The Mesa Tribune - Zone 2 - 5.23.2021 by Times Media Group

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Mesa zoning �ight / P. 12

Battling for help / P. 10

An edition of the East Valley Tribune

COMMUNITY .......... 20 Mesa moms power unique blog for mothers.

BUSINESS ............... 22 How the pandemic has impacted wedding industry.

Sunday, May 23, 2021

More growth rolling into SE Mesa

INSIDE

This Week

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Developers plan an oasis $1 billion project coming in a ‘restaurant desert’ to ‘Data Center Alley’ BY TOM SCANLON Tribune Managing Editor

n southeast Mesa, Eastmark and Cadence developers have successfully turned cactus �ields into thousands of high-end homes. But many who moved into the new neighborhoods complain

they are stuck in a “restaurant desert.” Ask Peter Martens, an Eastmark resident since moving from Gilbert six months ago. It would be nice to have these types of amenities closer instead of driving into Gilbert or Queen

�� EASTGATE �� 6

Mesa prepares to At last! shuf�le the council district deck

BY TOM SCANLON Tribune Managing Editor

esa’s claim on the unof�icial title “Data Center Alley” just got stronger with a boost from a $1 billion project. At its May 17 meeting, Mesa City Council approved a develop-

ment agreement for a company that plans to build a data center on Elliot and Ellsworth roads in the northwest corner of Eastmark. A mystery company will invest “north of $800 million — well north of $800 million,” according

�� DATA �� 6

BY PAUL MARYNIAK Tribune Executive Editor

SPORTS ..................... 26 Rahni Turner left her stamp on the Westwood Warriors’ track & ﬁeld team. COMMUNITY ............................... 20 BUSINESS ..................................... 22 OPINION .. ..................................... 24 SPORTS ........................................ 26 GET OUT ...................................... 27 PUZZLES ...................................... 29 CLASSIFIED ................................. 30 Zone 2

ive people will decide where you will vote. And no one can overrule them; not the governor, not the mayor, not even Mesa City Council. Thousands across Mesa are expected to be on the move, though no moving vans are needed, as the “move” will be purely for local voting purposes. Mesa is divided into six districts, with each

�� REDISTRICTING �� 14

What a difference a year makes … After a virtual ceremony for the Class of 2020, Mesa Public Schools returned to in-person graduations last Thursday. The district saluted 3,658 graduating seniors, with Red Mountain High leading the way with 770 grads. Mountain View High had 700 grads, Westwood High 654, Mesa High 602 and East Valley Academy honored 88 graduates. At Skyline High, pictured above, 450 seniors “walked” — ending their COVID-interrupted school year and beginning post-high school lives. (Pablo Robles/Tribune Staff Photographer)

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THE MESA TRIBUNE | MAY 23, 2021

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THE MESA TRIBUNE | MAY 23, 2021

NEWS

Police search for killers of 17-year-old TRIBUNE NEWS STAFF

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

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

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

Publisher: Steve T. Strickbine Vice President: Michael Hiatt ADVERTISING DEPARTMENT Senior Account Sales: Ryan Brown | 480-898-6482 | rbrown@timespublications.com Local Advertising Sales: Chris Ross | 480-898-5649 | cross@timespublications.com Classifieds/Inside Sales: Elaine Cota | 480-898-7926 | ecota@evtrib.com TJ Higgins | 480-898-5902 | tjhiggins@evtrib.com Advertising Office Manager: Lori Dionisio | 480-898-6309 | ldionisio@evtrib.com Director of National Advertising: Zac Reynolds | 480-898-5603 | zac@evtrib.com NEWS DEPARTMENT Executive Editor: Paul Maryniak | 480-898-5647 pmaryniak@timespublications.com Managing Editor: Tom Scanlon | 480-278-6903 | tscanlon@timespublications.com Reporter: Kevin Reagan | 480-898-5638 | kreagan@timespublications.com Sports Editor: Zach Alvira | 480-898-5630 | zalvira@timespublications.com Get Out Editor: Christina Fuoco-Karasinski | 480-641-4518 christina@timespublications.com Photographer: Pablo Robles | probles@timespublications.com Designer: Ruth Carlton | rcarlton@timespublications.com Production Coordinator: Courtney Oldham | 480-898-5617 production@timespublications.com Circulation Director: Aaron Kolodny | 480-898-5641 | customercare@evtrib.com The Mesa Tribune is distributed by AZ Integrated Media, a circulation service company owned by Times Media Group. The public is permitted one copy per reader. For further information regarding the circulation of this publication or others in the Times Media Group family of publications, please contact AZ Integrated Media at circ@azintegratedmedia.com or 480-898-5641. For circulation services please contact Aaron Kolodny at aaron@azintegatedmedia.com.

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

oseph Seibold, a 17-yearold Mesa resident, was shot and killed the night of Feb. 17 near South Chestnut and Third Drive, not far from South Gilbert and Broadway roads in central Mesa. “Three suspects were seen �leeing the area of the shooting,” Mesa Police said in a release. “One juvenile suspect was identi�ied and charged, but the other two have not been identi�ied and are still outstanding. “A witness was able to assist with a composite sketch of one

of the suspects. This suspect is described as a Hispanic male in his late teens with brown eyes.” The Mesa Police Department released the suspect sketch last week on social media and via the press. No sketch of the other suspect was available. Police ask anyone with information on who killed Joseph Seibold to call the Mesa Police Department at 480644-2211 or Silent Witness at 480-W-I-T-N-E-S-S, 480- The Mesa Police Department is searching for two suspects accused of 948-6377, or 480-T-E-S-T-I-G- killing 17-year-old Joseph Seibold. The victim is pictured, along with a sketch of one of the suspects. (Mesa Police Department) O for Spanish speaking. 

Man arrested for setting �ires in Walmart TRIBUNE NEWS STAFF

crowded Walmart could have been a disastrous scene, but store employees quickly put out �ires started by an arsonist who later claimed he was setting �ires “for the cause.” Around 5:30 p.m. May 18, Mesa police arrested a man for setting �ires inside the Walmart at 1955 S. Stapley Drive. Joseph Daniel Carter, 57, has previous convictions for reckless burning and arson. He told police he was unemployed and homeless. Police suspect he is mentally impaired and was under the in�luence of alcohol when he was arrested. The man had two lighters, matches and $3 in his pockets when police arrested him. Police say Carter was seen walking into the Walmart and holding a lighter to store merchandise.

Joseph Carter was arrested for lighting fires in a Mesa Walmart. He has previous convictions for arson. (Mesa Police) “The �ire began to spread but store associates put it out using a �ire extinguisher,” the arrest report states. “Several employ-

ees of Walmart followed the defendant through the store as he went to a clothing section and watched as he lit a clothing rack on �ire using a lighter.” Employees again put out the fastspreading �ire with a �ire extinguisher. “Employees detained (Carter) at the entrance and called the police,” according to the arrest report. The report states surveillance video also shows Carter lighting merchandise on �ire. After he was arrested, Carter “admitted to setting the �ires and stated he did it because he was psychotic and saying it was ‘for the cause.’ The defendant did not elaborate any further and appeared to be under the in�luence,” the report states. An estimated 300 people were in the store. “Had employees not reacted quickly the entire store, customers and employees would have been in jeopardy,” the report states. 

Police, �ire�ighters combine for rescue TRIBUNE NEWS STAFF

he Mesa Police and Mesa Fire and Medical departments combined to �ight a �ire and rescue a teenager from smoke Thursday, May 20. Two Mesa Police of�icers saw the smoke at an apartment complex at 703 E. Knoll St., near North Home and East

McKellips Road. According to a �ire department spokesman, “Police were able to quickly rescue one 13-year-old victim from the �ire-involved apartment.” Fire�ighters then extinguished the �lames and rescued a dog as they evacuated adjoining apartments. The teenager was treated at the scene

and did not require hospitalization. “An 84-year-old neighbor was also treated for minor smoke inhalation and related medical issues and was transported from the �ire scene to a local hospital,” according to the �ire department. Ten residents displaced by the �ire are being assisted by the American Red Cross. 

THE MESA TRIBUNE | MAY 23, 2021

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THE MESA TRIBUNE | MAY 23, 2021

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THE MESA TRIBUNE | MAY 23, 2021

EASTGATE �� 1

Creek,” he said. When told about plans for the East Gate Plaza, which promises to bring a halfdozen restaurants to Elliot and Ellsworth roads, Martens was thrilled – adding that, it’s really a no-brainer. “This area is booming so I’m surprised it’s taking this long to have these types of developments,” Martens said. For months, every time construction of a new section of homes is announced, or a big company begins the process of opening a new warehouse or data center, southeast Mesa residents have demanded of Councilman Kevin Thompson and others: “What about nice restaurants?” If you’re looking for a job, this area has plenty of big employers: A mammoth Apple data center needs techies, Dignity Health Arizona General Hospital needs nurses and pharmacy techs, Niagara Bottling needs warehouse workers and drivers. But what about the residents? The locals have consistently complained that, save for fast food, they have to drive south for date-night and family meals. Enter East Gate Plaza, a planned produc-

DATA �� 1

to Mayor John Giles. Though one council member vehemently spoke out against yet another water-guzzling business, the unnamed tech company will join a growing crowd of data centers in the neighborhood of southeast Mesa. Apple has a data center up and crunching on Elliot and Signal Butte. Between Apple and the new player, EdgeCore has a real-estate speci�ic data center. RagingWire/NTT is building a mammoth, multi-building data center campus across Elliot Road from EdgeCore. And Comarch plans a relatively modest 32,000 square foot building on 3 acres at 3223 S. Ellsworth Road, a half-mile north of Elliot Road. Enough with the data centers, cried Vice Mayor Jenn Duff, who rejected the development agreement. Giles and the other council members overran her, voting for it and clearing the way for yet another huge-scale project in southeast Mesa. “I have very serious concerns about our water in the city of Mesa,” an emotional Duff said, reading a prepared statement.

East Gate Plaza, which developer Diversified Partners promises will be a game-changer for southeast Mesa, may include up to eight restaurants, shops and medical offices on 17 acres on the northeast corner of Elliot and Ellsworth roads. (Diversified Partners) tion from Diversi�ied Partners – an “A-list” developer with projects on both sides of the Valley. On the northeast corner of Ellsworth and Elliot roads, across the street from Dignity Health, Diversi�ied Partners says it

“I cannot in good conscience approve this megadata center using 1.4 million gallons per day … We already have seven or eight data centers in this area. Data Centers are not a responsible use of water and it’s time to stop and allow other forms of manufacturing and technology to in�ill.” Giles shot back at Duff’s concerns. “One of the contingencies is they would have to acquire water rights,” he said, adding that water “is a serious issue, but I feel water has been adequately addressed.”

Mystery company

Redale LLC is the development company, but the name of the company that will own and run the data center is being kept a mystery. “The ultimate end user is a company that is famous for being a great community partner,” Giles said, dropping a hint. The company on Elliot and Ellsworth is unlikely to be Google, which has a far larger data center planned a few miles west, on the other side of Loop 202. Companies on the north side of Elliot can “opt in” to a fast-track agreement as part of the Elliot Technology Corridor. As the new data center is on the south

has “multiple deals in process that include restaurants, retail, convenience store/gas station, coffee, dessert, nail salon and dental/orthodontic users, to name a few.” If that sounds good to you, thank “Team JJ.”

side, the development company reached a separate agreement. Redale promises to develop 396 acres at the southeast corner of Elliot and Ellsworth roads. The land is part of the Eastmark Community Plan, adopted by the City Council in 2008. The development will even come with a new street: Eastmark Parkway, formerly called “Spine East.” The agreement outlines “the construction of various buildings and related improvements and facilities for data processing, hosting and related and similar uses based in the technology sector, which development may occur in three phases with multiple buildings in each phase.” The plan is for buildings totaling 3 million square feet, �illed with “computer systems and associated components, such as telecommunications and storage systems, cooling systems, power supplies and systems for managing property performance.” According to the 20-year agreement, Redale, “at its sole cost and expense, must design, construct and dedicate all required off-site infrastructure improvements. This includes but is not limited to full half-street improvements on Elliot

Diversi�ied Partners’ Julie Harris and Jennifer Hill are the self-described “Team JJ” working on developing this barren corner into a bustling marketplace. The clever name of East Gate Plaza comes from “marrying Eastmark and the Gateway Airport,” Hill noted. Hill lives in northeast Mesa, making plenty of trips down to the southeast corner of the city to make sure what she saw on Google maps was legit. “My �irst phone call was in January 2019; I just called the owner,” she recalled. “It wasn’t even on the market. “But I thought, ‘Someday, this is going to be the epicenter with the 60 and the 202 and the 24 expansion and what’s happening at Eastmark and the Elliot Technology Corridor.’ So I called the owner, a sweet woman up in Washington, and she put me in touch with her broker … Then I showed it to Walt.” The big man behind the deal is Walt Brown, founder and CEO of Diversi�ied Partners. He went all-in on this corner, realizing, as he said in a press release last week, “The

�� EASTGATE �� 8

Road, Ellsworth Road, Warner Road and Eastmark Parkway. “It also includes an additional waterline in Signal Butte Road.” Notably, unlike other development deals in which companies get tax credits and/or are paid back for roads and water lines, Redale gets no “sweeteners” on this deal. “City is not responsible for any reimbursement of these infrastructure improvement costs,” according to the agreement.

Water credits

In 2019, the city rewrote requirements regarding water service, “particularly as it relates to sustainability and certain large customers.” Big companies must agree to a Sustainable Service Agreement “which will establish a water allowance for such customers and provide for the terms under which they will transfer additional water rights to the city.” Redale’s Sustainable Service Agreement lasts for 25 years, with a possible �ive-year extension.

�� DATA �� 8

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EASTGATE �� 6

explosive commercial growth along both Elliot and Ellsworth, proximity to three freeways, the expanding Phoenix-Mesa Gateway airport, new sports complex and thousands of new homes planned and underway.” Though the purchase of the 17 acres to become East Gate Plaza isn’t quite of�icial yet, Brown, Hill and company are con�ident this will be a “go.” “We’ve got at least six restaurants leased or in (negotiations),” Hill said. “They’re national, regional and local.” Though she said she has to be coy about names at this point, when concerns from residents about too much fast food in the area were shared, Hill

DATA �� 6

“Based upon the anticipated water demand of the project, which is expected to exceed 500,000 gallons per day and 550 acre-feet of water on an annual basis,” Redale must purchase water rights. “These water rights will be in the form of long term storage credits.” Redale agrees to an initial amount of 5,500 acre-feet of storage credits, “which will provide the city with the additional water rights necessary to serve the initial phase of the project.” This initial transfer will cover the annual water allowance of 550 acre-feet per year for Phase 1. One acre-foot of water equals 325,851 gallons. “Potential future phases of the project will increase the amount of the annual water allowance and associated LTSCs transferred to 1,100 acre-feet per year for Phase 2 and 1,400 acre-feet per year for Phase 3.” The agreement states Redale “has demonstrated that they have the ability to acquire these LTSCs from a quali�ied source, and will bear any and all costs to acquire said LTSCs to facilitate the development of their project.” According to the Water Education Foundation, “One acre-foot equals about 326,000 gallons, or enough water to cover an acre of land, about the size of a football �ield, 1 foot deep.” As such, the Phase 1 allowance of 550 acre feet translates to about 180 million gallons of water. Phase 3 will be nearly triple that amount,

THE MESA TRIBUNE | MAY 23, 2021

grinned. “We’re not talking McDonald’s or Jack in the Box,” she said. “There will be patios,” she added. “The city’s got their eye on this as it’s the doorstep of the tech corridor; they want walkability, they want community.” East Gate Plaza will have as many as eight restaurants, Hill said, as well as space for medical of�ices (“family doctors, orthopedics, dentists”). Asked if “restaurant desert” is a fair

�� EASTGATE �� 10

East Gate Plaza's developer, Diversified Partners, promises it will be just what is needed in a booming area with big business and highend homes, but few restaurant and retail options. (Diversified Partners) or some 500 million gallons of water. But, the agreement notes, “Water use at the property may be expanded in certain years during active construction phases, to accommodate water needed to meet applicable dust control of other construction requirements.”

‘A �inite resource’

Councilman Kevin Thompson, who represents District 6, declined to name the company behind the data center. “I can’t tell you who it is, I’m sorry,” he told the Tribune, adding he expected an of�icial release with the name of the company later this summer. Like Giles, Thompson stressed, “They are very community oriented, so that’s exciting.” He expected the company to hire hundreds and pay Mesa millions in sales tax and construction fees. “Water was an issue when we �irst started talking to them,” Thompson said. “We told them if they wanted more (water) than what we had to allocate, they had to bring their own.” Thompson said he was satis�ied the water storage credits solve any potential problems. Duff was not buying the agreement. “The water storage credits in the agreement do not secure our future water supply, it erodes it,” Duff said. “Water is everything – it’s a �inite resource in our desert … our survival is at stake.” NaoMi Bishop Fitzpatrick, commenting on the city’s Facebook site, agreed with Duff and criticized Giles. “If you don’t learn mayor about water, Mesa and Arizona’s drought will only get worse,” she cautioned. 

Yet another company is ready to join the unofficial Data Center Alley in southeast Mesa. Redale will develop 330 acres in the northwest corner of Eastmark at a cost of “north of $800 million.” (City of Mesa)

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THE MESA TRIBUNE | MAY 23, 2021

Mesa batting cages need help for repairs BY ZACH ALVIRA Tribune Sports Editor

he owner of a local batting cage that has become a staple in the Mesa is asking for help to fund much-needed repairs after losing money because of light rail construction and the pandemic. Home Run Stadium Batting Cages, located near Gilbert Road and Main Street in Mesa, has long been a go-to destination for amateur baseball enthusiasts and those with more to play for than bragging rights. Local high schools, including nearby Mountain View, have used the cages in previous years for batting practice. Several pro players have come through at various times, most commonly when preparing for spring training both in the Valley and in Florida. But perhaps most importantly, it’s become a destination for families to enjoy time with their loved ones while getting a small sample size of America’s greatest pastime. “People love it,” said Roc Rothchild, owner of Home Run Stadium. “I’ve had people reach out to me and tell me some of their favorite memories from the batting cages. It means the world to me to hear that.”

EASTGATE �� 8

term for the Eastmark/Cadence at Gateway area, Thompson mulled the question. “Right now, that’s a fair representation,” the District 6 councilman said. “We’re lacking in the amenities you see in other parts of the city, when it comes to nice, sitdown restaurants.” When he meets with developers, Thompson said he encourages them to “step it up. Let’s not go for the low hanging fruit of McDonald’s and Jack in the Box.” Thompson’s thoughts on the planned East Gate Plaza? “Hopefully, they’ll bring in some nice restaurants.” That’s exactly the plan, say the East Gate developers — even though they don’t even own the property at Ellsworth and Elliot yet. “We’re going to close on the land next month,” Hill said. “Then we’ll start moving dirt.” Infrastructure plans include the installa-

Roc Rothchild, a veteran and owner of Home Run Stadium Batting Cages in Mesa, is seeking help from the community to afford needed repairs to his business after lost revenue from the light rail project and pandemic. (Pablo Robles/Tribune Staff) Home Run Stadium opened in Mesa in 1986. Roc Rothchild, the current owner, took over in the 1990s while looking for a business venture after retiring from the Marine Corps. According to Rothchild, Home Run Stadium was an easy choice to purchase. Not only did he enjoy baseball and played growing up, but he saw an opportunity for

Walt Brown, the CEO and founder of Diversified Partners, is bankrolling the development. (Special to the Tribune)

tion of a traf�ic signal on Peterson Avenue, the northern boundary of the property. In the best-case scenario, restaurants, shops and of�ices will begin opening a little more than a year from now.

those in the community to enjoy the venue together. But after over three decades of service, the cages have suffered wear and tear. Rothchild in the last year repaved the concrete behind the pitching machines – which are still the originals from when Home Run Stadium �irst opened. He’s also had to replace some of the

netting on the dome, which serves as the largest of its kind in the state and country. That alone has become an attraction to many as it allows the balls to carry further, simulating what could be a home run on an actual �ield. Rothchild also recently replaced all the baseball and softballs for the machines, about 2,000 in total. But there is still more to be done. “There’s a lot of routine things you would normally keep up every year,” Rothchild said. “We are working on some electrical repairs now and then will work on some of the netting.” Typically, Rothchild would have no problem making the necessary repairs in a timely manner. But business has slowed considerably since 2017, when the light rail project began. The start of the light rail project, which ends near Home Run Stadium, made it dif�icult for everyday batters to navigate through construction and into the cages. Rothchild said it was a daily battle keeping the machines and cages clean while dust was kicked up into the air during construction. As a result, Rothchild said his business saw a 50 percent

�� CAGES �� 12

Dane Astle, lead architect of the project, promised a striking project in a press release. “We are creating a destination community, playing off the tech corridor theme, which means there will be lots of glass, angular lines and rich materials such as masonry, rollup doors and exposed steel elements,” Astle vowed. “We are creating a collaborative environment where people will come to work, take coffee breaks on benches under the trees and stay for the retail and restaurant East Gate Plaza is the brainchild of Julie Harris and Jennifer Hill. (Special to the Tribune) experiences.” 

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THE MESA TRIBUNE | MAY 23, 2021

BY TOM SCANLON Tribune Managing Editor

some rentals, he said. The developer is now pushing through a plan dominated by apartments – with no houses for sale. “Ownership component of the project was a signi�icant piece of the project and was the main reason that the neighborhood agreed to this project,” Montague told the board. Previous apartments in the area, he said, “started out nice and 10 years later, they transitioned to mediocre and then at some point after that became struggling …We really do not want apartments, we want the things that were promised such as a parking garage and ownership.” Neil Calfee, who represents developer Miravista Holdings, told the board there was no major change in the plans and that rentals were part of them from the beginning. But, he stressed, the portion of the site to be developed as houses has run into a snag. “The challenge we faced in terms of developing the single-family, for-sale component is that that property is not available for development in the foreseeable future, based on some ownership issues that involve the city and a private party,” he said. “So, the challenges are that we cannot develop that component of it at this time.”

Zoning Board role in disputes questioned

second disputed project in weeks had a Planning and Zoning board member wondering if, when neighbors don’t like a developer’s plans, “Is it just tough luck?” Indeed, for the second time in weeks, neighbors are upset about building plans, claiming developers reneged on agreements. Yet the disputed plans were approved. First, neighbors of a 30-acre of�ice development near Riverview in northeast Mesa begged the Planning and Zoning Board and Mesa City Council for months to reject plans for a four-story garage. The neighbors said this went against an agreement they had with the developer not to build that high. But city of�icials noted that the neighbors had no written evidence to support their claims and approved the Waypoint plan April 19. That battle was referenced during Planning and Zoning meetings on another project, during Sycamore Station developer attempts to have plans modi�ied – which, again, neighbors say is a “�lip” on earlier promises. The two cases had one wondering: What

CAGES �� 10

drop in revenue. When construction �inally �inished in 2019, Rothchild began to see more traf�ic into his venue. Then the hit. “It was hard on the batting cages,” Rothchild. “I even have a t-shirt that says, ‘I survived the light rail.’ Now I’m looking for one that says, ‘I survived the pandemic.’ Nobody wanted to come out of their homes. It was a dif�icult time.” Despite virtually no customers throughout more of the start of the pandemic, Rothchild managed to keep Home Run Stadium in business and pay his three employees. But as traf�ic has once again begun to pick up, he recognizes the need to complete repairs to not only provide a safe environment but an enjoyable one. Rothchild set up a GoFundMe for community members to donate toward repairs. So far, over $7,500 has been raised – all of which went toward the new balls

Neighbors protested the Sycamore Station project, which they say was originally to have townhomes for sale and then apartments. (City of Mesa) good is the neighborhood participation process if developers eventually will just do what they want?

Sycamore Station

Two miles south of Riverview and on the west end of downtown, the Sycamore Station is a 21-acre, L-shaped site bordered by West Main Street on the south end, North Dobson Road on the east and North Sycamore on the west. The area is best known for the Valley Metro park-and-ride station at Main and Sycamore. The developer requested a modi�ication

to the Sycamore Station Smart Growth Community Plan to allow for changes it insisted were minor. At an April 28 virtual meeting, P&Z board members – Dane Astle (the chair), Jessica Sarkissian, Tim Boyle, Shelly Allen, Jeffrey Crockett, Deanna VillanuevaSaucedo and Ben Ayers – heard representatives of the developer, as well as Tyler Montague, a neighbor and member of the Mesa Grande Community Alliance. Montague said the group feels betrayed by what some might call a “bait and switch” after being sold on a project that would have nice houses for sale and

Phil Stenholm, a 66-year-old Tempe resident, has been a regular customer of Home Run Stadium since the 1990s. During his 27 years working the night shift as a dispatcher for the Paradise Valley Police Department, he would routinely go to the cages as a way Phill Stenholm, a 66-year-old Tempe resident, has been going to Home to work out in beRun Stadium at least three to four times a week since the 1990s. To him, tween his sleep it’s a community gem he doesn’t want to see go away any time soon. schedule. (Pablo Robles/Tribune Staff) Stenholm retired in 2015 but has continued his tradiand other small repairs. The donations have been a welcom- tion of hitting balls in the cages at least ing sight to both Rothchild and several of three to four times a week. “This is a unique place where people can Home Run Stadium’s faithful customers.

�� SYCAMORE �� 16

come here of all ages,” Stenholm said. “If you came out here and started doing this regularly, you would realize how special this place is. This is something, as a community, you don’t want to lose.” An avid baseball lover growing up, Stenholm’s father played semi pro ball for several years in the 1930s. Stenholm will take batting practice in various throwback uniforms. “I like to honor the memory of the old players,” Stenholm said. “This is what they wore when they were playing, and I like that. It’s a way to honor the dif�icult path they took to get to the majors.” The batting cages at Home Run Stadium bring families, teams and the community together to create memories. “People are coming back now,” Rothchild said. “But of course, as people come back things start to break down. It means everything to have support from the community.” To help: gofund.me/16ad0�b6. 

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THE MESA TRIBUNE | MAY 23, 2021

Deciding the districts’ fate are 5 Mesa leaders TRIBUNE NEWS STAFF

eet the �ive members of the Mesa Redistricting Committee: Dr. Catherine Jiang, District 1. Jiang owns the Law Of�ice of Catherine Jiang. She is on the executive boards of the Arizona Asian American Bar Association, Arizona State Bar Immigration and International Law Sections and Arizona Korean Association. Greg Marek, District 5. Marek has 30 years of experience in downtown redevelopment, economic development and historic preservation. He is currently a real estate consultant with CRE Options Commercial Advisors and is president of the Arizona Museum of Natural History Foundation Board. Jo Martin, District 6. Martin has owned TM3 Consulting for

REDISTRICTING �� 1

represented by a City Council member. The U.S. Census is a huge deal for state and local governments, as it potentially impacts population-linked funding and Congressional districts. Early results of the 2020 Census already sent shock waves through the world of politics, as New York and California unexpectedly lost congressional seats; Arizona maintained its congressional seats, stunning those who expected the state to gain a seat. In Mesa, the census also triggers a redistricting process. A committee will decide what the new Mesa district map will look like. City Council will have input throughout the process, but must ultimately accept what the committee of �ive decides. It would hardly be fair to allow council members to choose how their districts are shaped, as Mayor John Giles noted of the give-and-take process: “At some point you have to impose (redistricting) on the council rather than let them choose their own fate.” No council seats will be added or taken away, but boundaries for each of the six districts are likely to change. At an April 29 study session, Council heard a presentation on the process for drawing boundaries. Nationally, some blame the pandemic for the census pegging U.S. population at

more than 15 years. She has served on many city and community boards including Mesa Parks and Recreation Board, United Food Bank Board of Directors, Imagine Mesa Advisory Committee and Mesa Leadership. Elaine Miner, District 5. Miner has served on the Mesa Public Schools Governing Board for 12 years and was CEO and owner of the Arizona School of Real Estate and Business. Deanna Villanueva-Sauceda, District 4. She is the Community Engagement director at Mesa Community College and served on Mesa’s Redistricting Commission in 2011 and on many city and com- These five Mesa residents, all of who have a long track record in community service, will decide how munity boards.  the city's council district boundaries should be redrawn. (Special to the Tribune)

After massive numbers of people moved to southeast Mesa over the last five years, the way Mesa divides its six districts is almost sure to change, after the U.S. Census provides “official” population figures later this summer. The current district map is based on the 2010 census. (City of Mesa) 331,449,281; the 7.4 percent population increase since 2010 was the second-slowest growth rate in the country’s history, according to the Census Bureau. In Arizona, the people count was

7,158,923, a 12 percent increase since 2010 but just shy of what was needed for another seat in the U.S. House of Representatives. Jeff Robbins, Mesa’s census and redis-

tricting administrator, answered the only thing that is controllable is the voluntaryresponse rate: “Our residents did their jobs, we had a 4 percent increase in the response rate.” Even so, Mesa’s self-response rate of 66.3 percent trailed Maricopa County’s response rate of 68.3 percent, though it was above the state response rate of 64.1 percent. The United States average response rate was 67 percent, though the U.S. Census Bureau insisted it followed up with the others and counted 99.9 percent of the country’s population. Robbins referenced a 1998 Mesa initiative that put in place an “at-large” mayor and six councilmembers elected geographically in districts “equalized by population” after every census. But, Robbins stressed, “Our redistricting is not a wholesale tearing up of our existing map. “We’re going to be working on boundary adjustments,” he stressed, adding that by charter, current council members must stay in their districts. The last time the process happened, the now-booming southeast corner of Mesa was vastly different, with Eastmark and Cadence just big chunks of empty land. Now, “Mesa is growing signi�icantly to the southeast, you’re going to have a shift

�� REDISTRICING �� 15

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geographical size and nudge to the east,” Robbins said. He added changes will be “fairly small compared to other redistricting processes statewide or nationwide. We don’t adopt the approach of a wholesale redraw of the map. Instead, it’s about incremental adjustments to existing district boundaries.”

in that direction,” noted City Manager Chris Brady. Estimating the city population of 518,000 and dividing by six, Brady came up with an estimate of 86,000 people per district. “(District) 6 may be over 100,000, so it’s got to shift,” Brady said. Giles, a councilman when the changes were made in 1998, recalled “the concern at the time was Mesa was growing really fast … the council all came from the established parts of Mesa.”

The committee will decide

Estimates always wrong

This week, Robbins told the Tribune raw data from the Census Bureau is expected mid-August. “Data in a publicly usable format is due no later than Sept. 30,” he added. Asked about Brady’s use of 518,000 to base his calculation off, Robbins noted that was from a 2019 estimate. “I’d suggest that nobody has a reliable estimate for what Mesa’s population will be,” Robbins said. “We really don’t know what to expect. The 518,000 number is based on an incremental estimate from

These are the current configurations of each of Mesa's six council districts and the lines are bound to change because of population increases in the east, declines in the west. (Special to the Tribune)

the 2010 census over a decade ago. “If you go back to 2000 and 2010 the incremental estimate was tens of thousands of people off both times. The only thing we know for sure is that estimates are wrong – we just don’t know by how much.” Mesa has been through redistricting be-

fore, Robbins said. “Generally, we expect to see a similar pattern in this redistricting to what happened in 2010. As more development occurs in east Mesa (D5 and D6), the east Mesa districts will shrink in geographical size and the other districts will grow in

According to the study session presentation, “redistricting preserves the general area of the district.” The charter also lays out that district boundaries are established by a “�ive-person nonpartisan redistricting commission appointed by City Council.” At its April 29 meeting, Council unanimously voted to approve Giles’ recommendations for the 2021 Redistricting Committee: Elaine Miner, Deanna Villanueva- Saucedo, Jo Martin, Greg Marek and Dr. Christine Jiang. Council also approved paying a consultant to make sure the committee complies with the Voting Rights Act and uses “best practices” to come to its conclusion. Redistricting Partners, which boasts

�� REDISTRICTING �� 18

NEWS

THE MESA TRIBUNE | MAY 23, 2021

SYCAMORE �� 12

Eggs-citing

The month-long partnership between all Arizona Over Easy restaurant locations and Hickman’s Family Farms delivered 5,756 dozen eggs and a check for $11,512 to United Food Bank and its 165 partner agencies. Celebrating are, from left: Tyson Nansel of United Food Bank, Funky the Chicken from Hickman’s Family Farms and Over Easy’s Brian Terpay. The check will fund 57,560 nutritious meals. In addition through Over Easy’s match of patron donations, Hickman’s matched 69,072 eggs. (Special to Tribune)

Lawmakers want to criminalize businesses over vaccines BY HOWARD FISCHER Capitol Media Services

rizona won’t be shutting down businesses that refuse to serve people who are not vaccinated against COVID-19 – at least not yet. A measure to make that a law faltered Thursday as Sen. T.J. Shope, R-Coolidge, sided with all the Senate Democrats to quash HB 2190. It would have made it a crime to turn away those who do not provide proof they are protected and even allowed them to be shut down for 30 days. But Thursday’s vote may not be the last word. Rep. Bret Roberts, R-Maricopa, who has championed the measure, said he is looking for some way to resurrect the proposal and get the necessary votes. He’s unlikely to get it from Shope, whose family owns a grocery store. Shope said he was willing to go along with the part of the what Roberts proposed to prohibit state and local governments from being able to deny services to those who do not produce proof

of vaccination. But this, he said, goes too far. “I believe in private property rights,’’ Shope said. “I believe in the rights of the sole proprietor, the barber who may be immunocompromised who cannot get a vaccine who would just want to put a sign up in the front of their shop.’’ But Roberts believes that one or more of the Senate Democrats, all of whom voted against the measure on Thursday, perhaps could be convinced to see this as a matter of individual civil rights. He noted that even the American Civil Liberties Union has expressed concerns about a “vaccine passport’’ that people might be forced to show. The defeat of the measure led to some sharp rhetoric by supporters. “Any time that you have to go into a business and the business can say, ‘Let me see your passport, show me what you’ve done, show me you’ve injected something in your arm,’ that is not proper,’’ said Sen. David Gowan, R-Sierra Vista.

�� MASKS �� 18

He pushed back on the idea that schools would be wary of taking students from rental properties. “The principal of Webster Elementary was excited to have more people here, which translates to more students for the school,” he said, noting the Mesa Public Schools District is facing enrollment decline. Lindsay Schube, also representing the developer, added, “The �irst couple of phases of development that we (have) control over are the for-rent portions, but the ‘for-sale’ is still there. We have not made … substantial changes.” Boyle expressed concern that the developers were betraying neighbors with the rental properties. “I am concerned and I know when this was �irst pitched to my neighborhood, there was a for-sale element,” Boyle said. “And that is sort of what the neighborhood accepted and said, ‘OK, if there’s a for-sale element, we can see that there is a balance here.’ “If it ends up being a largely transient thing, then by our own Mesa 2040 General Plan, we are negatively affecting the schools there. And I don’t think that is the right thing to do.” It sounded all too familiar, to Boyle. “The other thing that concerns me about this is what happened with that Riverview development, when it had the neighborhood meeting originally, many, many years ago, it was pitched as a two-story development. “And then with the negotiation within

the city, it became a three-story development, which ended up ruining the views of all the neighbors of the Riverview area, it’s going through there and then they had the entitlements.: “The neighborhood component was cut off ... there needs to be a conversation with the neighborhoods and the citizens need to be given input once again, on what happens in their neighborhoods,” Boyle said. After lengthy discussion, the P&Z board voted to move the issue to its May 12 meeting to allow the developer and neighborhood group to meet and hash out things. The Sycamore Station changes require City Council approval, so neighbors have another shot to plead their case, though that didn’t work for the Riverview residents. The developer’s representatives met with the neighborhood association May 5. According to the Citizen Participation Report, the Mesa Grande Community Association “asserted that multi-residence housing has negative impacts on the academic success and learning environment of the local schools.” The P&Z board met a week later. After a summary of the project, a comment card signed by 10 members of the neighborhood association was read. Obviously, no progress had been made. “We wish to express our concern about the current state of the Sycamore Station project and withdraw our support for the

�� SYCAMORE �� 18

Planning and Zoning Board member Tim Boyle wondered when they don’t like a development, do neighbors have any power to do anything? Or, “Is it just tough luck?” (City of Mesa)

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MASKS �� 16

Sen. Vince Leach, R-Tucson, R-Sierra Vista, compared the idea of having papers proving vaccination to time he spent in the former Soviet Union in the 1970s when he was forced not only to show his papers on checking into hotels but actually had to surrender them. Meanwhile starting tomorrow, May 24, masks will no longer be required at Mesa’s city facilities, including arts and culture institutions, libraries and recreation centers. The move came days after the Centers for Disease Control revised its COVID-19 mitigation policies, stating those who are vaccinated no longer have to wear masks indoors or outdoors. “The easing of these restrictions is a very cautious but positive step in the city of Mesa as the number of COVID-19 cases continues to decline and more people get vaccinated,” Mayor John Giles said. “We urge residents and visitors in the city to

REDISTRICING �� 14

of 35 redistrictings over the last decade, was selected after a request-for-proposals process. The consultant says it has “experience with large-scale, complex redistricting projects” and promises a “citizen-driven approach to redistricting.” By city charter, Mesa must complete redistricting by the candidate �iling deadline of March 7, 2022. The schedule is for the committee to complete training this month and next, with “public awareness” beginning in June and community meetings in July and August. Once the Census Bureau sends Mesa the population stats, the city will host a public hearing. Commission meetings will workshop

SYCAMORE �� 16

development,” the statement said. The neighbors insisted the developer was reversing the original plans to build and sell townhomes before apartments. Schube defended the changes as minor and several board members agreed with her. Sarkissan noted the overall plan had not been changed, and it wasn’t the board’s place to dive into a dispute over for sale vs. for rent. “I’m very uncomfortable with us overstepping our purview,” Villanueva-Saucedo added.

keep taking precautions, including getting vaccinated, to ensure the safety of themselves and those around them.” City government of�ices remain closed to the public. This includes Mesa City Plaza and Mesa City Council Chambers. Masks are still mandatory for public transportation, per federal regulations.

According to the Maricopa County Department of Public Health, 50.3 percent of eligible individuals in the City of Mesa have received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. “I appreciate the patience and intentional actions taken by our residents to get us back to normal,” Giles added, in announc-

ing the change at the May 17 Mesa City Council meeting. The Mesa Fire and Medical Department is continuing its vaccination efforts, which now includes immunizations for adolescents ages 12 and older. For more information, visit mesaaz.gov. According to the county, Mesa remains at “substantial community transmission” levels of COVID-19 spread, with 75 cases per 100,000; this was a drop from 88 cases per 100,000 the previous week. The substantial range is 50 to 99 cases per 100,000, with 10 to 49 cases per 100,000 considered “moderate community transmission.” The Maricopa County Department of Public Health says 40 percent of all county residents and 50 percent of county residents 15 years and older have received at least 1 dose of COVID-19 vaccine. More than 80 percent of county residents 65 and older – who are at the highest risk of severe consequences from COVID-19 – have been vaccinated. 

Boyle wondered who, if not the board, will stick up for neighbors. “If it’s not our purview, whose purview is it? When a developer comes in, says one thing, things change now it’s different, the neighborhood feels slighted … Is it just tough luck, neighborhood and developers can do whatever they want?” Boyle pondered. “When you have neighborhood meetings, what can they change?” Boyle noted that neighbors go to meetings with developers expecting both sides to be satis�ied. “The win-win is usually the developer wins,” he concluded.

With Boyle the only vote against, the P&Z board approved the modi�ication to the Sycamore Station Smart Growth Community Plan. Later, Schube answered questions from the Tribune, explaining the portion of the project slated for houses is owned by a family. “The City of Mesa has a long-term lease over the property for park and ride. They have approximately 40 years left on the lease,” she said. While the city supports the development, she said, negotiations with the family have hit a snag, with the owners asking

for a “pretty unrealistic” price. “For years, we thought we could make this work. We worked very hard with the city of Mesa in good faith,” she said. She said the neighbors are “lovely and I do feel we have a good relationship.” But, she said, fears of a trashy rental property are unfounded. “You can without a doubt characterize these as high quality, market rate, high rent … These are going to be very very nice units,” Schube said. “Mesa is in a state of transformation, and I think it’s a great opportunity to develop this part of Mesa.” 

New Maricopa County Public Health Department data gives a snapshot of the progress of COVID vaccines in Mesa. (Special to the Tribune)

But the Redistricting Committee is not required to follow direction from the council m e m bers, and M e s a Mesa City Council is comprised of the mayor, elected citywide, and these C i t y Council members, who are picked by voters in each district. (Special to the Tribune) must apa recommended map, which will be pre- prove whatever �inal map is delivered in December. sented to Mesa City Council Nov. 15. In 2019, the U.S. Census estimated the Council has one shot to reject the map Phoenix population at just under 1.7 miland ask for another one.

lion, up from 1.5 million in 2010. The U.S. Census 2019 estimate for Mesa’s population was 518,012, behind Tucson’s 548,073. But Tucson only grew by 4 percent in the last decade, as it had a population of 526,634 in 2010. Meanwhile, Mesa rocketed, growing by 18 percent since its 2010 population of 440,092. According to the Maricopa Association of Governments, which projects population growth for all of the county’s cities, Mesa may have already caught Tucson. The MAG website estimates Mesa’s 2020 population at 552,000. The census has counted the country’s population every 10 years since 1790, when 109,826 Americans were counted by 650 U.S. marshals and assistants, riding from farm to farm on horseback. 

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High school friends energize blog for and with EV moms BY MELODY BIRKETT Tribune Contributor

my McConnell and Cara Lespron were best friends in junior high and high

school. Both attended Red Mountain High School in Mesa and had their Sweet 16 birthday parties together. After losing touch after graduation, they reunited at East Valley Moms, a community blog connecting area moms and families to events, parenting resources and to each other. “East Valley Moms has been a social media platform here in the East Valley for about seven years,” said owner/chief curator McConnell, mom to 1-year-old Maverick. “It was started by two local

moms. One was a recent transplant from Southern California. The other one was newly divorced. They came together to create a mom community they were both craving,” she continued. “The transplant from Southern California was looking to get to know her new state a little bit more and a new area of town. So East Valley Moms was born.” It’s not a typical blog since it’s a community of mom writers who are volunteer contributors with children of different ages, some with developmental and disability issues. “In early 2020, I was pregnant with my �irst baby and I applied to be a contributor, a volunteer writer,” said McConnell. “Cara had already been a contributor writer

for the blog for a number of years. She had moved up to become their editor. So, I applied to be a writer and was accepted.” After six months as a contributing writer, the founders announced they were selling the business and McConnell bought it from the two founders in September 2021. Sometimes you just say ‘yes’ when opportunities come if they make sense,” said McConnell, a former journalist and media spokesperson for the City of Mesa. “This was one of those opportunities I wasn’t searching out. I

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Best friends Amy McConnell and Cara Lespron grew up in Mesa and now run East Valley Moms. (Melody Birkett/Tri-

bune Contributor)

Mesa author replaced journalism with fantasy novels TRIBUNE NEWS STAFF

s an editor and award-winning columnist and photojournalist for two Iowa newspapers, Dan Ehl was steeped in reality. Before he and his wife Barb moved to Mesa in 2017 permanently, Ehl said he “covered everything from school board, city council and county supervisor meetings – to �ires, election races and feature stories on people, home and garden and farming.” Ehl also was a trained combat photographer in the Army – although he quickly adds he was sent to Germany rather than Vietnam “where the only combat was in the bars.” But there was another side to Ehl’s creative life that was about as far removed from reality as any writer can get.

DAN EHL

He’s a fantasy novelist – an occupation that he didn’t leave behind when he retired from the world of journalism. He has written eight novels – six, he explained, “while still working during the

gloomy and cold winter months of Iowa.” Recently, Ehl published “Jak Barley, Private Inquisitor, and the Case of the Cursed Golden Muskrat,” the sixth in a series of humorous fantasy mysteries. Published by Phoenix Press, his latest novel is available as a paperback or ebook from the websites of Amazon and Barnes and Noble. He describes his character, Private Inquisitor Jak Barley, as someone who “hates adventures, and with good reasons.” Barley has survived dragons, “vengeful necromancers, annoying assassins, cranky goblins, gruesome ghouls and angry old gods – and that’s not even including having a terrifying witch as a future mother-in-law.” Ehl’s fascination with fantasy and science �iction began when he was a kid. Even now, he said, “I hope I live long

enough to see habitats on the moon and Mars become a reality.” “After writing straight factual articles all day, writing fantasy was an escape,” he said. “I noticed the majority of fantasies stick to formula plots, so I like to take these cliched story lines and give them an of�beat twist.” His sense of humor isn’t reserved for books alone. Asked about his writing routine, for example, he replied, “I try and write an hour or two every day – until the beer kicks in.” On the serious side, he added, “Just writing day after day at a newspaper made writing easier for the novels. It also prepared me for writing �ight scenes.” Turns out, not all of Ehl’s journalism experience involved struggles to �ind the

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THE MESA TRIBUNE | MAY 23, 2021

MOMS �� 20

wasn’t looking to buy a business or to have my own digital media platform. But it just checked a lot of boxes for where I wanted my work to go as I transitioned into new motherhood.” Added Lespron, who is site manager and editor: “When Amy took over, I think the �irst thing I said to her when I found out she was buying it was, ‘Don’t �ire me.’” Lespron, mom to 6-year-old Braylin and 4-year-old Joel, does all of the backend duties and most of the editing. “I’m more of a details person,” she said. “Amy has the big ideas, the connections, and is really good at the creative part of it. I’m the one that �igures out how to get there. I do the proofreading for everyone.” Lespron left her medical career in 2015 to be a stay-at-home mom when her husband’s job relocated them to Tucson. After her daughter was born and

AUTHOR �� 20

right words for his stories. Indeed, a particularly nasty one earned Ehl the Friend of the First Amendment award at the �irst celebration of the First Amendment held at Iowa State University’s Greenlee School of Journalism and Communications. “It was the result of being beaten by two disgruntled thugs for an article I wrote – resulting in 16 facial stitches, ankle broken in two places, sprained jaw, concussion and a number of bruises,” Ehl recounted. “As my son says – ‘Dad, you were never in a barroom brawl, just beaten up in them,’” he continued, adding the thugs merited �ive years in prison for the beating they administered. While Ehl got his start writing as a journalist in Iowa, he got his �irst taste of the East Valley almost 50 years ago on a return trip from hitchhiking through Mexico. As he got older, he became a winter visitor, still cranking out stories for his Iowa newspaper. To get a taste of his approach for comic fantasy, consider his description of his new novel: “How is Jak to �ind the heir to a throne missing since an infant—and �ind the prince before foreign agents do? And why are Ghennison Viper Mages trying to blast Jak into oily smoking scraps of charred

10 months of the “daycare shuf�le and just never seeing her, I craved that,” said Lespron. Eventually, her husband’s job moved them back to the valley and they landed in East Mesa where she was born and raised. “I had never lived in Mesa as a mom,” Lespron said. “I had only lived in Mesa until my high school years. I was just craving a way to reconnect with the East Valley and meet moms. Since I was the �irst of my friends to have kids, I was kind of lost.” That’s when she applied to be a contributing writer for East Valley Moms and was accepted in 2018. “Then in 2020, their editor was taking a step back,” explained Lespron. “No one else really wanted the job. I wasn’t working and thought, ‘I can do that.’ So, I got thrown into that and learned WordPress and all of the fun stuff that comes with

editing and managing a group of contributors and deadlines and feeding out content. “It was kind of a whirlwind. I never thought I’d be in this line of work but I love it. It’s been really awesome.” McConnell said, “When I took over, we kind of took a step back and really honed in on the editorial direction and what was working and what are readers were responding best to.” “We made a lot of changes to just localize the content a lot more and make it more news you can use for moms instead of more ‘Dear Diary’ posts. Since September when I got keys to the kingdom, we’ve increased page views to the website by 28 percent and the average session time of someone actually reading the blogs has increased 33 percent and we’re so proud of that. We’ve also grown exponentially on Instagram.” McConnell’s government experience helps in connecting moms to services the City of Mesa offers, such as free bicycle helmets for kids through the Bike and Pedestrian program. “Small resources like that really break or make a motherhood experience when you feel like someone’s in your corner…

There are so many rich resources government offers to young families they don’t know about.” In-person events such as Moms Night Out are also slowly returning. Applications for contributing writer are during the fourth quarter every year. Contributors sign on for the next year. “We have found that creates more of a community than having an ongoing, rolling entry period,” McConnell said. “Our dozen contributors right now – the relationships that have been formed — are so rich. We’re also looking for more diversity in our writers. That’s something really important to us.” Most of the writers are moms juggling parenthood and a job. Many are entrepreneurs with a growing business. East Valley Moms also accepts guest ideas and submissions. McConnell hopes in the next year to bring more local parenting news to the blog and make more of an impact on local families. She also hopes to get the brand known more for being a helpful resource in making parenting easier and happier. Information: eastvalley.momcollective.com 

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Wedding show highlights pandemic’s impact on nuptials BY PAUL MARYNIAK Tribune Executive Editor

s the wedding industry emerges from its pandemic slump, businesses and betrothed alike are reinventing ceremonies and celebrations to a large extent. No longer are there only ceremonies. Mini-monies follow micro-weddings while sequel-monies are bigger receptions that are scheduled the following year. Whether plated or buffet, reception meals are different and guests who belly up to the bar for a cocktail likely will be pouring everything themselves except for the booze. And couples may have to move off a traditional Saturday for a wedding if they want to tie the knot this year. These and other pandemic impacts on the wedding industry – and how they affect couples – are part of the �irst biennial Arizona Wedding Show in a year and a half. Kim Horn of Ahwatukee, one of the world’s few certi�ied master wedding planners who

helps organize this long-time event, said that couples also will be able to check out 175 matrimony-related vendors. And like most everything else in wedding world, Master Wedding Planner Kim Horn says the pandemic the show is impacted weddings in many bending to ways. (Special to the Tribune) COVID-19: attendees must be masked and their number will be limited at any given point through timed tickets. Although future brides and their entourage could try on gowns at previous shows, that won’t be happening. The show – which was canceled both

times last year – will run 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. June 6 at the Convention Center’s South Building in downtown Phoenix. Tickets, which are $8 now or $10 on June 6, will not be sold at the door and must be purchased at arizonaweddingshow.com. That ticket also entitles one lucky couple to win a package with big discounts on gowns, tuxes, venue, DJ, photography, invitations and décor – courtesy of the vendors. Horn said the ebbing of the pandemic has “basically unleashed everything” in her professional world. Think train wreck when it comes to a popular venue or a speci�ic date. “Put it this way,” Horn explained. “Almost half the couples last year that we’re getting scheduled to get married rescheduled their date to 2021. Many have been rescheduled to fall.” “Then you have all of the new people who got engaged last year and are looking at having their wedding in the fall of 2021 too,” she continued. And naturally, most want a Saturday wed-

he worked his way up to general manager. When he moved to Arizona, he worked as a district manager of Taco Bell, Pizza Hut and Kentucky Fried Chicken. Leung is a self-proclaimed foodie and holds a degree in culinary arts from the Scottsdale Culinary Institute. He blends the creative side with a background in real estate development. “We’re hoping to hire 40 to 50 employees, about half full-time and half parttime,” said Bux. “Always looking for great people.” To apply, he added, text “jobs” to 8801 or go online at snagajob.com Leung said he and Bux have been eager to open Mesa’s second Rally’s, especially since the pandemic sent drive-thru business at the �irst Mesa location at 343 West McKellips Road booming. But the duo had to wait out a slight delay in construction, also pandemic-related. “It

delayed our opening by a couple months,” said Leung. “We’re itching to get open as soon as possible,” he added. The Green�ield Road location is within a 10-minute drive of Red Mountain and East Valley high schools and several elementary and junior high schools. The new Rally’s is also within a mile of Falcon Glen, Heather Brook and Citrus Gardens apartment complexes. Add in 55-plus living and scores of homes in the neighborhood and you have Rally’s core customers. “Our demographic is from high school through middle age,” said Bux. The new Big Bacon Buford headlines a burger-dominated menu. Veggie burgers? Not here. Vegetarians can hit the legendary Rally’s fries and banana shakes, though. The new owners believe Mesa is more

Bride Cailee Schreck is dressed in an Avancy Bridal gown that can be checked out at the wedding show. (FaithandCody.com/Special to the Tribune)

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Rally’s revs up second restaurant location in Mesa BY TOM SCANLON Tribune Managing Editor

ounded in Alabama in 1999, Checkers Drive-In Restaurants has grown to one of the largest chains of burgermilkshake slingers in the country. While Checkers is the brand used back East, the company uses Rally’s as the name for its restaurants in the West. Arizona only has four Rally’s with one in Mesa at 343 West McKellips Road. Now Mesa will get its second Rally’s – the �ifth in Arizona – at 403 N. Green�ield Road at the Green�ield Road-University Drive intersection. It is scheduled to open tomorrow, May 24. Rally’s are individually-owned franchises. The duo behind the new Mesa location: Fred Bux and Dan Leung. Bux’s career in franchising started when he was 16 at a Chicago Burger King where

than ready for another Rally’s. “I think it’s an underserved market. Rally’s on McKellips does really well, so we know there’s a demand for it,” Leung said. “It’s more than McDonald’s and runof-the-mill quick service. Rally’s has got a little more of a foodie niche to it.” The new Rally’s has no inside seating, but does have patio seating to go along with its drive-thru core. Bux knows the area well, as he lived in Mesa for two decades while managing restaurants here. “This is our �irst partnership,” Leung said. “We were both interested in Rally’s and doing research, we met each other through (the Rally’s company) … They kind of played matchmakers.” They found plenty of common ground. “We have that passion for excellence and standards of quality in the food and presentation,” Bux said. 

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THE MESA TRIBUNE | MAY 23, 2021

WEDDINGS �� 22

ding, prompting Horn to re�lect, “It’s insane because you only have so many Saturdays.” As a result, wedding planners like Horn are prodding couples to think other days of the week for their nuptials. Like Friday – “Then you get the reception out of the way and you have the whole weekend to relax and visit with family and friends.” Or Sunday, though, “you have the whole weekend to be stressed.” Or even Monday through Thursday – which could save couples a lot of money from vendors all too willing to make some money on what would be a typically dead day, Horn advised. The venue operators themselves have their own stresses – starting with the fact that resorts and restaurants can’t �ind enough people to work. That’s a big reason why Gov. Doug Ducey last week said the supplemental $300 in unemployment pay will end July 10 and why two weeks ago he rescinded his pandemic order that had relaxed the requirement to prove people are diligently searching for a job if they want to receive the state’s $240 in weekly unemployment compensation. In rescinding the extra $300-a-week, Ducey speci�ically cited the dif�iculty that restaurants, bars and the like are having �inding wait staff, bartenders, cooks and other employees. Arizona Grand General Manager Paul Gray can testify to the wedding challenge. “As larger gatherings become safer, inquiries for more traditional weddings are de�initely coming back,” Gray said. “Many couples that had to cancel in 2020 and chose to wait are now itching to throw their dream wedding. We are currently working aggressively to hire new and returning staff in just about every area of operations to meet current and future demand.” Horn added, “A lot of the resorts that I’ve talked to are having a really hard time getting cooks back because they went off and found something else.” The venues themselves have changed their operations to some degree to be in step with the times. “Everything is very different,” Horn said. “The plated meal is very different. The buffet is very different. Now we have the stations with acrylic dividers so if someone sneezes and doesn’t sneeze in

their elbow, the food is covered.” E v e n attire has been impacted, though, of course, new fashions still remain a big consideration, CO- Cailee Schreck’s gown features VID-19 be what Kim Horn calls “gorgeous damned. beaded detail on the back.” (FaithandCody.com/Special to Couture the Tribune) wedding gowns feature ruf�les, high slits and varied necklines, Horn said, adding that mix and match bridesmaid dresses for style and color to accent body shape are a big thing. “The groom now can choose from designer suits and tuxes in bold colors with pocket squares and accessories to highlight their personality,” Horn added. Micro-weddings for up to 50 people are still a big thing, so as a result, she said, “�loral and succulents have a speci�ic color palette in lieu of a speci�ic �lower based on what’s in season and available.” And while many pandemic restrictions have been lifted, cautious couples are still seeking outdoor venues for weddings – putting even more demand on venues for cooler fall wedding dates. All of which means, Horn said, is that what “couples should be looking at is �lexibility.” “If they call a venue and they love that venue and this is the venue that I want, they are normally going to save money if they switch to an off-premium date.” Nonetheless, Horn said, the pandemic hasn’t taken the thrill or the traditional stress out of a couple’s big day. And that’s what makes the Arizona Wedding Show so useful, she said. “We have venues. We have invitations. We have dress shops. We have wedding planners. We have DJ’s. We have live music. There are suits and tux rentals. There are �lorists, weight loss clinics and hair and makeup, rental companies.” Asked if she added any type of vendor speci�ically because of the pandemic, Horn replied “we’re not really adding any vendors but we are adding more people doing sanitation.” 

OPINION

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Mesa ‘shell game’ impairs citizens’ safety BY BRYAN JEFFRIES Tribune Guest Writer

hell games involving subterfuge, confusion, and separating people from their money. That’s exactly what’s happening right now in the City of Mesa – a massive shell game being used to pay for a new $100 million ASU campus at the expense of public safety. The culprits? Mesa Mayor Giles, city manager Chris Brady and a complicit City Council. A quick history lesson is in order. In 2016, Giles personally led the effort to pass sales tax increase to pay for a downtown ASU campus. Despite the city tying the ASU spending to increasing resources for police and �ire services, conservative Mesa voters said “absolutely not.” Two years later, those same voters did

say “yes” to a public safety measure – one that didn’t include $100 million for the ASU Taj Mahal. That’s when Giles and Brady went to work do the municipal equivalent of “�ind the pea under the moving shells.” Somehow, some way, the city managed to �ind the money to build ASU campus despite that resounding no vote. The bill to date? About $100 million. Given that public safety is the biggest portion of Mesa’s annual budget, it will come as no surprise that the Mesa Fire Department and Mesa Police have suffered major reductions to pay for Giles’ and Brady’s spending spree. To pay the ASU tab, the city has dusted off a peak-time paramedic and �ire response model from back in the 1980s – one so risky it was abandoned decades ago because of how it reduced 911 effectiveness.

Thus far, three paramedic engines have been taken out of service – sending 911 response times soaring in those areas – and stiffed �ire�ighters when it comes to their paychecks. Newer Mesa �ire�ighters pay lags other Valley agencies by about 20 percent, a slap in the face given how admirably these �irst responders performed during the COVID-19 pandemic. Speaking of the pandemic, it has been a �inancial boost to the City, with federal aid �lowing in millions of dollars at a time. While other cities have used that money to make sure the public and �irst responders are safer and better served at such a calamitous moment in our state’s history, Mesa has these relief dollars – a few pennies, a few dimes there. In the past 20 years, Mesa’s population has grown by more than 100,000 residents. The city’s commitment to public

safety seems to have gone backward over that time – a reversal that �lies in the face of the mandate sent by city voters. ASU has long been a terri�ic institution. But expanding the university’s presence in Mesa at the expense of public safety is in no one’s best interests – except perhaps the manipulators of this shell game. They seem to be hoping residents don’t notice, won’t care or that they’re extremely bad at math. This is a shell game happening in broad daylight, and as a �ire�ighter and the president of the state’s largest �ire�ighter organization, I feel compelled to bring it to your attention. I hope you feel equally compelled to let Giles and Brady know you want the public safety cuts restored – immediately. Bryan Jeffries has been a �ire�ighter for 28 years. He is a former Phoenix City Council member and is president of the Professional Fire Fighters of Arizona. 

downtown. Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport’s new control tower is taking shape and developments in the Falcon District continue to strengthen our aviation industry. Southeast Mesa is a highly desirable location for high-tech manufacturing, and home to respected companies like Dexcom, and the future site of the �irst U.S. facility for electric vehicle maker, ElectraMeccanica. Education and workforce development continue to shape the future for Mesa. Put simply, an educated workforce and a sustainable economy go hand in hand. Thanks to the Mesa College Promise, starting next fall graduating high school seniors who live in Mesa can continue their education at Mesa Community College with no costs. Apple, AT&T and SRP are among the generous businesses supporting the Promise. Mesa’s new Education and Workforce Development Roundtable, an advisory group of key community leaders, is focused on policies to increase educational

attainment and expand job creation. Equality and compassion are part of Mesa’s DNA; they are ideals embedded in all our programs. The pandemic identi�ied a growing digital divide and we are committed to ensuring that every person in Mesa has access to basic utilities, including high-speed internet. In today’s new learning and working environments, it’s clear that internet access is essential. To protect and preserve our environment, we’re laying the groundwork today with a comprehensive climate action plan that will protect our resources for future generations. Our food waste to fuel program combined with our solar portfolio have put us well on our way to long-term sustainability. Emergency response and public safety are always priority #1 for any big city. We could not have predicted the impact and intensity of COVID-19, but I’m proud of how Mesa responded. We owe a debt of gratitude to the Mesa Fire, Medical and Police Depart-

ment teams for their heroic response. I’m also pleased with how we put the Federal CARES Act dollars to work in Mesa. Every city department played a role. We delivered 4 million meals to Mesa families, supplied over 9,000 laptops to students for remote learning and helped over 5,500 families to bridge the digital divide. We also supported over 500 small businesses through grants and tech assistance and kept thousands of residents in their homes with rent and utility assistance and foreclosure prevention programs. 2020 showed once again that Mesa’s secret sauce is our incredible reservoir of smart, compassionate and resilient people. Now it’s time to capitalize on that momentum by focusing on policies that fuel our economy, connect people to education and jobs, demonstrate equality and compassion, preserve and protect our environment, and prioritize public health and safety. I look forward to what we can accomplish together. 

We will capitalize on Mesa’s momentum BY MAYOR JOHN GILES Tribune Guest Writer

erving as mayor of Mesa for the last six years has been a humbling and inspiring experi-

ence. Our fast-growing city has accomplished great things, but there is still much more to do. My guideposts as we move forward can be summed up with 5Es: Economic Growth, Education, Environment, Emergency Response and Equality & Compassion. Despite the daunting challenges of COVID-19, Mesa experienced Economic Growth. Anchored by a vibrant arts and culture scene and invigorated by ASU @ Mesa City Center, our downtown continued to welcome exciting new restaurants and retail. This urban rebirth is driven by a unique combination of education, innovation, entrepreneurship, creativity and history. Economic growth is not just isolated to

OPINION

THE MESA TRIBUNE | MAY 23, 2021

Woke character assassinations ignore context BY JD HAYWORTH Tribune Columnist

ou may �ind the description below distasteful, disturbing and overwrought. But after reading this column, you may very well agree with the assessment. America saw its third “Kennedy assassination” earlier this month. No one died, though we may have witnessed the death of a promising career. On May 12, 16-year-old Caleb Kennedy, one of �ive �inalists, left “American Idol” after a social media entry from four years ago resurfaced. Kennedy’s hometown newspaper, The Spartanburg (South Carolina) Herald-Journal, reported that a Snapchat post included a video in which Caleb was seated next to someone who appeared to be wearing a Ku Klux Klan hood.

Never mind the fact Caleb was all of 12 at the time of the Snapchat entry; never mind the fact that the video was of three seconds’ duration; never mind the newspaper’s cautious description. No, any information that might put the accusation in context must be summarily dismissed. Welcome to the age of “woke,” a curious title for a practice that demands the re�lexive response of somnambulism. Today’s “Courtroom of Public Opinion” allows for no statute of limitations on imagined offenses. Neither do leftist elites or their “professional grievance mongers” recognize the constitutional sanction against ex post facto laws. Moreover, the basic notion of fairness is eliminated because there is no “presumption of innocence.” So, in today’s hothouse of Big Tech’s instantaneous and invasive social media, an accusation becomes reality.

Small wonder that Caleb Kennedy and his family opted for an Instagram post instead of mounting a vigorous rhetorical defense. Young Mr. Kennedy offered an apology that was more of an admission of guilt: “There was a video that surfaced on the internet, and it displayed actions that were not meant to be taken in that way. I was younger and did not think about the actions, but that’s not an excuse. I wanna say sorry to all my fans and everyone who I have let down…I know this has hurt and disappointed a lot of people and made people lose respect for me. I am so sorry!” Again, context is missing. What if the person “appearing” to wear a KKK hood sat down beside Caleb uninvited? And with a video that runs only three seconds; what if Caleb got up and moved after 5 seconds? Moreover, the Herald-Journal refused to link to the video in its internet edition, cit-

Justice reform answers call to love our neighbors BY KATIE SEXTON-WOOD, PAUL ROCKOWER AND MUSTAFA BAHAR Tribune Guest Writers

s faith leaders, we understand that we are living through a critical moment in which we are called to love our neighbors in word and in deed. That call to love extends to all of our neighbors, even those who have made mistakes. Arizona legislators can put that love for our neighbors into action by granting redemption and grace to our incarcerated brothers and sisters. They can do this by voting to pass SB 1064, which would expand earned release credits for thousands of Arizonans currently behind bars, reuniting families and rebuilding our communities. Arizona is one of three states that requires almost everyone to serve 85 percent of their sentence behind bars with no opportunity to earn any time off their sentence for following the rules and participating in rehabilitative programming. These long sentences are why Arizona has the �ifth highest imprisonment rate in the country, costing taxpayers more than $1 billion every year. Arizona doesn’t have more crime, or even a larger population than other states. Our staggering imprisonment rate is driven by failed policy choices that send more people

to prison, and for longer, for �irst-time and non-violent offenses. It hasn’t made us any safer. People in Arizona serve some of the longest sentences in the country – 40 percent longer for drug offenses than the national average and twice as long for non-violent property offenses. SB 1064 would change that. It would allow people incarcerated for drug and other non-violent offenses to earn signi�icant time off of their sentences. Our lawmakers should pass SB 1064 to offer a meaningful opportunity for people to earn their way home, reunite families, and strengthen our communities. This approach will allow for healing, redemption, and rehabilitation, rather than an endless cycle of hopelessness and hurt. For too many years, Arizona’s criminal justice has not made our communities safer: it has separated children from their parents, prioritized harsh punishment over of rehabilitation, warehoused people in abhorrent conditions, unnecessarily reduced the tax base, and wasted taxpayer dollars that would be better spent on mental health and substance abuse treatment, education, and healthcare. Arizona’s incarceration crisis harms every single person in our state, but it is particularly damaging to Black and Hispanic Arizonans. In 2017, Black Arizonans were

only 5 percent of our state’s population, but 13 percent of prison admissions. Hispanic Arizonans represented 31 percent of the population but 37 percent of the people admitted to prison. Unsurprisingly, Black people sentenced to prison in Arizona receive longer sentences compared to white and Hispanic Arizonans, too. It is clear that offering meaningful opportunities for release and rehabilitation are critical in the �ight against injustice and ending these race-based disparities that are crippling our communities. Expanding earned release through SB 1064 would offer grace for so many people who have been denied it their entire lives. What a meaningful way to love our neighbors – by reuniting families, bringing people safely home to their communities, and allowing them the opportunity to rebuild their lives. We are connected in this �ight for justice, and we must overcome these challenges, or fall together. In this moment, while we are all seeking healing and redemption, SB 1064 provides a pathway for that common goal. Katie Sexton-Wood is executive director of the Arizona Faith Network; Paul Rockower is executive director of the Jewish Community Relations Council; and Mustafa Bahar is executive director of the Sema Foundation. 

ing the fact that Kennedy was only 12 when it was shot. However, the publication reported that others had added the word “bow” in subsequent video copies they produced. Because Caleb is a country singer from South Carolina, that would seem to imply that viewers should infer that Kennedy has some sort of allegiance to the Klan. What Caleb Kennedy does possess is pure talent, housed in an un�lappable persona. He’s only a high school sophomore, but there’s nothing sophomoric about his songwriting and performing abilities. He might have won “American Idol,” but instead became the latest casualty of the “Woke Wars.” If there’s a “silver lining” to this curious culture battle it is this: character assassination isn’t fatal. 

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Mesa athletes shine at state track & �ield meet BY ZACH ALVIRA Tribune Sports Editor

he 2021 state track & �ield meet brought along an opportunity spring athletes missed out on last season due to the coronavirus pandemic. Mesa schools were well represented throughout the two-day event at the Division I level, with Red Mountain’s boys placing third overall in the team scores and a slew of other athletes winning individual titles throughout the district. All in all, athletes who competed in both the preliminaries and �inals were thankful to have an opportunity. “Having such a weird past year, it’s almost humbling being able to come out here and race,” Noah Czajkowski said. “I think we’ve all dealt with our own things, whether it be injuries or COVID or something else that made us not be able to race. Just being able to come out here and give it everything we got for our team and our teammates, it’s really humbling. Red Mountain’s boys’ 4x800-meter relay team kicked off the state championship meet on Wednesday, May 12 with a gold medal. The team of Czajkowski, Joseph Hamilton, Thomas Sewell and freshman Tyler Matthews, who ran anchor for the Mountain Lions, were the favorites to win the event heading into the �inals. The Mountain Lions’ qualifying time was already a program record at 7:58.81, but they bested themselves by nearly four full seconds in the �inal. They also beat Brophy, the second-place team by �ive seconds. “Our qualifying time was awesome, but we all knew we had more in it,” Sewell said. “I think that was a big motivation for us. We knew the conditions that day weren’t great, and neither was today, but we knew we had a lot more in it. We really wanted to push for it.” The win by the Mountain Lions in the relay set the stage for what would be a strong performance overall. Junior Yan Vazquez represented Red Mountain in a slew of events, including the high jump, 110-meter hurdles, 300-meter

hurdles and 4x400-meter relay. He placed third overall in the high jump at 6-feet, 2 inches, which he had to do shortly after qualifying for the 110-meter hurdles on Wednesday. He placed �ifth overall in the 110 hurdles on Saturday and third in the 4x400 relay. However, Vazquez’s time of 36.68 seconds in the 300 hurdles was not only a personal record but one of the top times alltime in Arizona. He won gold in the event. “When I was warming up I kind of felt sluggish and weird, so I didn’t feel like I was going to go that fast,” Vazquez said. “I was hoping to just win or take second, but it feels amazing to be able to get my (personal record).” Westwood senior Rahni Turner found herself behind Hamilton freshman Kori Martin by .9 seconds in the 110-meter hurdles preliminary race Wednesday. Martin, who ran the fastest time for a freshman in the country, seemed poised to take gold in her �irst-ever state championship race at the high school level. However, Turner said the conditions were perfect for her to succeed. She ended up taking gold in the event, running a 13.68. The mark was a new personal record for the senior. Turner went on to compete in the

Westwood senior Rahni Turner left her stamp on the Warriors’ track & field program after winning the state championship in 100-meter hurdles. (Zac BonDurant/Tribune Contributor)

Red Mountain’s Yan Vazquez ran 36.68 seconds in the 300-meter hurdles Saturday, May 15 during the state track & field championships, a personal record and one of the best times ever recorded in Arizona. (Zach Alvira/ Tribune Staff)

300-meter hurdles, placing second overall with a time of 43.74 seconds. Chaparral’s Neya Jamison won gold in the event at 43.64 seconds. “I was going for (the state record),” Turner said. “I love running in the heat and I knew everyone would be really fast today. My goal was to just be able to place �irst and to do that, I feel really good. Now I can walk out of here knowing I left a mark on Westwood.” Just as Red Mountain and Westwood were represented by their athletes on the podium, Mesa High also saw one of its own medal in events. Senior Issys Shaw placed third overall in the girls’ 300-meter hurdles. Senior Khamis Hassan placed third overall in the boys’ Division I 100-meter dash with a personal record time of 10.55 seconds. He also teamed with Christopher Figueroa, Thomas Snell and Etwood Williams to place �ifth overall in the 4x100-meter relay. Hassan smiled at the thought of representing the Jackrabbits, a program often overlooked by opponents and those involved in track & �ield. Mesa doesn’t have the same number of athletes many of its counterparts in the district do. But the athletes that do compete for

Mesa are just as talented. Hassan made that clear after he had concluded his events at the state track & �ield meet. “Man, it feels great to go to Mesa High,” Hassan said. “Great coaches who really care about you. I love running underneath that program. ...We do our thing. What I did hasn’t been done in a while at our school, but we have a lot of athletes coming up.” While it wasn’t the year Mountain View athletes had hoped for, the Toros were still well represented in the state championships. Cash Connolly placed third overall in the Division I boys’ triple jump with a distance of 44-feet, 1.25 inches while Grace Williams placed third in pole vault. Malaki Ta’ase, a standout defensive end for the Toros’ football program, placed �ifth in both discus and shot-put. Connor Wilson, meanwhile, placed fourth in pole vault. Katherine Lemish, Annie Jones, Ellie Tingey and Leah Markovic placed �ifth overall in the 4x100-meter relay. Daiquan Pinder represented Dobson by placing fourth in the triple jump at 43feet, 2.25 inches. 

Mesa senior Khamis Hassan placed third overall in the boys’ Division I 100-meter dash with a personal record time of 10.55 seconds. He was happy with his performance and to have the ability to represent the Jackrabbits. (Zac BonDurant/Tribune Contributor)

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Quilters display heirloom treasures in Gilbert BY SRIANTHI PERERA Tribune Contributor

eirloom quilts – those that are handed down from one generation to another – have a special place in families. Their creations often have stories attached to them, or its fabric tells the stories of yesteryear. The quilt show currently running through end of May at HD SOUTH, the home of the Gilbert Historical Museum, displays many such treasures. It is open free of charge on Memorial Day. The all-volunteer quilting bee within the museum accepts community quilts to complete and helps raise funds for the organization. Over the years, it has basted many heirlooms. Basting means making backing, adding batting and attaching the quilt top to complete the layers of a quilt. This is an important step in the process and is done by hand. Avid quilter Darlene Reid is one such member whose quilts have stories attached. Guided by her imagination, Reid gives life to the classic quilt block pattern Sunbonnet Sue, which became popular in the early 20th century and depicts a hooded frontier girl. In one quilt called “Sunbonnet Julie,” she depicts her daughter Kim Davis (now a grandmother) when she was a teenager. The quilt was hand-quilted by the bee, and contains fabric from dresses that Julie used to wear. “She had a mind of her own. She wanted to pick out her own clothes. One day I bought her a skirt and I gave it to her and she said ‘oh that’s nice’ and she put it in the closet,” Reid said. “A few weeks later, she came out on her way to school and she said, ‘oh drop this off at Goodwill.’” “I looked into the bag and she had put that skirt in there,” Reid added. “The skirt has come back to haunt her.” Davis now lives in Ohio and the two

The all-volunteer quilting bee within the museum accepts community quilts to complete and helps raise funds for the organization. (Srianthi Perera/Contributor) of them have worked together on many quilting projects. “Sunbonnet Darlene” is dressed according to a pattern from a 1933 Capper’s Farmer magazine. “These girls are dressed exactly the way I dressed. I didn’t wear the hats, but the dresses, the shoes, the socks are similar,” Reid said. In other iterations, Sunbonnet Sue is a witch, and is quilted with a black cat,

pumpkins and a border of Halloween décor skeletons. “That’s what she does to Sunbonnet Sue; she morphs her into other personalities,” said Kathy Lester, another volunteer. Quilter Laurie Abdo displays a “Grandmother’s Flower Garden” patterned quilt that was completed by the Gilbert group. Abdo’s mom made it in the 1980s when Abdo was abroad. “I was completely unaware of what she had made until about 14 years ago, when she �irst showed it to me and she asked me to pack it and send it to Texas to be quilted by a friend of hers,” she said. But her friend couldn’t do her bidding, and the quilt was returned and boxed until her mom Darlene Reid quilts history into her work. This is one of her Sunbonnet passed in 2015. Sue patterned quilts. (Srianthi Perera/Contributor) “The quilt top

�inally came home with me, with all the rest of mom’s and dad’s possessions,” Abdo said. Periodically, she would search for someone who could complete the work. She even tried to get it machine-quilted, but was advised not to. That’s when Abdo came across the Gilbert group. The volunteers accepted the project, but she had to wait nearly two years. One day, she went to the museum with her children and her camera. “I realized that my kids had not seen it, and I needed to document what it looked like, and where it was; just in case something happened to me, it would not be lost to the family,” Abdo said. “I was thrilled to walk into the room where the quilters work and see mom’s work spread before me,” she added. Abdo was so impressed by the group, its happy camaraderie and industriousness that she volunteered to join them. She had some sewing and embroidery experience during her youth and felt that she could learn the rest. “The ladies were very welcoming to me, the newcomer, and they had questions about mom, the maker of the top we were working on,” she said, adding: “The whole experience over the next few months was heartwarming and cathartic. Each time I worked on the quilt I recognized fabrics from my childhood.” She came across a fabric patterned with pink suns that used to be a sundress when she was about four years old; there were others from her childhood, clothes that her mom made into her teenage years and those that she herself had stitched. “Some I had forgotten about completely until I sat staring at it and putting needle and thread through it. Each was a happy surprise that brought back memories. There were also pieces from dresses I had made mom, and those also brought back happy memories,” Abdo recalled. Iva Ruth is another quilter who gave

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long hours to the bee. She passed recently. Her family donated a selection of fabrics that belonged to her and Abdo made a quilt out of the samples and called it “Thank You, Iva.” Most of the quilts worked on are from the Valley, but sometimes they come from other states. Candace Miller of Three Forks, Montana sent a “Grandmother’s Flower Garden” patterned quilt that was made in the 1960s by the members of the Flat River Christian Church in Flat River, Missouri. “My mother’s �irst cousin helped make the quilt top and gave it to my mother as a gift. I inherited the quilt top and cherished it but wanted it quilted by hand,” Miller said. A friend mentioned the Gilbert Historical Museum hand quilters and Miller sent it there. “Their group completed hand quilting my quilt, a queen size, within 10 months. The �inished product is beautifully done with love and care in every stitch and now I must carefully bind it by hand,” she said. Reid, for whom quilting continues to play a signi�icant role, has embedded her family history in quilts.

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Reid’s Grandma Jones quilt features the woolen fabrics cut out from winter clothing, including Uncle Ed’s uniform from the Korean War and school teacher Aunt Lola’s good quality clothing and also incorporates her wedding and 50th wedding anniversary photos, along with some poetry. Another poignant Laurie Abdo with her treasured Grandmother’s Flower Garden pat- quilt features her terned quilt that her mom made for her in secret. (Srianthi Perera/ grandfather Poppy Contributor) Slattery and grandOne features her great-uncle Harry who mother Laura Belle, who gave birth to died from the �lu epidemic 100 years ago. eight children, six of whom survived. At 18, he had his picture taken for Christ- Donald and Gladys, the two toddlers who mas, came home and told his mother he passed of common illnesses at 18 months didn’t feel very well. “And he got sicker and nine months, are memorialized. and died just like that,” Reid said. “Their pictures reminded me of angels,” The quilt has masculine fabric and in- Reid said. corporates a newspaper clip with a �lu adDetails: The quilt show runs to Memovisory and a handwritten note from Harry rial Day (entrance free on that day) at HD. to his girlfriend that reads “good luck to all Museum admission applies on other days. from your loving friend Harry.” Call 480-926-1577 or hdsouth.org 

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THE MESA TRIBUNE | MAY 23, 2021

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Green shade Police officer Achy Last writes? Coach Parseghian Bard’s river Besides Hatchling’s home Bagel choice Aquarium favorites Weir Mediocre Fan’s cry ‘60s war zone Entrap Coup d’ -“The Voice” network “My Way” composer Event location “Eureka!” Speck Zwei follower Literary rep Move fast Wiped out Teen fave Oliver Twist’s request Margarita garnish Leading lady? Buffalo’s lake “A Room of -- Own” Sailor Grit

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: GREENFIELD WRP BLOWER ELECTRICAL SYSTEM IMPROVEMENTS 4400 S. GREENFIELD RD, GILBERT PROJECT NO. CP0625GN01 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 Greenfield WRP Blower Electrical System Improvements 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).

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The estimated construction cost range is $3,600,000 to $4,600,000. The City anticipates completing construction by July 2023. A Pre-Submittal Conference will be held on Wednesday, May 26, 2021 at 8 am through Microsoft Teams. If you would like to participate, please send an email to Stephanie Gishey at stephanie.gishey@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.

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This project includes the construction of redundant oil-filled distribution transformers and pad mounted switches for Power Centers 3A and 3C at the Greenfield Water Reclamation Plant. The improvements to Power Center 3A will include the installation of an oil cooled 12.47kV/4160V distribution transformer, 12.47kV pad mounted switch, replacement of the switchgear, new circuit breakers to isolate individual Reduced Voltage Soft Starters, new Reduced Voltage Soft Starters, and associated cable trays, conduits and ductbanks. The improvements to Power Center 3C will include the installation of an oil cooled 12.47kV/480V distribution transformer, 12.47kV pad mounted switch, the installation of a new section to existing switchgear to allow for a redundant power source connection and associated cable trays, conduits and ductbanks.

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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 8 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 June 3, 2021 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).

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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. BETH HUNING City Engineer ATTEST: DeeAnn Mickelsen City Clerk Published: East Valley Tribune, May 16, 23, 2021 / 38435

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THE SUNDAY EAST VALLEY TRIBUNE | MAY 23, 2021

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Public Notices

AVAILABILITY OF ANNUAL RETURN The Annual Return, form 990-PF, of Dr. LLOYD AND KAY CHAPMAN CHARITABLE FUND is available at the address noted below, by any citizen who so requests within 180 days after publication of this notice of its availability. Dr. Lloyd and Kay Chapman Charitable Fund 2330 W. Ray Rd., Suite 1 Chandler, AZ 85224 Telephone: 480-926- 0672 The principal manager is Donald L. Chapman, Vice President

Notice of Public Scoping for an Environmental Assessment for Hunt Highway Improvement Project – Phase 5

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The U.S. Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) Pima Agency and the Gila River Indian Community (Community) are releasing this notice in support of an environmental assessment for the proposed Hunt Highway Improvement Project – Phase 5 (project) in District One of the Community. The project would include roadway improvements along portions of Hunt Highway and Arizona Farms Road. The project proponent, Pinal County Public Works Department, has submitted a right-of-way (ROW) application to the BIA for roadway improvements on Hunt Highway and Arizona Farms Road, which would constitute the final phase of the Hunt Highway Improvement Project. Primary project components would include acquiring approximately 19 acres of new permanent roadway ROW, realigning the western terminus of the existing Arizona Farms Road, widening approximately 4,200 feet of existing Hunt Highway to match the newly reconstructed roadway dimensions both north and south of the project area, and installing a new light-controlled intersection at Hunt Highway and the realigned Arizona Farms Road. Project construction is anticipated to begin in January 2022 to January 2023 and will be completed in approximately 8 months. No traffic detours would be required. Traffic delays would be short-term and temporary. The grant of easement for ROW, if approved by BIA, would formalize the alignments for both Hunt Highway and Arizona Farms Road within the Community. The purpose of the project is for Pinal County to complete the final phase of their planned improvements along the Hunt Highway corridor, through the widening of the existing Hunt Highway alignment and the realignment of Arizona Farms Road. Hunt Highway both north and south of the project area have been improved and widened to four lanes; however, the older roadway within the project area is only two lanes. The lane reduction in the project area presents a potential safety concern for existing vehicle traffic on Hunt Highway. The project would widen Hunt Highway through the project area to match the new roadway and lane configurations to both the north and south. Additionally, the Hunt Highway and Arizona Farms Road intersection currently presents line-of-sight safety concerns for drivers on Arizona Farms Road. The project would realign this traffic intersection and replace the stop-controlled intersection with a traffic light to improve traffic flow and safety. As part of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), federal agencies are required to consider the potential social and environmental impacts of proposed actions. This letter serves as the BIA’s invitation for comments, concerns, or suggestions regarding the proposed action. All comments received become part of the public record associated with this proposed action. Accordingly, your comments (including your name and address) will be available for review by any person that wishes to view the record. At your request, we will withhold your contact information to the extent allowed by the Freedom of Information Act. Please submit comments to: Cecilia Baker, Superintendent Bureau of Indian Affairs, Pima Agency P.O. Box 8 Sacaton, Arizona 85147 Telephone: (520) 562-3326 Email: Cecilia.Baker@bia.gov Published: East Valley Tribune May 9, 16, 23, 30, 2021 / 37928

Meetings/Events? Get Free notices in the Classifieds! Submit to ecota@timespublications.com

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Public Notices TO: Xavier Martinez, M.D. 2323 E. Flower #124-B Phoenix, AZ 85016 The State Medical Board of Ohio 30 E. Broad Street, 3rd Floor Columbus, OH 43215-6127 In the Matter of: Xavier Martinez, M.D. Case No. 21-CRF-0045 On March 11, 2021, the State Medical Board of Ohio mailed a Notice of Opportunity for Hearing to Xavier Martinez, M.D. via certified mail, return receipt requested, at his last known address of record, 2323 E. Flower #124-B, Phoenix, AZ 85016. The Notice was returned to the Board from the postal service marked “return to sender, not deliverable as addressed, unable to forward.” The notice states that the State Medical Board of Ohio intends to consider disciplinary action against Dr. Martinez’s license to practice medicine and surgery in Ohio based on the Arizona Medical Board’s order which revoked his license in that state. The Arizona order was based upon his plea agreement to an amended charge of Attempted Sexual Abuse. In addition, the State Medical Board of Ohio found that Dr. Martinez was impaired and diverted medicines for patient use. Dr. Martinez is entitled to a hearing in this matter if such hearing is requested within thirty (30) days of the last date of publication of this notice. Dr. Martinez may appear at such hearing in person, by his attorney, or by such other representative permitted to practice before this agency, or he may present his position, arguments or contentions in writing. At the hearing, Dr. Martinez may present evidence and examine witnesses appearing for or against him. Please contact the undersigned to ascertain the last date of publication. Any questions or correspondence should be addressed to: Jackie Moore Case Control Office 30 E. Broad Street, 3rd Floor Columbus, OH 43215-6127 Jackie.Moore@med.ohio.gov Published: East Valley Tribune, May 16, 23, 30, 2021 / 38484

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THE SUNDAY EAST VALLEY TRIBUNE | MAY 23, 2021

Public Notices

Public Notices City of Mesa Public Notice

CITY OF MESA MESA, ARIZONA GAS SCADA SYSTEM IMPROVEMENTS PHASE 3 PROJECT NO. C01886PH3 ADVERTISEMENT FOR BIDS NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that sealed bids will be received until Thursday, June 3, 2021, at 1:00 p.m. All sealed bids will be received electronically at EngineeringBids@mesaaz.gov . Bids must be submitted as an unencrypted PDF attachment with a maximum size limit of 20MB. Any bid received after the time specified will be returned without any consideration. This contract shall be for furnishing all labor, materials, transportation and services for the construction and/or installation of the following work: Furnish and install solar powered Scada equipment at three City of Mesa gas district regulator stations located within the City of Mesa gas system. The Scada installation shall include intrusion switches and associated conduit, seal-offs and fittings to regulator vaults, pressure transducers, Scada cabinet, radio, pole, foundation, antenna, grounding system, solar panels, solar charger, programmable logic controller, switches, relays and associated fittings to make a working system. Also, furnish and install Floboss flow computers, new transducers, shade structures and new signal isolaters at two City of Mesa gas gate stations located within the City of Mesa gas system. The Engineer’s Estimate range is $350,000 to $400,000. For all technical, contract, bid-related, or other questions, please contact Stephanie Gishey at stephanie.gishey@mesaaz.gov. Contact with City Employees. All firms interested in this project (including the firm’s employees, representatives, agents, lobbyists, attorneys, and subconsultants) will refrain, under penalty of disqualification, from direct or indirect contact for the purpose of influencing the selection or creating bias in the selection process with any person who may play a part in the selection process. This policy is intended to create a level playing field for all potential firms, to assure that contract decisions are made in public, and to protect the integrity of the selection process. All contact on this selection process should be addressed to the authorized representative identified above. Contractors desiring to submit proposals may purchase sets of the Bid Documents from ARC Document Solutions, LLC, at https://order.earc.com/arcEOC/PWELL_Main.asp?mem=29. Click on “Go” for the Public Planroom to access plans. NOTE: In order to be placed on the Plan Holders List and to receive notifications and updates regarding this bid (such as addenda) during the bidding period, an order must be placed. The cost of each Bid Set will be no more than $15.00, which is non-refundable. Partial bid packages are not sold. You can view documents on-line (at no cost), order Bid Sets, and access the Plan Holders List on the website at the address listed above. Please verify print lead time prior to arriving for pick-up. For a list of locations nearest you, go to www.e-arc.com. One set of the Contract Documents is also available for viewing at the City of Mesa’s Engineering Department at 20 East Main Street, Mesa, AZ. Please call 480-644-2251 prior to arriving to ensure that the documents are available for viewing. In order for the City to consider alternate products in the bidding process, please follow Arizona Revised Statutes §34.104c. If a pre-bid review of the site has been scheduled, details can be referenced in Project Specific Provision Section #3, titled “Pre-Bid Review of Site.” Work shall be completed within 180 consecutive calendar days, beginning with the day following the starting date specified in the Notice to Proceed. Bids must be submitted on the Proposal Form provided and be accompanied by the Bid Bond for not less than ten percent (10%) of the total bid, payable to the City of Mesa, Arizona, or a certified or cashier's check. PERSONAL OR INDIVIDUAL SURETY BONDS ARE NOT ACCEPTABLE. The successful bidder will be required to execute the standard form of contract for construction within ten (10) days after formal award of contract. In addition, the successful bidder must be registered in the City of Mesa Vendor Self-Service (VSS) System (http://mesaaz.gov/business/purchasing/vendor-self-service).

Third Substantial Amendment to the City of Mesa’s 2019 Annual Action Plan and Fourth Substantial Amendment to the 2015-2019 Five-year Consolidated Plan Date of Publication: May 23, 2021 Notice of a Third Substantial Amendment to the City of Mesa’s 2019 Annual Action Plan and Fourth Substantial Amendment to the 2015-2019 Five-year Consolidated Plan and In accordance with 24 CFR 91.05(c)(2) and subpart B of the federal regulations relative to citizen participation for Community Planning and Development Programs and applicable waivers made available to those requirements through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act), the City of Mesa is making an amendment to the City of Mesa’s 2019 Annual Action Plan and 20152019 Consolidated Plan made available to the public through this notice. Notice of Five-Day Public Comment Period May 24, 2021 – May 28, 2021 This Consolidated Plan amendment and Annual Plan amendment are available for a five-day public review and comment period from May 24, 2021 to May 28, 2021. Citizens wishing to submit written comments during the public review and comment period may mail them, post-marked no later than May 28, 2021, to the following: Michelle Albanese Housing & Community Development Director City of Mesa MS-9870 P.O. Box 1466 Mesa, AZ 85211-1466 480-644-4546

The successful bidder, simultaneously with the execution of the Contract, will be required to furnish a Payment Bond in the amount equal to one hundred percent (100%) of the Contract Price, a Performance Bond in an amount equal to one hundred percent (100%) of the Contract Price, and the most recent ACORD® Certificate of Liability Insurance form with additional insured endorsements. The right is hereby reserved to accept or reject any or all bids or parts thereto, to waive any informalities in any proposal and reject the bids of any persons who have been delinquent or unfaithful to any contract with the City of Mesa. BETH HUNING City Engineer ATTEST: DeeAnn Mickelsen City Clerk Published: East Valley Tribune, May 23, 30, 2021 / 38587

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THE SUNDAY EAST VALLEY TRIBUNE | MAY 23, 2021

Public Notices

Public Notices CITY OF MESA, ARIZONA ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT

You may also email comments no later than May 28, 2021 to Michelle Albanese at Michelle. Albanese@mesaaz.gov. The amendment to the City of Mesa’s 20152019 Five-Year Consolidated Plan and the 2019 Annual Action Plan enables the City of Mesa to receive and administer $4,052,229 in Emer-gency Solutions Grant - COVID (ESG-CV) funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) made available through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act). ESG-CV funds will be use for the following ESG-CV eligible activities:

•

• • • •

Emergency Shelter - $2,082,649 Street Outreach - $848,222 Rapid Rehousing - $214,100 Homeless Prevention – $502,035 Administration - $405,223

Further, eligible ESG-CV costs incurred as of March 27, 2020, which is the date in which President Trump signed the CARES Act and paid for with non-federal funds, may be repaid with ESG-CV funding, including those made under the CARES Act. These pre-award costs meet all HUD requirements applicable to ESG-CV, including those under the CARES Act. During the five-day public comment period, an electronic copy of this notice, along with the list of awardees, may be found on the City’s Housing and Community Development website at: https://www.mesaaz.gov/residents/community-development Si necesita asistencia o traducción en español, favor de llamar al 480-644-2767. Michelle Albanese, Director May 23, 2021 Published: May 23, 2021 East Valley Tribune/ 38637

REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS (RFQ) NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the City of Mesa is seeking a qualified Consultant for the following: SOUTHEAST MESA LIBARY 5036 S. EASTMARK PARKWAY PROJECT NO. CP0428 The City of Mesa is seeking a qualified Consultant to provide design services 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 design and construction of a new library, located in Southeast Mesa, including programming documents, schematic drawings (including presentation boards and renderings), construction documents and potentially construction administration services. This new library will have amenities similar to the Red Mountain and Dobson Ranch libraries and is anticipated to be approximately 30,000 to 35,000 square foot in size. The facility will provide library services to residents of all ages. With an emphasis on a modern library feel, technology will be utilized to streamline services and offer the best possible user experience for those who enter. City may include other miscellaneous improvements at the Site, as needed. The consultant may also assist with public meetings, City Council meetings, Citizen Advisory/Committee meetings, Design Review Board meetings, and other coordination efforts. It is anticipated that this project will be delivered utilizing the Construction Manager at Risk (CMAR) delivery method. This project is funded through the voter approved 2018 General Obligation Bond. The total project budget for design and construction is approximately $16.8 million dollars. The City anticipates commencing construction in the summer of 2023. An electronic Pre-Submittal Conference will be held on June 10, 2021, at 9:00 am through Microsoft Teams. 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. Any party interested in attending the Pre-Submittal Conference should request an invitation from Donna Horn at donna.horn@mesaaz.gov. 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. 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 12 pages to address the SOQ evaluation criteria (excluding 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 June 24, 2021, by 2:00 pm. The City reserves the right to accept or reject any and all Statements of Qualifications. The City is an equal opportunity employer.

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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 Donna Horn of the Engineering Department at donna.horn@mesaaz.gov. BETH HUNING City Engineer ATTEST: DeeAnn Mickelsen City Clerk

Published: East Valley Tribune, May 23, 30, 2021 / 385xx

THE SUNDAY EAST VALLEY TRIBUNE | MAY 23, 2021

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