The Mesa Tribune - Zone 2 - 1.16.2022 by Times Media Group

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Food wars continue / P. 4

Setting the table / P. 8

An edition of the East Valley Tribune

MPS may mandate masks as COVID cases soar

INSIDE

This Week

BY PAUL MARYNIAK Tribune Executive Editor

COMMUNITY .......... 14 Mesa women ramp up mountain biker club.

SPORTS................. 24 Mesa High soccer team is poised for special run.

GETOUT.................. 27 Barrett-Jackson auto auction ready for the highest bidders. COMMUNITY ................................ 14 BUSINESS....................................... 19 OPINION......................................... 21 SPORTS........................................... 24 GET OUT......................................... 27 CLASSIFIED.................................... 33 Zone

Sunday, January 16, 2022

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s COVID-19 transmission levels throughout the East Valley skyrocketed to unprecedented proportions last week, Mesa Public Schools raised the specter of mask mandates at individual school sites. In a letter to parents, district Assistant Superintendent Holly Williams said masks will be required for 10 days at schools where 3%

Mesa Council OKs $4.5M to bridge ‘digital divide’

of its staff-student population tested positive for the virus while principals at other schools might impose other mitigation strategies on events, such as performances. Those limitations could range from limiting audience sizes by scheduling an event multiple times to moving events outside or online to cancelling them all together. “This week we have seen a significant increase of student and staff COVID-19 cases across the district,” Williams wrote. “Staff ab-

senteeism has disrupted our ability to deliver some services in a timely manner.” She added that the district would “increase mitigation strategies as needed.” MPS has had an optional mask policy since last spring. The advisory was issued as the latest data from the county health department showed transmission levels at their highest since the

A hand up

see VIRUS page 6

BY GARY NELSON Tribune Contributor

he City of Mesa is preparing to spend $4.5 million to ensure that students on the city’s west side can join the 21st century. City Council on Jan. 10 approved the expenditure as part of a broader citywide effort to attack the so-called “digital divide” in which less affluent parts of town lack the internet access that wealthier neighborhoods enjoy. Numerous studies have shown that students suffer without access to the information highway. The Forbes Technology Council reported in December, for example, that “without the ability to connect, … students obviously cannot demonstrate the same academic achievement as their peers.”

see DIGITAL page 6

Volunteer Christina Avila last week helped Red Mountain High School senior Ivy Trowers and Susan Jenni at the Mesa Drive-Up, a program aimed at helping East Valley seniors take a vital first step in applying for financial aid for higher education. For a look at why events like this are so important, see the story on Page 3. (David Minton/Tribune Staff Photographer)

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THE MESA TRIBUNE | JANUARY 16, 2022

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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NEWS

High school seniors get a hand applying for college aid BY DANA TRUMBULL Tribune Staff Writer

ast Valley high school seniors seeking scholarships and other tuition help for college got a helping hand in filling out applications last week as 50 trained volunteers manned the “Mesa Drive-Up” in the Mesa Convention Center parking lot. The volunteers helped the seniors and their parents complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) paperwork, an essential first step for students seeking any financial aid for higher education. It is also required for participation in the Mesa Promise and Arizona Promise programs that can provide free tuition at Mesa Community College and Arizona public universities. “We’re happy to host this event, but we are particularly engaged in it, because we have the Mesa College Promise. That’s a needs-based program, so the gateway into that is filling out the FAFSA form,” said Mesa Mayor John Giles, who attended the event to express the city’s support. “Really, it is the first step for any type of scholarship or student aid, but it can be a little bit intimidating, particularly if you are a first-time college-going family or if you’ve got immigration status issues, or what have you. So, we’re anxious to hold people’s hands and help them to realize that this is very important,” he added. The Mesa College Promise guarantees two years of community college education at Mesa Community College for Mesa high school graduates. If a student qualifies for any kind of federal aid pursuant to FAFSA, they qualify for the Mesa College Promise. It is a “last dollar” program, meaning that after a student receives the Pell Grant and other scholarship funds, the Mesa Promise makes up the difference in tuition. The drive-up event is part of a larger scale strategy to encourage more families to complete the FAFSA. Last year, the Mesa Drive-Up attracted 250 people in 170 cars during the three-

Cars filled with high school seniors and their parents rolled into the Mesa Convention center parking lot last week as the students got some help to fill out the initial forms needed to seek tuition help for higher education. (David Minton/Tribune Staff Photographer) hour event. The count included all passengers in the cars and was the largest of 12 FAFSA events conducted by a partnership that includes the City of Mesa, Access ASU, Education Forward Arizona, Be a Leader Foundation and Ask Benji. Lisa Woodburn and her son, Ethen Fernandez, were among the attendees seeking assistance Tuesday. Ethen, who attends McClintock High School in Tempe, is planning to become a firefighter. He is Lisa’s youngest son and the first to attend college. “I heard it’s a hard process,” she said. “It’s so great that they’ve got someone to help you through. When I told my coworker and my boss, they were like, ‘That’s awesome! Because when we did it, nobody helped.’” As cars drove into the lot, they were assigned to one of nine stations, three of which had Spanish-speaking volunteers. All were equipped with wi-fi. Attendees remained in their cars while masked volunteers responded to their questions and walked them through the application process. Heidi Doxey, a program manager for Education Forward Arizona, explained that the goal was to complete the FAFSA, then sign and submit it electronically so it was done and filed by the time the students and parents drove out. Doxey praised Mesa Public Schools for

GOT NEWS?

“leading the charge” with innovative FAFSA strategies. In 2018, FAFSA completion numbers in the district were at 38%. By the end of 2019, under the leadership of then newly appointed Director of Opportunity and Achievement, Dr. Michael Garcia, the numbers had increased to 50%, “which is a huge bump,” said Doxey. Then COVID hit and the numbers started sliding all across the country. “Arizona is 49th in FAFSA completion in the country and has been for a very long time,” she explained. “So, when we were seeing numbers trend up by 3%-5% statewide pre-pandemic, we were really excited. Then with COVID, everything flattened out or decreased.” When schools closed to in-person classes, students weren’t able to get help from their counselors or attend workshops at the schools, so the educational partnership decided to build a computer lab outside. “It’s not easy, just for the record,” said Doxey. “It’s a huge lift, but it’s what kids needed. It was what families needed.” Although there is no tracking data on how many applications were completed as a result of the Drive-Up events, Doxey stated that one of the partners has encouraged the group to, “keep doing FAFSA Drive-Ups, because every time you do, we bump up, like, 2% as a state.” ■

Contact Paul Maryniak at 480-898-5647 or pmaryniak@timespublications.com

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NEWS

THE MESA TRIBUNE | JANUARY 16, 2022

Adult learning program ramping up for spring TRIBUNE NEWS STAFF

etirees and other adults looking to expand their intellectual, cultural or social horizons will have a chance will have a chance to begin exploring some options virtually this week. New Frontiers for Lifelong Learning, an adult non-credit educational program of Mesa Community College, has released its spring schedule for courses

starting Feb. 7 and registration begins online Jan. 24. To help potential students through the array of courses, New Frontiers will host a virtual open house at 10 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 19, at newfrontiers. mesacc.edu. For an annual $60 tuition, people can enroll as non-credit students of MCC and participate in as many New Frontiers courses or activities they want. Those courses include online and in-

person classes, social activities and offsite field trips. to local sites. The spring schedule offers 70 courses with a topics on history, social sciences, discussion, literature, nature, travel, technology, arts, finance and health. Others involve fun gatherings. Hiking, walking, and cycling groups also are provided a mailed copy can be obtained by calling 480-461-7497. Only fully vaccinated people who are

comfortable being in gatherings are advised to participate in the in-person classes. Members who wish to participate in online classes but have computer issues should contact the New Frontiers office as there are some donated computers with cameras and microphones than can be loaned to members. Information: gmail.com. ■

SuzanneBrownpt@

Mesa food truck park showdown looms Feb. 7 BY GARY NELSON Tribune Correspondent

he final salvos in a long-running battle over a northeast Mesa food truck park will be fired on Feb. 7 – maybe. City Council agreed on Jan. 10 to hold a public hearing and final vote on the matter at its first meeting in February. But Council also promised neighbors who oppose the project that no vote on the rezoning request will be held if key documents are not ready in time. Those documents are a development agreement between Mesa and the developers and a “good neighbor” policy wherein the owners of the facility would agree to mitigate the effects of their operation. The development agreement would be enforceable by the city, which presumably could shut the operation down in the face of violations. That both documents are under development did not stop a cadre of neighbors from registering their opposition during the Jan. 10 Council meeting. Two of the neighbors’ spokesmen – David Sloan and Ted Sparks – cited a long list of complaints about the operation that has sprung up on the west end of their neighborhood northeast of Power and Brown roads. Sparks decried the “invasion and chaos caused by the ongoing unauthorized food truck operation.” But he said the neighbors’ complaints are not about food trucks per se. “It is about preserving the integrity and nature of our neighborhood.” He said the neighborhood first galva-

Homeowners near the controversial and popular East Mesa food truck park say the operators already have shown they do not deserve city permits. (Tribune file photo) nized in opposition to a proposed selfstorage facility on the corner of Power Road and Halifax Avenue, eventually winning a two-year fight to stop the project. But, he said, when the property owners proposed an office park on that corner, neighbors were supportive. That project never came to fruition. Sparks said the owners of the property “have a terrible history with their malicious actions toward our neighborhood, including removing a line of eucalyptus trees that had completely shielded a neighbor visually from Power Road just because a survey showed the trees and their irrigation to be on the food truck property. This was done in one day with-

out notice to the neighbor.” He cited concerns about lighting and traffic, and said the owners have a practice of dumping liquid waste from their own food truck onto neighborhood streets. “We have witnessed them doing this maybe 15, 20 times,” Sparks said, adding that neighbors have photographic evidence of illegal dumping. After citing other alleged violations, he said, “There is no apparent reason to reward this behavior with special treatment they have done nothing to earn.” Sloan, who lives immediately east of the food truck park, said the food truck park already does not have enough parking and that as business grows the problem

will get worse. That, he said, is going to spill into neighborhood streets. “They graded that property illegally, without a permit,” he said. “They were red-tagged by the city of Mesa. They violated the stop-work order and just went ahead and finished the grading.” Further, he said, the owners have not followed through on a promise to move the food trucks farther north, away from homes. “They said they would move the generators away from the fence line. Last week I had generators 5 feet from my fence,” he said. And he said, the owners put a DJ booth 25 feet from his bedroom window. He said the owners’ actions to date make it questionable whether a “good neighbor policy” would mean anything in practice. After Sloan and Sparks spoke, Mayor John Giles closed the door on further comments because Council was not actually deciding on the merits of the case that night. Sean Lake, a zoning attorney representing the applicants, was in the audience and did not get to rebut the neighbors’ comments. District 5 Councilman David Luna, who represents the neighborhood, cast the sole vote against putting the item on the Feb. 7 agenda. Seventy-four neighbors have signed petitions in opposition to the rezoning request. The battle has raged through City Hall meetings of the Board of Adjustment and the Planning and Zoning Board. It also has attracted the attention of several state legislators who assert that Mesa would be overstepping its bounds if it prevented the “park” from continuing to operate. ■

THE MESA TRIBUNE | JANUARY 16, 2022

For some, committing to four years in the classroom just isn’t an option. That’s why Mesa Community College offers a number of flexible, short-term career programs designed to land you a good job with a good paycheck to match. ¾ Undergraduate research ¾ Assistance with paying for college ¾ Easy university transfer pathways ¾ In person, online and hybrid small class formats

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The Maricopa County Community College District (MCCCD) is an EEO/AA institution and an equal opportunity employer of protected veterans and individuals with disabilities. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, or national origin. A lack of English language skills will not be a barrier to admission and participation in the career and technical education programs of the District. The Maricopa County Community College District does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability or age in its programs or activities. For Title IX/504 concerns, call the following number to reach the appointed coordinator: (480) 731-8499. For additional information, as well as a listing of all coordinators within the Maricopa College system, visit http://www.maricopa.edu/non-discrimination.

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NEWS

VIRUS from page 1

pandemic began in March 2020 in Mesa with 1,647 cases per 100,000 people and new positive test results at 41.35%. Those figures represent a five-fold increase in cases and more than twice the positivity rate from the previous week. Similar levels were reported in all East Valley districts and cities. MPS’ dashboard of active COVID-19 cases among staff and students also reflected the virus surge. It showed that among the total staff-student population of 65,819, the disease had been contracted by 779 students and 317 adults. Dobson and Red Mountain high schools High by far had the highest numbers, with each reporting 57 affected students and 17 adults. At the same time, only about half of all eligible Mesa residents ages have received at least one dose of a COVID vaccine, other county health department data show. Most of MPS’ neighboring districts maintained an optional-mask policy, though the three Tempe districts have made masks mandatory since the fall. Mesa’s selective mask mandate policy

DIGITAL from page 1

“The risk is that an entire subsection of America’s youth will be left behind, unable to move forward academically,” it added. The Forbes report said that while 87 percent of American families have an internet-enabled device, that still leaves more than one in 10 students without one. And even if they have, say, a smart phone, many students can’t connect without reliable high-speed wireless at home. The problem worsens as income decreases. A study by the Oklahoma State University Extension in August 2020 reported that only 62 percent of households making less than $20,000 had an internet connection, compared to more than 95 percent of households making more than $75,000. Without internet access, students can’t do web-based research, connect with teachers or classmates, or get online homework help. The contract approved by the Mesa City Council seeks to address that problem for about 2,100 students living in council districts 1, 3 and 4, which cover the west side and the city’s struggling inner-city neighborhoods. Mesa Public Schools is cooperating with

THE MESA TRIBUNE | JANUARY 16, 2022

not only defuses much of the public rancor from mask opponents that has beset those Tempe districts but also keeps schools open at a time when Gov. Doug Ducey ratcheted up his determination to force classrooms to remain open. Ducey last week said he is offering cash to parents to send their kids to private or parochial schools if a school or even a classroom shuts down for even one day. In what his office describes as “preemptive action,’’ Ducey announced an Open for Learning Recovery Benefit program to provide up to $7,000 for parents who face “financial and educational barriers due to unexpected school closures.’’ It can be used for things like child care and online tutoring. But the cash, taken from federal COVIDrelief programs, also can be used for tuition so parents can send their youngster to a private school, covering what gubernatorial press aide C.J. Karamargin said are “any charges from the school: tuition, books, uniforms if required.’’ The new $10 million program is a variant of one announced by Ducey last year to give what amounted to $7,000 vouchers for

the program. The contract was obtained through the Houston-Galveston Area Council, a cooperative purchasing arrangement that uses Motorola technology. City staffers told Council in a report that it’s unlikely better pricing could be found elsewhere, so the city did not seek competitive bids. Discounts associated with the cooperative contract knocked $728,000 off the price. “The City evaluated multiple solution proposals for this service and found the solution utilizing Motorola Solutions to best meet the needs of the City,” the staff report stated. “This choice will allow flexibility to use infrastructure of both the City and MPS and allow the schools and the City to also use the same cellular network for public safety and other municipal needs under the Mesa Smart City program ensuring longevity of the infrastructure investment. An evaluation committee from Department of Innovation and Technology unanimously agreed on the recommendation. The project includes construction of 21 cellular radio towers. The targeted students will receive Internet-connected devices, support services and training. The contract includes five years of main-

private schools to parents who want to pull their child out of a school solely because it has a mask mandate. Ducey also divided up $163 million in federal aid that is under his control to districts that do not require students and staff to wear face coverings. Both of those actions came under fire last Friday by U.S. Treasury, which demanded Ducey return over $170 million in federal pandemic relief money for threatening schools. Karamargin said the idea of this new program is not necessarily to give out more money. “It’s that parents have options,’’ he said. But there is a message there. “That the closing of schools should not be an option,’’ he said. Like many districts, Mesa Public Schools has been hit hard by the virus in other ways, especially when it comes to absences among staff. Superintendent Dr. Andi Fourlis told the board last week the district is “holding things together with baling wire and duct tape.” The biggest difficulty involves finding

tenance services. Money for the project comes from the city’s third round of federal COVID-19 recovery funds under the Biden administration’s American Rescue Plan Act. The first two rounds came during the final year of the Trump administration. Gov. Doug Ducey a year ago announced a $100 million commitment to expand highspeed broadband to underserved areas of the state. The money, which the Ducey administration called “one of the single largest broadband investments in state history, also comes from the American Rescue Plan Act. Ducey’s program provides up to $5 million grants to both uban and rural applicants in Maricopa and Pima counties and up to $10 million in the rest of Arizona’s counties. No awards have yet been made since the deadline for applying is the end of this month. Mesa City Council’s action is not the first time it has tried to help underprivileged families have better access to technology. In June 2020, Council authorized $7 million from its earlier COVID-relief money to buy 9,500 laptops for elementary school children. Also on Jan. 10, the City Council hired Willmeng Construction to build a police

substitute teachers. Early last week, she said, substitutes were able to cover 235 classes for teachers who called out sick but the district had no substitutes to cover for 130 other absentees. She said 141 classified staff have signed on to fill in as subs and that other tTeachers are taking classes in lieu of their prep time. The district in some instances also is doubling class sizes to make sure students had a teacher . Fourlis called the situation "“All hands on deck.” Other districts in the past week were holding classes in cafeterias under the watchful eye of security and other personnel because there were no subs to fill in for absent teachers. Chandler Unified’s superintendent and other top administrators were prepared to fill in, but said that an urgent call for substitute applicants – along with a boost in daily pay from $115 to $145 – drew more than 100 new applicants. Capitol Media Services writer Howard Fischer and Tribune staffer Dana Trumbull contribiuted to this report .■ evidence storage facility next to downtown police headquarters. Mesa voters approved the project in a 2018 bond election. No cost estimate for the evidence building was provided, but the bond election provided $35 million for both the evidence facility and for a northeast Mesa police substation. The initial contract will pay Willmeng $140,055 for pre-construction work including design, the preparation of cost estimates, and planning the sequence of construction. Willmeng was chosen from among four companies that submitted statements of qualification for the project. Mesa believes the facility is needed because evidence storage is scattered across all three floors of police headquarters. It is expected to accommodate the city’s needs through 2050. “The new facility is approximately 37,500 square feet and will accommodate police evidence staff operations, space for a supply warehouse, evidence intake and processing, general/bulk/long term storage, associated office staff spaces, drug storage and disposal processing, valuables storage and disposal processing, a secured public lobby, and spaces for future police evidence freezers and coolers,” a city staff report said. ■

THE MESA TRIBUNE | JANUARY 16, 2022

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NEWS

THE MESA TRIBUNE | JANUARY 16, 2022

Election changes, water are high on Legislature’s mind BY HOWARD FISCHER Capitol Media Services

awmakers returned to the Capitol last week with a full agenda of things they want, ranging from reenacting what the Supreme Court voided to deciding what to do about previously approved tax cuts that are subject to voter repeal. Gov. Doug Ducey opened the session by pitching a request for: $1 billion to help secure a lasting and secure supply of water; funds to accelerate the widening the last stretch of I-10 between Chandler and Casa Grande that is now just two lanes in each direction; and additional state dollars to families that take in relatives who otherwise would wind up in foster care. The biggest fights may be over how much to alter state election laws. And at least some of the proposals stem from the continued charges that the 2020 election was stolen from Donald Trump despite numerous lawsuits and audits that have shown those claims have no basis in fact. A few of what lawmakers are expected to debate could be considered relatively innocuous, at least on the surface. For example, Sen. Wendy Rogers, RFlagstaff, proposes to make the dates of the primary and general elections a state holiday. That would mean a day off for public workers. Rogers would also set up a new Bureau of Elections within the governor’s office to investigate any allegations of fraud in any state, county or local election. That new $5 million agency would have the power to not only subpoena individuals but also get a court order to impound election equipment and records. It would issue public reports but would be unable on its own to bring criminal charges.

Cleaner Air

Gov. Doug Ducey last week gave his final State of the State address as he opened the 2022 legislative session (Howard Fischer/Capitol Media Services) Arizona already uses paper ballots. But they are tallied by machines. House Speaker Rusty Bowers, R-Mesa, brushed aside calls to have ballots counted entirely by hand as impractical. “If we’ve got seven months to wait for an election, then count away,’’ he said. “Most people want it in a relatively short amount of time. And that’s what I’m interested in delivering.” Ducey and Arizona lawmakers appear finally ready to act on a more permanent solution to the fact that it’s hotter and dryer and there just isn’t enough water to sustain the state’s growth. And that could involve not only the state spending far more money than it has before but some creative solutions, ranging

Sustainable Water Supplies

from piping and treating salt water from the Sea of Cortez to what is commonly known as “toilet to tap.’’ The consensus comes as prior efforts to stabilize Arizona’s water supply have come up short – by a lot. Facing a diminished supply of Colorado River water, lawmakers in 2019 adopted a “drought contingency plan’’ requiring Arizona and other states in the lower Colorado River basin to reduce the amount of water being taken from the river in an attempt to restore the level of Lake Mead to 1,090 feet. Even Ducey conceded at the time that was just a temporary solution, designed to preclude further cuts until 2026, by which time there would be new plans.

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As of this past week, however, the lake had dropped to less than 1,070 feet. That’s less than 200 feet above the point at which no water would pass through Hoover Dam, cutting off not just that supply but also the electricity the dam generates. Arizona has enacted some other shortterm fixes, like renting the river allocations that belong to Arizona tribes, convincing them not to use their Colorado River allocations to keep Lake Mead from dropping any further. That included a $30 million infusion just this past October, on top of $40 million already provided to the Department of Water Resources for the same purpose. But as hot temperatures and dry conditions continue, further action will be necessary. “You can expect some big things on water,’’ Ducey told Capitol Media Services. House Speaker Rusty Bowers, R-Mesa, said he envisions something more than the stop-gap measures of the past. “Water is the determiner of growth in Arizona,’’ he said. At the very least, what a new supply would do, said Bowers, is protect rural Arizona. He noted that some urban communities are looking around for water supplies elsewhere as they seek to continue to grow. “I don’t want to empty every aquifer in Arizona to build the central three counties and then not have anything,’’ Bowers said. More to the point, the House speaker said the state needs a really long-term solution. “I’m looking at more than 100 years,’’ he said. And that means tapping a source that is going to be around and available for that long. “The biggest body of water, while it is controlled by Mother Nature, at least it’s a

see LEGISLATURE page 9

NEWS

THE MESA TRIBUNE | JANUARY 16, 2022

Bill would stop HOAs from requiring real grass BY HOWARD FISCHER Capitol Media Services

ep. John Kavanagh is in a turf war. Over turf. The Scottsdale Republican has proposed a state law to override any rules of a homeowner association that require lawns seeded with real grass and would permit residents to tear all that out and replace it with artificial turf. And any dispute would be resolved in court. His HB 2131 may get a fight from the Arizona Association of Community Managers, the organization that represents companies that manage HOAs. But an association spokesman said Wednesday it was still studying the issue and had no immediate comment. Kavanagh said there are times that state lawmakers need to intercede on behalf of individual homeowners whose preferences are being blocked for what he believes is not a good reason. And in this case, he told Capitol Media Services, such anti-turf rules actually are bad policies. “Artificial grass is often superior and looks better than real grass,’’ Kavanagh said. What’s also important, he said, is that artificial grass doesn’t need to be watered, something that is crucial during the middle of a drought.

LEGISLATURE from page 8

slower impact, is the ocean,’’ Bowers said. “And so, desalinization is a huge part of our future.’’ Tom Buschatzke, head of the Department of Water Resources, has said the price tag could be perhaps $2,500 an acrefoot, about 0.7 cents per gallon. And even if the political issues of international water transfer could be resolved, he said that kind of project is seven to 10 years away. Bowers said he is prepared to introduce legislation to allocate “a substantive amount of money.’’ How much? “Much bigger than anything I’ve ever asked for,’’ he said, declining right now to put a dollar figure on it. Agriculture uses 75% of all the water in the state. Senate President Karen Fann, R-Prescott,

“So it’s unreasonable for these HOAs to prohibit it,’’ Kavanagh said. Anyway, he said, artificial turf can look better than a poorly maintained natural laws. There would be some limits on what homeowners would be allowed to do. Under his legislation, HOA would be allowed to adopt “reasonable rules’’ about the installation and appearance of artificial grass. But Kavanagh said these could not be so restrictive as to preclude its installation entirely. And it would permit an HOA to reject or require the removal of any artificial turf that “creates a health or safety issue that the member does not correct.’’ Kavanagh does not dispute that home buyers are made aware if a community is under the control of an HOA. But he said that in many places it is difficult to find a new development that does not have one. “Many people are forced into HOAs and never imagined that a rogue board would abuse their power by imposing ridiculous restrictions on them,’’ Kavanagh said. “Somebody has to respect the homeowner.’’ Nor was he dissuaded by the fact that members of HOA boards are elected and can be replaced when their terms are up -just like legislators -- saying that many residents don’t pay attention to those votes or that there are restrictions on campaigning. The fight over artificial turf is the lat-

said she doesn’t want to impair the industry. But she said there needs to be a recognition that may not be sustainable. A starting point, said Fann, are the current practices of flood irrigation: opening up a canal gate and letting the water run onto the property. That, she said, no longer makes sense. She wants to look at using some of the state’s surplus to provide grants to farmers to convert to drip irrigation. Fann said test projects on two 500-acre parcels show that water use can be cut by 25% without harming crops. That leads to the other key option: If there isn’t a new supply and if conservation efforts don’t work, then it comes down to better using what the state already has. Put another way, today’s sewage becomes tomorrow’s drinking water. Buschatzke acknowledged the “ick factor’’ that may conjure up. So it comes

And the list has been expanded to allow homeowners to add the Gadsden flag, that yellow flag with the drawing of a coiled rattlesnake and the phrase “Don’t Tread on Me.’’ Backers said it simply recognizes State Rep. John Kavanagh, R-Scottsdale, shot the breeze with Gov. Doug the historiDucey prior to a Jan.7 legislative forecast luncheon hosted by the Arizona cal role of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Capitol Media Services) flag during the American est squabble in what has been a series of Revolution. But it also has most recently disputes between individual homeowners become a symbol of revolt against federal and their HOAs that have been adjudicat- government authority. ed at the state capitol. And there are new battles to be fought, One long-term -- and ongoing -- battle including Kavanagh’s HB 2010 adding any concerns what flags homeowners can fly. “first responder’’ flag to the list. Lawmakers have repeatedly forced Lawmakers also have interceded to limit HOAs to allow an increasing number of the ability of HOAs to keep out politicians banners. and their campaign materials. And they What started out as permission for fed- have curbed regulations that limit certain eral and state flags now includes the flags off-street parking. of any branch of the service. Also permitNo date has been set for a hearing on the ted is displaying the POW/MIA flag. measure. ■

down to rebranding. “We don’t call it ‘toilet to tap,’ ‘’ he said. “We call it ‘direct potable reuse.’ ‘’ Bowers said it comes down to convincing people that this is not something unusual. “We do it now,’’ he said. “We stick toilet water, A-plus water, in the ground at Granite Reef Underground Storage Project and pull it out in Tempe,’’ Bowers said. “I mean, it’s the same water.’’ What happens in between, he said, is a chemical and physical reaction. “There’s stuff in the ground that eats bad stuff,’’ Bowers said. And he said it’s no different whether you use a natural filter like the earth or one that’s made by humans. In fact, he noted, it’s how the astronauts keep their water supply. Buschatzke said there is a plan for Arizona and Nevada to pay California to start using its own sewage, now dumped into the Pacific Ocean, for drinking water. In

turn, California would leave more of its allocation in the Colorado River, helping to stabilize the level of Lake Mead. There are other water-related issues for lawmakers to consider, like forcing those in rural areas to actually monitor and report how much they are pumping out of the ground. That, in turn, leads to another controversial issue: Out-of-state and foreign interests effectively exporting Arizona water. That most visibly has taken the form of a Saudi Arabian dairy buying a farm and pumping water to grow alfalfa which is then exported to feed cows in that country. But Bowers said it would be wrong to think of that as somehow stealing Arizona’s water. He said it’s no different than farmers here growing cotton to be exported to the rest of the country. Or, looking at it another way, Arizonans eating tomatoes that were grown with water from Mexico. ■

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THE MESA TRIBUNE | JANUARY 16, 2022

EV strip mall king sells 5 centers for $32M BY KEN SAIN Tribune Staff Writer

ommercial real estate baron Michael Pollack is reaping the benefits of one of the best markets in 15 years. His Mesa company, Michael A. Pollack Real Estate Investments, sold five of his Valley shopping centers for more than $32 million. “It has been very good for us for the last three years,” said Pollack, one of the largest commercial real estate owners in the Valley. “Anyone who wants to sell right now, it’s a sellers market, just like it is for anyone looking to sell a home.” Pollack sold retail centers in Mesa, Peoria, Phoenix and Tempe. He said they worked hard to wrap up all five transactions before 2021 ended because he is uncertain what the federal government might do this year with the capital gains tax rate. “Hopefully, the federal government doesn’t do something irrational,” he said. Pollack said he’s been working for more than a decade to make sure his retail centers continue to thrive in a changing marketplace. He called them “Amazon-resistant,” saying they have focused on businesses that offer experiences or services.

Michael Pollack, seen here in his recently renovated Pollack Tempe Cinemas, sold five of his shopping centers last year. (David Minton/Tribune Staff Photographer) “You can’t get a haircut at Amazon,” he said. Pollack said they will look to buy more retail centers but, considering how hot the market is right now, they might wait. “It’s a little too hot to be a buyer,” he said. “We would love to put capital out right now, but we’re also realists. It’s a very hot market, not just in sales but the leasing side is on fire like I haven’t seen since 2006.” He said 2006 was the peak before this current market. Pollack said he currently

has occupancy rates in the high 90 to 100 percent. He’s even had some of his tenants ask about a wait list for any openings he has. “I haven’t seen it this way in a long time,” he said. Pollack said his strong numbers shows there is still space for retail centers despite the growth of online shopping. He said the biggest trouble facing retail today is not Amazon, it’s the inability to find workers. He said he knows of businesses looking to expand, but they can’t because they

prehensive measure which gives cities and counties some control over issues like noise and other violations. He said that should help address the perennial complaints of “party houses’’ popping up in residential areas. But Blackman said those efforts fall short of what is needed to ensure that homes in neighborhoods are not turned into de facto hotels. The measure was sold to lawmakers as allowing individuals to rent out a spare room to make a bit of extra cash. In fact, that’s how Airbnb got its names, the idea being an air mattress set up for a guest. “For thousands of hardworking citizens, opening up their homes to out-of-state guests provides the financial breathing room they need to provide for the family or enjoy extra expenses that they otherwise couldn’t afford,’’ Ducey said in signing the bill. But the reality turned out to be some-

thing quite different. In some communities, homes and apartments in entire areas have been bought up by investors to be converted into these short-term rentals, drying up the availability of affordable housing for local residents and converting whole areas into vacation rental zones -- possibilities that Ducey dismissed in 2016 as “hypotheticals.’’ By 2019, however, the governor conceded there were “some unintended consequences’’ in the law. That resulted in some amendments allowing cities to issue some public safety regulations, like requiring owners to provide a contact for who could respond to complaints and prohibiting rentals from being used for special events like weddings. Blackman said these are local issues and none of the business of state lawmakers. Mesnard, however, sees the question from a different perspective.

can’t find the workers. The retail centers he sold are Trailside Center and Lindsay Marketplace in Mesa; Tower Plaza in Phoenix; Olive Plaza in Peoria; and Apache Central Center in Tempe. Pollack said his company follows the same model. They look for retail centers that have an issue, such as poor occupancy, tenant issues or just needs major remodeling. Those centers usually come with a discount. They then invest in the centers and fix whatever issues they have. The Tempe property, Apache Central Center, was sold to the City of Tempe for $10.6 million. He said the city plans to redevelop it into a mixed-use center that has retail on the ground level and housing for working class and low-income residents above. Lindsay Marketplace went for the highest amount, $11.2 million. Pollack’s company had owned it since 1993. He owned the other Mesa and Phoenix properties for nearly 30 years. His company bought the Peoria property in 2003. “This business is ever evolving, ever changing” Pollack said. “Anyone who thinks it’s easy, that you can buy a center and lease it out to the local T-shirt shop, well, they won’t be in it for long. You have to a have a specialty, you have to do a niche.” ■

Legislative fight brewing over short-term rentals BY HOWARD FISCHER Capitol Media Services

ome Republican lawmakers want to revisit and repeal the 2016 measure that stripped local governments of their ability to regulate short-term and vacation rentals but Chandler Sen. J.D. Mesnard wants a less radical measure. Rep. Walt Blackman of Snowflake said the legislation pushed by Airbnb and its other companies and supported by Gov. Doug Ducey has had a serious negative effect on neighborhoods. He has introduced HB 2069 to put the law back the way it was before. Sen. Wendy Rogers of Flagstaff has identical legislation in SB 1026. The move will get a fight – and not only from the companies that benefit from being clearinghouses for people to rent out everything from individual rooms to entire homes. Mesnard plans to introduce a less-com-

First, he said, it will create “a mish-mash of regulations’’ among cities. And, he said, leaving these decisions to mayors and council members will “trample on property rights,’’ meaning the ability of individuals to use their homes in a way they want and make money by renting them out. Blackman said the property rights that are at issue here are those of the people living in the neighborhood, which is why these questions are best handled by local officials. Mesnard said he sees the big complaint being those “party houses.’’ And he said there are ways to address that. Last year, for example, he proposed allowing communities to impose fines on owners who fail to provide information for police and others to contact them if there are problems with the tenants. The measure also would have let cities mandate

see RENTALS page 12

••

NEWS

THE MESA TRIBUNE | JANUARY 16, 2022

Valley inflation rate exceeds national average BY EMILY SACIA Cronkite News

onsumer prices rose by an average of 7% in U.S. cities last year, the steepest rise in decades, and they grew even faster in the Phoenix metro area, according to new data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The bureau reported last week that the consumer price index for the PhoenixMesa-Scottsdale area rose 9.7%, driven by surging prices for gas and transportation and increasing demand for housing. Some experts think a labor shortage propelled by COVID-19 will lead to a continuing rise in inflation. “Americans and Arizonans are seeing rising prices across the board, whether it’s in the grocery aisle or at the gas station,” said Garrick Taylor, a spokesperson for the Arizona Chamber of Commerce and Industry. “They are spending more of their money for essentials, and their dollars aren’t going as far.” The 12-month rise in consumer prices was the highest in almost 40 years, according to BLS, which said it was only exceeded by the 7.1% increase posted in June 1982. Inflation slowed in December from pre-

RENTAL from page 11

minimum liability insurance. Potentially more significant, it would have meant an owner would lose a state license to do business following three violations of local ordinances within three months, violations that could include noise or nuisance complaints. It failed. “It feels like that issue of party houses is

vious months, according to the BLS report. It said consumer prices rose 0.9% in October and 0.8% in November, but just 0.5% in December. The report is an average of consumer price increases in urban areas across the nation, which the BLS says represents about 93% of all U.S. consumers. Nationwide, it said the increase in consumer prices over the year was driven by soaring costs for gasoline and other fuels, and higher prices for used cars, vehicle rentals and durable goods. But the increases also hit everything from some types of food to housing and clothing costs. Health care costs were relatively stable in 2021 and the cost of health insurance actually fell 1.2% over the year, according to the report. The Phoenix-area increase trailed only Atlanta, which saw a 9.8% rise in 2021. Experts said the increases in Arizona were heavily impacted by a sharp rise in housing and fuel prices. “We do a little better than the nation on a few other items,” said Dennis Hoffman, the director of the Seidman Research Institute and professor of economics at Arizona State University. “But we do substantially worse on shelter, or housing, and gasoline and the reason for that is pretty well known

being used to try to do more than just address party houses,’’ Mesnard said. And he said he would be open to further tweaks in the future to maintain that balance between the rights of individual property owners and the neighbors. “But they want to take a sledge hammer to the thing,’’ Mesnard said, rescinding all limits on what cities can and cannot forbid. “I’m not going to support that.’’ The problem is not limited to party

– we’ve got a tremendous housing shortage in the greater Phoenix metro area.” Some of the changes are relative: Hoffman notes that Arizona has had lower-than-average gasoline prices until a few years ago and that inflation in December 2020 was unusually low because of the pandemic. “People hadn’t come out of their rabbit holes yet,” Hoffman said of 2020. “Now, people are out and about and they’re trying to drive, and they’re trying to buy homes and it’s driving prices up.” That rising demand for goods comes as consumers face shortages due to national supply chain disruptions, which are also helping drive up prices. “Until that gets resolved, inflation is going to be a problem,” said Elliott Pollack, CEO of Elliott D Pollack & Co. in Scottsdale. “It’s too much money chasing too few goods.” Pollack said that, in addition to surging gas prices and the increased demand for housing, the growing demand for recreational services in Arizona has fueled inflation, as the state’s tourism industry is in full swing. The October-to-May tourist season means more dining out, at a time when restaurants and hospitality workers are in limited supply because of the coronavirus pandemic.

houses. During hearings last year there was testimony about investors creating de facto hotels in residential neighborhoods, dividing up homes into multiple rooms being rented out by the night. And then there’s the question of drying up the supply of affordable housing. There have been estimates that up to 40% of residential properties in tourist destinations like Sedona are now vacation rentals.

Taylor noted that the state’s minimum wage rose on Jan. 1 from $12.15 to $12.80 an hour, the sixth consecutive year the state has raised the hourly minimum. “It’s a double whammy for employers looking to bring on entry-level employees when they’re dealing already with high labor costs, and now they’re dealing with the effects of the government wage mandate,” Taylor said. Pollack said that pandemic-related payments have reduced incentives for people to work at a time when others are retiring early or delaying a return to work. That labor shortage, combined with rising labor costs, will continue to cause a steady rise in inflation for some time to come, he said. “Most people think it’s going to be transitory. I believe this is transitory. But I believe it depends how you define transitory,” Pollack said. “Transitory in this case is not six months, transient transitory is going to take a while.” But Hoffman said he expects inflation to return to more normal levels in the near future, as wholesale gasoline prices “come down a bit” and the hot Arizona housing market starts to cool. “I think we’re going to have inflation in the next quarter or so, and then prices will moderate,” he said. ■

And Rep. John Kavanagh, R-Fountain Hills, who voted against the 2016 law, said it also is happening in places like Scottsdale. Unsurprisingly, Airbnb is opposed to what Blackman and Rogers want and instead supports the more limited restrictions in the Mesnard bill, arguing that anything more would harm the tourism economy. No date has been set for a hearing on any of the proposals. ■

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THE MESA TRIBUNE | JANUARY 16, 2022

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EV female mountain bikers group rolling on BY MELODY BIRKETT Tribune Contributor

few years ago, Tiana Riccardi and Robin Lamb saw a need for a mountain biker group for girls and women only. The Mesa women already belonged to Hawesaholics, a group with more than 3,000 male and female mountain bikers of all ages and experience levels that Shawn Stenmark started in the name of Hawes Mountain, a popular haunt. So it was only logical to Riccardi and Lamb to start a spin-off group, Hawesaholics Babes Ride On so that girls and women would feel more comfortable in what has been a male-dominated activity. “I started riding 2 1/2 years ago and that’s when I met Tiana who was looking for other women to ride with more frequently,” said Lamb. “We went on a ride

Among the leaders of Hawesaholics Babes Ride On are, from left, co-founder Robin Lamb, beginners’ class instructor Gina Dwyer and co-founder Tiana Ricciardi , all of Mesa. (Special

to the Tribune)

with four girls,” added Lamb. “Afterwards, Tiana said, ‘We should start a Facebook

messenger group’ on the Hawesaholics Facebook page, people would post rides

such as, ‘I’m going to ride at this trail, at this pace, on this day. Let us know if anyone wants to come.’” “We had 50-100 members right away,” Lamb said, adding that HBRO now has almost 500 members. “It’s not meant to take away from Hawesaholics. They do a ton of stuff every year such as group rides, rides for beginners, kids and families.” Like the larger group, HBRO started posting events with the first one being a ladies’ night. “It was so much fun,” explained Lamb. “And it was crazy. Crazy in the sense that beginners showed up along with other girls who were total rock stars. People who can throw 50-foot jumps off of things that are fast and aggressive – really talented riders who’ve been doing it for a lot longer. All of them were having a good

see BIKERS page 15

ASU awards special MLK honor to professor BY PAUL MARYNIAK Tribune Executive Editor

t’s been 53 years since the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated and the societal change he fought and prayed for seems as much a dream now as it did in 1969. But as his birthday is commemorated Monday, the countless individuals who have continued his legacy haven’t given up his fight – people like Dr. Neal Lester. Lester, Foundation Professor of English at Arizona State University and founder director of its Project Humanities, will be recognized for his work Jan. 20 as the first recipient of ASU’s new MLK Jr. Faculty Servant-Leadership Award. As ASU noted in announcing the award, “Lester’s work not only connects communities, but gives a voice to those who feel marginalized.” He told ASU he was gratified and humbled by the award, which was an-

nounced late last year in what was a big 10th anniversary year for his Project Humanities, whose mission is to “bring together individuals and communities, within and around Arizona State University, to instill passion and knowledge of humanities study, research, and humanist thought. “By exploring shared ideas and experiences, Project Humanities facilitates conversations across diverse communities to build understanding through talking, listening, and connecting.” In 2021, Project Humanities received the MLK Diversity Award in Education from the City of Tempe in January and the ASU Committee for Campus Inclusion Catalyst Award for “inspiring and igniting transformation and inclusion.” The culminating anniversary event was a conversation between Lester and King’s daughter, Dr. Bernice A. King, about her family’s legacy and her and the King Center’s global effort for non-

violent social change. “This all feels cosmically connected,” Lester told ASU. Lester has been as busy as the cosmos in making connections as he strives to apply the principles that Project Humanities terms “Humanity 101”:  compassion, integrity, respect, kindness, forgiveness, empathy and self-reflection. Those principles, he said, “challenge us to do better and be better people.” Lester has built a wide variety of programs and activities around his conviction that “culture and difference must be acknowledged, valued and celebrated as elements of our shared humanity.” “While I get great joy witnessing my students’ “aha!” moments in class…I experience another level of joy when – sometimes years later – they express to me that they see connections between

see LESTER page 16

Dr. Neal Lester will receive Arizona State University’s inaugural Martin Luther King Jr. Faculty Servant-Leadership Award as part of the annual MLK Jr. celebration by the university, where he has been Foundation Professor of English since 1997. (Courtesy ASU)

COMMUNITY

THE MESA TRIBUNE | JANUARY 16, 2022

BIKERS from page 14

time and super excited to be there.” “That’s what ended up being so fun about our group is that we’ve seen people come out of the woodwork and be excited to make new girlfriends they can ride with. They still ride with the guys and enjoy doing that but it’s also fun to have girl time and girl camaraderie that comes through the group.” Because most of the “Babes” live in the East Valley, Hawes Mountain and the Hawes Trail System were immediate biking grounds “Most of us in the East Valley ride a fair amount of Hawes, a fair amount of Usery, depending on what kind of trails we like,” said Lamb. But over time, they have widened the scope of their jaunts. “South Mountain or SoMo and Gold Canyon are other frequent places we ride,” Lamb said. “There are a lot of people who like Browns Ranch and McDowell Mountain in Scottsdale. A lot of us like to ride in Sedona, Prescott and the Mongolian Rim in the Payson area… Last spring, we did a big campout overnight trip to Sedona. There are lots of people who’ve gone to parks around the country.” Good physical shape is not a requirement for mountain biking. “I know a ton of people who’ve felt overweight or like they wanted to do something fitness-oriented that was more exciting than sitting on a treadmill at a gym and that was also outdoors,” said Lamb. “Mountain biking fit that niche for them and they just progress.” While being comfortable riding a bike helps, she added, “There are a lot of trails you can start off with that are mild and you can progress from there.” “What’s unique about the sport is you can do what suits your personality and your

The Hawesaholics Babes Ride On members take on all kinds of trails on their various jaunts. (Special to the Tribune)

interests. For instance, some people like long miles and cross-country riding which is going to be a little more flat and flowy riding. You’re not necessarily doing a ton of massive elevation gain. That’s also typically going to be more smooth flowing trails so there are fewer rocks and obstacles.” Lamb said some riders don’t like the long rides or those with steep inclines, noting that Browns Ranch Trail in Scottsdale as well as Usery Regional Mountain Park or some of the areas at McDowell Mountain are fairly mild trails. As for time commitment, short loops take up to one hour while some mountain bikers go on camping trips so they can ride hundreds of miles over several days.

The beginners’ class offers “a super slow pace, between 3-5 miles,” explained Lamb. “We give them an opportunity to get on the trail with other people. And that’s also nice because if something goes wrong with your bike or if you run into a cactus, you have people there to help support you and to work through it.” Gina Dwyer, a mountain biker for more than five years, leads the beginners’ class and said it has grown over the past year. Basically, I take them out once a week on Fridays, September through April, when the weather permits in the mornings,” she said. “We do about an hour ride.” Dwyer also teaches trail etiquette, bike positioning, when to brake, and when to climb.

cast discussions, interviews, hackathons and film screenings. Currently select students are participating in a new Undergraduate Research Ambassador Program that tasks them with a project focused on a specific social justice issue while studying under the mentorship of an Arizona State University faculty member. “Students will present their findings at

an Ambassador Expo event set to occur in June 2022,” Lester said with topics that will include “gender-specific pandemic burnout, decreased African/Latinx enrollment in higher education, refugee mental health on ASU’s campus” and other subjects. Lester also is working on a special 10th Anniversary Viewbook that will showcase “the Humanity 101 principles of compas-

“It’s good to ride with another person for safety reasons,” Dwyer explained. “You can go out on your own. I’ve done that before. But it’s so much better when you have somebody - especially when you’re new — in case something happens like a tire pops or you fall over or you get lost. You’ve got somebody with you. Being a new rider, it’s always good to get in a group.” Hawesaholics Babes Ride On also gives back to the community through various service projects. “There’s a lot of local businesses we try to support,” Lamb said. “We do short, fun track races that are just kind of kickin-the-pants fun. It’s a way for people to interact and have fun and get out and do something healthy at the same time.” “We do little events like toy drives for Christmas,” added Dwyer. “We do trick or trunk. If somebody is sick or hurt in the group, we do meal trains. It’s so much more than just riding. We have girls’ night out. … It’s just a really fun group.” There are also professional events “There are also events professionals do,” said Dwyer. “For example, women can go to a bike shop and learn how to change a tire or learn about their brakes or just their bike in general. We’re just not girls riding, breaking down. We’re fixing our own bikes.” In addition, the group does trail work for the Hawes Alliance. “We work on the mountain bike trails, build them, take care of them including trash pick-up,” Dwyer said. Beginners should be aware of one thing: top-of-the-line mountain bikes can be very expensive at $10,000-$12,000. Lamb said a decent starter costs between $3,000-$4,000. To connect with the group, go to HAWESAHOLICS Babes Ride On through Facebook or Instagram. ■

Project Humanities planning more initiatives AFN NEWS STAFF

r. Neal Lester isn’t resting on any laurels that Project Humanities has garnered in the last 10 years. As the Arizona State University program enters its second decade, Lester is planning initiatives for “talking, listening and connecting” that include but go beyond events, homeless outreach, keynotes, pod-

sion, empathy, forgiveness, integrity, kindness, respect, and self-reflection in action throughout Project Humanities history.” Project Humanities also is working with PBS Indie Lens Pop-Up to present screenings of four films with related panel discussions: Missing in Brooks County, Writing with Fire, Apart, and Try Harder! Information: projecthumanities.asu. edu/events. ■

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COMMUNITY

THE MESA TRIBUNE | JANUARY 16, 2022

East Valley King parade, festival slated tomorrow TRIBUNE NEWS STAFF

esa will mark Martin Luther King Day tomorrow, Jan. 17, with the annual East Valley Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Parade, themed this year “Tomorrow is Today.” The parade will start at 11 a.m. at the intersection of Center Street and MLK Way and travel south on Center Street to First Street, then west on First Street to Robson. The parade includes marching bands, local organizations, community leaders, elected officials, the Mesa Police Department, and the Mesa Fire and Medical Department. Following the parade, a community festival from noon-4 p.m. at Main Street and Macdonald will feature food, vendors and kids activities. People attending the festival are encouraged to donate student and school supplies for Step Up Schools in the donation bins at the event. Step Up Charter School

LESTER from page 14

texts we’ve explored and their own lives, and particularly the world around them,” he told ASU. Often it doesn’t take years. For example, last month a 16-year-old boy who told his family to help him celebrate his birthday by volunteering at the Human Servicers Campus in downtown Phoenix Dec. 11 to participate in Project Humanities’ biweekly Service Saturdays. There, people who are experiencing homelessness have a chance to pick out clothing and hygiene items that Project Humanities volunteers have neatly laid out so that recipients can pick and choose what they want – almost as they would in a department store. Nuanced actions like that make the recipients feel valued as human beings, and, as Lester noted, “so much of homelessness is about people being denied their humanity.” And they reflect Lester’s feelings about “poverty porn” – images, for example, of impoverished people often used by organizations to pull the heart strings of donors so they open their wallets. “While it may be well-intentioned,” Lester said, “it denies other people their dignity and their humanity. …It does nothing to make you see these individuals as hu-

is housed in Mesa’s Washington Park Activity Center and exists primarily for children in need. Two downtown museums will offer half price admission as well: The Arizona Museum of Natural History will open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. while the i.d.e.a. Museum will be open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Residents around the parade route or those joining in on the festivities should plan for the following street closures from 8 a.m.-2 p.m. along Center Street between University Drive and 1st Street, MLK Jr. Way/3rd Place from Centennial Way to Drew Street, Centennial Hall Parking Lot to Drew Street, Robson to Country Club and between 1st and 2nd streets, 1st Street between Centennial Way and Coun-

try Club, Macdonald between 1st and Main streets, Morris, and Pepper Place at Macdonald. Most streets should reopen by 2 p.m. Macdonald, which will be closed between 1st Street and Main Street for the festival, will reopen by 7 p.m. Traffic can detour around the parade route by using Main Street, Mesa Drive, Country Club Drive and University Drive. Mesa’s annual MLK celebrations were created after residents, in 1996, voted to establish a citywide holiday recognizing the leadership of Dr. King. This year’s events are the result of a partnership between City of Mesa and the Mesa-East Valley MLK Committee. For more information on the MLK celebrations, visit mesaaz. This map shows the route of the East Valley Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Parade and the community celebration. (City of Mesa) gov/mlkparade. ■

Dr. Neal Lester surveys clothing items that his Service Saturdays volunteers neatly lay out for people experiencing homelessness at the Human Services Campus in downtown Phoenix. Rather than blindly hand them out, the items are arranged so people can pick and choose their items. (Special to the Tribune) man and worthy of something that feels like quality. You’re always above them and they always need your help. And it brings up something we used to call – we still call – that sort of white savior mentality.” It explains why he bristles when people without a home are referred to as “the homeless” rather than “people who are experiencing homelessness.” “It’s a way of thinking and if you care

about language and you care about people’s humanity and you know something about this population, then you know that it’s not an identity that you’re born into, that homelessness is something that can change, depending on your circumstances,” Lester explained. With part of the nation preparing to reflect on Martin Luther King Jr., it’s only natural to ask Lester if society is more di-

vided or less so today. “I think our society has always been divided,” Lester replied, explaining that what has changed is people’s access to that division through the 24/7 news cycle and “different ways of communicating” – particularly social media.” “We’ve always had sex discrimination. And we’ve always had homophobia. We’ve always had racism,” he said, “and the interesting thing is how technology has allowed us to witness that on multiple sides very quickly.” He refers to his conversations with Bernice King about how some people say her father advocated color-blindness. “Well, that’s not true. There’s nothing in the ‘I Have a Dream’ speech that says we shouldn’t see difference. In fact, he calls difference out. He says there are some people who live in this nation who are not getting the rights that everybody else is getting. And another instance he talks about there’s a group of folks who have the opportunity and those who don’t.” “There is a way in which he did acknowledge difference,” Lester said. “Acknowledging difference doesn’t mean you have to deny people their humanity. So, I think every year, we get an opportunity to renew our commitment to what that dream was. But we got to look at the dream as not sugar-coated.” ■

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State’s first candyland-bar opens in Chandler really well with candies,” Kyle said. “Obviously our dark beers pair really well with chocolate, we have a lot of sour beers that pair well with our gummies and sour candies.” Above all, however, was Kyle and Zabdi wanted a place for families. “We wanted it to be a place where people could take their kids too,” Kyle said. “We have a three-year-old, and he goes with us everywhere. It’s nice to find a place that’s kid friendly.” Information: thesugarbar.co

BY KEN SAIN tribune Staff Writer

abdi Hess said it wasn’t hard coming up with the inspiration for a new kind of tap room. She and her husband Kyle have a three-year-old child. “We wanted something different,” Zabdi said. “There’s lots of tap rooms in the area, but we wanted to stand out, and offer different pairings with candy and beer.” So that’s how she came up with the idea to open The Sugar Bar at Warner and McQueen roads in Chandler. It’s Arizona’s first bar and candy store. It’s a family-friendly place where a couple can bring their children. While they are sampling craft beers, the kids can eat candy or select one of the board games to play. “Outside of downtown Chandler and downtown Gilbert, between them there’s not much in terms of craft beer availability,” Kyle said. “We did our demographic research too, and around here there’s a ton of that 30-to-45 year range, … one or two kids, so that family demographic that we’re looking for.” The Sugar Bar opened in early December and Kyle said they’ve been very happy with the turnout. “It’s been awesome man,” Kyle said. “We’ve been busy pretty much every day. Mondays and Tuesdays are a little slower, per the usual, but every weekend is busy.” Before opening their combination bar and candy shop, Kyle worked in digital marketing and Zabdi was a teacher. They admit changing fields during a pandemic and with a young child was a challenge. “It was definitely a risk, for sure,” Kyle said. “But we felt confident enough in a

Zabdi and Kyle Hess have opened The Sugar Bar at Warner and McQueen roads in Chandler. It’s Arizona’s first bar and candy store. (David Minton/Arizonan Staff Photographer) lot of the research we had done, and the overall market for it.” They began forming the company at the start of 2021, when hopes were high that the vaccine would soon allow people to socialize again. By summer they had selected the location and began getting their shop ready to open. And just a few weeks after the Dec. 2 opening, COVID cases are hitting record highs as the Omicron variant spread. “Everything was looking like it would be OK,” Kyle said. “Obviously, that’s taken a weird turn.” Patrons can bring their own food to The Sugar Bar. That’s because the food options inside are limited, mostly to the candy, some popcorn and maybe nachos on the weekends. Finding beers that pair with candies is part of the fun. “There are a lot of new beers that pair

The Sugar Bar 960 East Warner Road #6 Chandler, AZ 85225 (480) 572-0804 kyle@thesugarbar.co

The family-friendly Sugar Bar is a place where adults can bring their kids to eat candy or play games while they enjoy some craft beers. (David Minton/Arizonan Staff Photographer)

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THE MESA TRIBUNE | JANUARY 16, 2022

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ASU kerfuffle escalates into foolishness, unreality BY DAVID LEIBOWITZ Tribune Columnist

ot quite 60 years ago, the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. stood on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial and delivered the greatest speech in America’s history. This was 1963, a summer of hideous segregation and police brutality. A quarter million people marched for freedom that day in Washington and King lifted them to the heavens. He spoke of the Emancipation Proclamation, “narrow jail cells” and “great trials and tribulations.” Towards the end, King – whose birthday was Jan. 15th and whose federal holiday is tomorrow – spoke of dreams. “I have a dream,” said King, “that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: ‘We hold

these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal.’” The Reverend next touched on the deep South, the sweltering hatred of Mississippi and Alabama – bigoted places King dreamed would one day become lands of equality. “I have a dream,” he said, “that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.” Which brings us to Arizona State University and the fight over its Multicultural Center. It’s a fitting subject to discuss again, given the nearly 10 minute video released last week by the two students at the conflict’s center, Sarra Tekola and Mastaani Qureshi, leaders of ASU’s Multicultural Solidarity Coalition. Their latest video represents Qureshi and Tekola’s response to ASU, which in November found the two women had

violated the school’s code of conduct by “interfering with University activities” – by verbally attacking two white male students who were studying in the Multicultural Center. The consequence? A warning and a requirement that Qureshi and Tekola “prepare a reflection commenting on how (they) might approach such a situation in the future to facilitate a civil dialogue.” If video of the Sept. 23rd altercation was by turns uncomfortable and outrageous, and viral enough to attract millions of Twitter views, Qureshi and Tekola’s latest video “reflection” is high comedy. “On Sept. 23rd, hateful and racist symbology invaded our Multicultural Center on ASU’s Tempe campus and (made) the center unsafe for BIPOC students who were trying to study,” Quereshi details. “The two white men, both students, displayed a Police Lives Matter sticker, a

Brass (sic) Pro hat, a Chick-fil-A cup and an anti-Biden t-shirt.” Then it’s Tekola’s turn. “The boys made the space uncomfortable with their nonverbal aggressive gestures toward the Black women. The students called for help from ASU but no one came for more than 30 minutes. So we were forced to confront these men by ourselves.” And now? “Dear White People, aka ASU. You openly discriminated against us on Nov. 16th when you handed down your decision from your racially biased investigation. We’re being persecuted for defending our Multicultural Center from racism and sexism. “ There’s more, of course, more blather, more buzzwords, more allegations of persecution and violence. It took MLK 15 minutes to decimate 200 years of slavery

And, for the better part of a year, the buzz around Washington has concerned defense giant Lockheed Martin’s planned acquisition of Aerojet Rocketdyne in a $4.5 billion merger. This isn’t your typical big business power play because it concerns the defense sector, the consequences of this proposed deal, with its higher costs and diminished innovation, will impact our national security. And because it is happening in Washington, the battle for hearts, minds, and federal dollars has taken on features of a political campaign. The strategy of the pro-merger faction? Simple. Emphasize the “Lock” in Lockheed Martin, and imply the inevitability of the outcome. In December, with Christmas fast approaching, one financial website became a “Not-So-Secret-Santa” for the pro-merger forces. A Dec. 16 article was remarkable for its

simplistic attribution. Rather than utilizing the term “unnamed sources,” the website settled on a simple “someone.” This “someone” who reportedly opposed the merger had apparently shared the belief that it would not be blocked by antitrust regulators. The result? A rise of almost 5% in the value of Aerojet Rocketdyne stock. Yes, Virginia…and K Street…and Wall Street, there is a Santa Claus! He conveniently arrived a couple of weeks early in December of 2021, and instead of answering to the name “St. Nick,” he reportedly preferred the generic “someone.” None of this has occurred in a vacuum. Despite press accounts predicting that the merger will come to pass, significant objections and procedural hurdles remain. And now in the New Year, some of the speculation spurred by the intoxication and illusion of inevitability has given way to an early 2022 hangover for pro-merger advocates.

The emerging hesitancy was foreshadowed in the “Dog Days” of last August, without the anonymity of “someone,” and anti-merger forces have given it prominent mention. Correspondence between Sen. Elizabeth Warren and FTC Chief Lina Khan provided the rationale. In her letter, Sen. Warren suggested heightened scrutiny of the proposed merger; Khan responded that antitrust enforcers should take action to block such deals. If Lockheed Martin were to acquire Aerojet Rocketdyne, it would create a duopoly in the missile defense business— Lockheed Martin and Northrup Grumman would own America’s only manufacturers of solid rocket motors. Taxpayers must already pay for $770 billion in defense spending; they cannot dole out more dollars for the rising costs this merger would

see LEIBOWITZ page 22

Something’s rotten in D.C. with Lockheed plan

BY JD HAYWORTH Tribune Columnist

ormer Rep. Jennifer Dunn (R-Washington) passed away almost 15 years ago, yet the wisdom of one of her witticisms endures. When she would greet constituents from Washington’s 8th District who made the trip to the “other Washington,” she would invariably say, “Welcome to the District of Columbia…the nation’s only ‘Workfree Drug Zone!’” It isn’t that denizens of the Federal Capital District are lazy, it’s just that so many of them are hooked on a self-generated substance that gives them a false sense of authority. Long distance runners get a high from endorphins; lobbyists, commentators, and journalists get a similar rush from “informed speculation.” No wonder the chatter in that echo chamber is referred to as “Buzz.”

see HAYWORTH page 22

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LEIBOWITZ from page 21

and oppression; it takes Quereshi and Tekola 10 minutes to decry a bumper sticker, a hat, a soda cup and a T-shirt. King was jailed for his beliefs, then murdered by an assassin’s bullet. Qureshi and Tekola fling around accusations meant to make Michael Crow sound like the second coming of the racist thug, Gov. George Wallace. If MLK’s dream remains unfulfilled on what would have been his 93rd birthday, let’s be clear about why. It’s not white racists alone who are the cause of our sickness. It’s anyone of any race foolish enough to confuse a bumper sticker and a soda cup with Bull Connor and his vicious police dogs. ■

HAYWORTH from page 21

inevitably bring. For Americans befuddled by the lack of bipartisanship in recent years, the leadership of both parties and on both ends of Pennsylvania Avenue now have a genuine opportunity to provide a rare moment of agreement. Saying “No” to this merger would say “Yes” to the American People. It would run counter to the polarization brought on by the pandemic, and defy “conventional wisdom.” But if this acquisition is approved, it would reaffirm the shopworn saying of the cynics: “Washington is 12 square miles, surrounded by reality.” ■

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Mesa High soccer on brink of special season BY ZACH ALVIRA Tribune Sports Editor

J Hagen had spent the off season attempting to coax some of his former soccer players to return to the pitch for Mesa this season. Most of the time, he admits, he did it in a joking manner. The players in question — Easton Elzinga, Gabe Gutierrez and Abdiel Beltran — had spent their junior season splaying for MLS Select, a premier soccer club that provides a pathway for high school athletes to the college ranks and beyond. Most of the time, however, they aren’t able to play in their respective high school seasons. Nonetheless, Hagen kept an open line of communication for their return. It paid off. Just before tryouts, Elzinga visited Hagen in his social studies classroom at Mesa. The senior had a smile on his face. Hagen knew what it meant. “I look at him and I go, ‘tell me I’ve got good news,’” Hagen said. “He told me, ‘I think we’re pretty locked in.’ That’s where we figured out we might have something special.” Elzinga informed him that not only would he be playing for Mesa in the winter, but Gutierrez and Beltran were going to join him. Hagen had arguably his two top defenders back, both of which have been involved with the program since their freshman seasons. Beltran reclaimed his middle forward position and now leads the team with 11 goals. “Telling him we were playing, it was exciting,” Elzinga said. “I’m a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and I want to serve a mission for two years after high school. So, knowing I wasn’t going to go to college for two years, I thought to myself, ‘I appreciate everything MLS has done for me but with COVID and everything, I wanted to go play high school, have fun and get the boys back together.” Hagen had his roster solidified with a healthy mix of old and new players. They gelled quickly and have since emerged as one of the top programs in the 6A Confer-

Mesa senior Easton Elzinga, who played club soccer his junior year, returned to the team this season along with Gabe Gutierrez and Abdiel Beltran and have helped lead the Jackrabbits to success this season.(Dave Minton/Tribune Staff) some great teams, but we haven’t been challenged defensively as much as we were that night. “As a team, we are humbled. We have work to do.” Mesa’s 13-game win streak to start the season was special Mesa coach TJ Hagen, who has led the Jackrabbits for in a variety of ways. Not only 26 years, recently achieved his 300th win in the midst was it the best start in program of his team’s best start in program history. (Dave Minton/ history, but it came with a mileTribune Staff) stone for Hagen as head coach. The Jackrabbits’ 1-0 win over Cesar ence with an overall record of 13-1. Mesa’s lone loss this season came Chavez on Wednesday, Jan. 5 notched his against a San Luis team that lost in the 6A 300th victory as head coach at the school final last year to Brophy. The Jackrabbits – where he has been for 26 years. And it played the Sidewinder close last Monday came during a season in which his son, but fell 4-1 with most of their opponent’s Jordan, is a junior goalkeeper for the team. Hagen downplayed the milestone. He goals coming in the second half. While it put a blemish in their perfect called it a nice accomplishment but rerecord up to that point, the team is using it mains focused on the task at hand – winas a motivational factor rather than hang- ning a state title. Jordan, however, said it was a special ing their heads. Elzinga said it was the perfect opportunity for the team to hit reset moment to share with his dad. Especially as it came at the same time he recorded his after a successful first half of the season. “I think the loss was needed,” Elzinga eighth shutout of the season while in goal. “It’s amazing. Ever since I was a kid gosaid. “Now we understand who we are and who we need to become. We understand ing to practices, I always wanted to go to there’s a lot we need to fix. We’ve played Mesa and help him succeed as a coach,”

Jordan said. “Hopefully, I can go get a gold ball with him.” Mesa faced Boulder Creek Thursday and will have matches against Copper Canyon and Tolleson before entering region play. As of now, the Jackrabbits are favored to win the East Valley Region, but they aren’t banking on their success from the first half of the season to get them there. Each player knows they will have to continue taking each match one at a time to accomplish their ultimate goal of bringing a state title back to Mesa. As one of the captains, Gutierrez is hoping he can help keep them on a path toward success. “We have to take things one game at a time and not get ahead of ourselves,” Gutierrez said. “We all have the same goal. We just have to keep working hard to get there.” ■

Have an interesting sports story?

Contact Zach Alvira at zalvira@timespublications.com and follow him on Twitter@ZachAlvira.

THE MESA TRIBUNE | JANUARY 16, 2022

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Barrett-Jackson is the perfect job for April Rose BY CHRISTINA FUOCO-KARASINSKI GetOut Editor

pril Rose likens Barrett-Jackson collector car auction to a theme park. Celebrating its 50th year, the event makes people smile. In lieu of rides, there is a virtual playground of vehicles to view and purchase, and it bustles with anticipation. As the event’s co-host on A+E Networks’ FYI and The HISTORY Channel, Rose witnesses the plethora of beautiful — and sometimes exotic — automobiles passing through the auction block. “You could spend your entire life driving through a city and you’ll never see the variety you see coming through Barrett-Jackson auctions,” said Rose, who hosts a classic rock show on terrestrial radio in Chicago.

She’ll eye and discuss more sleek automobiles when Barrett-Jackson The World’s Greatest Car Collection Auction celebrates its 50th anniversary at WestWorld from January 22 to January 30. Celebrating its 50th year, Barrett-Jackson will feature rare hypercars and customs, as well as a diverse docket that includes a 1955 MercedesBenz 300SL Gullwing that is one of only 855 built in 1955 and one of only 1,400 built from 1954 to 1957. Selling with No Reserve, this highly desirable Gullwing is powered by the original matching-

see BARRETT page 28

April Rose is joining the broadcast team for the Barrett-Jackson auction next weekend. (Special to

GetOut)

George Michael tribute coming to Mesa center BY CHRISTINA FUOCO-KARASINSKI GetOut Editor

rowing up in the MTV era, Craig Winberry was inspired by George Michael’s looks, moves, attitude and music. “He was not afraid to take risks and had an air of confidence and left a legacy,” Winberry said. The Piggott, Arkansas, native is now starring as the late singer in “The Life and Music of George Michael,” which comes to the Mesa Arts Center’s Ikeda Theater on Sunday, January 23. “Now that people are venturing out to concerts and shows, I wanted to be a part of that,” Winberry said, giving an additional reason for joining the show. “I wanted to be a part of that. It’s a great opportunity to get back out. I’m happy to hit the road and share his legacy across America.”

“When I was presented this wonderful opportunity, I was prepared,” he said. “Over the years as a singer, I had been singing some of George’s tracks like ‘Careless Whisper’ and his own spin on Queen’s ‘Somebody to Craig Winberry will be bringing the music of the late George Michael to Love,’ which the Mesa Arts Center next Sunday. (Special to GetOut) was hugely popular. The concert-style show follows Mi“What I have found challenging was the chael’s career through his hits, including overall lyrical content—the emotions and those from Wham! and his solo career. where George was in his life. It’s been so

fascinating. Through the beginning of his career, the middle and up to his unfortunate death, to see the growth of a gay man coming out of the closet and standing in his truth was amazing.” Singing “Jesus to a Child” and learning of the backstory brought Winberry to tears. The song is a tribute to Michael’s Brazilian lover Anselmo Feleppa, whom the singer met while performing in Rio de Janeiro in 1991. Two years later, Feleppa died from AIDS-related brain hemorrhage. During his grieving, Feleppa penned “Jesus to a Child” in about an hour. “It’s sad understanding Anselmo’s tragic death from HIV/AIDS and George taking his pain and sorrow and channeling it into art,” he said. “When you understand what the song was about and what he was going through, it’s tragic. It’s a very intimate story that George was sharing with us.”

see WINBERRY page 28

GET OUT

BARRETT from page 27

numbers M198 inline-6 engine paired with a 4-speed manual transmission. Rose slid into Barrett-Jackson’s broadcast team after she and Bob Varsha, a broadcast journalist who covers motorsports, filmed a promotion. During the assignment, Varsha invited Rose to discuss cars at Barrett-Jackson. She fell in love — and earned respect. “When I got there, he said, ‘Wow. You’re really into cars. You know a lot about them, and you love them,’” she recalls. He wrapped up the conversation with, “We’re looking to add someone to our broadcast team.” “It seemed like a dream come true,” she adds. “It was the perfect fit.” She joins a team of automotive experts, including announcers Steve Magnante, Mike Joy and Rick DeBruhl. In her blood Rose began her professional career in health and medicine. She earned her EMT certification through Des Plaines, Illinoisbased Oakton Community College and a cardiovascular technologist license from

WINBERRY from page 27

Winberry’s love affair with performing began at an early age when he took part in his hometown school’s production of “South Pacific.” From that point on, he knew there would always be a Broadway stage in his future. He expanded on that as actor, singer and songwriter, and in television, film and live theater after moving to NYC eight years ago. “When I made that choice, I was becoming an entertainer later in life,” he said about the move in his 30s. “I did it differently. I got married and raised kids then when we moved to New York, I decided to jump headfirst into the arts and storytelling. I’m so happy that I did. “It was scary at first, but I’ve had an amazing support system around me. I looked at people like George and he was literally the only one of his generation who was out and open. He was closeted

THE MESA TRIBUNE | JANUARY 16, 2022

PCCTI Healthcare in Chicago. She was also certified as a medical crisis counselor for Rape Victim Advocates. Then she fell into modeling. She was voted Maxim’s “Hometown Hotties” winner in 2008 and was subsequently featured as the cover girl on Maxim Canada. She hosted the Chicago Bears’ pregame show and parlayed that experience into other gigs. She appeared on TV shows like “Guy Code” and “Girl Code.” She parlayed her love of hockey and football into “Chicago Faceoff with April Rose” and “Chicago Huddle,” respectively. Rose has acted in a smattering of films like “Grown Ups 2.” “It all started falling into my lap. I thought I would be in crisis counseling forever. “The jobs just kept paving the right path to walk down. I’m also asked to report on hockey and football. However, I’ve always been passionate about — obsessed with — cars. I feel lucky with Barrett-Jackson.” Rose still occasionally models on special occasions and requests. “I usually don’t do it if a wardrobe company or designer needs me to wear an out-

at the beginning of his career. I see his life and legacy as a guiding light to standing your truth.” Before the pandemic in 2019, Winberry was performing with Abby Payne present “Christmas Spirits: Neat Edition” at Feinstein’s 54/Below on 54th Street in New York City. He held “random TV jobs,” but was mostly focusing on live entertainment. “New York City is the holy grail of comedy cellars and cabarets,” he said. “Broadway and off-Broadway, that’s where my life has been.” ■

If You Go...

What: The Life and Music of George Michael Where: Mesa Arts Center, 1 E. Main Street, Mesa When: 7:30 p.m. Sunday, January 23 Cost: $38 Info: 480-644-6500, mesaartscenter.com

GOT NEWS?

Contact Paul Maryniak at 480-898-5647 or pmaryniak @timespublications.com

fit,” she said. “I’ll do it if they want me to come to an event for photos. I’m not just a number. “When I was 19, it didn’t matter if I was a clothes hanger for whatever image they wanted. It shifted a little bit. I feel like I’m more important to the product because they want to use a personality.” Like entertainment and news, cars are in her blood. She learned early on of the freedom that comes with driving. “Growing up, parents always tell their kids what to do, where to go,” Rose said. “The first time you’re in a car by yourself, you choose your own path. That realization made a big imprint on me. I really appreciate what cars can do for you.” That first car was a hand-me-down from her brother — a 2005 Camaro. She was gifted it when he wanted to purchase a new car. She admits, with a laugh, that was a dangerous car to give a teenager. “The rearview mirror is so small and it’s hard to see out of it because the pillars are so wide,” Rose explains. “You don’t have a good visualization of the road.” She has collected plenty of highlights during her time at Barrett-Jackson. Rose vividly remembers sitting in the origi-

nal 1966 Batmobile, which was built by George Barris. Tempe logistics company owner Rick Champagne grabbed the vehicle for $4.2 million. “While we were in it, George spoke about all the gadgets he had in the Batmobile,” she said. “It was neat to see that sell though. Two gentlemen in the front of the auction, who were sitting really close to each other. They were outbidding each one when they stopped and one of the guys suggested flipping a coin and whoever gets it, gets the car. “They could have kept bidding for eternity. That’s how the owner of the car won — it was a flip of the coin. That was a first for Barrett-Jackson.” ■

If You Go...

What: Barrett-Jackson the World’s Greatest Car Collector Auctions Where: WestWorld of Scottsdale, 16601 N. Pima Road, Scottsdale When: Various times Jan. 22-30 Cost: Tickets start at $23, with discounts for seniors, military and students Info: 480.421.6694, barrett-jackson.com

WMPO PhxBack 10x10.qxp_. 11/17/21 10:40 AM Page 1

THE MESA TRIBUNE | JANUARY 16, 2022

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THE MESA TRIBUNE | JANUARY 16, 2022

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These mashed potatoes win the (Yukon) gold medal

he may be small in stature – slightly over 5 feet tall – but Chef Linda Martin has carved quite a large niche for herself in Arizona. Her cooking classes, based on simple yet gourmet meals have kept her in demand at Sweet Basil Gourmetware and Cooking School in Scottsdale for years! (sweetbasilgourmet.com) Her catering company, Linda’s Dinner Designs, features many of her favorite family recipes which she finesses based on her formal training at Scottsdale Culinary Institute (now Le Cordon Blue). One of those recipes is her yukon gold mashed potatoes, based on her mom Jean Marinick’s traditional Thanksgiving side dish. “Growing up in a family of seven children, we always loved mashed potatoes but usually only had them on Thanksgiving. Mom’s mashed potatoes started with butter and milk and that’s where I got my “base” mash recipe. But I love to experiment with new flavors and combinations, and because potatoes can be so bland,

they make a great base for flavor.” So Chef Martin added sour cream and an olive oil and white truffle oil combination to her family mash, and the result is a sensational side that will go perfectly with your chicken, London Broil, meatloaf or pork tenderloin. I thought it fitting to share Chef Martin’s recipe as the 2022 Winter Olympics gear up next month in Beijing. If you’re game for a culinary Olympic medal, this one wins Yukon Gold. By the way, I’ve just joined the chef staff at Sweet Basil, too!. ■

Ingredients: 3 1/2 pounds medium Yukon Gold potatoes, peeled and cut into chunks 8 tablespoons butter, divided ½ cup sour cream

Whole milk 2 teaspoons white truffle oil (or white truffle extra virgin olive oil like Monini Brand) Salt and freshly ground pepper, to taste Chopped fresh Italian parsley for garnish

Directions: 1. Place potatoes in a large pot. Cover with cool water and place over medium high heat. Bring to a boil and add a teaspoon of salt. Cook potatoes until very tender, about 20 minutes. 2. Drain potatoes. In batches, rice the potatoes into a large bowl (or alternately, place in a standing mixer and whip). Add 6 tablespoons of butter (saving the remaining butter to finish) and sour cream and mix until smooth. Mix in enough milk to thin to desired consistency. Mix in truffle oil and season with salt and pepper. Grease a baking dish and

spoon the potatoes into the dish. (At this point, can be made up to one day ahead. Cover and refrigerate.) 3. Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Dot the potatoes with the remaining butter. Place baking dish in the preheated oven, uncovered, for 15 minutes (or, if made a day ahead, cover with foil and heat 15 minutes, remove cover and heat an additional 15 minutes). 4. Serve potatoes directly from baking dish. Garnish with fresh parsley. Serves eight. ■

THE MESA TRIBUNE | JANUARY 16, 2022

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THE MESA TRIBUNE | JANUARY 16, 2022

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THE SUNDAY EAST VALLEY TRIBUNE | JANUARY 16, 2022

Obituaries Mabel “Pat” (Johnson) Wright

Obituaries Shauna Lee Lilly

It is with great sadness we say goodbye to Shauna Lee Lilly, 43, of Addison, Illinois, formerly of Mesa, Arizona, who passed away unexpectedly on December 24, 2021 in Mesa, AZ. Shauna was born March 1, 1978 the daughter of Rod Lilly and Janet Browning. She received her education from Mesa Public Schools and graduated from Westwood High School in 1996 with honors. Shauna attended Arizona State University and then attended California State Hayward where she received her Bachelor of Science in Psychology. She returned to Arizona and started her teaching career with Mesa Public Schools in Special Education. She taught in Mesa until moving to Illinois last April where she was currently a teacher at Edmund F. Lindop School. Shauna had a passion for working with people who have special needs. She was involved with Arizona Sports for the Disabled (AzDS), coaching cheerleaders and track and field. Shauna spent several summers working for Mesa Parks and Recreation at Camp Fiesta as a Recreation Assistant and also spent countless hours volunteering. She also spent a summer working at Camp Courageous as a camp counselor in Monticello, Iowa, which is a year-round recreation and respite care facility for individuals with disabilities of all ages. Shauna is survived by her fiancé, Jenn Drury; her parents, Janet Browning (Mark Waldron), Rod Lilly (Sue); sisters, Courtney Hinrichs (Chris), Stefanie Lilly; nephews, Gavin and Greyson Hinrichs, and numerous aunts, uncles and cousins. She was preceded in death by her grandparents. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to Arizona Sports for the Disabled, 59 E. Broadway Rd., Mesa, AZ 85210. Services will be held for Shauna at a later time for family members. Shauna's warm smile and bubbly personality will be missed by a myriad of people. We love and miss you.

Mabel “Pat” (Johnson) Wright, 76, formerly of Bloomington, MN and Mesa, AZ, passed away on December 31, 2021 in Hibbing, MN. She loved to feel the sun on her face and was happiest when surrounded by family. She is preceded in death by her husband James Wright, Sr., her mother Josephine Maxwell, and her brothers James Johnson and Dean Maxwell. She is survived by her children Holly (Todd) Traffas and James “Jay” Wright, Jr., her grandchildren Adam and Luke (Tiana) Traffas, James and Evan Wright, great-granddaughter Luna Traffas, and sisters Glynda (Tom) Ballinger and Susan Maxwell. A celebration of her life will be held in the spring in Minneapolis, MN. To leave an online message of condolence, please visit us at: www.doughertyofhibbing.com.

Myron Allen Lieberman

Myron 80, of Tempe, a lifelong advocate of chess, music, technology, and laughter, passed away quietly on 12/24/21. Born September 3, 1941 in Los Angeles, Myron attended ASU, where he met his eventual bride-to-be, Rachel. According to Myron, he saw her from across the room at a school dance “eating ice cubes with a fork”. It was love at first sight. He started the Motorola Chess Club (which became Tempe Chess Club) and served as an officer of the U.S. Chess Federation (USCF) and secretary of the U.S. Chess Trust. Myron loved music and (along with Rachel) was a fixture on the local acoustic music scene, supporting artists, attending concerts and writing articles about music in Arizona. Whether he was enjoying a live concert, directing a chess tournament, plucking his upright bass, reading a Mad Magazine or drinking a chocolate coke with no ice, Myron kept things interesting. He made a lasting impact and will be deeply missed. Myron is survived by his wife Rachel; children Larry and Linda (and their families); and grandchildren Brandon and Adam Lieberman. A small private service was held. Donations can be made to: U.S. Chess Trust (http://www.uschesstrust.org/) or Musical Instrument Museum (https://mim.org/).

Public Notices ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS (RFQ) NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the City of Mesa is seeking a qualified firm or team to act as the Job Order Contractor for the following: TRANSPORTATION JOB ORDER CONTRACT PROJECT NO. JOC-T22 The City of Mesa is seeking a qualified Contractor to provide Job Order Transportation Construction Services. All qualified firms that are interested in providing these services are invited to submit their Statements of Qualifications (SOQ) in accordance with the requirements detailed in the Request for Qualifications (RFQ). The following is a summary of the project. The Transportation Job Order Contract will require a variety of tasks to be completed, including but not limited to roads, streets, sidewalks, curb and gutter, utilities located in transportation Right of Way (ROW), paving, striping, landscaping associated with roadway ROW, lighting, traffic signals, and Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) and other work as deemed necessary. A Pre-Submittal Conference will be held on January 26, 2022 at 8:00 am through Microsoft Teams. Parties interested in attending should request an invitation from Stephanie Gishey at stephanie.gishey@mesaaz.gov. At this meeting, City staff will discuss the scope of work and general contract issues and respond to questions from the attendees. Attendance at the presubmittal conference is not mandatory and all interested firms may submit a Statement of Qualifications whether or not they attend the conference. All interested firms are encouraged to attend the Pre-Submittal Conference since City staff will not be available for meetings or to respond to individual inquiries regarding the project scope outside of this conference. In addition, there will not be meeting minutes or any other information published from the Pre-Submittal Conference. Contact with City Employees. All firms interested in this project (including the firm’s employees, representatives, agents, lobbyists, attorneys, and subconsultants) will refrain, under penalty of disqualification, from direct or indirect contact for the purpose of influencing the selection or creating bias in the selection process with any person who may play a part in the selection process. This policy is intended to create a level playing field for all potential firms, assure that contract decisions are made in public and to protect the integrity of the selection process. All contact on this selection process should be addressed to the authorized representative identified below. RFQ Lists. The RFQ is available on the City’s website at http://mesaaz.gov/business/engineering/construction-manager-at-risk-and-job-order-contracting-opportunities. The Statement of Qualifications shall include a one-page cover letter, plus a maximum of 10 pages to address the SOQ evaluation criteria (excluding PPVF’s and resumes but including an organization chart with key personnel and their affiliation). Resumes for each team member shall be limited to a maximum length of two pages and should be attached as an appendix to the SOQ. Minimum font size shall be 10pt. Please provide one (1) electronic copy of the Statement of Qualifications in an unencrypted PDF format to Engineering-RFQ@mesaaz.gov by February 10, 2022 at 2 pm. The City reserves the right to accept or reject any and all Statements of Qualifications. The City is an equal opportunity employer.

Firms who wish to do business with the City of Mesa must be registered in the City of Mesa Vendor Self Service (VSS) System (http://mesaaz.gov/business/purchasing/vendor-self-service). Questions. Questions pertaining to the Job Order selection process or contract issues should be directed to Stephanie Gishey of the Engineering Department at stephanie.gishey@mesaaz.gov.

ATTEST: DeeAnn Mickelsen City Clerk Published in: East Valley Tribune January 16, 23, 2022/ 44002

BETH HUNING City Engineer

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THE SUNDAY EAST VALLEY TRIBUNE | JANUARY 16, 2022

Obituaries

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1620 W. Fountainhead Parkway #219 • Tempe, AZ 85282 480.898.6465 class@timespublications.com

David Lee LaMorte

David Lee LaMorte passed away Dec 27, 2021. Dave was born in Blue Island, Ill, on May 29, 1938. Graduated from Blue Island High, received his BA at FSU, and Masters at ASU. Dave joined the service and served his Country honorably. Stationed in Big Springs, TX he met the love of his life and married Gene Hock on January 22, 1957. While in Vietnam he aided with search and rescue missions, helping those in need. The discipline and patriotism he learned in the Air Force never left him, as friends and family will attest. Capt. D. LaMorte after 22 yrs., retired in AZ in 1976. He spent the next 20 yrs. in real-estate. He enjoyed the outdoors and wildlife so much he volunteered to be state chairman for both Tempe Ducks Unlimited and Anglers United chapters. He loved fishing, hunting and had a passion for golf. Preceded in death by father, David LaMorte (2007), mother, Josephine LaMorte (2006). He leaves behind his loving wife of 65 yrs. Wynonia (Gene) LaMorte, two daughters, Nancy (Dave) Dobbins, Donna LaMorte, two sons, Tony LaMorte, Robert LaMorte (Dawn), two grandchildren, Jacob and Annaka, Sister, JoAnne (Tony) Carrieri, brother, Robert LaMorte, Sister in law, Sandy LaMorte, many niece s and nephews, along with many friends. Dave will be remembered as a loving husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle and friend. Family and friends will gather for a Celebration of Life in the spring. Need help writing an obituary? We have articles that will help guide you through the process. Deadline for obituaries is Wednesday at 5pm for Sunday. All obituaries will be approved by our staff prior to being activated. Be aware there may be early deadlines around holidays.

Call 480-898-6465 Mon-Fri 8:30-5 if you have questions. Visit: obituaries.EastValleyTribune.com

Deadlines

Classifieds: Thursday 11am for Sunday Life Events: Thursday 10am for Sunday

The Place “To Find” Everything You Need | EastValleyTribune.com

Employ ment

Adult Care/ Assisted Living Experienced Adult Care Compassionate, Reliable. Cooking, Cleaning, Bathing, Dressing & More 20 yrs exp. Ft/Pt $22hr. (Min. 4hrs/day 2 days/wk) "Strong, healthy 42 y/o, will take every precaution needed to ensure your safety or your loved one" Please call Erica at 480-518-1953

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People are looking in the Classifieds Every day! Email Your Job Post to: class@times publications.com

or Call 480

898-6465

Your Ad can go ONLINE ANY Day! Call to place your ad online! Classifieds 480-898-6465

Obituaries H E A D STO N E S

Employment General

Deloitte Consulting LLP seeks a Consulting, Senior Solution Specialist in Gilbert, AZ & various unanticipated Deloitte office locations & client sites nationally to drive SAP software advisory and implementation services to help companies unlock the value of technology investments as discrete services or comprehensive solutions. 15% travel required nationally. Telecommuting permitted. To apply visit apply.deloitte.com. Enter XBAL22FC1221GIL2020 in “Search jobs” field. EOE, including disability/veterans.

Correctional Education Site Director, Lewis Correctional Complex (AZ)

Meetings/Events?

Get Free notices in the Classifieds!

Submit to ecota@timespublications.com

The Correctional Education Program at Ashland University (www.ashland.edu) invites applications for full-time Site Director at the Lewis Correctional Complex, located in Buckeye, AZ. For requirements and qualifications and to apply online, go to: https://jobs.ashland.edu/hr/postings/416. Ashland University meets fully its obligation of nondiscrimination under federal and state laws and is actively committed to diversity in its workplace. Employment will require a criminal background check

MORE CLASSIFIED ADS ONLINE! www.Ahwatukee.com

Employment General

NOW HIRING Peter Piper Pizza

Location: McDowell and Miller Road We are now hiring Full Time / Part Time, Team Members for Day, Evenings and Night positions.

EVERLASTING MONUMENT Co.

“Memories cut in Stone” • MONUMENTS • GRANITE & BRONZE • CEMETERY LETTERING • CUSTOM DESIGNS

480-969-0788 75 W. Baseline Rd. Ste. A-8 Gilbert, AZ 85233

www.everlastingmonumentco.com info@everlastingmonument.phxcoxmail.com

Make your choice Everlasting

Apply at: 7607 E. McDowell Road Scottsdale, Az. 85257 (480) 947-9901 Located between Hayden Road and Scottsdale Road on the southwest corner of Miller Road.

THE SUNDAY EAST VALLEY TRIBUNE | JANUARY 16, 2022

Employment General

Earn Extra Income For The Holidays!

Gannett Publishing Services wants to contract you to deliver newspapers and magazine products in the early morning hours in the Phoenix metro area.

Earn up to $400 per week Work just 2-3 hours a day between 12:00AM - 6:00AM All routes are 7 days a week

Routes are available now across metro Phoenix (East Valley, West Valley, North and South Phoenix). Please include home zip code when applying.

How It Works

What You Need

What We Offer

We’ll provide you a daily delivery list

A Reliable Vehicle

Weekly pay can be up to $400 per week depending on the size of your route

Pick up your newspapers from our local distribution center

A Valid Arizona Driver’s License

Direct payment deposit into bank account

Go at your own pace, as long as papers are delivered by our established deadlines

Valid Auto Insurance

Flexibility, as most routes have a wide allotted time frame for delivery

APPLY NOW Scan the QR code with your smartphone Visit htp://deliveryopportunities.gannett.com

or call 602-444-4243

••

THE SUNDAY EAST VALLEY TRIBUNE | JANUARY 16, 2022

Announce

ments Prayer Announcements Thank You St. Jude For Prayers Answered - JRH

Merch andise Garage Sales/ Bazaars Moving Sale furniture, miscellaneous household items and clothes January 21 - 24 8:00 am - 5:00 pm 4050 E San Remo Ave., Gilbert, AZ 85234

Miscellaneous For Sale Patio heater like new with tank $95 Bistro patio set w/cushions $110 (602)369-3795

Pets/Services/ Livestock PUPPIES- Jack Rus Terrier /Lab/Chihuahua mix, small dog breed, 4 M, 1 F, $1000 obo. 760-200-7280 SDEBINION14@ GMAIL.COM

Wanted to Buy Diabetic Test Strips by the box, unused. Any type or brand. Will pay top dollar. Call Pat 480-323-8846

Real Estate for Sale

Air Conditioning/Heating

Manufactured Homes

QUALITY, VALUE and a GREAT PRICE!

THE LINKS ESTATES Why Rent The Lot When YOU CAN OWN THE LAND And Own Your New Home

FROM THE UPPER 200’s

ASK US HOW YOUR $150k-180k CASH INVESTMENT AND OUR SENIOR LOAN PROGRAM ENABLES QUALIFIED 62+ SENIORS MAKING THE LINKS THEIR PRIMARY RESIDENCE HAVE NO MORTGAGE PAYMENT & NO LOT RENT AS LONG AS YOU LIVE IN HOME.

480-405-7588

Gawthorp & Associates

Appliance Repairs

www.linksestates.net

602-402-2213

Appliance Repair Now

East Valley/ Ahwatukee

Broken Springs Replaced Nights/Weekends Bonded/Insured 480-251-8610

Not a licensed contractor

Concrete & Masonry

We Also Buy, Sell & Trade Used Appliances Working or Not

Air Conditioning/Heating

2021

YOU’LL LIKE US - THE BEST!

Electrical Services HONESTY • INTEGRITY • QUALITY

• Serving Arizona Since 2005 •

• Panel Changes and Repairs • Installation of Ceiling Fans • Switches/Outlets • Home Remodel

ALL RESIDENTIAL & COMMERCIAL ELECTRICAL Call Jim Endres 480.282.7932 Over 28 Years Experience • ROC #246019 Bonded/Insured

FALL TUNE-UP SPECIAL!

Lowest Prices * 30 Yrs Exp Serving Entire Valley

480-659-1400 Licensed & Insured Carpet Cleaning

BESTOF

602-789-6929 Roc #057163

If It’s Broken, We Can Fix It! • Same Day Service • On-Site Repairs • Servicing All Major Brands • Quality Guaranteed

inside | sales

Please recycle me.

Bonded/Insured • ROC #289252

4046 N Green St. • San Tan Valley, AZ 85140

Employment General

Your newspaper. Your community. Your planet.

Over 1,000 Five-Star Google Reviews ★★★★★

GARAGE DOOR SERVICE

Block Fence * Gates

Classifieds 480-898-6465

Join our experienced inside sales team! Do you have print media/digital advertising selling experience? We may be looking for you! The position is in Tempe (Broadway curve area) includes lots of out-bound calls selling advertising all over Phoenix Metro and even Tucson! Our 20 local publications, newspapers, magazines and digital solutions fit pretty much every need! Great team environment Our small team wants to grow with you! Do you get excited when you sell? Do you talk louder when you are selling something you believe in? We get it—it’s exciting to sell! Do you learn quickly, like to stay organized, multi-task, are you familiar with Gmail, Google Docs/Sheets/Voice, Word, Excel, internet browsing and other software programs? This is a full time job with benefits. 8:305pm Mon-Fri. If you think you are the missing puzzle piece, please apply! Wait, did I mention we are a FUN team? Send your resume with cover letter to Elaine: ecota@timespublications.com

Lifetime Warranty on Workmanship New 3-Ton 14 SEER AC Systems Only $5,995 INSTALLED! New Trane Air Conditioners NO INTEREST FINANCING - 60 MONTHS!

Garage/Doors

REG. $99.

Includes a 16-Points Inspection. LIMITED TIME ONLY. RESIDENTIAL ONLY

FREE INDOOR REME HALO® IN-DUCT AIR PURIFIER*

• Reduces common allergens from pollen, mold dander & dust • Eliminates pet, cooking and musty odors • Reduces airborne and surface bacteria & viruses, such as MRSA, e-coli, and Norwalk 99+%,

*With a qualified ac system purchase

YOUR HOMETOWN AIR CONDITIONING SPECIALIST FREE Service Call With Repair FREE Second Opinion ★ FREE Estimate

A + Rating

480-725-7303 www.BrewersAC.com SINCE 1982 ROC #C39-312643

We offer Big Savings and Great Financing!

Some restrictions apply. See website for additional information. Special rebates and financing offers are valid on qualifying equipment and pre-approved credit. Offers expire 12/31/2021.

Glass/Mirror

GLASS, MIRRORS, SHOWER DOORS

Family Owned with 50 years' EXPERIENCE. Shower and tub enclosures, Framed, Frameless or Custom Doors, We also install insulated glass, mirrored closet doors, window glass, mirrors, patio doors, glass table protectors. If it’s glass, we can help you. QUALITY SERVICE at Competitive Prices. FREE Estimates

WESLEY'S GLASS & MIRROR Call 480-306-5113 wesleysglass.com SERVICING THE ENTIRE VALLEY

MISSED THE DEADLINE? Call us to place your ad online!

480-898-6465

THE SUNDAY EAST VALLEY TRIBUNE | JANUARY 16, 2022

Home Improvement

Home Improvement HOME REMODELING REPAIRS & CUSTOM INTERIOR PAINTING Move a wall; turn a door into a window. From small jobs and repairs to room additions, I do it all. Precision interior painting, carpentry, drywall, tile, windows, doors, skylights, electrical, fans, plumbing and more. All trades done by hands-on General Contractor. Friendly, artistic, intelligent, honest and affordable. 40 years’ experience. Call Ron Wolfgang Please text or leave message Cell 602-628-9653 Wolfgang Construction Inc. Licensed & Bonded ROC 124934

General Contracting, Inc. Licensed • Bonded • Insured • ROC118198

One Call, We Do It All! 602-339-4766

Small Man!” Decks • Tile • More! ✔ Kitchens 1999 ce Sin rk Wo y alit Qu dable, ✔ Bathrooms BSMALLMAN@Q.COM 2010, 2011 9 Quality Work Since 199 2012, “No 2013, Job Too And More! 2010, 2011 Small Man!” 2014 Call Bruce at 602.670.7038

uce at 602.670.7038 dent/ References/ Insured/ NotResident a Licensed Contractor Ahwatukee / References t 602.670.7038

2012, 2013, 2014

Since 1999 Affordable, Quality Work

ences/ Insured/ Not a Licensed Contractor Insured / Not aCall Licensed Contractor Bruce at 602.670.7038

2010, 2011 2012, 2013, 2014

Free Estimates with Pride & Prompt Service!

Painting

All Estimates are Free • Call:

520.508.1420

www.husbands2go.com

Licensed, Bonded & Insured • ROC#317949 Ask me about FREE water testing!

Hauling

HOME IMPROVEMENT & PAINTING

azirrigation.com

• Old Paint & Chems. • Yard Waste • Concrete Slab • Remodeling Debris • Old Tires

PAINTING Interior & Exterior Residential/Commercial Free Estimates Drywall Repairs Senior Discounts References Available

Plumbing

Interior/Exterior Painting 30 YEARS EXPERIENCE

Cutting Edge LLC • ROC 281671

ALL Pro L L C

Prepare for Winter Season! LANDSCAPING, TREES & MAINTENANCE

Tree Trimming • Tree Removal Stump Grinding Storm Damage • Bushes/Shrubs Yard Clean-up Commercial and Residential PMB 435 • 2733 N. Power Rd. • Suite 102 • Mesa dennis@allprotrees.com

• Furniture • Appliances • Mattresses • Televisions • Garage Clean-Out • Construction Debris

Call Classifieds 480-898-6465

(602) 502-1655

480.654.5600

480-354-5802

81% of our readers, read the Classifieds!

— Call Jason —

NTY 5-YEAR WARRA

S E R V I C E

Drain Cleaning Experts, water heaters, disposals, water & sewer lines repaired/replaced & remodels. Rapid Response. If water runs through it we do it! 602-663-8432

www.irsaz.com

ROC# 256752

www.EastValleyTribune.com

T R E E

HOME FOR RENT? Place it here!

Plumbing

Painting

480.721.4146

• Sprinkler/Drip Repairs • New Installs Poly/PVC • Same Day Service

Insured/Bonded Free Estimates

SERVING THE ENTIRE VALLEY

CALL US TODAY!

Irrigation

LLC

GENERAL CONTRACTOR / HANDYMAN SERVICES

Specializing in Controllers, Valves, Sprinklers, Landscape Lighting, P.V.C. & Poly Drip Systems

See MORE Ads Online!

Landscape/Maintenance

• Electrical Repair • Plumbing Repair • Dry rot and termite damage repair

Licensed • Bonded • Insured

All Remodeling, Additions, Kitchen, Bath, Patio Covers, Garage, Sheds, Windows, Doors, Drywall & Roofing Repairs, Painting, All Plumbing, Electrical, Concrete, Block, Stucco, Stack Stone, All Flooring, Wood, Tile, Carpet, Welding, Gates, Fences, All Repairs.

Ahwatukee Resident/ References/ Insured/ Not a Licensed Contractor

• Drywall Repair • Bathroom Remodeling • Home Renovations

Irrigation Repair Services Inc.

Owner Does All Work, All Honey-Do Lists

Marks the Spot for ALL Your Handyman Needs! Painting • Flooring • Electrical Handyman Plumbing • Drywall • Carpentry Decks • Tile • More!

Marks the Spot for ALL Your Handyman Needs! ks the Spot for ALL•Your Handyman Needs! ✔ Painting Painting Flooring • Electrical “No Job Too ✔Small Flooring Painting • Flooring • Electrical Plumbing • Drywall • Carpentry Man!” lumbing • Drywall • Carpentry ✔ Electrical Decks • Tile • More! 1999 e Quality Work Sinc Decks •Affo Tile • More! rdable, ✔ Plumbing 2010, 2011 2012, 2013, 2014 Call Bruce at 602.670.7038 ✔ Drywall Ahwatukee Resident/ References/ Insured/ Not a Licensed Contractor “No Job ✔ Carpentry Too Small Marks the Spot for“No Job Too ALL Your Handyman Needs! ✔ Decks Painting • Flooring • Electrical Small Man!” “No Job Too Man!” ✔ Tile Plumbing • Drywall • Carpentry

Landscape/Maintenance

Dunn Edwards Quality Paint Small Stucco/Drywall Repairs

HYDROJETTING

We Are State Licensed and Reliable!

Free Estimates • Senior Discounts

480-338-4011

ROC#309706

East Valley PAINTERS

480-477-8842

SEWER CABLE COMPREHENSIVE, FULL-SERVICE PLUMBING COMPANY

BOOK ONLINE! STATE48DRAINS.COM 20+ YEARS OF EXPERIENCE FAMILY OWNED & OPERATED LICENSED, BONDED & INSURED ROC 3297740

Voted #1 Paint Interior & Exterior • Drywall Repair Light Carpentry • Power Washing • Textures Matched Popcorn Removal • Pool Deck Coatings Garage Floor Coatings • Color Consulting

10% OFF

We Beat Competitors Prices & Quality Free Estimates! Home of the 10-Year Warranty!

PLUMBERS CHARGE TOO MUCH! FREE Service Calls + FREE Estimates Water Heaters Installed - $999 Unclog Drains - $49

10% OFF

All Water Purification Systems Voted #1 Plumber 3 Years In A Row OVER 1,000 5-STAR REVIEWS

480-688-4770

www.eastvalleypainters.com Family Owned & Operated Bonded/Insured • ROC#153131

Now Accepting all major credit cards

Bonded/Insured • ROC #223709

480-405-7099

••

THE SUNDAY EAST VALLEY TRIBUNE | JANUARY 16, 2022

Pool Service / Repair

Public Notices

Juan Hernandez Pavers • Concrete • Water Features • Sprinkler Repair

PPebbleOcracking, O L Plaster R Epeeling, P ARebar IR

Rooﬁng

PHILLIPS

ANNOUNCEMENT OF PROPOSED STUDY RESULTS FOR THE MESA ZONE D PHASE 1 FLOODPLAIN DELINEATION STUDY WITHIN THE CITY OF MESA, MARICOPA COUNTY, AZ

COMMERCIAL AND RESIDENTIAL

The Flood Control District (FCD) of Maricopa County has conducted a floodplain delineation study (FDS) for the previously unstudied Zone D area within the City of Mesa. The FCD conducts floodplain delineation studies to identify and refine areas that are subject to flooding by a 100-year flood. These floods have a 1% chance of occurring in any given year. The FCD also proposes to establish areas subject to a 500-year flood. These floods have a 0.2% chance of occurring in any given year.

ROOFING LLC

showing, Pool Light out? I CAN HELP!

FALL SPECIAL! $500 OFF COMPLETE REMODEL! 25 Years Experience • Dependable & Reliable

Family Owned and Operated 43 Years Experience in Arizona

Call Juan at

480-720-3840 Not a licensed contractor.

Rooﬁng

623-873-1626 Licensed 2006 ROC 223367 Bonded Insured

480-699-2754 • info@monsoonroofinginc.com

PhillipsRoofing.org PhillipsRoofing@cox.net

MonsoonRooﬁngInc.com Licensed – Bonded – Insured – ROC187561

Tiles, shingles, flat, repairs & new work Free Estimates • Ahwatukee Resident Over 30 yrs. Experience

480-706-1453

Licensed/Bonded/Insured • ROC #236099

Free Estimates Monday through Saturday

10% Discount for Ahwatukee Residents 100% NO Leak Guarantee Re-Roof & Roofing Repairs Tile, Shingles & Flat Roof

Public Notices

Rooﬁng

aOver 30 Years of Experience

aFamily Operated by 3 Generations of Roofers! Premier Tile, Shingle & Foam Roofer!

Spencer 4 HIRE ROOFING Valley Wide Service

480-446-7663 FREE Estimates • Credit Cards OK www.spencer4hireroofing.com ROC#244850 | Insured | Bonded

Public Notices OUT WITH THE OLD, CHIP RETURN RETURN YOUR TABLE GAMES CASINO CHIPS AT HARRAH’S AK-CHIN BEFORE THEY EXPIRE! If you have Table Games Casino chips received before July 7, 2021, please redeem them at the Harrah’s Ak-Chin Casino cashier cage no later than March 31, 2022 for a full refund. Disclaimer: Any discontinued Table Games chips not returned by March 31, 2022 will be void and hold no cash value. Redemption must take place at the Harrah’s Ak-Chin Casino cashier cage in person. Harrah’s Ak-Chin Casino is not responsible for any unreturned Table Games chips. INVITATION FOR PROPOSALS FOR DESIGN BUILD SERVICES: West Valley Housing Support Center, 12785 W. GRAND AVENUE, Surprise, ARIZONA 85374. A New Leaf, Inc. will receive proposals for the design build renovation of a 5,640 square foot apartment building. This project is federally funded through Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds through the State of Arizona Department of Housing and the City of Surprise. Federal labor standards, Davis-Bacon prevailing wages, and Equal Employment Opportunity regulations of the Housing and Urban Development Act of 1968 for Employment and Contracting Opportunities will apply to the project. Small, minority and/ or women owned businesses are encouraged to submit proposals. Sealed Proposals will be received until 1:00PM Arizona Time, on Thursday, February 17, 2022 at A New Leaf, 868 E University Drive, Mesa, Arizona 85203. Proposals will be publicly opened and read aloud at 1:15 PM on Thursday, February 17, 2022 at A New Leaf conference room, 868 E. University Drive, Mesa Arizona 85203. Proposal documents, including previous building plans for the proposed work and the Request for Proposals may be obtained electronically. Contact Keon Montgomery, of Real Estate at: Director kmontgomery@turnanewleaf.org, Tel 480-7333063, ext. 4311. All proposals must be a fixed firm price. A New Leaf, Inc., reserves the right to reject any and all proposals. A Mandatory Pre-Bid Conference will be held at 10:00AM Wednesday, January 26, 2022, at the project site, 12785 W. GRAND AVENUE, Surprise, ARIZONA 85374, at which time the Client will be available to answer questions. Proposers are required to attend. Unless provided in writing, verbal authorizations or acknowledgments by anyone present will not be binding.

The Zone D area is approximately 10.2 square miles and roughly bounded by Meridian Road to the east, Baseline Road to the north, Ellsworth Road to the west, and Ray Road to the south. Phase 1 studied the portion north of Elliot Road, approximately 4.1 square miles. As a result of this revision, this study proposes to establish Zone AE and Zone AO 100-year floodplains and Base Flood Elevations (BFE’s), and Shaded-X Zone 500-year floodplains along several watercourses and within several Regional Detention Basins. Specifically, these floodplains and BFE’s are proposed along Crismon Channel and Crismon Channel Breakouts #1 and #2 extending from the US 60 to Elliot Road; Eastridge Channel extending from Baseline Road to near Guadalupe Road; Sunland Springs Channel extending from Baseline Road to Signal Butte Road; Guadalupe Channel extending from Santa Rita Road to Crismon Road; Siphon Draw extending from Meridian Road to Elliot Road; and the Elliot Road Regional Detention Basins EA, WA, and WB located along the north side of Elliot Road between Signal Butte Road and Ellsworth Road. Remaining areas within the study that are not one of these watercourses or Basins, are proposed to become Unshaded-X Zones, which are not Special Flood Hazard Areas (SFHAs). Study Documentation is pending finalization. Once it is finalized, impacted property owners will be notified. In the interim, they can review information about the study and proposed floodplains on the FCD website: https://apps.fcd.maricopa.gov/ fcdprojects/Details/71 The results will be used by the City of Mesa and the District to regulate development within the floodplains. Technical documentation for the study will be submitted to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), for updating FEMA’s Flood Insurance Rate Maps which are used to determine federal flood insurance requirements and rates. Any relevant technical information or comments can be sent to Richard Harris at 2801 W. Durango Street, P h o e n i x , A Z 8 5 0 0 9 o r Richard.Harris@maricopa.gov. Published: East Valley Tribune, Jan. 16, 2022 / 43991

Your Ad can go ONLINE ANY Day! Call to place your ad online!! Classifieds 480-898-6465

THE SUNDAY EAST VALLEY TRIBUNE | JANUARY 16, 2022

You never know what you’ll find inside

Public Notices CITY OF MESA, ARIZONA ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS (RFQ) NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the City of Mesa is seeking a qualified firm or team to act as the Construction Manager at Risk for the following: PUBLIC SAFTEY CAMPUS MICROGRID 245 W 2ND STREET PROJECT NO. CP1032 The City of Mesa is seeking a qualified Construction Manager at Risk (CMAR) to provide Pre-Construction Services assistance and complete Construction Services as the CMAR for the City Of Mesa Public Safety Campus Microgrid Project. All qualified firms that are interested in providing these services are invited to submit their Statements of Qualifications (SOQ) in accordance with the requirements detailed in the Request for Qualifications (RFQ). The following is a summary of the project. The City of Mesa will construct a new microgrid station at the Public Safety Campus (Microgrid.) The Microgrid will include the installation and commissioning of natural gas generators totaling approximately three (3) to four (4) megawatts (MW) in nominal capacity, 15 kilovolt (kV) switchgear, system protection relays, distribution source-transfer equipment, controls, communications equipment, modularized control room, transformers, ductbank, cabling and facility security. Site improvements include installation of a security wall, site grading, landscaping, and drainage. The project includes off-site system upgrades to Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition Systems (SCADA) as well as communication infrastructure, as needed to support the project.

480.898.6465

class@timespublications.com

OUR JOB BOARD HAS THE TALENT YOU’RE LOOKING FOR

The estimated construction cost is $8,000,000. The city anticipates completing construction by June 2023. A Pre-Submittal Conference will be held on January 26, 2022 at 9:00 am through Microsoft Teams. If you would like to participate, please send an email to Stephanie Gishey (stephanie.gishey@mesaaz.gov) and request an invitation. At this meeting, City staff will discuss the scope of work and general contract issues and respond to questions from the attendees. Attendance at the pre-submittal conference is not mandatory and all interested firms may submit a Statement of Qualifications whether or not they attend the conference. All interested firms are encouraged to attend the Pre-Submittal Conference since City staff will not be available for meetings or to respond to individual inquiries regarding the project scope outside of this conference. In addition, there will not be meeting minutes or any other information published from the Pre-Submittal Conference. Contact with City Employees. All firms interested in this project (including the firm’s employees, representatives, agents, lobbyists, attorneys, and subconsultants) will refrain, under penalty of disqualification, from direct or indirect contact for the purpose of influencing the selection or creating bias in the selection process with any person who may play a part in the selection process. This policy is intended to create a level playing field for all potential firms, to assure that contract decisions are made in public, and to protect the integrity of the selection process. All contact on this selection process should be addressed to the authorized representative identified below.

EASILY POST JOBS 480-898-6465 EMAIL: jobposting@evtrib.com JOBS.EASTVALLEYTRIBUNE.COM MORE INFO:

NOTICE:

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

Most service advertisers have an ROC# or "Not a licensed contractor" in their ad, this is in accordance to the AZ state law.

The Statement of Qualifications shall include a one-page cover letter, plus a maximum of 10 pages to address the SOQ evaluation criteria (excluding PPVF’s and resumes but including an organization chart with key personnel and their affiliation). Resumes for each team member shall be limited to a maximum length of two pages and should be attached as an appendix to the SOQ. Minimum font size shall be 10pt. Please provide one (1) electronic copy of the Statement of Qualifications in an unencrypted PDF format to Engineering-RFQ@mesaaz.gov by February 10, 2022 at 2 pm. The City reserves the right to accept or reject any and all Statements of Qualifications. The City is an equal opportunity employer.

Arizona Registrar of Contractors (ROC): The advertising requirements of the statute does not prevent anyone from placing an ad in the yellow pages, on business cards, or on flyers.

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

ATTEST: DeeAnn Mickelsen City Clerk Published in: East Valley Tribune January 16, 23, 2022/ 44009

BETH HUNING City Engineer

What it does require under A.R.S. §32-1121A14(c) <http://www.azleg.gov/ars/32/01165.htm> , is that the advertising party, if not properly licensed as a contractor, disclose that fact on any form of advertising to the public by including the words "not a licensed contractor" in the advertisement. Again, this requirement is intended to make sure that the consumer is made aware of the unlicensed status of the individual or company. Contractors who advertise and do not disclose their unlicensed status are not eligible for the handyman's exception. Reference: (http://www.azroc.gov/invest/licensed_by_law.html) As a consumer, being aware of the law is for your protection. You can check a businesses ROC status at: http://www.azroc.gov/

••

THE SUNDAY EAST VALLEY TRIBUNE | JANUARY 16, 2022

Arizona’s Resort-Style Home Builder MASTER PLANNED CELEBRATED COMMUNITIES BY BLANDFORD HOMES

Award-winning Arizona builder for over 40 years. Blandford Homes specializes in building master planned environments with a variety of amenities, parks, and charm. You’ll find the perfect community to fit your lifestyle.

F BELL RD.

56TH ST.

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A STRATFORD NOW SELLING B C D E F G H

A Dramatic New Gated Community in Gilbert Vintage Collection • From the mid $500’s • 480-895-2800 Craftsman Collection • From the high $600’s • 480-988-2400 PALMA BRISA – In Ahwatukee Foothills NOW SELLING A Dramatic New Gated Community Vintage Collection • From the low $600’s • 480-641-1800 Craftsman Collection • From the high $700’s • 480-641-1800 BELMONT AT SOMERSET – Prime Gilbert Location CLOSEOUT Luxury estate homes and timeless architecture • From the low $1,000,000’s • 480-895-6300 MONTELUNA – Brand New Gated Community in the Foothills of Northeast Mesa NOW SELLING B McKellips Rd just east of the Red Mountain 202 Fwy • From the $600’s RESERVE AT RED ROCK – New Upscale Resort Community in the Foothills of Northeast Mesa COMING IN 2022 Stunning views of Red Mountain • From the $600’s TALINN AT DESERT RIDGE – SALES BEGIN EARLY IN 2022 Spectacular location at Desert Ridge ESTATES AT MANDARIN GROVE – In the Citrus Groves of NE Mesa CLOSEOUT 11 luxury single-level estate homes with 3- to 6-car garages plus optional RV garages and carriage houses • From the mid $1,000,000’s • 480-750-3000 ESTATES AT HERMOSA RANCH – In the Citrus Groves of NE Mesa CLOSEOUT 12 single-level homes on extra large homesites with 5- to 6-car garages plus optional RV garages and carriage houses • From the mid $1,000,000’s • 480-750-3000

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The Mesa Tribune - Zone 2 - 1.16.2022

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