The Mesa Tribune 120422 Zone 2

Purple for Parents becoming school board force in EV

BY KEN SAIN Tribune Staff Writer

Parental rights advocates in Arizona are celebrating huge gains, both in the Leg islature and at the ballot box.

Purple for Parents, a parental rights organi zation, endorsed 38 candidates in November’s school board elections across Arizona and un official results show that 20 of them won seats – including two in Scottsdale, one each in Gil bert’s two main districts, one in Chandler and

one in Mesa.

“We’re very happy,” said Michelle Dillard, the president of Purple for Parents. “It’s great to have school board members elected that support parents’ rights and will promote aca demics in the classroom.”

The electoral victories follow success last spring, when the state Legislature passed and Gov. Doug Ducey signed the Parental Rights Bill. It further enhances the Parental Bill of Rights passed in 2010.

The newer legislation gives parents the

rights to all written and electronic records from a school about their child. That includes any counseling records, even notes taken dur ing a conversation. Parents can sue school dis tricts if a teacher does not comply.

“I think that enforcement is going to be something that all parents are going to have to be keeping an eye out, we’re going to have to be very diligent and making sure that they actually follow the laws,” Dillard said.

Mesa couple in 'Light Fight' of their lives

BY JOSH ORTEGA Tribune Staff Writer

It started with a single strand of Christ mas lights 24 years ago, and now a Mesa couple’s holiday spirit will shine extra bright this year.

Tomorrow, Dec. 5, Mesa natives Michael and Shelley Pelky will appear on season 10 of ABC’s hit decorating competition series “The Great Christmas Light Fight,” com peting against three other families from across the country that have festooned their houses with holiday lights displays.

But the Pelkys want their display to

Michael and Shelley Pelky’s Mesa home will be starring in a featured role tomorrow, Dec. 5, on ABCTV’s popular competition series, “The Great Christmas Light Fight,” but they say the prizes pale in comparison to the joy they have sharing the brilliant display with the world. (David Minton/Tribune Staff Photographer)

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Holiday season brings DUI task force to town

BY SCOTT SHUMAKER Tribune Staff Writer

Mesa Officer Sgt. Shawn Walkington joined in the DUI enforcement event at the Capitol last week. (Special to the Tribune)

The Mesa Tribune is published every Sunday and distributed free of charge to homes and in single-copy locations throughout the East Valley.

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JOSH ORTEGA Tribune Staff Writer

For the first time since 2019 East Valley kids will get a chance to experience a day of snow.

On Saturday, Dec. 10, Mesa River view open-air shopping center will host its Super Snowy Saturday holi day event. From noon to 3 p.m., kids 12 under will get a chance play in 20 tons of snow – no matter what the temperature.

“This is just an opportunity for them to have some snow play,” said Stephanie Heick, a spokeswoman for the western region of Kimco Realty, affiliate owner of Mesa Riverview.

Heick said the event has been “well attended” in the years before the pandemic.

“Last year, we changed it a little bit with snowman making,” Heick said. “But this year, we’re bringing back

the full snow experience.”

This year’s event will take place in the area between The Brass Tap and the plaza near Cinemark with adja cent parking lot areas blocked off for the kids.

Merry Hay Wagon Rides with San ta in the parking lot near the event. Guests can also visit with Mrs. Claus and a number of her winter friends, including a Snow Queen, an Ice Prin cess, and a Snowball Ball Walker, all with a holiday soundtrack with of a live DJ.

To save the memories, families can visit the photo booth inside a vintage Airstream trailer.

The first 200 children to attend will receive a $5 Cinemark gift card while supplies last.

While the event is free and open to the public and no pre-registration required, attendees are encouraged to bring a new, unwrapped toy for

the Mesa Fire Department’s Holiday Toy Drive.

Since 2015, the shopping center has hosted the event, but the pan demic canceled the 2020 event and brought a scaled down version in 2021.

Along with the holiday festivities, organizers will pass out fliers to guests with 13 different money-sav ing offers.

Heick said she hopes families will make a day of the holiday festivities combined with holiday shopping.

“So that will be also passed out to the guests and we’re hoping that peo ple will make a day of it,” Heick said.

The most recent snow of signifi cance in areas below 2,000 feet, came on Dec. 6, 1998, when Sky Har bor International Airport recorded 0.22 inches of precipitation “but only a trace of snow,” according to the Na tional Weather Service.

shine for more than just a cash prize and a funny light bulb trophy.

“It’s a birthday card to Jesus. It’s his birthday and that’s the reason why we do it,” Shelley Pelky said. “We do it for our military. We do it for those fighting cancer who won and lost and for every body. We just do it for everybody.”

The Pelkys' appearance on the show has been in the works for more than two years after the show’s producers found the Pelkys’ display online.

For three days in December 2021, a team of producers and camera opera tors shot at their home at 1335 N. Pa pillon Circle in Mesa.

Some of that included the couple’s “little love stories” about some of the pieces they gathered over the years, including a set of eight reindeer that came from Sunshine Acres Children’s Home.

“I remember those reindeer hanging in Superstition Springs mall when I was 14 years old,” Shelley said.

Other pieces of the couple’s collec tion come from all over the world – like a 12-foot deer, a snowman, an octopus, a 12-foot tree, a desert scene that in cludes a camel with lights, a kangaroo from her cousin in Australia, a “Fro zen” winter wonderland with Elsa and Olaf and two items Shelley acquired by chance back east.

Six years ago, on a flight to Maryland to visit her cousin just diagnosed with ALS, Shelley had met a couple and af ter some conversation offered to help check on their aging grandfather, who lived near her cousin.

Three months later, the grandfather passed away and the couple asked Shel ley to help go through some of his stuff.

Among the belongings, Shelley found a two-and-half-foot Santa and Nativity scene, both hand-painted, that she now has on full display for the world to see.

“It means so much to me because I met these people that are now friends of mine, and they gave me such a beau tiful manger scene that I can now dis play,” Shelley said. “And it will be all over the world for the rest of their lives knowing that it was filmed.”

The trove of Christmas decorations

all gets stored nine months out of the year in a 10’x10’ shed that a large Na tivity scene sits on.

The entire collection takes the Pelkys approximately two-and-a-half months of daily work to set up.

The collection has changed over the years, depending on how long pieces last in the harsh desert sun.

“Well, it just depends on how long in our Arizona sun they last in the shed,” Shelley said.

The couple met in March 1998, mar ried in October of that year and started their lights tradition that December.

But it was Christmas 2017 when they realized just how special their collec tion means to those who visit it.

In November 2017, Michael had a bone marrow transplant due to a low white cell count and his weakened im mune system at the time. So, the so ciable couple couldn’t have guests over their house.

Despite the social distancing, the cou ple became curious about who came to visit their display and started to “spy” on their visitors, and that’s when it hit them.

The look on people’s faces when they visit the display told the whole story: even if for a moment, they forget about

all their worries of bills, health and family.

“They can enjoy and remember just happiness for a moment,” Shelley said. “They’re not thinking about anything except for that moment, and that liter ally changed us.”

The Pelkys also have an assortment of pink items, including an angel, ga zelle and pig, in honor of those who fought cancer.

The cancer warriors in their fam ily include Shelley’s dad, who survived several bouts with various cancers; Mi chael’s sister, who survived breast can cer; Michael’s mom, who lost her battle with cancer; and Shelley’s cousin, who died of ALS.

“But we have that for all of those that know that we support them as well,” Shelley said. “So it’s really involved into if you know us, if you’ve talked to us, you can pretty much figure out what we stand for.”

Five years later, the Pelkys have their health and their display is ready for the world to see.

This season, the show returns to take viewers to the most elaborate holiday displays across the country as they once again see four families face off in each one-hour episode to compete

to win $50,000 and the coveted Light Fight Trophy.

This year’s series includes the help of celebrity judges and Christmas dé cor aficionados – lifestyle expert Cart er Oosterhouse and interior designer Taniya Nayak.

Despite the massive light display that impressed Oosterhouse, Shelley said watching the show in the past scares her today because of the impressive displays from other families.

“The Great Christmas Light Fight scares the tar out of me because I watched the show,” Shelley said. “And these people are, oh my gosh, it’s amaz ing these homes that they decorate.”

That said, Shelley estimates the cou ple has spent approximately $50,000 over their entire marriage on the col lection, which has more than 150,000 lights. Fortunately, Michael has some handyman skills that keeps them from having to replace a lot of the items.

For many years, the only Grinch that spoiled the fun arrived in the form of the electric bill which cost a record $775 one year.

The couple spent three years switch ing from incandescent to LEDs light,

The Pelkys have collected numerous items from around the world to incorporate in their stunning display. (David Minton/Tribune Staff Photographer)

LIGHT FIGHT from page 6

and for the last decade has gotten their electric bill down to just over $200. Fortunately, that sticker shock only starts after they put their display up in September and ends when they take it out down the second weekend January.

Even after the publicity from local TV stations, the Pelkys said they’ve started to see an increase in the number of visi tors.

Now, Shelley can only imagine if they win and how much attention that could grow a 200-person crowd into a line of cars around the block and down the street.

The Pratt Family from Scottsdale won this season’s premiere on Nov. 28, but no matter what happens when the Pelkys debut, Shelley said they just want people to enjoy their display and appreciate the love from the com munity.

Minton/Tribune

outside of the holiday season specifically, is busy, because there’s just a lot of impaired drivers out there at all times,” Walkington said. “The holiday season brings out even more, whether it be stress, or just family members being around.”

Police departments at the state capitol building showed off specialized vehicles, much of it purchased with grants from the Governor‘s Office and Mesa PD’s mobile DUI processing vehicle was a star as it’s the larg est DUI processing vehicle in the state.

Before the speeches began, officers from other agencies walked in to check out the converted RV the department obtained in 2012.

“It’s kind of the envy of the state,” DUI Squad Supervisor Sgt. Cory Simon said.

The vehicle has multiple tables where phlebotomists can draw blood, a phone booth where suspects can call attorneys, and a dark room to aid in drug recognition tests involving eye movement.

During remarks at the event, police agen cies were praised for having more than 1,000 officers trained to draw blood. Mesa

PD contracts professional phlebotomists from outside the department.

Being able to take blood on scene helps Mesa PD get convictions for people driving with drugs or alcohol in their systems.

But Simon clearly wants people to just avoid driving intoxicated in the first place and “be responsible and use ride share” ser vices or other transportation options.

“Right now it’s so easy to use Uber or Lyft. … It’s baffling to me why so many people take that chance” and drive intoxicated, he said.

Simon said impaired drivers who cause fatal accidents face up to 25 years in prison for manslaughter. For lesser charges, “you’re looking at a lot of money and a lot of head ache.”

He said that driving high on drugs is a major problem in addition to drinking and driving, and he urged residents to be vigilant about not getting behind a wheel after taking prescription drugs or marijuana.

He emphasized that driving under the in fluence of marijuana is illegal, even though use of the drug is now legal for adults 21 and over.

“The biggest problem we’re finding is

Arrests for DUI over the Thanksgiving holiday statewide show that the average blood alcohol content of offenders has steadily increased over the last three years. (Governor’s Office of Highway Safety)

most people believe that because marijuana is legal that that’s not a DUI. In fact, that is, because it can impair you while you’re driv ing,” he said.

Simon noted that officers can detect mari juana impairment through field tests, and lab tests can confirm a person has a high enough level of cannabis in their system to impair driving.

Walkington said the DUI task force work is

rewarding.

“I think impaired driv ers is something that can directly impact everybody – not only law enforce ment. Officers get killed, as well as citizens, but it’s hard to find somebody that hasn’t been impacted by a DUI, whether it’s a loved one, or a friend, or somebody that’s … got ten a DUI or they’ve been struck by an impaired driver,” Walkington said.

A banner at the event honored police officers who have been killed by impaired drivers, including two from Mesa: Sgt. Brandon Mendoza in 2014 and Officer Steven Pollard in 1994.

“We know that every time we’re getting an impaired driver off the road, we could be potentially saving somebody’s life and not only a citizen and that they may hit, but that individual as well. Quite often the impaired driver can cause harm to themselves,” Walk ington said.

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Bell Bank Park tapping reserves to avoid default

BY SCOTT SHUMAKER Tribune Staff Writer

Bell Bank Park operator Legacy Cares received authorization last week to dip into its last $22 million in cash as it scrambles to find a way out of default on a $280 million loan and maintain operations during talks with prospective lend ers who might take over its debt and give the park more time to become profitable.

The 320-acre family sports and entertainment complex in southeast Mesa has struggled to generate suf ficient revenue to cover loan repay ments since opening in February, despite claims by Legacy that the complex has brought in nearly a mil lion visitors and over 3 million visits so far.

The $22 million in question is in an account set aside and authorized

currently only for loan payments.

The change approved by the Arizo na Industrial Development Authority Board, which served as the issuer for the tax-exempt municipal bonds that funded the park, clears the way for Legacy Cares to use that money for operations, consultants and other expenses associated with its bid to raise additional capital.

“The reason we’re asking for this amendment is so that we can con tinue to do our work, so that if and when this board approves the new refunding bonds … our audience, our clientele won’t miss a step. They can continue to have a good experience when they show up at Legacy Sports Park,” a representative for Legacy said at a Nov. 30 authority board meeting.

In October, Legacy Cares failed to make loan payments, and in an inves tor call later that month, the trustee

for the bonds reported that the park has never generated enough month ly revenue to cover loan payments since the completion of construction.

Additionally, Bell Bank Park has racked up $30 million in liens filed by unpaid contractors who installed flooring, electricity, plumbing and other amenities at the facility. One of these contractors initiated foreclo sure proceedings to force payment.

During the AZIDA meeting, Legacy CEO Doug Moss blamed the park’s woes primarily on the pandemic.

He said COVID-19 delayed the opening park and supply chain is sues meant the facility wasn’t fully open until May.

“So as a result of all those issues, we encountered various financial difficulties with respect to paying vendors, the landlord, cashflow – a number of financial issues,” Moss said.

How Will They Know?

Currently, Legacy’s bondholders are working with the sports non profit to buy the project time and try to fix the mess.

They’ve extended “forbearance” on the loan payments to help the park continue operations and they are cooperating with Legacy on plans to restructure its debt.

Bell Bank Park’s major bondhold ers are institutional investors who manage investments for large orga nizations with retirement plans and other large funds. One bondholder, Vanguard, manages $7 trillion in as sets.

A representative for Legacy’s bondholders supported using the re serve funds because “looking at the cash flows, it was decided we need to be in position to write checks if we need to in order to continue prop ping up Cares,”

Tapping the $22 million reserve will buy Bell Bank Park some time to keep the lights on, and a court has given the project at least two months to work on paying its contractors.

On Nov. 23, a Superior Court judge granted a stay on litigation related to the contractors’ liens until Jan. 31, 2023.

One authorty board member asked Legacy how long the $22 million left in reserve would last at the current cash burn rate.

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Before anyone could give a defi nite answer, an attorney on the call jumped in to say Legacy was still ne gotiating with the bondholders on how it would spend the money.

Authority Program Manager Pat Ray sought reassurance that Bell Bank Park could climb out of default and asked directly what was going wrong with the project.

“We don’t want to be associated with a default, particularly on a re ally large project like this,” Ray said, while also stating his belief that a de fault by Legacy couldn’t hurt the au

thority financially or reputationally.

“This may not be a totally fair ques tion, but I need to ask it anyway,” Ray continued. “Whenever we see a de fault on one of our conduit projects it’s because of something bad hap pening – it’s bad luck, maybe COVID, its bad management, bad operations, bad underwriting, bad actors.”

“I don’t think there’s any nefarious stuff going on, but from the bond holders’ perspective, what is the is sue here?”

In response, bond counsel for Legacy Cares Tim Stratton fell back on COVID, saying the project hit a

“perfect storm” of pandemic-related hurdles, including supply chain and inflation issues.

“To the best of my knowledge, that’s the extent of the issues,” Strat ton said.

Brian Barber, a representative for the majority of the bondholders, ex pressed optimism about the project and gave support for allowing Lega cy to tap the $22 million in reserves and other measures designed to help fix the project.

“The holders have been very, very clear,” Barber said. “They want these bonds and they want them tax ex empt. Also, they love the facility.”

“They have visited the facility, and

they’re very excited about the suc cess and community impact,” Barber continued. “What we want to do is

prop up (Legacy) Cares, be support ive of sports, and learn how to best monetize what we consider to be a very significant amount of atten dance.”

As Bell Bank Park’s financial trou bles began to surface in the late summer, Legacy Cares has put up a cheerful, optimistic front, even as they nearing conditions of default.

Just before the authority board’s vote to authorize the use of the re served funds, a representative with Legacy, continued to give a rosy out look.

“We opened the park in a perfect storm in terms of supply chain, the inflation, the COVID,” the representa tive said, “but at this point, the park has had over 3.6 million visitors and we expect that to hit probably 4 mil lion by the end of the month.

“So this is the busy season and right now the park seems to be sus taining itself. So we’re on the right track, and I just wanted to add that the park is going full throttle, right now.”

BELL BANK PARK from page 10

Though home to numerous sports organizations and sporting events as well as other gatherings, Bell Bank Park, marking a year next month, has not generated enough revenue. (Tribune file photo)

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She pointed to a school board meeting she watched where the board members changed the policy to comply with state law, but said repeatedly they were not happy to do so.

That was the case in Kyrene School Dis trict, where Governing Board members in September lashed out at laws preventing any mandate requiring kids to get COVID or HPV shots, requiring greater parental access and longer review policies for new library books, giving parents the right to get a list of all library books checked out by their children.

But the Kyrene board members’ harsh est criticism involved a ban on boys joining girls-only sports teams.

They initially planned to just amend the district’s policy on sports to say Kyrene conformed with Arizona law, until a board member prevailed on her colleagues to in clude the specific citation for the statute so that parents could find it more readily.

Critics of the parental rights law say it will have a chilling impact on students.

For example, critics contend, a gay teen who knows his family will not accept his or her sexual orientation will not be able to reach out to a trusted adult at school to talk about what they are going through because they risk their parents finding out and possibly kicked out of their home or forced to go to conversion therapy.

There were similar concerns about stu dents who are struggling with their gender

identity.

Dillard said that is part of the problem: There’s too much sex in schools.

“We don’t want the sexualization of our children to be continuing on this, I mean, it’s accelerated this upward trend,” she said. “The left, who has had control of our schools, wants comprehensive sex educa tion. And I think they call it like age ap propriate or whatever. Well, we have a dis agreement with that.”

Purple for Parents started in 2018 as a reaction to the Red for Ed movement, in which. teachers were demanding higher salaries and more funding for school dis tricts.

Forest Moriarty, a Mesa husband to a teacher and father to two special needs students, is credited as the founder. He did not return a message seeking an interview.

Dillard said Purple for Parents has no ties to Patriot Movement AZ, which has been identified as a far-right hate group and was ordered by a federal judge in 2019 to stop harassing churches across the Valley, including Chandler, that were offering clothing and food to newly bussed migrants awaiting transportation to other parts of the country.

Dillard said it is true that some of the founding members were also members of PMAZ, but rejected they were tied to gether.

“There were members of Purple for Parents that were in PMAZ,” Dillard said. “I mean, they’re parents too. They have children in schools. And so you know, they

were in the group, but they had no influ ence, nor did they found it. That’s been a blatant lie that local media has pushed from the beginning.”

Purple for Parents really picked up mo mentum in 2019 after Fox News’ Tucker Carlson highlighted the Chandler Unified School District’s attempt to improve its diversity training. Carlson criticized the Deep Equity program from the Corwin Company as indoctrination.

Angry parents began showing up at school board meetings in the Chandler and Kyrene school districts.

Stephanie Ingersoll, the executive direc tor of marketing and communications for CUSD, said the district no longer uses the Deep Equity program. Instead, the dis trict developed an Equity Advisory Board which is made up of staff, students, par ents and community members.

Purple for Parents advocates for school choice and parental rights, and wants to keep Critical Race Theory (CRT) out of schools. That theory is a law school class that is not taught at K-12 schools in Ari zona.

However, Dillard said it is used as a catchphrase for programs like Corwin’s Deep Equity because it’s a phrase people know, having heard it from former Presi dent Trump.

She said issues like that made it easy to find candidates willing to run in the 2022 election.

“I witnessed parents trying to stand up for their parental rights in education to

be later ridiculed for doing so,” Heather Rooks wrote in an email about why she ran. She was elected to the Peoria Unified School District Governing Board.

“I heard from so many parents that their child was struggling and falling behind. I had heard from teachers who were afraid to speak up against the CRT ideology in the district,” Rooks said.

Parental rights issues were not the only reason for running.

“[I decided to run after] having wit nessed the steady decline in merit-based academics, with test scores tanking and teachers leaving the district in droves,” wrote newly elected Scottsdale Unified Governing Board member Carine Werner.

“Even the 8-year age gap between my oldest and youngest has revealed stark differences in how our children are edu cated,” Werner said. “I couldn’t sit on the sidelines any longer.”

Chad Thompson, newly-elected member of the Gilbert Public Schools Governing Board, wrote:

“As a father of multiple children that at tend GPS schools, I was very concerned about the decisions made by our board over the last few years. As our race de veloped, I became even more concerned about where our schools are headed.”

He campaigned against social emotional learning and any sex education in schools and said at a candidates’ town hall:

“I think we’ve let way too much stuff

Fox News host Tucker Carlson put his national focus on Chandler Unified School District’s Deep Equity program, which led to a number of protest at Governing Board meetings by parental rights supporters. (Fox News)

Equity and equality discussions in school districts across the country have spurred controversies.

come into our school that are distractions from education. Parents are awake; they are seeing this stuff especially after the pandemic. It seems like our schools today

it’s being voted on.”

Some candidates welcome the challenge of being in the minority on the board.

endorse any more candidates than there were seats available, so they wouldn’t split the vote.

Turning Purple

Thompson also said that students

Parental rights candidates won two seats in three different districts, Cave Creek, Dysart, and Scottsdale. Still, even with this success they will likely be in the minority when they are seated.

“It’s going to be frustrating for them to have to endure being in the minority,” Dil lard said. “But I do think that in all of these districts, there’s, a great group of parents … that will also be supportive.

“I think that they will have a voice on the board and so while they may not get cer tain items passed, or the votes aren’t go ing to land their way, at least they’ll have a voice and they can let the public and the community and the parents know that …

“School board members are non-parti san positions and parental rights are en shrined in state statute,” Anna Van Hoek wrote. She won election in the Higley Uni fied School District. “Politics should be set aside, and the law followed by all elected officials, administration and staff.”

“If I am in the minority, I will work to bring transparency on what is discussed and voted upon and perhaps why I am not in support or support of a motion,” wrote new Queen Creek Unified board member James Knox. “Too often, items in QCUSD are put into the consent vote when they are not consenting items.”

Said Amy Carney, the other new Scott sdale Unified board member: “I plan to work alongside the other board members to strengthen our school communities by supporting our students and educators and ensuring that parents feel heard and welcomed on our campuses.”

Purple for Parents was strategic in how its endorsed candidates ran for school board seats. Dillard said the group did not

In Chandler, she said they had their own caucus since there were multiple parentalrights candidates who wanted to run. She said each agreed to not run if they didn’t get enough support at the caucus.

Kurt Rohrs and Charlotte Golla ended up with the most support, so others stood down. Rohrs ended up with the most votes in his election. Golla finished third and did not win.

Dillard said she would like to see school board races become partisan, so voters can determine their candidates in a pri mary election and give them a better shot at winning in the general.

She said parental-rights board members will want to put the focus back on academ ics when they take their seats.

“Especially coming off of the end of the pandemic,” she said. “There are kids suf fering a lot of learning loss, and there are achievement gaps. And I do think that there could be different programs that the schools can have and focus on to help get our kids up to speed.”

The parental rights group Purple for Parents endorsed 38 candidates for school boards in the 2022 general elec tion across Arizona. Unofficial results show 20 won seats. They are:

• Scott Brown and Jackie Ulmer, Cave Creek

• Kurt Rohrs, Chandler

• Paul Carver, Deer Valley

• Dawn Densmore and Jennifer Drake, Dysart

• Madicyn Reid and Libby Settle, Foun tain Hills

• Chad Thompson, Gilbert

• Anna Van Hoek, Higley

• Tom Carlson, Marana

• Rachel Walden, Mesa

• Sandra Christensen, Paradise Valley

• Heather Rooks, Peoria

• James Knox, Queen Creek

• Raul Rodriguez, Sahuarita

• Amy Carney and Carine Werner, Scottsdale

• Thomas Trask, Tanque Verde

• Val Romero, Tucson

1 Cigna will reduce your monthly Medicare Part B premium by $100.

2 Benefits, features and/or devices vary by plan/service area. Limitations, exclusions, and restrictions may apply. All Cigna products and services are provided exclusively by or through operating subsidiaries of Cigna Corporation. The Cigna name, logos, and other Cigna marks are owned by Cigna Intellectual Property, Inc. Benefits, features and/or devices vary by plan/service area. Limitations, exclusions, and restrictions may apply. Contact the plan for more information. This information is not a complete description of benefits, which vary by individual plan. You must live in the plan’s service area. Call 1-888-284-0268 (TTY 711) for more information. Cigna is contracted with Medicare for PDP plans, HMO and

in Cigna depends on contract renewal. © 2022 Cigna Some

WARNING!

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 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 October 31st, 2022. Call (480) 274 3157 to make an appointment

East Valley law firm leads fight to ban abortion pill

BY HOWARD FISCHER Capitol Media Services

AScottsdale law firm founded to defend what it says are Christian values in court is trying to block the most used meth od of abortion.

Attorneys for the Alliance Defend ing Freedom contend the “abor tion pill’’ – technically, two sepa rate medications used together – is medically unsafe and charge that the Food and Drug Administration ig nored that evidence when approving use, instead choosing “politics over science.’’

There was no response from the federal agency to the lawsuit. But the agency, in its postings, said it has de termined that mifepristone, the main drug involved, “is safe and effective when used to terminate a pregnan cy’’ in accordance with labeling in structions.

to once again enforce its territorialera law that bans virtually all abor tions.

If that occurs, the only option for women in Arizona would be to find a way to get a doctor from another state to prescribe the drugs so they could manage their own abortions. That would cease to be an option if the lawsuit is successful.

The lawsuit, filed in Texas, is in the name of several medical groups that are opposed to abortion, including the Alliance for Hippocratic Medi cine, the American Association of Pro-Life Obstetricians and Gynecolo gists, and the Christian Medical and Dental Association.

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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 *(480) 274-3157*

Brittany Fonteno, president of Planned Parenthood Arizona, said if the lawsuit is successful it will re move an important option for wom en here.

The state Court of Appeals is weighing whether to allow Arizona

Erik Baptist, the lead attorney, said that President Bill Clinton, on his sec ond full day in office in 1992, directed his cabinet to legalize chemical abor tion drugs in the United States. He said Clinton then pressured a French company to donate for free the U.S. patent rights for mifepristone to the Population Council, an organization that does biomedical research and has developed birth control meth ods.

It then got the approval of the FDA for use on Sept. 28, 2000, just over a month before the closely contested presidential election.

“The only way the FDA could have approved chemical abortion drugs was to use its accelerated drug ap proval authority, necessitating the FDA to call pregnancy an ‘illness’ and argue that these dangerous drugs provide a ‘meaningful therapeutic benefit’ over existing treatments,’’ Baptist wrote.

“But pregnancy is not an illness, nor do chemical abortion drugs provide a therapeutic benefit over surgical abortion,’’ he said, calling the FDA’s assertions “transparently

false.’’

Baptist said the situation only has gotten worse, with the FDA in 2016 expanding the permitted use of the drugs from the first seven weeks of pregnancy to 10 weeks, reducing the number of required office visits from three to one, and expanded who could prescribe the drugs beyond medical doctors.

And just last year, he said, the FDA issued said it would stop enforc ing its requirement that abortion ists provide in-person dispensing of mifepristone and instead would tem porarily allow mail-order chemical abortions during the COVID-19 pub lic health emergency. That was later made permanent.

“This decision not only harms women and girls who voluntarily undergo chemical abortions, but it also further helps sex traffickers and sexual abusers to force their victims into getting abortions while prevent ing the authorities from identifying these victims,’’ Baptist said.

Several states, including Arizona. have since approved laws that pro hibit obtaining these drugs by mail regardless of the FDA policy.

But Cathi Herrod, president of the anti-abortion Center for Arizona Pol icy which helped craft the state legis lation, acknowledged to Capitol Me dia Services that blocking the drugs from being sent into Arizona from a pharmacy in another state or even another country could be logistically difficult.

This lawsuit is about more than mifepristone, also known as RU-486, which is designed to terminate the pregnancy.

Medical studies have said that drug does not always work by itself.

So the FDA added a second drug to the regimen–- misoprostal – to in duce contractions to expel the fetus from the womb. Baptist wants the judge to order the FDA to withdraw it approval for that drug, too.

Removal of the drugs would affect more than half the abortions per formed in Arizona.

“I think it would be terribly dev astating if access to abortion were further eliminated by the abortion pill becoming unavailable,’’ Fonteno said.

“We know that at Planned Parent hood Arizona, and actually across the country, most patients prefer the abortion pill as their method of ter mination,’’ she said. “This is just an other attempt to try to block access to essential health care.’’

Alliance Defending Freedom de fines itself as “the world’s largest legal organization committed to protecting religious freedom, free speech, the sanctity of life, parental rights, and God’s design for marriage and family.’’

Founded in 1994, it has been in volved in a number of Arizona cases, including getting the state Supreme Court to rule that a Phoenix anti-dis crimination ordinance did not pre clude two women from refusing to provide custom wedding invitations to a gay couple.

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Aviation Fascination soars at Falcon Field

BY JOSH ORTEGA Tribune Staff Writer

For more than a decade, Aviation Fas cination has climbed to new heights at Falcon Field in Mesa and last month’s event was no exception, drawing hundreds of people to one of Mesa’s two major air traffic hubs.

The event started when the Arizona Commemorative Air Force Museum ap proached Mesa Chamber of Commerce President Sally Harrison to host an event. Harrison wanted an “aviation-focused event” and made a few calls to some of the Chamber’s fellow aerospace members, who loved the idea.

“My idea was to open it up so it was a public event where we could just cel ebrate aviation,” Harrison said.

Harrison said the event has continued to grow over the last decade and for the last three years (excluding 2020) it has drawn more than 1,200 people each year.

Harrison said the event draws people of all ages to stand in awestruck as they get an up close look at aircraft such as an AH-64 Apache Helicopter made right here in Mesa.

“You don’t have to be an aviation buff to walk out of the hangar and see that Apache sitting there and get excited,” Harrison said. “You’ve got these little kids with the big eyes. It’s just heart warming.”

The Boeing Company has sponsored the event every year and brought in a ful ly functional AH-64 Apache helicopter for

the public to see up close.

Mark Gaspers, senior manager for gov ernment operations at Boeing, said the event helps the community see firsthand the finished product of what some of their neighbors do daily.

Boeing employs approximately 4,800 people at their Mesa facility that in 2021 celebrated the 2,021st Apache helicopter made for the U.S. Army.

“I think that’s what people carry with them when they leave this event,” Gas pers said. “Of all the great neighbors and people that are community members that are here and working with our team.”

Heliponents Inc. sponsored the event and hosted it at their Falcon Field hangar.

Heliponents Inc. Owner-President Chad Barta said he focuses more on the

exposure the event brings to the public because of the aviation presence in Mesa.

Barta has spent 30 years in the aviation business and said people of all ages come out and stand in awe as they walk on the tarmac among these winged wonders makes it all worth it.

“For us, we kind of get numb to the avi ation side of it, because that’s what we do every day,” Barta said “But for the general public that doesn’t get that opportunity, it really opens it up for them to really get in and feel and understand it.”

California Aeronautical University, based in Bakersfield, California, has a campus at Falcon Field and was one of the sponsors for this year’s event.

The flight school brought out a flight sim ulator that their students learn on but “the

most touching part” for Marine Corps veter an Justin Frye was the twin-engine airplane displayed with patriotic decals and more than 7,500 name of service members killed in action after the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks.

Frye served for 11 years in the Ma rine Corps as an aviation maintenance administrationman, as well as with the Marine Corps Security Force, with tours in Afghanistan and Iraq. He said he found the names of five service members he de ployed with on the aircraft.

Frye separated from the Marine Corps in 2018 and now works on the technical records and fleet management for Top Aces, an aviation training institute at Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport that oper ates the “enemy” aircraft for fighter pilot training at Luke Air Force Base.

Frye also studies project management and business administration Embry-Rid dle Aeronautical University in the hopes of becoming a project manager for an air port to develop them bigger and more ac cessible to the communities.

Frye brought his wife and three kids to the event and said Aviation Fascina tion helps reiterate to the public just how important aircraft of all sizes play in our daily lives.

“Most people don’t understand exactly how big of a role aviation plays in our daily lives,” Frye said. “But they don’t understand how small aircraft and how historical aircraft like this actually play a part in our in our lives and our history of our country and our society.”

Lawmakers demand session on school spending limit

BY HOWARD FISCHER Capitol Media Services

Abipartisan group of legislators last week called on Gov. Doug Ducey to live up to his promise to call a special session to address a school spending crunch before he –and some of them – leave office at the end of the year.

And hanging in the balance is wheth

er schools are going to have to cut near ly 18% of their budgets before July 1.

Rep. Michelle Udall, R-Mesa, who chairs the House Education Committee, said lawmakers approved a $1 billion increase in funding this past session for K-12 education.

Only thing is, that new money bumps total state and local education funding against a 1980 voter-approved cap in school spending. Adjusted for inflation

and student growth, that limit now is $6.4 billion.

But school districts already have prepared budgets and are on target to spend nearly $7.8 billion this fiscal year based on the funding that lawmakers approved.

Lawmakers can waive the cap with a two-thirds vote. And they have in the past.

Udall said that Katie Ratlief, Ducey’s

deputy chief of staff, said her boss com mitted to calling a special session only on two basic conditions.

First, a lawsuit challenging a voterapproved income tax hike for educa tion needed to be resolved. That was done.

Second, said Udall, the governor wanted proof that there were the nec

People of all ages were thrilled to see explanations of the capability of Boeing’s Apache helicopters during the Mesa Chamber of Commerce’s Aviation Fascination last month at Falcon Field. (Mesa Chamber)

essary 40 votes in the House and 20 in the Senate – two thirds of each cham ber – to approve the override. And that list, she said, was presented to Ratlief in October.

To date, however, the governor has failed to act.

Sen. Sean Bowie, D-Tempe, said the bipartisan state budget Ducey wanted would not have gotten the necessary Democratic votes – there were hold outs among the majority Republican caucus – without that promise.

Strictly speaking, lawmakers have until the end of March to waive the cap by the necessary $1.4 billion.

But Michael Wright, superintendent of the Blue Ridge Unified School Dis trict, said that is leaving districts like his in a precarious situation.

He said if that waiver fails so close to the end of the school year that means having to cut total spending by 18% in just the last three months. And that, he said, will wreak havoc, with required layoffs of teachers and support staff

and possible school closures.

The other risk of waiting is that there will be a fresh crop of legislative leaders in January. And that runs the risk that the spending cap won’t be a priority.

Risk aside, Udall said bumping the decision to the next legislative session would be inappropriate.

“This is the Legislature that approved the money,’’ she said.

Ducey press aide C.J. Karamargin said following the press conference that his boss wants to be sure that schools get – and can spend – those extra dollars. But the governor has yet to act or even commit to act.

“We are having discussions with law makers,’’ is all that Karamargin would say about Ducey actually following through and using his constitutional powers to call lawmakers back to the Capitol.

Outgoing House Speaker Rusty Bow ers, R-Mesa, said he’s ready to bring lawmakers back to the Capitol to waive the spending cap on schools. He said there appears to be a coalition of Democrats and some Republicans who can provide the necessary votes for ap

proval.

“Personally, I’m OK with it,’’ added Sen ate President Karen Fann, R-Prescott.

But Fann told Capitol Media Services that she first needs to see the measure.

Potentially more problematic, she said, is that some lawmakers argue that if there is to be a lame-duck special ses sion they want other issues addressed, ranging from adding some accountabil ity for public schools to demands for changes in election laws.

Udall conceded that some of the peo ple on the list she presented to the gov ernor’s office also have other ideas. But she insisted that each has committed to vote to waive the spending cap if that is the lone issue in the session.

What is causing the current problem is the convergence of several unusual factors.

First, the limit is always based on the prior year’s school numbers. Enroll ment remains down due to COVID.

The bigger problem is actually due to one the legislature created in seeking to provide financial help.

In 2000, voters approved Proposi

tion 301 to levy a 0.6-cent sales tax to fund education, including teacher salaries, for 20 years. Voters exempted those revenues from the aggregate ex penditure limit.

Facing expiration of that tax, law makers agreed in 2018 to a new, iden tical levy to pick up when the old one expired. That would keep the money flowing through 2041 without inter ruption.

Only thing is, the Legislature never exempted what the new levy would raise from the expenditure limit. Chuck Essigs, lobbyist for the Arizona Associ ation of School Business Officials, said that alone amounts to anywhere from $600 million to $800 million of the money now coming into schools.

Moreover, to balance the budget last decade, lawmakers cut dollars from various capital funding accounts.

With the state flush in revenues, those accounts are now fully funded. But the additional dollars that were restored to schools also helped to push total statewide expenditures above the constitutional limit.

Quality

SRP Thought Leader Forum

3:30-6 p.m. l Thursday, Dec. 8 l Chandler Center for the Arts

Keynote speaker Trevor Barger, founder and CEO of Espiritu Loci and principal of Arizona Strategies, will share success stories from other cities in the American West. Then, a panel of PHX East Valley leaders will address challenges and opportunities facing our burgeoning region. We will also honor two PHX East Valley powerhouses – Kevin Olson of Lewis Roca and The Boeing Company – with the 2022 Legacy Awards.

Presenting sponsor Supporting s ponsor Media s ponsor

Tickets are $1,500 for a bundle of 10 or $150 each.

RSVP to Jessica Hubbard, 480-532-0641 or jhubbard@phxeastvalley.com

Keynote speaker Trevor Barger, founder and CEO of Espiritu Loci and principal of Arizona Strategies, will share success stories from other cities in the American West. Then, a panel of PHX East Valley leaders will address challenges and opportunities facing our burgeoning region. We will also honor two PHX East Valley powerhouses

Note: In the spirit of the Partnership’s founding 40 years ago, when new members were asked to bring $10 to cover the cost of food and refreshments, the Partnership will accept donations of $10 in advance or at the door, with all proceeds benefitting one of the organization’s nonprofit members. PHX East Valley Partnership is a 501(c)(6) nonpartisan coalition of civic, business, education and political leaders dedicated to the economic development and promotion of the East Valley of Greater Phoenix. The Partnership advocates for economic development, education, transportation and infrastructure, health care and other important areas. For more information, visit www.phxeastvalley.com.

‘Big trains’ rolling into region for holidays

BY JOSH ORTEGA Tribune Staff Writer

Model trains remind many peo ple of Christmas as a child and for one local organization, that nostalgia lasts year-round.

The Arizona Big Trains Operators will hold its annual Christmas Open House tour 4-8 p.m. Dec. 10 and 11 and Dec. 17 and 18 with 14 homes across the Valley firing up their festive layouts that help keep the history of locomotives alive and keeps these grown adults kids at heart.

While their pastime can be expensive, the one thing these operators enjoy more than tinkering with the trains is the joy their displays bring to visitors.

“A lot of people still enjoy the history of railroads,” said Don Sorenson.

Sorenson joined the organization in 2006 but had an interest in trains long before that because his dad worked as a brakeman for Union-Pacific Railroad for five years.

He said some of the members have mechanical and engineering back grounds and this keeps their minds oc cupied with something familiar.

Amtrak said it has seen a 5% decrease in its Arizona station usage between fis cal year 2018 and 2019.

“People don’t ride the trains any more,” ABTO President Darrell Woolfolk said. “There’s not many of the youth that have been on a train.”

WHERE TO VISIT:

Here are the East Valley locations people can visit 4-8 p.m. Dec. 10 and 11 and Dec. 17 and 18.

Roger Crooks

1708 W. Dixon Circle, Mesa

Terry and Adrienne Haas 1861 E. Fountain St., Mesa

That’s why sharing their hobby –es pecially with children – represents an integral part of the organization’s pur pose “to promote and advance the in terest in and educate the general public about Railroads and large-scale model railroading,” according to their bylaws.

Much to his surprise, Woolfolk said the nonprofit’s membership has seen an uptick in the last two years with 19 new members, bringing their Valley-wide to tal to 77.

Woolfolk joined the organization in 2013 and has served as its president for the last five years.

Jim and Joanne Gardner

1355 E. Glenview Circle, Mesa

Don Sorensen 6130 E. Colby St., Mesa

Pam and Craig Morris 7214 E. Avesta Circle, Mesa

Children will be fascinated and adults will be reminded of their own childhood when they visit Arizona Big Trains Operators member’s holiday displays the next two weekends. (Special to Tribune)

He said that while only half of their members have layouts, they all meet to help each other collaborate and build “extremely elaborate” holiday villages.

“It’s not like setting up on a card table when you were a kid,” Woolfolk said.

The individual cars measure approxi mately 4-1/2 inches tall by 24 inches long with a handful of cars connected that run on tracks up to 500 linear feet winding through a festive holiday vil lage.

The villages can take up a person’s entire backyard and some include rail yards, tunnels, ponds, and functioning

lights on the buildings with the appear ance of snow throughout the setup for the holidays.

The layouts can have multiple zones and take anywhere from two to four weeks to get up and running, but prep work and layout begins as early as June.

The nonprofit holds seven public events throughout the year including one in the spring, but the Christmas Open House is the group’s biggest.

Besides the two open houses, ABTO maintains train layouts at Banner Chil dren’s at Desert and Hospice of the Val ley at Ryan House.

Woolfolk said those layouts remain restricted to patients at the medical fa cilities due to COVID-19 protocols, but members will still maintains the tracks weekly for the patient’s enjoyment.

“With COVID, everything’s been pret ty much locked down,” he said.

Woolfolk said Christmas event draws hundreds of people per weekend to member’s backyards to watch the lay outs light up at night.

Woolfolk said trains have “gone by the wayside” with younger generations and the nonprofit helps rekindle that inter est.

Sorenson said it’s an important part of our nation that young people should remember.

“I find that people are very enamored by railroad,” he said. “They’re part of our history.”

John and Janet Vogt

1341 E. Folley Place, Chandler

Danny and Amy Farrow 767 E. Ivanhoe St., Chandler

David Kitchin 9401 E. Jadecrest Drive, Sun Lakes

Steve and Judy Lewis

925 E. Saddelback Place, San Tan Valley

Wesley and Allison Schriver

1149 E. Saddleback Place, San Tan Valley

For closures due to weather and illness, or more info, visit: azbigtrains.org.

Generation Church’s Chosen Ministry serves foster youth

BY ALISON STANTON Tribune Contributor

Thanks to the hard work and dedi cation of the members of Genera tion Church, children and teens in foster care are getting the help that they need.

As Executive Pastor Beth Lavino noted, the church launched the Chosen Ministry program two years ago, after she and the other Pastors realized how critical the foster care situation is in Arizona.

“Arizona is the number one state for foster care, with more kids in foster care per capita than any other,” she said, adding that in Maricopa County alone, around 80 children are removed from their homes each week.

In addition to encouraging and equip ping families from the congregation to open their homes to children and teens in need of foster care and adoption, the church also provides support to foster

group homes.

“We have fostered two children and have adopted both of them,” Lavino said.

For members of the church who wish to help the Chosen Ministry program in other ways, Lavino said there are plenty of options.

“We work a lot with foster group homes, and there is something for ev erybody to do all year long, including helping with our Backpack Outreach program, and our Red Carpet event.”

Another way the congregation, as well as the general public can assist, is by taking part in the church’s annual Chosen Christmas Drive, which runs through Dec. 11.

“People can donate money if they wish and we will do the shopping for them, or they can also donate non-perishable food items like peanut butter and snacks, as well as hygiene items including hair care products and deodorant.”

Pajamas in all sizes are also always needed, as are fuzzy socks, soft blankets

and throws and stuffed ani mals; all items must be new and preferably with their tags.

While donations for kids of all ages are welcome, Lavino said the program especially focuses on older children and teenagers who live in group homes, so larger sizes are es pecially appreciated.

“There are currently thou sands of children in group homes who are 8 years old and up,” she said.

“Some of these children come into foster care with vir tually nothing, so when peo ple donate these items, they get to keep them.”

Generation Church is locat ed at 1010 S. Ellsworth Road in Mesa, 1832 S. Warner El liott Loop in Ahwatukee and 16239 E. Ironwood Drive in Fountain Hills.

For more information, call 480-986-3149 or visit generation.church/chosen.

Chosen Ministry members from Generation Church in Mesa are collecting gifts for children and teens in foster care. (Courtesy of Generation Church)

Mesa restoration firm gets top franchisee award

BY JOSH ORTEGA Tribune Staff Writer

Dallas Nevill wanted to create a recession-proof business, and after surviving the pandemic, a recent national award may have proven he could do that.

Nevill has owned Rainbow Restora tion of Southwest Mesa for seven years and is one of 17 winners from a net work of 5,000 franchises honored when Neighborly, a home services company, announced its top performing owners of the year for 2022.

“That’s a huge honor for us,” said Nev ill, who has been in the restoration busi ness for more than two decades and joined the Neighborly network in 2017. “We’re a newer brand in the network.”

Since 1981, Rainbow Restoration has done home and commercial restora tion, and carpet cleaning services from over 400 locations worldwide, includ ing Mesa.

Nevill has teams ready to deploy with in a moment’s notice from their Mesa location at 112 South Sirrine within 12 hours of an incident occurring includ ing fire damage, water damage, mold removal, and odor removal.

Nevill said he doesn’t take his honor lightly, because winners were judged on an algorithm of factors and chosen from Neighborly’s vast network of fran chises.

“Essentially, you want to make sure that you stand out and you represent the brand at the highest level,” Nevill said.

At the end of the day, Nevill said he’s “just an owner with a checkbook,” and gives all credit for this award to his team of 38 staff members for working with customers daily, including through the COVID-19 pandemic.

“They’re the actual heart and back bone of this company,” Nevill said. “So,

for me the reward is for them because they’re the ones that go out and do the day-to-day grind.”

Along with wearing masks, Nevill said the pandemic required them to beef up their sanitizing protocols to ensure they didn’t get people sick from carry ing something into a person’s home or business that they worked on.

Besides that, Nevill said the pandem ic provided a great learning curve for everyone to navigate and learn from, because insurance companies didn’t send adjusters out to sites at that time.

“So, we had to go out there and be the eyes and ears for the insurance compa ny to continue to help their insurers go forward,” Nevill said.

The largest project his company took on was a $1.4 million loss from mold and water damage at the Mayo Clinic in Scottsdale.

Inflation remains on the forefront of Nevill’s mind as he manages 16 diesel-

powered trucks on the road hauling trailers full of equipment.

At $5 a gallon for diesel, Nevill said that fleet has cost approximately $35,000 a month this year, an increase from $15,000.

Along with that, Nevill said he’s also seen increased prices for consumables such as trash bags, plywood, drywall, and the like, that have gone up at hard ware stores.

Because of a constant stream of work for his business, Nevill has been forced to continue to push work further and further out and feels the hit from the labor shortage.

“We’re lacking a lot of skilled labor, not so much labor force, but of guys that actually can think and make an educat ed decision that’s going to better for the betterment of the company and not just for individual desire,” Nevill said.

As for fears of a recession next year, Nevill doesn’t seem too worried about

its impact on his business, which he considers recession-proof.

“With insurance work, [the economy] doesn’t matter, you know. The pipes are going to break when it breaks, the house is going to catch fire when it catches fire,” Nevill said. “But being able to help others is the reason why I’ve stayed in it as long as I have and be the satisfaction of what we do.”

Nevill said it’s a fun and rewarding line of work with a lot of variety that re quires him and his team to become de tectives when navigating damage losses and restoring a location to its original state.

“You have to be able to go in and sur vey these homes and losses and find where the water went and mitigate and manage the loss,” Nevill said. “So for me, it’s fun, it’s rewarding, and I just love helping people.”

Information: rainbowstores.com/ southwest-mesa; 480-712-3939.

Dallas Nevill, center, credits his staff with winning Neighborly’s 2022 Franchisee of the Year. (Special to the Tribune)

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

TheMesaTribune.com | @EVTNow /EVTNow

Election deniers take crazy to a new level

BY DAVID LEIBOWITZ Tribune Columnist

We begin with the good news about the process of certi fying Arizona’s November 2022 election.

After all the conspiracy theories, death threats, and fact-deprived screaming about rigged results, only a few hundred protesters showed up for the Maricopa County Board of Su pervisors’ Nov. 28 special meeting to certify the county’s results.

In a state of more than seven mil lion people – and in a county where 1,562,758 of us voted on Nov. 8 – a few hundred “nayscreamers” amounts to a raindrop in a river.

The bad news? The people who did show up to scream at the five super

visors were bull goose loony.

Like election denier and podcaster Joe Oltman, who traveled from Cas tle Pines, Colorado, to lament the Board’s lack of transparency – in a public meeting broadcast around the world online – and to accuse them of “gaslight(ing) the American people.”

That was tame compared to speak ers who threw around terms like “evil,” “traitors,” “crooked,” “clowns” and “violent revolution.”

Heck, one lady from Wickenburg, Lydia Abril, used her two minutes to share “what God has to say to all elected officials,” courtesy of the Book of Psalms. She thundered about “high and mighty politicians” and “giving justice in exchange for bribes,” before asking God to “break off their fangs” and “let them be as

snails that dissolve into slime.”

That got quite the round of ap plause from her fellow zealots.

Later came my personal favorite speaker, failed Board of Supervisors candidate Gail Golec, a Trump-en dorsed Scottsdale Republican, who got pasted in the primary by Super visor Tom Galvin. Golec demanded a halt to the certification “until we can get some more audits.”

Golec really hit it out of the park with her finger-wagging tirade: “These machines have come into play and have taken over countries. South America right now is almost gone because of selections! Thank God for Brazil or we would lose a continent – a whole continent – to these machines!”

Lady, for heaven’s sake, please

burn your collection of Terminator DVDs, pronto.

After four hours of this nonsense, the supervisors – four Republicans and a Democrat – voted to certify the county’s election results, as required by law. Fourteen out of Arizona’s 15 counties have done the same, with only tiny Cochise County, population 126,000, as the lone holdout.

So Election 2022 continues to sput ter to its conclusion, despite some national and local press coverage portraying Arizona and the Valley as something of a laughingstock, popu lated by nuts and dolts and those who see a conspiracy around every corner and every time a computer printer runs out of toner.

County officials adopt grim comedy routine on election

BY JD HAYWORTH Tribune Columnist

You can forget all about “Abbott and Costello…” ditto for “Mar tin and Lewis.”

A new comedy team with a familiar name has suddenly emerged in Ari zona.

These days, Maricopa County resi dents are treated to the escapades of a real-life “Mutt and Jeff.” And un like the original comic strip duo, this modern-day pair isn’t confined to the funny papers.

Board of Supervisors Chairman Bill Gates and County Recorder Ste phen Richer have made headlines in the aftermath of Election Day. Unfor tunately for them, their act—or more accurately, their actions—are not re ceiving rave reviews.

Still, their “political performance art” played to a full house and a large internet audience during the super visors’ “special meeting” Nov. 28.

Gates unwittingly affirmed the performance emphasis in his open ing remarks, referring to the meeting agenda as a “run of show.” And what a show!

As pure entertainment, it fell somewhere between the efforts of earnest amateur thespians giving their all in a “community theatre” production and “open mic night” at a comedy club where most stand-up aspirants would be well-advised to remain seated.

The county’s lead players could be found in that latter category.

Our taxpayer-subsidized com edy team relies upon the maudlin schmaltz of mutual admiration.

With a presentation style reminis cent of “Mister Rogers,” Gates intro duced Richter: “The Board is very grateful for your work, Stephen, and thanks so much for addressing us,” Richer recited some specific num bers: 1.87 million ballots mailed to county voters; 1.3 million complet ed and returned, 290,000 of those dropped off at voting centers on Election Day and needing signature verification which was completed by Thursday afternoon; then the pro cessing of those ballots, done by Sun day afternoon.

In other words, those early bal lots dropped off on Nov. 8 – a record number for any election and almost 120,000 more than arrived on Elec tion Day 2020—took until five days af ter Nov. 8 to be prepared for counting.

And left dangling in Richer’s ac

count was this oratorical gem: “Over 100 people of all parties contributed to the signature verification process.”

That sounds mighty inclusive, but it is devoid of a key detail: what was the partisan composition of that sig nature checking group?

After expressing his 100 percent confidence “in the integrity and char acter of the people working the other half of the election operation,”— the Election Day balloting, so plagued with problems—Richer spread a heavy dose of verbal frosting on this slice of rhetorical flattery:

“That starts with Chairman Bill Gates, who has continued to lead, de spite personally and probably going through personal hell.”

As for the majority of concerned

My assessment, which I previewed for you in a column several weeks ago, is this: The 2022 election was imperfect, in part because all elec tions are. But there were no hijinks afoot.

If it took two weeks to count the ballots, that’s because (a) it always takes long, and (b) a record number of voters listened to MAGA leaders who told them to hold onto their early ballots until Election Day, thus creating the very issue – slow count ing – that they later lambasted.

Given the relatively few people who showed up to protest the su

HAYWORTH

from page 26

citizens in attendance, Richer was disdainfully dismissive.

Saying the focus needed to be on “real issues,” the recorder charac terized the grassroots skepticism as “conspiracy theories promoted on social media by people who know nothing,” drawing a loud, angry reac tion from the crowd.

Once the recorder finished, the presiding officer made a pronounce ment that was shockingly premature: “This election was run extremely well, as you pointed out,” Gates told Richer.

Despite a parade of eyewitnesses recounting mechanical problems with tabulators and printers, as well as a plethora of other Election Day problems, it was clear that this “pub lic hearing” didn’t result in officials truly listening.

After 90-plus minutes of com ments, concerned citizen Michelle

pervisors – a far smaller crowd than your average JV football game – I’d suggest that 99 percent of us have moved on to bigger issues and real problems.

You remember those, I’m guessing. Inflation. Rising crime. Our trou bled public school system. The lack of housing supply in our state. The fen tanyl epidemic. Our porous border.

These were the issues would-be elected leaders used to campaign on, before they turned to false tales of stolen elections and machine take overs.

I miss the old days, when the other 1 percent – not the crazy 1 percent –got all the attention.

Dillard summed it up: “This election is not certifiable…it was targeted voter suppression by the County, in cluding elected officials with glaring conflicts of interest.”

Among the elected officials with “glaring conflicts?” The recorder and the chairman.

Richer started a dark money po litical action committee, “Democracy Republicans PAC,” targeting Trumpendorsed candidates; Gates spoke out publicly against those same GOP nominees, calling their primary vic tories a “catastrophe.” and telling Po litico he hoped for Republican “hu miliation at the ballot box.”

There’s humiliation all right, but it’s Gates and Richer who should be embarrassed – along with all the members of the Board of Supervi sors, who voted unanimously to cer tify the 2022 election.

Mutt and Jeff may be smiling, but few voters in Maricopa County are laughing.

Scottsdale native Kenny Dillingham introduced as ASU coach

BY ZACH ALVIRA Sports Editor

Kenny Dillingham became emotional after his two-word initial statement Sunday, Nov. 27 at Sun Devil Sta dium.

“I’m home. This is literally home. Home,” Dillingham said before taking a brief pause to gather himself. “So, I say that because this place is special. This state is special. The people in this room are special.

“Pretty emotional. That’s just who I am … I’m fired up to be here. Fired up to be a Sun Devil.”

Dillingham, an alum of Chaparral High School in Scottsdale, was introduced as the next head football coach at Arizona State. It was a search school Athletic Di rector Ray Anderson said months to per form.

It began in September when former coach Herm Edwards and the schools agreed to mutually part ways and opened

the door for Anderson and university President Michael Crow to search for a candidate that they believed would truly love leading the Sun Devil program. They believe they found that in Dilling ham.

“This was a coast-to-coast extensive search,” Anderson said. “We looked at

multiple candidates at various points of their career of all varieties … This new head coach had to be in tune with and relatable to the new era student-athlete. Energetic, flexible, adaptable, collabora tive, innovative, great partner, great per sonality, great listener, great experiences winning and learning from others, strong,

passionate about this place.

“As young as he is, the multitude of ac complishments and successes Kenny Dill ingham brought to the table was undeni able.”

Dillingham’s coaching career began as a senior in high school at Chaparral. An injury derailed his playing career, but he stuck around under former coach and cur rent Idaho State head coach Charlie Ragle. He quickly moved up through the ranks at Chaparral and eventually became offen sive coordinator before he graduated from Arizona State in 2013. He then joined for mer ASU coach Todd Graham’s staff as a graduate assistant, where he remained until 2015.

Dillingham’s coaching career then took him to several schools. He went to Memphis with Mike Norvell where he re mained until 2018, where he eventually became the offensive coordinator. In 2019

Eastmark wins its first school championship

BY ZACH ALVIRA Sports Editor

Eastmark vividly recalls the first time it lined up against Thatcher on the football field back in late August.

The Firebirds held a 21-7 lead at the half, but that was quickly taken away by the Eagles run game. Eastmark ended up losing on a last-second field goal. So, when the Firebirds again led Thatcher 21-7 at halftime of the 3A state cham pionship game on Saturday, Nov. 26 at Desert Vista High School, they knew they couldn’t let off the gas.

And they didn’t.

Instead, Eastmark continued to show case its high-powered offense en route to a 42-21 win over the Eagles, which

secured the school’s first state champi onship.

“The first time we played them we didn’t have three of our key players,” Eastmark coach Scooter Molander said. “To shut down their offense is very dif ficult. Thatcher has a lot of tradition and they’re extremely well-coached. We’re proud to get this victory, for sure.”

The Firebirds simply fired on all cyl inders. Senior quarterback Mack Molan der saved one of his best performances of the season for the biggest game of his career.

Even when pressured by Thatcher’s defense, he extended plays with his legs. When he was given time to throw, he picked apart the Eagle secondary. Be hind his arm Eastmark jumped out to an early lead and only extended it as the

game went on.

Eastmark’s first score of the game came early in the second quarter. Mack, scrambling out of the pocket, took it in himself from 15 yards out. A fumble by Thatcher allowed the Firebirds to capi talize on the short field and Mack again ran into the end zone on a 1-yard quar terback sneak.

Thatcher managed to close the gap late in the second quarter, but Mack quickly led the Firebirds down the field again. He found senior wideout Aus tin Johnston, who made a leaping grab along the sideline, to set up the offense inside the red zone. From there, the two connected again to take a two-score lead into the half.

“I honestly have no idea,” Johnston said of his catch along the sideline. “I

don’t practice that. It just worked out. It was just a great feeling. The coaching staff put trust in me, and I was able to make a play.

“We’ve worked so long for this mo ment and it’s great to see it finally pay off.”

Everything was working for Eastmark. The offense couldn’t be stopped and the defense, led by linebacker Kaden Arm strong and defensive lineman Ramarr Williams, limited Thatcher’s patented ground attack.

Thatcher found some momentum out of the break as quarterback Brandon Napier orchestrated a long drive that re sulted in a touchdown.

But Mack connected with Johnston

Scottsdale native and Chaparral alum Kenny Dillingham was announced Sunday, Nov. 27 as the next head coach of Arizona State. He was introduced during a press conference at Sun Devil Stadium alongside Arizona State Deputy Athletics Director Jean Boyd, “left,” Athletic Director Ray Anderson and President Michael Crow. (Katelyn MacCrory/Sun Devil Athletics)

he joined Gus Malzahn’s staff at Auburn before reconnecting with Norvell at Flor ida State.

He spent this past season as the offen sive coordinator at Oregon.

“I knew the best way to get this dream opportunity was to be the very best I could be every day,” Dillingham said. “That’s who I am. You wake up every single day and try to be the best version of yourself. It motivated me more to work.”

Dillingham’s ties to the Valley and state of Arizona run deep. He spent the last season actively recruiting the state for Oregon and emphasized Sunday during his introductory press conference how important it is to keep talent in-state at Arizona State.

Part of that, Dillingham said, will have to do with who he has on staff.

He announced former Chandler coach

and running backs coach Shaun Aguano, who served as the interim head coach af ter Edwards’ departure and re-energized the program, would remain on staff. He said some of the rest of his staff would be put in place quickly while others will take time.

Dillingham said he aims to have a staff that is dedicated to Arizona and knows how important it is for Arizona State to be successful. He didn’t go into further de tail about who he is targeting for his staff, but rumors have swirled that it would in volve current Arizona high school football coaches and some athletic directors.

“Our staff is going to be people who will build relationships in this Valley because they love this Valley,” Dillingham said. “We’re going to hire a staff that has roots and connections here in Arizona.”

Dillingham showed passion, humility and an overall love for Arizona State dur ing his press conference. He said coaching

the Sun Devils is his “dream job,” and be came emotional and animated on several occasions.

The 32-year-old is the youngest coach among Power Five schools. And while he comes in with no prior head coaching ex perience, he understands along with re cruiting the state and hitting the transfer portal that Name, Image and Likeness has to become a priority moving forward.

The Sun Angel Collective was estab lished by Sun Devil Athletics to assist ath letes in NIL deals. It came with an initial million-dollar donation from boosters. But on Sunday during Dillingham’s intro duction, booster and ASU alum Nap Law rence pledged another million to the 501 (c) (3) public charity.

Dillingham stood and applauded.

“We’re ready when everybody is ready,” Dillingham said of Arizona State’s readi ness level to compete from an NIL per spective. “We need everybody. We just got

a million dollars. That’s unbelievable. He did that to inspire everybody else.”

Dillingham said his first initiative as head coach will be to meet the players and become involved within the Arizona State community.

His energy was infectious within the room. The overall reaction from the crowd was similar to the way Aguano won over media in September when he took over head coaching duties. From media to his family and friends he played Little League baseball with as a kid growing up in Scott sdale, many were pleased with Dilling ham’s initial message.

Not only does he want to make Arizona State into a championship contender, he wants to do it with the support from those across the Valley and state.

“We need the Valley behind us. We need the state behind us,” Dillingham said. “We need butts in seats. We need everything this Valley has, all in. Because I am. All in.”

twice more in the second half and ran another in himself to put the game offi cially out of reach.

“Everything worked,” Mack said. “We had counters to everything. Coaches came with a great game plan. They would switch up the four or five-man front. But we would just adapt to every thing they threw at us.

“(Coaches) did a great job preparing us for that every single week.”

Mack finished 14-of-19 for 268 yards and three touchdowns through the air. He added 67 yards and three more touchdowns on the ground. Johnston caught seven passes for 171 yards and three touchdowns.

Jaxon Baily added 53 receiving yards of his own on four receptions. Thatcher running back Cody Jones found suc cess on the ground, accumulating 139 yards and a touchdown. But Eastmark’s smothering defense forced three fum bles, all of which resulted in points.

The win for the Firebirds was met with tears and boisterous cheers from Scooter and the rest of the coaching staff. When he was first hired, 13 play ers showed up to a camp. He told them they would be the ones to help grow the

program into a powerhouse.

It took some help from key transfers, including his own son from Queen Creek, but they accomplished the goal.

“It doesn’t happen unless you envision it,” Scooter said. “Those original 13, I’m so happy for them. And the sacrifices families make. It’s not like 35 years ago when I played. It’s a tremendous sacri fice. It’s worth it, I would say now.”

Eastmark’s first season of football took place during the COVID-19 year. The Firebirds made the playoffs for the first time last season and lost in the first round. That gave them a chip on their

shoulder.

They knew they had the talent to make a run. And even with key play ers transferring out of the program to 6A and Open Division Basha before the 2022 season, they still were among the favorites all season.

The loss to Thatcher in Week 2, ac cording to Scooter, changed the mental ity of the team. They wanted to leave no doubt about who they were. They had some slip ups, including the first half of the game against 4A top seed ALA – Gil bert North. But even in that game they came back to win in overtime.

Overall, it was a special season for a team that will likely be in the 4A or 5A conference during the next realignment. But for now, they plan to enjoy their 3A championship and the start of yet anoth er dynasty in the southeast Valley. And Scooter has credited his players for the program’s success.

“It’s not about me, it’s about us,” Scoot er said. “I wanted to get that trophy out of my hands and into the hands of the players.”

DILLINGHAM

EASTMARK from page 29

The Eastmark Firebirds, in just their third season, captured the 3A state championship Saturday, Nov. 26 by defeating top-ranked Thatcher 41-21 at Desert Vista High School in Ahwatukee. (JJ Digos/Tribune Contributor)

Eastmark senior wideout Austin Johnston caught three touchdown passes in Eastmark’s win over Thatcher. He, along with quarterback Mack Molander and others, were pivotal to the Firebirds' success this season on their way to the state title. (JJ Digos/Tribune Contributor)

Get up to $240 in bill credits when you switch to AT&T

Annual cat show returns to Mesa next weekend

GETOUT STAFF

The cats are coming back.

No, fortunately it’s not the di sastrous movie rendition of the Broadway musical – or even a musical –but the real thing.

The 29th annual Cat Fanciers Associa tion’s car show is coming back next Sat urday and Sunday to the Mesa Conven tion Center.

Arizona’s largest all breed cat show, dubbed “It’s Feline A Lot Like Christ mas,” is hosted by Phoenix Feline Fan ciers, a club of The Cat Fanciers’ Assoc. Inc., and will also include an adoption center sponsored by All About Animals AZ Rescue.

Over 40 distinct breeds of cats will be on hand for observers to watch, from the lean and swanky Siamese, the charm ingly “naked” Sphynx, the intoxicating Abyssinian, the giant Maine Coons, and the extravagantly groomed Persians. They also will be competing in eight judging rings for awards like Best in Show and Top Household Pet in Show. The family-friendly event features

both pedigreed and household pets.

For cat owners who aren’t in the competi tion, a “supermarket” of cat supplies and gifts will be available from a myriad of vendors, in cluding unique clothing, artifacts, jewelry, spe cialty foods and toys as well as top-of-the-line cat furniture. There will

be a raffle and book sale as well.

And contestants will be competing in a kitty costume contest and another for best decorated holiday cage.

All About Animals AZ Rescue has been the only rescue partner for 12 years with Phoenix Feline Fanciers to facilitate all adoptions of purebred cats that have completed their showing career. Adoption fees are from $30-$900 and all the pro ceeds go to the rescue. Over 50 cats and kittens will be up for adoption, including: Abyssinian, Oriental Shorthair. Siamese, Persian, Ocicat, Manx and Savannah.

The show runs 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Satur day, Dec. 10 and 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Sunday at the convention center, 263 N. Center St. Building C, Mesa and parking is free.

Tickets are $12 adults; $10 seniors/ military; $7 for children 3-12 accompa nied by an adult, under 3 free,

A family pack is also available for two adults and two children under 12 for $28.

Family 4-pack $28 (2 adults, 2 chil dren 3-12). Information: phxfeline.com, which includes a $1 off coupon on adult admission.

Salt River Fields ‘Enchants’ with radiant display

BY ALEX GALLAGHER GetOut Staff Writer

Patrons passing by Salt River Fields at Talking Stick off Loop 101 and Indian Bend at night may have noticed that the baseball field beckons with a sparkling holiday wonderland.

Enchant presented by Hallmark Chan nel, which touts itself as the world’s larg est holiday light display, has witnessed success with its Scottsdale debut since opening Nov. 25.

Because of that, Enchant manager Ryan Harris said his team thought the

area would be perfect a display that dazzles.

“Our creative team and operations team source markets and venues that can accommodate such an extravagant experience as this – where we take over 10 acres of space. So, what’s most impor tant is space,” Harris said. “We also look for a city that loves Christmas and Scott sdale seemed like the perfect choice.”

The next task became finding a venue large enough to accommodate the colos sal lights festival.

“In years past at other ‘Enchants,’ we’ve discovered that a baseball sta

dium lends itself perfectly to the type of events (we do),” Harris said. “It is com mon to find an Enchant that is laid out where we have the ice trail and the light maze on the field level.

“So when you walk over the overlook of the concourse and peer down into the light maze, ice trail and some of our mar ket vendors, it looks like you’re peeking over into a Christmas Village.”

Because of that, the team selected Salt River Field at Talking Stick – the Arizona Diamondbacks spring training facility.

“There’s just something about de scending into what was once a baseball

stadium that is now an all-encompassing atmosphere that looks like something that can be seen inside of a snow globe that is enchanting,” Harris said.

After locking in a site, a year of plan ning and months of assembly began.

“Our creative team and operations teams have been working all year since Enchant locations in 2021 closed and we began installing in Scottsdale right be fore Halloween since it’s about a monthlong process to build Enchant,” Harris said.

A broad array of cat breeds will be on hand at the Mesa Convention Center next week.

Some cat owners and rescues decorate cages for the animals at the show. (Special to GetOut)

Robert Bartko a treat for George Michael fans

BY CHRISTINA FUOCO-KARASINSKI GetOut Staff Writer

Robert Bartko has George Michael’s look and sound down pat, com plete with the tight jeans, black leather jacket and sunglasses.

But there’s no gimmick here. He didn’t choose the tribute. In fact, it was the op posite; it chose him.

“From the time I was in high school, I looked like George Michael when he be gan to emerge on the scene,” said Bartko, who leads George Michael Reborn.

“I could grow a full beard at 17. I was a football jock and sang in the drama club. Usually, those are very polarized worlds in high school.”

But friends and family saw something special — his uncanny vocal resem blance to Michael.

“In 1988, I went to his big show at the Orange Bowl in Miami. I thought I was

ENCHANTS from page 32

After arriving in late October, crews began 10- to 12-hour days hanging lights, erecting sets, and laying the foun dation for an expansive ice rink made of real ice.

Once finished, the expansive light fes tival covered 10 acres of the spring train ing facility filling the grounds with over four million sparkling lights, a 100-foottall holiday tree, and myriad entertain ment — including a place to visit Santa. Harris says guests can expect plenty of fun for the entire family during their visit to Enchant.

“We keep everyone in mind,” Harris said. “For the little ones, we have a little elf play place where they can frolic and have Storytime with Mrs. Claus and they can also meet the big guy himself and take photos.

For adults, we have our Merry Lodge, Our Tipsy Tree Tavern, and a Polar Ice Bar – which is chilled at 14 degrees and guests can sample three different types of vodka at a bar where the inferior is made entirely of ice.”

With all the options for fun at their

going to lose my life that night,” Bartko said about the reaction to his look.

He spent the 1990s producing songs for rock acts like Korn (“A.D.I.D.A.S. Level X Mix,” “Wicked” and “All in the Family,” which featured Fred Durst) and dance artist Stevie B.

In 2018, he saw a resurgence of his dance career. When a booking agent called him to perform, he said, “‘Man, you look and sound just like George Mi chael. If you could put together a George Michael act, we could book it a lot more than we could book you on your own.’ Again, it chose me.”

Thus, George Michael Reborn was off and running. Bartko, who recently played a gig for Dita Von Teese’s birth day, stages a retrospective of Wham! and Michael’s careers. He said he “nails” the whole “Faith” era.

“He’s a hard act to pull off,” he said. “It’s a hard vocal, especially in America

where most think of 1988 George Mi chael, where he was just fighting fit trim. His vocal range was absolutely amazing. That’s what people remember.”

And fans lose their minds at his shows, which includes a New Year’s Eve show at Talking Stick Resort.

“I did a show in North Carolina and these women went absolutely crazy and were just tackling me,” he said. “I thought I was really going to get hurt there. But at times, it is quite flattering because what ever I’m doing is working.”

If You Go...

Glitter & Glow New Year’s Eve

When: 9:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 31; George Michael Reborn from 9:30 to 11 p.m.; Who’s Bad: The Ultimate Michael Jackson Experience from 11:20 p.m. to 1 a.m.

Where: Talking Stick Resort, 9800 E. Talking Stick Way, Scottsdale Cost: Tickets start at $150 Info: 480-850-7777, talkingstickresort.com

feet, Harris expects guests to enjoy themselves and make merry memo ries that will last a lifetime and hopes Enchant becomes a staple at Salt Riv er Field at Talking Stick moving for ward.

“We know that the guests are going to enjoy themselves, they’re going to be overwhelmed by the 100-foot pine tree

that’s completely made up with lights, they’re going to be overwhelmed by our RGB light tunnel as they walk through it, and I know that we’re going to see just lots of joy on faces of children of all ages, adults, grandparents,” Harris said.

“The whole family is just going to be filled with joy and making them happy is going to make us happy.”

If You Go...

Enchant at Salt River Field at Talking Stick

When: Through Jan. 1

Where: Salt River Field at Talking Stick, 7555 N. Pima Road

Cost: Tickets start at $34 Info: enchantchristmas.com/scotts dale-az-salt-river-fields

Robert Bartko’s friends and family saw something special in him— his uncanny vocal resemblance to the late singer George Michael. (Special to GetOut)

The Enchant presented by Hallmark Channel lights display at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick will dazzle guests. (David Minton/Staff Photographer)

Harper Plum, Sabrina McDonald, Megan Plum and Chloe Plum seem positively enchanted as they take a group photo in front of a light tunnel at Enchant presented by Hallmark Channel at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick. (David Minton/Staff Photographer)

With JAN D’ATRI

GetOut Contributor

Bubble-Top Brioche is a good-anytime recipe

Beautiful brioche. With its ir resistible buttery, light and ten der crumb, brioche has holiday written all over it. Breakfast, lunch or dinner always seems a bit more special when rich and slightly sweet bread is served.

If you have time to bake this holiday season, give it a try. If not, save the recipe for this Bubble-Top Brioche, or “Brioche a Tete,” (12 servings) for a rainy day and then serve it up with rich, hot cup of cappuccino.

Ingredients:

• 1/4 cup warm water

• 1/4 cup warm whole milk

• 3 teaspoons active dry yeast

• 2 3/4 cups all purpose flour

• 1 1/2 teaspoons salt

• 3 large eggs, room temperature

• 3 tablespoons sugar

• 12 tablespoons (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature

• 1 large egg beaten with 1 teaspoon water (for glaze)

• 12 Brioche molds or muffin tin

Directions:

Combine warm water and warm milk in mixing bowl fitted with paddle attachment. Sprinkle yeast over liquid and gently stir. Let stand until yeast dis solves.

Add flour and salt to yeast mixture. Blend at medium-low speed for 2 minutes scraping down sides of bowl. Add eggs, one at a time, beating until blended after each addition. Mix in sugar. Increase mixer speed to medium and beat until dough is smooth, about 3 minutes.

Reduce speed to low. Add butter, one tablespoon at a time, beating until blended after each addition, until dough is soft and silky, about 4 minutes.

Increase speed to medium-high and beat until dough pulls away from sides of bowl and climbs paddle. Lightly

butter large bowl. Place dough into bowl and cover with plastic wrap. Let dough rise in warm area until doubled in volume, about 1 hour 30 minutes.

Lift dough around edges to deflate, then let dough fall back into bowl. Turn bowl and repeat. Cover bowl tightly with plastic wrap and chill. Repeat deflating process one or two more times during the next two hours while dough is still rising. Chill overnight.

When ready to bake, grease 12 fluted individual brioche molds (approx 3-inch) or large muffin cups. Pat the chilled dough into a 12x6-inch rectangle. Cut dough into 12 equal portions.

From each remove a small piece and roll into 12 (1/2-inch balls.) Roll remaining portions into 12 larger balls; place in prepared pans. Using your fingers, make a deep indentation in the center of dough ball. Brush with water.

Press small balls into indentations. Cover; let rise in a warm place until double in size, about 45 minutes.

Position rack in center of oven and preheat to 400 degrees. Place muffin pan on rimmed baking sheet. Gently brush egg wash over risen dough, being careful that glaze does not drip between dough and pan.

Bake brioches until golden brown, about 20 min utes. (Cover with foil if browning too quickly.) Trans fer pan to cooling rack. Cool for about 10 minutes before removing brioches from pan. Serve warm or at room temperature.

Public Notices

R READERS: :

OF MESA MESA, ARIZONA

CITY

NEW WELL DRILLING: DESERT WELL 24 AND 25

DESERT WELL 24: 3208 E. SIGNAL BUTTE ROAD

DESERT WELL 25: WARNER ROAD EAST OF ELLSWORTH ROAD

PROJECT NOS. CP0836WD09 AND CP0836WD10 ADVERTISEMENT FOR BIDS

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that sealed bids will be received until Thursday, January 5, 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.

This contract shall be for furnishing all labor, materials, transportation and services for the construction and/or installation of the following work:

Drill new wells at Desert Well 24 and Desert Well 25 per the Technical Specifications. Drill two (2) 15-inch diameter pilot holes, conduct well logs, perform depth sampling, ream holes to 32-inches in diameter, install two (2) 20-inch well casings, install gravel packs, develop two wells, cap wells, install 6-foot high chain link enclosure around the well heads with a 10foot wide single gate, and other items necessary for completion of the project in accordance with the Approved Plans and Specifications at two well sites.

The Engineer’s Estimate range is $3,000,000 to 3,250,000.

For all technical, contract, bid-related, or other questions, please contact Donna Horn at donna.horn@mesaaz.gov .

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.

In order for the City to consider alternate products in the bidding process, please follow Arizona Revised Statutes §34.104c.

If a pre-bid review of the site has been scheduled, details can be referenced in Project Specific Provision Section #3, titled “Pre-Bid Review of Site.”

Work shall be completed within 280 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 the City of Mesa, Arizona, or a certified or cashier’s check. PERSONAL OR INDIVIDUAL SURETY BONDS ARE NOT ACCEPTABLE.

The successful bidder will be required to execute the standard form of contract for construction within ten (10) days after formal award of contract. In addition, the successful bidder must be registered in the City of Mesa Vendor Self-Service (VSS) System ( http://mesaaz.gov/business/purchasing/vendor-self-service .

The successful bidder, simultaneously with the execution of the Contract, will be required to furnish a Payment Bond in the amount equal to one hundred percent (100%) of the Contract Price, a Performance Bond in an amount equal to one hundred percent (100%) of the Contract Price, and the most recent ACORD ® Certificate of Liability Insurance form with additional insured endorsements.

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 City of Mesa.

BETH HUNING City Engineer

In accordance with Sec. 106 of the Programmatic Agreement, AT&T plans a modification of existing antenna on rooftop of 1955 building at 951 S. CADY MALL, TEMPE, AZ 85281. Please direct comments to Gavin L. at 818-8984866 regarding site CRAN_RANM_PX1 20_016.

12/4, 12/11/22 CNS-3639724# EAST VALLEY TRIBUNE

Published in the Mesa Tribune, Gilbert Sun News, Chandler Arizonan, Dec 4, 11, 2022

In accordance with Sec. 106 of the Programmatic Agreement, AT&T plans to upgrade an existing telecommunica tions facility at 1120 S. CADY MALL, TEMPE, AZ 85281. Please direct comments to Gavin L. at 818-898-4866 regarding site CRAN_ RANM_PX1 20_040.

12/4, 12/11/22 CNS-3638545# EAST VALLEY TRIBUNE

Published in the Mesa Tribune, Gilbert Sun News, Chandler Arizonan, Dec 4, 11, 2022

In accordance with Sec. 106 of the Programmatic Agreement, AT&T plans a MODIFICCATION OF EXISTING ANTENNA ON ROOFTOP OF 1964 BUILDING at 600 E. TYLER MALL, TEMPE, AZ 85281. Please direct comments to Gavin L. at 818-8984866 regarding site CRAN_RANM_PX1 20_014.

12/4, 12/11/22 CNS-3639727# EAST VALLEY TRIBUNE Published in the Mesa Tribune, Gilbert Sun News, Chandler Arizonan, Dec 4, 11, 2022

In accordance with Sec. 106 of the Programmatic Agreement, AT&T plans NEW 75’ MONOPINE at 4040

SOUTH VAL VISTA DRIVE GILBERT, AZ 85297. Please direct comments to Gavin L. at 818-898-4866 regarding site AZL01672.

12/4, 12/11/22 CNS-3639433# EAST VALLEY TRIBUNE

Published in the Mesa Tribune, Gilbert Sun News, Chandler Arizonan, Dec 4, 11, 2022

Mosst t seervvice a advvert isseers h have a an ROOC# o or " "Not a l liiccenseed c contrractoor " in n their r ad, t thhis i is in n accordaance to o t thhe A AZ s staate e l laaw

A r i z o n a R e g i s t r a r o f C o n t r a c t o r s ( R O C ) : T h e a d v e r t i s i n g r e q u i r e m e n t s o f t h e statute doe s not pre v e n t a n y o n e f r o m p l a c i n g a n a d i n t h e y e l l o w p a g e s o n business cards, or on flyers

What it does require under A R S §32 1121A14(c) www azleg gov/ars/ 32/01165 htm i s t h a t t h e a d v e r t i s i n g p a r t y , i f n o t p r o p e r l y l i c e n s e d a s a c o n t r a c t o r , d i s c l o s e t h a t f a c t o n a n y f o r m o f a d v e r t ising to the public by i n c l u d i n g t h e w o r d s " n o t a l i c e n s e d c o n t r a c t o r " i n t h e a d v e r t i s e m e n t

A g a i n , t h i s r e q u i r e m e n t i s in t e n d e d t o m a k e s u r e t h a t t h e c o n s u m e r i s m a d e a w a r e o f t h e u n l i c e n s e d s t a t u s o f t h e i n d i v i d u a l o r c o m p a n y

Contractors who ad v e r t i s e a n d d o n o t d i s c l o s e t h e i r u n l i censed status are not e l i g i b l e f o r t h e h a n d y m a n s e x c e p t i o n

Reference: h t t p : / / w w w a z r o c g ov/invest/licensed by law html

ATTEST: Holly

Moseley

City Clerk

Published in the Mesa Tribune, Dec 4, 11, 2022