The Mesa Tribune 010123 Zone 2

Mesa parents sue Snapchat over son’s fatal OD

BY SCOTT SHUMAKER Tribune Staff Writer

Zach Plunk, 17, died of a fentanyl overdose outside his family’s house in Mesa in August 2020.

His final moments were caught on his parents’ doorbell camera, which recorded the football player leaving the house at 3 a.m. to buy a pill from a dealer, then sitting down on the curb outside the house.

“He didn’t even make it back in the house,” his mother Wendy Plunk told the Tribune.

Zach was found unconscious by a 15-yearold boy jogging at 5 a.m. He called 911 and

BY SCOTT SHUMAKER Tribune Staff Writer

Research from Australia published in 2021 suggests blood donations reduce the donor’s concentration of a class of toxic substances called “per- and polyfluoroakyl substances,” or PFAS, popularly called “forever chemicals.”

PFAS don’t really last “forever,” but they

earned the moniker because some stay in the body for almost 10 years and accumulate in organs, blood and bones with repeated exposures. Recent research link PFAS to higher cancer rates, decreased birth weight, hormone

Former Mesa Councilman Scott Somers takes

"former"

Wendy and Roy Plunk of Mesa lost their son Zachariah in August 2020 to a fentanyl overdose after he bought counterfeit oxycodone through Snapchat. (David Minton/Tribune Staff Photographer)

began CPR, but Zach was gone before the ambulance arrived.

Roy and Wendy Plunk, who adopted Zach when he was 6 months old, said police told them their son had enough fentanyl in his system to kill five people.

The Plunks say a dealer sold Zach a pill made of the powerful opioid fentanyl mixed with binders and molded into a copy of a prescription opioid pill.

They say Zach, who dreamed of playing football and studying forensic science at Baylor University, suffered chronic pain after a shoulder injury his freshman year that required surgery and many treatments.

Zach occasionally turned to social media to buy Percocet to self-medicate, his parents said.

In a lawsuit filed last month in Los Angeles Superior Court, attorneys for the Plunks said Zach should not have turned to Snapchat for pain relief.

But they charge that Snap, the parent company of the app, should not have designed the platform in a way that allows dealers on the black market to connect with underage kids like Zach.

They also allege that Snap was negligent in design features that prevented them from monitoring Zach’s activity and enabled their son to connect with a dealer in the middle of the night.

The Plunks are one of 16 parents of minors across the country who died of overdoses from fentanyl obtained via Snapchat.

So far in 2022, Mesa Fire and Medical medics have responded to 42 opioid overdoses in patients 19 or younger, according to the city’s data portal. Five incidents were fatal.

In a sign of the scale of the fentanyl trade, the Mesa Police Department seized over 700,000 fentanyl pills in a single bust in November.

The Plunks said they’re suing Snapchat to force changes to the social media platform and get the word out to more parents about the dangers of fentanyl and the role of social media in trafficking.

“You think, ‘my kids would never do drugs.’ But you don’t know what’s in the back of your kid’s mind when they’re on social media. You don’t know what it’s feeding them,” Roy said.

Product design

Snapchat was founded in 2011 and is based in Santa Monica, California. The company is valued at $15 billion.

Snapchat was known early on for allowing users to send messages that disappear after they are viewed by a recipient.

Roughly 60% of its users are under 25, according to social media management company Hootsuite, and 20% are under 18.

After Zach’s death, Wendy became involved in support groups for grieving parents and noticed that many of the overdose stories she heard also involved Snapchat.

In the suit, Wendy estimates 30% of the parents she has met through support groups lost children after they purchased drugs on Snapchat. Another 30% came from people their kids met in person, and the rest were from unknown sources.

“The number of drug dealers on Snapchat right now would blow your mind,” said Laura Marquez-Garrett, an attorney for the Plunks. “They’re not using Instagram, they’re not using Facebook because they believe, based on Snap’s marketing, they believe they can’t get caught on Snap.”

The complaint alleges that dealers are attracted to Snapchat’s disappearing message feature and the ability for dealers to appear as a suggested “friend” on users’ feeds.

The app “is engineered to evade parental supervision and law enforcement’s detection and acquisition of criminal evidence,” it states, and this was “the direct and proximate cause of the untimely and tragic death and injuries at issue.”

Roy Plunk also blames the flow of fentanyl across the border for the problem of young people dying, but he also blames social media for putting the fatal pill in his son’s hand.

“The main thing is just Snapchat. It has to be opened up. They can’t have these secret meetings where it just, ‘poof,’ goes into thin air,” Roy said.

In response to a request for comment on the Plunks’ complaint, a spokesperson for Snap provided the following statement:

“The trafficking of fake prescription pills containing fentanyl is an urgent national crisis. We are devastated that these counterfeit drugs have taken the lives of

Drug deaths from synthetic opioids, mostly involving fentanyl, have increased dramatically in Maricopa County. (County Public Health Department)

so many people, and our hearts go out to families who have suffered unimaginable losses.

“We are committed to bringing every resource to bear to help fight this national crisis, both on Snapchat and across the tech industry overall.”

It also said, “While we can’t comment specifically on active litigation, we can share all the progress we have made in this area. We use cutting-edge technology to proactively find and shut down drug dealers’ accounts, and we block search results for drug-related terms, instead redirecting Snapchatters to resources from experts about the dangers of fentanyl.”

“We have also expanded our support for law enforcement investigations, promoted in-app educational videos warning about the dangers of counterfeit pills that have been viewed over 260 million times on Snapchat, and are partnering with the Ad Council, nonprofit organizations, and other platforms on an unprecedented national public awareness campaign that launched in October.”

Matthew Bergman, the founder of the Social Media Law Center in Seattle, which is representing the Plunks, said he decided to apply his product liability experience to social media cases after a Facebook whistleblower testified to Congress in 2021.

The whistleblower revealed internal documents showing the extent that the social media platform was aware of the dangers posed by social media use.

Social media platforms have been shielded during the rise of the internet by Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act, which limits websites’ liability for content posted by third parties on their sites, but Bergman said this principle doesn’t apply to the Snapchat suits.

“The focus of our cases has been that it’s the design of the product, not the content, that caused injury,” Bergman said.

“If there were a video arcade that catered to kids, and there was a room in the back of the arcade that was used to exchange drugs, and the owners of the arcades knew that this was an active drug exchange site, they would be responsi-

ble,” Bergman said.

No one immune Wendy and Roy said Zach’s friends still stop by the house to talk with them.

Making friends was one of his gifts. He “just had that magnetic personality, you know, and he loved everybody,” Roy said.

There’s both sadness and pride in their voices when they remember Zach.

The Plunks are ready for a legal fight over their complaint because they’ve channeled their grief into a drive to help others and prevent similar incidents.

“It’s devastated us,” Roy said of the losing Zach. “Main thing to keep us going is to try to save other lives. Get the word out.”

Part of the Plunks’ message is that fentanyl is everywhere now, and no family or neighborhood is immune from the danger of this drug.

Wendy’s advice for parents is clear: “Don’t let (kids) on Snapchat, don’t let them on Instagram, don’t let them on social media, whatsoever.”

“We know that’s not going to happen,” Roy said, “but at least they have to watch their accounts.”

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TREATMENT

disruption, elevated blood pressure and increased incidence of preeclampsia in pregnant women.

Firefighters are at higher risk of PFAS exposure due to the chemicals in foams and protective gear as well as in household products burned in fires.

The Australian study showed firefighters with high PFAS levels who gave blood regularly saw a 10% decrease in their levels after a year and those who gave plasma – the clear part of the blood – dropped 30%.

Arizona firefighters could play a key role in developing the next chapter of this insight when the University of Arizona, Arizona State University and the Arizona Fire Chiefs Association partner on a $4 million study this year that hopes to enroll 1,500 Arizona firefighters.

The study came in response to a call from the AFCA for more research on PFAS and firefighter safety.

At roughly 20% of the professional firefighters in Arizona, the Arizona study could provide a pool to confirm whether regular blood and plasma donations lower PFAS and produce measurable health improvements.

Arizona firefighters who volunteer will have their PFAS levels tested and those with the top 20% of concentrations will give blood every 12 weeks or plasma every six weeks. Their PFAS levels and DNA health indicators will be tested at the beginning and end of the study.

Those with lower levels will have the option to join other studies and participate in other interventions involving diet and exercise.

to determine whether we can lower the PFAS levels in firefighters and have a beneficial effect, these same findings should be generalizable to individuals in the general population that also have elevated PFAS levels.”

who have higher levels of PFAS exposure,” Burgess said. “Maybe it’s in their drinking water. Maybe they get exposed to it at work. … This will help all those individuals.”

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Lead investigator Dr. Jeff Burgess, a professor and director of the U of A’s Center for Firefighter Health Collaborative Research, said the Arizona study aims to validate the Australian study and take it a step further by also measuring firefighters for “biomarkers of toxicity.”

The biomarkers will provide data on whether lowering PFAS blood levels improves health, as researchers suspect it will.

“It’s going to be a big deal,” he said of the study. “In addition to being able

Burgess and collaborator Dr. Floris Wardenaar of Arizona State University’s College of Health Solutions don’t expect any difficulty recruiting the target number of participants because the research questions came from local firefighters.

Burgess said firefighters want to know their PFAS levels, and one immediate perk of the study is getting that information.

Burgess said the results of the study could have implications far beyond the firefighting community.

“There’s a lot of those people out there

Some may wonder, what happens to those who receive donated blood from people with elevated PFAS – won’t they inherit the health risks?

PFAS could be passed to blood recipients, but Burgess said the benefits of the donated blood outweighs the risks of the limited exposure to blood with elevated PFAS.

“We’ve been really close to talking with the main blood and plasma donation centers in the state, and … they are supportive of this study,” Burgess said.

This map identifies sites in Arizona where PFAS have been detected in groundwater. (Courtesy Environmental Working Group.)

“There’s a strong benefit of giving blood and plasma. It’s needed. These are life saving products.”

Everybody’s problem

Due to their surprising heat-, water- and stain-resistant properties, developed in the ‘40s and ‘50s, PFAS have been used in both household products like non-stick pans and stain protectors as well as industrial uses like aerospace manufacturing.

With a chemical bond between carbon and fluorine atoms, one of the strongest in nature, PFAS molecules resist breaking down in the body and environment.

PFAS are slowly being phased out from many consumer products, but because of their persistence in the environment, they have found their way into the soil, air and water all across the world, including Arizona, and will continue to pose dangers.

To get a sense of the volume of PFAS used in the modern world, consider that just one large PFAS producer, 3M, reported

to shareholders last month that it currently sells $1.3 billion worth of PFAS each year.

That disclosure was part of a December announcement in which the company said it would be phasing out production of PFAS by 2025.

Burgess said global PFAS blood levels are slowly decreasing, a shift that he compared to the drop in lead levels in blood after changes to laws regarding lead in gasoline and other products.

But due to PFAS’ persistence and wide usage, change will not be overnight.

One way PFAS spread from industrial sites and firefighting training facilities is by leaching from contaminated soils into groundwater.

Testing by the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality has shown this process happening in Arizona, and with long-term drought potentially pushing Arizona cities to rely more heavily on groundwater reserves in the near future, the question of groundwater contamination by PFAS and its health consequences could not be coming at a more

critical time.

In 2018, the ADEQ checked for PFAS in 109 public water service wells across the state, out of the state’s approximately 1,500 public water wells.

The good news was 81% of samples had no detectable PFAS, but 5.5% of wells it tested contained PFAS levels above the EPA Health Advisory.

The report concluded that PFAS groundwater contamination in Arizona “tends to be localized near potential sources” of PFAS, such as firefighter training facilities, airports, factories and active or former military sites.

In the East Valley, wells with PFAS detections have been found in the City of Tempe water system and Salt River Public Works on the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community.

In Mesa, PFAS have been found in groundwater near the landfill of the former Williams Air Force Base, now Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport.

ADEQ research determined PFAS have never been manufactured in Arizona.

“Most people in the United States have been exposed to some PFAS,” an EPA website concludes. “Most known exposures are relatively low, but some can be high, particularly when people are exposed to a concentrated source over long periods of time.”

Why Arizona

One reason Arizona is pioneering the question of PFAS and blood donation is the strong relationships between local researchers and the fire service.

Another is the availability of grant money to do community-directed research.

The $4 million price tag for the PFAS

study comes from the Technology and Research Initiative Fund, a pot of money created through Prop. 301 in 2000 and funded by sales taxes.

Fred DuVal, chair-elect of the Arizona Board of Regents, said the fund is intended to encourage the world-class researchers who work at state universities to tackle Arizona-specific projects.

“We’re trying to fund projects that taxpayers relate to and address problems people are facing,” DuVal said, adding that governors’ priorities also influence the selections.

The projects funded by this year’s TIRF grants include Valley Fever and dust research, managing waste from abandoned mines, mitigating wildfire risk and smart tree watering to cool down cities.

DuVal said the TIRF grants, which are approved by the Board of Regents,

are selected in a more subjective way than other competitive scientific grants might be.

He said winning projects for TIRF grants should be able to pass “the Circle K test.”

“If you can’t explain your research in the time it takes to buy a cup of coffee, then you aren’t doing your job,” DuVal said.

He added that this principle was especially important because the research is funded directly by taxpayers, who should be able to understand what they’re funding.

DuVal is excited about the firefighter blood donation study, the second-largest grant this year behind the Valley Fever project.

“We want to take this to scale,” he said. “If we can solve (this problem), it’s a national-scale, global project.”

Somers ready to jump back into City Council

BY SCOTT SHUMAKER Tribune Staff Writer

When the Mesa City Council reconvenes in early January, one of the two new faces on the dais will be Scott Somers, who was elected in August to take over the District 6 seat in southeast Mesa from termed-out Kevin Thompson.

Somers will officially be sworn in along with new District 5 council member Alicia Goforth, who is replacing termed-out David Luna, in a ceremony at the Mesa Arts Center on Jan. 4.

Somers is not totally new to council: he previously held the seat from 2006 to 2014.

This gives him rare insight into governing a city during a recession among the current slate council members, who did navigate Mesa through the mini-recession at the outset of the pandemic in 2020.

Somers’ experience may come in handy as the economy begins 2023 still on precarious footing with rising interest rates, high construction costs and a projected “slowdown” in city revenues.

Somers mused during an interview with the Tribune that during his last term on council, “housing crisis” meant abandoned houses amid plummeting real estate values and high inventory.

But the housing issue today, like many other issues, is the reverse of what it was during the Great Recession. Today there’s too little housing and high prices, workers are in demand and numerous construction projects around the Valley are competing for labor and materials.

Still, Somers said the same principles the council used to navigate difficult economic waters a decade-and-a-half ago can still serve the city now.

“What we need is the same level of smart, fiscally conservative approaches to governing,” Somers said, “finding innovative ways to do service delivery, paying particular attention to economic development so that we continue to expand our economic base here in Mesa.”

Somers said Mesa City Council achieved important economic development goals during the Great Recession by sticking to a shared vision.

“It was all seven people rowing pretty

much in the same direction,” he said.

But Somers doesn’t think a slowdown on the scale of the Great Recession is on the horizon.

“There were so many things that happened there with housing market and banking. Loans dried up,” he said.

He’s expecting something milder and believes the city is in a good financial position to weather a slowdown in revenues.

‘I just love cities’

As a firefighter with a Ph.D. in urban policy and government affairs from Arizona State University, Somers is a seasoned first responder and a policy expert.

His mother was a paramedic in Western New York, and that influenced Somers to pursue firefighting and paramedic training after signing up for the Air Force.

The Air Force eventually brought Somers to Luke Air Force Base, where he met his wife, and after leaving the service they decided to stay in the state.

While working as a Phoenix firefighter, Somers began attending ASU to earn his bachelors’ degree, and once he finished that, he kept going – thanks in part to encouragement from advisors to go for the doctorate.

Urban policy suited Somers’ interests.

“I just love cities,” he said “Being a firefighter, it makes sense just studying cities and its relationship to state and federal government.”

These interests have kept Somers busy during his time away from council. In the

last eight years, Somers said he worked with both the Red Cross and the Federal Emergency Management Agency, served on the National EMS Council, “deployed to a couple hurricanes” in Texas and Florida, and consulted with fire departments in Arizona.

His recent work took him far and wide, but Somers seems genuinely excited to dive back into city affairs as he talks about issues the city may face in the years ahead.

Local control valued January will usher in a change in party in the Arizona governor’s office, but the state Legislature retains a slim Republican majority.

While there’s no party change, some observers believe this year’s House and Senate will be less moderate than last year’s.

Warren Petersen, the president-elect of the state Senate, released a memo in early December outlining his priorities for next year, and they included the elimination of city taxes on rent and food and removing barriers to the local approval of housing.

In neighboring Chandler, the city council discussed the possibility that tax cuts and stalemates in the Legislature on issues like the renewal of the Prop. 400 regional transportation tax could hurt the city budget.

Mesa doesn’t tax groceries, but it does collect taxes on rent, and a repeal of that tax could dent the city’s budget.

Somers said he’s concerned about losing that revenue, but his main focus when

watching the Legislature will be how its decisions impact local control of city affairs.

“I believe that local government governs best,” Somers said, “and I think most of the legislators do, too. But a lot of times, they take control of issues that they really should be kicking back to cities.”

To ease the housing shortage, Petersen’s press release floated the possibility of mandating “administrative approvals for all projects that meet all existing laws and requirements.”

The implication is the state Legislature may try to put limits on public participation in rezoning cases and site plan reviews.

Somers said he would be opposed to efforts to reduce local control over the entitlements process.

Mayor John Giles has also publicly stated opposition to reducing local control of zoning cases. Zoning is “a city issue, not a state issue,” Somers said.

Mesa has already streamlined the permitting process, he said, and the biggest barrier right now housing development in Arizona isn’t getting approval, but getting financing for affordable housing projects.

“It’s not so simple where you can just point to and go, ‘cities aren’t allowing these things.’ It’s also a market-driven thing,” Somers said. “How do you encourage the market to invest?”

Somers also worries that eliminating the approval process for housing would lead to bad development.

If you “allow things by right anywhere, then you end up with apartment complexes next to CMC Steel (a large factory in southeast Mesa). In whose mind is that a good idea? … Noise and light pollution and trucks and trains – all those things that come in, (houses) don’t belong in there. It belongs in a residential community,” he said.

“That’s why local government is best to try and figure those things out.”

‘Vertical Integrated Mixed Use’

Talking with Somers, the phrase “vertical intergrated mixed use development” came up repeatedly.

It’s something he wants to see more of in Mesa and something he sees as potentially

Scott Somers returns to a familiar spot on Mesa City Council, where he served for eight years before he was termed out in 2014. (Scott Shumaker/Tribune Staff)

Dogs, parents unite for Super Bowl run/walk in Mesa

BY CHRISTINA FUOCO-KARASINSKI Tribune Staff Writer

The Arizona Super Bowl Host Committee is holding events around the Valley but for its new fun run in Mesa, it’s bringing fourlegged friends into the fold.

Registration is open for the Arizona Super Host Committee 5K-9 Fun Run Presented by PetSmart at azsuperbowl.com/5k9. The family- and pet-

friendly event kicks off at 8 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 7, at Mesa’s Riverview Park.

“Mesa’s been such a great partner,” said Jay Parry, president and chief executive officer at Arizona Super Bowl Host Committee.

“We hope that we’ll have folks join us from around the Valley. We do expect a big turnout from Mesa. We’re excited to kick off the new year with this. It’s a month from gameday. We want people who are excited about the Super Bowl and want to be a part of it to come out and join us.”

Registration is $30 per person, and a portion of each registration will benefit PetSmart Charities. Plus, twolegged participants receive a commemorative State Forty Eight T-shirt, along with a special bandana for fourlegged participants.

Will Smith, PetSmart senior vice president and chief marketing officer, said he is looking forward to the event.

“We know pet parents enjoy getting

outside and being active with their pets, so we wanted to offer pets and their people a way to make some great memories together,” Smith said.

“The 5K-9 Fun Run is a chance to share a special experience with your pet, and it’s fun that supports a cause. Every registration benefits PetSmart Charities, so participants are directly impacting work that transforms the lives of pets and the people who love them.”

The timing is perfect as it aligns with many people’s New Year’s resolutions, Parry added.

“It’s the perfect way to shake off the holidays,” she said. “We will all want to be active for a good new year. Following the fun run – which could also be a fun walk – the participants can ‘TAILgate.’ There will be lots of fun activities at the tailgate – treats and drinks for participants and their dogs.”

The PetSmart MVPets TAILgate experience will allow pet parents to cre-

ate a custom football player card with their pet’s photo, complete with a souvenir lanyard. The event will also feature a photo booth, agility platforms and adoptable dogs local animal welfare organizations.

The first 800 pet parents to visit the booth receive free custom-engraved pet tags from TagWorks.

“PetSmart Charities does such a great job here and across the country as the leading fundraiser of pet animal welfare,” Parry said. “We’re so lucky to have them headquartered here in Arizona.”

If You Go...

Arizona Super Host Committee 5K-9 Fun Run Presented by PetSmart

When: 8 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 7.

Where: Riverview Park, 2100 W. Rio Salado Parkway, Mesa Cost: $30 Info: azsuperbowl.com/5k9

useful for addressing multiple city needs.

The concept involves mixing commercial and retail spaces together in multi-story buildings. Somers cites Kierland Commons in Scottsdale as an example of this type of development.

Typically, vertical integrated mixed-use involves retail and restaurants on the ground level with multiple floors of apartments or condos above.

It’s “higher-end retail, walkable shopping experience … where you can live there, you can shop there, you can sit down, eat in restaurants, and bars and all the types of things that people want to go to and talk,” he said.

For one, he thinks these types of developments are some of the last missing pieces of southeast Mesa’s planned developments, like Eastmark and Cadence.

During his campaign, Somers said that commercial and entertainment development has lagged behind residential and industrial development in his district, and he would prioritize getting these final amenities developed.

Somers has several locations in mind

that he thinks would be suitable for vertical mixed-use.

The concept of vertical mixed-use also comes up during a discussion of the redevelopment of Mesa’s legacy indoor malls.

The shuttered Fiesta Mall in West Mesa is ready for redevelopment and eventually Superstition Springs Mall will need to be redeveloped, and Somers believes a mixed-use development along the lines of a Kierland Commons would be a good way to revitalize the spaces.

“We’ve seen these big box malls start to reinvent themselves nationally to look more like that,” he said.

With current ownership groups of the two malls, Somers believes “there’s an opportunity to work with them to create a vision for (their) ultimate redevelopment.”

Finally, Somers believes vertical integrated mixed use is a sound method of increasing Mesa’s workforce housing.

He sees downtown Mesa along light rail as a promising area for vertical mixed-use projects with housing density. Putting dense housing in downtown ties in with Somers’ strong support of the city’s current efforts to redevelop downtown.

“Every healthy city has a vibrant down

town core,” he says.

To illustrate what he would like to see more of downtown and throughout Mesa, Somers cites the latest phases of the Agritopia development in Gilbert.

“Right now they got that five-, six-story building … over retail, and that includes at least two bars and a coffee roaster – in Gilbert,” Somers says with theatrical shock and disgust when he says the name of Mesa’s neighbor to the south.

“If you can do it in Gilbert, you can do it in Mesa,” he adds.

Another issue that Somers is excited to

Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport into the center of a major jobs hub.

He says airport leaders and their community partners have done a “fantastic” job so far, and he is looking forward to the next phase, what he calls “Gateway 3.0.”

In Gateway 3.0, the airport adds business travel carriers like Delta Airlines with service to regional business hubs.

In this next phase, SkyBridge Arizona, the airport’s cargo hub with customs agents from the U.S. and Mexico, are exporting goods manufacturing in Mesa to markets across the world.

“Producing good here and exporting,” Somers pauses for emphasis, “to Mexico, but also Canada I think is the next important quarter, and eventually Asian markets – Taiwan, India. Maybe that’s a 4.0 or 5.0.”

Though Somers is passionate about vertical mixed-use development, he said he also believes in preserving the distinct character of different parts of the city.

“This town is bigger than Atlanta, San Francisco,” he said. “There’s a lot of property here, and a lot of opportunity to have that diversity of lifestyle. … I think that makes us

Scott Somers thinks dead Fiesta Mall could become a mixed-use development along the lines of a Kierland Commons. (YouTube)

Waste Not leader chosen for special program

BY JOSH ORTEGA Tribune Staff Writer

Each year, sustainability nonprofit Arizona Forward selects a handful of professionals from around the state to become “emerging leaders in sustainability action.”

So it was no surprise that Arizona Forward President/CEO Lori Singleton welcome Hillary Bryant to the Emerging Sustainability Leaders 2022-23 program for her commitment, professionalism, and passion for environmental sustainability.

“I have a very deep love for my environment,” said Bryant, executive director of the Scottsdale nonprofit Waste Not, which at 35 years claims to be one of the oldest food rescue organizations in the U.S.

Its aim is to “transform a broken system by connecting tens of thousands of Arizonans with quality food that would otherwise go to waste” and said it has “diverted more than 100 million meals from landfills to the plates of struggling families.”

“I am incredibly honored to have been selected as an Emerging Leader in Sustainability through Arizona Forward’s leadership program,” Bryant said in a statement. “This year’s cohort is full of extraordinary people that are dedicated to climate action and sustainability, and I am proud to walk alongside them as we continue to create meaningful change and impact in Arizona.”

From a young age, Bryant grew up in Gilbert when the town still had a strong farm presence. She also would visit her grandfather’s house in the White Mountains and the area near Show Low.

“As I grew up, I started volunteering for different types of nonprofits, none of them were really sustainability focused, per se, but I grew to love my community,” Bryant said.

Not until college did Bryant join her love for the environment with a love for her community.

In 2017, she graduated with a bachelor’s in public health from Northern Arizona University, where she focused much of her degree program on environmental health and creating systems that help people and the planet, specifically how our communities and environment shape us and our health.

Bryant said she is dedicated to creating lasting, systemic change in Arizona and is excited by Arizona Forward’s opportunity to meet and learn from others who have advanced sustainability efforts in the state.

“I am so excited to be immersed in this program for the next seven months and to create partnerships that can bring

awareness to the connection between food waste, climate change, and the wellbeing of local communities,” she said.

Bryant said the program consists of experts from government, architecture, energy, water, and land and forest conservation.

But Bryant said she’s only one of two people in the program that focuses on food systems, and she loves that.

“I really love bringing the perspective of food waste and circular economy,” Bryant said. “Because it’s not necessarily a part of sustainability that people think about right away.”

“We really have a dual mission of alleviating hunger and then also keeping good food out of the landfill, therefore reducing greenhouse gas emissions, specifically methane,” Bryant said.

It’s that dual mission that attracted to Bryant to join the nonprofit in the first place.

Waste Not comprises a team of professional drivers and food rescue volunteers to collect fresh food from local food businesses such as catering companies, resorts, and event venues, and deliver that food the same day to nonprofits who provide critical community services, such as housing and employment assistance.

Each year, 40% of food is thrown away, while nearly 1 million people in Arizona are struggling with food insecurity, and last year, Waste Not “rescued” nearly 2.4 million pounds of food and redirected it to critical community services, such as housing and employment assistance.

“I really love that we’re so efficient that we can tackle two problems at once, in such a meaningful way,” Bryant said.

Anyone can reduce food waste, Bryant said.

They can consider composting, paying attention to expiration dates, planning out household portions more accurately, utilizing clear containers to know what is being stored in the refrigerator and then following the FIFO Method – first in, first out.

“The things that basically have an expiration date that’s closer, you put that at the front of your fridge and you use those things first,” Bryant said.

Bryant said she looks forward to the rest of the program and learning from other experts.

“I think it’s very much needed and I’m really happy to be alongside other emerging leaders that care deeply about the same issues that I do,” Bryant said.

Hillary will be part of “a talented and diverse group of other young professionals that will be leading the charge to expand environmental sustainability in their communities and their places of business,” Singleton said.

TheMesaTribune.com | @EVTNow /EVTNow

Hillary Bryant has been recognized for her commitment to sustainability as head of the nonprofit Waste Not. (Social Television Network)

Ob uaries

480-898-6465

obits@timespublications.com

Deadline: Wednesday by 5pm for Sunday

Norece Leaonard Hatch

N o r e c e ‘ S h o r t y ’ H a t c h w a s b o r n t o L e o n a r d a n d D o r o t h y H a t c h o n M a r c h 2 7 , 1 9 4 7 . H e i s t h e o l d e s t o f 7 k i d s D a r n e l l B r o w n ( T o m ) , R a y ( d ec e a s e d ) , D o n ( K a y ) , R o s s ( K a r e n ) , G w y n n , L y n n R o m n e y ( J e s s ) H e g r e w u p i n N o r t h e r n A r i z o n a H e g r a d u a t e d f r o m A s h f o r k H S , t h e n served a 2 year mission in Central America for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints

I n 1 9 6 9 h e m a r r i e d N i v l a L a m o r e a u x of Gilbert , Arizona. They moved to Flagstaff where Shorty earned a BS degree in b u s i n e s s . T h e f a m i l y m o v e d t o G i l b e r t o u t o n R a y R o a d w h e r e h e r a n h i s b u s in e s s , S h o r t y ’ s ( a n d l a t e r S p a r t a n ) E l e ct r i c H e w a s a n e l e c t r i c a l c o n t r a c t o r f o r 4 0 y e a r s

They had 9 children. After 28 years the f a m i l y m o v e d o u t t o s o u t h H i g l e y R o a d w h e r e t h e f a m i l y c o n t i n u e d t o g r o w . S h o r t y a n d N i v l a l e f t i n 2 0 1 1 f o r a m i ssion in Cór doba Argentina. Nivla passed a w a y i n M a r c h o f 2 0 1 2 w h i l e t h e y w e r e s e r v i n g t h e r e I n 2 0 1 6 N o r e c e m a r r i e d Mary Rogers. In the Spring of 2018 they served a temple mission in Madrid Spain Mary made Shorty very happy.

O n T u e s d a y , D e c e m b e r 2 7 t h , 2 0 2 2 S h o r t y p a s s e d a w a y o f n a t u r a l c a u s e s i n his home, after having the best couple of d a y s p a r t i c i p a t i n g i n f a m i l y t r a d i t i o n s H e i s s u r v i v e d b y M a r y R o g e r s H a t c h , Shamaine Wright (Mike), Titia Mann, N C o d y ( M e l a n i e ) , Y a n a R e i d h e a d ( K e e vi n ) , C o z e t t e F o x ( S e a n ) , T i m a H i r d (Nick), Toah, Taffy Sherwood (DJ), Koa y ( R i a n n e ) 4 3 g r a n d k i d s a n d 1 4 g r e a t g r a n d s H e w a s a l a r g e s p i r i t i n a s h o r t body. He served his community, his family, and his friends A f u n e r a l s e r v i c e w i l l b e h e l d f r o m 9:30 AM to 11:00 AM on 2023-01-07 at Power Ranch stake center, 4170 S Ranch H o u s e P a r k w a y G i l b e r t , A Z A v i e w i n g ( w a k e ) w i l l b e h e l d f r o m 8 : 0 0 A M t o 9:00 AM on 2023-01-07 at Power Ranch S t a k e C e n t e r , 4 1 7 0 S R a n c h H o u s e P k w y .

R o b e r t H e n r y B e c ke r d i e d o n N o v e m b e r 3 , 2 0 2 2 a t t h e a g e o f 9 3 B o r n i n C e d a r Rapids, Nebraska, Bob w o r k e d f o r A l l i sChalmers, Deutz-Allis, A G C O , M e l r o e a n d

A r m s t r o n g T i r e s i n N e b r a s k a , W i s c o nsin, Texas and Arizona. He was a faithf u l a n d e n t h u s i a s t i c v o l u n t e e r f o r S t Peter Lutheran Church, California Rare F r u i t G r o w e r s - A r i z o n a C h a p t e r , a n d N ew F r o n tier s f o r Lif elo n g Lear n in g at M es a Co mmu n ity Co lleg e

B o b i s s u r v i v e d b y s i s t e r s B e r n i c e Hunt and Margaret Reynoldson, daught e r s T e r e s a B e c k e r , B o n i t a S w e d a ( T h o m a s S w e d a ) , a n d K a t r i n a B e c k e r ( H o w a r d S c h u l e r ) , g r a n d c h i l d r e n Timothy and Jennifer Sweda, and companion Peggy Randolph

He was predeceased by wife Dorothy Chung Becker and parents Herman and Lena Becker He is greatly missed Bob B e c k e r ’ s m e m o r i a l c e l e b r a t i o n o f l i f e w i l l b e h e l d a t S t P e t e r L u t h e r a n C h u r c h , 1 8 4 4 E . D a n a A v e . i n M e s a , A Z a t 3 P M o n S a t u r d a y , J a n u a r y 2 8 , 2 0 2 3

More information and full obituary at h t t p s : / / e v e r l o v e d c o m / l i f e - o f / r o b e r tb e c k e r / .

dner Jenkins

December 14, 2022 ucille was born Janu1 3 , 1 9 2 5 i n M i a m i , zona to William Alva n d A f t o n L u e l l a ter Gardner She had w o n d e r f u l l i f e g r o wu p o n a f a r m i n E la , A r i z o n a . S h e A td e d B r i g h a m Y o u n g i v e r s i t y m a j o r i n g i n S h e a n d h e r h u s b a n d h i l d r e n i n C a l i f o r n i a . She worked as a bookkeeper most of her l i f e a n d e n j o y e d t h e c h a l l en g e o f b a l a ncing down to the penny She was an acti v e m e m b e r o f T h e C h u r c h o f J e s u s C h r i s t o f L a t t e r - D a y S a i n t s a n d t o o k g r e a t j o y i n a l l t h e p o s i t i o n s s h e h e l d w i t h t h e m . S h e w a s v e r y g o o d a t k e e pi n g i n t o u c h w i t h h e r a n d h e r h u s b a n d s extended family members and the friends f r o m w h e n t h e y m e t S h e o u t l i v e d t h e m all, crossing out their names in her phone book when they passed away. She is prec e d e d i n d e a t h b y h e r s i s t e r , D o r o t h y Powell and her husband, Gordon W Jenk i n s S h e i s s u r v i v e d b y h e r c h i l d r e n ; B r a d l e y ( H o l l y ) J e n k i n s , C h r i s t i n e ( B a r r y ) H a c k e t t , K a r e n ( R o d ) J o h n s o n , M a r k A J e n k i n s , D e n i s e ( B r e n t ) C r a bt r e e , R e n e e ( L e e ) P y p e r , B r e t t ( J o a n n e ) Jenkins and Kimberlee (Brent) Hawkins; a l s o 2 2 G r a n d c h i l d r e n a n d 3 0 G r e a t G r a n d c h i l d r e n

Robert Henry Becker

Family brings Costa Rica flavor to Mesa

BY GERI KOEPPEL Tribune Contributor

Coffee is a central part of the Costa Rican culture, and one East Valley family shares that heritage with every cup they serve.

Pura Vida Grinds coffee shop on Main Street near Val Vista Drive in Mesa only serves coffee from beans imported from Costa Rican co-ops and individual farms.

The owners, Robert Lobo and his wife, Angela Vannett, and their children—Isabella, 2, and Charlie, 3—travel from their Chandler home to the Latin American country annually to try coffees. Lobo’s father, Carlos, and his wife, Cecilia, live there full-time and facilitate the contacts.

“This year we went for the month of June,” said Robert Lobo, who’s known by his surname. “It’s really cool just to sit down and drink. They’re so proud to serve you their coffee that’s in their back yard.”

They named the shop Pura Vida Grinds because “pura vida” is a popular saying in Costa Rica. Though it translates directly as “pure life,” it indicates living your life to the fullest, Lobo explained.

Pura Vida Grinds not only sells a wide range of specialty coffee drinks for about $3-$6, it also uses “micro-lot coffees” for pour-overs using a handmade, imported ceramic vandola. It resembles a large teapot with a funnel on top.

The vessel keeps the coffee warm and helps open up the flavors “like the decanter for the wine,” Carlos explained. “It oxygenates the coffee so you get the notes out.”

The shop sells the hand-painted vandolas for $160 as well as a variety of beans, starting at about $16 for 12

ounces and up to $42 for a kilogram.

In addition to coffee, the Lobo family doles out healthy doses of hospitality.

Loyal customer Randy Walters of Mesa said service is an important part of what keeps him going back.

“You can get good coffee a lot of places, but you can’t get this experience,” Walters said. “The customer care, it’s just phenomenal. It’s genuine.”

“The first time you’re in here you feel like family,” he added. “They smile, they greet you, they don’t rush anybody out, they take their time.”

Numerous customers say they drive from other parts of the Valley just to visit them, Vannett commented.

“Especially in coffee, there’s so many options for people, so you have to set yourself apart with great coffee and great customer service,” she said.

The idea for Pura Vida Grinds began to brew when a coffee franchise owner in Costa Rica approached Carlos and told him he’d like to export to the United States. “I told him my son was

here and he could be the contact here,” he said.

Lobo began making plans and got a trailer, but that deal fell through. He still wanted to pursue the business, however, so he called his dad and said, “Hey, could you find me the best coffee in Costa Rica?”

Carlos located a small supplier, Cafe Forestal, and they started with that.

Lobo and Vannett formed the business in 2016 and began selling coffee from a portable cart in Mesa and at events in 2017.

They got their current space on Main Street in 2018 to serve as a prep area and for storing the cart and beans.

Also in 2018, they added a coffee truck, which was easier than wheeling around the cart and a heavy generator to serve events.

The 1963 Ford Vanette was manufactured on special order for Rainbow Bread as a delivery truck. Lobo had it wrapped with scenes of Costa Rica— including the iconic sloth, which is a national symbol of Costa Rica—by Cortez Visual in Gilbert, which also did Pura Vida Grinds’ storefront, cart and a wall mural.

Just as things were moving along, everything ground to a halt.

“When the whole pandemic hit, our calendars got wiped, and we said, ‘What do we do?’” Lobo recalled. “We decided to open this up as a pop-up shop to stay alive.”

They turned the strip mall storefront into a cafe, parking the cart in-

side and serving drinks from it.

And then they got a big break: As other businesses were shuttering during the pandemic, they got a boost of publicity and started to grow.

Newscaster Elías Alvarado of Telenoticias, a major Spanish-language TV station, found Pura Vida Grinds on social media. He did a segment remotely from the studio in New York in June 2020 that was broadcast all over Latin America.

It was so successful, he flew out in November and did another segment that will air this month on Telenoticias.

Soon after the initial segment aired, artisanal coffee producers and others began to reach out.

“When the interview came out, the whole world was shut off,” Carlos said, “so all these people in Costa Rica, these souvenir producers, they called and said, ‘Please help us; we have no business.’”

The family already was selling Costa Rican-made flip flops, and began importing items like jewelry, Indigenous-made decorative masks and more. Now, they’re constantly adding new items, getting fresh beans, sourcing new contacts and filling special requests, Lobo added.

“That was always my idea was to share culture through coffee,” he said. “Now that we’re here, it’s about bringing the community together. It means a lot to us. Almost every customer that comes in, we know by name.”

If You Go...

Pura Vida Grinds

When: 7 a.m.–2 p.m. Monday–Friday, 8 a.m.–2 p.m. Saturday-Sunday

Where: 3820 E. Main Street, Mesa.

Info: 480-600-7528; pvgrinds.com

Manning a Pura Vida Grinds coffee truck are, clockwise from top, Robert Lobo of Chandler, Charlie, his wife Angela Vannett, and his dad’s wife and dad, Cecilia and Carlos Lobo of Costa Rica.

(Geri Koeppel/Contributor)

Share Your Thoughts: Send your letters on local issues to: pmaryniak@timeslocalmedia.com

TheMesaTribune.com | @EVTNow /EVTNow

Sinema helps Congress stick it to taxpayers

BY JD HAYWORTH Tribune Columnist

If you thought the “Christmas Rush” that you and other holiday shoppers faced was daunting, think again.

In Washington, an allegedly “lame duck” Congress churned furiously through fetid swamp water in a “Christmas Rush” of its own.

Smelling jet fumes, the dirty birds in charge of both the House and Senate hatched a scheme for a highpriced and low-down flight path out of town…and the “gift” they gave you will keep on taking.

Our kids and grandkids—not to mention today’s taxpayers—just got

stuck with a huge holiday shopping expenditure: a $1.7 trillion 4,000plus page “Omnibus Bill,” with interest payments on our national debt compounded by the nanosecond.

What the legislative leaders lacked in originality, they more than made up for in the astronomical price tag and the slapdash way in which this “buying binge” was formulated.

“Omnibus” translates to “everything, including the kitchen sink.”

“Ominous” is the rhyming wellworn one-word joke played on the American people with disturbing regularity. And, as so often in the past, the calculations were not mathematical, but strategic.

Democrats in the House, Senate,

and White House knew that they could cram one bill full of pork, policies, and their priorities, then get enough Republicans to “roll over” so everybody could leave town and head home for Christmas.

Add to that conspiring “Capitol Gang” one newly-minted “Independent” from Arizona.

As explained a couple of weeks ago in this space, Sen. Kyrsten Sinema’s boldly proclaimed “independence” is instead disguised deference to the Senate Democrat leadership.

A sudden and shameful reversal on a key vote by Arizona’s senior senator reveals the Grand Canyonsized gulf between Kyrsten’s rhetoric and the ugly reality.

Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah) introduced an amendment that would have preserved Title 42, the Trump executive action helping to stem the flow of illegals across our southern border.

Of course, the “Biden Bunch” is eager to rescind it, even though it would mean that the number of alien invaders would rise even higher.

Lee had high hopes that his amendment would pass, as he later told the Fox Business Network. “For eight glorious minutes, we had it won,” Lee said.

“Then, all of a sudden, [Democrat Leader] Chuck Schumer pulled a couple of members off the floor— Kyrsten Sinema and Joe Manchin. He twisted their arms—who knows what he told them, what he threatened them with – they came back and changed their votes.”

Not much imagination is needed to know what Schumer said to Sinema. Most likely, it went something like this: “Kyrsten, I like you personally. Politically, I want to do for you what Mitch McConnell did on the other side for Lisa Murkowski. Wasn’t that

something?

“His Leadership PAC bought seven million bucks worth of ads to keep Lisa in her seat in Alaska. Of course, that was easier for him to do because Lisa remained a Republican.

“I know Arizona is different from Alaska, and you did what you thought you needed to do…but it’s gonna be tough for me to keep the DSCC from sending money to a Democrat candidate for your seat. And it will be even tougher if you support this GOP Amendment. It will be easier for me to help you if you switch your vote to ‘no’ on this amendment, and then vote ‘yes’ on final passage.”

Do we know for certain that Schumer said that? No, but we do know that Sinema switched her vote to kill that amendment, then voted for the entire Omnibus Bill…all $1.7 trillion of it.

There is border security funding in that monstrosity, but none of it will be spent here.

Instead, there’s $410 million to strengthen borders in Jordan, Lebanon, Egypt, Tunisia, and Oman. You read that right: money for middle east borders, but nothing for this border state in the southwest.

And Uncle Sam keeps playing Santa Claus in the Ukraine. The Omnibus provides another $45 billion there, bringing the total to over $100 billion in aid to that nation. While it is true that Russia invaded Ukraine, the United States is also being invaded, and our southern border erased.

Spending $100 billion here would fund 20 border walls, but Sinema remains silent on that type of expenditure to protect Arizona and America.

Sinema has made it clear: her “Declaration of Independence” came at a heavy price to American taxpayers.

But it remains a cheap stunt.

Concussions remain at the forefront of high school athletics

BY RYAN MCCLURE Tribune Contributor

Head injury awareness has increased at an exponential rate in the past decade, leading to monumental strides at the high school athletic level.

The rate of concussions continues to grow across high school sports, amid growing efforts to prevent head trauma and protect the safety of athletes. The medical field’s leaps in awareness on head injuries has led to a categorization on different types of traumatic brain injuries. The most prominent on the high school athletic level are concussions.

According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, a concussion is a bump, blow, or jolt to the head or by a hit to the body that causes the head and brain to move rapidly back and forth.

“There has been a really strong progression towards really addressing that aspect of head injuries,” Highland High School athletic trainer David Hayward said. “We have focused on head injuries and made sure athletes are safe and not playing with anything that potentially involves a head injury. Concussions are the lowest grade of brain injury, but they can turn into something really big.”

Certain levels and sports see higher rates of concussions than others. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, boys’ football, girls’ soccer and boys’ ice hockey

are the three sports with the highest concussion rates.

Concussions are most commonly found in instances of falls or collisions with other athletes. From sport to sport, the mechanism of injury varies, even off-the-field occurrences happen.

Boys’ football, with 10.4 concussions per 10,000 athlete exposures, leads all sports in the rate of concussions. Although the most padded sport, it still comes in at the top.

“Helmets were originally created to prevent skull fractures,” Campo Verde High School athletic trainer Julia Marino said. “The technology of the cushions in the helmet and shock absorption are there. But if concussions still occur, it proves itself.”

Arizona high schools are now taking advantage of easier access to modern head injury technology. Valley schools have integrated these technologies to help prevent and enhance recovery of head injuries and concussions.

ImPACT (immediate post-concussion assessment and cognitive testing) is a computer-based head injury assessment tool used to help the medical field, and specifically athletic trainers. It has been branded as the most effective tool for creating baseline concussion tests, which are used to compare a person’s cognitive abilities after injury to before.

Modern technology like ImPACT has led to a safer and more efficient recovery process for athletes. Identifying when an ath-

lete is back to the testing level, they were at during the baseline test is key to allowing a player to return to play safely, preventing long term injury.

Another advancement in understanding concussions has been the Sport Concussion Assessment Tool 5, often referred to as the SCAT-5. The SCAT-5 is a standardized tool designed to assist with the clinical and sideline assessment of concussion.

The SCAT-5 is a good predictor of the duration of time away from sports in high school athletes with concussions, which allows athletic trainers to have a better understanding of where each specific athlete is at in their recovery process, or to even identify if a player has a concussion.

“There are always optics out there watching,” Hayward said. “If a player elicits some sort of sign or symptom of a concussion then they will be approached and addressed.”

The state, athletic program, and even specific teams have taken steps since the modern wave of awareness of these injuries.

Coaches have implemented their own methods to potentially prevent head injuries. From neck stretches to limited “hitting” time, or when players can fully use their tackling techniques. Each specific coach has their own implementations in their practice schedule.

But it isn’t always fool proof.

Gavin Chavez, a senior at Desert Vista, has been one of the many athletes in the Valley to be impacted by head injury.

Chavez is a member of the varsity football team and varsity lacrosse at Desert Vista. He has played football since the age of 6 and has picked up lacrosse since then. His first concussion was minor in 7th grade, followed by a more serious one the following year.

“Gavin plays with a certain energy, he plays with all his heart,” Gavin’s father and Desert Vista assistant coach Gary Chavez said. “He was an impact player.”

Chavez stayed symptom free until his first game his junior year. But in that first game Chavez was hit hard on a kickoff re-

turn, leading to another concussion with microfractures detected. Six games later, and almost a month and half of recovery, Chavez was cleared to return to the field.

In his first game back Chavez was injured yet again on a special teams play.

“Special team plays are just so dangerous,” Gary said. “Players are flying around the field, and it results in more injuries than any other plays. Gavin got unlucky and just got in a couple bad situations.”

Chavez was forced to make a decision after his latest concussion: Try to play or give up the sport to focus on his long-term health.

He showed maturity in his decision.

“He could have made an impact in his last season, but he chose his health,” Gary said. “We were going to support him with any decision he made, whether he wanted to take all the precautions in order to play. One day he decided to call it a career and look towards long term health and stability.”

The state and the Arizona Interscholastic Association have implemented rules over the years to help combat the rate of concussions. From changing kickoff alignment rules, and adding defenseless player and helmet to helmet rules, the AIA has implemented new ideas to prevent higher rates of injury.

All athletes and coaches have to complete “Brain Book,” which is an educational program that the AIA mandates statewide.

The awareness and the level of education on head injuries has raised, which has allowed athletes like Chavez to make decisions to benefit their long-term health where historically long-term brain health has not been in the forefront.

The new wave of concussion awareness and modern implementations has led to new methods of prevention, diagnosis, and recovery.

“I feel we are really going in the right direction when it comes to concussions,” Hayward said. “There is still just a lot of research out there to do to really figure out about a young developing brain and how it could be impacted.”

Quality pre-k program

Gem and mineral show coming to Mesa

BY MARC FLEISCHER GetOut Contributor

Some people know Evan A. Jones as a member of Xtra Ticket, a Grateful Dead tribute band that started in 1994.

The Cave Creek resident takes on Bob Weir’s role, playing guitar and vocals.

But Jones is well established as a serious gem and mineral collector and dealer and he’s taking part in the 50th annual Flagg Gem & Mineral Show next weekend, Jan 6-8, in Mesa Community College’s southwest parking lot at Southern Avenue and Dobson Road.

The Flagg Gem & Mineral Show is very special to Jones, the son of Bob Jones,

editor of Rock and Gem Magazine and author of “The Frugal Collector.”

The younger Jones has been surrounded by minerals his entire life.

“My father gave me a fossil set at age 7 along with fossil and geology books, which really started things for me. Prior to that, minerals were just the cool things in my dad’s cabinets and collection drawers. No other family members were really interested at the time,” Jones said.

By age 12, he was attending shows with his father. Later, as an adult, he began participating as a dealer.

“Back in the old days it was all about visiting rock shops and attending shows,” he said. “What’s great about the Flagg show is that many of the dealers have been participating for decades, and they’ve passed their love of collecting down to their kids and grandkids.”

It’s the largest and longest-running gem and mineral show in the metro

Phoenix area and attracts thousands of people every year, ranging from serious collectors to families with young children. Admission and parking are free.

This year’s golden anniversary event will feature more than 100 dealers who will showcase and sell a variety of minerals, fossils, gems, beads, jewelry and lapidary materials. In addition, several organizations will exhibit educational information and the event features fun children’s activities, including gold panning.

A native of Arizona, Jones found it natural to specialize and collect minerals from the Grand Canyon State. He was on the advisory board in the early planning stages of the new Alfie Norville Gem & Mineral Museum at the University of Arizona in Tucson.

Over the years, he has split his time between performing with his band, buying and selling minerals, and attending gem and mineral shows.

“I chose to join a Grateful Dead tribute band because it’s my favorite genre of music,” Jones said.

“They basically invented what’s now known as ‘jam band’ music. Xtra Ticket has played for deadheads all over the country.”

He said he knows many mineral collectors and dealers who started collecting or vending while on Grateful Dead or other jam band tours.

In addition to going to shows, Jones has explored more than 100 underground mines throughout the state. “Most were devoid of specimens, but the thrill of ex-

ploring underground is a strong pull,” he said.

He estimates that his current collection has more than 1,000 specimens, all from Arizona.

“It’s hard to pick a favorite. I really love wulfenite, the official state mineral of Arizona,” he said.

“It has tabular crystals with a bright orange-red to yellow-orange color. I also love azurite, which is characterized by its soft, deep blue color. Cuprite is also a mineral I enjoy collecting. A soft, heavy, red oxide mineral, it’s also called red copper ore and it can form beautiful crystals.”

Jones credits the internet with reviving interest in collecting gems and minerals. “I’m seeing a lot of new collectors, and many are very knowledgeable and sophisticated,” he said.

But attending a show provides a chance to meet dealers and examine specimens in person.

“If you’re just starting your collection, go to as many shows as you can,” Jones said. “Look at mineral dealers’ inventory, examine their specimens and read the labels. That’s the quickest way to learn minerals and the hobby.”

Jones said one reason he likes the Flagg Gem & Mineral Show is because there’s really something for everyone.

“I like the friendly, hometown attitude and easygoing nature of the show,” he said. “There’s good camaraderie with other dealers, there are plenty of great finds for seasoned and new collectors, it’s a ton of fun for kids, and there are amazing deals and fair prices.”

The Flagg Mineral Foundation is a memorial to A.L. Flagg who was a renowned and inspirational founder of the Mineralogical Society of Arizona. The Flagg Mineral Foundation is a non-profit scientific and educational organization.

Information: flaggmineralfoundation. org

Evan A. Jones will showcase his collection at the Flagg Gem & Mineral Show Jan. 6-8. (Courtesy of Evan A. Jones)

Aretha’s story told through theatrical concert

BY CHRISTINA FUOCO-KARASINSKI GetOut Editor

When Christina Sajous was a child in the Bronx, she and her mom listened to Aretha Franklin as they cleaned their apartment on Sunday mornings.

Since that time, Franklin’s music has felt like home.

So, as an adult, she didn’t have to think twice when she was asked to direct “R.E.S.P.E.C.T.,” a tribute celebrating the Motown star that comes to the Orpheum in Phoenix Jan. 13-15.

“When I was approached to do this project, I thought, ‘Oh my God, this is amazing,’” she said.”

The new production is adapted from McGee Entertainment’s Australian touring show “RESPECT: The Aretha Franklin Story” starring Angie Narayan (“Australian Idol”).

“It started in Australia,” Sajous said. “They have a show that’s running all through Australia. It was brought to us by Right Angle

Entertainment to do a variation of the show one of our producers saw.”

Sajous was handed the script and asked to make the show uniquely her own and for American audiences. It had to celebrate the star’s life, from singing in her father’s church in Detroit to touring the country with Martin Luther King Jr. to becoming a legend.

“It wasn’t an easy task,” she added. “The original script was beautiful, but it had to feel like it was in an authentic space. We did a lot of reworking of the script.”

“R.E.S.P.E.C.T.” showcases songs like “Natural Woman,” “Think,” “I Knew You Were Waiting for Me,” “Chain of Fools” and “Respect,” of course. “It’s told from the point of view of four artists on stage — three backup singers

and one lead singer,” she says. “We call them ‘hosts.’ They’re all storytellers and representative of who Aretha is. It celebrates the legend and the legend inside of you.

“You realize when you hear the story of Aretha, there’s no difference between her and you. She’s still a human being who had to endure so much.”

“I felt like I had a responsibility not just to uphold the integrity of what she represented in music, but what it means to be female, and a woman of color and an artist. I’m not a mother, but I experienced my mother being a mother. All these things were a part of the ingredients to build a show like this.”

If You Go...

“R.E.S.P.E.C.T.”

When: Various Jan. 13-15 Where: Orpheum Theatre, 203 W. Adams Street, Phoenix Cost: Tickets start at $45.24 Info: etix.com, respectontour.com

‘Disney on Ice’ takes on a road trip expedition

BY SUMMER AGUIRRE GetOut Staff

To ring in the new year strong, “Disney on Ice” is making a pitstop in the Valley to take families on a magical getaway visiting some of their most beloved characters.

Produced by Feld Entertainment, “Disney on Ice presents Road Trip Adventures” embarks on an immersive excursion of exciting twists and turns through some of Disney’s most popular and classic tales. The tour will be in Phoenix for seven shows from Jan.1215 at the Footprint Center.

“This show, in particular, come in with an open mind — it truly is an amazing show. We’ve all worked so hard and we’re so excited to share this show with you and everyone that comes into the magic,” said Kiera Clifford, 22, a first-year skater in the cast. “It’s a big road trip adventure for everybody.”

During an enchanting and athletic performance, spectators will go on a safari to see Simba, Timon and Pumbaa in the Pride Lands and help Woody and Bo Peep search for their

new friend, Forky, at a wacky carnival.

“We’ll start with Mary Poppins going through the town. We’ll see some Incredibles, we might run into Moana and her tribe or we might even run into Olaf with his little ‘In Summer’ song,” said Clifford.

In comparison to other “Disney on Ice” shows, the skater said that “Road Trip Adventures” is by far the most interactive with audience members.

“There’s not just one thing you’re looking at, there are a bunch of things,” she said. “One of my favorite numbers is Aladdin’s (Prince) Ali Parade. You have a lot of things in the air, you have things on the ground, there’s a lot of props – you won’t be unsatisfied with our show.”

To further immerse the audience in the performance, Clifford hinted at a surprise launch into the crowd during the “Toy Story” segment and noted cast members who escort families onto bus stops to watch the show close to the ice.

“I feel like our cast members blend very well, the show pulls together,” she said.

Seeing “Disney on Ice” is a memorable ex-

perience that Clifford thinks every kid needs.

“I grew up a Disney kid, and I’m so grateful that my mom brought me to the shows and to Disney World, just because it’s something special that you’ll look back on and remember for a long time,” she said. “And seeing your favorite characters come off the screen onto the ice is something that was super exciting to me, so I’m sure for every child out there, it would be exciting for them, too.”

The children’s enthusiasm is something that the skater believes is exciting for parents to witness. She recalls seeing videos online under the hashtag “#disneyonice,” taken by parents capturing their young ones’ happiness as their dreams come to life.

Likewise, Clifford said interacting with the children and bringing their heroes to life on the ice is the most fulfilling part of her role as a performer.

“I graduated with a teaching degree in music,” said Clifford, who attended Penn State University. “I’m missing that a little bit right now, so seeing the kids interact and their faces light up is probably the most ap -

pealing part of the show for me.”

“Disney on Ice” was launched in 1981. Its traveling team consists of 90 to 100 people, including Clifford and nearly 50 other performers, several coordinators, a sales team and crewmembers.

“As performers, we always go out and try to put on our best show for everybody,” she adds. “Whether it’s waving at kids as a princess, getting picked to go into the magicmobile with The Incredibles on the ice, or it could be tossing balls into the audience, or even going out into the audience as a cast.”

If You Go...

“Disney on Ice presents Road Trip Adventures”

When: Various Jan. 12-15

Where: Footprint Center, 201 E. Jefferson Street, Phoenix

Cost: Tickets start at $20 Info: Disneyonice.Com, Ticketmaster.Com

Angie Narayan, center, of “Australian Idol,” has the starring role in “R.E.S.P.E.C.T.” (Special to GetOut)

PERIPHERAL NEUROPATHY AND CHRONIC PAIN TREATMENTS NOT WORKING!!

Mesa, AZ – When it comes to chronic pain and/ or neuropathy, the most common doctor-prescribed treatment is drugs like Gabapentin, Lyrica, Cymbalta, and Neurontin. The problem with antidepressants or anti-seizure medications like these is that they offer purely symptomatic relief, as opposed to targeting and treating the root of the problem. Worse, these drugs often trigger an onset of uncomfortable, painful, and sometimes harmful side effects.

The only way to effectively treat chronic pain and/or peripheral neuropathy is by targeting the source, which is the result of nerve damage owing to inadequate blood flow to the nerves in the hands and feet. This often causes weakness, numbness, balance problems. A lack of nutrients causes the nerves degenerate – an insidious

cannot survive, and thus, slowly die. This leads to those painful and frustrating consequences we were talking about earlier, like weakness, numbness, tingling, balance issues, and perhaps even a burning sensation.

The drugs your doctor might prescribe will temporarily conceal the problems, putting a “Band-Aid” over a situation that will only continue to deteriorate without further action.

Thankfully, Mesa is the birthplace of a brandnew facility that sheds new light on this pressing problem of peripheral neuropathy and chronic pain. The company is trailblazing the medical industry by replacing outdated drugs and symptomatic reprieves with an advanced machine that targets the root of the problem at hand.

1. Finding the underlying cause

2. Determining the extent of the nerve damage (above 95% nerve loss is rarely treatable)

3. The amount of treatment required for the patient’s unique condition

Aspen Medical in Mesa, AZ uses a state-of-the-art electric cell signaling systems worth $100,000.00.

Th is ground-breaking treatment is engineered to achieve the following, accompanied by advanced diagnostics and a basic skin biopsy to accurately analyze results:

1. Increases blood flow

2. Stimulates and strengthens small fiber nerves

3. Improves brain-based pain

The treatment works by delivering energy to the affected area(s) at varying wavelengths, from low- to middle-frequency signals, while also using Amplitude Modulated (AM) and Frequency Modulated (FM) signaling.

It’s completely painless!

THE GREAT NEWS IS THAT THIS TREATMENT IS COVERED BY MEDICARE, MEDICAID, AND MOST INSURANCES!!

The number of treatments required varies from patient to patient, and can only be determined following an in-depth neurological and vascular examination. As long as you have less than 95% nerve damage, there is hope!

Aspen Medical begins by analyzing the extent of the nerve damage –a complimentary service for your friends and family. Each exam comprises a detailed sensory evaluation, extensive peripheral vascular testing, and comprehensive analysis of neuropathy findings.

Aspen Medical will be offering this free chronic pain and neuropathy severity evaluation will be available until January 31st, 2023 Call (480) 274-3157 to make an appointment

Due to our very busy office schedule, we are limiting this offer to the first 10 c allers Y OU DO NOT HAVE TO SUFFER ANOTHER MINUTE, CALL (480) 274-3157 NOW!!

We are extremely busy, so we are unavailable, please leave a voice message and we will get back to you as soon as possible.

As displayed in figure 1 above, the nerves are surrounded by diseased, withered blood vessels. A lack of sufficient nutrients means the nerves

Effective neuropathy treatment relies on the following three factors:

Depending on your coverage, your peripheral neuropathy treatment could cost almost nothing – or be absolutely free.

Aspen Medical 4540 E Baseline Rd., Suite 119 Mesa, AZ, 85206

Now Hiring in Mesa!

CITY OF MESA, ARIZONA ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT

REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS (RFQ)

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the City of Mesa is seeking a qualified firm or team to act as the Construction Manager at Risk for the following: CENTRAL MESA SEWER INTERCEPTOR REHABILITATION MULTIPLE LOCATIONS PROJECT NO. CP0956SR06

The City of Mesa is seeking a qualified Construction Manager at Risk (CMAR) to provide Pre-Construction Services assistance and complete Construction Services as the CMAR for the Central Mesa Sewer Interceptor Rehabilitation Project. All qualified firms that are interested in providing these services are invited to submit their Statements of Qualifications (SOQ) in accordance with the requirements detailed in the Request for Qualifications (RFQ).

The following is a summary of the project. The required tasks will be reviewed with the selected CMAR and defined to meet the needs of the project as part of the contract scoping. The Central Mesa Interceptor is a collection of large diameter sewer mains that convey wastewater from University Drive at Gilbert Road to the Northwest Water Reclamation Plant. Sewer mains ranging from 30 inches to 48 inches in diameter have been assessed for condition per National Association of Sewer Service Companies (NASSCO) grading. Rehabilitation methods include point repairs, cured in-place pipe (CIPP) lining and manhole repairs and coatings. Various segments will need to be cleaned, videoed and repaired per the approved plans. Additional tasks include by-pass pumping, de-watering, traffic control and public notification. The City may include other miscellaneous improvements as needed.

The estimated construction cost range is $10,000,000 to $12,000,000. A Pre-Submittal Conference will be held on January 12, 2023 at 8:00 am through Microsoft Teams. At this meeting, City staff will discuss the scope of work and general contract issues and respond to questions from the attendees. Attendance at the pre-submittal conference is not mandatory and all interested firms may submit a Statement of Qualifications whether or not they attend the conference. All interested firms are encouraged to attend the Pre-Submittal Conference since City staff will not be available for meetings or to respond to individual inquiries regarding the project scope outside of this conference. In addition, there will not be meeting minutes or any other information published from the Pre-Submittal Conference.

Contact with City Employees. All firms interested in this project (including the firm’s employees, representatives, agents, lobbyists, attorneys, and subconsultants) will refrain, under penalty of disqualification, from direct or indirect contact for the purpose of influencing the selection or creating bias in the selection process with any person who may play a part in the selection process. This policy is intended to create a level playing field for all potential firms, to assure that contract decisions are made in public, and to protect the integrity of the selection process. All contact on this selection process should be addressed to the authorized representative identified below

RFQ Lists. The RFQ is available on the City’s website at http://mesaaz.gov/business/engineering/construction-manager-at-risk-and-job-order-contracting-opportunities.

The Statement of Qualifications shall include a one-page cover letter that contains current company/firm contact information including a valid phone number and email address, plus a maximum of ten (10) pages to address the SOQ evaluation criteria (excluding PPVF’s and resumes but including an organizational chart with key personnel and their affiliation). Resumes for each team member shall be limited to a maximum length of two pages and should be attached as an appendix to the SOQ. Minimum font size shall be 10pt. Please provide one (1) electronic copy in an unencrypted PDF format to Engineering-RFQ@mesaaz.gov by January 19, 2023 at 2pm. The City reserves the right to accept or reject any and all Statements of Qualifications The City is an equal opportunity employer.

Firms who wish to do business with the City of Mesa must be registered in the City of Mesa Vendor Self Service (VSS) System (http://mesaaz.gov/business/purchasing/vendor-self-service). Questions. Questions pertaining to the Construction Manager at Risk selection process or contract issues should be directed to Tracy Gumeringer of the Engineering Department at tracy. gumeringer@mesaaz.gov.

PUBLIC NOTICES

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that sealed bids will be received until Thursday, January 19, 2023, at 1:00 p.m . All sealed bids will be received electronically at EngineeringBids@mesaaz.gov . Bids must be submitted as an unencrypted PDF attachment with a maximum size limit of 20MB. Any bid received after the time specified will be returned without any consideration. No bid shall be altered, amended, or withdrawn after the specified bid due date and time.

A non-mandatory Pre-Bid Conference will be Thursday, January 5, 2023, at 9:00 a.m. at Kimley-Horn’s office located at 1001 W. Southern Avenue, Suite 131, Mesa, Arizona 85210. Bidders may choose to call into the Microsoft Teams Meeting at +1-469-250-9294 with Phone Conference ID: 516 763 640#.

A pre-bid review of the site has been scheduled for Thursday, January 5, 2023, at 11:00 a.m. The site visit is recommended but not mandatory.

This contract shall be for furnishing all labor, materials, transportation, and services for the construction and/or installation of all improvements shown on the Plans, including, but not limited to the following:

Hawes Road Offsite Utility Improvements-Phase 1

The scope of this project consists of constructing approximately 2,500 LF of 30 ” waterline and associated appurtenances along Hawes Rd, south from the intersection of Hawes Rd. and Elliot Rd.

For information contact: Donna Horn, City of Mesa, Donna.Horn@mesaaz.gov

Engineer’s Estimate Range is $1,900,000 to $2,900,000

All project questions must be submitted by 5:00 p.m. on Thursday, January 12, 2023. See Section 11 of the Project Special Provisions for more information.

Contact with City Employees. All firms interested in this project (including the firm’s employees, representatives, agents, lobbyists, attorneys, and subconsultants) will refrain, under penalty of disqualification, from direct or indirect contact for the purpose of influencing the selection or creating bias in the selection process with any person who may play a part in the selection process. This policy is intended to create a level playing field for all potential firms, to assure that contract decisions are made in public, and to protect the integrity of the selection process All contact on this selection process should be addressed to the authorized representative identified above. Contractors desiring to submit proposals may purchase sets of the Bid Documents from ARC Document Solutions, LLC, at https://order.e-arc.com/arcEOC/PWELL_Main.asp?mem=29 . Click on “Go” for the Public Planroom to access plans. NOTE: In order to be placed on the Plan Holders List and to receive notifications and updates regarding this bid (such as addenda) during the bidding period, an order must be placed . The cost of each Bid Set will be no more than $20 which is non-refundable. Partial bid packages are not sold. You can view documents on-line (at no cost), order Bid Sets, and access the Plan Holders List on the website at the address listed above. Please verify print lead time prior to arriving for pick-up. For a list of locations nearest you, go to www.e-arc.com .

One set of the Contract Documents is also available for viewing at the City of Mesa’s Engineering Department at 20 East Main Street, Mesa, AZ. Please call (480) 644-2251 prior to arriving to ensure that the documents are available for viewing.

Work shall be completed within 180 (one hundred eighty) consecutive calendar days, beginning with the day following the starting date specified in the Notice to Proceed.

Bids must be submitted on the Proposal Form provided and be accompanied by the Bid Bond for not less than ten percent (10%) of the total bid, payable to TAYLOR MORRISON/ARIZONA, INC., or a certified or cashier's check. PERSONAL OR INDIVIDUAL SURETY BONDS ARE NOT ACCEPTABLE.

The successful bidder will be required to execute the Taylor Morrison/Arizona, Inc. Contract and respective Addenda for construction within five (5) business days after formal Notice of Contact Award. Failure by bidder to properly execute the Contract and provide the required certification as specified shall be considered a breach of Contract by bidder. Taylor Morrison/Arizona, Inc. shall be free to terminate the Contract or, at option, release the successful bidder.

Payment and Performance Bonds will be required for this Work. The successful bidder, simultaneously with the execution of the Contract, shall be required to furnish a Payment Bond in the amount equal to one hundred percent (100%) of the Contract Price, and a Performance Bond in an amount equal to one hundred percent (100%) of the Contract Price. Successful Bidder shall name Taylor Morrison/Arizona, Inc. as obligee on both the Payment and Performance Bonds and name the City of Mesa, AZ as an additional obligee on the Performance Bond using a Dual Obligee Rider form. An approved Dual Obligee Rider Form is included herein as Exhibit E in the Contract Documents.

The right is hereby reserved to accept or reject any or all bids or parts thereto, to waive any informalities in any proposal and reject the bids of any persons who have been delinquent or unfaithful to any contract with the Taylor Morrison/Arizona, Inc. or The City of Mesa, AZ.

BETH HUNING City Engineer

PUBLIC NOTICES

Advertisement of Sale

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the undersigned intends to sell the personal property described below to enforce a lien imposed on said property pursuant to the Arizona Self-Service Storage Act, Arizona Statutes 33-1704, Section H, and Enforcement of Lien. The Undersigned will sell at public sale by competitive bidding on or after January 06 2023 at 9:00 am, using an online auction at www.storagetreasures.com.coms Property to be sold as follows: Misc. household goods, personal items, furniture, clothing, toys and/, or business fixtures and items belonging to the following:

Tenant Name Unit

William Kirksey 431

Stacy Koury 417

Greg Hamilton 122

Jeff Allen 634

JJ Waters 300

Craig Lebron 2407 Brandon Haines 222 Anthony Gilbreath 900

Sale subject to cancellation in the event of settlement between owner and obligated party. Items sold “as is”, CASH ONLY, and Buyer must pay a security deposit and broom sweep/ clean the unit.

Go to www.storagetreasures.com.com to bid on unit(s).

Published in the Mesa Tribune, Gilbert Sun News, Chandler Arizonan, Dec 25, 2022, Jan 1, 2023

ATTEST:

Holly Moseley City Clerk

Published in the Mesa Tribune, Dec 25, 2022, Jan 1, 2023

TAYLOR MORRISON/ARIZONA, INC. AND THE CITY OF MESA, ARIZONA HAWES ROAD OFFSITE UTILITY IMPROVEMENTS- PHASE 1 CITY PROJECT NO: M99-2022-038 ADVERTISEMENT FOR BIDS