Gilbert Sun News 01-15-23

Sellers market

568 apartments slated for long-fallow farmland

BY CECILIA CHAN GSN Managing Editor

For over a decade a 25.15-acre plot of farmland in the Cooley Station master-planned development sat vacant in anticipation of multifamily housing. at wait is now over as a developer is moving forward with a proposal to erect 10 buildings with over 500 apartments south of Williams Fields Road, west of Recker Road and east of the

Union Paci c railroad tracks.

“ ere’re lots of good things happening here,” said land-use attorney Reese Anderson. “It’s a multifamily site, 568 units, about 48% open space. Sometimes we joke this site looks like home plate on a baseball eld.”

Anderson presented the Trax at Cooley Station project at a virtual neighborhood meeting Jan. 5. Although noti cations were sent, no surrounding

see TRAX page 4

Pollution curbs threaten Valley economic growth

BY PAUL MARYNIAK GSN Executive Editor

The Phoenix Metro region could lose more than $100 million in economic growth if it fails to meet upgraded federal air quality standards for ozone levels by August 2024, a Valley environmental o cial warned earlier this month.

And those losses would steadily increase over the next 20 years to as much as $848 million if the Valley’s ozone levels are not brought under control, Tim

Franquist, environmental policy director for the Maricopa Association of Governments told Phoenix City Council Jan. 4. ough he was addressing a Phoenix City Council subcommittee, Franquist’s assessment naturally applies to the entire Valley.

And it wasn’t very encouraging.

He said the controls necessary to meet more stringent federal air quality controls will carry a substantial cost to taxpayers.

“ at’s going to be a big issue for this

Victory leap

becoming a

after a long battle with Valley fever that sidelined him all junior year. For the story on his comeback, see page 29. (David Minton/GSN Staff Photographer) see AIR page 6

Highland High senior Noah Peterson is quickly

standout in the Hawks basketball program

Sign theft charge against September is dropped

BY CECILIA CHAN GSN Managing Editor

When Councilman Scott September left o ce last week, he no longer had a cloud hanging over his head.

at’s because a misdemeanor case accusing him of tempering with campaign signs during the August Primary went away.

“ is case was reviewed and prosecution declined on Dec. 15, 2022,” Phoenix city spokesman Dan Wilson said via email.

Gilbert Police last year recommended a class 2 misdemeanor charge of tampering with political signs against September but the Gilbert Prosecutor O ce declined to take the case due to a con ict of interest.

Instead, the town prosecutor referred the matter to the Maricopa County Attorney’s O ce for review and the county ended up sending the case to the City

of Phoenix Prosecutor’s O ce.

Gilbert resident Andrew Adams, who led the complaint, said he was o ered the option to appeal the decision but decided not to because he didn’t want to waste Phoenix’s time.

“ e elections is over and done,” Adams said last week. “It is what it is. It’s a

misdemeanor charge at the end. I think the election was consequent enough for his actions.”

Adams said he is instead focusing his energy doing the job as chairman of the Legislative District 14 Republicans “and doing what I can to better this community.”

“Scott September ran his race as he saw t and got handily defeated in his election,” he said. “I think in the end people spoke as to what they thought of the kind of character he had and that’s kind of how it ended.”

Oaths of office were the order of the day at the reconstituted Gilbert Town Council’s first meeting Jan. 10 as three newcomers took their seat and a fourth began her first full term. From left: Newcomers Jim Torgenson, Bobbi Buchli and Chuck Bongiovanni joined Yung Koprowski, a council appointee two years ago who won election to her first full term last year. (David Minton/GSN Staff Photographer)

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property owners attended.

“ e existing land use has been this way since 2008,” Anderson said of the absence. “It’s really nothing new. It’s been part of Cooley Station since the beginning.”

“From the beginning it was always anticipated this land use on this site,” he said.

Cooley Station is a 738-acre mixedused development on Williams Field Road nestled between the San Tan Mall and Arizona State University Polytechnic Campus.

e Trax at Cooley Station buildings would front Williams Field. Amenities include a clubhouse, pools, tot lot, tennis, pickleball and sand volleyball, dog parks, tness center, pilates studio and a rooftop deck.

A ve-story parking structure also is proposed for the interior that people can access directly from their units, according to Anderson. Some carriage units with underground garages also are proposed. “ e overall parking ratio is about 2.06 per unit, which is a good ratio,” Anderson said.

SEPTEMBER

from page 3

September, a planning commissioner when he was appointed to ll a vacant council seat in 2020, was running for his rst full term last year when the alleged incident occurred.

Adams called police Aug. 2, the morning of the Aug. 2 Primary, telling them he witnessed September going to a polling location at the Southeast Regional Library, “stealing signs that oppose him, Yung Koprowski and Bill Spence.”

Two of the signs read “Bill Spends voted for apartments, masks and higher property taxes.”

e other sign was a cartoon depiction of a male puppeteer “in a suit labeled as apartment developers” holding two stringed puppets bearing the faces of September and Koprowski, according to the police report.

At the time, September declined to speak to the media about what happened because he said it was a pending case. His attorney told police that September would not talk to police about the incident until “the Town of Gilbert attorney determined the validity of the sign as a political sign.”

September released a statement saying the City of Phoenix’s ndings vindicated him.

“ e independent review by the City of Phoenix Prosecutor’s O ce validates my claim that I did not break the law and did no wrong despite the claims by my political opponents,” he said. “I am relieved that my integrity and character are not in question, and I appreciate the exhaustive e orts of the Phoenix Prosecutor for examining the facts and delivering a just response.

ty from such a unique perspective and recognize the great responsibility of leadership. I will cherish the time I have spent with incredible sta , colleagues, and contributors to our great Town.”

e primary results saw September coming in at No. 7 among nine candidates, not including a write-in.

Koprowski, also an appointee running in her rst election, and newcomers Jim Torgeson and Chuck Bongiovanni won their seats in August while Spence and Bobbi Buchli faced o in a tight November General Election. Buchli eventually was declared victor.

e four took their oaths of o ce Jan. 10. e new council also voted in Councilwoman Kathy Tilque as vice mayor.

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e report said one of the witnesses grabbed the signs back from September and returned them to Adams.

“I am extremely grateful for the opportunity I have had to serve Gilbert citizens over the last two and ½ years as a member of the Gilbert Town Council. I have enjoyed seeing our communi-

Gilbert Public Schools Governing Board also held its organizational meeting Jan. 10 with its two new members – Chad Thompson and Ronda Page. The board voted to keep Lori Wood as president for a second year and Sheila Uggetti as board clerk for a second year.

Developer Frankel Family Trust offers excellent resort-style amenities, he noted.

Somerton Boulevard also would be extended through to the development.

The 25 acres bordered in yellow in the Cooley Station development would be home to over 500 apartments. (Special to GSN)

area,” he continued. “We really haven’t put in ozone-control measures for about 20 years, so we’re de nitely going to need a lot more measures coming into place.”

Right now, the only way the Valley could meet the elevated Environmental Protection Agency’s ozone limits would be taking all four million gasoline-powered motor vehicles in Maricopa County o the road by August 2024, Franquist said.

And even then, he added, “we would barely make the standard.”

And since that’s a virtual impossibility, the cost of meeting tougher air quality standards could result in lost industrial development opportunities as businesses avoid relocating or expanding here rather than pay for expensive federally-imposed, tougher emission controls.

at cost would extend beyond the Valley since tougher emission standards could even be imposed for trucks and cars that come into the region regularly from other parts of the state and country that may not have similarly tough standards, he said.

And it also could be re ected in other ways, Franquist said, such as more stringent air quality permits and more stringent emission control programs.”

“It impacts us by negatively impacting businesses,” he said, noting that the Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co plant in north Phoenix theoretically would need a permit and be operating before the new standards kick in. “Now, a $40 billion investment: I think the White House gets involved and I think (it) comes here.”

Vice Mayor Yassamin Ansari seized on that example, saying “the hallmark example of an incredible foreign investment” would be scuttled because “we are dangerously close to reaching serious non-attainment, which means that those businesses would not be able to come here after 2024.”

“Non-attainment” is the classi cation that the EPA gives metro areas that fail to meet air quality goals. Other metro areas already have studied the economic impact of non-attainment and have projected staggering losses in future economic growth.

For example, Franquist said, the Oklahoma City metro area faces an economic loss of as much as $15.2 billion over the next 20 to 30 years for violating tougher

federal air quality standards. Corpus Cristi, Texas, estimates a loss of $600 million to $1.7 billion a year in economic activity for failing to meet impending EPA ozone standards.

“We have kind of a table of increasing stringency in programs as we don’t meet the standard,” Franquist said. “So obviously. as we don’t meet those standards, those programs become more stringent and there’s more of them.”

Franquist said the culprit in all this is the ozone level.

While Maricopa County has actually done a good job reducing many air pollutants, he said, ozone levels have been aggravated in large part by things beyond its control – namely, forest res in both Arizo-

na and California and the Valley’s average 300 days of sunny weather.

“Unlike some pollutants, like carbon dioxide – which is a direct pollutant that comes from your tailpipe or from an industrial stack,” Franquist explained, “ozone is considered a secondary pollutant. So it actually requires volatile organic compounds and oxides of nitrogen.”

And those compounds react to the sun’s ultraviolet radiation, adversely a ecting air quality.

Franquist produced a chart showing how wild res in Arizona and California have adversely impacted air quality, posing a growing health risk to vulnerable adults and even more children.

“ is is what our children are breath-

ing,” he said. “What most folks don’t realize with children – they do breathe in the same amount of air as an adult. ey just breathe faster than we do. So they actually take in these pollutants at the same level as adults but in smaller bodies.”

Franquist said the Valley’s future ability to meet federal air quality standards has been crippled by former Gov. Doug Ducey’s veto last year of a bill that would have asked the public to vote last November on an extension of the half-cent gas tax that funds a variety of rapid transit and road improvement projects.

While the Legislature could again vote to put Proposition 400 on next year’s ballot ahead of the tax’s expiration in 2025, the uncertainty currently surrounding it threatens a number of projects already on county and municipal drawing boards – including an expansion of public transportation aimed at curbing car tra c.

Franquist praised Phoenix for being “a fantastic leader” in programs aimed at reducing ozone pollution – mainly involving its multi-million-dollar investment in replacing a large portion of the city’s gas-powered vehicles such as re engines and garbage trucks with electric ones and its aggressive expansion of bus and light rail routes.

But many of those city vehicles won’t be replaced until 2028 – well beyond the federal deadline for ozone reduction.

Franquist also warned, “ ere’s no silver bullet in terms of reducing ozone in one di erent control program. It takes a lot of di erent control programs working together to actually reduce ozone.”

“I think it’s important that we continue to get the word out to both the public and to our legislators that this is important for our economy, but it’s absolutely important for our public health,” he added, conceding the ozone control programs “are not cheap to implement.”

Franquist’s message provoked Ansari to express alarm about the impending air quality measures and the region’s attitude toward them.

“We are treating them as though they’re not urgent, and they’re not priorities and they don’t have nancial implications even though they really, really do and they will hurt us economically,” Ansari said. “So I feel very strongly that we need to be doing a lot more than we have.”

Rising ozone levels in the Valley’s atmosphere will force increasingly tough emissions control programs as early as 2024, the environmental policy director for the Maricopa Association of Governments told a Phoenix City Cou8ncil subcommittee Jan. 4. (Courtesy of MAG)

Not all ozone is harmful. Ozone in the stratosphere, 6 miles to 30 miles above the Earth’s surface, protects us from the sun’s ultraviolet rays. But ozone in the troposphere, where we live on the surface of the Earth, can result in severe health problems. (Olivia Dow/Cronkite News)

Anderson acknowledged the tra c impact from the proposed multifamily community, but said, “Any project will lead to an increase in tra c. is has been planned a long time, all the infrastructure is either in place or will be put in place.”

He said the developer wants the town to keep the base zoning exactly the same – multifamily-medium with 14-25 dwelling units per gross acre – but add a Planned Area Development overlay.

e overlay would allow for deviations to the development standards, such as modi cation of some building setbacks on the east side and increased building heights from 56 feet to 84 feet, or six stories, which is being proposed for a few of the buildings, according to Anderson.

He said the developer is working with the Cooley Station architectural committee to ensure that the project design will be consistent with its guidelines.

“We are working on the site plan,” he said. “We are very early in the process.”

He also said that there may be another neighborhood meeting on the project. e project was in the pre-application process with town planners.

Planner Keith Newman said it was too early to note any concerns sta may have with the proposal.

“I really can’t speak to that yet,” Newman said. “But are we supportive? I would say we are generally in support of it.”

Anderson anticipated ling a formal

tuned in. (Special to GSN)

application with the town next month or in March.

He added that the project was months away from going before the Planning Commission and Town Council.

Project designer Jose Pombo said the developer does not yet have a construction timeline for the project, which would be built in one phase.

e developer and the team working on the Trax project also are behind the one of the largest apartment projects planned in Gilbert that recently went before the Design Review Board for input.

e Tuscany at Gabriella Pointe boasts 760 multifamily units on 39 acres east of the southeast corner of Higley and Warner roads near the Morrison Ranch and the Cooley Station North neighborhoods.

Attorney Reese Anderson held a virtual meeting on the Trax at Cooley Station but no neighbors

Water availability could restrict future development

BY HOWARD FISCHER Capitol Media Services

Tom Buschatzke says it wouldn’t be wrong to see the freeze on new development in an area in and around Buckeye due to a shortage of groundwater there as the canary in the coal mine.

But the director of the state Department of Water Resources said that the early warning for Arizonans first occurred three years ago in Pinal County: His agency already is refusing to issue the necessary permits for new developments that were planning to rely solely on groundwater.

More to the point, he said, much of the rest of this drought-stricken state is headed that way absent some new source of water.

In a wide-ranging interview with Capitol Media Services, Buschatzke said that communities are not immune just because they have an allo-

cation of water from the Central Arizona Project.

That resource, too, is limited. And cities that can’t show their CAP allocations ensure a 100-year supply of water face similar restrictions.

Nor he said can developers rely on the idea that there may be treated seawater available sometime in the future to start building today.

Buschatzke said that his decision not to release until Monday the analysis of available groundwater in what is known as the Lower Hassaympa sub-basin near Buckeye was not an effort – as Gov. Katie Hobbs said Monday in her State of the State speech –to hide it from the public so that developers could keep building.

He did acknowledge that the request to delay the report did, in fact, come from the staff pf Doug Ducey, her predecessor. But Butschatzke said the former governor wanted to have it released at the same time as stake-

holders came up with “potential solutions that would be put out into the public world at the same time.’’

Hobbs, informed of the existence of the report, had a different idea.

“I think we can’t tackle this issue if we don’t know what we’re facing,’’ she said after her speech.

Anyway, Buschatzke said the timing is legally irrelevant: Public or not, Buschatzke said what’s in the report means that his department isn’t issuing any permits at all for new residential subdivisions for the 886 square mile area that has been under study.

What the release of the report has done, though, is create a new focus on the fact that the state faces a water shortage even as people keep moving here.

“We have this dual challenge, right?’’ the governor said. “We have to balance our needs to address the housing crisis with our need to address water shortages.’’

This “dual challenge’’ is caused by a dual problem.

Lawmakers realized decades ago that the state was in a position where the amount of groundwater available would be outstripped by demand.

Arizona has long been entitled to a share of Colorado River water. But it took federal legislation to authorize construction of the Central Arizona Project with the idea of reducing the need to pump.

And in 1980, with the CAP in place, state lawmakers approved a historic law designed to cut groundwater pumping in metropolitan areas, with the idea of “safe yield’’ by 2025, the point at which what is being taken out balances with recharge.

Only thing is, that Colorado River supply, allocated in what it turns out were unusually wet years, has recently failed to materialize. The result has

NothingBundtCakes.com NothingBundtCakes.com

been mandatory cutbacks, with more to come if Arizona, California and Nevada don’t agree on a plan.

But what the report from Buckeye shows is that, for much of the state, groundwater is not a solution for the future as CAP water becomes scarcer.

“We’ve been trying to take the easy way out,’’ Hobbs said. And that leaves the question of whether Arizona can continue to grow at the rate it has.

“I don’t know the answer to that,’’ she conceded.

“A lot of what we’re facing in terms of Colorado River shortages is that more of the snowfall is being absorbed and there’s less runoff,’’ the governor continued. And that, she said is caused by climate change.

“It’s not something that we can fix by using less water,’’ Hobbs said. “It’s very complicated.’’

But could development actually be stopped?

“There’s a lot in that question I don’t have answers to,’’ the governor

said, saying that will become part of what the Water Policy Task Force she announced on Tuesday will wrestle with, “what we need to do to balance our need to continue to house people and our water shortages.’’

Buschatzke said none of this should come as a surprise.

“Over the years, what I’ve said is that, given the fact that groundwater’s a finite resource, that we’ve been allocating groundwater since the 1980 Groundwater Management Act for a variety of uses, that it was kind of a matter of time,’’ he said. And Buschtzke said Buckeye won’t be the last such area affected.

“I can’t exactly tell you who’s next and when that will occur,’’ he said. It will all be governed by the science.

“We’re in the process, as we always are, of improving and updating our groundwater models,’’ Buschatzke continued. “And as we work through those we may see some of this starting to daylight elsewhere.’’

So what are the options for continued growth?

One is to pump water from the Harquahala Valley even farther west of Phoenix. A special law allows transfers from this basin into more water-starved areas of the state.

There is also some reclaimed water that hasn’t already been allocated to things like providing cooling for the Palo Verde Nuclear Generating Station.

And the Colorado River Indian Community recently got federal permission to sign long-term leases for part of its 719,428 acre-feet a year of Colorado River Water. An acre foot, on average, supports a family of three for a year.

But even that has limits.

Buschatzke said the tribe is looking at leases of perhaps 25 to 30 years, too short by itself to become part of any 100-year assured supply for a community or developer.

“But you could take that CRIT water, you could put it under the ground, and you could divide the volume by the appropriate calculations to make it 100 years,’’ he said. “You could pull

it out over the 100 years.’’

And what of desalination?

Buschatzke said the only thing that has happened so far is the Water Infrastructure Finance Authority has directed its staff to talk with IDE Technologies, an Israeli firm, about a possible plant on the Sea of Cortez to provide water for Arizona at some future date. But that, he said, is far from a sure thing.

“Right now I would not be able to put any potential desalinated water as an approval for anybody’s assured water supply program, none,’’ Buschatzke said.

“There hasn’t been a plant sited, there hasn’t been a plant under construction, it’s not producing any water,’’ he said. “You have to have water being produced.’’

And that says nothing about it being actually available for 100 years.

“Desal can be part of the solution,’’ Buschatzke said. “But none of the desal being discussed ... is going into anyone’s assured water supply at this time.’’

Proposed corporate tax cut would cost Gilbert $6.5M

BY HOWARD FISCHER Capitol Media Services

Republican lawmakers are moving to cut income tax rates for Arizona corporations by nearly half – a move legislative budget analysts say eventually could cut state revenues by nearly $670 million a year and take about $5.6 million in annual revenue away from Gilbert.

e party-line vote last week by the House Ways and Means Committee came over objections from all the Democrats on the panel who questioned both the wisdom and the need to take the tax rate from its current 4.9% to 2.5% by 2026. And that follows a series of cuts a decade ago that dropped the rate from nearly 7%.

“ ere are better places we can invest more than half a billion dollars than on corporate welfare,’’ said House Minority Leader Andres Cano.

“We could give our teachers a $10,000 raise, taking them from 44th in the nation to 19th,’’ the Tucson Democrat said. “We could send relief to Arizona renters and homeowners by quadrupling the state’s current investment in the Housing Trust Fund.’’

But Rep. David Livingston, R-Peoria, the author of HB 2003, pointed out that even legislative budget sta ers concede the estimates of lost revenues are “highly speculative.’’

Some of that is because corporations have great exibility in how and when they compute and pay their taxes. at had led to a volatility over the years.

In 2013, when the corporate rate was close to 7%, collections were $662 million. ey hit $368 million when the rate reached 4.9% but rose to $847 million by 2021, even at the lower rate. What the measure also is, Livingston said, is a matter of equity.

e 4.9% rate applies to what are known as “C-corps,’’ called that because that’s how they’re organized under that chapter of the Internal Revenue Code. e pro ts of these corporations are directly taxed, as are the distributions to shareholders.

By contrast, “S-corps’’ pay no corporate taxes, with the pro ts or losses passed on to individual shareholders who report them on their personal re-

turns. And the individual tax rate in Arizona is 2.5%

But not every company can organize that way, with federal law limiting them to companies with 100 or fewer shareholders, all of whom have to be U.S. citizens or residents.

David Lujan, CEO of the Children’s Action Alliance, questioned the need for further corporate tax relief.

He cited gures from the state Department of Revenue that 79% of corporations pay only the $50 a year minimum state tax. at’s because many are able to reduce their reported pro ts because of various tax credits the state makes available, credits these companies can bank for up to 12 years if they had no tax liability.

In fact, Lujan said, those corporations currently have more than $1 billion in “banked’’ credits that they will be able to use in future years if they ever do have taxable income.

“We think a better economic strategy would be to focus on investing in our workforce,’’ he told lawmakers.

Lujan said many factors go into why companies move choose to locate or expand. And he said one of the biggest factors is not the tax rate but the ability to nd quali ed workers.

“ is bill we believe will make it even more di cult to invest in strengthening our workforce,’’ Lujan said. “It’ll make it more di cult to invest in higher education and job training and K-12 education.’’

Livingston questioned that claim. “We invested record amount of dol-

lars into K-12 last year and in the previous year,’’ he said. And Livingston said strong state revenues also allowed the state to pay down much of its debt, meaning more dollars are available for not just education but other needs like transportation.

“If we cut taxes, there’s an ability – not a guarantee, but an ability – to pay people more or cut (the cost of) products,’’ Livingston said.

Rep. Neal Carter, R-Queen Creek, had a similar argument.

“ e payor, the person remitting the receipt, is a corporation,’’ he said. “But the incidence of the tax, the person actually bearing the burden of it, are consumers and employees.’’

But Rep. Seth Blattman, D-Mesa, said this is about more than just lost revenue for the state.

He pointed out that cities and towns receive 18% of individual and corporate income tax collections, computed from what was paid two years prior. And legislative budget sta ers gure that by 2029 the combined loss to local communities will exceed $120 million.

Rep. Justin Heap, R-Mesa, however, said he was “skeptical’’ that cities actually will end up losing revenues.

“ e cities that I have talked to in Arizona are competing to try to get these tech jobs,’’ he said, the kind of jobs he believes a lower corporate tax rate would attract. “ ey want these high-paying jobs in because that increases revenue of the city, it brings in more money for their economies, and it helps them.’’

Ho man slams Hobbs’ anti-bias protections plan

BY HOWARD FISCHER Capitol Media Services

Calling her actions illegal, some Republican lawmakers said Monday they will go to court to overturn the new governor’s executive order expanding anti-discrimination protections for state employees and contractors.

“ e people of Arizona did not elect Katie Hobbs to rule by executive at,’’ said

Sen. Jake Ho man, R-Queen Creek. Instead, the head of the Arizona Freedom Caucus said the role of the governor is solely to implement the laws approved by the House and Senate, not to unilaterally enact her “radical woke agenda.’’

“Yet sadly for our state, Katie feels, just as she’s shown a propensity for in her time as secretary of state, that she is above the law and does not need to follow the laws that this legislature passes,’’ Ho man said, sur-

rounded by other caucus members. “ at is wrong.’’

What is also is, Ho man said, is illegal. And he said a lawyer is being hired to ask a judge to declare she does not have such authority and to overturn the order.

Gubernatorial press aide Murphy Hebert said her boss is not concerned.

“Of course, we have legal authority to issue a directive to state agencies that brings them into alignment with existing federal

anti-discrimination protections,’’ she said, speci cally referring to an executive order issued by President Joe Biden on his rst day in o ce. “Any claims the governor overstepped her authority are baseless.’’

e object of the planned lawsuit is an order Hobbs issued on her rst full day in o ce directing state agencies under her control to eliminate all barriers that “arti -

Rep. David Livingston, R-Peoria, says cutting Arizona’s corporate tax would help create jobs or lower prices for products made here. (Howard Fischer/Capitol Media Services)

tour exhausting, enlightening

BY SHANE BRENNAN Cronkite News

Teaching about the Holocaust isn’t easy, but educators and experts say it’s worth the effort.

Under a bill signed by Gov. Doug Ducey in 2021, schools must teach the events of the Holocaust and other genocides twice from grade 7 to grade 12.

The Holocaust was the systematic genocide of an estimated 6 million Jews and members of other groups in Nazi-controlled Europe before and during World War II.. Sheryl Bronkesh, president of the Phoenix Holocaust Association, said the teaching of the Holocaust is critical for young students to develop empathy in the early stages of their education.

“It is hopefully teaching history and art showing students or helping students connect what they learn about history to what’s going on in the world today,” Bronkesh said. “We feel

that teaching the Holocaust and other genocides really can shed light on where hatred can lead.”

To bring a personal perspective to

some educators in the state, Northern Arizona University’s Martin-Springer Institute, which focuses on Holocaust-related topics and education,

took educators from across the state on a trip to Europe over the summer to explore important sites of the Holocaust and World War II.

The trip was funded by dozens of donors, including grants from the Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation and the Claims Conference. Teachers on the trip only paid about one-seventh of the price.

Amanda Johnson, who teaches English at Corona del Sol High School in south Tempe, said the perspective she gained on the trip was important in her own understanding of a sobering topic.

The experience was exhausting, she said, but not in a negative way.

Touring Auschwitz-Birkenau in Poland – the Nazis’ largest concentration camp and the one responsible for the most murders, mainly through gas chambers –was particularly challenging.

“That was a day that was really long,

Amanda Johnson, who teaches English at Corona del Sol High School in Tempe, accompanied a group of Arizona teachers to Europe last summer to learn more about the Holocaust.

Arizona passed a law in 2021 requiring middle school and high school teachers to incorporate curriculum about the Holocaust and other genocides. (Sophie Oppfelt/Cronkite News)

physically, but also really long emotionally, because it’s one of the hardest days on the trip,” Johnson said. “It was probably one of the most important pieces of the journey for me to process as well.”

However, Bronkesh said, educators don’t have to travel to get that perspective.

“I don’t think teachers have to go to the site of where this happened in order to be immersed in the information, and that’s not reasonable to expect all our teachers in Arizona to go to Poland or Ukraine or any of the Eastern European countries where most of this happened.”

Bronkesh said she knows the information is sensitive to children, but she wants the Holocuast to be taught so children can connect the events of World War II to current events and learn empathy for their peers – to “understand the dangers of staying silent in the face of evil.”

Johnson said she goes beyond sta-

tistics in her Holocaust lessons and teaches the entire timeline of the persecution of Jews in Nazi Germany leading to up to the Holocaust. She said she wants her students to be “conscientious participants in the world around them” and not perpetrate or support similar events in the future.

“You guys know what could happen again, and you have a voice to be able to stand up and say this isn’t going to work for us, this isn’t going to happen in our generation,” Johnson said she tells her students.

Bronkesh said educators have plenty of resources in metro Phoenix to enhance their teaching. The Arizona Jewish Historical Society and the Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts have had exhibits that could be resources for educators to help localize the events through stories of survivors and their families in Arizona.

In the wake of recent anti-Semitic comments made by celebrities like Kanye West and Kyrie Irving, Bronkesh was at a loss for words on how to educate against their influence and popularity.

“I can’t imagine anybody looking up to him for moral guidance,” Bronkesh said of West. “You’re this multigazillion-dollar star who spouts hatred.”

Associate professor of history at Arizona State University Volker Benkert, who’s from Germany, said his preferred way to teach about the Holocaust in college is by humanizing it.

It should be “a humanizing story showing how literally the walls were closing in on people” in Nazi Germany, he said, but should also highlight how life has changed for Jewish people globally and celebrate Jewish life in the present day.

“These horrors did not entirely destroy this community, despite all the losses … there is Jewish life to be celebrated in the end, and I think these things are important and that’s what you get when you go towards a victim-centered representation of the Holocaust,” Benkert said.

One way Arizona Holocaust education could be victim-centered and dig beneath the surface, he said, is by connecting the genocide of World War

II to those in Armenia and of Native Americans in the U.S.

“There’s certainly genocidal acts that occurred in this framework and here in our state,” Benkert said. “I think this victim-centered view is then a springboard also to other genocides.”

When it comes to Native Americans, Benkert said it is essential for children to understand every side of American history while circling back to the theme of developing empathy.

“All of us who are living here benefited from the land grab in the 19th and early 20th century,” Benkert said. “I think what is important is that we instill in our students a sense of empathy for others and an understanding of history that stems from the fact that the Holocaust is not far away and a long time ago, but that it has impact to how we deal with our own history here.”

Benkert said as long as education about the events of the Holocaust are related to events in the current day, “I think we’re probably doing something right.”

Fired teacher accuses Valley Christian of gay bias

BY KEN SAIN Managing Editor

Adam McDorman says that his Christian beliefs include acceptance and equality for all LGBT people and that God’s children should never discriminate or show hostility toward them.

The English teacher at a private Christian school in Chandler says he lost his job because of those beliefs.

In a twist, he is claiming in a lawsuit filed Dec. 27 that Valley Christian Schools in Chandler discriminated against him for his religious views. Usually religious schools make that claim when they are sued for anti-gay bias.

According to the federal suit, here’s what McDorman said led to his termination:

Last fall, a Valley Christian School student made a social media post saying they identified as pansexual, which means they are attracted to all genders or gender identities.

High school Principal Josh LeSage learned about the post and urged his staff at a Nov. 1 meeting to share the belief in the sinfulness of LGBT sexual orientation and that anyone who disagreed was like a cancer that needed to be removed from Valley Christian.

McDorman voiced his objection during a Nov. 3 department meeting, saying the school needs to find a better way to care for the school’s LGBT stu-

dents and protect them from discrimination.

LeSage sent out an email later that day, saying he planned to meet with the student, whose parents were not invited.

In the email he wrote: “There is a hideous lie that “You can be both,” meaning homosexual and otherwise sexually deviant and also a Christian. God is clear that we cannot openly live in and celebrate our sin, much less elevate it to the status and being part

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Adam McDorman has field a federal lawsuit against Valley Christian School in Chandler over his firing for what he said were his beliefs gay people should not be discriminated against. (Special to SanTan Sun News)

of our identity and serve Christ at the same time. The very thought is so offensive.”

In the email he specifically mentioned McDorman, stating:

“We have a faculty member and a ‘central office’ employee who supposedly suggested in a meeting today that we invite a pastor of a local gay-friendly church to come and speak to our faculty to help us better understand this lifestyle and better minister to those kids we may have. Hell no! We are not doing that.”

McDorman claims he told LeSage on Nov. 8 he did not think that it was a good idea to exclude the student’s parents from his meeting with her.

The principal responded that he had a “problem” with Christians who identify as gay or gender nonbinary and met for several hours on the topic.

McDorman was fired the next day.

The student met with the principal and the school’s coordinator of student health and wellness soon afterward without the parents being present. The

student recorded the conversation.

In the recording, LeSage tells the student that transgender people have a mutation in their brain. He said they’re not crazy, it’s biological.

He also said this:

“The homosexual community is shying away from the fact that most homosexual men did suffer sexual abuse as an adolescent. And there is solid scientific research outside of Bible circles, that shows your first sexual experience has a strong determining factor in what your sexual preferences are.

“So again, sin coming into the world, a boy is abused by a man, something happens in his brain that shifts and makes his preference cannot always, but can, give him a preference for men sexually.”

He also told the student, “Same-sex relations are an abomination to God.”

What he said appears to be consistent with school policy.

According to the lawsuit, the school’s Foundational Positions states, “Any form of sexual immorality (including adultery, fornication, homosexuality, lesbianism, bisexual conduct, bestial-

ity, incest, pornography, and attempting to change one’s biological sex or acting upon any disagreement with one’s biological sex) or advocacy of sexual immorality, is sinful and offensive to God.”

The lawsuit claims the school de-

prived McDorman of his right to be free from discrimination based on his religious views. It says LeSage subjected McDorman to threats of discriminatory treatment.

His lawyer, Krista Robinson, said McDorman declined to be interviewed for this story. She said he is not working now and has taken his ring very hard.

Robinson also said that he was reluctant to le the lawsuit, and waited until the last day he could le to give the goahead.

A voice mail to LeSage’s phone asking for his side of the story was not returned.

McDorman also filed a discrimination charge with the Arizona Attorney General’s office.

Dan Kuiper, the head of schools for VCS, wrote in an email, “Since this is a pending lawsuit, we are not able to comment at this time. Our insurance company has not assigned a lawyer to the case.”

The lawsuit is seeking compensatory and punitive damages, back pay and lost benefits, and reasonable attorney’s and experts fees.

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What’s The Real Value Of Hearing Aids?

Hearing Aids

Hearing Protection

Hearing Testing

“Well,” said the new hearing aid user as she drew a deep breath.” my hearing loss cost me three friendships that I know of, a strained relationship with my husband, two grandchildren who think I don’t understand them, boredom at church, and lost interest in attending get-togethers.”

After a reflective pause, she added: “Sure I invested some money to get these hearing aids... but it doesn’t compare with what it cost before I got them.”

DISCRIMINATE

from page 12

cially restrict’’ employment actions that are “not directly related to the performance of the job.’’

What that means, she said, is adopting anti-discrimination policies that go beyond what already is required under state and federal laws which cover not just things like race, sex and religion but also pregnancy and veteran status.

Now the list is expanded to include other traits that cannot be considered in hiring, ring or pay, ranging from sexual orientation and gender identity and marital status to culture, creed, social origin and even political a liation.

But any litigation won’t be limited to what Hobbs just did.

In 2003, then-Gov. Janet Napolitano issued her own, more limited, executive order expanding protections for state workers to include issues of sexual orientation. at order is still in e ect, with both Jan Brewer and Doug Ducey, her Republican successors, deciding not to use the power they had to rescind it.

Ho man said that is irrelevant.

“ e executive branch, whether it’s 2003 or 2023, does not have the legal right to create law that does not exist,’’ he said. Instead, Ho man said, the only protections for state workers are those in what the state and federal government already have dened as “protected classes,’’ like race, religion and gender.

And he rejected the idea that Hobbs, as the state’s chief executive, has supervisory power over state employees.

Ho man said the caucus, formed last year, is not limited to this issue.

For example, he said, one goal is “to protect children from radical ideology like comprehensive sexuality education and critical race theory.’’ And Ho man said there also are economic issues, “to do what we can to reduce the e ects of Joe Biden’s in ation.’’

“ e Republican legislature and the Arizona Freedom Caucus will oppose Katie Hobbs’ woke agenda,’’ he said. “You can bet your ass that will happen.

Ho man also blasted the new governor for removing the storage containers that Ducey had placed along the border, brushing aside the fact that it was the former governor, facing a federal court lawsuit, who agreed to the $76 million contract to tear down the makeshift wall, not Hobbs.

He also insisted that targeting only this executive order on discrimination -- and not others by the current and former governor on a wide variety of issues -- was not an indication that caucus members are opposed to gay rights.

“It does not matter your race, it does not matter your income, it does not matter your gender, your ethnicity, your national origin,’’ he said.

“It does not matter what your sexual preference is,’’ Ho man continued. “We stand to represent the people of this state and to do what the constitution empowers us to do.’’

Hebert also suggested that the Arizona Freedom Caucus spend more time seeking to nd “common ground and real solutions to the issues confronting our state.’’

“While some in the legislature will seek to obstruct that e ort, we won’t let it distract us,’’ she said.

Sen. Jake Hoffman, surrounded by members of the Arizona Freedom Caucus, says Monday the group will sue to overturn Katie Hobbs’ executive order extending the scope of anti-discrimination protections that govern state employees and contractors. (Capitol Media Services/Howard Fischer)

Mesa district prepares for Chinese Lunar New Year

BY SRIANTHI PERERA GSN Contributor

Ushering in the Lunar New Year in Asia means setting o recrackers and reworks and creating a messy, noisy and immersive experience that di ers from the North American version of looking at reworks from afar.

“We just had our New Year reworks, but this one has a di erent appeal to it; it has a lot more of a street vendor vibe. ey light it up and they don’t necessarily care about the mess, the smell, everyone just wants to be there for the celebration,” explained Anthony Amphonephong, executive director of the Asian Chamber of Commerce.

Two upcoming celebrations in Mesa celebrating Chinese Lunar New Year will try to o er the real atmosphere. Fireworks, lion dancing, Japanese Taiko Drums and Vietnamese fan dancing will make up the cultural extravaganzas.

Lunar New Year Celebration 2023, e Year of the Rabbit will take place 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 21, at AZ International Marketplace in Mesa’s Asian District, while Culture Night, Celebrating Asian Lunar New Year organized by the Asian Festival will take place 4-10 p.m. Jan. 28 at Mesa Community College. Both outdoor events are free to attend.

“We Asians love to celebrate. So, we organized this for the community to come out and celebrate and have fun,” said local Realtor Winnie Kho Kaplan, whose husband, Steve Kaplan, founded the Asian Festival last year.

As an adviser to the festival, Winnie Kho recently secured a nonpro t designation to facilitate obtaining sponsors and keep it free so that the community may participate in large numbers.

Culture Night will have about 100 booths selling crafts and demonstrations including lantern making, kung fu, calligraphy and a tea ceremony.

Entertainment includes a lion dance, international live jazz music performed by John Williams (formerly of Herbie Hancock), Taiko Japanese drumming artist Ken Koshio and cultural dances from various Asian countries.

e Asian District also wants to spread cultural awareness and events such as these is a good rst step.

“Its aim is to create a central hub for the general public to celebrate with cultural performances and things that they normally would not have access to,” said Amphonephong, who expects at least 2,000 people to attend.

Children will receive the traditional red envelopes with money and 5- to 10-yearolds may appear in a beauty pageant.

“It’s good for anyone who loves cultures. e New Year celebration is joyful,” said David Pham, a member of the Arizona Vietnamese community, which is

partnering with AZ International Marketplace to put on the show.

Amphonephong said the festival is being held during the day, oriented toward the family and focused on the cultural aspect of the holiday. e district has dozens of stores and supermarkets providing goods and services.

Outside, there will be about ve main food vendors selling Chinese food, Filipino fusion, Vietnamese Pho and a donut cart. “It’s a smaller event and more intimate, that’s what they want to keep it as,” he added.

is is the third Chinese New Year celebration being held in the Asian District.

e rst one was held just before the pandemic hit in 2020, and it was “a huge success,” attended by more than 10,000 people. Coming out of Covid, last year’s event attracted about 12,000, and the district held another one, a night mar-

ket, in October.

Initially, the Asian District Night Market was built around marketability in the area.

“As we recently branded the Asian District, we wanted to bring tra c and a lot of eyes to the area, so we recently held the Asian District Night Market,” Amphonephong said.

“We want every business owner to have the opportunity to host whatever seems t for their business and this also goes along with it. e Lunar New Year is a very, very big celebration in the Chinese and the Vietnamese community,” he said.

“AZ International wanted to host their own, so we are letting them take the reins on it and we are just helping them out, providing them the resources and what we’ve done in the past to help them succeed,” he added.

e Valley has a burgeoning Asian population.

Amphonephong, who is of Laotian descent, said that when he was small, his family used to know every Laotian who lived in the area.

Nowadays, it is di erent, he said. A Laotian community is developing in Laveen, and many people are moving there from across the country.

“It’s hard to keep track. ere are at least about 100 families,” he said.

IF YOU GO

Lunar New Year Celebration: 4-0 p.m. Jan. 21 at Arizona International Marketplace, 1920 W. Broadway Road, Mesa. Lion dances at 1 and 3 p.m. and reworks displays at 1 p.m., 3 p.m. and 5 p.m.

Culture Night organized by Asian Festival will take place 4-10 p.m. Jan. 28 at Mesa

Community College, 1833 W. Southern Ave., Mesa. Asianfestivalaz.com.

GilbertSunNews.com | @GilbertSunNews /GilbertSunNews

Ken Koshio, a Japanese drummer who entertained at the Asian Festival last year, will be returning fort this year’s Chiense Lunar New Year celebration in Mesa’s Asian Dstrict. (Winnie Kho Kaplan/ Special to the Republic)

Mae Barnes

Deanna Mae Barnes, a g e 8 1 , b e l o v e d w i f e , m o t h e r , g r a n d m o t h e r , a n d g r e a t - g r a n d m o t he r , p a s s e d a w a y o n

D e c e m b e r 1 9 , 2 0 2 2 .

D e a n n a w a s b o r n o n M a r c h 1 4 , 1 9 4 1 , i n

A s h t a b u l a , O H , t o Harry Sr. and Allie McClintic. She married her true love, Lee "Allen"

B a r n e s , i n 1 9 6 2 w h e n h e j o i n e d t h e Navy. Together they raised two children, C y n t h i a a n d M i c h a e l , i n S u p e r i o r , A Z , w h e r e t h e y l i v e d f r o m 1 9 7 0 t o 19 8 5 b ef o r e m o v i n g t o M e s a , A Z . D e a n n a r ec e i v e d a l i f e - s a v i n g t r a n s p l a n t i n 1 9 8 6 , which allowed her to continue loving and raising their children. She loved her five g r a n d c h i l d r e n a n d f o u r g r e a t - g r a n d c h i ldren She is preceded in death by her pare n t s a n d b r o t h e r s , H a r r y M c C l i n t i c , J r . and Danny McClintic She was an amazing woman and will be deeply missed D e a n n a r e q u e s t e d d o n a t i o n s t o y o u r l o c a l f o o d b a n k , h o m e l e s s s h e l t e r , o r a n a n i m a l s h e l t e r i n p l a c e o f f l o w e r s

Patricia A Coby (Gowdy)

P a t r i c i a A C o b y ( G o w d y ) , age 74, was born o n F e b r u a r y 1 8 , 1 9 4 8 a n d p a s s e d a w a y o n D e c e mb e r 2 6 , 2 0 2 2 i n C a s a G r a n d e , AZ Patricia, lovi n g l y k n o w n a s Pat, was having Christmas dinner with h e r P a s t o r J a m a l M i t c h e l l a n d F i r s t L a d y S h a y l a M i t c h e l l , s p e a k i n g w i t h t h e m a b o u t t h e l o v e o f G o d a n d h e r f a m i l y w h e n s h e w a s c a l l e d h o m e t o H e a v e n .

A m e m o r i a l t o c e l e b r a t e P a t ' s l i f e w i l l b e h e l d a t R e d e e m e r A p o s t o l i c C h u r c h l o c a t e d a t 2 0 0 E 1 s t S t r e e t , M es a, A Z 8 5 2 0 1 o n S atu r d ay , J an u ar y 2 1 , 2 0 2 3 - 1 1 : 0 0 a m - 1 2 : 3 0 p m r e p a s s t o f o l l o w P a t w a s a n a d v o c a t e f o r t h e h o m e l e s s c o m m u n i t y , a s s u c h , a n y d o n a t i o n s i n h e r h o n o r m a y b e m a d e t o : C h u r c h o n t h e S t r e e t O u t r e a c h ( h t t p s : / / c o t s p h o e n i x o r g / ) l o c a t e d a t 3 1 1 8 W Clar en d o n A v e P h o en ix , A Z 8 5 0 1 7

Sign the Guestbook at: obituaries.EastValleyTribune.com

JackieDaleHays

Jackie"Jack"DaleHays,84,passedaway peacefullyinhishomeinChandler,Arizonaon January4,2023.Hisbattlewithserious medicalissuesinrecentyearsshowedhis courageinfacinglife.Despitehisbattlewith medicalissues,Jackcameoutahero.

HewasborninKansasCity,Missourion September29,1938andwasadoptedbyhis parents,D.B.andBulaHays.Hespenthis childhoodinSalem,Illinoisandgraduated fromhighschoolin1956.Throughouthishigh schoolyears,heparticipatedinsportsand music.HestartedstudiesattheUniversityof IllinoisandthenservedintheAirForcefrom 1958through1964.Jackwasagraduateofthe AirForceAcademy.Afterhisservice,Jack wasacommercialpilotforStandardAirways, NorthwestAirlines,andAlaskaInternational Air.

Jackissurvivedbyhislifelongfriendand wife,Ruthanne,andherdaughtersContance andJennifer,Jack'schildrenJackieandRoyce, andhis14grand-childrenand5greatgrandchildren.

Acelebrationoflifewillbeheldfrom1:30 PMto2:30PMon2023-01-22atMissioDei Church(SozoCoffee),1982NAlmaSchool RoadChandler,AZ.

SigntheGuestbookat: obituaries.EastValleyTribune.com

n :

D e b b i e ( J o h n n y ) , C l a y ( C J ) , S h a n n o n , and Kelly; 16 Grandchildren and 6 greatg r a n d c h i l d r e n . A r e t i r e d E n g i n e e r , h e was known for his kindness, intelligence, w o o d w o r k i n g t a l e n t , a n d w r y s e n s e o f humor A small family celebration of life was held in lieu of traditional funeral services.

Deanna

EV women’s choral group slates introductory session

olic Preparatory, 1150 N. Dobson Road, Chandler.

Vocal Connection, a women’s a cappella chorus, takes pride in what it does.

“It’s a proven fact that singing in a chorus is more fun when surrounded by friends, singing their hearts out,” it said in a released. “According to recent research, humans are wired for rhythmic togetherness, and bond best when making music with each other. Why?

“Studies show that singing in a chorus improves our mood, with a decrease in stress, depression and anxiety. ese effects are linked to the use of deeper breathing techniques associated with singing. e bene ts are enhanced in a group setting because singing in a group o ers a sense of belonging to something larger than ourselves.

“Beyond the psychological e ects, our physical health is impacted also: lower blood pressure, increased blood oxygen saturation, elevated immunity, higher pain threshold, and stronger re-

spiratory muscles.”

e group also believes “making music together provides a sense of awe not just for the observers of a performance, but for the participants, as well. Research shows that this emotion seems to shift our focus from our own self-

view to that of our community.

Toward that end, Vocal Connection is inviting area women looking to decrease stress, improve their health and make connections with other like-minded women in the community while singing to a guest night 6:30-9:30 p.m. Jan. 30 at Seton Cath-

Attendees must be able to sing but do not need to be able to read music to join. Vocal training and music education are components of Vocal Connection’s many bene ts.

To accommodate those attending the Guest Night, we ask that you pre-register by emailing us at guestinfo@vocalconnection.org. Additional details will be provided but attendees must pre-register.

Vocal Connection Chorus is one of hundreds of Sweet Adeline International choruses that make up a worldwide organization of women who sing four-part a cappella and barbershop harmony.

Vocal Connection Chorus performs regularly throughout the community, offering its talent for entertainment at civic events and charitable functions, in addition to promoting harmony and friendship among women.

Information/registration: GuestInfo@ vocalconnection.org or vocalconnection. org.

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Chandler

Vocal Connection members are hoping other talented women turn out for the Jan. 30 guest night. (Special to GSN)

New state regs could push egg prices even higher

BY HOWARD FISCHER Capitol Media Services

Those already expensive eggs at your local grocer are about to get a tiny bit costlier – and potentially less available.

And it’s all in the name of humane treatment of the hens

New regulations that took e ect at the beginning of the month require that laying hens that are kept in cages have at least one square foot – 144 inches – of usable oor space. at compares to cages that until now could be less than half that size.

And beginning in 2025, all major producers have to go to cage-free.

e state Department of Agriculture puts average annual per capita consumption at slightly more than 270 eggs a year. Figuring the new rules would add somewhere between a penny and 3.25 cents per egg, that comes out to somewhere between $2.71 and $8.79 a year.

But Chelsea McGuire, lobbyist for the Arizona Farm Bureau which opposed the rule, thinks those numbers are soft.

At best, she said, it’s speculative as the full rules for cage-free housing are not in place. And McGuire argued that the estimates the state was using didn’t really take into account all the costs.

And that, McGuire said, is only part of the problem that consumers will face, what with shoppers sometimes nding there are no eggs available at any price.

Much of that is due to an outbreak of avian u that requires farmers to destroy whole ocks even if just one hen tests positive. A ban on selling eggs from traditionally caged hens, McGuire said, only exacerbates the problem.

“We’re restricting the supply from which we can choose the eggs that we can bring into the state,’’ she said, noting the rule affects not just Arizona-based egg producers but any rm that wants to sell eggs to Arizona consumers.

“We’re locking producers into this premium product and doing so unnecessarily,’’ McGuire said. And she said it’s all being done “without a public health or safety justi cation or a scienti c justi cation.’’

Some animal rights groups argued that it’s cruel to keep the laying hens in tiny pens.

McGuire sni ed at that contention. “Stress indicators on hens, things like that, are really no di erent between conventional con nement cages and cage-free production systems,’’ she said.

at wasn’t the assessment of then-Rep. John Kavanagh, R-Fountain Hills, when he crafted legislation in 2021 to require cagefree housing by anyone producing more than 3,000 eggs a year.

“Con ning chickens to less than one square foot, I think, is really cruel,’’ he told colleagues.

“Granted, they don’t have very high levels of sentient awareness,’’ Kavanagh continued. “But they feel pain and they’re prevented from engaging in natural and instinctive behavior, even to the point of spreading their wings or being able to sit down when they lay their eggs.’’

e Farm Bureau managed to kill that measure.

at didn’t end the ght, with the state Department of Agriculture concluding it already had the authority to approve its own rules. And that’s precisely what it did.

It turns out the agency had an important ally on its side: Hickman’s Egg Ranch, located west of Phoenix, which is the state’s largest egg producer. And what it came down to is the fear that the failure to take some voluntary measure would result in something more onerous.

As far back as 2021, when lawmakers were considering the Kavanagh measure, company President Glenn Hickman told lawmakers he worried that voters would adopt an initiative being pushed by World Animal Protection.

It would not only have required cage-free systems by May of this year but would have made violations a crime. By contrast, the legislation -- and the rule that eventually followed after the bill failed -- gives him until 2025 to come into full compliance, with no criminal penalties.

e company already has been moving into the cage-free market. Hickman told lawmakers in 2021 that some clients, including McDonald’s and Costco, already were demanding cage-free eggs.

But the initiative caused some heartburn as company representatives told the Department of Agriculture.

“Hickman’s Egg Ranch informs the department that it cannot convert the remainder of its production facilities to cage-free housing by May 31, 2023, as required by the initiative, and may have to euthanize a por-

tion of its ock to avoid criminal penalties if the initiative passes,’’ the agency reported.

And then there was the fact that other states already had enacted similar rules, meaning Arizona producers who want to sell their eggs elsewhere e ectively would have to go along eventually.

e nal rule also is more liberal than what lawmakers had rejected. It exempts any producer which has fewer than 20,000 egg-producing hens.

It also does not require that all eggs come from free-range hens which would have required that they have access to the outdoors at least part of the day. Instead they could be kept in large barns – up to 300,000 square feet where hens could wander about.

McGuire, however, said she remains convinced that none of this was necessary. She argued that Arizonans would have rejected the initiative for cage-free eggs.

e record, however, suggests otherwise. Voters in 2006 approved a ban on “gestation crates’’ for pig and cattle ranchers.

And the Department of Agriculture reached the same conclusion, citing “the success of recent animal welfare ballot initiatives in Arizona and elsewhere’’ to justify the rule.

In debating the 2021 legislation, lawmakers asked Hickman if eggs from cage-free chickens are of higher quality than their more-con ned cousins. He said there’s no simple answer.

“You feed the chickens the same,’’ Hickman said. He said it’s like brown versus white eggs, with no real di erence.

“But there are some studies that suggest that chickens who have less stress tend to have more natural defenses, immunities, if you will, and are therefore healthier,’’ he continued. “And that would translate potentially into maybe a di erent composition of egg.’’

Maybe.

“You’re making some scienti c leaps,’’ Hickman concluded.

GilbertSunNews.com | @GilbertSunNews /GilbertSunNews

The new law requires chickens to be housed in cages that are bigger and “more humane” than those currently used. (Special to GSN)

Mesa electric vehicle rm partners with Super Bowl

ElectraMeccanica Vehicles Corp. in Mesa is partnering with the Arizona Super Bowl Host Committee during an o cial vehicle hand-o event at the Phoenix Convention Center.

As just one part of its partnerships, ElectraMeccanica presented the committee 10 custom-wrapped, all-electric SOLOs for use as courtesy vehicles during Super Bowl-related events.

“ e vehicles will help SBHC employees and volunteers to easily navigate crowded city streets and limited parking options,” the company said in a release. “ e vehicles will also save on fuel costs and minimize environmental impact, all of which helps the SBHC to ensure its goal of leading the greenest Super Bowl ever.”

ElectraMeccanica will also participate in various events throughout Arizona during the weeks leading up to the Super Bowl., including an interactive display at the Super Bowl Experience presented by Lowe’s at Hance Park called 100 Yards of Edu-

cation: A STEM Playbook for Youth. at educational event at State Farm Stadium could draw 1,000 students, the company said.

“We have made a signi cant commitment to Arizona by recently moving our corporate headquarters and manufacturing facility to Mesa,” said Susan Docherty, CEO of ElectraMeccanica Vehicles Corp. “It is important for us to support our home state, and by so doing, to help the SBHC

deliver the greenest Super Bowl ever. We want to set an example for other such events throughout America, and hopefully, around the world.

“Moreover, we believe it’s important for business leaders and elected o cials, as well as the general public, to understand that the average person drives alone 80% of the time, in a vehicle that seats more than 4 people, which leads to a lot of unoccupied seats, and a lot of wasted ener-

gy. at’s something we are committed to help change through the design and sales of our vehicles and through the support of organizations like the SBHC.”

ElectraMeccanica Vehicles Corp. designs and manufactures environmentally e cient electric vehicles and its agship vehicle is the innovative, purpose-built, single-seat EV called the SOLO.

It boasts that the three-wheeled vehicle “will revolutionize the urban driving experience, including commuting, delivery and shared mobility.”

Engineered for a single occupant, it offers a unique driving experience for the environmentally conscious consumer. Depending on driving conditions, temperature and climate controls, the SOLO has a range of up to 100 miles and a top speed of up to 80 mph.

e SOLO also features front and rear crumple zones, side impact protection, roll bar, torque-limiting control as well as power steering, power brakes, air conditioning and a Bluetooth entertainment system.

Information: emvauto.com.

EV businesswoman has scary time in riot-torn Peru

BY KEN SAIN GSN Sta Writer

Chandler business owner Jody Murray said it was like a scene out of a movie – except it wasn’t staged and her life was on the line.

Murray was at an airport in Peru in December as the civil unrest in the country was beginning. Her ight was scheduled to leave that day, but o cials had just announced the airport was closing.

“ ey were sort of saying, don’t go outside, but you can’t stay here,” said Murray, now safely back at her business, Longevity Wellness Clinic of Arizona.

Whiel trying to leave Peru, Murray called a friend whom she had been staying with and they hatched an exit plan.

“She’s like, ‘go out the way you came in. When you get to the road, turn right run down that road. Across the street, you’ll see a gas station. is van is going to be waiting for you and the drivers name is Julio, don’t get in a van with anybody but Julio,’” Murray recalled.

“So we’ve got all of our baggage and there’s throngs of people who are all trying to gure out what to do. ere’s no cabs, because the roads are all closed. So we found Julio, and Julio took us back to her house where we were perfectly safe.”

Murray, an acupuncturist and athletic trainer, went to Peru to volunteer at a nonpro t that provides medical services to people in need.

On Dec. 7, the country’s Congress was scheduled to meet to vote on the possible impeachment of President Pedro Castillo. It would have been the third time they tried to impeach him. Castillo is a member of the indigenous population of Peru and viewed as a liberal, making him very popular with the people. Members of Peru’s Congress are often viewed as corrupt and self-serving.

His attempt to install a new government failed and Congress then voted to impeach him and this time easily had the votes to do so. e former president was arrested and charged with rebellion and conspiracy. at triggered widespread protests.

Jody Murray is back at her Chandler clinic after being stranded in Peru for five days because of the civil unrest in that country. (Ken Sain/Chandler Arizonan)

Murray, unaware of the unrest until Dec. 11, the day she was scheduled to leave.

at’s when Murray’s Lifetime movie scene played out at the airport in Cusco. e rest of her stay in Peru was not as exciting, outside of two Army airplanes ying over where she was staying that brought in troops to deal with the protesters.

More than 25 people have been killed in the protests, the youngest being 15.

Murray was able to safely wait until the airport brie y reopened on Dec. 16. She said she believes the protesters took a weekend o so they could watch the World Cup.

“I was really happy to hit L.A.,” she said. “I never thought I’d be happy to be in L.A.”

Murray thanked Congressman Greg Stanton’s o ce, saying they stayed in touch and did what they could to help her while she was stranded in Peru.

Most of Murray’s clients come to her for acupuncture, but some of them also seek her advice as an athletic trainer.

Murray said it may be a while before she’s ready to travel out of the country again, but she suspects she will go back to Peru at some point.

“I will not leave the country really quickly for a while because it was de nitely a little unsettling,” Murray said.

Longevity Wellness Clinic of Arizona 1807 E. Queen Creek Road, Suite 2, Chandler 203-512-0572

Immunotherapy an important tool in war on cancer

BY ZHIBO ZHANG GSN Guest Writer

According to the World Health Organization, cancer caused the loss of almost 10 million lives in 2020 and was e ectively behind nearly one in six deaths that year.

Considering such statistics, cancer has remained an extensively researched topic, and three procedures in particular – surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy –continue to exist as pillars of cancer treatment.

However, there is another approach to treatment that, despite showing promise,

isn’t as well-known: immunotherapy. Fundamentally, immunotherapy in cancer treatment focuses on enhancing and/or engineering the immune system to ght cancer.

It’s a subject that’s being studied around the world, and several investigations are being held across institutions with local sites, like Banner MD Anderson Cancer Center, Ironwood Cancer & Research Centers, and Mayo Clinic. Here are a few notable treatments currently:

• Adoptive cell therapies: Adoptive cell therapies revolve around the extraction, cultivation, and insertion of cancer- ghting immune cells with either natural genetics or genetic modications.

Cells particularly useful in this type of therapy are T cells. Speci cally, there are many treatments that genetically alter T cells to have special receptors, elevating the cells’ ability to locate and destroy cancer. In terms of local clinical trials involving adoptive cell therapy, according to their clinical trials listings online, Mayo Clinic (Scottsdale/Phoenix) has a trial involving ALLO-501A labeled as open for enrollment; also, the Current Cancer Clinical Trials page of the Banner Health website includes a listing for a Banner MD Anderson Cancer Center (Gilbert) trial involving JCAR017.

• Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors: In the human body, among the immune checkpoint molecules that regulate the immune system, there are ones that speci cally halt immune responses. Although they can help protect healthy cells, such stop checkpoints can also be used by some cancer cells to avoid immune system detection/attacks. Consequently, researchers have developed immune checkpoint inhibitor drugs to block such checkpoints used by cancer cells and thereby allow for greater immune reactions.

One drug of that type is Pembrolizumab, which is being studied locally in a clinical trial by Ironwood Cancer & Research Centers (Chandler, in addition to Scottsdale, Mesa, and Gilbert).

• Vaccines: Cancer vaccines are mainly split between two categories: preventive and therapeutic.

Preventive vaccines try to prevent

cancer generally by strengthening the immune system against cancer-causing viruses; these vaccines are typically created from virus proteins and/or parts.

In contrast, therapeutic vaccines help the immune system target cancer cells; these vaccines can be created from immune cells, cancer cell parts, bacteria, or other components.

Locally, according to their Clinical Trials listings online, Mayo Clinic (Scottsdale/Phoenix) has at least two cancer-vaccine-related clinical trials labeled as open for enrollment, with one trial involving TAEK-VAC-HerBy and another involving PolyPEPI1018.

ere are still numerous other aspects to immunotherapy in treating cancer, like cancer- targeting viruses, speci c treatments, etc. In general though, the subject has potential, and investigations into T-cell procedures, immune checkpoint inhibitor drugs, etc. continue to be held.

Ultimately, only time will tell how this encouraging eld progresses.

Gilbert resident Zhibo Zhang will graduate from Gilbert Classical Academy in May 2023. He checked the status of the Ironwood Cancer & Research Centers trial earlier this month. e trials mentioned in this column are examples, but aren’t necessarily the only local trials involving that treatment category. e column does not o er medical advice and is meant to provide information about immunotherapy in cancer treatment.

GilbertSunNews.com | @GilbertSunNews /GilbertSunNews

Expect a quick return of sellers market to Gilbert

BY MINDY JONES GSN Columnist

ow we’re halfway through the rst month of the year, you’ll never be able to explain to any of us who still feel like we’re recovering from holidays and school breaks but with calendars already packed, it’s time we snap out of that sugarplum fairy coma and get with the 2023 program.

While you were busy thinking up which new year’s resolutions you could actually stick to this year, the real estate market decided to stop hitting snooze, get to the

gym early and show o in the morning spin class.

HAfter a jolting summer where inventory rose as fast as the outdoor temps and prices took a hit in an empathetic move towards buyers who were facing escalating interest rates, the Arizona real estate market slipped into a bit of a food coma in the fall where both buyers and sellers sat staring at each other from across the table, neither too interested in making a move.

As Gilbert became a little more festive, hearts warmed up and sellers started to open up their pockets for some healthy negotiation to get things moving. Seller concessions, closing costs, interest rate buy downs – almost anything was back

on the table.

But this time it wasn’t buyers who were o ering to give up their rst born just to get the house but sellers instead who were willing to make the deal work even if it meant a bigger dent in the pile of equity that most were still walking away with.

Something interesting happened in December and short of describing it as an old fashion game of telephone, it seems as if enough time had passed since the summer shift, that buyers started to feel comfortable seriously considering making a move and even, gasp, making some o ers. And it seems like they all talked about doing it at the same time.

With interest rates a little less scary

starting with a 6 instead of a 7, home prices starting to stabilize casting doubt on the skeptics who were sure that the market was crashing, and a few more stories from friends or family giving them the social proof that a slower market didn’t necessarily mean anything was wrong with the market – and we were o to the races.

By the time the ball dropped, the climbing inventory had reversed trend and fallen by 20%. New listings were coming to market at a snail’s pace and buyer demand had picked up taking the buyer’s market that was less than 30 days old into balanced territory here in Gilbert and valley wide.

Just two weeks into the new year and

we’re seeing the market continue to move rapidly with more than half of the Valley’s cities in a balanced or seller’s market leaving just West Valley cities, Queen Creek and Maricopa in buyer’s territory. New construction is booming and will likely continue that way as buyers nd prices easier to swallow when they are the rst one in the driver’s seat.

There’s lots of speculation around our iBuyer friends and their buying plans but in the meantime, primary home owners and mom and pop investors are taking over and are happy to keep the spotlight shining bright on them.

Here in Gilbert, active listings have dropped and the median monthly sales price has settled right around its 2021 counterpart at just over half a million dollars and with active building from the South to the North of the town, we can expect continued interest in developments large and small.

Predictions include improved interest rates, continued expectations around negotiations, more reasonable pricing and more normal appreciation, and the return of investors (many whom never left!) looking for good buy and hold inventory as prices stabilize and rental rates climb.

The real estate market isn’t going to be the only thing making headlines this month but it will continue to be a big one. Everyone has a vested interest in a strong real estate market and with very real concerns about a lack of housing at all different price points, you can expect to see Gilbert in seller’s market territory in no time.

Mindy Jones, a Gilbert Realtor and owner of the Amy Jones Group brokered by EXP Realty, can be reached at 480-2503857, Mindy@AmyJonesGroup.com or AmyJonesGroup.com.

Noah Peterson leading Highland after bout with Valley fever

BY ZACH ALVIRA GSN Sports Editor

Noah Peterson’s high school basketball career has taken many twists and turns, most notably during his junior season last year.

He quickly became a key player as a sophomore for the Hawks, averaging just over 23 minutes per game during the 2020 season that was condensed due to COVID. He expected to play an even bigger role as a junior until he fell ill.

Multiple tests couldn’t determine what he was sick with. That is, until he was tested for Valley Fever. It came back positive, and he was given the necessary medication, but that came months after he started showing symptoms and the virus had already taken its toll.

“It was horrible,” Peterson said. “It took about three months to get diagnosed. Without the medicine it got worse and worse. I would run out of breath and fall to the floor walking from my bedroom to the kitchen.

“Not being able to play was the worst. Watching my boys, they were succeeding, but it was hard.”

Peterson was forced to sit out his entire junior season. Not being able to play basketball hurt him the most, especially seeing the success his team had and the feeling of being able to help them reach the next level.

But his absence opened up the door for Brock Knollmiller, who was a role player at the junior varsity level as a sophomore when Peterson was in varsity. But as a junior he was called upon to help the varsity, and he excelled with the opportunity.

Knollmiller had the chance to play alongside his older brother, Mason, who was a star for the Hawks. The two

had a special bond that transitioned on the court. It helped lead Highland to the 6A playoffs as the fifth ranked team in the conference. Though, the Hawks were upset in the first round by a sharpshooting Boulder Creek team.

But with Knollmiller back and Peterson at 100% despite missing summer ball with an injury, Highland has taken on a new identity and is quickly becoming a dark horse for the new Open Division.

“It’s fun to see Noah back, it’s fun to play with him because we work really well together,” Knollmiller said. “It’s also fun to see my role change and be more of a scorer now rather than a defender. I do both, though. It’s nice.”

Peterson and Knollmiller have helped take Highland to new heights this season.

The Hawks made a run to the cham-

pionship game of the McClintock Holiday Shootout, where they fell to second-ranked Basha. In the games Highland won, it was dominant.

The Hawks routed Mountain Pointe with its power inside the paint. Peterson and Knollmiller Were cerebral in drawing contact inside for and-1 opportunities. When necessary, they kicked the ball out to one of Highland’s several shooters, including sophomore Michael Johnson, whose range extends to anywhere on the floor.

While Highland is led primarily by Peterson, he isn’t the standout four or five-star rated prospect other programs in close proximity have. The Hawks are successful because they play as a team and are disciplined.

“We’ve been pleased with where we’re at,” Highland coach Todd Fazio said. “It’s a unique team where we have

guys that can drive it and guys that can shoot it. We’ve had a couple of hiccups, but we’ve defended well all year.”

Fazio said having Peterson back has been key not only on the court, but off it. He’s a natural leader and a player that others gravitate toward. The team is close, so not having him last year was hard for all of those involved.

Fazio didn’t know what to expect this season from Peterson after battling Valley Fever. He lost nearly 30 pounds during his bout with the illness and had to re-condition himself to run up and down the floor.

But he took the off-season seriously and it’s paid off so far.

“He’s a resilient kid and he’s gone through the mud,” Fazio said. “He’s obviously come out the other end really well and that’s because of his character.”

With only two losses on the season, Highland is currently ranked No. 12 in the AIA’s Open Division rankings released every Tuesday. Thirty-two teams from the 4A-6A conferences will make the Open in basketball this season, with the top eight receiving an automatic bye.

The Hawks are currently in position to host in the first round, but Fazio and his players know there is still a lot of basketball to be played.

However, Highland is confident. Even after the loss to Basha the Hawks were motivating each other to keep their heads up. They know it’s a long season and as long as they continue to improve, they can become dangerous at the right time.

“We just have to keep pushing,” Peterson said. “I’m trying to go all the way. On our wall basketball doesn’t have very many achievements. We’re trying to get our name up there.”

GilbertSunNews.com @GilbertSunNews /GilbertSunNews Check us out and like Gilbert Sun News on Facebook and follow @GilbertSunNews on Twitter

Brock Knollmiller was the beneficiary of Peterson’s absence last season. But now the two have become a dynamic duo that have helped lead Highland to a strong start and No. 12 ranking in the state. (Dave Minton/GSN Staff)

@GilbertSunNews /GilbertSunNews

Barrett-Jackson is a ‘see and be seen’ show, auction

BY CHRISTINA FUOCO-KARASINSKI GetOut Editor

Barrett-Jackson, The World’s Greatest Collector Car Auctions, hosts its annual flagship auction at WestWorld of Scottsdale each January, serving as the gateway to events season in the Valley.

This year, like years past, Chairman/CEO Craig Jackson expects another incredible event with an enviable No Reserve collector car docket and a host of activities for auction-goers of all ages. The event kicks off on Saturday, Jan. 21, and runs through Jan. 29.

Included in this year’s auction is a 2005 Porsche Carrera GT, one of only 644 sold new in the United States. One of the last and most popular analog supercars, the vehicle has less than 3,400 miles and, while it was originally finished in black, this Carrera GT now has a concours-quality paint finished in a bespoke PPG red.

A limited-edition 2020 Ford GT Carbon Series is another featured vehicle selling

Barrett-Jackson chairman and CEO Craig Jackson is excited to kick events season into high gear when Barrett-Jackson revs into town on Saturday, January 21 through Sunday, January 29. (Photo courtesy of Barrett-Jackson)

with No Reserve. Finished in frozen white, its carbon blue graphics package features a blue center stripe down the middle of the exposed single carbon-fiber stripe.

Other options include exposed carbon-fiber sideview mirror caps and the standard Carbon Series weight-saving tita-

nium exhaust system. Essentially still in the wrapper, this supercar has only 32 miles on the odometer and comes with the window sticker, factory production photos and battery charger.

Also headed to the Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale auction block is a 1966 Shelby Group

II Mustang built for Ken Miles to race in the Sports Car Club of America Trans-American Sedan Championship. However, Miles died in a crash while testing a car at Riverside International Raceway on August 17, 1966, and never got behind the wheel of this Mustang.

Its first owner was driver John McComb, who competed extensively in SCCA events. McComb sold the car in 1967, but it continued to be raced into the early 1970s.

Another highlight is a 1969 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, No. 61 of 69 built in 1969. It is powered by an all-aluminum 427/430hp V8 engine mated to a M21 4-speed manual transmission and a 4.10 posi-traction rear end.

This Camaro is optioned with D80 spoiler equipment and an AM radio. It comes with a Jerry MacNeish Certificate of Authenticity and is from the Northside Customs Collection.

Jackson says the 50th anniversary cele-

Hale Theatre comes up with ‘laugh riot, ‘The Hit’

sion is a story of second chances at life and love.

The Hale Theatre has come up with a ribald comedy of love, family and attempted assassination to begin the not-so-new year through Feb. 11.

“The Hit” by Mike Buckley received critical acclaim when the play premiered at the Horton Grand Theatre.

It is centered in San Francisco, where Susan is trying to save herself from a slow death by hiring a hitman. She mistakes an unsuspecting travel agent for the real hitman and then comes to find out the real hitman is falling for her brother.

Between all the laughs and confu-

The new comedy stars Hale veteran Alaina Beauloye as Susan, most recently seen in “Lucky Stiff.” Originally from New York City, Alaina boasts an extensive list of credits including Broadway, film and commercials. She has been seen in more than 20 productions at Hale and is a two time AriZoni winner.

Playing across from Beauloye is Adam Guinn as Sam, who has been in several Hale productions such as “The Music Man” and “Brigadoon.”

“The Hit” is directed by Tim Dietlein, who has been involved in theater

Starring in “The Hit” at the Hale Theatre in Gilbert are, from left, Alaina Beauloye, Adam Guinn and Tyler Saccoman. (Courtesy Hale Theatre)

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bration of Barrett-Jackson in 2022 was its most successful auction in the company’s history, surpassing $203 million in sales while also raising more than $8.8 million for charity.

As is the case with all Barrett-Jackson events, many celebrities attended as well.

“Last year, Joey Logano came with several other NASCAR drivers,” he said. “He ended up being the NASCAR Cup Series champion (at Phoenix Raceway).”

The auction also welcomed GRAMMY Award-winning artist Pitbull as he sold his 2022 Karma GS-6 EV “Mr. 305 Edition” to support The SLAM Foundation and Selfless Love.

Other celebrities in attendance included Bret Michaels, Tim Allen and Renee Zellweger, as well as professional athletes such as DeAndre Hopkins, Richie Incognito, Bubba Watson and Jacoby Ellsbury.

This year was one of change for Barrett-Jackson. In August, IMG, an Endeavor company, acquired a majority stake in it.

The global leader in events, IMG owns, operates and commercially represents the likes of Frieze art fairs, the Madrid and Miami Open tennis tournaments, Formula Drift, and New York Fashion Week: The Shows.

“Pairing Barrett-Jackson with the unique power of the Endeavor network is an unparalleled opportunity for our company, immediately opening doors to amplify and accelerate the growth of Barrett-Jackson as a global lifestyle brand,” Jackson said.

“I couldn’t be more excited to have this perfect partner as we look to optimize our fan experience and create new touchpoints for car enthusiasts around our live events and media offerings.”

Jackson and his team are working on elevating the auction experience and promises there are plenty of activities at the events

beyond the block.

“It’s a lifestyle event and we add experiences all the time — live music, firepits, cigar lounge, the food and beverage offerings. It all lends itself to this experience that is Barrett-Jackson.”

Several family-friendly activities include STEM Fest on Saturday, January 21, as part of Barrett-Jackson’s Family Day, when children 12 and under receive free admission.

Hot Laps and Thrill Rides with Toyota, Dodge, Ford and Chevrolet as well as exhilarating off-road experiences with RAM and Toyota will be available throughout the event.

As part of STEM Fest, winners of Barrett-Jackson’s community STEM Program, Gearing Towards The Future, will showcase their projects along with companies and organizations focused on STEM initiatives. The winners will also receive their awards during the event.

Introduced in September, Gearing Towards The Future was created with SciTech Institute to develop future automotive engineers and technicians.

“Barrett-Jackson is passionate about its long history of creating family-friendly automotive lifestyle events that encourage multiple generations to come together and

enjoy a shared interest with one another,” Jackson said.

“This new STEM program provides an even greater opportunity to engage with the youth here in Arizona through an exciting educational platform that will help support the future community of automotive enthusiasts.”

There were four open competitions: a 10th and 11th grade-only competition focused on the design and build of an electrical component for any vehicle for the future of transportation, a 7th and 8th grade-only competition focused on developing a plan that outlines how to implement electric vehicle charging infrastructure that could be implemented across the country, a 4th and 5th grade-only competition focused on presenting the design and layout of a future vehicle, and a competition open for all grades, Pre-K through 12, with the focus on presenting a plan for future transportation options in a community setting of any size. Barrett-Jackson is invested in Gen X, too. The Future Collector Car Show (FCCS) returns Sunday, Jan. 22, with a new location: the Polo Field at WestWorld of Scottsdale. The concours-style event will celebrate the cars we love today and the collectibles of tomorrow.

During the show, which was formerly held at High Street, spectators will enjoy a variety of vehicles ranging from the 1980s to today, from highly modified custom builds to original and perfectly preserved rides, effectively creating an experience where generations of vehicle owners can find common ground in their love of future collectibles.

“The FCCS is all about cars from the ’80s and up, and it’s really taking the collectors and enthusiasts who dream about those cars and showcasing them,” Jackson said.

“It’s a true judging of that era of cars. We really want the generation that grew up with these cars—millennials, Gen-Xers— to enjoy this entire genre of cars. We’ll have European sports cars and Japanese cars; cars the younger generation of automotive enthusiasts grew up loving.”

Jackson says there’s truly something for everyone.

“Barrett-Jackson is a place to see and be seen,” he said. “It is a lot of fun. It’s something unique. It is the only major event like it in the world. People come from around the world to enjoy it. Locals should take advantage of it as well. There’s so much happening here in Arizona in early 2023, and it all starts with Barrett-Jackson.”

IF YOU GO

Barrett-Jackson, The World’s Greatest Collector Car Auction

When: Times vary, Saturday, January 21, to Sunday, January 29

Where: WestWorld, 16601 N. Pima Road, Scottsdale

Cost: Tickets start at $25; discounts for seniors, military, students, rst responders, children

Info: barrett-jackson.com

Musicians find peace after prison terms

BY CHRISTINA FUOCO-KARASINSKI GetOut Editor

Rodney Scott Pieres has seen it all, from incarceration and addiction to redemption, sobriety and “righteous living.”

The Phoenix resident has parlayed those

experiences into Deep as Bones, a Christian hard rock band that opens for Talk to Sheep at Pub Rock in Scottsdale on Saturday, Jan. 21.

Recently, Deep as Bones released the music video for its single “Spun,” which touches on freedom from addiction and being on the road to sobriety. Filmed at

Painted Tiger Studios in Glendale, the video was directed, filmed and edited by Gavin Donnelly of Soundphoria Media. It appears on their full-length, self-titled debut.

Pieres had a “pretty rough childhood,” raised by a father who dealt cocaine in the 1980s. He said his dad loved him but

couldn’t stop partying.

Then things turned for the worse.

“I was taking some of the coke he had lying around. You know, monkey see, monkey do,” Pieres said. “I ended up getting arrested a bunch for drinking.

This 2019 Ford GT Heritage sold last year for $1.2 million. (Barrett-Jackson)

HIT from page 30

for over 50 years. He regularly plays Scrooge during Hale’s annual production of “A Christmas Carol” and his directing credits include “Bright Star,” “Daddy Long Legs” and “Big River.”

Buckley is a professor at Southwestern College and teaches scriptwriting. His play was originally produced by Lamb’s Players Theatre and received standing ovations during its run. Theaters in Utah as well as in Ar-

izona have started producing it and it continues to be a hit.

Tickets start at $30 for youth and $45 for adults. Performances are on Wednesdays, Saturdays with select Friday matinees. Call the box office at 480-497-1181 or go to HaleTheatreArizona.com to order online.

Tap into the benefits that CDs bring

The Hale is located at 50 West Page Ave. in Gilbert’s Heritage District, across the street from the Gilbert Water Tower Park. Several restaurants and ample free parking are located nearby.

Neuropathy or Poor Circulation? Diagnosing the Difference

Peripheral neuropathy is a condition that involves damage to the nerves in your feet. Symptoms include muscle cramping, difficulty walking, burning, tingling, numbness, and pain. In many cases, it’s caused by diabetes, but poor circulation can also cause these symptoms or make them worse.

Poor circulation or PAD (peripheral artery disease) is caused by the buildup of fatty material inside the arteries, limiting the amount of blood that

passes through them. “Blood brings oxygen and nutrients to your legs and feet which they need to stay healthy,” explains Dr. Shahram Askari of CiC Foot & Ankle. “If you have cramping, leg pain, or non-healing sores, you could have PAD.”

The good news is specialists are able to treat PAD with a minimally invasive procedure in an office setting. Using x-ray imaging, Dr. Joel Rainwater, an interventional radiologist at Com-

prehensive Integrated Care, is able to go into the bloodstream through a tiny nick in the skin to see if there is any plaque buildup.

“We’re able to see if there is a blockage and then remove it with special instruments,” explains Dr. Rainwater. “Once the plaque is removed, blood flow improves.” Patients are home within hours and back to everyday activities with almost no downtime and no stitches. Medi-

care as well as most insurance plans cover treatment.

If you’re just realizing that you may be suffering from neuropathy or poor circulation, make an appointment to see a doctor. Or, if you’re not finding relief from medication or treatment, a second opinion may be helpful to determine the cause of the tingling, cramping, pain, or numbness in your feet.

Dr. Askari and Dr. Rainwater can be reached at 602-954-0777.

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CMC Steel Arizona has proudly been making the steel that builds America since 2009. We are hiring immediately for all skilled operator positions to be part of building our new, state of the art micro mill from the ground up! At CMC, we offer great benefits and provide all necessary training and certifications.

“In about 2005, I was introduced to heroin. I had knee surgery, and they were giving me oxycontin. Eventually, the oxys run out. You go to the streets looking for them and heroin is, naturally, the next step in that progression.”

He stole everything he could to get money for heroin. After he was imprisoned, he found sobriety.

“I had a rude awakening,” Pieres said. “I got in trouble in there (prison) for paraphernalia. ey put me in the hole.

“I was just tired of living that way and getting what I was getting. I held on to it (sobriety), and I held on to it ever since.”

During his stint in Arizona State Prison Complex, Florence, there was another positive: He met his bandmates, John Fabricius and Walter Willis, in 2016.

“It’s a common story, but it’s not a common story to have guys meet in the pen,” he said. “We wrote the songs on the album there. When we got out, we started recording them.”

e trio recorded with producer Jay

Kereny (Linkin Park) at Studio 47 on Central. Jay introduced them to then-Red and Love and Death drummer, Dan Johnson who played on the record. ey nished recording at TallCat Studios in Phoenix in 2020. Ralph Patlan (Megadeth) mixed and mastered the record.

In 2021, Pieres and his wife, Carrie Bradley, started a nonpro t called IdentiFreed, in which 100% of the proceeds bene t those a ected by human tra cking through their weekly outreach work with a team of volunteers.

“I’m more interested in helping people than becoming famous for my music,” Pieres said.

IF YOU GO

Talk to Sheep w/Apex Nemesis, 73 Libra and Deep as Bones

When: 7 p.m. Saturday, January 21

Where: Pub Rock Live, 8005 E. Roosevelt Street, Scottsdale

Cost: $10 in advance

Info: pubrocklive.com