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Red Mountain star / P. 23
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Pandemic impacting Mesa grades, absences, enrollment BY PAUL MARYNIAK Tribune Executive Editor
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he pandemic has taken a toll on enrollment and attendance in Mesa Public Schools while its impact on students’ grades has been mixed. Administration of�icials last week detailed the pandemic’s impact for the Governing Board and discussed steps they were planning to address regarding some of its adverse effects, particularly on students’ grades. While enrollment has dropped by more
than 4,500 students over the past two years, most of that decline occurred in the past year. Enrollment fell from 61,344 in 2018-19 to 60,769 in 2019-20 but has now plummeted to 56,807. One small bright spot that Dr. Robert Carlisle, district director of research and evaluation, cited was a 2.8 percent increase in kindergarten enrollment. But board member Dr. Joe O’Reilly drew no comfort from that stat, noting overall kindergarten enrollment had dropped by 13.7 percent from a year ago.
Most school districts in Arizona have reported similar decreases in kindergarten enrollment and some education of�icials have suggested that parents simply decided not to send their youngsters to kindergarten out of fear of COVID-19. Enrollment is a critical factor in any Arizona school district’s �iscal condition because the state reimburses districts on a per-pupil basis. And in Mesa’s case, the enrollment decline threatens to adversely impact budgets for
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Mesa restaurants ready to ‘platter up!’ for baseball
NEWS .......................... 4 More jobs mean more roadwork.
COMMUNITY .......... 17 Westwood High center a source of help. COMMUNITY ............................... 17 BUSINESS ..................................... 20 OPINION ....................................... 22 SPORTS ........................................ 23 GET OUT ........................................ 25 PUZZLES ...................................... 26 CLASSIFIED ................................. 27 Zone 2
Mesa pasty company grateful for city help ...................... See page 19 BY TOM SCANLON Tribune Managing Editor
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or many Mesa restaurants, Spring Training equates to “platter up!” Local restaurants and other businesses staggering from the pandemic expect the start of Spring Training – pitchers and catchers are scheduled to start tossing this week with games beginning Feb. 27 – to be a boost, even with expected restrictions on attendance. It might be more of a solid double this year than the grand slams of springs past, but the return of baseball is eagerly awaited by Mesa businesses. “That’s great news,” Mangos Mexican Cafe manager Omar de la Cruz said, when told Spring Training would start as planned.
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Al Fresco off Main and the anticipated start of Spring Training are boosting the hopes of restaurants reeling since the pandemic began a year ago. (Pablo Robles/Tribune Staff Photographer)
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THE MESA TRIBUNE | FEBRUARY 14, 2021
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NEWS
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Mesa homicides spiked during pandemic year BY TOM SCANLON Tribune Managing Editor
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e�lecting a regional and national trend, murders in Mesa accelerated during the pandemic. According to preliminary data provided by the Mesa Police Department, 24 people died by homicide here in 2020 – double the previous year. Mesa, the largest city in the East Valley, likely will continue to have around as many murders as all other East Valley cities combined – though Mesa’s murder rate is still far lower than the homicide rate in Phoenix. According to national crime analyst Jeff Asher, of Crimealytics, murders increased 37 percent in 57 cities in 2020, as “37 of 58 agencies reporting murder up more than 30 percent.” Councilman Francisco Heredia said his district on the west side of Mesa is still reeling from two murders. “We’ve had some high-pro�ile homicides in the past year in our district that really has been unfortunate,” he said. On Oct. 16, witnesses saw and heard gun�ire come from a KIA Soul as it drove past a taco shop at Guadalupe and Dobson roads. Four children, ages 1, 6, 9, and 16 were struck by gun�ire along with three adults. Sebastian Duran, the 1-year-old, died from his injuries. Larry T. Miller, 29, and Chazmon Ray Washington, 31, were arrested and face �irst-degree murder charges. Three months before the child was killed in the drive-by, Sam Briscoe, 33, was shot and killed in a Circle K parking lot at Guadalupe and Dobson. Police arrested Isaiah Lee Armstrong, 19, and charged him with killing Briscoe. Other killings in Mesa last year ranged from a road rage incident on South Alma School Road in which the victim was run over to several domestic violence incidents that escalated to murder-suicides. In 2019, the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) website shows 11 homicides in Mesa, which has a population of about 520,000. Tucson, with a population of 540,000, had 40 homicides in 2019. Phoenix, which is about three times larger than Mesa, had 131 homicides in 2019 — more than 10 times as many as Mesa.
Mesa Police are still seeking others involved in the fatal shooting of a year-old boy and wounding of six others last fall. One suspect has been arrested. (City of Mesa) Gilbert, with a population of 250,000, had only one homicide in 2019. Chandler, with a population just under 260,000, had four homicides in 2019. (Chandler also had a spike last year, with 11 homicides in 2020.) Scottsdale, which has a population of 260,000, recorded three homicides in 2019. Tempe, which has a population just under 200,000, had eight homicides in 2019. The FBI website shows Mesa had 17 murders in 2018, again far less than the 132 in Phoenix. Gilbert reported two homicides in 2018, with seven reported in Scottsdale and four in Chandler. Tempe had �ive murders in 2018.
Murders on the rise
According to the Phoenix Police Department website, the city had 187 homicides in 2020, a 43 percent increase over 2019.
Glendale, with a population of 250,000, had 17 homicides in 2019. Preliminary reports from the Glendale Police Department show a 50% spike in homicides during the pandemic year to 26. Gina Godbehere, a Maricopa County prosecuting attorney who specializes in homicides, blames a rise in killings on the pandemic. “We are seeing a huge spike (in homicides) because of the pandemic across the county. We’re also seeing a spike in domestic violence,” Godbehere said. “We’re also seeing an increase in substance abuse. That and �inancial stress with people losing their jobs can lead to domestic abuse,” she said. “We just know substance abuse often plays into things and spontaneous decisions. Being isolated, they’re letting loose
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NEWS
THE MESA TRIBUNE | FEBRUARY 14, 2021
BY TOM SCANLON Tribune Managing Editor
resents District 6 in east Mesa, told the Tribune he expects to make an announcement on a project with high-employment potential “in the next month or so. “My vision continues to be focused on jobs,” Thompson added. A report delivered by Economic Development Director William Rapid development is fueling road construction projects planned in Mesa, as this chart from the city shows. (City of Mesa) Jabjiniak said job creation in Mesa Destination at Gateway East, which plans hind-the-scenes category. slumped slightly, after several years of Brady noted potential developments growth: to have 700 homes when fully developed. along East Elliot Road. The 32-acre development is south of “In terms of jobs created or retained “We either have development agree- over the last �ive years, we have been right Williams Field Road and west of Meridian ments signed or are in negotiations,” he on schedule and have even exceeded our Road near the southeast corner of Mesa. While dirt is turning on many projects noted. Councilman Kevin Thompson, who reparound the city, others are still in the be��� JOBS ���� 7
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Mesa development: more jobs, more road projects
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he good news: Mesa development continues. The bad news: Mesa development continues. City leaders have their eyes on both the jobs and challenges new projects are bringing to Mesa. At a recent Economic Development Board meeting, City Manager Chris Brady said the city’s economic development “is mostly based upon infrastructure and the workforce.” While development means jobs, it is also accelerating at a pace that is “pushing us to our limits.” The intense growth in the eastern part of the city can de�lect from needed improvements elsewhere, he noted. And, he stressed the fairness factor: “It is an important balancing act to meet the demands of developers who don’t want to spend money on infrastructure,” Brady said. “We are trying to encourage that they need to be playing a part in this too.” This week, the Mesa City Council approved the second phase of 130 homes at
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Even with fewer fans expected in the stands, the manager of the family-owned, downtown Mesa restaurant beamed over the return of baseball. “Any help we can get now is great,” de la Cruz said. Mangos has been a downtown �ixture for a quarter-century, bene�iting from as much as a 25 percent boost in sales for Spring Training – during normal years, that is. “It brings people to town,” de la Cruz said, of spring ball. “And it brings people to downtown Mesa. They come for the weather and Spring Training. It’s a good thing.” De la Cruz said the federal Paycheck Protection Program helped Mangos keep paying its employees to make tamales and grill shrimp. “We got the PPP. That’s what helped us out,” said de la Cruz, who manages a staff of nine. He said Mangos also received a boost by participating in the al Fresco off Main program, launched Jan. 15 by the city and
Downtown Mesa Association. Al Fresco off Main is a courtyard with outdoor, distanced seating where people can bring food they ordered from any downtown Mesa restaurant to the outdoor eating area on MacDonald Street off Main. This week, Downtown Dash delivery service and live music were added to al Fresco off Main. Music and delivery are available 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 4 to 7:30 p.m. Thursdays through Saturdays. Al Fresco off Main will continue every day from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. through April. Throughout the day, staff will clean chairs and tables provided by the city and Mesa Arts Center. The restaurant program went over so well, the city this week launched Mesa Open Air, allowing businesses to temporarily move their waiting areas outdoors to parking spots, sidewalks, green spaces and other places normally off limits. While businesses must pay for equipment needed to expand outdoors, the city will waive permit fees and fast-track applications within two to four business days. “We’re getting the word out to the business community that there’s more help
out there,” Mayor John Giles said, at a recent study session. “The al fresco approach with restaurants has been successful.” At Mangos, “We’ve had a few people come and take food over there,” de la Cruz said of al Fresco off Main. The New Year has been quite a change from the darkest days of the pandemic, when Mangos closed for two months. Sally Harrison, president/CEO of the Mesa Chamber of Commerce, said spring ball is coming at the perfect time for a battered business community. “I think they’re tired. They’re just all trying their best to adapt to the rules and the new way of doing things,” Harrison said. As a volunteer at the stadiums, she can’t wait to see “loyal fans coming from Chicago or Oakland.” For the business community, baseball means big bucks. “The restaurants plan for spring training … It’s a huge revenue source for all our restaurants,” said Councilman Mark Freeman – who should know, as both Mesa stadiums are in his District 1. “We always call Spring Training our ‘Christmas in March’ because we do very
well,” Councilman Kevin Thompson said. “We’ll probably have reduced seating at both of our parks. It’s de�initely going to be different,” Harrison said. “It’s going to hurt.” “I think it will have an impact, not being fully open,” Thompson agreed. But, he added, “It’s encouraging to see Spring Training hopefully open on time.” Julie Spilsbury might be the newest member of city council, but she has lived in Mesa her entire life. Slimmed down or not, she welcomes Spring Training. “I think it’ll be really great,” Spilsbury said. “Even if like me you’re not a big sports fan, Spring Training is something people love. It will make people happier,” she said. Spring Training in Mesa begins with the Los Angeles Dodgers at the Chicago Cubs noon Feb. 27 at Sloan Park. The next day, the Seattle Mariners visit the Oakland Athletics at the A’s home, Hohokam Stadium. Freeman might have summed up Mesa’s attitude toward Spring Training best: “I’m looking forward to it, even if it’s a work in process.”
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NEWS
SCHOOLS ���� ���� 1
both this school year and next because the drop was steepest over the last �ive weeks, when the 100th day of the school year is clocked. The 100-day enrollment number impacts a district’s state funding for the rest of the current school year. The �iscal impact of the enrollment decline was not discussed last week, although administrators warned the board last fall that the district could be facing hard choices in program funding and overall staf�ing levels when 2021-22 budget development begins in a month or so. Board member Lara Ellingson noted that in both those previous school years, enrollment increased between January and February. This year, enrollment dropped over the last six weeks and Ellingson wondered if that was because the district was in an allvirtual learning mode the �irst two weeks of January. Carlisle said he had no concrete explanation, noting that in past years, “we got a ton of kids transferring in from charter schools about the 100th day.” He surmised that this year “charter schools might not be losing enrollment quite like they have in the past years.” To try and draw families back, district employees have been calling and visiting homes of former students and distributing door hangers with information on re-enrollment or, for families with kindergartners, the bene�its of attending MPS schools. Enrollment decline has been the most pronounced at the high school level, which fell 5 percent since the school year began, and the least in elementary school, where attendance fell by less than 1 percent with kindergarten excluded. Breaking enrollment down by grade, Carlisle reported that other than kindergarten, the steepest declines between January 2020 and last month occurred in fourth and �ifth grade, which each lost more than 10 percent of students, and �irst grade, which saw a 9.1 percent decline. Only two grade levels – sophomore and junior year in high school – saw enrollment increases, with 3.6 percent and almost 7 percent, respectively. Carlisle also presented a look at attendance trends and reported that overall absenteeism is greater this school year than in the past. But absenteeism among remote learners
THE MESA TRIBUNE | FEBRUARY 14, 2021
ing what students need speci�ically to recover from the learning gap that has impacted their academic performance. He also reported there were �laws in the way grades were weighted or entered so that some students who got F’s could be upgraded to a D. “This was one of the things exposed by COVID,” Mahlerwein said, citing a “system issue” that is being corrected. “I know the principals I talked to feel a lot better about the weighting issue in their grade books and now it has led into a different conversation about grading and more grading practices,” he added. He said the district also has pushed to the end of this month �inal grading Enrollment in Mesa Public Schools has declined in the last three school years, but the drop was for the �irst semester of the current most pronounced between the current and previous school year as the district struggled to school year so that students who have reopen classrooms. (Mesa Public Schools) been struggling in subjects have more time to catch up. in high school �lunked subjects than increased substantially from Thanksgiving “Learning doesn’t stop and start – it contheir counterparts in junior high and through the end of 2020. However, since tinues,” Mahlerwein said. “We have a syselementary school. the second semester began last month, tem where on this date, every child has to Assistant Superintendent Dr. Randy absences have trended down to the point learn the same thing and our brains don’t Mahlerwein told the board that while all where attendance rates are close to even work that way.” schools are addressing failing grades, “in among online and in-class students. He also indicated the need for “two differThe pandemic’s impact on grades varied. our high schools, it’s really critical beent kinds of conversations” with students cause it’s tied into graduation and every For example, overall, more students last who are failing because some simply quit year �lows into next year” and “it’s going fall received A’s than during the same time remote learning when they ran into probto cause a number of students to be not on period the last two school years. lems; those students “just need a little more track to graduation.” But more remote learners got F’s personalized learning,” he said. He said administrators and teachers are than students in classrooms districtMahlerwein also said teachers were taking various measures, such as assesswide, although fewer online learners “stressed’ by having to toggle between in-class and remote learners. “We were stressing our teachers on both sides,” he said. “They were teaching in a remote environment while they were teaching in person and we’ve never trained them to do that job. This is a new environment and to be honest, it wasn’t fair to our teachers and our work staff to put them in that situation.” But he also said, “Our teachers have done remote remarkably well with the technology and they’ve really adapted and I think we’re seeing a lot better instruction and a lot more engagement.” Ellingson also said she wonders if the disruption This slide was part of a presentation to the MPS Governing Board last week that examined students' of normal social life in high grades district wide for the first two quarters of the school year and the differences in achievement between online and in-class learners. (Mesa Public Schools) ��� SCHOOLS ���� 7
NEWS
THE MESA TRIBUNE | FEBRUARY 14, 2021
JOBS ���� ���� 4
goals in a few of those years. Year to date, we are a little behind schedule in terms of jobs, although we still expect to meet our goals,” Jabjiniak said.
More development, more roads
Marc Ahlstrom, an assistant city engineer, recently gave an update on several road projects that have received funding (with construction starts ranging from within the next few months to several years): • Williams Field Road: A new road connecting Ellsworth Road and State Route 24 will also “act as a gateway to the east side of the Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport property.” • Signal Butte Road Improvements: A new 2-mile road from Williams Field Road to East Germann Road will connect to the future SR24. • Sossaman and Baseline Intersection: A minor intersection improvement to add capacity and turn lanes. • Ray Road Connection: A short connec-
tion to line up Ray Road east and west of Ellsworth Road. • Broadway Road: Capacity improvements from Mesa Drive to Stapley Road in the downtown area. • Val Vista Drive: Capacity improvements from US 60 north to Pueblo Avenue including additional lanes at intersection with Southern Avenue. • Ellsworth Road: Joint project in partnership with the town of Queen Creek for an additional lane between Germann and SR24. • Sossaman Road: A new road between East Ray and East Warner roads to offer connection to the Inner Loop area utilizing an existing 202 underpass. This week, Mesa City Council approved two road-related projects, annexing 7 acres of the South 222nd Street and East Williams Field Road right-of-way and 2 acres of the South Meridian Road rightof-way. Both are to “facilitate the development of the required roadway infrastructure improvements of the Destination at Gateway mixed-use development.”
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This chart shows the difference in grades handed out to online and in-class learners at the elementary, junior high and high school levels for the first two quarters of the 2020-21 school year. (Mesa Public Schools)
SCHOOLS ���� ���� 6
schools adversely impacted students’ achievement by creating a morale problem. “The kids can’t support each other at a basketball game or can’t go to a choir
concert or to dances and things to look forward to and I wonder if that’s had a great impact as well on their grades,” she said, adding she wants a mechanism – like a town hall with students – where of�icials can talk with students to get their take on grade problems.
GOT NEWS? Contact Paul Maryniak at 480-898-5647 or pmaryniak@timespublications.com
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NEWS
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THE MESA TRIBUNE | FEBRUARY 14, 2021
INSPIREd to say thanks
Students in INSPIRE Entertainment, a Mesa performing arts training organization, created a "Love Tour" under the direction of dance company Director Shelley Van Shaar to dance and sing at hospitals and senior living centers. On Feb. 10, the tour ended up at Banner Gateway Medical Center in Gilbert, where Lyndie Cooley, 9, and 100 other students greeted employees like Dawn Akins. (Pablo Robles/Tribune Staff Photographer)
GOP senators vote to curb governor’s emergency powers BY HOWARD FISCHER Capitol Media Services
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epublican senators voted last week to curb the emergency powers of the governor – in a way he can’t veto. SCR 1003, approved on a party-line 1614 vote, would terminate any emergency declared by the governor in 30 days unless both the House and Senate agreed to an extension. And any extension could be for no more than 30 days, though there could be continued reauthorization. The proposal now goes to the House. Nothing in the measure would affect the current emergency that Gov. Doug Ducey declared in March. That’s because the legislation requires voter approval. Sending it to the ballot skirts the normal requirement for gubernatorial approval. But lawmakers may yet get a chance to pull the plug on the current emergency. SCR 1001, which would do just that, al-
ready has cleared two Senate committees and awaits �loor debate. Last week’s vote followed months of complaints by many GOP lawmakers that their party’s governor has used his emergency powers to infringe on individual rights. That has included the closure of businesses he has declared to be “non-essential,’’ a moratorium on evictions, and what amounted to a stay-at-home order for people who do not need to be out. Most of those are gone. But his orders still keep bars closed unless they operate like restaurants, with sit-down food service and no dancing. And restaurants can operate with only limited seating capacity. “My constituents were banging down my door wanting me to do something and take action,’’ said Sen. Warren Petersen, R-Gilbert, who crafted the plan. Existing law does allow the legislature to terminate an emergency order with a simple majority vote.
Only thing is, with the legislature not in session, there was no way for lawmakers to do that. And with Ducey unwilling to call them into a special session to override his order, that left only the option for lawmakers to call themselves in. That, however, takes a two-thirds vote, which the Republicans did not have. Petersen said this measure, if approved by voters, ensures that the governor has to work with lawmakers if he wants his emergency powers extended. Sen. Kelly Townsend, R-Mesa, was blunter in her belief that there needs to be legislative oversight and input, even in the case of a deadly disease. “I hope we never again see something so fearsome that we give all power and control to one person and his bureaucrats who cannot be held accountable by the public,’’ she said. “There are severe consequences when we place that much power in the hands of one person inde�initely.’’ Senate Democrats, who generally believe the governor has done too little
with his emergency powers to curb the spread of the pandemic and its effects, found themselves in the curious position of defending the current law and speaking against efforts to allow curbs. “The whole purpose is an attempt to remove politics from action during an emergency so that we can act swiftly to save lives,’’ said Sen. Juan Mendez, DTempe. And he suggested Republicans were making far too much out of the gubernatorial powers. “This isn’t Star Wars,’’ he said. “The Senate didn’t turn Ducey into an emperor.’’ Mendez said that now that legislators are back in session, there are things they should be doing, like dealing with housing and child-care issues of those who have been affected, whether physically or �inancially, by the virus, “instead of taking advantage of lathered-up constituents and their fears.’’ If approved by the House, the measure will be on the 2022 general election ballot.
THE MESA TRIBUNE | FEBRUARY 14, 2021
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The treatment that is provided at Aspen Medical has three main goals. 1) Increase blood flow 2) Stimulate and increase small fiber nerves 3) Decrease brain-based pain
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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, 2021. 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.
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10
NEWS
THE MESA TRIBUNE | FEBRUARY 14, 2021
More vaccines for older Mesa residents on the way
BY TOM SCANLON Tribune Managing Editor
M
onday afternoon, Frederick Pierce was not a happy camper. At 78, the Mesa man was eligible to get a COVID-19 vaccination. Theoretically, at least. “I’ve been trying for two months to get an appointment,” he growled. “I tried online, I tried the telephone, I tried everything,” he said, frustrated over hours spent futilely. Adding gasoline to his �ire was hearing that part-time residents in his Sunland Village neighborhood were already getting second shots. “All these snow birds are getting an appointment,” he said. Then, when he logged into the same state vaccination reservation website where he spent hours only to see the message “no appointments available,” as if by magic he saw multiple slots open at Chandler Gilbert Community College. He signed up for a shot the next day. “It went well. I was surprised how organized they were,” he said. “It moves pretty quick. Then you wait 15 minutes after the shot to make sure there’s no reaction. It was a fast moving thing.” But he was still upset about snowbirds getting shots: “There must’ve been 10 or 15 cars in front of me with out-of-state plates.” When he got home, Pierce received an email noti�ication and scheduled a second appointment for Feb. 27. While the 75-and-older group are being
HOMICIDES ���� ���� 3
- maybe from being cooped up for a while,” she said. She called the rise in violent crime “unprecedented. And scary.” According to the Council on Criminal Justice, homicide rates jumped 32 percent during the pandemic and assaults increased by 11 percent in most American cities. One of the keys to bringing violent crimes back down, the council believes, will be to reduce the pandemic’s impact on local law enforcement.
on the next page of the registration system, the appointment was gone. With nearly half of those 75 and older having at least one vaccine shot, Maricopa County will begin making vaccines available to adults 65 and older Monday, Feb. 15. The county is boosting the number of pharmacies offering vaccines to 182. Meanwhile, state and county of�icials gave the Mesa Fire Department the green light to continue providing vaccinations to the 75-andolder crowd at the Mesa Convention Center. Mesa Fire Deputy Chief After weeks of fruitless attempts, Frederick Pierce, 78, was finally Michelle Denton said the able to schedule a COVID-19 vaccination at Chandler Gilbert department opened a Community College - Pecos Campus, where his first vaccination point of distribution – shot went smoothly. (Special to the Mesa Tribune) better known as “POD” given highest priority, those 65 to 74 can – for a limited group. also get vaccinated. “We had a closed POD to vaccinate poGov. Doug Ducey announced last week lice of�icers and private school and public Arizona has administered a million vac- school staff,” she said. cine doses. Last week, Mesa Fire started driveBut it hasn’t been easy for many. through vaccinations at the Mesa ConPierce’s friend Martin Felan, 73, was not vention Center “speci�ically targeting 75 able to land a spot at the Chandler Gilbert and older. Community College. Felan’s son helped “We hear, ‘Whew! Thank God!’ from him navigate the system and found an school teachers and (seniors) 75 and up. opening at the State Farm Stadium vacci- Seniors have been quarantining in their nation site – but by the time they clicked homes for a year,” Denton said. “City leaders continue to face policy challenges posed by the recent rise in violent crime,” the council’s report states. “Several evidence-based strategies are available to address the increase in violence but subduing the COVID-19 pandemic also remains a necessary condition for reducing violence.” Brandi George, a Mesa Police Department spokeswoman, declined to say if the pandemic was a factor in the city’s spike in killings. “The Mesa Police Department cannot speculate as to why homicide numbers go
up or down,” George said. “We encourage anyone going through a crisis to reach out to community resources, such as their local crisis hotline.” Heredia said he is not overly alarmed by the spike in homicides last year. “Overall, the city of Mesa and our district are really pretty safe,” said the councilman from District 3. “What the Police Department has done over the years has provided a good base for our residents to feel safe.” Though arrests have been made in the drive-by that killed the infant, a $40,000
The Mesa Fire Department will be providing �irst and second doses for at least the next few weeks at the same location. Denton stressed the appointments are booked through the state website, podvaccine.azdhs.gov. (The registration is a multi-step process requiring an email address. Those who have dif�iculty or don’t have access to a computer can call 602-542-1000, 844542-8201 or 211). Information also is available at maricopa.gov/5659/COVID19-vaccine-locations. Denton can sympathize with Pierce and others who have had trouble getting vaccine appointments. “I think it’ll improve as the vaccine shortage gets better,” she said. "We’ve wasted next to zero." Mesa Fire's supply of vaccines has been a week-to-week guessing game. “It’s unfortunate that we can’t put vaccines in everyone’s arm that calls and emails us, we have to take direction from the county,” Denton said. While her department is ready, willing and able to ramp up if and when more vaccines are supplied, for now Mesa Fire is doing its best to give out shots, receiving smiles and sighs of relief in return. “We get lots of kudos,” Denton said. “Everyone is very thankful … We had a lady stop by who had her shot and said she had an excellent experience. She came back an hour later with 10 pizzas.” Now that most in the Mesa police and �ire departments are getting access to COVID-19 vaccines, “Maybe we can get back to normal sooner,” Denton pondered. reward is still offered for information leading to the arrest and or indictment of any suspects in the murder. “The reward is still in place and posted on the Silent Witness website. The Mesa Police Department continues to ask for information related to this fatal shooting,” said George.
To provide information, call Silent Witness at 480-WITNESS, 480-948-6377, or 480-TESTIGO for Spanish speakers. Anonymous tips also can be posted at silentwitness.org.
GOT NEWS? Contact Paul Maryniak at 480-898-5647 or pmaryniak@timespublications.com
THE MESA TRIBUNE | FEBRUARY 14, 2021
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NEWS
THE MESA TRIBUNE | FEBRUARY 14, 2021
Chandler lawmaker’s gaming law advances BY HOWARD FISCHER Capitol Media Services
P
romoted by an aide to Gov. Doug Ducey and urged on by sports teams and Native American tribes, a vastly expanded legal gaming proposal for Arizona advanced by a Chandler lawmaker cleared its �irst hurdle last week. The far-reaching legislation approved by the House Commerce Committee would legalize the ability of Arizonans to wager on professional and college sports. Betting on fantasy sports also would become legal if HB 2772 becomes law. And all that could be done online through a smart phone. On top of that, off-track betting locations and service organizations would get the right to legally offer keno. That’s a form of lottery but with a new game and new numbers up to 15 times every hour. Chandler Rep. Jeff Weninger, who is sponsoring the House version of the offreservation gaming plan, said he sees a possible ripple effect. “I truly think you’re going to see things where more people are going to games because it is exciting maybe to have a bet and maybe watching the game in person,’’ he said, “more people wanting to watch it in a group setting because maybe they have a $20 bet on the game.’’ The 9-1 vote followed testimony by a parade of lobbyists for professional sports organizations. Several of them told of the �inancial woes they faced after the pandemic shortened the seasons. They see legal wagering – and the money generated – as a �inancial lifeline. The plan, if approved would generate anywhere from $20 million to $42 million a year for the state – lawmakers could use for new or expanded programs or even to grant tax cuts. Only Rep. Pamela Powers Hannley, DTucson, cast the dissenting vote, stating “Gambling is an addiction.’’ “People lose their homes and their live-
Chandler state Rep. Jeff Weninger is ushering Gov. Doug Ducey's expanded gaming proposal through the House while another lawmaker is doing the same in the Senate. (Tribune file photo)
lihoods from gambling,’’ Powers Hannley continued. “We need to realize that we could have unintended consequences from expansion of gambling.’’ The Tucson lawmaker also said she’s not convinced that the private companies that will be hired by sports teams and franchises to run the operations will properly store and protect private information of those who place their bets online. Powers Hannley said this could provide the opportunity for companies to “geotrack’’ the gamblers who make their wagers through their smart phones. But other lawmakers were more in-
clined to listen to the lobbyists who saw nothing but positive out of this. Rob Dallagher who represents the Arizona Cardinals, one of the teams that would get the right to establish its own online and in-stadium wagering facility where people could bet not just on Cardinals game and not just on football but on any professional or college sporting event anywhere in the country. “If I wanted to go today and make a sports bet, there is a way for me to do that,’’ Dallagher said. “What I’m not so certain about is, if I win, am I going to get paid, or is the person holding that bet for me using data
that is legitimate to determine whether I won or lost that bet,’’ he continued. “And this bill covers both of those.’’ Amilyn Pierce, vice president of the Arizona Diamondbacks, said teams elsewhere have brought in new cash because their home states have given the go-ahead for sports wagering since the U.S. Supreme Court in 2018 voided a federal law banning such gambling. “In the years since the ruling, we have watched as other states have signi�icantly implemented sports betting and what it has done to the �inancial health of the teams who have been able to participate,’’ she told lawmakers. “We cannot let Arizona fall behind, putting our sports teams at a signi�icant disadvantage in a competitive market.’’ What’s in HB 2772 and a mirror bill in the Senate of SB 1797 are half of a deal that Ducey cut with tribes as they are renegotiating the gaming compacts �irst approved in 2002. In essence, the tribes would get opportunities for additional locations for casinos and the right to operate new games like craps and roulette. They, too, will be able to take in sports bets. All the terms of that, however, have not been made public. Anni Foster, the governor’s legal counsel, said her boss is entitled to approve new terms without the approval of lawmakers. What does require legislative rati�ication is what the tribes are giving the state in return: the right to operate new forms of off-reservation gaming that were prohibited in the original 2002 deal. But the whole package is tied together: The tribes don’t get expanded gaming if lawmakers don’t OK the new off-reservation games. And sports betting is permitted only if the tribes in the Phoenix and Tucson areas approve the �inal deal. The measure now goes to the full House following a review of its constitutionality. No date has been set to hear the Senate version sponsored by Sen. T.J. Shope, RCoolidge.
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THE MESA TRIBUNE | FEBRUARY 14, 2021
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NEWS
THE MESA TRIBUNE | FEBRUARY 14, 2021
East Valley woman leads redistricting panel BY KEVIN REAGAN Tribune Staff Writer
A
Chandler woman has been selected to lead the commission that is redrawing Arizona’s congressional and legislative districts. Erika Schupak Neuberg, a licensed psychologist-turned-life coach with a practice on Dobson Road, will spearhead one of the state’s most powerful citizen-led commissions that will make decisions that could signi�icantly impact the composition of Arizona’s congressional delegation and the Legislature for the next decade. The Arizona Independent Redistricting Commission convenes with a new set of members once every decade to adjust the boundaries of congressional and legislative districts to account for population shifts. Two Democrats and two Republicans are picked by the Legislature to sit on the commission they in turn interview and select an independent voter to preside over the �ive-member panel. Commissioners cannot be anyone who has been elected to public of�ice within the last three years nor has served as an of�icer of a political party. Neuberg was picked earlier this month from a list of �ive candidates. She said her �irst priority will be to create a “fair” district map that will be able to withstand any litigious challenges. The commission is obligated to draw districts that are roughly equal in population, appear compact, attempt to adhere to city and county boundaries and are electorally competitive. The new commissioners may be faced with having to make some dramatic revisions in the coming months. Arizona has gained about a million new residents since 2010 and is projected to add a 10th congressional seat to its delegation. Neuberg, who has lived in Arizona for the last 40 years, said she hopes the commission’s members can establish “mutual trust” for one another and be able to make unanimous, nonpartisan decisions. “I believe I have the unique skill set, as well as the integrity and character, to successfully chair this process,” Neuberg
Chandler life coach and psychologist Erika Schupak Neuberg will lead the five-member Arizona Independent Redistricting Commission. (Special to the Tribune) wrote in a statement. Neuberg will likely have to deal with political pressure from both sides, especially considering the hostility that previous chairs have encountered. Colleen Mathis, the last person to hold the job, was forced off the commission in 2011 by then-Gov. Jan Brewer amid accusations of drafting unfavorable maps and holding secret meetings. The Arizona Supreme Court later determined Brewer had overstepped her powers and overruled her actions by reinstating Mathis to the commission. Though Neuberg has been politically engaged for most of her life, she described herself as being “�iercely independent” and “agnostic” to party politics. The commission needs a chairperson who can “resist external pressures and criticisms,” she said, and continue an unbiased dedication to the commission’s constitutional duties. Neuberg earned a bachelor’s degree in political science at Colorado College in 1986 before receiving a doctoral degree in
psychology from Arizona State University. She said her educational background has instilled in her a lifelong respect for civics, history and community activism. “As a student of political science, I developed a deep appreciation for our Constitution and the freedoms it affords us,” Neuberg said. Between 2010 and 2013, Neuberg was president of a bipartisan committee that aimed to strengthen America’s relations with Israel and made several trips to Washington D.C. to lobby lawmakers. “I have seen �irst-hand when citizen advocacy works and when it does not, and when government is effective and when it is not,” she said. During her interview with other commission members, Neuberg was asked about her many �inancial contributions to politicians – both Republican and Democratic – and whether that might compromise her ability to remain neutral. Neuberg said her campaign donations were solely made to get the attention of elected of�icials and inform them of inter-
GOT NEWS?
national matters involving Israel. “Every single check I wrote was for the intention of having educational opportunities and to create the type of relationship such that we can have time to teach about foreign policy,” Neuberg said. Arizona’s legislative and congressional districts had been drawn by state lawmakers until voters passed a proposition in 2000 to establish an independent commission. The state �iled a lawsuit in 2012 challenging the commission’s constitutional authority and attempted to shift districtdrawing powers back to the Legislature. The U.S. Supreme Court rejected the state’s arguments and upheld the commission’s validity. Neuberg said she understands the magnitude of her new position and all the ethical responsibilities she’ll be expected to maintain over the next several months. But the rewards of participating in the commission’s meaningful process are deep, she said, and worth the personal sacri�ice. “My years of political advocacy have taught me how to bring people from different backgrounds and perspectives together to �ind consensus for the common good,” Neuberg added. Her professional background also might come in handy, given the challenge ahead of her. A licensed psychologist for over 20 years, Neuberg in her professional life treated issues ranging “from severe pathology to everyday life stress,” according to her website. “Regardless of the presenting problem, I consistently discovered that my clients achieved the best results when I employed forward-thinking and positive techniques that sparked excitement for change,” she says on her website. She says she “made a slight career adjustment and now practices exclusively as a life coach.” “When you combine the science of psychology with the power of partnership and motivation, you get success,” she explains.
Contact Paul Maryniak at 480-898-5647 or pmaryniak@timespublications.com
THE MESA TRIBUNE | FEBRUARY 14, 2021
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COMMUNITY
THE MESA TRIBUNE | FEBRUARY 14, 2021
TheMesaTribune.com |
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Westwood High program helps students in many ways BY KEVIN PIREHPOUR Tribune Staff Writer
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Mesa high school is helping students gain work experience on campus while it connects needy families with basic necessities donated by local businesses. Thanks to sizable donations from Amazon and other businesses, the Working Warriors program at Westwood High School offers students class credit and experience working at the on-campus donation center, which offers necessities to families facing economic hardship. Organizers of the program are now hoping to expand it to other Mesa high schools and are hoping more local businesses jump on board to help. The students, who call themselves Working Warriors, and program directors aim to help as many vulnerable classmates and families by getting basic necessities to them through a safe, con�idential experience. “We have the potential to be serving the
So, in October 2019, a small team at Westwood organized the on-campus distribution center. “It kind of started from an idea and then we’ve built it up to where it is now,” said Wendy Clifford, program director and individualized instruction site leader at Westwood. “Now we’re getting a lot more shipments.” More shipments meant more hands-on experience LEFT: Westwood High students, from left, Fernando Santoyo, Savana Stump and Luis Nunez stock goods inside for students and goods for a campus storage facility. RIGHT: Savana Stump and Ethan Pittman carry boxes into one of the many storage needy families in the comfacilities on the Westwood campus used for the Working Warriors program. (Pablo Robles/Staff Photographer) munity. Today, the program serves around 10entire community and really have this be dents here that can be part of it,” he said. After Mesa Public Schools’ success with 15 families per day through a con�idential a program where any student here can be learning these job skills while serving the distributing thousands of meals and books service available in-person and delivery. The program offers a range of goods – community,” said Daniel Becker, applied to kids who need them, district adminislearning teacher at Westwood and Work- trators proposed a new program to get ba- from cleaning products to hygiene prodsic necessities, such as laundry detergent ucts to baby supplies – mostly donated ing Warriors coordinating director. “We just really want to continue growing and disinfectant spray, into the hands of ��� AMAZON ���� 18 its impact and growing the number of stu- families who can’t afford them.
Rent, utility assistance available now in Mesa BY TOM SCANLON Tribune Managing Editor
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new program is helping Mesa residents catch up on rent owed – and avoid water and electricity turnoffs. Last month, after providing $7 million in rent assistance through the Mesa CARES program, the city received an additional $15.7 million in federal funding for “Mesa residents who are �inancially impacted by COVID.” Two weeks into the 2021 Emergency Rental and Utility Assistance Program (or ERAP), 87 households received $452,000 in assistance, with $426,000 for rent owed and $25,000 for utility bills. The city was processing nearly 700 more applications for ERAP, which is targeted for those who “demonstrate they have been impacted by COVID,” such as loss of a job
and/or income reduction. The monthly income maximum for a single person is $3,634. Monthly income guidelines increase by about $500 per family member up to $6,850 for a family of eight. Mary Brandon, Community Services deputy director, said residents can apply at mesaaz.gov/mesacares. She said the city is working with the Mesa Community Action Network (MesaCAN) for those who need help applying. The agency will provide assistance with computers and those who need Spanish translation, she said. MesaCAN is at 635 E. Broadway Road. Hours for assistance are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m Monday through Friday. The agency, Brandon stressed, will walk anyone who needs assistance through the application process. For more information, call 480-644-5440
or email ERAPinfo@mesaaz.gov. According to Business Services Director Ed Quedens, the city has turned off about 1% of its 189,000 utility customers. “Since Oct. 1, we have turned off service for 1,948 customer accounts due to delinquency,” he said. He noted “the number of turn-offs is the accumulation of unpaid delinquencies from mid-March of 2020 which is when we suspended disconnects due to the pandemic. “Only 151 of the delinquent accounts that we turned off since Oct. 1 remain turned off,” Quedens noted. The number of turn offs could have been far higher: “We did a lot of outreach to our customers to make them aware of the availability of Mesa CARES assistance funds ... Many of the customers we turned off did not seek assistance likely because they didn’t qualify by income or COVID impact
through any of the assistance programs,” Quedens said. Now that funding is available again, “Customer messaging includes messaging that if you’re having problems paying your bill we have assistance available. The program is advertised on the city’s home page,” Quedens said. “Also when someone calls in to the phone center or the credit of�ice we try to connect them to one of the programs if they need help. “We would always like to help get a customer assistance rather than to have to disconnect their services,” he said. The Mesa CARES Utility Assistance Program, which ran from June 15 through Dec. 23, made 8,816 awards totaling $4.5 million, according to Quedens. Mesa suspended utility turnoffs from
��� UTILITY ���� 18
18
COMMUNITY
THE MESA TRIBUNE | FEBRUARY 14, 2021
Mesa Arts Center offers 3 big events this month TRIBUNE NEWS STAFF
S
ocial distancing might be tough on live performances and exhibits, but three events in Mesa show the arts scene is far from being defeated by the pandemic. The Mesa Contemporary Arts Museum at the Mesa Arts Center has opened its 42nd annual Contemporary Crafts Exhibition, featuring local and other artists whose works have “become a benchmark for innovation and quality,” organizers said. The exhibition features ceramics, �ibers, basketry, metals, wood, glass, jewelry, papermaking and book arts. Admission is free, but reservations are recommended. Reservations: mesaartscenter.com/ mcam. While you’re on the Arts Center’s web-
AMAZON ���� ���� 17
by Amazon that may have been returned, lightly damaged or overstocked. “The work we’re doing really lends itself well to the kind of conditions that we’re working under as part of safety because the deliveries and pick-ups can be contactless,” Becker said. “We’re not actually taking any additional risks.” Clifford explained that sometimes the students whose families need such items are “not real open initially, so we want to make a system where it’s just kind of like a secret shopper – We’re just giving you what you need and we don’t need to know who you are.” “We have counselors here that we connect with other agencies too,” she added. “To really make the practice of what public schools are supposed to be – a resource for our community.” Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, the number of families reaching out to the donation center for support has steadily increased because many have experienced recent job losses and can’t afford to purchase basic essentials, Clifford said.
UTILITY ���� ���� 17
March through October. Recently, Quedens said, “We haven’t yet seen a signi�icant uptick in delinquencies. A lot of customers received assistance in December and if their situation hasn’t im-
The display of contemporary crafts at the Mesa Contemporary Arts Museum includes pieces by two Mesa artists – Farraday Johnson, left, and Stephanie Johnson. (City of Mesa) site, get your tickets for the next installment of its Classical Music Inside Out virtual series featuring Shelly Watson on Thursday, Feb. 18.
Watson “has taken every artistic opportunity offered in New York City to become her own brand of entertainment excellence,” a center spokesman said. As
proved, they may not have accumulated much of a balance yet. “We know times are still tough. Hopefully, they’ll be able to take advantage of the new program before they get too far behind,” he added. “My staff will refer any customers who
contact us concerned about their bill to the application process and will do our best not to disconnect them while they apply and await a response. We work really hard to help our customers when faced with these dif�icult situations.” Mesa also has a Low-Income Senior Wa-
pathway,” Clifford said. “Some kids are going to go straight into what we call ‘workplace, readiness programs’ – preparing for life after high school.” About 16 percent of high school students with a disability continue their studies and earn a bachelor’s degree, compared to Amazon and other businesses have donated large quantities of about 34 percent who items that have been slightly damaged, returned or overstocked. do not identify with a Working Warriors program leaders hope other businesses join disability and earn a their program so they can expand it to other MPS high schools. bachelor’s degree, ac(Pablo Robles/Tribune Staff Photographer) cording to the U.S. Bu“You don’t think about how expensive reau of Labor Statistics. About 20 percent of students with a disability have less than those items are,” Clifford said. The program is run by students with a high school diploma. At Westwood High School, about 550 varying learning capabilities who stock goods and coordinate with families to students, or about 17 percent of the student population, have Individualized Edu�ill orders. It’s designed to create a “seamless tran- cation Plans and the on-site training for sition program from school to work,” said those enrolled in Working Warriors has already started to land them jobs at places Clifford. “Not all kids necessarily are going to go like Amazon and Instacart, Clifford said. To help create a “real-life” work experistraight into the college plan and college
an opera singer, she is an award-winning Juilliard School graduate, a Metropolitan Opera outreach artist and a collaborator specializing in improvisation. The Mesa Arts Center also is offering its 2021 National Geographic Live! Virtual Speaker Series through April 14. Its next event is Feb. 24, titled “Reimagining Dinosaurs,” which examines how new scienti�ic discoveries are changing what scientists thought they knew about how dinosaurs looked, moved and lived. Newfound troves from the Moroccan desert suggest that the immense predator Spinosaurus used crocodile-like jaws and a unique, paddle-like tail to actively pursue prey in the water: a �irst for dinosaurs. In Chile, scientists have discovered a new therapod that consumed a vegetarian diet.
ence, program leaders want to form partnerships with local businesses and organize exercises, such as mock interviews to prepare students for life after high school, Clifford said. The program then becomes an educational experience that will not only bene�it students but also businesses looking for quali�ied job applicants. “When they get employed, they don’t leave places, they really don’t,” Clifford said. “They’re loyal employees and they’re very proud.” To match growing demand and reach more families, program leaders are looking to expand to more schools and are asking for more business to get involved. Businesses or organizations interested in getting involved or create partnerships opportunities can contact Martin Appel at mmappel@mpsaz.org. “We want to eventually be sort of a hub where we’re delivering to all of the schools in the area in a lot of community organizations,” Becker said. “So, we’re expanding those partnerships and we would like to expand our capacity to receive and process more items, possibly from more donors than just Amazon.”
ter Discount program, for those 60 and older below 200 percent of the federal poverty level. The program provides a 30 percent discount on the water service rate and reduces the �ixed monthly rate from $28.10 per month to $19.67 per month.
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BUSINESS
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City aid helps Mesa bakery keep making pasties BY TOM SCANLON Tribune Managing Editor
W
hen the pandemic hit, leading to closures of restaurants and then reopenings with tight restrictions, it was hard enough for established restaurants who built up loyal customers over years. Imagine being a newer operation, like Sonson’s Pasty Company, which Julie Mercer opened at 6060 E. Brown Road about a year-and-a-half before Gov. Doug Ducey ordered all restaurants to close last March. Nearly a year later, Mercer is baking heart-shaped treats for Valentine’s Day, while sharing her heartfelt appreciation for the assistance that helped her business survive 2020. “We were very lucky we had a lot of support from our community to keep us going,” Mercer said. “And the city of Mesa has been fantastic. They offered up so much help to local businesses.” A visit from Sally Harrison, president/ CEO of the Mesa Chamber of Commerce, helped Mercer and Sonson’s get connected.
After funding from the Paycheck Protection Program and Mesa CARES helped her business make it through the pandemic, Julie Mercer received a city grant to build a patio at Sonson’s Pasty Company. (Special for the Tribune) “We reached out to all the local businesses,” Harrison said. “I went into Sonson’s for the �irst time, met Julie and said to her, ‘Have you signed up for the Mesa CARES program?’ She said, ‘The what?’
“She signed up that evening.” It quickly turned out to be bene�icial, Mercer said. “Through the Mesa CARES program, I had computer classes, they gave me a lap-
top at the end of classes. I got help with personal protection equipment, supplies, hospital sprays so we could clean the whole place,” she said. The program also coached her through an application for federal Paycheck Protection Program funding. Technically, the program offers loans, but most do not have to be paid back if guidelines are followed. Compared to the millions larger employers received, the $6,000 in PPP funding Mercer received was miniscule — but, she said, crucial at a time when the catering portion of Sonson’s cratered. “PPP helped us through (the pandemic) …. That helped immensely,” she said. “The year before the pandemic, we used to do $3,000-5,000 (monthly) in events. They almost stopped when the pandemic started. It was hard for us to keep people employed,” Mercer said. “Without the Paycheck Protection, it would have been hard to keep them.” After receiving the funding, she was able to keep her �ive employees on staff.
��� SONSON'S ���� 21
Mesa Marine veteran, cider maker a ‘rising star’ TRIBUNE NEWS STAFF
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Mesa Marine veteran and celebrated cider maker has been named one of 29 national Rising Stars in the food and beverage industry. Jason Duren, a retired sergeant, received the recognition from FSR Magazine in a piece that identi�ies up-and-coming foodservice professionals who are changing the industry for the better. As the co-owner and cider maker of Cider Corps since it opened in 2017, Duren and his brother Josh have been leaders in the U.S.’s emerging craft cider industry. Their self-described mission for their Mesa cidery and taproom is: “Drink great cider. Honor great sacri�ice.” “Jason Duren’s inspiring story is not only a sterling example of the grit and
JASON DUREN
determination that make the F&B world so special, it is also a testament to the power of small businesses to give back to the communities they serve, just as he has
done with Cider Corps,” said Nicole Duncan, editor of FSR Magazine. Duren started making cider as a hobby while recovering from two traumatic brain injuries sustained in Afghanistan. He eventually returned to school for a degree in sustainable horticulture and perfected fermentation techniques to create ciders with smooth and balanced �lavor pro�iles. The Duren brothers honor the sacri�ice of those in service with fundraisers for community programs and cider styles like Tropic Lightning and Blueberry Angels that are dedicated to branches of the military. “There is so much creativity and innovation in the cider industry right now and I’m �lattered to be recognized for what we’re doing at Cider Corps,” said Jason.
“Our Arizona community has been so supportive and it means a lot to me to be able to continue to serve my community in a way I never imagined.” Cider Corps plans to move its cider production to a dedicated facility in Gilbert this spring that will allow it to triple cider output. FSR is the go-to news source for fullservice restaurant executives, chefs, operators, F&B managers, and other leaders within foodservice. Its Rising Stars report is now in its sixth year and spotlights upand-coming foodservice professionals under age 40 who are changing the restaurant industry for the better. “After what has been a most tumultuous year, these 29 Rising Stars embody the creativity, resilience, and heart of the restaurant industry,” said Duncan.
BUSINESS
THE MESA TRIBUNE | FEBRUARY 14, 2021
ANSWERS TO PUZZLES AND SUDOKU from Page 26
The Sonson’s Pasty Company website describes the unique eatery and Mercer’s back story: “We are a Cornish cafe serving authentic Cornish pasties with vegan options … I was born and raised in beautiful Cornwall, England where I lived for the �irst 32 years of my life. Mum and I worked together for many years in a bakery in Helston, Cornwall making the best pasties in the county. “I feel like I’m the luckiest person alive to be given the opportunity to start my own business.” When the pandemic hit, Mercer said her business model quickly shifted to “take and bake” orders. The city of Mesa continues to come through, Mercer said: “We got a $7,000 grant to help us put (a patio) out front,” she said. Permits for the project went through “super fast,” she added. After taking a break to serve a customer chicken and green chilli pasties, Mercer explained the grant will enable her to expand a tiny outdoor seating area for a patio for 16 people. The city approved the plan for turning four parking spaces in front of Sonson’s into a patio. “It should be done by the middle of February, maybe the third week,” she said. Harrison noted several other downtown businesses have utilized the patio grant, as the city encourages pandemic-friendly outdoor dining and shopping. “I’m glad we had a patio grant available,”
Harrison said. “A handful of businesses downtown took advantage of that. “I’m grateful we’re in Mesa where we were able to get CARES money to help businesses,” she added. Now that the business portion of Mesa CARES funding has ended, “I’m praying there is more CARES money going to be available for small businesses. We haven’t been told what that’s going to look like. “The program ended in December, but people are still struggling and there’s still a need.” She said the chamber has helped businesses in a variety of non-monetary ways. “We were grateful we could step up … Different chamber members provided everything from legal help to web development, personal protective equipment, signage,” Harrison said. “Our staff worked at home and started making phone calls — every single member got called. We would say, ‘What can we do to help?’ We learned a lot,” Harrison said. “People were struggling and scared.” The chamber of commerce continues to reach out to businesses and continues to hear a mixed bag. Some businesses are doing well, Harrison said, while others continue to struggle. While she was happy to hear a new program will help residents with rent and utility assistance, Harrison said more funding assistance is needed for the business community. “I get that rental assistance is important,” Harrison said. “But if there’s no businesses that means there’s no paychecks and you can’t pay your rent.”
ng i n e p p a H s ’ t ! s a n h i a W t n u o See M e t i h W e h in J
Sonson's Pasty Company is grateful for the federally-funded pandemic relief program Mesa implemented to help businesses get through a rough time last year. (Special to the Tribune)
SONSON'S ���� ���� 20
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OPINION
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Born to run – from excessive public attention BY DAVID LEIBOWITZ Tribune Columnist
E
very few months, a stranger approaches me on the golf course to discuss something I’ve written. This makes me anxious, because (a) these folks typically disagree with the column in question and, (b) I’m usually about to miss a �ive-foot putt I need to make par. These moments always make me glad that I am in no way famous. Because fame, especially today, seems like one of the worst af�lictions imaginable. Take, for example, the week Bruce Springsteen just had. Last Sunday, The Boss was riding high, the star of a new Jeep Super Bowl com-
mercial entitled “The Middle,” which aired to massive acclaim. Personally, I found the TV spot weirdly hypocritical: Springsteen, who’s politically as left as a hooked six-iron, had spent most of the past four years viciously attacking President Donald Trump. So, Jeep chose him to hawk SUVs by inviting America to reunite as a country? “All are more than welcome to come meet here in the middle,” was the ad’s basic message. Then came Wednesday, when news broke that Springsteen had been charged with drunken driving in his home state of New Jersey. Suddenly, Bruce was in the middle – of a complete cluster. The New York Times wrote several hundred words about Springsteen’s arrest. It made headlines and newscasts around the
globe. By afternoon, Jeep had pulled the TV spot off the Internet, saying: “it’s … right that we pause our Big Game commercial until the actual facts can be established.” Speaking of the actual facts, we’ll �ind those out should Springsteen’s case reach trial. But what’s out in the public domain thus far underscores how lousy fame is. According to a spokesman for the National Park Service, Springsteen was arrested on Nov. 14 in the Gateway National Recreation Area near Sandy Hook along the Jersey Shore. He was charged with driving while intoxicated, reckless driving and consuming alcohol in a closed area. “Springsteen was cooperative throughout the process,” according to the NPS statement. My �irst take was, wow, Bruce must have been pretty wasted to rack up three
counts like that. You have to �igure – and I’m not saying this is a good thing – that a celebrity like Springsteen, a guy who’s a god in Jersey, Mr. Born To Run, must get kid glove treatment when he does something wrong. Apparently not so here. Thursday, the Asbury Park Press reported Springsteen’s blood alcohol level at arrest was .02, or one-quarter of Jersey’s legal limit. Of course, that’s “according to a source familiar with the case.” That source could be a cop or clerk with access to the incident report. Or it could be Springsteen’s PR machine spinning the narrative favorably. Or it might be a music industry pal, like “the source close to Springsteen” who chatted with the New York Post Thursday. In that version of events, Springsteen was riding his motorcycle when he was spotted by fans. “Bruce stopped, took ... pictures, then a fan offered him a shot of liquor, which he took while sitting on his bike, which was stationary,” the source told the Post. “Park Police saw what happened and they immediately pulled Springsteen over as he drove away.” Therein lies the price of fame. Free drinks are few and far between for we mere mortals. Then again, if we do get pulled over and fail to walk the line or we blow a .02, it doesn’t make news worldwide. No one puts out a press release. And our friends don’t abandon us like Jeep leaving the scene of Springsteen’s possible non-crime. You’ve heard the saying before, I’m sure. In the future, everyone will be famous for 15 minutes. Feel free to have my time. I’ll pass.
Share Your Thoughts: Send your letters on local issues to: pmaryniak @timespublications.com
SPORTS
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Evan Svoboda’s leadership transfers from gridiron to court BY ZACH ALVIRA Tribune Sports Editor
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van Svoboda waited three years for his opportunity to prove himself as a leader on the football �ield for Red Mountain High School. As a senior, he was �inally given that chance, though it came during arguably the most dif�icult year in the history of high school sports in Arizona due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Still, he managed to lead both by example and vocally for the Mountain Lions despite the team struggling with injuries in a condensed season. Seven games, however, wasn’t enough for Svoboda, who aimed to make the most of his senior year. So, for the �irst time in his high school career, he transitioned after football season to the court, where he has quickly become one of the Mountain Lions’ leaders as a 6-foot-6 forward. “He is the type of kid I want to coach. Someone who shows up every day, plays another sport and is in a leadership position in that other sport,” Red Mountain basketball coach Chris Lemon said. “Right away guys gravitate toward him and he’s been a joy to coach. “I wish I had him as a sophomore and junior.” Svoboda helped Red Mountain’s basketball team start the pandemic-delayed season strong. The quarterback turned power forward has brought a new sense of physicality to the Mountain Lions, even when that aspect of his game was frowned upon on the gridiron. He quickly became one of the players other lean upon for guidance on the court, much like was the case in the fall. And overall, Lemon has seen improvement in Svoboda as a leader, too. “He’s not a very vocal kid, but he just leads,” Lemon said. “He’s always there early. I’m always opening up the gym with Evan behind me. I wish I had that in every single kid I’ve coached. He’s been the quarterback where all eyes are on him in the huddle. He knows how to handle a leadership role.” Svoboda’s size and physical presence in
Red Mountain senior Evan Svoboda, a quarterback for the football team and power forward in basketball, has seen his leadership traits transfer from the gridiron to the court with ease. (Pablo Robles/Tribune Staff)
the paint has allowed for several second- Svoboda said. “I think that has kind of chance opportunities on the offensive clicked with the team right away.” end of the �loor for Red Mountain. Against Last fall, Svoboda was given a shot at Casteel earlier quarterback for in the season, the Red Mounhis ability to retain football bound on both program. Even ends of the after sitting �loor helped the behind thenMountain Lions senior Hyrum pull away late in Boren as a juthe game to senior, Svoboda cure the victory. showed �lashes He still admits in both practhere is room tice and limited for improvegame action ment in terms that caught the of skill and tranattention of colsitioning from leges. football shape He started to to basketball, see offers roll but his leaderin despite being ship traits have the backup but so far not been was set on takimpacted. ing advantage of “You have to the opportunity have a dog men- Red Mountain basketball coach Chris Lemon said as a senior when tality in football Svoboda is the first one to arrive for practice on a he was of�icially and also bring daily basis and sets a good example for younger play- named the startit to the court,” ers in the program. (Pablo Robles/Tribune Staff) er in preseason
camp. Though, his chance to �inally take over the offense came in the most dif�icult year for high school sports in history, as the Mountain Lions were forced to miss a game due to COVID-19 related problems in Desert Ridge’s program. With a limited schedule and only eight teams making the state tournament as a result, there was little room for error every week. Red Mountain struggled to �ind a consistent rhythm week-to-week and ended the season 3-4 and out of the playoffs for the �irst time since Mike Peterson took over as head coach. But still, Svoboda took advantage of his opportunity and completed 87-of-156 pass attempts for 1,286 yards and 13 touchdowns. He also rushed for 144 yards and another touchdown. While his primary focus now is on basketball, Svoboda continues perfecting his craft on the football �ield. He �inds time to throw at local parks and improve his footwork. At the end of January, he self-toured Marshall University in West Virginia, which offered him as a preferred walk-on. He continues to mull over his options for college. Whether he continues his football or basketball career at this point is dependent upon whether an offer is extended to him on the court. For now, he hopes to continue building his legacy as a Mountain Lion, one that can be passed down to younger players as they come up through athletics programs. “I haven’t really thought much about whether I will play football or basketball, we will have to see what happens,” Svoboda said. “I hope to leave a legacy of hard work, something that can be handed down and expected from the younger kids. I feel honored when kids can look up to me.”
Have an interesting sports story?
Contact Zach Alvira at zalvira@ timespublications.com and follow him on Twitter @ZachAlvira.
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Have a cold one, help save Brewers Guild BY KRISTINE CANNON
GetOut Staff Writer
T
est sources of income for them. It is important as a local brewery to do what we can to help them out in times of need,” said Adam Schmeichel, head brewer and part owner of Fate, a Beer Week participant for nine years. In Gilbert, microbrewery Desert Monks Brewing Co. celebrates three years of partnering in Arizona Beer Week. “We are calling our beer ‘High Tide’ — as ‘High tides raise all ships,’” Desert Monks partner/owner Sommer Decker said. “It is a West Coast-style IPA dry hopped with Sabro and Hbc472 creating fruit and citrus notes with a touch of coconut – a tropical experience.” In Chandler and uptown Phoenix, SanTan Brewing Company brewed what sales manager Alejandro Fontes describes as a “very tropical fruity IPA.”
hought Arizona Beer Week was canceled this year due to COVID-19? Think again. It is not only happening this year but the Arizona Craft Brewers Guild has extended it throughout February to encourage social distancing. “COVID-19 has brought unprecedented challenges to the Guild with events – like Strong Beer Festival, Baja Beer Festival, Real Wild & Woody – being their main source of revenue. We are asking for all Arizona breweries and brewers far and wide to raise a glass with us and participate in this collaboration,” said Rob Fullmer, guild executive director. Arizona Beer “Month” includes more than 20 craft breweries throughout the state – including 12 in the East Valley – that are selling a special Rebuild the Guild Bene�it Beer. Proceeds bene�it the guild, established in 1998 that represents nearly 100 breweries, breweries in the planning stages, craft beer bars, partners and distributors across Arizona. Working from the same recipe, each brewery will add their own signature touch to the Rebuild the Guild Bene�it Beer. Fate Brewing Co. in Scottsdale, for example, made a “Cold IPA” using their lager yeast with Chinook, Citra and Loral hops. It is already so popular that Fate has sold more than half of its 15-barrel batch. “Since the pandemic, the Guild has not been able to For their ninth year, Fate Brewing Co. is participating in host any of the usual beer Arizona Beer Week selling a “Cold IPA” for a limited time festivals, which are the larg- through Feb. 21. (Arizona Craft Brewers Guild)
“SanTan will be using El Dorado and Idaho-7 hops to accompany the recommended Azacca hops,” Fontes said. “We also added our own little SanTan touches by using the same yeast as our wildly popular Juicy Jack IPA along with minor adjustments to the grain bill.” Arizona Beer Week is especially important in keeping the guild a�loat. “We’re doing everything we can to keep our doors open and our programs running,” Fullmer said. “The guild provides important education, advocacy and promotion for brewers throughout the state.” More than 20 breweries are participating in Arizona Beer Different regions of the Week, which continues through Feb. 21 in central Arizona. state will celebrate the an- (Arizona Craft Brewers Guild) nual event during different weeks of the month. ing efforts for the 2021 legislative session. Northern Arizona celebrated Feb. 1-7; “We’re currently tracking 16 bills in the central Arizona celebrates Feb. 8-21; and Legislature, when we normally see one or southern Arizona will celebrate Feb. 22-28. two,” Fullmer said. Historically, Arizona Beer Week boasted “We’ve already been working in oppoabout 200 events a year that would draw a sition to one that is a direct threat to our combined attendance of 18,000 to 20,000 breweries – one that favors large out-ofpeople annually. state interests at the expense of the small “We’re asking people to take money that Arizona producers of beer, wine, and spirthey may have used on tickets and spend it its,” Fullmer continued. “Your support on supporting craft beer businesses in the matters if you want to see your favorite state during the expanded Arizona Beer hometown businesses survive.” Week month,” Fullmer said. For Schmeichel, the guild has been vital The Rebuild the Guild Bene�it Beer is the in equipping local breweries with necessecond step in a plan to save the Arizona sary protocols, updated laws and informaCraft Brewers Guild. tion throughout the pandemic. The guild previously sold RECOUPON “The understanding of how we could Arizona Beer coupon booklets through and could not operate through pandemic December and January and raised enough shutdowns and restrictions has been an operating cash for about six months. absolute lifesaver,” Decker said. “The money raised went to direct servicBeer Week brews are available on tap es to our members and employee wages,” and to-go, with growlers and four-packs Fullmer said. available for purchase. Direct services include providing guidance policy support to the guild’s brewery For participating locations: reand retail members and supporting lobby- buildtheguild.com.
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THE MESA TRIBUNE | FEBRUARY 14, 2021
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INITIATION OF FIVE-YEAR REVIEW AT THE FORMER WILLIAMS AIR FORCE BASE The United States Air Force Civil Engineer Center (AFCEC) has initiated preparation of the fifth Five-Year Review to evaluate the ongoing environmental remedies at the former Williams Air Force Base in Mesa, Arizona. The Five-Year Review report is being prepared pursuant to the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act Section 121, and the National Contingency Plan. Past disposal of hazardous materials, such as solvents, fuels and other chemicals resulted in soil and groundwater contamination. The purpose of the Five-Year Review process is to determine if the groundwater remedies, soil vapor extraction remedies, long-term landfill cap maintenance/monitoring remedy, and prescribed institutional controls continue to be protective of human health and the environment. The report also provides recommendations if deficiencies are found. The Air Force is the lead agency responsible for the Five-Year Review while the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the State of Arizona (Department of Environmental Quality and the Department of Water Resources) review the report. Public input is being solicited during the preparation of this Five-Year Review report. Any questions, comment, or input should be directed to the contact address located below. When the Five-Year Review is finalized, another public notice will be issued informing the community the review is complete. The completion date for the final document is September 2021 and it will become a part of the AFCEC Administrative Record for the former Williams Air Force Base on the web at: https://ar.afcec-cloud.af.mil/. Ms. Catherine Jerrard, P.E. BRAC Environmental Coordinator Air Force Civil Engineer Center 706 Hangar RoadN Rome, New York 13441 315-356-0810 or email: afrpa.west.pa@us.af.mil
Sudoku
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PUZZLES ANSWERS on page 21
mpsaz.org | 480.472.0000 |
@mpsaz
THE MESA TRIBUNE | FEBRUARY 14, 2021
27
Public Notices
City of Mesa Housing Authority Public Notice Notice of Availability of the Proposed Public Housing Authority FY 2021/2022 Annual Plan Notice of 45-Day Public Comment Period February 14, 2021 – March 1, 2021 Notice of Virtual Public Hearing Proposed Public Housing Authority FY 2021/2022 Annual Plan April 1, 2021, 7:30 a.m. Date of Publication: February 14, 2021 Mary Brandon Housing Services City of Mesa P.O. Box 1466 Mesa, AZ 85211-1466 480-644-5852 Notice of Availability of the Proposed Public Housing Authority FY 2021/2022 Annual Plan The 1998 Federal Housing Act requires all Public Housing Authorities to complete and submit an Annual Plan to the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), and that the public be given the opportunity to provide comments. The purpose of the Plan is to outline the goals, objectives, and methodology the agency will use to provide assisted and affordable housing through the use of federal funds in Mesa. Beginning on February 14, 2021, the Mesa Housing Authority’s proposed FY 2021/2022 Annual Plan will be available electronically for review by the general public and can be found on the City’s Housing Services website at: https://www.mesaaz.gov/housing Notice of 45-Day Public Comment Period February 14, 2021 – March 31, 2021 A 45-day public comment period regarding the Housing Authority’s proposed FY 2021/2022 Annual Plan will begin on Sunday, February 14, 2021, and conclude at the end of business on Wednesday, March 31, 2021. Public comments will be accepted anytime during the 45-day public comment period. Concerned residents should submit their comments to the: City of Mesa Housing Services by fax at 480-644-2923 or email to housing.info@mesaaz.gov. Written comments regarding the Plan will be accepted before April 1, 2021. Notice of Public Hearing (Proposed Public Housing Authority FY 2021/2022 Annual Plan April 1, 2021, 7:30 a.m. A public hearing will be held to review and solicit comments from the general public regarding the Mesa Housing Authority’s proposed Public Housing Authority FY 2021/2022 Annual Plan. The hearing will occur at a meeting of the Housing Governing Board on Thursday, April 1, 2021, at 7:30 a.m. Public participation will be available electronically. To request to speak at the meeting, please contact Mary Brandon at 480-644-5852 or at mary.brandon@mesaaz.gov by March 30, 2021. The City of Mesa endeavors to make all public meetings accessible to persons with disabilities. If you are a person with a disability and require a reasonable accommodation in order to participate in programs and services offered by the City of Mesa Housing Authority, please contact Mary Brandon at 480-644-5852 or at mary.brandon@mesaaz.gov. Hearing impaired individuals should call 711 (Arizona TDD Relay). To the extent possible, accommodations will be made within the time constraint of the request, and you may be required to provide information to support your reasonable request. Mary Brandon Housing Services February 14, 2021 East Valley Tribune / 36339 Equal Housing Opportunity
H E ADSTO N E S
Obituaries Allan E. Sissla Allan Einar Sissala, 87, passed away on January 30th, 2021 at Melody Care Center in Apache Junction, AZ after a brief fight with COVID-19. He was born on November 1, 1933 in Gilbert, MN to Einar and Sadie Sissala. Allan is survived by his significant other since 2004 Rosemary Morrison of North Branch, MN; his grandchildren Amy Sissala of Hopkins, MN, Emily Sissala of Omaha, NE, Heather Sissala of New Hope, MN, and Mitchell Sissala of Otsego, MN; his sister Eileen Goetzke of Stillwater, MN and his nieces Pam and Paula and nephews Brad, Brian and Eric; and Rosemary's kids Roseann, Christine and Lynn. He will be missed by the Holland family and many others. Allan was preceded in death by his wife Merle (2001), daughters Gail and Geri Lynn (1975), sons Gary (2016) and Greg (2017), and grandson Oscar (1984). He will be buried in Trinity Lutheran Cemetery in North Branch, MN and a ceremony will be held at a later date. Grandstrand Funeral Home www.grandstrandfh.com
EVERLASTING MONUMENT Co.
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Obituaries Fred J Dees Fred Dees, 87, of Mesa Arizona, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, March 25, 2020, of congestive heart failure. Fred was born in Chickasha, Oklahoma and spent much of his childhood moving around the country with his parents, Archie Fred Dees and Hattie Darlene (Mitchell) Dees. After high school, he served in the Navy from 1951 to 1955 on the destroyer USS Hazelwood
during the Korean conflict. After an honorable discharge from the Navy, he came to Arizona and began working as a draftsman at AiResearch in Phoenix. In 1960, he became a deputy with the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office, where he rose through the ranks from juvenile officer to patrolman to detective. In 1969, Fred went to Vietnam with the Agency for International Development (USAID), part of the State Department, as an advisor to the Vietnamese police force. In that capacity, he helped set up training centers, taught classes, mentored police chiefs, and coordinated logistics and supplies. Shortly before leaving for Vietnam, he had met Dee, while they both were working at the Round-Up Drive-in theater in Scottsdale. He worked as an off-duty deputy, while Dee sold tickets in the box office. The attraction for both was immediate, and when Fred went to Vietnam, Dee followed a few months later and was hired as a civilian secretary for the U.S. Army. During the nearly four years in Vietnam, they were able
to travel throughout Southeast Asia, as well as to Australia, Bali, Greece, Israel and much of Europe. But the best trip was when, in 1972, they went to Hawaii to be married. They returned to Arizona in 1973 and a year later Fred was hired as the Town Marshall in Gilbert, Arizona. He then became the town’s first Chief of Police and served in that capacity for 24 years, as the town grew from a population of 3,000 to over 110,000. He had the challenging task of continually expanding the police department to keep up with the booming growth of the town. The PD went through five different locations as they kept outgrowing each one. Fred and Dee have two children, Joel and Jennifer, who both followed their dad’s footsteps in law enforcement. Fred retired in 1998, and in 2015, he and Dee moved to Mesa, Arizona where he spent his remaining years. Fred is pre-deceased by his parents Archie Fred Dees and Hattie Darlene Dees, and is survived by his wife, Dee, his son, Joel Dees, (fiancée, Veronica) daughter, Jennifer Crane (Mike), grandchildren, Connor, Kellen and Vivienne Crane, son Joseph McLeod, step- daughter Tracy Shinn, and step-son George Dees. A memorial service will be held at 11:00 AM on Feb 20, 2021 at Grace Community Church, 1200 East Southern Avenue, Tempe, AZ, USA. A burial will be held from 2:30 PM to 3:00 PM on Feb 19, 2021 at National Memorial Cemetery, 23029 North Cave Creek Road, Phoenix, AZ, USA. In lieu of flowers, donations to the 100 Club of Phoenix would be appreciated. Sign the Guestbook at: obituaries.EastValleyTribune.com
THE MESA TRIBUNE | FEBRUARY 14, 2021
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The Mesa Tribune
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Business Technical Analyst - BS Engg, Info Sci or rel. + 2 yrs exp. Rally, TFS, Agile, SDLC, SQL, Cherwell. Travel req. Mail res: Virat Inc, 6909 W Ray Rd #148, Chandler, AZ 85226 Data Engineer, Finance s o u g h t b y Car v an a , LLC in Tempe, AZ. Provide leadership and effective execution to improve Carvana's evolving data-driven lending platform. Telecommuting is allowed for this role. Apply @ www. jobpostingtoday.com #68348.
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Merch andise
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Employment General SENIOR COMPUTER PROGRAMMER: Design, develop, scale and maintain infrastructures. Create, manage, maintain technical web-based info. systems running on Java, Perl, PHP, MySQL on Linux/AIX operating systems. Required to keep systems operational as directed. Qualifications: Knowledge of languages BASH, PERL, & CGI. Exp. w/one of the major programming languages, I.E. JAVA, PHP, JAVASCRIPT, ETC. BS degree in IT or related field + 3 yrs. exp. Job site: Mesa, AZ To apply send resume to Crimshield Inc: info@crimshield.com Economics/Mathematics Teacher (Surprise, AZ) Prepare teaching plans & instructional materials. Design learning activities. Develop instructional routines for classroom mgmt.. Assign & grade classwork, homework, tests. Participate in collaborative professional learning community to contribute to schools continuous improvement process. Education level being taught: Secondary/High school. Will teach Geometry, Algebra and/or Economics. Master’s degree in Maths, Economics, Finance or related field. Must have completed at least 24 credit hours of subject coursework in Economics or Mathematics. Must possess Level One Fingerprint Clearance and Certificate as an Education from Arizona DOE. Please send resume to Highland Prep at 15600 W. Hearn Drive, Surprise, AZ 85379
Real Estate
Wanted to Buy Diabetic Test Strips by the box, unused. Any type or brand. Will pay top dollar. Call Pat 480-323-8846
HOME FOR RENT? Place it here! 81% of our readers, read the Classifieds!
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Employment General TSYS Acquiring Solutions LLC seeks Software Engineer Lead (REQ # R0018529) for its Tempe, AZ office to develop moderately complex code using both front and/or back end programming languages within multiple platforms. EOE/Minorities/ Females /V et/D is ab ility . Email r es u mes to resumes@tsys.com. Please reference REQ# in subject line. Region Technologies has openings for the following positions in Phoenix, AZ and/or client sites in the US. Must be willing to travel/relocate. IT Engineer reqs US Masters/foreign equiv or bachelors + 5 yrs exp to design/dev/test systems/apps using Java/J2EE/CSS/Net/Database/Data Analysis/Mainframe/Testing technologies on Linux/Unix/Windows/HTML. IT Analyst reqs US Bachelors/equiv (3 or 4 yr degree) to test/maintain/monitor systems/programs using Hadoop/Bigdata/Tableau/SQL/Selenium/QA on Linux/Unix/Windows. Send resume to careers@regiontechnologies.com with ref # 2021-19 for IT Eng; 2021-21 for IT Analyst & ref EVT ad
Apartments APACHE TRAIL & IRONWOOD Secluded Cute Studio, A/C $650/Month Bad Credit ok No Deposit. Water/Trash Inc. (602) 339-1555 ALMA SCH & MAIN 1b 1 bath duplex Income verified UTILITIES INCLUDED Bad Credit OK. No Deposit Close to Lightrail $700 (602) 339-1555
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THE MESA TRIBUNE | FEBRUARY 14, 2021
SPARKLE & SHINE CLEANING SERVICE Immaculate, Dependable Service. Affordable Rates. Commercial & Residential services All supplies included. Sanitized & masks worn You've tried the rest, now try the BEST!" Ask for Martha or Annie 480-495-5516 or 480-797-6023
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Cleaning Services
29
David Hernandez (602) 802 3600
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ACTION CONTRACTING INC. WE DO IT ALL!
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THE MESA TRIBUNE | FEBRUARY 14, 2021
30
Drip/Install/Repair & Tune ups! Not a licensed contractor
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Ohhhhh, Love Those Movies! Given the year and the actor or actress, can you figure out the movie title? NOTE: All titles contain the word “Love” ACTOR/ACTRESS
www.TheMesaTribune.com
YEAR
MOVIE TITLE
Hugh Grant
2003
__________________________
Steve Carell
2011
__________________________
Gwyneth Paltrow
1998
__________________________
Peter Sellers
1964
__________________________
(It’s a long title)
__________________________
Jake Gyllenhaal
2010
__________________________
Julia Roberts
2010
__________________________
Patrick Demsey
1987
__________________________
Adam Sandler
2002
__________________________
Ryan O’Neal
1970
__________________________
Sean Connery
1963
__________________________
For the One You Love
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Answers Top to Bottom: Love Actually; Crazy, Stupid, Love; Shakespeare in Love; Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb; Love & Other Drugs; Eat Pray Love; Can’t Buy Me Love; Punch-Drunk Love; Love Story; From Russia with Love
Landscape/Maintenance
THE MESA TRIBUNE | FEBRUARY 14, 2021
31
Public Notices
Public Notices CITY OF MESA PUBLIC NOTICE
CITY OF MESA MESA, ARIZONA
The Mesa City Council will hold a public hearing concerning the following ordinances at the February 22, 2021 City Council meeting beginning at 5:45 p.m. in the Mesa City Council Chambers, 57 East First Street. 1. ANX20-00463 (District 6) Annexing a portion of South 222nd Street and East Williams Field Road right-of-way (6.74± acres). 2. ANX20-00464 (District 6) Annexing a portion of South Meridian Road right-of-way (2.5± acres). DATED at Mesa, Arizona, this 14th day of February 2021. DEE ANN MICKELSEN, City Clerk
Published: East Valley Tribune, Feb. 14, 2021 / 36xxx
Public Notices CITY OF MESA MESA, ARIZONA NOTICE OF VIRTUAL PUBLIC MEETING RED MOUNTAIN PARK EXPANSION Project No. CP0932 Please join us for this live online Virtual Public Meeting to learn about the City of Mesa, Red Mountain Park Improvements Project. There will be a presentation showing renderings of the site layout, sports fields, lighting, etc. This will then be followed by a Q&A session where you can provide your input or have your questions answered. This meeting will be specific to the Red Mountain Park expansion located on Brown Road between 80th Street and N Sunvalley Blvd. in Mesa, AZ. The project was made possible by Mesa voters in the 2018 General Obligation Bond Election. We hope you register and attend this on-line meeting! You are invited to attend a Virtual Public Meeting where City staff will be available to answer your questions. A SHORT PRESENTATION WILL BE GIVEN FOLLOWED BY A QUESTIONS AND ANSWER SESSION Date: Thursday, February 25, 2021 Time: 6:00pm to 7:00pm Location: Register online at mesaaz.gov/engin eering If you have any questions or concerns regarding this project, please contact Curt Albright Michele Arrollado, Lucy Lopez and Juanita Gonzales with the City of Mesa Engineering Public Relations Department at (480) 644-3800. Published: East Valley Tribune Feb. 14, 21, 2021 / 36325
CEMETERY NORTH EXPANSION PHASE IIB AND URN/SCATTER GARDEN 1212 N. CENTER STREET PROJECT NO. CP0583CEP2B-2 ADVERTISEMENT FOR BIDS NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that sealed bids will be received until Thursday, February 25, 2021, at 1 p.m. All sealed bids will be received electronically at EngineeringBids@mesaaz.gov. Bids must be submitted as an unencrypted PDF attachment with a maximum size limit of 20MB. Any bid received after the time specified will be returned without any consideration. This contract shall be for furnishing all labor, materials, transportation and services for the construction and/or installation of the following work: • Construction of turf covered plot areas, access roads, retaining walls, ornamental site walls, trees, shrubs and associated landscape irrigation improvements as shown on construction documents and specifications. • To be completed at City's sole discretion is Bid Alternate 1 – Urn/Scatter Garden. Construction will include a scatter garden, in-ground urn vaults, rose garden reflection areas, trellis structures, trees, shrubs, artificial turf, benches, an art structure, sidewalk and associated landscape irrigation improvements. • To be completed at City’s sole discretion is Bid Alternate 2 – Sod: Construction will include the deletion of the intended installed turf grass seed specified in the Base Bid and will replace with sod installation. The Engineer’s Estimate range for the Base Bid (only) is $800,000 to $1,000,000. For all technical, contract, bid-related, or other questions, please contact Donna Horn at donna.horn@mesaaz.gov. Contact with City Employees. All firms interested in this project (including the firm’s employees, representatives, agents, lobbyists, attorneys, and subconsultants) will refrain, under penalty of disqualification, from direct or indirect contact for the purpose of influencing the selection or creating bias in the selection process with any person who may play a part in the selection process. This policy is intended to create a level playing field for all potential firms, to assure that contract decisions are made in public, and to protect the integrity of the selection process. All contact on this selection process should be addressed to the authorized representative identified above. Contractors desiring to submit proposals may purchase sets of the Bid Documents from ARC Document Solutions, LLC, at https://order.earc.com/arcEOC/PWELL_Main.asp?mem=29. Click on “Go” for the Public Planroom to access plans. NOTE: In order to be placed on the Plan Holders List and to receive notifications and updates regarding this bid (such as addenda) during the bidding period, an order must be placed. The cost of each Bid Set will be no more than $41, which is non-refundable. Partial bid packages are not sold. You can view documents on-line (at no cost), order Bid Sets, and access the Plan Holders List on the website at the address listed above. Please verify print lead time prior to arriving for pick-up. For a list of locations nearest you, go to www.e-arc.com. One set of the Contract Documents is also available for viewing at the City of Mesa’s Engineering Department at 20 East Main Street, Mesa, AZ. Please call 480-644-2251 prior to arriving to ensure that the documents are available for viewing. In order for the City to consider alternate products in the bidding process, please follow Arizona Revised Statutes §34.104c. If a pre-bid review of the site has been scheduled, details can be referenced in Project Specific Provision Section #3, titled “Pre-Bid Review of Site.” Work shall be completed within 180 consecutive calendar days, beginning with the day following the starting date specified in the Notice to Proceed. Bids must be submitted on the Proposal Form provided and be accompanied by the Bid Bond for not less than ten percent (10%) of the total bid, payable to the City of Mesa, Arizona, or a certified or cashier's check. PERSONAL OR INDIVIDUAL SURETY BONDS ARE NOT ACCEPTABLE. The successful bidder will be required to execute the standard form of contract for construction within ten (10) days after formal award of contract. In addition, the successful bidder must be registered in the City of Mesa Vendor Self-Service (VSS) System (http://mesaaz.gov/business/purchasing/vendor-self-service). The successful bidder, simultaneously with the execution of the Contract, will be required to furnish a Payment Bond in the amount equal to one hundred percent (100%) of the Contract Price, a Performance Bond in an amount equal to one hundred percent (100%) of the Contract Price, and the most recent ACORD® Certificate of Liability Insurance form with additional insured endorsements. The right is hereby reserved to accept or reject any or all bids or parts thereto, to waive any informalities in any proposal and reject the bids of any persons who have been delinquent or unfaithful to any contract with the City of Mesa. BETH HUNING City Engineer ATTEST: DeeAnn Mickelsen City Clerk
Published: East Valley Tribune Feb. 7, 14, 2021 / 36165
THE MESA TRIBUNE | FEBRUARY 14, 2021
32
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