time

Light’s goal is a visual record of how and what the world is about.

“I spend years working on these projects, trying to get in-depth understanding and hearing the voices of my subjects who are telling me what their lives are about,” he said.

Kessler is also keen to highlight social justice issues.

“I feel like we have a lot of work to do in our society and I think that art is one of the ways that we can get that work done,” she said. “I wish more people thought that.”

“All Lives Don’t Matter Until Black Lives Matter,” were the words her daughter had scribbled on her poster that she displayed in downtown Gilbert in 2020.

In the back, she had scribbled some of the names of the Black people who have been killed in the hands of public safety o cers.

“I love that picture because I feel like it’s on one hand hopeful for the next generation because they care about what’s going on in their communities,” Kessler said.

Secondly, “it’s also really sad because they have to care about things like that at their age.”

Details: hdsouth.org/gallery-4

This photo depicts child labor and is part of the HD South exhibition of photos on migrant labor by Ken Light. (Special to GSN)

A protestor demands an end to the Cuba blockade in this photo by Robert Virga. (HD SOUTH)

King Crossword Answers on page 34

ACROSS

1 Rescue

5 Ozone, for one

8 Protracted

12 Carolina college

13 Roswell sighting

14 Falco of “The Sopranos”

15 “Game on!”

17 Snitch

18 Service charge

19 Rowing need

20 Road curves

21 Schlep

22 Deity

23 Everglades wader

26 Cure-all

30 Bump into

31 “Terrif!”

32 Astronaut Armstrong

33 Tennis tactic

35 Tea biscuit

36 Present location?

37 Expected

38 Thesaurus compiler

41 Drone

42 Airline to Sweden

45 Awestruck

46 “We should discuss this”

48 Actress Gilpin

49 Env. insert

50 Hybrid fruit

51 Adolescent

52 Bonfire residue

53 Inlets

DOWN

1 Narcissist’s love

2 Sheltered

3 Cast a ballot

4 Em halves

5 Soviet labor camp

6 Miles away

7 Tofu source

8 #1 hit by David Bowie

9 Rhyming tributes

10 Egyptian river

11 Hair goops

16 Sulk

20 A billion years

21 Words at the start of a lesson

22 Talk on and on

23 Ambulance VIP

24 Earth (Pref.)

25 Gym unit

26 Skillet

27 Biz bigwig

28 Aachen article

29 Pub pint

31 Repair

34 Cauldron

35 Totals

37 Hollanders

38 Engrossed

39 Curved molding

40 Impale

41 Coop group

42 Long tale

43 Friend

44 Aspen gear

46 Meadow

47 Vat

Sudoku