The Mesa Tribune - Zone 2 - 1.30.2022 by Times Media Group

••

Renewing the old / P. 8

Brand ramp-up/ P. 4

An edition of the East Valley Tribune

Sunday, January 30, 2022

FREE ($1 OUTSIDE THE EAST VALLEY) | TheMesaTribune.com

VOTE NOW MPS reorganizes job readiness effort for students BY DANA TRUMBULL Tribune Staff Writer

esa Public Schools is gathering several existing programs under one umbrella in a focused effort to prepare students for college, career and community readiness. The reorganization, dubbed Graduation Plus, emphasizes a move toward personalized diplomas, with the path to graduation

THEMESATRIBUNE.COM

INSIDE

This Week

tailored to the students’ strengths, interests and future goals. The program also answers the call of business owners and industry leaders who say that they are frustrated with the lack of professional and soft skills in the current workforce. “This is a consistent message that I hear over and over,” said Marlo Loria, Director of Career and Technical Education and Innovative Partnerships at MPS. “Whether it’s the

manufacturing industry, culinary industry or everything in between, they are frustrated that students aren’t graduating with those employability skills.” Loria stated that students “still need the robust academic skills set, but to truly have a competitive advantage, the academics must be paired with technical and employability skills.”

see GRADUATION page 10

Mesa Temple already setting stage for Easter BY PAUL MARYNIAK Tribune Executive Editor

BUSINESS............. 22 Socially-conscious Mesa laundromat saluted.

SPORTS...............

Eastmark off-season prepares for championship run. COMMUNITY ................................ 17 BUSINESS ...................................... 22 OPINION ....................................... 24 SPORTS........................................... 27 GET OUT ....................................... 30 CLASSIFIED .................................. 34 Zone

fter a two-year hiatus, the popular Easter Pageant at the Mesa Arizona Temple is returning in April in such a big way that preparations already are underway. During the second week of January, a 50-ton crane placed six 55-foot light towers and since then, other cranes have been used to help erect the 45-foot-tall – or four-story – stage for the free show, which will be presented at 8 p.m. April 6-9 and April 12-16. Even though Lent won’t begin for another month, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latterday Saints has a big reason for laying the groundwork for a pageant that dates back to 1938, when it was a modest sunrise service that gradually evolved into an evening event beginning in 1977. “This is a very different production from its humble beginnings as a sunrise service in 1938,” said Jill Adair, communications di

see TEMPLE page 6

A 50-ton crane earlier this month helped put in place six four-story light towers around what will be the stage for the Mesa Arizona Temple’s celebrated Easter Pageant in April. (Photo by Richard Webb)

Bring the Outdoors In with our Moving Glass Wall Systems 4454 E. Thomas Rd. Phoenix • 602-508-0800 • liwindow.com Mon-Thurs 8:30-5pm • Fri 8:30-4pm • Sat 9-2pm • ROC#179513

Up to

1500 OFF

Call for deta

ils!

THE MESA TRIBUNE | JANUARY 30, 2022

t SUPPER CLUB

PPER CLUB NORTH ATLANTIC COD DINNER ( Recipe No. 14)

1 OFF

BUY 1 GET 1

FREE

ANY Dinner Entrée

Any Mini Concrete Mixer®

Come on in to your local Culver’s restaurant:

1841 S. Greenﬁeld Rd. Mesa, AZ 85206 Expires 3.6.22

Reproductions of this coupon are not accepted.

Based on purchase at regular menu price. Please no substitutions. Not valid with any other offer. Value 1/200 cent. Limit one coupon per person per visit. Valid only at participating Culver’s® restaurants.Store #465

Expires 3.6.22

Reproductions of this coupon are not accepted.

Shown: 2 pc. North Atlantic Cod Dinner

THE MESA TRIBUNE | JANUARY 30, 2022

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

Times Media Group: 1620 W. Fountainhead Parkway, Suite 219 Tempe, Arizona, 85282

CONTACT INFORMATION Main number: 480-898-6500 | Advertising: 480-898-5624 Circulation service: 480-898-5641

Publisher: Steve T. Strickbine Vice President: Michael Hiatt ADVERTISING DEPARTMENT Senior Account Sales: Ryan Brown | 480-898-6482 | rbrown@timespublications.com Local Advertising Sales: Chris Ross | 480-898-5649 | cross@timespublications.com Classifieds/Inside Sales: Elaine Cota | 480-898-7926 | ecota@evtrib.com TJ Higgins | 480-898-5902 | tjhiggins@evtrib.com Director of National Advertising: Zac Reynolds | 480-898-5603 | zac@evtrib.com NEWS DEPARTMENT Executive Editor: Paul Maryniak | 480-898-5647 pmaryniak@timespublications.com Staff Writers: : Dana Hawman-Trumbull | 480-898-6466 dhawman@timespublications.com Josh Ortega | 480-898-615 | jortega@timespublications.com Sports Editor: Zach Alvira | 480-898-5630 | zalvira@timespublications.com Get Out Editor: Christina Fuoco-Karasinski | 480-641-4518 christina@timespublications.com Photographer: David Minton | dminton@timespublications.com Designer: Ruth Carlton | rcarlton@timespublications.com Production Coordinator: Courtney Oldham | 480-898-5617 production@timespublications.com Circulation Director: Aaron Kolodny | 480-898-5641 | customercare@evtrib.com The Mesa Tribune is distributed by AZ Integrated Media, a circulation service company owned by Times Media Group. The public is permitted one copy per reader. For further information regarding the circulation of this publication or others in the Times Media Group family of publications, please contact AZ Integrated Media at circ@azintegratedmedia.com or 480-898-5641. For circulation services please contact Aaron Kolodny at aaron@azintegatedmedia.com.

The content of any advertisements are the sole responsibility of the advertiser. The Tribune assumes no responsibility for the claims of any advertisement.

Mesa Police deploy new victim notification system BY JOSH ORTEGA Tribune Staff Writer

esa crime victims will now have more peace of mind about whether an offender is in arrested, in jail or out on bail. Starting last week, Mesa Police Department partnered with Appriss Insights, the developers of Victim Information and Notification Everyday. VINE is used by law enforcement agencies in 48 states — including Glendale and Tucson Police Department — “to assist victims of crimes in receiving timely and reliable offender custody information,” according to a press release. The new service will cost the city $21,000 annually. “With VINE, victims will have direct access to offender information via multiple delivery methods,” according to a press release. Victims can now confidentially call an in-state phone number (1-928-9705489), visit vinelink.com, or use the VINELink mobile app at no cost to them. TTY users can call 1-866-847-1298 to do the same. Before VINE, police staff were responsible for notifying and updating victims by phone and/or by mail of the arrest, initial court appearance date, release date, or if an offender was transferred to another jail after his/her initial court appearance. Now, victims will be able to learn all the above information about an offender as well as if the offender has escaped police custody. Victims can also register to receive automated confidential notifications about changes in an offender’s status. This system was created in response to the murder of Mary Byron in Louisville, Kentucky. “Mary had been raped, assaulted, and stalked by her former boyfriend,” according to The Mary Byron Project website. Someone posted his bail unbeknown to Mary and on Dec. 6, 1993, she was shot seven times by her ex while she sat in her car after work. One year after the murder, Jefferson County, Kentucky, became the first com

see VINE page 6

NEWS

Score a “Hole In 1” This Valentine’s Give A Golf Cart 480.895.2000

25820 S. Arizona Ave. Sun Lakes, AZ 85248

www.A1GolfCarts.com

E-Z-GO Express L6

OAC

E-Z-GO RXV

E-Z-GO Liberty

We Service What We Sell • TRADE-IN’S WELCOME • HIGHLY RATED SERVICE DEPARTMENT • VISIT OUR PARTS DEPARTMENT

••

NEWS

THE MESA TRIBUNE | JANUARY 30, 2022

Mesa ramps up branding, boosting Asian District

BY GARY NELSON Tribune Correspondent

or all the hard work that city planners do to create vibrant communities, sometimes the best stuff just happens all by itself. To wit: Veteran Mesa City Hall reporters can recall no instance in which the planning staff decided to spin a west-side Asian District out of thin air, and no City Council meetings directing that such a thing be done. Yet, Mesa does have an Asian District – one that has grown organically over the past two-plus decades as Vietnamese, Chinese, Koreans and other Asians opened restaurants, shops and other businesses along a two-mile stretch of Dobson Road between Southern Avenue and Main Street. Eventually the city took notice, helping the neighborhood create a new brand and formally creating the capitalized Asian District in early 2020. Now the effort to give the area its own visual identity is ramping up. City Council on Jan. 24 approved a twoyear contract, at $100,000 a year, to buy and install street signs calling attention to the neighborhood’s Asian heritage. Further, the city is looking for – and will pay – artists to create murals for the district. The street signs will come from a company called YESCO LLC, which already has built signs for the Mesa Arts Center and

This new logo for Mesa’s Asian District was recently released. (City of Mesa) the Falcon District. Because of the company’s history with Mesa, staffers told the City Council in a report that they chose not to seek bids from other vendors. Instead, Mesa will be working off a contract that the City of Peoria developed with the company as a result of its own competitive bidding process. The signs will use a logo that already has been developed for the district. The logo is based on a geometric pattern called a tangram, which is believed to have roots in ancient China and which can symbolize the meshing of different cultures to form a unified whole. In addition to the new street signs, Mesa plans to install banners on street poles, traffic signal box wraps and large banners on various buildings this spring to identify the Asian-themed businesses. The mural project is in its very early stages. Mesa is giving artists until Feb. 25 to submit art samples, biographies and other documents that will help the city decide whose work will adorn the district.

the Asian District steering committee as a way to celebrate the culture and community and add even more reasons for people to visit and enjoy the area, said District 3 City Councilman Francisco Heredia. “We’re looking forward to the outcome.” The neighborhood’s Asian identity began to develop in the 1990s with a small cluster of businesses at Southern Avenue and Dobson. It gained momentum with the creation of Mekong Plaza, a supermarket-anchored indoor mall in an old Target store. Although the Great Recession stalled the project, it opened about 2008, roughly in tandem with the arrival of light rail in west Mesa. The latest big addition was H Mesa’s Asian District has evolved into a 2-mile Mart, which opened in June 2020 stretch along Dobson Road between Southern Avin a former Albertson’s store on the enue and Main Street. (Special to the Tribune) southeast corner of Dobson and The city wants murals at least 10 feet wide Main Street. by 8 feet high, and potentially larger than 30 Mesa’s Asian heritage, however, goes by 16 feet. The pictures can be stand-alone much farther back in time. The Wong or serve as part of a mural panel. family, originally from China, operated a Mesa will pay between $2,000 and general store at the corner of Main Street $8,000 for the smaller murals, and more and Mesa Drive that helped supply crews for the bigger ones. Prices will be negoti- building Roosevelt Dam in the first decade ated on a case-by-case basis. of the 20th century. Interested artists can find details online The Wong family’s building was demolat selectmesa.com/asiandistrict. ished about a decade ago to make way for “This project was born out of ideas from a light-rail park-and-ride. ■

Like books or history? Next weekend is just for you TRIBUNE NEWS STAFF

f you like books, local history or both, Susan Ricci has an event next weekend that you won’t want to miss.

That event is the huge book fair slated for 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Feb. 5 and 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Feb. 6 at the Mesa Historical Museum, 2345 N. Horne. The sale is one of the museum’s biggest fundraisers of the year, said Ricci, muse-

um executive director. It will support the best local source of historical information about Mesa and that alone should give history lovers reason to go down to an event that will take up the entire museum grounds. “We have close to 30,000 books which will average between $1 and $2 with a table of rare and unusual books priced separately,” Ricci said. “Some of the rare books date back to the early and mid 1900s.” “We have volunteers working daily to sort all of the donated books for this huge upcoming sale event,” she added, explaining that all the books were donated to the museum throughout the year. After getting its start in the 1940’s, the Mesa Historical Museum was incorporated in 1966 by citizens concerned about the preservation of Mesa’s rich history.

Its original home was at the old City Hall building downtown, though that building is now the location for the Arizona Museum of Natural History, which focuses on the natural history of the region, including archaeology and paleontology. The Mesa Historical Museum is dedicated to the exploring and preserving regional heritage. It also maintains a shop that carries a variety of items such as books, jewelry, t-shirts, citrus labels, baseball merchandise, Wallace and Ladmo merchandise and some items consigned by local artists and crafters. If all that isn‘t enough to go to the book fair, Ricci has one more reason that will appeal to bargain hunters: All books except the rare tomes will be half of their originally ridiculously low price on Sunday. ■

THE MESA TRIBUNE | JANUARY 30, 2022

VOTE PLUMBSMART

2022 BEST OF MESA

FREE 25 $

SERVICE CALL

OFF REPAIR

EXPERT, FAST & AFFORDABLE • Sewer & Drain Cleaning • Water Heater Repair & Replace • Home Water Filtration Systems • Kitchen & Bath Installations

BESTOF

2021

Over 1,000 Five-Star Reviews

• Slab Leak Detection & Repair • Reroutes & Whole House Repiping

480-405-7099

ROC #223709 ROC #289252 | ItsJustPlumbSmart.com

NEWS

THE MESA TRIBUNE | JANUARY 30, 2022

TEMPLE from page 1

rector for Mesa Temple events. “On that Easter morning, young men and women of the Mesa Maricopa Stake hosted a statewide convention, and the culminating event of this festive weekend was an Easter Sunrise Service on the grounds of the temple. From that time on, it became an annual event and a beloved community tradition, moving from sunrise to an evening production in 1977.” Canceled the last two years while the temple and its grounds underwent an exhaustive renovation, the pageant promises to be bigger – no small feat for what church spokeswoman Jennifer Wheeler said is already recognized as the world’s largest annual outdoor Easter pageant, drawing tens of thousands of people. Some aspects of the show remain unchanged. There is still a cast of about 400 men, women and children presenting the life of Jesus Christ. They’ll be wearing the same costumes others have worn in past presentations. But organizers also are adding a number of new features – some of which they are keeping under wraps for now. Indeed, among the upgrades is a new script and score written by writer-composed Rob Gardner, a Gilbert resident who has written and directed a number of works for stage and screen and most recently directed the movie “Lamb of God – The Concert Film.” He and pageant creative director Jenee Prince were in England last weekend to record the new score with the London Symphony Orchestra. “It’s been an intense last few months taking on the weighty task of writing a new soundtrack for the Easter Pageant,”

VINE from page 3

munity to institute the automated telephone notification for crime victims and other concerned citizens. Since 1994, VINE has helped more than 25 million victims and concerned citizens stay safe and informed, according to their website. The Glendale Police Department has used the VINE system for the past 15

With the light towers in place, crews have been setting up the stage at the Mesa Arizona Temple and will soon begin testing new props. (Photo by Richard Webb) Gardner said. “But the writing is done and I’m excited to record with the London Symphony Orchestra. Making music with them is always a thrilling experience, they bring such artistry and power to everything they perform.” Local singers and narrators will be recorded here. This week, work is getting underway on props and their operation – an area that Steve West, Temple Events Committee executive director, wasn’t about to discuss in detail. But he hinted that whatever in store will amaze audiences. “I can’t give away too much,” West said. “We want to premier this and be new to the world.” “Essentially, it’s a little different this year,” added West, who has been involved with the pageant for 10 years. “We’ve been designing the props for the last couple of months.” He said the next month will give stage managers a chance to work with the props so that scenes change flawlessly.

years at a cost of approximately $20,000 per year. Sgt. Randy Stewart, spokesman for Glendale Police Department, said they started using the system because notification of offender release is mandated by Arizona Victim Rights laws. He said the automated system ensures that victims are notified of an offender’s release in a timely and efficient manner and are completed via phone

“All of that is going to be happening for about four weeks before the actual performers come and begin to rehearse,” he said. “We have local volunteers who help us install the speakers and monitor the sound and the lights,” West said. “But we also have professionals who come and are actually employees of the church who help us.” “But with the updating of the script and the score, that’s also required some slight modifications to some of the lighting and the sound system.” West, Easter Pageant Committee Chairman Matt Riggs and about 100 volunteers also have been busy with the arduous task of finishing up the stage – which will now be on the temple’s east side, facing the redone temple grounds where 9,000 folding chairs will be set out for pageant spectators at 525 E. Main St. Although West wasn’t certain of the light towers’ weight, he said they were heavy enough to require the 50-ton crane.

call, email or letter if no phone number is provided. The system will call a victim every hour for a 24-hour period to ensure that victims received this notice. This automated system creates an efficient tracking mechanism for these attempted/completed notifications. A Tucson Police Department spokesperson said they switched over to the Victim Information Portal system by SPIDR

Besides the four light towers resting in the “bowl,” two more will stand at the north and south ends of the stage – a gift from another temple in Utah. “Those are improvements over what we had,” West said. “We had light towers before that were actually affixed to the stage… So that helps us to have light that we can project out into the crowd or even more back onto the stage – either way.” The stage itself “is sort of a hybrid of the old and new” and has been reconfigured so that there’s more surface area for the cast. Parts of that stage were made by Gallagher Staging and Manufacturing in California while other parts are stored in a giant warehouse on Southern Avenue in Mesa. The stage was new enough that in 2019, it was set up and given a trial run before landscaping was completed “so that we could make sure we had the right locations” for massive concrete footings that had to be poured,” West explained. The steel foundations are bolted to those footings, the biggest of which have specially developed trays for dirt and grass that are used when the stage is dismantled, hiding most of the concrete. As for the content of the presentation itself, West said “90% of it is drawn from the King James Version of the Bible.” “With any production,” he added, “you have to take some liberties because you have to make things transition (on stage), but we’ve tried very diligently to make this so that it has appeal to a wide Christian audience.” And that goes right to the purpose of why organizers go through all this work, said Prince, explaining, “Our purpose is to bring others closer to the Savior. We want others to get to know Him, to feel His love and to feel more hope and peace.” ■

approximately two years ago and that it works similar to the VINE system. This system notifies a victim via phone and/or email when a suspect has been arrested and from the Pima County Sheriff’s Department when the arrestee has been released from jail. “It has also been a great tool in providing information on orders of protection as well as different resources for those victims,” a spokesman said. ■

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

NEWS

THE MESA TRIBUNE | JANUARY 30, 2022

State board ponders action against 2 Mesa ex-cops BY CECILIA CHAN Tribune Staff Writer

state integrity board banned a former Gilbert cop from ever carrying a gun and badge in Arizona and considered action against two Mesa officers. The Arizona Peace Officer Standards and Training Board Jan. 19 unanimously voted to revoke former Gilbert cop John Strickland’s certification. The board voted in August to begin proceedings against Strickland. Strickland resigned last June in lieu of termination from Gilbert Police. Strickland’s estranged wife was granted an order of protection last April after he sent her “violent and threatening email messages,” according to AZPost. His wife left the marriage because he continued with an extramarital affair with a family friend. Strickland contested but a judge upheld the order and denied the veteran cop from possessing a firearm and ammunition even while performing his peace-officer duties. At the time, Strickland also sent a threat-

ening message to another woman, who had accused him of conspiring to have her brother arrested and later sentenced for assaulting his wife. Her brother was married to the woman that Strickland was having an affair with, according to AZPost. The board also reviewed the cases of former Mesa police officers Nathan Chisler and Jonathan Swanson. The board comprises law-enforcement and civilian members who are responsible for establishing and maintaining standards of integrity, competence and professionalism for peace officers and correctional officers in Arizona. Chisler made the news for the non-fatal shooting of Randy Sewell, an unarmed and unruly man at a local sports bar in December 2019. Mesa Police fired Chisler in 2020. The Maricopa County Attorney’s Office filed criminal aggravated assault charge against Chisler but a judge dismissed it stating there was insufficient probable cause to proceed, said William Caldwell, compliance specialist at the meeting. Caldwell said Chisler was challenging his termination via the civil-service process.

Sewell, who was shot twice by Chisler, had a number of criminal charges dropped by the time he went to trial and was acquitted by a jury of the remaining charge of resisting arrest, Caldwell added. Board Director Heston Silbert said he was growing concerned with some of the use-of-force cases coming before them. He noted that there was probable cause to effect an arrest of Sewell to the point the county district attorney was willing to take it to trial, “which is making quite the statement.” “This thing has gone through the judicial process, departments have their policies as to what’s in policy, what’s out of policy,” said Silbert, a colonel with Arizona Department of Public Safety. “And for lots of agencies it’s arbitrary and capricious to say the least.” He questioned why Chisler’s case was sent to an administrative law judge to discern the facts when Mesa Police felt he violated policy and should be the one making the determination if the officer is employed with the department or not. “I think we are starting to have these

dynamic situations where split-second decisions are made,” Silbert said. “I’m not saying he acted properly or improperly. I wasn’t standing in his shoes. “It’s nice for people to sit in air-conditioned offices and sit up here in these rooms that are nice and peaceful and tranquil when we have officers out there making split-second decisions.” He reiterated that he was not agreeing or disagreeing with what Chisler did and again stressed that Mesa Police should be dealing with the issue. “If we start becoming the officer-involved-shooting review committee for every police agency than I think we probably need to revisit what our mission is here,” Silbert said. Silbert questioned why the board was even looking at the case when it should be up to the Mesa Police to determine if Chisler did something wrong and if criminal, up to the county district attorney. Executive Director Matt Giordano said AZPost was notified Chisler was termi-

see POST page 15

FREE!

Valid at the Rudy’s Chandler, Gilbert and Goodyear locations only. Not valid with any other promotion. Coupon must be presented with purchase. Only one coupon used per visit. Expires: 5/1/2022

10% OFF group meals or catering!

Valid at the Rudy’s Chandler, Gilbert and Goodyear locations only. Not valid with any other promotion. Coupon must be presented with purchase. Only one coupon used per visit. Expires: 5/1/2022

Buy one sandwich & get another one

FREE!

Valid at the Rudy’s Chandler, Gilbert and Goodyear locations only. Not valid with any other promotion. Coupon must be presented with purchase. Only one coupon used per visit. Expires: 5/1/2022

NEWS

THE MESA TRIBUNE | JANUARY 30, 2022

Mesa OKs $8.1 million post office renovation BY GARY NELSON Tribune Correspondent

t has taken two decades, but Mesa finally seems to know what to do with its old downtown post office. The Depression-era building at 26 N. Macdonald, and its 1959 addition, will become a community events venue called The Post, thanks to an $8.4 million renovation project approved by the City Council on Jan. 24. There was nothing easy about getting to this point. It was a very big deal in 1937 for the little town of 6,000 people to get its own post office, a handsome edifice built in a style known as Federal Moderne. Despite its expansion 22 years later, the building soon became inadequate for the booming community, and a larger central post office was built on North Center Street. The federal government used the old building as office space for a while, but finally gave it to the city in 2002 with the provision that it be used for public purposes. Mesa thought it had an answer about 10 years ago. The Mesa Historical Museum, eager to move from its out-of-the-way digs in the

LEFT: The long-abandoned post office in Mesa will become a community events venue once a $8.1 million renovation is completed. RIGHT: The dedication of Mesa’s first post office nearly 85 years ago was a big deal, as this photo from the old Tribune-Journal shows. (Tribune file photo) Lehi neighborhood, proposed using the federal building for a new type of museum that would use historical perspectives to cast light on the future. But after spending more than $600,000 on demolition, the city got cold feet. When the historical museum could not demonstrate that its proposal wouldn’t bleed money, work stopped. The historical museum has since revived its Lehi campus, with a more traditional approach. The federal building,

meanwhile, has remained a gutted shell, although the nearby Arizona Museum of Natural History has used the basement for storage. In 2012 and 2018, Mesa voters approved general-obligation bond packages that specifically included money for the federal building. That’s where the $8.4 million is coming from. The city chose Gilbert-based ForeSite Design and Construction Inc. from among 10 firms that submitted statements of

qualification last winter. ForeSite already has completed design work and has developed a construction timetable. All three floors will be renovated. The basement will continue to be used for storage, and the second floor will become office space. The first floor will offer 8,000 square feet for public events. New signage and landscaping will spiff up the exterior. Once under way, Mesa expects the renovation to take about a year. ■

believe, what they think,’’ she said. And Ugenti-Rita said candidates having an “R,” “D” or whatever behind their names will make a difference. “Having to identify yourself with your party helps communicate to a potential voter where you stand,’’ she said. “And that voter can ask questions.’’ Pace, who has on occasion balked at toeing the party line, said that is based on the faulty assumption that those who are registered Republican, as he is, will all vote the same. Tuesday’s vote, however, may not be the end of the issue of protecting protest rights. Sen. Christine Marsh, D-Phoenix, said she recognizes that parents and others have been abused by school boards who want to keep protesters far away. “I, too, have been relegated to street corners,’’ she said. And Marsh indicated that

she would support a resurrected version of the measure – one without changing how school board elections are conducted. Ugenti-Rita wants an exemption from state laws that make it a crime to interfere with operation of an educational institution if people are engaged in “peaceful protesting after school hours.’’ It also spells out that those who want to protest do not have to first obtain a permit or any other permission from the local school board. The vote by the Senate Education Committee comes amid heightened tensions both in Arizona and nationally as school boards debate controversial issues ranging from masking and remote learning to teaching of what some refer to as “critical race theory.’’ That has at times resulted in protests by parents unhappy with the decisions being made by board members.

Ugenti-Rita said there have been situations where school boards call police to have protesters removed from the campus. A Phoenix man was arrested last summer after becoming unruly during a Chandler Unified Governing Board meeting. “So we were not allowed to protest on the property,’’ she told colleagues. And that, Ugenti-Rita said, undermines the reason for turning out in the first place. “The whole point is that they see you, we make some eye contact, they read the sign that I made with my daughter, which is why my whole kitchen is full of glitter,’’ she said. “I want you to know that I’m there, I want you to see me, I want you to see the numbers.’’ And the issue, said Ugenti-Rita, is not academic.

Panel defeats partisan school board races bill

BY HOWARD FISCHER Capitol Media Services

tate senators last week quashed legislation designed to ensure that parents and others can protest outside school board meetings without fear of arrest. SB 1010 was killed on a 4-4 vote as Sen. Tyler Pace, R-Mesa, sided with the three Democrats on the Senate Education Committee who were opposed to the measure. But what apparently killed the legislation was not so much the questions about protest rights but a bid by its sponsor, Sen. Michelle Ugenti-Rita, R-Scottsdale, to also convert all future school board races to partisan affairs. She said that is designed to address a problem with the current system. “I’m not sure that parents know exactly what these school board members

see BOARD page 15

THE MESA TRIBUNE | JANUARY 30, 2022

VOTE FOR US FOR BEST AUDIOLOGY IN THIS YEAR’S BEST OF MESA 2022! HEARING AIDS • HEARING PROTECTION • HEARING TESTING

Vote for US! BESTOF

2022 Cassandra Fynes Roger Knighton Au.D, CCC-A M.N.S., CCC-A

VOTE NOW!

2058 S. Dobson Rd., Ste 9 Mesa, Arizona 85202

480-456-0176

fynesaudiology.com

VOTE FOR

BEST LUNCH UNDER $7.00 (Total Bill)

LIBERTY ARTS ACADEMY

Vote For Us For Best Seafood & Local Burger In This Year’s Best Of Mesa 2022!

FOR BEST CHARTER, PRESCHOOL & PLACE TO WORK!

THE ORIGINAL FISH & CHIPS Family Owned & Operated Since 1947

Pete’s Has Been Serving Deep Fried Goodness For Over 75 Years!

Best Local Burger

Best Seafood

22 South Mesa Drive, Mesa • 480.964.7242 3920 South Central, Phoenix • 602.268.1828 1017 East Apache Blvd, Tempe • 480.968.6265 4121 North 44th Street, Phoenix • 602.840.0630

Best Seafood

1111 East Buckeye, Phoenix • 602.252.9341 5516 West Glendale Avenue, Glendale • 623.937.6001 2628 West Van Buren, Phoenix • 602.278.3351 9309 West Van Buren, Tolleson • 623.936.3111

Our Prices Can’t Be Beat! 8 Convenient Locations Drive-Thru/Take-Out Our Specialty

www.petesfishandchips.com

3015 S Power Rd. Mesa, AZ 85212 480.830.3444 libertyartsacademy.com

NEWS

THE MESA TRIBUNE | JANUARY 30, 2022

Volunteers hit Mesa streets for homeless count BY JOSH ORTEGA Tribune Staff Writer

olunteers arrived bright and early last week to help with the Maricopa Association of Governments 2022 Point-In-Time Homeless Street Count. This year’s canvas on Jan. 25 was the first in two years because last year’s event was canceled due to the pandemic. Mayor John Giles, Vice Mayor Jenn Duff and Councilmen Mark Freeman, Francisco Heredia and David Luna met with volunteers at 5 a.m. at the Salvation at 241 E. Sixth St. before they hit the streets. The Homeless Street Count is required for cities, such as Mesa, to receive federal funding for homeless assistance, according to a press release. The survey helps local governments and nonprofit organizations more effectively allocate resources necessary to meet the needs of the homeless population. Volunteers use a mobile app that has them ask questions to anyone who appears to be experiencing homelessness. This allows them to gather information by demo-

GRADUATION from page 1

The district already offers the five options that will comprise Graduation Plus: Industry Certifications, Work-based Learning, Earned College Credit, Advanced Diploma designations, and College-Career Action Plans. However, the separate programs have been managed through several different departments, schools and organizations. Parents and students alike have commented on how difficult it is to find information about the programs online, and there has been no concerted effort to call attention to the options available to students. “I think there might be a low [participation rate] in the current programs because [families] just don’t know what there is,” said board member Lara Ellingson. Loria explained that Graduation Plus will offer a “one-stop-shop” with a website,mpsaz.org/graduationplus, that details the program and the options. “We can really start aligning our resources in this package that [gives] students the opportunity to graduate high school with a diploma plus one or more

ing. “A lot of times you won’t see families,” she said. “Families don’t want to be found.” She said much of the time it’s a concern for their own safety but it makes it hard to include them in the count as well as get Volunteers were briefed by city officials before they took off to find people living on Mesa streets. (Delia Johnson/City of Mesa) them the services they need. graphic and GPS location across all MariMichelle Albanese, Housing and Comcopa County. munity Development director for the city, Chela Schuster has volunteered on-and- called the event “very successful.” off with the count for the past 15 years, “We have noticed there’s been an inbut this was the first time she’s volun- crease in the number of families that are teered in Mesa. recently homeless due to the pandemic While volunteers see many types of peo- and youth aging out of the foster care sysple affected by homelessness, there’s one tem,” she said. set of the population she has trouble findShe said the count is an easy way to taiof these designations,” she said. “And that is what’s super exciting about this work.” Although currently focused on the high school, the district plans to integrate the program in junior high and elementary school, as well, targeting efforts to help students discover their personal strengths and needs and then providing opportunities for them to develop the required knowledge, skills and expectations throughout their K-12 years. “Begin with the end in mind,” quoted Loria, referencing Steven Covey’s Seven Habits of Highly Effective People. “We know that this work does not begin in high school; the continuum starts in elementary school… but let’s get our high school programming solid…and then start drilling down.” The various “pluses” in the program are: Industry certifications. All Career and Technical Education programs that are offered through Mesa Public Schools and the East Valley Institute of Technology offer industry recognized certifications. Work-based learning: Work-based learning engages employers and schools in providing meaningful and relevant

learning experiences, essential skills and attitudes. Mesa Public Schools is currently working with ElevateEdAZ, Mesa Chamber of Commerce, City of Mesa, Center for the Future of Arizona, Pathways to Prosperity Network, and Jobs for the Future to create meaningful opportunities for students and adult learners within the city. Earned college credit: MPS works collaboratively with Mesa Community College to offer *dual enrollment classes. Certain high school courses may count as college classes where the student can earn high school and college credit. In addition, MPS and MCC offer the Early College Academy where students take classes at a MCC campus. Students also can earn college credit through Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate coursework. Advanced diploma designations: Rigorous educational pathways provide students the opportunity to demonstrate proficiency in related coursework by completing additional examinations along with extracurricular tasks. Students have the option to earn Advanced Diploma Seals, approved by the Arizona

lor resources and get people the help they need to get off the streets. Albanese said the city’s Housing Path to Recovery program is one of many resources available to those they encounter. It puts people experiencing homelessness on a step-by-step path from emergency shelter to permanent supportive housing. According to the city website, the program offers people approximately eight weeks of shelter at a hotel and then moves them onto to more permanent housing. The city also just approved a new oneyear $1.2 million contract for the Off the Streets program that leases hotel rooms for people experiencing homelessness including 150 beds. The contract is funded by the American Rescue Plan Act, according to the city council agenda on Jan. 24. The results of the Point-in-Time Count won’t be known for some time but trends in past years have shown a steady increase in overall numbers across the Valley. “I’m interested to see what we’re going to learn from the data,” Mayor Giles said. “It’s hard to imagine that the pandemic will not have had an impact.” ■

State Board of Education, in the areas of bi-literacy and arts proficiency. Students can also earn designations in the following areas: Advanced Placement Capstone, Advanced Government and History Designation, Advanced STEM designation, AVID, International Baccalaureate Diploma, International Baccalaureate Career Profile Certificate, MPS Advanced Honor for Excellence in Academics Seal, MPS Seal of Musical Excellence, and Honor for Excellence in Service Learning Seal. College/Career Action Plan: Students have the opportunity to graduate high school with an Education and Career Action Plan. ECAP is a portfolio of work that empowers students to create meaningful and individualized goals for college, career, and community success. The Opportunity and Achievement Department works with counselors and teachers to integrate learning opportunities that help students develop their ECAP so that when they graduate high school, they have a clear understanding of who they are, what they want to do and how they are going to get there. ■

THE MESA TRIBUNE | JANUARY 30, 2022 PAID ADVERTISEMENT

PERIPHERAL NEUROPATHY AND CHRONIC PAIN WARNING!

China Before Communism

Our clinic is taking every precaution and we follow strict CDC guidelines to ensure that our patients, clinic and staff are SAFE! Mesa, AZ — The most common method your doctor will recommend to treat your chronic pain and/or neuropathy is with prescription drugs that may temporarily reduce your symptoms. These drugs have names such as Gabapentin, Lyrica, Cymbalta, and Neurontin, and are primarily antidepressant or anti-seizure drugs. These drugs may cause you to feel uncomfortable and have a variety of harmful side effects. Chronic pain and/or peripheral neuropathy is a result of damage to the nerves often causing weakness, pain, numbness, tingling, and the most debilitating balance problems. This damage is commonly caused by a lack of blood flow to the nerves in the hands and feet which causes the nerves to begin to degenerate due to lack of nutrient flow.

determined after a detailed neurological and vascular evaluation. As long as you have not sustained at least 95% nerve damage there is hope!

Fig. 2

NOTE: Once you have sustained 95% nerve loss, there is likely nothing that we can do for you. 3) How much treatment will your condition require?

Aspen Medical will do a chronic pain and neuropathy severity examination to determine the extent of the nerve damage as a public service to you and/or your family and friends. This neuropathy/ pain severity examination will consist of a detailed sensory evaluation, extensive peripheral vascular testing, and a detailed analysis of the findings of your neuropathy.

The treatment that is provided at Aspen Medical has three main goals. 1) Increase blood flow 2) Stimulate and increase small fiber nerves

BOARD from page brain-based 8 3) Decrease pain

The treatment to increase blood flow, stimulate small nerve fibers and get you back to health is our new $50,000.00 SANEXAS UNIT!

As you can see in Figure 2, as the blood vessels that surround the nerves become diseased they shrivel up which causes the nerves to not get the nutrients to continue to survive. When these nerves begin to “die” they cause you to have balance problems, pain, numbness, tingling, burning, and many additional symptoms. The main problem is that your doctor has told you to just live with the problem or try the drugs which you don’t like taking because they make you feel uncomfortable. There is now a facility right here in Mesa that offers you hope without taking those endless drugs with serious side effects. (See the special neuropathy severity examination at the end of this article) In order to effectively treat your neuropathy three factors must be determined. 1) What is the underlying cause? 2) How much nerve damage has been sustained.

In addition, we use a state-of-the-art diagnostics like the TM Flow diagnostic unit to accurately determine the increase in blood flow and a small skin biopsy to accurately determine the increase in small nerve fibers! The Sanexas electric cell signaling system delivers energy to the affected area of your body at varying wavelengths, including both low-frequency and middle-frequency signals. It also uses amplitude modulated (AM) and frequency modulated (FM) signaling. During a treatment session, the Sanexas system automatically changes to simultaneously deliver AM and FM electric cell signal energy. THE GREAT NEWS IS THAT SANEXAS IS COVERED BY MEDICARE AND MOST INSURANCE! Depending on your coverage, your treatment could be little to no cost to you! The amount of treatment needed to allow the nerves to fully recover varies from person to person and can only be

Aspen Medical will be offering this chronic pain and neuropathy severity examination from now until February 28, 2022. Call 480274-3157 to make an appointment to determine if your chronic pain and peripheral neuropathy can be successfully treated. Due to our very busy office schedule, we are limiting this FREE consultation offer to the first 15 callers. YOU DO NOT HAVE TO SUFFER ANOTHER MINUTE, CALL Call 480-274-3157 … NOW! We are extremely busy and if your call goes to our voicemail, please leave a message and we will get back to you asap.

480-274-3157 4540 E Baseline Rd., Suite 119 Mesa Az 85206

“A fascinating insight into what China’s culture used to be and what I hope one day will be restored to China.” —Edward McMillan-Scott, former Vice-President of the European Parliament

“It is breathtaking! I am walking away deeply inspired and profoundly moved!” —Rita Cosby, Emmy Award-winning journalist

“Powerful choreography... Truly magical. A must-see!” —IN New York magazine

FEB 26–27

TUCSON MUSIC HALL

MAR 2–6

PHOENIX ORPHEUM

Order Tickets Today : ShenYun.com/AZ

MAR 10–13

MESA ARTS CENTER

800-880-0188

NEWS

THE MESA TRIBUNE | JANUARY 30, 2022

Fine upheld for campaign attack on former Mesa mayor BY HOWARD FISCHER Capitol Media Services

he state Court of Appeals has upheld a fine imposed on a group that spent $260,000 attacking former Mesa Mayor Scott Smith and a 2014 foe of Doug Ducey in his first gubernatorial campaign. In a split decision, the judges said the record shows that the Legacy Foundation Action Fund waited too long before appealing a more-than-$95,000 fine imposed by the Citizens Clean Elections Commission over its commercials targeting Smith. In fact, Judge Randall Howe pointed out that even the state Supreme Court upheld that finding. Undeterred, attorneys for the conservative political fund then opened a new legal front, arguing that the commission didn’t have any legal authority to impose the fine in the first place. But the majority of the appellate judges said Legacy showed no “manifest abuse of authority’’ that would now allow it to pursue a new lawsuit after having missed the deadline to appeal the original fine. And that, they said, means it forfeited any right to make new arguments. There was no immediate response from attorneys for the foundation. The case stems from a commercial that ran in early 2014 when Smith was pursuing the Republican gubernatorial nomination. Produced by the Legacy Foundation, it noted that Smith, who was mayor of Mesa, also was president of the U.S. Conference of Mayors. More to the point, it focused on some of the stands the conference had taken. “They fully endorsed Obamacare from the start,’’ the commercial said. And it said the conference supported the Obama administration’s efforts to regulate carbon emissions and “backed the president’s proposal to limit our Second Amendment rights.’’ It even featured photos of Smith placed next to pictures of a smiling Obama. But Arizona law requires anyone who seeks to influence an election to publicly

disclose the spending. The Legacy Foundation, however, did not, leading to a complaint against it by the Clean Elections Commission. Jason Torchinsky, one of the attorneys for the fund, argued there was nothing improper about the commercial. He said it was not designed to influence the election but simply to “educate” Arizonans about Smith. And Torchinsky noted that the ad made no reference to Smith’s race against Ducey nor even to Smith’s status as a candidate. The commission concluded otherwise, saying it was an attempt to affect the Republican gubernatorial primary, noting the commercial ran just as Smith was stepping down as Mesa mayor to launch his statewide campaign. And the panel imposed that $95,460 fine. Legacy’s first lawsuit was thrown out by a trial judge for failing to appeal within 14 days as required by law. That decision was upheld by the Arizona Supreme Court in 2018. But the justices said they were not ruling on whether Legacy could attack the fine with an alternate legal theory. The result was this case, with attorneys for Legacy raising new arguments about why it was never required to disclose the spending and, by extension, why it doesn’t have to pay the fine. Some of this is was a rehash of the original arguments. Attorney Brian Bergin argued that the commission, in concluding the purpose of the commercial was to affect the 2014 GOP primary, ignored the plain language of what viewers saw. “The Arizona advertisement discusses issues: government spending, Second Amendment rights, and the regulation of carbon emissions,’’ Bergin wrote, while telling viewers the policies “are wrong for Mesa’’ and urging them to call Smith “and tell him to support policies that are good for Mesa.’’ But Tom Collins, the commission’s executive director, said that ignores other facts. He pointed out that the positions taken by mayor’s organization – the ones that Legacy Foundation said it was

Former Mayor Scott Smith, seen here campaigning for governor in 2014 with former Gov. Jan Brewer, was unfairly targeted by a group supporting Gov. Doug Ducey during that run, a court ruled. (Capitol Media Services) educating Mesa voters about – all were taken before Smith became president of the group. And then there was the fact that by the time the commercials aired Smith was no longer its president. But he was running for governor. “Taken together, allegations (about Smith) that were not correct, the timing of the ad and other factors, there’s really no way to see the ad as anything other than what it is: an attack ad designed to urge folks to vote against Mayor Smith for the Republican gubernatorial nomination in 2014 because he was ‘Obama’s favorite mayor,’ ‘’ Collins said. Bergin also told the Court of Appeals there was a key flaw in the commission’s case against his client. He contends that the commission is required to identify the candidate that the commercial was made “by or on behalf of.’’ “Legacy is certainly not a candidate and

was not working “on behalf of’’ any candidate,’’ Bergin said. The appellate court rejected that claim, saying Legacy showed no “manifest abuse of authority’’ that would allow it a second try to overturn the fine. Howe similarly dismissed Bergin’s contention that only the secretary of state has the power to enforce campaign finance laws and not the commission which was created by voters in 1998. And the court rebuffed arguments that it should allow Legacy to effectively re-litigate the issue by claiming that the rules on campaign finance reporting infringed on the organization’s free speech rights. “This is not a situation in which a litigant had no earlier opportunity to litigate the agency’s jurisdiction,’’ Howe wrote. Collins said that Legacy still hasn’t paid the fine. He said interest is continuing to accumulate but could not provide a specific figure ■

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

THE MESA TRIBUNE | JANUARY 30, 2022

tune up your smile with the doc that rocks! VOTED BEST DENTIST IN Chandler AND BEST OF THE BEST! BESTOF

BESTOF

2021

2020

Chan

dler

• Gilb e

rt • M esa

, great DENTISTry. that s how we roll. 480.899.4477 chandler, az

••

THE MESA TRIBUNE | JANUARY 30, 2022

Insurance Professionals of Arizona VOTE FOR US for Best Insurance Agent/Agency in this year’s Best of Mesa!

Rates That Make You Happy

   

Quotes from A rated carriers A Personalized Quote Experience Home, Auto, Life & Business Easy to change insurance carriers

For A Quote Call: (480)981-6338 Sponsored by:

Vote for US! BESTOF

2022

VOTE NOW!

We believe everyone should have a clean home without having to sacrifice their time. Visit our website to request information. VOTE FOR US FOR BEST CLEANING SERVICE!

We have 500+ five star Google reviews



3521 E Brown Rd. #101 Mesa, AZ, 85213 Phone 480-981-6338 InsuranceProAZ.com

Vote for US! BESTOF

2022

VOTE NOW!

806-282-8373 | dm-az.com

SCAN TO VOTE!

KAREN HESTER as DOLLY PARTON

DARLIN’ COMPANION

Winner of Jimmy Fallon’s CLASH OF THE COVER BANDS as Best Tribute Artist in the U.S.

KING IN CONCERT ‘68 Combeack Special

Direct from 13 sold-out weeks in Kansas City!

Saturday, February 5

Friday, February 18

Saturday, March 5

Johnny & June Carter Cash

NEWS

THE MESA TRIBUNE | JANUARY 30, 2022

POST from page 7

nated for misconduct over the shooting, which triggered a board review. Chairman Mark Dannels, Cochise County sheriff, said that even Mesa Police’s Firearm Training Unit didn’t believe Chisler violated policy. “I think we need to be very careful on this,” Dannels said, adding with the dynamics in the landscape of policing right now that the board doesn’t “get overreaching.” Giordano pointed out that staff recognizing it was a unique situation, made no recommendation for the board regarding Chisler and was looking for direction on how to handle these types of cases in the future. The board voted to send the case “back to agency discretion with Mesa Police.” Professor Kevin Robinson, an Arizona State University professor was the sole dissenter. Former Mesa cop Swanson’s case involved his arrest for a DUI in May 2020. He was off duty in his personal vehicle when he hit a tree in front of a home in his neighborhood at 11 p.m. after consuming an unknown quantity of beer, according to Darcy Nichols, a compliance specialist. He gave his driver's license to the homeowners and repeatedly asked them not to call police, Nichols said, adding that Swanson also identified himself as a cop. Swanson’s demeanor and his failure to honor the homeowners’ request to keep his distance from the woman occupant caused the male homeowner to retrieve a baseball bat for protection, Nichols said.

BOARD from page 8

“I’ve experienced it,’’ she said. “They call the cops,’’ Ugenti-Rita continued. And the whole ability of school boards to kick protesters off of property “gets weaponized and gets used as a tool.’’ Other lawmakers said it’s not that simple, what with issues of liability to the district if something happens on school property. Marsh suggested that one option would be to require those who want to protest on campus to get a permit and get insurance, just like anyone else who wants to have an event on school property. But Ugenti-Rita said protests often happen on

Swanson was asked to leave and returned home less than half a mile away, where he continued drinking alcohol, Nichols said. The homeowners called 911 and Mesa Police showed up to find Swanson standing in his driveway holding a beer, about 47 minutes after the accident, she added. Officers observed signs and symptoms of alcohol consumption and called a motor officer to the scene to do a DUI investigation. While waiting for the motor officer, Swanson repeatedly disobeyed orders and continued drinking and attempted to smoke a cigarette, according to Nichols. At one point, Swanson crouched and lunged with balled fists at an officer, who flinched, thinking he was going to be hit, she added. Seeing the officer’s reaction, Swanson laughed and hugged the officer, she added. Swanson was arrested for a DUI and was more than double the legal limit of 0.08 BAC. During a department investigation, Swanson explained he only identified himself as a cop to show homeowners he was not a bad guy and that he asked them not to call police because the accident was a civil matter. He also told investigators that the accident was caused because he was on the phone. The investigation found Swanson violated polices, including conduct unbecoming of an officer, DUI, using authority of position for financial gain or for obtaining privileges or favors. Swanson submitted a resignation letter May 5, 2021 and the department fired him days later on May 8.

Swanson pleaded guilty to one court of reckless driving on Sept. 8 in Mesa City Court, prompting a judge to dismiss the DUI and tampering with evidence charges, Nichols said. Silbert said in regards to the tampering with evidence charge, did “they clarify the fact that he went home to drink alcohol to camouflage the fact that he was already impaired?” Nichols said Swanson was asked about that but he claimed he went home and was drinking because he was “so upset” by the accident. The board took the staff’s recommendation and voted to initiate proceedings against Swanson’s peace-officer certification. In another DUI matter, former Scottsdale officer Greg Loveless was observed running a red light at 70th Street and Osborn Road while off duty in his personal vehicle at 10:30 p.m., Jan. 16, 2021, according to Bradshaw. A Scottsdale officer in a marked patrol car with lights and sirens activated attempted to stop Loveless for the violation. Loveless, however, continued driving east and went through two more red lights, after which the officer gave up on the attempted traffic stop, Bradshaw said. An on-duty sergeant and lieutenant recognized the license plate number and attempted to contact Loveless on his personal cell phone later that evening, he added. They also attempted to make contact at two known addresses for Loveless but were unsuccessful. Scottsdale Police then conducted an internal and criminal investigations of Loveless, Bradshaw said. It was discovered that Loveless’ cell phone was in the area at the time police

short notice, such as after parents see a particular item on a school board agenda and then reach out to others to express their opposition. “The whole point of spontaneous protest is it’s spontaneous,’’ said Sen. Paul Boyer, R-Glendale. Marsh, for her part, remained unconvinced. And at least part of that is based on what is considered “peaceful’’ and automatically allowed. As crafted, SB 1010 says a protest is peaceful if it does “not pose an obvious threat to persons,’’ does not damage property, and does not interfere with or disrupt activities on school property where a school board or other

meeting is taking place. “Who defines ‘peaceful’?’’ Marsh asked. Ugenti-Rita conceded that there is no good hard-and-fast line. “You kind of know it when you see it,’’ she responded. The real heartburn for some lawmakers was over partisan elections. “‘Partisanship’ shouldn’t be a dirty word,’’ Ugenti-Rita said. But Sen. T.J. Shope, R-Phoenix, pointed to the 12 years he served on the Coolidge school board. He said had elections been partisan affairs it is unlikely that the community, with its Democratic edge, would ever have supported him.■

attempted to stop his vehicle. Through a search warrant the phone’s tracked route matched the route that Loveless took, according to Bradshaw. Investigators also learned that Loveless was speaking to a friend on his personal cell phone that night, which confirmed he was in possession of the phone, he added. Loveless admitted to investigators he was driving his vehicle on the night of the attempted traffic stop And “he admitted to drinking six to eight beers from the time period of 9 p.m. to 10 p.m., which is just prior to the attempted traffic stop,” Bradshaw said. “Officer Loveless admitted that he was panicked and used bad judgment. When asked if he was intoxicated, he stated ‘sure’ and then stated '100 percent.’” Charges of unlawful flight and reckless driving were submitted to the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office, which declined to prosecute. Bradshaw said, adding Loveless was fired by Scottsdale Police. The board unanimously voted on staff’s recommendation to initiate proceedings, which could include suspension or revocation of Loveless’s certification. ■

MENDOZA Cleaning & Sanitization General Cleaning, Laundry & More 1 time • weekly bi-weekly • monthly Ask about Windows & Sanitization Services

FREE ESTIMATES Call Mireya Mendoza Now!

480-259-0935

••

THE MESA TRIBUNE | JANUARY 30, 2022

great design excellent quality exceptional value

since

Everett multi-purpose storage unit is perfect as an audio/video cabinet, low side board or very practical console. Beautifully done in natural walnut. 78.75” x 17.75” x 23.5”h. $1489 $

come experience the

essentials collection

1095

The Essentials Collection by Copenhagen, a dynamic compilation of ever changing merchandise, as we work with both current and new manufacturers from around the world. The concept is based on quality products of good design and exceptionally strong value that will be offered every single day. No waiting for any special promotions! In fact, Essentials will be so aggressively priced that these items will be excluded from any other Copenhagen or manufacturer sponsored promotions. These specially priced items are only available in select finishes and quantities may be limited, so hurry in for best selection. Essentials... great design, excellent quality and exceptional value. Kasper extension table in teak. Cleverly hidden leaves extend from under the top at either end to create more space when needed. 35” x 55” and extends to 102”. $995 $

795

Jakob side chair in teak. $395 $ each

299

The Solace Soho desk in winter grey or natural walnut. White lacquer available soon. 47” x 26” x 30” h $749 $

The March sofa series, 100% made in Italy and Karma console table doubles easily as a unique 100% all leather. side board. From stock as shown with polished A well built, steel uprights, clear glass top and natural walnut. comfortable sofa Also available in a winter grey finish. that complements 63” x 16” x 31”high. any contemporary $1499 $ interior. Available in black or light grey. Sofa $1699

599

1199

1359 Loveseat $1629

1299

Tammy two-seat power recline sofa by Incanto of Italy. Fine top-grain leather in either light brown (shown) or grey. $4550 $

3585

contemporary furniture & accessories

PHOENIX 1701 E. Camelback 602-266-8060 SCOTTSDALE 15804 N. Scottsdale Rd. (South of Bell) 480-367-6401 GILBERT 2000 S. Santan Village Parkway (west of Mall) 480-838-3080

www.copenhagenliving.com

COMMUNITY

THE MESA TRIBUNE | JANUARY 30, 2022

TheMesaTribune.com |

@EVTNow

/EVTNow

Lottery grant helps MCC further seed, butterfly projects TRIBUNE NEWS STAFF

hanks to a grant from the Arizona Lottery, Mesa Community College has sprouted a seed project to engage students, nurture a butterfly initiative and launch native plant programs to benefit wildlife and the community. MCC geography and sustainability Professor Dr. Niccole Cerveny said the $4,500 grant funded the college’s American Indian Science and Engineering Society project testing soil composition throughout the Dine reservation for its ability to support plant growth. The AISES students also planted the traditional “three sisters plants” – corn, squash and beans – in the MCC greenhouse. The remaining grant money was used to create a 30-plant ethnobotanical garden at the MCC Red Mountain Campus, which has built a reputation for the lush native habitats throughout its 98 acres of

Sonoran Desert. The site cultivated with traditional plants is rooted in a sabbatical project by Scottsdale Community College library faculty Danielle Carlock, which was originally designed to distribute free edible plants from a campus garden. With the Arizona Lottery Gives Back Grant funds, it morphed into a native seed collaboration among four Maricopa Community Colleges campuses: MCC, SCC, GateWay Community College and Phoenix College. The seed collection strategy is to attach small mesh bags to immature seed pods so, as they mature, seeds are captured rather than be carried away by the wind or small mammals. Carlock, who gathered and directed the collecting of the seeds from around Arizona, said, “As urban areas expand, resi-

MCC student Barbara Kuffour collects seeds in the Tonto National Forest. (Courtesy of MCC)

see PLANTS page 18

Dobson High grad helps out alma mater TRIBUNE NEWS STAFF

J Jorge Franco helped chemistry students at his alma mater, Dobson High School, by getting his employer to donate a lab instrument. (Special to the Tribune)

orge Franco has long cherished his days at Dobson High School – especially since it planted the seeds for what is now a successful career. So when the Mesa man, a chemist at Tessenderlo Kerley, heard his former chemistry teacher’s department was in a bind, he got his company to help. Tessenderlo Kerley’s Phoenix Innovation Center gifted the school with an analytical balance – a highly-sensitive lab instrument designed to accurately measure mass. Franco had heard that Dobson’s analytical balance had broken a few years ago and was never replaced. Raymond Hayes, who has been teaching chemistry and science at Dobson since 2002, accepted the gift. “Mr. Hayes was ecstatic with the dona-

tion,” said Franco. “He was my teacher for college prep chemistry my sophomore year and for AP Chemistry my senior year. My experience in those classes helped guide and encourage me toward studying chemistry in college and toward my career in chemistry.” Franco graduated from Dobson in 2012 and earned a bachelor’s degree in biochemistry form Arizona State University in 2016. He has been a research and development chemist at Tessenderlo Kerley since 2018. Tessenderlo Kerley also made a recent donation to the University of Arizona, giving glassware and HPLC columns to Dr. Yeon Sun Lee, a Professor of Pharmacology, and Dr. Scott Cowell, a Professor of Environmental Science. HPLC, which stands for “high-perfor-

see CHEMIST page 18

COMMUNITY

THE MESA TRIBUNE | JANUARY 30, 2022

PLANTS from page 17

dential gardeners are taking on the role of creating wildlife-supporting habitat. “But there are few native seed and plant sources in Maricopa County. The Maricopa Native Seed Library was founded to help the community make the shift to more intentional gardening for wildlife through education and by increasing the availability of native plant seeds.” A Horizon Grant from Maricopa Center for Learning and Innovation helps pay for cultivating the Maricopa Native Seed Library by engaging students in hands-on education including service learning, civic engagement and undergraduate research. “Student interns are collecting, growing

CHEMIST from page 17

mance liquid chromatography,” is an analytical technique to separate, identify and quantify components in a mixture. Most laboratories around the world consider them to be essential. Tessenderlo Kerley Senior Research Chemist Sun Wallace and Chemist Crystal Arias helped facilitate the donation to the

and preparing seeds to distribute free to the public from the seed library,” said Cerveny. “They are involved in botany field research as well as processing in the lab and preparing products for the public. Plus, they are learning about each of the native plants from this area whose seeds they are collecting. The Red Mountain Campus library is our seed distribution site.” Another beneficiary of the seed grant is the Monarch at MCC Waystations Project. Seeds provided by the Library help community members and students plant and grow milkweed on campus and in the community. Milkweed plays a vital role in the life cycle of the monarch butterfly, a pollinator insect famed for its massive, 2,500-mile annual migrations. Plants do-

university. Paul Moran, research and development manager for Tessenderlo Kerley, said the items donated to Dobson High and the University of Arizona were no longer useful to his staff at the Innovation Center, but will be very valuable to students considering a career in chemistry. “During our re-organization at the Innovation Center we realized we had excess

nated by the Southwest Monarch Study are also developing this program. Danette Turner an MCC Center for Community & Civic Engagement staffer on the Red Mountain Campus, is spearheading the waystation project. “Our goal is not only to get students excited and having activities on campus but being able to take this into the surrounding community and work with municipalities and schools to raise awareness and encourage homeowners and businesses to plant milkweed and native pollinators,” said Turner. “During the Fall 2021 semester, we contacted the City of Mesa Parks and Recreation Department and one of our students took the seed project to 45 K-6, after-

materials and equipment that we will not be using,” Moran explained. “Jorge and Sun knew of educators who were in need and it made sense to pass these things along to benefit young people and the teachers and educators who work with them. It’s Tessenderlo Kerley’s way of fostering future chemists.” Tessenderlo Kerley, Inc. is part of Tessenderlo Group, founded in 1919 and the

What’s next Serving Arizonans in all forms of learning at all stages of life Ambition, curiosity, creativity and passion don’t fit in any one box. No matter who you are or how you learn, ASU is here to help you and your family. Our learning options are growing every day. Visit ASU for You to travel the world through virtual field trips, access research learning tools through the library; conduct experiments with K–college science labs; and enhance your professional skills with badge and certificate programs.

asuforyou.asu.edu

school program students at the Jefferson Gym and Recreation Center.” The MCC student, a biology major, spoke to the young students about monarchs, played games, read stories and demonstrated how to create a seed ball to plant in their own yards. Turner added that the cities of Mesa and Apache Junction have indicated they too want to work with MCC on future programs.

Open to the public, the MCC seed library is located within the Red Mountain Campus Library (mesacc.libguides.com/ redmountain). Call 480-654-7741 to see what seeds are available and the times to pick up the free seed packages. ■ descendent of The Kerley Chemical Company, founded in 1947 by four brothers who recognized a growing demand for sulfur products in Pecos, Texas, shortly after the end of World War II. Tessenderlo Kerley has become a leader in the production and marketing of specialty products used in crop nutrition and protection, mining and process chemical industries. ■

in learning?

COMMUNITY

THE MESA TRIBUNE | JANUARY 30, 2022

Jurassic Quest coming to Bell Bank Park TRIBUNE NEWS STAFF

Ready to help you woo your Valentine’s Day with a singing greeting are members of Interchangeable Parts, from left, Jim Meyers (tenor) from Gold Canyon; Roger Morrow (lead) from Gilbert; Jerry Fox (bass) from Chandler; Ken Brannon (baritone) from Mesa. (Special to the Tribune)

Mesa barbershop quartet ready for Valentine’s Day TRIBUNE NEWS TRIBUNE

ou can call your Valentine sweetheart, but you might want to call the East Valley Harmonizers Barbershop Chorus to do it for you. The Mesa-based barbershop quartet is ramping up again to sing love songs on Valentine’s Day – just as it has been since 1993. The four tuxedo-clad men will drop by homes, offices and even restaurants and sing love songs from yesteryear – such as “Heart of My Heart”, “Let Me Call You Sweetheart, or “I Love You Truly.” The songs may be old-fashioned, but the quartet also has developed a digital delivery, too. For a lesser price, quartets will sing on a video card if that is more convenient. These will have a customized greeting and message delivered via a link using text or email. Quartets will deliver the Singing Valentines on Valentine’s Day, starting at $50 for a three-hour delivery window. In addition to singing, the men hand the recipient a card with the sender’s message, a fresh red rose and a box of chocolates. Video cards are $20.

“Customers make the most of the requests,” said program chairman Terry Morrison. “The loved ones who receive them move through every emotion – surprise, happiness, gratitude – and may even cry. But all of them say that it is the best Valentine’s Day gift they have ever received.” “It’s like a command performance, up close and personal,” Morrison added. “We spread joy through harmony.” Barbershop harmony music is an American art form with a small-town flavor, he said. “The four-part harmony and ballads, some more than 100 years old, is music that brings back memories of the good old days.” The East Valley Harmonizers are a chapter of the Barbershop Harmony Society, an international non-profit organization founded in 1938 with over 20,000 members. For more information about the chorus and the upcoming spring show, got to evbarbershop.com. For Valentine appearances and video cards: call 505-370-4240 or order ordersingingvalentine.com/Mesa.AZ. ■

ell Bank Park in Mesa will become a little like Jurassic Park next weekend – although you can safely assume no T-Rex will be stomping around in the parking lot. What’s being billed as “North America’s biggest dinosaur attraction” with dino trainers, baby dinos and over 100 prehistoric creatures will be part of Jurassic Quest 3-8 p.m. Friday, Feb. 4; 9 a.m.-8 p.m. Saturday and 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Sunday. Jurassic Quest was a drive-thru attraction last year, but promoters say this year, “dino fans will have the chance to experience Jurassic Quest’s most beloved and unique indoor experiences for the whole family.”

There will be “realistic dinosaurs, dinosaur themed rides and attractions, live dinosaur shows, interactive science and art activities, a Triceratots soft play area for our littlest explorers, photo opportunities, and more,” according to a release. Since 2013, Jurassic Quest has been touring epic dinosaur experiences across North America and is considered is the largest and most realistic dinosaur exhibition on the continent. Tickets are $24 for kids and adults and $19 for seniors and are available at jurassicquest.com/events/mesa-az. General admission includes live shows, arts and crafts activities, dinosaur and marine exhibits. Tickets for individual activities will available on-site from $6. Free entry for children under 2. ■

NO WEEKEND OR AFTER HOUR FEES Sales • Service • Repair • Installation One Hour Emergency Service Avaibale! Family Owned

FREE Service Call

We Service All Makes & Models

FREE 2nd Opinion

with any repair

on Unit Replacement or Compressor Change out

NO COMM T ISSION BASE D

IP NO TRGE R A CH

CALL TODAY

480.671.0833

ROC#247803 Bonded • Insured

Serving Chandler, Gilbert, Mesa, Apache Junction, Queen Creek, San Tan Valley, Phoenix, Scottsdale, Gold Canyon, Tempe

••

THE MESA TRIBUNE | JANUARY 30, 2022

20 SPECIAL ADVERTISEMENT FEATURE

Last State Silver Bank Rolls up for grabs

Fortune of old Silver Coins issued by the U.S. Gov’t sealed away in the only State Restricted Bank Rolls known to exist are actually being handed over to Arizona residents STATE RESTRICTION: Only residents of AZ get the $19 state minimum - non state residents must pay $57 per coin ARIZONA - “We’re bracing for the flood of calls,” said Laura Lynne, U.S. Coin and Currency Director for the National Mint and Treasury. That’s because the next 2 days the last remaining State of Arizona Restricted Silver Bank Rolls loaded with rarely seen U.S. Gov’t issued Silver Kennedy Presidential Half Dollars are actually being handed over to Arizona residents who call the National Toll-Free Hotlines listed in today’s newspaper publication. And here’s the best part. If you are a resident of the state of Arizona you cover only the $19 per coin state minimum set by the National Mint and Treasury, that’s twenty ■ FLYING OUT THE DOOR: Calls are pouring in from state residents who are trying to get their hands on the last State rarely seen Silver clad Kennedy Presidential Restricted Silver Bank Rolls known to exist sealed away in the secured packages pictured above before the deadline ends. Half Dollars worth up to 60 times their face That’s because residents who beat the 2-day deadline printed in today’s publication by calling 1-800-233-5658 Ext. JFR1585 (Continued on next page)

are cashing in on the lowest ever state minimum price set by the National Mint and Treasury.

IMPORTANT FACTS: The dates and mint marks of the rarely seen Silver Kennedy Presidential Half Dollars sealed away inside the State of Arizona Restricted Silver Bank Rolls have never been searched. Coin values always fluctuate and there are never any guarantees, but any rare, scarce or highly collectible coins, regardless of their value that state residents may find inside the sealed Bank Rolls are theirs to keep.

R1057R-2

THE MESA TRIBUNE | JANUARY 30, 2022

21 SPECIAL ADVERTISEMENT FEATURE

(Continued from previous page)

value for just $380 which is a real steal because non state residents must pay $57 per coin which totals $1,140 if any coins remain after the 2-day deadline. “National Mint and Treasury recently spoke with its Chief Professional Numismatist who said ‘Very few people have ever actually saw one of these rarely seen Silver Kennedy Presidential Half Dollars minted over 50 years ago. But to actually find them sealed away in State Restricted Silver Bank Rolls is like finding buried treasure. So anyone lucky enough to get their hands on these Bank Rolls had better hold on to them,’” Lynne said. “Now that the State of Arizona Restricted Silver Bank Rolls are being offered up we won’t be surprised if thousands of Arizona residents claim the maximum limit allowed of 6 Kennedy Presidential Silver Bank Rolls per resident before they’re all gone,” said Lynne. “That’s because the dates and mint marks of the U.S. Gov’t issued Silver clad Kennedy Presidential Half Dollars sealed away inside the State of Arizona Restricted Silver Bank Rolls have never been searched. But, we do know that these coins date back tot he mid 1900’s and some may be worth up to 60 times their face value, so there is no telling what Arizona residents will find until they sort through all the coins,” Lynne went on to say. “Rarely seen silver coins like these are highly sought after, but we’ve never seen anything like this before. According to The Official Red Book, a Guide Book of United States Coins many Silver Kennedy Presidential Half Dollars have nearly doubled in collector value in just the last several years,” Lynne said. “We’re guessing thousands of Arizona residents will be taking the maximum limit of 6 Bank Rolls because you can only get them rolled this way directly from the National Mint and Treasury and they are the only State Restricted Bank Rolls known to exist,” Lynne continued. “We know the phones will be ringing off the hook. So make sure to tell everyone to keep calling if all lines are busy. We’ll do our best to answer them all,” Lynne said. The only thing readers of today’s newspaper publication need to do is make sure they are a resident of the state of Arizona and call the National Toll-Free Hotlines before the 2-day deadline ends midnight tomorrow. ■

Answering Your Questions Q: How to claim the last State Restricted Silver Bank Rolls A: If you are a Arizona resident read the important information below about claiming the State Restricted Silver Bank Rolls, then call the State Toll-Free Hotline at: 1-800-233-5658 EXT: JFR1585 beginning at precisely 8:30 A.M. this morning.

Q: Are these Silver Kennedy Half Dollars worth more than other Half Dollars? A: Yes. These rarely seen Silver Kennedy Presidential Half Dollars were minted in the mid 1900’s. That makes these silver coins extremely collectible. The vast majority of half dollars minted after 1970 have no silver content at all. In fact, these Kennedy Presidential Half Dollars were the last silver coins minted for circulation. That’s why many of them now command collector values of many times their face value so there’s no telling how much they could be worth in collector value someday.

Q: How much are the State Restricted Silver Bank Rolls worth? A: It’s impossible to say, but these Kennedy Presidential Half Dollars date back to the mid 1900’s and some are worth up to 60 times the face value and there are 20 in each Bank Roll so you better hurry if you want to get your hands on them. Collector values always fluctuate and there are never any guarantees. But we do know they are the only Arizona State Silver Bank Rolls known to exist and Kennedy Presidential Half Dollars are highly collectible so anyone lucky enough to get their hands on these State Restricted Silver Bank Rolls should hold onto them because there’s no telling how much they could be worth in collector value someday.

Q: Why are so many Arizona residents calling to get them? A: Because they are the only State Restricted Silver Bank Rolls known to exist and everyone wants their share. These are not ordinary bank rolls. These are full Bank Rolls containing 20 Silver Kennedy Presidential Half Dollars dating clear back to the mid 1900’s some worth up to 60 times their face value. Remember this. Only Arizona residents are guaranteed to get them for just the $19 per coin state minimum set by the National Mint and Treasury for the next two days. Non state residents must pay $57 per coin.

Q: How do I get the State Restricted Silver Bank Rolls? A: The only thing Arizona residents need to do is call the State Toll Free Hotline at 1-800-233-5658 Ext. JFR1585 before the deadline ends. Everyone who does is getting the only State Restricted Silver Bank Rolls known to exist. That’s a full Bank Roll of 20 Silver Kennedy Presidential Half Dollars for just the $19 per coin state minimum set by the National Mint and Treasury, which totals just $380 for the full Bank Roll. That’s a real steal because non state residents are not permitted to call before 5 pm tomorrow and must pay $1,140 for each Arizona State Restricted Silver Bank Roll if any remain.

NATIONAL MINT AND TREASURY, LLC IS NOT AFFILIATED WITH THE U.S. MINT, THE U.S. GOVERNMENT, A BANK OR ANY GOVERNMENT AGENCY. IF FOR ANY REASON WITHIN 30 DAYS FROM SHIPMENT YOU ARE DISSATISFIED, RETURN THE PRODUCT FOR A REFUND LESS SHIPPING AND RETURN POSTAGE. THIS SAME OFFER MAY BE MADE AVAILABLE AT A LATER DATE OR IN A DIFFERENT GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATION. OH RESIDENTS ADD 6.5% SALES TAX. PACKAGING MAY BE SUBSTITUTED FOR EQUAL OR GREATER VALUE. NATIONAL MINT AND TREASURY, PO BOX R1057R-2 35609, CANTON, OH 44735 ©2021 NATIONAL MINT AND TREASURY.

BUSINESS

THE MESA TRIBUNE | JANUARY 30, 2022

SEND YOUR BUSINESS NEWS TO PMARYNIAK@ TIMESPUBLICATIONS.COM TheMesaTribune.com

@EVTNow

RODER CONNELL

/EVTNow

COLLIN EUTENEUER

JORGEN HAMANN

BRANDON MOORE

nell have embraced the ecological mission of Footprint, a molded fiber company occupying a 135,000-square-foot building near Baseline Road and Hobson Street that develops and manufactures ecofriendly packaging. Headquartered in Gilbert, Footprint said its products have already led to a global redirection of 61 million pounds of plastic waste from entering the air, earth, and wa-

ter working with leading global consumer brands like Walmart and Conagra. Recently, it became publicly listed on NASDAQ through a combination with Gores Holdings VIII, Inc. The combined company is expected to have a post-transaction total enterprise value of $1.6 billion. The four University of Wisconsin grads all went to its Stout campus, where close to 10,000 students are enrolled in what

has been called that state’s polytechnic university. Hamann (Class of 2018) is a packaging engineer who lives in Tempe; Moore (Class of 1996) is vice president of design and lives in Mesa; Euteneuer (Class of 2015) is sales director and lives in Chandler; and Connell (Class of 2019), a Gilbert

es,” the company says on its website, adding that it aims to “create human-centered spaces that transform neighborhoods and the laundromat industry.” It was founded in 2017 by Christy Moore, a professional social worker with 20 years of non-profit experience and calls itself “a community of champions. “Social Spin has since grown into a team that represents all abilities and life-stages,” it says on its website. “We have dedicated textile experts who consistently show up and take care of your laundry and you.” It also champions volunteering, noting, “To volunteer is to offer oneself time, heart, energy; to enrich a vision that uplifts us all. Volunteering is an action to strengthen community and cause.” It also provides on-the-job training for people with barriers to employment, including youth transitioning from foster

care, individuals formerly incarcerated and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. And it seeks donations of unwanted clothes to directly benefit people in need. (socialspinlaundromat.com). First Bank also gave a similar award to Envision Painting of Gilbert for painting the homes of needy people for free. “At FirstBank, ‘Good Business’ means giving back to the community by dedicating time and energy, volunteering, and helping charitable causes to make a deep and meaningful impact,” said Joel Johnson, East Valley market president at FirstBank. “Each business that entered our Good Business Contest has left us inspired with the wonderful work they all are doing in the community, but Envision Painting and Social Spin really amazed us with all that they have been doing.” ■

Common purpose drew 4 alumni to same Gilbert firm TRIBUNE NEWS STAFF

hey attended the University of Wisconsin at different times, but have ended up working at the same Gilbert company, drawn by its commitment to reduce – if not eliminate –the use of single-use plastic packaging. And now, Jorgen Hamann, Brandon Moore, Collin Euteneuer and Roder Con-

see FOOTPRINT page 23

Bank salutes a Mesa laundromat with a conscience TRIBUNE NEWS STAFF

Mesa laundromat has been rewarded by FirstBank for giving back to the community. Social Spin, which has a coin-operated laundromat at 1255 E. Southern Ave., received $5,000 as well as an additional $1,000 to donate to a nonprofit of its choice. FirstBank said in a release the two companies were among 10 in Arizona, Colorado and California that it wanted to salute for its contributions during the pandemic. Social Spin offers free laundry access to those who need it but during the pandemic, the company expanded its giving by hiring food trucks and local caterers to provide free food and meal kits during their weekly free laundry events. “In the end, an incredible 475 free meals were given out each week,” First Bank said.

Former social worker Christy Moore founded Social Spin Laundromat in 2017. (Special

to the Tribune)

Giving back is part of Social Spin’s DNA. “Our business model and conscious capitalism drive our ‘pay it forward’ practic-

BUSINESS

THE MESA TRIBUNE | JANUARY 30, 2022

FOOTPRINT from page 22

resident, is a platform engineer. All four men reflect a commitment to Footprint’s determination to reduce the disastrous impact plastic has had on human and environmental health. “Together, these UW-Stout alumni are fighting it head on by designing, engineering, and manufacturing plant-based fiber containers, bowls and trays that replace short-term use plastic,” a company spokeswoman said. Connell, who defines and manages the development path for new product launches, said he decided to major in plastics because it has become an increasingly more sought-after skill among corporations. “There will always be a need for packaging,” he said. “Every physical item you buy comes in a package. There is an abundance of career opportunities for packaging majors.” Though he is the youngest of the four alumni, he interacts with them on a continual basis, tackling tasks together on projects with their individually define roles and responsibilities. Though he initially had figured he’d end up working in his native, Wisconsin, he

was drawn in part to Footprints because of its mission. Indeed, at a job fair at the university, Connell said, “I did end up pitching my take on ‘The Benefits of Molded Fiber and the Danger of Single-Use Plastics.’ I had spent all night and morning rehearsing my pitch before the interview… and I guess I nailed it.” Moore joined Footprint partly out of his passion for design, creativity – and the environment. “Footprint and having multiple patents have been great accomplishments so far,” he said. “In the future, I would love to see Footprint go into history as a company that helped change the world.” Like his three fellow alumni, Euteneuer says packaging offers a world of opportunity. But as Hamann noted, Footprint also offered an opportunity to do more than make a living. “Our mutual interest in living somewhere new and helping save the planet is likely what brought us together,” Hamann said. And they share a common goal, he added: “To continue taking steps to improve the planet we all live on and make it a better place for the next generations.” ■

Quality Healthcare Begins with Us! Begins Quality Healthcare PHOENICIAN MEDICAL CENTER with Us!

PHOENICIAN MEDICAL CENTER Rapid molecular COVID WALK INS tests and flu tests with WALK INS WELCOME results within 20 min WELCOME FREE FREE VITALS VITALS CHECK CHECK

• Primary Care • Preventive Care • Chronic Care Mgmt • Regular Check Up

• Wellness Screening • Diabetic Management • Physical Examinations • Vaccinations/Immunizations

• Hospital Follow Ups • Flu Shots for Elderly • Urgent Care Visits

Charles Alan Richardson, MD • Mark Kent, FNP • Cesar M Rodarte, DO (spanish speaking) Stella Bernard, APRN,MSN,FNP-C (spanish speaking) • Mehdy Zazandy, MD Kathyayini Konuru, MD • Kristal Munez, MD • Ann Reiff, NP • Madison Zieser, PA

Same day new patient appt available

480-963-1853 www.pmchealth.care

10720 E Southern Ave, Suite 116, Mesa AZ 85209 and 606 N. Country Club Dr, Suite #1, Mesa, AZ 85201 5520 E Main St, Suite 4, Mesa, AZ 85205

480-963-1853

••

OPINION

THE MESA TRIBUNE | JANUARY 30, 2022

Share Your Thoughts:

Send your letters on local issues to: pmaryniak@timespublications.com TheMesaTribune.com

@EVTNow

/EVTNow

Color alone not the only criterion for Supreme Court BY DAVID LEIBOWITZ Tribune Columnist

nited States Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer announced his upcoming retirement on a Wednesday morning. Within the hour, reporters, pundits and politicos had settled on a must for the 83-year-old’s successor: The next justice, the 116th in the history of our nation, must be a Black woman. This certainty dates back to a promise President Biden made during the 2020 primaries. Struggling to get traction, especially with Black voters, Biden went to South Carolina needing a jump start to his campaign. His promise at a February 2020 debate: “I’m looking forward to making sure there’s a Black woman on the Supreme Court to make sure we in fact get everyone represented.”

The applause was loud. Biden won a seven-way primary with 49 percent of the vote. I understand we live in a nation where 108 out of 115 members of the highest court in the land have been white men. I understand and see value in diversity, of justices who bring different perspectives and cultures to the court – even if they tend to vote in lockstep with either one of America’s two dominant, disastrous political parties. But for days I’ve been scouring the news waiting for someone to say what to me seemed abundantly obvious: Shouldn’t the President, a Democrat, nominate the most qualified liberal justice to the court, as opposed to filtering out candidates based on race and gender? I mean this as no slight to the jurists on the shortlist: Ketanji Brown Jackson, who currently sits on the D.C. Circuit Court of

Appeals, considered the second most-important court in the country. Harvard-educated, a former editor of the Harvard Law Review, Brown Jackson clerked for Breyer early in her career. Also getting serious consideration is Leondra Kruger, who currently sits on the California Supreme Court. Kruger previously clerked for Justice John Paul Stevens and, as an assistant U.S. Solicitor General, she argued a dozen cases before SCOTUS. If either of these two amazing Black women is the most-qualified choice for the Court, then I celebrate the appointment. Ironically, next year the Court is scheduled to hear a case on affirmative action in education. The original lawsuits contend that Harvard and the University of North Carolina discriminate against Asian students, who scored higher than other racial cohorts on admission criteria like grades, tests scores and extracurriculars, but

were scored down on qualities like courage, kindness, personality and likability. The end result? A racial quota system that kept the number Asian students artificially low in favor of admitting a more diverse student body. The concept that every facet of life requires equal representation by skin color is a shaky proposition, easy to turn on its head. For example, the National Basketball Association in 2020 was about 74 percent African-American, 17 percent white, not quite three percent Latino and Asian, and six percent players of other races. Today, non-Latino Whites comprise 58 percent of the U.S. population. Latinos make up 19 percent, Blacks 12 percent. Imagine the insanity that would ensue if the NBA mandated that each 15-man

nesses for the next 20 years. I’ve been saying for years that we must craft a regional transportation plan to replace Prop 400. It needs to assure regional equity and flexibility, and it needs to be something voters across the County can support. I’m grateful we have a governor who understands the important role infrastructure plays in our economic future. I know there are leaders in cities and towns across Maricopa County who understand this, too. But I also know what the political environment is like right now. I know that things that used to be non-partisan are now viewed through the lens of Republicans and Democrats, good and evil, winning and losing. We cannot let politics derail progress. Investments in infrastructure and technology are just good basic government. They should be non-partisan. Even Congress seems to be getting the message. The federal infrastructure bill

passed by both chambers and signed by the President will be good for Maricopa County. I’m confident those dollars can be used to support worthwhile projects. But to make the most out of taxpayer dollars, we need consensus about our goals. And we need to think through some key questions like: • What projects or investments are going to be needed to maintain or improve our high quality of life? • What framework will best enable the efficient movement of commerce and how do we ensure continuity as transit crosses city or county boundaries? • How will we account for and take advantage of the possibility of autonomous delivery and passenger drones? • What place does fixed rail have in our transportation future? Crafting and getting voter approval for a new regional transportation plan is probably my biggest priority moving forward. But it’s not my only focus. Infrastructure means nothing without

people. Right now, we are the #1 ranked county for attracting skilled workers. If we want to retain that distinction, investing in our education system needs to be a priority. Again, politics shouldn’t play a role here. We don’t need to pit one type of school against another. Parents should have many good options about where to send their kids. Our universities and community colleges ought to have our full support in attracting the workforce of the future. It’s no accident Maricopa County has been the fastest-growing county in the United States for the past several years. Leaders of the past made tough decisions and smart investments that paved the way for individuals, families, and businesses to thrive here. Now it’s our turn. Let’s get to work.

see LEIBOWITZ page 25

Infrastructure growth critical to Maricopa County BY JACK SELLERS Tribune Guest Writer

s we enter year three of the COVID-19 crisis, I can’t help but think about what

we’ve lost. The loss of life, the loss of livelihoods. Those have been devastating. And we must do everything we can to limit the health and financial impacts of the pandemic in the coming months. But I also think about the loss of time. Elected leaders and policy makers have focused so much on the here and now that long-term planning has been largely neglected. There can be no more delays. It’s time to get to work on assuring a prosperous future for our region. So, what does that mean? Above all, we need to invest in critical infrastructure and technology that will make us attractive to individuals and busi-

Jack Sellers is a member of the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors and a former Chandler City Council member. ■

••

OPINION

THE MESA TRIBUNE | JANUARY 30, 2022

Kelly joined at Biden’s hip in upcoming race BY JD HAYWORTH Tribune Columnist

here’s no mistaking Mark Kelly for the late comedian Don Knotts—especially since our junior senator bears an uncanny resemblance to Uncle Fester of “The Addams Family”—but similar themes have emerged in the body of work from both the contemporary legislator and the comedian of a bygone era. Knotts, who won multiple Emmy Awards for his portrayal of bumbling Deputy Barney Fife on “The Andy Griffith Show,” parlayed that success on the small screen into a five-picture deal with Universal Studios in the mid-1960’s. Sen. Kelly parlayed his fame from piloting the space shuttle into winning a seat in the Senate. Certainly Kelly’s fund-raising abilities have proven astronomical; his campaign pulled in $9 million in the final three months of last year, giving him an estimated war chest of $22 million as he attempts to win a full six-year term this November. Of course, $22 million—or more— won’t buy what it used to… not even as recently as the campaign year of 2020. That’s because of January 20, 2021…the day Joe Biden took up residency at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. Immediately afterward, the politico-economic condition now known as “Bidenflation” took hold. Ol’ Joe began by revoking authorization for the Keystone XL pipeline in an executive order. In so doing, he killed 10,000 jobs and took $2.2 billion in payroll out of workers’ pockets. One of the newly unemployed, Neal Crabtree of Fouke, Arkansas, told the “Boston Herald” his concerns extended beyond his family to friends, neighbors, and his fellow countrymen. “Now we’re seeing rising energy prices,” said Crabtree, a common-sense kind of guy, who was working as a welding

LEIBOWITZ from page 24

ter needed to proportionally express the racial composition of the U.S.? Who among the Phoenix Suns’ 14 African-American players would the team cut in favor of white ballers of presumably lesser talent? Would the new, perfectly representative squad still sell tickets or perform to NBA

foreman before Joe Biden got a new job… and took away his. Sadly, common-sense is in short supply at the White House and within the Senate Democratic Caucus. Then again, lots of things are in short supply these days. A crippled supply line and a predictable decline in domestic energy production prompted a spike in prices. The result? The worst inflation rate our nation has seen in 40 years. As costs increased across the board for food, shelter, clothing, and transportation, prices at the pump were especially troubling: a hike of almost 50 percent by December Adding even more fuel to the inflationary fires was the spending spree of the Biden Bunch. Unilaterally enacted by the Democrats, a $1.9 trillion cash infusion actually paid bonuses to some lucky workers to stay off the job, kept the Bureau of Printing and Engraving churning out greenbacks, and further bloated our money supply. Whether due to economic illiteracy or delusion—perhaps both—Joe Biden then claimed that his horribly misnamed “Build Back Better” initiative would somehow reduce inflation. Left unexplained is the dubious rationale behind the misguided notion that an exponentially more obscene orgy of spending—$5.5 trillion dollars’ worth—will do anything other than launch inflation to even “greater” heights, and plunge our standard of living to even lower depths. Thankfully, the “Build Back Bummer” has been scrubbed for now…no thanks to Mark Kelly. Instead, Kelly has been a dependable vote for Bidenomics and Bidenflation, but Republicans aren’t exactly biding their time in the effort to scrub Mark Kelly’s political mission. This summer’s primary

Finals levels? Doubtful and doubtful. It’s long past time for a Black woman to sit as a Justice on the U.S. Supreme Court. But speaking about some of our nation’s best and brightest primarily through the prism of skin color and gender – with their hard work, qualifications and successes tossed in as a footnote – demeans the process and the judges in it. ■

for the Arizona GOP Senate nomination will be crowded and spirited. The eventual winner will face a cash-infused but performance-imperiled incumbent, joined at the hip to Joe Biden. Mark Kelly’s handlers are doing what they can right now to start a mid-course correction, recently making their man available for an interview with “Yahoo!” which, like most Big Tech media organs, would be more accurately named “Hooray!” when covering Democrat politicians.

LONE SPUR CAFE

Despite the kid-glove “Yahoo!” coverage, Kelly cannot shake his Biden connection. He even mimicked Ol Joe’s attempted blame-shifting to big corporations—the same folks financing the freshman senator’s campaign. If Kelly remains reluctant to politically separate from Joe Biden, the ex-astronaut will have a lot of time on his hands a year from now to watch reruns of “The Andy Griffith Show.” Or “The Addams Family.” ■

Great Cowboy Food! Great Cowboy Service! Great Cowboy Charm!

2 FOR 30 $

TWO 10OZ PRIME RIB DINNERS -ORTWO 10OZ RIBEYE STEAK DINNERS*

*Each Dinner comes with side salads and side of your choice and a soft drink. Offer expires March 11, 2022. Coupon Code: Tribune

COME AND TRY OUR NEW BREAKFAST TACOS BUY ONE BREAKFAST

GET ONE FREE

BUY ONE LUNCH

Offer expires March 11, 2022. Coupon Code: Tribune

GET ONE FREE

Offer expires March 11, 2022. Coupon Code: Tribune

3 OFF ANY BURGER Offer expires March 11, 2022. Coupon Code: Tribune

OPEN EVERYDAY 6:30AM TO 2:30PM FRIDAY AND SATURDAY DINNER HOURS 5-9 15600 N. HaydeN Rd, Suite B ScottSdale, aZ 480-702-0538

22002 ellSwoRtH Rd, QueeN cReek, aZ 480-888-9241

1859 S. Stapley dR, Suite 107 MeSa, aZ 480-534-7961

WWW.LONESPURCAFE.COM Y’ALL COME HUNGRY NOW!

THE MESA TRIBUNE | JANUARY 30, 2022

The doctor’s office designed around you We’re changing the way people get medical care — including adults 65+ and those on Medicare. Feel cared for and listened to, not rushed and hushed. And get the best care of your life from compassionate providers experienced in caring for seniors.

Learn more at onemedical.com/seniors or call 800-979-1642

SPORTS

THE MESA TRIBUNE | JANUARY 30, 2022

TheMesaTribune.com @EVTNow /EVTNow

Eastmark enters off-season with championship mindset terscholastic Association. Casteel followed suit with its first state title at the 3A level after just three seasons. uilding a championship caliber footNow, Eastmark hopes to do the same. ball program in short order is no “Certainly, there’s a goal, but there’s a easy feat. process with it,” Especially at the Eastmark coach high school level, it Scooter Molander Their minds are set could take years to said. “When I was on competing for a build up a student blessed to get this population large job, I wanted to do championship next fall, enough and with everything the right and the work they’ve all many athletes to way. If we get betput in so far in the quickly help a new ter every year, kids off-season shows that. program rise to are going to want that level of comto come here. It’s a petition. But it’s goal of ours to build not unheard of. Especially in the southeast something special.” Valley where new homes are being built by Molander was hired to start the Eastmark the dozens. program in 2018 when the school was built American Leadership Academy - Queen as part of the Queen Creek Unified School Creek won its first championship just two see EASTMARK page 28 seasons into its stint with the Arizona InBY ZACH ALVIRA Tribune Sports Editor

B From left: Austin Johnston, coach Scooter Molander, Kaden Armstrong and Ramar Williams are all part of an Eastmark football program ready to make a splash in 2022 after reaching the 3A playoffs for the first time ever this past fall. (Dave Minton/Tribune Staff)

Skyline recommends Schiermyer as next coach BY ZACH ALVIRA Tribune Sports Editor

kyline High School announced Friday night it is recommending Eastmark offensive coordinator Adam Schiermyer as its next head football coach. According to school Athletic Director Phil Wail, the hire is pending approval from the Mesa Unified School District Governing Board, which will take place in the coming weeks. “We were looking for someone that had some youth to him, some energy to him and at the same time has had experience of being in a high-profile coordinator position at a big school like he has with Perry,” Wail said. “I think he has the hard-working pedigree. We had some players on our panel, and he related to them.

“They wanted someone who knows football and someone who can push them, get them to the next level and hold them accountable. Adam brought all of those to the table.” Schiermyer spent the last three seasons as the offensive coordinator at Eastmark High School under legendary coach Scooter Molander. It was there he helped develop the football program, which went undefeated in the 3A Central Region and made the conference playoffs in its second year of varsity football. Before Eastmark, Schiermyer served as the offensive coordinator for five years under Preston Jones at Perry High School. It was there he coached both Brock and Chubba Purdy, advancing to the 6A semifinals in 2016 and the state championship

game in 2017 and 2018. Schiermyer said learning under Jones and Molander has prepared him for the opportunity to take over a program. “I don’t know very many assistants who have worked for, who I would say, are two of the best coaches in the state,” Schiermyer said. “I really feel blessed to have been able to work under Scooter and Preston.” Both Wail and Schiermyer agreed transforming the Skyline football program won’t be an

see SCHIERMYER page 28

Skyline announced Friday night it has recommended former Perry and Eastmark offensive coordinator Adam Schiermyer as its next head football coach. (Courtesy Adam Schiermyer)

THE MESA TRIBUNE | JANUARY 30, 2022

EASTMARK from page 27

District in far east Mesa. The Eastmark community is one that has exploded over the course of the last three years, with several new neighborhoods and the newly opened Bell Bank Park in the area. Before Eastmark, Molander was a state champion head coach at Brophy Prep in Phoenix. He won two state titles with the Broncos and took them to the playoffs in all but one of his 17 seasons. He stepped down ahead after the 2017 season and remained at Brophy as a teacher and part of the school’s baseball program. He felt the desire to coach again following his year off from football and accepted the job at Eastmark. He has since become a member of the community and has enjoyed seeing the growth of the school and his players in the program. “The biggest thing for a head coach who has been other places and has had success is to embrace the process,” Molander said. “There’s good days and bad days. We feel the support from the community. And this is a very good group of kids. When you have that, it’s easy to get up for work every day.” Eastmark played its first football season in 2019. The Firebirds, with all sophomores and freshmen, finished 6-2 while playing a junior varsity schedule. Their first varsity season came at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, where they were limited during the off-season. They finished 2-6 overall in 2020 but saw improvement this past fall when they

SCHIERMYER from page 27

overnight success. The Coyotes’ last major bout with success came under Angelo Paffumi, who led the Coyotes to the Division II (5A) semifinals in 2015 and finished with a 12-1 record. A year later in 6A, the Coyotes finished 9-2 overall. Skyline’s last winning season came in 2017 when it finished 6-5. Paffumi was let go in 2018 after the Coyotes finished 5-5 on the year. Skyline hired former Chandler assistant coach George Hawthorne to replace Paffu-

Junior defensive lineman Ramar Williams has come into his own as a leader while looking up to seniors such as Austin Johnston and Kaden Armstrong. While trying to set a good example for the younger players, they remain focused on helping improve the program. (Dave Minton/

Tribune Staff)

finished 7-4, won their region and made the 3A playoffs for the first time. Despite a first-round exit, the program took strides in its second varsity season. Not only did players, including Molander’s son, Mack, grow and start to show a true understanding for the game as taught by him, but some have also emerged as legitimate college recruits and leaders of the team. “We have a lot of good guys coming back,” senior wideout and defensive back Austin Johnston said. “There’s a lot of younger mi for the 2019 season. He remained with the program through 2021. In his three seasons, Skyline went 5-23. Wail, who won a state title in baseball and was a runner-up in football as a head coach in Illinois before taking over as the athletic director at Skyline, believes Schiermyer has the pedigree to build a winning program with time. “We know it is going to be a process,” Wail said. “We know we have to lose by a little before we are going to start winning. The expectation isn’t for him to come in and win a championship right away. It’s for

kids who look up to us. It’s nice that we can set a foundation and have them come into the program knowing what it takes.” Johnston led the team last season with 63 receptions for 1,186 yards and 15 touchdowns. He also had 36 total tackles on defense, two for a loss, and a team-high three interceptions. He is one of 22 seniors that will be on the roster next season – the biggest senior class in the history of the program. That is something he takes pride in, especially given the expectations that come from a pro-

us to start being in some of these games and then learn how to win.” Schiermyer said the process of putting his staff in place has already begun. He hopes to meet with the program soon and begin developing relationships. Wail believes his connections to the East Valley from his time at Perry and Eastmark will draw kids to Skyline, or at the very least keep them within the school’s boundaries. While he knows turning around the Skyline program will be a challenge, it’s one that Schiermyer embraces. And he’s excit-

Have an interesting sports story?

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

gram that returns virtually all of its players coming off a trip to the playoffs. Their minds are set on competing for a championship next fall, and the work they’ve all put in so far in the off-season shows that. “Coming off our first playoff appearance, this off-season is huge,” senior linebacker Kaden Armstrong said. “We have to put a lot of work in, but we have a good group of guys who can do that. We are going to come into the new season fresh and with a new mindset.” Armstrong has come into his own as a linebacker for the Firebirds. This past season, he led the team with 131 total tackles, eight of which for a loss and one sack. He’s become a key leader for the younger players in the program, and he’s been one of the seniors constantly reminding them how a trip to the playoffs felt last year, despite the loss. Ramar Williams, a junior tight end and defensive end for Eastmark, has absorbed as much as he can from seniors like Johnston and Armstrong. He’s also found himself stepping into leadership roles as well this off-season, helping teammates during lifting sessions in school. While still a young program, Eastmark’s players feel they’ve been around long enough now to make a splash in the state. They believe they’re ready to be considered title contenders. “We have a lot of hard-working kids who will try our best every game,” Williams said. “We expect to go to the playoffs and go deep into the playoffs.” ■

ed and thankful for the opportunity. “I’m super excited to be able to get into a well-established school that has had success in the past,” Schiermyer said. “(Being in this position) it makes you realize you have guys counting on you to do the job and do it right. I want to build the program, put the discipline in place and get the best version of each player in the classroom and on the field. “I want to build on that past success and build the program up to that championship level in the classroom, on the field and overall.” ■

THE MESA TRIBUNE | JANUARY 30, 2022

PUBLIC NOTICE

NOTIFICACIÓN PÚBLICA

The Air Force announces its intention to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to evaluate the potential environmental impacts of optimizing the special use airspace available to support Air Force missions in Arizona.

La Fuerza Aérea anuncia su intención de preparar una Declaración de Impacto Ambiental (EIS por sus siglas en inglés) para evaluar los posibles impactos ambientales de optimizar el espacio aéreo de uso especial disponible para apoyar las misiones de la Fuerza Aérea en Arizona.

Proposed Action: The Air Force is proposing regional airspace modifications to address existing and future training deficiencies for aircrews stationed at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Luke Air Force Base, and Morris Air National Guard Base in Arizona due to insufficient airspace. The Proposed Action includes changing the times of use, modifying the horizontal and vertical dimensions, and adjusting the attributes of existing special use airspace to address training deficiencies caused by insufficient airspace. The modified airspace would support low-altitude training, low-altitude supersonic training, and use of chaff and flares. The Proposed Action does not include any changes at installations in Arizona (personnel, infrastructure, aircraft inventory, or airfield operations), ground disturbance beneath the airspace, or weapons deployment. The airspace proposed for modification is located throughout southern Arizona and a small portion of western New Mexico.

Acción Propuesta: La Fuerza Aérea propone modificaciones del espacio aéreo regional para aliviar las deficiencias de entrenamiento y manejar las necesidades de entrenamiento en evolución para las tripulaciones aéreas estacionadas en la Base de la Fuerza Aérea Davis-Monthan, la Base de la Fuerza Aérea Luke y la Base de la Guardia Nacional Aérea de Morris en Arizona. La Acción Propuesta incluye cambiar los tiempos de uso, modificar las dimensiones horizontales y verticales, y ajustar los atributos del espacio aéreo de uso especial existente para manejar las deficiencias de entrenamiento causadas por el insuficiente espacio aéreo. El espacio aéreo modificado soportaría el entrenamiento a baja altitud, el entrenamiento supersónico a baja altitud y el uso de chaff y bengalas. La Acción Propuesta no incluye ningún cambio en las instalaciones en Arizona (personal, infraestructura, inventario de aeronaves u operaciones de aeródromos), en la alteración del suelo debajo del espacio aéreo o despliegue de armas. El espacio aéreo propuesto para la modificación se encuentra en todo el sur de Arizona y una pequeña parte del oeste de New México.

Public Comments: The Air Force is soliciting comments on the potential alternatives to the Proposed Action and information or analyses relevant to the Proposed Action. Comments can be made at public meetings, submitted online at the project website (www.ArizonaRegionalAirspaceEIS. com), or by mailing to: Arizona Regional Airspace EIS, c/o Cardno, 501 Butler Farm Rd., Suite H, Hampton, VA 23666. To ensure full consideration of all comments in preparing the Draft EIS, comments should be submitted by March 4, 2022. In-Person Public Meetings: In-person public meeting(s) are planned in Ajo, Bagdad, Congress, Morenci, and Superior, Arizona, and Animas and Reserve, New Mexico. Please visit the website for speciﬁc dates and locations. Please check with the meeting venue or the project website for any last-minute changes or cancelations due to evolving covid restrictions. Virtual Presentation: The project website provides a virtual presentation of the meeting materials for those persons that do not wish to attend or are unable to attend an in-person meeting.

Comentarios del Público: La Fuerza Aérea está solicitando comentarios sobre las posibles alternativas a la Acción Propuesta e información o análisis relevantes para la Acción Propuesta. Los comentarios se pueden hacer en reuniones públicas, pueden ser enviados en línea en el sitio web del proyecto (www.ArizonaRegionalAirspaceEIS.com), o por correo a: Arizona Regional Airspace EIS, c/o Cardno, 501 Butler Farm Rd., Suite H, Hampton, VA 23666. Para garantizar la consideración completa de todos los comentarios en la preparación del Borrador del EIS, los comentarios deben enviarse antes del 4 de marzo de 2022. Reunión pública en Persona: Se están planeando reuniones públicas en persona en Ajo, Bagdad, Congress, Morenci, y Superior, Arizona, y en Animas y Reserve, New Mexico. Por favor consulte el sitio web para obtener la fecha y ubicación de cada reunión. Consulte en el lugar de la reunión o en el sitio web en caso de haber cambios o cancelaciones de última hora debido a modiﬁcaciones en las restricciones por COVID.

Best Dentist at Affordable Prices!

Missing Teeth? Embarrassed to Smile? Tooth Pain? Loose Dentures? We Can Help, Call Us NOW!

SUPREME DENTURES starting at

EXPIRES 2-28-2022

999

PORCELAIN CROWNS from

699

Before

IMPLANTS from

799

each EXPIRES 2-28-2022

SNAP ON LOWER DENTURE With Two Implants

from

EXPIRES 2-28-2022

3,999

FREE $ Exam & X-Rays 150

EXPIRES 2-28-2022

After

EXTRACTIONS

from

EXPIRES 2-28-2022

*All offers for New patients without insurance only.

We Accept Most Major Insurances • Interest FREE Financing with Low Monthly Payments Emergencies Welcome & Same Day Appointments Available

A brighter future starts here As the state’s largest district, Mesa Public Schools offers opportunities other schools don’t. Find out why we’ve been the No. 1 choice for Mesa families for over 100 years. • Certified, experienced teachers • Franklin traditional schools • Dual language immersion • Free K-6 Montessori • A+ neighborhood schools • Diverse arts and athletics options

1722 E University, Mesa

Learn more at mpsaz.org/enroll

(W of Gilbert on N side of University)

480.833.9942

www.TRUVALUEDENTAL.com

mpsaz.org | 480.472.0000 |

@mpsaz

••

GET OUT

THE MESA TRIBUNE | JANUARY 30, 2022

Like us:

TheMesaTribune.com

@EVTNow

GetOutAZ @GetOutAZ

/EVTNow

Celebration of Fine Art returns with high ambitions BY ALEX GALLAGHER GetOut Staff Writer

fter seeing record sales of art last year, the Celebration of Fine Art has returned for its 32nd year with high energy and hopes for continued success. Located off of Loop 101 and Hayden Road, 40,000 square feet of tents comprise home to 100 artists who have covered just about every inch of wall space with art and converted their slice of the space into their own studios where guests and buyers can get an inside look into the artist’s creative process. “It’s different than a gallery setting where we would put the art in the gallery and be void of the clients,” said Kirk Randle, one of the few artists who has displayed at every Celebration of Fine Art over the past three decades. “I have developed relationships and a client base over 32 years of doing this and that’s how this has come together.” While those who have been with the celebration since its inception admit it was a crazy idea at first, it has turned into an event that artists circle on their calendars every year. “I have been involved since the beginning and back then everyone thought it was a crazy idea to put a tent in the middle of the desert and put artists and collectors together,” said Susan Morrow Potje, the show director of the Celebration of Fine Art and daughter of the show’s founder Tom Morrow. “But it’s turned into an amazing experience where people can stand at the elbow of the artists while they’re creating their work,” she said. Although the show has remained steady in its space size, Potje has noticed a demand for larger pieces in the years she has been involved. “We haven’t grown in size as we have stayed at 40,000 square feet of exhibit space and 100 artists but what’s grown over the years has been the quality of art in every aspect,” Potje said. “It used to be really simple where each artist had two 8’x12’ walls ….We learned over time that display is important and the size of paintings has substantially grown as

Judith Dickinson adds details to a piece she is painting during the Celebration of Fine Art 2022. (David Minton/Progress Staff Photographer) bigger homes were built here.” “A lot of these artists sell almost as much art as they create in a year at this show,” Potje said. “It’s a great choice for artists to be here financially, the weather is also great and there’s such a sense of community. A lot of our artists have compared this to art camp only with the public there to buy and support it.” Because of this, the artists are able to translate their enthusiasm to potential buyers and give a sneak peek into their creative process – which also happens to be a great sales tool. “My biggest selling tool is sitting there painting while people watch me do what I do,” Randle said. “That makes it personal as people can see the person creating the art.” Not only has this technique attracted buyers, but it has also drawn the attention of artists like Erin Matlock, who is displaying her art for the first time at the Celebration of Fine Art this year. “For me, it’s watching the progression of the artists and to see how their work changes and evolves over the years,” Matlock said. “To me, the growth of that spirit of art is interesting to me.” Other artists were sold on the opportunity to create a bond with the guests who

walk through the spaces. “One of the reasons why I won’t do other tent shows is because by the time you set up, you don’t get the chance to paint or talk with the collectors or viewers like you do here,” said Priscilla Nelson, who has been showing her art at the Celebration for the past four years. “It is fun, educational and the people coming through here learn a lot about what they like and the variety.” While Potje tries to create a show with good spirits, she also tries to keep the show diverse. “Each year at the end of the season, any artist who is in the show and wishes to come back submits an application and goes through the jury process,” she said. “We look at the quality of work, sales, ability to play well with others and provide an artistic balance. However, we try to have at least 15 new spaces available each year for new artists to come in.” However, Potje admits this is a hard task at times. “It does get harder to eliminate because we have so many high-quality artists,” she said. “But having the new art is exciting for our collectors who come back year after year.”

Potje also believes that the show’s educational component has become a draw for guests, especially in the past two years. “One thing we’re also proud of is how much education we have provided the community through our website, podcast and art discovery series we host every Friday at 4 p.m. during our season in our cafe,” she said. “People can walk through and talk to the artists to get different perspectives on art all day but we thought it would be fun to put together an organized method to pick topics. We felt this would be more formal and it would build the educational platform.” In addition to being drawn to the educational component, there is a sense of longing among the guests who are eager to experience the arts once more. “I feel like this is an escape,” Matlock said. “We all have been through quite a bit so if someone can leave all of that behind and be completely immersed in art, that’s a therapeutic experience and the celebration of art for me.” “We’re hardwired as human beings to appreciate beauty and most of what we experience here is art that will take you back to a memory or inspire a creative thought process,” Potje said. There appears to be a consensus among artists and Potje that the show has picked up right where it left off in 2021. “As events and festivals have picked back up, artists are having their best years ever and 2021 was our highest year of sales ever,” Potje said. “If it continues like this, it could be a banner year,” Randle added. ■

If You Go...

What: Celebration of Fine Art Where: 18400 N Hayden Road, Loop 101 and Hayden Road. When: Daily from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. until Mar. 27 Tickets: $10 Info: celebrateart.com.

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

THE MESA TRIBUNE | JANUARY 30, 2022

••

THE MESA TRIBUNE | JANUARY 30, 2022

King Crossword ACROSS 1 Shade 4 Frontiersman Crockett 8 Pocket bread 12 100 percent 13 Dutch cheese 14 Pedestal occupant 15 Cowboy’s sweetie 16 Do math 18 Slowpoke 20 Hydrocarbon suffix 21 Cushions 24 Persian Gulf emirate 28 Nutritional label info 32 Flamingo’s color 33 Copper head? 34 Lauder of cosmetics 36 Summer on the Seine 37 Guns the engine 39 Toe of Italy’s boot 41 Fashion 43 Hit with a stun gun 44 Ms. Thurman 46 Gossip 50 Baseball’s “Iron Man” 55 Deluge refuge 56 Now, in a memo 57 Cowboy’s neckwear 58 Luau bowlful 59 Quick swims 60 Winter blanket 61 Novelist Rand

38 40 42 45 47 48

Drinks noisily Spell-off Brit. record label LAPD alerts Wine valley Helen’s home

49 50 51 52 53 54

Related Scoundrel “-- was saying ...” Napkin’s place “-- -Tiki” “Evil Woman” band

Sudoku

DOWN 1 Crones 2 -- Bator 3 First lady of scat 4 Proclaim 5 Nabokov novel 6 Batman portrayer Kilmer 7 Village People hit 8 Accumulate 9 Hollywood’s Lupino 10 Nanny’s charge 11 Hearty quaff 17 German conjunction 19 Wall St. debut 22 Platter 23 Attack 25 Coffin stand 26 Con 27 Furniture brand 28 2006 Pixar film 29 Help a hood 30 Tax 31 Actress Ward 35 “Calm down!”

PUZZLES ANSWERS on page 33

VOTE NOW! BESTOF

2022

Our reader poll is designed to let YOU tell us about your favorite people, places, shops, restaurants and things to do in Mesa.

WHO’S

the BEST? The votes are in. The people have spoken... It’s the Best of Me sa!

PEOPLE | PLACES | SHOPS | RESTAURANTS | THINGS TO DO

VOTE JANUARY 27TH THRU FEBRUARY 24TH! VOTE DAILY AT THEMESATRIBUNE.COM

THE MESA TRIBUNE | JANUARY 30, 2022

Our Savior’s Lutheran Church 612 S. Ellsworth Rd. Mesa, AZ 85208

480.984.5555 oslcaz.org

Live, On-Site Worship Saturdays @ 4 pm Sundays @ 7:30, 9:00, & 10:30 am Sunday School at 10:30 am

https://oslcaz.org/worship/ Facebook Live:

https://www.facebook.com/oursaviors.oslclive_video.

1.888.700.9845

from Page 32

ANSWERS TO PUZZLES AND SUDOKU

BEST DEALS IN THE VALLEY

R E N N I W S ’ R A E LAST Y BEST ALTERNATIVE PAIN MANAGMENT SCAN QR TO VOTE

VISIT US ONLINE

MINTDEALS.COM

MESA LOCATION: 330 E. SOUTHERN AVE.

••

THE SUNDAY EAST VALLEY TRIBUNE | JANUARY 30, 2022

Obituaries

Public Notices

Mary Catherine Smith

Obituaries Esteo "Audie" Padilla Audie, 84, died January 19, 2022 in Mesa, AZ. Born in Winslow, AZ May 25, 1937 to Serafin and Rosa Padilla, he served in the United States Air Force where he lived around the world and retired after serving for 20 years. Later, he worked for the United States Veteran Administration for 23 years. He lived in Mesa since 1975. He was a devoted family man and dependable optimist who got things done. Audie enjoyed visiting with family, metal detecting, fishing, watching westerns, and eating sweets. He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Patricia Padilla; daughter Rosemarie (Victor) Sesate and son Robert (Maria) Padilla; three sisters; and, numerous loved grandchildren, family, and friends. Sign the Guestbook at: obituaries.EastValleyTribune.com

SHARE WITH THE WORLD! Place a Birth, Anniversary, Wedding Announcement, In Memoriam, Obituary or any life event in this paper today! Call us for details.

class@timespublications.com or call 480-898-6465

Mary Cather in e S mith died at home on January 14th with family at her bedside. Mary was preceded in death by her husband of 64 years, Dr. Darrell D. Smith, a Scottsdale cardiologist in November 2020. Mary grew up near Greenfield, Ohio, where she and Darrell attended McClain High School. After graduating, she performed secretarial work for a shoe company in Columbus, Ohio, before she and Darrell were married in 1956. After Darrell concluded his service in the Air Force Reserves and graduated medical school, they moved to Phoenix, where Darrell completed medical residency and cardiology fellowship. Mary was an active member of Shepherd of the Hills Congregational Church, serving as deacon for many years and cultivated a network of loving friends. She devoted her life to her family, supporting her husband's career in interventional cardiology, raising three children and then helping to care for her five grandchildren while they were young. Mary and Darrell are survived by their children, Steve Smith (Janis), Joan Smith and Suzanne Santellanes, five grandchildren, Andy Smith (Kara), Adam Smith (Taylor), Aaron Smith, Mike Santellanes and Olivia Santellanes. Mary was GG to her three great-grandchildren, Ava, James and Wyatt. She will be remembered for her quiet, selfless generosity and kindness toward all those who knew her. Mary accepted people as they were, and her charity reflected that of her mother Reba's, who was known to provide food for the "hobos" who jumped from the trains near Mary's childhood home. Through her loving care of her family and service to her church, Mary nurtured many for whom she will always have a special place in their hearts. After delays due to COVID, a combined Public Memorial Service will be held to honor the lives of Dr. Darrell & Mary Catherine Smith at Green Acres Mortuary on Saturday, February 12, 2022 at 10:00 am followed by Reception at Green Acres (401 N. Hayden Road, Scottsdale, AZ). Sign the Guestbook at: obituaries.EastValleyTribune.com

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 Job Order Contractor for the following: GENERAL BUILDING JOB ORDER CONTRACT PROJECT NO. JOC-G22 The City of Mesa is seeking a qualified Contractor to provide Job Order General Building 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 scope of this contract is to provide general contracting pre-construction and construction services for maintenance, repair, minor and major new construction services, including minor associated incidental design services, for a broad range of City facility related projects. A Pre-Submittal Conference will be held on February 3, 2022 at 9:00 am through Microsoft Teams. Parties interested in attending should request an invitation from Donna Horn at donna.horn@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 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 PreSubmittal 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 17, 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 Donna Horn of the Engineering Department at donna.horn@mesaaz.gov.

ATTEST: DeeAnn Mickelsen City Clerk Published in: East Valley Tribune January 23, 30, 2022/ 44081

BETH HUNING City Engineer

THE SUNDAY EAST VALLEY TRIBUNE | JANUARY 30, 2022

The East ValleyTribune

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

Deadlines

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

Obituaries William Dean Turk

Dean Turk was born August 6, 1937 in Miami, Arizona to Dick and Wilma Turk, and he passed away at his home in Mesa, Arizona on January 21, 2022 under the care of his loving wife, Marsha. He lived his whole life in the East Valley. Dean went to work full- time at a very early age at Brown and Hoeye Chevrolet, where he learned auto body painting and auto mechanics; over time he became an expert in both these vocations. Cars became a huge part of Dean’s life. He loved to build them and race them. Before he was 20 years old he became a professional drag racer sponsored by local auto dealerships. Professionally Dean was known for his attention to detail in building high performance engines and their components. He loved and participated in sports of every kind. Dean was an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and he loved to help others. As a father to Terry, Randy and Misty, Dean was always loving and kind. His dedication to his family was never in doubt, and his care and concern extended too many grandchildren, great grandchildren… and indeed, to all who knew him. Funeral services will be held on January 31st, 2022 at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1054 W. 2nd Place, Mesa, Az 85201. The visitation is at 10am, and service at 11am. The burial will be on Monday, January 31st, 2022, at 12:30pm, City of Mesa Cemetery, 1212 N. Center St, Mesa, Az 85201

LEGAL NOTICES

Deadline for Sunday’s Edition is the Wednesday prior at 5pm. Please call Elaine at 480-898-7926 to inquire or email your notice to: legals@evtrib.com and request a quote.

Employment Employment General

Employment General

IntraEdge has multiple openings for Software Engineer (SE) positions in Chandler, AZ. SE candidates req US Masters degree/foreign equiv or bachelors degree + 5 yrs exp, w/ skills in Java,J2EE,JSP,SQL,Jav aScript,Oracle to analyze/dsgn/dev/implement/test systems & applics. Email resume to jobs@intraedge.com w/ ref no 2022-1919 directly on resume/cover & ref ad in EVT

IntraEdge has multiple openings for Sr. Programmer Analyst in Chandler, AZ. Reqs US Bachelor degree/foreign (3 or 4 yr degree) equiv in Commerce/BusAdm/STEM field. Will accept combination of IT training/education/experience for equiv to ed req. Analyze/resolve/test/monitor/report on IT related projects using skills in HTML,CSS,C#,.Net, Unix,API. Email resume to jobs@intraedge.com w/ ref no 2022-2121 directly on resume & ref ad in EVT

EXPERIENCED CAREGIVER NEEDED Help W/ Meals, Light House Keeping, Dressing for Senior with Mobility Issues. Rate is Negotiable. Call Debbie 602-625-1016

Sell Your Stuff! Call Classifieds Today!

480.898.6465

CLASS@TIMESPUBLICATIONS.COM

Employment General Acronis, Inc. Tempe, AZ. Network & Infrastructure Manager. Prepare, design & execute short & long term methods to enhance infrastructure capacity. Domestic/Intl. travel up to 20% to perform inst, removal and maint. of equipment in Acronis Data Centers and attend business mtgs & trng. Position supports ww operations and will require frequent mtgs outside normal schedule hours. Apply at https://boards.greenhouse.io/acronis/jobs/ 5848464002. Ref # 2062.

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

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

Employment General

Clairvoyant has openings for the following positions in Chandler, AZ area. Software Engineers reqs US Masters degree/foreign equiv or Bach degree + 5 yrs experience w/ skills in J2EE, Java, XML, SQL, and Unix to analyze/dsgn/dev/implement/test systems & applics. Sr. Programmer Analyst reqs US Bachelors/equiv (3 or 4 yr degree) in Commerce/BusAdm/STEM field to analyze/resolve/test/report on IT related projects using skills in EMC/MS/SQL/Excel/ Java/C. Email your resume to jobs@clairvoyantsoft.com with ref # 2022-19 for Software Eng; 2022-20 for Sr. Prog Analyst & ref EVT ad

Principal Sourcing Engineer- Electronics for Medtronic, Inc. in Tempe, AZ. Req. Master’s in Mechanical, Biomedical or Electrical Engr. or Bioengr. w/ a min. of 4 yrs. exp. in supply mgmt. Must possess at least 4 yrs. exp. w/ each of the following: FDA 21 CFR Part 820, ISO 13485, ISO 14971, ISO 9001 & Good Manufacturing Practices; electronics components incl. actives, passives, semiconductor, memory, fabrication, & PCB; Lean transformation projects, product transfers, DMAIC & six sigma; process characterizations, optimization Design of Experiments, Time studies, Value analysis & Value engr.; IQ/OQ/PQs, Gage R&Rs, & TMVs; Design, Reliability & Manufacturability; ANOVA, variables data distribution, sample size calculation, statistical process control, hypothesis testing, & Normality Assessments; & Critical Feature Identification, PFMEAs & DFMEAs. To apply, visit https://jobs.medtronic.com/ , select Req. #220001LT. No agencies or phone calls please. Medtronic is an equal opportunity employer committed to cultural diversity in the workplace. All individuals are encouraged to apply.

MetaSoftTech Solutions has openings for Software Engineers in Chandler, AZ area. Reqs US Masters degree/foreign equiv or Bach degree + 5 yrs experience w/ skills in Java/Salesforce/HTML/Oracle/SQL to analyze/design/develop/implement/test systems & applications. Email resume to applymst@gmail.com with ref # 2022-19 & ref EVT ad

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. 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 30, 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 30, 2022

Adult Care/Assisted Living

Garage Sales/ Bazaars

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

HUGE GARAGE SALE 7AM-2PM Fri-2/4 & Sat 2/5 Golf Equip, Saddles & Horse Tack, Yard & Household, Books, Art, Eltrncs, Furniture, Patio Equip. 2059 E Quartz St, Mesa (Off Gilbert Between 202 & SR 87)

Garage Sales/ Bazaars Community Garage Sale - Tuscany Villas February 5th, Gates open 8am - 1pm 6202 E McKellips Rd, Mesa

Meetings/Events SUN VALLEY PARK BRUNCH 1st Sat. - Pancakes 3rd Sat. - Biscuits & Gravy / French Toast Both Include Ham, Sausage & Eggs 11101 E University Dr University Between Signal Butte/Meridian

Miscellaneous For Sale

Wanted to Buy

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

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

Insurance Best Auto & Home Insurance Brokers Rates in AZ. One Agency with 20+ companies Like Progressive, Safeco and more, that will shop Instantly & Save you money. Call/Text Ed Caceres 480-717-7277 www.TheFreedomInsurance.com Ed@TheFreedomInsurance.com

Service Directory Air Conditioning/Heating

2021

FALL TUNE-UP SPECIAL!

Garage/Doors

Appliance Repair Now

GARAGE DOOR SERVICE

If It’s Broken, We Can Fix It!

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+%,

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.

Gawthorp & Associates

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

602-402-2213

www.linksestates.net

Nights/Weekends Bonded/Insured 480-251-8610

Not a licensed contractor

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

480-659-1400 Licensed & Insured

Watch for Garage Sales in Classifieds! You will find them easy with their yellow background. Garage Sale Fri & Sat 7a-11am Household, clothes, kitchen items, furniture, electronics, mason jars, kid items, DVDs, MORE 555 W. Lane Dr Mesa

Only $27.50 includes up to 1 week online To place an ad please call: 480-898-6465 class@times publications.com

Block Fence * Gates

602-789-6929 Roc #057163

Carpet Cleaning

Lowest Prices * 30 Yrs Exp Serving Entire Valley

*With a qualified ac system purchase

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

YOU’LL LIKE US - THE BEST!

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.

Electrical Services HONESTY • INTEGRITY • QUALITY

Manufactured Homes

THE LINKS ESTATES Why Rent The Lot When

East Valley/ Ahwatukee

Broken Springs Replaced

• Same Day Service • On-Site Repairs • Servicing All Major Brands • Quality Guaranteed

Concrete & Masonry

BESTOF

Appliance Repairs

QUALITY, VALUE and a GREAT PRICE!

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

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

Bonded/Insured • ROC #289252

480-405-7588

• 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

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

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

THE SUNDAY EAST VALLEY TRIBUNE | JANUARY 30, 2022

Handyman

Painting

Irrigation

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

GENERAL CONTRACTOR / HANDYMAN SERVICES SERVING THE ENTIRE VALLEY

All Estimates are Free • Call:

520.508.1420

Marks the Spot for ALL Your Handyman Needs! www.husbands2go.com Painting Flooring • Electrical Licensed, Bonded &• Insured • ROC#317949 Plumbing • Drywall • Carpentry Decks • Tile • More! Ask me about FREE water testing!

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 Sinc k Quality Wor 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

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

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

NTY

5-YEAR WARRA

480.654.5600

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

CALL US TODAY!

480.721.4146 www.irsaz.com

• Yard Waste • Concrete Slab • Old Tires

Landscape/Maintenance Insured/Bonded Free Estimates

Home Improvement

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

One Call, We Do It All! 602-339-4766 Owner Does All Work, All Honey-Do Lists 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.

Free Estimates with Pride & Prompt Service!

HOME IMPROVEMENT & PAINTING Dunn Edwards Quality Paint Small Stucco/Drywall Repairs

Check out the Handyman Section!

We Are State Licensed and Reliable!

Free Estimates • Senior Discounts

480-338-4011

East Valley PAINTERS

10% OFF

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

480-354-5802

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

480-688-4770

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

PLUMBERS CHARGE TOO MUCH! FREE Service Calls + FREE Estimates Water Heaters Installed - $999 Unclog Drains - $49 All Water Purification Systems Voted #1 Plumber 3 Years In A Row OVER 1,000 5-STAR REVIEWS

480-405-7099

Voted #1

Prepare for Winter Season!

L L C

BOOK ONLINE! STATE48DRAINS.COM

Bonded/Insured • ROC #223709

ALL Pro S E R V I C E

SEWER CABLE COMPREHENSIVE, FULL-SERVICE PLUMBING COMPANY

10% OFF

ROC#309706

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

T R E E

480-477-8842

ROC 3297740

Interior/Exterior Painting 30 YEARS EXPERIENCE

ROC# 256752

HYDROJETTING

20+ YEARS OF EXPERIENCE FAMILY OWNED & OPERATED LICENSED, BONDED & INSURED

Licensed • Bonded • Insured

• Old Paint & Chems.

• Remodeling Debris

Please recycle me.

Irrigation Repair Services Inc.

Honey Do List Too Long? • Furniture • Appliances • Mattresses • Televisions • Garage Clean-Out • Construction Debris

Plumbing

Your newspaper. Your community. Your planet.

Landscape/Maintenance

Ahwatukee Resident/ References/ Insured/ Not a Licensed Contractor

480.898.6465 CLASS@TIMESPUBLICATIONS.COM

(602) 502-1655

Cutting Edge LLC • ROC 281671

uce at 602.670.7038 t 602.670.7038

YOUR CLASSIFIED SOURCE

— Call Jason —

azirrigation.com

Small Man!” Decks • Tile • More! ✔ Kitchens ce 1999 Sin rk Wo y alit Qu le, dab ✔ 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 2012, 2013, 2014 ent/ References/ Insured/ NotResident a Licensed Contractor Since 1999 Ahwatukee / References Affordable, Quality Work 2010, 2011 2012, 2013, ences/ Insured/ Not a Licensed Contractor Insured / Not aCall Licensed Contractor 2014 Bruce at 602.670.7038

Hauling

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

PAINTING

LLC

• Drywall Repair • Bathroom Remodeling • Home Renovations

Plumbing

Now Accepting all major credit cards

Pool Service / Repair

Juan Hernandez

Pavers • Concrete • Water Features • Sprinkler Repair

PPebbleOcracking, O L Plaster R Epeeling, P ARebar IR showing, Pool Light out? I CAN HELP!

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

Call Juan at

480-720-3840 Not a licensed contractor.

THE SUNDAY EAST VALLEY TRIBUNE | JANUARY 30, 2022

Rooﬁng

You never know what you’ll find inside

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

480-706-1453

Licensed/Bonded/Insured • ROC #236099

480-699-2754 • info@monsoonroofinginc.com

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

MonsoonRooﬁngInc.com Licensed – Bonded – Insured – ROC187561

Public Notices

JAMES MADISON PREPARATORY SCHOOL, INC 5815 S MCCLINTOCK DR. TEMPE, AZ 85283 480-345-2306 480-345-0059 (FAX) www.madisonprep.org Announces open enrollment for grades 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, & 12 for the 2022-2023 school year. The open enrollment period is February 7-28, 2022.

CITY OF MESA PUBLIC NOTICE

Rooﬁng

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.

480.898.6465 CLASS @TIMESPUBLICATIONS.COM

Rooﬁng

aOver 30 Years of Experience

ROOFING LLC aFamily Operated by 3 Generations of Roofers! COMMERCIAL AND RESIDENTIAL Family Owned and Operated 43 Years Experience in Arizona

623-873-1626 Free Estimates Monday through Saturday Licensed 2006 ROC 223367 Bonded Insured

PhillipsRoofing.org PhillipsRoofing@cox.net

1. ZON21-00693 (District 2) Within the 5600 block of East Albany Street (south side), within the 100 block of North 56th Street (east side), and within the 100 block of North 57th Street (west side). Located west of Recker Road and north of Main Street (1.5± acres). Rezone from Limited Commercial (LC) to Multiple Residence 4 with a Planned Area Development overlay (RM-4-PAD) and Site Plan Review. This request will allow for a multiple residence development. Tim Boyle, Tim Boyle Design, applicant; Craig Ahlstrom, owner. 2. ZON21-00800 (District 5) Within the 8200 to 8300 blocks of East University Drive (north side), within the 400 block of North 82nd Street (east side), and within the 400 block of North 83rd Street (west side). Located east of Sossaman Road on the north side of University Drive (4.1± acres). Rezone from Single Residence 43 (RS- 43) to Multiple Residence 2 with a Planned Area Development overlay (RM-2-PAD) and Site Plan Review. This request will allow for a multiple residence development. Jon Gillespie, Pew and Lake, P.L.C., applicant; C &amp; K Investments, Inc., owner. DATED at Mesa, Arizona, this 30 th day of January 2022. DEE ANN MICKELSEN, City Clerk Published in the East Valley Tribune Jan 30, 2022 / 44338

Rooﬁng

PHILLIPS

The Mesa City Council will hold a public hearing concerning the following ordinances at the February 7, 2022 City Council meeting beginning at 5:45 p.m. in the Mesa City Council Chambers, 57 East First Street.

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

INVITATION TO BID: East Valley Men’s Center, 2345 N. COUNTRY CLUB DRIVE, MESA, ARIZONA 85201. The owner will receive Bids for the bathroom renovation project. This project is federally funded through Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds. Federal labor standards, Davis-Bacon prevailing wages, and Equal Employment Opportunity regulations apply of the Housing and Urban Development Act of 1968 for Employment and Contracting Opportunities. Small, minority and/ or women owned businesses are encouraged to submit bids. Sealed Bids will be received until 12:00PM (noon) Arizona Time, on Thursday, March 3, 2022 at A New Leaf, 868 E University Drive, Mesa, Arizona 85203. Bids will be publicly opened and read aloud at 12:15 PM on Thursday, March 3, 2022 at A New Leaf conference room, 868 E. University Drive, Mesa Arizona 85203. Bidding documents, including specifications to the proposed work and instructions to Bidders may be obtained via email. Contact Keon Montgomery, Director of Real Estate at: kmontgomery@turnanewleaf.org, Tel 480-733- 3063, ext. 4311. All bids must be on a lump-sum basis. The scope of work will include a base scope, and several add alternates. Contract will be awarded to the lowest responsible bidder for the base scope of work. A New Leaf, Inc., reserves the right to reject any and all bids. An optional Pre-Bid Conference will be held at 1:00PM Thursday, February 10, 2022, at the project site, East Valley Men’s Center, 2345 N. Country Club Drive, Mesa, Arizona 85201, at which time the Owner will be available to answer questions. Bidders are not required to attend. Unless provided in writing, verbal authorizations or acknowledgments by anyone present will not be binding. Published: East Valley Tribune, Jan 30, 2022 / 44192

THE SUNDAY EAST VALLEY TRIBUNE | JANUARY 30, 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.

••

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

E H G

C GERMANN

BlandfordHomes.com Not all photos shown are representative of all communities. Terms and conditions subject to change without notice.

The Mesa Tribune - Zone 2 - 1.30.2022

Articles inside

SPORTS

BUSINESS

GET OUT