The Mesa Tribune - Zone 2 - 2.20.2022 by Times Media Group

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Sunday, February 20, 2022

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An edition of the East Valley Tribune

VOTE NOW Feds boosting Mesa’s desire for a streetcar BY GARY NELSON Tribune Contributor

ncle Sam is shelling out nearly a million dollars to help Mesa lay the foundation for a west-side streetcar line. Years will pass before Mesa residents hear the clang-clang-clang of a transportation system the city first considered more than a century ago. But planning has to start somewhere, and a $920,000 grant from the Federal

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Sorrell told the Tribune. The general idea is to extend Tempe’s downtown streetcar system – which is to begin operating this spring – eastward along Rio Salado Parkway to the Riverview shopping area at Dobson Road. From there the line would run south through Mesa’s Asian District to Banner Desert Medical Center and Mesa Community Col

see STREETCAR page 6

Mayor Giles gives upbeat look at state of Mesa

Mesa lawmaker votes against public schools

BY JOSH ORTEGA Tribune Staff Writer

COMMUNITY ......... 19 At 88, Mesa nurse still going strong.

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Transit Administration will fuel the next stage of the process. Jodi Sorrell, Mesa’s transit services director, said the grant is designed to help the city develop “transit-supportive policies” that will help it compete when the time comes to go fishing for the truly big bucks – the millions in federal money likely to be needed to actually build the streetcar line. “This just puts us all in a better place to be competitive. I think that’s the key message,”

t’s been more than two years since he could appear in person before an audience, but Mayor John Giles returned to address a packed house for his eighth annual State of the City address. Building his theme around the title of his podcast – “It’s Always Cool in Mesa” – the mayor celebrated some of the city’s strengths during the pandemic and looked ahead to the coming year in a speech full of creative foodie videos, lighthearted antics that included City Council members channeling its inner jazz band and lots of neon light displays. Some of the plans highlighted include purchasing the city’s first electric fire truck and hiring 200 new public safety employees. “It’s really been a combination of our best times and some of our worst times,” he said. Last year, the event went virtual but re

see STATE OF CITY page 8

Mesa Mayor John Giles energized an audience of about 800 people with an optimistic State of the City address sponsored by the Mesa Chamber of Commerce. (Josh Ortega/Tribune Staff)

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THE MESA TRIBUNE | FEBRUARY 20, 2022

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

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East Mesa lawmaker opposes lifting school spend cap BY HOWARD FISCHER Capitol Media Services

esa Rep. Jacqueline Parker was one of the 14 Republicans who voted last week against a bill to waive the expenditure cap that is stopping Arizona public schools from spending all the money they already have for this fiscal year. Despite the LD16 legislator’s vote, however, the House’s 45-14 approval of the measure means it’s up to the Senate to spare school districts across Arizona from making cuts in their current budget totaling more than $1.1 billion. Senate President Karen Fann, RPrescott, said she has yet to line up the necessary votes in her own chamber and unless senators act by March 1, the House vote won’t matter – and schools will be barred from spending cash they already have and need to finish the school year. The House vote occurred with all Democrats in favor. Of the $1.1 billion, Mesa Public Schools would face a $73.8 million spending cut. None of the 14 Republicans who opposed the move explained their decisions. Nor did any respond to requests after the vote by Capitol Media Services for comment. The measure had bipartisan support and one of its champions was Rep. Jennifer Pawlik, D-Chandler, who told colleagues there was no reason for them to refuse the one-time waiver. “The override is a temporary fix that will allow schools to spend the money they have already been allocated," she said. “They have not done anything wrong," Pawlik continued. “And they certainly have not overspent their budgets." Instead, it simply recognizes – as has the legislature at least twice before – that the aggregate expenditure limit approved by voters in 1980 needs to be waived in certain circumstances. House Speaker Rusty Bowers, R-Mesa, echoed the sentiment that the action should have been routine. “Every year or other there’s some issue that is politicized," he said. “No one ever

see FUNDING page 10

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THE MESA TRIBUNE | FEBRUARY 20, 2022

SE Mesa rail line moves ahead toward reality BY GARY NELSON Tribune Correspondent

hen it comes to accommodating industrial development in the East Valley, Mesa is making tracks. Literally. Within a year, workers are expected to be building a 6-mile rail line to serve the burgeoning industrial zone south and east of Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport. J.D. Beatty, senior economic development project manager for the city of Mesa, gave an update on the project Feb. 8 with

STREETCAR from page 1

lege. Then it would run eastward along Southern Avenue to Country Club Drive before turning north to reach Main Street. That would cover seven miles, linking numerous entertainment and employment hubs that Mesa sees as key players in a more vibrant future for its aging west side. The route was favored in a feasibility study conducted by Valley Metro in 2020. Valley Metro operates the region’s bus and light-rail systems and will manage the Tempe streetcar system as well. Most of the streetcar line would be in City Council District 3, represented by Councilman Francisco Heredia. He sees the project both as a transportation system and as a catalyst for economic development, much as has happened with the Valley’s 13-year-old light-rail system. “What we’ve seen on the light rail over 30-plus miles now is that we have not only added mobility for our residents across the Valley but it’s also been an economic play for all of our cities,” Heredia said. “We’ve seen billions of dollars of investment into housing, into businesses, into other jobs that have come into this corridor.” He cited recent developments in downtown Mesa, which went nearly 30 years without new residential construction before transit-oriented development began there about a decade ago. Heredia said by the time the streetcars begin rolling, the Fiesta District may already be thriving again with some sort of new iteration for the long-dead Fiesta Mall. A deal is in the works to bring the mall under single ownership, Heredia said. That could lead to a mixed-use redevelop-

members of the East Valley Partnership. “It’s not a done deal yet,” Beatty said. But land acquisition and design are well along and construction is expected to begin late this year or early next. Union Pacific Railroad, which operates the main line that runs diagonally from southeast to northwest through the East Valley, will build and operate the trunk line. The projected route runs northeastward from the main line beginning near Sossaman and Pecos roads. When it hits the southern boundary of the airport, it then runs eastward to the Mesa city limits at

Meridian Road. That terminus abuts the property of CMC Steel, which has operated its Mesa plant since 2009. In 2020 the company announced a $300 million expansion of its Mesa operation, slated to open next year with the addition of 185 lucrative jobs. “They wouldn’t be doing this if the rail was not a strong possibility,” Beatty said. But it is not merely the existing factories in the area – a lineup that also includes Fujifilm and MGC Pure Chemicals – that are impelling Union Pacific to build the line.

Tempe’s first streetcar was delivered last March to the city as officials prepare to roll out the new transportation system within a few months. (Courtesy of Railway Gazette) ment including housing, employment and entertainment venues. “It will become an activity center for this area for sure,” he said. Sorrell said the Mesa streetcar proposal sprang from discussions as long as eight years ago among officials from Mesa, Tempe, Valley Metro and Arizona State University. The 2020 feasibility study suggested the route is viable, she said. But a lot still has to happen. In fiscal 2023, which begins July 1, Mesa and Tempe hope to begin developing a specific route proposal – something the bureaucrats call a “locally preferred alternative.” That process was in play when Mesa was trying to figure out where to put the light rail line as it ran through downtown, even though the general route had been determined. The City Council had to decide whether to run the tracks along Main

Street, or either a block north or south on First Street or First Avenue. Sorrell expects a “robust public involvement process” to begin in early 2023. Beyond that the timing is hazy. Sorrell pointed out that it took more than eight years to plan and build Mesa’s first lightrail extension even though funding already was in place. Just working through the steps covered by the recent $920,000 grant will probably take two and a half years, she said. “These are long-game projects.” Projecting a final cost for the project is impossible at this point, Sorrell said. The Tempe streetcar line that opens this spring cost about $200 million. Of that, $75 million came from federal grants, $112 million from a regional transportation sales tax, and $13 million from a public-private partnership involving Tempe, ASU and private entities along the streetcar line.

The new tracks, Beatty said, will be a key asset when it comes to attracting businesses and jobs to the still largely barren tracts south of the airport. “There’s roughly 2,000 acres surrounding the rail line that we could open up for new industry, new economic development opportunities,” Beatty said. At the moment, he said, rail-served industrial sites in the Southeast Valley are almost impossible to find. That has cost the region when it comes to attracting industry.

see RAILWAY page 8

Last summer the federal government kicked in another $17.5 million to bolster the safety and efficiency of the Tempe line. Tempe’s streetcar system covers three miles with six vehicles. It starts at Apache Boulevard and Dorsey Lane, runs westward to Mill Avenue, and then northward to Rio Salado Parkway, ending near Sun Devil Stadium. Mesa has thought about this kind of thing before. As the 1800s melted away, the booming little city of Phoenix was enjoying the use of electric streetcars; by 1922 its system encompassed 28 miles of track. Mesa thought it would be cool to tie in to the Phoenix line, or at least have its own local system. In 1909 the City Council asked voters to approve a proposal by A.J. Chandler – founder of the city that bears his name and a key player in early downtown Mesa – to build trolley tracks on Main, Center and Macdonald streets. The voters said OK, but by that time the Model T was rolling en masse off Henry Ford’s assembly line in Michigan. The Mesa streetcar line was never built. The coming of the automobile doomed trolley lines across the country. The one in Phoenix lasted until Feb. 17, 1948, when a ceremonial “last ride” marked the end of a transportation era. According to an Arizona Republic article, Phoenix Mayor Ray Busey said, “There is a catch in the heart as the streetcars disappear.” Now, in a bow perhaps to nostalgia but also to new visions of urbanism, they are coming back. And that old mayor’s “catch in the heart” could be replaced by a zing, zing, zing of the heartstrings as the sleek and shiny 21st century trolleys roll by. ■

THE MESA TRIBUNE | FEBRUARY 20, 2022

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RAILWAY from page 6

Since 2019, he said, the Greater Phoenix Economic Council has fielded some 74 inquiries from firms that needed rail-accessible property. Those inquiries represented $22.5 billion in capital investment and 69,000 jobs paying an average of $57,000 a year. “The East Valley was in no position to compete,” Beatty said. Even if no new industries come as a result of the rail line, Beatty said it’s expected the trains will eliminate the need for 29,000 round-trip truckloads a year, most

STATE OF THE CITY from page 1

turned strong this year with more than 800 people purchasing tickets for a hearty breakfast with the mayor. “It’s nice to be back in public with a group like this,” said Mesa Chamber of Commerce President Sally Harrison, whose organization hosted the event at the convention center in downtown. Harrison said the speech made her proud to live here and that it showed more recovery for businesses lies ahead. Giles said the city issued more than 8,000 building permits and added more than 4 million square feet of commercial and manufacturing space. “There’s a lot of growth but we need the workforce to complete that,” Harrison said. According to the Bureau of Labor and Statistics, the Valley had a 2.8% unemployment rate in November 2021 across Mesa, Phoenix and Glendale. Public safety also remains paramount to the city as well with hiring of 200 public safety employees. Police Chief Ken Cost said he looks forward to the speech every year and that the mayor’s praise means everything to his officers who serve the community every day. Cost has served as chief of police for two years and more than 26 years with the department. “Our mayor exemplifies the City of Mesa and what this great community is all about,” he said. He said the department runs three police academies per year that puts approximately 120 new police officers into the community and that “in a profession that’s so tough, it speaks volumes when the city mayor, council, management and citizens show their support.” Councilmember Julie Spilsbury said she

THE MESA TRIBUNE | FEBRUARY 20, 2022

of them to and from CMC Steel. CMC accepts most of the scrap steel generated by the East Valley and turns it into rebar. Beatty’s optimism about the project is fueled by the cooperation he sees among the city, Union Pacific and property owners south of the airport. The railroad has spent $8 million to $9 million already to acquire right-of-way. “We expect additional closings to be happening here quite shortly,” Beatty said. “There’s really not that many property owners to deal with, which is another reason why this was more feasible than you

might think.” Beatty said an economic analysis showed the prospect of 20,500 jobs being generated as a result of the rail line, with commensurate boosts in economic output and tax revenue. Efforts to obtain federal grants to help finance the project have not succeeded, he said, but with a new round of federal infrastructure spending in the offing, that could change. In any event, he said, “We are confident in our ability and Union Pacific’s ability to execute this project without being awarded a grant. However, we feel we have a

Among the array of things Giles showcased was vehicle manufacturer ElectraMeccanica’s new plant, which will manufacture thousands of the three-wheeled Solo. (Josh Ortega/

Tribune Staff

thought Giles’ speech exemplified how well city council has worked together and moved beyond the pandemic. “I think there’s amazing things happening in Mesa,” she said. “People are ready to move on.” One of the biggest partnerships the mayor looks forward to is with Arizona State University and the downtown Mesa campus. The project includes a 118,000-square-foot building that will house the Herberger Institute of Design and the Arts and draw more than 750 students, faculty and staff. It will cost an estimated $93.5 million. The building’s construction should be completed by March but then ASU must install an estimated $20 million in technology as it prepares to welcome students this fall. It will include a 280-seat screening the-

ater, 80-seat screening room, and numerous sound stages and studios, as part of the new Sidney Poitier New American Film School. The campus will also hold the Media and Immersive eXperience (MIX) Center: a 3,000-square-foot enhanced immersion studio, high-resolution computers and televisions, editing bays, and equipment that will allow students to design for games, virtual realities and other interactive real-world applications. Giles said it’s described as “a new frontier for media-making.” The mayor said the historic old post office building at 26 North Macdonald will be renamed The Post and house a new community events center and the Downtown Mesa Association has rebranded itself with a new logo and the tagline “Uniquely Local.”

strong competitive case.” Beatty said it’s expected rail crossings will be at-grade, but he doesn’t see a major effect on traffic. Trains on the spur line will be shorter and will run just a few times a day. “It’s not that much different than waiting at a stoplight,” he said. Jack Sellers, a former Chandler city councilman and current member of the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors, applauded the project. “The East Valley is changing and we really need this kind of support moving forward,” Sellers said. ■

The mayor said he also looks forward to the development of the area around Gateway Airport in East Mesa as companies like Facebook and Amazon have invested billions of dollars there. The mayor personally showcased electric vehicle manufacturer ElectraMeccanica by entering the event in its new SoloEV. The company announced it will open a 235,000-square-foot assembly facility near Gateway airport by this summer and its first flex line will have the ability to make 20,000 vehicles per year. CEO Kevin Pavlov said “the U.S. base of operations in Mesa, Arizona, is a critical component to this cohesive strategy.” Meta, formerly known as Facebook, invested $800 million in its first project in Arizona. The 960,000-square-foot facility in East Mesa will bring 100 tech jobs to the area. “This 100% renewable energy campus will be among the most advanced energy and water-efficient facilities in the world,” Giles said, adding the city is planning for a population of 538,000 by 2023. With a variety of historic revitalizations combined with new additions, Mesa residents have a lot to look forward to in the coming year, Giles said, adding: “Growth is a blessing and a challenge. We need to continue to maintain the quality of life that attracts people here.”■

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

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THE MESA TRIBUNE | FEBRUARY 20, 2022

Sloan Park getting new $1.5M scoreboard BY JOSH ORTEGA Tribune Staff Writer

hile Spring Training fans wait for the lockout to end, the City of Mesa is giving them something to look forward to in the 2023 season. But it won’t come cheap. City Council increased by $1.5 million the contract to replace the video scoreboards at Sloan Park. Staff from three city departments recommended the increase from $250,000 to $1.75 million. “Like all things costs are rising especially for items that require electronic chips such as scoreboards,” Deputy City Manager Marc Heirshberg told the Tribune. Upgrading to a more dynamic video display – including live video and other features – will enhance the fans’ experience and enable the venue to handle events that require more advanced video display technology, according to a city council report. The new display will be installed and serviced by Daktronics, Inc., which manufactured, installed and serviced the

FUNDING from page 3

said that the schools were doing something wrong." The delay in acting, Bowers said, was to make sure that the waiver did not affect other issues, like the fate of Proposition 208, a voter-approved measure that sought to raise an extra more than $800 million for K-12 education through a surcharge on the incomes of the most wealthy. In an earlier ruling the Arizona Supreme Court said the funds cannot be collected if they would force schools to exceed the expenditure cap. Bowers noted, though, that issue is about the 2022-2023 school year; Tuesday’s vote is about the current school year. That leaves it to Fann to line up the votes in the Senate. And she declined to

and repair services for the scoreboard used for Major League Baseball programs, including the Oakland Athletics at the Hohokam Stadium. However, Heirshberg said that there’s no plan to replace the scoreboard at Hohokam. The report said the age and “harsh conditions of the sun” prompted the replacement of the Sloan Field scoreboard. The main video board has dimmed and the line scoreboard below it remains difficult to see during the day, when most Spring Training games take place. “It facilitates necessary timely upgrades reducing the possibility of critical failures,” the report said. Hohokam Stadium, home of the Oakland Athletics Spring Training games, Mesa approves $1.5 million to replace this scoreboard at Sloan Park, which city staff has had its video board installed in 2014, according to the Daktronics website. dimmed under the harsh summer sun. (Josh Ortega/Tribune Staff Writer) Numerous organizations use Daktronexisting video display, scoreboard and ule, as per the agreement the city signed ics products throughout Arizona, includwith the Chicago Cubs in 2011. equipment, the report said. ing at Chase Field, State Farm Stadium, The scoreboard sits behind the left “Due to the requirements imposed Footprint Center, Northern Arizona Unifield grass seating area and has been by the agreement) to replace the video versity, and the University of Arizona. there since the 15,000-seat stadium board in year 10, the improvements are In Mesa, Daktronics products can be opened in 2014. slated to be completed before the 2023 seen at Mesa, Westwood and Red MounThe company will complete the project Spring Training season.” tain high schools, according to the comto meet the 2023 Spring Training schedThe contract provides maintenance pany’s website.■

REP. JACQUELINE PARKER

tell Capitol Media Services how many votes she is short.

But, even counting her own support, she needs at least six of the remaining 15 Republicans to go along. That’s because it takes a two-thirds vote of both chambers even for a one-year waiver of the expenditure cap. And there currently are only 13 Democrats in the Senate, with Sen. Juan Mendez, D-Tucson, not having been present since the beginning of the session as he chose to stay home and avoid the possibility of infecting his newborn child. The limit was imposed by voters in 1980 as part of a multi-pronged effort to curb government spending. It set a baseline of total K-12 expenses, with annual adjustments for both inflation and student growth. That growth figure, however, is based on attendance in the prior school year. And

the COVID outbreak resulted in many students not attending classes. Complicating matters is a 0.6-cent sales tax first approved by voters in 2000 to supplement teacher salaries. The original 20-year measure put those revenues outside the expenditure cap. But when lawmakers approved an extension through 2041 they did not include the same exemption. That action alone amounts for more than $600 million of the excess. Education officials have said the failure of lawmakers to waive the limit by March 1 means each and every school district will need to trim about 16% of what they budgeted for the entire school year. The cuts will need to be made in just three months, a move that could result in having to lay off teachers and consolidate classes. ■

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

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NEWS

THE MESA TRIBUNE | FEBRUARY 20, 2022

Farmers ask Sinema for help at EV meeting BY CECILIA CHAN Tribune Staff Writer

ver the decades, Schnepf Farm in Queen Creek, the largest peach grower in Arizona, has branched into other avenues for income such as hosting weddings, staging festivals and recently selling off 13 acres for rental housing. But one of the biggest financial hurdles the fourth-generation family farm faces this year is a cut in Central Arizona Project water due to the long-term drought. “All of Pinal County (water) districts are involved with trying to drill new wells, trying to rehab old wells,” said Mark Schnepf, the farm’s patriarch. “But the water isn’t where it needs to be so we are going to have to build pipelines to help improve the distribution system with each of the existing districts.” Although the nearly 5,000-acre farm is in Maricopa County, it’s served by New Magma Irrigation and Drainage District in Pinal County. The federal government for the first time declared a water shortage last year, triggering a mandatory reduction that hits farmers the hardest with Pinal County reportedly losing two-thirds of its CAP water. Nearly all the reductions within Arizona will be borne by CAP water users. Schnepf and a small group of farmers and ranchers met with U.S. Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, D-AZ, at the Arizona Farm Bureau in Gilbert to discuss their challenges and what she can do to help. Sinema was in the East Valley on Feb. 11 touting the goodies that are coming to Arizona from the $1.2 trillion infrastructure bill she helped shepherd to President Joe Biden’s desk. “We’re facing the cutback in CAP water right away,” Schnepf told the senator. “We have a 40-year-old distribution system, which is an aging system. We need resources in order to upgrade the system. We also would like to underground the system for more water efficiency.” The farmers’ concern specifically is getting the funds from the Bureau of Reclamation’s WaterSMART grant program, which is capped at $5 million and requires a 50% match, according to Schnepf. “This is very limiting, especially in today’s world when we’ve got so much to do,” he said. “We are literally facing down

U.S. Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, flanked here by PHX East Valley Partnership President/CEO John Lewis, left, and Mesa Mayor John Giles, met with East Valley leaders and then with farmers. (Cecilia Chan/Tribune Staff Writer)

this drought and we have ideas and plans to get it done. It’s just a matter of getting the financing.” He asked if Sinema can help raise the cap and lower the local match. Sinema made note of his request and said there is funding in the new legislation that could help them. The five-year spending measure includes $8.3 billion for western water projects that includes addressing aging infrastructure and building new surface and groundwater storage and conveyance facilities. “What’s exciting about this law is that we passed a $1.2 trillion piece of legislation without raising taxes,” Sinema said. “It is going to upgrade aging infrastructure throughout the country, the biggest job investment in over a generation. It’s wonderful. “The downside is it’s $1.2 trillion and when you flood that much money into the federal government the opportunity for there to be waste or problematic implementation is very high and so oversight is something we’ve already started.” Sinema said she and Sen. Rob Portman, R-Ohio, are working together to safeguard against preferential treatment and ensure a fair share for states out West, which historically were underserved when it came to federal allocations of dollars. “And we want to make sure the money isn’t being wasted or used inappropriate-

ly,” she added. Nancy Caywood, a fifth-generation farmer in Pinal County, who grows cotton, barley and alfalfa, also agreed that funding was needed to put infrastructure in place like wells and canals. “Everybody has to eat,” she said. “If we lose jobs in agriculture, everybody will be affected.” Third-generation farmer David Sharp emphasized the importance of agriculture, saying 90% of the winter produce comes out of Yuma County from November to April, amounting to a $3.5 billion industry. Agriculture is estimated to be a $23.3 billion industry in Arizona, according to the state agricultural department. Sharp then asked Sinema for help in dealing with Yuma County’s 30-plus-year designation as a “PM10 nonattainment area,” which means it fails to meet federal air quality standards. As a result, farmers and ranchers are required to help reduce dust with measures such as erecting windbarrier fences at a cost to them. “Nonattainment is hanging over our heads,” Sharp said, adding it was not just affecting farmers but the entire county. He added that every time the area exceeded air quality standards, it was due to an outside windstorm and not from farming or ranching practices. Wes Kerr, who owns a fourth-generation diary operation in Buckeye, raised the is-

sue with the worker shortage. “It’s really a very pressing issue on our farm,” Kerr said; “and all of our neighbors, as well. Just this week two of our neighbors who are dairy farmers have started milking their cows from three times a day down to two times a day just because of labor. “So, when we talk about food inflation, cows that are milked only twice a day give less milk. So, we are going to have less milk supplied to our population and the prices continue to rise. Anything we can do to really increase the availability of labor is huge.” Kerr noted that all the employees on his farm were born and raised on farms in Mexico and have the experience of working with large animals. “These people are very, very skilled and these are the people that we need,” Kerr said. U.S.-born citizens don’t want to work on a dairy and lack the experience to do so, according to Kerr. “Foreign labor is vital to our farms,” he said, adding that he spoke with a multigenerational dairy farmer who’s selling his business. Kerr added that when he graduated from college in 2005 and began managing the family farm, there were 75 dairy families in Arizona. Today, there are 35 left. Sinema said she has long been a proponent of immigration reform so that Arizona has the labor it needs. “I’ll be real honest with you, Congress hasn’t shown a lot of interest in actually addressing the problem,” she said. “And this has been my top priority my entire time in public service.” On one hand, there’s the Republican Party that only wants to do enforcement, which in her opinion greatly discriminates against border states like Arizona that rely on immigrant labor to do the work that it takes to feed people throughout the country, Sinema said. And her party “in recent years has shown interest only in legalization and has been less interested in providing actual security measures to protect us from the bad trafficking and the dangerous commerce that is occurring across the border,” she said. “We need to provide for a labor market in our country that is orderly and safe and

see SINEMA page 14

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THE MESA TRIBUNE | FEBRUARY 20, 2022

Mesa Fire pre-screens firefighters for cancer BY JOSH ORTEGA Tribune Staff Writer

ancer is now the leading cause of death among firefighters and because of that, Mesa Fire & Medical Department held a three-day cancer screening event at five different locations across the city for its approximately 491 firefighters, fire investigators and fire mechanics. They had the opportunity to get screened for more than 50 different types of cancer from a simple blood draw. According to data from the nonprofit Firefighter Cancer Support Network, cancer caused two-thirds of the career firefighter line-of-duty deaths from 2002 to 2019. “The more people we can screen, the more people we can potentially detect have cancer earlier and get them treatment sooner so that they hopefully have a better outcome,” Battalion Chief Shawn Alexander said. Alexander, who has served with Mesa Fire for 21 years and currently is operations deputy chief, said one potential risk factor for cancer in firefighters is the materials that burn during a fire.

In the '80s and '90s, he said, buildings contained more natural materials such as wood and cotton. Today, there’s a lot more synthetics including plastics, foams and nylons that go into buildings. He said tactics have changed from a “very aggressive” attack back then to dousing flames from the outside before firefighters enter a burning structure. Most fire departments today also utilize a self-contained breathing apparatus that provides respiratory protection when entering a burning building. Regardless, there’s still the risk of exposure from those synthetic particles embedding into their personal protective equipment or directly onto their skin. “It’s impossible to eliminate exposures to some of these chemicals,” Alexander said. Regardless of the risk, Alexander said they’re still willing to put out fires to keep the community safe. That’s where the department and other organizations have stepped up to protect those that protect the city. “It’s a risk that we know we take when we get hired in this job,” he said. “But that doesn’t mean that as an organization that we shouldn’t do everything we can to try

Bucks for Arizona

President Joe Biden signed the $1.2 trillion infrastructure package in November. U.S. Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, D-Arizona, helped negotiate the bipartisan bill. Her office provided the following investment coming to Arizona and said because federal agencies were still working on the implementation of the law and have not determined local municipalities’ share. • $500 million over five years for clean and drinking water, pipes. • $82.5 million in Arizona water systems and environmental infrastructure through the Army Corps of Engineers in 2022, including $65.75 million for the full funding of the Little Colorado River Flood Control project in Winslow. • At least $50 million for drought relief in 2022 (possibly a higher amount). • Fully funded all currently authorized Indian Water Rights Settlements

SINEMA from page 12

we need to have security so we can keep the bad guys from doing the illegal trafficking back and forth across the border.” Sinema said she has been working closely with Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, on this issue. “He and I have been trying to build some bipartisan support to do just even the smallest of measure to ensure we are keeping border security, that we are dealing with the asylum, the refugees but also deal-

Mesa Fire & Medical held a cancer screening for firefighters that detects up to 50 types of cancer. (Josh Ortega/Tribune Staff Writer) and minimize those risks or try to help performed via a blood draw from the patient and then tested to detect cancer as our members be healthier and safer.” Thanks to the Galleri blood test by Grail early as Stage 1. Mike Vicari, senior vice president of and the Vincere Cancer Center in Scottssales for Grail, said the test debuted comdale, help has arrived for firefighters. Galleri is a blood-based multi-cancer mercially last June and cost $949 but they early detection test that can detect over are working with insurance companies to 50 types of cancers, many of which are not make it more affordable. He said he’s very proud, honored and commonly screened for today. The test is grateful to bring this innovative screening tool to Mesa firefighters at the screening event. “It’s a significant advancement, and in Arizona. hopefully, there won’t be cancer found but • Up to $76.5 million over five years for electric vehicle charging. if there is, we hope to find it early.” • Up to approximately $26 million for orphaned oil and gas wells. Dr. Vershalee Shukla, co-founder of • $100 million in 2022 for Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program. the Vincere Cancer Center, attended the • At least $100 million for rural broadband. screening at the department’s administra• $969 million in 2022 ($5.3 billion over five years) for roads and highways. • $45 million in 2022 for bridges. tion building. She has worked as an oncol• $903 million over five years for public transit. ogist for 12 years and treated numerous • $78.9 million over five years for commercial motor vehicle highway safety. cancer patients, including retired Mesa • $348 million for all Arizona airports over five years (including a total of Fire Captain Trevor Madrid, who passed $22 million for Phoenix-Gateway – the airport will receive $4.5 million of that away last November. total amount this year). ■

ing with the fact we have major labor needs in our country,” Sinema said. “It’s been difficult to find partners who are willing to have reasonable, moderate discussions to do both security and a path to labor.” Earlier in the day, Sinema met with East Valley Mayors Bridgett Peterson of Gilbert, John Giles of Mesa, Kevin Hartke of Chandler and Gail Barney of Queen Creek at Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport, which is receiving funding from the infrastructure bill.

Sinema later said what she took away from that meeting was the group’s excitement about the infrastructure law and their request for help in navigating it. “There’s a lot of funding pots available for things like roads, bridges, water storage, aging water infrastructure, obviously money for airports,” she said. “But I think one of the challenges that local governments face is learning how to get access to those dollars in a way that is timely and efficient.

see CANCER page 15

“Some of these are smaller cities and towns. They don’t have a huge staff that can comb through thousands of pages of federal legislation. They need someone to help them, ‘here’s a grant you can access. We’ll help you.’ “That was the biggest takeaway from today and I wanted all of them to understand my staff and our team are a resource for them at any time to help them identify funds that they are (eligible) for and get those dollars into their community.”■

NEWS

THE MESA TRIBUNE | FEBRUARY 20, 2022

CANCER from page 14

She said a friend of hers got cancer early in her life and that she currently treats another Mesa firefighter. “Both of them are incredibly dear to my heart,” she said. “I’m seeing so many young firefighters dying of cancer and so I want to change that.” The free cancer screening program for Mesa Fire started in 2018 and Dr. Pablo

GOT NEWS?

This chart shows the stark difference between the increase in violent crime in Arizona versus the nation at large. (FBI)

Violent crime increase higher in Arizona than nation BY EMILY SACIA Cronkite News

ASHINGTON – Violent crime rates in Arizona rose faster and remained higher than the national rate in recent years, according to the latest data from the FBI. Violent crime – which includes murder, rape, robbery and aggravated assault – rose 4.6% in the U.S. between 2019 and 2020, to a rate of 398.5 crimes per 100,000 people in 2020. The rate in Arizona climbed 8.6% to 484.8 per 100,000 in the same period, according to data from the FBI’s Crime Data Explorer. To address that surge, lawmakers on Wednesday called for action on a bipartisan bill that would allocate $100 million a year for the next decade to support police agencies and increase assistance to victims and their families, which Rep. Tom O’Halleran, D-Sedona, called a “step in the right direction.” “We cannot afford to disinvest, we have to continue to invest in our officers in our society,” said O’Halleran, a former Chicago police officer. “Because when we invest in training, and support of our officers, we invest in the community and the safety of those within our community.” O’Halleran joined other House members and representatives of police organizations on Capitol Hill to push for the Violent Incident Clearance and Technological Investigative Methods ACT, which aims to improve clearance rates for homicides and other shootings. The VICTIM Act would require the Jus-

tice Department to administer a grant program for local police agencies that would allow departments to hire and retain police officers – particularly homicide detectives – provide training and equipment. It calls for officers to be trained to address the needs of victims and their families, and it requires sufficient funding and staffing for victim services, including relocation, counseling, funeral expenses, lost wages and more. Andy Edmiston, director of government affairs for the National Association of Police Organizations, said the funding is needed to help underfunded departments battle the surge in violent crime. “Homicide rates has jumped nearly 40%,” Edmiston said. “Police departments across the country are fighting to contain this increase in violent crime but they are understaffed, under-resourced and struggling to hire and retain good, qualified officers.” Sgt. Hector Encinas, spokesperson for the Tempe Police Department, said he is not familiar with specifics of the bill, but that “any type of support, financially or otherwise is good, it helps us do our job.” “What’s today’s issues may not be next year’s issues, but if there’s money and training available … we can respond much more effectively,” Encinas said. The FBI data has drawbacks: Not every police department in the country – or the state – provides information to the voluntary Uniform Crime Reporting system, and the FBI attempts to fill in blanks for those which do not. But the report has the

see VIOLENT page 16

Prichard, co-founder of Vincere, said since then they have caught over 100 earlystage cancers that were very treatable and curable at that point. Dr. Shukla said it’s for that reason this type of screening needs to happen across the country. “Every single firefighter should have the right to be screened early,” she said. “It should be mandatory, especially with the risks that they take during their jobs.” ■

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

NEWS

THE MESA TRIBUNE | FEBRUARY 20, 2022

Phoenix Children’s to open clinic at Bell Bank Park BY ZACH ALVIRA Tribune Sports Editor

ell Bank Park has become an oasis for East Valley youth who flock to the numerous fields, courts and other amenities on a weekly basis to partake in their favorite sport. Now, it will also be home to a first-class facility to care for them should they suffer an injury while playing the sports they love. And parents living in the far eastern stretches of the region also have a Phoenix Children’s facility far closer to their home for emergencies that don’t necessarily involve sports. Phoenix Children’s will open a sports medicine and urgent care clinic onsite at the $280 million park in East Mesa. The clinic, which will cater to young athletes injured in play and other children and adolescents across the East Valley, is scheduled to open in mid-2022. Once opened, the clinic will officially be known as Phoenix Children’s – Bell Bank Park. “Phoenix Children’s is proud to be a founding partner and official medical provider to Bell Bank Park,” Phoenix Children’s CEO Robert L. Meyer said in a release. “As our community grows, so does Phoenix Children’s, and providing sports medicine and urgent care at Bell Bank Park is an extension of our mission to serve all children throughout the region.” The clinic will be located onsite at the park near Pecos and Ellsworth roads near Mesa’s Eastmark community and will offer comprehensive urgent care services for a variety of minor medical conditions, including influenza, allergies, wound care and more. It will be staffed by doctors, nurses, physical therapists, pediatric sports medi-

VIOLENT from page 15

advantage of building on decades of data from across the country. According to the FBI, the national rate of 398.5 violent crimes for every 100,000 Americans in 2020 was the most since 2010, when the rate stood at 404.5. Arizona’s 2020 rate of 484.8 violent crimes per 100,000 was the second-highest for the state in that decade, exceeded only by 2017’s rate of 505.7 crimes. 2020 was the last full year for which

Bell Bank Park has partnered with Phoenix Children’s to open a clinic onsite that will specialize in youth and adolescent sports-related injuries during the week and double as an urgent care clinic with on-call physicians for weekend events. (Dave Minton/Tribune Staff Photographer) cine specialists and other healthcare professionals that have the ability to cater not only to minor medical issues but sports injuries as well. Concussions, fractures, meniscal and ACL tears all have the ability to be diagnosed – and in some cases treated – on site at the clinic. The clinic will be open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday by appointment for children and adolescents with sports injuries. From 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. on weekdays and 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on weekends, it transitions into an urgent care clinic handling minor medical issues. During sporting events at the park, oncall physicians from Phoenix Children’s will have the ability to provide support for athletic trainers who need guidance on caring for injuries. “Being there in that facility puts us in data are available from the FBI. The bipartisan bill has 30 co-sponsors, including O’Halleran and Rep. Greg Stanton, D-Phoenix. Its backers bristled when asked whether the bill clashes with the belief by some that Democrats are more interested in defunding the police than directing funds their way. “When we talk to communities, particularly those in some of the most high-crime areas, they will say, ‘No, we don’t want to defund the police, we want to fund the police,’” said Rep. Val Demings, D-Fla., and

a position where we can help them right away and gives them access,” said Dr. Jeffrey Vaughn, orthopedic surgeon at Phoenix Children’s. “If they get hurt or think something wrong, or if something is wrong, they have access right there. “That’s one thing we’ve done building these clinics, we wanted to find a space like this where we can be right there for families.” Vaughn, a Gilbert resident and father to six children – most of which play or have played sports – has worked for Phoenix Children’s since 2008 and has seen the growth of Phoenix Children’s sports medicine clinics. In 2019, Phoenix Children’s opened a physical therapy center near Val Vista Road and the San Tan 202 freeway – next door to Gilbert Mercy Hospital. The location offered convenience for child and

lead sponsor of the bill. “We don’t want to see less police, we want to see more police.” That was echoed by Rep. Robin Kelly, D-Ill., who said that if “you take a survey among the Democratic Congress members, most people are not saying defund the police.” The bill has not moved since being introduced in October and assigned to the Judiciary Committee. But Demings said she is confident, as the bill’s sponsors are “laser-focused” on getting it passed. “This bill has bipartisan support and

adolescent athletes rehabbing a sportsrelated injury. Other Phoenix Children’s specialty clinics have opened in Mesa, Chandler and Avondale over the course of the last decade. Vaughn, who makes weekly stops in Phoenix, Mesa and Gilbert, said he will add Bell Bank Park to his rotation. He believes with the pure number of youth sporting events happening at the park on a weekly basis, providing initial care at that facility allows parents to follow-up with Phoenix Children’s at other facilities across the Valley. “The East Valley has really expanded with Eastmark, Queen Creek and new high schools going in. Especially when you’re talking about downtown and expanding east, it’s a bit of a drive for someone to get that care,” Vaughn said. “Now parents who want to get that specialized care for young athletes, they don’t have to drive 45 minutes away.” Phoenix Children’s prides itself on providing world-class care for infants, youth and adolescents. Especially in the sports realm, an increase in the level of youth competition can often lead to injuries – even more so during tournaments when teams may play multiple games in one day. So, to not only have a facility like Bell Bank Park that can house multiple games per day for a variety of sports, but now have a specialized clinic onsite is something Vaughn believes will benefit the community and the youth that may encounter injuries while in competiton. “Our training is all specialized to provide that type of care,” Vaughn said. “For the community it’s a great service that we are able to offer, and we are grateful to Bell Bank for partnering with us to help us get to a location where we can make that care a lot more accessible.” ■

you better believe we’re going to work with leadership and everybody that we can to get this bill … signed into law,” she said. O’Halleran said he is optimistic, even though the bill is not an “end-fix” to Arizona’s increasing violent crime rate. “Our citizens need to be protected. Our officers need to be protected,” he said. “That goes with training, picking out the right officers, making sure we have followthrough and the investment in our society that this Congress should be doing.”■

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THE MESA TRIBUNE | FEBRUARY 20, 2022

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At 88, Mesa nurse at Banner keeps on healin’ BY MONIQUE SELEEN Tribune Contributor

or Ellie Ucci, age is just a number. At 88, the Mesa woman still works as a postpartum nurse at Banner Gateway Medical Center in Gilbert and has no plans to retire. “I have purpose,” said Ucci. “I don’t come to work for the money. I love what I do.” Ucci’s nursing career dates back to 1954 when, right after graduating high school, she attended a diploma-based program in Chicago, where she was living at the time. “When people asked me what I wanted to be, I’d always say a nurse,” said Ucci. She began working as a psychiatric nurse in a military hospital during the Korean War, where she remained for the first six months of her career. Later, she went back to school to obtain

a dual degree in Nursing and Psychology and moved to Arizona with her husband. Once in Arizona, Ucci worked for Mesa Lutheran Hospital and Mesa Public Schools, gaining experience in the emergency room, labor and delivery, and with high school Ellie Ucci is 88 but she’s nowhere near the end of her nursing career. She is a postpartum nurse at Banner Gateway Medical Center in Gilbert. students at (David Minton/Tribune Staff Photographer) Westwood and over 42 years and started in the postRed Mountain High Schools. She has been with Banner Health for partum unit at Banner Gateway when it

opened in 2007. Ucci, who has three daughters, seven grandchildren, and nine great-grandchildren, said she enjoys working with young mothers and getting to see them expand their family. “I give that grandmother image and they tell me they love that I’m taking care of them because it feels like their grandmother is with them,” said Ucci. “They learn from me.” When COVID-19 hit, Ucci said she wasn’t scared. Throughout her years as nurse, she said, she has worked through several epidemics including polio, tuberculosis, meningitis, and the swine flu. “During the Polio outbreak, the only things we really had to protect ourselves were gowns and masks,” said Ucci. “But now, I trust my vaccines and feel like the

Mesa artist expresses passion in many media BY ANNIA ZAVALA Tribune Contributor

arva Ayoka Harris is one of those rare artists who expresses her passion in many different art forms. The Mesa woman is a painter, creative writer, poet, choreographer and artistic director at Marvalous Productions, a performing arts company she founded in Georgia in 2014 and then relocated to Tempe to produce “shows that speak to the experiences of everyday people, preserve history as well as offer creative stress solutions to individuals and organizations.” She also is the chief cheerleader for the Millet House, an art gallery and community gather space at 440 W. 1st St., Mesa. “I would consider myself primarily an abstract artist because of the freedom, mystery and emotion I feel while painting and beholding this type of art,” she writes on her website. “However, I do not limit myself to one style of art as I am

Marva Ayoka Harris of Mesa is a painter, creative writer, poet, choreographer and artistic director at Marvalous Productions, a performing arts company she founded in Georgia in 2014 and then relocated to Tempe. (Special to the Tribune) ever exploring and ever evolving. I would describe my artistic work style as largely holistic, eclectic and organic.”

Earlier this month, Harris held her annual exhibit of her paintings in honor of Black History Month. She said the exhibit,

see NURSE page 21

titled “The Dreamy Night,” was about “reclaiming of the beautiful color black.” Harris is a passionate artist known for expressing her story, focusing on Black culture, and sharing knowledge through her art. “Sometimes you got to do things even if you’re scared to do them, in fact, because you are,” Harris said. “That’s the most powerful thing about sharing your passion.” She explains on her website, “The subject of my artwork highlights personal experience, experiments with the relationship between colors and holistic therapy, examines movement, energy, frequency waves and flow, as well as exploration of creative ways to dispense paint onto its surface “I can examine how emotion correlates to color, how music influences content and how cultures shape artistic style,” Harris

see HARRIS page 21

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THE MESA TRIBUNE | FEBRUARY 20, 2022

Mesa pilot earns master flight teacher status TRIBUNE NEWS STAFF

Mesa resident and pilot has earned master flight instructor certification from the National Association of Flight Instructors. Jeanne Rieck, an instructor since 2013 and owner of Airplane Rental Ventures in Mesa, said she tries to build confidence and a high skill level in her clients and that she loves seeing a student solo successfully in the challenging, busy airport environment where she teaches. Rieck is a former special education teacher and administrator with a master’s degree in special education. After 20 years in the classroom and leadership roles, she decided to take off on a new chapter and “fell in love with flying at the first rotation.”

She says she loves an adventure and the combination of flying and leading others to accomplish their aviation goals was a natural place for her to land. Rieck, who has numerous pilot and flight instructor certifications and ratings, owns two aircraft at Falcon Field, which she calls “a beautiful and demanding place to fly.” When not flying, Rieck is exploring near the Grand Canyon with her husband at their off-grid cabin. The NAFI Master Flight Instructor Accreditation is earned by aviation educators based upon a system of advanced professional standards and peer review. The accreditation identifies flight instructors “who demonstrate an ongoing commitment to excellence, professional growth, and service to the aviation community.”

Applicants must have been a flight instructor for two years and logged at least 1,000 hours of flight instruction and meet standards in four categories: instructor, educator, service to the aviation community, and professional activity. Members of the National Association of Flight Instructors work as independent instructors, at flight schools, universities, FBOs, corporate flight departments and in the military. Since 1967, NAFI and its members, who teach in 30 countries, are dedicated to increasing and maintaining the professionalism of flight instruction. ■ Mesa resident and pilot Jeanne Rieck is now a master flight instructor.. (Special to the Tribune)

Mesa woman aids Civil Air Patrol blood drive TRIBUNE NEWS STAFF

iving is in Barb Clevenger’s blood – literally. The 10,000th unit of blood collected during Civil Air Patrol’s Operation Pulse Lift mission at its Falcon Composite Squadron came from the Mesa woman. “My mom gave blood and that was something that was very important to her. I just started giving and I’m so excited to be doing this in honor of my mother,” Clevenger said. “Since the evening of March 17, 2020, when the surgeon general noted the critical need for blood donations during the early days of the coronavirus pandemic, and the closure of nearly 7,000 blood donation centers, Civil Air Patrol has been engaged in the coordination, planning, and execution of the longest series of blood donation center operations in the nation by a single organization,” said Lt. Col. Bob Ditch, CAP incident commander for Operation Pulse Lift. American Red Cross CEO Gail McGovern called CAP “an incredible partner in responding not only to the urgent need for critical blood products” but also to the need blood drive hosts.

The 10,000th unit of blood collected by the Civil Air Patrol came from Barb Clevenger of Mesa. (Special to the Tribune) Operation Pulse Lift, which began in Arizona before the pandemic, expanded to include multiple locations in Alabama, Colorado, Kentucky, New Mexico, New York, Oklahoma, Texas, and Virginia. CAP has sponsored 146 emergency blood donation centers since April 2020 to support

this COVID-19 humanitarian assistance mission. Transporting blood by land and air also is part of the CAP mission, with more than 500 trips to remote hospital locations by CAP aircrews and drivers. The Red Cross leveraged Operation

Pulse Lift to support hospitals in California and Oregon during wildfire season, Texas and Louisiana for hurricanes, and the Southwest for a major winter storm. The mission’s emergency blood donation effort surged to collect 222 units of blood in response to the December 2021 tornados in Kentucky, Tennessee, and surrounding areas. Across the country, Civil Air Patrol members and their families who don’t live near a CAP-sponsored donation center have reported their local blood donations for inclusion in the mission’s total. So far, about 5,700 units have been collected at CAP donation centers and about 4,300 at other locations, totaling 10,000 units and 30,000 lives saved. Acting as a Total Force partner and official civilian auxiliary of the U.S. Air Force, Civil Air Patrol’s 56,000 members help First Air Force rapidly respond to non-military threats domestically “to save lives, relieve suffering, prevent property damage and provide humanitarian assistance.” Established in 1941, Civil Air Patrol operates a fleet of 555 single-engine aircraft and 2,250 small unmanned aircraft systems and performs about 90% of all search and rescue operations in the U.S. ■

THE MESA TRIBUNE | FEBRUARY 20, 2022

NURSE from page 19

hospital is the safest place to be because we know what we’re dealing with.” While there have been several changes to the healthcare system and nursing throughout Ucci’s career, she said she learns to adapt, saying it’s a good way for her to keep her mind sharp. “I always tell myself I can do it,” she said. “I do all the programs that the 30 year olds do. It’s good for my brain. It takes me a little longer but I do it.” Ucci will turn 89 in May and although

Marva Aoyka Harris spoke with some of the guests at a recent showing of her artwork. (Annia Zavala/Tribune Contributor)

HARRIS from page 19

said. “I love to play with texture, to give more than just the eye, to awaken other emotions.” Harris has always been attracted to the “powerful messages that paint can create” on canvas, explaining that she received her first painting set for a birthday present in 2020 :and I haven’t stopped painting since.” At that time, she was going through a rough patch in her life, and painting became the inspiration she needed to keep moving forward. For her, the best thing creating art offered her has been healing. One of the most popular pieces in her newest collection is titled “Shooting and Falling Stars.” Harris said this painting was to honor one of her students who was shot and killed. The painting portrays how “when someone dies in the city, you take their shoes and put them over the light cables to represent those who were lost.” During the exhibition, Harris’ father shared with the audience a short piece of Native American flute music. Her family has Native American ancestors and wanted to honor them through music. Tears streamed down her face as Harris presented and thanked her parents for the support and knowledge they have given her for all these years. Harris’ art has been recognized by gal-

leries and on social media. Harris appreciates all of the support and love for her art, but to her, her art is good “not because someone else says it,’’ but because she feels it. “Good is what you feel when you’re doing it, that’s what art is about — about you,” Harris said. Vincent Candidi, a music writer and Arizona State University student, said Harris’ art represents who she is. “You can tell she owns her style, and it’s not just something she did ‘just because,’” Candidi said. “It truly is art.” Harris also is a booster of the Millet House, whose mission is “to support people from marginalized populations by giving them a chance to participate as equals in a real-life gallery and community space, and to learn art and life skills by networking with those who already have such skills.” The Millet House has always served homeless/formerly homeless people, people with disabilities, and survivors of domestic abuse and violence, with outreach to shelters and to individuals through a peer mentoring program. Information: themillethouse.com, ayokaartstudios.com ■

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she admits she has some aches and pains, she said, “Physically I’m very blessed as far as health. I have some arthritis but I get up and go and keep moving and that helps. I’ve never been one to sit still.” Ultimately, Ucci said it’s her passion for caring for others and her love for the profession that keeps her going. “My family calls me a workaholic but I say it’s a good thing to be,” she said. “My nursing career has really been a blessing. I have never been disappointed that I became a nurse.” ■

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Valley’s oldest coffee shop has Las Sendas presence BY MELODY BIRKETT Tribune Staff Writer

ava Java is celebrating 30 years in the Valley – second only to Macy’s of Flagstaff as the oldest coffee shop in Arizona. “When I started out, I was the only person in the whole Valley,” said Justin Shafer, founding owner of Hava Java Coffee Shop. “I sold my first latte’ Jan. 27, 1992.” That was eight years before Starbucks arrived in Phoenix. Living in Seattle in the late ‘80s, Shafer envisioned owning his own coffee house. “There was a coffee shop on every corner,” he recalled. “I was in my 20s. Back then, I just wanted to make some money. I’ve been an entrepreneur my entire life. I always thought that food would be a good thing to go into because people always have to eat. When it came to coffee, it’s something people had to have every day. It just made sense.” His goal was to open a coffee shop in Arizona, a place he once called home. In 1991, he moved back to Phoenix. Over a year later, Shafer started the first and only gourmet coffee cart in Arizona in a high-rise office building at the old Phoenix Plaza at Central and Thomas. Then he opened St. Joseph’s Hospital’s first coffee shop in 1993. He ran his coffee cart operations for two and a half years .including one at a Phoenix bookstore at 32nd St. and Camelback. “It was just me for 17 hours a day, 7 days a week for 2 1/2 years,” said Shafer. After the bookstore closed in 1995, Shafer took a portion of their old space to build an indoor coffee house, where Hava Java remains today. Since then, he hired staff to assist him. “We have always been fortunate to have very little employee turnover and that really helps,” he said.

Owner Justin Shafer’s Hava Java is the Valley’s oldest coffee shop and he opened a subsidiary location in Las Sendas two years ago. (Melody Birkett/Tribune Contributor) His Las Sendas Mesa location near Power and McDowell roads opened two years ago. “We’ve been serving a lot of the same customers for 30 years,” Shafer said. “We know their families, husbands, wives and their kids. We know where they go to school, where they go to work, where they vacation.” Despite more competition these days, Shafer said his motto and the secret to his success is serving quality products in a clean, upbeat environment with great customer service. “We have a zero-tolerance policy for poor customer service,” he said. “We

treat our customers the way we want to be treated and I treat my staff with dignity and the way they should be treated. I’ve never been the type to push people around. We have the most awesome customers at our locations.” He feels, “Anybody can make coffee at home. They don’t go out for a cup of coffee. They go out for the overall experience. If you can’t provide something fabulous, why leave the house?” He said many people have gotten married after meeting their spouse at his coffee house. “In fact, I met my own wife,” said Shafer. “She was one of my customers.” As for his menu, he boasts, “Anything you can get at other coffee shops you can get at our place. We have a custom roasted blend of beans we feel are superior to what everybody else has out there.” Breakfast and lunch sandwiches, a few made-to-order lunch items, fresh bakery items and 25 different loose-leaf teas are offered as well – along with 14 beers on tap and wine. “In the early days of the coffee business, nobody sold alcohol,” said Shafer. “I figured why not have something for people in the evening. We provide a really nice place for people to be – somewhere besides the home and office. They can come work and study in our coffee house. A lot of people are there from coffee to beer all day long.” Though he opened the Mesa location one week before the pandemic hit, Shafer has survived despite a 90 percent nosedive in sales. “That first year was a little on the rough side, to say the least, but we never closed,” he said. “We survived that. We’ve survived so many things in 30 years.” He encourages everyone to seek out independent businesses. “Give them a try. … the little guys can be much better than the big corporate boxes.

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Hava Java in Las Sendas offers a contemporary ambience to enjoy a cup of joe or other beverage. (Melody Birkett/Tribune Contributor)

“We have to please. We have to do an extra super job. That’s all we have. The big corporates have deep pockets and they’re indestructible.” Besides, he said, shops like his have “a good vibe.” “Our community is our family and they feel the same way about us.” ■ Hava Java Coffee 2849 N. Power Road, Mesa; (480) 912-5282 Mesa, Las Sendas area HavaJavaCoffee.com,

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THE MESA TRIBUNE | FEBRUARY 20, 2022

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Heel Pain Is On The Rise The weather has a big impact on heel pain. As the days cool down, our activity levels heat up. Going for a walk, playing a round of golf, and hiking are all possible again with the temperature below 100 degrees. But you need to pay attention to your feet. “Getting back to a normal lifestyle can be a shock to your feet, especially to your heels,” says Dr. Shah Askari of CIC Foot & Ankle. More than two million Americans suffer from plantar fasciitis, a sharp, stabbing, sometimes burning pain in the heel or arch of the foot. It’s anticipated this number will rise as people start taking advantage of better weather. It typically hurts when first getting up, may lessen after a few steps but always returns. In the past, a cortisone injection was the treatment of choice.

“Cortisone manages the pain, but it doesn’t address what’s causing the pain,” explains Askari. Now, treatment focuses on the condition, not just the symptom. “Regenerative medicine is one of the most promising ways to deal with pain, because it triggers the body to heal,” he explains. “Prolotherapy is an option that uses a natural irritant which starts the healing process.” Growth factor therapy also jump starts and maintains regeneration of new tissues. In addition, the FDA recently approved cold laser therapy for plantar fasciitis. “Laser treatment is another way to treat heel pain, because it increases circulation, which promotes healing,” says Askari. “It’s all about healing.”

OPINION

THE MESA TRIBUNE | FEBRUARY 20, 2022

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Legislature outdoes its usual nonsensical self with sex ed BY DAVID LEIBOWITZ Tribune Columnist

hen I was a kid, the fastest way to get me to read a book was to tell me it was too mature for my young eyes. I passed many nights sneaking peeks at my mom’s Harold Robbins novels to find the sexy parts. And there wasn’t a kid in my middle school who couldn’t recite by heart from Page 85 of Judy Blume’s teen lit classic, “Forever.” You know, the page where Michael introduces Katharine to his manhood, which he has inexplicably named … Ralph. Speaking of members, this brings us to the Arizona Legislature, which may have done more to encourage teen reading than any governmental body in America. Last year, it passed House Bill 2035, a racy little number that made Arizona the fifth state in America to mandate parents opt-in to sex education for their kids. Had the measure stopped there, I would have

been okay with it, but this being our Legislature – where common sense is not so common – they had to go just a bit further. HB 2035 also requires school governing boards to “adopt procedures to notify parents in advance and provide them the opportunity to withdraw their children from any instruction or presentations regarding sexuality” – even outside sex ed class. Which brings us to one local school district’s strenuous efforts to warn parents – about, among other things, kids cooking chicken breasts. Times Media reporter Ken Sain detailed The Great Poultry Alert last week. To comply with the state edict, the Chandler Unified School District Governing Board in December passed a new opt-in policy concerning materials that might be deemed sexual. Sain quoted Chandler High teacher Caroline Sheridan, who last week told the Governing Board: “I teach English and I teach criminal justice,” she explained. “Somehow I found out I need permission slips before I can teach,

“Of Mice and Men,” “Romeo and Juliet,” “Othello,” “To Kill a Mockingbird.” I can’t teach about Emmett Till without a permission slip. Of course, this makes no sense.” In January, the Permission Slip Police also sent home an opt-in form to parents of cooking students learning to prepare chicken breasts. District spokesman Terry Locke told Sain this was “a misinterpretation of the legislative statute” which “was corrected and did not apply to the context or content.” Thank goodness the curriculum didn’t include a recipe for sticky buns. Of course, the Legislature is hardly done with the issue. This new session has seen a number of sex education bills, including a measure to change the opt-in requirement back to an opt-out requirement. There’s a bill that will require a parent’s written permission before a student can participate in “any school student group or club involving sexuality, gender or gender identity.” And there’s a bill – no doubt dead on arrival – that not

only would make sex ed an opt-out class, but would also allow teachers to “discuss populations that historically have been more vulnerable to sexual abuse and assault, such as the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning community and the disability community.” Finally, there’s a bill that would forbid educators, restaurant workers and grocery store employees from “referring to certain foodstuffs and edible materials using language that may be construed to convey a sexual connotation.” Among the terms set to be joining “chicken breasts” as no longer be permissible, as spelled out in statute? Chicken “breasts.” Pork “butt.” Hot dog “buns.” The phrase “finger foods.” And Denny’s has been put on notice that diners will no longer be allowed to order the “Moons Over My Hammy.” Okay, I made that last bill up. But with this group of elected geniuses, it absolutely could have been real. They’re just that … nuts. ■

for construction materials, payroll and property taxes. The COVID-19 pandemic and the accompanying 18-month eviction moratorium also drove rent higher, with a majority of single-family rental homeowners reporting they suffered from the inability to collect rent – including 23 percent of property owners who were forced to sell off some or all their properties. How can we help Valley housing prices go down? We must build more housing at all price points, and do so quickly and costeffectively. If we fail to correct this shortfall in supply, Arizona’s renters, would-be homeowners, our workforce and economy will pay a heavy price. Economist Elliott Pollack, speaking at a Greater Phoenix Chamber of Commerce 2022 Economic Outlook event, framed this year as a pivotal moment. Pollack reports the Valley needs to build about 34,000 new housing units annually to keep up with the population surge. Be-

yond that, there’s a shortage of 25,000 homes and 15,000 apartments, the economist explained. “That’s a big hole and it’s going to take years to fill,” said Pollack. This shortage of homes creates enormous competition for the few rentals that are available. In 2021, there were 20 applicants competing for each vacant apartment in Phoenix, according to RentCafe. If this shortfall in the housing supply remains unaddressed or grows – while demand continues to rise, as expected – more people will be priced out of the market. The state’s economy is equally in peril if the new employers we count on to create jobs and revenue cannot find homes for their employees. As obvious as that may be, the reality has been anything but simple. Cities like Scottsdale, Gilbert, Surprise, Goodyear and Buckeye have been resistant to building new homes and apartment communi-

ties, while proclaiming the need for more affordable housing. In Scottsdale, Mayor David Ortega has been a formidable stumbling block, constantly playing politics in an effort to foil new housing. His opposition may play well with the “not in my backyard” NIMBY crowd, who oppose virtually every new home or apartment community, but it ignores the impact of constantly saying no or demanding costly changes to projects: This resistance forces the price housing higher by stifling the marketplace or raising overhead costs in a business already operating on razor-thin profit margins. Supply and demand says a price that goes up will keep going up until there’s enough of the product to go around. We must build accordingly.

Simple law of supply and demand driving rents BY COURTNEY GILSTRAP LEVINUS Tribune Guest Writer

he law of supply and demand is a basic principle of economics, seen in action daily at the grocery store and gas pump. When demand rises and products grow scarce, prices jump. When supply is high and demand is low, prices fall. That same principle governs the Valley’s housing market. On an average day in the Valley, nearly 300 people move in, according to Census statistics. Last year, the metro area added more than 106,000 new, pushing the Valley population to 5.1 million. Thousands of new residents require thousands of homes. Developers have not been able to build new rental housing and single-family homes quickly enough to match this surge in humanity. The population explosion has sent rent surging upward, along with rising costs

Courtney Gilstrap LeVinus is president and CEO of the Arizona Multihousing Association. ■

OPINION

THE MESA TRIBUNE | FEBRUARY 20, 2022

Long after studying Orwell’s novel, 1984 has arrived BY JD HAYWORTH Tribune Columnist

hat you’re about to read is a vision of the future,” the teacher told her class. “If you expect to read a tale of space travel…or a story focused on happy, prosperous people living in a bright, sparkling city of tomorrow, you need to prepare yourself for something completely different.” “Jimmy Jones, if you could develop an appreciation for books that rivals your love of the Beatles, you could get into an Ivy League School.” The teacher combined her admonition with an appeal: “JJ, I assure you that you’ll find no ‘Flying Circus’ within the pages of this novel, but the author is British and given your world view, that ought to count for something.” The large young man grabbed a box of 40 books and put one on the desk of each of his 35 classmates.

Arizona needs to tap the brake pedal on growth

Just read the article by Cecilia Chan on housing crisis. I am a Phoenix native and have lived here majority of my life some 45 years. I love the Valley – or at least did until the out of control migration to Phoenix started four to six years ago. The vertical graph says it all, a

Then she said, “Class, there are three goals to which we all should aspire. We need to think clearly, speak clearly and write clearly.” “We all know that words have meaning, and that some words have many different meanings. But what would happen if a government sought to control its citizens by the deliberate distortion of language?” “Prepare to encounter ‘newspeak,’ and discover the consequences of calculated, confusing communication, designed to discourage independent thought and action.” “George Orwell’s book is titled ‘1984,’ and that’s only 10 years from now. You’ll read of a future that’s quite distressing. A future based on language control, thought control, and collective control through a surveillance state.” “Could something like that happen here? Read this book and decide for yourself.” For the next two weeks, the class im-

mersed itself in Orwell’s dystopian tale, discussing the distressing, foreboding future presented in the text. And then, the future arrived. JJ did in fact become a lawyer and Big Guy eventually became a federal lawmaker. Both marveled that the USA in 1984 was nothing like Orwell’s “1984.” Ronald Reagan carried every state except Minnesota en route to his second term. The same was true 10years later. Big Guy became part of a big class of conservative congressmen – over 70, who won a Republican House Majority for the first time in 40 years. Almost 30 years have passed. What happened? A terror attack on our soil and a decision that collective security should be emphasized over personal liberty. A computer revolution that encouraged surveillance and enriched tech firms, which in turn offered allegiance to the business

and the bottom line rather than the county that made their success possible. The election of a President, heralded as “post racial,” who instead became our “most racial,” inserting race and other wedge issues into virtually every public debate. A public education system transmogrified into a political indoctrination system, populated with leftist grievance mongers who promote “wokeism”—a political movement designed to intimidate by shutting down debate and insisting on uniformity. And “pandemic panic,” where sound science took a backseat to political science and government curtailed our freedom of movement as well as our right to work. Through it all, echoes of “Newspeak…” Ignorance is Strength… Uniformity is Diversity… War is Peace… Equity—not Equality! Two weeks to flatten the curve. Sadly, it’s become clear…1984 is finally here. ■

million new arrivals in the 1990s. If metro Phoenix adds (realistic) 300k folks a year this decade, that’s three million more folks and we are out of water and in a drought living in a desert!! Population goes from current 7 million to 10 million And yet no alarms going off? In spite of that city fathers keep calling out for people and corporations to move here? One big question, at our current growth

rate when does the water run out? We need a fence around Arizona, if that were possible. Many areas already out of water! AJ’s wells have been dry off and on for 10 years and many residents haul their own water. Rio Verde in Scottsdale is in serious trouble. Seems city councils are more interested in tax revenue than vital resources. Also, we’re near the ceiling of our power grid.

What is going on? Soon we are going to hit a wall! Clues to impending problems are key rivers and lakes drying up. Vegas, LA and Phoenix are the cause, not just Phoenix Valley. We live in a desert, when we’re out of water no options. Seems nobody that should be is paying attention to the outrageous overgrowth. Need to start tapping the brake pedal. -Tom Kelly

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

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

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Sisters, dad conquer Mesa half-marathon BY ZACH ALVIRA Tribune Sports Editor

he first time Emily McKellar ran the Mesa half-marathon was three years ago as a way to get back into shape after giving birth. It was a challenge, but the training and the event helped her get back into shape. After having her fourth child, she wanted to again take part in the marathon. But this time was different. She recruited her four sisters and father to run alongside her. It took some convincing, but they eventually obliged. The team of six entered the half-marathon not knowing what to expect. But not only did they all come away with better times than they expected, it brought a family spread out across the country together again. “I wanted to make it a girls’ trip and a way we can train together,” McKellar said. “I eventually got one of them on, they were all kind of committed to doing it. We committed April of 2021, so we had 10 months and we had a training schedule that was 14 weeks. When we hit that mark, that was when we really started to run regularly.” The five sisters and their father began training for the Feb. 12 race in October. They each logged their respective training sessions in an application that allowed them to share their progress. They sent messages of encouragement in a group chat. McKellar, 34, their father Geoffrey Waldrom, 64, and Lauren Willis, 37, all trained in Mesa where they reside. Morgan Engebretsen, 28, trained in San Francisco where she lives. She would often run the Golden Gate Bridge for training. Ali Van De Graaff, 31, trained near her home in Ashland, Ore., running through the forest. Cady Jardine, 39, had the toughest training regimen of the group at her home in Falls Church, Va. It wasn’t uncommon for her to have to train in single-digit weather. They all stuck to it, though. They held each other accountable and wanted to impress not only their spouses but the 17 children between the five. The trip also came with a bit of a surprise as Enge-

in 2:12.00, followed by Willis (2:14:00), McKellar (2:22:00), W a l d r o m (2:32:00) and Jardine (2:52:00). For many, it was the first time they had ever run a marathon before. It also came after two of them had gotten over a COVID infection. McKellar and Willis said they were both still sore days after the race had concluded. Waldrum, From left: Sisters Morgan Engebretsen, Cady Jardine, Emily McKellar, Lauhowever, who had ren Willis, Ali Van De Graaff and their father Geoffrey Waldrom, all ran the Mesa half-marathon together this year. With three of the sisters out only biked and of state, the group had to train virtually using an application and group hiked before the race, has continchat to communicate. (Courtesy Susie Waldrom) ued to update his bretson, the youngest of the group with girls on his workouts after the marathon. one child already, announced when she Seeing her husband race and now continue arrived for the race that she was expect- to train has been special for Susie. ing another. It made the reunion and race “I’m so proud of their commitment to even more special. do something hard,” she said. “They are all “It was incredible,” Willis said. “It made busy mothers with 17 children between it all so worth it. It was really rewarding to know we did such a hard thing, and we did it together. Running was new to most of us. It was super exhilarating, the high of crossing the finish line and knowing you’re done. Your legs are on fire but knowing you accomplished such a lofty goal, for me it was an unrealistic goal. “It goes to show that anything is possible Lauren Willis, the secondwith a little hard work and dedication.” oldest sister, said the group Seeing her five girls and husband commotivated each other when pete alongside one another was special they began training hard in for Susie Waldrom, their mother. October for the race. She said it was an amazing She didn’t race with them, electing to accomplishment finishing it cheer them on at the start and finish line alongside her family and it where they met for a group photo. Engebrought them closer together. bretsen finished the half-marathon first (Courtesy Lauren Willis) out of the group at a time of 2 hours, 8 seconds. Van De Graaff finished next

the five of them and another on the way. Two ran post January COVID infection, which put a wrench in their training, but they did it. “Having my husband run with them was the cherry on top.” The family says the race brought them closer together, even with three of them out of state. They communicated on a daily basis in the weeks and months leading up to the race. When they all came into town, they slept at their parents’ house, at together and rode with each other to the marathon. It was an experience they all enjoyed, and some of their spouses have even said they want to get involved next year if they decide to make it an annual tradition. Even if they don’t, though, they now have a memory they can look back on for many years to come. “It made us talk to each other more and see how each of us are doing,” McKellar said. “And I know years from now we will look back and say, ‘remember that one time we trained really hard and did something really hard together?’ “I think it’s super motivating to have a spouse or a sister or dad to want to train with you, even if it’s virtually. Having family do it with you is very motivating.” ■

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Little pieces of Italy to pepper Heritage Square BY CHRISTINA FUOCO-KARASINSKI GetOut Editor

he cobblestone streets of Heritage Square will be peppered with art, food and musicians when the Italian Festival moves from Scottsdale to Downtown Phoenix Saturday, Feb. 26, and Sunday, Feb. 27. “We really look for ways to make it a true, authentic Italian experience,” said Francesco Guzzo, Italian Association of Arizona’s executive director. “We want you to feel like you’re walking into a little piece of Italy with the vendors, entertainment, the food and art displays. Those are all things meant to share the Italian tradition, but we also want to give people a sense of how much Italians contribute to the fabric of Arizona.” This year’s festivities begin at 11:30 a.m. Saturday with a parade and opening ceremonies. The day continues with live entertainment and food — gelato, pizza, sausages, pasta, cannoli, wine and other delicacies. “The food is the standard part of the festival,” Guzzo said. “We call it ‘the authentic true Italian food.’ We don’t even allow fettuccine alfredo. It’s not an Italian dish. A lot of people don’t know that. “We have vendors — pasta and pizza vendors and Romolo D’Amico will make his famous carbonara. It’s an amazing dish to demonstrate on stage. We’ll have vendors selling traditional pasta sauces, clothing and olive oil.” Live performances will include Sbandieratori del Palio di Asti (flag wavers) from the city of Asti in Piemonte, and an art gallery with local and international Italian art. Margherita Fray, a 94-year-old artist, will show off her talents in the gallery. “She’s bringing some of her pieces of art and her books,” Guzzo said. “Her books have been translated in English and in Italian. That’ll be incredible just to have her there and be part of the community and sign books. “ Blue Door Ceramics’ Christiane Barbato

all pieces of art, even though they’re automobiles. “It’s a well-choreographed event. There’s always something interesting or exciting happening. Throughout the day, when people come in, they’ll see something of interest. There’s never a dull moment.” Galbani will host a demonstration stage, and mixologists will teach paSome fun contests for the kids await at Arizona’s Italian Festival trons to make crelater this month. (Special to GetOut) ative drinks with will display her artwork, while Paolo Co- limoncello and Pellegrino. Many of the santi pieces will be available, too. sponsors are sending their national repreSunday, the flag wavers and vendors sentatives to check out the festival. return and, like Saturday, they are spon“We’re working on making it as interestsored by Galbani, Peroni, PepsiCo, Acqua ing as possible for everyone,” Guzzo said. Panna, San Pellegrino, Chelly, DTPHX, Des- “We want to attract families and people of ert Rose Worldwide Transportation and all ages. For the kids, we have balloon artGreat Value Vacations. ists and the face painter. “The flag wavers are excited about this,” “For the grownups, we have the demonhe said. “They’re the traditional group that strations, the entertainment by The Sicilrepresents the city of Asti in world compe- ian Band from LA. They will play traditiontitions in flag waving. They’ve been doing al Italian songs on Saturday and Sunday. it for 60 years in Asti. We have Steve Ansel & The Jackson Street “All the colors they wear are represen- Band, a full eight-piece orchestra to play tative of the different boroughs. It’s quite significant.” This year, Guzzo said, antique restored Italian vehicles will drive into Heritage Square. Vespas and Italian bicycles from Scottsdale’s Cyclologic will be on display. “Everything coming out of Italy has an artistic flair to it,” Guzzo said. “Ferraris, Lambo- Festival organizers add authenticity to the festival with touches rghinis or Bugattis are of Italy. (Special to GetOut)

traditional jazz that people love.” Saturday night is for eating and dancing to the band Element. The opera singers D Gala will perform on both days, closing out the festival on Sunday. Organizers are mindful of the COVID-19 pandemic and deem Heritage Square safe, with its outdoor seating. Cleaning crews will be working diligently to sanitize the area. Facemasks will be available at the entrance. “We’re doing what we can to make sure everything is comfortable,” Guzzo said. “We want people to enjoy the entire day without feeling like there’s a concern in any way. It’ll be fun. The whole thing is catered to make sure everyone has fun and enjoys themselves.” Heritage Square is new to the Italian Festival. Previously, the festivities were held at the Scottsdale Waterfront. “It’s a beautiful part of Scottsdale, but we ran out of space,” he said. “There was only room for 5,000 people a day to come through there. “Phoenix had been courting us about hosting the festival there. This year, we decided to host it at Heritage Square in Downtown Phoenix. The space allows for typically three times the number of people we would normally get. It has the greenery — grass and trees — cobblestone roads and courtyards. It lends itself to creating a cozy space for a beautiful event like the Italian Festival.” ■

If You Go...

What: The Italian Association’s Seventh Italian Festival Where: Heritage Square, corner of East Adams and North Seventh streets, Phoenix When: 11:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 26, and 11:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 27 Tickets: $15; free for children ages 12 and younger Info: italianfestivalaz.com

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THE MESA TRIBUNE | FEBRUARY 20, 2022

NHRA’s Leah Pruett loves racing in the Valley BY CHRISTINA FUOCO-KARASINSKI GetOut Editor

op Fuel driver Leah Pruett and the Valley have a mutual love. She has won the NHRA Chandler event twice and recently joined Tony Stewart Racing’s new drag racing team. “Phoenix is in my top three racetracks and races,” said Pruett, who married Tony Stewart in 2021. “There’s always an extra amount of excitement. Phoenix fans have always made me feel like I was their champion. “A lot of it has to do with winning. I won in 2016. When you go to a track only one time a year, that’s why they remember. If you have a repeat winner, it creates a big buzz. The next year, when I go back there, it’s like I never left. That’s a really cool feeling they definitely instill.” The NHRA Arizona Nationals are set for February 25 to February 27 at Wild Horse Pass Motorsports Park. The NHRA Arizona Nationals traditionally serve as the second event on the NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series tour. The facility has seen record-breaking performances and is a fan-favorite of the circuit. “With over 35 years of NHRA racing history at the Motorsports Park, we are eager for the Arizona Nationals to return to Wild Horse Pass and the Gila River Indian Community,” said General Manager Henry Moreno. “We are dedicated to making the event the best possible experience for the fans and racers alike.” “We missed the NHRA Arizona Nationals in 2021,” adds Glen Cromwell, NHRA president. “We are thrilled to return to Wild Horse Pass Motorsports Park and put on a great show for the Phoenix fans.” Updates for 2022 include free event parking at Wild Horse Pass Motorsports Park with the purchase of an NHRA Arizona Nationals ticket. The Redlands, California, native, started racing when she was 8. Her father, Ron, who died in early 2021, was a land street racer and a street racer but, she’s quick to

Top Fuel driver Leah Pruett can’t wait to put her peddle to the metal at the NHRA Chandler event next weekend. (Special to GetOut) add, not a drag racer. He wanted Pruett and her sister to start something “safe.” So, Pruett ventured out on her own and built cars. “It was my father who put the mechanical aptitude within me,” she said. From there, she sat behind the wheel to drag race. She said she enjoys her career because her job description changes. Previously it was “just,” she said, a racecar driver. Now she’s a team manager and in business development. “The hardest thing about my job right now is making sure that I haven’t dropped any balls,” she said. “We want to hit the scene running as a new team while not looking like a new team. We want to look like veterans, experience championship caliber team. “For me as a ‘professional racecar driver,’ I want to be the best in the world. That’s

what I think is the most challenging.” To maintain levity, she’s living in a motor home in the parking lot of the race shop. Pruett, who otherwise resides in Lake Havasu, Arizona, works with her team daily to order parts and take care of other maintenance and organizational issues. Pruett said she’s ready for “a fresh breath of Phoenix air,” and hanging out at the Sandbar in Chandler and Radford Racing School, formerly known as Bondurant. She “keys up” there to form a road course perspective and get a feel for the high horsepower car. “It’s usually what I do on Thursday,” she said. “I get some horsepower time in there. It puts me in the zone.” The same goes for a little gift she sees along the I-10 and Loop 202. “For the second or third year, they’ve had billboards along the freeway with my

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

car and I on it,” she said with a laugh. “I think that really helps drive the fanbase. It’s seen for two months, and they get to see me until I get there. There’s extra enthusiasm by the fans because I’ve been in their face for two months. It’s totally weird. At least I’m not up there pimping attorneys at law. I’m trying to help people know about drag races.” ■

If You Go...

What: NHRA Arizona Nationals Where: Wild Horse Pass Motorsports Park, 20000 S. Maricopa Road, Chandler When: 7:30 a.m. Friday, Feb. 25, to Sunday, Feb. 27 Cost: Tickets start at $44 for adults; $20 for juniors ages 12 and younger Info: Info: nhra.com/schedule/2022

THE MESA TRIBUNE | FEBRUARY 20, 2022

King Crossword ACROSS 1 Fine, to NASA 4 “Misery” star James 8 Garbage barge 12 -- -mo (replay speed) 13 Taj Mahal city 14 Ocean motion 15 Sunbather’s goal 16 Insect organ 17 Oklahoma city 18 Patsy Cline song 21 Shoe width 22 Little rascal 23 Brilliance 26 6 on a phone 27 Gaiety 30 “Dream on!” 31 Ginormous 32 Flintstones’ pet 33 Abolish 34 Curse 35 Summoned with a beeper 36 Frenzied 37 Jewel 38 Words of empathy 45 Made into lumber 46 Drescher or Tarkenton 47 TV schedule abbr. 48 Currier’s partner 49 Plane-related 50 Debussy’s “La --” 51 Antitoxins 52 Lincoln in-law 53 Farm pen

With JAN D’ATRI GetOut Contributor

Homemade peppermint patties make life sweeter

32 34 35 36 37 38

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DOWN 1 Wine region 2 Norwegian saint 3 Hawaiian coast 4 Pill variety 5 Marble type 6 Woody’s son 7 Taking a siesta 8 Precipitous 9 Title akin to POTUS 10 “Garfield” dog 11 Marries 19 Piece of lettuce 20 “As I see it,” via text 23 Hearing thing 24 Hit CBS series 25 Cover 26 Blend 27 Pear-shaped fruit 28 French article 29 Affirmative action? 31 Adipose tissue

PUZZLES ANSWERS on page 33

alentine’s Day may be over, but homemade peppermint patties are always a special treat for the sweetest person – or persons – in your life.

If you love store-bought peppermint patties, you’re going to flip over the homemade version. The best part is, it only takes five simple ingredients to win someone’s heart. ■

Ingredients: 3 cups powdered sugar 2 tablespoons softened butter 2 teaspoons peppermint extract

4 tablespoons cream 12 oz. Melting Chocolate Wafers (dipping chocolate)

Directions: In a mixing bowl, combine the powdered sugar, butter, peppermint extract and cream. On medium high, beat with a paddle attachment. (Mixture will be crumbly at first.) Turn mixer on high and beat until it becomes creamy and smooth. Candy should be soft but not sticky. If too sticky, add more powdered sugar, a little at a time, until the consistency is that of PlayDoh. Roll out a long piece of plastic wrap. Scoop out mixture onto the wrap and form into a long thin roll about 1 1/2 inch in diameter. (This will be the size of the inside of your peppermint patty.) Roll it up tightly in the plastic wrap and twist or tie off the ends. (Jan’s Note: I divided the mixture up into two logs and wrapped each in plastic wrap to keep one log chilled while working with the other. Tip: To keep your candy round, cut a slit all the way down an old cardboard paper towel

tube, and put the candy inside which will help keep the bottom from flattening as it sits in the refrigerator. Chill the candy until it is very firm, at least one hour. Prepare a sheet pan lined with parchment paper and place in refrigerator to chill. When candy has hardened, remove from plastic wrap and, using a sharp knife, slice off rounds about 1/4 inch thick. Melt the dipping chocolate in the microwave in 30-second intervals, stirring to prevent overheating. Using a fork or dipping tool, dip a patty into the melted chocolate, coating completely. Let the excess coating drip back into the bowl. Set on chilled parchment-lined baking sheet and repeat with the rest of the candy slices. Immediately refrigerate to harden. Store in airtight container in frig or at room temperature. Servings approximately 30. ■

THE MESA TRIBUNE | FEBRUARY 20, 2022

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Mardella Ruth “Mardy” Kopp, age 99, died in Prescott, Arizona on January 30, 2022, in the loving care of the staff of The Cottage at Highgate Senior Living and the staff of Maggie’s Hospice. She was born May 31, 1922, in Sidney, Ohio, the daughter of Clarence and Velma (Fogt) Monroe. She was united in marriage to Paul Kopp in Sidney, Ohio on June 16, 1941. Paul preceded her in death on October 10, 2003. Paul and Mardy moved to Arizona in 1954, where they raised their son and three daughters and resided for the rest of their lives. Mardy worked at Motorola and later at Angels Home Store. She enjoyed weekend outings with her family, including boating and camping trips to the lakes and to the mountain country of Arizona. In her retirement years, she was always on the go, enjoying bus rides and outings with friends to the casino to play Bingo. She never passed up an opportunity to try something new. Among her memorable adventures were riding in the gunner seat of a WWII bomber and making a tandem parachute jump at the age of 82. Her most precious possession in her later years was a large photograph of over 30 family members who were on hand for a celebration of her 95th birthday. Mardy is survived by her daughters: Linda Ortega of Mesa, Arizona and Barbara Shaneyfelt and her husband Jim of Chino Valley, Arizona. She is also survived by her Grandchildren: Marc, Kim, Deanna, Steven, Mike, Beth, Shannon, Stacey, and Meghan, 20 Great-Grandchildren, and four Great-Great-Grandchildren. In addition to her parents and her husband, Paul, she was preceded in death by her brother, Bob Monroe, her son, Steve Kopp and her daughter, Peggy Stewart. Cremation services are being provided by the Cremation Society of Arizona. A celebration of Mardy’s life will be held at the Green Acres Mortuary and Cemetery in Scottsdale, Arizona at a date to be determined. Memorial contributions may be made to the Veterans of Foreign Wars in Mesa Arizona or to Maggie’s Hospice in Prescott, AZ.

THE SUNDAY EAST VALLEY TRIBUNE | FEBRUARY 20, 2022

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Announce

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

Manufactured Homes

Wanted to Buy

Auctions & Estate Sales 3 SISTERS ESTATE SALES LET US SELL THE CONTENTS OF YOUR HOME 19 YRS EXPERIENCE IMPECCABLE REFERENCES LOCATED IN MESA 763-443-0519 ALSO DO PRICING FOR YOUR SALES

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

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Garage Sales/Bazaars Superstition Sunrise RV Resort (an active adult community) located at 702 So Meridian Road in Apache Junction will hold their twice-yearly patio sales on Saturday, February 26th from 8am-Noon. Pick up a resort map at the gate house to see where individual sales will be held.

Real Estate for Sale

WE’RE ALWAYS HERE TO SERVE YOUR CLASSIFIED NEEDS

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Manufactured Homes

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Lost & Found Boats & Marine

YOU CAN OWN THE LAND And Own Your New Home

2003 Lund Explorer 1800. 115HP. Includes shoreline trailer. $5500 obo Call 480-686-4121

CLASSIFIEDS and LEGALS Deadline: Thursday at 10am for Sunday 480-898-6465 Email Your Ad: class@times publications.com

eastvalley tribune.com

THE LINKS ESTATES Why Rent The Lot When

2019 Clayton, 16x60, 2B/2B, Like new, Central A/C, Large Living Room, Laminate Flooring, Carpet in BRs, Microwave, Dishwasher, Refrig, Gas Range (All Black Appliances), Pantry, W/D Hookups, Front Porch, 2" Blinds, Recessed Canned Lighting in Kitchen, Concrete Driveway with Awning. Located in Meridian MHP, a 55+ Gated, Active Resort Community with Tons of Activities. Within walking distance of banks, groceries, shopping and restaurants.

Stolen dog 1/29/22 Cross roads n Alma School rd and w Galveston st Chandler AZ Stolen out of the front yard around 2pm. Black truck, older couple. 2 young girls in the car too. Her name is Brooklyn, 7 years old. Yorkie Maltese mix. 4 pounds. White with black patch on back. She was wearing a pink collar with our phone number on it. Cash reward for safe return. If seen or found please call 978-798-5178

FROM THE UPPER 200’s

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

Gawthorp & Associates

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

602-402-2213

www.linksestates.net

2022 Champion Park Model 12x33, 1b/1b, with a front porch view of the beautiful putting green and pool, concrete carport w/awning, skirting, steps, and central a/c, SS/black appliances, built-in pantry, dual kitchen sinks, walk-in shower, laminate flooring throughout, matching shed with w/d hookups all set in Shiprock RV resort, a 5 star, 55+ community in Apache Junction, AZ. $68,000. CALL 480-228-7786 FURNITURE FOR STAGING PURPOSES ONLY AND NOT INCLUDED

THE SUNDAY EAST VALLEY TRIBUNE | FEBRUARY 20, 2022

Carpet Cleaning

Drywall

Hauling

JOSE DOMINGUEZ DRYWALL & PAINTING House Painting, Drywall, Intall Doors, Baseboards, Crown Molding Reliable, Dependable, Honest!

Air Conditioning/Heating

QUICK RESPONSE TO YOUR CALL! 15 Years Experience • Free Estimates

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Three Phase Mechanical

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Not a licensed contractor.

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ACCREDITED BUSINESS

Electrical Services

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• Serving Arizona Since 2005 •

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

ALL RESIDENTIAL & COMMERCIAL ELECTRICAL Call Jim Endres 480.282.7932

480-405-7588 Appliance Repairs

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

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CLASS@TIMESPUBLICATIONS.COM

Glass/Mirror

GLASS, MIRRORS, SHOWER DOORS

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

Hauling

Over 28 Years Experience • ROC #246019 Bonded/Insured

Handyman

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Your First Recurring Cleaning

Bonded/Insured • ROC #289252

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Insurance

HONESTY • INTEGRITY • QUALITY

HEATING & AIR CONDITIONING

Need to hire some help?

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

NO TRIP CHARGE • NOT COMMISSION BASED ROC# 247803 Bonded • Insured

HAULING LOW RATES! $20 AND UP BRUHAUL JUNK REMOVAL 480-639-6142

LLC

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Monday-Friday 8am-5pm • Closed Weekends

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• Drywall Repair • Bathroom Remodeling • Home Renovations

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

GENERAL CONTRACTOR / HANDYMAN SERVICES SERVING THE ENTIRE VALLEY

All Estimates are Free • Call:

520.508.1420

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

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

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Marks the Spot for ALL Your Handyman Needs! Marks the Spot for ALL•Your Handyman Needs! ✔ Painting Painting Flooring • Electrical “No Job Too ✔Small Flooring Painting • Flooring • Electrical Plumbing • Drywall • Carpentry Man!” Plumbing • Drywall • Carpentry ✔ Electrical Decks • Tile • More! 1999 e Sinc Quality Work Decks •Affo Tile • More! rdable, ✔ Plumbing 2010, 2011 2012, 2013, Roc #057163 2014 Call Bruce at 602.670.7038 ✔ Drywall Ahwatukee Resident/ References/ Insured/ Not a Licensed Contractor “No Job ✔ Carpentry Lowest Prices * 30 Yrs Exp Too Small Marks the Spot for“No Job Too ALL Your Handyman Needs! ✔ Decks Painting • Flooring • Electrical Small Man!” “No Job Too Man!” Serving Entire Valley ✔ Tile Plumbing • Drywall • Carpentry

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References/ Insured/ NotResident a Licensed Contractor Ahwatukee / References Call Ahwatukee BruceResident/ at 602.670.7038

2012, 2013, 2014

Since 1999 Affordable, Quality Work

Ahwatukee Resident/ References/ Insured/ Not a Licensed Contractor Insured / Not aCall Licensed Contractor Bruce at 602.670.7038

Ahwatukee Resident/ References/ Insured/ Not a Licensed Contractor

2010, 2011 2012, 2013, 2014

Home Improvement

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

One Call, We Do It All! 602-339-4766 Owner Does All Work, All Honey-Do Lists All Remodeling, Additions, Kitchen, Bath, Patio Covers, Garage, Sheds, Windows, Doors, Drywall & Roofing Repairs, Painting, All Plumbing, Electrical, Concrete, Block, Stucco, Stack Stone, All Flooring, Wood, Tile, Carpet, Welding, Gates, Fences, All Repairs.

Free Estimates with Pride & Prompt Service!

THE SUNDAY EAST VALLEY TRIBUNE | FEBRUARY 20, 2022

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

Landscape/Maintenance

LEGAL NOTICES

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

Painting

Insured/Bonded Free Estimates

ALL Pro

T R E E

S E R V I C E

L L C

Prepare for Winter Season! LANDSCAPING, TREES & MAINTENANCE

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

480-354-5802

Voted #1

10% OFF

Interior/Exterior Painting 30 YEARS EXPERIENCE Dunn Edwards Quality Paint Small Stucco/Drywall Repairs

NTY 5-YEAR WARRA

480.654.5600 azirrigation.com Cutting Edge LLC • ROC 281671

Landscape/Maintenance

We Are State Licensed and Reliable!

Free Estimates • Senior Discounts

480-338-4011 PAINTING

SEWER CABLE COMPREHENSIVE, FULL-SERVICE PLUMBING COMPANY

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BOOK ONLINE! STATE48DRAINS.COM

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ROC# 256752

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(602) 502-1655

ROC#309706

Pool Service / Repair

Now Accepting all major credit cards

Plumbing

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

Juan Hernandez

Pavers • Concrete • Water Features • Sprinkler Repair

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

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

Call Juan at

480-720-3840 Not a licensed contractor.

Roofing

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

Bonded/Insured • ROC #223709

480-405-7099

Licensed • Bonded • Insured

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

480-477-8842

We Beat Competitors Prices & Quality

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

— Call Jason —

Irrigation Repair Services Inc.

HYDROJETTING

www.eastvalleypainters.com

HOME IMPROVEMENT & PAINTING

Please recycle me.

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

480-688-4770

Painting

Your newspaper. Your community. Your planet.

Plumbing

Bonded/Insured • ROC#153131

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

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

East Valley PAINTERS

Family Owned & Operated

Irrigation

Plumbing

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Serving All Types Clean, Prompt, Friendly and Professional Service of Roofing: • • • •

FREE ESTIMATES

Tiles & Shingles sunlandroofingllc@gmail.com Installation Repair Re-Roofing

602-471-2346

CALL CLASSIFIEDS

480-898-6465

We'll Get Your Phone to Ring! We Accept:

THE SUNDAY EAST VALLEY TRIBUNE | FEBRUARY 20, 2022

NOTICE TO READERS:

Roofing

PHILLIPS

ROOFING LLC COMMERCIAL AND RESIDENTIAL

Family Owned and Operated 43 Years Experience in Arizona

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

PhillipsRoofing.org PhillipsRoofing@cox.net

Most service advertisers have an ROC# or “Not a licensed contractor” in their ad, this is in accordance to the AZ state law. Arizona Registrar of Contractors (ROC): The advertising requirements of the statute does not prevent anyone from placing an ad in the yellow pages, on business cards, or on flyers. What it does require under A.R.S. §32-1121A14(c) www.azleg.gov/ars/ 32/01165. htm is that the advertising party, if not properly licensed as a contractor, disclose that fact on any form of advertising to the public by including the words “not a licensed contractor” in the advertisement. Again, this requirement is intended to make sure that the consumer is made aware of the unlicensed status of the individual or company. Contractors who advertise and do not disclose their unlicensed status are not eligible for the handyman’s exception. Reference: http://www.azroc.g ov/invest/licensed_ by_law.html As a consumer, being aware of the law is for your protection. You can check a businesses ROC status at: http://www.azroc.gov.

Roofing

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

480-706-1453

Licensed/Bonded/Insured • ROC #236099

480-699-2754 • info@monsoonroofinginc.com

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

MonsoonRooﬁngInc.com Licensed – Bonded – Insured – ROC187561

aOver 30 Years of Experience

aFamily Operated by 3 Generations of Roofers!

Spencer 4 HIRE ROOFING

NOTICE OF PUBLIC AUCTION United Access, LLC hereby provides notice that this vehicle: 2103 Honda Odyssey VIN: 5FNRL5H65DB073389 will be sold at public auction on March 1, 2022 at United Access, 1825 E Germann Rd, Suite 24, Chandler, AZ 85286 at 1PM. All bids must be in cash and the winning bid must be paid at the time of the auction.

Published: East Valley Tribune /Chandler Arizonan, Feb 20, 2022 / 44715

It is understood that the Arizona Museum of Natural History (AzMNH) made an agreement with now deceased Mr. Richard Hupfer in Mesa, AZ to house archaeological material uncovered in the Riverview complex. The agreement was made in 2004 or 2005. It is the intent of AzMNH to claim title to these artifacts if no valid claims are made by May 10. To make a claim or for further information, please contact Dr. Emily Early at emily.early@mesaaz.gov or (480)644-5907. Published: East Valley Tribune, Feb. 20, 27, 2022 / 44597 OUT WITH THE OLD, CHIP RETURN RETURN YOUR TABLE GAMES CASINO CHIPS AT HARRAH’S AK-CHIN BEFORE THEY EXPIRE! If you have Table Games Casino chips received before July 7, 2021, please redeem them at the Harrah’s Ak-Chin Casino cashier cage no later than March 31, 2022 for a full refund. Disclaimer: Any discontinued Table Games chips not returned by March 31, 2022 will be void and hold no cash value. Redemption must take place at the Harrah’s Ak-Chin Casino cashier cage in person. Harrah’s Ak-Chin Casino is not responsible for any unreturned Table Games chips.

Roofing

Premier Tile, Shingle & Foam Roofer!

Public Notices

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

“Many a small thing has been made large by the right kind of advertising” - Mark Twain

Valley Wide Service

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

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

480.898.6465

class@timespublications.com

THE SUNDAY EAST VALLEY TRIBUNE | FEBRUARY 20, 2022

Public Notices CITY OF MESA, ARIZONA ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS (RFQ) NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the City of Mesa is seeking a qualified firm or team to act as the Construction Manager at Risk for the following: WATER MAIN REPLACEMENTS QUARTER SECTIONS 55D/55B PROJECT NO. CP0834QS04 The City of Mesa is seeking a qualified Construction Manager at Risk (CMAR) to provide Pre-Construction Services assistance and complete Construction Services as the CMAR for the Water Main Replacements Quarter Sections 55D/55B Project. All qualified firms that are interested in providing these services are invited to submit their Statements of Qualifications (SOQ) in accordance with the requirements detailed in the Request for Qualifications (RFQ). The following is a summary of the project. The City of Mesa will construct a water main replacement project for City of Mesa Quarter Sections 55D and 55B. The residential water systems near Baseline and Gilbert Roads are nearly 50-years old and have reached the end of their service life. This project will install new 8-inch and 12-inch ductile iron pipe (DIP), valves, water services and fire hydrants and other incidental work as required. The existing system will be abandoned in place. Contractor will be responsible for installing new water mains, utility coordination, bacteria testing and flushing, water service connections on private property and traffic control. Coordination with the City and project phasing will also be required. The estimated construction cost is $4.5 million to $5.5 million. The design of the improvements is currently at 90% and construction is expected to begin in August 2022. The city anticipates completing construction by 2023.

FREEDOM. TO BE YOU. If you think oxygen therapy means slowing down, it’s time for a welcome breath of fresh air. Introducing the Inogen One family of portable oxygen systems. With no need for bulky tanks, each concentrator is designed to keep you active via Inogen’s Intelligent Delivery Technology.® Hours of quiet and consistent oxygen flow on a long-lasting battery charge enabling freedom of movement, whether at home or on the road. Every Inogen One meets FAA requirements for travel ensuring the freedom to be you. No heavy oxygen tanks Ultra quiet operation Lightweight and easy to use Safe for car and air travel Full range of options and accessories • FDA approved and clinically validated • • • • •

A Pre-Submittal Conference will be held on March 3, 2022 at 8:00 am through Microsoft Teams. If you would like to participate, please send an email to Stephanie Gishey (stephanie.gishey@mesaaz.gov) and request an invitation. At this meeting, City staff will discuss the scope of work and general contract issues and respond to questions from the attendees. Attendance at the pre-submittal conference is not mandatory and all interested firms may submit a Statement of Qualifications whether or not they attend the conference. All interested firms are encouraged to attend the Pre- Submittal Conference since City staff will not be available for meetings or to respond to individual inquiries regarding the project scope outside of this conference. In addition, there will not be meeting minutes or any other information published from the Pre-Submittal Conference. Contact with City Employees. All firms interested in this project (including the firm’s employees, representatives, agents, lobbyists, attorneys, and subconsultants) will refrain, under penalty of disqualification, from direct or indirect contact for the purpose of influencing the selection or creating bias in the selection process with any person who may play a part in the selection process. This policy is intended to create a level playing field for all potential firms, to assure that contract decisions are made in public, and to protect the integrity of the selection process. All contact on this selection process should be addressed to the authorized representative identified below. RFQ Lists. The RFQ is available on the City’s website at http://mesaaz.gov/business/engineering/construction-managerat-risk-and-job-order-contracting-opportunities. The Statement of Qualifications shall include a one-page cover letter, plus a maximum of 10 pages to address the SOQ evaluation criteria (excluding PPVF’s and resumes but including an organization chart with key personnel and their affiliation). Resumes for each team member shall be limited to a maximum length of two pages and should be attached as an appendix to the SOQ. Minimum font size shall be 10pt. Please provide one (1) electronic copy of the Statement of Qualifications in an unencrypted PDF format to Engineering-RFQ@mesaaz.gov by March 17, 2022 at 2 pm. The City reserves the right to accept or reject any and all Statements of Qualifications. The City is an equal opportunity employer. Firms who wish to do business with the City of Mesa must be registered in the City of Mesa Vendor Self Service (VSS) System (http://mesaaz.gov/business/purchasing/vendor-self-service). Questions. Questions pertaining to the Construction Manager at Risk selection process or contract issues should be directed to Stephanie Gishey of the Engineering Department at stephanie.gishey@mesaaz.gov.

Call 1-844-201-2758 for a free consultation and info guide.

MKT-P0253

BETH HUNING City Engineer ATTEST: Holly Moseley, City Clerk

Published East Valley Tribune, February 20, 27, 2022 / 44732

THE SUNDAY EAST VALLEY TRIBUNE | FEBRUARY 20, 2022

“Many a small thing has been made large by the right kind of advertising”

Public Notices CITY OF MESA, ARIZONA ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS (RFQ)

- Mark Twain

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the City of Mesa is seeking a qualified Consultant for the following: PUBLIC SAFETY CAMPUS MICROGRID PROJECT NO. CP1032 The City of Mesa is seeking a qualified Consultant to provide design services for the Public Safety Campus Microgrid Project. All qualified firms that are interested in providing these services are invited to submit their Statements of Qualifications (SOQ) in accordance with the requirements detailed in the Request for Qualifications (RFQ). The microgrid is intended to provide electrical power backup to the City of Mesa Public Safety campus (“PD Campus”) in downtown Mesa, Arizona, and to provide power export capabilities to the City of Mesa electrical distribution grid. The microgrid will consist of natural gas generators to generate three (3) to four (4) megawatts (MW) in nominal capacity serving the PD Campus under an electrical grid outage and provide power export applications to the City’s 12.47 kilovolt (kV) grid. To facilitate power distribution and control of the microgrid, the system will include the design and specification of new switchgear, breakers, transformers, generators, relays, protection, sensors, batteries, controls, load banks, foundations, uninterruptable power system (UPS), communications, and other associated work. The microgrid will require integration with the City of Mesa’s existing SCADA system, commercial building loads and designed upgrades to existing protection and communication systems to achieve safe, reliable electric distribution and microgrid system operations.

480.898.6465

class@timespublications.com

A Pre-Submittal Conference will be held on February 23, 2022 at 8:00am through Microsoft Teams. If you would like to participate, please send an email to Stephanie Gishey at stephanie.gishey@mesaaz.gov to receive the invite. At this meeting, the project team, including City staff will discuss the scope of work, general contract requirements and respond to questions from the attendees. The video conference PreSubmittal Conference is not mandatory. All interested firms may submit a Statement of Qualifications whether they attend the conference or not. All interested firms are encouraged to attend the Pre-Submittal Conference since City staff will not be available for meetings or to respond to individual inquiries regarding the project outside of this Pre-Submittal conference. In addition, meeting minutes or any other information will not be posted from the Pre-Submittal Conference. Contact with City Employees. All firms interested in this project (including the firm’s employees, representatives, agents, lobbyists, attorneys, and subconsultants) will refrain, under penalty of disqualification, from direct or indirect contact for the purpose of influencing the selection or creating bias in the selection process with any person who may play a part in the selection process. This policy is intended to create a level playing field for all potential firms, to assure that contract decisions are made in public, and to protect the integrity of the selection process. All contact on this selection process should be addressed to the authorized representative identified below. RFQ Lists. This RFQ is available on the City’s website at http://mesaaz.gov/business/engineering/architectural-engineering-design-opportunities. The Statement of Qualifications shall include a one-page cover letter, plus a maximum of 10 pages to address the SOQ evaluation criteria (excluding PPVF’s and resumes but including an organization chart with key personnel and their affiliation). Resumes for each team member shall be limited to a maximum length of two pages and should be attached as an appendix to the SOQ. Minimum font size shall be 10pt. Please provide one (1) electronic copy of the Statement of Qualifications in an unencrypted PDF format to Engineering-RFQ@mesaaz.gov by March 3, 2022 by 2:00pm. The City reserves the right to accept or reject any and all Statements of Qualifications. The City is an equal opportunity employer. Firms who wish to do business with the City of Mesa must be registered and activated in the City of Mesa Vendor Self Service (VSS) System (http://mesaaz.gov/business/purchasing/vendor-self-service). Questions. Questions pertaining to the Consultant selection process or contract issues should be directed to Stephanie Gishey of the Engineering Department at Stephanie.Gishey@mesaaz.gov.

ATTEST: Holly Moseley City Clerk

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

BETH HUNING City Engineer

Published in The Mesa Tribune February 13, 20th, 2022 / 44600

Add a Background Color to Your Ad! Classifieds 480-898-6465

See MORE Ads Online! www.EastValleyTribune.com

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

THE SUNDAY EAST VALLEY TRIBUNE | FEBRUARY 20, 2022

Public Notices

Public Notices CITY OF MESA, ARIZONA ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS (RFQ)

City of Mesa Housing Authority Public Notice

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the City of Mesa is seeking a qualified firm or team to act as the Construction Manager at Risk for the following:

Notice of Availability of the Proposed Public Housing Authority FY 2022/2023 Annual Plan Notice of 45-Day Public Comment Period February 20, 2022 – April 6, 2022

SOUTHEAST MESA LIBRARY PROJECT NO. CP0428 The City of Mesa is seeking a qualified Construction Manager at Risk (CMAR) to provide Pre-Construction Services assistance and complete Construction Services as the CMAR for the Southeast Mesa Library Project. All qualified firms that are interested in providing these services are invited to submit their Statements of Qualifications (SOQ) in accordance with the requirements detailed in the Request for Qualifications (RFQ). This project will consist of the construction of a new library, located in Southeast Mesa. The City may include other miscellaneous improvements at the Site, as needed. The estimated construction cost is $13,200,000. The City anticipates completing construction in Summer 2024. A Pre-Submittal Conference will be held on February 22, 2022 at 8 am through Microsoft Teams. If you would like to participate, please send an email to Donna Horn at donna.horn@mesaaz.gov to receive the invitation. At this meeting, City staff will discuss the scope of work and general contract issues and respond to questions from the attendees. Attendance at the pre-submittal conference is not mandatory and all interested firms may submit a Statement of Qualifications whether or not they attend the conference. All interested firms are encouraged to attend the Pre-Submittal Conference since City staff will not be available for meetings or to respond to individual inquiries regarding the project scope outside of this conference. In addition, there will not be meeting minutes or any other information published from the Pre-Submittal Conference. Contact with City Employees. All firms interested in this project (including the firm’s employees, representatives, agents, lobbyists, attorneys, and subconsultants) will refrain, under penalty of disqualification, from direct or indirect contact for the purpose of influencing the selection or creating bias in the selection process with any person who may play a part in the selection process. This policy is intended to create a level playing field for all potential firms, to assure that contract decisions are made in public, and to protect the integrity of the selection process. All contact on this selection process should be addressed to the authorized representative identified below. RFQ Lists. The RFQ is available on the City’s website at http://mesaaz.gov/business/engineering/construction-manager-at-risk-and-job-order-contracting-opportunities. The Statement of Qualifications shall include a one-page cover letter, plus a maximum of 10 pages to address the SOQ evaluation criteria (excluding PPVF’s and resumes but including an organization chart with key personnel and their affiliation). Resumes for each team member shall be limited to a maximum length of two pages and should be attached as an appendix to the SOQ. Minimum font size shall be 10pt. Please provide one (1) electronic copy in an unencrypted PDF format to Engineering-RFQ@mesaaz.gov by 2 pm on March 10, 2022. The City reserves the right to accept or reject any and all Statements of Qualifications. The City is an equal opportunity employer. Firms who wish to do business with the City of Mesa must be registered in the City of Mesa Vendor Self Service (VSS) System (http://mesaaz.gov/business/purchasing/vendor-self-service). Questions. Questions pertaining to the Construction Manager at Risk selection process or contract issues should be directed to Donna Horn of the Engineering Department at donna.horn@mesaaz.gov.

ATTEST: Holly Moseley City Clerk

Published in : The Mesa Tribune February 13, 20, 2022 / 44560

BETH HUNING City Engineer

Notice of Public Hearing Proposed Public Housing Authority FY 2022/2023 Annual Plan March 31, 2022, 7:30 a.m. Date of Publication: February 20, 2022 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 2022/2023 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 20, 2022, the Mesa Housing Authority’s proposed FY 2022/2023 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 20, 2022 – April 6, 2022 A 45-day public comment period regarding the Housing Authority’s proposed FY 2022/2023 Annual Plan will begin on Sunday, February 20, 2022, and conclude at the end of business on Wednesday, April 6, 2022. 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 6, 2021. Notice of Public Hearing (Proposed Public Housing Authority FY 2022/2023 Annual Plan March 31, 2022, 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 2022/2023 Annual Plan. The hearing will occur at a meeting of the Housing Governing Board on Thursday, March 31, 2022, 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.

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February 20, 2022 East Valley Tribune / 44724

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THE SUNDAY EAST VALLEY TRIBUNE | FEBRUARY 20, 2022

Public Notices

CITY OF MESA, ARIZONA ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS (RFQ) NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the City of Mesa is seeking a qualified firm or team to act as the Job Order Contractor for the following: GENERAL LANDSCAPE CONSTRUCTION JOB ORDER CONTRACT PROJECT NO. JOC-L22 The City of Mesa is seeking a qualified Contractor to provide Job Order General Landscape Construction Services. All qualified firms that are interested in providing these services are invited to submit their Statements of Qualifications (SOQ) in accordance with the requirements detailed in the Request for Qualifications (RFQ). The following is a summary of the project. Provide General Landscaping Construction Services for minor and major projects, maintenance, repairs, re-construction, and alteration services to City facilities. A Pre-Submittal Conference will be held on March 8, 2022, at 8:00 am through Microsoft Teams. Parties interested in attending should request an invitation from Donna Horn at donna.horn@mesaaz.gov. At this meeting, City staff will discuss the scope of work and general contract issues and respond to questions from the attendees. Attendance at the pre-submittal conference is not mandatory and all interested firms may submit a Statement of Qualifications whether or not they attend the conference. All interested firms are encouraged to attend the PreSubmittal Conference since City staff will not be available for meetings or to respond to individual inquiries regarding the project scope outside of this conference. In addition, there will not be meeting minutes or any other information published from the Pre-Submittal Conference. Contact with City Employees. All firms interested in this project (including the firm’s employees, representatives, agents, lobbyists, attorneys, and subconsultants) will refrain, under penalty of disqualification, from direct or indirect contact for the purpose of influencing the selection or creating bias in the selection process with any person who may play a part in the selection process. This policy is intended to create a level playing field for all potential firms, assure that contract decisions are made in public and to protect the integrity of the selection process. All contact on this selection process should be addressed to the authorized representative identified below. RFQ Lists. The RFQ is available on the City’s website at https://www.mesaaz.gov/business/engineering/construction-manager-at-risk-and-job-order-contracting-opportunities The Statement of Qualifications shall include a one-page cover letter, plus a maximum of 10 pages to address the SOQ evaluation criteria (excluding PPVF’s and resumes but including an organization chart with key personnel and their affiliation). Resumes for each team member shall be limited to a maximum length of two pages and should be attached as an appendix to the SOQ. Minimum font size shall be 10pt. Please provide one (1) electronic copy of the Statement of Qualifications in an unencrypted PDF format to Engineering-RFQ@mesaaz.gov by March 17, 2022, by 2 pm. The City reserves the right to accept or reject any and all Statements of Qualifications. The City is an equal opportunity employer. Firms who wish to do business with the City of Mesa must be registered in the City of Mesa Vendor Self Service (VSS) System (http://mesaaz.gov/business/purchasing/vendor-self-service). Questions. Questions pertaining to the Job Order selection process or contract issues should be directed to Donna Horn of the Engineering Department at donna.horn@mesaaz.gov.

ATTEST: Holly Moseley City Clerk

BETH HUNING City Engineer

Published East Valley Tribune, February 20, 27, 2022 / 44695

East Valley Tribune CLASSIFIEDS WORK! Call 480-898-6465

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THE SUNDAY EAST VALLEY TRIBUNE | FEBRUARY 20, 2022

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The Mesa Tribune - Zone 2 - 2.20.2022

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